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Parker Chronicle 9
August 23, 2013
Pastors provide spiritual support I just hired a publicist to help me take my book sales and the Big League message, “Your Life Matters” to more people. Now I am surprised with the fact that I have a publicist and an agent. It always seemed that rich, famous people were ones with publicists and agents. Now I know that is not always the case. I also have an accountant that does my taxes and keeps my 501(c)(3) in compliance with the government. My dentist and doctor help me keep my mouth and body healthy. It is quite a team that I have to help me live life and take on challenges that are bigger than I am. Another important member of “Team Dan” is my pastor. Recently a situation reminded me how important my pastor is to me and what an important part of my life he is. This experience exceeded the normal Sunday sermon, as important as that is. Each week he seeks to hear from God in a way that is faithful to the Holy Scriptures so that he can bring a message that strengthens the lives of those who listen. It is not that I need to be told how to live as much as his message so often matches what has been stirring in my spirit because of the challenges of everyday life. When I
hear his message it is a confirmation to me, often expressed in a way that is memorable, of who God is and how important He is to me and my circumstances. There was a situation at work that troubled me. I was upset and could not find peace as far as what to do. Thankfully I ran into him at a coffee shop. Our relationship began at a coffee shop when the only empty seat on a busy Monday morning was next to him. That suits my lifestyle as I feel like the Lead Pastor at the “St. Arbucks” parish. I am at the coffee shop so often. He took time to listen to me for a few minutes then offered a perspective that I had not thought of, but was exactly what I needed to hear. I left, thankful that I had such a wise, Godly and caring influence in my life.
THINGS TO DO
THROUGH AUG. 31
WEATHER MONITORS. The Community Collaborative Rain,
ool Hail and Snow Network based at the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University is looking to add a few hundred observers to its Denver area network during August. All it work takes to be involved is the purchase of an official rain gauge ngs ($30) and a commitment to help monitor the local climate by taking precipitation measurements as often as possible. The our data is reported to the CoCoRaHS website and daily maps of om- local precipitation patterns are produced. Training is offered in k person or online; a list of Denver area training classes can be ork found at http://www.cocorahs.org/State.aspx?state=CO. For information, or to sign up, contact Chris Spears at chris.spears@ e be- colostate.edu or go to www.cocorahs.org and click on the “Join rive Us” link. ment pa- AUG. 22, Sept. 5 EMAIL MARKETING. The South Metro Health Alliance presents two workshops on email marketing. The workshops s are designed for anyone working in a nonprofit organization or We small business who uses or wants to use email to reach their ook intended audience. Seating is limited and reservations are day. requested. The first workshop, from 9-11 a.m. Aug. 22, is “The e a Who, What, Why of Email Marketing” and is an introduction to way email marketing. The second workshop, from 9-11 a.m. Sept. 5, is “Email Marketing Strategy, Plus Dos and Don’ts” and it dives hy into the technical and marketing strategy details. For reservaout tions and more information, www.southmetrohealthalliance. her org/workshops.
AUG. 23 to Sept. 7
MEL BROOKS musical. Inspire Creative presents “The Producs ers: A New Mel Brooks Musical” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday g from Aug. 23 to Sept. 7, with a 2 p.m. show on Aug. 25 and der Sept. 1, at the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker. Call 303-806-6800 or visit www.InspireCreative.org. AUG. 24 STORYTELLING FESTIVAL. Celebrate the art of storytelling Aug. 24 with five daytime sessions and a 6 p.m. family concert. All events will be at the Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St. Call 303-791-7323 or visit DouglasCountyLibraries.org for details. AUG. 24 PARKER QUEST. Walk through history and explore down-
town Parker on Aug. 24 in this family-friendly scavenger hunt, co-sponsored by Douglas County Libraries. Start at 9 a.m. at O’Brien Park. To register, call 303-791-7323 or visit DouglasCountyLibraries.org.
AUG. 25, Sept. 1, Sept. 8 BIBLE STORIES. Castlewood Canyon Church, 389 N. Castle-
wood Canyon Road in Franktown, welcomes Mary Silberman, a Denver area Bible teacher in Hebraic Roots and End Time Revelation (messiahscall.com). Silberman will speak at 10 a.m. Sundays. Topic for Aug. 25 is The Roots of the Arab/Israeli Conflict; Sept. 1 is The Arab States in Prophecy; and Sept. 8 is Jerusalem, God’s Holy City. The public is welcome. Call 303688-8730 or go to www.ccanyonc.org.
AUG. 27, Sept. 24, Oct. 21-22 MENTAL HEALTH first aid. The South Metro Health Alliance and Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network offer mental health first aid training classes in August, September and October at Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network, 155 Inverness Drive West, Englewood. Mental health first aid is an 8-hour interactive course that is designed to give members of the public the essential skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
Seating is limited and registration is required online at www. SouthMetroHealthAlliance.org/meetings#MHFA, or contact Traci Jones at 303-793-9615, or email tjones@southmetrohealthalliance.org to reserve your place.
SEPT. 3 BLOOD DRIVE. Walmart-Parker community blood drive is from 12:30-5 p.m. Sept. 3 inside Bonfils’ mobile bus at 11101 S. Parker Road, Parker. For information or to schedule an appointment, contact the Bonfils’ Appointment Center at (303) 363-2300 or visit www.bonfils.org. SEPT. 6, Sept. 20 BLOOD DRIVE. PACE Community Center community blood drive is from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 6 and Sept. 20 inside Bonfils’ mobile bus at 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker. For information or to schedule an appointment, contact Michael Schlut at 303-805-3367or mschlut@parkeronline.org. SEPT. 7 DIVINITY DASH. Ave Maria Catholic Church will have its first 5K Divinity Dash fun run/walk and pancake breakfast Sept. 7. The event will raise money for the Parish to further the mission of our parish community. It is part of the annual Ave Maria Fall Festival, which is a schoolwide event the weekend of Sept. 7-8. Events will include an athletic competition, golf tournament hosted by the Knights of Columbus, carnival, craft marketplace, Golden Eagles Concert (Oompa) Band and beer garden, bingo, video games and food from local restaurants. The race will start and finish at Ave Maria Catholic Church. Registration and packet pickup will begin at 6:30 a.m. The 5K starts at 8 a.m. with the 1K starting at 9 a.m. The awards ceremony for the 5K is at 9:30 a.m. A pancake breakfast, free to all registered runners, will be served following the race. Face painting, music and babysitting will also be available. All fitness levels welcome. This event is designed for the whole family to enjoy. To register for the 5k or for more information, log on to www.active.com/ running/parker-co/running-event---divinity-dash-2013 or email - nhartshorn@avemariaonline.org or call 720-842-4117. For more information on the Fall Festival events schedule go to www.avemariafallfestival.com. SEPT. 12 DIVORCE SEMINAR. St. Andrew United Methodist Church hosts a 10-week “Rebuilding When your Relationship Ends” seminar, which begins from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 12. The class promotes healing for those going through a divorce, or the ending of a love relationship, and includes education, support and optional social activities. Cost for the 10 weeks is $175, and free child care provided with registration. The church is at 9203 S. University Blvd., Highlands Ranch. For information or to register, contact Beth Walker at 720-352-9915 or bethdwalker@ gmail.com. SEPT. 13-14 COMMUNITY SALE. The Idyllwilde community will have a garage sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 13-14. The community is in Parker, between Legend High School and Cimarron Middle School, east and west off Canterberry Parkway. SEPT. 14 BOOT CAMP. A family fun boot camp to benefit Bright Pink, a nonprofit group focused on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer while providing support to individuals at high risk for these diseases, is planned for 10 a.m. Sept. 14 at Lincoln Park, across from Chaparral High School in Parker. The event includes a family boot camp, fitness expo, free massages, temporary tattoos for kids, raffle prizes and music. Registration cost is $15 at 4EverBeFit.com. Free men’s bamboo tee or women’s sports bra to the first 50 registrants.
