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The Christian Builder May 5, 2016
A weekly publication of First Christian Church Midland Volume 60
No. 18
Sunday, May 8 Happy Mother’s Day
9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional
Worship
Monday, May 9 9:30am Staff Meeting 6pm Genesis Gathering at
Texas Roadhouse 7pm Men’s Group
Tuesday, May 10 12:30pm Food Pantry Delivery 6:30pm Cub Scouts
FLC 7:30pm Boy Scouts, Rm 105
Wednesday, May 11 7am Men’s Prayer Breakfast 12:30pm Food Pantry
5:30pm Breaking Bread 7pm Choir Rehearsal
Friday, May 13 6pm Girls Night Out
Saturday, May 14 8am Church Work Day
Sunday, May 15 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am
Traditional Worship 5pm CELEBRATE 5PM SOLID
www.fccmidland.org ● 1301 W. Louisiana Ave., Midland, Texas
79701 ● 432.682.2541 CHURCH CALENDAR
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Page 2 The Builder, First Christian Church
If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all
I’ve heard people around me say and use the phrase for most of
my life. I think
most of us would agree this is just one of those common sense
statements that
we’ve all heard and learned.
Only recently did I learn the phrase first became mainstream in
1942 when the
character Thumper first appears in the film Bambi. Thumper
remarks that Bambi is "kinda wobbly" but is scolded by his mother
who makes him repeat
what his father had impressed upon him that morning, "If you
can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all". This
moral is now known by such names as the "Thumperian principle",
"Thumper's rule" or "Thumper's law".
No amount of education or experience undoes this truth. We live
in a time of social media and text that all too often
give us permission to say or give voice to some comment we
shouldn’t.
And yet we do.
I have to be careful what I say, not just in the pulpit, but on
social media, email, etc. And while better sermons are
both relational and topical, I’m smart enough to know that some
topics are radioactive.
And that’s sad. I’d like to say a reflective word about several
current topics but the mere mention of those topics is
divisive.
I think scripture speaks to how people of faith are supposed to
bring salt and light to a dark and bland world.
Unfortunately, some understand this only in absolutes. Even
though I don’t find Jesus condemning anyone, from
Judas to the woman caught in the very act of adultery, I
experience many in our world who are all too happy to do so.
Some expect the churches they attend to reflect their personal
positions.
I’m grateful ours is not such a church.
I do not find scripture to support faith to be defined as
something comfortably crafted by the followers.
Quite the opposite, actually.
I keep challenging myself daily as to what is the appropriate
measure of prophetic word. What should be said and
why, the sweet spot between taking the easy way out and not
pushing too hard to upset the great momentum of this
moment in our congregation.
We have such a great spectrum of folks now in our flock, from
new Christians to fourth generation Disciples, all
shapes of family dynamics, political positions and more.
The challenge is to find the right voice, the right word, the
right inspiration.
Bible Study
T� !" : Cross Language
L%&'%( Rev. Mike Hunter
This Week’s Sermon
Title: Jesus on Mergers and Acquisitions
Scripture: John 17:20-26
Thoughts… Rev. Mike Hunter Senior Minister
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Page 3 The Builder, First Christian Church
Visitors
May 1, 2016
Lana Cooley Beth Crawford Carolyn Dixon Dziuk Family Jackie
Forsyth
Nita Fradenburg Ethan & Nate Gibbons
Hall Family Alex Hardin
Johnson Family Zach & Shawn Kilborn
Lastoka Family Deborah Lucas
Sandra & Haley McDonald Giovanni Natera
Nic & Aidan Ramsey Pat Spaw
Art & Carla Wilson
Topics… Rev. T.J. York Associate Minister
The brilliant insight that teenagers can
provide never ceases to amaze me. Over
the past few weeks we have had some
meaningful talks. Talks about, Who is
God, Why the Bible, What is salvation, and
Why Faith. It has been a lot of fun getting
to talk “shop” (or theology) with the youth
of FCC. Last week we had a Q&A time.
We had questions and opinions from all different spectrums. Here
is a list of
a few of them.
What did salvation look like before Jesus?
What’s the point of the Bible, how do I know the stories are
true?
If God is all loving, then why do bad things happen?
What is God?
How can I grow my faith?
These are just a few of the questions we discussed, and we will
continue to
discuss moving forward. The youth of FCC are passionate about
growing
their faith while seeking ways to better understand theological
issues.
I do not claim to have all the answers. For me youth ministry
isn’t about
giving answers but rather creating a safe place to ask
questions. But one
thing I do know: GOD IS WITH YOU.
