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Following Jesus together,
Nourishing one another in the Living Water of the Spirit,
Blossoming boldly with God's abundant love, healing, and justice, and
Transforming lives.
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To submit an article for Tidings, email Anne here by Mondays at 12:00 noon. | | |
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David Huisjen passed away last week. He was beloved by all of us who knew him. Service and a reception is planned for Thursday, October 10th at 11:00 am.
If you would like to send cards to Jean-Marie and family:
415 W. Golf View Dr.
Oro Valley, AZ 85737
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Loop Extension Ride
Saturday, October 5th
Our next bike ride will be an out and back ride of approximately 9 miles (18 total miles) on the extension of the “Loop” from Avra Valley Road into Marana. We will meet at Coyote Trail Elementary School, 8000 N. Silverbell Rd. at 8:00 am.
Please wear a helmet and bring a water bottle.
After the ride we will meet at our house for coffee, tea, and donuts.
For additional information, please contact Charlie or Marj Wippermann at
520-373-4248.
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Sunday Study Session: Our Common Purpose
October 6th, 11:00 am to 12:00 Noon
with Richard Gilman
Richard Gilman will help us understand what divides us and what we might do about it in a talk after worship service on October 6th.
Making nice to our adversaries certainly doesn’t hurt. Real progress, however, will require some deeper work. We can begin by better dealing with the pluralism of cherished values, theirs and ours, that often end up in direct contention with each other.
Gilman, a newspaperman who now styles himself as a public-policy geek, has been seeking to illuminate our nation’s common purpose since Barack Obama issued just that challenge as he left office in 2017. His non-partisan findings are based on years of his own nationwide public opinion polling.
Pastor Michael will introduce the session with a brief Biblical reflection on the spiritual idea of unity. Richard Gilman will share his work with us, and then we will have opportunity for conversation.
As always, we offer these sessions in hybrid format. Please indicate if you are joining us in-person or via Zoom when you sign up, click here.
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Sabbatical Gratitude from Pastor Michael
When I selected the working theme, “Awe: Transformation at the Borders” for a proposed Clergy Renewal Grant with the Lilly Endowment, I never expected to have arrived at the border of a cancer diagnosis requiring treatment, ensuing surgery, recovery, and continued follow-up as I approached my fifth anniversary of serving as your Senior Minister. Yet, here I am.
While I would rather have started this Sabbatical season at other borders, my current situation underscores my gratitude for Casas Adobes UCC to have followed UCC Conference guidelines (some churches do not) to allow for a Sabbatical period after five years of service to the local church. Early in 2024, I had elected to break this time up, with one section in September of 2024 (as I finished my fifth year) and then the bulk of the Sabbatical time in the summer of 2025 (easier to take Sabbatical when activities slow somewhat in churches during the summer months). And while this first segment was not what I had originally envisioned prior to the shifting cancer diagnosis, it was exactly what I needed on the other side of surgery. I had the opportunity to connect with beautiful and meaningful people and places. I was grounded in the beauty of the Cascade Mountains and the Salish Sea, worshiped in the church where I started in ordained ministry 30 years ago, received hugs and conversed with people I have known for three decades or more. I then traveled to the other Washington (D.C.) where I connected with a friend from seminary, another friend from one of my Ireland retreats, listened to talks by national figures, took in culture, history, and art, morning walks in Rock Creek Park, met up with our own Karen Borek (who has moved to Lancaster, PA and was visiting her son in DC), and, most importantly, spent meaningful time with my son, Joshua, and his partner and friends. In-between, I had more time for study, meditation, reflection, and soaking up the beauty of our natural world. It has been a healing time for me.
Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you for an amazing church staff team and faithful church leaders so that I can “let go” and trust that CAUCC is in good hands.
And now we journey together into Fall as we move into October. We have great opportunities to learn and grow and be nourished in Spirit on Sunday mornings and throughout the week. Our new Justice Advocacy Team offered in September multiple opportunities to learn about systemic issues impacting our lives and our ministry, and we will have numerous ways to put that learning and contemplation into action. Our newer LGBTQ-plus group continues to gather and will be inviting us to participate in a concert at CAUCC next month that promises to be an evening of beauty, inspiration, and creativity for the whole Tucson community. Our tutors and food pantry resumes at Keeling School. Opportunities to serve with Habitat, TIHAN, Primavera, ICS, and many more will continue throughout these months. And our Stewardship season will begin this month. Like many churches, we were challenged by a deficit budget in 2024, yet we are a generous people richly blessed with abundant resources who have the capacities to rise to the challenge.
