June 2008 Newsletter

If you would like to view the PDF versions of the newsletter, click here.

In this Issue:

A Special Thanks to Pastor Ken Lentz!
Pastor Ken Lentz has served faithfully and well as an interim pastor over the past months. Many people have enjoyed his great classes and have been touched and inspired by his sermons and we have all benefited from his hard work during this transition. We thank Pastor Lentz for his service and leadership during this time. He will leave us after June 22 when we will have a gathering to thank him and to show our appreciation. Please look for details and plan on attending!

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And a Special Welcome to Pastor Glenn Zorb!
We welcome Pastor Glenn Zorb as our new Sr. Pastor starting on June 29. Pastor Zorb and his family will be moving here from the Columbus, Ohio area. Pastor Zorb was well received by all who met him and we look forward to a joint ministry and mission together with him. Feel free to check our web site for biographical details and details on opportunities to welcome Pastor Zorb.

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Congregational Meeting
A congregational meeting will take place on Sunday, June 8 at 9:30am in the worship center of Mountain View Lutheran Church to approve the revised constitution. Copies of the new constitution are available in the entry area of the church or on our website at www.mvlutheran.org (under Special Features).

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Camp ALOMA
Summer Camps
The brochure/registration form for the following camps is available at: www.mvlutheran.org/pdf/CampAlomaSummer2008.pdf

2008 Summer Schedule
June 1 – June 6                          Mini/Scout/Pioneer
June 8 - 13                                Scout/Pioneer/Junior Staff Training
June 15 – 20                              Scout/Pioneer/Junior High
June 20 – 22 (weekend)             Family Camp
June 22 – 27                              Scout/Pioneer/ Junior High
June 29 - July 3                          Scout /Pioneer/Junior High/Senior High
July 6 – 11                                 Mini/Scout /Pioneer
July 13 – 18                               Scout /Pioneer/Junior High

Mini Camp                                 Grades 1-3
Scout Camp                               Grades 3-4
Pioneer Camp                            Grades 5-6
Junior High Camp                       Grades 7-9
Junior Staff Training                   Grades 10-12
Senior High Camp                      Grades 9 –12
(All grade levels are based on the Fall of 2008 school year.)

July 19                                       Burger Bash

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Family Camp
This year Family Camp at Camp ALOMA will be the weekend of August 8-10. Mark your calendars. It will be a few weeks earlier in August due to the early start of school and conflicts with weekend school activities. Applications are available in the Narthex and the church office. A $25 registration holds your spot. If you have any questions, email the Lichtys at Lichtyfam@cox.net.

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Family Promise
“To know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived – this is to have succeeded.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you, thank you, thank you to those of you who supported Family Promise at our spaghetti dinner fundraiser, and those of you who gave your time and talents during the host week in April. We would especially like to thank the Cub Scouts from Bear Den of Pack 178 in Ahwatukee! Since we had seven boys with us, it was a blessing to have the cub scouts there to play and help out.

Two of the families that were with us have already moved on to permanent housing. One of them, Paula and Eric and their 14 month old son Daila, are relocating to Michigan where she will have a management position with General Mills. Paula is grateful to Family Promise for keeping them out of “shelters” and off the street while she got help with her resume and was given clothing for interviews. She is planning on having a deduction from her paycheck that will be a donation to the Phoenix program. When we give, we start ripples that move out and touch others.

We are already planning the next hosting on campus which will be July 13-20. As always, we will need your help. Please look for our table to sign up for a place to serve. Many of the “regulars” are away for the summer, so please consider helping this July.

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Feed My Starving Children
Did you know that each night, more than 850 million people go to bed hungry? Most of them are women and children.

Feed My Starving Children is coming to Mountain View November 19-22, 2008. Watch for more information on how to get involved in this congregation and community wide effort to help stop this hunger. You can also visit http://www.fmsc.org/ for more information on Feed My Starving Children.

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Financial Summary – April 2008

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Habitat for Humanity
The Habitat House built this year in Guadalupe was dedicated on May 17. Thanks to everyone who helped build and the confirmation groups that provided lunches to the workers. Also thanks to the people that gave donations and did the tax credit donation to help finance the house. Look for information for building the next house in the fall. We always build in the winter months when it is cooler.

Mountain View is part of the Mountain View Coalition with Esperanza, Desert Cross and Holy Trinity. The coalition board meets once a month to plan the building of each house. The churches all raise money and take turns building on Saturdays. Look for the pictures of the houses we have built in the past on the wall as you walk into the Family Life Center.

