The Reverend Joyce Blair Buekers received the prestigious Guardian of Peace Award from the International Confederation for Peace in Assisi, Italy on April 27th, 2019.

On April 12, around 100 gathered including the mayor, head of the state NAACP, and members of The Arizona Commission on African American Affairs.

TiLT (Taos Initiative for Life Together) will be hosting a Watershed Way Summer Institute of community events starting June 3.

12:00 PM – 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, 2019 at First Church UCC Phoenix

Join Phoenix PD Officer Chance to discuss the characteristics and behaviors of traffickers commonly known as pimps, and the people who are purchasing sex from sex trafficking victims. We’ll explore the recruiting techniques pimps use to locate victims to work for them as prostitutes, and the factors causing these victims to be exploited in the prostitution lifestyle. Finally, we’ll end with tips and resources for reporting possible sex trafficking situations.

A light lunch is provided from 12:00 to 12:30.

The current US approach toward Iran has brought us to the brink of war. Another way is possible. Peace is possible! As a Just Peace Church, the United Church of Christ has advocated in support of the Iran deal, against nuclear weapons, and our General Synod has called for engagement and friendship with the people and nation of Iran, rather than war, saying, “Our sacred scriptures all point to our calling as disciples and peacemakers, to do what we can to bring healing into the world, not hurt, to end bloodshed, not to initiate it, to stop the killing and terrorizing of children and adults, and to make all of God’s Creation a safe place in which to live.”

As communities begin to assess needs, UCC Disaster Ministries and Conference Disaster Coordinators are helping activate long-term recovery groups even as they working to support local UCC congregations in their initial response and already has provided $15,000 to local UCC food pantries and hot meals programs in hard-hit Nebraska and Iowa. 

Being a caregiver can be even more complicated when you're a member of the LGBTQ+ community. This new caregiver support group is designed to allow you to speak freely about your concerns and issues with others who will completely understand you

New volunteer positions and opportunities for families and groups at the Rincon Migrant Shelter.

Help support the release of immigrant rights defender Jose Montelongo from immigration detention to be reunited with his children and continue to hold local law enforcement and immigration enforcement accountable.

from the Justice Peace and Action Network of the United Church of Christ

Between 500 and 700 Palestinian children are detained by and prosecuted in Israeli military courts each year. Since 2000, more than 10,000 children have been subjected to the military court system, which does not guarantee their rights of due process, highlighting the two-tiered system of justice in the occupied Palestinian territories—Israeli civil courts for Israeli settlers, and Israeli military courts for Palestinians.

After dragging their heels and delaying passage of a disaster aid package, the Senate looks poised to introduce a bill that could unlock more than $17 billion in assistance to ailing communities. This comes not nearly soon enough for many communities, especially Puerto Rico. The island has essentially run out of the block grant providing for nutrition assistance and many residents are going without basic necessities. We have a powerhouse advocate in our UCC DC office, Katie Adams, and she is asking for our help to reach the Senate and Congress.

The Wellness Ministries of the UCC Newsletter | May 2019, Volume 4, Issue 4
(formerly The Faith Community Nurse Health Ministry Newsletter)

“The butterfly counts not the months but moments, and has time enough”.  Rabindranath Tagore.  

Spring flowers are blooming, and young emerging plants rise upward to welcome the growth and sustenance summer will bring. This is a season of marking celebrations within the cycle of life: Mother’s Day, commencements, graduations, Father’s Day, marriages, new ventures, joys and sorrows. 

From Church of the Red Rocks UCC:

Update on our project to address homelessness.

Vision – Provide temporary housing for homeless children and their families.

• Name – Hope House of Sedona

• Grant – CDBG through HUD for $300K; working on formal application to HUD, due at the end of May; will receive grant funds at end of year

• Hope House of Sedona will eventually become a 501(c)(3), similar to Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition.

Thank you for your generosity.  An anonymous donor gave $20K, with the idea of it being used as matching funds.  Per HUD rules, all the money to be used property acquisition and construction must be committed by May 31st when the application is due. 

The bipartisan Equality Act would provide federal nondiscrimination protection across key areas of daily life, including employment, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally-funded programs and jury service. It is a much-needed fix for the current uneven patchwork of state nondiscrimination protections.

The Rincon Migrant Shelter will be hosting informational training sessions on:

Tuesday, May 14th & Saturday, May 18th

On May 6th, Dr. Scott Warren will go to trial for charges related to his humanitarian work on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. Join us at 8:30 AM on Monday, May 6th for a press conference outside the Deconcini Federal Courthouse (405 W Congress). The trial will begin at 10 AM and we ask supporters to join us in the courtroom as well as help us hold down a presence outside the building.  The trial is expected to last either through end of the day on May 7th or possibly into May 8th.

JPANet (Justice and Peace Action Network) asked UCC advocates to help us unpack the complex justice issues that we’re working on. This month Rebekah Choate, Associate for Global Advocacy and Education, looks at Sri Lanka after its civil war and the Easter bombings.

Rev. Pamela Shepherd wants to invite you into something deeply important:

A Crucial Conversation about Taos' Water Future

6pm Wednesday May 1, Bataan Hall, Civic Plaza Drive 

[right near Taos UCC]