The Christian Builder

Transcription

1 The Christian Builder February 8, 2018 A weekly publication of First Christian Church Midland Volume 62 No W. Louisiana Ave., Midland, Texas Our first luncheon of 2018 is this coming Sunday immediately following the 11am worship service. To give you a little heads up as you enter the gym you will receive a red, pink or white heart. This will indicate where your special seating place will be. This will give you a wonderful opportunity to visit/meet others. There are several fun things planned to do as well. You will have an opportunity to make a Valentine for someone. Beginning with this luncheon we will be having a photo booth that will help us keep our pictures up to date. Sunday, February 11 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship 12pm Church Luncheon 3pm Pastor s Class 5pm CELEBRATE 5pm SOLID 5pm Stephen Ministry Monday, February 12 9:30am Staff Meeting Tuesday, February 13 9:30am Concerns 1:15pm Food Pantry Stocking 7:30pm Boy Scouts Wednesday, February 14 7am Men's Prayer Breakfast 12pm Food Pantry 6pm Ash Wednesday Service 7pm Choir Thursday, February 15 6pm Ladies Night Out Friday, February 16 6pm Boys Night Out Sunday, February 18 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship 5pm Stephen Ministry Calendar is online at: Or use your Shelby App!

2 Page 2 Thoughts Rev. Mike Hunter Senior Minister On Tuesday of this week I attended the 2018 Permian Basin Prayer Breakfast. Several hundred folks gathered, from all streams of faith. The emphasis was those persecuted Christians in the Far East, specifically China. It was good to hear the stories of brave men and women leading church is oppressed places. We forget sometimes, from our places of comfort and freedom, that in many places around the world it is dangerous to profess Christianity as personal faith. We should continually pray for Christians, around the world. But I was also excited to share at my table how Disciples, long active in missionary work in Asia, are working still to open doors to faith. Just last week at Committee on Ministry work in Fort Worth, we approved ordination for a recent seminary graduate, Shui Ying (Jennie) Huang, who is on pastoral staff at First Chinese Christian Church of Plano. We also met with candidate Kyeongjung (KJ) Kim for his initial interview for Recognition of Ordination/Transfer of Standing, Ridglea Christian Church, Fort Worth. We also met with Baek Hee Kim, a Korean student at Brite. To help our committee sense the call of these candidates, at the end of their interviews we invited them to pray the benediction in their native language. Even though I could not understand most of the words, the God language came through. It was inspiring! Just from our own Region of the Christian Church, we are working with no less than 6 Asian clergy candidates. They share openly about both the struggles and joys of Christianity in places where the faith journey is not free, nor assured. I want you to celebrate that some of the founders of the Christian Church began mission work in Asia as early as I want you to celebrate that our seminary and Region is active in support of congregations around the world. Disciples do mission work too. I don t say that enough. I should know better. After all, we all are missionaries. This Week s Sermon Transformed Mark 9:2-9 Bible Study Topic: Joined in Discipleship Biblical Interpretation

3 Page 3 Topics Rev. T.J. Shoop-York Associate Minister I am often puzzled when I encounter people of faith who struggle to understand their value as a child of God. I get that we all have sinned and that we live in a society that is often quick to pass judgment on our past mistakes and inability to overcome various struggles. However, when we allow our worth to be determined by our actions, we have confused the gospel message with something other than Jesus. In fact, as people of faith, we should allow our encounter with Christ to determine our action. Yes, we are broken people, but we have been created in the image of God and that means something. The reality is simple, you are a child of God and loved by God. This is good news because your value has been predetermined as a being who is worthy of love. When we allow sin to diminish our value, we elevate sin as a greater power than God. But in my belief system, I believe this is impossible. I hold on to the good news of the creation story. After God had finished creating all of creation, God stepped back and noticed all that God made and declared it to be good. But, as God began to reflect on humanity, God deemed us to be REALLY good. The value that God gave us, as beings created in God s image, cannot be taken away. Yes, there are circumstances that occur, either by our choosing or by the choosing of worldly forces, that can make it hard for us to recognize our worth, but nevertheless we are valuable children of God worthy of love, which was ultimately demonstrated by Christ. As we continue to move into Lent, hold on to the good news of Christ You are a viable child of God, loved by God.

4 Page 4 Ponderings Rev. Paula Brooks Associate Minister Pastor s Class Begins Sunday at 3pm in Kid Cave Each year during the Season of Lent we offer a Pastor s Class for those who want to start the journey toward baptism and accepting Jesus Christ as their Personal Lord and Savior. This year we have 8 children who will be a part of Pastor s Class. Please be in prayer for them as they journey towards making one of the most important decisions in their life. Little Princess Tea Party This past Saturday 5 of our Little Princesses from age 3 through Kinder gathered for a very special tea party. They arrived in their every day play clothes. They were greeted by their very own maidservant who transformed them just like Cinderella s Fairy Godmother did for her. The Tea Party was not only a fun activity for these little girls, but it was a way to show them the importance of serving, as well as to understand no matter how we may look, God loves us and we are very special to Him. The sweet princesses were blessed in getting to know and spend time with women in our church that served as great role models. Here are a few pictures of our princesses and their maidservants. It was a magical time that they will remember for a long time.

5 Page 5 Adult Sunday School All of our adult Sunday School classes meet at 10 am. Each class is based on studies of particular scriptures and related topics. 2 Chronicles 7:14 - Library A class for adults of all ages. This class is doing a series on Extraordinary Women of the Bible and is led by members of the class. Fellowship - Room 306 A class for adults in their senior years. They are currently doing a Bible Study of 1 Peter. Jim Mauldin is the leader of this class. Young Disciples Room 106 Parents of children of all ages are welcome to be a part of this class. They are beginning a new study, 12 Ordinary Men a study on the Disciples. This Sunday the focus is on Andrew. Genesis - Parlor A class for adults of all ages. The topic for Sunday is Communication Gaps... Times when God s people just don t get it! Keith Gibbons is the leader of the class. 2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 50:1-6 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9 Elder - On Call Lectionary Scripture February 11 2/4-2/10 Kelley McCullough 2/11-2/17 Joe Wright Elder Schedule online@ Gifts Received For Disciples Food Pantry In Memory of Ray Stailey Guests February 4, 2018 Ronny Aaron Harold Boze Valerie Brady Doug & Rhonda Buie Frances Buzard Chaney Coffman Dziuk Family Anna Hernandez Robbie Howell Kosanke Family Deborah Lucas Susan Marshall Payne Morris Jiovanni & Isai Natera Ritchie/Morris Family Rodriguez Family Oshyn Small Carol & Roberta SoloRio Art & Carla Wilson Deb Wilson Randy & Ann Wilson Worship Attendance February 4, 2018 Contemporary 40 Children s Church 4 Nursery 3 Total 47 Traditional 176 Children s Church 18 Nursery 4 Total 198 Total 245

6 Page 6 Our Deepest Sympathy We extend our heartfelt sympathy and prayer to the Following families who have recently lost a loved one: The Family of Elaine Haskell... Elaine passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2018 in Midland, TX. Graveside Services were held Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland, TX. Elaine is the mother of Karen Rucker. The Family of Megan Myers... Megan passed away on Thursday, February 1, 2018 in Midland, TX. Megan is the sister of Lisa Craven. Please keep the Haskell/Rucker and Myers/Craven Families in your prayers. With the peace and grace of Christ, may the Spirit of God gently enfold all those who sorrow.

7 Page 7 Birthdays 2/1 Bill Boyd 2/6 Chris Huff 2/9 Johnna Slone 2/10 Sandra Schnable 2/11 Netha Aaron 2/11 Cecil Odom 2/12 Sharon Boyd 2/12 Stephen Forbes 2/13 Katie Coffman 2/14 Carissa Hamilton 2/15 Mike Jones 2/17 Lyn Brown 2/18 Gaylon Howard Sr. 2/19 Meaghan Villa 2/22 Frank Bell 2/23 Ann Minter 2/24 Sue Bedford 2/25 Mollie Wright 2/26 Autumn Crudgington 2/26 Brenda Nance 2/26 Garrett Stephenson 2/27 Margaret Christensen 2/27 Jeweli Flores 2/28 Becky Armour 2/29 Beverly Drummond Anniversaries 2/9 Jack & Troy Campbell 2/20 Dan O Grady & Anne Shaunesy 2/22 Bob & Vicki Rymal 2/26 Kyle & Tara Jones Disciples Food Pantry February 7 Families served 99 Total People 364 New Clients 19 Ladies Night Out Outreach Project Thursday, February 15, at 6pm is our monthly Ladies Night Out. This month we are putting goodie baskets together for the women at Fair Havens. Each woman will receive a laundry basket filled with paper towels, toilet tissue, cleaning supplies etc. Please bring supplies Thursday so we can fill those baskets. If you are unable to come please feel free to make donations by bringing them to the church office. This is a wonderful opportunity to reach out to young women/ mothers in our community who need support as they strive to improve their lives and their children s lives. Prayers & Praises Those in need of prayer: Anna Mae Franz Sherry Ladd Dolores Hodges Joe Wright Cecil Odom Tommy Hill Betty Whitmire June Jarrett Helen Estes Faye Casey Ray & Doris Stewart Robert & Sheila Crudgington Clint Hurst Roberta Hurt Bill Schneider Bill Griffin Mary Mauldin George Head Bill & Char Womack Special Notes: Our joys, concerns and deepest needs are already on God s heart long before we put them to paper. for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8 Military: Joe Henderson - son of Holly Moore Kinder McCullough-daughter of Bill & Kelley McCullough Families, Friends Beyond FCC Patricia Petosky Darby-cousin of Ginny Estes Kay Kinsey friend of Vince Curry Debbie and James Van Stavern-friend of Austella Berry Mauryene Kite-grandmother of Dana Ellis Butch Broom-friend of Sara Cranford Jim Crumrine uncle of Todd Wells Mark Hendricks-son of Jackie Hendricks Dick Cranford uncle of Mark Cranford Tom Bauer-friend of Jeweli Flores Margie Singleton-daughter-in-law of Joy Singleton Barbara Williams daughter of Ray Stewart Kairos Conde nephew of Olivia Espino Oscar Garcia brother of Amparo Olguin Kathy Dunnan- friend of Peggy Jones Ferrell Powell- friend of Sharon & Bill Boyd Joe Langford father of Carol Cook Martha Pollock friend of Sara Cranford Please inform the church office if you or a loved one are admitted into a hospital, so we may be there for you & your family. For submission to prayer list contact any staff, submit via web, or prayerchain@fccmidland.org

8 February 8, 2018 The Christian Builder First Christian Church 1301 W. Louisiana Ave. Midland, TX Non-Profit Org US Postage Paid Midland, TX Permit No. 145 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED