The Christian

Courier
Vol. 64, No. 8 Bellingham First Christian Church August 2014
Someone Cares!
Free Community Meal
2nd Sundays
2 - 4 p.m.
A Community Meal Coming
to First Christian
Beginning Sunday, August 10
2 p.m.
There are hungry peopl e i n our
community. There are people who long
for a warm, home cooked meal and a
nice place to sit and enjoy it. There are
community meals and other free food
available on various days of the week,
most weeks of the year. There is just one
gap: Sundays!
After careful and prayerful consideration,
our congregations Community Meal Task
Force has determined the greatest need
to be on 2nd Sundays at 2p.m.
How will you help in this essential new
ministry? Will you cook? Serve? Donate
funds? Set up or clean up? Will you pray
and otherwise support the folks working
to bring this all about?
For more info or to assist in this
endeavor, please talk to Ann Hall,
Tamalyn Kralman, Bruce Radtke, Brenda
Riseland, or Megan Shoemaker.
An Invitation from the Regional Church
To the congregation of First Christian Church,
The area coordinators of the regional mission council want to increase the
communication between our churches. We are going to start with a book discussion.
Please join the regional churches in reading The New Parish by Sparks, Soerens and
Friesen. This book is about how neighborhood churches are transforming mission,
discipleship and community. It is a great book to read in groups. In October the
churches will discuss the book. We have a new technology coordinator that will help
bring us all together with the modern day technology here. The invitation is
extended out to all who would like to participate. I will have more information on
the book and discussion date by July 27, 2014.
Whatcom County area coordinator,
Alexis Pinkston
495 East Bakerview Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
360.734.6820
bhamfcc@comcast.net
www.bhamfcc.com

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
A movement for wholeness in a fragmented
world. As part of the one body of Christ, we
welcome all to the Lords Table as God
welcomed us.
All of Us
Ministers
Rev. Gary Shoemaker
Pastor
grshmkr@comcast.net
Mary Ann Teeters
Finance/Membership Administrator
maryannt44@comcast.net
Rev. Tamalyn Kralman
Director of Ed. & Community Outreach
Courier Editor
tamalynk@comcast.net
Amelia Nye
Accompanist
TBD
Childcare Provider
Rev. Sandy Messick
Regional Minister
Rev. Sharon Watkins
General Minister and President
Summer Sunday Schedule
(June 1 - Aug. 31)
10:20 a.m. Gathering Time
10:30 a.m. Worship
11:45 a.m. Fellowship Time
2nd Sunday Out-to-Lunch Bunch
6 p.m. Wild Goose Worship
(2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays)

Office Hours
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. - noon
Our staff are in and out of the office throughout the
week. Please feel free to stop by during their office
hours or make an appointment that fits your
schedule.

Officers
Don Hoffman, Chair
Virginia Haldeman, Vice-Chair
Megan Shoemaker, Secretary
Cheryl Perry, Treasurer
Message from the Pastor
2 August 2014

First Christian Church
!Disciples of Christ"
Shoes News
Free to Be, You and Me
When I was in high school there was a
wonderful movement that used music
and a book (or two) to encourage
children (and adults) to be more
accepting of themselves and one
another. Marlo Thomas was one of the
leaders. It was sort of gentle
education that let people of all ages
know that it was o.k. to be who they
are. I know that not many of us listen
to Lady Gaga, but I have appreciated
the fact that she is also spreading that
same message.
One of the characteristics that I appreciate most about the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) is the wonderful openness to diversity that
we cherish. You're free to be who you are... you're free to hold your
opinions, your philosophy, your politics, your personality... and you will
always be welcome in this church. We don't have tests of fellowship. In
other words, you don't have to sign on to any particular set of beliefs
in order to belong to our church.
I heard someone else say this the other day and it's something that I've
said before... I was born into the Disciples of Christ, but I think I would
have found myself drawn to this movement anyway. I think that,
perhaps today more than any other time, it's important for us to
remember that our differences are not a detriment to the kindom of God.
