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The Chalice

A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK

CONNECTION

I Wonder(Matthew 2:1,2)By Rev. Dr. Jerry Black, Associate Minister

Vol. 3 No. 48 December 15, 2011

2011 A Record Year atBreakfast on BoulevardBy Mickey Stufebean

Its a record breaking year forBreakfast on Boulevard. We will servapproximately 24,000 meals by yearend. These meals will cost $51,000,which is a 19% increase from 2010.With the rising cost of putting food othe family table, and the current stateof our economy, the need for this vitministry to the community continuesto increase. Your support is needednow more than ever! If you would likto make a donation please make youcheck payable to First Christian Chu

and mark BOB in the memo line.

Candlelight Service of RemembranceSunday, December 18 - 6:30pmFor some of us, Christmas is not a joyful time of celebration. The holidseason is filled with sadness due to loss. Our hearts are heavy knowingthere will be one less face for Christmas this year. It can be very difficulcelebrate the joy of Christmas in the midst of grief.

If this is where you are this year, please join us for our CandlelService of Remembrance. This quiet, reflective Christmas service offersa time to acknowledge the pain of grief and look quietly for hope in oudarkness. Rev. Chris Shorow will offer the message. Prayer Ministers w

be on hand to fashion personal prayers for your specific needs if you w

Good News of Great Joy2011 Christmas Offeringfor Regional MinistryReceived December 18

The 2011 Christmas Offering willbe received December 18. Your

generous gifts will benet ministrithroughout the Oklahoma region,including camps and summerministries. The many ways itstrengthens our regional ministriewill lift Good News of Great Joythroughout the coming year.

WaitingIts not aneasy thingto do, is it?- especially

in this age ofinstantaneousinformation,fast food,the worldwide web,

and mass transit systems that will deliverus anywhere in the world in just a matterof hours. All of this real world technologysimply makes waiting, painful.

But waiting has always been difficultfor me, particularly as a little toe-headfrom rural Oklahoma at Christmas time.

Early in December, my Mom and I wouldmake our way through the pastures of thefamily farm looking for that perfect cedarto serve as our Christmas tree. (Therewere no pines in our neck of the woods;just scrub oak and cedar). So, when thatcedar had been found, Dad would squareoff the bottom and nail on the homemade tree stand. The popcorn would bepopped and strung together to blend withmulti-colored bulbs and tree lights. Andeach day, I would rush home from school

(two miles, all up hill of course), and

look to see what new gift might have beenadded under the tree. Id pick it up, holdit, shake it, and wonder - is this the one?Is this that for which I have been wishing?

Then most reluctantly, Id return the

package to its place under the tree withthe gloomy realization that I would justhave to wait until Christmas. Thats all Icould do (and get away with) - wait andwonder, and anticipate the joy of thatcoming day.

The wise men had also beenwaiting - along with people through-out the region. There was a pervasivefeeling in the land that a new king wascoming, especially to Judea. Herod theGreat, Romes puppet king, had morethan distinguished himself for cruelty. So,

the people just naturally started longingfor God to intervene with a Messiah - atemporal prince. And it was a mood thatpermeated the countries nearby.

I wonder what we are looking forin Christmas this year. Is it so wondrousthat it makes it difficult to wait? Are weanticipating that God will wondrously andpowerfully enter into our world again, andinto our lives? I wonder - and I wonderwhat gifts we will bring to the child.

Join the wise men this Sunday on

their way to Bethlehem, and wonder.

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What makes my heart sing, you ask?Thats an easy one MUSIC! Playingtuba from junior high through college,serving as a tuba-tooting soldier in thenational guard, and playing organ formore than 48 years music has been asignificant part of my life.

It is with mixed emotions that Iannounce my retirement as PrincipalOrganist at First Christian, effective

December 31, 2011. It will be my honorto play for FCCs three Christmas Eve

services in just nine days from now.Over the years, Ive played for

numerous churches, on a substitute basis,for a single Sunday or an extended time,until I accepted the organist position atChurch of the Savior in Oklahoma City.Serving there from the Spring of 1978 to

April, 1990, I was blessed with a caringcongregation and a very nice Rodgersorgan. Because we were driving twocars from Edmond to Oklahoma Cityevery Sunday and Wednesday, and

our children, Christian and Courtney,were not in a church with their Edmondschoolmates, Connie and I made the

decision to move to an Edmond church.We knew Kyle Maxwell, so it was ourchoice to attend First Christian. I wasnot looking for a full-time position as anorganist, but I contacted Garry Dowell,FCCs organist at the time, to advise I wasavailable as a substitute. His response wasto share with me that his resignation wasimminent. I subsituted for him in May,

and the rest was, as they say, history! OnSunday, June 3, 1990, I became FCCsprincipal organist.

So, for the past twenty-one years atFirst Christian, Ive been blessed beyondbelief by the support of senior pastorsKyle Maxwell, Hugh Wilson and ChrisShorow, associate ministers DeniseGlavan, Lloyd Taylor, John Regan,

James Ward, Greg Bunton and JerryBlack, and ministers of music John Fuss,David Amann, Debi Powell, Susan Hurst,Garry Sloan, and Diane Ball. All of the

choirs have beenexceptional, andthe current ChancelChoir is the bestever!

An unlikelysource of supportcame on the ONESunday I misseddue to illness. I

was still at theOklahoma City church when, late on a

Saturday, I realized I couldnt play thenext day, so I called for a subsitute. Onsuch short notice, and with a twenty-miletrip from Edmond, my gracious subsitutewas none other than you guessedit FCCs own, Vera Enz! What aninspiriation she was to all of us!

I also have been blessed to play theSteinway grand piano and the RodgersClassic organ. Our organ is just about asclose to a pipe organ as you can get; anumber of visitors have asked where are

the pipes? Ive tried to present classicorgan literature to First Christian andhave been privileged to choose what

I wanted to play and how I wanted tointerpret the music. Such freedom hasbeen an additional blessing.

First Christian has providedextraordinary instruments, a professionaland friendly atmosphere in which tolearn, very competitive remuneration,and a spiritual rewarding tenture as yourorganist. For which I am indeed grateful!

A number of years ago, feelingdiscouraged on a particular Sundaymorning, I presented what I felt wasa mediocre and boring selection forcommunion meditation. It certainly wasnot a very soul-felt rendering. Somemonths later, a woman approached meat the chapel organ. She told how acertain piece of music Id played some

months earlier had moved her and liftedher spirits. From her description of thepiece, I knew at once that it was the oneId dismissed as boring and mediocre. I

marveled that, through my suffering an

uninspired playing, God found a way tbless that lady.When I have presented a particula

difficult postlude, Ive prayed just befoplayed, saying, God I cant get throug

this without your help! When youveseen me smile as I reached the lastpage or two, it was then that I realizedfirst hand and in a very personal way,that God answers prayers, even thosedesperate last minute prayers. Andfinishing the piece was then so enjoyabBut why should I be surprised? After alI feel closest to God when Im listening

to or playing His music on the King oInstruments!

To God be the Glory Chris Westhof, Organ

Come Join Us!On Sunday, January 29, 2012,

beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the

sanctuary, First Christian will host

A Celebration of Musicin honor of our retiring organist,

Chris Westhof. The celebration

will feature a unique blend of the

nest organ music, hymns and

anthems, a special duet, and a

few surprises, all performed by

gifted guest artists! The celebration

will be followed by a special

reception in the Fellowship Hall.

Changing KeysOrganist Chris Westhof Announces Retirement

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December 31, 2011: Deadlinto Make Charitable Gifts

from IRA AccountsThe compromise tax bill (Tax Relief,Unemployment Insurance Authorizationand Job Creation Act of 2010) extends

until Dec. 31, 2011 via a provision knowas the Charitable IRA Rollover whichallows taxpayers age 70+ to maketax-free transfers or gifts (of up to$100,000 per year) directly from theirtraditional or Roth IRA to charities.

Such gifts can be made withoutincreasing your taxable income orwithholding. Additionally, fundstransferred from your IRA to a charity wNOT subject your Social Security incomto higher tax levels, and will count towayour minimum required distribution(MRD). Please consult your tax advisor

for more information.

FCC YEAR TO DATEFinancial Reportfrom the Finance Committee

Through November 2011, FCC is operating within our revenue. The General Fund hasa positive balance with pledged revenues at 101.6% of year-to-date budget, compared

to 97.8% of budget at this time in 2010. Building Fund revenues are meeting ourmortgage obligations. You have two more Sundays to make your 2011 financialcontributions, or they may be delivered to the church office by noon Friday, December30, 2011, or postmarked in 2011.

You may wish to make 2012 contributions in December for 2011 tax purposes.If so, please be sure to designate on the memo line of your check or on your envelopethat this is a 2012 contribution. The Business Office will then credit your contributionduring the 2012 church year.

If you have any questions regarding your contributions, please contact ourBusiness Administrator, Karla Mahan at kmahan@fccedmond.org or (405) 341-3544,ext. 107.

PLEASE NOTE:It is important to always note on your checks or envelopes to which

church accounts you want your contribution credited.

Happy Birthday!12/18 AJ Berepele, Tyler Burleson,

Jerri Dillon, Neal Hunt, Ted

Perrin, Gwen Shaw12/19 Chris Clark, Shawn Fapp,

Austin Greenhaw12/20 Greg Cunningham, Allison Erns

Bob Jennings, Jeanne Larimore,Meagan Rivera, Pat Warner

12/21 Tyler Black, Jennifer Brumback,Emily Luschen, Jane Martin,Wes Warner

12/22 Cathy Justice, Bob McKibbin,Joyce Werhun

12/23 Jennifer Cain, Andrea Deal, CoraDeal, Debbie Gragg

12/24 Wendy Fine-Thomas, MarthaRoach, Dena Stapp12/25 Andrew Harris

Feel Warm - Give BloodSunday, December 18th

8:15am to 12:15pm

on the Bloodmobile!

Schedule your donation online atobi.org (Sponsor Code 0424)

Every 2 seconds, someone needs bloThe Oklahoma Blood Institute providevery drop of blood needed by patie

in 150 medical facilities across the staDonors Receive:

FREE Ice Scrapers! Health Screenin

Donor Reward Points!

Prayers of the PeopleTHOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Rose Marie McKee,

Florine Shirley,Judy Joy, Bart Rodr, Virginia ONiel,Cynthia David (Winnie Halls daughter), Ed Berry, Bill &Mary Lou Womble, Nita Williams (Jeff Williams mom),Naomi Bell (Karen Walenciaks mom)

CELEBRATING THE GIFT OF A NEW LIFE Peyton Michael Majors born December13 to Mick & Audra Majors. Grandparents are Phil & Rachel Fraim. Greatgrandmother is Sue Fraim and Great Aunt is Kay Sullins.

Its not to late to find that last minute gift - you can still Share the Wonder!

We invite you to purchase a gift for that special someone by making a

donation in support of the Children Worship and Wonderministry.

When you make a donation, you will receive a greeting card and envelope

to give to your gift recipients. Inside the card there will be a message explaining

the gift that was given in their honor. It will truly be a gift with meaning!Please stop by our Alternative Gift Share the Wonder display table in the

Rotunda or come by the offices during the week.

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The Chalice CONNECTION

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Childrens Christmas Eve Service - Saturday, December 24

5:30pmThe Gospel will come alive with the help of our children in a narrative re-telling of the biof Jesus. This abbreviated, family-oriented worship service includes familiar Christmashymns. Children (ages 3 through 2nd grade) may select a costume at 5pm and participain the Nativity story!

Candlelight Christmas Eve Services - Saturday, December 247 & 11pmThe 7pm Christmas Eve service will feature beautiful music, scripture readings, and the

lighting of the Christ Candle. The 11pm service will feature a serene, simplified candleligservice with carols, the Chancel Choir, and scripture. The service ends in candlelight withthe bells tolling the midnight hour, marking the arrival of Christmas Day.(No nursery on Christmas Eve)

Christmas Morning - Sunday, December 2510:45am Unifed Worship Service10:00AM - Enjoy Cookies & Milk for Santa during Coffee Fellowship.10:30AM - Nursery beginsNo Sunday school and no SPROUTS Children Worship on Christmas Day

WorshipDecember 18, 20114th Sunday of AdventMessage: Rev. Greg Bunton

Rev. Dr. Jerry Black

Theme: The Wonder of Christmas -The Magi Show the Way to BethlehemScripture: Matthew 2:1-2

December 25, 2011Christmas DayUnied Worship - 10:45amMessage: Rev. Chris ShorowTheme: The Wonder of Christmas -Meeting the Christ ChildScripture: Luke 2:15b-16