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28 MAY 2025
(plus one day)
| | Read about Brittany Wideman, July Sabbath preparation, and our June musicians in Rock the Week. This and a lot more! | | |
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
- Sunday School is on break until further notice, which may be next August 2025
- Adult Spiritual Formation and Kindlings in the Multipurpose Room. We are looking at a comparative religions model.
- Hospitality Cart with coffee and cookies in the Multipurpose Room
10:15 am
- Worship in the Sanctuary with Brittany Wideman (childcare is offered in the Blue Room of the Education Bldg., 10 - 11:30 am)
11:15 am
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Sermon Reboot experience is ON.
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Welcome Home,
Brittany Wideman!
BRITTANY WIDEMAN grew up here as part of our Shadow Rock family. We welcome her home this Sunday, June 1, 2025.
Brittany Robinson (Wideman) is a young professional in higher education with a passion for leadership, data, and driving real social impact. By day, she’s the Registrar Data and Systems Analyst at Reed College, where she’s the go-to connector across campus committees focused on student success, equity and evidence, data governance, and tech accessibility. Her superpower? Turning data into action that makes institutions more inclusive and responsive. She’s also an engaged member of AACRAO, OrACRAO, PACRAO, NWACC, and proudly serves on the NWACC Advancing Women in IT Leadership Task Force.
In April, Brittany completed her Ed.D. in Organizational and Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, receiving Alpha Iota Sigma honors. Her dissertation delved into the lived experiences of underrepresented minority women faculty at HBCUs, highlighting how they navigate the various systemic oppressions within their organizational climates and the critical role they play in shaping more just and supportive academic spaces. She also holds an MA in Political Science and a BA in Sociology, giving her a unique, intersectional lens on leadership, change, and allyship.
When she’s off the clock, Brittany’s a passionate poet, fierce football (soccer!) player, and sunshine-chasing adventurer. Raised in the warm, spirited embrace of Shadow Rock and the UCC Southwest Conference, her youth was filled with service trips, summer camps, and invaluable moments in places like Chinle, AZ, and Pearlington, MS.
She is living in Portland, Oregon, with her husband Traize, and is currently working on publishing her first poetry manuscript.
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FYI. OFFICE HOURS FOR THE CHURCH ARE 9 AM - 3 PM MONDAY - THURSDAY
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
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THEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR WORSHIP JUNE 8-29
The practice of Sabbath Keeping is counter-cultural. It has several dimensions. It is not just a day set aside. It is an orientation toward life. The facets of Sabbath practice include ceasing, resting, embracing, and feasting. Sabbath is a holy practice for a day that reminds us and affirms that all of reality is holy.
Our Shadow Rock July Sabbath-Keeping is the most profound countercultural message we have. We are a WISE congregation, we married same gender couples before it was legal, we challenge traditional understandings of greeting card holidays such as Mother’s and Father’s Days, we offered sanctuary to people under threat of deportation, we celebrate diversity, and we strive to be an "economically just" congregation. We consider these things to be cutting-edge. They are small daggers compared to the deep practice of Sabbath Keeping. Our July Sabbath challenges the deepest-held convictions that shape our culture. It is the most cutting-edge ministry of our congregation.
The Sundays between now and July are for the preparation of our time in July, when we do not gather for worship and the office is closed.
June 8 Sabbath Ceasing
Word About Life for Today
We will consider many aspects of Sabbath ceasing—to cease not only from work itself, but also from the
- need to accomplish and be productive,
- from the worry and tension that accompany our modern criterion of efficiency,
- from our efforts to be in control of our lives as if we were God,
- from our possessiveness and our enculturation,
- and, finally, from the humdrum and meaninglessness that result when life is pursued without the Spirit of Life and Love at the center of it all.
June 15 Sabbath Resting
Word About Life for Today
We might wonder how anyone can possibly truly rest when there is so much to do. As we will discover in this section, an added benefit of a day of complete physical rest is that
- it gives us extra strength and zeal for the tasks of the other six days.
- Moreover, a day especially set aside for worship teaches us to carry the spirit of worship into our work.
- Furthermore, to give ourselves a day’s break from emotional and intellectual problems enables us to come back to them with fresh perspectives, creative insights, and renewed spirits.
June 22 Sabbath Embracing
Word About Life for Today
We are always either letting go or embracing. Embracing Sabbath values with intentionality and deliberateness will help us build a lifestyle of Sabbath Keeping. Embracing Sabbath values means we embrace the values of our community. We embrace inclusion, justice, and intimacy of Spirit as priorities that shape our life together and our individual lives outside the community. In making this choice, we prioritize time over space and giving over requiring. In response to the grace of God, we gladly embrace our calling in life, and in the fullness of healing brought by our relationship with God, we can embrace the wholeness of God’s shalom. Ultimately, all these Sabbath gifts enable us to fully embrace the world.
June 29 Sabbath Feasting
Word About Life for Today
There are eternal dimensions of our Sabbath feasting. Bring your awareness of the infinite with you when listening to music, considering beauty, eating food, and giving and receiving affection as ways to feed your soul. Resources for our celebrations. Sabbath ceasing, resting, embracing, and feasting gives you Sabbath joy.
This framework and the messages are informed by Marva J. Dawn and her book, Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.
| | MEET OUR NEW MUSICIANS FOR JUNE 8-29! | | |
JAM NOW is the stage name of James Austin Murray, a Phoenix, Arizona-based singer-songwriter known for his uplifting, genre-blending acoustic music. Drawing inspiration from folk, rock, and reggae, JAM NOW crafts songs that promote positivity, unity, and personal growth.
In recent years, JAM NOW has continued to expand his discography with releases like the 2024 album Magnum Opus, featuring tracks such as “Love, Light and Peace,” “Grounded,” and “Jaybird.” His 2025 single “You Have A Choice” further exemplifies his commitment to creating music that resonates with themes of empowerment and self-discovery .
Beyond his recordings, JAM NOW maintains an active presence on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and YouTube, where listeners can explore his evolving body of work. His music continues to inspire audiences with its heartfelt messages and genre-defying sound.
| |  | Tanner is a Phoenix-based composer and multi-instrumentalist and has been writing, improvising and exploring music all his life, starting with piano and growing into a love for traditional music from around the world. In addition to piano, he has extensive experience playing saxophone, various flutes, tin whistle, Irish bagpipes, guitar and singing. Outside of music, Tanner works in the tech industry, prefers being in nature with his partner Emily, is a retro gaming/tech enthusiast and cat dad. | | | |
SHADOW ROCKERS CONTINUE TO CHAMPION OUR CORE VALUES OF INCLUSION AND JUSTICE
Mike Smith is in this group photo as he was in Washington DC with his veterans' group advocating for benefits for veterans. Our nation promised our veterans support and specific benefits in exchange for their service to our country. Groups like this are necessary to remind us to keep our promises. Thank you, Mike!
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Community Townhall Presented by Opportunity Arizona.
On 5/31 at 4:00 pm in Smith Hall
Presented by Opportunity Arizona. Representative Stephanie Simacek and Senator Analise Ansari will be here.
Opportunity Arizona | Working for Arizonans
The theme is "Tell Me How You Really Feel!"
We’re looking for people to share their own personal stories on how they’re being impacted by the economy or other programs under threat of being cut. To ensure we hear from as many people as possible, we kindly request that participants limit their remarks to 2 minutes. We ask that people use this link to submit their stories in advance.
Submit Your Story Here!
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Congregational Meeting JUNE 22nd After Worship Service
The agenda is election of new board members and a progress report on some of the moving parts of our transition time.
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Future Food and Fellowship Opportunities for Your Calendar
Anyone interested in helping by bringing something, setting it up, or cleaning it up, please call Liz Curry or email her. Remember, we are a nut-free campus.
- June 29 Potluck Send off to Sabbath
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Immigration Justice Work Is Happening!
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 June 1st at 1 PM in the Multipurpose Room. All are invited. Please contact Pastor Ken about our important and quiet work.
Today's Immigration News
Federal Agents Arrest Multiple People at Phoenix Immigration Court | Arizona Mirror
On Tuesday, federal agents arrested multiple people at the Phoenix immigration court. The situation was described as "mayhem" by one lawyer, as immigrants believed their cases had just been dismissed when they were taken into custody. Issac Ortega, an immigration lawyer, said agents arrested his client after his hearing. "My client has no criminal history; he entered the U.S. through the CBP [Customs and Border Protection] program," said Ortega. He added that his client was preparing for a credible fear interview, the first hurdle in the asylum process, when federal agents grabbed him.
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