First Christian Church

763 Passion Play Road

Eureka Springs, AR 72632

(479) 253-8015

fcc1234@earthlink.net

firstchristianchurcheurekasprings.org

 

The Christian Echoes

Of

First Christian Church

“A Place to Come Home”

 

 

Phil’s Points:

Don’t Run Over God

Last night I laid awake in bed thinking about an insignificant incident that happened back in the 70’s—almost forty years ago.  At the time I was the preaching minister for Denton Christian Church in Denton, Texas.  Rick and Sharon Olufsun were members along with their three small children—two four-year old twin boys and a toddler sister.  The incident happened in the parking lot after church.  I was walking out to my car while Sharon was backing out of her parking space.  Don’t rush to a wrong conclusion.  There wasn’t an accident.  It wasn’t even close.  It was just a comment from one of the twins.  As I was walking past the back of Sharon’s car, one of the four-year-old said to his mother, “Watch out, Mom.  Don’t run over God.”

 

The next week Sharon told me about the comment.  As she spoke I felt a shudder go down my spine like a cold dribble of icy rainwater.  That small child thought I was God!  Perish the thought!  How could such a thought enter anyone’s mind, even the mind of a child?

 

Even after forty years I’ve never forgotten that casual comment.  Several thoughts jar inside me.  The first, most obvious one is that the child was wrong.  No one is God, especially me.  He didn’t know God very well.  He didn’t know me very well either.

 

Second thought:  have I ever done anything or said anything that would cause such an idea?  I sincerely hope not.  God, please forgive me if I have ever taken your glory for myself.  I want to serve you.  I certainly do not want to take your place.

 

Third thought:  sometimes we act as if we’re God even though we know we aren’t.  We act as if we know everything, as if we are in control of everything, as if we can decide what other people do or say.  We want other people to notice us, to follow us.  A word I’ve heard in the past, generally applied to attorneys, is the word “god-complex”—the propensity to act as if they are god.  God, protect me from any sort of god-complex.  Help me to be humble.  Help me to be a servant.  Cause me to remember Jesus words:  “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  [Matthew 18:2-4]

 

Fourth thought:  I am called to be an imitator [mimic] of God.  [Ephesians 5:1]  But I do this by the way I love, not by any exercise of power or control.  There is a great deal of difference between imitating God and becoming God.  God, please help me to understand the difference. 

 

--In Jesus,

Phil

 

 

 

 

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

 

The new year is well started and we are enjoying our time together and with our Lord each Sunday morning. For the next few weeks, in our class on Growing in Discipleship, we are discussing: Christian fellowship, and looking at what our responsibilities are when we follow Christ’s admonishment to “Love One Another”.  There is no more fun way to spend Sunday morning than to share in the searching of God’s Word. Won’t you join in the fun with us? You’ll be glad you did !!!!!

                             In His Love,         Jim Spears

 

There is more grace in God’s heart than there is sin in you past.

 

CHURCH DIRECTORY NOTE

 

The church telephone directory for 2010 is completed. They are available in the church entry on the information table, or in the church office.

 

 

ELDERS REPORT

 

We are working on a new format for Next year’s Annual Congregational Meeting that we think will give the church a better way of communicating the direction we are heading. We want to work on a better format while the last year’s meeting is fresh in our minds. When we have this format finalized, we’ll post it on the church business bulletin board to give you more information.

We meet pretty much every week and we open each meeting with prayer and close each meeting with prayer. Do you have a need or request that you would like the elders to pray for? If so, you may email your request to the Pastor or call Rose at the church, and she will pass it on to us.

- The Elders

 

MEALS ON WHEELS

 

How beautiful a day when kindness touches it.

 This quote is remembered by the volunteers working for the ones receiving the Meals on Wheels program. Meals on Wheels deliver hot meals to those who need them.  FCC is responsible for one week a month.  This month the dates are February 8^th through the 12^th. If you wish to volunteer, call Dorothy Schulz at 253-9395.

 

MEN’S PANCAKE BREAKFAST

 

Please put February 27^th on your calendars.

Starting at 6:00 AM until 10:00 AM, there will be a fund raiser for Men’s Church Projects. The general public and church families are all invited. Please pass the word along. Contact person is Jerry Parks.

