May 2025 Cross Currentse

cross currents MAY | VOLUME 2025 | ISSUE 03

DISCOVER SAPC: NEW MEMBERS CLASS

FROM PASTOR JOHN Dear St. Andrew’s Family and Friends, I want to give thanks to God and to our staff, volunteers, and everyone who participated in our Holy Week services of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday! Holy Week is a profoundly meaningful and spiritual time. I appreciate the rigor of the week. The joy of Easter deepens and becomes more significant when we first take the time to walk through and reflect upon the suffering and sacrifice of Christ for you, for me, for the world.

The music, singing, prayers, Scripture, and worshiping with you all truly blessed and encouraged me throughout the challenges and hardship we’ve been experiencing this Lent and Eastertide.

Although Holy Week is behind us, the month of May is filled with life and celebration, beginnings and endings. In the coming weeks, we’ll be celebrating Mother’s Day, graduations, the end of the school year, and saying warm goodbyes to our winter residents dispersing for the summer months. May is a time for hellos. The Session is pleased to introduce you all to our new parttime gap interim associate pastor Rev. Dr. Mike Eickhoff who will be with us for the next few months until we find a full-time Interim Associate Pastor. You can read more about

Pastor Mike on the following page.

Mike's first Sunday with us will be this Sunday, May 4! Be sure to give him a big SAPC welcome when you see him.

This is also a time for goodbyes.

RuthAnn Smithrud, our Local Outreach Director, is retiring from St. Andrew’s after eleven years with us. I have so appreciated RuthAnn’s heart for Jesus, openness to the Holy Spirit, and her passion for mission and building strong relationships in our community. On Sunday, June 1, we will celebrate RuthAnn in our worship services and show our gratitude for her loving and faithful service to Christ at St. Andrew’s and our community at large. I’m so thankful for her leadership with Service Worship over the years that truly sets SAPC apart. We thank you, RuthAnn, and will miss you, and we pray for God’s richest blessings in this next chapter in life!

Through the highs and the lows, the ups and the downs, the beginnings and the endings, the hellos and goodbyes, the joy and the sorrow, in life and in death, in crucifixion and resurrection, God was, is, and always will be with us, because we belong to God! Grace and Peace, Pastor John

SAPCTUCSON.ORG

Are you new (or newish) to SAPC and want to get to know others better and learn more about the heart and soul of SAPC? Our Discover SAPC New Member Class is designed just for you! This learning opportunity will help you get connected on a deeper level to our life, community, ministry, and mission here. We invite you to RSVP for Sunday, May 18, from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm. We’ll be enjoying a delicious free lunch together at the Tittle home. Pastor John will be your facilitator for the fun, interactive, and informative time together. We look forward to seeing you there! Learn more and RSVP at sapctucson.org.

IN THIS ISSUE - 2 - Meet Pastor Mike - 2 - Volunteer Opportunities - 4 - TRM Diaper Drive - 5 - Toole Legacy Project - 6 - True North VBS - 7 - Summer Reading w/SAPC

NEW “GAP” INTERIM ASSOCIATE PASTOR We're excited to announce that we have a new part-time "gap" Interim Associate Pastor, Rev. Dr. Mike Eickhoff! He will serve at SAPC for the next three months while we look for a full-time Interim Associate Pastor.

REV. DR. MIKE EICKHOFF

REV. DR. MIKE EICKHOFF

, PASTO E R M O

EDUCATION

M !

IKE

WEL C

Here is a description of Mike's passion and calling for ministry: Respond to God’s call to guide in cooperative transitions a faith community which is open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the healing presence of the Risen Christ. The gospel of Christ Jesus is a vital, living response to the grace-filled call to faith and discipleship as the Spirit transforms and brings healing to a blessed but also broken and fractured creation. I desire to fulfill this call in a community of faith focused on the hope promised by the Ever-Creating God.

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary DISSERTATION: “A Story of Healing.” The focus is incarnational theology, narrative existence, and spiritual/embodied treatment of trauma.

MASTER OF DIVINITY Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary BACHELOR OF ARTS Kent State University

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES GREETERS & USHERS

It takes a big team of Sunday Morning Volunteers each week to ensure that all who come to worship feel welcomed as a part of the body of Christ at St. Andrew's.

This article focuses on the greeters and ushers.

Greeters express how much they enjoy being at the entrance to see everyone arrive. The only requirements for a greeter are a friendly smile and a handshake. If you'd enjoy sharing a smile and a handshake on Sunday morning, email Carol Fiore, the Greeter Coordinator, at caatucson@msn.com, to let her know.

She'll add your name to the Greeter's List and you'll receive an occasional email from her when she has spots to fill at 9:00 am and 10:45 am.

The next people to welcome you are the ushers who are there to also provide a greeting along with a Sunday bulletin, answer basic questions and assist with seating if needed. During the service, ushers collect the offering and Connect Cards and count the number of attendees. After the service, ushers walk through the Sanctuary to straighten up. Some ushers commit to regularly serving one Sunday each month, but there are always openings and substitute opportunities if you prefer to serve less frequently. If you're interested in joining the Usher Team for the 9:00 am and 10:45 am services, contact Usher Coordinator Louise Davis at maudis1125@gmail.com and she'll be happy to find you a Sunday morning spot.

Greeters and ushers at the 7:30 am service are organized more informally.

If you’d like to help out in one of those positions, just let one of the greeters know.

There's always room for more Sunday Morning Volunteers, and you can commit to as much or as little as your time allows.

Serve Our City 2025 was a huge success thanks to all our amazing volunteers! Here is a quick recap on our St. Andrew’s partnership for spreading the love of Jesus in our city!

SERVING OPPORTUNITIES AROUND TUCSON PLUS

irement, R t u Re

n!

An th

SERVE OUR CITY

Hap py

Local Outreach

129 OPPORTUNITIES TO “SERVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD”

59 FIRE, POLICE OR SHERIFF STATIONS BLESSED 42 SCHOOLS PRAYED OVER 1254 SIGN-UPS FOR THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS CHURCHES/ORGANIZATIONS 11 DIFFERENT PARTICIPATED IN SERVING

87 SIGNUPS TO SERVE NEIGHBORHOODS 210 SIGNUPS FROM ST. ANDREW’S PEOPLE OF SOCKS COLLECTED FROM ST. ANDREW’S 601 PAIRS FOR LOCAL SCHOOL CLOTHING BANKS

Join us in celebrating the retirement of RuthAnn Smithrud on Sunday, June 1. Over the past 11 years, RuthAnn has served as SAPC’s Local Outreach Director as well as launching our nonprofit, Faith that Works Tucson, and SAPC’s Service Worship. RuthAnn also became the director of Faith That Works. We are so thankful for the ways RuthAnn and her faithfulness to God’s call has made an incredible impact on SAPC, the city of Tucson, and the Kingdom.

COLLECTED FROM ST. ANDREW’S 761 UNDERWEAR FOR LOCAL SCHOOL CLOTHING BANKS BRACELETS MADE FOR RONALD 105 FRIENDSHIP MCDONALD HOUSE

108 EASTER CRAFTS MADE FOR CARE CENTERS BAGS PACKED FOR THOSE WHO ARE 700 BLESSING HOMELESS EGGS STUFFED WITH SMALL TOYS AND 1800 EASTER CANDY FOR MORE THAN A BED INCLUDING 99 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED 33 FAMILIES IN THE PARK EVENT FOR MORE THAN A BED LUNCHES WERE PROVIDED FROM JASON’S DELI.

325 THE LEFTOVERS WERE GIVEN TO A FIRE

DEPARTMENT AND THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS.

Thank you again for bringing hope to the city of Tucson!

SAPC SECURITY TEAM

The St. Andrew’s Security Team’s second anniversary is this month. We are very grateful for the appreciation we have received these past two years. Thank you!

June is always a big month for us with Vacation Bible School and two weeks of Preschool & Kindergarten summer school. Some of our Security Team is out of town for the summer or traveling. If you are available to help the Security Team in June during VBS (June 9-13) or summer school (June 16-19 and June 23-26), please let us know. We will “deputize” you for June! We request you have good mobility and a good sense of situational awareness. The VBS shifts are for two hours and the Summer School shifts are only 30 minutes. If you are available, contact Don Spiece, dspiece@gmail.com; 520-269-0698.

