November 19, 2024

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. 

To submit an article for Tidings, email Anne here by Mondays at 12:00 noon.

2025 Angel Links

Pledge Letter for 2025

Statement of Need

Time and Talent Form (Print out 2 Pages, Fill it out, Return to the church)

Questions? Email Mike Wilson, Stewardship Chair

Stay With It

I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."

As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.

Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows. – Psalm 16:2-4

There's no telling who will hate you because of me.

Stay with it - that's what is required. Stay with it to the end.

You won't be sorry; you'll be saved. – Jesus in Mark 13:13 

The Psalmist indicates that those who put their trust in lesser gods (the kind we can manage and manipulate, buy and sell) multiply the challenges/chaos of life. The Psalmist sees that when we focus on the finite and the failing, then the life we live is rooted in the finite and ultimately failing -- we do not experience the freedom, the fullness, the joy, the healing, or the power that God intends for us and through us for others.

We might want to be intentional, spiritual, more just, kind, or loving, but it can be really hard to lean into new ways. Especially during times of strain or stress, we often fall back on what is comfortable and familiar, even if it keeps us living small or offering something diminished into the world.

To experience the life that God intends for us, to be part of God’s healing, transformation, and justice, then Jesus tells us what to do, “Stay with it - that's what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry; you'll be saved,” (Mark 13:13).

This word “saved” in Hebrew (the religious language of Jesus and his community) is not about what happens after we are dead, but means “placed in freedom,” “give width and breadth to, liberate,” and “to become spacious, to enlarge.” It is the opposite of restricted, trapped, and/or oppressed.

Jesus says that as we stay with it - as we daily walk in his way, an intentional disciplined spiritual path (prayer, contemplation, praise, song, solitude, silence, community, etc.), we are saved - - set free, enlarged, liberated, given breadth and width: life gets bigger. We are formed in ways of new understanding ourselves and others, we connect with creative energy, visionary possibility, just action, and are empowered for right-relationships. We become embodiments of God’s saving, healing, hoping love in the world.

Thank you to all who offered pledge commitments on November 10th. And a reminder that there are still commitments we can make each week, each day, commitments that we will “stay with” this Way of Jesus, with all of its attendant challenges and stretching, so that we will expand our living and our giving, that we will continue to be nourished in the living water of God’s Spirit, empowered to blossom boldly with love, justice, healing, and hope, and be part of God’s reign, God’s transformation of our world.

Peace and love,

Pastor Michael Bush

Listen to or download the messages online:

the Message from Sunday 11.17 is unavailable, but there are others! ...click here.

Office Hours Change

Due to staff schedules, the office will be open next week,

only on Tuesday, Nov. 26th (9:00 am to 3:30 pm)

Bobby Jo Valentine

Concert Here!

Pastor Michael met Bobby Jo when he performed for the Wild Goose Festival in North Carolina. In addition to being an award-winning singer/songwriter, Bobby Jo has a compelling story about his own spiritual journey and the importance of affirmation and inclusion in our faith communities. He is currently on a national tour, singing primarily in open and affirming churches. He is coming to CAUCC next month! Please come and enjoy the music and the Spirit!

Click here to get your ticket on our website.

Sound and Vibrational Healing

Thursday, November 21st, 10:30 am, Sanctuary

Have you heard your friends and neighbors exclaim that we are walking through some of the most stressful days we can remember? Have you longed for a time of rest and peace from all the noise? Have you wished to find a regular practice to return your body, mind, and spirit to a place of relaxation and wonder?

If you have been to a Yoga studio lately, or browsed your local recreation center brochure, you may have discovered a new kind of activity, often referred to as a "sound bath." If you have, I bet you have wondered what this might entail. Sound and vibrational therapies are based on the practice of Yoga Nidra which involves a guided meditation with sound, experienced in a reclining position, and is designed to move the participants into a deep state of relaxation. A sound bath combines the principals of Yoga Nidra with the practice of "entrainment," or a re-tuning of the vibrational frequencies given off in each of the seven chakra regions. Sound energy is able to penetrate our bodies to "tune up" our chakras. The sound frequencies come from crystal bowls that are played during the session along with several other instruments.

During the session, you will have your own space on the floor or on a pew and you will be guided during the entire session. These experiences do not involve any movement on your part nor will anyone touch you during the session. We will be silent as we experience the sound together.

Come and experience this newly emerging way to meditate and relax.

Click here for biography on Rev. Rebecca McElfresh, your host.

Jessica and Kyle Ride in El Tour!

This Saturday, our very own Kyle and Jessica DeGraff will be riding 100 kilometers in El Tour de Tucson for Team Ignite to raise funds for Ignite Leaders scholarship support. And, in case you don’t know them, they both sing in our choir.

They’re so thankful to those of you who supported them last year and are excited that many of you they talked with this past Sunday were interested in giving again. That means a lot to them!

They’ll be riding their tandem in the Metric Century/100-kilometer event, and that’s slightly more than 62 miles. Last year they did great but battled cold and windy rain the last ten miles. And so they’re praying for much nicer weather this Saturday!

