CONNECTION

A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK Vol. 5 No. 11 March 21, 2013

The Chalice

An Incredible Gift
Carefully choreographed. Thoroughly planned. Fundamentally impassioned. Clearly determined. All words that describe the first Palm Sundaythe day Jesus rides into Jerusalem for the last time. With palm branches waving, crowds cheering, opponents scheming, students believing, and the faithful beaming, Jesus makes his way into the Holy City. And it is by no accident. It is intentional and purposeful. From the moment of his baptism, he has been firmly committed to this final visit to Jerusalem, for it is here that he will demonstrate forever the mighty power of God and the awesome nature of Gods grace. So we gather this week to celebrate and remember that first

By Rev. Dr. Jerry Black, Associate Minister

Palm Sunday. Many of us will process from the park, wave the palms, and enter for worship as the blessed recipients of Gods incredible grace. With people singing and celebrating, pipers piping, and participants praising, we will worship God, baptize the faithful, sing hymns of praise, offer prayers, share the communion, and enter the sacred embrace of Gods love. Regardless of your choice for worship (8:15, 9, or 11), think about joining us. Gather at 10:30 this Sunday in Shannon Miller Park (weather permitting of course) for the blessing of the palms with the faithful from St. Marys and the grand processional into worship. Share the baptism of each candidate in our Pastors class, recall your own, and remember with unabated joy the incredible gift of Gods grace. Hosanah! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! (Mk 11:9b)

March 31
8:15am Chapel Service

Easter Sunday

Palm Sunday March 24

8:15am Chapel Service 9am Contemporary Service 10:30am Liturgy of the Palms & Palm Parade at Shannon Miller Park

Maundy Thursday March 28

Our Maundy Thursday service will provide a powerful worship setting in which members of the 2013 Pastors Class will celebrate their first communion. Come share in the wonder of Christs first Holy Communion and encounter the Bread and Cup in new and familiar ways!

9am Contemporary Service

On Easter Sunday, the Children Worship & Wonder story will be told during the 11am service. We invite your children to worship with you in the Sanctuary!

11am Traditional Service

7pm Service of Holy Communion

Join us for an ecumenical gathering with St. Marys. The brief liturgy will be followed by a palm parade returning to our Sanctuary for the 11am service. The 2013 Pastors Class will be bapitzed. (Children Worship & Wonder will be in the Sanctuary during the 11am service.)

11am Traditional Service

Enjoy an special breakfast with your church family before you go to worship or Sunday School! Hosted by Membership Ministries
Parents of Children Please Note: Due to scheduling conflicts, there will be NO Easter Egg Hunt as previously advertised. If you have questions, contact Michelle Fritz.

EASTER BREAKFAST from 8:30-10:30am Fellowship Hall

Congratulations to the 2013 Pastors Class!

Katherine Elisabeth Adkins Kristen Diane Hall Haley Thelma Helms Katelyn Shea King Lucy Alice Mecoy Carson McThomas Mullins Sara Ann OHagan Kaitlyn Alexandria Palmer Sam Benjamin Roberts Hannah Louise Rodgers

Jesus looked toward heaven and prayed. (John 17:1)

We Still Need Help!

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. There are still times left - so sign up on our Prayer Vigil sign-up board in the Rotunda. Come and pray! Do you or a loved one need prayer? Please share your prayer concerns with us. Please contact Rev. Jerry Black at (405) 341-3544, ext. 109 or by email: jblack@fccedmond.org

This Sunday, Palm Sunday, ten Pastors Class participants will lead our churchwide palm processional from Shannon Miller Park to the Rotunda, and into the Sanctuary for their own baptism. They will affirm their confession of Christ, their eagerness to connect with their family of faith and their commitment to a life of ministry and service. Please join them for this event and encourage them in their faith journey! Summer Church Camp is filled with fun activities, Bible study, and adventure that will build close friendships and create warm memories that will last a lifetime. This year, campers are registered ONLINE for camps based on GRADE COMPLETED by June 2013. Again, FCC offers partial scholarships to campers that are members. How do you register your child? Here are the steps: 1) You register online at: www.fccedmond.org/camp 2) You will receive a confirmation email which will include the health forms that need to be completed and returned to FCC. 3) You will return the completed forms to FCC, attn: Jennifer Humphrey, along with the payment - within 10 days of signing your camper up! Earlybird Rates: Register online now - April 15. Regular Rates: Register online April 16 - May 12. For anyone who registers online by April 15, you will receive an additional $35 off of your rate(thanks to the Regions Mens Ministry Leave No Child Behind.)

This is Your Last Chance!

This Sunday, March 24, is your last opportunity to purchase an Easter Lily for $15. 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.

The following camps are available: CAMP LOCATION

RATES DATES (Earlybird/Regular)

Chi Rho, grades 6-8 (Oakrige Camp, Anadarko) $300/$350 June 3-7 Kid-N-Kin*, grades 1-2 (Camp Christian, Chouteau) $170/$200 June 6-9 (*Kid-N-Kin is grade 1 & 2 plus an adult family member attending camp.) Discovery, grades 2-3 (Central Camp, Guthrie) $180/$200 June 7-9 Junior, grades 4-5 (Central Camp, Guthrie) $295/$335 June 17-21 CYF, grades 9-12 (Central Camp, Guthrie) $295/$335 June 24-28

1) Complete a 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!

There are three ways you can order an Easter lily:

Prayers of the People

OUR PRAYERS FOR THOSE IN THE HOSPITAL Virginia ONiel in St. Anthony; Betsy Jones in Mercy Rehab Hospital THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Nancy Gallop, Gabe Wiechmann (Don & Jenny Wiechmanns son), Loree Rice, Dale Wehr (Connie LaRues brother), Judy Joy, Phyllis Jarrett, Gayle Jones (Jennifer Cains mom), Lori Snider (Loretta Parks daughter), Cynthia David (Winnie Halls daughter), Bill & Mary Lou Womble

Happy Birthday!
3/24 3/25 3/26 3/27 3/28 3/29 3/30 3/31 Cameron Woods, Nate Good, Adam Gossen, Charlie Brown, Barbara Henthorn, Cassidy Thornton Alyssa Banuet, Kennedy Johnson, Megan Fine-Thomas, Al Stewart, Annalee Crosser, Rebecca Coil Kara Luschen, Bill Medley Melissa Hendricks, Lisa Yost Frank Gresh, Zachary Winter, Joey Benear Josh Overocker, Mary Lou Womble, Bob Henthorn, Mary Walker, Katie Hurst Kevin Leonard Campbell Coleman, Stacy Storey

P lease join us for a Wedding Shower honoring Sunday, April 7 at 2:00 PM, Fellowship Hall
Registered at Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond Hostesses are Laura Kyser, Margaret Kyser, Kay Mades, Laura Qamoos and Sherrye VanOsdol

Elizabeth Beason

Discover First Christian

Sunday, April 7 10:00 AM Fellowship Hall
Have you been thinking about joining First Christian? This is your opportunity to come meet some of our staff and members, learn about our history, our mission and our ministries and have your questions about First Christian Church of Edmond answered for you. Come join us! We look forward to seeing YOU!

FCC Welcomes Jeremy Miller

as the Director of First Christian Church Child Care Center
The Personnel Committee and the FCC Board are pleased to announce that Jeremy Miller has been hired as the Director of First Christian Church Child Care Center. Jeremy successfully managed the center as Interim Director for the past seven months. He is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma and has been on the Child Care Center staff for more than nine years. He has the Bronze Directors credential and is already eligible for the Gold credential. Jeremy is a native Edmondite and a very familiar, friendly face to all on the staff and many others in the church. If you have the chance, please take a moment and welcome Jeremy!

Come share in the celebration of our 40 Days of Compassion with these upcoming events: Saturday, March 23 - Child Care Center Workday From 9 AM to noon, come lend a hand with some spring cleaning at our Child Care Center! Wear clothes you can get dirty and bring your work gloves. (Contact: Chris Shorow) Monday, March 25 Operation Christmas Child Join us from 10 AM to 2 PM, where we will be organizing supplies and packing shoeboxes! These gifts that we put together will be distributed worldwide to share the love of Jesus Christ with hurting boys and girls. (Contact: Bethany Shipley) Come by the 40 Days of Compassion table on Sunday in the rotunda and see even MORE opportunities still available!

Summer Internships Available

Spring Cleaning?
Save unwanted, unused and unneeded items and donate them to the Youth Garage Sale! It is coming up in May... start saving your donatable items now! Watch the church newsletter for more information. If you questions about the garage sale, please contact Mark Taylor at: mtaylor@fccedmond.org.

Worship
8:15, 9 & 11am

at First Christian
March 24, 2013 Palm Sunday

The Childrens and Youth Education Committees are looking for summer interns. The internships are open to college students that grew up at First Christian Church of Edmond and participated in the Children and Youth programs. If you are interested, go to www.fccedmond.org/internship Application deadline is March 31.

Message: Rev. Chris Shorow Mark Taylor Scripture: Matthew 5:7

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! Sunday, April 28 Give blood at the Blood Drive! FCC Edmond will be saving lives in Fellowship Hall North from 8:30 am to Noon. Dont bring money just your best vein! Friday, June 21 FCCs Annual Golf Tournament, Kickingbird Golf Course, 1 pm. Coming Soon! Its almost THAT time again...Vacation Bible School is coming up! VBS is scheduled from Monday, June 10, through Friday, June 14. This years theme is Athens: Pauls Dangerous Journey to Share the Truth. Mark your calendars!

March 31, 2013 Easter Sunday

Message: Rev. Greg Bunton Rev. Chris Shorow Scripture: John 20:1-18

The Chalice CONNECTION

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

(USPS 210-360) is published weekly (except weeks of New Years Day and Christmas Day). Periodicals postage paid by First Christian Church, 201 E. Second, Edmond, OK 73034-456 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chalice CONNECTION, PO Box 3548, Edmond, OK 73083

Periodicals Postage Paid Edmond, OK USPS 210-360