The Lynn Christian Lynn Christian
The Lynn Christian
Elders Rex Ratcliffe……….…….…....765.584.3509 Philip Williams.………………765.874.1614
First Church of Christ 206 W. Church Street, P.O. Box 301 Lynn, Indiana 47355 Sunday Worship and Study Times Bible School……………………..…......…9:30 AM Sunday AM Worship...………………....10:30 AM Youth Groups and Adult Bible Study…….6:00 PM
Church Staff Marjorie Alberson .……....First Care Director Office: 765.874.2590 Denise Thornburg……….…..…….…………Secretary Office: 765.874.1826 e-mail: [email protected] Church Web: www.fcclynn.com
The Lynn Christian is: Published by First Church of Christ in Lynn, Indiana on a bi-weekly basis for the distinct purpose of informing its members and friends of its ministry of “making disciples” to the glory and honor of Christ her Head!
Dates to Note July 10 6:00 PM . . . . . . . . . . Softball (diamond 1) July 12 Scott Paul to preach AM worship 4:30 PM . . . . . Missions Ministry meeting July 13 5:30 PM . . . .First Care Ministry meeting July 16 . . . Leadership reports due . . . July 17 6:00 PM . . . . . . . . . .Softball (diamond 2) July 19 . . . Scott Paul to preach AM worship . . July 20 7:00 PM . . . . . . . . . . Leadership meeting
Facts and Figures 06-28-09 06-28-09 06-28-09 06-28-09
General Fund Missions Maintenance Roof Project
$2262.40 $ 969.60 ~ $ 500.00
07-05-09 07-05-09 07-05-09 07-05-09
General Fund Missions Maintenance Roof Fund
$1873.55 $ 802.95 50.00 $ 350.00
FCC Roof Project Total
$29725.10
Vol. XX1V
July 7, 2009
No. 14
For the past several years, it has been our practice to demonstrate our respect for the symbols of our faith and our nation by retiring the Christian flag and the American flag each year from our outdoor flag pole and then hoisting new flags in their place. In addition, it has also been our practice to present the retired flags to a member of our church family who has served with one of our nation's military forces. At the conclusion of our weekly worship this past Sunday morning, we paused again to respect these symbols and to honor two special members of the church family. We presented the retired American flag to Wayne Williams, honoring him for his service with the United States Army, as well as his many years of serving the First Church of Christ. In addition, we presented the Christian flag to Mary Kay DeHaven to honor her many years of dedicated service within this church family, as well as the community. Although we have not presented the retired flags separately in previous years, we understood that it would be appropriate and proper to honor Mary Kay for several reasons and that we might not have another opportunity to do so, due to her soon return to Mays, Indiana. Although we do not always plan our traditions, and we are not necessarily proposing another one here, but the honor that we presented Sunday does raise a question or two. For example, whom should we honor with the retired flags each year? Should we honor only military veterans, as we have in past years? Should we honor both military veterans and "veterans" of the Lord's army, as some might suggest that we did this year? Or should we stay flexible or "open" and give honor to whom honor is due? Of course, many agree that we should continue to demonstrate our respect for the symbols of our faith and the nation by replacing the flags each year, as we have done. However, perhaps by considering these questions, we will gain an added appreciation for the servants all around us... and the inspiration and motivation to follow their example! ~Philip Williams
As we announced previously, we have selected International Disaster Emergency Service (I.D.E.S.) of Kempton, Indiana as our Vacation Bible School (VBS) Mission partner this summer. This mission-focused ministry serves the churches of the United States as a distributor of emergency funds and service to areas around the world facing major disaster conditions. I.D.E.S. delivers these supplies via local churches near the disaster areas to help ensure proper use of the gifts and donations. We recently received the letter printed below from Rick Jett, the Executive Director of I.D.E.S., concerning the use of the funds that we plan to give through the SonFish Bank program during VBS this year. ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` Imagine for a moment that beginning tomorrow there would be no more food available-no supermarkets selling groceries, and no more money to buy them if they did. Everything would change. You would awaken to the knowledge that every hour of your day must be obsessively devoted to the search for sustenance. Unfortunately, this is the reality of nearly three million people in southeastern Kenya. The Maasai have been significantly impacted by a drought. The drought has wiped out 90% of the livestock in the Kajiado District . William Lente, a church elder, said, “Maasai are no longer a people of the cow.” The food shortage has been compounded by poor harvests nationwide because of last year’s high oil prices which made fertilizer too expensive. Many other farmers were driven from their homes because of last year’s post election violence. Joe Cluff, a CMP missionary, reported that he was aware of eight people who starved to death. Joe’s request for hunger funds is only one of eleven such urgent requests IDES has received since the first of this year. Haiti is also in desperate need of food. The New York Times recently reported that three quarters of the population of Haiti earns less than $2 per day, and one in five children are chronically malnourished. People are consuming cookies made of mud, oil and salt to help fill their empty stomachs. In the sprawling slum of Haiti’s Cite Soleil, a twenty-nine year old mother offered one of her five offspring to a stranger. “Take one,” she said, “You pick. Just feed them.” Can you imagine your children so hungry that you would offer to give them to strangers-just so that they would live? This is unimaginable! Most of us have never truly been hungry. Starving souls are praying to God, “Give us today our daily bread.” Christians in these countries are ready and willing to distribute food in Jesus’ name. Our missionaries are turning to IDES in this time of crisis. IDES does not borrow money to meet these needs. We rely on God to provide the resources through His people. We need you to help us answer the cries of the hungry! A gift of only $5 will provide beans, maize and cooking oil for one household for one month in Kenya. An average household is about eight people. Your gift of $25 could provide five households with food for a month. An offering of $700 would provide food relief supplies for one church to distribute in helping multiple families in their community. Could you make a special gift to provide food for hungry people? Please carefully consider this urgent need. May God bless you for your compassion and generosity! ~Sincerely yours, Rick Jett, Executive Director
The July Leadership meeting will be Monday, July 20. Leadership reports are due, Thursday, July 16. The text to read is the second half of chapter two, “Spiritual Warfare: Duty, Danger, and Guaranteed Triumph,” pp. 40-51. Mike Alka will be leading devotions.
Prayer Concerns Those Who Need to Become Christians Home (Health Concerns): Colby and Aaron Bruner; Katie Sue Burdett, seriously ill, special friend of the Quick Family; Ike Dalzell; Mo Dalzell; Sue Haney; Alice Hartley; Shane Hines, friend of Brent and Stephen Boyer; Carl and Lee Howard; Louella Johnson; Karmen Kellams; Alisha Knoll; Marshall Meyers; Joe, Eula and Rochella Newland; Mary Norris; Tammy Scruggs, working associate of Melissa Bruner Our Missionaries including: Bright Outreach Those Serving in the Military Home (Cancer):
Location:
First Church of Christ 206 West Church Street Dates for the adventure: Sunday, July 26 Sunday, August 2 Sunday, August 9 Sunday, August 16 Sunday, August 23 The adventure begins at:
5:30 PM The city gates close at:
7:30 PM
Michael Booher; Carol Bruce, Matt Freeman’s aunt; Terri Cox, Charley Cole’s neighbor; Larry Girdwood, preacher at Whitewater Christian Church; Chuck Paul, chemo treatments; Naomi Schmitt, (Rebecca Glunt’s mother); Ted Thompson Assisted Living and/or Nursing home: Arbor Trace: Frank Johnting Forest Park: Dorothy Funk Randolph Nursing Home: Virginia Frazier Regency Manor: Dorothy Ratcliffe Summers Pointe: Beulah Kirk The Church Staffing Ministry Pray for God’s guidance and patience as these men search for our next preacher. These names and concerns have been reported or up-dated to the church in the last month. If you have a prayer request that the church family needs to be aware of, please contact the church office.
Elders Rex Ratcliffe……….…….…....765.584.3509 Philip Williams.………………765.874.1614
First Church of Christ 206 W. Church Street, P.O. Box 301 Lynn, Indiana 47355 Sunday Worship and Study Times Bible School……………………..…......…9:30 AM Sunday AM Worship...………………....10:30 AM Youth Groups and Adult Bible Study…….6:00 PM
Church Staff Marjorie Alberson .……....First Care Director Office: 765.874.2590 Denise Thornburg……….…..…….…………Secretary Office: 765.874.1826 e-mail: [email protected] Church Web: www.fcclynn.com
The Lynn Christian is: Published by First Church of Christ in Lynn, Indiana on a bi-weekly basis for the distinct purpose of informing its members and friends of its ministry of “making disciples” to the glory and honor of Christ her Head!
Dates to Note July 10 6:00 PM . . . . . . . . . . Softball (diamond 1) July 12 Scott Paul to preach AM worship 4:30 PM . . . . . Missions Ministry meeting July 13 5:30 PM . . . .First Care Ministry meeting July 16 . . . Leadership reports due . . . July 17 6:00 PM . . . . . . . . . .Softball (diamond 2) July 19 . . . Scott Paul to preach AM worship . . July 20 7:00 PM . . . . . . . . . . Leadership meeting
Facts and Figures 06-28-09 06-28-09 06-28-09 06-28-09
General Fund Missions Maintenance Roof Project
$2262.40 $ 969.60 ~ $ 500.00
07-05-09 07-05-09 07-05-09 07-05-09
General Fund Missions Maintenance Roof Fund
$1873.55 $ 802.95 50.00 $ 350.00
FCC Roof Project Total
$29725.10
Vol. XX1V
July 7, 2009
No. 14
For the past several years, it has been our practice to demonstrate our respect for the symbols of our faith and our nation by retiring the Christian flag and the American flag each year from our outdoor flag pole and then hoisting new flags in their place. In addition, it has also been our practice to present the retired flags to a member of our church family who has served with one of our nation's military forces. At the conclusion of our weekly worship this past Sunday morning, we paused again to respect these symbols and to honor two special members of the church family. We presented the retired American flag to Wayne Williams, honoring him for his service with the United States Army, as well as his many years of serving the First Church of Christ. In addition, we presented the Christian flag to Mary Kay DeHaven to honor her many years of dedicated service within this church family, as well as the community. Although we have not presented the retired flags separately in previous years, we understood that it would be appropriate and proper to honor Mary Kay for several reasons and that we might not have another opportunity to do so, due to her soon return to Mays, Indiana. Although we do not always plan our traditions, and we are not necessarily proposing another one here, but the honor that we presented Sunday does raise a question or two. For example, whom should we honor with the retired flags each year? Should we honor only military veterans, as we have in past years? Should we honor both military veterans and "veterans" of the Lord's army, as some might suggest that we did this year? Or should we stay flexible or "open" and give honor to whom honor is due? Of course, many agree that we should continue to demonstrate our respect for the symbols of our faith and the nation by replacing the flags each year, as we have done. However, perhaps by considering these questions, we will gain an added appreciation for the servants all around us... and the inspiration and motivation to follow their example! ~Philip Williams
As we announced previously, we have selected International Disaster Emergency Service (I.D.E.S.) of Kempton, Indiana as our Vacation Bible School (VBS) Mission partner this summer. This mission-focused ministry serves the churches of the United States as a distributor of emergency funds and service to areas around the world facing major disaster conditions. I.D.E.S. delivers these supplies via local churches near the disaster areas to help ensure proper use of the gifts and donations. We recently received the letter printed below from Rick Jett, the Executive Director of I.D.E.S., concerning the use of the funds that we plan to give through the SonFish Bank program during VBS this year. ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` Imagine for a moment that beginning tomorrow there would be no more food available-no supermarkets selling groceries, and no more money to buy them if they did. Everything would change. You would awaken to the knowledge that every hour of your day must be obsessively devoted to the search for sustenance. Unfortunately, this is the reality of nearly three million people in southeastern Kenya. The Maasai have been significantly impacted by a drought. The drought has wiped out 90% of the livestock in the Kajiado District . William Lente, a church elder, said, “Maasai are no longer a people of the cow.” The food shortage has been compounded by poor harvests nationwide because of last year’s high oil prices which made fertilizer too expensive. Many other farmers were driven from their homes because of last year’s post election violence. Joe Cluff, a CMP missionary, reported that he was aware of eight people who starved to death. Joe’s request for hunger funds is only one of eleven such urgent requests IDES has received since the first of this year. Haiti is also in desperate need of food. The New York Times recently reported that three quarters of the population of Haiti earns less than $2 per day, and one in five children are chronically malnourished. People are consuming cookies made of mud, oil and salt to help fill their empty stomachs. In the sprawling slum of Haiti’s Cite Soleil, a twenty-nine year old mother offered one of her five offspring to a stranger. “Take one,” she said, “You pick. Just feed them.” Can you imagine your children so hungry that you would offer to give them to strangers-just so that they would live? This is unimaginable! Most of us have never truly been hungry. Starving souls are praying to God, “Give us today our daily bread.” Christians in these countries are ready and willing to distribute food in Jesus’ name. Our missionaries are turning to IDES in this time of crisis. IDES does not borrow money to meet these needs. We rely on God to provide the resources through His people. We need you to help us answer the cries of the hungry! A gift of only $5 will provide beans, maize and cooking oil for one household for one month in Kenya. An average household is about eight people. Your gift of $25 could provide five households with food for a month. An offering of $700 would provide food relief supplies for one church to distribute in helping multiple families in their community. Could you make a special gift to provide food for hungry people? Please carefully consider this urgent need. May God bless you for your compassion and generosity! ~Sincerely yours, Rick Jett, Executive Director
The July Leadership meeting will be Monday, July 20. Leadership reports are due, Thursday, July 16. The text to read is the second half of chapter two, “Spiritual Warfare: Duty, Danger, and Guaranteed Triumph,” pp. 40-51. Mike Alka will be leading devotions.
Prayer Concerns Those Who Need to Become Christians Home (Health Concerns): Colby and Aaron Bruner; Katie Sue Burdett, seriously ill, special friend of the Quick Family; Ike Dalzell; Mo Dalzell; Sue Haney; Alice Hartley; Shane Hines, friend of Brent and Stephen Boyer; Carl and Lee Howard; Louella Johnson; Karmen Kellams; Alisha Knoll; Marshall Meyers; Joe, Eula and Rochella Newland; Mary Norris; Tammy Scruggs, working associate of Melissa Bruner Our Missionaries including: Bright Outreach Those Serving in the Military Home (Cancer):
Location:
First Church of Christ 206 West Church Street Dates for the adventure: Sunday, July 26 Sunday, August 2 Sunday, August 9 Sunday, August 16 Sunday, August 23 The adventure begins at:
5:30 PM The city gates close at:
7:30 PM
Michael Booher; Carol Bruce, Matt Freeman’s aunt; Terri Cox, Charley Cole’s neighbor; Larry Girdwood, preacher at Whitewater Christian Church; Chuck Paul, chemo treatments; Naomi Schmitt, (Rebecca Glunt’s mother); Ted Thompson Assisted Living and/or Nursing home: Arbor Trace: Frank Johnting Forest Park: Dorothy Funk Randolph Nursing Home: Virginia Frazier Regency Manor: Dorothy Ratcliffe Summers Pointe: Beulah Kirk The Church Staffing Ministry Pray for God’s guidance and patience as these men search for our next preacher. These names and concerns have been reported or up-dated to the church in the last month. If you have a prayer request that the church family needs to be aware of, please contact the church office.
