Joys and Concerns of Church and Community
 Thank you to our church family and the planning team for the Regional Assembly.
 We continue to pray for our friends and family in the Northeast that were affected by
Hurricane Sandy followed by a blizzard.
 We share in the joy that Minnie Haynes' son Darryl worshipped with us on Sunday,
November 11th.
 Karen St. Marie is thankful for a wonderful weekend spent with her First Christian
Church of Decatur family!
 Tom Rosenberger asks for prayers for his friend Scott who is having surgery on Tuesday.
 Christopher Schoepke had surgery on his Trach scar on Monday, November 12th and also
asks for prayers for his grandfather Opa, who is anticipating open-heart surgery and for the
blessings of Christ to be with him.
 Anita Renahan-White asks for traveling mercies for her dad who is traveling to Tifton,
Georgia to celebrate her grandmother's 101st birthday! We also continue to pray for Anita.
 Mark Ranney reports that Russell is home and will have the staples removed from his
arm on Tuesday, November 13th. Also, a joy that Russell will be spending 6 weeks with his
family in North Carolina.
 Millie Linville offers prayers for her brother Max; he accepted a job with Aetna Health. He
starts on November 26th. Prayers that he is successful in his new job.
 Liz, Brooke and Madelyn ask prayer requests for Liz's cousin Anna who is pregnant with
twins while her husband is in Afghanistan. Please send prayers to Liz while her job is in
transition and for Brooke for upcoming tests and finals.
 Please pray for the health and healing of our Church Administrator Sherry Davis. To
send cards, Sherry’s address is 890 Meadow Rock Way, Stone Mountain, GA 30083.
 Susan C. Watts asks for prayers for her parents, James and Ruby Dunn and her family.
She also requests prayers for her housing situation, as her home is going into foreclosure.
 Jeni Flock requests prayers for her childhood friend Wendy Murabito who has been
diagnosed with breast cancer.
 Olivia Adams asks us to remember the family of Stacey Daniel, a teacher at Renfroe
Middle School, who passed recently. She offers prayers of celebration for her life.
 Cathy Archibald requests prayers for the health concerns of Thomas, Debra, David,
Jonathan, and Fred.
 Jose and Marie Lingongo continues to request prayers for the people in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and for peace and for their family.
 Bridgette Boker requests prayers for Vannia, her daughter-in-law, who is seeking fulltime employment. “Thank you, church!”
 Cheryl Delk and Fred Franklin request prayer for David and Connie Waller as he is
recovering from lymphoma and a bone marrow transplant.
 Mark Ranney requests prayers for his roommates, Caroline Ray and Mary Ann
Serafini, who are battling a number of health challenges.
 Prayers lifted for Deenie Kirkman's health concerns and praying that surgery is not
needed.
 We lift up prayers for continued healing for Laura Andrew.
 Please keep Mary Jobson and her family close in your hearts and minds.
 Sharon, Gabriella, and Nick Partida request prayers of healing for Keshia
Hawthorne.
 Clara Holley is recovering from a broken arm after falling recently.
 Lillie Sapp had knee replacement surgery and is recovering at home.
 The Rev. Adei Grenpastures remains in our prayers for healing. She requests prayers for
Jackie Hudson and daughter Alexis, and prayers of thanksgiving for Andy Farmer.
 Lynn Aniskiewicz’s cousin Keith is in hospice. We pray for their family.
 Amanda Kern asks for prayers for strength, courage, and blessings for their family’s future
endeavors, and for the Kern family to heal from their ailments.
 We lift up prayers for (in alphabetical order): Hideko Abe, Glen Alsobrook, Sr.,
Bridgette Boker, Terry Capes, Cam Cato, Elizabeth Cunningham, Margie
Diamond, Jeni Flock, Mary Ellen Fountain, Jimmy Hardy, Gus Head, Chuck
Joyner, Hopkins Kidd, Johnny Lee, Sr., John Linville, Keiko Linville, Max
Linville, Jay Love, Betty Perry, Caroline Ray, Diane Robb, Dr. Bill Sexson, Kim
Stanley, Lee Stanley, Cecil Todd, Larry Todd, Alan Wallace, Brad Wallace, and
our beloved homebound members and friends.
