Christian Courier

First Christian Church of Minneapolis (Disciples of Christ)

March 5, 2011
March is Minnesota FoodShare Month
Inside the Courier:

• A Look at the Brite

Side, page 2

• Board Notes,

ourier
page 3

• Vandal(s) strike(s)
again, page 3

On the Web:

FCC’s website
Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
national organization
2011 Hunger Fact
Sheet
“To Catch a Thief,
Love a Thief”

During the month of March, our congregation is joining people of good will from
across the state to help alleviate hunger. Minnesota FoodShare‘s March Campaign is
the largest food drive in the state, and congregations like ours are the heart of the
campaign.

Our local Emergency Food Shelf, located in the basement of Plymouth Congrega-
tional Church at Groveland & Nicollet, was able to respond to the 21,200 requests
for food in 2010. This was 5000 more visits than in 2009.
Give Generously
This year our congregation will be collecting both food and cash contributions
throughout the month of March for Groveland Food Shelf. Since our local churches
are facing the financial pinch again this year we don't know if they will be able to
support us at the same level for another year. All we can do is to ask everyone to be
as generous as they can.
 Page 2 March 5, 2011

A Look at the Brite Side Building damaged, but not ministry

phen‘s) offended? Is it some- It‘s a strange world we live in,

Pastor Bob Brite
One has to wonder at the motiva-
tions of a troubled soul. I‘m
speaking, of course, of the person
or persons who has/have com-
mitted five acts of vandalism on
the church since the start of the
new year. Most of it has been
the very expensive breaking of
windows with bricks in the office
wing (once) and the fellowship
hall (3 times), plus some graffiti
New Year‘s weekend on our
front sign. Is it somebody we (or
the folks at Spirit of St. Ste-
body who is simply mad at orga-
nized religion, and chosen our
building to take out their frustra-
tions? Or just some kids who
think it‘s fun to destroy property?
And where, in the midst of all
this snow, are they getting the
bricks? There‘s a feeling of vi-
olation of our souls in the midst
of all this.
So we have to take extra meas-
ures to keep the building secure
which involves extra expense.
At the same time, we can give
thanks that no human lives have
been damaged or lost. We also
heard this week that John Carter
down in Paraguay was robbed of
his mission payroll and special
funds, and was tied up and left
for 14 hours before somebody
found him. (He‘s ok, and we‘re
taking up a special offering to
help make up his lost funds of
over $2000.)
and seems to be getting stranger.
But I want to remind folks that
just because our building has
been damaged, that doesn‘t mean
we stop being Christian. We
continue to reach out in ministry
to people on the streets. We con-
tinue to support Feed My Starv-
ing Children (work day on March
31) and Community Emergency
Services, and Downtown Con-
gregations to End Homelessness,
and trying to provide a spiritual
home for gay teens and their
families, and a host of other
causes. We continue to reach out
to people who are hurting with
God‘s Good News and healing
power. It‘s at the heart of Chris-
tian ministry to do so; if we don‘t
do such, our faith becomes more
damaged than any brick through
a building can do.
I‘d like to see YOU on Sunday!!
Bob

We pray in celebration with Russ Griffin who celebrated his 85th birth-
day recently, and also in concern for him and for Karen Plantikow, both
In Our Prayers
of whom fell on ice Feb. 20 and suffered broken bones; in sympathy for
Gracious God, we the family of former member Max Orr who passed away Feb. 21 and for
lift up these per- Lois Swenson, whose sister passed away recently; for Rick Rusinak re-
sons in our pray- covering at home from open heart surgery and for Belinda Flanagan’s
ers, asking the young nephew who is slowly recovering from a grave illness; for John
blessing of your Carter, who was tied up and robbed of his mission money in Paraguay
Grace and out- last week (he specifically asks for prayers for the 3 young men who
pouring of your robbed him); in fellowship with Zach Colby, our new tenor section lead-
Love upon them. er; for Dorothy Stegner, who lost 2 cousins and 3 lady friends during a
rough January (she appreciates calls from church folks); in concern for
people in conflict around the world and in our country, their differences
may be settled in peace and in fairness for all; Amen.
 Page 3
Christian Courier

Two opportunities to stay up to date on FCC’s future plans

Board Chair Tom Curry has an- Congregation members can ask Tom is planning to have Sunday
nounced two upcoming meetings questions and hear from various Board meetings once a quarter to
for the congregation to stay in- committee members about the accommodate board members
formed about current plans to current plans and progress for the who have a difficult time making
join the Ministry Center Partner- Ministry Center, which is cur- night time meetings. All congre-
ship along with Lyndale UCC rently under construction. gation members are welcome to
and Salem Lutheran. attend any Board meeting.
Also, the General Board of FCC
An informational meeting for the will hold its April meeting on
congregation will be held after Sunday, April 17 following wor- Vandal(s) strike(s) for 5th
worship on Sunday, March 6. ship. time
Our FCC building was hit with
vandalism last week for the 4th
time since the New Year; our 1st
Board Notes Avenue sign was also vandalized
shortly after the first of the year.
Approximately nine board members and three staff members at- We do not know if it is one or
tended the Feb. 15 meeting of the FCC General Board. The major more persons. In response, we
items addressed at the meeting were the following: engaged the services of Mill City
Security Services as of Feb. 23rd,
 Transition Team has completed its task of helping the congre- which is patrolling the church
gation decide about future location. It will be ―in hiatus‖ until property and keeping a close eye
needs arise. on the Fellowship Hall area in
 Board voted to accept appointments to committees overseeing the overnight hours.
Partnership planning: Design Team – Skip Wolverton, Earl
Dunham, Max Hurlocker; Interim Ministry Council—Tom Cur- The Minneapolis Police De-
ry, Martha Harris, Bobbi Hall, Val Dunham; Covenant Revi- partment and MIA security are
sion – Pat Dunlop, Skip Wolverton; Kitchen Subcommittee – additionally on high alert. Given
Sandy Morgan, Mike Hesano, Lu Griffin; Signage – Dennis the increase in occurrence of
Sanders. these incidences of vandalism,
 Deb Murphy will chair a committee on revision of FCC‘s Con- the entire 5th precinct of the
stitution and Bylaws. MPD has been made aware of
what is going on. Between the
 The Board approved a motion from the Trustees to add FCC to
security service, the police, and
the legal title for the Ministry Center; to make a payment of
MIA security, we are working
$370,000 to equalize payments previously made by Salem and
intensely to apprehend the indi-
Lyndale; to authorize future payments to Ministry Center as re-
vidual who is responsible for
quired, not to exceed $1,200,000; and to seek funds for said
these attacks.
payment either by borrowing or prepayment of the note owed to
FCC by Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Rev. Dennis Sanders held a
 Tom Curry announced that forming a Call Committee will be worship service in the Fellowship
discussed at the March Board meeting Hall on Feb. 23 to reflect and
 Discussion of ways to disburse some of the Billman education pray about these attacks. He also
funds wrote reflection called ―To Catch
 Finance Committee approved purchase of a new computer for a Thief, Love a Thief‖ on the
the teller‘s room blog section of FCC‘s website.
 Christian Courier Page 4

Bi-Weekly Calendar Reflections on the Word

Readings from 3.6.11
Sundays at First Christian Church
―Then Peter said to Jesus, ‗Lord, it
Sunday Worship at 10:30 am is good for us to be here; if you
wish, I will make three dwellings
Before Worship (9:15 am):
here, one for you, one for Moses,
Spiritual Formation Classes
and one for Elijah.‘ –Matt. 17:4
After worship: Fellowship Hour 11:45 am
Some believe that Peter was so
This Week at FCC Next Week at FCC overwhelmed by what he saw that
this statement is merely his stam-
Sunday, March 6 Sunday, March 13 mering response. But doesn‘t it
Breakfast Club first gathering 8:45 am
Congregation information meeting 12 n. also seem that he wants to hold on
Tuesday, March 15 to Jesus, Moses, and Elijah for a
Monday, March 7 Teachers Luncheon 12 noon
Design Team 7pm FCC Board Meeting 7 pm
little while? Our ―mountain top‖
Tuesday, March 8 experiences are few and far be-
Property Committee 7 pm Wednesday, March 16 tween in life—weddings, gradua-
Forum (GR) 6pm
Bell Choir 6:30 pm
tions, and a few others—that it is
Wednesday, March 9 natural to want to hold on to them.
Chancel Choir 7:45 pm
Ash Wednesday
Finance Committee 5:30 pm
Yet, the best in life is often only
Thursday, March 17
NO Choirs or Bible Study Handcrafters 9 am fully realized in retrospect, when it
Ash Wednesday Service 7 pm is no longer there to touch.
Saturday, March 19
(Sanctuary)
Men‘s Group 9 am Loving Jesus, in our holding on
Laura Lynn/ Naomi Circle 10 am and in our letting go, continue to
Thursday, March 10
Serve at St. Stephen‘s dinner 6 pm
Handcrafters 9 am hold us in your eternally-loving
embrace. Amen.
Saturday, March 12
Men‘s Group 9 am
--Chris Wogaman

A Thoughtful Church in the

Heart of the City FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
OF MINNEAPOLIS
(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
Ministry Team
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 Sun. March 13 next issue.