Rev. Brian Blogs

Whiteboard: Rhythm and Rest

2012-01-31T17:06:00.005-07:00

I mentioned it in this past Sunday's sermon: Things move quickly in the Gospel of Mark.

The author of Mark is so excited to share the good news that he just keeps stacking story after story after story one after another. Jesus is teaching in one part of town and then immediately Jesus is across town healing someone then immediately Jesus and the disciples are going across the Sea to bring the good news somewhere else.

Such is the case with this week's sermon scripture, Mark 1:29-39. Jesus heals Simon's mother-in-law at her home, then suddenly people are bringing all sorts of folks who are sick or possessed, and before you know it Jesus is ready to move on to the next town.

But there is one line squeezed into all the action that got my attention this week and worked its way onto the Whiteboard.

In the midst of the rush and busyness, Jesus gets away and finds a silent moment to rest and pray. Once his spirit is replinished (and not a moment sooner) Jesus is ready to move on to that which is next.

This Sunday we'll talk about rhythm and rest -- the gifts of work and prayer and replenishment. Come and join us!

Mark 1:29-39

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons.And the whole city was gathered around the door.And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.And Simon and his companions hunted for him.When they found him, they said to him,

‘Everyone is searching for you.’He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Newsbrief: Holy Week Cantata

2012-01-31T09:42:00.002-07:00

We went over some of the music for the first time last night.

And it sounds amazing!

Our very own Doug Durant is writing a Holy Week Cantata entitled The Triumph of Sacrifice. We are planning on building the Maundy Thursday Worship Service (Thursday April 5th at 7PM), and you won’t want to miss it!

I’m mentioning it to you now (eleven weeks ahead of time) for two reasons:

I want to put it on your radar. Go ahead and save that date – Maundy Thursday, April 5th at 7PM – on your calendar. This is going to be a special event, tied directly to one of the highest of holy days for us as Disciples. Maundy Thursday is already my favorite worship service of the year and now we get to attach the words “World Premiere” to it as well. You’ll want to be here and I hope you’ll invite a whole bunch of folks to come with you!
You might want to be a part of it. The choir has grown significantly this year, and we still have room for more! If you are interested to singing with us for the Cantata then please come join us on Wednesday evenings at 7:30PM in the Sanctuary. Just to sweeten the deal, this coming Wednesday we’ll have deserts right after Choir Rehearsal. So come out and sing this Wednesday and stick around for fellowship and desert afterwards.

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Mark 1:21-28

2012-01-25T10:39:00.001-07:00

This entire month scripture has been re-introducing us to Jesus. We are starting off the New Year by learning more about the one that we proclaim as the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace, the Son of God, and our Lord and Savior.

This Sunday scripture wants us to know that Jesus is...a teacher and a healer.

What's more, those two things are more closely related than you might think. We tend to think that Jesus' teachings are wholly separate from his healing ministry, but read carefully in Mark 1:21-28. It his is teachings (teachings with "authority" nonetheless) that first get the attention of the "evil spirit." It is those teachings that challenge the "evil spirit" and lead to the confrontation that brings about the healing work of Christ.

What if Christ's teachings don't merely call for intellectual assent, but rather can heal our hearts?

What if his ministry doesn't call for a separation of heart and head, but rather brings about a new life, a whole life, rooted in compassion and mercy, justice and love?

Newsbrief: Camp Scholarship Fund

2012-01-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be who I am without Church Camp.

It was at Church Camp that I met some of my closest and dearest friends.

It was at Church Camp that I was filled with enthusiasm and joy for our faith.

It was at Church Camp where I served in leadership positions that awarded me the scholarships that allowed me to go to college at TCU.

It was at Church Camp where I learned to claim the faith for my very own and where I felt the call to ministry.

Church Camp changes lives. It fills our young people with a sense of wonder and amazement. It gives them a chance to learn together, pray together, sing together, play together, worship together, and celebrate the gifts and abilities that God has uniquely given to them.

I am proud to be a part of a church that supports our young people and sends so many of them to Camp. Last Sunday we formally kicked off the “Quarters for Camp” Campaign. Each Sunday morning every quarter that goes into the offering plate will go directly to support Camp Scholarships for our young people. So bring some quarters with you each and every Sunday to help support our youth!

This coming Sunday our Youth will be hosting a Stuffed Potato Luncheon. You can come and get a baked potato and load it up with your choice of toppings, stuffings, and fillings and enjoy a nice meal. Your donations for the Stuffed Potato Luncheon will all go to benefit the Camp Scholarship Fund.

Bring your quarters. Stick around for the Stuffed Potato Luncheon. Support our kids and help them get to camp!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Wouldn't it be nice?

2012-01-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

I've always been struck by the ending of the story of Jonah.

We know the beginning and the middle really well. God wants Jonah to go somewhere that Jonah doesn't want to go. Jonah tries to run away from God's call only to be swallowed up in the belly of the whale (strictly speaking, scripture says, "big fish") and eventually he's belched up coast side.

We know that part of the story, but we're less familiar with the ending. The ending is the part where Jonah goes part of a days journey into a huge metroplex that is a three days journey across and he kind of half-heartedly mumbles this decree, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" and then...surprisingly enough...THE ENTIRE CITY IS CONVERTED?!?

It is an amazing story. A crazy story that doesn't quite make sense, and everytime I read it I can't help but say, "Wouldn't it be nice?" Wouldn't it be nice if you could just speak that one single line and everything changed?

Which is why the Whiteboard is filled with a picture of "The Easy Button." Wouldn't it be nice to have an Easy Button?

This entire month scripture has been re-introducing us to Jesus, and this Sunday we'll find out what Jesus has to say about things always being easy (or, for that matter, not saying that!).

I'll see you this Sunday as we celebrate the challenges of faith and the very purposes that Christ calls us to!

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Conversion of Nineveh

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying,‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across.Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Mark 1:14-20 -- The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen.And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’And immediately they left their nets and followed him.As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Three Things from Administrative Council

2012-01-19T09:24:00.001-07:00

Administrative Council had their first meeting of 2012 this past Sunday right after worship. Here are the "Three Things" we want you to know from that meeting:

We have an amazing group serving on Administrative Council this year, and nearly everyone was there for the first meeting. That list includes: Michelle Landreville, Jessie Jones, Don Jones, Mark Powell, Cathy Lloyd, Beth Porter, Carol Tidrow, Nancy Fasolino, Shirley Bruns, Judy Stall, Bob Stall, Seth Duhnke, Carrie Marinkovich, Dorothy Rightnowar, Mike Wise, Nancy Sauder, Dave Groves, Sandi DeFeo, and Bob Bruns.
We have scheduled an Administrative Council Retreat for Saturday February 11 at the Franciscan Renewal Center.
Our Youth Group and Elders will be partnering up in February for "Love on Wheels" a program where our youth and the Elders will go visiting homebound members of the congregation.

Newsbrief: Vitality

2012-01-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

What a great event.

I spent Tuesday and part of Wednesday in Tucson for a two-day “Congregational Vitality and Transformation Training.” And it was fabulous.

You’ll remember that for the last 12-months or so I’ve been working as a part of the Arizona Region’s Congregational Vitality and Transformation Team (the team is made up 6 local church pastors plus our Regional Minister).

For this Training Event we had Rick Morse from the National Office in Indianapolis leading us through a diverse series of experiences. We prayed together, laughed together, talked church together, and learned about some of the new discoveries and developments that are happening in helping established local churches to fully embrace God’s call for them in a changing world.

A day later it is still hard for me to describe exactly what happened at the Congregational Vitality and Transformation Training. I suppose that is the nature of Transformation…the metrics of success aren’t as simple as tallying up the number of new people in worship on Sunday; rather it is more like learning to share all of the stories of how God is at work in our lives. Nonetheless certain words and phrases have really stuck with me from the Training. Words like: Excitement, New Life, Deep Community Engagement, Possibility, Resurrection, Bridge Builders, Calling, God’s Purpose, Renewal, Growth.

One of the next steps will be engaging the congregations of the Arizona Region in the process. This will happen in conjunction with a new effort from the denomination called the Hope Partnership. We are starting the preliminary work on an event in the spring, and you can look forward to hearing more about it in the coming months!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Newsbrief: New Year

2012-01-05T11:13:00.001-07:00

To usher in this new year, our General Minister and President, the Rev. Sharon Watkins shared this prayer…and I’d like to share it with you!

O God of infinite creativity, at the beginning of this New Year – winter for so many – the rich brown earth is even now preparing to burst forth with a spring of possibilities and new life.

Though the human eye cannot see it, you continue to bless the earth with new beginnings. We praise you! Bless us with new beginnings, we pray.

Where we have lost sight of your Reign breaking in – even now at hand – Renew our vision.

Where we have faltered in reaching out to our neighbor in love, missing the moment to extend a hand of wholeness, Renew our courage.

Where we have allowed cynicism to dry our bones and sinews, Renew our hope.

At this beginning of a New Year, dear God, our arms are still warm from cradling the Babe of Bethlehem.

Help us to keep that memory strong.

Strengthen our arms to welcome your many children into communities of love.

Prepare our hearts to burst forth with a spring of possibilities and new life.

Stir us to be and share your love with the same vulnerability, the same humble expectation that brought you into the world in person.

Help us, your church, your disciples, to be harbingers of your reign of justice and of peace fully emerged.

O God of infinite creativity, at the beginning of this New Year, we know that you are about to do a new thing. Help us to perceive it. And to join in.

In the name of Jesus, your greatest new beginning, we pray. AMEN

May 2012 be a blessed year for you, for our church, and for our world.

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Wise Men from the East

2012-01-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

This week we welcome the Wise Men from the East.

You know the ones. We sing that familiar carol about them, "We Three Kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar..."

But what does scripture really tell us about them? And more importantly, what does their story tell us about Jesus?

This entire month scripture is re-introducing us to Jesus. In worship we'll be using simple exclamations to affirm what scripture is teaching us about our Lord and Savior.

So what does Matthew 2:1-23's story of the Wise Men from the East tell us about Jesus? That Jesus is worthy.

Worthy of our praise. Worthy of our very best. What's more, to say Jesus is worthy is also to say that Jesus is worth it. Worth the long journey of faith. Worth searching for. Worth celebrating. Worth giving our lives over to.

Come to worship this Sunday that we might be able to follow that new star in the sky, journey along with those Wise Men from the East, and discover again this worthy one, this child of adoration, our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.

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Matthew 2:1-23 -- The Visit of the Wise Men

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt,and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
‘A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.’Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee.There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ‘He will be called a Nazorean.’

Newsbrief: Thank You's

2012-01-04T11:12:00.003-07:00

There are so many people to thank.

The Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Worship Services were truly magnificent, and so many people helped to make that possible. I’ll do my best to list them all here, and if I have left someone off then please accept my apologies in advance!

The music was amazing on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day! Thank you to the members of the Chancel Choir and the Praise Band. Thank you to Tavit for the rocking Introit Music on Christmas Day. Thank you to everyone who sung out from the congregation during the hymns! And of course, thank you to Doug Durant for putting it all together and leading us so beautifully through all of the music.

The Worship Committee was working hard behind the scenes getting everything together and making all things beautiful and right for the worship services. Thank you to Carrie, Dorothy, and Sandi. Thank you as well to our Greeters, our Deacons, our Elders, our Soundboard Operators, Jeanne leading Worship and Wonder, Rev. Judy as the liturgist on Christmas Eve and Rev. Don as the liturgist on Christmas Day. Thank you to the Thompson Family for lighting our Advent Wreath and bringing the light of the Christ Candle into our Christmas Eve Worship Service.

Thank you to the 138 folks who were in attendance on Christmas Eve and to the 85 folks who came to worship on Christmas Day! It was great to have such big crowds for both services.

Thank you to little baby Ronan who was so sweet and beautiful during his Baby Dedication. We’ll keep you in our prayers and look forward to watching you grow up during each of your visits back to the Valley of the Sun.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered on the spot to play a part in our “No Rehearsal Christmas Pageant”…and especially to Cody Shonk who was brave enough to break the ice and volunteer for the very first role!

Finally, a special word of thanks to church secretary Jane. Pulling off double duty like that for two separate worship services on back-to-back days isn’t easy. It takes a lot of work from the Church Office and we are truly blessed to have Janie making it all happen.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who helped us to celebrate the birth of Christ – the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, our Lord and Savior – once more this year at Christmas. It is a special time to be church, made all the more special by all of your participation in the worship services.

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Simeon's Song

2011-12-27T15:04:00.002-07:00

This Sunday we add a new Christmas Carol to our repertoire...though it is not one that we sing.

Luke 2:22-40 contains the lines of the Nunc Dimittis, also known as the Song of Simeon.

Mary and Joseph bring their infant son Jesus to the Temple as part of the purification rituals of their day, and while they are there they encounter this man Simeon.

Scripture tells us that Simeon is a righteous and devout man who had received a promise from the Holy Spirit that he would in fact see the Messiah with his own eyes. Simeon takes one look at the infant Christ and he breaks out into an elaborate blessing.

Lord, now let your servant go in peace.
Your words have been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of every people.

A light to reveal you to the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.

Come join us this Sunday as we ring in the New Year and add our blessings to the words of Simeon's Song.

No Rehearsal Christmas Pageant

2011-12-27T14:13:00.002-07:00

On Christmas Day Sunday we celebrated the birth of Christ in a new way.

We had a No Rehearsal Christmas Pageant.

That is right. No Rehearsal. We had a script, some very basic costumes, and a whole congregation full of willing volunteers to help us embody the Christmas Story in a new and powerful way.

Here is a picture of what it looked like when we were all done...

And here is the audio from the whole thing...

Thank you to everyone who participated, and especially to Cody who was the brave young soul who volunteered first!

2011-12-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

I hope I get to see you all this weekend.

In fact, I hope I get to see you twice!

It is one of those funny years when Christmas Eve is on a Saturday and Christmas Day falls smack onto a Sunday…which makes life really busy here at the church!

We will have our Christmas Eve Worship Service at 7PM on Saturday night. There will be traditional scripture readings, lively music, and a candlelit benediction as we celebrate together the birth of Jesus Christ as a babe born in a manger in Bethlehem. Make sure to arrive early because seats are going to fill up fast! It is going to be an amazing worship service and I can’t wait to see you there.

Then we’ll turn right around and have Sunday morning worship on Christmas Day at 10:15AM. We will have the baby dedication of Ronan Matthew Cichon (Lyndee’s son, Cathy Lloyd’s grandson, Lloyd and Harriet Howard’s great-grandson) that morning. We will also have a No Rehearsal Christmas Pageant, which is fun, energetic way to tell the Christmas Story and celebrate Christ’s birth in a brand new way here at the church. Never heard of the No Rehearsal Christmas Pageant? Then come on out Sunday morning and be a part of living out the fullness of the Christmas Story with us.

