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Feb. 8, 2022

The Spirit - January 12, 2022

The Spirit - January 12, 2022

Thoughts from Our Senior Minister

by Rev. David Clifford

It’s hard to imagine that we have entered into the year 2022. My family and I moved back to Kentucky in the summer of 2019. That means this summer will mark three years of my time at First Christian in Henderson. To be completely honest with you, it feels as if I just got started. I think the COVID situation has drastically challenged the beginnings of my ministry with you.

Most pastors take the first three to five years of their ministry really trying to get to know the congregation. In those first three to five years pastors spend a lot of what I call, couch time. Couch time is the time pastors spend on couches of their congregants as they get to know them. However, the pandemic has challenged my opportunities of getting into your houses. Secretly, I’m hoping that just means my ministry here will be extended well past the average stay of a minister at one church. (For those wonder, the average tenure of a senior minister at one congregation is four years).

The truth of the matter is that many ministers (and congregations) are struggling right now. The weight of ministry is difficult and I believe we are all feeling that weight as our calendars roll into 2022. One of the things that often helps me in my own struggles with the weight and difficulties of ministry and church leadership is to remember my calling from God. Ministry is so much more than a vocation and job; it is a way of life modeled to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. And, it is through the strength of Christ that we find our foundation for the difficulties of life.

As we enter this new year, I find myself reflecting upon my own call to ministry. While still in high school, I experienced the gentle nudge of God leading me into this strange profession of ministry. Of course, growing up in Sebree meant I only had limited experiences of what “professional” ministry looked like. My own church pastor was only part-time and, at least in my mind, only “worked” at the church on Sunday.

However, as my journey of faith would create my path, I was able to truly experience the diversity of professional ministry. While I may struggle from time to time in where we should go or what we should do, I am confident in my calling to lead Christ’s church. As we enter another year of challenges and an unknown future for our congregation, I would invite each of you to find your footing in the confidence of your faith. Christ is truly the solid rock upon which we stand.

We can enter into this new year and the future of our church assured that Christ is with us. Christ has called us each here and will continue to guide us through our lives and the faith. We will certainly face challenges, but we will not fact them alone. Together, with one another and with Christ, we are moving into the future. I am looking forward to the journey and I am thankful you are with us.

New Year’s Peace,

Rev. David Clifford

 

 Good Luck, Jada; Go in Love

by Mara Beth Womack

 

With this issue of the Spirit, we say so long for now to Jada Hamby—Jada Hamby, the college freshman whose desire to serve and love of technology played a major role in keeping our church alive when COVID threatened to shut it down; Jada Hamby, who helped transform the Spirit with her service on the Editorial Committee. It was she who designed the cover for the Spirit and showed the patience of Job as she cheerfully made all of the many changes suggested by other committee members. Jada leaves this week for Florida and the Disney College Program. The congregation bid her fair well last Sunday with a reception after church. She will be missed!

Jada Hamby started attending FCCH in late 2019 with her relatives Onnastasia and Rev. David Clifford. Even though she was christened as a child, almost immediately, she decided to be baptized into the faith and become a member of First Christian Church Henderson.

Upon her arrival, she quickly connected with the youth of the church. Her love for technology made a real “hit” with young members. March 7, 2020, she and several of the FCCH youth attended the West Area Workshop in Hopkinsville, KY. They meet disciples for other churches, took pictures and created a video diary of the day’s events.

Then BOOM, COVID hit and shut down everything, including our church. But Jada, being a full-time student, hit the ground running! She felt called to contribute! Without blinking an eye or any kind of a type of training session, Jada along with David’s help put the FCCH worship service online. She accepted a challenge to provide our services to the church community without interruption. She ran the sound system, streamed the services to Facebook and tag teamed with Rev. David to provide videos, podcasts and the Monday Morning Preacher. Jada quickly became invaluable to FCCH and continued to share her gifts of technology with our congregation.

Recently Jada was accepted into the Disney College Program. This month, Jada will be leaving FCCH to live at Flamingo Crossing in Kissimmee, Florida.  She has the opportunity to work with college students from all over the United States and numerous other countries. The new life chapter will provide a unique work experience and will allow her to earn college hours while working toward her college internship. She will experience a wide array of cultural diversity while earning college credit and earning an income. The program will last until June 2022, but who knows where the Disney experience will lead Jada.

As one chapter closes, another chapter opens, and so the book continues. For the last several weeks, Jada has been mentoring her replacement Peyton Myers. He will become our new IT director. Peyton is a long-time member of FCCH and the son of Jim and the late Alice Myers.

First Christian Church of Henderson will greatly miss Jada, however we wish her well and pray that her life chapter provides all the personal and academic growth she is seeking. Good Luck Jada! 

 

Announcements

  • “Elders at the table” January: Sonny Beaven and Gale Myers
  • The lay leader for this Sunday, January 16: Bill Aldridge, January 30: Baylee Womack
  • Commodities will be delivered on January 12th, 2022 at 8:30 a.m.
  • Senior Luncheon: January 18, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. We will meet in the fellowship hall. Bill and Becky Aldridge will be providing the meal.
  • The next Ministry Team meeting is Jan 19 at 1:30 pm here at FCC
  • FCC Transitional board meeting will be held January 20th, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
  • Those affected by the recent tornado still need our help and prayers. If you haven’t done so already, consider helping tornado victims in our area by donating to the Week of Compassion. Simply write a check to First Christian Church, designate it for Week of Compassion and place in the offering plate. Remember, when you give to Week of Compassion you help rebuild, renew and restore. Your generosity means that—through it all- love remains.
  • Prayer is one of the most important gifts we can give each other. The Prayer Group meets weekly and individually prays daily for those on our prayer lists. If you would like to have anyone (church member, relative, co-worker, neighbor, friend, etc.) included in our prayers you will have an additional method for letting us know.  There will be a “Prayer Request” box placed at the Church Office window with prayer request slips.  The reason for the request is not required (God already knows), but helpful in being more specific in our prayers.  The reason may vary greatly from illness to job search to church attendance.  There is an area to indicate the level of confidentiality desired for your request.  Please feel free to submit your requests as often as desired.  We also covet your continuing prayers as we seek to expand this important ministry of our church.
  •  The Transitional Board decided at their December meeting to support the building of  Jefferson Elementary's new playground. The board has made this a priority for the  church’s outreach and set aside $5000 of outreach funds for this effort. Playground equipment is not funded by the school district. Our congregation is being challenged by the Transitional Board to match the $5,000 gift. If you would like to donate to this cause, please denote “Jefferson Playground” on your check or giving envelope. To date, we have collected $2,400 toward our $5,000 goal.

 

Sprinkles of Joy