April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

...so Lutheran Social Services has put together this child abuse prevention toolkit: http://www.lss-sw.org/child-abuse-prevention-toolkit.

Prayer Shawl Ministry Update

Thanks to those of you who have donated to our Prayer Shawl Ministry. We really appreciate those donations.

So far this year we have donated to Family Services at Luke Airforce Base a total of 34 Layettes and to Airman's Attic 28 items.

We have donated to Hospice of the Valley – 18 lap throws, 16 shawls, 9 pairs of slippers and 2 pairs of fingerless gloves.

We do keep busy and still meet at 9:30 to 11 am on the first and third Monday of each month at the church. We welcome anyone who wishes to join us in knitting and crocheting.

Thanks,

~Nancy Childress

Justa Center Update

I have delivered two more loads of donations to the Justa Center this month. The response to their need by our congregation has been absolutely marvelous. Keep up the good work!

Furniture, bedding, dishes, and small appliances are especially welcome. However, if you are planning to donate high tech items such as computers or printers, please make sure they are in working order and have all of the required parts and attachments. Recently there was a really nice HP combined Print, Fax, Scan, Copy machine left and it works. Unfortunately, the paper holder was missing, so it is useless for donation purposes.

All clothing articles for adults are acceptable. Please remember, do not include items that need mending or laundering. I have been taking some of the fruit from my fruit trees down also. The Executive Director, Barbara Lewkowitz, says most of the homeless are severely lacking in Vitamin C, and she therefore welcomes fresh fruit donations. However, do not leave fruit donations in the Agua Fria Room. Please coordinate with me before picking any fruit. I cannot make a trip to downtown Phoenix just to deliver fruit. I only take it along with full loads. You can call me at 623.249.3005. I usually pick my fruit on the day I am going down with a load.

Just as a reminder, the Justa Center is a Qualifying Charitable Organization allowing a tax credit. It really helps out in reducing your state income tax.

You can go online to download the Tax Credit Donation Form.

Carol Maxwell
Justa Center Volunteer

Presbyterian Women in April

Meetings in April:

• Wednesday, April 6, 9:00 am: Coordinating Team in A2.
• Saturday, April 16: Faith Presbyterian Church, Sun City, is hosting the PW Presbytery Spring Gathering, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm. The topic: Mission Matters Because God’s People Matter.
• Saturday, April 30 (corrected date from that shown in March SPIRE): Our PW hosts the West Valley PWP from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The Rev. Bev Phillips will provide an overview of next year’s Horizons Bible study. The Coordinating Team will plan refreshments. Circle members, please ask your leader how you may help (set-up, clean-up, etc.)
• Wednesday, April 27, 11:30 am: This is our popular annual Salad Luncheon with Circles providing a potpourri of homemade salads. Cost: $5.00 each (no charge to those providing salads to serve 10-12 people). The program will be a video, Women of the Bible.

Kitchen “Shower”: Those who work often in our kitchen have observed that most of the linens—tea towels and dish cloths—are becoming threadbare. Let’s try to remember to donate extras we may have at home, or buy new items to donate.

“Action” items needed, always: Just inside the main entrance to Swain Hall is a place to leave “Education labels” (found on cereal boxes and soup cans). Personal hygiene items for Eve’s Place (a shelter for women victims of domestic violence) may be brought to the April 27th Salad Luncheon.

PWP Recommended Reading: Each year new titles are suggested and some purchased for our collection. Take time to browse through the collection of books that are available to check out. Readers: Be sure to let either Gail (623.815.7290) or Marge (623.330.4915) know if you have read five or more of these books, and you will receive a special recognition.

Blessings,

~Marge Hagerman, Co-Moderator

More Tai Chi

During the spring and summer of 2014, SCAN Health sponsored free tai chi classes in Swain Hall. The classes were taught by Peggy Burger, an instructor who specializes in working with older adults to improve their balance and mobility. Peggy is offering to conduct classes here again at a cost of $5 per person per session. We hope to offer the classes on Fridays at 9:00 am starting in mid-April, but we need at least 15 people who are willing to pay for the lessons in order to proceed. Participants need not be members of the church. Sign up in the church office or in Swain Hall if you are interested—and tell your friends to sign up, too!

Fellowship Dinner Brainstorming

What: Planning for the 2016-2017 monthly Fellowship Dinners
When: Tomorrow (Thursday, April 7), at 10:00 am
Where: The office conference room at First Presbyterian Church of Sun City

If you can't attend in person, call or email us with your ideas for food and entertainment.  We want the next season of fellowship events to be the best ever!

April 5 is Arizona Gives Day

To make a donation to the church, call our office at 623-974-3605. To learn more about Arizona Gives Day, visit https://www.azgives.org/c/GivesDay