2021 Spring Echoes

Spring 2021 Desert Hills Presbyterian Church

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • SPRING 2021

Spring 2021

Save the date…

Saturday, May 22, 2021 8:30am-12:00pm at the DHPC Fellowship Center or via Zoom cost is $20 (includes supplies & snacks)

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DHPC Fellowship presents…

SAGUARO LAKE BOAT TOUR Thursday, May 20th, 8:30am (meet at church to carpool) Cost for tour: $21 (lunch extra)

Join us for restful fellowship and purposeful time in God’s Word!

The works of the LORD are great. - Psalm 111:2

Please see upcoming Sunday bulletins for more details.

Register via email blast, website: www.deserthills.org or call the church office (480) 488-3384 Deadline for registration is May 2nd.

Register via email blast, website: www.deserthills.org or call the church office (480) 488-3384 Deadline for registration is May 17th.

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • SPRING 2021

Senior Pastor’s Message

Student Ministry

Assistant Pastor’s Message

Children’s Ministry

Outreach Opportunities

Lay Leaders of DHPC

Walking Beside

Church Dashboard

Congregational Nurses

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church 34605 N. Tom Darlington Road Scottsdale, Arizona 85266 Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Phone: 480-488-3384 Fax: 480-488-0850 E-mail: admin@deserthills.org Website: deserthills.org WORSHIP (October-May) 8:00am 9:30am 11:00am SUMMER WORSHIP (June-September) TBD

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.

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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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • SPRING 2021

Jim Noble, Senior Pastor jnoble@deserthills.org 480-488-3384

The Grand Re-Opening We’ve all been eagerly awaiting the grand re-opening of our community from all the COVID restrictions. We’ve missed seeing each other, handshakes and hugs, breaking bread together, and serving the Lord in our community. As things begin to re-open, please keep your elders and deacons in your prayers as they seek the wisdom of the Lord on how to balance protecting the venerable with setting us free from mask and the like.

We do still have folks who are vulnerable even though there is a vaccine. Some of these folks are unable to take the vaccine because of medical conditions or treatments.

They are counting on us to get the vaccine and help make them safe. If appropriate for you, please get the vaccine. I also appreciate those of you who are vulnerable expressing your understanding and even support for others being freed from masks and returning to normal as soon as possible. You all have modeled putting others before yourself as Christ taught us.

Putting others before oneself is most clearly demonstrated for us in Christ’s death on the cross for our salvation which we recall each holy week. He could have just taken care of himself and been completely justified in not dying for sinners. Instead, the Lord publicly displayed his love for humanity by taking on the sins of the world and dying to set us free from sin, death, and the devil.

The Grand Re-Opening occurred on the third day when the tomb was opened again and he was bodily raised from the dead. Now the eager anticipation that humanity will return to the way God desired at creation before sin entered the world and human hearts. As Christians we know the Grand Re-Opening begun at Easter and we work to further its coming into the world until the Lord returns and all is complete. Through us God makes his plea, “Open your hearts once again to God and each other!”

Thank you, DHPC, for all your efforts to make real both our grand re-opening from the pandemic, and most especially your efforts make real the Grand Re-Opening begun with our Lord’s resurrection.

Christ is Risen!

Jim

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • SPRING 2021

Brett Everett, Assistant Pastor beverett@deserthills.org 480-488-3384

Created WITH Excellence FOR Excellence One of my favorite and most personally challenging verses of Scripture is Ephesians 2:10 which says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” And the reason it lists among my favorite “go to” verses, is it reminds me that my life is no accident and that I am in fact, on display for all the world to see. As one who battled self-esteem issues growing up (and occasionally still does), this verse was monumental in helping me to understand that my existence was no small thing in God’s eyes. For I, like each of you is God’s handiwork… His masterpiece… His POEM! That’s right, the Greek word translated here as “handiwork” is “poiayma”, which is where we get our English word “poem.” And this certainly adds an interesting perspective to our day-to-day lives, does it not?

Think about what the Apostle Paul is suggesting here. We are God’s masterpiece in all of creation… His crowning achievement… His magnum opus! We are created with EXCELLENCE. And yet, if we read on in Ephesians 2:10, we discover that being God’s masterpiece comes with a challenge or a cost (or I would argue a great blessing!). For God did not simply create us to be a beautiful trophy to place upon a mantel. Rather, He created us to do good works such that, by and through our lives, we somehow craft this beautiful poem for all the world to read... and more im-

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portantly, to catch a glimpse of the One who created us… the Master Artist (or Poet in this case).

In addition, we know the Apostle Paul also exhorts us to do all that we do for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), with all our heart (Colossians 3:23), and in such a way that we present ourselves to God as those approved (2 Timothy 2:15). And certainly, these verses are telling us that, in all that we do, we must give God our very best and serve Him with excellence.

And therein lies the challenge for me, for we can be certain that this exhortation to live our lives as God’s living, breathing poem and serving Him with excellence, is not about us gaining accolades, applause, or special standing before Him for our self-effort. Rather, it is about us seeking to honor Him and trusting that His grace, power, strength, and counsel are sufficient to accomplish all He wishes to accomplish through us for His glory and for the advancement of His kingdom. By the way, I personally love how Paul described it in Titus 2:10, for he contends that our objective in serving God as Christ followers should be, in everything we do, to “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way (CEB).” No pressure here, right?

Consequently, how are we to do this?

How are we to make Christ and the gospel message more attractive by the way we conduct ourselves each day?

Perhaps a great place to start is by

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • SPRING 2021

remembering that giving our best means giving all of ourselves or the “whole of who we are” unto the Lord.

Recall the Great Commandment found in Matthew 22:37 instructs us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Mark 12:30 adds all our strength as well). Recall, Paul also instructs us in Romans 12:1 to present ourselves as living sacrifices “holy and pleasing to God.” What this implies then is that we should not serve the Lord half-heartedly, half-awake, or at half-strength (or energy). Rather we must be “all in” and, as I used to say to my soccer teams, “leave it all on the pitch with no regrets.”

Another thing we can do to ensure we are giving excellence is to give from our first fruits. In other words, we need to make sure God is not getting the “leftovers” of our time, efforts, talents, resources, and treasures.

Thus, serving with excellence means we simply cannot compartmentalize our lives as many of us may be tempted to do – thinking somehow that we can carve out time for God, time for ourselves, time for work and play, time for family and friends, etc. On the contrary, all the time that the Lord gifts us with on this earth must be seen as His time.

And what we choose to do or not to do during that time must glorify Him. Well, perhaps you are asking, “Pastor, why the lesson on serving with excellence?” Simply put, Desert Hills Presbyterian Church has an ambitious

plan for moving forward together as we “dare to be new.” We truly believe that the event of the last year have us poised to make a huge impact upon our community and prayerfully even more farreaching than that. But, we cannot do it without each of us corporately using our time, talents, and gifts to build up the body, support each other, share the ministry load, and frankly, to fulfill God’s will and vision for our church.

Indeed, I am convinced that there is a need and place for everyone in our church family to pick one area, ministry, or activity and to commit to serving

the Lord there with excellence.

Not sure what area of ministry might be a good fit for you or what God might be leading you to do? Or what strengths, gifts, or passions you possess? Wondering if indeed you have the energy, time or capacity to serve?

Please, let’s talk! I would love to help you plug in to any of the great and numerous opportunities for service at DHPC. Oh, and one more thing… as you prayerfully consider where God might be leading you to serve DHPC and our community with excellence, please re-

member you really only need be accountable to Him. Pray then that God might grant to you a clear sense of His leading and calling. And as you do, know that I would be honored if you might choose to bounce your thoughts and ideas off me. I’ll even buy the coffee!

Let us truly serve the Lord together with excellence that we might be a beacon of Christ’s light for our community and a true and living poetic representation of God’s handiwork!

All for His glory! ~Pastor Brett

WHAT IS A MIRCO GROUP?

PRAYER PARTNERS WANTED: MISSION:

TIMING: CONTACT:

First Responder Prayer Partners Show God’s love to a local firefighter, EMT or police officer by committing to praying for them regularly and sending a card monthly.

We will contact you with the name and address of a person requesting prayer.

Please email Linda Stringer at prahalinda@hotmail.com to sign up.

A Micro Group is a group of three or four people who gather together weekly in a caring and supportive environment to explore what it means to be a follower of Christ and to come alongside each other in a mutual journey of spiritual growth.

If you are interested in learning more about participating in a Micro Group please contact: Cathy Hoxie: (510) 207-1544 / choxie512@gmail.com or Bill Billard: (517) 290-5029 / billard1@cox.net

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • SPRING 2021

LAY LEADERS

acknowledgement of appreciation by Dave Hulbert, Elder for Leadership Development

The purpose of the Walking lowing a death, providing Taught a neighbor how to Beside Ministry is to share moral and spiritual support stream church services in Christ’s love and care with peowith the decisions that had their home. ple experiencing life challenges to be made, and discussed Provided Christmas “goodie and transitions by walking with options in total confidence bags” to the sick and homethem for a while in a difficult related to wills, trusts, powbound. season offering support, prayer, ers of attorney, finances, tax- Think about it … What happens or merely a kind word. We rees, etc. after the memorial service for spond to the needs of our conShopped for groceries for a your spouse? What happens gregation and our community shut-in. when health issues force you to by assisting our pastors in Cooked meals for the sick decide between moving into a providing a quality, carcare facility or receiving ing ministry to the bein-home care? What do reaved, hospitalized, teryou do and how do you minally ill, separated, dicope when you are vorced, unemployed, rehomebound, and the located, or those facing a coronavirus is plaguing crisis. the nation and dominatWe are trained in the ing the airwaves? basic skills of listening, You don’t have to carry confidentiality, and your burden alone. Pick setting boundaries and up the phone and call the Front row, left to right: Marsha Lindquist, Sara Sebransky, Thea Miller 2nd row, left to right: Moon Kahn, Laurann Cook, are taught to rely on and church office at 480-488 Barb Conti, Shirley Klein, & Steve Haver. Team members be dependent upon the -3384. Beth will put you not present: Joe Gilleland, Chris McQueen, Nancy Taylor Spirit’s work in the life of in touch with a member of the person we walk with. We and confined. our team or one of our pastors. strive to provide meaningful Helped a couple work We are loving, compassionate and effective care for our broththrough decisions to cease listeners who will walk with ers and sisters when physical, housekeeping and relocate to you for a while during your spiritual, or emotional needs exa senior living center. time of need. ist.

Ran errands for those in Barb Conti 602-448-7280 In addition to our visitation, need.

Laurann Cook 714-270-8121 grief, and card ministries, some Provided transportation to Joe Gilleland 480-575-8406 of the ways in which we redoctor appointments for Moon Kahn 480-391-2034 sponded with the love of Christ someone who couldn’t drive. Shirley Klein 602-881-0936 to the needs of our people last Helped an individual learn Marsha Lindquist 480-513-1132 Sara Sebransky 480-888-6192 year are as follows: how to walk independently Walked with someone folagain.

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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • SPRING 2021

DHPC Congregational Nurses Featured in the Feb. 2021 Duet Partners In Health & Aging Newsletter

Faith Community Ministry Spotlight...

Our spotlight this month is on Cyndi Moulton, RN, BSN, and Mary Kay Thurston, RN. They constitute the team of congregational nurses for Desert Hills Presbyterian Church (DHPC) in Carefree / North Scottsdale, Arizona Both have extensive professional nursing experience as well as volunteer experience. Mary Kay has lengthy experience as a faith community nurse in Illinois and in Arizona. Not only has she worked in several outpatient clinics, but she also has worked with patients with diabetes, training them on how to use their insulin pumps. Cyndi’s vast career covers practical experiences in hospitals, a pediatric outpatient office, and long-term care and acute care rehabilitation environments. This is their FCN history in their own words: In 2013 the Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Associate Pastor asked Mary Kay Thurston, RN to help start a Congregational Nurse Ministry at the church. She had

been a Parish Nurse at her church in Peoria, IL for a year and a half before moving to Arizona in 2006.

She took the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course in the spring of 2014 as well as an RN Refresher Course at Mesa Community College. Cyndi Moulton, RN BSN joined our team at

DHPC in the fall of 2019 after taking the FCN Foundations Class.

We typically hold monthly Blood Pressure Clinics and coordinate Flu & Pneumonia Vaccination clinics in the fall when there is no Covid-19 Pandemic preventing us from doing so. Hospital and Nursing Home visits have not been allowed since March, but we have continued with many phone calls, text messages, emails, some

home visits, supplying rides to doctor appointments, running some errands for our homebound to keep them connected with the church and give spiritual encouragement. DHPC did Live streaming of their worship services from the middle of March and continue to do so. Since in-person church with limited seating started again in July we have been checking everyone’s temperature as they arrived to attend our Worship Services and made sure all wore masks. Our services continue to be live streamed for those not comfortable with attending in person.

Even with the limitations put on our ministry together we made 4590 contacts with people, drove 5074 miles and worked 1050 hours.

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, give others our “presence” and remind them of “His Presence”. It is a blessing and an honor to serve as the Congregational Nurses for DHPC. We are happy to serve and to God be the glory. - Cyndi Moulton, RN BSN & Mary Kay Thurston, RN

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • SPRING 2021

by Chris Haidet, Director of Family & Student Ministries We have a lot of exciting things building as we approach the summer and are finally getting back to normal, even if it’s a new normal. But before we venture into our activities, I want to share what happened at our Build-Up event in April. On the 17th, we hosted an event focused on training up our students in the arts. The Build-Up event had professional training in Drums, Keys, Guitars, Bass, Videography, and Drama. We also had Steve Russo, who was a youth evangelist with the Graham Association, Focus on the Families

ing for a place to belong. We are hoping this new platform will help spread the news of our DHPC Student Ministry (The HangOut) and provide a fun and uplifting environment. You can access our website at hangoutnation.com.

Bible Series In May, we will be in our series

“Habits.” When it comes to good relationships, connection is key. But, connection takes time. And that can be complicated when we talk about a good relationship with God, who we can’t see or touch. That’s why learning about different ways to connect with God and getting to know Him better is so important. Because like any relationship, with the right habits in place, connection is more likely to happen. And the more we connect with God, the deeper our faith goes. This series will last the entire month of May. Summer 2021 This summer we have local events like pool parties, scavenger hunts, broom teen radio host, and a professional hockey and more. We will have regiondrummer and member of the Recording al trips to California for camp and a trip Academy (Grammys). Steve spoke to to the beach and amusement parks. We our students at the Build-Up event and will be heading up north for a 3-day to our students on Sunday evening during youth group. We had 21 students and instructors. We had a great turn out from our Boy Scout Troop 603 (whom we’ve formed a strong partnership with this year) and our reports back have been encouraging.

We continue to upgrade our Student Ministry website. This website is for our students and parents and features helpful links, life change videos, blogs, events, and a full calendar and links to our friends, partners, and social media adventure river trip and finally, we will platforms. The website is also designed be starting our preparations for Jamaica to be a gateway for new students look- Missions 2022.

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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • SPRING 2021

Wednesday Nights August 18th, we will be launching our Wednesday night midweek program (The HangOut) for students after several months of delay. This will be a highenergy program designed to be a welcoming first experience to our student ministries. Will have live music, drama, games, a snack bar, a game room, videos, and a message geared to introducing Jesus to all who come. We will also be gearing up for our Friday Night Light program as we reach out to local schools at their varsity football games.

