First Christian Church - Farmville, North Carolina fccfarmville.org September 2017 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:36-39 Be a Part of Our Enemy s Call God calls us in unusual ways. God has used prophets, animals, especially donkeys it seems, to call people. An angel brought her call to the Mother Mary. God, through others, calls tall handsome people like King Saul and God calls small ruddy people like King David. God calls direct and God calls through nature like the strong wind which tore apart the landscape surrounding Elijah. In the midst of that was the small still voice of God. God is always calling someone and being a messenger is a call. While many are searching for their purpose or call, many miss the call of and to others. If we are blind to Gods call to others through us, is that sin? I suggest it is because we have become estranged from the voice of God who is always calling and instead we hear what we want to hear. We cannot hear the Word of God because our ears are deaf to the small still voice of God. We have ears to hear but cannot. So what did God do? God sent the Word to teach us to listen to the call for others just as Christ called others when the scribes and Pharisees missed the call. They called others according to the laws they could not keep. That reminds me of Saul who made the call to go into battle before the prophet Samuel arrived with the real call. Today we re making all sorts of calls. Especially when it comes to religion. We walk the thin line of legalism and doing things we were taught to do to get with God which is another form of superstition because, as described in the opening, God calls through all sorts of different ways. We do these things to try to hear God s call for us and miss God s call to tell others God is calling them. Worse, we hear the call to go to others but we go to them on our terms, deciding exactly what God is calling them to do and how they should do it and what the right way is. Sound familiar? Think about the temple priests. Are we them? Point being, we don t get to make the call. We are sinners not judges. Have we forgotten the divisions and violence caused by the judges? There s a book about it in the bible fyi. The information we have most often is for the other to decide not for the other to follow. God gives all of us a choice. If we make the choice that someone s call is not to be their true and authentic self with God, we deny they have ever had a call from God let alone have a relationship with God. This is self-righteousness. Selfrighteous Christians is one reason people are leaving the church. We chase others away when we make the call. Christ came to call people of all types. We are not the judge of someone else s call. We are not the judge of whether or how God calls someone who is different than us. We are not the judge of how God calls our enemies but it seems God with his ironic sense of humor will use us to tell our enemies that God is calling them. Our call at that point is to help them discern their call if they would like. To be present with them and pray that they discern their call. This is called love and it might sound familiar. You see, Jesus called all of us in this way- But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. That was Jesus who made that call. The very Word of God. The one who tells us that You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. That s not superstition. That s not the law of Moses or Samuels Pastor, cont. pg 2
PAGE 2 Board Meeting Highlights General Board Meeting Aug 13, 2017 Present: Board Members: Joyce Albritton, Kim Griffiths, Mary Steinbauer, Chester Ellis, Mike & Kathy Marengo, Jessica Avery, Larue Brinson, Bert Smith, Miriam Lewis, Wes Flake, Marah & Josh Walker, Leslie & Amy Church, Paul Bryant, Gina Langston. Also: Bobby Hodge, Kevin Deibert TRUSTEES: Budget worksheets will be distributed at September s Ministry Teams meetings. They are due back before the October Board meeting. PROPERTY & GROUNDS: Chester Ellis is gathering info for a quote for a new dishwasher in the kitchen. OUTREACH: Outreach will set menus for our days at the Soup Kitchen (first Friday of each month) and ask for help with preparing and serving. The Missions Fund (from last year s Fall Festival) purchased doors for a home identified by Greene County Interfaith that was damaged by Matthew s floods. Plans are underway for an FCC project at a home on Perry St in Farmville that is in need of repairs from Matthew s floods. MEMBERSHIP: Wednesday Night Suppers resume Sept 13. STEWARDSHIP: Consecration Sunday Sept 17 with a celebration luncheon. Bryant Watson is helping with the pig pickin. DWM: General Meeting on Sept 23 at 10am CMF: They were awarded the trophy for best attendance at the last Hookerton District CMF meeting. Day trips to Windsor, NC to help with flood damage repair will be planned for the week of Sept 25th. PASTOR REPORT: There will be a memorial service for Nancy Smith on Sat, Sept 9 at 2pm. Kevin and Harold Flanagan are in talks with the town about building a columbarium at the cemetery. NEW BUSINESS Nominating Committee for FCC 2018 Officers: John Briley (chair), Lou Ann Wiley, MiriamLewis, Mary Steinbauer, Dottie Bryant, Leslie