Do you do it? … Standing? Kneeling? Bowing? Hands folded? Hands lifted up? Quiet place? Crowded room? Alone? With oth-ers?

Do what?

Pray! Praying is one of spiritual pillars of the season of Lent. Prayer is the act of being in direct communication with God. We are free to pray to God at any time and in any place. We can stand, kneel, sit, or bow down. Words of prayer can be spoken out loud or silently. From passionate imploring to humble requests, from pleading to rejoic-ing, from petitioning to blessing--our prayers come in many different forms and tones. Whether they are prayers of thanksgiving or ones of anger, they give voice to our deep hunger to be in spiritual communion with God. John Killinger, a professor of mine at Vanderbilt, wrote in his book Be-ginning Prayer, “Prayer is not something we engage in because we wish to achieve anything. Prayer is communion with God. It is a matter of making connections with the One who stands at the center of all life and joy, and of learning to live with those connections all the time. That’s all it is. Nothing more, nothing less.” (p.16) In our Disciples tradition, no one stands between God and the person praying. The prayers of the elder, pastor, or any lay member are all equal in expressing our desire to be in communion with God. As we continue our Lenten journey, take time to be in prayerful commun-ion with God! See you Sunday, David

From the Pastor’s Desk

First Christian Church News

(Disciples of Christ) Emporia, KS F E B R U A R Y 2 7 , 2 0 1 7 V O L U M E 6 6 N O . 4

S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

S p e c i a l E v e n t s

C l o t h e s C l o s e t

L e n t e n B i b l e S t u d y

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Serving Schedule 2

Food Pantry 2

Clothes Closet 2

Prayer List 2

Attendance &

Giving

2

Birthdays and

Anniversaries 3

Mark the Date 3

Secret Place 3

“Meet to Eat” 3

Joyful Noise

Children’s Choir

3

“I Am” 3

World Day Prayer 4

Lenten Bible Study 4

DWF COMBINED

Group March April

4

“The Eagle” 4

LCP 5

Chi Rho Mission

Club

5

Best Choice Labels 5

WAW/TPA 5

Church Contact 6

Calendar 6

February 27, 2017

P A G E 2 V O L U M E 6 6 N O . 4

Upcoming Serving Schedule

F I R S T C H R I S T I A N C H U R C H N E W S ( D I S C I P L E S O F C H R I S T ) E M P O R I A , K S

Lonnie Atchison (cancer); Tom Bell, Joyce Cress (cancer & recovery); Tom Higgins (broken vertebrae, in back); Bonnie Iverson, (shingles); Gale Kelley, (hospice); Joyce Kellison; Steve (broken neck) & Ramona Langley (brother-in-law and sister of Betty Richardson); Jim Siebert (son of Janice Miller, back pain); Imegene Marsh, Jan Weeks; and Elizabeth Wells (cancer & recovery). Rachael LeClear (Greece, Volunteer) and Eric MacGregor (Military)

March 5, 2017-WAW/TPA Paper & Pencils Food Pantry—Tuna & Vegetables

Candlelighter ~ Gavin Shaw LeClear Children’s Message ~ Cindy Lexow Diaconate ~ Carl* & Rita Headrick Nikki Simmons, Joy Frevert Elder ~ Cameron Moore Greeters ~ (N) Larry & Glenna Gamblian ~ (S) Judy Moore & Barb Gimple Nursery ~ Briana Becker & Cindy Lexow Worship Leader ~ Barb Gimple Children’s Church ~ Rita & Carl Headrick

March 12, 2017-WAW/TPA Kleenex & Snacks Candlelighter ~ Kinzie Kurzen Children’s Message ~ Sandy Heller Diaconate ~ Jake Dalton*, John Lexow Alan & Betty Richardson Elder ~ Jaylene Arnett Greeters ~ (N) John & Cindy Lexow ~ (S) Wanda Davis & Marilyn Dalton Nursery ~ Kat Dorcas & John Lexow Worship Leader ~ Vel Lukert Children’s Church ~ Jen Dalton

March 19, 2017-WAW/TPA Paper & Pencils Candlelighter ~ Jack Dalton Children’s Message ~ Barb Gimple Diaconate ~ Larry Gamblian*, George Arnett Curtis Rhoades, Carol Rhoades Elder ~ LeRoy Garnett Greeters ~(N) Glenn & Dorothy Boyce ~ (S) Ruth Ford Nursery ~ Nikki Simmons & Rita Headrick Worship Leader ~ Nancy LeClear Children’s Church ~ Janelle & Tim Norton

March 26, 2017-WAW/TPA Kleenex & Snacks Candlelighter ~ Juliana Martinez Children’s Message ~ Marie Harding Diaconate ~ Tim* & Janelle Norton Joe & Bonnie Denson Elder ~Marlene Hanson Greeters ~(N) David & Carolyn Meierhoff ~ (S) Janet Lostutter & Joan Shumate Nursery ~ Rita Headrick & Tim Norton

Worship Leader ~ Mary Volland Children’s Church ~ Joy Frevert

Attendance and Giving Record

In February we have helped 22 families con-sisting of 71 people with 22 bags of food plus 21 dozen eggs. Voices of people you have helped this month: “I knew you would help me by sharing information of what is available in the community so we can get the word out to more people. You have been so helpful in the past and now I’m making the bulletin board at Abundant Harvest, so I wanted to check with you. I really appreciate all the help and information you share with people.”

ATTENDANCE & GIVING RECORD

February 19, 2017 SS 17 / Worship =64

February 26, 2017 SS 14 / Worship 70

GIVING RECORD

February 19, 2017~Offering $1,229.50 / Building $102.50 February 19, 2017 ~ Week of Compassion $207.00

February 26, 2017~Offering $2,897.74 / Building $277.50 February 26, 2017 ~ Week of Compassion $283.00

MARCH is Buy 1, Get 1 Free Month

at the Clothes Closet Check out the Clothes Closet and

Household Hut. You will be amazed at what you will find. New items arriving daily. There is something for everyone, plus March is Buy 1 item, Get 1 item FREE month in the Clothes Closet. Better yet, volunteer to work a Friday or Saturday. You get to look, shop and help all at the same time!

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 6 6 N O . 4

March Birthdays 02 Glenna Gamblian 02 Rosemary Robinson 02 Parker Simmons 06 Breann Frevert Johnson 06 Tina McCurdy 07 Reagan McClellan 08 Lindsay Ewy 08 Dianna Lewis 11 Robert Chatham 11 Imegene Marsh (1922) 20 Bertha Kelly 20 Gary McCurdy 21 Nikki Simmons 21 McKinzie Simmons 23 Virginia Crouch 29 Dorothy Matile 29 Craig Richardson 31 Randy Kelley 31 Mary Volland

March Anniversaries 03 Bill & Carol Hopkins (1973) 18 George & Ruth Ford 22 Glenn & Dorothy Boyce

F I R S T C H R I S T I A N C H U R C H N E W S ( D I S C I P L E S O F C H R I S T ) E M P O R I A , K S

THE SECRET PLACE Devotions for Daily Worship

The Spring 2017 (March, April, May) Secret Place daily devotional

booklets have arrived and are located on the hall table.

Still only $1.00 per copy, so get yours today!

Stay in Touch! College Students

Our next “Meet to Eat” is Thursday, March 9,

2017. Meet in the North Parking Lot at 6:00 p.m.

and we will car pool to the restaurant. Contact John

& Cindy Lexow if interested. Hope you can make it.

Mark these Dates Wed. March 1—Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00 pm

Friday’s 3-6 pm—Clothes Closet & Household Hut open

Saturday’s from 9—Noon—Clothes Closet and Household Hut

WAW/TPA Month of March —Wide Lined Notebook Paper, #2 Pencils, Kleenex and snacks.

Fri. March 3—World Day of Prayer, St. Marks Lutheran Church 9:30 coffee, 10:00 am Program

Sunday, March 5—”Popcorn” Sunday after church

Sunday, March 5—Food Pantry—Tuna & Vegetables

Monday, March 6—DWF Day & Night combined at 6:00 pm

Wednesday, March 8—1:30 pm Lenten Bible Study

Thur. March 9—”Meet to Eat” College Group 6:00 pm N Lot

Thur.-Sat. March 9-11—Camp Workday, help clean up

Sunday, March 12—Daylight Savings Time Begins

Sunday, March 12—Young Adult Focus Group after worship

Monday, March 13—Stewardship Committee Meets

Tuesday, March 14—Joyful Noise at 5:00 pm

Friday, March 17—CWU at Braum’s W. 6th Ave. 8:30 am

Tuesday, March 28—Chi Rho Mission Club 5th & 6th gr. 6:30 pm

CALLING ALL CHILDREN!!! Joyful Noise is the fellowship and music program for the children of our church. We will meet Tuesday, March 14, 2017 from 5:00-5:30 pm for practice, with

a light meal following. So don’t forget…..See Ya there!