In case you’d like to support them, just go to: tinyurl.com/ElTour-BHL. Their overall team goal is $7,500 and they’re about halfway there so far.

Ignite Leaders is a non-profit committed to building bold-hearted leadership with high school students across the country.  

Communion and Contemplation

Sunday in the Chapel

8:30 am November 24th

Join Pastors Michael and John in a different kind of worship experience: a 30 minute service providing immersion in some reflective music, prayer, silence, and a spiritual practice contemplating the Sunday Scriptures and themes (that will also be part of the 9:30 am sanctuary worship), and then closing with communion by coming forward to receive elements. This worship opportunity may serve as a quiet preparation time for the 9:30 am worship in the sanctuary or may serve as your primary worship experience in community on a Sunday morning. Come, and see! 

2nd and 4th of every month

Toys for Kids at Keeling Elementary

No wrapping necessary!

Ready to make Christmas happier for some children? The annual Keeling Christmas toy drive is now under way! Toys, stuffed animals, Barbies (and other dolls), Lego sets, sports equipment (soccer and basketball are popular), fidgets, diaries/journals, Pokémon items, science and craft kits, Transformers, trucks, and board games are always good choices, but go for anything you think will bring a smile to a child's face. Please bring unwrapped gifts to Sunday worship services on November 24th, December 1st or December 8th. Families will "shop" for their kids after we deliver them to Keeling on December 12th.

If you prefer, you can make a financial donation instead, now through December 5th. 

Men's Breakfast Hiatus

Men's breakfast, Thursday mornings, will be on hiatus for November 21st and 28th.

11:00 am to 12:00 Noon

Begins Sunday, December 8th

Your Hosts: 

John Cheek is an Arizona native who grew up in the small farming town of Elfrida, about 25 miles north of Douglas. In his first career, he was a police officer for twenty-four years, serving the Douglas Police Department, the Pima County Attorney’s Office, and the Tucson Police Department. When he was in his mid-forties, John experienced a call to ministry. He began attending Fuller Theological Seminary in 1996, graduating in 2004. In 2005 he was ordained as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament. He has served as an Associate Pastor or Interim Pastor for five congregations in Presbytery de Cristo. John also serves as a volunteer on the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance National Response Team, entering his thirteenth year of disaster response. John is married to Lou Cheek, a retired audiologist, and he has three sons and four grandsons.

Brigid is a spiritual director, ordained Episcopal deacon, writer, part-time poet, and former English teacher whose favorite liturgical season is Advent. “Advent: the time to listen for footsteps – you can’t hear footsteps when you’re running yourself,” (Bill McKibben). Brigid invites you to slow down and listen for scriptural footsteps in ancient psalms, songs, and stories. Come sit, linger, tarry, ponder, wait, behold, and wonder in the company of like-hearted friends. 

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!

Centering Prayer

 Centering Prayer with Pastor John - In person!

Tuesdays at 12:00 noon, 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.

Pondering Class

with Pastor John

Wednesdays at 10:00 am on Zoom

November 19: IMAGO D. E. I.: Diversity in Listening

We will be using a series of interfaith conversations and will discuss how we can learn for each other through respectful listening.

November 27: IMAGO D. E. I.: Hearing Indigenous Voices

Check the calendar at the end of this e-newsletter for Zoom links.

For these and other Events, click here!

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

with our Local Partners

On Tuesday, November 26th there will be an Interfaith Service of Gratitude sponsored by the Northwest Faith Fellowship at Christ the King Episcopal Church: 2800 W. Ina Road (Ina and Mona Lisa Drive). Join us for this time of Thanksgiving and recognition of our local partners who help our larger Tucson community. Click here for the flyer.

Casas Adobes Lay Ministry (C.A.L.M.)

As many of you recall, Called To Care (C2C) disbanded in 2022, mainly due to the pandemic.

Since then, we have welcomed several new congregants, but also lost several. Making contact with people to let them know they are being thought of is vital for the life of the person and the church. To have a reason to make contact is meaningful, but "just because" is also helpful and means a lot, or sometimes more! 

In 2023, at our Congregational Conversations, we said, "Being in touch with one another via cards, emails, and phone calls" is a desired vision. From this vision/request, C.A.L.M. was created. What is C.A.L.M. you ask? C.A.L.M. is a volunteer group of fellow congregants who offer to fulfill contact services when requested by you. 

1. We send birthday cards if you have given your birth date to the office, and greeting cards on major Christian holidays, Easter and Christmas to all members and friends of CAUCC.
2. By your request, we will call you, make home visits and send email greetings and cards.
3. Our pastors Michael and John and our Parish nurse, Ida Heath are available for visits and communion.

If you would like any of these services, contact the church office, 520.297.1181, and tell them you would like a C.A.L.M. volunteer to contact you.

We welcome you to join us, especially if you:

• like to meet new friends
• enjoy helping
• love others as Christ loves us.

For additional information, contact through these links: Spencer Elliott or Rosalie Shelton.

PCI's Leader Assembly Opportunity

Thursday, November 21st, 5:30 pm

Anyone who is interested is welcome at Thursday evening's Pima County Interfaith (PCI) Leaders Assembly. A flyer with meeting details and the registration link is attached here. Carpooling is available by contacting Jane Spande or Judy Keagy. 

Practical Tips and Discussion on Helping Immigrants

Date: Sunday, December 8th 1:00 pm (will go about 1-1.5 hours)

Location: Goldman Immigration Law Office, 1575 West Ina Road, Tucson, AZ 85704 (you can park in front of the office, on the cul-de-sac or even the parking lot just west of my office, which is a house. That lot has plenty of parking and the address is 1603 West Ina Road)

Presented by: Maurice “Mo” Goldman (possibly others)

RSVP: to Mr. Goldman, click here (so he can estimate the number of folks that intend on attending)

Refreshments will be served.

This meeting can be attended live or via zoom. Zoom link:

Join Zoom Meeting or use Meeting ID: 892 1764 1289 and Passcode: 979927.

Click here for Agenda.

From our Justice Advocacy Team

Habitat Build Day Change of Date!

Casas Adobes UCC members and friends are encouraged to sign up for this this second special Habitat for Humanity build day. 

Veterans Build (Irvington Road near the rodeo grounds) date change to

Saturday, December 7th.

Volunteers can sign up soon. Watch here for more information.

Fruits of Your Generosity

 The Open and Affirming Coalition of the UCC is an organization of the National setting of the UCC which advocates for the LGBTQ+ community and equips UCC Congregations to become effective witnesses to Christ's extravagant welcome. CAUCC has proudly donated to this organization in the past and in 2024, through your generosity, our Ministry for Justice Advocacy and Mission (MJAM) has made a donation of $1000 to assist them in their work. For more information about the coalition, please see their website by clicking here. Thank you for your continued support of our Mission budget.

A Prayer for our Veterans

For those of you who liked the Veteran's Prayer that was read in Sunday Service on November 10th, click here to get your copy.

Sharing from Our Bounty

Members and friends of Casas Adobes UCC recently responded with great generosity to a donation drive for underwear and socks sponsored by Compassion on the Border. When the Casa Alitas and Nogales migrant shelters alerted us to the urgent need for underwear and socks, we reached out to our church family who responded with items and cash donations that enabled us to deliver 447 undergarment items and 380 pairs of socks.

In that same delivery, CoB included our monthly donation of 516 chicken noodle soup cups, 3 large containers of baby formula, 112 servings of baby food, 3 large boxes of diapers, several bags of warm clothing gathered from the annal CAUCC Rummage Sale, and hand-crafted chick toys.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who shared so generously in order to provide for men, women and children who are in such great need.  

Money Matters

• Donations and checks from this week will not be deposited and recorded until December, due to staff schedules.
• Reminding you that all donations must be in to the office no later than December 24th in order to be credited on your 2024 statement.

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! 

Wednesday, November 20

• 10:00 am 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
• 2:00 pm Worship Arts Meeting Zoom
• 6:00 pm Bell Choir Practice Bell Room
• 7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal Sanctuary
• 
  

Thursday, November 21

• No Men's Breakfast (Resumes Dec. 5 at Beyond Bread on Ina)
• 9:00 am Stitch Witches Rooms 5/6
• 10:30 am Sound and Vibrational Healing Sanctuary
• 6:30 pm Bobby Jo Valentine Concert Sanctuary
• No Spiritual Life Class this week

Friday, November 22

• 10:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6

Saturday, November 23

• 9:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6

Sunday, November 24

• 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 Coffee and Community McNear Hall 7-10
• 11:00 am Family Funday Zoom: Funday Link or Meeting ID 781 414 384; Password 883239

Monday, November 25 Office Closed

• 1:00 pm Library Work Day
• 1:00 Compassion on the Border Meeting Room 3/Zoom
• 3:30 pm Campus Cleaning Entire Campus

Tuesday, November 26

• No Spiritual Life Class Room 3/Zoom Click here to sign up Resumes December 3
• 12:00 noon Centering Prayer Room 1

Wednesday, November 27 Office Closed

• 10:00 am 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

Other room rentals may be on campus, but not on this calendar.

Thanksgiving week, open only on Tuesday, Nov. 26th.

The easiest way to contact anyone on staff is to email them directly.

For intentional conversations, appointments work best.

Anne on vacation November 23rd through December 1st.

Scam Alert: always check the email address of messages received--if the email is not from the ministers and office staff addresses below, SCAM!

Michael: michael@caucc.org

John: john@caucc.org

Anne: anne@caucc.org

Jay: jay@caucc.org

Darryl: dalking@email.arizona.edu

Ida: imhgnp@msn.com

Member-at-Large, Amy Lincoln: mal.caucc@gmail.com

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.

Council Meetings and Minutes

Council meetings are open to any member of the CAUCC community. Next meeting, November 19th, 4:00 pm on Zoom. Approved September meeting minutes are available, click here. Email Anne Bailey for the upcoming meeting Zoom link.  

2023 Annual Report

Click here to see our accomplishments last year.

To support the ministry and mission of CAUCC, please donate online here: