“Because he’s black.”

The first eight years of my life were lived on an Air Force base where there was a wide variety of people. My earliest memories of elementary school are of spending time with my best friends, John-John and Keith. John-John’s mom was Vietnamese and his father was African-American giving him wonderful patches of skin – swirls… Continue reading “Because he’s black.”

Othering and Belonging: A New Task Force

part of the Mission Focusof the Social Justice Action TeamChurch of the Palms UCC There is a new task force at Church of the Palms: Othering and Belonging (O&B). It has formed out of the continued investment in education events around the social justice issues of anti-racism, oppression, marginalized people, criminal justice, etc. O&B will… Continue reading Othering and Belonging: A New Task Force

Update from the MOD(erator) Squad

Greetings from the Moderator Team. We are rounding the corner of the calendar year and sending you an August Palm Leaf. We don’t normally send a Palm Leaf in August, but we are in unprecedented times and facing unprecedented issues, challenges, and opportunities to show who we are as followers of Jesus and members of… Continue reading Update from the MOD(erator) Squad

Ecumenical/Interreligious Retreat

The 17th Annual Church of the Palms Marshall Esty Ecumenical/Interreligious Retreat: September 7 – 10, 2021 at Chapel Rock Conference Center, Prescott, Arizona Solidarity — Antiracism Training with Rev. Joan Crawford African-American culture is distinctively different from European American culture. This reality, along with a truncated version of American history, as well as a lack… Continue reading Ecumenical/Interreligious Retreat