NEWSLETTER Volume 44—Issue 9, September 7, 2014 - University Presbyterian Church, 139 East Alameda Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282

SEPTEMBER 2014

IT’S COMING……

Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such con-gregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their rela-tionship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes. UPC has chosen the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education empha-sis again this year. New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to re-ceive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of disciple-ship. New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?” During morning worship on Consecration Sunday we are asking our attendees and mem-bers to make their financial commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and edu-cational ministries in this community and around the world. Every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday, September 28, 2014. We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning worship our guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, culminated by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship.

Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events.

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REMINDER!! The 4th Sunday of the month (September 28th)

is canned food Sunday. Please bring your donations to the narthex.

FOOD BANKS IN NEED - Because of an ever increasing demand for food, local Food Banks and food pantries are currently very short both of money and protein foods. The pantry at Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA) needs your contri-bution of foods like tuna, beans, canned meats, ramen noodles, canned vegeta-bles and soups. Bring them, and any other foods, to church and place them in the boxes in the narthex. If you would like to contribute financially, make out your check to TCAA, with "food pantry" in the memo line, and direct it to the office.

PAZ DE CRISTO

As part of the mission of University Presbyterian Church, we prepare and serve dinner at Paz de Cristo to 225 + people, the 4th Tuesday of every month. Each 4th Tuesday we require 12-15 people to prepare dinner from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and another 12-15 to serve (and then clean-up!) from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. Paz is located at 424 W. Broadway in Mesa. Besides providing a meal each night of the year, Paz assists families with food box-es, hygiene items, job searches, etc. Thanks for the continuing support from the congregation with peanut butter and jelly, ho-tel shampoo, soap, lotion, razors, etc. If you would like more information please call Barbara Hillyard at 480-831-3202 or jimbarbhill@cox.net

Especially today, let us remember in our prayers: Military service personnel serving stateside and abroad

Homebound UPC members and friends Florence Henningsen Marjorie McGuirl Dr. Ralph and Anne Strong Trudy Hebert

Continued Prayers

Gerry Edson Rick Weinberg Keith Danforth Naomi (Lee) Fix Mikki Gallagher Bill Earl Joan Moyer Alice Danforth

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I am so very excited (and a little nervous, as I have shared with many of you) as we re-engage in campus ministry with the students of ASU through UKIRK Pres-byterian Campus Ministry. UKIRK is the new identity for nationwide Presbyterian college ministries—a combina-tion of “University” and “Kirk,” the Scottish word for Church. It’s kind of a nice fit for “U”-PC.

We have already attended ASU’s Passport event, when all 700 student organizations setup tables to wel-come new and returning students and hand out infor-mation. We had a lot of conversations with different stu-dents about UKIRK and what we are hoping to be and do! In fact, it was a little bit crazy at times!

As a community of faith, I know UPC has struggled with our relationship to the campus community, mostly focusing on faculty and staff. We have been a part of several campus ministries through the decades, starting with Westminster Presbyterian Fellowship in the 1950s with which UPC was originally charted to be in partner-ship. Some ministries over the years have been more successful and longer lasting than others, but we have kept trying and re-shaping this ministry as the needs and landscape of campus life changed. We always hope something will stick, but we must also realize that noth-ing really ever stays the same.

If it’s true nothing really ever stays the same, then we must also be willing to adapt any of our ministries and projects to the changing needs and landscape of the communities we serve, while still staying true to our identity in Jesus Christ, our teacher, leader, and hope.

I would even venture to say that the UPC faith com-munity is continually changing: every day, week, month and year those in our community get older, and our out-look on the world around us changes with our experienc-es; some people join and others leave, changing the network of personalities and gifts that shape our commu-nity; and, as the wider community changes with technol-ogy, climate changes, and even the economy, our minis-try focuses change with the changing needs to meet those challenges.

I look at how our work with I-HELP has changed

over the years, from helping give birth to this ministry through Tempe Emergency Assistance Ministry (T.E.A.M.) in partnership with Tempe Community Action Agency (T.C.A.A.), and now we are just one of dozens of worshiping communities that make up I-HELP. Rules and policies have been created to ensure its longevity and the safety of both participants and volunteers.

I also can’t help look to UPC’s history as a faith com-munity and how we have helped birth at least three wor-shiping communities: Horizon Presbyterian Church in Ahwatukee, Mission del Sol Presbyterian Church a few miles to our south in Tempe, and Celebration of Life Presbyterian Church in Mesa. There are not very many Presbyterian congregations in the U.S. who can say they helped start three different worshipping communities that are still worshiping today!

What an honor to be a part of all these birthings. And now, we are part of another birthing with UKIRK. It may take a while to get UKIRK really going—campus ministry can be fickle. But whether or not it lasts, I hope we might join together in asking God to help us be an-other tool among the plethora of tools available at ASU through which students might find strength when they feel weak, direction when they are lost, and hope when they are overwhelmed, and further that they, too, might discover what potential God has created in them for the sake of the world. And I hope we might also join togeth-er in asking God to help UPC, as a faith community, to continue to take risks for the sake of the good news in Jesus Christ, and allow God to continue to do new things through us.

I’m excited to see what God will bring to us this year, and even more so to see what God might do through us this year. Please know that I hold all of you in prayer every day.

Peace and blessings,

Notes from Pastor Eric …on new ministries…

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ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Lectio Divina Lectionary Bible Study (Starting Wednesday, Aug. 27, 9am, Conference Room): Each Wednesday of the year we gather with Pastor Eric to read the lectionary texts for the upcoming Sunday morning worship, and then, in the ancient style of sacred reading (lectio divina) we will listen for what God might be saying to us through it. We do often veer from the lectio style and engage in form and historical criticism to better understand the con-texts. Anyone is welcome to join!

Leviticus (Starting Sunday, Sept. 7, 11am, Meeting Room): One of my favorite things is when people tell me about their life verse. I always love hearing them quote from the book of Leviticus, how it reveals God's purpose in their life and how it illuminates who God is to them. Oh wait, that never happens! A matter of fact, the only time I hear people using Leviticus, they are quoting some obscure reference, yanked out of biblical context, to condemn others. Does anyone read Leviticus? Is there another way to understand this book? What if I told you yes, and that it is one of the most beautiful, poetic, ground breaking books in the Jewish faith. What if I told you that it deals with economics, vacation, work, partying and proper goat caretaking? Join us this fall as we explore this unique and important book of the bible. Come prepared with pen and paper as we journey into its pages with Rev. Darin Namminga on Sunday mornings.

Wired Word (Starting Sunday, Sept. 7, 11 am, Conference Room): For the third year, The Wired Word adult church school class will be offered each Sunday in the Conference Room. Each week, the nationally developed and distributed curriculum examines a compelling national or international issue, situation, news event or trend, and then poses questions, chal-lenges, and a rich amount of scriptural background and parallels for Christians to explore. Dis-cussion is lively. Each Thursday, the church emails the congregation a synopsis of what The Wired Word topic will be and a website link to read the materials in advance of the Sunday's class. Class leaders will be the Rev. Bev Phillips, Lawn Griffiths and Pete Godfrey

FAMILY PROMISE

We are delighted to be hosting families the week of Sept 14th- Sept 21st on our campus.

They will be staying in Rooms 2 and 4-6, and having evening meals in the Fellowship Hall. Since Cheri Hardy will be out of town, Jill Russell and Joan Grey will be coordinating this week. We will try to do something special on Saturday September 20

th. If you have any zoo

passes we can always use them.

If you aren’t familiar with this UPC mission program or have a concern about a conflict with the facilities use, please contact Cheri Hardy @ 602-920-5176 or cheri@tempeagents.com.

We would love to have new volunteers to help with this program and are extremely grateful for all of you that faithfully donate your time & money to feed & shelter homeless families.

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DINNER FOR EIGHT (Beginning in September)

Would you like to get better acquainted with others from UPC? Join the next group of “Dinner for Eight.”

What is “Dinner for Eight”? Groups of 6, 7, or 8 people take turns hosting a gathering once a month for four months for a meal and conversation. The emphasis is on fun and friendship so you don’t have to be a great cook to participate! During each four month period you will host on-ly once, and will be a guest on three occasions. When it is your turn to host, you decide when and where. Perhaps your group will have a picnic in a park, use the facilities at the church, or host lunch or dinner at home or in a restaurant. It’s up to you!

To participate in this wonderful way of getting to know each other better, please contact Donna DeLutio at 480-621-8163 or del1069@aol.com. If you are currently participating in “Dinner for Eight,” your name will automatically be included in the next group. Contact Donna if you wish to have your name removed from the group or if you have any questions.

NOTES FROM SESSION

Session did not meet in July.

At the June session meeting, Session took the following action: Appointed Trustee Jim Knorr to form a task force to provide information to the congregation about the shower project, including some alternative options for showers that have been sug-gested, through avenues like newsletter articles, presentations during worship and special presentations after worship.

Discussed how to handle “unstable” people attending Worship and coming on campus during the week. Pastor Eric was granted permission to ask some individuals to put together a protocol on how to deal with individuals who are disruptive. Pastor Eric has also contacted Steven Sparks from TCAA to conduct training.

