The Christian Builder

Transcription

1 The Christian Builder February 2, 2017 A weekly publication of First Christian Church Midland Volume 61 No W. Louisiana Ave., Midland, Texas CHURCH CALENDAR Adult Sunday School Opportunities During the Sunday School hour, 10:00 to 11:00 am each Sunday, FCC offers 5 Adult Sunday School classes for all ages. Although topics differ all feature Bible study either based directly on the Bible or application of Bible principles. If you do not attend Sunday School we encourage you to visit one or all of the classes to find the one that you would like to become a part of. Being a part of a small group is a wonderful opportunity to share your faith and walk beside others as they share theirs. Each week in the newsletter the topic for each class is listed. Below you will find a list of the classes that are offered for adults each Sunday morning. Hope to see you Sunday! 2 Chronicles 7:14 Meets in the Library Class Members take turns leading. All ages are welcome. Fellowship Room 307 Leader is Jim Mauldin This class is geared for Senior Adults. Genesis Parlor Leader is Tom Jones All ages are welcome. Seekers Montgomery Room (Family Life Center) Leader is Mike Hunter All ages are welcome. Young Disciples Room 106 Leader is Paula Brooks Members of this class are parents of children which includes couples and single parents. Sunday, February 5 9am Contemporary 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional 12pm SOUPer Bowl Luncheon 5pm CELEBRATE 5:30pm Youth Super Bowl Bowlero Monday, February 6 9:30am Staff Meeting Tuesday, February 7 1:15 pm Food Pantry Stocking 7:30pm Boy Scouts Rm 105 Wednesday, February 8 7am Men s Prayer Breakfast 12:30pm Food Pantry 5:30pm Breaking Bread 7pm Choir Rehearsal Friday, February 10 6pm Girls Night Out Saturday, February 11 11:30am Women's Valentine Luncheon Sunday, February 12 9am Contemporary 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional 5pm CELEBRATE 5pm SOLID 5pm Stephen Ministry

2 Page 2 Thoughts Rev. Mike Hunter Senior Minister We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, in not an act, but a habit. Aristotle On Sunday morning, several of our members, recently trained to be workers and volunteers in our new special needs class, sat near a visiting family who had a child with special needs. Multiple times, they welcomed them, offered to sit with them, extended the invitation, without being pushy, to join them in the class. The family felt welcome and safe, enough so that they could remain in worship for the duration. They celebrated their experience as inclusive and positive. For their child, it was a milestone first, to remain in worship. They were going out to eat pizza to celebrate! They were already sharing their story with anyone who would listen about what they ve found at FCC. 29 visitors out of 228 total were in attendance on Sunday. Almost all of those visitors were because of a first-person invitation from a current member. Most of those guests were sitting with an FCC member. The hard work of a Children s Learning Center faculty and staff has resulted in a 100% occupancy for the spring semester. Registrations for the summer session begins soon! Two young people stopped me yesterday between services to ask me to write them letters of recommendation because they want to be on the youth council that plans and leads camps and retreats for all of our West Texas Disciple congregations. Of course, I said yes! Two weddings are being planned for our campus. Other wedding counseling sessions for off campus weddings are taking place, too. The Food Pantry is successfully distributing thousands of pounds of food each month to hundreds of ministry clients. But the more impressive story is how our FCC folks unpack our special grocery hub out of closets and boxes every week, give it away and pack it all up again. The setup and take down takes longer than the actual distribution! But they do it anyway. That excellent choir anthem on Sunday? The result of at least 120 people hours of rehearsal, not counting Mary s or Martha s time to prepare or lead those rehearsals. Sunday s deacon-servers were at least 40% new folks and youth, literally willing to lead and serve while they are learning to do it. I could write for pages about all the good that God is doing here. My point is it isn t just God. It s you, too. Excellence is often the result of coordinated effort for a higher purpose than self. Aristotle got it right. Excellence isn t an occasional or accidental act. It is a habit. In TJ s great sermon on Sunday, he reminded us that to God the good we do does not give us permission to stop the habit, but to continue forward into that next God thing we are spirit-called to do. Because we know how to listen, discern and respond, I am already looking forward to the next thing God has in store. Because serving God is an FCC habit. This Week s Sermon...Getting into the Game Scripture Matthew 5:13-20 Bible Study Topic Tow Healing Stories Leader: Rev. Mike Hunter

3 Page 3 Topics Rev. T.J. York Associate Minister Adult Sunday School Studies 2 Chronicles 7:14 - Library Topic: I Know His Name: Discovering the Power in the Names of God Leader: Members of the Class Genesis - Parlor Topic: A Hardened Heart Scripture: Exodus 7-10 Leader: Jerry Floyd Fellowship - Room 307 Topic: The Background of the Gospels Leader: Jim Mauldin Young Disciples-Room 106 Topic: Experiencing God Looking to God Scripture: Various Scriptures Leader: Paula Brooks Children s Activities Sunday School Lesson: Miracles of Jesus Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind Scripture: John 9 Focus: God wants us to share the Good News. Last week we talked about the Beatitudes and Jesus recruiting his team. We ended worship with the question, Can we do it? As members of the no good, second string, reject team, the poor, grieving, meek, hungry, people we are, can we say yes to following Jesus? I ended the sermon by saying, I don't know what God is calling you to do or be... I don't know what kind of situations you find yourself facing outside of the safety of the space. But what I do know, is that you do not have to look very far to see someone in need, to discover a situation that has been wrong and needs to be made right, or simply a moment of darkness in the world that needs light... So the question still lingers, Can we say yes to following Jesus? I think the answer is yes. Absolutely! I think we have everything that we need to faithfully follow Jesus. But how? If we are going to honest, saying yes to Jesus, getting into the game, is a hard thing. It has cost. So... what are you willing to give? Join us Sunday for worship as we take a second look at are sermon series Side Lines. Children s Church Topic: Jesus Heals 10 Lepers CELEBRATE Sunday, February 5 Preschool-Grade 5 Join us for some Super Bowl Fun

4 Page 4 Ponderings Rev. Paula Brooks Associate Minister One of my favorite songs is A Voice For You. I have been spending time reflecting upon the following words to that song.. Let my life be a voice for You; Above the noise, a voice for You; Let my heart sing Your praise til all that is raised is a voice for You. Let my life be a voice for You; My ev ry choice a voice for You; Let my life match Your words til all that is heard is a voice for You. I may not speak with tongues of angels, But I long to reflect the love You ve shown; So if I live, let me live that your love may be known. Let my life be a voice for You. God calls us each and every day to be His voice. There are many, many people in this world who need to hear that voice. They need to hear words of encouragement, hope and love. They need to know that no matter where they have been, or who they are, there is a God that loves them unconditionally. These people can be found as close as the person sitting in the pew next to you, across the street from you, in your work place and even in your own family. FCC is striving to be that voice not only within our church family, but within our community and beyond. There are many ways that you can be that voice. One way to be that voice is by taking opportunities to get to know the children in our church family. Volunteer one Sunday morning a month during the Sunday School hour or perhaps serve in Children s Church or at CELEBRATE from 5-7pm on Sunday evenings. We also have small groups that meet once a month for fellowship for all ages of children. Perhaps you might be a part of our special needs ministry by volunteering during the 11am worship service. The Children s Ministry team is made up of some amazing servants and we always need more warm, encouraging and loving people. If you would like to be a volunteer or would like more information please contact me. I would love to have coffee with you, go for ice cream, have lunch or just simply sit and visit about the children s ministry at FCC. Whatever you decide, I pray that each day you will strive to be a voice for God and that your life will match your words. Visitors January 29, 2017 Jim & Linda Blaisdell Harold Boze Meredith Greenwood Brown Frances Buzard Giese Family Izzie Goforth. Carolyn Graham Johnson Family Parker Killian Nicole & Joey Lipnick Jovanni Natera Terry Perry Martin & Cheryl Ramirez Nic & Aidan Ramsey Sunday Attendance January 29, 2017 Contemporary 56 Children s Church 4 Nursery 2 Total 61 In loving partnership, Traditional 169 Children s Church 13 Nursery 3 Total 167 Total 228

5 Page 5 Lectionary Scriptures February 5 Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) Psalm 112:1-9 (10) 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) Matthew 5:13-20 Church Bulletin Board FCC Welcomes New Members Sunday, January 29, First Christian welcomed by Transfer of Membership the Carter Family. We are blessed in having Glen, Marcie & Chandler in becoming a part of our church family. Pastor s/faith Development Class Elder - On Call 1/29-2/5 Tom Hill 1/5-2/12 Ginny Estes Each year during the Lenten Season, a Pastor s/faith Development Class is offered for those children who are interested/feel led to make their Profession of Faith and be baptized. Basically we target children in grades 4 or 5. However, a Pastor s Class participant doesn t need to be a 4 th or 5 th grader. A participant can be a youth or adult who has never made a Profession of Faith and who feels led to do so. It is a decision that is a personal and prayerful one. Classes will be starting soon so If you are interested, whether a child, youth or adult, please contact Paula Brooks or the church office at Our Deepest Sympathy We extend our heartfelt sympathy and prayer to the following families who have recently lost a loved one: The Family of Harold Stone... Harold passed away on Friday, January 27, 2017 in Lubbock, TX. Memorial Services were held Monday, January 30, 2017 in Lubbock, TX. Harold is the grandfather of Heather Johnson and the great grandfather of Syvanna & Brooklyn Duarte and Briar Johnson. Online Giving You can now give to FCC through our website! You can make a one-time donation, pay the fees for a children's or youth event, or set up recurring donations. Online giving is convenient, safe, easy to track, and easy to schedule on a regular basis. The Family of Sherie Byrd... Sherie passed away on Friday, January 27, 2017 in Oklahoma City, OK. Memorial Services were held Monday, January 30, 2017 in Woodward, OK. Sherie is the cousin of Lori Mast. The Family of Pat Merritt... Pat passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2017 in Midland, TX. Memorial Services were held Thursday, February 2, 2017 in Midland, TX. Pat is the grandmother of Rob Beggs and the great grandmother of Lee and Brittani Beggs. Please keep these families in your prayers With the peace and grace of Christ, may the Spirit of God gently enfold all those who sorrow.

6 Page 6 Gift received for Disciples Food Pantry In Memory of Diane Dixon Boling (daughter of Caroline Dixon) Disciples Food Pantry January 25, 2017 Room 203 Enjoying playing with shaving cream. Families served 110 Total People 496 We continue to rejoice that Resources for this ministry Are available

7 Page 7 2/4 Damon & Lauren Darnell 2/9 Jack & Troy Campbell 2/20 Dan O Grady & Anne Shaunesy 2/22 Bob & Vicki Rymal 2/26 Kyle & Tara Jones 2/2 Marilyn Friday 2/5 Katie Richardson 2/6 Kim Womack 2/6 Chris Huff 2/6 Eva Hamilton 2/10 Sandra Schnable 2/11 Netha Aaron 2/11 Cecil Odom 2/13 Katie Coffman 2/13 Aaron Young 2/14 Carrissa Hamilton 2/15 Mike Jones 2/15 Shannon Miller 2/15 Jace Esquivel 2/17 Lyn Brown 2/18 Gaylon Howard 2/19 Meaghan Villa 2/23 Ann Minter 2/24 Sue Bedford 2/25 Mollie Wright Prayers & Praises Those in need of prayer: Helen Estes Faye Casey Ray & Doris Stewart Robert Crudgingtion Dolores Hodges Clint Hurst Roberta Hurt Bill Schneider Sheila Crudgington Bill Griffin Johnny Espino Doris Stewart Mary Mauldin George Head Bruce Stanley Bill & Char Womack Special Notes: Our joys, concerns and deepest needs are already on God s heart long before we put them to paper. for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8 Military: Joe Henderson - son of Holly Moore Nicky Miller - son of Vicki Miller Kinder McCullough-daughter of Bill & Kelley McCullough Melissa Bianchi-daughter of Andrew Bianchi/Serving at Guantanamo Bay Families/Friends beyond FCC: Oscar Garcia brother of Amparo Olguin Gaylon Edwards cousin of Judy Hunnicutt Sherri Ladd daughter-in-law of Butch & Sherry Family of George Capps cousin of Sara Cranford Cindy Singleton-Sister-In Law of Mary Hurst Mary Elizabeth Droddy - sister of Sara Cranford Jim Truitt- friend of Peggy Jones Bill Bowlin brother of Mary Lightfoot Ray Ann Zant-Sister to Lyn Brown & Freda Kinsey Joann Scott mother of Carol Thompson Alma Thompson mother of Gary Thompson Will Wright- nephew of Joe Wright Ferell Powell- friend of Sharon & Bill Boyd Linda Odell-mother of Jeweli Flores Jessa Davis grand daughter of Nell Coats Herb Miller Disciples Minister known to many Vickie Williams & Family Bea Lea Somerville Dustin Davis grandson of Nell Coat Richard Smith son-in-law of Ray Stewart Marcia Chandler friend of Ray Stewart Melissa Thompson daughter-in-law of Gary & Carol Thompson Ed Shelton nephew of Scotty Alcorn Joe Langford father of Carol Cook Martha Pollock friend of Sara Cranford Please inform the church office if you or a loved one are admitted into a hospital, so we may be there for you & your family. For submission to prayer list contact any staff, submit via web, or prayerchain@fccmidland.org

8 February 2, 2017 The Christian Builder First Christian Church 1301 W. Louisiana Ave. Midland, TX Non-Profit Org US Postage Paid Midland, TX Permit No. 145 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED