GET READY FOR FEBRUARY

February is going to be a huge month for FCC--don't miss a moment.

Sunday, Feb. 7 is Super Bowl Sunday. Every year on this day, we join the col-

lective celebration of the football world and “go big” in worship with a “big”

Anthem by the Choir or “special” from the Praise Band, and energetic mes-

sages from both preachers. Also on that day, we will have our next Guests and

Newcomer’s Brunch at 10:45 a.m. in the Library area of Disciples Hall (here’s

your chance to invite that someone you have been wanting to invite).

Sunday, Feb. 14 is Scout Sunday. Again in 2016, we want to welcome and

recognize another year of Scouting at FCC (over 75 years). In our Traditional

Worship service, Scouts (Girl, Cub, Boy, and Venture) will present the colors

and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Of course, Feb. 14 is also Valentine’s

Day, so plan accordingly! . . .(continued on page 7)

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH - Tyler, Texas www.fcctyler.org February 1, 2016 Vol. 59 No. 2

FROM THE SENIOR MINISTER...

The following is an excerpt of my vision talk at our Elders/

Deacons Retreat January 23.

I’ve heard vision described as “What it takes to move people

from here to there."

What does “here” look like? FCC is in a great place. We have

so many amazing people worshipping, caring, serving and

growing. We are enjoying the fruits of our new building. We have 2 unique

worship services, 8 strong adult SS classes, a strong Sr. Adult ministry

(Generation Great), and a strong Disciples Womens Ministry. Our Youth Minis-

try is gearing up for Youth Sunday and another life-changing Summer Mission

trip. Our Children’s ministry is also doing well despite graduating 9 children to

the Youth last Fall. Mother's Day Out was full 2 days last week. Our budget

challenges continue to be met with incredible generosity.

Our shut-in and hospitalized members are being ministered to by our Care

Ministry. We are an official Global Leadership Summit site. 10% of our budget is invested in Outreach ministries (near and far) )...and the monies we end up

investing each year equal more like 20%! We have paid off approximately

80% of the cost of our renovation within the first year of occupancy.

I have to say, “here” looks pretty good! So, why change anything? Because

“here” also has some challenges. . . (continued on page 7)

EMERGENCY

RESPONSE TEAM

FCC is tightening up security

around the church. We are

trying to keep doors securely

closed and locked. If you do

not have an electronic key

card, please come by the

church office and pick one

up. Also, when you enter or

leave the church, please

make sure that the door

closes securely behind you.

Sunday Door Schedule:

Main - 8:30am-noon

Office - 8:30-9:45am

Children’s - 8:30-9:45am

Choir - 8:30-9:45am

CLC 10:30-11:00am

Although the doors will be

locked outside these times,

you may still come in using

your keycard .

Thanks for your help!

-Larry Gilliam

1

FCC ASKS…that you

please hold onto your weekly

Sunday bulletins to keep up

with FCC’s ministry and peo-

ple. Since our move to

monthly newsletters, we will

be including more informa-

tion in the Sunday bulletins.

2

JOYS & CONCERNS

And the Lord added. . .by transfer of membership

new members Todd & Denise Smith and Jerry &

Lorene Sparks. The Smiths live at 8400 Southland

Dr. (neighbors of the Wangs and Bochows) who

recently moved here from Boston. They are al-

ready part of the Genesis Sunday School Class.

The Sparks have been visiting FCC for several

months. They moved to East Texas from Ari-

zona to be near their extended family. You will

find them in the Cana Class. Please make

each couple feel welcome by introducing

yourself and wearing your name tag.

Congratulations to. . .Emily Pulliam and Bran-

don Howard upon their recent engagement!

Emily is Chris and Lisa Pulliam’s oldest child;

she will graduate from TCU this Spring.

And to. . .Nathan and April Stiles, who are expect-

ing a baby girl this summer. April is our new Media

Coordinator.

Keep these members and their families in our

prayers: Grace Brett, Faye Crawford, James

Hardage, Harfon Kemp, Kaye Kraus, Randy Perry,

Bob Randall , C.R. & Ellen Ritchey, Tosh Roberts, Ann Russell, and

Tom Wall

and our friends: Lyn Babin, Kyle Clay, Ronnie Espindola, Gil Hewlett,

Laura Lowell, Linda Smiley, Cindy Smith, Nick Vandagriff, and Austin

Wallace

Our sympathies go to. . .the family and friends of Pat Autrey. Pat

passed away in January. Her memorial was held Saturday, Jan. 23.

