F i r s t C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h o f The Disciples Visitor July 2012 ( D i s c i p l e s o f C h r i s t ) Congregational Meeting Update A Congregational meeting was held Sunday July 8, 2012 as a trial run for proposed quarterly or semi-annual meetings. Along with a brief devotional and regular committee reports, the meeting also included candid discussion about several congregational concerns. Primarily these concerns revolved around our financial outlook, congregational participation, and leadership. While conversation continues on how best to address these issues, a particular invitation to prayer has been extended for the hours of 3-5 all this week. All those who would like to have access to the sanctuary for intentional prayer for our congregation as we discern God s will for our future are encouraged to call the church office or Rev. Saxe to make arrangements. Thank you to everyone who took time to come and participate in honest open communication about the tension in our midst. May God continue to watch over us in our time of prayer. Anniversary Sunday: July 29th Come one come all as we celebrate 135 years of Christian Ministry at FCC! Join us in worship as we commemorate this special day, honor our 50, 60, and 70 year members, and welcome special guests. Stay afterward for a potluck luncheon in the fellowship hall. We invite everyone to bring your favorite covered dish to share and table service for yourself and your family. Orange drink and a cake will be provided. Hope to see you all there! Inside this issue: Pastor s Post 2 Regional Assembly 2 Worship Ministries 4 Birthdays & Anniversaries 4 A Letter From General Minister 5 Prayer Concerns 5 The drawing for the two $100 gas cards has been moved to Anniversary Sunday on July 29th. Take advantage of this extension and get your ticket soon!
Pastor s Post This summer marks the 25th anniversary of President Reagan's speech in Berlin. In that speech, Reagan challenged Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, to "tear down" the Berlin Wall, which separated East and West Berlin and was a visible symbol of the Cold War. Two years later, in November of 1989, the dream became a reality when the wall came down, not by order of government leaders but literally at the hands of the people. Chapman University, our Disciple-related university in Southern California, is now home to a section of the former wall. It would be nice to say that this was the last wall we humans erected to separate one from another. The sad, shameful truth is that we continue to build walls. Between countries. Between people. Over race, sexual orientation, gender, religious beliefs, political opinions. As humans, we are very good at building walls and declaring who is in and who is out. As we move towards the fall elections and as the candidates and political parties ramp up their negative attacks, it is easy to be swept along in the tide of rhetoric and rejoice in the walls that separate "us from "them." It is easy to forget that in God's eyes, there is no "them" only "us." As Christians, as people of faith, we are called to build bridges rather than walls. We are reminded, as Ephesians reminds us, that in Christ, the walls that divide us have been broken down "for he is our peace he has made both groups into one." (Ephesians 2:14) As the Body of Christ sent out into the world, may our lives individually and collectively be a reflection of God's gracious love for all the world. May we speak a word of love that conquers hate, faith that conquers fear, and justice that conquers inequity. May we tear down the walls that divide and instead build bridges for understanding and reconciliation with all of God's children. Let this be our prayer. *Taken from letter by Sandy Messik Regional Minister of Northwest Region for the Christian Church Disciples of Christ Regional Assembly: October 18-20, 2012 Columbus, Ohio It is a joy to announce the registration for the Regional Assembly is officially open. Please take the time to register early and invite others in your congregation to join you. Please go to http://www.ccinoh.com/other -pages/regional-assembly.aspx to review the exciting activities planned. When we gather at the Regional Assembly this fall, with the theme Claiming God s Vision, we will embrace the biblical truth that God has a plan us. We will acknowledge and celebrate God s preferred future for us in the Christian Church in Ohio. We truly have a future with hope. We look forward to seeing YOU at the Regional Assembly. Page 2
