third church of christ, scientist news · 2013. 12. 11. · winter 2013 issue 6 december 2013...

Winter 2013 Issue December 2013

THIRD CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST

News Spotlight !

Sunday School Renovation

Wow! What a journey! Like Moses and the Israelites leaving Egypt, our Sunday School spent most of the summer outside. But unlike the Israelites, our students were not wanderers. As construction in the Sunday School began, the wilderness quickly became a classroom. Services were opened and closed in a tent on the lawn and classes were held wherever space could be found. From patios to balconies to hallways --- classrooms popped up everywhere. And even once we returned to the Sunday School, things were not quite how we had left them. From a room with no ceiling and bare floors, construction moved forward. On Sundays, the space, in whatever condition, continued to be a space for learning and spiritual

progress. Amidst all this activity, we welcomed new students and new teachers including Pat Clampitt, Gifty Areety, Meredith Hays and Amy Wright. Charlotte Schmidt also joined us with guitar in hand to teach in song a new generation of youngsters that “God is Up and God is Down” and that God made everyone a perfect child. Gracie Carroll, Daniel Robbs and Natalie Smith, all Sunday School students, became church members. Parents Chris Westerheide and Scott Robbs also became new church members. We are grateful for all the loving support of the membership, students and their families during this work. We have a beautiful Sunday School now – ready for more growth.

In This Issue

Discipleship (Matt 10; Jn 8:31,32)

Our Church Family (Jn 10; Jn 13:34)

Volunteering at The Bridge Interfaith Housing Coalition Institutional Ministry Public Talks

“World Café” – style interaction Topic: “Reclaiming the Pentecostal Experience Today”

Imperial Brass concert Jonathan Moyer piano concert

Holy Conversations (Jn 14:15; 1Jn 4:16)

Making Music - “the rhythm of head and heart” Science and Health

Sunday School !

Christian Science Reading Room

New members Family newsFarewell & Come Back Soon

Sunday School renovation New teachers, new students Summer picnic Sip N’ See

Reading Room Planning Team Community connections Lecture sponsorship

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The Bridge We continue to have great groups of volunteers serving at the Second Chance Cafe at The Bridge. During the past several months there have been many new faces (friends, attendees, family members) joining our group and our presence there continues to bless. We continue to follow the example of Christ Jesus (Matt 25:37-40). The guests at The Bridge show so much gratitude and we know that we are all enriched by it. Third Church’s participation is welcomed and appreciated at The Bridge. Our team leader, Lisa Bül, is a diligent shepherdess, making sure we are timely, well represented and understand the special regulations associated with this

work. Lisa does all this with grace and love. Recently Lisa was

awarded “Volunteer of the Year” for

her consistent love and good will.

Interfaith Housing Coalition

This summer, our Community Response Group organized an effort to contribute gift cards to help the homeless children at Interfaith Housing with their August Back to School Drive. Nearly 75% of these kids enter the school year one or more grade levels behind their peers. Our church responded with time, talent and donations! Kimberly Williams, the CEO of

Interfaith Housing, sent her thanks for our gift of $3,350 that has helped over 100 homeless students prepare for success. “Thank you for helping us to empower families!”

Institutional ministry Our members are active in the DFW Institutional Committee Zone. Our prayerful support of this work leads members to volunteer to conduct over 190 Christian Science services per year in 6 county, state and Federal jails and prisons. This year, over 500 inmates have been served and over 600 copies of the Bible (Spanish and English) and Science and Health (Spanish and English) have been requested and provided to individuals. Our volunteer Christian Science Chaplain, trained and appointed by Dallas County, provides one-on-one spiritual support to inmates. He makes an average of 6 visits per week and responds to over 15 letters per week for resource and support requests.

Public talks on Christian Science Look what’s coming for the Spring (April 6, 2014 to be exact)! Many members are praying diligently to reach out to a wider community to provide that “cup of cold water in Christ’s name.”

Discipleship – Living Matthew 10 and John 8:31,32

Discipleship The commitment to follow Christ is an

individual demonstration by our members.

Expressing love to a visitor at a service,

gratitude at a testimony meeting, giving prayer

and talent to responding to the hunger of the

public for a demonstrable understanding of God and divine Science or cherishing the joyful,

pure child-like thought in our youth and in each

other – this is our discipleship.

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Our Church Family – Living John 10 and John 13:34

Welcome! New Members

Diane Jenning (L) Gracie Carroll (LC) Barbara Cowart (C) Marin Van Vleck (RC)

Jonathan Gitlin (LC)

Natalie Smith (LC) Scott Robbs (LC) Daniel Robbs (RC)

Mike Gasser (C) Chris Westerheide (R)

Family News

At a luncheon ceremony held in November 2013, Julie Riggs, a teacher at Lakehill Preparatory School was awarded Middle School Teacher of the Year by the East Dallas Chamber of Commerce. Julie says,” I do what I think is most important because I love it.”

Farewell & Come Back Soon

DeWulf Family (Isabelle, Jan and Harrison) are wished well on their move to Seattle

Nadine and Tony Givens celebrate a family gathering after our worship service.

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Holy Conversations – Living John 14:15 and 1John 4:16

In April 2013, the congregation at Third Church Dallas participated in a “world café” style holy conversation facilitated by our consultant, Dan

Hotchkiss from the Alban Institute. The topic, “Reclaiming the Pentecostal Experience Today”, focused on how we can effectively use our testimony meetings to enhance lives. The success of the event was largely due to you, the congregation. Your prayers, overwhelming

support and participation made it possible. The experience was lighthearted, fun and exciting as everyone got a chance to interact with each other in an open and honest forum. As each person moved from table to table

starting new conversations, everyone had the opportunity to share their thoughts on what our testimony meetings mean to them. We made discoveries on how it can be used to cross inter-generational and inter-denominational boundaries.!!Since our gathering, the Holy Conversation Committee has found ways to incorporate some of the ideas shared. These ideas include the testimony meeting recaps read on Sunday mornings during the announcements. Our work, however, is not finished. We will continue to have other “holy conversations” like this and expect that we will discover new ways to demonstrate that God’s kingdom is come and is within us now and always. This will do much to enrich the lives of our community and our world.

Out and About

The Principia Solar Car presentation at The Leaves was followed by an Ice Cream Social after a Church testimony meeting.

Third Church parents at “New Parents Meet and Greet” in the Lodge at The Leaves, the Christian Science Nursing Facility in Richardson, TX.

Airman Keegan Robertson, son of Joni Mackintosh, at his graduation in San Antonio from his basic and technical training in the Security Forces at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX. He has recently been assigned to Whiteman AFB in Knob Knoster, MO. Way to go Keegan and Mom!

Sunday School students attend Discovery Bound event at Klyde Warren Park and Perot Science Museum. Lunch together was delicious!

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Making Music – “the rhythm of head and heart “ Science & Health The Imperial Brass, our favorite brass group that is a consistent participant in our Christmas Concert, played for us in September. It was a delight to hear them playing their own repertoire. Nathan Frazier and his wife Susan head up the group, which consists of five core players and thirteen auxiliary players. We were privileged to hear the big group…and it was a complete success! Nathan did a stellar job as Master of Ceremonies, bringing us some music history, inside comments about the musicians and dynamite humor. Members of Imperial Brass have a wide range of musical experiences and backgrounds. They are available for church and religious services, special events, educational shows, Master Classes and clinics…and more. It was a great afternoon filled with a variety of musical styles and genres…from Bach, to Karl King to Cab Calloway. We loved it and we’d love to have them back. If you missed it…maybe next time!

In October, Jonathan Moyer graced our sanctuary and our Bosendorfer piano with a lovely concert. Jonathan regularly concertizes around the United States and has performed in ten countries around the world. In addition to performing, he is in demand as a lecturer and teacher. Jonathan lives in Connecticut and graduated from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford. While studying there, he was recognized with awards for “the pursuit of excellence in piano performance” and for “outstanding service and performance.” Jonathan has been on the faculty of The Hotchkiss School since 2004. Additionally, he teaches at Farmington Valley Academy where he the Music Program Coordinator. He also maintains a private teaching studio in New Hartford, Connecticut. His concert for us included music by Scarlatti, Chopin, Copland and Gershwin…diverse as it was beautiful and a genuine joy to hear. Jonathan is a good friend of Cody and Jeremy Hays…thank you both for bringing him to us!

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Sunday School Third Church Dallas has recently been blessed with six, yes six, new babies, and we celebrated! The Children’s Room Committee hosted a ”Sip n’ See,” to meet and greet and welcome these new babies and their parents. The congregation mingled in the Sunday School immediately after the Sunday service to meet the babies, their siblings and parents. From top to bottom: Elijah Diffa Parents Diseyi and Nina Farren Slaughter Parents Michael and Michelle Hilton Brown Parents Shawn and Hayden Merry Margaret Beach Parents Gentry and Kathryn Alexander Gitlin Parents Jonathan and Becky

As construction in the Sunday School continued through summer, classes were held outdoors. Services were opened and closed in a tent on the lawn and classes were held wherever space could be found.

Our dedicated Sunday School teachers sharing lunch together and discussing curriculum.

The “Summer Sunday School Picnic” was held in Pocket Park – a beautiful opportunity to get together and celebrate the beginning of summer.

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The Christian Science Reading Room So…what’s up with the Reading Room? Lot’s of good stuff!

Reading Room Planning Team The prayers of the Reading Room Planning Team have resulted in a number of opportunities for making available the healing message in Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.

At our monthly meetings, Team members share their individual inspiration and experiences. We have found inspiration and encouragement from each other as we talk about our opportunities to connect with our community contacts and explain how reading Science and Health has brought blessing and healing to our lives. We often laugh together when we realized how similar the conversations and challenges are and find much inspiration in the moral support of our shared experiences. Everyone on the Team has grown and been blessed through taking up this healing work.

Community connections The Reading Room has made several significant community connections in the past few months. Mary Baker Eddy is an example of meeting needs of others. An active and engaged member of her community, she provided shoes for children in need, donated to hospitals and paid to have roads paved while a resident of Concord. Inspired by her example, we decided to financially assist some community activities and organizations. Last summer, the Reading Room provided financial support to community programs at Reverchon Recreation Center. This fall, we responded to a fundraising request from the Dallas International Street Church. DISC ministers to individuals who are working to move beyond homelessness and addiction. Donations included support for their first annual golf tournament and quarterly donations for the next year to help the DISC Life Skills Center for women. One copy of Science and Health was shared with an assistant pastor of the group and the head pastor also requested a copy. We hope to partner further with both of these groups. In October, four members spent about an hour

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near The Bridge, speaking with homeless individuals and sharing copies of Science and Health. Nineteen copies of the book were given.

Sponsoring public talks on Christian Science In February, we sponsored a talk at an interfaith clergy meeting at Emeritus at Vickery Towers, a senior living center. Twelve individuals attended, including the clergy who minister to the needs of residents. Copies of Science and Health were shared. A meeting at Klyde Warren Park in May at the "Reading Room" sponsored/maintained by the

Dallas Morning News, provided the opportunity to share Science and Health with two people. A book was given to a man who was sitting

near where we held our discussion. A young woman saw our copies of Science and Health and after a few moments of conversation, took a picture of it with her phone so that she could look it up on her own.

Workshops and Reader Groups A Concord Workshop presented by Chrissy Sydness from the Concord Support department

of The Mother Church was well attended in our church auditorium. A Science and Health Readers Group continues to meet on Thursday mornings. Please join us – even if it is only occasionally. Let us know if

you need a more convenient time. We may be able to start another group around that time. Have you shared a copy of Science and Health this year? We would love to add you to our Science and Health Honor Roll – a list of our members who have grown to understand the value of sharing how the study of Science and Health along with the Bible has blessed their lives. We are always happy to encourage your continued study as well as your desire to share!

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Third Church of Christ, Scientist

4419 Oak Lawn Avenue Dallas, TX 75219

(214) 526-7783

www.thirdchurchdallas.org

We are a loving church for everyone searching for healing and spiritual progress through the power of God and the Christ spirit.

Our mission is to love and heal ourselves, our families, our congregation, our community, and our world.

Events for Your Calendar! April 6, 2014 Lunch, Lecture and Fun at White Rock Lake in East Dallas Tentative location at the Bath House. Invite your friends now!

… and don’t forget our continuing “growth in grace” activities!

Church worship services Sundays @ 10:30 am

Sunday School Sundays @ 10:30 am

Testimony meetings Wednesdays @ 7:30 pm

Fellowship lunches 3rd Sunday of every month @ noon

Science and Health Reading Group Thursdays @ 10:00 am

Healing Focus Group 1st Saturday of every month @ 10:00 am

Reading Room Group 2nd Saturday of every month @ 10:00 am

January 2014 Sunday School Open House for families and friends in our community

February 18, 2014 Regular Church business meeting for members

third church of christ, scientist news · 2013. 12. 11. · winter 2013 issue 6 december 2013...

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