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Sunday, December 4 ~ Chapter 9 ~ After settling in their new home, Israel quickly forgets God, the One who gave it to them. Around this time, a widow named Ruth moves to Israel with her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth was a foreigner – someone you’d expect to worship foreign gods – but Ruth leaves all that behind to follow Naomi and her God. In Ruth’s day widows had little going for them. God, however, has big plans for Ruth – plans that go beyond her wildest dreams… (from “The Story” Teen Edition)

When Your Mistakes Land You Before a Judge Many years ago, I attended basic training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. I had this idea that I could stay in the shadows and not get noticed by the drill sergeants. That didn't happen. I tried to go along with the flow, but always carried a small Bible in my side pocket, you know, for all the "hurry up and wait moments." A drill sergeant, who we all thought had small man syndrome, had it out for me!! Turns out, SHE hated Christians! Every time she saw me, she made my life as difficult as possible. One day, she got bold and tried forcing my hand to throw away my Bible. I wouldn't do it, and after she cursed every word in the book, the First Sergeant heard all the noise and called us into his office. A look of terror struck the eyes of my platoon. I know, because their eyes were staring right at me. In a moment of extreme bravery on my part, I led the way into the office. There before me was the most muscular, huge, colored man I have ever known. I felt like we were going before the judge in a court martial. After we each shared our side of the story, he pulled a Bible out of his side pocket and told her she would be dismissed from the army if she made another mention about my Bible. Judges elicit a sense of fear, don’t they? We think of them as someone who harshly tells us what we did wrong. And they seem to be everywhere these days on television. There’s Judge Judy and Hatchett. Mathis and Christina. And my favorite—Judge Brown. Then there are some judges you may not know. They even have a book in the Bible with their name on it. Judges. These judges appeared on the scene to help sort out right and wrong. They also helped people get out of trouble. God’s people kept putting themselves into a never-ending cycle of disobedience, discipline, declaration of wrong, and deliverance. Judges like Deborah and Gideon and Samson helped them find their way back to God. What did the people do that was so bad they needed judges? Two things. First, they failed to put God first in their lives (Judges 1:28). And secondly, they did not teach their children to know God (Judges 2:10). These two “sins” led to their downfall and ruin. Are you making the same mistakes they made? If so, you have a judge that can help you––Jesus. The good news is that when he “calls” you into his office after you’ve messed up, you will look up to see your Judge’s face and see your Savior there. Blessings, Chris

Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs.

8:00 a.m. ~ 12:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. ~ 4:30 p.m.

Closed Fri.

Christian Visitor Volume 69 ~ Issue 48 November 29, 2016

Church phone: 785-448-3452 Website: www.fccgarnett.org

Our Church Families Long Term: *Lois Gebert, *Clarence Hermann, *Jim Jordan, *Wilma McIntosh, *Nelda Potter, * Carol Richardson, *Ken McMillan, *CB & *Cheryl Harris November 27: Earl Peine & Whitney Peine, Morgan Hurt November 20: November 13: Larry & Waunita Porter (requested by Bob & Franque Meliza) Our Loved Ones in Care Centers Guest Home Estate - 806 West 4th Ave: Walt Wilcox, Vernon & Goldie Hunt, Ruth Gorrell, Robert Young Parkview Heights - 101 North Pine: Jean Brown, Olive Kline, Max Ratliff, Marcene Jasper, Jerry Gettler, Sr Residential Living Center - PO Box 407: Bill Young, Vera Wills (aunt of Phyllis Adams) ORV Manor – 1100 West 15th St - Ottawa, 66067: Ralph Hamilton (father of Leroy) Comfort Care Home - 27 E Rockwood Dr - Ottawa, KS 66067: Birdie Zentner Cimarron Nursing - 905 Beall Road - Kingfisher, OK 73750: Lois Miller Our Military, Veterans & Troops South Korea: Matthew Schryer - Grandson of Frieda Hurt - & nephew of Marcia Spring Air Force: Tim Greening, grandson of Twyla Duryea Our Extended Family & Friend *Long Term: *New Building Construction, * Shannon Garber, *All her family, (request by Wilma McIntosh), *Parker Monhollon (requested by Sandra Hamilton), *Steve Richardson (son of Reed & Carol), *Luke Rockers (son of Jody Cole), * Clarann Kempnich (request by Mary Hamilton), *Wayne Axtell (request by Nancy Horn); *the leaders of our country & *our veterans and troops and God Bless America! November 27 - Week 1: Chris (Good) Rockers (sister of Karen Brinkmeyer); Warren Black, Judy McArdle & Kathy Lindsay Nelson (all requested by Rosemary Turner); Becky Roush (requested by sister Carolyn Schuster and Carol Hermreck); John Hermreck & Sheryl Urquhart (requested by Carol Hermreck) and Nancy Lake and friend Mike (request by Gayla Corley) November 20 -Week 2: Doug Walsh (brother in law of Doug Linder); November 13 – Week 3: Chris Benjamin (son of Dan Benjamin), Tawanda Horvatic (Doug & Dawn Adams) Jerry Marshall (Sondra’s father) and Mark, Jeremy and Jimmy (sons) (request by Mark & Sondra Grieshaber)

