Dove Tales DOVE OF THE DESERT “Increasing Love for God and Neighbor by Volume XXV, No. 10 August 2014 Going Deeper, Reaching Farther, Transforming Lives”

When I first arrived at Dove, I stopped in the sanctuary to pray. On my way in, I saw something that really did not make sense to me. On one wall, there was a collection of stones. To a new person, they looked like something got started and never was finished. For this year’s Confirmation, Rev. Mike Pearson, Dove’s founding pastor, videotaped a surprise for the Confirmands. He shared a little bit about Dove’s beginning. I asked about the odd rocks in the wall. What I learned changed everything. I knew from the day I was introduced to SPRC back in March 2012 that the scripture that Rev. Pearson used to guide the shaping of this church was Ezekiel 47:1-12. The image is that the life-giving water flows from God, through the temple and out into the world. (You have heard me talk about this before.) Rev. Pearson shared that early members who made a pledge to the building fund were given a stone to take home. The stone would remind people to pray for the church in addition to their financial support. Then, when the current sanctuary was finished, the stones were installed in the wall. Rev. Pearson told me that the dream and prayer at that time were that the stones would not stay in the wall - that one day, when the entire building plan was competed, the stones would be taken out of the wall and returned to the river. (There was talk about designing a river through our property, culminating in a lake.) The image of the river of God’s love growing deeper and wider the further it moved from the sanctuary was meant to guide the theology and practice of ministry for this church. 25 Colleen Centner and her team are working on planning Dove’s 25th Anniversary party to be held September 20. In addition to a dinner, there will be several other things going on.  A Silent Auction will be part of the dinner celebration. The funds raised will support our church. We will tithe 10% of the proceeds to benefit Imagine No Malaria.  Rev. Mike Pearson has agreed to preach on Sunday, September 21. An Estate Planning Dinner and Seminar will be offered on Sunday, September 28 starting at 5:00 p.m. God invites us to walk into the waters of our faith and be instruments that bless and change the world. Increasing Love for God and Neighbor by Going Deeper – Reaching Farther – Transforming Lives Blessings,

Rev. N. Susan Brims ~ Rev. Ruth M. Blum Sunday Worship 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. www.doveofthedesert.com ~ Phone: 623-572-7334 ~ Fax: 623-572-8973 Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/doveofthedesert Monthly Newsletter Published by Dove of the Desert UMC ~ Submission Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month. The Dove Staff reserves the right to edit all material submitted. What is the Goal of Sunday School? To teach the Bible...... so that it brings about spiritual transformation of children’s minds and hearts. What does Mature Faith look like? It is the integration of Faith and Life. Are your children taking a journey to Mature Christian Faith? Are your children packed with spiritual tools that they know how to use? We want all of this and more to happen on Sunday mornings. We had a teacher training this past May about a unique way - a different style of teaching for Sunday mornings. The teachers were excited and ready to start the next week. We presented the plan to the Children and Family Council and they approved. August 10 will be the first day for us to roll out this new style for ages 5 through grade 6. Our 3 and 4 year-olds will remain in one classroom setting. All others will be grouped in teams and will attend a different work- shop each Sunday Morning. Our theme for the first few weeks will concern a man who got in trouble with a King. Each week, a different workshop will help everyone learn about how much trouble he got into and what really happened. The first week, your child may be in a drama. The second week, your child may do a science experiment. On the sixth week, we will have a celebration station with all of the children together. Parents and children will receive an invitation, so watch your snail mail. See you Sunday, August 10 at 9:30 a.m. The format will not change for the 11:00 Power 2 (a second power hour for walking in the faith). The topic will be different than the 9:30 time. Either one you choose, we plan on leading our children into a mature faith. We are ready for a Brand New Year!! Parents: we hope you are too!!

Fall Book Study The Board of Church Follow Dove of the Desert on Facebook: & Society is planning a www.facebook.com/doveofthedesert book study this fall on “The White Follow Dove on Twitter: Umbrella” (walking with @DoveUMC survivors of sex trafficking). Watch for details in the Dove Tales and the Sunday bulletin.

Dove of the Desert UMC Staff Senior Pastor: Rev. Susan Brims ~ [email protected] Minister of Discipleship: Rev. Ruth Blum ~ [email protected] Music Co-Directors: Greg Ramsey & Darren S. Herring [email protected]; [email protected] Director of the Bell Choirs: Brent Fike ~ [email protected] Sunday School Coordinator: Jan Ramsey - [email protected] Youth Director: Elizabeth Tesman ~ [email protected] Dove Office Administrator: Carol Morgan ~ [email protected] Administrative Assistant: Marti Betts ~ [email protected] 2 Office Hours: Mon. -Thurs.: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ; Fri.: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Closed for Lunch 12-1 p.m. PRAYER POWERPOINT: Thank You (sent via our Website)! “We live in a world where we need to share As a San Diego native, I just want to say thank you for sending such a great group of future servant-leaders out responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not here last week. Last week I saw a group of kids picking up my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then trash and struck up a conversation with three of them to there are those who see the need and respond. tell them what a great job they were doing. They I consider those people my heroes.” – Fred Rogers mentioned the church with which the “The Lord comes to us disguised as ourselves.” effort was affiliated, so here I am-- – Richard Rohr just simply to say, “thanks.” So much PRAYER: more appreciated than the usual Arizona visitors who invade our Gracious and Loving God - We pray for the children, beaches every summer, contributing the unaccompanied minors, who have somehow found nothing more than money to local themselves in detention in our state. We ask for a restaurants and liquor stores. Keep deep consciousness of the moral and Christian up the good work and God bless! responsibility we carry for these children. Help us take Kevin to heart your command to create and uphold justice. Help us to do so with love and compassion for all. We Thank You, Halos! pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen For the goodwill you demonstrated on your recent summer mission trip to San Diego. Your hard work was SPIRIT IN MOTION: appreciated, as evidenced by the ‘thank you’ above. Examine how we are all alike… What form does Great job! captivity take in our lives? In what way are we refugees? How are these children coming disguised as Thank you! ourselves? From what do we flee? How do we seek a Many thanks to Kirsten Cox, Peter Mather, Shannon McBreen, Sara Meyers, Chris Samelson, and Andi Stanfield better life? How do we uphold God’s justice for all for tutoring students this Spring! You were all such a God’s children? How are we to respond to this blessing! situation? Ask the Holy Spirit to lovingly and compassionately move your heart in the direction of Thank You to Greg & Darren! God’s will. As the choirs prepared to Special Prayers! take their summer breaks, they celebrated with a pot For condolences. . . luck and honored our Co-  Richard & Tami Saathoff on the death of his father. Music Directors with a donation to Dove’s Music Don & Velma Trotter on the deaths of his aunt & her  Ministry in their names. aunt. Looks like Darren & Greg are  Stan Hembury on the death of his wife, Ann. enjoying guarding the cake!  Jeff & Megan Parsons on the death of his uncle. Thank you! For these churches . . . To all the Amazing people at Dove who responded to the Trinity UMC, Yuma plea from UMOM for twin-size sheets! First UMC, Phoenix AND Prescott UMC, Prescott For your awesome generosity in supplying school clothes for the kids at UMOM! Dove’s Family ROCKS!!

3 Dove of the Desert United Methodist Church hosts “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren” Open House, Saturday, August 2, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Duet’s new support group, “Grandparents The open house is Saturday, August 2, 9:00 – 11:00 Raising Grandchildren,” will meet on Dove’s a.m., Building B, Room 12. We will focus the campus on the first Saturday of each month, 9:00 discussion for the open house on remedies regarding a.m. – 11:00 a.m. The group is open to anyone in formal custody. our church or our community to assist This support group is free of charge and facilitated by grandparents facing the awesome responsibilities Duet’s own Patricia Dominguez, MSW, Director of of raising grandchildren. The group offers a Kinship Services. If you have questions, please call supportive place for family members to share Patricia at 602-274-5022, Ext. 31, or contact Don thoughts and concerns. Trotter, Chair, Dove’s Care Ministry Team, [email protected].

From the Dove of the Desert Endowment Committee

For the Lord is good and his love endures indications that our lives were about to change. We forever; his faithfulness continues through all don’t usually get a three-week notice. generations. “Be prepared” is the Boy Scout motto, and preparing your family by planning for the future is When it is my time to die and leave this an act of love and responsibility. In an effort to world and be with the Lord, I hope that I will be serve our members, Dove’s Endowment Committee healthy, that my mental capabilities will is hosting a FREE dinner and Estate Planning not have diminished, and God will give program presented by Desert Southwest UM Foundation on Sunday, September 28, at me about three weeks’ notice. I will be 5:00 p.m. (See page 5) Please plan on able then to get everything organized, attending. This presentation may motivate you plan my memorial service, make to begin your estate plan, update your will, decisions about what to do with those consider a trust, or answer any other questions things that God entrusted me with, get you might have about being prepared. some things done that I always wanted For reservations or questions call: 623-572- to do, and maybe have a nice last 7334 or email: romantic vacation with Jean. Although [email protected] this is what I want, I know that my life Thank you. might not be this way. Curtis Gipson Over the last 15 years, three times I thought I might lose Jean: her first heart attack in 1999, her second heart attack and bypass surgery in early 2012, and, later that same year, her stroke. As I think about those events, I have tried to remember if there were any warnings. I have tried to remember the day before these events, but I don’t remember any warnings or any 5 25 YEARS OF DOVE “The River Still Flows”

On September 17, 1989, Dove of the Desert United Methodist Church held its first service at Arrowhead Ele- mentary School. In attendance were 115 people. Dove’s founding pastor Mike Pearson, led the service, and was assisted by organist Ed Wolfe and music director Linda Russell. Would you like to hear more about the 25 years of Dove history? On September 20, 2014, we will celebrate the 25 Years of Dove “The River Still Flows” from Ezekiel 47:1-12 with displays of Dove history. Come at 4:30 p.m. to view the 25 displays. At 5:30 p.m. we will enjoy a wonderful meal, followed by a special program at 7:00 that includes music and previous pastors sharing their memories. Please join us in this time of fun and fellowship as we celebrate 25 Years of Dove. Save the date!! ~ September 20, 2014 Dinner tickets will be sold in the Narthex on August 17 and 24. The price per person for dinner is $15.00, children 8 years of age and younger: $7.50, maximum per family: $50.00. (We want everyone to attend. If the cost for you or your family will cause a financial hardship, please contact the church office for assistance. All such requests will remain confidential.) Look for more information in the bulletin and on the screens before worship.

MORE ANNIVERSARY NEWS

More Anniversary Fun!! As part of our anniversary celebration on September 20, we will have a Silent Auction. Come prepared to bid! The Silent Auction will benefit Dove's general fund with 10 % going to Imagine No Malaria. We are still looking for donations. Ideas for donations include tickets to sporting events, a timeshare you hold that you would like to donate, theater or concert tickets, donation of time for services provided (cleaning or other professional services). Other ideas are welcome. Please email Megan Hale at [email protected] with your ideas, for more information regarding donations, or if you would like to make a donation.

Halos Concert and Ice Cream Social Come and indulge your senses on Sunday, August 10, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. Hear the Halos Choir sing. See them perform. Smell the ice cream awaiting you af- ter the concert. Taste the ice cream. Be touched by the talent we have at Dove! Come and share a wonderful afternoon! July 12, 2014 Dear Members and Friends of the Desert Southwest Conference, Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus who said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." (Matthew 19:14) An untenable situation exists within the bounds of the Desert Southwest Conference which touches the hearts of many of us. For weeks now, we have been hearing of the very sudden arrival of unaccompanied children who have crossed the border into the United States from the south. In many cases, these children have endured dangerous and frightening conditions only to arrive in the United States tired, hungry, alone, and frightened.

When they arrive, many of the children are taken into custody by our Border Patrol agents and are taken to a number of places where they are held and processed. We understand that many have come to escape the violence, poverty, and danger of life in Mexico, Honduras, and other Central American countries. Their parents have sent them to seek the safety of the United States, in some cases, to be reunited with family already here.

As a consequence of this unprecedented movement of children across the border, there are needs that we are just now beginning to know. In some cases, there are material needs such as food, shelter, clothing and blankets. Some require medicine or medical care. Others seek the security of loving arms of comfort and reassurance and faith. Others are endangered by alarming conditions and treatment in the detention centers.

I ask that you hold these children and all other children around the world who are displaced, neglected, abused, endangered in our prayers. They are OUR children because God has given them to us for this moment to offer our love and compassion.

Although permission has not been granted to visit the children at the border, efforts are being made to establish a ministry with them. We are working to determine ways you and I can help. El Mesias UMC in Nogales is exploring ways that it can offer ministry in this situation. Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank, South District Superintendent, will lead a group from the Conference to meet with officials in Nogales at the site where children are being detained. First UMC in Safford recently collected supplies and made a trip to Nogales to deliver them.

I requested of our United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and we have received from them an emergency grant of $10,000 to help us with our ministry in Nogales. Our South District will lead us in determining the best ways to utilize this grant. Additionally, I will be meeting with our United Methodist Immigration Task Force as we determine how to move forward with additional UMCOR assistance. I have communicated with Bishop Gerald Kicanas of the Diocese of Tucson to extend my prayers and invite partnership in our humanitarian response.

A report will follow after the Monday meeting with Superintendent Escobedo-Frank and our delegation from the Conference. For this moment, I ask for the compassion and love of the faithful United Methodists of this Conference. UMCOR has invited your generous response to this humanitarian emergency. If you would like to contribute, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/ UMCOR901670.

Join me in prayer for the children: God, our Creator, we pray for the children, our children, that you have placed in our care. Help us to remember that when we behold the presence of the sojourner, we gaze into the eyes of Christ. In these children You make yourself present to us again. We confess that it is too easy for us to ignore them. Touch our hearts, make them tender with compassion and give us grace to respond with love! Amen!

In Christ's peace,

Robert T. Hoshibata

7 DSW Annual Conference Report

IGNITE was the worship coordinator for the various services. IGNITE was the theme of our Darren Herring was song leader and along with Greg Annual Conference gathering held June Ramsey wrote our theme song, “Ignite.” Greg Ramsey 26 - 29 at the Renaissance Hotel in was also the pianist. Praise Team members included Glendale. Approximately 700 clergy and Ginger Worden, Lynn Bowers, Jean and Chuck Booth, lay members attended. and Riley Tesman. Ashley Hunt played the flute at the Memorial Service, and Court Burkhart assisted the What does IGNITE mean? It is to Bishop at the Ordination Service (photo below left). arouse, inflame, kindle, trigger, spark, Emma Barber was part of the brass ensemble. Wayne instigate, excite, stimulate, rally, jump- Worden was a liturgist. And many Dove members start. But how do we do that? How do we create vital participated in joint choirs. Yes, we were well (ignited) congregations? We can start with our meeting’s represented. central Bible verse: Peter, do you love me? Then feed my sheep. SOCK IT TO ME! (John 21:15-17). DSW Conference congregations donated 43,946 pairs of socks! Yes, Who are the sheep? We find them in the margins you read that of life - the unemployed, the homeless, the incarcerated, correctly! It’s not a the hungry. We live in community with all people; it is a misprint! gift to have one another. And as T.S. Elliott wrote, Unbelievable! “What life have you, if you do not have life together ...” And what can we feed them? We can offer the gospel. You may Our Methodist DNA is a call for remember there was social holiness. a contest among the four districts within Our daily Bible study our conference. Our leader was Rev. Dr. Susan Henry- district, the West Crowe, the newly appointed District, won the General Secretary, General Board contest by donating of Church and Society. 16,006 pairs! Many Dove members Congratulations and were involved with the gathering. thank you to all who contributed! In addition to Rev. Susan and The Annual Conference gathering was Pastor Ruth, lay representatives inspirational and motivational. If you would like to were Jeff Zurn (Dove Lay review the complete minutes from the entire conference Leader), Chris Samelson, and see a complete list of approved resolutions, go to Darlene Bradner, and Sharon http://desertsouthwestconference.org/ac-updates. Weber (alternate). Rev. Susan Darlene Bradner Annual Conference Member

Remember to save the date for Dove’s 25th Anniversary! September 20, 2014

8 Dove Fellowship!

Join the Lunch Bunch at noon on Thursday, August 7 at Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen, 6012 W. Bell Rd., Glendale. (cross streets: 59th Ave. & Bell Road (Phone: 602-298-8080)

PrimeTime Live!! All Dove adults are invited ~ single or married, young or young at heart! PrimeTime Live is for you! JOIN US!! PrimeTime Live is our Dove of the Desert adult fellowship group. We include all Dove adults: married, single, young, and young at heart. We usually meet the 3rd Friday of each month at a member's home and enjoy the evening together with food, fun, and Christian fellowship. The host supplies a main course; attendees bring sides and dessert. PrimeTime Live is taking the summer off and will resume in September.

Mom Time & Story Hour

Mom's Morning Group ~ All MOMs are invited to meet in the Dove kitchen each Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Join us as we gather to have coffee and a snack, and fellowship with one another while our preschoolers are at Story Time! For more information, please contact, Melissa at 623-850-0773 or [email protected].

Story Time for Bring your Preschoolers to story time! They will hear a story and have an activity to go Preschoolers with the story. The children will then be able to check out a book or DVD from the library.

Mom's Evening Group meets on the 4thTuesday of each month from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. NO childcare available. For more information, please contact Joy Gladden at [email protected] or 480-381-5696.

Dove Men's Dove Breakfast Club Breakfast Meets every Monday Saturday, August 9 at 7:00 a.m. morning at 8:00 a.m. (or a Black Bear Diner, little earlier) at Cracker 6039 W. Bell Rd Barrel Restaurant, 16845 N. 84th Ave., RSVP: Rob Sanders 623-566-7990 West of Loop 101 and South of Bell or Dove 623-572-7334 Road. Everyone is welcome!! For more Men of Dove, join us on the 2nd Saturday of each month for information, contact Jeanne & Bob a time of devotion, prayer, and fellowship. Fathers & Koonce, 623-583-6753. Grandfathers: bring your Sons & Grandsons, age 13 and up, & invite a friend. A great way to meet some new friends!

The Heat is On!

This summer, Dove will again collect individual-size bottles of water for Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development, an outreach for homeless teens. Please bring the water to Dove. All water collected will be distributed to youth on the streets of Arizona. Please donate if you are able to help!

9 MONTHLY MISSIONS @ DOVE OF THE DESERT DOVE CARE MINISTRY

Baby Brigade & Casserole Brigade First Sunday Provides meals for Dove Families ♦ Food Drive for St. Mary’s Food Bank Baby: Megan Parsons 602-739-1858 Alliance. Casserole: ♦ Pet Food & Supply Drive Sharon Eshelman 623-566-2798 Bring one pet food can or bag, or other Blood Pressure Screening item! Will resume in September First Wednesday Betty Steele, Coordinator 623-566-0481 ♦ Meatloaf dinner for UMOM Care/Prayer Notes On-Going Available in the Narthex/Lobby for Dove community ♦ Justa Center Donations Dave Smith, Coordinator 623-810-6518 ♦ UMOM Donations Dove’s Congregational Card Ministry Cards to those with requests/joys DOVE CHOIRS Mildred & Barney McClendon, Coordinators 602-993-8945 Summer break is almost over and rehearsals will be Duet Volunteer Orientation starting in August. If you love to sing or play the Saturday, August 16; 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. handbells, you are invited to join one of our St. John Lutheran Church musical groups: 7205 N. 51st Ave., Glendale, AZ 85301 Dove Notes: Women’s choir that sings at the 8:00 To register: 602-274-5022, www.duetaz.org a.m. worship service. Rehearsals begin on or call Don Trotter623 -376-9506 Tuesday, August 19 at 6:30 p.m. Funeral Reception Team Celebration Singers: Adult choir that sings at Jeanne Koonce, Coordinator 623-583-6753 the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Rehearsals begin Homebound Communion Wednesday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m. Communion is available to be given in your home, in a care facility, or in the hospital Handbell Choirs: Rehearses Lee Hopkins, Coordinator 623-878-6590 Thursdays: Beginning group at 6:00 p.m., Advanced group at 7:00 p.m. “Passages from Grief to Hope” nd Grief Support Group Folk Group: Adult folk group sings on 2 August 13 & 27; 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Room 9 Sundays at 8:00 a.m. worship. Questions: ContactDon Trotter 623-376-9506 Rehearses at 7:00 p.m. Mondays off campus. Halos Youth Pet Care Ministry Choir: grades 7 - 12 Rehearsals August’s donations will be given to on Sunday afternoons and some Animal Rescue Friends (ARF) weekdays after school. Darlene Bradner, Coordinator 623-875-0223 Prayer Shawl Ministry Music Reading Boot Camp Tuesdays, August 12 & 26; 9:00 - 10:00 a.m., Room 9 Newcomers are always welcome! If you are interested in learning the basics of read- ing music or would like to hone your skills at reading Donna Thurmond, Coordinator 602-843-2803 music, you are invited to a Music Reading Boot Camp. The class will be held for 4 or 5 weeks. If you are interested call the Dove office.

Please use our prayer line for your Prayer Requests. Share a concern or a joy! Call 602-375-PRAY (602-375-7729) 10 Prayer requests are retrieved daily by our Prayer Partners. DOVE YOUTH

Saturday August 16 | 6:30-9:30 @ Dove of the Desert UMC

HALOS MISSION TRIP TO CALIFORNIA EMAIL Dove of & WEBSITE the Desert EDITION United Methodist Church 7201 W. Beardsley Road Glendale, AZ 85308

Sending Rainbow Blessings to YOU!

August Events at Dove 2 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, 9:00 a.m. Worship Services: 8:00 ~ 9:30 ~ 11:00 a.m. 3 with Communion First Sunday Donations for Food Bank and Pet Ministries 7 Lunch Bunch; noon; off-campus 8 Dove Tales Deadline 9 Dove Men’s Breakfast, 7:00 a.m., off-campus Worship Services: 8:00 ~ 9:30 ~ 11:00 a.m. 10 Fall Sunday School Kick-Off 9:30 a.m. Halos Choir Concert & Ice Cream Social 2:00 p.m. 16 Dove Youth Ministry Kick-Off 6:30 p.m 17 Worship Services: 8:00 ~ 9:30 ~ 11:00 a.m. 23 Cub Scout Recruitment 24 Worship Services: 8:00 ~ 9:30 ~ 11:00 a.m. 26 Primary Election 31 Worship Services: 8:00; 9:30 ~ 11:00 a.m. Look inside for more information or call the Dove office - Complete calendar can be found at www.DoveoftheDesert.com