first christian church july 2010 - clover...
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First Christian Church
201 N. Division Sandpoint, ID 83864
208.263.4818 [email protected]
www.1stchristian.com
Sunday Worship Services
North Building 9:00AM and 11:00AM
Nursery [birth through 3 yrs.] provided for both services.
GENERAL INFO
Tony Nelson Lead Pastor
Kyle Bostock Family Pastor
Tommy Cropper Small Groups
First Christian Church JULY 2010
Leading on Empty
A few weeks ago I had a friend stay with me, and as a gift he gave me a book called “Leading on Empty”. Getting
and reading this book was divine providence. „In what way?‟ you may ask. The book helped me realize that I too
have been “leading on empty” for quite some time.
After sixteen years of ministry here at First Christian (and over thirty years in full-time ministry) the elders of our
church have graciously granted Disa and I an extended paid sabbatical; the reason for this is that I have hit the
proverbial “burn-out wall”. The daily demands of a large ministry combined with the pressures of seminary, the
emotional turmoil surrounding the recent loss of my middle brother, and marrying off my lovely daughter have all
taken their toll on me physically, emotionally and spiritually. If I were a battery you could say that I am about
drained out and need a long slow re-charge.
What is a sabbatical? In church circles it is primarily a paid time away from the demands of ministry for rest and
restoration. When will it begin? Right now. My sabbatical has already begun and I‟m actually breaking it by writ-
ing this article from home. But I wanted you to know what was going on and to hear my heart. I love this church
and this area and want to continue to lead from a full heart and soul. I will no longer be preaching or available
during the week for the remainder of the summer. Lord willing, I plan to return to my duties by September 7th,
2010.
In case you didn‟t know, granting sabbaticals to long term pastors is rather common in churches throughout the
world and even in our own town. So this isn‟t something “new” that we‟re trying out. It is a centuries old tradi-
tion for church leaders to restore their souls.
There are a couple of very important things that you need to know:
1. I have not been “sent down the road by the elders.” Instead they have willingly and graciously recognized my
status and offered me time to get recharged.
2. I will not be looking for another ministry opportunity.
...Continued on Page 2
3. I will not be available in person or electronically (e-mail or voice mail). Arrangements have been for
me to be reached in case of dire emergencies.
4. I have absolute confidence in my team (staff, elders and other volunteers) to carry the load while
I‟m away.
5. I will return to First Christian .
What can you do while I’m away on sabbatical?
1. Pray. Pray for my full recovery and pray for those who will be shouldering the load while I‟m
away.
2. Worship. Continue to attend worship each and every Sunday. If you stop attending because
“Tony‟s not preaching” then you‟re really attending for the wrong reasons. There will be some excel-
lent learning opportunities presented by a variety of people. You‟ll be blessed to sit beneath the teach-
ing ministry of others in our church.
3. Give. Continue to give financially. The financial needs of this ministry won‟t go away just because
I‟m away.
4. Wait. There is never a perfect time for the senior pastor to take a sabbatical. This church isn‟t
about me or you. It is about Jesus Christ and His mission to the world. So wait on the Lord. He‟s
going to do something great in and through this body while I‟m away and when I return. So be patient
as the Lord is patient.
5. Love. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and to love people. Love one another.
This is not the time for gossip, speculation or back-biting. There is no story underneath this story.
You are being told in the clearest way possible the situation. So keep loving each other and the Lord‟s
church.
6. Help. Don‟t wait for someone to ask you to help but actively volunteer. We still need dozens of
volunteers to support our ongoing ministries each and every week.
7. Encourage. Encourage your church staff and elders during my absence. Encourage them in their work. Be a blessing to them.
I am looking forward to my time away. It will be hard for me because I really love my work and the
people. I love this region and want to see more and more people come to Christ. But God‟s will for
Disa and me right now is to get away and to get well. And that is what I will focus on in the days
ahead. I look forward to returning and “Leading on Full.” Until then, have a great summer and re-
member to keep growing in Christ.
Pastor Tony and Disa
Leading on Empty continued from Page 1
Page 2 The Messenger
Celebrate Recovery Monday Night Open Share
Sandpoint Nazarene Church
Dinner 5:30PM
Open Share 6:00PM-7:00PM
Childcare is available.
Friday Night Open Meeting
First Christian Church - South Bldg.
Dinner 5:30PM
Open Meeting 6:15PM
Small Groups 7:20PM
Solid Rock Café 8:15PM
Childcare is available
For more information call:
Fred Bates at 263.4818
Men’s Study Group New studies just started July 8th.
Come join in now!!
Meets Every Thursday. 6:00 pm, South Building
Dinner provided.
Men’s Ministry Contact: Fred Petteruto,
263-4532
Youth Gatherings Wednesday Night—June 2nd
Resumes in September
6:00PM-7:30PM
5th-8th Grade meets in the North Building
Gymnasium
9th-12th Grade meets in the South Build-
ing.
Dinner Provided
For more information call:
Kyle Bostock at 263.4818 MOPS/TMOPS MOPS—Mothers of Preschoolers
Will resume on
September 9, 2010
For more information call:
Kathy Hellman at 263.4818
TMOPS-Teen Mothers of Preschoolers
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
Resumes in the Fall.
