The title is “The Call of Christ.” Camryn, Jamie, & Lora B., Laura D., Sally E., Sarah F., Deborah Th., and Dave Ti. will be answering the following questions:
(1) What prompted you to heed the call of Christ to “follow Christ” to the DR? Why did you say yes or agree to go on this mission trip?
(2) How did you prepare your heart, mind, and spirit to go on this journey?
(3) What did you experience while you were there?
(4) What did you/have you learned from this experience?
(5) How were you transformed and changed from this trip and how are you continuing to be impacted by the mission trip? How is your life different because you participated in this mission trip?
(6) What do you want to the congregation to know about saying yes to the call to follow Christ in their lives because you said Yes to Jesus to go on this trip?
Thanks to Dave D. for working extra time to load these videos to Youtube!!! There was some technical difficulty at the beginning start about the 3:10 mark in the first video.
24 Regional Council Meeting @ Camp Christian 9 A.M. TO 3 P.M.
25 “The Call of Christ” LaFwa Mission Trip; come celebrate as mission trippers talk about their experiences 28 7:00 p.m. Worship and Wonder training; for New and Experienced Greeters and Story Tellers.
The training will begin with a review of responsibilities and then we will go to the Worship and Wonder room to participate in Worship and Wonder together. Please let Carol Y. know if you will be attending. Anyone considering volunteering but wanting more information can also come to the training to see if is something they would like to do!
September
1 Blood Pressure Check post service approx 11:45am; Lacey S. will be in the pantry area to check
blood pressure. Drop on by!
2 Labor Day Office Closed; Reds Game & Faith Concert @ GABP
3 7:00 p.m. Elders Meeting 4 6:30 p.m. Handbell Choir; 7:30 p.m. CCC Choir 5 Noon Pastor @ Panera Bread, VOA 6 First Friday Female Fellowship – see Alice W. for details
8 Fall Kick-Off
10 7:00 p.m. MLT & Board Meetings
13 10:00 am West Chester Activity Center Book Club
SEPTEMBER PRAYERS
Local:
For grieving of 10 killed, healing of 27 injured in 8/4 Dayton shooting, and concerted local, state, and federal efforts to address gun violence.
Regional:
For OH State University’s Rural & Farm Stress Task Force helping farmers with slumping grain prices, tariffs, and extremely challenging weather.
Global:
For Afghanistan’s peace process and America’s military involvement since 2001.
Debora C. has been Tremont Institute’s summer artist-in-residence since 2007 and has contributed countless illustrations and other works of art to
Tremont.
Celebrate 50 years of Tremont Institute during a special exhibit of her work inspired by her time at Tremont and Great Smoky Mountains National
Park. The exhibit will be at the Townsend Visitor Center August 19–29!
Youth and Education:
Worship and Wonder:
begin on September 8th. Children from Kindergarten to Third/Fourth Grade are invited to go with the Worship and Wonder Greeter to the Modular immediately following the Children’s Sermon. Parents can pick up their children thereafter worship. Worship and Wonder is a special worship time just for our children to practice being in a quiet place with God, hear one of God’s stories, spend time talking to God, share in a feast (small snack), and sing worship songs.
The first two weeks of Worship and Wonder are dedicated to preparing ourselves for the Worship and Wonder experience by practicing the ways we can talk to God.
Each Worship and Wonder time has a Story Teller who leads the time together, a Materials Greeter who helps the children choose ways to “work” with materials as their time of talking to God, and a Feast Greeter who serves the Feast. Both Greeters help the children have the best Worship and Wonder experience possible.
We are always looking for volunteers to help as Greeters or Story Tellers! Please see Carol Y. or Katie B. if you are interested!
New and Experienced Greeters and Story Tellers should attend a Worship and Wonder training on Wednesday, August 28th, at 7:00 PM in the Youth Room. The training will begin with a review of responsibilities and then we will go to the Worship and Wonder room to participate in Worship and Wonder together. Please let Carol Y. know if you will be attending. Anyone considering volunteering but wanting more information can also come to the training to see if is something they would like to do!
Want to know more about the Disciples of Christ Children’s Worship and Wonder please watch the following video:
Sunday School
will be kicking off on September 8th as well! Watch and listen for more information! Please pray for God’s direction as we plan for Sunday School that will meet the needs of our church!
Activities for the Youth
will also be kicking off soon, We are asking families to sign up to plan one activity for a month. More information will be coming on this as well! Katie and Zach B. have graciously volunteered to plan our first family and youth event! Who will volunteer for
the next time?
Coming to Theaters on August 23rd film Overcomer
From producers of Facing the Giants
Life changes overnight for coach John Harrison when his high school basketball team’s state championship dreams are crushed under the weight of unexpected news. When the largest manufacturing plant in town suddenly shuts down and hundreds of families begin moving away, John must come to grips with the challenges facing his family and his team. Urged by the school’s principal to fill-in and coach a sport he doesn’t know or like, John is frustrated and questioning his worth… until he crosses paths with a student struggling with her own journey.
The inspiring family film stars Alex Kendrick, Priscilla Shirer, Shari Rigby, Cameron Arnett, and introduces Aryn Wright-Thompson.
Are You Interested in a Discussion Group this fall? Book Canoeing the Mountains…
Canoeing the Mountains provided a foundation for a discussion led by Pastor Troy at the recent leadership retreat. If you are interested in further
exploration and discussion of this book, please email Annmarie L. at lyonsacl@outlook.com and let her know your preference for the day, evening, or weekends.
If there is enough interest, we hope to form one or more groups in the fall. All church members are welcome!
See description below for book details.
Explorers Lewis and Clark had to adapt. While they had prepared to find a waterway to the Pacific Ocean, instead they found themselves in the Rocky
Mountains. You too may feel that you are leading in a cultural context you were not expecting. You may even feel that your training holds you back more often than it carries you along.
Drawing from his extensive experience as a pastor and consultant, Tod Bolsinger brings decades of expertise in guiding churches and organizations
through uncharted territory. He offers a combination of illuminating insights and practical tools to help you reimagine what effective leadership looks like in our rapidly changing world. If you’re going to scale the mountains of ministry, you need to leave behind canoes and find new navigational tools. Now expanded with a study guide, this book will set you on the right course to lead with confidence and courage.
Upper Room Disciplines 2020
Yes, the year is half over and we are looking ahead. The Upper Room has asked for us to give them a number of Disciplines we want for the new
year. Please advise the office of your interest. The cost will be $15.00 (price plus shipping). Large print can be ordered if requested for a couple of dollars more. RSVP to the office by Sept. 15th.
Looking Back and Giving Thanks and Praise:
Queen City Kitchen
On July 24 it looked like we were short on volunteers for Queen City Kitchen to serve a hot meal. Kurt Fr. asked and you stepped up. He had to send a few volunteers home.
THE 10 CCC VOLUNTEERS THAT STAYED SERVING 160 @ QCK ON 7/27. AWESOME!Can’t wait to see what happens this week, Aug. 24th.
Guest Speakers Rev. Dr. Daniel Meister and Rev. Richard Walker
Thank You!!
Thank you go to Rev. Dr. Daniel Meister and Rev. Richard Walker for stepping in and being our Worship Leaders while Pastor Troy was out of the
office. Thank you also to those Elders and others who stepped up for leadership in different ways.
Reach Out Lakota’s Back to School Program
What an abundance for our local community! Thank you, Compass Christian, for your generous donations! We supplied Reach Out Lakota’s Back to School Program with $1,240 worth of backpacks, school supplies, and funds! Backpack Ministry 2019 collected: 20 backpacks ($440 value) Supplies valued at $260 $540 monetary donations. Thank you!
Scott Stevens, with Reach Out Lakota, called and thanked us for our donation that in partnership with other Faith Alliance churches helped 500 kids!
A STEPPING FORWARD DINNER “THANK YOU”
On July 30th volunteers from CCC helped prepare and served dinner, made and passed out salads, desserts, washed pots, pans, dishes, packed leftovers for the guests to take home, and cleaned up in the kitchen, serving area, and dining room in order to provide for 192 deserving members of our community.
“THANKS” to Linda B, Mike, Jennifer, & Katie H, Pam H, Gerry W, Doris D, Annmarie & Matthew L, & Ed V.
Next, S F Dinner is Tuesday, October 29.
Hit and Run Repair
Thank You!! Thank you goes to Dave Diehl for replacing our mailbox after hit & run on Aug. 8.
Grounds Crew – Thank You!
Thank You!! Summer is coming to an end but the mowing hasn’t stopped. We want to thank all the volunteers for taking time out to mow the church
lawn and keep the mowers maintenance up. Great job and very much appreciated!!
Dave T.
Abbey S.
Troy S.
@ General
Assembly in
Des Moines,
IA
Abbey S.
&
Michelle
McK.
Chalice
made of
butter
Other News:
From our General Minister & President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens: August 2019
Dear Church –
My heart is still singing from the holy time we shared in Des Moines last month. The Spirit was present and real in worship. The discussions were
deep in the workshops. The joy was tangible at the meal events. Our programming for youth and young adults included education about the governance of the church, and we saw how important multi-generational worship is when we gather.
Many of those gathered spoke strongly for justice in the business sessions, at the candlelight vigil and the post-assembly rally. As the General Youth Council reminded us of their resolution, we must continue to invite one another to listen and discuss, even when we disagree. To walk together
in love even when we disagree is at the heart of being “Disciple”.
I am genuinely hopeful for the future of this Church. I saw signs of life and growth everywhere, of Disciples who are learning to abide whether that
means waiting with the expectation or tarrying a while in the Presence. While we spent some time celebrating our past, I also heard from many dedicated Disciples that we are a group whose time has come in this fragmented world. A look at the MissionFest projects made me both proud and
excited about the ministry that Disciples are engaged in across the US and Canada. To quote the Week of Compassion team, “Good work, Church!”
In partnership with the Disciples of Christ Historical Society, we celebrated the 50th Agreement, two documents which shaped our current manifestation as the church together. As many of us gathered to look forward in the “Design at 100” and “Second 50” workshops, I was encouraged by the presence of two of our former GMPS, Sharon Watkins and Dick Hamm, as they facilitated a conversation about what our church needs to look like in the next 50 years.
Disciples from across our church stood to speak truth into the room, naming both our challenges as well as our hopes. This kind of real talk must continue to be part of our work as we move forward together. The conversations revealed that we are not as afraid of change and that we are confident in God’s ability to empower us for ministry.
In the midst of the celebrations, we marked two very important occasions. One was the culmination of a major part of the 2020 Vision. Former General Minister and President Dick Hamm set the vision before us in the 1990s and he was there to announce the achievement of one of the goals of beginning more than 1,000 new faith communities. While not every start continued, we have more than 60 percent who did. But another effect of those planting operations was to work new church ministry into our DNA, to make the planting embedded in who we are today.
We were also blessed to affirm our full communion agreement with The United Church of Canada. We were already in partnership through
two of our Canadian congregations and our shared relationship with the United Church of Christ. This agreement closed the triangle to make all
three denominations stronger with a shared ministry. Not a merger, but a partnership, this agreement will be celebrated in October in
Winnipeg.
Disciples, while we are primed for growing into what the Lord has in mind for us – to become healing, helping force for good in this fragmented
world – we must make it a priority to be connected to the Vine, Jesus Christ, through the disciplines of prayer and Bible study. We must be
strengthened in our spiritual beings in order to bear the fruit that is only possible through Christ.
I invite you to do that work together, wherever you are, wherever you serve. We will be stronger as a church because of it. We must continue to abide,
to remain, to persist. I am looking forward to what we can accomplish before we meet again in Louisville, KY, in 2021. I am honored to be on this journey with you.
With God’s love,
Terri
