Winter/Spring 2015 Handbell Performances

"Undecorating Day" is January 10

January University of Life

The University of Life program, meeting on Thursday afternoons at 1:30 pm, will continue on January 8, 15, 22, and 29, with Rev. Richard Zabriskie leading. He will be dealing with the Biblical book of Genesis, giving an overall perspective, but dealing especially with the first 11 chapters, which is something of a unit in itself.

• January 8 will be on “Background Understandings.”
• January 15 will deal with the stories of Creation.
• January 22 will focus on Human perversity and God’s Interactions.
• January 29 will cover the purpose of genealogy, the tower of Babel, and the antidote of Pentecost.

We hope you will come, have a snack, and join in on the lively discussions each week. Guests are always welcome, too!

Please note: Because of the Elder/Deacon retreat in Swain Hall on January 15, University of Life will meet that day in the Fireside Room.

January Fellowship Dinner

Wednesday, January 21
5:00 pm in Swain Hall

Warm up this January with some hot soup and furry friends!

After our annual soup supper, representatives from the Arizona Humane Society (human and canine) will present an overview of their life-saving service to animals in the community, and discuss how those with pets can plan for them should something happen.

And mark your calendar for these future fellowship events:

• Tuesday, February 17—Shrove Tuesday Pancakes and Ed Fletcher on the organ
• Wednesday, March 18—Loaded Baked Potatoes and “Learning through the Labyrinth”
• Wednesday, April 15—Burrito Bash with an Earth Day program by Parks & Sons and eGreen Recycling

Call the church office at 623.974.3605 to RSVP. Your freewill offering helps cover the cost of the meal and future dinners. And for even more fellowship, consider signing up to be a greeter or to help with setup or cleanup. Many hands make light work!

Justa Center Thanks

Thank you to everyone who contributed items to the Justa Center in response to Scott Ritchey’s recent visits. We will continue to collect “stuff” (blankets, warm socks, toiletries, etc.) for them in Carol Arseth’s former office. For information on how to send cash or other donations directly to the Center, go to http://www.justacenter.org/#!donate/c24kz

Honor Flight

Honor Flight Arizona recognizes American Veterans for their sacrifices and achievements by flying them to Washington, D.C., to see their memorials at no cost to the vets. Top priority is given to WWII veterans. Guardians fly with the vets on every flight to help them have a safe, memorable, and rewarding experience. For further information, talk to Bill Wentling, contact Honor Flight at 928.377.1020, or visit the Honor Flight Arizona website at http://www.honorflightaz.org.

Christmas Eve Services at 5:00 Tonight

Please join the congregations of First Presbyterian and Emmanuel Baptist Churches tonight as we jointly celebrate Christ's birth in the Sanctuary at 12225 N 103rd Ave in Sun City, AZ.  The service will be the traditional Christmas Eve lessons and carols, and all are welcome to attend.

December in the Library

It was wonderful to see the nice turnout for the Library Open House. But now I would love to see more folks take advantage of this wonderful gathering of reading material. This church is truly blessed. If you haven't noticed, the library is now open every other Wednesday from 12:00 noon until 3:00 pm (whenever the bridge club is meeting in the Fireside Room).

At present we have only 10 books checked out (all of them by only 3 families). We have some great Holiday reading material, thoughtful Prayer and Devotional books, and great Biographies. If you like fiction, we have mysteries galore, westerns, humor, love stories, and historical novels. Reading provides a window into the soul of the world. Don't miss it.

~Carol Maxwell, Librarian

Presbyterian Women in December

It is that wonderful time of year again, Advent-Christmas! I was looking over the 2014 Presbyterian Giving Catalog and thought what a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of Christ by giving a gift to someone that can make a difference in his or her life. Take a look at all the unique ideas that can help people around the world who are facing daily struggles.

The women in PW are busy making plans and preparations for the annual Christmas High Tea. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, December 13th, and promises to be bigger and better than ever. If you would like to volunteer to help with this event, contact Gail Bickel at 623-815-7290.

December is a busy month for everyone so you might want to make note of the following activities for January 2015!

• Church Women United Human Rights Celebration
  Friday, January 30th in Swain Hall, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am

• PW Gathering Chili Luncheon honoring men of the congregation
  January 28th at 11:30 am in Swain Hall

BOOK REVIEWS:

Son of the Underground, The Life of Isaac Liu, son of Brother Yun the Heavenly Man by Isaac Liu and Albrecht Kaul

Because his father was an enemy of the state, Isaac’s mother was about to be forced into having an abortion, though seven months pregnant. After desperate prayer, the night before she was due to go into a hospital for the operation, she miraculously gave birth.

My Name is Malala, The Girl Who stood up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai with Christine Lame

The book describes the life of the young Pakistani student who advocated for women’s rights and education in the Taliban-controlled Swat Valley, survived an assassination attempt, and became the youngest nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Blessings to all,

~Diane Nestlebush, Moderator

Capital Improvement Update

Thank You to those who have contributed or those who have pledged contributions for 2015 and 2016 to the Capital Improvement Campaign.  As of November 24, 2014, we had deposited $58,474.88 for improvements and $4820.00 for bricks.  Capital Improvement contributions have been in amounts of $100 to $15,000.  Thank you to the following:  Lloyd & Ruth Baumgartner, Donald Berg, Harrell & Carol Davis, Frances Gehm, Evelyn Haas, Vonda & Gwynn Hagen (for part of the Fireside Room), Dean & Carol Hilst, Earl & Frances Kittredge, Gene Klatte & Mary Lou Pancy, Max Littlejohn, Beth Mabee, Darrell & Norma Mack, Wanda Morrill, Zane & Martha Porter, Donna Roth, George & Joyce Saltsman, Fred & Doris Stainbrook, Jane Whaley, and Harry & Nancy Wilson.

Bricks have been ordered by:  Hazel Bacon, Nita Cinquina, Cheryl Davis, Harrell & Carol Davis, Sharon Gearhart, Frances Gehm, Ham & Bunny Geisbert, Judy Goss, Evelyn Haas, Vonda Hagen, Dean & Carol Hilst, Jane Hundley, Earl & Fran Kittredge, Max Littlejohn, Jim & Janet MacDonald, Craig & Mary Lou McCoy, Pat & Rosie Mills, Marilyn Olney, Wayne & Claribel Parker, Charlotte Pooley, Donna Roth, Charles Sedgwick, Chesley Sikkema, Fred & Doris Stainbrook, David & Shirley Walker, Bill Wentling, Jane Whaley, and Dick & Karen Zabriskie.

Improvements made to date are: 

• Iron fence (in front of office to Annex 2),
• Landscaping
• Security system
• Six new toilets
• Nine occupancy sensors (restrooms)
• Exterior painting
• Steel security gates/fence behind Swain Hall
• Celtic cross in courtyard repaved
• Tuff shed for property/maintenance equipment
• Thermostat and a/c updates
• Cracked window in Narthex replaced

Total costs have been covered for these items.

Still to come:

• New upholstery for the chairs in the Fireside Room
• Interior paint for the Sanctuary and adjoining areas
• Additional landscaping and irrigation
• Permanent repairs to the ceiling of Swain Hall

Wish list - these are “nice to have” items that won’t be done unless donors specifically adopt them:

• New upholstery for the chairs in the south entry to the Sanctuary
• Outdoor shade structure/umbrellas for the courtyard
• New gutters around the office/annex

Want to be added to the list of donors?  It’s not too late.  No contribution is too small; every dollar helps.  Thank you for showing your love for God’s house in this very visible way!

 

The Birth of Hope

God didn’t come to reign over humanity at Athens or Rome or any of the other major cities where one would expect God to arrive, but rather—God came to identify with us by being born in lowly Bethlehem in the form of a vulner-able infant. And God didn’t come to conquer the world with military or political might, but instead—in the scandal, shame, and pain of the cross. So also God continues to come where we least expect God to be….And that’s not all. If we are willing to suspend our expectations and live into the surprising reality of the God we know in Christ, then we are invited to meet God not in some distant eternal life or other-worldly reality but here and now, in the concrete and real need of our neighbors, just as they are invited to meet and be blessed by God….The God we know in Jesus is revealed, that is, not in power but in vulnerability, not in might but brokenness, and not in judgment but in mercy. ~David J. Lose, Nov. 17, 2014.

Lose’s commentary is truly Good News in a world of violence and suffering. Every day we read about or hear about more bad news. The promise of a Messiah, a savior who will save us from calamity, might seem as far-fetched to us as it must have sounded to First Century folks.

The realization that God fulfilled the promise of a savior, not in might but brokenness and not in judgment but in mercy changes all expectations and brings hope to the world. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of hope! Hope changes everything….

Each year hope “shimmers” amid the darkness of fear and doubt. This year it takes, for me, the form of a song, a video from the a cappella group Pentatonix. Their vocal harmony is beautiful, but it’s the words they sing that capture what Jesus’ birth means:

Mary did you know….
The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak.
The praises of The Lamb.

I invite you to find that video on YouTube or Vevo or on our own church’s Facebook page. Listen, enjoy, let hope grow in your heart. Thanks be to God!

~Harrell

Christmas Eve Service

Courtyard Rededication

Sunday, December 21, after worship

The bricklayers have been hard at work, and the Celtic cross with its new memorial bricks will be the centerpiece of our redesigned central courtyard for many years to come. Particularly if you bought one or more bricks to honor your loved ones, you will want to attend this short ceremony to rededicate the area for use in the church’s ministry.

December Fellowship Dinner

Last Call - Holiday High Tea

Saturday, December 13, at 1:00 pm in Swain Hall

There are only a few tickets left for this festive annual affair—if you want one, call Gail Bickel NOW at 623.815.7290.

 

2014 Christmas Cantata is December 21

University of Life in December

December Ladies' Day at Mens' Breakfast Fellowship

Advent Decorating Reminder

Remember, tomorrow is the day we decorate the church for the joyous Advent season.  We will start at 9:00 am in Swain Hall, but show up whenever you can.  Many of the jobs (unpacking decorations, straightening the ribbons on wreaths) can be done sitting down, so don't worry if you can't climb a ladder; we can use all the help we can get.  If you've participated before, you know that the day always includes a lot of fun and fellowship, plus a great lunch.  Please come and help us prepare the church for Christmas!

December Free Movie

Chancel Flower Thanks

Thank you to everyone who signed up to provide flowers in the Sanctuary this year! Because of your generosity, the worship services for the rest of the year have all been provided for.

In addition to contributing to Sunday worship, these flowers are distributed to members of the congregation who are ill or shut-in. Your contributions to this important ministry are greatly appreciated.

Renting or Owning?

Slang – don’t you love it?  Sometimes it’s incomprehensible to everyone past their teens, but occasionally it expresses a concept better than a long, reasoned argument will.  Take the phrase “owning it.”  Until a few years ago, if you owned something – your house, your car, your dog –you possessed the item.  Now, though, the Urban Dictionary says that to own it is “[t]aking pride in what you got.”

Let’s pass over the fact that the definition should read “…in what you have” and think about the concept.  Owning it in this sense doesn’t just apply to real estate and personal property.  Students passing a difficult test with flying colors say they owned it.  Women trying an attractive new personal style are told to own it.  Psychologists exhort patients to own themselves.  To make a short story long, owning it in these contexts means something like: “You possess this [item, characteristic, personal triumph], and worked hard to do that, and because you did, you should be very proud of it and of yourself.”  (Whew.  Own it is a lot easier.)

What does this have to do with us?  Well, author Perry Noble lists this as one of the 10 most important characteristics of growing churches:

The people in the church are OWNERS, not merely “members.” Members have rights, owners have responsibilities. The people in these churches understand that it is not the pastor’s job to minister to the people but rather the body’s job to minister to the body! And as a result people serve Jesus by serving others ...

Last year our church held its first Appreciative Inquiry summit to talk about church growth.  During the planning sessions, however, our focus changed, and we talked instead about how to revitalize our church.

What’s the difference?  Well, growth is mainly about adding warm bodies.  Revitalization, on the other hand, includes growth, but also covers increased participation on every level by existing members.  It’s about MORE – more giving, more sharing, more excitement, more love.  More of the things that we appreciate about our church.  More ownership.

The church’s 50^th anniversary celebration was the first step in this process.  The anniversary worship service, the ice cream social, and the gala dinner all exceeded our expectations and opened up new discussions about our future.  Hosting the Presbytery meeting this spring led to a renewed dedication to maintaining our physical plant.  The ongoing capital improvement project has lifted our spirits as the new paint has been applied, the plumbing and air conditioning issues have been resolved, and new plantings have gone in.  All these things demonstrate what Dr. Miki Kashtan calls “the long arc of commitment.” 

Let’s keep that arc on its trajectory.  This fall, attend a group meeting you wouldn’t ordinarily go to, buy an extra memorial brick for the courtyard, ask a neighbor or friend to come with you to a fellowship dinner or a worship service.  Let’s prove that we’re not just members of this church – we own it!

~Beth Mabee

Prayer Shawl Ministry in November

This ministry appreciates the support of our congregation.  We thank you for your contributions for us to buy yarn.

This month we delivered 73 pieces to the Airman's Attic and 71 pieces to Hospice.  Now we are intent on increasing our supply for our own fellowship needs.

We are now meeting every Monday at 9:30 am in Annex 3. Come crochet or knit with us.

 

Fireside Room Update

During the Appreciating our Campus summit this summer, a suggestion that the Fireside Room be updated was greeted with general applause, and changes to make it more comfortable and versatile are underway. So far the fireplace “bumpout” has been painted and our copy of Salvador Dali’s Crucifixion hung over the fireplace itself. Existing furniture has also been arranged in front of the fireplace in a conversational grouping

The next big change: adding groups of small tables and chairs that can be used for bridge, meetings, and social events The tables have been purchased new; the chairs will be moved from Annex 3 and reupholstered to increase their comfort. The beautiful large table already in place, donated by Evelyn Haas in memory of her husband, will anchor one end of the room and function as a serving or display area.

We are fortunate that the church already owned the artwork, brass accent pieces, and most of the furniture used in this transformation. Designated donations have enabled us to add the new tables, reupholster the chairs (fabric sample, right), and buy attractive accent greenery to finish everything off.

We hope these changes will trigger increased use of the room for small group meetings of all kinds. The work will not be 100% done until the interior painting is completed this spring, but the upholstery work should be finished and the room ready for use well before that!

The Brick Deadline is November 30!

Decorating for Advent

The Journey

Two books arrived on my desk last week reminding me that faith is always and foremost a journey. It’s a journey with a destination. We all have a vivid picture of the journey’s end. The mansion with many rooms Jesus described (John 14: 1-7) is a lovely image. It’s a peaceful and hopeful vision for people who live in a world that’s anything but.

The real task of faith is living and traveling this journey, in the “meantime.” The church exists primarily as a community of travelers sharing each other’s hopes and fears, encouraging and helping one another to live. The church created rituals and symbols to mark the cycles of our lives.

Advent marks the beginning of the church year and lays before us the pathway of faith for the year ahead. Advent initiates once again remembering, retelling, and celebrating the whole drama of God’s revelation. From the book: The Uncluttered Heart, Making Room for God During Advent and Christmas, Beth A. Richardson, Upper Room Books, Nashville TN.

Richardson’s book is a series of spiritual exercises and devotions designed to take readers on the journey through Advent, leading up to Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Richardson writes:

We come hungry to this season of preparation—hungry for words of life, for rituals of preparation, for disciplines to help us on our way……Advent is often the busiest time of the year. And yet, we are called to make time and space to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ…..No matter how busy we may become, God is waiting to break through our endless tasks and distractions to remind us that we are not alone; indeed, God is present with us in every moment.

The other book is a spiritual and literary biography of Fredrick Buechner. Buechner is one of the more important voices in contemporary theology and literature. Buechner’s heroes and heroines are on the same spiritual journey. In their hopes and dreams, triumphs and tragedies, we find encouragement to live our own lives. Buechner and Richardson have discovered what ancient sages and monks learned. Everywhere and always God is with us, near to us and in us…..

In Advent we continue the journey, with authors like Richardson and Buechner. And with one another as we prepare to celebrate God’s presence in the world and in our lives. Remember, retell, celebrate, open your heart; make room for God’s transforming presence. Christ is coming. Christ is coming. Christ is coming! Thanks be to God!

~Harrell

Mission in November

Valley View Food Bank

This year for Thanksgiving, consider sharing your blessings with others through a gift of food to Valley View Community Food Bank. Founded in March 2007, the food bank’s mission “is to serve those in need with compassion and respect while providing the resources for wholesome nutritious food.” Unfortunately, with the holidays approaching, supplies at the food bank are critically low.

According to a recent announcement by founder Jesse Ramirez, Valley View Community Food Bank is two weeks away from running out of canned goods. The food bank serves approximately 300 people a day, so their food stocks may be exhausted before Thanksgiving. Their website reports that their client intake has seen an increase of almost 65% new families and individuals looking for resources and assistance. Ramirez was quoted in the Daily News-Sun as saying, “I’ve had to stop helping out agencies with food since we are running so low on certain items.”

As usual we will be collecting food for Valley View on the first Sunday of the month (November 2), and a box will also be available in Swain Hall for food donations through November 18, the night of this month’s Fellowship Dinner. Any type of canned goods would be helpful; other items the food bank always welcomes include:

• Peanut butter, jelly, jams, pancake syrup
• Cereal, hot and cold
• Bread mixes: pancake, biscuit, cornbread, cake
• Fruit juice
• Baby food, formula, diapers, wipes
• Toiletries: toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, etc.

You can also drop off holiday food donations such as turkeys and mashed potatoes at the food bank yourself; it’s located at 10615 W. Peoria Avenue.

Giving Thanks in a New Way

Paint, plants, irrigation, new brickwork—our love for God’s house is becoming visible!

If you’ve been here for the last month or so, you’ve seen a lot of activity in the courtyard and Memorial Garden. If you haven’t been here, you’re in for a treat when you arrive!

During October, our landscape designer, Kris Coates, worked with donors who designated their gifts for landscaping to finalize the plan for the interior areas of the church grounds. Most of the plants were then purchased at the Desert Botanical Garden’s plant sale or from the Mountain States Wholesale Nursery. Planting and irrigation system changes followed. When the new plants are established, they will require much less water and maintenance than those they replaced while providing more color, fragrance, and textural interest.

While the plants were going in, the fountain and the bricks from the Celtic cross were coming out. Our bricklaying crew carefully removed the old bricks without damaging the concrete on which they were set. The next step is to lay the new pavement, starting with concrete around the perimeter and then the memorial bricks.

Which brings us to an important question: have you purchased your memorial brick(s) yet? If not, this November is a great time to give thanks for your blessings with more than just another turkey dinner.

We’ve been referring to “memorial bricks,” but that doesn’t mean you can only buy them to remember a loved one who has died. You can also have your bricks engraved to honor a living friend or mentor, or to celebrate your marriage, your children, or your grandchildren. Short quotations, favorite Bible verses, good wishes or thanks—Striking Stone can engrave them all. Just keep your message to three lines per brick with a maximum of 15 characters (including spaces) per line.

Each brick, in addition to serving as a lasting tribute to someone or something special, will help to defray the costs of keeping the church in good repair and to establish a maintenance fund for the future.

Honor your loved ones and God’s house at the same time!

Call or stop by the church office to place your order, and help us fill the courtyard cross with beautiful memories.

Presbyterian Women in November

Presbyterian Women are busy, back at Gatherings and enjoying fellowship with each other after the summer break. We had a luncheon and Gathering on October 22nd. The food was delicious and our speaker, Joan Fenton from PWP, gave an informative program on domestic violence and its effects on women and children. We welcomed three new guests and hope they will return.

A very special “thank you” to Marge Hagerman for putting together our PW Directory for 2014-2015. It is greatly appreciated by PW.

The Fall Gathering for Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery (Grand Canyon) was held on October 11th at Sunnyslope Presbyterian Church in Phoenix. It was attended by six women from our church. There were three workshops and the speaker was Patti Luttrell from Children’s Cancer Network.

Just Coffee: Caffeine with a Conscience will be sold on Sundays during Fellowship Hour. Regular and decaffeinated will be available. Here is your opportunity to enjoy an exceptional cup of coffee and support the vision of the Café Justo Cooperative.

COMING UP:

• CT Meeting on Wednesday, November 12th, at 11:00 am. Officers, Coordinators, and Circle Leaders, please plan to attend. We will meet in Annex 2.
• There is no Gathering in November.
• Are you teaching a Lesson in our Bible Study on Paul? Are you interested in having more information on Paul and 1 & 2 Corinthians? Here is your chance. Meet with Pastor Harrell Davis on Thursday, November 6th, at 10:30 am. We did this last year and it was very valuable and we gained further insight. Come and see!!
• November 7th is World Community Day for Church Women United. Rev. Beverly Phillips will be the speaker. The location will be the Salvation Army Church, 17420 N. Avenue of the Arts, Surprise (off 114th Avenue and Bell Road).

Please continue to keep each other in prayer. Especially pray for those who are ill at this time and for those with special needs.

Blessings to all,

~Diane Nestlebush, Moderator

November University of Life

Bible Study on the Book of Acts

The Birthday of the Church

During the month of November, the Rev. Dr. David Glenn Walker will be leading a study of the Book of Acts.  This will be held on Thursdays, November 6th , 13th and 20th from 1:30 - 3:00 pm in Swain Hall. (Thanksgiving is November 27 so there will not be a class .)  Please bring your own Bible so you can take notes.

