March Lenten Activities

Transcription

1 First Presbyterian Church of Sun City, Arizona Volume 50, March 2018 March Lenten Activities More Ministry, Mission, and Fellowship! Life of Jesus DVDs and Discussion 10:00 am every Wednesday in March Learn more about the historical aspects of Jesus life and teachings in this absorbing course led by Gene Klatte and David Glenn Walker. Lenten Tea and Reflections Noon on Thursdays, March 1-29, in Swain Hall A light lunch will be served at 12:00, followed by Pastor David s musings on conspiracy theories. Thank God It s Friday! Bible Study 8:30 am on Fridays in the Fireside Room This weekly discussion of the scriptures from the previous Sunday s service, led by our four resident pastors, continues all month, with coffee and goodies at 8:30 and the Bible discussion from 9:00-10:00. Bring your Bible and a friend! Brunch with Your Deacon 10:30 am on Friday, March 9, in Swain Hall Get to know your deacon and enjoy Irish food and entertainment! See page 5 for details. World Water Day, March 22 Help buy a well for those without access to clean water! See Minute for Mission on page 3. Palm Sunday Worship Service 9:00 am on Sunday, March 25, in the Sanctuary Celebrate the start of Holy Week 2018 with your church family! March Reflection Service 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 27, in the Chapel David Hodgson and Mary Lou Klatte summarize the month s worship themes with psongs and psalms on the last Tuesday of the month. Good Friday Fish Fry 3:30-4:45 pm on Friday, March 30, in Swain Hall See page 5 for all the information about our fourth annual Lenten Fish Fry, followed by Good Friday Worship Service 5:00 pm on Friday, March 30, in the Sanctuary Good Friday is the last somber occasion in Lent before the joyful celebration of the resurrection. Come and prepare for the Easter miracle. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A Message from Our Pastor... 2 Reports and Activities This Month s Calendar Celebrations and Updates Eternal God, rock and refuge... we wait for revival and release. Abide with us until we come alive in the sunrise of your glory. Amen. ~Unknown N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City, AZ Phone: Fax: Dial-A-Prayer: info@firstpressuncity.org Blog: firstpressuncity.blogspot.com YouTube: Website: firstpressuncity.org Facebook:

2 The SPIRE A Message from Our Pastor As The Time Draws Nigh As genuine excitement builds among the members of our pastoral search team, I have crafted a sentence that holds a timely truth both for you and for me: I am not your strength; and you are not my security. The Lord is our strength and our security! Strange as it seems to put those words together, I am convinced that we all need to remind ourselves of the truth they hold as we move together from the familiar experiences we have shared to the unfamiliar adventures that we face. It means recognizing that the same sacred purpose that brought us together is now preparing to lead us in different directions that the time to say goodbye is drawing near. I have days when I feel like Moses, standing on the threshold of the Promised Land, knowing that his people have been led into a future that does not include him, and that he is facing a transition in ministry that does not include them. I suspect that God puts such moments in the Bible because in this life we share with God we also have to face those moments, even though we'd rather not. While the exact time of such a parting is yet uncertain, I trust that we all know that it is inevitable; but I remain confident that in the time we have been together God has been preparing us all for the respective adventures that we face. The details of that preparation may not become evident until we look back upon the interim season from some point in the future; but it will have something to do with the way God has used our faith, our hope, and our love in creative and life-giving ways. While I have your attention, I want to thank you for taking in stride all of my ever-changing ways, for encouraging my unique methods of proclaiming Gospel gladness, for the spiritual maturity of your faith and the solidarity of your communal life. And I want to thank you for loving me, and for letting me love you. I believe that the Lord has used us well in the interim season that we have shared. With gratitude and praise always! ~David Is there a blank HIPAA form enclosed in your copy of The SPIRE? If YES, the form for you on file in the church office is dated 2015 or prior. The form is only good for three years. PLEASE complete the blank form. You may place the completed form in the collection plate or drop it off in the office. If NO, we have a 2016 or 2017 dated form on file for you, and you don t need to do anything at this time. THANK YOU! 2

