May Birthdays that I love you, and deeply. But I don’t love you nearly as much as God loves you....
2
10:45 A.M. Worship April 28, 2013 Fifth Sunday of Easter Servants in Worship - April 28, 2013 Announcer: ........................................................................................................ Lisa Wilkes Greeters:.......................................................................................................Koinonia Class Acolyte(s): ................................................................................................. Jake Summerlin Red Book Pickup: ................................................................. Sally D. Hunt/Dreema Adkins Deacons: Coordinator: Gail Ford; Ushers & Servers: Renee West, Fi Tran; Other Servers: Sandy Reynolds, Lawrence Rebelo, David Fleury, Dean Webster, Bob Gary, Susan Haymes Elders at the Table: East #1 (Prayer for Bread) ............................................................................ Barbara Kirby East #2 (Table) ...................................................................................... Barbara Northcut West #1 (Prayer for Cup) ........................................................................... Phil Summerlin West #2 (Table) ...............................................................................................Dick Sharpe Elders On Call: .................................................................... Barbara Kirby/Phil Summerlin Scripture Reader…………………...……....(John 2:1-12) .................................... Sherry Baldwin Message……………………………...…….”Something New” ........................... Pastor Paul Rebelo Prayer Concerns: Don Baldwin Homer Aldrich JoJo Wise Liz Love Luther Whitaker Natalie Wharton David Blackburn Doris Aldrich Ruth Wells Jim Northcut Harrison Gill Hildred Levi Jordan Coleman & Family Al Pless (Evelyn’s son) Alan Voss Bud & Alisha Fiske Al Ford Pat Barnwell Doug Beuoy (Brannens’ son-in-law) Nancy Lord Beth Read Martha Coffey (Debby & Judy’s aunt) Amanda Bluford Joel Westbrook Paula Baker (Carl’s stepsister) Carolyn Bowman Breck Grover Leona BonDurant (Carl’s Grandmother) John Krejci Braden Fulton Judy Kirby (Larry & Barbara’s sister-in-law) Bro. Ron Fender, bsg Bob Lewis Betty Johnson (friend of Betty Proctor and Bea Lyons) David Floyd May Birthdays 1— Sarah Hipp 24— Harrison Gill 2—Greg Givens 25— Bud Fiske 6— Vicki Hill 25— Kyle Cutsinger 7— Robin Read 27— Bob Sauser 12— Rick Auten 27— Ann Knauff 14— Catherine Shutters 27— Joy Wagner 20— Jim Grant 29— Lee Ann DeFriese 20— Adrienne Allen 31— Stephen Morgan 24— Rebekah Haymes Happy Birthday to All! Thinking in Ink… Last week I spent a few days with three very dear friends. We are all pastors. We met nine or ten years ago this June. Ever since, we have come together every year to share the good, the bad and the ugly of our lives. We are very different one from another. We come at theology, pastoring, parenting, and life from different perspectives. Why does this diverse collection of souls come together once a year? We come together to laugh and cry and share our most intimate struggles and triumphs in ministry and life. I wonder, as they do sometimes, how does this melting pot work? I am reminded of a story told by a colleague who was leading a conference for parents of teenagers, and simultaneously there was a conference for their teenage children, led by a professor from a nearby university. There were all sorts of teenagers…lots of piercings, tattoos, black painted nails and dark clothing. I mention the kids’ look because the professor who was to lead this group was one of the most straight-laced boring professors you could possibly meet. My colleague thought that this professor would not do well with these kids. On the last day of the conference the parents and teenagers gathered together. My colleague was stunned when teenager after teenager stood up and thanked the professor, shared how much he changed their life, some cried and told how their lives were now going to be different. My colleague could not figure it out. He and this professor were asked to lead this conference again the following year. On the last day of the conference, during a break my colleague snuck over to the area where this professor was leading the teenage portion of the conference and sat in the back, just as he suspected, this guy was boooooring…he was about to get up and leave, but then something happened. This is what he saw and heard; “The professor began to cry. In the middle of his presentation, he got emotional and lost it. And when it happened, he turned his back on his audience. He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his tears from his eyes. Now while the professor wept, there was silence. Not one wise crack, no snickering, just silence. When the professor pulled himself together, he turned back to the teenagers, and said, “I’m very sorry. I hate when I do that. I’ve been spending a lot of time with you young people. I’ve been