Spotlight on Events

Adult Studies

Is your study meeting this week? Visit This Week's Calendar to verify.

TUESDAY MORNING ADULT STUDY
10:00 a.m. in Souers Hall

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ADULT STUDY
6:30 p.m. in Souers Hall

Our study of Genesis concludes Tuesday, December 10, at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday, December 11, at 6:30 p.m. in Souers Hall. Pastor Lynne will be our study leader as we focus on Joseph (Genesis 37-41) and his relationships. Please consider joining us if possible. It will be very helpful if you can bring a Bible and paper for taking notes as the amount of scripture we are covering is extensive and only a limited amount will be projected.

Tuesday Morning Adult Study

photos: Carroll Frison

Wednesday Night Community Dinner

Our Wednesday Night Community Dinners are now underway. These dinners are open to ALL and are FREE! Come and enjoy time together. Dinner is served from 5:45 – 6:30 p.m. in Souers Hall. If you would like to help in the kitchen on Wednesday nights, please sign up in the breezeway or Souers Hall.

God’s Own Kids

Calling all kids ages PreK – Grade 5. Join us Wednesday nights from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the nursery & classroom 5 for a craft and prayers. Then get comfy on our bean bags, grab some free popcorn, and enjoy a Veggie Tales Bible Story Video. For more information email kmcnamara@clp.church.

4C Choir

On Wednesday, December 11, we will be practicing lots of fun Christmas songs in preparation for our Christmas caroling on Sunday evening, December 22. Kindergarten through 5th graders, come to Fireside Room North at 5 p.m. At 5:45 p.m., when we finish rehearsing, there will be a yummy free family dinner in Souers Hall. See you there!

Celebration and Godspeed

A letter was recently mailed sharing news that Pastor Kerri has accepted a call to serve as the pastor of First United Church of Christ in Tipton, Iowa.

We invite you to join us in worship on Sunday, December 8 as we say farewell to Pastor Kerri and Jay. We will be celebrating Pastor Kerri’s ministry at The Church at Litchfield Park during all three worship services. Cake will be served following each service in Souers Hall where we will have the opportunity to say thank you and Godspeed.

Christmas Poinsettias

Poinsettias for the Christmas season are on sale in the breezeway or Souers Hall between services. This is a chance to remember a loved one, praise someone, or simply spread the spirit of Christmas with the enduring red bloom that represents a deep love for Jesus.

The poinsettias will be displayed in the sanctuary and Souers Hall with the honorees’ names listed in the bulletin. The price is $10.00 cash or check made payable to the Church at Litchfield Park with “poinsettias” in the memo line. Sunday, December 8, is the last day to order and pay for poinsettias.

photo licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Luminarias – Volunteers Needed

Traditionally the church has been adorned by luminarias on Christmas Eve. If you would like to participate in this beautiful ministry to our community, please sign-up in the breezeway or Souers Hall or contact the church office at (623) 935-3411. Luminarias are assembled at church on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. Depending on the number of volunteers it can take about an hour for set up. Set up will take place rain or shine.

photo: Russ Morrow

W.C.S.F. Christmas Tea

All women are invited to attend the annual Women’s Christian Service Fellowship Christmas Tea on Saturday, December 7 at 2:00 p.m. in Souers Hall. The theme for this year’s tea is Christmas Wrapped in Love. Ladies with last names beginning with A-N are asked to bring 24 finger sandwiches. Those with names beginning with O-Z are asked to bring 24 finger desserts or savory hors d’oeuvres. Heidi Hernandez, a noted harpist, will entertain us at the beginning of the tea. Please sign up in advance in the breezeway or Souers Hall between services or call the office at (623) 935-3411.

Open Arms Home for Children Benefit

Everyone is cordially invited to a night of food, friendship, comedy, and great music to benefit Open Arms Home for Children at the Wigwam Resort, Litchfield Park, on Saturday, December 7. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with a pasta dinner at 6:30. Admission and dinner is complimentary, but a freewill offering benefiting Open Arms will be taken at intermission. Due to a generous match, offering gifts will be tripled at the event. Please call to reserve seats for family and friends at (623) 935-3339.

Christmas Angel Project

The Missions Committee has chosen Luke Air Force Base Deployed Families as the focus of the Christmas Angel Project this year. If you would like to contribute a gift, gift card, or money to this project, you can do so between Sunday services in the breezeway or Souers Hall on December 8. Cards made by our children and youth will be available for each donor to be signed and sent along with the gifts to be received by our Luke Air Force Base Deployed Families on December 15.

Suggested gifts include: gift cards for adults; a basket of goodies for mom that includes gift cards for manicures, pedicures, massages, etc.; a man’s basket with different items. For kids, non-wrapped gifts including: Big Wheels, gaming systems, Legos (for girls and boys), Barbie House, Barbie items, boys and girls bikes and other popular kids toys are suggested.

Holidays with Orpheus

Orpheus Male Chorus presents their annual “Holidays with Orpheus” concert on Sunday, December 8, at 3:00 p.m. at The Church at Litchfield Park. Featured will be traditional and contemporary holiday songs, along with their audience sing-along of everyone’s favorite Christmas carols. Admission to “Holidays with Orpheus” is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students, for tickets purchased in advance at www.orpheus.org. Advance tickets are only sold online. For tickets purchased at the door, the admission will be $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and students. For more information contact the Orpheus Box Office at (602) 698-7890.

Logo and photo: Orpheus Male Chorus

Tuesday Volunteer Opportunity

On Tuesday, December 10, at 11:00 a.m., in Souers Hall, volunteers are invited to prepare the candles for Christmas Eve services. Also at this time, we will be wrapping gifts for the Sunday School children. Anyone interested in helping with these projects is invited to join in the fun. Sign up in the breezeway or Souers Hall between services.

