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The staff at FCC would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
A Message From Greg
We are entering the Advent season and we have many opportunities to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. My hope is that you will plan to participate in as many of our special worship services as possible. On December 11th the combined choirs of five churches will gather together to present a Christmas Cantata. We will be worshipping with Trinity UMC, First Baptist, University Church, and Congress Street UMC at 10:30 am at Trinity celebrating our common faith in Jesus Christ through music, prayer, and scripture. We our anticipating that we will have approximately 400 people in worship that Sunday and it will be an inspiring worship experience. Plan to attend!
Make sure you check the church's Facebook and web page regularly this month for updates on all the events that will be taking place this month! If you do not have computer access be alert to the phone tree messages that I will be sending each Tuesday during Advent beginning November 29th. I look forward to seeing you often this season.
We have just celebrated Thanksgiving and part of every Thanksgiving at First Christian is our participation in the Lafayette Urban Ministry Community Thanksgiving dinner. Every Thanksgiving for over twenty-five years we have donated and cooked at least 30 turkeys (roughly 300 pounds of meat) in support of this ministry. Once again Randy Harrington has organized that effort for us and we our deeply appreciative of the devoted support of Randy and his helpers.
Speaking of Thanksgiving; Nancy and I thank you for the generous way you have as a church remembered us during the Week of Appreciation for Ministry. We are blessed to serve First Christian Church and we never cease to be amazed at how gracious and giving you are to our family. THANK YOU!
We have just made another significant improvement to our ministry at First Christian Church. We have now installed a Sound Loop that offers state of the art hearing assistance to those who are hearing impaired. The quality of sound available by tuning your t-coil hearing aid to the loop is a remarkable. For those that do not have a t-coil hearing aid, the very good hearing assist receivers we currently use will still be available and we have several headsets that tune directly to the 'Loop' A BIG THANK YOU TO JIM RYBKA whose pursuit of a grant to fund this project and thorough research on the best options for securing and installing the 'Loop' have been invaluable.
Finally, we have just completed a contentious election season and our nation continues to be restless and anxious. Regardless of who you voted for, our church has the opportunity and responsibility to put our best foot forward and be the body of Christ in the fullness of God's grace proclaiming God's love for all people as revealed to us through the birth of our Lord and Savior. God Bless You!
Peace, Greg
Scripture of the Month
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
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PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS:
HOSPITAL:
REHAB:
NURSING HOME/HOMEBOUND: St. Anthony's: Lynn Mann, Martha Oliver, Norma Sue England-Fowler Apts. #514, Cumberland Pointe: Harriett McDowell, Signature Healthcare: Mary Bogan-Broken hipp, Green Tree: Suzie Mounts, Westmister: Frances Britt, Rosewalk Commons: Vernetta Lynn, Verne & Rosemary Comer, St. Mary's: Jim Sipple (see person at desk)
AT HOME: Jeanne Dible, Marilyn Galloway, Ruby Ward at hom of son, Marcus Haley 8415 Turner Rd. West Point, IN 47992
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:
Melanie Davis, Becky Britt, Cindy Garvey, Rhiannon Garvey
Our condolence to John & Debbie Prewett and family on the passing of his mother Rosalee Prewett.
Our condolence to the family and friends of Rachel Roudebush. Rachel will be very missed by her church family.
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Pastoral Care News
First off, thanks to all of you who have held me in prayer, sent cards, as well as for the beautiful prayer shawl which I have wrapped myself up in all week. God has been with me through my entire health crisis, and I put myself in His hands when I felt the sickest and was not so sure that I would recover.
Because I'm recovering from pneumococcal pneumonia it is going to be awhile before I am out and about. I've decided to cancel the winter pastoral caregiver training and wait to offer it until spring. I apologize if this inconveniences anybody.
Lastly, starting next Sunday, the list of names of our shut-ins will be available. Please consider sending all of these wonderful folks a Christmas card. Last year so many folks commented on how wonderful it was to send the cards, and also how wonderful it was to receive the cards as well. Kathy Stirlen will make this list available -- thanks Kathy!
Hope you all have a peaceful Advent season, and find time for quiet and reflection during this hectic time.
Blessings,
Jan Rybka
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Come join the
fun
at the
CWF
Mitten Tree Dinner
and Christmas Program
Sunday, December 18th @
5:30 P.M. in Fellowship Hall.
Please bring in
new items of children's mittens, gloves, scarves, socks, and underwear and place them on the Mitten Tree in the Narthex.
On Sunday evening, Dec. 18, the items will be blessed and then given to the Lafayette School Corporation nurses to distribute to needy children.
Several delicious soups will be served and a Christmas Program by our Youth will make it a fun and meaningful evening!
Free will Offering Sponsored by Ruth Circle
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December Diaconates
Dec. 4th
10am
Team Leader: Donita Navarra
Serving: Fred Navarra
Serving: Laura Gullion
Serving: Mary Fran Nelson
Serving: Dawn Ramey
Set Up & Clean Up: Mary Fran Nelson & Dawn Ramey
Dec. 11th
10am
Team Leader: Donita Navarra
Serving: Fred Navarra
Serving: Laura Gullian
Serving: Mary Fran Nelson
Serving: Dawn Ramey
Set Up & Clean Up: Fred Navarra & Laura Gullian
Dec. 18th
10am
Team Leader: Donna Adams
Serving: Suzie Kelsey
Serving: Dave Kelsey
Serving: Missi Findley
Serving: Shawn Findley
Set Up & Clean Up: Missi & Shawn Findley
Dec. 24th
7pm
Team Leader: Sandie Hauser
Serving: Dee Chitty
Serving: Alena Chitty
Serving: Robin Sturgeon
Serving: Sue Nelson
Serving: Mike Nelson
Serving: Debbie Schneider
Serving: Juanita Hobaugh
Serving: Carolyn Kanehe
Set Up & Clean Up: All available
Dec. 25th
10am
Team Leader: Kathy Stirlen
Serving: Linda Brammell
Serving: Richard Brammell
Serving: Carolyn Kanehe
Serving: Roberta Pilotte
Set Up & Clean Up: Linda & Richard Brammell
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Technical Arts Report - Hearing Loop Update
The project to install a hearing loop in the Sanctuary was completed last week. The hearing loop will allow anyone who uses a hearing aide with a t-coil to pick up all of the sound running through the soundboard in their own hearing device. This includes not only the sermon and the prayers, but also the music, choir, and projector audio !
On behalf of the Tech Arts Team and the Church, I wish to thank the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette and its sponsor for a generous grant that made this project possible. We also wish to thank the members of our congregation for their contributions which allowed the Church to cover this expense. We need to recognize the work and contributions of Mark Baitinger, Sound Lab, who performed the installation in a very timely and professional manner. It not only works well, it also looks great ! You may notice the blue tape on the floor that encircles each side of the pews in the Sanctuary; it is covering the hearing loop wire.
I also wish to recognize and thank Don Lindstrom and Daryl Killian for the work to make this project possible. Don, as chair of the Property Committee, made significant contributions to the design and to overcome many technical obstacles. Daryl shared his time and talent to run the plenum wire from the floor of the Sanctuary up to the balcony. He had to overcome some interesting and surprising challenges ! Please join me in thanking Don and Daryl for sharing their time and talents !
Jim Rybka, Chair of Technical Arts
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Food Pantry
The dates for working are December the 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th . Times to work are 11:45-3:00. Sign up at the Gathering Place. Thank you!
Thank you
The Art Group used their donations to make Christmas wreaths. There were 6 adults and 1 child who put them together. Kathy Stirlen would like to THANK everyone for their donations.
Kathy Stirlens' dog Tator Bean has been certified to be a therapy dog by TDI. Great job Tator Bean and Kathy!
I would like to thank the congregation for the nice supply of turkeys. I would also like to thank the gentlemen for coming down and cutting turkeys.
Thank you! Randy Harrington
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Food Suggestions for the Food Baskets:
Mac & Cheese, boxed potatoes, pasta, rice, spam, noodles, tuna, pop tarts, paper towels, tuna helper, jelly in plastic jars, hamburger helper.
Non food items for family gifts: laundry soap, fabric softener, window cleaner, kitchen cleaning supplies, bathroom and floor cleaning supplies
Toy Suggestions from parents
5 knights of Freddie, zombies, legos, football, soccer ball, basketball, ninja turtles, tractors, cars, matchbox cars, writing supplies, pokemon cards, nerf football, nerf anything, race cars, crafts, batman, spiderman action figures, mind craft, paw patrol, legos, video games, activity mat, helicopter, Mickey Mouse, sword, super hero, rangers, avenger toys, dolls, monster high Barbies, shopkins, touchables, mega blocks, running balls, roller skates, nail polish, jewelry, Elmo moving things, hair things, girlie things, super hero girls, crafts, make up, arts & crafts, drawing supplies, scientific crystals, happy place home, dress up clothes, little pet shop toys, doc McStuffins, kitchen set, princess, trolls, books, playdoh factory, CD's.
Arts & crafts were one of the most asked for items.
We need
$2,445 cash donations and we have
$717. Please sign up at the Gathering Place to help! Contact Sandie Hauser @474-9719 with questions. Thank you!
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Kids Club (K-5th grade)
Dec. 3rd Lafayette Christmas Parade! Meet in the church parking lot at 3pm to decorate the
the float. We will have a light dinner before we leave at 4:30pm to line up.
Contact Michelle at 742-4058 with questions. Bring a friend to ride with us!
Dec. 4th Set up the Toy Room for Jubilee at 4pm. I will have pizza and drinks.
Dec. 10th "Ring the Bells" for the Salvation Army from 10am-Noon inside the mall in front
of Macy's.
Dec. 11th Meet in Fellowship Hall from 5-6:30pm to make Christmas cookies for the family
shelter.
Dec. 18th Mitte Tree Celebration in Fellowship Hall at 5:30pm.
Dec. 25th
MERRY CHRISTMAS! NO KIDS CLUB!
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Dec. 3rd Lafayette Christmas Parade! Meet at the church at 3pm to decorate
the float. We will have a light dinner before we line up at 4:30pm.
Contact Michelle at 742-4058 will questions. Bring a friend!
Dec. 4th Set up the Toy Room for Jubilee at 4pm. Pizza and drinks provided!
Dec. 10th Jubilee at Noon and Ringing the Bells for the Salvation Army. We
will meet inside the mall in front of Macy's from 10am-Noon.
Dec. 11th Meet in Fellowship Hall from 5-6:30pm to decorate Christmas
cookies for the family shelter at Salvation Army.
Dec. 18th Mitte Tree Celebration in Fellowship Hall at 5:30pm.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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Music Ministry upcoming events:
Sunday, December 11 Combined Christmas Musical - 10:30am
with Congress
Street UMC, First Baptist, and University Church
Sunday, December 18 Steven Spencer & Jeffrey Goodspeed piano/organ
concert - 4pm
Mitten Tree Celebration - 5pm
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GOD CONVERSATIONS
Come join us on Wednesday evenings in Fellowship Hall at 6:30pm.
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329 North 6th Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
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