the courier - cocoa beach community church, united church of christ

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1 LENT AND EASTER 2014 ASH WEDNESDAY March 5, 7:00 PM SIX SUNDAYS OF LENT March 9 - April 13 HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE PALM SUNDAY April 13, 10:00 AM MAUNDY THURSDAY April 17, 7:00 PM GOOD FRIDAY April 18 , 12:00 Noon SUNRISE COMMUNITY EASTER SERVICE April 20, Fischer Park on A1A EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP April 20, 10:00AM @ CBCC The Courier COCOA BEACH COMMUNITY CHURCH United Church of Christ 126 South Atlantic Avenue MARCH-APRIL 2014

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Page 1: The Courier - Cocoa Beach Community Church, United Church of Christ

1

LENT AND EASTER 2014

ASH WEDNESDAY March 5, 7:00 PM

SIX SUNDAYS OF LENT March 9 - April 13

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

PALM SUNDAY April 13, 10:00 AM

MAUNDY THURSDAY April 17, 7:00 PM

GOOD FRIDAY April 18 , 12:00 Noon

SUNRISE COMMUNITY EASTER SERVICE

April 20, Fischer Park on A1A

EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP

April 20, 10:00AM @ CBCC

The Courier

New Member Profiles

By Roby Raymond

Spiritual Life Team Stories

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Briefs from The Board

COCOA BEACH COMMUNITY CHURCH United Church of Christ

126 South Atlantic Avenue

MARCH-APRIL 2014

Page 2: The Courier - Cocoa Beach Community Church, United Church of Christ

2

Minister Rev. Dr. Fred Fourie

Administrator

Betty Catalon

Christian Education

Coleman Todd

Music Director

Jan Johns

Church Musician David Wrable

President Phyllis Baker

Worship Bob Watkins

Center for

Spiritual Enrichment Cindy Johnson

Spiritual Life Teams Linda Norwood

Treasurer Joy Gilmore

Invictus Team

Jean Dugan

Webmaster

Carl Witlicki

CBCC OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday – Friday

8:30 AM – 12:30 PM P.O. Box 320009

Cocoa Beach, FL 32932

Tel: 321-783-3961

Fax: 321-783-0582

CBCC THRIFT SHOP Mondays & Thursdays 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM

Friday & Saturday

10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Serving the people of the

Space Coast and beyond w/

outstanding quality merchandise

at a fraction of retail.

We also have a great selection

of Books, Tapes, CDs & DVDs

Inspired reading for your prayerful reflection each morning from the

United Church of Christ, The ‘God is still speaking' church www.ucc.org

No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.

Page 3: The Courier - Cocoa Beach Community Church, United Church of Christ

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FROM THE

PULPIT

CALLED TO SERVICE MARCH 2 2014

Rev. Dr. Fred Fourie

There were some Greeks

in town who had come up

to worship at the Feast. They approached Philip, who

was from Bethsaida in Galilee: “Sir, we want to see

Jesus. Can you help us?” Philip went and told Andrew.

Andrew and Philip together told Jesus. Jesus answered,

“Time’s up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be

glorified. “Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is

buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any

more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts

and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way,

anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life.

But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it

forever, real and eternal. “If any of you wants to serve

me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to

serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honor and

reward anyone who serves me.” John 12:20-26 [MSG]

John’s Gospel tells a very significant and touching

story. Jesus and his followers were already in Jerusalem.

Until this moment, Jesus' directed his ministry

exclusively to the Jews. Nevertheless, the foreigners

also heard about him and many wanted to come closer

to him. At that crucial moment, two Greeks asked

Philip, one of the disciples, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus!"

Cont. on page 11

PARTICIPATE IN OUR MUSIC PROGRAM WEDNESDAY EVENINGS @ 7:00 PM

Sunday Mornings 9:30 AM in Sponsler Hall

Contact:Janet Johns @ 321 752 7395

ART DISPLAY We are inspired by and privileged to

have artists from our Congregation share their artwork in Sponsler Hall.

