the
Valley Vine IN THIS ISSUE: The Alpha Course Partnering with you is ready for to raise kids with your questions their own faith
Finding hope in the midst of the valleys
September 2018 Volume sixty-three, Number eight
Valley Presbyterian Church
A community where Jesus Christ transforms lives
Senior Pastor
DAVID JOYNT Friends, Starting Wednesday, September 12, I invite you to change the rhythm of your life. Imagine if your spiritual week was defined by more than just Sundays. What if there was a mid-week time of inspiration and celebration? What if your desert journey included an oasis moment every Wednesday? An oasis is a green and refreshing area, fed by springs, offering refuge and relief to desert travelers, a place of peace and pleasure amid life’s pressure. We want VPC to be a place of spiritual refuge and renewal for you, for everyone who is part of our community, and for others who’ve not yet discovered us. All the generations of our church will be present Wednesday evenings. Adults and youth and children will sing of God’s goodness in choirs. Middle and high schoolers will gather to worship, play, and learn. Adults will have opportunities to explore and study and connect. Our under fives will be nurtured in our nursery. I am putting Oasis Community Wednesdays onto my calendar every week. I can’t wait to deepen bonds with people I meet and greet on Sundays. Faith flourishes when we strengthen relationships, offering and receiving support and blessings from one another. Life becomes deeper as we move from member acquaintances to spiritual friends that know, love, and pray for each other. Come and sample the food trucks, hear the choirs, explore your questions in the classes, and make some new friends. May our Oasis program be a time of peace and pleasure and a place of refuge and relief and joy.
2
Welcome to the new format of Valley Presbyterian Church's Valley Vine! Every church has a story. For over sixty years, the Valley Vine has been a place to learn about the programs and events, classes and services where those stories are created. Moving forward, this will now be a space where we tell the stories behind those experiences. VPC is a community where Jesus Christ transforms lives, and we want to celebrate the Savior who brings us out of darkness and into light, out of brokenness and into wholeness, out of debt and into stability, out of depression and into joy. There are so many ways God has and is continuing to work in the lives of our community, and He intends that each story can be a way to inspire others. A community like VPC has a vast history and a large number of activities. That's why, each month, we'll take time to look at a few specific ministry areas, and let them tell you where they've seen God at work. We're kicking off this new vision for the Vine with three great stories. •
First, Pastor Kelly Nieto shares her personal experience with the Alpha Course, and explains how it can be a great opportunity for you to ask the big questions about God and life.
•
Next, Family Ministry Director Tina Gilbreath shares her vision for family ministry. There's a lot of research that shows us that what kids do at church should compliment the spiritual leadership that needs to happen in the home.
•
Lastly, Stephen Minister and longtime VPC member Pat Ciccone tells us about her journey as a Stephen Minister, and about the effect it's had on her life and on the lives of others in need.
We hope you are inspired and energized by the stories in the new Valley Vine! We'd love to hear your feedback. Email Mike Vreeland, Communications Director, with your thoughts: mikev@vpc.church.
Highlighte d
EVENTS
3
THE ALPHA CLASS WORKS by Pastor Kelly Nieto
My first experience seeing the Alpha course was when my parents hosted an Alpha group in their home when I was a child. I remember seeing them all laughing and joking around the dinner table, then gathering to watch the video for that night, and then hearing the murmuring of discussion. The guests had all different kinds of personalities, some had more questions and some were more quiet, just listening. After the Alpha course was finished, the group stayed together as a bible study small group for more than fifteen years.
I have seen this same warm welcome, hospitality, and friendship among the Alpha groups at VPC. Scott Turner makes sure the vibe is perfect, creating a warm environment for the evening. Scott’s wife, Leslie, loves to create color and fun on the tables, and the whole hospitality team keeps the food coming and is there to serve. There is an excitement and joy seeing each other on Wednesday nights after a long day, sharing in each other’s lives, and exploring God’s truths together. A few years after that first Alpha experience in my parents’ home, my family and I were visiting London where we attended Holy Trinity Brompton for a Sunday morning service. This is the church pastored by Nicki Gumbel, the creator and founder of the Alpha Course. As a young teenager in that morning service, I was overwhelmed by the idea that God speaks through the Holy Spirit, God is speaking to me. This was the beginning of a call to ministry I couldn’t yet see or understand. After my years of study and having the privilege of working in a ministry, the simple truths of the gospel remain the most important foundations of the Christian life: God loves you, Jesus died for you, God is speaking to you, and eternal life is assured in Jesus’ name. We can never hear these truths too much.
4
Alpha runs here.
If you have grown up in the church, you have heard these truths many times. Come and hear them again, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you anew. If you are going through a time of doubt or your faith feels insecure, come and let the Holy Spirit build you up. If you know someone who needs to hear these truths in a safe, “non-churchy” place, pray that he or she would be willing to come with you! Every year growing up, my family had a few special summer trips. I don’t remember camping too often, and after spending a summer camping in Sub-Saharan Africa as newlyweds, I’m not sure our little family will be doing a lot of camping in the future! Our sons, though, are fascinated by the whole concept of sleeping outdoors. One day they wanted to watch a “camping” show, Man vs. Wild. In the show, Bear Grylls takes viewers on extreme adventures and shows them how to survive in different environments and difficulties. In one of the shows, Bear Grylls takes a moment at night to pray for his family and friends. I was reminded of the poster of Bear Grylls standing in the VPC patio, leading the way to the Alpha Course last spring. Bear is an Alpha Course alumni, having taken the course at Holy Trinity Brompton in London, and he says that knowing Christ is his “greatest adventure” yet.
Alpha class info: Begins Wednesday, September 12 6-8PM, Room 415/416, Free Learn more and sign up: vpc.church/classes A part of Oasis Community Wednesdays
We often think of adventure as camping in exotic places, tackling a fear of heights, or taking a trip we have always wanted to take. Do we think of our spiritual life as an adventure? Do we see a relationship with Jesus as a thrilling, day to day walk with almighty God? Or do we keep our distance from this excitement and choose to keep him at arms length? The Alpha Course is an opportunity to explore a relationship with Jesus, hearing answers to questions like “Who is Jesus?” and “Why did Jesus die?” Or “How do I read the Bible?” “How do I pray?” and discussing the answers to those questions in a welcoming, pressure-free space. Wherever you are at in your spiritual adventure, come and take this time to encounter Jesus, to learn about the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, and to see what adventure may be in your future, or for a friend or loved one. Alpha at VPC has been a life-changing experience for many at VPC, and we hope you take the opportunity to ask the questions you may have about life and faith. The Alpha experience is a simple recipe: Dinner, DVD, and Discussion. Let the adventure begin!
5
Location
MAKING THE MOST OF THE HOURS WE ARE GIVEN By Family Ministry Director Tina Gilbreath
There are 936 weeks from birth to age 18.
That seems like a big number, but anyone who has been a parent knows that while some days time seems to stand still, most days with your kids fly by in the blink of an eye. In those 936 weeks parents help children achieve many milestones. All of them are important, and almost none of them come quickly or easily, from potty training to riding a bike, from holding a crayon to composing essays, from toddling across a room to running across a court or field.
6
God also calls us to guide our children spiritually, starting at baptism and until they are a disciple of Christ. Both parents and the congregation take on the responsibility of bringing up the children in our midst. Our baptismal covenant asks parents: • Do you intend your child to be Christ’s disciple, to obey His word and show His love? • Do you claim God’s covenant promises in your child’s behalf, looking in faith to our Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation and being right with God? • Do you promise through divine grace, that you will provide a Christian example? • Do you promise through teaching our faith, and through prayers to raise your child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?
The Bible teaches us in Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. “This is God’s plan for the spiritual formation of the generations...Parents teach their children how to love God by loving God in front of them. Parents intentionally impress the truth of God on their children. Nothing fancy. Beautifully simple.” (Shift, Brian Haynes 2009) With the excess that surrounds most Americans, a lot of families get sidetracked from what really matters. We become so preoccupied with giving kids an inheritance that we forget the significance of leaving a legacy…100 years from now the only thing that will matter is someone’s relationship with God. (Think Orange, Reggie Joiner, 2009)
VPC's Children's Ministry Staff gets in the spirit at VBS 2018: Marie Bitticks Brianne Bergfeldt Susie Huseth Tina Gilbreath
As parents many of us do not know how to guide our children in their faith. We did not have an example or role model, or we thought that coming to church on Sunday mornings was enough. While coming to church regularly is a wonderful way to stay connected with God’s family, even active students receive only 40 hours or so of biblical instruction each year from their churches. Parents, on the other hand have more than 3000 hours a year in which they’re constantly ‘teaching’ their children in some way! (Family Ministry Field Guide, Timothy Paul Jones 2011). “Most teenagers and their parents may not realize it, but a lot of research in the sociology of religion suggests that the most important social influence in shaping young people’s religious lives is the religious life modeled and taught to them by their parents.” (Sticky Faith, Kara Powell and Chap Clark, 2011). In baptizing, a congregation “publicly promises to continue to tell the baptized persons the good news of the Gospel, to help them know all that Christ commands, and by their fellowship, to strengthen their family ties with the household of God,” (B.O. 20.04) but over the years the church has developed models failing to support parents as primary disciple-makers in their children’s lives. (Perspectives on Family Ministry 2018.)
In our 21st century world parents need partners, and VPC is excited to step into that space by helping parents raise disciples of Christ. VPC will expand Family Ministry into Middle School and High School. Each year we’ll be adding another opportunity to partner with parents, and to equip and support them as spiritual leaders. In addition, look for ideas for family faith talks included in weekly publications, resources related to each Family Workshop on our website, and opportunities to help families achieve and celebrate milestones of faith and incorporate passing on their faith into things they already do as a family. Our volunteer leaders will be working, as always, to share the message of the Gospel in ways that help children and youth move what they’ve heard about Jesus from their heads to their hands so that it can make it to their hearts. (Think Orange, Reggie Joiner 2009).
7
I NEVER HAD TO DO IT ALONE by Stephen Minister Pat Ciccone
God has given each of you a great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
-1 Peter 4:10
This verse from 1 Peter gives each of us encouragement to examine the spiritual gifts that exist within us. There are many ways to honor the One who created us. It is important to look deep within ourselves to find our way to serve the Lord. Valley Presbyterian Church blesses us with many opportunities to serve the Lord. The ministries offered by Congregational Care offer several inspirational options, ne of which is Stephen Ministry. This ministry is served by lay men and women who have committed to share their spiritual gifts with people in need. Many of us talk with dozens of people every day. However, we might feel like there is no one in our lives that we can really talk to. The struggles and challenges in our lives are not meant to be dealt with alone. A Stephen Minister is someone who is ready to listen and care in a real and authentic way. It is through this completely confidential caring relationship that a care receiver can achieve the goal of finding their own way to living their lives with faith, hope, and peace. Through prayer and looking deep within myself, I recognized that I was a person gifted with compassion and empathy. Not only could I offer these gifts to others, I could also be on the receiving end of the same. Whatever challenges I have had to accept and resolve, I never had to do it alone. Many others stepped up to encourage me to have faith in the Lord and in myself. Now it was time to find the best way to be thankful to the Lord for my many blessings.
8
Six years ago, I made the decision to become a Stephen Minister. I knew that serving the Lord in this ministry was the answer to my prayers. The training classes helped me to see that I could use my gifts to help others who were in need. People need someone to encourage them to find a way to peacefully resolve their struggles. I felt called, and then empowered and equipped, to help people on those journeys. Throughout the past six years, I have had many care receivers. I can honestly say that the results of these relationships have been rewarding. There is a feeling of joy to see my care receivers move on with their lives. In some cases, the care receiver becomes a good friend and the trust remains. My care receivers have blessed me with a stronger faith in the Lord. We never know what challenges we might have to deal with. Whatever they may be, it is important to have faith that you can accept it, deal with it and know that you are never alone. Through Stephen Ministry, I have had the privilege to get to know the other men and women who have made their commitment to this ministry. All of them care deeply about their mission to serve. It is an honor to serve with them. Hopefully, this testimony will move many of you to look deep within yourselves and find the best way to serve the Lord by serving others. Perhaps The Stephen Ministry is right for you. Our Stephen Ministry Leader Team is actively looking for new recruits for this amazing ministry. Training starts on October 4, 2018. If you are interested in joining our team, please contact Tom Van Arsdale at 480-235-3196. If you are interested in receiving care from a Stephen Minister, please contact Pastor David Turner, davidt@vpc.chuch 480-991-6424 ext. 121.
Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one lay caring ministry that takes place in congregations that use the Stephen Series system. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. Care receivers are people—congregation members and others in the community— who receive care from a Stephen Minister. These are people struggling through a difficult time in life—experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or some other life crisis.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
9
A New Heart for the Valley update
On August 12, more than 70 children and students were in worship, backpacks on and ready for the new school year. It was an opportunity to bless them and to let them know they are loved and cared for in their classrooms. I love that we, as the community of Christ, pray for our children as they embark upon another year of learning. VPC's community is a part of the lives of these children. Each one of us plays a profound role raising the children in our midst to know and love our Lord! It’s hard to fathom what our church will look like in 2037. Consider this: Jennifer Hamm’s new son, Jaxon (born August 21, 2018), will graduate high school in 2037. As you read in Tina Gilbreath's article this month, we have 936 Sundays to help Jaxon know who Jesus is. Think about the strength and tenderness he'll feel in the VPC Nursery; the stories of God’s grace and truth he'll hear in Sunday School; the belonging he'll sense through the embrace of our Student Ministry; the call he'll hear to serve through mission opportunities; imagine the profound moments of worship in an awe-inspiring sanctuary. As I think about the plans and changes brought about by A New Heart for the Valley I am so excited to think about the way our students, adults, and children like Jaxon will be impacted through this new heart of our campus. The renewed Sanctuary and campus will facilitate moments and experiences that create an indelible memory in the hearts and minds of our children, that they are loved by God and the VPC family. The plans will better facilitate our mission to be a community where Jesus Christ transforms lives!
by Campaign Director and VPC Member Keith Kerber
Join me, my family, and other VPC members to transform lives and make A New Heart for the Valley a reality. Make a pledge or find out more at: vpc.church/anewheart.
10
A New Heart for the Valley by the numbers $10.2 Million
New campaign total (down from $12.5 million) still includes $1 million for mission partners. The Building Committee is working hard to reduce costs while still accomplishing the plan's goals.
$7.1 Million
209 VPC members and friends have contributed or pledged.
September 25
While gifts and pledges will be gratefully accepted past this date, the focused fundraising period will end on September 25. Session will then decide on the scope of renovations based on the amount raised/pledged and from Building Committee recommendations. The Sanctuary is the first priority, other elements of Phase One will be put on hold if funds are not sufficient.
60 years
VPC is committed to being a vital congregation for the next 60 years. Your support ensures VPC will remain a community where Jesus Christ transforms lives.
Project component costs:
$3,859,000: Sanctuary Reimagines a shared worship space and brings the congregation together. $1,827,000: Plaza and Café Creates a heart for connection and welcome. $840,000: Student, Family Ministry, and Valley Day School expansion Brings together rising generations and adds space to address increasing numbers of kids. $1,000,000: Support for our mission partners $768,000: Administration Building Relocates office entrance, adds conference and classrooms, puts the whole staff in one building. $1,918,000: Architectural Fees & Taxes, Permits
News from
SESSION
Session did not meet in August, but did vote on one motion. Regular meetings will resume in September. On August 21, the Session, by e-mail vote, unanimously approved a Worship Committee motion to discontinue the 11:45AM Sunday worship service. The Worship Committee and staff noted that it is hard to justify the pastoral and music resources needed for the 11:45AM service given the average weekly attendance. They further pointed out the Pastoral staff loses the opportunity to meet, greet, and connect with members and visitors after the 10:30AM service when the 11:45AM service is set to begin. Finally, they mentioned that once the Sanctuary has been remodeled, it will be crucial for the congregation to concentrate its energy to grow the 9 and 10:30AM services. At that point, it becomes challenging to continue the 11:45AM service.
Karen Meyer Clerk of Session 480-368-6567
Pastor Joynt is in the process of reaching out to regular attendees of the 11:45AM service to let them know about the change. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Finances &
OPERATIONS
Monsoon & Memorial Garden updates Monsoon storms during July and August damaged nearly 20 palo verde and mesquite trees, as well as three saguaro cactus, all along the perimeter of our campus. We contracted Caretaker Landscaping, who removed the debris within 48 hours. They will be back to remove stumps when scheduling allows, and will begin a regular tree trimming and landscaping maintenance program to supplement what we are doing in-house.
Kris Bahr
The Memorial Garden fountain has deteriorated with age and is in the process of getting a facelift (pump, filter, water leveler, and paint). Thanks to earnings on VPF Memorial Garden fund, these costs are covered.
Finance & Operations Director 480-991-6424 ext. 112 krisb@vpc.church
VPC finances year-to-date as of July 31, 2018 Income
Actual $
Budget $
Variance $
Faith Giving Other Income Total Income
1,063,398 157,180 1,220,578
1,065,000 199,705 1,264,705
-1,602 -42,525 -44,127
Pastoral Ministry Admin & Facility Mission, Outreach, Cong. Care Christian Education Worship & Music Total Expense
279,181 607,172 96,223 169,002 100,474 1,252,052
278,959 617,825 95,112 207,566 107,583 1,307,045
-222 10,653 -1,111 38,564 7,109 54,993
-31,474
-42,340
10,866
Expense
Net Income less Expense
Church office closed Monday, September 3 in observance of Labor Day.
11