Church Jottings

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!)

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.
 

Shadow Rock partnered with The Church of the Palms in the work of Immigration Justice this week.  Shadow Rock used Church of the Palms' van to transport refugees to the Phoenix Welcome Center that had been  stranded by ICE and Border Patrol in Ajo.  Mark Kelly's office routed the request to Shadow Rock who figured out the "how" to make it happen.

Youth on Their Own is a 501(c)(3) charity located in Tucson that serves homeless youth. It is a dropout prevention program that supports the high school graduation and continued success of youth experiencing homelessness.  Their program focuses on financial assistance, basic human needs and guidance. These kids are not in the physical custody of a parent or long-term guardian and are without a stable home. They must meet academic standards to be able to receive a monthly stipend. YOTO also provides resources to find housing and provides a safe place for them to spend time and use a computer.  YOTO also has a mini mall which provides free basic needs such as food, clothing, hygiene, household goods and school supplies.  Casas Adobes members are writing notes of inspiration that will be attached to their monthly stipend checks.  

Taos UCC has rented their first church home! They have rented two units, 209E and F Camino de la Merced, and once they are fixed up, and it's safe to meet inside again, they will be a little storefront church smack in the middle of a neighborhood that needs good neighbors.

On Good Friday, a recorded service from First Congregational UCC in Prescott will be available on their website - fccprescott.org. Playwright Micki Shelton (Michele McFadden) has provided a recorded play, In A Corner, to be used with readings and music for the service. (Synopsis: How does a mother deal with the loss of a child? As seemingly fragile Amanda Jones emerges from a courtroom, she is confronted by a cacophony of reporters' voices, but the brash reporter who interviews her ultimately finds himself to be the weaker of the two.)

Members of Encanto Community Church found soup packets in their Easter Baskets.  Why, you ask? Well, they usually join together for Soup Supper on Maundy Thursday, immediately prior to the evening church service. So, even though they cannot be together in-person for Soup Supper this year, they can still join together on Zoom for the event and have been provided with Cup-a- Soup packets. Yes, although Maundy Thursday falls on April Fool’s Day this year, the Soup Supper is not a joke and should offer a wonderful time to be together.  

Join the Arizona Faith Network for a book study series led by Dr. Lois Brown, Director of ASU's Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, on racial justice and redlining.  Participants will read the book Minorities in Phoenix, by Bradford Luckingham and discuss the historical and current trends of racism and racial justice throughout Arizona.  Zoom gatherings every other Tuesday from 6:30-8 pm beginning April 6th. Register HERE

The Southwest Conference invites all SWC congregations and individuals to join the $1.5 million Medical Debt Relief campaign running until Easter Sunday. Every $1 raised, will abolish $100 of medical debt. The conference goal is to raise $15,000 to abolish $1.5 million of medical debt.  Please go to SWCUCC.org and donate to have your dollars make a huge difference.

Have a blessed Holy Week, Southwest Conference. Jottings will be back on April 5th. 
-Holly