No matter what kind of faith questions you are asking… God is
with you.
In your suffering, in the darkest moments of your life.... God
is with you!
In your celebrations, when you find yourself on top of the
world... God is
with you!
God is with you!
Attendance May 1, 2016
Worship Service Contemporary 60 Children's Church 5 Nursery 3
Total 68 Traditional 139 Children’s Church 16 Nursery 6 Total
161
Total 229 Sunday School Nursery 5 Children 22 Youth 22 Adult 75
Total 124
Disciples Pantry Families 81 Total People 325
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Page 4 The Builder, First Christian Church
Adult Sunday School Studies
Mixed Blessings - Room 102 Topic: How Jesus became God Leader:
Bill Bucy
2 Chronicles 7:14 - Library Topic: I Know His Name: Discovering
the Power in the Names of God Leader: Members of the Class
Genesis - Parlor Topic: No Small Parts Scripture: Acts 7-8
Leader: Tom Jones
Fellowship - Room 307 Topic: Trials & Verdicts Scripture:
Matthew 26:57-27:31 Leader: Jim Mauldin
Young Disciples-Room 201 Topic: Jesus Changes Lives Scripture:
Acts 2:36-47 Leader: Paula Brooks
Children’s Activities
Sunday School 10am All mom’s are invited to join the children
for brunch at 10am in Kid Cave. Children's Church Topic: Eastertide
5-Jesus’ Ascension
Celebrate No CELEBRATE Sunday, May 8. Spend the day with
family.
Somewhere between the youthful energy of
a teenager and the golden years of a
woman’s life, there lives a marvelous and
loving person known as “Mother”.
A mother is a curious mixture of patience,
kindness, understanding, discipline,
industriousness, purity and love.
A mother can be at one and the same time, both “lovelorn
counselor” to a
heartsick daughter, and “head football coach” to an athletic
son.
A mother can sew the tiniest stitch in the material for that
dainty prom dress
and she is equally experienced in threading through the heaviest
traffic with
a SUV.
A mother is the only creature on earth who can cry when she’s
happy, laugh
when she’s heartbroken, and work when she’s feeling ill.
A mother is as gentle as a lamb and as strong as a giant.
A mother has the angelic voice of a member in the celestial
choir as she
sings lullabies to her baby held tight in her arms; yet this
same voice can
dwarf the sound of an amplifier when she calls her children in
for supper.
A mother has the fascinating ability to be almost everywhere at
once and
she alone can somehow squeeze an enormous amount of living into
an
average day.
One definition I found of a mother in the verb tense means “to
love,
nourish, protect, teach, comfort, guide, nurture, support,
embrace, cherish,
reassure”. So you see it doesn’t take having a child to make a
woman a
mother. There are those who have never had a child and exemplify
all the
characteristics described above. These women serve as teachers,
nurses,
neighbors, friends, pastors and the list goes on.
This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. FCC will be honoring all the
women
in our church family because at one time or another they have
touched the
life of a child. At one time or another they have shown
“motherly love” to
a child.
Ponderings… Rev. Paula Brooks Associate Minister
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Welcome New Members
First Christian Church welcomes Beth Crawford and Paula Johnson
to our Church Family. Beth and Paula come to FCC by Transfer of
Membership. We are blessed in having them become a part of our
church family.
Church Bulletin Board
Lectionary Scriptures
May 8, 2016
Acts 16:16-34 Psalm 97
Revelation 21:12-14, 16-17,20-21
John 17:20-26
Page 5 The Builder, First Christian Church
Elder - On Call
5/1-5/8 Brenda Nance 5/8-5/15 Joe Wright
Online Giving
You can now give to FCC through our website! You can make a
one-time donation, pay the fees for a children's or youth event, or
set up recurring donations. Online giving is convenient, safe, easy
to track, and easy to schedule on a regular basis.
Camp Scholarship Opportunities
Our scholarship fund is in need of fiscal support. We would like
to have the resources available for all families to be able to
participate in camp; however, some families have challenges meeting
the financial requirements. We do not want finances to be a barrier
for any child or youth to miss out on this opportunity of
ministry.
If you would, please be in prayer & consider supporting a
child or youth scholarship for this summer. Please contact our
office if you would like to contribute to those in need of
scholarship funding.