listening. You’ve been kind enough to tell me your secrets, to describe the hard places in your lives. It’s a great privilege and honor that you would trust me with that. As I promised, I’ve been praying for you and thinking about you a lot. And no, I’m not going to tell anybody what you told me…as long as you’re nice to me.” Everybody laughed. The professor continued, “But just then, while I was teaching, I couldn’t think about what I was teaching; I started thinking about you. I hate for this conference to come to an end, not because I love conferences, but because of you. You’ve gotten under my skin and into my heart, and I will continue to think about you and pray for you long after this conference is over. I want you to know that I love you, and deeply. But I don’t love you nearly as much as God loves you. Try to remember that.” My colleague discovered the professor’s secret! Love! Love trumped power, knowledge, skill and charismatic personality. When I think of my time with my friends in the mountains of North Carolina, I am reminded how Love can triumph over theological, philosophical, and even cultural differences. Jesus testifies to the powerful effect of love continually in the Gospel. Love doesn’t necessarily dissolve differences, but love is like the river below the cabin where we stayed. The force of the current was tremendous and very loud. I am sure that force smoothed the rocks underneath. Love smooths the jagged rocks of differences in our lives, it deafens the need for us to always be right, so that we may truly see and hear the people in front of us. See and hear them for what and who they truly are…Children of God. Grace & Peace, Pastor Paul If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is “Thank You”, it will be enough. — Meister Eckhart Wednesday Night Dinners...are going well! Each week, an interesting program is being presented; this week (5/1), we will have our regular Wednesday Evening dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed at 6:30 by a program by Dan Summerlin about his family’s recent trip to Fiji. Next week (5/8), our program will be a Spring concert by the Brown Academy Student Choir! Please join us for both of these programs. Remember to make reservations as early as possible—early reservations let us plan for enough food, without a lot of waste. If you miss the red book on Sunday morning, call or email the office as early in the week as you can! Servants in Worship - May 5, 2013 Announcer: ..................................................................................................... Scot Crosslin Greeters: ...................................................................................................... Koinonia Class Acolyte(s):................................................................................................ Rebekah Haymes Red Book Pickup:................................................................... Betty Floyd/Jennifer Atchley Deacons: Coordinator: Dreema Adkins; Ushers & Servers: Emily Auten, David Fleury; Other Servers: Adam Hipp, Sandy Reynolds, Debby Demos, Judy Duncan, Tanya Fleury, Rona Gary Elders at the Table: East #1 (Prayer for Bread) ....................................................................... Aline Summerlin East #2 (Table) ..........................................................................................Dan Summerlin West #1 (Prayer for Cup) ............................................................................. Don Reynolds West #2 (Table) ................................................................................................. Betty Jolly Elders On Call: .................................................................. Aline Summerlin/Don Reynolds Scripture Reader…………………...……....(Luke 24:13-35) .................................... Scot Crosslin Message……………………………...…….”The Meal That Heals” .................... Pastor Paul Rebelo 10:45 A.M. Worship May 5, 2013 Sixth Sunday of Easter This Bridge...is special! It covers TWO WEEKS! Chuck is on vacation, and there will not be a Bridge for May 5th. Please note that this Bridge gives the “Servants in Worship” and the FCC Calendar for both April 28th AND May 5th. Many, many thanks...go out to everyone who helped with our guests from Family Promise last week! Everyone who helped with setup on arrival and packing up for depar- ture; the hosts who spent the night (and endured the air mattresses); and to the Sunday School classes and other groups who provided the wonderful meals each evening did a fantastic job! THANK YOU! — Julia & Chuck First Christian Church is participating...in the 5th Annual Chattanooga Walk4Hearing, Saturday, May 11th, 10:00am until 12:00noon, at Chattanooga State and the adjoining River Walk; check-in for walkers begins at 9:00am. We hope you will join our FCC Chalice Champs team and/or support us with a donation. The church gets to keep 40% of all funds raised by our team. See Bea Lyons about getting involved. Thanks ever so much.
