Echoes of DHPC | August - September 2016

August / September 2016

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church

Echoes

Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love.

Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12

34605 North Tom Darlington Drive P.O. Box 874 Carefree AZ 85377 480-488-3384

Echoes

August / September 2016

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Pastor's Message Operation Christmas Child Covenant Groups Leupp Visit Veterans Heritage Project

07 08 10 11 11

Let's Talk Turkey My Corner of the World General Assembly 2016

8:30 Traditional Service in the Sanctuary 9:45 Traditional Service in the Sanctuary 11:00 Praise Service in Fellowship Center

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 October - November issue, deadline for submissions is September 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.

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From the Congregational Nurse Church Dashboard

Membership

Put this note on your calendar: Beginning October 2, we will begin our Fall Worship schedule:

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Worship Committee

Koffee Klatch

FALL WORSHIP SCHEDULE BEGINS OCTOBER 2

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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.

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.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2016

Pastor’s Message Jim Noble, Senior Pastor

jnoble@deserthills.org 480-488-3384

Sharing Good News DHPC, Our family summer began with great news. On Father’s Day Jessica and Sean announced that they were expecting their first child who is due in February of next year. Praise the Lord!

A few days later our four-month-old grandson, Bordie, successfully underwent surgery to fix a blockage in one of his kidneys. Praise the Lord again! Our other grandkids are all growing and doing well and with the new addition on the way we soon will have six. God is amazing!

June also brought the denomination’s annual General Assembly that met this year at Ward Presbyterian Church in Michigan. I was privileged to go to with our DHPC commissioners: Bill Allen, Nancy Clarke, Jacgy Kilgore, and Jim Shields.

Our denomination’s strong commitment to mission and reaching people for Christ has always been amazing to see and hear about. I was especially struck this year with the church planting focus on multi-ethnic churches and the partnership with the Presbyterian Church of Mexico.

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In July I successfully completed my Doctor of Ministry program at Fuller Theological Seminary. The focus of my studies was church planting and I was blessed to go through the program with a cohort of seven students. Fuller is waiting to receive a bound copy and then will issue my diploma later in the year. I want to thank all of you at DHPC for your support and prayers during this venture.

As I write this article, last-minute preparations are being made and details worked out for our trip to visit our sister church in Mandeville, Jamaica. As is our custom, our sister church from Leupp Presbyterian Church on the Navajo reservation will be joining us. The team looks forwards to giving a full report of all they heard and saw of the Lord. We are so blessed to be part of such a large family of faith.

I trust your summer has equally been filled with blessings and God moments. Let us share them with each other and those around. We all need to know that God is alive and with us.

Peace in Christ,

Jim

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OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD UPDATE Our packing party is over, but there is still time to participate by: 1. filling a box 2. giving a donation for shipping each box ($7) 3. purchasing more items and we will pack them for you.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of deserving children in third world countries and helping to spread the gospel to the world.

COVENANT GROUPS AT DESERT HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: GOD HAS WIRED US FOR RELATIONSHIPS! Covenant Groups embrace the motto, “More people, more like Christ”. Covenant Groups are meant to be an extension of Sunday worship.

It is a place where groups evolve into the “small church” bringing Christ to each other as well as into the community. Covenant Groups consist of worship through studying

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God’s word, servicing those in need, embracing the great commission and upholding each other in prayer. Praising in song and receiving the elements of communion have recently become an integral part of worshipping together.

At Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, a Covenant Group is where an individual can find fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ, a caring community, a safe place to grow in God’s word and Christ-likeness and an opportunity to join others in God’s mission.

Please call the church office at 480-488-3384 if you are interested in learning more about Covenant Groups.

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SAVE OCTOBER 22ND & 23RD! LEUPP VISITS DHPC! Yá'át'ééh Navajo sister church from Leupp visits us!

Contact Nan Boyer-Searle for more information: outreach@deserthills.org or 480-239-3751

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AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2016

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VETERANS HERITAGE PROJECT COMES TO DHPC The Troop Care Committee of our Church has approved a Veterans Interviewing Project to begin this coming fall. This Project will be accomplished in direct coordination with the Veterans Heritage Project (VHP) which was founded in 2004 at Cactus Shadows High School. The Project now encompasses 19 other schools throughout Arizona and we will be the first church to coordinate such an effort with VHP. We have faith the effort will grow.

