Once more, the people of God respond.

On Saturday, June 30, First Christian Church will host a Love Rally for Families: Voices Calling for Justice. This event is an opportunity for the church to speak out, to lift up its voice and call for an end to inhumane and unjust practices toward immigrant families making their way to this nation, and to call forth instead awareness and compassion that will serve immigrants in a much better way.

Even with differences of opinion with respect to the granular details of our nation’s immigration policies, the Church of Jesus Christ can

absolutely cry out as One for just, humane treatment of others, especially when those being “treated” are families with children. Speaking out is the right thing for us to do.

And once more, a national justice issue is coinciding with the 4th of July holiday.

Last summer, it was the alt-right rally in Charlottesville. This year, it is the activity at the Texas-Mexican border. It seems that summers in America are getting hotter, and I don’t just mean the temperature, as high as the temps are going to be over the next several days.

I mean the intensity of current events. I mean the state of our discourse as a nation on matters of fairness and equity, empathy and inclusiveness. To reflect on our national conversations at this particular time is to be even more mindful of how we understand America’s “greatness,” including the example we set in the world. Surely all of this will be on our minds as we celebrate the 4th of July.

Christianity is a global religion, meaning that our faith in God and commitment to the teachings of Jesus supersede nationality . . Christianity is not to be equated with a particular nation. But it is also true that we are Christians in a particular place, living out our Christianity in a particular place. So we must find the best ways to connect the inclusive, justice-based faith we affirm to where we find ourselves culturally and nationally at this point in time. It is a call to reflection that we embrace together as the Body of Christ.

Join us on Saturday in the front yard of First Christian for a day of fellowship and proclamation! Join us as we live out our faith in this nation that we love! ALL are welcome to this specific moment of faith-based response to the least of these.

Glad to be your minister,

First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Lynchburg, Virginia July 2018

DO JUSTICE, LOVE KINDNESS, WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD.

Mary Bea Cline

Melba Crank

Lorraine Flint

Louise Fuller

Elfriede Hasse

Betty Johnson

Sandra Pruitt

Patsy Warren

Dorothy Watkins

Jeff Wilson

Homebound Members

WE HOLD THESE SISTERS AND BROTHERS IN GOD’S TENDER MERCIES:

7/4 Lou Gregory

7/7 Sarah Riley

7/9 Phebe Dodge

7/10 Anderson Holt

7/13 Billy Flint

Steven Selby

7/16 Erik Flint

7/18 Sheila Garren

Fred Goodwin

7/20 Nell Bodine

Bill Crow

7/21 Louise Fuller

Greg Allen

7/22 Alex Cole

Jean Ingram

Gwen Wheeler

7/25 Diane Norwood

7/26 Roger Jones

Michael Schneider

Mark Baugher (Nicki Baugher’s father)

Amy Beale (friend of Elaine Casey)

Mamie Bolton (Julia Timmons’ aunt)

Sharon Boynton (Anne Boynton’s mother)

Kari (son of Melissa & Nicki Baugher)

Jacob Carasella (on the death of his grandmother)

Mari DiSanto

Reverend David Edwards

Becky Evans (Phil Stump’s cousin)

Ann Hallum (friend of Marion & Phil Stump)

Sarah Mundy

Paula (friend of Marion & Phil Stump)

Caroline Robertson

(granddaughter of Terri & Steve Wilson)

Julie & Jeremy Robertson

(daughter & son-in-law of Terri & Steve Wilson)

Keith Scruggs

Patsy Warren

Debbie Wilder

Angela Zeigler (Chris Badgett’s mother)

Youth & Children Ministries

JULY HAPPY HOUR THEMES

7/4: No Happy Hour

7/11: Stuff It

7/18: Budget Stretcher

7/25: Summertime Favorite

HAPPY HOUR POTLUCK SUPPER: We hope that you will

join us for our Wednesday Happy Hour Pot Luck Suppers!

Come, bring a friend, and bring a themed dish to share. We’ll

see you on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm.

HAPPY HOUR POTLUCK SUPPERS

WELCOME BABY!

MOVIE TALK NITA FLOE HEMPFLING

Introducing:

Benjamin Tyler Frantz

Born on May 15, 2018, 2:45 p.m.

To Kelly & Scott Frantz

Proud Grandparents: Susan & Gene Frantz

A NOTE FROM THE TREASURER JIM NORWOOD

Another summer and the pace of living

slows as we enjoy the many pleasures of the

season. Please remember to keep your

pledges and contributions up to date if you

are out of town or traveling, e.g., the

Norwood family will be in California from

6/27-7/11. Should you have any questions

concerning church finances during this

period, please contact Susan Allen.

