June/July VV 2020

the

Valley Vine MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER

June/July 2020

Volume sixty-five, Number five

Valley Presbyterian Church

Senior Pastor

DAVID JOYNT

Watch this video (and all other VPC videos) at: vimeo.com/valleypres

Dear friends, I want to report to you that on May 26 your Session, your Elders, and representatives voted on a plan to return to public worship. We are very excited about the fact that pending Govenor Ducey’s decision to move into Phase 2, our congregation, Valley Presbyterian Church, is planning on returning to public worship on June 14. We are very excited about this prospect. We will be in a brand new beautiful Sanctuary!

I also want you to know those if you who are in vulnerable categories, if you are part of our wonderful senior set in our congregation, or if you have health conditions that make you particularly vulnerable to the virus, we want you to consider your own health and safety before deciding to come back. We will be providing live-stream for both our 8:30 and 10:30AM services beginning on June 14. You can also watch in the safety of your homes.

Worship is going to feel a little bit different for those of you who do choose to come back. We have a wonderful committee, our Risk Management Committee and our Session have been working together to try and develop safety guidelines. So when we come back together we are not a threat to each other.

We won’t be passing this disease. That includes social distancing in the Sanctuary, so there will be special seating areas and folks helping you find those seating areas. Our ushers will direct you to those where you can sit in family units. There will also be sanitizing stations at the front with temperature screening.

So there will be lots of ways where worship is going to feel different. Probably the most dramatic is we are encouraging you to bring masks. We want you to have masks in worship. There will be masks available if you forget your mask. This is the best way to protect the most vulnerable people in our midst; those with comorbidities, health issues that compromise their immune systems or those over a certain age.

Friends we’re very excited, we’re very hopeful, we’re very glad to be in this beautiful new space that the congregation has provided for not only our own faith community but for all those who are going to connect and join us in the coming months and years. So our Session want to wish you the safest and richest possible blessing from God in the season of our time together.

2 Can’t wait to see you,

Sermon Series

New Series begins June 7

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News from

SESSION

At the May 26 meeting, Session adopted the recommendations for Return to Public Worship set forth in the memorandum from the Risk Management Committee dated May 16, 2020. Session authorized the Pastoral and Program Staff to return to public worship in a manner consistent with the recommendations.

Karen Meyer Clerk of Session 480-368-6567

Pastor David Turner was designated COVID-19 Response Team Director and will report to Pastor Joynt, P&O Committee, and Session. He and his team will communicate mitigating measures and procedures to the Congregation, train volunteers and ushers, and have necessary supplies on hand.

The date of the return is to be after (1) State of Arizona and local authorities determine that Maricopa County is in Phase 2 of the federal gating criteria and (2) Pastor Joynt as Head of Staff and Pastor Turner as Covid-19 Response Team Director are satisfied that we are ready to implement the mitigation measures discussed in the RMC Memo and any other mitigation measures deemed appropriate.

Session approved coopting the following members onto the Stewardship Committee for 2020: Bill Sturgeon Mark Fullerton Webb Perryman Carol Dillon Sarah Murley

Tom Ambrose Woody Johnson Katrina Carney Cathy Kleeman Keith Kerber

Session further approved coopting the following members onto the Congregational Care and Fellowship Committee for 2020: Karen Annis Lynda Coffelt

Mary Ann Winter Elizabeth Weiss

Lynda and Dick Coffelt were nominated as Valley Presbyterian Church's choice for the Presbytery of Grand Canyon Senior Service Award 2020.

Session moved to accept and receive the following new members, Jackson Martin (Reaffirmation of Faith) and Sally McKee (Reaffirmation of Faith).

The change in officers of the Valley Presbyterian Foundation to Brent Nichols, President, and Lamont Yoder, Vice President, was confirmed by Session.

A3 Security will install a series of security cameras across the campus. There will be a policy to govern who can access camera footage and under what circumstances.

Eight faceted stained glass windows in the Chapel are being rebuilt.

Session granted the Finance and Operations Committee the authority to choose between the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program (PILP) and a margin loan for utilization as a bridge loan. Every dollar of the remaining unpaid pledges ($2,435,500) that is paid reduces the amount of a bridge loan that will be needed.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

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Steps for a safe worship environment

When VPC returns to in-person worship, we will ask the congregation to take the following steps:

Engage in Social Distancing by allowing for six feet between individuals.

If you feel sick or have a fever, stay home.

Masks are required for all worship attendees. Please bring your own, but VPC will have extra available.

No-touch temperature checks will be conducted as people enter the Sanctuary.

Alternate rows will be used for seating. Ushers will bring families and individuals to their seats.

No handshakes, hugs, or other physical contact during Passing of the Peace.

Collection boxes will be in the back of the building to receive offering contributions.

We will not be able to provide bulletins, Bibles, hymnals, or friendship pads.

Worship spaces will be cleaned and disinfected after each service.

We invite families to worship together. Feel free to get a Sunday School kit (one per child).

• These guidelines only apply to worship. The VPC campus is still closed to any other public gatherings.

• We hope to open the nursery during worship in a few weeks. We will share more details soon.

• We thank you in advance for your patience and grace with VPC and your church family as we navigate this 5 new and augmented way to gather.

Navajo Nation Assistance Project In April and May VPC was able to coordinate with our community and other churches to provide vital aid to our brothers and sisters on the Navajo Nation. The coronavirus has taken a significant toll on communities in northern Arizona, and VPC was able to call on people like you to provide financial, material, and logistical support. Thank you to everyone who helped meet the needs of so many!

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Partnered with VPC to collect supplies: Bethany Presbyterian Church Crosswinds Presbyterian Church Desert Palms Presbyterian Church Emmanuel Presbyterian Church Faith Presbyterian Church of Sun City Foothills Christian Church First Presbyterian Church of Florence First Presbyterian Church of Mesa First Presbyterian Church of Sun City Gilbert Presbyterian Church Heritage Presbyterian Church Mission del Sol Presbyterian Church Orangewood Presbyterian Church Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church Pinnacle Presbyterian Church Trinity Presbyterian Church of Prescott University Presbyterian Church Vah-Ki Presbyterian Church Westminster Presbyterian Church

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75,000 POUNDS

Of food, supplies, and toiletries delivered in two stages: 35,000 pounds on trip one 40,000 on trip two

$60,000 Contributed From VPC and other organizations: $32,000 from VPC $28,000 from our partners on this endeavor

Register by June 7: vpc.church/vbs

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Finances &

OPERATIONS It has been several weeks since many of you have been on the church campus. I am excited to fill you in on just some of the highlights.

Kris Bahr

As of APRIL 30, 2020 Thank you for your unwavering support of VPC over the past two months. One of our first thoughts when we paused on campus worship services was how devastating the potential impact on our giving could be. Very quickly we saw that not only did your support continue, but in many cases has even increased. Over 70 of you quickly shifted to online giving, and each week we’ve received 30-40 checks in the mail.

Finance & Operations Director 480-991-6424 ext. 112 krisb@vpc.church

When we resume worship services, we will no longer be able to pass the offering plate, but there will be a plate at the back of the Sanctuary, and we will still strongly encourage online giving.

We have also seen a dramatic decrease in expenses since mid-March. All our plans for Bunny Business, Easter, summer mission trips and student camp, not to mention all the other activities on campus, have been cancelled.

A NEW HEART FOR THE VALLEY Over $12 million has been pledged for the capital campaign, with about 9.7 million already paid.

We are only $1 million short of the overall fundraising goal. As of June 1, we have been blessed to not have to draw from our bridge loan to cover capital expenses. If you have made a pledge to A New Heart for the Valley and you are able to pay in full before July 1, it will positively impact the amount we eventually need to borrow. Whether you pay in full now, or your financial planning dictates different timing, know that we are so grateful and cannot wait until we can be in those spaces again.

Robert E. Porter Construction has continued its work on the project over the past two months.

As an essential business, they did not experience a work stoppage. That has served us well!

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FOUNDATION The Foundation dinner scheduled for this March has been moved to March 2021. A recent letter went to those who purchased tickets or donated to ask whether they would be willing to redirect their money to Fund the Need. So far, about 75% of the responses have been “yes.” This means that we can proceed with upgrading the Chapel audio visual system, and install audio visual systems in the existing classroom building.

MISSION There has been over $100,000 in special donations for COVID19 related support, over half of which was designated for efforts on the Navajo Nation. Over the period of one week in April, and in partnership with Bashas’, Shamrock Foods, and St. Mary’s Food Bank, volunteers worked side by side (socially distant) in Landes Center packing boxes. The primary goal of this effort was to support those families in the churches in our Presbytery in northern Arizona.

STAFF During this time, with a few exceptions, most employees have transitioned to working from home. There have been no reductions in compensation. Both VPC and Valley Day School received funding from the Paycheck Protection Package.

We are excited to announce that Matt McGowan has been hired as Audio Visual Technician.

Matt has extensive experience with audio equipment in a worship setting, and he will be joining us when he completes his move from Tucson, where he currently is finishing a degree at the University of Arizona. One thing we have learned over the past two months is how important technology is, and how vital it is that we start live streaming our services, not just in the near term, but as a permanent addition to our Sunday morning experience.

PROPERTY John Pelton resigned as Facilities Manager effective mid-May. As we assess our needs over the next several months, taking into account our newly remodeled Sanctuary, classroom building, café, and plaza, not to mention enhanced sanitation efforts, several members of the Finance Committee and the Foundation have formed a Property Committee to come alongside the custodians to care for our campus. Seasonal preventive maintenance of all a/c units has been completed.

The Memorial Garden is undergoing some improvements – repairing cracks in the walls; enhanced tree trimming; fountain painting and treatment; lighting; improving directory of names.

OUTREACH Since mid-March, about 90 of our leaders from Session, Deacons, and Congregational Care ministries have reached out to each member of our congregation – twice! The feedback we received has been so positive.

Thank You!!!

On behalf of our entire staff, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you who have continued to support the mission and ministries of VPC.

VPC finances year-to-date as of April 30, 2020 Income

Actual $

Budget $ Variance $

Faith Giving **Other Income Total Income

753,300 170,900 924,200

710,000 102,000 812,000

43,300 68,700 112,000

Pastoral Ministry Admin & Facility *Mission, Outreach, Cong. Care** Christian Education Worship & Music Total Expense

150,000 323,500 94,700 95,000 65,000 728,200

151,200 334,800 19,100 122,300 75,800 703,200

1,200 11,300 -75,600 27,300 10,800 -25,000

Net Income less Expense

196,000

109,000

87,000

Expense

*In addition, $61,700 mission support to MentorKids, Family Promise, Ministry of Hope and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance provided upon repurposing of VPF Kurz Scholarship Fund. **$79,000 in special giving was allocated to Navajo churches, Family Promise, Mentor Kids, and Malawi.

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Stewardship

COMMITTEE A note to the VPC church family As you can see from Kris Bahr’s financial report, despite the challenges of the pandemic, our congregation has really stepped up to provide for the needs of our Church and support our critical missions. We are actually ahead of faith giving projections. Just as the extraordinary contributions to our A New Heart for the Valley capital campaign did not diminish faith giving, the suspension of in-person Sunday services has, likewise, not diminished Sunday giving.

Jon Kyl

In fact, through a combination of many new on-line contributions and mailed-in checks, our congregation (and guests) have supported Family Promise, Navajo neighbors, and MentorKids missions at a time when these folks most need help. There are some really gratifying lessons here. While some predicted “donor fatigue” after the capital campaign, VPC showed that, when Christians give more, they see that it does not negatively affect their families, but, in fact, enriches their lives—so they give even more. We are, after all, just returning to God a small portion of what he has loaned to us. And giving to the Church is THE most effective way of maximizing the value of what we give. Likewise, though it is a bit more difficult to give when we don’t “pass the plate” at Sunday services, that hasn’t stopped us from actually increasing our giving to meet the unforeseen needs created by illness of our fellow citizens.

VPC Stewardship Committee Chair

To all you, THANK YOU! You embody the genuine spirit of charity Christ encouraged in us all.

Win-Win Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase your harvest of righteousness.

You will be enriched in every way. 2 Cor. 9:10

Woody Johnson

VPC Stewardship Committee

This strong statement by Paul to the church in Corinth was in response to their eager giving to the ministry of Christ. Their eagerness was not unlike our members at VPC who continue with tithes and offerings so that the ministry of the church may prosper. Paul describes the bounteous nature of our God!

Earlier in this scripture we read the principle that the one who sows sparingly reaps sparingly and the one who sows bountifully, reaps bountifully. God not only provides enough, but He multiplies so that we can invest even more in His Kingdom. We have a relationship with the King of Glory, rich in His boundless love. There is a hymn that captures this truth: “His love has no limit, His grace has no measure , His power has no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth and giveth again!”

God has given us Himself in Christ Jesus! And as we experience the truth of this, our joy is complete. It is exciting to be part of God’s ministry at VPC. Our lives and friendships are enriched. Knowing that He will increase the harvest of our work as we invest beyond ourselves, we plow forward with confidence.

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This is a win-win ministry; the recipients of our work benefit, we have an intimate relationship with God, and He is glorified. The church at VPC is alive and well!

Family

MINISTRY

Flat Jesus

Flat Jesus is inspired by a national school project called Flat Stanley, based on the book written

by Jeff Brown. Just as Flat Stanley has helped children with literacy and geography, Flat Jesus helps children remember that Jesus Christ is always with them. Not only do we have some cute pics, but our kids were reminded to keep Jesus Christ at the front of our mind and in our heart everywhere they go as they move through their days.

sunday summer kits We are offering all of our families their own worship bag, with clipboard and crayons. Your kids can help prepare their worship bag with quiet activities before our Family Worship services. And, this summer we are making special Sunday Summer Kits that include a toy connected to each children’s message, copies of printables, and parent guides for June & July.

Sign up at vpc.church for your kit today!

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The VALLEY VINE USPS 621-060, is published monthly by VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Periodical Postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Valley Presbyterian Church, 6947 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253-5342

Valley Presbyterian Church

SUNDAY WORSHIP ON-LINE: vpc.church

@vpc

Keep in touch with VPC throughout the week: eVine (weekly email): vpc.church/evine Facebook: facebook.com/valleypresbyterian Instagram: 'vpc.church'

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