TWCC Newsletter November 19 2010 2.0

8/8/2019 TWCC Newsletter November 19 2010 2.0

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DISCIPLES DIGESTLoving God, Loving Neighbor, Making Disciples

November 19, 2010Context: Martin E. Marty on Religion and Culture is gone. For 42 years Marty h

been collecting, condensing, editing, and commenting on articles gleaned fro

books, magazines, journals, newspapers, reviews and the culture at large. That

what John Buchanan in the latest issue of The Christian Century. I started readin

Martin Martys work in The Christian Century. The last few issues of Context hav

been composed of highlights from the years of publication. Some of them we

entertaining:

February 1, 1988: MEM: The old definition of a bore: Someone who,

when you ask him how he is, tells you. The new definition of a bore:Someone who, when you give him a chance, talks about his word

processor. I try to spare you computer talk here. But a trauma occurred recently. After 37

months of flawless performance, my machine gave me a bit of trouble. So I am reduced to typing

on an old IBN Correcting Selectric typewriter, and it seems to me as primitive as an old yellow

pencil. (Nov. 2010, Part B, page 4)

Some of the highlights were raising important points that surfaced when unexpected.

June 1, 1987: MEM, in a talk to the Religion Newswriters Association convention, musing on what

he would say if he were a veteran religion writer meeting with his editors: Not to sound grabby,

but could I also write for other pages? Would you trust me to handle religion in features, not just in

news? Religious people almost never recognize themselves or all their interests in just conflict and

combat stories. People are not religious in order to have fights or to assassinate leaders. They want

to find meaning, to belong to something. They often say interesting things and do good things

worth writing and reading about. Our paper talks about athletic games, not just about athletic

scandals. We report on financial trends, not just insider trading sleaze. Will you let me dig up and

focus on analogues to these in religion? Two thirds of Americas voluntary hours, two thirds of

Americas voluntary dollars, are channeled through religious causes. Can we show that, on the days

when the religious fund-raising is not corrupt or degrading?

Im going to miss Martys publications. I used to type on a Selectric, that is, when I had access to a really goo

machine! These days, its hard to remember that a huge part of the charitable work in our culture is a direresult of faith imperatives. Marty has helped me remember.

Martin Marty has been for me what the church is for many. Just as he has helped me remember, via storie

what matters, the church does the same. Where else can you count on hearing from Scripture and fro

someone you know, every week, a story, a reminder, a challenge from our faith experience of God through Jesu

Christ? Dont tell me that you can get it on TV. Ive watched way too many folks talk their way right around th

scripture into something that is anything but Biblical. But the church is more than memory and storytelling.

(Continued on Page 2)

Celebrating 30 Years of Ministry atThe Woodlands Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)


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The church is where we, in covenant with God and with one another, dare to consider the things we see and he

in the light of Christ. And this is where we act on them.

Its is appropriate, then, for us to mark Veterans Day with recognition, thanksgiving, and prayer. Its appropriat

for us to mark Thanksgiving, a national holiday, in worship as we celebrate this place and those who prepared th

way for us. To paraphrase an old folk song, This land is Gods land and God-s world- and Gods bounty. And w

must, if were aware at all, be thankful people.

Come to worship this weekend. Well be giving God thanks, well be listening for God in the Scripture and the

telling, well sing, pray, and share. Come, lets remember, and worship Christ together.

My spirit was moved last week during worship as we sang, How Great Thou Art.

is a song that meant so much to my late grandmother, Doris Burks, who passed awa

a few months ago. With her passing, our family will spend the next several wee

celebrating the holidays without her. The family gathering will be incomplete th

year.

The loss of someone dear and close causes many to experience feelings o

brokenness. Wholeness is elusive because we have lost a piece of what makes us whole. Scripture provides

with many stories of healing from Jesus ministry. When Jesus heals someone, we often hear him saying, G

your faith has saved you. The Greek also can be translated to say, Go, your faith has made you well. I prefthe phrase, Go, your faith has made you whole.

