December 12, 2023

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.

Three Ways to Reflect/Meditate/Pray in Advent

1. Advent Resource Guide Invitation: Looking for inspiration this Advent? Sign up to receive a brief message pointing toward the bright star we seek: scripture, quotes, poems, and bits of wisdom, combined with art to nourish your walk-in-wonder at the miracle of the Incarnation. To bring these into your Advent prayers and preparation, email Brigid Waszczak, click here.
2. In the church entrance, pick up a copy: Henri Nouwen’s Wait for the Lord. If all the copies are gone, email Jay in the office for a digital copy, click here.
3. Center for Action and Contemplation daily devotional: click here.   

Advent: Participate, Cooperate, Celebrate 

"Comfort, oh comfort my people," says your God.

"Speak softly and tenderly to Jerusalem, but also make it very clear

That she has served her sentence, that her sin is taken care of - forgiven!

She's been punished enough and more than enough, and now it's over and done with."

Thunder in the desert! "Prepare for God's arrival! Make the road straight and smooth,

a highway fit for our God. Fill in the valleys, level off the hills,

Smooth out the ruts, clear out the rocks.

Then God's bright glory will shine and everyone will see it. Yes. Just as God has said."

 Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms,

Hugging them as he carries them, leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.

The Creator of All You Can See or Imagine – Isaiah 40 (excerpts from The Message) 

On Sunday, we recalled that this comforting word from Isaiah is not just for Israel hundreds of years ago, it is a word for us today. As we look around and see anxiety, chaos, fear, war, fascism, racism, and other forms of destruction, God assures us that God yearns to embrace us, to bring us back into healing, to gather us into God’s arms of love, to bring us home to the truth of abundant life and a more just world.

How does this happen? We’ve heard how God wants to bring peace on earth and goodwill to all. And yet it’s been thousands of years! What's the problem? Why aren’t we there yet? Why does it feel like we’re some days not even making any progress or going backwards?

One challenge: we may have heard of God’s intention, but many have not realized that this requires our participation. Some think that God is fighting some kind of spiritual battle over our heads, that God is just going to save the world without us or in spite of us, without our cooperation or participation. Others understand we are responsible in some way, but then we try to fix the world our own way by our own power and get bogged down in our own biases, privilege and projections. The idea is we are cheerleaders on the sidelines or that it is all up to us. But Jesus did not say, “Come and cheer me on.” Or “get out there and take care of it all on your own!”  He said, “come and follow me.” Jesus reveals that if we are to come home, if we are to be healed, if our world is to be healed, then we participate, cooperate, follow, walk, move, live with and in the Spirit of God. As we do, then there is more peace in and through us. Hope is not wishful thinking, but reality. Love is not a slogan, but our way of life.

One worshiper commented to me on Sunday that she appreciated the reminder that “God and I are partners in peace.” I loved that way of putting it!

May it be so.

Love,

Pastor Michael Bush

Listen to or Download the Messages Online: Video Link. 

Hike and Contemplation with Pastor Michael

The next Hike and Contemplation is coming up on Thursday, December 14th. We will begin at 7:30 am.

At some point in the hiking journey, we will pause for a guided prayer/meditation /contemplation. This is an opportunity for movement in the beauty of nature, building relationships, and connecting with the Spirit. 

If you are interested in these hikes, please click here. Once signed up, you will be emailed about this December hike and future ones.  

Taizé Inspired Service of

Healing and Hope

We will have our traditional Taizé service on December 14th at 6:30 pm, but this year we will incorporate elements of a quiet Christmas service. 

If you would like to spend time in community and stillness or if you have experienced loss this year, you are invited to this service of Healing and Hope. 

It will be a time of music, prayer, scripture, and silent reflection in the tradition of a Taizé service, Blue Christmas and a Service of the Longest Night. 

Contact Pastor John for more information: his email.  

Holiday Recital Here

Saturday, December 16th at 3:00 pm in the sanctuary

Our own choir singers, Kyle and Jessica DeGraff will perform Christmas music for all to enjoy. David Craig will be at the piano.

A freewill offering will be taken in support of the performers. A reception will follow.

