The Christian Builder January 12, 2017

A weekly publication of First Christian Church Midland Volume 61 No. 2

Sunday, January 15 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship 5pm CELEBRATE 5pm SOLID

Monday, January 16 Martin Luther King Day Church Office Closed

Tuesday, January 17 1215 pm Food Pantry Stocking 7:30pm Boy Scouts Rm 105

Wednesday, January 18 7am Men’s Prayer Breakfast 12:30pm Food Pantry 6pm Board Meeting 6:30pm Deacon/Server Training 7pm Choir Rehearsal Thursday, January 19 6pm Ladies Night Out

Sunday, January 22 Congregational Meeting Both Services 9am Contemporary Worship 11am Traditional Worship 5pm CELEBRATE 5pm SOLID 5pm Stephens Ministry

www.fccmidland.org ● 1301 W. Louisiana Ave., Midland, Texas 79701 ● 432.682.2541 CHURCH CALENDAR

It takes great effort, vigilant leadership, and at times good, old-fashioned goading to keep a movement moving.

Andy Stanley Deep and Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend

I read this quote to staff on Monday during our morning devotional. We followed up by celebrating the great efforts in recent months of members and staff, lay and

clergy leadership, all working together for the great work our church continues to engage.

And at the same time we acknowledged it takes great effort. We do not “arrive” at a success that requires no further working. Keeping a movement moving is great work.

We shouldn’t apologize for that. We individually know this is true in our own lives. Good marriages require ongoing work and development. Great parents have to work at it every day, even overcome momentary hardships. Creative minds are never satisfied with the last success, they press on.

Growing churches keep growing. That’s the only way they keep growing.

And the same is true of our individual spiritual development.

Coasting never maintains position or altitude. Coasting diminishes pace, glides downhill, and ultimately resolves to a stop, often a dead one.

We’ve just completed one of the most successful years in FCC history. Almost triple digit new members, generous donations, new ministries initiated, others received from external sources, and most of our historic ministries strong and vibrant.

We did not get here by coasting. We’ve worked hard to get this movement moving in the moment.

Thank you for all you are doing! Your spirit, attendance, giving and service is all very contagious. Energy begets energy.

May we continue to live in that Holy tension between a desire to stay comfortable and the call and cost of embracing God’s kingdom.

Where have you seen God this week? This was a lesson shared in worship last week from those who experienced the youth ski trip. They question is not just for them…it is for all of us.

Where have you seen God? Who have you told? How are you keeping the movement, moving, in you?

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Bible Study

Topic

Baptism: History, meaning and practice

Leader: Rev. Mike Hunter

This Week’s Sermon

New Year, Same Promises-Two

Scripture Matthew 4:18-20

Matthew 5:3-9

Thoughts… Rev. Mike Hunter Senior Minister

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Adult Sunday School Studies

Mixed Blessings - Room 102 Leader: Dave Burgard

2 Chronicles 7:14 - Library Topic: I Know His Name: Discovering the Power in the Names of God Leader: Members of the Class

Genesis - Parlor Topic: Moses: The Murderer God Used Scripture: Exodus 2:11-25 Leader: Tom Jones

Fellowship - Room 307 Topic: The New Jerusalem: Life in the City Scripture: Revelation 21:22-22:5 Leader: Jim Mauldin

Young Disciples-Room 106 Topic: Experiencing God Scripture: Introduction Leader: Paula Brooks

Children’s Activities

Sunday School

Lesson: Miracles of Jesus

Children’s Church

Topic: Miracle at Cana

CELEBRATE

Sunday, January 15 5-7pm Grades K-5

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Visitors January 8, 2017

Sunday Attendance January 8, 2017

Worship

Traditional 216 Children’s Church 19

Nursery 4 Total 239

Disciples Food Pantry January 4, 2017

Families served 106 Total People 437

We continue to rejoice that Resources for this ministry

Are available

Glen & Chandler Carter Chaney Coffman Crawford Family Sandy Emmerson

Ethan Gibbons Giese Family Emily Glover Russell Hill

Elizabeth Huff Stephen & Rose Huskey

Johnson Family Nicole & Joey Lipnick

Deborah Lucas Kubacak Family Amparo Olguin

David & Terry Perry Yvonne Perry

Pruessner Family Martin & Cheryl Ramirez

Nic & Aidan Ramsey

Are you longing for an intimate and personal relationship with God?

Do you have a deep hunger in your heart to know and do God’s will?

Beginning Sunday, the Young Disciples Sunday School Class will be starting a new study. The study is entitled Experiencing God by Henry and Richard Blackaby. As I begin to prepare for this class, I came across an interesting paragraph that caused me to stop and think.

“There are far too many people who settle for practicing a sterile religion rather than enjoying a growing, vibrant, personal relationship with the living God.”

The purpose of this study is to guide/direct those who participate to come to a better understanding of the claim that God has placed on our lives as well as deepen and strengthen our relationship with God, and striving to make that relationship more personal.

We need to understand that God is not a concept or a doctrine. God seeks, longs for, a close one on one relationship with each one of His children.

The essence of eternal life and the heart of this study is for us to personally know God and Jesus Christ. Knowing God does not come through a program, a study, or a method even though these things help to build that relationship. Fully knowing God comes from a vibrant, growing, one-on-one relationship with Him.

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance” (John 10:10). Would you like to experience life in its fullest and richest dimensions? You may, if you are willing to respond to God’s invitation to enjoy an intimate love relationship with Him.

