an open place for all to worship grow, and serve a world...
Post on 09-Feb-2021
0 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
-
May 2012
518 North 19th StreetBirmingham AL 35203 www.firstchurchbhm.com
ConnectionsFirst Church Newsletter
an OPEN place for ALL to WORSHIP, GROW, and SERVE
A World Turned Upside Down
Grace and Peace,
In the fifth chapter of Matthew, Jesus delivers what we now call the Beatitudes in his Sermon on the Mount. What he teaches in these powerful statements is that much of what the world teaches us to value does not lead us into a closer fellowship with God. It is the meek, not the powerful, who inherit the earth. It is the peacemakers, not the victorious conquerors, who are called the children of God.
We also live in a world that sees our differences as reasons to divide us. The wealthy and the poor live in different worlds and have no relationship, eventually viewing each other as the source of their problems. Race, gender, and sexual orientation become categories we place people in, reinforcing an unspoken message that because we are different, one must be better than the other. We are right. They are different, and therefore, wrong.
In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he talks about the body of Christ as a place where all the different parts are valued. His example is understandable, brilliant, and far-reaching. What would life be like with-out our left foot, our right eye, our nose or even our mouth? What would a church be like if everyone who went there was a right hand? Paul clearly makes the point that our differences are part of what make us stronger. We cannot function properly without people who bring something different to our community.
First Church continues to become more diverse, and part of what makes that possible is the way the people of First Church value each individual who walks through the door. The love and grace that we wrap someone in, whether they are a first-time visitor or a long-time member, is the tissue that connects the different parts of the body so that it can function as one.
In the fictitious Gospel of Keith, I would summarize the Body of Christ at First Church this way, “Blessed are the different, for they make the body stronger.”
-
WHEN GOD SAW the destruction and depravity of the people in Egypt, God did not bring another flood, rather God sought to lead a group of people to freedom and to teach them how to live in real com-munity. If the Hebrew people could learn a new way to live, they could be a model to help the world learn how to be God’s people. Everyone would find that they had a place in this life-giving, manna-sharing, and equality-distributing community. Together we will journey through Exodus to learn the important lessons that teach us still today how we can be God’s people.
SIGN UP FOR NEW COMPANIONS IN CHRIST GROUPS BEGINNING IN MAY
EXPLORING THE WAY is the initial six-week group on understanding and deepening your experience of God. It will help you to ask questions of faith and discuss relevant issues in a safe place. It will help you discover (or rediscover) a way of grace, joy, and peace - indeed, the way of Christ himself. Led by Amy Parsons Vaughn, this group meets at the Parsonage at 308 Gran Ave. Homewood, on Tuesday evenings with the first meeting on Tuesday, May 8, 6:00pm. Sign up by contacting Claudia Burgin at claudia@firstchurchbhm.com or (205) 254-3186.
FEEDING ON THE WORD is a six-week introduction to the many ways of meditating and praying with Scripture. It will help you explore the depths of the Word, learn to listen to God through it, and allow your life to be shaped by it. Led by Dale Sanders, this group will meet in the Church Parlor on Tuesday evenings with the first meeting on Tuesday, May 8, 6:30pm. Sign up by contacting Claudia Burgin at claudia@firstchurchbhm.com or (205) 254-3186.
May 20 “Letting Go” Exodus 2:1-10
May 27 “Growing Pains” Exodus 5:6-23
June 3 “Leaving Home” Exodus 12:31-42
June 10 “Manna” Exodus 16
June 17 “House Rules” Exodus 20:1-17
June 24 “Tent Meeting” Exodus 25:1-9Exodus 40:34-38
-
The daily Bible story time will highlight a couple of the aspects of an explorer: curiosity, courage, using available resources, and teamwork, as demonstrated in the life of a Bible character. During the morning gathering time, we will provide each group with a real life “explorer” who compliments the day’s Bible character. Percussion will be led by John Scalici and Claudia Lewis of Get Rhythm, an interactive rhythm program designed for kids. There will also be exciting adventures with art, music, and hip hop.
Register your K - 5th Grade campers NOW on the church website or pick up a registration form in the Lobby of the Education Building.
To make this camp a success, we need volunteers of all ages. If you have only one hour or the whole week, please make plans to join us! We need shepherds to work as group leaders, helpers with art and music, helpers to prepare meals, and volunteers to help with set-up and break-down.
If you’re interested in being a part of this year’s City Kids ARTS Camp please contact Linda Underwood at linda@firstchurchbhm.com or (205) 254-3168 ext. 115.
.
START MAKING PLANS TO ATTEND CITY KIDS ARTS CAMP IN JULY!
This year’s theme, EXPLORE, promises to help our kids experience the world around us
beginning right here at First Church!
Make plans to stay for a church-wide lun-cheon at 12:00pm Sunday, May 20 in the Large Dining Room. Following the lun-cheon, our City Kids Choir will present Holy Moses! at 1:00pm in The Loft.
Holy Moses! features the cast of “Trading Places” as they explore the details of a He-brew home and an Egyptian palace to dis-cover the story of Moses. Together we will journey from baby Moses to the Plagues, the celebration of Passover through to the Exodus, the 10 Commandments, and end in the Promised Land. You won’t want to miss our City Kids Choir as they have worked hard to present Holy Moses!
June 24 “Tent Meeting”
-
The April Serve Event was a great success with more than 30 people participating! Members of First Church partnered with Community Church Without Walls to visit homebound members of the West End Commu-nity. We divided into three groups with the first group visiting those living in their own homes. The second group visited an independent living community for the elderly and disabled and the third group visited Alzheimer residents of the Princeton skilled nursing facility. Following the Serve Event, we joined together for incredible food and fellowship at Urban Ministry.
Bring your mowers, weed whackers, garbage bags, and gloves as we clear vacant lots to help bring beauty to West End neighborhoods.
Want to carpool? We will meet at First Church at 8:30am and drive togeth-er or you may meet the group at Urban Ministry at 9:00am (1229 Cotton Avenue Southwest, Birmingham, AL 35211) Optional lunch after serving!
For more information contact Janna Pennington at jannapennington@gmail.com
or sign up on the Serve page at www.firstchurchbhm.com
-
In addition to our May 12 event, we will gather the following dates and times to Serve together in 2012:
June 23 - CCWW has invited us to take a break from service to party with them in the Urban Ministry Garden for the 2012 Summer Solstice Party! This is a summer festival with music, food, arts, activities for kids, yoga, etc.
July 14 - (9:00am-12:00pm) We will be working at the West End Library to help with shelving books, cleaning up, and preparing the Library for the upcoming school year.
August 11 - (9:00am-12:00pm) We will help the staff of Urban Kids (located at Urban Ministry) clean up from the summer activities and prepare the space for the new school year.
If you are interested in volunteering at any of the monthly Serve events contact Janna Pennington at jannapennington@gmail.com or go to the Serve page at www.firstchurchbhm.com.
Each Saturday that we serve you are invited to meet at First Church at 8:30am to carpool out to West End or you may meet at Urban Ministry (1229 Cotton Avenue Southwest, Birmingham, AL 35211)
at 9:00am. We will have a light lunch after each Serve Event for those who are able to stay.
By now, you may have noticed that First Church is gearing up to send a mission team to Cienaguita, Panama again this summer. We are currently raising funds not only to help cover trip costs, but, like last year, we hope to be able to leave behind a gift to help with ongoing ministry in Panama. This month we will continue our fundraising events with a Mother’s Day Breakfast as well as looking ahead to Dinner Under the Stars. We hope you’ll plan on participating in these upcoming events as the Panama Mission Trip is something the entire church can celebrate. We look forward to this incredible journey and experience with each of you and thank you in advance for your support!
MOTHER’S DAY BREAKFAST - SUNDAY MAY 13Give Mom the day off and let the 2012 Panama Mission Team prepare breakfast for you. Come to church early for a great breakfast and fellowship, all for a great cause.
DINNER UNDER THE STARS - SATURDAY JUNE 9Enjoy the downtown Birmingham cityscape from First Church’s rooftop. Relax and relish appetizers as you watch the sun disappear below the horizon and the lights from the adjacent buildings cast a soft glow over the night. Then enjoy an exquisite meal prepared just for you as live music serenades you throughout the evening. This is an experience you won’t want to miss!
-
Pre-School Arts CampJune 11-13
This will be a mini camp created just for preschoolers with age-appropriate music, crafts, Bible stories, games, and snacks. The camp includes children between the ages of 3 and 5 years old. We are looking for volunteers as well as kids to come and help us make this camp a success!
Giving BasketThis month for the Giving Basket let’s help our own City Kids ARTS Camp. They are in need of new pillow cases, acrylic paint (preferably bright colors), paintbrushes, and medium textile (this can be found at Hobby Lobby or Mi-chael’s). Donations may be dropped off in the usual locations: the baskets next to the Chapel in the Office Building, or next to the Welcome Center in the Lobby of the Education Building. If you wish to make a monetary donation, please makes checks payable to FUMC, and put “Arts Camp” in the memo line (or on the envelope). As always we greatly appreciate your support of the Giving Basket!
Annual Conference 2012May 31 - June 2 at Birmingham-Southern College
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6 (NRSV)
The Guest Speaker will be Rev. Michael Slaughter, Lead Pastor of Ginghamsburg UMC. Bible Study Leader will be Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr., Bishop of the Holston Conference. The Memorial Service will be Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 7:00pm at Trinity UMC. The Ordination Service will be Friday, June 1, 2012, at 7:30pm at Canterbury UMC. The Service of Commissioning and Licensing will be Saturday, June 2, 2012, at 8:30am at Bill Battle Coliseum.
Beginnings Service of PrayerSunday May 6, 8:30am, St. John’s Chapel
The second of four quarterly church-wide services of prayer in 2012 will be a time of quiet music, meditation, and lifting concerns in prayer. If you are seeking a quiet space to pray, or seeking prayers for yourself or a loved one, you are warmly invited.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-
MONDAYS:Zumba - 12:00pm
THURSDAYS:Muffin Men - 6:45am Zumba - 12:00pm
FRIDAYS:Men’s Prayer Breakfast - 6:45am
WEDNESDAYS:Breakfast at Reconciler - 9:20am Prayer Shawl Ministry - 5:00pm Collision Bible Study - 6:00pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal - 6:30pm
SUNDAYS:Beginnings - 8:30am Sunday Breakfast - 9:15am Sunday School - 9:30am College Coffee Hour - 10:00am The Loft - 11:00am Sanctuary - 11:00am
TUESDAYS:Zumba - 12:00pm Exploring the Way - 6:00pm The Artist’s Way - 6:30pm Feeding on the Word - 6:30pm
MAY - 16THGarden Club - 11:30am
Executive Council - 6:30pm MAY - 28TH~ Office Closed ~
MAY - 27TH~ No Sunday Evening Activities ~
MAY - 31ST~Youth Week ~
~ Annual Conference ~
MAY - 14THShepherding Council - 6:00pm
MAY - 20TH~ Senior Sunday ~
Church-Wide Luncheon - 12:00pm
City Kids Musical - 1:00pm
MAY - 13THBreakfast Fundraiser - 9:00am
College Lunch - 12:00pm
MAY - 12THServe Saturday - 9:00am
MAY - 10THCollege Study Day - 10:00am
MAY - 6TH~ Confirmation Sunday~
Prayer Service - 8:30am
Bridge Club - 6:00pm
MAY - 3RDSupper Club - 6:00pm
MAY - 8THFinance Committee - 12:00pm
MAY - 17THTheology on Tap - 6:00pm Vincent-Bernhardt - 7:00pm
CALENDAR OF EVENTSMAY
Weekly Calendar
City Kids - 5:15pm Collision - 5:30pm Strengths Finder - 5:30pm Yoga - 5:45pm
-
firstCHURCH
BIRMINGHAM
firstCHURCH
BIRMINGHAM
an OPEN place for ALL to WORSHIP,GROW, and SERVE
518 North 19th Street • Birmingham AL 35203205-254-3186 • www.firstchurchbhm.com
Senior PastorKeith Thompson
PastorAmy Parsons Vaughn
PastorStephanie Arnold
FIRST CHURCH BIRMINGHAM STAFF
Choir DirectorJim Cook
Loft Worship Blake Hobbs
Music DirectorMark Hayes
Children’s DirectorLinda Underwood
CDC Executive DirectorRobin Pate
College / Young Adults DirectorKatie Gilbert
Youth DirectorJonathan Goss
Administrative Asst.Robin Baker
Membership SecretaryClaudia Burgin
Wedding DirectorNonna Tindal
Operations Director Al Craig
Financial Asst.Peggy West
Nursery DirectorGinger Gambill
top related