Welcome! This week 60 folks from Interfaith Community Services gathered at Rincon’s cam-pus for their luncheon meeting. In the midst of the meeting, we were welcoming the next in a parade of busloads of folks, this time from Guatemala, even as we were sending off a family from Russia and other countries on their way. Volun-teers were happily working with Google Translate to make themselves understood to our Russian guests as others spoke fluently in Spanish. Rincon volunteers shared the vision of what we were about with the Interfaith Community Service folks, and over a dozen folks signed up to receive our volunteer requests. The ICS community welcomed their new Executive Director and continued their out-reach to all those in need here in the US community of Tucson. One of the attendees at the ICS meeting, a former member of this church, told me that there was a palpable sense of energy in the whole campus; it felt to him like a truly life-giving place. To me, it felt like Pentecost. Happy voices, many lan-guages, high fives, welcoming smiles, as we sent yet another group off to the homes of their sponsors. How else can I put it… a church fully alive, charged with the Spirit. God bless us, every one! With you on the journey, Pastor Curt

A Note From Our Bridge Pastor:

IN THIS ISSUE. . .

Pastor’s Note 1

BPF & Mtng Ann. 2

Creation Care 3

Spotlight On CLMT 4

Events & Groups 5

Service Opportunities 6

Prayers & Celebrations 7

April Calendar 8

APRIL 2019 A Publ i cat ion o f Rincon Congregat ional UCC

NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE ON LIFE’S JOURNEY, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.

Contact information for Pastor Curt

Pastor Curt will be on campus Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. If you wish to contact him, his email address is pastorcurt@rinconucc.org, or you can call him on the church phone: 520.745.6237. You may also phone or text 216.287.9919 for more urgent contacts.

APRIL 2019 Page 2

The Stewardship and Finance Ministry Team created a Bridge Pastor Fund to receive over-and-above gifts that show our thanks to God for bringing Pastor Curt to us. He came to serve us during a critical pastoral void giving us confidence in our direction, reaffirming our church leaders, and guiding us spiritually. He came out of retirement at a moment's notice and be-gan his service with us in January. He meets with numerous parishioners encouraging them and answering each question. Best of all he restored vital energy to this busy congregation. The Church Council acted expeditiously to retain Pastor Curt for the period covering January through May filling a void that might have been after the unexpected resignation of Rev Dr McCormick. Severance cost coupled with compensation for Pastor Curt created a one-time shortfall to our planned budget for 2019, of around $30,000. The Stewardship and Finance Ministry Team created the Bridge Pastor Fund (BPF) to defray this unplanned expense. If you can help by making a gift beyond your pledged amount, please do. When you contrib-ute to the BPF, please note on your envelope or check "BPF". David Stone S&F Ministry Team

The Bridge Pastor Fund

Special Congregational Meeting

Sunday, May 5th

Please mark your calendars that Sunday, May 5th we will have one worship service at 10:00am followed by a Special Congregational Meeting to approve a revised budget. Stay tuned for more details.

APRIL 2019 Page 3

In this season of Spring as the day-light hours lengthen, we’re reveling in the riot of wildflowers and chorus of birdsong and the glory of these beau-tiful days. What an astounding crea-tion we get to be part of! In this holy season of Lent, we’re re-flecting on the life, teachings, and way of love of Jesus. We’re thinking of his giving of his all for abundant life, even giving up his life. We’re dis-cerning how deeply we love this as-tounding creation for God’s sake. One way offered to enhance our practice has been the carbon fast tips presented in the church’s weekly e-

blasts. Each day brings an idea for reducing the amount of energy we use, thereby helping to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Keep an eye out for these weekly tips through the rest of Lent. Let me know what new ideas you get from these and/or how you incorporate some of these practices in your lifestyle—and how this carbon fast has impacted your spiritual life. In the upcoming joyous season of Easter, we’ll rejoice in life springing anew, exemplified in the resurrection of Jesus. What amazing news that life wins! It happens this year that Earth Day is the day after Easter Sunday, so our Easter sunrise service at the labyrinth will carry the theme of new life for us and all creation. We’ll shout “Alleluia!” again. A couple of updates on previous Creation Care happenings: --A Lucy’s Warbler has been heard and sighted in a mesquite tree on the north side of cam-pus. The nest box we hung a couple of weeks ago on one of those mesquites hasn’t been used yet. This is a project by Tucson Audubon Society to help restore habitat for Lucy’s War-blers. The project involves citizen observers, and if you’d like to help keep an eye on the box, let me know! --At our World Water Day session on March 24, the seriously detrimental effects of the Rose-mont mine in the Santa Rita Mountains was brought up. The Army Corps of Engineers just granted the last permit needed by the mine project, regarding the use of and effects on water sources. There are already lawsuits filed related to this project, and others related to this Army Corps permit are expected. Here’s a source of information on developments and how to be involved: Save the Scenic Santa Ritas: www.scenicsantaritas.org. Rev. Karen MacDonald desertsky57@gmail.com or 520-336-0625

