Echoes of DHPC | December 2016 - January 2017

December 2016 / January 2017

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church

Echoes

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

2 Corinthians 3:18

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

Echoes

December 2016 / January 2017

IN THIS ISSUE:

03 Pastor's Message 04 Advent / Christmas Services 05 Carefree Christmas 06 A dult Discipleship Class 07 Koffee Klatsch

08 09 10 12

Covenant Groups Membership / Learning About Us From the Congregational Nurse Dashboard

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 February - March issue, deadline for submissions is January 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

A SEASON OF BEGINNINGS AND BIRTHS Genealogy is the study of beginnings or births, and is derived from the word "genesis." A genealogist studies the births and beginnings of the family.

faith. The beginning of the family is in our faith in Jesus as Lord, the love of God as Abba Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew is a genealogist for the family of faith, tracing in the opening chapter of his gospel, the births and beginnings of Jesus. Matthew traces the family through Jesus' mother, that is Mary's line. He is concerned to show that Jesus is a direct descendent of King David and of Abraham, therefore able to fulfill all God's promises to David and Abraham. And Matthew records the birth of Jesus.

Christmas is the celebration of the beginnings and birth of Jesus our Lord and Savior; a time to tell our children and our children's children of the beginnings and births of the family. It is a time when we share how we and they are connected to the family.

So when and how were you born into the family of faith?

Luke begins with the birth of Jesus, but he too is a genealogist who, in chapter three of his gospel, traces the beginnings of the family through Jesus' father, Joseph. Luke is concerned to trace the family all the way back to Adam in order to connect Jesus with God and all people. All humanity derives its name from Adam and all humanity has borne the consequences of Adam's choice to eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Jesus comes to reconnect us to God and one another.

May you have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Jim

Mark and John are genealogists in a different way.

They each trace the "beginning" of the good news of Jesus but remove all human lineage and declare that the beginning is with a decision of God in heaven. Just as God's decision in Genesis to create humanity was made without human decision, so too God now chooses to come among us so that we might be born again. Jesus comes with the authority to cast out evil, forgive sins, and give life.

Paul is a genealogist who speaks of us being "new creations" in Jesus Christ. The old person is dead and the new person, having been born of God, is alive in the Spirit. Like Matthew and Luke, Paul connects the family to Abraham. However, we are descendants of Abraham not through genetic DNA, but through

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ADVENT & CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION SERVICE TIMES

Advent Sundays

During Advent, our worship service times will remain the same: 8:15 a.m.

Traditional Service in the Sanctuary

On Sunday, November 27 we will begin our celebration of the Advent Season!

Please join us as we worship the most miraculous and joyous time in history - the Birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

9:45 a.m.

Traditional Service in Sanctuary

11:10 a.m.

Praise Service in Fellowship Center

November 27:

We light the first candle of Advent - the Candle of Hope.

As we light this candle, we pray that God’s Hope will be in us, and shine through our lives until our Lord returns.

December 4:

The second Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of Peace.

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

December 11:

The third candle we light is the Candle of Joy. We welcome the good news of Advent with Joy and join our hearts in proclaiming Joy to the World.

December 18:

We will be holding three worship services on Christmas Eve, December 24. All services will be held in the Sanctuary.

5:00 p.m. - Family Service 7:00 p.m. - Service with Communion 9:00 p.m. - Traditional Service (Lessons and Carols)

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

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

CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE

December 25:

The Sonoran Brass will enhance our worship with their music.

Christmas Day we will light the Christ Candle.

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

Through Him we are filled with HOPE, PEACE, JOY AND LOVE.

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CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

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The Celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth will continue on Christmas Day with one special service at 10:30 a.m. in Sanctuary.

Please join us Christmas Day for this service at 10:30!

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Celebrate a

Carefree Christmas With DHPC On December 9 & 10 Come celebrate with DHPC at Carefree Christmas on December 9th and 10th in downtown Carefree!

On December 9th at 7:00 p.m. in the Carefree amphitheater, join us for Lessons and Carols and Candles, and hear music by our DHPC choir, handbell choir and soloists.

On December 10th at 3:30 p.m. in the Carefree amphitheater, join us for a Christmas Carol singa-long (hosted by our Praise Team), hear the musical sounds of Youth Bands, Puppets and enjoy our interactive retelling of the Christmas Story.

This is our 9th year being a part of the festival!

It is our privilege to be a part of this wonderful community event and help bring the Spirit of Christmas to Carefree!

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ADULT DISCIPLESHIP CLASS BEGINS ON JANUARY 8!

We live in a world where truth claims are rejected and where the Bible is the most scrutinized book throughout history. Our atheist friends and skeptical neighbors are asking good questions about Christianity that we shouldn't hide from.

Come study The Reason for God by Tim Keller with us, 11:10 a.m. each Sunday in the Choir Room beginning January 8, whether you're a follower of Jesus, skeptic, or just have some real questions about the Bible and it's claims.

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We will seek to listen with sincerity to other perspectives, discuss with grace other arguments, and proclaim the truth of the Bible with compassionate love for others.

Invite friends, co-workers, and your teenagers as we engage our culture and its response to the Bible.

Please purchase a copy of The Reason for God by Tim Keller in advance of the first session.

DECEMBER 2016 - JANUARY 2017

Join Us for Koffee Klatch

The First Wednesday Of Each Month!

Coffee-klatsch A social gathering for informal conversation at which coffee is served… Also, Koffee Klatch. Origin Expand. 1880-1885: German Kaffeeklatsch noise (e.g., of conversation)

Fellowship, you see, is not just being together, it is “doing” together!

“Fellowship,” also means “to hold something in common.”

It denotes a relationship that is dependent on more than one individual. It is an interdependent relationship.

Join us the first Wednesday of each month from 10:30 to 11:30 am!

We have a lot of fun on the first Wednesday of each month from 10:30 to 11:30 am on the church patio! You see, we have “Koinonia” (Fellowship)!

Koinonia is used nineteen times in the New Testament and in addition to being translated as “fellowship” it is also translated by the words, “contribution,” “sharing,” and “participation.” A close study of the usage of this word shows that action is always included in its meaning.

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COVENANT GROUPS FIND JOY IN SERVICE Covenant Groups are well known for providing a safe place to explore God’s Word. However, did you know that Covenant Groups also provide an intimate setting in which we praise God and respond to Jesus’ call to tend his sheep?

Don’t you find it interesting how often our words or praise lead us to words of heartfelt thanksgiving, and out of our thanksgiving how our joy compels us to serve?

Service to others is a part of our Christian DNA. Jesus is our ultimate example and role model, as He explained to his disciples in Matthew 20:28a, “… the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve …” So too, we are called to serve.

Teresa of Ávila has been credited with these words, “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. …”

• collecting gift items and packing shoe boxes that go to needy children all over the world in partnership with Operation Christmas Child • packing specially formulated meals for malnourished infants and children in partnership with Feed my Starving Children.

These are just a few examples of ways that DHPC Covenant Groups are being His eyes, His feet and His hands.

If you are not already a part of a Covenant Group, we encourage you to check it out. Experience the joy of being a part of an existing Covenant Group or be bold and start a new group in your community.

Our prayer is that ALL would experience the intimacy and joy of sharing God’s Word, praising God and serving together in a setting that models the home churches of our early Christian heritage.

If you have an interest in joining or forming a Covenant Group, we encourage you to contact the church office or Marcia Fishman!

DHPC Covenant Groups have looked through the eyes of Christ and seen the needs in their communities and the world. They have responded by: • packing Thanksgiving Bags in partnership with Foothills Food Bank • partnering with Foothills Caring Corps serving shutin seniors in the Desert Hills, Scottsdale and Carefree areas

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2017 MEMBERSHIP and LEARNING ABOUT US OPPORTUNITES WELCOME TO THE FAMILY! You have a couple times when you simply can learn more about our church, or plan to join!

The first session in the New Year is January Saturday and Sunday, January 28 & 29.The second Session is Saturday and Sunday, March 25 and 26.

Both weekends' schedules are 9:00 to 11:00 on Saturday and 12:45 to 3:00 on Sunday.

You will not only learn about the basic tenets of our church and denomination, but also about our opportunities for growth, learning and involvement.

In addition, and most enjoyable, is meeting new people and learning about each other.

If you have a question, please free to call Nan Boyer-Searle at her cell number: 480-239-3751. She would enjoy answering your questions, and would love to treat you to coffee or tea.

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from the

Congregational

Nurse

BE PREPARED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! 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.

We certainly want to stay safe and healthy throughout this joyous season, but unfortunately emergencies do occasionally happen and we want to be prepared for such times.

What we do beforehand to prepare is very important.

One suggestion is to take a First Aid class. The American Heart Association (www.heart.org or 1-602-414-5353) and the local American Red Cross Organization (www.RedCross. org or 1-800-733-2767) are wonderful resources for First Aid classes.

Everyone should learn CPR and have AED training, with a refresher course every two years. Quick action on your part might just save a precious life.

Of course, calling 911 is always an option when there is a serious need. But what do we do for minor emergencies and what medical supplies should you have on hand at home to take care of them?

Here are some supplies you might want to have in your home especially when guests arrive, often in a First Aid Kit you can quickly grab or stored in a bathroom cabinet stocked with a variety of helpful supplies.

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• General supplies: Sharp scissors, tweezers, cotton

balls and rubbing alcohol or alcohol wipes, Q-tips, soap, hand sanitizer, plastic bags, rubber or vinyl gloves, a medicine cup or spoon with dosage markings, antidiarrheal drugs.

• Cuts: Bandages of various sizes, gauze, paper or cloth

tape, antiseptic solution to clean wounds and antibacterial ointment to prevent infection.

• Aches, pains, and or fever: Have a thermometer

handy. With the newer digital ones you don’t have to worry about breakage and mercury contamination in glass thermometers. Aspirin should only be used for adults. Have other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on hand such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin. Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Be sure to follow the dosage directions and do not take more than indicated as safe.

• Burns: Cool water at first. After the area has cooled

then you can use a burn spray or antiseptic cream. Do not apply butter to a fresh burn.

• Eye Injuries: Have an eye cup and Eye Wash Solution or Saline solution. Eye patches or goggles. Then call your eye doctor or personal care physician.

• Insect bites and stings: Cold packs to help reduce

pain and swelling. Hydrocortisone, Calamine lotion, or

DECEMBER 2016 - JANUARY 2017

antihistamine topical creams or baking soda to mix with a little water to make a paste.

• If you are allergic to bee stings keep an Epi-Pen or

other Epinephrine (Adrenalin) filled syringe with you at home or with you when on outdoor outings. You need a prescription from your doctor for these. Make sure the expiration date has not expired!

• Strains, sprains, fractures: Cold packs (you can use

packages of frozen vegetables) Ace or elastic bandages, finger splints and a triangular bandage to use as a sling if necessary.

• Poisons: Call for advice to the National Poison Control

Center (1-800-222-1222) or the local Banner Poison Control Center (602-253-3334). They are there to help.

Keep these numbers by each phone in your house and/or enter them into your mobile phone so they are handy.

To quote a Charlie Brown Song: “Christmas Time is Here, Happiness and cheer, fun for all and children call their favorite time of year.” Be safe and remember to rejoice and praise God for His priceless gift of His Son Jesus Christ. The Reason for the Season!

Merry Christmas!

DHPC Congregational Nurse: Mary Kay Thurston, RN 480-220-6679 nurse@deserthills.org

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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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