Throughout most of my adult life I did not have a pastor — I was the pastor. It was an honor to be called Pastor Dan but that side of the relationship did not give me the vantage point to appreciate the enormity of the contribution of a pastor’s work to the life of a parishioner. As a Hospice chaplain, there are more times when the benefits of my efforts in the lives and circumstances of the recipients are more quickly apparent. It is not easy work to stand with people at the dramatic time of their loved one’s sickness and passing from this life to the next, but it is rewarding to feel the value of my work. Nearly all of the churches in our town have a priest or pastor. Many have a staff of pastors with specializations. Youth pastors make it possible for students to have a pastor who they can go to with concerns that their youth pastor understands. Pastors of men’s or women’s ministries focus their efforts on subjects and settings that minister to their target audience. A relatively new specialization that comes in a larger church is a minister of Pastoral Care. Gifts of compassion and insight guide this person to listen, comfort and be present in the lives of the church family during sickness, divorce, traumatic
Healey Continued from Page 2
Kinzi has plans to start a club that would take the positivity from the signholding to another level, something longer lasting — “the idea if I can change your day, you’ll change somebody else’s day.” But, on this afternoon, the girls enthusiastically wave their signs in the hope of bringing a little joy to someone who could use a pick-me-up. One driver shouts through a window: “Have a good day!” “Yeah!” Emily shouts back, glee in her
accidents and problems that are too complicated to share with the general public. While some Pastors have been derelict in their duties or disappointed their parishioners with ethical or moral failure, the vast majority sacrificially minister so that their congregation receives inspiration, insight and even correction so that God will be real and relevant in the lives of their parishioners. My taxes are too complicated for me to do them by myself. I can’t work on my teeth or prescribe meds to treat an infection. I need my dentist and doctor. My agent knew how to get a book published and his expertise benefited me and I hope my publicist will benefit me as much so sales will grow and the message will spread. But not everybody needs a publicist, but everyone needs a pastor and they are all eager to add another parishioner to their care. Dan Hettinger is director of pastoral services at Hospice of Saint John and president of The Jakin Group, a ministry of encouragement, especially to Christian workers. You can email him at dhettinger@hospiceofsaintjohn.org or dan@welcometothebigleagues.org.
voice. “You, too!” A car with two young men stops, waiting for the light to change. The driver leans over and yells: “What are you guys doing this for?” Emily grins: “To make you guys happy!” He pauses a moment, looks at her, then: “Thank you for making my day.” And he eases the car into the intersection, the smile on his face celebrating a moment of unexpected and simple pleasure. Ann Macari Healey’s column about people, places and issues of everyday life appears every other week. She can be reached at ahealey@ourcoloradonews.com or 303-5664110.
OBITUARIES Fittje
Robert D. Fittje
April 13, 1948 - August 14, 2013
Robert D. Fittje, age 65, a former resident of Colorado Springs and currently of Parker, Colorado, went home to the arms of Jesus on August 14, 2013. He was a loving husband, son, brother, father, and grandfather. Robert Dean Fittje was born on April 13, 1948 in Columbus, Nebraska to Werner L. and Lillian E. (Pearson) Fittje. He was a 1966 graduate of Wasson High School and served his country honorably in the United States Marine Corps for three and a half years. He was a Vietnam Veteran. He married Ruth C. Erickson on November 1, 1969 in Wahiawa, Hawaii. He co-founded Fittje Brother’s Printing in Colorado Springs with his brother, was a salesman for AB Dick, owned his own franchise of Sir Speedy Printing in Littleton, and for several years owned and operated Twin Pines Printing in his home in Perry Park. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Castle Rock, Colorado and became a Stephen Minister involved in prison ministries. This man of faith was diagnosed with an incurable disease 20 years ago and was active with the Alpha One Foundation. He will be best remembered as an inspiration of faith and strength to all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife: Ruth of Parker, Colorado; his mother: Lillian Fittje of Colorado Springs; and his four children: Guy (wife, Stephanie) Fittje of Parker; Jason (wife, Elaina) Fittje of Englewood; Michele (husband, Michael) Harrington of Parker; and Jennifer Fittje of Parker. He is also survived by his two sisters: Mary (husband, Bill) Montie of Colorado Springs; and Kathy (husband, Mark) Rowley of Colorado Springs; and eight wonderful grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Werner, in 2006; his brother, Gerald Fittje, in 1984; and his granddaughter, Brittany, in 2012. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at Faith Lutheran Church of Castle Rock, 303 Ridge Road, Castle Rock, Colorado 8104. A reception will immediately follow. A graveside service with Marine Corps Honors will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Staging Area “B”. Memorials in Bob’s memory may be made to the Alpha One Foundation, 2937 SW 27th Avenue Suite 302, Miami, Florida 33133; or the Denver Hospice, 501 South Cherry Street #700, Denver, Colorado 80246. Blessed be his memory.
Private Party Viola Ortega 303-566-4089 obituaries@ourcoloradonews.com
Funeral Homes www.memoriams.com
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