Our Vision: Connecting People with God and Each Other Volume 56 Issue 2 January 25, 2017

Transcription

1 The Crest Our Vision: Connecting People with God and Each Other Volume 56 Issue 2 January 25, 2017 JANUARY 29, 2017 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY OVERWHELMED SERMON SERIES #3 - A SIMPLE LIFE PSALM 84 PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13 REV. TRISH STANDIFUR WORSHIP 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Sunday School In This Issue A Word from Kory...page 2 Prayer Concerns...page 2 Trish Talk page 3 Galentine s Day Celebration...page 3 Spring 2017 Plans for High-School Youth...page 4 Reconciliation Ministry? What Is It?...page 4 January S.R.O. Events...page 4 What is the Mathew 25:40 Fund...page 5 Attendance Figures, Stewardship, & Visitors.... page 6 Thank You Notes...pages 7-8 DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT CREST IS NOON, ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 JOIN US FOR AN ALL-CHURCH SKIING/TUBING TRIP TO PERFECT NORTH On Saturday, Feb. 11, we ll be loading up the Crestwood Caravan and heading to Perfect North Slopes near Cincinnati for a day of skiing, tubing, and hanging around the lodge! Everyone is welcome and invited to join us. Here are the costs: Ski Lift Ticket - $29 (includes tubing) Ski Rental - $17 Ski Helmet Rental - $5 Tubing Only Ticket - $25 Lounging around the Lodge Drinking Hot Chocolate - Free! We need to know if you re going by Friday, Feb. 3. You can call the church office or RSVP to Kory at kory@crestwoodchristian.org. We ll leave the church at 9 a.m. and return in the late afternoon. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We hope you can join us for what promises to be a fun and memorable day! CRESTWOOD UNIVERSITY: ROAMIN THRU ROMANS Our Crestwood U. Adult Education series returns in February with a Bible study of the book of Romans. Romans is a letter from Paul to the church in Rome. It s Paul s longest and most comprehensive letter, and lays out Paul s understanding of the gospel. This four-week study will take us through the letter, as we learn more about how we are to live out our faith. Crestwood U. will take place on each Sunday in February (5, 12, 19, 26) at 4 p.m. in the Bradford Room. Hope you can join us! CHURCH DIRECTORY UPDATES NEEDED We are beginning our annual update of the Church Directory. Binders are located in the Narthex for you to check your information and make corrections as needed. Please note your changes and/or corrections next to the current information. We publish our directory using the information that appears in these binders, so please take a few minutes to double-check your information. In order to be able to make corrections, changes, print, and make the directory available to everyone in a timely fashion, we need for you to update your information no later than Tuesday, January 31. There is also an app for iphones that will allow you to check your info. Please contact the office for more information.