Are you longing for an intimate and personal relationship with God?

Do you have a deep hunger in your heart to know and do God’s will?

If so, I invite you to come and join us beginning this Sunday morning as we strive to deepen and grow our personal relationship with God. The Young Disciples class meets in room 106 just inside the courtyard. Hope to see you!

In loving partnership,

Ponderings… Rev. Paula Brooks Associate Minister

Church Bulletin Board Lectionary Scriptures

January 15 Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 40:1-11

1 Corinthians 1:1-9 John 1:29-42

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Elder - On Call

1/8-1/15 Jana Floyd 1/15-1/22 Dave Burgard

Online Giving

You can now give to FCC through our website! You can make a one-time donation, pay the fees for a children's or youth event, or set up recurring donations. Online giving is convenient, safe, easy to track, and easy to schedule on a regular basis.

On Sunday, January 8, we had our first Stephen Ministry Training with 15 people in attendance. They have met 2 hours out of 50 hours of training required.

If you would like to be a part of this special ministry it’s not too late. Each training session will be recorded and you can get a copy of the 1st session by calling the church office. Our next training will be Sunday, January 22 from 5-7pm in the Montgomery Room. If you would like to attend, please contact Paula Brooks, Mike Hunter or Tom Jones.

Special Needs Ministry Revived

For the past couple of months our special needs ministry on Sunday morning has been revived!

Each Sunday morning during our 11am worship hour we are offering a class for children with special needs. The purpose for this ministry is for those with special needs to feel a part of our church family and to build their faith foundation in a way that helps them to know how much God loves them.

The class is staffed with a leader and a volunteer. This is a wonderful ministry to offer to those families who have children with special needs. Not only will you be a blessing to all that participate but you will be blessed as well. If you would like to be a part of this ministry in being a leader or a helper, please contact Paula Brooks for more information.

Gifts received for Benevolence Fund in Memory of:

Mary Ellis Erlene Thomas

Bill Bucy Doris Miller

Ruth Clemmer (sister of Joy Singleton)

Disciples Food Pantry in Memory of: Ed Buie

Building Fund in Memory of: Ed Buie

Davis Scholarship in Memory of: Dorothy L. Davis

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Up & Coming Children’s Activities

Friday, January 13

Boys Night Out (grades K-5) 6-8pm

Saturday, January 14

Little Playdates (Preschool) 10-11:30am

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (grades K-2) 1-2:30pm

Sunday, January 15

CELEBRATE (Grades K-5) 5-7pm

Can you believe a new year is here? We

are so blessed everyone is back and

ready to learn and have fun for the

Spring Semester.

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Special Notes: 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

Prayers & Praises Those in need of prayer: Ray & Doris Stewart Robert Crudgington Dolores Hodges Clint Hurst Roberta Hurt Bill Schneider Sheila Crudgington Bill Griffin Johnny Espino Doris Stewart Mary Mauldin George Head Bruce Stanley Bill & Char Womack

Military: Joe Henderson - son of Holly Moore Nicky Miller - son of Vicki Miller Kinder McCullough-daughter of Bill & Kelley McCullough Melissa Bianchi-daughter of Andrew Bianchi/Serving at Guantanamo Bay

Families/Friends beyond FCC: Family of George Capps – cousin of Sara Cranford Cindy Singleton-Sister-In –Law of Mary Hurst Mary Elizabeth Droddy - sister of Sara Cranford Jim Truitt- friend of Peggy Jones Bill Bowlin – brother of Mary Lightfoot Ray Ann Zant-Sister to Lyn Brown & Freda Kinsey Joann Scott – mother of Carol Thompson Alma Thompson – mother of Gary Thompson Will Wright- nephew of Joe Wright Ferell Powell- friend of Sharon & Bill Boyd Dianna Dickey-cousin of Sherry Ladd Linda Odell-mother of Jeweli Flores Jessa Davis – grand daughter of Nell Coats Herb Miller – Disciples Minister known to many Vickie Williams & Family – Bea Lea Somerville Dustin Davis – grandson of Nell Coats Richard Smith – son-in-law of Ray Stewart Marcia Chandler – friend of Ray Stewart Melissa Thompson – daughter-in-law of Gary & Carol Thompson Ed Shelton – nephew of Scotty Alcorn Joe Langford – father of Carol Cook Martha Pollock – friend of Sara Cranford Please inform the church office if you or a loved one are admitted into a hospital, so we may be there for you & your family. For submission to prayer list contact any staff, submit via web, or e-mail prayerchain@fccmidland.org

1/25 Justin & Lauren Disney

1/10 J.R. Bourland

1/10 Jake Spruell

1/10 Ray Berry

1/11 Karen Pittinger

1/13 Martha Petraitis

1/13 Virgie Lewis

1/14 Ed Hall

1/14 Brandy Woods

1/14 Elizabeth Williams

1/18 Todd Wells

1/19 Lillian Magee

1/19 Jarvis Salmon

1/20 Charla Espino

1/20 Leland Franz

1/21 Jerry Floyd

1/21 Wayne Young

1/21 Brooks Womack

1/23 Anna Mae Franz

1/23 Jon Aaron House

The Christian Builder

First Christian Church 1301 W. Louisiana Ave. Midland, TX 79701

432.682.2541 www.fccmidland.org January 12, 2017 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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