Christian Courier

First Christian Church of Minneapolis (Disciples of Christ)

January 8, 2011
Congregation to vote on Partnership move
By a vote of 17 to 1, the General to another Board action, the vote will
Inside the Courier: Board of First Christian Church ap- require a 2/3 majority of those present
proved on Dec. 14 the motion pre- and voting in order to pass.
• A Look at the Brite
Side, page 2 sented by the Transition Team to en-
The Board will also ask the congrega-
ter into negotiations to join the ecu-
tion to assent to having the Board and

ourier
• Board Notes, page menical partnership previously
3 Trustees handle the distribution of assets
formed by Salem English Lutheran
from the final sale of the building to the
• January Worship Church and Lyndale United Church
Minneapolis Institute of Art. The Tran-
Service schedule, of Christ.
sition Team is recommending that the
page 3
The Transition Team, after analyz- assets be used in three ways; 1) invest-
ing the results of the straw poll taken ment in the partnership, 2) a draw down
Dec. 5, decided to recommend the account for future operating expenses,
partnership option only, and not ask and 3) support of church planting or
the congregation to decide between mission work.
On the Web: the partnership and a solo move. A
A forum to discuss the partnership
solo move “would not represent a
proposal will be held Jan. 9 following
FCC’s website transformational outlook” according
worship. Congregational members are
to the Transition Team‟s analysis.
Christian Church encouraged to come with their questions,
(Disciples of Christ) The final decision about entering in order to have plenty of time to think
national organization the partnership will be made by the and pray about the decision to be made
congregation at the annual congrega- by the congregation on Jan. 23.
tional meeting on Jan. 23. According

Jim Baumgartner named new Interim Music Director

James “Jim” Baumgartner has been a vital part of First

Christian‟s music program for ten years as tenor sec-
Congratulations to tion leader and occasional soloist, and as of Jan. 1,
Texas Christian Uni- he is now our new Interim Music Director.
versity, a Disciples
of Christ university,
for winning the Rose The “interim” term reflects the fact that FCC may see
Bowl on Jan. 1! significant changes in the next few years, and Jim will
be here at least through the next 12 months to lead the
music program in the transition period. (con’t, page 3)
Page 2 January 8, 2011

A Look at the Brite Side “No God!!” graffiti asks real question

Sometime over the weekend, lives and actions and decisions,

Are we telling God “Yes” to who
we are as a community?
somebody put some graffiti on
our sign out on 1st Avenue. They
sprayed “No God!!” on the plex-
iglass announcing our service
times. Most of it has been
cleaned off by this point (thank
you to whoever did the cleaning),
but it got me to wondering:
What was the soul who did this
trying to say? Were they saying
that there is no God? Were they
telling God “No!!” to something
in the midst of their soul? Or
were they saying that God is not
part of what we‟re doing here at
FCC (and the Spirit of St. Ste-
phen – after all, their service
times were painted on as well)?
As we begin another year full of
change for FCC, these are good
questions to ask ourselves.
Where is God in the midst of
what we‟re doing? Are we tell-
ing God “Yes” to who we are as
a community, or are we, in our
telling God “No!!” So much of
the activity on our planet seems
to be of the sort that either is tell-
ing God “No” to what God has in
mind for creation, or seeking to
justify our actions for ourselves,
rather than considering what God
would have us do or say. Yep,
they‟re good questions to ask,
and to ask constantly in the midst
of our worship, devotional, and
ministerial life.
In the midst of who we are as a
Christian community, it is cer-
tainly my hope and, I think, the
hope of all of us, that we are
keeping God‟s will of love and
justice at the forefront of our
souls. That is, after all, what
we‟re supposed to be about.
I‟d like to see YOU on Sunday,
Bob

In our prayers We pray in concern for Kathy and Greg Merkel as they face issues of
Gracious God, we employment and disability; for Virginia (Gigi) Lowy as she recovers
lift up these persons from a recent fall; for friends and family members of Bobbie Hall and
in our prayers, ask- Kirsten Cackoski who are ill or grieving; for the continuing health con-
ing the blessing of cerns of David Pyles, Charlotte Ronnei and others; in happiness to see
your Grace and out- a pew filled on Sunday morning with John Carter and his children Mi-
pouring of your Love guel, Nicholas and Yvette with some of their family members; for the
upon them. success of Camp Norman in Paraguay which begins this week; for all
those in Haiti still struggling in the aftermath of last year‟s earthquake;
for those beginning a new term of school including Katie and Corrie
Brite, for all our homebound members including Helen Smith and Bob
Risinger, Amen.
 Christian Courier Page 3

Continued from page 1

Baumgartner brings experience, ideas to FCC music program in time of transition

“Music will continue to be cen-
tral in worship, but I hope it will
also bring comfort to worshipers
in this time of change,” he said.
On Jan. 2, Jim‟s first official
Sunday as Interim Music Direc-
tor, he sang “O Holy Night” ac-
companied by Becky Whitaker
on the marimba. Jim plans to
have a worship band occasionally
and to continue with the bell and
chancel choirs.
Jim has experience as a worship
leader; he served as Worship
Pastor at Oakridge Community
Church in Stillwater, and as
Choir Director/Worship Leader
for Trinity Covenant Church in
Crystal, MN. Jim also sang for
three years with the Chancellors
Quartet, singing concerts
throughout the Midwest, Canada
and Caribbean, and producing
four recordings.

Thank you to Solveig and the

Board Notes Covenant Kids
I hope you had a
Approximately 20 board members attended the Dec. 14 chance to look
meeting of the General Board. The major items ad- close closely at the
dressed as the meeting were the following: Christmas tree
décor- decorated by the Art
• The Transition Team presented a review of the Dec. 5 of the Covenant
forum including a tally and an interpretation of the kids. All of the
responses and votes. decorations were
• The Transition team also presented a resolution regard- handmade by
ing the move of First Christian Church into Ecumen- Solveig Juntenun.
ical Partnership with Salem English Lutheran Church She loves origami,
and Lyndale United Church of Christ. (Resolution so she was happy to make animals, stars, a
approved; see story on p. 1 of this Courier) paper chain, and even a piano, to use as deco-
• The 2011 Church Budget presented and approved rations. Unfortunately, Solveig was sick the
• The date, agenda, and voting rules of the Annual Meet- day we decorated, but she had her mother,
ing Anna Bliss, bring everything to the church so
• The extension for six months of the Deb Murphy‟s that Mason and Fletcher Dunham could de-
contract as Director of Spiritual Formation & Com- corate (with a little help from Ali Hesano for
munity Ministry the upper branches).
-- Deb Murphy

January 2011 Schedule of Worship Service

Elders Worship Leader Children’s Diaco- Bus Drivers Greeters
Moment aco-
nate
Jan. 2 Ardie Armstrong Garry Hesser Dennis Sanders Odd Mike Morgan Karen Kandik
Tom Curry Team 612-926-9384
Jan. 9 Janice Brady Ardie Armstrong Deb Murphy Odd Garry Hesser Martha Harris
Mike Brady Team 612-721-4905
Jan. 16 Barb Creighton Mike Hesano Bob Brite Odd Mike Hesano Valerie Dunham
Dean Creighton Team 651-645-6758
Jan. 23 Tom Curry Tom Curry Odd Mike Morgan Ardie Armstrong,
Ardie Armstrong Team Shirley Draine
Jan. 30 Mike Brady Karen Kandik Janice Brady Odd Garry Hesser Karen Kandik
Janice Brady Team
 Christian Courier Page 4

Bi-Weekly Calendar Reflections on the Word

from readings for 1/9/10
Sundays at First Christian Church
“John would have prevented Jesus,
Sunday Worship at 10:30 am
saying, „I need to be baptized by
Before Worship (9:15 am): you, and do you come to me?‟”
Spiritual Formation Classes –Matthew 3:14
After worship: Fellowship Hour 11:45 am Everybody needs help sometime,
even Jesus. The Son of God could
This Week at FCC Next Week at FCC save humanity from our collective
Sunday, January 9 Sunday, January 16 sin, but he could not baptize him-
Forum on Partnership proposal 12 n. Food Pantry Sunday self. He didn‟t need to be or-
Monday, January 10
Elders Mtg in FCC Lounge 5 pm dained, or married, or elected to a
Book Club @ Westphal‟s 7 pm Tuesday, January 18 position of authority. But in order
Mpls Retired Teachers 12 noon to do his ministry, Jesus needed to
Tuesday, January 11 FCC Board Meeting 7 pm
Property Committee 7 pm be baptized. Your baptism, simi-
Worship Committee 7 pm Wednesday, January 19 larly, empowers you to do ministry
Wednesday, January 12
Bible Study 6 pm no less important than that of Jesus.
Bell Choir 6:30 pm
Finance Committee 5:30 pm
Chancel Choir 7:45 pm
Bible Study 6 pm Giving Lord, you led through bapt-
Bell Choir 6:30 pm Thursday, January 20 ism the way to eternal life with
Chancel Choir 7:45 pm Handcrafters 9 am you, opening the doors of heaven
Thursday, January 13 Saturday, January 22 with this simple act. Grant us the
Handcrafters 9 am Men‟s Group 9 am understanding to ask for help like
Saturday, January 15 you did when we need it, and to
Men‟s Group 9 am graciously give it when others ask.
Laura Lynne/Naomi Circle 10 am Amen.
Serve dinner at St. Stephen‟s 6 pm
--Chris Wogaman

A Thoughtful Church in the FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Heart of the City OF MINNEAPOLIS
Ministry Team (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
All Members of the Congregation 2201 1st Avenue South
Robert Brite, Interim Minister Minneapolis, MN 55404
Dennis Sanders, Minister of Diversi-
ty and Mission
Chris Wogaman, Office Manager Address Service Requested
Rick Bowman, Building Manager
Deb Murphy, Director of Spiritual
Formation & Community Ministry
James Baumgartner, Interim Music
Director
Bryon Wilson, Interim Organist
Serena Carlson, Nursery Attendant
Martha Harris, Courier Editor
Telephone: 612.870.1868
Prayer Phone: 612.870.0984

Christian Courier is published bi-

monthly. Send items and ideas to
church office or to Martha Harris
harrismartha@mac.com by Fri
Jan. 14 next issue.