Thanksgiving Dinner Sunday, November 12th- 5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall

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1 THE CALLER A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2017 EDITION Fellowship 8:30-9:00 AM Sunday School 9:00-10:00 AM Worship Service 10:15 AM Thanksgiving Dinner Sunday, November 12th- 5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall Please bring 2 sides to share: salad, vegetable or dessert Turkey, Dressing, Potatoes, Gravy and drinks will be provided. Please sign up in the kitchen if you are willing to: -Purchase a turkey (have to church by Nov. 5th) -Cook a turkey (pick up from church the week of Nov. 5th) -Purchase, cook, slice turkey & dressing for dinner Get ready for Thanksgiving with this special community service. Join us on November 21st at 7 pm at Bethel Memorial United Church of Christ in Creve Coeur. It will be a special night of worship with Blake and other ministers in the community participating in the service. We will take up a special offering to benefit our Food Bank.

2 BIBLE STUDIES Adult Bible Studies on Sunday Mornings at 9:00 AM Everyone is invited to join us for coffee and donuts from 8:30-9:00 in the Fellowship Hall and then attend one of the following studies Journey Through the New Testament - We are now in Colossians. Join us on our journey. This study is meeting in a room upstairs next to Rainbow s End Preschool. Your Divine Design - Led by Elaine Duncan and Pam Smith in the Library. All ladies welcome. Lord Change My Attitude - Led by Ryan Woodard in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome. Reading Devotional Classics for Spiritual Growth - Led by the Chenoweth s in Blake s office. Everyone is welcome. Rainbow s End is taking registrations for the school year. Operation Christmas Child Packing Date: November 5th We will leave the church at 1 pm and be back by 6 pm. Any questions, please see Rhonda Nienhueser. Nov. 20 6:30pm, leaving church at Chillicothe Town Theater - FREE EVENT Everyone is invited to join a Bible Study at the McMullen s house on Sunday evenings at 5:30. They will be studying I Corinthians. If you have any questions please see Larry or Linda.

3 THOUGHTS FOR THE JOURNEY Thanksgiving is Life-Giving One of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen once said, Gratitude is at the heart of celebration and ministry. I think he is right. Thanksgiving and gratitude truly are the opposites of resentment, and bitterness. Ministry likewise is only done through entering with our human brokenness into communion with others and speaking a word of hope. As we are approaching the Thanksgiving season it is always important to be reminded of the great things we have been given. We have received so much, and it is impossible for us to give in such a way that we have received. Gratitude then becomes the central virtue of a Christian. I am reminded of the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17, they are far away from Jesus and they are shouting for healing. Jesus heals all ten, but only one the samaritan leper comes and thanks Jesus. Jesus questions are profound in this passage: Where are the other nine? Was no one going to come give thanks except the foreigner? Again the outcast foreigner teaches us a lesson about giving thanks. We give praise to God for what He has given to us, but it surpasses anything that we will ever give. So we continue to practice removing any hindrances to us of giving thanks and open our hearts with gratitude. Spiritual growth happens when we slowly transform resentment into gratitude. Through the spiritual practice of letting go of jealousy and bitterness, and forgiving and affirming others, we can make rivals into friends and competitors into companions on the way to true greatness. When we discover that, we recognize thanksgiving is truly life-giving. ~Blake Future Sermons November 5th: November 12th: November 19th: November 26th: Knowing the Truth John 8:31-47 Blasphemy or Belief John 10:19-42 The Mission to Kill Jesus John 11:45-57 Into Jerusalem as a King John 12:12-19

4 Have you ever paused to think about everything God has done for you? He created a planet that s perfectly suited for otters and ostriches and you. Then, He sent His Son, Jesus, to that planet to die and be raised to life so He could have a forever relationship with you. Through the month, we ll help kids refocus on all that God has done for them. Because when you know what God has done for you, YOU CAN BE THANKFUL ALWAYS. GOD VIEW: the connection between Gratitude and God s character, as shown through God s big story Gratitude is a response to the character of God. Celebrate what God has done. We hope to give kids and families the opportunity to think about all the ways God has shown them love and faithfulness throughout the year. We want them to get excited and celebrate God s goodness. Adjust your attitude. We can change our whole outlook on life if we take the time to refocus and think about all that we ve been given. We pray that kids will see their own life differently and discover all the ways can show gratitude. Say thank you. We want kids to become the sort of people who take the time to go out of their way to show gratitude towards others. Always be grateful. Kids will learn that no matter what is happening in their lives, they can always find a way to say thank you. CHILDREN S MINISTRY kidcity Elementary Series: kidcity Pre-K Series: This month, we want to cook up a big Recipe For Thanks with our preschoolers! Thinking about the things we re thankful for is the key to any recipe of thanks and a thankful heart. We chose Recipe For Thanks as our theme because we want our preschoolers to learn how to have a thankful heart. We will start the month learning about the Ten Commandments. Commandments are some of those ingredients that may not sound yummy but they are oh so good for you. We ll get to hear all about the time God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. While we won t delve deeply into all of them (Some of them are a little out of a preschooler s realm of understanding.), we will shout out loud and clear God s number one commandment, we should love God more than anything! Our preschoolers will hear how Jesus taught them how to pray and practice praying the way He modeled. Preschoolers will learn that they can pray anytime, anywhere, and about anything. That s something to be thankful about! We all need people to help us. We can be thankful for our family and friends and all the people in our community. Think about how many people help you each and every day. Our final ingredient for thankfulness is not just one thing but THINGS! It s all the things we need, like water, food, clothes, and a place to live. We will talk about being thankful for God giving us what we need with Psalm 23. Preschoolers will hear how God takes care of us like a shepherd takes care of his sheep.

