Oro Valley United Church of Christ

09/06/2026

Sabbath prayers for laborers, beautiful hymns, Communion and a sermon reflection on how we live into the Beloved Community.

09/06/2026

Sunday blessings… worship, Communion, and fellowship at Oro Valley UCC.

09/03/2026

REV RANT - Matthew 18:15-20
From Pastor Drew Terry

Greetings siblings in Christ,

I am a gossip. The other day I was at the gym and someone did something that I found rude and inconsiderate. I was using a machine with removable weights. A person came and took a couple of the weights off the machine while I stepped away for a moment. The person did not acknowledge my existence. They did not even use the weights immediately. Instead, they placed them to the side while they did other exercises.

I thought about confronting the person. I thought about going home and "venting" to my spouse. Venting is just another form of gossip most of the time. This passage came to me. I realized if I was not going to tell my neighbor and sibling of their error then I needed to let it go altogether. I even began to realize that I had something they needed and I could easily replace what they took.

I am sharing this story now. I hope it is heard as an example of what Christ calls us to do in situations where others do wrong. Our ultimate calling always is relationship in the journey to build God's beloved community. The response to any error or wrong doing is directed at keeping the calling to beloved community in our forefront.

It is so easy to simply dodge conflict and not confront the individuals who cause us annoyance, inconvenience or even worse. It is a cultural norm to vent or gossip our irritations to friends and relatives without ever addressing the individual. When we do this we do not necessarily loosen it. Rather, our venting and gossiping often tighten the bind on our grievances without resolve.

Jesus this week shows us we have two options when we first experience conflict. Either we let the offense go or we confront our neighbor and sibling in God. If this does not work, then turning to others is helpful only if they have access to both sides of the story. If we solely talk to someone about what grieves us without including the other person, then we need to do so in the search for how we forgive and move forward without confronting. Finally, if needed there is the community as a whole that can hear the story and can offer support in repairing the relationship.

The closing passages make clear our personal power and responsibility as well as the ultimate call of God being beloved community. Whatever we do not forgive and mend in this life stays with us. What we set free and resolve becomes liberated for eternity. Our handling of conflict determines our personal future and what we do or do not carry with us.

Yet, these are secondary to the ultimate purpose of God's mission to build beloved community. We are all missionaries and ministers in this mission. Our relationships with others are the foundation on which beloved community is built and grows. We need to be able to communicate with one other, especially when something binds us as does the wrong another does to us. When we do not, we hurt the mission and bind ourselves to the event. When we find healthy ways to communicate directly we build personal relationships and strengthen God's kindom.

May we have the courage face the uncomfortable to continue answering God's call.

Peace and blessings,
Rev Drew

08/30/2026

Another beautiful day at OVUCC! And ice cream sundaes, too! ♥️☮️🌈🙏🏽🍨

08/30/2026

An inspiring worship service this week - with Jose's beautiful music and Rev. Drew's sermon on our lineage, on Moses, our "call" to follow God's way and the way of liberation. And Rick, our layreader, did a great job - even with a long list of the ancient people of Mesopotamia and Canaan!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/26/2026

Rev Rant - Exodus 3:1-15
From Pastor Drew Terry

Greetings siblings in Christ,

What a classic story! Moses, a murderer on the run and a refugee in a foreign land, sees a burning bush. The bush is not consumed and demands Moses' attention. A voice cries out and Moses answers, "Here I am." Then God speaks of the injustice of the people, their suffering, and the need for God's liberating justice.

A calling comes first from the need of the community. This story and every call story in scripture starts with a need of God for God's creation. God calls Abraham and Sara to create a people devoted to God. Noah is called to save those God can rely on to renew the world. Moses and all the prophets after him are called because there is injustice and the people need liberation.

Today, I share a need and invite you to discern your calling. Our church is an amazing place. We know that. That's not news. However, we are in great need of volunteer support.

