BFCC e-Caller Reaching Outward to Connect People with God's Abundance

December 2019

Pastoral Ponderings We move this Sunday, December 1, into the season of Advent. It is the season of preparing and waiting for the coming of the Christ. It is a thin place on the Church calendar, where the membrane between time and eternity is quite permeable, and the Eternal One is able to move in astounding ways within us and around us; moving in ways that change us and make us new.

There's a line in a Christmas carol that speaks well to what Advent is about. In Joy to the World we sing, "Let every heart prepare him room." It brings to mind the inn at Bethlehem, where there was no room for the Holy Family on the night of Jesus' birth. The One who was despised and rejected during his earthly life is the very one for whom we are to now make room in our hearts and minds and at the very center of our lives.

Making room: That's what a crew of decorators were doing at the church on Sunday and Monday. They were making a room - the Sanctuary - ready for Advent and Christmas worship. And what a crew; what dedication! I am deeply impressed, and deeply appreciative, to these dedicated workers for the hours of preparation that they have put into making our Sanctuary - and indeed our entire church building - ready to receive the Christ.

Making room: That's what we seek to do when we enter into the spiritual discipline of daily devotions during Advent. Of course, daily devotions is a good discipline throughout the church year, but Advent is an excellent time to get started. Check out you inbox each morning (Monday-Saturday) during Advent, beginning Monday, December 2; or pick-up a hard copy of daily readings for the week each Sunday in Advent on the Welcome Table. There you will find a daily scripture and reading upon which you are invited to reflect. In so doing, you will be making your heart ready to receive the Christ.

Making room: That's what we're called to do as we engage those issues in our community and our world that cause people to be excluded from the abundance intended for all. The Holy Family was homeless that night in Bethlehem, and then they were refugees; fleeing the deadly persecution of an evil tyrant. There was no room for them: first in the inn and then in all of Judea. Similarly, there is no room in our prosperous economy for those who attended under-resourced schools, or were hit with too many big health care bills, or whose lives have been ruined by addiction. Justice is about making room in economies both local and global for these sons and daughters of God; and thus making our world ready to receive the Christ.

Making room: it's what Advent is all about. Let every heart prepare Christ room during Advent, that on Christmas Eve heaven and nature might sing, "Gloria in excelsis Deo!"

Advent Blessings! Pastor Bruce

December 15 & 22,

Disciple churches

across the US and

Canada will collect

the Christmas

offering.

Our finest gifts

support the

Ministries of our

region.

Please give

generously to this

year’s offering.

December 2 is the last day to sign up!

It’s Time for Our Adopt a Family Project.

The Christmas list is posted in the foyer.

Please read the guidelines before you purchase a gift.

All gifts need to be the library by December 15.

If you would like to give a monetary donation, please make the

check payable to First Christian Church with a memo for Adopt-

A-Family. See Amy Holbrook for any questions.

and Silent Auction Saturday, December 7, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Fellowship Hall

Lunch from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Chili or Beans, Cornbread or Crackers and Drink $5.00

Desserts Available

Invite all your family and friends for a relaxing day of Shopping, Great Food and

Great Fellowship. Sponsored by the Youth of First Christian Church

As we continue to look forward to the birth of Jesus this Advent,

we hope you will join us for these special events in the life of our church!

May God bless you and keep you!

Youth Christmas Pageant/White Gift Service and Luncheon

Join us on Sunday morning, December 22 as our youth present a

special nativity celebration as part of White Gifts Sunday. Special

music and the story of Christ’s coming will be the perfect way to focus

our hearts during this Advent season. Also remember to bring your

non-perishable food items, for L.I.F.E. pantry, wrapped in white paper

to be brought up front during the worship service! Please bring a dish

to share and stay and celebrate with the youth at the Luncheon

Fellowship immediately after worship!

Candlelight and Communion Service Festive music at 10:30 pm with the service starting at 11:00 pm: Scripture readings and carols in a wonderful candlelight atmosphere as we once again welcome the Christ Child into our midst.

So that we may celebrate Christmas,

the office will be closed

Wednesday, December 25 and Thursday, December 26.

We will also be closed on

Wednesday, January 1 and Thursday, January 2.

The office will reopen at 8:00 am on Monday, January 6.

Pastor Bruce will be on vacation from

Wednesday, December 25 - January 3.

If you have a pastoral emergency, call the office,

leave a detailed message and someone will get back

to you as soon as possible.

Please let our office know if we don’t have your birthday.

December

12/01 Pastor Bruce 12/02 Grant Robbins 12/06 Ava Bunch 12/10 Cathy Allman 12/11 Maggie B. Lewis 12/13 Ramona Kudla 12/15 Michael Bellush 12/15 Nancy Mains 12/18 Harrison Parker 12/22 Merian Jones 12/24 Rhonda Zimmerman 12/26 Wanda Jones 12/26 Gracie Walls 12/30 Cheryl Byrd

Happy Birthday

to you,

Happy Birthday

to you,

Happy Birthday

dear friends,

Happy Birthday

to you.

December

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

We are collecting Beans and Cornbread for L.I.F.E

Pantry during the month of December. All packages can be placed in the baskets located in the foyer. Any food you wish to donate is

welcome any month.

9:30 Sunday

School

10:30 Worship

Baptism

11:45 Play

Rehearsal

1:00 Homebound

Communion

4:15 pm Parent

Café

(Private Event )

Fellowship Hall,

Kitchen, Library,

Toddler Room

and Nursery

7:00 pm

Outreach

Ministry Meeting

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship

6:15 pm

7:00 pm Prayer

Ministry Meeting

Community

Breakfast

8:00 am - 10:00 am

Fellowship Hall

10:00 am Dress

Rehearsal

9:30 Sunday School

10:30

Worship/Youth

Program/White Gift

Sunday

12:00 pm

Fellowship Hour

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship

11:45 Play

Rehearsal

11:00 am Ladies

of the Round

Table Meeting,

Fellowship Hall

6:00 pm—

Disciples Women

Christmas Dinner

3:30 pm -

5:30 pm

3:30 pm -

5:30 pm

5:15 pm Elder’s

Meeting

6:15 pm

6:15 pm

3:30 pm -

5:30 pm

10:30 pm

Christmas Eve

Candlelight Service

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship

Christmas Bazaar

10 am - 4 pm

Fellowship Hall

6:00 pm Christmas

Parade

Office Closed

Pastor Bruce Vacation thru January 3

SERVING SCHEDULE:

December

Elders: Jackie Robbins 01st Jamie Blackwell 08th Don Mains 15th Pat Bennett 22nd Mitzi Flynn 29th Pat Bennett

Deacons:

+Susan Maxwell Lewis *Carol Mifflin *Francena Beasley +Donna Myers Becky Wright Mona Miller

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.

Deacons marked with + are the microphone runners for

joys/concerns.

*December:

15th Street Treva Hooten K Street Becky Wright Canopy Bonnie Duncan

Hospitality and Welcome Table

*December: 01 Treva Olson 08 Barbara Sorrells 15 Bev McFadden 22 Jackie Robbins 29 Mary Ruth Yates

*If you are unable to be a greeter or staff the Hospitality and Welcome Table, please find a replacement and arrange to trade dates.

POINSETTIA ORDER FORM You are invited to provide a poinsettia in memory or honor

of a loved one to be placed on the chancel for the Christmas holiday season.

I wish to order _____ Poinsettia at $10.00 each = $________

My gift to be listed in the bulletin (PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY):

In Memory of________________________________________

In Honor of__________________________________________

Given by____________________________________________

Attach a check for $__________ payable to First Christian

Church, and mail to 1101 15th St., Bedford, IN 47421.

Completed form must accompany payment:

order and payment must be in the office by December 8.

Please call the office if you think your order will arrive late.

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

SOCIAL MEDIA

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:

Jono Palmer E-Mail:

jonbpalm@iu.edu Organist:

Mary Ruth Yates

Administrative Assistant: Mitzi Flynn

E-Mail: office@firstccbedford.org

Custodian: Steve Harrell

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS:

Monday - Thursday: 8:45 am - 2:00 pm

Closed Friday

PASTOR BRUCE’S

OFFICE HOURS:

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

Come Worship With Us!

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship Service 10:30 am

UPCOMING WORSHIP READINGS

December 1: First Sunday in Advent Theme: Hold Firm to the Vision Text: Isaiah 2:1-5

December 8: Second Sunday in Advent Theme: The Seeds of Despair and the Harvest of Hope Text: Isaiah 11:1-10

December 15: Third Sunday in Advent Theme: Watering the Garden of Hope Text: Isaiah 35:1-10

December 22: Fourth Sunday in Advent Theme: Hope Fulfilled: The Eternal Now Text: Luke 1:46-55

CUSTODIAN’S HOURS:

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