CHAPARRAL family

BEING THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN OUR COMMUNITY

the

Shores of the Red Sea

Frank Shirvinski
Like traffic lights on Shea, our lives are filled with a series of watershed moments. Some of these moments are well-planned, allowing us time to send invitations, schedule a caterer or reserve a ballroom. Other defining moments can come at us from left field. One minute we are fully engaged in our daily routine and the next we are wondering when that huge speed bump was installed as coffee pools on our floorboard. However, there is something that these very different moments share, the moment after. Whether the news is good or bad, the event sudden or well-planned, each shares the common follow-up question, "What now?" After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, the people sang (Exodus 14-15). When David defeated Goliath, the people found their courage (1 Samuel 17). When Jesus returned to heaven after the resurrection, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and began a mission that continues to shape the world (Luke 24). Over the past few weeks, Chaparralians have faced a watershed moment. Chaparral Soaring has given us all a chance to examine our faithfulness as a Church family and reflect upon our personal commitment to the mission of Christ. Now, following an incredibly successful campaign, we stand on the opposite shore of our Red Sea crossing. As Dr. Hostetler said on Sunday, our success is not just measured in the completion of a financial goal, (which is now in excess of $544,000) but in the incredible spirit and energy which was evident throughout this entire campaign, from the first prayerful meetings to the wonderful celebration on Sunday. Yes, we have every reason to celebrate! But, after looking back over the waters as they close behind us, we now turn to the future. What now? Now, the next exciting chapter in the mission and ministry of Chaparral Christian Church begins. Today, we move forward for the purpose of ministry and mission with a devoted passion founded upon a history of bold faith and future dedicated to honoring God's Kingdom. In the next few weeks, the Executive Committee will begin fine-tuning the priorities which were established during the Imagine process. That list will then be approved by our Elders and shared with the congregation. Thank you again for your incredible and faithful support of our shared ministry at Chaparral! We have an exciting future ahead! Let's get started.

Whats inside...
Soaring Teams...pg. 2 7 minutes ...pg. 2 House of Hope...pg. 3 KP Day...pg. 3 CrossFit Kids...pg. 4 Camping Trip... pg. 4 Jr. Fine Arts Camp...pg. 5 Tips...pg. 5 East House...pg. 5 Event Recipes...pg. 6 Inspired Prayer...pg. 7 Religion...pg. 7

TEAMWORK

MORE THAN JOYFUL GIVING

I have led about a dozen major nancial campaigns during my some forty-ve years of ministry. Every one is different. I can still recall the characteristics, the mood, of most of them. Chaparral Soaring has been unique, not just in the wonderful giving but also in the joyful serving. Thats right - God loves a cheerful giver, but absolutely laughs out loud when He sees joyful serving. Every single person serving on the campaign teams had a smile on their face and a cheerful note in their voice. I dont remember this so much from other campaigns, at least not the pervading sense of were having a really good time! Team captains and members had a ball carrying out the various tasks and assignments that make a successful campaign. I wont start naming team members or captains, but will tell you that we had happy prayers, jolly servers of meals, joyous children and youth, mirthful publicity creators, glad editors of publications. We even had giddy appreciation people, bestowing honor on all who served. Ofce staff happily and willingly worked overtime to get publications done on time.

when people express concern at asking people to give. Chaparral has always been a family of cheerful givers. The only time we become cranky :) is when we arent being given an opportunity to contribute - time, talent, money, caring and serving. The campaign has given us ample opportunity to give. In the process we have received joy, and it isnt even Christmas yet! Have you ever been in the middle of a demanding task and suddenly realize that something very special is happening - that youre in the midst of receiving a gift of meaning and purpose and lasting signicance? That has happened in Chaparral Soaring. The family of God at Chaparral realized there was a Red Sea to cross. To our amazement and delight we have seen hearts open and the Spirit of God has stepped in. We serve a joyful God Who has showered His steadfast love down upon us. Thanks be to God. All praise be to God Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. While we dont have a nal total as commitments are still coming in, we did meet our initial goal! Isnt wonderful that we have a victory of God making all things Chaparral new? " " " Dr. Larry Hostetler, Founding Minister

