Echoes of DHPC | December 2015 - January 2016

December 2015 / January 2016

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church

Echoes Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

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

Zechariah 9:9

Echoes

December 2015 / January 2016

IN THIS ISSUE:

03 Pastor's Message 04 Autumnfest Outreach 04 Sanctuary Flowers 05 Stephen Ministry 06 C hristnas and Advent Celebrations

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Music & Arts Festival Hope Resurrected

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Hosting the Presbytery Prayer Ministry Nurse's Corner Dashboard

New Parents

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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 480488-3384 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 February - March issue, deadline for submissions is January 10.

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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 602-5497217 or write us at editor@deserthills.org.

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 • Doffice.

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Pastor’s Message Jim Noble, Senior Pastor

jnoble@deserthills.org 480-488-3384

Christmas reminds us that God is with us and God is for us "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us.')"

Matthew 1:23

That God is with us and for us must be more than an idea, a concept, a hoped for reality. Thus, Jesus was born in time, in our world, and beheld by many.

"The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

Luke 2:10-11

He lived among us, healed the sick, declared God's love, and was the friend of sinners. Out of love for the world he took up his cross and was killed by the very people he loved. He died, was buried, and on the third day rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven declaring, "Lo, I am with you always to the end of time." Fulfilling the promise he sent his Spirit to dwell within and among us.

It is not enough to know that God is for us as we also need to know if the Lord is with us.

We celebrate the experienced and known reality that God is with us and God is for us.

If God is on our side but is not with us in the midst of life's struggles, then there is no advantage gained. If God is for us and refuses to be with us, then there is no hope. Only when we know that God is with us does the truth of the Lord being for us become good news.

Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year!

Jim

Likewise, it is not enough to know that God is with us as we also need to know if the Lord is for us.

If God is present but indifferent to us and our lives, then the Lord's presence benefits us nothing. If God is with us and against us, then we are in trouble. Only when we know that the Lord is for us does God's presence with us bring great joy for all the people.

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​Anthem AUTUMNFEST Outreach Thanks to Chuck Wright and John Hayes, who set up the tents and worked to ensure all went well with setup and tear down.

Thank you also to all the Anthem church members who were at the booth sharing about DHPC!

SANCTUARY FLOWERS SIGN UP IN THE NARTHEX The flower chart for 2016 is now posted in the Narthex. The cost of the flowers remains at $35 per arrangement.

We have a new flower vendor and they request payment be made in advance.

When you sign up, please make your check payable to DHPC and place in the offering plate marked “flowers” in the memo section of your check.

We request just one arrangement per Sunday and if your preferred date is not available, please select an alternative date.

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Stephen Ministry The Blessing of Surrender

Fear, pride, and confusion block our total surrender to God. We don't realize how much God loves us, we want to control our own lives, and we misunderstand the meaning of surrender.

The Bible is crystal clear about how we benefit when we fully surrender our life to God. First, we experience Peace.

The more you realize how infinitely God loves us, the easier surrender becomes and love casts out all fear. God is a lover and a liberator.

Next, we experience Freedom.

Third, we experience God's Power in our life.

Surrender is an unpopular word, disliked almost as much as the word submission. It evokes the unpleasant images of defeat. In today's culture we are taught to never give up and never give in, so we would rather talk about winning, conquering and overcoming.

Surrendered people are the ones God uses. Our wisest moments will be those when we say "Yes" to God. Put Jesus in the driver's seat of your life and take your hands off the steering wheel. Don't be afraid; nothing under His control can be out of control. Mastered by Christ, you can handle anything.

Surrendering to God is not passive resignation, or an excuse of laziness. It does not mean giving up rational thinking, or repressing our personality. C.S. Lewis observed, "it is when I turn to Christ, I first begin to have a real personality of my own."

Surrender is a moment by moment and lifelong committment. Now is your time to surrender!

Surrendering is best demonstrated in obedience and trust.

You say "Yes, Lord".

We are surrendered to God when we trust Him and rely on Him to work things out instead of trying hard. Instead of trying harder, we trust more.

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Advent+ Christmas C E Kevin L E Deasy, B R Youth A TMinister IONS youth@deserthills.org

Christmas Eve Services We will be having three services on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: 5:00 pm - Family Service 7:00 pm - Service with Communion 9:00 pm - Traditional Service with Carols

Nativity Sets & Angels T​ hanks to Ron and Sandi Carson for hosting DHPC crafters in their home to create nativity sets and angels from clay! The folks were very creative and thoughtful with their figures!