Debbie Sands, Clerk

Lost and Found

With the start of fall, we call on the congregation to look into our plastic Lost and Found bin on the patio after church on Sundays -- or in the Resource Room the rest of the week -- to seek whether anything there is yours. Most of the items there have been in the bin for many months. In mid-September, we will take what is not claimed to Good Will Industries. Here is a list of the items: a UPC Choir "Faith in Music" polo shirt (size small). Nalgrene water bottle. Mini-Ray Vac flashlight. Comfort Top Airbag mattress. Six Montlure 2013 white water bottles (some with names on them). "Living into Community" book by Christine Pohl. Quality set of reading glasses. Stuffed white bulldog in Christmas garb. Large nail clippers. Green fold-up umbrella. Black fold-up umbrella. Light gray sweater. Ring with a capital "E" (found on pul-pit side of sanctuary and taped to window of narthex). If you want something pulled out to claim later, contact Lawn Griffiths, (480) 894-1557 or tempelawn@msn.com

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Help Us With I-HELP

Thank you to everyone who has made this mission project work. With all of us working together we are able to provide food and shelter for approximately 40 homeless men and women every month. Our next night to host is Friday, September 19th. If you would like to participate in any way, please visit the sign-up sheet on the patio after church. There are many needs in addition to the din-ner and breakfast items. They are white socks, underwear, T-shirts, disposable razors, toothbrushes and travel size toiletries. If you have any extra pillow cases, they would be greatly appreciated as well. If you have any questions or want to help, please contact Jill Russell at 602-315-9026 (e-mail: jillzy55@aol.com)

PRIMETIME

Primetime, University Presbyterian Church's longtime speakers program especially targeted to adults and seniors, resumes in September, with a talk by the Rev. Leslie Vogel, Mission Co-Worker for the Presbyterian Church (USA). Leslie, who has spent more than a year in Guatemala, returns on a work break, and will give an update at 6 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 17 in the Meeting Room. She spoke to UPC in the spring of 2013 prior to her departure. She will make a PowerPoint presentation with photos of her mission work and answer questions. Leslie's talk is titled "Guatemalan Journey: Cultural Collisions, Challenges and Celebrations." She will be spending a week in the Valley talking in churches. She is being honored at a wine and cheese reception at the Presbytery office (3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 17 in Phoenix) just be-fore talking to UPC. Leslie works as facilitator for the Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America (CEDEPCA) in its Intercultural Encounters Program, which provides North American church groups, theological seminarians and college/university students the opportunity to discover Guatemala in all its diversity, beauty and complexity. Students can also experience the every-day life of the nation through immersion programs. Her interest in the region began as an undergraduate student at Whitworth College when she did a extended study and service experience in Central America. A graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1985, Leslie worked almost eight years in El Salvador, part of the time as a Presbyterian Church (USA) mission co-worker. She also spent two years in a mission appointment as co-coordinator of the Central America Education Program at its Stony Point (N.Y.) center. She is also a teaching elder with the Presbytery of Grand Canyon and is affiliat-ed with Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church in Paradise Valley. Attendees are invited to participate in the Wednesday At Church dinner in Fellowship Hall, be-ginning at 5:30 p.m. We plan to offer two Primetime programs in October -- Oct. 8 and 22.

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M U S I C N E W S

Many thanks to Steve White and James Abell, Jaime Namminga,Sarah and Elizabeth Steele, Jason and Kendric Knorr, Colleen O’Connor and Ann Ewen for special music in July and Au-gust. You all were awesome and lifted us up!!!

Now we turn the corner into fall with our Chancel Choir Retreat August 30th and initial rehearsals

of Handbells and Chancel Choir on Wed., September 3rd

. The Retreat will feature good food, fel-lowship and a start on our first eight anthems.

It is with joy and deep gratitude to each musician that we begin our new year. The dedication and generosity of our musicians is outstanding. Please take every opportunity to express our THANKS to each and every one.

Our September anthems include a rousing arrangement of the text of Psalm 47…”Clap Your Hands, Oh Shout, All You People”. The choir will be joined by four percussionists. Fun Fun Fun! Following as closely as possible to the lectionary texts from Matthew, the choir continues the month of September with a beautiful arrangement of words from Psalm 130 set by Paul O. Manz. On September 21 we sing the beautiful and passionate setting by Craig Courtney of “Give Me Je-sus”. Our final anthem for September will be Jonah!, words and music by Stephen M. Hopkins. After our first reading of this in worship a couple of years ago, Jim West came up to me and asked that we do it again….soon. So…this one’s for you, Jim!

“Our lives flow on in endless song. How can we keep from singing!”

See you all in worship.

Carol Rickel, Director of Music 480-966-3437, crickel1@cox.net

NEW ADDRESSES / EMAILS

Sharon Tompkins, 2435 N. McAllister Ave., #218, Tempe, AZ

Cindy and Dean Pickett, 6700 W Dorado Drive #22, Littleton, CO 80123, Home: 720-524-8274, Cell phone numbers remain the same.

Monica and Allan Scruggs, 5926 S. Dearborn Rd., Spokane, WA 99223, monica.scruggs31@gmail.com, 509-209-6548

HANDBELL AND CHANCEL CHOIRS NEED YOUR GIFTS Your Handbell Choir and Chancel Choir are in need of a few more ringers and singers. Re-hearsals begin Wed., September 3

rd at 6 pm and 7:05 pm, respectively. The Choir Retreat is

scheduled for Saturday, August 30th from 9 am to 1 pm. If you can add your voice or hands

please contact Carol Rickel at 480-966-3437 crickel1@cox.net.

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SEPTEMBER

1 - Catherine English 5 - MadelynSellier, Betsy Youngs 8 - Wanda Keeling, Alice Danforth, Sidney Robbins 11– John Stookey 16 - Sue Legg, John Asher, 18 - Hazel Davidson, Sarah Gill 20 - Trudy Hebert, Scott Horne 21 - Donna Franks 22 - Cherie Berndt 24 - Elaine Shelden, Sarah Steele 26 - Barbara Hawley 28 - Cheryl Hardy, Bill Earl 29 - Shirley King, Jessica Hardy If your birthday is missing or we have the wrong date, please call the office so we can update our records. We wish a special day to anyone we have missed.

The Deacon of the Month will be at the front of the church to greet members and guests with con-cerns. For September the Deacon of the month is Jean Luce. You can call her at 480-921-4968. If you have any needs that we could help you with, please contact Cathy Richardson at 480-838-4347.

Deacon’s Doings

THE TRUSTEE ON DUTY FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IS:

PAUL GREEN @ 480-292-9106

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Presbyterian Women News Happenings for Presbyterian Women

Presbyterian Women (PW) Purpose: Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves: to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study; to support the mission of the Church worldwide; to work for justice and peace; and to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (USA), and witnesses to the promise of God’s kingdom.

September Circle Meetings Wednesday, September 17th, Chinle Circle will meet at 1:00 p.m. in the Meeting Room at UPC with Hazel Da-vidson serving as hostess. Martha Walker will do the devotions and Bev Phillips will lead Lesson 1 and 2 of Rec-onciling Paul: A Contemporary Study of 2 Corinthians. (Kay Hosek-Knauss, Circle Coordinator—480-777-7827) Monday, September 22nd, Kayenta Circle will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the lounge at UPC. Chris Casanova will lead Lesson 1 of this year’s Bible study, Reconciling Paul: A Contemporary Study of 2 Corinthians. (Sally Niles, Circle Coordinator—480-759-6238)

Sunday, September 21st, Pima Circle will meet at UPC in Room 7 at 11:00 a.m. Bev Phillips will lead Lesson 1 of this year’s Bible study, Reconciling Paul: A Contemporary Study of 2 Corinthians. (Meredith Robbins, Circle Coordinator—480-570-6864)

PW Kickoff Gathering to be held September 14th

All women are invited to the Fall Kickoff Gathering on Sunday, September 14th in Fellowship Hall from 12:00 – 1:30. We will begin the gathering with a salad potluck luncheon, so please bring a favorite salad to share. There will be a short business meeting followed by our program highlighting Paul’s letters, the focus of this year’s Hori-zons Bible Study. The mission focus will be putting together Fall Manna Bags and our new fundraiser, Jesse Tree Ornament sets, will be introduced and assembled. The new PW Yearbook will be ready, also. So whether you’ve attended in the past or are new to PW, plan to join us as we begin another great year of Bible study and fellow-ship!

UPC’s PW Field Test Site for 2016-2017 Horizons Bible Study WOMEN AND MEN OF UPC: We have a remarkable opportunity to participate in the editing process of the Hori-zons Magazine’s (magazine of Presbyterian Women) 2016-2017 Bible Study series titled: Who is Jesus? Written by Judy Yates Siker. UPC PW has been selected to be a field test site for piloting the nine lessons of Who is Je-sus? We have been charged to study the first draft version of the work in order to identify strengths and weak-nesses along with the overall helpfulness of the study for spiritual growth and daily living. The meeting time will be determined by the participants but will be approximately a total of 8-9 hours with a short evaluation form to be completed at the end of the ninth lesson. The pilot needs to be completed between October and Decem-ber. There will not be any preparation or reading outside of meeting time required by participants. If you are inter-ested in participating in this exciting opportunity or have any questions, please contact Chris Casanova at wecasa@aol.com or 480-706-9018.

PWP Fall Gathering to be held October 11th

This year’s Presbyterian Women in the Grand Canyon Presbytery’s Fall Gathering will be held Saturday, October

11th at Sunnyslope Presbyterian from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The program will be “One Can Make a Difference”.

The guest speaker will be Patti Luttrell, from Children’s Cancer Network. Cost is $10.00 per person and includes a

continental breakfast and lunch. Registration deadline is September 30th –forms are available from your circle co-

ordinator.

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Youth Ministry News…

Our Middle School Fellowship (MSF)—6th-8th grades—and High School Fellowship (HSF)—9th-12th—meet nearly every Sunday night between September and May to engage in Christian community with adults and other youth, enjoy some serious and funky fun, as well as to engage in the practice of putting our theology (understanding of God through Christ) into practice (practical theology). Check the church calendar at www.upctempe.org/calendar for more info. Anyone in 6th-12th grades is invited to join us and is encouraged to bring friends!

