Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
To know and love God, to nurture each other, and to reach out and welcome all people in the name of Jesus Christ.
Non-profit Org.
US Postage Paid
Greensboro NC
Permit #273
Rev. Lee Hull Moses, Senior Minister
Pastor’s email address: [email protected]
Phone: 336-273-4725 Fax #: 336-273-7030
Website: www.fccgreensboro.org
Send newsletter submissions to [email protected]
The Visitor
1900 WEST MARKET STREET
GREENSBORO, NC 27403-1715
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
May 25, 2016
The Visitor A publication of
FCC members & friends are invited to the annual church picnic Sunday, June 5, at 3 p.m., at
shelter #5 at Bur-Mil Park. The shelter is located on the left side of the road before the Wildlife
Education Building. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and drinks will be provided. Bring a side dish or des-
sert to share plus blankets and/or lawn chairs. The featured photos are from the 2015 picnic.
Don’t miss this summer’s fun!
Page 2 The Vi s i tor
A Note from Our Pastor
Friends:
Last week, I was in Atlanta for the Festival of Homiletics, an annual preaching
conference which featured a wide variety of excellent speakers. I've joked that to
most people, the thought of spending every day for a week listening to preaching
and lectures about preaching may not sound like much of a good time - but to
this preacher, it was food for the soul and I was grateful to have the opportunity
to go.
I firmly believe that preaching is a dialog that includes not only the preacher, the scripture, and God, but
also the congregation. In the preaching moment, even though I do most of the talking, you're part of the
conversation, and I thought of you all often last week. In that vein then, I thought I'd share a few
highlights from what I heard:
- Walter Brueggemann (an Old Testament scholar who has been hugely influential to me; if you've been
around awhile you've heard me mention him more than once) spoke about the ways that "advantage" -
or privilege - is disappearing, and how that's unsettling for a lot of people, but that this shift is perhaps
what God intends for us. He said, "the health of our society depends on acknowledging that our ancient
advantage is taken by us from God... that we are inching toward a more level playing field" for everyone.
- Rolf Jacobson, a Bible scholar who often informs my preaching, talked about "the idolatry of holding on
to our own despair." That got me thinking: in what ways are we being unfaithful when we give up hope
that something can change?
- Heidi Neumark (she has a beautiful book called Breathing Space, and a new book called Hidden
Inheritance, in which she discovers that her grandparents were Jews in WWII concentration camps)
challenged us to think about the implications of the language we use. Words and metaphors that
dehumanize people lead directly to the normalization of violence against people. When it comes to
speaking up against injustice, she said, "If we say something, someone may get angry, but it's unlikely that
anyone will die. If we keep silent, someone will."
- David Lose - another scholar whose work I turn to regularly - said something similar in another sermon:
The old saying that "sticks and stones can break our bones but words can never hurt us" simply isn't true.
Words, and names, matter and can wound. But names, Lose said, also have the power to heal, as when
we are baptized and called God's beloved.
- Grace Imathiu, a preacher I'd known of but had never heard in person before, offered what was
probably my favorite sermon of the festival. Her reflection wound its way from the story of Pentecost back
to the Exodus and back again to the future hope of the resurrection. On that day, she said, a new world
awaits. "In the resurrection," she said, in the closing lines of her sermon, "I can't wait to see me in the
mirror. And God will say, 'you look just like me.'"
If you're interested, I'll be glad to share more, or to point you to some further reading by any of these
writers. Thanks for being good preaching partners with me.
Lee
News, Events, and Church Notes
JUST WONDERING… QUESTIONS & ANSWERS BY RETIRED DISCIPLES MINISTER REV. JT MOORE
Does serving Jesus faithfully merit special rewards? (Read Matthew 20:20-28)
The scripture referred to has the mother of Zebedee's sons asking Jesus for special honors for James
and John when his kingdom is realized. Interestingly, in Mark's account of this incident (Mark 10:35-
45), it is James and John who themselves came to Jesus with the request. Is there a reason for this
difference? Keep in mind that Matthew is writing his "gospel" maybe 25 years later than Mark.
Remember also, from the description of the women at the cross, (you can check Matthew's list 27:56,
Mark's list 15:40, and John's list 19:24-27), one can draw a conclusion that James and John were
almost certainly full cousins of Jesus. By the time Matthew was writing his account a kind of halo and
sanctity had settled over the disciples. Perhaps he did not wish to show James and John guilty of
worldly ambition, so he puts the request into the mouth of their mother rather than the men
themselves. Regardless, there is a question from Jesus to the extent "are you able to drink the cup
which I have to drink?" (To be continued)
Page 7
Good news
Congrats, high school grads!
