Shadow Rock Newsletter for May 20, 2026

View as Webpage

Rock the Week

for

4 June 2026

Building Bridges of

Inclusion, Justice, and Spirituality

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

you are welcome here!

This Sunday at Shadow Rock: 6/7/26

9:00 am

Final yoga session on the North Patio by the kitchen. It will then be on hiatus until August.
Childcare is in the Blue Room.
Adult Education with a coffee hospitality cart in the Multipurpose Room.

10:15 am

Worship in the Sanctuary.
We offer closed captioning for people with hearing impairment. Turn closed captioning ON with your device.

11:15 am

Sermon Reboot in the Multipurpose Room.

5:00 pm

Beer Church at North Mountain Brewery is located at 522 E. Dunlap in Sunnyslope.

Evite for June 28th

On Monday, 6/1/2026, shortly after 12:30 PM, Linda Merritt sent out a mass Evite for Pastor Ken's final worship service and luncheon. Unfortunately, we have run into some issues with the Evites. We apologize and ask that you please refer to the following notes:

If you have not received an Evite, please check your spam folder before contacting Liz Curry at liz.curry3@gmail.com.
If the Evite was sent to more than one of your listed emails, please RSVP with only ONE.
If you have received more than one Evite as a family or couple, please have only ONE person RSVP and add additional family members as guests.
Do not buy a gift! After responding to the Evite, it will ask if you would like to buy a gift for Linda Merritt. Please click "Maybe later" to disregard the message.

Housekeeping for Childcare

A friendly reminder that childcare is available from 9:00 - 11:30 AM, for children whose parents are attending Sunday service at Shadow Rock.

We offer childcare as a kindness to our congregation members so they may be present in body, mind, and spirit for worship.

If you are attending yoga this Sunday but NOT Sunday Service, childcare will be available to you from 9:00 - 10:00 AM ONLY.

We ask that you please pick up your child following yoga.

Pastor Ken's Farewell Luncheon

There have been some misunderstandings about Ken's retirement luncheon following the special worship service on Sunday, June 28th.

Please be advised that there are limited spaces available. We understand that there are so many people who want to celebrate with Pastor Ken, but considering that lunch will be catered, we are not able to have unlimited seating.

Please look for the Evite in your email (or spam folder) and RSVP yes or no to the luncheon using the instructions provided above so we can have an accurate headcount.

If you cannot find the RSVP or need to make changes, please contact Liz Curry at liz.curry3@gmail.com as the church staff are unable to make those changes.

Those who do not RSVP are still welcome to attend the special worship service but will not be able to come to the luncheon.

We apologize for any confusion and hope to see many of you there! Come celebrate, share memories, and wish Pastor Ken farewell as he begins this exciting new chapter in his life!

No gifts, please!!

"Your personal note of remembrance to Pastor Ken is an invaluable gift from the heart."

Click on this link to leave a personal message for Pastor Ken.

Upcoming Congregational Meeting!

TOWN HALL MEETINGS, reviewing and discussing the proposed restated and revised Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, have been completed. If you have any questions, please email Heidi Zinn.

Please review the Congregation Wide Letter at this link, CLICK HERE!

June 21st is our Congregational Meeting

to accept the new bylaws and elect new board members and officers.

A Word From the WISE

Many of us feel helpless to impact the current political climate. I keep hearing the importance of communicating with our senators and representatives. The website "5 Calls" is exceptionally easy to facilitate this type of communication. One can pick the issue(s) that have personal importance, and names, numbers, and scripts are provided. SUPER easy. Thanks!!

Be Ready to Vote! AZ Primary Election Deadlines:

June 22: Voter Registration Deadline

June 24: Early Voting Begins

July 10: Last Day to Request a Ballot by Mail

July 14: Recommended Last Day to Mail Back Ballot

July 17: Last Day to Vote Early In-Person

July 21: Election Day

SRPS Goes "All Around the World"

for Summer Camp!

Our Shadow Rock Preschoolers began their Summer Camp program on May 18th. This year, they will be "traveling" all over the world as they learn about different cultures and countries through art and play! The preschoolers will visit a total of 11 countries, like Canada, Japan, and Africa. We have enjoyed seeing all the fun and are grateful for our staff and teachers.

Moss Book Study

Cindy Gattorna and Skipper Pearson are facilitating a group who will read "Inside-Out Healing" by Dr. Richard Moss over the summer. The book is provided free of charge. We will read it June and July and have an in-person dinner to discuss it late in July or early August. Cindy will call people in June to check-in. Then, our hope is to have Dr. Moss join us for a one-day workshop in November. Cindy and Skip will be at a table with the books after the service Sunday.

Our focus will be on the Mandala method described in the book. The method’s goal is to overcome two basic mistakes that prevent people from being in the NOW where the power of presence is experienced. When you are “present”, all your relationships will likely improve-- including your relationship with yourself. Interested? Email Skipper (SkipperJPearson@gmail.com) or Cindy (lrntch3@gmail.com). Participation is not only free of charge, but full participation can earn money for Shadow Rock through a gracious grant from PAWW (Presence Always Works Wonders).

Apostolic Respite Center Needs

If you have the means and are able, our fellow congregation member, June Miner, would like to inform us of an opportunity to assist those in need.

The Apostolic Respite Center, who provides assistance to the homeless, is in need of the following items:

Men's underwear and socks
Women's underwear and bras
Lysol liquid cleaner in spray bottles
Dish soap
Laundry soap
Towels
Washcloths

Please bring items to the Church offices at Shadow Rock or give directly to June Miner.

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 to ICE Check-ins and Immigration Court Appearances
Making Food and Medication Runs
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 contact 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.

Our next support meeting and legal clinic is scheduled for June 14th at Shadow Rock.

We are also providing a Zoom link for those who prefer to attend via Zoom. Contact Pastor Ken to get the link. All are invited. Please contact Pastor Ken about our important and quiet work.

ICE Detainees Experiencing Medical Neglect, Festering Infections, Untreated Cancer | KFF Health News / Associated Press

Hundreds of detainees across at least 33 states allege in federal lawsuits that immigration detention facilities are failing to provide adequate medical care, an investigation by KFF Health News and the Associated Press found. Detainees said they don't get medication on time — or at all — for conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, epilepsy, Parkinson's, and HIV. Requests for help went unanswered for weeks. Blood sugar rose. Infections festered. Cancer remained untreated. Detainees collapsed and had seizures. Healthcare in detention facilities has not been consistent and has been unable to keep up with the growing population of immigrant detainees. More than 75,000 immigrants are being detained as of mid-January, up from around 40,000 a year earlier.

Documents Show ICE Officers' True Feelings at Overcrowded New York City Facility | The Independent

Last summer in New York City, as federal agents were detaining immigrants just moments after they left immigration court hearings, officers crammed as many as 100 people at a time inside a makeshift detention facility in a Manhattan skyscraper. After covertly recorded video showed detainees lying on concrete floors with only emergency blankets, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson flatly denied allegations of "overcrowding or subprime conditions" as "categorically false." But newly released emails, text messages, and testimony from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers suggest that they knew conditions were deteriorating and repeatedly raised red flags.