Echoes of DHPC | April - May 2017

April - May 2017

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church

Echoes

“I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.�

And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices."

Hebrews 10:17-18

Echoes

April - May 2017

IN THIS ISSUE:

03 Pastor's Message 04 Music and Arts Festival 06 First-Time Visitors 07 N ational Day of Prayer 07 H omeless Hygiene Kits

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Desert Hills 50th Anniversary

Dashboard

Lord's Supper in Covenant Groups Covenant Groups Membership / Learning About Us From the Congregational Nurse

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.

Echoes is published every other month by and for the congregation of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church in Carefree, Arizona. If you have received this publication by mistake or you would like to no longer subscribe to the magazine, simply call the DHPC office at 480-4883384 or write to admin@deserthills.org.

The lead time for the publication is four weeks before the first month displayed on the cover. For the June-July issue, deadline for submissions is May 10.

Contributions from any and all DHPC members are always welcome!

Simply e-mail your documents and pictures to editor@deserthills.org or drop them off at the church office.

The Echoes staff welcomes any and all feedback. If you would like to submit any questions, concerns or comments about the contents of this publication, please send them to editor@deserthills.org or drop them by the church office and we’ll make sure they are read and addressed as promptly as possible. Please allow 2-4 weeks for any necessary replies.

If you have been blessed with the ability to write or take pictures and feel called to use your talents to serve the Lord, Echoes would love to have you be part of our editorial team! Just call Patrick McAvoy at 602-549-7217 or write us at editor@deserthills.org.

Pastor’s Message Jim Noble, Senior Pastor

jnoble@deserthills.org 480-488-3384

Praising the Lord for 50 Years As Desert Hills Presbyterian Church celebrated its 50th Anniversary, I prepare to celebrate my twelfth year of ministry at the church. That’s right, twelve years ago on April first we arrived from Indiana to the warmest welcome and excitement for what God was going to do next in our lives. We were impressed with the depth of faith and love we discovered at Desert Hills. People who love to go deep in God’s word and learn from the greats of church history. People who loved one another and who were genuinely interested in each other’s lives. People committed to blessing their community through the Food Bank, Caring Corps, Chaplaincy for the Homeless, and Salvation Army. These traits have never wavered or failed and we continue to be in awe and count ourselves blessed to be a part of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church.

Over the past twelve years the church worked to start four new churches, two of which today are filled with people glorifying God, blessing their communities, and are self-sustaining. We’ve started numerous covenant groups, participated in Carefree Christmas, and volunteered in serving the community. We built and paid for the Fellowship Center and spent four years discerning God’s call upon us regarding denominational affiliation. Through all the work and changes we pledged not to change who we are in character, to stick together, proclaim the Gospel and guard each other’s heart in Jesus Christ.

I remember my family's first trip to visit our sister church at Leupp Presbyterian Church. There was that instant feeling of being family. On that trip I asked Eunice to teach me some Navajo. I was expecting her to start with the basics such as, hello, please, and thank you. Eunice gave me a phrase that I struggled to learn. I then asked, “What does that mean?” She

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answered, “I love you.” She really was teaching me the basics of the Gospel and being brothers and sisters in Christ. Over the years we’ve ventured with Leupp to Jamaica and Scotland and found other brothers and sisters in Christ who also know the basics, “I love you.”

Where will God take us as we step into His future?

I honestly don’t know. When I first arrived I could not have predicted all that we have discovered and accomplished together. I do know that there will be challenges in our future. The world and society are changing and their views and perspectives of Christianity and church are changing as well. Then I think of a small group of people meeting in a home in 1967 who discerned the Spirit’s call to be more than just a Bible study or fellowship group, they knew they were called by God to be a church. They did not focus on what they did not have or know, the potential obstacles, or the changing world around them (society and culture were changing back then as well). Together in prayer they discerned the call of the Spirit and responded by putting one foot in front of another. They had no guarantee of success, but they knew if they fell they would fall moving forward toward God and into His out-stretched arms.

Thank you and happy anniversary, Desert Hills Presbyterian Church. May God’s richest blessings be with you now and always.

