August Valley Vine Issue 2019

the

Valley Vine

August 2019

Volume sixty-four, Number seven

Valley Presbyterian Church

IN THIS ISSUE

72 Pews

By Keith Kerber

A Summer of Service

By Travis Kingma

Family Ministry Matters

By Tina GIlbreath

Senior Pastor

DAVID JOYNT Friends, The Opera del Ducma was a committee in charge of maintaining and augmenting the cathedral in Florence, Italy. They decided, in 1408, to decorate the roofline of the building with statues. Two of these statues were completed by Donotello and Agostino, but the third commission foundered.

First Agostino, then Antonio Rossellino, tried and failed to sculpt the biblical hero David. Rossellino blamed the slab of marble taken from the Carrara Quarry in Tuscany, as inferior. It had sat outside in the elements for 25 years. In 1501, a young man of twenty-six, Michelangelo, was chosen to try once more. It took three years, but the statue that emerged from the rejected stone is now one of the most famous and beautiful figures in the world.

This is also the story of our lives. We are all under construction.

Our church is a place, like the Florence Cathedral, where the divine artist is at work. He is refining and shaping, chiseling and hammering, sanding and polishing, until a masterpiece emerges from our flawed marble. God sees something in each of us that is beautiful and eternal, and he is determined to release it. No one is meant to be the solo designer of their own life. Unless God is allowed to be the Designer and Construction Manager, all the work will be in vain. Once we allow him to begin his good work in us, we can be assured he will bring it to completion. His work in us is not yet finished, and the construction begins from the inside out.

Our souls deepen, our perceptions clarify, our hearts strengthen.

The same is true of our church. We are under construction together also as a community of faith. God tests and disciplines us, he challenges and reassures us, so that our prayers are more profound, our praises more sincere, our relationships more rewarding, our witness more compelling, and our walk in the world more revealing of his love and justice.

The building on our campus is a picture of the construction in our individual lives and our life together. Within our classic Sanctuary something new is emerging. Our sermon series will take up this construction metaphor in August and September.

Here are sermon topics for the beginning of the new series:

2 Cover Photo by Annie Sprat on Unsplash

Date

Scripture Title

August 11

Genesis 11:1-9 Psalm 127: 1

Futile Building

August 18

Genesis 6:9-22

Construction Drawings

August 25

Joshua 6: 1-5, 15-16, 20 Matthew 3:17

Demolition

Highlighte d

EVENTS

BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS

Sunday, August 11, 9 & 10:45AM Services Kids and students are encouraged to bring their backpacks to worship!

LUNCH & END-OF-SUMMER CELEBRATION

Summer Lunch!

August 11, Noon (after 10:45 service) Landes Center, Free Get out of the hot sun and eat some cool food with good people at VPC! Everyone is invited. Bring a friend!

Children 2019-2020

FALL SUNDAY SCHOOL STARTS

Sunday, August 18, 9 & 10:45AM services Sunday School is for kids age 3-5th grade.

Please re-register your child for the year: vpc.church/children

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) KICKOFF

Friday, August 23, 9-11:30AM, Landes Center So many people are waiting to experience life TO THE FULL. We decided to stop waiting. Join us this year as we focus on what it is like to live life to the fullest.

3

72 PEWS

By Keith Kerber

Keith: keithk@vpc.church

When you arrive for worship on Sunday morning, do you have "your" seat? Is there a pew in the Sanctuary, chair in Landes, or seat in the Chapel where you've sat for years, maybe even decades? What did you do when an unknowing visitor sat in “your" spot, leaving you disoriented and asking, “where am I supposed to sit now?” Of course I'm being a bit facetious; I know you all are welcoming of visitors, wherever they may sit, but you know what I’m talking about.

We are such creatures of habit aren’t we?

Imagine if those pews could speak! Imagine the stories and testimony of all the saints who had sat there for more than 50 years! They would speak of babies baptized, couples married, and of lives remembered. They would speak of children receiving their first Bibles, teenagers commissioned for mission trips, ordinations of Elders, Deacons, and Pastors. Like the grain in the mahogany from which the pews were made, sacred memories of the Sanctuary are ingrained in each us.

It was surreal for me to enter the Sanctuary the day after Easter with drills, pry bars, wrenches, saws, safety glasses, and gloves, prepared to remove the Sanctuary’s 72 pews.

