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March 2019 ~ Volume 32 ~ Issue 2

News of the Congregational Church of Sun City

18401 N. 99th Avenue, Sun City, AZ 85373

Phone: 623-977-4241

Visit us on the Web: www.ccscaz.org

Prayers of Gratitude “Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If

you do this, you will experience God’s peace.” Philippians 4:6

There is an old story about two angels who were sent from heaven to earth. Each had a basket. One angel was to collect all the prayers of those people making requests of God. The other angel was to collect all the prayers of thanksgiving for the things which God had done for them.

They went around the world and returned to heaven. The angel who collected the prayers which were requests to God could hardly make the trip back to heaven. His basket was full to overflowing. The other angel had no trouble at all because his basket was almost empty.

Paul’s letter to the church is a love letter to a group of Christians who held a special place in Paul’s heart. Paul was so grateful to the people of the church at Philippi for all their prayers for him and for their thoughtfulness and kindness to Paul as he languished in prison.

Paul wanted to encourage and remind the church to constantly give thanks to God for all that He has done; “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

With thanksgiving...thanksgiving is an essential part of prayer. Gratefulness is an essential part of life.

It is not always easy to be thankful. However, being thankful becomes easier when we place our faith and our trust in God through Jesus Christ. Paul wanted the church at Philippi to trust in the Lord, and he knew when they were willing to do so, thankfulness would be one of the results.

We have known the experience of answered prayers, personally, and as a church. I fear that we are not always as quick to rush to God in prayer to thank him for our prayers being answered, as we are to bring new requests and fresh petitions before God.

Your friend and pastor, Dr. Brian Anderson

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CHURCH STAFF

Senior Minister Dr. Brian Anderson brian@ccscaz.org

Music Director/Organist

Christine Kyhn kchorale@cox.net

Office Manager Terri King admin@ccscaz.org

Senior Custodian Mike Rush

Support Custodian Glenn Ankrum

Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 AM Fellowship time in Alexander Hall is offered immediately after the service ends. Church Office Information Hours: Monday—Thursday - 8:00AM – 1:00PM Phone: 623-977-4241 Fax: 623-977-0008 Email: admin@ccscaz.org For pastoral emergencies, call Dr. Anderson’s cell

phone: 1-781-534-5701 Church Website: http://www.ccscaz.org Please visit our website for all the latest information about our church! You can also listen to Pastor Anderson’s sermons, download Sunday bulletins, and current and previous copies of the Roadrunner.

Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/CCSCAZ

Roadrunner Information The Roadrunner is published 9 times a year. Call the church office if you have a question regarding an item printed in the Roadrunner. Copies of the Roadrunner are e-mailed if we have your address, available on the counter in the church narthex, or you may access it on our website.

BOARDS & COMMITTEES

2019 OFFICERS & CHAIRS Church Moderator: Pepper Roady

Moderator Elect: Deb Teuteberg

Church Council Clerk: Pat Canfield

Council Members at Large: Jean Brenn

Gordon Petersen

Eleanor Poe

Board of Trustees Chair: Carl Wolkenhauer

Treasurer: Jim Bohn

Deacons’ Board Chair: Carol Suhr

Membership Board Chair: Peggy Stanley

Missions Board Chair: Correne Hall

Women’s Fellowship Chair: Joyce Dudley/Bev Eilken

Men’s Club Chair: Scott MacCleary

Entertainment Chair: Vacant

Flower Committee Chair: Ginger Hamilton

Sweat Shop Sorority Chair: Norma Sandvig

Beware of phishing emails! A few church members received some suspicious emails from someone claiming to be Dr. Anderson asking for help with purchasing gift cards. Dr. Anderson would never send an email asking for financial assistance from anyone within the church. The email looked very similar to his as far as it’s signature, etc. but the reply address was a Gmail address. All of Pastor Brian’s emails should come from brian@ccscaz.org. (please note brian not brain—yes this was used as well in a fake email). His email was not compromised, but rather someone creating fake accounts outside the church is pretending to be Pastor Brian. This is known as a “phishing” scam. If you receive an email that appears suspicious, contact the church office and/or the pastor to inquire. Block the sender. Report the sender both to your mail provider (such as Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) and to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. It’s unfortunate that these things happen, but they are also a sign of the times. Fortunately, it appears those recipients of these recent emails did what they needed to do—contact the church to inquire and report the suspicious emails. On another note, try not to send emails to large groups of people where everyone’s email address is visible to all. Church emails are sent “blind” so that when for example you receive the Roadrunner via email you cannot see everyone else’s name and email address—only your own. Sending to mass groups where the addresses are visible to all and replying to all opens everyone up to possible breaches of email address information.

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The ‘changing of the guard’ has happened, and I am “it”. I feel very humble, but honored to serve my church and my ‘family’ in this way. Past Moderators Norma Sandvig and Bonnie Shetley will be a hard act to follow. However, with your help and guidance, I am sure we will make it through 2019 without too many hiccups.

The past couple of years we have really improved on our “family” skills. I see many people going from table to table in Alexander Hall after church services on Sunday, visiting with others. I am so glad to see that we recognize this is not just the role of the Pastor. To continue our reputation as being “a very friendly church”, we must all take a role and play our part in our church stewardship. I think we are doing a stellar job. But, we cannot rest on our laurels. Let’s keep up the effort this year and go that extra mile to reach out to new residents in our neighborhoods. A friendly smile and a nudge of encouragement is all some people need to feel welcome. Our visits do not have to be long or ‘pushy’. A friendly “hello” at the door —- explain you live in the neighborhood and wanted to welcome them—-in case they have not found a church yet and are looking for one—-leave our church calling card. You get the picture. This is not hard and only takes a moment of your time, but may make the difference to a new resident of feeling welcomed instead of displaced in a new and strange location. A Membership Committee member made a great suggestion: put a sticky note on the back of our church card with your name and phone number. You never know—they may actually reach out.

New officers of the church were installed and new deacons were commissioned on the 10th of February. These people are giving of their time and talents to serve you, our congregational family. If you are called upon during the year by one of our leaders to help serve, please accept this as your opportunity to serve your church, your family, your God.

“One must not focus on the risk of saying, “Yes”. The Greater risk is missing opportunities by saying, “No”.

Blessings to you all. See you in church!

— 2019 Moderator, Pepper Roady

2019 Family Community Commitment

HANDING OVER THE GAVEL: On January 29, 2019, 2018 Moderator, Bonnie Shetley, handed over the gavel to 2019 Moderator, Pepper Roady, at the Annual Meeting in Alexander Hall. The Church and Pepper presented Bonnie with some parting gifts as a thank you for her service in 2018.

From 2018 Moderator Bonnie Shetley:

“Your commitment, your compassion and your cooperation made last year a year filled with blessings and accomplishments. Thank you for your dedication to the tasks and projects that were ours to solve, develop and provide for our church family, visitors and guests. You were my rock and my encouragement. It was a pleasure to look across Alexander Hall and see many of our church members attend our 2018 Congregational Annual Meeting.

Thank you to our church family for your special gifts. I appreciate the certificate; the angel snow globe sits in a prominent place in my home and brings me smiles and reminders of your helpfulness as we served our Lord. I also extend thanks to Pastor Brian Anderson for listening to me and sharing ideas with me throughout the year, and thank you to Pepper Roady for her help and for her thoughtful gift of the photo collage taken from pictures of events, gatherings and meetings.

I wish our Lord’s blessings upon you as we continue to serve our Lord and Savior.”

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The Congregational Church of Sun City

Endowment Fund—Building For the

Future

The Church is very fortunate to have a successful

Endowment Fund. The Endowment Fund was

established in 1986 to provide for the financial future

of the Church. The Church Trustees have utilized

dividends earned to assist with the financial

obligations for the operations of the Church.

Most endowments are made as gifts and bequests

through wills, charitable trusts, gift annuities, life

insurance policies, securities, gifts of real property

and other appropriate means. The Church, being a

charitable organization, pays no tax. The donor’s gift

is tax deductible. Gifts and bequests are held as either

undesignated gifts, designated gifts, or memorial gifts.

Undesignated gift earnings and principal may be

reinvested to increase the fund principal; for use

to meet a limited portion of the annual expenses;

or, for special projects subject to the provisions of

the Fund. The Church encourages undesignated

gifts and bequests in order to allow Church

leadership flexibility to meet current and future

requirements.

Designated gifts are used in accordance with the

donor’s wishes.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Church for

special purposes, such as the purchase of specific

items, designated by the donor.

Please consider contributing and supporting the

Endowment Fund for our continued success.

Pamphlets are available in the narthex, or you may

speak to any Trustee for information on the

Endowment Fund.

Jim Bohn

Church Treasurer

DEACONS CORNER

It is a new year, and we have five new deacons

joining the Deacons Board. They are Millie

Blackstone, Terry Maxwell, Barb Berg, Bonnie

Shetley, and Roy Bernier. We welcome them.

Our officers this year are:

• Chair: Carol Suhr

• Vice Chair: Chris Palmer

• Secretary: Jack Teuteberg

There are 12 deacons, so each one takes a month

of the year to be Head Usher. That person is

responsible for obtaining volunteers to serve as

ushers, greeters, and fellowship hosts for the

month. In addition, the head usher is responsible

for sanctuary care each week. All of the books,

papers, and envelopes in the pews are

straightened. Replacements are made for

attendance sheets, envelopes, and pencils as

needed.

The Deacons Board is responsible for preparing

the communion each month. This is done by the

new deacons on the Thursday morning before

Communion Sunday.

At Easter and Christmas, the deacons make home

visits to our homebound church family. We

arrange some sort of gift and information from

the church to be carried to those who we visit to

let them know we think of them, we miss them,

and how much God loves them.

Please add your name to the volunteer list on the

bulletin board inside Alexander Hall to be a

greeter, usher, or fellowship host. You will be

blessed by your service as we serve the Lord

together.

In Christian Love,

Board of Deacons

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At the end of January, we held a Game Day that was very successful. We will schedule more game days in the next few months as it was a great time playing board and card games together. Watch for an announcement.

February has just ended, and preparations and work for our Rummage Sale was in full swing! The Men’s Club and Women’s Fellowship share equally in this event, and the money raised is divided as well. It is a wonderful fellowship

event working together. Thank you to all who have put in many hours to make this event successful.

There are a couple of dates for you to put on your calendar. On March 20th, we are going to hold a speaker meeting after Bible study at 10:30 AM. Coffee and other drinks will be served along with coffee cake and muffins for a morning snack. This day is also the first day of spring so in thinking about spring cleaning, we will have Natascha Martin here from Tough Love Organizing, LLC. She will speak about organizing at home, downsizing, moving, and will be available for questions. You can go online to www.ToughLoveOrganizing.com and check out the things she does in her business.

Plans are under way for our spring luncheon which will be on Thursday, April 11th. This will be a Potluck Salad Luncheon, and we will have musical selections from the Sun City Women’s Chorus for our entertainment. Our theme is “Happy Birthday”. We all have a birthday once a year, but we will be honoring those who are in their 90s (nonagenarians) or will be 90 in 2019. Birthday cake will be our dessert. (If you are a lady in our church family of this age, would you please let us know and also let us know if you will come to the Birthday party?)

The women of the church are busy, and we love serving the Lord and our church in any way we are able.

In Christ’s Love, Joyce Dudley and Bev Eilken, Women's Fellowship Co-Chairs

SWEAT SHOP SORORITY - CRAFTERS & QUILTERS

This month, we will give you a little history of our name. The ladies were working from 8:30 AM to 2 PM. The air conditioning was turned off at noon. It got HOT! “This feels like a sweat shop in here,” one lady said. Another said, “Okay, let’s add the word sorority because I never belonged to one.” And, so the name was born.

But, new folks think we are an exercise class or are unsure what we are. As a result, we have added the words “Crafters & Quilters” to the title, We are now known as:

The Sweat Shop Sorority Crafters & Quilters

We hope to start off this year organized and ready for another great year. We continue to sort and organize our materials and supplies. What we cannot use was donated to the Rummage Sale that just took place. Most of our Sweat Shop gals worked in various areas of the Rummage Sale as well.

We still have a coffee cup with your name on it. Come join us on the first and third Monday in the choir room from 8:30 AM—11:30 AM! We will once again be working on quilts and other crafts with some new craft ideas as well (and, the air conditioning stays on now for as long as we are working)!

Jean Brenn & Marcia Lynk, Sweat Shop Sorority

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News From MOMC (Missionary Outreach Ministry Council)

Barbara Dabul, Ph.D.

This month, I’d like to report on my trip to visit one of the recommended missions of the NACCC MOMC. This type of visit, where one or more board members or NACCC representatives visits a local, international or recommended mission, is called an itineration. Normally, there is money set aside in the Wharton Fund to help cover the costs of these visits, so I am hoping to be partially reimbursed for making this trip.

A friend who teaches ESL at Rio Salado College informed me that he had plans to visit family in Mexico City for two weeks, December 19, 2018—January 3, 2019. Because I speak Spanish and he doesn’t, and because I believe traveling with another person is safer than traveling alone, I asked him if I could “tag along”. He checked with the host family who agreed with our plan, and we traveled together to Texcoco, a small town east of Mexico City.

The family was gracious enough to drive me about two hours southeast to Amecameca, the site of Fishers of Men mission. I was cold the whole two weeks because Mexico City is over 7000 ft. elevation, and Amecameca is over 10,000 ft. elevation, sort of the Mexican Alps! I spent one night at the mission in the home of a retired NACCC minister. The rest of the time, I spent in Texcoco.

Fishers of Men was founded in 2003 and is currently managed by Julie Claassen. It has two parts. One part, Refuge Ranch, provides a home and family to abandoned children. Julie is the mother of that home. It currently houses 11 children, 3 of whom are her biological children. Julie home-schools the children, and eight of them have successfully left home for college and careers. Altogether, she has served 20 children, one of whom was taken in at 2 years of age, but had heart problems and died at age 6. Currently, they are building a new home which is superbly designed to house 40 children. The first floor is finished, and Julie is awaiting the estimated cost of the ceiling/roof so that the second floor can be added.

The other part of the mission consists of medical crusades, which are made by multidisciplinary teams to remote parts of Mexico. Current plans are made for at least one crusade per month in 2019.

During my visit, I was able to interview Julie, asking her the questions provided by the Board on its Field Interview form. Then, I borrowed a guitar and performed my “Music South of the Border” program for the children and staff. They clapped appreciatively, and no one fell asleep, so I guess it went okay. I also shared a card trick from “The History of Women in Mathematics”, and that astounded them. Then, Julie gave me a tour of her classroom and the new building. I was able to share both lunch and dinner with the extended family of staff and children. We talked about me giving a vowel pronunciation lesson to staff, but there was way too much noise due to cannons, bullets, and firecrackers going off for the New Year celebration.

Through my interview with Julie, who is a Caucasian American and speaks English as her native language, as well as my subsequent observations, I was able to conclude that the mission is being managed superbly and is currently without significant problems. When asked if there is a plan for succession, she replied yes, Adrian Tovar and his wife are the planned successors, but it has not been put in written form. So, I urged her to take that step, and she will discuss it with the Board the next time it meets. To the question: How are you working towards becoming self-supporting, Julie replied, “Because of the nature of the mission, it will never be possible for it to become self-supporting.” She further explained that the staff had discussed having a business, but Julie resists sending the children out on the streets to sell items. She maintains that these children come from abusive environments, and it should not be their job to support the family financially.

To the question: How many individuals did the mission serve last year, she replied, “The 20 children, plus three more children of staff members, and 6,826 people through the medical crusades. Of those in the medical crusades, 1,181 of them prayed to accept Christ into their lives.”

This mission is not supported regularly by the NACCC, but is recommended by MOMC for donations by member churches and individuals. Julie estimated that 70% of her support is from individual donors. I give it a 5-star rating!

Finally, as a side note, I’d like to offer many thanks to Mark Allison and Eleanor Poe for their help with transportation.

For more information about the NACCC, visit www.naccc.org.

National Association of Congregational Christian

Churches

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PALM SUNDAY: April 14, 2019

9:30 AM Palm Sunday Service

GOOD FRIDAY: April 19, 2019

2:00 PM Good Friday Service

EASTER: APRIL 21, 2019

6:00 AM Easter Sunrise Service &

9:30 AM Easter Sunday Service

ANSWERS ON PAGE 9

Special Easter Offering Please consider a generous gift for the 2019 special Easter offering. The funds collected will be allocated 50/50 to two local charities: DOVES program (Area Agency on Aging) and Benevilla. Both organizations serve local needs for less fortunate area residents. Your gifts during this special season will help share Christian love to those who need it most. Please use the special Easter offering envelopes in the pews for your donation (available April 7, 14, and 21), and write EASTER OFFERING in the check memo line. Thank you!

We had about 20 people join us on January 31

for Game Day in Alexander Hall! Board and

card games were played during this fun

fellowship time.

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God Answers Prayers Please see the large bulletin board outside of Alexander Hall for our current list of church family and friends in need of prayers. The prayer list is updated weekly and posted for all to see—towards the right side of the board between the calendar and flower sign ups. We encourage you to take the “take-home” cards available underneath the posted prayer list sign as well.

To place someone on our prayer chain, please contact our prayer chain coordinator, Bonnie Shetley, 623-972-3574; the church office, 623-977-4241 or talk to Pastor Brian. Those of you who would like to be one of our prayer partners, please call Bonnie. New prayer partners are always welcome.

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March 12 , 2019: Italian Dinner (6 PM) & All Stars Big Band

Concert (7 PM)

March 20, 2019: Women’s Fellowship Coffee Meeting

with Guest Speaker 10:30 AM

April 2, 2019 West Valley Wind Ensemble 7 PM

April 11, 2019 Women’s Fellowship Spring Luncheon

11:30 AM

April 18, 2019 Church Council Meeting 9 AM

April 19, 2019 Good Friday Musical Service 2 PM

April 21, 2019 Easter Sunrise Service 6 AM

Easter Traditional Service 9:30 AM

3/05: Ed & Pat Morgan 3/09: Bill & Doreen Muir 3/14: Gary Sherman & Jane Higgs 3/21: John & Dora Stewart 3/26: Jim & Lavora Bohn

3/01: Lavora Bohn 3/01: Chris Palmer 3/03: Ed Clinger 3/03: Jodi Krog 3/05: Sam McNutt 3/06: Joann Johnson 3/06: Jean Kerman 3/07: Helen Mansfield 3/12: Jack Teuteberg 3/13: Pat Hutchison 3/14: Arlene Porter 3/16: Lyn Pommells 3/18: Evelyn Knauss 3/20: Loren Means 3/21: Bob Pilling 3/23: Vivian Budde 3/24: Irene Tuerk 3/31: Carol Zimmermann

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

However many years anyone may live,

LET THEM ENJOY THEM ALL.

ECCLESIASTES 11:8

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Pilgrim Roadrunner

Volume 32—Issue 2

18401 N. 99th Avenue Sun City, AZ 85373 Phone: 623-977-4241

First

Class

Stamp

Required

Return Service Requested

PD # 95289000

BIBLE STUDY 9

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES 11

CALENDAR 10

CHURCH INFORMATION 2

DEACONS CORNER 4

EASTER WORSHIP SCHEDULE 7

ENDOWMENT FUND INFO 4

ITALIAN DINNER & CONCERT 8

MODERATOR’S VIEW 3

NACCC MOMC NEWS 6

PASTOR’S MESSAGE 1

PRAYERS & THANKS 9

PUZZLE 7

PUZZLE ANSWER KEY 9

SWEAT SHOP SORORITY 5

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP 5

TICKETS ON SALE SOON!

SAVE THE DATE!

Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 7 PM

The Congregational Church of Sun City presents

West Valley Wind Ensemble

West Valley Wind Ensemble is a community band of about 50 volunteer members, who play brass, wind and percussion instruments. This group is excited to be under the accomplished and expert direction of Mr. Clark Chaffee. The Ensemble includes both amateur and retired music professionals who join us from diverse professions and experience. All share a common bond; the desire to perform and share great music for listeners of all ages.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Please bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the Valley View

Community Food Bank. A free will monetary donation will be solicited during the performance.