Desert Notes October 9, 2025

After a week of restoration, I was glad to be back in the pulpit this weekend. I know many families were still on fall break–I wish my kid’s school was on the revised year round schedule, too! In any case, a number of you commented on the service as especially moving, from the music to the readings to the reflections, and a few asked to read the script. Tara and I offer you this text only version that has both of our reflections.   In case you’d like to see the YouTube recording, here it is. 

Several of you also seemed interested in the book I referenced, and attendee Sean Smith offers this book discussion invitation: If you’re interested in reading and talking about the book entitled Calling in: How to Start Making Change with Those You’d Rather Cancel by Loretta J. Ross, you’re invited to contact Sean Smith here. He advised me that he bought the book and would love to engage with anyone interested in talking about it! I hope some of you will take him up on this–I think the book is very powerful. I told Rev. Sam Wilson, (who worked with us on conflict transformation a couple of years ago), that I was reading and preaching on it, and she said she had also just picked it up and started reading it. This made me smile.  

The Mercury made it to the WNBA playoff finals and this also made me smile, although we’ve lost the first three games. It’s further than I expected for us to come this year, so I am enjoying it while I can. Soon I’ll have to pick up another pastime! Luckily the weather is now San Diego weather and I can enjoy South Mountain again. All of this to say, it’s October in Valley of the Sun, let us rejoice!

– Rev. Sarah