July 15, 2025

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

Why, It’s Christmas Day, Of Course

But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” --Luke 10-33-37 

In this very familiar story, Jesus is telling us something profound: God is not always found in loft places, many times God is found in the ditch. In the forgotten hiding places; 2,000 years ago in a manger where animals feed to third world prison cells and allegator-filled swamps detention camps; all places in the places waiting for light. People are waiting for mercy... for recognition... for love. They are waiting for Christmas and the coming of Emmanuel.

In Jesus’ story the one who embodies that love is the one least expected—the outsider, the one considered wrong, the one thought to be unworthy. This is the person who is closest to God. The Samaritan becomes a Christ figure—not because he has authority, but because he has compassion. He is “Emmanuel in motion.”

This is Christmas Day, ornament-free and real. Wealth and status are irrelevant. No amount of gold, frankincense, myrrh, credit or crypto coin can buy access to God. There is only an opportunity to help. Opportunity to see the Christ unburdened from the Christmas hype.

Jacob Marley has a lament in Charles Dickins’ A Christmas Carol: “Mankind was my business… The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the ocean of my business.”

Our business today is still compassion. Our business is mercy. Our business is to be Emmanuel to those lying in the ditches. Our business is to be Christmas Day to others and to live Easter Morning.

Make no mistake there are people in ditches all around us: we see them on the news, rounded up, demonized, mocked and disappeared. We know them when we see them; but many times we don’t. We don’t see them because we chose to cross to the other side of the street or because we are unaware. But they’re present with us; even to the person quietly suffering in our own pews, wondering if anyone sees them.

The temptation is always to cross the road and to keep going… to say it's not our business. Yet God says, “This is exactly your business!”

What day is it Good People? 

It’s Christmas Day of course! 

We didn’t miss it! 

Don’t wait for December. Don’t wait for angels. Now, See Christ, Be Christ.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor John

 Watch other messages online: click here.

Sabbatical Postcards

Responses

Keep them coming! Many have commented that the postcard prompts are hard.

Thank you for your honesty! 

Thank you for your persistence.

Thank you for being vulnerable!

Thank you for sharing your joys and sorrows. 

Thank you for sharing your strengths and needs.

Your responses are beginning to mirror how we see ourselves (not always rosy), what brings us life! and where we need to go.

Thank you.

The first part of the card is from your point of view or experience. The second part of the card is asking you to bridge into another’s experience and point of view, perhaps someone you struggle to understand. 

The postcards invite us to enter into the thinking of people we may find hard to understand. Many may just see it as a refreshing shower, but to others, it may be different. This may be a first step to bridging opposing views into common solutions.

If you need another card, extras are available

in the church entrance.

Click here to see the introductory letter and instructions.

Return the postcards:

1. Through the mail
2. Online (fill 'em out), Click here
3. Drop them in the offering plates in church (unused stamps, too)
4. Or drop them off in the office

Click here to email Jane Spande with any questions.

Supplies need to be at the church by Sunday, July 27th.

Click here for online donations (add memo "Keeling Supplies").



Centering Prayer with Pastor John

Tuesdays, 12:00 noon, Room 1

Pondering Class with Pastor John 

Wednesdays at 10:00 am, on Zoom

July 16th: Paul: Love Him, Hate Him, Part 3

The book of Acts and the Acts of Paul. 



Centering Prayer with Pastor John

Wednesdays, 12:00 noon, on Zoom

Look!

Quick Take!

Pastor John has his own YouTube Channel where he has a two minute blurb about the upcoming Sunday Gospel lesson...every week.

Here is the latest Quick Take: Click Here.

Pastor John is grateful for the 48 subscribers!



You will enjoy them and surely want to subscribe!

Due to Your Generosity, Primavera is Overflowing with Pill Bottles



At this time, we need you to NOT bring in your prescription bottles.

Please recycle them instead.

All of your previous donations have been much

appreciated by Primavera.

Click here for details about this from Duane Udstuen.

CAUCC Nametags, Birthdays and Anniversaries

The Good News Team wants to celebrate that we are ALL a part of the CAUCC community, members and friends! We encourage you to wear a name tag…so if you do not have one, and would like to have a one, please let the church office know, click here for email to order a nametag or call 520-297-1181.

Also, if you would like to be included in our birthday and anniversary lists every month in Tidings, just let the office know. Click here to email to Jay.

Link to help voters register.

Wednesday, July 16

• 10:00 am Spiritual Life Group, Ponderings with Pastor John, Zoom Ponderings Link or use 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

Thursday, July 17

• 8:30 am Men's Breakfast Beyond Bread on Ina
• 9:00 am Stitch Witches Rooms 5/6

Friday, July 18

• 10:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6

Saturday, July 19

• 9:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6

Sunday, July 20

• 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)
• 11:00 am Family Funday Zoom: Funday Link or use Meeting ID 781 414 384; Password 883239

Monday, July 21

• 1:30 pm Campus Cleaning Entire Campus

Tuesday, July 22

• 12:00 noon Centering Prayer Room 1

Wednesday, July 23

• 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

For intentional conversations,

appointments work best.

The easiest way to contact anyone on staff is to

email them directly.

Pastor Michael on Sabbatical

Pastor John: john@caucc.org

Anne: anne@caucc.org

Jay: jay@caucc.org

Darryl: dalking@email.arizona.edu

Ida: imhgnp@msn.com

Member-at-Large, Lori Powers: 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.

Scam Alert:

Always check the email address of messages received--

if the email is not from the ministers and office staff addresses above, SCAM!

Have you seen last year's CAUCC Annual Report?

If not, here it is in color...

(the pictures are really fun!)

Click here

Council Meetings and Minutes

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

To support the ministry and mission of CAUCC, 

please donate online here: