The Somerset Christian

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FCC

JUNE 2020 First Christian Church 139 E. Main St., Somerset, PA. 15501

Phone: 814-445-8112 Email: fccsomerset@comcast.net

Website: www.somersetfirstchristian.org Elders: elders@somersetfirstchristian.org

Instagram: fcc_somerset

SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:00AM WORSHIP 10:00AM

In God we trust!

Dear Members of the First Christian Church, The First Christian Church will open its doors to worship on June 21st. The painting project has been delayed until later in the summer or early fall. Below is a list of information to prepare you for the church opening.

• Greeters will open the door for you. Bulletins will be available for you on a table.

• Some pews will be marked with tape. Those pews are closed to allow for social distancing.

• Masks are optional. • The café and information station are closed until further notice. • Communion and offering will be done at the front of the sanctuary.

Guidelines will be explained at the service. • There will be no “meet and greet” time. • There will be no children’s Sunday school, wee worship or children’s

church at this time. Children are welcome to attend the church service. The service will be shortened to accommodate children.

• Shae’s Sunday school class will meet. • The 99 & under Sunday school class will meet in the fellowship hall. • The Golden Achiever’s Sunday school class will meet in their classroom. • For those who would prefer to stay home, we respect your decision. The

health of everyone is our number one concern. The service will be available on Facebook and YouTube.

Sincerely, Tom Minnick Lead Elder

To the Congregation

A New Normal Happy July! As we transition from the lockdowns, quarantines, contact tracings, PPE masks, hand sanitizers, red, yellow and green phases, and every other thing we never expected, we come out of this terrible pandemic with a new normal. This includes social distancing, optional mask usage, making a hair appointment two weeks out, doing more online shopping, doing less handshaking and hugging, making an appointment to go into a bank, and maybe learning how to use a computer, to name a few. We also move into the new normal hopefully, with a better attitude towards our loved ones, ourselves, our blessings and a closer relationship with Our Lord. We had and still have the opportunity to grow in Him and be more like Him through our zoom groups, our online services, and now our re-opening of FCC. In addition, our daily Bible reading and prayer time are things that are pleasing to God because it keeps us on the path that He built for us. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and tomorrow". We need to remember this and lean on Him in the tough times and thank Him in the good times. And in Malachi 3:6 it says that "For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed". So as we come away from a very challenging period, we can trust and have faith that Our Lord will be with us now and always. Have a blessed summer. Karl Sherbine, Elder

The Shepherd’s View

How to Pass the Tests of Life By Pastor Brent Williams Like the National Emergency Broadcast System says, “This has been a test.” Currently we are going through a COVID-19 crisis. The church was not meeting in the sanctuary for three months. Our patience was being tested with all the new rules and restrictions. We went through a time of seeing protests and riots in the news. It has been a trying time. These events are a test to our character. Do we react with anger? With frustration? Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) James 1:2, 3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” The following are five tests which we usually go through in life:

1) Anger. It is OK to be upset with injustice. It is OK to stand up for the weak or to defend the dignity of those trying to protect us. But the problem is that you can allow the anger to become rooted in your heart. Ephesians 4:26, 27 says, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold.” Anger is just one letter away from danger. To pass this test, give your frustration over to God. Let the emotions take a back seat and put your energy into peaceful, trust-building, friendship-making activities.

2) Jealousy. Did your parent show favoritism to another sibling? Is someone in your family smarter than you, richer than you, better looking than you? By keeping score, you take on a spirit of jealousy in your heart. Instead, don’t compare. Be content. Be grateful for what you do have. A Swedish proverb says, “Envy shoots at others and wounds itself.” Eve was so jealous of Adam that when he came home each night, she used to count his ribs. Jettison jealousy.

3) Discouragement. Maybe when you were young, a parent, teacher or coach shot down your dream. You wanted to be a star, but they said it was too far. You wanted to be a hero, but they said you were a zero. Woody Allen said, “Basically my wife was immature. I’d be at home in the bath and she’d come in and sink my boats.” Don’t believe people when they tell you, “You’re not smart enough.” “You’ll never make it. You’ll fail.” “Give up.” Their dream didn’t work out and they don’t want you to get hurt like they did. Don’t buy the lie. Don’t dial into the denial. Dismiss the doubt and go for your goal. Discard discouragement.

