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January 19, 2014 Issue 03

CALLERthe

In This Issue

Jeffrey Mensendiek 2Statistics 2 Remember in Prayer 3Spiritual Disciplines Wk 3Prayer Requests, Jan. 12 3Serving in the Military 3

Week of Compassion 3

Souper Bowl 3

Search Committee 4

Senior Adults/Book Club 4Parlor Class 4

Mission Trip 4

Founders’ Day 5

Week of Compassion 5

Serving Sunday 6

E v e n t s – J a n u a ry 1 9 2 0 1 4 - J a n u a r y 2 6 2 0 1 4 January 19:

8:00 A.M. - REAWAKEN, Early Worship Service9:00 A.M. - Galatians/James Bible Study, Chapman Lounge

10:15 A.M. - REMEMBER, Traditional Service1:00 P.M. - Youth Group5:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. Casa de Oración Service, Sanctuary & FH

January 20:6:30 P.M. - Old Testament Bible Study @ Woodbridges’

January 21:

9:00 A.M. - Pathways General Board Chapman LoungeNoon - Sr. Adult Ministry Group, Chapman Lounge6:30 P.M. - Bible Study @ Barry’s7:00 P.M. - Casa use Sanctuary and Chapman Lounge

January 22:7:00 P.M. – Council of Elders, Chapman Lounge

January 23:1:00 P.M. – Book Club , Chapman Lounge3:30 P.M. - Psalms’ Bible Study, Chapman Lounge6:30 P.M. - Bell Choir; 7:30 P.M. - Choir Practice

January 25:

9:00 A.M. - PSWR Boundary Training, Chapman Lounge3:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. – Casa use Fellowship Hall

January 26: Missionary Sunday8:00 A.M. - REAWAKEN, Early Worship Service9:00 A.M. - Galatians/James Bible Study, Chapman Lounge

10:15 A.M. - REMEMBER, Traditional Service, Jeffrey Mensendiek,Missionary to Japan, speaking

11:30 A.M. - International Luncheon, Chapman Lounge1:00 P.M. - Youth Group5:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. Casa de Oración Service, Sanctuary & FH

January 27:5:30 P.M. – Alzheimer’s Facilitators Meeting, Chapman Lounge6:30 P.M. - Old Testament Bible Study @ Woodbridges’

January 28:6:30 P.M. - Bible Study @ Barry’s7:00 P.M. - Casa use Sanctuary and Chapman Lounge

AA Groups: Sun. 8:00 P.M., Friday, 7:30 P.M., Sat. 8:30 P.M.,NA Group, Tues., 7:30 P.M.

The Calleris published weekly

Deadline Wednesdayat Noon)

by

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)109 E. Wilshire Ave.Fullerton, CA 92832

714.525.5525

email:

[email protected]

www.fullertonfirstchristian.org

Senior Pastor:

Rev. Darrell McGowan

Associate Pastor:

Rev. Debra Todd

Editor:

Donna Woodbridge

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JeffreyMensendiekHereNextSunday Jeffrey Mensendiek, Global Ministries Missionary to Japan, will be our guestpreacher in worship next Sunday. In addition, he will speak after a shared meal inFellowship Hall following our worship service. We will be sharing this day with Casade Oración, and, we hope some other Disciples and UCC congregations in the areawhom we've invited will join us for the meal event.

Jeffrey has been assigned to the Emmaus Center in Sendai, Japan, for the past 23 years. This

Center serves as a district center for the Northeastern Conference of the Kyodan (UCC). It hasprovided programs for youth through Student Center activities for more than 60 years. Jeffreydirected these programs that involved a majority of students who had no affiliation with the church.Since the earthquake/tsunami hit Japan in 2011, the Emmaus Center has served as a relief center foroutreach to the survivors of the earthquake/tsunami and nuclear disaster.

Sendai has been home to Jeffrey ever since he arrived with his parents when he was threeyears old. The Emmaus Center became famous throughout Japan as many volunteers and churchorganizations accessed the web and started to mobilize relief work through the Center. Jeffrey was inthe midst of the mobilization as the Kyodan strived to serve survivors. Close to 80% of the volunteerswho came to work through the Center had next to no ties to the church. Concerning this, Jeffrey hascommented: "The church is at its best when it can be a sign of something larger than itself."

