The Good Shepherd UCC has "...a table in the Exhibit Hall at General Synod where people can learn about all of the amazing ministries we have going down here. Once again, we are the only local church in the whole United Church of Christ that will have a table there."
Shepherd of the Hills UCC is hosting a blood drive, partnering with the American Red Cross, on Sunday, July 20, from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm. Appointments are strongly encouraged.
If you are visiting Sedona this summer, stop by Church of the Red Rocks and check out classroom B next to the office. There are beautiful photographs by fine art photographer Beth Kingsley Hawkins. She is also a music therapist and owns the Hummingbird Gallery in the Village of Oak Creek.
First Congregational in Albuquerque is increasing its support of the Food Pantry at the University of New Mexico (UNM). A study in 2023 of food insecurity at NM colleges and universities showed that 58 percent of students were food insecure. Statistics for LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color are even higher:
Native American students experienced 70 percent food insecurity;
Black students, 68 percent;
LGBTQ+, 64 percent;
Asian, 55 percent;
White 53 percent.
Church members supported the Pantry on “Souper Bowl Sunday,” designated the Pantry as the recipient of their Cash for Change jar, and is holding a “Welcome Back to School” UNM Food Pantry Donation Challenge in August.
A HUGE congratulations for Rev. Ryan Tate (now Rev. Dr. Tate!) for completing his final capstone project in his Doctorate of Ministry program! Ryan’s capstone project is a documentary entitled “Holy Ground: Sacred Ecologies of Place.” Ryan showed the documentary at First Congregational Albuquerque on Friday, July 11th in the church library. Congratulations, Dr. Ryan on this beautiful accomplishment!
Bags of Hope: Interfaith Heat Relief Bag Packing Event
Sunday, July 20, 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Community Christian Church, 1701 S College Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281
Join Arizona Faith Network for a powerful, hands-on service opportunity as we pack Heat Relief Bags for those most vulnerable to Arizona’s extreme summer temperatures. This interfaith event is open to all who want to help protect lives and show compassion in action. The bags will be distributed through AFN’s network of Heat Relief Sites.
First Christian Church in Las Cruces will participate in the Indivisible “Good Trouble Lives on - in Honor of John Lewis” protest on July 17th. They prepared by making posters last week.
Cooling Center donations at Desert Palm UCC: Just a quick update re what all we could use at the cooling center. We offer coffee in the morning so we're going through a fair amount of coffee, cups, and sugar. We put granola bars and PB&J sandwiches out each day. We also make lemonade (with powder mix). If you're curious to see it in action you can always drop by to make sandwiches or to drop off a bag of ice.
So again:
ziplock sandwich bags
large bags of chips (any kind)
bread
coffee
creamer (powder or fresh)
powder lemonade mix
watermelon (for a special treat)
