www.fccmidland.org ● 1301 W. Louisiana, Midland, Texas, 79701 ● (432) 682-2541

The Christian Builder August 22, 2012

A weekly publication of First Christian Church Midland Volume 56 No.34

Church Calendar

Saturday, August 25 9am Strategic Planning Event Sunday, August 26 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship 5pm Youth Pool Party at the Wrights Tuesday, August 28 7pm PDAP 7:30pm Boy Scouts Wednesday, August 29 7am Men’s Prayer Breakfast 5:30pm Breaking Bread (Florida St.) 6:00pm Elder’s Meeting 7:15pm Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Sunday, September 2 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship Monday, September 3 LABOR DAY Church Offices Closed Tuesday, September 4 5pm SibShop Support Group 7pm PDAP 7:30pm Boy Scouts

Strategic Planning Event On Saturday, August 25th, at 9AM, in the Montgomery Room, church leadership will come together for an event to help develop a vision for the future of FCC. Please pray for our church, staff, leaders, and the Planning Team.

Recognition Sunday and Blessing of Backpacks

Sunday morning during both wor-ship services, the children of FCC will be recognized as they prepare for the 2012-2013 school year. Children age 0 through 5th grade are invited to bring their backpacks (or

perhaps diaper bag) to be blessed during the Children’s Moment. Each child will receive a special tag for their backpack to remind them that their church is praying for them daily. Each year we recognize all the children as they begin a new school year. This year The Children’s Ministry team has added a special feature. The children will be called by name and will receive a special age-appropriate gift, offering a spiritual symbol as they develop their walk with Christ.

We will also be offering a blessing for those in our church family who serve our children, youth, and adults in the field of education. These men and women play a significant role as they teach, support, guide, direct, and offer unconditional love to those they serve. Join us this Sunday for both these special events.

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Thoughts… Rev. Mike Hunter Senior Minister

Do you want to get well?

It is the question Jesus asked the man who had been down and out for thirty eight years by that pool.

Do you want to get well? I have no one to put me in the water. Someone is always ahead of me. It’s someone else’s fault…

Do you want to get well? Then pick up that mat and do something… It is a shocking question. Of course I want to be well! But then on closer reflection I am forced to ask, do I re-ally want to get well?

At times we are so attached to our current state that we prefer where we are to where we could be. Possibly at times we are so familiar with the status quo that we cannot fathom possibilities. Our current situation could have become that comfortable crutch we use to hide or circumvent the deeper potential.

The question is shocking to us because it reminds us that we are participants in not only our present moment, but the road ahead. Try as we can to play the woulda, coulda, shoulda, we ultimately must confess we are partners with God in taking the next steps. We are challenged to join in the way forward. God calls us to be nothing less than a full participant.

In the passage where this question is posed (John 5:1-18) Jesus gives instructions to “take up your bed and walk”. The mental desire to be well now shifts to a physical act. I am asked to take some specific action to get up, to move forward, and to raise the bar of my life and my faith. Do I want to get well? Yes, even if it means taking up my bed and carrying what has been carrying me.

This Week’s Sermon

You Want to Go, Too? John 6:59-69

Find previous sermons on our website: www.fccmidland.org

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August 19, 2012

Contemporary Worship 64 Children’s Church 5 Total 69 Traditional Worship 95 Children’s Church 2 Nursery 3 Total 100 Total 169

Sunday School Nursery 3 Children 4 Youth 11 Adult 67 Total: 85

Musings… Rev. Cory Glover Associate Minister

Visitors Corner August 19, 2012

Attendance

Thanks for worshipping with us!

Upcoming Youth EventsUpcoming Youth EventsUpcoming Youth EventsUpcoming Youth Events

• August 26 - Back to School Pool Party at the Wrights. 5-7PM • August 27 - School Starts! • September 9 - Fall SOLID Kick-Off & Parent’s Night

Sandy Emmerson Cecilio & Christian Flores

Chris, Brooke & Kennedy Giese Mycah Glover

Rob, Michelle, & Zane Helms Jon Aaron, Magen & Madison House

Bob & Carolyn Jones Cyril Navratil

Lou & Jill Novack Curtis Pechacek

Greta & Kaylee Renfro John Robeck

Jerri Scroggins Gene & Beverly Sparks

"Whatever happens, as citizens of heaven, live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." - Philippians 1:27

This weekend, I heard a woman recount the birth of one of her children. She had an IUD (inter-uterine device), a common form of child prevention; yet, somehow, she got pregnant. Removing the IUD could result in a spontaneous abortion, so she decided to just leave it in for the remainder of the pregnancy. When her son finally greeted the world, he was holding the IUD in his hand.

