Broadcaster October 26, 2010

Yes, I've been remiss again in posting to blog! I really am trying to get it together...but now a note from Dave's desk...


“TAKE ANOTHER LOOK”

I drove over from our home to Erwin twice on Monday. In the morning as I came over, all the colors I had marveled at on Sunday were gone! There were no trees visible at all. In fact, the very highway was not visible, nor even the white lines on it. I was driving over during that horrendous downpour Monday morning, and the visibility was nil for a while. Obviously,I (and a lot of other drivers)just had to pull
over for a few moments before continuing on. But then I came back again on Monday evening, just before sundown, and the sun was breaking through clouds and highlighting different hillsides and slopes of the surrounding mountains: it was absolutely gorgeous! Even more amazing than what I had enjoyed on Sunday, probably because of the contrast from the morning.
It is not news to mention that First Christian Church has been through some stormy times recently.Several people have expressed alarm at the low attendance for worship services and the low offerings each week. In times like these our vision seems extremely low; some would say that the bright days were all in the past. But just as the mountains in all their beauty were still there all day on Monday, so we need
to get our perspective clarified and realize that God’s hand has not left His church.
When you think back to Jesus’ ministry in the days just before He went to Calvary, the Gospels tell us that His Apostles didn’t seem to catch on to what was happening. As He anticipated the great drama of the Crucifixion, they were arguing with each other about who was going to have the greatest position in His coming kingdom. From His arrest in the Garden, during His trials, and then while He suffered and died, almost all of the Twelve fled in fear and fretted about saving their own skin. It seemed there couldn’t have been a more unlikely group with which to found the Church! But then the Risen Lord drew them back together and refocused their vision on what His ministry really had been about. After His Ascension, the Holy Spirit filled those same unlikely and apparently unqualified followers, and thousands of people were baptized and became part of the worldwide Body of Christ.
We have to remember that this is Jesus’ Church, not ours. And when His Spirit is at work in His people,“the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” [Matt. 16:18] Through the centuries the Church has had stormy times, but it is still His Church. And even when it is hard for us to see, He is still working in and among us. Now it is our privilege to be faithful servants and seek to let His Spirit lead us where He will.

Yours in Christ,
RDR
~
Thanksgiving Dinner
Wednesday, November 10 at 6:00pm!
Our dinner will be catered by Three Peas in a Pod
and will consist of a traditional Thanksgiving
dinner. To help defray the cost we’re asking for a
donation of $6.00 for age 12 and up; $3.00 for
ages 6-11; children under 5 no charge.
Look for reservation slips on 10/31 & 11/7. You
may drop slips in the offering plate or call the
office by November 4th.
~
Trunk or Treat—Saturday, Oct. 30th.
The kiddies will start showing up at 5pm’ish so if
you’re planning on handing out candy and want to
decorate your car and prepare for the hordes you may
want to get there at 4:00-4:30!!
All children are invited to enter our COLORING
CONTEST!! Check out www.fccerwin.org to
download you coloring sheet! Entries in 7:00pm at our
Trunk or Treat location.
ALSO
Rumor has it there will be a drawing for an iPOD
Shuffle! All entries must be in by 7:00pm at our Trunk
or Treat location. All of those who enter will need to
pick up and fill out an entry from in it’s entirety.
Exclusions: FCC Members
~
For your information:
If you would like to come to Church and or
Bible Study and can’t drive yourself we’d be
happy to help OR
If you’re unable to attend Worship Service
and would like to have Communion brought
to you…
Please call the Church Office for more
information
~
5th Sunday Hymn Sing
Sunday, October 31 @ 6:00pm Lily Dale will host
~
Missions Minute
Our missions program has been one of our strongest outreach ministries here at FCC. Over the years we have been blessed to be able to support a missions program that is a significant percentage of our general budget. Our mission’s budget for 2010 is slightly over 24% of our general budget. This does not include special offerings like the Haiti offering taken in February, or the special missions Sunday offering taken in August..
Unfortunately we are currently running behind on our weekly offerings in support of missions. So far this year our church giving to missions is about $10,000 behind what the budget calls for at this time of year. Fortunately, the Boone Estate is helping, but we should not and can not keep depending upon this source. Our missions program is an extremely important segment of our ministry and we must continue to support it generously. The solution to our deficit is not lower our budget, but rather to prayerfully and intentionally trust the Lord to bless us as we increase our personal giving to His work.
Next week we will look at how FCC categorizes the missions we support.
PDE