The autumn season is different in the Sonoran Desert than it is elsewhere. Most of the United States is preparing for the onslaught of cold where plants go into a dormant phase. Not so here in the valley of the sun! The opposite is quite true. Veteran gardeners of our summers know that we just… Continue reading It’s growing season.
Tag: ministry
Top 10 Remebrances: Reflecting on 8 Years Together
Eight years ago, I began my ministry with The Church of the Palms. We’ve done some marvelous things with the help of God. It’s not you or me, it’s us working together following our call from God. Here’s a list of top ten remembrances for the past eight years. 10) Creating a Mission Statement –… Continue reading Top 10 Remebrances: Reflecting on 8 Years Together
YOU are invited. No need to RSVP.
Our Annual Meeting is this Saturday, January 27 at 9 am in the sanctuary. Let this serve as your official invitation: You are invited! No need to RSVP. Just show up! The Palms has had a colorful history of Annual Meetings. Each one of the meetings takes on its own personality. There is one constant:… Continue reading YOU are invited. No need to RSVP.
25th anniversary of our community Thanksgiving meal
What are your memories of Thanksgiving? Do you have favorite moments from your childhood about the holiday? What faces appear when you think of Thanksgiving? What smells fill your heart, mind, and soul? What traditions have you taught the younger generations? Are there certain foods that are “a must” for the big meal? Thanksgiving conjures up… Continue reading 25th anniversary of our community Thanksgiving meal
Homeless Jesus Unveiled
The Church of the Palms, UCC, will be dedicating the sculpture Homeless Jesus on Saturday, November 18, at 11 am. The community is welcome to join the unveiling. Created by artist Timothy Schmalz, Homeless Jesus, as a piece of public art at The Church of the Palms, has a vital and moving, though at times… Continue reading Homeless Jesus Unveiled
It was a wonderful Sunday.
We celebrated Pastor Jim’s return from sabbatical! The joy was palpable. The smiles came readily. The laughter was contagious. In the midst of all of life’s brokenness and sorrow, a holy moment of love shined upon us and embraced us reminding us that love is still present and active. And now we get to focus… Continue reading It was a wonderful Sunday.
We will not be “taking the summer off” of ministry
When Hitler began interfering with the churches and humiliating, torturing, and killing the Jews, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a loyal German himself, began to resist and protest. Being a minister, he refused to take part in the state churches which bowed to the Nazi’s demands. Some other ministers faced this tragic situation with quite a different logic.… Continue reading We will not be “taking the summer off” of ministry
My seventh anniversary of being pastor at the Palms!
The beginning of June marks the seventh anniversary of being pastor at The Palms. So many memories come flooding up as I reflect upon this anniversary. I am amazed at the ministry God has done with us – it’s not you or me – but God’s Spirit working through us. Here’s a top 10 list… Continue reading My seventh anniversary of being pastor at the Palms!
Spaulding Memorial Thanksgiving Dinner is BACK!
After a two-year absence, Church of the Palms is happy to announce that the Spaulding Memorial Thanksgiving Dinner will once again take place in King Hall on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 2022. We’ll be serving the meal between 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM. This meal takes place with generous donations of food from our… Continue reading Spaulding Memorial Thanksgiving Dinner is BACK!
If you can no longer march, what can you do?
It’s that time of the year when things start to get busy at The Palms. Our winter friends are returning, meetings and classes are happening with greater frequency, and our social justice ministry, which never takes a day off, is expanding! We are busy being the church, the palms of Jesus. Thanks be to God! To… Continue reading If you can no longer march, what can you do?