 

MISSIONS

 

It was easy to prepare the checks for January. The money was in the bank, thanks to our generous people. I even had enough stamps in the house. But, there was snow on the ground. The driveway with all of its ridges was a sheet of ice, so therefore the checks got out late. I have not received the usual responses – or the reports from the people yet. With all the varied weather reports for the end of the month of January, the problems could also be complicated. In praise, we did send a mission check to I.D.E.S. for the food relief in Haiti in the amount of $500. That is over and above what was given through the church offerings. Their needs are many. I.D.E.S. is one of our older missions. In times of disaster, they are there. They have supported the missionaries in Haiti for many years and will continue to be there for future needs. I suppose you know I’m very proud of our mission committee – always ready and willing to help with the work of Christ. Thank you, Lord!

 

Carmen

 

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go. Only one of two things will happen – either He will catch you when you fall, or He will teach you how to fly.

 

WOMEN FOR CHRIST

 

Women for Christ met January 19, 2010, with 19 ladies present. A great breakfast was served by Bev Dowland and Doreen Morris.

President Debbie Parks opened the meeting and recognized Ginger Pautsch as the 2009 “Go to Girl” for stepping up to help several people on short notice.

 

Deb reported:

1) WFC bought 9 chairs and Men’s Fellowship bought 11 chairs to add to the Fellowship Hall.

2)  WFC gave approximately $300.00 to Eureka Schools to buy shoes and socks for needy students.

3) Ladies were invited to attend a Women’s Conference at Ozark Bible College on April 23 – 24^th.

Committee leaders to remain for 2010 are:

Carmen Smith – Communion Preparation

Sheryl Baker – Missions

Nola Fenix & Lynn Loess – Library

Marlene Major – Greeting Cards.

We need leaders for a prayer team, sanctuary committee and benevolence committee.

Calendars from Cornerstone Bank were handed out and dates for coming events added.

Reports on Christmas basket delivery (good job Ginny & Jack) and thanks were expressed.

We voted on continuation of the shoe box project and results will be announced at the February meeting.

Suzette Spangler received the monthly gift from Kerusso and we were asked to support that business.

Sheets were circulated for cookies for the hospitality table and WFC breakfast hostess.

Judy Scoggins gave a wonderful program, using Luke 1:31-38, referring to our duties as handmaidens for Jesus. She also used a poem, “If Jesus Comes to Your House”, that made us aware that Jesus is always at our house and that we should conduct ourselves in a way that makes Him happy.

 

 Respectfully submitted, Margaret Taylor, V.P.

 

 

THANK YOU

A Big Thank You! to everyone for the generosity of giving for the Haiti Food Relief Fund through I.D.E.S. The congregation gave a total so far of $2,300, and our Mission Committee gave an additional $500. Praise God!

 

We received a nice Thank You! note from Rickie McDonald. He is so appreciative of your prayers and support of him – kindness like yours makes a difference.

His new address is posted on the church bulletin board if you wish to drop him a line of encouragement.

 

PARKING LOT

Bet you thought I forgot, not a chance! The parking lot needs to be finished and a fund raise will certainly help. On February 13^th, we are having a fun fund raiser night. There will be food, of course, and a great pie auction. It will start at 6:00 PM. Put Saturday, Feb. 13^th on your calendars and plan to attend!

          Carmen

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

If you have any dishes in the church kitchen near the sink, please remember to take them home. We need to clear the counter.

 

Also, please be mindful of parking out front. The handicap and visitor spots are needed for those with special requirements. Thanks for being so thoughtful to the needs of others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, EUREKA SPRINGS, AR.   FEBRUARY 2010

SUN	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT
	1	2	3	4	5   9:00  Open Prayer	6 Praise Team Practice 6:00 PM
7 SERVICES: 9:30AM Sunday School Worship 10:30AM 6:00PM	8         Meals on wheels	9         Meals on wheels	10         Meals on wheels	11         Meals on wheels	12   9:00  Open Prayer   Meals on wheels	13 Men’s Prayer Breakfast 8:00 AM Valentine Dinner & Pie Auction 6:00  PM (Parking Lot Fund)
14 SERVICES: 9:30AM Sunday School Worship 10:30AM    6:00PM	15	16	17	18	19 9:00  Open Prayer	20 Women for Christ Prayer Breakfast 9:00 AM   Praise Team Practice 6PM
21 SERVICES: 9:30AM Sunday School Worship 10:30AM     6:00 PM	22	23	24	25	26 9:00  Open Prayer	27 Everyone invited to Men’s Pancake Breakfast 6-10 AM – Fund Raiser for Men’s Church Projects   Praise Team Practice 6PM
28 SERVICES: 9:30AM Sunday School Worship 10:30AM church POTLUCK after --------------------     6:00 PM
BIRTHDAYS: L.B. Wilson, Jr. 15th, Steve Vitale and Sherry Wilson 27th, Margaret Taylor 28th.