Ladies Who Lunch

Ladies Who Lunch will meet on Tuesday, December 10, at Zetas, 2935 N Dysart, Avondale. All women are welcome. Please sign up in the breezeway or Souers Hall or contact Suzanne Boyer or Joan Cappel at ladieswholunch@clp.church or contact the church office at (623) 935-3411. See you on the 10th for our fellowship luncheon.

Men’s Christian Service Fellowship

Men’s Christian Service Fellowship meets the second Tuesday of each month, which includes a half-hour DVD presentation (Journey of Faith), open discussions, and a homemade dinner. The next meeting is Tuesday, December 10, at 6:00 p.m. in Souers Hall. This will be our final evening of study with Journey of Faith.

Our goal is for participants to gain a deeper understanding of what others believe, and why they believe what they do, while learning more about ourselves. We will also learn more about Jesus’ desire to quench our deepest thirsts and longings. All men are welcome. Please sign up in the breezeway or Souers Hall.

Women’s Circle 1

Our December meeting will be Wednesday, December 11, at 9:30 a.m. at the home of Barbara Kolar. All women are invited to join us for fellowship and fun. Please email wcsfcircle1@clp.church or call the office at (623) 935-3411 if you have any questions or need directions.

Christmas Pageant

The Christmas Pageant is on Sunday, December 15, during the 10:45 a.m. worship service. We are excited to announce that our script, The Nativity: A Traditional Story of the Birth of Jesus Christ, has been updated to include more speaking roles.

Rehearsals are Thursdays from 5:45 – 7:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Dress rehearsal will be on Saturday, December 14.

Click here for pageant rehearsal schedule, script, and songs.

Sunday School Christmas Party

All kids PreK – grade 5 are invited to join us Sunday, December 22, during Sunday School at the 9:15 and 10:45 a.m. services for our Annual Sunday School Christmas Party. After reading the story of Jesus’ birth we will have games, crafts, cookie decorating, and lots more.

All Church Caroling

Come ready to sing Christmas carols the evening of Sunday, December 22. We will meet in the parking lot and load on the hay wagons at 5:00 p.m. After singing Christmas carols around Litchfield Park, we will have hot chocolate, cookies, and possibly a visit from a jolly man dressed in red!

3F Club Kickoff Potluck

The 3F club: Food, Fun & Fellowship is a great way to get to know others in our church family, develop lasting relationships and share the love of God together in an intimate environment. We will start the 2020 season off with a group potluck on Sunday, January 12, at 12:00 p.m. in Souers Hall. Couples and singles of all ages are encouraged to join.

Once a month each unit made up of couples and/or singles will be paired up in groups of eight. One couple will host and supply the main entrée and the remaining couples will each bring one of the following: appetizer, side dish, or dessert. Please sign up in the breezeway or Souers Hall between services by Sunday, December 22.

W.C.S.F. Thrift Shop

The Thrift Shop is organized and operated by Women’s Christian Service Fellowship (W.C.S.F.) and its volunteers. It is headed by Amber Gilbert, Amanda Clough, and Jennifer Scott and is the primary source of funding for W.C.S.F. Proceeds are used to support W.C.S.F.’s many community and world-wide outreach projects, including grants for women in crisis and special projects on the church campus.

W.C.S.F. appreciates your support throughout the year as donors, shoppers, and volunteers. If you would like to volunteer at the Thrift Shop, please sign up in the breezeway between services. The Thrift Shop is open for business from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the days indicated in the calendar below, with a donation day on the day before from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Please feel free to contact Amber, Amanda, or Jennifer at thriftshop@clp.church or call the church at (623) 935-3411 if you have questions or need to make other donation arrangements. Thank you!

calendar by John Scott

Youth Activities

A schedule of upcoming youth activities can be found on the Youth page.

Stewardship Update

Our stewardship campaign for 2020 is falling behind in its number of pledgers. We appreciate the generous gifts of those who have taken the time to make their pledges. If you haven’t had the opportunity to provide yours, please consider doing so. Our board is currently preparing the budget for 2020 and visibility of our pledge gifts are vital to be able to effectively plan how we will provide the Worship, Service, and Fellowship pillars to our members and communities.

St. Mary’s Food Bank Drive Success!

Thank you for supporting the food drive for St. Mary’s Food Bank. As the hands and feet of Jesus, we donated 740 pounds of food that will truly make a difference for the hungry in Arizona.

2019 Contributions

For your offerings to be reflected on your 2019 giving statement, all contributions must be in the church office no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, December 30.

AmazonSmile

Do you shop on Amazon? We do, too! Whether you are shopping for holidays, gifts, or any day of the week, AmazonSmile will donate a portion of your order to The Church at Litchfield Park. When you shop at AmazonSmile, you will find the same shopping experience as Amazon, with the added bonus that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% from your purchase to the church. Shop at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/86-0177168 . Spread the word and have fun shopping!

Newsletters for Youth and Kids

Go to the youth page at https://www.churchatlitchfieldpark.org/Youth.html to subscribe to either our Ignite or Pulse newsletter.

Go to the children's page at https://www.churchatlitchfieldpark.org/Children.html to subscribe to our Children's newsletter.

Boy Scouts

The Church at Litchfield Park is the charter organization for Troop 99 of the Boy Scouts of America. As the charter organization, we support troop leaders, interface with various levels of the Boy Scouts of America organization, and provide facilities for scout meetings and troop committee meetings.

Troop 99 engages in civic activities, participates in outdoor activities such as camp-outs, and conducts fund raising events (Troop 99 does an excellent job of funding its activities).

Please contact the church at 623-935-3411 or info@clp.church for meeting times and additional information.