The OPEN DOOR. LAKEWOOD CHRISTIAN CHURCH ;(Disciples of Christ) An Open Door to a Vital Faith Waco, Texas

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1 The OPEN DOOR LAKEWOOD CHRISTIAN CHURCH ;(Disciples of Christ) An Open Door to a Vital Faith Waco, Texas Congregational Meeting this Sunday, Feb. 23rd, immediately after morning worship service. Here are the lists of s: Steering Board: Position Scott Cromie Moderator Randy Tucker Moderator Elect Candy Sheppard Secretary Amy Mosley Financial Secretary Phil Roach Treasurer Program Group Coordinators: Ed Kultgen Jim Young Rick Cross Roger Bailey Terrie Tucker Position Congregational Life Group Mission Group Administration Group Physical Resources Group Child Development Center Group Deacons: Charlie Piscacek Madi Veloz Russell Snider Katie Scott Miller Scott Russell Scott Sharon Browning Thelma Matthews Betty Cook Donna Kultgen Al Thurston Thad Barker Katelyn Barker Kevin Barker 6509 Bosque Blvd. Waco, TX O-(254) F-(254) February 18, 2014 office@lccwaco.org Dr. James Cotten, Senior Minister Carrie Forehand, Choir Director Brad Forehand, Handbell Director Cristina Wolfe, Organist/Pianist Pam Huffstatler, Director, CDC Melissa McQuatters Admin. Assistant Alex Arocha Janitor OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday-Friday 9am-2:30pm Elders: Sue Lowry Hazel Martin Jennifer Scott Terry Ermoian Phil Roach Jennifer Roach Anjanette Piscacek Randy Tucker Chris Garey *Ministerial Advisory Team: Linda Jensen Ed Kultgen Terri Tucker Jim Young *This team is advisory only therefore appointed and not elected. One member of this team will serve on the Clergy Staff Team which is made up of officers of the board and will bring to the board matters of salary, performance review, etc. February 9 Sunday School 37 Morning Worship 146 Offering $4, February 16 Sunday School 37 Morning Worship 136 Offering $4,078.25

2 CWF CORNER Tuesday, Feb. 18: CWF Executive Committee Meeting (postponed from February 11 th ). 10 a.m. at the Olive Branch in the Spice Shops building on Franklin, across from the Hilton. This will replace the Prayer Group which usually meets on this day. Tuesday, Feb. 25: Priscilla Group meeting at 6:15 p.m. A light supper will be served. We will have a guest speaker, Kelly Jenkins, Street Outreach Coordinator for Central Texas Youth Services. He works with volunteers reaching out and ministering to street kids. All women of the church are welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!! CMF GROUP Some of the husbands of women attending the Priscilla meeting will meet at the church at 6:15 on Feb. 25 to go to dinner together. And it doesn't have to be just husbands! All men are welcome to join this dinner group. Just meet in the Fellowship Hall at 6:15 p.m. LOAF Next LOAF will be March 6th hosted by Jean Vestal there will be entertainment!! We start at 10 a.m. for fellowship and games and have a potluck dinner at noon. So bring a dish and join us! Heal the Soul Trinity-Brazos Area-Disciples Women s Ministry SPRING RETREAT April 4th -6th, 2014 Disciples Crossing - Athens, TX Registration Deadline: March 15th (Forms available in church office) Cost: $80 For more info, contact Kim Troxell at (817) or kimmytroxell@yahoo.net To the congregation of Lakewood Christian Church: My heart is overflowing with joy! Thank you so much for the church scholarship! The support and love that I receive daily reminds me every day of God s love. My journey to be a Youth Minister is something that I am very excited about and I know I would not be where I am today without the wonderful people of Lakewood. Thank you for your continuous love and support. Love, Logan Fraser Feb. 23, 2014 OPEN/CLOSE BLDG: Chris Garey ELDERS: Offering & Loaf: Sue Lowry Cup: Scott Cromie DEACONS: Team 2 COMMUNION PREP: Donna Kultgen & Thelma Mathews GREETERS: Miranda Brown, Margaret Holley, Wanda Morgan, Ed & Donna Kultgen ACOLYTE: GODLY PLAY: March 2, 2014 OPEN/CLOSE BLDG: Randy Tucker ELDERS: Offering & Loaf: Phil Roach Cup: Anjanette Piscacek DEACONS: Team 1 COMMUNION PREP: Thad & Katelyn Barker GREETERS: Daisy Moses, Lynette Baugh, Ethel Biddle, Dora Essary, Gene Hall ACOLYTE: GODLY PLAY: 1st Sunday Fellowship will be March 2, 2014

3 Dear My Fellow Follower of Christ, I'd like to share with you a trip that I am going to take that will hopefully be a life-changing experience for the people I come in contact with, as well as myself. During the summer of 2013, I was able to have an amazing job at First Baptist Church as a counselor. Ministering to the children made me realize that I want to be a youth minister. During this time, my co-workers were telling me about different mission trips they have gone on. I was very inspired to do the same thing. Once school started again in the fall, I joined my local Baptist Student Ministry group and it has been one of the best decisions of my Tarleton career. They have been the most supportive people that I have ever met. I was happy to find out that I have the chance to be a part of Beach Reach, along with some others from Tarleton State University. Our team will be traveling to South Padre Island and staying from March 8th until March 14th. While we are there, we will be ministering to the people of South Padre by giving free rides to people who aren t able to drive themselves, supplying people with food, and cleaning the beaches. Through this we hope to win many souls to the Lord Jesus Christ. I recently was employed by a local daycare, and half of every paycheck has gone towards my goal; however, I will need sponsors. I know times are hard so any amount that you might be able to give would be greatly appreciated. I believe that with prayer and God's help, my financial need will be met. Please pray for me as I prepare for this mission and while we are there. Pray that people will see the love of Jesus through us and will be touched in some way. I have never been on a mission trip before, and it will be my first time ministering to someone that isn t a child. Thank you for letting me share with you what will be one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. If you cannot help in a financial way, please help support me with your prayers. In His Service, Logan Fraser Mark 16:15 And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 1st Sunday Fellowship will be March 2, 2014 at 10:00am, between Sunday school and worship, in the Fellowship Hall. The Elders will be our Host. Board Retreat Saturday, March 1, am to 3pm Location: Jimmy & Wanda Morgan s farm This will be a training and planning session for the new steering board, officers, and all Elders and Deacons. Noon Lenten Services 2014 Noon Lenten Services (12-2:45pm) will be hosted by the following churches: Wed., March 26: First United Methodist Church, Waco Wed., April 2: Community Fellowship (First Church of the Nazarene) Wed., April 9: Lakewood Christian Church Wed., April 16: Western Heights Baptist Church These services will be brown bag luncheons with drinks and chips furnished. Please join us for spiritual growth and fellowship during this Lenten Season. For additional information, please call Janet Stephens at First United Methodist Church ( ). Welcome New Members!!! Shirley Watson ~ Truman Buck & Dean Bigham Digital Ministry Conference: How to create effective conversations and community online Congregations, social media & community - how do they fit? Saturday, March 8, 9 am - 4 pm; Bass Conference Center at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, TX Cost: Advanced registration by Feb $45; Registration after Feb $60 Register at or call Questions? call the Trinity-Brazos Area office at the number above

4 February Birthdays Charlie Piscacek, Chance Mosley, Nicole Gibson, Hazel Martin, Richard Sparks, Onas Fuller, Roxanne Glaser, Dale Olson, Jeremy Filz, Bill Mathews, Anjanette Biddle, Carrie Forehand, Marlee Veloz, Leona Curtis, Martha Griffith Lawrence & Melba Bowers Joe & Nadine Pollard Sherman & Aletha George Charles & Jean Vestal ***Please or contact the office with your anniversary dates. We want to make sure to include you on our Joys Section of the newsletter. Margaret Richardson, Joe Walker, Katherine Arrowood, Ray Moore, Pat & Jennifer McFerrin, Robbie Agan, Lonnie & Martha Griffith, Becky Crow, JoAnn Christianson, Brian Davis, James Dickens, Darrell & Betty Dungan, Brian Fairbanks, Gary & Marian Fraser & family, Onus Fuller, Richard Garey, Bob & Billie Jorda, Alicia June, O.K. Kelso, Nathan Lackey, Crissy & Richard Miller, Theo Mullins, Pat Rash, Sam Sexton, Jan Snyder, Kelly Spears, Bobby Smith, Grant Story, Bob Talley, Mike Thomason, Edrie Tiller, Tanner Underwood, Mya James, Ellen Julsen, Betty Wallace, Sharon Browning s father, Sheri Wiltland, Larry Webb, Lois Landis, Walter Pardaen, Eric Thomas, Fred Hoenicke, Ganna Denton, Clarence Carpenter, Lois Landis, Susan Cross, Joe & Doris Sula, Ricky Severson s mom ***If you have a prayer request or Joy, please use the prayer cards located in the pews. The Futral foster babies have arrived!!! Baby girl is 5 months old, and big brother is 18 months. Friends of the Futrals will be providing inhome support for the first couple of weeks. Anna has narrowed down times to Sunday-Thursday, 5:45-7:45 pm. Trent is in class during these times, so Anna is on her own with both babies. TO SIGN UP: Call or text Laura Byas at or laurabyas@gmail.com or Angela Carothers or visit: Also - Please consider donating any of the following items: Size 3 diapers Size 4 diapers Gerber Good Start Formula Toddler Foods Baby Foods Grown up Foods

5 Sin 3: Threatening to Quit Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." NRSV Matthew 28:19-20 Sometimes when we are feeling like no one is taking our ideas seriously, or when we really want things to go our way and they aren t, we are tempted to just quit the activity. (Another way to describe this is, I ll just take my ball and go home syndrome.) What we learn at an early age is that this will get the attention of others in the group. Especially if you actually own the ball the group is playing with. We instinctively discover that drawing on human nature s desire to work, live in community and groups that this will work. HOWEVER, we should also soon discover that this will work for only so long before your fellow playmates become frustrated with the manipulation and stop calling you over. The church as an institution is numbers oriented. I believe that the above Great Commission is one of the main reasons. Because of our need to know if we re fulfilling the Great Commission we have traditionally, especially in the modern age, used numbers of attendees or members at church. The church is also an institution which is dependent on the charity of its members and others to continue its mission. And finally there is a real sense that if we were to lose even one member we have somehow failed the church and worse failed God. So we are vulnerable to the threat of quitting by our members. And we expend massive amounts of energy trying to appease those who threaten to leave us, often, especially in times of conflict, leaving very little energy for worship, study and other activities. We as a church need to remember that it is our over arching calling to share the Good News in the entire world as best we can. Nowhere in this mandate is there a quota, or numerical goal other than the metaphorical all. Also, congregations are like families; we are all different from one another and not everyone fits in every place. This is okay! In fact, isn t it better to be somewhere that you feel called and complete? If you re feeling rejected and/or left out ask yourself honestly and prayerfully, is this just because I don t want to leave my comfort zone? or maybe others have a way doing things we simply haven t thought about. You might even consider a compromise or alternatives and let things turn out a little different from what you anticipated or desired. Try and keep in mind that it is ultimately God s will, not ours, that is the ultimate goal. And finally, if you really feel that you must leave a congregation and that the only way for you to feel right about your church membership is to go elsewhere. Then do so, plain and simple. Go ahead and let the pastor and/or Elders know, pray together, say your goodbyes but do not beleaguer the point, do not tell as many people as you can, do not try and get others to go with you, and do not say I quit and then hang around the next 6 months in the foyer trying to see how sad and upset we are. I ll tell you now we will be sad and upset but all the more so at being held hostage. Peace, Pastor James