First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ ) 16 East ...old.firstchristiancos.org/library/documents/Newsletters/web1May... · First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ ) Phone:

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You Are Welcome Here! Phone: (719) 633-8888—Fax: (719) 633-8832—Prayer Phone: (719) 635-4000—www.firstchristiancos.org

First Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ )

16 East Platte Avenue

Colorado Springs, CO 80903

INSIDE

Blue Plate Spectacular

ALL ABOARD!

Vaccine Clinic

Week of

Compassion

Just A Note

Upcoming Concerts

April Income &

Expenses

VBS

Thank You

June Birthdays

WOC continued

Welcome

Mad Haters Tea Party

Spring Work

Day

Worship Hours Sunday Worship Service @ 8:15 & 11:00 a.m. - Sunday School @ 9:30 a.m.

May 19, 2010

Left and right. Liberal and conservative. Labels like these – and all the slogans that go along with them – have become a part of our national life. And while labels can be handy, they can also be deceptive and de-monizing. That is, folks are never as one dimensional as the over-use of labels would have us think, and when they become weapons used to diminish and disrespect others then they have become demonizing. And perhaps worst of all, the overuse and demonizing usages of labels and slogans encourage us NOT to find common ground with one an-other; and NOT to recognize that on important questions of national life we need to find common ground and we need to recognize and plead for nuance – not oversimplification! – in our common civic life. There is too much at stake to join the slo-gan-slingers in oversimplifying and demonizing! It is the same in the church – our congregation, our denomination, “the church” as a whole. There are indeed serious issues that we will content over – and should contend over. If we are to be serious about being disciples of Jesus, we need to do so. But we should be ever-vigilant against letting our increasingly demonizing, oversimplifying, over-labeling culture give us our cues about how to have those conversations. All of that is why I am so impressed with what is called “The Civility Covenant” that has begun to spread among church leaders and members of every theological stripe. You can find the full covenant at www.civilitycovenant.org and what is remarkable is the wise spectrum of folks who have “signed on” to it – from folks on “the right” like Chuck Colson to folks on “the left” like Jim Wallis, and all shades of theological stripes in between! Here is what some of that Civility Covenant has to say:

--We commit that our dialogue with each other will ... be “quick to

listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).

--We believe that each of us, and our fellow human beings, are created in

the image of God. The respect we owe to God should be reflected in the

honor and respect we show to each other in our common humanity, par-

ticularly in how we speak to each other.

--We pledge that when we disagree, we will do so respectfully,

without falsely impugning the other’s motives, attacking the other’s char-

acter, or questioning the other’s faith, and recognizing in humility... our

limited, human opinions....”

--We will ever be mindful of the language we use in expressing our

disagreements, being neither arrogant nor boastful in our beliefs: “Before

destruction one’s heart is haughty, but humility goes before

“Worthy of the Calling” - The Civility Covenant by Rev. Chuck Blaisdell

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There’s more, and I urge you to take a look at the full covenant – and even add your name if you wish! And while the writers of the Covenant have in mind how our common national life can be enhanced through this Covenant, I think that its commitments will also up-build, to use Paul’s phrase, our common life as a congregation. Will you join me in seeking to commit to these principles, that both our lives as citizens and our lives as Christians can be all that God hopes they might be? For, as Paul so beau-tifully put it: "I... beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:1-3 NRSV). May it be so!

Our Elders extend a special invitation to everyone to have lunch together - a Blue Plate Spectacular - fol-lowing worship on Pentecost Sunday, next Sun-day. Wear red in honor of Pentecost and then enjoy a blue plate lunch! Part of our celebration of the day we call the Birthday of the Church will be the opportunity to make a gift to the Elder’s Fund, which supports members and friends in times of unexpected or special need. Our own Ray Killian will be providing entertain-ment. Meat, bread and drinks will be provided. There will be signup sheets in the Fellowship Hall if you would like to bring a salad or dessert.

Save the date for “Blue Plate Spectacular”, Sunday May 23

ALL ABOARD THE CHILDREN’s TRAIN!ALL ABOARD THE CHILDREN’s TRAIN!ALL ABOARD THE CHILDREN’s TRAIN!ALL ABOARD THE CHILDREN’s TRAIN!

You are invited to a First Christian Colorado Springs Children’s Ministry Party and information session...please attend on

Tues May 25Tues May 25Tues May 25Tues May 25thththth from 6from 6from 6from 6----7:30 p.m.7:30 p.m.7:30 p.m.7:30 p.m. Bring a food item to share.

We will welcome Ray Killian into this ministry, receive an overview of the summer pro-gram offerings, Vacation Bible School, and ideas for the Fall. We will be soliciting volunteers as well. Sign-up sheets will be available on Sunday

May 30th as well for those who can not attend but wish to assist. This includes sum-mer college returnees. Drinks provided. Let me know

if you need sitters when you reply. RSVP [email protected]

Spectacular

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If you type in the (or cut and paste) this link in your computer you will be able to see Diane Ashton’s interview with out local TV station about the pain of Shingles.

http://www.newsfirst5.com/news/pain-of-shingles-can-be-excruciating/

Diane Ashton

* 2 to 5 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, located on the Citadel’s south side, top floor by JC Penney’s entry way

into the shopping center

The grant-funded vaccines will be provided free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.Registered

nurses will make assessments prior to providing immunizations, using vaccine recommenda-

tions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These adult vaccinations

(shingles and pneumococcal) are specifically for uninsured/underinsured people.

• Shingles vaccine will be offered to people age 60 .

• Pneumococcal vaccine will be offered to people age 65 and older, as well as people age

19 through 64 who have chronic lung, heart, kidney or liver disease, weakened immune sys-

tem, diabetes, alcoholism, HIV infection or AIDS, asthma, or are smokers.

• H1N1 vaccine will be offered to anyone age 6 months or older.

For additional immunizations offered to uninsured/underinsured adults and children, call 2-1-1, a service of United Way, or

Penrose-St. Francis Mission Outreach Adult Immunization Program at (719) 571-1117 or visitwww.elpasocountyhealth.org.

H1N1 flu, pneumococcal disease and herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine, while supplies last

Nashville Update On the Ground People from across the Nashville metro area and Middle Tennessee have been greatly impacted by the devastating floods a few weeks ago. Disciples congregations were not spared, as you know. The Christian Church in Tennessee office was ruined, sev-eral Disciples churches experienced severe flooding, and every single one of our churches has had members affected. But while everywhere we turned there was incredible damage, there was also amazing work being done by our Disciples congrega-tions. Disciples-led grassroots feeding pro-grams are ensuring that people who lost

their homes can count on a decent meal. Alameda Christian Church, New Covenant Christian Church, Woodmont Christian Church, and Iglesia Cristiana Discipulos de Cristo have reached out to meet the needs of their communities. Eastwood Christian Church kept the doors of its daycare center open longer, and employed additional care-givers, so that parents could join in the im-mediate relief efforts. Vine Street Christian Church and the Disci-ples Divinity House of Vanderbilt University have also been hard at work-- gutting flood-damaged homes and cleaning out the rav-aged regional office.

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Last month I discussed some thoughts about why congrega-tions might consider the importance of the arts in our church services rela-tive to their disappear-ance in other institu-

tions. Allow me to con-tinue some thoughts

based on conversations I have been having with some of you. It’s tough out there in the world. Our chil-dren are making difficult choices, our lead-ers are steering us down uncharted rivers of

economic and geo-political uncertainty. Yet we are surrounded by daily remembrances of God’s love, and we gather together to sing our God’s praises. To

paraphrase the psalmist, “When I consider this earth, the work of my fingers, the hor-rors I have created, what is man that he is mindful of himself?” Well I have long-thought that human life is a ‘plus’ on Creation’s side. We are worth saving as evidenced by Christ’s life among us. But if our faith does not seem as clear on some Sundays as others, then I believe

the arts, and in particular music, might give us more than half-truths

and some hope. How can the liberal arts (music) help us? For me,

1. Music is the most pervasive and per-sistent affirmation of a life-force in the man-thing. It provides a frame-work for our emotions, especially those we can not verbalize. It is true transubstantiation: pitch into hymns and preludes; paint onto canvas into tears; words onto paper across the sanctuary into our hearts. The Flesh becomes Word.

2. Facing the bewildering profusion of information and over-sensation, mu-sic testifies to our ability to isolate and identify, then to relate and or-der. Out of a confusion emerges per-fect sequence and symmetry--consider Bach and the structure and symbolism in a prelude, or Chatres cathedral, or the construction of a John Donne poem—the Lord is my shepherd.

I’ll save the last two thoughts for next month. For now, as Oliver Wendell Holmes recommended, “Take a music bath.” If you have any comments or questions, [email protected].

Just A Note by Ray Killian

Upcoming concerts by Carol Wilson

This Thursday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m., the Pinnacle Ringers from the Pikes Peak Youth Ringers, directed by Susan Hedg-peth will perform a program entitled “Rock-a-My Soul: Spiritu-als and Hymns” in our sanctuary. Come and enjoy lots of fun music played by these young people, ages 12-17. No admis-sion charge.

On Sunday, June 13 at 3:00 p.m., our concert series is pre-senting a program of international music from North and South America, France and Japan. The performers are mem-bers of the Pikes Peak Community College music faculty: Wil-liam Malone, saxophone; Sara McDaniel, piano; Gayle Grace, soprano; and Bruce Anderson, percussion. A free will offering will be taken.

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Contributions $26,249.00

Facility $2,060.00

Tejon Property Receipts $3,500.00

Copy Charges $118.00

Total Income $31,927.00

Less: Expenses <$33,168.00>

Net Loss <$1,241.00>

Special Offerings—WOC - Pentecost - Easter Designated Donations

$100.00 $1.00

$1,078.00 $2,528.00

April 2010 Income & Expenses

Vacation Bible School

July 7,8,9 2010 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Check back here for more information.

April 26, 2010 TO: First Christian Church Thank you so much for all the cards, visits, thoughts and prayers for me while I was recuperating from hip surgery. The meals brought in after I got home were espe-cially welcome and the personal visits as well. Gods’ love truly shows through those that care. Love to all, Nancy Woods.

Rainbows are people whose lives are bright, shining examples for others. Maya

Angelou.

Dear Nancy,

Will you give my thanks and appreciation for cards. Mrs. Mays for bringing me a

Easter basket. Every one has been so nice. God bless everyone.

Martha Van Gundy.

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Andrea Lacomb 6/1 Julie Rush 6/1 Julie Crenshaw 6/2 Cheyenne Arisiaga 6/3 Amelia Kelly 6/4 Brianna Haley 6/5 David McWhirter 6/5 Larry Rush 6/5

Addie Sale 6/10 Melba Mayall 6/11 Don Metz 6/12 Warren Pilger 6/12 Matthew Cucullu 6/13 Grace Lee 6/14 Jeff Sale 6/14 Anita Melson 6/15 Brianna Moreno 6/15 Winfield Rogers 6/15 Betty Bremer 6/16 Hollis Hock 6/16 Margaret Masters 6/16 Sandra Peckham 6/18 Don Farmer 6/20 Kim Hatler 6/20 Jimmy Osborne 6/20

Dean Barker 6/21 Jennifer George 6/21 Zachary Reinking 6/22 Steve Delaney 6/23 Chuck Haley 6/24 Matt Harders 6/25 Alice Langston 6/25 Brandon Strawderman 6/25 Jan Haley 6/26 Chuck Parrot 6/26 David Wells 6/26 Betty Baker 6/27 Mary Morgan 6/27 Homer Boutz 6/28 Susan Clark ` 6/28 Ruth Pittman 6/29

Birthdays

Is your birthday in our database?

Please call the office at 719-633-8888 or email me at [email protected] so that I may get you and your family in our church

data base.

Vine Street Christian Church and the Disciples Divinity House of Vanderbilt University have also been hard at work-- gutting flood-damaged homes and cleaning out the ravaged regional office. The Middle Tennessee churches are mounting a response, reaching out to their communities, and are eager to welcome volunteers to help rebuild homes of people who lost everything in the floods. Every church is ready to offer its skills, resources, and connections. Bellevue Christian Church and Eastwood Christian Church have each graciously offered their fa-cilities to become mission stations for flood recovery efforts. We will rebuild Nashville, one neighborhood at a time. What better way to reach out with Courageous Compassion than to contribute to the rebuilding? We give thanks for you all -- daily. Thanks for your hope, commitment, and continued work. Let's see what we can do to make a difference in Middle Tennessee and around the world. Brandon Gilvin

Welcome to the Parkers,

our newest members!

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Thank you to all who came out on Spring Work Day at FCC

Rev. Barbara and Pas-tor Chuck Blaisdell opened up their home in order to

welcome and celebrate church mothers on May 5. The Searchers women’s group and their guests provided tea goodies to comple-ment a wonderful chicken Caesar salad and a variety of teas served by Rev. Barbara. The party was extended to include all women of the church. Much fun was had by all. Excitedly, we plan a new FCC annual tradition of a May tea for church mothers hosted by Rev. Barbara and Pas-tor Chuck on a weekend date that allows even more to experience this madly, fun hospitality. Ladies wore a

variety of hats that were part of the learn-ing about one another. Rev. Barbara also presented a lesson on the many hats that

women wear. Searchers have had prayer as their intensive study this past year. A favor box made by Jan Haley was given to each attending the tea. The box is just right to hold a tea bag to remind us to sit with our cup of tea spending time with God and prac-ticing the hospitality of listening as we visit with our creator.

Thank you Rev. Barbara and Pastor Chuck for a delightful day to help us share the hospitality taught by our Lord. In His Love, Jan Haley, Searchers President

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

Rev. Charles (Chuck) Blaisdell

Senior Pastor Ray Killian Director of Music & Children’s Ministry Carol Wilson

Organist Kathe Petersen

Administrative Assistant Diana Serna Bookkeeper— Wedding Coordinator Mon., Tues., Wed. 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Custodian Laura Patino

Office Hours Mon–Thurs 9-5:00 p.m. Friday—9–2:00 p.m.

CHURCH STAFF

First Christian ChurchFirst Christian ChurchFirst Christian ChurchFirst Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)(Disciples of Christ)(Disciples of Christ)(Disciples of Christ)

16 E Platte Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80903

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COLO.SPRINGS, CO 80903 PERMIT NO. 864

Vacation Bible School

July 7,8,9, 2010

The Visitor invites articles, notices, and letters rele-vant to the life of our congregation. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity, and correctness. Opinions expressed by writers do not necessarily reflect official FCC policy. For the next installment, please make submissions no later than the 15th of each month. Suggest a title for your article and include the au-thor’s information (name, church role, and addi-tional contact info). If at all possible, please include your article already typed up as Word attachment in your e-mail message to [email protected]

Inform & Inspire