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SWC – In the Loop
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January 11, 2008
Interim Insights Dear Friends in Faith: Out of sheer rebellion, I work hard to keep the twelve days of Christmas after December 25. Hence, over the years, my annual missive to family and friends often doesn’t arrive until Epiphany…and, some are still finding their way into the mail. To these I’ve added those wonderful words of Howard Thurman: “when the song of the angel is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the sages and shepherds have found their way home, the work of Christmas is begun…” If you know this hymn, you’ll remember that the work is about finding the lost and the lonely, feeding the hungry, to make the powerful care…to bring hope to every task we do…to sing to the colors of the earth. My hope is that as our interim time comes to close, we will be able to celebrate together the adventure of these last couple of years! One of the last tasks of our work took place last fall, as the Personnel Committee took a very thoughtful and proactive approach to bringing into life a new configuration of tasks and responsibilities of our very able administrative staff. For their hard work, we owe our gratitude to Patricia Dunn, Chair of the Personnel Committee, and members: Carol Wilson, Bruce Van Roekel, Steve Davis, and Len Silverster. They have done a stellar job. Attached you will find the new organizational chart. Remember that this is a visual of a dynamic system nailed down on paper. I believe that it represents a genuine team approach to our common tasks as well as significantly engages the strengths and gifts of the staff. Each position has a completely new job description and the next step is for the Committee to develop a sound pattern of accountability and assessment. The positions are as follows: BARBARA DECKER is now the Assistant to the Conference Minister and has the responsibilities of directly supporting the CM with her/his multi-tasking, multi-focused ministry. She is also the point person for all administrative tasks related to Search and Call and the Committee on Church and Ministry. HOLLY HERMAN is now the Office Manager responsible for all things organizational from coordinating our all the normal business and financial activity to serving as the primary receptionist and hospitality guru. She is also the point person for the Annual Meeting. PEGGY ICE has become the Director of Communication and Resources. She will both produce and facilitate all of our written mailings, brochures and bring the web site into the 21st century. Additionally, Peggy will be facilitating communication between the SWC congregations and is the point person for connecting you with everything that is available through us and/or our national to assist you in being a healthy congregation. Together, you are ready to move into the wonderful future God has and is preparing for you as the Southwest Conference United Church of Christ! Blessings and Shalom, Lark
Message from John Thomas, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ Today Orthodox Iraqi Christians, including those who have remained in Iraq and those who have been forced to leave, are celebrating Christmas. In the words of the Syrian Orthodox Christmas Liturgy used in Iraq, we pray with them, Make us worthy, O Lord God, to hallow You. . . to bless You. . . to glorify You. . . to adore You. . . to exalt You with the innocent shepherds unceasingly; to worship You with the discerning wise men steadfastly; and to rejoice in You.
Make us worthy, O Lord, to honor Your birth. We beseech You to regenerate us, spiritually, in daily fruitful works that are pleasing unto You. Make Your light to shine forth in our souls.
Grant us, our Lord, that we may rejoice in Your feast to recognize without any doubt that You are the true God.
