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A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK Vol. 4 No. 47 November 29, 2012
The Chalice
Are you looking for a way to plug in or serve your church? Breakfast on Boulevard is a wonderful Edmond ministry held weekday mornings here at First Christian Church. Each year, BOB sees greater amounts of people through its doors plus costs for food and supplies are higher (on average 10% higher than last year). Our 2012 year-to-date expenses are $9000 higher than the year-to-date revenues. BOB needs your generous continued support - both with donations and with volunteering your time. If you would like to make a donation, you can make your check payable to FCC and mark B.O.B. in the memo line. If you would like to volunteer weekdays from 5:30 - 7:30 am, contact Mickey Stufflebean at 341-4742.
A Ministry in Need
Breakfast on Boulevard
The Advent season is a time to ready ourselves for the true gifts that Christ brings to us: hope, peace, love and joy. We invite you to join us this Advent as we journey Back to Bethlehem and recover the simple gifts of the season. Take part in any of the following special programs and worship experiences. Invite a friend to journey with us as we experience hope, peace, love and joy! Childrens Christmas Musical Once Upon a Christmas Light
Advent Schedule
Sunday, December 9 - 6:30 pm Join the All-Star cast of First Christian as the children present the musical Once Upon a Christmas Light. It is the very first Christmas Eve ever when Super Nova and Grandioso, the heads of Galaxy Productions, appear and make an announcement. They have heard on the Greatest Authority that this is the night our Holy Savior will be born. They launch a star search to determine which star is worthy of lighting the sky above the manger. After dramatic twists and turns, we all learn we can be the brightest and the best through Gods love & light. Enjoy this Christmas gift from the children of First Christian, and stay for cookies & milk! (Nursery provided)
Sunday, December 16 - 6:30 pm The cantata, Lead Me Back to Bethlehem by Pepper Choplin, will be performed by our own FCC Chancel Choir along with Peace Lutheran Church. Through this cantata may the spirit lead you back to Bethlehem to experience the miracle of the childs birth, the joy of the shepherds, the mystery of the star and the ones who followed it. After the cantata, please join us for a reception with our friends from Peace Lutheran Church. (Nursery provided)
Snowball 2012 - Christmas in Candyland Friday, December 7 - 6 to 10 pm All FCC students, 6th through 12th grade, are invited to the 17th annual Snowball Celebration event! Tickets are $15.00 and you need to register by December 2 at: fccedmond.org/snowball
Monday, December 24 - 5:30 pm The Gospel will come alive with the help of our children in a narrative re-telling of the birth of Jesus. This abbreviated, family-oriented worship service includes familiar Christmas hymns. Children (ages 3 through 2nd grade) may select a costume at 5pm and participate in the Nativity story!
Monday, December 24 - 7 and 11 pm Join us as we anticipate the day of our Saviors birth! The 7 pm Christmas Eve service will feature beautiful music, scripture readings, and the lighting of the Christ Candle. The 11 pm service will feature a serene, simplified candlelight service with carols, the Chancel Choir, and scripture. The service ends in candlelight with bells tolling the midnight hour, marking the arrival of Christmas Day. (No nursery on Christmas Eve)
Each year we decorate our worship spaces for Advent with beautiful poinsettias. For just $15, you can purchase a poinsettia in honor or in memory of a loved one. There are three ways to place your order: 1) Order forms in worship bulletins through Sunday, December 9 2) Order online at www.fccedmond.org/poinsettia 3) Call Iris Jordan at 341-3544 Orders must be received by Sunday, December 9. If you purchase poinsettias to take home, you may pick them up on Sunday, December 16. All proceeds benefit the youth mission fund.
Happy Birthday!