Just a day before, we had sat and sung the glorious hymns of Easter resurrection.

I enjoyed thinking about each of your stories as we removed the pews. I wondered what initially brought you to VPC. What keeps you here? What sermon has had the greatest impact on your faith? What is your favorite hymn? What was your most memorable experience in the Sanctuary? How has God spoken to you? Thinking about your stories reminded me that what happens in the Sanctuary doesn’t stay in the Sanctuary. We go out from there each week, changed in some way. Whether it was something said in a sermon, a hymn, the Apostle’s Creed, a scripture heard for the first time, or a song that overwhelmed us with the love of God, we have all been changed in the Sanctuary.

Another amazing thing about removing the pews was working with all of our VPC family. More than 30 volunteers, from age seven to 86, together with 15 staff members, contributed 175+ hours of labor to disassemble and remove the pews. It was a joy to see people who had been members for one year all the way to 43 years working together to save VPC more than $17,000 in estimated demolition costs. What a great family! Much of the mahogany wood was saved in hopes that it can repurposed in some way in the remodeled campus. If not, it will be sold.

I look forward to the day when we will re-enter the Sanctuary with a whole new look and feel. The soaring stone walls and high ceiling will still remind us of the awesome and vast presence of God, as they always have. The sound of the saints singing praise will fill the room as they have for 53 years. And, after a couple of months, I suspect that each of us will have found "our" spot once again in the Sanctuary.

4

MEET VPC'S CONSTRUCTION SUPERINTENT, RYAN SNIEZEK

Ryan Sniezek (right) on site in the Sanctuary VPC has some incredibly talented people working for us during the Sanctuary remodel. We want to introduce you to the Superintendent on our project!

Ryan Sniezek probably knows more about our Sanctuary than anyone on the planet. As Porter Construction Co. Superintendent for VPC’s remodel, Ryan commutes from Surprise, arriving before and often remaining long after all the subcontractors have left. If you see him on campus please be sure to say hello and thank him for working so hard to bring us a beautiful Sanctuary. We asked Ryan a few questions to get to know him better: What do you like to do when you’re not remodeling VPC’s Sanctuary?

I mostly spend time with my wife, and my teenage son (sophomore) and daughter (senior)…and I love to go fishing whenever I can!

How long have you been with Porter?

I have been working for Robert Porter Construction for eight years and been in the construction business for over 20 years.

How many church sanctuaries/worship centers have you built and/or remodeled?

This project will be the fifth church project I have built.

What do you like and/or find unique about VPC’s remodel?

The one thing I find unique is how well built the original building structure is. The exterior walls are 20” thick masonry with a 6” thick stone veneer founded on a 4’ wide 16” thick concrete footing.

What is exciting and/or what is the biggest challenge to VPC’s remodel from a builder’s perspective?

The biggest challenge is coordinating the new work into the existing building.

What are some examples?

Finding a pathway for the new underground duct work, mapping out the new conduit routing, and coordinating how the new structural elements connect into the existing structure.

Do you like building/remodeling churches for any particular reason?

I do really enjoy remodel work. There is a lot of investigation work, unforeseen items, challenges and coordination that takes place when you are modifying an existing building. In the end there is just a great satisfaction and sense of accomplishment seeing the building transformed and the people using the new space.

VPC’s Owner’s Representative, Greg Kreizenbeck, a general contractor for 30+ years, notes that we are very fortunate to have Ryan. “Ryan is knowledgeable regarding commercial construction remodels.

He is smart, has a strong work ethic, and forms good relationships with the client, consultants and subcontractors. Ryan is cognizant of the challenges and by all accounts rises to the occasion. The Porter Construction Co. project manager Steve Bechtel, company President Earl Lucas and Ryan acting together with architect Rob Huff as a team consistently entertain cost saving alternatives that don't negatively impact the project's integrity.”

5

A SUMMER OF SERVICE

By Travis Kingma Pastor of Next Generation Ministry & Contemporary Worship

Travis: travisk@vpc.church

For who is God except the LORD? And who is a rock besides our God? -Psalm 18:31 What do mud bowls, high ropes courses, and Times Square all have in common? A VPC Student Ministry summer full of trips to remember! In June our students ventured west to Forest Home Camp in Forest Falls, California. Many of these same students devoted days volunteering at Vacation Bible School just a couple weeks later! In July students headed north to Tuba City, Arizona, for the Middle School Mission Trip, and out east for the High School Mission Trip in New York City. These were all incredible, life-changing, transforming experiences.