Church and Josh Walker. Next General Board Meeting Sept 17, 2017 from the Board Chair We are in for a real treat! Tim Price and Casey Childers will offer an organ/piano concert on September 10 th at 7:00 p.m. in our sanctuary. Those who attended Tim s last concert can attest to the brilliance of these two instruments played together and individually. Please invite your neighbors and friends this will be so good we do not want to keep it to ourselves. As a result of the concert scheduling, the Ministry Team Meetings and the Board Meeting have been changed to September 17 th. Once again, I would like to remind that all Officers, Trustees, Elders, Deacons, DWM and CMF presidents are members of the board. You have been elected to represent the congregation and it is expected that you attend the meetings. As fall approaches, we start looking towards the Congregational Meeting on November 26 th. In preparation, a Nominating Committee has been appointed. This committee will consist of John Briley, Chairman; Miriam Lewis; Mary Steinbauer; Lou Ann Wiley (4 Elders as required by our bylaws); Dottie Bryant; Leslie Church and Josh Walker. They will be looking to replace officers and nominate trustees, elders and deacons. If your phone rings, please answer with a receptive attitude. Your Church needs you!!!! This month I would like to thank Jeff Moore for his tireless effort in bringing the electric lighting in our old Church up to code. The newest addition is the Fellowship Hall lights. Please thank Velinda and Jeff for their many contributions to First Christian. Joyce In Our Prayers Mon, Sept 25 Fri, Sept 29 cont. pg 1 Pastor prophetic voice, that is the very Word of God. Remember, our call may be to tell someone God is calling them. Pray they answer the call. Tell them they can. Don t chase them away by telling them they can t. Don t estrange the other because in so doing, we become estranged. That is sin upon sin. Love them unconditionally like Jesus, because love covers a multitude of sins. Also remember this; We pray for God to use us but how often do we pray to be used for another s call? So today, instead of throwing stones at each other and telling the other what their call is, let s pray to be called to be a part of our enemy s call. Peace, Kevin
DWM GENERAL MEETING SAT Sept 23 10-11:30 CMF CMF will be helping the Stewardship Committee prepare the luncheon for Consecration Sunday. We are looking forward to resuming regular Wednesday nights suppers beginning on September 13! Please make plans to resume joining us for our midweek meal and fellowship time. The cooking schedule is as follows: Sept 13 Membership Sept 20 Covered Dish Sept 27 Scripture and Coffee Oct 4 DWM Oct 11 CMF Oct 18 Covered Dish Oct 25 Boomers If you or anyone you know is interested in doing a program for Wednesday night supper, please contact Marah Walker. Also, mark your calendars now for Homecoming Sunday. October 8 will be here before we know it! Our church has been blessed with many gifts and talents enabling us to pursue our mission to follow Christ and spread his love. This mission is based on the love and commitment of our members and their dedication to proclaim God s love through the sharing of our spiritual gifts. Sunday, September 17th is Consecration Sunday at First Christian Church. It is one of the most important days in the life of our church as it allows us to measure our spiritual growth by concentrating on our need as givers. You are now somewhat familiar with the Stewardship Campaign of our church. That Sunday morning pledge cards will be distributed to our congregation. You will place them in a tray on the communion table after the worship service. The commitments will then be tallied and announced at the Celebration Luncheon after our service. In the event that you are unable to attend that Sunday, the pledge cards and all other related stewardship material will be available through the office. You may also call or email the office to offer your pledge amount. Make plans to join us that Sunday! In Christ s love, The Stewardship Team PAGE 3 Music, Music, Music Music Appreciation Sunday September 10, 2017 On that date, we will have a worship service filled with music as we give special thanks to God for his heavenly gift. Later that evening, at 7:00 PM, join us in the church for a special concert on the piano and the organ by Timothy Price and Casey Childers, Director of Music at First Christian Church in Wilson, NC. The program will feature powerful arrangements of favorite hymns as well as classics and other fun, popular pieces. An offering will be taken to support the music ministry of our church. First Baptist Church Community Coat Closet All coats/jackets that are donated to the Fall Festival yard sale will be passed along to First Baptist Church. They accept men s, women s and children s coats in good condition. If you can t wait that long, you may bring them by their church during operating hours Mon- Thurs 9-2. If you have questions call Elain Craft at 714-9976. FCC will be making day trips to Windsor, NC the week of Sept 25th to assist with ongoing recovery in that area. Please watch for more details and plan to help! Contact Doug Barrow or Chester Ellis.
September Birthdays Cecil Walker Sept 1 Eunice Davis Sept 4 Frank Bradham Sept 8 Barbara Wainwright Sept 8 Benjamin Albritton Sept 9 Mike Marengo Sept 9 Danelle Heath Sept 10 Kendra Howell Sept 12 Paul Bryant Sept 13 Butch Heath Sept 16 Emily Turner Sept 17 John K Briley Sept 21 Al Joyner Sept 21 Ann Byrd Sept 23 Myrtle Sugg Sept 23 LaRue Brinson Sept 27 September Anniversaries Billy & Brenda Lovic Sept 14 Jackie & Tom Bulpett Sept 15 Brittany & Nicholas Thompson Sept 29 Dear Church family, Thank you so very much for the delicious breakfast and dinner served to our campers and staff during small tow mission s week in Farmville. You are serving God by serving others. Thank you, Refuge Staff A special thanks to Pastor Deibert and Carolyn Hawke for visiting our sister and mom, Betty Lewis, at Pruitt Healthcare in Farmville. It means so much that a church has taken her under their wing. Your thoughtfulness means a lot and may God continue to bless you all Love in Christ, Betty Lewis family Congregation Bayt Shalom, Al Masjid Islamic Center and Mosque and FCC Farmville are starting an interfaith women's group. If you are interested in this wonderful opportunity for ecumenical alliance, reconciliation and religious tolerance and understanding, please send Kim (office@fccfarmville.org) your info. More information will be available after we gather the contact information for interested people and set up our first meeting. At that meeting, we ll discuss the focus and direction of the group We re at the beginning of something big! GIVING MADE EASY Your bank will do the work for you! Just sign up with your bank s auto pay feature, and your bank will mail a check to FCC on a regular schedule whether it s weekly, biweekly, monthly, or something else. You get to be sure that even if you have to miss a Sunday or even if you left your checkbook at home this week, your giving goes on and your church can continue its work. More and more of our members are using this hassle-free method to keep up with their giving. Check it out!
September Servants Elders: Miriam Lewis HE; John Briley Deacons: Jackie Bulpett HD; Christine Dempsey, David Whitley, Wes Flake, Julie Walker If you are unable to serve, please contact someone to take your place. Rev. Kevin Deibert Timothy Price Kim Griffiths Julia Beamon Church Staff Senior Minister pastor@fccfarmville.org Director of Music music@fccfarmville.org Church Administrator office@fccfarmville.org Nursery Attendant Church Office: (252) 753-3179 Regular Office Hours: 9 am 3 pm, Mon Thurs, 9am 12pm Fri Also by appointment. office@fccfarmville.org fccfarmville.org WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPER 9/13 Membership 9/20 COVERED DISH 9/27 Scripture & Coffee 10/4 DWM 10/11 CMF 10/18 COVERED DISH 10/25 Boomers Mission of First Christian Church Disciples of Christ Farmville, North Carolina It is the mission of First Christian Church (DOC) of Farmville, NC to provide an environment where all who come can learn, fellowship, worship, and grow spiritually closer to God. We will fulfill our greater obligation to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ by being of service to the members of our community and to the world. Our efforts will be done in the name of Jesus Christ. 3776 South Main St. PO Box 205 Farmville, NC 27828 Saturday, November 4th! Country Store, yard sale, dinner, silent auction & live entertainment!
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Sept SUNDAYS 10a Sunday School and Coffee Fellowship 11a Worship 11a Soup Kitchen 3 4 LABOR DAY Office closed 5 6 9a Quilting Bees 6:30 Pastoral Relations 7 8 9 2p Nancy Smith Memorial 10 5p Choir practice 7p Piano/Organ Concert 11 12 13 6p WNS Membership 6:30 Devotional 14 15 16 17 CONSECRATION SUNDAY 8a Elders mtg 12p Consecration Lunch 5p Choir practice 5p DWM Exec. mtg 6p Ministry Teams 7p General Board mtg 18 11a Farmville United @ the Cross Pizza Hut 19 9-11 FBM 7P Trustees mtg 20 6p WNS COVERED DISH 6:30 Devotional 21 22 23 10-11:30 DWM General mtg Kevin Deibert out 9/22 9/30 24 5p Choir practice 25 26 27 Kevin Deibert out 9/22 9/30 6p WNS Scrip & Coffee 6:30 Devotional 28 29 30 CYF Retreat Camp Caroline 9/29 10/1 10a Meals on Wheels 9/25 9/29 Windsor Matthew Flood Relief day trips 9/25 9/29