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

432-682-2541

online at: www.fccmidland.org December 22, 2010

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From the First Christian Church Staff

Mike, Paula, Cory, Mary, Martha,

Dorothy, Katie, Willie, Josefina & Dawn

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

The Christian Builder

December 22, 2010 A weekly publication of

First Christian Church Midland Volume 54 No.55

Church Calendar

Sunday, December 26 10:00am Sunday School 11:00am Combined Worship Monday, December 27 Church Office Closed Tuesday, December 28 7:00pm PDAP 7:30pm Boy Scouts Wednesday, December 29 7:00am Men’s Prayer Breakfast (Rm.101)

Friday, December 31 Church Office Closed 5:30pm Children’s Christmas Eve Service 11:00pm Candlelight Christmas Eve Service Saturday, January 1, 2011 Happy New Year!!! Sunday, January 2 10:00am Sunday School-all ages 11:00am Combined Worship

Please join us for our Christmas Eve Services

December 24, 2010

Children’s Service

5:30pm

Sanctuary

Candlelight Service

11:00pm

Sanctuary

Communion will be at both services

Holiday Office Hours Offices are closed on

Christmas Eve (Friday 24th), Monday the 27th, and

New Years Eve (Friday 31st)

Page 2 The Builder, First Christian Church

Thoughts… Rev. Mike Hunter Senior Minister

This Week’s Sermon: “Keeping the Cries in Christmas”

Matthew 2:12-23

The past is not our standard. It is not the test of whether something is right or good. But it's also not an albatross we need to shuck off as quickly as possible. The past is our constant companion. It is always with us. The question is what do we do with it -

- return to it, let it rule, or take its best efforts ...with us into the future? Doug Pagitt, Church In The Inventive Age

Rev. Pagitt’s quote and the complexities of Advent are at the front of my mind today. As I write this column Christmas Day is just five days away, closer by the time you receive this Builder. Our Advent, in many ways has gone very well. We have presented and enjoyed outstanding music. Our Outreach ministries have grown and touched many lives: 42 recipients of our Chalice Fund gifts, 2570 pounds of food donated through the year to the Memorial Food Pantry, all of our homebound members visited through the Concerns Ministry, and blood drives this year totaled 35 units, and according to blood services folks helped save 105 lives. We turned our courtyard last Wednesday into Bethlehem long ago and told the story of Christmas to scores of children. These are just some of the ways we have reached out in our community.

Each week in worship families have shared around the Advent wreath their important remembrances. We have laughed together and cried together. We’ve counted the days and remembered the past. We’ve done all of this very well and should be pleased with our efforts. I want to thank all of you for your service and dedication. Your gifts are important to me.

Many of you have already scattered for the holidays. I am still trying to adjust to the transient nature of our community at holidays and holy days. As you gather with family and enjoy the last few days of this important season I want to ask you to ponder and pray about our future. Our past and our future are not mutually exclusive. I guess that is why I like Pagitt’s quote. To plan the future is not to eliminate the past. The question is what do we do with it -- return to it, let it rule, or take its best efforts ...with us into the future? As I look forward into 2011 I think we have three options. Return to the past, let the past rule, or take the past’s best efforts with us into the future.

Taking our best past efforts forward is the very conversation I want to have with this congregation between now and Lent. I hope you will be open and honest and an active participant in the conversation.

But for now, it is time for Christmas. I hope to see many of you on Christmas Eve. It would be a great gift to see you there, gathered with your church family.

The sermons are available online at www.fccmidland.org

Birthdays

Kathy Garcia 12/22

Clarese Gough

12/23

Janice Courtney 12/23

Sara Cranford

12/23

Mike Hunter 12/25

Neil Howard

12/25

Scott Harguess 12/25

Braden Vines

12/29

Cinnimon Stanford 12/29

Frank Singleton

12/30

Pat Estes 12/30

Gary Arnett Austella Berry Ray Berry Andrew Bianchi Cheba Bianchi Paula Brooks Dave Burgard Donna Campbell Joe Campbell George Cooper Jennifer Cooper Vera Cowley Lillian Cranford Dave Cromwell Sarah Esquivel

Page 7 The Builder, First Christian Church

The Prayer Room

THANK YOU It was a beautiful night to be in Bethlehem. The city was bustling with many vendors and many visitors. The shepherd told all that he had seen the Christ Child, the Baby Jesus. The little stable outside the city gates shone from the brightness of the star over its roof, and Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus were visited by many. “Night in Bethlehem” would have never been possible without the following people. Thanks to:

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas, Brenda Morris

Emily Fentem Martha Fentem Jana Floyd Jerry Floyd Hill Glover Brittney Gordon Courtney Gordon Maria Howard Neil Howard Rachel Howard Mike Hunter Clint Hurst Mary Hurst Meta Jones Sarah Jones

Tom Jones Hunter Kilborn Mary Lightfoot Angela Mainwaring Ingrid Miller Tim Miller Jim Morris Dan O’Grady Mike Petraitis Martha Petraitis Nathan Petraitis Jo Sneed Ken Sneed Mike Stephenson Steve Vaughan Elizabeth Williams

Memorials to General Fund in Memory of: Barbara Farris, Tip Branch, Rosa Lee Cook, and Clarence Sloan

Memorials to Endowment Fund in Memory of: Juanita Potter, Tom Potter, Sr., and Tom Potter, Jr.

Concerns Among Our Church Family & Beyond

Who have lost a loved one: The Family of Jimmie Lee Wright

(mother of Joe Wright) The Family of Rudy Berg

(father of Patti Heard) In the hospital:

Gwen Gibson (Manor Park-Rehab))

In need of prayer: Vision Task Force Committee

Cindy Singleton Brittney & Courtney Gordon

Jerry Johnson Mike & Brenda Nance

Mark Cranford

In extended /long term care: Joe Brittain

H. G. Bedford Nancy Gill

Jackie Hanna Jean Pierce

Nancy McKinley Keith Somerville

Mary Jane Strobel Clarese Gough Bea Wiley Pat Faulkner Jerry Sloan

In the service: Damon Darnell

Nicky Miller

Families/Friends beyond FCC: Jessica McColloch

Kassie Phifer Emily & Eric Baker

Kian Thoma & Family Todd & Misty Henderson

Jim Bone Kimbra Thomas

Sandy Furin Kayla Hambrick

K.C. Orren Katie Henderson Bryan Foreman

Zach Kilborn & Shawna Tomlin Samantha & Samuel Robledo

Martha Capps Nathan Platte & Family

Connie Carlisle Sean Hancock

Jackson Williams Johnny Midkiff & Family

Sandy Davis Families/Friends beyond FCC in long term

care: Keith Dial, Jr. Monte Hewitt Sonya Hopkins Jered Groner Fayrene Holt

Frankie Espino Michael Castillo

“Gracious God, hold each one and their fami-lies in the hollow of Your hand.

Surround them, fill them with the presence and healing touch of Your Holy Spirit.

In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN”

Page 6 The Builder, First Christian Church

Church Bulletin Board

Adult Sunday School Studies

Young Adults Room 103 Leader: Maria Howard & Jim Reynolds Topic of Study: The Exodus

Mixed Blessings Room 301 Leader: Bill Bucy Topic of Study: A study of Sunday’s scripture

II Chronicles 7:14 Room 301 Leader: Members of the Class Topic of Study: Colossians

Pairs and Spares Room 303 Leader: Tom Hill Topic of Study: Science and Religion

Genesis Room 304 Leader: Jean Ann Hettler Topic of Study: Comparing the Accounts of Christ’s birth in the gospels

Fellowship Room 307 Leader: Loren Stiles Topic of Study: Study of the Book of Revelation

Koinonia Room 308 Leader: Members of the Class Topic of Study: A study/review of the book 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper

Children’s Sunday School Studies

January 2 “Joseph Takes His Family to Safety in Egypt” Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23 Bible Point: God guides us

January 9 “Jesus is Baptized” Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17 Bible Point: Jesus is God’s Son

January 16 “Peter & Andrew Meet Jesus” Scripture: John 1:35-42 Bible Point: Get to Know Jesus

January 23 “News About Jesus Spreads” Scripture: Matthew 4:12-25 Bible Point: Jesus wants everyone to come to Him

January 30 “Jesus Gives the Beatitudes” Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12 Bible Point: The right attitudes please God

YEAR END REMINDER Please note: Offerings for 2010 MUST be in the church office, or post-marked by December 31, 2010.

To ensure the deductibility of your church contributions, please do not file 2010 Income tax returns until you have received your contributions statements from the church. Year end contribution statements will be mailed to all contributing members by January 31, 2011. Please note the church office will be closed on December 31st.

FOOD DRIVE TOTALS Spring - 445 pounds Fall - 1050 pounds

Winter - 1075 pounds Total - 2570 pounds

Our Deepest Sympathies

We extend our heart felt sympathies and prayers to the following families who have recently lost a loved one.

The Family of Jimmie Lee Wright – Jimmie Lee passed away on Thursday, December 16, 2010 in Beaumont, TX. A memorial service in celebration of her life was held on Saturday, December 18, 2010 in Beaumont. Jimmie Lee was the mother of Joe Wright and the grandmother of Matt, Katie, Hannah & Mollie Wright.

The Family of Rudy Berg – Rudy passed away on Friday, December 17, 2010 here in Midland. A memorial service in celebration of his life was held on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 here at First Christian Church. Rudy was the father of Patti Heard.

“With the peace and grace of Christ, may the Spirit of God gently enfold all those who sorrow.”

Page 3 The Builder, First Christian Church

Musings… Rev. Cory Glover Associate Minister

Upcoming Youth Events:

January 7th-9th, 2011 - CYF Mid-Winter @ LBCR

$75 if registered by Dec 26th $85 after Dec 26th

January 9th Next payment due for Winter Retreat: $150

Mandatory Meeting for all Winter Retreat participants at 5:00pm in the Youth Room

In a few days, we will be celebrating the New Year.

Whether or not you’ve already made your New Year’s resolutions, this time of the year affords

us all the opportunity of rounding a corner…of turning over a new leaf. We can enter the year 2011 with a sense of optimism in making a new beginning.

This possibility is really a celebration of the hope (and the accompanying peace, joy and love) that we anticipated in Advent and celebrated at Christmas.

So, in addition to our promises of eating better, exercising more, or get-ting back in touch with that old friend, let us consider what a spiritual new beginning might look like:

Are we living the life God desires?

Are we experiencing the abundant life that Jesus teaches about and the resurrection life that Paul advocates?

Are we making an impact on the people around us?

2 Corinthians 5:14-19 (The Message) “Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own. Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.”

God is a God of new beginnings and fresh starts.

And, as they say, there’s no time like the present…

Happy New Year!

Anniversaries

Jed & Patti Heard 12/23

George & Dee Head

12/23

Doc & Charlsye Dodson 12/26

Nick & Kathleen Scarafile

12/26

David & Peggy Davis 12/27

Gary & Janice Beckner

12/30

Clay & Heather Smith 1/1

Press & Suzette Gill

1/3

Morris & Pamala Vannoy 1/5

Steven & Sandra Lawlis

1/7

Greg & Mary Anne Benton 1/12

John & Linda Hicks

1/22

Mickey & Darla Pepper 1/29

Gene & Mary Laughlin

1/30

Page 4 The Builder, First Christian Church

Ponderings… Rev. Paula Brooks Associate Minister

Elder - On - Call

12/19-12/25 Fred Schwiening

12/26-1/1/2011 Twana Evers

1/2-1/9 Meta Jones

Visitors Corner December 19, 2010

Garry Arnett The Burns Family Suzanne Gonzalez

Emily Hinton Angela Mainwaring

A.J. Weatherl

Lectionary Scriptures

for the week of December 26, 2010

Isaiah 63:7-9 Psalm 148

Hebrews 2:10-18 Matthew 2:13-23

A special invitation to children of all ages and

their families:

Please join us on Christmas Eve for a very special Children’s Christmas

Eve Service!

Friday, December 24, 2010 at 5:30 pm

Come and join us in the Sanctuary of First Christian

Church as we gather to celebrate the birth of the

Christ Child.

Come and hear the story of Jesus’ birth as it is shared.

Come and experience a special moment as we prepare

our hearts to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Page 5 The Builder, First Christian Church

Church Bulletin Board Please send your announcements to Katie by 5 PM on Mondays.

Serving Schedule Sunday, December 26

Communion Captain Sandy Faulkner

Elders and Greeters Erich Hardaway

Carol Cook

Diaconate Damon Vanley

Leslie Vines Cathie Windle

Peggy Davis Beverly Drummond Gene Drummond

Ginny Estes

Homebound Captain Sandy Faulkner

Homebound Fred Schwiening Sandy Faulkner

Twana Evers Tommy Hawkins

Beau Estes Barbara Estes

If you are unable to serve this Sunday, please find a replacement and

contact the Communion Captain or Homebound Coordinator.

Thank you.

New Adult SS Class to Begin January 16

Pastor Mike will be the lead teacher for a new class that will begin January 16. The first lesson series will be What the Bible says about Leadership. After the class has a few weeks to form, the group will help shape the content of future sessions. Expect another Disciple 101 series with new topics for Lent, but this new class will be a

permanent addition to our adult class lineup.

For adults new to the church or those who do not have a SS class home, plan to visit the new, yet unnamed, class. Lesson notes will be available soon. If you are interested, please give your name and email address to the church office and you will begin receiving information about this new class.

ATTENDANCE

Contemporary Service 49 Children’s Church 5 Total 55

Traditional Service 95 Children’s Church 5 Nursery 4 Total 104

Total Worship Attendance 159

Sunday School Attendance: Nursery 3 Children 9 Youth 8 Adults 64 84

If you would like to

receive The Christian Builder newsletter online via e-mail, please contact Katie Bailey at the church offices at kbailey@fccmidland.org