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September 16, 2025

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Representing

Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager,

and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property.

So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you?

Give me an accounting of your management,

because you cannot be my manager any longer.'

Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? . . .

I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager,

people may welcome me into their homes.'

So, summoning his master's debtors one by one,

he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?'

He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.'

He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.'”– Luke 16:1-7

On Sunday we looked at the puzzling parable told by Jesus in Luke 16 (excerpt above). We talked about a possible understanding of the story: the manager served self and greed and therefore misrepresented his employer (the rich man), giving the impression that the employer was also selfish and greedy. The employer was displeased, and planned to terminate the manager. When the manager heard this, he started operating in ways of excessive generosity. His motivations were not the best ones, but he ends up doing something good - - he, as representative of his employer, reveals generosity and abundance.

We recognize that there are self-identified Christians whom we experience as misrepresenting God/Christ. We can likely think of countless examples of Christian individuals or groups who condemn, judge, or otherwise malign people whom we believe God loves and embraces. It is easy to bring to mind Christians who give Jesus/God a bad reputation.

The harder thing is to engage some self-examination along these lines -- how are we representing God to the world? Do people see extravagant welcome, bountiful generosity, compassion, healing, wholeness, joy, and steadfast love as we serve the God of abundant life and love? Do people see us as over-busy and harried as we serve gods of “getting things done?” Are we viewed as self-obsessed or self-loathing as we serve the gods of past failures? Are we perceived as hoarding and consuming more than our share of the world’s resources as we serve the gods of self-protection and consumerism? Do people experience us as quick to anger and impatient as we serve the gods of efficiency and control? What do people see of God in you, in me, in Casas Adobes UCC?

While the man in the parable eventually “gets it right” by accident, Jesus is not offering him as our example. We are not called to live accidentally, but intentionally. We can choose each day to commit to receive the gifts of God’s presence and love. We can be empowered each day to share and be the gifts of God’s presence and love. We then represent and embody God who is creative, generous, loving, healing, and just. And perhaps others will experience this good representation, and they, too, will want to get in on what God is doing in the world.

Love,

Pastor Michael Bush

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Watch other messages online: click here.

Living into Open and Affirming Covenant

From Your Pastors

After an intentional process of study, prayer, and discernment, this congregation voted in 2007 to become an “Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ.” While many recall and understand that this includes fully welcoming people no “matter who you are or where you are in life’s journey,” the covenant of this church also includes offering support and help to LGBTQ+ people. Here is the statement approved by CAUCC:

We recognize each person is a beloved child of God. We seek to make our lives an expression of the Word of God as exemplified in Jesus Christ. We welcome and celebrate all who seek the experience of God’s unconditional love. We extend this welcome to all regardless of, but not limited to: ability, age, cultural background, economic status, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious heritage, or sexual orientation. As an open and affirming congregation, we strive…

To reach out to all people; to sincerely and warmly welcome visitors and friends.
To reach out to those in need in our community and in the world.
To seek to provide an environment that encourages each person to best use their talents to the glory of God.
To provide a community of Christian fellowship where faith can grow through commitment and deed.

As federal and state lawmakers continue to make statements and pass legislation that marginalize and harm vulnerable populations, especially transgender individuals in this time and place, we are called to remember our covenant, to listen prayerfully for how we might be called in this moment to “reach out to those in need” with compassion and advocacy, and to trust in the Spirit’s power to guide us as we respond faithfully to that call.

Love,

Pastor Michael and Pastor John

September Is A Good Time To Join A Spiritual Formation Group

(or simply check one out)!

Beginning the last week in September, Pastor Michael facilitates two weekly Spiritual Formation groups. Some call these “Bible studies,” and while we certainly do engage the biblical text each week with critical questions and scholarly resources, these sessions are intended to be more than a study of Bible verses. The groups are committed to one another for the purpose of deepening in experience of the Spirit and growing in trust and love with each other in ways we hope will empower and equip us to be Christ in the world. We do this by considering where we might “fit” within the stories, share life experiences, our own stories, laughter and tears, and pray for and with one another.

The Tuesday group meets in Rooms 3/4 and on Zoom 11:00 am to 12:00 noon beginning Sept. 30th and are moving through the stories of how the first followers of Jesus carried on the work, ministry, and mission Jesus began.

The Thursday group meets via Zoom (except the second Thursday of the month when we have Taizé worship) 6:30 to 7:30 pm beginning Sept. 25th. This group is in the early chapters of the Gospel of Mark, often called the “action Gospel,” focusing more on the plot and movement of Jesus and considering what it looks like for our plot and movement here and now as we follow.

If you have questions about either group, please talk with Pastor Michael.

If you would like the Zoom link to either group, please request that from the church office here.

Learning@Eleven Upcoming Sunday Series

Sept. 28th through October 12th: Transformation at the Borders: Awe and Engagement

Join Pastor Michael and fellow CAUCC friends as we spend three weeks looking at what happens at the various “borders” of our lives, what we can do to open ourselves to awe (per Sabbatical theme and Dacher Keltner book of the same title), and how awe invites us into engagement practices that transform ways we see and interact in the world. Whether you join us in person or online via Zoom, please register so we can send you some materials to prepare ahead of time. Each Sunday we will also engage something of “awe” to give us ideas of what we might do in the week ahead.

Let us know you will be there, sign up, our website, Unite page: Click here.

Note: By signing up, we then have a good idea for how many people we will be accommodating...this helps us plan the room set-up, the audio, the number of copies we need and other aspects for our classes.

See

Pastor Michael's

Photo Montage

of his summer sabbatical.

Click here.

Be sure to turn on the music as you scroll through the photos!