From Advent through Epiphany members of the United Church of Christ have observed the incarnation in many ways through fruitful works pleasing to God. I am particularly grateful for the generosity that has surpassed our $100,000 goal of support for Iraqi refugees forced to flee their homes by sectarian violence. To date we have received $141,594, which will be shared through our ecumenical partners to help provide humanitarian aid to these displaced persons. Contributions can still be made online if you still wish to make a gift. Our members have also been generous with their prayers for U.S. servicemen and service women, many of whom face danger and were unable to be with family and friends during the holiday season. You may read some of those prayers posted online. Bringing the war to an end and restoring health and wholeness to Iraq remains our urgent goal. To that end, many UCC members have visited their Congress persons or senators in district offices during the recess, delivering the Pastoral Letter on Iraq. That advocacy effort continues and I urge you to join your fellow members in scheduling these visits. A step by step information packet is available on-line and you can share your visit on the on-line schedule of visits. Make us worthy, O Lord, to honor Your birth. Through our generosity, our prayers, and our protest for peace, may Your light shine forth in our souls. And may the prayers of all our Iraqi sisters and brothers, of whatever faith, be met by the One who has come among us to make this world worthy of its Creator. God Bless You, The Rev. John
H. Thomas
Southwest Conference UCC News 2008 Church Vitality Event (2nd notice) Date: February 1-2 Location: Ontario, CA Cost: $95 - $130, (Scholarships are available, please call Lark at 602-468-3830 or Randy at 520-625-1375) Deadline: February 1. Some options are not available after 1/10. More information and registration: http://www.scncucc.org/ChurchVitalityEvent.htm
Many of you attended the Church Vitality Event last February, jointly sponsored by Southwest Conference and Southern California Nevada Conference. We heard from many of you that the information and inspiration you got there was well worth the cost. We hope you agree that the 2008 Church Vitality Event will be an even better value. We have tried to make this year’s offerings even more helpful to churches. And with a year’s experience, we are introducing more flexible, and lower, pricing for the event. Besides the quality of this year’s Success Stories, Big Ideas, and Special Subjects, and their relevance to the future ministry of UCC churches, we have added a series of administrative upgrades to this year’s registration process: Blessings, and hope to see you there … Gary Roberts (SCNC), Lark Hapke, and Randy Mayer (SWC)
Partners in Education: Planning for Lent 2008 The season of Lent is just around the corner! Ash Wednesday falls on February 6 in 2008. Lent is a rich opportunity for reflective educational experiences in the church. The Interchurch Resource Center offers a wide variety of materials to support local churches during this season of the church year. One excellent resource is Holy Week: Experiencing the Events by Phillis Vos Wezeman. This booklet outlines 13 events which took place during Holy Week, lists the scripture passages that record them, and offers art activities to use in re-telling, reinforcing and reviewing the stories. Elaine Ward has authored a resource titled, Lent: The Season of Sacred Stories. This resource includes stories for reading and reflection for devotional opportunities during Lent. Pilgrim Press offers a print piece Sacred Seasons by Brett Webb-Mitchell and Diane Archer which offers resources for worship experiences during the season. To view resources available through the Interchurch Resource Center, check out the online catalog: icresource.org The Southwest Conference Partners in Education are also available to assist your church and volunteer leadership: v Northern or Central AZ: Susan Wadell 602-993-0050 or Dana Bender 602-264-1221 v Southern AZ: Carol Wilson 520-296-9332 or Marie Bacchiocchi 520-297-1181 v New Mexico or El Paso: Juanita Marken 505-268-2765
People News Diane Hoover, sister of Laura Adelia, passed away on December 20. Her memorial service took place on January 2 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Phoenix. The Rev. Major Laura Adelia is a chaplain with the 944th Fighter Wing unit at Luke Air Force Base.
The Rev. Pamela Hines will be installed as Pastor at First Congregational Church in Tempe, AZ at 3 p.m. on January 20.
The Rev. Marie Bacchiocchi will be installed as Associate Pastor at Casas Adobes UCC in Tucson, AZ on January 27 at 3 p.m.
The Andalusian Legacy: Remembering Medieval Spain in a Post - 9/11 World Date: January 31 at 7 p.m. Location: First Congregational UCC, 1407 N 2nd St., Phoenix Contact: Fletch Wideman at 602-564-0212 or fswide@cox.net
Clergy and lay are invited to hear an enriching presentation by Dr. Albert Hernandez, Assistant Professor of the History of Christianity at the Iliff School of Theology. In this time of war and world conflicts dealing with religious violence those of us committed to the Wesleyan message of openness, peace and love will benefit greatly from a reminder of the achievements of Medieval Spain; the rich legacies of learning, scientific advancement, and respectful coexistence that once flourished in places like Cordoba, Toledo, Seville, and Granada. This was a near mythic period in the religious history of Europe when Jews, Christians, and Muslims lived together in a society that seems remarkable for the degree to which it embraced diversity in faith in a spirit of respect and mutual edification among the Children of Abraham. Lessons from medieval Andalusia can provide important insights into events like the 9/11 attacks in the US, the 2003 train bombings in Spain, and the 2006 subway and bus bombings in London.
Regional and national UCC news National Youth Event 2008 Date: July 24-28 Location: University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee Cost: $345, includes food and lodging Deadline: Registration will begin the end of February. Register early, event is expected to fill. More information: http://www.ucc.org/youth/ Contacts: UCC National Staffer, Head of the NYE Planning Committee, Rev. Kelly Burd at burdk@ucc.org or the Youth Representative to the Planning Committee for NYE, Lauren Roedner at lroedner@maine.rr.com or by phone (h) (207) 286-1281 The National Youth Event is a four day event for over 3000 youth from all over the country to join together for worship, workshops, fun, faith and fellowship. It is a great opportunity for kids to make new friends from across the country, learn more about the UCC and share their faith with their peers. This event is held every four years on a college campus for youth ages 13-18, so for many kids, they only have one chance to go to this spectacular event. Some of the speakers we have joining us for the event are John Thomas, Valerie Tutson and Julia Butterfly Hill. Musicians include Lost and Found. Countless workshops cover every topic important to high school youth including a forum about Tents of Hope for Darfur. This is just a taste of the great event we are putting together for our youth to enjoy.
PSR Lectures: How Modern DNA Studies Inform our Understanding of the History and Pre-History of the Eastern Mediterranean Date: January 21, 2008 (Monday), 3:30-5 pm Location: Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Avenue, Berkeley, 94709. In Room 6 Cost: Free and open to the public More information: www.psr.edu or 510-849-8218 or contact: Kap Stann at 510/849-8239 Lecture and PowerPoint presentation by Roy King, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Stanford University.
O for a World: Faith, Community, and Sustainability Date: January 22 - 24 Time: Lectures begin at 9 am each day. For detailed schedule, see www.psr.edu. Location: First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94704 Cost: Lectures are free and open to the public More information: www.psr.edu or 510-849-8218 or contact: Kap Stann at 510/849-8239 The 2008 Earl Lectures feature prominent religious scholars and social leaders delivering free public lectures. Lecturers: Karen Baker-Fletcher, associate professor of theology at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, TX; Daniel A. Buford, associate minister of Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland; Chandra Muzaffar, president of the International Movement for a Just World, an international NGO based in Malaysia; and Mayra Rivera Rivera, assistant professor of theology at PSR. Preachers: Clarence L. Johnson, senior minister of Mills Grove Christian Church in Oakland; and Mary Westfall, senior minister of the Community Church of Durham, NH. Ken Medema of Brier Patch Music will perform a special music worship service. Pastoral Conference Also offered during the three-day event are 28 workshops which will, in various ways, grapple with how communities of faith can work for justice and help sustain lives savaged by hunger and fear. Lecturers, preachers, and workshop leaders will connect the liberal Protestant concern for social justice with the need for environmental justice. To register, please go to PSR's website, www.psr.edu, or call 510/847-8218 or 800/999-0528, ext. 1218. Registration for the Pastoral Conference workshops is $99 through January 15, $125 after January 15, 2008.
Support Staff Conference (2nd notice) Date: March 27-30, 2008 Location: Church House in Cleveland Cost: $100, the registration fee covers all program materials and 6 meals
The theme of the meeting will be “Tending God’s Garden – God Works Wherever We Work.” The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Kathryn Huey, Minister for Covenantal Stewardship. To find out more about this organization, read on or go to www.uccossn.org. Please pass this information around to your church staff. Feel free to copy it in your monthly letters and bulletins so that it may reach as many church staff as possible. What is UCCOSSN? The purpose of the United Church of Christ Office Support Staff Network (UCCOSSN) is to help bring about dignity, respect, and fair compensation for all United Church of Christ office support staff.
