From the Organist's Chamber

A few weeks back you saw this little instrument when I took part in the traditional service Kid Talk. This is called a portative organ (from the Latin verb portare meaning "to carry") and I bought it for my 40th birthday in June of 2020. An Italian organ builder/maintainer was bored at home (like most of us then) and started building these and selling them online. I had been looking for one for a while and this one was cute and perfect.

It is mostly diatonic--think of the white notes on a piano--except for the little lighter-colored button in the middle, which is actually a Bb key. The two keys with round dots are the C's.

I mostly use it just to demonstrate to kids during organ seminars how organs originated, but occasionally I enjoy taking it into the narthex when no one is around and playing some medieval tunes with those acoustics that swim for days!

Dr. Jeremy Peterman

Organist and Handbell Director

Our minds are curious beings, aren’t they? Our thoughts cause us to ponder and dwell, to pursue and persist. Our thoughts can trust or worry; our minds must choose. Our emotions spill forth from our consciousness and expose outward expression of our mind. To experience the daily nearness of Jesus, our living and loving Savior, is however, the desire of our souls. Our minds must know Him through the Scriptures but it is our souls that are filled by Him. Each of us is eager to be seen, known, to be filled and made whole. A woman’s heart yearns to be cherished and to flourish.

God’s message takes us to a familiar passage of Scripture which features the vast dimensions of God’s love. One’s knowing about the dimensions of God’s love simply isn’t enough. Our souls ache for the ‘how’ to be deeply filled with this powerful love. His love is wide and long and high and deep. But there is more; keep reading.

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Ephesians 3:17b-19

Did you catch it?

The Apostle Paul teaches through his prayer the very communal nature of being loved by God! Though it is true we are loved individually, we will be able to know this love in a deeply intimate way, in increasing measure, when we are TOGETHER, in community with God’s people. God’s love will reach our minds through His Word, but it will surpass knowledge and even fill our souls when we’re together, in His family~ God’s Church.

Experiencing the love of God is an ‘US’ thing! And I welcome all women, all ages, all faiths to join in LA CASA | WOMEN. Let’s connect as I want to get to know you. Reach me directly at pwebb@lacasadecristo.com. Women who live loved, together, live differently!

With love,

XOXOX

Paula Webb

Director of Women's Ministry

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me…for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

There’s a special kind of energy that fills our campus during VBX week—laughter echoing down the hallways, songs of praise bouncing off the walls, tiny feet running toward fun, and hearts being opened to the love of Jesus. What a gift it is to welcome so many children into our church family this week!

Every smile, every game, every Bible story, and every moment of connection is an opportunity for a child to encounter the God who made them, knows them, and loves them deeply. This is more than a summer event—it’s a chance for seeds of faith to be planted, for friendships to grow, and for lives to be shaped by the truth of the Bible.

As we step into this exciting week (July 14-18), let’s cover it in prayer. Pray for energy, joy, and patience for our volunteers. Pray for safety, smooth logistics, and plenty of laughter. And most of all, pray that every child who walks through our doors would feel known, seen, and loved—and that they would leave knowing more about Jesus and His great love for them. 

Staci Medina

Director of Children's Ministry



As I sit here trying to think of something to write for this July’s Cristo Connection, I keep hearing God telling me to stop overthinking it.

That seems to be my motto lately. My husband and I are in the midst of looking for a new house and, because of that, I have some uncertainty about how to choose where to live.

How can I use good discernment while asking God to guide me in my decision-making? I am overthinking every aspect of the move.

Coincidently, I have started an 8-day Bible plan with some girls in the youth group called, "Don’t Believe Everything You Think." Day 2 of the plan talks about "catastrophizing," focusing on the worst possible outcome. If this is not you, you can stop reading. Just kidding - keep reading.

To stop overthinking, we must make a decision to interrupt the current thought pattern.

Two ways to do this is to meditate on scripture and practice mindfulness with God. I do these both at the same time. Here are two verses that help me focus on God, trying to have discernment in all of my decision making.

Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." This definitely helps me stay in the present moment.

In addition, James 4:14 says: "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." Although James meant this verse as a rebuke against human pride, I use it to help me stay in today and not catastrophize tomorrow. It helps me rebuke my fear and anxiety about tomorrow.

Overthinking is a struggle a lot of us have, I will leave you with one more verse to help with that.

Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Blessings,



Suzan Scudder

Director of Middle School Ministry

During the hot Arizona summer you may find yourself inside more than usual. It is a very difficult season to grow things outside. However, I think it is the perfect season to grow spiritually. Prayer can be one avenue for us to grow and has been described as a conversation with God. This conversation can be spoken, written, or through the Holy Spirit’s interceding for us through wordless groans (Romans 8:26). Most of my prayers are not flowery, pretty, or poetic. When thinking of all that God is to me and all He has done for me, I started to think of ways to express this gratitude in new and different ways. One way I am choosing, and hope you will join me in this, is through poetry. Though God hears all prayers and does not require poetic prayers, this is just another way to return to Him something He has given to us in His word. Poetry is a significant part of the Bible. Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs are examples of where poetry appears in the Bible. You may wonder how to start writing poetry to God or perhaps this is already part of your prayer life. Either way, here are just a few prompts to consider.

· A time you felt God's presence: Write about a moment where you experienced a strong sense of the divine, using sensory details.

· Your favorite scripture: Explore what a particular verse or passage of scripture means to you and how it impacts your life.

· The power of prayer: Describe a time when prayer had a profound and helpful impact on you.

· Connecting with God through others: Write about people in your life who help you feel closer to God, and what qualities they embody.

· A meaningful location: Explore a physical location that gives you a sense of closeness to the divine, and describe why it feels that way.

· Surrendering to God: Reflect on something outside your control that you can choose to surrender to a higher power.



· Responding to a sermon or spiritual message: Write about a time someone's words or encounter led you to reflect and deepen your faith.

Praying this spiritual exercise brings joy to you and to our Creator.

Blessings,

Donna Bosley, Operations Director

Alcohol Linked with Heart Disease

Weekly alcohol consumption that exceeds the limits recommended by the U.S. guidelines is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in young and middle-aged women, higher than the CHD risk for men.

The study of over 430,000 adults who reported their weekly intake for over a year, categorized as below or above the recommended limits of up to 14 drinks for men and 7 for women; and episodic heavy drinking of 5 or more for men and four or more for women. Women who drank more than the weekly limit had a 43% higher risk for CHD than those who drank less. For men, the risk was 19% higher.

Blessings...

Jean Knowling, R.N.

Parish Nurse