A Message From Greg Some reminders: 1) This Sunday is Thanksgiving Sunday and part of our tradition has been to bring non-perishable food items to church that will be donated to the Church Women United Food Pantry. Please remember to bring canned goods, etc. We fill the baskets at the front of the church with those donations and bless them. 2) We will be giving thanks and celebrating the results of our recent Stewardship Emphasis during Our Faith and Community time. We have some very good news to report. 3) Jubilee Christmas is just around the corner and you are encouraged to sign-up to help. We have 35 families that we are hosting that include over 90 children.
AND This Sunday we will be honoring Jan Montgomery, our church secretary who is retiring, during both worship services downtown. There will also be a reception in Jan's honor in the Church Parlor between services (9:00 am to 10:00 am). I encourage you to attend the worship service of your choice and the reception as we say thank you to Jan for her many years of faithful service to First Christian. God Bless You! See you Sunday! Peace, Greg
November 20, 2014 Volume LXVII-No. 37
This Week at First Christian Sunday November 23 Thanksgiving Sunday 8:00 AM Worship 9:00 AM Sunday School 10:15 AM Worship 10:30 AM Southside Fellowship 11:00 AM Southside Worship @ Earhart School 12:30 PM Kids Club & Youth Bowling at Arrowhead Monday November 24 10:00 AM Bible Study @ Rachel's 11:00 AM Staff Mtg. 5:20 Bells
Sunday, November 23, 2014 Downtown: Rev. Greg Eberhard, Preaching "Walks to Remember" John 8: 12 Southside: Rev. Nancy Eberhard, Preaching November Topic: How to recognize God's voice
Jim's Jots
This past Sunday was a special day in the life of First Christian Church. We celebrated our 175th anniversary of our Church and its ministry in the Lafayette community. I wish to extend a special "Thank You" to Dee Chitty, who organized and MC'ed the program, as well as all who helped in any way by preparing the food, setting up the luncheon, developing the program, sharing and organizing the photos, creating and participating in the games, and cleaning up afterwards ! We all know that it took many hands to make this event successful. I also wish to thank all who supported this event by your presence and participation. We had a large attendance and it looked like everyone was enjoying the celebration!
6:20 Choir Tuesday November 25 6:45 AM Bible Study Wednesday November 26 6:30 AM Toastmasters Office Closes at Noon 7:00 PM Narcotics Anonymous-F.H. Thursday November 27 Thanksgiving Day Office Closed Friday November 28 Office Closed Saturday November 29
We also had three Congregational Meetings after each of our worship services last Sunday to consider and vote on two motions from the Stewardship and Finance Committee. The results of those elections were: The first motion to approve the proposed budget for 2015 was passed. The second motion "to allow the restrictions on the funds in Capital Campaign Southside Vision account to be changed so they may be used for not only the minister's salary but also other Southside expenses" was passed. Thank you, again, to all who participated in these meetings and to all who have responded to our Church's financial needs by returning your pledge cards and supporting our Stewardship program again this year. You are making it possible for our Church to meet its budget in its the 176th year! Jim Rybka, Chair of the Board and Congregation
Upcoming Activities November is Food Pantry Month Be sure to bring your canned goods or monetary gifts this Sunday for Thanksgiving Sunday.
LUM Community Thanksgiving Dinner First Christian Church is providing 30 turkeys again this year. The turkeys are to be between 10-12 lbs. Please sign up at the Gathering Place. Also as a reminder since we will doing turkeys again this year we will need room in the refrigerator and freezer so if you have anything stored there we would appreciate you taking it home.
Poinsettias It is time to order your poinsettia in memory or honor of loved ones for Christmas. The cost is $7.50 each and you can order white or red. We will also be decorating for Hanging of the Greens on Tuesday, November 25 at 6 p.m. We will be bring up the decorations on Monday, November 24 at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join us.
NEW FOOD PANTRY LOCATION NEEDED Your church is a member of Church Women United of Tippecanoe County. This group of women from 34 churches has provided food for hungry people for 40 years through their pantry at Bauer Center. Currently we are open 4 days a week and served 16,886 people in 2013. Now a growing child-centered program at Bauer necessitates we find a new location by July 2015. Our ideal site would have the following: About 1000 sq. ft. in a stand-alone building/or portion of a building Plus: Waiting area for clients and restroom/access to restroom Handicapped accessible/or can be made so Preferably south or east of downtown Lafayette Any possibilities come to mind? Or individuals/realtors that could be helpful? Please email Kathy Smith,
[email protected]. Or contact Rachel Roudebush 447-5644.
Christmas Dinner Donna Adams, Sandie Hauser, Janet & Vernon Rodgers are the host. Dinner will be at 1:00 p.m. Everyone welcome, please sign up at the Gathering Place and if you are coming bring a covered dish.
Newsletter Information Next week will be the last newsletter of the year. If you have any information for the newsletter for December please have it into the office by Tuesday, November 25 at 9:00 AM. Thank you. We will start doing it monthly starting next monthly. In rd December we need everything for January in by December 23 at 9:00 AM. After that it will be everything in by the last Tuesday of the month by 9:00 AM.
Diaconate Schedule November 23 First Service Team Leader: Quil Standiford Serving: Joan Standiford Serving: Sally Brunger Serving: Cindy McDonald Serving: Laura Gullion Clean Up & Set Up: Joan Standiford Clean Up & Set Up: Sally Brunger Second Service Team Leader: Donna Adams Serving: Paula Floyd Serving: Letcher Floyd Serving: Kathy Kremer Serving: Gery Kremer Set Up & Clean Up: Paula Floyd Set Up & Clean Up: Letcher Floyd November 30th No First Service Second Service Team Leader: Donna Adams Serving: Janet Jackson-Rodgers Serving: Richard Shaw Serving: Missi Findley Serving: Shawn Findley Set Up & Clean Up: Missi Findley Set Up & Clean Up: Shawn Findley
KidsClub (K-5thgrade) Michelle Schluttenhofer
[email protected] 765-742-4058 November 23rd
Bowling at Arrowhead Bowling Alley at 12:30 pm. Cost $10
December 7th
Christmas Parade at 2 pm. Meet at the church at 1:30 pm or stay after church and eat lunch! (THIS IS IN PLACE OF KIDS CLUB!
December 11th
Set up the Toy Room for Jubilee Christmas @ 6 pm. I will have pizza!
December 13th
"Ring the Bells" for the Salvation Army inside the mall in front of JC Penny's from 6-8 pm!
December 14th
Mitten Tree @ 5 pm in Fellowship Hall
December 21st
NO KIDS CLUB
Christian Youth Fellowship Michelle Schluttenhofer
[email protected] 765-742-4058 November 23rd
Bowling at Arrowhead Bowling Alley at 12:30 pm. Cost $10. Bring a friend!
November 30
Youth meeting downtown from 5:30-7 pm in Fellowship Hall
December 7th
Christmas Parade @ 2 pm. Meet at the church at 1:30 pm or stay after church and eat lunch with us!
December 11th
Set up the Toy Room for Jubilee Christmas @ 6 pm. Pizza provided!
December 13th
Ring the Bells for the Salvation Army inside the mall in front of JC Penny's from 6-8 pm!
December 14th
Mitten Tree @ 5 pm in Fellowship Hall
December 21st
NO YOUTH MEETING!
December 28th
NO YOUTH MEETING!
Scripture of the Month I Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. Please keep in your prayers: Seton, Indianapolis: Jeff Weedon Auto accident St. Elizabeth Central: Linda Hundley 4116 IU Health: Martha Northrup #206 Sagamore: Edith Sipple Marty Jackson, Sue and Rex Dismore, Cheryl Tully and family, Lucy Easterday, Sue England's sister - cancer, Jim Sipple, Hubert Yount, Cay Long, knee replacement, Mary Lou Curtis, Candy English, cancer, Laura Curry, bone marrow cancer, friends of June Beigh; Otis McCollum, cancer, friend of Deb Goonen, Melissa Shelton, Cindy Lindstrom's niece, back and neck surgery, Barb Fisher, stroke, Lafayette Rehab, friend of Daryl Killian, Mike Moore, test, friend of Deb Goonen's and those in the Armed Forces. (Names will remain on the prayer list in the newsletter for 2 weeks unless otherwise requested but will remain on the prayer list in the office indefinitely.)
Jeffrey Goodspeed, director of music
[email protected] 765-490-9560 Musixtravaganza! is the new name for monthly-ish "non-holiday" Sundays when Choir and Bells sing and play at both downtown services. An instrumental ensemble, keyboard duets or other "treats" are likely to be featured on these Sundays, as well. If you didn't invite a friend to see the Purduettes, please consider inviting someone to Musixtravaganza this Sunday! Sunday Worship & Music events of NOTE: November 23
Thanksgiving Sunday Bagpiper Hope Oaks (8:00/10:15)
November 30
Hanging of the Greens (10:15) Bells, Choir, special music
December 7
String ensemble
December 21
Christmas Cantata with choir, orchestra, and drama "O Holy Night" by Russell Mauldin
Pastoral Care News: The names listed below are folks who have difficulty making it to Sunday services. Many of these folks have been active members of our congregation, but, for one reason or another, can not physically make it to Sunday services on their own. The pastoral caregivers ask that each of you hold these folks in your prayers: Mary Bogan, June Brummett, Bev Conn, Mary Coon, Jeanne Dible, Marilyn Galloway, Mary Goodwin, Russ & Pauline Graefnitz, Harriett McDowell, Suzie Mounts, Betty Mowery, Martha Oliver, Ann & Bob Prather, John & Leanna Reagan, June Schwartz, and Edith Sipple. Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart: then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15: 10 Jubilee Christmas is just 25 days away. The angel tree is up with angels for everyone to choose from. You are being asked to purchase 2 toys for each angel you choose from the angel tree. Some of the angels are for clothing for these children. While shopping, remember to pick up a few stocking stuffers for the children. After shopping, please leave the unwrapped toys and clothing in the Jubilee box in the gathering place or under the tree at Southside. All teenagers will receive a $30.00 gift certificate. We will be providing toys, clothing and gift cards for 98 children this year. Jubilee empowers parents so that they can be the "heroes" with their own children on Christmas day. And what about Christmas dinner? A food basket is given to each family. Included in the basket is a ham and a food gift certificate for $25.00. You may also donate any food items or paper products to be included in the basket. With all of this said, we also need $1735.00 to pay for the hams, food gift certificates, and teen gift cards, plus money for the Bibles. Any excess money received will help pay for extra toys or clothing we may need to purchase. Please mark your cash donations for "Jubilee Christmas". Don't forget to check out the poster in the gathering place. I will need many helpers on Jubilee day. Also will need somewhere between 120 and 150 dozen cookies for this event. This is your time to help show the love we have at First Christian Church at both locations. Our love and generosity will shine when our guests arrive on Jubilee Day. Please be a part of this wonderful and rewarding day. In God's Love, Sandie Hauser 427-2672.
Support our students so they can Disciples of Christ Institution! Your gift to the Thanksgiving Offering helps underwrite the education of students attending our 14 member undergraduate institutions and our 7 seminaries or divinity houses. You are helping ensure that when students from your congregation go away to study they will Come Home to a Disciples institution. Coming home to a Disciples College or Theological School is possible through the scholarships and grants that are made available by generous individuals, the Disciples Mission Fund and your gifts to the Thanksgiving Offering. Together, we can make coming home to Disciples educational institutions more affordable. For generations thousands of students have attended the Colleges and Universities of the Christian Church receiving both a quality education and the opportunity to remain within our Disciple's heritage. The Thanksgiving Offering helps continue this tradition. Consider how important teaching and learning is to our faith community. Then, consider your investment not just in the student's opportunity to learn but also as an act of stewardship for future generations. Likewise, consider the many generations of pastors, who, if not for the support of faithful congregations and individuals over the ages would not have flourished as our pastors, teachers and leaders. Have you consider the impact of the pastor in the life of your church, community or region? Our institutions help prepare our pastors for the service and leadership they provide to our communities, let's thank them by supporting the Thanksgiving Offering. Historically, our denomination has led in founding and supporting higher education. Today, the Colleges, Universities, Seminaries and Divinity Houses find themselves in a transformational time, much like the Church. Your gifts will give students an opportunity to Come Home to a Disciples College or Seminary and help lead our ongoing transformation. The Thanksgiving Offering benefits the Colleges, Universities, Seminaries, and Divinity Houses affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). These learning communities are an extension of the church, challenging students to understand and respond to God's call to serve. Your support provides scholarships, church relations programs, and chaplaincy offices. Most importantly, your support of the 2014 Thanksgiving Offering helps Disciples Come Home!
Please give generously to this year's Thanksgiving Offering.
First Christian Church |
[email protected] | http://www.fcclaf.org 329 North 6th Street Lafayette, IN 47901
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 329 N. 6th Street, Lafayette, IN 47901 765-742-4058; www.fcclaf.org
Sunday Worship-8 & 10:15 a.m. Sunday School-9:00 a.m. Rev. Greg Eberhard, Senior Minister Southside Food & Fellowship 10:30 a.m. Service 11:00 a.m. Rev. Nancy Eberhard
FIRST CHRISTIAN VISITOR (USPS 195-900) is published weekly for $1 per year by First Christian Church, 329 N 6th Street, Lafayette, IN 47901. Periodical postage paid at Lafayette, IN POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FIRST CHRISTIAN VISITOR, P. O. Box 35, Lafayette, IN 47902-0035
