Connection: The Chalice

CONNECTION
A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK Vol. 4 No. 43, November 1, 2012
The Chalice
Knit Together
By Rev. Greg Bunton, Associate Minister of Student Monday night I had the opportunity to take a few of our students to Refuge Fellowship. For those that dont know, Refuge is a new Disciples church start for the homeless in downtown Oklahoma City. There are a number of churches, ours included, that rotate assisting in worship and serving dinner. I always enjoy participating in their worship. It is so honest and real. There is a time during worship where they open the floor to personal testimony. I am always touched by what is shared, and it often becomes a reality check for me. Monday evening a woman, bound to a wheelchair, shared a powerful moment. She is homeless. She spends most of her time sitting outside a gas station. She loves to knit, and recently she has been knitting a scarf. She showed it to us and had someone stretch it out. It had to be at least 10 feet long! It was made of various colors of thread, and it was beautiful. She then proceeded to tell why she knits, and how the scarf came to be. She has had a rough life. She has been hurt by many; abused, molested, shunned. Physically and mentally she is hurting, and she has a lot of pinned up anger. But she knows the love of God, and she believes in Jesus commands to love your neighbor AND your enemies, and to forgive just as God has forgiven. Her knitting has become a healing process for her. With every move of her knitting needle, with every row of the scarf, she prays. She prays for those who have hurt her, she prays for others she is concerned about, and she prays for herself. Sometimes her prayers are filled with tears, other times anger, and sometimes joy. Her scarf is a labor of love, and through prayerful knitting, she is finding healing. And when the scarf is done, she gives it to someone in need so they too may experience the powerful love of God. As I listened to her story, I couldnt help but think about our recent annual campaign and the weaving imagery we used. We talked a lot about weaving with the thread of hope. The woman I met last night gave new meaning to that phrase. We are woven; we are knit together as one through all of our life experiences. As the body of Christ, we share in each others pain and anger, sorrow and fear, joy and celebration. And like that scarf, we hold each other together; we find refuge, we experience healing, and we pass the love of God on to others. Praise be to God for ALL that knits us together!
Sunday, November 4
Each year First Christian participates in the Church World Service CROP Hunger Walk. Money raised from the CROP Walk helps fight hunger around the world, as well as in our own community. A portion of the money raised will support Breakfast on Boulevard, Mobile Meals, The Hope Center, and Samaritan House. Walk with us this Sunday, November 4! You can make a donation when you arrive at the walk. Just join us Mitch Park - registration begins at 1:00 and the walk begins at 2:00. Hope to see you there!
What are CROP Hunger Walks?
Neighbors walking together to take a stand against hunger in our world. Different ages, faiths and backgrounds together we raise awareness and funds for international relief and development, as well as local hunger-fighting. Some 2,000 communities across the country take part each year.
Daylight Savings Time Ends this weekend!

Dont forget to set your clocks back one hour before bed on Saturday, November 3.
Candlelight Service of Remembrance

November 4 - 3pm
For some of us, Thanksgiving and Christmas are not times of celebration. The holiday season is filled with sadness due to loss. Our hearts are heavy now that there will be one less face for the holidays this year. It can be very difficult to celebrate the joy of Thanksgiving and Christmas in the midst of grief. If this is where you are this year, please join us for our Candlelight Service of Remembrance. This quiet, reflective service offers a time to acknowledge the pain of grief and look quietly for hope in our darkness. Rev. Dr. Jerry Black will offer the message, and, Prayer Ministers will be on hand to fashion personal prayers for your specific needs if you wish. Please join us for this beautifully touching service. - Your Healing Prayer Ministry Team
Week of Compassion Responds to Superstorm Sandy

