The Current | 7.3.12

july 3, 2012 march 27, 2012

the newsletter of first christian church (disciples of christ)

THE volume xxv | no. 83

Scholarships Awarded

Attention—All Current & Want-to-Be Candlelighters!

On June 24, several of our college students were awarded scholarships. Eight church members applied for the two scholarships. The Margaret Wilson Miller and David Rader Miller scholarship is available for high school graduates. Requirements include financial need, scholastic achievement, and church involvement. The First Christian Church scholarship is financed from a fund provided in 1998 by Frank & Mildred Ricketts and their estate. Applicants for this scholarship must have graduated from high school one year ago, have completed a minimum of 24 hours of college or technical or trade school, and have at least a 2.5 grade point average.

CANDLELIGHTER TRAINING AUGUST 19

Patrick Burns received the Miller Scholarship. Lauren Burns, Megan Burns, Stefanie Duff, Payton Hartman, Grace Miller, Anthony Stripling, and Allison Watkins were recipients of both the above scholarships. Exact dollar amounts of both scholarships will be announced as the investments mature in July. Scholarship committee members are Susie Clower, Joyce French, Barbara Krueger, and Linda Prout.

A Few Notes of Thanks A big thank you to Brock Cook for his fine job of reading the Father’s Day poem during worship service Sunday. Our thanks to you & your church family for providing a wonderful VBS for the children. Operation Overboard was a huge success! Our granddaughter had a great time & is still singing the songs & talking about Ocho. Even though she is only 3, I know she heard & understood the lessons & scriptures from God’s Word. Thank you for all your time & devotion. The program Thursday evening was wonderful & so was dinner. God bless you all! —Debbie Shannon Thank you to Rev. Ryan for the memorial service for my mother. You did an excellent job honoring her memory and consoling the family. Also, the women of the CWF who served the meal after the service. The food was great— thank you all. We all appreciate the love shown by everyone. —Mike Gordon & Family of Betty Gordon

The Candlelighter (Acolyte) has the most important role in our worship services, as they are charged with bringing in the light of Christ each and every Sunday. As such, we need to help these folks by training them! On August 19 at 9:30 AM (before worship), we’ll have training for all current and want-to-be candlelighters. This training is mandatory; you will not be scheduled to be a candlelighter if you are not in attendance at this meeting. Acolytes must be no younger than entering second grade and no older than entering fifth grade. Very, very responsible First Graders are also welcome, based upon their parent’s consent and how their parents believe they will handle fire.

youth group starting in the fall Starting this fall, we will be having regular Youth meetings on Wednesday evenings. We will meet at 6:00 and go until 7:30. Rev. Ryan will lead our time together, and we’ll be engaging in a variety of activities, from hanging out to service activities to prayer and worship. These times are open to all youth from grade 6 through grade 12. Middle school students and high school students will meet together at first, but as soon as each group has 10 or more students, they will meet separately. Ryan will need some adult youth sponsors to help him with this time as well. In order to be a sponsor, you need to be at least eight years out of high school. If you enjoy being with our youth and want to encourage their growth in faith, please let Ryan know. Meanwhile, we will need plenty of people praying for our youth and supporting them in various ways. Begin praying now! Stay tuned for opportunities to support them as they become available.

current culture A Word from Ryan Over the past few weeks, we have heard words shared from several of our members about Tall Oaks Camp and Conference Center, and the important ministry that it does for and with our church. As I listened to many who shared words and stories in worship, I realized something: that while many of you know that I have a personal and deep love of Tall Oaks, you may not know why. So, here’s my story. My childhood was a patchwork of different church experiences, with some time spent at a United Methodist Church and some spent at a Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). It wasn’t until my middle school years that my family found its way through the doors of a Disciples of Christ congregation. At Shawnee Park Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), there was a vibrant and active youth program, headed by a Minister of Youth who believed that, while Shawnee Park was the place where we met God each week, Tall Oaks was the place where God actually lived. He encouraged the youth in his charge to go and experience this place, and each summer he heavily recruited from the congregation. It wasn’t until eighth grade that I would go. Nervous, feigning homesickness, and worried about my ability to make friends, I sat in the backseat of my mother’s van as it wove along the back roads of Kansas. As we pulled into the campground, I began to ask the important questions: “So, do the cabins have air conditioning? I’m not sure I can make it a week without air conditioning” and “Do they serve pizza here? Are you sure I will have food to eat?” Check-in was happening at the Dining Hall, and we went to stand in line. As we stood there, many counselors walked through the line, introducing themselves to us and our families. Other campers stood in line too, including one Brett Atkins. Little did I know then how important these counselors and campers would become in my life. Last year at General Assembly, I sat at dinner with Theta Wagner-Miller, one of those counselors who had introduced herself to me in that line. She laughed as she remembered how afraid and timid I had seemed and how, after my parents left, it was as though I emerged from an invisible cocoon and became the social butterfly God had created me to be all along. I would discover during that first Chi Rho 2 camp that I had amazing gifts to talk to others, curiosity for faith, and a love of faithful community. Two years later, these gifts would be directed as, during my Sophomore Year of CYF Conference, I began to hear questions that resonated in my heart and spirit: “What does it meant to be a leader of God’s people? How do you know if you’re called to be a minister? Do you think you might have gifts that could be used to grow and nurture God’s Church?” This discernment began at Tall Oaks and has grown there each and every summer since, as I have returned back to water the sacred roots that have grown there. Next week, I’ll return to Tall Oaks to counsel CYF Conference for my sixth year as a counselor. Many people ask me, “What is so special about Tall Oaks?” Quite

simply: stories like mine. Youth like me find purpose, hope, and grace at Tall Oaks. They find a community that loves them as they are and asks no more of them, and through this amazingly simple community the seeds are planted for amazing, amazing things to happen. Those of you who have been out to Tall Oaks for retreats know a piece of this: in the serene and peaceful woods, with the sounds of trains passing in the distance, we set aside our busy lives to listen for the Holy Spirit that says to us, “You are my beloved…now, keep listening.” This Summer, Smithville FCC is sending thirty-two youth and children to experience this Holy Spirit, along with around ten counselors for different camps. This fall, our leadership class will have a retreat there, our Elders will gather there to discern their mission and goals for our church. There is also the potential I will lead a weekend Spiritual Practice retreat there in October. We get a great deal of joy from Tall Oaks as a church. I encourage you to hear the call to support the work of Tall Oaks and our church’s ministry through it as our congregation works to support the Tall Oaks 100 campaign. But, above all, please support Tall Oaks and its work with your prayers, and support the youth who are part of this ministry with your prayers, too. With gratitude and memory,

Ryan

sunday stats | june 24 & july 1, 2012 Worship Attendance for 6/24: 118 Visitors: Kim, Austin, and Zoe Fansher-Hurley Worship Attendance for 7/1: 153 Visitors: Scott, Stacey, Isabella, and William Sapp, Teresa Attigliato, Betty Jo Rimpson, Sierra Buck, Dave and Mary Osborn, and Lauren Hicks Income needed each week: $4,056.00 Income from 6/24: $2746.45 Income from 7/1: $6174.79

summer due dates for the current If you have articles that you would like included in Summer editions of the Current, please submit them to Jennifer by the following dates for the following publications: Submit on July 12 to be published in the July 17 issue. Submit on July 26 to be published in the July 31 issue. Submit on August 2 to be published in the August 7 issue. The August 7 issue will mark our return to weekly newsletters.

current culture Host an International Exchange Student!

food pantry report

Give your family an international experience, learn about a new culture, and share fun & excitement. Several international high school exchange students will be coming to Smithville, Kearney, Liberty, and surrounding area high schools for the coming school term. Host families are needed to share their home and friendship with a boy or girl from the country of your choice. These bright, well-mannered students bring their own spending money, are fully insured, speak English well, and can share a bedroom. Families with small children, no children, teens, and single parents will be considered. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to help bring fun and excitement into your family and community. Families are being selected now for students arriving in August. Please consider helping us with this worthwhile endeavor. For more information, please call Patsy at 741-1569 or contact PatsyMedillERDT@aol. com

isaiah 30:21 Thank you to everyone who donates time, food, and funds to the pantry. Special thanks to Mike & Mary Gordon for fresh veggies from their garden. Special thanks to Paradise United Methodist for a large donation of assorted canned goods. We can always use cereal, personal hygiene items, spaghetti, and spaghetti sauce. Reasonable portions are perfect. Love to all, Rick numbers 6:22-27.

No Potluck Dinner on Sunday, July 15

a look ahead

this sunday, july 8

next sunday, july 15

GREETERS, EAST DOOR: Charles & Ruth Ann Porter GREETERS, WEST DOOR: Joel & Darsi Hartman LAY READER: Shirley Owen

GREETERS, EAST DOOR: Janice Heath GREETERS, WEST DOOR: Mike & Mary Gordon LAY READER: Kathy French CHILDREN’S SERMON: Greg Atkins CANDLE LIGHTERS: Jack & Carter Massie ELDERS: Matt Dion & Darsi Hartman DIACONATE: Jessica Roberts, Cara Massie, Kathy Hamilton, Joel Hartman, Sue Lake, Cole Hartman

CHILDREN’S SERMON: Alice Richards CANDLE LIGHTERS: Alexander & Emma Drake ELDERS: Mike Gordon & Larry Driver DIACONATE: Kathy French, Matt French, Jenni Osborn, JD Osborn, Jim Mitchell, Brady French PREPARE COMMUNION: Steve Prout CLEAN UP COMMUNION: Dale French PICK UP SANCTUARY: Jim Owen

PREPARE COMMUNION: Jessica Roberts CLEAN UP COMMUNION: Cara Massie PICK UP SANCTUARY: Kathy Hamilton

JULY 4: Les Neer JULY 5: Mary Jane Duff, Daniel Weinert JULY 7: Glen Hayes, Mackenzie Hays JULY 8: Samantha Summers JULY 11: Jean Shannon, Lester Paul, Austin Jones, Ward Hayes, Rhett Major JULY 13: Diane Soetart JULY 15: Jonathan Darr JULY 17: Alan Dodd, John Peters JULY 18: Trent Holland

june birthdays

First Christian Church

201 North Bridge Street Smithville, MO 64089-8266 phone: 816.532.0773 www.smithvillefcc.org office@smithvillefcc.org

NON PROFIT Presorted STD A U.S. POSTAGE PAID Smithville, MO 64089 PERMIT NO. 57

(Disciples of Christ)

Ryan Motter, pastor cell: 913.707.2870 email: ryan@smithvillefcc.org Mark Holcomb, music minister Velva Fausett, organist Janet George, pianist Greg Atkins, treasurer Jennifer Schultz, office manager Abby Carr, communications designer