Mountain Park News Blog

Day 2: Children's Day

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:30:58 GMT

The Play-by-Play...

Thank you all for your prayers! Children's Day was a HUGE success! Over 300 children from the colony and Compassion house came out to play!! There really are not words to describe it, so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

View Photos

What We're Learning...

Two BIG lessons today... (1) The smallest gesture done with great love can have HUGE impact. (2) It is GOOD to play! Today brought us right back to Jesus, when he said, "Let the little children come to me." Imagine long days of teaching and healing the sick or interacting with stuffy Pharisees. It's no wonder He enjoyed children so much...beautiful, giggly, playful children. There was in fact a very real sense of His presence today as we enjoyed hours of soccer, obstacle courses, face-painting, musical chairs, and crafts. We're pretty sure we even saw Him hopping in the one-legged race...

What You Can Do...

Tomorrow we head for the coast to baptize 30 new believers and then to celebrate together at an evening worship service. Please ask God to draw more people to Himself through these services and also for encouragement for the newly baptized.

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Day 1 - Travel Day!!

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:40:43 GMT

The Play-by-Play...

We left Sky Harbor at 12:40am and got our first look at San Pedro Sula, Honduras almost 12 hours later. Once all 24 travelers and 52 bags and boxes were accounted for (praise God!), we loaded onto the bus for El Progreso to set up camp at the Casa Blanca hotel. Two hours and a shower later, we headed for the colony of San Jorge, home of our sister church. Much to our surprise, we were met on the road by trucks loaded with children holding homemade "Welcome" signs, waiting to escort us to the town center! Then, following a special tour of projects completed by previous work teams from Mountain Park (including the Compassion house and Pastor Jaime's new home), the staff and volunteers served us a delicious welcome dinner.

What We're Learning...

Day 1 came to a close on the dirt courtyard of the Compassion house, as beautiful Honduran children taught us a thing or two about finding joy in the simple things. Some of us shared photos or big bear hugs with kids we've never seen before, while others sang songs and danced the night away. Still, others simply watched...trying to take in the wonder of it all.

What You Can Do...

Please pray for 1) Saturday's Children's Day, 2) continued protection from illness and injury so we can be strong and productive all week, and 3) that we will look for God and see Him around every corner.

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Love My Church Work Day

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:20:07 GMT

On Sunday, March 25th the Maintenance Team will be hosting another Love My Church Work Day. In November 2011, we had a great beginning, but now it is time to complete the Tree Trimming Project. Bring tools useful for heavy duty trimming as well as a hat, sunblock, sunglasses and a good spirit. We wil also be finishing the Hill Improvement Project. This is a great opportunity for your d.group to do a service project together. Join us for lunch immediately following 2nd celebration, then a quick briefing about the projects and we'll get to work. Plan to work from 12:30pm to 5:00pm. If you have any questions contact Greg Battle. Please let us know if you will be able to help by registering below.

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Tuesday Night Packing Party

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:15:21 GMT

The Play-by-Play...

It's Tuesday night, and our team is assembled in the church lobby amid piles of clothes, tools, Bibles, school supplies and whatever else we can cram into the 24 boxes that will travel with us on Friday. We first-timers strain our ears as trip veterans pour over their "what not to do - what not to eat - what not to wear" lists. We scribble frantically, trying not to miss a single detail. Soon, our leader, Greg Battle, takes the helm and begins rattling off the details of our back-breaking work projects as if they will be no more challenging than mowing a slightly overgrown lawn. The miracle is that we all believe him, and we are anxious to follow him. He is obviously the right man for this job. Soon, he deploys us to begin packing over a thousand pounds of supplies, and we tackle our first team project before heading home to reckon with our own packing lists.

What We're Learning...

We can't help but notice as we're working that we are all SO different - from our stories and talents, temperaments and styles, right down to our selection of clothing and footwear. Yet, we all want the same things - to see God... to serve God... to change the world... one life at a time... one day at a time - in Honduras over the next week and a half.

What You Can Do...

Download the Daily Prayer Guide to help you pray specifically for our team over the next 10 days, and check back for more updates each day, beginning Friday, February 24th.

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2012 H2H Mission Trip

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:00:16 GMT

Download the Daily Prayer Guide.

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Bucket List Cooking Class-March 2012

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:49:35 GMT

There was so much interest in the first cooking class that the Bucket List will be hosting a second Cooking Class on March 9. If you have ever wanted to prepare a goumet meal this is your oppportunity. Join Chef Owen May in an interactive meal preparation, hands-on approach, consisting of appetizers, salad, main course and dessert, and afterwards, enjoy the fruits of your labor. No need to bring any supplies, just your enthusiasm. Class begins at 6pm and goes to 9pm. Cost per person is $30. Only 10 spots available. For more information contact Jenni Burgamy.

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Household Profile Updates Needed

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:48:49 GMT

As Mountain Park prepares to close the books on 2011, we are requesting that everyone at Mountain Park update their online profile to the most current contact information. These updates ensure that all mail correspondence as well as email correspondence, including access to your individual 2011 contributions history, makes it to your mailbox (both literal and virtual).

Do I Have An Account?

If you have given online or registered online for any events in 2011, use the email address and password you set when you created your account. Click here to login and update your profile? If you've forgotten your password, click here to have your password emailed to you.

I Haven't Made An Account Yet

If you have yet to create an online account, click here to be taken to the registration page. You'll be asked for the necessary information to create the account. Once your account is created and confirmed, continue to update the remainder of the items in the profile page.

I Am Not Computer Savvy

Many households have adopted online banking, online billpay, online social networks as well as online shopping as a primary way of communicating. We do realize that for some this is not the case. If you do not have regular access to a computer or would prefer to update your contact information in person, please make sure to fill out a communication card during one of our Sunday morning celebrations and place it in the offering bag or turn it in at HelloMP. You may also call our offices if that is most conveinent.

Proof that a Meal Is Powerful

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:49:35 GMT

What a blessed time we had with our Family Promise guests in January! If you participated in this amazing initiative with us at MPCC you got to see the miracle happening nightly! Each night was action packed and full of joyful noise as our children and youth interacted and played with our Family Promise children. As the children played, we saw the parents relax and start to feel better and begin to share with us.

Dinners were a delicious feast nightly and filled with different MPCC families and friends serving, hosting, and helping. The meals were special as we sat with our Family Promise guests just like we would with any other friends who come to our home for dinner.

We saw God moving in us and around us last week! 3 families became gainfully employed and 3 other families advanced to transitional housing! Thank you Jesus!

Allan shared Sunday about how a meal builds fellowship, relationships and forms connections. We experienced this firsthand at Family Promise. Our MPCC friends and families prepared and dined with complete strangers who became friends and folks to pray for over supper!

We will be hosting Family Promise guests again March 4-11. Please pray about joining us and being a part of the solution and the magic!

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Office Closed Tuesday

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:25:01 GMT

*UPDATE, 10-25-12 @ 9:00am - We have been told that if the plumbing system is not restored to working order today, 1/25, then we can expect it to be restored tomorrow, 1/26. Again, all events are canceled at Mountain Park. That being the case, you are encouraged to connect with your groups outside of MPCC at a members' home or even at a local coffee shop or restauraunt. That's the beauty of doing life together... it can happen anywhere.

SU Nights for students happens tonight at Desert Foothills Park. MORE INFO HERE!

