Friends,

We have all been so very blessed to have Michelle Conn serve as our church administrator for the past 13 years!  When I came on board as pastor in 2015, she eased me into my position and helped me focus on each facet of my new undertaking with kindness and gentle prompts.  With love and passion always evident in her approach, she has held our church together through much change: additions of pastors, lean times, COVID, and even now as we transition to a new administrator, whom she has prepared well.  Michelle has all of our gratitude, I know, for her lovely presence and devotion to the life of CCOV UCC.  It will be a pleasure to celebrate her service with us with a party after worship on Sunday, April 6.  I am especially glad we do not have to say goodbye to our friend—only goodbye to her employment with us. 

As we say farewell to Michelle’s official role, we heartily welcome our new administrator, Ida Saucedo!  Pastor Dick and I met Ida at the Church of the Beatitudes UCC, where she also eased us into our interim positions and prompted us so that we would find success there.  Because she is part-time at the Beatitudes and desired something more akin to full time, Dick and I thought that she would be perfect to work along side of us at both churches.  Ida’s gifts and graces have been an excellent fit for ministry at the Beatitudes, and we felt that she would slide effortlessly into the life of our own church as well.

Ida has lived in Phoenix since 2017.  Her background is in commercial real estate and communications.  She enjoys spending time with her family: Luis and their darling one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Catalina.  They are active people who enjoy walking, hiking, bike riding, trying new restaurants, events around town, and traveling.  She will be in the CCOV office on Mondays and Fridays but will be available by email, phone, and text through the week as needed.  When you see her, be sure to extend a hearty welcome!  

I’m so grateful for God’s gifts of Michelle and Ida—talented women who are dedicated to God’s mission in this world!

With Gratitude,

Co-Pastor Sandi

Friends,

Last Sunday the ecumenical lectionary had us pass through John 2:1-11.  This passage is our record of Jesus’ first public miracle, turning water into wine.  Although my sermon was already prepared, Pastor Dick sent this poem to me early Sunday morning, and I added it in as an introduction.  Below I’ll share the written poem by Sean Goan from The Sign: Reading the Gospel of John, because it speaks directly to the malady of these days: Some enjoy great extravagance in life and many others do not.  The poem seems especially appropriate this week with inaugural events and our remembering of Martin Luther King Jr.

They have no wine,
It does not seem like much of a prayer,
given the horrors that people face every day.
Broken as we are by our cruelty and hate,
by the injustice visited upon the poor and the weak,
by the illnesses and bereavements that leave us
          desolate and lost.
Yet, we still long to celebrate and not alone but together.
We want not just to drown our sorrows but to lift our souls.
We want to know that we have been heard
and that our longing for Life matters to the One
           Who created it in us.
So, God, we have no wine.
Take the stone jars of our hearts
and fill them to the brim with your joy in us.

While there are many ways to interpret the signs or miracles of Jesus, imitation is the most instructive for our living.  While we can’t miraculously multiply food, magically heal, or turn water into wine, we can emulate Jesus’s spirit behind the miracles.  Like him, we can feed those who come hungry to us, we can offer healing by listening and finding resources, and we bless others with extravagance out of the fullness of our lives.  Indeed, we are blessed to bless.

Peace,

Co-Pastor Sandi

“The season is upon us now, a time for gifts and giving.

And as the year draws to its close, I think about my living.”

~John Denver

Friends,

The week before Christmas, when Clint and I find a block of time, we sit down and write our annual Christmas letter to send to friends and family. We have done this every year since we were married—over 38 years now.  More than anything else, the letter is a chronicle of our life recounting the year’s travels and events, where we are in our careers, a review of our ups and downs, and a naming of our milestones.  We give an update on our cats, our daughter and her husband, and now we get to write about our brand new and beloved grandson Steven, who will experience his first Christmas this year.  Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow, indeed!  I know many of you write Christmas letters as well, similarly punctuated with the year’s most significant photos.  You probably flip back through your calendar or pictures like I do to remember experiences and events, all the while thinking about your living and God’s incredible goodness.

About this time each year, I also reflect on what we did as a church, especially as I prepare the pastors’ report for our annual congregational meeting each January.  As I look back over 2024, I think we have accomplished good deeds together as a small but mighty church.  I am so proud of the local missions we undertake and the global mission project we have just begun—getting a well for Illbissil Town in Kenya.  I am so grateful that many of our maintenance and repair issues have been covered by a very generous donor so that we can focus on worship and mission, all the while gathering in the sacred space of our beautiful and beloved desert church.  I am grateful for all of you who do so many things officially and unofficially to keep us going.  As I think about my living, I reflect on how very dear my church family is in my life and the gift of our deep community.  How I cherish my relationships with you all!

I hope you pause for a moment as well during this busy season, whether it is while writing a Christmas letter or by just being still, to simply think about your living.  In doing so, let us thank God for all the gifts in our lives, especially for Emmanuel, God’s eternal presence with us.

Merry Christmas!

Co-Pastor Sandi

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 

Friends,

During this season of gratitude, I want to share with you this silly but perspective-giving piece called the Sad Santa Letter, which was posted on the Grey Nomad’s Forum.

Dear Santa,

When I was a child, my father cheated on my mum.  Later, my parents divorced.

Soon after, my mother died in a car accident.

My brother and I could only live in my grandma’s old house.

Grandma’s sister was an alcoholic.  The whole family lived on my grandma’s savings.  Grandma recently died.

My Uncle Andy is barely keeping himself out of jail from day to day.

My brother left home and won’t talk to us any more.

Dad, now 74, [and even after a cancer battle] had to go out to work to support the family and eventually is going to want me to do the same thing.

Yours Sincerely,

Prince William

I don’t think Prince William wrote this—just someone who wanted to teach an object lesson, perhaps in perspective.  The bottom line is that Prince William has suffered quite a bit in life; the contents of this Sad Santa Letter are all true.  We similarly go through life experiencing many misfortunes, but I wonder how we could turn such a letter around and start by recounting blessings instead…(and say something like, “Fortunately, my grandma had a mansion and massive wealth.”)   I’ve talked to many people over the years who practice intentional gratitude.  In other words, they start each day by naming and thanking God for all their blessings, and that makes all the difference.  These are the people we like to be around.  May we be intentional in giving God our heartfelt thanks this season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Co-Pastor Sandi

Friends,

I know many of us are getting anxious about the election, which is less than a week away.  If you haven’t voted early, then I hope you vote on election day.  Maybe it isn’t a big surprise that Richard Rohr’s daily meditations this week offer thoughts from Rohr and his scholarly Center for Action and Contemplation colleagues on the timely subject of politics, religion, and seeking the public good.  In Monday’s meditation, the Rev. Wes Granberg-Michaelson reminds Christians “to begin with the personal experience of God’s overflowing love for the world.”  He warns that our “temptation is to begin with politics and then try to figure out how religion can fit in.  We start with the accepted parameters of political debate and, whether we find ourselves on the left or the right, we use religion to justify and bolster our existing commitments…” 

I found Rev. Granberg-Michaelson’s statement thought provoking, because I have often noticed, by and large, that we start first with our political orientation and perhaps find a church where most of the people think/vote like we do.   Maybe we will also comb the Bible to find a text here and there to support our political leaning on an issue.  Jumping around for prooftexts though is a rather shallow approach.  It is better, per Rev. Granberg-Michaelson, to start in the deep end by “intentionally contemplating what God’s intended and preferred future for the world is.” 

Indeed, we Christians must start at a deeper level than our own political orientation by first contemplating what God’s desire for the world is and what Jesus reveals most fully as God’s Son: His love for enemies, his non-violent response to evil, his embrace of the marginalized, his condemnation of self-serving religious hypocrites, his compassion for the poor, his disregard for boundaries of social exclusion, his advocacy for the economically oppressed, and his certainty that God’ reign was breaking into the world flowing from his complete, mutual participation in his Father’s love.” 

May all the votes we cast be done with our deepest Christian convictions.  If things don’t go our way, we are still called to do all the good we can: care for the window, the orphan, the immigrant, and the poor.  If we see any of those being oppressed, we are called to be prophets and speak truth to power while lending our legs to our conscience as we uphold God’s standard of justice.  If you want to read this particular Center for Action and Contemplation Meditation, please find it here: https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-politics-rooted-in-gods-love/. 

Grace and Peace,

Sandi

Friends,

On Sunday, Oct. 6 Pastor Dick and I are beginning a six-week sermon series on the spirituality of AA’s 12-Steps.  With the premise that we are all addicts of some kind (spending, control, beauty, power, money, food, privilege, pleasure, security etc.), our fall Sundays together will enrich all of our spiritual journeys.  Our preaching series is called Breathing Under Water: The Lessons of AA for the Church, and we will cover two of the Steps each Sunday through Nov. 10.  Our material will be drawn in large part from Fr. Richard Rohr’s book Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps.  In this book Rohr writes, “I am still convinced that on the practical ‘transformational’ level, the Gospel message of Jesus and the Twelve-Step message of Bill Wilson are largely the same message.”  Many of the lessons of AA will sound counterintuitive to us, but remember, the Gospel is equally counterintuitive.  For example, it is only when we become vulnerable and surrender to God that we can grow spiritually; otherwise, we would be forever trapped in our own egos.  Join us this fall!  If you will be out of town, tune in on line so you don’t miss a single sermon in the series!

Peace and Serenity,

Co-Pastor Sandi

Friends,

Many of you had the great pleasure of meeting our Southwest Interim Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Toni Hawkins last February when she preached at CCOV UCC.  If you haven’t heard the good news, she is being installed as the settled conference minister, and you are invited to attend this joyful service on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 11 AM at the Church of the Beatitudes UCC 555 W. Glendale Ave. in Phoenix!  Please RSVP by September 15, 2024 to [email protected].  You are also invited to a reception following the service.

Our church is in covenantal fellowship with our sister UCCs as well as the Southwest Conference, and it is my hope and prayer that you will attend this joyful, sacred, and historic occasion with me.  Mark your calendars and wear red to signify the presence of the Holy Spirit!  I look forward to seeing you there (and even sooner when our church services resume on September 8)!

Warmly,

Sandi   

Friends,

Here we are over half way through the hot summer!  I’m so proud of the good work we have been doing on the Sunday mornings that we write notes to the Protestant residents of the prison where Dick and Brent lead a Monday night nondenominational contemplative fellowship.  While we do not invite penpal relationships, one man wrote back to Clint and expressed his deep spiritual need of Christian connection and appreciation for the note of outreach. Dick and Brent directed us to encourage the people to seek out the Monday night prison fellowship group, which can be very helpful for residents’ spiritual needs.  Such good work is also a boon for our own souls, for God’s word tells us: “Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them” (Hebrews 13:3).

This coming Sunday Patty has planned to lead a discussion on how to be our own medical advocates during our 10 AM Hayden Hall potluck fellowship.  In the event that she is not feeling well or is testing positive (her husband Bob has Covid and she is currently quarantined), we will continue our letter writing mission project, and Patty will present during a Sunday in August instead.  So bring note cards and stamps (along with a food item) again just in case.

Also mark on your calendars for the first two Sundays of August, when we can worship together at the Church of the Beatitudes UCC and have lunch afterwards.  For Sunday, August 4 I am thinking Pie and Wine on the NW corner of Tatum and Shea (on our way home).  They seem to be able to accommodate groups and the food is good.  On Sunday, August 11, the Women of Faith group at the COB UCC is sponsoring a potluck and another session of writing letters to prisoners on our massive list.  The COB folks were inspired by the work we are doing at CCOV and want to join with us in the project!  I think we can all help them with what to say, and it will be nice to spent time with our UCC brothers and sisters in Christ.  Be sure to sign up for the potluck event at the COB the week before, or let me know and I will get your name on the list.  I plan to take a substantial salad in my cooler with lots of ice packs.

It won’t be long until we are back in the regular routine of worship again starting September 8!  In the meantime, stay cool!

Peace,

Co-Pastor Sandi

Friends,

After two June Sundays of deep discussion in Hayden Hall and one of letter-writing to prisoners, we had a great time worshipping together at the Church of the Beatitudes UCC in Phoenix on June 23 (and will again on June 30).  Twelve of us were treated to energizing worship, a native flute, and a drum circle in which everyone was invited to participate.  I loved seeing both the Beatitudes congregation and ours enjoined in the same beat!  Our folks liked it so much that they requested a drum circle at CCOV in the fall or winter.  I will do my best to make that happen under the leadership of the same drummer. 

If you haven’t joined us yet in our summer Sundays, you are heartily encouraged to join in the fellowship, mission, worship, and fun.  Last Sunday, after Beatitudes worship, the twelve of us enjoyed a great fellowship lunch together at Postino’s on Central.  This coming Sunday I’ve already made noon reservations at The Windsor, just across from Postino’s.  Please let me know if you are coming, and I will be sure my count is accurate for the restaurant.

One last note: while we have nothing planned for Sunday, July 7, for consistency you might want to worship at the Beatitudes and hear Rev. Dr. Jim Meadows preach.  Jim is a beloved member of the Beatitudes and retired UCC clergy.  Clint and I will be in Estes Park visiting Dick and Shirley Wing for the long Fourth of July Weekend.  I hope you are all having a great summer so far!  

Stay Cool!

Sandi

Friends,

I’m excited about the upcoming baptism of our infant grandson Steven Luke, and we are aiming for his baptism to be at CCOV on Mother’s Day, May 12!  I will baptize him with the prayerful expectation that his parents raise him with Christian values and in a Christian community, which doesn’t have to be ours.  Yes, I will heartily encourage his parents to find a church in their neighborhood, because the burdens we all carry, including in child rearing, are too much for each of us to bear alone.  A good church like ours helps us share and shift the weights we all carry; indeed, it takes a village.  

I knew this well when my own daughter was an infant.  The people of the church supported me when my husband was consumed with Army duties and I was alone living across the country away from family.  The church people supported us, advised us, watched our baby when I had a dentist appointment, and became our new family.  Because of it, we felt less alone in the world.  As our daughter grew, Sunday school teachers, youth pastors, and church friends reinforced and taught the Christian values we endeavored to communicate at home.

Oh, I know.  Young people today often say the same things: “I’ll pass on joining anything,” or “I just don’t believe in organized religion.”  It kind of reminds me of a joke told by the character Rorschach in the graphic novel Watchmen:  A man goes to his doctor and says he’s depressed because life seems harsh and cruel.  He says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain.  His doctor says, “The treatment is simple.  The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight.  Go and see him.  That should pick you up.”  The man bursts into tears and says, “but doctor, I am Pagliacci.”  

The world holds many temporary distractions, but they are only facades.  The clown embodies the facade but knows he needs something real, something deeper to help him in the harshness and cruelty of life.  A good church provides meaningful connection and community, which all of us need.  In church we experience again and again the grand drama of God’s salvation, which beckons us to come out of ourselves, out of our own show, to take a seat at God’s ever-widening table.  It is good to be there for one another in church!  

Grace and Peace, 

Co-Pastor Sandi