From the Baton of the Music Director

Come sing with the choir in the summer!

We will be singing once a month in the summer.

June 8 - Pentecost

July 13 and August 17

"Singing in a choir is like exercise for the vocal cords; except, instead of losing weight, you gain harmony."

Jennifer Sheldon

Director of Music and Worship



From the Organist's Chamber

Did you know that in undergrad I double-majored in piano performance and French? Unfortunately, the only time I use French these days is when working with singers who are learning something in that language. Part of my personal preparation for our choir and Veterans Ministry’s journey to France in mid-May has been to joyfully surround myself with French language materials: books, movies, and audiobook vocabulary/phrases. With my renewed use of French, I’ll probably begin infusing more French pieces into our weekend services too, so you’ll know why it’s coming! Quelle est votre pièce de musique favorite?

Dr. Jeremy Peterman

Organist and Handbell Director

🎼 Get to Know Your Choir

Anne McAnallen



I have been praising God with song since I can remember. I grew up a preacher’s kid in rural eastern Iowa. My Dad served several Lutheran churches over his career and I was tapped often to teach young children to sing, sing in choirs, solos, duets, and small groups. You name it - I probably did it. My Mom had a beautiful alto voice. It was always a treat to sing in harmony with her from the pew. One of my favorite hymns (and there are many) that gets me every time I sing it is: Here I am, Lord.

I attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. While I was not a music major, I did sing in choirs all four years. My junior and senior years I was selected to sing in the Nordic Choir under the direction of Weston Noble. The Nordic Choir sang as their signature benedictory Pavel Chesnokov’s O Lord God. Another favorite of mine! “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live and praise thy name while I have my being.”

My husband (of 38 years), Mitch and I moved to Phoenix from Minneapolis in 1996 – purely motivated by weather! Shortly after, we became members of La Casa de Cristo. The pastors and the music were the top draws for us. In 2017, I was returning to Decorah, Iowa to sing in the celebration of life service for Nordic Choir’s director, Weston Noble. I needed a black choir folder. I asked Jennifer if I could borrow one. Before I knew it (and with a reasonable amount of urging!), I was given my own black folder, a choir robe and a seat in the choir loft!



I recently retired from a 40 year career in banking and mortgage lending/ servicing. I’m enjoying my free time! I volunteer weekly with the 'Joy Bus,' delivering fresh and healthy meals and a friendly face to people with cancer.

Jennifer’s and Jeremy’s talents are truly gifts from God. What a blessing! There is an open seat in the choir loft for anyone considering joining. No audition required. Come get a front row seat!

Soli Deo Gloria!

I love the month of May for so many reasons, including Mother’s Day. Yet, I know the tender ache which permeates the hearts of many women each year, before, after, and throughout the second weekend in May. Mother’s Day is a favorite for some and deeply painful for others. The grief of loss, the feeling of less than, and the reminder of what is fractured, are real feelings. We face circumstances beyond our understanding and control. Jesus knows our pain!



Despite these heartaches, I know the redeeming love of Jesus and am grateful for the opportunity to take even my own heart to Him through step-parenting, and to be reminded of spiritual motherhood.

Please listen closely, Beloved, to learn that every woman is created to carry life, whether she has ever born children or not. Carrying real LIFE inside of us, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, is possible for every woman, young and old! In Christ, we are called to ‘mother’ far beyond the boundaries of our own homes. We are called to raise up and encourage others within the family~ which includes others’ children!

Spiritual motherhood appears throughout the Scriptures including examples such as Mary’s visit to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56), with whom she stayed 3 months! Or we can see the example in the very next chapter, Mary’s encounter with 84 yr. old Anna in the temple, who exclaims praise for Mary’s child, Jesus (Luke 2:36-38). But the most compelling witness of spiritual motherhood, to me, is when Jesus is crucified. Through some of His last breaths of life on earth, we see ~

• When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27)

All children need spiritual mothers, and all mothers need spiritual kids! 

Happy Mother’s Day!

With love,

XOXOX

Paula Webb

Director of Women's Ministry

Sometimes, the hardest part of helping others isn’t knowing what to do—it’s noticing that something needs to be done in the first place. Awareness is the foundation of compassion. Before we act, we have to care. And before we care, we have to see.

God is the perfect example of this. He saw our brokenness, not just as a problem to solve, but as people to love. He didn’t look away—He stepped in. Through Jesus, He showed us what it means to truly see someone and respond with love.

Because we’re made in God’s image, we’re meant to live this way too! We are wired not just to do good things, but to be people who notice—who slow down, who care deeply, and who respond with purpose.

This month in our “Eye Spy” series, we’re learning to open our eyes to what God sees. Whether it’s a friend who needs kindness, a moment to speak up, or someone who just needs a smile, we are going to play the ultimate game of “Eye Spy”—and spot the chance to love like Jesus. We hope that you will join us this month to "spy" ways to love like Him. 

Staci Medina

Director of Children's Ministry



Psalm 107:29, “He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.”

For 12 months here at La Casa de Cristo there has been a lot of talk about sailing into the 'Next 50' years as a congregation and now we are here. We just finished celebrating our 50th anniversary! We have started our sail into the Next 50!

So what better time to talk about Acts 27 and Paul sailing for Rome. Although his trip was not a great celebration like the one we had in April, we can learn great things from it.

Acts 27:9-10 "Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also."

After sailing, they ran into a powerful storm that lasted for 14 days. How many of us can relate to a storm in life that lasted that long or even longer? Unfortunately, we are usually unprepared for them. Some of our storms are the result of bad decisions. We tend to ignore advice.

Acts 27:11 "But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.”

Some storms mold us and strengthen our faith and some are for the sake of others. Someone else might need to see the faithfulness of God as you share your story.

Quoting Pastor Jeff from one of his recent sermons, “We are not always healed or saved, but transformed so you can turn around and minister to others.” God uses our trials or storms of life to help others. I do not know what storm you are facing: financial, illness, loss, or maybe you have been blindsided by a disappointment.

I do know God is with us and He is sovereign over the storms. We need to place our anchor in Him and His promises.

Throughout the ordeal, Paul demonstrates faith and leadership, encouraging those around him to trust in God and remain hopeful.

I hope you sail into the 'Next 50' with La Casa de Cristo and remain hopeful the storms will pass.



Suzan Scudder

Director of Middle School Ministry

All creatures great and small were designed by our Creator. Have you ever wondered how many types of birds there are in the desert? Do you have some that visit your yard daily? Here is a way that you can encourage some new little visitors or feed your current feathered friends. Assemble a 2-liter soda bottle, funnel or paper cone, razor knife, hole punch, tape measure, dowel, and twine. The dowel serves as a perch, so use one long enough to extend through and outside the soda bottle. You can also substitute the dowel with a long handled wooden spoon.

Using the razor knife, cut a window on each side of the bottle, 3 inches up from the bottom. Make the window large enough to fit a bird’s head. Below each square opening, make holes for the perch, using the hole punch, then insert the dowel or wooden spoon.

Using the funnel or paper cone, pour the birdseed through the mouth (top) of the soda bottle. Secure the bottle cap and tie a loop of twine below it, fastening it with a knot. Your new feeder is ready to be hung up outside.

If you capture any photos of birds enjoying your feeder, send them to dbosley@lacasadecristo.com for inclusion in future Senior Spotlights. Enjoy.

Blessings,

Donna Bosley

HOW TO ASSESS AGING?

Medical advances are helping people around the world live longer. But longer life is linked to a gradual loss of physical abilities.

Strength, balance, and walking skills may weaken. It’s been unclear how each of these features decline with age.

To learn more, a National Institute of Health research team assessed these abilities in 40 healthy people. Half were between 50 and 64. The rest were ages 65 and older.

The researchers found that walking patterns were not much different with age. Sex differences were seen in strength but not other measures. Grip strength was 30% higher in men than in women, and knee strength was 27% higher in men. But in both sexes, strength declined at similar rates over time. Grip strength in the dominant hand dropped by nearly 4% per decade of age. Knee strength declined by about 1% per decade.



Balance showed the greatest decrease with age, especially the ability to stand on one leg for at least 30 seconds. Single-leg standing on the non-dominant leg dropped by 21% per decade of age. On the dominant leg, it dropped by 17% per decade. When standing on both feet, people who were older tended to move or sway more.

The findings suggest that how long a person can stand on only a non-dominant leg may be an easy and reliable way to assess health in aging populations. Changes in balance are note-worthy. If you have poor balance, you’re at a risk for falling. Falls are a severe health risk with serious consequences. Watch the newsletter for upcoming Balance Classes.

Blessings...

Jean Knowling, R.N.

Parish Nurse