THIS WEEK AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

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1 THIS WEEK AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH For the week of December 5, 2018 A Note From Your Pastor Dear Friends, Hello! It is good to be back home after a wonderful weekend of celebrating with people we love and worshipping with one of our former congregations. I was reminded how fortunate I am to have spent a lifetime of ministry serving with amazing people. Know that I count you among the amazing ones! While I was away Advent began in Christian communities and Hanukkah began for our Jewish friends. While Hanukkah remembers the rededication of the Temple and the miracle of light as oil enough for only one day burned for eight days, Advent anticipates the coming of the Christ and fullness of God s kin-dom with the adding of more light each week. Light. It is the image held in common between these two observances. And light is a common and beautiful metaphor for all of us as people of faith. In his book It Was On Fire When I Laid Down On It, Robert Fulgham retells the story of Alexander Papaderous who, as a child, had been interned in a concentration camp during WWII. Throughout his adult life, Papaderous carried a small piece of mirror in his wallet, which he had picked up after the motorcycle of a German soldier had crashed during his childhood. One day after a lecture, someone asked him, What is the meaning of life? Papaderous took out the mirror and answered this way, I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world into the black places in the hearts of men and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life. As we continue through this season of light...as we continue exploring together what the Kin-dom of God and the world of God s intention is like...as we ask questions about how we can be co-workers in bringing this about...may we each and all reflect light into the dark places of the world, may we shine the light so that those who walk in darkness can see another way. On a different note, my family and I would like to invite you to our home after worship on Christmas Eve. I know many of you have plans with family and friends, but if not, we d love to share the evening with you. We will put on some soup and share a light meal and conversation around the table at our home. Please let me know if you can join us (icdisciple.pastor@gmail.com). I look forward to seeing you Sunday, Jill Celebrating the Season with Music Join us on Saturday, December 8 at 2pm for the Second Annual FCC Holiday Concert. Enjoy both religious and secular holiday music as vocalists and instrumentalists share their gifts of music. And there will be chances for us to lift our voices together singing some favorite Christmas carols as well. And, if you love to sing, you are invited to join the Advent Choir which will rehearse Wednesday, December 5 (tonight!) at 7pm as well as Sundays, December 9 and 16 following worship. This choir will sing in worship on both Sunday, December 9 and 23. For more information about seasonal music opportunities, talk to Laura (icdisciple.music@gmail.com).

2 This Week at First Christian Church December 5, 2018 UPCOMING EVENTS Wednesday Bible Study meets at 12:30pm each week. December 5 - Luke 1:46-55 December 12 - Luke 2:8-20 and Matthew 2:1-12 December Board Meeting Mark your calendars: December Board meeting is Tuesday, December 11 at 7pm. We have important business to take care of in December. DECEMBER BOOK CLUB The FCC Book Club's next book is Reading with Patrick by Michelle Kuo. Ms. Kuo tells the true story of connecting with a student, and then connecting again when he goes to prison. Book Club is at Eunice Welsh's house, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 20. Faith Formation in December December 2-16: Classes for children/youth are as usual. Adults are invited to join Laura Kittrell and Jill Michel for an Advent Bible study in room 114. December 23: We will share an intergenerational activity with the opportunity for you to create your own nativity for your home. December 30: There will be no Sunday School. We will only have worship this day. Children, Youth, and Families Dec. 5 & 12, 6pm: Christmas Program Practice December 9, 3pm: Youth Group Christmas Party, at the Seaton home December 15, 1pm: Christmas Program Dress Rehearsal. December 16: Children s Christmas Program in worship Questions? Contact Kara icdisciple.kids@gmail.com ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS AT FCC Advent began last Sunday and before we know it Christmas will be here. Below you will find dates and information you should know to fully experience Advent at FCC this year: As usual we will worship together each Sunday, lighting the candles in the Advent wreath and exploring together the Kin-dom of God as we anticipate Christ s coming again. Want to sing in an Advent choir or play a piece for the Holiday Concert? More information is on page 1. This year s gift tree will focus on filling the ark. Envelopes are available with amounts ranging from $10 - $150 for a whole animal or share of one. More information is on page 3. We will again offer the opportunity for you to honor your loved ones by making a donation in their memory. These donations will go toward the purchase of some larger poinsettias for our worship space and an ornament will go on the tree in memory/honor of your loved one. You are invited to take your ornament home on Christmas Eve. Envelopes are available and ornaments will go on the tree December 16. The Children s Christmas Program will take place in morning worship on December 16. Christmas Eve worship will be at 7pm. We hope you and your family will be with us for this beautiful service.

