Winter 2019/2020
Desert Hills Presbyterian Church
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6
Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • WINTER 2019/2020 1
Winter 2019/2020
FEELING SOCIAL? Be sure to “like” Desert Hills Presbyterian Church on Facebook! Simply go to the DHPC website: www.deserthills.org and click the Facebook icon. You may also type “Desert Hills Presbyterian Church” in the search bar on Facebook. We have security set so that “tagging” of photos is not permitted, so check out the page and enjoy the photos and information about your church family.
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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • WINTER 2019/2020
Senior Pastor’s Message
Congregational Nurse News
Assistant Pastor’s Message
Scholarship Fund
“The Journey” Study Info
ITEN
Worship News
Carefree Weekend
Winter Concert Series
Emergency Fund Drive
Walking Beside Ministry
Church Dashboard
Echoes is published seasonally by and for the congregation of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. If you have received this publication by mistake or you would like to no longer to subscribe to the magazine, simply call the DHPC office at (480) 488-3384 or write to admin@deserthills.org. The next issue will be for Spring (March-May) and the deadline for submission will be February 1. Contributions from any and all DHPC members are always welcome! Simply email your documents and pictures to editor@deserthills.org or drop them off at the church office.
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Jim Noble, Senior Pastor jnoble@deserthills.org 480-488-3384
Dear Members and Friends of DHPC, On Sunday, December 1, we will officially enter into the Advent season which will conclude on Christmas Eve. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word “adventus” which means “coming”. More specifically for Christians however, this “coming” refers to Jesus coming into the world – first as an infant, but later to return at the second coming as the judge of this world. Advent has long been considered as a time of spiritual preparation much like the Lenten season. It is a time to prepare and to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas. As such, it is a wonderful time to incorporate some intentional family worship time within the home and to take advantage of some of the seasonal worship opportunities provided by DHPC and the surrounding community.
Advent Events: December 7 Christmas Tea at DHPC December 7 and 8 Living Nativity at Spur Cross December 8 Cantata at 8:15 and 9:45am worship services December 14 “Lessons and Carols” performed by the Valley Chamber Chorale December 24 Christmas Eve Services at 5:00, 7:00, and 9:00pm. Advent Devotional Resources: Joy to the World: Beginning on Sunday, November 24, DHPC will be distributing a FREE Advent Devotional entitled “Joy to the World” and written by Pastor John Piper. The devotional is being offered “one per family and one for a friend”.
I would like to use the bulk of this article to introduce a few of these activities and some seasonal resources available to you...
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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • WINTER 2019/2020
Our Daily Bread: Copies of this year-round devotional are available at the welcome center each Sunday or in the church office. Advent Sunday Readings: Please feel free to use the following themed Scripture readings and hymns to enhance your family worship during Advent. First Sunday of Advent: Hope Scripture Readings: Psalm 122; Isaiah 2:2-5 and 9:2, 6–7; Romans 13:11-14 Suggested Hymns: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, Silent Night Second Sunday of Advent: Preparation Scripture Readings: Psalm 72:18; Isaiah 11:1-10 and 40:35; Luke 1:26-38 Suggested Hymn: O Come, O Come Emanuel Third Sunday of Advent: Joy Scripture Readings: Psalm 146:510; Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 2:1011; Luke 2:8-14 Suggested Hymns: Joy to the World, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Fourth Sunday of Advent: Love Movies for All Ages: Scripture Readings: Psalm 24:110; Isaiah 7:10-14; Luke 2:8-20; John 1:14 and 3:16-19; 1 John 4:10 Suggested Hymns: Away in a Manger, O Little Town of Bethlehem The Nativity Story (PG, 1h (Christmas Eve): Adoration 41min, 2006): This is a powerful Scripture Readings: Psalm drama that focuses on the peri96; Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1od in Mary and Joseph's life 40; John 1:14; Titus 2:11-14 where they journeyed to BethleSuggested Hymns: O Come, All hem for the birth of Jesus. Ye Faithful; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
The Journey Intergenerational Advent Study: Invite a friend or two and join Pastor Brett and members of the DHPC family Movies for Families with for this creative journey from Children (Or Visiting GrandNazareth to Bethlehem – comchildren!): plete with powerful video imagery from the Holy Lands. Look within this Echoes for more The Star of Bethlehem information! (Documentary, 1h 3min, 2007): --From the producers of The Pas- During this Advent season, let sion of the Christ, this informaus as a church family endeavor The Star (Animated, PG, 1h to take time to relax with family 26min, 2017): A small but brave tive documentary examines and friends and be intentional donkey and his animal friends Scripture, ancient writings, indisputable astronomical facts about our preparations for become the unsung heroes of and more to unlock some of the Christ’s coming. Let us not miss the first Christmas. mystery of this famous guiding the power of Advent because star. we can’t see it for the Christmas trees. Blessings, Jim The Very First Noel (Animated Short, 23 min, 2006): Featuring Andy Griffith as the voice of Melchior, this animated short captures the birth of Jesus Christ from the views of the three kings.
