Echoes of DHPC | June - July 2012

June / July 2012

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church

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

Echoes

Echoes

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Join us for a very special EPC Ordination, Installation and Reception Worship Service on Sunday, June 10 at 2:00 pm.

Pastor’s Message Church Dashboard Session Briefs Special Thanks God-Inspired Quilt Summer Worship Schedule New EPC Member Class Series Prayer Shawl Ministry From Your Associate Pastor God Sightings Children’s Volunteers DHPC & Leupp Celebrate 30 Years Youth News Vacation Bible School

11 Echoes is a semi-monthly publication 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 480-488-3384 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 August September issue, deadline for submissions is July 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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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.

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

Pastor’s

Pastor’s Message

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

What Does It Mean?

Terms such as “Evangelical,” “Presbyterian,” and “Reformed” are not always familiar to people outside the church and at times have come to represent things different from our own understandings. Perhaps you wondered yourself about their meaning or have been asked by a friend to explain these terms. Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to take a moment and share what each of these terms means to Desert Hills and our new denomination, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

What does it mean to be “Evangelical?”

“To be ‘Evangelical’ means to believe in the importance of sharing the good news that through Jesus Christ the kingdom of God has been inaugurated, freeing people from the guilt and power of sin through personal faith and repentance. We express this priority on evangelism by stating it in our governing documents as the first work of the church. This priority is evidenced in our emphasis on church planting and world missions.”

responsibility. Just as individual Christians are connected to one another as members of the body of Christ, so also individual congregations are connected under Christ as the great Head of the Church. “

What does it mean to be “Reformed?”

“To be ‘Reformed’ means several things. Historically, it means that we trace our roots to the Reformation, when John Calvin and others led the movement to reform the Church according to Scripture. Theologically, it means belief in the absolute sovereignty of God and that the highest good is God’s glory. This historical and theological heritage is often expressed in the “solas” of the Reformation - God’s grace alone as the only way to be reconciled to God, faith alone as the only means of receiving God’s grace, Christ alone as the ground of God’s saving grace, Scripture alone as the only infallible authority for belief and God’s glory alone as the ultimate purpose for the lives of men and women. “ This is what it means to us to be “Evangelical,” Presbyterian,” and “Reformed”

What does it mean to be “Presbyterian?”

“To be ‘Presbyterian’ is to be governed according to the pattern of elders seen in the Old and New Testaments. We are ruled neither by bishops in a hierarchical model nor by members in a congregational model. Biblically qualified elders are recognized through congregational election and, along with ministers, rule the church corporately. It also means being connected in mutual accountability and

Peace in Christ,

Jim

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

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CHURCH DASHBOARD

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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

Session Briefs We’ve created this spot in Echoes to allow DHPC Elders to provide brief updates about major initiatives, successes or even challenges they are facing as they lead specific areas of ministry at our church throughout the calendar year.

Children’s Ministries – Peggy Heydrick Please say Hello to Nyaboke Nyanga’u from Kenya!

Nyaboke is new to our Sunday School even though she is so far away! Nyaboke was born October 24th, 2001. Her parents were lost in a road accident.

Children’s Ministry has adopted her and The Auer Family has become her sponsor family, along with all the children in the Sunday School classes. We are grateful to Fred, Heather and their children: Tori, Savannah, and Preston. They have already welcomed Nyaboke with pictures and love.

A bulletin board is posted in the hall by the Fellowship Hall classrooms. Students and others will be able to keep track of all communications with Nyaboke.

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

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A special thank you: Thank you to all the men who sang in the Men’s Choir for Mother’s Day, and thanks to all the singers and instrumentalists who enhance our worship services every Sunday!

- Karin Thomas

A GOD-INSPIRED QUILT

Sixty-six members of DHPC (all ages) lovingly sewed quilt blocks with their favorite scripture verses printed on them for Bobbie Carlson. She is our beloved Bible study teacher and a core leader in Community Bible Study who is recovering from a stroke.

