he

Vol. 68, No. 2

T
Courier
Bellingham First Christian Church
An Open and Affirming Congregation February 2018

Cabin Fever College, Session II

Thursday
February 8, 2018
5:30p Soup Supper
6 - 7p Classes

Sign up for the class of your choice:

• Jam & Jelly Making 

Instructor: Darleen Page
• Bell Ringing Basics

Instructor: Judy Bayless
• Tai Chi Basics, part 2 

Instructor: Paul Mulholland
• Genealogy 102

Instructor: Steve Hutchens Please note: Be sure to sign up in the fellowship hall or
• Clothing Maintenance and Repair
 email tamalyn@bellinghamdisciples.org. Please note
Instructor: Melody Hoffman that classes without registrants will be cancelled.

Ash Wednesday Worship

Wednesday
February 14, 2018
5:30p Soup Supper
6 - 6:30p Worship

Please join us for an evening of fellowship,

From dust you have come.˝
To dust you shall return.
food, and meditation.
As we enter the season of Lent, a time of
reflection and repentance, we will spend
these moments together pondering that
which bind us together as humankind, our
gifts and our detriments, our successes
and our sins. We will close our time of
worship with the imposition of ashes.
Shoe’s News

First Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ)
Shoe’s News
“Progressive?”
495 East Bakerview Road
Bellingham, WA 98226 I taught a class at Squalicum High School recently. I teach
360.734.6820
office@bellinghamdisciples.org
this class every once in a while. And I’ve been doing it for
www.bellinghamdisciples.org quite a while. The teacher and I have both grown gray over
Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter the years, and the current students weren’t even born
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) when we started doing this. It’s a class on Comparative
A movement for wholeness in a fragmented Religions, and I go representing Progressive Christianity
world. As part of the one body of Christ, we
welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God
and another person comes on a different day to talk about
welcomed us. Conservative Christianity. Every time I teach the class, I
All of Us
can tell that for many of the students, this is their first
Ministers exposure to a more open, liberal approach to the Christian
Rev. Gary Shoemaker faith. For many, it’s a refreshing perspective.
Pastor
gary@bellinghamdisciples.org I make it clear that I’m not representing our congregation,
Rev. Tamalyn Kralman but my own perspective on the faith. I let them know that
Director of Education & Community Outreach we have a variety of points of view in our church. I also tell
Courier Editor
tamalyn@bellinghamdisciples.org
them that that’s one of the qualities that I love about the
church. 
Amelia Nye
Accompanist
But it got me thinking. How much do you know about
Katie Ramstead
Childcare Provider
Progressive Christianity? I thought I’d use this format to
Rev. Sandy Messick
write a series about the basic tenets of the Progressive
Regional Minister Christian movement. I’m going to be using a list of 12
Rev. Teresa Hord Owens characteristics that have come to be called the Phoenix
General Minister and President Affirmations. 
Sunday Schedule (Labor Day - Memorial Day)
10:50 a.m. Gathering Time The first one is this: Walking fully in the Path of Jesus
9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School without denying the legitimacy of other paths that God
11 a.m. Worship may provide for humanity.
12:15 p.m. Fellowship Time
1 p.m. Out-to-Lunch Bunch (4th Sunday)
2 p.m. Someone Cares! Community Meal
To me that means that we can be fully Christian without
(2nd Sunday) believing that people of other faiths are wrong. I don’t know
Office Hours where you come down on this one, but I have struggled
Tuesday - Friday mightily with the notion that one has to be a Christian in
9 a.m. - noon
Our staff are in and out of the office throughout the
order to be a part of God’s family. That seems to limit God
week. Please feel free to stop by during their office to our own understanding and beliefs. I don’t have to deny
hours or make an appointment that fits your schedule. someone else’s way of faith in order for my way of faith to
Officers be incredibly important and life changing.
Renee Hoemann, Moderator
Don Hoffman, Vice Moderator I hope that over the next several months, as you learn
Cheryl Perry, Treasurer
Melissa Henderson, Secretary
more about Progressive Christianity, it will spur your own
faith questions and possibilities. 
Important Links:
Regional Website (including monthly Along for the journey,
newsletter): disciplesnw.org
General Church Website: disciples.org Pastor Gary

2 February 2018
Nurse’s Notes
New Year's
Resolutions?! But
I Don't Wanna!
We come to the time of year
Nurse’s Notes when traditionally we make
resolutions for self
improvement: lose weight,
exercise more, stop smoking,
learn something new, etc. This is a worthy thought but
how successful will we be in achieving these changes?
We begin but before long we begin to waver into defeat
and we stay the same over weight couch lizard who has
not learned anything new. There is a way to change this
defeat into success. Changing old bad habits into good
healthy ones is quite possible. Read on to learn how.
First do a self-assessment to discover what needs to
change for the better. Then decide the strategy for
reaching those goals. Be aware that discouragement can
set in and with it a desire to quit.
Consider this: habit-making is simply what our brains do.
They are designed to make neural pathways that when
satisfied, the brain takes note. The neurochemistry of
the brain produces the feel good neurochemical called
dopamine. When an urge is satisfied the blast of
dopamine makes us want more, crave more, which then
leads to the triggering behavior: eating fast foods,
smoking, checking your phone, whatever. Now the habit
is satisfied.
Once we understand the physiology of habit formation
we can begin to make more thoughtful choices and then
stop the knee-jerk behavior of mindlessly engaging in
the old habits.
The goal in breaking bad habits is to unwind the brain's
reaction to triggers, the impulse, the brain’s learned way
to satisfy a need. This is done by self awareness and of
recognizing the need for change. Along with awareness
there needs to be intention, a desire to over come the
unhealthy choices with more positive choices.
When trying to break bad habits we need to want to
break them. Merely saying, "I should,” does not work.
Feeling we "should" do something is weak and will not
bring success. Rather, to say "I want," to do this
suggests the determination that will lead to change.
Will power or commitment can slip, however, and when
it does the following strategy can help. Think of the
acronym "HALT.” Self assess these various categories and
see if they are influencing you in any way.
Hungry? Feeling hungry short circuits will power due to
brain activity that controls foresight and decision making.
Angry/Anxious? When feeling angry or anxious the
rational parts of the brain shut down decreasing the
ability to think and reason through things. When this
February 2018
Joys & Concerns
happens, take a few minutes to calm, take some mindful
breaths to quiet the nerves and activate your more
rational brain.
Lonely? Feeling the comfort and support of others can
help keep us focused on our goals. Stay in touch with
those who can help.
Tired? Poor sleep habits, feeling tired can diminish self-
control and will power. Find ways to get better sleep.
In all of this process of trying to change bad habits,
remember to be kind to yourself. Research shows that
self-criticism actually short-circuits the brain power
needed to unwind old habits, making us less likely to see
the bigger picture. So avoid saying, "I can’t," and replace
with a more compassionate, "I will, and if I stumble I
will keep trying."
Understand, too, that mindfulness or focus helps build
the resilience needed to resist giving into urges that
foster unhealthy habits. When feeling the urge to
engage in a bad habit stop, feel the physical reaction,
but don't engage in them. Relax the body by taking deep
breaths, in and out, and notice how the urge falls away
with each breath. By doing this you are training the brain
not to give into the craving.
Finally, visualize your goals, focus on achieving them
through genuine commitment, through understanding
how the brain works, through compassion and mindful
focus.
(Source: "Mindful" magazine. K.Walsh)
Reflection: Eternal God, cover us with grace. Enfold us in
sacred love so as to enable us to emerge from prison of
our lesser selves to the freedom of a people developed
in mindfulness and compassion toward self and others.
Amen.
Jane Kletka, RN
Faith Community Nurse
Week of Compassion, cont’d from p. 6
In grateful partnership, we offer again our thanks and
rejoice in the abundant good work of the gospel. As we
continue to walk together in compassion for others, let us
be strengthened in the knowledge that God is able to
“accomplish abundantly more than we can ask or imagine.”
GRACE and PEACE,
Your WEEK OF COMPASSION Staff
Rev. Joe
Rev. Caroline Hendrixson
Rev. Vy Nguyen
Hamilton-Arnold Minister for
Executive Director
Associate Director Disciples
Development
3
Who’s on First?! Birthdays & Anniversaries God at Work in Us

