C e n t r a l 1st W a r d Upcoming Events

January 7High Priest Temple Night 7:00 session January 22-Stake Youth Standards Night February 9Ward Conference

C e n t r a l 1st W a r d

A place where friends and family meet to uplift one another in the Central 1st Ward of the Pima Stake of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints
A Monthly Newsletter
Extra! Extra! Relief Society Program We Mourn the Passing of Brother Lavell Martin Page 2 Our Amazing Youth YW in Excellence and New Young Women Presidency Page 3 Primary Children Primary Nativity Baptism of Seneca Richards Page 4 & 5

Central News
Live Nativity

Issue #36 -- January 2014

Missionary Corner Sister Tyleah Windsor

Page 6

Ward Council
Bishopric
BishopRob Pursley -- 348-6504 Jeff McCormies -- 428-3263 Jeremy Hughes -- 348-16077
call Kerry Wilson at 428-6444 for an appointment with the bishop.

Its nice to be IMPORTANT, but its more important to be NICE

Young Men
President Tom Pursley 651-1115

Library
Sister Marva Bryce -- 428-0578

Message ! from the Bishopric

Brother Jeremy Hughes

Young Women
President Sherrie Greer - 245-4127

Ward Bulletin

! counsellor 2nd Dear Brothers and Sisters,

What an amazing time it is to be alive on the earth today. Never in the history of the world has there been anything even comparable to what we have as far as modern conveniences and the comforts of life we have to enjoy. We live in a time when the restored gospel is on the earth and the church is strong and is being spread across the entire world. We have Temples that are being built all across the world to bless the lives of the faithful members. We live in a time when technology surrounds us and is rapidly changing with some of it being very useful and uplifting and others very damaging. " We have access to more information than at any other time in history. " " Of all the technology and information available what a blessing lds.org can be in our lives. There are so many resources available to us through this sight for every

Sister Cami Launer -- 428-0134 doggiedr3@gmail.com

Relief Society
President Carol Parris -- 428-6568

Primary
President Christi Larson - 651-4464

member. "As we sign up for an LDS account we can log in and view valuable information pertaining to our specic callings, " highlight scriptures and make scripture notes, even write journal entries. " " There are many different activities for Primary children such as coloring and matching games, activities to help memorize the articles of faith, puzzles, and cartoons and videos. " Our kids love to watch Mormon messages and the "I am a Mormon" videos."As I have spent time in the church news section, I have felt a special connection and bond with members from all over the world that I would have never known about, without this sight. " To sign up for an LDS account just go to lds.org, click Sign in/Tools at the top, click Sign in, then click Register for an LDS account, click register as member, then enter your member ID number which is found on your temple recommend or through the bishopric or ward clerk. Next you will set a personal user name and password." I hope that each of us can use this tool of lds.org to draw closer to the Saviors teachings and draw upon the spirit that comes from studying the messages of His living prophets, apostles and other church leaders from all across the world.

Building Schedule
Brother Kay and Sister Sharon Taylor -428-5799
Schedule the building far in advance. It lls up quickly!

High Priests
Leader Ross Ferrin -- 428-0242

Sunday School
President Bill Allred -- 428-9462

Elders Quorum
President David Allred -- 242-8187

Ward Mission
Leader Jeff Green -- 428-2955
call Brother Green if you have a friend you would like to share the gospel with or if you would like to feed the missionaries.

Ward Newsletter
Sister Tracy Pursley -- 428-6370
call Sister Pursley or send your news item for the next newsletter edition to traco@cableone.net We always welcome your good news!

Love, Brother Hughes

Page 1

Page 8

C e n t r a l 1st W a r d We Mourn the Passing

! Brother Lavell Martin passed away shortly after his dear wife Laree left us in October. He passed away on December 8th at the age of 89. He was a WWII Veteran and was awarded the Purple Heart Award for injuries he received in France. ! Brother Lavell was one of our beloved Old Timers from Central. He grew up here and raised his family here. He worked at the old Central Market and was also a miner and farmer here in the valley. ! He married Nadine Layton in 1942. They had 10 children. The family brags that there is not a bad one in the bunch! After Nadine died in 1992, he married Laree Herbert with her 4 Abner Lavell Martin children. He served faithfully in the church his entire life with his Jan. 3, 1924- Dec. 8, 2013 favorite calling be that of a temple worker. ! Not many people can boast of as large a posterity as Brother Lavell has left behind. He had 14 children, 70 grandchildren, 159 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren! Isnt that amazing?! ! We will miss Brother Lavell. He was a pillar of faith and strength in our ward and community.

Announcements:
Senior Elf
Picture from EA Courier " Brother Carl Watson is a ne example of a member going out into the community to share his talents, the love of his fellow beings, and shining as a member of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latterday Saints. He volunteers in many civic organizations including acting as Santas elf for Project Luke which is sponsored by the New Life Church each year. This event helps families in need from many different faiths. We are so blessed to have Brother Watson as a member of our ward. If any of you are wanting to get more involved in the community, I am sure he can help you nd a way to get started. Thank you Carl!

C e n t r a l 1st W a r d

Megan and Matthew Stott

The Greer family have been such a nice addition to our ward. Their daughter Megan Greer was sealed to Matthew Stott on Friday, Dec. 27 2013 in the Gila Valley Temple. Receptions were held in Silver City New Mexico and St. Johns Arizona. " Megan is the daughter of Vinson and Sherrie Greer, Matt is the son of Alan and Dana Stott. " Megan and Matt will both graduate from BYU in April. Congratulations!

Relief Society Dinner and Program

The Relief Society always puts on a wonderful party, but this years Christmas program was one of the best. The sisters provided a potato bar dinner. Following the dinner the ladies were treated to a wonderful program that focused on the Angels Among Us. Sister Priscilla Woods and Cynthia Thompson shared instances when their lives had been touched by sisters who were on the Lords errand without even knowing it and were thus angel in their lives. Sister Bea Copsey shared an experience of a time that she was sent as an angel to a friend in need. Throughout the meeting, each sister there felt the spirit and reected on times when they were touched by the service of an angel in their lives. The evening was closed with a musical number by Sister Sharon, Brother Carl, and Breanna Watson singing the song Angels Among Us. Thank you Relief Society for all you do!
Roxanne Smith, Gena Tyler, Irene Barney and Rachel Whitmer all enjoy the delicious dinner and program

New Arrival
Parker Vance Richards was born to Aaron and Amber Richards on Dec. 30, 2013 and weighed! 8 pounds and was 19 inches long.! I grabbed these pictures from Facebook because they were about the cutest thing ever! Parkers brother, Logan, was so happy that he was screaming with joy to have a brother! Parker makes child number five for the Richards home. Our primary is growing! Congratulations Aaron, Amber and family!
Page 7

Parker Vance Richards

Page 2

C e n t r a l 1st W a r d

Missionary Corner
Sister Tyleah Windsor
!
Tyleah is currently seving in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Here is little bit of our most recent letter from Tyleah: ! This whole week I thought of the hymn that says Then should we think to earn a great reward, if we now shun the ght? I love this because it is so true. We cant ask for all the blessings without doing all the action. "! This week, well really these last 3 weeks, I have seen so many miracles but I am just gonna tell you this one. On Friday we contacted a part of our area called Buenos Aires. We knocked the door of this little old lady who was all too happy to tell us she was catholic. We knocked the next door and he turned out to be her son in law. He also only wanted to tell us that he is catholic but he did tell us that his son had been baptized in our church 4 months ago and married to a member of our church. Well yesterday in church a sister in our ward told us that her friend wanted to meet with the missionaries. We went with this hermana and the friend just happens to be the old ladys daughter, the mans wife, and the recent converts mom!!!! She cried TWICE in our little mini lesson. THE LORD PREPARES THE WAY!!!!!! Her name is Dorita and..I cant wait to see where this road takes us.

Our Amazing Youth

YW in ExcellenceMadalynne Windsor

C e n t r a l 1st W a r d

Live Nativity and Creche Festival

The Thompsons enjoy the Creche Festival Page 6

David Allred is a strong Centurian

What a wonderful holiday season! This year marked an all time high with the addition of a Live Nativity and Creche Festival here at our building. Sister Tracy Pursley ramrodded the whole event with help from Carl Watson and Lynn Smith and others. The event brought over 3,000 people of all faiths to the Temple grounds to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. People viewed over 70 nativities in the cultural hall while listening to beautiful musical numbers throughout the evening. The outside Live Nativity was performed 12 times with a different cast each of the three nights. The whole event was in the shadow of the Gila Valley Temple which of course brought the spirit in full force. We all look forward to this being an annual event.

This years YW in Excellence was taken on by Laurel, Madie Windsor for one of her 10 hour projects. She chose the theme of The Wizard of OZ. She assigned speakers around the characters such as the bishop speaking as the Wizard and telling us how to get back home to our Father in Heaven. The refreshments were also centered on the theme with green food for the Emerald City and Yellow Food for the Yellow Brick Road. The girls displayed one of the projects they made especially for the program. It was a fun night. Good job Madie!

Christiana Johnson, Hailey Greer, Jacey Brimhall, Beth Pursley Showing their projects

New Young Womens Presidency!

Sherrie Greer

JanDee Hughes

Amy Allred

! After serving for nine years as the YW President, Sister Carolyn McCormies has been released. She has done a wonderful job. All of us who have had young women go through the program while she was there give her and her presidency a BIG THANK YOU & WELL DONE!! ! The new president is Sister Sherrie Greer. She is no new comer to the young women program. She served as both the ward YW President and Stake YW President up in St. Johns before they moved here. ! She has called Sister Jandee Hughes as her rst counsellor and Sister Amy Allred as her second counsellor. These ladies are going to do GREAT! How can they not do a wonderful job when they have the best young women in the church to work with?
Page 3

C e n t r a l 1st W a r d

C e n t r a l 1st W a r d Baptism
Every child anticipates the day that they will be baptized. We congratulate Seneca Richards on making this important decision. She was baptized by her father, Aaron with her whole family in attendance. Congratulations Seneca!

Primary Children
Childrens Nativity Program
! This years Primary Nativity was held at the Old Central Chapel Cultural Hall. It was well attended and the kids sure looked cute in the famous Central Ward costumes. They are GREAT!! The addition of a wooden stable really brought the program to life.

Seneca with her dad, Aaron Richards Seneca with her family and Bishop Pursley

Cub Scouts
Novembers pack meeting was a real barn burner with Jacob Brimhall getting his Arrow of Light. The committee called in Phil Cluff from the district area to come and give a presentation ceremony. He brought two assistants and dressed up like Native Americans. When the rst drumroll sounded, everyone was scared and jumped! What a fun day for Jacob! -- Pack meeting is the 3rd Tuesday of every month. The Bears led the game and the Wolves did a skit.

Page 4

Page 5