The Christian Builder May 11, 2017
A weekly publication of First Christian Church Midland Volume 61 No. 19
www.fccmidland.org ● 1301 W. Louisiana Ave., Midland, Texas 79701 ● 432.682.2541
Sunday, May 14 9am Contemporary Worship 10am Sunday School 11am Traditional Worship
Monday, May 15 All Day Staff Retreat
Tuesday, May 16 1:15pm Food Pantry Stocking 7:30pmBoy Scouts Rm 105
Wednesday, May 17 7am Men’s Prayer Breakfast 12:30pm Food Pantry 1pm Bridge 6pm Cabinet Meeting 7pm Choir
Thursday, May 18 6pm Ladies Night Out
Friday, May 19 6pm Girls Night Out
Saturday, May 20 10am Little Playdates 1pm Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Sunday, May 21 Senior Sunday 10am Sunday School 11am Combined Worship 12pm Luncheon/Fundraiser 5pm CELEBRATE 5pm SOLID Pool Party 5pm Stephen Ministry
Sometimes it’s not what you pack; it’s how you pack it.
Long before YouTube, the object lesson about planning and placing your priorities made
the rounds, in staff retreats and teacher education events, with inspirational/motivational
speakers, and yes, even a few preachers…next Monday, during a daylong staff retreat, we
will begin our day by experiencing it again: Is the jar full?
Is the jar full? starts with an empty jar and someone begins to fill it. First with large items,
quickly appearing full; then smaller items, shifting down into the cracks and crevices, then
fine sand, and last water.
Each time something is place in the jar the viewers are prepared to believe the jar is full, yet more can be added as
long as the items are placed in the right order. If you filled the jar in the wrong sequence, perhaps with water and
sand first, then the larger items would never fit. But if you place the larger ones first, the others can still find room.
Is the jar full ? is the centering question we should constantly ask of ourselves.
My pastoral experience is filled with lives, churches, relationships and more that sometimes didn’t fill in the correct
order. We procrastinate; deadlines and assignments get out of whack. We try to carry too much and many things fall
short. We spend most of our time doing the things we enjoy to the detriment of those harder things that we enjoy less,
yet are still required of us to do. I sometimes fill my jar poorly or incorrectly. I suspect sometimes you do, too.
Most surfs of news and social media quickly reveal improper loading and the consequences that come from those
practices.
If we place first those larger things, our jars, and our lives have better balance and order. Healthy churches can help
flock folks to be healthier, too.
What are those most important things of your life? Do they fill your jar of living in the right order? What crowds out
or keeps you from filling your life days well? How can spiritual practices help?
Our staff, as team, will ponder these questions next Monday as we prepare and plan for the next programmatic year.
We don’t want to pack calendars or anything else before we pause and ask of ourselves…
Is the jar full?
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Thoughts… Rev. Mike Hunter Senior Minister
Bible Study
Topic: The Last Week
What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’
Final Days In Jerusalem Marcus Borg & John Dominic Crossan
This Sunday: Saturday
Leader: Rev. Mike Hunter
This Week’s Sermon
Living Stones
1 Peter 2:4-12
Youth Fundraiser
The Annual Youth Ministry Trip Fundraiser will be Sunday, May 21, 2017 immediately
following worship. The event will include a barbecue luncheon and a youth charity
auction. Come and enjoy great food and bid on a variety of services such as babysitting,
pet sitting, lawn care, heavy lifting, and much more. All proceeds will benefit the 2017
Mission Trip to Fort Worth, Texas. Our goal is to raise $2500 to help offset the cost of
the trip per each family unit. Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to support the youth
of First Christian Church.
Why Fort Worth?
Nearly one in six Americans live in poverty. The face of poverty in the United States is often a person who works full
time, but still can't afford to pay for food, rent, childcare, medical bills, and transportation. The shortage of housing
that is affordable to the lowest-income renters continues to be the greatest cause of homelessness and one of the most
significant impediments to escape.
While in Fort Worth, we will serve with organizations offering affordable housing options and support for people
experiencing homelessness and for people at risk to become homeless. We will undertake low-skill home repair
and/or apartment make-ready, participate in a housing simulation, serve with local ministries assisting people
experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, and visit with local leaders.
Senior Sunday
It is our hope to do more than just raise money on May 21. We look forward to building relationships while
showcasing the youth of FCC. During the lunch, you will be given an opportunity to hear from 5 senior students in
the youth group. They will share why they value the youth ministry of FCC and events such as mission trips.
