August Newsletter

From the Interim Minister

It doesn’t seem possible that school is starting for the fall semester in just a few days. Where has the summer gone?

As I look back through July I remember that we had a very inspiring Worship in the Street on July 1. It was estimated that there were about 200 in attendance, at least there were more people than chairs.

Mosey Down Broadway was a huge success. Dorothy and I were unable to attend, but the fact that Donna Adams was able to get it videoed for us meant we were still able to see it. We thank Jeffrey Goodspeed and Barry Kimble for sharing their talents.

We also celebrated the congregation’s 179 ^th anniversary, observed Christmas in July to collect gifts for the December Jubilee, and said goodbye to long-time members, Jim and Jan Rybka, to wish them well on their move to Arizona.

Looking ahead, I want you to know that the Search Committee has ministerial profiles. There are ten ministers in the group they received who are interested in being considered for a call to be First Christian Church’s next minister. Each profile has 25-30 pages of information. Should anyone contact you with interest in being considered, tell them to contact Carolyn Reed at the Regional Office in Indianapolis.

Dorothy and I are driving to Colorado Springs in August to visit our furniture and get our “mountain fix.” We will be gone Aug. 12-22. Brian Nelson will be the minister on Aug. 19.

The Worship Committee has decided to celebrate the Labor Day holiday by doing something different. On Labor Sunday, September 2, we are asking people to wear their “work clothes.” That means we want you to wear what you normally wear to work. If you are retired, we are not letting you off the hook. We are asking you to wear what you wore to work when you were working. Some of us won’t look much different from what we wear on other Sundays. I will participate by wearing the clothes I wear to the office weekdays rather than wearing a suit. Have a good August, and we will see you in church. Pastor Phillip Hayes, Interim Minister

PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS:

ST. ELIZABETH: Ken Curtis 2 So. 10

Sally Brunger 3 W 22

REHAB: Mary Lou Curtis, Westminster

NURSING HOME/HOMEBOUND :

M. Charlene Bowman: 502 W. Jackson St. Mulberry 46058 - Jeanne Dible: Hospice - Sue England: Cumberland Point in W Laf Rm 105 - Charles Fairfield: Signature Healthcare - Marilyn Galloway: Creasy Springs #201 (Mailing-3529 Creek Ridge Lafayette 47905) - Vernetta Lynn: Rosewalk Commons - ***Lynn Mann: St. Anthony: - Lucille Maris: Westminster #1112 - Suzie Mounts: Elmcroft #124 - Flo Peters: Friendship House #320 - Delores Simms: Springs Nursing Home - Ralph Ward: Rosewalk Commons #87 - Ruby Ward: @ home with son - Marcus Haley: 8415 Turner Rd. West Point IN 47992 - Connie Zarzour: #114 Fowler Apts - Wanda Sharp: Indy -

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS :

June Beigh: Need prayers please - Julie Bowlds and Cory and Aiden Kirts: (friends of the Chitty family) Brenda Durflinger: diagnosed breast cancer (Ellsworth’s) - Hugo Huribe: Prostate cancer (friend of Navarra family)

Sheryl Kenny: Lymphoma bone cancer/broken leg (Jane Kenny’s daughter) Ann Prather - Jessica Ramey: Colon cancer Barb Renaud: Prescott MI, aggressive lung cancer (Carolyn Weedon) - Joan Stafianiak: Mayo heart surgery Larry Sturgeon: Hard times with Step-Father - Sandra: Surgeries shoulder & back (Sue England’s niece) –

Prayers for church and search committee in finding a new pastor

We extend our sympathy to the family of Jeanne Dible who passed away July 23. Arrangements are pending.

WELCOME JUNE!

Meet our new secretary June Jenkins. She has replaced Heather and is off to a great start at FCC. Please feel free to pop in and introduce yourself to her. The office hours remain the same Monday-Friday 9am-3pm. (Closed from Noon-1pm)

Thank You and Farewell

Dear Friends,

Jan and I wish to express our heartfelt thanks to all of you for your friendship and support over the last 15 years as we have the pleasure and the honor of worshiping and serving with you at First Christian Church! We very much appreciated the cards and the kind words that we received from so many of you over the past couple of weeks. We especially thank you all for your very kind thoughts and prayers for Jan for the last three months as she has been recovering from her stroke. The power of your prayers was a tremendous support to us during some very difficult days. Please continue to pray for us as Jan’s recovery continues and we move into a new phase of our lives in Arizona.

We will think of you often as we will continue to receive The Visitor . First Christian Church is a very special and blessed place with many talented and committed people. We are confident that the future is very bright and hopeful. You will continue to be in our prayers as the Church moves towards its new beginning and towards the calling a new senior pastor.

Our plan is to move into a retirement community, The Peaks, when a bungalow comes available. Until then, our temporary address will be: 4015 E. Soliere Ave, Apartment #108, Flagstaff, AZ 86004. We intend to keep our current cell phone numbers and email addresses. Let’s keep in touch!

God’s Peace to all of you, Jim and Jan Rybka

YOUTH & KIDS CLUB

August 5th Lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings

Come and test your trivia knowledge!!

August 12th Volunteer at the ReStore and Lunch

August 26th Bowling at Arrowhead Bowling Alley at 11:30am cost: $10

** Sunday School for children and youth resume on August 26th at 9am!

Thank you for all the "Back To School" donations!

The Pastoral Search Committee has been meeting weekly recently and is currently busy reviewing Pastoral candidate profiles. We have received profiles of 12 candidates, 10 who are available and interested. After spending much time univocally reading and reviewing the 28 to 31 page profiles the committee met to discuss the findings in the profiles. The committee chose 3 candidates to continue conversation with at this time. The remaining 7 have been placed on hold temporarily. This is step 6 of the 28 steps needed before we have a Pastor called and moved to Lafayette. As we continue this process we pray for patience for each member of the committee and the entire congregation. The committee is asking each of you to keep First Christian Church and the entire search committee in your prayers daily. If you receive church emails you should have received a copy of the "Pastor Search Prayer Guide" last week There are also copies of the "Pastor Search Prayer Guide" on the table in the narthex. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us all through this process and that he lead us to that right Pastor to lead us into the future. Sandie Hauser, Chairperson

A huge thank you for the support on "Christmas in July" Sunday. I hope everyone enjoyed it and we collected 54 items and some money. If you were unable to attend Sunday and wish to donate, please do so. A great start in preparing for Jubilee Christmas which is only 4+ months away. Again, thanks and God Bless each of you.

Sandie Hauser

August Muggers

Dick & Shirley Ellsworth

August Diaconates

August 5th

8am

Team Leader: Navarra

Serving: Navarra

Serving: Laura Gullion

Serving: Mary Fran Nelson

Serving: Dawn Ramey

Set Up & Clean Up: Navarra &

Laura Gullion

10:15am

Team Leader: Donna Adams

Serving: Kathy Kremer

Serving: Gery Kremer

Serving: Carolyn Weedon

Serving: Josh Tully

Set Up & Clean Up: Kathy & Gery Kremer

August 12th

8am

Team Leader: Navarra

Serving: Navarra

Serving: Laura Gullion

Serving: Mary Fran Nelson

Serving: Dawn Ramey

Set Up & Clean Up: Mary Fran Nelson &

Dawn Ramey

10:15am

Team Leader: Dave Scluttenhofer

Serving: Robin Sturgeon

Serving: Larry Sturgeon

Serving: Richard Shaw

Serving: Sue Dismore

Set Up & Clean Up: Robin & Larry Sturgeon

August 19th

8am

Team Leader: Navarra

Serving: Navarra

Serving: Laura Gullion

Serving: Mary Fran Nelson

Serving: Dawn Ramey

Set Up & Clean Up: Navarra &

Laura Gullion

10:15am

Team Leader: Kathy Stirlen

Serving: Linda Brammell

Serving: Richard Brammell

Serving: Crystal Cover

Serving: Mike Nelson

Set Up & Clean Up: Crystal Cover &

Mike Nelson

August 26th

8am

Team Leader: Navarra

Serving: Navarra

Serving: Laura Gullion

Serving: Mary Fran Nelson

Serving: Dawn Ramey

Set Up & Clean Up: Mary Fran Nelson &

Dawn Ramey

10:15am

Team Leader: Sandie Hauser

Serving: Paula Floyd

Serving: Letcher Floyd

Serving: Dee Chitty

Serving: Harriet Beeler

Set Up & Clean Up: Dee Chitty &

Harriett Beeler

Job Opening

There is a Janitorial position opening mid September at FCC. The position is 35 hours a week with a flexible schedule and no benefits. If you are interested contact the church office at 765-742-4058 for more information.

First Christian Church | office@fcclaf.org | http://www.fcclaf.org

329 North 6th Street

Lafayette, IN 47901