Come and join us to sing Christmas Carols, light candles, hear the promises of scripture, share in the fellowship of the season, and celebrate the birth of Christ! I’ll see you on Saturday evening and again on Sunday morning!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

3 Things from the Annual Meeting

2011-12-22T11:06:00.001-07:00

We had our Annual Congregational Meeting this past Sunday immediately following worship at First Christian Church Scottsdale. Here are the "Three Things You Need to Know" from that meeting.

After a year of hard work, study, and discernment we have restructured the Church's By-Laws to more fully address important areas in the life of the church. Moving forward the committee structure of the church is now composed of: Worship, Education, Outreach, Facilities, Finances, Membership, Fellowship, and the Elders. We will also continue to have a leadership team made up of the Moderator, Vice Moderator, Treasurer, and Secretary. Many thanks to the Restructure Team who did tremendous work this year pulling all of this together!
The Congregation formally approved the following Officers as well as Committee Co-Chairs (please note: We not only have chairs for each committee in 2012, but co-chairs for each committee in the coming year!).
     Moderator: Bob Bruns                    Vice Moderator: Sandi DeFeo
     Treasurer: Dave Groves                  Secretary: Nancy Sauder
     Education: Michelle Landreville and Jessie Jones
     Facilities: Don Jones and Mark Powell
     Fellowship: Cathy Lloyd and Beth Porter
     Finances: Dave Groves and Carol Tidrow
     Membership: Nancy Fasolino and Shirley Bruns
     Outreach: Bob Stall and Seth Duhnke
     Worship: Carrie Marinkovich and Dorothy Rightnowar
     New Elders (3-year Term): Scott Eubanks and Charlie Atkinson
We formally approved a balanced budget for 2012 of $261,200. A complete breakdown of that Budget is available in the church office for anyone wishing to see it.
In a related note, Pledge Cards from the Stewardship Campaign continue to arrive in the church office and I am overjoyed to announce that our pledge total for 2012 has increased from last year! With a handful of Pledge Cards still waiting to be returned we should be able to easily eclipse last year's totals and live into the figures spelled out in our newly adopted budget. Thank you for your generosity, and for living into the promises of your pledge cards!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Christmas is coming!

2011-12-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

Christmas is coming!

See you this Saturday evening at 7PM and again on Sunday morning at 10:15!

DWM Luncheon

2011-12-15T10:47:00.001-07:00

A huge word of thanks to the ladies of the DWM for hosting an exquisite Christmas Luncheon last Sunday!

And an extra special word of thanks from me for having a special vegetarian entree for me!

The food was delicious, the fellowship was incredible, and the singing was a true highlight.

In fact, in the days leading up to the DWM Luncheon Henry asked me, "Is this the thing where I get to sing?" He remembered last year's luncheon and he couldn't wait to come back and be a part of it all this year too!

Thanks to all the ladies who made it possible! Here are a couple of pictures that I snapped at the event (and yes, I realize that my son is featured in the bulk of them! I am a proud father after all!). Enjoy!

Whiteboard: Advent 4

2011-12-15T10:40:00.001-07:00

The final candle in our Whiteboard Advent Wreath is lit!

That means this Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Love. As our season of expectation and anticipation comes to its fulfillment we hear the story of Mary. Mary, the young woman betrothed to be married. Mary, whom the angel visits with words so wondrous they can scarcely be understood. Mary, who sings a song beautiful about the promise that she gets to be a part of. Mary, the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.

The pairing of the Advent theme and the scripture reading couldn't be more perfect this Sunday. On the Sunday of Love we have the story of Mary and we get to celebrate the fullness of love!

Our scripture reading this Sunday comes from Luke 1: 26-38, 46-55.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.For nothing will be impossible with God.’Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Newsbrief: Evaluations!

2011-12-14T09:56:00.001-07:00

We had Staff Evaluations on Wednesday.

Here is something you to know about me -- I love evaluations!

Maybe that is a weird thing to say. But I do. I love evaluations. It is a time to take an honest look at the past year, see how we did in achieving our goals, and begin discerning where God is calling us in the year to come.

The HR Committee (that is Charlie Atkinson, Bob, Bruns, and Sandi DeFeo this year) convened for a long afternoon to meet with Jane, Doug, and myself. As a part of that process the first question asked was “What accomplishments in the past year are you most excited to celebrate?”

What a great question! It got me thinking about all the things that have happened here at the church in the last 12 months, and it is quite list, so I thought I would share some of those highlights with you.

Accomplishments from the past year: Productive Start of the Year Retreats with the Administrative Council and Elders, the Hard Work of the Church Growth Team, the Church Structure Team that helped redraw our By-laws, Growth of the Choir, Updates to the Computer System, Special Worship Services, Integration of Google Calendars on the Church Website, Global Mission Church, Welcoming 14 New Members into the Life of the Church, Nominating Committee finding chairs and co-chairs for each Committee in the Church, Recording of Sermons and Distribution of Sermon CD’s to our Homebound Members, the success of the Tuesday After School Enrichment Program, Consistent meetings with the Pastor Relations Committee, the success and growth of the Healthy Packs Weekend Meals Program, Large and Diverse representation from the church at the General Assembly, Remarkable Talents of our Bell Choir, Tremendous success at the Pumpkin Patch, Huge Turn Out for the CROP Hunger Walk.

That is quite a list! And it is still growing! This coming Sunday we’ll be able to add the DWM Holiday Luncheon and the Heart2Heart Christmas Concert as well.

This has been a very good year, and I am eagerly anticipating all that God will call us to be a part of in the coming year as well!

Yours in the Journey, Rev. Brian

Hanging of the Greens

2011-12-08T10:26:00.001-07:00

The Church looks amazing! And it is all thanks to the marvelous team of volunteers who showed up to work day on Saturday December 3 for the Hanging of the Greens. Here are some pics of everyone in action and a few shots of the decorations we have up! (Note: Click on any picture below to see the full sized image)

Thanks to everyone who helped! Remember you can still be a part of making the church beautiful! We'll continue to collect Nativity Scenes each Sunday and display them around the church.

Whiteboard: Advent 3

2011-12-06T16:45:00.001-07:00

REJOICE!

The Third Sunday of Advent, is the Sunday of Joy (check out that cursive handwriting up on the Whiteboard this week!). Hear these words from our first scripture reading for this coming Sunday, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24:

Rejoice always,pray without ceasing,give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you!

Do not quench the Spirit.

Do not despise the words of prophets,but test everything; hold fast to what is good;abstain from every form of evil.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

This coming Sunday we will light the Candle of Joy and together we will rejoice in the promises of God. Check out what the Prophet Isaiah has to say about God's promises in Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11:

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Again I say, Rejoice! I'll see you this Sunday.

2011-12-01T12:44:00.001-07:00

This coming Sunday I’ll preach on change.

With the story of John the Baptist as our central text, it only seems fitting.

After all, John the Baptist was the great preparer of the way, the one who echoed the Prophet Isaiah’s great call to “make straight the pathways of the Lord.”

So this Sunday I’ll preach about change…and this Saturday you can help us illustrate the change of the season in a very real and tangible sense! This Saturday starting at 8AM we’ll have our annual Hanging of the Greens Work Day. Come join us and lend as a hand as we make our church beautiful in eager anticipation as we celebrate Christ’s birth at Christmas time.

Come help us hang the wreaths, adorn the tree with chrismons, string the lights, and drape the greenery! We need your help to make all things ready and get this place looking marvelous!

The weather may be cold and there may even be rain on Saturday, but we’ll be tucked away snug and warm decorating the church, celebrating this season of preparation and anticipation, and making a beautiful, dynamic change to the looks of things in our church! I hope to see you there!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Advent 2

2011-11-29T15:31:00.001-07:00

Alright, I admit it. The drawing on the Whiteboard this week looks pretty similar to the one from last week.

But if you look really closely you'll spot the differences -- the second candle has been lit, the scripture has been changed, and the word PEACE is bursting out to reach us.

Those changes mean this coming Sunday will be the Second Sunday in Advent -- the Sunday of Peace. As we continue our journey of anticipation and expectation this Sunday we hear the story of John the Baptist, the preparer of the way, the one who came to make "straight the paths of the Lord." As we dive deep into the story of John the Baptist we'll find that his is fundamentally a story of change -- the changes that define the world, the changes that we need to make in order to welcome Christ, the changes that are all around us.

Our scripture reading for this Sunday is Mark 1:1-8:

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
   “Prepare the way of the Lord,
   make his paths straight” ’,
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

It is kinda strange to call it the Sunday of Peace, when John the Baptist has a rabble rousing way of reminding us about change. I suppose it must be because we have the peace of knowing that God is at work in the midst of change!

Come join us this Sunday, the Second Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Peace at FCC Scottsdale. And if you are free, come and join us the day before, Saturday December 3 starting at 8AM for our Hanging of the Greens All Church Decorating Event! It is going to be fabulous, and you'll be able to be a part of the change that helps our church get ready for the celebration of Christ's birth this Christmas! See you there.

Newsbrief: Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T15:33:00.001-07:00

With Thanksgiving upon us, Church, I am thankful for you!

I am thankful for your love and commitment.

I am thankful for your prayers and faithfulness.

I am thankful for you generosity, your spirit, your enthusiasm, your passion for Outreach, your hospitality, your joy, your love of God, and your commitment to Christ.

I am thankful for the Administrative Council and the hard work they have done this year, that was capped off by a fantastic meeting this past Sunday! At that meeting we approved a proposed budget for 2012, approved a slate of officers to live into our new church structure, thanked the Church Growth Team for their accomplishments, and lifted up the Restructure Team for their tireless work in redrawing our By-Laws.

I am thankful for Rev. Judy and the Outreach Ministries that define our church! I’m thankful for another successful Pumpkin Patch, for an amazing turnout for the CROP Hunger Walk, for the continued success of our After School Enrichment Program, and for the growing impact of the Healthy Packs Weekend Meal Program.

I am thankful for the Elders and all that they do in reaching out to members and providing such remarkable leadership to our congregation.

I am thankful for the Music! Wasn’t last Sunday amazing! I am truly thankful for the Bell Choir, the Chancel Choir, the Celebration Praise Band, the congregational singing, the special musicians and guests, and of course Doug Durant who brings it all together.

I am thankful for Jane Rosenfeld and everything that she does in the church office to help make my job easier and allow me to focus on the ministry to which you all have called me.

More than anything else, friends, I am thankful for you. Thank you for all that you have done, are doing, and will do to help make First Christian Church Scottsdale such a vibrant, wonderful, Christ-centered community. Happy Thanksgiving, Church!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Advent 1

2011-11-22T14:42:00.001-07:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

No, I haven't flipped my calendar ahead six weeks. This coming Sunday is the first Sunday of the New Year...that is, the First Sunday in the new Christian Liturgical Year!

The Christian Liturgical Year does not start with Christmas or Easter or Pentecost, but rather with a prolonged season of anticipation. The Christian Liturgical Year starts with the Season of Advent -- the four Sunday's that lead up to the celebration of the coming of Christ!

So for the next four weeks it is all about anticipation, expectation, and the promises of God.

This Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of Hope. We will light the first purple candle in our Advent Wreath, hear the words of hope and expectation from our Holy Scriptures, and celebrate together as we eagerly anticipate once more and all over again the birth of Christ in our hearts and in our world.

Our Gospel Reading for the First Sunday of Advent:

Mark 13: 24-37

‘But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory.Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn,or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’

Three Things: Administrative Council 11/20/2011

2011-11-22T13:13:00.001-07:00

Administrative Council had their final meeting of 2011 this past Sunday immediately following worship. Here are the "Three Things You Should Know" from that meeting:

Administrative Council approved the 2012 Proposed Budget that will be presented for final approval at the Congregational Meeting on December 18. Treasurer David Groves led a detailed walk through of the individual line items for Administrative Council. A streamlined 1-page Budget will be distributed to all church members, with a full, line-itemed version available for any church member who wishes to review it in detail.
Administrative Council also formally approved the 2012 Proposed Slate of Nominees. The Nominating Committee has been working hard behind the scenes to not only find a chair for each committee, but has been able to recruit co-chairs for each committee in 2012! This list will also be distributed to church members in advance of the Congregational Meeting on December 18 where the slate will be formally approved.
Mission and Outreach continues to be a major area of achievement for our church! The Pumpkin Patch set a new record for sales. The CROP Walk saw 44 members of FCC Scottsdale in attendance. DWM collected 150 pairs of shoes for donation. And, Rev. Judy shared that the Healthy Packs program she pioneered here at FCC Scottsdale has been adopted by Leadership Scottsdale who will be bringing that same program to another area Elementary School!

Newsbrief: Stewardship Sunday

2011-11-17T18:04:00.001-07:00

This Sunday is Stewardship Sunday!

For the last few weeks we’ve heard countless folks’ response to our Stewardship Prompt, “I love my church because…” and this Sunday we will all have the chance to respond by dedicating our pledge cards!

Your pledge is your sacred promise to support this congregation that we all love so deeply with a portion of your finances in the coming year. Those pledge dollars help us as a church family to accomplish our mission and ministry in the world. Thank you for your generosity, your support, and your creative answers to our stewardship prompt! Please remember to bring your pledge card this Sunday so that we can bless them and pray over them together!

Speaking of generosity, I cannot thank you all enough for your amazing response to the CROP Hunger Walk. I’ve always believed that generosity begets generosity, and by did we see that at the East Valley CROP Hunger Walk. Including our online donations along with the cash and checks from last Thursday our congregation was able to raise over $1000 for Church World Service! The Walk itself was also a huge success with twice as many participants as last year, including a huge contingent from FCC Scottsdale (by our unofficial records, we had more folks there than any other church!). I’m overjoyed to announce that the East Valley CROP Hunger Walk raised $11,022 by the end of the Walk…and that donations continue to keep coming in! You can still send your support by visiting our Walk Website at www.crophungerwalks.org/eastvalley/

Thanks for your generosity! Thanks for your support! I’ll see you this Sunday…and don’t forget your pledge card!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

CROP Hunger Walk Update

2011-11-17T09:28:00.001-07:00

The 2011 East Valley CROP Hunger Walk was a tremendous success...and FCC Scottsdale was a huge part of it!

By my unofficial tally I would say that this year's CROP Hunger Walk was at least twice as big as last years, and I'm hearing rumors that FCC Scottsdale had the largest continent of folks there!

We had at least 30 members from our congregation walking in the CROP Hunger Walk this year, and several members of our church had prominent roles in the days events.

Melissa W. provided the rice and beans that Julie E. and the DWM ladies served up for the Hunger Picnic.
Al B. provided beautiful music before the walk, and greeted us when we got back with even more music!
Daryl M. helped kick us off with a lovely discussion on "Why we walk."

It was a great day, and I'm glad that our church was a part of it. Here are some photos from the day's events.

Al leading the music.

Look at all these FCC-er's at the CROP Walk!

Check out the line at the Registration Table!

Daryl M. on "Why We Walk"

The Days total raised for Church World Service!

If you would like to Help CROP Stop Hunger it is not too late! You can still donate online at www.crophungerwalks.org/eastvalley

Whiteboard: Stewardship Sunday

2011-11-15T15:08:00.001-07:00

It is Stewardship Sunday!

Come join us at First Christian Church this Sunday as we celebrate the gifts of time, talent, and treasure that our members share with us in our community of faith!

Together we are able to do extraordinary things at FCC Scottsdale and on Stewardship Sunday we'll recommit ourselves to the mission and ministry of this congregation.

Our theme this year is "I Love My Church Because..." and for the last several weeks we've been filling in the blanks in that stewardship prompt. Join us this Sunday to share those things that you love about FCC Scottsdale and to support them once more in the coming year!

Don't forget to bring your pledge card with you. We will receive those pledge cards, bless those commitments, and dedicate them to the mission and ministry of Christ!

The Whiteboard this week is pointing to our scripture reading for Sunday. Our Gospel text comes from Matthew 25:14-30 and is better known as The Parable of the Talents:

‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them;to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents.In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents.But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.”His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.”His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed;so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.”But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter?Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents.For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Newsbrief: CROP Hunger Walk

2011-11-10T09:09:00.001-07:00

CROP Hunger Walk 2010

Wear a pair of comfortable walking shoes to church this Sunday.

That’s right, it is time for the East Valley CROP Hunger Walk!

You can help Church World Service work to end hunger in the world one step at a time by being a part of the East Valley CROP Hunger Walk.

Here are all the different ways you can be a part of the CROP Hunger Walk.

You can walk! There will be a big group of CROP Hunger Walkers going from FCC Scottsdale. We’ll pray over them in worship before they head out and we’d love to have you with us!

You can sponsor a walker! Or multiple walkers for that matter! Our Youth Group is participating in the CROP Hunger Challenge. At their weekend Church Camp Retreat they were challenged to come up with as many sponsors as they can. The Youth Group that collects the most sponsors will receive a special prize from Church World Services (note: that is total number of people sponsoring them, not the total dollar amount raised). Won’t you help push our Youth Group over the top while helping to support the important work of Church World Services!

You can come out to El Dorado Park! Even if you don’t want to walk you can come and be a part of the festivities. There will be Hunger Picnic before the walk (a simple bowl of rice and beans, lovingly prepared by our very own Melissa Wise, to remind us to stand in solidarity with the hungry of the world). And, Al Beasley will be providing music!

You can wear your tennis shoes to church on Sunday! Put on your Sunday best and then finish off the look with a pair of sneakers! Come to worship and pray, sing, and support your church as we work together with Church World Services to help CROP stop hunger! And if can’t be there on Sunday…

…Support our CROP Walk Team online! Learn more about the Walk and support our team by visiting http://www.crophungerwalks.org/eastvalley/

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: CROP Hunger Walk

2011-11-09T09:54:00.001-07:00

This coming Sunday it is finally here...The East Valley CROP Hunger Walk!

We'll dedicate our Sunday worship service to the CROP Hunger Walk, so please wear your walking shoes to church, and plan on helping our Youth Group win the Hunger Challenge (whichever Youth Group in the Arizona Region gets the most sponsors -- note: total sponsors, not dollars raised -- wins a special prize from Church World Service).

We'll hear stories about the amazing work that Church World Service does and hear the challenge from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to work to support "the least of these."

Our guiding scripture for the day is Matthew 25:31-45:

‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?”And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.”Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?”Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”

I'll see you this Sunday!

All Saints!

2011-11-09T09:45:00.001-07:00

Here is Rev. Brian's All Saints Sermon from this past Sunday.

Newsbrief: CROP Hunger Walk

2011-11-03T10:36:00.000-07:00

The 2011 CROP Hunger Walk is coming!

This year’s East Valley CROP Hunger Walk will be on Sunday November 13 at El Dorado Park (2311 North Miller Road, Scottsdale).

This year the CROP Hunger Walk organizers have invited us to participate in a “Hunger Picnic” as part of the CROP Walk activities. The “Hunger Picnic” has been a successful part of other CROP Walks all throughout the country, but this is the first time we've done it in the East Valley.

A “Hunger Picnic” is not a big elaborate meal. Rather, it is a simple bowl of rice and beans for each of the CROP Walk participants to eat just before the Walk. For many, many people in the world a simple bowl of rice and beans is all they have to eat for the day. In fact, they might not even have that much. So before we walk to help raise funds to eliminate hunger in our community and in our world we partake in a meal of solidarity with those who are hungry. This "Hunger Picnic" will be followed by a conversation about "why we walk" and then some special music by our very own Al Beasley.

The "Hunger Picnic" will start at 12:30 at the Pavilion at El Dorado Park with the conversation starting around 1:00 and the Walk beginning at 1:30.

What’s more, our Youth have recently returned from church camp where they received the Hunger Challenge. The Hunger Challenge is this: All the Youth Groups in our Region were challenged to collect donations from as many donors as possible. The Youth Group with the largest number of donors wins a special prize from Church World Service. Please note the contest isn’t for the largest amount of money donated, but rather for the largest number of people donating. So you can help our youth win the Hunger Challenge by helping to sponsor them on the CROP Walk – every little bit helps fight hunger and every person who donates helps support our Youth Group’s efforts to win the Hunger Challenge! We’ll have CROP Hunger Walk Packets available at the church this Sunday.

Finally, you can learn more about the CROP Hunger Walk, Church World Service, and our very own East Valley CROP Hunger Walk by visiting the website http://www.crophungerwalks.org/eastvalley/. While you are there you can sign-up for our FCC Scottsdale CROP Hunger Walk, make a secure online donation, and help CROP Stop Hunger!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

2011 Stewardship Campaign

2011-11-03T10:19:00.000-07:00

There are so many things to love about First Christian Church Scottsdale!

During our Stewardship season I want to know how you would complete the sentence “I Love My Church Because…”

How would you fill in the blanks?

“I love my church because of our lively, Spirit-led worship service.”
“I love my church because of our abiding commitment to outreach.”
“I love my church because we welcome everyone to celebrate communion with us every Sunday at the Lord’s Table.”
“I love my church because of the potluck lunches and Bible Study classes, the Prayer Shawl Ministry and Ms. Jesse in the nursery, our music ministries and the friendly people.”

For the next several Sundays I have invited everyone who has a speaking role in our worship services (from the Elders and liturgists to anyone giving an announcement, and yes even me) to preface their remarks by introducing themselves and then completing our stewardship sentence. Some of the answers will be funny. Others will be poignant. Some will be short and simple while others will be paragraphs long. Imagine all the different answers we can share!

As you hear the multitude of ways people respond to our stewardship prompt I hope that two things will happen. First, I hope that you’ll think of all the things you love about our church. Second, I hope that it will encourage you to support our church with your time, talent, and treasure.

Stewardship Letters went out to all the members of FCC Scottsdale this week. Accompanying those letters was a pledge card for 2012. Your pledge is important. Our ministries happen because of the generous financial support of the folks who love our church so deeply. So please fill out the front side of the enclosed card with your pledge for the coming year, but before you do so flip the card over. You’ll find our colorful “I Love My Church Because…” logo on the back of the pledge card. On the lines underneath that logo I hope you will write in your own answer to our stewardship prompt. Share with us what you love about FCC Scottsdale and help us continue to make those things possible!

We’ll collect and bless all of the pledge cards in worship on Sunday November 20. I’ll see you then! In the meantime, I can’t wait to hear how you complete the sentence “I love my church because…”

Whiteboard: All Saints Sunday

2011-11-01T15:02:00.001-07:00

So technically today is All Saints Day. It falls on November 1 every single year, the day immediately following Halloween. In fact that date (November 1) not only has to do with the date of Halloween, but it even has something to do with the name itself (the Feast Day of All Hallows on November 1 was proceeded by Hallows Eve which became Halloween).

Which means that technically we can't call this coming Sunday All Saints Day...thus, All Saints Sunday!

Come worship with us at First Christian Church Scottsdale this Sunday as we celebrate the Saints we have known in our lives and in our church and as we strive to live out our faith as saints ourselves. We will light candles of remembrance, offer special prayers for the saints who handed the faith on to us, and sing praise to God.

We'll be reading from Isaiah 25:6-9 and John 6:35-40.

I'll see you on Sunday!

Newsbrief: Behind the Scenes

2011-10-27T15:18:00.002-07:00

Lots of things are happening behind the scenes.

This is an extremely busy season in the life of our church. Some of that work is very public (like the Pumpkin Patch!) and a whole bunch of it is happening quietly out of the limelight.

For instance, you may or may not know that our Restructure Team has been working for the last 10 months on rewriting our By-Laws. It is tiresome work, but crucially important. One of our major goals from Administrative Council this year was to rework our church structure so that we were organized in a way that better fit our ministry needs and opportunities. I am happy to tell you that those rewritten By-Laws are finalized and formally approved by the Administrative Council. You’ll hear a little more about it in the forthcoming edition of the Newsletter and from the recruiting phone calls of the Nominating Committee…

…which reminds me, the Nominating Committee is hard at work right now too! They have met, they have brainstormed their wish list, and they have even started asking folks to serve in certain positions. The big goal this year is not only to have a chairperson in charge of each of our Ministry Teams (including the new groups spelled out in the rewritten By-Laws), but in fact to have co-chairs for each Ministry. Big work indeed!

The Budget Team has begun laying the groundwork for 2012 and their task coincides with our Stewardship Campaign. We have several devoted church members pouring over the numbers and making plans for the future all the while celebrating the important ministry that happens right here at FCC Scottsdale. We’ll be kicking off the Stewardship Campaign this Sunday (with a great theme) and the official 2012 Budget will be submitted to Administrative Council at their November meeting.

Lots going on and lots of people to thank. My wholehearted thanks to the Restructure Team, the Nominating Committee, the Budget Team, our Stewardship Committee and everyone working so hard (and behind the scenes) to help lead our church into the future!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Ephesians 6:10-18

2011-10-25T16:03:00.001-07:00

This coming Sunday is the day before Halloween, and I couldn't help but get into the spirit...as the Whiteboard illustrates this week.

I'm straying from the lectionary this Sunday and instead we'll use Ephesians 6:10-18 as our guiding passage. In the season when everyone is putting on their costumes for Trick-or-Treating I thought it was a nice time to be reminded of those garments of faith that the Apostle Paul describes so beautifully for us.

Ephesians 6:10-18 reads as follows:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.

I'll see you this Sunday at First Christian Church!

Newsbrief: Indoor/Outdoor

2011-10-20T15:43:00.001-07:00

We’ve had a change in plans.

This Sunday was originally scheduled to be the Outdoor Service, but we’ve had to move it inside for a laundry list of reasons that can best be summed up as…It is still too stinking hot to have worship outside!

So here is what we are going to instead. We’ll meet in the Sanctuary for worship and we’ll have the air-conditioning going, but I want you to come decked out in your best Outdoor Service apparel. I’m thinking Bermuda shorts and Hawaiian shirts, or sandals and a Fishing Hat, maybe sunglasses and a dollop of zinc oxide on your nose. Have fun with it! Come celebrate the Lord and help us to worship with our first Indoor (“pretending to be Outdoor”) Service!

You see, the church’s tradition recently has been to schedule to the Outdoor Service to coincide with the Children’s Sabbath. And we’ll still be observing the Children’s Sabbath (Sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund, the National Observance of Children's Sabbaths Celebration is a way for faith communities to celebrate children as sacred gifts of the Divine, and provides the opportunity for houses of worship to renew and live out their moral responsibility to care, protect and advocate for all children. Click here to learn more.). We will still celebrate our children, seek God’s guidance in helping them grow strong in the faith, and listen for the ways that we can boldly journey together into the fullness of the future that God envisions for us all. We’ll just do it in a little bit different way this year.

So come join us this Sunday at First Christian Church Scottsdale for our Indoor (“pretending to be Outdoor”) Service. Come decked out in your favorite outdoor duds…I’ve already got big plans for what I’ll be wearing! I’ll see you this Sunday in the Sanctuary.

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Check it Out: Church World Service Video and CROP Hunger Walk

2011-10-20T09:41:00.002-07:00

Check out this amazing new Church World Service video. Then scroll down to learn how to sign-up to support FCC Scottsdale's CROP Hunger Walk Team!

This year, the CROP Hunger Walk will take place on Sunday, November 13th. The website for the walk is http://www.crophungerwalks.org/eastvalley/ and our team name is First Christian Church of Scottsdale.

To register, go to the walk website and click on "Register/Donate Online." Click "Sign up" on the next page and then "I want to JOIN a team!" Find our team in the list and click "Join Team." Enter and submit your information and you're ready to go!

If you're on facebook, be sure to "Like" or page (http://www.facebook.com/EVCROPWalk), too!

From FCC Scottsdale's Open Air Market

2011-10-18T12:40:00.001-07:00

Check out these great pics that Al Beasley got from our first ever FCC Scottsdale Open Air Market!

Each of the vendors paid an entry fee that goes straight to our Outreach Ministries here at First Christian Church. There were vendors with fresh veggies, fresh brewed coffee, beautiful arts and crafts, and homemade candies along with face painting, raffles, and live music.

Monica, Bonnie, Adeline and Vern at the DWM booth.

Laverne (artist, vendor, Disciple, and co-chair of the Arizona Region's Global Ministries Team) waves to the camera. Special Note: The beautiful cross necklace I was wearing on Sunday morning came from Laverne's booth. Exquisite stuff.

Kay and the crowds at the Farmer's Market.

Vikki, Carrie, and Lloyd enjoying some "old fashioned ground coffee."

Folks enjoying the shade on a warm day at the Outdoor Market!

Whiteboard: Children's Sabbath

2011-10-18T11:22:00.001-07:00

This coming Sunday in worship we will observe the Children's Sabbath.

Copying straight from their website to make sure and get it right, "Sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund, the National Observance of Children's Sabbaths Celebration is a way for faith communities to celebrate children as sacred gifts of the Divine, and provides the opportunity for houses of worship to renew and live out their moral responsibility to care, protect and advocate for all children."

So on the Whiteboard this week you have my version of the Children's Defense Fund's amazing logo...along with the date of our Children's Sabbath worship service.

