Desert Palm UCC is excited to welcome Rev. Erin Tamayo as their new Director of Education. Erin is a bilingual educator, ordained minister, interfaith community organizer, and nonprofit leader with more than 25 years of experience working in schools, universities, churches, and faith rooted organizations, including serving as the founding Executive Director of Arizona Faith Network. She works as a Global Educator and teacher trainer at Arizona State University. Erin holds degrees in Bilingual Education, Spanish, Multicultural Education/ESL, Masters of Divinity, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Social Change, and various certificates in Nonprofit Management and Communications. Erin is a regular attendee of Desert Palm and is also the founder of ALAS Initiative (Aligned Learning and Action for Social Change), which has been featured in the Breeze, and helps people connect learning with action creating spaces where children, youth, and adults can grow together through compassion, critical thinking, and community engagement. She looks forward to bringing her experience to Desert Palm and working together with the congregation to strengthen educational ministries, support youth, and foster meaningful intergenerational collaboration rooted in justice, belonging, and collective care.
Rincon Congregational is trying out Plastic Free July. Their Creation Care group will host a discussion during fellowship hour on July 26 to share our ideas, challenges, successes—and a vision of a world without plastic waste. Some resources: My Plastic Free Life and The Problem with Plastic, by Judith Enck with Adam Mahoney, published 2025.
We offer up healing prayers for Rev. Dr. Guillermo Márquez-Sterling, Senior Pastor at Church of the Red Rocks. He underwent a total knee replacement in his right leg on Friday, June 26.
He's recovering well, receiving glowing reports from his physical therapist, and being cared for with excellence by his wife Maria. He hopes to return to the church with limited hours later this week!
First Congregational Albuquerque’s Social Justice and Outreach team leaders and members of the Ministry Leadership Team have selected Tree New Mexico as their Cash for Change recipient through October 4. Tree New Mexico was recommended by their Green Justice Team, in conjunction with their emphasis on trees for Earth Day, and continuing programming about trees thereafter. The groups recognize the many ways that we benefit from the presence of trees in our city and beyond. Tree New Mexico helps communities plant and care for trees throughout the Land of Enchantment. For more information, please see https://treenm.org
What it Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World
Wednesdays 6:30 pm AZ / 7:30 pm NM & El Paso
via Zoom July 22, 29, August 5, 12 and 19
Join us for our 5-week Summer Book Series on What it Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World. We’ll be exploring multi-faith embodiment practices and rituals from local experts and through conversations and practices, this study will help us embrace the principles of embodiment, understand the beliefs that inform them and how we move towards a future in which healing is done in community.
This book is an invitation to help us explore our bodies, minds, and souls so we can develop the interpersonal skills necessary to break down the doors of disconnection and take the necessary risks to reshape our world toward justice. REGISTRATION
For months, First Church Phoenix UCC has been traveling to Sasabe, Sonora, Mexico to support the Biblioteca Esperanza (Hope Library) and Community Center. What began as a simple vision to help foster education and safety has blossomed into a beautiful, cross-border relationship fueled entirely by the resilience of local residents and the dedication of church volunteers. They’ve been invited to The First-Ever Sasabe Mercado & ESL Graduation on July 18 and will cross the border to stand alongside our neighbors for a day of pure joy, economic empowerment, and deep relationship.
What They Are Celebrating Together:
Phase I ESL Graduation Ceremony: Honoring adult and child students who have been working hard to master English.
Food & Artisan Mercado: Support local men and women by purchasing handmade crafts, delicious food, and local products.
Featured Item: Pre-order Cristina’s family-recipe Sasabe Salsa (available in Medium or Spicy!). A portion of all sales directly benefits the ongoing Sasabe Empowerment Project.
Community Garden & Music: Take a tour of the future Sasabe Community Garden site and enjoy a special performance by the local Children’s Choir.
Read The Sasabe Empowerment Project: From Survival to Hope by Rev. Dr. Randy Mayer, Senior Pastor of The Good Shepherd UCC for more information.