A message from Rev. Doug Bland, Arizona Interfaith Power & Light:

Earth Day is going to be a big deal this year. The 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, is right around the corner. It’s also the 5th Anniversary of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’.

I’m writing to encourage you to participate in Faith Climate Action Week, April 17-26. There are so many possibilities from which to choose.

From New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light:

Blessings all,

This from our national office with our congratulations to United Church of Santa Fe and First Christian Church, Las Cruces for receiving runner-up awards for their work in addressing climate change and caring for creation. Of 10 top winners, 2 are from New Mexico. It is wonderful to share such hope-filled actions and accomplishments!!!! Start planning your entry for 2020 contest now.

DACA Anniversary event at Mesa Community College

Presentations on:

Tuesday, February 11, in Room SC-11E, 10:30 to 11:45 and

Tuesday, February 25, in Room SC-11E, 10:30 to 11:45

The Aliento Club at MCC is hosting a presentation by Victor Aronow, an immigration lawyer and member of Uncage and Reunite Families Coalition. 

Since this is the 10 year reunion of SB1070, he presents the politics and racism behind US immigration policy from the very beginning in 1790, then explores the development of US financial and economic influence that the US exerted and still exerts over Latin America.

Wednesday, February 12, 4 - 7 pm
Arizona State Capitol Lawn
1700 W Washington St, Phoenix

*** (From ACLU of Arizona) ***

Light candles on the lawn of the state Capitol for every incarcerated person who's lost their lives in DOC custody, every incarcerated person suffering due to lack of treatment for medical and mental illnesses, and all our friends, family, and loved ones in Arizona prisons. Let's show state lawmakers that we want real sentencing reform NOW.

Sunday, February 9, 4 pm
Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ
4425 N. Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale

Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ (SCUCC) and the Arizona Faith Network (AFN) are sponsoring a discussion of the movie "Just Mercy." People who still need to see the movie can go to the 1:00 pm showing on Sunday 2/9 at Harkins Camelview at Fashion Square theater. Movie times are subject to change, so check the Harkins website before you go.

Rev. Katie Sexton, Executive Director of AFN, will be there, as will also Khalil Rushdan, with the ACLU (and AFN Board Member), who will be there to share his personal incarceration experiences.

The Southwest Conference endorsed this effort and invites congregations and members to do so too.

As people of faith, we are called to care for all of God’s children and to protect God’s creation. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is an inspiring, wild landscape. It is home to polar bears, wolves, the sacred Porcupine Caribou Herd that is 180,000 strong, and migratory birds tying the Arctic Refuge to our backyards in the lower 48 states.

Anna Peterson of Conservation Communications is helping to organize a faith statement signed by leaders of faith communities who oppose drilling in the Arctic Refuge. See the full statement attached and below. Would a leader of your congregation be willing to sign on? Please let her know by March 1.

If you would be interested in joining a Southwest Conference delegation to attend this event together, please contact Bill. Expenses would be paid by the participants.

From Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition:

SB 1328 (appropriations; direct services; referrals) and HB 2388 (appropriations; direct services; referrals) will both be up in committee this week. These mirror bills contain funding for Arizona's 2-1-1 Community Information and Referral line.

While there have been bills in past years to fund Arizona's 2-1-1 system, this new version of the funding request comes with restrictions that will leave many Arizonans without information to resources they need. 

As people of faith, we are called to care for creation and all living things. The RECLAIM Act would not only help restore and clean up hazardous land but would also create thousands of new jobs across the country, providing an economic boost to communities who have laid off coal miners, and allowing them a renewed opportunity to thrive.

Now more than ever, it is imperative that Congress pass The RECLAIM Act. Please fill out the form to contact your member of Congress to show your support for former miners and the RECLAIM Act.

February 5, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Join hundreds of advocates for environmental protection and justice, climate action, lands and wildlife conservation, flowing rivers, democracy, and more, in meeting at the Arizona Capitol to let legislators know how much we care about these issues, as well as specific bills.

Food Bank Day at the Capitol
Tuesday, February 4, 11:30 am - 1 pm
Arizona State Capitol (Senate Lawn)
1700 W Washington Street, Phoenix

Meet on the Senate Lawn to discuss how we can fight hunger together. A complimentary lunch will be provided by St. Mary's Food Bank's Community Kitchen.

Please RSVP ASAP to Ashley St. Thomas: ashley@azfoodbanks.org or 602-775-5035

Monday, February 3, 12:00 - 3:30 pm
St. Mary’s Food Bank – Community Room
3003 W. Thomas Rd, Phoenix

As trusted stakeholders in the community, nonprofits hold a critical voice in ensuring communities they serve are counted in the Census 2020. Partnerships for the Census are also critical to ensure Arizona receives its fair share in resources and representation allocated by the Census, and that we have accurate Census data used by philanthropy and nonprofits to make informed decisions.

In the Nonprofit Census Solutions Workshop, nonprofit leaders are invited to learn about the importance of the Census 2020, ways they can participate and promote the Census to their communities, and leave with resources to lead their own promotional efforts.

Complimentary lunch begins at noon and the workshop promptly at 12:30 pm.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

In Tucson next Friday, January 31. #SaveAsylum

As we mark the one year anniversary of MPP (Remain in Mexico) and the one month anniversary of its implementation in Nogales, we raise our voices as people of faith to say: “There is room at the inn!”

2020 has been off to a tumultuous start. This election year promises to bring uncertainty and challenge. In these times it is important to take stock and make a game plan. How do we as people of faith want to engage with the elections?

The United Church of Christ General Synod has affirmed the idea that our faithful and civic lives are inextricably linked and who we are as a country, and how we care for the most vulnerable among us is, “an expression of our love for God and all whom God has created.” That, “The God of love is also the God of justice. The two are related, for in the Bible justice is the social form of love.”  [Twenty-fifth General Synod, For the Common Good]

George Lakey, long-time Quaker activist and author of How We Win: A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning, will be offering four events in the Phoenix area during the last week in January.

January 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The Citizens United decision opened the floodgates of corporate spending in election campaigns. Ten years later, a report issued by Public Citizen shows that corporations and megadonors have poured nearly $2 billion into election campaigns since Citizens United.

In this pivotal election year, we must restore integrity to our democratic process and undo the damage done by Citizens United. Every vote should matter, and every vote should count. Urge your senators to break the logjam in the Senate and support the For the People Act.