4) Crushed. Life throws some hard balls and sometimes we strike out. Ever been fired? Cancer? Divorce? Serious accident? Cheated on? Betrayal? At some point you’ll fail, fall, or falter and feel emotionally crushed. Like Humpty Dumpty. But it’s not the end. It is part of God’s plan. Read Joseph’s story in the Bible (Genesis 37-50). You may be down, but you’re not out. Those experiences don’t scare you--they prepare you. A setback is just a set-up for a comeback. It is a training time. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Don’t give up. Get up. Believe that God is for you, that good is about to come. Instead of being a whiner, become a winner.

Pastor’s Page

5) Integrity. Two young engineers applied for a single position at a company. They both had the same qualifications, so they were given a test. They both missed only one question. The manager told the first applicant, “We’ve decided to give the job to the other person.” “But why? We both got nine questions correct,” argued the rejected applicant. “We have based our decision not on the correct answers, but on the question you missed,” said the manager. “And just how would one incorrect answer be better than the other?” the rejected man inquired. “Simple,” said the company manager. “Your fellow applicant put down on question number five, ‘I don’t know.’ You put down, ‘Neither do I.’”

If you want a rewarding life now and in eternity, aim to pass all the tests. Aim to live such a life that you can sell your parrot to the town gossip. I want to be able to say what Paul did at the end of his life: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

DUE TO A RISE IN LOCAL VIRUS CASES - CHILDRENS CLASSES ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. CHILDREN ARE WELCOME TO SIT WITH THEIR FAMILIES DURING THE SERVICE.

Student Ministries here at FCC are in full swing amidst the Covid pandemic. I want to reassure you that when you send a student here on a Thursday night that they are safe. We wear masks inside the building when we are doing lessons, the chairs we sit in our sanitized weekly, and when outside we do

our best to social distance during lessons. Youth Group is every Thursday night from 7-8:30pm! As well as youth group, we are having our second Secret Mission Friday this week! Friday the 3rd from 5-11pm we will be having a blast (Quite Literally)! Drop your student by the church at 5pm and we will have them back here at 11pm or you can pick up from location. Please message me for details and RSVP so I know how much food, snacks, and fun we are going to need for the night! Thank you for your continued prayers and support for Thrive Student Ministries!

Pastor’s Page (cont.)

§ ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES – 9:00am Sunday

o The 99 & Under class will meet in fellowship hall. o The Golden Achievers class will meet in the class in the front of the café area.

§ THURSDAY SMALL GROUP

o Meets on Thursday’s at 7:00pm at Mike & Karen Costea’s, 165 Oak Hill Dr., Friedens.

§ ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Sunday, July 12th. We will elect officers & approve the 2020/21 church budget (it is the same as the 2019/20 budget)

Nominees: Elder – Rick Meyers, John Schrock Deacon – Dan Miller, Reuben Watson Deaconess – Molly Meekins, April Morocco Weekly Budget needed amount to be approved: $6,326.72

§ MONTHLY LEADERSHIP MEETING – Tuesday, July 14th at 6:00pm.

§ T. N. T. (The FCC Dynamite Seniors) meets Wednesday, July 15th at 11:00am – location and more details available in the bulletin as they become available.

§ WOMENS HAPPENINGS

§ WEEKLY WALKING every Tuesday at 7:00am at the ACM college trail. § WEEKLY COFFEE SOCIAL every Thursday at 9:00am at Hazbeans uptown. § LADIES KAYAKING Saturday, July 18, 2020 at 10:00am at Laurel Hill State Park (meet at the Hazel Baker

rental office by the swim beach) Cost is $8.00 per hour to rent a Kayak or bring your own. We will probably only kayak around one hour. Bring a picnic lunch to eat in the park after Kayaking. Questions contact Tammy Minnick 521-7611

§ MEMBER NEWS

o Derek & Hannah Nicksich welcomed Miles Alister on June 22nd. He was welcomed home by big sister Nora and big brother Maverick. Grandparents are Dan & Donna Nicksich.

o Andrew & Macy Bassler are expecting a baby girl in October. They are also foster parents to a 6-year-old. o Sarah Bassler is a homeowner

Church News

July o Seven volunteers from our church did mission work in Costa Rica. o Five Junior High students and two adults attended the MIX Conference. o Five Senior High students and 4 adults attend the MOVE Conference.

