Desert Palm was proud to walk with the Arizona Interfaith Movement during the Mesa MLK Celebration.
First Church Phoenix walked in the downtown Phoenix parade.
The Needles and Pins group at Church of the Palms made homemade gifts for Christmas for the Phoenix Indian Center including 213 crocheted soap bags (soap and washcloth in one), 220 stocking caps/scarves, adult bibs, walker bags, lap quilts, and twiddles (activity arm bracelets for dementia patients).
Congratulations to Rachael Ryan, owner of Backyard Farms, the 2023 NMSU Entrepreneur Hall of Fame inductee. She is a tenant of First Christian Church in Las Cruces, NM. She maintains the fields behind the church, has hydroponics in the classroom wing, and is currently focused on freeze-drying foods. The process creates fruit and vegetable packs that, among other things, are shared with refugees and asylum seekers as they travel to their sponsors.
The UCC Open and Affirming Coalition is incredibly proud of its new website and logo. Please click around and let us know what you think!
The Casas Adobes Eclectic Book Club finalized its 2024 reading list at its first meeting. I’ve read 6 of these and they are great. I’m sure the rest are, too. Enjoy!
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Bicycling with Butterflies by Sarah Dykman
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Justice. It's a Jesus Thing. If you agree, this UCC t-shirt is for you.
Based on verses from Matthew 25:31-46: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." This is just one of several T-shirts now available.
To help support Church of the Good Shepherd Youth Group’s trip to La Casa de la Misericordia they are doing a 50/50 Raffle (winner of the drawing gets 50% of raffle sales, and 50% goes towards the Youth Group trip expenses). Tickets are $2 each, or 3 for $5. Any excess funds will be donated to La Casa. La Casa is a Southwest Conference supported refugee shelter in Nogales, MX.
Every year, the United Church of Santa Fe co-sponsors FebFest with the Albuquerque-based chorus, Coro Lux. FebFest is a weekend event for singers who work with a renowned Black conductor to learn and perform works by Black composers. In addition to rehearsals, there are sessions meant to deepen understanding of the music and its cultural context. If you'd like to participate, get information and register HERE.
I end with a super picture of Conference Minister Toni Hawkins and retiring Associate Conference Minister Barb Doerrer-Peacock. Barb, you will be missed. Please enjoy a restful, creative, love-filled retirement. Holly
