STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART ART SHOW
at The Church of the Palms UCC
Opening day: March 14, 1:30–3:30 pm through March 29
Saturdays from 1:30 – 3:00 pm and Sundays during coffee hour after worship
Curated by Tisha Wir, Straight From the Heart highlights artwork by incarcerated women and men, uplifting stories of resilience, restoration, and hope through art.
St. Paul’s UCC in Rio Rancho had a fun game day last week!
On February 21, six Stephen Ministers from Church of the Red Rocks traveled to Phoenix to attend the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Stephen Ministry and be part of a day-long conference focused on building a caring work and help people who are grieving, and supporting those affected by cancer.
Shadow Rock UCC offers the following ministries:
Legal Clinics for Know Your Rights
Financial Assistance for Legal Fees and Living Expenses
Support Group Meetings
Accompaniment to ICE Check-ins and Immigration Court Appearances
Making Food and Medication Runs
Safe Zone Launch Pad
Rev. Michael Bush at Casas Adobes Congregational has forwarded a request from Hazel Heinzer, a local organizer and a friend:
Help us defeat the anti-trans ballot referrals in AZ!
As many of you know, there is a coordinated effort to put several anti-trans measures on the Arizona ballot this November, including bans on school sports, bathroom access, and pronoun use.
We are currently gathering a list of folks who are willing to share their experiences to help defeat these measures. Whether you want to stay anonymous or go on camera, we need your voice. We believe the most powerful way to change hearts and minds is by centering the real people these bills impact.
We are looking for:
-Trans youth and young adults
-Families and parents of trans kids
-Current or former teachers and coaches
-Dedicated allies
How you can help:
If you’re open to sharing your story, whether it’s a private written statement, a short video, or speaking at a hearing, please let us know by filling out this brief interest form.
Note: Filling this out is NOT a public commitment. It just lets our organizing team know we can reach out to you when the time comes. We will never use your story without your explicit consent first.
Albuquerque: There will be an ICE Observer Training offered by the ACLU on Wednesday, March 4 at 3 p.m. at St Andrew Presbyterian, 5301 Ponderosa NE. Learn how to protect yourself as you stand in solidarity with our whole community legally, safely and peacefully.
First Congregational Albuquerque, by a vote of the Ministry Leadership Team, has joined 30 other faith-based organizations in signing an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief which defends our nation’s asylum laws. This case seeks to halt the current administration’s practice of preventing immigrants at our border from stepping foot onto U. S. soil at ports of entry in order to request asylum. The brief was one of ten briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court last week in support of Al Otro Lado (The Other Side), a California-based organization which won a favorable ruling from the 9th District Circuit Court of Appeals. The administration has appealed the case to the Supreme Court. The case is now Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security v. Al Otro Lado. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for March 24, 2026, which is also the anniversary of the assassination of Bishop (now Saint) Oscar Romero at the beginning of the Salvadoran civil war in 1980. The Court’s decision is expected in June. For a summary of this amicus curiae brief, click here.
Interfaith Dialogue: Shared Values in American Scripture
Thursday, March 19, 5:00 - 6:00 pm MST via Zoom
Join AFN for a series of four monthly online gatherings followed by an interfaith prayer vigil as we mark 250 years of the American experiment. Drawing on the faith250 framework, we will gather to reflect on texts that have shaped our history, from the call of the New Colossus, to the promise of the Declaration of Independence and more. We will hear from diverse guest speakers and together, we will seek divine guidance to move beyond polarization and toward a future where "liberty and justice for all" is a lived reality for every neighbor.
Register here to receive Zoom information and occasional updates about the series. You may participate in as many of the five sessions as your schedule allows.
Last week Desert Garden UCC's Cycles of Kindness Bike program reached a new milestone by surpassing 300 bikes being donated in 22 months. After being checked out and repaired by a member of the Sun City West Cyclist Club they are given to those needing transportation. They have given bikes to four different elementary schools, Home Base Shelter, and West Valley Housing Assistance Center. Most recently they have given bikes to the Thrive program, which works with youth aging out of the foster care program, as well as to Rio Salado College for students needing transportation to get to their GED classes. The RISE program that works with children and adults with disabilities has taken three three-wheel bikes. We are grateful to all those who have donated bikes and to Doug Culliton who has done the repairs. If you would like to make a financial contribution to the Cycles of Kindness bike program by check, please put Cycles of Kindness on the memo line.
The Church of the Palms UCC's shower trailer ministry celebrated its fifth anniversary on February 23, exceeding 5000 showers given since its inception in 2021!