Peace in Christ,

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Jim

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2017 MUSIC ANd

ARTS FESTIVAL

Many art and music lovers attended the Festival, finding inspiration and good fellowship! Many of the classes were hands-on experiences, while others offered professional demonstrations.

Gail Thiele shared the art of creating a hand-designed silk scarf. Each participant made the scarf “their own” by the choice of colors and patterns which appealed to them.

Judie Preston talked about the Chinese Art of Placement.

The class learned helpful tips to create an inviting environment in their homes, using an overview of placement which is pleasing to the eye!

We were pleased that Lorraine Cooper of Brady’s Floral Gallery at the Phoenician agreed to give generously of her time, sharing her ability to gather flowers together into a work of art! She arranged sunflowers into a beautiful topiary, all the while explaining the methods used to accomplish the finished effect!

The students in Carolyn Oates’ and Carol DeMarcus’ class had the opportunity to choose a variety of beads, and fashion them into necklaces, bracelets and earrings according to their personal taste.

Teri Ferro took the class through the steps in creating a Shutterfly book, first, uploading the pictures to be used in a theme-based memory book, and then following the prompts, step-by-step, to the finished product.

The Music and Arts Festival has never offered a class in flower arranging, but this year we were fortunate to have two: one a demonstration, the other a hands-on topiary class taught by our own Carol Mensing and her friend Cheryl Burns!! All the ladies enjoyed this class, choosing their flowers and then learning the step-by-step process to the finished, beautiful result!!

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Susie Wilson shared her musical skills in a fun class called “Singing Well Out of the Shower”!! She taught the pupils how the singing voice works and can change sound.

Afterward they demonstrated each method of singing for the entire group of festival participants. Susie Wilson sings in the DHPC choir and in the Dallas Symphony Chorus. She is now retired from teaching voice and conducting choral groups.

There was an off-campus Steel Sculpture class taught by Jonathan Thiele. The men had an enjoyable time learning welding techniques, and then using them to create a beautiful steel frame adorned with a cross.

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Music and Arts will offer two stand-alone classes in the near future. Sue Palmer will teach a class entitled, “Writing Your Life – Writing a Memoir for Family or for Publication.” The other will be taught by Liz Cottrell in creating “Busy Books for Toddlers” – a unique hand-sewn felt book, with choices varying from abc’s, counting, puppets, funny faces, dress-up, work tools, cars and beyond.

Many comments were shared by participants afterward: •

fellowship was great”

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“had fun learning a new craft”

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“met new friends!”

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“lunch was delicious”

How wonderful it is that God has given His people wonderful gifts to share, and friends to enjoy!!!! Praise Him!!!!

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REMEMBER BEING A FIRST-TIME VISITOR?

By Nan Boyer-Searle New visitors can often feel overwhelmed in with many other visitors. With all the new faces, it is easier to shrink back than continually reach out, especially when there is the possibility for embarrassment that comes with asking someone if he is new, only to find out he’s been coming for several months.

In smaller churches with fewer visitors, newcomers are usually greeted, but they often don’t feel nearly as welcome as members think. This is because small churches can be polite and welcoming without actually being friendly.

Whatever the reason, it seems we are not as good at welcoming newcomers into our churches as we think we are.

In the hope of changing this, here are a few tips for making your church a more welcoming place: 1) O pen your eyes. It’s easy for those of us who are regular attenders to focus so much on our friends and family that we become blind and calloused to people we do not know. It is imperative that we open our eyes and look around the room for those who appear alone or lost. We will never make newcomers feel welcome if all we ever do is talk with, hug and invest in the people we already know. Committed followers of Christ must open their eyes and look for new faces.

2) D on’t assume they’re OK. Once we see someone we do not know, it is easy for us to believe that person has already been greeted or that we have nothing to offer. We falsely assume the other person is taken care of. This is a horrible assumption to make, and it’s the main reason many visitors do not feel welcome in churches. Members and regular attenders

falsely believe the visitor has been adequately greeted or feels welcome, when, in fact, most guests do not feel nearly as welcome as we think.

3) T ake the first step. Once we see someone we are unfamiliar with, we should take the first step and move toward them.

It’s easy for members to forget how scary visiting a church can be. If we don’t take the first step to make a guest feel welcome, it is probably not going to happen. I realize this is hard for some of us, but we must take the risk and overcome our insecurities, fears, or discomfort in order to reach out to people we don’t know.

4) Ask good questions. As I mentioned earlier, many church members believe that simply saying “hello” to someone and shaking his hand is enough to make him feel welcome. But truly making someone feel welcome usually involves more than a polite greeting. When we ask good questions, people are more likely to feel seen and valued. If the visitor doesn’t want to interact, he will make it obvious with short responses.

Good questions open the door for meaningful conversation.

Here are some examples of questions I like to ask newcomers: • Have I met you before?

• What brought you to visit our church today?

• How did you hear about our church?

• Do you know anyone here yet?

• Do you have any questions and is there anything I can do for you?

• You can also ask returning visitors, What inspired you to return?

These questions avoid the awkwardness that comes with asking someone if they are new, only to find out they’ve been coming for a several months.

5) Introduce and connect. Once you meet new people, introduce them to others. If the new person has children, offer to introduce them to the children’s director. Flag down the minister, another key family, or a staff member who can connect them in ways that will help them feel accepted and valued. Invite them to your small group, or share with them about classes or upcoming events.

Not every visitor is in the same place or has the same expectations. Some people are introverted and do not feel comfortable engaging. Others are far from God and can be intimidated. Still, it is always better to err on the side of making someone feel overly welcome than merely greeted.

With a little bit of training and some intentionality, every church can do a better job of making guests feel welcome. As a result, people’s hearts will hopefully be more open and receptive to the Word of God and be drawn closer to Christ.

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National Day Of Prayer Service May 4, 12:15pm

In 1775, the first Day of Prayer was declared by the Continental Congress designating a time for prayer in “forming a new nation.”

In 1988, President Reagan signed into law a fixed date for the National Day of Prayer - the first Thursday in May. Desert Hills Presbyterian Church will be hosting the National Day of Prayer in our Sanctuary at 12:15 on Thursday, May 4, including other invited churches in the area.

Mark your calendars for this special event as we pray for our community, our state, our nation and our world.

Homeless Hygiene Kits Thanks to DHPC, in the past 5 months we have been able to provide almost 500 hygiene kits for the homeless in downtown Phoenix. However, the need is greater than our supplies. We need additional help.

Would you please consider buying for one month or longer the following?

• Travel size toothpaste (50-100) • Toothbrushes (25-50) • Razors (50-100) • Individually wrapped (non chocolate) granola bars • Band Aids • and more…

For a complete list of items needed, please call John Thurston at 480-220-6685 or you may make a donation by making out a check to DHPC and marking it “Hygiene Kits."

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Planting a Mustard Seed: The First Fifty Years of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church In the book of Mark, chapter four, Jesus describes the kingdom of God by comparing it to a mustard seed. One of the smallest seeds in the plant world, the mustard seed is capable of growing larger than all the other plants in the garden, providing shade, shelter and support for the living things around it.

In October of 1964, an attorney and real estate developer by the name of Kenyon T. Palmer planted a mustard seed of his own. Palmer was in the process of creating the quiet masterplanned community of Carefree many miles from the Phoenix city limits, when he felt led to perform an extraordinary and visionary act.

As the surrounding land was being allocated to this purpose or that, Palmer donated a spectacular site at the foot of the area’s most unique geologic formation—easily one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in his portfolio.

Palmer’s intent was to, “erect a church of great beauty, sympathetic to its surroundings.” He hoped a uniquely beautiful church would, in his words, “bring people through its doors, expecting beauty to be there also.”

ship quickly swelled beyond the 50 members required for recognition by the local Presbytery. And on April 2, 1967, just six months after their first home worship, Desert Hills United Presbyterian Church was born.

Too large to fit into the Nickell’s residence any longer, DHUPC began to worship at the Carefree Inn. Over the next few years, members would donate many of the necessary elements of worship, including a pulpit Bible, baptismal font, communion sets and silver offering plates. The Reverend Claude L. Morton served as the interim pastor.

In 1971, DHUPC was finally able to break ground on the first church building on Palmer’s site, near where the Fellowship Center stands today. As the work progressed slowly and steadily over the next four years, the congregation moved locations again, this time to an available storefront they could call their own on Carefree’s Easy Street.

In January of 1975, K.T. Palmer’s decade-long vision became a reality. The new DHUPC sanctuary was dedicated, with Rever-

Although the circumstances of how DHPC secured the land it rests on were extraordinary, the church itself began as so many do: with a small group of Christians gathering to worship in a local home.

In November of 1966, fifteen Christians met in the nearby home of Mr. and Mrs. Hershel Nickell. As word got out, the member-

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end Douglas Vance presiding. As the church put down its first permanent roots, the congregation and leadership dedicated themselves to, “bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to this growing area, in such a way that its residents, both of modest means and those of considerable wealth, shall be drawn together in an effective witness.”

It was during that time that Nancy Clarke, DHPC’s oldest member, joined the church with her family.

The congregation grew steadily during the late 70s, fueled in part by the expansion of Phoenix from the south. It was around that time that DHUPC welcomed two new members.

here to learn how to make fry bread from you all!” That man, one of only a few Anglo men to ever visit them up to that point, was DHPC member Orion Steen.

Steen served on the Presbytery Committee on Native Americans at the time, and he decided that the best way to learn about the needs of the Navajo Presbyterians was to meet them himself. So on a whim he drove up to the First Presbyterian Church of Leupp, where he quickly won over the Navajo women that were present. This began a close relationship that has richly blessed both church families for 35 years and counting.

In the early 1980s, change was taking place at a national level. The United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, of which DHUPC was a member, merged with the largely-southern Presbyterian Church in the United States. The resulting organization—the Presbyterian Church, USA, also known as PCUSA—would become the largest mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. To reflect this change, the church dropped the word “united” from its name, henceforth to be known simply as… Desert Hills Presbyterian Church.

DHPC continued to grow quickly along with the surrounding area throughout the eighties, and it soon became clear that the current building wasn’t large enough to accommodate the growing demand. So work began on a much larger structure, and in March 1989, the first worship service took place in the sanctuary building we call home today.

As the number of families and young people at DHUPC increased under the supervision of Nancy Clarke, the church quickly ran out of space to accommodate the growing children’s and youth ministries. And thus a second smaller building, the Christian Education Annex, was opened in 1982.

That same year, another important chapter in the history of DHPC began in the most unlikely of ways. One rainy Sunday, a group of Navajo women on the reservation northeast of Flagstaff were surprised to see a solitary, mud-covered white man burst through the front door of their church and exclaim “I’m

K.T. Palmer’s original vision was to build a church that would exist in harmony with its unique surroundings, and any visitor would agree that vision has been fully realized. The Valley Forward Association recognized DHPC with an award for Environmental Excellence in architecture, due to “the unique preservation of the vegetation and boulders and the blending of the building into the granite outcrop.”

In 1991 Reverend David Phillips assumed the role of senior pastor, and DHPC continued to grow in lockstep with the surrounding area. Once again the congregation established a building fund, this time for the expanded Christian education and administration offices directly north of the sanctuary. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in May, 1995.

As DHPC’s roots on the property continued to deepen, so too did the church’s roots in the community. Desert Hills has supported or partnered with a number of local organizations to ensure that we can be the hands and feet of Christ in a needy world.

These organizations have included Downtown Urban Community Kids, Ecumenical Chaplaincy for the Homeless, Westside Food Bank, Foothills Caring Corps, Habitat for Humanity, Boy Scouts of America, Feed my Starving Children, Neighbors in Need and many more.

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and buildings that had been built with member donations over the previous forty years.

Ultimately, the congregation elected to leave PCUSA and join the Evangelical Presybterian Church, or EPC, no matter the risks.

The separation was far from amicable, but ultimately DHPC was allowed to join EPC in the summer of 2012 with land, congregation and leadership intact.

As we celebrate fifty years of ministry, faith, worship, fellowship, mission and outreach, what advice do many of our longest tenured members have for the leaders and members of DHPC for the next 50 years?

