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SWC – In the Loop November 1, 2007
Attachments: To receive attachments mentioned in this newsletter, email office@uccswc.com. Please specify the issue date and the attachment(s).
UCC 50th ANNIVERSAY YEAR CLOSES WITH WEBCAST A year ago an interactive webstreaming event brought together thousands to launch the golden jubilee of the United Church of Christ. On All Saints Sunday, November 4, at 7:00 pm EST (daylight time changes) a 20-minute webstreaming event will take a retrospective look at our 50th anniversary year. Hosted by John Thomas, UCC general minister and president, we'll take a look back at our gala celebration year, with in-depth highlights from General Synod 26, including cameos by Bill Moyers, Sen. Barak Obama, Marian Wright Edelmann, Lynn Redgrave, Peter Gomes and many other participants from Synod in the City. The best part? You can view it on your own computer and share your reflections of the 50th anniversary in real time. Visit www.ucc.org/50 to learn more about the All Saints Sunday webcast.
CELEBRATE OUR CALLING! CELEBRATE OUR FUTURE TOGETHER! Phoenix First Congregational United Church of Christ IS HOSTNG a celebration of the UCC—an Exciting, Joy-filled, Music, Dance, Multi-Media Experience for Everyone! The Special Guest MC, Ron Buford, is the Creative Genius behind the Still Speaking Initiative. The program will also feature “Still Speaking” theme compositions from our own Southwest Conference composers, choirs, musicians, and performers as well as inspiring Church Vitality news from this area.
Sunday, December 9, 2007 – 3 to 4:15 P.M., 1407 N. 2nd Street – Plenty of Free Parking A Gala Reception will follow in the Church Hall. (P.S. It’s First Phoenix’s 90th Anniversary, too!)
Please join us as we celebrate 50 years as the United Church of Christ and as we proclaim
DISASTER RELIEF NEEDED! CALIFORNIA: As we see on our evening news, not all the California fires are out. But early recovery work has begun and long term recovery (where the UCC shines!) is in the works. Jane Heckles, conference minister, UCC Southern California, Nevada Conference has provided the following update on our churches and members as of October 25: “All UCC church structures are safe and have not been damaged. We know that as many as a dozen UCC families have lost their homes and expect that number to rise. A number of our churches have been sheltering families during evacuation and members have provided relief and supplies to disaster centers. We are grateful for UCC Disaster Ministries support for some emergency response needs.”
This word came from Rev. Melinda V. McLain, Northern California Nevada Conference, United Church of Christ: “Northern California VOAD is also getting involved to provide CAN (Coordinated Assistance Network) support (Southern California does not currently have any trained CAN consultants). When the evacuations are over and the smoke begins to clear, we'll be there, too, to get started on long-term recovery.”
The United Church of Christ National Disaster Ministries office is seeking $100,000 to assist with long term recovery. These funds should be directed to the OGHS special fund, Emergency USA, marked for 2007 California wildfires. They may be given to your local congregation who should send them to the Southwest Conference Office. The SWC in turn sends them to the national office and your congregation is given credit for them on its quarterly statement and in the UCC Yearbook.
A new hymn dealing with the devastation of the fires in Southern California has been written by Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. Permission is given to churches supporting relief efforts to use this hymn. The hymn is attached, “O God of Mighty Wind and Flame.”
MINNESOTA: In August 2007 a weather system produced heavy rains in the upper Midwest as remnants of Tropical Storm Erin made their way inland, producing major flooding across a broad area of the central U.S. In the wake of the storms seven counties in SE Minnesota received a federal declaration. In response to this flooding, there is an immediate need for volunteers to help begin the reconstruction in this area. See the attached article, “Disaster Relief in Minnesota” if you would like to know more or participate in a work party.
Go to www.UCC.org for the latest on disaster response information.
SUPPORT FOR LEADERS For many churches, their fall education programs began in September. Two months have quickly passed and as we move toward Advent, it is not unusual for issues to begin to surface in church classroom settings such as: *How do I adapt these print resources to my group of learners? *How can I create a respectful learning environment? *How can I add some meaningful learning activities to these materials?
For churches using two of the recommended curriculum resources for education available through the United Church of Christ, there are resources available to assist volunteers with these and other questions.
Seasons of the Spirit, a lectionary based resource, has added a CD Guide as support for leaders. One of the topic areas on the CD is a section titled: Tips for Leaders.
‘Gather Round, a Bible story based resource, includes a print resource, Handbook. This book includes a chapter titled Teaching Made Easy.
Also available to assist your church and volunteer leadership are the Southwest Conference Partners in Education: Northern or Central AZ: Susan Wadell 602-993-0050 or Dana Bender 602-264-1221 Southern AZ: Carol Wilson 520-296-9332 or Marie Bacchiocchi 520-297-1181 New Mexico or El Paso: Juanita Marken 505-268-2765
UNITED CHURCH OF SUN CITY ENTERS INTO PARTNERSHIP United Church of Sun City has entered into partnership with Sun Health System to provide facilities for the Olive Branch Senior Center. This Center provides lunch to more than 130 people daily and offers free financial, legal and psychological counseling, games and other entertainment. United Church Senior Pastor James Fredette and Olive Branch Director Ivy Shirley are planning joint programs and a chapel service. One of the programs will be a showing of Ken Burn’s “The War” as well as taping the stories of area veterans for a film collage on “Sun City’s War Veterans.” United Church is investing $600,000 for the renovation of Witt Hall (the church’s first facility erected in 1960) to accommodate the Olive Branch. Renovations are to be completed by February 2008.
SUN LAKE UCC CELEBRATES 25 YEARS On Sunday, October 21, Sun Lakes UCC celebrated 25 years as a congregation located in Phase One of the Sun Lakes development—a retirement community. A few of their charter members were there to help celebrate. The Rev. Tom Garrison has served as pastor since January 2004.
SCOTTSDALE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH GAME NIGHT You are invited to participate in a night of ice cream and trivia games on November 17 at Scottsdale Congregational Church. This is a fundraiser for the church. See the attached flyer for details.
COFFEE HOUSE AT FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH TUCSON Friday, November 9th, doors open at 6:30 pm, open mic from 6:45 to 7:40, featured storyteller from 8:00 to 9:00. Beverages and snacks are available. Admission is $6 at the door. Glenda Bonin will be the featured teller in November. She is a Tucson resident and has been working her art forms for over 25 years. It is Glenda's belief that folk and family stories are natural springboards to intergenerational dialogue and cultural awareness, and she constantly seeks new opportunities to showcase this philosophy.
SAINTS AND PROPHETS OF THE AZ LABOR MOVEMENT A dinner in honor of saints and prophets of the Arizona labor movement will feature speakers from the past and present, including veterans of the Morenci Miners’ strike of 1983—“the strike that recast labor-management relations in America.” It will be held at First Congregational Church in Phoenix on November 1 at 6:30 pm. The cost is $35.00 with proceeds benefiting the Interfaith Worker Rights Center of Arizona. Call or email Rev. Trina Zelle, 480-522-4707; tzelle@iwj.org.
ORGAN AVAILABLE Barbara Barron, a former member of First Congregational Church in Tucson, inherited an “Allen” Organ (not sure of the model). She would like to donate it to a UCC church. If you are interested, please contact her at 520-881-5877.
ARIZONA ECUMENICAL COUNCIL For more information on any of these events, contact AEC at 602-468-3818. East Meets West, An Ecumenical Pilgrimage to Hungary, Croatia, and Northeastern Italy May 9-20, 2008, Sponsored by the AEC, Tour hosts: Jan Olav and Lucy Flaaten Caring for Creation event sponsored by AEC will begin with a storytelling concert at Community Christian Church on November 9 at 7:00 pm and continue with a workshop on November 10 at Central United Methodist Church in Phoenix, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. ASU’s Melikian Center Faith and Community Citizen Exchange Program needs volunteer drivers. AEC Executive Director, Rev. Jan Olav Flaaten, will be participating throughout the stay of the first group of exchange citizens, scheduled for January 5-25, 2008. He will participate as a meeting coordinator, teach various courses, and Rev. Flaaten will also be sent as an exchange citizen to Bosnia. If you would like to be involved, contact the AEC. "Building a Healthy Community: Faith Principles Leading to Comprehensive and Affordable Health Care for All the People of Arizona" is the title of a presentation prepared by the AEC available to any faith group for a lively discussion on health care issues in the state and county. 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. Schedule a time with AEC. The Sermon on the Mount and the Gospel of Matthew, Rev. Vernon Meyer, Ph.D., Tuesday evenings, November 13, 20 and 27, 7pm - 9pm, Crossroads United Methodist Church 7904 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, Registration required. $20 per class or $50 for all three, Call Jill, 602-944-1704 to register.
DIRECTORY CHANGES Pg. 8, South Mountain Church email: southmountainchurch@cox.net Pg. 24, Simpson, David, 11266 S. Santa Margarita Ln, Goodyear, AZ 85338, phones, email same Pg. 34, Add to Partners in Education: Rev. Marie Bacchiocchi, Casas Adobes Congregational Church, 6801 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704, 520-297-1181, revmarieb@gmail.com Pg. 36, Mary Lou Carson, mlcarson@q.com Pg. 37, Add to Youth and Outdoor Ministry Committee the Youth Council Representatives: Dan Kerege, 2336 W. Plata Ave, Mesa, AZ 85202, (480) 361-4124 (h), (480) 907-4592 (c), dkerege@yahoo.com; Brittany Wideman, 5401 W. Dahlia Dr., Glendale, AZ 85304, (602) 564-0212 (h), (602) 421-4693 (c), proud_to_be_afro7990@cox.net
CALENDAR November 4, Asphalt Gospel, Church of the Good Shepherd, Albuquerque, NM, 5:30 pm November 4, Installation of the Rev. David Ragan as Associate Minister of Program, Church of the Red Rocks, 3:30 pm November 8, COCAM, SWC Office, 9:30-3:00 November 9-10, UCC Polity Class, SWC Office, 3-8:30 pm Fri., 8:30-3 pm Sat. November 9-10, Christian Peace Workshop, Glendale November 9-10, Caring for Creation Workshop, AEC, multiple locations November 10, Executive Committee, SWC Office, 10-3 November 10, Justice and Witness Committee, SWC Office, 9:30-3:30 February 1-2, Congregational Vitality Event, Ontario, CA February 19, Pre-Retirement Seminar, SWC Office April 25-27, 2008, Annual Meeting at The Good Shepherd, UCC, Sahuarita, AZ
DATES FOR YOUTH MINISTRY AND SUMMER CAMPS Gathering of Youth and Young Adults, Nov. 11, Shadow Rock UCC, 5:30 pm Thanksgiving Alive!, Nov. 23-25, 2007, Church of the Beatitudes, Phoenix Senior High Tolerance Trip, Feb. 15-17, ‘08, Los Angeles, CA (This is the correct date.) Junior High Retreat, Feb. 29-Mar 2, 2008 tentative, place to be announced Youth Rally, April 25-27, 2008, Sahuarita, 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
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