*Becoming a Blessed Church- Book Group JULY S u n M o n T u e W e d T h u F r i S a t 1 2 12:00 pm CWF @ Tents of Grace 3 * 7:00 pm BBC 4 5 6 7 8 9:30 am Trustees mtg Board meeting Congregational mtg. 9 10 11 *1:00 pm BBC 12 10:00 am Crafters 13 Crafters table @ Dennison Gazebo 14 Leadership workshop 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 *12:30 pm BBC *1:00 pm BBC 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 *12:30 pm BBC *1:00 pm BBC 29 30 31 Anniversary Sunday Drawing for gas cards The Disciples Visitor Page 3
Worship Ministries July 8 Barb Hines July 22 Shirley VanFossen June Financial Report Vicky Lehman Mary Shull Reagan Norman Barbara Dewey Doug & Lorrie Rummell CJ Espenschied Reagan Norman Lisa Espenschied 6/3/12 $1,013.15 6/10/12 $1,219.00 6/17/12 $864.00 6/24/12 $1,080.27 July 15 Jack Kilpatrick Larry & Sue McConnell Madisyn & Zoey Rummell Lorrie Rummell July 29 Joell Norman Bill & Gay Cox Open Cathy & Kim Grandison Total $4,176.42 Expenses $7,015.89 Page 4 Differential -$2.839.47 * If you would like to volunteer for one of these ministries you can sign up in the fellowship area or contact the church office. Birthdays 7/10 Mary Shull 7/10 Brian Fockler 7/11 Barbara Dewey 7/12 Sue Clauser 7/15 Lois Muster 7/19 Nancy Parcell 7/22 Brittany Mills 7/24 Elliott Lint 8/1 Joe Sullivan 8/1 Gary Wright 8/2 Vickie Lehman 8/4 Elizabeth Bechtel Anniversaries 7/27 Gene & Lois Muster 7/29 Jeff & Jerry Gyurko Page 4
From the General Minister and President At the end of last month our General Minister and President, Sharon Watkins, released a Pastoral Letter to the Churches regarding human sexuality, sexual orientation and inclusion in the life of the church. In that letter, Dr. Watkins acknowledges that as a denomination we are not of one mind and hold a variety of viewpoints, but she also reminds us that we are a diverse community of believers united in the One Body of Christ. She writes in part, "Among Disciples, a core manifestation of our unity with diversity has always been the open Table. Knowing that the Table is the Lord's, we make room for whoever will come at Christ's gracious invitation. All are welcome All tables of the church must be safe places, where respect for diversity among God's children is honored This is the time to use our best table etiquette of entering into dialogue in love even in our diversity of opinion. This is the time for the church to show the world that wholeness wins out over fragmentation." It is a poignant message to all people of faith who struggle to live in the tensions of life in community. Please consider reading the full letter which can be found by visiting www.disciples.org and clicking on the "Grace-Full Table" link. Prayers Health Concerns Anna Alday Betty Arthurs Kim Baker Barbara Ball Valerie Bassiletti Michelle Barnhart Dennis Carpenter Janet Carr Eric Cox Mary Davidson Harold Davis Barb Dewey Virginia Drabic Addison Espenschied Darlene Gastaldo Michael Hamilton Rev. James Huston Nathan Jakubisin Nancy Lake Maddux Maple Rick Norman Don Peterson Eleanor Peterson Wayne Overholt Jack Riley Barb Ryback Ron Ryback Lu Shaw Tammy Taylor Harold Willard Frances Young Tracy Young Wesley Missy Personal Concerns Beth Bechtel Terry Lake Silent prayer All those seeking employment Sam Barker-deployed to Afghanistan Joys Steve Willard graduated residency Owen Fockler got his pins out Grief Family of June Allensworh Family of Rich Hubbard Family of Ted Fisher The Disciples Visitor Page 5
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) 125 N. Uhrich St. P.O. Box 389 Uhrichsville, OH 44683 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Mailer s Choice First Christian Church of (Disciples of Christ) 125 N. Uhrich Street Uhrichsville, OH 44683 Phone: 740-922-4152 E-mails: fccuhrichsville@gmail.com revsaxe@gmail.com An Intentionally Inclusive & Intergenerational Community of Faith We are followers of Jesus Christ, Seeking to live out our faith through; Establishing True Community, Experiencing Deep Christian Spirituality, & Promoting a Passion for Justice. If you are interested in knowing more please join us Summer Worship begins at 10:00 We look forward to getting to know you personally! We re on the web! www.fccuhrichsville.org If you are receiving this newsletter and would prefer not to, please contact the church office and we will remove your name from the mailing list.