Canned Foods: corn, peas, green beans, carrots, fruit cocktail, peaches, pears, soups, spaghetti sauce, ravioli, beef stew, salmon and tuna.

Bagged/Boxed Food: macaroni and cheese, pasta, oatmeal, cereal, jelly, shelf stable milk, peanut butter.

They are also in need of personal items:  deodorant, paper towels, disposable diapers, shampoo, toilet paper, paper towels, and toothpaste.

Calling Conversation – Calling and Teaching New Leaders

Calling Conversation – Ministry to Children and Families

Calling Conversation – Involvement in Our Community

The annual FCC Captains’ Choice Golf Tournament is scheduled for April 21 at Walnut Wood Golf Course. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex, please sign up early so the arrangements can be completed and food purchased. If you have any questions, please contact either Bob Bowman or Steve Benbow.

I was thinking of those words all weekend, as I gathered with the leaders of First Christian Church for our leadership retreat Saturday morning, and again as we installed those leaders in worship on Sunday. At the retreat Saturday, we spent most of the day talking about where God is calling us – both individually, and as a congregation. I’ve identified three areas in which I think God is particularly calling us as a congregation. This isn’t an exhaustive list, of course; there are other things we’re called to do as well. But as I watch our congregation, as I see the ways in which God is moving among us, these three callings keep coming up. They are:

Ministry to Children and Families: Our youth ministry program has always been important, and right now we have a lot of potential for growth in our ministry to families with young children.

Involvement in our Community: There are great needs in our community, and as people of faith, we are called to serve those in need and work for a better world.

Calling and Teaching New Leaders: First Christian has a history of calling leaders into ministry, and we’re currently discovering what an enriching experience it is to be a teaching congregation.

On Saturday, our leaders spent some talking about these callings. We didn’t make any decisions or even set any goals – it was just a conversation, the start of an exploration that will continue in coming weeks and months.

I’m excited about these callings. I’m excited to see what’s next. I might even, if I were to be so bold, suggest that these are the places where our “deep gladness” meets “the world’s deep hunger.”

… a mustard seed (Mark 4:31)

… a circle of strangers sharing in a word of prayer

… a new day dawning full of fresh possibilities

Monday evening: we wait, a little apprehensively, for the clock to read 6:00.  Outside the glass doors, a crowd of women wait also.  Scott, Dorisa and I are volunteering as part of FCC’s young adult group at  the the old YWCA building where a winter shelter has been set up for homeless women.  We, along with volunteers from Our Lady of Grace, are here to greet the residents as they arrive at 6:00pm – women who are homeless right now, trying to put their lives back together, working to find somewhere to live come spring.  I’ll admit that I’m outside my comfort zone, not sure what to expect or do.

Cold air meets warm as Dorisa holds the door open for the residents to make their way inside out of the cold, wet night.  “Good evening,” she greets them with her warm smile.  They line up for Scott to sign them in and then make their way into the gymnasium where beds are arranged and tables set for dinner.  When it’s time for dinner, I find a place in the circle of people – volunteers and residents, holding hands for a word of grace.  As I look around me, I realize that God’s kingdom is like this circle – a place where people who would normally have no reason to cross paths find themselves joining hands in prayer and thanksgiving.

This week reading Mark 4:1-6:29, I have found myself particularly drawn to the parables. Many of Jesus’ parables offer insight about Jesus’ identity, which in Mark even his closest friends do not seem to understand, and about the nature of the kingdom of God.  Jesus’ parables remind us that we can learn about Christ and the kingdom of God through the seemingly mundane and ordinary parts of our lives – the sowing of seeds or watching a garden grow.  This week, standing around a circle with strangers lifting up prayers of thanksgiving to our God reminded me of the inclusivity of the kingdom of God – that it is open for all.  The parables remind us that there are opportunities all around us to hear news of God or to see God’s kingdom revealed.  What in your life today reveals to you the kingdom of God? Think about what in your life can help to finish this sentence:

The kingdom of God is like…

Holy God, we give thanks for all those things around us that remind us of you and reveal your kingdom to us.  Help us to work to build your kingdom.  Help us to shine our lights, that we may share the good news of your love and peace with others.  Amen.

The luncheon is $6.00 per person. Please call the church office at 273-4725 or email admin@fccgreensboro.org to sign up.

See you there!

Notice how many times the words “at once” or “immediately” are used in 1:21-28 alone. The word “immediately” is found some 35 times in the gospel as a whole. Things are happening fast, and people are responding. Crowds gather wherever Jesus goes. At one point, so many people are jammed into a house that some folks have to dig a hole in the roof to help their friend get to see Jesus. Another time, the crowds are so thick that Jesus has to get in a boat to keep from being pushed into the sea of Galilee.

What were all these people talking about? What was the big deal? Two big things: First, Jesus showed an incredible capacity to heal and drive out demons. He demonstrated a power that the people hadn’t seen before. Second, he did it on the Sabbath, defying all the rules established by the authorities. Some people came to see his works of power; others came to catch him in the act.

And something curious happens as well. Jesus doesn’t seem to want anyone to know his true identity, doesn’t want anyone to proclaim him Son of God. Why not?

We’ll talk about it Sunday…. join us, won’t you?

“‘Lord, as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us to be mindful of those without even a bowl of soup to eat.‘

More than 20 years ago, the Souper Bowl of Caring began with this simple prayer from a single youth group. Since that day, more than $81 million has been raised for local charities across the country through Souper Bowl of Caring. It has become a powerful movement that is transforming the time around Super Bowl weekend into the nation’s largest celebration of giving and serving.”

The CYF and Chi Rho youth group is serving you a free soup lunch on Sunday, Jan. 29, immediately after the 11:00 service. We hope you will join us! If you feel inclined, we will accept donations of canned goods or cash to be given directly to the Servant Center. By participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring, we get to choose the charity of our choice to receive any donations. We hope you will join us, and we thank you for the continued support you give us.

Thank you,
FCC Youth

Valentine cards are for sale on January 22, January 29, and February 12

The money earned from this annual sale will be used toward the youth mission projects and youth activities.

Thank you and Happy Valentines Day!