Christian Courier

First Christian Church of Minneapolis (Disciples of Christ)

January 23, 2010

A Letter from Disciples of Christ Leadership
Inside the Courier: January 14, 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
• A Look at the Brite I am writing this message on behalf of our General Minister and President,
Side, page 2
Sharon Watkins. Even though Sharon is on sabbatical, she has been keeping a
• Week of Compassion close eye on the situation in Haiti.
Update on Haiti,
page 3
Sharon and I request your prayers for the people of Haiti, for our Global Mis-
sion Partners, and our missionaries who need not only our prayers, but also our
• Anniversary Dinner resources. I also request your prayers for Dr. Glen Stewart, Regional Minister of
information, page 3 the Christian Church in Tennessee, who is in Haiti with a delegation from the
• February Calendar
Tennessee region.
page 4 At the time of writing, they are safe and have arrived at the U.S. Embassy in
• New board members,
Haiti. My understanding is that the U.S. State Department and the Tennessee
new budget for Congressional Delegation are working to arrange their return. At the same time a
2010, page 5 delegation from the Oklahoma and the Great River Regions are on the other side
of the island in the Dominican Republic. While they felt the earthquake, they did
On the Web:
not have any damage.
fccminneapolis.org In addition to these groups, I would urge you to pray for the Haitian communi-
Week of Compassion ties within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). We have about 100 Hai-
updates tian churches. These are anxious days and moments for many of them who have
family and friends on the island. Charlie Wallace from New Church Ministries
List of Religious Agen- has traveled to be present with our Haitian churches in Florida.
cies offering aid to
Haiti As you can imagine, communication to and from the island is very limited.
Week of Compassion, Global Ministries and others have been using all of their
Letter from Regional
Minister Don Hiscox available resources and technology to connect with our missionaries and part-
on Haiti ners.
If you or your congregation can offer financial resources in support of our re-
lief efforts and our partners, I invite you to give online through:
www.weekofcompassion.org, or send a check to Week of Compassion, 130 E.
Washington St., Indianapolis, IN, 46204 with Haiti or earthquake relief in the
Memo. Week of Compassion has already sent an initial grant to Global Minis-
tries / Overseas Ministries in support of our missionaries and partners, as well as
Church World Service.
Week of Compassion and Global Ministries are trying to keep their websites
as up to date as possible and I encourage you to check them frequently.
Your partner in prayer,
Rev. Todd Adams, Associate General Minister and Vice President for Chris-
tian Church, (Disciples of Christ)
 January 23, 2010
Page 2

A Look at the Brite Side

Pastor Bob Brite
Around the time of the Annual
Meeting, someone asked if I
would like to give my pastoral
assessment of congregational
progress since I began my time
with you. I‟ll do so in the way of
offering what I call spiritual in-
sights.
First of all, all-in-all you are a
group of beautiful human beings
who, I think, are honestly wres-
tling with what your future is to
be in the wake of a declining
past.
You have, in my opinion,
worked at cultivating a deeper
sense of spirituality since I‟ve
been here, again, honestly ques-
tioning God and
Assessing progress and offering
spiritual insights and challenges
your personal and congregational
purpose in God‟s Kingdom. I
certainly want to encourage that
continued questioning, deepening
your trust in God to provide the
answers. (Though asking the
questions in the first place is the
important thing.)
I also think that we‟ve brought
our communication pieces up to
date and are regaining a sense of
investment in mission and hands-
on ministry; my thanks to Dennis
Sanders for providing a spirit of
leadership on both those fronts.
We‟ve made some progress in
evangelistic awareness and child-
ren‟s nurture and education, with
a ways to go on both of those
fronts.
The biggest hurdle you have
yet to face is your own encultura-
tion, your resistance to change,
that lies at the heart of the con-
gregation‟s soul.
Whether it‟s change in the
format and style of worship, in
the physical settings of the build-
ing, in the investment of time in
mission and ministry, there is still
the tendency to fall into habits of
the past rather than embracing
visions and imaginings of the fu-
ture. There‟s a natural tendency
to want things the way they have
always been, but I will continue
to issue the challenge of resisting
that tendency in favor of working
towards that which can be.
The primary question that
needs to be answered in 2010 is,
“What is the best thing FCC
Minneapolis can do and be for
advancing the Kingdom of God
in the Twin Cities?” I expect
that, by the end of this year, we
may have an answer to that ques-
tion.
I‟d like to see YOU on Sunday,
Bob