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Page 6 The Builder, First Christian Church
5/5 John Espino
5/6 Ben Ellis
5/7 Gwyn Hill
5/8 Mark Branum
5/9 Barbara Estes
5/9 Zach Kilborn
5/10 Linda Hyatt
5/11 Tom Hill
5/11 Nancy Stanley
5/11 Lucille Vaughan
5/12 Kirk Branum
5/13 Bea Lea Somerville
5/15 Ken Sneed
5/15 Ernie Gilkerson
5/15 Carl Rodgers
5/19 Jill Wright
5/21 Grayson Stanley
5/22 Brittani Beggs
5/12 Mark & Pam Branum 5/17 J.R. & Amanda Bourland 5/17
Rob & Becky Montgomery 5/19 Tom & Meta Jones 5/19 Morgan
& Elizabeth Williams 5/28 Gaylon & Pat Howard 5/28 Mike
& Enid Hunter
CLC Spring Program
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Page 7 The Builder, First Christian Church
Website & You Tube
Don’t forget our website (www.fccmidland.org) for news,
publications,
and You Tube for previous sermons!
Social Media
Become a friend of ours on Facebook and “Like” us.
www.facebook.com/fccmidland
www.facebook.com/fcccm
E-mail Provider
Please be sure that your e-mail provider accepts e-mails
from
fccmidland.org. We have had several e-mails sent
back to us, and solving the problem would help us get
accurate and up-to-date information to you.
Also check out FCC’s Children’s, Youth & Children’s
Learning
Center pages on Facebook and “Like” us.
Follow us on Twitter (@fccmidland)
Special Notes: Our joys, concerns and deepest
needs are already on God’s heart long before we put them to
paper.
…for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew
6:8
Prayer’s & Praises Those in need of prayer: Clint Hurst
George Cooper Bernice Varner
Bill Griffin Pat Howard Jerry Johnson Johnny Espino Doris
Stewart Mary Mauldin John & Mary Lou Midkiff Erlene Thomas
George Head Bruce Stanley Bill & Char Womack Military: Joe
Henderson - son of Holly Moore Nicky Miller - son of Vicki Miller
Families/Friends beyond FCC: Jessa Davis – grand daughter of Nell
Coats Gail Pate – mother of Sara Cranford Louella Smith – aunt of
Mark Cranford Herb Miller – Disciples Minister known to many
Kimberly Smith & Family – Bea Lea Somerville Vickie Williams
& Family – Bea Lea Somerville Anetta Arnett – mother of Garry
Arnett Family of Kirby Collier – Jill Wright Bob Black Family –
Janice Courtney Anderson Family – Janice Courtney Vark Family –
Janice Courtney
Martha Belden – granddaughter of Enid Davis Barbara Brown –
Dolores Hodges sister Jay Zumwalt – brother-in-law of Stephen &
Betty Forbes Trent Hawthorne- great-nephew of Austella Berry Dustin
Davis – grandson of Nell Coats Donna McAdams – friend of Patty
Walsh John McCuan – brother of Patty Walsh Charlie Younger – friend
of Dean Rucker Richard Smith – son-in-law of Ray Stewart Marcia
Chandler – friend of Ray Stewart Austin Millican – friend of Vicki
Rymal Patrick Mauldin – son of Jim Mauldin Melissa Thompson –
daughter-in-law of Gary & Carol Thompson Father of Sean
McCarthy – co worker of Bob Rymal Pam Ruffin – friend of Mary Beth
Corbett Dennis Blevins – friend of Mary Beth Corbett Ed Shelton –
nephew of Scotty Alcorn Janice Smith – sister-in-law of Eveline
Smith McCuan George Capps – cousin of Sara Cranford Randy Quimby –
uncle of Lynda Terry Nieta Stephenson – mother of Mike Stephenson
& Michelle Hepfer Joe Langford – father of Carol Cook Martha
Pollock – friend of Sara Cranford Liz Hickerson – friend of Leslie
Vines Abbye Irons – friend of Steve Vaughan Walker Hughes –
grandson of Steve & Lucille Vaughan Brenda Bradshaw – friend of
Lucille Vaughan Jo Smith – daughter-in-law of Donna Lathrop Tom
Hewitt - brother of Anne Schwiening Please inform the church office
if you or a loved one are admitted into a hospital, so we may be
there for you & your family.
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The Christian Builder
First Christian Church 1301 W. Louisiana Ave. Midland, TX
79701
432.682.2541 www.fccmidland.org May 5, 2016 ADDRESS SERVICE
REQUESTED
Non-Profit Org US Postage
Paid Midland, TX 79711 Permit No. 145
