Photos from Parasols and Petticoats
Author: Wende Gonzales
Medical Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Educational Session
Wednesday, November 6, 12:00 pm
A light lunch will be provided with a suggested donation of $3 per person
Medical fraud, waste, and abuse is a critical issue in healthcare, as it raises the premium costs for everyone. Dr. Marcia Blake, a seasoned healthcare fraud analytical investigator will discuss the difference between fraud, waste, and abuse, with emphasis on how individuals can identify potential fraud, waste, and abuse in their encounters with medical providers. She will discuss how to review the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) received for a visit or encounter with the healthcare system, and how to compare the statement to what happened at a visit or encounter within the healthcare system. Attendees will learn how to understand medical statements with special emphasis on Medicare and Supplemental insurance statements, what to do if you find or suspect discrepancies in billing or abuse of system (e.g., billings for services not received or upcoding of services) along with what to do if you suffer physical or psychological abuse from a provider.
Over the next six months, our Wellness Committee will offer educational sessions collaborating with qualified internal and community professionals. Future educational sessions will address osteoporosis; falls and fractures; aging and agism/dementia; navigating the healthcare system; keeping important medical/legal information; visual & hearing impairments and assistive devices; nutrition for seniors; Footcare/Podiatry; medication; and end of life issues, including the Five Wishes program. In addition, an exercise program will begin soon to augment the informational sessions to support an active and healthier community.
The mission of this project is foremost to empower individuals to be self-advocates for their medical care and wellness, as well as that of their loved ones through the programs and information provided by the project. A secondary goal is ensuring trusting relationships are built between participants that help alleviate isolation and loneliness. In addition, individuals are encouraged to seek ways to remain active, better understand the aging process, community resources, and the medical system.
Pastor’s Notes 9/27/2024
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:11
This Sunday’s “Faith through our doors” offering will guide our attention to the Cobbs Hall entrance door we utilize every Sunday. The theme story we will spend the most time with, is the upper inside panel. It might just be the most comforting image in Scripture: Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
This powerful metaphor illustrates not only Jesus’ deep love and commitment but a desired fulfillment for his followers of knowing that we are never separated from the Divine.
Jesus knows each of us by name, guiding us through life’s valleys and celebrating with us on the mountaintops. His voice calls us to follow Him, offering direction in times of uncertainty and peace amidst chaos. Just as a shepherd tends to his flock, providing for their needs and protecting them from danger, Jesus nurtures our spiritual growth and safeguards our hearts.
In a world filled with distractions and challenges, we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus leads us. We are a part of the flock, and as those connected with Sun City Christian Church, we know that the lost will be found. It is a Spiritual gift of our congregation, to be there for each other. The Holy Spirit is moving through us in ways that comfort, guide and support when it is needed most.
On Sunday we will reflect on how we can listen more closely to His voice and follow Jesus’ example of love and service. As we gather for worship and fellowship, may we encourage one another to embody the characteristics of the Good Shepherd—compassion, care, and a willingness to lay down our own interests for the sake of others. Together, let us strive to be shepherds in our community, extending Christ’s love to those around us.
I look forward to worshipping with you in person or on YouTube!
Brett
Photos from the steel drum concert
We had a great turnout for the fantastic steel drum concert on September 22! Thanks, Dick Huggins, for these photos!
DWM Retreat
We had a wonderful time at the annual Arizona Disciples Women’s Ministries Retreat in Prescott!
Here we are with Rev. Carole Williams, a retired DOC pastor from Coolwater Christian Church. The 2025 retreat is scheduled for September 12–14 so save the dates, mark your calendars, and watch for registration early next summer!
Pastor’s Notes 9/20/2024
“Study to show yourself approved unto God.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (translation on the outside panel of the office door)
Have you heard the one about the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer? No, this is not the set up to a joke but one could think so. Rather, it is essentially the mixed metaphor used by the apostle Paul in his second letter to his mentee, Timothy.
In 2 Timothy 2:1-15 Paul is attempting to illustrate for Timothy (and us), what it means to be a worker for God. He is painting the picture of personality traits that we might identify with as those who effectively serve with the Holy Spirit moving through us.
We become a model for others. The ways in which we share the love of Christ, also becomes a metaphor for how the church is called to be the living presence of the Holy for each other today. Verse 15 according to the NRSV says, “Do your best present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.”
On Sunday we will explore in greater detail why this verse is etched into our church office door and how we continue to be faithful examples as (Disciples of Christ). You do faithful work, and I would encourage you to think about your gifts, your passions and the ways in which you uniquely represent Jesus to those you encounter.
It is a constant privilege to serve alongside you and I look forward to worshipping together in person or on YouTube this Sunday.
Blessings. Brett
Health & Wellness Seminars
Announcing our first Health and Wellness Seminar, open to the Sun City community!
Wednesday, October 2 at 12 pm here at Sun City Christian Church, 9745 W. Palmeras Drive
A light lunch will be provided with a suggested donation of $3.
Our guest speaker will be Dorothy Verdieu (Medicare broker). She’ll help us understand the Medicare traditional supplement and the Advantage Plan based on medical needs.
Future seminars will include topics such as foot care/podiatry, nutrition for seniors, navigating the health care system, and more.
Pastor’s Notes: 8/30/2024
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. –Matthew 6:12-15
The word ’embedded’ is an adjective meaning: fixed firmly and deeply in a surrounding mass; implanted. Faith is defined by Webster as a strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof. So, when we put these words together, we find an embedded faith to be a deeply rooted belief about God.
Theologian David Hartkopf says embedded faith is simply the assumed components of Christian belief, concepts and ideas that are taken as truth without thought on the part of the hearer. Often these are ideas and understandings we grew up with or learned along the way and they have taken hold as our core understanding.
This rationale makes sense when we engage in dialogue about Matthew 6:5-15. What is the “proper” language to use when reciting the Lord’s prayer whether we prefer debts, trespasses or sins. We all have a preference, and it is often an embedded belief we pick up as we grow in faith. “It was how my grandma prayed.” “The church I grew up in taught me.” “It is the language that makes the most sense to me as an adult and helps me understand with deeper meaning, the words I am confessing before God.”
As we can see in the italicized quote to introduce this message, both debts and trespasses appear in Matthew’s gospel account. If we were to summarize the concept even more, as some Biblical translations have, we can also trust that Jesus was addressing sin. Bottom line, there are many ways to find meaning in the Lord’s prayer and as a community of faith we make room to recite these faithful words as each person chooses (it is the closest the Disciples of Christ come to speaking in tongues).
Our diversity in faith is truly a gift and Sunday we will focus our attention onto what draws followers of Jesus together through the Lord’s Prayer rather than that which divides us. I look forward to worshipping with you in person or on YouTube.
Brett
Steel Drum concert
Don’t miss hearing this amazing steel band right here at Sun City Christian Church on Sunday, September 22 at 3 pm.
The Desert Winds Steel Orchestra is a large 15+ member steel band, performing on steel drums (pans) which originated on the Caribbean island of Trinidad & Tobago. Their repertoire includes calypso, Latin, oldies, pop songs, and an array of island tunes.
All in the community are welcome to attend. There will be light refreshments and we’ll receive a freewill offering.
Pastor’s Notes: 8/23/2024
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ –Luke 11:1
There have been many wise people in my life who have demonstrated that we are never too old to learn. A clergy mentor of mine started painting amazing watercolor landscapes at 82. My father took swimming lessons in his 40’s. I hope to soon learn the craft of stain-glass window making from our very own Jan Kansorka (if you would like to learn also, please let me know, the more the merrier)!
It has been a real delight watching many of us try new skills like crocheting, tying blankets, and threading elastic into sewn fabric to construct colostomy bag covers for Hospice of the Valley. Each Sunday when we enter Cobbs Hall for fellowship time, different outreach projects and items for the bazaar we are hosting in December are placed in front of us to help finish them up.
Learning is a timeless practice and each of us has the capacity to be taught something more. In our scripture passage for Sunday from Luke 11:1-13 one of Jesus disciples asks, “Lord, teach us to pray…” Jesus’s response is one of the versions of the Lord’s prayer to come from scripture (the other being Matthew 6:5-14 which we will study next week).
Jesus also goes on to tell and explain a parable that speaks of our need for persistence in prayer as well as God’s persistent response. In worship on Sunday, we will explore the multiple ways we can engage prayerfully and in so doing better serve God and our community.
As fall approaches, keep your eye out for more “Wednesday Lunch and Learn” sessions in Cobbs Hall. A full calendar of events will come to you soon as well and as we celebrate 50 years of ministry. You are certain to learn something new about the church we love! I look forward to worshipping with you Sunday in person or on YouTube.