[The Blog] @PDCPC http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc Palm Desert Community Pres. blogs ℗ & © 2022 Palm Desert Community Pres. Ekklesia 360 Mon, 21 Mar 2022 20:35:13 +0000 HOLY WEEK 2022 http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/holy-week-2022/ http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/holy-week-2022/ Mon, 21 Mar 2022 08:00:00 +0000 Holy Week will be here before we know it and we hope you will join us as we journey toward Easter together. HOLY WEEK WORSHIP SERVICES Palm Sunday  |  April 10  |  Special Children’s Activities Maundy Thursday  |  April 14  |  Maundy Thursday... Holy Week will be here before we know it and we hope you will join us as we journey toward Easter together.

HOLY WEEK WORSHIP SERVICES

Palm Sunday  |  April 10  |  Special Children’s Activities

Maundy Thursday  |  April 14  |  Maundy Thursday Service on Vimeo

Good Friday  |  April 15  |  Contemplative Service/Open House  |  1:00 pm – 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Easter Sunday  |  April 17
>> 6: 00 am Sunrise Service
>> 9:00 am Traditional Worship Service (Family Focused)
>> 11:00 am Traditional Worship Service

]]> Help Us Nominate Future PDCPC Leaders! http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/help-us-nominate-future-pdcpc-leaders/ http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/help-us-nominate-future-pdcpc-leaders/ Mon, 31 Jan 2022 08:00:00 +0000 On behalf of the 2022 Nominating Committee, we are inviting you to help us identify the future leadership team for Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church.    The qualifications are as follows: • Personally committed to Jesus Christ as Lord and... On behalf of the 2022 Nominating Committee, we are inviting you to help us identify the future leadership team for Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church. 
 
The qualifications are as follows:
• Personally committed to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
• Regularly participates in Worship, Bible Study and Prayer.
• Supports the Ministries of the Church with time, talent and finances.
• Candidates must have been Covenant Partners (Members) for at least one year.
• Will work to further the support and growth of the Ministry of this Church.  
 
Once a candidate has been nominated, an interview process will begin. New leaders are being selected for services beginning this Spring.
 
If there are questions, please call Tim Scott (760) 772-2606 or email timscott@title24foryou.com.
 
Please join us in praying for quality candidates.
 
]]> Christmas Eve Services http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/christmas-eve-services/ http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/christmas-eve-services/ Wed, 08 Dec 2021 08:00:00 +0000 Christmas is coming! As this season of Advent comes to a close, let’s gather together on Christmas Eve to welcome God’s love into our world, our community, and our own lives. Join us as we celebrate the birth of Christ with these special candlelight...

Christmas is coming!

As this season of Advent comes to a close, let’s gather together on Christmas Eve to welcome God’s love into our world, our community, and our own lives.

Join us as we celebrate the birth of Christ with these special candlelight services:

5:00 pm | Family Candlelight Service

7:00 pm | Classic Candlelight Service

11:00 pm | Communion Candlelight Service

]]> Notice: Upcoming Town Hall Meetings! http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/notice-upcoming-town-hall-meetings/ http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/notice-upcoming-town-hall-meetings/ Thu, 11 Nov 2021 08:00:00 +0000 Integral to our PDCPC annual operating budget development is conducting 2 congregational Town Hall meetings introducing to our congregation our annual budgeting process, including income projection and required expenses for the upcoming operating year... Integral to our PDCPC annual operating budget development is conducting 2 congregational Town Hall meetings introducing to our congregation our annual budgeting process, including income projection and required expenses for the upcoming operating year beginning January 1, 2022.

  1. Our first meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 14, 2021, 3:00 pm, PST, conducted via ZOOM.


Join this ZOOM Meeting by tapping the following link:


https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81999117740?pwd=cHl0MWdvd25ScnZxWEZiV0NOY0wvdz09

Meeting ID: 819 9911 7740
Passcode: 836385

Dial by your nearest location if video equipped device is not available.  
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 819 9911 7740
Passcode: 836385

 

  1. Our second meeting will be conducted in person, in the sanctuary immediately following our worship service on Sunday, November 21, 2021, 10:45 am.

You are welcome to attend either or both.

Please take the time to understand this important component of our PDCPC operations and mission including our collective and critical role and responsibility in supporting both. 

If you have any questions, please let me know, by telephone or email.  We look forward to your participation. 

For and on behalf of our PDCPC 2022 Budget Development Committee:

David Gibson, Trustee, Secretary, PDCPC Communications

Clarke Schlabach, Elder/Trustee, PDCPC Operations and Facilities

Emil Fischer, Elder/Trustee and Chair, Session Strategic Planning Committee

Brad Smith, Director Human Resources and Chair, Session Human Resources Committee

Bruce Legawiec, CPA, PDCPC Treasurer

Sara Buttemiller, PDCPC Business Administrator

Stephanie Landes, Chair, PDCPC Stewardship Committee

 

Bill 

 

William L. Bramer, Chair 

PDCPC 2022 Budget Development Committee

(760) 808-0814 

]]> An Announcement from Pastor Dave & Ryan Schmall http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/an-announcement-from-pastor-dave-ryan-schmall/ http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/an-announcement-from-pastor-dave-ryan-schmall/ Thu, 04 Nov 2021 08:00:00 +0000 Dear Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church,  I’m writing today to follow up on Ryan Schmall’s announcement that he has received and accepted a new call as the Director of Family Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Spokane.  Ryan will be... Dear Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church, 

I’m writing today to follow up on Ryan Schmall’s announcement that he has received and accepted a new call as the Director of Family Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Spokane.  Ryan will be with us through the end of the month—including teaching the Wednesday Night Series and preaching at the end of the month—and his resignation is effective on December 1st.  I echo the consistent message I hear from members of the congregation, “we are excited for Ryan and his family, but sad for us”. 

We thank God for all for the service and leadership Ryan has generously provided for the church over the past 4 years, and we pray for Ryan, Jeanette, Delanie, Olivia, and Nora as they follow God’s next best step for their family.

Over the next couple of weeks, I encourage you to reach out to Ryan and his family to express your gratitude say “goodbye” in a meaningful way.

The elders of the church have started the work of ensuring that we are able to maintain our value of Generations Together, as well as to continue providing spiritual formation for our young people.

Below is Ryan’s letter of resignation for you to read.

Grace and Peace.

David Ludwig

------------------------------ 

Dear PDCPC,

It has been nothing short of a privilege to work for you as Director of Grow Ministries over the past several years. Through my time here, I have had the opportunity to grow tremendously as a person as well as professionally. However, as I continue to pursue God’s direction in my life, I am being called to a new role in another community. This was not an easy decision come to, but I ultimately must follow the leading of the Spirit in me and my family’s life.

My final day at PDCPC will be on December 1, 2021. Over my remaining weeks here, I will work diligently on helping craft and develop a plan for my absence with staff and volunteers.

I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for allowing me the opportunity to serve alongside you these past four years.

I pray that God continues to move and inspire you all to continue pursuing Him in new ways as you share Jesus with this community.

Sincerely yours,

Ryan Schmall, Director of Grow Ministries

 

]]> URGENT HELP NEEDED IN BRAZIL! http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/urgent-help-needed-in-brazil/ http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/urgent-help-needed-in-brazil/ Mon, 30 Aug 2021 08:00:00 +0000 The Mission Ministry Team received the following urgent prayer request from our mission partner, Marcio Garcia of EMAF: “One of our boats engaged on church planting along the Purus River, has sank a week ago. The MensageiroIII was lifted... The Mission Ministry Team received the following urgent prayer request from our mission partner, Marcio Garcia of EMAF:

“One of our boats engaged on church planting along the Purus River, has sank a week ago. The MensageiroIII was lifted immediately, and a team of paid professionals, volunteers and missionaries are working hard to fix everything in that boat as quick as they can, to enable it to keep carrying one of our missionary teams to some of the least evangelized communities in the AMAZON WINDOW. We already raised some money for the repair, but still need US 3,560.00 at this point. PLEASE, PRAY FOR THAT and, maybe, share this need to the church.”

EMAF serves the people living along the rivers of the Amazon in Brazil, bringing the Good News of Jesus to people who have not heard it before.  Marcio and his wife, Damaris, have been faithful servants for many years and our church has been blessed to hear many of the stories of God’s grace over the years. 

We are asking you, our generous congregation, to please donate to this urgent request. Your gift/donation will be matched, up to $1,750.00.  Please join us in supporting EMAF in fulfilling this great need.  All donations can be dropped off to the church office (please write “EMAF” in the memo line).

We have the privilege of having Marcio join us via Zoom for our quarterly Mission’s Ministry Roundtable on September 22nd. 

 

]]> A Prayer for Fathers http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/a-prayer-for-fathers/ http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/a-prayer-for-fathers/ Sun, 20 Jun 2021 08:00:00 +0000 We give our thanks, Creator God, for the fathers in our lives.Fatherhood does not come with a manual, and reality teaches us that some fathers excel while others fail.We ask for Your blessings for them all and forgiveness where it is needed.This... We give our thanks, Creator God, for the fathers in our lives.

Fatherhood does not come with a manual, and reality teaches us that some fathers excel while others fail.
We ask for Your blessings for them all and forgiveness where it is needed.

This Father's Day we remember the many sacrifices fathers make for their children and families, and the ways--both big and small--they lift children to achieve dreams thought beyond reach.

So too, we remember all those who have helped fill the void when fathers pass early or are absent; grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers, pastors and coaches and the women of our families.

For those who are fathers, we ask for wisdom and humility in the face of the task of parenting. Give them the strength to do well by their children and by You.
In Your Holy name, O God, we pray. 

Amen.

- Rev. Chuck Currie

]]> A Memorial Day Prayer http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/a-memorial-day-prayer/ http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/a-memorial-day-prayer/ Sun, 30 May 2021 08:00:00 +0000 Lord God, until there is war no more and you wipe every tear from every eye, we will remember. We will remember those who have served and died for the sake of something greater than themselves. We will remember and give thanks for the men and women... Lord God, until there is war no more and you wipe every tear from every eye, we will remember. We will remember those who have served and died for the sake of something greater than themselves. We will remember and give thanks for the men and women who knowingly put themselves in harm’s way so that others might be safer. We will remember the families who grieve this day and every day for brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, friends and spouses, who lost their lives while wearing the uniform of our country.

Lord God, until you beat swords into plowshares and the ox and lamb lie down together, we will remember. We will remember that peace doesn’t happen without peacemakers and violence won’t cease unless we stand in the breach and begin to repair it. We will remember that war is costly, the price paid in priceless lives cut short.

Lord God, until the Prince of Peace returns and death and crying are no more, we will remember. We will remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country. We will support those left bereft in their absence. We will remember to seek reconciliation, knowing that while we cannot control the ways of the world, we can seek to work for peace in our own lives and communities.

Lord God, until there is no need for men and women to place themselves in harm’s way, we will remember and give thanks for those who did and died.

In the name of the One who grants us the peace that passes understanding, we pray. Amen.

 

Taken from the Presbyterian Outlook. Prayer by Jill Duffield

 

]]> A Personal Note from Pastor Dave http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/a-personal-note-from-pastor-dave/ http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/a-personal-note-from-pastor-dave/ Mon, 03 May 2021 08:00:00 +0000 Greetings PDCPC… I wanted to repeat a difficult announcement I made at church yesterday. As many of you know, my wife, Jessica, has been dealing with Lupus since the birth of Jalen four-and-a-half years ago.  She has been managing the auto-immune... Greetings PDCPC…

I wanted to repeat a difficult announcement I made at church yesterday.

As many of you know, my wife, Jessica, has been dealing with Lupus since the birth of Jalen four-and-a-half years ago.  She has been managing the auto-immune disease to the best of her ability, but recently her symptoms have been spiraling in the wrong direction.  The trigger for her symptoms are environmental—things like heat, dust/pollen, low humidity, and stress.We had to make a difficult decision for her health.  Based on the recommendation from her doctors and our therapist, we made the decision to relocate the family in a cooler place, with more humidity, and less dust and pollen.

The goal of this move is not only to limit her symptoms, but to get her healed of this auto-immune disease.  Lupus is something that can be healed, and so we are going to do everything we can to make sure that happens.

By the way, I’ve shared this information with church leaders last Wednesday and the congregation this Sunday—and the love and support has been beautiful.  It’s humbling to hear how many of you will be thinking about and praying for Jess and the family.  We feel loved.  Thank you.

This is a temporary solution, when Jess is healed of Lupus you can expect the Ludwig family to be back in the Palm Desert area as soon as we can.  However, to be fully transparent, we do not know how long this process will take.

I want you to know that Jess’ healing is a priority, but at the same time, making sure that Palm Desert Community Church continues to help people “Connect with God, one another, and the world—through Jesus Christ” is also a priority.  I believe both can happen at the same time. 

I will work with Session to come up with a clear schedule that maximizes Jess’ potential of healing, and maximizes PDCPC continuing to be the church God dreams for us to be!  My assumption is that I will have multiple days in a row in the desert, followed by days with the family.  As soon as we have this information, you will be the first to know.

Until then… if you have any questions, please call me at (949) 939-6687—that’s my cell phone—or email me at davidl@pdpresby.org .

Again, thank you for the phone calls, texts, prayers… all of it.

Grace and Peace.

Pastor Dave

]]> Earth Day: Secular, or Sacred? http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/earth-day-secular-or-sacred/ http://www.pdpresby.org/the-blog-pdcpc/earth-day-secular-or-sacred/ Wed, 21 Apr 2021 08:00:00 +0000 “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good…” Genesis 1:31Every year on April 22, we celebrate Earth Day, a day that marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Today Earth Day is the... Georgialee Lang “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good…” Genesis 1:31

Every year on April 22, we celebrate Earth Day, a day that marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Today Earth Day is the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people.

But Earth Day is even more special to Christians who understand and recognize that God the Creator blessed his people with a magnificent setting for them to live, thrive, and worship him…from the whitecaps of the oceans, to fields of lavender, from the highest mountain tops glistening with snow, to the baby lambs bleating in the pasture….God created everything!

The scriptures abound with word pictures of nature, but none more compelling than the “Tree” metaphors that are scattered throughout the bible, in fact, trees are mentioned more often than any other living thing, other than God or people.

Consider the Old Testament…Noah received an olive branch. Genesis 1:8; Moses stood before the burning bush. Exodus 3:2-5; Abraham sat under the oaks of Mamre. Genesis 18:1.

In the New Testament we know that Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree. Luke 19:1-4; The disciples gathered on the Mount of Olives. Luke 22:39. The apostle Paul wrote that Christians are like branches grafted into Israel’s tree trunk with roots that stay strong. Romans 11: 17-18.

The authors of scripture delight in nature and especially trees.  Examples include:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener." John 15:1

"That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither…Psalm 1:3

“Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the  earth." I Chronicles 16:33

“The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” Psalm 92:12

When we remember the Garden, we think of the Tree of Life, planted by God and created to enhance and perpetually sustain humanity, until man sinned, but all was not lost. Harkening back to Holy Week, the symbol of Jesus being nailed to a tree reminds us that through His death on the cross, we are given life everlasting.

God gave us the earth to protect and steward.  In Genesis 1:26 we read:

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Thanks be to God.

]]>