Sunday, February 4
Elder: Melody Hoffman Happy Birthday:
Mason Stanbro 18
In Home Communion: John Riseland Cris Botts 4
Gaylen Udo 22
Deacons: Kathy Wheeler, Bentley Becker Velma McDonald 7
Leslie Pinkston 25
Reader: Melody Hoffman Tristin Stanbro 7
Megan Shoemaker 26
Flowers: TBD Brenda Riseland 10
Fellowship Time: TBD, honoring February Phyllis McKinnon 11
birthdays Linda Mederis 12
Gray King 13
Happy Anniversary:
Sunday, February 11 Lynn Plancich 16
Ralph & Bea Gilfilen 5
Elder: Kelvin Smith Margaret Brown 17
Deacons: James Becker, Linda Heyne
Reader: Darleen Page
Flowers: TBD Be the Hands of God (nurture the world)
Fellowship Time: TBD
• Annual Bazaar Promise Day Center
Sunday, February 18 • Alternative Market • Food Bank collections
• Blessing Bags • Joseph’s Closet
Elder: Don Hoffman
• CAST • Clean Water Projects
Deacons: Renee Hoemann, Celia Obrecht
• Comfort Quilt Ministry • Jesus Has Left the
Reader: Melissa Henderson
• Community Gardens Building
Flowers: TBD
• Community Meal • Family Promise Hosts
Fellowship Time: TBD
• Disciples House (soon • Socks on the Street
to be the Family
Sunday, February 25
Elder: Leslie Pinkston For more info on how to assist in any of these projects,
Deacons: Pat Whitney, Kris Ann Lewis please contact us at office@bellinghamdisciples.org.
Reader: Fran Frazee
Flowers & Fellowship Time: Esther Group
Be a Part of A Small Group (nurture your soul)
• Women's Spiritual Growth Groups - Please contact
Sign up in the fellowship hall to help in these
the church office if you would like to be a part of a group.
important ministries:
• Out-to-Lunch Bunch, 12:30 p.m., 4th Sundays - An
• Read scripture during Sunday morning worship informal gathering that visits locally owned restaurants.
• Book Group, 7 p.m., 4th Sundays - This group
• Bring flowers for Sunday worship
explores books to expand their minds and hearts.
• Provide goodies for fellowship time following • Esther Group, 11:30 a.m., 3rd Mondays - A women's
Sunday worship group that meets for lunch in local restaurants. (No host.)
Please contact the office for more info. • Bible Study, Noon, Tuesdays - Meeting in the church
library, this group explores the lectionary scriptures.
• Pub Theology, 6:30 p.m., 3rd Thursdays - Beer,
conversation, and God! (Or any beverage of your choice.)
Are you saving your coins? Jeckyl & Hyde Deli & Ale House 709 Orchard Pl #1.
World Water Day is coming in March, when we’ll • Checking in Group, 5 p.m., 4th Thursdays -supportive
be collecting the money from our jars. group of people who share life's journey together.
If you need a jar, pick one up in the office. For • Men's Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Saturdays at Denny's - 

more info, visit https:// All men are invited to join this weekly breakfast group for
www.bellinghamdisciples.org/reaching-out.html. fun and fellowship. (No host.)


4 February 2018
Report from Church Extension Fund Representative
Members of the FCC Board met with Rosario Ibarra, a representative from the Disciples’ Church Extension Fund, on
December 5, 2017. At that time, we shared with Rosario the mission, vision and values shared by our congregation.
We discussed the many outreach
programs supported by FCC, as well
as future programs with which we
will be involved, such as Family
Promise and our potential
partnership with The Opportunity
Council. We also gave Rosario a
tour of our building and discussed
the many ways our building is used
throughout the week.