August o Work began on planning the 190th anniversary celebration of First Christian Church.

September o 190th Anniversary Celebration took place on September 8th, featuring lunch, activities and a

concert by The Keystone Quartet. o Anne Onstead resigned as Women’s Ministry Director. o Pastor Chase Hill took a position in Illinois. The leadership began searching for his replacement

October o 60 plus students received weekend backpacks of food through the FCC Backpack Ministry. o Pastor Chase Hill’s last day was October 25th. The search for his replacement continued. o Trunk or Treat saw over 1000 people in attendance.

December o Brent Williams was voted upon and approved by the congregation to be the next lead Pastor at

FCC. He will arrive March 1st. January

o Fire & Ice Soup Sale benefited the Mission Corps raising $1,419.01. The Children’s Center, and magician were well attended in spite of the cold and icy weather.

o 23 women attended the Women’s Retreat at Camp Christian. February

o Fifteen attended the annual Senior Tea. o The Women’s Happenings Group cut out shoes for Soles for Hope for the children in Uganda.

March o Brent Williams officially became the 43rd Lead Pastor of FCC. o The United States was struck by a pandemic called Covid-19

April o Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic and under the direction of the church Elders the church

building was closed, and the staff worked from home. o FCC also began holding meeting via Zoom. Bible studies, new member classes and fellowships

were also held via Zoom. o Sermons were livestreamed online on Facebook and YouTube on the church’s website.

May o Tammy Schrock resigned as the Children’s Director to take a position as registrar at UPMC

Somerset. o Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic the church was closed for services and large gatherings of

over 25 people, and the church office was re-opened, and the staff returned to work from the church May 12th.

June o Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic the church was closed for services and large gatherings of

over 25 people, and the church office was re-opened, and the staff returned to work from the church May 12th.

o June 21st we met for the first time in the building since April. Attendance was 116

2019/20 Year in Review

I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible (merely a fluke). It kept people looking so hard for the facts and for others it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the names of the books were not capitalized, but the truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To others it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating few moments for you. Yes, there will me some really easy ones to spot. Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one of them, and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now.

CAN YOU FIND 31 DIFFERENT BOOKS OF THE BIBLE IN THIS STORY? By Pastor Brent

Esther worked at Jonah’s café. She brews great coffee and felt like a pro. Verbs such as “able” and “quick” described her but for one bad remark she was fired - - a most terrible mistake, not fun, a human error. She had said, “Look at the Hag, Gail!” Now she was in a jam. Esther needed money. Matthew said, “That job was a lulu. Keep looking for someplace else.” Peter invited her to the youth group. At the meeting she told them the truth and all the facts. Numbers of people felt sorry for her and thought her boss was an unfair judge. So then Joe let her know about another place that needed a worker. The owner, Mr. Roman, saw Esther and hired her. Timothy, Daniel, and Joshua also worked at the restaurant. She learned to use a hose and a broom when cleaning the john. She made friends with Jude & Titus too. Her lamentations were over, a new revelation had occurred; an exodus from one job could mean the genesis of another.

Called to Serve SERVING AT THE TABLE Offering Communion 7/5 Dave Barndt Rick Marker 7/12 Bill Gerhart Dave Barndt 7/19 Karl Sherbine Bill Gerhart 7/26 Tom Minnick Karl Sherbine COMMUNION PREPARATION

7/5 Joan Graber 7/12 Peggy Wilkins 7/19 Jeff Hay 7/26 April Morocco

VAN MINISTRY 7/5 Brandon Lambert 7/12 George Perras 7/19 Rick Marker 7/26 Mike Costea

Mind Benders

Photos from Our Historical Park & Praise Event on June 7, 2020