February 13, 2024

Following Jesus together,

Nourishing one another in the Living Water of the Spirit,

Blossoming boldly with God's abundant love, healing, and justice, and 

Transforming lives. 

To submit an article for Tidings, email Anne here by Mondays at 12:00 noon.

Lent: Making Room for The Light

About eight days after saying this, Jesus climbed the mountain to pray,

taking Peter, John, and James along.

While he was in prayer,

the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became blinding white. 

- Luke 9:28-29

Have you heard of “giving something up” for Lent? Have you ever done this? 

This week we enter the Lenten season, a forty-day period in the rhythm of the church year that is designed to prepare disciples of Christ to both celebrate and experience resurrection. The original idea was not to give something up for its own sake, as if the giving up would magically make us more virtuous or spiritual, but rather to give up one thing in order to make room for another. For example, the practice of giving up meat or chocolate may do wonders for physical health or the waistline, but in and of itself does not do much in terms of relationship with God.   However, if I let go of something in order to focus my attention more fully on God, to open to the Spirit, then there are greater possibilities for healing, growth, and resurrection.

In our Gospel reading last week Jesus and three disciples “let go of” the usual expectations, chores, and routines. They made room for some focused time in prayer together. In that time, Jesus was “transfigured” before them - - something of God’s transforming light was made more visible, more real for the disciples. The story reminds us that when we make room for God, we then more fully shine God’s light and participate in God’s transformation: more love, more justice, more healing, more hope.

This Lent I encourage us to “give something up” for the purpose of making room for growth. Take some time and ask God what that might be for you. Be faithful to whatever you discern. Then, with this room you opened up, commit to a practice of opening to God. Perhaps you leave more time for silence and listening, perhaps you commit to a practice of faithful conversation with a friend, perhaps participating in a Spiritual Life Group, perhaps prayer walks or bike rides on the Loop -- whatever it is, commit to engaging the practice throughout this season (which lasts until Easter on Sunday, March 31st).

I trust that as we make more room for attention to God, to others, and the truth of who we are in God, we will shine more brightly as a community of faith, experiencing and bringing God’s help and healing to those hurting. I look forward to this Lenten time of being prepared and equipped to celebrate and live resurrection!

Love, Michael Bush, Pastor

  Listen to or Download the Messages Online: Video Link. 

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Strengthen Our Foundation

Follow-Up

“Strengthening the Foundation” is one component of a plan that will be developed to project the future of CAUCC’s annual health. Through the grace of God, we have built our staff, programs and missions, believing each of these components is essential to the purpose and spiritual life of CAUCC. We need a solid pledge foundation of support. By working together and increasing our pledge base, we will continue to engage in our transformational ministry and missions.

Click here for full letter, sent to the congregation from the Ministry of Stewardship and our Treasurer.

Click here to fill the form out online or Click here to print form (mail it to the office or drop it into the plate in the back of church).

Lenten Season Study Series: Redeeming

Sundays, February 18th through March 24th

In the Lenten season, a 40-day journey to prepare disciples of Christ practice and participate in resurrection, we often hear references to “redemption.” One definition of that word is “freed from what harms.” There are teachings and practices of the Christian church that have at times created harm, excluded people, and stirred fear. Jesus did not embody harm, but rather healing. We will move through Lent looking at “going beyond the mind we have,” freeing us for what is healing and whole. This series will be led by Karen Borek, Brigid Waszczak, and Michael Bush. We begin on Sunday, February 18th at 11:00 am. Click here to sign up.

• Feb 18: Redeeming Redemption – what do we need to be “redeemed” from or “redeemed” for? How do we understand this in the context of loving God and neighbor here and now? What would a “redeemed” world look like?

• Feb 25: Redeeming Prayer – No class this Sunday of the prayer retreat weekend where we will be looking at and practicing prayer that goes beyond the rote and the “thoughts and prayers” cliché and listens for God who is still-speaking.

• March 3 and 10: Redeeming Eve – we will revisit Gen 1-3 and explore the textual evidence that Eve was meant to have knowledge of good and evil in order to cope with the complex world created in Genesis 1 and to actualize the image of God within her.  If there were an original sin in Gen 2-3, it wasn’t one of disobedience; rather it was her failure to take responsibility for her decision, blaming the serpent instead.
• Part I (March 3): Genesis 1: If “Very Good,” Whence Evil?
• Part II (March 10): Genesis 2-3: Did the Serpent Get It Right? 

