Please join other Tucsonans to promote the prevention of gun violence! Friday, April 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Christina-Taylor Green Memorial River Park, 7649 N. Shannon Road. Special guests include survivors Pam Simon and Lisa Kiser, Gabe Zimmerman's mom Emily Nottingham, and others. This event is part of a continuing effort to pressure Congress to act to reduce gun violence by passing universal background checks. Sponsoring coalition includes Mayors against Illegal Guns, Moms Demand Action, Tucson Community Committee against Gun Violence and Arizonans for Gun Safety.

The Outreach Commission and Border and Immigration Ministries present "Practicing Civil Discourse in an Uncivil World," on Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. till noon in the East Gallery. Have you been tongue-tied in the face of hostile rhetoric? Have you struggled with how to begin a difficult conversation? If you answered "yes" to either of these questions then this workshop is for you! Catherine Tornbom of the Center for Community Dialogue will lead an exploration of tools and techniques to improve our ability to skillfully engage others. The workshop will be experiential in nature, so come prepared to participate - civil discourse is not a spectator sport! Catherine Tornbom is the manager of the Center for Community Dialogue, focused on helping Southern Arizonans have conversations on difficult topics in a respectful and skilled way. She has over 30 years' experience in organization development and alternative dispute resolution. St. Philippian Jane Prescott-Smith, of the National Institute for Civil Discourse, gives Ms. Tornbom high praise, "Catherine is a gifted trainer from whom I have learned a great deal. I am looking forward to the April 13 workshop with anticipation." There is no charge for the workshop but reservations are requested. Contact BorderImmigrationMin@stphilipstucson.org.

The Church School children invite you to experience a bustling market in Jesus' day. This popular interactive event will take place on Sunday, April 14, from 10:15 to about 11:15 a.m., in the plaza, as the children recreate a marketplace in ancient Bethlehem. Markets in ancient Bethlehem were exciting places filled with commotion. Merchants hawked everything from fresh produce to linen cloth to brass lamp stands. Exotic animals such as apes and peacocks were offered, along with sheep and goats for sacrifices. According to Middle Eastern custom, buyer and seller must haggle over the price of every item. Proverbs 20: 14 describes this type of exchange: "It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth." St. Philip's Bethlehem Marketplace will not include apes and peacocks, nor will sacrifices take place, but visitors may savor the aromas of the spice shop and fruit peddler, stop by the bakery for warm bread, taste olives and other fare. Watch the artisans demonstrating their crafts and perhaps participate yourself. Pause for a refreshing cup of water. Be sure to keep out of the way of the Roman Centurions as you linger! The sights, sounds, and smells of ancient Bethlehem will surround you as the colorfully costumed children of St. Philip's lead you back in time.

Our guest preacher at the 9 and 11:15 a.m. services on Sunday, April 14, will be the Rev. Poulson C. Reed, Rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Phoenix. He will also lead a forum on Anglican poetry at 10:15 a.m. in La Paz. Next Sunday, April 21, our Rector will be guest preacher at All Saints'. Poulson Reed was called as rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church and Day School in June of 2009 and began in August of that year. He has a passion for our rich Anglican tradition, deepening our relationship with Christ through the ancient practices of praying, learning, serving, and connecting. He especially loves liturgy for all ages, church music, teaching the faith, and pastoral care. Before coming to All Saints', Father Reed served at Saint John's Cathedral in Denver for more than seven years as a canon, and eventually as Sub-Dean. At Saint John's, he helped found an alternative, seeker-friendly Sunday evening Eucharistic community called "The Wilderness," and worked with the Sudanese community as they became a special congregation of the diocese and a Jubilee ministry. Father Reed graduated from an Episcopal school, St. Christopher's in Richmond, Virginia. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Virginia, and he attended seminary at Yale Divinity School. He is married to Megan Reed, a classically trained tuba player and teacher. They have two boys, David and Thomas.

Fuentes Rojas (Red Fountains) originated in Mexico City in 2011 to raise visibility for the victims of the US-Mexico  Drug War that has resulted in systemic violence in Mexico.  To make their voice public, the members of Fuentes Rojas formed Bordando por la Paz (Embroidering for Peace) to create a memorial for every victim of drug war violence. The memorials display information about the victims death in words hand-embroidered with red thread on a man's white handkerchief. The movement has spread around the world to Latin America, Europe, Asia and the US. How can YOU respond with compassion?  Join us for a "taller" (workshop) on Sunday, April 14, 1-3 p.m., at the Labyrinth Fountain. Together we'll each embroider, in red thread on a white handkerchief, known details of the victim's death based on police records. Instruction will be provided. We'll discuss plans for future public embroidery events and our participation in the local May Day parade.
You are invited into a movement of remembrance and solidarity with our neighbors who struggle each day to survive the US-Mexico Drug War in their communities. For more information and to receive a simple and inexpensive supply list, contact Suzanne at 325-4469 or  BorderImmigrationMin@stphilipstucson.org.

Calling All Shutterbugs! There is still time to enter the St. Philip's photo contest. Win, and your photo will be put on display on the St. Philip's campus. Here's how to enter: take a picture on the church campus, and enter it in the contest via the St. Philip's facebook page. The child (through grade 5), youth (grades 6 to 12) and adult's photos with the most votes will be put on display. Photo submissions are due by April 17. Also, don't forget to vote!

John