The following is Rosario’s report and

recommendations. The Board has
not yet acted on any of these
recommendations but will consider
Starting at left, moving clockwise: John Riseland, Darleeen Page, James Becker, what action, if any, to take. This
Rosario Ibarra, Cheryl Perry, Renee Hoemann, Don Hoffman, Gary Shoemaker, Pat report is for your information. The
Whitney, Kelvin Smith, Max Perry (back to camera) Board would like to request that you
begin to think about what “next
steps” you feel would be necessary and appropriate for FCC to take to continue to be an active and thriving
congregation in our community and in the Region.

Please share your questions and input with any of your Board members.

Joys and Concerns

Our Sincere Gratitude
to You
Thank you, from the bottom of
our hearts, for your incredible
generosity. We have added
your holiday gifts to our
“Ireland Fund,” which will allow
us to visit our son, daughter-
in-law, and our precious
grandsons, once they make the
move across the pond
sometime in this New Year. It is
a move they are anticipating
with great excitement and we,
of course are, well, anticipating
with great excitement for
them! Thank you all for helping
to make it all a bit more
bearable.
Pastors Gary and Tamalyn
Please submit written requests to update list.
For a complete list, please see the Sunday bulletin or contact the office.
Medical concerns: • Disciples House Residents,
• John Riseland past, present and future
• Ellen Fisher, Bob’s sister-in-law • Iglesia de Dios, as together
• Helen Blaney we share God’s love
• Kelly Franks • Raices Culturales/Community
• Marian Crim to Community families in their
• Daisy Shoemaker, Pastor Gary’s mom gardening program in our field
• Sharon Kralman, Tamalyn’s • Kristine Tissinger, missionary
stepmom partner in Ghana
• Chloe Gibson • Rev. Sandy Messick, Regional
• Gary Schwebel, Diana Findlay’s son Minister and President
• Pat Spiller, Kris Ann’s stepdad-in-law • Rev. Teresa Hord Owens,
General Minister and President
Life’s challenges:
• Gunther Charles • Our General Church ministries
• Katie, Bob Fisher’s daughter • Yakama Christian Mission
• Matthew, Kris Ann Lewis’s • Victims of hatred, injustice,
violence, poverty, disease, and
nephew
disaster worldwide
Beyond Our Walls: • All troops involved in world
• For the healing of our nation conflict
• Refugees worldwide • Peacemakers worldwide

