September 2, 2014 The

OPEN

DOOR

LAKEWOOD CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(Disciples of Christ)

“An Open Door to a Vital Faith”

www.lakewoodchristianchurch.org

6509 Bosque Blvd. Waco, TX 76710

Phone: (254)772-3416 Fax: (254)772-9354 Email: office@lccwaco.org

Dr. James Cotten Senior Minister

Jean McAtee Interim Parish Nurse

Carrie Forehand Choir Director

Brad Forehand Handbell Director

Cristina Wolfe Organist/Pianist

Pam Huffstatler Director, CDC

Brandi Goddard Administrative Assistant

Alex Arocha Janitor OFFICE HOURS: Mon/Wed/Thurs/Fri 8am-4:30pm Tues 8am-5pm August 18 Sunday School–28 Morning Worship–72 Offering–$3394.21 August 24 Sunday School–29 Morning Worship–132 Offering– $4530,25 August 31 Sunday School— Morning Worship— Offering—$3070.25

Potluck on September 7th following church service—Bring your favorite dish for

food, fun & fellowship!

A Reminder that the Pastor's Forum starts its new day and time tonight at 6pm. We will continue to meet on Tuesdays. (Except on the Night of Pricillas.) We begin a two part forum on The Evolution of the Church from the small family house churches of the first century to our current decline in member-ship in the modern church of today. This is NOT a history lesson rather it is a "how it happened". This week we'll be talking synchronization. Next week we'll look at the theory of major faith wide structure shifts that happen every 500 years. (Hint for next week, it's been about 500 years since the last major shift!) Hope to see you there. Pastor James

CWF/DW CORNER

The CWF/DW Executive Board will meet on Tuesday, September 9, at 10:00 a.m. at Jimmy and Wanda Morgan's farm. The meeting will be followed by lunch.

The Prayer Group will continue to meet the third Tuesday of each month, September 16. This is open to all women of the church. PRISCILLA GROUP will resume in September , meeting in the Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, September 23, at 6:15 p.m. Please bring your favorite salad to share with all. Sue Lowry and Jennifer Roach will provide the beverages and dessert. We invite all of our church women to attend. LOAF LOAF will meet again starting this Thursday, September 4, at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Pat Rash, Laurie Thurston and Corinne Thomas will be hostesses. Please bring a dish to share for the potluck at noon. We will ask for hosts/hostesses to sign up for the October-January LOAF get-togethers. Please check your schedule and be prepared to volun-teer! At the January meeting, we'll schedule February through May. LOAF is open to anyone who isn't at work and want to come! Join us! We have a good time.

Youth Snack Suppers Schedule If you would like to support our youth supper program, please go

to our website and click on Sign-Ups or contact

Amy at 733-7321 or amy0765@gmail.com.

Sun, 9/7: The Cromies Sun, 9/14: Amy Mosley Sun, 9/21: Lana Dunham Gilbert Sun, 9/28: Lynette Baugh

September 7, 2014

OPEN/CLOSE BLDG: Randy Tucker

ELDERS: Offering/Loaf: Phil Roach Cup: Anjanette Biddle

DEACONS: Team 1

COMMUNION PREP: Sharon Browning and The Barkers

GREETERS: Edward Kultgen, Donna Kultgen

COUNTING TEAM: Candy Sheppard, Susan Pardaen

ACOLYTE:

GODLY PLAY:

August 31, 2014

OPEN/CLOSE BLDG: Phil Roach

ELDERS: Offering/Loaf: Sue Lowry Cup: Jennifer Scott

DEACONS: Team 2

COMMUNION PREP: Bette Cook, Al Thurston

GREETERS: Janice Kriegel, Sue Lowry

COUNTING TEAM: Bette Cook, Vonessa Barker

ACOLYTE:

GODLY PLAY:

1st Sunday Fellowship will be Sept. 7th.

New Members will host (Coordinator

Wanda Morgan).

Jack Harbour, Karen Ermoian (Kelso),

Roger Bailey, Russell Snider, Bethany Grisham, Melba Bowers, Monica Brown, Shelley

Cotten, Chris Garey, Leslie Leaman, Reid

Cromie, Michael Lewis Julsen, Brooke

Collins, Kevin Collins, Jennifer

Olson, Pat McFerrin, Aletha George, Ethel

Biddle

Jerry & Dorothy Stephens, Ed & Donna Kultgen, Randy & Terrie Tucker

Mary Anderson, Katherine Arrowood, Deanne Bigham, Louise Brady, Don Bryant, Carolyn Brown, Edward Busch, Alan Caruthers, Leon Cheney, Chen-ey Family, Becky Crow, Brian Davis, Earl Delaney, Ganna Denton, Darrell & Betty Dungan, Roy Evans, Ste-ven Ferguson, Bill & Betty Fox, Gary & Marian Fraser & family, Dena Gamble, Richard Garey, Billy Green, Lonnie & Martha

Griffith, Nell Harbor, Sonja Hughes, Mya James, Bob & Billie Jorda, Lynnan Kendrick, Addison Knaus, Nathan Lackey, Lois Landis, Jamie Mari-cle, Mallory Martin, Pat & Jennifer McFerrin, Ray Moore, Heath Naumann, Jerry Newman, Ralph & Bess Post, Pat Rash, Margaret Richard-son, Tonja Roe, Ricky Severson’s mom, Kelly Spears, Dorothy Stephens, Grant Story, Joe & Doris Sula, Bob Talley, Edrie Tiller, Tanner Un-derwood, Joe Walker, Sheri Weltland

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.

John 21:15-17

You've heard of the Great Commandments and the Great Commission; well the above is what I like to call the Great Instruction. In the current tide of church shift it is often asked just what is the “Clergy's” duty? I would say that it is the same as the lay leaders; to feed and tend God's sheep. How many times have we heard, “the Clergy leader's job is to comfort the comfortless and conflict the comfortable”? Well I say to that, “Baloney!” Our job as leaders of Jesus' Church is to simply tend and feed the flock that God calls us to.

So I'm not here to make you feel good about yourselves, to entertain you with stories of our faith, or to tell you every-thing is alright just as it is. However, equally important I'm not here to lecture you, make you feel bad about yourselves, or to force you to change everything. I am here to put all that I have learned and studied over the years, through three advance degrees and countless workshops and seminars into feeding the flock that I'm called to. And what is the food? Gospel! The Gospel of a resurrected Christ!

This Sunday will be the 19th anniversary of when I first took my vows as a clergy-person. I repeated them again in May of 2001 as I was ordained, I've repeated a version of them every time I'm installed in a new church, including May of 2013 right here at Lakewood. And on this anniversary I give them to you again. And I promise, no vow, to give you no less.

My sister/brother in the faith, do you believe that you are truly called by God and the Church to the life and

work of ministry in the name of Jesus Christ?

I do.

Paul the apostle testified, “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” Will you endeavor to be dili-

gent in your practice of the Christian life: reading the Bible, continuing steadfastly in prayer, and taking

up your cross daily to follow Christ? I will, with the help of God.

Scripture teaches that the Church was devoted to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of

bread and the prayers. Will you endeavor faithfully to fulfill your calling among the people committed to

your care: by preaching the word of God and the apostolic faith; and by presiding at the celebration of

baptism and the Lord’s Supper? I will, with the help of God.

In scripture, ministers are exhorted to tend the flock of God committed to their care, not by constraint but

willingly, not for selfish gain but eagerly, not by domineering over those in their charge but by example.

Will you endeavor to care for the people of God: nourishing, teaching, and encouraging them; giving direc-

tion to the life of the congregation; counseling the troubled; declaring God’s forgiveness of sin; and pro-

claiming victory over death? I will, with the help of God.

Cotten Patch continued on next page...

The Cotten Patch continued...

The Spirit of God led Jesus to preach good news to the poor, pro-

claiming release to the captives and recovery of sight to the

blind, setting at liberty the oppressed, and proclaiming the time

of God’s good favor. Will you endeavor to lead the people of God

in their obedience to the global mission of the Church: guiding

their concern for justice, peace, and freedom for all people; and

taking a responsible place in the governance of the Church and

in service to the world?

I will, with the help, of God.

The apostle Paul proclaims the Church to be one body with many members. Will you endeavor to live

and work in unity with all Christians: witnessing to the visible unity of the Church; cooperating with

Disciples colleagues in the ministry of the congregational, regional, general and ecumenical church;

and leading the Church in fulfilling its ministry of reconciliation?

I will, with the help of God.

Paul also wrote, “For me to live is Christ.” Will you endeavor to conduct yourself so that your life is

shaped by Jesus Christ, who took the form of a servant for our sake; and will you, with the help of the

Holy Spirit, continually rekindle the gift of God that is in you, to make known to all people the gospel of

the grace of God?

I will, with the help of God.

May God who has given you the will to do these things give you grace to perform them. (Name), God

who scalled you is faithful and will not fail you.

Peace,

Pastor James