Dear Camelback church family and friends,

Here it is Wednesday already; time surely marches on.  Hope your week and your life are going well.  With God as our friend and leader we cannot go wrong.

Pastor Benjamin had a great message last Sabbath about faith and how little steps of trust ultimately create big progress in our relationship with God.  This Sabbath Sept. 4 I will be adding to our summer series on the great stories Jesus told as we look at the parable of the “Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32).  So many sermons have been preached on this dynamic story that you could wonder if there was anything more that could possibly be said.  I have been studying, consulting, and praying about this message and hopefully we will be taking a fresh and unique look at this parable.  The message will be entitled “The Prodigal’s Father”.  We will look at the attitude and actions of the father toward not only his wandering son but also the one who stayed home.  Robin Kyle’s praise team will lead songs of worship which is always good.  Please plan to come to Camelback this Sabbath starting at 9:30 with SS and worship at 10:50.

Next Sabbath (Sept. 11) we will be joined by special guests Pastor Ed and Ruth Jones as we celebrate the 47 years of ministry in the rotunda.  Elder Jones was the pastor here when the rotunda was built and completed.  We will look back and look ahead as we worship together and as Pastor Ed shares the morning message.  Ruth will also have a song she composed herself.  There will be pictures of the rotunda when it was under construction.  Friends and former members of Camelback have been invited to join us for this special service.  Following church there will be a General Potluck.  That is the kind where we bring all the food.  Since we anticipate some extra guests we are asking, encouraging, and even pleading with you our members to bring extra food.  If you do not or cannot cook, then make a special trip to the grocery store and find some food items that you could share with the church family.  Thanks for your help and support for this upcoming Sabbath and for our potluck ministry.

On Sabbath Sept. 25 we will celebrate our annual Agape’ brunch and Communion service.  This is the yearly service when we share a morning brunch together and then come to worship through our annual Camelback family prayer and communion service.  Many anticipate this service for the whole year.  Once again it will be very special.  The Men’s Chorus will sing and there will be prayers by and for the various parts of our church family.  Dianne is asking that you participate in this service by bringing pictures of your family praying.  If you pictures of your children, of a spouse, a grandmother, or any relative praying we would love to have it or them.  There is still time to take a few pictures which can be e-mailed to the church or hard-copies sent.  We are a praying church and it is good to be reminded of that ---which is one of the purposes of this special service Sept. 25.  Dianne is telling me that if you don’t bring pictures that you may see is an over-abundant amount of pictures of our grandchildren and their families at prayer.  So please help her – help us, together make this a special time.  Gray Wilson will be coming around to the SS classes this Sabbath.  You can help him by cooperating with his efforts get pictures.  And if you would like him to get pictures of your family in prayer ask him to meet you following church this Sabbath.  Thanks so much.

Our eight-week “Wednesday night Out” series will begin Sept. 29.  A light supper will be served for $1.00 from 5:45-6:20.  Then there will be a number of classes from 6:30-7:30 in various locations throughout the church.  This was so well-received last year we decided to do it again.  The list of classes will be posted within two weeks.  Pastor Steve has been working on this and offering a variety of classes.

We have invited Martin Dobelmeier of Journey Films to be with us the evening of October 9 in the church.  He is the gentleman who recently released the documentary film entitled “The Adventists”.  He traveled and interviewed extensively within the Adventist community to develop this outstanding film.  There is a brief history of Adventism and Ellen G. White along with a significant look at the Adventist health message and health institutions.  Please invite your neighbors and friends to share this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and hear about Mr. Dobelmeier’s look at Adventism.  You will be pleasantly impressed.

Set aside Sabbath Oct. 30 for another outstanding time.  The whole Maranatha team from Calif. will be with us for church and following.  This includes Don Noble (director of Maranatha and son of Beverly and sister of Barbara Atkin; and Dick Duerksen – speaker).  This will also be the kick-off for our summer 2011 church-wide mission trip.  What a wonderful opportunity and blessing this time will be.

A special meeting of the pastors was called by our Conference President last Monday night.  The focus was on Christian education and what we can do to enable more students to attend Thunderbird Adventist Academy.  The current enrollment was around 115 but the budget was built on 130-135.  Some funds have come available for student assistance and we are encouraging you who may know of a potential student (for this school year) to contact the church office or the Academy immediately.  Just today Pastor Benjamin called me and said a new student from Camelback was enrolling.  If you are not familiar with the program at TAA take time to go to the school, take a tour and acquaint yourself with the activities and great spirit that is there.  I am impressed with the quality of education and the Christ-centered emphasis on the campus and with both the faculty and students.

There are many more things I could share – but this will suffice for now.  Please take a look at our church website: www.camelbackchurch.net    You will find more information and links to affiliated sites.

May God go with you throughout the remaining hours of this week ---- and always.

With love,

Pastor Charles