Current News and Events at Desert Palm
the weekly update
Sunday School
Please join us for Sunday
School via Zoom at the following times:
Kindergarten and younger: 10:45 a.m.
First through fourth grade: 10:00 a.m.
Our gatherings will last about 30 minutes. Please e-mail Audrey Penner at alpenner@viterbo.edu or Kathryn Andrews at kathrynandrews47@gmail.com if you would like to join us this Sunday, or on a future Sunday.
Hope you can join us!
The time has come to talk of many things, including . . . registering your child for Sunday School! Families with current students may fill out the form on line; just scroll to the bottom of the church web page at www.desertpalmucc.org. Even if you do not have a current Sunday School student, please invite any friends or relatives with an interest in progressive Christianity to register a child and check out our classes. Through the magic of Zoom, our offerings are now available to any child, anywhere.
Women’s Bible Study
the women's bible group is a friendly, welcoming assortment of women who meet twice a month to support each other and have rich discussions about a selected book or bible passage. New members are always welcome.
Thursday Group
Do you like to read and discuss fiction? Do you have an interest in the topics of racism, class, and worldviews regarding religion? If so, we would love to have you join the Thursday Morning Women's Bible and Book study group. We are reading a series of short stories and listening to how God speaks to us through them and each other. Each week covers a "stand-alone" short story, so regular attendance is welcomed but is not required.
On 2/4/21 (a date palindrome:) at 9:30 am, we will meet via zoom to discuss Flannery O'Connor's short story Revelation. And we will continue to meet every other Thursday at 9:30 am. Contact the church office or Sue Henderson at suegreenhenderson@gmail.com for the zoom link, and contact either Sue or Ellen Colangelo at ellencolangelo@gmail.com for questions.
Dates are:
February 4
February 18
March 4
March 18
We are starting a new book in January, so this is an excellent time for new folks to join us. Our next book is Listening to God, Volume 1. Picture and link below. If possible, please obtain the book and read the introduction and the first story by Flannery O'Connor - up through page 36. If you can't get the book or do the reading, please JOIN US ANYWAY
The Desert Palm UCC Women’s Sunday Bible Study Group is open to anyone who would like to discuss God’s sacred circle of girls and women who made a difference in the lives of others in their own unique ways. Our guide is the book “Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter.”
Following are our upcoming Zoom meetings:
- Sunday, January 31 at 3pm for a discussion from Matthew, “The Servant Girls at the High Priest’s House,” p. 377-380.
Please contact Pat Speer (pspeer686@gmail.com) if you wish to be added to the email list to receive the Zoom link.
Global Ministries is a joint witness in mission between the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. To learn more click on this link https://www.globalministries.org/
WCC Weekly
To learn more about the work of the Church and the Wider World click on this link.
support for all students on campus & at home
All are welcome
At this time all our gatherings are digital in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Please connect with Andrew (andrew@desertpalmucc.org) to join us.
All ASU students (graduate and undergraduate) are welcome.
Weekly Small Group-Every Wednesday at 3:30 pm
Open One-on-One Office Hours on Zoom with Andrew-Every Other Tuesday from 2:00pm to 4:00 pm
All students are invited to join us for our adventures and advocacy work.
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adventures
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Advocacy
Weekly devotional
Are you looking for a little more spirituality in your life? Join Pastor Tom and some DPUCC early birds for the Early Bird Devotional Tuesday mornings at 7 am. We read the Gospel text for the coming week and say some simple but beautiful prayers. It's a nice way to start the day. Check your email Tuesday morning as we've got the zoom invite going out automatically at 6 am so you'll have it handy when you need it. You can also find it on the calendar (on the Desert Palm website). To find the calendar go to the church website's homepage, click on the contact, and select calendar from the drop-down menu.
Pastor tom's storytelling project
Those of you who have signed up should have received a letter and informed consent agreement. The zoom link for the groups will be posted on the church calendar and can be found below. Notice there are separate links for the two groups (either Sunday or Monday) so be sure to copy the correct one.
Zoom link for Sunday, 2PM:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85291716659?pwd=d3RiT1hPZmJJVDRmVW5xT0dBZ2xaZz09
Zoom link for Monday, 1PM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85820322980
East Valley Church Network Update 1/5/21
From Holly Herman
Recent updates
- Groceries for Iglesia Cristiana el Buen Pastor are due each week by Thursday afternoon to Holly’s house for delivery on Friday.
- In addition to Pastor Hector's son-in-law (Nelson Ramos), there are now 3 additional families with Covid-19 at el Buen Pastor. The church is trying to provide more food assistance to these families during their recovery periods.
- Dan Abbott, EV Network assistant, is going to Ajo on Saturday to deliver items to the Ajo Samaritans for delivery to the Sonoyta shelters. Refugees continue to stream to the two shelters hoping for a chance to claim asylum under hoped-for new regulations by the Biden administration. Especially needed are men's pants (waist 26-34), long sleeved shirts (S/M), shoes (8-10.5), jackets (S/M), socks, and new underwear (S/M). Donations should be delivered to Holly’s house by noon Friday. Dan makes the trip every 2-3 weeks, so this is an ongoing need.
