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“Sing in Unity” – an ecumenical music event

Sunday, July 29, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Church of the Palms
14808 N Boswell Blvd.
Sun City, Arizona 85351

You are invited to “SING IN UNITY” – an ecumenical hymn sing and worship service hosted by The Church of the Palms.

You will hear worshipful vocal and instrumental music by some great musicians of the participating churches. You will also have an opportunity to join in song with the crowd that gathers together in praise to God!

Light refreshments will be provided after the service.

No tickets needed. Please come and sing (or just listen) in unity!

All are welcome. Church of the Palms is an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation.

four-hand piano by Rev. Jim Alexander and Elaine Bunney
Have you ever seen a four-hand piano? The afternoon will begin with a prelude by Elaine Bunney and Pastor Jim as they play some lively hymns arranged for four-hand piano.
Jeff Sinley from Faith Presbyterian on trumpet and Susan Thacker from The Palms on sax
Jeff Sinley from Faith Presbyterian will be playing his trumpet. Susan Thacker from The Palms will be playing her sax! Heavenly music will fill this place! Hope to see you there.

 

 

Homeless Ministry in Sun City and the West Valley

Most of us take a lot for granted, including a permanent address, a place to lay our head at night, a place we call home. But an increasing number of people are homeless across the United States, in Arizona, in Maricopa County and in our own communities. A recent newspaper article reported the number of homeless in Glendale doubled over the previous year and Surprise, that counted no homeless as recent as 2014, is identifying a homeless population, albeit small, but very visible and of concern to many residents.

What is the face of the homeless? From data gathered in January of 2017, single adults account for 72% of the homeless population; men make up 64% of that number. Families represent 27% of the population. In Maricopa County 35% of the homeless were over 45 years of age; 6% were over 62, up from 4% in 2015.

The Social Justice Action Team is seeking ways for our church to be a leader in addressing this growing concern in Sun City and the West Valley. Members of the committee have been in conversation with Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, the sponsors of IHELP (Interfaith Housing Emergency Lodging Program). Team members have visited an active IHELP church and have shared information and a timeline with the Church Council.

IHELP is a working program that provides case management, life planning, finance counseling, job search and preparation, employment services, health care referrals, vital documentation assistance and enrollment in public benefits through LSS staff supervision and guidance. Individuals in the program have 90 days of shelter and meals at no charge. The goal of the program is to move persons from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Multiple churches provide places of shelter and a meal; a Lutheran Social Services case worker implements the IHELP program and provides the services.

At this point the SJAT has more questions than answers. As we continue to develop a plan of action and work in cooperation with other churches to address the needs of the homeless, be in prayer for the homeless and those who provide shelter/food to meet their daily needs. For more information on this project please contact: Max Klinkenborg maxklink@yahoo.com.

The Evans Bell Conversion

The Evans Bell Conversion will perform an excerpt from their program of spoken word and music entitled “Meditations Traveling Towards the Setting Sun” at The Palms’ worship service on Sunday, July 8 at 10 a.m.

Their program is set around a journey that was taken during the last Lenten season. This trip through South East Asia inspired this collection of work that is an attempt to intertwine the ancient rhythms of eastern religions with our own continuing exploration of spirituality in the cosmically focused 21st century.

This is a free event and open to ALL. No tickets are needed.

Jack Evans has been performing spoken word in the Valley for 40 years. He has performed from coast to coast and was the UCC Southwest Conference Official Poet Laureate from 2011-2015.

Tom Bell is a classical guitarist and composer who has been playing and performing for over 40 years. Initially in local bands and over the past 20 years as a solo artist.

Annual Summer Salad Spectacular

Sunday, July 8, 11:30 a.m.

Visitors are welcome!

We start with fresh, crisp greens and add all the diverse and wonderful ingredients that make a salad a SALAD. The best part of the feast is that everyone contributes their favorite “fixin” to the salad. It might be olives, garbanzo beans, onions, mushrooms, raisins, etc.… You name it, you bring it, and we will put it on your plate.

It is a wonderful way to enjoy a great meal with the Church of the Palms family, enjoy some good fellowship, and perhaps hear some July patriotic music.

Mark your calendar now for July 8th.

This is a free event and open to ALL. No tickets needed.

Proudly presented by the Church of the Palms’ Board of Evangelism.

Fifteenth Annual Ecumenical Renewal Retreat

September 4 – 7, 2018
Chapel Rock Conference Center, Prescott, Arizona

“Time, Eternity, Religious Calendars, and the Significance of Holy Days in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam”

Church of the Palms is honored to once again be the primary sponsor for this year’s retreat.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn about and discuss views of time, eternity and sacred days from the perspective of the three major religions of our time. The retreat includes 3 nights lodging, 3 dinners, 3 breakfasts, and 2 lunches in the cool pines of Prescott. The surroundings are beautiful, and the food is fantastic!

Our featured presenters are well-respected members of their temple, church and mosque communities.

Rabbi Nina Perlmutter
Congregation Lev Shalom Faculty Emeritus, Yavapai College Adjunct Instructor, Prescott College.

Azra Hussain
Founder and President Islamic Speakers Bureau, Azra trains speakers for the bureau, plans and facilitates educational and creative interfaith events for ISBA. As a speaker, she presents mainly on beliefs and practices, gender roles in Islam.

Dr. Michael G. Hegeman, Ph.D.
Princeton Theological Seminary Director, Fran Park Center for Faith Life at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, Lecturer in Religion, Spirituality & Humanities.

In addition to our featured speakers we will have scripture and sacred readings studies and vespers provided by Mary Whitlock and Debby Stinton.

Free time is built in on Wednesday and Thursday.

Cost of the Retreat this year is $260 per person (double occupancy). Extra charge of $30 for single occupancy rooms (limited available). Complete a registration form and return it to Church of the Palms ASAP to guarantee your spot.

For more information contact Debby Stinton dstinton@thepalms.org or John Durbin jst4us21@cox.net.

Sign up early to get your spot!

HART Pantry collecting goal 2018

HART Pantry July/August food items needed:

Apple sauce cups or fruit cups
Vegetable cups
Fruit juice packs like Capri Sun 100% Juice
Carnation Instant Breakfast packets

Back-to-School Needs List:

Backpacks – high school size
Calculators
Rulers
Compass and protractor kits
3-ring binders (1 1\2 inch minimum)
Composition books
Pens, pencils, colored pencils, sharpeners, erasers
Assignment/calendar books
Single and multiple subject notebooks
Pocket folders
Glue sticks
Highlighters
Scotch tape
Tissue packs and wipes
Reusable water bottles
Men’s ankle socks medium, large extended sizes
Women’s socks shoe sizes up to l0
Gift cards for Walmart or Target
Men’s/women’s deodorants

Backpacks to be packed by the HART team from a consortium of churches the end of July and sent to schools in time for opening of schools in August.

Please bring your purchased items to church and put them in the Hart Pantry back-to-school bin. These donations are tax deductible.

Educational and spiritual growth opportunities

The Church of the Palms offers several educational opportunities to assist folks in their spiritual journeys.

SUNDAY MORNING DISCUSSION (8:30 AM -9:30 AM)  Starting May 13, 2018, we began Lost Christianities: Christian Scriptures and the Battles over Authentication taught by: Professor Bart D. Ehrman, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The discussion group is led by Debby Stinton. Come for one or come for all! We enjoy the diversity of conversation and fellowship.

June 17th – The Gnostic Gospel of Truth
June 24th – Gnostics Explain Themselves
July 1st – The Coptic Gospel of Thomas
July 8th – Thomas’ Gnostic Teachings
July 15nd – Infancy Gospels
July 22th – The Gospel of Peter
July 29th – The Secret Gospel of Mark
August 5th – The Acts of John
August 12th – The Acts of Thomas
August 19th – The Acts of Paul and Thecia
August 26th – Forgeries in the Name of Paul
September 2nd – The Epistle of Barnabas
September 9th – The Apocalypse of Peter
September 16th – The Rise of Early Christian Orthodoxy
September 23rd – Beginnings of the Canon
September 30th – Formation of the New Testament Canon
October 7th – Interpretation of Scripture
October 14th– Orthodox Corruption of Scripture
October 21st – Early Christian Creeds

MONDAY MORNING LIFELONG LEARNING (10 AM – 11:30 AM)

“Eclipsing Empire: Paul, Rome and the Kingdom of God”
Join preeminent New Testament Scholars Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan on location in Turkey as they trace the Apostle Paul’s footsteps throughout the Roman Empire. This study explores fresh insights into Paul’s message of Kingdom of God, its challenge to Roman imperial theology, and the apostle’s radical relevance for today.

This 12-session DVD and web-based study explores fresh insights into Paul’s message of the Kingdom of God, its challenge to Roman imperial theology, and the apostle’s radical relevance for today. Filmed in high-definition across Turkey, Greece, and Italy.

FELLOWSHIP BREAKFASTS (2ND TUESDAYS)

June 12,  July 10  and August 14:  Our board takes responsibility for summer breakfasts…breakfast will be continental style.  Programs TBA – stay tuned!

COSMIC CHRISTIANS (Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.)

This energetic group meets on Tuesdays from 11:30 am till 1pm. We began a new series on Tuesday, May 29, facilitated by Kay Klinkenborg.

Kay presents a DVD, “Everything is Spiritual” produced and preached by Rob Bell. Bell notes that the Hebrew Scriptures have no word for ‘spiritual.’ Jesus never used the words ‘spiritual life’ …yet Jesus’ life and tradition exemplified that all is spiritual. What does that mean for us today?

The DVD and discussion are the bridge to the classes that will learn about ‘Integral Spirituality,’ a model of spirituality designed by Ken Wilbur.

The classes will watch a DVD series: “The Future of Christianity: A Startling New Vision of Hope for the 21st Century,” featuring Ken Wilbur and Fr. Thomas Keating will be the core material for learning about Integral Spirituality.

Ken Wilbur is an internationally known author and philosopher, and Fr. Thomas Keating is a Trappist Monk who has focused his ministry on teaching “Centering Prayer” and is the author on numerous spiritual books.

Integral Spirituality is a model that describes our individual development of spiritual/consciousness levels.

Discussion will include applications and questions that this brings to us personally and to our church, our families and our communities. This series has no book; handouts will be provided for each class session.

THIRD FRIDAY MOVIES (Jack Evans)

[on summer hiatus]

SUNDAY AFTERNOON LIFELONG LEARNING (1:30-3 PM)

White Privilege Part 1 led by Debby Stinton…we are presenting this to determine if there is an interest in a program time that will be available for those who work during the week.  This class will begin on June 24 and run for 5 weeks.

Lifelong Learning – coming to Sunday afternoons!
beginning Sunday, June 24, 1:30 p.m.
White Privilege, Part 1 – a five-week series
led by Debby Stinton

Lifelong Learning – coming to Sunday afternoons!

beginning Sunday, June 24, 1:30 p.m.
White Privilege, Part 1 – a five-week series
led by Debby Stinton

Do you feel a bit left out when it comes to the wonderful learning opportunities offered by the church during the week when you are busily buzzing around at work? Well…guess what?

Life Long Learning is starting up a Sunday afternoon class!

Would this group be of Interest to you? Join us for the first class and let us know!

We are hoping this day and time will be convenient work for those who work during the week.

Underground Railroad Quilt

From The Church of the Palms Social Justice Team:

Working together despite differences of opinion and world views has been a hallmark of American history and is certainly true within the United Church of Christ and even right here at Church of the Palms.

It is fitting, then, that the beautiful quilt displayed on the west wall of King Hall represents people, our people, working together, despite very different opinions on the final product, calling attention to a time in US history marked by conflicting views and very different perspectives on what and who should make up the fabric of our country.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

The Church of the Palms Social Justice Team dedicated to: “Seeking justice through Prayer, Action, Love, Ministry, Support” (PALMS) thanks all of those involved in this project and hopes that all will admire its beauty and see it as a symbol of pulling together and a labor of love.

The quilt, a brainchild of Barbara Arnold, beautifully assembled by the dedicated ladies from our Service Project Craft Group and framed by Ron Schultz, tells a story of the Underground Railroad – the Negro slaves fleeing the south during abolition. The quilt represents a people’s quest for freedom, dignity and respect and the risks and rewards of pursuing those noble goals. Each of the squares in the quilt represents a code symbol for those seeking safety known by them and those desiring to help their fellow human beings.