Trudy Gray assembled the blocks into a colorful, two-sided quilt. Many of her friends gathered recently and presented it to her. We pray that it will be a comforting and daily reminder of love as she recovers.

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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

SUMMER WORSHIP HOURS START JUNE 3RD!

Our summer Worship schedule will be in effect from June 3 through September 30 this year.

• Traditional worship service will be at 9:00 am in the Sanctuary • Praise service will be in the Fellowship Center at 10:30 am Nursery care and Sunday School will be offered at both services. Band of Believers and Youth Group will be held during the 10:30 service.

NEW EPC MEMBER CLASS SERIES

Interested in joining DHPC? Have you been waiting for us to join the EPC before committing to membership? If so, now’s your chance! There are just four classes in each series, to be held in the Fellowship Center from 2-4 pm.

Our classes are fun, full of learning opportunities and fellowship oriented.

We will still include Reformed tenets, and augment the information based on our new affiliation with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

LATE SUMMER SERIES: August 26, September 9, September 16, September 23, Recognition on September 30.

Are you really busy? You may take one or more classes from one series and complete the other classes in another or more series. We make it easy for you to join us!

The next series will start in October and be completed in November.

For further information, call Nan Boyer-Searle, 480-239-3751 (cell).

INTRODUCING THE PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

A new ministry is in progress at Desert Hills…The Prayer Shawl Ministry.

A group of women have been knitting & crocheting prayer shawls for about a year.

Several shawls have been presented to members of our congregation who are lonely, ailing, recuperating from illness, or surgery. These shawls provide the receivers with a tangible gift of comfort, love, and God’s sustaining presence.

Originally in the Old Testament, Jewish men and women wore everyday covers (ie: robes) as normal dress. God then instituted the practice of adding tassels or fringes to those robes, to remind the Israelites of His Word and commandments. He said, “You will have these tassels to look at, so you will remember all the commands of the LORD” (Numbers 15:39).

If you are interested in participating in this ministry by knitting or crocheting a shawl, or by donating money for the purchase of yarn, please contact Geni Miller at 480-488-5835, or Carol Soughan at 480-502-0009.

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

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From Your Associate Pastor Bob Claus, Associate Pastor | bclaus@deserthills.org | 480-488-3384

Meet Your Deacons!

Your Deacons now live in a home not too far from where you live! In April, each member received a letter introducing you to your new Deacon or Parish Shepherd. By now, your Deacon has made calls and tried to reach you. The purpose of the new geographic parishes is to provide for better contact, create a better sense of Christian community in your neighborhood, and to care for each other.

I am encouraging our Parish Deacons and Shepherds to reach out to you and find new ways to foster Christian community in your neighborhood. One of our Deacons, Jan Brockman, decided to host an evening gathering in her home. She invited her whole parish and had 24 people come for refreshments and good conversations. This is a sign that God is at work – it is a God sighting.

We have 14 Deacons and 5 Parish Shepherds who are serving in geographic parishes. Here are their names and phone numbers!

Get to know your Parish Deacon or Parish Shepherd; they are there for you, prayer support, and someone who will listen.

Parish #

Name

Phone Number

Parish #

Name

Phone Number

1

Dorie McDaniel

623-444-4481

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Bob Mock

602-717-2988

2

Kaisa Holcombe

623-465-0710

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Dawne Pender

480-575-9474

3

Harriet Basta

480-488-0169

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Steve Haver*

480-488-5540

4

Jan Bowie

480-488-6341

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Myra Sherriff

480-502-9431

5

Nancy Stoffer

480-488-4441

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Bonnie Seiferth

480-437-1114

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Woody Chamberlain

480-595-0465

16

Bill Sherriff

480-502-9431

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Jan Brockman

480-595-0111

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Moon Kahn

480-391-2034

8

Bev Shannon

480-663-3030

18

Jim Shields

480-502-3021

9

Jeanne Frank

480-488-8636

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Cora Smith

480-419-8945

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Karen Paisley

480-595-8107

*Our newest Deacon, Steve Haver, was just elected to the Board and will be installed on June 10th. He is replacing Joe Gilliland, who was elected as the Elder for Building and Grounds. Our loss is the Session’s gain! You will be missed, Joe! My prayer is that you will grow closer to the Lord even as you travel. I also hope everyone has a “safe and sane summer”. Be careful out there and share the care of Christ wherever you are!

Blessings,

Bob 8

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

GOD SIGHTINGS

How is God at work in your life? Give glory, honor and praise by sharing your own God Sightings! Please email what God has planned in your heart and life to godsightings@deserthills.org or leave a voice message anytime, day or night, through the God Sightings Hotline at (480) 525-8388.

I spent my first 20 years as a Roman Catholic and my second 20 years as a “Pedestrian”. I am now a Christian.

God, through His Holy Spirit, started to “ping” on me over two decades ago. I was in the investment world, a “Master of the Universe”, and an arrogant “self-made” 40 year old man! God decided that He would utilize my “strengths” to effect a change in my priority, to humble me, completely. He is very good at what He does! I changed firms, lost 80% of my income, almost lost my marriage and family, and experienced health problems at that time, which inhibited my efforts to rebuild my practice. I came to accept His “humbling”. It was the “public humiliation” with which I had to, and did, learn to cope!

God, through my pastor in 1995, brought me to a three day retreat, in which I had no desire to participate, and from which I tried, unsuccessfully, on the first night, to escape. The following day, I experienced God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in a way that has molded my life since!

While I am still a sinner, I am an “aware” sinner, and am willing to accept the gift of God’s grace, Jesus’ sacrifice of atonement on my behalf, and the Spirit’s guidance! Praise Him!

- Steve Searle

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

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Thanks to all of our

Children’s Ministries volunteers for your support this past year!

Heather Auer

Brent & Jamie Benham

Denise Bergstrom

LIz Cottrell

Travis & Heather Frye

Trudy Gray

Joyce Hammett

Cyndi Moulton

Jennifer Post

Nancy Taylor

Gail Thiele

Michelle Wild

Kris Albrecht

Vicky Crowe

NOT PICTURED: Jessika Portillo, Alison Wulf, Scott Fowler, Emily & Patrick McAvoy

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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

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DHPC & LEUPP CELEBRATE

30 YEAR RELATIONSHIP Leupp had quite the plan for our visit this year. They scheduled six different 30-minute classes for small groups; Fry bread, weaving, basket making, language pronunciations & words, Baby’s First Laugh Ceremony, bead jewelry making and baby cradle board making. The last big treat of the day was going to Herman Curley’s ranch, up on the mesa where he accepted Christ as a young man as he watched over his family’s sheep below. Here are a few of the highlights:

Description Of Different World Views By Navajos (Dine) And Whites (Bilagaana) Eunice Kelly held an opening session where we learned that the Dine see not only their literal world, but also their lives and plans in one large picture, and dependent on each other. We whites see parts and segments, often one at a time.

Baby’s First Laugh Workshop

JOIN US FOR A SUMMER OF ACTIVITY ON THE NAVAJO RESERVATION WITH LEUPP

Nancy A. Clarke, DHPC Member since 1975 The Navajos have a tradition of celebrating a child’s first expression of joy. They believe that pre-birth baby showers are premature and can bring evil to a child. The child is thought to assume the characteristics of the person that makes him laugh.

In Navajo theology, babies share a special relationship with the Holy People. Infants are thought to share a special language with the Holy People, which is why they are unable to communicate with us. Traditional parents do not trim their child’s hair until he has a strong vocabulary because the hair is thought to be an extension of thought. Disrupting the early thoughts prematurely cut connection with the Holy People.

A feast is prepared by the person who makes the baby laugh. It is a community event and a sheep is butchered and prepared.

After many hours of preparation , the First Laugh Ceremony itself is quite minor. Each guest gives a small gift, then each guest receives a sweet so that the baby will grow into a generous person and rock salt to prevent her from becoming stingy.

The shima (grandmother) blesses her in Navajo.

Week of July 22 VBS at Leupp with our Jamaican Sister Church August 1 - 5 ALL INVITED! 100th Anniversary celebration of founding 1st Presbyterian Church of Leupp Camp Meeting August 17 & 18 Music Camp. Please pray for this wonderful teen outreach For more information, please call Nan BoyerSearle at 480-239-3751 (cell).

Some notes are from Web Weekly Harvard Medical Community; all were shared at the group meeting.

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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

A baby sleeps in her Navajo cradle, unaware of the ‘students’.

Herman Curley and Clark Benham made their own baby cradle!

Charlene Addison & Betty Kelly share basket meaning & history.

Leupp Jewelers teach old and young alike, the art of jewelry making.

DHPC and LEUPP: 30 years JOIN US THIS NOVEMBER SAVE NOVEMBER 2, 3 and 4

Annabelle Smallcanyon taught us about the pronunciations of Navajo letters and combinations of letters as well as meanings of Navajo words.

EXTRA SPECIAL activities are being planned for Leupp, our Navajo sister church’s annual visit here! We will celebrate our 30 year relationship with special activities off campus and on! We are going to have fun!

Let us know if you will help us plan an amazing time for our friends of 30 years. Few churches in the country can boast of how God has brought together Native American and Anglo churches in close relationship such as ours!

Call the office 480 488 3384 Call Nan Boyer-Searle 480 239 3751

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

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YouthNews The Discover Series we started prior to Easter has been an overwhelming success in terms of bringing new students into the youth program. We meet for one hour each Sunday, and we have been trying to determine what the best time to meet is: our first four-week session was during the 11:00 service, and our second four-week session was during the 9:45 service.

We embarked on this program due to input from our leadership group indicating a number of students could not attend Wednesday evenings due to school or outside activity commitments, such as sports or other school programs.

Our first four-week series concentrated on teaching who Jesus is. The four-week series we just finished concentrated on Paul, and we continue to emphasize studying the Bible and learning memory verses and community service.

The Discover Series will start again June 3rd and continue through the summer. Due to the change in service hours we will be running the series during the 10:30 service.

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We welcome all students who have just graduated from 6th grade and will be going into 7th grade in the fall! The class is open to those in 7th grade through seniors in high school. We meet in the Youth Room in the Fellowship Hall.

Check the church bulletin for more details as to the upcoming series topics as well as to learn of the programs that will be outside of the Discover series during the summer such as mission trips or other youth gatherings.

If you have questions regarding the Discover program or any other youth activity please contact our Youth Pastor Kevin Deasy at youth@deserthills.org or me at rotondo_ frank@yahoo.com for details. Please provide your phone number if you would like us to give you a call.

In Christ, Frank Rotondo, Youth Elder

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL SETS SAIL JUNE 18!

DARE TO DIVE DEEP INTO GOD’S WORD!

Kids will learn how to depend on God through the story of Noah, to make the life-changing decision to follow Jesus and to change the world by “going into the whole world to proclaim the good news to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) Sign up today! Registration forms are available in the church office, at the VBS table on the patio or at www.deserthills.org.

Operation Overboard Vacation Bible School • June 18-22, 2012, 9:00 am – noon • Ages 4-Grade 5 • Registration fee: $10.00 per child

Volunteers needed! of ep into a fun filled week Are you ready to dive de the If s? kid d the awesome learning, snacks, crafts an ms for n tio up today! Registra answer is yes, then sign le tab S VB h office or at the are available in the churc on the patio.

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • June / July 2012

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Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid PAID Cave Creek, AZ Permit No. 9

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

or current resident

Announcing the birth of perhaps the cutest baby in history.

Many of you may not know the graphic designer who lives in Virginia and puts this publication together. I take every opportunity to tell people about this new kid we have, and hijacking your back page was no exception. And also, if there are any formatting mistakes, it’s because I get 2 hours of sleep every day.

So let me formally say: Alex Parrish and Heather Parrish of Radford, Virginia, would like to announce the April 27 birth of Willow Grace Parrish: quite possibly the most beautiful baby ever born.