CHAPARRAL family

BEING THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN OUR COMMUNITY

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Chaparral Soaring Whats inside...

March Happenings...pg. 2 Princess Ball...pg. 2 30-Hour Famine ...pg. 3 Lenten Labyrinth ...pg. 3 Mens Retreat... pg. 4 Help a Camp... pg. 4 Prayer Group... pg. 4
Frank Shirvinski
These words of anticipation still echo in my ears. "You have 35 minutes to complete this section. You may begin." Then, with one last glance at the beautiful spring day existing just beyond the windows, I turned my head toward my SAT booklet and began the process of lling endless rows of circles with a No. 2 pencil. In the next few hours, a qualitative assessment will be made of my academic progress and, to some degree, my academic potential. The result will be a number that will follow me around for the next few years. No pressure Yet, the vast majority of questions found on the SAT can be answered by shading the proper circle, deciding on one answer out of ve or choosing between T and F. So let me ask, "True or False: Life's real questions do not have answers which can t into little circles." With all due respect to standardized testing, I believe the questions which delve beneath the surface of our decisions and penetrate our motives are those which truly dene us. These are the questions that begin with, "Why" and are not followed by little circles. During their desert wanderings, God offered the Israelites an incredible opportunity. After spending four centuries in Egypt wondering when God would rescue them from their oppressors, God was now willing to live among them. But rst, a sanctuary must be built to serve as God's dwelling place. Undoubtedly, the One who parted the Red Sea and sent the plagues upon the Egyptians could have easily provided the nest materials for the desert sanctuary. Instead, "The LORD said to Moses: Tell the Israelites to take for me an offering; from all whose hearts prompt them to give you shall receive the offering for me." (Exodus 25:1-2, NRSV) True or False: God was asking for a list of building supplies because Home Depot did not have a franchise near Sinai. False. God was exploring their motives. Was God's presence worth sharing their gold, ne linen, acacia wood and spices? Yes, "E" - all of the above. I can only imagine the excitement of watching families, friends, and entire clans bring their gifts to Moses so that the work could begin. These questions of the heart from Exodus 25 are not about our emotions or having "warm fuzzies" about God. They are questions about our intentions, priorities and ultimate allegiances. For over 30 years, the people of Chaparral have traveled through the Sonoran desert determined to share the presence of God with the world, beginning at 64th Street and Shea. Now, like the Israelites living in the desert of Sinai, our hearts once again prompt us to continue our journey and expand our inuence for the sake of God's Kingdom. Over the past several weeks, we have hosted a series of "Imagine" meetings which have explored our vision for the future of Chaparral Christian Church. The creativity, imagination and courage that has been expressed in these meetings has been infectious. Chaparralians are not looking to fade into a sunset, but to soar toward new summits and new challenges. This Sunday, March 4th, at 5:00 p.m., we will review the ideas that have been collected from our Imagine phase and prioritize them to form a common vision for the future. True or False: We want to hear from you. True! Please make every effort to attend the nal Imagine meeting this Sunday. I have considered sharing some of the early details in this article. But, I would rather you hear them than read about them. (However, if you cannot make the big meeting on Sunday, we will post a survey online for you to complete at chaparralsoaring.org by the 4th.) The work of the Chaparral Soaring campaign is being divided among various teams which are responsible for arranging meetings, coordinating publicity, designing publications and much more. Team Captains will be contacting you to enlist your help. So, one nal question. True or False: Your "heart is prompting you" to join the team.

Fun Ideas for Kids...pg. 5 Palm Parade...pg. 5 ARM Mission ...pg. 6 Godspell ...pg. 7 Spring Tea ...pg. 7

March Happenings
MARCH 2 Dinner Posse MARCH 2-3 30-Hr. Famine - Youth MARCH 3 Saguaro Club Bridge Choir Room, 1:00 p
Imagine Meeting Sanctuary, 5:00 p

