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First Christian Church
Staff
Senior Pastor Michael Berry
Choir Director
Dan Wimberley
Praise Leader Bill Froehlich
Pianist
Ruth Monroe
Substitute Pianist/Organist Ruth Massie
Minister of Education
Rayna Barker
Children’s Director Becca Davis
Nursery Coordinator
Becky Brix
Administrative Assistant Marilyn Aiken
Bookkeeper Becky Brix
Phone:
(307) 745-4248
Fax:
(307)745-1548
E-mail:
Or
Visit us on the web!
At
www.fcclaramie.org
2130 E. Garfield St.
Laramie, Wyoming
82070
Life With the Focus of Solitude
Winter keeps lingering in the valley, and I am longing for days in the mountains. The sun
shining on my face, a fly rod in my hand, and the quiet. Oh I long for the quiet. It wasn’t
until several years ago that I understood how much the quiet brings joy and energy to me.
Few archetypes are as mysterious and compelling as that of the monastic warrior. From the
Shaolin monks to the Knights Templar, such men withdrew from worldly distractions and
sacrificed common pleasures in order to develop both their spirituality and their martial
prowess. Through study, contemplation, and physical exercise/training, they disciplined
body, mind, and soul to a keen edge.
Throughout history only a small percentage of men have been capable of making such a
commitment, and today, communities of martial monks have all but disappeared. Yet
introspective and iron-willed men have followed the way of the monastic warrior in every
age — finding outlets to seek solitude amidst even the noisiest times.
The word monastic derives from the Greek monos, meaning “alone.” But while we tend to
think of monks as living completely solitary lives, it’s more accurate to describe them as
embracing solitude in community. They were called to strengthen their brothers, and to
serve as an example of spiritual power to the laity-at-large.
Few modern people become full-time monks, but spending a season working with
unadulterated focus to develop body, mind, and spirit to their fullest potential — can reap
mighty benefits. Especially when undertaken in one’s youth, it can act as a foundation that
sets the rest of your life on the right course. Even if you’re older, and never had the chance
to try-out a period of full-on monk mode, you can, and should, draw from the way of the
monastic warrior.
Find ways to periodically escape from the noise and distractions of the world to find
solitude and “sharpen your saw.” Whether it’s a lonely morning run, an evening
meditation, or a solo camping trip, such solitary retreats will clear your mind, rejuvenate
your body, and leave you prepared to face life’s battles with heart and strength.
So, as we shovel up the snow one more time, and with the knowledge that more is on the
way…..what is your plan to fight for solitude? Where is the spot you love the most to get
quiet? What discipline do you need to reinvigorate or even begin?
We get closer to Jesus in the quiet. We feel the wind of the Spirit in the quiet. We find
focus in the quiet. We all NEED the QUIET.
Mike
The Good News Gazette
May 2016
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DISCIPLES WOMEN
Disciples Women Retreat
ENOUGH
Saturday, July 9, 9:00am-4:30pm - Harriman Retreat Center
Join us in July for an all-day women’s retreat on more than 200 acres of beautiful land only 40 minutes from
Laramie near the Colorado border. We’ll be talking about how when trials come our way, when we struggle,
when we suffer, Jesus is ENOUGH. We may not have anything else, but God gives us Himself.
You’ll receive tools to help you connect with God and one another, and will experience times of worship,
activity and meditation.
Both the retreat center and a selection of activities are accessible to all.
A caravan and carpooling will be arranged for travel to and from the church.
Children are welcome to attend an on-site day camp.
Registration information
Cost: $20 per person or 2 for $30 if you bring a non-FCC friend
Children: $5 each
Food, supplies and activities included.
To register, please contact Rayna at [email protected] or 745-4248
Summer Women's Bible Study- Join us on Wednesday mornings starting June 1st as we dig into the Bible. We'll meet from 10:00-11:30 each week, and you'll have the option of studying Ruth: love, loss, legacy by Kelly
Minter, Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed with Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore and Kay Arthur, or Seamless: understanding the Bible as one complete story by Angie Smith. You may sign up in the foyer. Childcare provided. All books $13 if needed.
