View the listing here.

The Southwest Conference is pleased to offer Best Skills Best Churches (BSBC/UCC), a certificate program offered in partnership with ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation. The program is also open to MIDs, clergy, and lay leaders! Applications are being accepted online for the September cohort of 30 participants. The program is also open to MIDs, clergy, and lay leaders!

The program begins in September and will meet by zoom. BSBC meets continuing clergy education requirements for standing. Generous financial assistance is available through United Church Fund's Brown Endowment and the SWC for SWC members.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Attention churches: If you’d like a separate article about your news to appear on the website and The Loop, please submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.

Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches. (Thanks, Holly!)
 

Oro Valley UCC’s Rev. Drew Terry’s "Stay Grounded in Faith" published in the 'Arizona Daily Star' newspaper June 20, 2021 edition. As you can see from the picture of Baby Terry, he is reading his Daddy's article that was published in the Arizona Daily Star on June 20, 2021 in their Sunday section, "Keeping the Faith." Click on the picture of Oban  so you can read along with him.

To break up the lazy, hazy daze of summer, and because July has been deemed “Anti-Boredom Month,”  the WISE article from Church of the Palms for the month contained some daily fun activities, insights and information. For this week, I especially liked the activity for July 8: “Chocolate with Almonds Day”. If you don’t like one or the other or neither, today is the day to splurge on some decadent treat.”

On July 18, Esther D. will lead the congregation of First Christian Church of Las Cruces in a discussion of the various hats worn during the pandemic, and how that might change (or stay the same) as we emerge into the “new normal.”  Folks are asked to wear their favorite hat and bring along some other hats to represent their roles past and present.  This should be a lively as well as profound discussion of ways people adapted to an historic event and what was learned about ourselves and each other.

Through Arizona Faith Network and a grant through AmeriCorp, First Church Phoenix is able to offer their fellowship hall as a cooling center to those who are experiencing homelessness as a place of respite from the summer heat.  Donations of water and pre packaged snacks are welcome.

First Congregational UCC in Albuquerque just welcomed two long term guests into their basement apartment. Brayan and David are a couple from Honduras. The church’s Immigration Justice Team is working closely with ABQ Asylum Seekers to provide resources and support for these wonderful young men. They have been working with Ella Rawls, Co-Founder and Staff Attorney of Arizona Justice for Our Neighbors, a United Methodist Immigration Ministry, to arrange the placement.  This connection was made through Rev. Bill Lyons, UCC Southwest Conference Minister, who has worked with Ella on other matters. While financial support for Brayan and David will come from a number of sources, the SWC is sending $1,500 of SWC funds earmarked for immigration ministry for their support and has included support for them in a grant application that has been submitted to Global HOPE at the National Setting of the UCC.

Interfaith Community Services in Tucson gives out around 2,000 jars of peanut butter every month.  24,000 jars of peanut butter is a whole lot of peanut butter!  Starting July 1, Rincon will be collecting peanut butter until and including August 1. The  goal is to collect 500  14 to 16 OZ jars of peanut butter.  A 48 oz jar is great for a large family, but 3  16 oz jars can help 3 families.  And Rincon isn’t the only Tucson church collecting peanut butter!  Church of the Painted Hills and Oro Valley also have peanut butter goals!

The Conference offices are moving!

The Southwest Conference has signed a lease on a new space and is listing "The 917" building for sale.  They’ll be moving in July to offices at the United Methodist Center, 1550 E. Meadowbrook Avenue. The UMC and SWC share mutual excitement and look forward to working together and extending their ecumenical ministry and relationship.

In a letter to her church family at Scottsdale UCC (and all of us!) from Rev Sandi Britton, encourages everyone to sign up for General Synod:

“I just signed up for General Synod 33 which is happening virtually from July 11-18, 2021. This year each regional conference of the UCC is competing for the most churches to be represented at General Synod. We in the Southwest Conference are scoring 48.9% with the leading conference, Central Pacific, scoring 86.0%. It just takes one person to represent each church to be counted but I am hoping several of you will attend. 

The scripture chosen for General Synod 33 is Psalm 1:3a. "They are like trees planted by streams of water; which yield their fruit in its season." This text has many interpretations and applications to our lives today. 

 Registration provides you access to all aspects of General Synod including 50 workshops before and during General Synod, amazing worship and preaching, business sessions, an exhibit hall, keynote speakers and more.   

I was a delegate while serving in the Minnesota Conference and what an experience that was! We are so blessed to be in a denomination that is truly diverse, fun-loving, progressive, and sincere witnesses to the unconditional love, acceptance, and celebration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

PLEASE WATCH THIS 4 MINUTE VIDEO FROM REV. DR. JOHN DORHAUER ABOUT WHAT GENERAL SYNOD 33 HAS TO OFFER.

 For more information and registration go here.

Rev. Sandi Britton”

Below are the CORRECT days and times. Apologies for last week's errors.
 

MODULE 1: Intro and Theology of Boundaries, Power & Vulnerability: Wednesday, September 8, 1-4 pm AZ / 2-5 pm NM & El Paso

MODULE 2: Interpersonal Relationships: Thursday, October 7, 1-4 pm AZ / 2-5pm NM-El Paso

MODULE 3: Work, Time, Resources: Tuesday, November 16, 1-4 pm

MODULE 4: Technology and Social Media: Wednesday, December 8, 1-4 pm

Learn more about each module and register HERE.

“We are extravagantly welcoming and affirming follower of Jesus called to embody God’s unconditional justice and love in the world.” For more than ten months the Southwest Conference (SWC) Executive Board and our standing committees have been discerning how best to use SWC resources to live more fully into our mission. This discernment work came in response to the conference-wide SOAR visioning summit held just before the COVID19 unleashed its devastation in the U.S. While we have been responding to the pandemic, we’ve also been anticipating its impact, asking God’s Spirit to show us the way forward in a world and a Church we know will be radically different than anything we’ve experienced.

Karen Richter is excited to share some new Our Whole Lives opportunities for students and facilitators. OWL is a set of comprehensive sexuality education curricula for multiple age ranges, focused on a set of core values: self-worth, sexual health, responsibility, and justice & inclusivity.