Sowers’ Seeds Dear Friends,

It seemed like the most simple of tasks; write a story that you want to appear in the Leavenworth Times ten years from now about your youth and family programs. In no uncertain terms, we were given license to dream about where we wanted to be on June 24th of 2028. It seems like a distant future, but after having spent nearly eleven years in Rushville, Illinois I know how quickly those years roll by in succession of Sunday services, Advents, Lents, Christmases, church camps, and Vacation Bible Schools. Sometimes it almost seems like years and months get misplaced or lost in the couch cushions. We never have to worry if time will pass, but instead are we using that time to the very best of our abilities.

The story I wrote was entitled, “Building Families Building Community.” The first line of my piece was, “Ten years ago it started with a dream and a vision for Samuel. Samuel was five months old, but his parents and the members of First Christian Church knew they wanted more for Samuel than currently existed.” I got through those two sentences and my voice cracked, because all of the work we had done, were doing in that visioning session, and will continue to do going forward was so very real in the moment. This work isn’t just about theoretical families and youth that we hope to attract, but it is also about the children that we hold in our arms and who populate our building now. Every day I ask you to fix in your mind a vision of a child you see on Sunday morning or at Vacation Bible School. Then, ask yourself what you have done, and what you are doing so that this child can have the best possible type of church experience for their formative years. I know full well there will be moments when we are tired, when we don’t want to go to another meeting, or when frankly we don’t want to do crowd control at a youth event, but then picture that child again and continue pressing on towards the goal and 2028.

Often times in our life we are self-seeking, and we think about meeting our own needs. We say, “What do I want to wear, what do I want to eat, or what do I want to watch on television?”. The emphasis in life is often the I and the self, but great and enduring legacies are built when we think not about ourselves, but about all who come long after we have served our turn and our breath has been stilled. This time of programmatic renovation is a holy time because it allows us to labor now for a future that is yet unseen. That at its most basic level is the leap of faith. Great things are on the wing. I heard them in the ten year stories last night, and I saw them in the twinkle in Samuel’s eyes. I am humbled to be walking with you, and I invite you to keep pushing, dreaming, and working towards a legacy that will speak well to our labors begun in 2018.

All the Best and God’s Blessings, Pastor John

June 28, 2018

Go to our Homepage: www.leavenworthchristian.com

No Newsletter Next Week

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After reviewing the information collected on the various food pantries in Leavenworth, it was decided that we will begin delivering our collected items to Catholic Charities. We have been delivering these items to Salvation Army for some time now and feel that we need to share with some other food providers in town. Research will continue with other places in Leavenworth that provide food at no cost to needy people in the community. Erin Sack, Outreach & Christian Action Chair

Food for the Hungry

Would you like to help with Children’s Church?

We are planning to start a second group for Grades 3-5. We will need volunteers to teach or assist one Sunday a month with either group. Please talk to Sue Hubert or call the church office. Thank You!

The wedding of Mary Talkington and David Holloway will be held on Saturday, July 7th at 2:00 pm at the Church. All friends and family are invited. There will be an informal reception in the Friendship Room following the wedding. The couple requests no gifts.

Prayers for 1. Pam Norstrom- cancer returned 2. All dealing with cancer/other illnesses

3. People looking for jobs. Ruth Kenton

Families in transition.

Prayer for the Families of the fallen officers in KCK. Laney Mellott

The children taken from parents at the border. How may we serve?

Be with those children’s Dads. Lonnie Dalrymple

Please pray for Little Em - attending the Guidance Center for

further evaluation and possible medication.

Please continue to pray for Caitlin Onasch’s co-worker, Cheryl.

Pray for Kathy Ramirez- That the apartment hunt is done this week and for family issues.

Prayers for Danielle Euler’s Sister, April Shea, she got disappointing

news about her cancer treatment. New chemo treatment starts this week.

Healing for Deedie Thrasher’s friend, Anne- fell and broke her hip.

Prayers for safety for Harold & Anna Clark’s Granddaughter- hiking in Iceland.

Prayers for Bev Puriet- having her leg amputated. Kathy Ramirez

Pray for our out-of-town Active Duty Personnel

Hannah Bond, Dustin Phillips,

Rob Widmyer, Jim & Rachel Sullivan,

Rose Uy & Ismael Rodriguez,

Christin Collins, Nickalas Derringer

Please help us update our

Active Duty list with members

or those in direct relationship

with our members. 3

Pray for those who have lost a loved one

Rosemary Cornforth – May 6, 2018

Juan Selas - May 14, 2018

Todd Baird – May 16, 2018

Ongoing Cares & Concerns

Steve Martin, Alice Bushman, Gene Allen, Marilyn Vance, Noah Kincaid,

Kathy Ramirez, Rose Marie Theel, Ruby Corbet, Cheryl Elliott, Don Bohnsack, Katie Boyer,

Jody Bryant, Winnie Henderson, Pearl Stonebraker, April Shea

Praises! Kathy Ramirez found an apartment and didn’t

break any bones when she took a fall.

Praises for the lovely rains this past week. Laney Mellott

Our journey with Ministry Architects has begun!!!

Please remember to keep this work in prayer as we

move forward.

KDW Retreat participants are collecting items for Fresh Start

Bags. There is a list of items in the Narthex. Please put whatever you purchase in the box that is also in the Narthex. Thanks!

Find us on Facebook by scanning this QR Code!

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REMINDER FOR DIACONATE: If you cannot serve when you

are scheduled, please get a substitute and notify the church office of who will take your place.

Esther & aliVe

NO MEETING IN JULY

Leavened Bread 7:00am

Lesson: Pat Swartz Pullman

Mary Martha~ 7:00pm Hostess/Study/Devotion

Chelsea Moore Kitterman

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Reminder Save Best Choice UPC Barcode Labels for Woodhaven School. It helps them obtain things for their school. The Word Best Choice must appear on the UPC Barcode.

Vacation Bible School Be sure to register your Children or Grandchildren SOON!

Painting Day is June 30th, 9am – In the Kitterman

Help needed: July 16-20 – put 10 tables and equivalent number of chairs up for VBS supper each night as well as take down after supper. (Tables can be stacked, however, the chairs would need to be put back on the rack.) Supper is from 5:15 – 5:45 each evening; the tables would need to be set up no later than 4:30PM.

Potluck setup on July 21st at 10:00 AM. Help will be also needed to put the docks back on the stage in the Fellowship Hall.

After the potluck on July 22nd, it will need to be “all hands on deck” to put things back where they belong.

Please contact Dea Nicodemus to volunteer!

Register Online Now!

https://vbspro.events/p/events/firstchristianchurchvbs2018

Safety Training – Everyone working with children at FCC is required to

complete the Safety Training course. If you are helping with VBS this year, and we have your email address, you should have received information about this year’s online course. The “In House” training led by John Groves Saturday, July 7th, 10am & 3pm. You may choose to attend one of these instead of the on-line training.

Worship Committee Meeting

There will be a Meeting Thursday, June 28th at 1:00pm in the Kitterman Room.

June 26th

Dan Thrasher

June 27th

Monica Amthor

Teri Blackard

David Boyer

David Powell

June 28th

Kim Kincaid

June 29th

Damon Ekstrom

June 30th

Syd Hobbs

Drew Malm

July 1st

Bobbi Ross

Sharon Tinder

Attendance June 24th

8:30am Worship 53 11:00am Worship 36 Sunday School 34 Visitors 2

Total 89

July 2nd

Betty Wimer

July 3rd

Dea Nicodemus

July 4th

Julius Matto

July 7th

Lonnie Dalrymple

July 8th

Jackie Waitley

July 9th

Shanda Gilfert

Gary Phillips

July 10th

Alice Bushman

Terry Hamilton

Celeste Marchbanks

11:00am Service Elder: Penny Paradies Scripture: Eli Bagley

Greeters Main: Pat Swartz

Narthex: Evalyn Hubert Servers

Pat Swartz* Kim Kincaid & Evalyn Hubert

Communion Prep: Missy Davis Clean-up: Pat Swartz

Hospital Visitation July 1st-7th

Cushing: David & Jody Bryant St John: Penny Paradies

Sunday’s Servers July 1st

8:30am Service Lay Leader: Lois Steineker Elders: David & Jody Bryant

Greeters Main: Gene Allen

Narthex: Janet Zirkle Servers

Laney Mellott*, Missy Davis Janet Zirkle & Susan Hoins

Communion Prep & Clean-up Missy Davis

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First Christian Calendar June 27, 2018

Sunday’s Servers July 8th

8:30am Service Lay Leader: Richard Sack Elders: Joyce & Don Bachtel

Greeters Main: Lois Stieneker

Narthex: Ryan Matousek Servers

Ruth Kenton*, Ryan Matousek Lois Steineker & Diane Euler

Communion Prep & Clean-up Ruth Kenton

The driver listed for Sunday will pick up for both worship services. Call if you need a ride to church. Let the driver know which service you plan to attend.

Sunday, July 8th Joyce Bachtel

(913) 682-5329

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11:00am Service Elder: Joyce Bachtel

Scripture: Sandy Bushman Greeters

Main: Joan Brown Narthex: Margaret Collins

Servers Margaret Collins*

Joan Brown & Jim Bliss Communion Prep: Ruth Kenton

Clean-up: Margaret Collins

Hospital Visitation July 8-14

Cushing: Joyce & Don Bachtel St John: Richard Sack

*Captain

Sunday, July 1st John Groves

(913) 727-1775

Wednesday, June 27th Prayer Group Kitterman 8:15am

Thursday, June 28th Worship Mtg Kitterman 1:00pm

Saturday, June 30th VBS Painting Kitterman 9:00am

Sunday, July 1st Chancel Choir 8:00am Worship 8:30am & 11:00am Sunday School 9:45am Hubert Family Kitterman pm

Monday, July 2nd No Newsletter this week Prayer Breakfast Pullman Place 6:30am

Wednesday, July 4th Independence Day (office closed) Prayer Group Kitterman 8:15am

Saturday, July 7th Safety Training Kitterman 10am & 3pm Talkington/Holloway Wedding 2:00pm Sanctuary/Friendship

Sunday, July 8th Chancel Choir 8:00am Worship 8:30am & 11:00am Sunday School 9:45am

Contact US Telephone Number: (913) 682-3222

Church Office Hours Monday-Friday, 8:30 – 4:00

Church Email: church@leavenworthchristian.com

Website: www.leavenworthchristian.com Pastor: pastorjohn@leavenworthchristian.com

Reverend John Sowers: (309) 231-2665