Ecumenical news Called Back to the Well 2008 Retreats Dates: January 28-31, April 28 – May 1, October 27-30 Location: Norbertine Center in Albuquerque Cost: $200 Information and registration: http://www.samaritancc.com/affiliated/cbtw/signup.html or contact Sue Joiner at sjoiner@samaritancc.com or call 505.332.8020. Don’t Miss the Best Spiritual Renewal Opportunity in 2008! Plan now for renewal this year by participating in a Called Back to the Well retreat. Retreats include time for silent and group reflection.
Called Back to the Well Sabbath Days Dates: third Monday of each month, 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location: Norbertine Center in Albuquerque Cost: $25, includes lunch All pastoral leaders are invited to a monthly day apart at the Norbertine Center in Albuquerque. Give yourself the gift of quiet reflection with the next Sabbath Day on January 21st. You may choose to attend one day or all of the days. There will be some time for us to gather as a group and time for you to spend in silence. Bring your journal. An RSVP would be appreciated.
Arizona Ecumenical Council Building a Healthy Community: Faith Principles Leading to Comprehensive and Affordable Health Care for All the People of Arizona That is a presentation prepared by the Arizona Ecumenical Council with the help of its Public Policy Commission and through the support of St. Luke's Health Initiative. The program is available to any faith group for a lively discussion on health care issues in the state and county. Whether a Sunday Adult Forum, a weekday class, a ministerial meeting, or any gathering of faith people, this Power Point presentation will help to create dialogue around an important public issue, an issue that affects many people and will certainly be part of the upcoming 2008 elections. There is no charge for the program, and it has a flexible time frame, from 45 minutes to 2 hours. All you need to do is schedule a time with our office and we will bring it to you, no matter where you live in the state. In addition, on the same day or as a follow-up, you might consider scheduling an advocacy workshop for faith groups--they are designed to help Christians understand how the legislature works and be more effective in getting issues through. These workshops are conducted by Tim Schmaltz of Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition (PAFCO). You can get information at their website http://www.pafcoalition.org/healthcare.html This is too important for people of faith to not let their voice be heard. For more information, call 602-468-3818.
SUPER BOWL OF CARING is February 3. With Christmas just around the corner, our local soup kitchens, food banks and other hunger-related organizations will be fulfilling many requests to feed the homeless and those living at or below the poverty level. After the holiday season, stocks become largely depleted and the need for replenishment is crucial. Souper Bowl of Caring is EASY and a great opportunity for your youth. 100% of your donations collected to the local hunger-related charity of your choice. Register at www.souperbowl.org or call 1-800-358-7687. The Souper Bowl of Caring will supply each group with a free resource kit and how-to manual which will help your event succeed.
Hand to Hand Project offers retail sales of fairly traded quality merchandise from multiple resources empowers the individual artisan and supports a sustainable way of life - providing economic resources for food, education and housing. WHEAT's Holiday Houses 2007 Fairly traded Holiday Gifts available at 9 Valley locations. http://www.hungerhurts.org/HolidayHouses2007.htm
Beatitudes Center DOAR Mind-Full Aging Date: Thursday, January 31 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m Location: First United Methodist Church, 5510 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix Cost: $50, includes breakfast, lunch, and all materials. Information: call 602-274-5022 or go to www.centerdoar.org for registration information.
Join other proactive people for “Mind-Full Aging” at the 17th Annual Focus on Older Adult Ministries Conference, coordinated by Beatitudes Center DOAR. Designed especially for clergy, faith community nurses, education coordinators and lay leaders, this conference will be valuable to social workers and all people who work with older adults. Dr. Victoria Maizes will discuss physical and mental strategies that enhance healthy aging as well as the innate spiritual opportunities that come with age. Dr. Marwan Sabbagh will share the latest research and treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Participants will also attend three of the following workshops: Sign Chi Do ¨ Wordplaying! ¨ Meaning & Memory in Faith Communities ¨ My Life – My Responsibility ¨ Maintaining Positive Mental Health ¨ Making Informed End of Life Decisions ¨ A Roadmap to Community Resources ¨ Living Appreciatively and Gratefully ¨ Creative Approaches to Stroke Awareness & Prevention
Parish/Faith Community Nurse Basic Preparation Program Dates: March 2-4, 2008 and March 30-April 1, 2008 Location: Franciscan Renewal Center, 5802 E. Lincoln Dr., Scottsdale, Cost: $390, the fee for this two-part preparation course includes lunches on Mondays and Tuesdays, refreshments, course materials, text book, selected resources, and AzNA contact hours. Information: Nurse & Health Ministries Network staff can be reached at 602-274-5022, nmn@centerdoar.org, and www.centerdoar.org.
