January 2019 Newsletter

Now that the excitement of the Christmas Season is behind us, First Christian Church is looking forward to another very important event. We will be welcoming the new Senior Minister in January. On January 6th Pastor Andrew Guthrie will become FCC’s next Senior Minister. His first Sunday in the pulpit will be Sunday, January 13th.

The Search Committee is very excited that they found and were able to call Pastor Guthrie. This will only be FCC’s seventh senior minister in over 100 years. As the New Beginnings process has shown us, FCC is poised at a time of transition. The Committee feels that he is the right minister for FCC at this time: he brings the energy of youth, tempered with a wisdom and demeanor that is beyond his years. We all hope that you can join us in welcoming Pastor Guthrie in the coming weeks.

Here’s a summary of what will be happening during the next few Sundays.

Sunday, December 30th will be Pastor Hayes last day in the pulpit. I hope you can all be there to say a final goodbye to Phillip and Dorothy (we had a very nice reception for them last week and many of us wished the well, but we get another chance this Sunday).

Pastor Brian Nelson will be presenting a transitional service on Sunday, January 6. Brian has a great deal of experience with the changes involved in welcoming a new Senior Minister. He has prepared a sermon that will share some of his wisdom and encouragement with us as we prepare to greet our new minister.

Then, on January 13th Pastor Guthrie will lead our service. I hope that you can all make it to the 10 AM service to meet Pastor Andrew and his wife Amanda. If you would like to attend but need transportation, please call the Church office at (765) 742-4058 and we will arrange a ride for you.

Pastor Andrew would also like to meet as many of us as possible in small groups. There will be signup sheets available in Church on Sundays, or you can contact the Church office at (765) 742-4058 to schedule a time. There are a variety of times available for these meetings during the coming weeks, so please make an effort to use this opportunity to meet Pastor Andrew in an informal and intimate manner.

I can’t think of many events in the life of the Church that are more exciting than calling a new Senior Minister. Please try to join us as we welcome Pastor Guthrie into the life of First Christian Church.

NURSING HOME/HOMEBOUND :

M. Charlene Bowman--Mulberry; Sally Brunger—Astor Place (167); Marylou Curtis—Westminster (3404); Sue England--Cumberland Point (105); Charles Fairfield--Signature Health Care; Marilyn Galloway--Creasy Springs (201); Gordon & Joyce Hamilton--home; Vernetta Lynn--Rosewalk; Lucille Maris—Westminster (2401); Suzie Mounts—Elmcroft (124); Flo Peters--Friendship House (320); Wanda Sharp--Indianapolis; Ralph Ward—Rosewalk (87); Ruby Ward—son Marcus Haley’s home; Connie Zarzour—home

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS :

Lexi Daniels (granddaughter of Deb Martin); Barbara Harvey – IU Hopsital (cracked pelvis); Edna Leslie – IU Hospital (dehydration & confusion), family of Mary McDill

By the time you receive this, Pastor Phillip and Dorothy will be ready to move on to their next journey. We have been blessed by their stay with us and are very grateful for the knowledge and support given to us during the past year. We wish you the best and you will be missed.

As we move forward into 2019, we anxiously look forward to the arrival of Pastor Andrew and Amanda Guthrie. This will be the beginning of the next chapter in the life of First Christian Church. Andrew's first day in the church office will be January 7th. He will conduct his first service as Senior Pastor of First Christian Church on January 13th. Following the service there will be a meet and greet reception in the Parlor.

Please join the pastoral search committee as we welcome Pastor Andrew and Amanda to Lafayette and to our church family.

An installation service is being planned for February 3rd with a luncheon to follow the service. More details at a later date.

Please join the pastoral search committee as we pray that the Hayes family and the Guthrie family have safe travels and may God be with them as they both journey across the country.

Pastoral Search Committee Chair, Sandie Hauser

**There are sign up sheets for meet and greet in the church. Please sign up to be part of the small groups to meet Pastor Andrew and for him to get to know you. The meetings begin on January 14th with 3 meeting each week. Currently scheduled through the middle of February. There are morning, afternoon and evenings meetings scheduled. If you have any questions please contact Sandie Hauser. 765-427-2672

I would like to thank each of you for your support and help with Jubilee Christmas this year. Jubilee was a huge success and the parents were very grateful. Each family was asked to complete an evaluation form and these are a few of the comments made by the parents to the question: What does this Jubilee Christmas mean to you and your family? 1. It means a lot to us because this year we really needed the help and its helped us a lot. I am very grateful. 2. Without Jubilee my family would not have presents. 3. That my babies get gifts to open on Christmas morning. 4. This makes it extra special for us to have gifts for our children. Things are tight right now and I was unable to buy gifts this year so this helps a lot. 5. My kids would be very sad on Christmas if this didn't happen.

I am so touched that as a congregation we were able to help 35 families have a blessed Christmas and were able to enjoy a Christmas dinner. Again, thank you to each of you for all you do to support this program. Sandie Hauser, Jubilee Coordinator.

FRB

Dear Pastor Hayes;

Enclosed is a check for your one-half of the 2018 FRB (Growing Hope Globally) net earnings in the amount of $9,896.64.

The net earnings are slightly higher than last year and thanks to Larry and Cheryl Winger they are much higher than they would be without their big commitment of time, talent and money. The project is not near as profitable with $3.75 per bushel corn as it was 5 or 6 years ago with $5.00 to $6.00 per bushel but is still a great reward for only 20 acres of corn production.

The Winger’s contribution and commitment, Becks donation of the seed, and the First Christian Church and the Oxford United Methodist Church congregation’s contribution toward the cost of raising the crop all contribute to why this mission project has been so successful.

This is the 15th year of the Oxford FRB project and the 12th year of our joint effort to help better the life of those in rural parts of third world countries.

We have much to be thankful for and this FRB mission project is one of the best models that I have seen to help those much less fortunate in a very positive way.

Attached is an Excel spreadsheet summarizing the twelve years of our joint Oxford FRB Plot results. Also attached is an accounting sheet from our church treasurer.

The Agri business contributor again this year was Beck's Hybrids who furnished the seed corn worth about $2500. Blessings, Don Johnson, Co-Chairman

Revive & Survive

The following people have been trained and certified in the use and application of the Automated External Defibrillators (AED) and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) at First Christian Church.

Harriett Beeler, Dee Chitty, Richard Ellsworth, Cindy Garvey, Laura Gullion, Sandie Hauser, Gary Henriott, Steve Henry, Dan Hilgediek, Gaye Hilgediek,

Norman Long, Cay Long, Mary Mosson, Mike Nelson, Debbie Prewett, John Prewett, Jane Rubesch, Mike Rubesch, Dave Schluttenhofer, Kathy Stirlen,

Larry Sturgeon and Robin Sturgeon

**Please note: If the AED cabinet is opened an alarm will sound. 911 and The EMT’s will be summoned only when the AED is removed from the cabinet!!!

THANK YOU

A big thank you to all that donated to Ruth Circle’s collection of socks and underwear for the ladies and children at the Women’s Shelter. We delivered a sizable donation! Thank you. Cay Long & Harriet Beeler.

Thank you to all who donated to Mitten Tree this year and helped in any way with the lunch and program. A special thanks to Jeff for the entertainment from the Klondike Middle School choir and the Goodspeed children, Cay Long for the tablecloths, Carolyn Kanehe for the beautiful cookies and to the Rachel Circle. Dee Chitty & Donna Adams

Thank you from the staff at FCC for the love gift.

Pastor Hayes, Michelle Schluttenhofer, June Jenkins, Jeff Goodspeed, Sam Hilgediek, Christina Tully, and Steve Klink

Youth & Kids Events for January

January 6th Bowling at Arrowhead 11:30am cost: $10

January 13th Put together "Blessing Bags" pizza provided

Meet in the youth room 11:30am

January 20th Lunch and Trivia at Buffalo Wild Wings at 11:30 (South)

January 27th Hand out hats and scarves around town for anyone cold

Meet in the youth room at 11:30am (lunch provided)

The youth will be collecting scarves, hats and gloves to place around town for anyone in our community who is cold. They will be hung on trees with a note attached reminding them that God loves them. There is a basket at the Gathering Place for your donations. We will be passing them out on Sunday, January 27th.

January Muggers

Norm & Cay Long

January, Deacons

January 6th

10am Service

Team Leader: Donna Adams

Serving: Kathy Kremer

Serving: Gery Kremer

Serving: Carolyn Weedon

Serving: Roberta Pilotte

Set Up & Clean Up: Carolyn Weedon & Roberta Pilotte

January 13th

10am Service

Team Leader: Dave Schluttenhofer

Serving: Robin Sturgeon

Serving: Larry Sturgeon

Serving: Josh Tully

Serving: Crystal Cover

Set Up & Clean Up: Robin & Larry Sturgeon

January 20th

10am Service

Team Leader: Quil Standiford

Serving: Joan Standiford

Serving: Sally Brunger

Serving: Randy Harrington

Serving: Daryl Killian

Set Up & Clean Up: Joan Standiford & Sally Brunger

January 27th

10am Service

Team Leader: Quil Standiford

Serving: Joan Standiford

Serving: Sally Brunger

Serving: Randy Harrington

Serving: Daryl Killian

Set Up & Clean Up: Randy Harrington & Daryl Killian