FIRST FAMILY NEWS. New Beginnings Process. Crop Walk Donation to Co-Op. June 2015 O UR S E C O N D C E N T U R Y T O G E T H E R

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1 FIRST FAMILY NEWS June 2015 O UR S E C O N D C E N T U R Y T O G E T H E R New Beginnings Process The New Beginnings process takes at least six to eight months. Pre-assessment: Complete Phase I: Sunday June 7th, we will receive our comprehensive report from Rick Morse. It will include: Our congregational demographics and tenure Our community demographics A pin map showing location of membership Our financial history and analysis Building condition and attractiveness to visitors Facility usage and Stewardship of Time Potential strategies for mission Phase II: Hope Partnership staff will train our selected congregational leaders/ facilitators to interpret the report and lead a discernment process with the congregation. This training will enable the leaders to analyze our report, explore options, begin to develop a compelling vision for our congregation s future, and strategize about how to best engage our congregation in a decision-making process. Our pastor will also participate in a short course entitled, Leading Change in Congregations. Phase III: In weekly small-group meetings, our key leaders/facilitators will guide the congregation through the discernment process. This process will enable our congregation to make a formal big-picture decision about what you believe God is calling the church to do and be into the future. Phase IV: After this decision for a New Beginning is adopted, Hope Partnership will work with the region/area to refer the pastor and key leaders to available mission -planning resources, including Hope Partnership s MissionPathways service. Reference: -beginnings/the-new-beginnings-process/ Crop Walk Donation to Co-Op Last year, the Crop Walk raised $4414, of which $ went to the Lawrenceville Co-Op. Here Rod B presents a check to Co-Op director, Linda F. Way to go Church!

2 Meagan s Memos May was a busy month for the youth! With the Graduate Lunch, Youth Sunday, and a lock-in, we had many opportunities to fellowship with one another and with our Church Family. Thank you to everyone who came to these events and supported our youth. I have only been here at LFCC since December, but I am already so impressed by the way this church embraces and empowers its young people. So often, we hear people say the youth are the future of the Church, but LFCC embodies the truth that the youth are the Church NOW. I am grateful and excited to be a part of a community that so intentionally encourages the development of children and youth as Church Leaders and eagerly helps them to grow as people of faith. Keep it up! June Youth Schedule June 7 June 8-13 Camp CYF June 14 12:00 p.m. Lunch Out June Camp Chi Rho June 21 June 28 12:00 p.m. Lunch Out June 28-July 3 Camp Mid-High Peace, Meagan Disciples Women (CWF) News Book Club The Disciple Women s Book Club will be reading I Am Malala:The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. Amazon.com has a synopsis of what the book is about. Everyone is invited to read the book and join us for a book discussion and light lunch on Sunday, June 28th, following the worship service. The book can be ordered from amazon.com through the Georgia Disciple website ( or you can purchase at a book store. If you use the Ga. Disciple website, scroll down until you see SHOP amazon.com on the left, click and you can go to amazon.com. Camp Christian earns a commission on everything you buy through the Georgia Disciples website. Please let Rosie know if you plan to participate.

3 Deadline for July Newsletter is Thursday, June 18 June Birthdays 9 Candace Richardson 10 David Britt 16 Patricia Taylor 19 Anna Harrison 20 Nan Anders 21 Angel Ramirez 21 Angelo Ramirez 27 Judy Kling 29 Kevin Kirby 29 Connie Thompson June Anniversaries 21 Kim & Jimmy Peeples FRF/We Are Eating Around the World Join us on Tuesday, June 16th at 7:00 p.m. for our next FRF at the Olive Mediterranean Grill, located at 755 Lawrenceville Suwanee Road, Suite 1710, Lawrenceville, GA Youth Responsive Readers - June June 7: Rebecca Thompson June 14: Kaeden Carter June 21: Elizabeth Clackum June 28: Annie Ballew Worship Helpers June 7: 8:45 Reader - Tadd Huff 10:50 Reader - Beth Thompson Communion Meditation - Bruce Johnson June 14: 8:45 Reader - Melissa McAfee 10:50 Reader - Jimmy Peeples Communion Meditation - Linda Gulden June 21: 8:45 Reader - 10:50 Reader - Connie Thompson Communion Meditation - Hoyt Huff June 28: 8:45 Reader - Jan Trinks 10:50 Reader - Jimmy Peeples Communion Meditation - Elizabeth McElhanon Short Summer Jokes Q: What did the pig say at the beach on a hot summer's day? A: I'm bacon! Q: What do you call six weeks of rain in Scotland? A: Summer! Q: How do you prevent a Summer cold? A: Catch it in the Winter!. Q: When do you go at red and stop at green? A: When you're eating a watermelon. Q: How do men exercise at the beach? A: By sucking in their stomach every time they see a bikini.! Hair gets lighter, Skin gets darker, Music gets louder, Nights get longer, Life gets better. It s Summer Time! source: summerjokes.html Serving at the Table Elders: Elizabeth McElhanon & Karen Jensen Deacons: Karla Johnson, Lynn Boren-Parris, Margaret Parris Deacon-in-training: Elizabeth Clackum Lead Server: Lynn Boren-Parris, lead server, can be reached at If you can t be present on any Sunday, please call her as soon as you know. June Elders/Deacons Servant-Leaders Lead Server: Lynn Boren-Parris Greeter/Bulletins: Communion Preparation: Mary Jo Alvord, Nettie Patterson, & Gen Ashby

