The Christian Courier

CourierTheC r rT

Wild Goose Worship ReturnsTuesday, October 66:30 p.m.Calling all geese to return to the nest after flitting and flying around for your summer fun. Wild Goose Worship begins again, this fall, with a new schedule. We will meet once a month, on the first Tuesday of the month.

Help Host the Prayer VigilSunday, September 185:30 p.m.First Christian Church will host the September 18 Prayer Vigil for Peace in the Middle East. This monthly vigil began in 2001 and has continued faithfully with prayers, hymns, litanies, and o the r f o rms o f wo r sh i p .

Conducted in many languages and styles, we gather together as people of many faiths to pray for peace and justice for all of God’s people. If you would like to help coordinate this month’s Prayer Vigil, please contact Tamalyn Kralman.

Sunday, September 139 a.m. Continental Breakfast Come early for a t ime of catching up with old friends, making new ones, and having a bite of something to eat before heading in to Sunday School.

9:30 a.m. Sunday School returns Following our traditional summer hiatus, Sunday School is back. The library class will continue their study of the gospels. The “Side B” class will be considering the new Living the Questions series, “The Jesus Fatwah” (and other exciting options). And the children’s class will be starting a new curriculum from Sparkhouse, which will take the kids through the lectionary, enabling them to study the same passages we are using in worship.

10:50 a.m. Gathering Time A time of singing and announcements, as the community gathers together to prepare for worship.

11 p.m. Worship As we return to our fall worship schedule, this service will feature Bible Presentations to our youngsters and a Blessing of the Backpacks. Bring your backpacks, bookbags, briefcases, Bibles, iPads, laptops, tool belts, knitting needles, sewing machines, or whatever might be the tools of your trade. We’ll bless them all, whether you’re headed back to school or back to work after your summer vacation.

Peace Pole Installed

Pastor Gary Shoemaker and Kelvin Smith installed the peace pole in the courtyard on Wednesday, August 19. Purchased in memory of Kelvin’s late wife, Barbara, the peace pole has the words, “May peace prevail on earth,” in twelve languages. The test will be to see how many you can identify!

Vol. 65, No. 9 Bellingham First Christian Church September 2015

495 East Bakerview Road Bellingham, WA 98226

360.734.6820 office@bellinghamdisciples.org www.bellinghamdisciples.org

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) A movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God welcomed us.

All of Us Ministers

Rev. Gary Shoemaker Pastor gary@bellinghamdisciples.org

Rev. Tamalyn Kralman Director of Ed. & Community Outreach Courier Editor tamalyn@bellinghamdisciples.org

Michele Fode Finance Administrator finance@bellinghamdisciples.org

Amelia Nye Accompanist

TBD Childcare Provider

Rev. Sandy Messick Regional Minister

Rev. Sharon Watkins General Minister and President

Sunday Schedule 10:50 a.m. Gathering Time 11 a.m. Worship 12:15 a.m. Fellowship Time 12:30 p.m. Out-to-Lunch Bunch (4th Sunday) 2 p.m. Someone Cares! Community Meal (2nd Sunday)

Office Hours Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - noon Our staff are in and out of the office throughout the week. Please feel free to stop by during their office hours or make an appointment that fits your schedule. Officers Don Hoffman, Chair Megan Shoemaker, Secretary Cheryl Perry, Treasurer

News from the Pews

2 September 2015

First Christian Church(Disciples of Christ) Shoe’s News

“Twins!!!”

As most of you are aware, Megan and Zach are expecting twins. In fact, by the time you get this newsletter, they will have probably arrived. As you can imagine, Tam and I are over the moon with excitement and anticipation. We've spent the last several months in a near constant state of happiness thinking about their arrival.

I'm sure that Megan and Zach are even more excited, but for them the past several months have been filled with a bit more than a constant state of happiness. They needed to sell their house and move into a house (one they had built) that would accommodate this suddenly growing family. They also needed to sell two cars and purchase a new vehicle that would carry three car seats plus have room for two dogs. There has been little time for them to simply sit back and contemplate their good fortune.

