When Love Doesn’t Feel Like It’s Enough: Dementia Workshop at The Church of the Palms on Saturday, October 3, 10 a.m. to 12:00 pm. Living with a dementia diagnosis in the family can be overwhelming. Free workshop offering understanding, practical tools, and support for caregivers. Presenter Jack Register, LCSW, therapist and founder of Catharsis Counseling Center in Phoenix, will guide us through what dementia is, how it affects daily life, and ways caregivers can care for both their loved one and themselves. This workshop is open to all caregivers, family members, and anyone seeking compassionate guidance. To register, call the church office 623.977.8359.

Desert Palm UCC youth bade "Farewell to Summer" with pizza and Golfland yesterday! They enjoyed laser tag, go-karts, and mini golf.

A new musical ensemble is about to be launched at Good Shepherd UCC! Camerata Esperanza, translated as Chamber Musicians of Hope, will feature an orchestral and choral component. This ensemble will be open to instrumentalists and vocalists wishing to expand their musical horizons.

UCC Webinar: Taking Action on Data Centers

Concerned about the pollution from hyperscale data centers powering Artificial Intelligence and cryptocurrency? On Wednesday, October 14th at 1 pm ET/10 am PT, the UCC will offer an action-focused webinar on data centers. The webinar will begin by hearing from Alexis Humphreys, a grassroots leader in the struggle to confront Elon Musk’s xAI data center in Memphis, Tennessee. We will then take action in solidarity with Memphis and other communities across the country that are contending with data center pollution by offering a brief training on writing letters to the editor in support of current legislation in Congress that addresses data centers. As we write our own letters, we'll enjoy harp music played by Amy Kercsmar. Sign-up now to join us!

Encanto Community Church holds Youth Tutoring Night at the request of any student of any age. Qualified adults from the congregation are available to offer assistance in any subject.

First Congregational Prescott will host a team of cyclists overnight on October 14. These 15–20 people are participating in an annual fundraiser, MS Bikes, in which nearly 40,000 cyclists and more than 4,000 teams participate around the country for people with MS.

Pathways Ecological Theology - Course Begins November 4

This course explores the Earth and all that lives here as the dwelling place of God. There is an ongoing dialogue between scientists' (especially Darwin's) meticulous observations of natural selection and evolution on Earth with the Nicene Creed, scripture, and theologies through the ages. This dialogue allows science and theology to both maintain their own language while at the same time challenging each other to broaden their thinking about this mystery called life and an unexplainable Giver of life that many of us call God. Elizabeth Johnson uses Rolston's concept of three Big Bangs to contemplate this: the divine spark at the beginning of the universe, the beginnings of life on Earth, and the emergence of Homo sapiens. Get started here.

Yesterday, Shepherd of the HIlls UCC welcomed guest preacher Rev. Paul Tché, Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), to help them reflect on the calling of the Church to Christian unity. They chose three scriptures for their worship together: Isaiah 43:16–21, Ephesians 4:1–6, and John 17:20–26.

Rev. Dr. George Ault will be installed as pastor of Black Mountain UCC on Sunday, October 11 at 3:00 pm. Rev. Dr. Derrick Elliot, Associate Conference Minister for Authorization, Accountability, and Discernment, will preach.

Shadow Rock UCC, a W.I.S.E. church, has a WISE Walkers Team that will participate in the 22nd annual NAMI Walks Valley of the Sun on October 10 to raise money for NAMI's outstanding and vital support and education programs. (NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness)

First Congregational UCC Albuquerque welcomed environmental justice advocate Carlos Matutes, Executive Director of Green Latinos, to share a message during worship yesterday. Green Latinos is a national nonprofit that mobilizes Latino leaders to address environmental issues impacting Latino communities. His participation during Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month highlighted the important intersection of environmental and racial justice.

On October 11 after their worship service, United Church of Santa Fe children, youth, and adults are invited to assemble hygiene kits to send to Church World Service for distribution to refugees. Each kit contains basic essentials (toothbrush, bar of soap, comb, nail clipper, wash cloth, small towel, band aids) needed by children and adults in emergency situations. The congregation is invited to help underwrite the project with a donation and to spread the word to friends and co-workers who are looking for a way to help.