Shepherd of the Hills surpassed all previous years in their toy drive for NourishPhx by collecting 225 toys and over $600 in cash! Lots of happy kids this year!
Scottsdale UCC collected gifts for seniors at the Granite Reef Senior Center. The gifts have all been delivered. Lots of happy seniors this year!
Rev. ellie from The Good Shepherd in Sahuarita started going inside the Florence Prison to worship alongside the Transwomxn there. She is hosting a holiday party at 3pm on Sunday, December 21st inside the prison and has permission to take homemade cookies or holiday treats to inside (for the first time ever). She is hoping to collect at least 15 to 20 dozen of cookies/treats so that the Transwomxn can hand out as many as they can to the men who are incarcerated (this is both a holiday giving offer as well as an "olive branch" to the men who may have some issues with this particular population getting access to any outdoor resources).
Were you ever a member of Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona? The church dedicated the month of October to a once-in-a-decade celebration. To commemorate it, they have created a 65th Anniversary Celebration Magazine. CLICK HERE to view it.
Black Mountain UCC brought Christmas to the Justa Center this week. Paula entertained with Christmas music! The Missions team served lunch to 31 guests, plus staff and drop ins. They also left coffee supplies and fruit snacks to stock up their pantry shelves.
First Congregational in Albuquerque has a gift exchange table where you can bring things you don’t want and take things to give away. It is fun to see all the ways folks can help each other give without spending a dime!
TIHAN (Tucson Interfaith HIV and AIDS Network) provides support for people living with HIV by creating an inclusive network of religious, secular, corporate and non-profit organizations. The Good Shepherd and Cornerstone Fellowship of Tucson have volunteered to support TIHAN's Christmas Dinner on Thursday December 18 from 3:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Tucson. Good Shepherd is responsible for collecting 200 items of deodorant sticks, shaving cream cans, shampoo, and 2-3 blade razors. Volunteers will be providing set-up, checking in guests, serving meals, handing out presents, and cleaning up. Volunteers will enjoy pizza prior to the TIHAN meal. A wonderful giving Christmas experience for Good Shepherd in Sabuarita.
From the National UCC: Andrew Young is still fighting the Good Fight. The 93-year-old Civil Rights activist continues to share his insights with an Atlanta UCC church, and his life’s work is the focus of a new MS NOW documentary. Read
Southern Arizona Interfaith Social and Clergy Care Gathering
Wednesday, December 17, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
(Tucson location sent upon RSVP)
Join the Arizona Faith Network for an evening of movie watching, hanging by the fire pit, eating & drinking, prayer, and community in the beauty of a West Tucson outdoor event space. Together, we’ll gather to view a holiday movie together and of course have some munchies and beverages (bring your own drink and something for the group to munch on). We’re hoping that this is a space for rest and gratitude, along with some reflection and connection across faith traditions.
We’ll begin at 6:15 pm - please bring a chair (or something to sit on), something to stay warm like a blanket, something you like to drink, and some snacky foods to share. We’ll provide the film, hot chocolate, camp fires and s’mores.
This event is open to all faiths, traditions, and backgrounds. Whether you come seeking silence, companionship, or just a break, you’re welcome to join us as we convene so that we can all just take a break and be in company with one another.
RSVP to Rev. ellie hutchison at ellie.hutchison@azfaithnetwork.org for the event location
The Bike Coop at First Church Phoenix was founded in 2024 as a safe space to fix up donated bicycles and distribute them based on need and bike availability. The Coop also supports the cycling needs of the church through repair opportunities, as well as fun events and rides. The Coop also offers a free library of bicycle-related publications. The volunteers of the Bike Coop are striving to build a resilient and sustainable bicycle ministry aligned with the purposes and ministries of First Church. While unlikely to ever have a large number of bikes or clients, the coop’s focus on assisting individuals, getting to know them a bit, learning their names and stories, feels like a direct and loving way to support and empower people in a time of uncertainty and tough news cycles. Donations to the coop take many forms – from volunteering time to fix bicycles, to donating bicycles, bike parts, tires, and more.