Transcript of May Birthdays that I love you, and deeply. But I don’t love you nearly as much as God loves you....
10:45 A.M. Worship April 28, 2013
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Servants in Worship - April 28, 2013 Announcer: ........................................................................................................ Lisa Wilkes Greeters:.......................................................................................................Koinonia Class Acolyte(s): ................................................................................................. Jake Summerlin Red Book Pickup: ................................................................. Sally D. Hunt/Dreema Adkins Deacons: Coordinator: Gail Ford; Ushers & Servers: Renee West, Fi Tran; Other Servers: Sandy Reynolds, Lawrence Rebelo, David Fleury, Dean Webster, Bob Gary, Susan Haymes Elders at the Table: East #1 (Prayer for Bread) ............................................................................ Barbara Kirby East #2 (Table) ...................................................................................... Barbara Northcut West #1 (Prayer for Cup) ........................................................................... Phil Summerlin West #2 (Table) ............................................................................................... Dick Sharpe Elders On Call: .................................................................... Barbara Kirby/Phil Summerlin Scripture Reader…………………...……....(John 2:1-12) .................................... Sherry Baldwin Message……………………………...…….”Something New” ........................... Pastor Paul Rebelo
Prayer Concerns: Don Baldwin Homer Aldrich JoJo Wise Liz Love Luther Whitaker Natalie Wharton David Blackburn Doris Aldrich Ruth Wells Jim Northcut Harrison Gill Hildred Levi Jordan Coleman & Family Al Pless (Evelyn’s son) Alan Voss Bud & Alisha Fiske Al Ford Pat Barnwell Doug Beuoy (Brannens’ son-in-law) Nancy Lord Beth Read Martha Coffey (Debby & Judy’s aunt) Amanda Bluford Joel Westbrook Paula Baker (Carl’s stepsister) Carolyn Bowman Breck Grover Leona BonDurant (Carl’s Grandmother) John Krejci Braden Fulton Judy Kirby (Larry & Barbara’s sister-in-law) Bro. Ron Fender, bsg Bob Lewis Betty Johnson (friend of Betty Proctor and Bea Lyons) David Floyd
May Birthdays 1— Sarah Hipp 24— Harrison Gill 2—Greg Givens 25— Bud Fiske 6— Vicki Hill 25— Kyle Cutsinger 7— Robin Read 27— Bob Sauser 12— Rick Auten 27— Ann Knauff 14— Catherine Shutters 27— Joy Wagner 20— Jim Grant 29— Lee Ann DeFriese 20— Adrienne Allen 31— Stephen Morgan 24— Rebekah Haymes
Happy Birthday to All!