The Veterans Heritage Project has had remarkable growth since its origin. Over 1,200 veterans statewide, including some members of our church, have been interviewed about their experiences while serving our nation. These interviews are conducted by curious and enthusiastic students from the various schools who write the stories they have heard. The interviews are then compiled and published in a beautiful, bound book each year. All of the eight books, to date, have been placed in the Library of Congress, thus recording for the nation’s posterity these remarkable experiences.

Our church’s Project will be handled similarly, only the interviews will be conducted by our willing youth and interviewees. All participants will be veteran members of our Desert Hills Presbyterian Church and those youth and veterans of our sister church in Leupp. The stories that are compiled will be published in the aforementioned annual Heritage book destined for the Library of Congress.

The Troop Care Committee invites and welcomes all veterans and youth of the church that would like to participate or would like to have more information on the Project to let that be known to our Church Office. You will be contacted by one of our committee members. We are very enthusiastic and blessed about leading this inaugural effort.

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AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2016

LET'S TALK

TURKEY

For the last four years DHPC has joined with the Foothills Food Bank in providing food to accompany Thanksgiving turkeys given to over 450 families in our community. These bags of food are called “Fixin’ Bags”. They contain 12 different items such as stuffing, gravy, yams, green beans, etc.

In 2012, our church donated 405 bags, and the giving has increased each year.

2013 - 420 bags 2014 – 468 bags 2015 – 526 bags That brings the total to 1816 bags. What a blessing and an outpouring of giving from DHPC. Staff at the food bank are often overwhelmed and in tears every year, thinking DHPC may not help again.

God has called us to share our time, talent and resources so DHPC again will step up and continue giving to the hungry people of Cave Creek/Carefree.

On October 3, paper bags will be available on the patio for you to take and fill with the listed items. If you prefer, financial donations are also accepted, $15 per bag. A covenant group and volunteers will purchase items and fill bags.

Yes, we have hungry people right here in our own backyard. Let’s begin thinking “Turkey” and commit to joining us this fall in serving our Lord and His hungry children.

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MY CORNER OF THE WORLD: SUMMER UPDATE 2016 I began in June, flying to Nashville, TN, jumping in the a pickup driven by the illustrious Lizzie, of EnVision India, and traveling the back roads of Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, eventually to our final destination: General Assembly, Detroit, Michigan.

EPC World Outreach invited the 2016/17 candidates to the Community of the Cross (PRMI) in Black Mountain, North Carolina for a week of equipping in the ministries of the Holy Spirit. We were embraced by the beauty of God’s handiwork in the woods of Montreet, NC. “Watch out for those Black Bears!” The volunteers also included 16 volunteers, who provided a 24 hour prayer covering, Cook Team, Music Leader, and 3 pastors who led the PRMI training.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth." (Acts 1:8 NET.) This is the heart of our vision statement and what we are all about. This is our God-given and mandated niche in the vast work of the Kingdom of God. PRMI (Presbyterian Reformed Ministries International) also recruited host families in the Black Mountain neighborhood to provide housing during our week in North Carolina. Darrell & Drew Jorgensen, (pictured with Lizzie and myself ) graciously opened their home and now include us as part of their family.

Here are the 9 EPCWO 2016-17 candidates along with Shawn Stewart (EPCWO Mobilization) at the local Black Mountain Ice Cream shop, Dairy King. Front Row, left to right: Thomas, Shawn, Lizzie, Austie, Joseph, and John. Back row: myself, Greg, and Jackie.

I arrived back home on June 25th. As many of you might remember, I had hoped to attend TAG (Training Apprentices to Go) on 2 other occasions in Detroit and Chicago to no avail this past winter. I am so excited to announce TAG 2016-17 has 12 participants from Arizona, New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Ohio, and Indiana. There are so many steps in preparing to live overseas; one of them is what to do with my home. The Lord answered my prayers, “Go

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AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2016

Unencumbered.” I put my home up for sale before I left on June 8 and returned on the 25th to an offer. Not only did the Lord provide a buyer, He provided a buyer who also bought the furnishings I would not need in Detroit.

Praise His Holy Name! There is no detail too small or too large for Our God.

I close with a heavy heart as you ARE my family. You have “raised me up to walk on mountains, you raise me up to more than I can be.. ”

I will close on my house on July 29th and stay with a DHPC family until I leave at the end of August for TAG. Please pray for me as I will also be having a small thyroid surgery on the 9th of August…a hiccup. God has also faithfully provided a replacement surgeon who was able to squeeze me onto his August calendar. He has met all my needs during the 2 years since I left for Mongolia and met EPC at Encounter December 2014. There have been valleys and trials, and mountaintop rejoicing as I have been examined, assessed, interviewed, and equipped.

WHEW!!! My God is faithful and He is trustworthy.

Then I am still and wait here in the silence,

As I find myself 3 hours ahead of you until the clock changes, I will provide updates to life in Michigan through this Corner. I hope to give you a taste of my journey with the Lord. There will be lots of news—— other cultures and religions, rain, and that white stuff…I think they call it snow! Don’t worry, I won’t be driving in it; I don’t know how!

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

Prayer Concerns:

When I am down and, oh, my soul, so weary; When troubles come and my heart burdened be; Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up to walk on stormy seas; I am strong when I am on your shoulders; You raise me up to more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger; Each restless heart beats so imperfectly; But when you come and I am filled with wonder,

Jacqy Kilgore

Packing / shipping stuff to MI Fellowship with my children & grandchildren Closing Surgery and recovery Travel mercies Housing in MI

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General Assembly 2016 World Outreach Leadership, 40 workers, some home on furlough, and 6 candidate appointees gathered for equipping and training on Monday - Wednesday during General Assembly. I arrived saturated by the week of Holy Spirit Empowerment with PRMI (Presbyterian Reformed Ministries International) in North Carolina. This was my first opportunity to meet many of the workers who will depart during the last half of 2016 for their respective field assignments: Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Refugee Camps along the German Borders, Lebanon, IBAM (Business as Missions), and inside the US. We experienced an incredible week of sharing our personal journeys and the plans the Lord has for the future.

If this is your first time to learn of EPCWO, let me begin by telling you the focus of the EPCWO is to reach the unreached Muslim world thru Engage 2025. Some have been called to large metropolitan cities, others to remote villages but all for the purpose of speaking the name of Jesus Christ to those ears who have never heard the Gospel message. Many will serve in countries were Muslim people groups are a small minority of the population like India.

Others are working in predominantly Muslim populations like Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. It was so encouraging to hear the stories of men and women whose eyes and ears have been opened to the Good News, many of whom are now leading their family members to Christ.

We also learned the difficult story of life on the field. Many go into cultures so foreign to our Judaeo Christian roots in

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America. The fiery arrows the enemy hurls against those sharing the Gospel of Peace are ten-fold more than the Church experiences in America. Please continue to stand on the wall for the Kingdom Workers across the Globe.

Most couples have young children who face struggles learning to adapt to new languages, new friends, and new surroundings without grandparents and cousins back in the US. I challenge you to learn about one of the families and send a word of encouragement and support to a husband and wife, or their children overseas. (Ask Bill Allen, DHPC Elder of Missions for information).

On Thursday Evening, the General Assembly Worship Service is dedicated to the Commissioning of World Outreach Missionaries. This year 10 workers were commissioned as Servants of the Lord Jesus. They will work in India, Jakarta, Malaysia, along the German/Swiss border, and ITEN International (raising up ‘national’ leaders through Theological Education overseas).

Next year General Assembly will be held in Sacramento, CA. After 10 months of TAG training in Detroit, MI, I hope to be one of the candidates standing on the stage. Please keep the 12 members of TAG 2016-17 in your prayers as we meet in Detroit on September 7th for the new thing the Lord is inviting us to embrace.

Jacqy Kilgore Elder

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KOFFEE KLATCH SEPT. 7

Noun: North American kläCH, klaCH 1. a social gathering, especially for refreshments, informal conversation and fun A great way to meet new people and staff PLUS learn about the Church! Join us!

Wednesday, September 7, 10:00 - 11:00 am on the patio at church.

WORSHIP COMMITTEE WANTS YOU!

INTERESTED IN MEMBERSHIP AT DESERT HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH?

Do you enjoy decorating for the holidays? Do you enjoy being part of our Sunday Worship and would like to get more involved?

The Worship Committee is looking for new committee members.

We meet the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm. in the church conference room. We would welcome you to be part of this wonderful, dedicated committee.

New membership class series in one weekend!

Part I: Saturday, October 15, 9 am - 11 am

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:

Part II: Sunday, October 16, 12:45 pm - 2:45 pm

Laurann Cook Elder of Worship 480-437-1226 lauranncook@cox.net

Contact Nan Boyer-Searle for more information: 480-239-3751 or outreach@deserthills.org

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from the

Congregational Nurse

LIFE-SUSTAINING WATER: PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God.” - Psalm 42:1 NLT In Arizona summer lasts longer than in most areas of the US. The sun can be too much of a good thing. We can suffer from dehydration, skin cancer, heatstroke and sunburns. Heat exhaustion and dehydration symptoms include light-headedness, dizziness, confusion and feeling very hot.

The important thing to remember is to drink water often and don’t wait until you “feel” thirsty. As we age, our thirst sensation and our total body water decreases, and it is easier to become dehydrated. Older adults dehydrate faster than younger people! Other factors that cause us to dehydrate are certain medications such as diuretics, caffeine and alcohol.

Carry water with you wherever you go. It is easy to become dehydrated in our hot dry climate before we are aware we are thirsty. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of liquids a day. If you exercise or play actively, add an additional 4-12 oz. of fluids every 20 minutes. We lose 1 to 2 liters of fluids daily through by perspiring, breathing, and urine and stool elimination.

If your urine is dark yellow, you need to drink more fluids and WATER is your best option. If you or your child are

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strenuously exercising for one hour or longer, you might want to drink an electrolyte replacing fluid. What we eat provides about 20% of our total water intake. Foods such as watermelon and tomatoes are 90% water.

Homemade fruit juice popsicles are a great summertime treat to help replenish fluids. If you have concerns about your fluid intake or have health issues, check with your physician, nurse or registered dietitian to help determine the amount of water/ fluid that is right for you.

When the heat index gets above 100 degrees, as it does almost daily in the summer in Arizona, you should increase the amount of water you are drinking. A survey by Rockefeller University discovered that about a third of those who responded drank the recommended amount and nearly 10% drank none at all.

This is cause for concern because water is essential to your good health. Your body is made up of 96% water and to keep all systems functioning optimally, it is important to maintain that percentage. For example, drinking water prevents symptoms such as fatigue, dry skin, headaches and constipation.

Severe dehydration can affect blood pressure, circulation, digestion, kidney function and even your joints.

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In hot weather, you can lose fluids at a rate of a quart or more per hour so drinking water is important to replace what is lost through perspiration, urination, breathing, and other body processes. If you must be in the heat, drinking water will prevent cramping, nausea, and heat exhaustion.

There are many designer waters on the market but are they worth the money? Some are fruit-flavored and packed with sugar which you don’t need in your diet. Some claim to have vitamins or electrolyte supplements but most are negligible.

If concerned about getting the proper vitamins and supplements, you would be better off eating fruits and vegetables.

Bottled water has its place if the local water tastes bad or if you are uncertain of its quality but it’s best to save your money and stick to natural water and a healthy diet.

Physical water is essential for life but is a very limited resource with 97% either salty or undrinkable, 2% trapped in glaciers, and only 1% available for human use. Just as essential but more abundant is the spiritual water offered to us for eternity through Jesus Christ. How do you tap into God’s living water during your day? Do you take in eight servings of God’s word along with your eight glasses of physical water? If not, think how you can connect with God throughout your day.

The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Isaiah 58:11 NIV

Dehydration is often signaled first by hunger or fatigue rather than by thirst, so don’t wait to take your fill. In the same way, don’t forget to thirst after God. The verse above shows that our physical need is equal to our spiritual need. God satisfies our physical thirst with water and our spiritual thirst with “His Word”.

If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water. John 4:10 NIV

References / Resources: www.epa.gov/safewater/dwh/index.html - Environmental Protection Agency – multiple items on water & safety – includes sections for kids www.waterandhealth.org/drinkingwater/index.html - Water Quality and Health Council – information, fact sheets, and newsletter about drinking water & safety http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/water. html - educational website on water for kids & parents http://watercharity.org/ - sponsored by the International Water Association and the World Health Organization – information on global water issues and charities

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34605 North Tom Darlington Drive P.O. Box 874 Carefree AZ 85377 480-488-3384

or current resident

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