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Advent Sundays

Carefree Christmas Events

Please join us as we celebrate the most miraculous time in history - The birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For the past seven years, we have had a wonderful joy of participating in Carefree Christmas as a means of outreach to our community. This year we are participating once again!

November 29 We light the first candle of Advent -

Please come and join us for the following events:

the Candle of Hope.

• Friday, Dec 11 at 7 p.m.: Lessons & Carols in the Carefree Amphitheater

We pray that God’s hope will dawn in us and shine through our lives until our Lord returns.

• Saturday, Dec. 12 at 3:30 p.m.: Carol Singing, Puppets and Living Nativity in the Carefree Amphitheater

December 6 The second Sunday in Advent, we light the Candle of Peace.

May the light of Christ’s Peace burn brightly in our lives.

Participate in the annual Living Nativity!

December 13 The third candle we light in Advent is the Candle of Joy.

Calling all kids! Please contact Kathleen Harris (602) 741-3429 or children@deserthills.org if you would like your child to participate.

This third candle of Advent represents the good news of Advent with Joy and join our hearts in proclaiming Joy to the World.

December 20 The fourth candle in the Advent wreath is the Candle of Love.

BETHLEHEM BUDDIES A CHRISTMAS MUSICAL

For God so loved the world that he sent his only son, Jesus Christ.

Mark your calendars for our special Christmas Musical!

December 24 Christmas Eve service we will light

Sunday, December 6 at 6:30 pm in Fellowship Center

the Christ Candle.

It is Jesus Christ alone who brings salvation to our World.

“Bethlehem Buddies” is the story of four young people working at the Holy Day Inn in Bethlehem. It is presented by kids from DHPC and the community, grades K-10. Dessert will be served afterwards.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we are filled with HOPE, PEACE, JOY AND LOVE.

Tickets (no cost) will be distributed Sunday mornings starting November 22, or you can reserve your spot by emailing or calling the Church Office.

As a reminder, our worship schedule during Advent remains the same:

admin@deserthills.org 480.488.3384.

8:30 a.m. - Traditional Service in the Sanctuary 9:45 a.m. - Traditional Service in the Sanctuary 11:00 a.m. - Praise Service in Fellowship Center

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BECOMING A NEW PARENT OR GRANDPARENT? We would like to celebrate the wonderful arrival of your new little one!

Save the Date

February 26 and 27, 2016 Music and Arts Festival Plan now to attend and learn something new!

Please contact Donna in the church office with the information and we will place a rose in the sanctuary and write a notice in the church bulletin.

Watch for details early in January.

The cost of the rose is $10 and you may take the rose home after the service.

Faith Renewed with

“Hope Ressurected” The Clan of Christ celebrated 33 years of worship and outreach ministry together at DHPC in November. This time with our Navajo sister church is always energizing and inspirational as we deepen our bonds in faith and love for the Lord. This year we witnessed a new energy among our Navajo brothers and sisters inspired by “Hope Resurrected”.

“Hope Resurrected” is a group of young men and women from the Leupp Presbyterian Church ON FIRE FOR CHRIST. These members of our Navajo sister church in Leupp are leading wonderful outreach ministries on the Navajo Reservation. They are leading AA meetings, feeding the homeless and giving testimonials on how Christ has delivered them from destruction.

testimonials and outreach ministry

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to the children, they are positive role models through their loving presence. Work parties, birthdays and special holidays are celebrated with the children every month. Gifts of clothing and other needed supplies accompany music, fun and games with each visit.

“Hope Resurrected” is bringing lost souls to the Clan of Christ.

Now we can support their ministry as brothers and sisters in Christ by simply writing “Hope” on monetary contributions to DHPC. This will provide funds that are restricted to helping “Hope Resurrected” provide food, clothing, hygiene items and personal gifts for the orphans and others in need.

If you haven’t met the “Hope Resurrected” families, look for them when we gather together with our brothers and sisters in Christ at home or at Leupp. They are an inspiration to all they touch.

The “Hope Resurrected” families are welcomed at a near-by orphanage, NAOMI HOUSE, as the only ongoing visitation ministry. As big brothers and sisters

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NAOMI House-Hope for Abused Kids

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play at NAOMI House

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DHPC WILL BE HOSTING THE PRESBYTERY OF THE WEST MEETING FEBRUARY 4 & 5, 2016

PRAYER MINISTRY EXPANDING!