Please consider having some

of your work displayed.

Schedule a Month to Display Your Art!!

Contact: John Harbaugh

GREET YOUR NEIGHBOR COURIER JOURNALISTS:

Roby Raymond - Karen Neumann

Do you have a reflection or story to share?

Send your suggestion to [email protected]

Or call the church office 321-783-3961.

Betty will have Roby or Karen contact you.

CBCC THRIFT SHOP 50th ANNIVERSARY

FASHION SHOW

Friday March 21 6:30 PM in Sponsler Hall

$5.00

Featuring Fashion Trends for

Spring and Summer!

Champagne and Chocolate

Refreshments

Page 4: The Courier - Cocoa Beach Community Church, United Church of Christ

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VISITATION & RECEPTION

Caring members of our Church regularly visit

members and friends in their homes, in hospitals,

or in nursing homes. Birthday cards, Get-Well

Wishes, and Miss-You cards are sent regularly.

Those who receive it appreciate this personal

contact provided by members of our church.

The gift of giving and sharing is deeply rewarding.

Do you know someone in need? Need a birthday

added? Was one missed? Please call the church

office and let us know.

When providing Altar Flowers on Sundays, please

consider letting our Visitation Committee take

them to a shut-in or to the hospital for a patient

who may appreciate cheering up.

Maureen Walsh

321-794-7877

321-455-1210

If you or a loved one is in need of

Care or Prayer, the Telephone

Prayer Chain is here for you.

Call Today!

Alma Stephenson

799-1930

SPREADING LOVE AND CARE

GIFTS OF FLOWERS

Women’s Fellowship consists of women who are

members or friends of the Cocoa Beach

Community Church. Any woman who is

interested in the programs of Women’s

Fellowship or the church is welcome and

encouraged to attend our meetings. We usually

meet on the second Thursday of each month

from September through May.

WF Potluck Supper

Thursday March 13, 2014

6:00 PM Sponsler Hall

The March meeting will be a special evening

meeting. All members and friends of CBCC

(men and women) are invited to attend a

presentation given by Pastor Jay Bergstresser

from Lutheran Church of the Resurrection.

He has recently written a book called

The Jesus Quiz: Surprising Answers

for W.W.J.D.

Bring a dish

to share!

Page 5: The Courier - Cocoa Beach Community Church, United Church of Christ

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50 Thrifty Years for Cocoa Beach

Community Church Thrift Shop

BY KATHY ANDERSON SMITH

In 1964, as manned rockets were entering outer

space just a few miles to the north, Cocoa Beach

Community Church was also launching a new mission in

the form of a Thrift Shop. Still operating today, it is

believed to be the longest running Thrift Shop in

Brevard.

The Women’s Fellowship of this United Church of

Christ Church opened the shop in the garage of a house

along South Orlando Ave. in Cocoa Beach 50 years ago.

The house was located just to the south of the current

sanctuary across the street from the beach. On nice

days the ladies would bring their merchandise out of

the garage, and place it onto tables along the road for

better visibility. By 1967 the shop was moved into a

Sunday school room in the building on the church

complex which now serves as the church office. At that

time there were many days when the day’s total sales

were under $5.00. In 1967 the average age of Cocoa

Beach residents was 26 years old. The young and

growing community in those years resulted in a shop

with baby and children’s clothing and toys as the top

sellers. Due to the growth of young families in the area,

CBCC expanded its property to cover the entire corner

of First St. South between Orlando and Brevard Avenues

in 1969. With the new property came a small house on

the south end of the Brevard Ave. side of the property.

Initially the house was shared by the Thrift Shop and

Sunday school classes but eventually a Sunday school

wing was added to the church complex and the Thrift

Shop took over the entire building. After the shop took

over the house a storage shed was built to contain

donations and the house’s kitchen became a sorting

room. Individual room doors were opened up to allow

for better flow in the shop. This also allowed the

various areas to be dedicated to specific lines of

merchandise. Few physical changes to the property

occurred for several decades but the popularity of the

Thrift Shop grew as well as the hours of operation and

sales volume. The hours have been expanded to the

current schedule of Monday and Thursday from 9:30 –

3:00 and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 -1:00. In 2008

the old storage shed was removed and a breezeway and

the shed area were combined into a large donation

sorting room. Other improvements over the past 5

years have included updated windows and doors, AC

upgrades, a fenced in donation area, the addition of a

client’s garden, and many other minor upgrades.

A Chinese Proverb says “To open a shop is easy; to

keep it open is an art.” The Cocoa Beach Community

Church Thrift Shop has been lucky enough to have had

hundreds of dedicated volunteers and leaders over the

past 50 years who turned running the shop into an art.

Customers consistently comment that the shop and the

merchandise are so clean and so well organized that it is

their favorite thrift shop. Our goal is to offer high

quality merchandise at very low prices. This fulfils an

important church mission of enabling people on fixed

incomes or with limited means to afford to purchase

necessities. In addition people in severe need are able

to stop in and receive a set of clothing as well as a

bagged lunch. Funds earned are disbursed through the

Women’s Fellowship to a variety of organizations in our

community and beyond.

To recognize the success and growth that has been

enjoyed over the past 50 years a year-long 50th

Anniversary Celebration is taking place. Beginning with

the theme of “Celebrating 50 Thrifty Years” we will offer

“Anniversary Sales” that will feature 50 cent reductions

or 50% off on specific categories of merchandise. These

will take place throughout 2014. The first major event

of the celebration will be a Spring-Summer Fashion

Show that will take place on Friday evening March

21st. The event with champagne and chocolate

refreshments will feature current looks for spring and

summer 2014 that have been put together from the

shop’s merchandise. In addition we will showcase a few

vintage outfits that our customers might have

purchased if they were shopping with us over the past 5

decades.

In the fall of 2014 an Open House is planned for

parishioners and customers after Sunday services. At

that point in the Anniversary year the focus will switch

to the future as we continue to work to improve and

grow. The Open House will introduce a theme for the

future which comes from the Space Coast’s past:

Blasting Off for Another 50 Years Serving our Customers

and Community.

Page 6: The Courier - Cocoa Beach Community Church, United Church of Christ

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ANNIVERSARIES

October 10

Bill & Jan Ross

49 yrs 1964

Jeffrey & Anne Rutishauser

32 yrs 1981

October 15

Coleman & Nancy Todd

19 yrs 1994

BIRTHDAYS

3 Dolores Stringer

6 Louise Heckman

7 Babs Didden

17 Gloria Rebentisch

18 Norma Bruce

19 David Counts

20 Jala Torres

23 Jack Haberthier

27 Joan Macura

ANNIVERSARIES

March 1, 2001

Bryan & Karen Mills

13 yrs

GOLDEN PLUS ANNIVERSARIES

March 1, 1950

H. C. Burt & Jean Cox

64 yrs

March 2, 1964

Roger & Susie Fleming

50 yrs

BIRTHDAYS

2 Jean Dugan

6 Rosemary Hoskin

9 Paul Verhagen

10 Betty Nicolaison

12 Evan Thomas Lew Musil

14 Pat Bosley

15 Mary Wiseman

19 Jane Ross

21 Joyce Stottler Susan Martin

28 Jeweldene Calvetto

30 Herb Hobgood

ANNIVERSARIES

April 28

Michael & Michelle Dugan

17 yrs 1996

Lloyd & Iris McIntire

14 yrs1999

Page 7: The Courier - Cocoa Beach Community Church, United Church of Christ

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SUNDAY MORNING PROGRAM

Adult Bible Lessons With Loren Bowling

9:00 AM Christian Education Wing

The Standard Lesson Quarterly NIV, based on the

International Sunday School Lesson (ISSL) program

richly resourced, with a discussion guide,

background information, charts, maps, and home

daily Bible readings. SLQ combines meaningful

Bible study with culturally relevant examples

and discussion questions.

ENSEMBLE/HANDS ON

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Ensemble team practices whenever scheduled as

well as Sunday school teacher/leader preparation.

CHILDREN & YOUTH: Pre-K to 12

We gather for worship at 10:00 AM, at an

indicated time during the service, we will depart

for Bible Stories, Music, Elements of Worship,

Crafts, Games and Refreshments.

NO childcare offered for children less than 4 years

of age in worship. Families are invited to use our

break room if needed during worship. The break

room is located near the front doors of the

sanctuary. Worship can be seen and heard!

Youth Group! Grades 6-12

Meeting at Lutheran Church of Resurrection

525 Minuteman Causeway

2:00 PM to 4:30 PM

THE SEASON OF LENT

The first Sunday of Lent is

March 9. Lent is a time of

preparation for Easter. Lent is

40 days (and six Sundays) from

Ash Wednesday to Easter.

May our own experience of Lent this year fill us

with such an awareness of God’s presence bringing

transformation and renewal.

Easter Day is the oldest

festival and the most

important day of the church

year. “Christ Lives! Alleluia!”

The Resurrection is the focal

point of the Christian faith,

like a keystone supporting an arch.

Easter Egg Hunt and Party

Plan to attend and celebrate Easter Sunday at CBCC

with our annual Easter egg hunt for the kids.

Food and games for all!

Welcoming Joyce Stottler

We extend greetings to Joyce Stottler who agreed

to serve as our Christian Education Chairperson for

2014-15. Sincere thanks to Joyce!

CBCC CE Ministry Opportunities Contact Coleman Todd 783.3961 / 639.4439

[email protected]

AFTER WORSHIP

Meet New People! Greet Old Friends!

Find out who needs a helping hand, a

telephone call, or maybe even just a smile.

Fellowship is more than

Refreshments. . . .

It is a vital part of our

Church Community

Page 8: The Courier - Cocoa Beach Community Church, United Church of Christ

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CHOP, CHOP THURSDAY

“Chop, Chop Thursday” was the mantra again leading

up to this year’s spectacular Valentine’s Day Card Party

and Luncheon.

This was, and is, the Ladies Society’s major fund

raising event of the year. Held annually for more than

four decades, it has developed a celebrity status of its

own. Many volunteers know weeks beforehand what

they will donate or be asked to do. It is also, along with

the highly regarded Thrift Shop, looked upon as an

outreach into the community.

Margaret Counts, Ladies Society President,

welcomed 124 guests representing six surrounding

towns on Friday morning, February 14.

“Chop, Chop Thursday” called for due diligence on

the part of every volunteer to show up on schedule.

And do whatever had to be done to prepare for the

next day’s important event.

To handle the crowd of card plyers themselves, in

addition to so several dozen volunteers and those on

hand to watch, called for a strategy of almost military

precision.

Everything in the hall, having to do with card playing,

including prizes and score pads, was Chairman Bea

William’s responsibility. Everything in the kitchen,

concerned with preparing and serving the luncheon

itself, was Karen Neumann’s responsibility with the help

of Anne Rutishauser.

For Bea, among other things, t his meant setting up

31 card tables and chairs. When Marty Stieger and

Jerry Hinds volunteered to do so, Bea noted that since

they were “handling the tables anyway,” would they

mind putting the red covers on them? Of course not,

and they even came back the next day to take

everything down. Meanwhile, volunteers and Bea

collected and packaged prizes donated by local

merchants and individuals into huge baskets from the

Thrift Shop. Included were a man and a woman’s wrist

watches, tickets to a play at Surfside, a dinner at the

Pier, a bottle of champagne with two glasses, selected

boutique items and more.

