Pastor Richie Sanchez Announces Advent Sermon Series

To the Beautiful People of God in New Castle, In this season of Advent, I’ll be centering on the theme: the Miracle of Christmas. Miracle? Yes! It is a word that has been adversely charged and loaded within the widest of Christian circles. I believe we can rightly treat and appropriate its meaning to celebrate “Christmas (as) the season of the great exchange. (Think about it), “the creator of the cosmos comes (in the flesh) for the purpose of setting right all that has gone wrong on this tiny planet. The wonder is that the Eternal One who can be neither created nor de-stroyed willingly becomes subject both to birth and to death.” (Stookey, 1996, pg. 105) This sacred account, when keenly embraced, and proclaimed is our hope. Emmanuel, unto us a child is born, for our sakes and not his own. Peace, and joy have come into this world. This world needs to experience the Miracle of Christmas, more than ever. I’ll be guided, and inspired in part by a sermon series written by Dr. Greg Fine. His sermon series has selected titles, scriptures, and coupled them with movie clip selections from the movie: Miracle on 34th Street. Though, the sermons will be written in my voice, experiences, and exegesis (study). There are so many wonderful events planned for this season. Please, don’t stay home! Let’s celebrate, and experience the Miracle of Christmas, together!

Sunday, December 4, 2016 – Galatians 4 “The Miracle of The Moment”

Sunday, December 11, 2016 – Hebrews 1 “The Miracle of The Message”

Sunday, December 18, 2016 – Romans 11 “The Miracle of The Method”

Sunday, December 25, 2016 – John 1:1 – 5, 9 – 14 “The Miracle of the Manger” My prayer is that this season of Advent can be for you, your family, friends, and co-workers, “the inaugura-tion and anticipation of what is yet to come in fullness.” (Stookey, 1996, pg. 121) In Great Anticipation, Pastor Richie

Merry Christmas!

The Christian Builder Volume 80-Number 12 12/1/2016

First Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ)

2000 Bundy Avenue

New Castle, IN 47362

firstchristiannewcastle.org

phone: 765.529.2403

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December 4-11-18-25

Sunday School/Coffee Hour, 9 am. No Coffee Hour on Christmas Day

Worship Service, 10 am

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dec 2: Movie Night at FCC. 6pm

Dec 4: Children’s Christmas Program Practice during Worship Hour.

Dec 11: Blues Christmas Concert, 6:30pm. Children’s Christmas Program

Practice during Worship Hour.

Dec 13: Youth (grades 5-12), Christmas Party at the Rose Bowl.

Dec 14: The Family Table, 6pm until 7:30pm, All Invited!

Dec 17: Christmas Caroling, 1-3pm. Please join in!

Dec 18: Children’s Christmas Program during Worship, Invite a friend!

Dec 21: Longest Night Service, 6pm, Invite the Community!

Dec 22: Church Bus Christmas Lights Tour, 5:30pm. Please join in!

Dec 24: Christmas Eve Service, 6pm, All are welcome!

Dec 25: Worship Service only at 10am. Invite others!

Jan 6: Epiphany Community Bonfire at FCC, 5:30 pm. Celebrate!

Thank you to everyone that prepared and

cleaned up communion in 2016.

Your service was appreciated.

To volunteer for 2017, please contact the

church office.

Advent Schedule Second Sunday-Dec 4

Third Sunday-Dec 11

Fourth Sunday-Dec 18

December The Month at a Glance

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PRAYER CONCERNS: Margaret Adams, Craig Bailey, Dondena Boatman, Nick Ca-

tron, John and Joan Cleveland, Pam Crabtree, Claudia Falck, Zack Hallam, Geoff Hoodle-

brink, Chris Hughes, Virginia Howard, Martha Masters, Phil and Yvone McGinnis, Karen

Monesmith, Joan Paul, Dolores Seigler, Jeff VanArsdol, James Gleason, Steven Schetgen,

Beverly Schetgen, Doris Schetgen, Billie Shepherd, Cole Smith, Brenda Becklund, Charlie

Watts, Joy Baase, Doris Canaday, Janet Dunn, Tanya Eversole, JoAnne Privett.