We are so excited to again be hosting the Presbytery of the West in sunny Arizona on February 4 and 5, 2016!

1. I n the pews or in the blue attendance folders in the fellowship hall, you will find prayer request cards. You can fill it out and fold to put in the offering plate, or put into the new prayer request boxes, located in the narthex of the sanctuary, the entry of the fellowship hall and in the church office.

After November 22, DHPC’s congregation will be able to request prayer in several ways.

Members of DHPC are invited to the meetings (without vote) and the meals. Meal reservations for dinner on Thursday and lunch on Friday are required.

Extra cards are also located on the side of the prayer boxes. If you are at the church during the week, fill out the card and deposit in the boxes anytime.

We are looking for volunteers! If you would like to be part of sharing our DHPC hospitality, please join one of our teams: Meals: dinner on Thursday, Feb. 4, lunch on Friday, Feb. 5.

• Assist in the kitchen

2. You may call the church office and press “7” to get our new prayer line.

• Set up • Clean up

3. Y ou can go on the church website, click on “prayer requests” and fill out a request on the form provided.

Administration • Assist with registration

All the requests are confidential. You will be contacted to clarify your request and see if you want it on the prayer chain, in the bulletin, or simply have staff pray. You may use only initials or first names if you prefer, and the follow-up is optional if no information is provided.

• Nametags • Decorations Snacks • Provide snack items for breaks Host a member of the Presbytery • Might you be willing to share a guest room?

You can be assured your request will be covered by prayer!

The Prayer Ministry committee wants our church to be known as a praying church. We know how special you are to God and also to this congregation.

Cards will be available in the Narthex, Fellowship Center and the office. Take a card and return the items to the church by Sunday, January 31.

To sign up or for more information please stop by the table on the patio or contact Kathleen Harris at children@deserthills.org or call 480-488-3384.

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Congregational

Nurse's Corner December is the time of Advent, the time we are preparing for Christmas and the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is filled with excitement and busyness with “gift buying” and gathering of loved ones and friends, usually around tables filled with yummy goodies that have been traditions through the years.

It’s probably fair to say that some—or most!—of these foods are not the best for us nutritionally. The main key for not overdoing it is moderation: take small helpings and taste and enjoy, but don’t “eat the whole thing” and then regret it later.

Our taste buds are not the most important thing to consider this during this season of Christmas and New Year. The “love” we share and embrace with each other, celebrating and worshipping God and the great love He has shown us by sending His son to Earth for our salvation is the most important focus.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16.

We could never ask for a better gift. As you are making your lists for gifts and food to buy this year, may I share with you the best things you could ever have on your list? They can all be found in:

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HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE I was walking down life's highway a long time ago.

One day I saw a sign that read, "HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE" As I got a little closer the door came open wide, And when I came to myself, I was standing inside.

I saw a host of ANGELS. They were standing everywhere.

One handed me a basket and said, "My Child, shop with care".

Everything a Christian needed was in that grocery store.

And all you couldn't carry, you could come back the next day for more.

First, I got some PATIENCE: LOVE was in the same row.

Further down was UNDERSTANDING: You need that everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of WISDOM, a bag or two of FAITH. I just couldn't miss the HOLY GHOST, For it was all over the place.

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I stopped to get some STRENGTH and COURAGE To help me run this race.

By then my basket was getting full, But I remembered I needed some GRACE.

Then I said to the angel, "Now, how much do I owe?"

He smiled and said, "Just take them everywhere you go.�

I didn't forget SALVATION, For SALVATION was free, So I tried to get enough of that To save both You and Me.

Again, I smiled and said, "How much do I really owe?"

He smiled again and said, "MY CHILD, JESUS PAID YOUR BILL A LONG, LONG TIME AGO."

Then I started up to the counter To pay my grocery bill, For I thought I had everything To do the MASTER'S Will.

January, the start of a New Year is a good time to look at your life and determine what you need to change or improve. Start the year by considering your health: what are you going to do for your health this year? Are you going to keep all of your old habits and ignore healthier ones?

As I went up the aisle, I saw PRAYER: And I just had to put that in, For I knew when I stepped outside, I would run into Sin.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May you know that God is with you every step of the way and may He bless you with His grace and mercy for wellness, happiness and His peace that passes all understanding.

PEACE AND JOY were plenty They were last on the shelf.

SONG and PRAISE were hanging near, So I just helped myself.

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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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