If your church has participated or will participate in a local Pride Month event, send us photos so we can share them! Email Wende at wgonzales@uccswc.org.
Check out the Albuquerque Pride Parade video from Rev. Dr. Sarah Townes of Church of the Good Shepherd!
Desert Garden UCC will host a barbershop quartet event on June 16 at 7 pm. Group singing and cool treats are open to all with a free will offering.
From Rev. Sue Joiner at First Congregational Albuquerque:
Last week, the Bernalillo County Planning Commission considered a proposal for a mosque and Islamic community center in the North Valley. What began as concerns about traffic and land use gave way, in some cases, to fear, misinformation, and hostility toward Muslims and their faith. After threats were made, the Islamic Center asked to defer the hearing. In the same week, we also saw vandalism at a local synagogue and Jewish Community Center.
Antisemitism and Islamophobia cannot be allowed to stand. In this moment, we have a concrete way to respond by standing with the Muslim community as they seek to build their center.
The Islamic Center is seeking what every faith community seeks: a place to gather, to pray, and to serve. This is a matter of basic religious freedom and of the kind of community we want to be.
If you would like to share your support, you can sign the petition HERE.
Bags of Hope: Interfaith Heat Relief Bag Packing Events
Sunday, June 28, 3:00 – 4:30 PM
Foothills Christian Church, 3951 W Happy Valley Rd, Glendale, AZ 85310
Join Arizona Faith Network for a powerful, hands-on service opportunity as we come together across communities to pack Heat Relief Bags for those most vulnerable to Arizona’s extreme summer temperatures. These interfaith events are open to all who want to help protect lives and show compassion in action. Each event will include community-building, light refreshments, and the chance to pack bags that will be distributed through AFN’s network of Heat Relief Sites and outreach partners.
Make a tangible difference this summer. Help pack Bags of Hope and ensure no one is left in the heat. Please RSVP using the link below so that we can keep you updated via email. RSVP
UCC Musicians Association National Conference, July 8 – 11, 2026 in Columbus Ohio
By all accounts, The Good Shepherd UCC's first Dinner Church experience was a smashing success, with over 50 people in attendance, bringing great side dishes and good conversation. They had guided questions that centered around dining experience. They plan to have two more Dinner Church experiences this summer on July 15th, and August 12th and are working on themes and ideas.
Until Thursday, June 18, people of faith and conscience have a critical chance to shape the future of water protection in New Mexico. Federal rollbacks stripped the Clean Water Act safeguards from up to 95% of streams and 88% of our wetlands. Water is life and this puts all lives in New Mexico at risk - human and more-than-human. In response, our state is writing new rules for our Surface Water Quality Permitting Program and New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light needs your help to pass the strongest rules possible.
The most impactful thing we can do is use our voices to tell the Water Quality Control Commission that our waters must be protected with robust and comprehensive rules that priortize the integrity and health of ecosystems above industry.
Rev. Dr. Ryan Tate and Rev. Clara Sims of First Congregational Albuquerque spoke at the State Capitol for the Surface Water Permitting Rulemaking! Join them and lots of other IPL folks by signing-up to give public comment HERE!
Death of Retired Clergy Spouses:
The Rev. Robert Bradstreet's wife, Beth died last week. He served for years at First Congregational UCC in Prescott prior to retiring. You can reach out to Rev. Robert at robertbradstreet@gmail.com.
The Rev. James Meadow's wife, Georgiana died on Tuesday of this week. You can reach out to Rev. Jim at jmeadows1889@gmail.com. A Celebration of Life for Georgiana will be held on Saturday, June 20, at 10:00 AM at Church of the Beatitudes.
I know we keep both of our brothers in our prayers and also the friends that Beth and Georgianna made here in Arizona and across the nation.
Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Gloria J. Smith
Associate Conference Minister for Search and Call, Congregational Transitions
Church of the Red Rocks member Dirk Trowbridge, who is their Property Management Ministry co-chair, beautifully restored the Peace Pole near the church's sanctuary entrance.
Redress & Reconciliation with the UCC and Hawaii's The Pūʻā Foundation: Learn more about this movement and how the Cornerstone Fund is working with the foundation to support their important projects: https://cornerstonefund.org/pua-foundation/