MARCH/APRIL 2017
PINNACLE
VISTAS
TRACINGS DR. WESLEY AVRAM | p3
LOVING GOD WITH OUR MIND DR. ALLEN HILTON | p4
WHY LENT? DR. MICHAEL HEGEMAN | p8
INSPIRED TO SERVE: MORGAN NEELY JOAN FUDALA | P14
PINNACLE
VISTAS is a bi-monthly publication of Pinnacle Presbyterian Church 25150 North Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 480.585.9448 pinnaclepres.org facebook.com/pinnaclepres twitter.com/pinnaclepres instagram.com/pinnaclepc PINNACLE VISTAS TEAM Shirley Norris, Director of Communications Carol Skewes, Member Communications CONTACT US vistas@pinnaclepres.org
UPCOMING EVENTS Pinnacle Concert Series: Four Freshmen Concert Mar. 10 / 7:30 pm Amigos Brats & Beer Mar. 25 / 5:30 pm Fran Park Memorial Lecture Mar. 31 / 7 - 9 pm Easter Eggstravaganza Apr. 15 | 10:00 am Pinnacle Concert Series: Jonathan Ryan, Organ Apr. 21 / 7:30 pm Blessing of the Animals Apr. 29 | 9:30 am Bluegrass Mass: “Come Away to the Skies” Apr. 30 / 10:00 am
2
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
TRACINGS
with feature articles about specific
A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR, DR. WESLEY AVRAM
ministries.
aspects of Christian life or Pinnacle Smaller
articles
will
highlight areas of our ministry similar to how we describe our work in Our
Dear friends,
Common Life: how we learn; how we
A new Vistas format has arrived!
serve; how we enjoy each other. So
We hope that you’ll find it engaging,
we can be sure the articles in Vistas
interesting,
informative,
are thoughtful and most worth your
inspiring . . . and all that. This
time, we’ll publish it semi-monthly.
new format has come out of many
We hope you’ll enjoy it and find it to
months of research, forming ideas,
be a good addition to your spiritual
consulting, and pondering by our
toolbox—and that it will inspire you to
communications
grow in faith.
helpful,
staff
(Shirley
Norris, Carol Skewes), Kelsy Brown working with them, and the staff. I’m so grateful to Shirley and Kelsy, especially, for all they’ve put into this. Please don’t hesitate to give us your feedback, ideas, and suggestions.
This month we’re focusing on Lent, both about how we celebrate that season of preparation for Easter here at Pinnacle and what Lent means to believers. Like Advent before Christmas, we speak of Lent as the
After surveying members of the
40 days before Easter but don’t often
congregation several months ago
explore its meaning at much depth.
about our communications—what
We hope that this issue of Vistas
you read, how often, and where
might help you begin that exploration.
you
find
your
information—we
discovered that with so many avenues of communication and so many improvements in those avenues, the traditional ‘newsletter’ format of Vistas was giving information that most of you are now finding elsewhere. You look at the weekly e-news, at our website, and in the Sunday Our Common Life insert. So looking at what several successful congregations around the country
DR. WESLEY AVRAM has served as Pastor at Pinnacle since 2009. He has a bachelor degree and PhD from Northwestern University and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Seminary. Wes is the author of Where the Light Shines Through (Brazos, 2005) and Anxious About Empire (Brazos, 2004).
You’ll also see articles about our work in Haiti, about the new Fran Park Center for Faith and Life, about our annual Blessing of the Animals celebration in the Spring, about the upcoming rummage sale, and how one of our teens experienced last summer’s mission trip to Belize. Blessed reading! Joyfully,
are doing with the same reality in their places, we decided to try this approach. It’s more a magazine style,
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
3
Loving God with our BY DR. ALLEN HILTON
MIND
What role does Christian faith
This question is crucial. When
12:2) So what does that look like
play in the working of our minds?
the Apostle Paul pictures the sort
and mean? What does God want to
Our bodies find their way to pews
of change God works in lives that
do with our minds?
on a Sunday morning, to classes
have been turned over to God,
or committee meetings or choir
he highlights reason: “Do not
The
rehearsals on a weekday, and/or to
be conformed to this world,” he
Park Center for Faith and Life”
mission projects here and there.
writes, “but be transformed by the
(formerly the Pinnacle Theological
But what of our minds?
renewing of your minds.” (Romans
Center) focuses directly on that
4
newly-christened
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
“Fran
A Contemporary Voice
church hierarchy. It need not be so.
Through programs that help reroute
How does all of this engagement
Robust faith fits science squarely
our neural pathways from worldly
with God in Christ through Spirit fit
within a Christian life of the mind.
ways of thought to divine ones, FPC
us for conversation with the wider
To this end, FPC gathers the first
helps activate the kind of whole-life
world that surrounds us? FPC charts
Wednesday of each month at 7 pm for
transformation Paul describes. Here
our path from church to world by
our “Faith and Science Roundtable.”
are some examples:
featuring
crucial
and
faithful
question.
stimulating
speakers,
gathering various faith communities
When Pharisees ask Jesus what is
in conversation, and forming a new
the greatest commandment of all,
God
generation of Christian leaders to
communicated Godself to us in
he answers, “You shall love the Lord
be adept at engaging culture in and
the life, death, and resurrection of
your God with all of your heart, soul,
for Christ. Dr. Wes Avram leads this
Jesus, the Word, who has “made God
and mind.” (Matthew 22:37) Would
initiative through lectures, classes,
known” (John 1:18). Since you and
you like some help figuring out how
and online resources.
Bible Christians
believe
that
to love God with your mind? Keep
I are untimely born to experience that flesh-and-blood life, the Bible
Courageous Conversations
becomes our exciting access – not
In an age of deep racial, socio-
only to Jesus, but to the God-inhabited
economic, religious, and political
history of his family (historic Israel)
divisions
and his followers (the early Christian
Americans, and the world, FPC
church). Dr. Allen Hilton helps
initiates Courageous Conversations
FPC offer exciting weekly Bible
to help us practice new ways of
Study classes and online resources
capitalizing on our differences rather
that soak us in that revelation long
than resenting or fearing them.
enough to change us.
Through our passionate and loving
between
your eye on the Fran Park Center for Faith and Life!
Christians,
engagement with one another across Theology
our disagreements, Christians not
What does Christianity look like in
only learn a new skill that our culture
our time? Nearly two-millennia of
is not teaching, but testify to our
Christians have worked to make
neighbors that there is a better way.
DR. ALLEN HILTON joined the Pinnacle staff in the fall of 2016 as our Theologian in Residence for the Fran Park Center. He is also the founder and leader of House United, a donordriven non-profit initiative dedicated to bringing people together across our political, religious, and racial divisions. Allen has served on the New Testament faculties of the Yale Divinity School and St. Mary’s College of California.
sense of the Bible and God’s character in ways that spoke meaningfully to
Interface
their generation. We call that historic
What could be more important in
conversation Christian Theology. Dr.
our own scientific age than asking
Michael Hegeman helps FPC offer
again how we ought to put what
a growing theological community
we believe in conversation with
through occasional classes and online
what we know? That conversation
resources.
God
can get tense. Galileo observed the
inspires our own engagement with
isochronism of pendulums in a
the question “What is Christianity
cathedral, but the implication of his
now?”
vision of the cosmos troubled the
Through
these,
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
FRAN PARK CENTER EVENTS March 31 | 7 - 9 pm Fran Park Memorial Lecture Christians in Uncharted Territory Speaker: Tod Bolsinger April 29 | 1 pm A High, Lonesome Bluegrass Mass: Blending Converging Styles and Expressions in Worship Speaker: Dr. Timothy Sharp
5
WE ARE
ONE
IN COMMUNITY
BY JAN LOICHLE
We have had a relationship with
and what could we possibly have in
Who hasn’t felt pride in our large
Pastor Luc Deratus and Harmony
common with them?
and beautiful sanctuary? Have you
Ministries for almost ten years
welcomed visitors, embraced new
now, and we have seen pictures
Well, for starters, there are the
members, helped serve communion,
of
hurricane
children. Who hasn’t seen the joyful
prayed for those in need or helped
devastation. We have heard about
faces and heard the laughter of
pick up the sanctuary? We’ve seen
cholera, poverty, political dissent and
children chasing bubbles, mugging
all this in Haiti, and after our classes
despair. But our mission teams have
for photos, coloring, playing games,
in Port-au-Prince on Saturday, we
experienced something very different
learning their ABC’s and hearing
watched a team of women come in
and want to share that story.
Bible stories?
with brooms, mops and buckets and
Our partner in mission, Pastor
Who hasn’t experienced the elation
Luc Deratus, is a man of deep
of seeing a project succeed beyond all
and unshakable faith with great
expectations? The school in LaSalle
Have you thrilled to the choirs’ music,
vision, strength, compassion, and
opened with 50 students in the fall of
and joined in song as well? Harmony
perseverance. He is on an unending
2015, and in just two years now has
Ministries has many choirs and vocal
mission to spread the gospel, save
over 150 children clamoring to learn
groups, and the congregations sing
souls, educate children and ease
more and more. The school in Port-
and sing accompanied by keyboards,
the burdens of others. He preaches,
au-Prince has sewing classes for girls
guitars and drums.
teaches and serves in the bustle of
during the day and women at night.
Port-au-Prince and the remoteness
Kids are conjugating verbs in French.
Have you “dressed up” and made sure
of several villages. Who are these
The new school will have a computer
your shoes were okay? The women in
people
room and technical training.
the main choir wear perfectly pressed
earthquake
of
and
Harmony
Ministries,
6
clean the beautiful tile floor till it was spotless for Sunday worship.
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
white skirts and blouses; all women
Their church is our church. They are
wear skirts or dresses, the men wear
we. We have the same pride in our
dress shirts and pants or suits, and
church and affection for our church
usually ties. There’s a shoeshine
family, the same hopes and dreams
stand outside the front door of the
for our children, the same desire
church; their shoes are polished.
for good health and jobs, the same feelings of uncertainty and grief, the
Have you seen a commissioning of
same faith in God to get us through.
our mission teams? When our team
Get to know our family in Haiti. We
was in Haiti, a Harmony Ministries
are one in community.
mission team was commissioned to take needed items to an orphanage with 300 disabled children in Portau-Prince. Have you heard a request for special giving in addition to weekly offerings? In Haiti the congregation was asked to give as able for construction, generators, or equipment.
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
JAN LOICHLE made a career in telecommunications before moving with her husband, Lee, to Arizona in 2002. A member of Pinnacle since 2003, she has been active in various missions activities. Jan has been involved with the Haiti Initiative since its inception, works extensively with Pastor Luc and has traveled to Haiti seven times.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE READ TO ME March 21, April 25 | 5 - 7 pm ANDRE HOUSE March 9, 14, 26; April 11, 13, 26 3 - 7 pm DAYS FOR GIRLS SEWING CIRCLE March 13, April 10 9:30 am - 2 pm For further information about these and other opportunities visit us online at pinnaclepres.org/serve
PHOTOS - Left page: participants from the January 2017 Haiti mission, Dr. Josef from Harmony Ministries clinic. Right page: Pastor Luc gives a tour of the new school in Port-au-Prince, school children at play and women in worship from the choir in Port-au-Prince.
7
WHY LENT? 8
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
BY DR. MICHAEL HEGEMAN As Christians prepare for Easter, we
wrestling with all the shadow aspects
you are the God in whom I take
hear about the season of “Lent” as a
of this earthly life, as he prepared for
refuge. (Psalm 43)
time set aside for fasting or giving
his public ministry. Sunday 6: Palm Sunday: O LORD,
up certain types of luxuries as a form of purposeful and prayerful self-
But to calculate these 40 days of Lent,
do not be far away! I will tell of your
reflection, discerning all that stands
we actually have to leave out the
name to my brothers and sisters; in
in the way of our relationship with
Sundays – which are, apparently, feast
the midst of the congregation I will
God, with one another, and with
days, times to break the fasts of Lent.
praise you. (Psalm 22:19-22)
God’s creation. Some Christians
On these days we do not just indulge
commit
daily
in those things we have given up;
devotions that aid us, through
instead, we can focus on the themes
the reading of scripture passages,
of Lent designated for each “feast”
meditation, and deliberate acts of
of the Lord’s Day celebration, as we
service, in drawing near to God.
gather for worship, lift up prayer
to
disciplines
of
and praise, and fellowship with one The word “Lent” actually comes
another in God’s Spirit.
Whatever ways we choose to focus our attention and actions during our springtime “fasts,” let us take time to feast in Lent upon the words of scripture and be nourished in the assurance of God’s steadfast love and redemptive power.
from Old English and refers to “springtime,” because spring is the
The Medieval church had set liturgies
season of “lengthening of days” (Lent
for these Lenten fast-breaking days.
= Lengthening). Originally, medieval
Each of these Sundays bore a certain
English Christians spoke of the forty
focus, and the first five were named
days of fasting in springtime (Lent) as
for the first word (in Latin) of the
part of getting ready for the solemn
open prayer of the service.
commemorations of the Passion Week and the joyful celebrations of Easter, giving up everything that might distract one in the great pilgrimage of faith.
Sunday 1: Invocabit: God’s salvation will be shown to those who call upon him. (Psalm 91:14-16) Sunday 2: Reminiscere: God will
We can see the patterning of the forty days of Lent, which begin with Ash Wednesday and end on Holy Saturday, in several “40’s” in the Bible: Moses spent 40 days
remember us according to his steadfast love. (Psalm 25:6-7) Sunday 3: Oculi: My eyes are always toward the Lord. (Psalm 25: 15-18)
conversing with God on Mt. Sinai,
Sunday 4: Laetare: Rejoice with
the Hebrew people spent 40 years
Jerusalem, for our salvation, like
wandering
hers, is coming! (Isaiah 66:10)
through
the
desert,
DR. MICHAEL HEGEMAN holds a Ph.D. in Preaching and New Testament Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary, and Master’s degrees in Divinity and Theology. Mike taught speech and preaching courses at Princeton Seminary for ten years. He currently resides in Phoenix where he teaches college courses in spiritual studies and leads adult education at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, where he is a member.
and most significantly Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, fasting and Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
Sunday 5: Judica: Vindicate me, for
9
All Creatures
Great and Small 10
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
BY REV. KELSY BROWN Whether they have scales or fur,
Pets teach us that we are not meant to
feathers or quills, our pets hold a
be alone. When God created animals,
special place in our hearts. Their
he didn’t just create one, but created
personalities bring comfort, laughter,
many, with many varieties—birds,
peace, and presence.
fish, insects, mammals and reptiles. Each with their own characteristics
Studies have shown a number of
and survival skills. But what they all
health benefits for people who have
have in common is their need for
pets including enhancing social skills,
each other. God also wants to be in
responsibility, decreasing a person’s
community with us. God wants to be
risk of a heart attack, reducing
present in our lives and for our life to
allergies, encouraging exercise, and
be a part of His.
providing
companionship.
Each
of these is important, but for pet
The greatest blessing I have received
lovers, we know there is more than
from my dog, Calvin, is the gift
just physical, emotional and mental
of presence. No matter what has
health reasons to own a pet. There is
happened
a spiritual reason too.
Whether I am sad, angry, worried,
or
did
not
happen.
happy or excited, he is there. God is St. Francis of Assisi was known
here too.
for his love of animals. He is often quoted that looking into the face of
It is because of these gifts that we take
an animal is like a mirror image of
the opportunity to bless our pets the
God. I don’t think he is saying God
way they have blessed us. A blessing
looks like a rabbit, a porcupine or
is naming a gift from God. It imparts
worse, a javelina, but instead that
God’s power and presence into this
each animal helps us understand
pet. We bless those who passed and
who God is more clearly based on the
are in the presence of God, and we
blessings these animals bring.
bless the ones that are here with us today.
Many have said that their pets have taught them about unconditional love. They love like it is their only job. No matter what has happened that day they always react happily to the sound of our voice, they look us in the eye with love, they snuggle and smile in their own way. Pets remind us of God’s unconditional love, and we too should love like it is our job.
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
REV. KELSY BROWN is Associate Pastor for Membership and Mission. Originally from Utah, she received a Masters of Divinity from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA, and served as solo pastor for the Altavista Presbyterian Church in Altavista, VA.
Blessing the Animals You who created them and called them good: bless again these creatures who come to us as a blessing fashioned of fur or feather or fin, formed of flesh that breathes with your own breath, that you have made from sheer delight, that you have given in dazzling variety. Bless them who curl themselves around our hearts who twine themselves through our days who companion us in our labor who call us to come and play. Bless them who will never be entirely tamed and so remind us that you love what is wild, that you rejoice in what lives close to the earth, that your heart beats in the heart of these creatures you have entrusted to our care. © Jan L. Richardson janrichardson.com
Blessing of the Animals Saturday, April 29 | 9:30 am Chapel Garden
11
MINISTRY Highlight CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
PINNACLE
PEEPS
Cheryl Stead Q How long have you attended Pinnacle? A Twelve years Q Where are you from, originally? A Humboldt, Iowa
BY KELLY HORN
curriculum and offer Pinnacle’s
Pinnacle kids love church, especially
kids yet another great opportunity
when the worship experience is
to grow deeper in their relationship
devised uniquely for them. One
with God.
Sunday morning each month, all of the children, preschool through 5th grade, enjoy a complete liturgical experience with songs, prayers, an offering and even a scripture lesson. 5th graders all share in leading the service alongside Merry Cole and Bruce Bender, two fabulous Pinnacle volunteers who devote their faith and talents to our children. The services
KELLY HORN joined Pinnacle as the Director of Children’s Ministries in 2015 after nearly 20 years in the field of education. He was a teacher, division director and headmaster. Kelly has Bachelor's degrees in French and Economics and a Master's degree in Education from Truman State University.
Q Are you a dog or cat person? A I like both! Q What is your best-loved book or movie and why? A Hope Floats. It makes me cry every time! Q What would others be surprised to learn about you? A I’m a math geek, through and through.
connect with our Church School 12
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
THE
GIFT OF TREASURE
BY SUSAN FORREST They arrive in boxes and bags. Carried
Our work positively impacts the lives
have given and received love. The gift
by loving hands, each has a unique
of those served, as well as changes
of treasure has come full circle.
story. Each is a reminder of family,
the lives of our youth and adults who
friends, or a chapter in our personal
serve them.
journeys. Some are delivered with laughter, others surrendered with
In our affluent neighborhoods, there
tears. They have brought joy and
are few, if any, reminders of poverty.
served a purpose. They are castoffs,
To truly be an inclusive church
soon to once again become treasure.
requires us to walk outside of our immediate physical and emotional
The rummage sale is the primary
comfort zone. Our mission trips are
funding source for the youth of
local, national, and international in
Pinnacle Presbyterian as they carry
scope. We look into the eyes of the
the Gospel into the world. This year
poor, homeless, hungry, addicted,
our mission trip is to the Navajo
forgotten, aging, and those with
Nation. We will volunteer at Kids
untreated mental illness. Like our
Club, a gathering place for Navajo
donated castoffs, each has his or her
children and youth, as well as paint
unique story. We listen, really listen.
houses, do yard work, and complete a
When it’s time to leave there are
variety of other community projects.
tears, some theirs, some ours. We
SUSAN FORREST spent 37 years in Human Resources and has been an active member of Pinnacle since 2014. She serves as Elder, leading the Worship, Music and Arts Ministry Group and is a Stephen Minister.
Share your treasure by donating gently used items or volunteering for a four-hour shift. We have various tasks suitable for all interests and physical abilities, including greeting, sorting, pricing, cashiers, food preparation, and baggers. For more info visit: pinnaclepres.org/rummage-sale.
BOB ARMSTRONG is Icim laboreh entiist
emquis
dolupta
veriore
comnihil.
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
13
INSPIRED TO SERVE BY JOAN FUDALA Pinnacle High junior, Morgan Neely,
After dinner, Morgan said the
had never been outside the U.S.
Pinnacle youth and adults joined the
when she was encouraged to join
villagers for a worship service that
Morgan says she’d like to study
the June 2016 Pinnacle Presbyterian
included lots of singing.
Spanish and return to Belize as a
Youth Mission to Belize. She says the experience changed her life. “The people of the village of Concepcion
were
so
warm,
welcoming and happy,” Morgan said, despite the fact that they had very little in material possessions. “It made me cherish everything I have.” She described Concepcion as a rural village where basic homes surround a church, which is also the community
youth from Pinnacle Presbyterian.
volunteer. Whatever the future holds, Most of the villagers spoke some
she said she is so grateful – for the
English, and their Spanish was
experience, and for all that she has
also
here at home.
easy
to
understand,
so
communication was easy. One of her favorite memories from the trip was playing ball with the children of the village. “It started to sprinkle, then it poured rain. We kept playing, and all got soaked, but it was so much fun!” She also said it was great getting to know the other
Joan Fudala is an author and community historian. She’s been a member of Pinnacle for five years, serving as a trustee on the Pinnacle Foundation board, and co-chair for Amigo’s group.
center. “They are like a big, happy family; no one locks their doors, and everyone helps each other.” A typical day for Morgan and the 30-plus others from Pinnacle on the mission trip began with a simple breakfast
prepared
by
villager
women. After breakfast, Pinnacle youth played games like softball, soccer and tag with the local youth. They also purchased and distributed food to homes throughout the village, and offered to pray with residents. “We also repaired the roof of Pastora’s home; she is the pastor of the church where we ate and worshipped. 14
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
Meet Our Newest Members Being a member of Pinnacle is an invitation to be part of a family that together strives to live out our Biblical responsibilities to love, serve and encourage.
Carey Eckler
Angela Fisher
Not Pictured: Laura & Bob Feghali, Tracey & Kenny Locke, Jill & Mike Neitzke
NEW
CONNECTIONS MEMBERSHIP CLASS Sunday, March 12
9:00 am | Chapel Library or 11:15 am | Sanctuary Lounge
Pinnacle Vistas • March/April 2017
15