august27, 14, 2012 2012 march
the newsletter of first christian church (disciples of christ)
THE volume xxv | no. 87
Choir Returns in August
Attention—All Current & Want-to-Be Candlelighters!
The choir will be back in full swing the month of August, however we are asking for your help. We would like you to join the choir. The only requirement is that you can match pitch. We can teach you how to read parts, and choir members will be happy to guide you along. You’ll have a good time too. We are especially in need of male tenor and bass voices, but men and women alike are welcome. EVERYONE ages 13 to mature adults who would like to help be an enhancement to the worship experience is encouraged to participate!
CANDLELIGHTER TRAINING AUGUST 19
The choir rehearses every Wednesday evening from 7:00-8:00pm and performs 3 Sundays a month. September 5th we will begin working on our Christmas Program “Caroling, Caroling” arranged by a native Kansas City composer, Mark Hayes, with Flute, Oboe, Piano and Percussion. As much as we love having you in the congregation, we would love your help in the choir loft! You can call or email with questions to Mark Holcomb, Director of Music Ministries. Mark W. Holcomb Cell: 816-807-2297 Email: mholcomb@concorde.edu
scholarship update The amount of interest received this year for the Miller Scholarship was $4564.61 which was divided eight ways for our scholarship winners resulting in each receiving $570. The amount for the Ricketts Scholarship was $1989.03 and was evenly divided seven ways with each student receiving $284. Patrick Burns received the Miller Scholarship only as he has not yet completed one year of college. He will receive $570. Lauren Burns, Megan Burns, Stefanie Duff, Payton Hartman, Grace Miller, Tony Stripling, and Allison Watkins were recipients of both scholarships, and each will receive $854. Good luck to our college students as they embark upon another year of higher learning!
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 Last week I shared with you a bit of what was discussed at the “State of the Church” Dinner on Monday, August 5, 2012. We had a great time of fellowship and discussion with one another, highlighted by a discussion about our church’s past, present, and future. So, let’s pick up where I left off last week: Our congregation is in a strong place of vibrant life, and we’re looking into the future and asking ourselves, “Where is God leading us?” In our past, when we’ve sought to answer this question, there are three resources we’ve tapped: First, we have looked at our history and honored it. Then, we’ve taken a pragmatic look at the community we are in and how it is changing, and finally we’ve taken bold steps with faith to set new priorities around where God is leading us. When we honor our history today, we realize that there have really been five values that our congregation has held true throughout our life together: 1. Building Community. From the moment we began forming in the 1820s to today, Smithville First Christian Church and its members have been immersed in congregational community and civic community. In the 1860s, we bought a great symbol of this value: the Church Bell, which still rings out every Sunday morning, calling all people to faithfulness. More than this, though, we have worked to build community within the walls of our church by making sure every voice is valued and all people are loved. Beyond our walls, our members are working to help move and shape Smithville as an original, unique, and welcoming community that encourages its members to make the world a better and more grace-filled place. 2. Spiritual Formation. Sunday School. Bible Study. Bread and Broth. Christian education is the unique priority of the church, and we have tried to take it seriously. While we as Disciples do not offer any statement other than, “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God, and Lord and Savior of the World,” we recognize that implicit in that statement is a challenge to each of us to grow and develop our own theologies. 3. Abundant Generosity. We are a giving church. There are so many stories of people from our congregation giving of their time, talent, and resources to improve the ministry of the Gospel at FCC Smithville. Many still remember the story of the Women’s Group shucking corn to help purchase brick for our buildings. Others remember a more recent story, of how the debt on the 1999 portion of our building was paid off within three years. We view our financial resources as tools by which to do ministry, not safeguards that have to be carefully guarded.
4. Encouraging Families. There are some who sit in our pews each Sunday who have well-worn grooves from where they, their parents, and their great-grandparents sat, and yet there are those who find themselves newly wondering at the beauty of our sanctuary. Time has told the story of families new, old, traditional, and untraditional, who have made their home here at FCC. When I say families, I mean not only those long-tenured and deep-rooted family trees, but also those “families” who meet every Sunday at Lowman’s Café right after church for lunch and fellowship. Those “families” who play Bunco on Wednesday nights with their friends. We know that “FAMILY” is a word that can be defined in many, many different ways, and we define it still today. 5. Last but not least, Serving from God’s Table of Love. Not only do we give abundantly from our resources, but we also have the hearts of servants. Micah Ministry on Mondays has benefited so many times from our volunteers who cook, serve, and work in the Clothing Closet. Our Food Pantry has grown to be the largest in Smithville. We have gone on Mission Trips and local mission projects, and we love to love others. So, viewing these values, how do you think we’re doing with them currently? On Monday Night, I asked all eighty of us present to share how they would rate each of these values individually, on a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 being the weakest and 10 being the strongest, as to how we are doing right now with them. How would you rate them, and how are we doing? Next week, I’ll share with you the results of how those present rated us. With excitement and grace,
Ryan
current culture food pantry report
care connection report
micah 6:8. Thanks to Perry Winn & Betty Spencer, the volunteers for this week. Thanks to Daisy Smith for pears, Jim Ratliff for tomatoes, and Judy Clough for tomatoes. Thank you all for your donations of all types; money, time, & food. The blessings keep coming. Praise God. One measure of our likeness to Christ is our sensitivity to the suffering of others.
June
Love, Rick. colossians 3:15-17
A Note of Thanks from Kendall & Shane Cissell Thank you for helping us go to Grandparents Camp at Tall Oaks. Wehad a great time with our Nanny, and we really enjoyed riding the horses. —Kendall & Shane Cissell
Home visits: 1 Care facilities visits: 2 Meals prepared: 1 Cards sent: 24 Telephone calls: 26 Total connections: 54 Total people making connections: 5
July Home visits: 3 Care facilities visits: 3 Cards sent: 24 Telephone calls: 23 Total connections: 53 Total people making connections: 4
a look ahead
Children’s Church Schedule school-age AUG. 19TH Kathy Hamilton AUG. 26TH Brenda Dion
preschool AUG. 19TH Ruth Anne Porter
this sunday, august 12
next sunday, august 19
GREETERS, EAST DOOR: Ed & Val Blosser GREETERS, WEST DOOR: John & Joyce Summers LAY READER: Kathy Atkins CHILDREN’S SERMON: Bill Drake CANDLE LIGHTERS: Charley & Kayla Lincoln ELDERS: Matt Dion & Darsi Hartman DIACONATE: Jessica Roberts, Cara Massie, Sue Lake, Cindy Mayberry, Linda McComas, Cassidy French
GREETERS, EAST DOOR: Mac & Judy Clough GREETERS, WEST DOOR: David & Jacinda Manka LAY READER: Mike Gordon
PREPARE COMMUNION: Sue Lake CLEAN UP COMMUNION: Cindy Mayberry PICK UP SANCTUARY: Jessica Roberts
PREPARE COMMUNION: Rachel Drake CLEAN UP COMMUNION: Pam Maedel PICK UP SANCTUARY: Billy Drake
CHILDREN’S SERMON: Ken Lippincott CANDLE LIGHTERS: Jack & Carter Massie ELDERS: Bill Drake & Jonica Lincoln DIACONATE: Traci Burns, Rachel Drake, Josh Milne, Natalie Milne, Pam Maedel, Billy Drake
AUGUST 15: Jeromy Darr, Jonica Lincoln, Erin Miller AUGUST 17: Tom Massie AUGUST 18: Brenda Burchett, Neely Simon, Heidi Triplett AUGUST 19: Linda McComas AUGUST 21: William Kays AUGUST 22: Jeff Arnold, Josh Milne AUGUST 24: Joyce French
august birthdays
First Christian Church
201 North Bridge Street Smithville, MO 64089-8266 phone: 816.532.0773 www.smithvillefcc.org office@smithvillefcc.org
(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