Shut-Ins, Homebound, Convalescing and Those in Our Thoughts:

Iris Alexander, Joy Baase, Dee Benson, Doris Canaday, Kathryn DeVaughn,

LaVaughn Douglas, Marjorie Johnson, Cora McClane, Marge Norrick, Violet

Wells, Norma Doyle, Sheila Jackson, Francis Smith, Dick Mullin, Ima Coe

Wirth, Joan Paul, Martha Masters, John and Joan Cleveland, Betty Yergin, Pat

Sibert.

To add names to our care lists, please contact Sherry or call the church office.

We will continue our tradition of decorating the church on

the Sunday closest to Christmas Day with beautiful poin-

settias placed on the chancel in honor and remembrance of

our loved ones.

If you would like to place an order, please fill out the

proper bulletin insert and place it in the offering plate.

You may also e-mail fccsherrydenney@outlook.com or

stop in the church office.

Each poinsettia is $10 and payment is due at the time of

order.

Orders must be received by Monday, December 5th.

Christmas Cards of Cheer for Those in Our Thoughts

Please consider writing a card to each of our shut-ins. If you are

able to place your cards in the FCC Post Office slots located in

the Narthex, the Elders can deliver them when they take them

their holiday baskets. If you live out of town or prefer to mail; a

list of names and addresses is enclosed with this newsletter.

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The Waters 1000 N. 16th Street New Castle

765-521-1421

Marjorie Johnson

Iris Alexander

Heritage House 1023 N. 20th Street New Castle

765-529-9694

Kathryn DeVaughn

Cora McLane

Violet Wells

Forest Ridge 2800 Forest Ridge Parkway New Castle

765-521-4740

Marge Norrick

Addison Place 2244 Q Avenue New Castle

765-521-3220

Joy Baase

Glen Oaks Health Campus 601 West County Road 200 S

Jeff VanArsdol JoAnne Privett

Stonebrooke 990 N 16th St

Doris Canaday

Homebound Deloris Benson

3790 East State Road 38

New Castle, IN 47362

765-529-2553

LaVaughn Douglas

2910 Plymouth Street

New Castle, IN 47362

Norma Doyle

2116 Fairmont Avenue

New Castle, IN 47362

765-529-3967

Sheila Jackson

1507 H Avenue

New Castle, IN 47362

765-529-8848

Francis Smith

Dick Mullin

1319 Riley Road

New Castle, IN 47362

765-529-6423

Ima Coe Wirth

1527 S Avenue

New Castle, IN 47362

765-529-1760

Joan Paul

Raintree Square 2820 S Memorial Drive New Castle, IN 47362

Martha Masters

1413 Audubon Road

New Castle, In 47362

765-521-9283

John and Joan Cleveland

The Stratford

2460 Glebe Street, Apt. #337

Carmel, IN 46032

Betty Yergin

Raintree Square 2820 S Memorial Drive New Castle, IN 47362

765-529-4329

Pat Sibert

1628 A Avenue

Apt #213

New Castle, IN 47362

765-524-1716

Special Concern List

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Each year the Evangelism Team, chaired by Claudia Jackson, coordinates gathering food items

to complete food baskets for those in need and fruit and candy baskets for FCC’s shut-in mem-

bers. Our goal this year is 20 food baskets; we will receive 15 family names from Westminster

Community Center and we will also serve 5 families whose names are given to us through our

own congregation. Each shut–in member will be visited and given a beautiful basket of goodies

to enjoy during Christmas week.

We ask for you to consider sponsoring an item in the food baskets. Our goal is to provide

Christmas dinner and three days of food for each family. Please review the list below and let us

know if you can help by providing food items or a monetary contribution. We can also use help

on basket packing day, Sunday, December 18 right after worship service and basket distribution

day, Monday, December 19 from 4:00 until 5:30pm.

CHRISTMAS BASKET PROJECT KICK OFF

QTY in each

Basket Item Qty Needed for 20

Baskets

Christmas Dinner Items

1 Turkey or Ham 20

3 Cans of Corn 60

3 Cans of Green Beans 60

2 Boxes of Mac n Cheese 40

1 Box of Stuffing Mix 20

1 Box of Instant Mashed Potatoes 20

2 Boxes Corn Muffin Mix 40

1 Cake Mix 20

1 Tub of Frosting 20

Extra Specific Items that we'd like to include in each basket

1 Jar of Peanut Butter 20

2 Boxes of Cereal 40

1 Dozen Eggs 20

2 Loaves of Bread 40

1 Bag of Sugar 20

1 Bag of Flour 20

1 Box of Dinner Mix (like Hamburger Helper) 20

Asst Cans of fruits and vegetables as many as possible

Asst Bananas 60

Asst Oranges and Apples 60

1 Box of Candy Canes 20

1 Box of Crackers 20

3 Large Cans of Soup 60

1 Package of Stick Margarine 20

And other various donated items such as

canned meat, any food or toiletry items such as toilet paper

Please place food items in the Narthex. Contact Claudia Jackson or Sherry Denney for more information.

fccsherrydenney@outlook.com or call 317-850-1072 (cell), or the church office, 529-2403

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Pastor Search Team Report

The Pastor’s Search Team is making great progress. The Congregational Profile is

complete and has been sent to the Regional Office. This means we are in the process of

receiving names of those interested in serving with us as our pastor. We are continuing

to work on our Information Package; it is 95% complete. We are in the process of

making the Information Package accessible through our church’s website. Please con-

tinue to pray for the search team as it works toward finding a new pastor. Search team

members are: Julie Bundy, Don Denney, Jennifer Hood, Hank Neal, Susan Falck Neal,

The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone. When the kings and

princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock, the work of Christmas be-

gins. To find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild

the nations, to bring peace among brothers, to make music in the heart. —-Howard Thurman

Present Possibilities, Frontiers of Faith Brazilian theologian Rubem Alves called hope “the suspicion … that the frontiers of the possi-

ble are not determined by the limits of the present.” Who among us doesn’t sometimes imag-

ine our future based solely on present-day obstacles? Even biblical heroes did so.

Abraham and Sarah laughed at God’s promise of a child, seeing only their present circum-

stance of old age. Only in hindsight could Joseph see how God turned slavery in Egypt into

great good.

At first another Joseph, learning his fiancée was pregnant, believed his world was limited to

two possibilities: shame Mary publicly or divorce her quietly. But his heart was open to God’s

message: “What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. [Her] son … will save his people

from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21, NIV). How exceedingly far this future must have seemed

from the limits of Joseph’s present.

Christmas is a reminder that God calls us all into frontiers of the future we never could have

dreamed!

Second Wednesday Fellowship is on Hiatus until March of 2017

The folks that make up the Second Wednesday Fellowship group have decided

to take a winter break! They will resume meeting again in March of 2017.

A Christmas Gift To First Christian Church

The Christmas tree located in the Fellowship Lounge

is decorated with tags that you may choose to pick

up. The tags represent a Christmas gift to our church

outside of your regular pledge. Please visit the gift

tree located in the Fellowship Lounge to select a tag

from the tree or contact Sherry in the office via tele-

phone or e-mail for more details. The funds raised

will go into the General Fund to pay the expenses of

our church.

Youth of FCC as they prepare to carry the Nativity figurines to the Chancel during the Hanging of the

Greens Service. From Left to Right:

Corbin Madden, Isaac Madden, Alexa Madden, Eliza Madden, Joslynn West, Chloe Davis, Claire Da-

vis, Chase Davis and Gracelyn Whelchel.

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The FCC Post Office is now open! Give

Christmas cards to regular attenders by putting

them in the proper slot. Donate the postage

that you save by placing the money in the bas-

ket located nearby The suggested donation per

card is .25-.47. This year the proceeds will go

to fund the Christmas Basket project. Make

sure to check the slots frequently for cards

with your name! After December 25th, please check the

slots for cards that you addressed to others, you may choose to mail

them if they haven’t picked them up.

DECEMBER 2

MOVIE NIGHT AT FCC 6:00 PM

Featured Movie: Miracle on 34th Street

The movie will be shown to prepare for our

upcoming sermon series

Michael

Lee Yates instructs Olivia and Hank Neal

Overcoming despair

Christmas can be a difficult time for peo-

ple who are hurting or grieving. In the

1860s, poet Henry Wadsworth Longfel-

low had reason to despair: America was at

war with itself, his son was severely

wounded in battle and his wife died in a

fire. The first Christmas after his wife’s

death, Longfellow wrote, “How inex-

pressibly sad are all holidays.”

Three years later, on Christmas Day 1864,

Longfellow penned a poem that later be-

came the song “I Heard the Bells on

Christmas Day.” The lyrics move from

despair to hope — and, thanks to Jesus, so

can we.

And in despair I bowed my head.

There is no peace on earth, I said!

For hate is strong, and mocks the song

of peace on earth, good will to men!

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

with peace on earth, good will to men!

Saturday, December 17

1-3 pm. Meet at the church

to join the fun!

We’ll take the church bus!

Blues Christmas Concert

Featuring Governor Davis

and

Denomination X

December 11

6:30 pm

Tasting Party to Follow

YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY

GRADES 5-12 December 13 from 4:30-6pm

Meet at the Rose Bowl or talk to Sherry or Todd for

a ride. Pizza, Bowling, Arcade!

No Money Needed!

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Jan Lindsey Eliza Madden

Sumer

Robinson

Board Meeting/Congregational Meeting will be held December 4

Plan now to attend the last Board meeting of the year immediately after Worship service on December 4 . After the

short Board meeting, the annual Congregational meeting will be held to vote on the proposed slate of officers and team

chairs. The 2017 proposed budget will also be voted upon.

Income Budget for 2017 Budgeted Amount

Pledges $ 86,147.00

Non-Pledges $ 20,000.00

Loose Plate $ 2,000.00

Church School Offering $ 500.00

Interest from Checking Account $ 15.00

Renaissance Child $ 5,500.00

Kinsinger Bequest/Trustees $ 39,300.00

Heating Fuel $ 25.00

Miscellaneous Income $ 3,000.00

Faith Fund $ 10,000.00

Total $ 166,487.00

2017 Proposed Expense Budget World Outreach/Church in Society 600.00

Evangelism 1,700.00

Stewardship and Finance 825.00

Family Team 600.00

Culinary Team 1,350.00

Worship 1,230.00

Property and Grounds 41,950.00

Christian Ed and Youth 3,350.00

Administration 114,882.00

Total Expense Budget 166,487.00

Our current pledge total (Pledge Cards turned in as of November 29th) stands at $83,816.

Please note that the budget was written using a realistic pledge number. This means that any

expenses above donated funds will be paid from our investment funds. The amount contribut-

ed from the investment funds managed by our Trustees was upped to reflect projections. Any

Trustee or John Miller, our Treasurer, would be happy to explain this further. As you can see,

our current pledges are below the budgeted income number. Please consider making a

pledge. Pledge cards can be turned in anytime throughout the year. THANK YOU TO ALL

WHO HAVE MADE A PLEDGE!!

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First Christian Church

2000 Bundy Avenue

New Castle, IN 47362

Reminders:

Team Chairs and Committee Members: our church

fiscal year ends December 31st. All receipts and

requests for reimbursement must be turned in to

the church office by December 22nd.

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The Church Office would be happy to review your

2016 contributions with you at anytime. Please

turn donations in by December 29th to receive

credit for calendar year 2016.

The staff of FCC wishes all members and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy

New Year! Interim Pastor, Richie Sanchez; Custodian, John Davidson; Administrative

Coordinator, Sherry Denney; and Childcare Coordinator, Brittany Criswell.