• March 17: Redeeming Healing – Many people think of healing in Bible stories as a physical phenomenon only. How might we understand healing more broadly for our individual selves and for our communities? How do we receive healing? How can we be healers?

• March 24: Redeeming Grief – In the face of difficulties or loss, sometimes we want to skip or avoid grief. As we enter into the passion of the Holy Week story, how might we understand and live the gift of grief?

Karen Borek, former clergy and faculty member at the University of Arizona and Wesley Theological Seminary, wrote her dissertation on Genesis 1-3. She is now living in Lancaster, PA with her husband Ted (was part of CAUCC before the move).

Brigid Waszczak is a spiritual director, Episcopal deacon, and certified Walking The Mourners Path facilitator who believes that tears of grief are liquid prayers. 

Brigid and Karen have co-taught a Mary Magdalene class with CAUCC. Karen and Michael Bush co-facilitated a book study here on Process Theology and Prayer. And Brigid, with Bess Woodworth, facilitated an Advent series tapping into our creativity and spirituality. 

Lent Prayer/Meditation Resources

Many people commit to renewing and deepening spiritual practices in the season of Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday, February 14th. We will have print devotional materials by Henri Nouwen available in the sanctuary entrance, and members of our church have appreciated online and email daily devotions from Richard Rohr (Center for Actions and Contemplation), and the United Church of Christ Still-Speaking writers.

Pastor Michael has also recently released a daily Lenten devotional book (available in print or Kindle).  

Spiritual Formation Groups

with Pastor Michael



Thursdays, 6:30 pm weekly, on Zoom

 Journey through the Acts of the Apostles on Zoom only. Prayer, sharing, learning, and growing together. (Not on except second Thursdays when we have Taizé worship)



Tuesdays, 11:00 am weekly, Hybrid (In-person and online)

Journey through the Gospel of John in person and online. Prayer, sharing, learning, and growing together.

If would like to join, please email (click here), indicate which group you would

like to participate in, and we will add you to the email list so you can receive

Zoom links and instructions.

Purposeful Ponderings 

with Pastor John



Wednesdays, 10:00 am weekly

February 14: No Ponderings Class

February 21: Revolution Part 3

Birdwatching

Friday, February 16th

Please join Leona Lansing and Cynthia VerDuin at Sweetwater Park, 2511 W Sweetwater Dr, just west of I-10, for bird and wildlife watching/listening with an 8:00 am start time. The walk is short on a paved flat area. Birds are easy to spot in and around the water. There is parking close by and across the street, restrooms on site. We have binoculars for loan if you want them. Email or call with any questions to Cynthia email, 216-571-6707, hope you can join us! 

You're Invited To A Party!

This is an easy volunteer opportunity that anyone can do. TIHAN needs your help with assembling their quarterly newsletter. You can sit while you help with folding the newsletter, inserting an envelope, sealing or applying the address labels. The Folding Party is from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on February 15th, 16th, 19th and 20th. The location is the TIHAN office at 2660 N. 1st Avenue. They provide refreshments and a light lunch (usually pizza) around noontime. You are welcome to join the party for a couple of hours, the whole day or any amount in between. Please RSVP to Heaven (Not a typo, it is her name) at (520) 299-6647 ext. 204. Submitted by Jane Pendley

Clearing Shelves? Closets?

It is through your generous donations that the church library is able to update and expand offerings available for check out. Any donated books, puzzles, or tapes we cannot put on the shelves, we will sell at our next book sale and the profits will go to the church Scholarship Fund. Please bring any items you wish to donate to the library or place them in the brown rubber receptacle in the breezeway between the sanctuary and the office (available 24/7). Thank you, the Library Team 

Primavera Men’s Shelter Meal

February

The Primavera Team cooks and serves the meal at the shelter once a month…we ask you to provide the dessert. 

For February, please bring 2 to 4 dozen lemon flavored cookies, bars or breads to the church kitchen by 12:00 noon on Wednesday, February 21st.  

The men at the shelter and the Primavera Team always appreciate your donations! 

Thanks from your Primavera Meal Team 

Sunday Coffee and Community Time

Sundays, 10:30 am in McNear Hall

You are welcome to come to Coffee Time in the Hall...

(Tables and chairs provided for those who need to sit.)

Hosts this week are: Mary Ann Shaw and Friends

Please Sign In

Please remember to print your name in the pew register each Sunday. If there’s someone further down the row, please pass it down as well. This is how the office and pastor know how to contact guests, and also helps us to know when friends and members have lost contact. While we enjoy trying to guess faces on the video recording each week, it’s much easier if you help us out. Thank you!

Are you still looking to reduce your 2023 Arizona income tax liability?

 As you prepare to file your 2023 Arizona income tax return, please consider taking advantage of Arizona’s public school tax credit by making a monetary donation to the Helen Keeling Elementary School. 

Click here for full article and links.

CAUCC Calendar

Happening this Week

Ash Wednesday and Happy Valentine's Day

Wednesday, February 14

• 9:00 am Drive thru Ashes (Parking Lot)
• No Purposeful Ponderings
• 12:00 noon Ash Wednesday Service Chapel 
• No Noon Centering Prayer
• 1:30 pm Alzheimer's Support Rooms 3 and 4
• 4:00pm Worship Team Meeting on Zoom
• 6:00 pm Fireside on the Plaza - Ash Wednesday Gathering In front of church doors
• 6:00 pm Bell Choir Bell Room
• 7:00 Choir Practice Sanctuary

Thursday, February 15

• 8:30 am Men's Breakfast Beyond Bread
• 9:00 am Stitch Witches Rooms 5/6
• 6:30 pm Spiritual Formation Class on Zoom (contact office to sign up)

Friday, February 16

• 10:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6

Saturday, February 17

• 9:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6

Sunday, February 18

• 9:30 am Worship Service in Sanctuary
• 9:30 am Online Worship Service Livestreamed: Just before 9:30 am click on Worship Service Link: click on the “Live-Streaming” box on that page. (If you try the link early, it will redirect you to the wrong page).
• 10:30 am Coffee and Community Time McNear Hall
• 10:30 am T-Time McNear Hall
• 11:00 am Sunday Family Funday on Zoom: Funday Link or Meeting ID 781 414 384; Password 883239
• 11:00 am Lenten Class Series Room 3



Monday, February 19

• 1:00 pm Compassion on the Border Meeting Room 3 and on Zoom Click here or use Meeting ID: 835 3318 1918 with Passcode: 032756
• 3:30 pm Cleaning Entire Campus

Tuesday, February 20

• 11:00 am Spiritual Life Meeting In-person, Room 3 and on Zoom (contact office to sign up)
• 12:00 Noon Centering Prayer In-person, Room 1
• 4:00 pm Council Meeting on Zoom



Wednesday, February 21

• 10:00 am Purposeful Ponderings with Pastor John on Zoom Meeting ID: 622 421 179 and Passcode: 118704 or Study Link
• 12:00 Noon Centering Prayer, without Pastor John on Zoom Meeting ID: 890 1364 9732 Passcode: 769422 Centering Link
• 12:00 noon Primavera Desserts to the Kitchen
• 2:00 pm Worship Arts Team Meeting on Zoom
• 6:00 pm Bell Choir Bell Room
• 7:00 Choir Practice Sanctuary

Note: Other room rentals may be on campus, but not on this calendar.

Church Staff

The easiest way to contact anyone on staff is to email them directly.

For intentional conversations, appointments work best.

Michael: michael@caucc.org

John: john@caucc.org

Anne: anne@caucc.org

Jay: jay@caucc.org

Darryl: dalking@email.arizona.edu

Ida: imhgnp@msn.com

Member-at-Large, Amy Lincoln:  mal.caucc@gmail.com

Office staff: 9:00 am Monday and Wednesdays; open by appointment in the afternoons

Tuesday/Thursday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Barry: Building Maintenance Manager: till 3:00 pm, Tue, Wed, Thur.



Staff meetings: every fourth Tuesday of the month,

office closed from 1:30 to 2:00 pm.

Council Meetings and Minutes

Council meetings are open to any member of the CAUCC community. Next meeting, Tuesday, February 20th at 4:00 pm on Zoom. December Meeting Minutes are available-click here. Email Anne Bailey for the meeting Zoom link.  

To support the ministry and mission of CAUCC, please donate online here: