November 1, 2024
 
Dear Friends & Members,
 
Before you start skimming here are two important announcements:
 
Calling All Gardeners: we’ll be filling two of our four garden beds with soil tomorrow (Sat. Nov. 2^nd) at 8:30AM. Come to help or just be part of the fun! And note that on Saturday, Nov. 16^th we’ll be having a collaborative event in our parking lot celebrating the garden (with some folks from the City, and hopefully some folks from Marcos, the surrounding community, etc.). If you have connections for community folk who would be interested (the theme is food insecurity, community resiliency), please let me know.
 
Tomorrow’s I-Help Meal: I’ve been slow to build my I-Help team so I’m asking for anyone who would like to help serve (or bring salad, etc.) to give me call. Yes this is for tomorrow’s I-Help meal. We gather around 3:30-4’ish to begin preparing the 5PM meal. If you’ve never done it or have done it before and want to help out tomorrow, just give me a call and we can coordinate. And if no one sees this all will be fine as my family is a sort of team in its own right. 
 
Now let me continue with a big word of thanks to everyone who helped make the celebration for John and Holley Herman such a great day! If you were out of town or missed it for any reason, I strongly recommend you go back and watch the recording (we’ll send out word once it’s posted on the church website). It was a great combination of fun, storytelling, history, and a real affirmation of the life of the church during John’s ministry.  There’s also some fun stories about how he and Holley handled the boundary thing, what with her in the choir and him being the minister when they fell in love!  The celebration was a timely shot in the arm just when we needed it most!
 
About the coming election: I know many of us are concerned about the possibility of civil unrest. I’m considering establishing a time for our folks to gather as a group or in small groups, depending on who’s interested.  If you’d like to be with other Desert Palm folk on election night, please email me (or call me directly on my cell, 718-915-2600).
 
With the election overshadowing everything it’s easy to forget all the other stuff that’s going on: our garden project; our volunteers working to ease the plight of immigrants; our kids and youth preparing a special Advent/holiday performance; our Communication Task force taking a look at the website and being more intentional about publicizing our work; an ongoing dialogue between City leaders and the local Tempe clergy group; our book group (Life After Doom, by Brian McLaren) is wrapping up; and special guest preacher this Sunday (the master storyteller, Rev. Doug Bland). Doug has preached at Desert Palm several times and is always a treat. I’m especially interested in hearing his stories about a recent trip to Northern Ireland, where he engaged peacemakers in hopes of gleaning insights for our divided times.
 
We’ll also be remembering those of who have died in the past year, which sadly now includes Paula Teichman’s husband, Allan. Our annual tradition on All Soul’s Day is to have a vase of carnations up front, and an empty vase or two. At a certain point in the service we’ll be inviting you all up to take a flower, say the name out loud or to yourself, and then move the flower to the empty vase. We also have a vase with a red rose for the members or spouses of members who have died in the past year, and their names will be read by me, after which we ring a bell. It’s a meaningful time to honor and remember those we’ve lost, and to connect with the underlying meaning of the season. As summer shifts into fall, we feel the world turning inward and sense our connection to all those who have gone on before.
 
I’ve always liked the notion of “the great cloud of witnesses,” the sense that our ancestors are somehow with us, part of the Great Mystery of the life-death-life cycle. I pray that we might all harmonize with the changing season, opening our hearts to the thinning of the veil, so that we might move into winter with the courage of our convictions, and the peace that passes all understanding.
 
Grace & Peace,
 
Pastor Tom
 

Thank You, Desert Palm!

Thank you, Desert Palm. In a time when the world and our country are feeling the pains of natural disaster and strife, you came together as a congregation. You demonstrated what Neighbors in Need embodies, with such generosity.

As of October 30, 2024, we have collected a total of $1,125.00.

Neighbors in Need is one of the places in the UCC where issues of Justice and Witness are addressed in communities. You can be well assured that two thirds of your contribution will be used in the areas of voting rights, immigration, health care, civil liberties and environmental justice. The other third will be used by CAIM (Council for American Indian Ministries), helping the 20 UCC congregations on reservations and in the urban environment.

Thank you for your commitment to our special offerings.

Bring wheelbarrows, shovels, and buckets to our community " fill the planters event". You will definitely find our meeting place in the parking lot.

Sue Keen

Thursdays 7:00 pm
Oct 17 - Nov 14 (5 weeks)
Join Pastor Tom, Rev. Doug Bland (of Arizona Interfaith Power & Light) and Rev. Susan Valiquette, First Church UCC (Phoenix) as they together lead a book group on Brian McLaren's new book, Life after Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart 

                                                                                 Sunday, November 17th
Foster Kids Christmas Stocking Drive For more than 15 years, Desert Palm has partnered with a social service organization to provide holiday gifts for children in foster care and special programs. Southwest Human Development offers training, licensing, supervision and support for hundreds of foster care families as well as programs and services to support children’s growth and development. Again this year, we will receive gift tags from SHD with a child’s name, age, and requested gift items. Desert Palm members pick up a tag, shop for gifts in the amount of $35 to $40 and return them in a gift bag to the church. Southwest Human Development makes arrangements to pick up the gifts and distribute them to the children and families.

Tags will be available on Sunday November 17 and gifts should be returned by Sunday December 15. If you are unable to shop in person, you may donate to the project and we will have “super shoppers” to purchase the gifts. You may give cash or checks to Desert Palm – be sure to make a notation for “foster kids.”

Desert Palm has always generously stepped up to support this worthwhile project. Thank you! If you have any questions, feel free to see me at church or call me at 480.327.7467.

Rebecca Bond

                                                                     Saturday, November 30 at 10 a.m.

Come join the DPUCC community to decorate the Sanctuary for Advent and Christmas on Saturday, November 30 at 10 a.m. to noon. All adults and youth are invited to come and help. Ladder climbers are especially needed. The Fellowship Committee will provide refreshments. This is a fun event to get us into the holiday spirit.

Did you know that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration manages approximately 200 call centers across the country? These centers are designed to provide support for those experiencing mental health crises or struggling with thoughts of suicide. It's great news that there's now a new phone number to access mental health emergency services - simply dial 988.

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