FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

SEEKING GOD’S WHOLENESS. EXPANDING THE TABLE. NURTURING JUSTICE.

SERVANTS IN WORSHIPWorship Leader .............................................. David CassRed Book Pickup ...............Sally D. Hunt / Dreema AdkinsDeacons Coordinator ....................................... Jill Rafiee Ushers ..........................Sherry Baldwin, Tina Chadwick, Tricia Dyer, Vicki Hill Servers ......................................... Tricia Dyer, Vicki HillElders at the Table Pulpit Side (Prayer of Consecration) ........ Lorraine Hipp Pulpit Side (Pastoral Listener) ................... Scot Crosslin Lectern Side (Prayer of Thanksgiving) ......Lonna Williams Lectern Side (Pastoral Listener) ............Fielding AtchleyScripture ................................................... Luke 11: 1-13Proclamation ............................................Rev. Jonathan

“Discipleship: Work or Pray?”

THE BRIDGE NEWSLETTER | JULY 28, 2019SUNDAYS: Christian Education for all ages: 9:30 am | Coffee & Conversation: 10:30 am | Worship: 11 am

Youth & Children’sFundraiser

LUNCHSunday, August 4

Please RSVP to:victoria@firstchristian-chat.com

Also accepting donations of new andgently used toys, puzzles, and books.

$15Suggested Donation

THE WEEK AHEADSunday, July 28 9:30 am Door Greeters; Covenant Group 1 9:30 am Christian Education for all ages 10:30 am Coffee & Conversation; Crane Lounge 11:00 am Worship; Sanctuary 12:00 pm Sanctuary Clean Up; Covenant Group 1 Monday, July 29 11:00 am Staff Meeting; Conference Room 8:00 pm NA Meeting; Fellowship HallTuesday, July 30 7:00 pm NA Meeting; Fellowship Hall 7:00 pm Opera TN gathering at Northside Presby.Wednesday, July 31 No Activities ScheduledThursday, August 1 7:00 am Men’s Group; Bluegrass GrillFriday, August 2 10:30 am Community Kitchen Volunteering 3:00 pm Community Kitchen Volunteering 8:00 pm NA Meeting; Fellowship HallSaturday, August 3 No Activities ScheduledSunday, August 4 - Blessing of the Backpacks 9:30 am Door Greeters; Covenant Group 2 (S Baldwin, P Shoun) 9:30 am Choir Practice resumes 9:30 am Christian Education for all ages 10:30 am Coffee & Conversation; Crane Lounge 11:00 am Worship & Blessing of the Backpacks; Sanctuary 12:00 pm Sanctuary Clean Up; Covenant Group 2 12:00 pm Cabinet Meeting; Conference Room 12:15 pm Youth & Children Fundraiser BBQ Lunch $15 suggested donation RSVPtovictoria@firstchristian-chat.com

Note: Some room assignments have been changed to keep members & guests cool as we address HVAC system repairs.

John Little (relative of Angie Cass); Joy Wagner; Joy Parsons (friend of Betty Proctor); Bill, Ann & June Chambers & Louisa Kaplan & The Kaplan Family (friends of the Pennybakers); Vickie Hill’s mother; Jack Wallace (Kate’s brother and Janet’s son); Alan Derthick; Bea Lyons; Rick Butz & Betty Howerton; Raymond Howerton (Betty’s father); Peggy Brannen; Jerry Wimberly (relative of Angie Cass); Scott Kramer & Betty Franklin (Friends of Susan Spurgeon); Jim & Marcia Fletcher; Bert Blackburn (Bea’s sister); Bill Dowell; Edward Everett (Gayle Mingledorff’s cousin); Phyllis Bishop (Scot Crosslin’s mother); Chuck Martin; Jack Barker; Jim & Barbara Northcut; Catherine Shutters; Amanda Mealer-McArtor & Sophie McArtor; Cheryl Bingham; Mai “Mike” Nary; Lyndsay Wells (Bill Allen’s Step-Sister); Rona Gary; Mary Gifford (Mary Davis’ sister-in-law); Erick Griggs; John Black (Barbara Voss’s brother); Leroy Lewis (Bob Lewis’ brother).Contact the church office to add or remove someone on the prayer list, 267-4506.

IMPORTANT NOTESLadies Prayer Circle will NOT meet during July, Aug. or Sept. Meetings will resume beginning October 2019. Call Debby Demos with any requests to be called through the prayer chain.

THE HYDE OUTPrayer can be a funny thing. If you ask 100 people, “What is prayer?” You will get at least 101 different opinions. It begins with the question, “why do we pray?” We pray for many different reasons depending upon where you are in your theology. We pray for concerns. We pray for joys. We pray for gratitude. We pray in times of grief. We pray in times of sadness. We pray as part of liturgy. We pray to help change something. We pray to change ourselves. I do not know exactly how prayer works; I wish I did – I would let you all in on that secret. I do know that we have a few models explaining how to pray in the scripture. The obvious ‘Lord’s Prayer’ that we find in Matthew is one of those prayers that we pray every week. Luke records a similar prayer by Jesus, when asked how to pray by His disciples. Jesus seems to be teaching about asking God for good gifts and expecting them.

As I prepare for Sunday, I am reminded of a story that one of my seminary professors told me. He was serving in a church in west Texas where they had been experiencing a severe drought. Cattle were dying, crops were dying, and people were dying. It was a very stressful time for the community. Every Wednesday the church would gather and pray for rain. My seminary professor said that he was taken aback by the fact that one elderly lady in the congregation was the only one who ever brought an umbrella. As I mentioned this past Sunday, our expectation matters when it comes to our faith. What are we expecting when we pray? Do we expect anything or are we just throwing out some words and hoping for the best? Sometimes for me the answer is yes, sadly. Join me this Sunday as we dive deeper into the why and how of prayer. I look forward to seeing you there.Blessings, Rev. Jonathan Hyde

At First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), we love our kids and our educators.The beginning of the school year is a busy, hectic time. As a way to celebrate our kids and encourage our educators, we are hosting a “Blessing of the Backpacks” during worship on August 4th. On that day, all children will be invited to bring their backpacks to worship, where our pastors will lead the congregation in a special blessing for the beginning of the new school year. Educators (active or retired!) are also encouraged to attend, to receive a blessing on their good work with our entire community’s children.

 

JULY28 Elle Morgan, Julie Turner, Harv Wileman29 Heather Droke, Sanford Sharp30 Jack Grisham31 Jim NorthcutAUGUST1 Leah Summerlin2 Wanda Jones3 BrandonHubbard-Heitz4 Abi Adkins, Delores Kenyon5 Bill Rich

CONNECT WITH FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH Senior Minister ......................................... Rev. Brandon Gilvin brandon@firstchristian-chat.comAssociate Minister ....................................Rev. Jonathan Hyde jonathan.h.hyde@gmail.comOfficeManager .................................................. Victoria Flores victoria@firstchristian-chat.comFinancial Assistant .......................................... Hannah Stansel hannah@firstchristian-chat.comMusic Director .......................................................Gary Wilkes gwilkes428@gmail.comOrganist ...................................................................Sarah Harr sarahharr@ymail.comGeneral Church email ............. church@firstchristian-chat.comWebsite ....................................... www.firstchristian-chat.comFacebook ......................www.facebook.com/FCC.ChattanoogaInstagram ..................www.instagram.com/firstchristianchatt/ Twitter ................................ www.twitter.com/fcc_chattanoogaAddress ................ 650 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37403Phone Number .................................................423-267-4506OfficeHours ............................Monday-Thursday10am-2pmBridge Newsletter Deadline ........................... Monday, NOON