We are wrapping up another year here at the Phoenix Local. It’s my hope that through this report, I can get everyone up to speed on some highlights of what’s been happening!
On April 27th, several groups of married couples presented their advice from a scriptural standpoint on marriage in the Marriage Retreat. Topics discussed included Communication (Gary and Alesha Jacobsen), Finances (Jay and Chris Moser), Conflict Resolution (Aaron and Amy Moser), and Intimacy (Aadam and Rebecca Yates). Thank you to everyone who helped make the Retreat possible! Since a successful marriage following God’s plan is the cornerstone for strong families, it’s important that we take the time to better them and grow closer in our relationships with our spouses.
The much-looked-forward-to annual Salsa Competition was held on May 4th, with funds raised to help benefit the Young People’s group and help make their activities possible! Jose Galvan won first place and Kenny Shaw and Easton Yates were the runners up. We’re glad for everyone that participated – keep up the delicious work! On Saturday, May 11th a Dominos competition was hosted at the church, with about a dozen in attendance.
Kaitlyn Yates and Adam Rob were joined in matrimony on Friday, May 17th in a beautiful ceremony with a reception that followed the next day. We couldn’t be happier for the lovely couple and wish them health and happiness as they continue their new life together in Tennessee. Congrats!
The welfare committee organized a Senior Brunch on Saturday, June 1st, with five seniors in attendance who got the opportunity to enjoy fresh baked scones, egg and sausage casserole, and fruit salad. It also happened to be Jim Yates Sr.’s 92nd birthday, and we were very happy to celebrate this big milestone with him! Happy Birthday Jim!
We were blessed with two baptisms this year, Wilma DeBoer at the age of 96 on June 16, 2019, and Brooke Jacobsen on July 14, 2019. Wilma passed away in January of 2020, and we are very happy that she made the decision to be baptized and follow the Lord. We are also thankful and excited that Brooke made the same decision as well, and wish her strength, courage and the Lord’s peace and love as she enters into this new chapter of her walk with him.
Scripture camp was held on August 31st at the Yates family ranch. It was a great time of relaxation, fellowship and scriptural study in the natural setting of Arizona’s forest.
The annual Cider Press Dinner was held on November 16th with a delicious build-your-own hamburger buffet with plenty of sides. Several different types of desserts were up for auction, all the funds going to the Young People’s groups and helping to fund their activities for the next year.
On Thanksgiving evening, we were blessed with a special bluegrass music service consisting of classic hymns and fresh renditions of old popular music favorites by “Van and the Tumbling Tumbleweeds” (or Van and the Cackling Cactus Cousins, or Van and the Dusty Dudes, or Magnificent Van and the OK Band… take your pick!) It was a great time of music and fellowship, and we very thankful for their talents and are looking forward to an encore performance in the future!
Phoenix Reunion started promptly the next day on November 29th with prayer service and a message from Elder Aadam Yates. Preaching service after that brought us a message from Elder Martin Addie comparing the interviews that we’ve had throughout our lives with the final “interview” with God – and whether or not we are fully prepared for it. Elder Bob Hedrick preached that evening about God’s worth to each of us, and how the way in which we invest our personal time and resources reflects our commitment to Him. The next day started off with prayer service in the morning held by Priest Aaron Moser, followed by lunch. That afternoon Elder Rich Bove brought us a message about having the patience to receive blessings on God’s timing instead of ours, and the evening’s sermon was brought to us from Apostle Brian McIndoo on the subject of how we can be better equipped with spiritual tools. The next day, December 1st, started with sacrament service in the morning followed by preaching service in the evening with Apostle Placido Koyoc Matu as he brought us a message on Fear, and how we are instructed to fear not and three ways in which we can overcome fear in our lives.
A special service was held on Christmas Day, which consisted of music performances by our very talented brothers and sisters and two skits pulled from the vaults! In the first skit, our very own Stephen Kimball played the role of Dan Dozey the reporter, as he interviewed passersby as they hurried about in the Christmas rush, discovering in the process what really matters (and what doesn’t) in the Christmas season. The second skit was first performed in 1987, and featured Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick Dr. Watson as they unraveled the mystery, one clue at a time, of the true meaning of Christmas. We are thankful and blessed to have so many talented members of our local who are also willing to participate in these wonderful services!
Please continue to remember in our prayers those that are need. We have several senior brothers and sisters at the Phoenix local that face physical trials and are in need of our prayers that God will bless them and strengthen them. Also remember those that are moving or have moved to other locals and areas of the country, that the Lord would guide them and be with them always in their journeys.