In our prayers
Gracious God, we
lift up these persons
in our prayers, ask-
ing the blessing of
your Grace and out-
pouring of your Love
upon them.
We pray for the country of Haiti suffering amidst the devastation of
their 7.3-magnitude earthquake and the many severe aftershocks. Reports
from our mission partners speak of toppled buildings, flattened communi-
ties, a great loss of life and the sound of wailing filling the air. We pray
for those whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed and whose
loved ones have died. We ask for wisdom, provision and protection for
our mission partners and others seeking to minister to the Haitian people
in these chaotic circumstances. At home, we pray for continued healing
for Deb Murphy, Mary Lou Cain and Barb Dean; for Bob Brite‟s sis-
ter Ruth; for Dennis Sanders’s father; for our all our homebound
members, especially Helen Smith and Lois Swenson, Amen. (Note:
Michele Benyo of Feed My Starving Children wrote parts of this prayer.)

Christian Courier
Jan. 24 marks Laity Sunday
January 24 is Laity Sunday, and
the service will be led by members
of our Transition Team. The ser-
mon time will be given over to
Skip Wolverton, Tom Curry, and
Bobbie Hall to offer their spiritual
reflections on congregational life
in the wake of our current transi-
tions. (Though we hear that Pas-
tor Bob might be sneaking in a
musical offering; he just can‟t
keep his hands out of the worship
pie, can he?)
Diaconate Meeting Jan. 24
New and current Diaconate mem-
bers will have an important orga-
nizational meeting on Jan. 24 fol-
lowing worship. Schedules for the
year will be set, so all Diaconate
members are asked to attend this
meeting with their calendars.
Mission Day at Community
Emergency Services
Saturday, Jan. 30, is a work day
for FCC folk at Community
Emergency Services, 1900 11th
Ave. S., a block up from Franklin
Avenue (E. 19th St. & 11th Ave S).
Our labors of love begin at 9 am.
“Questions of Faith”
Sunday on January 31
During the sermon time on Jan.
31, Bob will be doing “Questions
of Faith.” Index cards will be
provided in worship bulletins; if
you have any questions about faith
life, church life, theology, or mis-
sion, write them down AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE SERVICE,
and Bob will pick them up and use
the sermon time to respond to
those questions.
Page 3
Annual FCC Anniversary Dinner to be Feb. 14
We will celebrate FCC‟s 133rd birthday on Sunday, Feb. 14, with
worship in the Fellowship Hall followed by a potluck dinner honoring
the people who have been members of our congregation for 50 years or
more as well as the new members of our congregation. A brief pro-
gram will follow the dinner, featuring musical entertainment and a dis-
play about 1960 from the Archives.
An entree, rolls and beverage will be provided for $5 per person or a
maximum of $15 per family. Everyone is asked to bring his or her fa-
vorite vegetable, salad, or dessert to share. For those unable to bring
food, a contribution of $8 per person is suggested.
Reservations must be made by Noon on Monday, Feb. 8. Please
make your reservations by indicating the number for dinner in the at-
tendance book at worship on Sunday morning Jan. 31 or Feb. 7 or by
calling the Church Office. Child Care is available by reservation only.
FCC goers are invited
A Word of Thanks
to attend Hesser’s produc-
tion of The Lion in Winter
Many thanks to all who
Brian Hesser, who grew up going contributed to the wonderful
to FCC and is Garry Hesser's son, Advent booklet--we will
is Directing-Producing an out- plan to do that again during
standing cast in The Lion in Win- 2010 Advent. Also special
ter at the Gremlin Theater, 2400 thanks to the participants in
University Ave in St Paul, just the Advent lighting services,
east of Highway 280 and KSTP- and to all who helped deco-
TV on University Avenue. rate and undecorate the
sanctuary & halls.
Treat yourself to a winter break
and get a "2 for price of 1" dis- Continued „thank yous‟ to
count [$12 per ticket before the the members who willingly
discount for seniors and $15 be- agree to be Worship Leaders
fore discount for others] and sup- and who deliver the Child-
port one of our own young adults. ren's Messages.
Just tell them you are from "First
Christian Church" to get the 2 for --Worship Committee
1 discount.
Performances run through Satur-
day, Jan. 30; Thursday, Friday,
Saturday, Sunday each week and
Monday, the 25th, all at 7:30 p.m.
Page 4 January 23, 2010
Regular Worship Hours
9:15 Church School Classes
February, 2010
10:30 Worship
First Christian Church
11:45 Fellowship Time in Lounge

