Open and Affirming Statement
The National Setting of the United Church of Christ declared itself Open and Affirming in 1985. The Church of the Painted Hills congregation realized the importance of participating and adopted a statement in 1996. We have learned more about ourselves and others and continue to grow in love and acceptance of all persons.
We invite and welcome into our community persons of any gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ability, age, race, nationality, economic and social status, faith background, theological viewpoint, marital standing, and family structure.
People are encouraged to participate and share their talents, time and energy in the full faith and fellowship of our church.
We are called to love one another.
John 15:12
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
We invite and welcome into our community persons of any gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ability, age, race, nationality, economic and social status, faith background, theological viewpoint, marital standing, and family structure.
People are encouraged to participate and share their talents, time and energy in the full faith and fellowship of our church.
We are called to love one another.
John 15:12
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Who We Are
The United Church of Christ acknowledges as its sole head, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior. It acknowledges as kindred in Christ all who share in this confession. It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world. It claims as its own the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers. It affirms the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. In accordance with the teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, it recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.
-From the Preamble to the Constitution of the United Church of Christ
Origins
The United Church of Christ came into being in 1957 with the union of two Protestant denominations: the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches. Each of these was, in turn, the result of a union of two earlier denominations.
The Congregational Churches were organized when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation (1620) and the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629) acknowledged their essential unity in the Cambridge Platform of 1648. The Reformed Church in the United States traced its beginnings to congregations of German settlers in Pennsylvania founded from 1725 on. Later, its ranks were swelled by Reformed folk from Switzerland and other countries.
The Christian Churches sprang up in the late 1700s and early 1800s in reaction to the theological and organizational rigidity of the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches of the time.
The Evangelical Synod of North America traced its beginning to an association of German Evangelical pastors in Missouri. This association, founded in 1840, reflected the 1817 union of Lutheran and Reformed churches in Germany.
Through the years, members of other groups such as Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Volga Germans, Armenians, Hungarians, and Hispanic Americans have joined with the four earlier groups. Thus the United Church of Christ celebrates and continues a wide variety of traditions in its common life.
Characteristics
The characteristics of the United Church of Christ can be summarized in part by the key words in the names of the four denominations that formed our union: Christian, Reformed, Congregational, Evangelical.
• Christian. By our very name, the United Church of Christ, we declare ourselves to be a part of the body of Christ - the Christian church. We continue the witness of the early disciples to the reality and power of the crucified and risen Christ, Jesus of Nazareth.
• Reformed. All four denominations arose from the tradition of the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformers: We confess the authority of one God. We affirm the primacy of the Scriptures, the doctrine of justification by faith, the priesthood of all believers, and the principle of Christian freedom. We celebrate two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.
• Congregational. The basic unit of the United Church of Christ is the congregation. Members of each congregation covenant with one another and with God as revealed in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. These congregations, in turn, exist in covenantal relationships with one another to form larger structures for more effective work. Our covenanting emphasizes trustful relationships rather than legal agreements.
• Evangelical. The primary task of the church is the proclamation of the gospel, or evangel-the good news of God's love revealed with power in Jesus Christ. We proclaim this gospel by word and deed to individual persons and to society. This proclamation is the heart of the liturgia - the work of the people. We gather each Sunday for the worship of God, and through each week, we engage in the service of humankind.
-From the Preamble to the Constitution of the United Church of Christ
Origins
The United Church of Christ came into being in 1957 with the union of two Protestant denominations: the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches. Each of these was, in turn, the result of a union of two earlier denominations.
The Congregational Churches were organized when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation (1620) and the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629) acknowledged their essential unity in the Cambridge Platform of 1648. The Reformed Church in the United States traced its beginnings to congregations of German settlers in Pennsylvania founded from 1725 on. Later, its ranks were swelled by Reformed folk from Switzerland and other countries.
The Christian Churches sprang up in the late 1700s and early 1800s in reaction to the theological and organizational rigidity of the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches of the time.
The Evangelical Synod of North America traced its beginning to an association of German Evangelical pastors in Missouri. This association, founded in 1840, reflected the 1817 union of Lutheran and Reformed churches in Germany.
Through the years, members of other groups such as Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Volga Germans, Armenians, Hungarians, and Hispanic Americans have joined with the four earlier groups. Thus the United Church of Christ celebrates and continues a wide variety of traditions in its common life.
Characteristics
The characteristics of the United Church of Christ can be summarized in part by the key words in the names of the four denominations that formed our union: Christian, Reformed, Congregational, Evangelical.
• Christian. By our very name, the United Church of Christ, we declare ourselves to be a part of the body of Christ - the Christian church. We continue the witness of the early disciples to the reality and power of the crucified and risen Christ, Jesus of Nazareth.
• Reformed. All four denominations arose from the tradition of the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformers: We confess the authority of one God. We affirm the primacy of the Scriptures, the doctrine of justification by faith, the priesthood of all believers, and the principle of Christian freedom. We celebrate two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.
