First Family News. First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) December Anticipating a Rejuvenating Advent

Transcription

1 Page 1 of 11 First Family News First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) December 2018 Anticipating a Rejuvenating Advent Can we believe that 2018 is almost completed? Now we are ending the long season of Pentecost and entering into the new year of the church calendar, Advent. This time last year, how was your life different? What is one thing you accomplished this past year? What is something you have learned about God this past year? How are you living out your call to discipleship now? What might you let go of this year so that there is more time and space for you to experience something new? If nothing has changed in your discipleship path/growth, then ask yourself why. The beginning of a new year can be an opportunity for reflection and evaluation. I wish us all wisdom to discern what will enliven our spiritual lives as we journey together. I offer three Advent services based on a Celtic liturgy. These will occur on two Wednesday evenings (12/5 & 12/12) at seven pm and one daytime service on 12/6 at one pm. These will be times for meditation, some candle lighting, being still and listening as well as a short worship service all to last no more than 45 minutes. I hope you will come for a respite time here in our lovely sanctuary in this busy season. Recently I was able to walk on a labyrinth that allowed me to stride on its paved surface, I was elated! I am hoping some of you will join me on December 11 as I venture inside the perimeter into Buckhead for prayer walking that happens on a labyrinth. It s the way I truly learned how to listen to God. Regarding our worship services, the Advent wreath litany is going to include some pastor pondering and then family members doing a short litany along with a congregational prayer at the end. This means the sermon will be shortened. I will also give us a moment of silence to ponder the Advent theme for the week. The cantata will be presented on 12/16 and there will be no sermon that service. Our Christmas Eve service will be at 5:30 pm and last approximately 35 minutes. Advent means coming. What will you let come into your life as an individual, as followers of Christ, as members of the mission known as LFCC? What do you need to let go? With Joyful anticipation as we continue our journey together! Melinda

2 Page 2 of 11 Dear Church, We successfully completed our Following Jesus Farther Along the Way Capital Campaign with a Celebration Sunday on November 18th. We are thankful for the prayerful consideration and support given to this campaign. We did not have a final total in time for this newsletter, but we were well on our way to the goal of $120,000 as of the most recent tally. This three-year Capital Campaign will begin December 1, 2018 and commence on November 30 th For more information about the purpose of this campaign go to the link below for the PowerPoint used in the Town Hall meetings at Your Capital Campaign Team, Co-Chairs: Rod Baker & Tadd Huff Spiritual Life Chair: Lynn Lane Communication Chair: Beth Thompson Key Donors Chair: Elizabeth McElhanon Board Chair: Lee Thompson Pastor: Melinda McDonald

3 Page 3 of 11 Disciple Angels Disciple Angels, You have been my Angels for two years. This small church has fulfilled all our promises and kept our projected contributions because of you. It has been my honor and privilege to serve as your Disciples Women President. You have new officers starting in January. Thank you for being there and always stepping up. This could have been very difficult for a newbie, but it wasn t because of all of you. It has been a wonderful experience. I am grateful to be a member of this church. Melinda says that we don t just love this church, but we love each other! She is right! Thank you Angels! Dorrie Dinner at Blue Willow Inn Come join us for dinner on Saturday, December 8 at 4:30pm at The Blue Willow Inn and Restaurant in Social Circle. Make a reservation with Beth Thompson if you plan to go. Meet at LFCC to carpool at 3:15pm and let Beth know if you need a ride to the church.

4 Page 4 of 11 LIVE NATIVITY LFCC s Live Nativity will be on Saturday evening, December 15, at the church beginning at 6:00pm. There will be performances at 6:00pm, 6:30pm, and 7:00pm. This is an outdoor event but will move into the Sanctuary if the weather is too cold or rainy. Anyone who is signed up to perform should come to the classroom across from the church office after either service on Sunday, December 2, to be fitted for a costume. If you are bringing children to perform, please come on that day and help choose their costume even if the children are not present. One rehearsal will be held on Sunday afternoon, December 9, at 3:00pm. This should last about an hour to make sure performers know where to stand. We will do one walk through with the tape. Please be there! On the evening of December 15, performers should arrive at the church by 5:00pm to get into costume and meet in the classroom across from the kitchen by 5:45pm. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served to those attending. Please let Libby Ballew know if you would like to bring cookies. We need everyone s help in inviting friends and neighbors to attend. Please invite people you know to come. There will be flyers available on Sunday December 2, if you would like to take some to put up in places you frequent and encourage people to attend. This is a gift we give to our neighbors, so let s invite them to come! Special thanks to the choir, Bruce Johnson, and Kim and Jimmy Peeples for recording a portion of this year s Christmas Cantata to be used with the Live Nativity.

5 Page 5 of 11 GOD IS SMILING. Our worship of God goes out from this sanctuary into the world. Gerald Kersey and Candace Richardson continue to make our donation deliveries to Lawrenceville Co-Op. In November we delivered 116 items and October 106 items. Cards of encouragement for Richards Middle School will be blessed on 12/2. Thanks to all who addressed them.

