To know and love God, to nurture each other, and to reach out and welcome all people in the name of Jesus Christ.

Non-profit Org.

US Postage Paid

Greensboro NC

Permit #273

Rev. Lee Hull Moses, Senior Minister

Pastor’s email address: pastor@fccgreensboro.org

Phone: 336-273-4725 Fax #: 336-273-7030

Website: www.fccgreensboro.org

Send newsletter submissions to info@fccgreensboro.org

The Visitor

1900 WEST MARKET STREET

GREENSBORO, NC 27403-1715

FORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTED

The Visitor A publication of

—

January 3, 2018

Join us for worship each Sunday through

February 11 as we examine a few guiding

questions: What does the incarnation mean?

What does it mean to be the body of Christ?

What does the Word mean for us?

What does it mean to be followers of a God

who became flesh? What does it mean to

practice an incarnational faith?

“In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will

die. Where you invest your love, you invest your life.”

Mumford & Sons, Awake My Soul

Important Information

Congregational Meeting

There will be a congregational meeting following worship on Sunday,

January 21, to approve a budget for 2018. Please plan to attend.

Office Notes

Lee and Melissa will both be away on January 22 and 23. They will be

attending a required anti-racism training course for clergy in our region.

The office will be open and staffed by volunteers. Lee and Melissa will

be checking messages as they are able.

Pictured to the left:

Christmas Eve morning, the pageant revealed everybody truly does have a

part. More pageant pictures on page 3.

Upcoming Worship Series

Page 2 The Vi s i tor

A Note from Our Pastor

Dear Friends:

I saw the new Star Wars movie over the holiday weekend. Even to this

casual fan, it was lots of fun: Light sabers! Droids! Luke and Leia!

The Millennium Falcon jumping to lightspeed! In classic Star Wars tradition,

it's an epic battle between darkness and light, with the small-but-fearless

band of underdog rebels, always outnumbered but always committed to freedom, standing up to

the mighty military force of the evil First Order.

What I love about this story (aside from the indomitable Carrie Fisher, of course. What a thrill to

see Princess Leia all grown up and running the world. It's hard to imagine the Star Wars universe

without her) is that this conflict that happens a long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away is not all that

different from the conflicts on this planet, in our own time. Why do some people fall prey to the

darkness? Why do some hold on to the light? Hope is found - in their galaxy and in ours - in the

belief that the light, as small and powerless as it might seem, will always be stronger than the dark.

There's a scene near the end of the movie in which one of the rebels is on a suicide mission to take

down one of the First Order's deadliest weapons when he's stopped by another resistance fighter,

who knocks him off course, saving his life. When the dust clears, he's angry at her, but she is

unapologetic.

"That's how we're gonna win," she explains. "Not by fighting what we hate, but by saving what we

love."

I've been thinking about that for the past few days, as we said goodbye to 2017 and rang in the new

year. I'm not much for new year's resolutions, but it does seem like a decent way to shape one's life:

not by fighting what we hate but by saving what we love.

A few of the things I love:

Good books.

State parks.

Clean air.

The stories of scripture.

Kindness and generosity.

The complicated diversity of life in the world.

Laughter.

Music.

Freedom.

What's on your list? What will you do to save it?

Happy new year, friends. May your year be filled with love.

Lee

News, Events, and Church Notes

Page 7

JANUARY CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS Cabinet January 7, 11:15 a.m.

Board January 14, 11:15 a.m.

Congregational Meeting, January 21, 11:15 a.m.

Deacons Meeting, January 21, 11:30 a.m.

Vintage Bunch welcomes intern Paul Snyder as the guest speaker, Wednesday, January 10, 11:30 a.m.

Vintage Kings and Queens Play Cards, Monday, January 22, 9:30 a.m.

Ladies Coffee Group, Thursday, January 25, 9 a.m.

Agape Women’s group January 29, 7 p.m., location TBA

Find the full calendar online at fccgreensboro.org/calendar

Words of Thanks

From Dick Reaves, on behalf of Marshall and Marie Reaves Grant

Mom and Marshall both turned 93 this year. They thank you all for your prayers, visits, calls, and letters.

As I've said in the past, if you are in the Gaston area or passing through on I-95, they would love to see

you. They are in Room 124 of Hampton Manor at 320 Broughton St., Gaston, NC 27832, about 3.5 miles

off I-95. Marshall's cell number is 252-578-5459. Also, feel free to call me at 919-467-7712 or e-mail me

at dreaves@troxlerlabs.com for a current update. We hope you all had a wonderful, joyful and peaceful

holiday season.

