april newsletter 2015

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FOUNTAIN HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN TOUCH Fountain Hills, AZ April 2015 From Ken Brown, Pastoral Associate He Made Sure They Were Sure! Men have preached a lie, know- ing it’s a lie if, in preaching it, they have put gold in their pockets. Men have preached a lie, know- ing it’s a lie, if when preaching it, they have achieved power and authority. But men do not preach a lie, knowing it’s a lie, if every time they preach it, they are courting imprisonment, persecution, poverty and death. Men do not preach a lie, knowing it’s a lie, if every time they preach it, they are pounding nails in their caskets. Men do not preach a lie, knowing it’s a lie, if it means that they will be crucified upside down as was Peter, or that they will be beheaded as was Paul, or that they will be stoned to death as was Stephen. It is contrary to all human experience for men to go out and spend their lives preaching a lie, knowing it’s a lie, if every time they preach it, they are ostracized from the community, hounded by the authorities and turned into the laughing- stock of society. And yet that is precisely the penalty the early Christians paid for preaching the resurrection. It is because they were abso- lutely convinced that they were preaching a fact ‑‑ that they had seen him, touched him, talked with him, eaten with him, and had been taught the Scriptures by Him after He arose . It is because they were so convinced, they went out across the Roman Empire and preached it and sealed their witness with their blood. Yet, a thoroughly-modern-Millie Bible scholar boasted un- apologetically, “If you say that Jesus rose from the dead biologically, you would have to presuppose that a decaying corpse— which is already cold and without blood in its brain—could be made alive again. I think that is nonsense.” That’s funny (not funny “ha-ha,” but funny, “Whoa!”) be- cause that’s exactly what the apostles concluded when they got the initial report of Jesus’ resurrection. When the women came from the empty tomb and announced that Je- sus had risen, “these words appeared to them as NON- SENSE, and they would not believe them” (Luke 24:11). Surprise! The apostles were 1 st century skeptics, which is not the way many moderns and post-moderns think of them. So many sophisticated 21 st century skeptics think those 1 st century “morons,” like the apostles, expected granny to rise from the dead every Tuesday afternoon for tea. “If they had a brain cell,” these 21 st century elitists suspect, “it would have died of loneliness. They weren’t smart enough to be a spellchecker at an M & M factory.” But that isn’t fair . . . and it isn’t true! Those early faith-less followers of Jesus didn’t line up outside the tomb waiting for Jesus to walk out alive. Their response was Scrooge- like: “Bah, humbug!” They needed proof. Hard-core proof! Which is what they got! “To these He also presented Him- self alive after His suffering, by MANY CONVINCING proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Undoubtedly that's why Will Durant in his history of the world says, "However you may explain it, those early apos- tles were convinced themselves that the resurrection was a fact." FHPC VISION & MISSION STAMENTS Our Vision: Living God’s love. calls us to . . . Our Mission : Reach out to all with faith and love.

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  • FOUNTAIN HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

    IN TOUCH

    Fountain Hills, AZ April 2015

    From Ken Brown, Pastoral Associate

    He Made Sure They Were Sure!

    Men have preached a lie, know-ing its a lie if, in preaching it, they have put gold in their pockets.

    Men have preached a lie, know-ing its a lie, if when preaching it, they have achieved power and authority.

    But men do not preach a lie, knowing its a lie, if every time they preach it, they are courting imprisonment, persecution, poverty and death.

    Men do not preach a lie, knowing its a lie, if every time they preach it, they are pounding nails in their caskets.

    Men do not preach a lie, knowing its a lie, if it means that they will be crucified upside down as was Peter, or that they will be beheaded as was Paul, or that they will be stoned to death as was Stephen.

    It is contrary to all human experience for men to go out and spend their lives preaching a lie, knowing its a lie, if every time they preach it, they are ostracized from the community, hounded by the authorities and turned into the laughing-stock of society.

    And yet that is precisely the penalty the early Christians paid for preaching the resurrection. It is because they were abso-lutely convinced that they were preaching a fact that they

    had seen him, touched him, talked with him, eaten with him, and had been taught the Scriptures by Him after He arose . It is because they were so convinced, they went out across the Roman Empire and preached it and sealed their witness with their blood.

    Yet, a thoroughly-modern-Millie Bible scholar boasted un-apologetically,

    If you say that Jesus rose from the dead biologically, you would have to presuppose that a decaying corpsewhich is already cold and without blood in its braincould be made alive again. I think that is nonsense.

    Thats funny (not funny ha-ha, but funny, Whoa!) be-cause thats exactly what the apostles concluded when they got the initial report of Jesus resurrection. When the women came from the empty tomb and announced that Je-sus had risen, these words appeared to them as NON-SENSE, and they would not believe them (Luke 24:11).

    Surprise! The apostles were 1st century skeptics, which is not the way many moderns and post-moderns think of them. So many sophisticated 21st century skeptics think those 1st century morons, like the apostles, expected granny to rise from the dead every Tuesday afternoon for tea. If they had a brain cell, these 21st century elitists suspect, it would have died of loneliness. They werent smart enough to be a spellchecker at an M & M factory.

    But that isnt fair . . . and it isnt true! Those early faith-less followers of Jesus didnt line up outside the tomb waiting for Jesus to walk out alive. Their response was Scrooge-like: Bah, humbug! They needed proof. Hard-core proof!

    Which is what they got! To these He also presented Him-self alive after His suffering, by MANY CONVINCING proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).

    Undoubtedly that's why Will Durant in his history of the world says, "However you may explain it, those early apos-tles were convinced themselves that the resurrection was a fact."

    FHPC VISION & MISSION STAMENTS

    Our Vision: Living Gods love.

    calls us to . . .

    Our Mission : Reach out to all with faith and love.

  • In Touch page 2

    On the Inside: From Ken Brown, Pastoral Associate . . . .. . . . .. .. .. . Focus on Finance .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. . Holy Week Schedule .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. Update on Community Straw Poll .. . . .. .. .. .. . . . . . Mission Ministry . . . . . .. .. .. .. . . . .. . . . . .. . . . Happy Birthday Party .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . . . .. Presbyterian Women .. .. .. . .. . . . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. Out n About... .. .. .. . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . . . . . .. .. . Hooked on Books .. .. . .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. PW Education Grant .. . . .. .. .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . Facebook .. .. . . .. .. .. .. . . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Members .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. Easter Brunch Invite .. .. . .. . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy Fortune at FHPC . .. . . . . . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . . Jeff Dayton at FHPC. .. .. . . . .. .. .. . . . . . . Christian Formation .. . .. . .. .. .. .. . .. . . . . .. . .. . . . .. . From the Director of Christian Formation .. . . . . . . . . . PW Reading List 2015-2016 .. . .. . .. .. .. . . .. . . Gifts of Women Sunday .. .. .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. .. FHPC Foundation.. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . Library Footnotes.. .. . .. . . . . . Music Ministry .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . .. Tablecloths??? .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. . . . . .. .. . .. Member Spotlight...Did you Know? .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . ... Necrology for 2015 .. .. . . .. .. . .. . . .. . . . April Birthdays .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. Gifts of Women Sunday . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .

    1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 8 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 15 16 17 17 18 19 19 20

    OUR CHURCH STAFF

    Rev. Bill Good Pastor/Head of Staff

    Rev. Stan Jones Parish Associate

    Pastor Ken Brown Pastoral Associate

    Debby DeBernardi Director Christian Formation

    Marta Ludwig Administrative Coordinator

    Debbie Fisher Director of Music Ministry

    Dorothy Parris Pianist

    Caryl Bates Organist

    Lynn Medley Custodian

    CHURCH TREASURER Linda Lull

    CHURCH SESSION Class of 2015

    John Brockelman Helen Quigley Terri Schmidt Chris Young

    Class of 2016 Sally Atchinson

    Bob Lull John Skewes

    Arlene Stewart Class of 2017

    Mary Alice Bivens Bonnie Hollabaugh

    Aleyne Larsen-Craig Helen Roesch

    Ron Waldo

    BOARD OF DEACONS Moderator: Nancy Wulfmeier

    Class of 2015 Ben Fast

    Jack Morris Ruby Pearson Bev Watters

    Class of 2016 Suzie McCready Dorothy Rudack

    Donna Sims Nancy Wulfmeier

    Class of 2017 Michele Hasley

    Mary Lee Lehrich Cynthia Linton Linda Warren

    ******

    Focus on Finance

    February Income came in much stronger, making up for a slow start in January. We are now $2,468 short of making the budget year to date. Expenses are currently below budget which also helps offset the shortfall from January. The next several months will be important to keeping up our commitments to FHPC

    Respectfully, Linda Lull, Treasurer

    Feb. Income $ 45,627 Budget $ 40,925 Feb. Expense $ 33,555 Budget $ 34,548

    Yr to date Income $ 83,082 Budget $ 85,550 Yr to date Expense $ 72,481 Budget $ 77,626

  • page 3 April, 2015

    Holy Week Schedule

    Maundy Thursday April 2 7 p.m.

    Good Friday, April 3 Noon 1:00 p.m. At Mountain View Presbyterian Church

    Easter Saturday, April 4 7 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter

    Easter April 5 9 a.m. & 11:15 a.m.

    The Answer is Easter

    After the April 2013 suicide of his 27- year -old son, Matthew, pastor and author Rick Warren was often asked how he was able to keep going. His frequent reply? The answer is Easter. In the Easter sermons Warren preached the follow-ing year, he emphasized that Jesus resurrection is the answer to discouragement, defeat and devastat-ing trials. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus happened over three days, Warren ex-plained. Friday was the day of suffering and pain and agony. Saturday was the day of doubt and confusion and misery. But Easter, that Sunday, was the day of hope and joy and victory. You will face these three days over and over and over in your lifetime. And when you do, youll find yourself asking, as I did, three fundamental ques-tions. Number one, what do I do in my days of pain? Two, how do I get through my days of doubt and confusion? Three, how do I get to the days of joy and victory? The answer is Easter. -The Newsletter Newsletter by Communication Resources, Inc

    UPDATE ON COMMUNITY STRAW POLL

    We have all invested much time in this process over the past six months. I thank you for your patience. The Straw Poll was more than numbers and a simple yes or no. The total was two thirds in favor of continuing the discussion. We also received many thoughtful comments which we need to prayerfully consider. Your Session is do-ing that and will have a report by the next In Touch.

    Thank you and please pray for our church.

    John Brockelman Clerk of Session

  • page 5 November 2012

    Helping others requires an invest-ment in time and energy. We start by praying for them and asking the Lord how we can help. He may have us lend emotional support, provide spiritual guidance, offer assistance in a physical or financial way, or find others who can. Standing beside these people will encourage them, sometimes to do great things. Look at the all the people God has called upon in the Bible who were mere servants or poor people who had

    little but the clothes on their backs. He called many to step up, and lead his people out of trouble or to protect them. That is why we, in the Mission Ministry, try so hard to help those less fortunate, who knows what great things these people might do if they just had a chance. So many people have been asked by God to go forth and minister to those who are in need; that includes the word as well as physical help with food and medical supplies and physical labor. Please come and join us in our journey to help others. Here are a few of the things we are doing.

    Blankets Plus I apologize for last months newsletter and not having the total of money collected for this project. This was a slight over-sight and now (drum roll, please) the total collected was $3,158.00. That is almost $700.00 more than last years $2,498.00. We think this is the most collected by our Church to date. YEAH!!!

    Food for Kidz Well thank you to all who so generously gave of your time to meet at the Community Center on March 12th. We had a great time joining with other Churches, and Civic Organiza-tions to pack bulk food into family serving sizes. These packs then were packed into boxes and will be sent to places like Africa, Haiti and places where there are poor. Thank you to those who donated money for this worthy cause. It was used to purchase more bulk food and supplies.

    In Touch page 4

    Mission Ministry

    Terri Schmidt, Elder

    Easter for the kids at Changing Lives Center We will be purchasing Easter gifts for the chil-dren down at the Changing Lives Center in downtown Phoenix again this year. As you may remember this is one of our more frequent and joyous projects. We love to be able to give these children and women a little bit of normal holiday fun. They are always so appreciative. We will update you on the results in the next newsletter.

    Extended Hands Food Bank Thank you to Linda Warren, Susan Owens, Susan Lickman, Vivian Virden, John and Cindy Sheely for helping serve on March 6th. Thank you also to Nancy

    Wulfmeier and Susan Titus for stopping by and offering help. They had to close the doors early because they ran out of fish. This has become quite the Friday Hot Spot on the first and third Fridays of the month. We pur-chased some Lenten place mats for the tables to be used during Lent. They seemed to be en-joyed by the people. They ex-plained Lent and had a few jokes so people could laugh and enjoy their dinners. Thank you to all who continue to bring in non perishable and canned food each Sunday. This food and the money from the Fish Fry help so many local people who are in need.

    National Day of Prayer The month of April has been set aside to pray for Family. We pray for the Unity and Love individual family units have that they may reach out in hospitality towards others. To re-establish relationships between parents and children, brothers and sisters. We pray for a return of family values, that serves a nation as a whole, and return to the biblical mandate training their children at

    home in the fear of the Lord and not leave the responsi-bility to others. We ask that you join us in praying for Family this month and then join us on May 7th at Fountain Park for the National Day of Prayer, where we can pray in unity as a Church, Town, State, and Nation.

    Food for Kidz

  • In Touch page 4 page 5 April, 2015

    Mission Ministry Please feel free to join us in our Mission work. We are striving to bring new and different projects to the Church. If you know of a project or would like to have us look into one, please contact Terri Schmidt or Bonnie Hollabaugh, our Mission Elders. We welcome all who would like to attend our meetings. They are the 2nd Monday of the month at 4:00pm in the conference room. Now as I close, I want to leave you with this. P is for Praise, thanking God for what he has already accom-plished through Jesus Christ. R is for Repent, confessing your sins and shortcomings, both personally and for our Na-tion. A is for Asking God to reveal the truth and to turn our hearts back to him and to bring healing. Y is for Yielding to the Lord and recognizing that he has heard our prayers and will answer according to his will. He will pro-vide guidance and direction to those who ask.

    Thank you to all of you who so generously give of your time, talents and money.

    Terri Schmidt Bonnie Hollabaugh

    SUPPORT OUR TROOPS/VETERANS

    Easter cards were sent out to all our Church-connected mili-tary, with each card holding several hand-written notes from our Deacons and I know that each and every one was really, really enjoyed by the recipient. Focus for the next few months will be our Veterans, whether at the VA Medical Center, the VA Home or MANA House (which totally helps our homeless Veterans). There are two boxes for your donations located at Church; one in the Nar-thex and one in the Fellowship Center. If you can, items most needed for the upcoming summer months would be socks, t-shirts (sizes L, XL, XXL) and as usual, collecting toiletries, magazines, books, etc., continues year-round. Any questions, please just ask me.

    Donna Sims, Deacon

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARTY

  • page 7 December 2011

    Presbyterian Women Coordinating Team for 2014-2015 Moderator: Maurene Gerson Mission Coordinator: Mary Alice Bivens Vice-Moderator : Linda Capon Librarian: Barbara Oakeson Secretary: Bonnie Matty Membership/Yearbook Coordinator: Linda Warren Treasurer: Maria Berry Bible Study Coordinator: Evelyn Hrunek Publicity: Sally Atchinson Search Committee: Ilene Berg

    Morning Circle Leader: Suzie McCready Evening Circle Leader: Judy Irvin Afternoon Circle Leader: Martha Baxter Historian: Office Angels Hooked on Books Leader: Jan Hoff Out n About Leader: Nancy Wulfmeier

    Presbyterian Women

    In Touch page 6

    APRIL DATES

    April 2 9:00 a.m. Coordinating Team Meeting, Adult Center, FHPC April 7 1:00 p.m. Afternoon Circle at Fountain View Village April 9 9:00 a.m. Morning Circle, Adult Center, FHPC April 11 11:00 a.m. PW SPRING GATHERING (tickets required) Fellowship Center April 15 9:30 a.m. Hooked On Books (see box for details) April 20 7:00 p.m. Evening Circle, home of Jean Schopbach

    Our BIG event for this month, of course, is the Spring Tea & Fash-ion Show so I hope you got your ticket and are ready for a real treat. There will be music by Bill Covault and a four course menu of tea sand-wiches, quiche, fruit tarts, mousse

    cups, scones, petit fours, cream puffs and a tea selection all pre-pared by our own Mary Carillo who is a pastry chef at The Boul-ders in Carefree, a Waldorf Astoria Resort. A portion of each ticket price will be given to the Changing Lives Center of the Phoenix Rescue Mission which is a faith based or-ganization and requires a one year commitment of each resident

    ~~~~~~~~~~~

    After this month we begin to miss each other as many of us travel to other parts of the country to spend some time with fam-ily and friends in other locations as the weather improves. We wish you safe travelling and naturally a safe return to us. Many of us use a GPS to provide guidance in our travels. This is espe-cially true when finding an unfamiliar location.

    Since the future is always uncertain and we live our lives in Gods care trusting Him to lead, to help and provide what is needed, Id like to suggest a new guidance system called GJS, God, Jesus and Spirit. With this triune leadership we wont get lost for sure and we dont have to worry about misdirection.

    Your PW leadership is already busy planning for next year, updating the Presbyterian Womens Directory and establishing

    dates for next years programming and gatherings. There will be leadership openings so please express your interests in joining the leadership team to Ilene Berg, who is Chair of the Search Committee (480-837-3771) or Maureen Gerson (480-837-7843), who is our Moderator. We need you and you might love to be more involved with us. The fellowship and support of other Christian women really is special, and working together deepens that experience be-yond just attending functions.

    I want to thank all of you who helped and partici-pated in our activities during this program year in our specific PW activities, in our mission projects, in Fellowship Hall service, ushering, ticket selling, making posters, writing articles, baking, packing lunches, taking responsibility for devotions and les-sons, serving dinners at the Food Bank, buying gifts at Christmas, filling Easter bas-kets, carting clothes to Silo and so many other unseen acts of kind-ness and caring for others. It is recognized that so many of you also show up for needs through-out the community of Fountain Hills.

    Sally Atchinson

  • HOOKED ON BOOKS

    Hooked on Books will meet on Wednesday, April 15th. at 9:30 AM in the home of Susan Titus. Leanne Reynolds will review The Dovekeep-ers, a novel based on the Jewish resistance dur-ing the Roman siege of Masada. Books you no longer want may be brought for the Book Exchange. For further information contact Jan Hoff (480-836-7551).

    page 7 April, 2015

    Out n AboutOut to Lunch

    Out'n About will be going to Laura's Place at noon on April 15, 2015. It is lo-cated at 16758 E. Glenbrook Blvd., Foun-tain Hills. We will order from the menu and receive separate checks. Please call Nancy Wulfmeier for reservations.... 837-3021

    Gifts of Women Sunday

    FHPC Womens Chorus

    Its Time to Spring Clean! Look through your closet, gals!

    Gather what you wont wear any more!

    The Clothes Silo needs your give a-ways. Presbyterian Women are again collecting gently used womens clothing for the bene-fit of the Clothes Silo.

    This project benefits women who need a fresh look as they pre-pare to enter the work force after a time of hardship, crisis and unemployment.

    WHEN: Friday, April, 17, 2015 WHERE: FHPC Adult Center Parking Lot TIME: Drop off - 9:30am - 11:30am Your gently used clean clothes may be on hangers or in bags. Purses, hand bags & accessories and the like may be included. Just know all useful items are welcome. Also, mens clothing is now welcome!

  • FACEBOOK PAGE: Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church

    Go to our website and click on Facebook on our home page. When you are there also click on the like it icon. When you do that you will get news feeds directly from our site whenever anything new is added. It is just an-other way to stay connected.

    Not Yet A Member? *If you are attending our church and dont have membership in another church, you can join our church by profession

    of faith and receiving the Sacrament of Baptism or, if youve already been baptized, you can join by reaffirmation of faith in Jesus Christ. *If you belong to another church, but would like to transfer your membership to our church, we can arrange for a letter of transfer from your current membership church to ours. *If you are a winter visitor and are an active member of another church back home, you can become an affiliate member at our church here and maintain your full active membership there.

    For additional information, please contact Aleyne Larsen-Craig at 602-625-6201, Sally Atchinson at 480-837-1054 or call the church office at 480-837-1763.

    Sally Atchinson & Aleyne Larsen-Craig

    In Touch page 8

    PW Education Grant

    Provided by: P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education Maximum Amount: $3000.00

    REQUIREMENTS: Female who is a citizen of the United States. Will be studying and living in the US or Canada for the entire course of study. Has had a minimum of one span, at least 24 consecutive months, in length in her adult life when not en-

    rolled in any type of higher education programs. Is not requesting a grant for use in a doctoral degree program. Is accepted and/or enrolled in a certification or degree program that will lead to employment or job ad-

    vancement in her chosen field. Will be within 24 months of completing the final planned educational program at the beginning of the

    term for which the grant is requested. Grant can be used only for educational expenses such as tuition, books and supplies, childcare, etc.

    IF INTERESTED, PLEASE CONTACT: Karren Bogle: [email protected] Kathleen Steinbach: [email protected]

  • page 9 April, 2015

    Fry's Community Rewards Program The more our church family shops at Fry's, the more mone-tary support our church will have. Won't you consider regis-tering to allow Fry's to donate a portion of your grocery expenditures to our church programs?

    Register for the Fry's Community Rewards Program Go to https://www.frysfood.com/topic/community?activePage=community-rewards-2 make sure you enter the whole address to visit the Fry's web page. If you already have an account online, select Sign In at the top right of the page. Enter your email and password then click Sign In. If you don't already have an account on line: click Register at the top right of the page. - Fill in the required fields, (be sure to write down your password). - Enter your zip code to find your preferred store. From the drop-down menu below Find Store, select your store. Now click Create an Account. - You must sign up for a V.I.P. card to sign up for the Community Rewards Program - Check your email for a confirmation, click the hyperlink in your email, and finish creating your account. - In your account, enroll for Community Re wards program, using the new FHPC organization #84123

    How can you help? How grandchildren perceive their grandparents

    11. Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked. "Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."

    12. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one child. "No," said another. "He's just for good luck.." A third child brought the argument to a close."They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."

    13. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."

    14. Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!

    15. My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over, you hear gas leaks and they blame their dog.

    ...The End...

    POST - EASTER BRUNCH

    You are invited:

    FHPC POST-EASTER BRUNCH April 12, 2015

    10:00 AM Fellowship Center

    To allow our Hilltop Hospitality Committee the chance to enjoy all of Easter Sunday with their

    families, we are planning our Special Easter Brunch on the

    following Sunday.

    Congratulations to Michele and Andy Hasley on their 20th Wedding Anniversary!

  • home by another way 11:15am service

    In Touch page 8 In Touch page 10

    Bill and Linda Covault graciously invited

    Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers to sing at the second service. There were over one

    hundred people at the service.

  • Family Gathering Area

    page 11 April, 2015

    Left to right: Dieter Ludwig, George Holtan, Bob Lull, Art Spal-

    ding and Bob Titus working (?) together to spruce up the Family

    Gathering Area. There will be new plantings and paths and patio and table and

    benches in the area. We hope the work will be complete

    by Easter Sunday.

    home by another way 11:15 service

    Jeff Dayton joined Pastor Ken Brown during the 11:15 am service on Sunday, March 22. Together they presented the sermon in tan-dem.

  • Christian Formation

    In Touch page 12

    Christian Formation Opportunities:

    Sundays 10:15 AM Sabbath Day Bible Study 10:15 AM Elementary Life with God 11:15 AM Blessed Beginnings Nursery 11:15 AM Preschool Life with God

    Wednesdays Pastors Brown Bag Bible Study 12:00 PM Wednesdays

    The Way on Wednesdays 5:00 PM Elementary Big God Story 5:45 PM Community Meal 6:30 PM The Way (Bible Study)

    Celebration Youth Rehearsal 3:45 PM on Wednesdays

    Committed Youth Band 5:00 PM on Wednesdays

    Womens Bible Study Circles (Sept thru May) 9:00 AM 2nd Thursday 1:00 PM 1st Tuesday 7:00 PM 3rd Monday

    Mens Bible Study on Thursdays 7:00 AM in the Adult Center

    Spiritual Formation Group 6:00 PM 1st & 3rd Monday

    New Series for The Way Starting Wednesday April 8 at 6:30 P.M.

    A Tour led by Pastor Ken Brown through some fabulous verses in the Bible that address your

    mental health and well-being

    Easter Egg Hunt Easter Day would not be complete without children running through the campus searching for colored eggs filled with wonderful sur-prises. All children are invited to join in the fun festivities immedi-ately following the April 5, 9:00 am Worship Service, on the play-ground. Par-ents and grandpar-ents are in-vited to ob-serve and laugh with delight.

    Elementary kids are introduced to how to live life with God by identifying the 6 key ways Je-sus lived His life. This will offer a balanced spirituality for the kids who will be leading the church! Since spiritual beliefs are almost irrevocably formed by age 12-13the church will reap what is sown in childhood.

    Individual Response Time during Wednesday Elementary Big God Story KidCommunity with Cheryl Kenna, Marilynn Pape, Judy Irvin and Matt Jefferson.

    Large Group Responses where Elementary kids work out what God is working within.

    Elementary KidCommunities

    Angels explained by Children

    It's not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to heaven, and then there's still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes. --Matthew, 9

    My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not much good for science. --Henry, 8

    When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath, somewhere there's a tornado. --Reagan, 10

  • From the Director of Christian Formation

    page 13 April, 2015

    Let our ears be attuned to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit! This is not just for adults! We all desire for children to find their voice, and the key to finding their true voice is hearing the voice of God! If a child does not hear and iden-tify the voice of God, they will instead echo the voice of the present worlds culture. If a child listens to God, people will listen to them and these children will become a voice dare I say a pro-phetic voice to their generation! So,

    their prophetic voice begins with a prophetic ear. In KidCommunity we desire and pray that every child will be given the ear of Samuel and the help to identify the voice of God.

    How do we intend to do this? Can very young children REALLY be present to Gods presence and listen for His voice? YES! Children experience and respond (express their faith) to God. We create various environ-ments to give opportunity for spiritual sensitivity and awareness of God. It just looks a bit different in various seasons and ages of life!

    Children are most open to spiritual training in the first 6 years of life and form a foundational concept of God by age 2-3. Preschoolers develop a godly purpose in life by having their questions taken seriously and identifying with the values of godly, nurturing adults and youth. They are powerfully influenced by prayer, nurturing rela-tionships, biblical story and godly play to interiorize faith ideas, language, and symbols. We have a faithful Pre-school KidCommunity team with Karen Ford (Lead FaithFriend), Mary Martinson (Substitute) and youth assistants.

    Elementary children develop competence in the Lord by belonging to a group, having relational adults help-ing them discover their identity and uniqueness, grow in faith, serve, lead others to Christ and find their part in Gods mission. They need adults assistance to de-velop thoughtful, faithful inquisitiveness in relation to their spiritual experiences and time to reflect to claim and name their beliefs.

    They must live the truth to learn the truth!

    Summer Jones and Aly Wilson complete one of the reflective engagement activities during the second worship service. Children are not doing busy workto keep them quiet for adult convenience. They are offered various reflection activities to help them be-come open and responsive to God and His message! If God reveals something to them they are learning to respond! Revelation demands Response! FaithFriend Karen Ford, Assistant Emerson Uphoff

    praying with Mia Junk and Anabelle Good

    Emerson Uphoff reviews one of the biblical sto-ries and verses in the TimeLine with her Sunday Elementary Life with God KidCommunity.

  • In Touch page 14

    PW Reading List 2015-2016

    Fiction

    The Fault in Our Stars, John Green. The story is nar-rated by a sixteen year old cancer patient named Hazel Grace Lancaster, who is forced by her parents to attend a support group where she meets and falls in love with seven-teen-year-old Augustus Waters, an ex-basketball player and amputee. The book contains humor, strong characters, themes and new perspective on cancer and romance.

    The Silver Star, Jeannette Walls. In a small town in California, Bean Holladay is twelve and her sister, Liz, is fifteen when their artistic mother, Charlotte, takes off to find herself, leaving her girls enough money to last a month or two. The story unfolds as the girls find not only their way to their uncles home in Virginia but also their family history.

    The Spy Mistress, Jennifer Chiaverini. Based on the story of an unsung hero, Elizabeth Van Lew who was born to slave-holding aristocracy in Richmond, Virginia. When Virginia seceded from the Union, Van Lews convictions compelled her to work against the Confederacy. Her war-time activities threatened her reputation and her life.

    Songs of Willow Frost, Jamie Ford. On the day the nuns designated as his birthday William and the other orphans are taken to a theater where William glimpses an actress on the silver screen who goes by the name of Willow Frost. Struck by her features, William is convinced that the movie star is his mother. Determined to find Willow and prove that she is his mother, William escapes from Sacred Heart with his friend Charlotte.

    Spilled Milk, K.L. Randis. Based on a true story, Brooke Nolan is a battered child who calls Social Services for help. When they jeopardize her safety by condemning her to keep her fathers secret, its a glass of spilled milk at the dinner table that forces her to speak about the cruelty shes been hiding. In her pursuit for safety and justice Brooke battles a broken system that pushes to keep her father in the home.

    The Daughters Walk, Jane Kirkpatrick. In 1896 Nor-wegian American Helga Estby accepted a wager from the fashion industry to walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City within seven months in an effort to earn $10,000. Motivated by the money they needed to save the family farm. Helga and her nineteen year-old daughter, Clara, walked 3500 miles together. A year later they returned to their family but Clara, by her own choice, became estranged from them. This novel is an imaginary follow-up to a true story.

    Nonfiction

    Orange is the New Black, My Year in a Womans Prison, Piper Kerman. With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. She is con-victed and sentenced to fifteen months at an infamous federal correctional facility. The privileged Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187-424. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, her story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prisonwhy it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when theyre there.

    Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake, Anna Quindlen. In this mem-oir, Anna Quindlen writes about a womans life, from childhood memories to manic motherhood to middle age, using the events of her life to illuminate ours. She considers and celebrates every-thing from marriage, girlfriends, our mothers, parenting, faith, loss, to all the stuff in our closets, and more. Quindlen says for us here what we may wish we could have said ourselves.

    Blue Covenant, the Global Water Crisis, Maude Barlow. The author addresses an environmental crisis that is one of the gravest threats to our survival. She examines how water companies are reaping vast profits from declining supplies, and how ordinary people from around the world have banded together to reclaim the publics right to clean water, creating a grassroots global wa-ter justice movement.

    The End of Your Life Book Club, Will Schwalbe. During her treatment for cancer, Mary Anne Schwalbe and her son, Will, spent many hours sitting in waiting rooms together. To pass the time, they talked about the books they were reading. An informal book club of two was born. Through their wide-ranging reading, Will and Mary Anne are reminded how books can be comforting, astonishing, and illuminating, changing the way that we feel about and interact with the world around us.

    Quiet, the Power of Introverts in a World That Cant Stop Talking, Susan Cain. At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. It is to introvertsRosa Parks, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniakthat we owe many of the great argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She cited many works on this topic which makes the reading slow, but worthwhile.

    The Boys in the Boat, Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympic, Daniel James Brown. This book celebrates the 1936 U.S. mens Olympic eight-oar rowing team who won the gold medal in Nazi Germany. Laborers and sons of laborers from the American West, the boys took on and defeated prestigious rowing teams. Finally, in an extraordinary race in Berlin they stunned the officials of Nazi state as they rowed for gold in front of Adolf Hitler. It also celebrates the life of one of the rowers who at an early age was abandoned and left to fend for himself.

  • page 15 April, 2015

    Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church Foundation An Investment Today for the Life of Our Church Tomorrow

    Here to serve you!

    The Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church Foundation is ready to serve you. The Foundation will help you un-derstand how your gifts can benefit both you and the Church.

    We can provide suggestions of how your life insurance, retirement accounts, Real estate, wills and trusts can be structured to achieve your wishes to establish a legacy that will serve the Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church far into the future. The Foundation is committed to follow any designations you provide and to care-fully manage your gifts.

    Members of the Board of Trustees are available to answer your questions. Give them a call! Foundation Board of Trustees

    Barbara Oakeson 480-837-5563 Susan Phillips 480-837-1225 Matt Jefferson 480-837-6001 Dawn Lau 480-837-2607 Roy Nickel 480-688-8392 Ben Fast 480-837-1119 John Skewes 480-292-9021

    Atrium in Sanctuary

    Gifts of Women Sunday

    Womens Ensemble Mary Alice Bivens

    Phyliss Kern

    Pearwood Recorders

  • Review of 2025 Trilogy 2025 The Guardian 2025 City of Gold 2025 The Remnant by S.D. Burke (Sylvia)

    Sylvia, what motivated you to write this trilogy?

    Fear, I think. We arent hearing about the second coming of Christ and Im afraid we arent ready. I hope the series would be a wake up call to Christians. I wanted people to ask themselves how they would react if Christians began to be persecuted.

    Like Isis?

    Exactly. Would we have a deep enough faith to stand firm in our beliefs no matter the cost? Let me share a synopsis from the cover of my books:

    Phoenix 2025. This is twenty-one-year-old Daniel Jordans story, a faith journey, a story of following truth no matter where it leads; a story of love, danger and adventure.

    Earthquakes, floods, forest fires, and terror attacks cause people to wonder if these are the end times.

    America is changing. The American president, in a power move, appoints a Council of Twelve and fifty state gover-nors to a board replacing the congress. Ignoring the consti-tution, new laws are made...new initiatives adopted. In the series, these questions arise:

    Library Footnotes

    What if Americans are required to join a world monetary system in which they receive an identity number to buy and sell?

    What if in the search for world peace a one-world relig-ion based on mutual respect causes Christians to be perse-cuted, churches to be closed and the Bible to be out-lawed?

    What if the government passes new health care initiative limiting end of life care in order to save the economy from an aging population?

    Families are challenged whether to be good citizens and follow the new laws or follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. One will put their souls in jeopardy. The other may cause them to be homeless, unable to work or buy food.

    Its 2025

    What choices would you make?

    The trilogy is now in the church li-brary, available from Sylvia, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It is also an E-Book. Come join the adventure.

    -Sylvia Burke

    In Touch page 16

    -The Newsletter Newsletter by Communication Resources, Inc

    Egg-stra facts

    Although Easter eggs were once part of pagan spring festivals, theyre become Christian symbols of new life. A cracked-open shell also represents Jesus empty tomb on Easter morning.

    The early Christians of Mesopotamia began staining eggs red in honor of Jesus blood shed on the cross. Red eggs remain part of Greek Orthodox celebrations today.

    For Lent, some families used to give up eggs and dairy, so they prepared a pancake feast on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. They solved the egg surplus by hard-boiling them in various broths, which led to colored eggs.

    In medieval times, churches held egg-throwing festivals. The priest threw a hard-boiled egg toward the choir boys, who tossed it back and forth. When the clock struck 12, whoever was holding the egg got to keep it.

    In some European countries, children go from house to house to collect Easter eggs.

    Each year, the PAAS Dye Co. sells more than 10-million egg coloring kits, which consumers use to decorate 180 million eggs.

    The tallest chocolate Easter egg ever produced weighed 16,000 pounds more than an elephant!

  • page 17 April, 2015

    "He has risen, indeed!" We have musically played and sung our way into Easter! We have been traveling through our Lenten journey through March, with our Vesper Services and reflective music offered by the musicians in our Celebration Ringers and Vesper Choir. They are accompanied by Dorraine Aggen, who also added lovely

    Preludes and Postludes each week prompting the self-

    examining attitude for each Vesper service throughout our Lenten season. Then our lovely Gifts of Women Services, and all the ladies who participated to make both of our services a reflection of our love, praise and commitment to God, through our Savior, Christ the Lord! Then, there was the fabulous presentation by our Celebration Singers sing-ing the Cantata, "Come Touch the Robe" on Palm Sunday! Wonderful job, Singers! Just the week before our Celebra-tion Singers represented our church by performing some very challenging music in the FHCCA Choral fest! These folks do what they do with true Grace, and I am blessed to work with them. Our second service hosted two musicians through the month of March, which was truly fun! Jimmy Fortune and Jeff Dayton were both a part of our service, one at the be-ginning of the month, one at the end. What a great experi-ence,. And "Hilltop" really had a great time when Jimmy Fortune jumped up there and played all our music with

    Music Ministry

    Debbie Fisher, Director of Music

    us. We have so much fun each week as it is, but, that really felt good! Last month the choir had a farewell party for Howard and Arlene Olsen, long time members of church, and singers with the choir. They have left Arizona for Texas, and we will miss them! Now, we have to say goodbye to Phil Katz, a great friend and musician who will be returning to Chicago. He came into our church and really added a lot to our music ministry. He sang in the choir, he played in the bells, he has sung solo, and been playing saxophone in "Home By Another Way" and he will be missed. Truly! Besides the music, he was instrumental in setting up our web page, our sound booth, and just been a great Christian friend to many. We all hate to say goodbye to our friends. The next month and a half take quite a few of our friends back to their summer homes, and, if we don' t get to tell you personally how much you all mean to us, and how much we appreciate your friendships and your "livening" up of our church when you are here, we say it now. We are so glad this is your church home while you are away from your other church homes! God be with you 'til we meet again!

    "Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Sav-ior, and my hope is in You all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You, Lord, are good." - Psalm 25:4-7

    Debbie Fisher Director Music Ministry

    TABLECLOTHSHelp please! The tablecloths in the Fellowship Center

    are slowly disappearing. We are finding it

    difficult to find enough for the events we

    have. Maybe some of them were stained

    and had to be thrown away but if you have

    taken some home to wash (by the way

    thank you!) and have just forgotten you have them, please remember

    to bring them back.

    From now on, groups that use the tablecloths will be given a sign-out

    sheet. Those who take tablecloths home should sign it and when re-

    turned, cross your name off the list. That way if you forget, we can

    call you and tickle your memory. The list is to be kept on the side

    counter in the kitchen on a clipboard. Thank you so much for your help

    in this matter.

    Helen Roesch, Fellowship Center Manager

    Thank you for your prayers,

    calls and thoughtful cards. To all the wonderful choir friends and church family- you should know, they made me smile!

    Jean Ipema

  • In Touch page 18

    Member Spotlight . Did you know?

    Jan and Milt Hoff

    Milton Hoff was born in 1934 and delivered by a midwife in Tuttle, North Dakota. His parents were John and Kathryn Hoff. He had 4 sisters and 1 brother, and grew up in Dawson, ND. The times were Depression years with occasional dust

    storms still raging over the plains. Milt was raised by his grandparents for the first five years. They spoke only Ger-man and this became his native language. Janis was born in Fargo, ND to Erling and Violet Backe. She grew up in Fargo, ND with 3 sisters. Most summers were spent at a lake cottage where Jan enjoyed swimming but not fishing. Upon graduation from high school, Milt moved to Moorhead, MN to live with his sister and her husband while attending Concordia College. Concordia was a strict Lutheran school. One Sunday Milt decided to visit his home denomination, Evangelical United Brethren Church. He intended to attend the church service, but arrived in time for Sunday school. When he entered he was met by a lady who invited him to attend the Young Adult Sunday Schooltrapped. The lady said just follow that young girl and shell show you the way. This young girl was Janis Backe and that is how we met. College graduation for Milt was June 4, 1956, and on June 16th he and Janis were married in Calvary United Methodist Church. At the reception Milts mother gave us a piece of advise that we have always tried to follow. She was a person who had survived the Depression. She told us: Remember to start saving with the first loaf of bread. The next challenge was to choose a career that was satisfying and paid a fair salary. We moved to Chi-cago and took jobs with a large corporation. After 3 years we became discouraged with corporate life, and returned to the Midwest. Milt took a job teaching English and German in Herman, Minnesotaa culture shock! Moving from a city of 12 million to a town of 750 population! But we enjoyed it and Janis continued her undergraduate work at the U of Minn. A year later our family expanded to in-clude a daughter, Sandra Beth. Sandra and her husband, Tim are both attorneys and have given us two wonderful granddaughters. From there it was history of moving to a larger school, a year off to earn a MA degree while serving as an

    Assistant Professor in the English Dept. at North Dakota State University, and next a Graduate Assistantship at the U of North Dakota State where he earned a doctorate de-gree. During that time Janis continued working on her degree with scholarships and in 1964 graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Elementary and Special Edu-cation and started teaching in public schools. Milt then took the job as principal of a troubled junior high school in Thief River Falls, MN. However, there was a school board policy that wives of administra-tors were not to be employed by the school district which almost broke Jans heart, but she became involved in vol-unteer work and raising our daughter. By the end of the first year Milt had the school organized and most of the truants back in school. How-ever, his 61 Chevrolet station wagon took a toll from unhappy kids! Milt remained there for 22 years until re-tiring from public schools and then went to the U of North Dakota as chair of their Secondary Education and Middle School Education Departments. Janis researched going into business and opened and managed a womens clothing store in Thief River Falls. It was successful, and expanded to three stores for a while. During this time she was elected as the first women president of the Retail Business Association. A huge mall was opening about 50 miles away, so she sold the stores. The Small Business Administration (SBA) of-fered Jan the directorship of the area SB Development Center, and she worked there for several years doing counseling and workshops for prospective and existing business owners. She helped several businesses to get started, but probably encouraged many more not to pro-ceed. Over the years in our spare time we built 11 new houses. We drew the blueprints, Milt was the head contractor (also doing some of the grunt work) and Jan the decorator with Milts help. Milt also did the contract-ing and some of the work on Jans three stores We started traveling many years ago, and since retiring have gone on many trips which have taken us to about 20 different countries. We especially enjoy large ship cruises. Over the years Jan has been active in many vol-unteer activities: Girl Scouts, Mayo Clinic and numerous church related jobs including the local PW Circle and Hooked on Books groups. Milt was a member of Rotary and Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce Director, has sung in several Church choirs and chaired the Mens Fellow-ship for two years.

  • page 19 April, 2015

    HAPPY APRIL BIRTHDAYS!

    04/23 Althea Halchuck 04/25 Linda Warren 04/25 Karen Ford 04/26 Douglas Busche 04/27 Debby DeBernardi 04/28 Ron Christie 04/29 Amy Martinson

    04/06 Jake Hagerty 04/08 Jo Strehlow 04/10 Robert Larson 04/10 Mike McWethy 04/11 Karlyn Busche 04/19 Patricia Tuttle 04/20 Irene Cain 04/22 Paula Eberspacher

    With deepest sympathy we list those members who have passed away in 2015.

    Billy Neal Sylvester Taylor Marjorie Koepke

    jx wx? g{ zw tw yt|{y xtA Xx { | {x } by { _wA

    Matthew 25:21

    Hospitalized? Call the church!

    If you are sick, hospitalized or home recovering from ill-ness, we want you to call the church and let us know! In a con-gregation like ours where people leave in droves for extended summer months, it is easy for the staff, elders and deacons to assume, when we dont see someone, that they are simply vacationing away. The truth is that some of you are sick and we are not aware of it. You can help us by simply letting one of the staff know of your situation. We have an excellent support system in place due to the diligent efforts of our deacons. Help us serve you by com-municating your situation.

    -The Newsletter Newsletter by Communication Resources, Inc

    Part II: While we are basking in the sun here in Arizona, others are still putting up with cold and snow...look what we are missing.

    Complete victory

    At the cross, evil is conquered as evil...because God turns it back upon itself. He makes the supreme crime, the murder of the only righteous person, the very operation that abolishes sin. The (maneuver) is utterly unprecedented. No more com-plete victory could be imagined.

    -Henri Blocher, Evil and the Cross

    04/01 Gary Oakeson 04/01 Donna Ryan 04/03 Nate McGuire 04/03 Robert Thompson 04/04 Helen Roesch 04/04 Natalie Vitellaro 04/05 Kristi Robinson

  • Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church

    13001 N. Fountain Hills Boulevard

    Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

    Non Profit Organ.

    U.S. POSTAGE PAID

    Permit NO. 299

    Scottsdale, AZ

    In Touch is published monthly; deadline for each issue is the 15th of the month before publication. News and information should be submitted to the church office in hard copy, or email to [email protected] Editor, Marta Ludwig; Proof Reader, Helen Roesch; Staff Photographers: Gary Oakeson & Michele Hasley; Production and Circulation: Mary Wernecke, Bobbie Dangremond, Ruby Pearson, Marilyn Humes, Mary Martinson and Vivian Virden. Travel to Bulk Mail Post Office: Mary Martinson.

    Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church 13001 Fountain Hills Blvd. - Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

    Phone - (480) 837-1763 Fax - (480) 837-1729 Office E-Mail Address: [email protected] Office Hours: Monday Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. www.fhpresbyterian.info

    Pastor/Head of Staff: Rev Bill Good email: [email protected] cell phone: 480-329-8090

    Current Resident or

    Gifts of Women Sunday

    Gail Botsford

    Linda Lull

    Aleyne Larsen-Craig