The Chalice A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OKVol. 3 No. 36 October 6, 2011 CONNECTION I Wonder... By Anna Lisa Stanley, Director of Children’s Ministry I wonder if you’ve noticed all the different ways that children have been involved in our worship services. Acolytes are of course a very treasured part of worship, but I wonder if you’ve noticed the children sharing their gifts ofsinging, dancing, and reading? One ofthe greatest gifts God gives us is the gift ofworship. It’s so important for our children to see us worship and for us to involve them in worship. It is also important to show children how to get ready to worship, to teach them how to look up scripture, and to explain the elements ofworship. How can we expect children to know how to worship, if they have never seen it or experienced it? The children’s ministry team has been asking those questions, and through research has begun laying the ground work for an exciting way of approaching faith formation with young children, ages 3 to 1st grade. The program is called Children Worship and Wonder. It uses a sensory-motor style of storytelling as a primary means for encountering God, so God is experienced, not just learned about. Children will participate in worship practices and hear Bible stories in a way that allows them to enter into the stories and form responses out of their own life experiences. They will be provided a way to tell the stories of God to others. I asked a few of the leaders of our children’s ministry team to share what excites them about Children Worship and Wonder – here are their responses: I’m excited about Children Worship and Wonder because of its potential to teach children the true meaning of worship at an early age. - Sally LeonardI had read literature explaining Children’s Worship and Wonder when my girls were small and had hoped that it might be a program we might be able to use in ourchurch. Reading the stories, the respectprovided the children, the presentation style, moved me to tears then and does today. Years have passed and Anna Lisa presents this possible worship style we might bring to the children of our church, and I am once again excited and thrilled with the possibilities! Children are so smart and able to see God on their own, and this program helps them to achieve real worship with God on their level ofunderstanding. Worship is that time spentpraising and thanking our God for all thatis given us, and for our church to be able to provide an environment of real worship for the youngest among us brings me joy. We will begin our training soon, learningthe method of holding worship and Icannot wait! I am grateful to play a small part in helping our children develop theirlifelong relationship with God and His church. - Lori Fuller Children Worship & Wonder provides the wonderful combination of instruction and experience. The program teaches ourchildren the amazing and untiring stories from the Bible and at the same time opens them up to begin to feel and be aware of the presence of God through worship. This is an exciting opportunity for our children to grow in theirknowledge of their Savior and in theirfaith-walk. “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” Proverbs 22:6- Sarah Douthitt Children Worship and Wonder will be offered during morning worship beginning in the Fall of 2012. All who would like to become involved with the Worship and Wonder program are welcome! Storytellers and greeters are needed. Significant training is required to learn this approach and use it effectively. We are pleased to offer storyteller training on October 15th and 16th at First Christian Church in Midwest City and Midwest Boulevard Christian Church. Please contact me at astanley@ fccedmond.org or call me at 341-3544, ext. 106 if you would like more details or want to attend the training. In the coming months, you can expect to see one of our storytellers sharing a story in worship, at committee meetings, and at your request, your Sunday school class! We are eager to share the stories with the entire congregation! It takes commitment in both time and financial resources to put together a children’s worship space. However, all churches who are using this approach agree that it is worth the effort. Adults who receive the training find their own faith deepened. Also, once materials are made or purchased, they never need to be replaced. You can read more about Children Worship and Wonder, on the Disciples Home Missions website www.discipleshomemissions.org/ FamilyandChildren/CWW
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“THANK YOU!” to all those who cametogether to make great things happenon Gratitude Sunday 2011
Gratitude Worship
l Cellist – Jennifer McGrew
l Communion Bread Dancer – Abby Kerrl Bread Bearers & Call to Worship – Clella Adams, Katherine
Adkins, Jake Blevins, Michael and Jennifer Hast, Katie Hurst,
Cherri Steele, Alice Woods
l Acolyte – Andrew Woods
l Extravagant Generosity Video – filmed and produced by
Andrew Harris and video interviewees - Tommy Atchison,
Joey Biby, Armelda Linton, Bill & Shannon Medley
l Musicians – Chancel Choir led by Diane Ball and
accompanied by Marilynn Brown, Girls Ensemble
led by Molly Haley, Children & Youth “Great Things”
vocalists, Praise musicians Glenn Sulley, David Sisson,
Kelly Greenhaw, Randle Lee & Greg Bunton
l Technical Coordination above and beyond the norm –
Frank Gresh & Bruce Jackson
l World Communion Displays (in rotunda and worship) –
Sherry Parks
l Communion breads – FCC Elders
l Photography and videography – Mark Taylor
Gratitude 2011 & Welcome Back Luncheonfor the Shorow Family
l Membership Ministry – Julie Bunton, Amanda Stuke & leaders
l Bellini’s Ristorante & Grill – (with a special thanks to our own
Charles Stout for their unbelievably generous pricing!)
l The FCC Choir
l The Children of FCC & Children’s SS Teachers
l The Youth of FCC
l All Adult Sunday School Classes
l Metro Property
l The Staff of FCC
l Lilly “Renewal Grant”
“THANK YOU!” to everyone involved with our Extravagant Generosity campaign this year
l Scott Peters – Stewardship Moderator
l Roger & Joy Quinn & Gwen Shaw – Annual Campaign
Moderators
l Robbi Kinnaird, Margaret Hall, Anna Lisa Stanley and Greg
Bunton – for offering educational components for our children,
youth and adult Sunday school classes
l Jim & Dian Sill, Vance & Jacqui Gregory, Geri & Dyke
Moffatt, J.C. & Karla Mahan, Jeff Williams – leadership giving
l Karla Rowley, Shirley Brown and Prayer Ministers – for
developing our 21 Day Prayer Calendar, sharing generositychildren’s moments during the campaign, Heart Cards in
worship, and FCC GENEROSITY bracelets
l Joyce Werhun and Jennifer Humphrey – for the creative
rotunda display of Heart Cards and Extravagant Generosity
campaign materials
l Iris Muno Jordan - campaign materials
l Robbi Kinnaird and all of the staff for assisting me in the
development of the Extravagant Generosity magazine
As the song says…Great things are gonna happen here
I’d say they did, they do and they will. Praise be to God. With
faith like a child, let’s keep on expecting great things!
Great Things Happen Here!By Shelley Regan, Communications Director
One recent Wednesday evening I overheard the children of UNITEsinging their hearts out in the sanctuary.
“We come here, expecting God to doamazing things, right here, right now.
Great things happen when we come together,great things happen when we praise our Savior.
We sing! We serve! We laugh! We learn!Great things are gonna happen.
Great things are gonna happen here!”
It struck me in that moment that these children were singing with conviction. They reallydo expect God to do amazing things. And they expect those great things to happen RIGHHERE, RIGHT NOW! Yes, they sang their little hearts out believing God does great andamazing things when we come together. Oh to have the faith of a child!
If you were here this past Sunday for the Gratitude and Worldwide Communion worship and lunch, you might have this very catchy song stuck in your head. It was abeautiful sight to see the steps to the Chancel suddenly filled with children and students,and the choir joining in from behind, to lead us out from worship with a musicalbenediction of “Great Things!”
( U S P S 2 1 0 - 3 6 0 ) i s p u b l i s h e d w e e k l y ( e x c e p t w e e k s
o f N e w Y e a r ’ s D a y a n d C h r i s t m a s D a y ) . P e r i o d i c a l s p o s t a g e p a i d b y F i r s t C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h , 2 0 1 E . S e c o n d , E d m o n d , O K 7 3 0 3 4 - 4 5 6 P O S T M A S T E R : S e n d a d d r e s s c h a n g e s t o T h e C h a l i c e C O N N E C T I O N , P O B o x 3 5 4 8 , E d m o n d , O K 7 3 0 8 3
P e r i o d i c a l s P o s t a g e P a i d E d m o n d , O K U S P S 2 1 0 - 3 6 0
Let’s Spread the JOY!Help Fill and Pack Shoeboxes
for Operation Christmas Child Our next packing party for Operation Christmas Child
will be Wednesday, October 12, from 9 AM to 12
PM. These boxes will nd their way into the hands
of children who would otherwise get nothing for
Christmas. We would love to receive any of the following items.
Questions? Contact Michele Schlough at 844-3214.
l HARD candy (individually wrapped)l combs or brushesl small items of clothingl ip ops
l toothpastel stuffed animalsl small toysl shoe boxes
Worship8:15, 9 & 11amOctober 9, 2011Message: Rev. Dr. Jerry Black &
Rev. Greg BuntonScripture: Mark 9:2-8Theme: Hearing God’s Word -Transguration
October 16, 2011Message: Rev. Chris Shorow &
Rev. Dr. Jerry BlackTheme: Hearing God’s Word -Elijah After Mt. Carmel
Join Disciples Women in Caring For Babies
Support Infant Crisis ServicesIt is hard to imagine that there are babies and toddlers who go to bed hungry in our midst, yet it
happens every day right here in central Oklahoma. FCC’s Disciple Women groups have adopted
this agency as their fall fundraiser. Infant Crisis Services serves more than 1,000 babies and toddle
in central Oklahoma each month by sharing formula, food, diapers and clothing for those children
in times of crisis. If you are part of Disciples Women, you can give at your meeting. Others may
give through the church, simply indicate “Infant Crisis Services” on the memo line of your check.