• Congregational. The basic unit of the United Church of Christ is the congregation. Members of each congregation covenant with one another and with God as revealed in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. These congregations, in turn, exist in covenantal relationships with one another to form larger structures for more effective work. Our covenanting emphasizes trustful relationships rather than legal agreements.
• Evangelical. The primary task of the church is the proclamation of the gospel, or evangel-the good news of God's love revealed with power in Jesus Christ. We proclaim this gospel by word and deed to individual persons and to society. This proclamation is the heart of the liturgia - the work of the people. We gather each Sunday for the worship of God, and through each week, we engage in the service of humankind.
What We Believe
What We Believe
Our beliefs may be summarized by significant phrases commonly used by Christians, which express the commitments of the United Church of Christ.
• That they may all be one (John 17:21). This motto of the United Church of Christ reflects the spirit of unity on which the church is based and points toward future efforts to heal the divisions in the body of Christ. We are a uniting church as well as a united church.
• In essentials unity, in nonessentials diversity, in all things charity. The unity that we seek requires neither an uncritical acceptance of any point of view nor a rigid formulation of doctrine. It does require mutual understanding and agreement as to which aspects of the Christian faith and life are essential.
The unity of the church is not of its own making. It is a gift of God. But expressions of that unity are as diverse as there are individuals. The common thread that runs through all is love.
• Testimonies of faith rather than tests of faith. Because faith can be expressed in many different ways, the United Church of Christ has no formula that is a test of faith. Down through the centuries, however, Christians have shared their faith with one another through creeds, confessions, catechisms, and other statements of faith. Historic statements such as the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Evangelical Catechism, the Augsburg Confession, the Cambridge Platform, and the Kansas City Statement of Faith are valued as authentic testimonies of faith.
In 1959, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ adopted a statement of faith prepared especially for the United Church. Since that time a revision was made by Robert V. Moss, president of the United Church of Christ, 1969-76, and recommended for use by the Eleventh General Synod, 1977. Another revision, in the form of a Doxology, was affirmed by the Fourteenth General Synod (1981). Both revisions use inclusive language. "The Revision of 1981: A Doxology" is the version printed in this brochure. The statement is widely used as a common affirmation of faith in worship and as a basis for study.
• There is yet more light and truth to break forth from God's Holy Word. This classic statement assumes the primacy of the Bible as a source for understanding the good news and as a foundation for all statements of faith. It recognizes that the Bible, though written in specific historical times and places, still speaks to us in our present condition. It declares that the study of the Scriptures is not limited by past interpretations but is to be pursued with expectancy for new insights and help for living today.
• The priesthood of all believers. All members of the United Church of Christ are called to minister to others and to participate as equals in the common worship of God, each with direct access to the mercies of God through personal prayer and devotion.
Recognition is given to those among us who have received special training in pastoral, priestly, educational, and administrative functions, but these persons are regarded as ministers-servants rather than as persons in authority. Their task is to guide, to instruct, and to enable all Christians to do the work of ministry rather than to do the work of ministry for us.
• Responsible freedom. As individual members, we are free to believe and act in accordance with our perception of God's will for our lives. But we are called to live in a loving, covenantal relationship with one another - gathering in communities of faith, congregations of believers, and local churches.
Each congregation or local church is free to act in accordance with the collective decisions of its members, guided by the working of the Spirit in the light of the Scriptures. But it is also called to live in a covenantal relationship with other congregations for the sharing of insights and for cooperative action.
Likewise, associations of churches, conferences, the General Synod, and national boards and agencies of the United Church of Christ are free to act in their particular spheres of responsibility. Yet all are constrained by love to live in a covenantal relationship with one another and with the local churches in order to make manifest the unity of the body of Christ and thus to carry out God's mission in the world more effectively.
The members, congregations, associations, conferences, General Synod, and national instrumentalities are free in relation to the world. We affirm that the authority of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, and interpreted with the aid of the Holy Spirit, stands above and judges all human culture, institutions, and laws. But we recognize our calling both as individuals and as the church to live in the world:
· ministering to its needs
· contributing to the welfare of all
· being enriched by those aspects of culture that help to make human life more human
· working through institutions and supporting laws that reflect God's just and loving purposes for the world
· seeking justice and liberation for all
Statement of Faith
The Revision of 1981: A Doxology*
We believe in you, 0 God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:
You call the worlds into being,
create persons in your own image,
and set before each one the ways of life and death.
You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
You judge people and nations by your righteous
will declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified
and risen Savior, you have come to us
and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death
and reconciling the world to yourself.
You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit,
creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.
You call us into your church
to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world
and resist the powers of evil,
to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.
You promise to all who trust you
forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing,
and eternal life in your realm which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.
Amen.
*Statement of Faith, Revised 1981 (in the form of a Doxology), affirmed by the Fourteenth General Synod of the United Church of Christ.
Our beliefs may be summarized by significant phrases commonly used by Christians, which express the commitments of the United Church of Christ.
• That they may all be one (John 17:21). This motto of the United Church of Christ reflects the spirit of unity on which the church is based and points toward future efforts to heal the divisions in the body of Christ. We are a uniting church as well as a united church.
• In essentials unity, in nonessentials diversity, in all things charity. The unity that we seek requires neither an uncritical acceptance of any point of view nor a rigid formulation of doctrine. It does require mutual understanding and agreement as to which aspects of the Christian faith and life are essential.
The unity of the church is not of its own making. It is a gift of God. But expressions of that unity are as diverse as there are individuals. The common thread that runs through all is love.
• Testimonies of faith rather than tests of faith. Because faith can be expressed in many different ways, the United Church of Christ has no formula that is a test of faith. Down through the centuries, however, Christians have shared their faith with one another through creeds, confessions, catechisms, and other statements of faith. Historic statements such as the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Evangelical Catechism, the Augsburg Confession, the Cambridge Platform, and the Kansas City Statement of Faith are valued as authentic testimonies of faith.
In 1959, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ adopted a statement of faith prepared especially for the United Church. Since that time a revision was made by Robert V. Moss, president of the United Church of Christ, 1969-76, and recommended for use by the Eleventh General Synod, 1977. Another revision, in the form of a Doxology, was affirmed by the Fourteenth General Synod (1981). Both revisions use inclusive language. "The Revision of 1981: A Doxology" is the version printed in this brochure. The statement is widely used as a common affirmation of faith in worship and as a basis for study.
• There is yet more light and truth to break forth from God's Holy Word. This classic statement assumes the primacy of the Bible as a source for understanding the good news and as a foundation for all statements of faith. It recognizes that the Bible, though written in specific historical times and places, still speaks to us in our present condition. It declares that the study of the Scriptures is not limited by past interpretations but is to be pursued with expectancy for new insights and help for living today.
• The priesthood of all believers. All members of the United Church of Christ are called to minister to others and to participate as equals in the common worship of God, each with direct access to the mercies of God through personal prayer and devotion.
Recognition is given to those among us who have received special training in pastoral, priestly, educational, and administrative functions, but these persons are regarded as ministers-servants rather than as persons in authority. Their task is to guide, to instruct, and to enable all Christians to do the work of ministry rather than to do the work of ministry for us.
• Responsible freedom. As individual members, we are free to believe and act in accordance with our perception of God's will for our lives. But we are called to live in a loving, covenantal relationship with one another - gathering in communities of faith, congregations of believers, and local churches.
Each congregation or local church is free to act in accordance with the collective decisions of its members, guided by the working of the Spirit in the light of the Scriptures. But it is also called to live in a covenantal relationship with other congregations for the sharing of insights and for cooperative action.
Likewise, associations of churches, conferences, the General Synod, and national boards and agencies of the United Church of Christ are free to act in their particular spheres of responsibility. Yet all are constrained by love to live in a covenantal relationship with one another and with the local churches in order to make manifest the unity of the body of Christ and thus to carry out God's mission in the world more effectively.
The members, congregations, associations, conferences, General Synod, and national instrumentalities are free in relation to the world. We affirm that the authority of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, and interpreted with the aid of the Holy Spirit, stands above and judges all human culture, institutions, and laws. But we recognize our calling both as individuals and as the church to live in the world:
· ministering to its needs
· contributing to the welfare of all
· being enriched by those aspects of culture that help to make human life more human
· working through institutions and supporting laws that reflect God's just and loving purposes for the world
· seeking justice and liberation for all
Statement of Faith
The Revision of 1981: A Doxology*
We believe in you, 0 God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:
You call the worlds into being,
create persons in your own image,
and set before each one the ways of life and death.
You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
You judge people and nations by your righteous
will declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified
and risen Savior, you have come to us
and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death
and reconciling the world to yourself.
You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit,
creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.
You call us into your church
to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world
and resist the powers of evil,
to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.
You promise to all who trust you
forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing,
and eternal life in your realm which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.
Amen.
*Statement of Faith, Revised 1981 (in the form of a Doxology), affirmed by the Fourteenth General Synod of the United Church of Christ.
A Short History of The Church of the Painted Hills
A Cooperative Beginning
The Church of the Painted Hills was founded in the spring of 1974, conducting it’s initial services and programs at the Brichta Elementary School on the west side of Tucson. The founding Pastor was the Reverend Dr. DeWitt J. Brady, who was called by the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC) in the fall of 1973 to start a new church on the west side of Tucson. This area, in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains, was believed to have great potential for future growth . At that time three denominations, the UCC, the Disciples of Christ, and the United Presbyterian Church, had agreed to cooperate in the forming of new churches in the Southwestern region of the United States. For this purpose, they had formed a working group known as the Interfaith Coalition on Mission Strategy (ICOMS). The ICOMS group worked to identify areas of the Southwestern U.S. with the potential to support new church startups. Each new church started by this group received the assistance of all three denominations and each, in turn, would affiliate with one of the three denominations. The Church of the Painted Hills was designated to be a UCC Church and was to be located on land donated by Douglas and Alice Holsclaw, near the intersection of West Speedway Boulevard and Painted Hills Road. The Holsclaws, members of First Congregational Church-Tucson, had invested in land in the Tucson Mountains area many years prior to the founding of this Church. They were great supporters of the University of Arizona, and of their own church, First Congregational Church of Tucson.
In 1973, Dr. Brady received the call from Conference Minister Rev. Henry Culbertson of the Southwest Conference of the UCC, asking him to be the organizing and founding Pastor of a new church in Tucson, Arizona, which later became known as The Church of the Painted Hills, United Church of Christ (CPH). Dr. Brady arrived in Tucson in the Fall of 1973 and immediately began work to organize the new church and to interview potential new members in the Tucson Mountains area. A survey was conducted on the west side of Tucson in January of 1974, led by Dr. Brady and assisted by many of the clergy and members of the supporting congregations. During this time, Dr. Brady interviewed many of those who came to be the founding members of the new church, which was initially referred to as The United Protestant Church of West Tucson.
Many of the local churches provided assistance to CPH during it’s startup phase, providing help in canvassing neighborhoods, organizing the initial worship services, supplying soloists, ushers, hymnals, altar supplies, and also commissioning some of their own members as Charter Members of the new church. Particularly helpful were the First Christian, Broadway Christian, First Congregational, Casas Adobes Congregational and Rincon Congregational churches.
The Early Days
Initially, worship services of the new Church were held at Brichta School, the first such service being held on the first Sunday of Lent - March 3, 1974 at 10:00am. There were 35 attendees at this first service, including guests. By Pentecost Sunday, fifty days after Easter, the new church had fifty members. The first congregational meeting was held on March 31, 1974. One of the items of business at this meeting was to vote on the permanent name for the new Church. The name “The Church of the Painted Hills, United Church of Christ” was adopted by the congregation.
On April 8, 1974, a committee was formed to consider a constitution for the Church. On June 23, 1974, the congregation approved and adopted the proposed constitution. The congregation also approved a proposed 1974 budget, as prepared by the Southwest Conference of the UCC. At this same meeting, the Rev. Dr. DeWitt J. Brady accepted the call of The Church of the Painted Hills to become its first permanent Pastor.
Another very important event in this first year of CPH was the marriage of Dr. Brady to Ms. Jean Houston of Toronto, which generated considerable excitement among the new congregation! Together, Joe and Jean Brady served our Church loyally and extremely well over a period of many years.
While meeting as a church at Brichta School during this first year, the new congregation began to consider the needs for a permanent facility for the Church. On June 26, 1974, a meeting was held to consider a concept that had been developed jointly between Rev. Henry Culbertson of the Southwest Conference and Robert Hirschberger of the Architecture Department of Arizona State University. This proposed first building was an unusual concept….a relocatable church facility! The concept encompassed a modular building which would be constructed in sections at a manufacturing location and then assembled on the premises of the new church, serving as a multipurpose building, sanctuary-fellowship hall-education facility, for a limited period of time. Once the new church had developed sufficient resources to build a “permanent” structure, the relocatable building would be moved to the site of yet another new church in the region.
Although the relocatable aspect of this modular building proved to be unfeasible from an economic standpoint, the structure itself has proven to be very durable and serviceable. In 1982, an adjacent Education Building was completed. At that time, a kitchen was added to the original multipurpose building and the outside of that building was stuccoed to protect against the elements. In that same year, additional land was added to the church property, again the gift of the Holsclaws. This made possible the addition of a much larger parking area on the east side of the Church. In 1998, the original multipurpose building was extensively renovated and expanded with an enlarged sanctuary, a new narthex, and much enlarged office space. This original building, as modified, continues to serve as the Sanctuary and administrative center of the church.
Our Musical Heritage
The first pianist for the new church was Marylyn Tobey. The first organist was Mary Saler, a graduate of Westminster Choir School in Princeton, NJ. The first choir director was Mona Toombs, a member of Southside Presbyterian Church, who donated her services to CPH for a number of years. Next to serve, in the dual roles of organist and choir director, was Elizabeth Morath, a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, OH. Upon the retirement of Mrs. Morath, a search committee was appointed by Dr. Brady to find her replacement or replacements. A posting of these two positions at the University of Arizona School of Music led to the discovery of Shirley and Jim O‘Brien, both members of the teaching staff of the U of A. Shirley, a Professor of Home Economics, and Jim, a Professor of Music, served CPH for a remarkable 17 years as organist and choir director, respectively. Following their eventual retirement from these positions, Don East, a member of Broadway Christian Church at the time, stepped into the gap and did an excellent job of leading the music program. He also lent his considerable expertise to the improvement of the sound systems of the Church during this time. The next permanent Choir Director was Kimberley van Weelden, a candidate for the Doctorate in Music at the U of A. Kimberley served CPH very competently until her graduation, at which time she accepted a position at Florida State University. Again, Don East stepped into the gap and did an outstanding job. During the tenures of Don East and Kimberley van Weelden, Doris Seames, a member of CPH, contributed much time, and her outstanding talents, as organist/pianist. Jane Smith, a Ph.D. candidate in Music from the U of A, joined CPH as organist in 1999 and continued to serve in this position until June of 2004, always doing a wonderful job. At the close of her tenure, Dr. Brian Ebie, of the University of Arizona Music Department, joined us as Organist. Brian took a leave of absence and has since relocated to Ohio where, among other pursuits, he renovates and repairs pipe organs. Michael Wilson then served ably as our Pianist for a time. Following that, David Craig became our full time Pianist and also added the role of Bell Choir Director to his responsibilities. Our creative and energetic Choir Director, Linus Lerner, who is a post-doctoral student in Music at the U of A, joined the CPH staff in 2002. Both Linus and David continue to raise the high standard of excellence in music at CPH.
Our Pastoral Leadership: A Short History
Following a most successful tenure of 13+ years at CPH, Dr. Brady elected to retire from his position at CPH, completing his pastorate here on May 15, 1987. Upon Dr. Brady’s retirement, the Church was on a sound footing with strong lay leadership and a solid financial situation. He was the Pastor Emeritus of The Church of the Painted Hills until his death in 2007.
Following the retirement of Dr. Brady in 1987, CPH called Rev. Lester Smith as Interim Pastor. Rev. Smith, and his wife Ellie, served diligently and well at CPH until the arrival of the second permanent Pastor, Rev. David W. Cutting. Rev. Cutting came to CPH from the Brentwood Congregational Church (UCC) in the St. Louis area, assuming his duties on March 15, 1988 with the clear objective of establishing a pre-school in the education facilities at CPH, which had been constructed to meet the requirements of this usage. The Painted Hills Pre-School was in fact established, largely as a result of the untiring efforts of Mary Ann Wahrer, with the support of many members and friends of CPH. The Painted Hills Pre-School functioned effectively for several years, providing a useful service to the community. It was unfortunately necessary to terminate the operation of this preschool in 1999 for financial reasons. Another initiative during Rev. Cutting’s tenure was the offering of our facilities to shelter the homeless, with our members providing food and companionship to those less fortunate than us. Also during the tenure of Rev. Cutting, CPH funded and sponsored it’s first Habitat for Humanity home. Many of the congregation of CPH were involved in this project, assisting with the construction of this and other Habitat homes and providing support to the family receiving the home. On March 10, 1996, Rev. Cutting accepted the call of a church near Houston, TX.
His replacement, Interim Pastor David Trask of Phoenix, maintained CPH as a strong force in the community during his tenure, serving from March 11, 1996 until November 30, 1997. The first Habitat for Humanity home funded and sponsored by CPH was dedicated in the Fall of 1996. Dr. Trask led our successful efforts to become an Open and Affirming Congregation, welcoming all who seek to be Christians. Also during this time, a plan was developed for the extensive refurbishing of the CPH sanctuary, and the renovation work was begun. During this renovation, CPH held combined services with First Congregational Church in their excellent facilities at University and 2nd Avenue. This was another example of the wonderful support that CPH has received from other churches in the Tucson area.
On November 30, 1997, Rev. Lee J. Milligan accepted the call of CPH, becoming the third permanent Pastor of the Church. Rev. Milligan, known affectionately as Pastor Lee, came to CPH from Arlington Community Church, United Church of Christ, in Arlington, NE. Following his arrival at CPH, the congregation continued to worship jointly with the First Congregational Church, until the dedication of the newly renovated CPH sanctuary on February 22, 1998. Pastor Lee brought a distinctly new style to worship services of the CPH congregation. This has included greater use of drama, including a dramatic style of presenting the Holy Scriptures (from memory), which has received a very enthusiastic response from both the congregation and numerous visitors. Pastor Lee has also taken the lead in initiating the use of more contemporary music in worship, including a special contemporary worship service and the Team Worship musical group, which specializes in upbeat contemporary worship music. The overall music program at CPH continues to be strong and of very high quality. Since Pastor Lee’s arrival, CPH has been even more actively involved in the Habitat for Humanity program, funding and provided workers for a second Habitat home and participating with other religious bodies in funding and building two additional homes. Pastor Lee served for two years as Coordinator of the Habitat Interfaith initiatives, resulting in two homes being funded and built by the cooperating faith groups. The Church also strongly supports the Community Food Bank and numerous other charitable causes aimed at improving the quality of life for all disadvantaged people in our community and around the world. Pastor Lee continues to work for stronger involvement with college-age young people at Pima College and the University of Arizona. He and a group of UCC pastors from southern Arizona communities have formed the musical group “The Picking Pastors”, each pastor playing a stringed instrument and singing a variety of folk songs and other musical numbers with the group. Their efforts have been directed toward fund-raising, including especially the support of Campus Christian activities.
The Church of the Painted Hills is currently studying how it can position itself to serve others even more effectively, striving to turn itself “Inside Out“ and become, proactively, a “Church For Others“.
The Church of the Painted Hills was founded in the spring of 1974, conducting it’s initial services and programs at the Brichta Elementary School on the west side of Tucson. The founding Pastor was the Reverend Dr. DeWitt J. Brady, who was called by the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC) in the fall of 1973 to start a new church on the west side of Tucson. This area, in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains, was believed to have great potential for future growth . At that time three denominations, the UCC, the Disciples of Christ, and the United Presbyterian Church, had agreed to cooperate in the forming of new churches in the Southwestern region of the United States. For this purpose, they had formed a working group known as the Interfaith Coalition on Mission Strategy (ICOMS). The ICOMS group worked to identify areas of the Southwestern U.S. with the potential to support new church startups. Each new church started by this group received the assistance of all three denominations and each, in turn, would affiliate with one of the three denominations. The Church of the Painted Hills was designated to be a UCC Church and was to be located on land donated by Douglas and Alice Holsclaw, near the intersection of West Speedway Boulevard and Painted Hills Road. The Holsclaws, members of First Congregational Church-Tucson, had invested in land in the Tucson Mountains area many years prior to the founding of this Church. They were great supporters of the University of Arizona, and of their own church, First Congregational Church of Tucson.
In 1973, Dr. Brady received the call from Conference Minister Rev. Henry Culbertson of the Southwest Conference of the UCC, asking him to be the organizing and founding Pastor of a new church in Tucson, Arizona, which later became known as The Church of the Painted Hills, United Church of Christ (CPH). Dr. Brady arrived in Tucson in the Fall of 1973 and immediately began work to organize the new church and to interview potential new members in the Tucson Mountains area. A survey was conducted on the west side of Tucson in January of 1974, led by Dr. Brady and assisted by many of the clergy and members of the supporting congregations. During this time, Dr. Brady interviewed many of those who came to be the founding members of the new church, which was initially referred to as The United Protestant Church of West Tucson.
Many of the local churches provided assistance to CPH during it’s startup phase, providing help in canvassing neighborhoods, organizing the initial worship services, supplying soloists, ushers, hymnals, altar supplies, and also commissioning some of their own members as Charter Members of the new church. Particularly helpful were the First Christian, Broadway Christian, First Congregational, Casas Adobes Congregational and Rincon Congregational churches.
The Early Days
Initially, worship services of the new Church were held at Brichta School, the first such service being held on the first Sunday of Lent - March 3, 1974 at 10:00am. There were 35 attendees at this first service, including guests. By Pentecost Sunday, fifty days after Easter, the new church had fifty members. The first congregational meeting was held on March 31, 1974. One of the items of business at this meeting was to vote on the permanent name for the new Church. The name “The Church of the Painted Hills, United Church of Christ” was adopted by the congregation.
On April 8, 1974, a committee was formed to consider a constitution for the Church. On June 23, 1974, the congregation approved and adopted the proposed constitution. The congregation also approved a proposed 1974 budget, as prepared by the Southwest Conference of the UCC. At this same meeting, the Rev. Dr. DeWitt J. Brady accepted the call of The Church of the Painted Hills to become its first permanent Pastor.
Another very important event in this first year of CPH was the marriage of Dr. Brady to Ms. Jean Houston of Toronto, which generated considerable excitement among the new congregation! Together, Joe and Jean Brady served our Church loyally and extremely well over a period of many years.
While meeting as a church at Brichta School during this first year, the new congregation began to consider the needs for a permanent facility for the Church. On June 26, 1974, a meeting was held to consider a concept that had been developed jointly between Rev. Henry Culbertson of the Southwest Conference and Robert Hirschberger of the Architecture Department of Arizona State University. This proposed first building was an unusual concept….a relocatable church facility! The concept encompassed a modular building which would be constructed in sections at a manufacturing location and then assembled on the premises of the new church, serving as a multipurpose building, sanctuary-fellowship hall-education facility, for a limited period of time. Once the new church had developed sufficient resources to build a “permanent” structure, the relocatable building would be moved to the site of yet another new church in the region.
Although the relocatable aspect of this modular building proved to be unfeasible from an economic standpoint, the structure itself has proven to be very durable and serviceable. In 1982, an adjacent Education Building was completed. At that time, a kitchen was added to the original multipurpose building and the outside of that building was stuccoed to protect against the elements. In that same year, additional land was added to the church property, again the gift of the Holsclaws. This made possible the addition of a much larger parking area on the east side of the Church. In 1998, the original multipurpose building was extensively renovated and expanded with an enlarged sanctuary, a new narthex, and much enlarged office space. This original building, as modified, continues to serve as the Sanctuary and administrative center of the church.
Our Musical Heritage
The first pianist for the new church was Marylyn Tobey. The first organist was Mary Saler, a graduate of Westminster Choir School in Princeton, NJ. The first choir director was Mona Toombs, a member of Southside Presbyterian Church, who donated her services to CPH for a number of years. Next to serve, in the dual roles of organist and choir director, was Elizabeth Morath, a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, OH. Upon the retirement of Mrs. Morath, a search committee was appointed by Dr. Brady to find her replacement or replacements. A posting of these two positions at the University of Arizona School of Music led to the discovery of Shirley and Jim O‘Brien, both members of the teaching staff of the U of A. Shirley, a Professor of Home Economics, and Jim, a Professor of Music, served CPH for a remarkable 17 years as organist and choir director, respectively. Following their eventual retirement from these positions, Don East, a member of Broadway Christian Church at the time, stepped into the gap and did an excellent job of leading the music program. He also lent his considerable expertise to the improvement of the sound systems of the Church during this time. The next permanent Choir Director was Kimberley van Weelden, a candidate for the Doctorate in Music at the U of A. Kimberley served CPH very competently until her graduation, at which time she accepted a position at Florida State University. Again, Don East stepped into the gap and did an outstanding job. During the tenures of Don East and Kimberley van Weelden, Doris Seames, a member of CPH, contributed much time, and her outstanding talents, as organist/pianist. Jane Smith, a Ph.D. candidate in Music from the U of A, joined CPH as organist in 1999 and continued to serve in this position until June of 2004, always doing a wonderful job. At the close of her tenure, Dr. Brian Ebie, of the University of Arizona Music Department, joined us as Organist. Brian took a leave of absence and has since relocated to Ohio where, among other pursuits, he renovates and repairs pipe organs. Michael Wilson then served ably as our Pianist for a time. Following that, David Craig became our full time Pianist and also added the role of Bell Choir Director to his responsibilities. Our creative and energetic Choir Director, Linus Lerner, who is a post-doctoral student in Music at the U of A, joined the CPH staff in 2002. Both Linus and David continue to raise the high standard of excellence in music at CPH.
Our Pastoral Leadership: A Short History
Following a most successful tenure of 13+ years at CPH, Dr. Brady elected to retire from his position at CPH, completing his pastorate here on May 15, 1987. Upon Dr. Brady’s retirement, the Church was on a sound footing with strong lay leadership and a solid financial situation. He was the Pastor Emeritus of The Church of the Painted Hills until his death in 2007.
Following the retirement of Dr. Brady in 1987, CPH called Rev. Lester Smith as Interim Pastor. Rev. Smith, and his wife Ellie, served diligently and well at CPH until the arrival of the second permanent Pastor, Rev. David W. Cutting. Rev. Cutting came to CPH from the Brentwood Congregational Church (UCC) in the St. Louis area, assuming his duties on March 15, 1988 with the clear objective of establishing a pre-school in the education facilities at CPH, which had been constructed to meet the requirements of this usage. The Painted Hills Pre-School was in fact established, largely as a result of the untiring efforts of Mary Ann Wahrer, with the support of many members and friends of CPH. The Painted Hills Pre-School functioned effectively for several years, providing a useful service to the community. It was unfortunately necessary to terminate the operation of this preschool in 1999 for financial reasons. Another initiative during Rev. Cutting’s tenure was the offering of our facilities to shelter the homeless, with our members providing food and companionship to those less fortunate than us. Also during the tenure of Rev. Cutting, CPH funded and sponsored it’s first Habitat for Humanity home. Many of the congregation of CPH were involved in this project, assisting with the construction of this and other Habitat homes and providing support to the family receiving the home. On March 10, 1996, Rev. Cutting accepted the call of a church near Houston, TX.
His replacement, Interim Pastor David Trask of Phoenix, maintained CPH as a strong force in the community during his tenure, serving from March 11, 1996 until November 30, 1997. The first Habitat for Humanity home funded and sponsored by CPH was dedicated in the Fall of 1996. Dr. Trask led our successful efforts to become an Open and Affirming Congregation, welcoming all who seek to be Christians. Also during this time, a plan was developed for the extensive refurbishing of the CPH sanctuary, and the renovation work was begun. During this renovation, CPH held combined services with First Congregational Church in their excellent facilities at University and 2nd Avenue. This was another example of the wonderful support that CPH has received from other churches in the Tucson area.
On November 30, 1997, Rev. Lee J. Milligan accepted the call of CPH, becoming the third permanent Pastor of the Church. Rev. Milligan, known affectionately as Pastor Lee, came to CPH from Arlington Community Church, United Church of Christ, in Arlington, NE. Following his arrival at CPH, the congregation continued to worship jointly with the First Congregational Church, until the dedication of the newly renovated CPH sanctuary on February 22, 1998. Pastor Lee brought a distinctly new style to worship services of the CPH congregation. This has included greater use of drama, including a dramatic style of presenting the Holy Scriptures (from memory), which has received a very enthusiastic response from both the congregation and numerous visitors. Pastor Lee has also taken the lead in initiating the use of more contemporary music in worship, including a special contemporary worship service and the Team Worship musical group, which specializes in upbeat contemporary worship music. The overall music program at CPH continues to be strong and of very high quality. Since Pastor Lee’s arrival, CPH has been even more actively involved in the Habitat for Humanity program, funding and provided workers for a second Habitat home and participating with other religious bodies in funding and building two additional homes. Pastor Lee served for two years as Coordinator of the Habitat Interfaith initiatives, resulting in two homes being funded and built by the cooperating faith groups. The Church also strongly supports the Community Food Bank and numerous other charitable causes aimed at improving the quality of life for all disadvantaged people in our community and around the world. Pastor Lee continues to work for stronger involvement with college-age young people at Pima College and the University of Arizona. He and a group of UCC pastors from southern Arizona communities have formed the musical group “The Picking Pastors”, each pastor playing a stringed instrument and singing a variety of folk songs and other musical numbers with the group. Their efforts have been directed toward fund-raising, including especially the support of Campus Christian activities.
The Church of the Painted Hills is currently studying how it can position itself to serve others even more effectively, striving to turn itself “Inside Out“ and become, proactively, a “Church For Others“.
About The UCC
We are eager to share with you the broad and diverse story of the United Church of Christ. With all Christians, we rest in God’s amazing grace and hear God’s voice in the words of Scripture. Yet, we do not require uniformity of belief. We are a church of open ideas, extravagant welcome and evangelical courage. Our passion for democracy extends to both government and church, where decision-making rests within each congregation. We support liberty in our pulpits, just as we affirm the individual conscience of our 1.2-million members to agree, disagree and wrestle with life’s biggest questions in a spirit of love. Our story is this nation’s story. We are the people of the Mayflower. More than 600 of our 5,700 congregations were formed before 1776. Eleven signers of the Declaration of Independence were members of UCC predecessor bodies. As early abolitionists, we came to the aid of the Amistad captives and founded hundreds of schools across the South after the Civil War. We were the first mainline church to ordain an African-American (1785), a woman (1853) and an openly gay pastor (1972). We were also the first to form a foreign mission society (1810). Our multi-ethnic membership includes persons from every immigrant group, as well as native peoples and descendants of freed slaves. Our unity is not dependent upon uniform agreement, but in our shared allegiance to Jesus Christ.
· We were the first denomination to accept women in colleges and to ordain women to the ministry.
· The creators of the Boston Tea Party met and organized in the basement of one of our Boston churches.
· The Liberty Bell was stolen and hidden to save it from the British by members of one of our Philadelphia churches.
· The US Constitution is largely based on the Constitution of Connecticut, which was taken primarily from a sermon series by Thomas Hooker, one of our ministers in Hartford, on "The Liberties of Men".
· We were first to insist on free education for all children. And in the early days of settlement in the East, people were given free land on which to build a new community provided they would in five years have a permanent pastor and provide for free education for all their children.
· Believing that good Christians should be educated Christians, we founded Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, Oberlin, Heidelberg, Elmhurst, Ripon, Carleton, Grinnel, Vanderbilt, Fisk, Pacific School, Prescott, and more than forty other colleges and seminaries.
· The very first missionaries sent from the US to serve in the world came from one of our UCC seminaries in the famous "Haystack Meeting".
· The great movie about the slave ship Amistad is totally entwined with our denomination's heritage.
· UCC hospitals, children's homes, nursing and retirement facilities, disability facilities, adoption programs, and multiple charitable programs expend over $2.7 billion a year to care for and minister to more than a million people.
· We were the first denomination to accept women in colleges and to ordain women to the ministry.
· The creators of the Boston Tea Party met and organized in the basement of one of our Boston churches.
· The Liberty Bell was stolen and hidden to save it from the British by members of one of our Philadelphia churches.
· The US Constitution is largely based on the Constitution of Connecticut, which was taken primarily from a sermon series by Thomas Hooker, one of our ministers in Hartford, on "The Liberties of Men".
· We were first to insist on free education for all children. And in the early days of settlement in the East, people were given free land on which to build a new community provided they would in five years have a permanent pastor and provide for free education for all their children.
· Believing that good Christians should be educated Christians, we founded Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, Oberlin, Heidelberg, Elmhurst, Ripon, Carleton, Grinnel, Vanderbilt, Fisk, Pacific School, Prescott, and more than forty other colleges and seminaries.
· The very first missionaries sent from the US to serve in the world came from one of our UCC seminaries in the famous "Haystack Meeting".
· The great movie about the slave ship Amistad is totally entwined with our denomination's heritage.
· UCC hospitals, children's homes, nursing and retirement facilities, disability facilities, adoption programs, and multiple charitable programs expend over $2.7 billion a year to care for and minister to more than a million people.