THOUGHTS FROM OUR SENIOR MINISTER
Rev. David Clifford
The church is getting ready to begin our season of Lent: the 40-day journey from Ash Wednesday up to Easter. Traditionally, Lent is a season of self-examination that has included fasting and daily devotion. I am excited to announce that the worship committee and I have put together a seven-part sermon series that will help us journey with Jesus through Lent up to Easter morning. This series titled, “God on the Move,” will explore God’s work through the travels and teachings of Jesus as we each find ourselves on our own journeys through Lent this year.
Jesus never seemed to stay in one place for long. His earthly ministry was one of moving from one place and encounter to the next. He also moved through every part of the human experience, encountering everything from temptation, to joy, to suffering and even death. This sermon series will help us reclaim the movement of Jesus’ ministry from temptation to condemnation, through his teaching and miracles and finally through the story of his death and resurrection.
As we encounter the life and ministry of Jesus, we cannot stay the same. We ourselves are moved to grow and change as followers and imitators of the gospel. The comforting truth of Lent is that as we dive deeper into our own self-examination, we find that we are not alone. God is still on the move in our lives and in the life of our church. God continues to walk with us every step of the way as we travel the road to Easter and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.
I have often dreamed of finding common themes throughout the lectionary readings and creating thematic worship and sermon series that help us in our ongoing journey with Christ. I am excited that the worship committee is working to make this a reality. “God on the Move” will follow the Lectionary Gospel Readings through Lent up to East Sunday. I want to encourage each of you to join us on this journey. Join us as we see the movement of God through the life and teachings of Jesus. Join us as we experience the continued movement of God through our church.
Don’t just join us yourself. Invite you friends to journey with us. Lent is the perfect time to invite friends to experience the life of the church. This series is the perfect reason to invite your friends to journey with us and with God. God is moving in their life as well. Please invite someone to join us in exploring the movement of God through the incarnation of Jesus and through the life of the church. I look forward to celebrating the movement of God with you all.
Peace Always,
Rev. David Clifford
BARBARA CHANEY: TREASURER OF THE BOARD
By Barbara Kammerlohr
This year’s Treasurer of the Board is Barbara Chaney who, for 45 years, has been a member of First Christian Church of Henderson (FCCH) and an active contributor to the life of the church.
Barbara grew up in Audubon Baptist Church, but came to FCCH when she married. She remembers noticing that Disciples’ view of the Christian life was a better fit for her own personal philosophy. She raised her child and two grandchildren in this church and has remained a loyal member herself.
Most who attend worship services regularly recognize Barbara. She seldom misses activities or Sunday service and frequently serves as an elder at the communion table. Since retiring two years ago, her participation in church activities have increased and she is frequently observed contributing to the activities of Christian Women’s Fellowship and Senior Saints.
In the past, Barbara has served as Board chairperson twice and this is not her first term as treasurer. She has served as chairperson of the Worship and Outreach Committees as well as president of Christian Women’s Fellowship.
Her retirement from the position of controller at Field and Main Bank, after 45 years in banking, coincided with the onset of COVID and dreams of life as a frequent traveler were put on hold. There has been one motor trip to the east coast, however, and another such trip is in the planning stage. She once mentioned her goal of visiting every state in the union.
Barbara also notes that retirement provides a welcome opportunity to explore once unrecognized interests—that of writing and her interest in prayer. She assists with leadership duties for the church’s prayer warriors and faithfully writes the Spirit’s prayer column. Occasionally, she also shares poems and her own written prayers with trusted friends.
She has two goals for this year: (1) To provide more transparency about our church’s current financial state; (2) Continue to promote prayer both within the prayer group and in the column, she writes for the Spirit.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Worship Leaders for March: Serving elders are Cindy Evans and Anita Watkins.
Week of Compassion Special Offering for 2022: The second collection date is February 27th.
Daylight savings time begins Sunday March 12. You will need to remember to set your clocks up one hour before going to bed Saturday night
CWF ‘s March service project: Christian Community Outreach assisting clients on March 17 from 1- 3 p.m. They will be collecting bars of soap in March and their service project is WA Church/Mayfield.
FCC Ministry Board meeting will meet this month on March 17 at 6:30 p.m.
Many readers will be happy to note that the Editorial Committee has resurrected the integrated calendar that was once a part of the older version of the Spirit. You can find it on the last page of this edition. Plans are for this calendar to now appear in every edition. We hope that church leaders who schedule events will notify the church office or Barbara Kammerlohr once the dates are set. Readers who requested the return of the calendar noted the convenience of seeing all events in one place. Making this a reality again requires that everyone make sure we have the information to publish.
The editorial committee is delighted that Tyler Haynes has joined us as we publish the Spirit. Tyler brings new and fresh ideas to our discussions and several readers have commented on their enjoyment of the two inspirational articles he has published. There will be more to come. Thank you, Tyler, for your contributions of time and talent.
A NOTE OF THANKS
Dear Members of the Church,
Thank you so much for sending the beautiful sympathy cards and notes when my beloved sister, Dr. Katie (Hunter) Youngblood died. She was one wonderful woman- a family practice doctor, a loving wife, mother and sister, and, after retirement from practice, a medical missionary on the South Pacific Island of Yap.
Lovingly,
Theo (Hunter) Vickers Huber
VALENTINE’S FOR SHUT-INS
In celebration of Valentine’s Day Christian Women’s Fellowship decorated packages of gifts for church members who are shut in and unable to attend church services. Debbie Enyart, President of CWF, reported that delivering the gifts was just one of the organization’s service projects this year. The women of CWF hope that the token of remembrance reminds those who are unable to be physically present that they are missed and remembered often.
TORNADO RELIEF – HERES WHAT WE HAVE COLLECTED
By Tyler M. Haynes
December 10, 2021 will no doubt go down in history as a day of sorrow and loss for many across our great commonwealth. When we look past the destruction, the chaos and sorrow; we can clearly see how we were able to come together and lend a helping hand. First Christian Church in Henderson was eager to jump in and help how we could – and we did just that.
First Christian Church collected $3,791.00. The church sent those funds to the Week of Compassion. This week was specifically designated to the Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund. If you did not know, Week of Compassion is the mission fund of the Disciples of Christ church. It is this organization that handles disaster relief, refugee and developmental mission work. 100% of the funds collected that week was donated to the relief efforts in Western Kentucky. Reverend David Clifford also reported that First Christian Church sent $500.00 for tornado relief to First Christian Church in Dawson Springs. First Christian Church also donated $700.00 to families directly impacted at FCC Dawson Springs. This $1,200.00 was given out of our benevolent fund.
Henry Ford once said “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress and working together is success.” The valiant efforts of all who are helping the tornado victims is proving to be heartwarming. When faced with a crisis, it is beautiful to see fellow human beings coming together to lend a hand. And there is still so much more to be done.
Reverend David Clifford was able to share a picture of First Christian Church in Mayfield following the demolition of the existing buildings. FCC Mayfield has been meeting at Mayfield Elementary School as the working on piecing their building back together. The photos clearly show the devastation and the loss.
CHOIR
