January 2, 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.

Falling, Rising and Pierced by a Sword

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.

Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary,

“This child is destined for the falling and the

rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed

so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—

and a sword will pierce your own soul, too. - Luke 2: 33-35

For sure, the Christmas season is defined by joy and celebration. From Halloween until Christmas Eve, we are bombarded with advertisements, songs, programs and concerts expressing the joy of Christmas: the joy of being with friends and family. Joy, joy, joy! The angel proclaims to the shepherds “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2: 10) Consumer society often labels people who do not subscribe to the preseason Christmas joy as Grinches or Ebenezer Scrooge. But this is a distortion of the true joy of Christmas. A joy that lasts past December 26th.

True joy starts with the news that leaves the shepherds proclaiming to everyone they met the things they had just seen. Often, this is the end of Christmas for many of us. However, a few lines down in the very same chapter Mary and Joseph encounter an old man named Simeon at the Temple who proclaims a different insight into the birth of Jesus. Yes, it is a song of hope and joy for sure. But there is also a “reality check” that this savior will expose hypocrisy and fraud: this salvation will be painful. Just as this savior comes with joy and pain, this season comes with joy and pain. Both are valid; both are real. We cannot gloss over one at the expense of the other. Our popular culture glosses over pain at the expense of joy at Christmas. And we are diminished spiritually by the joy-hype.

This year, Christmas day came with the sword of the passing of my mother. There is a sadness that cannot be expressed when it comes wrapped in a veneer of tinsel, glitter, presents, food and perfect family moments. But that version of Christmas is not where the true joy resides; those are the “ribbons, tags, packages, boxes and bags” that confounded the Grinch in Dr. Seuss’ Christmas story. 

True joy comes from the revelation that pain exists, but it is not the end. Death exists, but it’s not the end. This Christmas I found a solidarity with my God, my family and my church community: a solidarity of love that springs from hope and is shared in faith. Remember this is not a faith that is defined by creeds, dogmas and labels; a faith that falls apart if a store clerk doesn’t wish you a “Merry Christmas.” This is a faith based in actions, words and expressions of compassion that are beyond church walls.

Once again, I learned that my mom’s passing on Christmas morning “HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same.” God revealed again to me this Christmas that true Christmas is being able to see Jesus alive in the world and in others, just like Anna and Simeon did. This bit of wisdom allows Christmas to even exist in the first place and it allows it to persist throughout the year. This miracle of Epiphany, aka revelation and awareness, helps turn the miracle of Christmas to the miracle of Easter.

Christmas miracles wait for us all, we just have to be awake to their presence and be open to God’s process of release and renewal. May you all continue to have merry Christmases and a very happy new year.



Peace,

Pastor John

Listen to or Download the Messages Online: Video Link. 

Advent Workshop Series

Last class in this series, Sunday, January 7th at 11:00 am

Extended by 1/2 Hour and food will be provided

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 and imagine 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.

Monthly Hike and Contemplation

Pastor Michael leads some relatively easy hikes during these less-hot months. At some point in the hiking journey, we 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 and are not already on the group email list from last year, click here and indicate any limits you would need to participate (i.e. “need a flat trail,” or “something under two miles,” or “small elevation gain is ok,” etc.) . The next hike will be Thursday morning, January 11th at 7:45 am. Details will be sent to those on the email sign-up list.    

Resuming Sunday Series: Uniting in Christ in a Divided Time

Resumes Sundays, January 14th through February 11th

As the Body of Christ, a community united in the Spirit, are there ways we might listen to one another in our differences, ways that we might take meaningful action around issues of inequality or injustice without labelling one another?

In 2018, a group of ecumenical leaders published a statement called “Reclaiming Jesus,” as a way to look to our leader, Lord, Rabbi, Savior for ways forward in divisive times (see the statement, click here). The Episcopal Church developed a Bible Study to invite conversation around the tenets of the statement. Dr. Karen Borek shared this with some of us last summer, and we have adapted this study for our use at CAUCC.

The series also addresses some of the brainstorming in our CAUCC priorities, with people appreciating an opportunity to talk about contemporary issues (in the spirit of Java and Justice and some Forums of the past), and especially engaging in smaller group conversation. We will continue these conversations.

It is not required that you participate each week, as we recognize it can be hard to be present for this number of sessions, but you are encouraged to join in the conversation for as many weeks as possible.  If you have questions, speak with Pastor Michael Bush who is facilitating this series. If you have not already, please sign up, click here, and you will receive materials and Zoom links (indicate if you will be in person or online so we can plan accordingly). 

Sunday Coffee and Community Time

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 Turn for Coffee Time

Be sure to schedule your Sunday to care for your community with the Coffee Time after services!

Quick training available. Sign-up in McNear hall or contact Leona Lansing (click here).  

Your hosts this week:

Olivia and Tomas Ramirez

Spiritual Formation Groups

with Pastor Michael



Thursdays, 6:30 pm weekly

On Zoom

 (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

Resuming January 9th

Purposeful Ponderings 

with Pastor John



Wednesdays, 10:00 am weekly

Resuming January 10th

Celebration of Life Service for Darlene Hicks

You are invited to attend a memorial service for Darlene on

Saturday, January 13th at 10:30 am in the sanctuary.

A reception will follow in McNear Hall.

Opportunities to Donate Chancel Flowers

Dates to donate fresh flowers for Sunday Worship services are available now through through February 11th. If you are interested, only $43, please call Jay in the church office, select a Sunday and give him your devotion for the bulletin.

Thank you, Your Worship Team

Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild Presents

Click here to see the entire flyer.

Or click here to go to their website.

CAUCC Calendar

Happening this Week

Wednesday, January 3

• 10:00 am Purposeful Ponderings with Pastor John on Zoom Resumes January 10
• 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

 Thursday, January 4

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

Friday, January 5

• 10:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6

Saturday, January 6

• 9:00 am AA Meeting Rooms 5/6

Sunday, January 7

• 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 Family Funday on Zoom: Funday Link or Meeting ID 781 414 384; Password 883239
• 11:00 am Class: Advent Workshop Series, Last Class, with food, Room 3



Monday, January 8

• 2:30 pm Ministry of Justice Advocacy and Mission (MJAM) Hybrid, Room 3
• 3:30 pm Cleaning Entire Campus

Tuesday, January 9

• 11:00 am Spiritual Life Zoom (contact office to sign up)
• 12:00 Noon Centering Prayer In-person, Room 1
• 1:00 pm Grief Support Meeting Room Room 4
• 4:00 pm Worship Team Meeting Zoom only

Wednesday, January 10

• 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 Meeting Rooms 3/4
• 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/Maintenance Hours

Anne and Jay: Mondays and Wednesdays office open 9:00 am to 12:00 noon only,

by appointment in the afternoons

Tuesdays and Thursday office open 9:00 am to 3:30 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, January 16th at 4:00 pm on Zoom. November 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: