I hope and pray you have been well as the school year winds down and summer commences! Summer in Tucson has its own unique rhythm of coming and going and my prayers are with you throughout this season of travel. A great way to stay connected to SAPC if you find yourself in either “hither, thither, or yon” is to worship online with us.
A Grief Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss (Revised and Updated), by Jerry Sittser David Copperfield - the novel, by Charles Dickens
At the risk of showing more of my “nerd cards,” I also recommend the perennial best-selling book our staff is about to read together entitled Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and John Townsend For any out there who are interested in the topic of emotional intelligence, Travis Bradberry has just released the book The New Emotional Intelligence that is accessible, fascinating, and includes an emotional intelligence inventory you can take
We are so blessed to have Rev Dr Mike Eickhoff with us for the next few months The Session invited Pastor Mike to serve here for a number of reasons, including his doctoral studies and experience in trauma Over the next few months, Pastor Mike is available to meet with you individually if you are needing to process the loss we have experienced at St. Andrew’s with the death of Jim and Pati Toole or, most recently, Mat Grover. These are profound losses we have been through together. We will let you know of additional upcoming opportunities to begin to help us along the road of grief and healing.
For all our readers/listeners out there, we have some great summer reading suggestions for you, with free study guides available: Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone, by Father James Martin
Let’s be in prayer for both our children’s and student ministries. VBS, student internships, camp experiences, and other summer events are so meaningful and vitally important spiritual events in the life of our young people. Let’s also hold up in prayer staff members Tim Christian, Heather Brannock, and Ronnie Crider, and all our amazing volunteers who help make children and student ministries so vibrant at St. Andrew’s.
Grace and Peace, Pastor John
Mission and Outreach
HELP BUILD A LIFE BY BUILDING A HOME
It is hard to describe some of the living conditions we have seen in Rocky Point, Mexico There are families whose "houses" are literally made out of cardboard or tarps You can change that - imagine being part of a group that builds them a *home* A real home with a solid roof and walls, a concrete floor, doors that lock and windows that open We have done it for the last 18 years and you can help. You don't need any special talents or experience - just a willingness to work and learn. All ages are welcome on the weekend and there are jobs for everyone.
The dates for the weekend this year are October 23-26, 2025 (Thursday to Sunday) This year, we will be staying at the 1Mission Base Camp, also called the 1Mission Complex You can also rent a nearby condo or hotel room if you prefer We hope you can join us for this powerful weekend It is a wonderful gift to be able to give to someone directly and see their faces when they receive the gift. Not only have we given them a secure place to live, we have also built them hope for the future. For more information, please contact Scott Fiore at scott.fiore@me.com or Kevin Oxnam at kevinoxnam@gmailcom Because we are traveling into Mexico, you will need a passport or passport card to get back into the US If you don’t have one, apply soon as it can take up to ten weeks
Volunteer Opportunities
CHURCH OFFICE VOLUNTEERS
The Church Office reception is staffed by volunteers to answer phones, greet guests, and assist with office tasks from time to time. We have two shifts daily, M-F from 9:00 am-Noon and from Noon-3:00 pm. If this sounds interesting to you and you'd like to learn more about this role contact Ed Coates at ecoates@sapctucson.org.
HOPE FOR CHRISTMAS: ADOPT-A-FAMILY
The Christmas Adopt-a-Family program partners with schools and contacts in the community to reach the families that they recommend. St. Andrew’s members have the opportunity to bless families with household goods, stockings, a food gift card, and gifts for the children for Christmas. The Mission Committee is looking for an individual or couple to coordinate this program with help from Sandy Kreamer, who has years of experience with the program. If you are interested, please contact Danielle Oxnam at dmoxnam@gmail.com.
SAPC BACKPACK & SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
We will collect backpacks and school supplies in July for the children at Gospel Rescue Mission, the Karenni children tutored by St. Andrew’s members, and the Amphi Clothing Bank. Needed: colored pencils, highlighters, crayons, college rule paper, etc. If you don’t know what to buy ask your children or grandchildren or write a check with backpacks in the memo line. Questions? Contact Jan Littlefield at 520-299-6851 or jan.littlefield@comcast.net. Thanks for your help.
What Washing Feet Taught Me About Love
By Phoebe Tittle, SAPC Youth High School Student
This year, for the second time in my life, I participated in my church’s “30 Hour Famine” a youth event in which we fast for 20 to 30 hours, depending on whether or not you eat breakfast before it starts. The experience began on a cold Saturday morning on February 8, 2025 Upon my arrival, I was told to sign up for one of several activities of my choice: performing good deeds for strangers, caroling for the elderly and hospital patients, packing hygiene bags, or washing the feet of homeless people. For reasons I still don’t fully understand, perhaps a quiet calling from God, I felt drawn to the last option. I can’t say I ever had the desire to wash anyone’s feet, especially not those of strangers, but something inside me urged me to put my name down As I skimmed the description, my eyes landed on the empty sign-up sheet Not a single name had been written Reluctantly, I picked up a dull pencil and wrote my name in one of the fifteen blank slots. That small, seemingly insignificant moment would go on to reshape the way I view the world and my place in it.
When we arrived at the Rescue Mission, a few more students had signed up, most of them due to the other activities being full I overheard some whispering about how they could never wash someone else's feet The first recipient who came to the chair was a man who appeared to be about forty. He sat down and removed his shoes and socks. His toenails were long, maybe two and a half inches, and thick with fungal infection. It smelled awful. His feet looked dirty, painful, and neglected. I could sense how vulnerable he must have felt, having a teenager from a comfortable, middle-class life kneeling before him
My honest first reaction was disgust. But as I looked at him, I asked myself: Why are we here? This wasn’t about comfort or convenience. It was about looking beyond ourselves I thought: What events may he have experienced that brought him here? What had he endured? Suddenly, judgment subsided and shifted to sympathy, and then to something deeper: a quiet, humbling realization of what my parents had always tried to teach me with words like, “The first shall be last in the kingdom of heaven.” I began to feel ashamed that I had felt entitled to judge his condition without knowing anything about him. Later that week, as I continued with my reading of the book of Isaiah from the Bible, I came across a verse that struck me deeply: “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10) It allowed me to realize that the washing of feet was never just about hygiene. Historically, it symbolizes the surrender of your comfort and selfish desires and becoming fully attentive to the needs of others. It's not just an act of charity but an act of love It's a declaration: Your pain matters You matter
Since that day, I’ve needed regular reminders of that lesson But I hold onto it That moment reshaped my understanding of love: it isn’t merely a feeling, but a deliberate action, a conscious choice, and often, a difficult one. It demands that we see others not as problems to be solved, but as people to be loved. I believe that when we genuinely put others first, not just in words, but in real sacrifice, we begin to change the world And sometimes, that change starts at a rescue mission, with a plastic basin, a bucket of warm water, and the willingness to kneel
Children’ s Ministry
VBS DECORATING PARTY
Our annual VBS decorating party is June 5 from 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm. VBS is a whole church effort!
Come and help make and hang decorations. Pizza will be provided for everyone who comes out to help! Please RSVP to Heather at hbrannock@sapctucson.org. Childcare is available upon request at sapctucson.org/kids.
NO CHILDREN’S CHURCH
JUNE 8 OR JUNE 15
There will be no Children’s Church on June 8. Heather and Ronnie are making final preparations for VBS! Childcare will be available for kids five years old and younger in Room L.
On June 15, we will be sharing what we learned the week of VBS at the 9:00 am service. Children of all ages are invited to participate in worship for VBS themed songs and some takeaways from those who attended VBS. Childcare will be available for kids five years old and younger in Room L.
SUPER FRIENDS
A SPECIAL NEED MINISTRY
Our next meeting of Super Friends and parents will be on June 1 at 10:30 am in the Sunday School Rooms. Contact Heather Brannock at hbrannock@sapctucson.org for questions or to sign up. There will be no Super Friends meeting in July We will resume our meetings on August 3.
VBS UPDATE
We are getting closer and closer to True North VBS on June 9-13! We have 124 kids registered so far for VBS as of May 15. A huge thank you to everyone who has signed up to volunteer and all those who have made donations to VBS! We appreciate your support!
Join us to see what we learned during VBS week on Sunday June 15 at the 9:00 am service Check out our supply donation list at sapctucsonorg/kids
We are also asking for donations for breakfast items for our VBS volunteers. We are asking for items such as fruit, muffins, pastries, paper goods, etc. All donations need to be dropped off on the SW Campus kitchen by 8:00 am each morning. Thank you for helping to bless our VBS volunteers!
VBS MISSION - THE WARMTH OF GOD’S LOVE
During the sun-soaked summer days of VBS, it’s easy to keep chilly fall and winter temperatures out of mind. But frosty fingers and toes are a reality for millions of kids in North America. As families struggle to make ends meet, poverty in the United States impacts countless kids. World Vision estimates that more than one in six children in the United States lives in poverty. These are kids who put on threadbare jackets to face wintry weather They shiver at the school bus stop and sit through class in wet shoes Some may lack a thick, cozy blanket to sleep under at night
But we can change that! World Vision works tirelessly to help struggling families get the basic necessities they need like warm clothes and blankets. Their partnerships with clothing manufacturers allow them to multiple every dollar donated to make a true impact. A $5 donation can provide up to $70 in brandnew warm clothing and blankets! That means kids can bundle up when the thermometer plummets They’ll enjoy school days with warm fingers and cozy toes! And kids can sleep soundly, wrapped in a snug blanket
Through our VBS mission project, we have the opportunity to bless countless families in North America, helping them feel the warmth of God’s love through the generosity of other kids. If you would like to make a donation to our VBS mission project, please write a check to St. Andrew’s with “VBS Mission” on the memo line.
Youth Ministry
SUMMER KICKOFF & POOL PARTIES
Our summer Kickoff & pool parties will start June 3 and June 4. Check out the details below. For questions, contact Tim at tchristian@sapctucson.org.
WATER BASEBALL
Some of you have experienced the amazingness that is WATER BASEBALL! This is your chance this summer to slip-n-slide to home plate! Middle School and High School students are invited to join the fun Wednesday, June 11, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Pusch Ridge High School Baseball Field!
high school & middle school
WATER BASEBALL WATERBASEBALL
wednesday,6/11
6:00pm-8:00PM
MIDDLE SCHOOL MISSION DAYS
FOREST HOME
We’re heading to Forest Home in just over a month… CRAZY, right?! We’re so excited to spend an unforgettable week together. Emails have been sent out with the
latest details. We still have some Middle School spots open! If you’re entering 6th, 7th, or 8th grade and want to join us for an amazing week at summer camp, we still have spots available and we’d love to have you with us! For questions and to learn more, contact Tim at tchristian@sapctucson.org or visit sapcyouth.com!
Since so many Middle School students (incoming 6th-8th graders) and their friends are involved in VBS, we will be adding the opportunity to make the most out of your week! We will be doing two mission adventures following VBS Monday (6/9) and Thursday (6/12) of VBS week Students may do one or both of the days Sign up at sapctucson org Hope to see you there!
Preschool Kindergarten&
The end of the school year for Preschool and Kindergarten is filled with so much joy! We celebrated our students and their families during Family Day and our Family Night Performances, and our students had a blast during Water Days. Most recently, we honored our Kindergarteners at their graduation sending off our oldest students as they prepare for elementary school and all that lies ahead. Please pray for a restful summer for our teachers and staff, returning energized and ready to serve our students and families in August
As we wrap up the 2024–25 school year, my heart is filled with gratitude for the many ways our church and school community have come together to support this special ministry. Our school prayer this year came from 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 faithfully serve the young learners in our care!
Adult Ministry
SAPC’S LIBRARY SUMMER READING
DISCOVER SAPC: NEW MEMBERS CLASS
Books, books, more books! We have new fiction and non fiction books on display for your summer reading enjoyment, including the three books recommended by Pastor John that he will be using during his summer sermon series; Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone by James Martin, SJ., A Grace Disguised Revised and Expanded: How the Soul Grows through Loss by Jerry Sittser, and David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. Feel free to stop by and check one of these books out. If they have already been checked out, they are available in our local public libraries. SAPC’s library is a great resource for Christian literature, Christian fiction, and we have a children’s section, too! Also, the Web OPAC (online catalog) for the Church Library is now available. Visit sapctucson.org/library https://18290.rmwebopac.com The online catalog makes it easy for you to search (not check-out) our over 4,000 titles.
On Sunday, May 18, we had an amazing group come together at Pastor John’s home to discover more about SAPC and learn about becoming a member of our church Our new members will be received during the worship services on Sunday, June 8 Please join us in welcoming these friends If you are interested in becoming a member or would like to be notified of the next class, please contact Cathi at ckentera@sapctucsonorg
SAPC Traditional Music
God is good and worthy to be praised! Many thanks to all those who helped lead our congregations in praise and worship this 2024-2025 season at 7:30 am Worship Service and 10:45 am Worship Service. From the Chancel Choir and Orchestra to the Wittman Ringers and the Children's Choir, the flute and clarinet choirs and many other guest musicians who accompanied them, our most heartfelt thanks for 33 Sunday morning services, 4 special evening services, as well as the Christmas and Palm Sunday Concerts. May God continue to be praised in our worship through the summer!!
Summer Choir
During the summer, our Chancel Choir takes a break from weekly leadership and our Summer Choir begins. This year, summer choir will be held on July 6, 13, 20 and August 3, 10, and 17. All you need to do is come to the choir room at 10:00 am to learn an easy anthem. No prior musical experience is necessary and we accept all ages. Come and make a joyful noise unto the Lord!!
Volunteer Spotlight
ENHANCING WORSHIP THROUGH SERVICE: BE A PART OF THE WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRY
Last month, we shared how a warm greeting from our Greeters and Ushers helps set the tone for a meaningful worship experience at SAPC. This month, we’re shining a light on more behind-the-scenes heroes the dedicated members of our Worship & Music Committee and the ways you can join in making worship even more beautiful. This committee includes several dedicated teams: the Flower Team, Decorating Team, and Audio-Visual Team.
Flower Team: Have you noticed the beautiful floral arrangements on the Communion table? They’re lovingly created by volunteers on the Saturday before the first Sunday of each month. Could that be you?
Decorating Team: Our Sanctuary reflects the spirit of each season thanks to volunteers who decorate for Easter, Advent, and Christmas. We’re currently looking for a leader and team members to help design and set up these seasonal displays. Whether you have a creative eye or just enjoy pitching in, your help is welcome.
Audio-Visual Team: The AV team plays a key role in worship by managing sound, slides, and livestream equipment. Whether you're experienced or eager to learn, this is a great way to help both in-person and online worshippers stay connected. Training is provided!
Why Join? By sharing your gifts creative, technical, or hands-on you help shape a worship experience that uplifts and connects. It’s more than volunteering; it’s ministry.
Interested? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to Brian Cochran, our Worship & Music Committee Chair, at brianlcochran@comcast.net to learn more. And stay tuned soon we’ll share opportunities to get involved through music as well!
TRAVELING THIS SUMMER? JOIN US ONLINE!
Livestream worship each Sunday or watch on demand later in the week. Stay connected with each other through social media. Get the most up to date information at sapctucson.org!
Stephen
Ministry
Nature Therapy
Good listening requires many skills: an open heart, a non-judgmental presence, quieting your mind, and hearing what is said along with what is unsaid. What makes you feel seen and heard? Stephen Ministers go through extensive training to become the kind of person that can listen well. If you’d like someone to come alongside you, please know that Stephen Ministry is here to help. If you’re someone that loves to listen and would like more information about participating in our training class that begins in the fall, visit sapctucson.org/care or call the Church Office, 520-297-7201, or Cheryl Smith at 520-271-6591.
In Memoriam
CHARLES DAVIS MAY 12, 2025
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.
FROM YOUR FAITH COMMUNITY NURSES
Nature therapy (sometimes called ecotherapy) refers to intentional time spent outdoors to support healing and wellness It doesn’t require hikes because it includes simple activities like just sitting outside listening to the birds or tending plants
Nature acts as a stabilizer to regulate the body’s systems from hormones to brain chemistry Studies have showed that even short periods outside can lower blood pressure, improve immune response, lift mood, and promote better sleep Here are some of the main mechanisms:
Reduces Cortisol (stress hormone) which when elevated can lead to fatigue, poor immune function, high blood pressure and weight gain
Boosts Immune Defenses - Trees and plants release phytoncides which when breathed in stimulate production of natural killer cells that can destroy viruses.
Increases Mood - stabilizing chemicalsSunlight and sensory experiences in nature stimulate the release of brain chemicals responsible for regulating mood, reducing anxiety and support restful sleep.
Improves Memory and Focus - One study showed that those who walked in nature improved their memory and attention span by 20% compared to those who walked in an urban environment.
Even 10-20 minutes a day can deliver measurable health benefits.
Reference: Nature Therapy: Why Time Outdoors is Vital for Senior’s Wellbeing/ Sixty and Me
