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A Celebration of Life for Rev. Dr. Dosia Carlson

Sunday, February 14, 2021, at 2:00 pm (MST)

The memorial gathering will be available to watch live online at the Church of the Beatitudes websiteYouTube channel, and Facebook page.

Write for the Southwest Conference Blog


Be a regular contributor or send in a guest post.  Email Wende with your submission.

Below is a recent contribution.
 

 

“Put a muzzle on it!”

Rev. Talitha Arnold, United Church of Santa Fe

As a pastor, I probably shouldn’t confess this, but I have a hard time with some of the stories the Bible tells about Jesus. His zapping a fig tree for not bearing fruit (when it wasn’t the season for figs) is one. (Mark 11:12-25) His chastising Martha for being busy in the kitchen is another. (Luke 10:38-42) How else was dinner going to get fixed?

These days—eleven months into the pandemic, economic upheaval, and virtual church—the story of Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41) is at the top of the list. According to Mark’s Gospel, one night Jesus decides he wants to get to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Peter and the other fishermen-turned-disciples humor him and set sail. Before they reach shore, they get caught in a storm that threatens to swamp the boat and dump all of them into the drink.

But in the midst of the howling wind and crashing waves, Jesus calmly rebukes the storm. “Peace, be still,” he says, according to the King James Version. J.B. Phillips translates Jesus’ words as “hush now” and the Wycliffe Bible as “Wax dumb.” The Message translates Jesus’ command as “settle down,” as if Jesus were talking to an errant child, and not a raging storm that’s about to drown them all.

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Church Jottings 2/1/2021

Thanks to the wonderful Holly Herman for reading ALL of your church newsletters and compiling the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference 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.
 

Taos UCC is collecting blankets for Taos Immigrant Allies, as well as the Nurturing Center.  
 

The Sahuarita Food Bank and Community Resource Center is extremely pleased to announce that they are working on final plans for a groundbreaking in February for their new building. This will launch the construction of the 14,300 square foot facility immediately south of the current location at The Good Shepherd United Church of Christ. The new facility will accommodate large amounts of food in storage, including two large coolers for frozen and refrigerated goods, as well as lots of space for non-perishable items. The building will fulfill their mission of feeding the hungry people in the community and helping individuals and families become more economically secure. The Good Shepherd UCC members “incubated” this mission of feeding the hungry by providing major food donations, financial support, and volunteers.  The church opened its own facilities and provided space when we needed it.
 

United Church of Sun City held a Sock-O-Rama last week and folks drove through the church parking lot and placed new adult or children's socks in the bins provided.  
 

Rincon welcomed Interfaith Community Service onto onto their campus this week! Since 1985 ICS has been supporting people to achieve stable, healthy and independent lives.  A vital ministry to the most vulnerable of our neighbors, ICS gives Rincon the opportunity to share their assets (a great location and office rooms) in a kin-dom building mission.  ICS brings highly qualified, experienced mission driven leadership and staff to the Rincon campus to manage its life giving ministries and Rincon members are eager for a flourishing partnership in common purpose.
 

Church of the Good Shepherd is starting a pen pal program within the church. Participants  will be emailed a name and info of who their pen pal is. People can remain a secret pen pal or reveal themselves.  Quarantine has been rough on everyone and getting letters, surprises, etc in the mail is a small charm to have on a rough day.
 

Both Church of the Good Shepherd and First Congregational UCC in Albuquerque are collecting food for Zia Pueblo.  There are about 50 families that are food insecure so both churches are helping stock their food pantry with nonperishables.
 

Join Church of the Beatitudes online for a livestream Celebration of Life for Rev. Dr. Dosia Carlson, on Sunday, February 14, 2021, at 2:00 pm (MST). What an appropriate date, Valentine's Day, to remember and celebrate the love, compassion and tenacious spirit for justice of Dosia Carlson for all of humanity and especially for those who were blessed to know and love her.  To watch the service live, please click on one of the buttons below. 

Website Link to Watch: WATCH HERE

Facebook Live Link to Watch: WATCH HERE

YouTube Link to Watch" WATCH HERE
 

On Ash Wednesday this year, Church of the Palms, United Church in Sun City, Sun City Christian in Sun City, and Desert Garden in Sun City West will join together for a LIVE Streaming Worship Service. It will be a time of scripture and brief mediations where clergy from each church will share their thoughts on the Lectionary passages for the day. 
 

The Southwest Conference is inviting all SWC congregations to join a $1.5M Medical Debt Elimination Campaign  that will run from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday.