Having done significant damage last week in the Caribbean, Hurricane Sandy has crossed the Eastern North American coast, leaving a trail of descruction, floods, power outages for millions of people. Early predicted damage estimates are in the tens of millions. Hurricane Sandy caused at least 69 deaths in the Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, at least 16 U.S. deaths, and one Canadian fatality. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is ready to respond through our relief arm - Week of Compassion. They are in touch with Regional Ministers in affected areas, all of whom are busy collecting information from congregations concerning the effects of Sandy on their members or communities. Church World Service, a Week of Compassion partner, is already providing material resources in affected areas, including blankets, hygiene kits and clean-up buckets. CWS will also assist communities in developing long-term recovery plans and provide technical and financial support, as possible. Week of Compassion is also coordinating with partners, including the Latin American Caribbean Area Office of Global Ministries, Church World Service, and the ACT Alliance. In Haiti, severe flooding damaged and blocked infrastructure/roads, damaged/destroyed houses, caused loss of livestock and severe damage to agricultural fields. Evacuations have taken place in risk-prone zones and certain Internally Displaced Persons camps. New outbreaks of cholera have been reported and more are expected in the coming days. efficient, flexible, and impactful. You may donate online at www.weekofcompassion.org OR through First Christian Church, designating Hurricane Relief on the memo line of your check. You can also make a direct donation to Church World Service in the amount of $54 and provide an Emergency Clean-Up Kit which includes household cleaning supplies to enable people to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up. Donations can be made online at www. churchworldservice.org/donate Pray. Our best response in prayer. Holy God, You are our comfort and strength in times of chaos and disaster. By your Spirit, lift up those who have fallen, sustain those who work to rescue or rebuild, and surround us with your grace and peace to face the challenges ahead. Grant us the assurance of your presence in this time of uncertainty, and fill us with the hope of your new creation; through Jesus Christ, our rock and redeemer.
How You Can Respond:

Give. Share your financial blessings through Week of Compassion. They will help you respond in a way that is
Regional Minister, Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Jewell Retires Celebrating 40 Years of Service ~ November 17 - 12:30pm
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma has planned a celebration of Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Jewells regional ministry and work. The celebration will be held on Saturday, November 17 at Southern Hills Christian Church in Edmond. Please RSVP by Friday, November 9, as seating is limited. Lunch reservations are $20 per person. To make reservations, call Jean Scott Gauldin at 528-3577 or email [email protected]
Prayers of the People

OUR PRAYERS FOR THOSE IN THE HOSPITAL Larry Hays (Dyke Moffatts brother-in-law) at OU Med Center-Presby Tower THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Terra Conlin (Sid & Thadda Grooms daughter), Donna Clark, Wayne Warner, Neal Hunt, Patsy Corrigan, Jim Hays, Jason Scheer (Larry & Judy Freemans son), Jerri Jones, Rose Marie McKee, Virginia ONiel, Cynthia David (Winnie Halls daughter), Ed Berry, Bill & Mary Lou Womble OUR SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS TO Rev. Page Foster & Family of FCC-Melbourne, FL, in the death of his wife, Pat, on October 24 AND TO Greg & Julie Bunton and Family in the
Happy Birthday!
11/4 11/5 Bill Hamilton Ed Berry, Jake Blevins, Ryan Danley, Margaret Hall, Haley Helms, Joyce Little 11/6 Connie Dixon, Fay Parsley, Mickey Stufflebean 11/9 Mikayla Bunton, Kelly VanOsdol 11/10 Vernon Conaway, Eddie Rivera, Jackie Stafford, Wayne Warner 11/11 Sonni Adams, Brian Carroll, Avery Miller, Chloe Stout, Jim Thorpe
passing of Julies mom, Kathy Badger, on October 26. Services will be held in WY later in November.
An Open Hands Project for Young Children
This Sunday, and the next few Sundays, children ages 3 through 5th grade are invited to decorate boxes for Operation Christmas Child during the 9am Worship Service. This will be an Open Hands project for the children to participate. The children will be dismissed at the beginning of service; Ms. Michelle will take them to the Fellowship Hall. There will be supplies provided, but please feel free bring Christmas stickers and other items they would like to use.
Edmond Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Thursday, November 22 11a.m. to 3p.m. University of Central Oklahoma UCO Ballroom
Childrens Christmas Musical