It’s a Wonderful Life (Not Rated, 2h 10min, 1946): Spend some time as a family revisiting this Christmas classic where an Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • WINTER 2019/2020 5
Brett Everett, Assistant Pastor beverett@deserthills.org 480-488-3384
“Squeezing” Christ into Christmas Sending Dad out to pick the tree… laughing at his "Charlie Brown" tree selection… trimming and adorning the tree and saguaros with popcorn and "familytreasured" ornaments… hanging the stockings… making Christmas cookies… sending out Christmas cards, emails and JibJabs®… reminding family members in snow country that you won’t be shoveling snow on Christmas day or thawing out water pipes… attending Christmas programs at your grandchildren’s schools… Black Friday shopping at 5 AM… observing shoppers brawl at 5:01 AM over a $5 item… Binge-watching on the Hallmark Christmas channel… hanging icicle lights inside and out… workplace Christmas parties… indigestion from food consumed at workplace parties… making Christmas dinner… hanging the mistletoe… pondering who might trap you under the mistletoe… on second thought, taking down the mistletoe… singing Christmas carols at a care center… cashing in your Christmas bonus for a Whopper at Burger King… writing a wish list for Santa Claus… listening for reindeer on the rooftop… finishing college finals… attending chilly youth soccer games, visits to rarely seen family members… hiding gifts from snooping children… wrapping gifts… last minute shopping for that "hard to buy for" person on the list… Christmas Eve Service at the church… burning your finger on wax drippings while singing “Silent Night” at the service… decking the Halls… apologizing to the Hall family for unnecessary violence against them (What does "Decking the halls" mean anyway?)… boy-
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cotting the phrase "Grandma got run over have to do with the Christmas season… by a reindeer" from all family conversamaking snow angels in the AZ dirt… tion within earshot of Grandma… opening crashing the neighbor’s party because he brought in snow… visiting Candy Cane Lane… making weird faces at your chilNo one has to miss the dren while they scream on Santa’s lap… reality of Christmas! airport delay headaches… removing the "…she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. family cat from the fallen tree… adorning She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in the tree for a second time… realizing you a manger, because there was no guest don't have a family cat… buying a more room available for them." (Luke 2:7) expensive gift for that person who you thought might spend more money on In the midst of our busy "holiday" wrapping paper than on a gift for you… schedule, will we make room in our spreading Christhearts to experience anew the true miramas cheer… cle of Christmas? As the late Billy Grathanking God for ham once cautioned, let us never be “… twenty four hour so busy and so occupied with the trimWal-Marts … mings of Christmas that [we] miss its Christmas Eve triumph.” parties… going Great News!!! God is with us!!! overboard to make baby's first Christmas unforgettable… "…they will call him Immanuel – which waking up at 1:30, 2:31, 3:32, 4:43, and means, 'God with us.'" (Matt. 1:23) 5:35am and asking mom if it’s time to open presents… playing with the cardDuring this Advent season, let us make an encounter with Christ our first priori- board boxes that your gifts came in… setting up the Nativity figurines… purty. My prayer is that you would truly chasing a lump of coal for that difficult cherish this holy season and be filled with the contagious joy of knowing and child or spouse… catching dad watching football games in the electronics’ section serving Christ! In the spirit of Advent, when he was supposed to be shopping for come Lord Jesus, come! mom… wishing you were at work rather ~Pastor Brett than the mall… eating Christmas cookies… pulling tinsel out of the vacuum's Advent calendar "doors"… drinking egg- pickup brush and the dog’s teeth… smellnog… getting gifts for teachers and ing the sweet pine aroma from the Christcoworkers… picking up layaway items… mas tree (Or from the Christmas tree regifting the fruit cake… waiting in long scented spray!)… spending hours ... lines… wondering what white elephants Continued on page 7...
Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • WINTER 2019/2020
Wow! How do we even begin to thank each of you for the thoughtful acts, words of encouragement and affirmation, love, and hospitality which you have generously poured out on my family and me during our first three months at DHPC? Words fail to express our most sincere gratitude! You have truly shown us what it means to be part of a special family – one that only God could bring together. Each of your thoughtful gestures has flooded our hearts with joy during this time. Know that we cherish and thank God daily for each one of you and consider it an amazing privilege to co-labor in Christ with you. May God bless each of you for the loving kindness you have poured out upon us. With sincere gratitude and in Christian love, Pastor Brett, Heather, Nathaniel and Hannah Everett
continued from page 6...wondering whether everyone liked their gifts and why snow is white… celebrating with the entire family under one roof… cleaning up the wrapping paper mess … burning your mouth on the chestnuts roasted on an open fire… AZ snowball (cotton ball) fights… skiing in Colorado… visiting the emergency room for treatment of skiing-related injuries… hanging up received Christmas
cards… allowing your children to open one gift on Christmas Eve… playing the "best singing rock ever" in the school Christmas pageant… taking back the Xbox because "he really wanted the PlayStation"… exchanging unwanted gifts for gift cards… capitalizing on after Christmas sales… catching some much-needed "Zs" after a busy holiday season… tearing down the tree… one last laugh at Dad's "Charlie
Brown" tree… placing the Christmas decorations in the attic… promising the HOA the icicle lights will come down before February this year… wondering where Christmas went, but glad it only comes once a year… wishing it all could be much simpler than what it is… knowing that you have unintentionally squeezed Christ out of Christmas again…
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Parking during Advent and through the winter months
Christmas Eve Worship Opportunities Tuesday, December 24 – Lighting of candles at all three worship services! 5 p.m. – Sounds of Christmas – Worship in the Fellowship Center with music by the Gathering Team, under the direction of Mikey Moomey. The focus for this worship service will be the sounds associated with Christmas. Come and participate in a thoughtful, interactive Christmas experience! 7 p.m. – Worship with Communion – Worship in the Sanctuary with music by the Chancel Choir, organ, and orchestra, under the direction of Jeffrey Anthony. Communion will be offered during this worship service. Come and meditate on Jesus’ birth and the music of the season. 9 p.m. – Lessons and Carols – Worship in the Sanctuary with music by the Chancel Choir, organ, and orchestra, under the direction of Jeffrey Anthony. Come and experience the Christmas story with the focus on music and Scripture. Sunday, December 29 – normal worship schedule for all three services: 8:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 11:10 a.m.
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USHERS NEEDED! If you are willing to be a friendly face and helpful person on Sunday mornings at As our 9:45 a.m. worship service begins to any of our three worship services, please feel full, we know that parking becomes see Kathleen Harris or Diane Hillwig for an issue. If you are a regular attender who more info. is able to park and walk from El Pedregal, it would be very helpful to leave more DHPC Business Cards open parking places closer to the church Don’t forget to stock up on DHPC busifor visitors and those with mobility issues. ness cards, available at the entrances to You may also wish to consider attending both worship settings. Keep some in your the 8:15 a.m. or 11:10 a.m. worship serwallet – you never know when you’ll meet vices to help alleviate crowding at the 9:45 a person who may be interested in joining a.m. worship. While our winter visiting us for worship! The cards have basic info friends are with us, we have the wonder- and our website, where more information ful opportunity to make space for seasonal can be found. worshippers!
From the Worship Committee – Do you Know? We will be sharing some quotes from the EPC Book of Worship on a regular basis. Today’s excerpts are setting the foundation for worship, Chapter 2, 2-1.
Christmas poinsettias, a new way of ordering... Be sure to pick up a bulletin on Sunday, The acceptable way of worshipping God corpoNov. 24. Inside you will find an envelope rately is established by God Himself. Proper for ordering poinsettias to decorate our corporate worship is definite and outlined in sanctuary for the Christmas holiday. A God’s revealed will and is to be followed in poinsettia is a lovely way to remember a giving glory to Him. Proper worship therefore loved one at this special time of year, or to finds its foundation in Holy Scripture. Only just celebrate the joy of the season. Please God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are to fill in the information on the front of the receive such worship. Proper corporate worenvelope and enclose your $10.00 check or ship shall include: 1. the reverent and attencash, place it in the offertory plate, or give tive reading of the Scriptures, the sound it to an usher. If you miss the 24th, envepreaching, and conscientious hearing of the lopes will be available in the pews Word; 2. Singing of psalms, hymns, and spirthrough Sunday, Dec. 8. We will no longitual songs; 3. The proper administration and er be placing the sign-up sheet in the narreceiving of the sacraments; 4. Prayer with thex. You may take your flower home thanksgiving, and 5. The giving of tithes and after the third service on Christmas Eve. offerings.
Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • WINTER 2019/2020
CANTATA
Mikey Moomey, The Gathering Worship Director WHO ARE YOU GOING TO INVITE? Our vision at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church is “More People, More Like Christ”. In what ways can we continue to pursue this worthy goal? One way is to bring a friend to church. Half of Americans have no religious affiliation. From where are they gathering their strength? In what have they placed their hope? The Church has the greatest treasure the world has ever known, and we get to freely share that strength for life and hope for tomorrow! Let’s not assume that folks do not have interest in coming with us to worship or church activities. In our individualistic and private culture, many people hold their struggles close to their chest. Many are waiting to receive help, though they don’t even know it. The world is a difficult place to face alone. Bring a friend with you. Pick them up from their house or meet them in the parking lot. Greet them warmly. Sit by them. Open dialogue. Pray. Bring a friend… before the throne of God.
On Sunday, December 8, the Chancel Choir will present a cantata at the 8:15am and 9:45am worship services. The choir will be accompanied by orchestra, making it an extra special event. They will present “Magnificat” by Mark Hayes. The text of this piece is Luke 1:46-55, which is the song Mary sang after the angel Gabriel announced to her that she would bear a child—Jesus. The music was written specifically for a Carnegie Hall performance in 2007. It is very exciting and beautiful, so invite a friend to worship that day to experience the Advent joy through the power and majesty of music.
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WINTER 2019/2020
Mark your calendars! Bring a friend or neighbor to an event and share our breathtaking church and its members with our community. You can make a difference.
Saturday, December 14, at 4:00 PM Valley Chamber Chorale, A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols Celebrate the 2019 Yuletide Season. The program will feature Advent and Christmas readings, choral selections, and favorite carols, modeled after the annual service that has taken place in King’s College, Cambridge, England, every year since Christmas Eve of 1918. The Valley Chamber Chorale, conducted by Dr. Christopher Samuel, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enlightening the community and enriching its culture. The Chorale offers entertaining and educational concerts at a variety of venues throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan area. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • WINTER 2019/2020
Sunday, January 19, at 4:00 PM The Blackwood Brothers, The Best-Known Name in Gospel Music History The Blackwood Brothers have recorded over 200 albums and toured in 47 countries. They have won eight Grammy Awards and six Dove Awards and were inducted into the “Gospel Music Hall of Fame” in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1998. Billy, the original James Blackwood’s youngest son, sings baritone and is also a song writer. Billy played drums from his youth and used to be the opening act for the Elvis Presley Show. Wayne Little has sung for many quartets, most recently The Millennium. His crystal clear tenor voice amazes people across the country. Butch Owens most recently sang bass with The Songfellows Quartet. His solid low notes make a great foundation for the group. Jonathan Mattingly, the newest member of the quartet, sings lead. He grew up with the Mattingly family and sings with youthful enthusiasm. With over 80 years of offering high-quality traditional quartet harmonies, The Blackwood Brothers continue their rich legacy of gospel at its best. Also, plan to attend their Workshop prior to the concert from 2:30 to 3:30. Seating for the Workshop is limited, so call the office to reserve your spot.
Sunday, February 23, at 4:00 PM Forté Handbell Quartet “Four musicians, dozens of handbells and beautiful arrangements, Forté Handbell Quartet are known for their passion, faith, energy and always exiting programs!” (www.peakradar.com). Based in Colorado Springs, Forté is an advanced quartet marked by artistry, energy, and dedication to their craft. In pursuit of musical excellence, Forté strives to explore, innovate, inspire, and glorify God through the gift of music. They perform a wide variety of styles, including but not limited to Celtic, techno, pop-country, classical, contemporary Christian, and new age. Their goal is challenging audiences’ perceptions of what handbells can really do. You’re in for a real treat. Sign up for Forté’s Workshop to be held prior to the concert from 2:30 to 3:30. Seating for the Workshop is limited, so call the office to reserve your spot.
