CONNECTION

A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK Vol. 4 No. 13 April 5, 2012

The Chalice

Anticipation
I have watched the faces of my children over the years as we pass the communion trays by them every week. Before they were baptized, Beth and I made the decision not to let them take communion. We had a long discussion with each explaining the decision. We told them it would be more meaningful for them after their baptism and that baptism is all about entry into the body of Christ. Still, I could see their faces as we invited everyone around the table to dine with us. They felt left out. The decision about whether to allow children to take communion before they are baptized is a personal one. We dont have a policy here at the church. I know many families have their own preferencessome do and some dont. I dont have a problem with either decision. I do think it is important for the kids to understand both sides of the issue and be OK with whatever decision is made. And I see the positives of both sides of the issue. It is meaningful to wait, knowing that baptism and public confession of faith is

By Rev. Chris Shorow, Senior Minister

such an important element of all our faith. But it does seem exclusive to invite all to the tablebut not our children. Some friends invite their kids to take it, knowing that it includes their children, but it is not fully communion until they are baptized. No matter how you see it, the table is central to all of our faith. Thats why this Holy Week is so meaningful to us as Disciples. The Last Supper instituted our observance of the table and we celebrate Christs presence every time we gather round. And this Maundy Thursday we celebrate the first communion for our pastors class. Is it the first time any of them have received communion? Probably not, and thats just fine. But is it the first time as baptized believers in Jesus Christ? Yes, and that is why we anticipate it with such emotion. What a statement our kids have made, and what an impact it has on their lives. So, next Sunday as we pass the communion trays, William, as a newly baptized believer will take it just like everyone else. What a celebration! And Clark, our four-year-old, will watch us with anticipation. He may notice other children taking it and ask me about it. We can have a great talk about it. Isnt diversity a gift in our community?!

8:15am Chapel Service 9am Contemporary Service 11am Easter Cantata

An Easter Cantata written by Lloyd Larson & Joseph M. Martin Those who witnessed the life and ministry of Jesus were consistently mixed in their verdicts about who He was. Join us as we proclaim Jesus the risen and living King! Performed by our Chancel Choir Accompanied by a 22 piece orchestra Greg Bunton, Narrator (PARENTS: On Easter Sunday, SPROUTS childrens worship will NOT meet during the 9am and 11am services. We invite your children to worship with you!) Enjoy a special breakfast in Fellowship Hall with your church family before you go to worship or Sunday School! Hosted by Membership Ministries

Who Is This King?

Easter Breakfast 8:30-11am

To feed my sheep is grounded in the churchs most basic calling: to live a life of faith in God, to trust in Gods abundance, to use Gods gifts wisely and to share them generously. The General Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) feed the sheep of Jesus by helping congregations use financial resources wisely - providing pensions and quality health care for church workers; providing emergency assistance; and educating leaders. Join us and Disciples around the country on Sunday, April 8 as we support the 2012 Easter Offering to Disciples Mission Fund, and lets love Christ by feeding his sheep.

Come Hunt Eggs!

The Annual Easter Egg Hunt, for ages 3 through 4th grade, will be held on our playgrounds. Children: meet in your classrooms - Sunday School teachers will escort you to the appropriate playground for the hunt. Parents - please join us! (Children will be dismissed to their parents immediately following.) Bring a basket and a friend! Hosted by the 2012 Pastors Class

Childrens Easter Egg Hunt 10:20am

Book Inspires Intentional Generosity

Giving Ourselves to Others!