Sunday, December 9
Our Childrens Christmas Musical will be held Sunday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. If your child, or grandchild, would like to participate in this years musical Once Upon A Christmas Light, please be sure that they come to rehearsals on Wednesday evenings from 5:006:00 pm during Unite. Rehearsals have begun! Attention Parents: There will also be a mandatory dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 8. Contact Diane Ball at [email protected] or Michelle Fritz at [email protected] or call them at 341-3544 with any questions.
Each year, several churches in Edmond combine efforts to host a Community Thanksgiving Dinner. This shared meal is for anyone, but provides a special sense of community for singles, college students, those far from family members, and others. Hundreds of volunteers are needed to prep the food prior to Thanksgiving Day, and, on Thanksgiving Day - prepare food, serve the food and clean up afterward. Drop by the display in the Rotunda to complete a volunteer form. To schedule Home Delivery, please call 341-3602, ext. 130.
More than 3,000 official shoe box collection sites around the country collect thousands of prayerfully-packed gifts in a single week. This amazing feat is only possible with the help of more than 50,000 collection site volunteers each year. National Collection week for Operation Christmas Child will be from November 12 - 18th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. As a collection drop off location, First Christian Church needs many cheerful volunteers! Help us provide a hospitable, convenient location in the community for donors to bring their gifts. Volunteers are responsible for the careful packaging and transportation of shoe boxes to a location processing center. Responsibilities can include cheerfully greeting donors, carefully packaging gifts, unloading shoe boxes from vehicles and sharing a loving smile! We will be working each day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. receiving shoeboxes from individuals and churches. There is a sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall on the Operation Christmas Child table with times and dates. Please consider volunteering for a couple of hours! There are also empty boxes for you to take home, fill and bring back. Pick up a pamphlet for more info or go to Samaritanspurse.org or call Michele Schlough at 844-3214. Thanks and God bless.
Worship
8:15, 9 & 11am
Experience a Holiday Adventure With The Classics - December 15

Join the Classics on Saturday, December 15, at they travel to Plano, TX, for a production by Prestonwood Baptist Church of The Gift of Christmas. This performance promises to be a visually stunning, multimedia event complete with special effects, a thousand voices and instruments - and, yes - flying angels! At the heart of the production, there will be the simple story of Christmas - the manger, shepherds, Joseph and Mary, the Christ Child... and the glorious hope we have in our Savior! The cost is $99 per person, which includes transportation, a buffet lunch and the performance. The Classics will depart for Plano, TX, on December 15 at 8 a.m. The show starts at 2 p.m. and ends around 4:30 p.m. They will leave for Edmond shortly after, and, return to Edmond by 9:30 p.m. From flying angels, massive virtual scenery, a spectacular choir and orchestra to dazzling choreography, this aweinspiring produciton of The Gift of Christmas is an experience not to be missed! Contact Winnie Hall at 341-4297 or Ellen Chitwood at 341-2859 for more information or to make reservations.
at First Christian
November 4, 2012 All Saints Sunday
Message: Rev. Dr. Jerry Black Rev. Greg Bunton Scripture: Ephesians 4:7, 11-13
November 11, 2012

Message: Rev. Chris Shorow Rev. Dr. Jerry Black Scripture: Exodus 18:12-27
The Chalice CONNECTION

Shelley Regan, Editor [email protected] Read News Online @ fccedmond.org/news Submit Articles to [email protected]
(USPS 210-360) is published weekly (except weeks of New Years Day and Christmas Day). Periodicals postage paid by First Christian Church, 201 E. Second, Edmond, OK 73034-456 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chalice CONNECTION, PO Box 3548, Edmond, OK 73083
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CONNECTION

What are CROP Hunger Walks?

Daylight Savings Time Ends this weekend!

Candlelight Service of Remembrance

Week of Compassion Responds to Superstorm Sandy

How You Can Respond:

Prayers of the People

An Open Hands Project for Young Children

Edmond Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Childrens Christmas Musical

Experience a Holiday Adventure With The Classics - December 15

November 11, 2012

The Chalice CONNECTION

Periodicals Postage Paid Edmond, OK USPS 210-360

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