East Mesa Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ)

~ A Global Mission Church ~

Joyful Tidings from the new pastor at East Mesa Christian Church! I feel very privileged and honored to have been chosen to be the next leader of your wonderful flock! It has been quite a journey in listening for God’s voice and following the path which brought me here to this new church home.

Let me share just a little of my DOC background with you. As most of you may know, I came from the Pacific Southwest Region (PSWR) where my home Disciple church was First Christian Church of North Hollywood. It was at FCCNH where I served first as a lay person, committee member, board

member, deacon, and choir member. I eventually entered seminary in 2009 to become a hospital chaplain encouraged by our senior pastor Robert Bock and his mentorship. My commitment to FCCNH included participation in many of its outreach ministries: a professional theater company known as Advent Theater, the Interfaith Food Pantry of North Hollywood which partners with eleven other ecumenical congregations, the Christian Nursery School Country Fair Silent Auction/Chili Cook-off, the Christmas Tree Lot/Trees for Kids which raised monies for children’s charities, Operation Santa Claus, PSWR Regional Youth Camp at Loch Leven, and church sponsored Vacation Bible School and a Children’s Music Camp every summer. Our church campus was also well known in the filming community of Los Angeles, and after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, I was involved in rebuilding this activity as a film ministry within the community. You may have seen the sanctuary in movies like Birdcage and the last Indiana Jones film, and Aaron Spelling’s 7th Heaven filmed regularly there for several years from 1996 to 2005. That ministry as well as the Christian Nursery School often brought in people and families from all over the Los Angeles communities. FCCNH has a strong presence in the North Hollywood community and promotes a strong witness of God’s love and acceptance by embracing “an open and affirming” policy where all are welcome. I have been so very blessed by all these many people with whom I have worked and served in ministry since I joined the DOC. I was very fortunate to have served as part of that ministry since 1989 to the present.

I am extremely grateful for FCCNH’s support as I pursued my call to ministry as a Chaplain from 2009 to the present. That journey began for me when I became a managing director for eight years with an assisted living facility which was purchased by members of FCCNH in 1950 and operated under the auspices of the PSWR. While there, I participated in many regional ministries as well, serving on the Older Adult Committee which provided grants

for our older adults in our PSWR DOC who needed assistance with paying rent and/or bills, and the Don Shelton Memorial Golf Tournament held every year to raise funds for other regional ministries. I served on the PSWR Regional Board of Directors for a year and a half, and I have many of those friends and colleagues with whom I continue to stay in touch. In completing my training as a Trauma One hospital Chaplain, I served a six-month internship at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles in 2013, and a yearlong residency at Banner University (Good Samaritan) Medical Center in 2015-16.

Now, with all of that being said, church ministry was not a place where I thought God would call me; although Pastor Bock assured me that he knew someday, God would call me to a church. It has always been my sincere belief that God lays out a path for each one of us, and it is up to us to decide how we will follow it. It has been my experience that if I am paying attention and willing to give it consideration, it is truly amazing how God will lead me in my life journey. This is what happened in my journey to bring me here to East Mesa Christian Church. It is such an amazing gift from God when suddenly, one finds yourself traveling down a path where you thought you knew everything there was to know, and then God turns the path into a journey that you never expected. This is what often happens in a life of faith, when we open our hearts and our minds and expel all the issues and barriers that have occurred in the past. We have to stop focusing on our own understandings and open ourselves up to the experience that God has waiting for us in our future, no matter our ages or life experiences. When we invite God’s Holy Spirit to reach out and touch our hearts and minds, He not only fills us with great love and grace, but He teaches us that accomplishments and even miracles may be accomplished when we put our faith to the test, and instead of being focused upon our own limited visions of human life. God can and will do anything if we trust and believe in His power to direct our lives and the lives of those who surround us.

