Whiteboard: The Fifth With First

This Sunday is the next installment of “The Fifth With First!”

For folks who are unfamiliar with that turn of phrase, “The Fifth With First” is our shorthand way of saying “The Fifth Sunday of the Month with First Christian Church.”

You see, on those months that have an extra Sunday (it happens four times a year) we make outreach our primary focus as a church. So we have two different offerings on Fifth Sundays: One is a Worship Service in our Sanctuary at 10:15 that is followed immediately by an outreach project in our Fellowship Hall, and the other is a Workship Service out in the community where we put our faith into action by helping others through direct service.

We have a special treat for the Worship Service in the Sanctuary this Sunday: The Rev. Terri Hord Owens is the nominee to serve as the next General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). And while I wish I could say that she was going to be with us in person on Sunday…well, her schedule is just a little bit too full for that right now! Instead, through the wonders of technology, we’ll be sharing a beautiful sermon that she crafted that introduces her to the wider church, shares her hopes and dreams for our denomination, and calls us to more fully embody the gift of God’s love in the world. You are going to love it, and you are going to love her too! Following the Worship Service in the Sanctuary the Outreach Team will lead a project in the Fellowship Hall that will benefit the summer literacy program at the Piute Center.

The Workship Service will begin with a short Prayer Service (with communion) at Chaparral Park at 9AM. From there we’ll head out to work with our partners at the Ronald McDonald House. Details are still coming together on that project, but I have heard rumors of helping out with an Ice Cream Party for the residents at the Ronald McDonald House – and bringing a little bit of joy to families in need while their loved ones are hospitalized sure sounds like holy work to me!

Whether you participate in the Worship Service and Outreach Project on site or the Workship Service and Community Outreach off site, I hope that you join us this Sunday in putting our faith into action!

Whiteboard: Creation Care

This Sunday Rev. Al Beasley will be filling the pulpit with a special message on Creation Care.

-------

Job 12:7-10, 37:14-16

‘But ask the animals, and they will teach you;
the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of every human being.
‘Hear this, O Job;
stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
Do you know how God lays his command upon them,
and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
Do you know the balancings of the clouds,
the wondrous works of the one whose knowledge is perfect,

Whiteboard: Holy Week

It is Holy Week and we have all kinds of worshipful work ahead of us!

Like last year we will be sharing our Holy Week Worship services with our brothers and sisters at Foothills Christian Church and Coolwater Christian Church.

So, I hope you will be able to join us for the joint Maundy Thursday Service being hosted by Foothills (3951 W Happy Valley Road) tonight at 7PM. It will be a “Living Last Supper” Worship service.

I also hope that you will join us for the Good Friday Service on April 14 Coolwater Christian Church (28181 N 56th Street) at 7PM. This will be a “Service of the Last Seven Words of Christ.”

Thus prepared and ready for the fullness of the promise of resurrection and new life, we will gather on Easter Sunday for a full day of events at FCC Scottsdale.

The DWM Ladies will kick things off by hosting an Easter Breakfast for everyone. We’ll gather in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 8:30, and will have plenty of delicious items for everyone!

From there the kids will enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt on the church yard during the Sunday School Hour starting at 9:15. You’ll want to get there early so that you don’t miss out; our kids are expert Easter Egg hunters so those eggs get scooped up quickly!

Our Easter Morning Worship Service will begin with the holy sacrament of Baptism. This year we have three baptismal candidates: Jordan Dietz, Darren Dietz, and Henry Frederick-Gray. The worship service will feature beautiful music, Easter brass, and joyous “Alleluia” refrains as we celebrate together the blessing of new life and resurrection! Plus, the kids have a special surprise in store for us that just might involve Easter Bells (don’t worry kids, Sandi will clue you in on the whole thing before the Easter Egg Hunt. You’re going to love it!).

Wishing you a Blessed Holy Week and a Happy Easter! Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Yours in the Journey,
Rev. Brian