Category: Other News

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2020

Mark your calendar and please plan on attending one or more of the Week of Prayer services at churches around Sun City during the week of January 20th.
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The presentation theme this year is: “They Showed Us Unusual Kindness” -Acts 28:2.

The emphasis this year is on all churches demonstrating “unusual kindnesses” to each other and as one to the world in need.

The schedule for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is as follows (the first church listed is the host church, the second church is the supporting church).

Monday, Jan. 20: First Presbyterian w/ St Christopher’s
Tuesday, Jan. 21: United Church of Sun City w/ Faith Presbyterian
Wednesday, Jan. 22: St Elizabeth Seton w/ Church of the Palms
Thursday, Jan. 23: All Saints of the Desert w/ St Joachim & St Anne
Friday, Jan. 24: First United Methodist w/ Shepherd of the Desert

Services: 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
Fellowship lunch: 12:30 – 1 p.m.

Look for additional details in Sunday bulletins as the Week of Prayer approaches. If you have questions, please contact Pat & John Durbin.

Grief Share

Fridays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
September 6 through November 29

Expressing sympathy is always difficult, but all we can say is how sorry we are and want you to know we care. The journey of grief is a painful process, and you do not need to walk it alone. We would like to encourage you to come to the special seminar and support group offered here at Church of the Palms called GriefShare.

The materials in the support group specifically address topics and issues for those who are grieving the death of a loved one, be they spouse, child, sibling, parent or friend. GriefShare meets weekly for 13 sessions. You will find this to be a place where you can be around people who understand the pain of your loss. You will be prayed for and learn valuable information that will help you through this difficult season of your life.

If you are not experiencing the loss of someone special but know someone who would benefit from this support group, they are welcome no matter their religious beliefs or whether they attend services at Church of the Palms.

Our next GriefShare group resumes Friday, Sept 6, at 1:30 in the boardroom at Church of the Palms. We hope you or someone you know will consider joining us.

Walk for Peace on World Labyrinth Day

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2019

Labyrinths at the Palms will be hosting a ‘Walk for Peace’ in partnership with The Labyrinth Society which promotes a World Labyrinth Day walk. In 2018 over 5000 walkers in 35 countries around the world participated.

The ‘Walk for Peace’ theme is most appropriate as our larger labyrinth has a peace pole in the center. We will be dedicating the peace pole and acknowledging the plaque as we begin our walk together.

Walkers can use either the larger labyrinth which is ½ mile round trip or the smaller 3 circuit labyrinth which is ideal for walkers and wheelchairs. Water, shaded seating, and restrooms will be available.

Holy Week and Easter at Church of the Palms

ALL are welcome at these events!

April 14: Palm Sunday. Our Sanctuary Choir will share a musical presentation, Reflections on Holy Week.

April 18: Maundy Thursday 5:00 p.m. We’ll host a community service that will include our sister churches: United Church UCC and Sun City Christian.  Communion will be served.

April 19: Good Friday self-directed labyrinth walk* 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. Bell choir plays at 12:30.

April 21: Easter. Communion will be available at both services:

    • Early Service at 8:00 a.m. Pastor Jim will be preaching from Luke 24:1-12. Our hope is in the risen Christ. Worship will be on the patio.
    • Regular Worship at 10:00 a.m. The story is familiar. Can you notice anything new in the resurrection story? Pastor Paul recently did. He’;ll reveal it during the sermon. Read John 20:1-18.

*More about the Good Friday labyrinth walk:

The “Labyrinths at the Palms” will host the church’s Good Friday service this year. There will be a self-directed walk on the larger labyrinth from 12:00 – 3:00 pm on Friday, April 19th. The Bell Choir of Church of the Palms will play at 12:30 p.m. The smaller labyrinth will also be available to accommodate those using wheelchairs and walkers.

The walk into the center of the labyrinth will have the 14 Stations of the Cross marked on the path. Each walker will be given a guide that provides a scripture reading and prayer corresponding to each of the stations, following Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Tomb.

Once at the center, walkers will be able to linger in prayer/meditation, and then walk directly off the labyrinth or return to the entrance by the path. There will be chairs available under the tree for journaling or a time of prayer.

Labyrinth volunteers will be available to assist as needed. The guides will be available throughout the afternoon and evening in the literature box near the sidewalk.

Church of the Palms UCC community labyrinths and peace pole

Celebrate Your Roots and Embrace Your Personal History

Presented by the Social Justice Action Team

Sunday, March 17th, in King Hall at noon, following worship

Come to an all-church potluck and program event for members and friends where we will share, explore, and celebrate our various personal heritage stories.

Please bring a dish to share that reflects your ancestry, or a salad, side dish or dessert. Don’t know your history/ancestry? Just bring a favorite dish. You may wish to wear clothing which reflects your ancestry/heritage. Think about sharing stories, perhaps about how family traditions have been maintained, or how holidays and birthdays have been celebrated.

Featured Speaker: Attorney Brendan Mahoney, a member of First Congregational Church UCC in Phoenix, will be our presenter. Brendan will share his extensive knowledge of immigration patterns to the United States over the centuries. Where have our immigrants come from and what were the motivating factors that brought them here? How has the richness of our past histories enhanced our country? A Social Justice Action Team member has heard Brendan’s presentation and rates it A+ so you won’t want to miss this event.

There will be a signup in the narthex beginning late February. If you ride the church bus, that’s no problem, because transportation will be arranged so that you can attend this event.

Say cheese!

Embracing Our Future . . . with each other:
New Year’s Resolution

It’s time! It’s time for us to update our photo directory. Why? In the last three years more than 100 new members have joined us, others have moved, and some have passed away. Why else? Time has changed some of us…new glasses, new hair style, more wisdom lines.

We will be professionally photographing all families February 13, 14, 15, 16, 26, and 27. Our directory won’t be complete without you. So make a resolution to be included. Sign up on Sundays in January at the table in the narthex, or make your appointment online.

Contact Nancy Mueller with questions.

Social Justice Action Team Works with Dysart Community Center

At a recent meeting, the Social Justice Action Team approved working through the Board of Mission & Outreach to establish a long-term relationship with the Dysart Community Center. The reason for this decision is that the center embraces the same purpose as our team: to serve the needs of the marginalized, oppressed, and often forgotten. The mission statement of the Dysart Community Center is: To provide educational and developmental opportunities for low-income children and adults in our local communities.

Dysart Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1962 by a group of 12 determined volunteers to provide basic health and educational resources to local families on the verge of poverty. Educating those in need was the first priority for these volunteers and remains so today. From its founding more than fifty years ago, Dysart Community Center has expanded its services to provide a variety of educational programs for thousands of West Valley residents in our local communities. Today it proudly serves our community with GED, ESL, and citizenship courses for adults; after-school and summer care for youth; and access to various basic needs resources for families and individuals.

The center believes that by empowering the community through education while providing relief from various social and economic stresses, it can play an important part in helping community members reach the full potential of their character and capabilities. Dysart Community Center’s work with migrant families and assisting homeless is very much in line with the priorities of the Church of the Palms Social Action Team.

The Church of the Palms Social Justice Champion Recognition: Carolyn Modeen

This recognition is awarded to a person who is a member of our church, active in leadership roles, and active in social justice ministry. The individual  demonstrates a long-term commitment to seek justice on local, regional, and global issues. Her/his actions challenge injustices and effect change through education, advocacy, activism, and fundraising. Finally, the individual demonstrates the belief that everyone deserves equal economic, political, and social rights and opportunities.

The first recipient of this recognition goes to Carolyn Modeen.

Carolyn, a member for over 20 years, has served as Church Moderator, Chair of the Board of Mission and Outreach, initiated sale of free trade items, helped with the monthly fellowship breakfasts and provided leadership for Ecumenical Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Carolyn’s community roles have included: volunteer with Central Arizona Shelter providing clothes for the homeless, participation in marches and rallies for peace and to stop wars. Twice a month she holds up “Peace” signs on Bell and 99th.

Carolyn has advocated for sensible gun legislation, marched for women’s reproductive health rights and has given speeches at Planned Parenthood gathering. She has participated in equal pay gatherings and efforts to correct worker pay disparity. She demonstrated for migrant rights as workers and participated in monthly meetings of domestic violence prevention program.

Carolyn has been an active participant with Grandmothers for Peace and has volunteer at Benevilla since 1984. She regularly gathers signatures to help political candidates have names placed on election ballots and get initiatives on ballots.

Carolyn lives the following scripture: Micah 6:8 … “And what does the LORD require of us but to DO JUSTICE, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.” Well done Carolyn! Thank you for your service!