1989-1993 |
The Founding Years
Glenn Moor at Troon Village Clubhouse Faith, fellowship and the future. Those were the powerful magnets that drew a group of Pinnacle Peak residents together in October 1989 to form Pinnacle Presbyterian Church. The charismatic catalyst for the formation of Pinnacle was Dr. Lawrence “Larry” Corbett, associate pastor of Valley Presbyterian Church, who discovered a need, an opportunity and a calling. The mostly undeveloped area surrounding the distinctive Pinnacle Peak had been annexed into Scottsdale in 1981/82, and by the late 1980s, there were several master-planned golf communities within a five-mile radius of the landmark. The Grand Canyon Presbytery had the foresight in the early 1980s to purchase a five-acre tract on the northwest corner of Happy Valley and Pima Roads for a future church. At the time, the nearest churches were north in Carefree or south along Shea Boulevard. Area residents could also worship ecumenically in a rustic chapel on the grounds of the Cavallieres’ Reata Pass and Greasewood Flat Restaurants. With Valley Presbyterian Church Sr. Pastor Tom Erickson’s blessing, Dr. Corbett organized the inaugural Pinnacle worship service at the Glenn Moor Clubhouse on Happy Valley Road in Troon Village. Twenty-five attended the first service on Sunday, October 1, 1989 -- World Communion Day. During its first year, Pinnacle was a hands-on/all-hands-ondeck congregation. Members set up and took down the white folding chairs used at each service. The practice of using white grape juice for communion came from the fear of spilling purple grape juice on the beautiful green and blue carpet at Glenn Moor. Communion bread was baked using a 300-year-old recipe from the Kirk of Scotland (similar to shortbread without the leavening). Church School was on the tennis courts, and the church nursery was in the Troon Country Club employee lounge (the chef fixed special treats). Church social events were held at Troon Country Club, which generously offered its facilities. Pinnacle’s first Fall Round-up was held by the clubhouse pool. The Leinwebers hosted the initial youth group meetings in their home. And Joe Larson led a group of volunteers in making luminaria for Pinnacle’s Christmas 1989 service.
1989
Pinnacle held first service on October 1, 1989, World Communion Day
President George H.W. Bush inaugurated
Earthquake during World Series in San Francisco
Pinnacle celebrated its first baptisms on November 5, 1989 Katie Leinweber and son, Scott McCloud Leinweber
Berlin Wall torn down
1990
On Sun., April 22, Pinnacle celebrated Earth Day by planting a saguaro cactus on the five-acre site of the future church
Adopt-a-Family begins at Pinnacle Christmas 1990
Scottsdale population: 130,069 on 184.2 square miles (AZ population: 3,665,339)
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