Rock the Week

for

10 December 2025

Building Bridges of

Inclusion, Justice, and Spirituality

No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey,

you are welcome here!

PODCAST VERSION OF ROCK THE WEEK!

The Search Team will continue its work to identify our next Senior Minister. It is an open-ended process, but the team is moving forward. At this time, Pastor Ken will be with us through April 2026. Contact a Search Team member or Linda Merritt if you have questions.

SHADOW ROCK RESPONDS TO LOOMING FOOD INSECURITY

Shadow Rock is responding by prioritizing food assistance when we use the Pastor's Charitable Fund.

We are also recommending donations to the Desert Mission Food Bank located on the other side of the mountain in Sunnyslope. Below is a link and a list of preferred needed items.

Honor Health Desert Mission Food Bank

Food items of greatest need

Desert Mission accepts most non-perishable food donations if the product is unopened, labeled, and in its original packaging. We encourage you to donate heart-healthy foods that are low in sodium and fat, though have the greatest need for the following:

Pasta
Cereal
Canned veggies (low sodium encouraged)
Juice (100% juice encouraged)
Chicken and tuna in water
Canned beans
Dry beans
Peanut butter
Bottled water

Other items of greatest need:

Paper products, such as toilet paper and paper towels
Hygiene products
Baby formula (orange or blue Similac for ages 12 months and younger)

Donation drop-offs

Donations can be dropped off at Desert Mission Food Bank during their hours of operation (see hours and directions on their website. The link is above.).

Please pull into the loading area to the left of the food bank entrance. Ring the doorbell, and their friendly staff or volunteers will assist you.

Please note: The food bank is most empowered with financial donations because they can leverage more than we can because of the contacts and networking.

ANOTHER WAY TO HELP WITH FOOD ASSISTANCE IS TO PARTNER WITH OUR PRESCHOOL! SEE THE FLYER BELOW!

This Sunday at Shadow Rock,

12/14/25 is the Third Sunday in Advent

9:00 am

Childcare is in the Blue Room.
Yoga is on the patio.
Spiritual Play is in the Turquoise Room.
Sunday School for ages 9 and up in the Green Room.
Adult Education and Formation is in the Multipurpose Room.
Hospitality Cart with coffee and cookies in the Multipurpose Room.

10:15 am

Worship in the Sanctuary (childcare is offered in the Blue Room of the Education Bldg., 10 - 11:30 am). This Sunday, we will decorate for Christmas, claim new members, and experience a short skit from our Spiritual Play kids.

11:15 am

Sermon Reboot is OFF this Sunday as we enjoy each other's good company with a potluck.

Use the QR Code or Link to Give to the Cool Cash Campaign

Read the Cool Cash Campaign Letter HERE.

You can give using the QR Code or follow the link HERE.

If you have questions about Spiritual Play, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Cindy Hoard.

WISE Team Holiday Care

The holiday season is often a time for celebration and joy, but for many, it can also bring stress, sadness, or anxiety. Whether it’s the pressure to meet expectations, financial worries, grief, or feeling overwhelmed by the season's demands, these emotions are more common than you might think. Our WISE Team is thinking of you and offering the links below.

WISE Tips for the Holiday

988 Lifeline Information

FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR FALL 2025

December 14th is Christmas Potluck. One of our sanctuary families will be providing soup as an expression of her gratitude to Shadow Rock!

CONTACT LIZ CURRY IF YOU WANT TO HELP!

SHADOW ROCK "HOUSEKEEPING" IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER!

BYLAWS UPDATE

Friends,

We have just completed another meeting with the attorney specializing in church law. Further revisions are underway, and some work may slow down during the holidays. Be patient, and more information is coming.

1. PDF Current Bylaws (for your ease--so you don't have to go looking for them).

LINK: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dMIT_qFHfxsv2npbBp8WCgkPTJ-1yfRC/view?usp=sharing

TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND A CONGREGATIONAL MEETING TO BE DETERMINED!

Immigration Justice Work Is Happening! See new articles and links below.

At this point, we are offering the following ministries:

Legal Clinics for Know Your Rights
Financial Assistance for Legal Fees and Living Expenses
Support Group Meetings
Accompaniment
Safe Zone Launch Pad

WE ARE A SAFE SPACE

If you are seeking urgent assistance, a place to go, advice, a legal referral, or anything else, please get in touch with Pastor Ken.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support of our immigration justice ministries. This is one of the ways we advocate for inclusion, equity, and justice for all immigrants living in the United States, regardless of their immigration status. Our hearts have been touched by the friendships we have made through our work for undocumented people. We are truly blessed and promise to continue working towards positive change.

At this point, we are NOT offering the following ministries:

Sanctuary
Asylum Hospitality
Refugee Resettlement

Our next support meeting and legal clinic is scheduled for January 4th at 1:00 PM in the Multipurpose Room. We are also providing a Zoom link for those who prefer to attend via Zoom. All are invited. Please contact Pastor Ken about our important and quiet work.

Today's Immigration News

'ICE Was Here,' Says Church Nativity Sign Protesting Immigration Crackdown | Boston.com

The nativity scene at St. Susanna Catholic Church in Dedham, Massachusetts, is missing the baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. "ICE was here," says a sign where the Holy Family should be. A smaller sign says, "The Holy Family is safe in the Sanctuary of our Church." Father Stephen Josoma, the church's pastor, said that it's a church tradition to use the Nativity scene to "hold the mirror up to what's happening, and this year, it seemed to be, my God, it seemed to be right there in front of us." Father Josoma shared that his parish helps resettle immigrants and migrants, that the immigration status of many parishioners could be in jeopardy, and that they could be killed if they are deported to their home countries. "It's a cruel policy, and we could do a lot better as a country dealing with the many issues that face us."

Archdiocese of Boston, ICE Director Call for Removal of Anti-ICE Nativity Scene | MassLive

The Archdiocese of Boston and the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have called for the removal of a Nativity scene at St. Susanna Catholic Church in Dedham, Massachusetts, which criticizes immigration enforcement actions. The church's Nativity scene features a sign that reads "ICE was here" in place of Baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. A smaller sign reads "The Holy Family is safe in our Church." Terry Donilon, archdiocesan spokesperson, called for the removal of the display, saying it is "divisive political messaging."

Litigation Update

Supreme Court to Review Birthright Citizenship Executive Order

On Dec. 5, 2025, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in Trump v. Barbara, a case that originated in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire. The Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of the Trump Administration's Executive Order on birthright citizenship by deciding whether the order violates the Fourteenth Amendment's citizenship clause and the federal law that puts that clause into statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1401(a). Executive Order 14160 seeks to end automatic U.S. citizenship for children born in the United States to non-citizen or temporary-resident parents. Lower courts had previously blocked the order, ruling that it likely violated the Fourteenth Amendment. Oral arguments before the Supreme Court are expected in spring 2026, with a decision likely by June or July 2026.