Je

rry &

Lore

ne

Sp

ark

s To

dd

& D

en

ise S

mith

MISSION TRIPS GARLAND & ROWLETT, TX:

Our brothers and sisters in

Dallas need you! Recent tor-

nados and storms have

caused extensive damage in

the Garland and Rowlett ar-

eas. Our Disciples Church in

Rowlett was damaged and

many family members had

their homes destroyed. Week

of Compassion has set up an

office in Rowlett. Our Out-

reach ministry is sponsoring

volunteers to assist in rebuild-

ing. If you are interested in

helping ,we are planning

day missions. For more infor-

mation call Larry Gilliam at

(903) 570-8240.

ECUADOR:

This year, we have a 15 -

member team planning a

trip to Ecuador. Two doctors,

four nurses, one pharmacist,

and one professor will serve

on the medical team, and 7

members with a variety of

skills will serve on the work

team. There is always great

need in Ecuador, and we

are looking forward to return-

ing during Spring Break.

MESSAGE FROM THE WELCOME TEAM

The Welcome / Evangelism Team would like to thank you all for

wearing your new FCC name badges to church. Please wear your

name badge every time you attend a church function or even when

you are out in the community! Not only do name tags break down

barriers between long time members of FCC and Newcomers, but

they also serve as great conversation starters around Tyler. When you

are out to lunch and you notice someone staring at your FCC name

badge, it's an open door to introduce yourself, strike up a friendly

conversation, and invite him/her to come and worship with us!

We will be placing quarterly name badge orders. Your first badge is

a gift to you from FCC. If you need a replacement badge, please

stop by the Welcome table on Sunday morning and sign the name

badge order form. Replacement badges can be ordered for a sug-

gested donation of $10. Thank you for helping FCC be the most wel-

coming congregation in Tyler!

-Lisa Pulliam and the Welcome/Evangelism Team

Fu

ture

Mr. &

Mrs. H

ow

ard

MISSION TRIP 2016

3

1

-9:30am -

Deborah Circle

-3pm - Greek

Class

2

- 6pm -

Handbell

Rehearsal

- 7pm - Choir

Rehearsal

3 4-

- 6:30pm -

E-Circle

5 Chi Rho

Midwinter

6 Chi Rho

Midwinter

-10am -

GriefShare

7

Chi Rho

Midwinter

- 1st Sunday

Lunch

-DWM

Valentine SALE

8

-3pm - Greek

Class

9

- 6pm -

Handbell

Rehearsal

- 7pm - Choir

Rehearsal

10

-8am -

B&B Study

-5:30pm - Ash

Wednesday

Service

11 12 13

-10am -

Griefshare

14

Scout Sunday -DWM

Valentine SALE

-11:45am -

Elder’s Meeting

- TBD - Youth

Movie Day

15

-3pm - Greek

Class

16

- 6pm -

Handbell

Rehearsal

- 7pm - Choir

Rehearsal

17

-8am -

B&B Study

18 19 CYF Midwinter

20 CYF Midwinter

Children &

Family Movie

Night

-10am -

Griefshare

21

CYF Midwinter

22

-3pm - Greek

Class

23

- 6pm -

Handbell

Rehearsal

- 7pm - Choir

Rehearsal

24

-8am -

B&B Study

25 26 27

- 8am - Food

Bank

-10am -

Griefshare

28

“Spread the

Word II”

Commitment

Sunday

No Youth

29

-3pm - Greek

Class

First Christian Church Calendar

FEBRUARY 2016

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

4

COMING UP AT FCC…

Sunday, Jan 31—2015 GIVING STATE-

MENTS ARE READY! Statements will be

available for pick-up in Disciples Hall

Sunday. Statements not requested or

picked up will be mailed Feb. 1

Sunday, Jan. 31—Congregational

Meeting at 10:35am in Disciples Hall.

We will consider a revised 2016

budget.

Sign up for Dinner with Friends! Meet

fellow church goers over friendly din-

ners. Sign up in Disciples Hall. For more

information call Margaret Rapp 903-

253-4410 or Linda Davis 903-894-6869.

Mondays, February—Basics of Biblical

Greek Class taught by Jackie Littleton

will meet every Monday at 3pm start-

ing Feb.1. For more information email

Jackie at jackie_littleton@yahoo.com Wednesday, Feb. 3—Cabinet Meeting

in the Koinonia classroom at 6pm. Saturdays, February—GriefShare is

open to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one. Meetings are held every Saturday at 10am in the Koinonia classroom. Register with Dave at davidjmaland@gmail.com or the church office.

Fri - Sun, Feb. 5-7—Chi Rho Midwinter

Retreat in Athens (grades 6-8).

Sunday, Feb. 7—Super Bowl Sunday

(see page 1)

Sunday, Feb. 7—Guests and Newcom-

ers Brunch is a good time to invite

someone new! Brunch will be held in

the library at 10:45am.

Sunday, Feb. 7, 14—DWM Valentine

SALE after worship in Disciples Hall. Get

a valentine for a loved one AND pro-

vide a blanket to a person in crisis for

only $5.

Wednesday, Feb. 10—Ash Wednesday

Service will be at 5:30pm in the Wor-

ship Center.

Sunday, Feb. 14—Scout Sunday (see

page 1)

Fri-Sun, Feb. 19-21—CYF Midwinter Re-

treat in Athens (grades 9-12). Register

by Feb. 5. Email Robert at

robert@fcctyler.org for more informa-

tion.

FEBRUARY 7, 2016

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

FEBRUARY 21, 2016

FEBRUARY 28, 2016

Traditional

Robert Goodrich

Dale Barton, Sebetha Jenkins-Booker

Contemporary

Chris Pulliam

Bettie Cole

Traditional

Chris Pulliam

Rachel Mason, Dale Crawford

Contemporary

Robert Goodrich

Harry Ebbeson

Traditional

Chris Pulliam

Nancy Grant, Nace Heard

Contemporary

Robert Goodrich

Laura Hedrick

Traditional

Ginger Brandt

Steve Brock, Sheila Matson

Contemporary

Robert Goodrich

Larry Gilliam

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

2/1 Jan Copas

Jackie Rollins

Jim Lowell

2/3 Sidney Spain

2/4 Jerry Fitzgerald

2/5 Richard Davis

2/6 Spencer Cotton

Bill Power

Jill Roberts

2/7 Linda Hart

Larry Davis

2/8 James McDonald

Larry Gilliam

2/9 Evelyn Babb

Terry Cockrum

2/10 Joyce Churchill

Jared Cockrum

2/14 Dixi Clay

Joanne Archer

Keagan Tijerina

2/15 Martha Baldwin

Darrian Miller

2/17 Mary Ann Exum

Rachel Gardner

Jerry Landrum

2/18 Lorie Richardson

John Mustard

2/19 Scarlett Clay

Sophia Clay

2/20 Brenda Baker

2/21 Doris Kendall

2/23 Sandy Dasenbrock

Cody Burke

Brian Insalaco

2/24 Miles Brandt

2/25 Jacob Gardner

2/26 Tom Johnson

2/27 Russell Patterson

Jeff Billings

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

2/6 Jon & Tiffany Honea

2/28 Ray & Janet

Stephenson

FLORAL DEDICATIONS

If you would like to donate and dedi-

cate a floral arrangement, please

contact the April Stiles at

april@fcctyler.org or call the church

office at 903-561-8138 to reserve a

Sunday slot. Each arrangement costs

$50. Open dates for this month and

next include: Feb. 21, Mar. 20, and

Mar. 27.

VALENTINES FOR

COLLEGE STUDENTS

Disciple Women’s Ministries would

like to send all our college kids a

Valentines Card!

Contact the church office at

903-561-8138 or Libby Lowry at

903-566-3909 with info regarding your

or your prodigy’s college and mail-

ing address.

5

NEWCOMERS & GUESTS

BRUNCH SUNDAY, FEB. 7

INVITE A HOUSEHOLD EVERY MONTH!

(Nursery care provided)

WHAT CAN I DO AT FCC?

CHECK OUT THESE MINISTRIES

Generation Great - Retirees gather for monthly

activities, most regularly for lunch and a program.

For information contact Larry Gilliam (903-570-

8240).

Wednesday Breakfast & Bible Study meets from

8:00-9:00 a.m. every week in our Christian Life

Center gym. The Bible Study is led by Rev. Ron

Byrd of University Christian Church.

Disciples Women’s Ministry - Two “Circles” of

women meet monthly. Deborah Circle meets the

first Monday at 9:30 a.m.; E Circle the first Thursday

at 6:30 p.m. Circle members participate in vari-

ous service projects through their individual Cir-

cles. For information contact Carol Hardage (903

-882-8652).

