Ministry Group Reports from Session

Worship, Music and the Arts Ministry Group

by Kim Bussey, Elder

Worship, Music, and the Arts had an eventful year with the return of the 8 am worship service, new faces in the music ministry, the introduction of a new hymnal, new community concerts, more quality inter-generational music in worship services, and a series of art exhibits.

The music program continued to rebound as the stresses of the pandemic continued to ease. The 8 am worship service resumed in March after being on hiatus during the pandemic. Outside of Sunday worship we offered meaningful weekday Lenten and Advent services with music from the Holden Village, Iona and Taizé communities, among others. Dr. Ilona KubiaczykAdler was named the Director of Ministries in Music and Arts. We welcomed Samantha Jorgensen as Children’s Choir Director, Dr. Valerie Harris as Associate Director of Music, and Thomas (Tommy) Strawser as Director of Youth and Children’s Music. We said goodbye to Dr. Lorraine Brugh, but not before she helped introduce our new hymnal, Glory to God, with a hymn fest, and delivered numerous successful worship services and concerts in collaboration with Dr. KubiaczykAdler. Children and Youth singing, ringing and drumming ensembles collaborated with the adults in a variety of inter-generational music projects, and presented a highquality Christmas pageant.

Both Sing for Life Chorus and the Pinnacle Concert Series have continued to thrive. Sing For Life has been attracting dementia and Alzheimer patients and caregivers from outside of our immediate church community, and has been steadily growing. The concert series has continued to deliver meaningful and quality concerts, like Veteran’s Day Tribute, Phantom of the Organ, Celebration of Christmas, and Good Friday choral presentation. We also hosted concerts by the best of local music organizations, Phoenix Chorale, Phoenix Symphony and Arizona MusicFest, as well as national groups like Concordia Choir. We welcomed two youth choirs this year: the choir from Loma Linda Academy in CA, and the Doxology Youth Choir from Peachtree Road UM in Atlanta, GA.

The art wall this year benefitted from the experience of Carol Baker and Michele White. The year started with a display of the work of David Amsellem. This was followed by an exhibition of photographs from the Herberger Young Scholar’s Academy photography class that included a piece by Danika Bussey, a member of Pinnacle. The fall saw a wonderful display of quilts, spearheaded by Dr. Michael Hegeman. “The Churches of New Mexico,” a display of Monte Littell’s work, finished out the year. Liturgical paraments, Advent wreaths, Christmas decorations, and Phantom of the Organ stage design have been lovingly prepared and supervised by Meredith Downing. We also welcomed back our popular Blessing of the Animals service.

Local and Global Ministries

by Kim Hammons,

Elder

Over the course of 2022 this ministry continued to focus on homelessness, education, and support of global ministries in Haiti and Bethlehem. In addition, Pinnacle’s relationship with First Light Church in Anthem has grown with additional support and connections between our congregations.

Locally, homelessness is a significant concern. In Arizona homelessness has increased by over 23% in the past year. The national increase was about 1%. Our mission partners rely heavily on the support from Pinnacle. We have continued to support our partners in this area, most significantly with Habitat for Humanity, UMOM, and Andre House and others.

Noah Webster Schools has been a mission partner for one year with great results. These schools are Title 1 non-profit, public charter elementary schools with most students coming from lowincome families. A core group of volunteers reads to and helps the children through the Spring and Fall Book Fairs, an Art Contest, and a Holiday Gift Shop.

In our global ministries Pinnacle continues to support Haiti through a partnership with Harmony Ministries, a group of churches and schools located throughout Haiti under the direction of Pastor Luc Deratus. Funds raised are used to support ongoing operations, and to help complete the rebuilding of the school in Leogane that was destroyed in the earthquake of 2010. Pastor Deratus will be visiting Pinnacle again in April.

The Bethlehem Initiative found its roots in Pinnacle’s Pilgrimage to Bethlehem in 2018. That group wanted to become involved in the lives of those they met at Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, the only arts and culture university in Palestine. Pinnacle members first funded an endowed scholarship for deserving students and continues support of Dar al-Kalima University through its mission partner, Bright Stars of Bethlehem. In October, Pinnacle hosted at Watch Party for Bright Stars Annual Gala with guests Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb and Kris Ducett present with us. The event was live streamed from Pinnacle to over 20 locations across the country. During the event, Pinnacle presented a $10,000 check for ongoing programming and pledged $50,000 to support a new Hospitality Education Center on the campus to highlight and encourage cultural entrepreneurship in Palestine.

The Alternative Gift Market provided a breadth of options in 2022 generating a total of $10,570 with a large portion going to support First Light Fellowship, a Presbyterian sponsored new church development located in Anthem. Pinnacle is “paying it forward” by assisting with this new church development.

Preschool, Children, Youth and Families Ministries

by Jacque Olmert and Michelle Rogers, Elders

Preschool

Our Pinnacle Preschool staff of 18 welcomed 140 students for the current school year. On Tuesdays, Dr. Michael Hegeman leads prayer with the preschool staff, and on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, Pastor Leah Quarles leads prayer and helps welcome arriving families. In collaboration with Preschool and Children’s Ministry staff, Pinnacle welcomed MOPS (Mothers of Preschool Students), a Christian-based global fellowship for mothers of young children. The group meets twice-monthly with 12-15 regular participants. The Preschool contributed heavily to our mission partners in 2022: donating 50 benches to Harmony Ministries in Haiti; adopting six families during Christmas; donating books and pajamas to UMOM; and donating 500 lbs of non-perishable food and $200 to Foothills Food Bank. For those familiar with the Preschool area of our campus, you will see, thanks to a special grant, the entrance and perimeter have been updated to provide greater privacy and security for the youngest among us.

In May, the Preschool’s first Spring Symposium featured an interactive professional development workshop attracting 100 educators from Flagstaff and Tucson. In October, four Preschool staff traveled to Reggio Emilia, Italy, to attend an International Study Group for in-depth and hands-on learning experiences since PPP is inspired by the educational approach in Reggio Emilia. And in November, two staff members attended the NAEYC conference in Washington, DC, an organization the preschool has been accredited with for over twenty years!

Children's Ministry

Each Sunday we enjoy an average of 20 children between the nursery and 5th grade to our Sunday School classes. Our children bless us with their participation in Sunday service as acolytes and lead us in the prayer of adoration. Our youth deacons lead our students in ushering and Sunday morning hospitality.

In May, Pinnacle welcomed six confirmation students into our congregation. Currently, ten confirmation students and their mentors are exploring our Christian beliefs and formulating their own personal statements of faith. Summer began with our annual VBS week as an impressive 288 campers, staff, and volunteers participated. In July, approximately 25 students and youth leaders engaged in our Wild About God Music, Mission and Leadership Camp. Summer continued with two refreshing Splash Sundays — one including families from our mission partner, UMOM.

August challenged our congregation as we said farewell to our glorious Director of Children’s Ministries, Hillary Mackowski. The search has begun to find a new Director of Children’s Ministries who will be working closely with Pastor Leah Quarles and Brandon.

Youth and Young Adults Ministry

In the spring our annual intergenerational rummage sale raised more than $19,000 earmarked to support a summer 2023 youth retreat to Montreat, NC. In July, our youth partook in a music/ mission trip to Anaheim, CA, where First Presbyterian heard their singing voices, and where they assisted at a local pantry packing and delivering food to homebound. For the second year, students partnered with Welcome to America Project, offering household supplies and a warm welcome to newly placed refugee families. Students volunteered at Project C.U.R.E., a non-profit that collects and distributes medical equipment to clinics in developing nations. Additionally, we’ve welcomed Boy Scout Troop 869 to our campus. They most recently participated in the lowering the flag during our Veterans’ Day ceremony.

