Pastor Tom will be away this weekend, and Sonja Haller will be on call for pastoral emergencies. 

This Sunday's guest speaker is Marc Gaston.

This Sunday's movie is August Rush. It is about a musically gifted orphan, Evan, who runs away from his orphanage and searches New York City for his birth parent. On his journey, he's taken under the wig of the Wizard, a homeless man who lives in an abandoned theater.

Dear Members and Friends

                With summer officially winding down we’re reaching the end of our summer movie sermon series. For those of you who have enjoyed the series, fear not: I’ll no doubt continue to mention films on a fairly regular basis. And I’m planning an Adult Ed group in the winter on God & the Movies. Marc Gaston will be bringing our film series to a close this on the Sunday September 1^st with a reflection touching on the film, August Rush (about a homeless teen who’s surviving by playing his guitar on the streets for handouts).

            Meanwhile this Sunday, September 8^th we’ll be kicking off our fall theme, Healing the Cultural Divide. We’ll be exploring how we got to such a place of division and alienation in hopes of beefing up our communication skills, bringing a greater depth of understanding and compassion to the mix, and having a better appreciation for the toll the cultural divide is exacting on all of us.

            I wanted to remind folks that it’s not too late to sign up for the Arizona Interfaith Movement event I’ve helped organize. It’s going to be in Phoenix (4224 N 44^th St.) on Thursday, September 26^th at 6PM. The activity is a “Talking Circle,” in which each participant will have an opportunity to share a thought or anecdote about overcoming differences (welcoming the stranger, etc.). You can RSVP on the AZ Interfaith Movement website.

            Other items worth knowing about:

            We’re now officially partnering with Rev. Shea Darian of “Doing Grief.” Shea specializes in grief and healing. Shea is very excited to be collaborating with us. Watch for new Adult Ed and youth offerings coming soon!
 
          Our Resiliency Grant project is moving forward. Thanks again to Phil Scott for assembling the garden beds. We hope to bring one into the sanctuary for a special intergenerational moment on the first day of Autumn (Oct. 22^nd).
 
          For folks who like book groups, consider picking up a copy of Brian McClaren’s new book, Life After Doom. I’ll be co-leading this fall book study with Rev. Doug Bland who many of you know (of Arizona Interfaith Power and Light and a master storyteller who has preached for us numerous times). Doug recently went to Ireland to learn from their domestic “troubles” in order to help guide folks forward into this next year, which has us all on edge. He’ll be preaching soon and sharing about his experience there.
 
          Our next Adult Ed 7PM Salon is coming up on September 12^th: this is when we gather at the home of a member and share what’s been keeping us up at night (personal or global) and inspiring us to get up in the morning (good stuff we’re reading, music and the arts, etc.).
 
A special thanks to Marc and Claudia and all our special musical guests these past few months, who have kept our music strong while the band and Chancel Choir got some much deserved rest. Everyone will be back in force on September 8^th as we kick off the new theme of bridging (or healing) the cultural divide.
 
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Tom
 

A Southwest Conference Mission Offering

‘Thank You’

The Spread the Word offering was received on August 18, 2024. The collected offering at this time is $625 Thank you so very much for supporting this special offering.

Spread the Word is an offering that is used to support new churches and to help with the revitalization of existing churches. Local churches in our conference are able to use funds to help with such items as new technologies, additional supplies, salary supplements, training or advertising.

Thank you, Desert Palm for always being so generous.
Marie Parsey
Missions Offering Coordinator

Sunday, September 8^th

Following the worship service.

After a brief time for fellowship.

Meet in one of the classrooms.

Let’s discuss Prop 314 (on the ballot) See separate article.

In addition, let’s talk about ways we might DO SOMETHING this fall.

either related to Prop 314 or something else to help immigrants.

Women's Retreat registration is open!
Our Arizona Disciples of Christ sisters have invited us to their annual fall retreat at the beautiful Chapel Rock Retreat Center in Prescott, and our own Conference Minister Dr. Toni will be the keynote! Wende Gonzales of the SWC staff will lead the singing.

Workshops, worship, keynote, singing, faith, food, and fellowship will abound.
Save the dates, September 13-15, alert your church’s women’s groups, and  register today!
All registrations must be completed by August 28. Contact Wende with any questions.

Monday, September 23rd

Queer Anthems & How to write your own lyrics and music or painting with water colors for self expression. 5:00pm 1n10 Downtown Youth Center Facilitated by - Rev. Dr. Barb Doer-Peacock – Retired Marc Gaston – Minister of Music & The Arts (Desert Palm UCC, Tempe) Experience lyric writing through poetry and setting to music or Self expression through painting with water colors. 

SAVE THE DATES

• On Sunday, Sept. 28 we will have two special guests to speak to our youth and their families. UCC Rev. Shea Darian, an expert on grief and an award-winning author on nurturing a child’s spiritual life, joins us for a meet-and-greet. Shea will be getting feedback on the kind of programming to offer our families in the coming months. Meanwhile, Ris Ruiz, from Arizona Interfaith Power & Light also will join us for the second time. Ris will discuss her curriculum around eco grief.  Try to be there!
• The MIM! Bearizona! And a lot more fun. We have some fun activities lined up, including a visit to the cool MIM while it’s still hot outside.

Here’s the line up: 

• August//MIM: 2 pm, Saturday August 31: We can join in on a 30-45 minute orientation tour at 2. Tours meet in front of guest services. Tickets: $20 general admission, $15 teens ages 13-19 and $10 child ages 4-12. 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85050, phone 480.478.6000. (Everyone who needs a ride can be at the church parking lot at 1.)
• September//Bear Arizona: Departure time 7:30 am, Saturday, September 28. It’s a 3-hour drive from Phoenix to Williams. A 3-mile driving tour is available and a walking tour.  There’s also a restaurant we can eat at. Tickets: $35 for adults, child 4-12 is $25. Bearizona is located at the intersection of I-40 and US Hwy 64 (Historic Route 66) in Williams, AZ.  More details to come.
• September 1//After-church meeting for youth parents about our upcoming holiday musical and Children’s Sabbath.
• October// Vertuccio Farms Fall Festival: Noon., October 19. There’s a 5-acre corn maze, pig races, a rope course, petting zoo, etc.  Tickets: $16 per person. 4011 S. Power Road, Mesa, AZ USA 85212
• October 20//Children’s Sabbath is Oct. 20^th
• November/TBA
• December//Narnia the Musical: Second weekend of December.  Time and location TBA.

Email Marybeth at 77marybeth@gmail.com or Sonja at sonja@desertpalmucc.org if you plan on attending any of these events or have questions. These events are cultivated for youth, but are intergenerational so anyone can attend. We just need to know how many tickets to buy.

On October 13, the church will conduct a loose plate offering to support UCC Disability Ministries. Your contributions to this important cause are greatly appreciated.

An Introduction from Rev. Shea Darian

Dear people of Desert Palm, I am thrilled to envision a partnership with you to provide grief education and support through the Doing Grief Community Healing Project. Doing Grief is a new 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to empower grievers, professional care providers, and caregivers to heal in body, mind, and spirit. We welcome people of all faiths and philosophies to join us.

My grief and healing ministry began in 1985 when I was a newly ordained minister. Back then, I knew I was being called to be a healer in a hurting world, but I had no idea where my work as a healer would lead me. Through the years, I have served grievers of all ages as a Minister Through the Arts, Youth Minister, Minister of Worship, family educator, Spiritual Director, and hospital chaplain–journeying with those facing death, broken relationships, illness, a loss of meaning or hope, homelessness, and more.


When I became a grief educator in 2010, it shocked me. It wasn’t on my list of things to do when I grew up. I did it out of necessity because the grievers I worked with were sorely in need of practical tools and resources to help heal their grief-related suffering. I became a student of grief so I could teach others what I learned. I also created a compass for grievers–a new theoretical model of the grieving process called the Model of Adaptive Grieving Dynamics, published in the academic journal,  Illness, Crisis, and Loss  (May 2014).

In 2022, my book, Doing Grief in Real Life: A Soulful Guide to Navigate Loss, Death & Change was released to provide readers with a new way to think about and engage in the grieving process, and find approaches to healing that work for them. But, I wanted to do more for grievers than sell them a book on healing. I envisioned providing a
gathering place for grievers to connect, learn, seek support, and support others. That’s how Doing Grief Community Healing Project was born. Our pilot location was opened in March, 2023 at The Church of the Palms in Sun City. Our second location at Desert Palm will allow the Healing Project to extend our reach to the East side of the Valley.

Healing Project programs include: Mourning Light grief education programs, Healing Circle Small Groups, one-on-one spiritual direction and family support, Story Circles, healing through the arts programs, and spiritual enrichment opportunities. The programs offered at Desert Palm will be selected and developed with your collective strengths and
needs in mind, and the needs of those who come to the Healing Project at Desert Palm from the surrounding neighborhoods and beyond.

I come to partner with you now, grateful for this opportunity to journey together as grievers, ever-evolving students of life, and as a people who are called to heal our own suffering so that we may serve as healers for others.

With gratitude and hope, Rev. Shea Darian
Visit DoingGrief.org to learn more.

Will be collected on Sunday, October 6th , 2024.

Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM).

Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants. Neighbors in Need grants are awarded to UCC churches and organizations doing justice work in their communities. These grants fund projects whose
work ranges from direct service to community organizing and advocacy to address systemic injustice.

In 2024, the Neighbors in Need theme is “Mental Health Justice for All!” This year’s focus is on Mental Health Justice. In 2015, the General Synod of the UCC passed a resolution to become WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged) for mental health. It is our desire at Desert Palm to have a world where human rights
and the well-being of people with mental health issues are respected.

Neighbors in Need helps make a ‘Just World for All’ possible. For this to occur we need your support. You can contribute in two ways:

1) You can write a check payable to Desert Palm UCC and make a note on the memo line for NIN.
2) Or you can use the ‘Give’ feature on our DPCC website. There will be a ‘Donation’ option and a drop-down box where you can select “Neighbors in Need” (NIN).

Please send in your contributions by October 13 th , so we can send our check to the conference in a timely fashion.

Thank you.
Neighbors in Need needs our support. Please give generously.

This month, when at the grocery store, how about purchasing

•        full bottles of SHAMPOO and CONDITIONER (cheaper brands are ok) or
•        HEALTHY SNACKS (for example, granola bars, applesauce in squeeze containers, etc.)
• Of course, there is always a need for clothes, hygiene products, and stuffed animals.
• Bring them to church and put them in the bin or on the table.  

Did you know that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration manages approximately 200 call centers across the country? These centers are designed to provide support for those experiencing mental health crises or struggling with thoughts of suicide. It's great news that there's now a new phone number to access mental health emergency services - simply dial 988.

Arizona Proposition 314

An Arizona Immigration and Border Law Enforcement Measure

A legislatively referred state statute

The Arizona State Legislature voted to place 5 issues on the ballot to let the citizens decide the outcome.

One is Prop 314.  This has to do with naming certain unlawful activities as state crimes and to what degree, who will be allowed to enforce these crimes and declare persons guilty or innocent of these crimes.  And who will qualify for state financial aid and assistance.

Our New Youtube Channel

(Note that you can subscribe and be notified when a new service is posted).

 The Desert Palm UCC website

The Desert Palm UCC FB page