From Scottsdale Congregational UCC:

Not too long ago Patrick Bentrott, Executive Director of The Foundation for International Development Assistance (FIDA), spoke to our congregation about his work and experiences in Haiti. He was inspiring, and during the Diving Deeper discussion offered the possibility of a tour of Haiti in 2019 for a small group interested.

Shepherd of the Hills received a special offering on May 6th to bless the Mohammadi family. The Mohammadi's, originally from Afghanistan, are a family that fled a war they did not want and left a home they had had for generations. Several members of Shepherd of the Hills have helped along the way to aid their transition. Jill Thomas or Rob Hart will share with us Sunday, May 6th prior to receiving the special offering a little more about this resilient family. The Mohammadi family will join us for Worship the following Sunday, May 13th.

Much of what passes as information about Islam is weed-like disinformation rooted in stereotype and watered by fear. In The Jesus Fatwah, Islamic and Christian scholars offer reliable information about what Muslims believe, how they live out their faith, and how we all can be about building relationships across the lines of faith. 

This event is a kickoff/organizing meeting to set the agenda for the newly formed Phoenix/Maricopa County wing of the Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance (APSA) organization. 

Sunday, May 13, 12:15 pm
Church of the Good Shepherd, Albuquerque

Please join us for a community forum focused on Medical Marijuana. How does it work? What conditions is it used for? Is this just “snake oil” or a genuine modern medicine? Bring your questions to the presentation of the science behind this controversial, very old, but “new” adjunct to Western Medicine.

Thursday, May 3, 2018, 7 am

We will walk 7 times in silence the block around the ICE building.

YES, you may come to the training even if you’re not sure that you will be able or willing to do accompaniment. If your congregation has a guest now, or may have one in the future, it will be useful for you to understand what accompaniment involves.

Webinars, workshops, podcasts from the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ.

written by Karen Schafer, Mission and Outreach Ministry Chair, St. Paul's:

As a continuation of St. Paul’s commitment to work with the Rio Rancho office of Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), we are gathering supplies for two families. Melissa Garcia at CYFD works to keep families together.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Gymnatorium of First Institutional Baptist Church, 1141 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix. 

Join us to raise the voice of faith in Arizona and create positive change on issues that affect us all.

Another update from Dave Coatsworth: 

Friends, here's a brief update on what transpired at the Monday (April 23) PPC meeting in Phoenix at the Unitarian Universalist Church.

Thank you, Jayne! We missed you at Annual Meeting, but are grateful for your presence at this event.

We will update this article as you share your stories of how you are supporting teachers, children, and/or parents during this time.

We received this message from a friend of the Southwest Conference, Dave Coatsworth:

Friends, you are receiving this message because you have expressed interest in the Poor People's Campaign (PPC) through prior communication with me, or I suspect you may be interested in the PPC based on my general understanding of your interests and fundamental values.

I'm writing to give you some high-level information about the PPC, to encourage and request your direct participation, and to quickly build our Arizona PPC network, as we're very late to the dance.

As people of faith, scripture calls us to protect, restore, and rightly share God's glorious Creation. 

Here are three ways to act.

SCUCC had a great team of over 20 people who helped make their presence at the Pride Festival and the Pride Parade extravagantly welcoming.

Arizona Faith Network is calling people of faith to sign this statement calling for reform of our criminal justice system.

Did your church participate? Send the info to Wende - wgonzales@uccswc.org.

This issue is packed with articles from the National Council of Churches' Unite to End Racism Rally to a faithful response to drone warfare, and a five-week series "ALIVE! in our sexuality and faith" - check it all out HERE.