2 Joys and Concerns Members Loren Broadus, Cheryl Arnold Brown, Becky Faulconer, *Carolyn Floyd Family of Members *Roger DeLacey (father of Matt DeLacey), JT Holbrook (father of Brad Holbrook), Cheryl Lewis (cousin of Libby Wachtel), James May (father of Lucy Nall and Betsy May) Friends of Members *Don & Venita Bartness (of Jeanne Jouett), *Johanna Crawford (of Joyce Leininger), *Greg Day (of Crestwood), *Bill & Jo Ann Duff (of Miinva Hodgins and Monte LaFrana), Family of Ned Lavingood (of Georgia Meece), The Mulligan family (of Heather Arrasmith), Doug Palmer (of Bill & Patti bridges and David & Janet Clark), Wilma Quire (of the Lakins), Peggy Rambicure (of Jeanne Jouett), *Phyllis Rohls (of Jeanne Jouett), *Kyler Snapp (of Heather Pergram), Rev. Bill Turner (of Crestwood) Armed Forces Paul Baird (grandson-in-law of Minva Hodgins), Blake and Jill Chambers and family (grandson of Joe & Karen Billings), Travis Cramer (of Doug and Gayle Hutcherson), Bud DeLacey (nephew of Matt and Michelle DeLacey), James Derrick (nephew of Joyce Leininger); Isaiah Holguin (grandson of Joe & Karen Billings), Andrew Lynn (grandson of Joe & Karen Billings), Patrick Ritter (great-nephew of Betty Tester), David Schloesser (of Matt Staggs), Rocky Shapla (friend of Jane Johnson), Justin Witt (nephew of Jack Witt) Heart-to-Heart Members Jean Aspley, Neva Bailey, Virginia Bohanan, Dottie Bransom, Jim Brown, Margaret Buchanan, Mildred Cox, Isabel Goff, Dee Gudgell, Nettie Sue Hughbanks, Jean Mitchell, Tommy and Peggy Lyne, Jerry Reece, Ann Smith, Henry Spencer, Nellie Stapleton, Marshall Wall, John and Jean Walters, Jerry Wells Our World Community We pray for the inmates of the Fayette County Detention Center and God s presence and peace in the areas of turmoil and suffering around the world. *Names added this week. Names included on the prayer list for one month. If a name has been removed that you would like added back on, please contact the church office. A WORD FROM KORY I bought a desk calendar on clearance a few weeks ago. It s amazing how cheap you can get a calendar once the year starts! This year, I picked a calendar of New York Times crossword puzzles. Each day (if my schedule allows), I fix a cup of tea, grab a pen, and take a stab at solving the day s puzzle. I ve always love crossword puzzles. I few years ago I watched the wonderful documentary Wordplay, about the world of crossword puzzles and the strange, eclectic people who inhabit it (present company included). I prefer to work the New York Times crossword puzzle, which is edited by Will Shortz, whose college degree is in Enigmatology (the study of puzzles). I believe my love for crosswords has a theological rationale. I am, by nature, a problem-solver. I enjoyed math in school because I knew that every problem had a solution. No matter how complex the equation, no matter how many numbers and symbols the teacher threw at me, I knew there was a correct answer, and if I worked hard enough at it, I could find it and put the problem to rest (and if not, I could distract myself with a crossword puzzle). So it s ironic that I now make my living in a profession that puts me in situations where there are no answers. In funeral homes, in hospital rooms, and in counseling sessions I m often faced with complex problems that don t have easy answers. The problem-solver in me has been forced to live with this tension. So one of the ways I deal with that is to escape into crossword puzzles, where there is always an answer (even if you have to look it up). I believe so much of the life s journey is a search for answers to questions with which we struggle. Some of these questions are existential ( What is my purpose? ) while other questions are circumstantial ( Why me? ). But all of these questions have one thing in common: they are not easily answered, if they are answered at all. No matter how hard we work at it, we cannot put these problems to rest. I m always skeptical of people who claim to have those answers. They turn the Bible into a self-help book that is meant to take away all of our worry. Let go and let God is a great thing to say to a friend in crisis, but how do you just let go of these questions? I struggle to turn over to God the challenges I face. Even though I know life isn t like a math equation, I still want my problem solved. Of course, God never promises to solve all our problems. Instead, God promises to be with us in the midst of our problems, to remind us that we are loved, to show us that there is reason for hope. Often, that comes in the form of friends and family who are willing to walk our rocky road with us. They may not have the answers, but they can help us ask our questions and look for God s fingerprints around us. I m thankful that I worship a God who doesn t require me to have any answers. In fact, I believe God expects us to live without all the answers, because that forces us to be dependent on someone other than ourselves. So when I am faced with situations in my own life or in the life of this wonderful congregation where the problems aren t easily solved, I trust that there is a Power greater than me that helps us through. Hmm. It s a three-letter word and the clue is, The One who loves you more than you ll ever know. I m pretty sure the first letter is G