From Salvage Garden

Melissa Guthrie Loy and all Salvage Gardeners are beyond grateful for the end-of-the-year donation to

support their sensory worship services. Our partnership has been a joy. In fact, Salvage Garden wants to

remind FCC of Dwight Meredith’s comment: “Many people extend the invitation to our families and kids

with disabilities to participate in various events or to come to church. First Christian actually means it.”

Thank you, FCC, for welcoming Salvage Garden families throughout the months and for donating to

support our sensory worship service.

Congratulations!

Congrats to our Youth Program Coordinator Amanda Kerr and her new fiancé Megan Cates on their

December engagement. Blessings and more blessings on your journey to marriage.

JUST WONDERING…QUESTIONS & ANSWERS BY RETIRED DISCIPLES MINISTER REV. JT MOORE

While having fellowship with "tax-gatherers and sinners," Jesus was criticized by the Phari-

sees (Matt. 9:10-13). He responded by saying he came "not to call the righteous but sinners.'

Keep in mind the principles of the 'religion' of the Pharisees. They were concerned with preserving their

own kind of holiness. Criticism of one's faults was primarily to help someone overcome a fault. An inter-

pretation of the response of Jesus might be: "I'm not here to invite people who are so self-satisfied that

they are convinced of their own goodness and do not need anyone's help. I'm here to invite those who

are very conscious of their problem (sin) and desperate for someone to care, or relate to them, without

judgment. It's only those who know how much they need me that can accept my invitation." He went

where the need was the greatest. One would not be a good doctor who would spend time only with

those who enjoyed good health.

News, Events, and Church Notes

Page 6 The Vi s i tor

SERVING THIS MONTH...

JANUARY 7, 2018 Elders: John Flynt and Eleanor Bray Deacons: Mark McDonald, Anna Young, Leah Guthrie Loy,

Patti McDonald, and Subs Acolyte: Emily Sharpe

Children’s Church: Amanda Desselles and Meredith Cooper

Worship Leader: Mark McDonald

JANUARY 14, 2018 Elders: Terry Simon and John Flynt Deacons: David Barnette, Troy Desselles, KT Wood,

George Manley, Jamie Cannady, Cindy Boehling Acolyte: Chloe Murray

Children’s Church: Amanda Desselles and Dona Norwood

Worship Leader: Jason Myers

JANUARY 21, 2018 Elders: Mike Wildman and Eleanor Bray Deacons: Jason Myers, Judy Garrett, Rob Moses,

Kasey Bogan, Ken Garner, and Sub Acolyte: Bella Myers

Children’s Church: Amanda Desselles and Emily Viverette

Worship Leader: Mike Wildman

JANUARY 28, 2018 Elders: Eleanor Bray and Mike Wildman Deacons: Bill Wiley, Diane Gillespie, Brad Light,

Debbie Light, Larry Collins Acolyte: Harper Moses

No Children’s Church

Worship Leader: TBD

January Building Responsibilities: Jim Tebow

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

1/1 H’yu Rahlan

1/2 Madison Steadman

1/3 Liz Johnson

1/3 Dennis Knibb

1/4 Logan Sharpe

1/7 Vicki Vaughan

1/8 Lucas Barnette

1/12 Shannon Huth

1/14 John Vaughan

1/17 Donovan Wilkerson

1/19 Ellen Smith

1/20 John Ledford

1/21 Zach Miller

1/23 Dawn Benbow

1/24 B.R. Hyman

1/28 Diana Huth

1/28 Ervin Tate

JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES 1/10 Bev and Dick Isaacson

About Us

Page 3

First Christian Church is a place where thoughtful people think. It is also a

place where thoughtful people do. We take seriously Jesus’ commandment to

love our neighbors. It is our mission to know and love God, to nurture each

other, and to reach out and welcome all people in the name of Jesus Christ.

RECENT ATTENDANCE

December 17: 105 December 24 Morning: 87 Christmas Eve: 137 December 31: 65

PRAYER CONCERNS Please contact the church office if you would like a name added to or removed from the prayer list.

Angie Wethington

Joe & Ann Fry

Leroy Bymaster

Marie Reaves Grant

Gary Yeager

Bobbie Poston

Chuck Jones

JoAnn Alley

Kenny Honeycutt

Rita Saveriano

Roger Stanley

David Hodgin

Billie Pierce

Anne Early

Tommy Guthrie

Betty Wilson

Susan Ormond

Jesse Little

Phyllis Collins

Ed & Emo Wagoner

Marian Perry

CHRISTMAS AT FCC

Everybody

has a part.