1 2 3 4 5 6
8 pm- AA 7 pm- Worship 9 am Nikkei 9 am Handcrafters 7:30pm 9 am- Men’s
Committee 6:00 Lectionary Conducting Group
Bible Study Recital, 9:30 Downtown
6:30 Bell Choir 7:00pm Grief Group
7:45 Chancel (Sanc.)
Choir

7 8 9 10 11 12 13
7 pm Carter 12 n Disciples 5:30 Finance 9 am Handcrafters 9 am- Men’s
Circle @ Ministers mtg. Committee Group
Sandy Mor- 6:00 Lectionary 9:30 Downtown
gan’s Bible Study Grief Group
8 pm- AA 6:30 Bell Choir
7:45 Chancel
Choir

14 15 16 17 18 19 20
FCC Worship in 8 pm- AA 9 am Mpls Re- Ash Wednesday 9 am Handcrafters 9 am- Men’s
Fellowship tired Teachers 9 am Nikkei 6:30 pm— Group
Hall 7 pm FCC Board 6:00 Lectionary Christian 9:30 Downtown
Anniversary Meeting Bible Study League (FH) Grief Group
Dinner 10am Laura
follows Worship Worship & Choir Lynn/ Naomi
rehearsal times Circle
TBA 6 pm Dinner for
St. Stephens
shelter

21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Food Pantry 8 pm- AA 6:00 Lectionary 9 am Handcrafters 9 am- Men’s
Sunday Bible Study Group
12 N Elders 6:30 Bell Choir 9:30 Downtown
Meeting 7:45 Chancel Choir Grief Group

28
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010, and continues until Holy Saturday (the day be-
rd th
fore Easter), April 3 . Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, March 28 , and continues through
st nd th
Maundy Thursday, April 1 , Good Friday April 2 , and Easter, April 4 , 2010.

Elders Worship Leader Bus Driver Diaconate

Feb. 7 Barb Creighton Mike Brady Mike Hesano Even Team
Ardie Armstrong 651-645-6758
Feb. 14 Warren Westphal Max Hurlocker Mike Morgan Even Team
Russ Griffin 612-926- 9384
Feb. 21 Janice Brady Jennifer Redmond Mike Hesano Even Team
Mike Brady
Feb. 28 Mike Brady Mike Hesano Mike Morgan Even Team
Janice Brady
 Page 5
Christian Courier

2010 budget, new board members approved at Jan. 10 meeting

Congregation members attending the annual meeting on
Projected 2010 Income
Jan. 10 voted to accept the slate of new leadership posi- Projected member income $225,000
tions presented by the nominating committee and to ac- Visitor Gifts 2,500
cept the 2010 budget as presented by the Finance commit- Loose Offering 1,200
tee. Other Income 150.000
The budget includes an item for a new worship service. Christian Education 350
Interest Income (Endowment) 10,000
Allocated monies will be used for music, marketing and Rental Income 28,000
interns to help develop and publicize the new service,
which Pastor Brite describes as “a new church start within Total Projected 2010 Income $417,050
the church.” Interest money from the sale of the building
is being used for this project. Projected 2010 Expenses
Salaries $200,379
Three new trustees were elected: Max Hurlocker, Deb Worker‟s Compensation 2,000
Murphy and Pat Carter. Administrative 13,696
New Elders this year include Mike Brady, Ardie Outreach 27,000
Armstrong, Deb Murphy and Janice Brady. Christian Education 2,500
New Diaconate members are Jennifer Redmond, Ri- Evangelism 2,000
Membership 1,200
chard Decker, Barb Rusinak, Rick Rusinak, Sandy Mor- Worship 28,275
gan, Shirley Draine and Nancy Curry. Property 90,000
2010 Special Worship Project 50,000

Total Projected 2010 Expenses: $417,050

Week of Compassion update on relief efforts in Haiti

Church World Service and knowing that we are doing

Week of Compassion is already
on the ground in Haiti, working
through the largest global al-
liance of Christian humanita-
rian agencies, Action by
Churches Together (ACT).
In the chaos of aid distribution,
ACT Alliance members, in-
cluding Church World Service
(CWS), are managing to get
food, temporary shelter, water,
cleaning materials, and exper-
tise to the Haitian capital.
Christian Aid offices are ready
to serve as a base for receiving
emergency items. ACT mem-
bers report that buildings re-
main very fragile and continue
to collapse. Rain has com-
pounded the situation of the
million people without shelter.
United Nations has launched an
appeal for $562 million in-
tended to help three million
people for six months. Secre-
tary General Ban Ki-moon de-
scribes the situation as one of
the worst humanitarian crises in
decades and implored for calm
in the beleaguered capital
In the midst of this horrific tra-
gedy, we can be comforted in
something. We are already
there, thanks to our amazing
partnerships. We are not help-
less. Together, we can do so
much. God is there, too. Even
in the rubble. Let us keep the
faith. Thank you for your cou-
rageous compassion at such a
time as this.
from Rev. Amy Gopp,
Executive Director of Week of
Compassion
More updates from Week of
Compassion can be found on
their website:
http://www.weekofcompassion.
org/updates/
 Bi-Weekly Calendar Reflections on the Word
Sunday Worship at 10:30 am From Lectionary Gospel for 1/24

Before Worship (9:15 am): “He has sent me to proclaim re-

Art of the Covenant Class Hearthstone Class lease to the captives and recov-
Bible Study Class Prayer Circle ery of sight to the blind, to let
the oppressed go free, to proc-
After worship: Fellowship Hour 11:45 am laim the year of the Lord‟s fa-
vor.” --Luke 4: 18b-19
This Week at FCC Next Week at FCC
Sunday, Jan. 24 Monday, Feb. 1
Jesus shows where he stands on
Laity Sunday Transition Team meeting 7:00 pm enslavement: not, “obey your
Diaconate meeting following worship AA 8:00pm masters,” but release captives,
Monday, Jan. 25 Tuesday, Feb. 2
and let the oppressed go free.
AA 8:00pm Worship Committee 7:00 pm This is true freedom—not en-
slavement to tradition, but heal-
Wednesday, Jan. 27 Wednesday, Feb. 3
Lectionary Study group 6:00 pm
ing, release, and freedom in
Nikkei 9:00 am
Bell Choir 6:30 Lectionary Bible Study 6:00 Christ.
Chancel Choir 7:45 Bell Choir 6:30
Thursday, Jan. 28 Chancel Choir 7:45 Lord, let your servant go in
Handcrafters 9:00 Thursday, Feb. 4 freedom and release, to proclaim
Saturday, Jan. 30 Handcrafters 9:00 the glories of your name in the
Men‟s Group 9 am Sat. Feb. 6 year of your favor. Amen.
Downtown Grief Group 9:30 Men‟s Group 9:00
Downtown Grief Group 9:30 --Chris Wogaman

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

OF MINNEAPOLIS
(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
A Thoughtful Church in the 2201 1st Avenue South
Heart of the City
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Ministry Team Address Service Requested
All Members of the Congregation
Robert Brite, Interim Minister
Dennis Sanders, Associate Minister
of Diversity and Mission
Chris Wogaman, Office Manager
Bill Stump, Director of Music
Rick Bowman, Building Manager
James Barnett, Pianist
Serena Carlson, Nursery Attendant
Martha Harris, Courier Editor
Telephone: 612.870.1868
Prayer Phone: 612.870.0984
www.fccminneapolis.org
E-mail: fcc-mpls@qwest.net
Fax: 612.870.1860

Christian Courier is published bi-

weekly. Send items and ideas to
church office or to Martha Harris
harrismartha@mac.com
by Fri., January 29, for next issue.