Our Director for Youth and Young Adults Ministry, Brandon Huenemann, completed a Certificate in Youth and Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, Institute for Youth Ministry. He continues weekly gatherings on Wednesdays and Sundays with our junior and senior high youth, organizes college zoom nights and made a visit to our college students at the University of Arizona.

After an extensive search, Pinnacle invited Pastor Leah Quarles in June, and the Scottsdale heat did not deter her nor her husband Justin and daughter Christine (Teenie) from heeding the call and moving from the Philadelphia area to settle in the Valley of the Sun. October 1st began the new era of Pastor Leah in her new role of Associate Pastor for Family Ministries and Congregational Life.

Adult Faith Formation Ministry Group

by Roselyn O'Connell, Elder

At Pinnacle we consider faith development to involve the whole person. We seek ways of nurturing body, mind, and spirit. Throughout this last year, we have implemented adult and inter-generational learning with such programming as Christianity 101 which regularly sees about 24 attendees each Sunday and occasionally gather with the youth confirmation class to learn and grow together, engaging foundations of faith and Presbyterianism.

Men’s Breakfast Fellowship, Women’s Bible Study, and SAGE are three of our long-standing fellowship and learning programs, where we saw about 25-30 attendees on average for each session. This last fall, the Men read through the entire Gospel of John, the Women studied the book of Genesis, and SAGErs explored “The Foundations of Prayer.”

Our new Executive Associate Pastor, Rev. Erik Khoobyarian, led an innovative fellowship group, delving into the “Soul of Wine.” Pinnacle is a great place for new and long-time members to connect in a friendly and welcoming space, where we learn to be whole people living through faith.

Fran Park Center for Faith and Life

by Phil Branson, Elder

Our Fran Park Center Advisory Group shares enthusiasm for innovative inter-generational educational opportunities for Pinnacle and the surrounding community. We see education as both mission and evangelism, and look to the future to ensure the FPC continues to grow our mission: Transformation Through the Renewing of Minds (Romans 12:2).

In 2022, the Park Center's programming began to see more and more people participating as we continued to reimagine our ministry post pandemic. We started the year with big plans to bring transformative programs to our participants like our Park Center Pathways online classes and local pilgrimages such as our Cultural Heritage Tour and our Labyrinth Tour. Along the way we hosted a celebration of the Rev. Francis W. Park’s vision with a Retrospective Review. We were thrilled to have Fran’s wife, Sue Park, and daughter, Cathy Park Koeneman, travel from across the country to join us in celebration.

The Park Center held Bible classes, Courageous Conversations, recorded our Out of the Park Podcast Series, invited a Faith and Science speaker to talk about “body images from around the globe”, held classes with Dr. Kyle Jensen on productive dialogue and studied Advent Angels. At the Park Center, there is something for everyone.

Membership Development

by Mary Upchurch, Elder

Each year visitors and friends of the congregation who would like a deeper relationship with Pinnacle are invited to join as members. In 2022, Pinnacle welcomed 35 new members. This process first involves the commitment to becoming an active member, attending a short class to learn all about Pinnacle (held quarterly) and professing one's faith in front of the congregation alongside fellow “new” members.

For some, becoming a member also includes baptism. In 2022 we had three adults and six children enter into this covenant. Other ways of becoming members of the congregation are through confirmation when each confirmand chooses to join (or not) at the end of the process. In May we welcomed six confirmands.

Many have remarked that there is something very special about taking the leap to officially belong to our Pinnacle family. With the membership, one is now available to have leadership roles such as a deacon, elder or part of our Pinnacle Foundation. There are many roles that require leadership or committee membership to keep our church operating, and everyone is encouraged to join in these opportunities.

Stephen Ministry Group

by Mel Steele

People often ask, “What exactly is a Stephen Minister?” One way to put it is that Stephen Ministers are the “After People.”

Stephen Ministers are there:

• after the phone call you hoped you’d never get;

• after the funeral, when everyone has left and the emotions you’ve held at bay come crashing in on you;

• after the relationship falls apart and the bottom falls out of your life;

• after the doctor says, “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing more we can do”

• after the nursing home director shakes your hand and says, “Welcome to your new home”

• after the last child honks the horn, waves, and drives away—and the house suddenly seems empty;

• after your family and friends have heard your story one too many times, but you still need to talk it out.

Stephen Ministers are lay congregation members trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation. They come from all walks of life, but they all share a passion for bringing Christ’s love and care to people during a time of need. They have served in more than 13,000 congregations and other organizations since 1975.

At Pinnacle we have 15 active, trained Stephen Ministers that, this year, have walked beside persons who are dealing with most of the “after” issues just described. They confidentially listen to and provide the support needed for each person’s unique issues one-on-one weekly for as long as it takes to work through the pain they face. If you face one of these issues, or anything similar, please ask a pastor if a Stephen Minister is right for you.

Ministry Planning Group

by Joe Kaiser, Elder

The primary focus of the Ministry Planning Group in 2022 has been the implementation of the Upon this Rock campaign to support Pinnacle’s Mission: To inspire our world with the love of Jesus. Introduced at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Congregation, the Upon this Rock campaign was launched by the Session as part of living into the 2016 strategic vision. Specifically, Upon this Rock focuses on three areas of Pinnacle’s ministry and mission:

(1) Growing Pinnacle Ministries & Outreach;

(2) Supporting Local & Global Ministries; and

(3) Improvements to Pinnacle’s Facilities. Each of these areas has been identified as key to the ongoing implementation of the vision and mission of our church.

More specifically, the Ministry Initiative goal is $200,000 to fund the Park Center through 2024 and $50,000 to support Family, Children, and Youth Ministry initiatives. Approximately $100,000 toward the Ministry Initiative has been raised.

The Local & Global Ministries Initiative goal is $100,000 supporting two ministry partners. Globally, we seek $50,000 to support the creation of a vocational training program at Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem on the West Bank. Locally, we are raising $50,000 to support First Light Fellowship in Anthem, a new church development being led by former Pinnacle Associate Pastor, Rev. Kristin Willet, and her husband, Rev. Brandon Willet. Approximately $70,000 has been raised toward the Local & Global Ministry Initiative.

Finally, the Facilities Initiative goal is $250,000 to provide for the refurbishment of the Sanctuary water feature (and outdoor waterscape), partial replacement of aging HVAC equipment, upgrade of our Sanctuary lighting system to energy-efficient LED lighting, and several other more discrete projects. We have commitments for more than $280,000 toward this initiative.

Each of these areas provide members of the Pinnacle community with the opportunity to be a part of our ongoing Mission. Contributions of any amount (either designated to a specific initiative or generally to the campaign) involve each one of us as we inspire our world with the love of Jesus. Our hope is to complete the funding of each of these initiatives in 2023. You can learn more about the Upon this Rock initiatives in the campaign brochure available at the church office or the Annual Meeting.

Facilities & Environment Ministry Group

by John Napolitan, Elder

The Facilities Ministry Group worked throughout 2022 to complete several prioritized projects in addition to the regular maintenance of our campus. Several projects are worthy of a special highlight:

• The expansion of the Fellowship Hall/Teen Center Patio, including the addition of sail shades, was completed in late 2021. In January of 2022 the new patio was dedicated and renamed Trinity Terrace. This was a donor funded project.

• In March the Preschool Security Fencing proposal was approved by the Session. This was a follow-up to a security assessment that was performed in 2019 by a consulting firm with experience in school safety. The work was funded by a federal grant, and the project was completed late in 2022.

• In May the Church received a designated gift through the Upon This Rock campaign for the purpose of replacing nine of our oldest HVAC systems consistent with our reserve study. By year end the nine new systems were installed.

• Also in May, in cooperation with the Facilities and Environment Ministry Group, the Communications department completed a significant signage project which both added and updated existing signage to the west side of the Pinnacle Campus. This includes new signage to the main Happy Valley Road entrance, a “Welcome to Pinnacle” sign added to the wall facing the circular drive and Trinity Terrace signage. We also replaced the worn and aging signage on the Fellowship Hall and Teen Center.

• In June the Church received financial contributions through the Upon This Rock campaign to fund the restoration of the Sanctuary water feature. The work is scheduled to begin early in 2023.

• During the year the committee developed plans to expand and improve the Memorial Garden. Details will be announced early in 2023.

• In October our longtime HVAC maintenance contractor ceased operations without notice. In December after a comprehensive vetting process, we awarded the maintenance contract to Comfort Systems Inc. Comfort Systems is part of a nationwide public company with strong financial resources.

• In December all parking lot lights fixtures and eight (of 38 on our campus) bollard style light on the campus were replaced with more effective LED fixtures which have substantially improved the overall lighting. Most of the funding for this project was provided by a designated gift. This work is the first phase of exterior lighting improvements planned throughout the campus.

In addition to these special projects, we have continued to work to maintain and improve our campus landscaping and attended to emergency projects and repairs. We are grateful to our maintenance staff, and particularly Jim Shaw who has provided consistency, competency, and professionalism throughout the year.

Personnel Ministry Group

by Fred Brown, Elder

In June 2021 Session approved an investment in resources to lay a strong foundation for the future of Pinnacle Presbyterian Church. The excellent work of the search committee in 2022 under the leadership of David LeMoine and Chuck Goldthwaite resulted in two new additions to the ministerial staff. The Reverend Erik Khoobyarian joined the staff in June 2022 as Executive Associate Pastor. Reverend Leah Quarles joined in October 2022 and will serve as Associate Pastor for Family Ministries and Congregational Life. Reverend Michael Hegeman, PhD moved from Assisting Pastor in Education to Associate Pastor in Education and Senior Adult Ministries.

Dr. Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler moved from Interim Director of Ministries in Music and Arts to Director of Ministries in Music and Arts. To support the wonderful music program at Pinnacle additional changes were made. Dr. Valerie Harris was employed as Associate Director of Music and Organist; Samantha Jorgensen was employed as Children’s Choir Director and Tommy Strawser as Director of Youth and Children’s Music.

The audio-visual needs have expanded significantly during the pandemic. Also, the continuing audio-visual requirements to support the programming at Pinnacle and the Park Center. Nate Smith was employed as Audio/Visual/Livestream Communications Associate on a full-time basis.

The session approved a 3.7% cost of living increase for the staff effective July 1, 2022, with other equity related adjustments.

Deacon Report

by Mark Steel and Emily Garzolini Co-Moderators

As we continued to recover from COVID, more of the congregation re-engaged in Pinnacle activities, and the deacon’s role continued to expand. Deacons organized and supported:

Special Events: Planned numerous events including Fall Round-up with over 200 attendees, Easter breakfast, our ice cream social.

Sunday Hospitality: Served coffee, baking cookies and treats, organized into six serving teams.

Ushers and Greeters: Coordinated and organized ushers into six, including a “youth” team, served Communion, collected offerings, and supported extensive Christmas and Easter service schedules. They also supported the return of 8:00 am Sunday worship services.

Congregational Care: Supported four memorial service receptions, restarted homebound Communion, and prepared Communion for the 8:00 am Sunday service.

Pew Organizers: Supported the transition to new hymnals and kept Friendship Pads and other documentation current.

Lunch at Pinnacle: Coordinated the setup and cleanup of lunches after service on Sundays.

Membership: Assisted and set up classes for new members.

Outreach: Coordinated and supported monthly collections for Vista del Camino and Andre House, recurring blood drives, backpack collection for schoolkids, and Angel Tree Christmas gifting. The Angel Tree supported 19 families (including 38 children) who received gifts and grocery gift cards. It also raised $1,500 for Noah Webster Schools which provided a $500 Walmart gift card to three families experiencing homelessness.