CONNECTION

A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK Vol. 4 No. 35, September 6, 2012

The Chalice

LivingBunton, Associate Minister of Student Ministries Life Together By Rev. Greg

School is back in session, and Labor Day weekend is behind us. That can mean only one thing its time for UNITE. Beginning Wednesday, September 12, all ages are invited to be a part of our mid-week ministry. Here at First Christian we talk a lot about the importance of living in community. We are the body of Christ, brothers and sisters, family; and we need each other. God did not create us to live life alone, but with one another! We are meant to be in relationship with each other! Thats what is so great about UNITE it brings us together. How appropriately named! And there is literally something for everyone. From music and bible study for the children, to worship and small groups for our students, to engaging discussion for our adults, its all here! And lets not forget about the incredible dinner each week! If you have been a part of UNITE in the past, we look forward to seeing you again. And if you have not joined us before, now is a great time to get involved. Check out the information below about everything being offered. And if you have any questions, please dont hesitate to ask. Come, lets live life together!

UNITE Begins Wednesday, September 12

Come join us for dinner, learning and friendship!
Evening Options for Adults:
5:00 - 6:00 Adult Bible Study Group, led by
Rev. Chris Shorow - Room 116 6:20 - 7:15 After the New Testament Study, led by Rev. Dr. Jerry Black - Room 116 In this course, we will use 30 minute lectures by Bart D. Ehrman to examine early writings and their impact on the church. Note: This class will begin at 6:20, allowing interested choir members to watch the 30 minute video lectures prior to choir beginning at 7. Class discussion & content clarification will follow.

7:00 - 8:15 Chancel Choir: led by Diane Ball - Sanctuary (Nursery/Childcare Available) Our Chancel Choir offers musical

gifts throughout the year in the 11 am worship service and on special occasions. Come share your gift of song! Students Schedule Students get a copy of The Story (Teen Edition) by Max Lucado and take the challenge! This will have you reading a condensed version of the entire Bible and will give deeper meaning to The Story (& your place in it)! Books are $10. www.fccedmond.org/thestory 5:30 Girls Ensemble 6:30 Worship 5:45 Dinner 7:15 Small Group Bible Study 8:00 Done!

Childrens Schedule Children ages 3 to 5th grade will experience 3 themes this Fall: (1) Star Quest! - God is the

King over all the earth. - Psalm 47:7 (2) Wilderness Trail - Respect everyone. - 1 Peter 2:17 & (3) Heroes - Be strong and courageous. - Joshua 1:9 5:00 Music/Instruments (K-5th) (Music, Rm 113) 6:30 Large Group (Sanctuary) 5:30 Cherub Choir (PreK) (Rm 115) 7:00 Small Groups 6:00 Check-In/Dinner 7:30 Check-Out/Pick up

Sign up for UNITE in the Rotunda - or - online at www.fccedmond.org/unite

Extravagant

GENEROSITY: One Gift TOUCHES Many Hearts!

September 16 - October 7
Praying in COLOR

Annual C ampaign Schedule of Activities

Week 1: Gratitude Sunday, Sept 16
9:30 Sunday School with Rev. Barkhauer
Adults, Students and Children in 4th and 5th Grade

Week 2: Sunday, September 23

10:00 Unified Sunday School Workshop for All in Fellowship Hall
Need help communicating with God? Maybe you love color. Maybe you are a visual or kinesthetic learner, a distractable or impatient soul, or a word-weary pray-er? Perhaps you struggle with a short attention span? But still you hunger to communicate with God. This new prayer form offers tools for a sensory prayer experience. Led by Anna Lisa Stanley & Janet Helms. Everyone is welcome! All Sunday School classes are encouraged to join.

10:45 Unified Worship 12:00 - FREE Gratitude Lunch!

Please register at www.fccedmond.org/gratitude

Weeks 3 & 4: Sundays, September 30 & October 7 PRAYING for Our Campaign Weeks 1 - 4 REEL your we the THEOLOGY exploring faith in film We invite in theprayers asyear. seekquiet resources to fund various ministries coming A Prayer Room will be
10:00 Optional Sunday School Workshop for All in Fellowship Hall
REEL Thelology will meet the last two weeks of our Extravagant Generosity series. Larry and Sharon Mullins will lead these forums, pairing weekly worship themes to film clips. On September 30, to illustrate the importance of mentoring, particularly as it concerns reaching out to other generations and those that might seem different than us, we will explore clips from Finding Forrester and other classic films. On October 7, to illustrate the power of touch, and reaching out to others, we will discuss film clips from such classics as Ghandi. Each lesson will be interactive, engaging, and hopefully provocative as it concerns the importance of reaching out to each other and the larger community, both those close to home as well as those around the world. An optional faith forum for adults of all ages. Sunday School classes are welcome, or may meet as scheduled. available in the Upper Room (above the chapel). This space is for those who wish to pray privately in sacred space. Printed prayer guides will be available to support your prayer time.

Weeks 3 & 4

Find yourself easily distracted when you pray? Come try a method called Praying in Color. On Sundays, September 30 and October 7, an interactive prayer space will be open throughout the morning in Room 117. Children, youth, adults - individuals and families alike - are encouraged to come experience the Praying in Color method of prayer.

DONT FORGET!

Register for the FREE September 16th Gratitude Luncheon at the table in the rotunda - or - online at www.fccedmond.org/gratitude

Prayers of the People

THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Betsy Jones, Jim Hays, George Hall, Bob Jennings, Jason Scheer (Larry & Judy Freemans son), Judy Joy, Larry Hays (Dyke Moffatts brother-in-law), Jerri Jones, Rose Marie McKee, Bart Rodr, Virginia ONiel, Cynthia David (Winnie Halls daughter), Ed Berry, Bill & Mary Lou Womble CELEBRATING THE GIFT OF A NEW LIFE Aubrynn Eleece Owen born August 27 to Keith & Erin Owen. Grandparents are Fred & Amy Hepler.

Happy Birthday!
9/9 9/10 9/11 9/12 9/14 9/15 9/16 Nancy Hays, Kassi Johnson, Geri Moffatt, Steve Percival, William Shorow Carla Felix, Sydney Hammond, Timothy Linville, Chance Meadows, Loretta Parks, Madelyn Ryland Neil Helms, Jerri Jones, Ally Nash, Caitlyn Turner, Sherrye VanOsdol Gladys Dronberger, Bob Gallop, Joan Grant, Joy Hunt, Larry Mullins James Kerr IV, Molly Mabry, Jacob Weaver Jennifer Belardo, Jan Harrison, J.W. Michael, Parker Mullins, Steve Turk Colton Lagasse, Fern Rice

Help FCC Focus on the Future

By now I hope youve all heard about the exciting opportunity we each have in the next few months to participate in a small group Prayer Triad. The small groups of three will first decide on a convenient time to meet for seven sessions from the middle of September to December. To guide your times together, you will receive materials with scripture, prayer and reflection questions directed towards helping First Christian Church figure out what God has to say to us about His future plans for our church. I believe the result of 120 or more of us focused on Gods plan for our church will be amazing! If you have already signed up for a prayer triad THANK YOU! You will be contacted soon about the next step. If you havent signed up please look for the Focus on the Future sign up table in the rotunda this Sunday or log on to www.fccedmond.org/focus to sign up now! If you still have questions about the process, you can pick up more details from the Focus on the Future table, or download a PDF document that goes into more detail about the purpose of the small groups and the format for the sessions, or look for any of the Focus Team members. Its available online at www.fccedmond.org/focus

FaithLife Connections
Phillips Theological Seminary has developed a new topical, weekend lecture series FaithLife Connections. Seminary faculty will rotate to participating congregations, presenting seven topics of relevance and interest to local communities for understanding and conversation. The format includes a Friday night presentation, Saturday morning presentation, and a panel will respond and share perspectives along with conversations from the attendees. After lunch together, a training session will be held for those interested in teaching or leading study groups including offering recommendations on materials and resources. The program is intended to be ecumenically and multi-faith oriented. The first FaithLife Connection event will be held September 28-29 at Southern Hills Christian Church (and co-hosted by First Christian Church). The presenter is Dr. Mindy McGarrah Sharp; on the topic of Sustainable Faith: Communities of Care in a World Under Stress. Dr. McGarrah Sharps area of focus at PTS is pastoral theology and ethics. For additional information about FaithLife Connections, registration, locations, topics and presenters, visit www.ptstulsa.edu/faithlifeconnections or call (918) 610-8303.

Made To Be Generous
You are a generous person! Did you know that? Do you realize that you have generosity in your very DNA? It is true, and in our combined Sunday School hour on Sunday, September 16, we will explore why this is so and how much fun it is to practice generosity. There will be something for folks young and old to connect with as we discover the abundance of God and joy of living generously. Bring your Bibles and (if you are able) one dollar! We are excited to welcome Rev. Bruce Barkhauer, Minister for Faith and Giving for Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). For twenty-five years, he has led congregations in Ohio and Indiana in achieving high levels of financial support for local and global missions and he now shares his experience accross the life of the whole church. Rev. Barkhauer brings a Biblically based understanding about stewardship combined with theological integrity and weds them to the current trends and best practices related to spirtuality and money.

Tour Peppers Ranch & Armstong Auditorium

Tuesday, September 11

Worship
September 9, 2012 8:15, 9 & 11am

Travel with The Classics!

On Tuesday, September 11, the Classics will take another tour of Peppers Ranch to see the progress and recent improvements to the ranch which has been rebuilt after a tornado last year. Peppers Ranch sustained major property damage by a tornado that swept through Logan County on May 24, 2011. Peppers Ranch, which sits on 200+ acres north of Guthrie and west of Edmond, is a long-term residential care facility that provides quality, planned care for foster families. FCCEs own Jim Quade is the new Executive Director! The Classics will also take another tour of Armstrong Auditorium. Armstrong Auditorium is a spectacular concert venue with a 5-star class rating in Central Oklahoma. It currently houses an exhibit called Seals of Jeremiahs Captors Discovered, showing some of the most significant archaeological artifacts ever discovered in Jerusalem. Please call Winnie Hall if you are interested in this opportunity, or for questions, at 341-4297.

at First Christian
Message: Rev. Dr. Jerry Black Rev. Chris Shorow Scripture: John 17:20-23

September 16, 2012 Common SS Hour - 9:30am Unified Service - 10:45am

Guest Minister: Rev. Bruce Barkhauer Scripture: Acts 9:36-43 & Acts 16:14-15

SAVE THE DATE!! Sunday, October 7th,

FCC FOLLIES & CHILI COOK-OFF
Find that prize-winning chili recipe and start working on your act now...more details will follow soon! Questions? Contact Diane Ball at dball@fccedmond.org or 341-3544, ext.115.

Hearts 4 Bart Car Wash

On Sunday, September 16 the youth of First Christian Church will be holding a car wash to raise money for Bart Rodrs heart transplant. The car wash will be held in the main parking lot of the church from 1-4 p.m. This is a donation only car wash, so any amount will be gladly accepted!

The Chalice CONNECTION

Shelley Regan, Editor sregan@fccedmond.org Read News Online @ fccedmond.org/news Submit Articles to news@fccedmond.org

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