Spring PW Salad Luncheon

Men's Breakfast Fellowship Moves to Summer Venue

Men's Breakfast Fellowship is now meeting on Tuesday mornings at 7:00 am at the Royal Cafe,10793 Grand Avenue in Sun City.



https://www.facebook.com/royalcafe.az/

Join us for breakfast, singing, Bible reading, prayer and a program. All men are welcome to join our fellowship - come and bring a friend!

Women's Ministry for May

Presbyterian Women celebrated their Spring Tea with the Installation of Officers on April 23rd. The tea colors were lavender and purple. The new officers and outgoing officers were presented with lavender roses. Shirley McVicker, a past moderator, presided over the installation service, making it meaningful and personal. There was a short business meeting followed by the Tea.

Officers:

• Moderator: Diane Nestlebush
• Vice Moderator: Gail Bickel
• Vice Moderator: Fran Gehm
• Secretary: Jan Partello
• Treasurer: Norma Mack

Coordinators:

• Bible Study: Lillie Duffy
• Fellowship: Billie Lewis
• Action: Rosemary Mills
• Mission: Ida Borhauer
• Music: Vonda Hagen
• Search Committee: Lois Rotenburger, Rosemary Mills and Nancy Wilson

Four women attended a preview of the Bible Study for next September, "Reconciling Paul." It is a fresh look at Paul to gain a new understanding.

We will be looking at 2 Corinthians through a new lens. Be sure to get your name in for a Bible Study book if you have not already. You can contact Lillie Duffy. A suggested summer reading is 1 and 2 Corinthians. If we study them we will have a better overview of our Bible Study.

Gail Bickel and Diane Nestlebush traveled to Tucson on April 5th to attend a gathering of PW Women in Presbytery de Cristo. The speaker was Mary Cook Jorgenson, Moderator of PW Women Churchwide. She gave an inspiring speech outlining all PW Women have accomplished since the 1800’s. She called us a "best kept secret." The ladies were welcoming and we had a good time.

COMING UP:

• Friday, May 2nd: Friendship Day - Church Women United, 9:30 am at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 13724 Meeker in Sun City West. The speaker is Dr. Tamara Zivic. Her subject is World Hunger.
• Wednesday May 7th: CT Meeting, 9:00 am in Annex 2. Please plan to attend; this CT Meeting will be the last until next fall.
• Wednesday May 28th: Luncheon Meeting in Swain Hall at 11:30 am. Our program will be our own Nita Cinquina; she will speak on “How I Became an American Citizen.” Please bring items to be donated to Eve′s Place. These should be hygiene items such as toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, etc., for the women. This is in support of women who are victims of domestic abuse. We will wear our orange ribbons to remind ourselves to pray for them. All women of the church are invited; please join us for good food and fellowship!

Blessings to all,

Diane Nestlebush, Moderator

Celebrating Rev. Zabriskie

On Sunday, May 4, following the worship service, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of Rev. Richard Zabriskie's ordination with cake and fellowship. Dick also sang "Here I Am, Lord," accompanied on the piano by Kelsey McKee. We are blessed to have Dick and his wife Karen in our congregation; congratulations again to both of them!

Session Recap - April 17, 2014 Meeting

The meeting was opened with prayer given by Bill Wentling. The minutes of the stated session meeting of March 20, 2014, were approved. Session noted the death of Doris E. Bradt, April 2, 2014. Communion was served in the sanctuary April 6, 2014 to 150. Communion was served to sixteen (16) at Sun Valley Lodge on March 26, 2014 by Rev. Harrell Davis. Reverend Harrell Davis served communion to Anna Mae McCracken at her home. Membership this date: Active 183 and Affiliate 28.

Reverend Davis stated the tree in the courtyard will be exchanged for another and reported it was paid for by a donor. He spoke to Session about our long-view vision and the necessity to celebrate life with life (planting a tree) and hope. A tree is a statement that the life of the church will go on even after we are no longer here.

The following motions were made, seconded and approved:

1. The carillon will ring at 8:00 am, 10:00 am, noon, and 6:00 pm
2. Presbyterian Women will handle “Café Justo” coffee sales
3. The third signature for the BBVA Compass checking account will be Marilee Marshall, chair Foundation Fund

It was reported the Baptist guests enjoyed the Pasta Dinner on Wednesday evening and we have received many compliments from those attending the Presbytery Meeting held at FPC on March 29, 2014.

Bill Wentling stated the rear doors from the storage/sound room in Swain Hall have been secured and sealed with weather-stripping with thanks to Gabe Conwell.

The resignation, effective April 30, 2014, of Marge Hagerman was acknowledged.

The meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m. with prayer given by Elder Donna Roth.

Minutes of the April 1, 2014 Board of Deacons Meeting

The meeting was called to order by Anita Downing, Moderator, at 2:00 pm. Mary Jo Conwell gave the devotion and opening prayer.

The minutes of the March 4, 2014, meeting were approved. The Treasurer’s Report was unchanged from March. The Statistical Report for March indicated that 16 received communion from The Rev. Harrell Davis at Sun Valley Lodge on March 26th and Audeen Myers received communion at her group home on March 3rd, administered by Carol Arseth and Max Littlejohn.

Anita reported on representing the Deacons at the March Session meeting and noted that The SPIRE for April contained the recap of Session business.

Committees:

• Communion: Wafers, instead of fresh bread, will be served for future communion services in the sanctuary, Joanne Clark reported. There was discussion about a possible need for vegan/non-gluten wafers for one or two members.
• Flowers: Flower bouquets were taken to 11 shut-ins during March, Mary Jo reported.
• Receptions: A committee chair is still needed to oversee the preparation and serving of receptions after memorial services. The reception following The Rev. Dennis Clark’s memorial service in March was served by PEO, not Deacons.
• Health & Wellness: Carol Arseth asked that Deacons give her names of members in their districts who would like to have home communion so that appointments can be set up.

Old Business: Discussion continued from March regarding planning a “Lunch with Your Deacon” event. A motion was made and passed to schedule the event in June.

New Business: Anita mentioned that the Presbytery of Grand Canyon held its March meeting at our church on Saturday, March 29.

The meeting was closed at 3:00 pm with the Deacons’ Prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

~Marge Hagerman, Secretary

The Start of the Fund

NOW. . . You Can Make a Gift That Keeps on Giving
The Income Trust Fund of The First Presbyterian Church of Sun City  Makes This Possible

This is the headline for the brochure introducing The Income Trust Fund – which today we refer to as The Fund. The brochure goes on the answer the question: Why do we need the Fund?

“Many people have expressed a desire to name our church as a beneficiary in their wills and bequests, in addition, future gifts, should substantially increase the assets of the Fund over a period of years. A permanent fund will greatly strengthen the total Ministry of our church.”

It really started in 1974 with small gifts designated for endowment. In 1974 to 1979, endowment gifts as small as $10 to over $1,000 were received.

On September 18, 1979, several members of the Board of Trustees ‘evidenced an interest’ in using the recent, generous $21,131.62 cash and stock bequest from Hilda M. Kundert’s Estate as a nucleus for a permanent fund. Ramona Meyer, Milford Schueler and Arthur Comer were appointed to an ad-hoc committee and drafted a Memorandum to establish an Income Trust Fund.

From Session minutes of November 29, 1979, when the Stewardship Commission Chair reported expected shortage based on pledges received to date, ‘considerable discussion followed on the expectations of meeting the proposed Budget.’ In the next paragraph, under the heading of Unfinished Business, the Ad-Hoc Committee presented their report on the proposed Income Trust Fund. The Income Trust Fund with a beginning balance of $25,000 was formally established and approved by Session action in January 1980.

The leaders, members and friends of our church, then and now, continue to work together to discern God’s call for our ministry and future.

To be continued....