The Spirit - September 28, 2021

Thoughts from Our Senior Minister

Rev. David Clifford

It is almost October already? The year seems to have flown by. As we push toward fall – Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are just around the corner. I thought I would take a little space in our newsletter to update you all about where our church is right now in our leadership discussions about our governance structure. As you are aware, the board has been trying and testing a new structure with a smaller, transitional board (made up of board officers, Elder and Deacon representatives, and a member-at-large), and a separate ministry team (made up of ministry committee chair-persons). After some conversation last month, the General Board decided to continue this trial period for another year with the express purpose of focusing on what tweaks need to be made in order to have a smaller board be more permanent. It is our belief that a smaller board, focused on the business of the church, and a smaller ministry team focused on the ministry of the church, provides for better conversation and decision-making.

Over the course of the next year, our new transitional board will be working on finding ways to make this structure more permanent. The board is also wanting our leadership to be more visible to the congregation. Our hope is to have the congregation know who is responsible for what and what groups are making what decisions. This will be a learning process for each of us as we attempt to figure out the best way for the leadership to communicate with the congregation; especially as we work to make sense of our evolving governance structure. My hope is to help each of you understand how the structure works at our church so that you can each get involved in the ministry you believe God is calling you toward.

Our ministry team has set three goals to work toward over the next year. The first directly relates to the work the transitional board will be doing. Each ministry leader will be helping to figure out our governance structure and make themselves more visible to the congregation. The other two goals directly relate to our church’s ministry. The ministry team believes we should be focused on our church’s fellowship and Bible study. Of course, COVID has challenged both of these things deeply. With the growing challenge of figuring out how to gather as a church family while staying safe has challenged everything we do as a church. However, the ministry leaders and I believe these two things are at the heart of who we are as a church.

Over the next few months and into next year, we will be discussing the various aspects of what fellowship and Bible study might look like within the future of First Christian Church. We ask that you remain patient with us as we attempt to figure these things out. In the meantime, you can be praying with us that we would hear the guidance of God’s voice as we plan these future ministries of our church. I would also ask that you join us by participating in the various gatherings and ministries as we attempt to share our faith with one another. I know doing things differently will be challenging for many of us, but God is certainly leading us into the future. May we each lean into the overflowing of our new life in Christ.

Peace Always,

Rev. David Clifford

Scripture Readings on Sunday Morning

by Barbara Kammerlohr

Sunday morning worshipers used to one scripture reading from the Old Testament and One from the New Testament have been puzzled recently. There are now four different readings each Sunday.

Currently, Scripture readings come from the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), a table of readings to be read at public worship each Sunday. The prescribed readings always take into account the season of the liturgical year with its specific observances and festivals and include:

1. One reading from the Apocrypha in the Old Testament; or a reading from Acts;
2. One reading from Psalms;
3. One reading from the New Testament Epistles; or Revelation
4. One reading from the four Gospels

Published in 1994 after more than nine years of collaboration among various Protestant and Catholic Churches, RCL is used by a number of those same churches in their public worship. Disciples of Christ, United Methodist, Presbyterian (USA), American Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran and the United Church of Christ have all adopted the Revised Common Lectionary for use in worship.

Understanding the seasons of the liturgical year, the festivals and the theology behind the Revised Common Lectionary would be too long, complicated (and boring) for an article in the Spirit. However, anyone interested in reading further on the topic will find plenty of information online. The website of the Episcopal Church and Wikipedia also have discussions. The Vanderbilt site includes a lectionary of daily readings.

Several members of the congregation have asked to have the Sunday readings before Sunday morning. At the right, we have published the readings for the rest of this Liturgical Year. The new year begins the Fourth Sunday of November with Advent and we will publish those readings later.

Welcome New Members

We are happy to welcome Maddie Haynes and her son, Brayden Dunn, as they transferred their membership to our congregation this past Sunday. 

October Meetings/Events/News

Bazaar/Rummage Sale Plans Going Well: Debbie Enyart, President of Christian Women’s Fellowship, reports that plans for the Fall rummage sale and the Christmas bazaar are coming together. The rummage sale is scheduled for the first Saturday in October (Oct. 2, 8 a.m.) and the bazaar for the first Saturday in November (Nov. 7). This year the rummage sale is at the same time as the US 60 rummage sale. Children’s quilts also promise to be a big item this year at the bazaar. Food will be plentiful at the bazaar, but packaged for take-out with tables available for those who want to “eat in”. This is the time to add October 2 and November 7 to your calendar!

Christian Men’s Fellowship Breakfast will be October 3, all men young and old are asked to join them in this fellowship.

The Elders are collecting Sureway Stamps for their Thanksgiving Basket. If you have stamps you would like to donate you can drop them off at the office or put them in our collection basket on Sunday.

The Nominating Committee for the 2022 Board positions will be:  Sandra Deitz, Chairperson of the Committee, Ron Moore, Janie Proffitt, Dina Campbell, Jeanne Marie Gadient, and Meredith Gold. The congregation should give them recommendations for Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer during the month of September.  They will meet in early October to obtain a slate of these officers who will be presented to the Board at the October Board Meeting. The slate will be presented to the congregation in November.

The Christian Women’s Fellowship will be collecting boxed stuffing during the month of October for the Christian Community Outreach’s food bank.

The Reconciliation Ministry Special Offering will be received in congregations this year on September 26th and October 3rd. Our theme is “Revealing God’s Justice: The Time is Always Ripe to Do What is Right.” Now, in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, violence against Asian and Pacific Islanders, and the deadly inequities of the Coronavirus Pandemic, is the time for our Church to strengthen its commitment to actively seek God’s justice. You can give to this ministry here.

Commodities are delivered on the Wednesday after the second Tuesday of each month. If anyone would be interested in helping out 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 is October 13.

Elders at the Table: Oct 3 - Sadra Deitz and Sue Wilson; Oct 10: Sue Wilson and Debbie Enyart; Oct 17, 24, & 31 - Steve R. Gold and Bill Aldridge

October is Pastor Appreciation Month

Pastor Appreciation Day is traditionally celebrated on the second Sunday of October with a reception before Sunday morning service. Church goers have an opportunity to enjoy finger food and personally thank the pastor for his hard work on behalf of the church. Unfortunately, again this year, the threat of COVID forced a decision to make other plans. Henderson’s status as a “red county” and the dangers posed by the virus means that any thought of a large gathering of people without masks is out. Instead, church members are asked to send letters and notes of appreciation to David. This has been a challenging time for a new pastor.

Trying to lead in the face of: instituting on-line worship services; cancelled gatherings, activities and events; masks; no choir; frightened church goers; changing guidance about COVID and getting to know so many new people is challenging and energy-sapping. David has met these challenges with commitment, good humor and high energy. For all of this we owe him our appreciation and gratitude.

Know, too, that representatives from the Board, in particular Barbara Sprague and Gail Myers, are planning for a more formal “thank you”, perhaps a party for David and his family to celebrate together another year here at FCC Henderson.

Sprinkles of Joy

Linda Glick is floating on air. Her grandson Brycen, who is in the 1st grade, ranked at the very top of his class after taking the “Map testing” that all schools do annual. Other grandchildren Adalyn and Kaiden, who are both 4^th graders, were selected to participate in the Henderson County Rotary Field Day on September 30.  Four of her grandkids attend Cairo School, Hudson is in kindergarten and Kolson who is 2 years old anxiously awaits his time to join them. Go Cairo OWLS

Prayer Corner - September 2021

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and grief to bear

What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in PRAYER.

(This focused prayer list is for new and immediate concerns.  The goal is that you will still pray for all on our longer prayer list (website), but in your busy day you will find time to focus on some of the more urgent needs. The church website has a complete list of Requests, Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Homebound members, College students, & Active military.

There is not enough room in your mind for both worry and faith.  You must decide which one gets to live there. -Contemplative Monk

Jesus, I pray that others see you in me. –Christian’s Prayer

I Peter 3:8-  Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.

Bereaved Families & Friends : Barbara Tweddell family, Mel Dickson family, Todd Hale family (Janetta’s nephew), Meredith family (Velvet’s father)

(Please remember grief is a continuing process and your prayers are an important part of healing for all friends and families having lost loved ones now and in the past.)

Members:  Shirley Cobb, David McKechnie, Anita Watkins, Roy Dorsey, Scott Hester, Nancy Rumans, Augusta King, Linda Danhesier, Ron & June Skaggs & family, Dale Jenkins, Pam & Glenn Hazelwood

Family & Friends: Monica Lambert (Enyart’s niece), Jason Jewell (Evina’s nephew), Terry Chandler, Owen Chandler, Jerry Copass (Janetta’s brother), Mark Williams, Dale Hagan, Mary Jo Clark (J. Hester’s mother), Zane Hendrickson, Karli (Enyart's granddaughter), Margaret Mingus (Debbie E.'s mother), Angie Branson Dreyhaupt (daughter of Judy Combest)

Misc Requests: Church Nominating Committee, Flooding, Wildfires, & Violence, School- (Administrators, teachers, staff, students, and PARENTS!), Healing and forgiveness in relationships, Opportunities for prospective church members, All Covid and Delta Variant related issues, Medical Care workers, FCC’s relaunch of church services and ministries, as well as all faith communities, Expansion of prayer life in our church, Concerns for our community, state, country, and world. Hope for abundant kindness, mutual respect for one another, tolerance & acceptance.

Recall the ways you have seen God's hand at work in your life and our world recently and give thanks!

Lord Jesus, most of all, we pray for your never changing presence walking with us daily in the light of your love. 

Help us to be the instrument of your peace, your compassion, and your love.  AMEN