The Christian Builder

April 2, 2015 A weekly publication of First Christian Church Midland Volume 59 No. 13

www.fccmidland.org ● 1301 W. Louisiana Ave., Midland, Texas 79701 ● 432.682.2541

CHURCH CALENDAR Sunday, April 5 Easter Sunday Easter Offering Family Promise Week Begins 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Easter Brunch 11am Traditional Worship Monday, April 6 9:30am Staff Meeting 6pm SHARE Group Tuesday, April 7 6pm SHARE Parents 6:30pm Cub Scouts, FLC 7:30pm Boy Scouts, Rm 105 Wednesday, April 8 7am Men’s Prayer Breakfast 5:30pm Breaking Bread 6pm Executive Committee 7pm Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Thursday, April 9 8pm Men’s Small Group Friday, April 10 Children & Youth Leave For Rally 6pm SHARE Respite Sunday, April 12 Children & Youth Return 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship

Welcome Our Newest Members Sunday, March 29, 2015, First Christian welcomed 2 new members. Chloe Wells and Adam Bourland joined FCC by Profession of Faith. They will be baptized Easter Sunday during the Traditional Service at 11. Chloe and Adam are pictured with their Elder Mentors, Jana and Jerry Floyd. Join us in welcoming them to FCC. We are blessed in having them become a part of our church family.

Page 2 The Builder, First Christian Church

Thoughts… Rev. Mike Hunter

This Week’s Sermon

Once Is Not Enough

Mark 16:1-8

Check Out Our Website

Previous sermon videos, news, & publications available

at www.fccmidland.org

Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It's about impact, influence and inspiration. ~Robin S. Sharma

Impact, influence and inspiration. Not only found in the leadership qualities of individuals, but also the hopeful impact of churches.

That was certainly the case on Sunday. What began as a very inspiring worship service of children and music continued into the afternoon with

the inspirational ordination service for Tom Jones. Thanks to all who helped make the day so memorable!

As our congregation affirmed what the Region had previously confirmed, Tom has the call of God on his life that has been evident in his impact, influence and inspiration.

Yes, he received a new title and designation. Those are but outward signs of that inward call of God on his life.

We would all do well to seek neither title nor designation but to be a body that offers spiritual impact, influence and inspiration.

Every time we do, we may not understand the impact. We may never know how our actions impact others.

On Wednesday this week, we gathered to remember the life of Frank Singleton. What you may not know is that during the Singleton’s brief tenure in Hobbs, Frank served on the search committee for our Disciples’ church that called one Rev. Herb Miller to be pastor.

Others of long tenure in West Texas probably know Herb. Author of sixteen books, Herb Miller is an internationally recognized authority in congregational health and effectiveness. Over the past thirty years he has flown five million miles to conduct planning consultations with more than seven hundred congregations in twenty-eight denominations across the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Many years ago, Herb came to an East Texas church I served for a church growth consultation and affirmed and valued my ministry. He was instrumental in the journey that led to my ordination, and he preached my ordination sermon!

And I have Frank to thank, in part, for that. How’s that for influence, impact and inspiration.

The world gets smaller when seen through a larger view. That is one of the many messages of Easter. A grace gift, an empty tomb, something almost ignored by the world so long ago has such an impact.

Easter blessings to you, dear church family. You are making a difference!

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Topics… Rev. T.J. York Associate Minister

Visitors

March 29, 2015

Thank You For

Worshipping with us!

Attendance

March 29, 2015

Sunday Worship Services Combined 181 Children’s Church 21 Nursery 7 TOTAL 209

Sunday School Attendance Nursery 6 Children 14 Youth 11 Adult 76 Sunday School Total 107

After of few weeks of craziness, leading

to Holy Week, it is easy to become

overwhelmed with the things still yet to

be done. Does the list ever stop growing?

In the midst of the madness, we often

become weak and tired, desperately

seeking an opportunity for rest.

In our fast paced world, we are surrounded by a growing demand for energy,

energy that can suck the life out of us and energy that can feed our souls.

During Holy Week, spend time reflecting on the positive energy with which

God has surrounded you. Compare and contrast the energy in your life.

Spend time in prayer and give God your negative energies.