Help Decorate the Christmas Tree

You are invited to help decorate the sanctuary Christmas tree after the worship service on December 17th. We

have beautiful ornaments, called Chrismons, to place on our tree.

Chrismons originated for use in the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia in 1957. The designs are Christian symbols used since biblical times. Our ornaments were hand-made years ago by members of our own congregation.

In the Spirit of the Season, please join the Worship Team by choosing a Chrismon to place on our sanctuary tree.

Pop Up Intergenerational Family Funday

Sunday, December 17, 1:30 to 3:00 pm in our Courtyard

We are celebrating the “6 C’s of Christmas” (Cookies, Cards, Crafts, Cultivation, Conversation and Community) this Sunday. We will do

• light planting in our St. Francis Garden
• make cookies (slice and bake)
• make ornaments to take home to give away
• write cards to send to our homebound and online folk
• imagine and talk about the future of our intergenerational ministry.
• share some small bites as we as we gather together as a faith family rooted in love (agape).

If you are feeling like you would like to be in a place of connection and celebration, come on in; no RSVP needed. You can bring a snack to share or not. All you need is an open heart.  Talk to Pastor John for more info. 

Advent Workshop Series

Sundays at 11:00 am, December 17th and January 7th

Discover Advent anew through visual art and poetry. Designed for everyone (no art experience necessary -- just curiosity!), this interactive presentation invites you to explore a different artwork each week for four weeks by imagining the Advent character’s perspectives, moods, and feelings through close-looking, deep questioning, and reflection. We will ponder the extraordinary in the ordinary and consider how Advent speaks to us individually and in community. Sign-up for the series, click here, and attend in-person or online (or both!).

The facilitators are Brigid Waszczak and Bess Woodworth.

Sunday Coffee and Community

Sundays at 10:30 am

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

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

Your hosts:

Deb and Dan Wold

Click here for more info.

Spiritual Formation Groups

with Pastor Michael

Thursdays, 6:30 pm weekly (except second Thursdays when we have Taizé worship), journey through the Acts of the Apostles on Zoom only. Prayer, sharing, learning, and growing together.

Tuesdays, 11:00 am weekly, journey through the Gospel of John in person and online. Prayer, sharing, learning, and growing together.

If would like to join us, 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 gather weekly online with Pastor John for continuing opportunities to connect history, current events, spirituality, theology and more, on Zoom. (Link on Calendar below).

Pondering Classes:

• Dec. 13: The Women of Christmas from Mary of Nazareth to St Lucia of Scandinavia. A look at women’s stories and legends of Christmas.
• Dec. 20: The Longest Night of the Year. How and Why was Jesus’ birth Decided in December. Does it matter?

Rummage Sale Volunteers 

Below is a tentative list of donations that the Rummage sale is supporting this year. Please look it over and if you have a specific charity in mind to receive funds from the sale, please notify us by THIS WEDNESDAY, December 15th. Call Amy Lincoln at 520.481.0865 or email her. 

Tentative Donation List

Butter Braid Thank You!

Thank you for helping to make Eva Weleck the #1 Butter Braid seller of anyone in the band or choir at her school! This is a reminder that Eva will be at CAUCC on Sunday, December 17th before and after service to give (frozen) Butter Braids to those that ordered. If you miss Eva on Sunday or have not arranged anything otherwise, your order will be left in the church freezer for you to pick up during church office hours. Email Eva's mom (Kassandra, click here) if there are any questions or concerns. Sincerely, The Weleck Family  

Keeling Toy Drive

Many children at Keeling Elementary School will enjoy a brighter Christmas thanks once again to the unbounded generosity of our congregation. Parents selected by the school will come in later this week to choose gifts from this grand array of possibilities. Blessings to all of you wonderful souls who provided this outpouring of support for the kids at Keeling! 

Pictures below of the team gathering the gifts to go, and of displaying them at school for parents to shop!

Click here for more pictures!

Please Sign In (Sundays in the Sanctuary)

 Please remember to PRINT your name in the pew register each week. 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 help 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!

Pledge Information

If you have not already done so, please return your 2024 Pledge Cards as soon as possible in order for us to continue with our work on the 2024 Budget. Or reply online: click.

