Shepherd of the Hills’ Wednesday Wanderers Book Club gathers weekly for conversation, reflection, and shared learning.
Beginning this Wednesday, March 18, we will start How We Win: A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning by George Lakey. This practical and hopeful book explores how ordinary people can organize effectively for justice through nonviolent movements and collective action.
Each gathering stands on its own, so you are always welcome to join whether this is your first time or you have been part of the group all along.
📚 Our Book: How We Win: A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning by George Lakey
🕙 When: Wednesdays at 10:00 AM (Zoom)
🔗 Zoom (same link as always): Join Here
All are welcome. Bring your coffee, your curiosity, and your heart.
A group of nine folks from The Good Shepherd UCC headed to Guatemala this past weekend to study Spanish, live with families, and engage with their Probigua Scholarship partners in Antigua. This will be the 13th or 14th time the Good Shepherd has sent a group to Guatemala. Many in the congregation have supported the Progibua Scholarship program for promising students from remote villages that wouldn't be able to continue their education past about 4th grade when government supported education ends.
Sun Lakes UCC is downsizing and has hymnals, choir robes, and choir music that need new church homes. They have:
About 100 New Century Hymnals along with the accompanist’s three-ringed edition.
20 white choir robes along with stoles in green, yellow, gold, blue and purple.
Loads of choir music.
Any congregation interested in more information, feel free to contact Marge Harris: rharris@wesleyan.edu.
On Sunday, April 19th, Black Mountain UCC member Maeleen Thorius will present a one hour workshop after worship on how to become dementia friendly. Maeleen summers in Amana, IA and is a certified trainer for Dementia Friendly Iowa. The purpose of the program is to provide education about dementia so that our community is an informed, safe, and respectful place for people living with dementia and their caregivers. The workshop learning objective is to increase understanding of dementia, challenge misconceptions and stigmas, connect with resources, and engage in community support. Attendees will leave the workshop with a workbook, greater understanding of dementia, and lack Mountain UCC will be on the way to becoming a Dementia Friendly Church.
Scottsdale Congregational will participate in the Scottsdale No Kings rally held near Fashion Square at the intersection of East Camelback Road and North Scottsdale Road, on Saturday, March 28 from 9:00 am to 12 noon. If you'd like to join them, meet at the church at 8 am to make a sign to carry during the rally. They'll carpool to the rally at 8:30 am. Or meet them at 9 am in front of Culinary Dropout at 7135 East Camelback Road. RSVP to Elias Gonzalez at (626) 614.4167 or alchemist2995@gmail.com. Give him your name, total number in party, your cell number and email address.
Any other churches planning to participate in your local No Kings rally? Let us know and be sure to send photos/videos to Wende at wgonzales@uccswc.org to publish in the Loop and on the socials.
Taos UCC holds a virtual Lectio Divina group every Thursday morning, 7:30–8:00 am NM / 6:30–7:00 am AZ on Zoom. Everyone is welcome.
First Congregational UCC Albuquerque, a Peace with Justice church, is considering their response to the war. One response is to ring the church bells at noon each day. One person, Tom Stuart is doing this on Wednesdays and Sundays, and they are looking for more people to ring the bells one day each week at noon as a call for peace.
Join Arizona Interfaith Power & Light on the South Rim for an afternoon of storytelling, imagination, and connection. We will invite participants to share three-minute stories of times and places when they felt deeply connected — to themselves, to their neighbors, to nature, to the Holy.
Community artists and musicians will spark our imaginations around the theme of “Sacred Earth.” We will conclude with an optional nature walk to Shoshone Point.
Saturday, May 2, 2026 | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Shrine of the Ages, South Rim, Grand Canyon
🌄 Sunday Nature Experience (Optional) - We will walk together to Shoshone Point for a quiet nature experience and interfaith worship on Sunday, May 3 @ 10:00 AM.
Planning Ahead - Lodging at the Grand Canyon fills up quickly. Please make reservations early at nearby campgrounds or motels in the National Park or nearby Tusayan.
Interfaith Day at the Capitol
Wednesday, March 25, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Arizona State Capitol
Join us for our 2026 We Are One Beloved Community: Arizona Interfaith Day at the Capitol, with options to attend for part or all of the day. This day of prophetic witness will include singing and chatting, finding common ground with people of other faiths, and meeting with state legislators. This event is taking place as part of the Prophetic Witness Campaign, and more details are available at this RSVP link.
Justa Center is actively searching for a strong candidate for their Director of Programs and are hoping to reach a wide pool of applicants. You can view the job description and application details here.
Click here to read United Church Funds’ 2025 Annual Report, “Rooted in Faith. Forward in Mission.” This report shows what your partnership makes possible. Together, we advance responsible investing grounded in the traditions of the United Church of Christ.
Inside the report, you will see how your investments contribute to meaningful change — from addressing systemic risks through strategic advocacy to collaborating with partners to build a more just and sustainable world.
The First Church Phoenix congregation voted unanimously to become a congregation that commits to being Accessible to All (A2A). What exactly does that mean? Thanks to Deni Nordmeyer and her committee who worked diligently for 18 months to educate themselves and to present a series of topics on accessibility to the congregation, members voted to approve the following A2A covenant:
"As followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ, who welcomed all people with dignity and compassion, we affirm that every person is created in the image of God. We recognize our responsibility to create a worship and community space that is fully accessible, welcoming, and inclusive to people of all abilities. We, the congregants of First Church UCC, Phoenix commit to becoming a church that is accessible to all. This covenant expresses our ongoing commitment to justice, hospitality, and inclusion for all."