Blessings, Pastor Adam Standiford
I am a few weeks into ministry here at FCC Mt. Sterling; some of my belongings have found homes in the office, I have attended a few of the Children’s Church and Sunday Night Youth gatherings, I was introduced to El Camino Real and Berryman’s (thanks Scott!), and I am spending time learning more about the Disciples and our church - and you all have been so supportive the whole time! I give thanks to God for your patience and encouragement! There are so many special parts about this church and I am blessed to have been called to serve with you. Growing up, my family attended several different churches and finding a home congregation was hard for us. The longest tenure we had was at David’s Fork Baptist Church, where I was a youth from grade 3 to 8. Though at times I was the only member of the youth group, I was surrounded with members from the congregation who stepped up and invested their time and energies teaching and playing with me. Many of these wonderful folks still keep in touch with me and pray for me, offering help throughout college and seminary. Though my home is with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship tradition, I bring to ministry here what I have found to be a similar approach by others at FCC Mt. Sterling: helping students learn to love God and learn to love others in community. May we make it our mission to foster this ministry with our students and help them grow in their faiths together! Blessings, Pastor Adam Standiford
ANNUAL HOLY WEEK SERVICES TO BE HELD AT FIRST CHRISTIAN, MARCH 30—APRIL 3 The Montgomery County Ministerial Association will once again offer worship services each day during Holy Week at 12 p.m. We have the privilege of hosting this year, so the services will be held at First Christian Church and a sack lunch will be provided. First Christian will provide drinks each day. All offerings collected at the services support the Ministerial Association. Please come out and worship with us and welcome members of the community to our church!
MAUNDY THURSDAY TENEBRAE SERVICE—APRIL 2ND AT 6 PM The word "tenebrae" comes from the Latin meaning shadow or darkness. The Tenebrae is an ancient Christian service that makes use of gradually diminishing light through the extinguishing of candles to symbolize the events of that week from the triumphant Palm Sunday entry through Jesus' burial. This increasing darkness symbolizes the approaching darkness of Jesus' death and of hopelessness in the world without God. The service concludes in darkness and everyone then leaves in silence to ponder the impact of Christ's death and await the coming Resurrection. Join us on Maundy Thursday, April 2nd at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary for a very powerful and meaningful Tenebrae service.
GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER VIGIL—APRIL 3RD, 6AM-6PM PRAYER WARRIORS NEEDED! First Christian Church will resume the ancient tradition of holding vigil on Good Friday by praying in the Chapel on April 3rd from 6 am - 6 pm. Prayer warriors will volunteer to pray through 30 minute time slots for our church, the needy, and especially our salvation. A sign up sheet will be provided in the coming weeks, or to reserve your slot in advance please contact Pastor Scott!
Rev. Sco Holley, Senior Minister Adam Standiford, Associate Minister with Students
Volume CXLVII, Issue 4, Monthly April 1, 2015
Postmaster: Send address changes to Christian Messenger, 222 West Main St., Mt. Sterling, KY 40353
SMALL GROUP AND BIBLE STUDY GROUPS FOR APRIL Please take note of groups meeting times and locations as some change month to month. Please contact your group leader for the certainty if your group meets and location.
*SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES meet each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.— nursery is provided! Join one of the following classes: Open Door (Bill Bramblet, facilitator), Hazelrigg (Bill Smathers, facilitator), Discovering the Bible (facilitated by Rusty Skinner), Children’s Class (taught by Mary Alice Duff), and Youth Class (taught by Gayle Baskey & Edd Pittman). *WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY meets weekly at 9:30 a.m. The group is currently studying “Heaven” (Sherry Taul, Facilitator) *MERGE continues each Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Childcare is provided. (Pastor Scott, Facilitator) Merge will NOT meet during Holy Week on Wednesday, April 1st. *LAF (Living Alone with Faith) GROUP will NOT meet during the month of April due to Holy Week. The next LAF meeting will be on May 7th at noon at Jerry’s. See Pat McGlothin for details or call her at 859-498-4334. *HISTORY COMMITTEE meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the Archives Room. Contact Jim Stephens for more info. Meeting on April 7th & 21st! *YOUTH GROUP for 6th-12th graders will meet on Sunday evenings from 5:30-7:00 p.m.! Youth group will NOT meet the evening of Easter Sunday, April 5th and we will meet at 3 pm at Sterling Lanes on Sunday, April 12th.
YOUTH & CHILDREN’S MINISTRY NEWS EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 5— Youth Group—please be meet on the church playground at 9:30 am to hide eggs! Children—Our annual egg hunt begins at 9:45! Please bring a basket or bag with you!
SUNDAY, APRIL 12—BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE! On Sunday, April 12th, we will meet at Sterling Lanes at 3:00 pm for a fun afternoon of Bowling for Kids’ Sake! First Christian has two lanes reserved—one for youth and children and the other for adults. If you and/or your family would like to Bowl for Kids’ Sake, please contact Pastor Adam or Jimmy Robinson as soon as possible!
SUNDAY, APRIL 19TH—SPAGHETTI LUNCH FUNDRAISER! On Sunday, April 19th, the youth group will host a spaghetti lunch to raise funds for the mission trip! Please join us immediately following worship in the Fellowship Hall to support our youth! Youth and their families, please contact Adam to coordinate details for the food and serving!
APRIL—YOUTH AND THE WELCOME CAFE! EASTER OFFERING TO BE RECEIVED APRIL 5 Each year at the Easter Season, FCC takes up a special outreach offering that goes to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denominational support. It is a critical offering for the General Church Ministries that supports all local congregations in things such as the search and call process of finding new clergy leadership. This year you have the opportunity to open your hearts to once again support the work of the Disciples of Christ worldwide.
EXECUTIVE TEAM SEEKING REFRIGERATOR The executive team is seeking a good, used refrigerator. We need more refrigerator space for extras or when several events are going on simultaneously. If you have one that you would like to donate, please contact the church office or Gerre Letton.
THANK YOU First Christian Church, thank you so much for the beautiful service for my Mamaw. She would have been so pleased. Thank you for the meal and all your support and prayers during this sad time. I appreciate you all so much! —Kelly Adams
HOLY NUMBERS FOR 2015 Sunday’s Offering Pledges Given Contributions Plate Offering
3/1 15290 1015 129
3/8 3500 1492 116
3/15 4439 1855 114
3/22 3300 1475 117
Total Pledges Needed in 2015: $234,156.00 Rc’d thru 3/22 $72,954.70
Unpaid 2015 Pledge Balance ($161,201.30)
Leadership moments FOR APRIL Monday, April 13, 5 pm: Executive Team Mtg. Tuesday, April 14, 6 pm: Elder s Dinner & Meeting
ATTENDANCE: March 1: 171 March 8: 154
March 15: 184 March 22: 169
During the Sundays after Easter throughout the month of April, the Youth will be hosting the Welcome Cafe! Come by and grab a doughnut, coffee, milk, or juice and share some time with us!
JULY 25-31—MISSION TRIP: AUSTIN, TX The youth will be traveling to Austin, TX to serve with Reach Beyond Mission. We will be serving with others, learning more about poverty and hunger as it relates to Austin, the US, and the world. There will also be time spent exploring food justice, sustainable practices, and urban gardens.
FIRST CHRISTIAN HISTORY REMEMBRANCE Did you know—April is a special month in the history of our church! One reason it is important is this is the two year anniversary of having Pastor Scott as our Senior Minister! In 2013, after several interviews with our search team, we first met Scott, Heather, Addy, and Layne at a reception in February. Pastor Scott and his family officially joined us on April 9th of that year. Do you remember his first sermon on April 14, 2013? It was titled “Let’s Go Fishing” and a lot of fishing has been and continues to be done since then with excellent results. Happy Anniversary Scott, Heather, Addy, and Layne! We’re glad you’re here as we share God’s work together. We look forward to many more wonderful years with God.
ANNUAL HOLY WEEK SERVICES TO BE HELD AT FIRST CHRISTIAN, MARCH 30—APRIL 3 The Montgomery County Ministerial Association will once again offer worship services each day during Holy Week at 12 p.m. We have the privilege of hosting this year, so the services will be held at First Christian Church and a sack lunch will be provided. First Christian will provide drinks each day. All offerings collected at the services support the Ministerial Association. Please come out and worship with us and welcome members of the community to our church!
MAUNDY THURSDAY TENEBRAE SERVICE—APRIL 2ND AT 6 PM The word "tenebrae" comes from the Latin meaning shadow or darkness. The Tenebrae is an ancient Christian service that makes use of gradually diminishing light through the extinguishing of candles to symbolize the events of that week from the triumphant Palm Sunday entry through Jesus' burial. This increasing darkness symbolizes the approaching darkness of Jesus' death and of hopelessness in the world without God. The service concludes in darkness and everyone then leaves in silence to ponder the impact of Christ's death and await the coming Resurrection. Join us on Maundy Thursday, April 2nd at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary for a very powerful and meaningful Tenebrae service.
GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER VIGIL—APRIL 3RD, 6AM-6PM PRAYER WARRIORS NEEDED! First Christian Church will resume the ancient tradition of holding vigil on Good Friday by praying in the Chapel on April 3rd from 6 am - 6 pm. Prayer warriors will volunteer to pray through 30 minute time slots for our church, the needy, and especially our salvation. A sign up sheet will be provided in the coming weeks, or to reserve your slot in advance please contact Pastor Scott!
Rev. Sco Holley, Senior Minister Adam Standiford, Associate Minister with Students
Volume CXLVII, Issue 4, Monthly April 1, 2015
Postmaster: Send address changes to Christian Messenger, 222 West Main St., Mt. Sterling, KY 40353
SMALL GROUP AND BIBLE STUDY GROUPS FOR APRIL Please take note of groups meeting times and locations as some change month to month. Please contact your group leader for the certainty if your group meets and location.
*SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES meet each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.— nursery is provided! Join one of the following classes: Open Door (Bill Bramblet, facilitator), Hazelrigg (Bill Smathers, facilitator), Discovering the Bible (facilitated by Rusty Skinner), Children’s Class (taught by Mary Alice Duff), and Youth Class (taught by Gayle Baskey & Edd Pittman). *WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY meets weekly at 9:30 a.m. The group is currently studying “Heaven” (Sherry Taul, Facilitator) *MERGE continues each Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Childcare is provided. (Pastor Scott, Facilitator) Merge will NOT meet during Holy Week on Wednesday, April 1st. *LAF (Living Alone with Faith) GROUP will NOT meet during the month of April due to Holy Week. The next LAF meeting will be on May 7th at noon at Jerry’s. See Pat McGlothin for details or call her at 859-498-4334. *HISTORY COMMITTEE meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the Archives Room. Contact Jim Stephens for more info. Meeting on April 7th & 21st! *YOUTH GROUP for 6th-12th graders will meet on Sunday evenings from 5:30-7:00 p.m.! Youth group will NOT meet the evening of Easter Sunday, April 5th and we will meet at 3 pm at Sterling Lanes on Sunday, April 12th.
YOUTH & CHILDREN’S MINISTRY NEWS EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 5— Youth Group—please be meet on the church playground at 9:30 am to hide eggs! Children—Our annual egg hunt begins at 9:45! Please bring a basket or bag with you!
SUNDAY, APRIL 12—BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE! On Sunday, April 12th, we will meet at Sterling Lanes at 3:00 pm for a fun afternoon of Bowling for Kids’ Sake! First Christian has two lanes reserved—one for youth and children and the other for adults. If you and/or your family would like to Bowl for Kids’ Sake, please contact Pastor Adam or Jimmy Robinson as soon as possible!
SUNDAY, APRIL 19TH—SPAGHETTI LUNCH FUNDRAISER! On Sunday, April 19th, the youth group will host a spaghetti lunch to raise funds for the mission trip! Please join us immediately following worship in the Fellowship Hall to support our youth! Youth and their families, please contact Adam to coordinate details for the food and serving!
APRIL—YOUTH AND THE WELCOME CAFE! EASTER OFFERING TO BE RECEIVED APRIL 5 Each year at the Easter Season, FCC takes up a special outreach offering that goes to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denominational support. It is a critical offering for the General Church Ministries that supports all local congregations in things such as the search and call process of finding new clergy leadership. This year you have the opportunity to open your hearts to once again support the work of the Disciples of Christ worldwide.
EXECUTIVE TEAM SEEKING REFRIGERATOR The executive team is seeking a good, used refrigerator. We need more refrigerator space for extras or when several events are going on simultaneously. If you have one that you would like to donate, please contact the church office or Gerre Letton.
THANK YOU First Christian Church, thank you so much for the beautiful service for my Mamaw. She would have been so pleased. Thank you for the meal and all your support and prayers during this sad time. I appreciate you all so much! —Kelly Adams
HOLY NUMBERS FOR 2015 Sunday’s Offering Pledges Given Contributions Plate Offering
3/1 15290 1015 129
3/8 3500 1492 116
3/15 4439 1855 114
3/22 3300 1475 117
Total Pledges Needed in 2015: $234,156.00 Rc’d thru 3/22 $72,954.70
Unpaid 2015 Pledge Balance ($161,201.30)
Leadership moments FOR APRIL Monday, April 13, 5 pm: Executive Team Mtg. Tuesday, April 14, 6 pm: Elder s Dinner & Meeting
ATTENDANCE: March 1: 171 March 8: 154
March 15: 184 March 22: 169
During the Sundays after Easter throughout the month of April, the Youth will be hosting the Welcome Cafe! Come by and grab a doughnut, coffee, milk, or juice and share some time with us!
JULY 25-31—MISSION TRIP: AUSTIN, TX The youth will be traveling to Austin, TX to serve with Reach Beyond Mission. We will be serving with others, learning more about poverty and hunger as it relates to Austin, the US, and the world. There will also be time spent exploring food justice, sustainable practices, and urban gardens.
FIRST CHRISTIAN HISTORY REMEMBRANCE Did you know—April is a special month in the history of our church! One reason it is important is this is the two year anniversary of having Pastor Scott as our Senior Minister! In 2013, after several interviews with our search team, we first met Scott, Heather, Addy, and Layne at a reception in February. Pastor Scott and his family officially joined us on April 9th of that year. Do you remember his first sermon on April 14, 2013? It was titled “Let’s Go Fishing” and a lot of fishing has been and continues to be done since then with excellent results. Happy Anniversary Scott, Heather, Addy, and Layne! We’re glad you’re here as we share God’s work together. We look forward to many more wonderful years with God.