East Texas Food Bank - Help out at the East Texas

Food Bank every last Saturday of the month. Meet

at FCC at 8:00am or at the Food Bank at 8:20am.

We volunteer until close to noon. If interested con-

tact Robert Goodrich at robert@fcctyler.org

Ramey Elementary School - First Christian Church

has partnered with Ramey Elementary to share

Christ’s love by serving the students, parents, and

staff through volunteer service, donations,

teacher appreciation, prayer, and other needs

they may have. Volunteers are needed on a

weekly or monthly basis to read with small groups

of students. For more information or to get in-

volved, contact Lisa Pulliam (903-830-5303).

Friday Lunch Bunch meets at local restaurants

and/or the Church Parlor for lunch & fellowship

every Friday at 11:30 a.m. RSVP by calling the

church by 10:30 a.m. that day (903-561-8138).

Mission Trips - We have an upcoming trips to Ec-

uador, Spring Break 2016 and Los Fresnos, TX April

2016. For more information, contact Larry Gilliam

(903-570-8240) .

6

FOR CHILDREN GRADE 3 & UP: BAPTISM CLASS

FCC begins a new Baptism Class during the Education Hour on Feb. 14. We’ll meet for 5 Sundays

and one weeknight session in March. If your child has talked about being baptized and you’d like

him/her to explore more with us, in preparation for baptisms on Easter Sunday, call Rev. Ginger 903-

561-8138 to sign up.

JOIN A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

Classes meet from 10:45-11:45am after Worship.

The following list gives the name and location,

learning style and general age group or life stage

of each class.

Believers: CLC Rm. 7 — Lecture format for a wide

variety of ages. Lesson delivery rotates among

class members.

Café Class: Now meeting in the Contemporary

Worship space — Discussion lead by Dr. Pulliam

based on his worship message; geared to adults

with children at home.

Cana: CLC Rm. 4 — Book studies & small-group

discussion; middle age range, singles & couples.

Laura Hedrick leads.

Choir Forum: Main Building, Rm. 190 — Scripture-

based lessons; primarily choir members. Teacher is

Troy Smith.

Disciples: Main Building, Parlor (off Sanctuary) —

Lecture format geared to retired, senior adults;

Mary Waldrop is class teacher.

Genesis: CLC, Rm. 1 (directly behind coffee bar)

— Rotating discussion leaders, often using video

series; couples and singles, mostly in workforce.

Koinonia: CLC, Rm. 8 — Some discussion; primar-

ily couples in later working years or retired; rotat-

ing teachers.

Seekers: Main Building, Seekers Room (at end of

choir room hallway) — Lecture and discussion

combo; a mix of senior adults. Teacher is Jackie

Littleton.

7

FROM THE SENIOR MINISTER...(continued from

page 1)

While we see new faces each week, 90% of those peo-

ple come because they have seen our new building.

We are blessed to have a "welcoming" culture--now we

have to develop an "inviting" culture. We are equipped

and ready for more people, it's time to invite them in.

While we are in good financial shape overall, again this

year, we are facing a deficit budget. We are in a much

better place as a healthy church today than we were a

decade ago, yet our numbers have decreased (2015

saw an increase), and we struggle to assimilate new

people.

More seriously and a bit more difficult to measure…are

our young people going into ministry, continuing to

make “faith” a priority in their lives, and worshipping

somewhere on Sundays? Are our people growing in

faith? Is our world moving closer to “on earth as it is in

heaven”? Christianity is struggling to be significant in the

lives of millions of people. Are making the difference we

want to make in our community and world?

So, we will continue to meet, pray, worship, dream and

work to move this ship forward and in the direction God

leads us.

Here's what I want to see us do (to name a few):

-raise up “spiritual giants” at FCC.

-baptize 5 adults and 10 children this year.

-involve 25% of our people in Mission work

-increase our attendance Sunday School and Worship,

by engaging all people with the Good News of Jesus

Christ.

-have interns in ministry each summer.

-take a group to the Holy Land

-take the Global Leadership Summit to a new setting

outside the U.S.

-give $10,000/yr to Week of Compassion

-use social media to get our message out to the masses

-raise up young people for full-time ministry

-see people worshipping God with heart, mind, soul,

and strength.

-welcome 100 new people every year.

