A Message From Greg Here are a few words about grace I have found to be especially meaningful: "The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you. There's only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is gift too." Excerpted from Frederick Buechner's 'Listening to Your Life' WE WILL HAVE ONE NEWSLETTER FOR THE MONTH'S OF JUNE AND JULY. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES BY MAY 18TH FOR BOTH MONTHS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT MICHELLE AT 742-4058. THANK YOU! |
Scripture of the Month: 1 Joh: 20
Scripture of the Month
Scripture of the Month: 1 John 4: 20
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
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Jim's Jots
At the last Board Meeting, I raised the possibility of forming an ad-hoc visioning team to look at what we wish First Christian Church to look like in five years and beyond, and to make recommendations to the Board and to our various ministries in order to guide them in that direction. Since five years from now is the year 2020, I am calling this the 2020 Visioning Team.
Here are a few examples of what we need to consider:
- Our church needs to define its identity for 2020. Based upon the people that we have here and now, what do we wish to be our mission to our community and beyond in 2020? Where do we wish to focus our ministry efforts?
- How can we better use our building to reach our desired ministry goals? We often talk about getting more people to attend on Sunday (and that is a good goal), but we seldom think about the other six days of the week. How can we best use this resource that we have to serve the Lafayette community?
- The Property Committee is doing a great job, but we may need to think about our building management and maintenance in new ways, especially if we change the way we plan to use our facilities.
- Currently, we are realizing and trying to address some of the gaps that were left after Jan Montgomery retired last year. We need to consider how to run our office in 2020. Pastor Greg has served at other Churches where they did not have the luxury of such an experienced office staff and they had other processes to cover these responsibilities. Maybe we should begin to consider and evaluate some of these alternatives.
- Lastly, how can we make our mission and ministry fit into our budget? It is important to realize that the answer to any one of these questions is interrelated to the other questions. Therefore, we need a wide cross section of our congregation to address these issues. The real question is how can we address these questions being proactive and not just reactive? How can we consider good options before we are facing forced options with limited choices? The Board supported this idea and authorized me to form this team. We are currently building its members. If you are interested and would like to assist this project, please let me know.
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Thank You
Dear Church Family,
Thank you very much for the many kind expressions of sympathy given to us at the time of Duane's brother's death. We appreciate the comfort and support of a loving church family.
Sincerely, Duane & Roberta
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Church Women United
On Friday, May 1 at 9:00 Church Women United will host the May Friendship Day Breakfast at OUR church. We will serve a continental breakfast for $3.00, with fellowship and a program. On Sundays coming up we need canned goods to be brought for our Food Pantry. This will also serve as table decorations before going to our new location. At this time Kits for Church World Service will be dedicated. (Our group is giving money for needs and shipping.) Let's support President Donna with our gifts and presence on May 1. Questions, call Donna at 490-5837 or Lenora at 497-2854.
Norm & Cay Long's 50th Wedding Anniversary
The children of Norman and Cay Long happily announce the 50th wedding anniversary of their parents on June 14, 2015 in Lafayette, Indiana. Norm and Cay were married at Union Christian Church in Franklin, Indiana on June 18, 1965. Both are retired; Norman from the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and Cay from teaching Home Economics at Ball State University and for TSC Schools. They have four children: daughter Christinia George (husband Roger) of Marietta, Georgia; son Charles (wife Robin) of Sellersburg, Indiana; daughter Cathy Colbert of Las Vegas, Nevada; and daughter Carrie (fianc? Torrey Vogel) of Los Angeles, California. They are blessed with six grandchildren: Alex, Sarah and Emma Long, Tejas, Diya and Preet George.
Their children would be honored if you would join them in celebrating this treasured milestone at their open house and renewal of vows on Sunday, June 14, 2015 beginning at 2:00pm at First Christian Church, at the corner of Sixth and North Streets in downtown Lafayette, Indiana. They request no gifts, just your presence, cards or notes of favorite memories.
Faith, Family, Fashion & Fun Fashion Show!
Please come and bring your family, friends or anyone else you wish! The date is
May 6, 2015 in Fellowship Hall.
We will begin our fun evening at
6:00 p.m.
with a salad, potato, and sundae bar! Our fashion show will have the latest styles and fashion tips from Christopher & Banks, CJ Banks, and Cato!
We will also be taught the latest ways to wear all of those lovely scarves we have in our closets courtesy of Chico's!
Door prizes, silent auctions (profits after expenses will go to CWF), and all for just $5.00 person!!! That's right $5.00 PER PERSON!!!
Come and have some fellowship while seeing the latest fashions!
Questions? Ask Dee Chitty
(765-572-2592
) or Donna Adams!
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Pastoral Care News:
We have several caregivers in the congregation who are visiting those from our congregation who are not able to make it to church anymore. Folks who fall in this category are those who are homebound or in nursing homes for longer than three months.
We have several people on our list who currently do not have caregivers. Cay Long sends these folks cards regularly, but that is the only interaction these folks have from FCC. We could use a few more folks who would be interested in visiting - it would be a once per month commitment, as well as a monthly meeting the second Tuesday of the month, at noon, at Spurlock's.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Rybka, Chair
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Please keep in your prayers:
Creasy Springs: Clara Goldberg # 305
St. Elizabeth East: Lois Roberts 2N08
Sue England - home 4/25, Cindy Lindstrom,
Betty Mowery Westminster C3110, Mary Bogan, Kathy Stirlen, Donna Adams, Cheryl Tully & family, Russ Graefnitz, Jeanne Dible, Harriett McDowell, Jim Sipple, Edith Sipple - Wesley Manor, Don Smith, Ann & Bob Prather, Barb Fisher, Signature Healthcare - friend of Daryl Killian, Marty Jackson, Mary Coon, Verne & Rosemary Comer, Sara Garvey, Clint Perkins and family - Clint's lay off at Fairfield, Harry & Marian Dillon - Jan Rybka's parents, Al - Sandy Hauser's step father in law - South Dakota, Marilyn Galloway, Martha Oliver, Mary Goodwin, June Brummett, Mary Lou Curtis - rehab @ Westminster, Dorothy Surface - hospice, Kathy Conaway
Our condolences to the family of
William Paul (Bill) Martin, age 86, who passed away on March 28th in Williamsport, MD
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Kids Club (K-5th grade)
Michelle Schluttenhofer
Michelle.Schluttenhofer@fcclaf.org
May 3rd Game Night at Pizza King
(18th & Veteran's Mem.) from 4:30-6pm.
Pizza will be provided just bring money for a drink and a friend!
May 10th Mother's Day! (No Kids Club)
May 17th Kids Club (downtown) 5:30-7pm
May 31st Serve the "Community Lunch" at LUM
11:30am-1:30pm
June 7-9th VBS!! At Amelia Earhart from 5:30-8pm
VBS is June 7, 8 & 9 at Amelia Earhart School from 5:30-8pm. Registration will be May 24th during both services. You can also register by sending me a message at mperk71@gmail.com. There will be a light dinner served on the 7th & 8th. On the 9th we will have a "Family Night" with dinner, games, big bounce and lots of fun!)
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May 3rd Game Night at Pizza King
(18th & Veteran's Mem.) from 4:30-6pm.
Pizza will be provided just bring money for a drink and a friend!
May 10th Mother's Day! (No Youth Mtg)
May 17th Youth Mtg (downtown) 5:30-7pm
May 24th Youth Mtg (downtown) 5:30-7pm
May 31st Serve the "Community Lunch" at LUM
11:30am-1:30pm
June 7-9th VBS!! At Amelia Earhart from 5:30-8pm
(Please sign up to be a leader or help with
one of the sports.)
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Diaconates for May, 2015 May 3rd First Service Team Leader: Quil Standiford Serving: Joan Standiford Serving: Sally Brunger Serving: Cindy McDonald Serving: Laura Gullian Set Up & Clean Up: Cindy McDonald & Laura Gullian Second Service Team Leader: Kathy Stirlen Serving: Carolyn Weedon Serving: Linda Brammell Serving: Joyce Hamilton Serving: Gordon Hamilton Set Up & Clean Up: Joyce & Gordon Hamilton May 10th First Service Team Leader: Quil Standiford Serving: Joan Standiford Serving: Sally Brunger Serving: Cindy McDonald Serving: Laura Gullian Set Up & Clean Up: Joan Standiford & Sally Brunger Second Service Team Leader: Dave Schluttenhofer Serving: Missi Findley Serving: Shawn Findley Serving: Susie Nelson Serving: Mike Nelson Set Up & Clean Up: Susie & Mike Nelson May 17th First Service Team Leader: Quil Standiford Serving: Joan Standiford Serving: Sally Brunger Serving: Cindy McDonald Serving: Laura Gullian Set Up & Clean Up: Cindy McDonald & Laura Gullian Second Service Team Leader: Sue Dismore Serving: Kathy Kremer Serving: Gery Kremer Serving: Crystal Cover Serving: Richard Shaw Set Up & Clean Up: Kathy & Gery Kremer May 24th First Service Team Leader: Quil Standiford Serving: Joan Standiford Serving: Sally Brunger Serving: Cindy McDonald Serving: Laura Gullian Set Up & Clean Up: Joan Standiford & Sally Brunger Second Service Team Leader: Kathy Stirlen Serving: Paula Floyd Serving: Letcher Floyd Serving: Joyce Hamilton Serving: Gordon Hamilton Set Up & Clean Up: Paula & Letcher Floyd May 31st Team Leader: Quil Standiford Serving: Joan Standiford Serving: Sally Brunger Serving: Cindy McDonald Serving: Laura Gullian Set Up & Clean Up: Cindy McDonald & Laura Gullian Second Service Team Leader: Kathy Stirlen Serving: Harriet Beeler Serving: Kathy Carmichael Serving: Kathy Kremer Serving: Gery Kremer Set Up & Clean Up: Harriet Beeler & Kathy Carmichael
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Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
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1 May Friendship Day |
2 |
3 8am & 10:15am Worship Downtown 9am Christian Education 10:30 am Southside Fellowship 11am Southside Worship 4:30pm Game Night @ PK |
4 No Staff Mtg |
5 6:45am Bible Study 4pm CWF Board Mtg |
6 6:20am Toastmaster 6PM Faith, Family, Fashion & Fun 7pm Narcotics Anonymous |
7 7am Prayer Partners 6:20pm Choir |
8 |
9 |
10 8am & 10:15am Worship Downtown 9am Christian Education 10:30 am Southside Fellowship 11am Southside Worship NO Youth Mtg |
11 No Staff |
12 Noon Pastoral Caregiver @ Spurlock's |
13 6:30am Toastmaster 7pm Narcotics Anonymous |
14 7am Prayer Partners 6:20pm Choir |
15 |
16 |
17 8am & 10:15am Worship Downtown 9am Christian Education 10:30 am Southside Fellowship 11am Southside Worship 5:30pm Youth & Kids Club |
18 11am Staff Mtg |
19 6:45am Bible Study 9:30am Ruth Circle 6pm Elders Mtg |
20 6:30am Toastmaster 6:30pm Rachel Circle 7pm Narcotics Anonymous 7pm Property Mtg |
21 7am Prayer Partners 6:20pm Choir |
22 |
23 |
24 8am & 10:15am Worship Downtown 9am Christian Education 10:30 am Southside Fellowship 11am Southside Worship 5:30 Youth Mtg _________________ 31 CONGREGATIONAL MTG 8am & 10:15am Worship Downtown 9am Christian Education 10:30 am Southside Fellowship 11am Southside Worship NO YOUTH MTG |
25 OFFICE CLOSED |
26 7pm Board Mtg |
27 6:30am Toastmaster 7pm Narcotics Anonymous |
28 7am Prayer Partners 6:20pm Choir |
29 |
30 |
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329 North 6th Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
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