3 Pastor Search Update Vol. 50, March 2018 We began our journey early this year with the receipt of over 30 resumes, an almost overwhelming task some from our Presbytery and a good number from national. I asked each member of our search team to review all of the resumes to select those individuals whom they independently judged to be the ideal candidate for our position. We then met and discussed our selections; from that meeting, we concluded that nine candidates warranted a telephone interview. With joint conference calls we have narrowed the search, at this point to two candidates. Additional calls to the remaining candidates are planned in the weeks ahead, with follow up calls to the top two. We will also continue to review any new resumes as they are forwarded to us! Our search committee is composed of Wanda Morrill, Bill Wentling, Diane Nestlebush, John Ohm, and myself as Chair. This challenge is a labor of love our team is committed to securing the right candidate for our church, and with God s help and your prayers we will succeed! ~Fred Stainbrook, Chair Minute For Mission The Season of Lent is One Great Hour of Sharing time. All the money goes to Presbytery and is divided into three parts: 1. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (remember the hurricanes and Puerto Rico?). 2. Presbyterian Hunger Program. This is used to address the systemic causes of hunger and poverty. 3. Self Development of People. This is used to provide resources to oppressed communities to overcome poverty and injustice through initiatives they own and benefit from. One Great Hour of Sharing is the largest way we can share God s love with our neighbors around the world. Please donate your change in the fish. Checks and bills are gratefully accepted too. WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS WE GIVE TO OTHERS. And can you imagine being without fresh water? March 22 is World Water Day. We would like to celebrate that day by asking every member to donate $5.00 and we will buy a well or a share in a well. In the Giving Catalogue from the Presbyterian church, a garden well costs $1, This helps whole communities where only one in five persons have access to clean water. Many women have to walk miles at great personal risk to get daily water. We may not be able to buy a whole well but we can buy shares. This is a special offering in addition to One Great Hour of Sharing. Let s see if we can build a well! ~Congregational Care Commission This month s requests from HART (Helping At Risk Teens) Pantry: tuna/cracker packs, canned pasta, toaster pastries, ramen noodles, fruit cups, and pudding cups. You can drop off your donations in the HART Pantry bin in Swain Hall! 3

4 The SPIRE Presbyterian Women Bible Study Circle: The book of Hebrews continues to be the focus as Rachel and Lydia Circles meet at 1:30 pm on the second Tuesday (March 13 th this month) in Annex 3. Lesson 6 is scheduled. Gatherings: There is no PW Gathering this month. However, next month, Wednesday, April 25 th, we ll have our Annual Salad Luncheon at 11:30 am. Plan to come, bringing your special recipe to share. Dessert will be provided. A special treat will be an entertaining/inspirational talk by Christian authoress Sue Faris Raatjes. She has published several books, and been a high school English teacher and leader of a Bible Study Sunday School class. Sue lives in Phoenix, and has four children and ten grandchildren. Presbytery PW leadership has planned a Spring Gathering to be held on April 28, 2018, at Orangewood Presbyterian Church in Phoenix. The featured keynote speaker will be Nancy Thomas from Albuquerque, a Global Exchange participant to Indonesia. Registration is $10.00 per person; deadline is April 6, Check-in is at 8:30 am. Diane Nestlebush will have registration forms available at the church. Those of you who drive, please consider carpooling! It s about an hour s drive from Sun City. Remember, all women of the church belong to Presbyterian Women. If you haven t already considered being a part of these activities, please join. You ll be glad you did! Blessings to all! ~Marge Hagerman Enjoy an uplifting evening of music and support our choir director, Bill Gleason, at the same time! The Arizona Masterworks Chorale, under Bill s direction, will present The Creation by Franz Joseph Hayden on Friday, March 9, at 7:00 pm at the American Lutheran Church in Sun City. Paul Lee will join the Chorale as guest organist and conductor. Tickets are $15 in advance (see Beth!) or $20 at the door. Easter Lilies The Sanctuary chancel will be decorated on Easter Sunday, April 1 st, with lilies in loving memory of family or friends. To participate, please complete this form and place it in the Sunday offering or bring it to the church office. The donation is $10.00 per lily. As a Deacons project, twelve lilies will be purchased for the Easter service. Funds collected in excess of the cost will be donated to a charity chosen by the Deacons. The deadline for these requests/donations: Monday, March 26. Donor(s): In Memory / Celebration of: 4

5 Deacon Brunch Vol. 50, March 2018 The Deacons will be hosting a brunch on Friday, March 9, at 10:30 am. This will be an opportunity to meet your deacon as some people have been reassigned or added to a Parish. Since it is near St. Patrick s Day we will have an Irish theme. The menu will feature Irish soda bread and two Irish breakfast casseroles, and the program will be a video, Visions of Ireland. So mark your calendar and plan to wear a little green (or orange) and join in the fellowship of First Presbyterian. There will be a signup sheet in Swain Hall, or you can call the office for a reservation. ~Martha Porter, Deacon Moderator Good Friday Fish Fry Friday, March 30, 3:30-4:45 pm Join us for our fourth annual Lenten Fish Fry in Swain Hall, any time between 3:30 and 4:45, and then for the Good Friday worship service in the Sanctuary at 5:00. This year we have experienced fish fryers, and will be thawing the fish even sooner, so the food will be ready on time, with plenty for seconds. Be sure to sign up in advance if you want to come and if you d like to help set up, cook, or clean up, which would be even better! Your freewill offering supports this and our other fellowship events. Wish List Spotlight For the last four years we have been making continual upgrades to the Memorial Garden, to make it a safer and more pleasant place to visit. The deteriorated, uneven pavers and splintery wood benches are gone; a lovely round fountain has been installed; flowering plants have been added in front of the Memorial Wall; and the orchid trees are within a few years of shading the entire center region. Now Tim and Pam Meidinger have stepped forward to spearhead the next big improvement. Tim and Pam have made a donation in memory of Betty Hanneld, Tim s mother, toward the construction of a pergola to provide shade over the concrete pad on the west (Swain Hall) side of the Memorial Garden. This pergola will create a protected area for visitors to the niches or those who just want to take a moment for contemplation next to the fountain. Comfortable seating will be added underneath the pergola when it is finished. If you would like to contribute to this project, please mark your check or envelope pergola. When you get to sit in its shade, you ll be glad you did! And a Wish List Update: Robert Felix has finished the filming for our church video and is starting to edit! If this video is successful, the Session would like to make a second video focused on our mission activities. 5

6 The SPIRE Session Recap Called Meeting of February 15, 2018 The Session meeting opened at 10:00 am with prayer given by Elder Bob Johnson. Pastor s Report: Pastor David thanked Beth and Norma for the luncheon provided for the officers on February 14, The message given by David to the officers focused on The Need to Look Forward; Things Cannot Be the Same. The Session Minutes of January 18, 2018, were accepted as distributed. The Congregational Meeting and Corporation minutes of February 11, 2018, were reviewed. The statistical report noted the transfer of Barbara Anderson to Second Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque, NM. Membership this date reflects Active 137, Associate 26, and Friends of the Church 7, for a total of 170. An application from O.A.C.C. at Presbytery for the annual Senior Service Award was read. A motion was made, seconded and approved for Tina Trowbridge-Porter to be honored. Administration Commission: Jerry Heuett, Chair After discussion, a motion was made, seconded, and approved for the Clerk of Session to write a formal request to the Foundation Committee for $12,000 to seal and re-stripe the parking lot. Bill Wentling will submit the quote to APS for $1690 for repairs to damages caused by them. Jerry questioned the status of the LED Sign; Beth will follow up. Congregational Care and Mission Commission: Carolyn Lopez, Chair Carolyn reported approximately twenty attended the Shrove Pancake event. The low attendance was due to Men s Valentine Breakfast held at 8:00 am same day. Carolyn stated the fish banks would be distributed February 18 for the One Great Hour Offering that will be collected on April 1, March 22, 2018, is World Water Day; the Mission Committee will have a Minute for Mission to explain. February 28, 2018 Presbyterian Women will have a speaker on Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. HART Pantry scheduled their open house for February 21, Worship / Christian Education Commission: No report for Worship. Gene Klatte stated the Wednesday morning tapes and discussion on Life of Jesus have been well received. It will continue for eight weeks total. Deacon Report: Mary Jo Conwell reported deacon Sherry Gearhart had resigned. The nominating committee has been notified. The Meet Your Deacon Brunch will be 10:30 am on March 9, (continued on next page) 6

