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As we enter this season of gratitude, we want to pause and say: we are grateful for you. Your presence, your partnership, and your commitment to our shared work strengthen the Arizona Faith Network community in countless ways. Thank you for helping build
a more connected, compassionate, and resilient Arizona.
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2025 AFN ANNUAL GATHERING
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Last Chance to Register — AFN Annual Gathering Is NEXT Week!
The countdown is on! We’re just days away from the 2025 AFN Annual Gathering —
United We Rise, and this is your final chance to save your seat.
Registration closes this Saturday, November 29, 2025.
Join faith leaders, community partners, and neighbors from across Arizona as we celebrate unity, honor extraordinary leaders, and reflect on the work that’s shaping a more resilient, just, and connected Arizona.
This Gathering is a powerful reminder that we rise stronger when we rise together—and we hope you’ll be there with us.
👉 Register by Saturday: www.arizonafaithnetwork.org/annualgathering
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AFN Monday Meditation
Mondays at noon MST via Zoom
Start your week with meditation led by Vasu Bandhu, AFN's Interfaith Manager, and guests.
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The Power of Hello: Situational Awareness Training for Community Gatherings
Thursday, December 4, 12:00 - 1:00 pm MST via Zoom
Join the Safe Communities Coalition for a skill building workshop led by Secure Community Network’s Regional Director, David Humble. This workshop will help community and faith leaders recognize, assess, and respond to potential security concerns while maintaining
a welcoming environment. Learn how simple awareness and intentional engagement can enhance safety and connection at community gatherings. Together, let’s create welcoming spaces that are both safe and connected. (Note: this event was rescheduled from Nov.
17)
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Prayer Walk on the Arizona Trail
Saturday, December 8, 10:00 am
Picketpost Trailhead, Superior AZ
Join the Arizona Faith Network, Arizona Trail Association, and Arizona Interfaith Power & Light for a reflective morning of movement, prayer, and community in the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Together, we’ll walk the Picketpost Loop Trail—a scenic route around
the base of Picketpost Mountain—offering space for gratitude, reflection, and connection across faith traditions.
We’ll begin with an interfaith prayer circle at 10:00 AM, followed by a guided walk at 10:30 AM, with pauses along the trail for moments of prayer, meditation, and conversation about our shared commitment to creation care and spiritual renewal. There will be
accessibility options, from a short walk on flat terrain up to the full 8.6 mile loop trail (see registration form for details).
This prayer walk is open to all faiths, traditions, and backgrounds. Whether you come seeking silence, companionship, or inspiration, you’re welcome to walk with us as we honor our sacred connection to the Earth and to one another.
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Reconciliation Ecology Fall 2025 Workshop Series
Trees – Saturday, December 13, 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Meet at Santa Cruz River Heritage Project
1580 S Santa Cruz Ln, Tucson AZ 85713
This series allows for skill development while we perform land stewardship and explore the ideas of restoration ecology. Reconciliation ecology focuses on listening to the land and native plants and providing them with support to do what they do best (see last
post for more details). We will be learning about restoration terminology and concepts as well as actually removing some non-native species. Please bring water, a hat, and closed toed shoes. See you in the river!
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Southern Arizona Interfaith Social and Clergy Care Gathering
Wednesday, December 17, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
(Tucson location sent upon RSVP)
Join the Arizona Faith Network for an evening of movie watching, hanging by the fire pit, eating & drinking, prayer, and community in the beauty of a West Tucson outdoor event space. Together, we’ll gather to view a holiday movie together and of course have
some munchies and beverages (bring your own drink and something for the group to munch on). We’re hoping that this is a space for rest and gratitude, along with some reflection and connection across faith traditions.
We’ll begin at 6:15pm - please bring a chair (or something to sit on), something to stay warm like a blanket, something you like to drink, and some snacky foods to share. We’ll provide the film, hot chocolate, camp fires and s’mores.
This event is open to all faiths, traditions, and backgrounds. Whether you come seeking silence, companionship, or just a break, you’re welcome to join us as we convene so that we can all just take a break and be in company with one another.
RSVP to Rev. ellie hutchison at ellie.hutchison@azfaithnetwork.org for the event location
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Through a unique vending machine, you can support these local and global charities:
Desert
Ridge Marketplace – December 10 – 31:
Angels on Patrol, Hope Women’s Center, Friends of Foster Children, Dysart Community Center, House of Refuge (Sunnyslope), Mentors International, and Days for Girls
Gilbert
Water Tower Plaza – now until December 31:
Paz de Cristo, One Small Step, Days for Girls, Lutheran Social Services, Positive Paths, Lauren’s Institute for Education, and Mentors International
There are also machines in Gila Valley, Prescott, Queen Creek, Show Low, Silver Creek, and Tucson.
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Sound Bath Meditation with Marcia
Friday, November 28, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery
Scholastica House Healing Center
8501 W Pinchot Ave, Phoenix AZ 85037
Step into the warmth of relaxation and allow sacred sound to guide you back to balance. Through a blend of crystal bowls, chimes, drums, and other sound healing instruments, this gentle practice invites deep peace, renewal, and realignment. Mats are provided,
but you are encouraged to bring a blanket, pillow, or eye cover to enrich your Sound Bath Meditation experience. Questions? Contact olgmscholastica@gmail.com.
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December Faith Forum: Celebrating Advent
Tuesday, December 2, 6:00 - 8:00 pm MST on Zoom and in person
Sanctuary of First Church UCC Phoenix
1407 N 2nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Advent is a time of anticipation and reflection, marking the days leading up to Christmas. It is a time of waiting and expectant spiritual renewal to prepare our hearts to embrace hope and look forward to a time of celebration. RSVP for Zoom details.
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Sacred Land Writing Workshop
Wednesdays, December 3 & 10, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Downtown Library Community Room
300 W Aspen Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Join us for two consecutive sessions of a decolonial writing workshop. We will write silently together, share in small groups with guided compassionate feedback, and reflect together on the process of engaging with the living world through writing. Our workshop
will include time for meditation, quiet time writing together in response to offered prompts, and sharing in small groups what we've written with guided compassionate feedback. We will then spend a week between the two sessions journaling based on our observations
and interactions with the more-than-human world and come together again for sharing and a discussion of our personal and spiritual insights that arise through the writing/journaling process.
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The Sharing Experience 40-Hour Core Advocacy Training (Virtual)
December 8-12, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm MST
This is a virtual 5-day, 40-hour, interactive introductory domestic violence training course. It will include topics such as safety planning, legal issues, dynamics of power, advocacy, empowerment, core advocacy skills, and self-care. Note that this training
is being facilitated virtually and requires attendees to use a desktop or laptop. Cell phones and other smart devices are insufficient for activities and breakout sessions. Additionally, we ask that staff members from the same agency each use their own device
rather than sharing a single device.
This training is designed for professionals working with people and communities impacted by domestic violence, including staff and advocates of domestic violence shelters, social workers, health care providers, faith-based leaders, sexual assault nurse examiners,
child welfare providers, law enforcement, attorneys, officers of the court, offender treatment providers, and others who interact with people exposed to domestic violence.
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The coming week (today through next Tuesday) brings the following observances:
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Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Baháʼí) - 11/26-27
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Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to AFN today! Your partnership makes our Arizona community thrive.
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