January 2015 Vol. 48 No. 1 “The Great Bend Christian”January 14, 2015, 1:30 pm Lunch Bunch...
Transcript of January 2015 Vol. 48 No. 1 “The Great Bend Christian”January 14, 2015, 1:30 pm Lunch Bunch...
“The Great Bend Christian”
January 2015
Vol. 48 No. 1
There was a time when Christ-
mas was really about bringing family
together, the birth of Christ, and en-
compassing the spirit of giving.
These days, the Christmas Sea-
son seems to be all about Black Friday
Deals, Cyber Monday Madness, and
making sure we have more Christmas
presents under the tree than last year. Society makes it way too easy to forget the true meaning of
Christmas.
This Holiday Season let’s “Bring Heaven to Earth” by focusing on random acts of kindness
instead of the gifts under the tree. This will encourage everyone to live out the true meaning of
Christmas, and transform countless lives for the better. Here are some ideas for you….
- Buy food for a homeless person (or someone in need). This does not have to be expen-
sive. $5 could cover lunch.
- Share a book with a child
- Participate in an “Angel Tree” project
- Write a kind, hand-written letter to someone that changed your life for the better, not an
email or a text...but sent via snail mail. (This can be to a childhood friend, a teacher from the
past, or even an old baby-sitter that impacted your life for the better).
- Pay for the person's order in line behind you in either the coffee drive-thru, or fast food, pur-
chase an event ticket, train ticket, etc. (There are a LOT of options here...)
- Do something kind for the elderly. This can be anything from helping them load their car
with heavy groceries, holding the door open for them, volunteering at a retirement home, or
even raking their leaves.
It comes down to believing that what we do can make a difference, we can change our com-
munity and Bring Heaven to Earth. It also may be that that those of us who participate are the ones
who will be impacted most. Giving to others changes our focus from "me" to the overwhelming
needs of our world. In this Holiday Season we celebrate the Birth of Jesus, and the love from Our
Heavenly Father. As noted on our Heaven to Earth cards, “Because I have been blessed by God’s
goodness, I would like to extend a blessing.”
Happy Holidays. Outreach Committee
“The Great Bend Christian” January 2015
SPECIAL PRAYERS: Betty Hartle; Patricia Hassman; Shelby Jones-aneurysm & cancer; Marcelle
Lemons; Victor Marshall-recovering from knee surgery; Lance Morris-cancer; Carolee Nolte; Ralph
Stalcup; Brock Steinert; Kerry Watkins-cancer; Carey Worthington; Mike Zager
CONTINUED PRAYERS: Cora Allen, Mabel Bender, Joyce Bray, Laura Brown, Myrna Campbell,
Derek Christendon, Cody Clark, Larry Dannebohm, Corina Dean, Amanda Degenhardt, Lola
Donecker, Denise Ehrlick, Tim-Jan Embrey's brother, Mel Enabnit, Tammy Flowers, Mary Lynne
Grandclair, Mildred Harders, Sarina Johnson, Don Jones, Lisa Jones, Babette Kinderknecht, David
Kirby, Todd Klein, Martha Knight, Jaxon Kretchmar, Gayl Lee, Amber Lloyd, Evelyn Mead, Doug
Nairn, Stan Nelson, Stacy North, Brad Patzner, Lana Penney, Terry Piland, Rose Rein, Marvin Rose,
Doug Schenkel, Patricia Shultz-Ruth Behrens' sister, Ava Smith, Jessica Stephens, Donna
Stejskal, Juanita Thomas, Connie Weiser, Doris White, June White, Kadin White, Terry Wor-
thington
MILITARY SERVANTS: Chris Batchman, Brandon Deason, Malcolm Deason, Steven DeWitt,
Blake Frager, Ted Jackson, Steven McGee, Jake Myers, Adam Schwartz, Justin Sperry
….to Marilyn Deason & Family upon the loss of her grandson, Cody
Deason
...to Derek & Sandra Jean & Family upon the loss of Derek's
grandfather
...to Reta Brack & Family at the passing of her husband, Karl
...to Eric Ricker's Family at the passing of Eric's Grandma
...to Becky Hill, Bob & Patsy Hiss & Family upon the passing of
their mother, Mabel Hiss
...to Dolores Westfall upon the passing of her brother, Delbert
Deckert
“The Great Bend Christian” January 2015
Martha Group
Hostess: Louise Gunn
Program: Anneliese Ward
January 14, 2015, 1:30 pm
Lunch Bunch
January 21, 2015, 11:30 am
Joy Group
Hostess: Carolee Nolte
Lesson: Dolly Gaede
January 27, 2015, 12:00 pm
New Day Group
Hostess: Rachel McCaulley
Lesson: Janis Fairchild
January 26, 2015, 7:00 pm
The Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University
Class will begin on Monday, January 12,
2015, at 7:00 pm in the church parlor. The
class will run on Mondays for 9 weeks. If
you have any questions, please see or call
Randy Goering (620-786-5881), Clayton
Noffsinger (620-617-3364), or Debbie
Noffsinger (620-793-0604).
January 2015 is the month that we, The First
Christian Church, give of our time to the Barton
County Food Bank. Workers are needed to help on
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 12:45 to
3:00pm. If you can help or would like to be intro-
duced to this worthwhile cause, please sign the
signup sheet in the foyer of the Church.
Thank You.
The FCC
garage sale is
February 7th.
You may start
bringing your
items for the sale
on Sunday,
January 25th.
A new Women’s Bible Study will begin Tuesday,
February 3, at 6:30 pm. This is an 8-week study
of Malachi with Lisa Harper. Contact Marta
Edmonds or Kim Guesnier with any questions.
See you there!
“The Great Bend Christian” January 2015
Give a warm welcome to our newest
members: Loren & Arlene Schamaun, Jim &
Lucy Jay, and Sarina Johnson. We are so
glad you joined us!
Starting January 25th
Pray
Starting in January, the Long Range Planning
Committee (LRPC) wants to invite everyone in
our congregation to begin praying for who and
what it is that God is calling us to do and to be as
the First Christian Church of Great Bend Kansas.
This time of prayer is meant to help us as a
church begin to open up so that we will be able to
discover God's specific will for the mission of our
church.
Dream
While we continue to pray, starting in February and continuing though March, the LRPC is going to be holding 10
to 15 different listening sessions, where we will be asking congregation members 3 important questions:
1. What is the most life giving event you have experienced at the First Christian Church of Great Bend?
2. Why is First Christian Church so important to you?
3. What is your most passionate dream for First Christian Church? The first two questions will help us to
answer who we are as a church already, specifically helping us to understand our strengths. The second question
will help us to answer, based on our strengths, who and what God is calling us to do and to be as a church. Build
While we continue to pray, in April-June the LRPC will be going over all of your answers to the 3 questions in
order to discover 3 to 5 of the most predominant themes that come from the data. After those themes are discov-
ered, the LRPC will begin to shape those themes into a mission statement, a mission statement that we believe is to
be used to guide us and help us build the future that God has planned for us as the First Christian Church of Great
Bend.
For more information on the Appreciative Inquiry process check out http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/intro/
definition.cfm, or just Google Appreciative Inquiry.
“The Great Bend Christian” January 2015
Web Site: www.fccgbk.com
FCC's podcast: http://bit.ly/1CCGBPodcast
Facebook: www.facebook.com/firstchristiangb
In December, Outreach mailed twelve care packages to our college students. We have students studying in the following places: Glendale, Arizona; Columbia, Missouri; Edmond, Oklahoma; six students in Manhattan, Kansas; one in Emporia, Kansas; and two in Hays, Kansas. Pastor Josh sent encouraging words to these young adults reminding them that what they are doing mat-ters, not just for now but for the future, and for the many people that will be depending on them.
Dear Church Family, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with each one of you!! Words cannot tell you how thank-ful I am. Thank you, Pastor Josh, for visiting me weekly with a bag of goodies to get me through the upcoming week while I was in the hospital. Thank you for all the prayers and calls. I felt a lot of comfort in knowing “this too will pass” with all your letters, notes of encouragement. And, it too passed! Not for a moment did I not feel God had his arms wrapped around me like when I was discharged. That was another answered prayer. In Christ’s Love, June White
Dear Church Family, Thank you so much for my basket of good-ies for final week. It’s a great feeling know-ing I have so many great people to lean upon in times of need. Thank you so much again. It is very appreciated! Love Always, Madison Unruh
Church Family, Thank you SO much for my finals week care package! To know I am thought about and loved by such an amazing church family really warms my heart. With Love, Nicole
A heartfelt thank you to my church family for the concern and thoughtfulness show during Karl’s illness. Our family appreciates all the cards, memorials, and prayers during this difficult time. A special thank you to Pastor Josh for the beautiful and inspiring funeral service. Also, thanks to the “kitchen crew” for the wonderful lunch. The Family of Karl Brack
“The Great Bend Christian” January 2015
2015 SCHEDULE
GROUP 1 GROUP 2
Glen & Dixie Hughes (Contact Person) Jennifer Cauley (Contact Person)
Nadine Maier Mattie Begg
Ted & Susan Brown Dolores Westfall
Ken & Donna Marston Carrol Jaco
Amy Karst Lynne Scheuerman
Jean Berger Marilyn Deason
Mike & Tammy Nicholson Rachelle Sheets
GROUP 3 GROUP 4
Roger & Leesa Butler (Contact Person) Ruth Behrens (Contact Person)
Lane & LaDonna Moore Louise Gunn
Bob & Patsy Hiss Randy & Annette Goering
Clark & Donna Rusco Lew & Jan Embrey
Kenny & Lori Reneau Sam & Anneliese Ward
Becky Hill Dennis & Ruth Heinrichs
GROUP 5
Rev. Sue Bishop (Contact Person)
Youth
January 7 - Group 3
January 14 - Group 4
January 21 - Group 5
January 28 - NO DINNER (gym in use)
February 4 - NO DINNER (gym in use)
February 11 - NO DINNER (gym in use)
February 18 - Group 1
February 25 - Group 2
March 4 - Group 3
March 11 - Group 4
March 18 - NO DINNER (Spring Break)
March 25 - Group 5
April 1 - Group 1
April 8 - Group 2
April 15 - Group 3
April 22 - Group 4
April 29 - Group 5
May 6 - Group 1
May 13 - Group 2
May 20 - Group 3
“The Great Bend Christian” January 2015
Past 5 Weeks Attendance and Gifts
*Special Offerings include donations to: Operation Christmas Child, Memorials for Helen Morgan & Mabel Hiss, Wednesday Night Dinner Dona-
tions, Thanksgiving Dinner Donations, FCC Food Bank, Sound System Fund, Golden Belt Community Foundation, Outreach, DMF Christmas
Offerings, Water 4 Foundation, Wedding Fees
23 30 7 14 21
Sunday School 72 51 66 70 68
Early Service 29 30 35 32 36
Late Service 170 114 136 166 168
Children’s Church 12 8 13 9 7
TOTAL 211 152 184 207 211
General Offering 3,522.83 2,927.58 9,900.13 14,715.52 9,961.01
Special Offerings 2,083.70 160.00 855.00 1,105.05 440.00
TOTAL 5,606.53 3,087.58 10,755.13 15,820.57 10,401.01
First Christian Church
5230 Broadway
Great Bend, KS 67530
The Great Bend Christian (USPS 576-380)
Published Monthly
By First Christian Church 5230 Broadway
Great Bend, KS 67530
Postmaster Send Address changes to: First Christian Church
5230 Broadway
Great Bend, KS 67530 Periodicals Postage Paid
At Great Bend, KS 67530
Sunday Services
8:15 am Early Worship
9:00 am Sunday School
10:20 am Morning Worship
5:00 pm Chi-Rho
6:00 pm CYF (6th-12th)
Wednesday Activities
5:30 pm Family Fellowship Dinner
6:15 pm Pre K–2nd Grades (Discoverers)
6:15 pm 3rd - 5th Grades (Navigators)
6:15 pm Chancel Bell Practice
7:00 pm Chancel Choir Practice
If you need to contact our staff:
Rev. Josh Leu, Minister
Rev. Sue Bishop, Associate Minister of Children
and Youth
Kathy Rose, Church Secretary