By Bethany Shipley, for the 29 Gifts Creative Team

How better to celebrate this new life that we have been given through Jesus Christs death and resurrection than by giving of ourselves to others?! Give away your life; youll find life given back, but not merely given back - given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Luke 6.38, The Message Well that is exactly what we will be focusing on in an upcoming sermon series, entitled 29Gifts/29Days. The idea for this sermon series and giving challenge, came from Cami Walkers book 29 Gifts: How A Month of Giving Can Change Your Life. Cami, a young woman in her mid-30s, was diagnosed with MS in 2006. After struggling with the chronic pain and subsequent addiction to pain medications, Camis health and spirits were in a downward spiral. She decided to take the advice of a spiritual mentor to give a gift a day for 29 days. While it didnt heal her MS, it did have a remarkable effect on her ability to cope. I went from being unable to walk and feeling depressed and angry to being able to hike a mile and feeling a strong sense of love, says Cami, who credits her swift recovery to her giving spree. As we are quickly approaching this new sermon series, I want to encourage you to pick up a copy of Camis book. I truly believe if you are able to read through her journey and personal account of 29Gifts/29Days, you will not only be inspired and energized to partake yourself, but you will be able to truly grasp the idea of mindful, intentional, joyful giving. Which I believe will add to your own experience during the upcoming challenge! Our 29Gifts/29Days sermons series and giving challenge begins on Childrens Sunday, April 22. The children have some great things planned as they lead us in worship at 11am, and we will see some videos they are creating in the other services. The challenge is very simple. Commit to give away 29 gifts in 29 days. Practicing mindful and intentional giving is key. Want to know one of the best parts of this challenge? The gifts can be anything; a phone call, a cup of coffee, listening to a friend, random acts of kindness, smiles, your time, a hug, kind words, prayers, notes of encouragement, etc. And, even betterThey can be given to anyone; You can give them anonymously, to people you knew really well, to friends and family members, to teachers, to someone you see often but may not really know, or to complete strangers. So pick up a copy of 29 Gifts: How A Month of Giving Can Change Your Life, and then join us in celebrating the joy of giving by participating in this 29 day experience! Experience for yourself how giving can change your life - and the lives of others.

Feel the Love

By Rev. Greg Bunton, Associate Minister of Student Ministries

For the past month our students have been engaged in a study called, To Save A Life. We began this study in response to the 3 teen suicides that affected our community in January of this year. This study has been a powerful opportunity for our students to grow in their faith, experience the powerful presence of God, and find true community in the body of Christ. Through the prayer support of our Elders, our Wednesday night sessions have been filled with the Holy Spirit, and our students have found the strength and courage to be themselves to share their hurts, struggles, fears, disappointments, as well as their joys and celebrations. It has been a great growth experience for everyone! On Wednesday, April 25, we will conclude our study with an Agape Feast and Community Worship. Our students will be inviting other students from their schools to our Wednesday night dinner, and we have invited other church youth groups as well. It is our hope to fill the Family Life Center with students and help them Feel the Love of their community. We need each other, and that is what we want to make known and celebrate! After the dinner, we will gather in the Sanctuary for a Community Worship, and we are inviting anyone and everyone to join us! Our worship leaders for the evening will be Christian recording artists Shane and Shane. I encourage you to check them out at www.shaneandshane.com. If you know of a student in 6-12 grade, please encourage them to attend our Agape Feast on April 25 at 6:00 p.m. And then, please come - ALL OF YOU - to worship with Shane and Shane at 7:00 p.m. in our Sanctuary. It is going to be a powerful evening!

Prayers of the People

OUR PRAYERS FOR THOSE IN THE HOSPITAL Joan Grant, Parcway Rehab THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Dale Jones, Marcy Williams, Charlie Young, Vernon Conaway, Jim Hays, Edna Blunk, Loretta Parks, Tommy Atchison, Temple Thigpen (Teddi Owens daughter), Roy Jackson, Rose Marie McKee, Bart Rodr, Virginia ONiel, Cynthia David (Winnie Halls daughter), Ed Berry, Bill & Mary Lou Womble, Naomi Bell (Karen Walenciaks mom) OUR SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS To James & Kim Kerr on the passing of Kims grandmother, Dorothy Sager of Fort Collins, CO, on March 24. Services were held on April 2 in McPherson, KS.

Happy Birthday!
4/9 4/10 4/11 Lindsay Clark Alex Adams, Judy Berry, Rose Hammond Larry Ball, Robert Earl, Connor Flournoy, Jamie Novakowski, Collins Ryland, Karen Turk, James Winn, III Christin Adkins, Desiree Gengler Dale Jones, Kinsey Winters Meredith Farley, Ben Hall, Robert Hendricks, Jana Huff Carol Sterling

4/12 4/13 4/14 4/15

Join Us for a Bridal Shower Honoring Saturday, April 7, from 2 to 4pm

Rachel is registered at Macys, Williams-Sonoma, and Target. Hosted by Charla Allison, Jennifer Cain, Donna Combs, Robbi Kinnaird, Brenda Peterson, Trish Thomas and Sherrye VanOsdol

Rachel Parks

Get Your Garden Growing!

The Youth are selling $20 TLC Greenhouse gift cards now through May 6. The TLC cards are good for all plants, trees, fertilizer and soil to help you get your garden growing this spring! (excludes landscaping services). Your purchase will help support our youth mission trips. The cards are easy to purchase on Sundays, in the rotunda, and on Wednesday evenings - pick up yours today! Contact Missy Blevins at 833-1115 with questions.

Regional Assembly of the Christian Church in Oklahoma Featuring FCC Edmonds Own Praise Band!
Thursday - Saturday April 26 - 28
The Regional Assembly of the Christian Church in Oklahoma will be held April 26-28 at First Christian Church of Duncan. Worship, workshops and study sessions will center on scripture: John 1:1. FCC Edmonds own Praise Band will be performing at the 1:30 pm worship service on Saturday, April 28! Rev. Dr. Michael Mooty, Senior Minister of Central Christian Church, Lexington, KY, and former moderator of the Christian Church (DOC) in the US and Canada, will preach Thursday and Friday. Regional Pastor Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Jewell will preach on Saturday. Faculty of Phillips Theological Seminary will present workshops. Registration forms available at the Welcome Center in the rotunda or online at: http://www.okdisciples.org/Events/ reg-assembly2012.pdf

Raise Your Hand...

If YOU Want To Be A Welcome Desk Host

Can YOU smile and give a friendly good morning? Can you answer the simple question what time does your service start? On Sunday Mornings, our Welcome Center desk team answers calls, takes messages, greets people and points them in the right direction. This same team answers questions about the church, where to find classes, and helps us make a great first impression! If you have the gifts of making people feel welcome, and a broad knowledge of our ministries, we would welcome you to our team! Welcome Center desk volunteers are needed on Sunday mornings - we currently have two vacancies to fill: the 2nd Sunday of each month from 11:00am to Noon, and the 4th Sunday of each month from 10:0011:00am. This duty will last from April, 2012 through December, 2012. This is a wonderful ministry to be a part of at First Christian Church, and many blessings are attached to it. If you are interested in learning more or signing up, please call Gayle Smith at 348-1357.

Save These Dates:

Worship
8:15, 9 & 11am

at First Christian
April 8, 2012 Easter Sunday

Sunday, April 29 Give Blood - Be a Lifesaving Donor!

All blood drives will be held from 8:30am to 12:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. Make plans to support our hospital patients with your gift of life through the Oklahoma Blood Institute.

Message: Rev. Dr. Jerry Black Rev. Chris Shorow

April 15, 2012 Holy Humor Sunday

Monday - Thursday, June 11-14 Vacation Bible School

Message: Rev. Chris Shorow Rev. Greg Bunton

Dinner will be served from 6:00 to 6:30pm in Fellowship Hall and the VBS activities will run from 6:30 to 8:45pm. Come join in the fun! Online registration begins April 15

The Chalice CONNECTION

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

Friday, June 15 FCCs Annual Golf T ournament

Kickingbird Golf Club There will be an $80 Entry Fee. Questions? Contact Bob Stafford at 359-8900 or bjstaff@swbell.net

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