SEPTEMBER 2014

Special points of

interest:

Our Vision

Publication

Spire Deadline

Altar flowers

Church hours

Electronic giving

Go green

Church calendar

Sermon Schedule 2

Church Council 3

Announcements 4

Sr. High Mission Trip 4

Birthday &

Anniversary Corner 5

Inside this issue:

Volume 45, Issue 6

firstchurchofmesa.com Share the Journey iPraise iConnect iServe

THETHE

SPIRESPIRE

RENNICK’S REFLECTIONS

There is a game that’s played among children and youth that pushes the imagination

and allows them to dream for a moment. The game goes something like this: What would you do if given $20 to spend? The responses range from save it to give it away. Some responses include getting a special item or some sort of edible treat.

In the Bible, we read a story about three people who are given an amount of money and told to wisely take care of it. The first two persons went out and doubled the

amount given to them. The third person, fearing the anger of the giver, hid the money to keep it safe. On the day of accounting, the first two persons who had doubled the amount of money given to them where praised for their efforts. The third was released from his responsibility. (see Matthew 25:14-30)

Recently, we have been given a similar challenge. A grant from the Annual Conference in the amount of $2000 has been given to each local church. Bishop Hoshibata is invit-

ing us to prayerfully imagine how to use this gift as seed money to jump-start some-thing new to create vital ministry to reach new people. Something new may include an effort to reach persons who are new to the neighborhood, a training event for the con-gregation, some sort of evangelism outreach, starting a new worship service, Bible study, or a small group ministry.

This is something very exciting and challenges us to ask, “What can we do for the sake of God’s kingdom?” I’d like to rather think we ask, “What is it that we cannot do?” As

we imagine, the possibilities are endless. So what can we do with this gift? Put it under a mattress? Place it in a savings account? Take an additional collection and multiply the amount? Invest in the transformation of the world? Let’s give this a shot.

I invite you to dream about this gift and how it is a launching point for doing something BIG. Our meet and greets have been opportunities to dream about First Church. Let’s keep up this great momentum and see just what we can ignite together. Please discuss your thoughts in your classes and small groups or write me at da-

vid@firstchurchofmesa.com with your ideas.

Dreaming!

David

Page 2

OUR VISION

We strive to reach

out to the

community

through:

A ministry of

continuous

spiritual growth;

A ministry with

children, youth,

and families in all

their diversity,

and;

A ministry of

music and the

arts.

LIKED THE

SERMON?

You can now download the

sermons onto your Ipod or

listen via your computer.

Visit firstchurchofmesa.com

and start reaching out

electronically to friends,

family, and those who are

looking for God!

September 7th Communion Sunday

Promotion Sunday

9:00 & 11:11 am

Sermon Series: “Mending Fences”

Sermon Title: “Mending Fences With Conflict Resolution”

September 14th

9:00 & 11:11 am

Sermon Series: “Mending Fences”

Sermon Title: “Mending Fences With My Family”

September 21st

9:00 & 11:11 am

Sermon Series: “Mending Fences”

Sermon Title: “Mending Fences With My Neighbor”

September 28th

9:00 & 11:11 am

Sermon Series: “Mending Fences”

Sermon Title: “Mending Fences With God”

October 5th

World Communion Sunday

9:00 & 11:11 am

Sermon Series: “Fears of Faith”

Sermon Title: “Forgiveness”

October 12th

9:00 & 11:11 am

Sermon Series: “Fears of Faith”

Sermon Title: “Hell”

October 19th

9:00 & 11:11 am

Sermon Series: “Fears of Faith”

Sermon Title: “Forces of Darkness”

October 26th

9:00 & 11:11 am

Sermon Series: “Fears of Faith”

Sermon Title: “Death”

SEPTEMBER SERVICES OCTOBER SERVICES

Publication

Deadlines

Sunday Bulletins /

Announcements

Wednesday Noon

Spire Deadline

All articles to be submitted

to the church office no

later than

September 10th

(Holidays and vacations may

advance or delay these deadlines

by a day or two.)

Page 3

Flowers

To place flowers on the

Lord’s Table in honor or

memory of someone

special contact the Church

Office at 480-969-5577

The SPRC committee by Discipline of The United Methodist Church functions as the churches person-nel committee. In that capacity, we are thrilled to announce that Patricia “Lisa” Kaleopa has been hired as our new Administrative Assistant. Lisa will be working part time in the office Monday-Thursday. Those of you that have been in the office may have seen Lisa functioning in a volunteer ca-pacity, but now it is official. She has already become an important part of the staff team. Please help us in welcoming Lisa! Her new email address is:

admin@firstchurchofmesa.com

Katie Mozurkewich, our Office Ad-ministrator, remains on staff full time and is adding event coordi-nating responsibilities to her cur-rent role as Administrator. Katie’s email remains:

Secretary@firstchurchofmesa.com

Welcoming our new Pastor – there will be a number of meet and greets with Pastor David in the coming weeks. Please look for a sign-up sheet in the Narthex on Sunday or e-mail Margie or Sandra if you would like to host or attend a meet and greet. Sandra Lackore: cdlackore@aol.com Margie Rick:

margieruth.rice@gmail.com

Thanks to all who participated and helped with the Potluck and Hymn Sing on August 24. We hope you enjoyed singing your favorite hymns! Thanks to Kevin Gardner & Bonnie Loney for leading us in the

Hymn Sing.

Please remember to wear your nametag on Sunday mornings. This is part of our attempt to provide radical hospitality at first Church. Also, Pastor David asked us to wear our tags so he can

learn our names. If you need a new nametag, go to the table in the narthex, add your name to the list, and we will be sure you receive a tag the following

Sunday.

CHURCH COUNCIL The following reports reflect the goal of FUMC’s Church Council - connecting our vi-sion with our ministry:

WELCOMING MINISTRY STAFF PARISH RELATIONS

WORSHIP COMMITTEE

Fry’s Community Rewards &

Albertson’s Rewards

Please contact Peggy Tenney at 602-510-2088 to find out more information on these programs that earn some extra money for our church projects. Fry’s is re-quiring that we re-register at this

time so please do so asap.

Page 4

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHURCH

OFFICE HOURS

M-TH:

9—4:30 pm

PH: 480-969-5577

Electronic

Giving

Electronic giving is a

direct debit program

where your

contribution is debited

automatically from

your checking or

savings account,

either weekly or

monthly. This is an

easy way to fulfill

your stewardship

commitment, even

when you are unable

to attend church. You

can pick up an

authorization form in

the church office, and

talk to Lynn Adams

for further details.

CHECK OUT our new

option to give with a

debit/credit card on

our website at

firstchurchofmesa.com

Bible Study:

The Wednesday morning bible study group will resume meeting on Sep-tember 10th at 10:00 a.m. in

the Assembly Room.

This bible study group has donated a clock which hangs on the Assembly Room wall in

loving memory of Phyllis Kern Howe, who was a long time

member of their group.

Church Library:

Our church library is located in the Assembly Room. There are no check out cards—just borrow a book, read and re-

turn.

Donations of Chris-tian books are needed, both fiction and non-fiction

(Christian only).

Trunk or Treat:

Save the date!

October 25th

from 3:00–

5:00 p.m.

SENIOR HIGH MISSION TRIP

Page 5

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

9/01 Carroll, Stan

9/01 Kuck, Nicole

9/02 Cummings-John, Yemi

9/03 Tatom, Erinn

9/03 Warden, Jim

9/04 Bunning, Eric

9/05 Webb, Jamie

9/06 Mozurkewich, Emma

9/08 Ripley, Jim

9/08 Thuenen, Randall

9/11 Pirlo, Debbie

9/12 Cummins, Sierra

9/12 Koniseti, Kipeli

9/12 Lewis, Terry

9/13 Christensen, Eleanore

9/13 Mayberry, Vanessa

9/13 McCraw, Jerad

9/13 Mindrup, Raymond

9/13 Vasko, Vera M.

9/14 Tapaatoutai, Siokatame, Sr.

9/15 Courtright, Mary Jo

9/15 Patterson, Betty Jo

9/15 Sellers, Krissi

9/16 Kaye, Mary

9/17 Standage, Seth

9/17 Thuenen, Jonathan

9/18 Kain, Ryan

9/19 Walkosz, Cameron

9/20 Stevenson, Sandra

9/21 Bartlow, Jeanette

9/22 Desenberg, Margaret

9/22 Rountree, Evelyn

9/22 Thuenen, Judy

9/22 Whitford, Anthony

9/23 Barefoot, Juanita

9/23 Cummngs, Abigail

9/23 Smith, Loretta

9/23 Whitford, Theresa

9/25 Baum, Ann

9/26 Conger, Donna

926 Lucchesi, Rick

9/26 Phillips, Linda

9/26 Tenney, Peggy

9/27 Grace, Donny

9/27 Larry, Inez

9/30 Kopf, Mary

9/30 Larson, Kathy

9/07 Ripley, Jim & Pam

9/12 Hakaumotu, Tevita & Puii

9/13 Sellers, Mike & Krissi

9/13 Sanders, Shad & Nikki

9/16 Thuenen, Randall & Judy

9/27 Blais, Raymond & Tracy

Congrats to

all our

birthdays & anniver-

saries! If

your name is not on our

list (or if you

know of someone

who should

be), please call the

church office

so we may update our

information.

We truly do not mean to

leave anyone

out.

SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

THE SPIRE First United Methodist Church

15 E. First Ave. Mesa, AZ 85210 480-969-5577

fax 480-844-2846 Spire Submissions:

secretary@firstchurchofmesa.com www.firstchurchofmesa.com

Office Hours: 9 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Thursday Editorial Policies: The mission of The Spire is to be one communication source for the First United Methodist Church of Mesa. Other communication sources include e-mails, the Sunday church bulletins and verbal announcements made at services or other official meetings. Chairpersons of Boards and Committees , coordinators, members and friends of First UMC may submit announcements, information or items of interest that relate to the mission of the church. The Editor shall reserve the right to either accept or reject articles, to edit for space, grammar and accuracy. Currently, the Spire is being published monthly. Deadline for submission of articles are published both in this newsletter and weekly bulletins.

The deadline for submission of articles for the next issue is September 10, 2014. The Spire Newsletter Team Editors: Katie Mozurkewich and Linda Phillips Publisher: Linda Phillips Printers: Jo Ann Ramirez Davis, Kermit Davis Assemblers: Pam Rutkowski, Irene Risser, Carla Zwald, Linda Miller, & Margaret Desenberg

THE SPIRE (USMC 944660) is published monthly, by the First United Methodist Church, 15 East First Avenue, Mesa AZ 85210, a nonprofit organization. Periodical postage paid at Mesa AZ 85201-9996.

www.firstchurchofmesa.com

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE SPIRE, 15 E. 1st Ave., Mesa AZ 85210

DATED MATERIAL– DO NOT DELAY

Pastors:

Rev. David C. Rennick

Rev. Dr. Bob Mitchell

Rev. Cecil Lackore - Pastor Emeritus