THIS WEEK AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Transcription

1 THIS WEEK AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH For the week of December 12, 2018 A Note From Your Pastor Dear Friends, For many of us this is a busy time of year. We may find ourselves rushing from one thing to another, working through our to-do lists with little time or energy to enjoy the moments. For many of us this is a difficult time of year. We may find ourselves missing loved ones, longing for traditions that are no longer, even simply wishing the days were longer and air temperatures warmer. For many of us it isn t even about this time of year, but we are simply too aware of the stresses and strains of life and the places of brokenness in our world. I am aware, as we approach the third Sunday of Advent upon which we light a candle of joy, that for many people joy can be elusive right now. While that can t necessarily be fixed in a moment, often mindfulness can make a difference. I want to invite you to make a commitment to take some time out and: Pay attention to the places of joy in your life - what or whom do you take for granted and just need to spend some time appreciating? Pay attention to the people around you, whether friends or strangers, and ask how you might bring joy into their lives. Pay attention to the ways that God keeps showing up and is present with you. Pay attention to the ways that God asks you to show up for others, and make a commitment to do so. I remind you of the words of my favorite benediction: Friends, life is short. And there is little time to gladden the hearts of those who journey with us. So, be quick to love and make haste to be kind. I look forward to seeing you Sunday, Jill You Are Invited to join the Michel Family at their home on Christmas Eve Don t have other plans after worship on Christmas Eve? Please join us for a bowl of soup, goodies and conversation. RSVP to Jill at icdisciple.pastor@gmail.com Children s Christmas Program Join us in worship on Sunday, December 16 as we hear the Christmas story through the eyes of our children and hear them sing together. And to add to the excitement, this year s program was written by one of our middle school youth. Christmas Eve Offering will go to Table to Table This year our Christmas Eve offering will go to support the mission of Table to Table, a Johnson County food rescue organization that picks up food that would otherwise go to waste and delivers it to those who can use it.

2 This Week at First Christian Church December 12, 2018 UPCOMING EVENTS Wednesday Bible Study meets at 12:30pm each week. December 12 - Luke 2:8-20 and Matthew 2:1-12 December 19 - Isaiah 60:1-6 Children, Youth, and Families Christmas Program Rehearsals are Wed, Dec. 12, 6pm and Sat, Dec. 15, 1pm. Children s Christmas Program in worship Dec. 16. Questions? Contact Kara icdisciple.kids@gmail.com 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. 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. Food Pantry Focus: Baby Food We will collect Baby Food throughout the month of December for the Coralville Food Pantry. Upcoming Faith Formation Opportunities 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. January 6: Classes for children and youth will be back in session. Adults are invited to a one session class titled, Spiritual Practices for the New Year. January 13 - February 3: Adults are invited to join Kara Seaton, Laura Kittrell and Melea White who will be co-teaching a four week class on Disciples Identity. Whether you are a long time member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or new to this congregation and denomination, you are invited to come and learn more about who we are. FILL THE ARK Project Update Animals for Christmas We have raised $3,850 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. 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. Please, return envelopes by December 23rd. Sunday, December 16, 2018 Children s Christmas Program (Children gather at 8:45am)

3 This Week at First Christian Church December 12, 2018 DECEMBER CHURCH HOLIDAY CONCERT December 8, 2018 Gayle sang Silver Bells Brooklyn played Jingle Bells and gifted everyone with her first performance Jill put her fingers to work and played O Christmas Tree and The First Noel Tanvi and Nolan (left) playing The Christmas Song for which Nolan arranged the flute part Joy and Mark played What Child Is This and sang The Virgin Mary Had a Little Baby Laura and Maya (right) played a duet with Jolly Old Saint Nicholas Teegan played Silent Night Advent means coming, of course, and the promise of Advent is that what is coming is an unimaginable invasion. The mythology of our age has to do with flying saucers and invasions from outer space, and that is unimaginable enough. But what is upon us now is even more so a close encounter not of the third kind but of a different kind altogether. An invasion of holiness. That is what Advent is about. When Jesus was born, which two earthly rulers were in power? A. Quirinius B. Pontius Pilate C. Caesar Augustus D. King Herod Answers: See Luke 2:1-2. Frederick Buechner, The Clown in the Belfry The only blind person at Christmastime is he who has not Christmas in his heart. - Helen Keller Jesus took his place in a manger so that we might have a home in heaven. - Greg Laurie The most incredible thing about miracles is that they happen. G.K. Chesterton, by way of Father Brown Year s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. - Hal Borland

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-PM 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 8 Holiday Concert 2 PM Christmas Program Dress Rehearsal 1 PM Peggy out of office Jill Out of town Dec 1st & 2nd NO Sunday School Worship/Brunch 10 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