The School of Change
Starts Tonight with
Fr. Dale
Wednesday, March 8
from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Change can be difficult, but it does not have to be. Often the difficulty is in the perspective or how we look at change. Change in behavior, outlook and attitude is a process. We don’t know where we are going and the “in between” often feels messy - like a Holy Collision.
Here are the dates for the rest of the series: March 15 and 22
Change your life.
God’s kingdom is here.
Matthew 4:17 MSG
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Before the School of Change starts tonight, join us for Contemplative Prayer with Deacon Karen Klemens at 6:00 pm.
Contemplative Prayer is a great tradition of the church where we are able to quiet and center ourselves in the loving presence of Jesus. If you have never experienced it, why not give it a try. It is a great way to slow down and spiritually rest.
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The Season of Lent is a busy month at PWC with lots of wonderful spiritual opportunities and fellowship, check out the March calendar to grow in your friendship with Jesus and others: Online Calendar
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PWC Kids: FYI, we are taking March 12 and 19 off for Spring Break.
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Fr. Mike Lessard is available for pastoral counseling on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Please call the church office to make an appointment at 480-649-0300.
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Our website reflections inspire every week! This week checkout a reflection by Deacon Dennis Paschke. Next week will be Fr. Dale. Both are great reflections that you can apply to your life! Click on our Weekly Reflection Tile and be nourished. Here is the link: PWC Reflections Page
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Check out our theme song for Lent 2023 The In Between by Matt Maher. We had lots of wonderful comments about it on Sunday at service:
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This is a great way to learn the song for Sunday service.
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Plan Ahead for Holy Week and Easter: Here are the dates for Holy Week:
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• Palm Sunday, April 2, Service: 10:00 am
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• Good Friday, April 7, Service: 7:00 pm
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• Easter Sunday, April 9: Services: 7:00 am: Outdoors and 10:00 am: Church
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We want to pray for you! PWC has a prayer chain committee who will lift you and your loved ones in prayer. Please go to our prayer website: Online Prayer Request Form.
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Do you need a PWC name tag? You can sign up for a name tag on Sunday morning in the office or email Tami Heinl at [email protected]. If you have a PWC name tag, we encourage you to wear your name tag so you will get to know the names of others in our PWC community.
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The Guadalupe Trip in December is full! If you would like to be put on a waiting list, please contact Fr. Dale in the office.
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We are running a series entitled, “Meet the PWC Deacons,” hopefully, this will give you a better opportunity to know our deacons and how they can minister to you.
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Meet the Deacons
Deacon John Null
My wife, Sandie, and I knew Father Dale while attending St. Tim’s, where we were founding members. Our children are products of the original Life Teen program and are still involved in religious activities in their respective churches. Sandie and I were team presenters in Marriage Encounter, participated in the Cursillo movement, and in 1984 I started the East Valley Christians in Commerce movement at St. Tim’s.
When Father Dale started the outreach known as Praise and Worship in the temporary location at the Fiesta Fountains, we left St. Tim’s and became full time supporters of this community. I helped start the Brothers’ men’s ministry with Father Dale at that location. We then moved into our current location and PWC became a permanent Church community. I was invited to participate in the formation of the first deacon training to discern if God had chosen me to serve in that capacity.
My wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and our life took a change. However, the Holy Spirit encouraged me to continue with the training. At the end of a year, I was ordained, continued to care for Sandie, moved into continue working with the Brothers’ ministry, and operate my business. Deacon Cheryl Armstrong and I are certified in Medicare and have a business together.
I have been involved with the retreat ministry for five years, moved into the ministry of the health and wellness, serving the sick, taking communion to those who are homebound, and working on programs to promote education for wellness and health. I am certified in exercise and fitness for those with Parkinson’s and neurological conditions.
PWC is very important in my life. It gives me purpose, and I love serving the Lord and this community.
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Your giving to the PWC ministry makes a difference in how we can minister to others. Due to your tithing, we are able, many times, to meet the needs of those in our community who are experiencing spiritual, emotional, and physical concerns. From pastoral counseling to grief support, to Bible Study, to Adult Education, to providing food through Matthew’s Crossing for families who are economically struggling to PWC Kids and Marriage Enrichment and our funeral ministry; your consistent giving makes a difference, a big change in people’s lives!
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Here are the different ways you can tithe to PWC:
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• Mail in your gift to: Praise and Worship Center, 2551 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, AZ 85225.
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• Sign up for monthly giving with a credit card or voided check. Just call the office at 480-649-0300 or stop by the office.
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A Reflection by Henri Nouwen
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Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, to make it bear even more” (John 15:1–2).
These words open a new perspective on suffering for me. Pruning helps trees to bear more fruit. Even when I bear fruit, even when I do things for God’s kingdom, even when people express gratitude for coming to know Jesus through me, I need a lot more pruning. Many unnecessary branches and twigs prevent the vine from bearing all the fruit it can. They have to be clipped off. This is a painful process, all the more so because I do not know that they are unnecessary. They often seem beautiful, charming, and very alive. But they need to be cut away so that more fruit can grow.
It helps me to think about painful rejections, moments of loneliness, feelings of inner darkness and despair, and lack of support and human affection as God’s pruning. I am aware that I might have settled too soon for the few fruits that I can recognize in my life. I might say, “Well, I am doing some good here and there, and I should be grateful for and content with the little good I do.” But that might be false modesty and even a form of spiritual laziness. God calls me to more. God wants to prune me. A pruned vine does not look beautiful, but during harvest time it produces much fruit. The great challenge is to continue to recognize God’s pruning hand in my life. Then I can avoid resentment and depression and become even more grateful that I am called upon to bear even more fruit than I thought I could. Suffering then becomes a way of purification and allows me to rejoice in its fruits with deep gratitude and without pride.
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Don’t forget about the School of Change tonight at 7:00 in the Church. We hope you have a wonderful week! Please continue to pray for peace in our world and in our hearts!
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Love,
Fr. Dale and Pastor Mark
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