7 Vol. 50, March 2018 Treasurer s Report: The Financial Report dated January 31, 2018 reflects income $26,269 with expenses $19,703. The Foundation BBVA Investment Solutions this date is $1,570, A motion was made, seconded and approved for an entry from pastor s salary and benefits to Search Expenses for $3800 per month. This is the difference between what is being paid to Pastor David and the budgeted amount for the designated pastor to be hired. There was no Old Business or New Business. Meeting closed with prayer given by Elder Gene Klatte. Deacons Minutes Meeting of February 6, 2018 The meeting was called to order by Martha Porter. Those present: Floyd Beyer, Mary Jo Conwell, Judy Goss, Rhea Nelson, Claribel Parker, and Martha Porter. Excused: Gitta Opatz. Devotion and prayer were given by Claribel Parker. The minutes of January 2, 2018, were accepted as printed. The treasurer s report, with a balance of $73.82, was accepted. The statistical report was read and discussed. Session Report: Judy Goss mentioned that a comprehensive report is in the current edition of The SPIRE. Committee Reports: Communion Martha Porter Communion was served to 110 on January 7 and to 108 on February 4. Receptions Martha Porter No receptions in January. Old Business: Brunch with your Deacon will be held Friday, March 9, at 10:30 am, in Swain Hall. There will be an Irish theme. Set up for the brunch will be Thursday morning, March 8. New Business: A motion was made to accept the resignation of Sherry Gearhart from the Board of Deacons. Motion was seconded and carried with an expression of gratitude to Sherry for her time of service. The Deacon representative to the Church Nominating Committee will be Mary Jo Conwell. The combined Elder and Deacon luncheon meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, at noon in the Fireside Room. Meeting was closed with the Deacon Prayer. Next meeting will be March 6, 2018, at 2:00 pm in Annex 2 with opening devotion and prayer by Billie Lewis. Next Session meeting will be February 15, 2018, at 10:00 am in the Office Conference Room with Mary Jo Conwell as the Deacon Representative. Respectfully submitted, ~Mary Jo Conwell, Secretary 7

8 The SPIRE Financial Update January 31, 2018 GENERAL FUND Contributions to date: $ 23, Pledge budget to date: $ 22, Other Income: 2, Other Income budget: 3, Total: $ 26, $ 25, Expenses to date: $ 19, Budget to date: $ 24, FOUNDATION FUNDS Income: Disbursements: None Dividends $ Income from Annuities 3, BBVA Investment Solutions: $1,570, Unrealized Gain 69, Interest Income 1.32 $ 72, Peace and Justice Update: March 8 is International Women s Day. As we celebrate the gifts of women, let us remember that women s rights are important for everyone and that there is still much room for progress to assure a better future for our children. ~Peace and Justice Network, Presbytery of the Grand Canyon Who to Call New year, new Session these are the committee chairs to contact if you have suggestions or concerns about items that fall under their responsibilities: Administrative Commission Finance Committee, Chair, Jerry Heuett (includes the Wish List) Personnel Committee, Chair, Wanda Morrill Buildings and Grounds Committee, Chair, Bill Wentling Worship/Education Commission Worship Committee, Chair, Mary McMartin Christian Education Committee, Chair, Gene Klatte Procedures/Training Committee, Chair, John White Congregational Care/Mission Commission Congregational Care Committee, Chair, Carolyn Lopez Mission Committee, Chair, Bob Johnson Membership/Publicity Committee, Chair, Stewart Porter 8