Princess Ball...Creating Memories

As you know, any wonderful event always involves many talented people to make it one to remember! So heres to all who made the Princess Ball magical. Queen of the Castle - Moira Winter created the most wonderful castle that transformed our room into an incredible setting. Table decorating - Joelle Ireland and Sandra Welch put together our beautiful new arch and created a table decor worthy of royalty! Crafts were created by Sarah White and Jonelle Acosta with sparkly pink photo frames and princess scepters!! Entertainment...Jenny Statler coordinated our singing and dancing for our entertainment along with some help from Katy Statler, Sarah White, Jonelle Acosta and Jen Rice not to mention musician extraordinaire...Marion Hosteter! These girls, along with Linda Brouhard, Becky Shelton and Kelly Langdal, not only worked on singing and dance but they also helped transform the Commons. Our princesses and princes were fantastic: Brie Aragaki (Jasmine), Austin Perrine (Aladdin), Maddie Perrine (Ariel), Jacob Shirvinski (Eric), Piper Boyle (Sleeping Beauty), Trevor Laity (Flynn), Jenny Statler (Rapunzel), Sarah White (Snow White), Kelly Langdal (Cinderella), Jonelle Acosta (Belle); not to mention our wonderful servers: Adam Aragaki (Lumiere), Katy Statler, Jen Rice, Angelina Lewallen, Julia DiGrazia, Luke Shirvinski, Trevor Short. Banquet...Michael Statler created a dinner fit for a King with rosemary pork tenderloin, cheesy potatoes, green bean bundles, and much more. Thank you to his helpers: Aimee Short, David and Sara Perrine, Barb & Jerry Hostetler and Katy Statler as well as pre work with Mary Ritter! And whats dinner without the dessert!?! Mary Blakeman once again created some of the most beautiful and tasty centerpieces that were also our dessert. Mmmmm! Photos...Michael Murphy took lovely photos of each royal family and recorded all the wonderful happenings for posterity. Andrew Langdal created fun memories by having a green screen photos where he placed fun backgrounds behind everyone. Such a great idea! Special thanks to Jim & Penny for jumping in and helping make these photos happen. Royal Waltz Lessons...Pattie Greunwald & Justin DiLeone taught our royalty how to curtsy and bow and to waltz. Such fun!! Here are some things they are saying... I can't thank you and the others enough for putting on a fantastic "Princess Ball." My granddaughter and I will share wonderful memories. God bless you all! It was Out of this world Fun!, Everything was so well thought out - down to the boxes to take their prizes home in! Our girls cant stop talking about it!

MARCH 4

MARCH 4 Baptism Classes! Room 13, 5:00 p

Baptism Classes! Room 13 at 5:00 p

MARCH 11

MARCH 17 Childrens Baptisms Commons, 10 a MARCH 23-25

Godspell!

MARCH 31 Palm Parade, 10 a

Teens on a Mission...30-Hour Famine!

"Worldwide, 925 million people are hungry. Every day, as many as 11,000 children under age 5 die due to hunger-related causes. Thats one kid every 8 seconds. The Famine gives our group a chance to do something about it to rise up and serve the hungry. Going hungry so others dont have to. Every year, the Chaparral youth has joined hundreds of thousands of students in the Famine. They go without food for 30 hours. They learn what it takes to overcome hunger. And they raise funds to help feed hungry children and families around the world. They refuse to be told they cant make a difference. Every $30 raised by our group can help feed and care for a child for a month. And because the Famine is powered by World Vision, we're not just feeding kids for today we're helping them and their families overcome poverty for a lifetime. When our students do the Famine, they're doing more than raising money for a good cause. They're stepping outside themselves to help save lives . . . and change the way they see the world."

Lenten Prayer Opportunity

The six weeks of Lent are to be a time for us to recall and reflect upon the journey of our Lord Jesus Christ as he made his way to Jerusalem, and to the cross. Lent is also an opportunity for each of us to draw near to God, spending time in self-reflection and contemplation. The Chaparral Labyrinth in the Prayer Garden is just one tool which can help us take time out of our busy days to spend intentional time in prayer and meditation. The Prayer Garden and Labyrinth are open daily during the week, and Monday through Wednesday evening until 7:30 p.m. A guided Labyrinth will be available April 1-4 during Holy Week. Self-guided Labyrinth suggestions are available in the Narthex and the front office. For additional information, visit chaparrallabyrinth.org. May this Lenten season be transformative.

Men's Retreat 2012 Welcoming Frank Switzer

Men of Chaparral, you are in for a treat. Frank Switzer, former senior pastor at Paradise Valley Community Church and now pastor at Redemption-Arcadia, will be our retreat leader. I met Frank Switzer at Fuller Seminary where he teaches communication and sits as a member of the Fuller Southwest Board of Advisors. I have heard him preach, teach, and lecture, and every single time, I was blown away by his content and superior communication abilities. This leads me to conclude: If you come to this retreat, you won't go home the same person. Here are the details: April 20-21 at Living Springs Camp in Sedona, AZ. Be in Sedona any time between noon and 6:00 p.m (late arrivals are welcome as well), and you will be on the road Saturday night no later than 7 p.m. In between you will get plenty of gourmet food and desserts, rest, relaxation, hiking, reading time, discussions, fellowship, and teachings. If you are interested in carpooling, email nick.stavlund@chaparral.org. The cost is $87. Full and partial scholarships are available. Also, feel free to bring your son or grandson, as long as they are 14 or older. - Nick Stavlund

Help a Camp destroyed by Wildres!

Arizona Outdoor Adventures is a 10-yr.-old camp run by Dan Priest, a friend of Mark Haugo. Last June all of the gear and supplies for the camp were destroyed in the Wallow re. Mark explained to me last year, the camp exists so that indoor and city-bound young folks can have a positive experience camping, hunting, shing, etc. The camp is looking for donated items to make this camp feasible again! If you would like to help, please check out this link: http://www.azoutdooradventures.org/wishlist.asp. - Travis Armes

KP Prayer Team...JIm Langdal

As you may be aware, Chaparral has formed several Kingdom Promoting (KP) groups for various service activities. One of them is a KP Prayer Team, which in January began meeting every Saturday at 6 a.m. in the Conference Room for an hour of prayer for our Church. We are small in number (so far our regulars are Sheila Forsythe, Ken Johnson and Jim Langdal) but we nd our time together inspiring, and we feel it is time to grow our group. If anyone is so inclined and is an early riser, please come join us when you have the time. If there are members who are interested in being part of the KP Prayer team but you would prefer a different time slot, let the Church ofce know, or speak to one of our regulars and we can discuss other meeting options. Thank you for your prayer support for our Church, looking forward to growing our team. Blessings, The KP Prayer Team Jim Langdal - 602-908-6211 cell

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

jim.langdal@emerson.com 4

Awesome Ideas!!! Create your own toy!

Childs Own Studio started with a simple idea: to make a recognizable comfort toy for a 4-year-old boy based on his drawing. It was an idea that launched my home-based craft business. Since then, Ive custom made a few hundred personal softies, each one as unique as the child who drew it. Check out her website at: www.childsown.wordpress.com. Fun Easter Ideas! Make your deviled eggs a delightful treat. Turn them into Easter chicks! I promise they are better than peeps. OR use a rubber band technique for some interesting eggs. 1. 2. Just wrap your egg with rubber bands before placing it in a container of dye. Remove it when it reaches a shade you like, let it dry, then remove the rubber bands. Or, to give your egg a few different shades, take off only some of the bands before dyeing the egg in a second color.

Palm Parade is just around the Corner!

Our annual palm parade is a great springtime activity that we all love! It takes many hands to make it such a wonderful event and there is much you can do. 1. Pick Up some Eggs to Fill. Take a bag of eggs home and fill them with goodies that will not melt in the sun. Made sure they are all individually wrapped. You can fill with trinkets, too. Be sure to return them by March 25th. 2. Create a FLOAT for the parade! All of our ministries are asked to participate in our parade. Start thinking now of a clever float you can add. 3. Volunteer to help in the activities! Look for our sign-up board to help with food or festivities. 4. Invite family & Friends to come and enjoy!

March 31st at 10 a.m.!!

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History of Arizona Reservation Ministries

