The Southwest Conference Executive Board voted at their May meeting to put the Conference Office building, 917 E. Sheridan St., on the market for sale. This decision comes after six months of discussion and discernment about Conference and staff needs, financial and facility stewardship, and overarching Conference mission.

“The pandemic taught us a lot about how we function as a staff and conference. We found we could work efficiently and effectively from home offices, but we greatly missed our in-person collegiality and creative collaboration as a staff. We do need a place, but we don’t need as large a space to work in and manage,” said the Rev. Dr. Bill Lyons, Conference Minister.

by Rev. Deb Worley

“Happy are those…[whose] delight is in the law of the Lord, 
and on [God’s] law they meditate day and night. 
They are like trees planted by streams of water, 
which yield their fruit in its season…” 

(from Psalm 1)

As I lay in bed last week, for hours and hours…and hours…, waiting for my body to recover from whatever bug I had caught that laid me up (or more accurately, laid me down!), there were times when my mind went in a million different directions. On occasion, as it raced, in an attempt to calm it down, I found myself reciting some of these simple phrases: “God is good…God is faithful…God is with us….”

Those phrases are not necessarily found among the 613 commandments found in the Hebrew Bible–“the law of the Lord”–and as such, are likely not what the psalmist was referring to when he wrote about those happy people who “delight in the law of the Lord,” meditating on it nonstop. 

But to me, those phrases–God is good…God is faithful…God is with us–encapsulate much of the truth and beauty and power of our faith. 

And when I can think about those things rather than the things that cause me anxiety or fear, then I become more solidly grounded–kind of like a tree. 

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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!)
 

Thank you so much to Encanto who prepared food and served at the reception for West Congregational's final worship service last Sunday!  There was plenty of food and a great set-up/serving/clean-up crew!  It was a long day, but we know that the reception was greatly appreciated by the West Congregational Church family.  

May is Mental Health Awareness month. As we learn more about mental illness, we seek greater inclusion in our spiritual communities.  In response, First Church Phoenix will begin a Spiritual Support Group for Mental Health. The pandemics have shown how important our mental health is. In this group, folks will participate in group discussion about how they take care of themselves the importance of the spiritual in their lives.

Saturdays are volunteer days for First Church Phoenix at the Welcome Center to assist asylum seekers in their transition to their sponsors.  The Welcome Center is always looking for groups/churches to coordinate volunteers once a month/week or as needed.  Is your church ready to do this?  Contact the Welcome Center or First Church for more information.

Pastor Michael at Casas Adobes is offering a spiritual conversation opportunity centered in Gareth Higgins’ book, How Not To Be Afraid: Seven Ways to Live When Everything Seems Terrifying. Here is a description from Micky ScottBey Jones, “Gareth Higgins doesn’t dismiss the very real fear we feel, but instead invites us into stories and practices that offers us ways to process . . . and bravely cultivate substantial generative love.” For more info on the book and to download a free chapter, go here: https://www.hownottobeafraid.com/. Pastor Michael was part of a team working with Gareth two years ago leading a week-long retreat learning about social justice and peace making in Northern Ireland.  You might want to check it out and add to your summer reading list.

The kitchen ladies at Rincon UCC are back making soup and rice for the refugees at Casas Alitas, the Tucson welcome center helping asylum seekers released to their sponsors.  They make approximately 20 gallons of chicken-vegetable soup and 5 pounds of Spanish Rice every Monday morning in the kitchen at church. 

On the 17th of each month, Shadow Rock UCC brings their immigration justice witness to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building located at 2035 N Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ.  May 17, 2021 marked  their 77th witness.  They do this to object to the inhumane and cruel tactics of ICE and the Border Patrol. 

The Pentecost service at Black Mountain UCC will be led by SWC Commissioned Minister Gordon Street and his husband Brendan Mahoney, who chairs the conference COCAM B team that works with local congregations. They will celebrate the day by sharing the good news of our unique UCC ways and be blessed by Brendan bringing and playing his new harpsichord.

On Saturday, June 5, at 7:00pm, on The Good Shepherd’s Amistad Patio, enjoy an outdoor (masks required) featuring Joe Troop, a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter from Winston-Salem. He’s also the founder of the GRAMMY-nominated string band, Che Apalache, from Buenos Aires.  Joe melds the melodies of the Appalachian foothills with the traditional Latin American soundscape, all while weaving together the stories of hope and heartache.  Come and hear music from his new solo album called, “Borrowed Time” and learn a little bit about “Latingrass.

For more info:  bienshphrd@aol.com or 520-625-1375. Tickets at Door:  $10.00

Todos Somos Una Sola Familia,” “We Are All One Family” is the message that greeted Pastor Mike from Church of the Painted Hills when he and several colleagues reached the top of the driveway entering La Casa De La Misericordia, The House of Mercy, in Nogales, Sonora. La Casa, is a shelter for our migrant neighbors awaiting the opportunity to present themselves at the border for asylum. It is ministry of Cruzando Fronteras (Crossing Borders), a ministry partnership of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, the Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA and the Southwest Conference of the UCC.

Rincon UCC has a new summer project:  Take a bag-fill a bag-return a bag.   Bags can be picked up at the church, filled with a specific list of hygiene products, and returned to the church.  All to benefit Casa Alitas asylum seekers.

TikTok Pastors Rev. Timoth Sylvia and Rev. Sarah TevisTownes lead congregations and have literally millions of engagements online. Join the United Church of Christ for a conversation about TikTok, how ministry is happening creatively, and a celebration of the ways our Faith moves outside of the buildings and traditional expectations upon it.

Join the May 26 National Summit gathering to train and empower faith communities to support equitable U.S. vaccine distribution.

Register here.