Getting to know the
DISCIPLES WOMEN LEADERSHIP TEAM Rayna Barker, Angie Bauer, Amber Berry, Florence Brandt, Babette Cuadrado, Priscilla
Foster
Each month we’ll highlight different leaders in the church. For the next few months, you’ll get to
know those who minister to and with our women.
Priscilla Foster has served on the women’s ministry team for 3 years, initially joining because of her
conviction that it is important for women to visit, support each other and their families and enjoy celebrating
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one another as members of FCC. She also believes it is vital to pass on our stories and our faith. Preferring to
serve behind the scenes, you will often find Priscilla making someone else feel welcome, teaching us to create
something lovely to give away to those in need, or giving rides to those who can’t drive.
Priscilla is passionate about her family, which includes friends and her church family as well. Born and raised in
Laramie, she is the oldest of 6 kids who were raised in our church; she was baptized here in 1957. Both of her
parents, Red and Frieda Nottage, passed away when the children were still young, and Priscilla, being the oldest
and only twelve at the time, helped raise her siblings. She and her husband Ken raised two beautiful redhead
daughters as she worked, primarily for the Forest Service in accounting and property management. Sadly she
lost her husband and soul mate to a heart attack in 2002, but is blessed with an extended family which includes
two son-in-laws and four beautiful grandsons. Crissy and Forrest live in Buffalo and have two boys Wyatt, 16
and Morgan 14. Stephanie and Robert live in Wilton, ND and they have two boys - CJ, 12 and Brayden, 7.
Our congregation is the other part of her family, and she values how we learn and grow together, and help each
other with prayer and in hands-on ways wherever needed. She longs to get to know the new members of our
family, and is always keeping our team mindful of ways to facilitate that between our women.
One of Priscilla’s favorite things to do is to take quilting classes with friends and figuring out what she can
create from available fabrics and patterns. She also enjoys observing what others have created. Travel with
friends and family, sibling reunions, and simply getting together with friends and ladies from the church to
watch movies, play games or just visit and laugh are the highlights of her life.
When asked how Jesus has impacted her life, this was Priscilla’s answer: The Lord has been in my life since day
one. He has guided me through everything - even though I've had a lot of losses in my life, I wouldn't change a
thing. The week Ken died, I was lying down on my bed crying and wondering just what in the world I was going
to do. I was the only one in the house. All of a sudden I sensed/felt someone giving me a big hug and telling me
that everything was going to be alright. At that moment and from that day forward I knew everything was going
to be okay. That's not to say I don't miss Ken, because I miss him every day, but God is in charge of my life and
he has never led me astray. I have truly been blessed every day of my life. I'm blessed with my family, church
family and friends. We are blessed by her, too!
“It takes a BIG heart to shape a LITTLE mind"
Nursery Volunteers Wanted!
If you would be willing to volunteer in the nursery on Sunday mornings or
would like more information, contact Becky Brix or stop by the nursery after
service to let someone know you are interested.
Thank You! Becky – [email protected] -
The May Outreach project is collecting cans/packages of tuna for Interfaith Good
Samaratin and the Soup Kitchen. Our goal is 200 cans – please bring your
contribution and place it in the Outreach wooden bin. Let’s watch it grow!
Hope;fully we will be soon swimming with TUNA!
The Outreach Team will be meeting to designate distribution of funds on June 26, 2016 following the second service. Please make a
note to join us for this important meeting – especially if you have a special outreach ministry you would like to see supported.
Thank you all for the wonderful outpouring of donations for the Human Trafficking Restoration Bag Project. These items will be
taken to fill backpacks for the survivors of Human Trafficking at our Regional Spring Feast held in Colorado Springs May 13-14, 2016.
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Exciting things are happening in Children’s Ministry! Hello Families,
God is doing amazing things with his children’s ministry! You may or may
not have heard that I was blessed to spend April 13th-16th at a “Children Desiring
God” conference in Indiana. I attended seminars and I had the pleasure of attending
sermons by Albert Mohler and John Piper. God really spoke to my heart during this
conference. I left there with a sense of renewal and encouragement. I can’t wait to
put what I have learned into action!
Believe it or not, summer is on the horizon! Which also means that the end of school is near. Sunday school and Glory Kids
take a break for the summer. The last day of Sunday school will be Sunday, May 22nd. The last Glory Kids will be Wednesday May
25th. Both Sunday school and Glory Kids will resume after the summer. Stay tuned for the starting dates as the time draws near.
Please be praying about having your kiddos join us for the summer camp “Eagle Lake Summer Day Camps” which will be the week of
July 11-15. For more information, stop by the children’s ministry or give me a call/text/email. Also, there are PLENTY of VOLUNTEER
opportunities for this camp. I’d be happy to talk to you about those opportunities as well. ;) God Bless, Becca Davis
(307)343-3332 / [email protected]
We’re excited to host Eagle Lake Camp this summer and have our very
own summer camp experience right here at First Christian Church! From
July 11-15 we’ll have 5 days of contagious fun with highly-trained camp
counselors, incredible activities, in-depth bible studies, and an opportunity
for outreach in our community. There are numerous ways to get involved-
inviting your neighbors, making lunches, praying for the week or hosting
counselors in your homes- as we minister to kids in our community and
congregation! There will also be a great Family Festival and a high school
program. Call the church office or go to www.eaglelakecamps.com/fcc
today to register and get involved in this incredible week!
Thank you for your on-going donations to the soup kitchen. We really appreciate your generosity and
aid in our mission to feed the hungry. Brittany w. & staff
Dear First Christian church,
Thank you for your generous gift of women’s clothing, shoes, and puzzles given to the Cathedral Home for Children. We can’t thank you enough for standing behind our mission and allowing us to be a part of building a stronger community. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of our mission; to restore hope, strengthen relationships and build futures. Sincerely, Nicole Hauser, MSW, LCSW, Executive Director
We have a young man in our congregation who would love to have a garden not only for
his family but to share with the community and the church. He has been saving
heirloom seeds but doesn’t have the room for a garden at his home. Would there be
someone in the congregation who has a rototiller and would be willing to dig up our
garden area (located on the back east side of the property) by planting season? If so,
please contact Marilyn in the office so arrangements can be made and this garden can
come to abundant life this summer!
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May Celebrations 5/1 Dorothy Bird 5/21 Austin Elbrecht
5/2 Bob Sexton Sally Richard
Geri Lynn Miller 5/22 Allen & Marianne Businga ♡
5/4 Brian Florom 5/24 Roy Kern
Tenae Jones 5/26 Ruth & Tim Monroe ♡
5/6 Pete Cuadrado 5/27 Bill Froehlich
5/7 Brittany Endsley 5/29 Priscilla Foster
5/10 John Scozzafava Deb Roth
5/12 Dusty Parker Jeanne DeVries
5/13 Jason Brechlin Kaysen Scozzafava
5/16 Chris Doty Bruce Thomas
5/19 Jean Wheat 5/30 Mindy & Lon Vohland ♡
Mike & Sharon Dunlay ♡ 5/31 Mary Harman
Bob & Micky Routson ♡
Do you have a birthday or anniversary in May that is not on this list? Please let the office know as we never want to miss anyone!
Darwin & Teresa Keeney who joined the church April 10, 2016.
JT & Haley Walsh who were baptized on April 7, 2016
Samantha Blake who was baptized on April 15, 2016
May Fellowship Event
What: Cinco de Mayo Fiesta (Uno de Mayo)
When: Sunday May 1st after 2nd service (noonish)
Where: Fellowship Hall
Why: To be together with other parts of God’s family and invite
new people in.
Please bring a dessert to share if you wish.
Fun fun fun!
The next congregational meeting will be held June 12th following each
service. This meeting is to approve the budget for 2016-17. Our fiscal
year begins July 1.
Prayer shawl ministry will be meet on the 2nd Monday of each
month. May’s meeting will be held on May 9th from 1pm – 3pm at Micky Routson’s
home,2663 Sybille. Please call Florence Brandt if you have questions 307-343-2509
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Acknowledging the wide continuum of mothering. To those who gave birth this year to their first child – we celebrate with you
To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you
To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food
stains – we appreciate you
To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away – we mourn with
you
To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we
walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.