This comprehensive, interactive, and interfaith standardized core curriculum was developed through the International Parish Nurse Resource Center (IPNRC), in consultation with the National League for Nursing (NLN) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) Credentialing Center. The Nurse & Health Ministries Network has been approved by the IPNRC to offer the standardized curriculum. While the education experience is geared toward registered nurses, other health professionals and clergy are invited to attend the program.
Other events The Busy World is Hushed by Keith Bunin Dates: Jan 11—27 on Stage West Location: Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix Cost: $20-$45, group rates available (contact Ron May, Audience Services Manager, at (602) 253-6701 x 108) Information and tickets: www.actorstheatrePHX.org.
The not-for-profit theatre company, Actors Theatre of Phoenix, presents progressive, thought-provoking shows to the community that will spark conversation long after the lights come up. The Busy World is Hushed (Jan 11—27) is a remarkable story about faith and family that deals with issues of sexuality, love and loss. It’s a heartwarming tale about a widowed minister hoping to translate a long-lost Gnostic Gospel, her gay son and the man who may be able to heal the breach between them. The theater company is looking for ways to reach out to the faith community, especially open and affirming churches, and the LBGT community to see who may be interested in this show. They are interested in discussing opportunities to promote The Busy World is Hushed at your church and in your community through posters, flyers, eblasts, newsletters, bulletins and are happy to provide you with any marketing materials you may need.
CALENDAR January 12, Executive Committee, SWC office, 10-3 January 12, Immigration Workshop, Trinity Mennonite Church, 4334 W Vista Ave, Glendale, 8:30 – 1:00 January 20, Installation of Rev. Pamela Hines as Pastor at First Congregational Church in Tempe, 3:00 pm January 22-24, Earl Lectures, Berkeley, CA January 26, Stewardship & Mission Interpretation Committee, SWC office, 10-2 January 27, Installation of Rev. Marie Bacchiocchi as Associate Pastor at Casas Adobes UCC in Tucson, 3:00 pm February 1-2, Congregational Vitality Event, Ontario, CA February 19, Pre-Retirement Seminar, Scottsdale Congregational UCC February 22-23, Polity Class (2nd half), Shepherd of the Hills February 23, Full Board of Directors Meeting, Shepherd of the Hills, 10-3 April 12-13, Phoenix Pride Celebration, Steele Indian School Park April 25-27, 2008, Annual Meeting at Rincon Congregational Church, Tucson, AZ
DATES FOR YOUTH MINISTRY AND SUMMER CAMPS Senior High Tolerance Trip, Feb. 15-17, ‘08, Los Angeles, CA Junior High Retreat, Feb. 29-Mar 2, 2008 tentative, place to be announced Youth Rally, April 25-27, 2008, Rincon Congregational Church, Tucson, AZ Super Camp for Young Juniors, June 15-18, 2008, Emmanuel Pines, Prescott, AZ Super Camp for Juniors & Junior High, June 15-20, 2008, Emmanuel Pines, Prescott, AZ Senior High Camp, June 29-July 5, 2008, Pine Summit, Prescott, AZ National Youth Event, July 24-28, 2008, University of Tennessee
Southwest Conference United Church of Christ 4423 N 24th Street #600 Phoenix, AZ 85016-5544 602-468-3830 602-955-4540 fax 800-822-0821
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