Gods ARMs around the Reservation
During the mid-to-late 1990s a group of missionaries working with Navajo and Apaches in the White Mountains of Arizona began praying for a door to open, allowing them to work with another group of Apache People, just south of the White Mountain Apaches, to whom they were currently ministering. At various times during the year, the tribes would meet together for revivals, powwows, etc. Apache pastors from one reservation would travel to the other sharing their gifts. In May of 2000, this group became united in that prayer. Within a week, an 82year-old church became available just 20 minutes from this new reservationfor a lease price of just $1.00 per year! That summer, a renovated bus to be used as a mobile youth center arrived from Indiana painted (unbeknownst to the donors) in the San Carlos Apache School colors! Apache pastors from this reservation became acquainted with our staff and a tribal foster home, and Boys and Girls Club all asked for our assistance as well. God had indeed opened the door! Shortly after, the White Mountain mission began some internal restructuring, deciding to focus on one area of its ministries for a period, and setting aside others. With this Board of Directors blessing, Dale Lawrence began Arizona Reservation Ministries, taking the donated bus and utilizing the church facilities donated earlier. On March 29, 2002, after less than a month in operation, ARM obtained its incorporation papers establishing it as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Arizona. The focus of this ministry is not to start a new church or school, but to aid Apache Christians who are already serving on this reservation. ARMs focus is taken from Exodus 17:8-16. This tells of the battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites. The Israelites were winning as long as Moses held up his arms. After a long period, it became a difficult task to do alone. Aaron and Hur found a place for Moses to sit, and took it upon themselves to hold up Moses arms. With this partnership, the battle was won. It is the desire of ARM to represent the work of Aaron. By providing leadership training, childrens programs (including the mobile youth ministry), benevolence work, and emotional/physical support for our Native pastors, ARM can provide practical and much-needed aid. As you provide physical and prayer assistance, you then become the representative of Hur, equally as important in assisting our Native Christians/Pastors in fighting the very real spiritual battle on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. It is clear from this word picture (and the experiences of those associated with ARM) that Moses (our native Christian leaders) is weary and in need of assistance. Since our beginnings, the Lord continues to provide opportunities for ministry as only He can! We are now working with the Tribal Housing Authority to construct homes for the homeless of this reservation. A weekly Bible Study/craft time is provided at the Tribal-run Shelter Care facility for adults. Relationships are strengthened in the Tribal-run Youth home. We have been blessed to participate with Apache churches at the Tribal Wellness Centers annual Halloween-alternative Carnival where well over 800 Apache Tribal Members gather to simply have an evening of fun. Childrens and Teen programming continue. Relationships with Apache churches continue. In the winter of 2006, the Lord provided a 45-acre site for far less than the appraised value that had never been on the market for ARMs new base of operations. Pray as the Lord directs in the development of this property so near the Reservation. Our staff is growing! Amor Ministries has joined our team to assist in building homes for the many homeless on the Reservation. God is leading! Your prayers are coveted! Arizona Reservations Ministries is celebrating their 10th anniversary. Chaparral is hosting two tables for this anniversary celebration at First Christian Church in Phoenix. If you would like to join in on the festivities, please contact Sara Perrine at sara.perrine@chaparral.org for more information.

YOU ARE INVITED

TO THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET FOR ARIZONA RESERVATION MINISTRIES ON SATURDAY, MARCH 24TH, 2012 AT PHOENIXS FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH SEATING IS LIMITED FOR THIS CELEBRATION-RESERVATIONS ONLY

928-425-844

Godspell...coming March 23-25!

Chaparral's Teen Choir spring musical this year is Godspell, a modern take on the story of the Gospel. However, since the show originated in the 1970's it seems hardly contemporary compared to our fast paced and technology filled lives now. Our teens have been hard at work bringing the show to life, setting it in our current time. The cast members are enjoying introducing their own fashion and expressions from 2012 in their makeover of the original Godspell.

Meghan in 7th Grade Godspell!

This show is very special to me on a personal level. My own first Teen Choir musical as a seventh grader was Godspell, and I remember looking up to all of the seniors in the lead roles, marveling at how talented they were and how inspiring they were as leaders of the group. Godspell was also the spring musical my senior year in Teen Choir, and I loved being able to reenact the show and perform as my role models had done before me. Now Godspell has come around again in my life, and I couldn't be more excited to see how it all comes together. When I was a teenager I spent a lot of time volunteering with the children's ministry, and it's amazing to see the same cute kids maturing into young men and women. Under great direction, and with such a talented cast, I think this production of Godspell will be my favorite one yet. -Meghan Potash

Friday, March 23rd, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 24th - 3:00 p.m. matinee 5:00 p.m. dinner 6:00 p.m. evening performance th, 6:00 p.m. Sunday, March 25

Annual Spring Tea May 5, 2012, 2-4 p.m.

Calling all Women! Bring your mother, daughter, sister, friend, in-laws, neighbor...anyone who would enjoy a couple of hours in the company of other girls and women. As is our tradition, there will be entertainment and delicious food to spare. Registration will begin at the end of March, but mark your calendars now. 18 and older - $20 per person 17 and younger - $10 per person Hostess sits free Contact Sharon Dufort (sharon.dufort@chaparral.org) now to: ~ host a table, or watch for a registration table at the end of March. ~ volunteer to help plan, set up, prep food or otherwise be in on the planning of this years tea. Childcare provided by reservation for little boys, or those girls too young to sit somewhat still for a couple of hours. 7

CHAPARRAL
6451 E. Shea Blvd Scottsdale, AZ 85254

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