The HangOut is a place where students can be known, make friends, share talents, and experience the love and message of Jesus. Along with our midweek program, we will be continuing small groups, service teams, leadership teams, hosting events, and on-going activities, camps, and trips. Everything we do can be found on our calendar at thehangoutnation.com.

If you have a student who has yet to come, now would be the perfect time.

As we head into summer, we will have more time to bond as a group, introduce new ones, and prepare for what lies ahead this fall. Youth group is so important for middle and high school students to develop relationships, hear messages geared for their age, and develop skills that will prepare them for their life long journey with God. I STRONGLY encourage parents to use this ministry. I am so excited for where God is taking this ministry, and the people he is bringing alongside to help lead. If you would be interested in joining this team, please contact me or a member of our student ministry committee, and will get you plugged in.

by Susan Constance, Elder for Children’s Ministry Who, who? If you read the Children’s Ministry piece in the

Chris and Dave Zoeteway began building the stage areas for the Clubhouse (preschool) and Studio 15. This project lasted most of January! During this time Children’s Ministry Team worked in the classrooms, equipping them for the Orange Program, learned about curriculum presentation, Winter Edition of Echoes, you which is video driven, and did may recall “Ollie” the owl is the security training. The last week mascot in the Clubhouse. As Ol- before our opening, George Parlie flies into the Clubhouse each ker and our Pastor Jim did extenSunday to the delight of the pre- sive painting, and Pastor Brett schoolers, he says “Who, who?”. worked on some of the technical Now you are going to learn jobs along with Colton Minter about some “whos” who have who came from Texas to make worked very hard in preparation certain we were, technically for our Sunday School program speaking, savvy!!! named “Orange”.

January 31st was opening day, and the kiddos came and reunited with their teachers, and, in some cases, met new ones! At any rate, it was a glorious “homecoming”!!

Beginning in December, the At present our teachers Children’s Ministry Team met are: Bonnie Culler, Leslie frequently for work days deFajardo, Sharon Zinser, signed to repurpose many spaces Cyndi Moulton, Dave Zoin both of our buildings with a eteway, and Liz Cottrell, plan drawn up by Chris Haidet, nursery. Helpers from the our staff member in charge of youth are Hannah Everett, Children and Youth Education.

Katelyn Noble and Riley In Fellowship Center Richard Taylor.

Cook and helpers went to work taking out a wall to accommodate the worship stage for Studio 15 which will be home to first through sixth graders. Next, Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • SPRING 2021

Meet...Charlotte Foster-Wills

by Dave Hulbert, Elder for Leadership Development A member of DHPC since October 2016. Charlotte says that God has sent her here every step of the way. After selling her house in Georgia it took her fourteen months to be lead to Carefree. While on her way to visit her daughter in Scottsdale, she says that God told her she was going to live here. After refusing four active DHPC members’ invitations to visit the church she finally agreed and fell in love with God’s spirit the first time she walked up those steps. She said God told her she was home.

Charlotte says that God has saved her life more than six times and that now it is her turn to pay it forward and be the hands and feet of God.

What does Charlotte love? She loves God, her family, friends, church and furry babies. She watches the furry babies to relieve the stress of the babies and owners while they are traveling.

Charlotte sends out over 130 homemade cards every month to people to put a smile on their face and to remind them that God is in charge and that they are never alone with God’s love. She gives her time to the homebound by visiting with them, taking them to doctors, restaurants, grocery or other shopping. Charlotte takes cases of water and grocery cards to fire departments to thank them for their selfless service. She also hands out nail files with scriptures and business cards with the

CHURCH DASHBOARD provided by Bobi Tomlon, Controller

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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church ECHOES • SPRING 2021

DHPC address and invites people to visit the church. Friends have asked her why she does this; she tells them she feels compelled.

Charlotte says her goal is to spread cheer, smiles, laughter and God’s love, light and spirit.