Photos by

Baylee Smith

Get Involved

Join us every Sunday morning for Small Group

Sunday morning small group looks at the text for the day. These small group studies take place in

the Friendship classroom on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Coffee is ready at 8:45. Join us as we

examine the guiding questions for our worship series and practice an incarnational faith.

Prepare a meal for Sunday Night Youth!

Every Sunday evening, FCC youth and adult volunteers gather to spend time with one another

and learn more about the Christian story. An easy way to support our youth is by preparing a meal

during January—May. Youth groups resume January 14. If you are interested in helping prepare a

meal, please email Amanda Kerr at amanda@fccgreensboro.org.

Tuesday Table Topics will resume meeting on January 9th

Table Topics will resume meeting on Tuesday evenings at the church on January 9, at 7:00. A

short reading is posted weekly as a discussion starter—you can find the reading on the Table Top-

ics page on our website or email admin@fccgreensboro.org to sign up for a weekly reminder.

Thursday Table Talk

Table Talk resumes January 4, at Char Bar, 3724 Lawndale. January 11 Table Talk will be serving

dinner at the shelter at the YWCA. Contact the church office if you’d like to contribute to the meal

or help serve the meal. Later in the month, Table Talk will meet at Taste of Thai on January 18, at

1500 Mill Street. Table Talk will gather at the home of Cliff and Louise Greaves on January 25.

Please bring a dish to share for that potluck gathering. Want a weekly reminder about Table Talk?

Email admin@fccgreensboro.org to sign up. Unless noted, gatherings begin at 7 p.m.

Peanuts! Get your peanuts pecans!

Pecans are still available. The price is $10 for a one-pound bag. Checks need to be written to FCC-

CWF. Pecans can be picked up in the church office or you can contact Dona Norwood. Heads up

that the next Agape women’s group meeting is scheduled for Jan. 29, location TBA.

Page 4 The Vi s i tor

9 a.m. Small Group or Speaker Series

10 a.m. Worship

11 a.m. Fellowship and Coffee Hour

5 p.m. Dinner and Youth Groups

SUNDAYS AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Tuesdays at 7 p.m. — Table Topics

Wednesdays at 7 p.m. — Choir Rehearsal

Thursdays at 7 p.m. — Table Talk

WEEKLY GATHERINGS AT FCC

Get Involved

Page 5

This Saturday! January 6

All FCC members and friends welcome!

Baby Josephine Novella's parents are reg-

istered at Amazon.com, Target, and Ba-

bies R Us.

Looking Ahead…

The Vintage Bunch gathers at the church

on the second Wednesday of each month

at 11:30 for lunch and a program of en-

tertainment, information, education, reli-

gious and social enrichment, interaction,

and the occasional road trip. Geared pri-

marily to the interests and concerns of

folks who are 50-55+ and young at heart

but all are welcome. $6.00 for our usual

lunch and program.

Here’s the 2018 Vintage Bunch schedule:

January 10: FCC Intern Paul Snyder is the Guest Speaker at the Church

February 14: Valentine’s Day Program with Music from Woody Faulkner at the Church

March 13-15: Trip to Myrtle Beach including three shows, open to all!

April 11: Picnic at the Tebows’ Lake House

May 16: Rhododendrons at Home of the Younts with Lunch at Sweet & Savory

More details on all events available soon. Please RSVP for the January 10 lunch by signing up at

church or contacting the church office.

In Our Region…

The General Assembly is scheduled for April 20-22 in Greenville, NC. The multi-day event fea-

tures informative and strategic workshops, local mission and outreach opportunities, family

meals, visioning, worship, and more. Save the Date! Registration information coming soon.

Summer Camp Dates Announced

Camp Caroline

Uno (K-2) June 15-17 $220 CYF (9-12) June 17-22 $360

SAS (4-7) June 24-29 $360 CBTM (8th) July 15-21 $435

Delta (6-7) July 22-27 $360 Alpha (1-2) July 29-Aug 3 $360

Beta (3-5) July 29-Aug 3 $360

Christmount

JYF (3-5) June 11-16 $365

Chi Rho (6-7) June 11-16 $365

CYF (9-12) June 25-30 $365

Registration details in the church office or online: ncdisciples.org/summer-camps.