8/3/2019 11-22-2011 Chalice

1/4

The Chalice

A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK

CONNECTION

Each year aswe begin theAdvent season,the students ofFirst Christian

lead us inour annualHanging ofthe Greens

worship service. It is a wonderful time toprepare our hearts, minds, and worshipspace for the coming of the Christ child.

As many of you know, it has becometradition for me to write a Christmas songfor the service. And this year the traditioncontinues! I offer you this sneak peek inhopes that it may spark your imagination.

The opening verse says:Christmas time is here again, the

season has begun, to sing the songs

and to celebrate the birth of Christ

the Son. And every year as I think

about the story Ive been told, I oftenwonder about those things that I just

dont know.

Do you ever wonder? Do you everthink about those things that we justdont know? For example, have you everwondered how many shepherds were inthe field that night? Did they all go to seeJesus, or did they draw straws? If they allwent, then who watched the sheep? Ormaybe they took all the sheep with them!Who knows?

Christmas is a time of wonder. Thereare a lot of things we dont know, butthats o.k. We dont always need to havan answer. Thats what makes Christmaso amazing!

Our Advent theme for this year is TWonder of Christmas.We invite youto wonder with us as we journey togetheto Bethlehem. It will be an amazingjourney, I promise!

Our journey begins this Sundaymorning in worship, and then we inviteyou to come back for our annual Hangiof the Greens service and tasting party!The service is at 6:30 p.m. And dontforget to bring your favorite holiday treato share!

I Can Only WonderBy Rev. Greg Bunton, Associate Minister of Student Ministries

One of the most common traditions of

the Christmas season is the giving and

receiving of gifts. We spend endless

amounts of time searching for that perfect

gift to give to that special someone a gift

with meaning.

If you are looking for that perfect

gift, then look no further. This year,

in conjunction with our Advent theme,

First Christian Church will once again be

offering an Alternative Christmas Market.

However, rather than offering multiple gift

options, we will have one simple focus

our children!

Hopefully by now you have heard

that our Childrens Ministry is moving in

a new direction with the faith formation

of our children. In the coming year they

will begin to offer Children Worship

and Wonder. This ministry uses a

sensory-motor style of storytelling as a

primary means for encountering God,

so God is experienced, not just learned

about. Children participate in worship

practices and hear Bible stories in a way

that allows them to enter into the stories

and form responses out of their own life

experiences.

Our Advent theme this year is, The

Wonder of Christmas,and ourworship staff has asked the Worship and

Wonder storytellers to offer a Wonder

moment during worship each of the

four Sundays in Advent, plus Christmas

morning. These moments, coupled with

our Advent liturgy and sermon series, will

allow all of us the opportunity to encounter

God in a very real and powerful way!

In the year to come the Childrens

Ministry will be creating a worship space

dedicated to Children Worship and

Wonder. And because our children are a

gift to us, the Outreach ministry of FCC

pleased to support the faith formation of

our children through our Alternative Gif

Market.

This year we invite you toShare thWonder,by purchasing a story or bofor Children Worship and Wonder, or

simply making a donation to the ministr

You can stop by the display table in the

Rotunda to see the available gift options

When you purchase a story, book,

or make a donation, you will receive a

greeting card and envelope to give to yo

gift recipients. Inside the card there will

be a message explaining the gift that wa

given in their honor. It will truly be a g

with meaning!

May God bless us this Advent season

as we honor the birth of the Christ Child

through The Wonder of Christmas

Share the Wonder of Christmas!

Vol. 3 No. 42 November 22, 2011

8/3/2019 11-22-2011 Chalice

2/4

Hanging of the Greens& Tasting PartySunday, November 27 - 6:30pmOur student ministries annually prepares thisunique service which shares the meaningof traditional holiday symbols: wreathsand Christmas trees, as we sing carols, andhear Gods word. Younger children mayhelp decorate our Childrens Christmasree during this family-oriented service. Ourannual Tasting Party, hosted by Membership

Ministries, follows the service. Bring youravorite holiday dessert, candy or appetizer toshare. (Infant nursery provided)

Youth Snowball CelebrationSnowball 2011 - Hillbilly Holiday!Friday, December 2 - 6 to 10pmAll FCC students 6th - 12th grade are invitedo the 16th annual Snowball Celebration.Tickets $15 - on sale through November 27.Register atwww.fccedmond.org/snowball

