by Ken Martin, President

CLP Board of Directors

A special congregational meet-

ing has been called for Sunday, Sep-

tember 29, at 11:45 a.m. in Souers

Hall. This meeting is for the pur-

pose of seeking congregational ap-

proval for possible purchase of one

or two parcels of land adjacent to

the church.

The church Board of Directors

has been monitoring the status of

the land surrounding the current

church property for over two

years. During this time, the City of

Litchfield Park began the process to

acquire the Scout Park property and

the Scout House property. After

unsuccessfully trying to negotiate

the purchase, the City moved for-

ward with condemnation of the

property and is currently in the final

stages of that process.

Over the past two years, Pastor

Dale and I have been communicat-

ing with the current owner of two

parcels, Dragon and Crane, that are

adjacent to the church. We indicated

our interest in the properties at such

time that Dragon and Crane would

consider a possible sale. Recently,

with church board approval, I sent a

letter to Dragon and Crane confirm-

ing our continued interest in acquir-

ing the two parcels.

The first parcel is west of the

church where the old Wigwam em-

ployee dormitory was formerly lo-

cated. The north part of that parcel,

where the Scout House is located, is

being acquired by the City. The re-

mainder of the parcel is where the

old Wigwam Resort dormitory for-

merly stood.

(continued on page 5)

The Church at Litchfield Park • 300 N. Old Litchfield Rd • Litchfield Park AZ 85340

Phone (623) 935-3411 • Fax (623) 935-0560

Email: info@churchatlitchfieldpark.org • Web: www.churchatlitchfieldpark.org

Chris Martin, Editor (623) 979-8503 chrismartinaz@cox.net

INSIDE

2-4

Pastors’

Columns:

Be Prepared, DIY

and Super Powers

5

Membership

Orientation

6

Pardon our dust!

Renovation update

9 Tuesday a.m.

Bible study

Come join in!

11

Spotlight

Sunday School project at

Agua Fria Food Bank

Congregational meeting Sept. 29

News from The Church

at Litchfield Park

October 2013

Tower The Bell

2

Senior Pastor’s Corner

Rev. Dale L. Hopely, Jr.

The Boy Scout Motto

Pastor Jim works closely with the Boy Scout troop we

sponsor, Troop 99. We have been the sponsoring

agency for the troop since 1951. Unfortunately, over

the years and with the change of administrations, our

relationship with the troop diminished, and we have

fallen behind in meeting our responsibilities to them.

Pastor Jim, however, is working hard to reestablish

that relationship and to ensure that we are meeting our

obligations as the sponsoring agency. What he has

determined as a result of his research is that the scout

troop is as much a part of our church as any group,

including organizations like WCSF! We are excited

to ratchet up our connection with Troop 99 and wel-

come them back into the center of our church family.

I grew up in scouting. My mother was a den mother

for my Cub Scout troop. My dad helped me with my

first Pinewood Derby car (we came in second and

won best design) and volunteered for camping trips

and Scout-O-Ramas. I went to scout camp at Fort

Huachuca in southern Arizona and participated in

many other scout-based activities. Of all the things I

remember from scouting (and I can still recite the

scout pledge), the Scout Motto, “Be Prepared”, is the

first that comes to mind when I recall my scouting

adventures.

Scouting taught me that preparation is the key to suc-

cess in life. For an organization, having a firm idea of

where it is going and what tools and resources it

needs to get there is where preparation comes into

play.

For our church, we have a long-range planning com-

mittee headed by Nancy Oreshack that helps the lead-

ership of the church to look ahead. This month, we

will be having the first of two planning sessions this

year for the Church Board, the Council on Ministries,

and the committees of the church. We will be looking

at the church mission and vision statements for direc-

tion and setting short-term and long-term goals for the

church as a whole, and for each committee and or-

ganization within our church.

A key aspect of planning is funding. Although we

downplay money at this church, funding is as crucial

to us as it is to the churches that talk about it every

week. Beginning this month, we will begin a new

“pledge drive” for the 2014 calendar year. We will be

sending pledge cards to church members and asking

for a commitment of support for the coming year.

