INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Volume 6, Issue 1 January 2015 Calendar 2 MLK Parade Sign-Ups PW Lunch Meeting 3 3 SJPM News 3 Book Club 3 Fry s Update 3 Souper Bowl 3 December Pics - Volume 1 4 The First 40 5 December Pics - Volume 2 Gayle s Christmas Letter 6 Birthdays 8 Prayer Requests 8 7 A Note from the Pastor The beginning of a new year always seems to be a time for making lists. Many of us make lists of resolutions for the new year. Some of us make lists of goals we wish to accomplish. But this January I ve mostly been thinking about a list of prayers. So here, in no particular order, are some of things that I will be praying for as the new year dawns. I invite you to consider your own list. For peace in the Middle East as NATO troops end their operations in Afghanistan. For the defeat of terrorist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram, that they would turn from killing and destruction. For marriage equality to become the law in all 50 states and for Amendment 14-F to be approved by a majority of presbyteries, thereby changing the Book of Order definition of marriage. For the 114 th Congress to find the will to work together to tackle some of our challenges, especially immigration reform. Adult CE Class Resumes January 11 We will start the new year off with a fourpart DVD series entitled Uppity Women of the Bible. The series is produced by Living the Questions, a local company that produces excellent discussion programs for Christian Education. Uppity Women is hosted by Hebrew studies Professor Dr. Lisa Wolfe. The series For Arizona s new governor and state legislature to work together to solve some of our problems especially surrounding education funding. For an end to the Ebola epidemic and for a vaccine against this virus to be developed. For a fruitful outcome to the protests that have taken place around the country provoking discussions about relations between police departments and the communities they serve. For the safety and well-being of all those whom I love. For the health of all the members and friends of Celebration of Life PC. That s the list so far. I am sure it will get longer as the year progresses. Of course, these are all prayers of petition. There are many other prayers of thanksgiving that I could offer, first and foremost prayers of thanks for all of you, the good people of COL and gratitude for the privilege of serving with you. Peace! Shelly focuses on the stories of Ruth, Esther and Judith as well as the book Song of Songs. Dr. Wolfe has also written a book entitled Ruth, Esther, Song of Songs, and Judith (Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2011) which is a companion to this DVD series. However, it s not necessary to read the book in order to take part in the class. Make a resolution now to join us for this engaging discussion.
Page 2 January 2015 Calendar Highlights Sunday, January 4 EPIPHANY SUNDAY 8:30 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal 10:00 a.m. - Worship, with Holy Communion Guadalupe Food Bank items collected 11:15 a.m. - Fellowship Monday, January 19 9:30 a.m. - Meet at Church to Carpool to Mesa MLK Parade site 11:00 a.m. - Parade Steps Off at Center & University 2:00 p.m. - Wedding of Misty & Berta ANNUAL MEETING Monday, January 5 6:45 p.m. - Deacons meeting Saturday, January 10 Noon - Presbyterian Women s mtg Sunday, January 11 8:30 a.m. - Adult CE Class resumes 10:00 a.m. - Worship 11:15 a.m. - Fellowship, last names A-L asked to bring a snack to share Monday, January 12 7:00 p.m. - Session meeting Friday, January 16 Midnight - Annual Report deadline Saturday, January 17 8:30 a.m. - Hygiene Kit Sorting Party Sunday, January 18 8:30 a.m. - Adult CE Class 10:00 a.m. - Worship 11:15 a.m. - Fellowship 11:30 a.m. - SJPM Committee mtg Wednesday, January 21 7:00 p.m. - Worship Committee mtg Friday & Saturday, January 23 & 24 Presbytery Meeting in Tucson Sunday, January 25 8:30 a.m. - Adult CE Class 10:00 a.m. - Worship 11:15 a.m. - Fellowship, last names M-Z asked to bring a snack to share 11:30 a.m. - Annual Congregational mtg Tuesday, January 27 7:00 p.m. - Book Club Friday, January 30 Midnight - Newsletter deadline Sunday, February 1 8:30 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal 10:00 a.m. - Worship, with Holy Communion Guadalupe Food Bank items collected 11:15 a.m. - Souper Bowl A S t e w a r d s h i p S n i p p e t Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 The joyful Christian response to God s love is to bring our gifts before God. Of course, God doesn't need these gifts, just as Jesus didn't need the gifts of the Wise Men. Everything is already God s, and God can never be in our debt. But the gifts are the confession, the living faith. With their gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the three confess that Jesus is the King who has come at last to save us. Our gifts to the Lord also confess our faith in Him: Oh, come, let us adore Him! -- Rev. H.R. Curtis, The Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod)
Volume 6, Issue 1 Page 3 Sign-Ups Start January 4 to March in Mesa MLK Parade Monday, January 19 th, is the day we honor the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The City of Mesa s annual parade kicks off at 11:00 a.m.; the route is down Center Street from University Drive to First Avenue (just a little over 1/2 mile). We will carpool from church at 9:30 a.m. OR you can meet us at the SE corner of Center Street & University by 10:30 a.m. A sign-up sheet can be found in the kitchen beginning January 4 th so sign up and march with us! Presbyterian Women Lunch Meeting January 10 The Presbyterian Women s Bible Study group will get together for our second meeting on Saturday, January 10 th, from Noon to 2:00 p.m. at the church. We will once again be meeting for lunch so bring a favorite lunch item to share. We will be watching the video and discussing chapters 4-6 in the Reconciling Paul study guide. We hope you can join us. Social Justice, Peacemaking, Mission Committee News We will be sorting hygiene kit supplies on Saturday, January 17 th, holding our regular Social Justice, Peacemaking, and Mission Committee meeting after worship on Sunday, January 18 th, and marching in the annual Mesa MLK Parade on Monday, January 19 th. Please join us for one or all of these events! Book Club Meets January 27 Our January book selection is Don't Throw Away Your Stick Till You Cross the River by Vincent Collin Beach. It is the autobiographical account of Mr. Beach s life that began in Jamaica and ended up here in Arizona. It was first published in January of 2007 and should be available through most major book sellers. Please join us for this fascinating read and a good discussion. Fry s Community Rewards Update Between September 1 st and November 30 th, three households from COL signed up for the Fry s Rewards program. We have so far earned $15.05 thanks to their purchases. Since Fry s doesn t write checks for less than $25, our rebate will be rolled over till the next quarter. Thanks to those who have already participated! And it s not too late for everyone else to sign up as well. Join Us on Super Bowl Sunday for the Souper Bowl of Caring On Sunday, February 1 st, 160 million Americans will tune in to the Super Bowl football game. There will be parties with abundant food, friendship and fellowship. At the same time, there will be people worrying about staying warm, trying to find shelter and a warm meal. Please join young people around the country as they demonstrate God s love by loving their neighbors through the Souper Bowl of Caring. It s a simple, yet significant act of caring for others. Please join us after worship on Super Souper Bowl Sunday for soup, fellowship and an opportunity to give. You will be home in plenty of time to enjoy the game!
Page 4 December in Pictures - Volume 1: PW Dinner, Advent Worship, Caroling January 2015
Volume 6, Issue 1 Nursing Notes A Series of Articles from BJ Page 5 Celebrating Life at 40 (A Series of Articles Highlighting Excerpts from 40 Years of Session Minutes) February 2010: Moved, Seconded, and Carried (MSC) to name Beverly Schleigh as COL s honoree at the OACC Senior Service Luncheon. $388 was received from the Souper Bowl; the Youth decided to donate the proceeds to the Guadalupe Food Bank. Holy Communion was served to 64 on February 7 th. Ann gifted the church with a ceramic statue of Jesus; Loren will build a shelf for it. MSC to accept an offer of $400 for the old piano. March 2010: Ken will lead a 4-week intergenerational class on the Christian elements from the Harry Potter series. September 2010: Long-time renter Courts of Praise has dissolved as a congregation. November 2010: A small contingent of COL folk participated in the Dobson Ranch Halloween Party, giving out candy, glow sticks, and church postcards. December 2010: MSC to renew the Stated Supply Pastor Agreement with Shelly for 2011. Selected Statistics for the Year Ended 12/31/2010: Active Members, 53 (40 female); Session, 2 males, 5 females; Deacons, 1 male, 6 females; Average Worship Attendance: 49; Receipts $102,186; Expenses $92,570. January 2011: Holy Communion was served to 50 on January 2 nd. A donation of $3,000 was given to the church; MSC to put $2,000 in a Restricted Account for Homeless Mentally Ill needs and supplies and put the remaining $1,000 in a Restricted Account for the Deacons Assistance Fund and for Food Vouchers. March 2011: MSC to name Tabb Forster as COL s honoree at the OACC Senior Service Luncheon. MSC to approve the rental agreement with On the Way Ministries for $500 per month for two hours on Sunday afternoons. April 2011: A retirement celebration for associate executive presbyter for congregational support Rev. Jose Olagues will be held at University PC. May 2011: The session voted to name the church s monthly newsletter Celebrate the News! submitted by Beverly. July 2011: With the new Form of Government, MSC to establish a quorum for the session consisting of the moderator and one-third of the elders currently serving; a quorum for the deacons consisting of the moderator and one-third of the deacons currently serving; and, the quorum for a congregational meeting shall remain unchanged at one-fourth of the active membership. September 2011: The deacons propose that the congregation assist them by bringing refreshments for the Fellowship Time following worship two Sundays per month. In order to increase the declining balance in the Deacons Assistance Fund, MSC to explore having a church-wide rummage sale in late October with the proceeds deposited in that fund. Shelly has been elected to serve as a presbytery commissioner to Synod. Although the church did not score enough overall points to qualify as an Earth Care Congregation, the Buildings and Grounds committee recommends that the congregation continue to look for opportunities to weave earth-conscious actions and discussions into our education, worship, and outreach activities. October 2011: Office Manager June Osborne s 20 th anniversary with COL is October 6 th. She and Gene will be invited to attend worship on October 30 th to honor her for her long and dedicated service to the congregation and its many pastors with whom she has worked. November 2011: MSC to renew the Stated Supply Pastor Agreement with Shelly for 2012. MSC to participate in the Mesa Prayer Walk on January 8 th. December, 2011: June Osborne will retire the end of January and will be honored by the congregation on January 29 th ; Kent volunteered to temporarily serve as Office Manager until a replacement is found. Selected Statistics for the Year Ended 12/31/2011: Active Members, 57 (44 female); Session, 2 males, 4 females; Deacons, 1 male, 5 females; Average Worship Attendance: 43; Receipts $86,756; Expenses $90,661. January 2012: MSC to increase the Mission Pledge for 2012 to $8,900 to reflect 10% of the Total Budgeted Income. Over 400 hygiene kits in backpacks were assembled in December; eighteen families received boxes of food and Christmas gifts. Fourteen people (and two dogs) represented COL at the first Mesa Prayer Walk. February 2012: MSC to name Marlin Fried as COL s honoree at the OACC Senior Service Luncheon.
Page 6 January 2015 December in Pictures - Volume 2: Adopted Families, Christmas Worship
Volume 6, Issue 1 Nursing Notes A Series of Articles from BJ Page 7 A Christmas Letter from Gayle Joyous Christmas Greetings! I am writing this letter to everyone at Celebration of Life. I miss you all very much. I watch what you are doing in every newsletter that comes out. It is a beautiful statement of what Celebration of Life is about. I am happy to see each one of you in the pictures. And I am pleased to see people I have never known before. Some of you I have communicated with but wish I had done more. Some of you have also been able to communicate with me. Communication has become the most challenging part of my life. My ability to speak well and my ability to write has become more impaired. However, I have come to the perfect place. Longview, where I live in Ithaca, NY, is across the street from Ithaca College that has the Speech Clinic where I receive speech therapy. I am working very hard with the therapist I see twice a week, and the aphasia group that I go to every Friday morning to practice communicating with others with the same language impairments but different causes. My impairment is called Primary Progressive Aphasia. This is caused by damage in the part of my brain that controls language. The progressive part means that it will get worse, never better. However, the work that I m doing at the Speech Clinic will help me learn ways to work around my difficulties. I have joined the Presbyterian Church in downtown Ithaca (click here). It is huge. It is interesting to learn how to function in such a large church. The music is fantastic; it is like going to a symphony every Sunday. We have a new pastor who is very good and has had an interesting history before coming here. But for me, the most interesting thing of all is the diversity of people who come to First Presbyterian Church, Ithaca. I am especially intrigued by the fact that a whole community of Karen refugees are active members. And then there are all the children, at least fifteen every Sunday. Every week three or four children have taken part in the liturgy before being dismissed to their age appropriate Sunday school classes. There is an ordained youth director who manages the many opportunities including a number of charities and social activities. These particular things are all the things the children do. Which brings me to the staff. There are so many. Joanne Bartel, my first friend in Ithaca, is a retired pastor who works part time at First Pres. She also is in charge of adult Bible Study. And there is where I have settled in. There I have found friends who know me. We use the same study as CoL used in the fall. We will start a new study after the Winter break. Enough about First Pres. I will tell you what I miss about CoL. I know you by name even if I can no longer say it. I love the way CoL does communion in the circle, sharing the wine and pulling off the bread and feeling the love of Jesus face to face. I love the songs we sang even though I couldn't hit the notes right. I love the way we worked hard together on the issues we all felt important. I love the CoL Mission Statement. I love the way we care for each other. I could make the list longer but I must end it. I wanted to write a Christmas letter but it must be a New Year letter since this is Christmas Day. I wish each one of you good tidings and great joy!
Celebration of Life Presbyterian Church 2530 S Alma School Rd Mesa, Arizona 85210 Celebration of Life Presbyterian Church USA (480) 838-8550 (480) 838-1024 fax Newsletter items due the last Friday of each month. January Birthdays 4 Reagan 4 Rochelle 12 Linda W 17 Don 20 Melinda 22 Joe 24 Meiny If we missed your birthday, we apologize! Please let Melinda or Shelly know the date so we can celebrate it with you the next time it comes around! Celebration of Life has been called by God to be a congregation that welcomes and fully values all persons. Our diversity is a gift of God and essential to our witness to the Gospel. Prayer Requests... Healing for Myra Blessings on Misty & Berta on the occasion of their wedding Healing for Kathryn Courage for Betty as she begins a new chapter in her life Visit Us on the Web... And on Facebook... www.celebration-of-life.org Peace on earth and goodwill to all as the New Year begins https://www.facebook.com/ groups/108419423876/#!/pages/ Celebration-of-Life-Presbyterian-Church- PCUSA/245712125517807