Newsbrief: The Pumpkin Patch

Here is a before and after question for you.

How do you get from this…

...to this! 

    

It turns out the answer is: With the help of SEVENTY-ONE extraordinary volunteers!

In case you haven’t noticed (and how could you not notice?!?) the pumpkins are here! The Pumpkin Patch looks great, our church members have been doing a terrific job taking shifts at the sales table, and our annual mission fundraiser is off and running.

It would not have been possible without the help of 71 volunteers who showed up early this past Saturday morning to help us unload. It was the biggest crew of workers anyone could remember, and they made short work out of a tough job. We were able to unload 1164 pumpkins from the truck…and we did it in just about an hour!

Thank you to everyone who helped out (and for everyone who brought a friend or two or fifteen to help!). Thank you to everyone working the sales table. Thanks to Jan and Julie and Nancy for all of their hard work behind the scenes organizing everything.

Stop by sometime to see it…or to work it…or to buy a pumpkin (or two or fifteen!). Our share goes to underwrite our missions budget, so it couldn’t go to a better cause!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

What is Missing?

Only two things are missing from this picture. The PUMPKINS and YOU!

The Pumpkin Patch is all set up and ready to go (care of the hard working team of volunteers that showed up for Workday this past Saturday). Now we just need folks to help us unload the 1164 pumpkins that will fill up the patch!

Come join us this Saturday at 9AM to help us unload the truck. Remember, the proceeds from the Pumpkin Patch go to support our Annual Mission Trip. There couldn't be a better cause!

So come unload some pumpkins, fill up our Pumpkin Patch, and help us underwrite our Mission Work as a church!

As an added bonus we'll have a Pizza Luncheon afterward for everyone who helps out! See you this Saturday, October 9 at 9AM!

Newsbrief: Thank You!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

I simply can’t say it enough. Thank you all for being a part of the Installation Service this past Sunday. It was an amazing service, a highlight of my life, and something that will keep a smile on my face for a long long time.

Thank you to everyone who helped set up tables and chairs and food trays and decorations for the reception. Thank you to the Worship Committee and Decorating Crew for the beautiful display in the sanctuary and all the hard work they put in behind the scenes to make it happen. Thank you to the Elders for helping me craft the service. Thank you to Bob Bruns for running the SongShow Presentation in a completely different service. Thank you to Bob Stall and Michelle Launderville for so beautifully describing the process that brought us together. Thank you to the Rev. Judy Stall for introducing my good friend the Rev. Eric Smith who brought us a powerful sermon about what challenges and opportunities lay ahead for us. Thank you to the DWM for hosting and arranging the reception. Thank you to everyone who was in attendance and for all those others who were with us in spirit!

It is a great joy to be your pastor at First Christian Church Scottsdale and now that it is formal and official lets keep up the good work! I hope to see you all this Saturday at 9AM as we unload all the pumpkins that will fill our Pumpkin Patch. Then this coming Sunday I’ll see you in my office right after worship for the Mission Trip Meeting. While you are on your way over to that meeting, don’t forget to sign-up for the CROP Walk, we’ll begin those registrations this Sunday.

We had a great celebration on Sunday! May the energy and enthusiasm from that event carry us through and lead the way for the wonderful things that God has in store for us!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

p.s. If you have any photos from the Installation Service, I’d love to have a digital copy of them. This is a picture of me with the Leung Family (members of my wife’s church) right after the service when they gifted me with a new stole. Thanks for sharing your pictures with me!