What is traditionally called “pledging” is an important

tool the church board uses to plan the ministries and

activities of the church for the coming year. Addi-

tionally, our “pledges of support” to the mission agen-

cies we fund are based on the pledges we receive; we

pledge a minimum of 10% of pledges received to mis-

sion organizations.

Many of you support the church with your finances;

your support is what has enabled our church to be-

come the powerful presence for good it is in our com-

munity. However, many of you who give do not fill

out a pledge card (financial planning card) of support

each year.

I hope this year you will consider filling one out and

thus help us to plan for the future needs of the church

property, the pastoral and support staff, the ministries

we engage in, and the missions we support.

If you need a good reason to pledge this year, perhaps

our reconnection with Troop 99 will be what helps to

move you in that direction. It is your pledge of sup-

port that will help us to “BE PREPARED!”

God bless you all,

Pastor Dale

3

Executive Pastor’s Spot

Rev. James Butler

DIY Day at CLP

PREACHING SCHEDULE

Traditional Worship: 8:00 and 9:15 a.m.

Contemporary Worship: 10:45 a.m.

October 6: Communion Sunday

Rev. Dale L. Hopely, Jr.

October 13: Rev. James Butler

October 20: Rev. Dale L. Hopely, Jr.

October 27: Rev. Dale L. Hopely, Jr.

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE

Date 8:00 9:15 10:45 Total

8-04-13 132 203 138 473

8-11-13 112 189 83 384

8-18-13 114 243 73 430

8-25-13 102 203 88 393

On November 9, at 7:30 a.m., we will launch the

"Second Saturday DIY: Do-It-Yourself" ministry of

our church. In October, we will compile a list of pro-

jects we could accomplish in two hours around the

church. We invite men and women, kids and teens to

participate. We are planning on keeping the projects

at the "handy-person" level, versus professional

builder.

At 7:30 a.m. Pastor Dale will serve up pancakes hot

off the griddle. From 8:00-9:30 a.m. we will tackle

projects around the church. People of all ages are

invited, including those who could only "supervise"

and hold a cup of coffee to those who are just old

enough to hold a hammer. Involve the whole family

and be in ministry together!

Some examples of possible projects:

> Touch up painting walls and doors.

> Install door sweeps.

> Replace burned out lights.

> Organize storage areas.

> Replace broken outlets.

If you consider yourself "handy," we invite you to

join us on November 9 in Souers Hall. We will open

with prayer, coffee/orange juice and a pancake

breakfast. We plan on meeting monthly through

May. Our DIY Ministry has tackled individual pro-

jects, but this will be the first launch of regular meet-

ings. This will provide an excellent way for you to

get to know others involved with our DIY Ministry.

The ancient monks carved intricate patterns on the

underside of pews as an offering to the God who sees

everything. Jesus himself worked with his hands as

a craftsman before laying aside his tools to begin his

public ministry. This ministry is an excellent time to

make friends while offering to God the gift of crafts-

manship.

Look for the sign-up sheet in Souers Hall.

Building together,

Pastor Jim

P.S.: Thank you, Bill Albert, for "hitting the nail on

the head" with this idea!

4

Associate Pastor’s Place

Rev. Kerri Sandusky

Super Powers

When I hear the term “super powers,” I immediately

think of a red cape, a phone booth, and sometimes an

invisibility cloak. Super powers are equated with

super heroes. These people could do anything from

morphing into a mud puddle to flying faster than a

speeding bullet. Super heroes from the comics

caught hold with many of us. Interestingly, in re-

searching different Christian lessons, it is easy to

find many books titled, “Super Heroes of the Bible.”

These books, while interesting, give a false view of

the people of the Bible. These people were much

like you and me. They were people who were not

perfect. Instead, they focused on God who

could make them whole. When they made

mistakes, they turned to the great forgiver.

For the past few weeks, the Pulse youth

group has been studying different people of

the Bible. We use the text to highlight the

qualities of the people. Then, we try to see

how we are similar to these people who

lived long ago. It’s important to remember

that our biblical heritage is not one of super heroes.