Tucson Mountains, March 2019. Photo by Karen MacDonald

APRIL 2019 Page 4

On the Congregational Life

Ministry Team

The goal of the Congregational Life Ministry Team (CLMT) is to help individual members and Rincon at large by being a welcoming and caring community providing fellowship, social, and spiritual opportunities. Ever wonder how those delicious snacks magically appear at first and second services, spe-cial programs, special services, memorials, etc.? CLMT works hard to find and schedule indi-viduals to perform these tasks. Special programs require set-up and clean-up of the facilities which CLMT spear heads. CLMT tries to market what a wonderful, progressive, and accepting place Rincon is to recruit new members. They have issued advertisements in places like the Loft Theater, Reveille’s concerts, and the like. CLMT tracks who attends services and when people are missing for an extended period and reaches out to see if they are well or need assistance. CLMT works with the Church Adminis-trator to cull the rolls of the church. A special group within the CLMT is the Called to Care Team (C2C). C2C tracks those who are at risk, undergoing life challenges, and in ill-health-- particularly when they don’t have family members in the area. They send get-well and birthday cards, make calls, and visit these indi-viduals at home or in the hospital to let them know they are being thought about. They track the deaths and anniversary of deaths in the Rincon family and their relatives to help support grieving church members. There are a lot of opportunities to help the CLMT fulfill its mission. You don’t have to be a member attending Team meetings every month but you could volunteer to provide refresh-ments for a service, make cookies for a memorial, or help to set-up or clean-up after events. If you are interested, contact the CLMT Chairperson, Beth Shelby, who can be reached at 503-341-4420 or bhshelby1@gmail.com .

Hatha Yoga Mondays at 5:30PM

Fellowship Hall

Not meeting April 15th

— May 6th

NAOMI CIRCLE invites all adults of Rincon Church to join us for fellowship, interesting programs and light re-freshments. Naomi Circle

meets the 3rd Tuesday starting at 7:00pm in Room 1A. April 16th is Off Your Wall! Bring something you treasure, from off your wall or your shelf or a table. Tell us about it – where it came from and why it’s special to you. For more infor-mation, please contact Jean Granillo (325.4520), Lois Runyon (989.3620), or Nancy Woodling (721.9295).

Diversity Toastmasters

This club meets the first three Wednesdays start-ing at 6pm in Room 1A.

APRIL 2019 Page 5

Are you interested in helping the Faith Develop-

ment ministry team plan a new direction for youth

ministries? Do you have children, grandchildren,

nieces, nephews? Have you worked with children

or just love kids? We need you! The Faith De-

velopment ministry team is working on plans for a

new direction for our youth ministries. If you

have experience, ideas and/or enthusiasm,

please join us for a brainstorming session

on Sunday, April 7 following second service

in the Fellowship Hall. Can't make the meet-

ing? No problem, please share your ideas and

how you would like to be involved with Jen Thorn

(jenlthorn@hotmail.com, 260-5215) or Amanda

Goodenow (algoodenow@gmail.com)!

A COMPANY OF READERS

Rincon’s book group meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in a participant’s home. The April 22nd book selection is Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker. Meeting place: TBD. Contact

Ann Geiger at (520) 529-6223.

Mindful Meditation Series - Beginning Wednesday, March 13 and continuing through Wednesday, April 10, Pastor Curt will be offering a “Brown Bag” lunchtime gathering at the church. Bring your lunch at noon, and we will have a time to visit, a time for a guided Mindfulness Meditation, and concluding with a time of prayer.

Maundy Thursday, April 18th - Tenebrae Service. 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary. Good Friday, April 19th - Prayer Garden will be open all day. From 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM we will have self service communion in the columbarium. Blessings and anointing with holy oil will also be available. Easter Sunday, April 21st - 6:00 AM Sunrise service (Labyrinth). 8:45 AM (Fellowship Hall) & 10:45 AM (Sanctuary) worship services with brunch served around 10:00 AM in Fellowship Hall.