As Pastor Phillips neared his retirement after more than 20 years of leadership and service at DHPC, the call went out for a new senior pastor that would continue Phillips’ focus on mission, growth and outreach. That individual was Reverend Jim Noble, who accepted the position in early 2005.

Shortly after Pastor Jim moved with his family to Arizona, a few needs opened up in the areas of youth ministry and praise worship. These needs ultimately led Desert Hills to the nearby Next Generation Mission organization, led by Dick Dietrich.

Just as faith begins as a mustard seed that grows beyond comprehension, so too has Desert Hills Presbyterian Church grown over the last 50 years. That one visionary and selfless act by K.T. Palmer many years ago has grown to become a congregation of more than 500, serving thousands around Carefree and around the world.

Thanks be to our Savior Jesus Christ for guiding us over the last 50 years, and may we continue to follow Him in the next 50 years and beyond!

Based on that blessed occurrence and the partnership that resulted, DHPC’s missional and fellowship activities have grown far beyond our Arizona borders in the years that followed. With Dick’s assistance, DHPC has established close relationships with Ebenezer Memorial Church and Andrews Memorial United Church in Jamaica, along with Maxwell-Mearns Castle Parish Church in Scotland.

Prior to his departure, Pastor Phillips had kicked off an ambitious building campaign designed to create the kind of facilities that DHPC needed to effectively serve the congregation and surrounding communities, while still working in harmony with the uniquely beautiful setting.

After a year of construction, DHPC’s Fellowship Center threw open its doors for the first time in March of 2008. The Fellowship Center offered unprecedented capacity, flexibility and utility for the current and future needs of the congregation and the area it serves.

But just as it felt like things were settling in after years of pastor searches, building campaigns and construction, DHPC would be led into a season of discernment that would last for 18 months or more. Cracks were widening in the foundations of PCUSA on a national level, as the executive leadership sought to counter the mass exodus that all mainline protestant churches have been experiencing for some time.

The congregation was left with two options: stay with PCUSA and risk adopting changes in doctrine and values that were counter to our own, or leave PCUSA and risk losing the land

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The Lord’s Supper

CELEBRATED WITHIN COVENANT GROUPS

By Marcia Fishman An active form of worship occurs in the form of a ceremonial meal when we partake in The Lord’s Supper. We commemorate Christ’s death and celebrate the new covenant relationship we have with God when we come together to share bread and wine.

The titles Breaking of Bread and the Lord’s Supper emphasize New Testament accounts of the institution of this sacrament.

Luke 22:19-20 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you, do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

1Cor. 11: 23-26 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat, this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner, He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Worship is one of the key elements in Covenant Groups. Forms of worship occur through the studying of scripture, singing and most importantly by participating in the Lord’s Supper. Sharing in The Lord’s Supper is one of understanding and remembrance for the self-offering of Jesus Christ once and for all time on the

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cross at Calvary. Christ’s perfect sacrifice of love and service is not re-enacted at the Lord’s Supper. Rather, in the joyful feast of this communion celebration, we offer our praise and thanksgiving to God for His amazing gift. The sacrament that Christ instituted for the remembrance of Him takes the form of a simple meal-sharing of bread and wine.

The church Session approves the schedule for the year for the congregation to partake in the Lord’s Supper. In Covenant Groups, those participants are given the opportunity to partake at additional times during the months of October and April.

This too had to be approved by the Session. Covenant Groups are in some ways like small churches worshiping and fellowshipping for the glory of God which continues beyond Sunday Services. Within that small church model are opportunities for the sacrament to be shared among its participants.

Paul states in 1Cor. 10:16: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? The Greek word koinonia is translated “communion” in the King James Version and “sharing” in the New Revised Standard Version.

It is also translated “fellowship” or “partnership” referring to a common sharing or a sense of communion with Christ and one another. When those in Covenant Groups participate in the Lord’s supper, they are having fellowship as well as worshiping with a thankful heart for what Christ did for them. It is a participation in a divine Christian life that a person lives in Christ, because it is initiated by Christ.

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