They are a part of what makes God's kindom beautiful! I may not agree
with you and you may not agree with me, but we are family. We are
connected - and that connection, that family is wonderful and sacred.
Through that connection we dialogue and learn from one another. I
appreciate and need people who have different perspectives than my
own.
In a time when we find ourselves so polarized as a nation and world,
let's witness to the fact that through God's spirit, we are free to be who
we are and together we are the Body of Christ.
Pastor Gary
There's a land that I see where the children are free
And I say it ain't far to this land from where we are
Take my hand, come with me, where the children are free
Come with me, take my hand, and we'll live
Liver Basics
Unless we have problems we
probably do not think of the
liver very much. However, the
liver is vital to many body
f unct i ons, i ncl udi ng t he
breakdown of drugs and
toxins, protein production, and
bile secretion. If the liver is not working properly it can
not do these functions well. A liver that does not work
properly can cause multiple problems: prolonged drug
effects, abnormal bleeding, dysfunction of bile production,
throwing off the balance of cholesterol in the body and
preventing the absorption of certain vitamins (A, D, E, K).
In size, the liver is the largest internal organ in the body,
weighing about 3.5 pounds; it is located under the rib
cage below the right lung.
If we ever do think of the liver several questions may
come to mind:
1) How do I know if my liver is healthy?
Answer: Sometimes an unhealthy liver may exhibit
specific symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing) or
mental confusion. However, an unhealthy liver often
causes no symptoms right away. If the liver is affected
only temporarily by some irritant (virus, medication,
alcohol) it will recover on its own with no long term
effects. If the liver continues to be irritated for a long
time it may end up permanently scarred, even if there
were no symptoms from the irritation. A routine blood
test ordered by your health care provider can check
certain enzyme levels of the liver; also a collection of
blood samples called liver function tests is the first test
ordered to check on liver health. Imaging tests
(ultrasound, CT scan, MRI) can also be used to
determine liver function.
2) What happens next if my liver tests are
abnormal?
Answer: The doctor will take a thorough medical history
(exposure to substances such as alcohol, Tylenol, other
mediations, dietary supplements, viruses). He may try
to determine if you have inherited a liver condition. She
may perform a physical exam to look for signs of liver
disease. If abnormal tests do not show the cause for
l i ver dysfuncti on you may be referred to a
gastroenterologist, a doctor specializing in diseases of
the digestive system, including the liver.
3) What are common causes of abnormal liver
tests?
Answer: Alcohol (overuse can commonly lead to fatty
changes in the liver that then lead to liver irritation).
General limits for how much alcohol is too much is
based on a "standard drink" (12 oz. of beer,5 oz. of
wine, 1..5 oz. of 80-prood spirits). Men under age 65
News from the Pews
August 2014 3
Joys and Concerns
of Our Congregation
Please submit written requests to update this list.
New to Our List:
The children in our midst! We thank God for the
presence of our little ones - for to such as these
belongs the kingdom!
Joanne Harrell, health concerns
Virginia Haldeman, recovering from hip surgery
Bob Fisher, as he begins treatment to slow or stop
return of cancer
Daisy Shoemaker, beginning radiation treatments
Ongoing:
Neilan Hart, five year-old friend of the Pages, now in
remission
Donna Fairchild, recovering from a fall and a
compression fracture
Helen Blaney recovering at home
Mac and Velma McDonald and their son, Steve,
health concerns
Disciples House Residents, past, present and future
Iglesia de Dios, as together we share Gods love
Raices Culturales and the children in their gardening
program in our field
Kristine Tissinger, missionary partner in Ghana
Rev. Sandy Messick, Regional Minister
Rev. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President
Our General Church ministries
Yakama Christian Mission
Refugees around the world
All troops involved in world conflict
Peacemakers worldwide
Nurses Notes
are overusing alcohol if they use more than 14 "standard
drinks" per week. Men and women over age 65 are over
using alcohol with more than 7 "standard drinks" per
week. Non-alcohol fatty liver (from obesity, high
cholesterol, elevated blood sugar). A CT scan can
determine the presence of fatty liver. Treatments include
avoiding alcohol, weight loss, lowering cholesterol,
keeping blood sugar levels controlled.