Did you know that seven minutes is all you get to make a positive rst impression? That means a great deal when we think about visitors who come to Chaparral. Before a visitor has heard the rst worship song, or heard the sermon, they will probably have already decided whether or not they will return. People who visit Chaparral for the rst time don't walk through the doors evaluating the worship style or teachings of the Church. They are making their initial decision based on the welcoming atmosphere and friendliness of the people of Chaparral. Fusion is a compelling book written by Nelson Searcy that discusses the important steps of turning rst-time guests into engaged members of our Church. There are many factors for visitors to consider when deciding on a Church family, but the rst impression is perhaps the most important. After the rst few minutes of being on our campus, people will either feel welcomed and comfortable, or they will not. How much control do YOU have over making everyone you come into contact with at Chaparral feel welcomed, whether they are visiting for the rst time or have attended for years? We can all positively affect our Church and the people who walk through the doors by a simple hello and a genuine smile. Let us all be challenged to reach out and welcome those around us on Sunday mornings, particularly if we don't know the person or family. Our mission is to be the presence of Christ in our community. What better place to start than in our own Church? - Adrienne Armes

7 minutes

Oh yes. Did I mention that we had, and have, joyful givers. I always smile

Upcoming Opportunities
There is surely a future of hope for you, and your hope will not be cut o. Proverbs 23:18
The House of Hope works in conjunction with our friends at House of Refuge Sunnyslope (HRS). This program is designed to assist single working mothers, as they seek to keep their families together and recover from poverty and homelessness. Currently the House of Hope is committed to providing housing and helping 10 families become self-sufcient within a loving Christian community environment. They are the presence of Christ. If you volunteered to help at this summers VBS program, you could have very well met some of the children of these households. We were delighted we could provide such an opportunity for them. House of Hope is looking for others to come alongside them to assist these families. They are in need of mentors and support teams to provide skill classes and lead Bible studies. There are also plenty of opportunities to cook a meal or watch the children while moms learn additional life skills. If you would like additional information concerning how you can be the presence of Christ to these families, contact Moira Winter moirawinter@aol.com, or the House of Hope directly (602-678-0223 and ask for Julie Supplee).

KP Group Service Day

On Saturday, May 12th, we will have our next Kingdom Promoting small groupservice morning. If you have not joined a service small group yet, why not check one out on the 12th?
Kingdom Promoting (KP) service days are a great way for you to not only serve others in obedience to Christ, but to grow closer to your brothers and sisters in Christ at Chaparral as you serve side by side with them. Some of the service projects are more social, others more physical, but each is very important and worth your while. And KP service days are a great way for your family to spend quality time together. Most service projects welcome volunteers of all ages, so children are welcome and encouraged to participate. This coming service day, the Prayer Team and Generations Team will be, respectively and as usual, meeting in the conference room at 7 a.m. to pray together for our congregation and community and meeting at Pueblo Norte at 10 a.m. to visit with the senior residents. The C6 (Chaparral Christian Church Campus Care & Cleanup) Team will be joined by the Men's Ministry following the Men's breakfast to clean up the inside and outside of the East House at 9 a.m. Last but not least, the Community Team will head a quick few miles down to Tempe to Maggie's Place at 9 a.m. to assist with their monthly cleanup service day. Maggie's Place is a home for expecting and new mothers-a very worthwhile ministry that we have supported in the past by participating in their monthly cleanup Saturdays. Space is limited at Maggie's Place so please RSVP by 5/7 and you will receive directions and relevant information. If you would like more information on Chaparral's KP Groups, please check out the website atchaparralkp.org.

THIRD ANNUAL CHURCH WIDE CAMPING TRIP JULY 27-29

Mark your calendars and save the date. You're invited to throw up a tent, sh, read, relax, four-wheel, take an afternoon nap, and everything in between at Sharp Creek Campground on the Mongollon Rim outside Payson, AZ. Join us Friday, July 27 through July 29. Last year we had over thirty people, and this year we reserved a campground with a maximum occupancy of 70 people. Join us for one night, or both, but be prepared to have a good time. Who doesn't like grilling out and escaping the mid-summer heat? We'll do campre devotionals and enjoy S'mores under the stars.

Camping doesnt get any better!

To RSVP, or for more information, email Dave Thomas at thomasdc96@aol.com. Cost is TBD, but expect it to be low!

Jr. Fine Arts Camp...June 4-8

Eligibility: Students currently in 1st - 5th grades (2010/2011 school year) Preschool/Kindergarten component available as well (ages 3-Kindergarten) Ask Sharon Dufort.
Registration fee: $100 ($80 for additional children from the same family) $25 per child discount for Church members and regular attendees. Scholarships available. $25 deposit per family due at registration (fully refundable until June 28). Full payment due by May 28. Online registration will begin May 7, 2012 Class Schedule is to be nalized. Potential classes include: Choir Chimes, Drama, Cooking, Jewelry Making, Art, Dance, Watercolor, Cake Decorating, Guitar, Origami, Photography, Stomp! Boom! Bang!, Set Design, Crafting with Crayons (were not talking coloring a picture here), Rubber-stamped Projects, Glitzy Gifts. June 4th-8th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Interesting Finance Thoughts...

During the Soaring campaign, Frank and I were looking at our finances to see how we can better utilize our resources. As we did we were able to restructure a lot of our bills and spending habits. Sadly, all these things could have been done long ago instead of waiting for a reason to save more! Over this time I ran across many articles and ideas that for us were eye openers! Heres one I wanted to share! - Stacy Shirvinski

The $200,000 Lunch??

by Angela Coley - excerpt from Money Talks News Before I started working from home, I worked for a mortgage company in an office right next to a Starbucks. Every weekday for a year, I bought a Grande Caramel Macchiato for $4.55 and a boxed lunch from a deli for $6.95. I thought that was a bargain. But at the end of the year, I added up my lunch money and discovered I had spent (drumroll) $1,288.50 on coffee and $1,876.50 on sandwiches. Spending $3,165 a year at the place where youre supposed to be making money is ridiculous, but I wasnt alone. A survey by the placement firm Accounting Principals shows that half of all American workers spend about $1,000 on coffee a year and 66 percent spend around $2,000 on lunch. What does that mean over the course of your career? Think about it...if you spend $3,000 yearly on coffee, lunch, or other workplace treats, thats $250 per month. If you invest $250 monthly and earn just 5 percent on it, after a 30-year career, you would have saved $208,065. Manage to earn 10 percent on it over the same period of time and youll end up with $565,122. Wouldnt that make a nice addition to your retirement nest-egg? Go to MoneyTalksNews.com for other ways to save.

East House Revitalization

In the fall, we began cleaning up the East House so that it could once again be made into a usable space for youth meetings. It remains, in large part, a storage facility for many of our big event props, decorations, and equipment. However, the entire front living room and family room area is now lled with comfortable couches and game tables. All in all, we now have ve usable spaces for our students for fellowship during smallgroupdiscipleship meetings and future outreach house parties. I would like to extend a very big thank you to the campus KP group,a handful of our teensand a Monday afternoon CrossFit class for their hard work tearing out carpet, painting walls, moving furniture, and cleaning the kitchen and bathroom. Additionally I would like to thank those working on and with our maintenance crew for their work including Robert Herndon and Dairus Barnes as well as Karl Johnson, who with the help of Bill Masters, nished the oors. To see a few pictures of the process and the dusty, near complete state they are now in, check out theyouth facebook page. If you would like to be a part of the effort, you can join the C6 KP campus group and the Men's ministry for some nal interior/exterior cleaning, polishing and trimming (see the KP Group Service Day info). - Travis

CHAPARRAL EVENT

RECIPES From Karlas Kitchen

l u n c h e o

rsd dy Thu Maun

Parker's Fish
Ingredients

ay

H E R B C RU S T E D G R I L L E D R O S E M A RY
d Tri-Tip Sala

If you attended any of the Soaring Lunches, you may have been the recipient of one of the most delicious salads ever...heres the recipe!

1 1/2 pounds fresh cod fillets (choose thick ones) Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon allpurpose flour 1/2 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 cup water 1 extra-large egg Vegetable oil, for frying

Soaring

Tri-Ti p S a l a d R e c i p e
Assemble the plate with: Mixed greens cherry tomatoes fresh, grated Parmesan cheese French's fried onions (like you put in green bean casserole) Top the salad with warm, thinly sliced grilled tri-tip. And drizzle with salad dressing. **Purchase the whole tri-tips at Costco. They come marinated. Grill according to package directions. Salad Dressing: 2 T. sugar 2 T. canola or olive oil 2 T. vinegar kosher salt and cracked pepper to taste *Optional...a few drops of sesame oil

Directions Lay the cod fillets on a cutting board. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Cut the fillets in 1 1/2 by 3-inch pieces. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, lemon zest, cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Whisk in 1/2 cup of water and then the egg. Pour 1/2-inch of oil into a large (12inch) frying pan and heat it to about 360 degrees F. Dip each fillet into the batter, allowing the excess to drip back into the bowl. Place it very carefully into the hot oil. Don't crowd the pieces. Adjust the heat as needed to keep the oil between 360 and 400 degrees F. Cook the fish on each side for 2 to 3 minutes, until lightly browned and cooked through. Remove to a plate lined with a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt and serve hot.

Wonton Flatbread
I package square wonton skins 1/2 C. butter, melted 1 C. coarsely grated parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 400*. Cut wonton skins in half. Spray bottom of cookie sheet with Pam. Lay wonton skins on cookie sheet with edges touching until entire pan is covered with skins. Brush skins lightly with melted butter. Sprinkle heavily with parmesan cheese. Bake for 6 minutes or until brown. Watch closely, as they burn easily. *Optional....I added crushed rosemary to the parmesan cheese before sprinkling on the skins. Karla Hostetler

It was a lovely day to have my outside prayer time as I try to do weekly in our prayer garden. I had missed a few weeks and so when I was greeted by the loveliness of our prayer garden in full bloom it was difcult not to be overwhelmed. The roses have been carefully tended and they stand as high as my shoulders in some places. Rich hues of purple, red and yellow played against the crystal-clear blue sky for a canvas of color was breathtaking. That, coupled with the fragrance of roses and sage in the air, was truly an inspired place to pray. I would encourage each one of you to spend a little time under the canopy of trees. Bring your coffee, Bible, prayer journal and pen and God will provide the backdrop of inspiration. Heavenly. -Stacy Shirvinski

Inspired Prayers

The Distinctiveness and Truth of the Christian Religion

By Travis Armes

YouTube videos and other chatter might have you thinking that religion isn't important and that it's most important to simply treat others kindly. However, Jesus did NOT come to abolish religion or the teachings of God. Christianity is a religion, and we believe Jesus' teachings about God and Himself to be True. On a recent Sunday morning, the youth discussed Christianity as a unique religion and whether Christians can claim special access to the truth as well as whether there is any truth in other religions or if all religions, including Christianity, are just trying to make sense of our existence in its own way. The students' responses were interesting, and I would strongly encourage you

parents to engage your son(s)/daughter(s) in discussion about the truthfulness of Christianity and their attitudes toward other religions. And remember, how you live speaks much louder and clearer than what you might say.

CHAPARRAL
6451 E. Shea Blvd Scottsdale, AZ 85254

the

CHAPARRAL family

VOL. 34

the

M AY 2 0 1 2

N O. 5