Reproductive Justice: from the National UCC office
UCC women’s justice advocate: Abortion is never an easy decision.
After church yesterday, Casas Adobes had four petitions available to sign for those hoping the following citizens' initiatives would be on the ballot for November. The last one seems especially appropriate this week.
The AZ Fair Elections ballot initiative: Against state voter suppression efforts.
The Voters’ Right to Know Act: Initiative to disclose dark money in political campaigns in AZ.
The Predatory Debt Collection Protection Act: Limiting interest rate and protecting assets from debt collectors.
Reproductive Rights Protection: Adds the right to make and effectuate decisions about all matters relating to pregnancy in AZ.
On Wednesday, the middle school and high schoolers from First Congregational in Albuquerque will be going rock climbing with students from Church of the Good Shepherd.
On Wednesday, July 6, from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. via Zoom, join the next "Faith 101" event (sponsored by the Theological Dialogue Commission of the Arizona Faith Network) in a connection of enrichment as they build understanding between people of different faiths and beliefs. This session will cover Islam 101. Our guest speakers will cover the basic tenets and teachings of Islam.
This June, two of our Southwest Conference clergy left their church buildings to bring the Good News of God’s unconditional love to the halls of the Senate. The Rev. Sue Joiner, Senior Pastor at First Congregational UCC in Albuquerque and the Rev. Sarah TevisTownes, Pastor and Teacher at Church of the Good Shepherd, UCC in Albuquerque, just returned from Washington DC, where they met with legislators to discuss federal protections for the LGBTQ+ community.
Read the story HERE
Many people who are precariously housed live in their vehicles, struggling to meet expenses. Now nine member congregations (including First Congregational) are new distribution points for $20 gas cards. The ABQ FaithWorks network works together to assist with rent, gas, food, and utility expenses of those in need.
On June 25, 1972, 50 years ago this past weekend, the United Church of Christ made history when William R. Johnson became the first openly gay man ordained to ministry in an historic Christian church. Bill’s ordination, by the Golden Gate Association in the Northern California/Nevada Conference, opened doors for a new generation of openly LGBTQ leaders in our church. Ten years later, on April 25, 1982, Anne Holmes became the first openly lesbian minister ordained in the UCC. National ONA Sunday, celebrated yesterday, was an opportunity to give thanks in public worship for Bill and Anne, and for all the queer clergy whose gifts have enriched and strengthened the United Church of Christ.
An RPG group will be starting at Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque. An RPG, or role-playing game, is an experience in which players assume the roles of characters in an adventure. The setting can be a fantasy, like Dungeons and Dragons, superheroes, science fiction, or anything you can imagine.
Iglesia Cristiana el Buen Pastor, a small Hispanic church in west Mesa, hosts up to 50 asylum seekers every Wednesday. Scottsdale UCC has become much more active in supporting the efforts of this church with donations of food and supplies.
Interfaith Community Services, now housed at Rincon UCC, gives out around 2,000 jars of peanut butter every month. 24,000 jars of peanut butter is a whole lot of peanut butter! For the month of July, they will be collecting peanut butter. Rincon’s challenge is to beat last year's collection of 539 jars!
This summer, Duet: Partners in Health & Aging, a ministry of Church of the Beatitudes, is trying to equip 150 grandchildren, grade K-12, with school supplies and clothing to provide them with an equitable start to the new school year. The nonprofit has created an Amazon Wishlist to make donating as easy as the click of a button.
Shepherd of the Hills is excited by the progress made as they continue their work with an Afghan asylum seeking family! The oldest children have just finished attending the English Language Development (ELD) summer program sponsored by the Scottsdale Unified School District. Transportation volunteers provided rides for the children to and from their South Scottsdale home and were treated to enthusiastic stories of their adventures. One of the volunteers is mentoring the family, with focus on the mother as she improves her English proficiency. They are also working behind the scenes to assist the family with everything from securing available assistance to providing groceries and school supplies. They are a warm, welcoming, and friendly family who always invite visitors to sit and enjoy a cold beverage with them!
During their regular Sunday morning summer worship, Desert Palm will explore some of the books currently red-flagged as "dangerous." Why are certain books identified as threatening? Is there something powerful lurking within their pages that might upset the status quo? And what might some of these classics (and newer novels by break-out writers) have to do with Jesus' quest to set us free? Here is a sample list:
Fahrenheit 451, The Hate You Give, The Old Man and The Sea, The Lord of the Flies, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Confessions of Frannie Langton.
