THE CHRISTIAN VISITOR

First Christian Church — (Disciples of Christ) January 2020 Newsletter

First Christian (Disciples of Christ) 302 North Church Street Fayette, MO 65248

Address Service Requested

A Note from Stephen Members and Friends of First Christian Church of Fayette, 2020 is upon us. Each year as the calendar flips to January, our lives have a number of new begin-nings. Church life is no different. The congregation has people changing leadership roles. Our administra-tive tasks reset for the business components of our ministry. We take a look ahead to the coming months thinking of how Lent, Easter, Pentecost will all be recognized in worship. Our staff starts thinking about when to take time off and when not to take time off. We start to think of what will we do for Vacation Bible School. We do this without a lot of concern because it is something that happens every year. This is normal January thinking.

In many respects, 2020 will be similar to all the years that came before. But 2020 is also the year which be-gins a new era of ministry for First Christian Church of Fayette. 2020 is the year of calling a new settled pastor. While much of what happens here will continue similarly to how it has in the past, there will be some changes. The congregation will have a new personality in the mix. A personality that has different insights and different experiences to draw upon than the pastors who have ministered here before. Your new pastor will bring a capacity for growth that is unique to their gifts and graces. A new chapter in the story of First Christian Church of Fayette is about to be written.

Last spring, many of you participated in the community conversation about the past chapters of the church’s story. People divided up into groups based on what era of church history they came to the congrega-tion. We talked about the world events that were going on during their era. We talked about the life of the church during those times. It was an interesting conversation. Each group expressed that era of the congre-gation from their perspective, from their experience.

I wish I could go forward in time ten years from now and listen to the stories of the people that came to First Christian Church of Fayette in the early 2020s. What will their chapter look like? What will be their under-standing of the identity of First Christian Church of Fayette? I really don’t know how this next chapter will go, but I do believe it will be a good story. Welcome to 2020. Welcome to a new era. Stephen

302 North Church Street Fayette, Missouri 65248 Office: (660) 248-3795 Office-email: 1cchurch@sbcglobal.net Rev. Stephen Johnson, Transitional Minister Stephen’s email: pastorstephenjohnson@gmail.com

Adult Sunday School—9:00 a.m.

Children’s Sunday School—9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship -10:15 a.m. Evening Worship—5:30 p.m.

Nursery Provided @ both services www.fayettefcc.org

Hello Everyone, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

The Pastoral Search Committee did not meet in December. The Pastoral Profile Form was completed and delivered to our

Regional Minister in November, and we are planning to review search and call Pastoral profiles at a meeting with our Regional

Minister on Saturday January 11th.

The committee members are currently working independently on interview questions for our top candidates, and will have them

ready by the time we meet to go over all of the search and call profiles in January. The committee asks that everyone be in prayer

that our new Pastor will be in the search and call profiles we review on January 11th.

The Search Committee wishes to express our gratitude for the help and support we received from our church community in 2019,

and we are very excited to see what is in store for us in regard to a new Pastor to lead our church in 2020!

It is the Committees hope that all of you have a Happy New Year, and a year full of blessings in 2020!

Yours in Christ,

Fred Eaton,

Pastoral Search Committee Chair

5-Jan 12-Jan 19-Jan 26-Jan

ELDERS Com. George Rasche Steve Frevert Pat Hilgedick Stephanie Moore

Off. Mike Thornton Novy Foland Gary Bagby Skip Vandelicht

DIACONATE Leah Flaspohler Pansy Kean Mona Stevenson Lacey Gladden

Ben Gladden Brian McMillan Jan Kunkel Ronnie Lessly

Dale Linhart Emily Bange Jr. Kunkel Darrel Monckton

Margie Linhart Leslie Sutton Rosie Thornton Terry Bentley

LAY LEADER Cathey Monckton Skip Vandelicht Novy Foland Pat Hilgedick

GREETERS Melody Vandelicht Kenny Blakely Trish Hilgedick Bobby Wilhoit

Pansy Kean Bonnie Blakely Kathy Baylor Edris Wilhoit

COMMUNION Diaconate Team Diaconate Team Diaconate Team Diaconate Team

PREP/CLEAN-UP

NURSERY Paige Frerking Paige Frerking Paige Frerking Paige Frerking

Hailey Sage Hailey Sage Hailey Sage Hailey Sage

HOSPITALITY ROOM Edris Wilhoit Cathey Monckton Nancy Shepherd Joan McMillan

Jan Kunkel Lesley Monckton Terry Bentley Lisa Cook

Shut-In Communion Mike Thornton

6-Jan

January 2 Wyatt Symes

January 4 Judy Strodtman

Addison Barringhaus

January 6 Amber Drane

Rick Huffstutter

January 7 Sophie Schluckebier

Ivan & Stephanie Moore

January 12 Dewey Holst

January 13 Gail Mounter

January 15 Aaron & Kelley

Marchbanks

January 18 Johnny Frevert, Jr.