-dedicate 10 babies

-provide help to young families with their finances,

marriages, and parenting.

The list is endless…and no, we can’t do it all, but we can

do much with the Spirit's help. So, yes, “here” isn’t bad,

but clearly we need to go “there”! I’m in. I ask you to

join me and all the leaders of FCC. Let us "press on"…to

speak and live for Christ in our community and world.

Grace and Peace,

Chris Pulliam

GET READY…(continued from page 1)

On Sunday, Feb. 21, we will lift up “Week of

Compassion” (WOC), the relief and develop-

ment arm of our denomination that responds to

human suffering and natural disaster around the

world, 365 days a year. We will hear from our

own Jim Rapp, who is on the national WOC

board. Our goal for the special offering we will

receive that day is $3,000.

Finally on Sunday, Feb. 28, we will embark on a

two year Capital Campaign (“Spread the

News” or “Spread the Word II”…we are not sure

yet) to continue providing for our newly reno-

vated campus. At 9:30 a.m. both worship ser-

vice will begin as usual, then around 10:00 a.m.,

our Contemporary Worshippers will join our Tra-

ditional Worshippers in the sanctuary for the ser-

mon and time of commitment.

All this is just what is going to happen on Sunday

mornings—more ministry will happen through

the weekdays.

Join your church family for an unforgettable

February.

MAKING MIDWINTER MEMORIES!

Four upper-elementary children plus Rev. Ginger

Brandt went to Disciples Crossing in January for

JYF Midwinter. The theme, “It’s Not Church

Without U,” was celebrated through song (and

dance!), collaboration, group games, talks,

walks, s’mores and more. FCC’s campers

were: Cody Burke, Shaye Smith, Karson Soward

and Jules Tinsley.

8

Christian Fellowship First Christian Church

4202 S. Broadway Tyler, Texas 75701

(903) 561-8138 Website: www.fcctyler.org

E-mail: FirstChristian@fcctyler.org

Christian Fellowship (USPS 559960) Published monthly by First Christian Church

4202 S. Broadway, Tyler, TX 75701 Periodical Postage paid at Tyler TX

POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

4202 S. Broadway, Tyler, TX 75701-8721

AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH…

We believe God wants to transform our lives indi-

vidually and collectively in honor for His sake. In

everything we do, we speak and live for Christ.

How we do that is we take God’s love and our

God given gifts and talents out into the world to

make a difference. On Sunday we gather

together to worship and refuel.

MISSION: To speak and live for Christ in our community and

world.

VISION: To be a worshipping community in which all people are

transformed through the love of Jesus Christ.

P.A.T.H. (People Attempting To Help) has

regular weekly needs in receptions, casework

and the food pantry. If you can help, call Rodd

Moffett, Volunteer Coordinator at 903-617-

2817. Dr. Pulliam serves on the P.A.T.H. www.TylerPATH.or

BOOK REVIEW:

RISING STRONG BY: DR. BRENE BROWN

Rising Strong is a

nonfiction work

published in August

of 2015 by social

scientist and research professor

from the University of Houston, Dr.

Brene Brown. Dr. Brown was also a

speaker at the Global Leadership

Summit 2013 and 2015. In a highly

readable way, Brown, encour-

ages us to take a hard and close

look at our selves and our stories.

She claims we must be willing to

be courageous and vulnerable in

order to reckon and rumble with

our struggles. In so doing, Brown

believes we will find new worthi-

ness and truth. The journey also

will enable us to rise from our falls,

fears, and failures to find emo-

tional health, wholeheartedness,

and strong loving relationships.

Rising Strong is now available for

check out from the New Book

section of our library.

- Ingrid Boeker

NEXT NEWSLETTER PRINTING

FEBRUARY 25!

If you would like to include an arti-

cle or advertisement please send

information to April at

april@fcctyler.org by February 20.

HEART SAVER CLASSES Jim Rapp has graciously agreed to teach Heart Saver CPR and

AED classes to church members free of charge. The combination

of CPR and the use of the AED can help save a life in the event of

a cardiac emergency. The classes will be offered Wednesday,

Feb. 17 at 6:00pm or Saturday, Feb. 20 at 9:00am. And will cover

CPR and the use of the AED. Take advantage of this opportunity

to learn these vital skills. Class size is limited to 10 participants, so

sign up quick. For more information and to register call Susan Bar-

ton at (903) 780-5281.