Thank you for joining us for the grand opening of our Atelier Exhibition earlier this month. We were overwhelmed with gratitude for those who gathered to walk through the incredible gallery of work created by our young students and curated by Ms. Melanie, our Atelierista.

“Beautiful, creative, and priceless artworks! Art is so important to growth. Thanks for all you do to encourage creativity!” -excerpt from the Atelier Exhibition guest book 

Our annual Atelier Exhibition is a valuable opportunity to share the incredible potential of early childhood education with our larger community. Throughout the week, we were able to share the work with our church community, preschool students and families, and educators from across Arizona including faculty from Northern Arizona University.

“What a poignant and stunning display of children’s creativity! It’s obvious a lot of hard work and love went into this Atelier. Thank you for instilling a love of art!” -current preschool family (excerpt from the Atelier Exhibition guest book)

As we approach our 30th anniversary in the fall, we are reinvigorated with our sense of purpose to provide high quality early learning opportunities and advocate for the rights of children and their families. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege to witness many of our students mature into young adults and we are honored to have played even a small part in their development. 

“I loved seeing all the beautiful art in this exhibit. I remember being a gecko!!” -Alumni student graduating from high school this year (excerpt from the Atelier Exhibition guest book)

Connect with us on social media (Facebook or Instagram) to stay up to date on future events. We are excited to share more upcoming alumni opportunities this coming fall in celebration of our 30th anniversary - stay tuned!

Last month, I was able to attend the Orange Conference online for my first time! While I was excited at the idea of participating in this conference and knew the purpose of the conference was to inspire and provide education opportunities for those in youth and children’s ministries. I had no idea what to expect beyond that. 

I was amazed! The conference theme, “Here For It!” was all about saying yes to being present for the faith of the next generation. The speakers talked of providing the next generation with a strong faith and a future that transforms others and the world. These speakers were not only encouraging, but innovative, motivating, and were on fire for the faith of our future generations.  One speaker reminded us that youth and children are most at risk before they even step one foot into their high school years. As the body of Christ, we can make a huge impact just by showing up in these kids' lives. The children we see every day at church and in our community can be drastically impacted by our presence in their lives, even in the smallest of ways. 

One speaker, Leslie Mack said, “Jesus reminds us the church is going to last.” She asked, “How can we make our faith relevant to culture right now? Culture is a mirror offering us a chance to see where we can innovate.” She asked a powerful question that can be asked of each and every one of us in the church body, “Do our actions of today match our hopes for tomorrow?” This question feels like a wonderful starting point for investing in our children and youth. It is such an important reminder that every action we take is a choice that we make.  I reflected on this question quite often in the weeks following the conference. Additional challenging questions flooded my mind as I thought about it. Am I seizing opportunities as they come my way to connect and serve when possible? Are my actions and choices reflecting the future goal to build the faith of our future generations here at Pinnacle? Am I strengthening my faith in order to impact others? Am I acting as a model of faith and God’s love for the young people around me? All things to consider as we work to lay a faith foundation for the children here. 

I encourage each one of us to ask ourselves Leslie’s question in a personal way, “Do my actions of today match God’s hopes for tomorrow?” God has given each of us unique qualities and gifts that when we chose to be here for the children, those skills and characteristics can allow us to make a positive impact in the faith formation of our youngest.  

There are so many small choices we can make to be here for the future generation. These might look like getting to know a young family on a Sunday morning. Shaking hands with the families and children as they walk in the door. Dedicating a few extra minutes of prayer each week for the children in our Pinnacle Kids ministry program. Helping behind the scenes with upcoming events. Joining our welcome team for a half hour on Sunday mornings to greet children and their families as they walk in the door, and even sharing a special skill with the children during a Sunday School lesson. What does your “here for it” moment look like?

