A Newsletter for Members & Friends of First Christian Church, Conroe. This Week in 10:45 am

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1 A Newsletter for Members & Friends of First Christian Church, Conroe This Week in 10:45 am Let s Go Fishing Psalm 8; II Cor. 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20 God is a God of action in this world and for all nations. In Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, God comes to this world to baptize, teach, and save. We are invited to share in this saving mission and are empowered by God as we follow. "In the Son and in the Spirit, God comes to us totally." - Eduard Schweizer, The Good News According to Matthew Like Peggy Trott in her May 1 Chalice message, I am thinking of a quip but cannot remember its source. Wherever it comes from, it has been one of my favorite quips down through the years: There is so much good in the worst of us and so much bad in the best of us that it behooves any of us to talk about the rest of us. Reminds me of Jesus words to those who were getting ready to stone the adulterer: Let (that person) who is without sin be the first to cast a stone. (John 8:7). Another quip: If the shoe fits, wear it. We ve all worn the shoes of judgment, but we can always, in the spirit of Christ, trash them as soon as we realize they are just that--trash. Pastor Ed Sunday June 15, 2014 Morning Worship 10:45 a.m. Sermon: Dr Ed Hennig Worship Leader: Peggy Schneider Elders: Peggy Schneider Diaconate: Ruth M / Lou L Sound Manager: Bill Schneider Video Artist: Jan Lewis Greeters: Genevieve T Lock-up: Richard Hove Hot Jazz & Ice Cream The Jazz Connection under the direction of Bob Price will perform at First Christian Church Sun., June 22, at 1:30 p.m. The concert will be followed by an ice cream social. Church members are encouraged to bring their favorite flavor of homemade ice cream. Not to worry. There will be plenty of Blue Bell!

2 Announcements First Christian Church Book Club June s book is Fearless by Eric Blehm. Fearless is the story of Adam Brown who was a Navy SEAL Team SIX operator. It was Adam's team that took out Osama bin Laden. The next book club meeting is scheduled for the fourth Thurs., June 26, at 7:00 p.m. Hot Jazz & Ice Cream The Jazz Connection under the direction of Bob Price will perform at First Christian Church Sun., June 22, at 1:30 p.m. The concert will be followed by an ice cream social. Church members are encouraged to bring their favorite flavor of homemade ice cream. Not to worry. There will be plenty of Blue Bell! Needed Part-time Nursery Worker Part-time nursery worker needed for some weekdays and for Sundays. Pay $10.00 hr. Church Choir If you are interested in being in the church choir, please let Peggy Schneider, Worship Team Leader, know. ***************************************************************************************************************** Make Plans to Attend the Regional Assembly of the Christian Church of the Southwest Cypress Creek Christian Church in Spring, Texas, will host the 2014 Southwest Regional Assembly It s time to make plans to participate in this year s Regional Assembly. Cypress Creek Christian Church of Spring, Texas, will be our host on Saturday, October 25, beginning at 1 pm, to Sunday, October 26. after afternoon worship. For those who can travel to this beautiful suburb of Houston, there will be wonderful fellowship, insightful workshops, and a powerful and creative worship service on Saturday night. Our General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins will preach on Sunday afternoon. The Coastal Plains Area is honored to host this biennium s Regional Assembly. Other special guests include our Acting Regional Minister and President, Rev. Coretha Loughridge, and all of our amazing Area Ministers. Registration will open late this summer, but now is the time to mark your calendars to join your Southwest Region brothers and sisters For Such a Time as This! Rev. Dr. Katie Hays of Galileo Christian Church in Mansfield, Texas, will preach on Saturday evening. (see Being Fruitful by Shirley Taylor, page 4). First Christian Church - to serve and praise God by sharing our love with all people as Christ taught. 2

3 Fellowship Page - Christian Workshops & Groups PFLAG - 1st Monday 7:00 pm & 3rd 3:00pm Location - FCC Choir Room Leader - Montgomery PFLAG Jamie Lee Alzheimer's Group - 3rd Wednesday 2:00 pm Location - Parlor Leader - Sarah Baxter Scouts - Cub (6:30 pm) Boy Scouts (7:00 pm) - Tuesdays Location - Family Center Leader - Andre Houser Hug-A-Bears - 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 9:00 am Location - Family Center Leader - Jim & Judy Hopper Food Pantry - Every Wednesday from 9:00 am to 12 noon. Location Family Center Leader Sharon Martin FCC Book Club 4th Thursday of every month 7:00 Location Library Leader Sarah Baxter May Ministry Reports Hug-A-Bears made 100 Bears Soup Kitchen served 456 people Food Pantry served 343 people Sunday Visits with the Pastor Dr Ed Hennig is available on Sundays to provide pastoral care and counseling. 3

4 PRAYER REQUESTS FOR RELATIVES & FRIENDS: Bryce Stevenson & Robert Stevenson relative and brother of B. Harris Charles LaCarter - husband of Barbra LaCarter Maddox McNear grandson of G Serrato; Sharon Blackburn (daughter-in-law), Mark Jackson (friend) - of M Caldwell; Ed Smith (son) & Terry Smith (brother) of B Smith; Patty & Bill Costello friends of D Smith; Derek Renshaw nephew of P Schneider; Bo Whitener son of D&D Whitener; Shirley Cason aunt of D Whitener; Gene and Connie Serrato Trebor Blackburn son of D Blackburn Tommie Barkley Jeffrey Aman- grandson of Lee Fennell Marcellino Suniga family- family of C Ortiz Jenny Omundson - sister of P Schneider Adam Schneider - son of B & P Schneider Sue Stephenson - niece of R Mancini Holly Williams granddaughter of M Caldwell David Deason son of L Lewis Lt Col Greg Overby friend and co-worker Dave Coyne Shirley Taylor Allie Miller relative of Margaret Lum Martin Takes the Bait? Martin arrived at Sunday school late. Miss Walter, his teacher, knew that Martin was usually very punctual so she asked him if anything was wrong. Martin replied no, that he had been going fishing but his dad told him that he needed to go to church. Miss Walter was very impressed and asked the lad if his dad had explained to him why it was more important to go to church than to go fishing? Martin replied, 'Yes he did. Dad said he didn't have enough bait for both of us.' Being Fruitful Almost daily I see huge motor homes going somewhere. It is summer and people are going on vacations, to visit relatives, to camps, and so forth. Getting away, leaving it behind! We all want to do that at some time or the other. Don and I have traveled all over the U.S., and in the South, we have anguished over all the kudzu that climbs up poles, trees and gullies, and over abandoned houses. It s beautiful, but the stuff is overwhelming, smothering other foliage. So when I heard Rev Dr Katie Hays, a Disciples minister, preach a sermon using kudzu as an example, it made an impression on me. Katie was talking about church attendance numbers, which she knows very well because she is the pastor of a congregation smaller than ours. In her sermon, she reminded us that Jesus said that he was the vine and that we are the branches, and that the purpose of the vine branches is to bear fruit. She said that Jesus did not mention growth, but fruit. The vine should not grow and spread out like the kudzu that grows all over the south. The kudzu spends it energy by growing leaves, but bears no fruit. She said that the plump juicy fruit is what the church is to produce, not a bunch of leaves. Last week, I watched as Jim Hopper took out a bag of plump juicy fruit, all in the form of Hug-A-Bears. Then I visited the Food Pantry where Sharon Martin and her group of volunteers handed out fruit in the form of boxes of food. Today I stood in the soup kitchen where the fruit is being prepared to take to feed the hungry. Dr Katie Hays knew that churches, even small churches, bear fruit by feeding the hungry and comforting the sick. Yes, we like numbers. Numbers enable more people to be involved in these ministries. But it is summertime! As you travel, remember the kudzu, and this fall, come back to your church ready to bear fruit. (Shirley Taylor) 4

5 Hug-A-Bear Thanks 5

6 Sunday, June 15, :30 am - Sunday School 10:45 am - Worship Service Monday, June 16, :00 PFLAG 1st Monday & 3rd Sunday 3pm Tuesday, June 17, :00 am Hug-a-Bears 1&3 Tuesdays 9:30 am Soup Kitchen 6:30 - Cub Scouts 7:00 pm Boy Scouts Wednesday, June 18, :00-12:00 Food Pantry 2:00 pm Alzheimer s (3rd Wed) Thursday, June 19, 2014 Friday, June 20, 2014 Saturday, June 21, 2014 Sunday, June 22, :30 am - Sunday School 10:45 am - Worship Service Weekly Calendar of Events FCC STAFF Guest Minister Dr. Ed Hennig Secretary/Newsletter Shirley Taylor Interim Music Minister Therisa Massey Office Hours Mon - Thurs 8:30 am - 2:30 pm Sunday School: Morning Worship: June 2014 Diaconate Schedule 9:30 am 10:45 am Wanda Fick; Genevieve Thompson; Ruth Mancini; Lou Lewis; Cathy Houser; Andre' Houser Prepare June 15 Ruth Mancini/Lou Lewis June 22 Cathy Houser/Andre' Houser June 29 Wanda Fick/Genevieve Thompson Worship Leaders June Peggy Schneider Lock-up June 8-June 14 Paul Mancini June Richard Hove First Christian Church 3500 North Loop 336 West Conroe, TX Church (936) Fax (936) (same) fccconroe@consolidated.net 6