5 STUDENT MINISTRY Connect 18 Save the Date: Nov. 5th - Pack for Operation Christmas Child Nov ICOM - International Conference On Missions No cost to attend. Questions? See Georgianne YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US 9:00 am meet in the rooms in the lower level of the north building. Join us for grade appropriate Bible Study, making a stronger connection with our faith, Bible and church family. We pray together, have monthly activities and serve together. Please encourage & invite your young students to attend. We would love to have them! The coaches: Tara, Jake and Georgianne Connect Jr.-Those students who are in Junior High Connect Hi-Those students who are in High School Connect U-Those students who have graduated high school and moved on to College/University or career minded. These outstanding young people are always welcome with us. However, we encourage them to join one of our many enriching Adult Bible Studies. CREVE$COEUR$CHRISTIAN$CHURCH YOUTH GROUP where faith explodes in your heart WHO:&6 th grade$to$high School$Seniors WHAT:&TEEN$Fellowship$& Worship WHERE:&Creve$Coeur$Christian$Church WHEN:&Every Thursday$from$6I7:30$p.m.

6 WOMEN S MINISTRY 2017 Women s Ministry He is able to do anything above and beyond anything we can ever ASK. THINK. IMAGINE. - Ephesians 3: Calendar of Events Letters from the Heart - Nov. Ladies Fall Retreat - Nov. 10 & 11 Please join us for a women s retreat where we ll talk about Steppin Out in Faith: Living the Life God Designed! & at C.C.C.C. Doors open Friday at 5:30pm and Saturday at 8:30am HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO... 1-Lynda Bolton Jessica Chenoweth Becky Mock 6-Julie Parks Greg Douglas 7-Pat Bowen 14-Helen Perry 16-Gabby Stoltenberg Tori Crackel 20-Ralph Duncan Kristen Caho 23-Cody Bernard 24-Tara Merritt 25-Josh Stoltenberg 27-Judi Schorr 28-Joyce Widmer Dean Meyer FAMILY NEWS HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO... 2-Nick & Sharon Russo 16-Rod & Janice Hill 22-Greg & Cathy Douglas 29-Rich & Brenda Vercler

7 VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE November 5th November 12th November 19th November 26th Deaconess Deb Fuller Deb Fuller Deb Fuller Deb Fuller Greeters Judi Schorr Sandra Conover Pat DeFreitas Shirley Cusac Bert Cusac Judy Coffey John Schneider Brenda Vercler Rich Vercler Juanita Crook Ralph Crook Julie Parks Welcome Center Judy Crackel Josephine Bowen Judy Coffey Elaine Duncan Sound Tech Brody Woodard Brody Woodard Brody Woodard Brody Woodard Slides Tech Chanda Parod Chanda Parod Chanda Parod Chanda Parod Pre-K (hour 1) Malinda Gerhardt Maddie Friend Judy Crackel Taylor Calhoun Pre-K (hour 2) Ashley Adams Brenda Vercler Chanda Parod Larry & Velta Haynes Elementary (hour 1) Juanita Nelson Marna Gorrell Juanita Nelson Marna Gorrell Juanita Nelson Marna Gorrell Juanita Nelson Marna Gorrell Elementary (hour 2) Vince Crook Lori Merritt Corey Campbell Andrea Campbell Tara Merritt Vince Crook Lori Merritt Corey Campbell Andrea Campbell Tara Merritt Nursery (Sunday School) Nursery (Worship Service) Taylor Calhoun Sherry Stoltenberg Maddie Friend Sherry Woodard Chanda Parod Ashley Adams Lindsey DuPage Diane Siebenthal Thank you so much for the beautiful plant sent in memory of Blake s step dad Ralph. Your kindness was so greatly appreciated. Thanks again. Sincerely, The family of Ralph Silva Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers during my sister s (Kathy Carpentier) long battle with cancer. Thanks Blake for the phone call and thank you to the church for the plant and food. In His Name, Pam & Jack Harvey The Fuller Family would like to express our gratitude and thanks to our church family for the prayers and condolences in the passing of my brother Jeff. Sincerely, Mike & Deb Fuller

8 November Sunday Monday Tuesday Wed. Thursday Friday Sat Engage 6 pm Washington Christian Village 8:30 am Letters from the noon Food Bank 1-3 pm Engage with Enoch Nyador 6 pm Ladies Fall Retreat 5:30 pm Ladies Fall Retreat 8:30 am Thanksgiving Dinner 5 pm Prayer Meeting 5:30 pm Snack Pack Packing 10 am ICOM ICOM ICOM ICOM Free Movie Night in Chillicothe Washington Christian Village 8:30 am Food Bank 1-3 pm Happy Thanksgiving Office Closed Office Closed Elder's Meeting 5:30 pm Creve Coeur Christian Church 101 S. Thorncrest Creve Coeur, IL ccccwebmail@gmail.com Christmas Basket Giveaway Saturday, December 16th from 1 to 4pm