7/31/2019 08-02-2012 Chalice

1/4

The Chalice

A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK

CONNECTIONVol. 4 No. 30, August 2, 2012

Get into FocusBy Rev. Chris Shorow, Senior Minister

All of my life I

have been near

sighted. That

means I cant

see things very

clearly. In fact,

I had gotten

used to never

seeing anything

around swimming pools because I didnt

wear my contacts or glasses in the water.

So if I saw a friend at the pool, I rarely

said hello because I couldnt see who I

was talking to. And in the mornings, I

would have to pick up the alarm clock to

see what time it was, because I couldnt

see far enough to tell what the time was.

Imagine my joy when I heard about

Lasik surgery. An actual surgery that

could help me bring my world into focus.

Wow. So I had it done. And the world

took on a new dimension. Now when I

go swimming, I can see who Im talking

to. And at night, I just look at the clock

and realize I have another couple of

hours to sleep! What a joy. My world

went from a blur of shapes to a sharply

focused reality.

It is amazing how focus can make

the difference. The same is true for us in

our life journeys. We can go through our

lives unfocused and still get by just fine.

But if we focus our lives on what is truly

important to us, life can take on new

meaning. If we can focus clearly on what

our goals and dreams are and how we

can achieve them, we see things in a

new way.

The same is true for our church. We

have done an amazing thing this past

year in our Renew emphasis. We have

discovered many of our common dreams

and visions as a church family and where

and what God is calling us to do and to

be. But we are not finished yet. We still

need to focus. How exactly do we get to

where God is calling us to be? Will it take

some staff realignment? New ways of

doing things? How do we get all of our

congregation involved in doing ministry?

How can we get ourselves fired up about

fulfilling our call and not get bogged

down by committees and structures, and

yet stay organized enough to get things

done? All of these questions require us to

take time and effort to answer.

So we have been blessed by being

able to call in a church consultant,

Dick Hamm, a former General Minister

and President of the Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ) who can assist us

in our focus. Our personnel committee

had put aside some money just for

this purpose, and now we have Dick

working along side of us to help us finis

the process we started last year. He

has started his work with the help of agroup of leaders in our church who hav

supplied him with tons of information

about our church. He is collecting the

data and will present his findings to

us on Sunday morning, August 19th.

We will have a special unified Sunday

School hour where Dick will make his

presentation, followed by one worship

service in the sanctuary. It will be the

beginning of our process of focusing

on our future. Following that Sunday,

our whole congregation will be invitedto divide into groups to pray, study

scripture and discuss the future of our

church, helping us to focus on Gods

calling for us. At the end of the process

we will have a detailed plan of how to

achieve the goals that God has for us.

We will be focused. And take it from me

being able to focus is a blessing. So be

ready to come to one service on Sunda

August 19th, to get into focus.

Focusing on Our FutureSunday, August 19

9:30 Common Sunday School (in Fellowship Hall)

10:45 Unified Worship

During the Common Sunday School, Rev. Dick Hamm, our visioning consultant, will present

a contextual analysis of First Christian Church. This is an in-depth look at who FCC is based

upon information collected both quantitatively and qualitatively. His presentation is the next step

in discerning a more focused future for First Christian. We hope you can attend!

7/31/2019 08-02-2012 Chalice

2/4

WE NEEDYOUFOR THE Back-TO-scHOOl

BlOckPaRTY!Sponsored by FCC Outreach Ministries through the Rolling Green Collaborative

When & Where?Saturday, August 11 from 5-8 pm,

at FCCs Family Life Center!(Rolling Green residents pre-register through the Rolling Green Office)

What Can YOU Do? How Can YOU Help?* Purchase school supplies!

*Volunteer to work at the party!

* Donate funds to purchase shoes!

We need your help! There are still many open spots - please show our neighbors the generous and giving

spirit of First Christian Church Edmond and volunteer for an hour or two! You can sign up or donate online

at fccedmond.org/blockparty or drop by the Block Party display in the Rotunda.

August 12 isPromotion Sunday!

ALL children ages 3 years through 5th grade

will be promoted to their new Sunday school

class on Sunday, August 12. Also, our

incoming and new first graders will get their

Bibles, courtesy of Disciples Women.

Help support your childs faith developmentand bring them to Sunday school!

Come JUMP into a new year of Childrens Ministry!

Children...bring your WHOLE family!

Parents...Come explore the ways YOU can share yourgifts with our Childrens Ministry. We cant do this

alone! We have many ways to serve - there issomething for everyone.

Sunday August 511am to 1pm

in the Family Life Center

JBounce Houses! JKonaIce SnoCones! JFace Painting! J Pizza!

7/31/2019 08-02-2012 Chalice

3/4

Mark Your Calendars!This year, all Wednesday UNITE activities (includes dinner, worship andsmall group classes) for children, youth, and adults begin Wednesday,

September 12th! Fall UNITE dates will run from September 12 through

December 5. There will be no UNITE events on October 10th (Fall break)

or November 21 (Thanksgiving break). Additional registration information

coming soon - watch for it!

Unite Needs a Grocery Shopper and a Chef!Have you ever wondered where can you serve? In order to keep this vital ministry running

successfully - Unite NEEDS a chef and a grocery shopper! The menus for Wednesday nights

are already chosen - we just need some wonderful volunteers to help out. If you are available

to shop for groceries - or - if you are available on Wednesdays beginning at 4 pm and LOVE to

cook, please contact Anna Lisa Stanley at 341-3544. Thank you!

Interim Director of Childrens

Ministry SoughtThe Personnel Committee of First Christian Church of

Edmond is currently accepting applications from individuals

who are interested in filling a long-term role (6 to 12 months)

as Full-Time Interim Director of Childrens Ministry.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest

and resume tojobs@fccedmond.org or mail them to First

Christian Church, ATTN: Greg Bunton, PO Box 3548, Edmond, OK, 73083 no

later than August 27, 2012.

NOTE: The selected Interim Director will not be considered as a candidate for

the permanent position when that application process begins in 2013.

Prayers of the PeopleOUR PRAYERS FOR THOSE IN THE HOSPITAL

Jane Martin, Deaconess

THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Bob Jennings, Jason Scheer(Larry & Judy Freemans son), Leinda Parson (Linda Dunlaps daughter), Judy Joy, LarryHays (Dyke Moffatts brother-in-law), Jim Hays, Haynes Phillips (Anna Lisa Stanleysdad), Jerri Jones, Rose Marie McKee, Bart Rodr, Virginia ONiel, Cynthia David (WinnieHalls daughter), Ed Berry, Bill & Mary Lou Womble

CELEBRATING THE GIFT OF A NEW LIFE Emerson Lipka Rice born July 31 to LynRice & Astrid Lipka of New York, NY. Grandparents, to their new grandson, are Earl& Loree Rice AND Willis Caroll Brewster born July 31 to Kyle & Taylor Brewster ofHouston, TX. Grandparents, to their new granddaughter, are J.C. & Karla Mahan.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE The family of Coy & Fay Parsley invites your

prayers and congratulations in honor of Coy and Fays 50th Wedding Anniversary onAugust 7.

Dear Church Family: Thank you so much for the uplifting prayers and many cards ofsupport you sent to me for my Dad. I felt a warm blessing of love and comfort afterreading each one. I thank God for each of you and that I am a part of a loving andcaring Christian Community. ~ May God bless all of you, Paula Bailey

Happy Birthday!8/5 Jared Allison, Terri Dunn,

Greg Hall, Judy Metcalf, ErinRobertson, Lyla Vazquez

8/6 Steve Blevins, David Spence,

Steve Wilson

8/7 Zoey Lee

8/8 Bill Denyer, Brian Howell, Fried

Percival, Lena Rychecky, Dorma

Shaw, Steve Ward

8/9 Laurie Cummings, Brandy

Stafford

8/10 Larry Freeman

8/11 Marshall Lee

8/12 Kristen Hall, Les Hastings

Want to Get More

Involved?

Are You Considering

Membership?

Come to

Discover

First ChristianSunday, August 510:00 AM

Fellowship Hall North

We invite you to come and mee

some of our staff and members

learn about our history, our

mission and our ministries.

7/31/2019 08-02-2012 Chalice

4/4

The Chalice CONNECTION

Shelley Regan, Editorsregan@fccedmond.orgRead News Online

@ fccedmond.org/newsSubmit Articles to

news@fccedmond.org

(USPS210-360)ispublishedweekly(exceptweeks

ofNewYearsDayandChristmasDay).PeriodicalspostagepaidbyFirstChristianChurch,201E.Second,Edmond,OK73034-456POSTMASTER:SendaddresschangestoTheChaliceCONNECTION,POBox3548,Edmond,OK73083

PeriodicalsPostagePaidEdmond,OKUSPS210-360

Looking for Donations...Can You Help?We would appreciate donations or loans of the

following items:

Donate or loan embroidery hoops - any size

Donate yarn and embroidery oss - any color

Donate felt squares - any color

Do you do needlework, weave, quilt or sew?Let us know! Email sregan@fccedmond.org

We are asking for all donations to be left inthe box in the church workroom, room 101, byAugust 15. These donations will be used for creative projects - decorations an

childrens crafts - for our annual Gratitude lunch and Annual Campaign.Thank you for your help!

Operation Christmas Child Packing PartyJoin FCC Edmonds Operation Christmas Child project by

coming to our upcoming Packing Party on Wednesday,August 15, from 9 am to Noon. Come and go! We still nee

small items: toys, hard candy, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bar

soap, combs, washcloths, lollipops, mints, dolls, sunglasses,

ball caps, hair clips, stuffed animals, yo-yos, etc. We also

need shoe boxes and small clothing items for ages 2 - 14.

Questions? Call Michele Schlough at 844-3214. Thank you!

Worshipat First Christian8:15, 9 & 11am

August 5, 2012Message: Rev. Dr. Jerry BlackRev. Chris Shorow

Theme: Heroes of the Bible: Joel -Recovering From Disaster

Scripture: Joel 2:23-29

August 12, 2012Message: Rev. Chris Shorow

Rev. Greg BuntonTheme: Visioning: Blind BeggarScripture: Luke 18:35-43