For whatever reason I never learned to ride a bike as a child. I had a bike as a young boy, and it had beautiful training wheels on it. I graduated from my three-wheel "big wheel" to the bike and rode it around with the training wheels until one day something came a little loose and I asked the handy next-door neighbor to tighten it up. He helped me and "helped" me a little more by removing the training wheels that I couldn't possibly need any more. I thanked him and walked the bike home and put it in the garage - never to be ridden again.

I never forgot about the fact that I had never learned to ride a bike and was reminded whenever I saw classmates riding by as I walked home from school. As I got older, I would see people riding bikes and realized that I could never understand or comprehend what they were experiencing.

This all changed for me when I was about 35 years old and discovered, while on a healthy-living vacation in Hilton Head, South Carolina, that three-wheeled adult bikes ("trikes") existed. I was shocked and thought this was the perfect answer for me. I spent the week riding the trikes around the area and feeling the wind in my face. I was experiencing a feeling I never thought I would. I was told by someone watching me from nearby that I had a smile that never left my face.

When I returned home, I was intent on getting my own trike. I told my parents, and my mother - the most supportive person I've ever encountered in my life – pushed back and said, "No, don't get a trike. If you're going to ride a bike, then ride a bike." I was shocked and discouraged. But the discouragement didn't last long. I found a man who claimed he could teach anyone how to ride a bike. I figured that it was worth a try, and while the first lesson was painful and nearly fruitless, by the third lesson I was experiencing something I never thought possible - I was riding a bike.

I began making up for lost time and rode miles and miles on bike paths and through San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge and ultimately, after being challenged by a good friend, trained for and completed a metric century (100 km) ride. My body was exhausted and tired and quivering and sore, but I was smiling, crying, and filled with deep satisfaction.

For most of my life, the idea of riding a bike was impossible until I took that first chance and got a taste of it. But it also took some encouragement from my mother to take a bigger chance, and it also took work and effort. Sometimes in our faith we can find ourselves doing what I did for all those years. Something stopped us from growing deeper, and we took off the training wheels. We spend our lives going through the motions and watching people ride by. God's invitation to us is to take the chance and get a taste of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Being a part of a congregation of believers - others on the journey - will help you find encouragement and partners in the training. It isn't easy, but when you feel the winds of faith in your face all of the effort of the journey makes sense and brings a renewed purpose to your life.

Take some time to consider your present faith life. Imagining your faith as a journey on a path, ask yourself whether you're moving closer to God, sitting on the sidelines watching others go by, or maybe even walking backward wondering whether the path forward is even possible for you. Don't rush this process. Consider the things that keep you from drawing toward God and whether there are ways that you can be more encouraged to respond to God's invitation. If you're on a path that feels like you are drawing closer to God, how can you encourage others on their journey? How can all of us walk alongside others and share the journey, encouraging one another?

Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler: Mr. Bach, it's such an incredible honor to finally talk to you in person and discuss your Prelude and Fugue in D major BWV 532! We know that you composed it between 1709 and 1717. It is a true masterpiece! What inspired you to write it during your time in Weimar?

Johann Sebastian Bach: *chuckles* Please, call me Johann. Well, when I arrived in Weimar in 1709, I was thrilled to be hired by Duke Wilhelm Ernst as an organist and member of the court orchestra. The duke was a real organ enthusiast and encouraged me to push the boundaries of the instrument. It was like having a friend who constantly said, "Go wild, Johann!"

Ilona: *laughs* That must have been a dream come true! And it certainly shows in the complexity and exuberance of BWV 532!

Bach: Indeed! I was still figuring out the whole prelude and fugue structure at the time. It wasn't until later, when I composed The Well-Tempered Clavier in 1722, that I really nailed down the two-section form. In BWV 532, I was like a kid in a candy store, throwing in every texture and technique I could think of!

Ilona: The prelude is a real showcase of your skills, from the intricate manual work and technically hard pedal passages to complex textures and harmonic density. How did you approach composing it?

Bach: *grins* I wanted to give organists a real workout! I started with fast scales for the feet, just to wake them up, you know? Then I threw in some tricky patterns in the manuals to get their fingers dancing. And let's not forget the tempo changes, demanding Alla breve section, and double pedal at the end - I wanted to keep them on their toes!

Ilona: *chuckles* You certainly succeeded there! Now, let's talk about the fugue. That virtuosic subject spanning only a ninth is a thing of beauty. And what a devilish idea to have the second part start off beat! 

Bach: *smiles proudly* Ah, yes! I wanted to show off a bit with that subject, exploring just how much I could do within a relatively narrow range and with shifting the listener’s perception of a beat. I took it on a little journey through various key areas, just to keep things interesting. And that episode with playing around the dominant for 14 measures? That's like the musical equivalent of a cliffhanger before the big finale!

Ilona: This section always gives me goosebumps, and I have to control my excitement while performing! I heard that an earlier version, BWV 532a, was composed around 1708, two years before the one we play today. 

Bach: *nods* Yes, that's right! I was just warming up with BWV 532a. By the time I got to BWV 532, I had a few more tricks up my sleeve. I took that original fugue and gave it a serious upgrade – kind of like trading in a horse-drawn carriage for a sleek new ride!

Ilona: *laughs* I love the analogy! Your Prelude and Fugue in D major continues to inspire and challenge organists to this day. What advice would you give to those tackling this piece?

Bach: *winks* Well, first and foremost, make sure you've got a good supply of coffee on hand – you're going to need it! But in all seriousness, take the time to find your proper placement on the organ bench so that you can reach all the extremes of the pedalboard with ease. Explore the intricacies of the piece and practice all the wild body positions in slow tempo. Dive into the different textures, experiment with articulation, and most importantly, have fun with it! Playing the organ is a joy, and I want that to shine through in every performance.

Ilona: Thank you so much for your insights, Johann. It's been a pleasure speaking with you!

Bach: *smiles warmly* The pleasure is all mine! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a heavenly jam session with Handel and Vivaldi planned. Those guys really know how to party!

Written by Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler in creative collaboration with Claude AI

For over 15 years, this community has donated, volunteered, and shopped at the rummage sale. This sale has made it possible for our students to attend week-long mission trips domestically and internationally. Although funding these mission trips is central to the purpose of these sales, the rummage sale also benefits local communities. 

It’s noon on Saturday, March 23, 2024. This year's rummage sale has ended. The Fellowship Hall and Trinity Terrace are blanketed with donated items that didn't sell. The next day is Palm Sunday. The space needs to be cleared for church events the next morning. Where do these unsold items go? 

This year, unsold items were provided to four primary organizations and ministry groups.  

Ida Showkier - Mission Coordinator, Fountain of Life Church
Ida and her team of volunteers packed several cars and two U-Haul trucks of items. Last year, she took our donated items to the Gila River Native American Reservation and plans to take our items there again this year. She sets out our donated items at parks and community centers and invites individuals and families to take what they need - anything from clothing and kitchen appliances to furniture. She also brings with her donated food items for people to take as well.

Melissa Bates - Infinite Finds
Melissa is the President of Infinite Finds, a thrift store in Cave Creek. Established in 2017 as a 501c3 charitable organization, Melissa's organization provides resources to senior adults in our area needing long-term care. 

Revs. Brandon and Kristin Willett - First Light Fellowship 
Rev. Kristin Willett started the rummage at Pinnacle for the first time in 2009. She and her husband are now pastors at First Light Fellowship in Anthem. When our sale dates line up, Kristen and Brandon have received some of our unsold items and use them for the sale that they host at their church. This year, Kristin and Brandon were able to benefit from our unsold jewelry and borrowed some of our signage and clothing racks. 

The Society of St. Vincent De Paul of Phoenix - Thrift Stores 
Our unsold furniture items were donated to St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores. The money raised at these thrift stores supports the mission of St. Vincent de Paul - to feed, clothe, house and heal those in need.

Thank you for your support of our rummage sale and these local ministries!