We'll observe the Children's Sabbath with scripture readings, special prayers, and a sermon based on Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 (where God is proclaimed as the dwelling place for all generations) and Matthew 22:34-40 (one of the first scripture lessons we teach our children -- Jesus' Great Commandment).

For more information about the Children's Defense Fund and the Children's Sabbath please click right here.

Newsbrief: Camp DeBenneville Pines

2011-10-15T15:24:00.001-07:00

Greetings friends!

I’ve spent the last four days away from the office, enjoying a little vacation time with my wife and son during Henry’s Fall Break.

It is nice to get away, recharge the batteries, reconnect with my family, and relax for a handful of days. I appreciate the church giving me this time off.

We’ve been at Camp Debenneville Pines – my wife’s denomination’s Church Camp Facilities in the mountains of California. We gathered there with some clergy friends of ours and their young families and have had a wonderful time being out in nature, enjoying community potluck meals, and unwinding in this beautiful environment.

I’ll be back in town late Thursday night and back in the pulpit on Sunday. I look forward to seeing you all then!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Global Ministries Sunday

2011-10-04T15:03:00.002-07:00

This Sunday we will celebrate our first ever Global Ministries Sunday at First Christian Church Scottsdale.

Global Ministries is the joint ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ that focuses on nurturing relationships with international partners on behalf of Disciples and the UCC.

Several of us from the church attended a Global Ministries training even in Casa Grande back in the spring. There we learned about the incredible things that our church is doing all over the world through Global Ministries. You'll be amazed to hear some of the stories this Sunday, learn about some of the international partners we are working with, and hear about how you can be an even bigger part in this ministry.

At that Training Event back in the Spring we were invited to participate in the first ever Global Ministries Sunday. And that is just what we are doing this coming Sunday at 10:15 in the sanctuary. There will be a special music (including guests playing the Philippine Gongs), prayers written by our international ministries, and a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall featuring African cuisine lovingly prepared by our own Seth Duhnke!

Come and join us this coming Sunday for Global Ministries Sunday at First Christian Church. And if you want to learn more about Global Ministries in advance of our special worship service please visit their excellent website by clicking here.

Newsbrief: FCC Q&A

2011-10-04T14:47:00.005-07:00

We’re trying something new this Sunday right after worship.

In our continuing efforts to share the story of First Christian Church Scottsdale, we are going to have a special session for visitors and friends to learn a little bit more about our church.

And we’re calling it FCC Q&A!

This Sunday right after worship I’ll lead a short session (about 20-minutes) right in the sanctuary for anyone who wants to learn more about our church. Letters have been sent out to recent visitors and folks who might be interested in hearing about our church’s mission work, denominational identity, and the unique things that make us the community of Christ that we are.

The FCC Q&A sessions are designed primarily for visitors and friends, but if there are members of the church who would like to stick around and learn something new about our beloved FCC Scottsdale then by all means hang out in the sanctuary after worship with us!

It will be a fun, casual time for us to welcome our visitors and get to know them a little better as they get to know our church. If there is somebody special you would like to invite to the session then feel free to pass on the invitation. And if this Sunday doesn’t work in your schedule, then don’t worry because we’ll be having these sessions on the first Sunday of each month!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

2011-09-27T15:32:00.001-07:00

It is one of my favorite Sundays of the year.

The Sunday when we celebrate Christian Unity and the blessing of the Lord's Table.

It is WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY!

I've often joked that World Communion Sunday really should be one of the highest of holy days for the Disciples. After all, it is the Sunday when our brothers and sisters in all sorts of churches from all sorts of denominational backgrounds all over the world celebrate the unity we have in Christ by breaking bread and sharing the cup at the Lord's Table. These are the great theological themes for us as Disciples of Christ -- Unity, Diversity, and the Centrality of the Lord's Table.

No wonder I love World Communion Sunday so much!

See you this Sunday!

Newsbrief: Prayer

2011-09-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

A number of people have asked me about the poem that Al Beasley used as the Opening Prayer this past Sunday.

So I thought this might be a nice space to share it with you!

The poem is titled “Prayer” and was written by Spanish poet Gloria Fuertes, translated by John Haines.

Here is the full text:

You are here on earth, our Father,
For I see you in the pine needle, in the blue torso of the worker,
In the small girl who embroiders, with bent shoulder,
mixing the thread on her finger.
Our Father here on earth, in the furrow, in the orchard, in the mine,
In the seaport, in the movie house, in the wine,
in the house of the doctor.
Our Father, here on earth,
Where you have your glory and your hell,
And your limbo in the cafes, where the rich have their cool drink.
Our Father, who sits in school, you are in the groceryman,
And in the man who is hungry, and in the poet---
But never in the usurer.
Our Father, here on earth, reading on the bench in the Prado,
You are the old man feeding breadcrumbs to the birds on the walk.
Our Father, here on earth, in the kiss, in the grain of wheat,
In the hearts of all who are good.
Father who can live anywhere, God who moves into any loneliness, you who quiet our anguish here on earth,
Our Father, yes we see you, and those of us who will see you soon, wherever you are, or there in Heaven.

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Power of the Gospel

2011-09-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we will hear the religious authorities of his time questioning Jesus about his authority to preach and teach. The full text comes from Matthew 21:23-32 and includes the following exchange:

"When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?”But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’"

It gives me an opportunity to share one of my favorite songs: Ben Harper's "Power of the Gospel." The lyrics from that song not only influence my sermon this week, but they are filling up the Whiteboard as well...

The lyrics to the song go a little something like this:

It will make a weak man mighty
it will make a mighty man fall
it will fill your heart and hands
or leave you with nothing at all
it's the eyes for the blind
and legs for the lame
it is love for hate
and pride for shame

that's the power of the gospel
that's the power of the gospel
that's the power of the mighty power
that's the power of the gospel

gospel on the water
gospel on the land
the gospel in every woman
the gospel in every man
gospel in the garden
gospel in the trees
the gospel that's inside of you
the gospel inside of me

that's the power of the gospel
that's the power of the gospel
that's the power of the mighty power
that's the power of the gospel

in the hour of richness
in the hour of need
for all of creation
comes from the gospel seed
now you may leave tomorrow
and you may leave today
but you've got to have the gospel
when you start out on your way

that's the power of the gospel
that's the power of the gospel
that's the power of the mighty power
that's the power of the gospel

Come join us for worship this coming Sunday as we celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ and the power of the gospel!

Three Things from Administrative Council

2011-09-20T14:38:00.002-07:00

Administrative Council had their regularly scheduled meeting this past Sunday immediately following worship. Here are the Three Things you need to know from that meeting:

The Church Growth Team is blowing and going! The Visitor's Welcome Center has been unveiled and the Church Growth Team is hard at work in helping us accomplish our stated goal for the year of being better about welcoming our new visitors. Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities and future training events in this regard!
The Outreach Committee needs your opinions, your commitments, and you support! In the coming weeks you'll have an opportunity to complete the Outreach Ministries Survey which will not only help us choose our outreach mission projects for the coming year, but will also share valuable information about our ongoing projects as well. Please fill out a survey (available at Sunday morning worship or coming straight to your house as an insert in October's Newsletter) and drop them off in the "Outreach Survey" Box in the Narthex.
I am excited to inform the church that I will be serving as the "Local Mentor" for Katie Sexton while she completes her Master of Divinity through Lexington Theological Seminary's Online Degree Program. Katie is a Disciple of Christ living here in the Valley of the Sun and a member at Foothills Christian Church. There could be some fun overlap between Katie's degree program and the work we are doing here at FCC Scottsdale...but in the meantime please keep Katie in your prayers as she pursues her calling in ministry!

Newsbrief: Visitors Center

2011-09-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

Did you notice anything new on your way into the Sanctuary last Sunday?

Right there past the greeters?

Big table, red tablecloth, gift bags – did you see it?

That is our new Visitor’s Center, friends. It is first roll out from our Church Growth Team (thank you, Shirley, Nancy, and Bob H.) in helping us move toward one of our stated goals for this year – Being better at welcoming visitors.

If you didn’t stop by the Visitor’s Center last Sunday, here is what we have there: The smiling face(s) of our volunteer (s) ready to specifically welcome our visitors, a great big sign announcing that this is the Visitor Center, a gift bag filled with information about our church and opportunities for folks to plug in, a stack of brand new pamphlets that tell the FCC Scottsdale Story, a sign-up sheet so that new visitors can get follow-up information from us in the church office, and a stack of blue nametags so that our volunteers can hand-make a nametag for our visitors.

It is a pretty slick operation, and I’m extremely proud of the hard work our Church Growth Team has put in behind the scenes getting everything together! And now, we need your help.

You see, the most important part about the Visitor’s Center isn’t the gift bags or the pamphlets or the sing-in sheets. Those are lovely pieces of material that do a nice job introducing our church to folks who might not know much about us, but they aren’t what will help folks feel connected.

The most important part of the Visitor’s Center is…(drumroll please)…the volunteers who help staff it! That’s you, friends. That is you!

In the coming weeks you’ll be hearing about a Training Event for volunteers to staff the Visitor’s Center. It is really easy, really fun, and a great way help the congregation grow.

More details to follow, but please prayerfully consider being a part of this growing ministry at FCC Scottsdale! In the meantime, stop by the Visitor’s Center, check out the materials, and give a heartfelt welcome to anybody you see wearing a blue handmade nametag!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Daily Bread

2011-09-14T09:26:00.002-07:00

What do we mean when we say, "God provides"?

That is the question at the heart of this Sunday's sermon.

We have two familiar stories as our scripture lessons this Sunday, and each one helps us wrestle with the question of God's providence.

The first reading comes from Matthew 20:1-16 and is the surprising parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. The landowner goes out in the morning to hire daylaborers. They agree on the regular daily wage and off to work they go. Then he goes out again a little later to hire more laborers and agrees to "pay them what is right" and off to work they go. Then he goes out again at Noon and 3PM and 5PM hiring more folks promising to pay them what is right. And at the end of the day when it is time to settle up...the landowner pays everyone the same regular daily wage no matter what time they came to work! The outcry from the first laborers hired is as consistent as it is expected, "That isn't fair!" The landowner responds with a word about promise, blessing, and generosity:

But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?”So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’

Our sermon scripture will continue to flesh out what it means to say "God provides" with the miracle story from Exodus 16:2-15 -- the story of Manna from Heaven. This story doesn't end with the people complaining, rather it starts there! The Israelites, recently liberated from the cruel oppression they knew under Pharoah's hand in Egypt, are complaining that life was better back in Egypt and they wonder aloud, "Why didn't God just kill us in Egypt instead of bringing us out here to the wilderness to starve to death!" God hears their cries and decides to test their obedience by providing them daily bread that falls miraculously from the heavens (and fresh quail meat too!).

Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, “Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.” ’And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked towards the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.The Lord spoke to Moses and said,‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.” ’

So what does it mean when we say "God provides"? How has God provided in your life? And what kind of response do we muster up in the face of all that God has given us? Come join us this Sunday at FCC Scottsdale as we wrestle with these questions and celebrate the grace, mercy, love, and generosity of our amazing God. See you Sunday!

Whiteboard: Kick Off Sunday

2011-09-06T12:09:00.001-07:00

That's right, the NFL Season isn't the only thing that officially kicks off this coming Sunday! First Christian Church Scottsdale will be having a Kick Off Sunday of our own to mark the official start of our Fall Program Year!

{Note: I know, the NFL Season actually starts up on Thursday night with that ridiculous ratings grab of a first game. But is okay, the analogy still holds. Several of our program pieces have already started up in advance of Kick Off Sunday too!}

You'll also notice a second theme emerging from the Whiteboard this week. I try my hardest during worship to keep us firmly rooted in a single theme. Each Sunday the hymns we sing, the prayers we pray, the sermon I preach, and the scriptures we read are all carefully planned in order to propel us in the direction of that single theme. It makes things complicated and messy when we have more than one focus during worship. But occassionally it is unavoidable. And this Sunday is one such occassion.

This coming Sunday will not only serve as our Kick Off Sunday at First Christian Church, but it also marks 10 years to the day since the attacks on this country that took place on September 11, 2001. It is the reason that I broke tradition with the Whiteboard this week and actually included the date of the worship service as well. We will spend some time in worship reflecting on 9/11. There will be a moment of silence and an extended time of prayer. We'll also spend time in worship focusing ourselves on where God is calling us in the coming year and the specific programs that we have in the life of the church that are starting back up after a long summer's hiatus. We'll draw on Pete's question about forgiveness and the Parable of the Unforgiving Slave from Matthew 18:21-35.

There aren't easy segues to tie these two pieces together and so we aren't going to try and force them together into a single uneasy theme, but rather recognize that there is a lot going on in our world, in our church, in our lives, and that sometimes we are pulled in multiple directions at once. Through it all, may God be glorified and may we feel the presence of Christ and the leading of the Spirit as we gather for a time of worship.

I'll see you on Sunday!

WoC: Hope Rising in Joplin

2011-09-01T13:11:00.002-07:00

{Editors: My good friend and Associate Director of Week of Compassion Brandon Gilvin sent out the following update from Joplin, Missouri this afternoon.}

There's a lot going on in Joplin, Missouri. Joplin torando aftermathPicture taken in the days following the tornado in Joplin, MO.That's the first thing you notice when you drive through town.

Everywhere, you see hand-painted or custom-printed signs that read "Rebuild Joplin." A local coffee shop sports a gigantic map of the city with pushpins marking the May 22nd tornado's path. There is as much work going on as there was when I first visited Joplin a few months ago, but the nature of the work is definitely shifting from immediate relief and clean-up to longer-term recovery. First Christian Church is winding down its ministry as a distribution center for those affected by the tornado, and South Joplin Christian Church is still a construction zone, filled with a crew repairing damage throughout the building. The church's leadership is looking beyond the repairs and has started to make plans for the future. A long-term recovery committee has emerged and begun its work, and Week of Compassion partner Church World Service has helped provide support and training for the committee. Joplin tornadoPicture taken in the aftermath of the tornado.

Geographically, Joplin sits on the Southwest edge of Missouri, a short drive from many communities in Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas with active, mission-minded Disciples churches who have provided courageous, compassionate leadership in offering relief and clean-up to tornado damage in Joplin. Last Wednesday, I gathered with Disciples pastors from Joplin and the neighboring tri-state community, committed lay leaders and ecumenical partners, and Ozark Lakes Area Minister Dr. G. Michael Weinman to flesh out a long-term recovery plan among Week of Compassion, Disciples Volunteering, the Ozark Lakes Area, and supportive congregations. We had a great meeting, and I am happy to announce that things are in motion.

