2022 Spring Up for Bloom

HELD OVER UNTIL MONDAY!  SO YOU STILL TIME TO VIEW AND DONATE

Welcome to “SPRING UP FOR BLOOM!”: an online, on-demand, day of giving experience to support the presence and work in our valley and online of Bloom in the Desert Ministries, United Church of Christ.

Today only we are providing special content on this webpage, as we celebrate and showcase the recipients of Bloom’s Community Justice and Compassion Appreciation awards.

For the past 12 years, Bloom has celebrated this season with a “Spring Fling Cabaret and Silent Auction” (Fling). Covid conditions have us pivoting (God willing for the last time) and instead having a day of giving called “Spring Up for Bloom.” This is our way to still honor and share with you some amazing people and the work they do, often unrecognized, to make the world a more gentle and just place for all.

Traditionally Fling is the largest single fundraiser to allow our church to perform the miracle of turning money into mission. Although we could not hold the in-person event this year, the need for funding still exists. Therefore, we humbly ask you to consider joining with others on this day of giving in making a financial donation.

So enjoy our content. Click on the videos. Browse the website, if you wish to learn more about Bloom. And before you go, click on one of the donate buttons.

Welcome!

Paula Durrant

Bloom 8th Community Justice Award Rev. Paula Procter Durrant “Do justly, love kindly and walk humbly” [Micah 6] Love God & Neighbor Matthew

The 2022 Bloom in the Desert Ministry Community Justice Award is being presented to Rev. Paula Procter Durrant. Paula. a lifelong UCC member, has for over 60 years engaged in social justice movements wherever she found herself living. In the early days of Bloom she helped us create our organizational documents. Today she advocates and agitates for peace and justice locally and around the world. It is in her DNA to speak out, act out and get to work when injustice, inhumanity or suffering arise. “Making good trouble” has been a lifelong activity.

From her early years she questioned life, “why and how humans exist, what is it all about, how are we called to live” in this broken world. This questioning began in her confirmation experience - which focused on “right thinking” as a matter of importance. While she could not articulate her discomfort at that time she now knows that learning to be a Christian focused on “orthopraxis”, right action, more than “orthodoxy”, right thinking. Loving God & neighbor, walking justly, loving kindly and humbly were not ideas they were actions and ways of being in the world. Loving neighbors did not mean controlling their thinking, it meant touching and changing their lives, moving them toward healing and wholeness.

Today we are suggesting a donation equivalent to what would have been the cost of the in-person Fling: $80. A special opportunity also exists for you today. Thanks to the generosity of 3 Bloom contributors, the first 15 people who slightly up their donations to $100 will be matched! How wonderful to know your $100 becomes $200 of support for Bloom. We want to be clear that we at Bloom value all donations: there are options using the donation button for financial gifts of any and all amounts.

For those blessed with the means, larger donation opportunities still exist. Before today, 27 individuals and couples have donated amounts of $500 to $2,500 to become ‘Producers”, for a total to date of over $18,000. Bloom’s goal for these levels of giving is $23,000; we are so close. Thoughtfully, prayerfully consider making a donation and join these amazing folks who recognized being blessed with the ability to support Bloom. The following options are available: Executive Producer $5000, Associate Producer #2 of 2 $2,500, Justice Advocate $1000, Compassion Advocate $500. To make donations at any of the Producer levels, click the donate button, then scroll to the Spring Up Producer line. Add your amount and description (optional). We are blessed for you even considering this option today.