Chalice Connection_3_3_11

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The Chalice

CONNECTIONA publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK

Spiritual PruningBy Rev. Chris Shorow, Senior Minister

Vol. 3 No. 7 March 3, 2011

As I write,

there is a

crew at

my house

trimmingsome of the

trees in our

yard. I can’t

be there to

watch, as

the trimming makes me nervous. I grew

up in Oregon, where trees are plentiful

and somewhat sacred. Although there are

many tree farms, we didn’t take the cutting

down of trees lightly. So when they said

we had to “take out a tree,” I winced.

The house will look pretty bare soon

without all that tree growth around. It

may be painful to look at today, however,

I know it’s for the best. It will make for

healthier trees in the future and thepruning will help them to grow. I felt the

same way about the trees that were cut

down at the church, but it looks so much

better now, I realize that the initial cutting

was important.

Jesus talked about pruning. He knew

that cutting back was essential to the future

of the plant. The dead part had to be cut

away to allow for new growth. And he

compared it to our spiritual lives. We must

cut out some things in our lives to allow

for new growth.

That’s what the season of Lent

is all about. As we enter the 40 day

preparation for Easter beginning on As

Wednesday, March 9, we are entering

period of “spiritual pruning.” Traditionwe give up something for that time to

mark our spiritual discipline. But it doe

have to be giving up something, it can

be any spiritual discipline that helps us

to growlike picking up a new habit o

reading scripture, praying, reaching ou

to someone else, or helping a neighbor

Consider how you may use this Lenten

season to grow spiritually. And pray for

my trees!

The Season of Lent:March 9April 23, 2011Lenten Bible Study and Devotions Available

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection.

Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time

for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were

instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days

of Lent, we imitate Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days.

The General Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) areinviting all Disciples on a journey for the 40 Days of Lent. Two special

opportunities to deepen your faith and further understand the work and

witness of our General Ministries have been created.

You can sign-up to receive a daily Lenten devotion, story or prayer in your email, beginning March 9! You can also download a

Lenten Bible study written by Dr. Richard Lowery. Log on to fccedmond.org/lent to sign up for the daily devotionals or to downlo

a PDF copy of the Bible study. Additional copies of the Bible study available at the Welcome Center.

Dr. Lowery is an adjunct professor of Hebrew Bible at Lexington Theological Seminary. Lowery is married to the General Minister

and President, Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins. He has taught courses Biblical Studies at Phillips University, Yale Divinity School, and

served 17 years as Professor of Hebrew Bible at Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa, OK. He presently lives in Indianapolis where

works in research, writing, and teaching.



Summer Church Camp is filled with fun activities, Bible study, and adventure to build

riendships and memories that last a lifetime.

First Christian offers partial scholarships to member campers. Campers register for

camps based on GRADE COMPLETED by June 2011. To learn more, including campprices, early bird discounts, and for a registration form go to www.fccedmond.org/camp or

ask Greg, Mark, Anna Lisa the next time you are at church!

The following camps are available:n Chi Rho 1 (grades 6-8) June 6-10 n Discovery (grades 1-3) June 24-26 n CYF (grades 9-12) Junen Junior 1 (grades 4-5) June 27-July 1n Chi Rho 2 (grades 6-8) July 18-23 n Junior 2 (grades 4-5) July 18-22

What Are You Doing This Summer?

Consider These OpportunitiesFirst Christian Church Family CampEstes Park, Colorado - June 26-July 2, 2011Sign up NOW for FCC’s Family Camp! There are just a few spots left for this

adventure - June 26 thru July 2, 2011. To sign up - drop by the table in the rotunda on

Sunday morning and pick up an info packet, or log on to fccedmond.org/familycamp

Questions? Contact Susan Huffer at 340-1619.

General Assembly of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)Nashville, Tennessee - July 9-13Disciples will gather for the 2011 General Assembly in Nashville, TN, July 9-13, with thetheme “Tell It!” based on Deuteronomy 6:1-12, reminding Disciples to tell the Good News of

God’s healing love to world.

First Christian’s Student Ministry summer musical mission trip participants are traveling

to General Assembly, where they will learn, grow and participate in worship, sharing

their gift of song. Rev. Greg Bunton, Mark Taylor and sponsors will also participate in the

Assembly activities and come back eager to “Tell It!”

General Assembly offers a wide range of learning opportunities, with a special focus

on equipping congregations for mission and ministry, including 50 Different ResourceGroups - 1 to 2.5-hour workshops on variety topics: Justice, Leadership, Mission, Spiritual

Disciplines and Vital Congregations. Have questions about General Assembly? If you are

interested in learning more about this opportunity, you can contact Rev. Chris Shorow at

[email protected] or Rev. Greg Bunton at [email protected]. You can find

detailed information about General Assembly online at www.disciples.org/ga

College Summe

Internship Progr

applications bei

accepted throug

April 6. Get

details at wwwfccedmond.orginternship

Monday through ThursdayJune 13-16, 2011

This year’s theme is PandaMania -Where God is Wild about You! VBSwill be held in the evenings at FirstChristian & registration begins May 1st!

To volunteer, contact Courtney Moellat [email protected] or ShannonMedley at [email protected]

“Thank you for making me sowonderfully complex.” Psalm 139:1

Golf TournamentFriday, May 13

Kickingbird Golf Course

Save these dates for Vacation Bible School!

Save The

Date!



1905 CookbookFood for Body and SouThe Edmond Christian Church Ladies ASociety compiled their favorite recipesin 1905. One hundred years later, JudySteiger Howard was rummaging throua bin in an antique store and came acrthat recipe book.

Those recipes and many of the womstories live on in Howard’s new book,“1905 Cookbook - Food for Body and SoThis cookbook makes a great gift foranyone passionate about food, family afellowship with heartwarming pioneerstories, 200 vintage photos and 300 tanlizing recipes.

Howard believes in giving back andbecause our church ladies became theinspiration for her - she is offering thebooks for $14.95 with all the proceedsgoing to Breakfast on Boulevard.

If you are interested, please see Karla

Mahan or Kay Mades.

Happy Birthday!3/6 Doris Dowell, Davis Ernst, Jonath

Jones, Loree Rice, Donna Smith

3/7 Forrest Danley, Beau Schwabe,Warren Shepherd

3/8 Robert Fields, Henry Pearce, Jack

Privette, Jesse Raines

3/9 Becky Adams, Teresa Fritz

Combs, Matt Holliman, Tara

Linville, Aubrey McClendon

3/10 Braxton Coil, Alicia Galyon, Vicki

Grin, Dane Malzahn, Brooke

Medley, Dene Smith3/11 Barbara Pope, Pam Timmons,

Rachel VanOsdol, Pat Wathen

3/12 Randy Adams, Florine Shirley3/13 Brad Bowers, Bill Parks

Prayers of the PeopleOUR PRAYERS FOR THOSE IN THE HOSPITAL

Jean Barnes, Mercy; Joe Samuels, OU-Edmond; Jim Hayes,Baptist

THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Don Barnes, Eric Koegel, George Gilbreath, Larry Scott,Joan Grant, Phil Fraim, Bob Bennett, Ola Drennon, Teddi Long-Owen, Bob Earl, JeriBrigham, Mary Lou Womble, Jeff Stephens, Larry Grin, Wayne Wilson (TracyTurner’s dad), Kay Burks, Rose Marie McKee, Bart Rodr, Ralph Greenwood (JackieStafford’s dad), Ann Douthitt (Duke Douthitt’s mom), Sharon Luton (Susan Black’scousin), Ed Berry, Hank Thomas (Randy Thomas’ brother)

OUR SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS To Jamie Gable and Jennifer Schmitz in the passingof their grandmother, Bernice Bolling, on February 26. Services were held Wednesday,March 2 in Midwest City.

CELEBRATING THE GIFT OF A NEW LIFE Parker Eloice Whitney, born February 23 toBlake & Lauren Whitney of Dallas, TX. Proud Grandparents are Billy & Jan Harrison.

Hey Kids - Come Join In!Our children ages Pre K – 5th grade will lead us in worship on Children’s Sunday,

March 27th. If your child is interested in participating be sure to bring them to music

rehearsals on Wednesdays, March 6 and 23.

Schedule:

5:00 K-5th Grade Music 5:30 Pre K Music

6:00 Dinner 6:30-7:30 Rehearse

Questions? Call or email Anna Lisa 341-3544, ext. 14 or [email protected]



The Chalice CONNECTION

Shelley Regan, [email protected]

Read News Online@ fccedmond.org/news

Submit Articles [email protected]

(USPS 210-360) is published weekly (except weeks

of New Year’s Day and Christmas Day). Periodicals postage paid by First Christian Church, 201 E. Second, Edmond, OK 73034-456 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chalice CONNECTION, PO Box 3548, Edmond, OK 73083

PeriodicalsPostage PaidEdmond, OKUSPC 210-360

Worshipat First Christian8:15, 9 & 11am

March 6, 2011Message: Rev. Chris Shorow Scripture: John 13:2b-6

March 13, 2011Message: Rev. Chris Shorow Scripture: Psalm 147:1-6

“The Economicsof Happiness” Premiere Film ScreeningFriday, March 11, 2011 - 7:30Meinders School of Business Kerr

McGee Auditorium, OCUNW 27th St. & McKinley AvenueA new film, “The Economics of Happi-

ness,” says our spiritual satisfaction, our

sense of security, our joy, derive from our

deep connections with others and our nat

ral environment. It also states globalizatio

destroys security by undermining com-

munity, subordinating local connections t

the dictates of distant profits and creating dissatisfaction by replacing local cultures with

consumer culture. View the movie trailer online www.theeconomicsofhappiness.orgVicky Rose, daughter of Bernie and Joyce McNickle, has helped assemble an out-

standing panel to spark provocative conversation and dialogue following the film screen-

ing. Rev. Chris Shorow will be part of the panel. Other invited panelist include a banker,

physician, a sociologist and an expert on finance. This wide range of perspectives should

ensure a lively discussion. Each panelist will offer a brief comment on the film, leaving

time for dialogue among the panelists and Q&A from the audience.Hosted by Transition OKC - Sponsored by Oklahoma City University (OCU),

Sustainable OKC and Sierra Club

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Chalice Connection_3_3_11