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To submit an article for Tidings,
email Anne here by
Mondays at 12:00 noon.
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Lent: Making Room to Shine
About eight days after saying this, Jesus climbed the mountain to pray, taking Peter, John, and James along. While he was in prayer, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became blinding white.
- Luke 9:28-29
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What are you “giving up” for Lent? Are you doing that? Isn’t that more of a Roman Catholic idea, not so present in UCC and other protestant churches?
Tomorrow (Ash Wednesday) we enter the Lenten season, a forty-day period in the church year that is intended to prepare disciples of Jesus to both celebrate and live resurrection. Many Christians give something up in this season, but why do they do that? The original idea was not to give something up for its own sake, as if the giving up would magically make us more virtuous or spiritual, but rather to give up one thing in order to make room for another. For example, the practice of giving up sweets may do wonders for physical health or the waistline, but in and of itself does not necessarily make more room for living communion with the Divine and the just reign of God in the world. However, if I let go of something in order to focus my attention more fully on God, to open to the Spirit, then there are greater possibilities for healing, growth, and resurrection (new life embodied in and through us) received and shared in the world.
In our Gospel reading last week, Jesus and three disciples let go of the usual expectations and routines. They made room for some focused time in prayer together. In that time, Jesus was “transfigured” before them - - something of God’s transforming presence and power was made more visible, more real for the disciples. The story reminds us that when we make room for God, we can more fully shine God’s love and participate in God’s transformation of the world.
This Lent I once again encourage us to consider “giving something up” for the purpose of making room for growth in Spirit and self-awareness. Take some time and ask in listening prayer what that might be for you. Be faithful to whatever you discern. With this greater spaciousness, commit to a practice of opening to God. Our sermon series is titled “Transformative Path and Practice” and our Learning@11 series focuses on the Sermon on the Mount and a book study, Jesus’ Alternative Plan. Perhaps you leave more time for silence and listening, perhaps you take deeper breaths, perhaps you join a conversation on migrant justice, perhaps you commit to a practice of faithful conversation with a friend, perhaps participating in a Spiritual Life Group, perhaps prayer walks or runs or rides on a trail -- whatever it is, commit to engaging the practice throughout this season (which lasts until Easter on Sunday April 5th).
As we make more room for attention to God, to others, and the truth of who we are in God, we will shine more brightly as a community, bringing God’s loving justice and healing to those hurting in our world. I look forward to this Lenten time of being prepared and equipped to celebrate and brightly, boldly live resurrection!
Love,
Pastor Michael Bush
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Watch other messages online: click here.
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Lent Prayer/Meditation Resources
Many people commit to renewing and deepening spiritual practices in the season of Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday, February 18th. We have few print devotional available in the sanctuary entrance. For those preferring a daily email devotion from the Center for Action and Contemplation, click here; from UCC Still Speaking, click here; or for Pastor Michael's Lenten Devotional Book, click here.
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Pondering Class
Wednesdays, 10:00 am, on Zoom
No class tomorrow, February 18
Centering Prayer (Link in calendar below)
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.
Spiritual Formation Group
Tuesday group meets in Rooms 3/4 and on Zoom 11:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Centering Prayer
Tuesdays, 12:00 noon, Room 1
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Pray for Peace
An Evening of Hope and Healing
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CAUCC
is
one
of the sponsors
for
this
event!
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To Everything There is a Season:
Hike and Contemplation Conclusion
In the throes of the pandemic, I prayerfully listened for ways we might safely bring community together beyond our online formats. From this discernment a monthly “Hike and Contemplation with Pastor Michael” was born. At one point we even had them twice monthly (a second more challenging hike was added). These were well attended and served a spiritual and relational need.
I continued to lead these even after we could return to in-person connection, as there continued to be strong participation. I had to pause for an extended period around cancer surgery two years ago. I resumed the hikes in late 2024.
Over these last 18 months, the landscape has changed for me and for the community. More people are involved with more things (unlike in the pandemic) and fewer people are available for the morning hiking. I count myself among that number, having added other regular leadership responsibilities like Communion and Contemplation Sunday worship, Learning@11 classes, and Board and committee leadership in the wider community. Some folks have aged-out of these opportunities. And one of our regular go-to spots, Catalina State Park, has nearly tripled their entrance fees leaving that a less welcoming spot to take a group.
