RE:fcc First Christian Newsletter

JULY 2015

THIS MONTH’S TOPIC: STRESS

Parish Nurse News........Pg 2

You Need More Stress...Pg 2

Upcoming Events...........Pg 3

Calendar..........................Pg 5

Children’s Ministry.........Pg 6

Youth Ministry.................Pg 7

In This Issue

Preschool & Kindergarten - June 23-25; 9-11 a.m.

Elementary Grades 1-5 - July 19-24; 6-8:30 p.m.

Step into the lab of Science VBS and discover amazing truths from God’s Word. This science-inspired, Christ-focused VBS is like no other you have ever seen. Kids do real science as real scientists including Rockets, Catapults, Chemical Reactions & more. We'll have worship, games, food and science experiments that teach us about Jesus every day.

We hope you can join us for this exciting VBS! Sign up forms are at the Welcome Center or you may sign up online at:

http://fccfairfield.com/#/ministries/vbs-2015

Stress is an inevitable part of all of our lives. How we handle stress can affect not only our health but our relationships and even our spirituality. This issue of RE:fcc focuses on the stress that we all have in our lives, how to deal with it, and even the idea that stress may not always be bad.

July 4th. Independence Day. Fireworks, grilling out, family and friends together. What happy times! But mixed with these good times can be some dangers to health and home. Did you know sparklers can be 1200 degrees Fahrenheit? That’s hot enough to melt metal! They can cause third degree burns, that go through your skin to the muscle underneath. Grills and bonfires can reach almost 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Burn injuries

increase over the holiday every year so be prepared.

The first step is obvious, remove whatever is burning from your skin and clothes. Don’t run, that will fan the flames. Stop, drop and roll to put your

clothes out.

If you get burned, immediately cool the area with running water. Don’t soak it and don’t put the area in ice because that runs the risk of frostbite over the burn. If the skin is intact, keep the area clean and it will heal by itself. Wash the area with mild soap and water. You may want to use some

Tylenol or ibuprofen for the pain.

If the burn is large or through the skin, have a doctor look at it. Anytime the skin is broken, there is a chance for infection. Some burns may require

special care or medications to heal. Light, loose dressings to cover any burn will protect the skin so it can heal better.

Have a wonderful month!

“I pray that you may enjoy good health and all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

Holiday Safety | Parish Nurse

You need more stress in your life. OK… I know that seems like exactly the opposite of what I should say, but make sure that you hear what I’m not saying. I’m not saying that you need to be busier. I‘m not saying that you need to spend more time at work, or more time in the fields, or more time with your family or more time on the golf course or at the ball diamonds or at recitals. I’m not saying that you should worry about more things or that you should become obsessed with the end times, politics, gun control, same-sex marriage, or any other topic that you can obsess about. I’m not

saying that you should sign up for more classes, lessons, or clubs.

What I am saying is that you need to be more stressed. Read this quote from John Piper, an author, theologian, professor, preacher,

pastor, missionary and founder of Desiring God ministries.

“It seems to be woven into the very fabric of our consumer culture that we move toward comfort, toward security, toward ease, toward safety, away from stress, trouble and danger, and it ought to be exactly the opposite.” Jesus said, ‘He who

would come after me let him take up his cross and die!’”

The author of Hebrews, when talking about what Jesus had done for us, said, “So let us go out to Him, outside the camp, and bear the

disgrace He bore.” (Hebrews 13:13)

That doesn’t sound like a stress-free life. And being stress-free is not the life that Jesus called us to. We need to find ourselves in the hard places; those places where Satan is strong, but He who is within us can be seen as greater. We need to find ourselves trying to do things that we don’t think we can do. We need to stretch ourselves to a point where we know that we will break were it not for the strength of

Christ, through whom we can do ALL things.

I remember something that Bob Russell said, probably 30 years ago, when I saw him at a leadership conference. He was talking to the preachers and elders of hundreds of churches and he told us that “sometimes you have to try something that is so big that, if God is not in it, it will fail.” That doesn’t sound comfortable. That doesn’t sound easy. That doesn’t sound stress-free. But it does sound like a Christ

follower; someone who would go outside the camp and share in the disgrace that Jesus bore. It does sound like a person that I would like to be. It does sound like a church that I would want to be a part

of.

During the past couple of weeks, while I was deciding on what to write about, I had to ask myself (and they’re questions that are worth asking yourself too) “When was the last time I gave up something good for something impossible?” “When was the last time I was stressed because of the personal ministry that I’m involved in?” “When was the last time that the time demands of a service opportunity outweighed the time demands of the consumer culture

that I live in?” “Do I have enough stress in my life?”

Understand, I do think that we’re too busy. I think we try to push ourselves and our families into too many good things. I think we try to do as much as we can, without ever thinking about whether what we are doing is the most important thing; the eternal thing; the lasting

thing; the thing that will fail without God.

Why not trade something good for something that is hard. What if we tried to do something impossible for us to do without God’s help? Can we, as a church, attempt the impossible? We’ve seen God prove faithful so many times in the past. What can He accomplish through us if we let Him put us in the hard places, or stretch us to the point where we will break if He does not give us His strength? What if we became “stressed out” for

His sake and His cause?

“So I just don’t get it! It’s the absorption of a consumer, comfort; ease culture that is permeating the church. And it creates little ministries and churches in which safe, secure, nice things are done for each other. And little safe excursions are made to help save some others. But, oh we won’t live there, and oh we won’t stay there, not even in America, not to

mention Saudi Arabia!” ...John Piper

You Need More Stress Jeff Lyon, Worship Minister: jeff@fccfairfield.com

LADIES BOOK CLUB July 2nd 6:00 pm Library “The Cove” by Ron Rash

PREPARE BULLETIN July 2nd 9:00 am Library

ELDER’S MEETING July 5th 4:30 pm East Basement

VBS SET PARTY July 9th 6:30 pm MPR

PREPARE BULLETIN July 10th 9:00 am Library

VBS SET PARTY July 16th 6:30 pm MPR

PREPARE BULLETIN & NEWSLETTER July 17th 9:00 am Library

MISSION MINISTRY MEETING July 19th 5:00 pm East Basement

PREPARE BULLETIN July 24th 9:00 am Library

DIRECTORY PICTURES July 29th , 30th & 31st

PREPARE BULLETIN July 31st 9:00 am Library

JULY MEETINGS

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Youth Mission Trip On July 19th twenty seven youth and adults from our congregation will be stepping out of their comfort zone and into stressful situations in order to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Dominican Republic.

Since last January, the team has been preparing both spiritually and financially for this opportunity. They have prepared VBS lessons and projects to share with the children, took part in several service projects to raise funds in support of their travel, and have been praying and studying to prepare themselves spiritually for the things God will teach them while in the Dominican.

The team would like to thank you for all the support through their car washes, Rent-A-Student, the Church Picnic, and the numerous personal donations they have received. They would also like to thank you for praying for them in their preparation.

There is one other thing you can do to assist the team in their endeavor, and it is the most important way that you can help support the team while they are on their trip. Located at the DR Mission Trip booth in the foyer is a display with a picture of each person going on the trip. Below each picture is a tear-off for that person. Please take one of these tear-off strips for each person you would like to pray for. On the table next to the display are cards with dates of each day they will be gone, and specific topics to pray for. Again, thanks to everyone for their generous support of this wonderful opportunity.

Lauren Brake Alice Bruce Dillon Bunnage

Deana Coomer Jorja Coomer Parker Everett

Danny Farris Jacob Hall Micah Hall

Dylan Hall Cassi Hayes Cindy Hayes

Corbin Kakac Ethan Kakac Hannah Klockenga

John Klockenga Avery McCulley Jade McCulley

Jason McCulley Haylee Neuman Heather Neuman

Savanna Neuman Ben Pope Amy Richardson

Makayla Rogers Connor Scott Ashley Strand

New Church Directory

It has been several years, but the time has come. We are working with Iconik Studio to produce a new church directory. The following dates have been set by Iconik to take your family pictures:

July 29, 30 & 31 No appointment necessary, just drop in to have your picture taken August 13, 14 & 15 Call to make an appointment Month of September Call to make an appointment Tuesday - Saturday

You will receive a free 8x10 of the directory picture, just for being a part of our directory. You will also receive a free directory with the purchase of any picture or package. If you prefer not to buy pictures, the directory will be available for $15.

So get the family together, get your haircuts scheduled and practice your best photo smile!

Average Attendance/June ‘15

Sunday School 203

Morning Worship 367

Evening Worship 75

May 2015

Fund Beginning Balance Income Expense Ending Balance

01 General 107,098 55,168 50,243 $112,023

02 Mission 85,485 39,057 32,592 $91,950

03 God’s Plan Our Hands 62,905 0 23,234 $39,671

Totals 255,488 94,225 106,069 $243,644

Elder & Deacon Schedule

Harry Carter Royce Carter

8:00

Harry Carter Royce Carter

10:00

Gary Gain Kevin Kakac Jr. Worship

Phil Hall Steve Bruce Hospital

Homes Mike Duckworth Carl Hayes

1 - Doug Aman 2 - Jess Duckworth 3 - Steve Courtright 4 - Joe Holman

5 - Charles Dalton 6 - John Basnett 7 - Steve Liston 8 - Dennis Mitchell

9 - Alan Kemp 10 - Doyle Hucker 11 - Ryan Duckworth 12 - Jerry Carter

1 - Charles Coget 2 - Chet McMullen 3 - Jim Gruner 4 - Rick Doty 5 - Bruce Reeves

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

12:30 pm Grades 1-5 Mt.

Vernon movie

2

9:00 am Prepare

bulletin

6:00 pm Ladies Book

Club

3

11am-5 pm Foyer in use

5

6 7 8

9:00-11:30 am Grades 1-5

Pizza Party

9

6:30 pm VBS Set

Party

10

9:00 am Prepare bulletin

11

1:00-3:00 pm E Basement in

use

12

1:00-5:00 pm E Basement

in use

13 14

8:00 am Grades 6-12

Paintball

15

16

6:30 pm VBS Set

Party

17

9:00 am Prepare bulletin

& newsletter

18

2:00-5:00 pm E Basement

in use

Youth leave for Mission Trip

19

8 & 10 am Blood Pressure

Screening

5:00 pm Mission Meeting

6:00-8:30 pm VBS

20

6:00-8:30 pm VBS

21

6:00-8:30 pm VBS

22

6:00-8:30 pm VBS

23

6:00-8:30 pm VBS

24

9:00 am Prepare bulletin

6:00-8:00 pm VBS Swim

25

12-8 pm E Basement in use

26

1:00-4:00 pm E Basement

in use

27 Youth return from Mission

Trip

28 29

8:00 am Grades 1-5 Magic

House

30 31

9:00 am Prepare bulletin

July 2015

Directory Pictures taken @ Iconik Studio between the hours of 9 am-5 pm.

No appointment necessary

Women’s Council

Cards to Shut-ins & Prayer List

Martha

Way-Fair Birthdays

Chair Team

Bruce Reeves

Bus Driver

Steven Bruce

Communion

Dennis & Janet Brant Jerry & Frances Carter

Junior Church

Pre-K – 5yrs Neuman Family

Melissa Simpson/Jorja Coomer Missy Lewis/Jade McCulley

Child Check-in

Assistants

Foyer 9 & 10 am Teresa Courtright Office 9 & 10 am Volunteer Needed

JULY BIRTHDAYS If your birthday is not listed please call the office with month, day & year of birth so we can update our records

July 1

Todd Davis Alex Davis

July 2

Victor Skaggs

July 3

Glenn Jackson

July 4

Lorraine Pottorff

Daniel Walker

July 5

Cale Atwood

Phil Hall

July 6

Cheryl Basnett

Crystal Eckleberry

Amber Lyon Kelly Scott

Beth Strange

July 7

Jessica Mitchell Lowell Tullis

July 8

Herb Fenton Sharmila Kakac

July 9

Craig Scott Olivia Smith

July 10

Leah Carter Tony Oliver

Ruth Theivagt

July 11

Warren Newby

July 12

Jaxon Basnett

Sue Grove

Meghan Lynch Margie Marvel

July 13

Jill Andrews Carol Jackson

July 14

Levi Belangee Austin Lyon

Katie York

July 15 Rick Doty

Cassidy Hayes

July 17 Jamie Pollard

Cole Simpson

July 18

Brynlee Musgrave

July 19 Jasper Beeson

Thea Gain

Debbie McKibben

July 20

Pam Robbins

July 21 Carolyn Legg

July 22

Claudia Long Melissa Simpson

Gina Williams

July 23 Claire Kakac

Nathan Legg

Mary Morris

Emersyn Olander

July 24

Royce Carter

Carroll Kakac

July 25

Lauren Brake

Katie Liston

July 26

Dave Bliss

July 27

Ron Bowles

July 28

Katelyn Bozarth

Bruce Caudle

Dianne Taylor

July 31 Eden Duckworth

Lela Duckworth

Michael Molt II

Bill Obrecht

NURSERY SCHEDULE

8:00 9:00 10:00 6:00

Week 1

Audrey Aman

0-1 year

Rosemary Judge Matta Gray

Cristy Pearce Barbara Bozarth

Shirley Miller

Amy & Ryan Duckworth, Volunteer Needed

Lisa Lyon Amber Lyon 1-2 years

Heather Neuman

Volunteer Needed

Melissa Simpson Volunteer needed

2-3 years Melissa & Cam Simpson

Brian & Sarah Keck

Week 2 Connor Scott & Micah Hall

0-1 year

Volunteer Needed Toby Hucker

Frances Carter Volunteer Needed

Callie Carter Volunteer Needed

Volunteer Needed 1-2 years

Heather Neuman Volunteer Needed

Kelly Basnett Kendall Green

2-3 years Melissa & Cam Simpson Jeremy & Hillary Vaughan

Week 3 Dylan Hall

0-1 year

Volunteer Needed Drew Vaupel

Pam Holman Sonja Hall

Jackie & Cindy Grepares

Sonja Hall Julie Aman

1-2 years Heather Neuman

Volunteer Needed Ashli Legg Jodi Poole

2-3 years Melissa & Cam Simpson Volunteer Needed

Week 4

0-1 year

Carol Jackson Toby Hucker

Connie Mitchell Volunteer Needed

Thea Gain Volunteer needed

Connie Reid Volunteer needed

1-2 years Heather Neuman

Volunteer Needed Cheryl Basnett Lori Kovacich

2-3 years Melissa & Cam Simpson Bob & Dena Hall

Nursery Laundry

Morgan Duckworth

Grades 1-5

7.1 Movie @ Mt. Vernon

“Inside Out” Leave @ 12:30 pm $5 (+ $ for snacks)

Due to office by 6/24

7.8 Pizza Party

Free

7.29 Magic House

$15 Due to office by 7/22

8.2 Family Day @ Burdette Park

Kids 3-11= $5, 12+= $8 Parents swim free Need $ for CiCi’s

8.7 Ages 0-Kindergarten

Mommy & Me Swim & Play - Mt. Vernon

Kids-$6, Adults $8 Bring snack for lunch

Mark Your Calendar Children’s Ministry Laura Ethridge, Children’s Minister: laura@fccfairfield.com

So we’re talking about STRESS – wow – is it stressful being a parent! My kids aren’t even 2 yet and we feel stressed with everything that has to happen in our house – jobs, laundry, mowing, cooking, cleaning, and of course playing, imagining, laughing, and hopefully some sleeping. There are so many things that demand our time and attention. And if we don’t manage it well, it creates stress. It is said that the Chinese symbol for busyness is the combination of the symbols for death & heart. Stop and think about that for a minute – how much is your stress and busyness killing

your heart, or the hearts of your kids?

Not all busyness and stress is bad, we just need to prioritize a little – think about what we want to have the most impact on our lives in the long run. Here are a few paragraphs from the book “Playing for Keeps” by Reggie

Joiner and Kristen Ivy.

“It’s simple really. We should feel obligated, because we were all kids once. And if we are still part of the human race, then we are expected to take care of our young. To give them a shoulder. To protect them. To rescue them when they are in trouble. To nurture them while they are growing. To inspire their faith. And not just those of us who are parents, but all of us who are old enough to make a difference. We are called to be present in the lives of the next generation. We are all responsible. That’s why this week , some of you will ride a bike, cook a meal, host a party, catch a fish, laugh out loud, play a game, throw a ball, write a note, take a walk, tuck someone in, sing a song, say a prayer, change a diaper, tell a story, see a

movie, go to church, dance a dance, or take a trip.

If you’re honest, sometimes you wonder if any of this really matters. You think it’s just expected, part of your role, what you do every week. In your real, bland, mundane world, these tasks seem rather unremarkable, ordinary, and routine. But there is a secret hidden in the rhythm of your regimen. The gift of your time is much more remarkable than it seems.

That’s why what you do this week, and every week, matters.

Because over time…

You are making a permanent imprint

on the soul of a child.

You are leaving a legacy.

You are playing for keeps.

It’s time to get serious about what you do with your time.”

Think about the time you have with your children or grandchildren as a jar full of marbles. There are 936 weeks in a child’s life from birth to their 18th birthday. Imagine each week being represented by a marble in the jar. Every week, take a marble out of the jar. My 20 month old twins still have about 850 marbles left. If you have a child starting Kindergarten – you’re down to 624. If you have a child starting Jr. High, you’re down to 312. And if you have a 16 year old, then you’ve got less than 104 marbles left – that’s

only 104 weeks left!

Now think about what each of those marbles really represent – a whole

week of TIME! How will you spend it? Everything we do matters.

Everything builds (or tears down) over time. What do you want to build with

your kids or grandkids? Obviously there is only so much time in every week.

Make the best of it. What is truly important in the long run? Ballgames?

TV? Dance? Cheer? Homework? Friends? Family? Church? Family

Devotions? Prayer?

7.14 Paintball

8 am-5 pm $20 + $ for 2 meals

7.19 - 7.27 Dominican Republic

Mission Trip

8/7-8/8 Man Camp

2pm Fri– 8am Sat $5

8/9 Pool Party/BBQ

5-8 pm Wilson’s

Free

8/15 Back to School Bash

Liston’s Free

8/23 Pool Party

5-8 pm Neuman’s

Free

Mark Your Calendar Youth Ministry Danny Farris, Youth Minister: danny@fccfairfield.com

Coping with stress

How would you describe the world we live in today? Challenging? Fast-paced? Dangerous? Immoral? With the go, go, go mentality it doesn’t take long until we can find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, anxious and apprehensive about even the simplest tasks. Just thinking about these things, we can easily get stressed out. What does the Bible say about coping with stress? As we know, the Bible is God’s instructional manual for life. But, can the Bible really show us how to deal with stress?

Does God show us how to reduce stress?

Philippians 4:8- “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, if there is any virtue and if anything is praiseworthy, think about such things”. When negative experiences or situations come at you, when it seems overwhelming, then stop. Take a breath. “Be still, and know that I am God”. Simply focus on the noble. The just. The pure. Overcoming stress starts with the ability to control our thoughts.

How can I find comfort in dealing with the trouble and stress in my life?

2 Corinthians 1:3-4- “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God”. God promises comfort in our greatest times of stress. How about trying to be a comfort to someone else who may be going through greater difficulties than you are? Giving comfort to someone in another way brings satisfaction and joy to the giver as well.

Is there hope even if I feel like I’ve reached my limit in a very serious, stressful situation?

1 Corinthians 10:13- “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it”. This is a promise that no matter what the situation, God is still right there in the mud and muck with us. God will always provide you with what you need to get through any and every situation that you will ever find yourself in.

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing

as that, why are you anxious about the rest? ...

Luke 12:22-40

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