Jeffrey grew up in Japan as the son of missionary parents. He married Kazuko Ikawa on July20, 1998. They have a daughter, Hana, who is 14, and a son, Tomo, who is 12. Stella, age 7, is theirsecond daughter. The family has been residing in Lancaster, PA for the past year as Jeffrey has beenon home assignment.

In April, Jeffrey will begin a new assignment in Kobe at the Kwanse Gakuin Universityserving as Chaplain for the Center for Religious Activities. He will also be teaching some courses buthis main responsibility will be to maintain and develop activities to enhance the Christian spirit of theuniversity. He will continue to be concerned about northeastern Japan, site of theearthquake/tsunami, as well as the people in and around Fukushima who are living in the highlytenuous situation created by the explosion of the nuclear plants. Through his blog he keeps peopleinformed about what is happening in the Fukushima area. If you'd like to learn more about thesethings, check out his blog at this address: http://jeffreyfromjapan.blogspot.com/

We encourage you to be in worship and to plan to stay for the shared fellowship meal withmembers of Casa de Oración to hear Jeffrey's report on his ministry in Japan and his plans for thework he'll be doing in his new assignment.

InternationalLuncheon Welcome Ministry Team will host an International luncheon after the 10:15service next Sunday. Jeffrey Mensendiek who will be speaking at 10:15 will alsoshare more of his ministry at the luncheon.

Please plan to come and taste the foods of Poland, Italy, Mexico, Japan, and

America. A free will offering will be taken to help offset the cost.

Sunday Statist ics Jan. 12, 2014 109 (Remember Service)8 (Reawaken Service) 98(Casa 5 P.M. service) Weekly Giving: $2,349.52 Missions: $234.95Budget Goal: $3,881

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RememberinPrayer Continue to pray for: Sue Bacon,Dottie Bense, Harold Brickens, Mary Brill,Vio Danna Brant, Sandra Brown, LindaChristman, Chris Collett, Matt Davis, PhyllisElliott, Lorna & Skip Farnum, Harold Horn,Anna Lou Horspool, Kevin Johnen, Carolyn

Kenrick, Flora Miller, Sue Miller, Jim Piper,Norma Rill, Julie Stuart, Claudia Tammen,Dorothy Tanner, Anna Van Diest and Bob &Donna Vannoy

ReadingsandPrayerConcernsforWeeksofJan.20–Jan.26,2014 Monday, January 20: Reading:

Matthew 4: 12-17; pray for peace in the worldas we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Tuesday, January 21: Reading: Matthew 4: 18-23; pray for the Sr. Adult Ministry Meetingtoday in Chapman Lounge.Congregational Prayer Day, January 22:Reading: Psalm 27: 1, 4-9; pray for the Councilof Elders meeting tonight in Chapman Lounge.Thursday, January 23: Reading: Isaiah 9: 1-4;Pray for the Book Club meeting in ChapmanLounge today.Friday, January 24: Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 1-

14; Pray for Global Ministries MissionaryNicole Betteridge in Laos.Saturday, January 25: Reading: 1 Corinthians1: 14-18; pray for the PSWR Boundary Trainingtaking place in Chapman Lounge this morning.Sunday, January 26: Reading: Isaiah 9: 1-4;Pray for Jeffrey Mensendiek, our partnermissionary in Japan as he speaks to us today inthe 10:15 service.

AWeekOfCompassion

StaffMemberWillBeHereOn2/9 Brandon Gilvin, aWeek of Compassion Staff

Member, will be our guest preacher onSunday, February 9th. Watch for moreinformation about his visit in the weeks justahead.

The Outreach Ministry

PrayerRequests:January12,2014 Anonymous The Steimman family as

Dian’s tumor on the brainhas grown.

Betty Rollo For Jim Young whose wifeDottie passed away on Jan.7.

Anonymous All those who are ill –particularly those with theflu.

Alice & CraigWallace

Anna Van Diest forcontinued healing followinghip replacement.

Serving in the Mil i tary:

Adam Hawley, DebTaylor’s nephew, is now homefrom Afghanistan and back at Ft. Bliss with hisfamily.

Lt. Cmdr. Patrick O’Conner, Betty

Rollo’s grandson-in-law, will be back home fora couple of months to help take care of his wifeafter surgery.

Lt. Patrick Rollo, Betty Rollo’s grandson. He is training on a submarine in thePacific.

PFC Brandon Vannoy, grandson of Bob& Donna Vannoy, is now stationed at FortCampbell, Kentucky.

Petty Officer Michael J. Borden, Nancy

Geiger’s grandson, who is stationed in Guamfor the next year.

TheSouperBowlisComing No, that's not a typo. On the Sunday

when the Super Bowl will beplayed, February 2nd, ouryouth will again provide uswith the opportunity torespond to the needs of

hungry individuals and families. They will becollecting cans of soup, and/or money topurchase cans of soup, before and after ourworship services on that date. Watch for moreinformation about the 2014 Souper Bowl in"The Caller."

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SeniorMinisterSearchCommitteeUpdate The first meeting ofthe Search Committee tookplace on Wednesday, January

8th. Susan Gonzales-Dewey from the regionmet with the committee to walk them through

the process and provide guidance and answerquestions. The committee will keep thecongregation apprised of progress via updatesin The Caller. Your input will be needed as thecommittee moves forward and we arecurrently discussing many different options onhow best to engage the congregation inobtaining your input.

Please keep all of the committeemembers in your prayers as we begin this journey together.

Mike Hogan & Cam Malotte Co-chairsRandy Baxter, Joshua Dorrough, Beverly Reinke, Judi Smedley, Janelle Vannoy

The Senior Book ClubA reminder that the Senior

Book Club will discuss The Honkand Holler Opening Soon by Billie Letts at 1P.M. on Thursday, January 23, 2014, inChapman Lounge. Ed and Mariette Linberg

will be our hosts.

ParlorClassToLearn AboutChurchHistory Beginning on Sunday,February 2nd, the Parlor Class

will embark on a 10-week course of study thatwill focus on Church History. The topics to bedealt with will give participants an overview ofthe history of the Church from the end of thefirst century to the present. If you'd like to be

part of this study experience, add your name tothe sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board just to the right of the entrance to the narthex.A copy of the list of topics for this course maybe found on the counter in the Church Office.This will give you an overview of what isplanned.

SeniorsMeetTuesdayJan.21,2014 The Senior Adult

Ministry meets Tuesday, January 21, at 12 noonin Chapman Lounge. This will be our firstmeeting in 2014. Our speaker this month is ourown Ed Linberg. The title of his presentation

is “Whence and Whither?” Ed will firstprovide an overview of where we have beenand what we have done as a group. Then hewill lead us in a discussion that will invite usto think about the future of this ministry.What do we want to keep doing that we’vebeen doing? Most important, what newventures would we like to consider and,perhaps, undertake? Be thinking about thesethings in advance of the meeting so you willhave some input to share with the group. If

you’ve been thinking about becoming a part ofthis ministry, this would be a good meeting toattend to learn about our past and what mayunfold in the future. As Ted has reminded usmany times, mark your calendar for 2014 onthe third Tuesday of each month at 12 noon asSenior Meeting Day and save the day if at allpossible to fellowship with other seniors in thecongregation and hear great presentations andtalks on a variety of issues.

MissionTripUpdates With Judi Smedley's decisionto be part of the group going to

Joplin, Missouri, March 16-22, we now haveonly one slot left in what we hope will be a fiveperson work team. Judi joins Tom Beck, DirkMcCuen and Paige Richmond who hadpreviously committed themselves to be part ofthis mission trip. If you'd like to be person #5going to Joplin on behalf of our congregation,

speak to Ed Linberg or Donna Woodbridge right away. We hope to have the registrationforms ready for the participants to completethis coming Sunday.

The Outreach Ministry

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2014 FOUNDERS’ DAY AT CHAPMAN-March 13-15 Founders’ Day is an annual event sponsored by the Office of ChurchRelations, connecting students, faculty and community members with anoutstanding scholar in the area of religion (Founders’ Education Day) and a renewal and reunion

event for Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ.In 2014, the Founders’ Education Day will be extended because of a partnership withChapman's Department of Religious Studies. The scholar is John Dominic Crossan. Founders’ Day isMarch 13-15. Nancy Malotte will be our coordinator. Watch the Caller for more details. For now,mark this date on your calendar!

