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Regional Reflection

Regional Reflection: Regional Assembly

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

Every once in a while, I hear people griping about how much they have to do at church. I get it – at one level, at least.  You may have even heard me gripe from time to time. Institutions require a lot of work:  property management, personnel matters, financial matters, sound system repairs, plumbing repairs, committee meetings, and all the details that go into various ministries. Whew!

At another level, though, I find myself thinking that if we are griping, or if we are leading institutions in which people are griping, there’s something wrong. The Christian life is meant to be a joy — not necessarily EASY, but joyful. And this is why we invite you to join us for Regional Assembly 2026, “Celebrating our Gifts.”

Our Assembly theme is rooted in the theological idea that the Holy Spirit is alive and blowing through each of us, and that the Spirit gives each of us gifts to be used for the common good. Our focus scripture is 1 Corinthians 12:7, in which Paul says:  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. If the Spirit truly gave you the gift of music, then singing in the choir brings you joy, rather being “one more thing to do.” If the Spirit gave you the gift of serving, then staying after a potluck to clean dishes, or coming on Saturday to mow or sweep or vacuum, brings you joy.   You feel the deep peace of connecting with what God has gifted you to do.

We hope that Regional Assembly will help you recapture the joy of the Christian life.  We hope you will re-connect with the gifts God has given you, that you will seek to align your roles in the church with the ways the Spirit works in your life.  Come, and celebrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit which God has given to each of us.

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona

Regional Reflection: Disciples Day!

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

Picture of Rev. Dr. Jay R. Hartley

Last month, I began a series of writing about the Region’s new strategic goals, starting with Clergy Wellness. This month, given the we just finished our first ever on-line General Assembly, and that we are only a few weeks from opening registration for our 2026 Regional Assembly (October 23-24 at Sun City Christian Church), I will share about a new goal around Disciples identity and awareness.

A relatively small number of us grew up in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  But many of us are new to the Disciples tradition.  And some of our congregations are brand new.  We’ve been attracted by more open stances, by seeing a diversity of leadership, by appreciating our positive emphasis on God’s love rather than on threats of hell or insistence of rigid rule-following. We have a taste of what it means to be Disciples, but we don’t have the whole picture.

So our Regional Board envisions us working toward a shared understanding of what it means to be part of the Disciples of Christ and to actively embody that in our ministries.  Several of our congregational pastors are planning or have launched a sermon series on Disciples identity, exploring our history and what makes us who we are.  And part of the effort toward a shared understanding is the creation of “Disciples Day.”

“Disciples Day” can look different in each congregation, but the basic idea is that your Regional Minister visits, preaches on Disciples themes, and then (often during a congregational meal) offers a presentation on our current structure, including aspects of the three expressions of our church: local congregations, the Regional church, and the General church. Every congregation is invited to host a Disciples Day. So far, here is the schedule – and we’d be delighted to add other congregations to this list:

2026
May 1First Christian Church in Scottsdale
May 29Desert Dove Christian Church in Tucson
July 12Community Christian Church in Tempe
August 23Discípulos en Acción and Iglesia Cristiana “La Cruz”, both in Phoenix, AZ
September 27Chalice Christian Church in Gilbert
November 8East Mesa Christian Church
2027
January 24First Christian Church in Mesa

I hope to see each of you at an upcoming “Disciples Day” in your congregation.

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona

Regional Reflection: Clergy Wellness

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

Last month I wrote about our visioning process and shared our mission and values as Disciples in Arizona. This month I will begin to share some of our new strategic goals. Let’s begin with Clergy Wellness.

The term “pastor” means shepherd, one who cares for the flock.  To pastor means to care for people, to care for the community. Sometimes care is a simple check-in, and sometimes care means being present in some intense and difficult situations. Our pastors and our chaplains are trained to focus on the needs of others, to act in the best interests of others, to seek the well-being of the community. 

But within the church, care is not just a one-way street. Pastors are human beings with needs – financial needs, physical needs, emotional and spiritual needs. Pastors need to be healthy, need to have their needs met, in order to be able to care for others. A pastor dealing with huge financial stress may have depleted energy to care for the congregation. A pastor who never gets a break may have fewer emotional resources to deal with difficult situations. Pastors are people too – and the healthier they are, they better they are able to serve the church.

Therefore, the Regional Board has named Clergy Wellness as one of our strategic goals for the next few years. We are encouraging all of our congregations to develop or review their plan for promoting clergy wellness. This may include an annual review of the Letter of Call – the basic terms of agreement between pastor and congregation.  Is the congregation paying a salary and offering benefits that sufficiently support their pastor?  Does the congregation have a Pastoral Relations Committee to help support the pastor? (Disciples have great guidelines for how to do this well.)  Are there extra things the congregation offers to help the pastor feel appreciated – a gym membership or other fun perks (different things work better for different pastors)? Does the congregation publish the pastor’s sabbath day in the newsletter and on the church calendar so everyone is aware?

As part of this initiative, the Regional Commission on Ministry is developing a list of possible benefits, a list of extras that congregations can offer their pastors to help promote Clergy Wellness. We are inviting PRCs and personnel committees to a zoom meeting to discuss options and to have a conversation on this topic on July 7 at 7:00pm. Click here to register for the conversation. And as always, I am available to discuss any of this with any clergyperson or congregational leadership. 

October is known as “Pastor Appreciation Month,” and it would be exciting if this October our congregations showed their appreciation to their pastor by adding at least one element to a “clergy wellness package” for 2027. Because a healthy pastor helps make a healthy church. 

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona

Regional Reflection: Our Mission and Values

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

Every once in a while, it is good to take a step back from life and work and ask: Who are we?  What are we doing? What are our goals? It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut, to keep doing things we should’ve stopped doing years ago, to not get around to living the way we want to.

Well, your Regional leadership recently did that.  We began late last year with a leadership survey, and then in January our clergy and our board met with a consultant from Ministry Architects to discuss mission, values, and strategic goals. Our new mission statement:

We nurture, equip, and inspire all toward God’s inclusive love, bold justice, and faithful transformation. 

Anidamos, equipamos, e inspiramos a todos hacia el amor inclusivo de Dios, la justicia audaz y la transformación fiel.