*UPDATE, 1-24-12 @ 10:15am - Items for the Garage Sale can be dropped off at Mountain Park on Wednesday the 25th. If your drop off MUST occur today, you may leave it outside the gym, but we strongly prefer the 25th for all donations.

All classes and meetings at Mountain Park are still canceled for Tuesday, January 24th. This includes Women's Empower.

*UPDATE, 1-23-12 @ 4:00pm - The church will remain closed through Tuesday, January 24 and possibly Wednesday January 25. As a result all classes and gatherings which meet at MPCC are cancelled. STUDENT UNION WEDNESDAY NIGHTS will be meeting at an alternate location which will be announced via email & text message. SIGN UP for the newsletter here.

The Mountain Park Church Offices will be closed Monday, January 23 for church-wide facility maintenance. We plan to re-open at 8:00 am on Tuesday, January 24. Any additional updates will be posted here.

Because of this closure we are canceling all classes and meetings at Mountain Park for Monday. Continue reading to see how your ministry or event may be impacted.

Garage Sale

We will begin accepting donations for the Student Union Garage Sale on Tuesday January 24. We had previously advertised Monday, January 23 as our initial drop off time but due to these immediate maintenance needs we will push that time back by 24 hours. If you have questions, please contact Beth Wolff.

Yoga Ministry

All yoga classes for Monday, January 23 have been cancelled. Regular class schedules will resume on Tuesday, January 24. If you have questions, contact Elena Porter.

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Bob's Story

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:37:11 GMT

Margo's Story

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:33:51 GMT

January REACH Events

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:07:50 GMT

In One Heart Full of Love, a collection of interviews with Mother Teresa, she says, "The work we do is a means of transforming our love for Christ into something concrete." She and her co-workers served the poorest of the poor, firmly committed to the belief that in doing so, they served Christ Himself.

In 2012, Mountain Park Community Church will join fellow sojourners in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and providing shelter for the homeless. Read on to find an opportunity that interests you, and be transformed as you serve Jesus Himself, hidden under the distressing guise of the poor.

Family Promise

For the week of January 15th-21st, Mountain Park Community Church will provide shelter to homeless families, thanks to God and our friends at Family Promise. Our mission is to love and serve our neighbors by providing hot meals and a safe place to sleep, while they work hard to regain their housing, their independence, and their dignity. While MPCC will provide supplies and food, we need volunteers to prepare and serve the meals and also to make sure the families have what they need during their stay at MPCC. Read more and register by clicking HERE.

Feed My Starving Children

Saturday, January 21st, 8am-5:30pm - Feed My Starving Children, a world-class hunger fighting organization, is coming to Mountain Park! Choose from one of four available shifts, and help package 100,000 meals for starving children around the world! Read more and register by clicking HERE.

Worship & CD Release Concert with Marshall Hall

Saturday, January 21st, 6:00pm - After a jam-packed week of serving opportunities with Family Promise and Feed My Starving Children, Marshall Hall will lead us in a celebratory evening of WORSHIP! The line-up will include a mix of favorite worship songs, as well as tunes from Marshall's new CD, "Brighter One."

Tickets go on sale in the lobby on Sunday, January 1st, at just $5 (General Admission) or $15 (Artist Circle) . ALL proceeds will help fight world hunger!

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HomeTeam Opening Day

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 01:53:05 GMT

If you've been wondering what all the construction in our lobby is for, your wait is almost up. On January 8 we will be opening up our brand new family and marriage resource center. Our HomeTeam resource center will provide tools that anyone can use no matter where they are in their spiritual journey.

After each celebration join the party as we commemorate this huge day at Mountain Park. What can you expect? Well, let's just say it's going to be big! Food, inflatables, fun... it's going to be a big deal.

So on January 8, stay after the celebration, take a walk through the resource center and catch opening day fever!

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Christmas @ Home, December 25th

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:47:55 GMT

Mountain Park is having Christmas @ Home this Sunday, December 25 (CHRISTMAS DAY) and invites you to participate by using our free Christmas @ Home resource. Inside each Christmas @ Home packet you will find a letter from Pastor Allan, a reading and discussion guide to do with those in your home and small craft kit to complete. No prep work necessary... we did it all so you don't have to!

Be sure to pick up one of these packets on Christmas Eve at either the 1pm, 3pm, 5pm or 7pm celebrations. If you forget or are unable to attend, you can download the resources below.

Merry Christmas and we'll see you on Sunday, January 1.

Download PDF

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Student Winter Camp

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:52:14 GMT

DAVE SHREIN
dshrein@mountainpark.org

BETH WOLFF
bwolff@mountainpark.org

Student Winter Camp for 2012 is almost here and you need to get signed up! If you're a parent, sign your student up for what has the potential to be one of the most impactful weekends of their entire life. (As I write this, I remember when I was 14 at the same camp our students are going to and deciding that from here on out I wanted to live by life for something bigger than just me: JESUS!)

Middle School Camp

Prescott, AZ - January 13-16

DETAILS HERE

High School Camp

Williams, AZ - February 17-20

DETAILS HERE

Caring for Others During the Holidays

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:48:38 GMT

The sounds and sights of the holidays have emerged. People everywhere are making plans for vacations and holiday parties; both old and young are making lists (and checking them twice). While it is natural to be caught up in the whirlwind of the season, it is also important to take time to think about those in your community whom have suffered a loss this past year or who, for whatever reason, continues to walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

“Merry Christmas” becomes a heart-wrenching greeting for people grieving the loss of a loved one or an end to a dream. It is during the holidays when we sometimes fail to spend time with those in need of our compassion. Most likely, someone you know has recently experienced a death in their family, a broken relationship, failing health, a lost job, a shattered dream, or some other form of loss. This is your time to intentionally become the body of Christ for those who are grieving.

Listed below are examples of how you might support and encourage friends and family in your places of community:

Specifically mention the loss. For example, “I know this is the first Christmas without ______ (fill in the person’s name). Are you thinking about them a lot? How are you feeling? How can I help?”
Invite the person over for dessert, dinner, or coffee.
Ask them if you can help them with their Christmas shopping. Walking the shopping malls can be a lonely time for those who find themselves in the midst of grief.
Ask them to attend one of our Christmas Eve services with you or your family and then invite them over for dessert (this works well with people who do not regularly attend church). The time after the Christmas Eve service can be especially painful if someone has no where to go or no one to go home with. Pray about ways to open your family time to include a time with a friend in need. Everyone will be blessed!
Send them a card, or some flowers and specifically mention the situation and/or the deceased person’s name.
Call or visit them on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Give them a gift that lets them know they are special in your life.
Invite them to serve, within the community, with you, your family or your d.group.
Use technology to communicate electronically and also as reminders of significant dates and people to remember.

It is important for us to focus on the Christ of Christmas. Rather than only agreeing with the notion that “Christmas is for children” or “Christmas is for families,” remember this timeless truth: that Christ came to be in relationship with all of us; and that He calls us to be in relationship with each other.

This ‘calling’ on your heart, may be in response to an immediate family member, a neighbor down the road, or a colleague from the office. What is most significant this season is that people matter to God. Please, pray that God will transform your heart to encourage an ongoing awareness that people matter to you.

There is no one formula that will comfort someone who is feeling discouraged or lonely during the holidays. To be like Christ is to simply be in “relationship” with someone. Invite God to live and love through you. Remember, in the midst of loss and pain, you really may be the only one person showing God’s love.