The most unusual prize, selected by the winning

hand at each table, was the 12" x 12" fabric tote hand

bag made by Susie Fast and filled with coffee mugs,

small baked loaves, some of Julia Stalling’s famous

peanut brittle, hot chocolate mix and home made

cookies. This is the third year Susie has donated the

bags made from fabrics she began collecting from the

Thrift Shop last January.

It is the luncheon; however, that adds a layer of

mystery and awe to the entire event. How could Karen

and Anne purchase, cook, prepare and serve a menu of

chicken salad, fresh spinach, dessert, coffee and tea to a

crowd of this size with serenity and aplomb? It wasn’t

easy. Karen watched the papers for weeks to find the

best prices for fresh food and that could be stored.

On Tuesday before the party, Karen and Anne

shopped for what they needed. The main problem was

how to pack everything into Karen’s SUV and still have

room for her husband, Paul, to sit on the front seat with

bags and bags of groceries surrounding him. It took all

three of them to cart everything into the kitchen and

store it in the refrigerator which completely filled it.

On Wednesday Karen and Anne cooked 40 pounds of

chicken breast they had bought in Melbourne.

Thursday was Chop, Chop Day when dozens of

volunteers, all reporting for a certain length of time,

settled down to dice, chop, peel, cut, and slice mounds

of ingredients that went into the chicken salad. Others

even cut the stems off spinach in a final act of delicacy

and some separated 169 plastic knives and forks into

four units, bound with white tape to be set at each

place.

When all was ready, Karen closeted herself in the

kitchen and mixed in her secret, uniquely delicious

dressings. When asked what they were, Karen merely

smiled and looked the other way. No one has been able

to find the answers.

The day ended with Bill Ross and his Barber Shop

Quartet serenading guests on both sides of Sponsler

Hall. As Valentine’s Day Card party and Luncheon add

another page to the long history of successes, it does, as

one volunteer said, “makes us all happy in working

together in common goal. After all, isn’t that what’s all

about?’

– Roby Raymond

Page 9: The Courier - Cocoa Beach Community Church, United Church of Christ

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CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

Thursdays; February 20 – March 27

7:00 PM in the CBCC Board Room

Facilitated by: Cindy Johnson and Coleman Todd

Embracing Emergence Christianity Author, historian and keen cultural observer Phyllis

Tickle invites us to join her in examining the

changing face of Christianity and culture. Phyllis

surveys 2000 years of Western history, identifying

the great upheavals that occur in Western culture

and Christianity every 500 years. The last was the

Great Reformation of the 1500’s; the next is

happening now.

What are the implications of this “Great

Emergence,” both culturally and spiritually? What

are the key questions and issues that need to be

addressed? Where might we be headed next? And,

perhaps most importantly, where are you, at this

moment? Might you be an emergence Christian?

There are six sessions on the DVD. Each session

begins with a video presentation by Phyllis Tickle,

lasting from 10-15 minutes followed by our group

discussion

CROP WALK

Sunday March 23 2:00 PM Hunger Walk & Picnic

Larry Schultz Park Fiske Blvd. Rockledge

REFLECTIONS ON CROP HUNGER WALK BY BARB & GEORGE FRANKE “SNOWBIRDS” FROM COLORADO

We have been involved with CROP Hunger Walks in

several states for over 30 years. We’re happy to

share our enthusiasm about CROP Walk with Cocoa

Beach Community Church. Did you know that

there are some 2000 CROP Walks in the U.S. each

year?

What is the CROP Walk?? The letters in CROP

stand for Communities Responding to Overcome

Poverty. Cocoa Beach Community Church is one of

those communities. CROP Walk is a fundraising

activity that helps to feed hungry people in Central

Brevard County as well as around the rest of the

U.S. and world. If you choose to participate, you

have several options.

Sign up to walk the short, symbolic walk in Larry

Schultz Park in Rockledge at 2 p.m. on March 23rd,

publicly remembering the millions of people who

must walk miles each and every day in order to

provide food and clean water for their families.

Make a donation to CROP Walk. Of course we

hope to raise a lot of money so we can help feed a

lot of people, but any size donation is welcome.

TOGETHER we can make a difference!

Who gets the money?? 25% of funds raised stay

local, used for Central Brevard Sharing Center’s

Community Kitchen Program. Did you know that 1

in 4 children in Brevard County go to bed hungry

each night?

OUTREACH AND MISSION

Page 10: The Courier - Cocoa Beach Community Church, United Church of Christ

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75% of funds raised is used by Church World

Service (CWS) for hunger relief AND disaster relief

efforts in the U.S. and in other places around the

world.

In 2013 our own home community of Loveland,

CO had first-hand experience with disaster relief

provided ty CWS. Mountain rivers, swollen with

days of non-stop rain, flooded large areas

downstream in Loveland and neighboring

communities. Many homes, businesses and roads

were destroyed or damaged. Lives were lost. CWS

was not only an early responder supplying clean-up

supplies for those affected, but was also there

later, organizing and training volunteers in long-

term recovery efforts.

We experienced the work of Church World

Service right in our own community. Did you know

that CWS has also been at work in areas of Florida

hit by hurricanes, helping feed people and rebuild

lives?

This year’s walk is right across the street from

our sister UCC church Hope United Church of

Christ. They are looking forward to seeing some

folks from CBCC over on the mainland.

We hope you will support CROP Walk in 2014!

Sign up will be each Sunday in Sponsler hall until

the walk date.

COCOA BEACH FOOD PANTRIES

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection 525 Minutemen Causeway

PANTRY OPEN

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM First & Last Tuesdays and the 2nd & 3rd Saturdays

Cocoa Beach Community Meal

The Community Meal provides a welcoming place for

those who are homeless and need a place to get a

warm meal, and for; singles, families, the elderly, the

lonely, and anyone else who may simply need a

helping hand along the way each month.

The First & Third Sundays of Each Month

March 2 & 16; April 6 & 20

Dinner Served: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Food Pantry Open Too!

Meal Location:

First United Methodist Church

3300 N. Atlantic Ave.

The Community Meal is always looking for folks

to help with this ministry.

Volunteer Shifts

4:00 PM to 6:00 PM AND 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

First United Methodist Church 3300 N. Atlantic. Ave

PANTRY OPEN

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

During Community Meals

WE COLLECT FOOD EVERY WEEK!

CBCC helps support many food ministries in Cocoa

Beach and beyond. We appreciate the food and

other items brought in each Sunday and placed in

our basket on Sundays. Single serving items are

used in ready to eat lunch bags available at the

thrift store and at the church office. Foods that

need to be cooked are given to local food

pantries. Spaghetti and tomato sauce can be

saved for the monthly Community Meals.

Page 11: The Courier - Cocoa Beach Community Church, United Church of Christ

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FROM OUR PULPIT

Continued from pg. 3

Philip was surprised and unsure

what to do, so he first found An-

drew and together they went to

Jesus and told him about the

unusual re-quest of the Greeks.

Certainly, Jesus would want to

meet strangers who traveled such

a great distance! Jesus, however,

surprised them. Instead of inviting

the Greeks over, Jesus changed

the subject and revealed that

these Greeks were only the first of

many people from every race and

nation who would eventually call

on his name.

The first of countless millions

who through the ages, like us,

would plead: “Sir, we wish to see

Jesus!” The answer that Jesus

gave would forever change our

understanding of what Christian

faith is really all about! , Jesus

said, “Listen carefully: Unless a

grain of wheat is buried in the

ground, dead to the world, it is

never any more than just a grain

of wheat. But if it is buried, it

sprouts and reproduces itself

many times over.

Jesus had a very specific vision

and hope for the future: He

wanted his followers to celebrate

peace and community with those

around them. He wanted to see

life - true life - grow out of his

vision and his hope: The

crucifixion of Jesus would make

him like a grain of wheat that, by

falling into the ground and dying,

would bear much fruit, bringing

many, many others to real life! In

spite of the cruel realities

surrounding him at that time,

Jesus then made a powerful

statement about the coming

crucifix-ion! , “And I, when I am

lifted up from the earth, will draw

all people to myself."

What happens when a grain of

wheat, or a seed, falls into the

ground and dies? It germinates! It

begins new life! It produces buds,

sprouts, branch-es, flowers. The

grain of wheat only has to die in

order to resurrect a 1000 times

over! Jesus is saying, “I am like a

grain of wheat! I am the

foundation! My vision and hope

will prevail and will blossom forth

into the Kingdom of God! ~ Philip,

Andrew, Peter, John go tell the

Greeks, tell the world!” They did ~

and that is why you and I are here

today!

“When Jesus calls us, he leads

us to undergo a radical inner

transformation.” Like a grain of

wheat, through Christ, we gain

strength TO DIE to the fears that

keep us from loving. We gain

courage TO DIE to the selfishness

that keeps us from sharing our

gifts. We learn TO DIE to seeking

only our own success and

salvation in disregard for the good

of all God’s children.

IF WE die with Christ, we will

also rise with Christ as new

creations, to be God’s children,

worshipping together, caring

about one another, and dis-

covering what it means to be fully

human. Thus, Jesus became Lord

for whosoever would come. Jew

and Gentile, rich and poor,

righteous and unrighteous, no one

excluded. All of us are equal in his

sight. Now we understand that the

foreigners who wanted to see

Jesus were only a pre-view of

what was to come. A time was

coming when people from all over

the world would reach out to

receive Jesus as their Savior and

Lord. Since the beginning of the

Christian era, people have

experienced how lives without

real meaning or direction were

touched, changed and trans-

formed when they became sincere

followers of Jesus. That prompted

un-counted millions to echo the

request of the Greeks so long ago.

“Sir, we want to see Jesus!”

When Jesus becomes Lord in

anyone’s life the transformation,

from inside out begins. The Bible

says, “If anyone is in Christ, there

is a new creation: everything old

has passed away; see every-thing

has become new! Jesus is the

corn of wheat that willingly died

so that you and I can live! As we

come to the table this morning,

we celebrate and remember Jesus

as the grain of wheat who died to

transform your life …………. and

mine

When I survey the wondrous

cross, on which the Christ of glory

died, my richest gain I count but

loss, and pour contempt on all my

pride. Love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all!

Come to the table – we are

welcome here! Amen.

Find Dr Fred's Sermons at

http://www.cbcc-

ucc.org/sermons/sermons.html

Page 12: The Courier - Cocoa Beach Community Church, United Church of Christ

12

Discover

Our

Church

Community

Find

Weekly Updates

for CBCC

on Facebook

facebook.com/

cbcc.ucc

LISTEN TO DR. FRED’S SERMONS

cbcc-

ucc.org/sermons/

sermons.html

COCOA BEACH COMMUNITY CHURCH

United Church of Christ

126 South Atlantic Ave.

Cocoa Beach; FL 32932

321 783 3961

[email protected]

facebook.com/cbcc.ucc

THE COURIER

MARCH / APRIL 2014

COCOA BEACH COMMUNITY CHURCH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

The UCC is a welcoming, justice-minded Christian community.

At a time when religion is too often portrayed as narrow-minded and exclusive, many are

raising their VOICES for an alternate vision: Here God is all-loving and inclusive-

Where the Church of Jesus Christ welcomes and accepts everyone as they are -

Where your mind is nourished as much as your soul - Where Jesus the healer meets Jesus

the revolutionary - Where together we grow a just and peaceful world

from UCC God is Still Speaking Website

CBCC is on Facebook www.facebook.com/CBCC.UCC

COCOA BEACH COMMUNITY CHURCH

United Church of Christ

126 South Atlantic Ave.

Cocoa Beach; FL 32932

321 783 3961

[email protected]