To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you
To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you
To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are
better for having you in our midst
To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children – we mourn that life
has not turned out the way you longed for it to be
To those who step-parent – we walk with you on these complex paths
To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren – yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with
you
To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you
To those who placed children up for adoption – we commend you for your selflessness and remember
how you hold that child in your heart
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising – we anticipate with you
This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in
our midst. We remember you.
Congratulations Graduates! Graduates of 2016 will be recognized during the 10:30am worship service on May 15th.
Laramie High School - Chris Henry.& Brandon Fly
Central High School (Cheyenne) - Tom Fawcett
Black Hills State College – Charlie Florom Reid (MA Education)
UW – Tanner Harms (BS Mechanical Engineering) & Meghan Brix (BS in Textiles & Merchandising)
Please let the office know by May 9th of any other 2016 graduates we should recognize on this special day.
From the Constitution Committee:
Due to the recognized need by the Church Board to evaluate and make changes to our somewhat
outdated constitution, a committee has been formed to undertake this endeavor. April 13 marked the
beginning of the process of evaluating our current leadership structure and constitution, with the ultimate
goal of adopting a constitution and by-laws that have a biblical model and reflect our current identity,
values, and practices. We anticipate this to be a lengthy process, but commit to keeping the congregation well-informed along
the way. As we seriously consider both the scriptural teachings and the traditions of our church regarding church leadership
and structure, we commit to the following:
1. To pray and listen to hear God’s guiding voice on issues we deal with, both collectively and individually.
2. To study the Scriptures to grasp God’s heart for the Church
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3. To prioritize Scripture when making any changes, while valuing and considering the traditions and identity of First
Christian Church, Laramie, Wyoming
Will you commit to joining us in prayer, and pray for us to have discernment and be attuned to God’s will as we go through
this process? Thank you!
Team Members: Feel free to contact any of us with input or questions. Mike Berry [email protected] Jack Harvey [email protected] Terri Harvey [email protected] Rayna Barker [email protected] Kirk Brown [email protected]
What is a Regional Minister? It has recently become obvious to me that many of us here at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are not in touch with what it means to be part of the Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). We, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada are organized into regions. At the regional level there is a Regional Minister. We are currently looking to fill that position in our region and we have had some input into what we desire from a Regional Minister at a listening session March 11th. The role of the Regional Minister is that this person is first and foremost; the Pastor to the Pastors in the Region. But, they also have several hats to wear and have several duties to perform, including: helping congregations with the search and call process (finding ministers for congregations), organizing the regional events such as summer camps and regional assemblies, representing our region at the national level with the College of Regional Ministers and in general just keeping things going. Our CRMR encompasses 311,000 square miles and includes Wyoming, Colorado, Farmington, NM, SE Idaho, & SE Utah. In those vast miles we have 47 churches and 174 ministers both, active and retired. Please continue to pray for the Search Committee members who are at present attempting to find someone who fits our needs for the region. Pray for their wisdom, patience, faith and insight! Thank you for your support & prayers – Marilyn Aiken
Men’s Prayer Breakfast Bible Study now meets at Perkins Restaurant on Friday’s at 6:00am. Please join us!
Pentecost Special Offering May 15 & 22, 2016 The Disciples new church movement is experiencing a Second Wind. With courageous leaders at the helm and the wind of the Holy Spirit breathing vitality into the movement, Disciples are on course to starting 1,000 new churches by 2020. For additional information visit www.hopepmt.org. • 850 new churches have been started since 2001 when the Disciples introduced the 2020 Vision to start 1,000 new churches by 2020.
• As result of starting 850 new churches, Disciples have shared the gospel with more than 60,000 individuals, who may not have had a relationship with God.
• Every week 28 languages are spoken in Disciples congregations during worship. • The Pentecost Offering supports the Disciples new church movement by making it possible for the Church
to recruit, assess, train and coach new church leaders. • One half the offering is dedicated to each respective Region or Area where the offering is taken, while the other half is used by Hope Partnership to support new church ministry.
