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The Chalice

CONNECTION
A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK

Vol. 2 No. 49 December 9, 2010

The True Gifts of the Season


By Rev. Chris Shorow, Senior Minister

This season goals. The same is true at Christmas. We dedication came through as their
as we don’t have to have more “stuff,” what performance was awesome! The joy on
celebrate we need are the true gifts of the season— their faces, and on the faces of proud
the gift of hope, joy, love and peace. parents reflected the gift of the season.
a Savior I’m proud of our outreach ministry That kind of joy is a gift from God.
born into that has sponsored our Gifts That Won’t We continue our look at gifts as we
our lives, we Break. If you stop by their tent in the focus on the gift of love—another one
are focusing rotunda on Sunday, share a donations to that won’t break. And Sunday night
on Gifts various outreach efforts, and receive a gift another gift will be presented as our choir
That Won’t Break. Our theme for the card to give to loved ones this Christmas. gives us the gift of their cantata, along
entire year has been simplifying our These are truly gifts that won’t break. with our friends from Peace Lutheran
overcomplicated lives. Our stewardship One Gift That Won’t Break came to Church. Come and receive the gift of the
campaign stressed “Enough,” simplifying us this last Sunday night. The Children’s season.
our financial lives so that stress about debt Musical was presented—and the kids
doesn’t drive us away from our spiritual did a wonderful job. Their work and

ones and make a difference in the lives


Give Gifts That of people around the world at the same Christmas Eve
Won’t Break This time. Alternative Christmas Gifts don’t
get returned because the recipient already
Greeters Needed
Christmas has one. They’re perfect for the person
who has “everything” and are sure to Share Your Smile!
Peace, Hope, Love bring smiles to the gift recipient and to the
faces of those who receive the benefit of Your Evangelism Ministry Team invites
you to participate in greeting and
and Joy! your generosity.
Stop by the gift market table in the welcoming guests to our Christmas
rotunda and look through the gift catalog. Eve services On this special night, we
From toys to clothes, to the latest provide three opportunities for worship:
Inside you will find hope-giving projects
electronic gadgets; each year we hope a 5:30 pm children’s worship, a 7pm
such as Infant Crisis Services, Refuge
to give the perfect gift to someone we candle light service and an 11pm candle
Fellowship, and Global Ministries. When
love. Yet these gifts, as wonderful as they light service. We are still in need of 10
you purchase a gift you will receive a
may seem, eventually wear out, break, greeters. Please contact Darcy Biby at
greeting card and envelope to give to
or simply become useless and are soon DBiby@lancome-usa.com or Jerry Black
your gift receipients. Inside the card there
forgotten. This year we invite you to give at 341-3544. Thank you for sharing
will be a message conveying the gift of
“Christmas Gifts That Won’t Break.” in this vital ministry and for providing
hope and details of the goodness you
Our Outreach Ministry is offering a positive, first impression of our First
have done in their name. So join us in
an “alternative gift market” providing Christian faith family.
responding to the needs of the world, by ~ Your Evangelism Ministry Team
you with alternative gifts that truly bring
giving your friends - and those in need -
Hope to the world! With an Alternative
“Christmas Gifts That Won’t Break!”
Christmas gift, you honor your loved
As Christians we are called to prepare for the coming of Christ during the season called Advent. It is a time of preparation, and for slowing
down. This Advent we will be focusing our worship on the “Gifts That Won’t Break.”
What are those gifts? They are those gifts that cannot be lost, that never go out of style, and that are independent of the chances and
changes of life. They are the gifts that have been graciously given by God. The gifts we share which bring hope, joy, love and peace to fam-
ily, community, and world. These true gifts of the Advent season - hope, joy, love, and peace- have a permanence that speaks to genera-
tions of children past, present, and future.
We invite you to join us for one or more of the events you’ll find listed here. Bring your family, and friends and come as we bless each
other with reminders of what this Advent season is about—expectation that God is going to be among us to help us in the work of trans-
forming ourselves and our communities with hope, joy, love and peace. Rev. Chris Shorow

Community Chorale Christmas Concert Candlelight Service of Remembrance


Saturday, December 11 - 7:30pm Sunday, December 19 - 6:30pm
Edmond Community Chorale performing the first three parts of For many this is a difficult season of the year, especially if you have
Christmas Oratorio (Weihnachts-Oratorium), by Johann Sebastian lost a loved one. But there is hope in the midst of darkness. Come,
Bach. Dr. Karl Nelson, Artistic Director of the Edmond Community light a candle of remembrance, and experience God’s love at our
Chorale and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Central Service of Remembrance. Our healing prayer ministers will be on
Oklahoma conducting. They will be joined by the University of hand to fashion a prayer for your needs, and Rev. Chris Shorow
Central Oklahoma Concert Chorale, Cantilena Women’s Chorus will offer a meditation.
and a full orchestra. Soloists: Barbara Streets, Roxane LaCombe,
Nicholas Saverine, Mark Lundholm, and Kevin Eckard. The work
will be performed in its original language, German, and English Children’s Christmas Eve Service Friday, December 24
5:30pm
supertitles will be projected. This masterwork celebrates the birth
The Gospel will come alive with the help of our children in a narra-
of Jesus Christ through the music of J. S. Bach. Admission is free,
tive re-telling of the birth of Jesus. This abbreviated, family-oriented
donations will be accepted. There is a reception following. FCC
worship service includes familiar Christmas hymns. Children (ages 3
members singing: Betsy Jones and Mark Parkhurst
through 2nd grade) may select a costume at 5pm and participate in
the Nativity story!
Christmas Cantata
Sunday, December 12 - 6:30pm Candlelight Christmas Eve Services Friday, December
The cantata, “Night of the Father’s Love” by Pepper Choplin,
24 - 7 & 11pm
skillfully guides the listener through the Christmas story as though
Join us as we anticipate the day of our
hearing it again for the first time. Join the Chancel Choir, along
Savior’s birth! The 7pm Christmas Eve service will feature beautiful
with the choir from Peace Lutheran, to revisit the mystery, awe
music, scripture readings, and the lighting of the Christ Candle. The
and excitement of the night of Christ’s birth that happened so long
11pm service will feature a serene, simplified candlelight service
ago. This cantata expresses the essence of Christmas as well as the
with carols, the Chancel Choir, and scripture. The service ends in
ultimate gift that won’t break: the gift of the Father’s love. We will
candlelight with the bells tolling the midnight hour, marking the ar-
share a reception with our friends from Peace Lutheran Church
rival of Christmas Day.
afterwards. (nursery provided)
(No nursery on Christmas Eve)

Bring your family, friends and out-of-town guests and join us


Sunday, December 26 for one Combined Worship Service at 10:30am!
Sunday School for all ages at 9:30am (and wear your favorite sweater!)
Prayers of the People Happy Birthday!
OUR PRAYERS FOR THOSE IN THE HOSPITAL 12/12 Sue Fraim
Jeff Stephens, OU Medical Center 12/13 Clarity Farrah, Colby Myrick
12/14 Marina Dowell, Lauren Helzer,
THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Rose Marie McKee, Bart Rodr,
Eunice Wilson, Eric Koegel, Teddi Long-Owen, Ralph Eastwood (Jackie Stafford’s dad), Ann Abigail Kerr, Lucy Mecoy, Lisa
Douthitt (Duke Douthitt’s mom), Sharon Luton (Susan Black’s cousin), Ed Berry, Hank Weaver
Thomas (Randy Thomas’ brother) 12/15 Maria Azary, Hayden Ball, Jerry
Black, Christina Hansen, Scott
OUR SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS To David & Lee Sisson, Linda Fieth & Dorothy Sisson in
Peters, Marietta Stone
the recent passing of their father & husband, Jack Sisson, on December 4. Services held
Thursday, December 9 at 10am at FCC Edmond. 12/16 Jim Burke, Brandy King, Russell
Patton, Cody Ward, Kaylin
Womack
Make A Fashion Statement 12/17 Craig Adkins, Lu Bratcher, Brittney
By Randle Lee, Worship Committee Moderator Hendricks, Mary Ellen Shepherd,
Carlita Walters
Ever really wanted to wear THAT sweater to Church….do you have a sweatshirt that you 12/18 AJ Berepele, Tyler Burleson, Jerri
just know will bring you all types of compliments? Here is your chance! Dillon, Neal Hunt, Ted Perrin,
On Sunday, December 26, we would like for everyone to wear their favorite, new, or Gwen Shaw
ugly sweater to church for our one combined worship service at 10:30am. There won’t 12/19 Chris Clark, Shawn Fapp
be any prizes just the knowledge you participated in a large experiment in friendship and
bonding.
Then on January 2, the Worship Committee is suggesting every person wear their
favorite sweatshirt to the service of their choice. Again, no prizes will be given, but really is Feel like a champion. Give blood!
that really what you would want to win a prize for doing? So, put on that favorite sweatshirt First Christian Church
and come curl up in the pew with the bible and start the year off right!
Christmas Blood
Donate your gently used coats and give the gift of warmth! Drive
If you have an extra coat or jacket hanging in your closet, please consider donating it Sunday, December 19
for Breakfast on Boulevard patrons. We are accepting coats for all ages and all sizes.
8AM to 12PM
Bring them to the main workroom of the church offices, and we will pass them along to
someone in need. Thank you for your generosity. Breakfast on Boulevard coordinators Fellowship Hall

Did You Forget Your Butter Braids?


If you ordered Butter Braids but have not picked them up, they are labeled and stored Notice of Annual
in the Kids Club freezer in the church kitchen. Questions? Contact Robbi Kinnaird at
robbi@kinnaird.com or 340-2427. Congregational Meeting
Sunday, December 12
FCC YEAR TO DATE FINANCES following each worship service
Through November 2010, FCC is operating within
our Revenues. The General Fund has a positive Purpose: To vote on nominated
balance with pledged revenues at 97.8% of year-to- leaders and budget for 2011,
date budget, compared to 99.2% of budget at this along with proposed
time in 2009. Building Fund revenue is at 90.9% of modifications to our bylaws.
through November Building Fund needs. Building Fund pledged revenue is at 80.4% Log on to
of total pledged building fund budget. You have three more Sundays to make your
2010 financial contributions, or they may be delivered to the church office by noon
www.fccedmond.org/meeting
Friday, December 31, or postmarked by that date. to preview the leader ballot,
You may wish to make 2011 contributions in December for 2010 tax purposes. budget ballot and
Be sure to designate on the memo line of your check or on your envelope that this is a revisions to bylaws.
2011 contribution. The Business Office will then credit your contribution to the 2011 Questions? Contact Billy Harrison,
Church Year. Board Moderator at 348-6898.
PLEASE NOTE: It is important to always note on your checks or envelopes to
which church accounts you want your contribution credited.
Mark Your Calendar Now!

Worship January 12, 19, 26


February 2, 9, 16, 23
at First Christian March 2, 9*, 23, 30
8:15, 9 & 11am April 6, 13, 27
3rd Sunday of Advent
Talking About God and Other Easy Faith Issues
December 12, 2010 with Rev. Dr. Jerry Black Prices:
Message: Rev. Chris Shorow 6:30 – 7:25 pm, January 12 – April 27, 2011 3.50 per meal
Theme: Love Obviously, grasping the magnificence of God is 12.50 family 4+, weekly
Scripture: Luke 2:1-14 anything but easy. So, this course is designed to 49.00 semester, one person
explore such basic theological precepts as the Bible, 175.00 semester, family of 4+
4th Sunday of Advent God, creation, mankind, sin, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the
December 19, 2010 Trinity, salvation, the Church, and the future.
Message: Rev. Chris Shorow It will feature Biblical information, thought * (DINNER ONLY because of Ash
Theme: Peace
provoking questions, and open discussion designed Wednesday service)
Scripture: Isaiah 2:2-5
to help formulate one’s own theology. For a light
hearted, yet thought provoking course outline, contact ** Students will also meet April 20
Jerry at 341-3544, or see Iris Jordan in the Pastor’s and May 4.
The Chalice CONNECTION Office, or email Jerry at jblack@fccedmond.org.
Shelley Regan, Editor
sregan@fccedmond.org
Read News Online
Come UNITE with us beginning Wednesday, September 8.
@ fccedmond.org/news REGISTER and VOLUNTEER now @ fccedmond.org/unite
Submit Articles to
news@fccedmond.org

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

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