As we come closer to this holiday season, may your faith bring you ever closer to the one who is your stronghol

and your fortress. May your faith allow you to feel yourself under Gods wing. May your faith make you whole.

Blessings,

Chad

Chads Chatterbox

Youth MinistryUpcoming Events

Saturday, Nov. 20 10:00 a.m. Meet at the church to shop for Christmas Angels.Sunday, Nov. 21 No youth activities.

Sunday. Nov. 28 5:00 p.m. Hanging of the Greens

Childrens MinistryUpcoming Events

We are planning a Christmas party for the childrens fellowship group on Sunday,

December 12 from 4:00-6:00p.m. Please contact Chad for more information!


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Sunday Hymn Spotlight:

Gather Us In (Chalice Hymnal #284)

Words and music by Marty Haugen

1982 GIA Publications

For many of us, the expression contemporary Christian music will conno

songs that imitate the style of commercial music heard on Top 40 radio stations. However, the Chalice Hymn

contains a generous selection of hymns written in the last quarter-century that, despite their obvious modernit

of music and text, really fit quite comfortably with the tradition of hymnody that began with Ambrosian an

Gregorian chant (and these may actually have roots in ancient Jewish music), and continued with Luthera

chorales, psalm paraphrases of Isaac Watts, and the stirring choruses of John Wesley. The tradition w

enlivened by African-American spirituals, revival choruses, and, more recently, the rhythms and melod

inflections of rock. These varied styles shared singability, engaging poetry, music that reflected the mood of th

text, and a willingness to deal with specific theological ideas.

Gather Us In is a modern song. Its energetic guitar-generated rhythms and modal (pitches derived from sourc

other than conventional major and minor scales) harmonies are strongly reminiscent of music from the 1960

What sets this song apart from most Christian pop music is its text, consisting of real poetry in several stanza

Avoiding the intentional theological vagueness of many new songs, this one employs a lively imagery to celebra

the sacraments of the Christian faith and to petition God to gather in his people for worship. The dominance

light as an image recalls another contemporary song , Shine, Jesus Shine , that also feels as much like a tradition

hymn as it does a popular song.

For the 11:00 worship this Sunday (Nov. 21), we will sing Gather Us In as a Communion hymn, as the third stanz

refers to the sacrament of the Lords Supper. The Chancel Choir will use the first stanza of the hymn as an intro

helping the congregation to learn the melody. A versatile hymn, indeed!

According to the Chalice Hymnal Worship Leaders Companion (St. Louis, 1998), Marty Haugen was born in

small Minnesota town in 1950, graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and studied at St. Paul School

Divinity. His songs are immensely popular in the Roman Catholic church, and seven of his hymns appear in o

Chalice Hymnal. He currently works as composer-in-residence at Mayflower United Church of Christ

Minneapolis.

Other important writers of hymns in our time are Fred Pratt Green, Brian Wren, Ruth Duck, Hal Hopson an

Austin Lovelace. In the more populist praise and worship movement, writers that stand out for integrity of thetexts are Chris Tomlin and Brian Kelly. We should encourage the creativity and theological depth of these artis

by including their songs in our worship when suitable.

Rob

Music is the universal language of mankind

- Longfellow


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Youth In Action

Tracie Miller played the part of

Grandma Ethel in the comedy,

Moon over Buffalo, presented

from Nov. 4 8 by the theatre

department at The Woodlands

College Park High School.

Lauren Ward performs at

halftime of the York Jr.

High football games.

Lauren is a member of theYork Liberty Babes Drill

Team.

Mitchell Mackert & Cortland

Samford attended the Coastal

Plains Area Chi Rho Fall Rally in

Galveston on Nov. 12-14. The 6th,

7th & 8th graders are pictured

here after picking up trash off

the beach.