3 This Week at First Christian Church December 5, 2018 FILL THE ARK Project Update Animals for Christmas We have raised $3,705 toward our goal to fill the ark. Throughout Advent, you will find envelopes on the gift tree allowing you to purchase a whole animal or a share of an animal (ranging from $10 $150). You can do this as a donation or as a gift for a loved one. It s a great gift for the person who has everything! Gift cards are available to send to those for whom this is a gift. Pick what you want to give, put your $ in the envelope, and place it in the offering plate or return to the office. Coralville Food Pantry December Collection: Baby Food The box for these items is in the church entry area by the Mission & Witness bulletin board. We will collect Baby Food throughout the month of December. Project Drawdown Are you interested in learning more about how to reverse global warming? Are you wondering how you can make an impact? You are invited to attend the next local presentation of Drawdown at the Unitarian Universalist Society, 2355 Oakdale Rd, Coralville, 52241, Saturday, December 15, 10am -12noon. This workshop invites you to see both the possibility of reversing global warming and the important role you play in that process, based on the findings of the Project Drawdown ( a comprehensive scientific study of 100 solutions that together could begin to reverse global warming by All Ladies Are Invited Join others from First Christian for food and conversation on Thursday, December 20 at 5:30pm. This month s outing will be to Texas Roadhouse. Questions? Contact Sharon Pickens. Sunday, December 9, 2018 Scripture: Luke 3:1-6 Sermon: The Kin-dom: It s About Equity DO YOU HAVE GIFTS FOR HOSPITALITY? If welcoming and feeding and serving others are on your list of gifts, then there are opportunities for you to share in ministry. On the last Sunday of the month we have a pot luck. In addition to everyone bringing a dish to share, there are some other jobs to do. If you are excited to help with set up, assist during the pot luck, or help with clean up, please speak to Maggie Keyser or click here to sign up. Each Sunday after worship we share a time of conversation and goodies. If you are interested in serving, sign up for a date by clicking here. If you have questions, contact Pastor Jill.

4 December 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 Pack PM 9 Youth Group 3 PM IA Rockets 12-6:30 16 Worship/Children s Program 10 AM BSA 3 PM & 7 PM 23 ANNIVERSARY S 8-Amy & Rick Elliott 20-Marilyn & Delbert Gilmore 21-Sherry & Roger Child 30-Jill & Finn Meadows 31-Erika & Sara Riggs 31-Teresa Messlein & James Martin 3 4 Staff Mtg 9:30 AM S&F Mtg 1:30 PM Elders Mtg 5:30 PM OCV Scouts 6-7:30 24 Board Mtg 7 PM 18 Staff Mtg 10 AM 5 Bible Study 12:30 PM Chess Club 3 PM Christmas Rehearsal 6 PM Advent Choir 7 PM 12 Bible Study 12:30 Chess Club 3 PM By-Laws Com. 5:30 Christmas Rehearsal 6 PM Strings & Singers 7 19 Christ the King 10 AM Bible Study 12:30 No Chess Club NO Bible Study No Chess Club 6 M&W 10 AM Clergy FCC 11:30 AM Exec Comm 5:30 PM Worship Comm 6:30 PM 13 Arrow Chapter Boy Scouts Mtg 7 PM 7 Love-A-Lot Christmas Prog & Recep. 6-9 PM 1 IA Rockets Pies 10 AM 8 PM Jill Out of town Dec 1st & 2nd 8 Holiday Concert 2 PM Christmas Program Dress Rehearsal 1 PM NO Sunday School No Pot-Luck Worship 7 PM 31 New Years Eve Office Closed 6-Jan Jensen 11-Emily Klein 12-Tom Klein 14-Brooklyn Mohr 17-Emily Greathouse 17-Finn Meadows BIRTHDAY S Office Closed 19-Beth Pelton 21-Kristin Greathouse 27-Ruth L. Potter 30-Annie Hartley

5 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) 900 LINCOLNSHIRE PLACE CORALVILLE, IA Sunday Services: 9 AM Sunday School 10 AM Church Service 11 AM Coffee/Fellowship Church Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 9AM to 1PM Phone #: Staff: Pastor: Rev. Jill Cameron Michel (home) (cell) icdisciple.pastor@gmail.com Office Administrator: Peggy Bothell icdisciple.sec@gmail.com Music Director: Laura Kittrell icdisciple.music@gmail.com Director of Christian Formation: Kara Seaton icdisciple.kids@gmail.com Janitorial: Michael Hull m.hull84@yahoo.com