Local

Missions

TUCSON REFUGEE MINISTRY MI NISTRY DIAPER DRIVE

BLUE BIN DONATIONS St. Andrew's would love your help collecting inkind donations for our local Mission Partners year round. We have set up blue bins in the Gathering Place so you can easily drop off donations anytime throughout the year. We are always able to accept diapers and feminine hygiene items as well as gently used clothing and towels. Your donations will be delivered to our mission partners to help those in need.

Please join us in collecting children's diapers, adult diapers, and feminine hygiene products during the month of May. A donation bin to collect these products is available in the Gathering Place.

Diapers are in constant need by refugee families as they struggle to make ends meet.

Tucson Refugee Ministry nurtures and empowers refugees to thrive as an integral part of our community. Many refugees have waited in primitive refugee camps for years. After a rigorous selection process, if approved, they are placed around the world to start their new lives. Your donation of diapers and feminine hygiene products will significantly help those families who have been relocated to Tucson.

Tucson Refugee Ministry hosts a free coffee shop on Wednesday and Friday mornings, which is when the refugee families pick up diapers and other necessities. The coffee shop is open to the public, and they love to have people visit and socialize with the families.

For more information, contact Marianne Hadden at mariannehadden@gmail.com.

Diapers and Feminine Hygiene (NEW!): Tucson Refugee Ministry is always in need of children’s diapers (also adult diapers) and feminine hygiene products for refugee families. For questions about TRM, contact Marianne Hadden at mariannehadden@gmail.com.

Towels: Southside Presbyterian Church provides homeless friends with weekly hot meals and hot showers through their Cross Streets Ministry.

Women's Clothing: Eagles Wings of Grace can benefit year round from any donation of women's clothing, shoes, jewelry, and purses.

They help women coming out of homelessness, prison, or domestic violence.

Children's Clothing: Amphi School District provides gently used clothing, shoes, new socks and underwear to children ages Pre-K through high school.

Men's Clothing: Cross Streets Ministry provides access to a clothing room for people they serve.

If you have questions regarding making a donation, please contact Sandy Kreamer at sandrakreamer@gmail.com.

THE TOOLE LEGACY PROJECT

HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REV. DR. JIM AND REV. PATI TOOLE “When you think about gardens, you think about Resurrection. Gardens are this beautiful gift where you start to see things from seeds out of nothing. Before you know it, you have edible food. You have beautiful flowers to look at. It’s also hard work. You have to wait a lot. You have to give it water. You get dirty. And it’s ambiguous if the seeds are even going to grow. And I want to use the garden as the image because I think we both are going on parallel chapters. I am transitioning into new life. You all are transitioning into a new chapter. And it’s hard.

It’s messy. And there is a lot of ambiguity. But in all that, in the waiting, something beautiful is growing.”

- Rev. Dr. Jim Toole THE WORK CONTINUES… THE MISSION The Toole Legacy fund honors the life and impact of Rev. Dr. Jim and Rev. Pati Toole by creating healing spaces that reflect their commitment to God’s love and service. Through three key initiatives - a Prayer Garden, a Mosaic Project, and a Mental Health Fund – we aim to foster spiritual wellness, creativity, and mental health support for the community.

These projects continue the Tooles’ legacy of nurturing faith, healing, and connection for generations to come.

Phase 1 – Prayer Garden – Spring 2025 A Prayer Garden offers a sacred space for prayer, contemplation, and spiritual renewal for the congregation and the wider community. The Lord showed us a space that has never been used for anything else. It has a beautiful view of the mountains that Pastor Jim loved as well as a gorgeous view of the Tucson sunsets. The trees have been trimmed, the chollas removed, and the space has been cleared. We are ready to bring in extra fill, grate the area, and install the Pergula! This space is located on the NE campus at the far northeast end of the parking lot.

Phase 2 – Mosaic Project – Beginning Fall 2025 A Mosaic Project will beautify the SAPC Preschool and Kindergarten campus while engaging children in an art therapy project that fosters creativity, healing, and connection. This project can be expanded upon for years to come and will also be open to the SAPC congregation to partake in tile decorating.

Phase 3 – Mental Health Fund – Beginning Fall 2025 Accepting donations NOW A Mental Health fund will be established to provide financial assistance and resources for counseling, ensuring support for individuals and families in need of mental health services.

More details will be provided as each project unfolds. If you would like to help support this mission, please donate to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, The Toole Legacy Fund via check or at sapctucson.org/give. Thank you for your support!

Children's Ministry TRUE NORTH VBS: JUNE 10-14 We are looking for volunteers to work with kids during VBS 2025! We are especially in need of station leaders for preschool and elementary. The following are some of the stations with which we still need help: Elementary Bible Adventure: Lead crews in discovering deeper meaning in each day’s Bible story. This is hands-on and experiential learning. Kids will become part of the Bible story with their hearts, minds, and emotions. Crew leaders will assist in leading discussions with their crews during this station. The room will need to be decorated and decorations change daily.

Elementary Imagination Station: Imagination Station is where kids experiment, explore, test, try...and play! Each day, the station leader uses a Crew Teaching Kit to let kids take part in cool science experiments that point to God. The room will need to be decorated.

Elementary Game Station Leader: These leaders teach and lead students in games each day.

Preschool Exploration Stations: Set up and run the handson stations for preschoolers. This is free choice time for preschoolers who will pick from a variety of themed stations.

All plans and supplies are provided.

5TH GRADE PROMOTION

We will honor our outgoing 5th Graders during the Children’s Message at the 9:00 am service on May 18. In the afternoon from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, 5th Graders and their parents are invited to the 5th Grade preview in the Boondocks on the NE campus. This is a time for kids to play games, eat pizza, and meet the youth leaders. It is also an informational meeting for parents.

SUPER FRIENDS A SPECIAL NEED MINISTRY

Our next meeting of Super Friends and parents will be on May 4 at 10:30 am in the Sunday School Rooms. Contact Heather with questions or to sign up at hbrannock@sapctucson.org.

SUMMER CHILDREN’S CHURCH

Children of all ages are invited to Children's Church this summer during the 9:00 am service.

We will have a child-friendly worship service featuring music, a Bible story, and some fun activities. Starting on May 25, children will begin by sitting with their parents in the Sanctuary and then will be invited downstairs to Room F following the children's message. Childcare continues to be available in Room L for both the 9:00 am and 10:45 am services.

Preschool Bible Adventure: Lead crews in discovering deeper meaning in each day’s Bible story. This is hands-on and experiential learning. Kids will become part of the Bible story with their hearts, minds, and emotions. Crew leaders will assist in leading discussions with their crews during this station. The room will need to be decorated and decorations change daily.

Preschool Sticky Scripture: This station brings home each Bible point. Kids will move, laugh, and play as they explore what each verse means to their lives in practical, applicable ways. Your job as station leader is to show the video and give the crew leaders instructions to help lead a discussion in their crews. The room will need to be decorated.

Preschool Game Station Leader: These leaders teach and lead students in games each day.

Preschool Closing Circle: Crews come together for a quick review and music at closing circle before parents arrive to take them home.

We can not do VBS without our volunteers! For more information and to register, visit sapctucson.org.

VBS Donations Needed!

We are requesting donations to help offset the cost of VBS this year. Please use the link below to view the list of what we need. We are also taking monetary donations for scholarships for kids who are not able to afford the registration fees. Please visit sapctucson.org to donate to the VBS Scholarship Fund. Thank you for supporting our VBS; we could not do it without you!

Youth Ministry

5TH GRADE PREVIEW

Save the date for the 5th grade preview on Sunday, May 18, at 12:30 pm. We will welcome all incoming 6th graders to experience youth ministry for the first time. We'll have pizza and play a game or two while parents can get all their questions answered by Tim, and a few youth leaders.

GRADUATION SUNDAY

All graduating seniors from high school and college are welcome to be celebrated and prayed for at the 9:00 am service on Sunday, May 18. Submit your graduation information and photo so we can add you to the celebration!

YOUTH PROGRAM BREAK

We will be taking a Youth Ministry program break from May 20 - June 2 for graduations and will be back with pool parties to start the summer on June 3 and June 4.

MIDDLE SCHOOL MISSION DAYS

Since so many Middle School students (incoming 6th8th graders) and their friends are involved in VBS, we will add the opportunity to make the most of your week! We will do two mission adventures following VBS Monday (6/9) and Thursday (6/12) of VBS week.