Thinking in Ink… Last week I spent a few days with three very dear friends. We are all pastors. We met nine or ten years ago this June. Ever since, we have come together every year to share the good, the bad and the ugly of our lives. We are very different one from another. We come at theology, pastoring, parenting, and life from different perspectives. Why does this diverse collection of souls come together once a year? We come together to laugh and cry and share our most intimate struggles and triumphs in ministry and life. I wonder, as they do sometimes, how does this melting pot work? I am reminded of a story told by a colleague who was leading a conference for parents of teenagers, and simultaneously there was a conference for their teenage children, led by a professor from a nearby university. There were all sorts of teenagers…lots of piercings, tattoos, black painted nails and dark clothing. I mention the kids’ look because the professor who was to lead this group was one of the most straight-laced boring professors you could possibly meet. My colleague thought that this professor would not do well with these kids. On the last day of the conference the parents and teenagers gathered together. My colleague was stunned when teenager after teenager stood up and thanked the professor, shared how much he changed their life, some cried and told how their lives were now going to be different. My colleague could not figure it out. He and this professor were asked to lead this conference again the following year. On the last day of the conference, during a break my colleague snuck over to the area where this professor was leading the teenage portion of the conference and sat in the back, just as he suspected, this guy was boooooring…he was about to get up and leave, but then something happened. This is what he saw and heard; “The professor began to cry. In the middle of his presentation, he got emotional and lost it. And when it happened, he turned his back on his audience. He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his
tears from his eyes. Now while the professor wept, there was silence. Not one wise crack, no snickering, just silence. When the professor pulled himself together, he turned back to the
teenagers, and said,
“I’m very sorry. I hate when I do that. I’ve been spending a lot of time with you young people. I’ve been listening. You’ve been kind enough to tell me your secrets, to describe the hard
places in your lives. It’s a great privilege and honor that you would trust me with that. As I promised, I’ve been praying for you and thinking about you a lot. And no, I’m not going to tell
anybody what you told me…as long as you’re nice to me.” Everybody laughed. The professor continued,
“But just then, while I was teaching, I couldn’t think about what I was teaching; I started thinking about you. I hate for this conference to come to an end, not because I love
conferences, but because of you. You’ve gotten under my skin and into my heart, and I will continue to think about you and pray for you long after this conference is over. I want you to know that I love you, and deeply. But I don’t love you nearly as much as God loves you. Try to
remember that.” My colleague discovered the professor’s secret! Love! Love trumped power, knowledge, skill and charismatic personality. When I think of my time with my friends in the mountains of North Carolina, I am reminded how Love can triumph over theological, philosophical, and even cultural differences. Jesus testifies to the powerful effect of love continually in the Gospel. Love doesn’t necessarily dissolve differences, but love is like the river below the cabin where we stayed. The force of the current was tremendous and very loud. I am sure that force smoothed the rocks underneath. Love smooths the jagged rocks of differences in our lives, it deafens the need for us to always be right, so that we may truly see and hear the people in front of us. See and hear them for what and who they truly are…Children of God. Grace & Peace,
Pastor Paul
If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is “Thank You”, it will be enough.
— Meister Eckhart
Wednesday Night Dinners...are going well! Each week, an interesting program is being presented; this week (5/1), we will have our regular Wednesday Evening dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed at 6:30 by a program by Dan Summerlin about his family’s recent trip to Fiji. Next week (5/8), our program will be a Spring concert by the Brown Academy Student Choir! Please join us for both of these programs. Remember to make reservations as early as possible—early reservations let us plan for enough food, without a lot of waste. If you miss the red book on Sunday morning, call or email the office as early in the week as you can!
Servants in Worship - May 5, 2013 Announcer: ..................................................................................................... Scot Crosslin Greeters: ...................................................................................................... Koinonia Class Acolyte(s):................................................................................................ Rebekah Haymes Red Book Pickup:................................................................... Betty Floyd/Jennifer Atchley Deacons: Coordinator: Dreema Adkins; Ushers & Servers: Emily Auten, David Fleury; Other Servers: Adam Hipp, Sandy Reynolds, Debby Demos, Judy Duncan, Tanya Fleury, Rona Gary Elders at the Table: East #1 (Prayer for Bread) ....................................................................... Aline Summerlin East #2 (Table) ..........................................................................................Dan Summerlin West #1 (Prayer for Cup) ............................................................................. Don Reynolds West #2 (Table) ................................................................................................. Betty Jolly Elders On Call: .................................................................. Aline Summerlin/Don Reynolds Scripture Reader…………………...……....(Luke 24:13-35) .................................... Scot Crosslin Message……………………………...…….”The Meal That Heals” .................... Pastor Paul Rebelo
10:45 A.M. Worship May 5, 2013
Sixth Sunday of Easter
This Bridge...is special! It covers TWO WEEKS! Chuck is on
vacation, and there will not be a Bridge for May 5th. Please note that this Bridge gives the “Servants in Worship” and the FCC Calendar for both April 28th AND May 5th. Many, many thanks...go out to everyone who helped with our guests from Family
Promise last week! Everyone who helped with setup on arrival and packing up for depar-ture; the hosts who spent the night (and endured the air mattresses); and to the Sunday School classes and other groups who provided the wonderful meals each evening did a
fantastic job! THANK YOU! — Julia & Chuck First Christian Church is participating...in the 5th Annual Chattanooga Walk4Hearing, Saturday, May 11th, 10:00am until 12:00noon, at Chattanooga State and the adjoining River Walk; check-in for walkers begins at 9:00am. We hope you will join our FCC Chalice Champs team and/or support us with a donation. The church gets to keep 40% of all funds raised by our team. See Bea Lyons about getting involved. Thanks ever so much.
Welcome! Today is the gateway to another week. We join together here to thank God for a new week of promise and possibilities. Let us welcome the opportunity of worship, as we prepare ourselves to be God’s people in God’s world.
Church Office: (423) 267-4506 Pastoral Emergency: (423) 994-0415 BRIDGE Deadline: Monday, 10:30 a.m. Church Office Hours: Mon - Fri: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
A Church of Service… ...Not Lip Service
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www.firstchristian-chat.com
E-mail addresses: Church........................ [email protected] Rev. Paul Rebelo ............ [email protected] Christine Rebelo ................. [email protected] Chuck Martin ............... [email protected] Karen Richards ............. [email protected]
Opportunities for Service: Volunteer in the Brown Academy After-School Program! If you can spare even one Tuesday afternoon, we would appreciate your
help. Call Kyle Cutsinger (423-892-1079) for more information. Volunteer at the Community Kitchen! 1st and 3rd Fridays of every month. 9:00 AM to 11:45 AM; 727 E. 11th St.
For more information, contact Rona Gary ([email protected]). Help out at Habitat for Humanity! 2nd Saturday of every month. Be there around 8:30 AM. For details, email Larry Kirby ([email protected]). Volunteer to serve a meal at Room In The Inn on the 5th Sunday of any
applicable month. For details, call or email Shannon Beattie (423-883-9083; [email protected].
Help us when we host families from Family Promise of Chattanooga for a week, several times each year. For details, email Julia Martin at [email protected].
This Week at First Christian
(Opportunities for you to connect)
Sunday, May 5 & 12
Monday, April 29 & May 6
Tuesday, April 30 & May 7
3:00 p.m. Brown Academy After-School Program; Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, May 1 & 8
5:30 p.m. Fellowship Dinner & Program; Fellowship Hall 6:30 p.m. Choir practice; Choir Room
Thursday, May 2 & 9
7:00 a.m. Men’s Study Group; Bluegrass Grill 5:30 p.m. Elders’ Meeting; Conference Room (May 9 ONLY)
Friday, May 3 & 10
11:00 a.m. Tai Chi; Chi Rho classroom 8:00 p.m. NA Friday Group; Fellowship Hall
Saturday, May 4 & 11
Sunday, April 28 & May 5
10:30 a.m. Ladies’ Prayer Group; Fellowship Hall (May 5 ONLY) 4:00 p.m. Personnel Committee Meeting; Conference Room (April 29 ONLY) 8:00 p.m. NA Monday Group; Fellowship Hall
No activities scheduled
9:45 a.m. Sunday School Classes 10:35 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Circle; Meditation Chapel 10:45 a.m. Morning Worship; Sanctuary 12:00 p.m. Fellowship; Parlor
9:45 a.m. Sunday School Classes 10:35 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Circle; Meditation Chapel 10:45 a.m. Worship; Sanctuary 12:00 p.m. Fellowship; Parlor 12:15 p.m. Board Lunch; Fellowship Hall (April 28 ONLY) 12:45 p.m. Board Meeting; Fellowship Hall (April 28 ONLY)
This week’s Program (5/1/13):
“A VISIT TO FIJI” BY DAN SUMMERLIN DINNER: 5:30 P.M.; PROGRAM 6:30
Next week’s Program (5/8/13):
BROWN ACADEMY STUDENT CHOIR CONCERT DINNER: 5:30 P.M.; CONCERT 6:30
