Echoes of DHPC | February-March 2014

February / March 2014

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church

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

Echoes

February / March 2014

IN THIS ISSUE: 03 04 04 05 05 06 07

Pastor’s Message Manger Mania Troop Care Music & Arts Festival Chaplaincy Fundraiser Prayer Shawl Ministry Knitting and Crocheting

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Usher Training Northwestern Orchestra “God’s Handy Work” Quilt

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Ministry at the Heritage From the Associate Pastor Angels and Demons Study

God Uses Regular People From the Congregational Nurse Reflections from Leadership Retreat

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Visit the Navajo Sister Church Dashboard

Lent and Holy Week

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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 April May issue, deadline for submissions is March 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 YEAR IN PRAYER: ASKING FOR THE SPIRIT How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” -- Luke 11:13 “Many seek the hand of God for help, but few seek the face of God.” -- Unknown

When we think of prayer the first thing that usually comes to our mind is communication. Prayer is communicating our hopes, fears and needs to the Lord. Knowing what to say and how to say it is very important to us. When a person wants to know how to pray they are usually asking about words and techniques to be used. Our consumer society has only furthered our fixation with prayer as communication of needs and desires.

The Scriptures, however, teach us that prayer is first and foremost about communion with God. When Jesus was asked by his disciples to teach them how to pray, he started with this relationship by focusing us on the “Father.”

Think about it, he could have chosen to have us address God as the “All Knowing One,” or “All powerful and Almighty God.” Or he could have used St. Anselm’s address of God as “That than which no greater can be conceived.” Instead Jesus taught his disciples to say, “Father.” This address implies an intimate loving relationship.

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With our focus on words we understand Jesus’ challenge to be persistent in prayer as a call to keep on talking. Many religions contain the idea of tiring the gods out by “talking their ear off.” In other words, if you badger the divine enough he will give you what you want just to silence you. We experience this kind of persistent badgering in our human relationships.

Jesus does call us to persistence in prayer, and initially our focus on words seems to be affirmed as Jesus challenges us to “Ask, seek, and knock.” Then he repeats himself as if to emphasize the call for more words. However, he ends up telling us what we are to ask for, “The Holy Spirit.” The persistence that Jesus calls us to is asking for the Spirit, seeking the Spirit, and knocking to be open to the Spirit. We are to be persistent in our communion with God, and sometimes that involves words.

The Session of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church has called for 2014 to be “A Year in Prayer: Asking for the Spirit.” Where do we begin? Like the disciples we ask the Lord to teach us to pray. Every member is challenged to set aside a little time every morning and evening in order to ask for the Spirit, seek the Spirit, and knock on the door of heaven to commune with the Spirit.

Peace in Christ,

Jim Echoes

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THANKS TO ALL WHO MADE “MANGER MANIA” SUCH A SUCCESS! On December 11 over 150 people enjoyed the musical “Manger Mania” presented by twenty children of our church and community. The children enjoyed presenting this lively version of the Christmas Story, and they greatly appreciated the enthusiastic audience after their months of preparation and the audience’s kind words afterward. This was only possible due to the support of parents and volunteers that helped in numerous ways.

Thank you to all of them and, of course, to the kids! You can watch a video at tinyurl.com/MangerMania2013.

Thank You 2013 Troop Care Ministry Volunteers!

The Troop Care Ministry Team wishes to thank the entire congregation for their generous gifts of time, talent, and treasure to support the Troop Care Ministry during 2013!

Because of your generous donations, for six years now, care package drives continue to be a successful means of showing personal support and encouragement to active duty personnel connected with our church members and Leupp PC. The 3rd Annual Veteran’s Day Recognition Event held in November was a huge success, honoring all veterans in our church. Volunteers served dinner to a very large crowd, and many veterans expressed their appreciation for the special event.

Our church was asked by Wounded Warrior Project to host the 2013 Carefree Soldier Ride, last October.

Our volunteers were so gracious and helpful, that many thanks were

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received from the organization and the riders themselves, and DHPC is being considered to host the 2014 Soldier Ride.

Hundreds of Christmas cards from our congregation were received and forwarded to active duty personnel and veterans.

With the expansion of this ministry’s outreach, more Team members are needed! If you have a desire to serve those who serve our country, you are invited to join the team as we plan and organize the ministries and events for 2014.