12/2 Pat Coker, Sharon Mullins, Niles Jackson, Kaitlyn Wood, Sharie Wilkin, Martha Puryear 12/3 Allan Booher, Tyler Gibson, Heather Fieth 12/4 Ryan Stafford, Alba Duller, Russell Kious, Gary Stinson 12/5 Jason Juhl 12/6 Audra Stone, Luci Perdue, Jamie Werhun 12/7 Emily Bare, Dana Theobald, Julie Holliman, Foster Johnson 12/8 Jill Wilburn, Matthew Rahhal 12/9 Sue Sestak, Elli Young
One of the most common traditions of the Christmas season is the giving and receiving of gifts. Each year, millions of dollars are spent fulfilling the wishes of young and old alike. From toys to clothes, to the latest electronic gadgets; we spend in hopes of giving the perfect gift to that someone we love. And for many, finding the right gift means crowded shopping malls and long checkout lines, and the busyness of the Christmas season often leads to increased financial anxiety and personal stress. Isnt it ironic how unpeaceful the season of peace can be? This year, the Outreach Ministry Team of First Christian Church of Edmond invites you to simplify your Christmas giving by going Back to Bethlehem and sharing the true gifts of Christmas hope, joy, peace, and love. Our Alternative Gift Market will be open each Sunday morning, beginning December 2. With an Alternative Christmas gift, you honor your loved ones and make a difference in the lives of people around the world at the same time. Alternative gifts dont get returned because the recipient already has one. Theyre perfect for the person who has everything and are sure to bring smiles to the gift recipient and to the faces of those who receive the benefit of your generosity. And there are no crowded malls or long checkout lines! Its stress free, the way Christmas should be! Following the example of the wise men, we will offer three simple gifts - sheep, goats, and blankets. These gifts remind us of Jesus humble birth in a stable; surrounded by animals and wrapped in bands of cloth. And these gifts bring hope to the world! Sheep and goats will be sent through the charity World Vision, while blankets will be sent to people in need through Church World Service. So avoid the malls and share hope, joy, peace and love this Christmas.
Worship
8:15, 9 & 11am
at First Christian
December 2, 2012 First Sunday of Advent
Message: Rev. Dr. Jerry Black Rev. Greg Bunton Scripture: Luke 1:67-79
Thank you to everyone who has helped with our Operation Chistmas Child outreach project this year. Everyone from those who worked at packing parties since April, to those who donated items, money, TIME, and prayers. As an official shoe box collection location, we had a lot of volunteer support each day of collection week, November 12 through 19. This saved me so much walking - thank you! Thanks to staff who sent a volunteer list out to the whole congregation. That was something I could never have accomplished on my own. Thank you, also to Michelle Fritz for involving our children in decorating the plain white boxes which were donated. Its wonderful to have all ages participating in this ministry! We stored the boxes and other supplies in a donated space at Extra Space Storage Unit. ($115 per month donation) We have turned the unit back to them as of Nov 19, but will probably need it again in April or May. During Collection Week, we had at least 2-4 volunteers, besides myself, every hour we were open. We were officially open about 56 hours from Sunday, Nov 11 through Monday, Nov 19. That means at least 224 volunteer hours besides my 60+ for this week alone! During the year we have put in more than 100 hours with packing parties, sorting items, buying items, and wrapping boxes, etc. I want to especially recognize David Larrison and Anita Wilson without whose help I would not be able to continue this program. They were there almost all the time. Thanks also to Sarah Denny who spends most of her days wrapping boxes for us, she is 86 and has wrapped thousands of boxes over the years. From FCC alone we were able to fill over 600 boxes with items donated and items bought with donated money. The final count of shoeboxes collected from FCC and the community is 2,274 boxes! That is an increase of 118 boxes from last year. I know that God blesses this program and that so many children will be blessed by hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ. If, as they claim, there is a 40% decision rate for Christ we have just adopted about 900 new Christians into the family of God! This year, Samaritans Purse will be giving out the 100 millionth box since the beginning of this program in 1993. God bless everyone and have a blessed Christmas!
(USPS 210-360) is published weekly (except weeks of New Years Day and Christmas Day). Periodicals postage paid by First Christian Church, 201 E. Second, Edmond, OK 73034-456 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chalice CONNECTION, PO Box 3548, Edmond, OK 73083