The Region works to nurture and develop leaders and congregations.  This includes the work of the Commission on Ministry, the New Church Ministry Team, and the Congregational Vitality Grant Team. The Region also works to inspire our leaders and congregations to work towards transforming ourselves and our society to be more in line with God’s inclusive love.  This involves the work of our Anti-Racism Team, our Border and Immigration Ministry, and our Global Missions Team. 

We also named five values that we want to guide our ministry and our life together:

Courage. Honesty. Willingness. Inclusivity. Justice.

Valentía. Honestidad. Disponibilidad. Inclusividad. Justicia. 

We are asking all Arizona Disciples to consider how these values are present in our lives, in our congregations, and in our ministries. We hope we have the courage to face difficult questions and situations with honesty. We want to be transparent and accountable. We want to be willing to listen to each other, to sit with each other, to consider alternative viewpoints, rather than judging or jumping to conclusions. We want to be inclusive to ALL – because no one likes to feel excluded, and because NOTHING can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:37-39) And finally, we want to recognize and work against the presence of all kinds of injustice and discrimination, as we seek to move toward what the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called “the Beloved Community.”

This is who we are as Arizona Disciples, and who we want to be. May God be with us on this journey, and may we be courageous enough to go where God calls us.

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay
Regional Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona

Regional Reflection: General Assembly

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

Greetings from Indianapolis, where our Regional Moderator, Kerry Swindle; Rev. Jessica Braxton from Saguaro Christian Church; Lori Tapia; and I participated in the General Board meeting of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. In addition to regular business, the major focus of the General Board was to plan for our first ever fully on-line General Assembly, to be held this July 10-11, 2026. View the schedule here and registration at disciples.org – because YOU are invited.   Here is some context and background.

After 50 years of meeting in person every 2 years for a General Assembly, we have made the decision to meet in person every 3 years – but also to have online meetings in the other 2 years of each “triennium.” The goal is to have Disciples all over feeling more connected to each other.  Attending an in-person General Assembly, although delightful, can be expensive due to travel, lodging, food, and registration fees. So, we are trying a new approach – inviting people to join on-line 2 out of every 3 years.

You can participate in the General Assembly from the comfort of your own home.  OR … you can get together with fellow Disciples and watch/participate together.  OR … you can gather with other Disciples in a local congregation to have a mini-Assembly without the travel and lodging costs.  When you register, you will be asked whether you prefer to watch from your own home or from a local gathering.  Even if you don’t know which you’ll end up doing, click whichever you PREFER because that will help us plan. And if your congregation is interested in HOSTING a gathering, or if you’d like to host one in your home for a smaller group, please let us know.

New for this Assembly – all congregations receive 3 voting delegates.  Before the end of April, congregations will be able to begin entering their 3 voting delegates into the ALEX database.  As always, all commissioned and ordained ministers who have standing, even if retired, also have voting privileges.

As with all new things, nobody knows exactly how this is going to go. There will be worship and education and conversation in small groups and an exhibit hall. We look forward to trying it this summer and then improving things in the future. 

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona

Regional Reflection: March Madness

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

I recently heard on the radio: “It’s time for March Madness.” What does the phrase “March Madness” mean to you?  College basketball?  Hundreds of people flying to southeastern Arizona to look for birds? Heavily armed, masked men invading our neighborhoods to “protect us” from our beloved neighbors? Dropping bombs, firing torpedoes, and launching missiles to secure “peace in the Middle East?”  

Amidst all the madness of our times, I find myself wondering about the madness of the Roman Empire publicly executing a man who preached such dangerous ideology as “love your neighbor,” “love your enemies,” and “forgive each other.” As Christians, the month of March finds us in the midst of Lent, in the midst of the story of Jesus marching toward Jerusalem, marching toward the cross. It’s a story of the madness of the world, but also a story about how madly God loves us. 

Many people thought Jesus was mad. The things he said were so counter-cultural, counter-intuitive.  “Love your enemy.” “If anyone slaps you on the cheek, offer them the other one also.” “Sell what you have, give it to the poor, and come follow me.” Jesus drew crowds, but then people slunk away – intrigued, but not willing to change their lives, not willing to dive in fully. Jesus had a certain notoriety, as he does today, but deep down, many people thought he was just plain mad.  And many people still do.

And yet something about Jesus was just so true, that some people kept following him.  Deep down, many people know that Jesus was the way, the truth, the life – the pioneer and perfecter of a better approach to life. As Simon Peter said: “Lord, to whom else can we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”  Anything else, when you think about it, is madness. Violence.  Revenge. Jealousy. Bitterness. Hedonism. Fame-seeking. Money-grabbing. Walling ourselves off.  It’s madness to trade the beautiful, life-affirming, inclusive love of God for anything else.  

As we journey through Lent together, marching toward the cross, may we dive deeply into the story of Jesus, the story of God’s love in the flesh, speaking forgiveness to us, inviting us to leave the madness of our world and welcome the eternal love that is never far from us.  May God bless you.

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona

Regional Reflection: Rejoice Always

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  —  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

It’s Ash Wednesday, and I have “joy” on my mind.  That may seem odd:  Ash Wednesday is the day Christians remind ourselves that “from dust we came, and to dust we shall return.” We remind ourselves to be humble, to not think too much of ourselves. We begin a season of Lent, of self-reflection, of repentance.  The reason Mardi Gras – “Fat Tuesday” – became a thing is that people wanted to have as much fun as possible on the last day before Lent, before they started wearing black and depriving themselves.  

Combine the liturgical season of Lent with the state of our world – wars of aggression, military occupation in Minneapolis, environmental degradation, massive dehumanization campaigns – and it doesn’t seem like a time for joy. 

But there it is, that phrase of Paul’s: Rejoice always. It may sound trite, but when we remember that Paul wrote those words while he was chained in prison, we acknowledge that he wasn’t just mouthing platitudes. And when we remember that Jesus, hanging on the cross, asked God to forgive his tormenters, we realize that there is something about our religion that calls us to not give in to suffering, no matter how much it seems like darkness is covering the face of the Earth.  We are called to be different:  to celebrate God’s love and shine God’s light even in the midst of all the bad news. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Last month, your pastors and chaplains reminded ourselves of the importance of joy. In the midst of prayer vigils and funeral planning and writing letters to our congressional representatives, we took a day at our clergy retreat to just have fun. 