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A Season of Comfort and Joy?? Why do we have a caring ministry to meet people’s needs? Because the needs are there. Sometimes the needs are quiet and can go unnoticed. Sometimes people think, “My need isn’t important enough—I’ll go it alone.” Or we want to look the other way just as the three men did who preceded the Samaritan on the road to Jericho. The needs are there—people’s hearts are wounded, their lives broken. They need Christ’s love and healing. DHPC’s Walking Beside Ministry helps our church meet the many needs in our congregation and community. The holiday season which unofficially begins somewhere in early November and ends after New Year’s Day can be devastating for those who are grieving. This is a time of year where there is lots of hustle and bustle, socializing with family and shopping. We are all supposed to be in a good mood and festive. If we are fortunate to have a job, some of us are on vacation during this time.
1. Trust that Grief is Part of Healing Time doesn't heal the pain associated with a loss, it's what you do with that time that matters. Grief is the process by which you heal. Experiencing the pain-rather than constantly trying to escape it-can help you feel better in the long-term.
ful memories this year, be willing to say no. Other people may try to convince you to participate, but you certainly don't have to try and please everyone.
3. Focus on What You Can Control There are a lot of things you can't control about the holidays. You may So while it may be tempting to prebe subjected to Christmas music in tend the holidays don't exist, but the waiting room of your doctor's numbing the pain with alcohol or office or you may overhear your codrugs or by totally avoiding people workers constantly talking about will only prolong the anguish. Even- their holiday plans. While you can't tually, the holidays will get easier, prevent those things from happenbut only if you allow yourself to exing, there are some things you can perience the grief so you can begin to control. Think about what you can do to lessen the heartache when you can. It's OK to limit your decorations or shop for presents online only. Pick a few things you can do to assert some control over the holiday cheer and keep in mind, that life goes on for other people and it's OK that they're happy to celebrate this year.
4. Plan Ahead Often, the anticipation over how Perhaps the pain or grief is rooted in hard something is going to be is For anyone dealing with an illguilt for something you wish you worse than the actual event. So, ness, grief, or the loss of a loved one, had or hadn’t said or done. Then the while Thanksgiving dinner may only the holidays can be a time of sadness, first step to healing might be to forlast two hours, you could easily pain, anger, dread, and isolation. It give yourself. If you are sincerely spend three weeks dreading it. Crecan be difficult to cope, especially regretful, Christ has already forgiven ate a simple plan for how you'll get when you see the sights and sounds you. through the holidays to avoid exof holiday happiness all around you. 2. Set Healthy Boundaries tending your anguish. How can you begin to fill the empti- You certainly don't have to force Often, it's helpful to create an escape ness you feel when it seems that eve- yourself to face every holiday event plan. Drive yourself to holiday funcryone else is overflowing with joy? or celebratory tradition, however. If tions or ride with a trusted friend Here are a few strategies that you can attending a tree lighting ceremony or who will take you home whenever employ to help you get through this participating in the office gift swap is you want. Just knowing you can easitime. likely to bring about too many painly leave at any time can help you en-
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heal and move on with your life.
Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • WINTER 2019/2020
joy the activity much more than you would if you felt stuck.
tions this year too. It's OK to get creative and do something a little out of the ordinary. You can also alter old traditions and make them fit better with the new phase in your life.
grief in a healthy manner.
DHPC’s Walking Beside Ministry is 5. Allow Yourself to Feel a Range of presenting for our congregation and Emotions the community the following opporThe holidays can bring about a wide tunities to learn practical strategies range of emotions. You might feel 8. Do Something Kind for Others for making it through the holidays joy, guilt, and sadness all within a Even when you're in the midst of and a prayerful service to honor our few minutes. Allow yourself to feel personal grief or depression, you will losses. those emotions without judging still have something to offer the Surviving the Holidays November yourself or thinking you should be world. Performing a few acts of kind17 or December 8 2:30-4:30 PM happy or you shouldn't be laughing. ness can be good for the grieving The Longest Night Worship Service spirit. Donate gifts to families in 6. Find a Way to Honor Your MemoDecember 21 4:00 PM need, serve meals at a soup kitchen, ries ____________________ or volunteer to help people at a nursIf your pain is related to the loss of a ing home make holiday crafts. loved one, create a special way to Stephen Series, Written Resources memorialize the person you've lost. 9. Ask for Help Healing Emotional Pain and Loss by Bob LivWhether you decide to light a candle Don't be afraid to ask for help when ingstone, www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/facinggrief-and-loss-during-the-holidays every night or eat your loved one's you're struggling with the holidays. Holiday Survival Strategies for Coping with favorite food, honoring your loved Reminding loved ones that you're Grief by Angela Morrow, one can serve as a tangible reminder having a rough time may be enough, www.verywellhealth.com/getting-through-the -holidays that although your loved one is gone, but you also may want to reach out ibid the love never dies. for more support. Look for support How to Deal with Grief During the Holidays groups or contact a professional by Amy Morin, https:// 7. Create New Traditions counselor to help you deal with your www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/whatDon't be afraid to create new tradi-
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Third Congregational Nurse added… by Mary KayThurston, RN We would like to introduce you to Cyndi Moulton, RN. She recently finished her Faith Community Nursing Certification and is joining Veronica Fuller, BSN RN and Mary Kay Thurston, RN as a third Congregational Nurse for Desert Hills Presbyterian Church. She has been a member of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church since 1995. This is what Cyndi says about her life’s journey. “Born and raised in Vermont on a farm, number 5 of six. What a wonderful life. Off to Salem Massachusetts to become a nursing school diploma graduate, then back to Vermont. Did a short stint working in a small hospital setting where you even at times had to work in the ER, not my thing. Best job ever was when I started working for the local pediatrician. Spent 23 ½ years there while raising a daughter and a son. Then the snow drove me away to AZ where I worked at Del Webb Memorial Hospital in Acute Rehabilitation for the next 15 years. During that time, I became a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse and earned my Bachelor’s in Nursing for Phoenix College. Spent the next few years working for Humana Insurance and a Sun City West facility assessing and assisting with their care and medications on a part time schedule.” Cyndi recently retired and with some urging from Veronica and Mary Kay
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decided to take the Faith Community practices, living well and growing Nurse Training. spiritually through difficult decisions. We can also serve as referral Faith Community Nursing is a resource persons to help provide reliunique, specialized practice of proable links to community, state and fessional nursing that focuses on the federal healthcare resources. A Faith Community Nurse is required to have an active/current Registered Nurse License in the state where she is practicing and has to have completed the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course which is taught by the Duet Partners in Health and Wellness organization here in Phoenix, Arizona.
Cyndi Moulton, RN (pictured on the right) with her granddaughter. promotion of health and wellness within the context of the values, beliefs and practices of the faith community. We offer spiritual care and support through prayer, biblical references, active listening, affirmation, encouragement and congregational care. We try to help individuals explore ways to cope more effectively with health and wellness concerns. We try to help promote good health
Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • WINTER 2019/2020
Jesus’ healing/caring ministry when He was here on Earth is a beautiful example how He wants us to reach out with loving, compassionate hearts and give others our “presence” and remind them of “His Presence and His Love for each of us”. It is a blessing and an honor to serve as the Congregational Nurses here at DHPC and we look forward to continuing in this service. 1 Peter 4:10-11, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms…………….. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
Description of DHPC Care Ministry… By Veronica Fuller, BSN, RN This is a continuing description of our ministry. In past issues of the Echoes, we have described the Care Council, the work of the church nurses, and the parish shepherds. We also have a prayer ministry team led by Cathie Hoxie and Pat Nichols. Answering the call of Jesus to pray for each other, this is done primarily on Monday mornings and after each service when those needing prayer are invited to come to the front of the sanctuary.
encourage praying by the congregation. We have made postcards for others to let loved ones know they are prayed for in love. A grief support group is led by Dr. Pat Mosely. It is a faith-based support group for those experiencing grief and loss.
The care ministry teams all work together to show God’s love and care for our church members. Our hope and prayers are that no one faces difficult times alone, without the warm embrace of our church family.
A meal ministry called “Lots of Helping Hands”, is led by Lisa Loran, providing our members needing home cooked meals with deliveries for up to two weeks.
At Easter and Christmas we provide special prayer devotional books to
By Laurann Cook
The Ace and Margaret Fogdall Scholarship was established to encourage and promote education through a scholarship fund designed to provide an annual stipend to dedicated and worthy students who by their contribution to church school and community have demonstrated good Christian character. The scholarship is given to supplement expenses incurred while pursuing a curriculum that leads to an undergraduate college degree.
The Fogdall Scholarship is available to high school graduates who are members, or affiliates of DHPC or members of Leupp Presbyterian Church. Students must maintain at least a “B” average for each academic year (3.0 GPA). Regular participation in community and church activities is strongly recommended . The DHPC Scholarship Committee provides the oversight of these funds and interacts regularly with the students.
The recipients for this year’s scholarships are: Kennedy Nelson – Sophomore Makyla Allison – Junior (Leupp Church) Quinn Kelso – Senior Christine Gordon – Sophomore Joesph Pitts – Freshman Nathaniel Everett – Freshman Zach Hoffman – Freshman Madison McCabe – Freshman (Leupp Church)
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Ed & Nan McCallum Our travels lately as global workers with EPC’s mission arm, World Outreach, are taking us mainly to Vietnam and Myanmar (formerly Burma). We would never have imagined or planned what we are doing now, but God has opened the doors. He has given us a continuing eagerness to learn and an opportunity to “redeploy” the skills, knowledge, and experience we have developed over the years. “In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10, Easy-to-Read Version). We work in partnership with a seminary in Myanmar and Bible College in Vietnam to train leaders to reach out to those who have little to no exposure to the truth of new life in Christ. The goal is to see them plant churches that blossom quickly into daughter churches who continue to multiply. January, March, and October 2020 will take us to back both places multiple times.
ment in the northern mountains in the 1990s through broadcasts from the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC). A minority people group, the “H”, heard the gospel mainly on radios the government had provided for national communication. As they didn’t speak Vietnamese, they turned the dial and found the gospel and worship songs in their heart language! After Ed told that story, a Vietnamese -American (an EPC Ruling Elder) who was ushering that morning almost had to pick his jaw up from the floor. He is the nephew of the man who produced those broadcasts! Small world! He’d been praying for his church to develop a heart for the Vietnamese and didn’t know that we had been assigned to this new focus area for ITEN. As a result of this connection we have been able to spend a day with the program producer, Uncle “T”, and his wife in Orange County, CA learning history of Christian growth and struggles in the midst of war, famine, and Communism. It gets even better… Uncle “T” is a significant father figure of president of government-recognized the Bible College with whom we partner. Being able to show a picture of us with Uncle “T” added credibility of who we are and a helpful relational connection. There is no way we could have foreseen or orchestrated all these divine appointments.
Since many at DHPC have strong memories of Vietnam, we thought you would be encouraged to hear how God is at work there today and how you are involved as one of our supporting churches. We have been laying the groundwork for a program to train leaders who will train others mainly in a rural mountainous area. The Bible College graduated its first God has amazed us with very helpful class of 30 evangelists in 2019, mostly relational open doors. from “H” villages, who will need anWhile Ed was preaching at a support- other year of church leadership expeing church near Philadelphia he rience to be called pastors. Imagine shared about a church planting move- 1000 village churches scattered in
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dense mountains, with 350,000+ members who communicate best in their “H” language but don’t read it. Most of the leadership without Bibles, listening to the FEBC radio program for training. To address this need, the Bible College asked ITEN to provide a parallel track to train 30 selfreplicating leaders, which has become one of Ed’s main responsibilities. In March, Ed will teach Interpreting Scripture and another team member will teach on Spiritual Formation. Each class will have printed class notes that will be translated into Vietnamese and “H”. Participants will take back 20 additional copies for those they train back home. Six months later our class will regather to debrief and take two more classes. Prayerfully this three-year system could train 600 people who alsoreplicate and take God’s love into new areas. Also we’re in conversation to get each congregation auditory solar devices through Faith Comes By Hearing so they can hear the New Testament. Exciting, eh? We think so. Thank you for your supportive prayers and warm fellowship at DHPC! Thank you for the Navajo jewelry donated at the Fall Faith Festival that we present on behalf of DHPC and Leupp when we travel to these global leaders. We’d love to draw you personally into this process. Contact us to find out more and/or to sign up for our monthly electronic newsletter. ENMcc15@gmail.com Ed: 734-6346455 Nan: 734-751-3505. www.ITENGlobal.org
Ed & Nan McCallum
Ed McCallum preaching & serving communion.
Group picture is from a church in large city where Ed preached. 2 weeks prior the local government had locked the doors of this church and told the pastor that they couldn't meet anymore. When he talked to his mentor about the situation the advice was, "Go back next Sunday and have your service! Persecution is to be expected here." The police didn't come back the next week, nor when we were scheduled to be there! How we take for granted the ability to gather freely for worship .
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by Rhonda Noble Our sister church, Leupp Pres., came down to visit us for the weekend, Oct. 19-20, 2019. On Saturday, they helped us put on our Fall Faith Festival, from hauling tables and chairs to making snow cones to taking shifts at various ministry tables. In the evening, everyone attended a casual dinner at one of three homes, and there was much singing, chatting, laughing, and even some football!
wards, everyone attended a potluck lunch in Fellowship Center, to hear how the Poland Mission Trip went, in which both churches sent missionaries. Laura Hoffman showed a slide show detailing where we went and what we did in Poland, and Autumn Mitchell from LPC and Jeffrey Anthony from DHPC gave their testimonies of how the trip affected both the Polish people we met, and those of us on the trip. Afterwards, each Sunday, we were blessed to praise family from Leupp was given a the Lord with our fellow Navajo Blessing Jar, to record their blessings Christians! The Spirit was present as and to review as a family, on New both cultures joined in worship, singYear’s Eve. ing and praising our Savior. After-
Thank you to the following folks for being an OH (Overnight Host) and/or a DH (Dinner Host) when our Navajo Sister Church visited! Your gracious hospitality was greatly appreciated! Jackie and Oran Brown, OH Nancy Clarke, OH Laura & Joel Hoffman, OH Cathy & George Hoxie, OH Rev. Jean Martin, OH Charla & Nick Matich, OH & DH Jim & Rhonda Noble, OH & DH Alexis & Mike Popovich, OH Marygrace & Jim Powell, DH Mary Kay & John Thurston, OH
Some of the youth had a really fun time playing “Apples to Apples” at the Noble home, Saturday afternoon.
One of several ministry booths, the ITEN booth taught how to make paper beads and share the gospel at the same time. 27 Navajo necklaces were donated by DHPC folks to ITEN for its global ministry!
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Tyler Marsh, 2 ½ yrs. old, made his own necklace with Jack Monroe.
Pictured are Cathy and George Hoxie with their guests, children Jai and Myles Jack, grandchildren to Martin and Lorena Jack, and Lorena’s Auntie Peggy James.
George and I had a wonderful time hosting a family from Leupp with 3 generations from an elderly to the children. We remembered when we had hosted them 5 years ago when Myles was just a baby and how we had given him a little football to play with because he had the same name as a well-known football player, Myles Jack. It was interesting to hear Peggy talk about her many years driving around the reservation to supervise all the Head Start programs. She is not really retired now because she still supervises grandchildren and great grandchildren making sure they get off to school. We also learned how the
older children are getting a good education through the remote high school they connect to through the internet. This keeps them from having to travel many hours to school. It was good talking with them, getting to know them and realizing that our lives may be different in some ways but we are all one family in Christ. We have the same God and he is always faithful. --Cathy Hoxie --One long-time member attended one of the dinners and he said he was pleasantly surprised that “they actually talked!” Navajo
folks are humble, quiet folks, but they do love to share in conversations and have a good laugh. The best way to experience this is to join in on one of the Saturday night dinners we have! --Gerald Todacheenie and Autumn Mitchell shared that they had a fantastic time at Charla and Nick Matich’s home, for dinner. They said they had some great conversations, lots of delicious food, and lots of fun! They got to know many more DHPC folks!
Support Your Local Military Base Luke Air Force Base ~ $10 -$25 grocery gift cards ~ Gift cards will be collected on the patio, between worship services. February 2nd, 9th, and 16th ********************************* Fry’s, Albertson’s, Bashas’, Safeway, or Super Walmart. Cash donations will purchase gift cards for the base’s Commissary. The Air Force Aid Society distributes grocery gift cards throughout the year to airmen and their families who require financial assistance. For more information, please contact Shirley Klein, Troop Care Ministry, at ShirleyMKlein@gmail.com
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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church 34605 N. Tom Darlington Road Scottsdale, Arizona 85266
PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE
Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Phone: 480-488-3384 Fax: 480-488-0850 E-mail: admin@deserthills.org Website: deserthills.org SUMMER WORSHIP (June-September) Traditional 9:00am *Youth “Sunday Study” (grades 4-12) 9:50am “The Gathering” Contemporary 10:30am Childcare and Sunday School (ages 3-grade 3) is offered for all services. WORSHIP (October-May) Traditional 8:15am and 9:45am *Youth “Sunday Study” (grades 4-12) 10:35am “The Gathering” Contemporary 11:10am Childcare and Sunday School (ages 3-grade 3) is offered for all services. *Except on the first Sunday of the month.
CHURCH DASHBOARD
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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • WINTER 2019/2020
provided by Bobi Tomlon, Controller