Hallie Steadman is graduating from Northwest Guilford High School and will be attending NC State
University in the fall pursuing a degree in Accounting.
Zach Miller is graduating from Northwest Guilford High School. He’s attending East Carolina Univer-
sity in the fall and plans to major in Business.
Caleb Phelps is graduating from Northern Guilford High School and will be attending UNCG.
It’s a girl!
John and Carolyn Ledford announced the birth of their granddaughter, Maryam Al Ameri, born
May 24, in Abu Dhabi. Her parents are Lisa Ledford and Ahmed AlAmeri.
Year-long Centennial Celebration continues Help needed: volunteers to eat apple pie!
You read that right. We need volunteers to eat apple pies (and we need folks to bake our apple
pies). For the next centennial celebration on October 2, we are planning to have a timed pie-eating
contest. We need some volunteers to make small pies (the size of the smaller chicken pot pies). We
need a total of 12 contestants and 12 pies. Contact Anna Young or email [email protected].
We know it's a tough job but someone's gotta do it!
This was years ago... On May 21, 1916, the United Kingdom observed Daylight Savings Time for the first time. The United
States began observing Daylight Savings Time two years later.
On May 29, 1916, the official flag of the president of the United States was adopted. Before this date
the Army and the Navy each had their own versions of the presidential flag.
News, Events, and Church Notes
Page 6
“Check in” so others can check us out!
The worldwide web may seem foreign to some; others do their everyday tasks online all the time.
Our website continues to be an important means for communication and connection. We invite you,
however, to join us on social media, especially Facebook and Twitter. Here are ways you can
spread the word about First Christian Church:
Like our Facebook page
“Check in” at the church
Share our posts, pictures, and videos with others
Share your own thoughts and pictures and “tag” FCC with
#loveFCC
Sit, sip, share
Sit around the table as FCC members and friends sip drinks, share a
meal and share fellowship. Table Talk continues to meet every Thurs-
day at 7 p.m., at a local restaurant or at someone’s home. This gather-
ing will continue throughout the summer and we welcome everyone.
No commitment required. Watch the church calendar for locations or
contact the office to be added to the weekly email invitation.
Words of Thanks
From the Knibb and Norwood Families
Sincere and heartfelt thanks to the FCC congregation, friends and staff,
for the many prayers, cards and visitations to Jane Knibb, during her
three-year stay at Heartland Living and Rehab Center. Much apprecia-
tion for the abundant food provided for our family’s meal after Jane’s
memorial service. A special thanks to the Agape women’s group for
hosting the meal and for the care shown to our family. FCC does in-
deed show God’s love and nurtures each of us.
From Salvage Garden
We continue to value our partnership with First Christian Church. We
are grateful that you provide us with office and meeting space. Most
recently, we appreciate your monetary gift to help one of our families
facing relentless hardships. Thank you for partnering with us!
Newsletter schedule
Upcoming newsletters will be mailed June 15 and July 13. Submissions
must be received two days prior to each mailing.
New contact information
Holly and Andrew Butler
9152 Exbury Ct
Charlotte, NC 29269
Dean McPhail’s email is [email protected]
The Vi s i tor
A Few Personnel Updates
At their May 15 meeting, the board approved promoting Melissa Guthrie to a newly created position of
Director of Congregational Life. Melissa has worked for nearly four years as our Office and
Communications Manager; in this new position, she will continue much of the same excellent work she
does now, as well as give additional support to some of our ministry programs. Please join me in
congratulating and thanking Melissa.
At the same meeting, the board gave approval for Amanda Kerr to serve as our ministry intern for the
2016-17 school year. This will be a part-time internship, in addition to her continuing work as our Youth
and Family Program Coordinator, a role which will also be slightly expanded for the next school year.
I am grateful to work with such competent and faithful staff, and I'm excited for what lies ahead. -LHM
A Little Dirt Did you know that First Christian Church has a garden? It’s located at 4321 S. Elm-Eugene Street, and the
produce is shared with the food pantry to provide fresh, healthy food for hungry folks in our community.
Our garden ministry is coordinated by Steve Benbow with the help of lots of volunteers. Work sessions are
held on Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Come every week or just once in awhile. No gardening experience
is necessary, just a willingness to get your hands a little dirty!
Gleaning is a new project for First Christian: We’re working with the Society of St. Andrew, which
organizes volunteers to glean in the fields of local farmers. Gleaning means to collect the leftovers—food
that farmers won’t be able to harvest or sell and would otherwise go to waste. The food collected goes to
local food pantries. We’re putting together a team of volunteers who would be willing to help once in a
while. No commitment necessarily, and families can volunteer together when it fits with your schedule.
Talk with Anna Young or George Manley, Outreach team leaders, or email [email protected].
First Christian Church is a place where thoughtful people think. It is also a
place where thoughtful people do. We take seriously Jesus’ commandment to
love our neighbors. It is our mission to know and love God, to nurture each
other, and to reach out and welcome all people in the name of Jesus Christ.
RECENT ATTENDANCE May 1: 102 May 8: 121 May 15: 107 May 22: 94
About Us
Page 3
PRAYER CONCERNS Please contact the church office if you would like a name added to or removed from the prayer list.
Angie Wethington
Peggy Nance
Letha Gant
Joe & Ann Fry
Janet White
Jade Fletcher
Don Bowman
Rhe Markham
Leroy Bymaster
Bill Roberts
Marie Reaves Grant
Emerson Roberts
Gary Yeager
Louis Lindsay
Betty Wilson
Lib Tilley
Burt Bennett
Bobbie Poston
Chuck Jones
JoAnn Alley
Kenny Honeycutt
Rebecca Greaves
Chris Johnson
Bonnie Stanley
Jim Saveriano
Martha Cargo
Kay Phelps
Roger Stanley
Get Involved
New worship series
We’ve started a worship series on 2nd Corinthians, a beautiful epistle in which Paul considers what it
means to be a faithful follower of Jesus. In his wide-ranging letter to the church at Corinth, Paul
explores consolation, forgiveness, a treasure in clay jars, walking by faith not sight, and reconciliation.
In her May 22 sermon, Melissa Guthrie said, We don’t write letters much anymore. ‘Hey, Mom, did
you get my epistle?’ Do you all read the epistles we send by mail every couple of weeks? I hope so!
We just don’t write letters much anymore. No, we make a phone call, shoot an email, or send a text.
Some people Skype, Facebook, Instagram, and SnapChat. (Speaking of all this, read more about the
church’s social media on page 6.) What a lot we lost when we stopped writing letters. You can’t
reread a phone call.
Join us on Sunday mornings as we reread Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Reread or listen to sermons
on our website at fccgreensboro.org/sermons
Who are the Caring Friends?
Friends who care, of course! More than that, however, this group visits and stays in touch with
church members who are going through a hard time or who aren't able to come to church. They
send cards, make phone calls, give prayer shawls, and show up in person—all ways of embodying the
love of Christ through the church. Maybe you'd like to join them? Caring Friends meets once a month
for a brief organizational meeting, on the fourth Thursday of the month at 1:00. Contact the church
office for more information.
10 a.m. Worship 11 a.m. Fellowship & Coffee Hour
SUNDAYS AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Page 4 The Vi s i tor
“
”
Get Involved
Page 5
High school youth group heading out the door to serve with DOOR network
Ten youth and adults from First
Christian Church will be heading
to Chicago for a mission trip June
12-18. They'll be working with the
DOOR network (learn more at
doornetwork.org), helping out
with food pantries and community
gardens around the city, visiting
the Disciples Divinity House, and
squeezing in a bit of sight-seeing as
well.
We will send the group off with
our prayers and blessings the week
before they leave, on Sunday,
June 5, and we'll post updates and
photos during the trip on our web-
site and Facebook page.
Many thanks to Sam and JoAnn Tucker and April Murray for leading the trip, and to all the youth for
representing FCC so well. Thank you, too, to the congregation's generous support of this trip; if you
haven't yet made a donation and would like to, send a gift to church marked “youth mission trip.”
Thanks!
Off to camp!
Thirteen kids from First Christian, in 3rd grade through high school, are heading to church camp this
summer! These camps are run by our region, the Christian Church in North Carolina, and are held
at our two regional camps: Christmount, in Black Mountain, and Camp Caroline, in Arapahoe. We'll
send our campers off with a blessing during worship on Sunday, June 12. Thank you to the Christian
Education team for organizing and supporting this amazing experience for our kids!
Family Camp options available!
Enjoy a memorable family retreat at Camp Caroline this summer. The entire family can rediscover
the camp experience July 29-August 5, in Arapahoe, NC. Weekend, partial week, and full week
packages are available. Is this something you might be interested in? The church office has all the
details; email [email protected] or call.
Camp counselors needed
Camp Caroline is looking for a male counselor or two to round out the staff for CYF high school
camp, June 11-17. If you're interested, please talk to Lee.
Youth and Parents meet to plan the details for their trip next month.
