Bell Choir Update

Saturday, May 2, The Great Bells of Fire are being treated to an appreciation cookout at the Tyacke’s. Small groups of bell players may perform during the summer, but the whole gang will not play again until this fall. In the meantime, pews have been removed from the bell choir’s section of the Sanctuary to make way for new bell tables. If you know anyone who would like a pew (free!), call the church office.

Brainstorming and Barbeque

Wednesday, May 13, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm in Swain Hall

Over the past two years, the congregation of First Presbyterian has been meeting regularly to talk about the future of our church. We have used brainstorming to identify the church’s strengths, craft our 50th anniversary celebration, and prioritize the needed upgrades to our physical plant. Now it’s time for us to meet again and revisit the theme of growing our membership.

Whom should we target as potential new members? What should our message to them be? What are the most cost-effective ways to spread that message?

A key piece of our identity as a congregation, and of the materials we use to reach out to others, is our mission statement. The current mission statement was developed by the Mission Task Force Committee; approved by the Session on January 20, 2000; and approved by the Congregation on February 13, 2005. It states that the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Sun City is:

To celebrate, enjoy, and share God’s gifts in an active mature adult community, growing in the Christian faith through worship, education, mission, evangelism, fellowship, and member support in the name of Jesus Christ.

Is this still who we are? Is it who we will be in the future? A proposed amendment would strike the words mature adult from the current mission statement. Come to the May 13 meeting to hear why, and to weigh in with your opinion. And share lunch, of course—barbequed beef and pulled pork from Dillon’s, served in the newly renovated courtyard if the weather allows.

Come for the food. Come for the discussion. Continue to help chart our course for the future!

A Different Kind of Busy Bee

Yesterday the church's pest control service reported seeing bees around one of our irrigation valve boxes.  Further investigation revealed a fledgling hive there.

Because bees are valuable insects and have been dying in alarming numbers in recent years, we didn't want them sprayed.  Instead, we called The Beekeeper, a bee relocation service in our area.  Bee technician Tom Delisle removed the hive and as many bees as he could coax into the box with the honeycomb, ready to transport them to a new home out in the desert.

Delisle suggested staying away from the site of the infestation until the orphaned bees left behind scatter or die and are no longer a potential danger.

Prayer Shawl Ministry Update

Thanks so much for your donations to the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Donations and coupons are always appreciated. Special thanks to Mary Lou Pancy for her large donation of fleece fabric. 

We keep really busy knitting and crocheting and donating to Hospice of the Valley and Airmans Attic.  We'll be delivering 92 items this month.

In April we went on a field trip to Airmans Attic at Luke.  We'll be meeting May 4, 11 and 18th and then we'll take the summer off.  We'll return in September - every Monday 9:30 to 11 am.

~Nancy Childress

Be a Lifesaver

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Wednesday, April 29
10:00 am - 11:15 am

Banner Boswell Medical Center
10401 W Thunderbird, Sun City, AZ 85351
Support Services Building - Memorial Hall

Carol Gibbs, Program Education Coordinator for Save Hearts in Arizona Registry & Education (SHARE), will present information, education, and simulated practice with adult CPR.  Effective bystander CPR provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim's chance of survival, but only 32 percent of cardiac arrest victims get CPR from a bystander.  Learn how to be a lifesaver!

Call 602.230.2273 or 623.832.5650 to register.

Call to Congregational Meeting

A Congregational Meeting will be held May 3, 2015, at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary. The purpose of the meeting is to elect a Deacon to fill an unexpired position for Class of 2015 and to elect an Elder to fill an unexpired position for Class of 2015. There will be discussion to change the Mission Statement.

By Order of the Session.
Evelyn Haas, Clerk of Session

Salad Luncheon and Style Show Reminder

Wednesday, April 22
11:30 am in Swain Hall

Join the ladies of PW for a salad luncheon and a style show by Draper's and Damon's featuring models from our congregation!  Election of officers for the coming year is also scheduled.

Admission is $5 per person and guests are welcome.