On Thursday, June 13, 2024, Sun Lakes UCC will be hosting an interfaith viewing of the film “A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting.” Along with the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation, we will be having a discussion of the film after the viewing. This is an HBO Documentary produced by Michael Keaton, Mark Cuban, and Billy Porter.
“Hear from the survivors and the Muslim and African American allies who came together to fight for love, not hate.”
On Saturday, October 27th, 2018, a white supremacist, further radicalized by the political climate at the time, walked into the Tree of Life Synagogue with four semi-automatic assault weapons, shouting “all Jews must die.” He murdered eleven congregants, ranging in age from 54 to 97, as they prayed. A TREE OF LIFE: THE PITTSBURGH SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING creates a deeply personal, trauma-informed portrait of the survivors, victims, and victims' family members of the Pittsburgh Synagogue attack, and brings into sharp focus the hate-based crisis that threatens our collective safety and the very social fabric of our society. As the first film to document the survivor’s stories and the only documentary with this level of personal access to the survivors and families of the victims, viewers will experience first-hand how the lives of those directly affected have profoundly changed and how the Pittsburgh community and the congregations set out on a path towards healing.
As of May 13, ABQ FaithWorks Collaborative has helped 100 household residents stay in their homes through rental and utility assistance. Volunteers are instrumental in answering calls, fielding questions and referrals, and helping staff coordinate financial help.
OWL Taking Flight: Raising Kids Beyond the Binary. Wednesday, June 5, 9am AZ time - Raising Kids Beyond the Binary
Jamie Bruesehoff, author of “Raising Kids Beyond the Binary: Celebrating God’s Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children,” joins us to discuss her book, in which she helps us dream of a church and a world transformed by the bold celebration of all children.
Last month, PBS News Hour featured a story about immigrants who cross the border from Mexico into the Tucson sector, and wait to encounter Border Patrol agents in order to present themselves for asylum. The Rev. Randy Mayer, who is the UCC pastor for the Good Shepherd Church in Sahuarita, is part of the story. Pastor Randy visits the border every week as part of the Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans, and says, “It’s a time-honored tradition of giving help to the stranger…. We want to make sure that at least their first encounter is one of great welcome…" Read the transcript here.
Members of Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque have enthusiastically voted to move toward installing ground based solar panels. Many steps to come to make this a reality, but the goal is to become a sustainable and green church.
Casas Adobes culminated their support for Keeling Elementary School this school year by sponsoring, as they have done the past few years, a luncheon for teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week. This year they were able to sponsor the event with some of the proceeds from their recent Rummage Sale.
David Johnson, from Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona, captured this amazing photo of the Aurora!!!
Pastor Marvin Morgan served the Church of the Red Rocks as Intentional Interim Minister during most of 2022-2023. His messages were powerful and struck a chord with Intern Logan Willson, who composed an anthem based on them. It was offered in a World Premier on May 12 during morning worship. Here are the first lines:
Beloved, you are loved by the Everlasting God.
Christ has a kingdom; it is yours to embrace.
Know that every move towards God transforms you.
Encanto Community Church is running low on full fare bus passes. With the heat, the homeless community can ride both the city bus and the light rail all day and stay out of the sun, thus potentially saving their lives by not dying of heat stroke/exhaustion. Anyone want to contribute one or more? They could also use more men’s shorts, t-shirts and socks.
Paulan Ricketts, member of Congregational Church of the Valley’s Outreach Ministry, thanks all who participated in the 2024 Beat the Heat Relief Program sponsored by the City of Scottsdale. Donations, both monetary and from the wish list, will help homebound seniors at the Via Linda Senior Center during the long hot summer!