Jottings 11/20/2023

Congratulations to Shepherd of the Hills member Nancy Splain, who was named by Arizona Interfaith Movement and Beatitudes Campus as a Golden Rule Difference Maker at the 2023 Golden Rule Awards Banquet!  Nancy, you inspire us in so many ways with your advocacy and care. Congratulations!


Rev. Dr. Marvin Morgan’s last Sunday at Church of the Red Rocks will be November 26, 2023. He has finished his Intentional Interim work and will be heading out of Sedona for his drive home to Atlanta.  Rev. Len Silvester will “bridge” until a new pastor is called. His first Sunday will be December 3, 2023.

Desert Garden UCC in partnership with AZStrut and Lutheran Social Services, offered a Techie camp for Refugee Youth.  Each youth was trained in the workings of a computer/tablet, and given one to take home.  The funding for the camp was a grant from UCC Global Hope.



Rev. Randy Mayer from The Good Shepherd in Sahuarita, recently wrote an article that was published in the American Waldensian Society weekly news blast.  It was entitled:  Our World Is Coming Apart at the Seams.  Please click here for the article.


Casas Adobes will host the NW Tucson Multi-Faith Fellowship Thanksgiving service on November 21st at 7 pm.



Desert Palm is working with the East Valley Refugee Network and The Phoenix Welcome Center by hosting a  “Drive-Thru” Winter Collection for warm clothing and other needs (such as blankets) on December 9th, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the church parking lot. Clean, gently used blankets, coats, sweatshirts, sweaters, mittens, hats, socks and shoes for men, women and children are desperately needed at the border and the Welcome Center.


Desert Palm also just received word that they have been granted $3200 from the UCC Neighbors in Need offering to buy 8 phones capable of accessing the CBPOne application.  The phones will be used at Centro de Esperanza in Sonoyta, MX, a family shelter currently housing about 100 asylum seekers.

Untitled Quilled Peacock by S. Estrella (quilled paper on 10 x 10" board) is one of the pieces featured in an online auction of works by womxn currently incarcerated in ASPC - Perryville Prison. Eighty percent of the sales go back to the women to encourage and support their creative expression. Arizona Faith Network invites you to view the works of art and register to bid  by Jan 30, 2024 and asks that you'll also share the auction with your contacts and communities of faith! CLICK/TAP HERE FOR THE ONLINE AUCTION

From Congregational Church of the Valley:

We are pleased to announce the next concert in our Extraordinary Evening of Music series is scheduled for Sunday, December 17 at 7 PM! 

With two pianos and an organ on our stage, these gifted artists will perform a program featuring traditional Christmas favorites such as ‘Sleigh Ride’, ‘The Little Drummer Boy’, and selections from ‘The Nutcracker Suite’ along with some non-Christmas music like Ravel’s ‘Bolero’.  So please join us for what will certainly be another truly memorable evening.

Presale tickets may be purchased online for just $30 by clicking here or by calling 480-451-4565. Free admission for students.

Tickets will also be available at the door for $35. The concert is being presented at the Congregational Church of the Valley, 12001 E Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale.