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July 29, 2026 - Kairos Vol. 13,
Issue #20
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Doctor of Ministry Update
Recently, several people have asked how school is going, so I thought I'd give you a quick update.
Last August, I began a Doctor of Ministry program through Duke Divinity School. A Doctor of Ministry is a practical degree designed for pastors and other leaders who are actively serving in churches. It's not about preparing for a different job—it's about becoming a better pastor where God has already called me to serve.
This summer I've been taking courses in Strategic Leadership and American Church History. One of the gifts of this program is that my assignments are directly connected to my ministry here at Sun Lakes United Methodist Church! In my strategy course, I explored questions like, "What does faithful leadership look like for a retirement congregation today?" In church history, I've been researching the history of retirement and what it means for the church's understanding of calling, purpose, and aging.
After Easter next spring, I'll begin the dissertation phase of the program. Unlike a traditional academic dissertation, a Doctor of Ministry project is designed to address a real ministry challenge. Over the next year and a half, I'll be researching, developing, and implementing a project that I hope will benefit the life of this congregation. I'm excited to share more about that process as it takes shape.
Everything I am learning comes back to one goal: to serve you well. My desire is to grow as a pastor so that I can better lead, teach, care, and dream alongside this congregation.
One of the most interesting aspects of this program is that I am helping my classmates navigate issues such as dementia and caregiving in their own contexts and their families. I have become one of the "resident experts" regarding retirement and its impact on the congregation.
It is important to me that you know I have no desire to be looking for the next opportunity or to "move on" to something else. As United Methodists, pastors serve where the bishop appoints us, and I gladly serve under that covenant. But my heart is here. I believe God has called me to Sun Lakes United Methodist Church for this season, and I believe we have important work ahead of us together. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of learning in ways that strengthen my ministry among you and thank you for your prayers and encouragement along the way.
See you in church,
Pastor Jen
See you in church,
Pastor Jen
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SUMMER KAIROS UPDATE
As we head into the slower summer season, we will be publishing the Kairos less regularly than the weekly schedule we use during the rest of the year. With fewer events, our Kairos often gets repetitive, and we want to make sure we don't annoy our congregation with the same information!
We will publish the Kairos once a month until August, then move to a
bi-monthly schedule in September and October.
The new Kairos schedule will be:
- August 26th, 2026
- September 9th, 2026
- September 23rd, 2026
- October 7th, 2026
- October 21st, 2026
We realize this change might be off-putting, but we want to assure you that the weekly Kairos will resume as soon as events and scheduling pick up! If news arises that needs to be dispersed promptly, it will be sent in a special E-News update on Wednesdays.
Also, as a reminder during this schedule change: If you want an article published in the Kairos for an upcoming church event, please email us your posting at office@sunlakesumc.org by the Monday before the Kairos goes out.
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NEW MEMBER SUNDAY, AUGUST 16th
We will welcome new members on Sunday, August 16th! If you are interested in becoming a member of our church, please visit the church office or call (480) 895-8766 for more information. We would love to have you!
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THEMED SUNDAYS WERE A SUCCESS!
In July, we celebrated the summer with four themed Sundays: an Ice Cream Social, Hawaiian Sunday, Hippie/Retro Sunday, and Christmas in July! It was the perfect way to join in worship and fellowship despite the heat. Thank you for participating!
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GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS CONTINUE
Mary Sievert is offering informal grief support groups this summer. If you have lost a loved one and would like to talk to others who understand what you're going through, please come.
- Drop-in support groups are offered Tuesdays, Aug. 4, 11, and 18. We meet from 1:30 – 3:00 pm in Room 4 of the Education Building. No charge and no need to sign up.
- An 8-week Grief Support Class will start Tuesday, September 15, 1:30 – 3:00. Feel free to stop by or attend weekly. For more information, stop by or call the church office at 480-895-8766.
Grief is a natural response to a significant loss, and it can affect us emotionally, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. It can be overwhelming when your loss disrupts your sense of normalcy. Consider attending our class! Being with others who understand what you’re going through can really help!
A quick note for September Grief Support, it will start on the 15th. There is a misprint in the SPLASH that says it starts the first, it actually restarts Tuesday, September 15th. It will be an 8-week session.
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SUNDAY MOVIE MATINEE!
On Sunday, August 16th at 3 PM, we are showing the film The Sheep Detectives in the sanctuary. Join us for an afternoon of mystery, adventure, and popcorn!
The Sheep Detectives follows a herd of sheep who set out to solve the mystery of their farmer (Hugh Jackman)'s death, using the skills they have picked up from the countless mystery novels he has read aloud to them.
Doors open at 2:30 pm! See you there!
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SINGLE OR LIVING ALONE
SOLA is a friendly gathering of single members or those living alone. Please join us for lunch on Friday, August 14th at the Palo Verde Restaurant at 11:30. Please sign up in Lindsay Hall. We always meet the 4th Friday for snacks and an activity. In August, we will meet in Lindsay Hall for BINGO at 11:30 on August 28th. We always have a good time.
If you have questions, please call Jeanette at (641) 777-0284. Hope to see you soon.
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VETERANS DAY PHOTOS
In anticipation of Veterans Day and the slideshow we put together in appreciation of those who have served, we would like a few details from our Veterans. We would like a photo of you from your service, your years of service, and the military branch you served in (it is not limited to just the United States Military).
Here are a few ways to share:
- By emailing the front office at office@sunlakesumc.org
- By stopping by the office and giving us the photo to make a copy
- By calling the office to check if we have your information from the previous year (this can also be done by email or in person)
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WITH LOVE AND SYMPATHY
...to the family and friends of Landon Osborn, who passed away on May 22nd. A memorial service was held on Wednesday, July 22nd, in the Chapel.
...to the family and friends of Meredith Rich, who passed away on June 10th. A memorial service was held on Wednesday, July 15th, in the Chapel.
...to the family and friends of Sally McKnight, who passed away on July 6th. A memorial service will be held in Indiana.
...to the family and friends of Jack Slocum, who passed away on July 7th. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 15th at 10 am in the Chapel, followed by internment in the gardens and a lunch in Lindsay Hall.
...to the family and friends of Clara Reid, who passed away on July 11th. A memorial service will be held on July 31st at 10 am at Valley of the Sun Mortuary.
...to the family and friends of June Park, who passed away on July 13th. A memorial service will be held for June and Bob Park near the end of the year.
...to the friends and family of Vickie Mornhinweg, who passed away on July 17th. A memorial service is pending.
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ALTAR FLOWERS
On July 12th, 2026:
-By Judy Ligas in memory of Jack Humphreys.
On July 19th, 2026:
-By Rick Vier in memory of George Reed's Birthday.
-By Joe and Geneva Bland in memory of their brothers: David, Bill, Dennis, Terry, and John Bland – Bill Hull.
-By Ray Elms “for my loving angel watching over me. Love You! Ray.”
On July 26th, 2026:
-By Dawn Norfleet in memory of her mother, Mary Pollitt.
-By Ken Schimpf in celebration of Judy Schimpf's birthday.
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With rising prices, we unfortunately have to make some changes regarding the price of flowers for our altar. Beginning in October, the price of the Altar Floral Arrangements will be sixty dollars. We appreciate your understanding as we make these changes.
| | WEEKEND PASTORAL CARE PHONE | | |
We want to make sure that you always have a way to reach the pastor, even when the church office is closed. To do this, we have a weekend phone (480.742.7706).
Here’s how it works:
- The phone is not an answering service—it is a real phone that Pastor Jen carries.
- This is available Fridays through Sundays, while the office is closed.
This phone is specifically for urgent pastoral needs that cannot wait until Monday. For things like scheduling meetings, general questions, or ministry sign-ups, please continue to use the church office number during regular office hours.
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June 28th:
Attendance: 174
YouTube Watchers: 80
Week's Offering: $ 91,104.00
Giving Month to Date: $ 149,412.04
Monthly Budget Needs: $ 65,177.60
July 5th:
Attendance: 180
YouTube Watchers: 128
Week's Offering: $ 20,841.50
Giving Month to Date: $ 20,841.50
Monthly Budget Needs: $ 55,150.28
July 12th:
Attendance: 175
YouTube Watchers: 170
Week's Offering: $ 12,550.00
Giving Month to Date: $ 32,391.50
Monthly Budget Needs: $ 55,150.28
July 19th:
Attendance: 200
YouTube Watchers: 82
Week's Offering: $ 10,649.00
Giving Month to Date: $ 43,040.50
Monthly Budget Needs: $ 55,150.28
July 26th:
Attendance: 192
YouTube Watchers: 78
Week's Offering: $ 8,234.00
Giving Month to Date: $ 51,274.50
Monthly Budget Needs: $ 55,150.28
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Now Accepting Stock Donations
We are pleased to share that the church is now able to receive gifts of appreciated stock. Donating stock can be a tax-wise way to support the ministry of the church and may provide additional benefits compared to cash giving (please consult your tax advisor).
If you are interested in making a stock gift, please contact the church office for transfer instructions and let us know when the transfer is initiated so we can properly acknowledge your donation.
Thank you for your faithful generosity and continued support of our church’s mission.
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If you have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) with a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), this is the perfect time to plan how you’d like to take it.
If this isn’t your first year taking an RMD, you already know these distributions are taxable as ordinary income. What you may not know is that you can choose to have your RMD—or a portion of it—sent directly to Sun Lakes United Methodist Church or any qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
When directed in this way, these Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) still satisfy your RMD requirement but are excluded from your taxable income. It’s a simple, impactful way to support ministry while reducing your overall tax liability.
If this is new information for you, talk with your IRA custodian or financial advisor about how to set up a Qualified Charitable Distribution.
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9248 East Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248
Phone: 480-895-8766
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