There are times when even deep blessings bring considerable challenge. This coming Sunday, I'm going to be preaching about the time when the crowds just kept following Jesus and the disciples. The demands on their time and energy were extreme. Even when Jesus tries to take the disciples away for a retreat, the crowds run ahead of their boat and get to their landing site ahead of them. Jesus was wanting to touch as many people as possible with his message of God's love and new way of relating, but there comes a time when even he had to say, "Enough's enough!"

How do you cope with those moments in life when you feel overwhelmed? Even the good stuff can overwhelm us from time to time. And the bad stuff seems to have an exaggerated effect on our psyche.

There's a balance that is difficult to find, but it allows us to keep moving forward while granting ourselves time to recuperate. You have to know your own limits and find your own balance. Each of us is unique in that regard. But take comfort in knowing that even Jesus struggled with this issue. If he needed to take a break once in a while, who are you to think that you can singlehandedly save the world?

Enjoy life's blessings, but take care of yourself so you can be a blessing to others!

Pastor Gary

Fall Schedule Begins Sunday, Sept. 13Sunday School, 9:30 a.m.

Gathering Time 10:50 a.m. Worship 11 a.m.

Final Plans I r e c e n t l y a t t e n d e d a conference dealing with end of life issues sponsored by the Palliative Care Institute of Bell ingham. From that conference I was reminded again of the importance of

actually making, to the furthest extent possible, choices regarding life and, especially as we age, choices regarding death, our death. As your Health Ministries nurse I will be coordinating a Health Ministries Sunday when end of life issues will be discussed. So keep Sunday October 18 open. The discussion will be led by the Health Ministries team from Peace Health St. Joseph Medical Center which includes a palliative care chaplain. During a potluck lunch following morning worship we will view an excellent DVD on the subject, "Being Mortal,” based on the work by Atul Gawande, MD. I urge your support by attending this event and participating in the discussion. Thinking of our own death is never easy but necessary. We make the best plans possible for living our lives, in the same way we need to make the best possible plans for our death. As Dr. Gawande says in his book, Being Mortal, we need to live our lives to the last with autonomy, dignity, and, yes, joy. Too often we medicalize aging, frailty, and death. Medicine is not all we need as we age but rather living a life and dying a death with meaning. We have prepared ourselves for life, but often, we have not prepared for death. We are afraid and recoil from the thought of our own mortality, so we turn away refusing to see the reality that we are mortal, that the death rate over all time for all living creatures is 100 percent. Preparing for our own death includes facing the reality of it and therefore normalizing it as the natural order of things and through deep thought and planning, making our choices and will known through advanced directives indicating just how far we are willing to go with medical care, to say to ourselves and others when enough is enough and decide for ourselves how we wish to die, when to stop treatment, medication, etc., and to make ourselves available to those services who will listen and allow us to pass away peacefully and in comfort. Those services include palliative care and hospice. Palliative care is the specialized care of serious illness established to improve quality of life and death, to provide extra support and is for all who need and wish it. Hospice and palliative care are based on priorities different from standard medical care, that is, to treat symptoms, provide watchful care and comfort but not to extend life. Palliative care and hospice care focus on "ars moriendi,” the art of dying through rituals, vigils, and symptom management that allow us to come to the end calmly in

our own way. In the 1940s most of us in the United States died at home; by the 1980s the number fell to 17%; in 2010 45% died in hospice. The focus of Health Ministries Sunday on October 18, 2015 is end of life issues and to show that even in the complexities and uncertainties of life and death we do have some control. We can have control by thinking through and letting loved ones know our wishes concerning our last days and having those wishes written in an advanced directive. By doing this, loved ones are informed, thereby reducing their concerns knowing they are acting on our wishes. Increasingly, physicians are changing their focus from always trying to "medicate" aging to adopting an interpretive role, meaning they will ask the client "What is important to you?" " What are your worries?" regarding final days, so that based on what we tell them they can act as guides to achieve our priorities, not theirs. Using this interpretive model allows for shared decision making between doctor and client. It is important for the physicians to realize that in treating illness the client has priorities beyond merely being safe and living longer. The client wants a chance to transform, to shape the last chapters of life in a way that sustains meaning.

cont’d, p. 5

Nurse’s Notes

Nurse’s Notes

September 2015 3

“Grandma, Can We Take More Carrots to the Food Bank?”

We are cultivating a culture of growing and giving, around here. The youngsters of First Christian Church have learned that great things come in small seed packages. They have learned that many people can be fed when food is grown in o u r c h u r c h garden, that it is r e a l l y f u n t o p l a n t a n d

weed and grow things in a garden, and that taking food to the food bank is not only a grand adventure, it is a blessing for both recipient and for donors. So, yes, Kade, you and your grandma may take more of your (slightly mutant) carrots to the Fo o d B a n k . G o w i t h o u r blessings. Go with God’s.

“Grandma Linda” and her mutant carrots

Kade and Gray delivering veggies to Ferndale Food Bank

4 September 2015

Happy Anniversary!On August 9 we marked the one year anniversary of our community meal. To all those who have shopped, cooked, cleaned, served, brainstormed, prayed, and worked t o m a k e S o m e o n e C a r e s ! Community Meal a reality, we thank you.

Each month, as people gather around the tables in the fellowship hall, we are blessed by their smiles, laughter, and conversation, their overwhelming gratitude, the comfort they feel in this place, and the ways in which we feel this place, this sacred place, becoming even more sacred.

When Jesus told us to feed his sheep, we knew it would be a massive project. We didn’t realize it would be such a blessing to our souls.

If you would like to participate in this ministry, please sign up in the kitchen or contact Brenda Riseland.

Welcome to the World, Babies!

Blessingof the

Animals

8th Annual Bring your pet of any kind and join us.There will be refreshments,

music, giveaways,and a special pet photo area.

Meet your neighbors & their pets.Fun for ALL!

First Christian Church(Disciples of Christ)495 East Bakerview RoadBellingham, WA 98226

360.734.6820office@bellinghamdisciples.orgbellinghamdisciples.org

Congratulations, Alisha!

Congratulations to Alisha Sanchez, who had three entries in to this year’s Northwest Washington Fair and won ribbons on all three.

Alisha’s beautiful photograph won second place in the youth division for photography. Her Beanie Baby collection took first place in the youth division. And her absolutely gorgeous cake (pictured above) took best in show.

Emmett Kyle 7 lbs, 3.9 oz

Rowan Gary 6 lbs, 6.6 oz

They are welcomed by a very proud and happy family:Parents Megan and Zachary Shoemaker, big brother Benjamin, auntie Brett, and over the moon grandparents Gary Shoemaker and Tamalyn Kralman.

Announcing the birth of the Shoemaker Boys

Born

August 24, 2015

Joys and Concerns of Our Congregation

Please submit written requests to update this list. New to Our List:

Bill Pribilsky, recovering from a broken hip, currently in Mt. Baker Care Facility Bea and Ralph Gilfilen, whose dear friend Rena Kenoyer passed away on August 2. The victims of the wild fires and all the firefighters who put their lives on the line every day Easter Eberly, friend of Cyndy Koehn’s, as recovers from the first of several surgeries, to correct a softball injury (Really? Softball? Yikes! Let’s be careful out there.) Tracy and her husband (friends of Jayne Witman’s); the husband is recovering from stroke, heart attack, and a blood clot in his lung

Ongoing: Arlene Peightal, recovering from open heart surgery Helen Blaney, as she recovers from a broken femur Janet Franks, health concerns Mary Lee Wiser, health concerns Joanne Harrell, health concerns Donna Fairchild, health concerns Ethan Powers, great-grandson of Marian Crim, immune system is intact, he’s in full remission & being weaned off his medications; his bone marrow is currently at 76% (needs to be at 90) Bill & Melissa Thomas, nephew of Sue Campbell Cross, moving to Melbourne, FL for housing & jobs Terry Buchanan, friend of Cyndy Koehn, dealing with breast cancer Disciples House Residents, past, present and future Iglesia de Dios, as together we share God’s love from this space Raices Culturales and the children in their gardening program in our field Kristine Tissinger, missionary partner in Ghana Rev. Sandy Messick, Regional Minister Rev. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President Our General Church ministries Yakama Christian Mission Victims of injustice, violence, poverty, and disease worldwide All troops involved in world conflict Peacemakers worldwide

September 2015 5

Former Missionary to Speak David Owen, a former Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) missionary in Africa, will be the guest preacher at Bellingham First Christian Church's Global Mission Sunday, October 4. David and his wife Roxi served for 15 years under the Global Ministries of the Disciples and the United Church of Christ, first in Lesotho and then in Kenya.

The service will be a celebration of Disciples' involvement in our global ministries and will include an update on the progress rebuilding Bolenge Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo which First Christian Church has supported. This will be a special opportunity to connect with our church family around the world.

More information will be shared in the next Courier.

Outreach Ministry

Open Mic Night is Coming On Saturday, October 24, 6:30 p.m., First Christian Church will host an open mic. This is a night for fun and family and a night to raise money for families in need. This CWS CROP Hunger Project helps

provide basic necessities in areas where clean water is lacking, medical care is next to nil, education is a luxury, a n d h o u s i n g i s m i n i m a l . L e a r n m o r e a t crophungerwalk.org. Suggested donation: $5

Nurse’s Notes, continued from page 3 Finally, to enter into a discussion about our final days, as well as to live all the preceding days and years, takes courage. Courage to confront the reality of mortality, to ponder what is to be feared and the courage to act on the truth we find. We may not have total control but we are not without help and hope.

Meditation: May the One who gives life be with us in our final days and may we find comfort in the faith that we are covered by the wings of grace. Amen

Jane Kletka, RN, FCN Health Ministries

Who’s on First?!

� September 20156

Sunday, September 6 Elders: Joe Plancich (O), Brenda Riseland (C) Lock-Up: Joe Plancich In Home Communion: Gregg Heyne Lillian Moir Deacons: Jane Kletka, Lynn Plancich, Alexis Pinkston Reader: Virginia Haldeman Greeters: Bekki and Russ Weston Flowers: TBD Fellowship Time: TBD Mower: Gregg Heyne

Sunday, September 13 Elders: Lillian Moir (O), Leslie Pinkston (C) Deacons: Marian Overcash, Linda Heyne, Max Perry Reader: Lillian Moir Greeter: Jane Kletka Flowers: TBD Fellowship Time: TBD Mower: Leslie Pinkston

Sunday, September 20 Elders: Melody Hoffman (O), Gregg Heyne (C) Deacons: Lois Oswalt, Pat Whitney, Connie Page Reader: Bruce Radtke Greeters: Schmidling Family Flowers: TBD Fellowship Time: TBD Mower: Gary Shoemaker

Sunday, September 27 Elders: Don Hoffman (O), Margaret Brown (C) Deacons: Kathy Wheeler, Ardythe Hannah Reader: Charles Schmidling Greeter: Connie Page Flowers: Esther Group Fellowship Time: Esther Group Mower: Gregg Heyne

To assist in these important ministries, contact the office or sign up in the fellowship hall.

Be the Hands of God (nurture the world)

Happy Birthday Derek Stanbro 7 Bob Dawes 12 Janet Franks 13 John Bisceglia 13 Lee Brown 28

Happy Anniversary Bob & Karen Gilda 15 Gaylen & Terry Udo 22 Joe & Lynn Plancich 24

September

Find Weekly Lectionary Readings http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/

Be a Part of A Small Group (nurture your soul) • Women's Spiritual Growth Groups - Please contact

the church office if you would like to be a part of a group. • Out-to-Lunch Bunch, 12:30 p.m., 4th Sundays - This

informal gathering, visits locally owned and run restaurants.

• Book Group, 7 p.m., 4th Sundays - This group explores books to expand their minds and their hearts.

• Esther Group, 11:30 a.m., 3rd Mondays - this group meets for lunch and fellowship in a local restaurant.

• Bible Study, Noon, Tuesdays - Meeting in the church library, this group explores the weekly lectionary scriptures.

• Wild Goose Worship, 6:30 p.m., 1st Tuesdays - An alternative worship experience for young(ish) adults.

• Pub Theology, 6:30 p.m., 3rd Thursdays - Beer, conversation, and God! (Or any beverage of your choice.)

• Checking in Group, 5 p.m., 4th Thursdays -supportive group of people who share life's journey together.

For more info on how to assist in any of these projects, please contact us at office@bellinghamdisciples.org.

• Community Meal • Joseph’s Closet • Disciples House • CAST • Socks on the Street

• Collecting food for the Food Bank

• Care Package • Bolenge Hospital • Community Garden

Fall Worship Schedule BeginsSunday, September 13

Sunday School, 9:30 a.m. Gathering Time, 10:50 a.m. Worship, 11 a.m.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Noon Bible Study

2

Bulletindeadline

3 4 5

7:30a Men’s Breakfast, Denny’s

6

10:20a Gathering Time10:30a Worship11:45p Fellowship Time

7

Labor Day

8

Noon Bible Study

9Bulletindeadline

10 11 12

7:30a Men’s Breakfast, Denny’s10a Church Board Meeting

13

9a Breakfast9:30a Sun. School10:50a Gathering Time11a Worship - Bibles & Backpacks12:15p Fellowship Time2p Someone Cares Community Meal

14

6:30 pStewardshipMeeting

15

Courier Deadline

Noon Bible Study

16Bulletindeadline

6p Bell Choir Rehearsal7p Chancel Choir Rehearsal

17

6:30 p.m.Pub Theology, Hops ’N Headz

18

4 p.m. Meet at church to prep food for Amy’s Place

5:30 p.m. Host Prayer Vigil for Peace in the Middle East

19

7:30a Men’s Breakfast, Denny’s

207:30a Elders’ Mtg9:30a Sun. School10:50a Gathering Time11a Worship12:15p Fellowship Time

21

11:30 a.m.Esther Group

22

Noon Bible Study

23Bulletindeadline

6p Bell Choir Rehearsal7p Chancel Choir Rehearsal

24

5p Checking in Group

25 26

7:30a Men’s Breakfast, Denny’s

27

9:30a Sun. School10:50a Gathering Time11a Worship12:15p Fellowship Time12:30 p Out-to-Lunch Bunch7p Book Group

28 29

Noon Bible Study

30

Bulletindeadline

6p Bell Choir Rehearsal7p Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Calendar

September 2015 7

September 2015Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

The Christian Courier (USPS

0589-870) is published monthly at

First Christian Church, 495 East Bakerview

Road, Bellingham, W

A 98226-9168. PER

IOD

ICALS PO

STAGE paid at Bellingham

, WA

98226-9997 Postm

aster: Send address changes to The Christian Courier, 495 East Bakerview

Road, Bellingham, W

A 98226-9186

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) A church of grace and welcome for all! 495 East Bakerview Road Bellingham, WA 98226-9168

PERIODICALS POSTAGE AT

Bellingham, WA 98226-9168

USPS 0589-870

Contact Us Office office@bellinghamdisciples.org 360.734.6820

Find us on Facebook First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Bellingham, WA

Follow us on Twitter FCC Bellingham

Submissions for the Next Courier are Due ??? 15

To go paperless: Subscribe to the e-Courier at office@bellinghamdisciples.org.

To unsubscribe: Contact 360.734.6820, 495 East Bakerview Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, or office@bellinghamdisciples.org.

Save the Dates October 2015 Stewardship Month

October 4 Global Ministries & World Communion Sunday; Blessing of the Animals

October 18 Health Ministries Sunday

October 24 6:30 p.m., Open Mic Night

November 1 2 p.m., Baby Shower for Baby Schmidling

November 14 Share the Spirit Bazaar

Do You Need to Schedule a Church Event?To schedule an event: • fill out a Church Event Form (in the main office) • or talk with Tamalyn Please remember that the “official” church calendar is in the church computer and is constantly in flux. The benefit to this is that Tamalyn is able to access it from computer, iPad, and iPhone and make changes as you request them.