CHAPARRAL family

BEING THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN OUR COMMUNITY

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VBS and the Debt Ceiling

Whats inside...
Marriage Course...pg. 2 Looking to Serve?...pg. 2 Kids Musical...pg. 3 Violin Concert...pg.3 Fellowship One...pg. 4 Youth...pg. 5 Joan Scheel...pg.5 Achieving Goals...pg. 6 Mission Trip...pg. 6 Wings Bible Studies...pg. 7 Our People in Our Community...pg. 7

Until recently, I did not even know that our nation had a debt ceiling. Even now, I am not completely sure I understand much more than the most elementary concepts. The good news, it seems, is that at some point in the past we recognized that carrying a trenta-sized national debt is something that should be limited, if not avoided altogether. Therefore, our former leaders decided to establish a law to limit the amount of debt we would pass along to our children's bank accounts. Today, however, we find ourselves facing a national debt that has ballooned so quickly that must now ask some very difficult questions. Should we change the limits we had placed upon ourselves to encompass our current spending habits? Does the debt ceiling need to be raised due to unexpected circumstances in the global economy? Does this generation need to discipline itself to live within it's own rules? Do we need to spend less rather than mortgage the dreams of our children? Speaking of children, a couple of weeks ago, our Children's Ministry hosted another incredible VBS program. This year's theme was The Lord's Prayer, taken from Matthew 6. Therefore, our children also learned about debt. The fifth petition of the Lord's Prayer asks, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Yes, we can also read "trespasses" or "sins," but for the purposes of this article, let's settle on "debts." (Maybe you are asking, "What is written in the 27th edition of the Greek New Testament? The Greek word used here, ojfeilh/mata (opheilemata), carries the concept of an amount or wages owed. This is extended to include that which one must do out of a sense of duty or as the result of a commitment, or as is the case here in Matthew, the moral debt incurred as the result of sin.)

So, regarding debt, what will we pass along to our children? What is more important to us, eliminating debt or holding on to it, just in smaller amounts? Is the elimination of debt, be it spiritual or financial, worth the discipline required to change our lifestyles? Maybe that is why Matthew, a tax collector by trade, chose this word in particular. Debt is debt, and we should never be comfortable with it, whether it is owed to us or by us. Debts, like grudges, have a way of taxing our relationships, our families, and our future. Do we really consider it a victory to be accumulating debt at a slower rate than in previous years? Do we believe that if the rate of our sinning decreases over the next ten years, God will pat us on the head and say, Well-done good and faithful servant, you are not building debt with me as quickly as in the past. Yipee. Our children know better. In Gods economy, the size of our debt, whether it be 10,000 talents, 70 times 7, or 100 denarii, is not something to be managed, charted or negotiated ad nauseum. The size of our debt only serves to show us, once again, how much greater and more powerful the grace of God really is. God did not offer us a debt reduction plan, but a receipt stamped paid in full. And, what was the cost of payment? A discipline that is dedicated to avoiding selfishness, a strength of character to stand firmly for the Kingdom of God, a faith committed to healing broken lives, a hope grounded only in the power of God and a love that is willing to forgive sacrificially, even to the point of death. These are the traits that require no ceiling to contain them. These are the deposits that we should be making in the accounts of our children. So, join me in thanking all of those who faithfully teach, guide and mentor those whose eyes search the horizon for the future and opportunities to explore it.

Frank A. Shirvinski

Marriage, the Most Extreme of Extreme Sports?

The most extreme of the extreme sports? What would you say it is? Snowboarders might argue for their sport. The speeds at which they glide down a mountain and the balance required to stay upright certainly make it a demand sport. High-altitude climbers would probably claim that the focus and determination necessary to ascend to the worlds most extreme places, while battling the physically and mentally debilitating effects of altitude, make their sport the most extreme. Good point. But triathletes could present a compelling case that the diverse prociencies required to swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 miles, and then wrap it all up with, oh, maybe a little 26.2-mile run, might make them the extremest of the extreme. Rock climbers might insist that the strength, balance, exibility, and problem-solving resourcefulness required to follow a crack that your st couldnt t sideways into, up a half mile of sheer stone face, pushing off footholds no bigger than a teacup, make their sport worthy of the most extreme honor. The most extreme of the extreme sports? Well, if you really want to see what you are made of, if you imagine yourself to be a risktaker, skilled, strong, resourceful, persevering, and able to perform complex tasks in a demanding environment, if you think you are up for the ultimate challenge--easily the most extreme of the extreme sports--try marriage. No, dont try marriage. Marriage isnt something you try. It is something you do. And you either do it well or you dont. Marriage, and extreme sport? Seriously? Seriously. If you are serious about making your marriage work and wanting to do it well, come and join us this fall for The Marriage Course, Saturday nights for seven weeks beginning September 10th. Consider it a date night with a focus, drawing you and your spouse closer together. Dinner for two is included, along with childcare. This is a class for newly married and those who have been married for many years. There is always opportunity to strengthen your marriage. Take advantage. Sign up at www.chaparral.org beginning in August.

