REUNION ULTREYA AND HARVEST. Sunday, December 8, 4:00 PM. Mount Zion Lutheran Church W. Ajo Way

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1 REUNION ULTREYA AND HARVEST Sunday, December 8, 4:00 PM Mount Zion Lutheran Church 4520 W. Ajo Way Potluck: Holy Spirit (bring what the Holy Spirit moves you to bring) We are asking all that are able to help us to GO GREEN (B.Y.O plates, utensils, cups, etc. we will have some if you forget) Service Project: Jean s Pantry - bring non-perishable food items Witness Talks! Music! (musicians welcome) Message/Communion Silent Auction: Have a craft? Provide a service? Bring items to donate and be auctioned off! (See page 6 for more info) 100% of the proceeds from the Silent Auction go toward putting on future VDC and Tirosh weekends!!! VdC store items will be available for purchase. (See page 6 for more info) Child Care will be provided if needed. 1

2 Weekend Highlights from the Via de Cristo Secretariat What a glorious weekend the community of Southern Arizona Lutheran Via de Cristo just celebrated as the Coed #33 weekend took place. The Clausura celebration was even more emotional and full of the Holy Spirit than I have ever seen on a weekend. God was definitely working strongly in the Pilgrims this year and blessing them with an overwhelming abundance of love through the Team. Though this Coed weekend #33 was full of many highs and continual blessings, I have to say that it was disappointing to see so few of the community show up for the Buenas Noches service Saturday night and the Clausura service Sunday afternoon. The outpouring of love from the Team is quite a blessing to the Pilgrims, and an outpouring of love from the community would add so much to that. I hope that if you were not able to attend the services for the weekend this year that you will be able to make it a point to attend next year. Your love and support can make a huge difference for these Pilgrims. Next year the Secretariat will be planning two weekends, one for the women and one for the men, as we have in the past. We eagerly look forward to beginning the process of selecting a Rector and Rectora who will answer God s call to begin planning another tremendous outpouring of love for people in need. We pray for God s blessings in these plans and for your support of these efforts. The Secretariat welcomes anyone who would like to attend a meeting or any input you may have for the good of the Via de Cristo movement. For either of these please feel free to contact me at candmstein@comcast.net. Secretariat meets the Second Monday night of each month at 6:30pm at Our Saviours Lutheran Church. Cindy Stein, Lay Director VDC Secretariat 2

3 A Message from Mike Stein, Rector, VDC CoEd Weekend # 33 VDC Coed Weekend # 33 is now complete. Thank God to all who said yes to serving on Team, on Community, and as Prayer Warriors. Seeds have been planted and watered in the 19 Pilgrims who answered to call to attend. From what we heard at Clausura their lives have been touched and transformed. If you were to look at the weekend from a numbers perspective we had four rookie Rollistas, seven rookie Cooks, one rookie Spiritual Director, eleven Prayer Warriors, three services in the Outdoor Sanctuary, and one Baptism. But the most important number and best way to summarize the weekend is this: God 19, Satan 0 Jesus Wins! In Christ, Mike Stein Servant School Are you planning on sponsoring a pilgrim or being available to serve on team? Gain a fuller understanding of the Via de Cristo movement, what it means to live your 4th day, sponsoring a pilgrim, serving on team and other servant opportunities. The next opportunity to attend Servant School will be prior to the December 8th Ultreya at 2pm. If you plan on attending, please RSVP to Laura or lleskridge@hotmail.com. REMEMBER: This training is required PRIOR to serving on team or sponsoring. 3

4 SOUTHERN ARIZONA VIA De CRISTO CO-ED WEEKEND #33 Let us thank God for his priceless gift 2 Corinthians 9:15 CONGRATULATIONS NEW PILGRIMS!!!! Men Church Women Church Lindsay Bailey Mt. Zion Anna Bailey Mt. Zion Dan Boutin Abounding Grace Rosemarie Briggs-Malesic Abounding Grace Marv Curtis Streams in the Desert Margie Cook Abounding Grace Joseph Eno Mt. Zion Ruth Curtis Streams in the Desert Robert Freeman Abounding Grace Christina Evans Streams in the Desert Ross Gleaton Mt. Zion Carole Hancock Mt. Zion Bob Hancock Mt. Zion Sandra McBride Streams in the Desert Ricky Robnett Abounding Grace Crystal Montenegro Mt. Zion Kristi Robnett Lori Sandberg Jill Sines Alissa Smith Joanne Weir Abounding Grace Mt. Zion Lord of Grace Vineyard Christian Streams in the Desert 4

5 Mike Stein Suzie Strussenberg Via de Cristo Coed weekend #33 TEAM Rectora Head Cook Spiritual Directors Tom Dunham - Head Spiritual Director Mark Perry - Spiritual Director David Hook - Spiritual Director Bob Kridler Barb McNaughton Paul Cassity Toni Joyce Len Mowinski Co-Rectors Co-Cooks Music Leaders Lisa Byl Jim Kress Nancy McQuillen Louis Liss Ray Gage Laurie Altamirano Tim Murphy Cindy Harris Dave Grieser Saundra Gibbons Doug Holm Cathy Denault Patricia Johnson Kevin Brown John and Lynda Reeves Rollistas Emcees Bridget McMurtrey Marty Joyce Mary Stephenson Beth Wallace Barry Noyce Sandy Holm Tim Shute Cindy Stein Rose Motzko Scott Malcomson Jon Erwin Jennifer Noyce Emmet Sweat Larry Paxton Dave and Judy Strong Cooks Community Leaders 5

6 VdC STORE Available!! The Via de Cristo store will be selling items at the December Reunion Ultreya at Mt. Zion Church. There will be great deals on in stock t-shirts and denim shirts. We will, also, be offering gently used Christian books and CDs for a donation to your VdC organization. The store has been managed by me, Lynda, from and then again from 2010 until the present. It is time for a fresh vision of what the store sells to raise additional monies for the purpose of funding Via de Cristo and Tirosh retreat weekends in Tucson. If you have a talent for merchandising, love shopping for unique Christian products and are interested in re-energizing the VdC store, please call Lynda Reeves at to discuss a time to assume to full fun of management of the store. SILENT AUCTION FUN!!! ALL PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO VdC!! There will be a Silent Auction at the Reunion Ultreya on December 8. Mark your calendars and begin looking for the perfect item to include in the auction. Items should be new or GENTLY used (in good condition); something that you know someone else would be thrilled to purchase! Hand crafted items are some of the best donations and will make beautiful presents for someone on your Christmas list if you are lucky and persistent enough to make the highest bid during the Ultreya. The process is simple. When you arrive at Mt. Zion on Dec. 8, bring your item(s) to the Auction Table. Have a starting price in mind before you arrive. Fill out the bidding sheet with item name, starting price and donor name. Then bid on the wonderful items that others have donated. This is a fun way to shop for presents for that person who has everything or for that White Elephant gift exchange you are going to in December. Enjoy shopping while being generous in your giving to the success of future VdC weekend retreats. See you at the Auction! 6

7 TESTIMONY FROM ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBER OF TUCSON S VDC COMMUNITY!! Bobby soxers serving the meal, an evening walk reviewing the stations of the Cross, rubber bunnies being flung through the air, countless posters being created, Lutherans walking the plank, an intimate prayer service, a grown man portraying Captain Stubing from the Love Boat, heartfelt testimonials, a song about chickens, an inspirational Last Supper experience, an Elvis Jesus what in the world could this be?!! Well those who've been through it would know immediately. Via de Christo, of course! Via de Christo October 2013 at Tanque Verde Lutheran Church, what an experience! I came to the event on Thursday night not knowing what to expect. I believed that it would be worthwhile but was apprehensive that it may also be about as exciting as watching paint dry. I didn't really think of Lutherans as being a crazy inspirational group, but let me tell you, it was wonderful! Between Thursday night and Sunday afternoon, I feel as though my Christian spirit was mended, washed and fluffed. I was reminded over and over that God's love is not distant but surrounds me, guides me, supports me, inspires me and never leaves me. I realized that I have been guilty of taking this beautiful relationship for granted and in working to know Him more and sharing God's message I am setting my spirit free to praise Him. The food for the weekend was great and plentiful! The entertainment was terrific! Our speakers each provided a profound message that was truly a spiritual gift! The pastors were wise, compassionate and WOW could they sing! The music team was all around gifted! But what really left an impression was the joyous, caring and supportive nature of everyone who was there. It exemplified the reality that in a busy world filled with deadlines, stress, anger and judgment, God is filled with possibilities, peace, freedom and acceptance! Each person participating in Via de Christo opened their hearts to let God shine through! This, in my opinion, made the weekend a spiritual powerhouse. An experience that all of us take with us into the fourth day. A beautiful gift from God! Jill Sines, Lord of Grace 7

8 ATTENTION PARISH REPS SALVdC Newsletter Thank you for all your hard work in promoting Via de Cristo for the past co-ed weekend. As a result of your hard work, we had 19 pilgrims go through the weekend: Those pilgrims were richly blessed by the weekend-one of them was even baptized on the weekend!! Now that the weekend is over, our work as Parish Reps is not over. In fact, it is just beginning. Please help to make sure that the pilgrims from your church find grouping brothers or sisters. As we know, this is this is so very important to our 4th day! Also, please encourage not only the pilgrims from your church, but also the Via de Cristo community at your church to attend the upcoming Ultreyas. The next one is December 8 at Mt. Zion. (See page 1 for more info) It will start at 4:00pm, but if you need to attend servant school, please plan to be there by 2pm. As a reminder, the pilgrims are required to attend this brief training before serving on the next weekend or in order to sponsor a friend to go through a future weekend. Another thing that you may want to consider at your church is to have an Ultreya for your church s Via de Cristo community during the month s between the city-wide Ultreyas. This really does help to keep your community connected. If your church doesn t have a Parish Rep, please prayerfully consider fulfilling this role. It is a wonderful experience and another way to share God s love!! ~Sandy Holm Be still and know I am God. Psalm 46:10 Abounding Grace Lutheran Emmet Sweat American Lutheran Pastor Kim Taylor Beautiful Savior David Pavesic Christ Lutheran (Vail) Nancy Taylor Desert Hope Lutheran Pam Endrihs Dove of Peace Lutheran Larry Paxton Faith Lutheran (Tucson) Dale & Jane Schlak Lord of Grace Lutheran Tim Murphy Mount Zion Lutheran Rhonda & Bob Warner Resurrection Lutheran TBD Sierra Vista Evangelical Lutheran Jan Andre Streams in the Desert Lutheran Sandy Holm Tanque Verde Lutheran Bob Kridler guinsear@yahoo.com rekrt@aol.com pastor_david@beautifulsavior.net littleprarie@q.com pendrihs@gmail.com wildcatlarry@gmail.com jaledane@aol.com tim.murphy1@comcast.net warner1of4@aol.com TBD janandre@sierralutheran.org smilinirisheyes@cox.net bobkridler@msn.com 8

9 A Message from the NLS Executive Director... Blessings to you this day! That is my favorite greeting and/or ending of communication. And it is what I pray for all of you. May the Lord bless you richly! Once again, the NLSAM was a blessing. It was wonderful to see so many people I have talked with in the past as well as meeting the new folks who came to this weekend for the first time. Singing, learning, praying, worshipping and just hanging out was so filling. Serious work was completed. The excitement of the Rediscover and Recommit program was contagious. Thank you! As the lay directors know, I sent out the constitution and bylaws for ratification by each of the secretariats. Thank you for seeing that your secretariat reviews those documents and returns the ratification. I already have one back secretariat meeting time was already scheduled and they completed it! If you have questions or concerns, please call me at or me at execdirector.nls@gmail.com As we move into the fall, times become busy again. We pray for each of you and your weekends. Know that we the Executive Committee are a resource for you. Blessings to you this day! Nancy Peterson, NLS Executive Director National Lutheran Secretariat Annual Meeting 2014 Baltimore MD July 24-27, 2014 The Journey in Faith, Rainbow and Vineyard communities have come together and we are so honored to be able to host everyone at next year s NLSAM. The NLSAM 2014 will be located at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). It is located 6 miles from the Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and is situated just outside of the Baltimore Beltway (I-695). UMBC is just 9 miles from the Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore. 40 miles from The Mall, monuments, and museums in downtown Washington, D. C., 28 miles from the Chesapeake Bay in downtown Annapolis, and only a 2- hour drive from the eastern shore beaches of Maryland and Delaware. Come early or stay after the meeting to enjoy some of the activities and history which makes the area a popular tourist destination. Reserve the dates of July on your calendar now and join us in Maryland to experience God's love and grace in action - and have a taste of our famous blue crab while you're here. Watch 9

10 Do you have a Fry's Shopping Card? Did you know that if you shop at Fry's, you can help earn money for VdC? You buy a card for $5.00. It comes with $5.00 on it so it doesn't cost you anything. Then you put money on the card. It is similar to a pre-paid charge card. It doesn't cost you anything and VdC will receive a percentage of what is spent. They will be available at the Ulteyas or you can contact Laura Eskridge for more information at , or by at lleskridge@hotmail.com Additional information about the Fry s Gift Card Fundraising Program: The program never ends as long as you have at least one penny balance on the card. The gift cards can become inactive, though. If the card is left at a Zero balance for 3 months, then on the 91 st day, they will become inactive and you will need to get a new card. Never let the card run down to zero or you will need to replace it. This is the rebate percentage: $2,000 $10,000 = 3% $10,001 $25,000 = 4% $25,001 $75,000 = 5% $75,001 UP = 6%Again, if you have any questions, please contact Laura Eskridge. 10

11 HOW VIA de CRISTO ENVISIONS ITS MISION AS INTEGRAL WITH Part Two CHRIST S CHURCH IN AMERICA STIRS AND INCUBATES SPIRITUAL SENSIBILITIES A MOVEMENT (MISSION) BOTH BITHED AND EMPOWERED BY THE Spirit reliably witnesses frequent life giving, life-changing, marriage-saving and at times vocation-altering dynamics. We give thanks continuingly for those who testify that their spiritual hungers and strivings have been addressed. We strive to steward responsibly this powerful gift of God to the church for the sake of the world. God s WORK engages our HANDS. REMINDER!!! The annual VIA de CRISTO meeting is coming up in January...Details will be announced at the December Ultreya! This is one meeting that EVERYONE should plan on attending 11

12 SALVdC Secretariat 2013 Lay Director Assistant Lay Director Cindy Stein Laura Eskridge Secretary Treasurer Vivian Wilsdon Pam Endrihs Spiritual Director Pre-Via de Cristo Rev Tom Dunham Sandy Holm Three Day Post-Via de Cristo Emmet Sweat Michael Eckelbarger Palanca Communication Scott Malcomson Bob Kridler