LEARN MORE AT SAPCYOUTH.COM OR FOLLOW US @SAPCYOUTH

Adult Discipleship

SUMMER READING WITH PASTOR JOHN

This summer, I’d like to highlight three books for all our accomplished and aspiring book worms to consider reading on your own and/or with friends. You can find discussion questions I have prepared that can be used individually or with a small group and links to each book at sapctucson.org/adm.

LEARNING TO PRAY: A GUIDE FOR EVERYONE

by James Martin, SJ This summer I’ll be going on an eight-day Ignatian silent prayer retreat. This book written by Jesuit Priest James Martin is a wonderfully clear and helpful guide to prayer for all Christians. Father Jim writes in a humorous, engaging, and inspiring way that will help deepen your prayer life.

While I’m on my prayer retreat in June, I’ll be practicing many of the kinds of prayers he writes about.

A GRACE DISGUISED REVISED AND EXPANDED: HOW THE SOUL GROWS THROUGH LOSS

by Jerry Sittser Jerry Sittser is a professor of theology at Whitworth University in Spokane, WA. Sittser was Mat Grover’s academic advisor while he attended Whitworth. A Grace Disguised is a modern classic on grief and is a spiritually rich resource for us to utilize as we continue to process the loss of Pastor Mat. Jerry experienced unimaginable loss and tragedy in his own family, and and he is a trusted and experienced guide to help us grow through our pain.

THE NOVEL DAVID COPPERFIELD

by Charles Dickens My favorite novel for several decades has been Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov…until I read Dicken’s David Copperfield four years ago. This Dickens classic was my dad’s favorite novel. This magical, funny, and inspiring read brought me to tears on several occasions. As I read, I thought I want to be like David Copperfield when I grow up. He demonstrated perseverance, resilience, and a resolve not to become bitter in the face of incredible adversity and hardship. To me, this book describes what a healthy Christian approach to life looks like.

FROM YOUR FAITH COMMUNITY NURSES KNOW HOW TO SPOT, REPORT, AND AVOID SCAMS Common scams to look out for include the following: Phishing When scammers try to trick you into sharing sensitive information through false tricks.

Spoofing When scammers impersonate a trusted entity or even someone you know and trust.

Vishing When scammers use phone calls to phish and steal personal information.

Remember, scams come in many shapes and sizes. Always be wary when any call, email or text message asks you to share sensitive information or provide access to your account.

If you suspect a scam Double check the source Hang up, block, and report the sender Do not click on any links Call a trusted number to verify To secure your account never share your details over text, email, or phone unless you initiated the call and can verify the caller’s identity.

Use strong passwords and change your password regularly and remember to sign out if using a shared or public computer.

Reference: My Forrester April 2025

Preschool & Kindergarten In April, our Preschool and Kindergarten hosted our Spring Fling event on campus, featuring food trucks, ice cream, games, and music to celebrate the school year and bring our community together! A heartfelt thank you to our Preschool and Kindergarten governing board for their support with security, attendance, and cleanup! Our students danced to music from Mr. Nature while My Gym led two hours of exciting obstacle course fun. We’re also grateful to the Cross Middle School W.E.B. and NJHS students for generously donating their time to help with games, bounce houses, face stencilling, and stickers throughout the evening.

As we wrap up the 2024–25 school year in May, I’m filled with gratitude for the many ways our church and school community have supported this special ministry of our church. Our school prayer this year was 1 Peter 4:10–11: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms... so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” May we continue to give God the glory as we serve the young learners in our care!

Prayer & Care STEPHEN MINISTRY

Are you a caregiver? Are you trying to find ways to meet your needs and take care of others? Give yourself the gift of a Stephen Minister; someone to come alongside you to listen, to pray for and with you, and to encourage you. Consider adding a reminder to your calendar to reach out and learn how a Stephen Minister can support you. For more information visit sapctucson.org/care or call the Church Office, 520-297-7201, or Cheryl Smith at 520-271-6591.

Financial Update Thank you for your support of our ministries.

Please contact Brad in the business office at (520)297-7201 if you have questions.

As of March 31, 2025

YTD Offering

YTD Expenses

Actual

$478,193

$561,183

Planned

$429,620

$582,364

Difference

$48,573

$(21,181)