Mom thought this was a great story. One of power and meaning to her.

Her son had a very different reaction. When she recently told him this story, he wished that she hadn't. He replied, "I always thought I was born on purpose." For him, this story conveyed that his pregnancy wasn't planned with great anticipation...which bothered him greatly.

There's a similar story in early chapters of the bible. Jacob is said to have come out of the womb "with his hand grasping Esau's heel". The younger brother lived his entire life wanting to be like the older brother instead of being who God called him to be, perhaps because of ancient culture placing value on being the first-born son. It's only later in his life when Jacob finally gives up this fight and accepts the reality of who he is and embraces his own path.

Both birth stories point to the reality that we all want to matter, to be important, to make a difference.

This desire can be our greatest ally or enemy, depending on how we harness it.

The key comes in letting our faith drive that motivation.

Is faith motivating your decision in life?

Do you live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ?

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Birthdays

8/23 Jana Floyd 8/25 Reagan Branum 8/26 Anne Shaunesy 8/27 London Faulkner Eve McCready 8/28 Paul Hancock Brittney Gordon Sheila McKown 8/29 Joe Campbell Memarie McKown 8/31 Corbin McCullough Josh Young

Ponderings… Rev. Paula Brooks Associate Minister

There is a Native American legend that speaks of a wise father who was nearing the end of his life. He had three sons and he wanted to leave everything he owned to the son who proved himself brave and full of promise. The father

decided to send each of the three sons on a mission. With the three young men standing in front of him, he pointed to the mountain that towered in the distance. The sons were told to make a trip up the mountain and bring back something that showed how far they had traveled up the mountainside.

The first son returned and placed a bouquet of beautiful white flowers in his father’s hands. The father smiled for he knew the flowers grew just beyond the timberline and that the young man had traveled far.

The second son returned and handed the old man some red flint stones. These stones were found very near to the top of the mountain and the father smiled.

The old man waited patiently for the third son to return. It was a long time. Finally, the third son appeared before his father, empty-handed, but with a smile on his face. He excitedly explained to his father that where he went there was nothing to bring back. “I went to the summit, Father, and looked out across a gorgeous valley. I saw rivers I had never seen before, and a body of water that met the horizon. It was the most exciting thing I have ever experienced!” The wise old man nodded in agreement, for he knew what this son spoke of. He spoke to the boy, from the deepest part of his heart, of his desire that one of his sons would see what he had seen and experienced: “My dear son, you have nothing in your hands, but you have something far greater in your heart and spirit. You have a vision in your soul.”

The third young son experienced something greater than he had ever imagined and witnessed, something he had never dreamed of. He looked beyond what he knew. The others were satisfied to appreciate what was within their grasp.

God is calling us to ‘look beyond’ what we know and what we have already done. The vision we have for FCC should always be bigger than we can ever imagine or dream about. We need to look beyond ourselves and dream of the possibilities of who and what we can become. We need to be willing to step out and step up as God calls us to move forward. We need to continue to look to God for guidance, and direction. We need to put our trust in God. In Ephesians 3:20, the Scriptures tell us that, “Through His mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

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Anniversaries 8/22 - Joe & Donna Campbell 8/26 - Mike & Brenda Nance 8/28 - Bob & Dianne Garrett 8/28 - Jim & Mary Mauldin 8/29 - Larry & Dorcas Walton 8/29 - Joel & Pat Young

Lectionary Scriptures

for the week of August 26, 2012

1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43 Psalm 84, Joshua 21:1-2a, 14-18

Psalm 34:15-22, Ephesians 6:10-20 John 6:56-69

Elder - On - Call

8/19 - 8/25 Joe Wright

8/26 - 9/1

Doris Miller

9/2 - 9/8 Kelly Cook

Church Bulletin Board

Focus Food for Memorial Food Pantry

The focus food group for the summer until September will be any

kind of protein; i.e. canned tuna, chick-en, salmon, peanut

butter, beans (canned or dried).

Help Our Adopted School

As you can see in the picture below, we are off to a great start! For one more week, we will be colleting supplies for Burnet Elementary, our

adopted school. Please check the list below and help us help the Burnet Elementary Family.

Plastic zip lock baggies (gallon, quart,

sandwich) Kleenex

Note book paper 24 count boxes of

Crayons Pencils

Glue sticks Erasers

Washable Markers Red pens

Pencil bags Colored Construction

Paper

You may also help us by furnishing baked goodies on Friday, August 24th, as we place special treats in the teacher’s lounge.

If you have any questions please contact the church office.

Congrats to Anna James

Anna James combined with Jessica Parratto to win the women’s synchronized 10M platform competition last Sunday at

the National Diving Championships. Anna also competed in the individual

competition, finishing ninth.

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Church Bulletin Board Adult Sunday School Studies

Mixed Blessings/Pairs & Spares Room 301 Topic: Sunday’s Scripture

II Chronicles 7:14 Room 302 Topic: Fellowship with God Scripture: 1 John Leader: Class members

Genesis Room 304 Topic: Women of the New Testament: Dorcas & Lydia Scripture: Acts 9:36-42, Romans 12:4-8, James 1:27, Acts 16:11-15, 40 Leader: Paula Brooks

Fellowship Room 307 Topic: The Transforming Love of God Scripture: Romans 5:1-11 Leader: Jim Mauldin

Mike Hunter’s Class Montgomery Room Leader: Mike Hunter

Children’s Activities for Sunday,

August 26, 2012

Sunday School Topic: Building Trust in God Communication – Talking to God Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-2:9 Children’s Church Topic: Paul Shipwrecked Leaders: Contemporary – Kathleen Scarafile/Ingrid Miller Traditional – Patty Walsh/ Delaney Kilgore

Genesis Sunday School Class Gathering

On Tuesday, August 28, at 6:30 pm the Genesis Class will be gathering at Michael’s on Wadley for “Not going back to school”

celebration! Come and join us for food, fun and fellowship. Hope to see you there!

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Website Don’t forget to check out our

website (www.fccmidland.org) for news, publications, and

previous sermons!

For submission to prayer list contact any staff, submit via web, or e-mail

prayerchain@fccmidland.org

Prayer Room Chapel Lock Box Code #1301

Social Media

Become a friend of ours on Facebook and “Like” us.

Follow us on Twitter (@fccmidland)

E-mail Provider

Please be sure that your e-mail provider accepts e-mails from

fccmidland.org. We have had several e-mails get sent back to us and solving the

problem would help us get accurate and up-to-date

information to you.

Special Note: Prayer list names are renewed every three weeks as we seek to keep the list as current as possible and

allow space for new requests. Our joys, concerns

and deepest needs are already on God’s heart long before

we put them to paper.

…for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:8

Those in the hospital: H.G. Bedford - Senior Care Center Jerry Johnson - MMH 210

Those in need of prayer: Pat Pickle Ross Crawford Bruce Stanley Hazel Somerville Louise Jones Bill & Char Womack Judy Spruell Curtis Pechacek

Those in extended/long term care: Blanche Alcorn Nancy Gill Jerry Johnson Clarese Gough - mother of Jeannie Gough & Janice Beckner Jackie Hanna Charlotte Millican Jerry Sloan Keith Somerville Mary Jane Strobel Dorothy Wadley

Military: Trevor Forbes - son of Stephen & Betty Forbes Travis Zumwait - nephew of Stephen & Betty Forbes Van Forbes - nephew of Stephen & Betty Forbes Joe Henderson - son of Holly Moore Nicky Miller - son of Vicki Miller Rich Klumpp - nephew of the Midkiffs Damon Darnell - grandson of Floyd & Doris Miller Bennett Dobbs - extended family of the Espino’s Eric Schuff - extended family of the Espino’s

Families/Friends beyond FCC: Phyllis Knauff – aunt of Kristina Sandifer Jo Smith – daughter-in-law of Donna Lathrop Jean Joiner – aunt of Mark Cranford Debbie Witcher – daughter of Mary Mauldin The Family of Jimmy Young - friend of Sara Cranford Melissa Thompson - daughter in law of Gary & Carol Thompson The Lynch Family Caleb Zuniga - Carl & Betty Rodgers Jim & Stacy Miller - Mary Miller Kay Wages - friend of Sara Cranford Dominguez Family - friends of Sara Cranford Kolby White Family - friend of Jean Ann Hettler Tom Hewitt - brother of Anne Schwiening Sherry Harrington - friend of Jake Spruell Clifton Carter - Sara Cranford Kim Walters - foster daughter of Diane Bailey Fisher Teena Atchley - friend of Kay Hill

Families/Friends beyond FCC in long term care: Frank Nix - friend of Bentons & Thompsons Stan Wigley & family - friends of LuAnn Morgan Lori Hays - cousin of Mary Anne Benton Sonya Hopkins - friend of Kelley McCullough

The Christian BuilderThe Christian BuilderThe Christian BuilderThe Christian Builder First Christian Church 1301 W. Louisiana Ave Midland, TX 79701

432-682-2541

online at: www.fccmidland.org August 15, 2012

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org US Postage

Paid Midland, TX 79711

Permit No. 145

Fall Program Kick-Off · September 9th

Youth and Children’s Programs return and we kick-off our Fall Worship series!