Thank you’s
- Another amazing week of grocery donations! I was sure that the holiday weeks would be slow, but you all proved me wrong. My car was packed! Your dedication and generosity warms my heart. Thank you.
- Thank you to Desert Palm UCC for taking a special offering during December to benefit el Buen Pastor! Over $600 was collected!
Network Special Collections
Now that the Holidays are over, if any of your worship communities want to discuss a special collection, either for el Buen Pastor or for the Sonoyta shelters, please give me a call to discuss. The shelters are the most needy right now. We are approaching 200 people between the men's and family shelters. In addition to providing clothing, the Ajo Samaritans, with help from Humane Borders and No More Deaths, purchase all the food for both shelters, pay a stipend to the shelter managers, provide medicine and pay for needed hospital treatment, and provide needed repairs and improvements to the facilities like showers and washing machines. Some items that could be used in addition to clothes, as mentioned above, are towels, blankets, backpacks, laundry soap, Spanish children's books, and, always, cash. If you feel so moved, please contact me to brainstorm what might work for your community.
Reminders:
Most needed grocery items for el Buen Pastor are rice, pinto and black beans, canned chicken/tuna, canned vegetables, cereal, spaghetti and sauce, soups, vegetable oil, salt/pepper/garlic, laundry/dish soap, TP/paper towels, bread/tortillas, chicken bouillon, school lunch items, dog food, and coffee. Fruit or vegetables that don't have to be refrigerated in the short term (apples/oranges/melon/potatoes) are also possible. I can keep them inside until I transport. Of course, anything you donate will be used and appreciated! If you use it, they probably do, too!
Checks or $25 Walmart gift cards for Igl. Crist. el Buen Pastor can be mailed to University Presbyterian Church or dropped through the mail slot in the church office. Indicate "el Buen Pastor" on the envelope or memo line. Groceries, or cash for supplemental groceries, should be delivered to my house.
Donations for the shelters can also be delivered to Holly’s house. Or call to make other arrangements.
Thank you all for your continued compassion, energy, and generosity. We appreciate all of you that can help.
Holly
1701 W Lindner, Mesa 85202
(near Baseline and Dobson)
University Presbyterian Church, 139 E Alameda, Tempe, AZ 85282
stem lab rolls again
Greetings Desert Palm friends,
I have just received information that the Stem Lab at Porter Elementary School in Mesa is once again requesting paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls. There is now a large box located just inside the gate to deposit rolls and will check on the box frequently and take the rolls to Porter School.
Also, Box Tops for Education are still being collected.
Thanking you in advance for your continuing support.
Jo Vredenburg
Kindergarten/1st grade virtual mentor,
Porter Elementary School
January 24th Coffee hour discussion
pastor Tom's sabbatical
Tom
will be sharing the general outline of his proposed activity and needs
to get input
from the congregation in order to draw up a strong application for sabbatical funds. The general goal is to share about our WISE journey/process with other congregations who are interested and to learn from those congregations who pioneered the process. The overall theme will be mental health and wellness, which fits with the general goal of sabbaticals being a time of rest and enrichment.
Topic: Coffee Hour 2021
Time: Jan 24, 2021 11:00 AM Arizona
Every week on Sun, until Dec 12, 2021, 50 occurrence(s)
Jan 24, 2021 11:00 AM
Jan 31, 2021 11:00 AM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZMrceGgrjMjHtH-PW-i4Ygj2pLRLsU-Vncr/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGvqD0iEtSduR2CRpwEBI_oWfzziFxEgrd10S_STikHWwT8ZPJuAJ5sJZXm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87668808945?pwd=WWkwQkpUeHRtUDNabEt1cFM5VlVidz09
Meeting ID: 876 6880 8945
Passcode: DPUCC
One tap mobile
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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 876 6880 8945
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kc345rxbF9
Are you eligible for phase 1b-1C covid-19 vaccinations?
Arizona Department of Health Services has
opened registration for Phase 1A and Phase 1B prioritized vaccinations. There
are several POD locations throughout the state, including a site in Tempe. More
sites will be added in the coming months. Register.
Appointments are required and limited only to eligible people; no walk-ins
will be allowed. If you're having trouble making an appointment online, you can
call the AHDS Hotline 1-844-542-8201 for help or to ask questions.
Eligible populations in Phase 1B prioritized are:
- Adults age 75 and older
- K-12 school staff and childcare workers
- Law enforcement/protective services
- Phase 1A populations
As of Monday, January 18th, those adults age 65 and older (Phase 1C),adults of any age with High-Risk Medical Conditions, adults Living in Congregate Settings, Remaining 1A & 1B will be able to register to receive vaccinations.
Websites & Phone Numbers for Covid-19 Vaccine
Web sites: maricopa.gov/5659/Covid-19-vaccine (This link gives you the form to set up an appointment).
maricopa.gov/5659/Covid-19-vaccine-locations (This link gives you places where the vaccine can be administered; it may allow you to sign up for an appointment also).
azhealth.gov/covid19vaccine (Here you can register & then complete the form to find a location & an appointment).
Phone numbers for support & help:
State: 1-844-542-8201 (Might have to be placed on hold for longer than 10 minutes. Here you can leave a phone number for a return call within 24 hours.
Maricopa County: 602-506-6767 (you may be on hold for a while)