Wednesday, September 27, 2017 Volume 18, Number 16

EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH

I study the Bible. A lot. And yet somehow, I am still surprised by it.

On Friday, I thought I’d summarize the Samson story as quickly as I could, so I went to the scripture and opened Judges--not because I couldn’t remember Samson’s story, but because it’s me, and I like to be thorough and I didn’t want to mess my summary up because I forgot something.

Samson’s story begins in Judges Chapter 13 and is only 4 chapters long. But even in that short amount of words there are parts of the story that I’d forgotten and that were certainly not taught to me by my Sunday School teachers. As I was reading and making notes for my summary I got to Chapter 15 verse 3 and just started laughing out loud. I think I might have even startled Janie in her office next door. (Friday’s are quiet days in the office, good days for Bible study).

What got my funny bone is

Samson, the great Samson, the

powerful Samson plotting what

seems like devious school boy style

mischief with disastrous results.

Samson says, “This time, when I

do mischief to the Philistines, I will

be without blame.” So, he captures

300 foxes (yes, 300, and no I don’t

know how he did it or long it would

take) and he ties them together tail

to tail, in pairs.

Continued next page

From Our Minister of Church Life

Upcoming Sermons October 1, 2017 World Communion Sunday

Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes

“Altogether All Together”

Acts 2:5-12, 38-39

October 8, 2017

Rev. Colin McRaney

“The Things We Hand Down”

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Sunday Services 8:30 am - Chapel

10:50 am - Sanctuary www.edcc.org

ORDINATIONS

You’ve seen their pictures on the wall in the connecting hallway between the Minyard and Education buildings.

They are our Timothys and Priscillas - men and women who have claimed East Dallas Christian Church as their home congregation and have been ordained by our congregation to serve in the ministry of Jesus Christ somewhere in the world.

In the next few newsletters we will get to know brief backgrounds about those names and faces you see every week when you walk down the hall.

HAWKINS, Rev. Jessie Cornelia

Ordained 1932. She received her BA from TCU in 1932. She earned her Master’s degree from SMU in 1948. She served the FCC in Longview and the Greenville Ave. CC. She was thrilled when on her birthday in 1975 she was appointed the Church historian. She taught Bible Credit classes and directed a young people’s choir.

PATTERON, Rev. Harley

Ordained June 18, 1937. Rev. Patterson once lived in the Juliette Fowler Home, going to live there when he was seven. He lived there until he enrolled in TCU in 1941. He went on to the Chicago Theological Seminary and had pastorates in Richmond Avenue Church, Buffalo, NY, Lufkin, TX, and Wichita Falls, TX. Rev. Patterson married Frances Catherine Lucas in Salt Lake City. Utah. Rev. Kenneth Hay served as best man. The couple has three children, Larry, Gayle and Kathy.

PARISH Jr., Rev. William Simpson

Ordained Oct 25, 1942. At the time of his ordination Rev. Parish was serving the Edge Cliffe Church in Oak Cliff. He was born in Dallas in 1911 and died in Tarrant County in 1985. However, he is buried in Grove Hill Memorial Park with his wife Blanche. He pastored the First CC in Lawton, Oklahoma and a church in Denton, TX. The couple apparently did not have any children. continued on page 2

Page 2

Continued from front page

Then Samson ties a torch between each pair, and when the torches are lit, the foxes run off setting everything in their path on fire. Samson does this in Philistine territory and he destroys vineyards, orchards, and fields of grain. But, for some reason I could not stop laughing at the image of Samson actually doing this.

The reason why Samson came to mind for this summary project was a brief discussion from Wednesday Bible study wherein I got to explain that the Bible is full of crazy stories, so many in fact, that I forget how many there are and I used Samson as an example.

Did you know that Samson is credited with

killing over 2,000 people personally? Crazy.

My point is this: I got a great compliment yesterday when I was introduced to a guest as “our resident Biblical scholar,” I’m grateful for that and I do read the scriptures a lot and study. But, I still don’t know all the great stories found in scripture. I’m still pleasantly surprised by stories and it’s like reading them again for the first time.

So, pick up your Bible, open it to a page and read. Read about Samson, his mighty strength and his foolishness. Read about Moses and his stutter and his rage. Read about Jezebel and her manipulation of a kingdom.

Don’t say to yourself, “There is nothing new in

this book for me.” Because in the Good Book

there is always something good to read.

2018 NTA

LEADER & LEARNER EVENT

SPEAKER:

Terrell McTyre Minister for New Church Strategies New Hope

Partnership - Disciples

Saturday, January 27, 2018

8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

at East Dallas Christian Church

Church History continued from front page

HAY, Rev. Kenneth McKinley

Ordained June 20, 1937. Rev. Hay, born in Smith Falls, Ontario, hitch-hiked to Dallas as a layman in 1925. Somewhere along the way he met a Dallas girl, Miss Naomi Elizabeth Littlepage who attended East Dallas Christian Church. They were married in 1925 by Dr. L.N.D. Wells presumably. Dr. Wells began working on Hay and in 1934 he decided to become a minister. He went to TCU and obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Divinity degrees.

After graduation, Hay served as assistant pastor for five years at Central Christian Church in Dallas and for a year was its pastor. He served as a chaplain in the US Army, 1943-1946.

MOOTY,Jr. Rev. Amos Alexander.

Ordained Oct. 25, 1942. He had attended SMU. His wife was Elizabeth Brewer and his son was born in Dallas on 22 Feb. 1946. His son, Michael Ward Mooty, served EDCC as Senior Minister from March 1988 to March 1995. The senior Rev. Mooty’s first pastorate was at Celina and Howe, Texas. He served the Oak Cliff Christian Church for three years and became the pastor of the FCC of Coleman.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1ST

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

In the Disciples Room we will offer the second

opportunity for members to have photos taken for the directory.

All you have to do is look your best and show up anytime between the hours (8am - 2pm).

The Annual Community Carnival is Saturday,

October 28, 10 AM - Noon in the Great Hall. What fun it is to see the smiling faces of all the children from the EDCC, the neighborhood,

Literacy Achieves dressed in their favorite costumes enjoying all the carnival activities and candy! To make this event a success, we need

volunteers to:

• Bring decorations/candy to decorate for “Table or Treat”

• Work a game booth

• Help set-up

Please call Janie Autz at 214.824.8185 or email Janie@edcc.org

to let her know what you would like to do to help.

Rosemary Rumbley

Page 4

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

NOON Cowboy Game & Lunch, Great Hall

7:00 PM Woodrow Wilson Concert, Sanctuary & Great Hall 6:30 PM The Gathering NOW Classroom

6:30 PM Church Life Committee Meeting Disciples Room

8:30 AM Disciple Men’s Breakfast at BuzzBrews Lakewood

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

6:30 - 8:00 PM

EDCC Book Club Disciples Room

6:30 PM The Gathering Community RM.

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

4:00 PM Church Picnic at White Rock Lake

10:30 AM Disciples Women Disciples Room 6:30 PM The Gathering Community RM.

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

6:30 PM The Gathering Community RM. 7:00 PM NASHIM Disciples Room

AGAPE Food Distribution

10:00 AM - Noon Community Carnival, Great Hall

29 30 31

STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF NOON Elders Lunch, Disciples Room

6:30 PM The Gathering Community RM.

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by Judy Garrett

September 10th

After singing some beautiful, familiar hymns, we heard a prayer from Jimmie Smith asking God to please watch over us and help all the people suffering from the terrible storms. We hope that Donna Robins has a fun birthday on the 12th. After welcoming the Davisons and the Queens, Anne Sanders informed us that Betty Counts has a broken toe and has her car in the shop again! We send healing prayers to all those who are hurting now, including Betty Nyenhuis, Jack Cannon, and Ken Hartman.

Todd Kappelman read from chapter 37 of Genesis where Joseph, the favorite child of Jacob, is sold by his jealous brothers to Ishmaelites on their way from Gilead to Egypt. The brothers smeared blood on Joseph's coat to show Jacob that Joseph was probably killed by a wild animal. Todd's message for us was that even when you do the right thing, bad things can happen. It is natural for us to have disappointments, and God is there to give us strength.

President Paula gave us this thought for the day: Courage isn't having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength.

September 17th

Our song service performed by Kristal Milazzo and Carol Hooten was followed by Joe Zerda's lovely prayer asking God to help us be reflections of the Master who we love and serve. Ann Sanders announced the very upsetting news of Betty Davison's passing yesterday afternoon. We were so fortunate to have Betty as a part of our class, and her son, Gary, who always brought her to church when he was visiting. She was truly a blessing.

Ann went on with her report. The Cannons are doing better, but Betty Nyenhuis is still looking for back pain relief. Betty Counts is still without a car, and she lost her microwave! Ken Hartman was able to attend his high school reunion. We were thrilled to see Larry McCoy in class today. And we sent happy birthday wishes to Yvonne Clark who is at home.

Joe Milazzo brought us the lesson from Genesis 30 where Jacob finally quits working for Laban. There were tricks played so that Jacob was paid for his work by taking animals instead of wages. Even though he received the worst of the flocks, Jacob ends up being a wealthy person. God didn't tell Jacob about the trickery, but God talked with Jacob later when he was successful. Perhaps it's a test about stewardship. We should do the best we can, and if we are successful, we should share with others. If we give of ourselves, we will be rewarded one day.

Paula Holland concluded class with this message: "God grades on the cross - not the curve."

EVERY PERSON COUNTS

As partners again with Central Market at the Feast of Sharing on November 9, please help us take a stand to improve the lives of our

neighbors in need by donating pairs of new, warm socks.

We’ll be collecting new pairs of socks (all sizes…children’s to

adults’) until November 5. The socks will be distributed at

Central’s Market’s Annual Feast of Sharing at Fair Park on

November 9 where everyone will receive a free holiday feast!

Please help us show that EVERYONE MATTERS!

***PLEASE LOOK FOR COLLECTION BOXES IN

OUR EDCC HALLWAYS****

THANK YOU!!!!!

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Sunday, October 1 , 2017

Visitors September 17, 2017

Serving Schedules & Visitors

Presiding Toby Ashabranner

Cup Marvin Kuers

Loaf Ken Kuesel

Chapel Nicole McRaney

Fowler Julia Laxson

Preparation Allison Herrold

Sharon Stupp

Michael Wyatt Leo Pena

Sunday, October 8 , 2017

Visitors September 24 2017

Presiding Marvin Kuers

Cup Ken Kuesel

Loaf Nicole McRaney

Chapel Julia Laxson

Fowler Steve Lilley

Preparation Diane Elliott-Post

Jerri Brooks

Bob Charles Good Jaroy & Bennie Moore

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS Carolyn Howell 1st

Nancy Cox 2nd

Bethany Vasquez 2nd

Chris Halyburton 3rd

Kim Clowe 4th

David Hamer 6th

Linda Mueller 11th

Tonia Kuesel 12th

David Turner 13th

Karen Hill 14th

Margot Lilley 15th

Janice Pinyan 15th

Julie Alexander 16th

America Marchan 16th

Don Stokes 16th

Marvin Kuers 20th

Ruthie Thomas 23rd

Allison Herrold 24th

Kim Vega 27th

Jackie Andrews 29th

Steven Baker 30th

Ken Hartman 31st

If you have a birthday in OCTOBER and don’t see your name on this list

please call the church office and let us know. 214.824.8185

Upcoming Books for BOOK CLUB

October 9th

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Jonathan Safron Foer

November 13th

America’s First Daughter

Stephanie Dray

Celebrating and giving thanks for:

• Celebrating and giving thanks for all our children and youth including Rachael and Marisa Carson

• Our young adults away at college or in town including Alexis Wilson

• Magnificent music on Sunday, especially from our guest soloists, Paul Johnson and Tammie Woods!

• Powerful sermon series , Diverse Disciples: “We are all one in Christ”

• Frances Lang is cancer free!

• Successful, festive and fun Concert Series Fundraiser in the Kuesel’s beautiful backyard; thank you, Tonia

and Ken; all those who supported it with donations ($5,000 raised); everyone who worked to make it a success.

• Disciple Women’s fall kick off luncheon with Rosemary Rumbley; over 50 in attendance

• Big attendance of all committees at EDCC board meeting; great organization and ideas shared

• Outreach Committee’s participation in Agape Clinic Health Fair on Saturday

• Gage Mosty in the band!

• Dr. Claude Walker and Shirley receive Lifetime Preaching Award at Disciple’s Preaching Festival

Each Tuesday from 7-9 a.m., EDCC elders gather for prayer. From wherever you may be during this time period, the elders invite you to join them in prayer, using this prayer list or your own.

Pray for Those In our Church Family:

For Ongoing Concerns In our Congregation, including:

• Bettie Queen

For Ongoing Concerns Outside our Congregation, including:

• Our City

For Our Limited Activity Members, including:

• Yvonne Clark

For Those Serving in the Military, especially:

• Chad Bainbridge

For Our Ministries, including:

• First Christian Church in Port Arthur, Texas

For Those serving our world, including:

• Eubank Family

For Those Seeking Employment

Answered Prayers!

Outside our Congregation:

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• Seasonal Illnesses

• Jules Martinez and Greg Byrne

• Family of Betty Davison

• Judy Garrett

• Ron Pettie and his family

• Julio Martinez and family

• Bob Hearne & Valencia Pan

• Connie Saunders

• Toni Cline

• Marc Carden

• Pat Ruddell

• Sammy Adair

• Evan Smith and family

• Jeanette Green

• Darcy Wyler

• Marsha , sister of Jean Bainbridge

• Pastor Lonely Chiwaya and 4 year old son

• Dr. Claude Walker

• Dale Ritchie

• Paru Hindocha

• John Mosty

• Matt Ramirez

• Dean Stokes

• Mary Jo Jewett and Curly

• Barb McRaney

• Sonia Villarreal and family

• Family of Greg Singleton

629 N. Peak Street Dallas, TX 75246

P.O. Box 140009 Dallas, TX 75214