The Phoenix Pride Festival and Parade is the largest LGBTQ event in Arizona spanning two days with the “festival” and the “parade.” Last year, more than 37,000 people visited the festival over the course of the two days. The theme for this year is “United We Stand, Equality for All.”
Several churches in the Southwest Conference will participate in Phoenix Pride. If we've missed yours here, please send your information to Wende at wgonzales@uccswc.org and we will add it!
Read MoreShadow Rock UCC
Mondays, April 9, 16, 23, 30
$75
Are you looking for...
More authentic connections?
Easier conversations when anger is involved?
A way to feel centered and clear?
"For the past 30 years or so, whenever I’ve gone back to the States, I’ve always come back to Africa. Now it appears that will change, at least for some time. I’ll be leaving Lesotho at the end of June and then have my last home assignment visiting churches and sharing the story of the Global Ministries partnership with the Lesotho Evangelical Church in Southern Africa."
Read MoreTwelve youths and seven adults from the Southwest Conference traveled to Washington D.C. on Friday to participate in Saturday's March For Our Lives. See photos and read their reflections.
Read More“It is easier for me to get a gun than to get a job or birth control.” This line is from a Facebook post by high school student Maya in Albuquerque that put into motion a trip with 11 other youth and seven adults from her church and four other churches in the Southwest Conference United Church of Christ.
"Maya's words were an invitation for Maya and her peers to exercise their power to create a safe world through the agency of the Southwest Conference," said the Rev. Bill Lyons, conference minister. "We shared Maya's wisdom on our conference Facebook page. And we sent out the invitation for Southwest Conference high schoolers to join the March for Our Lives in Washington. This trip is Christian formation, a justice witness, and a civic engagement all in one."
Read MoreAll UCC, UU, Catholic, and other church-related youth, friends, and chaperones are invited to a late night discussion and sleepover at Encanto Community Church.
You are also invited to attend the March For Our Lives Empowerment Gathering.
The youth event will begin around 8:30 p.m. on Friday March 23, 2018, immediately following the 7:00 pm March For Our Lives Empowerment Gathering.
Read MoreSunday, April 8, 7 pm
Sandia Presbyterian Church
Llive music, sweet treats, and a silent auction!
Read MoreMany local March For Our Lives events are in the works at churches across the conference. If your church is planning a rally or is marching in your city's event, please notify Wende Gonzales at wgonzales@uccswc.org OR fill out this form so that we may put together a list of all our church events.
Read MoreIn the Minnesota Conference, it's a number of essays; in the Southwest Conference, it began with a Facebook post.
Those are just two items powering UCC youth participation in the gun violence prevention rally, March for Our Lives, created, inspired by, and led by the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, survivors of one of the deadliest mass school shootings in U.S. history.
Read MoreA group from our church went to Santa Fe for the Ecumenical Advocacy Ministry Day. This event is sponsored by Lutheran Advocacy Ministry to educate people of faith about issues facing the legislature. We learned more about Health Care in New Mexico and Negative Impacts of Taxing Food. There are many ways to act on our faith. Legislation and Advocacy is one way we do that.
Read MoreDid you know that most congregations can cut energy costs by up to 30% by investing strategically in efficient equipment, facility upgrades and maintenance? The EPA’s ENERGY STAR program can help congregations do this with their staff, free tools, trainings, and technical support.
Read MoreChurch of the Red Rocks has a team in Guatemala this week, and we are glad to share their updates and photos! Check back soon, as we will add more as they send it.
Read MoreHow does one live in a world gone mad when mainstream culture endorses the insanity? The Reluctant Radical, a documentary produced and directed by Lindsey Grayzel, explores this question in relation to the ecological crisis.
The film follows Ken Ward, a lifelong activist who took time off from his environmental work to help raise his son. During his down time he plunges into the literature on Climate Change, growing all the more alarmed as he ponders the fate of the world awaiting his child. The experience convinces him he needs to act.
Read MoreBill Lyons will be speaking at this event, and he and Rock Fremont are on the discussion panel.
Read MoreIt is time to say – Enough! As people of faith, we are called to heal our society’s acceptance of violence and idolatrous fascination with weapons. Here are three things you can do.
Read MoreJoin with Arizona Faith Network to support AFN partner CHISPA and the Clean Buses for Healthy Niños Campaign!
Tell the State of Arizona Governor’s Office that you support CHISPA and healthy Arizona communities
Read MoreIn recent months, there have been numerous stories of sexual misconduct by men of power in various settings of business, media, entertainment, and politics. In each case, it took the courage of one to name their experience of being sexually harassed or abused by someone more powerful than themselves in order for the sin of sexual abuse to finally be recognized.
We confess that the United Church of Christ (UCC) is not immune to these sins of sexual harassment, abuse, and misconduct. We repent when those in power at any setting of the UCC has acted inappropriately and violated others with their words, actions, or power. We, the Church, have sinned, and we ask for forgiveness from those, who have been violated.
Read MoreA youth delegation is forming to attend the March For Our Lives Rally in Washington, DC on March 24. If your church has young people who would like to participate please contact Bill Lyons ASAP at blyons@uccswc.org.
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