Note: If you wish continued prayers please note that after weeks 3 your prayer request will be removed unless you write it on Sunday flap or by email. Thank you!

Let Us Pray: God, Bring clarity to our hearts and minds regarding any situation that requires our attention. Help us to respond with the appropriate action according to YOUR will. In Jesus name, Amen.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH CALENDAR EVENTS Monday, November 28: Christian Woodworkers: 8:30 a.m. ~

Darwin’s workshop/Contact Darwin Hamilton: 785-448-6526

Tuesday, November 29: Prayer Group: 6:30 p.m. ~ Annex ~

Contact Charlotte Cox ~ 785-448-3018

Wednesday, November 30: ROOTS: 5:30 p.m.: light meal /

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.: ROOTS Program ~ Fellowship Hall ~

Contact Brett Hartman ~ 620-215-1524

Thursday, December 1

1) Christian Crafters: 10:00 a.m. ~ Annex ~ Contact Connie Meyer ~ 913-919-7164

2) NO Ladies Bible Study until January Saturday, December 3: Men’s Breakfast: 7:00 a.m. ~

Fellowship Hall ~ Contact Burke Rogers ~ 448-5987

Sunday, December 4: 1) Finance Committee meet following 10:30 a.m.

Worship Services

2) Elders meet 5:00 p.m. ~ Board meets 6:00 p.m. ~

Church Annex

3) Legacy Youth Group – meet 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Monday, December 5: Christian Woodworkers: 8:30 a.m. ~

Darwin’s workshop/Contact Darwin Hamilton: 785-448-6526

Tuesday, December 6: Prayer Group: 6:30 p.m. ~ Annex ~

Contact Charlotte Cox ~ 785-448-3018

Wednesday, December 7: ROOTS: 5:30 p.m.: light meal /

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.: ROOTS Program ~ Fellowship Hall ~

Contact Brett Hartman ~ 620-215-1524

Thursday, December 8

1) Christian Crafters: 10:00 a.m. ~ Annex ~ Contact Connie Meyer ~ 913-919-7164

2) NO Ladies Bible Study until January

Saturday, December 10: Men’s Breakfast: 7:00 a.m. ~

Fellowship Hall ~ Contact Burke Rogers ~ 448-5987

Sunday, December 11:

1) Pastoring Committee meet following 10:30 a.m.

Worship Services

2) Christmas Program & Tasters Party ~ 5:30 p.m.

3) NO Legacy Youth Group due to Christmas Party

Reminders for Serving December 4, 2016

December Deacons: Greg Gwin, Leroy Hamiltin, Jason Miller, Nate Wiehl, Dane Byerley, Jonathan Born Communion Preparation Leroy & Sandra Hamilton Communion Elder: Gene Watson Offertory Elder: Larry Varvel Deacon Usher: Mike Zentner Communion to Shut Ins Elder: Jason Sjorlund Deacon: Craig Cole

8am Worship Audio/Visual unknown ~ Cheryl Vavel Pianist / Organist Nancy Horn ~ Vicki Hulett 10:30 am Worship Audio/Visual Jonathan Born ~ Justin Thompson Pianist: Doris Wilson Instrumentals / Song Leaders The Worship Team Greeters Rosemary Turner ~ Diana Knox Doug & Connie Meyer

November 2016 Attendance Records Sunday 8:00a.m. 10:30 a.m. School Worship Worship

November 27 74 68 168

OPPORTUNITY CLASS: Continued prayers requested for Clarann Kempnich, Nelda Potter, Luke Rockers, Betty Penn, Marie Donaldson & Darwin Hamilton. SOS Class: There were 17 members present Sunday and 4 guests, Holly Meliza with her dad Bob Meliza and Betty Sumner, Alice Leim and Ruth Allen from the Opportunity Class join them. They had five daily readers and 14 with Bibles. Prayers requested for Rusty Coons and Madison, the seven year old great granddaughter of Loydene West. PRAISES: Family gatherings for Thanksgiving. Burke Rogers opened with prayer and led the lesson on Chapter 8 of “The Story.” The class closed with prayer. REMINDER: Opal Meyers Services will be Thursday, December 1 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church.

WELCOME TO FCC

COME AS GUESTS…

AND LEAVE AS FRIENDS…

Our Prayer for You… May you have a beautiful day! May you share love & laughter,

with family and friends and May the Lord be present to

keep you safe. Amen

John & Sharon Pruett, daughter and son-in-law of George & Jeanine Zentner

Branden Hutchison, grandson of Tim & Tammy Clark

Tony, John, Hannah, Sierra, Clara, Ryker & Cody guests of Sondra Grieshaber

Levi Reynolds guest of Jon Adams

Holly Meliza daughter of Bob Meliza

Ben & Brenna Graver, Eddie, Audrey, Bailey, Lily & Allie of Garnett

Brian & Erin Shelton, Abby & Eli family of Butch & Sharon Rocker

Colwyn Cadwallader & Abbie Tucker guests of Charles & Becky Allen

General Fund Offering November 27 ~ $3032 To Date ~ $17488 New Building Fund Offering November 27 ~ $1105 To Date ~ $12239 FCC “Family Life Center” Growth Chart New Building Addition ~ $977,269 Paid to Contractor ~ $211,423 Yet to be paid on Contract ~ $765,846 Current Cash in NBF ~ $554,646 Pledges yet to be received ~ $67,363 Prospective shortfall $143,837 (This does not include expense to remodel existing Fellowship Hall.)

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL REPORT

Revised December Birthday List

Dec. 2 - Marcia Spring Dec. 4 - Ruth Allen

Jacob Anderegg Dec. 5 - Jason Miller Dec. 6 - Vickki Mundy Dec. 7 - June Cooper

Ruth Peine Dec. 8 - Tanner Wilson Dec. 10 – Nicole Born Frieda Hurt Dec. 11 - Darren Simpson Dec. 14 - Ruby Schuster Marsha Dulin Dec. 16 - Jody Cole Dec. 18 - Greg Gwin Janice Tush

Mary Graham Dec. 19 - Cheryl Varvel Donna Williams Dec. 20 - Joan Simpson Dec. 24 - Clarence Hermann Dec. 25 - Connie Meyer Dec. 26 - Pete Sumner Jaxcen Farren Dec. 27 - Lois Gebert Charles Allen Brook Hughes

Our Deepest Sympathy to the family of our dear friend Opal Mae Meyers, age 90, of Garnett, KS who passed away on Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at Estar Hospital in Muskogee, OK. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her loved ones, as they go through this time.

THE MITTEN TREE 2016: FCC often encounters needs in the winter to help people stay warm. As tradition we are collecting hats, scarves, mittens, gloves and socks for ECKAN. The “Mitten Tree” is located in the overflow room for you to place your items.

THE MEMORY TREE 2016: FCC Family desires that you are not alone in the loss of your loved ones. We have a Memory Tree in the sanctuary that serves as a memorial of your loss. If you have a person in your family who has passed away in 2016 and you’d like an ornament placed on the tree in their memory, please let us know by placing the name on the flap on the Sunday Church Bulletin or contact Marsha Dulin in the church office at 785-448-3452. Please submit your loved one’s name on or before December 18 so Paula Sjorlund has time to make them. After Christmas we strongly encourage that you pick up your special hand-made ornament for your own Christmas tree in years to come.

May God bless and give them the comfort they need now. The family will greet friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett. The Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2016, at the First Christian Church in Garnett, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Garnett Cemetery.

A Hugh Thank you goes out to Mike Zentner and Dan Dulin for all the behind the scenes jobs that they do…Next time you see them go up and shake their hand and say…Good Job!

We collected 183 mittens, hats, carves, throws and socks and throw blankets for those in need last year. We thank you all for your heartfelt generosity & donations for this great need. Warm hearts helped to warm many hands, heads and feet last winter!!

FCC’ S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM AND TASTERS PARTY Please come and join us for our Annual Christmas Program and Tasters Party at FCC. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 11.

We hope you have had a great Thanksgiving! Now it is time for Christmas! This year with the building and all the chaos around FCC we have had to make a few small alterations to our services. December 4th FCC Decorates the Chrismon Tree & Lighing of the First Advent Candle December 11th Lighting of the Second Advent Candle & FCC Children’s Program/Tasters Party December 18th Lighting of the Third Advent Candle December 24th Christmas Eve Services at 4:00 pm (Traditional) & 6:00 pm (Blended) Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle December 25th Christmas: Donut Fellowship at 9:30 am and 1 Family Service at 10:00 am & the Lighting of the Fifth Advent Candle

DO YOU NEED SOME HAND CRAFTED GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR? The Christian Crafters will be having their annual Christmas Craft sale at Parkside Place 2 on December 3rd from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

We will also have a table at the Holiday Boutique on Sunday, December 4th at the Kirk House from noon to 4 pm. We have hand embroidered towels and quilts, crocheted and hand sewn items to choose from. Please come support the Crafters. Money earned from these sales will be donated back to the church or other charitable causes. The ladies who put in many hours working on the items are: Sandi Howery, Oneda Grimes, Alice Valentine, Alice Chase, Shirley Modlin, Loydene West, Jayne Miller, Joyce Buckley, Evelyn Fisher, Gail Watson, Mickie Palacios and Connie Meyer. If you are interested in joining us, we meet on Thursday mornings from 10-12 at the Annex. Please contact Connie Meyer with any questions about the sale or joining the Crafters (913-909-7164).

The Christmas Program will be held in the Sanctuary and the YUMMY Tasters Party will be held in the Fellowship Hall directly following the program. Please bring a favorite finger food (cookies, candy, cheese and crackers etc.) to share with us in the joy of the Christmas Season. It will be an enjoyable evening to share with family and friends.

Hey everybody! I have a couple of announcements for all of you…

Wednesday, November 30th, 5:30pm we will have Roots! Our last entry in the visitor said we weren’t going to have it, but we really are, so bring your students here to have fun!

Sunday, December 4th, 5:00pm-we will be going up to Ottawa, KS, for the living Nativity Scene,

Sunday, December 11th- we are having our Christmas Pageant/Tasters Party! If your student is involved in the pageant, we NEED THEM AT THE CHURCH AT 2PM.

Thank you everybody for all that you do, we couldn’t do it without you!!!

Brett Youth and Children’s Pastor

Our FCC Christian Wood Workers are busy at it again!! I have a feeling that Santa may be contacting Darwin Hamilton with a contract for services! They have worked so hard the last few months and have created 736 items to take to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO. They trace, cut, sand and deliver all these items to the hospital for the children. 306 items were Christmas ornaments that can be painted by the children in the hospital. I know that Children’s Mercy greatly appreciates this ministry and so do we! Darwin we appreciate you leading and all the many hours your team has given to make this possible!

New Year’s EVE EVE: Wanted to let you guys know that there will be a change in this years New Years Celebration. This year we are going to be having a New Year’s EVE EVE celebration on Friday & Saturday, December 30th—31st. The reason that we will not be celebrating on the actual eve of New Years is because other churches from Hidden Haven will be celebrating with us and many of the Youth Pastors have to preach on Sunday of New Year’s Day. Also Eric, the Hidden Haven camp manager will be also be gone on vacation that week and camp policy states that if the camp manager isn’t present, no event can take place on HHCC premises. So that is why we are going to have the New Year’s EVE EVE party at the Thayer Christian Church. Meet here at FCC at 5:30pm, Friday, December 30th and we will leave shortly for Thayer Christian Church. Schedule for the New Year’s EVE EVE Party:

When: 5:30pm – Friday, December 30th - 8:30am December 31st

(event is from 7pm-7am at Thayer) ~ (Note: 5:30pm -8:30am includes driving time)

Where: Thayer Christian Church

Who: Junior High and High School students

What for: celebrating the new year!!!

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH ELDERS Roger Adams: 448-8172 *Kevin Lewis: 204-2257 Doug Meyer: 913-909-7680 Jason Sjorlund: 448-7660 Steve Spring: 448-2491 Larry Varvel: 448-5794 Gene Watson: 408-205-3635

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH DEACONS Ron Anderegg: 448-6366 Jonathan Born: 620-340-7784 Dane Byerley: 785-304-2831 *Cody Clark: 448-8093 Craig Cole: 448-4504 Gaylon Corley: 448-8373 James Dodd: 785-418-5479 Jeff Finn: 620-431-8486 Greg Gwin: 229-5105 Leroy Hamilton: 204-2162 Aaron Hedrick 304-1236 Jason Miller: 448-7110 Earl Peine: 448-6186 Nathan Wiehl: 204-2178 Lynn Wilson 448-3451 Mike Zentner: 204-1105

PASTORS AND SECRETARY Chris Goetz Senior Pastor: Phone: 503-474-7965 ~ Email: chris@fccgarnett.org

Brett Hartman Children & Youth: Phone: 620-215-1524 ~ Email: brett@fccgarnett.org Secretary: Marsha Dulin ~ Phone: 785-448-4367 ~ Email: marsha@fccgarnett.org