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YYoouunngg ooffHHeeaarrttss -- DDrr.. JJoohhnnss SShhrriimmpp BBooiill


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Sunday, November 28 at 5:00 p.m.Hanging of the Greens We are askingeveryone to bring one of your favoriteChristmas decorations to hang our tree. Oryou may come early at 4:30 p.m. andcreate your own Christmas decorations forour tree, and later take home to be a partof your Christmas traditions.

Poinsettias orders need tobe in by December 8, please.

The order will include a

dedication to honor a loved

one in the bulletin. You maytake your Poinsettias home

or donate them after

Christmas. They are white

with gold foil and $10 each.

DWF Project Socks for Seniors We will becollecting socks for our local Senior Citizens on

behalf of Interfaith. Please choose bright, colorful,

fun, SOFT socks for our women, and SOFT calf or

knee high socks for our men. We will be collections

from now through Dec. 4th. Contact Karen

Townsend, Service Chair, for more information

email: [email protected] or call 281-419-

8212. Thank you for your support!

DWF Craft Sale Sunday November 21 in the

Parlor between worship services. Get yourChristmas shopping done early!

Christmas TraditionsOur Advent planning

committee would still like

to try to incorporate

more diversity into our

worship during the

Advent and Christmas

season. We are askingyou to share your own

special memories and

Christmas traditions with

us, with the possibility

that we might just try them out at TWCC

Traditions that have already been shared in the last

few years are the crismons that have been made

for each family for the Christmas tree, having

Moravian Love Feast buns for communion, and

taking our candles outside to the fire after

Christmas Eve services. Please share your traditionby emailing a brief description to

[email protected] and include your best phone

number just in case we have any questions. We

still need your suggestions as soon as possible

please. We are looking forward to a blessed and

traditional" Advent season.

Thursday, December 2 Young of Hearts

Luncheon- Outback Steakhouse 11:30 am

Sign-up sheet in the Narthex. Your hosts are Roseand Lonnie Sinclair 936-271-0045

New Member Welcome Please Doreen Fiedlerwho joined the TWCC congregation on November

14, 2010. If you would like to send a warm note of

welcome, please mail to: 303 Cactus Dr., Conroe,

TX 77385. Welcome to the family!
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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November

Happy Birthday Wishes

Nell Newsom 11/01

T.J. Ritchie 11/01

Ordie Cherry 11/02

Akos Lukacs 11/04Peggy Brittan 11/05

Dennis Cram 11/06

William Cram 11/06

Bridget Raney 11/11

Kelsie Hernandez 11/13

Jon English 11/13

Madison Cherry 11/14

Laura Callison 11/15

Diane Kraus 11/17Linda Tomlinson 11/18

Keith Mackert 11/22

Jeanette Price 11/22

Ray Miller 11/24

Karen Townsend 11/25

Wilona Dyson 11/26

Lorene Roy 11/27

Paul Heinzer 11/28

Carolyn Simpson 11/28Leon Duff 11/29

November

Happy Anniversary Wishes

JOYS and CONCERNSGod knows all our joys and concerns

before we do.

Celebrations: We welcome our newest member

Doreen Fiedler! Joyce McGlohn had her highly

anticipated surgery at Lakeside this week. She is

currently a patient at St. Lukes Lakeside, room303. Jane Young is at home! We celebrate a

wonderful worship service and Thanksgiving mea

last Sunday.

Prayer and Sympathy are extended to the Dan Cox

family. Dans memorial service will be held this

afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

Grace-Full Prayers: Bill Cadwell is at Odyssey Place

room 108 in Conroe; Mary Walther is at Reliant

Paige DeJarnett; Heather Elliott Ordie Cherrysurgery on the 29

th; Paul Cameron III, surgery on

the 30th

; Juan Pablo, surgery December 3rd

; Chery

Barton, missionary friend of the Daniels, cancer

returned; Elmer Hefelfinger, brother-in law of

William Lentz; Aimee Imboden; Diane Rosemond

cousin of Marilyn Morris; Gayla Shanks; Chad

Turner; Gorman Vandiver and Shirley Williams; the

Keith Ward family; AJ Gelb; Coastal Plains Area

Minister Search Committee.