Postcard Thanks

Thank you for EVERYTHING you have done to make this possible!!!

Thank you for your more than 300 sabbatical postcard responses!

Collectively, your honest reflections help our already vibrant community in building renewal paths.

Read about them below.

Marilyn and Steve

Primavera Men’s Shelter Meal

Pondering Class

Wednesdays at 10:00 am on Zoom

September 24: Mexican Independence. How the Mexican War of Independence affected the Presidio of Tucson and the future of our desert home.

Centering Prayer

Wednesdays, 12:00 noon, on Zoom

Spiritual Formation Group

Thursday group meets via Zoom (except the second Thursday of the month when we have Taizé worship) 6:30 to 7:30 pm beginning Sept. 25th.

Spiritual Formation Group

Tuesday group meets in Rooms 3/4 and on Zoom 11:00 am to 12:00 noon beginning Sept. 30th

Centering Prayer

Tuesdays, 12:00 noon, Room 1

Turbo Time Latest News

Click here for details!

We need five people to sign up in order to have the class!

A TIHAN (Tucson Interfaith HIV and Aids Network) Community Dance

Join Us for Some Fun!

Dust off your dancing shoes and join us for a fun and festive evening of music, movement, and community! We’re hosting a social and dance for volunteers, donors, CarePartners, and friends on Monday, September 29th from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 1200 North Campbell Avenue, in the Activity Building.

DJ Michael Lopez will keep the energy high, and you’re welcome to bring a guest (age 18+). RSVP now to OperationsManager@tihan.org, and mark your calendar and get ready to step onto the dance floor!

Neighbors In Need

Donate with a check and drop it in the Sunday offering or the mail.

Click here to donate online. Be sure to mark your donation as NiN.

2025 Marks Opportunities from the Legacy Fund

The Legacy Fund Team is now ready to receive requests for proposals to start new projects for the church and the Tucson community. All such projects must be based on a strategic initiative, a capital campaign, or a creative idea that supports our Congregational Conversation vision of CAUCC. Proposals may be submitted from any member or friends at CAUCC and must be submitted with the endorsement of a sponsoring Council Ministry. Approval of projects is for one fiscal year only, and funding for future years must be resubmitted annually. The Legacy Team requires a short final report from the Ministry, summarizing the project including accomplishments, lessons learned, and possible next steps and will be part of the annual report to the congregation. Potential applicants should get details from their sponsoring Ministry.

Ministries and Chairs

Ministry of Community Care – (MCC) – Laura and Hank Dimlich

Ministry of Christian Development – (MCD) - Bob Sutherland

Ministry of Justice, Advocacy and Mission – (MJAM) – Jane Spande

Ministry of Physical Resources – (MPR) – Wes Ward

Ministry of Stewardship – (MOS) – Mike Wilson

Ministry of Worship (MOW) – Linda Crisman and Amy Lincoln

Moderator – Owen Clymer

Vice Moderator – Dave Brown

Trip to Tohono O’odham Cultural Center

and Museum

Plans are underway for a visit to the Tohono O’odham Cultural Center and Museum together with Rincon UCC! Here are some details (still in process):

Date: Saturday, October 11th
Time: leave Casas Adobes at 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. for a day-long trip
Place: The Cultural Center and Museum is located in Topawa, AZ (near Sells)

To sign up for the trip, contact Pastor John, john@caucc.org or catch me after Sunday church services. I encourage you to let me know if you can go by Friday, October 3th. If you’re able to provide transportation, let me know that, too.

We will bring our own lunches, and we’ll break bread and debrief together at the Cultural Center. I can also arrange for a shared lunch that we bring together.

The facility is accessible to those who use wheelchairs or walkers.

We can listen to the Indigenous people and understand this place . You are invited to come along for this journey!

Peace,

Pastor John

Click here for October dates.

Want to join a new Choir?

Meets here every other week (Rms 5/6)

Next meeting Sunday, October 5th

Wednesday, September 24

10:00 am Spiritual Life Group, Ponderings with Pastor John, Zoom Ponderings Link or Meeting ID: 622 421 179 and Passcode: 118704
12:00 Noon Centering Prayer Zoom Click on Centering Link or use Meeting ID: 890 1364 9732 and Passcode: 769422
6:00 pm Bell Choir Practice Bell Room
7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal Sanctuary

Thursday, September 25

8:30 am Men's Breakfast Beyond Bread on Ina
9:00 am Stitch Witches Rooms 5/6
1:00 pm Primavera Kitchen
6:30 pm Spiritual Life Class w/Pastor Michael Zoom, Click here to sign up

Friday, September 26

10:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6

Saturday, September 27

9:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6

Sunday, September 28

8:30 am Communion and Contemplation Service Chapel
9:30 am Worship Sanctuary Online Worship; click on the Livestream and Recorded Services box on that page. (click on the box after 9:25 am)
10:30 am Community and Coffee Time McNear Hall Rooms 7-10
11:00 am Family Funday Zoom: Funday Link or use Meeting ID 781 414 384; Password 883239

Monday, September 29

2:30 pm Campus Cleaning Entire Campus

Tuesday, September 30

11:00 pm Spiritual Life Class w/Pastor Michael Room 3 and Zoom, Click here to sign up
12:00 Noon Centering Prayer Room 1

Wednesday, October 1

10:00 am Spiritual Life Group, Ponderings with Pastor John, Zoom Ponderings Link or Meeting ID: 622 421 179 and Passcode: 118704
12:00 Noon Centering Prayer Zoom Click on Centering Link or use Meeting ID: 890 1364 9732 and Passcode: 769422
6:00 pm Bell Choir Practice Bell Room
7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal Sanctuary