www.fccmidland.org ● 1301 W. Louisiana, Midland, Texas, 79701 ● (432) 682-2541

The Christian Builder

September 5, 2012

A weekly publication of First Christian Church Midland Volume 56 No.36

Church Calendar

Saturday, September 8 9am SibShop Support Group

Sunday, September 9 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship 5-7pm Celebrate (Children) 5-7pm SOLID (Youth) & Parent’s Night 6pm Adult Bible Study

Tuesday, September 11 9:30am Concerns 7pm PDAP 7:30pm Boy Scouts

Wednesday, September 12 7am Men’s Prayer Breakfast 5:30pm Breaking Bread (Florida st) 7pm Choir Rehearsal

Friday, September 14 6-10pm SHARE

Saturday, September 15 10am-1pm Blessing Generation to Generation (Mont. Rm.)

Sunday, September 16 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship 5-7pm Celebrate (Children) 5-7pm SOLID (Youth) 6pm Adult Bible Study

New Series: Fresh Start Continues This Week

Come join us each Sunday in September as we give ourselves a Fresh Start, getting back to the basics of the Greatest Commandments: loving God, neighbors, and self. Sometimes we get so caught up in busyness of life that our routines lead us away from what is most important. Let’s begin the fall reminding ourselves of these basic elements of a healthy faith.

Fall Programs Kick-Off This Sunday

Our Youth and Children's Programs will return. September 9th, 5:00-7:00 PM CELEBRATE (for children grades 1-5) will meet in the gym. SOLID (for youth grades 6-12) will meet in the Youth Room.

September 9th is also Parent's Night for SOLID. All parents are invited to join their youth as we catch a glimpse of this upcoming semester of SOLID and get the yearly overview of all our major trips and activities. Your presence is very important, so please make plans now to join us for this annual event.

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Thoughts… Rev. Mike Hunter Senior Minister

This last Friday, I was reminded all over again of the fall romance of King Football. As I arrived at the stadium, very early as officials are required to do, the excitement was already palatable. Everyone had such high expectations as the game neared. That “get’em next year“ moment was finally here!

I’ve been a player, though not a very good one in the gridiron of sports. I’ve coached all manner of activities and ministries with some success. I’ve been a member of the third rail of athletics for many years, officiating to make sure the game was fair and safe. It is always exciting to be a participant in the game.

Sometimes those participants wanted neither fair nor safe; a few brazen coaches, players and fans have dared even say so out loud. They wanted their “fair advantage”. They often become overtly vocal at the transgressions of the opponent, but eerily quiet when they foul. Most officiating from the stands is very one sided.

Sometimes the crowds didn’t or wouldn’t see what the officials saw. While some have protested to the contrary, I don’t believe an official or referee ever scored a touchdown, kicked a field goal or made a tackle. Some calls are unfortunate, occasionally mistaken, but the rest of life will have those unfortunate and mistaken moments, too. Try as we do, we cannot excise the unfairness of life from our living. We would do well to remember each game begins with a flip of a coin.

I’ve made many comparisons in my preaching to this other religion we have in Texas and most listening ears miss the point. The crowd of the congregation often mistakes themselves for the crowd of the grandstands. I keep preaching there are no bleachers in churches. Everything the church touches is fair game. Every person empowered to participate, each person a member of the body. I know it’s not exactly the language of team and football, but I’m certain each of us has our number called, if we truly are listening. Yes, you can choose to enter or not. But don’t blame the coach or officials if you refuse and wind up not liking the score. Arm-chair quarterbacks don’t really help their teams…and arm-chair officiating is even less helpful, in football, in church, and in life.

Football, to many, is worth all that watching. And yes, I’ve done my fair share of yelling at the teams and the zebra!

But a team of the faithful called church is worth being. There should be no bleachers in churches, and no arm-chair anything in matters of faith.

Find previous sermons on our website:

www.fccmidland.org

This Week’s Sermon

Warning! Practice Preaching Might Cause Side Effects

Mark 7:5-8, 24-37

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Musings… Rev. Cory Glover Associate Minister

Our secret is starting to get out…

Recently some of my friends in other denominations have recounted their church’s journey to weekly communion. They’ve found it to be life-giving, humbling, and attention focusing. They see the beauty in the mystery of the Table, the indescribable way that Christ’s real presence is felt there, and the tremendous

value of diverse individuals coming together around a common experience…

Sometimes, they are articulating what has been one of our best gifts better than we are. I am Disciple largely because of the Table, but the Table is not owned by us.

Episcopalians and Catholics have always had weekly communion. Presbyterians and Methodists typically share in the Lord’s Supper once a month. More Evangelical groups like Pentecostals and Baptists have only sparingly engaged in the Eucharist, roughly about four times per year. Until now. Recent statistics show that, in almost every possible way - politics, religious views, demographics, technology - our culture is more polarizing than ever, forcing us to be more individualistic and less communal.

One of the most attractive things about the Table for me...and for many of my friends...is the consistent reminder that I’m not the center of the universe. The world is not only full of people who are just like me...or think like me...or vote like me.

Coming to the Table, I meet the fullness of who God is and realize the incompleteness in myself. But more importantly, I have to open up to the other. I cannot come to the Table as an individual experience. It is one that must be shared. With someone. Probably someone very different from me. There is always room for one more there.

It’s obvious that people are hungry for this message.

How will you share it with someone this week?

Upcoming Youth EventsUpcoming Youth EventsUpcoming Youth EventsUpcoming Youth Events

• September 9 - Fall SOLID Kick-Off & Parent’s Night, 5-7PM, Youth Room

• September 18 - Open Gym Night, 7PM • October 7 - God in the Movies, 5-8PM

We hear you…that you cannot hear. Capital Project Continues…we promise.

Several of you have made comments about the sanctuary sound system in recent weeks. Several of our presenters from the lectern and communion table have been hard to hear and understand. WE KNOW. We have pushed the old system to the limits and are holding off making any patchwork and expensive changes while we wait on the Capital Project. The good news is that many subcontractors and vendors have been on campus the past ten days as a part of the bid process. We are

encouraged by the number of interested parties in our project and we are hopeful for competitive bids very soon. We appreciate your patience and hope you understand the uniqueness of the situation. We cannot make substantive changes to the sound system until the project commences. Some folks say the sound is better in certain sections. Try a new pew and pray and be patient. We are all looking forward to the day we can begin to move forward with the project. We hope and pray that day is soon.

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Birthdays

9/6 Robert Garrett Freda Benton 9/8 Mickey Pepper Hunter Kilborn 9/11 Ben Bradberry 9/12 Jakob Vines Heather Seerey Alyssa Hamilton 9/13 Melinda Beggs Kathleen Scarafile 9/14 Holly Witte

Memorial Food Pantry Focus Food

They still need peanut butter and protein! Put the food pantry on your grocery list!

As we have done all year, please help us collect protein (canned tuna, chicken, salmon, peanut

butter, beans) and bring it with you to worship on Sundays!

Annual Beans 'N Jeans Fund Raiser Benefitting the Memorial Food Pantry

September 23 • 6:00 pm Memorial Christian Church

The annual Beans 'N Jeans dinner benefiting the Memorial Food Pantry is right around the corner. This event is the major fundraiser for the regular pantry operations. The pantry has experienced increased requests this past year and has been able to supply adequate provisions for their clients; yet, the need continues to grow.

Please plan to join the fellowship, eat a bowl of beans & cornbread, and help a wonderful organization.

If you would like to help by donating items for dinner or the auction, please contact Peggy Jones (ddpaj@sbcglobal.net) or Mike Landrum (jmlandrum@earthlink.net).

Dinner 6 Groups Forming Now

Dinner 6 groups are now forming for the fall. This is a great way to get to know other church members in an informal meal setting. As a one-time host, you may choose to eat at your home or a restaurant. Please contact Jennifer Cooper at j.cooper@suddenlink.net if you would like to participate.

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Anniversaries

9/5 - Carl & Betty Rodgers 9/9 - Daniel & Patty Walsh 9/10 - Hank & Pat Kirk

Lectionary Scriptures

for the week of September 9, 2012

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, Psalm 125, Isaiah 35:4-7a,

Psalm 146, James 2:1-10, (11-13) 14-17,

Mark 7:24-37

Elder - On - Call

9/2 - 9/8 Kelly Cook

9/9 - 9/15

Mike Nance

9/16-9/22 Jo Sneed

Church Bulletin Board

Regional Assembly Coming in October

Bethany Christian Church in Odessa is the Host Location for West Texas. The event is free and you may register through the church office or online at http://ccswregionalassembly2012.eventbrite.com/ (password: Disciples of Christ). Here is the schedule overview: 3:30 p.m. Gathering & Registration at Host Locations 4:00 p.m. Music Begins 4:10 p.m. 2012 CCSW REGIONAL ASSEMBLY CALL TO ORDER 4:30 p.m. Worship begins Dr. Timothy C. Diebel, Preaching 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27 5:50 p.m. Prayer of Blessing for Leaders and Shared Meal 6:30 p.m. Dismissal Please let us know if you’d like to be a part of this event!

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Church Bulletin Board Adult Sunday School Studies

Mixed Blessings/Pairs & Spares Room 301 Topic: Sunday’s Scripture II Chronicles 7:14 Room 302 Genesis Room 304 Fellowship Room 307 Mike Hunter’s Class Montgomery Room

Children’s Activities for Sunday,

September 9, 2012

Sunday School We have Sunday School classes for preschool and elementary age children each week.

Children’s Church Please join us for a great time in Children’s Church this Sunday!

Bible Studies this Fall Several opportunities for Bible Study are available for this fall. Please take part as your interest and schedule allows.

Looking at Luke. Sunday mornings at 10am, Pastor Mike continues his walk through Luke, looking at the verses, in both the historical and contemporary setting. This week is Luke 17. Mustard seed imagery, the healing of ten lepers,

and words about the kingdom and its coming. Adults of all ages make up this class. E-notes are available.

Sunday evening study of John 21. Bill Bucy will lead a three week study of scripture beginning this Sunday, September 9. This class will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings in the Montgomery Room. Bill is a great student of scripture and history. Join us for this short course.

Leadership 101. Following our popular Disciple 101 series, this four week class on leadership will begin October 7. Mike will lead this class and be assisted by a panel of leaders and elders.

If you have other specific thoughts about potential classes you would like to see offered, please contact Mike. We will continue to add opportunities to our Bible Study offerings as interest and schedules allow.

Financial Update through 8/31/2012 for General Funds Income $446,796.01 Disbursements $481,266.07

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Website Don’t forget to check out our

website (www.fccmidland.org) for news, publications, and

previous sermons!

Prayer Room

Social Media

Become a friend of ours on Facebook and “Like” us.

Follow us on Twitter (@fccmidland)

E-mail Provider

Please be sure that your e-mail provider accepts e-mails from

fccmidland.org. We have had several e-mails sent

back to us, and solving the problem would help us get

accurate and up-to-date information to you.

Special Note: Prayer list names are renewed every three weeks as we seek to keep the list as current as possible and

allow space for new requests. Our joys, concerns

and deepest needs are already on God’s heart long before

we put them to paper.

…for your Father knows what

you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:8

Those in the hospital: H.G. Bedford - Senior Care Center Diane Bailey Fisher Those in need of prayer: Pat Pickle Ross Crawford Bruce Stanley Hazel Somerville Louise Jones Bill & Char Womack Judy Spruell Curtis Pechacek Those in extended/long term care: Blanche Alcorn Nancy Gill Dorothy Wadley Mary Jane Stobel Keith Somerville Clarese Gough - mother of Jeannie Gough & Janice Beckner Jerry Johnson Jackie Hanna Charlotte Millican Jerry Sloan Military: Trevor Forbes - son of Stephen & Betty Forbes Travis Zumwait - nephew of Stephen & Betty Forbes Van Forbes - nephew of Stephen & Betty Forbes Joe Henderson - son of Holly Moore Nicky Miller - son of Vicki Miller Damon Darnell - grandson of Floyd & Doris Miller

Bennett Dobbs - extended family of the Espino’s Eric Schuff - extended family of the Espino’s

Families/Friends beyond FCC: David Burns Wanda Taylor – friend of Sera Cranford Phyllis Knauff – aunt of Kristina Sandifer

Jo Smith – daughter-in-law of Donna Lathrop Jean Joiner – aunt of Mark Cranford Debbie Witcher – daughter of Mary Mauldin The Family of Jimmy Young - friend of Sara Cranford Melissa Thompson - daughter in law of Gary & Carol Thompson The Lynch Family Caleb Zuniga - Carl & Betty Rodgers Jim & Stacy Miller - Mary Miller Kay Wages - friend of Sara Cranford Dominguez Family - friends of Sara Cranford Kolby White Family - friend of Jean Ann Hettler Tom Hewitt - brother of Anne Schwiening Sherry Harrington - friend of Jake Spruell Clifton Carter - Sara Cranford Kim Walters - foster daughter of Diane Bailey Fisher Teena Atchley - friend of Kay Hill Families/Friends beyond FCC in long term care: Aline Collins - friend of Mary Anne Benton Frank Nix - friend of Bentons & Thompsons Stan Wigley & family - friends of LuAnn Morgan

Lori Hays - cousin of Mary Anne Benton Sonya Hopkins - friend of Kelley McCullough

For submission to prayer list contact any staff, submit via web, or e-mail

prayerchain@fccmidland.org

Chapel Lock Box Code #1301

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432-682-2541

online at: www.fccmidland.org September 5, 2012

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