Monthly on fourth Wednesdays at 12 pm
Come for an afternoon of games, fun, fellowship, and food!
Snacks will be provided and all are welcome.
Board Games and Card Games
Tag: Sun City AZ
Pastor’s Notes 5/9/2025
The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him.
Exodus 15:2
From the prophetic witness of Miriam and the devoted trust of Mary the mother of Jesus to the stirring hymns of Fanny Crosby and other modern poets of prayer, women have a profound impact upon our faith. Our worship this Sunday will honor the legacy of women whose gifts have helped the Church sing, pray, and live the gospel more fully.
Mother’s Day worship will feature hymns and musical offerings, each accompanied by short reflections or stories about the women who wrote them—women like Phoebe Knapp, Katharine Lee Bates, Natalie Sleeth, and Cecil Frances Alexander. You’ll hear a medley of Fanny Crosby’s beloved gospel hymns, sing “America the Beautiful,” and lift your voice in favorites like “All Things Bright and Beautiful.”
To open the service, you will recall the song that may be the most famous and bold of all: Mary’s Magnificat—her cry of praise and justice sung while carrying the Christ child. That revolutionary hymn of a young girl from Nazareth reminds us that music has always been central to our faith—not just to praise God, but to proclaim God’s justice, reversal of power, and care for the lowly.
In her spirit, we’ll also remember Miriam, who led her people in song after God delivered them from Egypt, and modern voices like Miriam Therese Winter, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, and Joyce Rupp, who continue to write hymns, prayers, and blessings that awaken our souls.
Whether you are a mother, have known a mother’s love, or grieve one who is no longer here, this Sunday is a celebration of presence, of the voices that have walked with us and shaped our journey of faith. We hope this time of music, memory, and meaning will uplift your spirit and stir your gratitude.
I am currently on vacation but if you need anything please contact the church office or any of our elders. Many blessings!
Brett
Book Club
Third Tuesdays at 10:00 am; in the church library or on Zoom
Looking for a new book group to join? Sign up for our monthly Book Club!
All are welcome to join us for this month’s book discussion. Reading the book or being a church member is NOT required! Books are available to borrow for each session.
Call the church office to sign up 623-972-6179. If you’re at church on Sunday, there is an overview and sign-up sheet in the narthex.
Books are available to borrow for each session.
Disciples Women’s Ministries monthly service activity
Fourth Mondays at 9 am
Join us for a morning of community service and creativity!
The DWM at Sun City CC is dedicated to making a positive impact through our service projects.
Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or have never knitted a stitch, everyone is welcome. No experience necessary!
After the morning activities, we’ll enjoy a delightful lunch together. Feel free to contribute by bringing a salad to share. Don’t miss out – mark your calendar and join us for a day of service, crafts, and camaraderie!
Lunch Bunch
Monthly on the fourth Friday at 11 am
Come for good conversation and an opportunity to meet new friends! Each person is responsible for the cost of their own meal; restaurant will distribute individual checks. Sign-up sheet is in Cobbs Hall, or call the church office.
(check the weekly update or call the church office for the location)
Men’s Breakfast
Monthly on the second Tuesday at 9 am
NEW LOCATION!
Our monthly breakfast gathering for men is a place for faith, food, and fellowship! We meet at 9 am every second Tuesday at George’s Lakeview Cafe, 10502 W. Thunderbird Rd., Sun City, AZ 85351
Join us!
Each person is responsible for the cost of their individual meal.
A sign-up sheet is available in the narthex or you can call the church office (623) 972-6179.
Holy Humor Sunday
Pastor’s Notes 4/11/2025
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” –Matthew 21:8,9
Our Journey through Lent is drawing to an end. I am most grateful and moved by your willingness to face end of life questions with our series, “Finishing Faithfully.” Here is a reminder of the weekly themes that we covered:
“The Dwelling Place of Memory.” “Remember, you are Dust.” “Preparing With Purpose.” “This Will be the Day.” “The End of Life is not the End.” “A Day of Preparation.” “Letting Go is Okay.” This Sunday we will conclude with “Leaving our Legacy.”
Stories of Jesus, Paul, and other Biblical ancestors have reminded us that death is a part of life and there is a faithful way to embrace the process that leads to eternal life. It has been a reflective and intentional season of study, knowledge, reflection, and sharing. Our Wellness Ministry team has gifted us with tools and resources to help us put our plans in place.
Our team will continue to encourage us to put our plans and wishes into place by offering individual and group opportunities to talk through and think about our plans and wishes for when we die. I will be signing up sessions with anyone who would like to meet with me one on one to discuss your memorial service plans and/or record your stories on video!
Our text for Sunday is Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem as depicted in Matthew 21:1-11. Preparations are made for Jesus’ final return to the Holy City and the large crowd gathers to cheer on the one who has come to save the people. With palm branches waving and shouts of “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” anticipation mounts.
Things turn quickly and the events surrounding the Passover feast will lead Jesus to his crucifixion. As a congregation we will join our UCC colleagues for Maundy Thursday worship and communion at 5pm at Church of the Palms, on April 17. You are also invited to join me for a service of scripture and prayer on Good Friday at 12 noon in our sanctuary on April 18. Many blessings as we continue of committed journey with Christ.
Pastor’s Notes 4/3/2025
As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. – 2 Timothy 4:6
There’s an old story about a monkey who finds a jar filled with treats. Eagerly, he reaches in and grabs a handful, but when he tries to pull his hand out, he discovers he’s stuck. The jar’s opening is too small for his clenched fist, and though freedom is just a simple release away, he refuses to let go. Trapped by his own grasp, he remains stuck, unwilling to loosen his grip on what he wants.
So often in life, we find ourselves in a similar struggle. We hold on: to plans, to expectations, to past hurts, loved ones, or even to roles we have played for years, because letting go feels like loss. But what if letting go is the path to freedom, wholeness, or resurrection?
This Sunday, we continue our Lenten journey with the theme “Finishing Faithfully: It Is OK to Let Go.” In Luke 9:43-45, Jesus begins preparing his disciples for the road ahead, but they struggle to grasp what he is saying. In 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Paul, at the end of his ministry, writes with peace and confidence, declaring, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Both passages remind us that faithfulness is not just about perseverance; it is also about trust.
What might God be inviting you to release? What burdens are keeping you from moving forward? I hope you’ll join us as we reflect on these questions together, seeking the courage to trust God with open hands and open hearts.
Brett
Pastor’s Notes 3/28/2025
“As members of the Christian Church, We confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world.”
This confession is the opening sentence in the Preamble to the Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It, or a version of it, is used by many Disciples congregations in worship as an affirmation of faith and a sign of commitment to faithfully serve within the body.
Last Sunday eleven of our faithful stood before the altar and made this proclamation, and in so doing, reaffirmed baptismal vows and claimed Sun City Christian Church as home.
This wasn’t a planned or premeditated arrangement. It all started when Jo Ann Wood, the newest face to enter our doors, arrived and inquired about what she needed to do to belong, to become an active and vital part of the congregation. In five minutes and a wave of conversations, a handful of folks felt compelled to do the same.
Many would have assumed that for most of the 11, this was a confession professed here, long ago. It was a beautiful reminder of the amazing way the Holy Spirit is moving in our midst and that for the love of Christ to be shared, we must willingly step forward and make the proclamation. We are doing that!
This Sunday, we continue our Lenten journey by reflecting on Joseph of Arimathea, the man who stepped forward to care for Jesus’ body after his death. In Luke 23:50-56, Joseph, a quiet but faithful disciple, takes great care in preparing Jesus for burial—an act of both love and devotion. Even when others had fled, Joseph remained.
His actions remind us that faithfulness doesn’t end with death. In fact, how we prepare for and respond to death—our own and that of others—can be one of the clearest expressions of our faith. As Romans 14:7-9 reminds us, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
This Sunday, we’ll explore how final preparations, whether making arrangements, honoring a loved one, or even considering our own legacy, are sacred acts of faith. Joseph teaches us that discipleship extends beyond life; it is seen in how we honor Christ and one another, even in times of loss.
I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!
Brett