On Monday, July 16, the Movie Talk Group will discuss

the movie, “The Post.”

Katharine Graham (Meryl Streep) is the first female

publisher of a major American newspaper—The

Washington Post. With help from editor Ben Bradlee

(Tom Hanks), Graham races to catch up with the New

York Times to expose a massive cover-up of

government secrets that span three decades and four

U.S. presidents. Together, they must overcome their

differences as they risk their careers—and very

freedom—to help bring long-buried truth to light.

Please watch this thriller movie on your own, then join a

group of friends at 7:00 pm on Monday, July 16 at the

home of Vera Brandt, 311 Legacy Oaks Circle, for a

lively discussion. For more information, please call Nita

Floe Hempfling, 434.239.8118

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MARGARET DUNIFON

EXCITING ACTIVITIY IN THE CHILDREN’S WING!

Valerie York has outlined on the walls of the children’s wing the components of a marvelous mural,

and the children and youth will be painting it for the rest of the summer. You are invited to come

paint too! We will be busy at this task during Sunday school time (9:30 a.m.) and also every Thursday

afternoon from 2 to 4. Come join the fun or at least stop by to see what is going on!

SPECIAL CHURCH SCHOOL ACTIVITY:

FOOD FOR DAILY BREAD

On July 15, all Sunday school classes will meet in the Snidow

Fellowship Hall and prepare food for Daily Bread. What exactly we

make has not yet been determined, but plan to come make

something delicious for others to eat.

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that when the children leave after the children’s message they go to a program

called, “Children Worship and Wonder?” CW&W is a faith-formation worship-centered approach

with storytelling, ritual, and fellowship that is used to help children deepen their relationship with

God. To begin, the children come into a special worship space, to a storyteller waiting to greet

them. The storyteller leads the children in a time of singing and praise. Next they will hear one of

God’s stories in a storytelling format told with multi-sensory materials. As the story is finished the

children are invited to share in a time of wonder about the story. Third the children will respond to

God’s story. The response materials are there to help them express their relationship with God.

After they respond in a way they choose, the children come back to the circle. Here the storyteller

lights the Christ candle and shows the children where the story they hear is found in the Bible.

Then as a community they pray together and share in a feast (communion—with Goldfish crackers

and grape juice).

Those who volunteer for this program are required to participate in ten hours of training. Trained

members of our congregation are Joyce O’Quinn, Sandy Knodel, Julia Timmons, Stephanie

McLemore, Sharon Elkins, Lynn McBride, Onna McKlennon, Marilyn Taylor, Margaret Dunifon,

Susan Allen, and Morgan Holt. Jenny Farr was also trained.

Did you know that most of our recycled plastic

was sent to China?

PLASTIC IS PILING UP in warehouses as authorities scramble to figure out what to do with it, and several states are seriously considering once again opening up

their landfill sites to plastic.

PLASTIC takes 1,000 years to decompose!

What can YOU do? Here are a few ways to eliminate

the use of plastic in your everyday life:

Stop using plastic straws. If you absolutely need a straw, invest in a reusable

stainless steel or glass straw.

Use reusable bags for shopping.

Give up gum. Gum is made of synthetic rubber, aka, plastic.

Reuse containers for storing leftovers.

Use matches instead of disposable lighters.

Take your own container or doggy bag as many restaurants often use styrofoam.

These tips and many more can be found at www.greeneducationfoundation.org.

Be FANTASTIC …

Eliminate PLASTIC!

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FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(Disciples of Christ)

3109 Rivermont Avenue

Lynchburg VA 24503-1399

Essential Affirmations

We believe in God, creator and

sustainer of all, who has been

revealed in Jesus Christ; that God

loves all unconditionally without

regard to race, gender, age,

ethnicity, cultural or religious

background, economic status,

mental or physical ability, sexual

orientation, family configuration, or

other distinctions, and we are called

to welcome as God welcomes; and

that we are called to ministry as “a

priesthood of all believers” and are

endowed with gifts for that ministry.

Statement of Calling

First Christian Church, Lynchburg, is a

congregation which is seeking to

grow in the faith, knowledge, and

love of God as revealed in Jesus

Christ. We are open and affirming

in welcoming all who desire to join

us on their journey.

Through worship, education,

fellowship, nurture, and service in

the community and wider church,

we strive to “become a dwelling

place for God” (Eph. 2.22),

encouraging each other in

discipleship and in discovering and

using our gifts by which the Holy

Spirit brings wholeness and healing

to all the world.

Find us Online:

www.firstchristian.church

www.youtube.com/

FirstChristianDOCLYH

www.facebook.com/

first.christian.church.lynchburg

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Worship time during the summer will remain 11:00 am.

See you then!