Chronic hepatitis C (a virus obtained by needle sharing
or snorting cocaine, blood transfusion, hemodialysis)
People born between 1945 and 1964 should be screened
for hepatitis C.
Auto-immune diseases (diseases that occur when the
body begins to attack itself for unclear reasons). Drugs
(medications such as Tylenol, cholesterol lowering
Continued on page 5
Emergency Assistance
4 August 2014
Have You Met Our Church
Gardeners?
First Christian has gardeners?
Yes, we do. We have an
entire fleet! Why? Because
our grounds are MASSIVE
and many hands make - well,
at least lighter work. Its still
a big job to take care of this
place. So, thank you to our faithful farmhands:
Gregg Heyne, Warren King, Leslie Pinkston, Gary
Shoemaker, and Mary Ann Teeters, who mow all
that lawn, and trim the edges. (With a special thank
you going to Gary and Leslie, who balance
precariously on the big mower in order to mow our
steep banks.)
Paul van Dyke and Charles & Betty Schmidling,
who tend the lawn and gardens at Disciples House
Jayne Kletka and Bruce Radtke, who tend the
flowerbeds in the parking lot, the courtyard, and all
around the church
Linda Heyne, Tamalyn Kralman and Mary Ann
Teeters, who keep Abrahams Garden beautiful and
healthy in order to supply beautiful and healthy
produce to hungry folks in our community
How Can We Help the Refugee
Children and the Victims of the
Washington Fires?
The following correspondence was received from Church
World Service:
Thank you for your interest in assisting unaccompanied
minors and refugees here in the United States. I
was forwarded your mail by Amber Blake and now that CWS
is working more on the ground, I wanted to write and tell
you a bit more about our programs. Also, with almost 300
minors crossing the border every day, CWS is extremely
grateful for the outpouring of care and support that
individuals and churches have shown across the US.
As an organization we are responding to the crisis in
several ways:
Spiritual Care for Unaccompanied Children and
Families
CWS staff and volunteers currently assist with religious
services and provide support in a detention facility in Artesia,
New Mexico. With additional resources, we will establish a
similar presence in other detention centers, matching
federally funded services with private contributions.
Legal Services for Unaccompanied Children
CWS will deploy Spanish-speaking legal staff and volunteers
to the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, to
interview children and their families and help them understand how to apply for protection. With additional support, CWS
also hopes to provide pro-bono legal services throughout the U.S. where children and families are sent after initial
screenings.
Showing Hospitality to Arriving Children and Families
CWS is receiving troubling reports that children and families are being dropped off after their initial screening in potentially
vulnerable spaces, such as parking lots and bus stops. Funds are urgently required to meet immediate needs including
food, water, clothing, diapers, medical care, housing and bus tickets for those being left without any support.
At the moment we are cal l i ng on i ndi vi dual s and churches to support the work above through
both donations and putting pressure on Members of Congress to support protections for these children. You can
help by visiting cwsglobal.org/uac, which details our response to the crisis and provides more resources for individuals
wishing to take part.
Thank you also for your question regarding a CWS Immigration and Refugee Affiliate in Washington. At the moment we
are unfortunately not able to establish an affiliate office as that would require approval from our partners in the Office of
Refugee Resettlement as well as the State Department. We are however still interested in connecting
with individuals across the country even if there is no affiliate in their area.
Thank you again for your interest in CWS and the work that we are doing to help unaccompanied children and refugees in
the United States. Please also feel free to write back and get in touch if you have additional questions or thoughts on how
to assist vulnerable children coming to the United States.
Thank you,
Will Haney
Associate Director for External Relations, Immigration and Refugee Program
Church World Service
And for the victims of the fires? Week of Compassion asks that we send either money or emergency clean
up buckets to Church World Service. For more info, visit cwsglobal.org and watch the Week of Compassion Facebook
page.
Here and There
August 2014 5
Gl obal Mi ssi on Sunday
Speaker Announced
Global Mission Sunday will be celebrated at Bellingham
First Christian Church on September 14 during worship.
Guest speaker will be Alison Stendahl, who retired
recently after serving for 34 years at the Uskudar
Amerikan Kiz Lisesi, Istanbul, Turkey, as a math
teacher and academic dean.
Alison visited First Christian Church several years ago
while on a round of speaking engagements in the
Northwest Regional Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ).
Plans are still being made for this special event which
may include a luncheon in her honor.
Alison's church membership is with University
Congregational United Church of Christ in Seattle.
Ferndale Uncorked! - A fundraiser for
Interfaith Coalition"s Our House
Please join us for an enjoyable evening of wine tasting, hors
doeuvres, live music, and fun with our community to benefit
Interfaith Coalitions Our House, Ferndales only shelter for
homeless families. Ferndale Uncorked will be on Saturday,
August 30 between 4:00 7:00 pm at Christ Lutheran
Church. Tickets are $25/person, $40/couple. For information
and tickets, call Christ Lutheran at 384-1422.
"statins". When stopped the liver tests return to
normal.
Cirrhosis (advanced liver disease known by scarring
of the liver from alcohol overuse, hepatitis C, auto-
immune disease, or an inherited liver disease and is
too scarred to ever recover and can lead to liver
cancer).
It makes sense to avoid developing liver disease by a
healthy life-style and with routine physical exams by
your health care provider.
The above article is for information only. Always refer to
your health care provider with questions about your
health.
A blessing:
"Dear friends may you enjoy good health, and that
all will go well with you, even, as your soul is
getting along well" (as you walk in the truth of God).
3 John 1: 2
Jane Kletka,RN FCN
Health Ministries
Nurse"s Notes, Cont"d from p. 3
We"re Celebrating Life!
Congrats to Darleen and Chuck Page, who celebrated 55
years of marriage on Sunday, July 13.
Mary Ann Teeters, Tamalyn Kralman and Bob Fisher hosted
this years table at Bellingham Pride and enjoyed a nice
visit from Makena and Charles Schmidling. (As well as
many other people from around the county.)
Who"s on First?!
6 August 2014
Sunday, August 3
Elders: Lillian Moir (O), Leslie Pinkston (C)
In Home Communion: Joe Plancich, John
Riseland
Lock-Up: Don Hoffman
Deacons: Sandy Grant, Mary Ann Teeters
Reader: Megan Shoemaker
Greeter: Mary Ann Teeters
Flowers: TBD
Fellowship Time: TBD
Sunday, August 10
Elders: Margaret Brown (O), John Riseland (C)
Deacons: Marian Overcash, Linda Heyne,
Ardythe Hannah
Reader: Gregg Heyne
Greeter: Sandy Grant and Lois Oswalt
Flowers: TBD
Fellowship Time: TBD
Sunday, August 17
Elders: Gregg Heyne (O), Brenda Riseland (C)
Deacons: Lois Oswalt, Pat Whitney, Connie
Page
Reader: Don Hoffman
Greeter: Jane Kletka
Flowers: TBD
Fellowship Time: TBD
Sunday, August 24
Elders: Don Hoffman (O), Joe Plancich (C)
Deacons: Lynn Plancich, Kathy Wheeler, Jayne
Witman
Reader: Melody Hoffman
Greeter: Connie Page
Flowers: Esther Group
Fellowship Time: Esther Group
Sunday, August 31
Elders: Melody Hoffman (O), Leslie Pinkston (C)
Deacons: Lois Oswalt, Pat Whitney, Connie
Page
Reader: Lillian Moir
Greeter: Megan Shoemaker
Flowers: TBD
Fellowship Time: TBD
August
Happy Birthday:
Phil Stephenson 3
Kim Naidu 4
Danny Perry 4
Bob Crim 12
Lindsey Graham 12
Dillon Martin 12
Melanie McLachlan 14
Marian Overcash 16
Christopher Graham 17
Marc Creech 18
Diana Linayao-Walker 18
Dorothy Little 20
Claire Perry 22
Ben Ruther 22
David Fairchild 25
Lillian Moir 25
Rob Naidu 25
Eryn Kipling 26
Happy Anniversary:
Laurie & Ethan Heyne 6
Margaret & Lee Brown 8
Dani & Marshall Foster 8
Megan & Zach Shoemaker 10
Margaret & Doug Farrar 13
Brenda & John Riseland 18
Anni & David Brooks 22
Sunday, August 3
Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 17:1-7, 15
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:13-21
Sunday, August 10
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14:22-33
Sunday, August 17
Genesis 45:1-15
Psalm 133
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28
Sunday, August 24
Exodus 1:8 - 2:10
Psalm 124
Romans 12:1-8
Matthew 16:13-20
Sunday, August 31
Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28
This Month"s Lectionary
Checking-In Group
This group meets at 5 p.m. the Fourth Thursday of each
month and is an opportunity to talk about life! Location to be
determined. Please contact the church ofce for more info.
Men"s Breakfast
All men are invited to meet at Denny!s, 7:30 a.m. each
Saturday for fellowship and food. A sense of humor is
encouraged!
Calendar
August 2014 7
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2
7:30a Men!s
Breakfast,
Denny!s
3
10:20a Gathering Time
10:30a Worship
12:15p Fellowship Time
1:30p Spring Creek
Worship
4 5
Noon
Bible Study
6
Bulletin
Deadline
7 8 9
7:30a Men!s
Breakfast,
Denny!s
10
10:20a Gathering Time
10:30a Worship
12:15p Fellowship Time
2-4 p Someone
Cares!
Community
Meal
11 12
Noon
Bible Study
1:00 p.m.
Welcome
Task Force
13
Bulletin
Deadline
14 15
Courier
Deadline
16
7:30a Men!s
Breakfast,
Denny!s
17
8:30a Elders! Mtg
10:20a Gathering Time
10:30a Worship
12:15p Fellowship Time
1:30p Spring Creek
Worship
3 p Brown
Anniversary
Celebration
18
Noon
Esther Group
5:30 p.m.
Prayer Vigil for
Peace in the
Middle East,
St. Innocent
Antiochian
Orthodox
Church, Everson
19
Noon
Bible Study
20
Bulletin
Deadline
21 22 23
7:30a Men!s
Breakfast,
Denny!s
24
10:20a Gathering Time
10:30a Worship
12:15p Fellowship Time
Out-to-Lunch
Bunch
(Location TBD)
7p Book Group
25 26
Noon
Bible Study
27
Bulletin
Deadline
28
5p Checking
In Group
29 30
7:30a Men!s
Breakfast,
Denny!s
31
10:20a Gathering Time
10:30a Worship
12:15p Fellowship Time
Augu! 2014
Please Note: Out-to-Lunch Bunch is moving! We will
now be dining on the FOURTH Sunday of each
month. Save your shekels!
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First Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
A church of grace and welcome for all!
495 East Bakerview Road
Bellingham, WA 98226-9168
PERIODICALS POSTAGE AT
Bellingham, WA 98226-9168
USPS 0589-870
Save the Dates
August 10 Somebody Cares!
FCCs Community Meal
August 17 Margaret and Lee Browns 50th
Anniversary Celebration
Sept. 14 Global Mission Sunday
CWS CROP Hunger Walk
(see the church office for details)
Nov. 16 Alternative Holiday Market
Contact Us
Office bhamfcc@comcast.net
360.734.6820
Find us on Facebook First Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ),
Bellingham, WA
Follow us on Twitter FCC Bellingham
Submissions for the Next
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360.734.6820, or 495 E. Bakerview Road, Bellingham,
WA 98226
Happy 50th!
50 years ago in August, Lee and I said, "I do." We
would like you to help us celebrate that "We did!"
Please come to an open house in the church
fellowship hall on Sunday, August 17, from 2-5 p.m.
We really hope you can join us. 50 years requires a
celebration!
Margaret and Lee Brown