The Christian Edifier
December 2011
A message from Pastor Brett
Where will we be…
This year we have a special opportunity that will only come five more times between now and
January
2011 Day is on a Sunday and we will have the special opportunity to gather together
2044. Christmas
as a church family to worship God. I hope you will view this as the special gift that it is and an
opportunity to invite your family who might be visiting to worship as well. Or if we are
traveling elsewhere visiting family; we will view this as an opportunity to attend their church or
find a church to worship locally. The point being, we have the unique opportunity on Christmas
day to stop and worship with our greater church family.
I was stunned when I read that many churches around the country will be cancelling worship
services on Christmas Day. This speaks volumes of the problem that is presented in every
Protestant congregation when Christmas falls on a Sunday.
Scott Thumma hits the nail on the head; “After talking with official researchers of several of the
country’s major denominations, it is absolutely clear that when Christmas and Sunday service
coincide – it is the Sunday service that loses. Attendance is always minimal on a Christmas
Sunday.”
Can the worship celebration on Jesus’ birth in church compete with the commercial version? Is
praising God less vital than rekindling family connections around a table laden with food or a
tree surrounded with gifts? Can worship compete with Santa Claus, lingering over the breakfast
table, toys discovered on Christmas morning? Perhaps the song is right; there is no place like
home for the holidays.
Over and over I hear people complain about the commercialization of Christmas and the desire
of Christians to put Christ back in Christmas. Well, do we hold ourselves accountable to the
standard we wish to hold society to or do we rationalize and say that it is okay not to worship
because our family time is important?
So my question is this; where will you and your family be on Christmas Eve and Christmas
Morning? As the scripture calls us, as for me and my household we will serve God and be in
worship.
Christmas Eve worship is at 7pm and Christmas Day at 10:30am – out of town – get on the web
or get on the phone today and find out when worship will be where you are visiting.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brett
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Thoughts from Pastor Brett continued….
Last Sunday we explored the question; are we waiting or just lingering?
We talked about this question in the context of what we are preparing for
during the season of Advent. If we celebrate Advent as a season to prepare to meet the Risen
Christ; we have much to anticipate, much to get ready for, and many people to serve long after
Christmas ends. If Advent is only about preparing for Christmas; then we have nothing to do but
linger; nothing to anticipate or look forward to and we find our lives irrelevant. The presents are
open, the gifts delivered….
I’d like us all to explore this same question in terms of how we view our faith in light of
salvation as well. Is being saved all the Christian faith should be about or is there something
more. From where I sit, too many Christians view “being saved” as the pinnacle of our faith –
one’s salvation is all that matters. If this is the case then chances are one is lingering. In other
words, all there is to do is to wait until it is our time to go and receive God’s grace. Whatever
else happens here on earth, in our life, in our relationship with other Christians, and our
relationship with the church really isn’t important. All there is to do is linger on earth with no
real purpose or expectation for anything new in our lives on earth; just hang out and do what we
want to do (much like what was going on in Corinth). We soon find our faith weakening and as
the definition of lingering suggests; we remain alive although we are gradually dying.
On the other hand, if we view salvation “being saved” as just the beginning of our faith journey;
then we have much to look forward to here on earth and in heaven. With this attitude of
expectation; we worship, we study, we fellowship with other Christians, and we serve others.
We build a closer relationship with Jesus Christ and with other believers in the body of Christ.
We look forward with anticipation to the opportunities that God places in front of us to serve
Him and to serve others. We also look forward to receiving the spiritual gifts from the Holy
Spirit (who will work through us) to fulfill those ministry opportunities.
So: are you waiting or just lingering?
Blessings,
Pastor Brett
Worship with us!
Christmas Eve – 7 pm
Christmas Day – 10:30 am
New Year’s Day – 10:30 am
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Please pray for our family & friends:
Ethel Adams; Al & Nita Bartlett; Madelyn Chappel; Odell Carlisle; Jack Dunham;
Jane Hanskencht; Betty Robbins; Shirley Weiglein and others you may know.
We will
“Ring the Bells”
Saturday, December 10
At Oleson’s Store on Hammond Rd
10 am
Jerry Donner & Jackie Krumm
11 am
David & Norma Marmie
12 noon
Jackie Sutherland & Grandchildren
1 pm
Barbara & Myrna Adkins
2 pm
White Family
3 pm
Smith Family
4 pm
Jerry & Sally Seymour
5 pm
Noel Henning & Youth
6 pm
Walters Family
7 pm
Glen & Diane Lundin
Blessings upon each person for donating their time during this busy
season – in the service of others!