Looking for a place to get involved and serve?

Are you interested in getting more involved at Chaparral? We are looking for people who are willing to volunteer on a rotational basis during the 11:05 service. Most of you know about The Well, which meets during the third hour in the Commons each Sunday. We are in need of people to help serve in The Well in different ways. Whether you attend The Well or one of the Blended Services, you might be able to help! Here are the different ways you could get involved: Slides - We are looking for people to volunteer once a month to run slides during the worship at The Well. We will teach you how to run them! And we all know that only cool people are allowed in the sound booth, so you would denitely boost your cool status! Setup/Cleanup - We would love to nd a few people who would be willing to help either setup for The Well or cleanup after. It's an easy job, but would go much faster with your help! This would require about ten minutes either before or after the service. Greeters/Communion Servers - If you would be willing to be a greeter and serve communion once a month in The Well, we would all jump for joy! If you are interested in hearing more about these opportunities, please email adrienne.armes@chaparral.org or call (480) 991-9878 and ask for Adrienne!

Childrens Christmas Musical

Rehearsals begin August 21, 2011 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. in Room 10 Performance December 4, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.
Kids entering 1st through 5th grade are encouraged to participate in this fun annual event. There is room for everyone as general cast members and specific roles for children by audition.
Its just before Christmas and the tree ornaments have been awakened from their yearly hibernation by the movement of their storage box. Its time! As they begin to prepare for another season on the Watsons Christmas tree, they are greeted by a rather strange and un-Christmassy ornament, A Hula-Girl. The Star, the Snowman, the Angel and others give her a rather cool reception until another signicant gure from the mantelpiece shows up to explain to all of them what Christmas is about and how they each have signicance in Gods amazing plan of redemption through His Son, Jesus.

Our own Mia Laity will present a violin recital on Sunday, August 7th, at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. It is a free recital, and will be followed by a reception. The repertoire will include the music of Mendelssohn, Gluck, Kreisler among others, plus the beautiful Meditation from Thais, by Massenet. This talented young violinist will be studying at Manhattan School of Music, New York City, in the fall. Her family, though relatively new at Chaparral, has gotten involved in many of our programs. Mother, Kathy, has helped with childcare and is active in the Lady Bugs Bible Study. She and husband, Alan, are active members in Mary Cartwright's Faithbuilders Sunday School Class. Alan sings tenor in the Adult Choir. Brother, Trevor, also a fine musician, sings in Stained Glass Teen Choir. He was very involved in our recent VBS, acting on the drama team and playing percussion for the music classes. When home from school, Mia is involved in many of Chaparral's ministries. In addition to playing violin in morning worship services, Mia sings in the Adult Choir and Tapestry women's ensemble. She also helps in the nursery, and attends Nick Stavlund's 10:00 A.M. Report Sunday School Class. This summer, she has enjoyed Reap What You Sew (quilting group) and The Chain Gang (crocheting). All are invited to attend this beautiful recital.

Get Connected!
Something NEW is coming to Chaparral in August! For the past several months, our staff has been working to move Chaparral Christian Church to a new Church Management software package which we hope will better serve our Church family. This new system, called Fellowship One, will provide us with the following benefits: Communication: Participating members will have the ability to update their contact information, photograph and other details via an online account. If your phone number or e-mail address changes, you can now update your profile directly from your computer. Please note that Fellowship One requires you to create a login and password to access your account for security purposes. Therefore, your information will not be available to anyone on the web who is not part of Chaparral and Chaparrals Fellowship One system. Furthermore, you can refine your profile to specifically select the amount of information which other members can view, such as your address, phone number, or e-mail address. Security: In the next few weeks, we will be rolling out a new check-in and pick-up system for our children and youth programs. (Not to be left out, some adult classes will be participating as well!) Parents will be able to check-in their children at several kiosks located around the campus by scanning a barcode. Name tags, with special instructions for each child, and a parent receipt will be printed right at the kiosk. For security purposes, the parent receipt will be required for pick-up after our two-week introductory period. Once the children and teen programs are up and running, the key-fob barcodes will be made available for adults to check-in to a class, worship services, activities and special events. Connecting with your Classes: We are currently creating specific groups for all of our classes, small groups and leadership teams. This feature will allow our teachers and leaders to better communicate with their participants and team members. By creating an online account, you will be able to receive any updates or class notes which your leader may provide, as well as communicate with others in your group. Convenience: Soon, online giving will also include recurring contributions via credit cards. (Our direct deposit system (ACH) will not change.) The new system will also integrate online giving with your Fellowship One profile, so that you will not have to re-enter your contact information with each transaction. This change will make online giving and payments for activity much easier. Church Directory: An online Church directory is an optional feature which will be available to those who wish to participate.In your profile settings, you can decide if you want to be included in the directory and even decide how much of your information you would like to make available. (See the video below for more information.) Engaging Visitors: Online visitors will also be able to ask questions and request information on specific programs and classes by conducting a search based on their interests right from home. Securing your Information: All of our data will be continuously backed-up on secure servers located off-site so that your information will not be compromised.

Interested in creating an account? We hope so! Below, you will find a link to a video explaining how to create your account. Please let us know if you have any problems using the system or following the instructions. To watch on the internet,visit http://chaparral.org/videos/infellowship/. To download the video for use on an iPad or to watch on your computer later,http://tinyurl.com/4v4em6k. Notes and Corrections: I made this video in a coffeehouse during Children's Camp. Therefore, please excuse the background noise. I hope it does not make the video difficult to understand. Correction: If you want to use the online Church directory, you must select the Church Directory checkbox at the bottom of the privacy settings page. About your birthday: When you create your account you will be asked to supply your birth year. This is for internet and child protection protocols. For the sake of privacy, you can add your birth year and then go into your profile settings and make your birth year entirely private. Only the staff would have access to your birth year. For other options, please contact the Church office. Peace, Frank Shirvinski

Nathan Kirkpatrick: Over-investing in the young

A few weeks ago, I attended a high school baccalaureate service led by a group of students in western North Carolina. It was a Glee-meets-Gaither kind of affair, as much high school choir concert as tent revival. In the hour-long service, two students offered remarks; a third preached. These teens surprised me. There werent the usual clichs of graduation speeches; the students were asking markedly different questions than were asked at my graduation. Fifteen years ago, the questions our valedictorian posed were largely about our future resums -- what college we would attend, what military branch we would join, what jobs we might hold, and how we would scheme our way to success and fame. Those were not the questions of this generation, inasmuch as three speakers in Statesville, North Carolina, represent it. Sure, there were nods to future jobs and teenage ambition, but the central questions they were asking were about identity -- about who they are, who they are becoming and how they will find the courage to stay true to what they know of themselves as they journey on. Amazingly, the preacher for the afternoon apologized to his classmates for the times that he had hidden his true self from them, and he demanded an apology from them for when they have done the same. Thats not the navel-gazing musings of an adolescent seeking to find himself -- thats a rich, soulful word from a mature young adult. We could speculate about what has happened in the last fifteen years to account for the difference in generations. Maybe terror and war have sobered this up-and-coming generation, making courage a necessity as they navigate a global culture fighting over whether to wage war or wage peace. Maybe a double-dip recession has chastened us about the dangers of believing we are what we do. Unemployment is alarmingly disorienting for those of us who have believed that cultural myth -- and kids arent stupid; they notice, too. We could point to a society that has allowed space for individuals to ask identity questions and is increasingly comfortable (arguably apathetic) with however they get answered. Or perhaps teenagers have watched my generations protracted raging adolescence (if unsure what that means, go to your local movie theater and buy a ticket for The Hangover Part II) and decided to grow up sooner rather than later. We could point to the availability of information and the rapidity of technological advancement. We could go on and on. Whatever the cause, the way this generation approaches the world will inevitably bring some change upon the rest of us. Here at Leadership Education, we talk often about the need to over-invest in the young in the belief that this is one way institutions sustain and remake themselves across generations. What does it look like to over-invest in the generation now emerging? Chances are the kinds of institutional over-investment that will benefit them will seem foreign to us. Take mentoring, for example. My generation learned that mentoring was largely about strategic planning for career advancement. A generation that cares less about position and more about passion might make us rethink that. Mentoring might end up looking more like helping them name values, find meaning and seek entrepreneurial opportunities. Thats just one possibility. What are we doing to prepare for this work?
Posted by Nathan Kirkpatrick at 8:22 am In Over-investing in the young | Young Leaders

Name: Joan Scheel Birthplace: Plymouth, Wisconsin School: Lakeland College (Sheboygan, WI), B.S. in Mathematics and Chemistry. Family: Husband Gary (met in college, just celebrated our 40th anniversary) Son Scott (granddaughters Hannah and Meredith) Daughter Kate (granddaughter Grace and grandson Wyatt) Hobbies: Reading, cooking and baking. Involved at CCC: Since 1997- Thursday morning Bible Study (Lady Bugs), Wednesday Evening Bible Study, Volunteer for many Christian Family Care events, Apples of Gold, Building Committee, Women's Ministry Events. Favorite Chaparral memory: Retreats, and I love the Women's Tea. Favorite Travel destination: Dallas/Ft Worth to visit grandchildren! Enjoy traveling to lots of different places. I love cruises and traveling with groups of friends. Religious background: Grew up United Church of Christ, attended Presbyterian and Methodist churches before moving to AZ and joining Chaparral in 1997. Bible Studies History: Involved in Bible Studies since 1978. Joined Mary Cartwright's Thursday morning group right after moving to AZ. Started the newcomers Women's Bible Study in 2006. After two years joined the regular Wednesday night group. Started the Beth Moore Bible Studies about three years ago. After my first Beth Moore study, I realized why Beth Moore is so popular. I have enjoyed every Beth Moore study in which I have participated. I have met many new women through these studies and wish we could get even more women to come. All are welcome! About Beth Moore Studies: Beth is such a great teacher. She is so knowledgeable and very grounded in scripture. She always encourages you to talk with your pastor, and use reputable commentaries and, of course, to study the Bible asking the Holy Spirit to guide you to the truth. She is easy to relate to and makes the Bible relevant to today. Every study has enriched my life and given me more understanding of the scriptures.

Sharing and Achieving your Goals

Action heroes usually work alone. Think about it for a minute. Hollywood tends to portray action heroes as solitary, goingagainst-the-grain individuals who think more about themselves than the people they save. We are nothing like Hollywood action heroes, and heres why. If I were to ask you to name one monumental thing you accomplished without the help of other people, my bet is that you would be unable to do so. And yet, we still try to set goals and accomplish them on our own. We set reading goals, we set tness goals, we set occupational goals, we set educational goals, we set family goals, and the majority of the time, we fail to invite others along on our quest. For this, here is one piece of advice. Goals - like power, love, and money - are meant to be shared for more than just the good of yourself. Let me rephrase it another way: I guarantee you have a purpose or goal that at least one other person you know shares; so nd that person, connect with them, and work for the betterment of both of you. Do it together, and not alone. Take tness as an example. Most people desire to gain strength, exibility, agility, endurance, and power, and most people try to do it alone. Chaparral now hosts two community-based tness programs called CrossFit Chaparral and CoreFit and More. We have athletes ranging from 13 to 75, all of them with varying abilities. I often hear people compare our CrossFit program to another popular and fairly effective tness program called P90X. These two programs differ in many ways, but one difference needs pointing out. You can buy P90X, or any other home tness program that allows you to work out in the comfort of your own home, and when you succeed, no one will be there to cheer for you. If you fail, no one will be there to encourage you. If you quit, no one will be there to remind you that you are not alone in your purpose. Exercising, like all other goals and purposes, is achieved through sharing. May you continue to set personal and professional goals. May you nd others that can help you achieve those goals. And may you do it all for the glory of God! # # # # # # # # - Nick Stavlund

Amor Mission Trip Report

The 2011 mission trip to the San Carlos Indian Reservation was an amazing adventure. This was the rst time we joined Amor Ministries in Globe, Arizona in conjunction with A.R.M. (Arizona Reservation Ministries). In our three days of working on a partially completed home, our team of experts (Taul Aragaki, John Cassavant, Jim Langdal, and Frank Shirvinski) were able to assist Amor Ministries with their prototype house design, laying out the plumbing and electrical for all future houses to be built. The rest of the team assisted in whatever ways were necessary for these men to complete their task. This included laying and cutting wiring, along with lots of stuccoing to make wise use of our time. The other participants included: Adam and Brie Aragaki, Cari and Jacob Beebout, Kacy Brown, Chelsea Farley, Judy Montes, Austin, Madeline and Sara Perrine, Steve Sachs, Jacob Shirvinski, Jenny Statler, Jessica Waitz, and Cres Worthington. Many of us came away with more than one new skill. We braved the elements of the desert sun, fought off many a tarantula (seven in all) and one rat, and worked like a team only God could have designed. In the midst of all it all, we enjoyed a time of refreshment and wonderful fellowship. Many thanks to those who supported us with prayers, nances, and food preparation to be able to participate in this project. It was a blessing to each participant, to Amor Ministries, and to the Dona family who is eagerly awaiting a home in which they can all live together, rather than spend a few days here and there with other family members. - Sara Perrine

Our People in Our Community Nick Stavlund

Many people in our congregation ask, What exactly does Nick Stavlund do? Well his life story is multifaceted, weaving through community and military service. Nick was born in Rockford, IL. His father, who sold manufacturing machines to the auto industry, moved the family to Detroit, MI in 1990. Nick and his two older sisters grew up in a Christian home with parents who were active in the Evangelical Free Church. After graduating from high school, Nick joined the Army to be a Paratrooper, and then joined Army ROTC at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. While the Army was teaching Nick that moments of glory are short, and moments of pain are long, he was busy trying to attract the attention of a girl named Tracy his wonderful wife to be. Nick had always been interested in Christianity and was active in the churches he attended. He and Tracy attended a local Reformed Church of America in Michigan while in college, and Nick took religion courses along with his ROTC classes at WMU. After one semester in ROTC, Nick decided that he wanted to be an Army chaplain, so he set his path in this direction. Three and a half years later, Nick and Tracy were married, and Nick began his journey to become a military chaplain. A Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree is required to be an Army Chaplain; so after Nick graduated from WMU in April 2006, he enrolled in the MDiv program at Fuller Theological Seminarys Southwest campus in Phoenix. In the fall of 2008, Nick took a Hebrew class at Fuller that was taught by our own Frank Shirvinski. Frank invited Nick to do an internship with us, so Nick and Tracy started attending Chaparral. Nick graduated from Fuller in June 2010 with an MDiv degree and then completed his training in Army Chaplaincy at Fort Jackson, SC. He received endorsement and ordination from the elders of Chaparral in the fall of 2010. Due to the timing of his studies, Nick missed the annual Chaplaincy board test, so the Army offered him a Reserve Chaplain position. In September 2010, Nick switched his position to the Utah Army National Guard Special Forces, in which he is now the Chaplain for the 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group. Once a month and whenever called, Nick serves as chaplain for 450 Soldiers and Green Berets. This group is on-call to serve in North Africa and the Middle East, if needed. Nicks three-year contract with the National Guard expires in 2014. Because the Army paid for Nicks education, he owes the Army four years of active duty. Until then, Nick Stavlund serves Chaparral as its Executive Minister, Certified CrossFit Instructor, staff liaison to the Mens Ministry, and Director of Roots Chaparrals Young Adult community. Nick and Tracy are proud parents of two-year-old daughter Eva, and Gwen, who was born June 18, 2011! We are fortunate to receive the energy and enthusiasm that Nick brings with his ministry. If you need a boost in your outlook, just spend a few minutes with Nick Stavlund then you will surely be ready to serve Christ with new excitement! Larry Gettman

WINGS Bible Studies Women In Need of Gods Spirit

Tuesday: 9 a.m. The Owls are led by Janice Sang in the North Room (resumes Sept.). Wednesday - 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (the same study, two times from which to choose). Led by Joan Scheel. Starting end of August or beginning of September. First six weeks will be a study by Priscilla Shirer followed by a 6-week study on Psalms by Beth Moore (to be nished before Thanksgiving). Watch for more details. Thursday - 6:45 a.m. The Ladybugs are led by Mary Cartwright and meet weekly at her home. Come for coffee and conversation as well as meaningful discussion. The current study is from a Beth Moore book, "Getting Out of the Pit." If you feel like you are sliding into a pit, join this group of women who are exploring how to get out and stay out with God's help. Newcomers are always welcome. Contact Mary, 480-991-9878 or mary.cartwright@chaparral.org for more information. Occasionally the group will dismiss because of vacation schedules. Friday - 9:30 a.m. This group is led by Linda Bond in the North Room. Meetings will resume Sept. 9th. They will begin a book study called BE COMPASSIONATE, (Luke 1-13).

CHAPARRAL
6451 E. Shea Blvd Scottsdale, AZ 85254

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The Chaparral (USPS 416-770) is published monthly by Chaparral Christian Church, 6451 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85254-5097, periodical postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Chaparral Christian Church, 6451 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85254-5097.

CHAPARRAL family

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AUGUST 2011

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