3 CARING AND SHARING The Giving Lane The Giving Lane is a centrally located area of the church dedicated for individuals to drop off the many items being collected for our Outreach Ministries. The hallway leading into the Administrative Wing has been set-up as our Giving Lane. From ink cartridges, to items for DWM, to items for KY Refugee Ministries, to World and Local Outreach donations, the Giving Lane has bins for you to place your donations. GALENTINE S DAY CELEBRATION HOSTED BY DISCIPLES WOMEN S MINISTRY The DWM all-circle gathering is Sunday, February 12, at p.m., in Chalice Hall. All women of the church (members and regular attenders) are invited to attend and participate in our Galentine s Day Celebration. Childcare will be provided. We will have a salad lunch with an array of desserts. All those attending will make a small flower arrangement to take home with him. You are encouraged to bring a small vase or container for your arrangement (approximately mason-jar sized) and scissors/floral knife as well as any leftover ribbon or fabric scraps to share with others to decorate the vases. Fresh flowers will be provided (free). If you would like to join us please R.S.V.P. via to Laura Prather, lauranprather@gmail.com. We hope to see you there! STEPHEN MINISTERS Stephen Ministers provide a listening ear and Christian companionship for those going through difficult times. If you have questions about the Stephen Ministers, or know of someone who may benefit from them, please contact Trish at: Dear Friends, It is impossible for me to believe that we are 1/12 of the way through 2017 but we are. The next few weeks will be a blur before we know it. That is why I want to encourage you now to plan for Lent. Lent begins Wednesday, March 1. During that season we will be offering a few different opportunities to study and worship. Plan now to be a part of them. First, adult Sunday School classes will come together for a keynote and then break into discussions on theme Questions Asked Jesus. This pairs with the theme for worship Questions Jesus Asked. If you are not yet involved in Sunday School, this will be a great time to get involved! I am starting a new class on Sunday March 5. Begin thinking about this now and decide if this is a commitment you want to make. In addition to Sunday School we will be offering a midweek worship and fellowship experience called Piety devotion and dessert. Each Wednesday we will gather at 7:00 p.m. for a time of devotional worship and then we will have pie! (Or fresh fruit for those for who pie is not an option.) This is a new experience for Crestwood. So, look at your calendars now and add Piety to the Wednesdays of Lent. We will begin on March 8 and the last one will be on April 12. Planning ahead to make choices that feed our souls is important. We plan every aspect of our lives; our spiritual lives deserve the same attention. In fact if we put this first we may find that it helps us to be better equipped for the rest of the things that fill our days. Blessed to share the journey! Trish TRISH TALK trish@crestwoodchristian.org

4 HIGH SCHOOL (CYF) PLANS SPRING 2017 (AS OF JAN 10) AND SUMMER DATES *TIMES ARE 4 P.M. 6 P.M. UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE January 29 - Lesson and games February 5 - Lesson and games 11 - Ski and tubing trip (Saturday) 12 Mission Trip meeting for parents and youth; Lesson and games 19 - No program (President s Day Weekend) 26 Lesson and games March 5 - Youth Sunday Planning (Kory leading) *11 - Shamrock Shuffle 3K 12 - Lesson and games 19 - Youth Sunday Planning (Kory leading) Wakon Da-Ho Work Weekend and Retreat April 2 - No program (Spring Break) 9 - Lesson and games 15 - Easter Egg Hunt & Pancake Breakfast (8-10 am) 16 - No program (Easter) 23 - Youth Sunday Planning (Kory leading) Rolex 3-Day Event 30 Rolex clean up May 7 - Youth Sunday Planning (Kory Leading) 14 - No program (Mother s Day) 20 - Youth Sunday Practice (9 am to 12 pm) 21 - YOUTH SUNDAY!!! 21 End of year celebration (time and place TBD) Summer Dates Mission Trip June 4-10 CYF Camp 1 June 5-10 CYF Camp 2 June 26-July 1 CYF Seminar June 12-20

5 WHAT IS THE MATTHEW 25:40 FUND? HOW CAN I HELP? HISTORY OF THE MATTHEW 25:40 FUND In the late 1980s the Matthew 25:40 fund was established by the anonymous gift of $10,000 to Crestwood for the use and benefit of needy persons in Central and Eastern Kentucky. The fund was named Matthew 25:40 by the donors, and the Seekers Sunday School Class was designated to serve as an ad-hoc committee to fulfill the responsibilities as trustee of the fund. It was the desire of the donors that this gift will encourage personal involvement by the congregation...in meeting the needs of the poor, the homeless & the hungry. Further, the donors hoped that the Seekers and other members of Crestwood will see fit to continue their admirable efforts with direct involvement and support this program by working directly with the poor and financially supporting the continuation of the Trust Fund. A copy of the original Trust Agreement is available in the church records. Since the establishment of the Matthew 25:40 Fund, numerous individuals have received assistance, including funds for rent, utilities, gasoline, medicine, and other needed help. The use of the funds has been expanded when deemed appropriate by the Seekers class beyond Central and Eastern Kentucky. The original intent of the donors has remained constant in that funds are used to assist individuals or families in need with whom a member of the congregation has a personal involvement. Any member of the congregation who is working with an individual in need can bring that need to the attention of the Seekers class. The amount of help is typically no more than $500. In the past we have helped individuals by paying a month's rent or a deposit on an apartment. We have helped with transportation costs for needed trips, the purchase of child car seats and medication not covered by insurance. Most recently we have paired with Mission Beyond Bars to assist a young woman with the purchase of badly needed dentures. The assistance is typically one-time assistance. The Seekers class is renewing our fundraising efforts to increase the balance for funds in the Matt 25:40 fund. The Finance Ministry team has approved our plan to collect an offering the first of each month in the Adult and Children s Sunday school classes. Members of the Seekers class are also continuing the tradition started by Genevieve Baxter. Prior to her death, Genevieve was an active member of Crestwood and the Seekers class and started the tradition of making a donation in the amount of her age on the occasion of her birthday. We hope you will help us support this Crestwood ministry. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Libby Wachtel at erwachtel@twc.com or or any member of the Seekers class.

6 STEWARDSHIP & ATTENDANCE January 15, 2017 Contributions: Pledges & Offering $8, Capital Campaign $1, Attendance: Detention Center 8:30 a.m. Worship 30 10:45 a.m. Worship 254 Total Worship 284 STEWARDSHIP & ATTENDANCE January 22, 2017 WORSHIP VISITORS JANUARY 15, 2017 The Archibald family; Pam Cook; Terry and Vikki Curry; Presley Doss; Sally Fordham; Lois Francisco; Linda Griffin; the May family; Sandy Mixson; William and Ann Morris; Matt and Lauren Parsons; Summer and Kali Perry; Connie Pollitz; John Rasnick; Bill and Paige Rea; the Reininger family; Lida Rogers; Nancy Lou Slone; the Summers family; Keegan Thomas; Sandra Thompson; Scott and Tippy Wallace; Jeremy and Kara Wells January 22, 2017 Laura Carby; Anna Carey; Gary and Bonny Crawford; Ana Fischer; the Hounschell family; Ronnie and Susie Howard; Noemi Lugo; David and Angie Kyle; Lori Pasquariello; Summer Perry; Alex Sawyer; Betty Shanklin; Nancy Lou Slone; Ada Thompson; Beverly Turner; Doris Woodward; Dave Zenger Contributions: Pledges & Offering $15, Capital Campaign $1, Attendance: Detention Center 8:30 a.m. Worship 54 10:45 a.m. Worship 250 MANPOWER Our next ManPower gathering will be Saturday, February 4, at 8:30 a.m. All men of the church are encouraged to participate. This is a great way to connect with each other and make a difference in the life of the church! If you are planning on attending, please Tim Letcher and let know (timletcher14@gmail.com). Total Worship 304 MEMORIAL GIFTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN MEMORY OF: Bob Allen These gifts allow us to cherish the memory of these individuals by furthering our different ministries here at Crestwood. HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER MISSION TRIP High School youth have an opportunity to participate in a week of service in Joplin, Missouri, June All interested youth and parents are invited to an informational meeting February 12, 4 p.m., in the CYF room. ACOLYTE ORIENTATION Is your 3rd thru 5th grader interested in becoming an Acolyte? A brief orientation for those interested will be conducted on Sunday, January 29, during the 9:30 a.m. Sunday School Hour. If interested please contact Tracy Paden at jtpaden@yahoo.com or call (859) JANUARY S.R.O. EVENTS FUNCH will meet on the last Friday of the month, January 27, at 11:30 a.m., for fun + lunch. Coming soon, there will be an adult Bible study that will meet weekly. The focus of this class will be to build relationships with one another, to study the scriptures and discern how to be faithful in our day-to-day lives. Watch the Weekly for more information. SRO = Seniors, Retirees, and Others!

