All things ONA from the Open & Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ.
Read MoreONA NEWS: Message to ONA Churches, Rainbow Church Doors
UCC Webinar—False Solutions: Climate Policies That Fail
Some proposed climate policies have been described as false solutions by climate activists and policy analysts because they fall short in meeting the moral demands of science, equity, and justice. Learn what faith communities need to know.
Read MoreD.C. Office - Justice Update Week of June 21
See updates from Katie Adams in our D.C. office about the child tax credit, infrastructure package, national gun registry, IMF special drawing rights, AUMF, and Iran's ballistic missile program.
Read MoreRev. Teresa Blythe's new book, "Incline Your Ear"
Congratulations! Rev. Teresa Blythe, director of the Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction at First Church UCC Phoenix, and Rev. Chad Abbott, Conference Minister for the Indiana-Kentucky Conference of the UCC, have written “Incline Your Ear: Cultivating Spiritual Awakening in Congregations” (Fortress Press, 2021) to encourage spiritual growth and vitality in faith communities in a listening pursuit.
Read More'Jesus and Justice will win out in the end'
Rev. Susan Valiquette at First Church UCC Phoenix was quoted extensively in this article on “Jesus and Justice” and the future of the church — it was published online May 30 and on the front page of the Arizona Republic on Saturday, June 5. If you have a subscription, you're able to read it here.
Read MoreReparatory Justice and Reparations: Truth-Telling, Conciliation, and Healing
Video and resources from the June 9 webinar.
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ONA NEWS: National ONA Sunday June 27
Every fourth Sunday of June—June 27 this year—is National Open and Affirming Sunday! This opportunity—to celebrate your ONA covenant and renew your commitment to its values—is needed now more than ever.
Also, the UCC Mental Health Network is now ONA, and check out Rural Pride and the nearly sold out Thrive shirts..
Read MoreUpdate from the Peace Center
A message from Lombard Mennonite Peace Center:
We are so excited to be returning to an in-person format for our Mediation Skills Training Institute (MSTI) on August 2-6, 2021 here in the western suburbs of Chicago! This will be a hybrid event, so for those who prefer not to travel, we will also continue to offer remote attendance via Zoom.
Read MoreTucson March Against Anti-Semitism
Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Bill Lyons marched and spoke against anti-Semitism Sunday night in Tucson with Rev. Susan Valiquette and Rev. Drew Terry. Read his remarks in this article.
Read MoreImmigrant Heritage Month: #CelebrateImmigrants & Urge Congress to Pass a Pathway to Citizenship
June is Immigrant Heritage Month! Join us to #CelebrateImmigrants by honoring and lifting up the contributions of immigrants of all backgrounds. This month provides people across the country an opportunity to explore their own heritage and celebrate the diversity that forms the unique, rich American experience.
Read MoreHope House of Sedona June 2021 update
This last week has been very exciting for the Hope House of Sedona!
Read MoreLocal Church Vaccination Sites
We received very short notice about the June 9 webinar inviting faith communities to collaborate with a pharmacy partners to become COVID19 vaccination sites. The webinar recording, a toolkit, and answers to questions about this mission opportunity are available in this article.
A vaccination partnership is a great ecumenical or interfaith project! Thanks for prayerfully discerning whether your church can be a vaccination site in your community.
Read MorePlease Join Virtual Vigil for World Refugee Day June 14th
World Refugee Day is coming up June 20th. Please join people of faith for a virtual vigil to support refugees and asylees on June 14th at 7-7:30 PM ET #WorldRefugeeDay2021 #RestoringWelcome #WelcomeWithDignity
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/wq4aK4bm7QiomrkP7
Read MoreChurch of the Palms Shower Trailer Updates
Church of the Palms begins providing showers at a second site, and will also bring the shower trailer to the annual Day of Freedom event celebrating Juneteenth at the Tempe Corps Salvation Army.
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Sahuarita Food Bank construction progress
The framing is well on its way and most of the utility lines are installed. MW Morrissey, general contractor on the project, continues to impress the SFB Board with their ingenuity and commitment to the project in the face of material shortages, huge price increases, and shipping delays.
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Juneteenth
Juneteenth marks the official end of slavery in the U.S. The original legal declaration was signed into law by Abraham Lincoln which instituted Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration honoring the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger led thousands of federal troops to Galveston, Texas to announce that the Civil War had ended, and slaves had been freed. Register here.
Read MoreResponse to Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes in Tucson
As Tucson-area clergy committed to love, justice, and solidarity, we unite to condemn the recent anti-Semitic hate crime perpetrated against Jewish members of our community at Chabad on River. We further denounce additional incidents of anti-Semitic threats and vandalism that have sought to sow hate and fear here in Pima County in recent weeks, and call on our Christian colleagues and all people of faith and conscience to speak and act against this violent hate.
image: @chabadtucson, Twitter
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JPANet: June Newsletter
In this month's Getting to the Root, UCC Racial Justice Minister, Rev. Dr. Velda Love, speaks to the importance of loving God and your neighbor through remembering and honoring our past.
Read MorePima County Interfaith Civic Academy re: Proposed Arizona Flat Tax
Pima County Interfaith invites you to an important Civic Academy explaining the proposed Arizona Flat Income Tax and Arizona Budget, to be held June 8, 2021 from 6:00-7:30 PM. This meeting will be held via Zoom. Please register in advance.
Read MoreA Note from Our Conference Minister…
My heart is full and my spirit is rejoicing after visiting our migrating neighbors at La Casa de Misericordia last Thursday. I made the trip with Cruzando Fronteras ministry partners Bishop Jennifer Reddall, Bishop Deborah Hutterer, Pastors Randy Mayer and Mateo Chavez, and Deacon David Chavez.
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