All of this has resulted in my discernment to bring a close to these regular hikes. I will stay open to occasionally inviting folks to join in on a hike. And I would welcome and encourage other CAUCC’ers who may discern their own call to invite people to join them in our great outdoors to do so. Thanks for the gift of being on this type of journey with many of you over the last five years!
Pastor Michael
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Donate Stock - As a gift - or -
Pay your annual pledge to CAUCC
Donating appreciated securities (stocks, bonds or mutual funds) can be an effective tax-planning advantage way to fulfill your pledge or to provide a gift to CAUCC.
A gift of stock may make sense when:
- You hold significant assets in investments,
- You have held the security for at least 12 months,
- The stock has increased in value (meaning the sale would trigger capital gains taxes),
- Your taxable income is high enough to pay capital gains taxes when assets are sold, and
- You itemize your deductions.
When you donate stock to a charity, you do not pay capital gains taxes and can claim the stock’s full market value as the value of your gift. This allows more of the gift to go to the charity than if the donor sold the stock, paid taxes, and then donated the remaining funds.
If interested in using stock to pay your pledge or to make a gift to CAUCC, we encourage you to consult your own financial advisor and tax advisor to explore your specific circumstances.
To make a gift or to pay your pledge using appreciated securities (stocks) to CAUCC, please contact Anne Bailey in the church office at 520-297-1181.
Submitted by Jean-Marie Huisjen for the Stewardship Ministry/Cultivating Generous Congregations/Legacy Fund
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SW Conference Special Offering
Send forth a love offering to the world this year with One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS). One Great Hour of Sharing is a Special Mission Offering of the United Church of Christ that supports partners worldwide with ministries that fund health, education, and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries, and both international and domestic disaster response.
Donate online here. Write in “OGHS" (Using PayPal costs us about 3% of your donation) or donate by check: drop in the Sunday offering or mail it to the church and be sure to add a memo that it is for OGHS.
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Wednesday, February 18 Ash Wednesday
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9:00 am Ashes to Go Parking Lot
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No Spiritual Life Group, Ponderings with Pastor John
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12:00 noon Centering Prayer - Lenten Zoom Centering Link or Meeting ID: 890 1364 9732 and Passcode: 769422
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3:00 pm Worship Arts Team Meeting Zoom
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5:30 pm Ash Wednesday Service Plaza in front of the Sanctuary
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6:00 pm Bell Choir Practice Bell Room
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7:00 pm Choir Practice Sanctuary
Thursday, February 19
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8:30 am Men's Breakfast Beyond Bread on Ina and Oracle
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9:00 am Stitch Witches Rooms 5/6
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6:30 pm Spiritual Life Group w/Pastor Michael Zoom Click here to sign up
Friday, February 20
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10:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6
Saturday, February 21
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9:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6
Sunday, February 22
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8:30 am Communion and Contemplation Service Chapel
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9:30 am Worship Service Sanctuary Online Worship; click on the Livestream and Recorded Services box on that page. (click on the box after 9:25 am)
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10:30 am Community and Coffee Time McNear Hall Rooms 7-10
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11:00 am Learning@Eleven: DEI (imago) Rooms 3/4 and Zoom
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11:00 am Family Funday Zoom: Funday Link or use Meeting ID 781 414 384; Password 883239
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6:00 pm Kindred Singers Rooms 5/6
Monday, February 23
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1:00 pm Compassion on the Border Meeting Rooms 3/4
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2:30 pm Custodial Campus Cleaning Entire Campus
Tuesday, February 24
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11:00 pm Spiritual Life Group w/Pastor Michael Room 3/Zoom Click here to sign up
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12:00 Noon Centering Prayer Room 1
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12:00 Staff Lunch Office Closed
Wednesday, February 25
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10:00 am Spiritual Life Group, Ponderings with Pastor John Study Link or Meeting ID: 622 421 179 and Passcode: 118704
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12:00 Noon Centering Prayer Zoom Click on Centering Link or Meeting ID: 890 1364 9732 and Passcode: 769422
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3:30 pm Wedding Rehearsal Sanctuary
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6:00 pm Bell Choir Practice Bell Room
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7:00 pm Choir Practice Sanctuary
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Staff Meetings
are once a month on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 1:30 pm and the office is closed during that time.
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Always check the email address of messages received--
if the email is not from the
ministers and office staff addresses above, SCAM!
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To support the ministry and mission of CAUCC,
please donate online here:
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