I look forward to the future ahead for East Mesa Christian Church and the ministry for which God is calling it, within its community and beyond. It is time for us to focus on God’s new vision for His church, and may we continue to entrust the fruits of our labors and love within His all-encompassing care. Blessings upon your week, and I hope to see you in church! Pastor Robin

Upcoming Events: March 5 6:00 PM – First Lenten Soup Supper March 7 9:00 AM – DMM/DWM meet at The Village Inn March 12 6:00 PM – Lenten Soup Supper March 15 Coffee Hour – 100th Birthday Celebration – Blanche Reid March 19 6:00 PM - Lenten Soup Supper March 26 6:00 PM – Lenten Soup Supper March 28 3:00 PM – Al and Pat Trejo Concert April 2 6:00 PM – Lenten Soup Supper April 4 9:00 AM – DMM/DWM meet at The Village Inn April 9 6:00 PM – Maundy Thursday Soup Supper April 10 8am – 5pm – Good Friday Prayer Vigil April 12 9:00 AM – Fellowship on the patio April 12 10:30 AM – EASTER SERVICE

Sign up sheets for the Soup Suppers and Prayer Vigil are in the Fellowship Hall or contact Carolin in the church office. Our Mission: As followers of Jesus Christ, led and empowered

by the Holy Spirit, we believe God calls East

Mesa Christian Church to be:

A place of outreach, serving from our

community to the ends of the earth;

A place of welcome for all people;

A place of spiritual growth;

A place of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Our Christ-Centered Values J oyfully praise God. E ncourage one another S hare the good news U se our gifts for service S trive for maturity in Christ

We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the

Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.

Elder Participation Schedule – 2020

April 2020 Elders – Linda Gambill and Alan Hayden

If you would like to volunteer to participate in the

worship service as a communion host, usher, greeter, liturgist, offertory steward or scripture reader, please contact Carolin Moorman in the

church office. Thank you.

Worship Participation in March 2020

Elders: Nancy Meygesy and Ed Shellenbarger

Communion Hosts: Carolin Moorman And Gert Waterman

Ushers: Stan Hayes and Gayle Sherod

Greeters: Jon and Sandie Greer

Liturgist: Oceana Rames

Scripture Reader: Liz Farmer

Offertory Steward: Donna Jermier

Kitchen and Homebound Communion:

Nancy Megyesy/Flock #7

March Birthdays

Harry Cole March 2 Keith Garner March 2

Karel Rae Henton March 11 Blanche Reid March 12 Mickey Pagels March 13 Carol Meyer March 27 Beatrice Rames March 31

March Anniversaries Harry and Nancy Cole March 29

If you have a birthday and/or anniversary in March and you are not on this list, please contact the church office so that we can update our records. Thank you.

Celebration!!! During coffee hour on Sunday, March 15 we will be celebrating Blanche Reid’s 100th birthday!! There will be a basket for cards. We will have cake and balloons. It will be a wonderful celebration. If you are out of town and want to send a card for Blanche, just mail it to the church office. We want to make this a very special occasion for Blanche.

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS and HAPPENINGS IN OUR CHURCH LIFE

Since our last newsletter in February those who have had procedures, treatments and/or have been hospitalized have included: Janyle Hodges, Donna Fredricks, Ed Shellenbarger, Nancy Megyesy

On February 2 we had over 80 people attend the installation service for Robin Stallings

On February 18 four attended the senior seminar sponsored by East Valley Hospice.

We anticipate a good turnout for our Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on February 28. Look for updates next month and in the weekly bulletin.

Pastor Robin had to make an emergency trip to Arkansas due to her Mother being ill.

William Sawyer preached on February 23 in Pastor Robin’s absence.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT Your Giving Makes It Happen….

Each ministry costs money to maintain. There is no other source of income apart from your offerings for God’s work. Thank you for making ministry possible by your faithful stewardship.

Our proposed budget for 2020 is $139,430.00. The budget was approved at the Annual Congregational Meeting on January 19th.. At this time pledges fall short of what is

needed to meet our budget. If you haven’t made a pledge to help support the mission of the church, please prayerfully consider doing so.

In January our income was $8,373.00. Our expenses for January were $12,588.82. Expenses exceeded income by $4,215.82. The balance in our Operating Account at the end of January- $17,310.78 Dedicated account - $67,645.07

Is the church part of your inheritance plan? If you would like more information on how you can include the church in your giving through Christian Church Foundation, please

contact the church office.

Global Mission – Opportunities abound for global mission – would you like to sponsor a child? There are pamphlets on the Global Mission table in the Fellowship Hall. Check out all the opportunities for global mission. We are a Global Mission Church.

Disciples Men’s Ministry (DMM) News

The Disciples Men’s Ministry meets on the first Saturday of the month at the Village Inn on Baseline and Signal Butte at 9am. If you would like more information, please contact Pedro Fredricks 480-294-1871.

Disciples Women’s Ministry (DWM) News

“The Breakfast Bunch” continues to meet on the first Saturday of the month at The Village Inn on Baseline and Signal Butte at 9am. All women of the church are encouraged to join us for breakfast and a time of fellowship and planning.

A Note from Oceana Rames, State Moderator for 2020:

The Spring Fling will be on March 28th

. The HAGAR awards will be presented at that time.

2020 WWOW (Wild Women of the West) Update: Disciples Women, grab your calendars! We are planning our second ALL WOMEN Interregional event. If you are longing for the company of other women, desire to deepen your spiritual walk, and want to be connected to amazing Disciples women across the West, then mark down June 12-14, 2020 in your

calendars. We will all descend on Las Vegas for our Interregional event....we can't wait. The theme is "Seeking God's Grace in the Desert" with confirmed keynote speakers Rev. LaTaunya Bynum and Rev. Lori Tapia, who will enliven you with their passion for the Gospel. Come to the desert with us in 2020 and find the grace you are seeking. The best way to stay up to date is to come to our website and sign up for news about the event at http://bit.ly/2XGX52g

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ONGOING PRAYERS: Home Bound/Assisted Living: Lorna Hoskins at home; Mary Anne Stanke @ Savanna House; Blanche Reid @Alta Mesa Senior Living (same place – just a new name); Mike and Maybelle Weiland, 6060 E. Arbor Ave #130, Mesa 85206 (Brookdale); Marjorie Sanders, 19386 E. Oriole Way, Queen Creek 85142; Donald Brening, Acoya Mesa, 6502 Brown Rd., Memory Care Room #15; Mesa 85205 On going prayer concerns: – Pastor Robin’s Mother; Paula Dade’s granddaughter, Willow; Mary Thomas; Gary Remore; Alan Hayden’s son, Steven; Mike Jermier; Tom Gerken; Marj Stimac’s granddaughter, Ella; Anne Brown’s daughter, Laura; Evan Kirby; Liz Farmer; Bob DeSpiegelaere; Carol Meyer; Janyle Hodges; Nancy Megyesy; Steve Megyesy; Marjorie Sanders; Linda Nanninga; Charles Kraemer; Linda Gambill and family; Lonnie and Ed Shellenbarger; Cheryl Hanson; Irene Goff; Liz Farmer’s Cousin and family; Arlene Young; Robin Rames; Cody Hodges and babies Aurora and Abraham; Mickey Pagels; Bill Brown; Donna’s Sister, Frances; Mary Anne Stanke’s Global Mission sponsored child in Armenia, Mkhitar Gharibian.

Military Personnel – Maitland Rames, Austin Bright and Dillon Laudry and for all of our service men and women that they are kept out of harm’s way.

March 2020

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 9am Bible Class 1030 Worship Coffee & Fellowship

2

3 6pm Bells 7pm Choir

4

5 400pm Board mtg 6pm Soup Supper

6 7

9am DMM/DWM Village Inn

8

9am Bible Class 1039 Worship Coffee & Fellowship

9 10

6pm Bells 7pm Choir

11

6pm Telerana

12

6pm Soup Supper

13 14

15

9am Bible Class 1039 Worship Coffee & Fellowship Birthday Party Blanche Reid – 100yo

16 17

6pm Bells 7pm Choir

18 19

400pm Elders 6pm Soup Supper

20 21

22

9am Bible Class 1039 Worship Coffee & Fellowship

23 24

6pm Bells 7pm Choir

25

26

6pm Soup Supper

27 28

29

9am Bible Class 1039 Worship Coffee & Fellowship

30 31

6pm Bells 7pm Choir

East Mesa Christian Church 706 S. Greenfield Road Mesa, AZ 85206

480-830-3474 – Website: www.emccaz.org Office Hours: Tuesday – Thursday

9am – 2pm Revrob16@emccaz.org

cjmoorman@emccaz.org lgambill@emccaz.org

East Mesa Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) A Global Mission Church 706 S. Greenfield Road Mesa, AZ 85206 (480) 830-3474 Fax (480) 830-8810 www.emccaz.org

East Mesa Christian Church Staff

Jay Hartley, Regional Minister

Mark Behle, Global Mission Partner

Nick Gr Robin Stallings, Minister

William Sawyer, Music Director

Cinda Foley, Organist

Carolin Moorman, Admin Assistant

Linda Gambill, Financial Secretary

Church Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday

Sunday Schedule: Adult Church Classes: 9:00 a.m.

Children’s Classes - 9:15am

Worship: 10:30 a.m.

W We have fellowship following the Worship Service