Mary C. from Shepherd of the Hills welcomed a couple into the sanctuary this week. Through the miracles of DNA matching they recently connected with a family unknown to them until just recently. The couple, from Sun City, planned to be near-by so asked to schedule a visit to see the stained glass windows they had heard so much about from their newly recognized family. They were very intrigued by the uniqueness of the chunks of art glass set in the dark cement looking epoxy. They walked each window and Mary was able to share the inspiration behind the windows as our UCC Statement of Faith. Take a look here to view this unique church art. The last stained glass window, "Eternal Life", was dedicated to the family member of these sanctuary guests.
A 11:11 am on June 17, all 99 panels in Church of the Red Rocks’ PV solar array were producing clean electricity. The APS electricians installed two new meters to measure the bidirectional flow from the church to the grid and, when required, from PS to the church. (I don’t know what that means, but it sounds impressive!). Chris, from Rooftop Solar, then climbed up to fine tune panels inverters, and other components to get the system running at strong efficiency.
P.S. a few days ago, the solar panels generated twice as much electricity as was used!
Statement from the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ In Response to Supreme Court Decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti (in part)
“Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth is a moral failure and a heartbreaking injustice. This ruling abandons vulnerable children and their families to the political whims of state governments, disregarding the lived realities, medical consensus, and human dignity of transgender youth.
As people of faith committed to justice and radical inclusion, the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ grieves this ruling and the harm it inflicts. We reject the idea that any government has the right to deny life-saving, evidence-based healthcare because of a young person’s gender identity. We reject a theology that would permit such cruelty. And we reject the misuse of power that seeks to control, erase, and endanger trans lives.
This decision is not just a legal setback—it is a spiritual wound. Trans and nonbinary youth are beloved children of God, created in the divine image, worthy of care, protection, and the fullness of life. Every attack on their rights is an attack on the sacredness of creation itself.
We are clear: Our trans and nonbinary siblings are not alone. We will not abandon you. The church, when it is truly living into the Gospel, must stand with the marginalized, defend the oppressed, and speak boldly against unjust laws. We remain steadfast in our commitment to creating sanctuaries of love, safety, and affirmation—especially in states where this care is now banned……..”
Arizona Faith Network special event! New Location!
Bags of Hope: Interfaith Heat Relief Bag Packing Event
TUCSON: Sunday, June 29, 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Saguaro Christian Church, 8302 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ
Volunteers Needed for Cooling and Hydration Centers in Tempe
The Respite Coalition of Tempe will operate three cooling & hydration centers this Summer in Tempe: in June at University Presbyterian Church, in July at Desert Palm UCC, and in August at Community Christian Church. In order to staff the centers, they have created a "SignUpGenius" link with either 3 or 4-hour volunteer shifts. If you'd like to help them ensure that the community is cared for during the hottest part of the year, please consider volunteering using the link below. (Because of a city statue being used to keep city-sponsored and funded Cooling Centers at least 1000 ft away from a school, these 3 churches decided to self-fund their own joint respite center by sharing the cost and space. Donations of fruit, snacks, and bread for PBJs are also welcomed! Thank you to Arizona Faith Network for funding a staff person to assist at each site.).
COOLING AND HYDRATION CENTER SIGN UP
Thank you to Paul Whitlock from Church of the Palms for always giving me a few chuckles on a slow week! (Holly)
What do you call a lazy kangaroo in the summer? A pouch potato!
What kind of music do mummies listen to in the summer? Wrap music!
What do you call a sad strawberry? A blueberry!
What's a vampire's favorite fruit? A neck-tarine!
What's a bird's favorite type of math? Owl-gebra!
What do you call cheese that isn't yours? Nacho cheese!
Why are ghosts bad at lying? Because you can see right through them!
What do you call a boomerang that won't come back? A stick!
Why did the picture go to jail? Because it was framed!
A.I. prompt: Summer jokes for kids