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona

Ash Wednesday: A Call to Courage and Faithfulness

This Ash Wednesday, as Lent begins, we release “A Call to Christians in a Crisis of Faith and Democracy.”

We believe this is a decisive moment for faithful witness. Democracy is under strain. Christianity is being distorted for political power. Silence is not neutrality.

This statement calls Christians to repent, resist injustice, defend the vulnerable, and renew our allegiance to Jesus Christ above every earthly power.

Now is the time to speak truth to power and act with courage. Read the full statement, sign The Call, and find ways to get involved by visiting  acalltochristians.org.

Clergy Retreat Day of Fun Photos

Regional Reflection: Prince of Peace

Greetings to all in the name of the Prince of Peace:

Reflect for a moment on these words of scripture:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Then reflect for a moment on the words we’ve read in the news recently, words that are based on the philosophy of “might makes right,” words that tell the stories of shootings and bombings and military interventions abroad and at home.  It’s hard to miss the disconnect. In church we celebrate the Prince of Peace, but our world celebrates something very different.

Because we have romanticized Christmas for so long, it’s easy to forget that Jesus was born into a world of Empire, into a world ruled by “Roman might makes right.” We celebrate the magi who brought gifts to the infant Jesus, but forget that as a result of their trip, a paranoid, narcissistic ruler put hundreds or thousands of children to death – forcing Jesus and his parents to become refugees, fleeing a violent tyrant to save their lives. A couple decades later, the Roman Empire executed a man whose main message was “love your neighbor.” As the Teacher writes in Ecclesiastes 1:9:  What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done;  there is nothing new under the sun. Alas.

For me, these reflections expose some naïve beliefs I can no longer hold.  I believed that the world was progressively getting better: more peaceful, more just. I believed that wars and colonialism were things I read about in history books, a thing of the past.  I even believed that racism was mostly a thing of the past, basically solved by the Civil Rights movement. I believed that the United States would never use military force to occupy its own cities and intimidate its own citizens.  I believed the Justice Department would, well, seek justice, seek to prosecute those who perpetrate violence. 

These reflections also remind me of some things I still believe, more than ever.  I believe we are called to be peacemakers. I believe we are called to be non-violent, but also to seek to make peace, to build bridges, to listen and work together and try to de-escalate tense situations. I believe we are called to live without fear – or rather to carry on in the face of fear — not because there is nothing out there to fear, but because allowing fear to intimidate isn’t worthy of the one we claim to follow. I believe that no matter what happens on earth, no matter the rejection and violence we may face, that God loves and holds us forever. And I know that come what may, and though I know at times I will fall short, I hope to represent the compassionate of God and to shine the light of God’s love in all I do and say.

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay
Regional Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona

Sabbatical

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

I’m excited to be back with all of you after a very restorative three-month sabbatical. I’m grateful to all of you in the Arizona Region for the opportunity to renew, and I am especially grateful to Matthew Clark, to our moderator team (Kerry Swindle and Rev. Martin Tapia), and to our on-call Regional Minister Rev. Bill Rose-Heim for handling everything in my absence.

In case you are interested in a little report on my time away … it was great!  Besides visits with family and time to rest, Dawn and I spent 4 weeks in Scotland, mostly in the Highlands doing stuff in nature (a 91 mile hike through the highlands, a week at a Field Studies Centre with guided hikes by naturalists). We also spent a few days in Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival, enjoying some concerts, theatre, and the legendary Edinburgh Tattoo.   And we spent 2 days in Glasgow enjoying the World Pipe Band Championships featuring the best bagpipe bands in the world. 

Then after 2 weeks back in AZ for some dental work, I went to Costa Rica for 3 wonderful weeks with the Christian Immersion Spanish Academy (CISA) which was recommended by Rev. Lori Tapia, National Pastor for Hispanic Ministries.  I had classes every morning and studied in the afternoons and engaged in conversations with local residents and my host family.  I am now a semi-expert on the Costa Rican soccer league, for what that’s worth. I hadn’t intended to do anything except study Spanish, but CISA and my host family got me out to enjoy some activities in the surrounding area, so I saw 77 new life birds (after seeing about the same number in Scotland), went rafting, and toured coffee and chocolate farms and production facilities. 

Both trips were a wonderful change of scenery and setting, offering a healthy break after six years of Regional Ministry.  Both countries approach caring for the natural world in amazing and refreshing ways. The public transit and environmental laws in Scotland are marvelous. It’s notable that Costa Rica doesn’t have an army — they put their money into public education and the literacy rates are extremely high.   A better world is possible!

October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and I know many of you have been expressing your appreciation for our amazing Arizona Disciples clergy. If your congregation doesn’t have a policy providing sabbatical renewal, I encourage you to have that conversation.  Keeping our clergy fresh and healthy is vital for the church.  We also encourage you to make funds available for them to attend our annual Clergy Retreat in January where we will offer activities to restore and renew.

I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay
Regional Minister and President

Regional Reflection: At the Crossroads of Ubuntu and Koinonia

At the Crossroads of Ubuntu and Koinonia: Building a Multicultural, Pro-Reconciling Community
A reflection by Rev. Trish Thompson-Winters, Pastor of Community Christian Church in Tempe

Rev. Trish Thompson-Winters
Pastor at Community Christian Church in Tempe

On Monday of our General Assembly, forty of us sat in a chilly conference room and wondered together, at the guidance of Rev. Vinnetta Golphin-Wilkerson, minister of Granger Community Christian Church in Salt Lake City: What does it really mean to be a multicultural, multiethnic, anti-racist, and pro-reconciling community of faith?

In short, it means stepping into the sacred intersection of Ubuntu—“I am because we are”—and koinonia—deep spiritual fellowship. It means not just welcoming difference, but respecting it, learning from it, and allowing it to reshape us into something more whole. It means reflecting the full image of God. 

In Acts 6:1–7, we see an early example of this kind of transformation. We know, change was in the air. New people had joined the movement and misunderstanding and tension followed. Some widows were being neglected and the new church was called out. Instead of defending the status quo, the new church got honest, got creative, and formed new roles and practices to make sure no one was left out. The result? The word of God spread.

Inclusion wasn’t a distraction from the mission—it was the mission. When we are authentically engaged with one another across lines of difference, the gospel comes alive.

It sounds ideal, right?! But Rev. Vinnetta assured us that though this is holy work, it is not easy. 

So she encouraged us to begin, by asking ourselves – and our communities of faith – some difficult questions:

Do we look like the community around us?

Are we willing to change so that others can truly belong, not just fit in?

How far are we willing to go?

When we’ve taken those questions seriously, we can begin the four part process of creating sacred, whole, kin-dom. 

So what does it take?

Intentionality

We must ask what we’re really trying to do—and be clear about why it matters. Building a multicultural community isn’t about optics or checking boxes. It’s about embodying the kin-dom of God more faithfully.

Information

We don’t know what we don’t know. And we won’t learn unless we’re willing to listen, read, visit, and pay attention. Be in spaces, where you are the minority. Attend worship services in languages that are not your own (and trust the Holy Spirit to move even when we don’t understand the words). Read books. Study under theologians that don’t look like you. be in relationships where you can ask questions. 

Implementation

Change doesn’t happen without action. We have to do more than plan, hope or dream…we have to live it. We need to interrogate our tools.  (One example: Robert’s Rules of Order is intrinsically centered on whiteness and is often weaponized or treated as universally sacred). We need to honor the differences in communication styles in different ethnic and social groups (one example: for some, sign-up sheets are a barrier, not a bridge). And we need to wonder about the thinks we hold sacred: worship order, songs and hymnody, visitation, spaces in our building, etc. 

Investment

This work requires sacrifice. It requires truth-telling. It requires language that binds us together (“we” and “us”) instead of language that separates (“them” and “those people”). It demands that we stop generalizing and instead, that we speak specifically and truthfully.

So, how do we begin?

Start with relationships. Share space. Ask honest questions: Why do we do it this way? Why do you?

Resist the urge to anoint a single person as “the expert.” Instead, create a culture of mutual learning. 

And above all—show up. Show up in unfamiliar spaces. Pay attention to what you feel, what you see, what you hear. Don’t confuse spectacle for solidarity. 

Remember:

  • Representation matters—but tokenism is an insult, not inclusion.
  • Visual symbols matter—but they must reflect lived values, not surface diversity.
  • There will be a tendency to wonder about the “why”.  For example: Spanish translation may seem unnecessary when you don’t have anyone in your congregation that needs it…until someone does! Rev. Vinnetta used the example of your Thanksgiving meal preparations…you form a menu and a shopping list, weeks in advance of actually needing the items! Folks in your community of faith may wonder “why” we need to do something (change music style, offer sign language, etc) and it’s a great moment to talk about “why”. 

Above all, Rev. Vinnetta reminded us that this work is spiritual. It is strategic. It is slow. And we will fail…we will fail at being authentic, at communicating well, at getting it “right.” But we fail forward. Fail faithfully. Keep failing at love, until love takes root and grows.

Because the gospel cannot spread if someone is still being left out.

The Arizona Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team is committed to the growth of its leaders and their participation in Reconciliation Ministries work in the wider church. This reflection was made possible in part by Arizona Reconciliation Ministry Grants which helped assist Arizona Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation leaders attend General Assembly.

Regional Reflection: Rest and Renewal

Six years ago, the Christian Church in Arizona gathered for a special Regional Assembly to elect your new Regional Minister and President. It was a beautiful day for me, as I got to meet many of you for the first time. Over the next 6 months, before Covid shut everything down, I was able to worship with every congregation and sit down to a meal with every congregational pastor in the Region. I was fortunate that my very first weekend coincided with the Disciples Women’s Retreat in Prescott, where I was able to meet 70 Arizona Disciples women over the course of 2 days.  It was a wonderful gift, as I then found friendly and familiar faces welcoming me when I visited your congregations. You have all enriched my life during these past 6 years. 

While I am truly blessed by relationships with all of our clergy and congregations, I am also grateful that the Region recognizes the need for rest and renewal by providing for a 3-month sabbatical every 5 years.  As soon as General Assembly ends on July 15, I will begin a period of sabbatical rest and renewal. I will return to the office (and email and phone) on October 16.  Read on for more information about my plans and about Regional leadership while I am gone.

I have scheduled 2 major experiences during my sabbatical.  Dawn and I will spend the month of August in Scotland.  This is a major bucket list trip for me. We will begin with a week at the Aigas Field Centre, doing daily walking trips to learn about the wildlife of the Scottish Highlands.  We then go the Isle of Skye for a few days, drive to Edinburgh for the Tattoo and the Fringe Festival, take a train to Glasgow to attend the World Bagpipe Band Championships (no – I am not playing), and then finish by walking the West Highland Way, a 7-day, 75 mile walk from Ft. William to Inverness. Starting and finishing the trip with a week outdoors among God’s beautiful Creation was a priority for us.

Two weeks after returning from Scotland, I will fly to Costa Rica for 3 weeks of language immersion school. Given that 40% of Arizona Disciples speak Spanish, I have worked hard on my language skills for the last 6 years.  I hope that 3 weeks of intense instruction and immersion will help further my ability to communicate and at least somewhat lessen the pain I cause to our herman@s when speaking their beautiful language. 

In between the 2 trips, I will be sitting in a dentist’s chair having a tooth implant, visiting my doctor for my annual check-up, and resting and recovering.

While I am gone, your primary contact for anything involving Regional ministry is Matthew Clark, our Regional Ministry Administrator. If your pastor resigns, if you want to request a grant, if you want to celebrate something,  if you need information, contact Matt.  Matt will know whom to contact and how to proceed. We have a great moderator team – Kerry Swindle and Martin Tapia – who will be in regular communication with Matt.  We also have a “Regional Minister on Call” whom Matt will contact if needed. 

I invite you to pray for me during this time of sabbatical, and I commit to praying for each of you. I also invite you to check your own congregation’s personnel policies and encourage your own pastor to be able to take a sabbatical time of rest and renewal.  In the meantime, I hope to see many of you in the next few weeks and in Memphis at the General Assembly.

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay
Regional Minister and President

Regional Reflection: May 2025

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

Paul, the apostle, wrote a number of letters to early Christian communities. Sometimes he expressed gratitude for what he heard about them – celebrating that they were shining the light of Christ’s love.  Sometimes he chastised them for things he was hearing – castigating them for hiding their light under a bushel.  Or worse. And often, he was instructing them in how to be a Christian community.

He begins his letter to the church in Colossae:  In our prayers for you we always thank God … for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints… He writes to the Corinthians: Now it is not necessary for me to write you about the ministry to the saints, for I know your eagerness … In both cases, Paul is celebrating that the congregations are supporting one other, sometimes in prayer, sometimes financially. Paul is teaching that all of us are ONE church, and that we should all help each other out when necessary.

I thought of these passages as I learned about the damage to two of our congregations in St. Louis:  Centennial Christian Church and Union Avenue Christian Church. Both are service-oriented congregations making a great difference in their neighborhood.  Both were struck by tornados last week. Both buildings were severally damaged, and one of the faithful members of Centennial CC was killed in the destruction, having spent her morning at the church making meals to serve to the community.  Disciples everywhere are grieving for and with these congregations and those whom they serve.

If you made a donation to the special Week of Compassion offering in February, your gift is already being used to help the congregations and families affected. If you would like to make an additional donation specifically to help the congregations in St. Louis, you can put a check in your church offering this week and write “St. Louis congregations” on the memo line, or make a direct gift via the Week of Compassion website.

I invite all of us to pray for those affected, to pray for our siblings affects by ICE raids in Nashville, and to pray for each of our Disciples congregations here in Arizona. Together, may we shine the light of Christ’s love.

Dios les bendiga!

Rev. Dr. Jay R. Hartley

Regional Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona

Regional Reflection: Christ is Risen!

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

Christ is Risen!  Christ is Risen indeed!

All around the Arizona Region – indeed, all around the world – that message of good news was preached on Sunday. I heard it at sunrise in Saguaro National Park from the pastoral team of Saguaro Christian Church: Kelley Dick, Jessica Braxton, and Patricia Leong.  I heard it at breakfast at First Christian Church of Tucson, as they shared breakfast and then a worship service with Comunidad Limen Christian Church, during which they celebrated the baptism of Pastor Pedro’s son Santiago.  I heard it at Desert Dove Christian Church from the pastoral team of Kathleen Day and Kevin Prahar.  And I know you all heard it in your local congregations, as many of you celebrated baptism and proclaimed the good news:  Christ is Risen!

And in typical Disciples fashion, many of our preachers emphasized that resurrection is not a one-time event, limited to the individual raising of Jesus.  Rather, resurrection is the eternal process of God bringing light into darkness, bringing form to the chaotic, bringing new life where once all we saw was death. The Israelites suffering oppression in Egypt were liberated, given new life and a new start in the Promised Land.  The Israelites suffering oppression in Babylon were liberated, given new life and a new start as they returned from the Exile. From the beginning of time until the present day, the creative power of God’s love is bringing new life to us and to all of creation.  

Even though we celebrated Sunday, I know that we all face individual and collective moments of darkness. Everything didn’t change over night.  Resurrection doesn’t happen on our timetable, and the challenges of life are still before us. But hopefully the story of Easter, the reminder that God’s creative power works among us, that God’s love will not leave us alone forever, will inspire us to face our challenges with hope and faith. 

Christ is Risen!  Christ is Risen indeed!

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay
Regional Minister and President, Christian Church in Arizona

Regional Reflection: General Assembly – BEYOND

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

This summer, Disciples from all across the U.S. and Canada will gather for our General Assembly:  July 12-15, 2025, in Memphis, TN.   ALL Arizona Disciples are invited to attend – and to join together at a special reception on the opening night.  You will find information on how to register below. We are moving from a two-year cycle to a three-year cycle, so this will be our last in-person General Assembly until 2028. I hope you will consider joining us for four days of worship, education, fellowship, business – and of course, some amazing Memphis BBQ!

The theme for this summer’s Assembly is “BEYOND,” based on Ephesians 3:20 and the idea that God is able to do “BEYOND” anything we can imagine. We will celebrate and reflect on the power of God’s love to move us beyond ourselves, our fears, and our limits.  While I was reading through the General Assembly Bible Study Guide, I was delighted to come across this inspiring image by an Arizona Disciples artist – Rev. Bekah Krevens from Foothills Christian Church:

Painting by Rev. Rebekah Krevens

A dandelion pushes up through concrete – the will to life overcoming what seems like impossible suffocation.  God’s love, God’s power extends BEYOND anything we can imagine.  Or in the words of St. John: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never overcome it.”

At times, we feel overwhelmed by darkness. We see beloved landscape plowed over to build new housing developments or shopping malls, obliterating the plants and animals that called the land home for thousands of years. We see concrete where once there were majestic saguaros. It is easy to give in to despair, frustration, and anger. 

But the call of the gospel is to trust in the power of God’s love, the will to life – to trust in the one who brought the Israelites out of Egypt, who brought them home from the Exile, who raised Jesus from the tomb. The call of the gospel is to trust that God can do BEYOND what our eyes can now see and what our imaginations can conceive. May we, too, live with deep trust in God’s love to lead us through all difficult situations.

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President, Christian Church in Arizona

Learn more about General Assembly at this link, or start your register at this link.

Regional Reflection – Coworkers with God

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

January 20 is here, and it brings an odd mixture of events and emotions. For some, the big event today is the inauguration of a president.  For others, the big event is the commemoration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  For still others, the big event is the NCAA football championship. And it is likely that others of us will celebrate birthdays, mourn the loss of a loved one, or experience a life-changing event in our personal lives. 

While much of the world knows Dr. King as a Civil Rights leader, the Church has long recognized him as a prophet – a spokesperson for God, a voice calling for God’s vision of righteousness and justice to be realized within our social realm. In seminary, I was inspired by a book entitled “Four Modern Prophets,” highlighting the work and ministry of Rev. Dr. King, Walter Rauschenbusch, Gustavo Gutiérrez, and Rosemary Radford Ruether.  If you are not familiar with all of them, I encourage you to do some research.  You may be inspired!

King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” reminds many of the letters found in the New Testament – a letter written by a major church leader to a group of ministers dealing with some specific issues. It was a letter written to the clergy of Birmingham, much like the letters written to church leaders in Corinth, Philippi, and Thessalonica, but it has a much wider application, calling the church to stand up 

I leave you with some of his words, inviting us to renew and deepen our understanding of Christ’s call to love our neighbor:

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.

For years now I have heard the word “wait.” This “wait” has almost always meant “never.” We must come to see with the distinguished jurist of yesterday that “justice too long delayed is justice denied.” 

I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice; …who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.

We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. We must come to see that human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and persistent work of men willing to be coworkers with God, and without this hard work time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation.

May all Arizona Disciples be counted among such coworkers with God!

Dios les bendiga!

Rev. Dr. Jay Hartley

You can find a list of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day events across the Phoenix metro area in this article from the Arizona Republic, or information about the Tucson celebration on Facebook.

Regional Reflection: No Hype Necessary

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

Years ago, two friends of mine organized a concert. The friends were very sophisticated musicians, and they organized an amazing concert. They promoted the concert, telling everyone they knew: “It’s going to be a good concert.”

Following the concert, someone came up to them and said: “That was AMAZING!!!  That was INCREDIBLE!!! I wish you’d have told me how AMAZING it was going to be – I would have invited all my friends.” My friends looked at each other and thought: “We told you it was going to be good.  Why didn’t you believe us?  Did you really need all those exclamation marks?”

We live in a world of hype.  Or should I say: “we live in a world of HYPE!!!” We live in a world which makes much ado about the lifestyles of the rich and famous, that celebrates pomp and circumstance, that wants everything to be the GREATEST EVER or the BIGGER AND BETTER.

And I think about the lessons of scripture. 1 Kings 19:  God wasn’t in the thunder.  God wasn’t in the earthquake.  God wasn’t in the fire.  God was in the silence.  Matthew 13:  The kingdom of God is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour. Luke 21: Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all. So many lessons from the Bible seem to be anti-hype. They tell of God at work in humble places.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of a baby, out in a barn with the farm animals, we are reminded once again that God does not need to be hyped. God does not need a red carpet, a spotlight, or a suped-up sound system. God just needs us to be ourselves, to care for each other, to shine our little lights in our little circumstances. 

God is here.  God is with us. God’s presence is always with us. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will never overcome it.

Dios les bendiga,

Pastor Jay
Regional Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona

Regional Reflection: hay un lugar para ti

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

Three and a half weeks have passed since our Regional Assembly. Two weeks have passed since the national elections. One week until we gather with family and/or friends to share a meal of thanksgiving – which sounds a little funny since most of us gather every single Sunday to share a meal of thanksgiving.   Collectively – that’s a lot of activity and a lot of emotion within 4 weeks of time!

Reflecting on all of that, I can’t help but see the theme of the table. Our Disciples movement was started by leaders who believed that everyone should have a place at the table.  The Lord’s Supper/Holy Communion/La Santa Cena/the Holy Supper/the Eucharist – whatever you want to call it – has many meanings. One way of understanding La Santa Cena is as a PRE-enactment of the messianic banquet, the great feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Religious leaders have imagined a heavenly banquet, where a great multitude of all the nations, every tribe and tongue, are gathered. There is no longer rich or poor, no longer people who are outcast or excluded because of race or skin color or language or gender. There is just one big Thanksgiving banquet for all souls – where Jesus is the host, and we all receive blessings in abundance.  I don’t know about you, but every single week, when I take a little wafer and drink a little cup of juice, I do my best to imagine that I’m in that heavenly banquet, feasting and celebrating with all of God’s children.

En el nombre del cielo, in the name of heaven … hay un lugar para ti, there’s a place for you. That was our theme for Assembly, a call to hospitality, a call to welcome each other, to make another place at the table, to share God’s love with each other – no matter what. Perhaps there will come a time in human history where that message will no longer be necessary.  But we aren’t there yet. And so I encourage us all to continuing growing in our hospitality, growing in our ability to recognize the image of God in our neighbor, growing in our commitment to opening our hearts to each other.

En el nombre del cielo, hay un lugar para ti.

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President, Christian Church in Arizona

Regional Reflection – Welcome

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

“Welcome.”   It’s such a beautiful word – in both English and Spanish.  Bien-venidos.  It is well, it is good, it is a joy to me that you have come.”  “Es bueno que tu has venido.”

Have you ever shown up somewhere and got that awkward sense that people wish you would NOT have come? Ugh. That’s no fun. And we’ve all had that experience. Or worse – they slam the door in your face, or call you hateful names.

But the opposite is so wonderful. Someone opens the door and their face lights up with a smile when they see you. You walk into a room and lots of faces light up, and they get up and move another chair into the circle to make room for you. They introduce themselves, tell you their name, offer you a glass of water or a tray of snacks.  It is so, so wonderful to feel welcome – to feel that people are glad you came.

Our Regional Assembly last weekend took that idea and added a theological claim: “In the name of heaven, you are welcome here.”  “In the name of God, there is a place for you at the table.” In Spanish: “En el nombre del cielo” – in the name of God.  Offering hospitality creates a sacred space, and receiving hospitality is a holy moment.

It was a joy to welcome so many of you to the Regional Assembly this past weekend. It brought me joy to see you, to be with you, and to worship with you. And I pray that all of us will continue to both receive welcome from others and in turn offer our welcome to all whom we meet. What a delight when we can truly look at our neighbors and say: “It is well that you have come.  It is a joy to be here together.”

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President, Christian Church in Arizona

Regional Reflection: Called to Hospitality

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:               

I’m just home from seeing many of you at the Disciples Women’s Retreat in Prescott.  It is always a joy to gather with Disciples for worship, education, and relationship-building.  Speaking of which … the next big opportunity to gather together is coming up soon:   Regional Assembly.  More information and registration can be found here, but here I want to reflect a bit on our theme.

The Regional Assembly Planning Team decided to focus on the biblical theme of HOSPITALITY. Hospitality is a key characteristic of the people of God throughout the Bible. It begins in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, when Abraham welcomes three strangers to his ranch, offering them food and drink and a chance to get out of the son. Abraham’s nephew Lot, in a story that is much misused, offered hospitality to visitors to his city.  Then Genesis ends when the sons of Jacob are offered hospitality by the Pharaoh in Egypt during a famine. Later in the Hebrew Bible, the Israelites are often reminded to offer hospitality to foreigners, remembering that they too were once offered hospitality in a foreign land. 

