Focus Ordination sermon excerpts

We are delighted to welcome friends and neighbors who recently visited to worship God here, Rev. Jose’ Lingongo, LaShonta Strong and Janai Watts, Khwanza LeBlanc, Renee Smith, Dick and Ann Willingham, Amanda Kern, Olin Hatch, Diana Michelle DeLoc, Denice Hines, Alyssa Brimacombe, Andy Farmer, Shane, Jan Brzuskiewicz, Ralph Reiley, Mary Cowell, Lynn Aniskiewicz, including a wonderful assortment of faithful folks who participate regularly. Hope to see you again soon! Decatur Cooperative Ministry In Kind Needs for June 6 box fans, Gallon jugs of bleach, Pine Sol, Lysol Spray, Powder laundry detergent, Off / Deep Woods Mosquito spray, Sunscreen protection, Beach towels, 25 Reusable Lunch bags, Juice boxes, Individual snack packs, Lunchables Non-perishable food: Paper towels, Toilet paper, 1” 3-ring binders, Thank You cards. Please bring items to the church to be delivered! Spring Sermon Series

“Re-Imagining Christianity After the Resurrection” Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.

Date Scripture Theme May 27 Acts 2 and Genesis 11 The Day of Pentecost Sermon title: “Spirit Scattered and Sown” Thanks, Thanks, Thanks Dear James [and First Christian Church], Thanks so much for your generous support of the Third Annual Kids Ride for Cancer Fun Run. The venue was perfect for our event! Best Wishes, Tricia Hernandez You’re invited to discuss faith practices Are you between the ages of 20 something to 40 something? Then you need to be here in the Carmack Room at 9:30 a.m. Sunday mornings for the Young Adult Discussion Group. This great group of people are currently discussing the book “Practicing our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People” by Dorothy C. Bass. The book covers ways of practicing faith by honoring the body, our spirit of hospitality, the way we run our households, times of saying yes and no, keeping the Sabbath sacred and sharing our own testimonies. Plan on being here Sunday morning to join this awesome group! You can get a copy of the book from Amazon.com for around $10.

Did you meet and greet…? Recent Visitors

Watching our figures News and notes for God’s folks

Sunday, May 13, 2012 8:30 a.m. Awakenings Service 4 10:50 a.m. Sanctuary Service 52 Total 56 Offering $2,445.00 Offset (Gentle Spirit) 400.00 Shakespeare 1,000.00 Christian College of GA. 43.00 Total $3,888.00

Sunday, May 20, 2012 8:30 a.m. Awakenings Service 4 10:50 a.m. Sanctuary Service 85 Total 89

Offering $2,779.72 Offset (Candlelight) 60.00 State Refund Corporation Registration 40.00 Reimbursement (Christian Ed) 338.58 Pentecost 10.00 Camp Reimbursement 575.00 Total $3,803.30

Total Annual Giving April 2012 ‘12 YTD Total Income $103,466.39 ‘12 YTD Total Expenses $102,430.03 ‘12 YTD Surplus (Deficit) $ 1,036.36 “Big Bertha” Capital Fund Campaign Update: $58,000.00 has been received to date towards our Sanctuary HVAC system. Thank you, one and all, for your support. Our goal is $130,000 to cover anticipated costs for the necessary replacement HVAC.

June Birthdays

June 3 - Damaris Alsobrook

June 8 - Clara Holley

June 12 - Yolanda Lewellyn

June 12 - Karen St. Marie

June 13 - Ruth Lutz

June 14 - Mary Frances Early

June 16 - Brad Miller

June 20 - Gwen Sapp

June 21 - Margaret Dale Hart

June 23 - Jay Leslie

June 24 - Mildred Trott

June 28 - Margie Maxey

June 29 - Victoria Dodd

June 30 - Paul Appleby

June Anniversaries

June 8 - Ty and Jennifer Reynolds

June 10 - Greg and Jackie Tate

June 18 - Dan and Anna Cunningham

June 23 - Todd and Tumara Jackson

June 24 - Carl and Ursula Sax

June 24 - Bill and Sandra Sexson

June 28 - Bob and Ida Anne Clarke

June 28 -David & Christine Middour

6 When they came, [Samuel] looked on Eliab and thought,

“Surely the LORD‘s anointed is before him.” 7 But the LORD said

to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his

stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD sees not as

[people see]; [humans] look on the outward appearance, but the

LORD looks on the heart.” -- 1 Samuel 16: 6-7

The Lord Looks on Your Heart

Recently I was blessed to represent the church at a

meeting with a local religious television producer. I asked what it took for him to produce a church service on

television. He said, “For starters, I will select what kinds of

suits you wear, the type of pulpit you speak from, the floral and plant arrangements, the lighting, camera angles, and

Bible you carry.” I asked, “Don’t you think a pastor would

already have his or her own Bible?” He said, “The Bible

must be soft leather of a certain heft and with gold trim. As Marshall McLuhan said, ‘The medium is the message.’” I

said, “Wait a minute. Let’s talk about the message. Do you

also control what is proclaimed?” “Of course not!” he said. “Preach whatever you want -- liberal, conservative,

mainstream, off the wall – because what you say doesn’t

matter; image is everything. What’s most important on TV is how you look while preaching.”

So, my friends, let’s see if we got this right.

Television audiences look on the image, while the Lord

looks on your heart. God is bold and beautiful, daring to reach out into the community, into the highways and

byways and alley ways and lift up those whom society

discards or the media disdains or the Church denies. In First Samuel we are introduced to David, a young

shepherd who would be king. God has a way of showing us

the power of God’s love and grace to overcome evil and separation by lifting up the humble and meek and using

them – and us – to change the world.

Here is David, out tending his flocks night and day,

an extraordinary shepherd doing the ordinary, watching over God’s creations, guiding and protecting, finding lost

lambs and still waters, loving and ministering to the sheep

in his flock. Here is David, called in from the fields to suddenly discover and discern that the Lord had looked on

his heart and identified him, chosen him, set him aside,

lifted him up and called him out to be anointed as a servant

leader. Here is David, newly anointed and empowered to be God’s servant, a Shepherd King, soon to be a warrior, a

leader, a dancer, a poet, husband and father, a saint and a

sinner, an architect of a holy nation. And yet, here is David, the very next

day back in the fields, keeping watch over his flocks by

night and day, praising God, saying, “The Lord is my

shepherd, I shall not want!”

The Lord looks on your heart. In some notes from an

earlier conversation with Anita, she said that she and Jay

had been “married 15 years and 4 months today.” Her memory and attention to detail are amazing. Even more so,

enhancing her gift of recall is her willingness to trust and

obey God. She said at the time that she was in the process of discerning what is next and where God is leading her.

“I’m on a journey,” said Anita. “God is calling me to

change directions; to move from a strictly business setting

to being faithful in new arenas.” Anita observed that “there is no fast forward. Be faithful every day, in whatever God is

calling you to be and to do, in the here and now. Today is

the goal, knowing you are on journey for something different.”

While our oh-so-modern human condition is tempted

to fast forward, to have motion without movement, to cover silences, to crush opposition, to rush ahead, to push on to

the next fad or phase or hip phrase, to discard or deject or

divert whatever or whomever appears to be different, to

look on the outside, we have in our midst one gentle, brilliant, shining soul who proclaims that the Lord looks on

your heart.

And God said to us, “Arise, anoint her; for this is

she.” Let the Church of Jesus Christ reach out hands and

arms, and anoint Anita in the midst of her family, friends

and congregation; and may the Spirit of the LORD rest

mightily upon Anita from this day forward. Whom the Lord has called let the church so choose.

Are you like me, eager and excited to point out:

There goes Anita, out tending her flocks by night and day, an extraordinary shepherd doing extraordinary ministry,

watching over God’s creations, guiding and protecting,

finding lost lambs and still waters, loving and pastoring to the sheep in her flock.

The Lord looks on your heart. My friends, go ahead

and celebrate, and then get ye back to the fields of the Lord.

As always, First Christian Church of Decatur, I am delighted to be your pastor. Shalom,

James L. Brewer-Calvert

Church Campers LOVE Mail! We have 11 young people and two adults going to Camp Christian in June! Junior I - June 4th – 8th - Amelia Reiley CYF - June 11th – 16th - Kasey Bezio, Katie Brewer-Calvert, Aly Houchin, Nancy Leslie, Suzette Perrillioux and Joshua Tate Chi-Rho – June 18th – 23rd – Thomas Reiley, Jacob Tate, Brandy Alsobrook (Counselor) and James Brewer-Calvert (Co-Director) Camp Balaam – June 24th – 28th – Katie Brewer-Calvert

Mail letters to our campers: (Names of Camper/ Title of Camp) c/o Camp Christian 3735 Dennard Hardy Road, Gordon, GA 31031-9776

***Please make sure to include the camper’s name and which camp he or she is attending***

Non-Profit Organization

U.S Postage Paid

Permit 137

Decatur, Georgia 30030

First Christian Church

of Decatur (Disciples of Christ)

601 West Ponce de Leon Avenue

Decatur, Georgia 30030 Church Office — 404-378-3621

Fax — 404-378-1875 Email: 1stcc@bellsouth.net

Website: www.decaturdisciples.org

Ministers: All the People

Your Church Staff:

The Rev. Dr. James L. Brewer-Calvert, Senior Pastor

William E. Garner, Director of Music

Brandy Alsobrook, Director of Christian Education

Kathy Westbrook, Church Organist

Elizabeth Hamm, Bookkeeper

Sherry Davis, Church Administrator

Azeb Gidey, Custodian

Mark Ranney, Facilities Manager

Your Volunteer Ministry Coordinators: Diana Blake, Wedding Coordinator

Rev. Daphne Reiley, Caregiver Spiritual Support

Return Service Requested

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May 23, 2012

Volume 49, Issue 10

We are Disciples of Christ,

a movement for wholeness

in a fragmented world.

As part of the one body

of Christ, we welcome all

to the Lord's Table

as God has welcomed us.

--Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ)

Statement of Identity

Welcome New Members! On Sunday, May 20, 2012 Marie and the Rev. José Lingongo joined First Christian Church of Decatur by transfer of membership. We are delighted to warmly receive the Lingongo family into their new church family. Pastor José is an ordained minister with full standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He has faithfully served as a Chaplain in Milwaukee and Decatur. Marie is a Nurse’s Aid and works at Golden Living in Tucker. They speak five languages and have five adult children in the USA and overseas. Welcome home, Marie and José!

The Rev. Anita Renahan-White ordained

to the Christian ministry in a beautiful

worship service here on Saturday, May 19

Ordination service participants included family, friends, members, work colleagues, and the Chancel Choir of First Christian Church as well as those shown here (from left to right): Rev. Adei Grenpastures, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Lartey, Rev. Dr. Jerry Gladsen, Rev. Anita Renahan-White, Rev. Valerie Alexander, Rev. Betty C. Brewer-Calvert, Rev. Paul Appleby, and Rev. Dr. James Brewer-Calvert. Thank you, one and all!

Church Board to meet in June The Church Board of FCC Decatur is set to meet on Sunday, June 10 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. All Elders, Deacons, Staff, and Ministry Chairpersons are expected to participate. As usual, this is an open meeting; the congregation is intentional in our discipleship of being transparent in the practice of Christian ministry in the church and wider community. Lunch will be served. Board reports are due by Tuesday, June 5th.

Vacation Bible School Monday, June 4th - Friday, June 8th

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Purpose: To foster and build relationships with each other and with God

Goal: To share the good news of Jesus Christ with our neighborhood friends

This year’s VBS will be held in our park and in the church. If the weather is nice we

plan on having outdoor activities planned for the morning then retreat to the church for

other activities and lunch.

• Provide healthy lunches

• Plan to be a leader or helper for music, crafts, games, worship, or story telling

• Put on your thinking cap and let me know of your inspirations for crafts, games,

music, worship and/or storytelling

• Prayers are always helpful

I look forward to working with you to make this years VBS a great event.

Blessings and peace, Brandy M. Alsobrook, Director of Christian Education

Saturday, May 27th & Sunday, May 28th Youth Group Lock-In

First Christian Church of Decatur

601 West Ponce de Leon Avenue

Decatur, Georgia 30030

44-378-3621 office

404-378-1875 fax 1stcc@bellsouth.net

Sunday Worship Schedule

8:30 a.m. Awakenings Service (chapel)

9:15 a.m. Sharing in Fellowship Hall

9:30 a.m. Sunday school for all ages

10:50 a.m. Sanctuary Service

June 2012

Glen Brandy Alsobrook on vacation May

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

1-2 p.m. Spiritual Growth with

Rev. Grenpastures

3

8 p.m. NA

4

10 a.m. Staff Meeting

11 a.m. Prayer Group

5

8 p.m. AA/ALANON

6

6:30 p.m. Bell Choir Rehearsal

7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir

Rehearsal

7

8

7-9:30 p.m. Atlanta

Stereographic Assoc.

9

1-2 p.m. Spiritual Growth with

Rev. Grenpastures

10

4:30 p.m. Northlake Vespers

at Northlake Gardens

8 p.m. NA

11

10 a.m. Staff Meeting

11 a.m. Prayer Group

7:30 p.m. Stewardship

Meeting

12

7-9 p.m. Caregiver Support

Group

8 p.m. AA/ALANON

13

6:30 p.m. Bell Choir Rehearsal

7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir

Rehearsal

14

7:30 p.m. Lydia Circle

15 16

1-2 p.m. Spiritual Growth with

Rev. Grenpastures

17

8 p.m. NA

18

10 a.m. Staff Meeting

11 a.m. Prayer Group

3:30 p.m. Cello Lessons

19

8 p.m. AA/ALANON

20

3:30 p.m. Cello Lessons

6:30 p.m. Bell Choir Rehearsal

7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir

Rehearsal

21

22 23

1-2 p.m. Spiritual Growth with

Rev. Grenpastures

24

8 p.m. NA

25

10 a.m. Staff Meeting

11 a.m. Prayer Group

3:30 p.m. Cello Lessons

6:30 p.m. Evaluation and

Planning

26

8 p.m. AA/ALANON

27

3:30 p.m. Cello Lessons

6:30 p.m. Bell Choir Rehearsal

7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir

Rehearsal

28

29 30

1-2 p.m. Spiritual Growth with

Rev. Grenpastures

Camps in June: Junior 1 Camp-June 4-8; CYF Camp June 11-16; Chi Rho Camp

June 18-23; Balaam Camp June 24-28 ;

YADA June 29-July1

VBS June 4-8 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Sherry Davis on vacation June 4-8 and June 11

9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Television Workshop for teenagers July 11-15

Pastor Brewer-Calvert ‘s vacation June 29th-July15