The Spirit - August 4, 2022

THOUGHTS FROM OUR SENIOR MINISTER

Rev. David Clifford

I have two important things to share with you:

Back to School Blessing:

This coming Sunday (August 7), First Christian will have a special back-to-school blessing for all our students getting ready for school. We will be dismissing our worship service with a special blessing in place of our Benediction. I will be inviting our church to join me in lifting prayers over all our students, parents, and school employees as our community is gearing up for the start of another great school year.

We would love to have as many students of all ages and their families be present for this special moment in our worship service. If you are able, please make plans to be at church on Sunday. We also ask that all the First Christian community join us in lifting up prayers for the school year as kids are starting back to school and college.

Pillars of Faith Sermon Series:

Our lectionary epistle readings for the next two Sundays will move us into Hebrews, chapter 11. I have heard this section of Hebrews called the “Hero’s Hall of Fame.” The reader is reminded of the faithful of some major pillars of our tradition: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab. The author even notes that there is not enough time to mention everyone, like: Gedeon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets, and kings. I am sure we can each think of our own pillars of the faith that have helped to pass on our trust in God.

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” I am planning on preaching a sermon series on the Pillars of our Faith through the month of August. Many of us can think of those individuals that could be described as pillars of our own faithful community. However, my sermons will focus more on the markers of our faith that we can strive toward in order to live with complete confidence and trust in God.

I want to encourage each of you to be asking yourself what it means to have faith—to trust in things not seen? My hope is that as we explore our faith together, we might learn how faith empowers us to see the unseen. I pray that through our worship together we might boldly seek God in the face of opposition, and trust God to accomplish things we can only imagine. Walt Disney is quoted as saying, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” I pray our church can join God in celebrating the impossible through our own community of faith.

Peace Always,

Rev. David Clifford

There is a Rain Storm of Joy Out There

By Barbara Kammerlohr

A quick look at past Spirit’s will confirm that most Sprinkles of Joy in this congregation come from the achievements of children and grandchildren. In Evina Bell’s case, however, such achievements by 21-year-old granddaughter Anne Harder created a storm of joy.              

This young woman (barely 21) is already: winner of Wyoming’s Western Governor’s Art Competition, a fully credentialed special needs teacher with a year of successful teaching behind her, a skilled horsewoman, author of a published coloring book and sought-after painter whose work is almost always sold out. In truth, most of it is commissioned and already sold before she finishes it.

Anne, a resident of Cody, Wyoming, near the entrance to Yellowstone National Park, takes her inspiration from the animals of that Western state.  She works summers at Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center. Evina reports that her next project is to get her own horse. Under consideration is adopting a wild mustang and training it.(The bison and the horse at the bottom are examples of her work.)

                             FCCH RESPONSE TO FLOODING 

First Christian Henderson is going to provide cleaning supplies for Eastern Kentucky. We ask that you bring your donation of cleaning supplies to the church as soon as possible. There will be a container available in the narthex. Some of the items we need: large garbage bags, bleach, heavy duty rubber gloves, scrub brushes, Pine Sol, Lysol, Dawn dish detergent, shop towels, paper towels. The CWF will be handling the items collected and see that they get to there designated area.

Or you are invited to consider a gift to: Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund- Week of Compassion. Please just note on you check Flood Relief

           Message Regarding Eastern Kentucky Flooding from

                           the Christian Church in Kentucky

(Editor’s note: Individuals who have registered for newsletters published by the Christian Church in Kentucky recently received this message. We publish parts of the message below because it may be of interest to our readers. The letter is signed by Rev. Dr. Lon Oliver, District Minister 10 and 11 who is well known by many in this congregation.)

Dear Family and Friends of the Christian Church in Kentucky

We continue to grieve the loss of life, precious artifacts, and property in Eastern Kentucky and surrounding states. The flooding is so severe that most of us have a family member or friend who is impacted by the disaster. We are thankful for the outpouring of love, concern, energy, and finances from our congregations.

Now is the time to support our first responders. Community ESS workers. State and Federal workers and nonprofit organizations are acting on our behalf. They need our prayers, encouragement, and finances. You are invited to consider a gift to: “Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund, Week of Compassion, or a local community organization.

As our mountain communities move from search, rescue, and emergency care to support and shelter, our congregations and additional nonprofits will move into action. Please know that if your congregation in District 10 or 11 opens for ministries of feeding and shelter, you may be eligible for a Week of Compassion grant. In time, we will all be able to join in the rebuilding of the area. Your volunteer labor and gifts to will be helpful.

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                    The Covenant Project: Proposed Changes to Church                                                Structure at the National Level

As First Christian Church Henderson begins to implement changes recently approved by our governing board, readers may also want to take note of proposed changes to the governance structure of the Christian Church: Disciples of Christ at the national level.

Referred to as “The Covenant Project,” these changes address updates to the movement’s structure including relationship, covenant, and shared future. Its goal is to create more opportunity for local churches to shape the future and to respond to changes within our greater society during the half century since 1969 when the current governance structure was approved.

To help grass roots members understand these proposed changes, a series of “Town Hall” sessions is available. Disciples interested in learning about the changes, can register for one of the electronic town hall meetings. Registration is easy. On your computer, go to Disciples.org, click on Covenant Project Town Halls, then choose the session you would like to attend. Sessions are available through September 5.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Elders at the Table for the month of August: David Thomason & Sonny Beaven

Lay Leaders August 7- Bill Aldridge, August 14 - Barbara Kammerlohr, August 21-Susie Middleton, August 28- Barbra Chaney

CMF Men’s Breakfast is August 7, 8:30 a.m.

Commodities are delivered on the Wednesday after the second Tuesday of each month. If anyone would be interested in helping in this ministry, please contact the church office. The helpers usually start at 8:00 a.m. and are done by 10:00 a.m. This month’s date August 10.

 The Pastor’s Bible study class on Discipleship continues to meet on Wednesday evening, August 10: Christian Worship (Romans 12:1-2; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8).

 Sunday School class every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. with Bill Aldridge leading the class.

During the month of July, the CWF will be collecting lotion for Christian Community Outreach.  They have a container in the Narthex if you wish to help with a donation.

The Deacon’s annual Plate Pork Chop sale is schedule for September 21. Tickets will go on sale soon.   

Senior Luncheon will be August 16th at the Feed Mill in Morganfield. We will need to leave at 11:00 a.m.    Please rsvp!

Sprinkles of Joy

Upon entering the north side of the back parking lot, visitors are sprinkled with joy by the small flower garden that guards both the entrance and exit. The joy of the beauty of God’s creation at mid-summer is hard to escape. Thank you, Carolyn Dorsey, for sharing your skill and hard work. Thanks also to Biscuit Dorsey for spreading his puppy love, enthusiasm, and energy all over the garden while Carolyn was trying to work.