Christian Courier

September 3, 2011

First Christian Church of Minneapolis (Disciples of Christ)

Inside the Courier:

A Look at the Brite

Sunday Sept. 11 to make beginning of fall programs and solemn anniversary

Sept. 11 marks the beginning of the fall church year, with regular worship hours, the return of the Breakfast Club, new Christian Formation class offerings, and, of course, the return of the Chancel Choirs beautiful music. The Breakfast Club meets at 8:45 am for food and fellowship. Its open to everyone, especially those families with children who have to scurry around to get breakfast before church. Rev. Jay Hillestad will lead an adult Sunday School class on the study of Luke. The children will study Noah in the Art of the Covenant class, as they begin a new curriculum that children at our partner churches Salem and Lyndale are also following. A new 9:15 class called Super Simple Sunday School will meet in the Library Alcove near the Narthex to read, discuss and pray with the lectionary texts. The Backpack Collection project will conclude this Sunday. FCC is partnering with Central Lutheran Church to provide backpacks filled with school supplies for families that have difficulty buying all the items that schools require children to bring to school Backpack supplies needed are: pens, crayons, pencils, markers; notebooks, blank paper, binders; glue, scissors Following worship, members are invited to join folks from our partner churches on the grounds of the new Ministry Center for a celebration of the new ministry with root beer floats, music, hot dogs and (with permission of contractors) tours inside. Sept. 11 is of course a date to remember for other reasons. 2011 marks the ten-year anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Area churches are gathering to commemorate and reflect on this solemn anniversary. A free commemorative concert will be given Saturday evening, Sept. 10 at 8 pm in the Basilica. A chorus of over 100 singers from many area religious and other singing groups plus orchestra will perform a program that will include Bernsteins Chichester Psalms, two Stephen Paulus compositions, and Aaron Coplands Fanfare for the Common Man. Minnesotans of all faiths and beliefs will gather at the Capitol Mall in St. Paul from 2-4 on Sunday, Sept. 11 for a community observance of the 9/11 attacks. The public ceremony for all Minnesotans will be led by representatives of the diverse and rich faith communities of our state and will include prayers, music, and inspiration for many religious traditions.

Side, page 2
Grande Sale an-

nouncement, page 3 Board Notes, page 3

ourier

On the Web:
FCCs website Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) national organization Week of Compassion at work on African hunger crisis Pastor Sanders blog

Musicians enjoying their work!

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A Look at the Brite Side

Life philosophies need to grow & change

In case you havent noticed it by now after 3 years, 6 months, and 20-some-odd days as your pastor (but whos counting?), I tend to have a rather quirky outlook on life and faith. When I wrote my Masters thesis lo these many moons ago, my official philosophy of life was: Lifes a joke, so lets laugh. My philosophy of life has evolved somewhat since then, to the point that it is now: Lifes a Looney Tunes Cartoon. Our (partial) role is to determine which character we are in the cartoon. For years I was Wiley Coyote, the guy who used all sorts of outlandish tricks just to get fed, but always managed to get clobbered instead. These days Im shooting for the Road Runner, who just cruises down the highway, or Speedy Gonzalez, who uses his skill to get the cheese for others. Ive never liked the attitudes of Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck, the fatalism of Sylvester, the bluster of Foghorn Leghorn, or the arrogance of Tweety Bird. Philosophies of life need to evolve, and change, and grow, just as our faith does. To me the central job description of the Christian is to grow as a soul, just as the central job description of a church is to grow in spirit, ministry, and in number. Have you thought about the meaning of your own lives? Hopefully part of that meaning is to grow in soul as you joyfully serve God. The challenge is to find meaningful ways to do that, ways that test us and move us off of where we are to where God calls us to be. One of the central challenges for FCC is to find its passion in doing ministry. The elders are wrestling with that; I encourage you to wrestle with it too. Id like to see YOU on Sunday, Bob

To me the central job description of the Christian is to grow as a soul, just as the central job description of a church is to grow in spirit, ministry, and in number

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 ask for blessings to students and teachers beginning a new school year, especially Sean Cackoski, Athena Carlson and Wesley Creighton who are starting college; for joy over the birth on July 14 of Camille Luciana to Yvette Carter and Raul Ramirez Nizza; for sympathy to Kirsten Cackoski and her family over the loss of sister-in-law Sharon; in concern for Pastor Bob who is dealing with flare up of Menires disease that has brought many vertigo episodes and for Ernie Brennan who would very much like to move back to his old house; in thankfulness that Bob Andersons mother Judy is recovering at home from surgery and Bobbi Halls sister-in-law is also recovering; in concern for Bobbie Halls friend Judy and Arlene Hillestads neighbor who are both gravely ill; for those on East Coast who were in the path of the hurricane, including Belinda Flanagans friends in Virginia Beach and Bob Brites daughter in Washington, D.C., and for our friends at the Disciples church in Mankato discerning future as its pastor departs; for all our homebound members including Emma Armstrong and Phyllis Dunlap, Amen.