Thank you in advance for all that you do!
Page 3 The Builder, First Christian Church
Topics… Rev. T.J. Shoop-York Associate Minister
Page 4 The Builder, First Christian Church
Somewhere between the youthful energy of a teenager and the golden years of a woman’s life,
there lives a marvelous and loving person known as “Mother”.
A mother is a curious mixture of patience, kindness, understanding, discipline, industriousness,
purity and love.
A mother can be at one and the same time, both “lovelorn counselor” to a heartsick daughter, and “head football
coach” to an athletic son.
A mother can sew the tiniest stitch in the material for that dainty prom dress and she is equally experienced in
threading through the heaviest traffic with a SUV.
A mother is the only creature on earth who can cry when she’s happy, laugh when she’s heartbroken, and work when
she’s feeling ill.
A mother is as gentle as a lamb and as strong as a giant.
A mother has the angelic voice of a member in the celestial choir as she sings lullabies to her baby held tight in her
arms; yet this same voice can dwarf the sound of an amplifier when she calls her children in for supper.
A mother has the fascinating ability to be almost everywhere at once and she alone can somehow squeeze an enor-
mous amount of living into an average day.
But it doesn’t take having a child to make a woman a mother. There are those who have never had a child and
exemplify all the characteristics described above. These women serve as teachers, nurses, neighbors, friends, and
the list goes on.
This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. FCC will be honoring all the women in our church family because at one time
or another they have touched the life of a child. At one time or another they have shown “motherly love” to a child.
Ponderings… Rev. Paula Brooks Associate Minister
FCC’s First Women’s “Mini” Retreat A Success It was an amazing day! On Saturday, May 6, 40 women gathered in our Family Life Center for our first Women’s
“Mini” Retreat. The theme was “Relax, Refresh & Renew” and that we did. The messages from our keynoter were
inspiring and uplifting. The music was breathtaking as a group of talented women led us. We laughed, shed a few
tears, renewed friendships and made new ones, created our own prayer journals, made relaxing hand scrub and shared
in communion. It was an amazing day!
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Elder - On Call
5/7-5/13 Kelley McCullough
5/14-5/20 Bill McCullough
Visitors May 7, 2017
Taryn & Michael Bell Valerie Brady
Chaney Coffman Nita Fradenburg
Giese Family Russell Hill
Stephen & Rose Huskey James Family
Kubacak Family Deborah Lucas Amparo Olguin Aidan Ramsey
Rodriguez Family Nona Weber Kelby Winn
Lectionary Scriptures
May 14
Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
1 Peter 2:2-10 John 14:1-14
Contemporary 47 Children’s Church 5
Nursery 4 Total 56
Traditional 136 Children’s Church 18
Nursery 3 Total 157
Total Worship Attendance 213
Adult Sunday School
2 Chronicles 7:14 - Library
Topic: Angels Standing Guard
Leader: Members of the Class
Fellowship - Room 307
Topic: The Defender of the Weak
Scripture: John 8
Leader: Jim Mauldin
Young Disciples – Room 106
Topic: Experiencing God – God Speaks Part 1
Scripture: Various Scriptures
Leader: Paula Brooks
Genesis - Parlor
Topic: Death of Eli
Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:1-22
Leader: Jerry Floyd
Children’s Activities
Sunday School - 10am
Celebrating Mom’s in Kid Cave
Children’s Church Color Story of Jesus
CELEBRATE
No CELEBRATE. Spend the day with your mom!
Sunday Attendance May 7, 2017
Worship
Church Bulletin Board
Page 6 The Builder, First Christian Church
Thank You!
Thank you for everyone who helped during
Ray Stailey’s recent illness. The Prayers,
Visits, Cards & the Support were appreciated.
Thank you
Ray & Pat Stailey
Up & Coming Children’s Activities
Sunday, May 14
Mother’s Day No CELEBRATE
Friday, May 19
Girls Night Out 6-8pm Grades 3-5
Saturday, May 20
Little Playdates 10-11:30am Preschool Age
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun 1-2:30pm Grades K-2
Sunday, May 21
Family Night at CELEBRATE
Our Deepest Sympathy We extend our heartfelt sympathy and prayer to the following families who have recently lost a loved one:
The Family of Ray Ann Zant…Ray Ann passed away on Sunday, May 7, 2017 in Odessa, TX.
Memorial Services were held on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa, TX.
Ray Ann is the sister of Lyn Brown and Freda Kinsey and the sister-in-law of Gail Caudle.
The Family of Richard Cromwell …Richard passed away on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 in Boise, Idaho.
Memorial Services are pending. Richard is the father of Dave Cromwell
Please keep Ray Ann Zant’s Family & the Cromwell Family in your prayers.
“With the peace and grace of Christ, may the Spirit of God gently enfold all those who sorrow.”
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Birthdays
5/1 Betty Couch
5/1 Julie Lastoka
5/2 Cierra Stanford
5/2 Char Womack
5/3 Matthew Glover
5/3 Adam Pollard
5/5 John Ross Espino
5/6 Ben Ellis
5/7 Gwyn Hill
5/8 Mark Branum
5/9 Barbara Estes
5/10 Linda Hyatt
5/11 Ricky Gonzalez
5/11 Tom Hill
5/11 Nancy Stanley
5/11 Lucille Vaughan
5/12 Kirk Branum
5/13 Bea Lea Somerville
5/15 Ernie Gilkerson
5/15 Ken Sneed
5/19 Paula Johnson
5/19 Jill Wright
5/21 Grayson Stanley
5/22 Brittani Beggs
5/22 Steve Vaughan
5/22 Adriana Cardozo
5/23 Gavin Magee
5/23 Sandra Wills
5/27 Amber Hopper
5/27 Brenda Morris
5/27 Chloe Wells
5/28 Justin Disney
5/28 Greyson Flores
5/28 Dean Rucker
5/29 Yvonne Scarbrough
5/30 Libbie Richards
5/31 Carol Thompson
5/31 Del Windle
Anniversaries 5/1 Albert & Teri Valero
5/3 Jeremy & Elizabeth McMellon
5/12 Mark & Pam Branum
5/17 J.R. & Amanda Bourland
5/18 Hal & Cindy Gill
5/19 Tom & Meta Jones
5/19 Morgan & Elizabeth Williams
5/26 Jim & Linda Blaisdell
5/28 Gaylon & Pat Howard
5/28 Mike & Enid Hunter
Special Notes: 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
Disciples Food Pantry End of Month April
Families served 69
Total People 283
We continue to rejoice that resources for this
ministry are available.
Prayers & Praises
Those in need of prayer: Betty Whitmire June Jarrett Helen Estes Faye Casey Ray & Doris Stewart Robert Crudgingtion Dolores Hodges Clint Hurst Roberta Hurt Bill Schneider Sheila Crudgington Bill Griffin Johnny Espino Doris Stewart Mary Mauldin George Head Bruce Stanley Bill & Char Womack
Military: Joe Henderson - son of Holly Moore Nicky Miller - son of Vicki Miller Kinder McCullough-daughter of Bill & Kelley McCullough
Families/Friends beyond FCC: Peggy Ann Poss-daughter-In-Law of Martha Delnor Poss Heather Cisneros- niece of Jeweli Flores Sandi Nobles & Family -friend of Ginny Estes
Kairos Conde – nephew of Olivia Espino Megan Flores & Family – friend of Khrysti Bair Jay Cooper – nephew of Cecil & Betty Odom Gale Demlow- sister to Lois Lehtinen Kimber Brown- granddaughter of Lyn Brown Joyce Watkins- mother of Judy Spruell Oscar Garcia – brother of Amparo Olguin Sherri Ladd – daughter-in-law of Butch & Sherry Family of George Capps – cousin of Sara Cranford Mary Elizabeth Droddy - sister of Sara Cranford Jim Truitt- friend of Peggy Jones Bill Bowlin – brother of Mary Lightfoot Ray Ann Zant-Sister to Lyn Brown & Freda Kinsey Ferell Powell- friend of Sharon & Bill Boyd
Linda Odell-mother of Jeweli Flores Jessa Davis – grand daughter of Nell Coats Herb Miller – Disciples Minister known to many Family of Vicki Williams – Bea Lea Somerville Dustin Davis – grandson of Nell Coat Richard Smith – son-in-law of Ray Stewart Ed Shelton – nephew of Scotty Alcorn Joe Langford – father of Carol Cook Martha Pollock – friend of Sara Cranford
Please inform the church office if you or a loved one are admitted into a hospital, so we may be there for you & your family.
For submission to prayer list contact any staff, submit via web, or e-mail [email protected]
The Christian Builder First Christian Church 1301 W. Louisiana Ave. Midland, TX 79701
432.682.2541
www.fccmidland.org May 11, 2017
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