Christian Courier

October 15, 2011 Inside the Courier:

A Look at the Brite

First Christian Church of Minneapolis (Disciples of Christ)

Pull Out All the Stops organ concert Oct. 30

moving the organ to our new location. The organ will probably be moved November or December, when it will be refurbished and re-voiced for the South Sanctuary of the Ministry Center. The design team has just recently received architectural designs for the organ installation, and bids are currently being solicited for the move and construction. According to Pastor Brite, mid-December is the most current prediction for when the new building will be ready. FCC is still looking at January as the month when we will move.

Side, page 2 Search committee at work, page 3 New ecumenical lectionary group forming, page 3 Book club news, page 3

ourier
Pull Out All the Stops!, a going-away concert for FCCs grand pipe organ, will be held Sunday, Oct. 30 at 1 pm. Current organist Bryon Wilson will be joined by former organists, including Bev Singewald, Jerry Bonstrom, and Donald Ulm, in this reverent, fun and fancy organ concert. The concert is free, but a freewill offering will be taken to help support the costs of

On the Web:
FCCs website Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) national organization Disciples in the Upper Midwest

The Grande Sale

Thursday, Oct. 13 4 7 pm Friday, Oct. 14 12 7 pm Saturday, Oct. 15 9 am 1 pm Clean up after

Steve Rusinak

Page 2

A Look at the Brite Side

Another transition as Search begins

Transitions are never easy things; the transition this congregation has gone through for the last 30 years proves that. Transitions have elements of the positive and the negative; the changes mean some tearing about of long-established habits or relationships for the establishment of new ones. There is pain and promise, harriedness and hope, old and new coming together. As we anticipate the move into the Ecumenical Ministry Center, it will involve adjustments, tolerance, patience, maybe some amount of civil argument, and a lot of work. Another piece of upcoming transition lies in the fact that a Search Committee has been formed for a permanent pastor. (See story on page 3 for list of members.) Their job is, first, to put together a profile of congregational life and goals, with the goal of submitting that profile to the Upper Midwest Disciples regional structure. They then will receive candidate profiles of Disciples ministers who are looking for positions and, over time, settle on one candidate to recommend to the Board and Congregation as the next permanent pastor of FCC. This process will probably take 12 to 18 months. I personally think that there will be a strong amount of interest from potential pastoral candidates; this will be a place where pastoral creativity will be an asset, and pastors like that! As for me, Im beginning to begin that search process as well; maybe the two processes will come together at the same time, or maybe Ill be gone sooner (or later?). Its a time of transition, containing all those elements mentioned above. You may wish to visit with these dedicated folk, and let them know what you think is needed for the future of FCC. Id like to see YOU on Sunday! Bob

There is pain and promise, harriedness and hope, old and new coming together

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 sympathy with the family of Ralph Morehouse, a longtime member of our church family, who passed away at age 103; in concern for Ruth White, who suffered a stroke and has moved into a nursing care facility, and for Irene Hackett who is having a second cornea transplant operation; in thanksgiving for all the workers giving time and talents to the Grande Sale and to the many working committees and task groups of the church; in hope for those seeking employment and those trying new careers, including Jay Hillestads brother Scott who is studying for the ministry, and Bob Brites friend who has a job after long unemployment; for all our homebound members including Lois Swenson and Dorothy Stegner, Amen.

Christian Courier

Page 3

Search Committee work underway

The Search Committee met with Regional Ministry Partner Tammy Rottschaefer on Tuesday, October 4. The committee is comprised of Dean Creighton and Mike Hesano, co-chairs, Max Hurlocker, Sandy Morgan, Serena Carlson, Arlene Hillestad, and Kirsten Cackoski, with Tom Curry and Deb Murphy being ex officio members. There is a lot of homework (most of it information gathering) to be done by the committee before they will begin to look at candidates papers. As of now, there is no specific time frame other than to be as diligent as possible with the work that needs to be done.

New Lectionary Group forming

Members from the three partner churches of the new Ministry Center (FCC, Lyndale, and Salem) are launching a new lectionary study group as a way to bring people from the churches together for Bible study. The group plans to meet on Tuesday afternoons from 4 pm to 5:30 at Intermedia Arts (where Salem and Lyndale are currently housed), 2822 Lyndale Ave. S. Well read, discuss, and share responses to the lectionary texts for the coming Sunday. Coffee and tea will be available. The first meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Baby Bouler shower Oct. 23 Book Club list of reads for winter
New members are always welcome to join FCCs book club, which meets monthly. You can come to any meeting no long-term commitment required! Here is the lineup of books and meeting places for the next several months: October 24: The Red Scarf Girl, Ji-Li Jiang: meeting will be at Barb and Allison Creighton's home at 7 pm November 28: Driftless by David Rhodes, meeting will be at Diane Hackett's home at 7 pm January 23: Silas Marner, George Eliot, meeting will be at Bobbie Hall's home at 7 pm Contact the church office if you need addresses or directions. The Carter Circle is hosting a shower for the soon-to-arrive baby of Jennifer and Clyde Bouler on Sunday, October 23, shortly after the worship service. All are welcome to join us. The babys gender is not yet known, so green and yellow gifts are welcome. You can find the family registered at Babies-R-Us and Target. PS - Jennifers due date is October 31, so if Baby Bouler makes an early appearance before the 23rd, we will reschedule.

Son reads from novel based on Emma Armstrongs early years

Doug Armstrong, Emmas son, gave a reading recently from his book Even Sunflowers Cast Shadows at Emmas home in Crystal. The novel is based on Emmas early life in a small Kansas town. Copies are in our church library.

An appreciation, and a correction Kirsten Cackoski wishes to express her appreciation on behalf of her family for the prayers and concern shown at the loss of her sister-in-law Sharon Pell-Lie. We apologize for listing Sharons name incorrectly in the prayer list.

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 10.16.11
Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. Matt. 22:21, KJV

Breakfast Club 8:45 am Spiritual Formation Classes 9:15 am This Week at FCC
Sunday, October 16 FCC Board meeting Food Pantry Sunday Elders Meeting

Fellowship Time 11:45

After worship: Fellowship Hour 11:45 am

Next Week at FCC

noon 5 pm

Monday, October 24 Book Club @ Creightons Wednesday, October 26 Bible Study Bell Choir Chancel Choir Thursday, October 27 Handcrafters Ministry Center Board Saturday, October 29 Fall Share-the-Care `

7 pm 6 pm 6:30 pm 7:45 pm 9 am 7 pm 9 am 1 pm

Tuesday, October 18 Retired Teachers Lunch noon Ecumenical Lectionary group 4 pm Wednesday, October 19 Nikkei Bible Study Bell Choir Chancel Choir Thursday, October 20 Handcrafters 9 am 6 pm 6:30 pm 7:45 pm 9 am

What are Gods things? Hmmm. Its easy enough to see what belongs to our worldly society. We might argue about what we should give to or get from the government, but we can see the world of things. Doesnt God transcend things? Arent things of the Spirit in fact not things at all? In fact, everything in this world, everything, is Gods, except what we make to govern our earthly lives, and use to separate us from each other. Those are the things of Caesar. Great God of giving, all that we have is a gift from you. Encourage in us, more than gratefulness, an ability to let go of what we dont need, and a mindfulness of what others do need. Amen. --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. Oct. 23 for the next issue.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF MINNEAPOLIS (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)

2201 1st Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55404

Address Service Requested