MEMORIAL SERVICE VOLUNTEERS

The Congregational Life Min-istry Team is recruiting v o l u n t e e r s t o h e l p

host memorial service receptions. If you can help with this important ministry please contact Ann Geiger 520.529.6223 or Beth Shelby 503.341.4420

Refreshment Hosts— By preparing & serving simple treats and beverages after worship we provide the op-portunity to visit with one another and welcome guests. New volunteers are

always welcome! Please contact Ann Gei-ger 520.529.6223

Hospitality We Need Your Help!

Our Hospitality Project has been very successful. How-ever, we need everyone to help this project continue to be a success. We need volunteers to cover day, evening, and overnight shifts.

Weeding the Labyrinth

With the rains, along came the weeds... If you are able to help, we need folks to weed our labyrinth to keep it beautiful.

Primavera Meal Prep—Primavera Meal Prep will be Tuesday, April 23rd at 3:00pm. Volunteers prepare a meal in the Rincon kitchen for the Catalina House transition

housing unit run by Primavera. The meal is de-livered to the Catalina House by a volunteer. For more information or to volunteer contact Ann Geiger at 520.529.6223.

Casa Maria Feeding Pro-gram—Every four weeks we purchase supplies and make about 1,600 sandwiches for the Casa Maria Free Soup Kitchen. April 13th at 8:00 AM. A soup

-making volunteer is also need on each Sunday following each Saturday sandwich making date. This task is completed at the Casa Maria soup kitchen. For more information contact Judy Hub-bard at 520.790.8471.

Sunday Morning Greeters—We are in need of Greeters for the 10:45 AM service. As a greeter you can help our mem-

bers and visitors feel welcome as they come in to worship. If you can help, please contact Nancy in the church office at 520.745.6237

Prayer Shawl Ministry — Every Wed, 12-1 PM, Room 1A. Knit or cro-chet prayer shawls to be

blessed and given to those in need comfort or celebrating a joy! Bring your own yarn and nee-dles. Contact: Nancy 520.745.6237.

If you would like to help with the shelter, please see Susan Rogers, Gin-ger Taylor, or Deet Tur-nage.

APRIL 2019 Page 6

ON-GOING CARE

Fran Buss

Larry Davies

Tammy Gordon

Jim Harper

Callie Jordan

Larry Schloss

Kathy Snover

Norma Wilson

Lucille Habeck’s daughter (Diana)

Minta Keyes’ brother (Jon)

Joann Metzger’s daughter (Kay)

Beth Shelby’s sister (Carol)

HOSPICE

Mayme LeVine

DEATH

Reese Woodling

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

4/1 Karen Melik

4/2 Donald Reese

4/2 Barbara Minella

4/3 Ed Ahlgrim

4/8 Dax Franklin-Hicks

4/8 Lisa Kadolph

4/8 Cathy Holmberg

4/8 Fred Boice

4/10 Robert Klingenfus

4/11 Harold Gilbert

4/12 Ina Merson

4/14 Debra Shapiro

4/15 Henry Johnson

4/18 Anne Esborn

4/20 George Fransway

4/21 Gordon Geiger

4/22 William Goodenow

4/24 Barbara Ellen Lewis

4/29 Rich Smith

4/30 Shirley McGuire

APRIL ANNIVERSARIES

4/4 Jody & Susan Schneider

4/9 Chris & April Jones

4/14 Rich & Pam Smith

4/27 Dax & Nancy Franklin-Hicks

P R AY E R S & C E L E B R AT I O N S

WORSHIP SERVICE TIMES

8:45AM in Fellowship Hall

10:45AM in the Sanctuary

with Celebrate in Rooms 5/6

LENTEN CALENDAR

Mindful Meditation Series

Wednesday, April 3 and 10 ~12:00PM

Maundy Thursday

Tenebrae Service

April 18th ~ 7:00 PM

Good Friday

Prayer Garden open all day

April 19th ~ 12:00PM—3:00 PM

Self-Service Communion

Blessings & anointing with holy oil

Easter Sunday

April 21st

6:00 AM ~ Sunrise Service (Labyrinth)

8:45 AM ~ Worship Service (FH)

10:00 AM ~ Brunch (FH)

10:45 AM ~ Worship Service (Sanctuary)

SPREAD THE WORD

Like us!

Share us!

https://www.facebook.com/

RinconCongregationalUCC

And also be sure to check out our

website: http://www.rinconucc.org/

Nursery Attendants:

Ashley Kendrew and Kathy Kolmer

Children are an important part of our community and are encouraged to remain in worship with their fami-

lies. Child care is available in Rooms 7/8 during both wor-

ship services.

APRIL 2019 Page 7

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