9 Helping Hands Vol. 50, March 2018 Sun City Resource Network Expo Monday, March 12, the Sun City Community Fund and Sun City Homeowners Association are sponsoring a Neighbor Helping Neighbor Expo at Palmbrook Country Club, 9350 W. Greenway Rd in Sun City. Community organizations and business partners will be attending as exhibitors to provide local resource information. Refreshments and networking begin at 10:00 am, with a panel discussion about community resources at 10:30. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by March 5 to , or by at marketing@suncityhoa.org. Residential Smoke Detector Program If you live within the Sun City Fire District and don t have a working smoke detector, the Sun City Fire and Medical Department will install one for you free of charge. Call them at , or them at smokedetector@suncityfire.com. Fire Department Lock Box Program Full time Sun City residents who meet the financial qualifications below can have a Fire Department lock box installed at their residence for free; otherwise, the charge is $65. The lock box will hold a spare key that the Fire Department (and only the Fire Department) can access in case of a fire at your home. Call to schedule your installation. To qualify for a free installation: Your monthly income must not exceed $2010 for a single person or $2707 for two people. Your savings, investments and IRAs are less than $13,300. Medication Recycling Expired and unneeded medications (pills and capsules only) can be deposited for safe disposal in the designated receptacle in the lobby of the Surprise police headquarters, W. Statler Blvd, #103. No liquids, inhalers, or syringes, please. Surprise Food Express Suffering from the flu, or just not feeling up to cooking? Surprise Food Express delivers food from local restaurants to the residents of Surprise, Sun City, Sun City West, El Mirage, Youngtown, and Waddell. You can pay by cash or card. To learn more, including which restaurants participate, call , or go to Medicare ABCs Friday, March 9, 10:00-11:30 am, at the Sun City Branch Library in the Bell Rec Center. This program includes information for both those just reaching age 65 and those already on Medicare. Topics to be covered include the choices and options available, how to compare Medicare plans, and how to choose the best plan for you. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required; call Jennie O Leary at to save your spot. World Day of Prayer, which promotes justice and equality for women through prayer, partnerships, service and celebration, is March 3. For more information, go to 9

10 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 4 8:30am Communion rehearsal OC 9:00am Worship SY 10:00am Fellowship, Valley View Food Drive SH 11 9:00am Worship SY 10:00am Fellowship & birthdays SH 18 9:00am Worship SY 10:00am Fellowship SH 25 Palm Sunday 9:00am Worship SY 10:00am Fellowship SH 5 9:30am Prayer Shawls A3 5:00pm TOPS A3 12 1:30pm WVGS SH 5:00pm TOPS A3 19 SPIRE deadline 9:30am Prayer Shawls A3 5:00pm TOPS A3 26 Easter lily donation deadline 5:00pm TOPS A3 6 8:00am Men s Breakfast Fellowship SH 9:00am Prayer Partners CH 10:00am Staff PO 2:00pm Deacons A2 13 8:00am Men s Breakfast Fellowship SH 9:00am Prayer Partners CH 10:00am Staff PO 1:00pm Hearing Loss A2 1:30pm Rachel Circle A3 20 8:00am Men s Breakfast Fellowship SH 9:00am Prayer Partners CH 10:00am Staff PO 10:00 Stephen Min A3 27 8:00am Men s Breakfast Fellowship SH 9:00am Prayer Partners CH 10:00am Staff PO 5:00pm Worship CH 7 10:00am Life of Jesus SH Noon Library open 6:00pm Choir WR 14 10:00am Life of Jesus SH 6:00pm Choir WR 21 10:00am Life of Jesus SH Noon Library open 6:00pm Choir WR 28 8:30am Mail SPIRE OC 10:00am Life of Jesus SH 6:00pm Choir WR March 2018 A = Annex; CH = Chapel; FR = Fireside Room; OC = Office Conference Room; PO = Pastor s office; SH = Swain Hall; SY = Sanctuary; WR = Westminster (Choir) Room 1 Noon Lenten tea & worship SH 2:00pm Handbells SY 8 9:00am Admin OC 11:00am Cong Care OC Noon Lenten tea & worship SH 2:00pm Handbells SY 15 10:00am Session OC Noon Lenten tea & worship SH 2:00pm Handbells SY 22 Noon Lenten tea & worship SH 2:00pm Handbells SY 29 Maundy Thursday Noon Lenten tea & worship SH 2:00pm Handbells SY 2 World Day of Prayer Church office closed 9 Church office closed 8:30am TGIF Bible Study FR 10:30am brunch w/ Deacons SH 16 Church office closed 8:30am TGIF Bible Study FR 23 Church office closed 8:30am TGIF Bible Study FR 30 Good Friday Church office closed 8:30am TGIF Bible Study FR 3:30pm Fish Fry SH 5:00pm Worship SY The SPIRE 10

11 Celebrations and Updates CHANGES FOR YOUR CHURCH DIRECTORY Telephone Changes: Eileen Clarke 2 nd phone should be Gerald and Joyce Heuett Delete Change: Vol. 50, March 2018 Nita Cinquina galcanada1@gmail.com Parish Changes: Address Change: Transfer of Membership: Jane Kimpel 07 Kay McDermott 09 Walt & Mary McMartin 08 Wayne & Claribel Parker 02 Sun View Health & Rehab N. 113th Ave. Youngtown, AZ Elder Barbara Anderson Second Presbyterian Church Albuquerque, NM THIS MONTH S BIRTHDAYS 2 Glenn Moen 12 Phyllis Russell 6 Marilyn Larges 14 Hazel Bacon 7 Norma Clark 19 Gene Klatte 8 Pam Meidinger 24 Tina Trowbridge We are celebrating you! Please join the Birthday Celebration on Sunday, March 11, in Swain Hall following the worship service. OUR STAFF Interim Pastor The Rev. Dr. David Hodgson davidh@firstpressuncity.org Associate for Congregational Life Beth Mabee bethm@firstpressuncity.org Admin. Assistant, Treasurer Norma Mack norma934@cox.net Choir Director Dr. William Gleason billg@firstpressuncity.org Handbell Choir Director Mary Lou Klatte fancypancy@cox.net Pianist/Organist Kelsey McKee Custodian Lyle Tollefson The SPIRE is published monthly by First Presbyterian Church of Sun City, AZ. Please call the church office at to be added to our mailing list, or see our website at to access current and back issues in PDF format. Items to be included in the next edition of The SPIRE should be sent to Beth Mabee at the church office or by at bethm@firstpressuncity.org by Monday, March 19. Know of a room for rent? Please call Don Meek at and let him know. 11

12 The SPIRE First Presbyterian Church N 103rd Ave Sun City AZ Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Youngtown AZ Permit No. 55 OR CURRENT RESIDENT Worship Services This Month, the Rev. Dr. David Hodgson preaching: Thursdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 (Maundy Thursday) Lenten Tea and Reflections Noon Refreshments in Swain Hall, followed by a brief Worship Service (also in Swain Hall) Sundays, March 4, 11, 18, and 25 (Palm Sunday) 9:00 am Worship Services in the Sanctuary 10:00 am Coffee and Fellowship in Swain Hall Tuesday, March 27 March Service of Reflection 5:00 pm in the Chapel, followed by dinner in Swain Hall Friday, March 30 Good Friday 3:30-4:45 pm Good Friday Fish Fry in Swain Hall 5:00 pm Worship Service in the Sanctuary March Office Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 8:00 am-4:00 pm Thursday: 8:00 am-noon Friday: Closed