Instead, these people make mistakes, have flaws, yet

they continue to be used to further God’s kingdom

and word. Additionally, we are having guests come

in to share their own faith story in order to remind

the youth that we are constantly being used by God.

The youth continue this mission to further God’s

kingdom: not by attempting to be perfect, but realiz-

ing that their own story is one that is evolving each

day with God’s help. It is through their devotion to

one another based on Jesus’ example that continues

to grow them with hearts of mission and service.

Please continue to pray for the youth as they prepare

to serve mission sites and our community.

Additionally, our K-5th grade children have been

studying different people of the Bible on Wednesday

nights. Again, we are throwing out the myth of

“Super Heroes” as we realize that God uses each one

of us. He makes the ordinary extraordinary. The ac-

tivities will have the children building their own

creations, making homemade crafts, eating snow

cones, and having a lot of fun! All of this is done

with a reminder that we are made to serve. To model

this, the 3rd-5th graders will focus on service when

visiting La Loma Village. We will be playing

games, doing some crafts, and sharing some laughs.

We are made to look around and see where

help is needed. What a gift to be able to see

the world through their eyes!

Finally, watching the gifts and talents of

those adults who have served the middle

school students at Western Sky Middle

School has been especially powerful. From

face painting to soccer games to basketball

to crafts to playing games, these students have been

extremely blessed by the love and guidance shown to

them. Adults give students a place to talk, to share,

and to just enjoy doing something different at school.

This truly is a gift to see!

Church activities are in full swing. May this be a

time when you are changed by the one true super

power – the power of the Holy Spirit. May this

power of the Holy Spirit move you to try new minis-

tries, serve others, and love deeper. May you move

where and when God calls you! Blessings,

Pastor Kerri

5

Orientation for new

members scheduled

for October 20 The Church at Litchfield Park

offers a unique place to belong,

and we want to be your church. If

you are interested in learning

more, please plan to join us on

October 20 for membership orien-

tation. It will be held in Fireside

Room South after the 9:15 a.m.

service - cookies and coffee will

be served. New members will be

received on October 27.

Orientation sessions are held

on the third Sunday of the month.

If you are in need of an alternate

time to view the orientation,

please contact membership chair

Janet Albert at (623) 466-9439 or

at jmftaxtime@aol.com.

Meeting, (cont. from page 1) The second parcel is north of

the church across Fairway Drive

and south of the current parking

lot for the Wigwam Resort golf

courses.

There are many purposes for

acquiring the parcels. A primary

one is to provide room for imme-

diate additional parking, a priority

the congregation identified in last

fall’s property survey, and room to

meet future campus needs of the

church.

Please plan to attend the spe-

cial congregational meeting on

Sunday, September 29, and par-

ticipate in the discussion of this

important potential acquisition.

Church volunteers

give time, attention

to WSMS students The Church at Litchfield

Park’s outreach at Western Sky

Middle School is in full swing.

On early dismissal days from

school, a team of volunteers

heads to Western Sky to provide

activities. This gives students a

safe environment and parents

some peace of mind. So far, ap-

proximately 30 different kids

have attended the after school

outreach. Students are able to

play board games, computer

games, and games in the gym.

They can also do crafts along

with any extra activities like

drawing or origami. There are

lots of opportunities for adults to

share their interests with the stu-

dents. The early release days are

normally one Friday each month.

Any adults who would like to

share a hobby with the students

or who have any questions,

please connect with Pastor Kerri.

Thank you to the church congre-

gation for your prayers, cards,

and calls during my recent

chemo treatments. I’m feeling

some stronger and know it is

from your prayers.

Blessings,

Carly Bennett

The Church at Litchfield Park

is hosting a community event in

Souers Hall on Saturday, October

19, for children in need in our

community. A non-profit mobile

clothing closet called “Clothes For

Keeps” will be providing free

clothing, accessories, books, and

toiletries to children in foster care,

kinship, and those without a home

in Litchfield Park and its sur-

rounding communities.

You can help by signing up

serve at the event:

Set Up:

7:30-11:00 a.m.

Shopping Event:

11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Tear Down:

3:00-4:00 p.m.

Adults can participate for one

hour or throughout the day. To

sign up or for more information,

please contact Toni Davies at

mconnections.clp@gmail.com or

the church office at (623) 935-

3411.

Bonus Cartoon Corner

6

After two months of busy, and sometimes noisy,

construction the renovated restrooms are newly

opened for use. The general contractor, GCON Inc,

coordinated the design work with Cawley Architects,

making our job much easier. GCON also stationed a

full-time onsite superintendent to coordinate the

many subcontractors to keep the project on schedule.

We claimed about 15 feet of the north end of the

Fireside Room to accommodate wheelchairs as re-

quired by the Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA). Four of our existing doors were too narrow

for access so they were saw-cut and rebuilt with steel

and masonry. The three family restrooms plus the

women's and men’s restrooms are now equipped as

you would expect in modern commercial and public

buildings. The LED ceiling lighting consumes very

little power and is motion activated. The large mir-

ror in the women's restroom will be a hit with bridal

parties.

Modernizing such old buildings from the 1940’s

and 1950’s presented some extra challenges and cost.

Asbestos flooring adhesive had to be removed from

the Zieske Hall restrooms, requiring specially trained

workers and procedures. Most of the old galvanized

water supply lines in Zieske Hall were being re-

placed with copper so we decided to complete the

job by replacing all of it while the walls were open.

The Fireside Room needed extra framing and dry-

wall where the old restrooms were added to the origi-

nal building.

We also completed some other needed repairs.

We repaired a portion of the Zieske Hall roof to keep

the rain out of the new restroom. We replaced a sec-

tion of concrete near the men’s room door that had

sunk over time and presented a tripping hazard. The

gate was moved from the middle of the walkway to a

more convenient location west of the arch.

Visit our website at www.churchatlitchfieldpark.

org for an annotated picture diary of the construction

progress.

Jack Wetzel, Board Vice President

Diamondbacks baseball fans

attended “Faith and Family” night, Friday, Septem-

ber 13, and the Jeremy Camp concert that followed.

This fellowship event drew 22 participants who had a

great evening cheering our home team. Watch for

more events like this one -

The Phoenix Suns’ sched-

ule is sure to be included!

(Photos from Jack Wetzel)

“Pardon our dust” - renovated

restrooms complete, open for use

7

Come enjoy a safe, fun Halloween-palooza at The

Church at Litchfield Park. Come walk around our

parking lot to “trunk or treat.” There will be a

graveyard, hay maze, and lots of crazy car decora-

tions! The Church at Litchfield Park is located at

300 N. Old Litchfield Rd., Litchfield Park, AZ. The

Halloween fun will happen from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on

Thursday, October 31. Come and enjoy a

GHOSTLY-fun Halloween! If you have any ques-

tions, please call (623) 935-3411.

Come one, come all! CLP’s Annual Church Picnic is

coming up soon, along with cooler weather, ham-

burgers, coleslaw, potato salad and drinks. Please

bring a dessert to share. Games and music for all

ages will be provided on the front lawn of the

church. Bring friends and invite newcomers to

share in the family-oriented fellowship. And best of

all, it’s free for everyone! Put this on your calendar

now: 12:00 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 3 - PICNIC!

Things God won't ask you when you die:

God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation. God won't ask the square footage of your house. He'll ask how many people you wel-comed into your home. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet. He'll ask how many people you helped to clothe. God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it. God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability. God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend. God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived. He'll ask how you treated your neighbors. God won't ask about the color of your skin. He'll ask about the content of your charac-ter. God won't ask why it took you so long to seek salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your man-sion in heaven, if you've asked Him into your heart, and not to the gates of Hell.

Sunday, Nov. 3 - noon!