As is almost universally the case with initiating a long-term recovery process, there are many pieces in play, including city zoning ordinances, recruiting and training disaster response case managers, and streamlining a volunteer coordination system for recovery, but, thus far, the plans are as follows: Disciples Volunteering and South Joplin Christian Church will launch a mission station in Joplin sometime between November 2011 and February 2012. Neighboring churches in Neosho, MO, Pittsburg, KS, and Columbus, KS, will complement this initiative by offering additional and overflow housing for volunteers. Once the mission station opens, registration for week-long Disciples work groups will be managed by Disciples Volunteering .
First Christian Church, Bentonville, Arkansas, will continue to provide housing for short term (1-3 days) volunteer work groups. Easily accessible for churches traveling from the south, FCC-Bentonville can be contacted for more details by following this link .
We are continuing to explore a partnership with the United Church of Christ in supporting the work of the South Joplin Christian Church Mission Station. As longstanding ecumenical partners, we're all excited about the possibilities, and we're working hard to make sure our policies and procedures are complementary.

As Joplin rebuilds, we are, through our partnership with Disciples Volunteering, ready to make things happen, and ready to be part of long-term, sustainable solutions. Thank you for the prayers, gifts, and hopes that you have all brought to the table, as we have prepared for this recovery. We're looking forward to what our partnership brings forth. For more information about Disciples Volunteering's Disaster Response Programs in Joplin, MO, and in Tuscaloosa, AL, please visit their website .

Newsbrief: Nine Years

2011-09-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

Nine years ago I was still using the first computer I had ever purchased for myself. It had a half-a-gigabyte hard drive, took up the entirety of the card table I used for a desk, and cost about $2500.

Nine years ago the only internet access, I had, came through a dial-up modem that connected to a telephone line.

Nine years ago my cellphone could only make phone calls, Facebook hadn’t been invented, and Arizona Cardinals super wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was just starting his freshman year in college. It is amazing how much things change in nine years – technology, innovation, the sweep of history.

What is so significant about nine years ago, you ask? Well, on this day nine years ago Susan and I were married!

It was a beautiful ceremony in the sanctuary of the church where she grew up in Kirkwood, Missouri. We were surrounded by friends and family, and after the ceremony we processed with all 200+ guests down the street to the local children’s museum where we had our reception! It is the greatest night of my life.

It is amazing how some things stay timeless – love, sacred promises, those moments that come to define our lives.

On my ninth wedding anniversary I can’t help but wonder what the next nine years have in store -- for my family, for our church, for our world. What will change? What will remain constant? What are the timeless things that not only will endure, but will help shape the ways that we respond to a constantly evolving world?

It is exciting to dream about what this church will look like in the year 2020, where God will be leading us, and what new opportunities and possibilities will be there for us to respond to the good news of the Gospel.

So take a little time today and reflect with me. Where were you nine years ago? What has changed? What has remained constant? As we look forward, what are your dreams for our church in the coming years? And, what will we have to do to get there? I look forward to hearing all of your answers and living into the future with you all.

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Community

2011-08-30T13:30:00.001-07:00

So what does it mean to live in community?

This week's sermon scripture from Matthew 18:15-20 orients us in the right direction.

‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’

By the way, you've gotta love the fact that "where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them" shows up as the lectionary reading for the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend...where there really might only be two or three people gathered in some churches this weekend!

Come join us this Sunday and fell the presence of Christ active and alive in our community of faith.

Newsbrief: Duststorms and Brainstorms

2011-08-25T12:53:00.000-07:00

The latest dust storm had just blown in.

In fact, it was actively blowing in.

I walked from my car to the church office with a small towel covering my mouth and nose so that I wouldn’t breathe in the dust last Thursday evening.

It was nearly 6:30 PM, the appointed time for our Outreach Meeting and I was sure that nobody would be there. Who in the world wants to drive out in the middle of a dust storm on a weeknight around dinner time to come to a committee meeting?

Turns out, a room full of people, that’s who!

Because this wasn’t any ordinary meeting. This was an Outreach Meeting at First Christian Church Scottsdale, and since Outreach is such a core issue to who we are as a community of faith, well, people weren’t going to miss it. As folks kept pouring into my office we had to drag in extra chairs and reorganize the seating arrangements a couple of times. We ended up with a dozen folks crammed into my office and for the next two hours we talked Outreach and Mission Opportunities for our church. The commitment to outreach and putting our faith in action is so deep in this church, and I’ve never been prouder!

(By the way, some folks really did face a dangerous road to get here during the dust storm and had to turn back. I completely understand and I’m glad they made it home safely and are planning on being a part of the outreach work we do here at FCC Scottsdale.)

It was a marvelous meeting!

Bob and Judy Stall (our We Serve Coordinator and Minister for Outreach respectively) did a fabulous job facilitating the conversation and helping us to brainstorm a whole list of possibilities for the coming program year. We also talked about the “in-reach” programs for members of the church and discussed the opportunity of becoming a Global Mission Church. But mostly, we brainstormed, and we came up with a long list of possibilities and assigned specific people to follow up on specific projects.

Which leads me to the invitation. We’ll be meeting again on Wednesday August 31 at 6:30PM in my office to actually choose which projects we feel called to undertake in the coming year. It is an open invitation for everyone in the church. Come by to hear about outreach projects and help us decide where we’ll be focusing our energies in the coming months. I’ll see you Wednesday August 31…hopefully without the dust storm this time around!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Following Christ

2011-08-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

This Sunday's Gospel reading (Matthew 16:21-28) picks up exactly where we last Sunday's Gospel reading left off.

So it made sense that this week's Whiteboard picture should draw on the images of last week's Whiteboard picture.

Last Sunday Christ invited us into the conversation when he asked, "Who do you say that I am?" This Sunday we wrestle with what it means to follow Jesus. What obstacles stand in our way? What fears hold us back? What cross must we face in order to live into the fullness of the promises that we know through the grace, mercy, and love of God.

Ode to the Pumpkin Patch

2011-08-23T10:53:00.001-07:00

{Many thanks to Julie for this great announcement from this past Sunday's worship service. Sign up sheets are still available to help unload pumpkins on Saturday October 8 as we get everything set up for our big fall fundraiser for the Outreach Ministry at First Christian Church Scottsdale.}

Fall will soon be in the air.

Pumpkins will arrive without a care.

First Christian friends will help unload,

Hundreds of pumpkins -- white green and gold.

Please sign up today, look for me after church.

The more the merrier, the easier the work.

Saturday morning October the eighth,

This mission outreach opportunity will really be great!

Your support is appreciated, old and young.

The pumpkins are coming. This day will be fun!

Three Things from the Outreach Meeting

2011-08-23T10:23:00.001-07:00

The Mission Outreach Team met this past Thursday at 6:30PM. Here are the three things you need to know from that meeting:

We highlighted the current "in-reach" programs in place to assist members at FCC Scottsdale. This includes the In-Reach Loan Program, the Pastor's In-Reach Fund, our onsite Food Pantry, and gift cards for groceries or gas.
We spent the bulk of the meeting exploring new opportunities. We brainstormed a tremendous list of outreach opportunities and will meet again on Wednesday August 31 at 6:30PM in my office to choose which projects we will focus on for the coming year.
We continue to explore what it means to become a Global Mission Church. For more information on this amazing program organized jointly through the Disciples of Christ and the United Church of Christ then click here.

The Follow-Up Meeting on Wednesday August 31 at 6:30 in my office is open to everyone. Please come join us as we choose our Outreach Projects for the coming year! See you there!

Newsbrief: Transformation

2011-08-18T09:17:00.003-07:00

"Write down whatever comes to mind when you hear the word transformation."

Those were the instructions at the start of the Congregational Vitality and Transformation Team meeting I attended Wednesday.

Complete with a stack of large Post-It Notes and a collection fine point markers the seven of us went to work brainstorming, dreaming, and discerning.

Passion ... Engagement ... Resurrection ... Kingdom of God ... Cocoon ... Joyful ... Hard... Challenge ... Calling ... Christ-centered ... Direction ... Painful ... Process ... Spirit ... Hope ... Courage ... Risk ... Alive … Discipleship ... Purpose ... Fun … Emerge …

You may or may not have heard me talk about the Congregational Vitality and Transformation Team (CVT, for short) before. It is a pilot project in the Arizona Region right now that I am grateful to be a part of. The CVT includes six ministers from Arizona who are serving different churches from around the state who feel called to this kind of revitalizing ministry. Our Regional Minister Denny Williams invited each one of us to the table, and he is the seventh member of the CVT. We are working together to figure out exactly what this work of transformation and revitalization means...for us, for the congregations we serve, and for the Arizona Region.

So, church, how about you? What comes to mind when you hear the word transformation? What about vitality? Or revitalization?

As we start putting our words out there along with our hopes, our prayers, and our dreams for what is to come then maybe, just maybe we'll begin to share in the dream that God has for our congregation. And that is when we'll know that these words we are tossing around aren’t just describing transformation they are describing us.

Keep a look out for more snippets and updates from the good work that is going on with the Congregational Vitality and Transformation Team!

Yours in the Journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Matthew 16:13-20

2011-08-16T11:13:00.001-07:00

"Who do you say that I am?"

People have answered that question in a lot of ways over the years.

Jesus has been called the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, the Only Begotten Son of the Most High, the Anointed, the Christ, Beautiful Savior, Light of the World, Good Shepherd... and so many other things that look nice on a church’s wayside pulpit!

Every time we try to pigeonhole Jesus into just this one camp or just that one singular understanding, the scriptures remind us that even in his own time people struggled to know and understand him, and fumbled with the right turns of phrase to truly capture what Jesus was and is.

Just when we think we know Jesus as the all loving, all caring, peace-monger he curses a fig tree and kills it or goes stomping around the Temple with whip in hand chasing out the money changers. Just when we think we know Jesus as the bringer of the revolution ready to topple the earthly kingdoms and forcibly remove the world’s oppressors he tells us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek. Jesus, it seems, always has another side for us to ponder, and another surprising revelation to give. It’s not easy to know Jesus, much less to follow him.

This Sunday we inherit Peter's good confession ("You are the Christ. The son of the living God.") from Matthew 16:13-20 as our scripture reading. Which means that we get the chance to wrestle with Christ's question all over again, "Who do YOU say that I am?"

Newsbrief: Market Uncertainty

2011-08-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

Members of the Administrative Council and the Elders are used to the way that I like to end meetings.

I always ask, “What are the three things we want people to know about from this meeting?”

It is a communication technique that helps us to assemble our talking points, figure out what is important, and then get the word out. For me, the “Three Things” shapes the way I think and talk.

So, as big plunges in the Stock Market and the recent downgrade of the US credit rating have folks legitimately worried about global economic uncertainties and the ways they will hit home, here are the “Three Things” that I want you know about our church right now:

The finances at the church are in good shape. We are fortunate as a church not to have any outstanding debt. We own all of our property outright and don’t have to worry about things like debt servicing expenses or fluctuating variable rates. Presently, our budget has lined up almost dollar for dollar with our actual expenses. Your generosity and support of our church has us in a good financial spot. Don’t get me wrong, we still need you to give! But rest assured that financially things are good at the church right now.
The Pastor’s In-Reach Fund is available. You’ll remember that earlier this summer we launched the Pastor’s In-Reach Fund. This is a designated pool of money that is set aside for direct aid for church members who are in need of a one-time financial gift of up to $500. If folks find that they are suffering during these tough economic times, please know that your church family can help. Please contact me directly to find out more about the Pastor’s In-Reach Fund.
My door is always open. If you are really shaken up by these economic downturns (or any other worries or concerns for that matter) please don’t hesitate to stop by the office and see me. Or drop me an email. Or give me a call. As your pastor, in times of difficulty and uncertainty I am here to support you, to be with you, to listen to you, and to pray with you. Let me know if you would like to get together.

As a people of faith we take solace in knowing that the love, mercy, and grace of God don’t bounce around like the stock market, but are steadfast and abounding. May the strength and compassion of our loving God be with you now and always.

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

3 Things from Administrative Council

2011-08-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

Administrative Council met this past Sunday immediately after worship. Here are the three things you should know from that meeting:

We formally approved a 50th Anniversary Committee. In February of 2014 we'll celebrate 50 years of ministry at First Christian Church Scottsdale! That historic day will be here before you know it...so we're putting together a committee and have plans in place to include them in forthcoming budgets and business sessions.
The Church Restructure Group is making major progress. Building on one of the goals we named at the Administrative Council Retreat at the start of the year, Sandi DeFeo presented the basic framework that will undergird our new church structure -- with an emphasis on picking up the pieces that have fallen through the cracks (important things like Fellowship, Education, and Church Growth!). Plans are being made to amend the by-laws and allow us to start living in to this new structure in the coming year.
The Church Growth Team continues to make headway. This was another big goal identified at the Administrative Council Retreat and this group is working hard to bring a renewed spirit of growth to the congregation. Look for some new "Growth Related" changes to start popping up as early as Kick-Off Sunday on the 11th of September!

Whiteboard: The Canaanite Woman

2011-08-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

I can never remember how to spell her name. In fact, it isn't her name at all. It is a geographical (or even theological) reference that we use to identify her, rather than her name since her name is never given in the text.

So we call her the Canaanite Woman...and I misspell it almost every time I write it (just there, Spell Check fixed it for me). I always end up with an extra "n" and at least one missing "a". I mean, what word has "a" for two consecutive letters?!?

Anyway, I don't like the reference we have for it, but I absolutely love the story. Matthew 15:21-28 gives us Jesus having an argument with the ~~Cannanite~~ ~~Caananite~~ ~~Canaannite~~ Canaanite Woman (misspelled it three times there). She has a daughter who is possessed by a demon, she asks Jesus for help and the argument ensues. And here is the thing...Jesus picks the fight! And what's more...Jesus doesn't win the argument!

Here is how I put it up on my Whiteboard this week, comic book style:

It is an amazing story that points us in the direction of the ever expanding nature of God's grace and the radical welcome that Christ extends to us...even if it takes a little argumentation and a clever turn of phrase from the Canaanite (I got it right that time!) Woman to get us there.

Come join us in worship this Sunday at First Christian Church as we dive deep with this passage from Matthew and explore the ways that God is expanding the table for each and every one of us!

Newsbrief: Growing Up

2011-08-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

My son starts Kindergarten on Monday.

{Shakes head in disbelief. Takes a deep breath. Starts typing again.}

It happened so fast. It seems like just the other day I was holding my newborn son in his favorite pose (head nestled in my hand, the entirety of his body balanced easily on my forearm). Now he's a Kindergartener who is writing his own name, solving simple math problems in his head, and starting a whole new chapter in his life. It is a rite of passage and a rhythm in our world that I am getting to experience firsthand.

You see, it is that time of year again friends. When our young ones at our church head off to school again, and all of the teachers in our church head back too! It is a time of excitement and anxiety, of new beginnings and transitions.