First, I want to acknowledge the many people who already give above and beyond to our church. Nancy in the office; Karen and Nancy for hospitality; Warren for buildings and grounds; Warren and Louise for ushers and greeters; John for IT every Sunday. This list is not exhaustive of all the people and work that make us thrive. I am grateful for these leaders and everyone, everyone, everyone who make our ministry possible.

They need help. Nancy is stepping away from the office to help her family, and we are currently training Lynn to help. This position could thrive with a team. This could include a few hours on Thursdays to help with bulletins, checking the mail, and checking phone messages. There maybe things that can be done remotely.

Hospitality needs hosts who can come at 9:15 Sunday morning to help prep and stay after fellowship to clean up.

Ushers and greeters setup our sanctuary, pass out bulletins, and setup communion. They usually arrive between 9-9:15 am and are done around 11:15-11:30 am.

All of these are acts of spiritual service. They are necessary to do the justice work of God in this world. Each one gives us life and Spirit to serve God's love to the world, no matter how small or great.

This is not a burning bush. It is a call all the same. The two most important aspects of call are the needs of the community and the gifts of the individuals. The story from Exodus sets the common theme that communal need precedes gifts. God assures Moses, "I will be with you." Last week, in Romans 12, Paul made it clear that it is God's presence that creates the gifts we have to serve our community needs.

Here is a practice of discernment. Read the rest of Exodus chapter 3. Count the number of excuses Moses has for not answering the call. There are two in this week's selection. When he asks "Who am I" and "What do I say..." he's trying to say God has the wrong shepherd at the wrong bush. Yet, we all know Moses is the right person.

Next discernment step, look at the needs of the church. Then ask, "What gifts do I have to offer to the needs of the community? Do I have time? Do I have the talent?"

I know a lot of people reading this do a lot for our church already. Thank you. In fact, if you are reading this you are a valuable member of our community and I am deeply grateful for you. God brought us all here together. Together, with our ancestors from Sara and Abraham to Moses to Mary and Jesus, we are now called to serve God and God's people. How do we respond?

It is a joy to serve with you.

Peace and blessings,
Rev Drew

08/25/2026

Sunday August 23 worship & fellowship time. A great day!

08/24/2026

Wonderful worship service today with an outstanding sermon by Rev. Drew...reflections on Grace and the perfect closing hymn.

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08/20/2026

Rev Rant: Romans 12: 1-8
From Pastor Drew Terry

Greetings siblings in Christ,

Go see The Odyssey. I really enjoyed it. I read the book years ago and found the movie to be close enough to enjoy the adventure.

I mention this because this week's passage reminds me of something I learned from the ancient epic. Richard Rohr, author of the book on aging Falling Upward, describes aging using the metaphor of Odysseus' (the hero in The Odyssey) journey home. The end of the story (I promise I am not spoiling anything) is Odysseus burying his oar. Rohr reflects on how the act is symbolic of a person who has completed one life task and is now prepared to embark on a new venture. For Odysseus and for many others, this new venture is one taken in later life after many other accomplishments and adventures are over.

This week Paul shares famous words from the book of Romans. He offers the idea that we all have gifts and we are to share those with one another. The obligation comes from the fact that everything we have comes from God's grace, and we are eternally bond to all other human life. We are just like a body whose members are both unique and dependent upon each other.

However, our bodies and minds change. Any person over 12 knows this truth. Heck, my six year old knows a human body and mind changes. Therefore, it makes sense that our gifts change. Those who once were teachers often return to being students. Those who give to charity often run out of resources becoming recipients while discerning other ministries like preaching or leadership. This is the the power of Rohr's interpretation of The Odyssey.

This week let us give our bodies as a sacrifice here and now. What are the limits and strengths of our bodies in the present moment? What wisdom do our strengths and limits provide to discern God's good now? Let these reflections be what renews our minds to whatever God is calling us to offer our community.

Peace and blessings,
Rev Drew

08/16/2026

A lovely service of worship today at Oro Valley UCC.

Worship today was dedicated to the memory of Margaret "Mugs" Olsen. We will miss Mugs' warm presence in our lives. Sending prayers for peace and comfort for her family.

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