A Note from the Pastor

April 2016 Volume 7, Issue 4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Calendar 2

PW Lunch & Bible Study

3

Adult CE Resumes 3

Envisioning Our Future

3

Open for Worship Workshop

3

Joint Session & Deacon Meeting

4

Fry’s Rewards Update

4

Deacons’ Assistance Fund

4

February Pics

4 & 5

Birthdays 6

Prayer Requests 6

In the spring of 1994 I was coming to the end of my seminary studies. For the previous three years I had known pretty much what I had to do – the courses I needed to take, the things I had to do to pass those courses, and the things I had to do to satisfy the requirements of the Preparation for Ministry Committee of Carlisle Presbytery. I had checked off everything except for passing the last remaining classes in my last semester. But I had no idea what I would do after graduation day. In the Presbyterian Church you cannot be ordained as a pastor unless you have a call to ministry – from a congregation or a chaplaincy or a teaching institution. Some of my friends already had received calls to serve churches, but that had not yet happened for me. And I was geographically limited because Ken was already serving on the staff of Carlisle Presbytery and doing important work there, so moving was not in the cards. During that bewildering time I sat down to

talk with the man who was my pastor – a wise and gentle soul who had taught me much by his example. I told him I really didn’t

know where I was headed next and that was a little scary. He replied that there was “plenty of biblical precedent for starting out on a journey without having any idea where

you will end up.” God had called Abram and Sarai to leave their home and told them they would find out where to live when they got there. God called Moses to lead the people without showing him where they would have to go. God led the Israelites out of Egypt without showing them where they would end up. There are dozens of stories in the Bible of God calling people to do something or go somewhere without giving them a hint of where they will end up. Now, 22 years later, I am back in the same place again. For most of the last 21 years of ministry I have known what I had to do week by week, what things needed to be taken care of on my “to do” list. And even though there were many times I doubted I could do what was asked of me, it was not hard to figure out what to do next. Now I am about to begin a new journey and it is not at all clear what I will do next or which direction I am to take. The same is true for all of you, my friends. You are about to start on a new phase of your journey and what that will look like is not yet clear. There will probably be many parts of your ministry that will remain the same but there could also be some exciting changes in store. If that seems scary just remember – there is plenty of biblical precedent for starting out on a journey without knowing where you will end up. In other words, you will be in good company!

Shalom,

Shelly

Page 2

Calendar Highlights

Sunday, April 3 SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER 9:00 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal 10:00 a.m. - Worship, with Holy Communion Guadalupe Food Bank items collected 10:40 a.m. - Sunday School 11:15 a.m. - Fellowship, last names A-D asked to bring a snack to share PHOENIX PRIDE PARADE 8:00 a.m. - Carpool to Light Rail 9:30 a.m. - Parade groups line up 10:00 a.m. - Parade steps off

Monday, April 4 6:45 p.m. - Deacons’ meeting

Saturday, April 9 12:00 noon - Presbyterian Women ’s Potluck Lunch and Bible Study

Sunday, April 10 THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER 8:30 a.m. - Adult CE Class resumes to

discuss The Jewishness of Jesus 10:00 a.m. - Worship 10:40 a.m. - Sunday School 11:15 a.m. - Fellowship, last names E-L asked to bring a snack to share

Monday, April 11 7:00 p.m. - Session Meets as Pastor Search Committee

Sunday, April 17 FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 8:30 a.m. - Adult CE Class 10:00 a.m. - Worship, Rev. Ken Moe

preaching 10:40 a.m. - Sunday School 11:15 a.m. - Fellowship, last names M-O asked to bring a snack to share 11:30 a.m. - SJPM Committee mtg

Saturday, April 23 8:30 a.m. - Hygiene Kit Packing Party

Sunday, April 24 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 8:30 a.m. - Adult CE Class 10:00 a.m. - Worship 10:40 a.m. - Sunday School 11:00 a.m. - Visioning Program hosted by Presbytery Pastor

Brad Munroe 5:00 p.m. - Open for Worship workshop at Desert Heritage

Saturday, April 30 9:00 a.m. - Joint Session/Deacon mtg

Sunday, May 1 SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 8:30 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal 10:00 a.m. - Worship, with Holy Communion Guadalupe Food Bank items collected 10:40 a.m. - Sunday School 11:15 a.m. - Fellowship, last names A-D asked to bring a snack to share

April 2016

A Stewardship Sn ippet

When the risen Christ encounters his disciples, including Thomas, in a room where the doors were locked for fear of the Jews, he adds

a new Beatitude to the ones we’ve heard proclaimed before: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Stewards of the mysteries of God’s love do not need proof of the

risen Christ. They know it because their lives have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit who has breathed new life into them. As stewards of this great gift, it is appropriate to reflect on how we,

in turn, add new life into our congregation and our community.

-- From the International Catholic Stewardship Conference

Page 3 Volume 7, Issue 4

Adult CE Class Resumes April 10

After some time off for Holy Week and Easter the Adult Christian Ed class will resume meeting on Sunday, the 10th, at 8:30 a.m. We’ll begin a discussion of the book What Every Christian Needs to Know About The Jewishness of Jesus, by Rabbi Evan Moffic. Rabbi Moffic takes a look at some of the crucial events in Jesus’ life and ministry from a Jewish perspective and invites us to understand how Jesus’

Jewish roots shaped the way he lived and the things he preached. The class will meet on the 10th, the 17th, and the 24th, and probably a few Sundays in May to discuss the book a few chapters at a time. Shelly has one extra copy available if you would like to read along and join the discussion.

Presbyterian Women would like to invite all the women of the church to our meeting on Saturday, April 9th. We will be finishing up the last lesson of the "Reconciling Paul: A Contemporary Study of 2 Corinthians.” The lesson is entitled “A Call to Apostleship in the Twenty-First

Century” and considers the relevance of apostleship for our contemporary situation. We will meet at the church at noon for lunch so please bring a favorite lunch item to share. Hope to see you there.

PW Noon Lunch Meeting April 9

Envisioning Our Future: Sharing Hearts, Giving Voice, Seeking God

Come join the congregation following worship on Sunday, April 24th, to begin our journey to find a new pastor. We will have food and refreshments, and then we will meet with Rev. Brad Munroe, presbytery pastor, to discuss where we are as a church right now and where we

see ourselves in the future. We have scheduled 75 minutes with Brad to discuss and share our thoughts. Whether you’re a member or friend of the congregation, all are encouraged to join us for this important discussion!

“Open for Worship” Workshop April 24 at Desert Heritage

Can a lesbian who works in Mesa be fired simply for who she is? Can a transgender person be refused service at a restaurant in Mesa? Can a gay couple be turned down on a rental application? Seventy-five percent (75%) of Arizonans believe that the LGBT community is protected by both state and federal laws, but neither is true! Please join us for a ONE Community’s interactive ”Open for Worship” workshop on faith and LGBT inclusion, Sunday, April 24th, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30p.m. at Desert Heritage Church, 1020 North Horne Avenue in Mesa. Learn about Arizona’s

non-discrimination policies and how you can help make a difference. ONE Community is working every day to create an Arizona that respects, protects and celebrates our diverse community to build the best possible future for Arizona! People of faith are needed to help! The workshop will open your eyes and hearts to both the need and ways to work for change! To RSVP, please email Rev. Debra Peevey at debra@onecommunity.co

Page 4 April 2016

In an emergency situation sometimes you can’t quite make it without a little financial help. Celebration of Life maintains a Deacons’ Assistance Fund to help members of the church in times of financial difficulty by providing small loans or gifts.

For more information, or to apply for help from the Deacons’ Assistance Fund, please contact Salena, Judy or Shelly, current members of this committee which administers confidential church aid.

Deacons’ Assistance Fund Available to Help COL Members

Both boards of the church will meet on Saturday, April 30th at 9:00 a.m. The two groups have met together from time to time in the past to have joint discussions about our mission and ministry. This time the discussion will focus on debriefing the concerns that were raised in the

congregational gathering on the 24th as well as talking about program needs in the year to come. Since the deacons provide refreshments all year long, the session members will provide breakfast that morning for all those attending.

Joint Meeting of Session and Deacons April 30

Between December 1, 2015 and February 29, 2016 seven different households connected to our congregation shopped at Fry’s and used the Fry’s Rewards

program. Their purchases resulted in a donation of $44.92 from Fry’s. Signing up is easy on the Fry’s website (or just click here). Our group number is 91408.

Fry’s Rewards Update

March in Pictures: Chris & Sharon’s Wedding

Page 5 Volume 7, Issue 4

March in Pictures: OACC Luncheon, Spring Cleaning, Palm Sunday, Easter

3 Janet

3 Liz

7 Susan

14 Jackie Pat

15 April

17 Mike

17 Pat

22 Helena

24 Tabb

26 Suzie

28 John

April Birthdays

Prayer Requests

Celebration of Life Presbyterian Church USA

(480) 838-8550 (480) 838-1024 fax

Newsletter items due the last Friday

of each month.

Visit Us on the Web and on Facebook

Celebration of Life Presbyterian Church

2530 S Alma School Rd

Mesa, Arizona 85210

Celebration of Life has been called by God to be a

congregation that welcomes and fully values all persons.

Our diversity is a gift of God and essential to our witness to the

Gospel.

For continued healing for Kathryn

For healing, peace, and wisdom for Larimore and Carlos

For blessings on newlyweds Sharon & Chris

www.celebration-of-life.org

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