Childrens Christmas Musical

Sunday, December 4 - 6:30pmThe Childrens Musical this year is TheLight Before Christmasby Dave Clarkand Jayme Thompson. Join Beaker andhe gang as they prepare for their Scienceclass Christmas party. Through decoratinghe classroom, lighting the tree and someessons from their teacher, the childrenbegin to understand more fully why wecelebrate Christmas and how the Light beforeChristmas was, and is, Jesus Christ. Enjoyhis Christmas gift from the children of FirstChristian, and afterwards stay for a cookiesand hot chocolate. (Infant nursery provided)

Edmond Community Chorale (ECC)Christmas ConcertTuesday, December 6 - 7:30pmECC will perform holiday music featuringthe Vivaldis Gloria, Vaughan Williams OClap Your Hands and Holsts ChristmasDay, conducted by Dr. Karl Nelson, ArtisticDirector of the ECC and Director of ChoralStudies at the UCO. The ECC will be joinedby soloists from UCO. Celebrate the holidayseason with these master composers and

much more. The performance will be held inthe Sanctuary on Tuesday, December 6, at7:30 p.m. Admission is free, donations willbe accepted. FCC members singing: TerryEarnheart, Betsy Jones, Mark Parkhurst, BevSchmoyer.

Christmas CantataSunday, December 11 - 6:30pmTapestry of Light- a Celtic ChristmasCelebration by Joseph M. Martin is a cantataoverflowing with hope and light. Fromseasonal songs that lift spirits to quiet carols

of reflection and peace, this work is filledwith the music of grace. The Peace LutheranChurch choir will join their voices with theFCC Chancel Choir again this year, and thecantata will be accompanied by a consort ofinstruments (violin, cello, flute, percussionand piano) for a Celtic flair. After, we willshare a reception with our friends from PeaceLutheran Church. (Nursery provided)

Candlelight Service of RemembranceSunday, December 18 - 6:30pm

For many this is a difficult season of the year,especially if you have lost a loved one. But

there is hope in the midst of darkness. Comlight a candle, and experience Gods love our Service of Remembrance. Our healingprayer ministers will be on hand to fashionprayer for your needs, and Rev. Chris Showill offer a meditation.

Childrens Christmas Eve ServiceSaturday, December 24 - 5:30pmThe Gospel will come alive with the helpof our children in a narrative re-telling of

the birth of Jesus. This abbreviated, familyoriented worship service includes familiarChristmas hymns. Children (ages 3 throug2nd grade) may select a costume at 5pm aparticipate in the Nativity story!

Candlelight Christmas Eve ServicesSaturday, December 24 - 7 & 11pmJoin us as we anticipate the day of ourSaviors birth! The 7pm Christmas Eve serwill feature beautiful music, scripture readiand the lighting of the Christ Candle. The11pm service will feature a serene, simplificandlelight service with carols, the Chance

Choir, and scripture. The service ends incandlelight with the bells tolling the midnighour, marking the arrival of Christmas Day(No nursery on Christmas Eve)

Christmas MorningSunday, December 25 - 10:45am UniedWorship Service

Enjoy Cookies & Milk for Santa duringCoffee Fellowship at 10am. Nursery begin10:30am. (No Sunday school and no Sproon Christmas Day)

Wonder

The

of Christma s

It may be hard to believe, but Advent here! The Christmas season is fast upus and Advent is our time of preparati

As we prepare in our worship, this yea

we are focusing on The Wonder ofChristmas. The theme goes along

with our new childrens program ofChildren Worship and Wonder. We wsee Christmas through the eyes of ourchildren who view the world in wondeWe will wonder with the prophets, Maand Joseph, the Wise Men, the shepheand finally with the baby Jesus. If you

wonder about the Christmas experienccome and join us as we wonder at themiracles of God.

Rev. Chris Shorow

8/3/2019 11-22-2011 Chalice

3/4

Happy Birthday!11/27 Travis Christensen, Sharon Cutter

Dale Hampton, Opal McGough,

Garrett OMeara, Derek Price,Jo Ann Prince, Thomas Spurrier11/28 Shirley Cox, Diana Frank, Barbara

Hall, Ibiera Tienabeso11/29 Bill Cather12/1 Louis Brigham, Robert Hall12/2 Pat Coker, Niles Jackson, Martha

Puryear, Sharie Wilkins, KaitlynWood

12/3 Allan Booher, Tyler Gibson12/4 Alba Duller, Russell Kious, Rachel

Luschen

Prayers of the PeopleTHOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Shirley Strasburg, BartRodr, John Stone, Loree Stubbs (Jennifer Shipleys

mom), Virginia ONiel, Ron Brumback, BarbaraThornton, Cynthia David (Winnie Halls daughter),

J.W. Michael, Ed Berry, Joan Grant, Bill & Mary LouWomble, Nita Williams (Jeff Williams mom), Naomi Bell (Karen Walenciaks mom),Barbara Hall

CELEBRATING THE GIFT OF A NEW LIFE Madeleine Mae Koser born November 14to Ben & Julie Koser. Grandmother is Gay Gauldin.

Notice of AnnualCongregational

MeetingSunday, December 11

following each worship service

Purpose: To vote on nominated

leaders and budget for 2012,

along with proposed

modications to our bylaws.

Log on towww.fccedmond.org/meeting

to preview the leader ballot,

budget ballot and

revisions to bylaws.

Questions? Contact Craig Adkins,

Board Moderator, at 285-6859,

or Frank Gresh, Board Moderator

Elect, at 844-9120.

FCC Pictorials andWordle Apparel for Sale!

You can purchase a color copy of the FCC Pictorial for $5 at the table inFellowship Hall or pick up a code and download a free copy.

Weve also designed a variety of wordle apparel you can purchase. As youcan see above - a wordle is a bit of word art that includes key words from oursummer reNEW conversations. Items for sale include t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts,hoodies, sweatshirts and 1/4 zip eece tops. They range in price from $12 to $25.

Purchase a shirt or sweatshirt at the table in Fellowship Hall this Sunday -

wear one and share the good words of First Christian Edmond!

Want to get more involved?

Are You Considering Membership?

Come to

Discover First Christian!Sunday, December 4, at 10:00 AM in Fellowship Hall North

We invite you to come and meet some of our staff and members, learn

about our history, our mission and our ministries.

Looking for a place to spend Thanksgiving?

Volunteer to Be a Part of the

Edmond CommunityThanksgiving DinnerThursday, Nov. 24, 11am - 3pm

UCO - George Nigh CenterVolunteers - call 340-0691, ext. 343

Attention SPROUTS ParentsThere will be a NEW location for

Sprouts starting this Sunday,November 27. Children attending

the 11am service may be picked upin Room 131, the room behind the

chapel. (After the 9am worship servicchildren will be escorted to their

Sunday School classroom bytheir teachers.) Sprouts welcomes

children ages 3 to 5; children 6 andolder are welcome to participate in

worship with their families!Thank you,

Anna Lisa Stanley

8/3/2019 11-22-2011 Chalice

4/4

The Chalice CONNECTION

Shelley Regan, Editorsregan@fccedmond.orgRead News Online

@ fccedmond.org/newsSubmit Articles to

news@fccedmond.org

(USPS210-360)ispublishedweekly(exceptweeks

ofNewYearsDayandChristmasDay).PeriodicalspostagepaidbyFirstChristianChurch,201E.Second,Edmond,OK73034-456POSTMASTER:SendaddresschangestoTheChaliceCONNECTION,POBox3548,Edmond,OK73083

PeriodicalsPostagePaidEdmond,OKUSPS210-360

Help Those in NeedWe are collecting sleeping bags, pillow cases and coats todistribute to the homeless of OKC through our partnership withRefuge Fellowship Church in December.

If you would like to donate any of these items - coats,sleeping bags or extra pillowcases (so we can make nap sacksfor the sleeping bags), drop them in the box in the rotunda. We

will be collecting them through Sunday, December 11.May those of us who are blessed to have shelter andthe right clothing to keep us warm, share with open hands!Questions? Contact Rev. Greg Bunton at 351-3544 orgbunton@fccedmond.org.

Purchase Poinsettias - Decorate For AdventEach year we decorate our worship spaces for Advent with poinsettias.

For just $15, you can purchase a poinsettia in honor of or in memoryof a loved one.

Heres how to order: fill out a form (in the Sunday worship bulletins),order online at www.fccedmond.org/poinsettia, or call Iris Jordan at 341-3544.

Orders must be received by Sunday, December 4. If you purchase poinsettias to takehome, they will be available for pick up on Sunday, December 11.All proceeds benefit the FCC youth mission fund.

Come Decorate Together - We need you!We invite everyone to help decorate for Christmas on Sunday, November 27, after the11am service. All decorations provided! Just show up and join the fun!

WorshipNovember 27, 20111st Sunday of AdventMessage: Rev. Greg Bunton

Rev. Chris Shorow

Theme: The Wonder of Christmas- The Prophets Show the Way toBethlehemScripture: Isaiah 9:2b-6

December 4, 20112nd Sunday of AdventMessage: Rev. Chris Shorow

Rev. Dr. Jerry BlackTheme: The Wonder of Christmas- Mary & Joseph Show the Way toBethlehemScripture: Luke 2:1-5