the newsletter of first christian church (disciples of christ)march 27, 2012

THEvolume xxv | no. 87

august 14, 2012

Attention—All Current & Want-to-Be Candlelighters!CANDLELIGHTER TRAINING AUGUST 19

The Candlelighter (Acolyte) has the most important role in our worship services, as they are charged with bringing in the light of Christ each and every Sunday. As such, we need to help these folks by training them!

On August 19 at 9:30 AM (before worship), we’ll have training for all current and want-to-be candlelighters. This training is manda-tory; you will not be scheduled to be a candlelighter if you are not in attendance at this meeting.

Acolytes must be no younger than entering second grade and no older than entering fifth grade. Very, very responsible First Grad-ers are also welcome, based upon their parent’s consent and how their parents believe they will handle fire.

youth group starting in the fallStarting this fall, we will be having regular youth meetings on Wednesday evenings. We will meet at 6:00 and go until 7:30. Rev. Ryan will lead our time together, and we’ll be engaging in a variety of activities, from hanging out to service activities to prayer and worship. These times are open to all youth from grade 6 through grade 12. Middle school students and high school students will meet together at first, but as soon as each group has 10 or more students, they will meet separately.

Ryan will need some adult youth sponsors to help him with this time as well. In order to be a sponsor, you need to be at least eight years out of high school. If you enjoy being with our youth and want to encourage their growth in faith, please let Ryan know.

Meanwhile, we will need plenty of people praying for our youth and supporting them in various ways. Begin praying now! Stay tuned for opportunities to support them as they become available.

Choir Returns in AugustThe choir will be back in full swing the month of August, however we are asking for your help. We would like you to join the choir. The only requirement is that you can match pitch. We can teach you how to read parts, and choir members will be happy to guide you along. You’ll have a good time too. We are especially in need of male tenor and bass voices, but men and women alike are welcome. EVERYONE ages 13 to mature adults who would like to help be an enhancement to the worship experience is encouraged to participate! The choir rehearses every Wednesday evening from 7:00-8:00pm and performs 3 Sundays a month. September 5th we will begin working on our Christmas Program “Caroling, Caroling” arranged by a native Kansas City composer, Mark Hayes, with Flute, Oboe, Piano and Percussion. As much as we love having you in the congregation, we would love your help in the choir loft! You can call or email with questions to Mark Holcomb, Director of Music Ministries. Mark W. Holcomb Cell: 816-807-2297Email: mholcomb@concorde.edu

scholarship updateThe amount of interest received this year for the Miller Scholarship was $4564.61 which was divided eight ways for our scholarship winners resulting in each receiving $570. The amount for the Rick-etts Scholarship was $1989.03 and was evenly divided seven ways with each student receiving $284. Patrick Burns received the Miller Scholarship only as he has not yet completed one year of college. He will receive $570. Lauren Burns, Megan Burns, Stefanie Duff, Payton Hartman, Grace Miller, Tony Stripling, and Allison Watkins were re-cipients of both scholarships, and each will receive $854. Good luck to our college students as they embark upon another year of higher learning!

current culture

4. Encouraging Families. There are some who sit in our pews each Sunday who have well-worn grooves from where they, their parents, and their great-grandparents sat, and yet there are those who find themselves newly wondering at the beauty of our sanctuary. Time has told the story of families new, old, traditional, and untraditional, who have made their home here at FCC. When I say families, I mean not only those long-tenured and deep-rooted family trees, but also those “families” who meet every Sunday at Lowman’s Café right after church for lunch and fellowship. Those “families” who play Bunco on Wednesday nights with their friends. We know that “FAMILY” is a word that can be defined in many, many different ways, and we define it still today.

5. Last but not least, Serving from God’s Table of Love. Not only do we give abundantly from our resources, but we also have the hearts of servants. Micah Ministry on Mondays has benefited so many times from our volunteers who cook, serve, and work in the Clothing Closet. Our Food Pantry has grown to be the largest in Smithville. We have gone on Mission Trips and local mission projects, and we love to love others.

So, viewing these values, how do you think we’re doing with them currently? On Monday Night, I asked all eighty of us present to share how they would rate each of these values individually, on a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 being the weakest and 10 being the strongest, as to how we are doing right now with them. How would you rate them, and how are we doing?

Next week, I’ll share with you the results of how those present rated us.

With excitement and grace,

Ryan

A Word from Ryan

Last week I shared with you a bit of what was discussed at the “State of the Church” Dinner on Monday, August 5, 2012. We had a great time of fellowship and discussion with one another, highlighted by a discussion about our church’s past, present, and future. So, let’s pick up where I left off last week:

Our congregation is in a strong place of vibrant life, and we’re looking into the future and asking ourselves, “Where is God leading us?” In our past, when we’ve sought to answer this question, there are three resources we’ve tapped: First, we have looked at our history and hon-ored it. Then, we’ve taken a pragmatic look at the community we are in and how it is changing, and finally we’ve taken bold steps with faith to set new priorities around where God is leading us.

When we honor our history today, we realize that there have really been five values that our congregation has held true throughout our life together:

1. Building Community. From the moment we began forming in the 1820s to today, Smithville First Christian Church and its members have been immersed in congregational community and civic commu-nity. In the 1860s, we bought a great symbol of this value: the Church Bell, which still rings out every Sunday morning, calling all people to faithfulness. More than this, though, we have worked to build com-munity within the walls of our church by making sure every voice is valued and all people are loved. Beyond our walls, our members are working to help move and shape Smithville as an original, unique, and welcoming community that encourages its members to make the world a better and more grace-filled place.

2. Spiritual Formation. Sunday School. Bible Study. Bread and Broth. Christian education is the unique priority of the church, and we have tried to take it seriously. While we as Disciples do not offer any state-ment other than, “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Liv-ing God, and Lord and Savior of the World,” we recognize that implicit in that statement is a challenge to each of us to grow and develop our own theologies.

3. Abundant Generosity. We are a giving church. There are so many stories of people from our congregation giving of their time, talent, and resources to improve the ministry of the Gospel at FCC Smith-ville. Many still remember the story of the Women’s Group shuck-ing corn to help purchase brick for our buildings. Others remember a more recent story, of how the debt on the 1999 portion of our building was paid off within three years. We view our financial resources as tools by which to do ministry, not safeguards that have to be carefully guarded.

current culture

food pantry reportmicah 6:8. Thanks to Perry Winn & Betty Spencer, the volunteers for this week. Thanks to Daisy Smith for pears, Jim Ratliff for toma-toes, and Judy Clough for tomatoes. Thank you all for your dona-tions of all types; money, time, & food. The blessings keep coming. Praise God. One measure of our likeness to Christ is our sensitivity to the suffering of others.

Love, Rick. colossians 3:15-17

A Note of Thanks from Kendall & Shane CissellThank you for helping us go to Grandparents Camp at Tall Oaks. Wehad a great time with our Nanny, and we really en-joyed riding the horses. —Kendall & Shane Cissell

care connection reportJuneHome visits: 1Care facilities visits: 2Meals prepared: 1 Cards sent: 24 Telephone calls: 26Total connections: 54Total people making connections: 5

JulyHome visits: 3Care facilities visits: 3Cards sent: 24Telephone calls: 23Total connections: 53Total people making connections: 4

a look ahead

augustbirthdays

Children’s Church Schedule

school-ageAUG. 19TH Kathy Hamilton

AUG. 26TH Brenda Dion

preschoolAUG. 19TH Ruth Anne Porter

this sunday, august 12

GREETERS, EAST DOOR: Ed & Val Blosser

LAY READER: Kathy Atkins

DIACONATE: Jessica Roberts, Cara Massie, Sue Lake,Cindy Mayberry, Linda McComas, Cassidy French

CANDLE LIGHTERS: Charley & Kayla Lincoln

CLEAN UP COMMUNION: Cindy Mayberry

GREETERS, WEST DOOR: John & Joyce Summers

CHILDREN’S SERMON: Bill Drake

PREPARE COMMUNION: Sue Lake

ELDERS: Matt Dion & Darsi Hartman

PICK UP SANCTUARY: Jessica Roberts

next sunday, august 19

GREETERS, EAST DOOR: Mac & Judy Clough

LAY READER: Mike Gordon

DIACONATE: Traci Burns, Rachel Drake, Josh Milne, Natalie Milne, Pam Maedel, Billy Drake

CANDLE LIGHTERS: Jack & Carter Massie

CLEAN UP COMMUNION: Pam Maedel

GREETERS, WEST DOOR: David & Jacinda Manka

CHILDREN’S SERMON: Ken Lippincott

PREPARE COMMUNION: Rachel Drake

ELDERS: Bill Drake & Jonica Lincoln

PICK UP SANCTUARY: Billy Drake

AUGUST 15: Jeromy Darr, Jonica Lincoln, Erin Miller AUGUST 17: Tom Massie AUGUST 18: Brenda Burchett, Neely Simon, Heidi Triplett AUGUST 19: Linda McComas AUGUST 21: William Kays

AUGUST 22: Jeff Arnold, Josh Milne AUGUST 24: Joyce French

FirstChristianChurch

(Disciples of Christ)

201 North Bridge StreetSmithville, MO 64089-8266phone: 816.532.0773www.smithvillefcc.orgoffice@smithvillefcc.org

Ryan Motter, pastor cell: 913.707.2870email: ryan@smithvillefcc.org

Mark Holcomb, music ministerVelva Fausett, organist Janet George, pianistGreg Atkins, treasurerJennifer Schultz, office manager Abby Carr, communications designer