WeekofCompassion–ReportonChemicalSpillinWestVirginiaRev. Thaddaeus B. Allen serves as the Regional Minister and President of the Christian Church in West Virginia.Late last week, a chemical spill rendered water undrinkable across several counties of the state. Tuesday, January 14,

Thad offers this reflection on our partnership and response.

“Water is life! This year as the church has been contemplating the Baptism of Jesus (in the liturgicalcalendar), we in West Virginia have also been made keenly aware of the precious place water holds in our life.Late last week the drinking water supply of a major portion of our state's population, including our capital cityof Charleston, was tainted with a chemical that is not fit for human consumption. Suddenly our water was notlife giving. As of Monday, it is still unfit to wash dishes with, bathe in, or drink. As much as one third of ourstate's population has been affected.

“As Disciples, you need to know that you have been here from the beginning, jumping into action. Ourcongregation in the heart of the capital, United Disciples of Christ, was checking on members and neighbors.The pastor and region were in contact and the region made immediate plans to deliver drinking water, wipesfor bathing, and other essentials for our members and neighbors. Week of Compassion immediately providedfunds for this need. Thank you, Disciples.

“We have deep ecumenical ties in this region, so we do this work always with our brothers and sisters,particularly the West Virginia Council of Churches. So when an appeal was made for supplies, congregationsfrom Fairmont to Parkersburg mobilized to take needed items to the ecumenical warehouse for distribution.Christian Unity is still our polar star and together the church is meeting needs immediately!

“When the call came for vans and drivers to deliver water and check on the disabled and mostvulnerable, congregations from Wheeling to Princeton said "Send Me!" Thank you, Disciples, for being there!

“Last evening after rounds of conference calls and texts and prayers, I became very much aware of mygratefulness for the church, the institution which is Christ's Body. Because of the body, we are able to moveimmediately. We have each other, networks, and relationships to get things done when things need to bedone! We have bones and muscle. The body is life too! So thank you brothers and sisters for caring for us.

“This morning we think we have adequate supplies. This could change, but for now supplies remainstable. Many ask--what can we do? Well, we appreciate your prayers and solidarity in these days. Rememberthe poor, service workers, and businesses who struggle with closings. Make gifts through Week ofCompassion so that the body can continue to be present when disaster strikes. This is the best and mostappropriate vessel for holding our offerings! Come visit when we get this fixed. You will love West Virginia:it really is almost heaven! And we love you for your concern, compassion, and presence in the body. Youmake real the very presence of Christ, thank you for being life.

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First Christian Church109 E. Wilshire AvenueFullerton, CA 92832 Reawaken (Early Worship Service) Sunday, 8:00 A.M.Church School for all ages: Sunday, 9:00 A.M.Remember (Traditional Worship Service) Sunday, 10:15 A.M.Youth Groups: Sunday, 1:00 P.M. & Wednesday, 3:30 – 5:15 P.M.

Serving January 19 2014 Greeter: April JohnenGuest Book: Edee StahnkeCoffee Host: Hospitality MinistryAcolyte Parent: McCuenSound: Kyle FoughtVideo: PJ VannoyLay Leader: Scott RichmondChildren’s Moment: Jamie DorroughElders: Randy Langston, Jodie Martin,

Judi Smedley

Diaconate: Leslie’s TeamPrepare: Nancy Geiger, Lisa ParksUshers: Phil Forbes, Sue HarlessServe: Sue Harless, Randy Langston, Lisa

Parks, Amy & David StyffeClean Up: Nancy Geiger, Sue Harless,

David StyffeAlternate: Leslie Beck

Serving January 26 2014 Greeters: YouthGuest Book: Becky GravesCoffee Host: Hospitality MinistryAcolyte Parent: AnguloSound: Clare KeechVideo: PJ VannoyLay Leader: Children’s Moment:Elders: Bill Martin, Kathy Robidoux,

Debra Taylor

Diaconate: Leslie’s TeamPrepare: Phil Forbes, Nancy GeigerUshers: Diane Daugherty, Phil ForbesServe: Diane Daugherty Randy Langston,

Lisa Parks, Amy & David StyffeClean Up: Leslie Beck, Lisa Parks, Amy

StyffeAlternate: Leslie Beck

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