Four rows of large, straight carrots, bunches of broccoli and other produce harvested, cleaned and delivered to the Tempe Community Action Agency, Paz de Cristo and iHelp were partly why the Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation (VUU) won a Spirited Activists Greening the Earth (SAGE) award from Arizona Interfaith Power & Light (AZIPL).
AZIPL mobilizes people of faith in Arizona to “reduce the causes of global climate change through education, advocacy, action and prayer” and is part of the national IPL organization. IPL founder the Rev. Sally Bingham was on hand during the recent Tempe award and AZIPL anniversary ceremony.
Co-Chairwoman of the VUU Green Sanctuary Committee and congregation member Laurel Hardin accepted a Faith Community Award on behalf of the Green Sanctuary group and its members, who help create a sustainable lifestyle for members and the congregation by maintaining a community garden, performing highway cleanup and other “commitments to the earth.”
“The big take-away from this event was that we have a moral responsibility to clean the air for the coming generations,” Hardin explained. “All religions have as part of their scriptures a mandate to care for creation.”
About 55 attended, including leaders and members from a number of religious
institutions, environmental organizations, the ASU School of Sustainability, a member of the Tempe City Council and a pro-solar candidate for the SRP Board.
Led by Tempe Community Christian Church’s the Rev. Doug Bland, a leader of AZIPL, it opened with a “blessing of the four directions,” with ministers from the Lakota and Dineh (Navajo) traditions. Special music followed, provided by VUU’s the Rev. Kellie Walker and choir members from the VUU.
The SAGE awards were presented by Patrick Grady and Sally Rings of AZIPL who talked about the green activities that were being recognized: divesting, gardening, advocacy, organizing a rally and more.
A Faith Community award also went to the Franciscan Renewal Center, and Faith Leader Awards were also presented to Bingham and one to Gary Paul Nabham of the ASU food studies program.
In her keynote address, Bingham told of her path as the wife of a successful businessman when she was elected to
the board of the Environmental Defense Fund, with no college education. This inspired her to become an ordained minister with a special focus on and passion for environmental ministry, a lifechanging journey of more than 10 years. Because of her ministry, President Barack Obama invited her to the White House, to welcome the pope on his recent U.S. visit, and to attend the Paris Climate Talks, the success of which “brought me to tears.”
“I was heartened that that Secretary of State John Kerry spent the full two weeks at the Paris talks, supporting the Green Climate Fund, which will not go into effect until signed on April 24, Earth Day.”
A short film about AZIPL titled “The Weaver,” created by students of the Walter Cronkite School of Communications at ASU, was shown.
The event closed with a Native American blessing ceremony called “sage smudging” for award recipients.
For information, visit www.azipl.org and www.interfaithpowerandlight.org/.
The garden yielded four rows of large carrots. Photo courtesy Karen Stucke
Members of the VUU congregation toiled to grow a community garden. Photo courtesy Karen Stucke
VUU garden grows well
In 2015, VUU delivered more than 700 pounds of food to charities, including Tempe Community Action Agency’s food pantry, Paz de Cristo’s food pantry and iHelp at VUU.
But the donations didn’t come from canned food drives. Instead, fresh, locally raised vegetables came from the VUU garden, grown with love by many hands, under the auspices of the Green Sanctuary’s environmental justice goal.
The garden was built in the spring of 2012 as an Eagle Scout project by VUU member Brandon Beaudoin.
“It was a very challenging project because of the large scale —about 700 feet of planting rows, and a tree orchard—that had to be roto-tilled and amended,” recalls garden team leader Karen Stucke. “It has an extensive irrigation system that was installed by Brandon and his dad, Alan Beaudoin.”
Brandon’s Boy Scout troop and the congregation helped with the project, which was intended to raise healthy, local food for people in need in the community. In the fall of 2013, two small beds were set aside for a demonstration garden, an experimental and educational area of the garden from where volunteers can harvest.
During the winter, broccoli, carrots, onions, beets, kale, chard, cauliflower, cabbage and peas are grown. In spring, zucchini,
cucumbers, tomatoes and melons.
“The broccoli and carrots have been very stable winter crops, and the Armenian cucumbers have done very well in the spring season,” Stucke explained. “We tried to grow green beans last spring with no luck. And the first winter we were overwhelmed with too much lettuce. It was difficult to get it to the charity destination in good condition. So we are learning what works best.”
Dozens of volunteers from children to seniors have helped with all aspects of the garden, including preparing the soil, planting, harvesting and delivering.
Members of the congregation bring their kitchen scraps and lawn clippings every week that fill five compost barrels. Still others help with fundraising, education and support.
“Personally, my most rewarding experiences are seeing how excited the children are when they participate in planting or harvesting,” Stucke said.
Funding for the garden comes from donations, occasional sales of extra produce to the congregation, and fundraising by the Green Sanctuary committee.
“The garden is also an education resource for the congregation and community,” Stucke added. “It amazes many people to see what can be grown in a desert environment.”
The next monthly Green Sanctuary meeting, usually on the first Sunday of the month, will be at noon Sunday, May 1, in the VUU boardroom.
Volunteers may call (480) 899-4249 or email greensanctuary@vuu.org to be part of the garden team.
AZIPL member Sally Rings, VUU Green Sanctuary Committee Co-Chairwoman Laurel Hardin and Patrick Grady of AZIPL. Photo courtesy Mark Goldstein, International Research Center
Dozens of volunteers, including chldren, helped the garden thrive. Photo courtesy Karen Stucke
Karen Stucke, Laurel Hardin, Mark Stambaugh, Mark Mulligan, Pat Flahart and David Sheh. Photo courtesy Karen Stucke
Chabad invites public to ‘mystic meal’
Chabad of the East Valley will host Jewish residents of the East Valley area for the annual, mystics meal. (Seudas Moshiach) in true kabbilistic fashion.
The mystic meal (Seudas Moshiach) will be held at the Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life, located at 875 N. McClintock Dr., Chandler, on the final day of Passover April 30, at 6:30 p.m.
“Many American Jews have at best a neutral attitude toward the Passover experience,” explained Rabbi Mendy Deitsch. “Comes the final day of Passover, just before the conclusion before we say goodbye to this great holiday, we want to take something with us till next year. We have one last concluding meal and thus
end the holiday on a greater spiritual note”.
Deitsch, together with Yeshivah students from Chicago, will lead the evening with stories and songs of the great mystics of history and heritage,.
“Most Jews come away from the mystics meal (Seudas Moshiach) with a profound sense of history, of where they’re coming from, who they are. We want to make it more than just a token religious observance, and people really respond.”
Chabad of the East Valley welcomes anyone of the Jewish faith to attend. Reservations are required. Call (480) 855-4333 or email info@chabadcenter.com for more information.
Chabad
Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation announces Shabbat services
The Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation (SLJC) is an established reform congregation that meets at the Sun Lakes Chapel on the second Friday of the month. Services are great opportunities to meet people, connect with Judaism and learn. New attendees are invited to be introduced at the service and members of the congregation connect with these attendees.
Oneg Shabbats are held immediately after the services at Sun Lakes Country Club. Everyone is invited to attend. Upcoming Shabbat services are as follows:
• May 13: Service honoring the men’s club and the rabbi’s Bar Mitzvah year, 7:30 p.m.
• June 10: Annual healing service, 7:30 p.m.
• July 8: Twilight service, 5:30 p.m.
• Aug. 12: Twilight Service, 5:30 p.m. SLJC is also sponsoring a contemporary
Passover Seder on Saturday, April 23, the second night of the holiday. SLJC kicks off its adult education series at the chapel center. The classes, led by rabbi, are as follows. Participants can attend any or all of the sessions.
• 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 3: Grief and Loss: How to Deal with Disappointments and Tragedies For more information, visit www.SLJC.org.
of the East Valley to host community Passover Seder
Community members are invited to participate in Chabad of the East Valley’s community Seder to be held on the first Night of Passover at 7:15 p.m. Friday, April 22. The Seder will feature rich discussion about Passover, excellent food and joyous singing. Chabad Rabbi Mendy Deitsch, director of Chabad of the East Valley, will facilitate the intergenerational program.
The community Passover Seder will be held at the Pollack Chabad center for Jewish Life 875 N. McClintock Dr. in Chandler.
The advance RSVP price for the Seder is $45 adults and $25 per child. Family plans are available upon request. After April 15, the price increases to $55 for an adult and $40 for a child. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Sponsorships available.
The Seder allows local Jews of the opportunity of not just attending but also actively participating in a traditional, family-oriented Seder.
“I remember my grandmother telling me stories of her family’s Seder table back in Poland,” said Louis Finkelstein, a local lawyer who attended the Chabad Seder event last year.
“She would say, ‘They don’t make a Seder like they used to.’ Well, I think the Chabad Community Seder would make my grandmother feel right at home.” He continues: “It was the real thing—but it was far from a yawner. Rabbi Mendy Deitsch kept us involved from beginning to end.”