Stewardship Moment. . .

DWF

P A G E 4

F I R S T C H R I S T I A N C H U R C H N E W S ( D I S C I P L E S O F C H R I S T ) E M P O R I A , K S

V O L U M E 6 6 N O . 4

Interested in a

Lenten Bible Study?

There will be a 6 week Lenten Study on

Wednesdays from 1:30-2:45 pm beginning

March 8th here at the church. This study

will be led by Faith Coleman.

We will be reading a daily devotional each day starting on

Ash Wednesday, March 1 from the book: "Secrets of the Se-

cret Place" by Bob Sorge. These readings offer us some keys

to igniting our personal time with God.

During our group time we will be looking at ways to nur-

ture our passion for prayer.

Prayer--communion with God--holds the promise of inti-

mate interaction with our Heavenly Father but often it be-

comes an exercise, a discipline, an obligation we feel we need

to fulfill.

How can we put the passion back into our prayer life?

How can we learn not only to communicate with God, but

to commune with Him in a way that deepens our knowledge

of Him AND our relationship with Him?

Book cost is $11.40. There is still time to join us.

DWF Day & Night Groups Combined For March & April Meetings

The DWF Women’s Group of First Christian Church will combine their day and night groups for the months of March & April and will meet on the 1st Monday of the month at 6:00 pm in the church parlor. This is so you may also attend the six week Lenten Bible Study on Wednesday afternoons. The March meeting will be Monday, March 6 and the April meeting will be Monday, April 3rd at 6:00 pm. Share a ride, get to know other DWF members. Mark your calendar so you don’t forget, combined group meetings for March & April.

World Day

Of Prayer

March 3,

2017

St. Marks

Lutheran

Church

10:00 am

Service

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 6 6 N O . 4

Learning Center Preschool We enjoyed our Valentine’s Day Party. Pictures from the TTh class.

Both classes have toured ESU’s Art Gal-

lery where our TTh helper, Ms. Bridget

Dupin has her Sr. Art Project on display.

F I R S T C H R I S T I A N C H U R C H N E W S ( D I S C I P L E S O F C H R I S T ) E M P O R I A , K S

Chi Rho Mission Club

If you are in 5th or 6th grade, you are invited to be in the Chi Rho Mis-sion Club. It meets each month from 6:30-7:30 p.m., in Fellowship Hall. March 28th will be the next meeting. Club members will plan and do a mission project in our local commu-nity and still have time for games, music and snacks. Chi Rho Mission Club is exclusively for 5th and 6th graders, led by Eliza-beth Brown. Bring a friend and plan to come on March 28th.

WAW/TPA OUTREACH

As part of our ongoing outreach to William Allen White Ele-mentary School/Turning

Point Academy, for the month of March we are collecting Kleenex, paper and pencils.

Remember These?

DWF is still collecting Best Choice labels as a fund raiser. So, cut the UPC Code off any Best Choice can, bag or other Best Choice item and drop them by the office or put in the Best Choice Label Box in the parlor kitchenette. Thanks for your help. It is an easy fundraiser for us to do and with all of us saving it counts up.

202 East 12th Avenue

620-342-1582 Church Office

620-342-8585 Prayer Line

Web Page www.fccemporia.org

Email Office fccoffices@yahoo.com

Email Pastor David L. Webb at

dlw100@aol.com

“The mission of First Christian Church is to in-

spire each other to reach out to the un-churched

and to serve and share with our community by

proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Sunday School at 9:30 a.m.

Worship at 10:30 a.m. Lenten Bible Study Wednesdays 1:30 pm

March 8 — April 12, 2017, Church Parlor

Office Hours

8 a.m. until Noon, Monday through Friday.

First Christian Church

David L. Webb, Interim Pastor

Home of Learning Center

Preschool 620-342-4632

Check us out

on Facebook

Next Newsletter Deadline Monday, March 13 & 27, 2017

Don’t forget to sign the attendance sheet at the end of the pew. Thanks