Christian Courier

May 14, 2011

Inside the Courier:
A Look at the Brite

First Christian Church of Minneapolis (Disciples of Christ)

Kids invited to Creation Care Day Camp

A full week of day camp is on the calendar this year for FCC children. The Creation Care day camp include camp activities such as worship, Bible study, crafts, activities and lunch in the morning, and more activities such as quilting, bread baking, music, sports and more at various sites in the afternoon. The camp will be held June 20-24, from 9 am to 4 pm. Kids from age 4 through 6th grade are invited to participate. The morning programs will be at Zion Lutheran, 128 33rd St., between Blaisdell and Pillsbury Aves. Afternoon activities will be at the Blaisdell YMCA as well as other sites. FCCs new ministry partners, Salem English Lutheran Church and Lyndale United Church of Christ, are participating, as well as Our Saviors Lutheran, Calvary Lutheran, Little Flock Independent Baptist, and possibly other congregations. Jillian Emery and leaders from several of the participating congregations will lead the camp. Brochures for Creation Care Day Camp are available in the lounge with registration information. Volunteers are needed, as are supplies. Everyone is invited to drop off supplies in the collection box by June 12.

Side, page 2 Inspirations Youth Choir to visit, p. 3 Graduation and Camp Recognition May 29, page 3

ourier

On the Web:
FCCs website Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) national organization Easter, 2011 photos

Craft Supplies Acrylic Craft Paint (bright colors) Childrens scissors, Construction Paper Craft Sponges in fun shapes Crayons Fabric Paint (bright colors) Old Cookie sheets (will not be returned) Paint Brushes (variety of sizes) Paint Markers, Pencils, Pens Permanent Markers Plain Drawing Paper (we can use paper that has been used on one side) Masking Tape, Scotch Tape Silicone Ice Cup Trays or Muffin Tins (in fun shapes, used for making crayons) Stencils in fun shapes (will be used with paint) Tempera Paint (bright colors) Washable Markers Supplies that will be made into something new! Magazines Old Puzzles (pieces to be used for a project so puzzles missing pieces are perfect) Crayons (with labels peeled off, will be melted) Recycled Cardboard (Cereal Boxes, Soda Cases, Etc.) Recycled Paper Newspaper Button down shirts (will be used for smocks) Other Supplies Flower Seed Packets Childrens garden tools (please mark with your name and we will do our best to return once camp is over)

Page 2

May 14, 2011

A Look at the Brite Side

A real challenge in loving an enemy

(Ding, dong, the witch is dead?) My angst was in the form of my Christian conscience wondering why I should feel joy over the death of another human being. (Another, smaller piece of angst was in discovering that bin Laden was actually younger than I am. Geez!) I read an article this morning on Yahoo! News pointing out that a lot of clergy around the country were wrestling with similar angst. And such wrestling is good for the soul, my brothers and sisters. Much as I dislike mixed feelings, I trust them as a sign of my own self-honesty more than I would if I had no doubts about anything. One of the most dangerous mentalities is that of the extremist those who is so convinced of their rightness that they dont care whom they trample in pursuit of their rightness. Such was bin Laden, I think; such are many who pursue a fundamentalist agenda in religion and society. God calls upon us to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. We like to think that God told us to do this because it would cause our enemies, in the spirit of love, to come around to our way of thinking. The real reason God calls us to love our enemies is that it changes us; it opens our souls to possibly making an enemy into a friend. I wish I had the answers, solutions, and skills to turn all of our nations enemies into our friends, but I dont. And until somebody develops such skills, our only choice is to pursue a strong defense for the sake of self-protection. Nevertheless, I would gladly trade such defense for a world in which people regarded one another as beings who have more in common to help us build together than differences to drive us apart. Id like to see YOU on Sunday, Bob

Like many of us in these United States, I watched with fascination, celebration, and some amount of angst the announcement by Pres. Obama that the worlds no. 1 terrorist, Osama bin Laden, was killed by a team of U.S. forces in Pakistan, and the spontaneous outpouring of emotion over that. My fascination was in seeing our divided people come together if only for a brief time to be one. My celebration was something akin to letting out ones breath after holding it in fear for almost ten years; the evil one who had taken out over 3000 Americans, of many cultural and religious persuasions, at the Pentagon and World Trade Center, was gone.

In our prayers
Gracious God, we lift up these persons in our prayers, asking the blessing of your Grace and outpouring of your Love upon them.

We pray in thanksgiving that Irene Hackett is recovering from her cornea transplant, that Nick and Mavis Rusinak have a new greatgrandchild, and that Steve and Amy Dunlop are back in the U.S. and continuing in their careers; in concern for Belinda Flanagan who is having surgery next week, for June Andrix who fell and is recovering and getting therapy in nursing home, for Anne Shifflett, who is recovering from surgery in Chico, CA; for Mike Ronnei in hospice care, and for friends and family members of Ardie Armstrong (friend Erin), Val Dunham (niece), Nancy Curry (mother and cousin), and James Rogers (wife); for victims of floods, tornados and other natural disasters; for all our homebound members including Jane Anderson and Lois Cobbs, Amen.

Christian Courier

Page 3

Inspirations Youth Choir here June 5

More bells than ever will be ringing during worship on June 5 when The Inspiration Youth Vocal and Handbell Choir of Raytown Christian Church join in our worship service. The group is making its annual youth musical tour June 3-11, 2011, and will be in Minneapolis and Duluth in MN, Marquette and Blaine in MI, the Chicago area, and Albia and Burlington, IA. They will stay overnight at FCC on Saturday, June 4. Raytown Christian Church is a Disciples of Christ congregation outside of Kansas City with a history of excellence in music that includes six handbell choirs. In the 40 years that this group of teenaged youth has been doing summer tours, they have performed in nearly every state and across North America. The Inspiration Ringers are a youth handbell choir of youth from 7th-12th grade. They help lead worship periodically throughout the year and, since 1976, have regularly rung in area and national festivals of The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers. The Inspirations Singers are our vocal choir composed of 6th-12th grade youth who participate in worship every other week at RCC. These middle and high school age youth present an inspiring Christian program of vocal music, drama and English handbells to local churches, retirement homes and care facilities. This is the 40th Anniversary Trip for the Inspirations program. The group has been under the direction of Mrs. Suanne Comfort for all forty years (she has only missed three trips).

James Rogers joins FCC family

James Rogers is greeted by Pastor Bob Brite following worship on May 1. James is attending our Wednesday night Bible study class. Welcome, James! Anne Shifflet hospitalized Anne Shifflet, wife of former FCC pastor Tom Shifflet, is hospitalized, recovering from a perforated gastro-intestinal system. Cards and letters would be appreciated, but please, no phone calls. Address is the Enloe Medical Center, 1531 Esplanade, Room 3088, Chico CA, 95926 Graduation and Camp Recognitions to be held Sunday, May 29 We will be recognizing those who are graduating from high school, college, and grad school, on Sunday, May 29 during worship. Our list of graduates include the following: From high school: Athena Carlson, Wes Creighton, Sean Cackoski From college: Alison Creighton From seminary: Deb Murphy If you know of any others that are reaching such significant milestones, please contact Bob or call the church office. Church office to be closed Friday, May 13 Due to our office manager taking a trip to his alma mater on Thursday and Friday, the church office will be closed on Friday, May 13. For emergencies, please contact Bob at 317-224-6717.

Christian Courier

Page 4

Bi-Weekly Calendar
Sundays at First Christian Church
Sunday Worship at 10:30 am Before Worship After Worship

Reflections on the Word

From readings for 5.22.11 Into your hands I commend my spirit: for you have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth. --Psalm 31:5 These words are part of the ancient monastic prayer service of Compline, said before retiring for the evening. They are also reputedly Martin Luthers last words. They are some of the most comforting words to me in the Bible, and, white knuckler that I am, I say them each time I fly. Our lives are in Gods hands, and we can never come to permanent harm when that is the case, for wherever we might fall, we can never fall outside of Gods loving reach. Amen. --Chris Wogaman

Breakfast Club 8:45 am Spiritual Formation Classes 9:15 am This Week at FCC

Fellowship Time 11:45

After worship: Fellowship Hour 11:45 am

Next Week at FCC

Sunday, May 22 Elders Meeting

Tuesday, May 17 Retired Teachers Lunch FCC Board Meeting Wednesday, May 18 Bible Study Bell Choir Chancel Choir

noon 7 pm

5 pm 7 pm 6 pm 6:30 pm 7:45 pm 9 am 9 am

Monday, May 23 Book Club @ Westphals Wednesday, May 25 Bible Study Bell Choir Chancel Choir Thursday, May 26 Handcrafters Saturday, May 28 Mens Group `

6 pm 6:30 pm 7:45 pm

Thursday, May 19 Handcrafters 9 am Ministry Council Board Meeting 7 pm Saturday, May 21 Spring Share-the-Care 9 am Laura Lynne/Naomi Circle 10 am Serve dinner at St. Stephens 6 pm

A Thoughtful Church in the Heart of the City Ministry Team

All Members of the Congregation Robert Brite, Interim Minister Dennis Sanders, Associate Minister of Diversity and Mission Chris Wogaman, Office Manager Rick Bowman, Building Manager Deb Murphy, Director of Spiritual Formation & Community Ministry James Baumgartner, Interim Music Director Bryon Wilson, Interim Organist Serena Carlson, Nursery Attendant Martha Harris, Courier Editor Telephone: 612.870.1868 Prayer Phone: 612.870.0984 Christian Courier is published bimonthly. Send items and ideas to church office or to Martha Harris harrismartha@mac.com by Sun. May 22 for the next issue.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF MINNEAPOLIS (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)

2201 1st Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55404

Address Service Requested