6 Page 6 of 11 Lawrenceville Cooperative Ministry Update On November 8 th the Co-op hosted a State of the Co-op meeting to inform the supporting churches about the status of the Co-op after the move to the new location at 52 Gwinnett Drive and the relationship with the non-profits that are also in this new location. Executive Director Tom Balog provided some historical information on the journey of the Co-op up to arriving at this new place. Assistant Director Ruth Hardy and Communications Coordinator Glori Smith also provided input. The non-profit partners are Gwinnett Habitat, Navigate Recovery and Mending the Gap. The focus of the Co-op going forward is to work on providing food to those in need, while working with and allowing other ministries to focus on serving clients in the ways they are best at. The Co-op had to take out a loan to complete the purchase of the building, and while the partners rental payments, help with the monthly payments they have started a building fund for which there is currently a grant in place for a 50% match on the first $30,000 collected. In attendance from LFCC were Pastor Melinda, Gerald K, Candace R and Rod B. Gerald and Candace are our volunteers for delivering the First Sunday Food each month, while Rod, Pamela E-M and Josue M currently volunteer at the Co-op. For more information talk with one of the above or consider attending the next volunteer orientation meeting on Tuesday, Dec 11 th at 10 am at the Co-op.

7 Page 7 of 11 Important December Dates SATURDAY, DEC 1 Today s Tea Postponed until January Cedar Hill Playground Donations see SUNDAY, DEC ST SUN OF ADVENT First Sunday Food for Co-op Costume Fittings for Live Nativity after both services Make reservation and ride arrangement with Beth Thompson for 12/8 Blue Willow Inn event Co-op Angel Tree Begins Choir Practice 4:30pm Leadership Council 6pm WEDNESDAY, DEC 5 TONTO Christmas Mary Jo s 11:30am Celtic Evening Prayer 7-7:45pm THURSDAY, DEC 6 Celtic Daytime Prayer 1:00-1:45pm FRIDAY, DEC 7 Last day to make reservation and ride arrangement with Beth Thompson for 12/8 Blue Willow Inn event SATURDAY, DEC 8 Playground Build at Cedar Hill 9am-2pm (contact Melinda to volunteer) Blue Willow Inn Carpool meet at LFCC 3:15pm Blue Willow Inn Dinner 4:30pm SUNDAY, DEC nd Sunday of Advent Co-op Angel Tree continues Annual Congregational Meeting 12pm Live Nativity Rehearsal 3-4pm Choir Practice 4:30pm TUESDAY, DEC 11 Labyrinth Walk (meet at LFCC 9:30am) Sweet Baby Jane s 11:30am WEDNESDAY, DEC 12 Ewing Group 1:15pm Celtic Evening Prayer 7:00-7:45pm SATURDAY, DEC 15 Cast of Live Nativity meet at LFCC 5pm Outdoor Live Nativity (inside if too cold or rainy) Performances at 6:00, 6:30 & 7:00pm

8 Page 8 of 11 SUNDAY, DEC rd Sunday of Advent Cedar Hill Angel Tree gifts due (do not wrap) Co-op Angel Tree continues Choir Christmas Cantata (both services) Christmas Offering No Choir Practice THURSDAY, DEC 20 Life Line Screening at LFCC 7:30am-5pm Family Promise meeting 5:30-9pm SUNDAY, DEC th Sunday of Advent Christmas Offering Co-op Angel Tree last day No Choir Practice MONDAY, DEC Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service 5:30pm TUESDAY, DEC Merry Christmas! SUNDAY, DEC 30 No Choir Practice SUNDAY, JAN 6 Advent Decoration Removal 12-2pm December Birthdays 2 Gen Ashby 3 Andrew Jensen 7 Heather McAfee 9 Julie Thompson 12 Stephen Westbrook 14 Elizabeth Anders 17 Doug Carlisle 19 Julie Mowrey 23 Sophia Coker

9 Page 9 of 11 December Worship Helpers Dec 2: Responsive Reader Riley Ballew Scripture Reader Mabel Simmons Communion Meditation Kim Peeples Greeter Julie Thompson Dec 9: Responsive Reader Riley Ballew Scripture Reader Julie Thompson Communion Meditation Dorrie Toth Greeter Julie Thompson Dec 16: Responsive Reader Christmas Cantata Scripture Reader Christmas Cantata Communion Meditation Melinda McDonald Greeter Julie Thompson Dec 23: Responsive Reader Riley Ballew Scripture Reader Julie Thompson Communion Meditation Melinda McDonald Greeter Julie Thompson Dec 30: Responsive Reader Riley Ballew Scripture Reader Marilyn Parks Communion Meditation Dorrie Toth Greeter Julie Thompson Serving at the Table in December Elders Julie Thompson, Sanford Thompson (2, 9, 16, 23, 30) Deacons: Connie Thompson (2, 9) Lee Thompson (2, 9) Jimmy Peeples (2, 9, 16, 23, 30) Gabriel Evatt-Machado (16) Rebecca Thompson (16, 23, 30) Rafael Evatt-Machado (23, 30) Communion Preparation: Candace Richardson

10 Page 10 of 11 From Pastor Melinda I am asking us to see Advent a little differently this year and to put God as the subject of our sentences. It is Almighty God who is hoping us, peace-ing us, loving us, and rejoicing in us. The Advent season is the most earthy and most realistic representation of human life and God s response to us. The darkness and turmoil of our lives is part of the God story. God already has intervened. How will we act out God s hope, peace, love, and joy? First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 3495 Sugarloaf Parkway Lawrenceville, GA (770) lgafcc@gmail.com Minister: Rev. Melinda McDonald Music Director: Kim Peeples Administrative Assistant: Misty Gibson