This process of reflection and meditation on energy can bring healing to the

craziness of your life. God is the everlasting God, the Creator of heaven and

earth. He will not give up on you, abandon you, or forsake you. He is the

source of life-giving energy. And when you feel like your world is falling

apart turn to God for strength.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends

of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is

unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he

increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men

shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

Amy & Landry Adams

Lacie Bavousett

Vileysha Borland

Robert, Carolyn & Catherine Corns

Sandy Davis

The Disney Family

Eric Floyd

Jennifer & Zachary Gehami

The Glover Family

Steve Goeglein

Ed & Stephanie Hall

Joe Hendrix

The Henley Family

Alvin & Nona Kennedy

Zach Kilborn

Bill McNeiland

Sam & Sondra McNeiland

Pat Morris

Emily Musgraves

Jorge Navarrete

Amparo Olguin

Curtis Pechacek

Nic & Aidan Ramsey

Kyndra Shephard

Kathy Witten

The Woods Family

Summer 2015

Mission Trip (Grades 6-12) June 28-July 4 $200.00 Reg. Deadline May 5

Summer Camp Summer Camp Forms distributed late March

High School Camp June 8-13 $190.00 Registration, May 5

Middle School Camp June 10-13 $170.00 Registration, May 5

8’ers Camp July 5-11 $210.00 Registration, May 5

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Adult Sunday School Studies

There will be no Sunday School

Classes this Sunday.

Join us in the Family Life Center for a special

Easter Brunch at 10am.

Children’s Activities

Children’s Church Easter! Helpers: 9am Jeannine Hurst/Linda Hyatt 11am Sarah Jones/Jennifer Winchester

CELEBRATE will not meet this Sunday. Please spend this glorious Easter day with your family.

When we think of role models, we think of those who we look up to, admire, and respect. We think of those that set an example for us to follow. We think of those that portray values and virtues that should be imitated. We live in a culture and society where there is a desperate

need for good role models.

As we seek to sculpt our lives into what they should be, it is not easy to find the models that we need. The search of an outstanding role model is often long and the candidates scarce. From the White House to the schoolhouse, the workplace to the home-place, and from the Church to the community, there is a need for good role models.

The role models that are needed are those who will bring out the best in us. The role models that are needed are those by whom we are motivated, and who lift us up.

Paul was not an entertainer but an evangelist. He was not a film star but a faithful servant. He was not a rock singer but a redeemed saint. He was saying that the role models one should have are those who know the Lord, love the Lord, serve the Lord, obey the Lord, and honor the Lord in their lives.

Paul was saying that we should pay close and careful attention to those who live a faithful Christian life. There are times when you may wonder if you have ever met one of those Christians. There are some and their lives should be carefully observed. We should observe how they pray, act and react to things that happen in their life, how they worship, share their faith, and other virtues in their life and walk with God.

The purpose of a role model is to have a beacon by which to guide our ship. It is to have a model of what we should be and become. Paul was saying that we should observe the lives of godly people and should develop such a godliness in our own lives.

He was declaring himself to be a good role model. Can you make such a claim? If others did what you did, acted as you act, and lived as you lived, would it make them a good Christian? What kind of role models are we as parents, church members, and most of all as Christians?

We have the opportunity every day to be a good role model for children, youth and adults. We know of the greatest gift ever given and we should share that gift and the love that came with that gift every single day.

In loving partnership,

Ponderings… Rev. Paula Brooks Associate Minister

Church Bulletin Board Lectionary Scriptures

April 5, 2015

Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 25:6-9 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or Acts 10:34-43

John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8

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Elder - On Call

Carol Cook 3/29 - 4/4

Carol Cook 4/5 - 4/11

Mission Corner…

Memorial Food Pantry (ongoing mission) The blue tubs are in the sanctuary narthex every week. Protein, canned goods, rice and beans are always needed. Approximately 250 families are helped each month. We also need volunteers on Tuesdays at 2pm to help unload the truck, and Wednesdays from 1 - 3pm to help distribute food to clients.

Breaking Bread Kitchen (monthly mission) April 8 Members take a rotational turn with others in the community serving a daily evening meal.

Family Promise (quarterly mission) Help needed, April 5-12.

Online Giving

You can now give to FCC through our website! You can make a one-time donation, pay the fees for a children's or youth event, or set up recurring donations.

Online giving is convenient, safe, easy to track, and easy to schedule on a regular basis.

FCC Children’s Learning Center

The kids enjoyed Easter Egg Hunts at Hill Park. Their favorite part was riding the bus the .5 mile over there.

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4/13 Robert & Kristina Beggs

4/13 Del & Cathie Windle

4/12 Betty Forbes

4/16 Bill Griffin

Gifts Have Been Received For The Building Fund

In Memory of Frank Singleton

Want to share what’s happening where you do church?

Kelly Cook is our Stewardship chair this year and he has the great joy of coordinating the moments in worship where folks share where their faith intersects church life. Consider it a ministry moment or where I saw God today sharing. After all, stewardship isn’t fund raising, its faith raising! We’ve heard from elders who do homebound communion, cookie ladies’ visits to shutins, youth after meaningful camps and retreats…the list goes on. It adds so much to worship. If you would like to share how your participation in the ministry and life of

the church has been meaningful, then we’d like to hear from you. Contact

Kelly or Mike in the church office.

Our Deepest Sympathy

We extend our heartfelt sympathy and prayer to the following family who has recently lost a loved one:

The Family of Frank Singleton…….Frank passed away on Friday, March 27, 2015 in Midland, TX. Memorial Services

were held Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at First Christian Church in Midland, TX. Frank is the husband of Joy Singleton and the

father of Glen Singleton, Mary Hurst & Keith Singleton.

Please keep the Singleton Family in your prayers.

“With the peace and grace of Christ, may the Spirit of God gently enfold all those who sorrow.”

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Prayer Room

Special Notes: 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

Please inform the church office if you or

a loved one are admitted into a hospital, so we may be there for you

& your family.

Website & You Tube

Don’t forget our website (www.fccmidland.org) for news, publications,

And You Tube for previous sermons!

Social Media

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

www.facebook.com/fccmidland

www.facebook.com/fcccm

E-mail Provider

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

fccmidland.org. We have had several e-mails sent

back to us, and solving the problem would help us get

accurate and up-to-date information to you.

Also check out FCC’s Children’s, Youth & Children’s Learning

Center pages on Facebook and “Like” us.

Follow us on Twitter (@fccmidland)

Those in need of prayer: Anna Mae Franz Faye Casey Robert Crudgington Doris Stewart Hill Glover Mary Mauldin John Midkiff Erlene Thomas George & Dee Head Bruce Stanley Bill & Char Womack Blanche Alcorn Those in extended/long term care: Jerry Johnson Jackie Hanna Charlotte Millican Dorothy Wadley Military: Joe Henderson - son of Holly Moore Nicky Miller - son of Vicki Miller Families/Friends beyond FCC: O.C. Haley – brother of Nadine Powell Freddy Richards – friend of Butch & Sherry Ladd Ouida Glenn – friend of Dorothy Wadley Charles Meula – friend of Janice Courtney Shawn Phillips – son of Kay Hill Pam Ruffin – friend of Mary Beth Corbett Fred Westmoreland – The Schwienings Kaitlyn McCarthy – Patty Walsh Blake Medford – great grandson of Doris Miller Jean Clayborne – wife of Richard Clayborne Dennis Blevins – friend of Mary Beth Corbett Ed Shelton – nephew of Scotty Alcorn Talon Hepner – nephew of Damon Darnell Janice Smith – sister-in-law of Eveline Smith McCuan The DeLucas Family – friends of Sara Cranford Vickie Williams & family – friend of Bea Lea Somerville George Capps – cousin of Sara Cranford Betty Harvell – Sara Cranford Louella Cranford Smith – aunt of Mark Cranford Randy Quimby – uncle of Lynda Terry Nieta Stephenson – mother of Mike Stephenson & Michelle Hepfer Wayne Cranford – cousin of Mark Cranford The Bill Kemp Family – friend of Sara Cranford Matt Vann – friend of Mark Cranford George Koehl – friend of Sharon Jones BJ Cranford – brother of Mark Cranford Daniel Odom – friend of Darla Fisher Joe Langford – father of Carol Cook Martha Pollock – friend of Sara Cranford Liz Hickerson – friend of Leslie Vines Abbye Irons – friend of Steve Vaughan Walker Hughes – grandson of Steve & Lucille Vaughan Charles Lout – friend of George & Dee Head Brenda Bradshaw – friend of Lucille Vaughan Jo Smith – daughter-in-law of Donna Lathrop Tom Hewitt - brother of Anne Schwiening Kim Walters - foster daughter of Diane Bailey Fisher

Families/Friends beyond FCC in long term care:

Sonya Hopkins - friend of Kelley McCullough For submission to prayer list contact any staff, submit via web,

or e-mail prayerchain@fccmidland.org

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

432.682.2541

www.fccmidland.org April 2, 2015

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