February 2018 5
World Outreach
XXXXXXXX To donate online
WEEK OF COMPASSION STAFF
God is doing more than we can imagine!
The human imagination is pretty incredible. Last fall,
Week of Compassion staff and partners heard the
dreams of teenage girls in Jakarta, Indonesia—
unaccompanied refugees, without a permanent
home. Their lives are filled with uncertainty and
challenge, yet when they picture their futures, they
imagine themselves as small business owners,
artists, mothers, surgeons, and pilots.
The human imagination is also limited, bound by our
finite human experience. Sometimes the suffering of
the world outpaces our ability to imagine new life.
For many, 2017 was an apocalyptic year filled with
unbelievable storms, earthquakes, fires, floods, and
violence. We prayed, stood with, and gave to people
and causes from next-door neighbors to global
neighbors we will never meet. Even when we found
it hard to envision recovery and new life, we
accompanied our neighbors, strengthened by the
assurance that God is working in, through, and
beyond us.
The same Apostle Paul who said that God is able to
“accomplish abundantly more than we can ask or
imagine” also put the work of building abundance
squarely at our feet: “always seek to do good to one
another and to all” (1 Thessalonians 5:15).
Through thick and thin, when dreams abound and
when our imaginations run dry, we continue to do
good. Your Week of Compassion gifts work “around
the world, around the year” to bring more of God’s
love and goodwill than we can ask or imagine.
You shared your compassion with families in South
Texas and Puerto Rico who were impacted by
hurricanes.
You offered food and shelter to families as far
away as Sierra Leone and Bangladesh who
experienced the most severe floods of the century.
You extended God’s care to refugees from Syria
and Somalia.
You imagined an unimaginable world -- God’s
world -- for empowered women and girls in the
Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia.
Cont. on page 3
6 February 2018
Community Outreach
Interfaith Hope Auction
Hope is on the Way! Please join us for the Interfaith
Coalition’s Hope Auction on March 24 as we continue in
our work of ensuring that all children have a safe, warm
place to call home. With you as a partner, we can transform
the lives of our neighbors in need of a fresh start.
Please consider donating an auction item such as a service
you offer, artwork, gift certificate, tickets to popular sporting
events or vacation home getaway. For tickets to the event or
to make a donation, please check out our website:
www.interfaith-coalition.org or call us at 360-734-3983.
Together, we can offer emergency and transitional housing,
meals, warm clothing and hope for a brighter day.
Interfaith Coalition Choir Festival
Enjoy an afternoon of beautiful choral music at the Interfaith
Coalition Choir Festival on Sunday, February 25 at 3:30
p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall,
Bellingham. This concert will feature individual performances
as well as a festival combined choir of over 150 voices.
The choir festival is a wonderful opportunity for the many
faiths of Whatcom County to come together and make their
own, uniquely joyful noise as one community, united in their
love of music. Please join us! An offering to benefit
Interfaith Coalition’s programs will be gladly received.
Thank You for Providing Christmas
Gifts through Interfaith Coalition
Thank you so much for brightening the season this
Christmas for local homeless families!
“Thank you for giving my children Christmas. It has been a
struggle this year and you are giving us hope that things will
get better. We are so grateful for your generosity. ”
“Thank you so much for blessing myself and 4 sons. It was
an unexpected blessing as most are. There will be lots of
smiles Christmas morning thanks to your generous spirit.
God bless you and yours this Christmas.”
There were lots of hugs, smiles, and tears of happiness at
the Interfaith Coalition Holiday Joy Drive. Your carefully
selected gifts are so appreciated. Eighty-six families, a total
of 263 individuals, in our housing program and the
Opportunity Council were provided gifts. With the struggles
of homelessness and other difficulties, the joy of the holiday
season provides families a wonderful reprieve and a
reminder of the love that exists in our community.
Wishing you peace and joy this coming year,
Laura Harker, Executive Director
Family Page

Devotions for the Household Kids’ Coloring Page

Dear Jesus, we want to share your love with everyone we
meet. We want all of your people to be healthy, fed,
sheltered, clothed, prayed for and loved. May we be your
Pray

hands and feet in the world. Thank you for our meal and we
pray for all of the people who had a part of getting our food
to our table. Amen.
Gather your household and share these questions together:
Chat

What troubles you today? What brings you joy today? Pray
together for all of your troubles and joys. God is with us in
every part of our day!
Bless

Jesus is with you always!

Jesus visited Simon and Andrew’s family. While he was

there, they told him that Simon’s mother-in-law had a
Bible

fever. When Jesus went to talk to her, he held her hand

and helped her stand up, and her fever went away!
Mark 1:29-39 - Jesus Heals Many
Click here for a full size coloring page.
For children: What do you pray or talk to God about? Do you ever
pray by yourself? God wants us to talk to God always! There
is not anything that God isn’t ready to hear! How can you Tips from Tam
Reflect

show God’s love to others? Do you think when we help
someone, give a hug, offer nice words or draw a picture for
them that we can make someone feel better if they are sad,
sick or hurt?
For youth/adults: Where/when do you most often pray? Do you
have a standard prayer, do you simply speak to God or do you sit
in silence with God? People in our world are searching for
something. We are all searching for happiness, joy, love,
security, belonging, self-worth and the list goes on and on. In
the Mark 1 story the disciples tell Jesus when he goes to a
deserted place to pray, that people are searching for him. The
good news is that Jesus comes to us and searches for us. Jesus
is always there. How can we reveal Jesus’ presence of love,
hope, forgiveness and mercy in the world that is so desperately
searching for those things? How do we use shopping, food,
alcohol and other ways to fill our searching with what only God
can offer us?
For adults and young children alike, it’s easy to think that all we
have to do is pray and Jesus will heal us of everything that
Connect
It’s cold and flu season. Again. Has your
house been hit with bugs galore? Again and
again, no matter how many times you bleach
and scrub and wipe everything down with
disinfectant wipes?
And don’t you just wish Jesus would come for
a visit and heal all your woes and ills?
We read these Bible stories and wonder what
really happened and what they all mean and
what God’s trying to tell us. Especially when
we can’t even spare our children the suffering
of the common cold. Let alone the horrors of
even worse things that happen to kids.
Where is God in all of that?
Guiding doctors and scientists to learn more
and more all the time. Helping us to be better
caregivers to our little ones. Helping us to
give them the all they need when those

