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Please join us every Saturday before the second Sunday of each month at 6:30 PM for “Second Sunday” Movie Night at CCOV! The movie will begin promptly at 7:00 PM.

We will be watching a new Family-Friendly movie each month.
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Stay tuned for more information about CCOV

The choir will begin rehearsing the Christmas Cantata on Sunday November 13. All are welcome and encouraged to join us for this annual event.

“The Desert Idol Talent Show” presented on April 16, 2011 was an event we could all enjoy. It consisted of two different outpourings of talent from members of the congregation. Hayden Hall was relegated to showing of artistic creations – paintings, jewelry making, photographs, quilts, gourd decorating, Southwestern art, etc. It was a most interesting exhibit.

“The Desert Idol Talent Show” presented on April 16, 2011 was an event we could all enjoy. It consisted of two different outpourings of talent from members of the congregation. Hayden Hall was relegated to showing of artistic creations – paintings, jewelry making, photographs, quilts, gourd decorating, Southwestern art, etc. It was a most interesting exhibit. Then, we all passed through into the church to view the animated talents of a large number of folks,- singers, dancers, players of instruments, all in all, a beautifully organized presentation of skills. We have a lot of talent at CCOV and this event, apparently becoming annual, is a beautiful showcase and earned enjoyment and gratitude from all of us!

Watching these exhibits and the folks on stage made some of us think how fortunate we were to have such a diversity of talents in our little congregation, but more than that, made some of us think how fortunate we were to have such a large number of people able to entertain us with such skill! And then the idea presented itself – that those talents, both the abilities of those who create something, and those who use themselves to present singing or playing an instrument, presenting a beautiful or humorous reading of some sort, all of us, no matter what our talent, receive that talent from God. Another gift for our lives from God! And we think, those of us who have some sort of gift, are blessed, and if we do not try to develop that gift, and use it, we are literally wasting what God has given us. So when a child or a grandchild seems to have a special ability, and we fail to help that child develop it, we are guilty of contributing to the waste of a precious gift from above.

We had a special guest at these performances. A gentleman with a warm and wonderful voice who sang for us and who had been and still is, a singer. At one time he had sung with a group, and now one of his roles in our society was to chauffeur the ladies from one of those Helpful Homes were a person may go to receive one on one care if needed. He brought the ladies to this presentation and they were obviously enjoying it and applauding vigorously! Ruth Kronbach stood to introduce their friend and driver, and let us know that he also had a group of folks under his care who needed help with mental deficiency.

So God gives not only talents of entertaining but of love and caring for others. Let us look within ourselves to see what gifts God has given US to use to help make our world more congenial, more loving for all of us! Do you know someone who has a talent and does not use it? This event at CCOV makes us think that we should try to change that with God’s help!

We thank all of those who shared their talents with us, made us think about this gift from God and realize what was within in us, and others, and in some cases, still waiting to be developed. Let us use what God has given us!

We have a rather heavy schedule to accommodate the learning. We begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday mornings, and practice for approximately one and a half hours — and will also practice for three Saturdays. While we practice on the three Sundays before Palm Sunday we will add a morning’s practice on each of those Saturdays.

Palm Sunday Cantata.

“Who Do You Say That I Am?

Man of Sorrows, King of Glory, Lord of Life!”

 By Lloyd Larson

We have a rather heavy schedule to accommodate the learning. We begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday mornings, and practice for approximately one and a half hours — and will also practice for three Saturdays. While we practice on the three Sundays before Palm Sunday we will add a morning’s practice on each of those Saturdays.

 If this writing makes it sound like too much work, please know that instead it is a wonderful way to get into the spirit of Easter and what it means – and every minute is a joy – but especially when our director gives a sign that we have done it correctly. Mistakes are erased as we practice. “How was that again?” “What do we need to do to improve it?” We strive to develop a sense of what is really meant here; we pay attention to timing so that the finished product is cohesive; to avoid singing off key;        to pay attention to the words and their meanings so that the sound of our souls singing duplicates what the composer intended and our sense of what Easter means. It is a deeply religious experience each time we sing with the poignancy that was intended by the composer, emphasizing the meaning of Easter in our lives. Truly, singing in the choir is a religious experience!

 We think ahead and try to avoid a rote sounding presentation but rather concentrate on the meaning of Easter as the Bible presents it to us. Our souls absorb the meanings, and we are glad to be able to feel the sense of love of God and Jesus as we sing. Those of us with ordinary voices are exhilarated to be singing with those who are experts in singing, as they support the group with their beautiful sounds.

 What a joy to be a part of such a group and our thanks go out to our director, Roy Blomquist for his work in bringing us together, teaching and guiding us to come closer and closer to what will spread glow of Easter over the whole congregation. We thank God for the experience and are glad to be a part of it. For those of you in the congregation who have come for a season of visiting Arizona, who have a voice just ready to sing out for Easter, come and be a part of our choir. We will enjoy each other and feel more deeply about the Easter Season in the voices God gave us. 

 By Margaret Bixby

 Don’t Forget!   Tues, February 22nd:  Our monthly trip to UMOM shelter to feed the homeless of Phoenix.  Meet @ 4pm @ Hayden Hall.  Sign up with Sue Bai, Carol Powell, or Janet Fotheringham to bring food or to help serve.  We will caravan from CCOV to the UMOM overflow shelter: 1120 W. Watkins Street, Phoenix.  It’s a meaningful experience you won’t want to miss.

When the leaders of the Protestant Reformation began to suggest changes in the way religion should be, there were three things that they made abundantly clear.

First, people should be able to practice their religion in their own languages. This led to the translation of the bible into German and then into several other languages almost immediately. The coincidental invention of moveable type and printing presses certainly helped this reform.

Second, they held that all members of the church formed a priesthood that was equally responsible for the conduct of the matters of the church and for the souls of the congregants.

The third change they suggested was that the congregations should take an active part in the celebration of the religion by taking roles in the services and by congregational singing. They felt that singing was an acceptable way of praising God. Luther was an avid hymn writer as was several of the other early reformers. Congregational singing remains one of his most enduring legacies.

“Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise,” wrote Luther. “I am not of the opinion that all arts are to be cast down and destroyed on account of the Gospel, as some fanatics suggest. On the other hand, I would gladly see all arts, especially music, in the service of Him Who has given and created them.”

He urged his followers to write German hymns based on the Psalms. Luther recommended that they “use the simplest and most common words, preserve the pure teaching of God’s Word, and keep the meaning as close to the Psalm as possible.”

So, the next time you sing Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress is our God” or any other hymn for that matter, remember that this is your opportunity to practice your religion and to praise God in your own personal way.

Bob Simington is an active member of CCOV and regularly sings in the choir.

Next week at CCOV, we’ll be celebrating Mother’s Day by donating raised funds to Church World Service in honor of our moms! Donations to this organization help provide blankets and other necessary items to communities in need around the world. We’ll also be beginning the membership survey that will help inform our mission study process. Please support this work and join us!