Jenifer Monckton

January 20 Helen Frevert

January 22 Hailey Sage

January 23 Hudsyn Conrow

January 24 Adrian Stumbaugh

Lisa Baylor

January 25 Laura Bagby

Tony & Lisa Cook

January 30 Andrew Johnmeyer

Troy Williams

Colt Hilgedick

Charleigh Barringhaus

Jan. 1-3 Lori out of Office.

Sun., Jan. 5 10:15 a.m. Morning Worship Service 5:30 p.m. Evening Worship Service 6:15 p.m. Young Adult Bible Study & pizza

Wed., Jan. 8 6:30—7:30 p.m. Choir Practice in the Sanctuary.

Sat., Jan, 11 10:00 a.m. Pastoral Search Committee Meeting. Lunch Provided. Sun., Jan 12 Installation of Officers during Morning Worship. 6:15 p.m. Board Meeting.

Wed., Jan 15 3:00-5:30 p.m. After School Fellowship resumes 6:30—7:30 p.m. Choir Practice in the Sanctuary.

Sun., Jan. 19 3:00 p.m. Martin Luther King Service @ First Baptist

Wed., Jan 22

3:00-5:30 p.m. After School Fellowship 6:30—7:30 p.m. Choir Practice in the Sanctuary. 7:30 p.m. Trustees Meeting in the Board Room

Wed., Jan 29 3:00-5:30 p.m. After School Fellowship 6:30—7:30 p.m. Choir Practice in the Sanctuary.

January Birthdays

and Anniversaries IN THE MAIL

The 2020 Lenten Devotional Booklet Once again, we will be collaborating with Boonville First Christian to put out a joint devotional booklet this coming year. And we will also be sharing our devotional with a couple other smaller Disciple churches as well. So we will need to get a total of 40 devotionals minimum for the booklet. Plus kid sketches.

HERE is the key DUE DATE based on a February 26th Ash Wednesday: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020, at noon. So start thinking about a bible reference, devotional, and prayer now; I am always available for help if needed . Thanks. Jay Stevenson, Editor

Dear Church Family, Thank you so much for the gift card to Emmet’s given to me at Christmas. As I begin my 16th year as secretary, I want everyone to know how much I value the many blessings and friendships this position has offered me. I appreciate your thoughtfulness each and every year. Sincerely, Lori Strodtman Dear Members of FCC, What a nice surprise when I opened the “Get Well” card. Thanks to all of you for being so thoughtful. It meant so much to me! May God bless all of you! Martha Ann Strodtman Thank you so very much for the lovely lunch you served for Betty Allen’s friends and family. It gave us time to visit and relax while remembering my mom. She always looked forward to your newsletter. It made her feel connected to Fayette. Thank you for sharing our sorrow. Betty Allen’s family Linda and Mike Catudal

Numbers throughout our

Christmas Season

Attendance

Dec. 22 (Children’s Pageant): 130

Christmas Eve: 150

Christmas Dinner: Approx. 100 Total

Offerings

Christ Child Offering $ 1,660.00

Regional Offering $ 130.00

Anyone who would like to know more about

membership with Fayette First Christian

Church, making a public Confession of Faith

or Christian Baptism, is encouraged to

contact Pastor Stephen. He will be happy to

schedule a time to talk with you and answer

any questions. 509-475-1302 or

pastorstephenjohnson@gmail.com

Worship Schedule for January

Sun., Jan.5

Sermon Title: “And they knelt down and paid him homage”

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Choir Anthem: “The Word of God”

Sun., Jan. 12

Sermon Title: “Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be

baptized by him”

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Choir Anthem: “One Gift the Magi Bore”

Sun., Jan. 19

Sermon Title: “We Found the Messiah”

Scripture: John 1:29-42

No Choir Anthem

Sun., Jan. 26

Sermon: “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people”

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-23

Choir Anthem: “Our Savior’s Calling”

Pictures from our 2019 Children’s Christmas Pageant.

Photo at right is Stephen delivering the Children’s

Moment on Christmas Eve to approx. 25 children.