8

The Thrift Shop will be open on Saturday, Octo-

ber 5, and Thursday, October 17, from 8:30 a.m.-

12:30 p.m. Workdays are the days prior to sale days,

when you may drop off your donations in the morn-

ing. Call Monica at (623) 935-2656 or Millie at

(623) 935-3953 to schedule a specific drop-off

time. Please make sure when donating items that

they are clean, all pieces are there and the item does

in fact work. Clothing must be clean with no rips or

stains.

The Thrift Shop is run by Women’s Christian

Service Fellowship and its many volunteers. It is

the major fundraiser for WCSF and an important re-

source for bargain shoppers in the West Valley. Pro-

ceeds are used to support WCSF’s many community

and world-wide outreach projects, as well as for col-

lege scholarships and special projects on our church

campus. WCSF appreciates your support both as

donors and shoppers.

Dinner Theater Event Save the date! Seniors, another evening is

planned at the Arizona Broadway Dinner Theater on

Friday, March 14, 2014, featuring “Kiss Me

Kate.” Tickets are

$64.45 per per-

son. Tickets include

the show, dinner and

gratuity. The show is

one of Cole Porter’s

best musicals - re-

member “I Hate Men”

and “So In

Love.” Please plan on

joining us for another

wonderful evening of

music and fellowship. Sign-up will follow. For more

information contact Mary Meese at (623) 935-2136.

Would you like the opportunity to get better ac-

quainted with other women in our church? Women's

LINK is just for you - we want to encourage women

of all ages and interests to LINK together in friend-

ship and fellowship. LINK invites you to join us at

Mimi's Cafe, 1220 North Dysart Road in Goodyear,

on Sunday afternoon, October 6, at 2:00 p.m. for a

Dutch-treat late lunch or snack. Please let us know

you're coming - and feel free to bring a friend or

neighbor! Contact Angela Vaith at (952) 215-5872

or dangela1@live.com, or Chris Martin at (623) 979-

8503 or chrismartinaz@cox.net.

Circle 4: Reserve Thursday, October 10, for our

meeting in Souers Hall at 10:00 a.m. Our special

guest speaker will be Michaela Chase. We all see

Michaela and Andy, her service dog, in church. She

will give us the story of their relationship, how it

came about, and Paws for Freedom. All women of

the church are welcome to hear her story. Please

contact Judy Hilt (623) 234-4616 if you would like

to join us for this special meeting.

Circle 5 will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October

24, at the home of Kathy Christensen, 4914 N. Val-

ley Glen, Litchfield Park. Co-hostesses are Linda

Wyman and Christa Denofsky. Call Kathy for direc-

tions: (623) 536-1207. To RSVP or if you have

questions, please contact Marcy Clement at me-

clement14@gmail.com or (602) 471-1395; or Chris

Martin at chrismartinaz@cox.net or (623) 979-8503.

Circle 6 will meet at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, October

16, in the Watt House, following the Wednesday

night dinner in Souers Hall. Children's activities and

nursery care are available. If you have questions or

would like more information, please contact Chris

Martin at chrismartinaz@cox.net, or (623) 979-8503.

9

“The Story”

Tuesday Morning Bible Study 10:00 a.m. in Souers Hall

Leader: Pastor Jim Butler

Sign up in Souers Hall or contact the church

office at (623) 935-3411; book cost is $7

The "Greatest Story Ever Told" is more than

just a cliché. God goes to great lengths to rescue

lost and hurting people. That is what “The Story” is

all about—the story of the Bible, God’s great love

affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 accessible

chapters, “The Story” sweeps you into the unfolding

progression of Bible characters and events from

Genesis to Revelation. Using the clear, accessible

text of the NIV Bible, it allows the stories, poems,

and teachings of the Bible to read like a novel.

Photos are from the first session in September,

taken by Jack Wetzel, where over 40 participated.

Tuesday morning Bible study resumes in Souers Hall:

10

The church is now just using two

phone numbers: (623) 935-3411

or (623) 935-1370. If you call on

(623) 935-3411 and the line is

busy, it will automatically roll to

the second number. Please note

that (623) 935-2777 and (623)

935-1342 are no longer working

numbers for the church.

The Bell Tower, our monthly

church newsletter, is delivered

either by USPS mail or email. If

you would like to receive it, or

want to change your delivery

method, please contact the church

office and they will make appro-

priate arrangements for you:

(623) 935-3411 or email

info@churchatlitchfieldpark.org.

“Table Talk” is on

Wednesday nights

“Table Talk” is a new Bible

study and discussion opportu-

nity that is taking place in Zi-

eske Hall at 6:45 p.m. on

Wednesdays, following the fam-

ily dinner. Participants watch a

video clip from the previous

Sunday’s message, and each

table receives a discussion

guide. At the conclusion of the

discussion, a spokesperson from

each table summarizes the take-

away points from their table

along with questions raised from

the text. “Table Talk” is an ex-

cellent way to meet new friends

as well as benefit from an in-

depth study of the Bible text

from the previous Sunday.

Boy Scouts seek

volunteers for a

liaison committee

A group is now forming to serve

as support to Boy Scout Troop

99, which is sponsored by our

church. If you would like to help

serve in this way, please contact

Pastor Jim Butler at (623) 935-

3411 or emai l a t jbut-

ler@churchatlitchfieldpark.org.

Ministry

Connections:

Help our members

find new ministries

We have openings for members to

join our committee. Ministry

Connections aims to aid people in

discovering their gifts and match-

ing their interests with specific

volunteer needs. We would like

to expand, and we warmly wel-

come interest from church mem-

bers who would enjoy talking

with and emailing others. This

ministry offers a great opportu-

nity to help others connect with

one another and God. Training is

provided, and you will be well-

versed on the different ministries

at the church. Please contact Toni

Davies at (623) 363-5474 or

mconnections.clp@gmail.com.

A Quick Look

at the Budget

August 31, 2013

Revenue and expense summaries were prepared by Lori

Orth, church treasurer, as part of the monthly financial reports

to the Board of Directors. If you have questions, please con-

tact Lori at Lorilovestennis@aol.com or (623) 935-5057.

YTD Revenues $ 387,087.62

YTD Expenses 371,695.23

Net YTD Revenues over Expenses $ 15,392.39

Christian One Liners . . . . . Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case. Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews. Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers. It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one. The Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close. When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there. People are funny; they want the front of the bus, mid-dle of the road, and back of the church. He who angers you, controls you!

11

...children’s mission project for Agua Fria Food Bank

CLP’s 3rd-5th grade Sunday School children participated in a mission trip on August 24, delivering 1,351 pounds of food col-lected the previous few weeks to the Agua Fria Food Bank. The kids spent their time sorting and shelving food, and then creating emergency food kits. There were 17 kids and 10 adults who helped at the food bank. This was a great day of serving! Thanks to all who helped or donated food items.

12

The Church at Litchfield Park

300 North Old Litchfield Road

Litchfield Park AZ 85340

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID PERMIT NO 2 Litchfield Park

AZ 85340

Wednesday Nights at CLP

4:30-6:00 p.m. 4C, Heavenly Handbells, G.O. Kids Rec Room, CLP Café

6:00 p.m. Dinner 6:45 p.m. Bible Study, G.O. Kids, Chancel Choir

October 2 Fish & Chips, Slaw, Jell-O, Cookies

October 9 LITCHFIELD FALL BREAK—NO PROGRAMS

October 16 Spuds & Splits

October 23 Spaghetti & Meatballs, Salad, Rolls, Cupcakes

October 30 Sloppy Joes, Chips, Vegetable Tray, Brownies

Activities and Rehearsals 4:30 p.m. 4C “Chimin’ In” - Fireside North 4:30 p.m. G.O. Kids Rec Room - K-5th, Classroom 6 4:30 p.m. Heavenly Handbells - Sanctuary 4:30 p.m. CLP Café - Souers Hall 5:00 p.m. 4C “VIP” - Fireside Room North 5:30 p.m. 4C “Joyful Noise” - Classroom 2 6:45 p.m. Chancel Choir - Choir Room 6:45 p.m. Table Talk - Zieske` Hall 6:45 p.m. G.O. Kids - Classrooms 3, 4 and 6

Cartoon Corner