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Congregational Meeting This Sunday, March 23, After Worship! Meet the Search Team and Give Them Your Blessing!
The Search and Call Team will be presented and affirmed on the agenda. The Team will oversee a process with three distinct seasons: internal preparation before the search, seeking and selecting new pastoral leadership, and affirming and welcoming the newly called minister. The Search and Call Team members are:
Cindy McWhorter
Gene McWhorter
Chelsea Gaberdiel
Judy Schwiebert
Tony Spencer
Sue Stuart
Jim Robbins
Michelle Black
Sandy Long
The pastoral succession model is different from what is typically used, which is referred to as a relayed succession model. Shadow Rock will use a mentored succession model. The main difference is that the current settled pastor is available to the newly called pastor for a short period of time, as determined by the newly called pastor. To help with the implementation of the mentored succession model is our Ministerial Transition Task Force.
A Ministerial Transition Task Force has been formed to facilitate communication and education on the process, help us all with boundaries during the mentoring season, and act as a Pastor/Parish outlet. The members of the Ministerial Task Force are:
Linda Merritt
Bert Ruby
Tom Mehlert
Peggy Hesley
Look for more information, and feel free to contact any of the members with questions, comments, and concerns.
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Articles and pictures in this week's edition of Rock The Week remind us of the many things we do to help make the world a better place for all people. Read about our Immigration Justice Ministries and the facility improvement project, and contemplate the themes of Lent.
All this and more in this week's Rock the Week!
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Building Bridges of
Inclusion, Justice, and Spirituality
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No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey,
you are welcome here!
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This Sunday at Shadow Rock
9:00 am
- Childcare is in the Blue Room
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Spiritual Play is on hiatus March 23 to accommodate Spring Break for our families, but will be back March 30.
- Sunday School for ages 9 and up in the Green Room
- Adult Spiritual Formation and Kindlings in the Multipurpose Room. We continue our exploration of Shadow Rock Theology. This Sunday we explore the beauty and challenge of language.
- 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)
11:15 am
- There will be NO Sermon Reboot after worship. We will be at the congregational meeting.
1:00 pm
Immigration Justice Support Gathering and Legal Clinic
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Immigration Justice Ministries
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Shadow Rockers Accompany Lily Avila to Her ICE Check-in Appointment
Please pray for Lily and this ministry as we try to provide emotional support for vulnerable people in these times of draconian immigration enforcement.
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Carlos Corral Has Joined the US Navy
Carlos was with us several years ago when his mother, Ibeth Corral was in our Sanctuary Ministry. He was in Junior High School at the time, and now he has graduated from High School in February and joined the Navy.
He is one example of the positive long-term effects of our ministry to keep people safe and keep families together.
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Reza Gets His Green Card!
Reza and Mahnaz have a long and complicated story as they fled religious persecution in Iran. Through family events during COVID they converted to Christianity. As government authorities were targeting them they decided to seek asylum in the US. They traveled together and crossed the border together, but they saw different immigration judges. Reza was granted asylum immediately, but his wife, Mahnaz, was not. They ended up homeless in Phoenix and we took them in. After a few years of legal process, Reza is granted his Green Card (permanent resident status). The system has yet to determine what is next for Mahnaz.
| | | Shajia and Navid Elham is the first Afghan diplomat family we helped start a new life in the United States. They show their gratitude by offering extravagant hospitality. They break their Ramadan fast (Iftar) and invite friends over for dinner. Below is a picture of their boys, Yusef and Omar. Thank you, Shadow Rock! | | PLEASE HELP US CREATE OUR BUDGET! | | |
Indicate your financial support to Shadow Rock! Please, link and fill out this quick form at the bottom of this note. If you have any questions, contact Heidi by phone (Shadow Rock #602 993-0050) or email (heidi@ShadowRockUCC.org).
Quick Form
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MAJOR FACILITY IMPROVEMENT
The pictures below present the process of the installation of a pressure reduction valve for our water system. Last year we had several major water line ruptures, and this action should help reduce the chances of such breaks.
| | This is a hole in the ground but a very important hole. | | This is the actual value that will reduce the pressure in our water lines from 90-100 PSI to 50-60 PSI. | | This is the result we were looking for! The water pressure on our pipes and plumbing fixtures is reduced significantly. This was a $4500 facility improvement that promises reduced water breaks and wear and tear on our fixtures. | | |
This series is an invitation to navigate the polarities in our lives with more faith, intention, and openness to be transformed. Each weekly sub-theme explores two supposed binaries, like “faith & works” or “rest & growth,” or “grief & hope.” We often consider these ideas to be opposing. However, as we explore these concepts within the wisdom of our tradition, we find nuance and complexity. We find that these dichotomies are false. We might begin to see a full spectrum instead of black and white. We might find that God is present in between. And so, this season, we invite you to look beyond black and white binaries and easy answers.
We encourage you to notice the dichotomies that define our lives, but also imagine where God might be meeting us beyond the categories we create. This theme may resonate with anyone who is in discernment or trying to find their way through an undefined space. It will speak to anyone who feels as if they are living in a divided world. It is for those who seek a spiritual life that engages with complexity instead of avoiding it. This Lent, we're trusting that God shows up in shades of gray, rainbow hues, and everywhere in between.
(From Sanctified Art Worship Resource)
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Message For Sunday
March 23, Third Sunday in Lent
Everything In Between Rest and Growth
Our Lenten Offering Is dedicated to our Immigration Justice Ministries!
(The picture for the sermon title is the cover of a children's book written by Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. Illustrated by Annie Bowler. The book is based on Jesus' parable of the fig tree as found in Luke 13.)
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March 23, Third Sunday in Lent
Everything In Between Rest and Growth
March 30, Fourth Sunday in Lent
Everything In Between Lost and Found
April 6, Fifth Sunday in Lent
Everything In Between Righteousness and Mercy
April 13, Sixth Sunday in Lent and Palm Sunday
Everything In Between Shouting and Silence
April 20, Easter Sunday
Everything In Between Grief and Hope
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Our former Director of Spiritual Formation Karen Richter shares good news!
At a special congregational meeting on March 9, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Surprise voted to call Pastor Karen as settled minister. She's served the congregation for the past 18 months as a contract minister. Karen is grateful for her time at Shadow Rock, which sharpened her theology and ignited her passion for social justice. Please pray for the continued fruitfulness of the ministry of UUCS and for Karen's leadership in these challenging times. (Karen is wearing a multi-colored scarf.)
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The play is based on the true story of a group of Russian Socialist-Revolutionaries who assassinated the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich in 1905, and explores the moral issues associated with murder and terrorism. In the play, all but one (Stepan) of the "Justes" are based upon historical people, described in Memoirs of a Terrorist by Boris Savinkov.
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Future Food and Fellowship Opportunities for Your Calendar
Anyone interested in helping by bringing something up, setting it up, or cleaning it up, please call Liz Curry or email her. Remember we are a nut-free campus.
- April 20-Easter breakfast managed by SR Board
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT EASTER BREAKFAST! IF YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE AN EGG CASSAROLE, PASTRIES, OR A HAM, CONTACT SUSAN WADELL.
- May 18 Coffee Chat
- June 29 Potluck Send off to Sabbath
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Shadow Rock Theology Weekend is coming and it is a big deal!
Thank you to everyone who has committed to attending! We still have a few spots but they are filling up.
Friends,
I want to extend to you a personal invitation to participate in Shadow Rock Theology: A Theology For Our Times, May 16 - 18, 2025.
Theology For Our Times is an event to explore and delve deeper into Shadow Rock’s unique theological history and identity. The event shares some foundational theological ideas and helps participants discern their relationship to such ideas. We hope that the event raises questions about participants' spiritual journeys and helps them find companions for their journeys. The event brings the symbols of the Cross and the Wedgeblade together, encouraging the question, “How can we be in the right relationship with history?”
The event will use presentations, small group and large group discussions, individual meditation time, music, art, and videos to aid the process of discovery.
Families are welcome, and child care will be provided.
The event is at Chapel Rock Camp and Retreat Center in Prescott, AZ, the weekend of May 16-18. The weekend costs $206 per adult (includes linen service and meals). If you can afford this expense that is a great help, but the importance of this event and the invitation to you is such that scholarships are available.
I am sending this invitation to you as I consider the future of our church and its place in the world. I am working to create multiple carriers of our theological DNA, and I hope you will be a part of it.
Please contact me with your questions.
Pastor Ken
| | | | SPIRITUAL PLAY HAPPENINGS! | | |
YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR SPIRITUAL PLAY PROGRAM?
Details in the brochure. Ask for one in the church office.
| | WHAT IS NEXT FOR OUR SPIRITUAL PLAY KIDS? | |
Immigration Justice Work Is Happening!
Last Sunday, March 9th, Pastor Ken offered a message based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He used the text to give a summary of Shadow Rock’s Immigration Ministries over the past 12 years. The message gave us some history.
So, what is next for Shadow Rock and Immigration Justice Ministries? Rescission of sensitive location policy calls into question the value of public sanctuary. The sensitive location policy gave some protection for our sanctuary guests as the policy discouraged ICE officials from going to schools, churches, hospitals, and courts to apprehend and detain undocumented persons. With the rescission of the policy, offering sanctuary at our campus may put undocumented people more at risk. No discussion or decision by the congregation has happened. It is an open question with members and friends of Shadow Rock falling on both sides of the issue for a variety of reasons.
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
At this point, we are NOT offering the following ministries:
- Sanctuary
- Asylum Hospitality
- Refugee Resettlement
Our next support meeting and legal clinic is March 23rd at 1 PM in the Multipurpose Room. All are invited. Contact Pastor Ken if you have questions.
PS. Our Lenten Offering Is dedicated to our Immigration Justice Ministries!
Feel free to ask Pastor Ken about our important and quiet work.
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