Echoes of DHPC | February - March 2013

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes

34605 North Tom Darlington Drive P.O. Box 874Carefree AZ 85377 480-488-3384

February / March 2013

2 Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • February / March 2013

February / March 2013

03 Pastor’s Message

04 From Your Associate Pastor

05 Stephen Ministry

05 Member Class & Faith Walk Series

05 Men’s Retreat

06 Music & Arts Festival

06 Just Ask Us

07 Home-Based Bible Study for 3rd - 8th graders

08 Lent & Easter

10 Proof of Heaven Book Study

10 Usher and Safety Emergency Training

10 Leupp Weekend on Navajo Reservation

11 Time to Clean our Spritual House

11 Marriage As A Reflection Of Christ And His Church

12 Dashboard

Echoes is a semi-monthly publication by and for the congregation of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church in Carefree, Arizona. If you have received this publication by mistake or you would like to no longer subscribe to the magazine, simply call the DHPC office at 480-488-3384 or write to [email protected].

The lead time for the publication is four weeks before the first month displayed on the cover. For the April - May issue, deadline for submissions is March 10.

Contributions from any and all DHPC members are always welcome! Simply e-mail your documents and pictures to [email protected] or drop them off at the church office.

The Echoes staff welcomes any and all feedback. If you would like to submit any questions, concerns or comments about the contents of this publication, please send them to [email protected] or drop them by the church office and we’ll make sure they are read and addressed as promptly as possible. Please allow 2-4 weeks for any necessary replies.

If you have been blessed with the ability to write or take pictures and feel called to use your talents to serve the Lord, Echoes would love to have you be part of our editorial team! Just call Patrick McAvoy at 602-549-7217 or write us at [email protected].

EchoesIN THIS ISSUE

JUST

ASKUS

3Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Echoes • February / March 2013

Pastor’sMessage

Practicing the Presence of the Lord

Jim Noble, Senior [email protected]

Pastor’sMessage

On Wednesday evenings during Lent we will be discussing and “practicing” what historically has been called the presence of the Lord. It is the presence of the Lord that makes us the people of God. It is not set observances, rituals, language, culture or geography, but our abiding in Christ and being filled with the Spirit that makes us God’s people. Yet the assurance of God’s presence is one of the things that many people struggle to know and experience.

In this series we will begin by looking at what the Scriptures have to say of God’s presence, including biblical images that are used to describe it. From there we will turn to our Reformed Tradition and how the presence of God is central to our tradition, yet often neglected in modern presentations of the Reformed faith. In addition, we will look beyond the Reformed Tradition to see what our brothers and sisters in Christ have to offer from the Eastern Orthodox, Charismatic, Contemplative, and Service traditions.

We will also be considering practices that help us to stay in and be more aware of God’s presence in our lives. Our fore parents have much to offer us about the assurance and practice of God’s presence. Opportunities will be provided for us to experience some of these practices and to share some of our own ways of staying in God’s presence.

Therefore I hope you will be able to make time in your schedule to join us on Wednesday evenings at 6:45 pm beginning February 20th and running through March 20th. If you have any questions, or would like further information, please feel free to contact me by calling the church office or via e-mail.

Peace in Christ,

Jim


Why would you want to write your Spiritual Autobiography? I think that many of our adult children, and especially if you have young children, this is a great way to share what your life in Christ means to you. This is a gift that you can give to your young or older adult children now! But it will take time and thought to get it started and done.

Here are few considerations for writing your spiritual autobiography:

First, read a good spiritual autobiography to get a sense of what to include and exclude. Undoubtedly, you have read someone’s spiritual autobiography, such as St. Augustine’s “Confessions”, one of the “Christian greats”. My personal favorite is C.S. Lewis’, “Surprised by Joy.” Many contemporary autobiographies are available, but many are not Christ-centered.

Second, chart your spiritual autobiography. In essence, create a time line and chart what I call the “ups and downs”, or “plains, hills, mountains, and valleys” of your walk with Christ.

Your horizontal line is your life across decades, years, and maybe down to key dates, if you know them. Recollect your memories of feelings, people, conflicts, troubles, and triumphs in your spiritual life. Another way to think of this is when you were closest to the Lord and when you were the farthest away. Your chart helps you see how your life has unfolded spiritually.

Third, before writing consider your audience carefully. Who will receive this as a gift from you? Who do you want to have it and who will not? This influences how openly you will write about what the Lord has done. How willing you are to identify what gifts God has given you, how you have used them or not used them, and where and why did you fall down? Will you write as St. Augustine did, your confession? Or, will you write as C.S. Lewis did, a carefully crafted piece that is suitable for a wider audience?

Finally, what end do you have in mind? And how do you believe God can use your autobiography to help your audience know what God has done? Will they see how real the Spirit was in your life? Will they identify with you and your struggles? In essence, your autobiography has to ring “true” and be “authentic” to those who read it.

Oh, yes, the content of your autobiography is your life with God; it is a way of looking into your own soul. By sharing this gift, you will allow your audience to see you from the inside out. Remember, the Holy Spirit is the one who has been at work in you.

In Christ’s Powerful name,

Bob

Bob Claus, Associate Pastor | [email protected] | 480-488-3384

From Your Associate Pastor

Writing Your Spiritual Autobiography

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S T E P H E N M I N I S T R Y


Our first New Member classes and Faith Walk Series will begin February 3 and will be held from 12:45 to 2:45 pm for four consecutive Sundays in February on the 10th, 17th, 24th and March 3rd.

Any new or long-term visitors are also welcome to attend simply to learn more about what Desert Hills believes about our relationship with Jesus Christ. Contact Nan Boyer-Searle at [email protected] for more details.

First Annual Men’s Retreat has been scheduled for Saturday, March 2, 2013 at DHPC in the Fellowship Hall. Come and enjoy a continental breakfast, a time of fellowship and two speakers looking at what it means to be a Christian man in today’s world. The retreat will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m. Mark your calendars and plan on attending and inviting a friend.

The Christian Alphabet Poem

Although things are not perfect,Because of trial or pain,Continue in thanksgiving,Do not begin to blame.

Even when the times are hard,Fierce winds are bound to blow,God is forever able.Hold on to what you know.

Imagine life without his love,Joy would cease to be.Keep thanking Him for all thingsLove imparts to thee.

Move out of “Camp Complaining.”No weapon that is knownOn earth can yield the powerPraise can do alone.

Quit looking at the future.Redeem the time at hand.Start every day with worship.To “thank” is a command.

Until we see Him coming,Victorious in the sky,We’ll run the race with gratitudeeXalting God most high.

Yes, there will be good times and yes, some will be bad, but...Zion waits in glory....where none is ever sad!


Music & Arts festival, February 8 & 9Friday evening, February 8 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. & Saturday, February 9 from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.Would you like to be a Picasso, a Pavarotti, or a Martha Stewart for the day? Check out the workshops offered during the Music and Arts Festival. Enjoy a free lunch, and learn a new skill! Ask for a brochure at the church office, or contact Karin Thomas (480-488-3384) or Diane Hillwig (480-459-5063) for more information. Cost is $10 per person or $25 per family. Payment due when signing up!

Choose from:• Fun to Draw: Cartoons, Caricatures, and Portraits – by Joe Gilliland• How to Draw: A Class for Beginners – by Ron Carson• What is the Big Deal about Reading Out Loud? – by Larry Soughan• Creative Cardmaking – by Dawne Pender• Easy Ruffled Scarf-Crochet – by Diane Hillwig• Learn to Play the Ukulele – by Eddie Smith• Jewelry Glitz – by Carolyn Oates & Carol DeMarcus• Secrets of Successful Singing – by Karin Thomas

Where is....? What are Covenant Groups? How do I get into Bible Study? What does the church believe?Who are the pastors? Are there any social opportunities? How do I learn more about God? And Jesus?What Missions are we involved in? I want to learn more about....

Ask Anything About Our Church!

JUST

ASKUS

Sunday mornings between services.Watch for locations and times.

Nan Boyer-Searle, Director of Visitor/ Member Outreach,will be available to answer questions and share information.480.239.3751

Is your grade-middle school child interested in under-standing and knowing the Bible cover-to-cover and/or have a deeper understanding of God’s Word? Then consider joining our home-based Bible Study starting soon!

WHO: Any interested 3rd to 8th graders, regular or occasional attenders and friends.

• You are encouraged to invite anyone of this age that you think might enjoy and benefit.

WHAT: Weekly Bible Study and Fellowship time, led by Emily & Patrick McAvoy.

• 11-year DHPC members, lifelong Presbyterians, six-year Elder of DHPC (Patrick) and seven year Children’s Ministries volunteer and teacher (Emily).

WHEN: Sunday evenings beginning February 10. • 6:30 – 7:00 pm: Fellowship (optional)• 7:00 – 8:00 pm: Bible Study• 8:00 – 8:30 pm: Fellowship (optional)• We will break for holiday weekends and in the

summer, and pick it back up again in the fall.

WHERE: The McAvoys house, Tatum & Pinnacle Peak• 4066 E. Casitas del Rio, Phoenix

WHY: To provide a fun, relaxed forum to study the Bible and have deeper discussions with and for kids who are hungering to know Jesus and God’s Word better.

• If we can start to really build a Covenant Group of sorts as well -- a true core of strong followers of Jesus that can depend on one another during the tough teen years to come, all the better.

CurriculumWe will be using “The Story” Teen Edition by Zondervan (www.thestory.com).

• It’s not a novelization of the Bible, but an excerpted version of the NIV translation, rearranged so it’s in chronological order rather than by books of the Bible.

• There are 31 chapters, thus 31 lessons. Your child will know the Bible in one calendar year!

• Each chapter can be read in about an hour a week. • This curriculum will give the kids the overview

and megathemes of the Bible many of the kids are looking for at this age… without overwhelming them with daily Scripture readings in addition to their studies, sports and activities.

What we need from youAll we need is $15 per child for their own copy of “The Story” and a willingness to read a chapter a week of Scripture and participate in an hour-long Bible study each Sunday evening.

As a parent, you will have no obligation besides getting your kids to and from our house each week. You don’t have to commit to attending all 31 lessons, of course! Just make what your child is able to.

Emily and I will be happy to drive the whole thing, and we’ll regularly check with you for input and feedback to make sure this time is as transformative for our kids as we hope it to be.

If your son(s) or daughter(s) are interested in possibly at-tending this Bible Study beginning in February, please let Emily or Patrick know ASAP!

We want to make sure we’re planning accordingly and have books for everyone.

Please respond by calling/texting Emily at 602.549.7217 or emailing Patrick at [email protected]. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have! May God bless this new ministry for our sons and daughters at this criti-cal stage in their lives.

- Emily & Patrick McAvoy

HOME-BASED BIBLE STUDY FOR 3rd-8th GRADERS STARTING FEBRUARY 10!



Lent& Easter

Ash Wednesday Worship Service – February 13Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday, February 13. As is the tradition at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, we will be having an Ash Wednesday service on February 13 at 7 p.m.As we begin our walk toward Jerusalem, following Christ to the cross and then to the empty tomb; come and participate in this service.

The service will include hymns, prayers and the placement of ashes as a sign of our condition and our repen-tance.

Tulips And Lilies For EasterThe sign up chart for tulips and lilies will be posted in the Narthex and also in the Fellowship Center begin-ning Sunday, March 3. This is a lovely way to honor a loved one or to celebrate a special occasion. The last day to sign-up is Sunday, March 24. Details will be posted on the chart.

You may take home your lily or tulips after the 11:00 service.

Lenten SeriesMake time in your schedule to join us on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm beginning February 20th and run-ning through March 20th. We will start with dessert at 6:30 and classes begin at 6:45.

Finding God's Presence Rev. Jim NobleIn this series we will begin by looking at what the Scriptures have to say of God’s presence, including biblical images that are used to describe it.

Marriage as a Reflection of Christ and His Church Eric Steinberg The target audience for this class is “twentysomething” young adults, married or unmarried.


Lent& Easter Special Lenten Healing Worship Service – March 3, 4 pm

This Lent, we are offering a Healing Service as we have done in the past years. In our Reformed tradition, we believe that God is able and willing to heal but how and when God heals is in God’s divine providence. We are encouraged to request prayer for healing and anointing with oil is an ancient Biblical tradition. In this service to be held on Sunday, March 3rd at 4pm in the Sanctuary, we will anoint participants with oil and offer prayers for healing of body, mind, heart, and soul. During the Healing Service, hymns will be sung, prayers lifted up, and the Word preached. After hearing the Word, all who wish may come forward for anointing with oil and a brief personal prayer by pastors or elders.

After the service, if anyone desires further prayer, elders and deacons will be available for the laying on of hands and intercessory prayer for particular need for healing.

Please invite friends or neighbors who you know that might benefit from this Healing Ser-vice. Contact the office for further information.

Palm Sunday - March 24On Palm Sunday, Christians celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem the week before his death and resurrection. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week.

Palm Sunday Service will be March 24 at the regularly scheduled times of 8:25, 9:45 and 11:00 am.

Maundy Thursday – March 28We will be observing Maundy Thursday with a special service in our sanctuary on Thursday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m. This is the Thursday before Easter, the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples. He shared a meal with them which is known as the Last Supper.

Holy Communion will be served.

Good Friday, March 29th and Holy Saturday, March 30thYou can observe and participate in the “Journey to the Cross”, a spiritually enriching “walk with Christ” on Friday from 4:30 - 8:30 pm and Saturday from 8:00 - 8:30 am. Individuals, couples, and families can all participate by taking a slow walk through nine stations tracing Christ’s life and ours in Christ. Sign up for a 30 minute slot of time, March 9th to March 24th on the patio.

Easter Services – March 31On March 31, we commemorate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.We will be holding four Easter Services this year to worship the risen Christ:

• Sunrise service begins at 6:30 am outside in the Church courtyard.• Traditional services will be held at 8:00 am and 9:30 am in the Sanctuary. • Our praise service will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Center.

Lent& Easter


The Proof Of Heaven Book Study THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 14, 21 AT 4 – 5:30PM“Of the making of books there is no end…” says the writer of Ecclesiastes. And so it is true, especially when it comes to recent books on Heaven that is multiplying from all kinds of perspectives.

One recent book, “Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife”, by Dr. Eben Alexander, has been on the “hot reading list”. The other, not so well known book is: “A Christian Rebuttal to Dr. Eben Anderson’s Proof of Heaven, A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife” by Robert Allan King.

The class will put these two books into dialogue with each other, so reading these in advance would be important. In our times, it is important to know what is “going on” in the culture and what our Christian faith leads us to believe and how to discern what is true and untrue. This is one way to learn the differences. Books can be purchased on Amazon.com.

Sign up for the class using the Registration Book found in the foyer after the first two services and in the hallway in the Fellowship Center after the third service. Or, call Pastor Bob who is leading the class.

USHER TRAINING & SAFETY EMERGENCY TRAINING COMING MARCH 10All Ushers, especially head ushers, are strongly urged to attend the Usher Training and Safety Emergency Training to be held Sunday, March 10 at 2:00 pm.

Ross Mulder and Larry Soughan will conduct this important one hour meeting. We will be review-ing general and head usher duties and important emergency procedures.

Even if you have been ushering for years, you will find this training information beneficial and important. All ushers and anyone interested in becoming an usher are asked to put this date on your calendar. Please attend!

SAVE THE DATE!Leupp Weekend on Navajo ReservationLast weekend in AprilSaturday and Sunday the 27th and 28th


A brand new year – a time of new beginnings – and a time to “clean house.”

One night after work, a couple new to the community went to look at a house for rent. They had to find something quickly. The agent gave them the key and apologetically cautioned that the electricity was off. By the time they arrived, it was dark. They angled the car headlights just right and cautiously opened the front door. When their eyes adjusted to the dark-ness, they “felt” their way through the house. It was perfect. In their excitement, they paid a deposit and one month’s rent that night. They could move in immediately! Thank you, Lord!

The next day they decided to go back during lunch hour to see the house in the daylight. As they drove up, they noticed that the yard was a bit shabby but thought, “That can be fixed with a little elbow grease. No problem.” Then they opened the door … and gasped!

In the dark, they never noticed the cobwebs, filthy walls, rotting curtains, and gaping holes in the stained carpet. Oh, what had they done?!? The size and layout were perfect, but where to begin?

It’s a new year and close to the Lenten season. It’s time to “clean house.”

Are there cobwebs hanging from the ceiling of your mind? Dirty fingerprints on the walls and doors of your heart? Un-less the lights are on, it’s impossible to see. Everything looks fine. Without a good cleaning, there is no way the grime will be removed.

“If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

When we spend time with Jesus in His Word, in prayer, and in meditation listening, the lights are turned on. He not only shows us where the dirt is, He provides the way to wash it away. He repairs the holes in our “carpet,” and we become sparkly clean. All we need to do is rely on the sacrifice He made on the cross.

May we all spend more time basking in the light of God’s Word and meditating on the gift of His Son’s sacrifice. What a fresh, new beginning for 2013 this will create!

A TIME TO CLEAN OUR SPIRITUAL HOUSEby Donna McIntyre

MARRIAGE AS A REFLECTION OF CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH: A NEW COURSE STARTING FEB. 20It’s perhaps the most important institution that under-pins our society.It’s one of the most life-affecting decisions you will ever make.It can be a glorious blessing or a difficult trial. Or both.Join us for six sessions as we learn:

• what marriage is• where it comes from• how it works in Christian life, always based in its

Biblical foundations and progressing to practical considerations including:

• the roles of husband and wife• choosing wisely• the effect of modern culture• making it work in practice• pitfalls and dangers and more.

This will be an interesting, engaging and informative course with an interactive format.Who should attend: Twenty-something adults, married or unmarried, and mature older teens (though others can come too).

Where: Fellowship Hall Flex Room

When: Six Wednesdays starting February 20th at 6:30 PM

Teacher: Eric Steinberg

Look forward to seeing you!

34605 North Tom Darlington Drive P.O. Box 874 Carefree AZ 85377 480-488-3384

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage PaidPAIDCave Creek, AZ Permit No. 9

or current resident

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Echoes of DHPC | February - March 2013