ails us: the flu, a cold, cancer, heart disease, mental illness, viruses and bacteria take their toll. Helping us
loneliness, etc. Reality is that we live in a world where to fight back for all we’re worth, knowing that
bodies still get sick and die but that doesn’t mean that God God’s got our backs.
doesn’t hear our prayers and isn’t with us! The good news is
that God’s promise is for life for us forever with God and God May God’s Spirit of Wisdom be with you,
is with us in the pain and sorrow of the reality of disease and Tamalyn
broken bodies in this life. As a community we also support, love
and pray for each other as well as point out where God is at work
when we can’t recognize it ourselves. Be sure with young Devotions & Faith Focus provided by:
children to emphasize God’s presence with them.
faithformationjourneys.org

February 2018 7
8
February 2018
First Christian Church, Christian Holidays Feb 2018 (Pacific Time)
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
28 29 30 31 1 2 3

9 : 3 0 a m - Adult Sun. School 6 : 4 5 p m - [Boy Scouts] 1 1 a m - Bible Study Bulletin deadline 7pm - [4H] 6 : 3 0 p m - [Iglesia de Dios] 7 : 3 0 a m - Men's Brkfst, Denny's

1 0 : 5 0 a m - Gathering Time 6 : 3 0 p m - [Toppers] 6 p m - Bell Choir 9 a m - [Iglesia de Dios]

1 1 a m - Worship 7 p m - Choir Rehearsal @ Choir

Room
1 2 : 1 5 p m - Fellowship time

1 p m - Out-to-Lunch Bunch

4 5 6 7 8 9 10
February 2018 calendar

9 : 3 0 a m - Adult Sun. School 6 : 4 5 p m - [Boy Scouts] 1 1 a m - Bible Study Bulletin deadline 5 : 3 0 p m - Cabin Fever College 6 : 3 0 p m - [Iglesia de Dios] 7 : 3 0 a m - Men's Brkfst, Denny's

1 0 : 5 0 a m - Gathering Time 5:30pm - Nurture Meeting 6 p m - Bell Choir 9 a m - [Iglesia de Dios]

1 1 a m - Worship 6 : 3 0 p m - [Toppers] 7 p m - Choir Rehearsal @ Choir

Room
1 2 : 1 5 p m - Fellowship time

1 2 : 1 5 p m - Wild Goose
scheduling mtg

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

9 : 3 0 a m - Adult Sun. School 6 : 3 0 p m - Stewardship Mtg 1 1 a m - Bible Study Ash Wednesday Courier deadline 6 : 3 0 p m - [Iglesia de Dios] 7 : 3 0 a m - Men's Brkfst, Denny's

1 0 : 5 0 a m - Gathering Time 6 : 4 5 p m - [Boy Scouts] 6 : 3 0 p m - [Toppers] Bulletin deadline 6 p m - [Family Promise training] 9 a m - [Iglesia de Dios]

1 1 a m - Worship 6 p m - Bell Choir 6 : 3 0 p m - Pub Theology, location

TBD
1 2 : 1 5 p m - Fellowship time 7 p m - Choir Rehearsal @ Choir
Room
2 p m - Community Meal

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Week of Compassion offering 1 1 : 3 0 a m - Esther Grp Lunch 1 1 a m - Bible Study Bulletin deadline 4 p m - [4H - special meeting] 6 : 3 0 p m - [Iglesia de Dios] 7 : 3 0 a m - Men's Brkfst, Denny's