4 First Family News First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 3495 Sugarloaf Parkway Lawrenceville, GA Phone (770) Fax: (770) lawrencevillefirstchristian.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED LFCC Staff Pastor: Rev. Dr. Jay White Music Director: Kim Peeples Youth Director: Meagan Smith Office Manager: Linda Rowe 2015 Bill Hubbard Memorial Ride for Hunger Relief: June 27 Ride on the Silver Comet Trail to benefit the Lawrenceville Co-Op. Sponsored by McKendree United Methodist Church, the ride begins at mile marker 4.2 (Floyd Road Trail Head, 4342 Floyd Road, Mableton, GA). Registration and additional details are available at Getevent.com. Joys and Concerns We never cease in praying for the needs of: Eileen Mc; Nancy W; Mildred P; Barbara & Bill P; Reba T; Chris K; Bessie K; Ray E & Sharon J; Kris J; Dorrie T; Peggy R; Mary Jo; Claire B; Connie W s sister; Anna H s family; Emma J; Amanda C; Elizabeth C; Mark J s friend s wife; Chad D; Jay s friend; Alma F; Molly s teacher; Brian B; Donna B s friend; Barbara T; Mark J s friend s wife; Louise C s daughter, Lucy S; James B-C; Jay s cousin, Brenda W; earthquake survivors and rescuers; pray for persecuted Christians around the world; those suffering from depression. We give thanks and praise to God for... Martha Ann s granddaughter s husband, James, graduating from Candler; Congratulations to Rebecca T, Elizabeth A, and Elizabeth C, receiving honors at Central Gwinnett High School; Rosie T, birth of grandson; Nancy & Al G, birth in family. Family Promise Updates New standard pillows are needed at Peachtree Corners Christian Church for the next host week that is coming up quickly! Please give your donations to Karen. We will co-host at PCCC from June 28-July 5. Laurie will be sending out the Sign-Up Genius for the times to volunteer during that week. Please consider volunteering during this holiday week. Praise God! The Salt LIght Center is expanding its emergency shelter hours to 21 hours a day/7 days a weeks beginning July 6. The next Salt Light training will be on Saturday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m. Contact Cecelia at slc@familypromisegwinnett.org for more information. This month's Family Promise Volunteer Orientation will be on Monday, June 8, from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at Lawrenceville First Christian Church.

5 New Beginnings- A Musing By Our Pastor Here s a light bulb joke that appeals to me. I ve changed a few of the subjects to protect the innocents. How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb? * If you are Charismatic: Only one. Your hands are already in the air. * Baptist: At least 15. One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad. * Catholic: None. Candles, only candles. * Episcopalian: Eight. One to call the electrician, and seven to say how much better they liked the old one. * Methodist: Undetermined. Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved--you can be a light bulb, tulip bulb or a turnip bulb--you are loved. * Nazarene: Six. One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy. * TV evangelist: Just one. But for the message of light to continue, pick up that phone and pledge your support today. * Amish: What s a light bulb? * And finally, The Disciples of Christ : Change? My grandmother gave that light bulb!!! Well, we Disciples are not the only ones who resist change. In fact, this is the condition that vexes many of us, if not most of us. Physicists speak of inertia--the tendency of a body at rest to remain at rest unless acted upon by an outside force. Most churches suffer from inertia, as do most of their congregants. What is it that counselors say? Most people change only when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change. Those of us who are nature lovers may have observed a mother bird coaxing her offspring from the nest for the first time. She starts with a simple nudge. If that doesn t work, she begins to peck at the feet of her tiny chicks. And she continues to peck at their feet and their talons until the pain of holding on to the branch of the tree is more painful than the anticipation of letting go. She knows that her offspring have been destined to fly. There is more security in the sky than on the ground. And there is freedom. If only they were not afraid. A whole new world awaits them if they will only let go. God must look at us in the same way. We re so afraid of change. So slow to accept new possibilities. So reluctant to embrace new opportunities. That s true of individuals. That s true of churches. First of all, we must be willing to change. We must also be willing to confront issues we ve avoided in the past. If we are going to make a new beginning, we cannot avoid looking at old problems. This may include personal habits. It may include how we relate to our spouse and children. Repentance isn t just feeling bad about our shortcomings, it is taking stock of our situation--personal attitudes and habits, relationships, the direction of our lives--and then taking action to remedy those areas that need improvement. Some of you are familiar with the work of artist Georgia O Keeffe. O Keeffe moved to New York City from Texas and married Alfred Steglitz, a famous photographer. One night shortly after making this dramatic move, Georgia O Keeffe threw most of her paintings she had painted in Texas in the trash. After throwing her artwork away, she and Alfred proceeded to go out to dinner. Upon their return to their apartment, Georgia and Alfred found her paintings blown all over the street and sidewalk in front of their apartment. They didn t stop. They simply walked on by and went inside their apartment, leaving the artwork to the mercy of the weather and any passerby. This was an important event in O Keeffe s life. She turned the corner for a new direction with her painting. She put away the old ways to begin new and fresh in her new home of New York City. Georgia O Keeffe was not afraid of new beginnings. She was not afraid to take stock of where she was on her journey and to change directions when the situation warranted. Marianne Williamson writes, When you ask God into your life, you think God is going to come into your psychic house, look around, and see that you just need a new floor or better furniture, and that everything needs just a little cleaning--and so you go along for the first six months thinking how nice life is now that God is

6 there. Then you look out the window one day and you see that there s a wrecking ball outside. It turns out that God actually thinks your whole foundation is shot and you re going to have to start over from scratch. Only we know what needs to be changed in our life. Are you willing to change? Are you willing to face up to issues we ve ignored in the past? Finally, are we willing to live out the meaning of our baptism? As we start our New Beginnings we have a challenge to live up to and a resource upon which to draw--our faith in Jesus Christ. Resources: Rev. Dr. David E. Leininger, From Georgia O Keeffe and the Eros of Place. Cited by Mac Schafer,