The Christian Builder January 24, 2019

A weekly publication of First Christian Church Midland Volume 63 No. 4

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

Sunday, January 27 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship 5pm CELEBRATE 5pm SOLID 5pm Stephen Ministry Monday, January 28 9:30am Staff Meeting Tuesday, January 29 1:15pm Food Pantry Stocking 7:30pm Boy Scouts Wednesday, January 30 7am Men's Prayer Breakfast 11:30am Food Pantry 6pm Elders Meeting 7pm Choir Friday, February 1 6pm SHARE Sunday, February 3

Scout Sunday 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship 5pm CELEBRATE 5pm SOLID

Calendar is online at: https:fccmidland.shelbynextchms.com/calendar#month Or use your Shelby App!

It’s not how you start…its how you finish. Would you like the world to be a better place for you having been here?

Bob Buford, Finishing Well

By now, through newsletter announcement, choir notification or church grapevine, most of you have heard the news of Mary Lightfoot’s decision to retire, effective Easter Sunday.

Details are still emerging as we plan the appropriate celebration and closure and yes, turn the page and assemble a search committee and make plans to move forward. Such is the life cycle of church.

Since the first half of my ministry life was that of a church musician, I know the depth and significance of Mary’s gifts and graces as part of this church for what will be, by her closure date of Easter Sunday, 20 years of distinguished service.

I’ve been in her choir. I’ve been in the room when God’s spirit used Mary, not only to instruct a choir to achieve excellence, but to bring us in contact with the Holy. And then, in turn, for her gifts and her choirs to lead us to feel closer to God and by the arts to get emotionally in touch with our faith.

Mary has amazing gifts.

Someone asked me this week who are we going to get to replace Mary?

My answer, we aren’t replacing Mary. That would be impossible to do.

Just like at my calling to be your pastor, I wasn’t asked to be someone who was here before and when I retire, the next pastor should not be expected to be me. You don’t replace, you follow God’s leading to move forward.

We will begin at the board meeting this week to craft a process, but simply put, we will assemble a committee to first assess our current musical profile, review the vision teams findings and with the window of this moment craft a hopeful job description for the person or persons we think the church should look for next, and then begin an extensive search to find what we then know we are looking for.

We may or may not accomplish that by Mary’s departure. We may have a brief interim window but my hope is by no later than September’s new ministry year launch we can be fully staffed and moving forward in new beginnings.

But for now, let’s fully appreciate Mary and love on her and plan to be part of several celebrations. We all have been shaped, emotionally and theologically, by her wonderful talents and God-led ministry. Our church world view has been a better place because of Mary’s presence.

Pray for our entire church as we go through the significant transition. Pray for the persons out there that God has for our church next.

The start of each new chapter is important, but how you finish, how you lead others to grow in their gifts and to know Christ on their terms…is everything.

Thoughts… Rev. Mike Hunter Senior Minister

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Chili Cook-Off and Silent Basket Auction: Go to www.fccmidland.org/our-ministries/youth or call the church office to enter the 2019 CHILI competition! On Sunday, February 10th, we will host a Valentine's Day Luncheon and Fundraiser in the Family Life Center, immediately following a special combined worship service at 11:00 AM.

This year, we are hoping to raise $8,000 to offset travel costs and community expenses for the 2019 Ski Trip. We are having a Chili Cook-Off and Silent Basket Auction. Go to www.fccmidland.org/our-ministries/youth or call the church office to enter your WORLD-FAMOUS CHILI into the competition!

• You will need to prepare enough chili to feed 20-25 people.

• Your chili will need to be in a crockpot and in the Family Life Center by 11:00 AM on 2-10-19

• The church will vote on the 3 best recipes!

Thank you in advance for your assistance with this project and for your ongoing support of the youth of FCC Midland! Please contact T.J. Shoop-York if you have any questions.

Topics… Rev. T.J. Shoop-York Associate Minister

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CELEBRATE is a Sunday evening program at FCC for children in grades K-5 from 5-7pm. CELEBRATE is a time for our children to come together for a time of fellowship, outreach activities/projects, Bible Study and special activities. A couple of weeks ago one of our Kindergarten children brought $.13 with her. She had a dime and 3 shiny pennies. Every so often she would pull the coins out of her

pocket and play with them for a few minutes and then quietly but them back in her pocket. On this particular Sunday evening when our time was ending & parents were arriving, she came up to me, opened up her small fist & said “Paula this is for you.” She was holding the 13 cents in her outstretched hand. I held out my hand and she very gently placed the coins in my hand. She had the biggest smile on her face and a sparkle in her eyes. I said thank you & then asked her what she would like for me to do with it. After a little discussion it was decided to be used to buy food for some little kid who didn’t have enough to eat. It was decided that we would give her donation to our Food Pantry. $.13 to you & me isn’t very much but to her it was a whole lot of money. That night I posted this story on facebook. It received about 100 likes and many heart warming comments. But the most beautiful thing of all was I began to receive messages from those who saw the post and were deeply moved by the thoughtfulness of this child. They have given donations to our Food Pantry in honor of her. So with that being said First Christian Church would like to challenge you to make a donation to our Food Pantry and help the $.13 to multiply. Children have so much to teach us. May we all start listening and learning from them. In loving partnership,

Ponderings… Rev. Paula Brooks Associate Minister

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Guests January 20, 2019

Anderson Family Diego & Justine Estrada

Bliss Foy Gregory & Shannakay Grimes

Cory & Janet Kendall Ryleigh Kitch

Kosanke Family Bailey Lozada

Deborah Lucas Susan Marshall Chuy Mendoza

Kathe Moser Jiovanni & Isai Natera

Aidan Ramsey Ursula & Jacylynn Robles

Brooklyn Terry Umugwaneza/Nkurunziza Family

Nate Walker Amanda & Quinn Weimerskirch

Disciples Food Pantry January 23

Families served 49 Total People 210 New Families 10

Worship Attendance

January 20, 2019

Contemporary 41 Childrens Church 4

Nursery 3 Total 48

Traditional 141 Childrens Church 22

Sensory Room 4 Nursery 6 Total 173

Total 221

Adult Sunday School

All of our adult Sunday School classes meet at 10 am. Each class is based on studies of particular scriptures and related topics.

2 Chronicles 7:14 – Library A class for adults of all ages. This class is doing a series on the Minor Prophets called “Because is Bethlehem” by Max Lucado.

Young Disciples – Room 106 A class for adults of all ages. They are beginning a new study on The Fruits of the Spirit based on Galatians 5:16-26

Genesis – Parlor A class for adults of all ages. This class engages a wide variety of relevant Biblical and Theological topics.

College Age – Bedford Room Grow in faith with other college age students. Sunday’s topic is “John the Baptist - Preparation”.

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Ms. Meredith is a two year old MDO teacher. Meredith attended Lee High School and is currently a student at UTPB. She has 4 dogs and 3 cats. Her favorite color is sea foam. Meredith's favorite quote is "Work hard dream big never give up." Her favorite food is queso. Meredith is active in SHARE, the Student Senate and the Education Club. Meredith is in college full time, she is the College of Education Senator. She teaches Sunday School and Children's Church for First Christian Church.

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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

Gifts received For Disciples Food Pantry

In Honor of Peggy Jones H.A. Tuck

Eva Hamilton

Gifts received For Next Step Building In Memory of Janet Farmer

Prayers & Praises

Those in need of prayer: Faye Casey Doyle Jones Bill Womack JoAnn Overstreet Traci Hopper Judy Spruell Betty Whitmire June Jarrett Helen Estes Faye Casey Robert & Sheila Crudgington Roberta Hurt Bill Schneider Mary Mauldin George Head Bill & Char Womack

Military: Joe Henderson - son of Holly Moore Kinder McCullough-daughter of Bill & Kelley McCullough Families, Friends Beyond FCC Lori Jackson-friend of Charla Espino Tracie Cisneros-sister of Jeweli Flores Jennifer Gehami-daughter of Dave & Kaylene Burgard

Debra Gaffron – sister of J. Ray Stewart David Shipman – nephew of J. Ray Stewart Juan Gil – friend of J. Ray Stewart Judy Espino-sister in law to Charla Espino Junior Espino-cousin of Charla Espino Kim Rhodes & family-friend of Lisa Craven Annie Jackson-friend of Cecila Ambrose Courtney Bradley– friend of Jeweli Flores & Amanda Bourland Maureen Singleton-niece of Joy Singleton Aaron Krauch-friend of Janis Courtney Leigh Irwin – mother of Jana Floyd Millie Duncan – friend of Butch & Sherry Ladd Rita Jones-friend of Celia Ambrose Butch Broom-friend of Sara Cranford Mark Hendricks-son of Jackie Hendricks Dick Cranford – uncle of Mark Cranford Margie Singleton-daughter-in-law of Joy Singleton Barbara Williams – daughter of Ray Stewart Kairos Conde – nephew of Olivia Espino Oscar Garcia – brother of Amparo Olguin Kathy Dunnan- friend of Peggy Jones Ferrell Powell- friend of Sharon & Bill Boyd

Martha Pollock – friend of Sara Cranford Please inform the church office if you or a loved one are admittedinto 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

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

432.682.2541

www.fccmidland.org January 24, 2019

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