Faith In Action
We have been asked to engage in social distancing during the current outbreak of COVID-19. This has forced us to abandon our traditional ways of practicing community. We have walked together, we have held hands during prayers, we have hugged and kissed each other on the cheek. Social distancing precludes all these practices.
So, we offer a different Urban Way of the Cross for the faithful in Albuquerque and elsewhere.
Read MoreAs people of faith we invite you to gather together during this anxious and uncertain time. Take a moment to visit AFN's Virtual Prayer Room, read the prayers of our community and submit your own. We stand together, rooted in our own faiths, praying for healing and direction.
Read MoreThe UCC Justice and Peace Action Network newsletter.
“Each month, the Justice and Peace Action Network meets to discuss possible topics for the next Getting to the Root. This month, there was one topic none of us could shake from our minds. We decided to each contribute a short piece related to this global pandemic; things we are thinking about, resources that have helped us, and our hopes for the future.”
Read MoreTuesday, Apr 7, 2020 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM MST
Join the interfaith webinar, A Faith Response to COVID-19 which will explain important details of the recently passed C.A.R.E.S. Act, the positive provisions, and the key priorities that were left out.
Read MoreAs the COVID-19 crisis spreads rapidly throughout the country, rural communities are some of the most at risk populations with fewer hospitals, health care workers and resources for testing and treatment. We’re called to love our neighbors and we need our political leaders to take action to deliver policies that will help small town America, so we’re asking faith communities to sign onto this letter now.
Read MoreDrive through and drop items in bins.
Three locations: First Baptist Church of Scottsdale (7025 E. Osborn Road, 85251). Shepherd of the Desert Church (9590 E. Shea Blvd, 85260), and Pinnacle Presbyterian Church (25150 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255).
Read MoreMichael Curry, Southwest Conference Lay Minister for Disability Education, Advocacy, and Awareness, asked that we share this resource that provides information on Mental Health and COVID-19:
About 80% of the volunteers that food banks rely on to function are retired folks over the age of 65. For obvious reasons, many of them had to stop volunteering. Food banks are now in need of healthy volunteers to help distribute food and build food boxes.
Read MoreChurch of the Palms and Shadow Rock are partnering to assist an immigrant congregation with bulk food because people using SNAP don’t have products available that qualify for the program. Each church is pledging $1500 to buy bulk beans and rice and will deliver to the immigrant church for distribution among their members. $3k will help that community through the crisis.
Read MoreBroad economic sanctions have been shown over the years to mostly affect the wider population in a country, not the leadership or well-off. Especially in a global pandemic, sanctions should be lifted rather than increased. The Trump Administration has made no effort to lift or pause sanctions that are currently in place. The World Health Organization has committed to help all three countries through the pandemic, but we have a responsibility to help as well.
Read MoreThe Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
Read MoreWe’re experiencing an unusually high volume of emails, and you probably are, too! You can set up your email auto-respond message as a FAQ page. See how Rev. Seth Wispelwey at Rincon Congregational UCC is doing that.
Read MoreThe East Valley Church Network (which sponsored the recent event at Desert Palm) is in special need of bath towels, in case immigrant families, who are scheduled to be given amnesty in the next few weeks, are released by ICE.
To collect towels and/or food donations, our Justice and Witness Team is hosting a Drive-Thru Donation Drop-off Day, (Tuesday, March 24th) in the church parking lot. Donations will be collected between the hours of (10AM-6PM).
Read MoreOur Judicatory Heads agreed on a common letter...which unfortunately was adjusted several times to meet various newspapers guidelines! But the content (as published in the Albuquerque Journal on Sunday, March 22) is printed below. Please let us know if you saw something similar in your local newspaper; we submitted to 30 news outlets across the state.
Read More“As a backup that I truly hope we won't need, I'm pulling together names of volunteers on both coasts who might be able to help sew gowns for medical staff. We're still working out the logistics and are setting up partnerships to do this in a way that keeps everyone safe: volunteers, doctors, patients, hospital staff, drivers, etc.”
Read MoreHow do we care for ourselves and others during social distancing?
Chicago Theological Seminary is committed to the ongoing support of its students, alumni, and community. The CONNECTS Forum provides an open platform to find and share valuable resources.
Read MoreThank you, First Christian Church of Las Cruces for providing this information!
Read MoreFrom Jannah Scott of the U.S. Census:
My Dear UCC colleagues,
Greeting to Dr. Lyons and all of you! It was really inspiring to see how connected you intend to continue to be in the midst of the COVID-19. We would really appreciate the opportunity to stay in touch with you. If there is anything we can do to help people remember to get counted in the 2020 census, there was never a more important time than in the midst of times like this.
Read MoreAs people of faith, we believe in the moral call to care for those in need. In the midst of a global pandemic, it is critical that our elected officials place the wellbeing of people over that of corporations, and that the first priority of Congress is to make sure that everyone has access to the resources they need for their health and wholeness.
Read MoreSwift action is needed; please join with us in contacting your member of Congress, urging them to address paid sick leave. Our call as people of faith rings ever clearer in times of trial and challenge. Making sure that every person can take care of themselves when sick and that our communities are protected is another way that you can take steps to do something right now.
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