Annual Jesus Birthday Party
Sunday, December 11
After Sunday School Hour
Ham will be provided
Bring a side dish to complete the
potluck meal!
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Other December Birthdays!
December Anniversaries!
12/15
12/19
12/20
12/22
12/23
12/25
12/27
12/30
12/31
12/4
12/8
12/11
12/18
M
Liz Henning
Helen Callison
Trent Janda
Janet Taylor
Ethel Adams, Madelyn Chappel
Andy Taylor, Nita Bartlett
Jack Dunham
Myrna Adkins
Patrick Spalding
Wes & Melissa White
Jerry & Jennifer Taylor
Toby & Betty Miller
Rocky & Val Stone
Congratulations!
Enjoy and be blessed!
Your church family
wishes you the very best.
arie Korb sends a greeting! “To my friends at First Christian Church – I trust you had a blessed
Thanksgiving and hope your Christmas will be as well. I wish you all good health in the New Year.”
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Monday Morning Prayer Time
This group meets in the chapel between 8:45 and 9 am and takes a few minutes to
recognize the prayer requests of the church and extended church family and then lifts
those people and needs up in prayer until 9:30 or so. This is an important ministry of
the church and rewarding for those who attend each week or once or twice per month. Please consider taking
the time to meet and pray with others on Monday morning.
The Elders & Diaconate meet regularly for prayer. Did you know that the Elders & Diaconate are
engaged in prayer groups that meet every week? Feel free to share prayer concerns with them and please pray
for them as church leaders.
Men: Wednesday Morning 6:30-8AM
This early morning group meets at church for a winning combination of a study of the Word, fellowship and
good coffee! The group is open and welcomes other men to join them, every Wednesday or whenever possible
for a time of seeking God through his Word; currently studying the book of Revelation.
Women: Wednesday Evening 6:30PM
This group meets at the home of Barbara Adkins Wednesday evenings. (3812 Perimeter Dr. TC; phone # 231943-3004) Consider joining this group and be blessed by learning with others who love the Lord.
Thursday Morning– all are welcome!
This group meets at 9:45 and studies until noon. Join us as we learn together – currently studying the book of
Acts; our next book will be the gospel of Luke.
Worship Servants for December
Elders:
Jerry & Sally Seymour
Diaconate: Kathy Esman (Brandon Barth)
Jackie Wyatt / Tony DeGroot
Jennifer Smith (Nancy Watson)
Greeters:
Kathy Esman / Priscilla Bachman
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Student Ministries at FCC
It has been an absolute joy being able to bring everyone a youth led Sunday service. We are thankful for all the
positive feed-back and l look forward to next time! I just want to say thanks to all the students and parents who
participated in making this all possible and special thanks to the youth band from Bible Baptist in lending your
time and talents.
I hope you all will take some time and check out the church website. Each link under the “Youth and
Children” tab has been updated to include a calendar, current events & youth activities for the month, a
message board, podcasts, and photos. The children’s ministry, youth ministry, Awana club, and Base camp
all have their own corresponding page and most will be updated monthly, if not weekly. Parents are now able to
fill out permission slips or attendance forms online as well as leave comments or post their own ideas or
concerns about upcoming monthly activities. The audio sermon from November 6, “Youth Sunday,” has also
been uploaded on the youth ministry page for your listening pleasure. Please check out this exciting resource
and check often as it will be updated on a regular basis. (www.firstchristianchurchtc.com)
With the Advent season now underway I would encourage you all to take some time
from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and stop to reflect on what is really
important this time of year. God didn’t send His only son so we could celebrate
“black Friday” only to become a more materialistic society year after year. In fact
Jesus even taught against material gain, telling us to store up treasures in heaven
where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves can’t break in and steal. In
this simple lesson, we must decide what our treasure will be this Christmas season.
Is our treasure material gifts? Or is it a gift that stands the test of time…a baby, that
with his first breath, changed our world forever. I think Matthew Thiessen, lead singer from the band Relient K
captured this thought best in the song Celebrate the Day : “I celebrate the day that you were born to die, so I
could one day pray for you to save my life.” Let’s put Christ back into Christmas and really reflect and
remember why we celebrate the day.
December Events
12/10
Youth sign up for Salvation Army bell
ringing at Olson’s Food on Hammond
Rd & 3 Mile.
Youth will perform “Martin the
Cobbler” for Sunday Service.
Christmas party at Bible Baptist
Church from 5pm to 9pm. 6th grade
and up only.
New Year’s Eve lock-in. 6th grade and
up only. 6pm to 10am.
12/18
12/31
Noel Henning, Director of Student Ministries
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WANTED: one ‘bear puppet.’
Do you have one to lend the AWANA PROGRAM?
Call Kristi Byars at 492-6400.
Thank you so much for your gift as a
congregation to us; Kathy and I are already
looking forward to two nights or relaxation
on Beaver Island! It will be great fun for us
as we have never been there.
Worship Schedule
Scripture Readings
December 11, 9:30 am
2 Samuel 1:1-11, Luke 1:46-55, Luke 1:26-38
December 18, 9:30 am
Christmas Program
Our youth will present a message in drama; Leo
Tolstoy’s “Martin the Cobbler.” Everyone will
be involved!
December 24, 7 pm
Christmas Eve; come worship and celebrate
prophecy fulfilled and Hope in Christ
Candlelight & Carols
Christmas Day, 10:30 am
Titus 2:11-14, Psalm 96, Isaiah 9:2-7
January 1, 2012
10:30 am
Genesis 3:1-7, Genesis 25:19-26
Genesis 25:27-34
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Kathy and I cannot thank you all enough for
all the cards, gifts, and kind words during
pastor appreciation month. Thank you all
so much! It is humbling to receive such love
from you as a congregation.
Blessings, Pastor Brett & Kathy
Mission Update
M
y Dear FCC Family,
Thank you for your faithful support through the years, but especially this year of 2011.
Your added support this year has meant a lot and helped during some tough months.
I truly appreciate it.
Thank you also for praying. Your prayers have helped me to settle into my current role and home. You are truly having an
impact on Bible translation around the world. May the Lord continue to bless the impact of your ministry in Traverse
City.
With Love, Tracy
D
ear First Christian Church Members,
Love INC of Grand Traverse is deeply grateful for your on-going financial and spiritual support. Your regular
tithe to the ministry is put into our Crisis Fund and used to assist families who are experiencing a significant
need….
We always try to connect the caller with Christian community and explore ways to bring other resources into the
mix, such as emotional or spiritual support, budget counseling or mentoring, etc. Your funds will be well used and pooled
with support from other partner churches to make a difference in the lives of those who are hurting in our community.
In humble service, Zeke Fleet, Executive Director
K
atherine Ward, Campus Crusade for Christ in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula writes:
Thank you so much for joining me in my ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ with your contribution of
$100 per month to support my internship. It is such a blessing and a privilege to be teamed up with you as,
together, we seek to reach people for Christ. I believe your investments of prayer and financial support will result
in many coming to Christ. Beyond that, I trust that God will honor His Word and truly bless you as you give. Thanks
again for all you mean to me!
(FYI – Campus Crusade for Christ is becoming
Although having a name change, they remain
unswervingly committed to lifting up and proclaiming the name of Jesus. Founded with a commitment to the centrality of
the cross, the truth of the word, the power of the Holy Spirit and the global scope of the Great Commission. That hasn’t
changed.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
ince the beginning of our fiscal year, First Christian Church – according to the church budget - has
supported the following mission and outreach programs:
Wycliffe Bible Translators (Tracy Tooley)- $2,003; Love INC. - $1,601; Freedom Builders - $1,734; and
Disciple Mission Fund - $2,270. We are currently sending tithe & mission offering to First Love, served by Dan
& Nancy Lupton in the Czech Republic (see the next pages for a detailed report); we send a monthly check to
support Katherine Ward in her ministry.
S
Another, easy way to contribute to missions is to save the cancelled stamps from your
mail. Now, during the holiday time, when Christmas cards are being received – you can
help by snipping those stamps and bringing them into the chapel where Vera has a box
ready. For trimming instructions, call Vera at 938-1387.
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Czeching In
Dan and Nancy Lupton – Svitavy, The Czech Republic
Dear Pastor Brett,
We’ve experienced another month of God sightings and we’ll tell you about a few of them.
We saw God at work in the new Adult English Club. God gave us a
wonderful Czech partner to work with. The Lord brought a large group for
the first night. We advertised it for once a month, but have already
upgraded that to twice a month. Pictures will be seen at this link.
http://czechingin.yolasite.com/
Another God sighting is that this is the year of favor with school
teachers; and who influences more people than school teachers? School teachers are promoting
and attending our clubs. And they know that student clubbers are moving from atheism to God
because of us.
Some of these teachers, maybe all of them, are seekers. This Thursday Mirek L., a high school
English teacher, will come to our Svitavy church Thanksgiving dinner. He came to one day of
English Camp in the summer, repeatedly voiced his atheism, yet also declared that on a scale of
1-10, the camp was a 15. Pray for him as he listens to the Thanksgiving story and hears
Christians give praise to God. The God sighting is that it hadn’t occurred to me to invite him,
but one of his students casually told me that he was very interested in the USA Thanksgiving
Day. So I invited and he accepted.
This will be a major week when we need your prayers in a special way. I will teach the many
miracles of God for the Christian pilgrims over and over this week in the schools. It can’t be
done in the USA, but I will do it here. Thursday will be the Thanksgiving church event, Friday the
second Adult English Club, and Sunday the Svitavy Advent outreach concert. Pray for God to
bring those he wishes to touch. I expect to see God at work in everything this week.
Thank you for your gifts and prayers in the past year. This places you logistically on our 12X120
team. You are a part of everyone whom God’s Spirit reaches here. Consider this: “The share of
the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the
battle. All will share alike.” [1 Samuel 30.24]. Get excited about that. The supply line workers and
battle warriors were rewarded equally. That means that those who give and pray for the Svitavy
and other missions will be rewarded by God along with the missionaries. And it means that when
Nancy and I thank God for our blessings, you are high on our list.
Maybe there is time for one more typical God sighting. Misha is a new English Clubber and
her picture is seen with the pumpkins. The Monday after that picture was taken, Pete Lupton had
the opportunity to explain the Gospel to her. That’s one God sighting…here’s the second. Last
Sunday before church as I scraped the frost off my windshield, Misha walked down the empty
street. We were both surprised to see each other at that quiet hour of the morning.
Instantly I knew that our meeting at the car was not a coincidence, but arranged by God. I
invited her to come to church with us and expect her to accept soon.
An almost humorous moment happened later that day in the evening Bible and prayer meeting,
when Honza Bostik read to us from Colossians 4:5, “Be wise in the way you act toward
outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” Even that verse, which struck my heart after
the morning meeting, was sent by God to me…and now maybe to you.
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Thank you for praying for our Visa renewal. It looks positive now and should be finished Dec
23…we can view it as the Lord’s Christmas present. We have learned that the Czech government
policy now is to discourage foreigners from living in the Czech Republic by making obtaining and
renewing a Visa as difficult as possible. But we believe God will keep
using us here.
Did you know that the first Biblical mention of “thank,” “thanks,” or
“thanksgiving” is found in connection with a Thanksgiving meal? “If he
offers it by way of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of
thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil.” Leviticus
7:12
Wishing you many memories to thank God for this Thursday,
Gratefully Yours,
Dan and Nancy Lupton
PS: Yesterday Dan preached in the Litomysl church on “How to Experience God in your Life.” I
taught how to watch for God’s activities on our behalf and also his presence. Afterward,
believers aged 15 to 85 lined up to tell me of recent God sightings. If you wish to have this
message, hit reply and ask for it, and I’ll send it to you.
Andy & Megan Taylor
Are expecting a baby!
Sometimes
you just have to
Lock them up!
New Year’s Eve
6 pm – 10 am
Celebrate with us
at a baby shower
Saturday, January 7, 2 pm
In the church fellowship hall
All students 6th grade & older
Call Barbara Adkins with questions
or to RSVP 943-3004
Visit the website for more details
Or contact Noel Henning.
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THE CHRISTIAN EDIFIER
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
3686 S AIRPORT RD W
TRAVERSE CITY MI 49684
Pastor Brett Spalding
(231) 946-4074
Fax: (231) 946-5490
Email: churchoffice@firstchristianchurch.info
http://www.firstchristianchurchtc.com/
Sunday Schedule
Chapel Sunday School – 8:30 a.m.
Worship Service - 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School Hour - 11:15 a.m.
From the Staff at FCC
Wishing you and yours a Blessed (and safe) Christmas!
As is tradition, the office will be closed December 23 until January 2.
If you need to reach the Pastor, please call him.
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