Click to Register for Assembly!

Hospitality remains a prominent theme in the New Testament – starting with the birth of Jesus, whose parents were told there was “no room in the inn.” As an adult, Jesus both offers and accepts hospitality, frequently dining in the homes of others. Jesus instructs us to invite strangers, the poor, and outcast to our homes for our banquets – offering the love of God to all. Romans and Hebrews both invite and instruct us to be hospitable to strangers.

So … what does biblical hospitality look like today? Who are the “strangers” and “foreigners” of our day? In what ways are we called to offer hospitality to migrants, to homeless veterans, to LGBTQ+ individuals, to young people, to seniors, to any of our neighbors? How do congregations practice hospitality – and how do we FAIL to practice hospitality? These are themes and questions that we will explore in worship and workshops throughout the Assembly.

First Christian Church of Tucson looks forward to offering YOU hospitality this October at our 2024 Regional Assembly.   I hope to see you there!

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay
Regional Minister and President, Christian Church in Arizona

Click to Register for Assembly!
Oct. 14, Tucson
Nov. 4, Phoenix Metro

Regional Reflection: Summer of 2024

Following my trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland in May, this summer has continued to be filled with travel, including trips to Kansas City for the Obra Hispana assembly; Flagstaff for Foothills Family Camp; Loch Leven Campground in California for summer church camp; Wichita to preach at the Kansas Regional Assembly; Bethany, West Virginia for the College of Regional Ministers and Forum of Regional Moderators retreat; as well as some vacation time in Maine, New York, the mountains in Arizona.

The trip in July marked my first ever visit to Bethany College and the home of Alexander Campbell.  In addition to being the alma mater of Rev. Rebekah Krevens, pastor at Foothills Christian Church in Phoenix, Bethany College now hosts the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. Our Regional Moderator-Elect, Kerry Swindle from Saguaro Christian Church in Tucson, joined me on the trip. We got a tour of the Campbell Mansion, the Campbell cemetery, the Historical Society, the Old Meetinghouse, Bethany Christian Church, and the Bethany College campus. It was a joy to connect to these historical sites of Disciples origins.

Jay at the Alexander Campbell estate
Jay on Bethany College campus

As many of you know, Alexander Campbell was one of the most prominent leaders of the movement that became the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  He founded Bethany College, a testament to our emphasis on the importance of education.  Campbell wrote journals and was frequently known to hold public debates with other ministers on points of faith. I am grateful for Campbell’s emphasis on education. As I’ve often heard people say, the Disciples are a movement that doesn’t ask you to “check your brain at the door” when you enter the sanctuary. Faith and reason, faith seeking understanding, deep study of the Bible are all very important to us. 

Speaking of education, we have 10 great workshops lined up for you to choose from at our upcoming Regional Assembly:   October 25-26 in Tucson.  To register, click here. We are excited to be with you “In the Name of Heaven/En El Nombre del Cielo.”

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President, Christian Church in Arizona

Regional Reflection: Obra Hispana Bi-Annual Asamblea

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

Recently I had the pleasure to join 50 other Arizona Disciples at the Obra Hispana bi-annual assembly. Obra Hispana is the name of the fellowship of Hispanic Disciples in our denomination, and it is made of of 9 convenciones and about 230 congregations. Overall, over 250 Hispanic Disciples attended the event from the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Arizona Disciples played a huge role:  12 worship dancers, ranging in age from 7 to about 50-something (I didn’t ask), made the 24-hour journey by van to Kansas City, complete with 4 different liturgical dresses, flags, and banners.  Arturo Laguna Jr. and Ally Salgado from Casa de Adoración were part of the worship band – as they will be at our Regional Assembly in October. Our Regional Moderator, Rev. Pedro Ramos-Goycolea, led a workshop. And, of course, Rev. Lori Tapia was the leader of it all, which included her re-election as National Pastor of the Obra Hispana. Congratulations, Pastor Lori!

The title of the Assembly was based on the Obra Hispana theme for the year: “Generaciones,” or “From Generation to Generation.” Much of the Assembly focused on the development of leadership among the younger generations, as well as the appreciation of the leadership of older and middle generations.  The 12 worship dancers from Arizona were a perfect example of that, as was the worship band. It is beautiful to see the large amounts of young people involved in worship and spiritual development. It reminded me that somewhere around 70% of Disciples under the age of 30 in Arizona are Hispanic.

I was also reminded that the term “Hispanic” is one that Euro-Americans invited to group all Spanish-speaking peoples into one group, as if they all have something in common. In reality, “Hispanic” people are just as varied and diverse as any group. Some prefer speaking English, some Spanish, and some are equally comfortable in both. Some of the diversity is based on culture – Disciples come from Puerto Rico and Mexico and Central America and South America and, of course, the United States. They eat different foods, use different vocabulary, have different accents (in Spanish, let alone English), and have different ways of worshiping. They also have a variety of approaches to theological thinking and biblical interpretation.  Never make the mistake of thinking that “all Hispanic people are _______.” 

It was also a joy to realize that our General ministries have made a concerted effort to hire Spanish-speaking staff in order to better serve our whole church, with staff from DCEF, CCF, NBA, Pension Fund, Week of Compassion, Disciples of Christ Historical Society, and several of our seminaries. I enjoyed introducing many of our clergy and young people to some of the General ministries of the Disciples.

In short, the Assembly was much like a General Assembly, though mostly in Spanish. It was a joy to join with our clergy and musicians and dancers and lay members from Arizona in a weekend of worship, education, and fellowship.

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President, Christian Church in Arizona

Regional Reflections: Arizona at General Board

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

I write to you today from Chicago, where I – along with Arizonans Rev. Jessica Braxton (Saguaro Christian Church), Cecilia Johnson (Chalice Christian Church), and Rev. Lori Tapia (Casa de Adoracion and Obra Hispana) – am in town for the General Board meeting. All regional ministers serve on the General Board, and it is a chance for us to connect with each other and with our General Ministry partners as well as attend to the governance matters of our denomination. Official business dominated the agenda, but we closed with a wonderful worship experience featuring as our preacher the Rev. Jessica Braxton of Saguaro Christian Church! 

Our General Minister and President, the Rev. Terri Hord Owens, highlighted 3 major initiatives of the Church:  

  1. The Church Covenant Project, which includes changes to the Design to help us be a more nimble and efficient movement and to be clear about our covenant relationships with each other
  2. The Church Narrative Project, which is to help us develop the narrative of the future we want to share together
  3. The Proclamation Project, a major initiative to support and inspire preachers.

During her report, she mentioned that Arizona was one of the first regions to participate in the Narrative Project.  Then she celebrated the Proclamation Project’s first ever Disciples preaching retreat was going to be held in Arizona (October 28-30, 2024). And then she went on to talk about the Week of Compassion and their great work in partnership with the Arizona Disciples Border Initiative. She and others were invited Disciples from all over to come to Tucson and learn about border and immigration issues through the Caminantes Border Immersion program led by Rev. Pedro Ramos Goycolea and Comunidad Limen CC.  Given our relatively small size (at 20 congregations, we are the second smallest region), Arizona featured prominently in this General Board meeting!

It is always helpful to remember that we are not alone.  We are not single, solitary, isolated Christian individuals. We are not single, solitary, isolated congregations. We are not even single, solitary, isolated regions.  We are part of something bigger – a movement for wholeness.  Together, with Disciples across the U.S. and Canada, we are called to shine the light of God’s love by seeking unity, practicing compassion, and working for the well-being of all God’s Creation.

Somos Uno!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President, Christian Church in Arizona

Regional Reflection – Holy Week

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

Holy Week is almost upon us. As our journey through Lent intensifies, there is much talk about dying and living, clinging to life and letting go, losing our lives and being saved. In Christian tradition, Jesus is linked to salvation.  Indeed, the name “Jesus” means: “God saves.” But do you ever wonder, on the really practical level: “HOW does God save?”  How does Jesus save?

Christians have debated this topic throughout our history. Some claim that Jesus saved by dying – but while he is still alive, he proclaims to Zacchaeus: “Today, salvation has come to this house.” Some claim that God’s resurrection of Jesus is what saves, that we are all included in that resurrection. Some claim that Jesus was the “pioneer and perfecter” of our faith, leading the way for us, showing the path to salvation, if we will only follow – a path of overcoming fear in order to live filled with love for all Creation.  It’s a path Jesus pioneered, and that Jesus accompanies us on, but a path we have to walk ourselves.

On an even more practical level, I can share one of the ways that Jesus saves ME. There are times in my life when I start feeling sorry for myself: people complain and criticize, I start feeling overworked and underappreciated, and I get stressed out.  Bummed out.  Feel like I’m getting a raw deal in life. It’s tempting to just sit around and have a pity-party. Sometimes I get stuck there, depressed, feeling alone. 

In such times, I have found one consistent cure:  reading the story of Holy Week. This year, we find it in Mark 14-15. When I sit down and read about the last week in Jesus’ life, how people misunderstood him, criticized him, sold him out, falsely accused him, disassociated with him, claimed they never knew him, mocked him, tortured him, abandoned him – suddenly my little pity-party seems … pitiful.  Suddenly, I realize this Jesus I claim to follow didn’t exactly have an easy life, where everything was rosy.  No, his troubles were FAR greater than mine.  But he faced them with love. He faced them with resolve.  In fact, maybe it’s just enough to say he faced them. He didn’t avoid them. He didn’t hide. He didn’t wallow in feelings of self-pity.  And suddenly, having gone through that journey with Jesus, I wake up, I snap out of my self-indulgent pity and bring new energy to facing that which I must face. The story of Jesus’ last week saves me, again and again, from my self-indulgence.

I wish you great blessings during Holy Week.  I invite you to sit down and read Mark 14-15 straight through, to live with the story of Jesus’ last week. And I invite you to share with me sometime how you experience Jesus in your life.

Dios les bendiga!

Pastor Jay

Regional Minister and President, Christian Church in Arizona

Regional Reflection: Winter Camp

Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:

“Pharaoh, Pharaoh, Oh baby, let me people go!”

“You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of us.”

“Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary …”

“Come, and go with me, to my Father’s house …”

“Some-times in our lives, we all have pain, we all have sorrow …”

If these lines sound familiar, if you start humming, tapping your foot, or if you just got up out of your chair and started dancing and singing and walking around the room – perhaps you’ve been to church camp.  Or perhaps you sent your child to church camp, and they came home singing and singing and singing until you knew all the songs by memory.

That might be the case for several parents around our Region, as 13 campers and 3 adult leaders from Arizona went to Winter Camp at Loch Leven Retreat Center this past weekend. The theme of Winter Camp was: “Virtual Faith IRL.”  Now before I lose your attention, let me admit … I had no idea what that meant.  It turns out, for any of you who are as clueless about modern lingo as I am, that “IRL” is code for “In Real Life.” Apparently when the on-line world came to be, people used to distinguish between their “virtual life” and their “real life.”  So they would tell their online friends: “In real life, I’m just a 14-year-old boy who is the backup catcher on my high school team.”   Except they’d text:  “IRL, I’m just …”

Several years later, however, there is not so much distinction between being online and your real life.  In other words, our real lives involve the use of technology.  It is ever-present. And so the point of camp was not to say that “real life” is better than “virtual life,” but to say that we are called to live our whole lives, including the virtual parts of our lives, in ways that are pleasing to God.  Campers made short movies to express a faith message, practicing using technology to communicate positive messages and to explore how faith can be part of our virtual life.

Winter Camp was our third camp partnership with the Pacific Southwest Region, following Summer Camp in 2022 and 2023. We are grateful for this inter-Regional partnership. And we are most very grateful to Church of the Palms UCC in Sun City who generously loaned us their church bus to make the trip. All children and youth in the Arizona Region are invited to join us this summer for the next installment of Summer Camp (dates found below). If you want to know more, you can ask me, or you can ask one of the parents at Foothills who were waiting in the parking lot Monday afternoon as the bus pulled in full of enthusiastic campers singing:  “Pharaoh, Pharoah, Oh baby, let my people go!   Oooh, ah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!”

Dios les bendiga, 

Pastor Jay