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A Message from Bishop Steve Talmage
Dear Stewards:
Beginning this week members of the ELCA will collectively receive approximately $1 Billion through the government’s “economic stimulus plan.” The Conference of Bishops encourages all of our members to consider this unanticipated windfall of funds to be an opportunity to practice responsible stewardship. The encouragement I offer is for the leaders in this synod to consider encouraging the members of the congregations they serve to really pray about how these funds might be used. I hope there will be consideration of those who have been left out of the rebate distribution (new immigrants, the elderly, and the unemployed). As we all wrestle with higher gas prices, higher food prices, etc., the church historically has made tough times, times of greater generosity. By giving to those in poverty, we are placing dollars in the hands of those best postured to spend money in their communities.

Barb and I will be giving at least a tithe of our rebate to support those living in poverty in this synod. If you are looking for suggestions I encourage you consider the following:

Lutheran Social Services-SW
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada
Family Promise-Nevada
Local Food Banks-$1.00 given to a food bank allows them to purchase $12-$13 in food
Lutheran Social Services-SW Immigration and Refugee services
Develop a Good Samaritan Fund in your local congregation to offer support for families in your community

I would encourage you to share your stories with this office of how funds were given and used to be a blessing to others. I would love to post these stories on our website. Thanks for being open to this opportunity demonstrating our love for our neighbor.

In Christ’s Service, Steve Talmage

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Motorcycle Ride
Calling all motorcycle riders!
Join Pastor Grant for a cool morning motorcycle ride on Saturday, June 14 at 6:30am. We’ll rendezvous in the Mountain View parking lot and ride until mid-morning. Please note change in time due to the summer heat!

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Music Notes
Handbell Camp!
Handbell camp will run June 16 through 20 from 4:00-6:00pm in the sanctuary. A snack will be provided. No experience necessary! Wear comfortable shoes, you will be on your feet most of the time! We will be presenting our song during the services Sunday, June 22. You must commit to all 5 days and the Sunday performance! There is a $20 fee. Please sign up in the entry way. Happy Ringing!

Strings Camp (violin, viola and cello) will be June 16-20 from 1:00 – 2:30pm
Guitar Camp will be June 23-June 27 from 1:00 – 2:30pm

Come join us for fun and learning at Mountain View's annual Summer Strings and Guitar Camp! All beginning to intermediate musicians are welcome – no prior musical experience necessary. All you need is your instrument.

We will meet in the Choir Room and snacks will be provided. The cost for each camp is $65. If you have any questions, or would like additional information, please contact Lysa Cohen at 602-326-1995 or lysa@live.com

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Pastoral Acts
Baptisms: Carter William Shupe, Riley Anne Klandrud, Glenn Daniel Shupe
Victories in Christ (Died in the Faith): Robert Kountz, Don R. Trimmer

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Prayer Ministry
Memorial Day is often just a marker in our lives, the "end" of another school year, the beginning of an active but much slower paced summer. The call of "endless days of summer" seems so relaxing. Last fall, I had such a day, a trip to Ramsey Canyon, enjoying God's beautiful gifts, especially the miraculous hummingbirds known to migrate to that area. As I rounded the trail and came to a tree with a plaque, I was jolted from the serenity of the canyon and taken suddenly to another time and place. Here, so far in every measurable dimension, I was given to pray for a war hero. His name, Samuel Payan, is on a plaque on a tree in southeast Arizona, recalling his sacrifice on a ship far away in the Pacific during World War II. And so, my thoughts were instantly changed and my prayer began for this man, and all those lost that day so long ago. I thought of him again this week, at the door of Amazing Grace Bookstore stands an angel, holding the triangular folds of an American flag.
Here, in part, is a prayer offered by President Roosevelt during that time so long ago:
…Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too--strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment--let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace--a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.

Franklin D. Roosevelt – June 6, 1944

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Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Prayer Shawl Ministry was started last July and to date we have distributed 14 beautiful handmade shawls. The shawls have touched the lives of members as well as friends and family in other parts of the country. Our group meets on Wednesdays at 10:00am in Café Soul. Those who do not attend knit or crochet at home. Completed shawls are placed on the altar and blessed with a special liturgy before they go forth to wrap those in need in God’s love.

If you like to knit or crochet, or would like to learn, you are always welcome to join our group any time. If you need yarn we have plenty to share.