Youth Updates The High School Lock in was super fun! We ate pizza, and we played a game that gave Rick a laugh attack! Seri-ously, he laughed so hard we weren’t sure he was going to make it. The game is called Pictaphone and is just like the game Telephone except you are passing a drawing/word to each person and they either have to draw the word they see or write what they think the picture is. At the end when the words have been passed to everyone, our stacks of paper are gone through to tell each story. The outcomes were hilarious. There were also some suspicious elephant noises again. We ended the night by watching Holly’s favorite movie, “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium.”

Cool events that are coming up:

August 31st Parent Meeting, Parents come join our youth team and find out what’s happening this semester in youth group! The meeting starts at 10:30am in the sanctuary directly after church!

September 7th is our Youth Group kick off night. Come to youth group and bring your ideas, it is Youth Brainstorm-ing Night. We want to hear your ideas!!!!

October 18th - October 19th Cardboard City starts Saturday 5 pm until Sunday 8 am. It is at Scottsdale Stadium this year, mark your calendars!!! RSVP to CE Director, Holly Early at (480) 966-6267 Ext. 2 or email at the-hollster@yahoo.com.

October 25th Presbytery Halloween Dance. The dance involves all other Presbyterian Churches in the valley. The dance is from 7:00 pm-10:00pm. There will be food, games, and lots of dancing! More details to come!!! Prayers Please continue to keep our Youth, Youth Ministry Team, Christian Education Committee, and all of UPC in your prayers.

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ADDING SHOWERS AT UPC AS MINISTRY TO THE HOMELESS

Thoughts from the Mission/SJ& P Committee, the Trustees, and architect James Abell

Why do we need showers at our church? Showers may not be a topic or need pondered by most people, but they have been an improvement to our campus that has been discussed for many years at UPC in order to serve families in our community who may well wonder when and where they may next shower. During our two previous capital fundraising campaigns the Mission/Social Justice & Peacemaking Committee requested showers and the Church supported the idea, but did not have enough money to include the showers when those final decisions were made regarding projects to be implemented. For over ten years we have been housing homeless families on our campus for a week at a time at least four times per year. This year alone we will be offering hospi-tality through Family Promise to over 20 families on our campus. When surveyed almost every family said that they would use showers if they were available. Here are some of their comments: “No shower was hard on my kids.” “Not having a shower in the evening makes me feel uncomforta-ble, like I’m dirtying my linens.” “Convenience of (a) shower is insurmountable.” “(I) enjoyed show-ers at other churches.” “I think the showers should be handicapped accessible.” It’s hard to get a job if you can’t shower for an interview. In addition to helping homeless families the campus showers will also serve the members of our congregation who spend the night at the Church. There are other opportunities as well to serve the homeless with showers – for example, we pro-vide lodging two Friday nights per month for I-HELP emergency housing program for Tempe home-less. With showers, we can also host mission groups and youth groups. In our Arizona desert, the gift of water is a blessing we should share in a multitude of ways…Just Imagine.

Some of the folks of the Family Promise community who will benefit from having access to our showers

Proposed Design Synopsis: The “big idea” to providing showers is to artfully blend a new facility enclosure with the 1960 building aesthetic while providing low maintenance showers that serve families with the sufficient room and security. The “freshening face-lift” of a new bank of windows and a new entrance to Fellowship Hall will enliven the campus. New exterior walls to enclose the showers are to be built of non-rusting, non-mold supporting, non-corroding wall construction not needing the maintenance of steel studs with tile-grout cladding, but rather to match the 1960 existing silver aluminum “window-wall" framing with frosted modesty glass, or possibly, be constructed of nearly opaque glass block of many colors to harmonize with colors of the art glass in our Sanctuary. A prelimi-nary assessment suggests that neither new wall system will need the heavy foundations to sup-port new masonry walls as proposed in the 1999 Call to Grow plan, lowering construction costs.

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▲A healing, restful environment for our campus homeless family ministry can also serve UPC members

who might use this facility after volunteer cooking or maintenance activities. The new doors and wall sys-

tem for Fellowship Hall offer a “face-lift” for our Fellowship Hall.

The current design has some ‘bonus elements’ in that campus security for nighttime police patrols

are improved by having the showers illuminated from within by low-voltage lighting, and will be “a

lantern” of light and hope as seen from as far away as the parking lot. The female side has im-

proved security with access from within the ladies lounge. Significantly, is the relocation and aes-

thetic enhancement of the Fellowship Hall entry doors which will be newly installed on the east

face of the Fellowship Hall vestibule. This will offer a new, more obvious “statement of entry” to

Fellowship Hall as seen from Alameda Drive or the interior of our campus, a worthwhile additional

element as long as the effort of design, engineering, permit submittals, and construction is under-

way in that area and would likely cost less by being combined with the shower project.

The lightweight wall system will match the

Fellowship Hall’s existing design providing

light to the garden during the day and won-

derful outward glow in the evenings. The

relocated entrance will be more visible and

inviting.

The shower stalls within the proposed enclosed floor area would be of cylindrical tubular metal frames with cloth or vinyl shower curtains that are easily and inexpensively replaced. New floor areas are to be kept to a minimum and covered in non-skid ceramic or stone pebble tile. Residential looking “cubbyholes” for clothing are provided in lieu of expensive lockers and furniture will be plastic garden chairs. Rather than landscape the exterior, interior “plantscaping” is proposed within the space for a healing green environment, again, a linkage to our beautiful Sanctuary that can be implemented by UPC volunteers.

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How did we arrive at the plan just described? Call to Grow had showers as part of its plan, additions to the remodeled bathrooms serving Fel-lowship Hall. These additions were not enacted as their costs, like other elements of Call to Grow, pushed the total program cost beyond available budget. The shower plans then sat on the shelf for quite a few years until the bequest from the Betty Weinert Estate was received. Brainstorming possible uses of the gift led to a list of projects whose total sum is greater than the gift. Session prioritized the list and showers rose to the top. The revival of the shower ministry led to an initial proposal to convert existing commode stalls in the Fellowship Hall men’s and women’s bathrooms forgetting the original Call to Grow plans. While this appeared to offer an attractive cost it was recognized that such small showers didn’t re-ally connect with our goals and our mission of embracing and supporting diversity. Further, they did not meet the American Disability Act requirements and did not truly support the needs of young families. A shower task force was authorized by Session to explore needs and locations for possible show-ers. Nine alternatives were identified as possible places for showers compliant with the American Disability Act. Floor plan sketches were reviewed by the task force and presented to City of Tem-pe building department for guidance and comment. It was then learned that Tempe Code for non-Residential building plans requires a licensed architect to produce acceptable plans. Both the Task Force and recommendations by the Tempe building reviewer led to reducing the nine possi-ble locations to three. Four architects were contacted to provide concepts and construction esti-mates. Three of the four architects turned down the opportunity to offer a proposal (including the original architects of our Sanctuary and the Call to Grow office expansion). Fortunately, the fourth architect, James Abell, a member of our congregation, felt drawn to this ministry to the homeless and we contracted Abell Architects to develop “concepts” for the three locations. Concepts and construction estimates were done for the three locations: remodeling the Fellow-ship Hall Ladies Lounge, a building extension from the existing Fellowship Hall bathrooms (same location as in the Call to Grow plans), and building in the area between the Nursery, the alley, and the CE offices. The task force examined the three concepts and construction estimates and rec-ommended to Session the concept which builds off of the Fellowship Hall bathrooms. Session re-quested a refinement to the estimate for this location and to present the design to the Congrega-tion. The shower location recommended is the same as selected with the Call to Grow plan but by elim-inating the “heavy masonry with extensive ceramic tile” approach of 1999, a preliminary cost esti-mate suggested that two male showers and two female showers could be built for modestly less than the 1999 design one male and one female shower. This new design was approached with goals of being inviting, simple in construction, low maintenance, serving needs of the homeless families with children while providing security, integrating with the aesthetics of our campus, and an idea of making the facility nice enough that our own members might want to use if they choose. And so the idea of a “shower with a garden component” was developed. Opportunities for you to learn more about the proposed showers, and to ask questions, will be forthcoming. James Abell and Jim Knorr will present the shower design during the CE hour fol-lowing Sunday worship at 11am, October 5th.

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UPC NewsLetter

ROCK – Really Outstanding Christian Kids (Wednesdays, 4:15pm-6:00pm, Rm 3)

For all Kindergarten through 5th grade children, ROCK provides Bible stories in a fun, child-friendly for-mat that encourages application to daily life. It is the beginning of a community that children can grow with through high school and into college. This year’s theme is “Teach Us to Pray,” from the Living in Faith Everyday (L.I.F.E.) curriculum.

ROCK includes music with Carol Rickel, snacks, stories, crafts, movement, role-play and other activi-ties. UPC friends and neighbors are welcome! Hope to see all K-5 students on August 20th.

If you have any questions or need registration forms, please go to www.upctempe.org/children/rock or contact one of the ROCK Leaders: Chris Casanova (480-706-9018 or wecasa@aol.com), Suzanne Nie-mann, Holly Silcox, or Director of Christian Education Holly Early (thehollster31@gmail.com).

Rock Fall Calendar: Oct. 8: NO ROCK - Fall Break

Nov. 26: NO ROCK - Thanksgiving Eve

WOMEN AND MEN OF UPC

We have a remarkable opportunity to participate in the editing process of the Horizons Maga-zine’s (magazine of Presbyterian Women) 2016-2017 Bible Study series titled: Who is Jesus? written by Judy Yates Siker. UPC PW has been selected to be a field test site for piloting the nine lessons of Who is Jesus? We have been charged to study the first draft version of the work in order to identify strengths and weaknesses along with the overall helpfulness of the study for spiritual growth and daily living. The meeting time will be determined by the partici-pants but will be approximately a total of 8-9 hours with a short evaluation form to be completed at the end of the ninth lesson. The pilot needs to be completed between October and Decem-ber. There will not be any preparation, reading or outside of meeting time required by partici-pants. If you are interested in participating in this exciting opportunity or have any questions, please contact Chris Casanova at wecasa@aol.com or 480-706-9018.

Joe Gilmartin, who was a sportswriter and columnist for more than 30 years with the Phoenix Gazette, has won the prestigious 2014 Curt Gowdy Media Award to be presented in August at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement in Springfield, Mass. Also getting the honor of veteran broadcaster John Anda-riese. The Curt Gowdy Media Award is named in honor of the late Curt Gowdy, a legendary sports broadcaster and former Hall of Fame Board member and president. This prestigious award is presented annually to members of the print and electronic media whose longtime efforts have made a significant contribution to the game of bas-ketball. Joe started his career working for the Wichita Beacon and Wichita Eagle before joining the Gazette in 1962 as assistant sports editor. He became sports editor in 1963 and continued to write a column until 1996 when the Ga-zette merged with the Arizona Republic. He was named Arizona Sportswriter of the Year a record 16 times. He continued to contribute his writing to websites of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Phoenix Suns, where he be-came the team’s TV analyst in the 1980’s. After serving as a Sporting News NBA correspondent for more than 20 years, Joe became the second inductee into the Associated Press Sports Editors Arizona Sports Writers’ Hall of Fame in 2004. He was the first president named to the Pro Basketball Writers Association and served from 1972-74. He is also a book author.

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UPC NewsLetter

IDo you have a "newsy" item for us? Please let Lawn Griffiths know of any news you have of our

church families' comings & goings, so that we can include it in next month's Fellowship FAX.

Backpacks - The Deacons would like to thank the UPC Community for their generosity in donat-ing backpacks and supplies to the Guadalupe community. We delivered 59 backpacks with ele-mentary school supplies and 26 high school bags with supplies to the Community Assistance Program in Guadalupe on July 28th. The CAP workers were very happy to receive these supplies for the students in their community. Thank You!

Christi Brookes and her husband D. J. Proctor are parents of their first child, Michael David Romero Proctor (nicknamed “Misha,” a Russian form of Michael). He was born Aug. 4 in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. Misha arrived at 7.1 pounds, 20-inches long, with a full head of hair. Christi’s younger sister Chelle and Chelle's and Christi's mother, Carol Allen were able to be with Christi and DJ a few days before the birth and for the first week of Misha’s life in our world – memora-ble, magic moments shared. Facebook photos feature Misha in clothing with a fire-fighter theme in memory of Carol's late daughter Lisa and in honor of her daughter Fire Fighter Capt. Kelsee. Colleen O'Connor has been hired as a teacher at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago where she will be teaching musical theater to children ages 3 to 8. She will also work with children ages 5 to 11 in performing musicals. Colleen is a graduate in musical performance theater from North Central College in Naperville, Ill. Her parents are Ann and Mike O'Connor. Suzanne Niemann has been hired as a second grade teacher at Gethsemane Lutheran School in Tempe. The longtime UPC member and leader, a former director of youth ministries, returns to the classroom after about 20 years raising her daughters and community and church service. Suzanne taught first and third grade classes in the Mesa School District for 10 years. James Abell has just been selected for the Pueblo (Colorado) Central High School "Hall of Hon-or". Though the school dates back to 1905 and has been in continuous use since then, the Hall of Honor was created in 2010 to recognize outstanding graduates and faculty of the school who "represent the best of human achievement."

James was nominated by an early architectural mentor, John Hurtig, a retired, prominent Pueblo architect whom he first met in 1968 while a junior at Central High. James will be the first archi-tect honored by the school in a ceremony planned for Oct.18, including 10 other retired facul-ty and distinguished alums.

"My career and artistic success began with the good schools in my hometown -- largely a blue-collar economy," James said. "I want current and future students at Central High to know that they, too, can excel in career and life if they work hard and follow their passion." The weekly Kiwanis Club of Tempe newsletter, the KCOT Bulletin, written and edited by Lawn Griffiths, earned first place (in a tie with the Fountain Hills Kiwanis newsletter) at the 2014 Southwest District Convention for Kiwanis International in El Paso, Texas. It was the 21st time in 24 years the newsletter has taken first place. Lawn has been editor since January 1990.

Fellowship FAX

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UPC NewsLetter

IDo you have a "newsy" item for us? Please let Lawn Griffiths know of any news you have of our

church families' comings & goings, so that we can include it in next month's Fellowship FAX.

Hi Everyone! It's been a crazy summer for the Hurlberts!

We spent the first half in N Carolina with Karen's family in Asheboro, just south of Greensboro. For about a month of that Glenn was commuting on Amtrak to Richmond, starting work at VCU and still looking for a new house. We did get to the beach for about a week, celebrating Karen's father's 80th --- Sallie, Anthony, Sammy, and Louie were able to come out for that. It was Louie's first experience with the ocean, so that was extra exciting. We had a few good storms, one of which hit our hotel with lightening, which was interesting. We were able to buy a car in NC, which we needed since we ditched them both in Phoenix.

The latter half we spent up in CT with Glenn's family in Avon, just west of Hartford. We spent a week at the shore there also, so Calvin & Kate did a lot of crabbing and swimming. They stayed up there for two weeks of camp, while Karen headed back to Phoenix to work with Desert Garden as they started school and to close on our old house, and while Glenn closed on our new home in Richmond and slept on just a mattress on the floor of an ex-tremely empty and echo-y space --- kind of like grad school (pizza & beer in the fridge) but with more rooms. He also bought a second car --- we can't wait to get pulled over by the police in Virginia, having NC plates and AZ li-censes. We'll fix that one of these days.

Finally everyone joined Glenn in Richmond last Saturday, after the movers emptied a truckload two days prior. It's the first time we've all been in the same place in about a month. Karen's been stuck with most of the unpacking so far, as Glenn's been at the university 10-12 hours a day. The start of the semester is especially nuts when you're in charge but have no idea yet what's going on. The kids have really enjoyed the longest summer of their lives --- Cal-vin started school last Monday but Kate still has another week to go! We still have no phone, no cable, and no in-ternet (sounds like Gilligan's Island: "not a single luxury"), which is actually kind of nice! The downside is that Karen is having to work through our cell phone hotspot, so we're crunching through our massive data plan like mad.

We miss being with you (although we can't say we missed your summer temperatures --- maybe we'll miss your winter ones). It still seems a little bit like our trips abroad, as though we'll be back home with you in a few months. At some point we'll realize that we really did move and that we're not just visiting here. Of course we'll settle into life, and become part of new school, work, and yes, even church communities. But there's something you can't replace in the village where your kids were born, with the people who became like aunts and uncles and cousins to them, more than just friends and acquaintances. You helped them grow into who they are now. Yes, our tears have sadness in them, but they are also full of love and gratitude.

Please feel free to send us a note at our new address: 3416 Cheyenne Rd., Richmond, VA 23235. Our email ad-dresses and cell phone numbers haven't changed, and we'll pass on a land phone number if we ever get around to having one. As Garrison Keillor says at the end of every Writer's Almanac, "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch."

Much love, Glenn, Karen, Calvin, Kate

Lawn Griffiths was among several dozen men and women honored July 23 as "Pioneers" of the Intactivist Move-ment during the opening session of the 13th International Symposium on Genital Autonomy and Children's Rights at the University of Colorado in Boulder . He was recognized for sustained advocacy of children's body integrity and their right to be safe from the invasive practice of circumcision. Lawn's work and substantial writings to raise awareness toward the goal of ending forced, non-consensual genital cutting goes back to the early 1970s. More than 150 people, including physicians, nurses, attorneys, ethicists, social justice workers and others from many oth-er fields from a dozen nations delivered their abstracts and reports in 45 sessions across three days.

Fellowship FAX

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NEWSLETTER Periodicals

University Presbyterian Church Postage Paid 139 E Alameda Drive Tempe, AZ 85282

NEWSLETTER UNIVERSITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USPS 652-720) published monthly by University Presbyterian Church,

139 E Alameda Dr, Tempe, AZ 85282. 480/966-6267. Email: upc@upctempe.org. Periodicals Postage paid at Tempe, AZ.

POSTMASTER: change of address to NEWSLETTER :UNIVERSITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 139 E Alameda Dr, Tempe AZ 85282.

Volume 44 - Issue 9 September 7, 2014

Website: www.upctempe.org

Email addresses: church office:

upc@upctempe.org

The Rev. Eric Ledermann eoledermann@gmail.com

Monday – Thursday 8:30 am – 1:00 pm

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – CLOSED FOR LUNCH 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Friday 8:30 am – 1:00 pm

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – CLOSED FOR LUNCH 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Worship with us on Sundays

at 9:30 am

VISITORS WELCOME! Child care is available

Pastor - Eric Ledermann Music Director – Carol Rickel

Christian Education Director - Holly Early Clerk of Session - Debbie Sands

Administrative Assistant - Dianna Phillips Accompanist - Jaime Namminga

Custodian - Carrie Miter

PACKAGES FROM HOME

Once again, UPC members are asked to donate to a campaign to provide gifts to members of our armed forces. These donations of money or goods will be coordinated through “Packages from Home.” The project will be carried out between Labor Day and Veterans Day . A box for receiving contributions will be in the church narthex. Donations of money should be identified for Packages from Home and placed in the offering plate or sent to the church office. A list of suggested items for donations can be taken from an envelope on the donation box. In order to provide resources for Packages from Home to make up a number of packages at one time, do-nation of a larger number of a few items is preferable to donating single items. However, any donations will be appreciated. For more information contact Junior Meier.