|
|
|
Newsletter>
First Christian Church Newsletter, Jan 2007
January 3, 2007
PASTOR CRAIG'S NOTES
Wishing you all the best in the coming New Year!!
Another year is coming to an end and we have a lot of
things to look back on and be thankful for. This year has
seen the growth in the church with 9 new members.
We sent most of our youth to summer camp. We had an
outstanding Vacation Bible School and even a couple of
youth trips to OU and to Chucky Cheese. Our DWF continues
to grow and we cap this year with our candle light service
and New Years Eve party.
We have also gone through a lot. Cancer has touched the
lives of many families and we have lost ones dear to us.
But we continue to be faithful. Looking forward to the
future with hope and comfort that our God is with us and
will never abandon us. The church continues to travel along
the road that Jesus set before us.
Next year we look forward to the many things that will take
place in the church. Plans are already in the works for
next summer’s VBS hosted by First Christian. The church
will be the host for an ordination event in June and we
look to God for additions to our membership that comes our
way.
Our leadership is set to take us forward into the New Year
with excitement. God will lead us and direct us on our way.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Praying for you as I hope that you are praying for me.
Craig
UPCOMING EVENTS
DECEMBER 31
NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY
7:00 P.M. - 11:00 P.M.
@ THE CHURCH
JANUARY 7
KID IN CHRIST
FOLLOWING CHURCH
JANUARY 10
BOARD MEETING
7:00 P.M.
JANUARY 14
DWF
5:00 P.M.
@ THE CHURCH
CHOIR PRACTICE
EVERY WEDNESDAY
5:00 P.M.
MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE
Did Jesus really say it was more blessed to give than
receive?
How can that be? What are the advantages?
The answer is yes, as found in Acts 20:25.
But what are the benefits to us?
There are at least three.
1.We draw closer to Christ. In Matthew 6:21 Jesus said,
"For where your treasure is there your heart will be also"
NRSV. Giving to the church is an act of worship of God. And
when we give to the Church, we in effect are giving to God
because the church family is trying to do God's will. We
are taking what is already God's and returning a portion of
it to his servants to do His will. Since our treasure is
now with the Church, then we are drawn to the church where
our treasure is and therefore closer to Christ and God.
2.In Matthew 6:20, We are commanded to invest our money in
heaven. We can't take it with us but we can send it on
ahead. We can invest in the church's mission. We might even
leave an endowment in our will.
3.The third thing is found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 where we
are told that we reap what we sow. If we sow sparingly we
reap sparingly. We should give joyfully for God loves a
cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every
blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of
everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
So there you have it. When you give with love, you have a
closer relationship with the Lord, your treasures are
invested in eternity, and you have an increase to meet your
needs and to give more to others. Alice and I can testify
that this is true. The more we give, the more we have and
the more we can give. We will be working on our budget soon
and again we plan to have a tithe first in our budget.
Jerry Cochran
KIDS IN CHRIST
This Christmas Year we participated in a project called
"Operation Christmas Child". This is a project to collect
small toys and other items that will go to children in need
all over the world. The items were to be placed inside of a
shoe box and marked for a boy or a girl. We gathered items
for 2 boxes and had a third box made with the inspiration
of 3 of our young women. Through our sister church in
Ardmore, 1125 boxes were shipped from our area. This will
be apart of the 8 million boxes that "Operation Christmas
Child" expected to receive and ship. Over 8 million kids
will have that chance to receive a special gift this
Christmas and that spreads the meaning of Christmas
throughout the world.
Thanks for all who made this great gift possible.
MEMBERSHIP SPOTLIGHT
GARY & LISA ALLGOOD
Gary and Lisa Allgood are new members of our congregation.
They share some of their life experiences with us as they
join in our fellowship.
Gary was born in Kermit, Texas and graduated from High
School at Country Day Ft. Worth. He earned a Bachelor of
Business Administration from the University of Texas, a
Masters of Business Administration at University of
Southern California and a Ph.D. at the University of
Pennsylvania.
Gary served as Executive Vice President, for Southland Life
Insurance Company (Real Estate Division), Dallas, TX until
a buyout in 1980. From 1980 to 1982, Gary worked in London,
England as an International Business Consultant. He
co-founded Allgood, Krause, Smith & Cottrell Real Estate
Development Company, Houston, TX, in 1983. Gary sold his
interest in the business in 1985 after a motor vehicle
accident and was disabled until 2000.
Lisa was born in San Antonio, Texas and was raised most of
her childhood by her father in Oklahoma and graduated from
Okmulgee High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from
the University of Oklahoma and also attended Oxford
University on a Rhoades Scholarship. She received a Juris
Doctor at OU. Upon graduation from OU Law School she
practiced law in New York City. She spent her professional
career organizing and funding schools for homeless and
abused children in major metropolitan areas including
Positive Tomorrows School in Oklahoma City.
Gary and Lisa met in 2002 and married February 14, 2003.
They moved to Marietta July 2006 to be close to Lisa*s
relatives after her disability in July 2004. Gary has a
married daughter and son from a previous marriage and Gary
and Lisa enjoy their five granddaughters and 1 grandson.
The Allgood*s have a dog and a cat and enjoy horseback
riding, Fine Art and the Performing Arts.
We welcome them to our church family.
THANK YOU ALL!
We would like to express our deepest thanks to all the
members of the church for the Christmas Cards, Gifts, and
the extra special out pouring of love that we received this
Christmas. We love all of you.
Craig, Carrie and Conner
PARSONAGE UPDATE
In a congregational meeting earlier this year, it was
approved to let the trustees handle the sale and removal of
the church parsonage. We are happy to report that the
parsonage has been sold for $7,000, and is to be moved
soon. The buyer is responsible for the removal of the
house and clean up of the lot. We hope to use the money
received from this sale for future growth.
Trustees - Darlene Beardsley, Phil McGinnis, and Beth
Willis
CHRISTMAS CAROLING
Eleven brave souls met Saturday December 23, 2006 at the
church for our annual Christmas caroling hay ride. We sang
at the nursing home, hospital and stopped by the homes a
some of our in-town members. We were provided snacks at
Florine Hill's home and treated to a train show. We then
returned to the church for chili prepared by Carla and
Beth. The crowd grew to seventeen for chili. A great time
of food and fellowship was had by all. We would like to
thank Curtis for pulling the sleigh and Jerry Dutsch for
providing the hay to sit on.
YOUTH GROUP
Shortly after the new year, a new Youth Group will start
meeting. This will be intended for 6th grade-12th grade,
church members only. We will continue with KIC, for our
groups of pre-school through 5th grade. Our kids are
growing and are showing excellent promise and enthusiasm in
our church. I do not want this to go away.
The Youth Group will meet every Sunday evening, at 5pm, for
about an hour. I would like your input on topics to study,
things to do, etc. This will be YOUTH ONLY. No parents.
Sorry, we have to let go sometime!
Stay tuned for more details!
Thanks,
Carla
JESSIE LOUISE BARR
1914 ~ 2006
Services for Jessie Louise Barr, 92, will be at 10 a.m. on
Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, at Marietta First Christian Church
with the Rev. Craig Rutherford officiating. Interment will
be at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Ardmore under the
direction of Craddock Funeral Home.
Born on Feb. 22, 1914, to James Robert and Minnie Fogle
North in Greenville, Texas, she died on Dec. 23, 2006, at
the local hospital. She and William R. Barr were married on
May 19, 1943. She was preceded in death by her husband and
a sister, Lillian Frances North.
She graduated from Ardmore High School in 1932 and married
William R. Barr on May 19, 1943. They lived in the Houston
area when her husband was employed by Exxon. They returned
to Ardmore in 1978. She moved to Marietta in 1996.
She is survived by a son, James Robert "Bob" Barr, Hurst,
Texas; grandsons, Geoffrey M. Barr, Atlanta, Jay Robert
Barr and wife, Chelsea, Pensacola, Fla., Thomas W. Barr,
Longmont, Colo.; their mother, Donna M. Barr, Mountain
View, Hawaii; great-grandson, Christian Satterlee,
Longmont; and a niece, Mary Ann Wilkes, Ardmore.
Bearers will be Jay Robert Barr, Jerry Dutsch, Phil
McGinnis, Curtis Cochran, Sam Knight and Jerry Cochran.
Honorary bearers will be members of the Marietta First
Christian Church.
Memorials can be made to Big Five Community Services or
First Christian Church.
BIBLE TRIVIA
1.) *In what book of the Bible will you find the Ten
Commandments?
2.)* Where was the Law given to Moses?
3.)* What did God use to write on the stone tables?
4.) *How long was Moses gone from the people as He talked
to God on the mountain and received the *ten commandments?
5.) *What caused Moses to break the tablets on which the 10
Commandments were written?
6.) *In what were the ten commandments kept?
January
Birthdays
3*Ryan Ward
5*Ro Hartman
5*Logan Hawes
11*Florine Hill
13*Maidee LeForce
17*Craig Rutherford
18*Jerry Cochran
29*Lowell Baird
31*Charlie Beardsley
Anniversaries
20*Ro & David Hartman
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
We would like to say welcome again to all our new members
who joined during 2006:
Pat Burkett
Dean and Arletta Bobbitt
Gary and Lisa Allgood
Scott and Doris Malone
Kendra Glazner
Taye Satterly
Thank You!!!
Thank you to all the deacons who served during 2006. Not
only for serving on your designated Sunday, but for filling
in when needed and for performing the deacon of the day
duties each month. You are a very important part of our
congregation. We couldn't make it without your help.
Beth Willis
2006 Deacon Chair
Powered by Church-Builder.com
|
|
