More than "Just Coffee"

Starting this fall, our PW group will be sponsoring the sales of "Just Coffee."

Cafe Justo began as a way to provide living opportunities to the coffee growers of Salvador Urbina.  They provide the training and resources needed for farmers to create and maintain a sustainable, small-scale, international coffee company, shifting the profits from large international companies to the members of the cooperative.

To learn more about Cafe Justo, visit their website at http://www.justcoffee.org.  To learn more about how to buy Just Coffee from our Presbyterian Women, watch this space!

June 1 is "First Sunday"

Next Sunday, June 1, is “First Sunday,” so don’t forget to bring something for the Valley View Food Drive.  Suggested contributions include:

·         All soups and chunky soups

·         Canned meats: fish, tuna, chicken, beef hash, potted meat, Sloppy Joe

·         Peanut butter, jelly, jams, pancake syrup

·         Cereal, hot and cold

·         Bread mixes: pancake, biscuit, cornbread, cake

·         Canned vegetables: greens, mixed, corn, peas, etc.

·         Canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste

·         Canned beans: chili, pork, pinto, refried, ranch, lima, butter, kidney, black-eyed

·         Fruit: canned or juice

·         Baby food, formula, diapers, wipes

·         Toiletries: toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, etc.

 

Photos of Ballet Folklorico Santa Maria

Here are a few of the pictures from our May Fellowship Fiesta:

Women's Ministry in June

Summer is approaching. Many of our good friends have headed north to their “other homes”. We wish them a safe journey and look forward to their return. Our Circles have had their last meetings and we finished our Bible Study, An Abiding Hope, The Presence of God in Exodus and Deuteronomy. We enjoyed this study and it generated good discussions.

Speaking of Bible Study, we will start a new study in September. It will be Reconciling Paul: A Contemporary Study of 2 Corinthians. A few of us went to the Overview Presentation in April and this promises to be a fresh look at Paul. By reading 1 and 2 Corinthians this summer you can get a head start!

Our first gathering in the fall will be September 24th. It will be a Continental Breakfast. The program will be special. We will have Rev. Bev Phillips lead us in Lesson 1 of our Bible Study. By doing our first lesson together we will all be ready to do Lesson 2 in our Circles in October.

 In the fall we will be sponsoring the sales of “Just Coffee”. The coffee will be sold during the fellowship hour on designated Sundays. We are glad to have this opportunity. We will have more information on this project when is gets closer to the time of sales.

As the days get warmer (hot!!) it is a good time to check out the PW Bookcart in Swain Hall. I would like to preview the new books, a couple at a time.

FICTION
The author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns has written this new novel, And The Mountains Echoed. The book is about family relationships: how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations. The story begins in an Afghan village and follows the family members from Kabul, to Paris, to San Francisco, to the Greek Island of Tinos. It becomes more emotionally complex and powerful with each page.

 NONFICTION
 Refuse to Do Nothing: Finding Your Way to Abolish Modern Day Slavery, Shayne Moore and Kimberley McOwen Yim. Slavery never ended. It just went underground, where it continues to exploit powerless men, women and children in horrific ways throughout the world. Now for the good news: you have the power. The authors share things they have done and that you can do.

There are no PW activities planned for the months of June, July and August. Let’s stay connected to each other on a one-to-one basis and through our church activities. Continue to pray for each other and experience renewal so that when we come together in the fall we will be ready for Bible Study and the fun and interesting programs that are planned for us.

Blessings to all,  
Diane Nestlebush, Moderator

Free Blood Pressure Checks

Remember, this will be the fourth Sunday of the month, so free blood pressure checks will be available in the rear of Swain Hall during Fellowship at 10:00 am, following the 9:00 worship service.  We hope to see you there!

Summer Office Hours Start June 2

The church office will be closing earlier during June, July, August, and September.  Our summer office hours are:

Monday - Wednesday: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am to noon
Friday: office closed

May Mission Corner

Justa Center

Justa Center is here for seniors.  We are blessed for not having to use their services and belssed again that we can help support those who do.

Scott Richards started the center in December of 2006; it is the only one of its kind for homeless individuals in the US, caring for those with problems that created their homelessness, which can include medical (physical, mental and emotional) problems.  They give the people the help they need to become self-dependent.  The support is for those 55 years of age or older.

Justa Center hosted two events in May to raise funds, their first annual Golf Tournament on May 10 and the Culinary Caravan on May 16.

For more information on Justa Center, visit their website at http://www.justacenter.org.  While on the site, click on the News heading and see Scott on the PBS network show Horizon.

~Gene Downing

Retirement News

Wednesday, April 30, was Marge Hagerman's last day in the office, and Carol Arseth, R.N., is retiring as our church nurse at the end of May.

Church staff, l to r: Marge Hagerman, Norma Mack, Rev. Harrell Davis, Carol Arseth, Beth Mabee

We are grateful for their dedicated service over the years, and hope they will enjoy their free time!

The View from Above

Did you know that the brick pattern surrounding the fountain in our courtyard is in the form of a Celtic cross?  You can see all but the very top of it in this Google Earth aerial photo.  Thanks to Bill Wentling for pointing this out!

In Joy and Awe

"The most beautiful and profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the source of all true science….
“To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, this knowledge, this feeling, is the center of true religion.
“Science without religion is lame…religion without science is blind.”
~Albert Einstein.

Einstein was, arguably, the most influential thinker of the last century. His theorems and postulates paved the way for space travel. His ideas inspired a new generation of thinkers and now we live in a world of cell phones and computers and nuclear submarines.

The everyday of today was scarcely a dream in the 1920’s when Einstein won the Nobel Prize in physics. But his most important contribution—in my opinion—was his reverence for the mysterious. Einstein knew there are limits to human know-ledge, but that reality didn’t disturb him. His declaration that imagination is more important than knowledge gives us the encouragement to hold a cell phone in one hand and our bible in the other.

According to Matthew, two women made their way to Jesus’ tomb three days after his execution. It was early morning. As they neared the tomb an earthquake shook the ground. The stone covering the entrance to the tomb rolled away. The Roman guards stationed there fell to the ground terrified. An angel, descended from heaven, spoke to the women: “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him….’”

“He has been raised from the dead….” The post-Easter proclamation is the essence of Christian faith. “He is not here…he has been raised….” The women, in joy and terror ran to tell the disciples. And the world has not been the same since. We still tell that story today with a mixture of joy and awe over the mysterious.

We live in a post-Modern world, a technological age. There are limits to our knowledge. We live in a post-Easter age. And there are no limits to what God will accomplish with us and through us, “on earth as it is in heaven.” Go quickly then, in joy and awe. Declare the Good News. “He has been raised from the dead,” the world and all things in it are changed! Thanks be to God!

~Harrell

Mother's Day Photos

This year our Mother's Day worship service featured the "Great Bells of Fire" handbell choir in their last scheduled performance until fall, and ladies in hats!

 

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....