On the first leg of our first trip, right at the beginning, we were faced with the obstacle of trying to get to Forest Home Camp. Our bus kept overheating and breaking down. After pulling over more than eight times and crawling on the freeway at around thirty-five miles per hour, we made it to camp. It took ten and half hours (Google Maps usually estimates the trip to take a little over five hours). This was definitely a challenging time in the moment, but it was also an opportunity for us to rely on the Source that is unmovable in His love for us.

This summer we had Psalm 18:31 printed on our t-shirts, reminding us that our only hope is to build our life upon the rock. That rock the scriptures reveal is the living God made known in Jesus Christ who loves us and cares for us more than we can imagine.

After arriving at camp, several students would later share that they were grateful for the long drive up because it allowed them to get to know new people, have deep conversations, and learn perseverance amidst a challenging and unexpected situation. Later that week, after an amazing time of fun-filled activities (including the mud bowl), cabin time conversations, and captivating worship, students found themselves in deep conversations about the Lord moving in their lives.

Some students who identified as non-Christian began to ask questions and reflect on what following God in a real way could look like. Some even said "Yes" to declaring Christ as Lord and Savior for the first time. In addition to new students coming to know the Lord, several others made recommitments to being authentic disciples, learning to follow God with everything. We celebrate these moments wholeheartedly and pray with gratitude for how God transformed us all at camp.

6

After returning from California, some students were able to embody their faith in concrete ways by going on mission trips and learning more about what it means to be missional followers of Christ. Several spent a whole week mentoring and building relationships with kids during VBS. In July, our Middle School students worked hard at First Presbyterian of Tuba City doing yard work, painting, and running a VBS for local kids.

Profound moments of growth were demonstrated by our students as they led one another and sacrificed their time and energy for the gospel in a location and context very different than what they are used to at home. At the end of the mission trip, all the middle schoolers went on a high ropes course in Flagstaff.

They were all so brave!

The New York City High School Mission trip was another adventure with many Holy Spirit-filled moments. Every day students worked at non-profits (including World Vision), in local churches, and experienced how the Gospel is manifested in one of the largest cities in the world. With so much movement, cultural convergence, and brilliant minds being in one concentrated area, it was wonderful to witness glimpses of God’s Kingdom as our students served the poor and the marginalized.

Along with our various journeys, we had regular outreach events: our annual dodgeball tournament, pool party, water park night, and trip to Laser Quest, which provided opportunities for fun and to deepen relationships. Students invited new friends which allowed for relationships to grow and new Gospel seeds to be sown.

With the summer coming to a close, Student Ministry continues to reflect on what this past season has meant and how God is propelling us forward. In so many ways, we are tempted to put our trust in other things (e.g. achievement, sports, self-image, what others think of us), but our call is to remember what is always stable and constant in life. We are working hard to expose the lies of the idols all around us and to remember what the Truth really is. Like the Psalmist asserts, there is no God besides the Lord and there is no more stable thing, like a rock, that we can put our trust in as his beloved children.

Our hope and prayer is that God continues to form us into his image and that we can further participate in his kingdom advancement in our schools, homes, and communities. Like He did this summer, may Christ continue to make VPC a place where students are made into next generation leaders for His Kingdom.

Forest Home Camp

Roar: VBS 2019

Middle School Mission Trip: Tuba City

High School Mission Trip: New York City

7

SEVEN REASONS WHY FAMILY MINISTRY MATTERS

There is a lot of talk about construction at VPC this fall. The remodeling and building process is an adventure. It is a very fluid process, constantly adjusting and refocusing on the original blueprint. Much like raising a family!

Do you ever feel like bringing your family to church is like an uphill battle? That you’re pushing against the tide trying to make room in your family’s schedule for church? That talking about your faith with your children feels foreign or strange? You are not alone. It's hard, but there are many reasons why we need to keep talking to our kids about our faith and making it a priority.

Talking about and sharing our faith within the context of the family is part of God’s original blueprint. Why is it important?

1. Because the Bible tells us so.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 said, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Psalm 78:5-6 states, “he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them.”

