My dear Brothers and Sisters,  It is hard to believe we are approachingthe end of another year. Time seems to go so fast.I must admit this is my favorite time of year. It begins to cool off, the days and evenings are beautiful and makes me realize how blessed I amto live in Central, AZ. It is also the beginning ofthe holiday season and what this time of year brings. Often it involves the planning of events,family gatherings, and the busyness of the season.

In November we have the chances to enjoythe Thanksgiving holiday. Dallin told me the otherday this is one of his favorite holidays because ofthe great food and football. I agree, but as I getolder I have grown to appreciate Thanksgivingand the principle of gratitude. I express mygratitude for those early pilgrims who showedsuch courage to come to America to exercisereligious freedom. They were so willing to

sacrifice so they and those who came after themwould be blessed.

I realize I have so much to be thankful for,the list is endless, and express my gratitude. I am blessed with a beautiful and spiritual wife,wonderful children, extended family who put upwith me (which is not always easy) and a fantasticward family who support me in every way. Ithank all of you. I am especially thankful forknowledge. the knowledge I have of a Father inHeaven and Savior who knows and loves me.  I would also be remiss if I did not expressgratitude and thanks for service. I have beenamazed at the service and expressions of love inthese last few weeks as so many participated inlocal projects as well the county wide Make aDifference Day. It hit me as I witnessed the hoursof service freely given how grateful I am for un-selfish and “thankful” people who realize serviceis one way we can express gratitude. I express mylove to each of you and thank you for all you do.May the Lord bless each of us during this holidayseason.

Love, Brother McCormies

November 14 -

Ward Thanksgiving Party @ Stake Center

November 16 -

  Stake Conference Adult Session 7:00pmNovember 17-

  Stake Conference 10:00amNovember 27-

Temple closes at noonNovember 28 -

Thanksgiving

December 5-7 -

Live Nativity and Creche festival at Temple BuildingEast Lawn begins at 6:00pm

December 8 -

  First Presidency Christmas Devotional

C e n t r a l 1st W a r d

Central NewsA place where friends and family meet to uplift one another in the Central 1st Ward

of the Pima Stake of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints

A Monthly Newsletter Issue #35 -- November 2013

Primary Children

Primary Programand Trunk or TreatPage 3

Page 1Page 10

Message fromthe Bishopric

Brother Jeff McCormies1st Counsellor

Ward CouncilWe are always thankful to those people who serve so willingly

BishopricBishop Rob Pursley — 348-9504

  Jeff McCormies -- 428-3263

  Jeremy Hughes --348-1607

call Kerry Wilson at 428-6444 for an

appointment with the bishop.

Relief SocietyPresident Carol Parris -- 651-6568

High PriestsLeader Ross Ferrin -- 428-0242

Elders Quorum 

President David Allred -- 242-8187

Young MenPresident Tom Pursley — 651-1115

Young WomenPresident Carolyn McCormies — 428-3263

PrimaryPresident Christi Larson -- 965-6598

Sunday SchoolPresident Bill Allred -- 428-9462

Ward MissionLeader Jeff Green -- 428-2955

call Brother Green if you have a friend you

would like to share the gospel with or if you

would like to feed the missionaries.

LibrarySister Marva Bryce -- 428-0578

Ward Bulletin 

Sister Cami Launer - 428-0134doggiedr3@gmail.com

Building ScheduleBrother Kay and Sister Sharon Taylor --

428-5799

Schedule the building far in advance. It

fills up quickly!

Ward NewsletterSister Tracy Pursley -- 428-6370  

call Sister Pursley or send your news item

for the next newsletter edition to

traco@cableone.net  We always welcome

your good news!

Upcoming Events

We Mourn the Passing

Sister Laree Martin

Relief Society Party 

Page 2

Missionary Corner

Elder Jason Boren

Welcome to the Greer

Family

Page 6

C e n t r a l 1st W a r d

Our Amazing Youth

Eagle Scout

Helping Hands

Page 4&5

 

. .

 

S I G L E S D N E I R F M C D O G Y E K G T E U E

C O P N M O S D C O Z H H M S T U F F I N G G O S

Y T B L X O H A N E W W O R L D P N F C X H U T G

E S I N Y F E E I T F X I N D I A N S O Y E K C N

K O Y U R M B M T N O Q S P R V W J X R U N H M Z

R G C A R U O Y M S T G L K E U N P E N T G S Y O

U T X H D F K U S Z R S M G C W L X J U R W I C E

T I C U N E B P T P R E E A A U F H G C Q T F W W

L Y Y C V G E X E H C T G V Y E D Q U O H U T I B

P P A W W N B R F W A G I N H F L K L P F Q I S P

G T D M Y T R A H B A Z Q N A M L A Q I E Y T F U

S G I P B I X O L T Q K L Q O R U O V A A A I L M

V Z L E X L T E C A K I M Z K V T P W I S O C L P

M S O H E Q S D Y F I Q Z S Z O E S R E T K X N K

V C H A T J P U G R A T I T U D E M H A R S F I I

J P T R H W O F X E J N O R R Y L L B H Y A E X N

Y R R V L S M I R G L I P E R A H S S E J E G F P

H Q G E Q N F P K E C E B Y T N U O B O R U R L I

B C L S I C S F F K P M B W W Y L I M A F B Y T E

U U O T C T J C Q E S R O B H G I E N W J E I H C

B oun ty Cor n Cor nuc opi a Duc ks F am il y Fe as t Fe sti val

Fi sh Fri ends Fruit God Grati tude H arvest Hol iday

Ind ians Mayflower Neighbors New Wor ld November P ilgr ims P lymouth

P ra ye r P um pk in P ie S ai nt s S ha re S tr an ge rs S tu ff in g T hr ee D ay s

Turkey Vegetables

 

C e n t r a l W a r d C e n t r a l W a r d

Page 9Page 2

Announcements:

Relief Society ActivityElder Justin Layton

Ward Thanksgiving Dinner

When: Thursday, November 14thTime: 6:00pm

Where: Pima Stake CenterBring: A Pie to Share

Dont Forget--Stake Conference is November 16th & 17th

We Mourn the Passing ofSister Laree Martin

Sister Laree has been a member of the Central Ward since 1992when she married Brother Lavell Martin. She was born on October4, 1926 to Ralph and Sarah Richardson in Virden, NM.  She always wanted to be a teacher and obtained her Master’sDegree in education from the UofA. She taught in many of the localschool districts for more than 30 years and retired from FortThomas in 1987. Her influence will be felt by her studentsthroughout their lives.  She and Brother Lavell served as temple workers in the MesaTemple for three and a half years. She loved music, reading,

gardening, and hummingbirds. Her favorite singer was Pavarotti. (she had refined taste!)  Her family was a large one. She and Brother Lavell had 70 grandchildren, 159 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren! Isn’t that AMAZING?!

After being sick for the past few years, Sister Laree passed away on October 11, 2013. Wewill miss her. --some excerpts were taken from her obituarty

We really have the best Relief Society in thechurch. This past October 17th they put on a“Therapeutic Thursday” where the ladies allmet together to make holiday crafts, learncleaning shortcuts, eat good food, visit oneanother. It lasted four hours and was very

well attended.Our Relief Societysisters worked sohard to make it afun event. Thankyou for all thatyou do!

Elder Justin Layton reports to the MTCon November 6th. He will be going tothe Washington Everett Mission.

Congratulations!

December 5th - 7thPerformances at 6:00, 6:45, 7:30, and 8:15

 At the Building by the Gila Valley Temple Lawn

Dress Warm. Bring a Blanket if Desired.Friends and Family are welcome to enjoy the Nativity, Creche

Festival, and walk around the Temple.

Roxanne Smith

 Jean Naegle - Diane Allred - Sally Jo Donaldson

 

 

i

i

  l

C e n t r a l W a r d C e n t r a l W a r d

Page 5Page 8

Primary ChildrenPrimary Program - 2012

 Meet the Greer Family  Vinson and Sherrie Greer just moved to Centralfrom St. Johns. They are living in the old Ron and ShaniWhite home on Shiflet. Vinson was raised in St. Johns andSherrie in Eagar. They met while attending BYU. Vinsonhas taught Seminary for the past 27 years in Idaho, Utahand Arizona. They were blessed to teach and raise theirfamily in Vince’s home town of St. Johns for the past 19years. He has just started his new assignment teaching atthe Gila Valley institute. Sherrie has taught preschooland piano in her home for the past 15 years in St. Johnsand is hoping to establish a preschool here in Central.  They have 6 children: Matthew is 26, and attendsMedical School at the Cleveland clinic in Ohio. (He issingle and very eligible), Megan is 24, a senior at BYUand getting married in December, Amanda who is 21 isserving a mission in Osorno Chile, Jessica is 19 and afreshman at BYU and plans on leaving on a mission inthe spring, Hailey is 14 and a freshman. She is having

fun playing volleyball at Thatcher High and Michael is 11and in the 5th grade. He loves animals and anything involving a ball.  The Greer family loves boating, scuba diving, (boy did they move to the right ward!)  and playing basketball and volleyball together. They are excited to get to know everyone here in Central. -- We areexcited to get to know them too! Welcome!

The Primary Program was held on October 27th.The theme was “I Am a Child of God”. Our building was filled with parents andgrandparents all smiling with pride as their littleones (and not so little ones) sang and boretestimony of how they choose the right. Thereare 74 children in our primary. They wereGREAT! Thank you leaders and teachers, formaking this years program a success. Weappreciate all you do for our children.

Elder Jason Boren - Pittsburg Pennsylvania Mission Missionary Corner

Welcome to the Ward

10 dump trucks like these from Thatcher

T he  McCo r m ies  hel p  i n T hatc he r

October 26th was the Church’s National “Make a DifferenceDay”. It was wonderful to join hands with county leaders andfriends of other faiths and really make a difference. We met at8:00am and had a flag raising and prayer then set off to variousareas around the county to clean. There were over 350 peoplein attendance. Community members were heard to say,”This isa real unifying event. We have all colors of people and religion.We even have the MORMONS here helping!” All of thesepictures are garbage that was collected from the area aftermany dump trailers were taken to the landfill!

A new sign for Vista Linda

The Brimhall childrenenjoy the Halloween

Trunk or Treat

Elder Jason Boren is doing great. He loves the people, and he loves the beauty there inPennslvania. He also enjoys seeing the change of colors in the trees. He did say that it is gettingreally cold there. He is currently in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. His address is: Elder JasonBoren, 518 Short St., Belle Vernon, PA 15012-1456. He would love to hear from you. I would liketo share a spiritual experience he had with you. He said, "A member in our ward called us in theafternoon, and said he would like us to go with him to his daughters house, who is a less-active,to talk with her, and try and help her back into the gospel. We had been trying for weeks to get inwith her, but never could have. He said he had prayed and fasted for her, to see what we wouldtalk about. He said, prayer, and the Holy Ghost, would be a good thing to talk about. As a newmissionary, I am supposed to take the lead in all things in the last week of training, which wasthis last week, so I was the one who guided the conversations. I prayed, and honestly wanted toknow what to talk about, how to start, but nothing was coming. I felt like I was not being ledwhatsoever. Throughout the whole day, I searched and did all that I could, but nothing. We getto the appointment, and 5 minutes before we went in, I asked if we could have another prayer.And so we did. We get in there, and we just started talking with her, to make her feel comfortablein our presence. Then, the simple most impression came to my mind, to ask "Why do we pray ifGod already knows our wants and needs?" So I asked, and it was the perfect question to ask her.She later, in the lesson, said that she had been struggling to know how the Holy Ghost feels. Wetalked, and told her about how she can feel the Holy Ghost, and had an amazing lesson. At theend, she told us to come back, and talk. Then she said somethingvery profound that amazed me."I feel it, I feel the Spirit." Elder Boren continues to say how grateful he is and what a priviledge itis to share the gospel to those in need, and to everyone. He realizes that answers will not comeright away, but they will come. In Ether 12:6, it says, "You shall receive no witness until after thetrial of your faith." This work is true, and I am thankful to be serving."

 

  Fair weekis always a busyweek for many ofthe youth in ourward. They spendall year feedingand caring forpigs and otheranimals to enter inthe livestockcompetition. Thespend the days before the fair, washing and shavingtheir animals. The animals have to be weighed, walkedaround the arena, and judged. On Saturday they aresold at auction. One year, our daughter, Tassy’s, pig didnot make weight, so we just kept it for our own freezer.One day we were eating pork chops, and she asked,“Are we eating Flower?” We hummed and hawed, butTom finally said, “Yes, dear, it is.” She said, “Yum! Sheis delicious!” Aren’t kids the best?

C e n t r a l W a r d

Page 7Page 6

November 3-

  Priests & Laurels & Parents StakeFireside 6:00pm @ the Stake Center

November 6-  All Youth Temple night 5:45 @ templeNovember 13-  Combined YW - YW in Excellence  D- Service Project  T- Personal Management  P - Scuba ClassNovember 30-

  Combined - Dutch oven Cook-offNovember 24-  Fireside 5:00pmNovember 27 -  No Mutual - Happy ThanksgivingNovember 29-  14 & up-Tri Stake Dance

8:30-11:00pm Safford

Up ComingActivities

Did You Know...

Service Could Be TheirMiddle Name!

 Jaci Brimhall, Beth Purs ley, Christiana Johnson

C e n t r a l W a r d

Our youth really go the extra mile

when it comes to serving those in need. This

 past month the boys teamed up with the Elders

quorum and High Priests to help a widow in

our ward with her yard work. And the entire

mutual got out their shovels and rakes, rolled

up their shirt sleeves, and cleaned the

cemetery. What would we do without these

wonderful youth? They are GREAT!!

Our AmazingYouth

The Layton family has much to bethankful for this month. Their three boys

have now all received the rank of Eagle! Jared earned his Eagle, Justin already

had his Bronze Palm and Jacob receivedthe silver palm for earning 15 more merit

 badges over the required 36! Well done!

I asked Renee to tell you about it--“An Eagle Court of Honor was held on

October 20th for Jared Layton.  Hereceived his Eagle and Bronze Palm.  His Eagle Project was cleaning and painting the

inside walls of the Thatcher Primary School Multi-Purpose room.    Jacob was awarded

his Silver Palm at the same Court of Honor.   We are proud of Jared and Jacob for allthey have accomplished in scouting.  Many thanks should also go to those leaders who

helped make this possible. Justin previously received his Eagle and Bronze Palm too.The month of October was and will always be a historic month for our three sons and

family. Justin receiving his mission call and the other two receiving awards at the Court

of Honor. Again thanks for all those who have helped our sons reach this point in theirlives. We appreciate all the love and concern you have shown them. “

 Jared, Justin, and Jacob Layton

An Eagle ScoutFamily

Kelly Jo McCormies with her pig