The Book of Acts talks about the beginning of the Christian Church and who is responsible for its creation.  Acts is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke.  Luke  shows that what Jesus began he continued after the resurrection though the Holy  Spirit .  Acts begins with the followers of Jesus being filled with the power of God and preaching the Good News so effectively that thousands responded and the word was never the same.

Many in and outside the church today believe we are in "the last days" and the church is irrelevant.  Come to the University of Life and read in the Scriptures of the Good News about the church.

University of Life welcomes anyone interested in discovering more about God's word, yourself, and the challenges of living in today's world.  The time and day of University of Life has changed from Friday mornings to Thursday afternoon at 1:30, but the programs are still the same interesting, enlightening discussions meant to increase understanding and broaden your personal faith.  Come spend a relaxed, fulfilling hour at University of Life and bring a friend.

 

November in the Library

If you missed the open house in the church library on October 26, you also missed some great brownies - but it's not too late to meet new head librarian Carol Maxwell, or to browse through our wide selection of books.  In addition to after worship on Sundays, the library will now be open on Wednesday afternoons while the bridge club is meeting in the Fireside Room.  The side door closest to the library will be unlocked, so you won't have to disturb the card players to check out a book.

Celebrating Veterans Day

Veterans Day this year is Tuesday, November 11th, but we will celebrate it on Sunday, November 9th.  Please contact Tina Trowbridge if you have service memorabilia we can display.  She suggests wearing red, white, and blue to church in honor of the holiday.

We will also collect aged American flags that day and take them to the American Legion to be burned, so if you have a worn-out flag, bring it to Swain Hall on the 9th and we will see that it is honorably retired.

Tea Time

It's tea time again - high tea! 

Would you like to host a table?  Help in the kitchen?  Make sandwiches or cookies?  Be a server?  We will need your help!  Call Gail Bickel (623.815.7290) or Tina Trowbridge (623.910.4231) to volunteer.

November Fellowship Dinner

TUESDAY, November 18 (please note the new date!)
5:00 pm in Swain Hall

Join us for a turkey dinner with all the trimmings and our own Great Bells of Fire handbell choir, and bring a Thanksgiving donation for Valley View Food Bank!  Sign up at the church office or in Swain Hall following worship for dinner or to help with preparations or cleanup.  Your freewill offering will support this and our other fellowship evenings.

And mark your calendar for these future fellowship events:

W Wednesday, December 17—Christmas ham and the seasonal sounds of the Desert Belles

W Wednesday, January 21—Hot soup and a speaker from the Arizona Humane Society

W Tuesday, February 17—Shrove Tuesday pancakes and Ed Fletcher on the organ

PLEASE NOTE: If you sign up to eat and aren’t able to come, be sure to call and let us know you won’t be there.  We prepare food based on the number of probable attendees, and last month 20 people who reserved spots for the pizza party didn’t show.  That puts a serious strain on our fellowship budget!

Meet Striking Stone

Tomorrow (Sunday, October 26), Oakley and Liseanne from Striking Stone will be visiting Fellowship Hour in Swain Hall after worship.  Striking Stone is the company that will be engraving the memorial bricks to fill the Celtic cross in our courtyard.  Meet Oakley and Liseanne and learn about some of their previous engraving projects.  They will be helping us to fill the courtyard cross with beautiful memories.

Have you bought your memorial brick(s)?

Library Open House on Sunday

Stop by the church library after worship on Sunday for brownies and the chance to meet new head librarian Carol Maxwell!  We have books for everyone, and they're easy to borrow - if you're not already familiar with the library, check it out

November SPIRE deadline is Monday!

The deadline for articles to be printed in The SPIRE newlsetter for November is Monday, October 27.  Please submit your information to Beth Mabee in the church office or (or email it to her at bethm@firstpressuncity.org) by the end of the day.

Demo Day

The fountain has been taken down and the damaged bricks in the courtyard's Celtic cross are being removed to make way for the new engraved memorial bricks.

Brick removal in process

If you haven't bought your memorial brick(s) yet, contact Norma in the church office at 623-974-3506!

The Courtyard Planting Begins!

On Friday, the last of the old plants were removed from the courtyard and Memorial Garden areas.  The sago palms, which had been receiving too much sun, were transplanted to shadier locations.  The other planting beds received new plants that will require less water and less maintenance than the ones they are replacing.