By Tina Gilbreath

Tina: tinag@vpc.church

2. Because studies tell us so.

The Sticky Faith group at Fuller Youth Institute have studied the reasons young people continue to stick to their faith after graduating from high school. They found that talking about faith at home is the number one indicator. Jim Burns at HomeWord ministries found that kids that talk about their faith at home have an 80% chance of remaining in church.

3. Because the kingdom of God grows in the young. According to Barna research group, over half of people who come to accept Christ do so before age 12 and only 13% make commitments after the age of 21. The church needs to equip families for these faith discussions and decisions while kids are young and still at home.

4. Because time says we need to.

Studies show that on average, kids will spend about 24-40 hours a year at church. Contrast that with the estimated 2,000-3,000 hours they will spend at home or with their parents. If we want faith to be a significant part of their lives, it needs to take place where they spend most of their time.

8

5. Because parents need other parents.

Some parents of kids today didn’t grow up in the church. Some grew up in a church that compartmentalized kids, while others grew up in a home where faith wasn’t talked about often. Many parents might not know how to talk about their faith or know how to worship with their children.

6. Because kids need us.

An average child will be engaged in some kind of media (television, video games, social network, etc.) for 40 hours a week. Remember that statistic about church?

At most, 40 hours a YEAR at church. Kids need families engaged in their faith walk at home so that faith is not a “Sunday thing” but a life thing.

7. Because God calls us.

The final commission left to the church by Jesus was to “Go and make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19). Being a disciple means being a follower and imitator of Christ and making disciples means leading others to do the same. As Paul says, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Our first mentors in life are our parents/caregivers, so if we are to make disciples, it starts at home.

Adapted from Christina Embree ReFocus Ministry: refocusministry.org This is why Family Ministry is a priority at VPC. We want to support parents as they embark on the journey of sharing their faith with the next generation. We know it isn’t an easy blueprint to follow, so we have designed these workshops to come alongside you in community with other parents.

School is starting soon for many children. Much like a new calendar year a new school year is an opportunity to set new goals, boundaries and resolutions. It’s an opportunity to refocus on our family ‘blueprint’ and refine our priorities as a family.

Each year at VPC we cancel one Sunday School class and invite parents of a specific age group to gather together, to build community, grow as parents and get tools, tips and giveaways for guiding your children spiritually.

Mark your calendar for the workshops to support making spiritual growth a priority in your family: Family Workshops August 25: For parents of High School Seniors Tools for Takeoff September 8: For parents of 3 & 4-year-olds Spiritual Leadership September 22: For parents of 3rd graders Reading your Bible November 3: For parents of 6th-12th graders Facing Challenges (Follow up November 6) November 17: For parents of 2nd & 3rd graders Cheerful Giver March 1: For parents of K & 1st graders Praying as a family March 29: For parents of 5th graders The Blessing and Communion Here’s to a blessed 2019-2020 school year!

Praying as a family workshop

9

August SERVE AT FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN & DINNER @ ORGAN STOP PIZZA

Saturday, August 3, 4:30-6:30PM (Dinner afterwards) FMSC Warehouse, 1345 S. Alma School Rd., Mesa Cost: Free, Sign up: vpc.church/women Join us in this fun time of serving together by packaging meals.

Bring a friend and feel free to come as a family! After the event, we will meet at Organ Stop Pizza for food and fellowship.

COOKS’ TOUR: NOVEMBER 1, 2019

Silent Auction & White Elephant collections: Saturdays, 8-11AM, Landes Back Door Contact Jan Cooper: 602-741-1717 or Kathy Arner: 602-992-3454 We are collecting silent auction items, gently used clothing, household items, books, games, linens, and office items.

No furniture, please. Proceeds support missions in our community and around the world.

WOMEN’S MINISTRY FREEZER MEAL PREP*

Saturday, August 10, 10AM-Noon, Landes Kitchen Cost: $10, Sign up: vpc.church/women, RSVP by August 7 Make the start of the school year a little less hectic by having some dinners you can just pull out of the freezer and cook.

You can assemble three or four meals that you can take home and freeze for later use. *Childcare available (0-5)

NEW SERMON SERIES BEGINS: UNDER CONSTRUCTION Sunday, August 11 in worship

The building on our campus is a picture of the construction in our individual lives and our life together. Within our classic Sanctuary something new is emerging.

Sunday, August 11, Noon, Landes Center, Free School is back in session, and we’re starting the school year in style. Learn more about what’s ahead for kids at VPC! RSVP is appreciated but not required: vpc.church/event-calendar

KALEIDOSCOPE COMMUNITY GROUP HIKE & PICNIC IN OAK CREEK

August 17, 8AM-4PM, West Fork Trail, Oak Creek Canyon Carpool arrangements contact Ed Glady: 480-483-2158, beglady@gmail.com Bring your own beverages, food, snacks, hiking needs, picnic blankets, etc.

SUNDAY SCHOOL KICK OFF Sunday, August 18, 9 & 10:45AM

Fall Sunday School semester starts on August 18! Kids are invited to join their parents at the beginning of worship during the 9 and 10:45AM services, then go with their new teachers to class. Please remember to register your kids!

Questions? Email Tina: tinag@vpc.church Register online: vpc.church/sundayschool

STUDENT MINISTRY

PARENT MEETING: Sunday, August 18 9AM, Landes Basement INVITE NIGHT: Wednesday, August 21 & 28 Middle School, 6-7:30PM, High School, 7:30-9PM Travis Kingma: travisk@vpc.church Let your friends know what an awesome time you have during the week at VPC!

BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS, COMMISSIONING OF CHILDREN & STUDENT VOLUNTEERS, FAMILY WORSHIP SUNDAY*

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) KICKOFF

Schools are a mission field where our children can share and show the love of Christ with their friends and teachers. All kids are encouraged to bring their backpack to church this Sunday! *Childcare available for kids 0-2 (9 & 10:45AM services)

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) is an international ministry dedicated to the message that “mothering matters” and that moms need encouragement during these critical and formative years. Our MOPS group is open to moms throughout the community, whether or not they attend church at VPC.

Sunday, August 11, 9 & 10:45AM Worship

10

SUMMER LUNCH END-OF-SUMMER CELEBRATION!

Friday, August 23, 9-11:30AM, Landes Center Katie French: french.katier@gmail.com Megan Nesvig: megancnesvig@gmail.com

News from

SESSION

There is no Session report from June and July. Look for Session updates coming next month.

Please call me with any questions or concerns. Karen Meyer, Clerk of Session, 480-368-6567

RETURNS SEPTEMBER 4 Learn more: vpc.church/oasis

Finances &

OPERATIONS WAYS TO GIVE Did you know about these simple ways to support VPC?

Kris Bahr

Hundreds of people are dedicatedly and faithfully supporting God's work at VPC, and we are thankful for your generosity! We want to highlight a few additional convenient methods to contribute to the great ministries here.

Finance & Operations Director 480-991-6424 ext. 112 krisb@vpc.church Set up automatic giving online! vpc.church/give

It can be challenging to remember to give to support God's work at VPC. Visit the website to give a one-time gift, or create a recurring donation monthly, weekly, or whenever you like.

You can support VPC from your phone!

Text-to-give: 480-372-8548

We want to make it easy for you to contribute to VPC. Text-togive lets you support the ministries of the church conveniently from your phone. First-time users will be prompted to visit a secure URL.

Link your Fry's Food Stores VIP card to VPC to support our ministry when you shop!

Visit the website: fryscommunityrewards.com, follow a few easy instructions, and you can link your VIP card to Valley Presbyterian Church (organization number CB529).

A portion of your purchase will go directly to support God's work at VPC!

When you shop Amazon, you can support VPC­

AmazonSmile designates a portion of their purchase total as a donation to a charitable organization. If you shop with Amazon, please consider logging into your account through smile.amazon.com and select "Valley Presbyterian Church" before you shop. It's an easy and free way to support our ministry!

VPC finances year-to-date as of June 30, 2019 Income

Actual $

Budget $

Variance $

Faith Giving Other Income Total Income

891,686 223,379 1,115,065

944,300 212,150 1,156,450

-52,614 11,229 -41,385

Pastoral Ministry Admin & Facility Mission, Outreach, Cong. Care Christian Education Worship & Music Total Expense

247,481 528,318 68,307 179,299 99,117 1,122,522

249,564 546,541 61,875 187,020 101,440 1,146,440

2,083 18,223 -6,432 7,721 2,323 23,918

Net Income less Expense

-7,457

10,010

-17,467

Expense

11