BFCC e-Caller May 2018

Pastoral Ponderings Last Sunday, during our prayer time, as we offered prayers of thanksgiving for the healing that has occurred among our relatives, neighbors and friends, I mentioned the Prayer Group that has come together in recent weeks. This group has grown out of conversations that I have had with a number of you all about the need for such a group. In some cases you approached me, in other cases I initiated the conversation. In all cases, there has been a mutual recognition that there is power in prayer, that our congregation needs to be upheld by prayer, and that prayers need to be offered in a focused way for concerns beyond our congregation. In our first two meetings we have done some organizational work, we have experimented with a prayer discipline called lexio divina (also known as "praying with the scriptures"), we have lifted up in prayer our All-Church Retreat, and we have focused on the folks on our prayer list. We also have covenanted to spend some time in prayer between our meetings. As those of you who have been disciplined in prayer over the years know, praying and reflecting on prayer can open our hearts and minds to a wonderful awareness of the presence and the power of the Holy. And having a group in a congregation that is focused on prayer can open-up new possibilities for healing and ministry for the entire community of faith. In my mind, having one Prayer Group can be the start of a broader and even more powerful Prayer Ministry, with perhaps multiple groups. Our initial Prayer Group is about as big as a group can be without becoming unwieldy. But if you sense a call from God to be engaged in an expanding Prayer Ministry, please let me know and we can explore the possibility of starting a second group. With a Prayer Ministry undergirding our Telling Our Story: Future Glory process, who knows what wondrous possibilities will open before us?! It is indeed true, as Alfred, Lord Tennyson said, that "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams." Blessings! Pastor Bruce

Consecration Sunday Consecration Sunday is May 6! This is the day when we conclude our Stewardship Campaign by consecrating our financial pledges for the coming church year. There will be a time in the service when we will have the opportunity to prayerfully reflect on the financial commitment that God is calling us to make. This financial gift to God is a way of saying "Thank you!" for all of the gifts that God has given to us.

Please consider the possibility of pledging a percentage of your income. By doing so we are saying, "I trust God to provide for my most basic needs, and as an acknowledgment of that trust, I will pledge to God a certain percentage of my income right off the top; the first and the best of what God has given to me." The biblical tradition is 10%. Many have found that starting at a much lower percentage, and building toward 10% over a number of years, is a helpful spiritual discipline. Your Stewardship Packet includes a chart that will help you to calculate a percentage of your annual income at the pledge level that you choose.

Following worship and the consecration of our pledges, we will celebrate God's bounty with a special Fellowship Meal in Fellowship Hall.

We are all so blessed. It is a joy to give thanks for those blessings by offering back to God a small percentage of all that God has given us. We have freely received; let us freely give!

2018-19 Stewardship Campaign

Saturday, May 19

Sunday, May 6,

immediately following

worship.

Please bring a casserole to

share. Dessert will be provided.

Make your way to the

Fellowship Hall to enjoy some

delicious food and fellowship

with your church family.

Board of Directors Meeting

The April Board of Directors

Meeting will be on

*Tuesday, May 15. It will

start at 6:00 pm in the

Fellowship Hall.

The meeting is open to

anyone in the congregation

that would like to attend.

*Notice date change

First of all, I praise God for all of

his comfort and care for me

during my recent back surgery.

And, I give thanks to all of you for

the love you sent by way of

prayers, texts, calls, cards, visits,

flowers and food. They were all

certainly good medicine.

Love you all,

Linda Smith

Bring your family, your friends, invite your whole

neighborhood.

All are welcome.

We hope to see you there.

Women's Fellowship Monday, May 14, starting at 7:00 p.m. Pat Bell will do a short devotional and

refreshments will be prepared by Marsha and

Amanda Ochs & Amy Holbrook . All women are

welcome and bring a friend.

I want to thank

everyone for the

calls, visits, flowers, cards

and most of all,

all the prayers

during my illness.

Sincerely,

Beth Joyner

May 2018

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

9:30 am Sunday

School

10:30 am Worship

Consecration

Sunday

8:45 am Elder’s

Mtg

9:30 am Sunday

School

10:30 am Worship

11:30 am

Fellowship Hour

Pentecost

9:30 am Sunday

School

10:30 am Worship

1:00 pm

Homebound

Communion

6:00 pm Board of

Director’s Meeting

6:00 pm Worship

Committee

Meeting

7:00 pm Outreach

Meeting

We are collecting Canned Meats for

L.I.F.E Pantry during the month of May

All packages can be placed in the

baskets located in the foyer.

Any food you wish to donate

is welcome any month.

Community Breakfast

8:00 am - 10:00 am

Fellowship Hall

Lion’s Club Banquet

10:30 am - 11:00 pm

Fellowship Hall

3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

4:15 pm Pastor’s

Class

6:00 pm

6:00 pm

12- 6:00 pm

Wilkerson

Birthday Party

Fellowship Hall

7:00 pm Disciples

Women’s

Fellowship

Mother’s Day

9:30 am Sunday

School

10:30 am Worship

Church Office

Closed

6:00 pm

6:00 pm

7:00 pm Prayer

Ministry Meeting

8:30 am St Vincent

Dunn Aux -

Fellowship Hall

3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

4:15 pm Pastor’s

Class

10:00 am Set up

for Lions Club

Banquet

Fellowship Hall

3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

4:15 pm Pastor’s

Class

3:00 Pm St

Vincent Dunn Aux

Set Up -

Fellowship Hall

06:00 pm

Nominating

Committee Mtg.

06:00 pm Choir

Practice

Mitzi Vacation

Church Office

Closed

Please let our office know if we don’t

have your birthday.

May 02 Amanda Ochs 02 Thomas Wilkerson 11 Donna Pace 11 Jacob Rumsey 12 Jack Maxwell 22 Pat Bennett 23 Taylor Dixon 25 LaVerne Speer 28 Sarah Holbrook 29 Brent Blackwell

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear friends, Happy Birthday to you.

SERVING SCHEDULE: May

Elders: Jamie Blackwell Nancy Mains

Deacons: Mitzi Flynn Carol Mifflin John George Bonnie Duncan *Melissa Wilkerson *Beth Joyner

Steward: Francena Beasley

If you cannot serve, please contact another Elder, Deacon or Steward and

arrange to trade dates.

Deacons marked with * are scheduled to assist the Elders with

Homebound Communion on the third Sunday

of each month.

*May Dave Cox Sally Allen

*June Ramona Kudla JoAnn George Cathy Allman

Hospitality and Welcome Table

*May: 06 **Open 13 David Tahere 20 Carol Mifflin 27 Amanda and Marsha Ochs *If you are unable to be a greeter or staff the Hospitality and Welcome Table, please find a replacement and arrange to trade dates.

**Would you like to bless the congregation by bringing goodies for the Hospitality Table? It can be donuts, bagels, pastries, fruit, etc. There are openings available. Call the office today or sign up at the Welcome Table.

June

Elders: Michael Bellush Jessica Bellush

Deacons: Dave Cox Sally Allen Bill McFadden Bev McFadden *Bev Wray *Mike Dixon

Steward: Marsha Ochs

We remember the following friends and loved ones in our prayers: Dee Anderson, Louis Anderson, Barb Antle, Alex Apple, Savanna Bailey, Francena Beasley & Family, Terri (mom) Belcher, Karen Billberry, Dean Blackwell, William Bouldin, Bob & June Briscoe, Richard Briscoe, Bill Bunch, Brandy Busz, Jerry Byrd, Gloria Canada, Westin Clausen, Mary Cordeiro, Evelyn Darkish, Matthew Drude, Dyan Duncan, Tom Dusard, Danny Dyke, Aaron Evans, Dave Ferry, Colin and Kate Forrest, Natalie Forte, Eileen Gage, Lucas Geyer, Zach Greene, Stephanie Grissom, Jack Hatten, Gloria Hawkins, Ann Hignite, the Hooch Family, Julanna Hornocker, Walter Howell, Carolyn Johnson, Bill Jones, Beth Joyner, Stacia Kern, Ed Laverny, Alan Lewis, Maggie B. Lewis, Daven Lindley, Jerry Lindsay, Bev Lockhart, George Lockhart, Josh Love, Nancy Mains, Michael Martin, Averi McArtor, Patricia McClure, Jan Merchant, Bill Miller, Frank Miller, Harmony Mosier, Robin New, Brooklyn Newman, Cynthia Palmer, Kathy Philpot, Jalen Pigg, Karen Pittman, Nancy Poynter, Larry Roach, Michael Roberts, Janie Romelfanger, Guy Rumsey, Jill Sandburn, Josie Sargent, Jim Sears, Ruby Sides, Naomi Sides, Natalie Sides, Nelson Sides, Janell Sides, Nora Sides, Dick Sides, Dee Sivey, Laverne Speer, Toni Star, Dorothy Stone, Francis Stone, Nancy Strunk, Gene Swain, Candace Sykes, John Tahere, Larry Thompson, Megan Tincher, Don Tirey, Ronald Toburen, George Tullette, Sherry Voigtschild, Betty Wagoner, Sharon Waggoner, Al Walker, Jerene Wigley, Matt & Heather Wilson, Maurice & Marge Wilson, Morris Wilson, Emily Wingo, Chelsie Wisely, Renee Worthington, Susie Wykoff, Trent Wykoff, Sarah Zell, Jed and Melanie Zumhingst, Family and Friends of John Gibson. Those away from home serving the church, in military and civil service, for education and work.

Those unable to be with us in Worship: Bonnie Blackwell, Bob Bunch, Janet Cunningham, Barbara Hall, Victor Harrell, Jacob Householder, John and Ellie Grissom, Shirley McMunn, Marilyn Olson, Rosalie Roberts, Warren and Janet Smith, Carolyn Tumey, Jimmy Waggoner.

Please advise Elder Jack Maxwell, or the church office of any prayer concerns,

corrections or updates.

A Morning Prayer: Delivering God, each day we awaken to your goodness and our hearts cry out in praise as you set us to tasks for the life of the world. Do not let us hinder your love, but strengthen our will, as we offer thanks in every simple gesture of this day. Amen. An Evening Prayer: Faithful God, the nightly dance of earth, moon, and stars speaks of your gift: love given, love received. We give thanks this night for the love you have shown to us this day. Let us rest in your peace and awaken in joy. Amen.

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

1101 15th Street - Bedford, Indiana - 47421 - 812-275-4497

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.

*Disciples of Christ Statement of Identity

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS:

Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am-4:00 pm Closed 12-12:30 for Lunch

PASTOR BRUCE’S OFFICE HOURS:

Tuesday and Wednesday: 9:30 am - 2:00 pm

CUSTODIAN’S HOURS:

Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Web Page: www.firstccbedford.org Facebook: First Christian Church Bedford - DOC Camp Facebook: Bedford Christian Camp

CHURCH STAFF:

Pastor: Rev. Bruce Ervin

E-Mail: pastor@firstccbedford.org

Music Ministry: Choir Director: Christa Tahere

E-Mail: christa.tahere@me.com

Organist: Mary Ruth Yates

Administrative Assistant: Mitzi Flynn

E-Mail: office@firstccbedford.org

Custodian: Steve Harrell

UPCOMING WORSHIP READINGS

May 6: Consecration Sunday Nothing Can Stop Us! Text: Romans 8:28-35; 37-39 May 13: Mother’s Day Giving Your Word Text: John 17:6-19 May 20: Pentecost The Church in the Power of the Spirit Text: Acts 2:1-21

Come Worship With Us!

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship Service 10:30 am