The Troop Care Ministry Team creates and organizes opportunities for our congregation to provide spiritual support, encouragement and service to both active duty personnel and veterans, from within the church and in our community.

Call Rhonda Noble at 480.433.2870 for more information.

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We have something for everybody this year! The workshops are varied, and we have options for children through adults! Choose from the following workshops:

coming feb. 21 & 22

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Fun to Draw: Critter Creation – Ron Carson and Joe Gilleland Creative Cards – Dawne Pender Beginning Crochet – Diane Hillwig Knitting 101 – Meg Gowin Mosaic Flower Pot – Gail Thiele and Susan Constance Paper Mache Project – Gail Thiele and Susan Constance Expandable Photo Album – Betty Shoults T’ai Chi Chih – Marilyn Irvin Guitar – Karin Thomas Bass Guitar – Richard Dietrich

Workshops will be held on Friday evening from 6:30 – 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., including a FREE LUNCH. Register on the Patio on February 2, 9 and 16. Cost is $10 per person or $25 per family; and payment is due when registering.

For more info, call Karin Thomas at 480-488-3384, Diane Hillwig at 480-4595063, or email Diane at: dianehillwig@gmail.com Be a Picasso, a Pavarotti, or a Martha Stewart for a day!

ANNUAL FUNDRAISING BREAKFAST FOR THE CHAPLAINCY

work, and can’t rent an apartment.

Saturday, March 8th at 9:30am – 11:00am Our mission connection with the Chaplaincy for the Homeless has lasted for about 10 years and each year brings new challenges to the Chaplaincy’s efforts to meet the needs of the homeless in Phoenix.

Please join us and learn more from the Chaplaincy’s Executive Director, Steve Stivers at our Annual Fundraising Breakfast.

Sign up on the Patio starting Sunday, February 2nd.

Your generosity is a blessing to hundreds of men and women who want to get off the streets and restart their productive lives.

Although the country’s general economy is improving especially since the Great Recession of 2008-2009, there are many “new” homeless still on the streets – women with children, servicemen and women, and educated people.

Families have broken apart; soldiers are disillusioned, and productive workers find re-tooling for the new economy difficult.

The Chaplaincy provides the first step out of homelessness by obtaining “Identification Documents” (ID) – licenses, birth certificates, replacement Social Security cards. Without these ID’s, men and women are supposed to drive, can’t apply for

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Prayer Shawl Ministry Since 2010, Geni Miller and a number of women have been knitting Prayer Shawls for the Deacon’s Care Ministry.

Prayer Shawls are simple gifts that are lovingly stitched by our members as a reminder of the Lord is always present with you as he promised. (Matthew 28:20) Every time a recipient wraps a shawl around them, it reminds them of the love that God and our church has for each recipient. It represents God’s surrounding and sustaining presence whenever the recipient needs to remember that the Lord is her or his safe haven, comfort, security, hope and peace.

Here is a note received by the Deacons who oversee this ministry from Jamie Benham: “I just want to take a moment and to be sure to thank everyone that is involved with the prayer shawl ministry.

It was almost exactly one year ago that we found out that my mom’s cancer had come out of remission and the doctors were saying she had about 6 – 9 months. Upon the urging of dear friends I stopped by the DHPC offices and was able to pick up a prayer shawl and present it to my mother after my family added our prayers to yours. She was so touched and kept it near always. As of November 24th, my mother now rests in the presence of our Savior and my father believes the extended time we had with her was due to all the prayers, specifically those related to the shawl. So, it is with my deepest gratitude I praise God for giving you this ministry and for you all answering His call.”

If you have a loved one or know of a friend who would accept one of these shawls, you can contact your Deacon or call Pastor Bob who will arrange for a time of prayer with your loved one or friend and bring the gift of the prayer shawl on behalf of Jesus’ healing ministry. If requested, the anointing with oil can accompany the gift of the prayer shawl.

INTERESTED IN KNITTING, CROCHETING OR ANY OTHER CRAFT? New Name: “The Divine Sticherhood” where we share our “purls of wisdom” with each other!

Come join us as we inspire each other, learn from each other, and fellowship together while knitting and crocheting! Maybe you do cross stitch, embroidery, felting, or some other craft? We’d love to include you! We meet each Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in the Lounge, so bring your own project of any kind, questions you may have, items for “show and tell”, and we’ll enjoy our time together.

If you are interested in learning the basics of crocheting or knitting, contact one of the ladies listed below.

For more information contact: • Meg Gowin - meggowin@gmail.com or 908930-5547 • Diane Hillwig - dianehillwig@gmail.com or 480-459-5063.

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Events & NEWS

“GOD’S HANDY WORK” QUILT God’s Handy Work quilt was dedicated on Sunday, December 15. This was a labor of love dedicated to the memory of Trudy Gray.

Trudy had been talking about designing a quilt for the Fellowship Center when she passed away last year. A group of dedicated friends have spent the last eight months completing Trudy’s dream.

USHER TRAINING & SAFETY EMERGENCY TRAINING COMING MARCH 2 All ushers, especially head ushers, are strongly urged to attend the Usher Training and Safety Training to be held Sunday, March 2 at 2:00 in the Church Sanctuary.

As you know, we have initiated some new safety protocols to ensure our children going to Sunday school are safe traveling to and from the classrooms. Ushers’ help will be needed.

Kathleen Harris, Director of Children’s Ministry, will discuss guidelines currently in place and what additional help is needed. Larry Soughan and Ross Mulder will also be reviewing important emergency procedures and general and head usher duties.

Even if you have attended these training sessions before, we are asking all ushers and anyone interested in becoming an usher to please put this date on your calendar.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN ORCHESTRA RETURNS MARCH 8 AT 7 P.M.

The quilt involves the artwork of 70 children and youth, and it speaks to Trudy’s love and passion for the children and youth of this congregation.

Special thanks to the quilting project team: Gail Thiele, Mary Denaro, Vicky Crowe, Dorothy Starnes, Susan Reed, Betty Muench, and Susan Constance. We also thank the Music and Arts Committee.

MINISTRY AT THE HERITAGE – SECOND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH Folks from DHPC continue to visit The Heritage assisted living facility on the second Thursday of each month, from 1 – 2 p.m.

We enjoy a time of fellowship, singing, devotions, and prayer – what a blessed afternoon!

We invite you to join us at The Heritage, located on N. Pima Road, just south of E. Cave Creek Road in Carefree.

Questions? See Laurann Cook, Karin Thomas or Diane Hillwig for more information. www.heritagecarefree.com

Please join us on Saturday evening, March 8th, at 7 p.m., for a terrific concert in our sanctuary presented by the University of Northwestern (St. Paul) Orchestra. There is no admission charge (a freewill offering will be taken).

The orchestra is comprised of 35 students, and has toured in the United States and in Europe. DHPC has been blessed by the University of Northwestern choir on two previous occasions, so we look forward to another wonderful event!

Mark your calendars and invite your friends!

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

Prayer as We Age In 2014, the Session has identified one of its three priorities as prayer. Prayer is one of the two significant ways we discern God’s will, the other being the study and meditation on the Scriptures. Covenant groups are being encouraged to study and engage in prayer, especially as a way to reach out to the people in our neighborhoods. The third priority is to pray for the ways we can plant a new church in the Anthem area.

I have found a resource on prayer called “Prayer Notes” by Abbey Press. Here I am summarizing and quoting from one of the Prayer Notes on “Finding Ways to Pray as We Age.” One of the major transitions in life is moving into retirement.

That can happen at any age, but most often in happens in and around 65 – 70 years of age.

“A change I (the author) have found hard to face, much less embrace, is that I can’t DO as much as I once did. Doing, I have come to acknowledge, was the engine of my former life—doing what was needed to become, to earn, to achieve.

The task of these later years is simply to BE. This is to pray with the spiritual emergency brake on. We need to stay in the stopand-be-still position of prayer. We must resist the question of the world, ‘What are you doing these days?’ The true question is ‘Who are you becoming these days?’ …. Now is the moment to revisit what is unresolved and to nurture what (God) wishes to come to life.”

Steps you can consider are: 1. R evisit and re-evaluate the prayer of the first half of life. When younger, we squeezed prayer into a busy day, using devotional books. Now, you can use the morning of each day to pray using the psalms like King David in his later life. At the day’s end, you can express gratitude for the graces received during day and acknowledge the flaws

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that become more apparent as the Holy Spirit helps you to distinguish between what is non-essential and consider what core values of your life are.

2. R esist becoming “set in your ways.” Now is the moment in life to expand and enrich your connection to your Creator and Maker. This is a time engage all your faculties to stay alert and engaged in life by: writing prayers, even drawing what you see of God’s creation around you. You can walk with your God, taking in the nature beauty of the desert that surrounds you. You can look out as if through a window (or a camera lens) at the many activities of mothers with children, (maybe grandchildren) who go about trying to make a life with meaning. All in all, take time to “gather it all in”, appreciating what God is doing.

Vow to never descend into the humdrum mindlessness!

3. B e mindful. When you practice being mindful, you do everything with the Grace of God and the Lord in mind – cleaning the house, visiting grandchildren, or walking with a friend. “Whatever you do, whether in speech or in action, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Give thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17) 4. F ind a prayer partner. Friends, especially spiritual friends, are very important in this stage of life. Making time to meet with your spiritual friends over coffee and dedicating some of that time to prayer for and with each other is vital.

You can also make these connections by phone, email, or texting.

5. B e part of a spiritual community. Jesus didn’t go it alone.

He gathered disciples around him. Showing up at church is a great exercise for the soul and the body. Worship is not about being a spectator but being a participant. Worship keeps your spiritual muscles supple.

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6. S eek to be reconciled. Forgiveness is the pre-condition to reconciliation. We can revisit the fractured relationships in our family or outside our family offering forgiveness where we value the person over the action or inaction committed.

We choose to end the enmity because we know we are linked by blood, as in our families, or by spirit within the Body of Christ. We begin to let go of our “ego”, surrendering ourselves to the reality of God’s grace being sufficient to meet all our needs.

Finally, we are encouraged to lift our heart to God… praying however you can, whenever you can, and wherever you are.

Be assured that the Lord is near and present as we long to give ourselves to the Lord, even as we will one day surrender

our bodies to the Lord in the “sure and certain hope of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.”

We have a fundamental choice to make late in life… to live with a vital faith or to succumb to living in fear. I am just beginning to understand this choice… but once we make the basic choice to live vitally, we can make a significant difference in God’s Kingdom, his church, and in our family life.

From one who is on the journey with you,

Bob

ANGELS AND DEMONS: A STUDY OF SCRIPTURE AND MODERN REALITIES THURSDAYS, MARCH 6 - 27 FROM 3 – 4:30PM In the Medieval times and even into Modernity, the question, “How many angels can dance (sit or stand) on the head of pin?” has been used to discredit the reality of angels, and by extension, demons. Yet there are enough references to angels and demons in the Scriptures to warrant a study of the realities of angels and demons then and today.

In today’s world, what some call “the post-modern era”, one of the surprising features is its fascination and promotion of “alternative realities” including angels and demons in cable TV shows and movies, such as Dracula, Sleepy Hollow, and others.

Drawing upon two resources – “Angels Around Us, What the Bible Really Says” by Douglas Connelly, and “Angels All Around Us” by Anthony DeStefano – the class will include study of Scripture reference and stories with angels and demons, discussion of books, and video clips of current media representation. Led by Pastor Bob, the class will meet in the Choir Room.

Please sign up on the patio starting Sunday, February 2nd or call the church office.

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LENT HOLY WEEK Ash Wednesday Ser vice - March 5

Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday, March 5. As is the tradition at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, we will be having an Ash Wednesday service on March 5 at 7:00 p.m.

As we begin our walk toward Jerusalem, following Christ to the cross, and then to the empty tomb, come and participate in this service. The service will include hymns and the placement of ashes as a sign of our condition and our repentance.

Signup For Easter Tulips & Lilies Beginning March 16

The sign-up chart for tulips and lilies will be posted in the Nathex and also in the Fellowship Center beginning Sunday March 16. This is a lovely way to honor a loved one or to celebrate a special occasion. The last day of sign-up is Sunday, April 6. You may take home your lily or tulips after the 11:00 service Easter morning.

Good Friday - April 18

You can observe and participate in the “Journey to the Cross”; a spiritually enriching “walk with Christ” on Friday, April 18 from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. Individuals, couples and families can all participate by taking a slow walk through nine stations tracings Christ’s life and ours in Christ.

Easter Ser vices - April 20

On April 20, we commemorate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We will be holding four Easter Services this year to worship the risen Christ.

• Sunrise service begins at 6:30 a.m. outside in the Church Courtyard.

• Traditional services will be held 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary.

• Our Praise service will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Center.

Palm Su nday - April 13

On Palm Sunday, Christians celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, the week before his death and resurrection. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week.

Palm Sunday Service will be April 13 at the regularly scheduled times of 8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 a.m.

Mau ndy Thursday - April 17

We will be observing Maundy Thursday with a special service in our Sanctuary on Thursday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m.

This is the Thursday before Easter, the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. He shares a meal with them which is known as the Last Supper.

Holy Communion will be served at this service.

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You Can’t Convert In Heaven, So Let’s Share Here & Now

God Uses Regular People THINK ABOUT WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR YOU

Some of the best people who offer God’s hope to others are regular men and women like you and me. We do not have to be theologians or ministers to help people know who Christ is. We just need to be willing and be who we are; that is, who God created us to be.

IT’S MORE THAN JUST FAITH.

Make note of how your life changed when you accepted Christ as Savior and how you have grown in your faith.

Such reflection will prepare you for sharing your story!

Faith is not just believing something; it’s believing something and taking action in accordance with that belief.

The Bible, from Genesis through Revelation, tells us to share God with others!

If you feel God calling you to share your faith story with people in your spheres of influence, or wish to join me in fine-tuning our faith story, feel free to call me at the church office!

Nan Boyer-Searle

IT’S SHARING.

Sometimes, our actions can be those of service such as sharing time, food, transportation, listening ears, invitations, money and hands-on help. At the same time, Scripture repeatedly teaches us that we need to spread God’s plans to “all people and nations”.

WE SHARE BY TALKING WITH PEOPLE BASED UPON WHERE THEY ARE IN CIRCUMSTANCES.

The next few months we will explore various examples of how we can share our faith story with other people, in very natural and conversational ways with: • Family, neighbors and co-workers • Someone we meet for the first time • In other words, whoever God chooses to place in our life

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from the

Congregational Nurse THE BLESSING OF SLEEP “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” - Proverbs 3:24 NIV Sleep is essential to your well-being. It is necessary for the body to recharge its batteries, heal its wounds, rest the spirit, and regroup for another day. Everyone needs a slightly different amount of sleep but everyone needs good quality rest. This means deep, uninterrupted sleep for at least six to eight or more hours a night. Without good sleep you will experience fatigue, moodiness, irritability, poor memory, decreased dexterity, decreased energy level, and possibly depression.

Many things can cause a poor night’s sleep: excessive napping, physical ailments, poor sleep habits, excessive worrying, or even hormonal changes.

Many of these conditions can be remedied through behavior change or medical treatment. If falling asleep is difficult, establish a routine to train the brain to prepare for sleep. If sleep problems occur more than three times in a week, consider seeing a doctor to determine if the problem might be medical in nature. Conditions like restless legs or hot flashes can be addressed medically. Continued sleeplessness and fatigue may cause additional risks for high blood pressure, cardio-vascular problems, weight gain, or depression.

Sleep is also impacted by the mattress you have. You spend approximately one third of your life in bed so make sure it supports you well and can give you a restful night. Consider looking for a new mattress if you routinely: wake up achy/numb/stiff, toss and turn during the night, sleep better on beds other than your own, feel yours is lumpy/sags or have a mattress between 5 and 7 years old.

Spiritually, sleep is important for active minds and good dispositions. The worries and challenges of daily

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lives often cause problems during the waking hours which can carry over into the nighttime. Turn your worries over to God. Work with His spiritual presence and His gift of medicine to achieve a restful night.

(Source: Mayo Clinic www.mayoclinic.com/) “The bed is too short to stretch out on, the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.” - Isaiah 28:20 NIV Whether related to stress, illness, or just a long day, people often have difficulty falling asleep. Establish a bedtime routine that prepares you and your mind for sleep. The room should be dark, a comfortable temperature, and quiet to allow the mind to relax. A light snack of carbohydrates (yogurt, apple, cheese, or granola) before bed may help you sleep but heavy spicy foods, alcohol, or caffeine will keep you awake and interfere with continuity of sleep.

Remember a bedtime prayer for additional comfort and relaxation. What is your routine?

“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” -Psalms 4:8 NIV Sleep is important for every age but the best amount for healthy, active minds and bodies will differ. Infants need to sleep an average of 16 hours a day to keep up with the body’s demands as it grows. Preschool children often need 11 hours a day. School age children work best at 10 hours with teens somewhere around 9 hours and adults between 7 and 8. The right amount of sleep creates effective people and productive activities. Are you getting enough sleep?