For every $1 raised, $100 of medical debt can be abolished. $10 abolishes $1000 of medical debt. $10,000 wipes out $1 million. Let’s raise $15,000 to abolish $1.5 million!
 

Their Burdens - A Reflection on the Presidential Inauguration

podcast by Rev. Dr. John C Dorhauer, General Manager and President of the United Church of Christ.

Help to reinvent the SWC logo!

It's time for an update! We want to reinvent our Southwest Conference logo with one that's colorful and symbolizes our values and geography.

Feeling creative? We're accepting submissions! Attach your artwork in an email to Wende. Please use jpg or png format, in 1080x1080 dimension.

We're excited to see your ideas!

$1.5M Southwest Conference Medical Debt Relief Campaign Begins on Ash Wednesday

The Southwest Conference is inviting all SWC congregations to join this campaign that will run from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday.

For every $1 raised, $100 of medical debt can be abolished. $10 abolishes $1000 of medical debt. $10,000 wipes out $1 million. Let’s raise $15,000 to abolish $1.5 million!

The members of Executive Board have pledged an initial $940 to kick this off. That’s already $94,000 of medical debt that can be wiped out for individuals, veterans, and families in our geographical area.

Topic: Continuing education for retired clergy

Retired Clergy Zoom Gathering: February 18, 2021 at 1:00 PM MST

Facilitators:

  • Rev. Jim Meadows (retired, long-time SWC settled and interim pastor)

  • Rev. Dr. Randi Walker (retired pastor and Pacific School of Religion church history professor)

Given what we actually do as retired ministers, how do we decide what kind of continuing education we need beyond boundary training?

How do we as retired clergypersons keep up to date on our continuing education requirements?

New Southwest Conference Personnel Policies Manual

The Executive Board approved a new Personnel Policy Manual at its January meeting. We are sharing it with our congregations and members in the spirit of full transparency.

The document might also serve our local churches as a template for reviewing and updating their Personnel Policies.

Message from CM Rev. Bill Lyons re: significant immigrant policy actions

These actions are consistent with actions for which people of faith have called in their advocacy on behalf of migrant families and the pursuit of justice. They are consistent with UCC General Synod and Southwest Conference resolutions calling for the just and respectful treatment of our neighbors and for immigration policy reform.

As encouraging and important as these steps are, people of faith need to encourage local Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Department of Homeland Security officials to implement the new policies and to support them as they do so.

2021 Progressive Theology Seminar

Confrontational Faith and Beloved Community: Rekindling Hope and Restoring Trust

Presenter Rev. Dr. Guy Nave
Two Presentations on Saturday, Feb 20th, 9:00am and 11:00am--Mountain Standard Time---30 minutes break

Fulfills two hours of SWC Continuing Education requirements.

 

UCC Webinar—Evangelical Christianity and the Climate Crisis

The speakers will include Dr. Robin Veldman who has authored "The Gospel of Climate Skepticism: Why Evangelical Christians Oppose Action on Climate Change" along with the Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap from the Evangelical Environmental Network and Emily Robertson from Young Evangelicals for Climate Action.

Hear a lesson on Ranked Choice Voting

AFN Social Justice Commission

Thursday, February 4, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

All are welcome to join this group! We hear monthly from key community leaders. This meeting we will hear a lesson on Ranked Choice Voting.

AUCE's 50th Anniversary Event

AUCE members and friends are invited to help us celebrate 50 years and beyond with special guests, Rev. Molly BasketteMelvin BrayMark Miller, and Walter & Kassie Runsabove.

All are welcome!

Click here for details and to register.

Guidance for Resuming In-Person Gatherings In Southwest Conference Churches

Decisions about resuming in-person gatherings in your church rest in your hands, not in the hands of government officials or of the Southwest Conference staff. This resource has been designed to be a starting point for meaningful conversation among your local church leaders as you develop your own protocol or policy for resuming in-person gatherings (worship, classes, working in the office). It reflects our deep and abiding love for one another and for our neighbors and highlights our common desire to nurture the health and welfare of the people in our congregations and our communities.

Conference calendar at a glance:

(all times listed are MST)

February 14: Virtual Celebration of Life for Rev. Dr. Dosia Carlson

February 15: Presidents Day; SWC staff holiday

February 17: SWC Medical Debt Relief Campaign begins

February 18: 1:00 pm; Retired Clergy Zoom Gathering

February 20: 9 and 11 am, 2021 Progressive Theology Seminar

April 23–25: Virtual Annual Meeting

 
You can subscribe to the Southwest Conference Google calendar HERE
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