Weekly Events
Most activities at FCC are currently held via Zoom.
Sundays at 9:00am: Adult Church School (in-person and on Zoom)
Sundays at 10:30am: Worship (in-person and on Zoom)
Sundays at 11:35 (following worship): Youth Church School
Mondays (1st 3rd & 5th) at 6:00pm Mind Wholeness Ministry Spiritual Support Group
Thursdays at 6:00pm: Thursday Conversation: Imagine
Fridays at 9am: Coffee Chat
Upcoming Events
This Sunday in Worship
Sunday, May 15, 2022
Hybrid Worship: In-person and on Zoom
(Zoom visitors: please contact the church office for the link)
Hymns we’re singing this week:
Opening:#461 “Lord Whose Love in Humble Service” (One License)
Communion: #600 “Jesu, Jesu” (CCLI)
Closing Song: #41 “Halle, Halle, Halleluja“
Mental Health Sunday
Hybrid Worship is Here!
You can choose to attend in person OR continue to attend online
Updated guide for in-person attendance:
To help us stay safe and comfortable, please follow the guidelines for in person worship.
- Wear an effective mask over the nose and mouth. If you do not have one, one will be provided.
- Enter and exit at the red doors to the sanctuary on Speedway.
- Be mindful of physical distancing.
- Use the individual communion packets provided.
- Allow the ushers to guide and assist you before and during the service.
- Give offerings as you exit.
- Socialize outdoors.
Reminders About Zoom Worship:
- Connect by 10:20am and make sure you are muted when the service begins. Having everyone connected early (even if you are not present on screen yet) helps us help you with any technical problems and begin our livestream and recording of the service without background noise.
- Prayer Concerns: Email your prayer concerns to Pastor Ailsa this week or type them in the Zoom chat when you log in.
- Communion: Get your bread and cup ready for communion prior to service.
Adult Sunday School
The adult Sunday school class will meet using a hybrid format. You may attend in person in the church parlor or on Zoom. Those meeting in person are asked to mind physical distance and wear a mask. If you have questions, please contact Paul DeArman.
Thursday Evening Faith Conversations
Every Thursday @ 6pm on Zoom
Thursday Evening Faith Conversations will continue studying a series of reflections on Spirituals & Justice, based on “Face Toward the Rising Sun,” a book by Mark Bozzuti-Jones. These studies will offer us a path forward, a way to repent and name the evils of racism, and to learn and grow together in God’s love. Join us!
The Zoom link is in our newsletter; if you need it, please contact the church office.
Friday Coffee Chat
Mind Wholeness Ministry Spiritual Support Group
Monday, May 16 at 6:00pm
Summer Camp news for youth and children
The Arizona Region is excited to provide a 50% subsidy for all Arizona Disciples children and youth attending camp at Lock Level this summer!
-
Cost of 6 day summer camp sessions for Arizona Disciples (entering grade 6-12 and just graduated): $250 (originally $
500) -
Cost of 3 & 4 day “Wee” and “Mini” camp sessions for Arizona Disciples (ages 3 – entering 3rd grade): $150 (originally $300)
Our partnership with PSWR Disciples means that the registration process will look a little different this year. Here is what you need to know:
-
Each registration must be accompanied by a Pastor’s recommendation. The online registration process cannot be completed without this completed form. Pastors will want to complete this form and return it to the family as soon as possible. Click here to download the form.
-
The region will be paying for 50% of all registration costs.
-
If your parents are paying for the remainder of the cost of camp they can use the coupon code “ARIZONA” (without the quotation marks) and pay by credit card at the end of the registration form.
-
If your church is paying for a portion of a camper’s registration parents must indicate on the registration that they will be paying by check. Your congregation should collect whatever funds are needed from the parents and send one (1) check to the region for all campers and a listing of each camper and camp by May 31. Please contact Matthew Clark in the regional office and let him know you will be paying for a portion of your campers. The Regional Office will then send full payment for all Arizona Campers to the Pacific Southwest Region. Please note that parents must register via the online registration system. Paper forms are not available.
-
Arizona Camper Registrations must be in by May 31 so that we have time to coordinate payment and additional details with PSWR.
If you have any questions about this process, please contact Matthew Clark at the Regional Office as soon as possible.
News & Events & Serving the World
Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries
The Administration announced its commitment to receive up to 100,000 most vulnerable Ukrainian refugees; especially journalists, activists, refugees with particular health concerns or family members in the U.S., and LGBTQ+ individuals at risk. Unlike recent Afghan arrivals, they are not anticipated to arrive all at once, or even necessarily all in this fiscal year (which ends September 30, 2022.)
U.S. resettlements are part of the nation’s coordinated humanitarian assistance to respond to suffering of Ukrainian civilians and to growing flows of 3.6 million refugees escaping war in Ukraine. Most fleeing refugees are in neighboring Poland, Moldova, and Romania.
Ukrainians resettling in the U.S. are especially likely to settle near existing Ukrainian populations in the New York, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Northern California regions. On March 3, the U.S. likewise announced Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) would provide temporary legal status & work authorization to eligible Ukrainians already in the U.S.; located especially in IL, MI, CA, & NY.
RIM will continue to provide updates as details of Ukrainian welcome unfold!
How Can Disciples Support Ukrainian Refugees?
- Sign Up HERE to indicate interest in welcoming Ukrainian refugees.
- See & Share HERE the language of the recent Faith Leader Letter showing support for Ukrainians at-risk
- Contact Your Congressional Leaders HERE to urge they stand with vulnerable Ukrainians & protect at-risk populations
- Read THIS White House Press Briefing announcing resettlements, as well as other forms of U.S. assistance for Ukraine. And, Learn More HERE about TPS granted for Ukrainians on March 4, and various pathways being offered to help welcome Ukrainian refugees into the U.S.
What Help Is Still Needed for Afghans?
- Urge Passage HERE of the Afghan Adjustment Act to provide permanent protections to Afghans resettled in the U.S.
- Continue to Resettle Afghans into your communities! Find Afghan Refugee Resettlement resources, and a Toolkit for each Region HERE
- Reach out to: sstanley@dhm.disciples.org to meet with, speak, preach, and nurture your congregation’s involvement in refugee resettlement in your area!
Donations to the U of A Food and Clothing Bank
52 Ways to care for Creation
Each week we share a new way to care for creation from the Creation Justice Ministries.
18. Wait to Run the Dishwasher Until It Is Full
Consider only doing dishes when you have a full dishwasher load or full sink. If you do dishes by hand, use a basin to conserve dish-washing water. This reduces your water use and saves you money on your water bill.
Disciples news and opportunities
See an episode of “Imagine with Me” – Conversations with Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister & President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
On this episode of Imagine with Me, Rev. Terri Hord Owens speaks with Jocelyn Spence Director of the National Benevolent Association’s Mental Health and Wellness Initiative.
“When I think about the ministry of Jesus and Jesus being a Healer, not only did he heal people, but he also made people aware of what they could do within their healing. Whether that was your faith has made you well. Take up your mat and walk. You know, I think about the people who witnessed that, I think about the people who were there, who helped people to get to their healing, the friends who brought their friend to the roof. But to also think about who else in the community was helping them get to the top of the roof. And so when we think about our work together as a church and mental health and wellness and how we support one another, it’s pausing to see ourselves in these narratives and to think through what is it that I can do today?” – Jocelyn Spence
Supporting FCC
Thank you for continuing to give faithfully to First Christian Church! Your gifts enable us to keep following our call to Seek God, Love Like Jesus, and Serve the World. Because that call leads us to practice justice, our church board is committed to paying all our staff during this time. Mailing a check, setting up bill pay through your bank, or giving online are available options to continue your financial commitment.