The Insight December 2, 2015 Volume 20, Issue 426 Rev. Leon Gray Rev. Jessica Gray Bonnie Hutson Leann Ha Michael Turner Becky Cornett That future for Khayelihle Children s Village begins with the purchase of a hay cutter and hay baler. Grass and hay cut from the fields of a nearby airport will be baled and used to feed a growing herd of dairy cattle. The milk will nourish the children and surplus can be sold to buy much-needed medicine, books, and supplies. Pray for the success of this effort and give if you can. Our Gold Ball proceeds will go to Prepare the Manger. You can give a gift individually or in Honor or in Memory of someone. Gift cards are available for you to pick up in the Narthex. Thank you for your support!
Stewardship Moment How Much Do We Love God? An old story tells about a woman sitting in the lobby of a resort hotel. She drew a small piece of paper from an envelope that she had just received when she picked up her mail at the front desk. Glancing at it quickly, she said to her companion, My husband writes that he is feeling fine, business is good, and he loves me very much. Her friend, glancing in amazement at the small piece of paper she had taken from the envelope, asked how he could have written all of that on such a small piece of paper. The woman replied, It is a check for one thousand dollars, along with a note that says, Have a good time. Giving our money to God is, of course, not the only measure of our Christian commitment. But it is probably the most objective measurement. A man who declares his love for his wife and refuses to financially support her and their children wouldn t be kidding anyone but himself, would he? Who would we be kidding if we say we love God and refuse to support the work of his Kingdom? We would certainly not be kidding God, unless He is a little dull witted. No, the bottom line in our commitment card tells us much more than just the amount of money we say we will give to the church this year. It reveals in bold print whether we are seeking God s Kingdom first in our life, or some other kingdom whether we intend to love God or concentrate on loving ourselves. Sunday School Class Party Sunday, December 12th 6:00 p.m. at Tom & Ethel Curry s home 533 Valley Club Circle Little Rock, AR 72212 It has been the tradition for many years for the congregation to present our Staff with a LOVE OFFERING at Christmas. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please make your check out to First Christian Church Staff Christmas and send it to ATTENTION- Francella. We will be accepting contributions until December 20th, 2015. Madeline Cox, Board Chair LUNCH BUNCH Trip to Garvan Gardens Christmas Lights Thursday, December 3rd Leave church at 4:00 p.m. We will eat at Dixie Cafe when we arrive in Hot Springs. Then we will go to Garvan Gardens. Admission is $10.00 per person. You can walk or ride a cart. The cart is $15.00 per person. I will need your reservation and money by Tuesday, November 24th ($25.00 cash if you want a cart). YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY Sunday, December 13th 5:00 p.m. at the home of Tracy Speed.
This Sunday, December 6th at 10:30 a.m. BLENDED WORSHIP SERVICE DWF Tasting & Cookbook Sale Sunday, December 6th following the morning worship service. Cookbooks will be for sale for $10 each. in Kenner Hall. Sunday School 9:30-10:15 a.m. DWF Potluck Luncheon Monday, December 7th 12:00 p.m. The program will feature Diane Treece accompanying choir members in the songs of Christmas. Don t miss it! DWF Group 1 Tuesday, December 8th 11:00 a.m. CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER Friday, December 25th 12:00 Noon Would you like to be with church friends and family on Christmas Day? FCC will be hosting a Christmas Lunch at 12:00 noon in Kenner Hall again this year thanks to the generous fund and tradition started several years ago by Ann and Herschel Smith. All friends and family are welcome, but we must have your reservation in order to prepare the meal. Call the church office, 225-5656, to let us know you ll be with us. Ethel and Tom Curry will serve as our host and hostess. The last day to RSVP is Sunday, December 20th. WHEN: Sunday, December 6, 3:00-5:00 WHO: Youth, Children, Adults, DWF Group 1 will meet at the home of Mary Sue Gray at 12260 Southridge Drive Little Rock, AR 72212 DWF Group 6 Tuesday, December 8th 12:00 Noon DWF Group 6 will have their Christmas Potluck Luncheon at 12:00 Noon in Kenner Hall as scheduled! WHAT: We will celebrate the beginning of the Advent Season by caroling to a few of our homebound members. The final stop on our route will be Starbucks for a special treat (compliments of FCCLR). WHERE: Meet in Kenner Hall. The church bus and our cars will caravan to each of the selected homes. We will leave at 3:00. WHY: To stay connected and share the excitement of the coming Christ with our members.
GOLD BALLS Deadline for ordering is Dec. 18th. Margaret Kenner Louise Satterfield Steve Swartz mother, Maya Araque Mike McCune Bernadine Glover Ida Pettit Joyce Haynes Earl Beaver Jo Jo Lusk Lorea Williams Carol Strong Barbara Bell Lynne Haubenreich Nora Stivers Chilcote family Sarah Herring Crystal Hart Bob Waggoner Carolyn Olsen Carmen Hall Each year we have Gold Balls that decorate one of the trees in the sanctuary. The money ($10/ball) goes to mission projects. As with the poinsettias, you may purchase one or more of the balls in honor or memory of someone. A list of the memorials and honorariums will be posted in a special bulletin insert. If you would like to order one or more Gold Balls, please complete the form below, including payment, and return it to the church office. : 1. In Honor /In Memory of: 2. In Honor / In Memory of: 3. In Honor / In Memory of: 4. In Honor / In Memory of: 5. In Honor / In Memory of: Your Name: Juanita Roberts on the passing of her son Jordan Gary Kay Morris Tammy Gregory Pam Ritchie Aguirre Mike Byler (brother of Jenkins son-in-law) Lajeana Begler Joyce Miller Joye Henson Clara Chilcote s brother Fred Mike Mallory Bernadette Preble (Diane Robert s daughter in Florida) Joe Lewis (Diane Treece s nephew) Deadline: December 14th
Landon Swartz decorates the School Christmas Tree. Preschool News We started the Christmas Season off in a bright and merry way here in the Preschool. On Monday morning when the children came to school, Autumn was gone and Christmas had arrived! The tree is up, the Nativity Scenes are on display, and Dancer and Prancer are standing out on the Yellow Brick Road. What an exciting time! Our unit this week is Christmas Around The World. Ms. Sheryl s Class will visit Syria, Sweden, The Philippines, Russia, and maybe England this week. Ms. Skinner s Class was first to get their ornaments on the tree. They made Popsicle stick Christmas Trees. Ms. Debbie s Class is making Poinsettia Ornaments from Mexico and the Toddlers have colored Babushka Dolls from Russia. Each handmade ornament on our Christmas tree will be so sweet and many will have photos of the children on them. Drop in sometime during the week or even on Sunday morning and check it out! The little ones are also making Christmas Secrets for their parents, although it is the rare child who actually manages to keep it a secret! Enjoying the Season, Becky December 6, 2015 Blended Worship at 10:30 Communion Preparation Margie Godfrey 10:30 Diaconate Oscar Cox Dalton Cox Delaine Baughtman Sarah Herring 10:30 Elder Fred Chilcote Advent Reading Spinks family Counters Lynn Penn Jim Penn Greeters Traditional Paula Morgan Peggy Pratt Morning Bell Ringer Tip Nelms December 13, 2015 Communion Preparation Sarah Herring 10:45 Diaconate Mary Lou Chilcote Dylan Chilcote Marshall Driver Rosemary Francisco 9:00 Elder Pat Bass 9:00 Service - Advent Reading David Chilcote 11:00 Service - Advent Reading Dotty McLemore Our youth have been meeting each Sunday to prepare for the Advent season. Last Sunday they brought forth a wonderfully humorous skit emphasizing the hope we have in Jesus for new light. This coming Sunday, December 6th in our 10:30 Blended worship service in Kenner Hall, our youth will present one more advent skit. All youth need to be at church by 9:30 to run through the skit for a final time. Jessica Gray 11:00 Elder Clara Chilcote Call to Worship Becky Keogh Counters Mike Spinks Marilyn Loomis Greeters Traditional Mike Spinks Lynne Spinks Morning Bell Ringer Bob Davis
OPPORTUNITIES THIS WEEK Sunday, December 6 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 am Blended Worship Service KH 3:00 pm Church-Wide Caroling 5:15 pm Pastor s Class Youth Game Room DWF Tasting and Cookbook sale following worship Monday, December 7 12:00 pm DWF Luncheon KH Tuesday, December 8 11:00 am DWF Circle 1 Luncheon at Mary Sue Gray s home 12:00 pm DWF Circle 6 Potluck in Kenner Hall 12:30 pm Staff Meeting 6-8:00 pm Girl Scouts 7:00 pm Boy Scouts Wednesday, December 9 9:30 am Art Club 10:00 am Chapel 2:30 pm CCF 3:30 pm CCF-Gym 5:00 pm Spork Dinner CCF 6:00 pm Bells 7:00 pm Choir Thursday, December 10 No events scheduled Friday, December 11 10:00 am Food Pantry Scout Lock-in KH Saturday, December 12 Scout Lock-in til noon KH 6:00 p.m. Sunday School Class Party at the Curry s home Sunday, December 13 9:00 am Contemporary Worship 10:00 am Sunday School 11:00 am Traditional Worship 5:00 pm Youth Christmas Party at the home of Tracy Speed 5:00 pm Pastor s Task Force THE INSIGHT First Christian Church 1500 N. Mississippi Little Rock, AR 72207