68
Spirituality
July 4 - July 17, 2015
Spiritual Reflections
Ancient Paths BY LYNNE HARTKE
“This can’t be the trail,” I said, brushing aside another bush, all prickly and thorny. “I want to keep going a few more minutes,” my husband said. “The trail should be up in front of us.” A few more minutes turned into 30. I gazed around. The ridgelines dotted with saguaro, prickly pear and sage all looked the same to me. My husband pulled out a compass and topographical map. “I think we are in the wrong ravine,” he said. He pointed to a squiggle on the map. “We need to go back to where we know where we are.” So back we went. Thanks to the rain the night before, our footprints were the only marks in the soft earth, in fact, I was convinced our footprints were the only steps ever to come down the arroyo. Up ahead several stacks of rocks could be seen along the wash, cairns we had missed marking a juncture with three choices of direction. A few steps and we were on an established trail.
“Look what I found in the wash,” my husband said, pulling the white object from his pocket. “An arrowhead!” I took the stone from his hand and turned it around in my fingers. It was easy for me to think, so far from the parking lot, that we were the first to walk that wash, but it was not so. Generations of footprints had traveled before us. We had been walking on ancient paths. Jeremiah 6:16 says, “This is what the lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient path, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Sometimes when we are lost, the way back can be found on an ancient path. Hartke blogs at www.lynnehartke. com. She is the wife of Pastor Kevin Hartke of Trinity Christian Fellowship in Chandler, 50 S. McQueen Rd. Kevin Hartke is also the City of Chandler vice mayor. For more information, visit www. tcfchandler.org, or call (480) 963-7698.
Spiritual Reflections Share your spiritual reflections The spiritual leaders of SanTan Sunarea churches, temples, mosques and other religious and spiritual gathering places are invited to contribute their Spiritual Reflections in essay format by sending their thoughts, enlightening insights and other writings of a spiritual nature to news@ santansun.com.
Be certain to put “Spiritual Reflections submission” in the subject line. Include your first and last name, title and facility name, address, phone number and website. Spiritual Reflections are printed on a space-available basis, and submission does not guarantee print. The opinions represented in this column are those of the author and not that of the SanTan Sun News.
www.SanTanSun.com
Sun Lakes United Methodist Church introduces new pastors Two new full-time pastors are believes that the church “must address joining Sun Lakes United Methodist and seek to change those situations, Church in July. The Rev. Marvin which demean and dehumanize Arnpriester follows the Rev. Jim O’Neal persons.” who retired in June. He will serve as He and his wife have two sons and senior pastor, and the Rev. Jean Newell four grandchildren. His son, the Rev. will be associate pastor. Jonathan Arnpriester, is senior pastor Arnpriester at Chandler retired in 2011 United Methodist after more than Church. 40 years of Newell comes ministry in Iowa to Sun Lakes and moved with UMC from Green his wife, Carolyn, Valley United to the Sun Lakes Methodist Church area. He came out in Henderson, of retirement to Nevada, where serve as interim she was associate senior pastor at pastor. After a Dayspring UMC 25-year teaching from 2013 to 2014 career, she and most recently graduated from was interim senior Fuller Theological pastor at Cross in Seminary in the Desert United Pasadena, Methodist Church California, in Phoenix. in 2002. She Arnpriester is was then a graduate of St. commissioned a Paul School of probationary elder Theology in Kansas and served as an City, Missouri. associate pastor The Rev. Marvin Arnpriester will serve as Throughout his in Mesa before senior pastor at Sun Lakes United Methodist years of ministry, becoming a full Church. Submitted photo he has served in elder in 2005. many leadership Newell served roles both inside and outside the two congregations in the Phoenix area United Methodist Church system, for seven years as a solo pastor before especially in the areas of education moving to Nevada. and health. He is passionate about A mother of three, Newell has mission work, having traveled to eight grandchildren and three greatLiberia, Guatemala and Mexico and grandchildren.
Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.
Chandler United Methodist Church
Celebrating more than 100 Years in Chandler. Making and Deploying Disciples Who Put God First, Since 1913.
SUNDAY WORSHIP Traditional Worship .......................... 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. SUNDAY SCHOOL For Children ......................................... 8:40 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS .............................................................................. 9:45 a.m. 480-963-3360 • www.chandlermethodist.org • 450 E. Chandler Heights Rd.
WEDNESDAY: Bible Study 12 Noon & 7 p.m. SUNDAY: WORSHIP 10 a.m. 19609 S. McQueen Rd. • Chandler, AZ 480-899-LIFE (5433) • 480-343-0022 www.gospel4life.org