As our kids (and our teachers!) head back to school let us continue to lift them up in our prayers that school might be a nurturing, safe, supportive environment. May it be the kind of place where they can explore and discover, learn to love learning, and enjoying growing into the very fullness of what God is calling them to be.

In fact, lets not just pray that for their schools. Lets offer that same prayer for our church too. That we can be a welcoming and loving place for children and young people to feel nurtured and safe and supported. May we at First Christian Church be the kind of place where our young people can explore and discover their faith, learn to love learning, and enjoy growing into the very fullness of what God is calling them to be.

I'm glad that we've found a terrific school for Henry (he'll be continuing at the Montessori Academy, a charter school just up the street from our church) and I'm profoundly happy that we've found a caring, supportive church home that will love him up as he continues to grow!

Thanks for praying for my son and for all the other youth in our church who are headed back to school in the days and weeks ahead.

Whiteboard: Walking

2011-08-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday's sermon is based on Matthew 14:22-36.

After feeding the 5000 (not counting the women and children, who were surely there too), Jesus sends the Disciples away in a boat to the other side of the Lake. It gives Jesus some much needed alone time to recharge his batteries and restore his soul, and he does just that by going into the mountains to pray. Meanwhile, the Disciples' boat is battered by waves and drifts far from the shore overnight because the wind was working against them. So the morning comes and Jesus comes out to greet the Disciples...by walking on the very surface of the water.

Here's the picture on my whiteboard this week:

It is a miracle story in a chain of miracle stories. One that greets us with all kinds of invitations and challenges. This Sunday we'll wrestle with a couple of 'em...and do it with a story about my Cajun uncle's miraculous hunting dog. See you on Sunday!

Newsbrief: Tell It!

2011-07-28T11:39:00.001-07:00

Greetings friends!

This coming Sunday’s worship service is built around the theme and guiding scripture from the recent General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It was a phenomenal event hosted in Nashville, TN (old stomping grounds of mine!) that had the theme “Tell it!”

So that is what we’ll do on Sunday. We will “Tell it!”

There were so many great stories from General Assembly, that I won’t be able to squeeze them all in to one sermon (unless you don’t mind a three or four hour, church service!). So I decided to share one of them with you here.

While I was serving as an Intern Minister at Vine Street Christian Church in Nashville many years ago as part of my Field Education at Vanderbilt Divinity School my supervisor was the Rev. Rachel Dixon. She is a wonderful woman, compassionate pastor, and a phenomenal teacher. Much of who I am as a pastor was shaped by Rachel and her thoughtful, loving approach to life and ministry.

She’s also the proud mother of Gabe Dixon, who was one of the featured Disciples musicians at General Assembly this year. Gabe grew up singing at open mic night Coffee House’s in the basement fellowship at Vine Street Christian Church. Now he is an accomplished singer songwriter and a gifted pianist who has recorded with the likes of Paul McCartney.

And his mom and his church couldn’t be prouder!

It had been so long since I had seen Gabe that I didn’t even recognize his picture on the cover of the General Assembly docket. But as soon as he sat down at the piano at opening worship to welcome thousands of Disciples to Nashville with one of his original songs, well, in that moment I knew exactly who he was!

Check out the video.

You can see other video clips from General Assembly by visiting the General Assembly YouTube Channel.

Seeing my mentor’s son perform on the first night of General Assembly reminded me that our stories intersect and crisscross in remarkable, beautiful, surprising ways. God has gifted us all with stories that are uniquely ours and challenges us to examine our faith, find our stories, and Tell it! See you in worship on Sunday!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Digging for Hope: Japan Journal

2011-07-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

{Note: My dear friend, and Associate Director of Week of Compassion, Rev. Brandon Gilvin visited Japan in June as part of an ecumenical delegation monitoring our relief efforts in the country. This update includes a report and reflection on the relief efforts he encountered on that trip.}

The smell was overwhelming. We had just gotten out of the van in Rikuzentaka, a fishing village on the coast of the Iwate prefecture in Japan, and everything around us smelled intensely fishy, reeking of saltwater and death.

The tsunami had decimated Rikuzentaka, killing more than 8,000 people, and displacing or otherwise affecting more than 30,000 others. 60% of the area’s medical doctors were affected, further weakening a damaged response infrastructure.

The rural areas affected by the tsunami, generally poorer with a much older population than Japan’s metropolitan areas, face serious challenges in rebuilding their local economies, which often were dependent on the production of factories destroyed in the wake of destructive water.

But as waves struck these factories, it was not only the local economies that were left damaged and vulnerable. Waves crushed a seafood production plant in Rikuzentaka, covering nearby streets with dead fish, waste, and oil. Because the tsunami struck in the winter, the waste was merely one detail among many of a complicated, largescale clean-up effort: but the weeks wore on and summer approached, rotting fish drew bugs, and a district of Rikuzentaka that once housed the livelihoods
of so many became a serious threat to public health.

Through our partnership with Church World Service, Week of Compassion is supporting the Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development (NICCO), which, in addition to providing psychosocial services and other care for survivors, is leading efforts to clean and disinfect the areas where Rikuzentaka’s fish processing plant once stood.

For an afternoon, we joined a NICCO-sponsored team responsible for clean-up, which included an entomologist who studied and cataloged insects infesting the rubble from the tsunami, helping other teams to determine the most effective approaches for clean-up and disinfection. We then visited the station where the rubble was transported and disinfected, before being taken away to be properly disposed of.

In the weeks that have followed my return from Japan, I’ve told as many people as I can about this aspect of NICCO’s work. For one, I was fascinated by how intricate the process was, how attuned to detail the NICCO staff was, and how, while an essential part of the recovery process, public health issues like disinfecting insect-infested rubble are rarely the sorts of things that we focus
our attention, energy, or media strategies on. But such issues are part of a comprehensive strategy that takes long-term recovery seriously, and it is for this reason that I am thankful for partners such as Church World Service, who focus on long-term recovery, invest in sustainable futures for vulnerable communities, and seek out partners with local knowledge, invaluable skills, and the trust of their communities.

As I made my way back to our van, stalking my way through the muck of ocean and factory waste, I found myself feeling as grateful as I was disgusted. The generosity of all of you—those who pray and give and along with the people of Japan—enables us to reach out in Courageous Compassion, to find hope amidst heartache, and to develop solutions that serve so many people left vulnerable in the wake of disasters. In the weeks that have followed, as I have watched your generosity serve the vulnerable in other places -- Joplin, MO; Kenya and Somalia; Birmingham, AL -- my gratitude has not waned. It has only grown stronger.

Thank you for making a difference. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Brandon Gilvin

Whiteboard: Tell It!

2011-07-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

General Assembly may have concluded two weeks ago, but this coming Sunday will be my first time back in the pulpit since the members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) gathered for our every-other-year meeting. So I decided months back to dedicate Sunday July 31 as General Assembly Sunday.

Thus the picture on the Whiteboard this week. It is my crude, sketch version of the official logo for this past General Assembly hosted in Nashville, TN.

Here is my attempt....

And here is the official version....

This Sunday's worship service will draw on the theme of the General Assembly (Tell It!), the scripture of the Assembly (Deuteronomy 6:1-9) and more importantly the stories of the Assembly. With a theme like "Tell It!" there was ample opportunities to hear the wonderful work that Disciples are doing all over the globe in the name of our Lord. I'll try to share a few of those stories while helping us to focus on the stories we have to share at FCC Scottsdale and the God who is inviting us to boldly go forward and Tell It!

The Last Three Weeks

2011-07-26T15:30:00.003-07:00

Greetings, friends!

Today is my first official day back in the office after three weeks away. What have I been up to? Glad you asked!

Here are a couple of pictures from the last three weeks that include my adventures in Payson for a week of family vacation, my time in Nashville for the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and my week away in the Midwest for another week of family vacation. Enjoy!

This was supposed to be plan, and for the most part it held true except that we had two unexpected deaths in the church while I was away that brought me back to Scottsdale for 5 days as I presided at the Memorial Services. We miss you, Susan Bland and Phyllis McBride.

The trip started off in Payson. Here is Susan and Henry sitting at the edge of the rim just outside of town. We had a tremendous time, hiking, eating, and playing dominoes in the cooler weather. As an added bonus Susan's parent's (that's here father at the right of the frame) and her sister and our neice and nephew were able to come down from St. Louis and join us.

The second leg of my trip brought me to Nashville for our denomination's General Assembly. It was a great time and you can read my other blog posts from the General Assembly just under this post. In a strange coincidence Henry was obsessed with Elvis right before I left for General Assembly, so I couldn't resist taking this picture outside a honky tonk next door to the Convention Center.

After the two Memorial Services I flew back out to catch up with Susan and Henry. By now they were on the third leg of the trip in St. Louis -- where Susan is from. Despite all of our trip to StL this was Henry's first time at the Gateway Arch. He looked out the window, saw Busch Stadium and proudly announced, "That is where Albert Pujols hits all those homeruns!" A Cardinals fan through and through.

Up for Grabs

2011-07-13T09:43:00.001-07:00

Vanderbilt Divinity School New Testament Professor (and all around Rock Star!) Dr. Amy Jill Levine just brought a powerful word to the General Assembly in the final "Be The Change" Lecture. She had a great story about her own son and how the "significance and meaning of the cross is up for grabs" in today's world. You can expect to hear it retold in my General Assembly sermon when I get back to FCC Scottsdale!

Sent from my iPhone

From the Vandy Luncheon

2011-07-12T08:37:00.001-07:00

The Rev. Dr. Fred Craddock receiving the 2011 Distinguished Alumni award from the Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt. He'll be preaching the sermon at Tuesday evening's worship service. Congratulations, Fred!

"Six More Years! Six More Years!"

2011-07-12T08:33:00.001-07:00

The Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins has been re-elected to her second six-year term as the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada -- what a title! Let us keep Sharon in our prayers and show her our support by working hard on behalf of the church we all love so much.

Quote: Brian McLaren's "Wow" Line

2011-07-11T18:35:00.001-07:00

"We are not called to be Disciples of Christianity." -- Brian McLaren in Monday evening's worship service.

Sent from my iPhone

Quote: Be the Change Lecture

2011-07-11T09:23:00.001-07:00

Dr. Harvey Cox's closing remarks after a wide-ranging lecture on the parallels between the early church and today's contemporary world: "If we let go and don't cling to old structures and old things...there is every reason to believe that the Spirit will move with us...and we can all "Tell It!" and we can all be disciples.

Sent from my iPhone

About Last Night

2011-07-11T07:13:00.001-07:00

Here I am pictured with our very own Al B. And Daryl M. at the Week of Compassion Event at the Country Music Hall of Fame. An amazing night filled with great music from Gabe Dixon (tremendous talent) and my friend Craig Wiseman (the best live performer in the land). Plus U got to see Elvis' Gold Cadillac. It was the kind of night that could only happen in Nashville...and at General Assembly!

The gangs all here

2011-07-10T22:32:00.001-07:00

Good news: The Church Van made it all the way to Nashville! When I hadn't heard from our crew by late Saturday night I figured they had either made it safely (best case scenario) or were stranded in a stretch of New Mexico desert without cellphone reception (worst case scenario). Now I have the photographic evidence to prove that they made it! Jeanne and Jessie rode over in the van. They are pictures in the Plenary Hall with me and Lea (who both flew, by the way). Glad everyone is here!

Quote: State of the Church

2011-07-10T22:25:00.001-07:00

From our General Minister and President, the Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins in her State of the Church address: "In the midst of this new landscape for missions...with God's leadership we are finding the way. It is an amazing time to be church!"

Sent from my iPhone

Sunday Morning at Vie Street

2011-07-10T11:30:00.000-07:00

Guest preacher Dr. William Lee brought a powerful word. Senior Minister Thomas Kleinert welcomed us all to the Lord's Table. The music was amazing. The sanctuary was packed. And glory, glory hallelujah they had veggie sandwiches in the box lunches after worship! It was my first time back at Vine Street since my Ordination there the weekend after I graduated from Seminary, and it was a remarkable day. Special thanks to Rev. Hope Hodnett for making sure I caught the bus to get there and to Al Beasley for taking the picture of me next to Vine Street's sign.

Opening Worship Redux

2011-07-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

I grabbed way in the back for Opening Worship (the Pew Ladies at FCC Scottsdale would be proud!) and tried to a picture if the size if the crowd in attendance -- It really us amazing worshipping with several thousand Disciples. Way up there at the front is the Rev. Glen Stewart, the Tennessee Regional Minister. Glen is offering the formal welcome to the Assembly attendees, and many years ago Glen presided at my Ordination to Christian Ministry. Sunday morning I am off to worship at Vine Street Christian Church, where that ordination took place!

Opening Worship at GA

2011-07-09T21:51:00.001-07:00

What is that you ask? Well that is FCC Scottsdale's very own Al Beasley playing "Go Tell It On the Mountain" on stage during the opening worship service at General Assembly (I know, I know Mr. Blurrycam strikes again, but trust me Al is there in the upper lefthand corner. It kinda helps if you squint.) I flew over with Don and Kay, and I'm still on the lookout for our group who drove over from Scottsdale in the church van. Expect a picture of them when I see 'em too...hopefully not such a blurry one. We have a great group here representing the church, and it is going to be a terrific Assembly.

Music City Here I Come

2011-07-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

Good morning friends! That little, unreadable sign behind me says "Nashville 10:00" and that is my flight out to General Assembly! A direct flight and several timezones later I will be in Music City with several thousand Disciples for our every-other-year big old meeting. Throughout General Assembly I'll be posting short updates here on the blog, so check back often. But a word of warning: I'm doing the whole thing through my phone! So expect some typos, some weird auto-fill changes (my phone originally changed "timezone" to "Toledo Ed"?!?), and some formatting problems. You can also expect all kinds off good news from General Assembly and plenty of great ideas that we can start implementing at FCC Scottsdale!

Whiteboard: Freedom

2011-06-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

When the Fourth of July falls so closely after a Sunday, I like to take it as an opportunity to preach about the theology of freedom.

I typically try to avoid using Sunday worship to talk about secular holidays, and building a worship service around the blessings of freedom seems a fair way to approach the subject from a faithful perspective. It is also a handy way to remind people that we'll still have worship on the holiday weekend!

God's gift of freedom is celebrated and shared (and occasionally criticized -- think of God's own protests about "This stiff necked people" in the book of Exodus!) all throughout scripture. The Genesis creation stories show us that from the very beginning God has imbued us with the freedomto choose...and that sometimes that gift of freedom leads us away from God's desired pathway for our lives. When Christ called his very first Disciples, he did the inviting but it was of their own free will that they chose to follow.

One of the strongest admonitions of the divine gift of freedom comes from Galatians 5:1. Thus the central place that passage takes on my whiteboard this week (surrounded by fireworks, naturally!)...

