May The eye of the needle is not narrow enough for two friends, but the world is not wide enough for two enemies.

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1 May 2015 The eye of the needle is not narrow enough for two friends, but the world is not wide enough for two enemies. I am so excited to begin being your new pastor the first part of June. We are beginning the journey towards Bonner Springs from Vienna, Virginia, June 1 with the moving van. June 7 will be our first Sunday at First Christian Church. I would like to ask you to take some specific action steps that will enhance our ministry together. First, pray, pray, pray to the Lord for the church and for me. Would some of you consider being a part of a Pastor s prayer partner team and meet with me weekly to pray? Second, begin thinking about your dreams for the church and how you might make those a reality. One of the things I want to do from the very beginning is get to know you personally. So please plan to invite me to coffee, lunch or dinner. I would love to be invited to your home. I want to meet every active and inactive member of First Christian Church to hear your hopes and hurts and dreams. My second priority will be preaching great sermons that will inspire and encourage. Typically I spend mornings in the office to pray and study and conduct meetings and the afternoons will be spent meeting all of you and the people of the community. I feel honored to have been called to be your pastor and I look forward to many years of ministry together as we honor our Lord Jesus Christ and help people learn to love God and learn to love one another. This will be a great homecoming for us and I am grateful. As a pastor, I come among you with this goal: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by God, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

2 TIBLOW TIDINGS PAGE 2 Spring weather is ushering in all kinds of changes! Flowers are blooming. Rains are watering the earth. School is coming to a close and graduates are preparing to face new challenges as they close one door and look forward to the next. Our congregation is preparing for the arrival of a new pastor. In our time of preparations we have grown in strength, leadership and hospitality. Like students in school we have been exercising our skills more frequently and they have improved. We should be excited because we are growing! In the April Tidings, at the end of Jack s article about our incoming pastor, Randy Beeman, he asked for Randy s favorite scripture which is Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. We have been stepping up and into that role asked of us by Jesus. We have been calling on the sick, the homebound, and volunteering to help where needed. We have been reaching out to visitors and members we may not have seen in a while. This time of transition has given us a reason to be more aware of and help out with needs of others. In Philippians 2:3 we are instructed to Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. I can see this verse blooming among our congregation. I believe it has always been a small plant, but now it is growing with many blossoms. As we continue to prepare to welcome our new spiritual leader, keep these scriptures in the forefront of our thoughts. Let them propel us forward with a renewed spirit. This time of transition has stirred in each of us a can do attitude. I pray that attitude remains just as strong when our pastor arrives. Please keep observing, reaching, greeting and leading in the name of Jesus as you are now. I found a quote where Paulo Coelho stated, The world is changed by your example not by your opinion. Be the example we need in this community. Be an example of how to share Christ s love with those who do not know it. Be an example of a part of the body of Christ. Be a hand, a foot, an eye or an ear that is helping us to work as a whole body serving the people of the community. Remember the great commandment given by Christ in Matthew 22:37-39 And He said to them, You shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Julie Roush

3 TIBLOW TIDINGS PAGE 3 Woodhaven, our denomination's facility for mentally challenged adults collects "Box Tops for Education" and bar codes to purchase needed materials for the residents including computers, craft supplies, games and other equipment. We can help make life more enjoyable for the Woodhaven residents by saving General Mills "Box Tops for Education" which are found on all G.M. products, bar codes from all Best Choice products and bar codes found on Campbell products. Along with items bearing the Campbell name these bar codes are also needed: V-8 Juices, Pepperidge Farm Breads, Swanson Broth, Wolfgang Puck items, Dannon Smoothies, Dan-O-Nino drinks and cups, Glad Bags and Containers, Spaghetti-O's, Franco American, Pace, Post Cereals, Prego, Emerald Snacks, Bic Stationery Products, Pop Secret and Magazines - PEOPLE, Real Simple, TIME, Cooking Light, Southern Living, Health and All You. A collection box for ALL items is on the table outside the back door of the office and a complete list of Campbell items is posted on the bulletin board above the table. This is a very easy way to help make a difference for so many - let's start saving those box tops and barcodes. Please join us Sunday, May 10th from 7:30-9:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall for Breakfast in celebration of Mother s Day

4 TIBLOW TIDINGS PAGE 4 You Are Invited To an all Church Wedding Shower HONORING: Brad Roush & Morgan Tinsley DATE: Sunday, May 31, 2015 TIME: 5:00 p.m. WHERE: First Christian Church, Bonner Springs Fellowship Hall A light supper will be served! Brad and Morgan are registered at J.C. Penny and Wal-Mart. An alternate gifting option will be a Money Tree. Hostesses: Tina Ashford, Theressa Beach, Gayla Dunn, Paula Ellis, Jane Hanks, Debbie Lohmann and others in our Church Family. WHERE: First Christian Church 148 N. Nettleton Avenue Bonner Springs, KS WHEN: May 24th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. RSVP: Julie at sjroush@att.net or text Courtney at Mr. & Mrs. TJ Tinsley III and Mr. & Mrs. Stan Roush invite you to share in the joy of the marriage uniting their children Morgan Jean and Bradley Charles Howard on Friday, the nineteenth of June Two thousand and fifteen at six-thirty in the evening Southside Church of Christ 1105 West 25th Street, Lawrence, KS Reception following the ceremony Abe & Jake s Landing 8 East 6th Street, Lawrence, KS Please RSVP on the sheet outside the church office by May 10th.

5 TIBLOW TIDINGS PAGE 5 Graduation Sunday May 3 rd! COURTNEY ROUSH Plans to attend Johnson County Community College Cosmetology School JENNA HAMMOND Plans to attend Kansas City University and major in Social Services AARON ASHFORD Plans to attend Community College then transfer to K-State and major in Biology First Christian Church July 26 - July 30 It is time to start thinking about making plans for summer camp! We are blessed to have a wonderful camp within 12 miles of our church, Tall Oaks Camp and Conference Center. It has many great summer camp options. They offer day camps for those that are just learning about camp to overnight camps for those who are excited to spend time in a country setting with others learning about how God can help them Power up! by Living in the Spirit! Tall Oaks offers swimming, horseback riding, archery and many other wonderful activities. First Christian Church pays 50% of the camp cost. If you need additional assistance you can contact Debbie Lohmann, Tina Ashford, an Elder or the office and we can work with an additional scholarship program to help with costs. We really believe camp can change lives, so please do not let finances be a reason not to experience camp. If you are interested, there will be information on the tables in the narthex. Please consider how camp can help you grow in your faith, be a place to make new friends and have a lot of fun!

6 TIBLOW TIDINGS PAGE 6 25th Bill & Wanda Breckenridge 3rd Alisha Day 5th Jackie Heffley 15th Mary Whitney 17th Doris Green 18th Edna Stewart 19th Kelly Stevenson 20th Shelia Blume 21st Monica Tisch 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 28th 31st David DeTar Newbert Cathy Cook Debbie Lohmann Brad Roush Lucile Pruessner Gayla Dunn Julie Roush Office - Shawn VanWagner, shawn@firstccks.org Organist - Gisela Weber Choir Director - George Blume Music Team Leader - Ron Beach Nursery Assistant - Alisha Day Website - First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 148 N. Nettleton Avenue Bonner Springs, KS 66012