7 Dear Friends, During this time of year, we stand on tiptoes waiting for the Christmas proclamation that God is with us, waiting for God s human revelation of kindness and truth. During this time of year, our lives are touched by God s love causing us to be kind and generous towards people around us. Thank you for your kind and generous gift of $ Your concern for those who need special care to live lives of independence and dignity enables Christian Care Communities to offer care and support to over 5,000 Older Adults and their families each year. We rejoice together as partners! Because of generous support, the ministries of Christian Care Communities reach across Kentucky and the love of Christ is experienced by those Older Adults we serve together. Thank you for your compassionate concern. Thank you for caring. ~In His Service, James W. Patton, LL.M., M.Div. Vice President - Mission Advancement and General Counsel Dear Crestwood Young Parents Class, Thank you for the gift card as we welcomed Rosie. We re continually grateful for the ways you and Crestwood love and support our family. Best wish and love to you all. ~Peace, Robyn and Jordan Bles Dear Crestwood Christian Church, On behalf of the clients of the Hope Center, I want to thank you for your recent donation of $ Your continuous and loyal contributions allow us to keep helping those who need it most. Here, I have a second chance, and if it wasn t for the Hope Center, I would be out in the streets, are things we here from our clients frequently. Without the support of people like you - people who value the liferebuilding work that is done here every day - we would not be able to offer the range and quality of services that we do. Each of these services is crucial to our mission: addressing the underlying causes of homelessness. Your gift will allow us to help more people get off the streets, to shed the crushing weight of addiction, to stabilize mental illness, to find a place they can call home, and to change their own lives from the inside out. The most effective way to change these lives by moving each client toward self-sufficiency. Our programs not only address basic needs, like the 33,000 meals served and 24,000 nights of lodging provided each month, but also provide the tools our clients need to prevent them from returning to life on the streets. From our recovery programs, to the Veterans program, to the HopeMobile and everything in between, everything we do is designed to empower our clients and help them rebuild their lives. Recovery is the perfect example. It benefits everyone, not just the client. For every dollar we invest in recovery alone, taxpayers save nearly four dollars. Thanks to you, our clients are getting second chances and getting off the streets. You can see your generosity at work anytime - contact us to take a tour, attend one of our events, of follow us on the web at and on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. And again, our deepest thanks for your generous and continual support. ~With gratitude, Cecil F. Dunn, Executive Director Dear Crestwood Christian Church Friends, Thank you for your kind donation of Hygiene Kits to Church World Service. Your compassion has given individuals and families touched by disaster the tangible evidence that they matter. That someone cares. And they are not alone. Disasters can strike anywhere, anytime. And they can take many forms; tornadoes, earthquakes, civil conflict, drought, hurricanes and more. Caring people like you - who understand the urgency of responding after a disaster - allow people in crisis to receive help when they need it, and hope for the future. Learn more about the power of your compassion at cwskits.org. Here at home or overseas, when tragedy strikes your donations ensure that help is never far behind. ~With deepest gratitude, Rev. John L. McCullough President and CEO Dear Crestwood Christian Church family, Thank you for your friendship to my mother and the food and support during her memorial. ~Sarah Pitt, daughter of Janet Stapleton continued on page 8

8 1882 Bellefonte Drive Lexington, Kentucky (859) Fax: (859) THE CREST Crestwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Return Service Requested Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage-Paid Lexington, KY Permit No. #695 continued from page 7 Dear Crestwood Christian Church, We are so very grateful for inviting Arbor You Services to be part of the Alternative Christmas Faire. I enjoyed spending time with the members of the congregation, and the other guest non-profits, and cannot say enough about the warmth and kindness shown by all. To receive the check for $ only made the whole experience even more special. We know you had the children we serve in your thoughts and on your heart when you chose to invite us. The MASH emergency shelter served over 250 children (ages ranging from 6 weeks old to 17 yrs.), in We are here to offer a safe and nurturing environment to them as they work toward reunification with their families or being introduced to the foster care system. Your donation matters! The AYS Drop-in center served over 75 young adults, ages 18 yrs. of age to 24 yrs. of age, as they struggled with entering into a world into a world they had been ill prepared for when housing and support from caregivers ended abruptly. Providing them a safe and welcoming environment during the day allowed them to focus on obtaining housing and other services to that are intended to bring stability to their young lives. Your donation matters! Please feel free to contact me (ginn@arborky.org or call me at ) if you want to learn about how your gift helped us serve our children and young adults. We hope that you will keep us in heart for support in this upcoming New Year. We extend our most sincere wishes for a joyful and peaceful New Year. ~Sincerely, Ginny Vicini, Executive Director Blair Lee, Finance Director CRESTWOOD CHRISTIAN CHURCH Church School 9:30 a.m. Worship 8:30 & 10:45 a.m. Youth Programs 4 p.m. CHURCH STAFF Rev. Kory Wilcoxson, Senior Minister Rev. Trish Standifur, Associate Minister Laura Kaczmarek, Church Administrator Peggy King, Children s Coordinator Casey McDonald, Middle School Coordinator Patrick Lakin, High School Coordinator Frank Spragens, Music Director Dr. Noemi Lugo, Children and Youth Music Director Martha Duttlinger, Cherub Choir Director Jane Johnson, Organist Maureen Howell, Pianist Michelle Mayes, Child Care Director Lynn West, Facilities Manager Laura Kaczmarek: Kory Wilcoxson: Trish Standifur Peggy King Casey McDonald Patrick Lakin Frank Spragens: Lynn West ADDRESSES Laura@crestwoodchristian.org Kory@crestwoodchristian.org trish@crestwoodchristian.org peggy@crestwoodchristian.org casey@crestwoodchristian.org Patrick@crestwoodchristian.org fspragens@yahoo.com Custodian@crestwoodchristian.org WEBSITE: