“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

Friends,

I write to you on Easter Monday after a wonderful Resurrection Day celebration at CCOV!  A special thanks to Patty Hersh for making the sanctuary and Hayden Hall look so beautiful!  Wasn’t Kat Honsberger and Larry Loeber’s music gorgeous? 

As I reflect on the past winter, I feel such gratitude for all of the good things that have happened at our beloved church.  Plumbing issues were fixed, vigas, lights, and ceiling tiles got replaced, some of our men patched the sidewalk, the women bonded over our Thursday morning discussion group, and we recently received eight new members and celebrated a baptism!  Our February wine-tasting event attracted community people, who joined in and got know us while we all raised money for Healthy Packs, a chosen ministry of our congregation.  Rinse and repeat this for 4 PM on Sunday, April 14—you don’t want to miss Pastor Dick’s next vintages!  I pray for the ongoing resurrection already underway at CCOV to move us powerfully into the future!

And one last thing…Don’t forget to get your (clean) jokes ready for Sunday, April 7 so that we continue our Holy Humor Sunday tradition.  Historically, Christians would reserve the Sunday following Easter to lighten things up—and celebrate the great joke Jesus played on the powers of death and darkness—by telling their own jokes to one another.  Here’s one to stimulate your funny bone:  A kindergarten teacher was walking around observing her classroom of children while they were drawing pictures.  As she got to one little girl, who was working diligently, the teacher asked her what the drawing was.  The little girl answered, “I’m drawing God.”  The teacher paused and said, “But no one knows what God looks like.”  Without looking up from her drawing, the little girl replied, “They will in a minute.”

God, to me, looks a bit like the members of Christ’s body who worship at CCOV, folks serving with remarkable generosity and love.  He is risen indeed!

Grace and Peace,

Co-Pastor Sandi

Friends,

We have had a wonderful winter season at CCOV thus far!  Our campus has seen major improvements, we enjoyed a specular wine tasting/potluck in early February benefitting Healthy Packs, our service this past Sunday celebrated Boy Scout Troop 649 and our long relationship with them; and later the same evening, we held our 19th Evening of Extraordinary Music with over 90 in attendance!  Larry Loeber and his orchestra friends Aaron Requiro, Jenna Daum, and Brian Strawley outdid themselves in their Masterpieces of Enescu and Debussy concert.

We have even more to look forward to as we consecrate council this coming Sunday, March 10.  We warmly welcome Paulann Ricketts and Paul Sneed, who are joining the longtime council members!  Your church leadership is in the process of organizing and planning in advance so that we can broaden our missions to the greater community as well as nurture our congregation.

Besides an expanded council, our congregation is also growing:  On Sunday, March 17, we are receiving up to eight new members as well as celebrating a baptism!  Be sure to attend and extend a warm welcome to our new members.

I would say that “the little church that could” is now “the little church that is…happening!”  My heartfelt gratitude to all of you who serve in so many ways.  Together we can move from solvency to full bloom!

In Christ,

Co-Pastor Sandi