Donations for 2023

In order for donations to be credited to your 2023 statement, have them to the church by Sunday, December 24th.

Holiday Recital Here 

Saturday, December 23rd at 2:00 pm in the sanctuary: Emma Petersen will be returning for a recital she has titled "Sonoran Psalms" which is a mixture of winter and Christmas pieces. Emma's mother will be at the piano for this concert.

A freewill offering will be taken in support of the performers. 

A reception will follow.

Christmas Fund Special Offering

The Veterans of the Cross Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years. It provides emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our denomination’s lower-income retirees. 

This year’s Christmas Fund theme is Grace Upon Grace from John 1:16, “From Christ’s fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Please join with others in the United Church of Christ to help return “Grace upon grace” to those who have given so much to each of us and our churches. 

Donations to the Christmas Fund will be collected from now through Sunday, December 21st. Donations by check should show on the memo line “Christmas Fund” or online (click here) and use the same memo. Thank you!  

Dessert for Primavera Men's Meal

This month we will be providing dinner for the Primavera Men’s Shelter on Thursday, December 28th. We are requesting cookies for dessert to go with us as we deliver and serve. Please bring two dozen cookies by noon on Wednesday December 27th. Cookies can be dropped off in the church kitchen marked for Primavera. Thank you in advance for helping with this mission opportunity. Primavera Meal Team  

Opportunities to Donate Chancel Flowers

Opportunities to donate fresh flowers for the chancel are available December 31st through February 11th.

If you are interested in donating flowers for one of those Sundays, please call Jay in the church office to select a Sunday.



Thank you, Your Worship Team

IRA Charitable Rollovers (or Qualified Charitable Distributions)

An IRA Charitable Rollover is one way to provide funds to pay your annual pledge to CAUCC or to make a gift to the Legacy Fund at CAUCC.

If you are 70 ½ or older and have a traditional IRA, you may give up to $100,000 per year tax-free to charitable organization(s). This is known as the IRA Charitable Rollover – or as the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) on your tax return. A married couple can each give up to $100,000 from their respective IRA’s each year. The gift can satisfy all or part of your annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). The transfer to charity does not qualify for an income tax deduction but instead it escapes the income tax that you would have otherwise owed on your RMD. This voidance of income tax is as helpful as a deduction, especially if you do not itemize your deductions.

The transfer must be made to the charity by check or wire transfer directly from the IRA. If you accept your RMD before making the gift, you will owe the income tax. We recommend that you consult your IRA custodian or financial planner to assist you. 

Submitted by Jean-Marie Huisjen for the Stewardship Ministry/Cultivating Generous Congregations/Legacy Fund 

CAUCC Calendar

Happening this Week

Wednesday, December 13

• 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
• 1:30 pm Alzheimer's Support Group Room 4
• 6:00 pm Bell Choir Bell Room
• 7:00 Choir Practice Sanctuary

 Thursday, December 14

• 7:30 am Hike and Contemplation
• 8:30 am Men's Breakfast Beyond Bread
• 9:00 am Stitch Witches Rooms 5/6
• 6:30 pm Taizé Inspired Service of Healing and Hope Sanctuary

Friday, December 15

• 10:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6

Saturday, December 16

• 9:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6
• 1:00 pm Jessica and Kyle Recital and Reception Sanctuary and Rooms 9/10

Sunday, December 17

• 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 Rooms 9/10
• 10:30 am T-Time McMigs in the Courtyard, then classrooms
• 11:00 am Sunday Funday Family on Zoom: Funday Link or Meeting ID 781 414 384; Password 883239
• 11:00 am Class: Advent Workshop Series Room 3 (Class 3 of 4)

Monday, December 18

• 1:00 pm Compassion on the Border Meeting Room 3
• 3:30 pm Cleaning Entire Campus

Tuesday, December 19

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

Wednesday, December 20

• 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
• 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

Current Office/Maintenance Hours

Anne and Jay: Mon, Tue, Thurs: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and 

Wed: 9:00 am to 12:00 noon.

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, December 12th at 4:00 pm on Zoom. October 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: