Many of our congregations have events and services planned for this Ash Wednesday. Click through to view them all!
Read MoreAsh Wednesday around the Southwest Conference
in Church News
Free Cultural Humility Training, February 21 or 28
in Church News
Tonya Covington and Peacemakers Consulting will be offering two 1-day cultural humility training at Church of the Good Shepherd (7834 Tennyson St. NE in Albuquerque). You can choose to attend the February 21 or February 28 workshop (please specify when you register). The workshop will teach techniques for “interrupting” prejudicial practices and empowering ourselves as agents of change. Participants will learn the process of healing old hurts, clarifying misinformation and removing the guilt, which keeps racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of prejudice in place. You will learn the tools to empower yourself to be effective advocates. Ideally, the workshop will include members of many ethnic groups.
Facilitator: Tonya Covington is a professionally trained mediator and cultural humility consultant with over 38 years experience. Tonya was trained by the internationally known National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), Elsie Y. Cross Associates, Inc., Project Change Anti-Racism Institute and the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. Tonya has consulted, conducted workshops, seminars and programs in professional, educational and organizational settings. The workshop is free, but donations are welcomed.
Workshops are limited to 40 people so sign up today! Due to the incredibly interactive nature of this workshop, it is only being offered in-person at this time.
There will be a 1-hour break for lunch. The workshop is free, but donations are welcomed.
Please email cogs@ucccogs.org to register. We'd love for you to join us!
Read MoreJottings 2/16/2026
in Church News
Wende reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond.
What’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Tag SWC and Wende on Facebook and Instagram to get our attention so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc and Wende is @yeswende.
Our Journey: Stories from The Open Table Connection: David
in Church News
Stronger Together
Back when he was a college student, Deacon David said, “I lived at Canterbury House at the University of Kansas. We met once a week for worship, and four of us lived together.” Those memories, he admitted, “still bleed into what’s happening now.” What he remembered most was the power of showing up. “Back then, there was no internet,” he said. “If you wanted community, you went in person. That’s how you met people, learned, and grew.”
When David realized his Episcopal church was trying to start a new campus ministry from scratch, he questioned, “Why reinvent the wheel when something like The Open Table Connection already exists?” Instead of starting separate efforts, they reached out to Rhonda. “We said, we’d like to help you,” he explained. “From the beginning, we just wanted to be of assistance, to help make it strong.”
The first time David visited The Open Table, he immediately felt something special. “I was very taken with how warm it was,” he said softly. “I hesitate to use the word ‘family,’ but that’s what it felt like. I didn’t feel like I was intruding. I felt welcome.” That simple sense of belonging struck him as essential, “I thought, if I feel this way, anyone who walks through that door will too.”
Over the past year, that feeling has only deepened. David recalled one gathering after the presidential election when Rhonda invited everyone to draw or write about their fears. “It was very interesting to see how differently people interpreted that,” he said. “Some drew about the election, others about school or failing a class.” What touched him most was how “people in completely different places in life came together to share those fears and joys, without judgment.”
“That’s what makes The Open Table so powerful,” David reflected. “Even if you’re not on the same page, you can gather, share your life, and be real with one another.” He paused before adding, “In this age of technology, where we say we’re connected but really we’re isolated, a space like this matters more than ever.”
Now, when David thinks of The Open Table, he doesn’t just see a building or a ministry, he sees a living, breathing community. “It’s a place,” he said, “where connection isn’t just a word. It’s something you can feel the moment you walk in.”
Read MoreJottings 2/9/2026
in Church News
Wende reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond.
What’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Tag SWC and Wende on Facebook and Instagram to get our attention so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc and Wende is @yeswende.
New Mexico pilgrimage update!
in Church News
A Pilgrimage for Our Shared Home
On Friday, an interfaith pilgrimage in New Mexico finished a 328 mile pilgrimage that took over 25 days. Read about the pilgrimage via this blog.
Members from Taos United Community Church joined the climate pilgrims from Interfaith Power and Light on Thursday, February 5 in Santa Fe as the pilgrims finished their walk from Carlsbad, NM to the state Capitol, the "Roundhouse" in support of the Clear Horizons bill.
Much respect, gratitude, and admiration to these three who made the walk from Carlsbad:
Desirée Bernard: Executive Director of the New Mexico and El Paso branch of Interfaith Power & Light.
Rev. Clara Sims: Associate minister at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Albuquerque and a team member with NM-IPL.
Jim Ekstrand: Marketing & Communications Lead at NM-IPL and a spokesperson for the group.
Read more in this article, “Faith-based climate advocates arrive at state Capitol after 300-mile trek” in the Santa Fe New Mexican.
Read MoreJottings 2/2/2026
in Church News
Wende reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond.
What’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Tag SWC and Wende on Facebook and Instagram to get our attention so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc and Wende is @yeswende.
Snoop Dog, football, and the Sahuarita Food Bank
in Church News
Editor’s note: The culinary program at the Sahuarita Food Bank will provide our meals during Annual Meeting!
The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl is unlike any other bowl game—and its impact reaches far beyond football. What makes this game truly special—and why it matters to us—is that the event partners with more than 70 nonprofits and donates 100% of its proceeds to local nonprofit organizations.
Kellie Tonks, our new Outreach Manager, and Janie Pearman, who manages our food delivery program, proudly represented SFB-CRC at the stadium before and during the game. They showcased our work, hosted cornhole games, and handed out commemorative mini footballs printed with both the Sahuarita and Marana Food Banks' logos.
The response was tremendous. More than 600 people of all ages lined up for footballs, and many stopped to play cornhole and learn more about our mission. This kind of outreach is invaluable. It raises awareness of our presence across the region, builds name recognition, and connects us with new supporters, all thanks to a bowl game that proves sports, community, and generosity can come together in powerful ways.
Read MoreFirst Albuquerque celebrates Black History Month with four events
in Church News
Guest preachers, singing, and even tamales with cornbread!
Rev. Dr. Derrick Elliott as guest preacher on February 8th
Ernest McMillan, a veteran human rights activist on February 15th
Rev. Dr. Ryan Tate will preach and present a concert after worship about the Africana History of the Americas and Latine Identity on February 22nd
Musician-activist Melanie DeMore will lead a singing workshop on February 28
Jottings 1/26/2026
in Church News
Wende reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond.
What’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Tag SWC and Wende on Facebook and Instagram to get our attention so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc and Wende is @yeswende.
Jottings 1/19/2026
in Church News
Wende reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond.
What’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Tag SWC and Wende on Facebook and Instagram to get our attention so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc and Wende is @yeswende.
Jottings 1/12/2026
in Church News
Wende reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond.
What’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Tag SWC and Wende on Facebook and Instagram to get our attention so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc and Wende is @yeswende.
Jottings 1/5/2026
in Church News
Wende reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond.
What’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Tag SWC and Wende on Facebook and Instagram to get our attention so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc and Wende is @yeswende.
Embracing Peace: An Interfaith Midwinter Gathering
in Church News
Tuesday, January 7, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery
8502 W Pinchot Ave, Phoenix AZ 85037
Join Arizona Faith Network for a peaceful and reflective evening as we embrace the peace of winter and welcome the light of the New Year. This interfaith gathering will bring together diverse faith communities for songs, meditations, sacred readings, and moments of unity. Together, we will reflect on our shared hopes for love, peace, and renewal in the coming year. All are welcome. The program begins promptly at 6 pm. This is an outdoor event, so please dress accordingly.
Read MoreJottings 12/22/2025
in Church News
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
What’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Tag SWC and Wende on Facebook and Instagram to get our attention so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc and Wende is @yeswende.
Needles and Pins: A Year of Giving Through Handmade Creations
in Church News
The Needles and Pins Sewing Circle of The Church of the Palms in Sun City has been busy for a year preparing handmade Christmas gifts to share with those in need at Christmas. The gifts have already been delivered to The Dysart Community Center (DCC) in El Mirage and The Phoenix Indian Center in downtown Phoenix; a total of 375 handmade items for Christmas.
Read MoreJottings 12/15/2025
in Church News
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
What’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Tag SWC and Wende on Facebook and Instagram to get our attention so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc and Wende is @yeswende.
Stories from The Open Table Connection: Ranja
in Church News
Staying Rooted
When Ranja first came to the University of New Mexico, she was a young woman full of ideas but unsure exactly where life would lead her. “I did my undergrad at UNM,” she said, “and then I moved to Georgia for my Master’s. Life just kind of takes you where you need to be.”
Before participating at Luther House/The Open Table, Ranja had grew up hearing about the ministry through her church. “Honestly,” she admitted with a laugh, “I didn’t have a lot of expectations. I thought it would just be like Sunday school for grown-ups.”
What she found instead was a home that shaped her faith, her friendships, and her future.
Click through to read Ranja’s story.
Read MoreJottings 12/8/2025
in Church News
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
What’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Tag SWC and Wende on Facebook and Instagram to get our attention so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc and Wende is @yeswende.
Sun Lakes' Christmas Toy Drive
in Church News
Sun Lakes UCC collected toys for Maggie’s Place this Christmas. Maggie’s Place provides safe housing and a nurturing community for homeless pregnant women, empowering them to thrive throughout their lifetime. They aspire to be the premier service provider in Maricopa County to moms, babies and families, breaking the cycle of generational trauma to transform our community.
Maggie’s Place opened in 2000 by five young women with the core values of love, hospitality, community, and excellence. They have served over 1,200 moms and 700 babies during this time. As they have grown over the years, they have remained true to their values and mission while becoming a community that welcomes women from all faith traditions and walks of life around a common purpose.
Maggie’s Place operates five homes across the valley where they can house 34 moms and their babies at any given time. They also have one transitional housing apartment complex for women reunifying with their older children.
The members of Sun Lakes UCC are very proud that we could offer to help the women and children of Maggie’s Place this year at Christmas.
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