“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.” -Hebrews 12:12 NLT Sleep apnea, a repetitious stop and start in bedtime breathing, will cause chronic fatigue which then impacts clarity of thinking and levels of activity. A variety of issues such as weight, snoring, alcohol

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intake, or physical make-up may cause this condition.

If you are consistently tired after a long night’s sleep you may not be getting sufficient oxygen during sleep.

Consider seeing a physician as this treatable condition is a risk for high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” -Matthew 11:28 NIV Sleep recharges the body and allows it to heal both mentally and physically. During illness, sleep helps the body battle infection or disease by focusing its energy on healing. During sleep, the body also shuts down the mind to give it rest from the challenges and trials of the day. Without sleep, people become shorttempered, are quick to anger, make poor decisions, and generally have a bad day. Get a good night’s sleep and wake up with a more cheerful heart.

“Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy” - Exodus 20:8 NIV.

References / Resources: • www.healthywomen.org/healthtopics/sleepdisorders - The National Women’s Health Resource Center has patient education on a variety of sleep disorders • www.mayoclinic.com/ - Search ‘sleep’ • www.healthfinder.gov/search - Search ‘sleep’ for links and health pages on sleep disorders and situations that are age- or disease-related • www.bettersleep.org/ - Better Sleep Council – material on various sleep issues, related links, and educational fact sheets as well as information on mattresses • www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncsdr/ - National Center on Sleep Disorders Research is part of the National Institute of Health.

• www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/safe_sleep_ gen.cfm - National Institute of Health’s site for SIDS information and safe sleep for babies • http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/ seniors/common-older/386.html - Family Doctor.org and American Academy of Family Physicians on issues of the older adult

God knew what He was doing when He told us we needed to have Sabbath in our lives: to worship Him and to have REST for our Souls.

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REFLECTIONS FROM THE

CHURCH LEADERSHIP SPIRITUAL RETREAT On October 18 and 19, 2013, the Leadership Development Ministry Team sponsored a Spiritual Retreat for all church officers and staff. The 25 attendees were carpooled from the church to the home of Peter and Carolyn Sturrus atop a beautiful mountain in Cave Creek. Below are some of the edited thoughts from the attendees.

NOTE: Cora Smith submitted this for Echoes before she passed.

“It was definitely an evening and a day well spent. The setting was ideal. There was plenty of room and certainly no lack of scenic beauty. All of the ‘pieces’ done by staff were well thought out and meaningful. Karin Thomas did a fabulous job with singing and praising. All three pastors were right on with their sharing a verse from Scripture and then expounding on it and allowing us to stretch it further.

It was not a highly structured event and yet flowed very smoothly from one segment to the other.”

-Cora Smith

“[The retreat] gave us a chance to get to know one another better. We were able to sing, pray, and read the Bible together and reflect on God’s plan for all of us. The setting of God’s world, complete with full moon, beautiful sunset, and desert view helped to make it a very spiritual evening.

- Dawne Pender “I really appreciated the time we spent together. I found the breakout discussions and sharing to be enlightening and strengthening, re-enforcing the fact that we support each other in our faith and trust in the Lord. I hope this will be an annual event for our church leadership. The retreat is an escape from the pressures of our lives, but it restores our strength to take on the challenges with renewed determination and trust in God’s power.”

- Joe Gilleland

“What a blessing to be with other church leaders reading scripture, singing and praying together and in such a wonderful setting. I enjoyed the opportunity to get to know people more and to have the opportunity to commune with nature on our breaks.”

- Dorie McDaniel

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“In our busy-ness of everyday life, taking time to ‘retreat’ at first seems like it might be a burden. When we do ‘retreat’ and find spiritual renewal and inspiration through study of the Scriptures, prayer, fellowship and just communing in God’s presence, such wonderful refreshment and renewal occurs.

Of course having a gorgeous mountaintop retreat location is pretty good too! Thanks to and may God bless Peter and Carolyn Sturrus and all those who planned and directed the retreat.”

- Mary Kay Thurston

F E B R U A RY / M A R C H 2 0 1 4

D E S E RT H I L L S

Echoes

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F E B R U A RY / M A R C H 2 0 1 4

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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

CHURCH DASHBOARD