Speaking of abundance, as you have hopefully heard, CAUCC was awarded the Lilly grant for 2025. For me, that means funding to most fully engage the Sabbatical time next summer. For CAUCC, that means funding (above and beyond our own church budget) to make sure we have adequate staff while I am away and to have potential guests and projects that will help the Sabbatical time be enriching for our whole church community. Look for more information as a small planning team comes together to implement the CAUCC Sabbatical plans for 2025.
Thank you for being part of what the Spirit is doing in this time and place. I am thankful for you. I am thankful with you.
Love,
Pastor Michael Bush
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Saints and Superheroes
Sunday, October 13th, 11:00 am to 12:00 Noon
We welcome back U of A Religion Professor Alex Nava for another Sunday session! Some of you met Alex last year when he led a conversation on the intersection of faith and immigration.
This discussion will consider the affinities and differences between the figure of the saint in the Christian tradition and the superhero in contemporary comics and movies. It will also trace a longer arc of the superhero, reaching back to the Greek ancient world and the beginning of the cult of the hero.
Please sign up by clicking here and indicate if you are participating on the CAUCC campus or online.
Alex Nava received his MA and PhD from the University of Chicago in Religious Studies. His first teaching position was at Seattle University before joining the University of Arizona faculty in 1999. Since arriving at the U of A, he has created several courses, including 'Love and World Religions,' 'The Question of God,' 'Religion and Culture in the Southwest,' 'Rap, Culture, and God' and 'Religion in Latin America.' He is the author of The Mystical and Prophetic Thought of Simone Weil and Gustavo Gutiérrez: Reflections on the Mystery and Hiddenness of God (SUNY Press), Wonder and Exile in the New World (Penn State University Press) and In Search of Soul: Hip-Hop, Literature and Religion (University of California Press).
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Drive Through Animal Blessings for St. Francis Day
Pastor John will do a blessing of the animals in the church parking lot on Saturday, October 12th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.
Bring your animal friend for a special drive through blessing…you don’t even have to get out of the car!
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Join Us for One of Our Weekly Spiritual Formation Groups!
These groups covenant to connect regularly in community, Scripture reflection, and prayer. You are welcome to try one out at any time!
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Check the calendar at the end of
this e-newsletter for Zoom links.
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Pondering Class
With Pastor John
Weekly, Wednesdays
10:00 am on Zoom
Topic for October:
Christian Nationalism
We begin an overview of some of the roots of Christian Nationalism and look at the origins and myths of God-sanctioned government.
October 2nd: Roots of Christian Nationalism Part 1; God-Kings and Priests: Old Understandings of Power
October 9th: Roots of Christian Nationalism Part 2; The Christian State: Roma in the Image of Christ
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Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer with Pastor John - In person!
Tuesdays at 12:00 noon in Room 1.
Centering Prayer is a method of Christian meditation which
has a strong emphasis on interior silence. People who practice centering prayer feel it helps them be more present to God and adds a sense of balance to their lives.
Centering Prayer with Pastor John - Zoom only!
Wednesdays, 12:00 noon
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Click
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Hurricane Helene Help
While this hurricane has caused devastation across numerous regions, Western North Carolina was hit especially hard with whole communities wiped out and cut off. It will take some time to know the full extent of loss. Pastor Michael reached out to one of the UCC churches in Asheville to ask for suggestions as to best ways to offer aid. Rev. Sara Wilcox has set up a Mutual Aid fund through the church, Land and Sky UCC. The monies donated here will go directly to local folk, especially marginalized communities hit hardest in such disasters: click this link. Click this link. If you have trouble accessing that link, you can go to the church website (click here) and click the GIVE button and there is an option for Hurricane Helene Mutual Aid.
FYI, your offerings earlier this year to One Great Hour of Sharing support longer-term disaster relief, and some of those funds will go to those affected by this hurricane.
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Justice Advocacy Book Recommendations
A selection of books offering background on key Justice Advocacy issues is now available for informal checkout in the church library. If you a see a book that interests you, just add your name and the date to the checkout list alongside the books and return the book at your convenience. These books offer background on issues addressed during Justice Advocacy’s speaker series in September, particularly immigration and generational poverty, as well as other social and justice issues. It is hoped the books may help those interested better understand the root causes of justice issues within our community and nation as well as better prepare us to face the challenges we encounter on our faith journey.
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Two Special Habitat Build Days
Casas Adobes UCC members and friends are encouraged to sign up for either or both of two special Habitat for Humanity build days.
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The first is the Rainbow Build at CDP (I-10 and Craycroft) on Saturday, October 19th. Click here for information and to sign up.
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Build number two is the Veterans Build (Irvington Rd. near the rodeo grounds) on Saturday, November 16th.
Although not on the site yet, volunteers can sign up by going to Habitat for Humanity Tucson (Click here for their website), click on Volunteer, go to Event Listing and Registration, by Event name (Veterans Build) showing “Construction”. The work days will then come up and you can click on one or both of the church opportunities.
