August Events

These items are listed on our online calendar, but they’re worth repeating!

• Wednesdays, August 3 and August 17—The church library will be open from 1:00-3:00 pm. However, Carol will not be serving refreshments; last month she had to eat most of them herself. (She says she gained several pounds and it’s all our fault.) Come visit her anyway!
• Wednesday, August 10, at noon—The summer luncheon hosted by PW. All men of the church are invited, too. This is the last day to donate school supplies for the children in the Dysart School District.
• Thursday, August 11, 7:00 pm—The Ben Hur preview at Arrowhead Fountains 18 (Harkins) Theater. See Beth in the church office for tickets. They are free for veterans and $9.00 each for the rest of us. 
• Sunday, August 14, 3:00 pm—We are hosting the last of this summer’s One in Spirit/One in Song ecumenical hymn-sings in our chapel. Bill Gleason and Kelsey McKee will lead us in song, with homemade cookies to follow in Swain Hall. 
• Thursday, August 25, 2:00 pm—The annual 90+ tea. If you are 90 or older, you will be receiving a personal invitation. If you are not yet 90 but would like to help out by driving someone, working in the kitchen, or hosting one of the tables, please call the church office. 
• Special music—The worship service on Sunday, August 7, will see the return of tenor Dan Post, always a summer favorite, and August 14 will feature a piano duet by Kelsey McKee and Vonda Hagen. 

And don’t forget, our last summer cookout will be on Labor Day, Monday, September 5, at noon!

Guest Pastor This Sunday

This Sunday, July 31, the Reverend Doctor Douglas P. Wright will be preaching at our 9:00 am worship service.  A former senior pastor at First Presbyterian, Doug is now mostly retired, but still active with Recorded Recreational Reading for the Blind.  To learn more about Doug and the RRRB, visit http://www.readingfortheblind.org/#!who-we-are/c8k2.

Scam Phone Calls Continue

We recently received this information from Carole Studdard, Marketing Coordinator at the Sun City Home Owners Association (SCHOA).

SCAMS CONTINUE … BE DILIGENT!  Do not respond! 

SCHOA has received numerous calls relating to:

• APS threatening to turn off electricity and to call 855.209.7714.
• ADT to upgrade your system.
• Cox performing maintenance and asking for account information.
• IRS taking you to court.

Do not return or respond to these phones calls.  The Attorney General's Office suggests that you contact their office to report the information and file a complaint (602.542.5025). 

Thank you for sharing this information with your neighbors.

Peace and Justice Report

From Diane Nestlebush on the Peace and Justice Network of the Presbytery of Grand Canyon:

You will not want to miss this! International Peacemaker Luis Fernando Sanmiguel will be coming to Faith Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 2nd (World Communion Day) for the morning service and a workshop later in the day. More details on times will be given in the September edition of The SPIRE and in our bulletin.

The Rev. Luis Fernando Sanmiguel serves as pastor of the Community of Hope Presbyterian Church of Columbia. He has engaged in peace work for 26 years, taking part in a variety of social justice and human rights activities and movements and accompanying some of the most vulnerable rural communities. Rev. Sanmiguel has participated in peace talks between the Columbian government and guerrilla groups, among them the Revolutionary Armed forces of Columbia and the National Liberation Army. He is part of the Commission for Social Oversight appointed by the Dialogue in Havana, Cuba. He has served as a pastoral accompanier to political prisoners in Villavicencio and Medellin Antioquia. He belongs to the diaconate office of the Presbyterian Church of Presbytery of Uraba called “Uraba Territory of Peace” and in Bogota he coordinates an interfaith movement called “Teusaquillo Territory of Peace.”

The Peace and Justice Network is excited that Rev. Sanmiguel is able to come talk and share his experiences with us. Look for more information in September.

New Virtual Tour

The Google Earth virtual tour of our church campus is now available - and here it is! Enjoy!

Superior Sound in September!

Worship services during the last six months have highlighted several issues with the sound system in our Sanctuary. The main speaker is aimed over the heads of those in the first few pews and is inadequate to cover the back rows, creating several large “dead spots.” In addition, despite adjustments, the reproduction of David’s voice continues to be too tinny, and intermittent feedback has come close to driving several people out of the room.

In response to these problems, we have called in a professional church sound consultant to design a replacement sound system for us. His proposal includes all new speakers for the Sanctuary; new microphones for the choir and the bell choir; and new controls that will let the sound booth operators adjust more than just the volume level. The total cost for these changes will be $30,000.

Thanks to the generosity of several concerned members of the church, we have already received $12,400 toward this project. The Session has approved an appeal to the congregation for the balance.

Please, if you would like to hear terrific sound quality in our Sanctuary – no dead spots, no feedback, and David sounding like David – make a contribution toward this project today. No amount is too small. You can mail us your donation, drop it off at the church office, or leave it in the collection plate as early as this Sunday. (Be sure to mark it “sound.”) The sooner we have the money available, the sooner work can begin.

Let’s aim for superior sound in September!

Presbyterian Women in July

Dysart School District: School Supplies Needed

We will be asking for school supplies during July for delivery to the Dysart School District late in the month. Our Coordinating Team members will set up and maintain a long table in Swain Hall for these items to be accumulated and displayed.

Here are the suggested items:

• Crayons Pencils (#2) 
• Ballpoint Pens (black or blue) 
• Glue/Glue Sticks 
• Kids’ Scissors 
• Rulers 
• Notebook Paper 
• 3-ring Notebooks 
• Spiral Notebooks 
• 2-pocket Folders 
• Pocket Calculators 
• Lunch Boxes 
• Backpacks

Dollar- and 99-cent stores always have a good selection of many of these items! Monetary donations are also welcome. You may bring or mail a check to the church office, payable to First Presbyterian Church, specifying that it is for school supplies. Someone will do the shopping for you!

Franciscan Renewal Center – PW Synod of the Southwest Fall Gathering.

If you have never experienced the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, you may want to attend one or all three days’ activities! The theme for this Gathering is “Who Is Jesus?”, title of the Horizons Bible Study for the coming year. Although the Gathering isn’t until October 28-30, ladies who are interested in attending will need to make reservations by October 8. I have the forms. Here is an abbreviated schedule:

Friday, October 28 

• Check-In – 4:00 pm 
• Dinner – 6:00-7:00 
• Evening Program – 7:15 

Saturday, October 29 

• Morning Meditation – 7:30 
• Breakfast – 8:00-9:00 
• Morning Program – 9:15 
• Workshops – 10:45-11:45 
• Lunch – 11:30-12:30 
• Workshops – 1:00-2:00 
• Workshops – 2:15-3:15 
• Free Time Opportunities 3:30-6:00 
• Dinner – 6:00-7:00 

Sunday, October 30

• Morning Meditation – 7:30 
• Breakfast – 8:00-9:00 
• Worship – 9:30 
• Lunch – 12:00

Fees range from $60, for one meal plus one program fee, to full registration for all three days, including two nights’ lodging, $230-$300.

Blessings,

~Marge Hagerman, Co-Moderator