Why Choose the
United Church of Christ?

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Note from the webmaster: Our former pastor, Janice Springer, has followed a call to new life-work. After a time with an interim pastor, we called our new permanent Pastor in July 2007. Welcome to Phoenix! My name is Gail Holman. It is with the deepest joy in my heart that I introduce myself as the new Phoenix pastor.  I believe in the power of story.   We each have our own and we share them with each other to learn and comfort and heal.  We weave them together to tell the stories of our community, and we participate in the Christian story.

The mystery of my call to Phoenix continues to take my breath away.  I never thought God would lead me to a church that so richly matches my gifts.  I believe as followers of Jesus that we are called to a life in community, not only among a congregation, but also to build relationship in the world.  As the greatest commandment states, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”, so we are called to create the real place for God to be in the world based on this ideal.  Jesus sets the example for creating this place in the world. Jesus tells stories and lives his life with people on the margins.  Issues of justice are the central focus of his ministry.  This strikes a deep chord in me.  I have lived a portion of my life as a single mother on welfare.  As a pastor in Vermont during the Civil Union debate, I promised I would not perform a marriage for anyone until I could for everyone. Issues of justice are also a place where the church community is called to respond.  These tasks are supported and held together with meaningful worship. Worship is a community’s response to God’s love, and is a creative and collaborative effort, attentive to the spirit within and the Spirit around.   Pastoral care of our community and education of all kinds (children, youth and adults) are also priorities of my ministry.

From the depths of my being, I am grateful for this opportunity to share ministry with you. 
I discovered this prayer and I appreciated the image of “wild hopes” for our future together.

Do you have any wild hopes,
or tame ones for that matter?
The possibility of acorns becoming towering oaks
or caterpillars blossoming into butterflies,
or that dawn will chase away midnight fears?
Wild hopes!
That all creation will learn the dance of joy,
and all humanity might taste the wine of peace,
and that our loving God will become transparent through love.
“Recast the earth, O God, and move our hearts with wild hopes.”

-From Resurrection to Pentecost by Robert F. Morneau

With God’s peace and love,
Gail Holman