"The news from the courts regarding immigration and undocumented residents is unwelcome and unwelcoming. Our Gospel message of love and inclusion, that God calls us to “fear not” living as we share our privileges and blessings, is needed more than ever!"  - Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Bill Lyons

It is critical our Members of Congress hear that their constituents oppose the detention of pregnant women and that we urge them to call on ICE to stop this practice and restore a presumption of release.

From Scholarships AZ, the local United We Dream affiliate:

On April 9, “the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that DACA recipients are no longer eligible to receive in-state tuition rates in the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD). This decision will impact DACA students across all public AZ colleges & universities.”

Last year, the Todo Tucson ID Campaign ramped up its efforts to push the city council to implement a city-wide Municipal ID. This ID would be available to undocumented people and other marginalized groups who don’t have the correct documents for a state-issued identification. Almost 20 U.S. cities and counties have issued a similar ID.

Alejandra was granted a bond hearing for Thursday, April 19, after being detained for over a month at Eloy Detention Center. She is calling for wide community support. There will be a caravan of folks headed to Eloy that day from Tucson. If you would like to join, please fill out this form. AmyBeth Willis of Southern Arizona Sanctuary will be going and would love for other Coalition members to join her!

On May 8, UCAN launches the first in a series of online national conversations on HIV with a focus on HIV testing. A popular HIV testing slogan is, “Everyone has a status, do you know yours?” In preparation for National Testing Day, Wednesday, June 27, Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer will moderate this conversation via Zoom about the importance of everyone knowing their HIV status and the status of the church in promoting and facilitating HIV testing.

First Church UCC is honored to host Congressman Ruben Gallego's Town Hall meeting this Saturday, April 14th at 11 am. Doors open at 10:30 am.

3 Great Loves is a denomination wide initiative to live out our purpose, vision, and mission and is a witness to our collective efforts in making a more just world for all as God's hands and feet.  Beginning at Synod 2017 and ending at Synod 2019, through the lens of the 3 Great Loves, the UCC in its many settings of ministry will discern and lift up how we act upon our Love of God in and through these 3 Great Loves; Love of Neighbor, Love of Children, and Love of Creation. As we do so, we will tell the story of how we are impacting and transforming the world as covenantal partners united in common purpose, vision, and mission.

...an upcoming podcast for spiritual and interfaith leaders focused on interfaith teachings on environmental stewardship, climate change and oil and gas development.

The gun violence that plagues our society is a massive public health emergency. We can’t fully understand it’s causes, or know the best tools for preventing violence – in part – because Congress has prohibited the CDC from researching it.

Greetings from the SWC Disaster Ministry. I am looking forward to attending the Annual Meeting next month and meeting many members of our congregations across the SWC. In addition to assisting with the ALICE Webinar and helping to represent the Greater Phoenix UCC Justice Network, I will be available to meet with church leaders and attendees to discuss our Disaster Ministries. In May and over the months to come we have an opportunity to participate in the FEMA/VOAD National Mass Care Exercise (hosted by Arizona and including California, Nevada and New Mexico) and we are discussing organizing a work team or two to assist with disaster recovery in Texas or Florida. Opportunities to send work teams to Puerto Rico or Northern California will become available later in the year. 

Please see below brief descriptions of the National Mass Care Exercise (NMCE) and and the disaster work team opportunities. Contact me with your questions, to express interest or to set up a meeting in person or by phone/conference call. Phil Shea at 602-663-5065 or philipshea@justicestar.org .

Phil Shea

The Phoenix Pride Festival and Parade is the largest LGBTQ event in Arizona spanning two days with the “festival” and the “parade.” Last year, more than 37,000 people visited the festival over the course of the two days. The theme for this year is “United We Stand, Equality for All.”

Several churches in the Southwest Conference will participate in Phoenix Pride. If we've missed yours here, please send your information to Wende at wgonzales@uccswc.org and we will add it!

Shadow Rock UCC
Mondays, April 9, 16, 23, 30
$75

Are you looking for...
More authentic connections?
Easier conversations when anger is involved?
A way to feel centered and clear?

Twelve youths and seven adults from the Southwest Conference traveled to Washington D.C. on Friday to participate in Saturday's March For Our Lives. See photos and read their reflections.

“It is easier for me to get a gun than to get a job or birth control.” This line is from a Facebook post by high school student Maya in Albuquerque that put into motion a trip with 11 other youth and seven adults from her church and four other churches in the Southwest Conference United Church of Christ. 

"Maya's words were an invitation for Maya and her peers to exercise their power to create a safe world through the agency of the Southwest Conference," said the Rev. Bill Lyons, conference minister. "We shared Maya's wisdom on our conference Facebook page. And we sent out the invitation for Southwest Conference high schoolers to join the March for Our Lives in Washington. This trip is Christian formation, a justice witness, and a civic engagement all in one."

All UCC, UU, Catholic, and other church-related youth, friends, and chaperones are invited to a late night discussion and sleepover at Encanto Community Church.

You are also invited to attend the March For Our Lives Empowerment Gathering.

The youth event will begin around 8:30 p.m. on Friday March 23, 2018, immediately following the 7:00 pm March For Our Lives Empowerment Gathering. 

Sunday, April 8, 7 pm

Sandia Presbyterian Church

Llive music, sweet treats, and a silent auction!

Many local March For Our Lives events are in the works at churches across the conference. If your church is planning a rally or is marching in your city's event, please notify Wende Gonzales at wgonzales@uccswc.org OR fill out this form so that we may put together a list of all our church events.

In the Minnesota Conference, it's a number of essays; in the Southwest Conference, it began with a Facebook post.

Those are just two items powering UCC youth participation in the gun violence prevention rally, March for Our Lives, created, inspired by, and led by the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, survivors of one of the deadliest mass school shootings in U.S. history.