The Church at Litchfield Park

A congregation meeting was held in Souers Community Hall on Sunday, February 25th, and we thank everyone who attended. One item of business was to vote on the Sr. Pastor candidate, Rev. Dr. Karen Stewart. A quorum was present, so the voting commenced.

Our constitution and by-laws state that a Sr. Pastor candidate must receive a two-thirds “yes” vote of the total votes collected to be named our Sr. Pastor. Once the votes were tallied, this candidate was twelve votes shy of the amount required, which constitutes a “no” vote. Personnel Director Nancy Oreshack contacted Pastor Karen with the outcome and will contact the recruiter as well.

The Board of Directors and the Sr. Pastor Search Committee will hold a special meeting on February 27^th to discuss moving forward with the recruiter and if we need to revise the job posting.

While the Sr. Pastor search continues, Associate Pastor Rev. Kristofer McCoy will take on additional preaching responsibilities and other functions related to the Sr. Pastor job description. Youth/Children/Women’s Ministry Director Brenda Houlihan, along with other guests, will round out the preaching schedule. The church will bring in guest Worship Leaders as well.

We thank Rev. Dr. Karen Stewart for sharing God’s message with us this past Sunday. Please pray for Rev. Dr. Karen Stewart and her family, and continue to pray for The Church at Litchfield Park and its staff, your Board of Directors, and the Sr. Pastor Search Committee.

The CLP Missions Committee Liaison to Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank is Donna Gray.

In 1981, the Grand Canyon Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church, USA, began the Ministry to the Rural Poor, a very small-scale Food-For-The-Needy operation out of personal vehicles. This initial mission effort focused its work in the Goodyear-Avondale area, distributing food to refugees, migrant workers, the homeless, and the poor. In 1997, Maricopa County offered AFFCB the building at 405 E. Harrison Dr. in Avondale, where it remains to this day as the current location for the Food and Clothing Bank. Also, a clothing store was soon added, and the facility became known as the Agua Fria Food and Clothing Bank. Today, AFFCB is still a faith-based non-profit organization providing services to families and individuals in the Southwest Valley who are hungry, in need, or facing a crisis. Each year, AFFCB serves roughly 50,000 people with emergency food.

AFFCB provides these services to those in need: Daily lunch sacks for those who self-designate as homeless or those without the ability to store or cook food. Daily showers and shower kits, at no cost, for individuals who do not have their own shower facilities. An emergency food box is available once a month. An emergency supply of senior, 60+, specific non-perishable items once a month. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, food boxes are distributed to a predetermined list of recipients based on an application process at no cost. At Christmas, gifts for children are included as available through the efforts of local churches and organizations, as well as individual donations. Twenty-five babies a month, from birth to 12 months old, are provided with supplemental formula, food, and diapers. Once a year, AFFCB provides children who live in the service area and who attend a school that requires uniforms, with 2 brand new tops and bottoms as well as other school supplies, as donations allow, at no cost. Unfortunately, the clothing bank, which allows individuals and families to come in once a month for gently used clothing at no cost, is currently closed due to a lack of volunteers.

The Church at Litchfield Park provides hundreds of pounds of non-perishable food and financial assistance as needed. The need is greater than ever, and our neighbors need your help! For more information, to donate, or to volunteer your time, visit www.affcb.org