Here is one of the many thank you notes we have received:
Ladies of Mountain View,
How do I begin to say thanks you for all your prayers and the beautiful shawl you knitted for me?!
Every time I wrap myself in the warmth of your stitches I feel you all very close to me, and an overwhelming love covers my body and soul. The shawl meant more to me than you’ll ever know. I truly love your gift. Two weeks after receiving the shawl and wearing it every day I had my monthly blood test. For the first time in eight months my red cell count dropped one full point. My doctor was amazed until I told her about the shawl and she immediately agreed prayer will always be the strongest medicine. My shawl will always be with me along with all of your prayers which include my prayers for all of you and your families.Many thanks to all of you. I look forward to the day we meet and I hug and thank each one of you in person.Thank you for my renewed health. God bless you all!!

If you would like more information or know of someone who is ill or in crisis that could benefit from a shawl, please contact Chris Mahon at 480-893-2579 x130 or cmahon@mvlutheran.org.

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Prayers for God’s People
For privacy purposes, we do not publish individual names for prayers. However, you may obtain a copy of the prayer list which is included in the weekend worship bulletins at the church. We ask that you keep in your prayers all of our members and friends who are ill, hospitalized or homebound; and all those serving in the Armed Forces.

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Sages/Seniors
There were 27 for lunch at Mimi’s Café in Scottsdale last month. We celebrated Marge Businski”s 81st birthday while having dessert at Pastor Ken’s home. Marge brought a cake to add to the cookies, coffee, and lemonade. At My Sister’s Attic, Pastor Glenn and Connie found some finds they couldn’t do without. A good time was had by all.

Next month (Tuesday, July 8) we’ll stick closer to home and go to IKEA. Meet at Café Soul at 11:15am to leave at 11:30am.

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Scripture Readings
May 31 & June 1.......... Deut. 11:18-21, 26-28; Psalm 31:1-5, 19-24; Romans 1:16-17, 3:22b-28; Matthew 7:21-29
June 7 & 8.................. Hosea 5:15-6:6; Psalm 50:7-15; Romans 4:13-25; Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
June 14 & 15............... Exodus 19:2-8a; Psalm 100; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8
June 21 & 22............... Jeremiah 20:7-13; Psalm 69:7-10, 16-18; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39
June 28 & 28............... Jeremiah 28:5-9; Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42

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Social Ministries Committee
Food Pantry
Last month the Food Pantry was able to give away more than 30 bags of food as well as give food to Kyrene Family Resource Center and Advocates for the Disabled. We’re always looking for meat in a can, mac and cheese and canned fruit. Thanks for all your support.

A check for $100 was sent to Humane Borders to help fund water stations in southern Arizona.

Family Promise
Family Promise completed our hosting in May with five families including seven boys. The Cub Scouts assisted four evenings with food and entertained the boys. Donated men’s clothing, not taken by Family Promise men, was taken to Hidden Treasures Thrift Store. Our next hosting will be July 13-20.

The Diaper Drive was a resounding success. Formula and diaper sizes 0 & 1 were taken to Elizabeth House. The remaining diapers and undies from Undie Sunday were taken to UMOM on the night several volunteers prepared and served dinner there.
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The Social Ministries Bulletin Board is located on the wall beside the Food Pantry. You are invited to read about the agencies you are helping to support and the many letters of thanks we receive from them.

Back-to-School Clothing Drive will be July 6-12. Volunteers are needed to assist the children in selecting new school clothing, shoes and a full back pack. Sign up sheet is in the Narthex.

Committee Meeting
We will not meet in June or July although we will be active with volunteer opportunities. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, August 5 at 6:30pm.

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Stewardship
Did you miss the point?
When Samuel was seeking someone to succeed Saul as King of Israel, He examined the sons of Jesse. In that process, he considered their stature and physical characteristics in great detail, only to be told by God, “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

That modus operandi on God’s part has not changed. He still looks at our hearts. He is not interested in how things appear on the outside, but what they are really like on the inside. And that includes our giving.

Specifically, He is not concerned about the amount or percentage of our giving, but with the reason or motive why we give. If we give out of a sense of duty or to impress someone, we’ve missed the point. If we give to keep a commitment we made or to “do our part”, we’ve missed the point. If we only give a certain amount or percentage because we’ve always given that way, we’ve missed the point. If we give “to help God pay His bills,” we’ve missed the point.

God owns it all. He doesn’t need our money to pay His bills. He doesn’t want us to give out of a sense of duty, habit or to impress someone. He wants us to give out of hearts motivated by love for Him in response to His love for us. He wants our giving to be a part of our worship and praise to Him. It is His way of growing Christians, of working on our hearts.

There’s an old Indian fable about a mouse who like all mice, was afraid of cats. A wizard felt sorry for him and offered to help him lose his fear. The wizard turned him into a cat. The cat, however, was afraid of dogs, so he was turned into a dog. But the dog was afraid of tigers, so the wizard turned him into a tiger. But then the tiger was afraid of hunters. The wizard exclaimed in disgust, “You’re hopeless. What you need is a change of heart. And that I cannot give you.”

If our giving is motivated by anything other than a heart of love for God, we need a change of heart. We need to realize afresh that God owns everything and that we are just the managers and stewards. We need to realize that when we give, we are only giving back to God what is really His in the first place.

And when we give out of love for God, we are giving in a way that truly honors and glorifies Him. And then, we have not missed the point…

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Visitation Ministry
The Generations Rise and Pass Away
 Uncle Oscar and Aunt Hulda, actually were Great Aunt and Uncle, having immigrated in 1907 from N. Europe, meeting in Omaha, Oscar driving a delivery wagon, and Hulda working for a Swedish family as a maid, just at the time they were ready to start their own family. For some forgotten reason our group of younger cousins thought they were the most "cool" of the Old World heavy accent speaking people. They were one of the first folk in church to have a car, they built a fancy, if small bungalow on Ash Street, and Oscar commuted to do the work on his deep soiled Logan Valley farm. It didn't get much more progressive than that. Spoiled and cute teenager Polly could now have the more sociable and confident town kids for friends. We envied the seemingly model family until the shock of High School graduation in 1939. Only child Polly renounced her parents, really hurt them deeply, and took off for Denver with the rumored to be "wild" 18 year old Johnson girl. They ran out of money at North Platte and too proud to come home, Polly was planning to marry the newly promoted manager of the Gamble store. I remember thinking that perhaps he was not too smart marrying such an impulsive immature girl. (By the way, Kenny turned out to be a fine responsible young man.)

I was a pre-teen with big ears when hearing Aunt Hulda telling my Mother about this dominant issue (read gossip) of the Hanson family, "Well, Polly will just have to learn for herself." "We can no longer protect her from making mistakes!" Reflecting now, I must have remembered the story because "There was some special wisdom in there someplace."

A prayer in our LBW, suggested as use for Funerals begins: "O God, the generations rise and pass away before you." p. 210. Sometimes it’s hard and painful to watch a new generation come into their turn of independence and responsibility, observing them doing crazy, obviously stupid things. Seemingly tossing aside some of the values and traditions that have been so important to us. Perhaps we learn best from the consequences of mistakes. Some of us have tried and failed at trying to protect our children and grandchildren from the lessons that can best, and might they only be learned, from their own trial and error. We forget that real learning is most often excruciatingly hard and rarely neatly planned.

In the late '40's Ken and Polly , with some bit of pride and "see, we were not as foolish as you thought we were" on their sleeves, moved back to a town 10 miles away – Kenny was to manage a new Gambles and the family had a wonderful time of reconciliation. What a joy it was to see the Schlutzes and the Bloomquists sitting together enjoying the "passing" of the generations. Often the rising and passing is more messy and, oh! so-o much more painful.

Pastor Glenn Lundahl 

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Women of Faith
Infinite Grace Conference
November 21-22, 2008
Jobing.com Arena
Premium Seating $65 - ticket only, does not include lunch or pre-conference
Please visit www.womenoffaith.com for more information.

“And God is able to make all GRACE abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an ABUNDANCE for every good deed.” - II Corinthians 9:8

Contact Charlotte Mester for tickets and information: mester@cox.net or 480-496-0036

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Children & Youth News

PlayCare
Dear Parents,
Another year at PlayCare will soon come to a close. I want to thank you for your donations.

We will be closed from June 30 through August 3. Our new schedule beginning August 4 is as follows: Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 12:00noon. There will be no afternoon session unless there is something going on at Ahwatukee Preschool. There is also a change in the price: $20 for one child; $25 for two children; $3 for any additional children. Revised brochures, which include the schedule and fees, will be located outside of the PlayCare room.

Have a happy and safe summer. Hope to see you next year.

Grandma Lois and Staff

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Sunday School
Summer of Son (S.O.S.)
S.O.S. is a kid friendly worship time teaching our little Lutherans through songs, crafts, stories, and prayers. S.O.S. begins June 14 during the 5:30 worship and June 15 during the 10:00 worship. Children should go to service through the children’s sermon and then to the FLC for S.O.S.

Volunteers
We are always looking for new faces for the Sunday School Ministry. Men, women, young or more mature are all welcomed to be Sunday school teachers for this fall. We use a team approach so this would only involve 1-2 Sundays per month depending on the number of teachers who sign up. Please contact Cindy Rosendaul at sundayschool@mvlutheran.org or 602-438-0662.

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Vacation Bible School
For ages 3 years through 5th grade
9:00am - 12:00 noon
June 16 – June 20, 2008
with a presentation at the 5:30pm service on June 21

Cost
$30 per child (includes crafts, snacks, music CD, and t-shirt)
$20 per child (if parent volunteers in program)
$75 maximum (for families with more than 2 children in program)
$5 late fee for registrations received after June 1

GET READY for a tree top adventure as we swing into God's word! We have a great VBS program this year with Bible stories of caring, sharing, giving...just awesome lessons, colorful music, snacks, games, and lots of fun! Plus VBS has invited the Phoenix Zoo to bring live animals and teach us about the Rainforest!
Volunteers of all ages are encouraged! The nursery is available for volunteers with younger children, but they must be pre-Registered in the nursery.

Volunteers of all ages are encouraged! The nursery is available for volunteers with younger children, but they must be pre-Registered in the nursery.

We are now accepting registrations online at www.mvlutheran.org/vbs_reg.asp and at the church office. Registration for VBS is not complete until payment is made.

If you have travel or financial concerns for your children to participate in the VBS program, please let us know. If you would like to participate in the planning or decorating before the program begins, contact Penny Blough at 480-753-6757 or azsewfun@aol.com.

PLEASE HELP! We have many items we need to make this adventure an awesome experience for the children. All items can be dropped off at the church office, church entry, or call Penny Blough. If you want your item back - tape your name on it and we will have a return table at the church entry after VBS. Our list includes: tents (the kind we can put up without stakes), green sheets, blankets, material, anything green!, plastic plants, trees, vines, flowers, paper grocery bags, hula hoops, wings (for children to wear), stuffed monkeys, toucans, butterflies, macaws, and frogs. Trust me…this is important stuff!! Thanks for your help!

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Musical Vacation Bible School
Pirates of the ‘I don’t Care’-ibbean
June 23 – 27, 9:00am-12:00noon
for all Children/Youth who have completed Kindergarten-8th grade
Cost: $30 per Child
$20 per Child (If parent volunteers in the program)
$75 maximum (for families with more than 2 children in the program)

Come Sail the High Seas as we travel to the Caribbean on this pirate adventure! We will join a company of pirates who spend their days without meaning thinking they have no value as they guard someone else’s treasure. Help us teach them a great lesson about storing your treasures in heaven through singing, dancing and great fun!!

Registration forms are available in the front office or online at www.mvlutheran.org/musicalvbs_reg.asp.
If you have any questions, travel, or financial concerns please let us know. If you would like to volunteer and help with the program please contact Ashley Hochhalter at 480-893-2579 x135 or ashleyh@mvlutheran.org, or Jennifer Sheldon at 480-893-2579 x119 or jsheldon@mvlutheran.org.

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Youth
High School Beach Camp
July 7-11 in Thousand Oaks, CA
Just Breathe Summer Journey
Students will travel to Thousand Oaks, California and will stay on campus at California Lutheran University. This will be a wonderful opportunity to Just Breathe in the California beauty and the amazing wonders of God’s Love. We will travel to the beach, spend a day at Magic Mountain, have time for devotions, take a tour of CLU, and much, much more! Invite a friend and get out of the Desert Heat! Cost: $ 250; $75 deposit to reserve your spot! They are first come, first served, so sign up today. More information and registration forms are available online (www.mvlutheran.org/pdf/BeachCampReg_HighSchool.pdf) and in the church office.

Middle School Beach Camp
July 21-25 in Thousand Oaks, CA
H2O Summer Adventure
Students will travel to Thousand Oaks, California to enjoy some fun in the sun as we Open our Heads and our Hearts to the Living Water of Christ. Games, Bible studies, worship, time at the beach, and a trip to Magic Mountain are in store for all students who participate in this H20 Summer Adventure. Come join us, meet some new friends, and get out of the Phoenix Heat! Cost: $250; $75 deposit to reserve your spot! They are first come, first served, so sign up today. More information and Registration forms are available online (www.mvlutheran.org/pdf/BeachCampReg_MiddleSchool.pdf) and in the church office.

Adult Chaperones needed, please contact Ashley Hochhalter at 480-893-2579 x135 or ashleyh@mvlutheran.org.

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