Organ Recital

"BeLLs and belles"

How do you prepare for an organ recital when you’ve fractured a bone in your knee and have completely torn your ACL? When that happened on July 14th, my first instinct was to cancel my recital and even hire a substitute for a couple of weekends for services. While at VBX all week, Reese Clark and a number of other volunteers encouraged me and even listened to me play right-foot only until it seemed I had created a convincing 2-foot pedal sound with only my right foot…and that’s the way I played for two weekends. On the third weekend, and still on the verge of canceling my recital, my left leg/foot seemed to free up and I was able to play with both feet.

So, with your prayers and God’s uplifting touch, I will keep my organ recital on the books for Friday Sept. 20th at 7pm in the Sanctuary. It has a NEW name: I'm calling it "Bells and Belles," which will include pieces about bells, featuring bells, about belles, or simply bellissimo! See you there.

Dr. Jeremy Peterman

Music Ministry  

People of La Casa de Cristo! The music department will be traveling to France in May 2025 and visiting historic sites like Normandy (Omaha Beach) and Mont Saint-Michel. Our organist, Jeremy Peterman, will be giving recitals in a couple of beautiful cathedrals and, as an added bonus, we will be singing in some of these destinations! Even if your talents don’t lie in the musical world, you are welcome to join in on this wonderful adventure.

Travel dates are May 12-21, 2025

In the Footsteps of French History: Normandy, Rouen, Chartres, and Paris

Contact Jennifer for specifics on the itinerary and costs.

Jennifer Sheldon

Director of Music and Worship

Women's Ministry

La Casa Women are stepping into a season that God has prepared in advance for US here within the La Casa Family... a spirit of true belonging and loving which reaches far beyond the borders of our church.

The apostle Paul addressed the church in Ephesus and broke into a glorious prayer that will be a guidepost for our hearts altogether in the month to come. As your Director of Women's Ministry, I want to come alongside EVERY woman, no matter how much or how little knowledge or experience in Christ, and usher all of us into the LOVE of GOD. Paul prayed for the whole body to know 'Christ's indwelling' in each heart through faith (Eph. 3:16).

But he doesn't stop there... because he describes a beautiful body of believers who are 'rooted and established in love, having power, together with all the Lord's holy people' (Eph. 3:18). Aaaah! Yes, that is it! Rooting and establishing in LOVE, together with all God's people!

With love,

XOXOX

Paula Webb

Director of Women's Ministry

In all ages of La Casa Kids we have a verse of the month. This year, we have a fun and new approach for helping families memorize the verse. Each child received a keyring with our verse of the month placed on it. Every month, they will receive a new card with the newest verse! Our hope is that our families (both kids AND parents) take this with them wherever they go. The car, the gym, soccer practice--you name it, you can bring it!

For me, it’s always been difficult to memorize scripture. I’m not saying this is a good trait, but it’s been something that I have struggled with. Why is it that I can memorize numerous song lyrics or remember to watch the latest series on Netflix, yet memorizing a scripture seems difficult? I’ve found that many times, it’s not a memorizing problem, it’s a priority problem. 

The more often I am in my Bible, writing verses down and truly taking the time to READ and HEAR them, the easier it is to remember them. Each time I dive in, I learn something new or hear God saying something different to me--even when reading the same verse. In times of doubt, anxiety, joy, frustration--you name it, when I remember His Word, it truly brings a new perspective on His Word.

I challenge you to do this: 

1) Choose a verse in the Bible.

2) Write it down on a notecard and ask God to guide you in this process. 

3) Take this notecard with you everywhere! Your car, the kitchen, the doctor, etc. 

4) Read it, read it again, and read it some more (x10,000).

5) As you go through each day, see if you can remember it without looking. When you can recite it consistently without reading it, choose a new verse and repeat! 

Staci Medina

Director of Children's Ministry



Sabbath

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done." Genesis 2:2-3

For some of us who live in Arizona year round, September is a great month. Even though we are still in a hot month, the end of the heat is around the corner and the season will change to cooler weather. Speaking of change, the La Casa Middle School group is in the middle of a study called "Newish," a series which focuses on change and the fact that life is change and that we can always count on God being there for us during any changes we might be facing.

I would like to talk about Labor Day, which became a federal holiday in the United States on June 28, 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed a bill into law which made the first Monday of each September a national holiday. When I was growing up on the east coast, it was a day that signaled the end of summer and school would start the next day. For my husband, it's when the National Football League traditionally plays their kickoff game the Thursday following Labor Day!

Labor Day's true meaning is to recognize the hard work and contributions of American workers. The first Monday of September is a day off for most, a day of rest, maybe a parade or one last summer BBQ. Labor Day is meant to be a day of rest, or Sabbath.

For Christians, we know this idea of Sabbath was introduced to us long before Labor Day became a Federal holiday, as spelled out in Genesis 2:2-3 above.

Keri Wyatt Kent, author of Breathe, writes: "We are created in the image of God, and he modeled for us a way of life that makes sense for how we are created. Here's how to dance the dance of life, he said: work, be creative, use your imagination, throw yourself into it, whether you are washing dishes, reading to your kids and running a household, or trading stocks, reading corporate reports, and running a business. At the end of each day, stop. Take a rest, eat a good meal, get enough sleep, and refresh yourself. Take time to think about your day, to notice where God was in it and where you were blessed, and to say, "It's good." Then go back at it the next day. And after six days, take a whole day off. And say, "It's really good." Spend a whole day just pausing, just reflecting on how really good it is, and then start the dance again, at a sustainable pace."

If you celebrated Labor Day as a day of rest, I would like to remind us all we are meant to have a day of rest, Sabbath, every week.

Suzan Scudder, Director of Middle School Ministry

When you hear the word quilt, what does that meant to you? Do you recall a cherished heirloom? Enjoy the outlet and expression in making your own? Does it remind you to do something with all that leftover fabric from past projects? Sound tedious and too complicated, or is that just me?

Click here to view some beautiful works of art that remind us of how God has gifted each of us. Perhaps you have a talent to sew, collect, design, or appreciate the gifts of others. We are all unique, but, like a quilt, God brings us together to complement one another for His glory. If you enjoy sewing, please join our Peace by Piece Quilting group. They meet twice a month. Our Women's page has more info. Click here.

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Another opportunity to explore your gifts is being offered by Jim Anderson.

During our September 10th Love of Learning class, Jim will present "The Art of Legacy Writing." Participants will learn ways to put their life story into print.

Please join us Tues., September 10 at 1:00pm in Room B. Click here to register.

Blessings,

Donna Bosley



Proverbs 17:22 "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

In this verse from Proverbs, we learn about the importance of having a joyful attitude. Joy is like good medicine while a broken spirit is the opposite. When we intentionally put on a good attitude about our life and how the Lord is working through it, we will bring honor to the Lord.



Have you ever felt physically stronger or lighter when you were happy? What about when you were discouraged--did you feel achy and sluggish? Our emotional states have a tangible impact on our bodies and our spirits. This does not mean that we’ll never experience sadness or frustration at different points in our lives. Even Jesus wept. However, a merry heart indicates a state of being that is deeper than our temporary emotions or feelings. It is a steady feeling of joy. It cannot be taken away by our life circumstances because its source, the Lord’s love for us, will never leave us.

This steady feeling of joy is rooted in truths about the Lord, and it is a firm foundation that is deeper and stronger than the occasional tides of negative emotions. Even when we cannot see or understand how God is working, we are able to trust Him because we know who He is. This gives us a firm foundation for joy in every circumstance – the ability to have a merry heart always.

Blessings...

Jean Knowling, R.N.

Parish Nurse