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The Chalice

A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK

CONNECTIONVol. 4 No. 43, November 1, 2012

Knit TogetherBy Rev. Greg Bunton, Associate Minister of Student

Monday night Ihad the oppor-tunity to takea few of ourstudents to Ref-

uge Fellowship.For those thatdont know,Refuge is a

new Disciples church start for the home-less in downtown Oklahoma City. Thereare a number of churches, ours included,that rotate assisting in worship and servingdinner.

I always enjoy participating in theirworship. It is so honest and real. Thereis a time during worship where they openthe floor to personal testimony. I am

always touched by what is shared, and itoften becomes a reality check for me.

Monday evening a woman, bound toa wheelchair, shared a powerful moment.She is homeless. She spends most of hertime sitting outside a gas station. Sheloves to knit, and recently she has beenknitting a scarf. She showed it to us andhad someone stretch it out. It had to be atleast 10 feet long! It was made of variouscolors of thread, and it was beautiful. Shethen proceeded to tell why she knits, andhow the scarf came to be.

She has had a rough life. She hasbeen hurt by many; abused, molested,shunned. Physically and mentally she is

hurting, and she has a lot of pinned upanger. But she knows the love of God,and she believes in Jesus commands tolove your neighbor AND your enemies,and to forgive just as God has forgiven.

Her knitting has become a healingprocess for her. With every move of herknitting needle, with every row of thescarf, she prays. She prays for those whohave hurt her, she prays for others sheis concerned about, and she prays forherself. Sometimes her prayers are filledwith tears, other times anger, and some-times joy. Her scarf is a labor of love, andthrough prayerful knitting, she is findinghealing. And when the scarf is done, shegives it to someone in need so they toomay experience the powerful love of God.

As I listened to her story, I couldnthelp but think about our recent annualcampaign and the weaving imagery weused. We talked a lot about weaving withthe thread of hope. The woman I met lastnight gave new meaning to that phrase.We are woven; we are knit together asone through all of our life experiences.As the body of Christ, we share in eachothers pain and anger, sorrow and fear,joy and celebration. And like that scarf,we hold each other together; we find ref-uge, we experience healing, and we passthe love of God on to others.

Praise be to God for ALL that knits ustogether!

Sunday, November 4Each year First Christian participatesin the Church World Service CROPHunger Walk. Money raised from

the CROP Walk helps fight hungeraround the world, as well as in our owncommunity. A portion of the moneyraised will support Breakfast on

Boulevard, Mobile Meals, The Hop

Center, and Samaritan House.Walk with us this Sunday,

November 4! You can make a donatiowhen you arrive at the walk. Just join uMitch Park - registration begins at 1:00and the walk begins at 2:00. Hope tosee you there!

What are CROPHunger Walks?Neighbors walking together to takea stand against hunger in our world.Different ages, faiths and backgrounds together we raise awareness and fundsfor international relief and developmen

as well as local hunger-fighting. Some2,000 communities across the countrytake part each year.

Daylight Savings TimeEnds this weekend!

Dont forget to setyour clocks back onehour before bed on

Saturday, November 3.

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Candlelight Service of RemembranceNovember 4 - 3pmFor some of us, Thanksgiving and Christmas are not times of celebration. The holiday season isfilled with sadness due to loss. Our hearts are heavy now that there will be one less face for theholidays this year. It can be very difficult to celebrate the joy of Thanksgiving and Christmas inthe midst of grief.

If this is where you are this year, please join us for our Candlelight Service of Remembrance.This quiet, reflective service offers a time to acknowledge the pain of grief and look quietly forhope in our darkness. Rev. Dr. Jerry Black will offer the message, and, Prayer Ministers will beon hand to fashion personal prayers for your specific needs if you wish. Please join us for thisbeautifully touching service.

- Your Healing Prayer Ministry Team

Having done significant damage lastweek in the Caribbean, Hurricane Sandyhas crossed the Eastern North Ameri-can coast, leaving a trail of descruction,floods, power outages for millions ofpeople. Early predicted damage esti-mates are in the tens of millions.

Hurricane Sandy caused at least69 deaths in the Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti,Puerto Rico and the Dominican Re-

public, at least 16 U.S. deaths, and oneCanadian fatality.

The Christian Church (Disciples ofChrist) is ready to respond through ourrelief arm - Week of Compassion. Theyare in touch with Regional Ministers inaffected areas, all of whom are busy col-lecting information from congregationsconcerning the effects of Sandy on theirmembers or communities.

Church World Service, a Week ofCompassion partner, is already provid-ing material resources in affected areas,including blankets, hygiene kits andclean-up buckets. CWS will also assist

communities in developing long-termrecovery plans and provide technical andfinancial support, as possible.

Week of Compassion is also co-ordinating with partners, including theLatin American Caribbean Area Office ofGlobal Ministries, Church World Service,and the ACT Alliance.

In Haiti, severe flooding damagedand blocked infrastructure/roads, dam-

aged/destroyed houses, caused loss oflivestock and severe damage to agri-cultural fields. Evacuations have takenplace in risk-prone zones and certainInternally Displaced Persons camps. Newoutbreaks of cholera have been reportedand more are expected in the comingdays.

How You Can Respond:

Give. Share your financial blessings

through Week of Compassion. Theywill help you respond in a way that is

efficient, flexible, and impactful. Youmay donate online at www.weekofcom-passion.org OR through First ChristianChurch, designating Hurricane Relief onthe memo line of your check.

You can also make a direct donatioto Church World Service in the amountof $54 and provide an EmergencyClean-Up Kit which includes householdcleaning supplies to enable people to be

gin the overwhelming job of cleaning upDonations can be made online at www.churchworldservice.org/donate

Pray. Our best response in prayer. HolyGod, You are our comfort and strengthin times of chaos and disaster. By yourSpirit, lift up those who have fallen,sustain those who work to rescue orrebuild, and surround us with your gracand peace to face the challenges ahead.Grant us the assurance of your presencein this time of uncertainty, and fill us witthe hope of your new creation; throughJesus Christ, our rock and redeemer.

Week of CompassionResponds to Superstorm Sandy

Regional Minister, Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Jewell Retires -Celebrating 40 Years of Service ~ November 17 - 12:30pm

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma has planned a celebration of Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Jewellsregional ministry and work. The celebration will be held on Saturday, November 17 at Southern Hills Christian Church in

Edmond. Please RSVP by Friday, November 9, as seating is limited. Lunch reservations are $20 per person.To make reservations, call Jean Scott Gauldin at 528-3577 or email jscottgauldin@okdisciples.org

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Childrens Christmas MusicalSunday, December 9

Our Childrens Christmas Musical will be held Sunday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m. in theSanctuary. If your child, or grandchild, would like to participate in this years musicalOnce Upon A Christmas Light, please be sure that theycome to rehearsals on Wednesday evenings from 5:00-6:00 pm during Unite. Rehearsals have begun!Attention Parents: There will also be a mandatorydress rehearsalon Saturday, December 8.

Contact Diane Ball at dball@fccedmond.orgorMichelle Fritz at mfritz@fccedmond.orgor call them at341-3544 with any questions.

Edmond CommunityThanksgiving Dinne

Thursday, November 22

11a.m. to 3p.m.

University of Central Oklahoma

UCO BallroomEach year, several churches in Edmoncombine efforts to host a Community

Thanksgiving Dinner. This shared meais for anyone, but provides a special

sense of community for singles, collegstudents, those far from family membe

and others. Hundreds of volunteersare needed to prep the food prior to

Thanksgiving Day, and, on ThanksgivinDay - prepare food, serve the food anclean up afterward. Drop by the displain the Rotunda to complete a voluntee

form. To schedule Home Delivery,please call 341-3602, ext. 130.

Happy Birthday!11/4 Bill Hamilton11/5 Ed Berry, Jake Blevins, Ryan Danl

Margaret Hall, Haley Helms, JoycLittle

11/6 Connie Dixon, Fay Parsley, MickeStufflebean

11/9 Mikayla Bunton, Kelly VanOsdol11/10 Vernon Conaway, Eddie Rivera,

Jackie Stafford, Wayne Warner11/11 Sonni Adams, Brian Carroll, Aver

Miller, Chloe Stout, Jim Thorpe

Prayers of the PeopleOUR PRAYERS FOR THOSE IN THE HOSPITAL Larry Hays(Dyke Moffatts brother-in-law) at OU Med Center-PresbyTower

THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYERTerra Conlin (Sid & ThaddaGrooms daughter), Donna Clark, Wayne Warner, Neal Hunt, Patsy Corrigan, Jim Hays,Jason Scheer (Larry & Judy Freemans son), Jerri Jones, Rose Marie McKee, Virginia ONiel,Cynthia David (Winnie Halls daughter), Ed Berry, Bill & Mary Lou Womble

OUR SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS TO Rev. Page Foster & Family of FCC-Melbourne, FL, in thedeath of his wife, Pat, on October 24 AND TO Greg & Julie Bunton and Family in thepassing of Julies mom, Kathy Badger, on October 26. Services will be held in WY laterin November.

An Open Hands Project for Young ChildrenThis Sunday, and the next few Sundays, children ages 3 through5th grade are invited to decorate boxes for Operation ChristmasChild during the 9am Worship Service. This will be an OpenHands project for the children to participate.

The children will be dismissed at the beginning of service;Ms. Michelle will take them to the Fellowship Hall. There will besupplies provided, but please feel free bring Christmas stickersand other items they would like to use.

More than 3,000 official shoe box collection sites around the country collect

thousands of prayerfully-packed gifts in a single week. This amazing feat is onpossible with the help of more than 50,000 collection site volunteers each yeaNational Collection week for Operation Christmas Child will be from Novemb12 - 18th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

As a collection drop off location, First Christian Church needs manycheerful volunteers! Help us provide a hospitable, convenient location in thecommunity for donors to bring their gifts. Volunteers are responsible for thecareful packaging and transportation of shoe boxes to a location processing

center. Responsibilities can include cheerfully greeting donors, carefully packaging gifts, unloading shoe boxes from vehicles andsharing a loving smile! We will be working each day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. receiving shoeboxes from individuals andchurches. There is a sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall on the Operation Christmas Child table with times and dates. Please considvolunteering for a couple of hours! There are also empty boxes for you to take home, fill and bring back. Pick up a pamphlet formore info or go to Samaritanspurse.orgor call Michele Schlough at 844-3214. Thanks and God bless.

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The Chalice CONNECTION

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Experience a Holiday AdventureWith The Classics - December 15

Join the Classics on Saturday, December 15, at they travel to Plano, TX, for a productioby Prestonwood Baptist Church of The Gift of Christmas. This performance promisesbe a visually stunning, multimedia event complete with special effects, a thousand voicesand instruments - and, yes - flying angels! At the heart of the production, there will be th

simple story of Christmas - the manger, shepherds, Joseph and Mary, the Christ Child...and the glorious hope we have in our Savior!The cost is $99 per person, which includes transportation, a buffet lunch and the

performance. The Classics will depart for Plano, TX, on December 15 at 8 a.m. The showstarts at 2 p.m. and ends around 4:30 p.m. They will leave for Edmond shortly after, andreturn to Edmond by 9:30 p.m.

From flying angels,massive virtual scenery,a spectacular choir andorchestra to dazzlingchoreography, this awe-inspiring produciton ofThe Gift of Christmas is

an experience not to bemissed!

Contact Winnie Hall at 341-4297 or Ellen Chitwood at 341-2859

for more information or to make reservations.

Worshipat First Christian8:15, 9 & 11am

November 4, 2012All Saints SundayMessage: Rev. Dr. Jerry Black

Rev. Greg BuntonScripture: Ephesians 4:7, 11-13

November 11, 2012Message: Rev. Chris Shorow

Rev. Dr. Jerry BlackScripture: Exodus 18:12-27