CONNECTION

A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK Vol. 5 No. 8 February 28, 2013

The Chalice

The Future Revealed

By Bruce Jackson, Vision Team Member On March 10, during all three Sunday morning services, the visioning task force will present to the congregation Our Future Story - a road map for our churchs journey through the rest of this decade. The task force consists of Brenda Peterson and Billy Harrison (comoderators), Ellen Chitwood, Molly Haley, Bethany Shipley, Wayne Warner, Bruce Jackson, Terry Kerr, Brian Cavanaugh, Molly Larrison, and Robbi Kinnaird. While this group was given the task of putting our future story together, it has actually been a project for the entire congregation. The process started in the Summer of 2011, with our re:New discussions. Last Fall, forty groups of three people each formed Prayer Triads. They used the information that came from the re:New process, along with scripture study and in-depth prayer to discern the will of God for our congregation as we plan the next few years. Since then the task force has been examining the results of the Prayer Triads, looking for common threads as we listen for Gods word. This has been a long process, but a rewarding one. The results show it was well worth the effort spent. The notes from our Prayer Triads speak with a clear voice. They show what we value as a congregation, how we have historically embodied those values, and where we need to focus our effort as we move through the next few years. Our future story is an exciting one and one we will all be proud to be a part of as it unfolds. Join us on March 10th for the premiere of Our Future Story at First Christian Church of Edmond!

Celebrate 40 Days of Compassion - every day for the 40 days of Lent we will have an outreach project that you can participate in to prepare for the miracle of Easter. What better way to celebrate the Resurrection than to give new life and hope to others through our volunteer efforts of compassion? Here are some events for the next few days: Friday, March 1 Movie Night Come for a movie night with popcorn, snacks and drinks from 7-9 PM! Our feature will be Babies, a film that shows what makes us unique and what we have in common as Gods people. Saturday, March 2 Renewing Hands Join us from 9 AM to noon - lend a hand by doing some house and yard work for those in need in our church, weather permitting. Bring tools and work gloves. Monday, March 4 - City Rescue Mission Six volunteers are needed from 3:15-6:30 PM to volunteer to serve dinner and work in the dining room at the City Rescue Mission. Come by the 40 Days of Compassion table on Sunday in the rotunda and see even MORE opportunities that are still available for serving. Challenge yourself this Lent to make it to at least one event every week during our 40 Days!

Sign Up for the Easter Prayer Vigil

Jesus looked toward heaven and prayed. (John 17:1) The Elders of First Christian Edmond invite you to take part in one of the most important traditions we celebrate each yearour Annual Easter Prayer Vigil. Families or individuals may select a time and sign up on our Prayer Vigil sign-up board in the Rotunda. Times begin at 7 pm Good Friday, March 29, and conclude at 6 am on Easter Sunday morning, March 31. We invite you to join our family of faith as we continue the legacy of praying begun long ago by our Savior. Come and pray! Do you or a loved one need prayer? Please share your prayer concerns with us. Contact Rev. Jerry Black at 341-3544, ext. 109 or by email jblack@fccedmond.org

Remember Loved Ones with an Easter Lily

Bring the beauty of Easter into our worship spaces with beautiful white Easter lilies! These beautiful flowers symbolize new life and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Honor the memory of a loved one by sharing a lily with your church family. Each plant is $15 and lilies will be available for purchase through March 24.

There are three ways you can order an Easter lily:

1) Complete an online form at www.fccedmond.org/lilies 2) Complete an order form found in worship bulletins, or, 3) Contact Iris Muno Jordan at 341-3544, ext. 110. Sales of Easter Lilies help fund youth summer mission trips and other youth projects. Thanks for your support!

Thanks for Another Successful IAS BEAN DINNER!

Once again our church family has responded generously to help support some of our youth in the International Affairs Seminar (IAS). IAS is a trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City which exposes the participants to a larger world view with a focus on Christian responsibility in the world. The youth visit Congressional representatives, other government officials, foreign embassies and the United Nations; they are briefed by the State Department and political activist groups; they worship at National City Christian Church; and they enjoy sight-seeing and usually a Broadway musical. The youth who will participate in this event in future years appreciate the great support offered by our congregation at the Bean Dinner on February 24. The total donations of $1075 once again demonstrated the generosity of our faith community in supporting this activity and will help offset the expense of this opportunity for our youth and their families. Thanks for the success of this event are also directed to Bob Steele for helping with preparation, Darcy & Joey Biby, Brian, Jennifer & Allyson Cain, Chris, Cheryl & Trevor Gibson, Diane, Larry & Hallie Ball, Linda Speegle & Paula Bailey for setting up, serving and cleaning up, and to all those who helped Sherrye VanOsdol and Tana Stufflebean in supplying cakes. Please patronize the following local merchants to thank them for their donations to support this activity: WalMart Supercenter (I-35 & 15th), SAMs (Memorial & Penn), Walmart SuperCenter (Danforth & Santa Fe), Walmart Neighborhood Market (164th & Western), Sprouts Farmers Market, Uptown Grocery Company, Homeland (Bryant & Danforth), Homeland (33rd Street), and Homeland (Santa Fe & Edmond Road). Due to their generosity ALL of the donations will go toward offsetting the cost of this experience for our youth.

Prayers of the People

THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Randy Clark, Gabe Wiechmann (Don & Jenny Wiechmanns son), Ed Berry, Loree Rice, Dale Wehr (Connie LaRues brother), Judy Joy, Bob & Nancy Gallop, Phyllis Jarrett, Gayle Jones (Jennifer Cains mom), Samantha Branscum (Michelle Fritzs sister), Lori Snider (Loretta Parks daughter), Virginia ONiel, Cynthia David (Winnie Halls daughter), Bill & Mary Lou Womble Thank you to all of our wonderful church family for the prayers, cards and caring you surrounded us with in the loss of Roberts dad. Sincerely, Robert and Karla Rowley

Happy Birthday!
3/3 Thomas Fondren, Mac Mecoy, Leo Webster, Phoebe Eaton 3/4 Christian Hammond, Francis Sneed, Cynthia Hendershot, Erika Cummins 3/5 Julie Bowers, Thadda Groom, Jan Preslar, Debbie Felice 3/6 Davis Ernst, Loree Rice, James Winn, Doris Dowell, Jonathan Jones 3/7 Warren Shepherd, Forrest Danley, Beau Schwabe 3/8 Robert Fields, Jackie Privette, Jesse Raines, Henry Pearce 3/9 Matt Holliman, Aubrey McClendon, Teresa Fritz-Combs, Tara Linville 3/10 Dene Smith, Brooke Medley, Braxton Coil, Alicia Galyon

Lauren Love & Sarah C ombs

Sunday, March 10 at 2:00 PM
Hostesses are Julie Bunton, Ellen Chitwood, Donna Clark, Mary Foreman, Susan Huffer, Robbi Kinnaird, Sandy Mitchell, Linda Quade, Sherry VanOsdol, and Connie Westoff

P lease join us for a Bridal Shower honoring

Thank You!

Thanks to all who contributed to the Finishing Faithfully Campaign, as well as those who continue to financially support the building fund. Along with matching dollars, the church was able to pay down our building debt by $211,424. The $211,424 represents about 1/3 of our remaining building fund debt. Once again, thanks to all for your support. - Scott Peters, Stewardship Moderator

Welcome Others to FCC

Do you have a passion and gift for making people feel welcome? Isnt it great when others make you feel that way? If so, please consider the ministry of greeting both our guests and members at any one of the entrances to our church on Sunday morning for the worship of your choice. By giving just 15-20 minutes of your time, you participate in one of the most important ministries of our churchthe ministry of hospitality. Visit with Randy Huston, Jennifer Cain, or Jerry Black at your convenience or sign up at the small round table in the Fellowship Hall. Thanks for making all people feel warm and welcomed. - Your Open Doors (Evangelism) Ministry Team

Come Play Some Dodgeball! Sunday, March 3

We need YOU! You are invited to come play dodgeball at the Youths Dodgeball Tournament this Sunday, March 3, at 1 pm. Bring $5 to play and we will put you on a team! This event raises funds for the youths World Vision child in Africa.

The children of FCC have started a penny drive during the 40 Days of Compassion for Lent - and they have been working hard! Have you seen the BIG jar of pennies in the rotunda or in Ms. Michelles office? The collected money will be going to The Week of Compassion the relief, refugee and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The children will be collecting pennies throughout the 40 Days, so if you have extra pennies, find a child! They will be glad to take them because EVERY PENNY COUNTS.

Are You Saving Your Pennies?

Worship
8:15, 9 & 11am

Summer Internships Available for Student and Childrens Ministries

The Childrens and Youth Education Committees are pleased to announce its summer internship program for Childrens Ministries (ages birth-5th grade) and Student Ministries (grades 6-12). The internship is open to college students that grew up at First Christian Church of Edmond and participated in the Children and Youth programs. The purpose of the internship is as follows: n To provide our college students the opportunity to give back to the church and programs that nurtured them as children and teenagers n To provide the opportunity to be a positive role model to our children and youth, and to the life of our Children and Student Ministries. n To provide the opportunity for our college students to hone their leadership skills as they help to plan and implement various programs and ministries. The Childrens Education Committee will be hiring one intern for the summer, and the Youth Education Committee will be hiring up to 3 interns for the summer. If you are interested in finding out more about these internships, or want to apply for one of them, go to www.fccedmond.org/internship Application deadline is March 31. Selected interns will be notified by Sunday, April 14.

at First Christian
March 3, 2013 3rd Sunday of Lent

One for Childrens Ministries and Three for Youth Ministries!

I can

! help

Message: Rev. Chris Shorow Rev. Greg Bunton Scripture: Matthew 5:5

March 10, 2013 4th Sunday of Lent

Presentation of Our Future Story (in each worship service)

The Chalice CONNECTION

Jennifer Humphrey, Editor jhumphrey@fccedmond.org Read News Online @ fccedmond.org/news Submit Articles to news@fccedmond.org

Save The Dates!

Sunday, April 7 Join the Classics on an outing to the Armstrong Auditorium to see the Byron Berline Band, with FCCs own Greg Burgess! Friday, June 21 FCCs Annual Golf Tournament, Kickingbird Golf Course, 1 pm.

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