Books, Books, Books, will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 3, in the Zuni room on the second floor of La Perla at La Posada. All are welcome. February's book is John Dominic Crossan's "The Power of Parable: How Parables by Jesus became Parables about Jesus". This is the theme of the weekend seminar with Crossan to be held at The Good Shepherd, February 19-20. If you have any questions about the book group meeting, please call Jane or Burt Eubank at 520-393-6593.
The Art of Deep Listening
· Are you in a helping profession and ready to take the next step or are you looking
for spiritual direction training?
· Are you at the point where you want to explore deeper levels of the faith life?
· Have you ever asked - "I wish I knew how to be present to this person without trying to fix them?"
· Do you yearn for connection to community beyond "programmatic" offerings?
· Are you ready to go deeper with yourself, God and others?
If you have answered, "yes" to these questions, then:
"THE ART OF DEEP LISTENING" may be the place for you!
Using the practice of "Spiritual Direction/Companioning" as our guide, this 6-month
community will explore the gift of deep listening to God, self and others.
Visit the Pathways of Grace website for more information.
Sun Lakes UCC, Sun Lakes
Sun Lakes UCC will celebrate its one year anniversary of its Open & Affirming vote on Sunday,
January 24, 2016. The service will include a congregational renewal of Sun Lakes' ONA Covenant,
along with some special hymns and the distribution of rainbow ribbons.
Black Mountain, Scottsdale
Black Mountain continues to offer Prayer Shawls thanks to the wonderful work of several in the
congregation. Anyone, in town or out of town, who would love the comfort of a prayer shawl, may contact the church to make arrangements. Much comfort comes from a shawl which has been made with love and sent off with the prayers and blessings of the Black Mountain congregation.
Desert Garden, Sun City
Last year excitement for the Super Bowl was high because the big game day was in Glendale, and
Desert Garden launched a Soup for Super Bowl drive as part of the excitement. Some may not
be as excited about this year's game, but the need for food has not changed at Valley View Food
Bank. Desert Garden is again collecting soup to fill the Soup Bowl for the Valley View Food Bank.
Rincon Congregational, Tucson
Seven Rincon members and friends representing Rincon stood in solidarity with our Islamic
brothers and sisters at the Islamic Center of Tucson's (ICT) prayer service, lecture and meal.
Members prayed with and met some women from their community who visited Rincon and shared hospitality and faith stories with us.
First Congregational Church, Phoenix
First Congregational provided haircuts for 35, and lunch for 150, homeless
individuals, on Dec. 22nd!
Dogs and cats get cold, too! First Congregational's Pet Ministry is collecting used blankets and
towels to donate to local shelters, for animals in need of end of life comfort.
KTIZO, Phoenix
KTIZO is having a Harmonic Happy Hour the Sunday before Valentine's Day (Feb 7th).
Women of all ages are invited to a Happy Hour presented as a gift of love. The event is being
planned and executed by men and sons with their loved ones, mothers, wives, friends, sisters in
mind. The Ktizo band is creating a program that is sure to warm the heart. The men from
beginning to the end will do the rest, creating an assortment of good things to eat, waiting tables, and sharing special special talents worthy of the occasion.
First Congregational Church, Albuquerque
A sweet note was left in First Congregational's church mailbox recently...
First Congregational is also collecting doors to paint and put outside with a sign that conveys the
message "Our doors are open to EVERYONE!!"
Shepherd of the Hills Congregational, Phoenix
Family Promise of Greater Phoenix is coming to Shepherd of the Hills January 24th-31st.
Shepherd of the Hills is looking forward to hosting homeless families again!
Desert Palm, Tempe
Wanted:
Grand Piano Desert Palm UCC in Tempe is looking for a grand piano in excellent
condition from 5' 4" to 5' 9" in length to fit our current space and with either wood grain or a color that would complement our sanctuary. Please keep Desert Palm in mind if you know of a piano that would fit our needs. Contact: Jon Sywassink, Minister of Music, jsywas@aol.com.
Desert Palm Youth are sponsoring Souper Bowl Sunday on February 7th, Super Bowl Sunday.
Soup and bread will be provided after worship, and fans can root for their favorite football team both before and after worship by donating to the AFC bowl, the NFC bowl, or their favorite team.
Donations will be divided between a local community service organization chosen by Desert Palm
Youth, and the Heifer Project.
The Good Shepherd UCC, Sahuarita
Border Issues Fair
The Border Issues Fair is just around the corner, Sat. Jan. 16, beginning at 8
a.m. with exhibits and registration. Presenters: Margaret Regan, journalist and author of "Detained
and Deported: Stores of Immigrant Families Under Fire"; Jenny Johnson, Washington, DC, border
policy advisor for the Southern Border Community Coalition; and Dr. Abby Wheatley, border
activist and researcher, speaking about "Migrant Mobilities: Reframing Life and Death on the
Arizona-Sonora Border." $10 donation requested. Please bring warm gloves, hat or jacket for
those in the desert.
Crossan Seminar, February 19 & 20
Don't miss the seminar with John Dominic Crossan, at the Good Shepherd, February 19 & 20. Crossan is widely known for his work with the Jesus Seminar.
The theme of the seminar is "The Power of Parable: How Parables by Jesus became Parables
about Jesus." The seminar begins Friday, Feb. 19, at 7 PM, with registration and refreshments. At
7:30 Crossan will speak about "The Types of Parable: Riddle, Example & Challenge." Saturday
there will be two morning presentations and one following lunch. Registration flyers are on the table in the Narthex or go to www.thegoodshepherducc.org at the events tab.
Beyond Jesus.... Voices of the Southwest Conference UCC
You are invited to be part of a special project by sharing in just a few words how God
spoke to you...changed you...blessed you through a special person, along with a picture of
both of you.
Your short paragraph and picture will be transformed into poster-sized art along with other
voices throughout our conference. The completed project will be available to display and
share at any of our conferences churches who wish to do so. We may even find community
spaces where the project will be shown and others can see and hear how God is still
speaking through our family, friends and even strangers. Please consider sharing your
story.
For more information or to participate please contact the project coordinator, Phil Shea, at
philipshea@justicestar.org or 602-663-5065.This project is sponsored by a grant from the
Scottsdale Congregational Beyond Jesus Project and other individual donors.
Dorhauer Authors Foreword to Investigative Article on Religious Liberty
United Church of Christ General Minister and President the Rev. John Dorhauer has
written the foreword to a major article on religious liberty in our country that investigates
how the religious right in America - evangelical Protestant Christians and U.S. Roman
Catholic bishops - is using the term "religious freedom" to infringe on people's civil rights.
...Dorhauer writes that progressive faith communities can't allow American Christianity to
be hijacked. "We can't allow the Religious Right to twist the meaning of religious liberty to
the point that it becomes the means by which their theocratic vision is finally and fully
realized," he writes. "For decades now, they have fought to erode or redefine the very
freedoms the Constitution was written to protect. It would be unwise of us to either turn a
blind eye to their machinations or to dismiss the ongoing effectiveness of their efforts."
Read the full article here.
Bi-vocational Ministry Conference
MESA and its predecessor bodies have long been a part of Professional Church Leaders (PCL), an annual convening of ecumenical denominational leaders. PCL is pleased to announce that it will host a conference, “Bi-Vocational Ministry in the 21st Century,” April 15-16, 2016 at Epworth by the Sea on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. This conference is designed for bi-vocational ministers and for governing body and judicatory executives, with workshops and keynotes at a beautiful location.
Registration is now open! http://events.uccpages.org/bivocational2016.html
Contact Elizabeth Dilley (dilleye@ucc.org) if you have any questions.
MID Scholarships
Each year United Church of Christ Association Committees on Ministry are invited to nominate their Members in Discernment to be considered for a “Make A Difference! Educational Support Award.” The application is now online and opened January 1, 2016. Nominations are due by 11:59 PM on March 1, 2016.
The application form is found at http://www.ucc.org/ministry_education_scholarships. Award amounts vary by year and fund availability, please see website for eligibility requirements. Questions can be directed to Pat Lyden in the UCC Office of Philanthropy and Stewardship (lydenp@ucc.org).
The Titans and the Dreamers Concert
Make this a Fulfilling New Year
Isolated elders living in their own homes throughout our community have wonderful stories to share, yet often yearn for visitors. Duet volunteers provide the gift of lifting spirits while also meeting very special people. Service options also include grocery shopping, offering rides to medical appointments, and more.
Call 602-274-5022 to register for a Duet volunteer orientation set for
Saturday, January 16, from 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM at
Dove of the Desert UMC
7201 W Beardsley
Phoenix, AZ 85308
OR
Saturday, February 20, from 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM at
La Casa De Cristo Lutheran Church
6300 E Bell Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Visit www.duetaz.org for more options. Our members who no longer are able to drive are welcome to request free-of-charge volunteer assistance. Thank you!
Back Bay Mission’s Shari Prestemon Social Justice Internship
The application process for Back Bay Mission’s Shari Prestemon Social Justice Internship is open!
This internship provides a unique opportunity to members of the United Church of Christ between the ages of 19 and 35. During this 10-week summer internship, participants will:
- Work directly with Mission staff in each of our program areas. This includes our emergency assistance, housing rehabilitation, volunteer, and supportive housing programs, as well as the Micah Day Center.
- Meet with leaders in the Biloxi community, including staff at other nonprofit organizations in Biloxi, Mississippi, and the surrounding area.
- Have the opportunity to focus on specific ministry areas of special interest to them.
- This internship will nurture participants’ passion for social justice and develop their appreciation for the church’s role in seeking social justice.
We recognize the value of our interns and the financial burdens that can come with taking on an internship. The Mission covers the cost of travel to and from Biloxi and interns stay in Mission housing (the Cottage) with other long-term volunteers. In addition, we provide a generous stipend of $250 per week.
Interested people can learn more about the Shari Prestemon Social Justice Internship and download the application on our website.
They can also read about the experiences of previous interns on our website.
Statement of Concern from Church of the Good Shepherd
We the Council Members of the Church of the Good Shepherd, United Church of Christ in Albuquerque, New Mexico, hereby state our concern about the growth of racism and intolerance toward the Muslim community. Recent rhetoric by Donald Trump and other presidential candidates has exploited the fears and ignorance of many of our citizens, including those in Albuquerque. Mr. Trump has suggested that our nation issue special identification cards for Muslim-Americans, that there be a national registry of Muslims, that mosques be closed and Muslims be prohibited from entering the United States. Such measures are unconstitutional and morally reprehensible. While many public officials and news commentators have spoken out against these ideas, it is imperative that we, as a faith community also make our opinions known.
We are reminded of the words of German pastor and theologian, Martin Neimoller who wrote of a previous era of intolerance:
“First they came for the socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Finally, they came for me and there was no one left to speak out.”
We support Muslims and people of God everywhere who reject terrorism and work instead for peace. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in faith who are Islamic and pledge to do all in our power to protect them from discriminatory laws, acts of violence, intimidation and social isolation. We call upon all in Albuquerque and New Mexico to do the same.
Church Council
Church of the Good Shepherd, United Church of Christ
Albuquerque, New Mexico
December 14, 2015