9 : 3 0 a m - Adult Sun. School 6 : 4 5 p m - [Boy Scouts] 6 : 3 0 p m - [Toppers] 6 p m - Bell Choir 5 p m - Checking in Group, 9 a m - [Iglesia de Dios]
location TBD
1 0 : 5 0 a m - Gathering Time 6 : 4 5 p m - [Guide Dogs]

1 1 a m - Worship 7 p m - Choir Rehearsal @ Choir

Room
1 2 : 1 5 p m - Fellowship time

25 26 27 28 1 2 3

Week of Compassion Offering 6 : 4 5 p m - [Boy Scouts] 1 1 a m - Bible Study Bulletin deadline 7pm - [4H] 6 : 3 0 p m - [Iglesia de Dios] 7 : 3 0 a m - Men's Brkfst, Denny's

9 : 3 0 a m - Adult Sun. School 6 : 3 0 p m - [Toppers] 6 p m - Bell Choir 9 a m - [Iglesia de Dios]

1 0 : 5 0 a m - Gathering Time 7 p m - Choir Rehearsal @ Choir

Room
1 1 a m - Worship

1 2 : 1 5 p m - Fellowship time

1 p m - Out-to-Lunch Bunch

5 p m - Board Meeting

7 p m - Book Group

February 2018
 2018 Gifts & Talents Survey

Name:__________________________________

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH BELLINGHAM

GIFTS AND TALENTS INVENTORY

As members of our congregation we rely on our staff and each other to do the many
tasks that make us unique in our operation and mission. What interests, gifts and tal-
ents do you have to contribute to the life of our church? Your experience is needed!
Your participation will help us maintain our mission! Please put a check mark by the
areas and tasks that you are willing to help with. You are encouraged to check multiple
places.

IN-HOUSE TASKS

SUNDAY SERVICE
______Sing in choir

______Provide special music for service

______Read scripture

______Play in Bell Choir

______Prepare and serve communion

______Open and set up church on Sunday mornings

______Lock up/unlock church on Sunday

______Provide food for Fellowship Time after service

______Host Fellowship Time after service

______Serve as a substitute Greeter

______Assist with Children’s Sunday School

______Assist with Children’s Church

______Lead Children’s Moment in Worship

______Assist as Worship Leader

BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE

______Work on church flower beds/grounds

______Mow lawn

______Vacuum or clean inside building areas

______Maintain or repair building

______Wash windows

PLANNING AND SERVICE

______Accompany Elder to visit and serve communion to Homebound Folks

______Serve on a standing committee or task force:

______Outreach ______Social Justice

______Nurture/Education ______Social Media

______Visioning ______Property

______Worship

(Please turn over the page to complete this survey)

Please fill out and return to church office. Thank you.

 2018 Gifts & Talents Survey

______Serve as Elder

______Serve as Deacon

______Connect with Visitors

______Pray for others and our church

______Serve as a Church Leader/Officer

______Visit Homebound Folks

OFFICE SUPPORT
______Help in office

______Help with phone calling as needed

______Substitute in office, on request

FELLOWSHIP/SPIRITUALITY GROUPS
______Participate in Men’s Breakfast on Saturday mornings

______Participate in a Women’s Spirituality Group

______Participate in Christian Women’s Fellowship activities

______Participate in Checking-In Group

______Participate in Pub Theology

OUTREACH TASKS
LOCAL OUTREACH
______Help with Community Garden

______Volunteer as helper at Someone Cares Community Meal

______Provide food donations for Someone Cares Community Meal

______Volunteer to help with Family Promise

______Prepare Family Promise meals

______Work in Joseph’s Closet

______Help with Interfaith Coalition projects and programs

______Plan and Help with Bazaar

______Plan Alternative Holiday Market

______Help with Alternative Holiday Market

______Plan Jesus Has Left the Building events

______Coordinate with Outside Groups

REGIONAL/NATIONAL PROGRAMS
______Help with Regional/national projects and programs

______Serve as Camp Counselor

______Serve on Regional Committees and Commissions

OTHER?____________________________________________

Thank you!

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