In this issue: Re-NEW Bible Study 3 Nominating Committee at Work 3 Eagle Scout Project 3 November Sundays 4 Allen Early Childhood PTA 4 COMBINED THANKSGIVING FEAST/WORSHIP Advent Devotional Booklet Sign Up Eagle Scout Project Flyer Celebration of Renewal Forest Grove Christian Church 5 6 7 8 The Journey First Christian Church of Allen November 3, 2014 Volume 12, Issue 41 SPEER-itual Moments The rush to Christmas has surely begun. The advertisements on television have already begun in full force with a Christmas theme. The store shelves are stocked full with Christmas items. The countdown has begun. Some retailers plan on opening even earlier ON Thanksgiving Day and staying open through late hours on Black Friday in order to get those customers into their stores. We have a neighbor (Kathy and I were out walking on October 12) and he was already lining his roofline with Christmas lights. I have the picture to prove it. So here it comes But wait just a moment, what about thanksgiving? You remember Thanksgiving which can so easily and quickly get edged out after all it is just one day. It is a nice day. Nice meal. Lots of football. Family and friends. But it is just one day. Christmas on the other hand well it is just one day too but it can be milked for all its worth in all the days leading up to it. And it will be. But let s be sure we pause to give thanks for us as Christians not simply a one day affair anyway. Every day we should and can find reasons to be thankful for a loving and gracious God. For the many blessings we have. We have already begun thinking about thanks here at church and we will continue. Before the tree gets put up and the decorations are in place for Christmas we will take time to give thanks. Devotedly, Gary
Here s What s Happening November 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Daylight Saving Time Ends (fall back one hour at bedtime) 2 9:15 am Coffee/ Fellowship 9:30 am Christian Education 10:30 am Worship NEW Thanksgiving Sermon Series begins 3 Committee Meeting 4 5 7-8 pm Re- NEW Bible Study (at the home of the Perry s) 6 6-8:30 pm Girl Scouts 7 8 9 9:15 am Coffee/ Fellowship 9:30 am Christian Education 10:30 am Worship NEW Thanksgiving Sermon Series continues 10 10 am Disciples Women 11 Veterans Day Church Office Closed 12 7-8 pm Re- NEW Bible Study (location to be announced) 13 9 am-12 noon Allen Early Childhood PTA 14 15 16 SPECIAL START TIME 11am THANKSGIVING MEAL/ WORSHIP COMBINED 17 18 Court of Honor 19 7-8 pm Re- NEW Bible Study final, begin holiday break (location to be announced) 20 6-8:30 pm Girl Scouts 21 22 23 Thanksgiving Sunday 9:15 am Coffee/ Fellowship 9:30 am Christian Education 10:30 am Worship NEW Thanksgiving Sermon Series concludes 24 25 26 Church Office Closed 27 Thanksgiving Day Church Office Closed 28 Church Office Closed 29 30 First Sunday of Advent 10:30 am WORSHIP ONLY
Re-NEW Bible Study Had a great group last Wednesday after finally getting started due to a number of autumn delays and we will meet again this Wednesday, November 5, from 7-8 p.m. at the home of the Perry s. They live a little further east so plan ahead and be there as we gather and continue our study of Matthew. We are planning to meet through Wednesday, November 19 and then we will begin our holiday break. Nominating Committee at Work The Nominating Committee is at work, completing their task of securing leaders for 2015: Elder, Deacon, and Trustee. You may be asked; if you are, consider prayerfully and faithfully your response. The members of the Nominating Committee are: Richard Henry, Jim Hogan, Ron Linder, Lynn Odle, and Sue White; we thank them for their work as we compose an important part of the leadership team for 2015. Eagle Scout Project Austin Kirk is pursuing his Eagle Scout Rank. He is putting together a great project right now collecting all the necessary food items to feed at least 110 families during December. You can donate items or make a monetary donation. So let s help Austin Kirk achieve this worthy goal of feeding at least 110 families during December. Keep bringing your food and other items through Sunday, November 16. The complete list is included in the flyer you will find enclosed in this newsletter. Our scout patrols have a contest going on to see which patrol can donate the most (thus the boxes on the chancel) and we have our own church collections boxes in the east hall to add to all the donations being made.
November Sundays Sunday, November 9 Sunday, November 16 Sunday, November 23 Sunday, November 30 9:15 a.m. Coffee/Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Christian Education 10:30 a.m. Worship NEW Thanksgiving Sermon Series continues: Blame It on God: Gratitude SPECIAL START TIME THIS SUNDAY ONLY 11:00 A.M. COMBINED THANKSGIVING FEAST/WORSHIP BLAME IT ON GOD: GRATEFUL Thanksgiving Sunday 9:15 a.m. Coffee/Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Christian Education 10:30 a.m. Worship Thanksgiving Sermon Series concludes: Blame It on God: Thankful First Sunday of Advent 10:30 a.m. Worship ONLY New Advent Sermon Series begins Allen Early Childhood PTA The Allen Early Childhood PTA (AECPTA) will meet here again on Thursday, November 13 from 9 a.m. 12 noon. We look forward to welcoming them back into our facilities.
COMBINED THANKSGIVING FEAST/WORSHIP PEA SALAD; MASHED POTATOES; CORN AND GREEN BEANS; FRUIT SALAD; SWEET POTATOES; SALAD; MAC AND CHEESE; CHERRY SALAD; RUTH CONWAY S BROCCOLI SALAD; JALAPENO CORN; GREEN JELLO SALAD; GREEN BEANS AND PEA SALAD; 2 PECAN PIES; CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE; 2 DESSERTS (AS YET UNNAMED); 2 APPLE PIES; AND THEN THIS INTERESTING ITEM PIE? (BUT THEN THIS WRITE-IN COMMMENT: PINEAPPLE CREAM PLEASE) I WONDER WHO WROTE THAT?; ROLLS, CRANBERRY SAUCE; TEA AND FRUIT DRINKS AND THERE WILL BE MORE. IT SOUNDS GREAT ALREADY! WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADD TO THE LIST THIS SUNDAY AS WE GET READY FOR OUR COMBINED THANKSGIVING FEAST/ WORSHIP ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN OUR SIGN UP FOR OUR COMBINED THANKSGIVING FEAST/WORSHIP WHICH WILL HAPPEN ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16. LET ME WHET YOUR APPETITE! SO FAR THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE AND WE WILL CONTINUE THE SIGN UP THIS COMING SUNDAY: TWO TURKEYS AND A HAM (DON T WORRY WE WILL HAVE MORE). WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL START TIME THAT SUNDAY ONLY OF 11:00 A.M. GIVING YOU PLENTY OF TIME TO GET YOUR DISHES READY, BRING THEM TO CHURCH HOT; WE WILL HAVE A BRIEF OPENING TO WORSHIP AND THEN SHARE THE MEAL IN THE CONTEXT OF WORSHIP LEADING US TO THE LORD S SUPPER AND SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE GRATEFUL. EAT A LIGHT BREAKFAST THAT MORNING AND COME PREPARED TO SHARE TOGETHER IN OUR TIME AS A CHURCH FAMILY TO GIVE THANKS.
Advent Devotional Booklet Sign Up This past Sunday we began our Advent Devotional Booklet Sign Up as we get ready to produce our 2014 FCC, Allen Advent Devotional Booklet. We need 13 authors who will write 2 devotionals, and then we will have our 26 devotionals that will take us through the Advent season which begins on Sunday, November 30. We have a GREAT start already we only have 6 slots left to fill. Reminders will be sent out to each author as to the dates and scriptures you have. We ask if possible for all submissions to be sent to the church via email with your devotional(s) attached, but we will also accept hard copies for the technologically challenged. We will continue sign up this Sunday, and hope by then to complete all the slots. Thanks for the great response on Sunday so far. Four scriptures are listed; you may use one or all of them (with a theme idea) or none if you have a story to tell of Christmases past the idea for all is that this is meant to be a booklet to inspire us as we move through the Advent season and prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas once again. We would love to have all submissions in by Sunday, November 16, if at all possible, so we have plenty of time to publish the booklet and have it ready for all by Sunday, November 30 as we begin our Advent journey.
Open Arms. Open Minds. Open Table. Open Hearts. First Christian Church of Allen (Disciples of Christ) 1207 Twin Creeks Dr. Allen, TX 75013 Tel: 972-727-5384 Fax: 214-383-7422 E-mail: fccallen@att.net Senior Minister: Rev. Gary H. Speer Office Mgr./Admin. Assist.: Maryse Laurin Music Director: Betsy Durnin Childcare Attendant: Lin Rosenquist We re on the Web! fccallen.org Also on Facebook! First Christian Church Allen Worship Ministry for Sunday, November 9 Sermon: Rev. Gary H. Speer Worship Leader: Sandy Linder Elder: Rolin Green Children s Sermon: Sandy Bloomer Deacons: Sirena Raye Bingman & Josh McWilliams Sunday Morning Refreshments: Rev. Gary & Kathy Speer Altar Flowers: N/A Children s Church: Sandy Bloomer