Galatians 5:1 tells us, "For freedom Christ has set you free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery."

Through the power, grace, forgiveness, mercy, and love that we know through Jesus we are set free from all things that would oppress us and pull us away from God's call in our lives. God does not force us into a life of worship and service (such would simply be another form of enslavement) but rather frees us from our bonds and invites us to find meaning and purpose in our lives through God. That is what it means to be truly free...and that is worth celebrating on Sunday morning!

See you in church this Sunday!

Newsbrief: Pastor's In-Reach Fund

2011-06-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

I’m proud to use this space to formally announce the creation of the Pastor’s In-Reach Fund.

In the coming days and weeks you’ll be hearing more about the program. I’ll be talking about it from the pulpit this coming Sunday. Next week there will be a full-page description of it on the “We Serve” Page in the Newsletter with lots of details and descriptions. But I wanted to start getting the word out and, well, that is what the Newsbrief is all about!

We are a church that does Outreach really, really well. Last year we were recognized as the congregation with the Highest Per Capita Giving to Disciples Mission Fund in the Arizona Region. Recently we have sent several thousand dollars to Joplin, MO in response to the devastating tornado that ripped through town.

Because of the financial problems that our country and many of our members are currently experiencing, the Administrative Council has created a new financial aid program specifically targeting the dire financial needs of members of our own Church. So instead of Outreach (where we reach outside of our church family to respond and offer support) this is In-Reach (where we reach in to support members of our family of faith).

The Pastor’s In-Reach Fund will provide gifts up to $500 (with no expectation of repayment) for church members who need financial assistance. The fund will be established with seed money from the Undesignated Mission Fund in the amount of $2500, but if any members wish to contribute directly to the fund you can do so by designating your financial contributions to account #6316.

If you would like more information about the Pastor’s In-Reach Fund, or to find out how to apply for a gift from the Pastor’s In-Reach Fund please contact me directly.

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

On the Whiteboard: Feeding the 5000

2011-06-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

I'm straying a bit from the Lectionary Cycle this coming Sunday. Normally the Matthew 14:13-21 text would not come up for several more weeks, but other worship plans for the summer have bumped it from that spot. Rather than missing the power and glory of the Story of the Feeding of the 5000 I moved it up to this Sunday.

Come this Sunday to find out why my Cajun Grandmother is firmly convinced that Jesus was himself a Cajun.

Come this Sunday to see what this miraculous text about abundance and invitation has to say to us as a people of faith.

Come this Sunday because we'll conclude the service with a special word of recognition and blessing for our Church Campers before they head off for a week of at Camp Pinerock!

Come this Sunday to worship the God of life and love and blessings right here at First Christian Scottsdale!

Father of the Year

2011-06-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

On Father's Day each year First Christian Church Scottsdale gives out the "Father of the Year" Award to one of our members. This year's recipient was the Rev. Bill Barnes!

Here are the words shared in worship on Sunday as the Award was announced and presented to Bill. The speech was written by Bill's daughter, the Rev. Judy Stall (FCC's Minister of Outreach) and read by Bill's son-in-law Bob Stall (FCC Elder and Father of the Year in 1981).

First let it be known that I was not on the committee which decided the Father of the Year but they have asked me to make the presentation.

Our honoree was born in Kansas City, Mo. to a humble Disciple family, his father drove a city bus and his mother was Sunday school superintendent for twenty years. Both this gentleman and his brother became Disciple ministers.

He dated his wife to be, went to the service and came back to marry her at nineteen. (He knew a special person when he saw her!!) They were young parents having their first child at age 20 and second at 25.

He served our denomination for over 40 years in the ministry: first as minister of a church in
Missouri which he founded; as Vice Pres of development at Christian Theological Seminary;
and finally as Vice President of Development for the Disciple denomination at the national level.

So he comes to Arizona to retire, to finally rest and ends up: helping the church on the building
study committee and the property committee; substituted as teacher and preacher; doing
community work for Girls’ Ranch and Talison and was on the Board for Waymark Gardens,
at one time a Disciple retirement community. He has found time to go fishing, go to the cabin
(where he lives with the “catch of his life”) and to be with all the children, grand children and great
grandchildren!

As busy as he was when he was working, he always had time for his two daughters. Whether the family was going on trips, teaching the girls to fish or playing catch he has always been there to help them, advise them when asked (well not always asked) or just needed help. Those two daughters grew up and got married. He officiated at both of their weddings and helped his daughter with two of the
grandchildren’s weddings, next year a third one.

Then he got be a grandfather. He went to work bragging about his 5 grandchildren. Ask the grandchildren and they will tell you it was always special when they got to visit or
have Granddad (and Grammy) come and visit. Trips to the lake ,rides on the boat, visiting the Indiana State fair, rides on the John Deer and even cutting a softball diamond in the grass…I guess he thought ….”They will come!!”

Funny or corny as he may be, he will make you laugh and then make an important point or give support to you in any way possible.

The best thing he did was marrying Shirley which allowed two daughters to have a wonderful father and their husbands to have a tremendous father-in –law, which meant 5 grandchildren (Jason, Emily, Ryan, Megan and Will) have a special person called “Granddad” and Nicholas, Brayden and Blake to have a Great –Granddad.

So for father, granddad and great granddad of the year for 2011 it is a special privilege for me to say that this recognition and honor goes to Bill Barnes. We all love you Granddad!

Congratulations, Bill. You are a wonderful example for all of us and a deserving recipient of the 2011 Father of the Year Award!

Newsbrief: PRC

2011-06-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

On Saturday the PRC will have its next meeting.

Don’t know what that abbreviation stands for? Don’t worry! That’s what this Newsbrief Article is for!

The PRC is the Pastor Relations Committee here at First Christian Church Scottsdale. This is a small group of committed folks in the life of our church who have been tasked with one single responsibility – Monitoring the relationship between the Pastor and the Congregation in order to keep it healthy, vibrant, and strong.

We have a terrific PRC. The members are Scott Eubanks, Beth Porter, Jeanne Thompson, and Marilyn White. See, I told you, it’s a terrific group!

We have regular quarterly meetings to sit down, check in, and talk about what is going on in the life of our church. There are two questions that set the agenda for the PRC:

1) What are you excited about at the church right now?

2) What challenges do you see at the church right now?

We’ll be meeting this Saturday at 1PM in the Library. I hope you can keep us in prayer as we undertake our meeting and I’d love it if you would consider those same two questions that we’ll be discussing at the PRC Meeting. What are you excited about right now at FCC Scottsdale? What challenges do you see for us?

We’ve got plenty of wonderfully exciting things going on at the church, and we worship an awesome God who will help steer us through whatever challenges might come our way.

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Genesis 1

2011-06-14T16:36:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we get to look back in order to look forward.

Sounds silly at best and whiplash inducing at worst, right?

But that is the journey of faith. We look back to the stories of our faith that they might be able to tell us who we, and when those lessons really take hold they propel us into the fullness of the possibilities that God is preparing all around us.

This week when we look back, we look WAY back. All the way back, in fact. To the beginning.

Our scripture text week will be the first Genesis Creation Story. The rather oddly annotated Genesis 1:1-2:4a -- it just flows off the tongue, doesn't it?

The First Creation Story in Genesis (yes, there are two of them and they are both lovely and amazing) tells us about the sheer awesome of God...and then amazingly enough tells us that we are created in God's image. Imagine that! A God with the power to order the universe, separate light from darkness, and oversee all of the wondrous things in creation managed to manufacture little old you and me in God's own image.

And what's more, God said that creation was good. Every single step along the way. The first day's work? It was good. The second day's work? It was good. You and me and the elephants and the seahorses and the broccoli florets? It was good! In fact, you'll see a little reference to what God had to say about the whole thing when God finished up the sixth day and looked around at everything that was there. I'll give you a hint. It is not only good. In fact, it is even better.

Come join us on Sunday to find out what I mean!

Oh, and as an added bonus, you'll get to see how a Chia Pet fits into the whole story. No really! How is that for incentive?!? See you Sunday!

After Pentecost

2011-06-14T16:22:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic Sunday at First Christian Church Scottsdale!

Everyone looked resplendent in red, the sanctuary was beautifully decked out, and balloons were flying!

That's right, balloons.

There are two things that I knew people were going to remember about Pentecost Sunday this year:
1) That we flew helium-filled balloons clear up to the ceiling of the sanctuary!
2) Melissa's delicious homemade, gourmet cupcakes at Fellowship Hour!

Trust me, it takes a lot of pressure off the sermon when you already know that memories will be made elsewhere in the service!

Our Worship Committee was hard at work behind the scenes making sure that those memories were going to be made. I'm forever indebted to them and want to take a moment to thanks Carrie (our chair), Dorothy (our decorating leader), Sandi, Daryl, and Kendra for making everything happen from candles to balloons, to red vestments, and even acolytes!

Oh, and Melissa, thanks for letting me bring home some extra cupcakes. They were just as big a hit at home as they were in the Fellowship Hall!

Newsbrief: Pentecost

2011-06-14T14:38:00.001-07:00

When it comes to defining some of the often indefinable words and expressions of our faith I have a favorite resource I turn to.

It is called “Wishful Thinking” by theologian, humorist, and Christian minister Frederick Buechner. With a mixture of whimsy and abiding faith he often spells out the vocabulary of our faith with a clarity and purpose that few others offer.

Plus, the book is also only 126 pages long, which also helps!

For the definition of “Holy Spirit” here is what Buechner writes:

The word spirit has come to mean something pale and shapeless, like an unmade bed. School spirit, the American spirit, the Christmas spirit, the spirit of ’76, the Holy Spirit – each of these points to something you know is supposed to get you to your feet cheering, but which you sometimes can’t rise to…

Like its counterparts in Hebrew and Greek, the Latin word spiritus originally meant breath (as in expire, respiratory, and so on), and breath is what you have when you’re alive and don’t have when you’re dead. Thus spirit = breath = life, and aliveness and power of your life, and to speak of your spirit (or soul) is to speak of the power of life that is in you. When your spirit is unusually strong, the life in you unusually alive, you can breathe it out into other lives, become literally in-spiring…

God also has a spirit – is Spirit, says the Apostle John (4:24). Thus God is the power of the power of life itself, has breathed and continues to breathe himself into his creation. In-spires it.

I hope to see you this Pentecost Sunday (remember to wear something red!) as we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and God’s abiding presence in our lives.

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: Pentecost

2011-06-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday is Pentecost! Come join us as we celebrate the promised gift of the Holy Spirit!

This Sunday's sermon will build on two scripture readings that are often pitted at odds against each on Pentecost Sunday.

The first is the story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11:1-9. It details the ways in which God mixed up the languages of the world when people decided to build a tower ostensibly to storm the gates of heaven. The typical lesson from this text is that diversity is bad and God muddled up the languages of the world to punish us...but I'm not so certain that it best take on the subject. Particularly because of...

...the Pentecost Story that we find in Acts 2:1-21! Here we find the Disciples of Jesus gathered in one place when the Holy Spirit comes to them in a rush of wind and through tongues of flame. Quite an appeareance! Yet that isn't the most amazing part of the scriptural account. No, the most amazing part is that when the Disciples speak people from all over the world hear them as if their were speaking their own native language. Suddenly the Holy Spirit has brought the blessing of understanding and the gift of diversity and difference is formally and fully made known!

Come join us this Sunday (and don't forget to wear something red!) as we celebrate the Blessing of Understanding, the Gift of Diversity, and the Power of the Holy Spirit. See you there!

peace,

Rev. Brian

Congratulations Coolwater!

2011-06-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday saw the Dedication of the church building for Coolwater Christian Church.

It was an amazing event and truly a blessing to be there in Coolwater's own building for the Dedicatory Worship Service.

Rev. David Shirey preached up a storm (and grinned from ear to ear during most of the service!). Their Building Chair Ron Nierman brough words of greeting from all of the Architects, Design Group, City Officials, and Subcontractors who worked so hard to construct such a beautiful church building (and challenged the church to complete the next phase in the building project within five years!). Our Regional Minister Denny Williams led us in prayer. There was beautiful music, much rejoicing, a sumptuous dinner that followed and all the while that space was filled with the hopes and dreams, promises and passions that can only come from our God of love and life.

What a great day. Congratulations Coolwater. We look forward to continuing to journey with you in ministry and bearing witness to the wondrous things that are yet in store for you all in the service of Christ!

For more on Coolwater Christian Church, visit their website at www.CoolwaterChurch.org.

Newsbrief: Joplin (Part 2)

2011-06-02T10:00:00.001-07:00

Rev. Brandon Gilvin is the Associate Director for Week of Compassion. As I've mentioned before he is a good friend of mine since seminary and was one of my groom's men at my wedding.

Last week Brandon's calling through Week of Compassion sent him to Joplin, Missouri to provide a pastoral presence to those so deeply impacted by the devastation of the tornado that tore through town and to help coordinate relief efforts.

On Wednesday June 1, 2011 Brandon sent out this message:

It had barely been a week since the tornado hit Joplin, MO. Josh Baird, Director of Disciples Volunteering, and I arrived in Joplin around 10 on Monday morning and found our way to First Christian Church. In the heart of Joplin’s downtown, First Christian was not hit by the tornado, and had generously opened its doors as an emergency refuge immediately following the storm’s passing. Since then, the church’s family life center had been transformed into a center of activity, where donations for the battered but resilient community are collected, sorted, and distributed. We quickly found Fay Blevins, the pastor at First Christian; Jill Cameron Michel, the minister at South Joplin Christian Church; Tyler Whipkey, her student associate; and Michael Weinman, Minister to the Ozark Lakes Area of the Mid-America Region, and gathered together in Fay’s office for a time of prayer, discussion, and brainstorming. It was, as it has been every time I’ve made some sort of pastoral visit following a disaster, humbling.

Jill, Tyler, Fay, and Mike all shared with us the things they had seen over the last week. It was incredible to sit and listen to four pastors, whose words were filled with both worry and wisdom, speak to what it means to minister in a time of such devastation and what a long-term recovery might look like, how to develop local partnerships for responding over the long term, and how we, as Week of Compassion and Disciples Volunteering, could be supportive and help facilitate connections with the wider church and resources for long-term recovery. We spent time with a few church members who, like the pastors, spoke of a deep love for their community as they described the ways they were pitching in—whether that meant searching through debris for loved ones and strangers, or whether that meant organizing the volunteers who showed up with baked goods, bottled water, and bags of clothes to donate.

Then we headed out. The devastation was incredible. “Matchsticks and splinters,” were the words that Josh used to describe the houses shredded by the tornado’s vast path of destruction: a path that worked its way northeast from the southwestern edge of Joplin. Some houses were still standing, and I saw on many of them the haunting spray-painted symbols that I first encountered in areas of New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The quick tags left by rescue crews to mark what crew has searched which house and what--or who--they have found tell brief, quick, sometimes painful stories:

“3 Bodies Found”
“2 Animals Safe”
“All Clear.”

As we traveled streets once wooded, now bare, and I saw those—and other markings...

“God Bless Joplin”
“Thank You!”
and a simple
“Rebuild”

...my mind went back to the Shema, perhaps the central prayer in morning and evening prayers in Judaism, recorded in Deuteronomy 6:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Driving around and seeing response teams and volunteers from all over the country, made up of everyone from Mennonites to Muslims, I began to conflate the sacred words of covenant and care found in the Torah and written on one’s doorpost with the words cast across brick and plywood in Joplin, because amidst all that destruction, those symbols and spontaneous outpourings of hope and care seemed prayerful. There was something sacred about that spray paint.

We made our way to South Joplin Christian Church, which stood at the northern limit of the storm’s path. South Joplin had lost a roof and sustained significant damage, but was a flurry of activity as the restoration crew provided by their insurance company gutted rooms, pulled up carpet, and made plans for repair. In a Sunday School room, scrawled on a blackboard for what must have been a lesson on the Psalms just hours before the tornado hit, were the words “O GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD; CALL ON HIS NAME”

An unintended but serendipitous prayer for Joplin. Gratitude and hope amidst tragedy. Resilience marked in spray paint and chalk.

Thanks, indeed, to God.

--Brandon

Last week we made an appeal to the members of FCC Scottsdale to help raise funds for our sister church, First Christian Church Joplin (it is the church where our own Sandi DeFeo grew up), as they serve as a primary response station for their community. I'm proud to say that we raised over $1200 and are sending those funds along with our prayers and well wishes for this community.

Let us continue to keep everyone impacted by this terrible disaster in our thoughts and prayers. Let us lift up those who lost loved ones, lost their homes, lost their possessions, lost their sense of safety and wellbeing. Likewise let us lift up all of those, like FCC Joplin, Week of Compassion, and countless others who are helping to respond to the disaster day by day and week by week.

peace,
Rev. Brian

Whiteboard: The Ascension

2011-06-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

This Sunday in worship we'll celebrate Christ's Ascension.

After Christ's earthly ministry, after his healings and teachings, after his miracles, after his death on the cross, after his resurrection from the grave, and after his resurrection appearance to the Disciples and first believers...after all those things Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father in Heaven.

Yet his earthly ministry was not vacated. Instead, it falls squarely on his believers still alive and at work in the world to be the very Body of Christ active and engaged in living out his ministry.

What a responsibility!
What an opportunity!
What a calling!
What a great reason to come to worship!

Come gather with us this Sunday as build our worship service around the text from Acts 1:6-14 and celebrate the power of Christ that is still at work in the world today.

Newsbrief: Tornado Relief

2011-06-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

First Christian Church Joplin

Sometimes the national news hits close to home.

Such is the case with the tornado that ripped through Joplin, Missouri earlier this week devastating a small community in the southern part of that state.

You see, my niece and nephew spend the bulk of their summer vacation in Joplin with their father. As soon as we heard about the tornado my wife and I scrambled to find out if the twins were safe (they were, fortunately this was one of the last weekends they were scheduled to be with their mother, my sister-in-law, in St. Louis).

Within a couple of hours Week of Compassion had sent around an e-mail blast informing everyone of the devastation from the tornado and of their roll in working with churches and relief agencies right there on the ground in Joplin. The message in that e-mail blast was simple: “What can you do to help? Three things: Pray, Pay, and Stay.” That three word slogan means that what folks need most right now are your prayers, your financial contributions to relief agencies and as strange as it sounds to stay away for the time being. On that last one, it turns out the last thing that Joplin needs right now is teams of unorganized volunteers pouring into the community. The time will come for volunteers, but right now they simply need skilled professionals and organized teams doing the heavy lifting. Week of Compassion has a special fund set-up to benefit the victims of all the tornadoes that have ravaged the US already this year, click here to learn more and to give. So we pray, pay, and stay.

But sometimes the news hits closer to our church home too, and this is one of those cases. You see, our sister church First Christian Church Joplin was largely spared by the storm. They are presently serving as a primary response center in Joplin. FCC Joplin is also the church where our Vice Moderator Sandi DeFeo grew up and was baptized. So we have a connection. Sandi has been in touch with their pastor, Rev. Fay Blevins, and has made arrangements to make financial donations directly to the church for their local relief efforts. It is a unique opportunity for us to directly support one of our sister churches.

So if you feel moved to make a donation then there are two options. You can donate to Week of Compassion and designate your gift for tornado relief

knowing that the funds will go to benefit those throughout the country who have been impacted by storms. Or you can give directly to First Christian Church Joplin knowing that your donation will go straight to one of our sister churches that is reaching out in the midst of the recovery in southern Missouri. We’ll be taking up that special collection for FCC Joplin this coming Sunday. Simply make your checks out to FCC Scottsdale (we’ll be collecting the funds here then dispersing them) and make sure to mark your donation for Fund 1034 “Joplin Tornado Relief”.

Whiteboard: Feed my sheep

2011-05-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

We have one of my favorite encounters in all of scripture this week. It is filled with forgiveness and challenge, grace and action. There is so much going on in this Resurrection Encounter that I seem to find something new every single time I read it.

Here is the picture for this week...

The scripture for this Sunday comes from John 21:9-19. In it, Jesus appears once more to the Disciples. Again he shares a meal with him, only this time they recognize him immediately. None of that "unrecognized stranger" business like in the Road to Emmaus this week.

After they share the meal Jesus has a question for Peter. Then he asks it again. Then he asks it again.

What is going on with the repetition? And what does this shepherding language have to do with anything? And where does Peter go from there?

Come join us this coming Sunday at First Christian Church Scottsdale as dive deep into this marvelous text and see what word God has in store for us!

Three Things from Administrative Council

2011-05-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

Administrative Council had their regularly scheduled meeting this past Sunday, May 15 after worship. Here are the "Three Things You Should Know" from that meeting:

1) We formally approved Al Beasley, Jessie Jones, and Daryl Marinkovich as our three General Assembly Delegates and named Jeanne Thompson as our fourth delegate pending approval from the Regional Office.
(UPDATE: In the two days since our meeting we have verified that our church is eligible to have a fourth delegate. Congratulations to Jeanne who gets to vote now!)

2) The Church Growth Task Force and the Structure Team are moving ahead and making good progress.

3) Big things are happening with the ways that we reach out to one another and to the world: We are expanding our presence with Global Ministries to support our brothers and sisters throughout the globe AND looking into revamping our In-Reach program to support our own church members in times of need.

On the Whiteboard: May 15, 2011

2011-05-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't help myself this week. I had to draw a cartoon sheep

With a sermon title like "Feeling Sheepish" and two familiar scripture readings like these I pretty much had to, right?

Our first scripture reading is probably the most well known passage in the Bible, Psalm 23. Its beautiful promise and wondrous imagery is captured in the opening line, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

The second scripture reading continues on the same theme in John 10:1-18 where Jesus declares for all who will follow him, "I am the good shepherd."

So, uh, I guess I could have put a shepherd up on the Whiteboard this week, but lets be honest, drawing a sheep is a lot more fun...and it easier on the artist to!

See you on Sunday!

Global Ministries: MMI Training

2011-05-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday I was one of five members of First Christian Church Scottsdale to attend the Ministry and Mission Interpreters (MMI) Training down in Casa Grande. The Arizona Region sponsored this Global Ministries event and it was terrific! Churches from all over Arizona gathered to learn more about Global Ministries and how we are already a part of their mission and what ways we can become even further involved in the good work they are doing on behalf of the Kingdom of God!

A quick word of back-story: Global Ministries is the common witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ responsible for nurturing relationships with international partners on behalf of Disciples and the UCC.

The MMI Training The interpreters are the extended staff of Global Ministries, joining our partners in the US and across the world. The purpose of the MMI Training is to create a ripple effect of raising awareness and passion for mission in the local church by training others to tell the stories and use the resources of Global Ministries.

Several very tangible things are going to come out of this training (Global Ministries Sunday in the fall, new updates on our weekly prayer list, new mission partners to work with, etc). Stay tuned for all the good news coming from Global Ministries...and be sure to check out their excellent website at www.globalministries.org

Here are a handful of pictures from the event:

Al Beasley is comissioned as a Ministry and Mission Interpreter by Bob Shebeck the
Global Ministries Executive for Mission Interpretation and Constituency Relationships

Cecile Duhnke receives communion from Denny Williams (Arizona Regional Minister) and

Manuel Tovar (President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Mexico)

Me, Bob Shebeck, Al Beasley, and Cecile Duhnke posing next to the Global Ministries display

Newsbrief: From the GMP

2011-05-05T10:52:00.003-07:00

I’m going to turn over this space to our denomination’s General Minister and President, the Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins.

This week she used her blog to talk about the death of Osama bin Laden. Her reflections capture some of what I’ve been wrestling with since the news became public, and I thought some of you might be wrestling with the same things. So I wanted to share her pastoral, prophetic words with you all.

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian

Life, Hope and Love

By Sharon Watkins on 5/4/2011 11:10 AM

The death of Osama Bin Laden gives rise to conflicting emotions. There’s a kind of relief – even gladness – that he’s finally out of the picture. There is a sense of completion that a goal, long set, is now accomplished - maybe that’s partly where the celebrations have come from. There’s renewed sadness as memories of 9/11 come flooding back - I can’t imagine what it’s like for the people who lost loved ones in the attacks, who live with these memories every single day. There’s renewed gratitude for the people who were the first responders on 9/11. Gratitude for those who stepped up to answer their nation’s call to respond in the various ways, right or wrong, our leaders have felt necessary.

But there’s also a troubled sense that violent death is not cause for celebration. Bin Laden’s life was itself a testimony to the devastation that fear and hate bring when they overcome the forces of life and hope. If I am honest, I have to admit that I resonate with the decision to search him out. But I also know that violence begets violence, and though his death brings a kind of closure to a decade-long search, it will bring its own retribution. The cycle of violence is likely to continue. Others will lose their lives before this tale is completely told.

Maybe that’s ultimately in part why Jesus told us to love our enemies. Not just for the principle of the matter, but also because in practice, hate will circle back and strike at us again.

In the midst of these conflicting emotions, there is the reality that we can choose which ones we act on. Jesus witnessed to the power of love and life. He brought his message into a violent and repressive empire. He expected his followers to resist evil with all their strength – but not by adopting evil’s methods of fear and hate. He called his followers to love at all times and to call upon the power of love to overcome evil, thereby being the sign posts of God’s empire of healing, hope and wholeness.

I understand that Jesus’ way is impossibly idealistic. But there is an idealism of violence that should be recognized as well. It was hate and violence that created Bin Laden in the first place. New instances of destruction and loss will result from his violent death. The relief and rejoicing of the moment will give way to sorrow another day.

So I wonder if, in the midst of the relief and the reflection, there can also be some renewed commitment to Jesus’ way of love and to God’s reign of wholeness. Not in a soft way, but in a tough, overcoming evil way. I wonder if we can take this moment to re-commit to becoming experts in using life-giving, peace-making techniques to overcome fear and hate. Even in our own communities can we seek out those who some might consider our enemies and learn how to treat them with love?

I cannot honestly say today that I grieve Osama Bin Laden’s death. Even so I am grieving. That in the life of Bin Laden and in his death, the ways of violence and death, for a moment, triumphed over the ways of Jesus. It is my prayer that this moment can become the moment where we make up our minds to be extremists for the powers of life, hope and love, where we recommit to being a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.

Whiteboard: Road to Emmaus

2011-05-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

On the third Sunday of Easter we continue with the Resurrection Experiences of Christ's first followers.

This Sunday's Gospel reading is another one of those mysterious, "They don't recognize Jesus at first" texts. Two of Jesus' disciples are on their way to Emmaus disheartened and taking stock of the recent events (Christ has been crucified, the woman have visited the empty tomb and shared their testimony). Suddenly they realize that there is a stranger traveling with him. The disciples share the news of Jesus' death and then this stranger (who is Christ the Lord!) teaches them about all the things that have happened and their reason for occurring beginning all the way back with the prophets.

Yet somehow they still do not see him!

It isn't until they share a meal together and Christ took the bread, blessed it,broke it, and gave it to them (sound familiar?) that their eyes are open and they realize the presence of Christ in their midst.

It is an extraordinary story from Luke 24:13-35 and it will serve as the central focus of our worship service this coming week. See you Sunday!

Newsbrief: Thank You!

2011-04-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

There are so many people to thank.

And I’ll do my best to thank them all!

Last week was a truly wonderful time in our church, and there were so many folks working so hard to make it happen. I want to take a moment and say thank you to everyone who helped make Holy Week and Easter Sunday so very special. There are surely some names that I will miss, but please know that I appreciate everything that everyone did to make it all happen. Ready? Here we go!

Thank you to our youth who lead the Palm Processional to kick-off Palm Sunday (coming off their overnight stay to cap off the Prayer Vigil no less!) and to their advisors for helping pull it off. Thank you to all of our readers for the Passion Narrative – Al, Mike, Judy, Bob, Charlie, Patty, Marilyn, Carrie, Monica, and Sandi.

Thank you to DWM for hosting the potluck dinner on Maundy Thursday and to Kay for bringing the deviled eggs (always a favorite of mine!). Thank you to the Elders for leading us through the Service of Tenebrae so powerfully – Julie, Carrie, Al, Monica, Mike, Judy, and Patti.

Thank you to everyone involved in all of the special music during Holy Week – the Chancel Choir, the Praise Band, the Maundy Thursday Trio (Julie, Sandi, Nancy), the Easter Brass, and especially Doug for pulling it all together (and writing all of the Brass parts!).

Thank you to the Decorating Crew who made all things beautiful and to Dorothy for leading the charge with a whole team of volunteers. Thank you to the Worship Committee (Carrie, Sandi, Dorothy, Bob, and Don) for helping me to organize the services and plot out how everything would come together. Thank you to Janie for doing double duty in the office to pull off the extra worship services (and for working the lights on Maundy Thursday). Thank you to all of our Sound Board Operators, Liturgists, and Presiding Elders. Thank you to Carrie for working so hard behind the scenes to make sure that we had communion all set up and taken care of. Thank you to the Easter Egg Hunt organizers and to everyone who donated eggs and candy (I think Henry ended up with most of it!).

Most of all, thank you to everyone who joined us in worship!

It was a real thrill for me to spend my very first Holy Week and Easter with you all…and I’m looking forward to many, many more over the years!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian