THE GOOD SHEPHERD
ADULT FORUM
On Sundays, September through April at 10:15, join us in the large classroom for lively discussions on topics that range from border issues, ethical conundrums, health care challenges, and even gardening topics. Always informative, often fun, and an opportunity to get to know others in The Good Shepherd community.
2019 - 2020 Schedule
October 6 Ed Hunt, "What’s Up for the Forum?"
October 13 Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans
October 20 Michael Curry, "The Inclusive Church"
October 27 Maureen Brooks, "The Equal Rights Amendment
November 3 David Hoekema, "Interfaith peace activism in Uganda"
November 10 Fred Ginocchio, Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and The Rise of Jim Crow
November 17 Laura Romero, Director, St. Andrew's Children’s Project
November 24 THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
December 1 Joe Watson, American Friends Service Committee "Justice Reform"
December 8 Mission Social Justice Committee "Alternative Giving"
December 15 Kelvin Kent "Understanding Islam"
January 5 Westy Egmont, Professor, Boston College, "Criminalization and Redefinition: The Narrative Border War"
January 12 David Flatt, "My Love Affair with Tanzania"
January 19 Two Visitors from Italy
January 26 Susan Hill “Stories of the Human Experience: The Documentary Photography of Steve McCurry”
February 2 Rick Ernst "Aging Better: Living a Longer, More Purposeful Life"
February 9 Rebecca McElfresh "Embracing Our Final Days"
February 16 Don Fish
February 26 Carolyn Campbell, Executive Director, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
March 1 Carlos Valles, Executive Director, Sahuarita Food Bank and Community Resources Center
March 8 Joyce Finkelstein "Volunteerism in the Valley"
March 15 National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI), Suicide
March 22 National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI), PTSD
April 14 Mission Social Justice Committee, Recycling
Seasonal Book Discussions
Members are encouraged to form small groups to discuss books before our spring lecturer. Diana Butler Bass is an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture, will be at The Good Shepherd February 22 and 23.
Book Groups
We have both co-ed and women’s group meeting during the year to discuss a wide variety of books. See the church calendar or newsletters for more information.
Small Group Ministry
Small groups are an important tool in developing Christian community and spiritual growth. A new small group started last spring. This group meets 6 months out of the year - Mondays at 10:00 a.m. We meet at the home of Janet Carter. You are invited to check out this small group on any Monday. Two more weeks of celebrating Advent and Epiphany - Dec. 17 and Jan.7. No meeting on Dec. 24 or 31. On Jan. 14 we will start the book White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. Questions – call Janet at 715-252-6875
Bible Study – the Basics
Starting Sunday, January 20 Good Shepherd will be offering a Basic Bible Study for those who have little or no knowledge of the bible or would like to brush up on their bible knowledge. The class will be held between services 10:20 a.m to 11:10 a.m. The first two weeks will be an introduction to The Old and New Testament with handouts. After that we will be using a study guide. Janet Carter will be leading the class. Questions? Call Janet at 715-252-6875.
Javarita Coffeehouse: 18th Annual Concert Series
The Coffeehouse is held one Friday each month, starting at 7:00 pm at The Good Shepherd UCC (17750 S. La Canada in Sahuarita). This year we will have the added attraction of two concerts during our Border Issues Fair/ Common Ground on the Border program in January. Tickets can be purchased on the night of the concert, at the door for $10 to $20 (depending on the show), or, season pass can be purchased for $70.00 per person for all 8 shows. This is an all-volunteer organization and a ministry of The Good Shepherd UCC dedicated to supporting and enjoying live acoustic music. Questions? Contact Randy Mayer at 625-1375.
Oct 12: Katia Cardenal -- Katia is arguably the most prominent female musician in Nicaraguan history. Accompanied by her daughter Nina, they will sing uplifting songs of compassion, ecology and social justice. Katia's music reminds us that love and beauty are not only possible but essential for survival. Tickets $10
Nov 9: Sparky and Rhonda Rucker are seasoned performers that are sure to deliver an uplifting presentation of toe-tapping music spiced with humor, history, and tall tales. Their music includes a variety of old-time blues, slave songs, Appalachian music, spirituals, ballads, work songs, Civil War music, railroad songs, and a few of their own original compositions. www.sparkyandrhonda.com
Tickets $10
December 14: In Arizona there is no better way to get into the Christmas Spirit than to experience a Mariachi group singing Feliz Navidad and traditional Posada music. Cielo de Mexico is Southern Arizona’s premier mariachi group with breathtaking arrangements and one of a kind vocalization, truly the next generation in mariachi evolution. Tickets $10
Jan 18 - Tish Hinojosa: Crrtics and audiences have long sung the praises of Tish Hinojosa in at least two languages. An appealing yet eclectic singer/songwriter, she has forged a unique and admirable style located somewhere between her Mexican roots, Texas upbringing, and her years as a Nashville tunesmith. http://www.mundotish.com Tiickets $15
Jan 19 - Common Ground on the Border Community Concert: Enjoy a variety of performances from staff and students that have created the Common Ground community. Expect everything from drumming, the blues, country, old time, Mariachi—you name it—it will happen. A great conclusion to an amazing week. Tickets $10
February 8: Tommy and Saundra O’Sullivan: Acclaimed as "one of the great contemporary folk voices of Ireland" and "a stellar guitarist," Tommy O'Sullivan and his wife Saundra have become one of the best examples of what Irish folk should be. They hail from Dingle, Ireland and own O’Sullivan’s Courthouse Pub, considered Ireland’s best traditional music pub, according to National Geographic, TripAdvisor, and Rick Steves. www.tommyandsaundra.com Tiickets $10
March 8 - Amber Norgaard, Sabra Faulk & Friends: Singer and songwriters Amber and Sabra will bring a whole lot of music to the room as they take us on a musical journey that will show us the best of the blues, folk, country and rock. www.ambernorgaard.com Tickets $10
Apr 12 - Pablo Peregrina will pack a whole lot of musical diversity into his show as he mixes things up from cumbias, salsa, cha-chas, original songs and of course rock and roll. Pablo is a bicultural, songwriting troubadour and humanitarian, well known for his passion and commitment to the migrant movement. www.tedxtucson.com Tickets $10
Lawder and Friends
Lisa and Diane Otey- Van Deurzen
Nancy McCallion & Danny Krieger
Holly Near
Common Ground on the Border Staff
Happy Traum
Bonnie & Taylor Sims
Scattered Grass
Sahuarita Food Bank at The Good Shepherd UCC
The Vision:
Sustainable food security for all. This inspires the work we do.
The Mission of the Sahuarita Food Bank:
Through the acquisition and distribution of food; education and advocacy; and working with other community partners; we strive to meet the nutritional needs of the hungry and address the causes of hunger.
Services Offered by Sahuarita Food Bank include:
- Government Food Boxes
- Donated items
- Milk & EggsSharing food with others at the Food Pantry
- Food from our community garden
Sahuarita Food Bank is located at:
The Good Shepherd UCC
17750 S. La Canada Rd.
Sahuarita, AZ 85629
Hours of Operation:
Client Hours:
Thursday 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to noon
Donations are accepted:
Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday Mornings
SAMARITANS
The Green Valley/Sahuarita Samaritans do not have a formal membership structure.
We welcome all who want to participate.
For specific dates and other details, see our website: www.gvs-samaritans.org
There are many ways people support the work of the Green Valley/Sahuarita Samaritans:
- Come to a meeting
- Desert searches for migrants needing assistance
- Leaving water at specified locations in the desert
- Humanitarian visits to Mexico to aid returned migrants
- Preparing food packs for searches
- Maintaining search vehicles
- Public education
- Writing letters and articles
- Fundraising
- Make a tax deductible donation
Samaritans
Green Valley, Arizona is just 40 miles from the border. Today, migrants escaping high unemployment and poverty in Mexico and Central America slip north - mostly on foot - across that border, desperate to find work and new lives. Powered by hope, generally uninformed, they walk toward great hardship and often death.
In the spring of 2005 a loose coalition of Green Valley area men and women came together to give humanitarian aid to migrants in distress. Mainly retired professionals of varying backgrounds and beliefs, they called themselves the Green Valley/Sahuarita Samaritans.
We are your friends and neighbors. We believe that providing aid to another human being in distress is a fundamental human value, and that there should be no more deaths in our desert. We look forward to the day when our assistance is not needed.
Immigration issues are huge and complex. They are not likely to be resolved soon.
OUR MISSION:
To save lives in the Southern Arizona Desert.