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Welcome the Stranger, from your Justice Advocacy Group
The Justice Advocacy Team was formed to take our missions and outreach to a new level. The first step of advocacy is to identify issues consistent with our congregation's values that call us to advocacy. One of the priorities that emerged from our Congregational Conversations is to offer "assistance and advocacy for Marginalized Communities," which lifted up several groups for focus, including "migrants/refugees." This is consistent with many admonitions in our Biblical stories to "welcome the stranger" and "love those who are foreigners," (see Matthew 25 and Deuteronomy 10, for example).
In that light, the team has identified one issue of special concern among the 13 propositions on the Arizona ballot, although all of the remaining propositions deserve critical review. That is Proposition 314 which, among other things, would make it a state crime for noncitizens to enter the state at any location other than the port of entry; allow for state and local police to arrest noncitizens who cross the border unlawfully; and allow state judges to order deportations. Recognizing the frustration with the lack of Federal government action, many are still concerned with a State moving into an area designated for the Federal government.
This proposition is opposed by, among other organizations, Pima County, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters, and the cities of Tucson, Tempe, Mesa and Eloy citing the costs of enforcement and the likelihood of the proposition’s unconstitutionality.
If you would like additional information and sources to pursue further research, please feel free to contact anyone from the co-chairs of the Justice Advocacy Team (Kathy Boelte or Judy Keagy).
Also, there will be a forum looking at all the propositions, held at St. Francis in the Foothills, UMC. Click here for those details.
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Welcome Back Snowbirds!
Please let the office know when you have returned to Tucson so the office can update your mailing address. Email Jay at jay@caucc.org. Thank you!
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Neighbors in Need
Special Mission Offering
Last Week for Donations
Neighbors in Need (NiN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion in the United States.
In 2024, the NiN theme is Mental Health Justice For All! This year’s focus is on Mental Health Justice. In 2015, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ passed a resolution to become WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged) for mental health.
A just world for all is a world where the human rights and well-being of people with mental health challenges are respected, no matter who you are or where you are in life’s mental health journey.
As you may recall, one-third of the offering supports Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds are used by Justice and Witness Ministries to provide grants to UCC churches and organizations as well as supporting a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects.
Donate online here. Write in "NiN" (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 NiN.
We thank you for your support and generosity.
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Wednesday, October 2
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10:00 am Membership Team Meeting Rooms 7/8
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10:00 am Purposeful Ponderings with Pastor John, Zoom Ponderings 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 use Meeting ID: 890 1364 9732 and Passcode: 769422
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6:00 pm Bell Choir Practice Bell Room
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7:00 pm Choir Practice Sanctuary
Thursday, October 3
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8:30 Men's Breakfast (Beyond Bread on Ina)
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9:00 am Stitch Witches Rooms 5/6
- 6:30 pm Spiritual Formation Group with Pastor Michael Zoom Click to sign up
Friday, October 4
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10:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 7/8
Saturday, October 5
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9:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6
Sunday, October 6
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9:30 am Worship Sanctuary Online Worship; click on the Livestream and Recorded Services box on that page. (If you try the link early, it will redirect you to the wrong page).
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9:30 am Turbo Time Rooms 5/6
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11:00 am Family Funday Zoom: Funday Link or Meeting ID 781 414 384; Password 883239
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11:00 am Our Common Purpose, speaker Richard Gilman Room 3 Class link or Meeting ID: 844 9360 3743 and Passcode: 632864
Monday, October 7
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3:30 pm Campus Cleaning Entire Campus
Tuesday, October 8
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11:00 am Spiritual Life Class Room 3/Zoom Click here to sign up
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1:00 Grief Support Group Room 4
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12:00 noon Centering Prayer Room 1
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2:00 pm Christian Education Meeting Zoom
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4:00 Worship Team Meeting Zoom
Wednesday, October 9
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10:00 am Purposeful Ponderings with Pastor John, Zoom Ponderings 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 use Meeting ID: 890 1364 9732 and Passcode: 769422
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1:30 pm Alzheimer's Support Group Meeting Rooms 3 and 4
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6:00 pm Bell Choir Practice Bell Room
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7:00 pm Choir Practice Sanctuary
Other room rentals may be on campus, but not on this calendar.
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The easiest way to contact anyone on staff is to email them directly.
For intentional conversations, appointments work best.
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Council Meetings and Minutes
Council meetings are open to any member of the CAUCC community. Next meeting, in October TBD, on Zoom. Approved July meeting minutes are available, click here. Email Anne Bailey for the upcoming meeting Zoom link.
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2023 Annual Report
Click here to see our accomplishments last year.
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To support the ministry and mission of CAUCC, please donate online here: | | | | |
