Doing Grief in Real Life: Ministry Program at Church of the Palms UCC

A new ministry program is being offered by Palms member Shea Darian, a grief educator and spiritual director who teaches holistic grieving as a life-skill to help you heal your grief – past, present and future. Whoever you are and no matter what types of losses you harbor, Shea offers a new way to think… Continue reading Doing Grief in Real Life: Ministry Program at Church of the Palms UCC

Black Lives Matter Quiz: Testing Assumptions

By Pastor Paul Q: “Protestors” and “Protesting” is synonymous with “Looting,” “Rioting” and “destruction of property.” A: FALSE! Therefore, don’t use them as if they are the same thing. They are totally different. If you missed that question, go back and answer again. This time, with the correct answer, “False.” Then, implement it in your… Continue reading Black Lives Matter Quiz: Testing Assumptions

Meditation on the Medicine Wheel: Prayers on the Sacred Circle

By Max Klinkenborg Like the labyrinth, the most dominant geometric shape of the Sacred Circle is the circle. “The circle acknowledges the connectedness of everything in life, such as the four seasons, the four stages of life and the four winds, and it represents the continuous cycle and relationship of the seen and the unseen,… Continue reading Meditation on the Medicine Wheel: Prayers on the Sacred Circle

Seeking volunteers for potential shower trailer ministry

When homeless persons are asked what they need, they most often say: A shower. Cities all over the U.S. are finding creative ways to offer showers. In Mesa, Paz de Cristo rents a shower trailer each Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., during which 60 people will take a shower. As we continue our… Continue reading Seeking volunteers for potential shower trailer ministry

Global Pride 2020

Pride won’t be beaten by COVID19 – join us on Saturday 27 June 2020 for the world’s first Global Pride! Global Pride 2020 is being organised by Prides from across the world. We will have speeches, performances, film and other content from Prides in Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and South, Central and North America. A… Continue reading Global Pride 2020

Pride Parking Lot Parade

June is Gay Pride Month! The Church of the Palms is celebrating Open and Affirming Sunday during the 10:00 a.m. online worship service on June 28, 2020. Afterward, we’ll have a parking lot parade starting at 11:00 am. Keeping our physical distance, we’ll cruise our church parking lot. Decorate your car, your truck, your golf… Continue reading Pride Parking Lot Parade

WISE Moment for Mental Health

As The Palms focuses on LGBTQ Pride and National Hunger Awareness Month, it is a blessing that our church is a safe place to speak openly, advocate fully, and remain present with our LGBTQ Community. There is still much to do to ensure that our lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer brothers and sisters experience rights… Continue reading WISE Moment for Mental Health

Medicine Wheel, Sacred Circle or Circle of Life

by Max Klinkenborg The three names in the title all describe the same pattern but from different perspectives. Medicine Wheel, which is the most common and latest naming, came from the Europeans who had concept of a wheel, an alien idea to Native Americans. Sacred Circle describes the communal, ceremonial use. Circle of Life describes… Continue reading Medicine Wheel, Sacred Circle or Circle of Life

After the Rain

by Pastor Jim Alexander There’s always a rainbow after the rain. The Church of the Palms has been encouraged to focus on some aspect of mental health each month for the past several months. Our areas of focus have been: Self Esteem (February), Developmental Disabilities Awareness (March), The Warning Signs of Mental Illness (April), and… Continue reading After the Rain