Church Calendar
Sunday, November 18:
8:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
10:50 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
Consecration Sunday
Awakenings Service in Chapel
Sunday School
Sanctuary Service
Fellowship Lunch / Church Board Meeting
8 p.m.
Narcotics Anonymous
8 p.m.
Narcotics Anonymous
Monday, November 19:
Church office closed
7 :30 p.m.
Mary Magdalene Circle
Tuesday, November 20:
Church office closed
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Chalice Thrift Store
10 a.m.
Rocking Rockers in Carmack Room
3 p.m.
Cello Lessons
8:00 p.m.
Alcoholics Anonymous/ALANON
Wednesday, November 21:
Church office closed
Thursday, November 22:
Church office closed
Friday, November 23:
Church office closed
Saturday, November 24:
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Chalice Thrift Store
Sunday, November 25: Christmas Tree Delivery Day
8:30 a.m.
Awakenings Service in Chapel
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School
10:50 a.m.
Sanctuary Service
Dear Friends:
On behalf of First Christian Church of Decatur, I write to thank you for your
participation and prayers while worshiping Jesus Christ here amongst the whole
people of God. Shalom, Pastor James Brewer-Calvert
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was born in the early 1800s as a dynamic
movement for God that spread across the American frontier.
Seeking to move beyond
denominational division and toward being a New Testament Church, our founders envisioned a
united community of faith grounded in the love and grace of Jesus Christ. Today we are over
3,700 congregations strong across the United States, Canada, and around the world. The red
Chalice with St. Andrew’s Cross symbolizes our focus on the weekly celebration of Holy
Communion and the openness of the Lord’s Table, where all are made welcome and invited to
partake.
First Christian Church of Decatur was founded on Christmas Day 1921, and has served
faithfully ever since with a significant urban ministry, an inclusive theology, and a Kingdombuilding vision. We are open and accepting of all of God’s people, and encourage women, men,
and young people to follow their call from God to serve, just as Christ first served us.
Here is a brief theology and history lesson about this Body of Christ. First Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) of Decatur, Georgia has a covenantal relationship with sister
churches across the city and around the world. While each congregation is independent – no
one has the ecclesial authority to direct us what to do, say, believe, or call to serve as pastor– we
are connected by a covenant of love. Beginning in the early 1800’s, Christian Churches and
Disciples of Christ congregations flourished across the USA and around the world. In 1968, the
separate bodies yoked to become the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with three
manifestations: local congregations, regional churches, and a general church to facilitate
national and international missions. Ever since we have covenanted to support and encourage
fellow Disciples and to practice Christian ministry locally, regionally and globally.
Having said that, there are some theological practices we share in common. We are
non-creedal; everyone is invited to love and serve God through Jesus Christ, but how and why
you move in that direction is between each soul and God. We practice baptism by immersion at
an age of understanding, yet we recognize all forms of baptism and therefore do not require
anyone to be re-baptized. The Lord’s Table is open because Christ is the host and the purpose.
We celebrate the birth, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and in the context of worship
we offer Holy Communion every Sunday. Everyone has a vocation, and we affirm Christ’s call
to children, youth, women and men to serve. We turn to the Holy Scriptures for guidance and
direction in our daily living, yet also recognize that the Holy Spirit, in God’s infinite wisdom,
continues to lovingly communicate through additional voices and acts of grace. At the
intersection of faith and reason we meet the Risen Christ and one another. The call of the
Gospel for social justice and the building of community is intricately woven into the very fabric
of the worship, study, and prayer life of the church.
How to Join: You may join First Christian Church by transfer of membership, confession of
faith, or by renewal of the vows of your baptism. Please fill out a Friends and Visitors Card
(found in your worship program) and bring it forward with you during the Hymn of Invitation,
where our Pastor will be delighted to welcome you. Disciples of Christ congregations are
delighted to recognize all baptisms. We baptize by immersion at an age of understanding. If you
have not been baptized we will schedule one with you at a later date.
First Christian Church of Decatur (Disciples of Christ)
601 West Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: 404-378-3621
Email:1stcc@bellsouth.net
Website: www.decaturdisciples.org