The Christian Builder

August 8, 2013 A weekly publication of First Christian Church Midland Volume 57 No. 32

www.fccmidland.org ● 1301 W. Louisiana, Midland, Texas 79701 ● (432) 682-2541

Church Calendar Sunday, August 11 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship Monday, August 12 9:30am Staff Meeting 6:30pm Children’s Church Volunteer Meeting Tuesday, August 13 9:30am Concerns 7:30pm Boy Scouts Wednesday, August 14 7am Men’s Prayer Breakfast Hummer House Trip Begins 11:30am Wild Wonderful Wed. 5:30pm Breaking Bread 7pm Choir Rehearsal

Sunday, August 18 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship

Foreign Faith Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Deacon Openings On the Church Board

Due to job relocations there are four openings for Deacon on the church board. If you would be interested in serving out an

unexpired term, please contact Becky Anderson, Board Chair.

Duties include quarterly board meetings and serving once a month in

the 11 am worship service. It is a great way to get involved in the life of

the church.

BBBBuuuuiiiillllddddiiiinnnngggg GGGGoooodddd’’’’ssss KKKKiiiinnnnggggddddoooommmm

Thoughts… Rev. Mike Hunter

Senior Minister

This Week’s Sermon

Foreign Faith Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Page 2 The Builder, First Christian Church

You have been church in wonderful ways in the last few days. As a church you completed the calling of TJ York to join our staff as associate minister for youth. The Search Committee did an outstanding job, diligently reviewing candidates, interviewing and ultimately discerning God’s guidance for the right candidate that matches our theology and has the skills to lead our youth ministry forward. TJ’s first office day will be September 3 and we will dedicate and commission his ministry on Sunday, September 8.

September 8 will also be a historic day for the church as completion of the sanctuary is in sight! Both services will be held in the sanctuary that day and we will “show off” all the gifts of the space. For many reasons, it will be a day you will want to be present and invite someone to join you. Sadly, the last few days have also brought grief and pain to our church family. Willie Ramos, our faithful and dedicated janitor, died suddenly. We all were shocked. Words cannot capture the emotions of the past few days. But I was so proud of the response and outpouring of love and support the entire congregation shared, not only with Willie’s family, but with the entire staff. It was a memorable and moving memorial on Monday. God’s presence was felt. More rich days are just ahead. You have been so faithful and patient during this long construction and your efforts will soon be rewarded. A worship space where all can be seen, heard and tools that allow us to provide a more dynamic worship experience will commence on September 8. As great as the building is and will be, recent days reminded us that church is ultimately not about bricks and mortar, but the people…willing to respond to and follow God’s call. That is you. I thank you for that.

I hope to see you Sunday, if not before. Find previous sermons at

www.fccmidland.org

Page 3 The Builder, First Christian Church

August 4, 2013

Sunday Worship Combined Worship 129 Children’s Church 8 Nursery 3 Total 140

Sunday School Nursery 3 Children 8 Youth 4 Adult 41 Total 56

Visitors Corner

August 4, 2013

Attendance

Thank You for Thank You for Thank You for Thank You for

worshipping worshipping worshipping worshipping

with us!with us!with us!with us!

Morgan & Linda Brown

David & Melanie Entzminger

Michael, Kristina, Trenton & McKenna Fisher

Eric Floyd

Chris & Joan Huff

Mike, Melanie Lange & Family

Curtis Pechacek

Nic & Aidan Ramsey

Ellen Steinle

Calling All Choir Members: Past, Present, & Future!

Regular Choir Rehearsals Are On Wednesday Nights at 7PM

We invite you to enter into this ministry with us as we prepare music for our Sanctuary Worship Service

each week, and for Christmas! Come join us and recommit yourself to

the ministry of God’s music!

Blessing of Backpacks, Students, Teachers and School Personnel

August 25th during each morning worship service we will be having our annual blessing of backpacks.

Children of all ages are invited to pack your backpack

for school or daycare and bring them with you to church on Sunday August 25th.

Make sure your name is on your backpack.

All school personnel are invited to come

and join us as we will also pray for you.

Come join us

for one of our services and be a part of this

special day!

Page 4 The Builder, First Christian Church

About this time each year I begin to think about my school teaching days and what I would be doing about this time. I loved getting my room ready! I loved buying new teacher supplies! I loved the excitement of wondering who my students would be and what they would be like. So if you don’t mind I want to invite you to travel down memory lane with me.

During my school teaching days I was always the “regular” classroom teacher known as the “inclusion” teacher. I did not have a certification in special education but was always blessed with those children who had special needs. Each year I would always have anywhere from 1 to 5 children in my classroom that had a special need of one form or another, along with your average students and those that had been identified as gifted and talented. Yes, it was a wide range of students.

As the year progressed it was always a blessing to see how the children with special needs had the courage and determination to be the best that they could be. They were always filled with the passion and the excitement to want to learn. Their attitudes often were an inspiration to my other students.

I always took an interest in the activities that my students participated in outside the classroom. Some of my students that had special needs participated in Special Olympics. Each time that there was a Special Olympics event, I attended. There was one particular event that will forever remain upon my heart. It was time for the 100 yard dash. Nine contestants, all physically or mentally challenged assembled at the starting line. At the sound of the starting gun they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with the determination and passion to run the race to the finish and win.

All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight children heard the boy cry. They slowed down and paused. Then they all turned around and went back. Every one of them. One girl bent down and kissed him and said, “This will make it better.” Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for 10 minutes.

We can all learn a very important lesson from this small group of children. Sometimes our words and actions are not always of help to others. We say things we shouldn’t, we quickly point out the wrongs/mistakes of others especially when they are different from our own, and much too often we are quick to judge. Do these actions bring us joy and pleasure? I certainly hope not. God calls us to love one another, to treat others with love and compassion, to lift them up and to walk beside them just as those eight children did for one. May we all begin to live each day with passion, compassion and determination to link arms with others and walk or run the race of life together.

In loving partnership,

Ponderings… Rev. Paula Brooks

Associate Minister

Birthdays

8/9 Mark Cranford 8/9 Audrey McKown 8/10 Dan Walsh 8/12 Brady Johnson 8/13 Melanie Walton 8/13 Laura Pittinger 8/14 David Garcia 8/14 Jonathan Garcia 8/14 Elaine Haskell 8/14 Ginny Estes 8/15 Teri Valero 8/15 Gene Drummond 8/15 Jeannie Gough

Anniversaries

8/9 Erich & Andrea Hardaway 8/10 Bill & Pat Bucy

Page 5 The Builder, First Christian Church

Online Giving You can now give to FCC

through our website!

You can make a one-time donation, pay the fees for a children's or

youth event, or set up recurring donations.

Online giving is convenient, safe,

easy to track, and easy to schedule on a regular basis.

Lectionary Scriptures

August 11, 2013

Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23;

Genesis 15:1-6; Psalm 33:12-22; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-40

Elder - On Call 8/4-8/10

Tim Miller

8/11-8/17 Jack Campbell

Church Bulletin Board

A Note of ThanksA Note of ThanksA Note of ThanksA Note of Thanks

Thank you so much to everyone for your kind thoughts, cards, words and prayers, during this time of

the loss of my mother, Mary Kenny. We appreciate everyone at First Christian Church, you have always been here for us.

Special thanks to Amanda Bourland, Austella Berry,

Anne and Fred Schwiening, Cheba Bianchi and the Concerns Committee. You are each so wonderful and comforting, the food was much enjoyed, and I really appreciated not having to cook!!

Thank you all so much,

With the Love of Christ,

Diane Faulkner

Received Gift to Next Step Building Fund on 8/4/2013 in Memory of Willie Ramos

Page 6 The Builder, First Christian Church

Church Bulletin Board Adult Sunday School Studies

Mixed Blessings/Pairs & Spares Topic: Sunday’s Scripture II Chronicles 7:14 Topic: Jesus in the Upper Room Scripture: John 13-18 Leader: Class Members Genesis Topic: 1 Thessalonians “The Sure Hope of Jesus’ Return” Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4 & 5 Leader: Paula Brooks Fellowship Topic: Women of the New Testament - Samaritan Woman Scripture: John 4:1-42 Leader: Jim Mauldin Mike Hunter’s Class Topic: Act 2 of Acts Begins The Mission Expands Scripture: Acts 15 Leader: Rev. Mike Hunter

Children’s Summer Activities

Sunday School Topic: 4th Commandment: Set Aside a Special Day for God Pathway Point: God gives us a day to refuel & remember Him Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11 Leader: Lynda Terry

Children’s Church Topic: Joshua Leaders: 9am Courtney Gordon and Linda Hyatt 11am The Campbell Family

Help Our Adopted School

During the school year 2012-2013 we did several things for our adopted school – Burnet Elementary. One was a drive for back-to-school supplies. With school quickly drawing near this is one of several ways that we can be the church to the faculty and students. Our “Back-to- School Supply” drive will begin this Sunday and run through Friday, August 23 at noon. Please check the list below and help us help the Burnet Elementary Family.

There will be special decorated tubs located near the worship tables on Sunday morning. Please bring your supplies with you to worship or drop them off at the office. If you have any questions, please contact the church office (682-2541).

Plastic zip lock baggies (gallon, quart, sandwich) Kleenex Notebook paper 24 count boxes of Crayons Pencils Glue sticks Erasers

Washable Markers Red Pens Pencil bags Colored Construction Paper

August 14 is our last gathering of WWW for the summer. We are going to the Big Spring Water Park. Cost $5.00 plus spending money. We will leave the church parking lot at 11:30am. Please eat lunch before you come. RSVP by Aug. 9

Wild Wonderful WednesdayWild Wonderful WednesdayWild Wonderful WednesdayWild Wonderful Wednesday

Page 7 The Builder, First Christian Church

Website Don’t forget to check out our

website (www.fccmidland.org) for news, publications, and

previous sermons!

Prayer Room Social Media

Become a friend of ours on Facebook and “Like” us.

www.facebook.com/fccmidland

Follow us on Twitter (@fccmidland)

E-mail Provider

Please be sure that your e-mail provider accepts e-mails from

fccmidland.org. We have had several e-mails sent

back to us, and solving the problem would help us get

accurate and up-to-date information to you.

Check out FCC’s Children’s page on Facebook and “Like” us

www.facebook.com/fcccm

Special Note: Prayer list names are renewed every three weeks as we seek to keep the list as current as possible and

allow space for new requests. Our joys, concerns

and deepest needs are already on God’s heart long before

we put them to paper.

…for your Father knows what

you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:8

Those in need of prayer: John Midkiff Oley Hedrick Erlene Thomas George Head Pat Pickle Mike Nance Dee Head Bruce Stanley Bill & Char Womack Judy Spruell Blanche Alcorn Those in extended/long term care: H.G. Bedford Nancy Gill Jerry Johnson Jackie Hanna Charlotte Millican Keith Somerville Mary Jane Strobel Dorothy Wadley Military: Joe Henderson - son of Holly Moore Nicky Miller - son of Vicki Miller Damon Darnell - grandson of Floyd & Doris Miller Bennett Dobbs - extended family of the Espino’s Eric Schuff - extended family of the Espino’s Families/Friends beyond FCC: Wynon Cook – sister of Charla Espino Jennifer Gehami – daughter of Dave & Kaylene Burgard Pete Herndon – nephew of Vicki Miller David Alldredge – friend of Kelly Cook Joe Langford – father of Carol Cook Linda Odell – mother of Jeweli Flores Martha Pollock – friend of Sara Cranford Liz Hickerson – friend of Leslie Vines Barry Hardaway – brother of Erich Hardaway Teresa Ledford – sister of Martha Fentem Abbye Irons – friend of Steve Vaughan Blake Woods – friend of John Ross Walker Hughes – grandson of Steve & Lucille Vaughan Charles Lout – friend of George & Dee Head Brenda Bradshaw – friend of Lucille Vaughan Jo Smith – daughter-in-law of Donna Lathrop Tom Hewitt - brother of Anne Schwiening Kim Walters - foster daughter of Diane Bailey Fisher Families/Friends beyond FCC in long term care: Lori Hays - cousin of Mary Anne Benton Sonya Hopkins - friend of Kelley McCullough

For submission to prayer list contact any staff, submit via web, or e-mail prayerchain@fccmidland.org

The Christian BuilderThe Christian BuilderThe Christian BuilderThe Christian Builder First Christian Church 1301 W. Louisiana Ave Midland, TX 79701

432-682-2541

online at: www.fccmidland.org August 8,2013

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org US Postage

Paid Midland, TX 79711

Permit No. 145

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10am Sun. School

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Wednesday Trip

To Big Spring

Waterpark

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August 2013August 2013

“Then he opened their minds

to understand the Scriptures…”

(Luke 24:45) Rock The Desert

Hummer House Trip