Giving your time, initiating intentional conversation and continuing to build authentic friendships are a sample of gifts that you can give to others who are grieving. May you let Christ’s light shine through you, and encourage your co-workers, friends and family to draw nearer to Christ. May you be blessed as you bless others.

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End of Year Giving

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:50:17 GMT

As 2011 winds down many will be preparing end of year gifts to various organizations and non-profits. Should you decide to make an end of year gift to Mountain Park you have several ways of doing that prior to 2011 expiring.

Give Online

Our online giving option is available 24/7 and is an easy way for you to make a contribution with your check card, credit card or checking account. You will need to sign up for an account in order to use this method, but it's easy and provides convienence for future gifts. In order for the gift to count towards 2011 it must post by December 31 at 11:59 pm. Give Online

Give at a Celebration

There are two opportunities to make a contribution during our celebrations. The first is Sunday, December 18 during either the 9:15 or 10:45 am celebrations. The second is on Christmas Eve at the 1, 3, 5 or 7 pm celebration. We will not be having celebrations on Sunday December 25.

Drop Off

Our church offices are open from 8-5 Monday through Thursday of the Christmas week and Friday from 8-1. We are closed Christmas day. We will reopen the church offices December 28 & 29 from 8-5 and December 30 from 8-1. You may drop off an end of year gift anytime between those windows.

Snail Mail

And of course there is always the option of mailing in your contribution. Our address is 2408 E Pecos Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85048. Checks will needing to be considered for the 2011 year will need to be postmarked by December 31st.

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SERVE // New Year

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:30:29 GMT

Start the new year off with a "SERVE!" Get in the Game and help us kick of 2012 well.

The following help is needed during the first and second weeks of January. Help us prep 2,000 binders, sort through 150 chairs for quality check and unpack and move the 400 new chairs for our facility.

If you are interested in jumping in and serving in the new year, contact Denise Strickland.

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SERVE // Christmas Eve

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:51:22 GMT

Christmas Eve at MPCC is always special as we host many visitors who come to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. If you would like to volunteer to help with the preparation of the five Christmas Eve celebrations, here are some areas that may interest you:

Christmas Eve Day

Food Prep // Provide food & beverage for the many volunteers, staff and band who are at Mountain Park throughout the Christmas Eve day. Help prep food the day prior and/or help prepare the spread on Christmas Eve in the morning. Contact Cindy Galowitch

Attendee Refreshments // Help prepare coffee, hot chocolate and possibly some appetizers for all who attend our Christmas Eve celebrations. We would love to be able to make this available but will only be able to pull it off with enough volunteers. Shifts are typically 1-2 hours, depending on how many volunteers sign up. Contact Cindy Galowitch

Cleaing Crew // Help keep our church clean between celebrations. We need help cleaning up trash, restocking bathrooms, arranging handouts along with other tasks in between each celebration. Volunteer to help and make the Christmas Eve celebrations special for all those who attend. Contact Denise Strickland

Children's Ministry // Volunteer to help look after little ones for our guests. We provide childcare for children 3 years and younger and we need adults for all 4 celebrations. Contact Margo Schramm

Tear Down Cleanup // Be a part of the crew that helps to clean up the church after our 7 pm celebration finishes at 8 pm. Whatever is left uncleaned is finished by our midnight mass crew and we'd like to leave as little for them as possible. Contact Denise Strickland

Welcome Greeter // Provide a smile and a warm welcome as our church fills on Christmas Eve. As small and simple as this sounds, it is probably one of the most important jobs available on Christmas Eve. Contact Cindy Galowitch

Communion Prep (Midnight Mass) // Our midnight mass provides an opportunity for Christians to take communion together. Be a part of the team that preps the Lord's supper for those who come and celebrate the birth of Jesus at our midnight service. Contact Barb Lerclerc

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SERVE // Christmas Prep

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:50:59 GMT

Get in the Game and help us prep for our Christmas Eve celebrations. Leading up to Christmas Eve we have a lot of opportunity for people of all ages & skills to help make Mountain Park a special place for all who visit with us on December 24.

Christmas Prep

Candles // Help us prepare over 3,500 candles for use at our Candlelight celebrations on Christmas Eve. Contact Barb Leclerc

Program Stuffing // Help prepare the over 3,000 programs that need to be stuffed with Mountain Park info. Volunteers are needed during our office hours anytime during the week of December 19-23. Contact Denise Strickland

Poinsettias // Volunteer to water the numerous memorial poinsettias decorating the lobby and auditorium. Contact Barb Leclerc

Children's Activity Bags // Prepare activity bags for our youngest visitors ages 4 and up by putting fun items in bags to hand out Christmas Eve. Contact Margo Schramm

Lights on Trees // We would like to light up the trees along Pecos Rd as well as the palm trees near the main doors. We would like to accomplish this as soon as possible. Contact Greg Battle

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Christmas Outreach Offering, 2011

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:49:21 GMT

With an offering target of $75,000, we will share the Gospel and serve the poor and underprivileged in Phoenix and in the most God-starved parts of the world.

Arizona & US Partnerships - $34,000

Local Benevolence, $18,000
Ongoing effort to provide housing, food, emergency utility help, counseling, and other financial assistance to people in our community. Requests for assistance are researched and managed responsibly.

From Gangs To Jobs, $2,500
Helps troubled young men and women (18-30yrs) develop job skills.

REACH Saturdays, $1,500
From maintenance and cleaning projects to prepping and serving meals, these events allow us to work side-by-side to meet the needs of our community.

Arizona State Work of Church of God, $4,000
Sponsors children’s, youth and family camps, supports new churches, and encourages pastors and lay leaders.

CASS Homeless Shelter, $2,000
Provides shelter, meals, counseling, job skills and addiction recovery for homeless individuals. MPCC volunteers work together to prepare and serve meals at CASS.

Family Promise, $6,000
Allows MPCC to house and provide meals for homeless families who are working hard to get back on their feet and provide for their children.

International Partnerships - $41,000

Reaching Unengaged People Groups:

Andrea & Jon Hoefer, $10,000
Now training to take the gospel to those who have never heard of Jesus, Jon and his wife, Andrea, will serve among tribal peoples. They and their two children, Kaydence and Gideon, are part of our MPCC family while Jon completes his training as a missionary pilot and mechanic. To learn more, go to http://onedayeverytribe.blogspot.com.
Children of Promise International, $2,000
Provides physical and spiritual care for orphans among unreached people groups through Christ-centered orphanages; includes nutrition program, free schools, higher education opportunities, and family assistance. MPCC has supported seven children through CPI for more than nine years.
Outreach to Muslims in India, $4,000
Support an MPCC family working to begin a church planting movement among Muslims in Bangalore, India. Their work includes sharing the Gospel and building into local believers, teaching them to share their faith, disciple others and trust God for BIG things! Identity of couple kept private for their protection; please contact Lori Hall to learn more about this work.

Heart to Honduras, $15,000
Supports our sister church in El Progreso as they empower their people by providing clean water to communities, training future church leaders, and investing in other development projects; we also provide monthly support to our Heart to Honduras partner, Gordon Garrett.

Feed My Starving Children, $5,000
A non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding God’s children in nearly 70 countries around the world. Our relationship with FMSC began this year with a food packaging event that provided 100,000 meals to impoverished children and more than 45,000 meals to families in Japan.

Short Term Cross-Cultural Trips (Mexico, Honduras and India), $5,000
“The heart cannot be moved by what the eye has not seen.” Short term trips can bridge the gap between our insulated lives and the physically and spiritually impoverished cultures of the world who know only devastation and hopelessness. This fund will provide gifts and materials for work projects, as well as scholarships for MPCC attendees.

Christmas Poinsettias Now Available

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:52:05 GMT

Every Christmas Mountain Park provides the opportunity to friends and families to help us decorate our facility for Christmas Eve as well remember or honor a loved one. Sunday December 4 and Sunday December 11, Christmas Poinsettias will be available for purchase. If you are interested in purchasing one of these beautiful seasonal plants, visit HelloMP in our lobby and look for the Christmas Poinsettia card. You can also ask one of the HelloMP volunteers for assistance if needed.

Each memoriam/plant is $10; you may pick up your plant at the end of the 7:00 pm service on Christmas Eve. In addition, the names of your loved ones will appear in a scrolling video pre-service Christmas Eve and a printed list will be provided at HelloMP.

If you have any questions you may contact Barb Leclerc.

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Thanksgiving Thoughts (From an 18 Year Old)

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:20:42 GMT

I was asked to share some thoughts about "Thanksgiving." So with my plate full (not with Thanksgiving food, but at work), I thought I'd give the opportunity to my daughter to see if she had some thoughts, without any pressure or guilt she shares these thoughts this Thanksgiving...

What does being thankful mean? According to Merriam - Webster dictionary, being thankful means conscious of benefit received, expressive of thanks, or well pleased or glad. Be thankful sounds like the easiest thing to do, but in reality we all know that being thankful is a lot easier said than done.

Another way we could look at being thankful is in a situation such as getting out of a bad relationship (not that I’m in any bad relationships). While the pain of ‘breaking up’ is not pleasant, we can remain thankful that God will take care of us during the transitional time, and in our hearts we know the ‘break up’ was for the best. We could also find thanks in a situation such as losing a loved one, and although losing somebody who is close to you is so hard, we can be thankful for the time that we had with that person. Another thing we can find thanks in is financial issues, we all know that financial issues can cause a lot of stress in our lives (even for college students) and it can hurt families, but it is important that when we go through struggles financially we remember all the things that we have and be thankful for those things.

I know that by me saying all these examples your probably thinking “yeah, but you don’t know how hard my life is right now.” However I am fully aware that situations life hands us can be extremely hard. God never intended that being thankful would come easy to us (maybe that’s what He reminds us to be thankful). 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “give thanks in all circumstances; for this God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This verse alone is God challenging us to be thankful. It doesn’t say to be thankful for all circumstances, rather IN all circumstances.

Why does he want to challenge us? Think about it. When you have actually taken the time to realize what you are truly thankful for, you realize things that you never would have before. Sometimes going through a hard situation in life can help us remember just how thankful we are for the love of God and all that He has given to us. God knows our true hearts and whether or not we are truly thankful. The importance of giving our thanks back to God is extremely crucial for us as Christians. God has given us all we could ever want and then some. He has given us our jobs that bring us money, our houses that cover our heads, and the food we have on our table. But not only that, God has given us eternal life! Which in itself is the greatest thing to be thankful for.

This Thanksgiving instead of going around the table saying what nice “things” you’re thankful for, share about the blessings of friendships, the health of family and friends and for the basic necessities that God has provided. Happy thanksgiving everyone☺ McKenzie Smalley

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Surviving the Holidays Support Groups

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:56:20 GMT

In past years, the Christmas holiday season may have been a time of great anticipation and excitement … but this year, the prospect of facing the holidays without your mate or without your loved one may cause anxiety and dread.

You are not alone.

Here you can connect with support, encouragement and advice to survive the holidays.

GriefShare

We offer two classes - One for adults and one for children. These special workshops are for those who have difficulty getting through the holidays after the loss of a loved one. Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 6:30-8:30 PM in Room 204 at MPCC. There is a $5.00 class fee. Click the button below to register.

DivorceCare

We offer DivorceCare for adults. This special workshop is for helping those who have experienced divorce get through the holidays. This class is offered on Wednesday, December 7 from 6:30-8:30 PM in the Mountain Perk Café at MPCC. There is a $5.00 class fee. Click on the button below to register.

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Church Directory

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:18:58 GMT

Participate with the Mountain Park family this fall in the 2011 Church Directory. It's a chance to have portraits taken of you and your family, then have them placed in a printed directory with the rest of our Mountain Park family. Just for participating each family will receive a complimentary 8x10 portrait & church directory.

We need you to make our new directory complete. We have chosen to partner with Lifetouch for professional photography that will connect our family and tell our story.

Convenient

Lifetouch will photograph at Mountain Park. In your one-hour session you will:

Check-in
Be professionally photographed
Immediately view your portraits
Have an opportunity to purchase additional portraits for your family

This Ain't No Ordinary Portrait

Though you could have your portraits taken in a traditional pose like the heading picture, the Lifetouch team does a great job of capturing lively, authentic scenes. So, if you've got a family pet or a prized family treasure, bring them with you and the photographer will be sure to incorporate them into your poses.

Would You Like to Earn a $25 Photo Package?

Hosts are needed to help at the check-in table each day during the photo shoots. If you have a couple of hours to spare between 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday and Friday, or 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday, you can earn a $25 photo package. Contact Cindy if you are interested.

Home Life Revolution

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:27:58 GMT

Home Life Revolution joins Wednesday Night Life events at Mountain Park. Come and learn simple ways to make a profound impact on your faith and marriage. Topics include what it means to abide in Christ and live by the Spirit, how to understand your spouse, and finding true intimacy in your marriage. Anyone looking to deepen their faith and strengthen their relationships is welcome anytime. Meets for six weeks from October 19 to November 30, 2011 (no class Nov. 23).

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IMPACT Students Lives - GET IN THE GAME

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:27:51 GMT

There are some incredible things going on in Student Ministry at Mountain Park. God is making an impact on our students lives each Sunday and we have taken that excitement for God, SU, Mountain Park and friendships and created Wednesday SU Nights.

We are searching for adults to GET IN THE GAME and volunteer Wednesdays to invest time with our students and be helpers for the activities each week. The commitment would be weekly for roughly 2-3 hours each week. There are many different tasks to help with but the one thing students need more than anything else is consistent adult influence in their lives. This makes a huge difference and you could be that difference.

If you are interested in learning more or ready to volunteer contact me, Dave Shrein over email or call the church. I can answer any questions you may have.

Get Baptized at Mountain Park

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:09:04 GMT

At Mountain Park we love celebrating baptism. On Sunday, October 30 we are holding our next baptism celebration. For those individuals who have committed their lives to walking with Jesus and have yet to be baptized, this is a great opportunity for you to take that next step.

Baptism can be intimidating if you're unfamiliar with the purpose. We have created a section on our website to help answer any questions you may have about it's significance and if now is the right time to be baptized. Visit the Baptism at Mountain Park page. You can also email Denise Strickland with additional questions.

If you feel you're ready to be baptized we would love to invite you to make October 30 the day. Contact Denise to sign up. There will be an informational meeting on Tuesday, October 25 at 6:30 pm that should be attended by anyone interested in participating in the Sunday celebration.

Give to CHAIRity

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:07:45 GMT

Trailer 1 Trailer 2 Trailer 3

This fall Mountain Park is having a "Give to CHAIRity" opportunity. We have experienced a rapid amount of growth in those who call Mountain Park their home church which is great, but because of this growth, we've run out places for everyone to sit. This is an a chance for you to help us purchase additional chairs to ensure that everyone has a place at Mountain Park.

This opportunity is whatever you make it. Each chair adoption costs $50. If you are able, we are asking that you sponsor enough chairs to seat your entire family. If that isn't a possibility right now, we'd encourage you to adopt whatever you can at this time.

If you're ready to "Give to CHAIRity" now, click the button below and sign in. If you've yet to register for an InFellowship Account, click here for a short tutorial. Once logged in, when the option appears for you to select a fund, select "Adopt a Chair." From there you can continue with the appropriate information and the amount you wish to contribute.

If you have questions with the online giving feature contact, Dave Shrein.

Give to CHAIRity Now

Mountain Park Women's Groups

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:22:41 GMT

Women have two new opportunities this fall to connect with other women. Opportunities to walk with others as they seek support & community nagivating through life's seasons. Two new groups, Women's H.O.P.E. and Women's F.A.I.T.H. have begun, led by other women volunteers, to help bring healing, encouragement and hope to those who seek it.

Women's H.O.P.E.

H.O.P.E. stands for "Help Overcoming Painful Experiences." This group offers support for women who seek God's grace and healing from injuries and pain which come as part of life events and experiences. We use a book called "The Twelve Steps - A Spiritual Journey" as a guide. This study guide provides direction for this group, combining biblical principles which begins the process for one's journey toward lasting change and renewal.

Women's F.A.I.T.H.

F.A.I.T.H. Group uses a working guide called "HURT to HEAL" for women who seek God's grace and healing from the hurts of life. It includes biblical principles and contemporary, current experiences. The goal is to strengthen and encourage your journey toward lasting change and renewal. Ultimately, you can begin helping others to experience the same.

What Is the Gospel?

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:57:26 GMT

The word "Gospel" is thrown out all over the church, but how many times do we stop to actually define what it is, what it means and how to believe in it? It is the most essential piece of our faith and it is definitely something we all need to know!

In this clip from the message "The Gospel Collides with Life," Pastor Dave Shrein spells out what the Gospel is and what it means for the Christian.

Our Students Are Coming Alive

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:22:24 GMT

On August 7 we kicked off Student Union for the fall. We had over 60 new students join us for our Back to School Extravaganza which featured our indoor giant slip n' slide as well as the SU calendar carnival. At the carnival students had the chance to go from booth to booth learning about what opportunities will be available for them to participate in through out the school year.

Yesterday, August 14, we all got together to talk about the Gospel. We had over 180 students participate in our middle school (9:15am) and high school (10:45am) gatherings. It was amazing to see so many students interested in knowing what it means to come alive in Christ. We have over 30 d.group leaders this year ready to take these 180 students into smaller groups (d.groups) and help develop these 6th-12th graders into young men and women in love with Jesus.

Check out this video to see a piece of what we talked about on the 14th.

Wednesday Night Life - Starts This Fall

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:07:25 GMT

Mountain Park Community Church is committed to the care & support of your spiritual needs, but we realize that there is more to the entirety of a person and so we are dedicating Wednesday nights to your wholeness. No matter where you are in your faith journey or whether you attend MPCC or not, you are invited to participate in any of the classes offered below.

Each opportunity below has a brief description and you can either choose to read more information or sign up to participate. Throughout Wednesday Night Life childcare is available each week for $5.00 per child, up to a maximum of $10.00 per family. Dinner is available for all family members. Suggested donation for dinner is $5.00 per person ages 12 and over.

Xplore :: read more / signup
a 6-week study for people who want to explore global outreach

DivorceCare :: read more / signup
A safe place for people struggling with divorce or separation

DC4K :: read more / signup
A safe, fun place to help your child heal from the pain of divorce

Parenting Worshop :: read more / signup
“Revolutionize Your Parenting Using Love and Logic,” taught by family counselor Jen Miller

GriefShare :: read more / signup
A caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences

Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University :: read more / signup
This life-changing program teaches you how to eliminate debt, save for the future, and live like never before

Skills for Change :: read more / signup
“Building a Confident You” focuses on developing your personal relationship with God as well as your sense of self

Empower PM :: read more
This gathering of women includes a variety of worship, devotionals, personal stories, and a choice of two small group options

Hot Topics/Hot Dates Marriage Series :: read more
Listen to a fun “hot topic” by Mark & Vicki Kuyper the first Wednesday of each month, followed by a “hot date” on the third Wednesday

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Follow Jesus

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:11:40 GMT

Each morning I have a bunch of emails in my inbox for all sorts of different products, companies and services. One of them caught my eye. An email from Igniter Media, the producer of many inspirational church videos, had a thumbnail for a new video that caught my eye. It said "Follow" and knowing this was probably some cheesy knock off of Twitter, I clicked to see just how "awful" it would be.

I was surprised.

Take the next 6 minutes.

Remind yourself of what an amazing God we serve.

Thank him for standing up even when everyone around him was falling down.

Forward this incredible story to a friend.

Watch.

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Honduras Informational Meeting

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:31:51 GMT

There will be 30 minute informational meeting Sunday July 17 about Mountain Park's 2012 mission trip to our sister church in El Progreso, Honduras. If you are interested in going, even if you have not made the commitment to go, this is the perfect time for Q & A. The purpose for this trip is to nourish our sister church relationship and help build sustainable facilities and administrative infrastructure. The meeting will be in the Mountain Perk room immediately following second Celebration.

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Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 03:44:58 GMT

This life-changing program teaches you how to achieve your financial goals by eliminating debt, saving for the future and giving like never before.

Financial Peace University consists of a 13-week video curriculum taught by financial expert Dave Ramsey. The program is highly entertaining with a unique combination of humor, informative financial advice and biblical messages. The course fee is $79 if you register in June, $85 in July and $93 in August. Fee is per family and covers all materials plus membership to FPU.

The next Financial Peace University course begins August 17, 2011 and meets every Wednesday through November 16 (no class October 12 for fall break). Childcare is available at 6:30 pm for $5 per child ($10 max per family). Dinner is available at 5:45-6:30 for a suggested donation of $5 per person age 12 and over.

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Sponsor a Child in Honduras

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:43:55 GMT

*UPDATE - All but five children from our sister church were sponsored this morning! If you sponsored a child, please contact Lori Hall so we can update you on future Compassion trips to Honduras. If you would like to sponsor one of the remaining five, please contact Lori Hall for more information.

Several years ago, Mountain Park built a Compassion International facility for children at our sister church in El Progreso, Honduras. Unfortunately, more than 50 of these children are still waiting for sponsorship through Compassion. For many months we have tried to sponsor these children but there are many sponsorship restrictions for sister churches.

Earlier today, however, we received word that we can sponsor these kids through a special radio program tomorrow morning, Wednesday June 15th, at 6:00 am Arizona time! For just $38 a month, each child will be provided food and clean water, medical care, educational opportunities, and important life-skills training. Most importantly, the children will hear about Jesus Christ and be encouraged to develop a lifelong relationship with God.

Please consider calling in to sponsor a child! The telephone number for the KTSY radio station/program is 208-459-5879. Please ask for a child from Project #HO-238. As our partnership with our sister church continues we will have the incredible opportunity to visit our Compassion kids together during future short term trips to Honduras.

Please feel free to contact Lori Hall directly if you have questions, and PLEASE do let her know if you sponsor a child tomorrow morning! Our hope is that we will have a sponsor for each of these children!

Beauty of Music in Chaos

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:43:14 GMT

I Will Never Waste a Drive

I have a 20 minute commute to Mountain Park each day. It's not so bad though... the San Tan 202 pulls right up to 24th & Pecos so it's really just freeway the whole time. I’m the kind of person that always has to be doing something and while I'm driving is no exception. It’s probably due to when I was younger, I was always working on some sort of project. I remember building America West Arena (back in the good ole' days) out of Legos one summer because I was bored. That being my personality, I don’t just roll in silence to church. I have rotated between music, sermons, audio books, and sports talk radio. That last one I had to stop listening to… it just caused me to freak out how into sports those guys were. Nothing against sports fanatics.

Currently I’m in a hybrid mode where I don’t know what I’m really focusing on doing in the car (aside from driving) but I did have a song stuck in my head this morning as I prepared to leave. It was Awakening from the latest Passion album. Once I was in the car, I turned on the music. During my drive I kept dialing up the volume. There was a strength coming through the speakers that I had not felt in a while. As the song continued I felt my heart being softened. Have you ever felt that, your heart being softened right in the moment? I became aware of my need for God.

In Your presence, in Your power, awakening. For this moment, for this hour, awakening. For You and You alone, awake my soul, awake my soul and sing. For the world You love, Your will be done, let Your will be done in me.

Like the rising sun that shines, from the darkness comes a light, I hear Your voice and this is my, awakening!

There’s Something About Music

As much as I love the podcast sermons I listen to throughout the week, I was reminded this morning that there is power in music that is not found anywhere else. The power of a song ascending both in word and in melody to bring glory to God is something so powerful that no matter how many words are used in a sermon, you will never get that sense of ascension without music. We are so blessed to have such a variety of music to choose from through iTunes, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Napster and all the other outlets available. I think it becomes easy to forget the gift of music because there is so much noise drowning out the beauty.

There is another song that came on after Awakening, Aftermath by Hillsong United. If you haven’t heard this one, I’d encourage you to listen to it. You can get it on iTunes or Amazon. You can listen to it and read the lyrics at this YouTube video.

Host A Mountain Park Intern

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:30:37 GMT

Have you ever wondered how you might be able to use your home to minister to others? We've got a perfect opportunity for you to use your extra or guest bedroom to host a Mountain Park Intern.

The Mountain Park Internship program ranges from 3 months to 1 year cycles and often we have candidates who require unqiue housing accomodations for a nominal to zero cost. Their needs are unique because the nature of an internship is unique. Most interns continue to work a separate job in addition to their internship to keep up with typical living expenses.

If you have an extra room in your home and are in a position to host an intern for a nominal or zero cost, please contact us. Let us know you are interested in becoming a host candidate and we work with you to come up with a housting application. The application can then be used to help pair you with an intern who is the best fit for your house environment.

Opening up your home to a young person is a big ask but it is an incredible opportunity invest into the future of God's church and bless a young person as they seek to bless others.

We are currently looking to place 3 month summer interns. If you're interested in participating in our host program or have additional question, please contact Dave Shrein, our Internship Director.

Spring Water Drive

Wed, 25 May 2011 22:42:39 GMT

**UPDATE - JUNE 4:: We collected 840 cases of water! That's 90 over our goal! Thanks to everyone who participated! WE DID IT!

Every year Mountain Park participates in a Spring Water Drive. This year we have been collecting bottles of water for the Phoenix Rescue Mission and our goal is 750 cases of water. Unfortunately we have only collected 78 cases and Sunday is our last day for collection.

We Need Your Help

As we are over 600 cases short we need your help on Sunday. We are asking everyone to bring a case of water on Sunday to the lobby as they go to one of our celebrations. If you forget to bring a case of water there will be a 5 gallon water jug available to drop cash donations. You can also donate right now online. Click the button below, login to your account, or register, and indicate the Water Drive in the designation.

With the monetary donations we collect we will call Costco and purchase as much water as we can do give to the Phoenix Rescue Mission.

If you have any questions about our water drive, contact Barb Lerclerc.

Make a Donation

It's All About the Cross

Tue, 17 May 2011 22:42:39 GMT

If you missed this past Sunday, you'll want to watch this. If you were there you will want to watch this. If you are a Christian, watch this! Pastor Allan Fuller shares how the cross is at the center of everything. It is the point of Jesus' entire mission. The cross is in the way of everything, and that's the point.

Children & Student Summer Camps

Thu, 12 May 2011 22:42:39 GMT

We often consider summer the time to slow down and take a break from growing and learning. However, the break from school and regular activities which typically occupy the lives of our kids provides the perfect environment for them to grow spiritually. This summer Mountain Park is offering incredible opportunities for your kids to have fun, get active with their friends and grow in their young spiritual lives.

Arts & Crafts, Basketball Camp

For 1st-6th graders we offer activities like basketball camp and arts & crafts camp. These events take place the second week in June and costs $50 per child. Those registering multiple children can benefit from a $10 discount. More Information & Registration

Get Baptized, Sunday June 12

Wed, 11 May 2011 00:01:45 GMT

At Mountain Park we love celebrating baptism. On Sunday, June 12 we are holding our next baptism celebration. For those individuals who have committed their lives to walking with Jesus and have yet to be baptized, this is a great opportunity for you to take that next step.

If you feel you're ready to be baptized we would love to invite you to make June 12 the day. Contact Barb Leclerc to sign up. There will be an informational prior to the Sunday Celebration.

Contact Barb

A Mother's Day Tribute

Tue, 10 May 2011 23:02:14 GMT

If you missed our Mother's Day Celebration, well, you missed more than your average church service. We were fortunate to have a quartet come and sing a very special song to all mothers in the entire world. It was a morning to remember. Whether you missed the service or you are wanting to relive the experience all over again, we give to you, A Mother's Day Tribute!

Spring Outreach Offering

Thu, 05 May 2011 22:10:53 GMT

Sunday May 22 will be our morning to give to our Spring Outreach Offering. What makes this opportunity to give financially special from other Sunday celebrations is that every dollar given, unless otherwise specified, goes to support the outreach causes we have adopted for Mountain Park. Most recently you may recall our involvement in Feed My Starving Chlidren. Through outreach giving we were able to package over 100,000 meals for starving children around the world and an additional 45,000 meals for families in Japan affected by the earthquake and insuing tsunami.

Where Is the Money Going?

Leading up to the Spring Outreach Offering we'd love to help inform you on where the money is going and how it is affecting lives for Jesus. If you have any additional questions about Outreach Ministry at Mountain Park you can contact our Outreach Director, Lori Hall. Here is how we are distributing the 22nd offering:

Arizona & US Partnerships - $21,000

Local Benevolence - An ongoing outreach effort by Mountain Park to provide housing, food, emergency utility help, counseling and other financial assistance to people in our community. Requests for assistance are researched and managed responsibly. $15,000
From Gangs to Jobs - This organization helps troubled young men (18-30yrs) develop job and life skills. Learn more about this organization here. $2,000
Arizona Association of the Church of God - AACOG sponsors children’s, youth and family camps, supports new churches and encourages pastors & lay leaders. $4,000

International Partnerships - $24,000

Feed My Starving Children - This non-profit Christian organization is committed to feeding God’s children in nearly 70 countries around the world. Our relationship with FMSC began this year with a food packaging event that provided 100,000 meals to impoverished children and more than 45,000 meals to families in Japan. $6,000
Reaching Unengaged People Groups - Andrea & Jon Hoefer - Now training to take the Gospel to those who have never heard of Jesus and serve among the tribal peoples. They and their two children, Kaydence and Gideon, are worshipping here at Mountain Park while Jon completes his training as a missionary pilot and mechanic. To learn more visit bit.ly/hoeferstory. $10,000
Reaching Unengaged People Groups - Children of Promise International provides physical and spiritual care for orphans among unreached people groups through Christ-centered orphanages; includes nutrition programs, free schools, higher education opportunities and family assistance. Mountain Park has supported seven children through CPI for more than nine years.$1,000
Heart to Honduras - Mountain Park supports our sister church in El Progreso as they empower their people by providing clean water to communities, training future church leaders and investing in other development projects. We also provide monthly support to our Heart to Honduras partner, Gordon Garrett. $7,000

Mother's Day Photos

Mon, 02 May 2011 21:20:00 GMT

Be sure to bring your family camera this Mother's Day to take family pictures at the various settings we will have available Sunday at Mountain Park. Volunteers will be available to assist you in taking pictures of you and your family and can direct you towards the various scenes which will make a great backdrop for this very special day to celebrate moms!

The hours that the sets will be open & available will be from 8:30 am to 12 pm. At noon we will begin clean up and tear down the sets. The stations will be open during the celebrations so you can attend one celebration and take your family picture the second celebration.

In addition, we will have refreshments available in the front of the church along with a gift for moms so be sure to arrive early to take advantage of everything to celebrate mom!

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Where Did "The Whole Shebang" Come From?

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:12:41 GMT

Where Did “The Whole Shebang” Idea Come From?

Before coming to Phoenix I was an associate pastor in Cincinnati. During my last year there (2005) I was asked to lead a bible study on Wednesday nights. As I was crafting my plan for the year I was thinking about how often I heard a bible story – or a message on a section of the bible – and I had no idea where it fit in the overall story. Wouldn’t it be great if I had a skeletal structure for the overall story upon which I can attach the stories that move me?

I’ve seen many books that walked through the bible – but what about the ongoing story after Revelation chapter 22? What about the past 2000 years? What about our role in the story? What if there was a structure that covered the whole thing?

I had the privilege of spending that entire year studying and preparing for a journey I called “The Greater Story” – a phrase inspired by John Eldredge’s little book “Epic.” This process was the greatest theological education I had received in my life! I poured through books on the overall story of the bible. I learned more that year than I did during my three years of seminary.

Here at Mountain Park, I try to use the summer to plan the message series’ for the following year. In the summer of 2009 I wondered how we could look at “The Greater Story” in 2010. I presented the idea to our creative team and it received very modest response. It felt somewhat like, “You can do that, Allan, if you’re no longer interested in being interesting or relevant.” Ouch.

It’s amazing what a name change can do. It’s amazing how branding affects our response. For some reason, “The Greater Story” sounded like an unpopular elective. But when I said, “What if we call it ‘The Whole Shebang’?” – that felt more like a party!

Our staff quickly rallied around the idea and came up with tools to strengthen the journey. We wanted to have an outline for each message with space to make notes. We wanted to have a binder to keep the notes together so that they entire journey could be consolidated for each participant. We wanted to use the bible each week and let it be the source of the story – so we made bibles available for free every week. If you were here, you may remember our little jingle, “Bring your bible, bring your binder, this is your short reminder…”

My hope was to tap into the brilliance of a tv series like “24.” When I grew up, tv shows did not have a story that carried over from week to week. Bo and Luke Duke were joyfully driving their Dodge at the beginning of every episode. The hook with “24” is that you do not want to miss any show. Each episode is part of an overall story.

The reality and beauty of our “Whole Shebang” journey is that we are experiencing a taste of that kind of excitement for God’s story. Early in 2010, one attendee wrote:

“I love learning the context and history of what is going on around the verses we are looking at. It helps me to understand the big picture, but also challenges me to look into it more. I look forward to the rest of the series!”

God’s story is incredible. It’s brilliant; it’s bold; it’s beautiful; it’s exciting; it’s life-changing. It should keep us on the edge of our seats.

"What is the GOSPEL?" Video

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 03:55:37 GMT

Have you seen this video? We posted it on our Facebook Page but there's a good chance that maybe you haven't seen it yet.

Take the next 5 minutes and do what Jerry Bridges encourages believers to do in his book The Discipline of Grace and preach the Gospel to yourself. So often we relegate the Gospel to those just coming to faith in Christ and we move on to other, deeper understandings of faith. The truth is, the Gospel is for sinners and until we go to be with God, we are still sinners. This video is a great illustration of that story, our need and the greatness of our God to bridge the gap.

Click the thumbnail, watch the video and then leave a comment just below on this page... what did you think?

Sunrise Service Photos

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:01:37 GMT

Our second annual Sunrise Service was a great way to begin the celebration of Easter Sunday. We had over 300 people attend the service on the hill to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Thank you to Elena Porter & Jon Cain who planned the gathering. In addition, thank you to all the volunteers who showed up at 4:45 am to setup and pull together an incredible event for Mountain Park and the community.

If you weren't able to attend our Easter Sunrise Service here are some photos of what you missed!

Facebook Photos :: Flickr Photos

How He Loves Us

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:21:27 GMT

It's been nearly a year since I have led music in what our students call "Big Church." The last time I led I had just returned home from a trip in Seattle to visit my siblings and had the opportunity to go to church and just enjoy the company of believers and the power of receiving from God's Word. After the teaching, we responded to what the Lord had said through singing and one of the tunes we sang was "How He Loves." The video below is a summary of the impact that song left on me that day and my desire to share with Mountain Park what God had done in my heart through this incredible song.

Building Strong Families

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:40:06 GMT

Charlie Stienmens was a very short man, in fact he was a dwarf. Yet what he lacked in his physical stature he made up for in his intelligence. For he was brilliant, he was an electronic genius, and Henry Ford the great automobile mogul knew this. And so he hired Charlie to set up the great turbines that would drive the early production lines of the Ford assembly lines. With this done, cars began to come off the line one after the other while the money began pouring into Fords pockets.

Then one day everything came to a grinding halt as the machinery broke down. The mechanics were called in, but try as they may they couldn’t fix the problem. So Henry Ford called in his old friend, Charlie, the man who built these machines and said he needed help. Stienmens came by and in a little while, after tinkering around with some wires and buttons he had those turbines up and working again.

Soon after that Henry Ford received a bill for $10,000. (back then, that was an unbelievable amount of money) Now this seemed outrageous to Ford so he wrote his friend a note, “Charlie, doesn’t this seem a little out of line for just tinkering around with a few wires and switches.”

A few days later a new invoice was sent and Stienmens added a personal note to it, “For tinkering around with a few wires and switches, $10, for knowing where to tinker $9,990.

Principles to Build On

Building strong families is kind of like that. You have know where to work on it if you want it to run smoothly, and you have to constantly tinker with it. There is no magic parenting formula that can be applied equally to every child and in every situation. The good news though is that there are some principles that go into what it takes to have a family that you can be proud of. What it takes to make a strong family and one that loves God.

So what makes a family strong? Well, Professor Nick Stinnett, chairman of the Dept. of Human Development and Family at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, did a study called, “Family Strengths Project” several years ago.

In this study he looked at strong families across ethnic lines, financial lines, even geographical lines. He looked at families, whether single-parent or couples, from the United States to Switzerland to Germany to Austria to South Africa and to South America. The only criteria being that they had to rate themselves very high in marriage happiness and in their satisfaction in parent-child relationships.

Some of the questions that were asked of these families were “How do you communicate?” and, “Do you experience power struggles?” and, “How do you deal with conflict?”

Their goal was to discover what goes into the making of a strong family. Here are the six things that were in common with all these families.

Strong families:

Are committed to the family
Spend time together
Have good family communication
Express appreciation to each other
Have a spiritual commitment
Are able to solve problems in a crisis

Number five on that list caught my attention because without a strong spiritual grounding in the reality of God, our families will never be what God has designed them to be.

The Bible says in Ephesians 6:4, Fathers (but it applies to mom’s as well) Do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the instruction of the Lord.

If you want to get to the bottom line of parenting, this is it. We are called to consistently and intentionally teach and model for our kids what a relationship with God looks like.

Where to Start?

There are some wonderful books and resources out there to help you become a better parent, but if you’re looking for a starting point I would encourage you to begin here. When you bring God into your family it is no longer you or your spouse trying to figure out how to survive as a parent. Now, you have the One that designed it all in the first place slugging it out with you. God is now at work in their hearts and their minds encouraging, correcting and molding them into His image.

As parents we all desire to raise kids that loves God, loves others and makes wise decisions. If you haven’t done so already, start this off by brining God back into your family today.

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We Are in Need of Grace

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 04:30:43 GMT

Were you at Mountain Park when we talked about the song "Hallelujah" part of Track Record, V2? If you missed it, here is a great excerpt from Allan's message. You can listen to the entire message here.

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Commemorative Easter Lilies

Sat, 02 Apr 2011 21:04:43 GMT

Every year during Easter Mountain Park gives the opportunity for you to purchase an Easter Lily in honor or memory of a loved one. Each Lily is then used to help decorate the auditorium and lobby for our Easter Sunday Celebration. This year take the opportunity to bring beauty to the day of Easter as we remember what Jesus has done for by honoring and remembering your loved one. Each lily is $10.

Download our Easter Lily registration card in PDF form here and bring it with you on Sunday morning to the info counter along with payment. (Get Adobe Reader here)

A list of all honorees is published on Easter Sunday and available at the Info Counter.

Update from Honduras - January 2011

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:55:38 GMT

On January 10, 2011 Pastor Jamie from our sister church in El Progreso spoke with Pastor Greg Battle and Margarita Wood sharing an update on what God is doing in Honduras. Be on the lookout next month for another update on what is happening in El Progreso.

A Letter from Pastor Jamie in El Progreso

Heart to Honduras has recognized year 2011 to be THE YEAR OF THE CHILD. In honor of this laudable notion we, Mountain Park Community Church, will also adopt this theme for our 9^th annual Honduras Golf Tournament Dinner Auction. We are hoping that Pastor Jaime Rodriguez, wife Mindy and family will be able to join us on Saturday, November 12^th at Club West for our golf outing and later that evening our dinner auction at Mountain Park.

Very much like Mountain Park, Abierto Brazos (Open Arms) our sister church in the community of El Progreso, Honduras is experiencing a lot of growth. Through the amazing works that Pastor Jaime and his staff are doing in this community, the blessings are reaching far beyond the doors of the church. Jaime is especially excited about the number of children coming to church.

With the increase of more members attending church, more challenges have occurred. A good problem . . . ! Many of the new members that attend Abiertos Brazos travel from outside the community of El Progreso, and many of them on foot. Jaime and his staff are praying for a school bus to assist with accommodating those who have to travel a long distance.

Jaime is a visionary . . . and he foresees the potential transforming into blessings. Abiertos Brazos has gone from 4 members in 2004 to 450 members in 2006. Currently, they are over 700 members strong, and are at capacity with their existing building, which will also soon need to be address. Several miles down the road amidst a sea of sugar care, there is property for sale; 20 acres to be exact. We’ve been told this particular area has been called the killing fields due to the roomer of finding several bodies. It is Jaime’s prayer and vision, as well as Heart to Honduras’, to relocate Abiertos Brazos to this location. In a conversation with Jaime last year, he envisioned the area would soon be A FIELD OF LIFE.

During the summer of 2010, Pastor Greg met with a Compassion representative who ironically had connections with El Progreso and Phoenix. Rene Martinez, a Compassion host similar to Jaime, runs a Compassion International building in a neighboring city to El Progreso. The meeting between Rene and Greg happened when Rene was visiting his adult children who work for a non-profit organization in Phoenix. The connection between Greg, Jaime and Rene is just a reminder of how small the world is.

Within the community of El Progreso, it is commonly known that many children are homeless orphans. Nevertheless, an awareness as well as outreach by Abierto Brazos and Pastor Jaime has begun to address the issue. Abierto Brazos has begun a relationship with a neighboring orphanage and has considered creating an orphanage in the community.

Compassion International plays a huge role in the community of El Progreso, and as a Compassion sponsor, our sister church has brought much needed resources in the way of education and infrastructure. This program provides a direct life-line to kids. Jaime has informed us that over 250 kids are being sponsored through Compassion; however, over 70 kids who are a part of the church are without sponsorship. Jaime is working on a strategy to have direct sponsorship from Abierto Brazos to Mountain Park through Compassion International. This is exciting news!

We are praying for you daily. May you always feel God’s presence,

Pastor Jaime

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Update from Honduras - December 2010

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:20:58 GMT

On December 1, 2010 Pastor Jamie from our sister church in El Progreso spoke with Pastor Greg Battle and Rosie Gonzalez sharing an update on what God is doing in Honduras. Be on the lookout next month for another update on what is happening in El Progreso.

A Letter from Pastor Jamie in El Progreso

The church of El Progreso is very grateful and we are privileged to be in relationship Mountain Park Community Church, our Sister Church in Ahwatukee, Phoenix. We are excited to know that both of our churches are growing rapidly.

Saturday, November 26th, our Children’s Pastor Jorge Zepeda was married in the church. We have a facebook page so you can go there to check out the pictures from the wedding. Speaking of which, everything that is going on with the church and community is posted on our facebook. Our facebook address is:BrazosAbiertos.com. Please sign up and be our friend.

Once again, we thank Pastor Greg for committing to baptize 40 new believers in our church. We are very excited about this event. We are also excited about the new construction that will begin with my house. This is a true blessing to me and my family.

The Water Project that Mountain Park has worked on over the years is still functional well however we are in need of chlorine tablets to supplies the holding tank.

As we were speaking, all the children of Brazos Abiertos are getting medical exams. Each child is having a general check up done; ears, eyes and dental exams were also being done on each child. The medical doctors came to the area because of the lack of basic medical attentioin to the kids of this community.

We are excited about being able to take the kids from our church to the Zoo. It is our goal to take all 280 children to the Zoo. As of today, we have taken 150 of the 280 to the Zoo and are planning to get the rest of them there soon.

We are very excited about the monthly communication strategy of Mountain Park Community Church with Brazos Abiertos. We look forward to our future . . . together in bringing the Kingdom to earth.

Pastor Allan, may God always smile on you, the church, and your ministry forever.

Pastor Jamie Rodriquez

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