Ongoing Prayers: Phyllis Benson; Lucile Castle

Mike Davis; Larry Ducote; Ken Dyson; Ron

Fugarino; Jean Marie Howells; Suzy Lynskeys son

Brian Stanfield; Rose Mae Nokes; Betsy Rabon;

Heide Sumter; Opal Weaver; and for the family and

friends of The Woodlands Christian Church.

Protection and Safety for our traveling members

and for those serving in our military, and all the

medical teams, both civilian and military men and

women serving around the world, and the family

and friends who are waiting at home for their lovedones to return.

Arley & Lonnelle Walters 11/13

Donnely & Gayla Shanks 11/19

John & Kathleen Bauman 11/27

Paul & Ruth Cameron 11/27Chad & Cindy Turner 11/28

Bill & Lavena Jennings 11/29

TWCC Permanent Endowment Fund

Account balance to date: $82,036.66


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Daniel Martin CoxJanuary 12, 1929-November 18, 2010


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New Stephen Ministry Class to be offered at TWCC

FebruaryApril/May 2011

Would you like to join a group of caring individuals who will receive 50 hours

of training to become Stephen Ministers at TWCC? If we can get enough

persons, we plan to have our next class in the February-April/May 2011

period. You could become part of this team that provides care and support for a person whohas suffered a recent loss. Here is an excerpt from a Stephen Ministers experience.( She is not

from our Area).

Twenty-four years ago, Joanne, the young mother of an infant child, was devastated by the

unexpected death of her husband. In the weeks and months that followed, she tried several

ways of dealing with her grief, but found few resources to help her. As a result of this

experience, a seed was planted in her heart--a desire to be there for others who faced similar

circumstances.

Several years later, when Joanne saw a notice in her church bulletin calling for people to serve

as Stephen Ministers, she responded. "It sparked something in me," Joanne said. "I went to the

training, and I've been with it ever since."

In her decade of service as a Stephen Minister, Joanne has had the opportunity to care for

people with a variety of needs, including a recent care receiver who was a young widow

Joanne noted, "This care receiver's circumstances were similar to what mine were. It was very

satisfying to be able to give her the kind of help I didn't have."

Like many Stephen Ministers, Joanne has noticed a positive ripple effect on many other aspects

of her life as a result of her involvement in Stephen Ministry. "It helps me handle my friendships

and family relationships more maturely, and before I retired a couple of years ago, it improved

the way I related to my co-workers, too. I think I've developed a more compassionate and

listening nature." Joanne also uses the skills she's learned as a Stephen Minister in her

volunteer work with a local ministry that aids the working poor.

Each of our TWCC Stephen Leaders, Sue Liptrap, Nathan Higginbotham and Steve Montgomery

has over 12 years experience in Stephen Ministry. They will be teaching this class. Please see

them, or one of our current active Stephen Ministers, Kay Benes, Paula Byrd, Tom Evans, Billy

Shaw, or Luke Vandiver to express interest in becoming a part of this wonderful ministry. Also,

pick up a Stephen Ministry brochure in the church foyer for summary information.


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The Woodlands Christian Church(Disciples of Christ)

1202 N. Millbend Dr.The Woodlands, TX 77380Phone(281) 292-8858

FAX (291) 292-8881www.twcc.org

Ministry TeamJohn C. Callison, D.Min., Senior Minister

Chad Turner, M.Div., Associate Minister, Children & Youth

Dr. Robert Hunt, Director of Music Ministries

Suzanne DuBois, Office Manager

Shelia McFarland, Receptionist
http://www.twcc.org/http://www.twcc.org/

Documents

TWCC Newsletter November 19 2010 2.0