Dear CCOV Family,
We are moving into our busy time of the year at CCOV! Here’s a forecast of some upcoming opportunities. First, council has planned a potluck fellowship meal for right after worship on Sunday, February 11. So dig out your best recipes and fire up those crockpots! Beverages will be provided. Did you ever notice how when people eat together, the bonds of community always get strengthened? Also, stay tuned for forthcoming information about our church’s mission projects including Health Packs and our UMOM dinners.
Additionally, I want you to be aware of some denominational and interfaith opportunities. The National Council of Churches (NCC), a covenant partner with the United Church of Christ, is calling the nation to heal from the wound of racism on the National Mall, April 4, 2018 in an event called United to End Racism. If you are interested in joining a delegation from the Southwest Conference of the UCC and going along, please let me know. Otherwise, we can all participate by praying for the end of racism. In preparation for this event, Sharon Watkins, Director of the NCC Truth and Racial Justice Initiative, is calling upon all of us to pray every Thursday morning at 7 AM (in our own time zones). One other local event you may be interested in at the Islamic Center of the North East Valley is an Interfaith Dinner invitation for 5-8 PM on Sunday, January 28, 2018. You can register now for the event at http://icnev2018.eventbrite.com and join our own Dorie, who is planning to attend. The topic of the evening is “Similarities among Abrahamic Religions.” There is no cost for this educational event. Also, anyone interested in attending the Annual Southwest Conference of the UCC in Tucson from April 19-21 should let me know soon. We can fully fund several of us to attend and represent CCOV.
Finally, I want to give you a preview of what is coming up in worship. After spending the fall focusing on scriptural passages about women of the Bible, I am moving into men of the Bible—and I don’t have to stray far from the lectionary to do this. This week you will hear all about Philip and Nathanael. Upcoming weeks will include Simon and Andrew, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, and the unnamed leper of Mark 1:40. Our knowledge of biblical personages is going to continue to increase. What life lessons and inspiration we can derive from them! Please feel free always to express ideas and wishes for our Sunday worship to me. This is a congregational church, after all!
Grace and Peace,
Rev. Sandi