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Mark your calendars for Grande Sale!! This years Grande Sale will be happening the week of Oct. 9. We will again be partnering with Spirit of St. Stephens, and plan to extend an invitation to our Ministry Center church partners. Set up will be Sunday, Oct 9 following worship, and Monday and Tuesday as needed. The sale itself will run Thur. Oct. 13 through Sat. Oct. 15 with clean up on Saturday afternoon. (12-7pm on Thursday and Friday and 9-Noon Saturday.) What you can be doing now: start collecting stuff to donate, and spread the word about our sale. I could really use someone with the gift of marketing/publicity to help with getting the word out. If you are interested, please let me know! New this year: watch for an online sign-up (details to come)! Becki Whitaker, becki@sporga.net, 651-6866571 Multiple Committees at work Pastor Brite has often mentioned the many committees that are at work to prepare for the move to the Ministry Center. If youve wondered just what those committees are, here is a list:
Ministry Center Board oversees budget and approves all plans for new building Covenant Committee is revising the original Covenant to include FCC Design Team plans with contractors for building reconstruction Worship Subcommittee an offshoot of the Design Team, this group concentrates on planning for the worship spaces in the new building Technology makes plans for sound system, phones, computers and other technology needs in new building Kitchen policy is working out how three churches will share and use kitchen Christian Education is planning curriculum for joint classes Organ committee making plans for moving and installing FCCs organ in new space Finance and Audit groups handles budget and working out policy for new partnership finances Safe Church Policy has created a policy to protect children and vulnerable adults in the Ministry Center programs Signage and Logo making plans for banners, symbols and name well use Sean Cackoski and his mother Kirsten (left), and Justin Carlson right) blessed worship services recently with their musical talents. Sean has started his first year at Rider University, and Justin is now a senior at Carleton College.

Irregular Office Hours through Sept. 14 Our office manager, Chris Wogaman, will be on vacation from September 1 through the 14th, which means that the church office will be open only when Bob is around. If you have particular concerns or needs, please call Bob at 317-224-6717. (Most land lines now have free nationwide calling, so it shouldnt be a problem!) Gift Card Shower for Paola Sept. 18 Our Congolese student, Paola, is moving into her own apartment out in St. Louis Park! Were going to have a gift card shower for her on September 18. If you could get Target or Visa gift cards, that will provide her with the freedom of choice for the necessities of apartment living. (The date may vary depending on Paolas work schedule.)

Board Notes
The August board meeting was an abbreviated one because only five members were present in addition to staff members Bob Brite, Deb Murphy and Dennis Sanders. The main item discussed was the status of the bridge loan application. Skip Wolverton explained that the loan is approved, but that the Board of Church Extension is still requesting further documentation. Board members discussed possible options for paying our next installment on bills for the Ministry Center if the loan monies are not in hand.

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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 9.11.11
I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you? Matt. 18: 32b-33 Forgiveness is not our natural state. Its so much easier to hold on to our need for recompense than just to let go. Letting go is what the word for forgiveness means in Greek. And I know that we all have things of which to let go, particularly as we remember 9/11. Letting go of ownership of this date and its events will help shape how we act as Christians towards our own people and the rest of the world in the years to come. God, be our defense, but also be our source of forgiveness. Reassure us that justice comes from you, as we let the past stay in the past. Give us grace to give others, forgiveness to forgive others. Through your son, Jesus. Amen.

Breakfast Club 8:45 am Spiritual Formation Classes 9:15 am

Fellowship Time 11:45

This Week at FCC worship: Fellowship HourFCC am Next Week at 11:45 After
Tuesday, September 6 Worship Committee Wednesday, September 7 Nikkei Bible Study Bell Choir Chancel Choir Thursday, September 8 Handcrafters Saturday, September 10 Mens Group 9/11 Concert at Basilica 7 pm 9 am 6 pm 6:30 pm 7:45 pm 9 am Sunday, September 11 Backpack Drive collection Three-Church Get-Together 12 n. 9/11 Gathering at State Capitol 2-4 pm Monday, September 12 Carter Circle @ Sandy Morgans 7pm Tuesday, September 13 Property Committee 7 pm Wednesday, September 14 Finance Committee Bible Study Bell Choir Chancel Choir Thursday, September 15 Handcrafters Saturday, September 17 Mens Group Laura Lynn/Naomi Circle Downtown Church Tour Serve Dinner at St. Stephens ` 5:30 pm 6 pm 6:30 pm 7:45 pm 9 am 9 am 10 am 4:30 pm 6 pm

9 am 7 pm

--Chris Wogaman

A Thoughtful Church in the Heart of the City Ministry Team

All Members of the Congregation Robert Brite, Transitional Minister Dennis Sanders, Minister of Diversity and Mission Chris Wogaman, Office Manager Jim Baumgartner, Director of Music Bryon Wilson, Organist/Pianist Rick Bowman, Building Manager Serena Carlson, Nursery Attendant Martha Harris, Courier Editor Telephone: 612.870.1868 Prayer Phone: 612.870.0984 www.fccminneapolis.org E-mail fcc-mpls@qwest.net Fax: 612.870.1860 Christian Courier is published bimonthly. Send items and ideas to church office or to Martha Harris harrismartha@mac.com by Sun. September 11 for the next issue.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF MINNEAPOLIS (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)

2201 1st Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55404

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