For more information call:
Michelle at 290.7217
Women’s Bible Study After God’s Heart
Group will resume in September.
For more information call:
Church Office at 263.4818
Page 3 The Messenger
First Christian Church Community Blood Drive
Did you know?
The Inland Northwest Blood Center needs 150 people to donate blood every day to maintain a
safe supply for local hospitals and patients in need.
Your one donation of blood has the potential to save the lives of as many as 3 people.
Every 2 seconds, someone in our country needs blood.
What: The First Christian Church in Sandpoint comes together
to donate blood and help local patients in need! When: Sunday, July 11
th from
8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Where: First Christian Church
201 N. Division Street
For additional information contact: Michael Long, Inland Northwest Blood Center
North Idaho Recruitment Coordinator , Cell: 208-659-7085 • e-mail: [email protected]
Page 4 The Messenger
Be sure to sign up for Camp!! Don’t miss out!
FOR THE MONTH Ending May 2010
YTD: Budgeted Revenue: Actual Revenue: Difference:
$416,448.00 $389,922.00 $26,526.00
Budgeted Expense: Actual Expense: Difference:
$416,448.00 $367,435.00 ($49,013.00)
Net Year to Date: $22,487.00
Balance in Land & Building Account: $83,539.00
Treasurers Report
RUMMAGE SALE (Forward Edge)
Upcoming FORWARD EDGE Trips
HAITI:
November 5 - 14th, 2010, approximate cost: $1600 to $1800 per person. This trip is
being led by Steve Reeves from Sandpoint Assembly of God. Commitment date com-
ing up soon.
NICARAGUA:
Christmas Break, 2010 and/or Spring Break, 2011, approximate cost: $1800 to $2000
per person.
Contact Dale or Vicki Jeffres for more information: 208-263-255-6656 cell) or 208-265
-5648 (home) or [email protected].
Page 5 The Messenger
COMMUNITY MISSIONS FUNDRAISER
HAITI & NICARAGUA
Where: First Christian Church
When: Saturday, July 24th
Time: 8:00 am & 3:00 pm
DROP OFFS AT FIRST CHRISTIAN ON FRIDAY ONLY
JULY 23RD, 9:00 TO 1:00 PM
(No drop offs will be accepted except on Friday.)
Call Fred Petteruto at 263-4532 for more in formation.
Coordinating with FCC, Assembly of God & Cedar Hills churches.
Ed Lundquist Jamie DeAlba Belinda Wijngaarden Dawn Kukuk Alice Krause Jason Johnson Zelma Brisboy Sarah Nyberg Brandon Chafe Helen Jean Wells Donna Carter Jon Shine Jackie Carter Janelle Schramm JoAnn Sims Angela Randolph Doug Lynch Megan Case Bob LaFore Tami Feyen Arthur Pattillo Erika Happell Kim Brown Mike Tinsley Spencer Eisenbarth Ken Schwartz Evalyn Finney Landon Otis
Ed Schramm Jon Brownell Darren Osborn Ralph Ritchey Dot Bosley Sonya Diaz Ethel Ann Welker Michael Elliott Dwayne Branham Tiffany Baldwin Sue Hale Adam Eich Stephen Ruff Loyal Amstutz Michael Palmer Jesse Long Noland Johnson Henry Valdez Kim Jones Christine Heneise Melissa Mundell Ken Coulston Anna Schramm Gary Parsons Michelle Wilson Tim Kyllo Torrie McConnaughey Ted Beard Olivia Long John Long
July 1 John & Lois LaPointe July 10 Matt & Jenny Mire July 14 Randy & Sue Fritz July 14 Roy & Annie Long July 16 Seth & Dawn Snelson July 17 Mark & Chris Kilgore July 19 Grady & Jennifer Weisz July 20 Lance & Kathleen Hubener July 20 Kyle & Katie Bostock July 26 Lance & Marie Lane July 28 Mike & Kathy Hellman
July Adult Birthdays July Anniversaries
Page 6 The Messenger
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2South Building
Celebrate Recovery
Open Mtg
5:30-9pm
3
4 Church
9am & 11am
Independence
Day
5 Holiday
Church Office
Closed
6
Men’s Bible/ Bkfst
6:30 am
7 8
Resumes Tonight:
Men’s Bible
Study 6pm;
W/Dinner
9South Building
Celebrate Recovery
Open Mtg
5:30-9pm
10
11 Church
9am & 11am
Blood Drive
8:30a—1:30p
12 13
Men’s Bible/ Bkfst
6:30 am
14 15
Men’s Bible
Study 6pm;
W/Dinner
16 South Building
CR Open Mtg
5:30-9pm
FAMILY CAMP
16th –18th
17
18 Church
9am & 11am
19 20
Men’s Bible/ Bkfst
6:30 am
21 22
Men’s Bible
Study 6pm;
W/Dinner
23South Building
Celebrate Recovery
Open Mtg
5:30-9pm
24
Forward Edge
Missions
RUMMAGE SALE
8am to 3pm
25 Church
9am & 11am
26 27
Men’s Bible/ Bkfst
6:30 am
28 29
Men’s Bible
Study 6pm;
W/Dinner
30South Building
Celebrate Recovery
Open Mtg
5:30-9pm
31
July 2010
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13
14 15 16 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FORGIVEN, BUT NOT TRUSTED? Loving actions can do much more than change your feelings; they can also communicate in unmistakable terms the reality of your forgiveness and your commitment to recon-ciliation. Thomas Edison apparently understood this principle. When he and his staff were developing the incandescent light bulb, it took hundreds of hours to manufacture a single bulb. One day, after finishing a bulb, he handed it to a young errand boy and asked him to take it upstairs to the testing room. As the boy turned and started up the stairs, he stumbled and fell, and the bulb shattered on the steps. Instead of rebuking the boy, Edison reassured him and then turned to his staff and told them to start working on another bulb. When it was completed several days later, Edison demonstrated the reality of his for-giveness in the most powerful way possible. He walked over to the same boy, handed him the bulb, and said, "Please take this up to the testing room." Imagine how that boy must have felt. He knew that he didn't deserve to be trusted with this responsi-bility again. Yet, here it was, being offered to him as though nothing had happened. Nothing could have restored this boy to the team more clearly, more quickly, or more fully. How much more should those of us who have experienced reconciliation with God be quick to demonstrate our forgiveness with concrete actions. Adapted from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=fpIKKUNvGgIOL2K&s=btJRI9PPLlIYL5OLItF&m=buIPJbPRJgJ0JnJ) by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003) pp. 222-223. FOOD FOR THOUGHT One of the central (and often most neglected) elements of forgiveness is offering our trust again to the one who failed us. In some cases, it is entirely appropriate and necessary for us to set restrictions on a person who has violated trust (for example, prohibiting an adult who has hurt children from being alone with other children in the future, even when the adult is forgiven). But in many cases, withholding trust from those we forgive can be just a subtle form of continuing punishment or failure to truly reconcile. Isn't it good that God doesn't require that we "earn his trust" when we fail him? Each day he gives us opportunities to experience his restoration and his trust, not just his forgiveness. Is there someone you have forgiven who needs to feel your trust today? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In Germany: Send Newsletters, Notes, Worship CD’s with goodies from home:
William Brent Carter Son of Dick and Betsi Ross PSC 2 Box 9496 Birthday: October 2, 1984
APO AE 09012-0046
In Iraq: Send Newsletters, Notes, Worship CD’s With goodies from home: Stateside: Send Newsletters, Notes, Worship CD’s
A1C Amanda Russell-Yates Daughter & Son-In-Law of Mark & Chris Kilgore Cpl. Ryan Russell-Yates
714 Lions Gate Lane - Odenton, MD 21113
Robert Limbaugh Son of John & Pam Limbaugh
1432 Nocova Ave.
Norfolk, VA 23502
AEAA Blanchard, Christopher Son of Ted and Enas Blanchard
CNATTU 9287 7th Ave,
Norfolk, VA 23511-4292
Back from Iraq:
Orrin Thompson Parents: Pamela & Russell Schenck of Clark Fork
10053 Imperial St.
El Paso, TX 79924 Wife and 2 small children in Texas
In Central America: Use this mailing address:
Robert W. Hale Robert & Megan Hale
USS FORD 19107 Badke Rd.
FPO AP 96665-1508 Snohomish, WA 98290 Please take time to pray for our military personnel. Cards and letters of encouragement are always welcome! Take time to thank our troops for their service to our country. A first class postage stamp (44 cents) is all that is required for all cards and letters.
Military Personnel Update
Page 8 June 2010
The following is a list of our First Christian Church shut-ins and where they are:
Myrtle Burnett - The Bridge
John LaMon - Valley Vista
Vernon McCully - Valley Vista
Mike Smith - Valley Vista
Kitty Randolph - LifeCare Center
Mary Davis - LifeCare Center
Alma Fournier - Hearthstone Village
Cards would be welcome, also. Address them to the care center, NOT the church. Thanks.
Please Pray for and Visit our Shut-ins...
NEW
Page 9 The Messenger
IMAGINE Yourself
at a Women of Faith Weekend
We all long for something more. Sometimes we don't even know what that something is.
But God does.
Imagine what it would be like if the God who created us was willing and able to provide
exactly what we need. Why would he want to do that? Because he loves us. He loves YOU.
Imagine that. imagine having two days focused on God and his love for you. Imagine those two days are filled with laughter, music and stories that make you chuckle even as
you wipe away a knowing tear.
Join us for a Women of Faith Weekend and let your imagination soar. Because the God who loves you can do far more that you can ever
Imagine.
Cost is $89.00 and includes Friday, Saturday and box lunch for each day.
Tickets are available at the Women's Ministry table after each service or at the church
office during the week.
Due to the limited number of tickets, payment is required when you sign up to reserve
a ticket (no exceptions).
Dates: September 17—18, 2010 Spokane, WA
Friday 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Ladies: It’s not too late! Get your tickets now!