It's Not About the Numbers........,

   

Sitting in church last Sunday, I noticed that sickness and
the threat of bad weather had caused a few empty pews in our
sanctuary.  We all have our “every Sunday seats”
and it’s pretty easy to tell who is there and who is not
for whatever reason, causing the numbers in church to be
down.

My son and his family attend a different church
and I always ask him how many were in his church service and
he always tells me, “It’s not about the
numbers.”  He and his wife have helped to start a new
restore and recovery group in their church. After many
planning sessions, their first meeting was held last Tuesday
night.  The next morning, of course I asked him how
many were there, and of course he answered, “It’s
not about the numbers."

Our congregation can fund-raise like no other. Between
keeping our general fund afloat, the new church building
fund and the Outreach Committee planning some local outreach
offerings we always have our hand out. So it is truly all
about the numbers for us.

We have a young family that has been attending our church
regularly for the last six months or so. Their  four year
old daughter was timid and didn’t want to join the other
kids during children’s chat at the front of the sanctuary
when they first started attending, no coaxing would change
her mind.  As the weeks went on her dad began carrying
her to the front of the sanctuary and sitting in the first
pew with her until she was ready to join the group. Long
story short, she now gives her dad a bye kiss and is the
first one down the aisle to join the kids, even speaking in
the microphone now.

For us, the most important number should be 1….one little
girl who is learning during children’s chat is what being a
child of God is all about.

Will I continue to ask my son how many were in the Tuesday
night meetings?  You know I will, it’s genetic! But
yes, Mike, I get it!
 Submitted by Patty Burks

Our Memories Make Us Hopeful!

The holidays bring forth a sense of nostalgia for most of us. We reminisce about Christmases past and all of the wonderful times we’ve had with family and friends. It is our cherished traditions that make us look forward to a continuation of those customs in each new holiday season.

Just as we have family Christmas traditions and fond memories of family and friends, we also relish the awesome times we have shared together as the congregation of the First Christian Church during the Advent season. Several people have shared their memories with me in recent weeks and their words have comforted me.

This year, especially, we look forward with great anticipation. Just as it was when we prepared to decorate our borrowed sanctuary for Advent, we were uncertain of how our place of worship would look. We had the decorating of our old sanctuary down to a science, knowing where each piece of greenery was to be displayed and where every other Christmas adornment was to be placed. However, when the time came to embellish our current sanctuary, though unsure, so many members came forth to lend hands and make our new home a wonderful place to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It was when we had placed that final piece of greenery and that last of thirty nativities in the windows of the Presbyterian Church that we knew we had continued what was most important about our Advent preparations. We had created a beautiful place to welcome those who wanted to worship our newborn king just as we had done across the street!

 Now, as we look back on the past several Sundays of the Advent season, we know that we have worshiped with honest hearts. But again, uncertainty prevails as we also look forward to our very special Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.  Again we are uncertain of how it will be in our new home. What will it be like? Will it live up to our expectations? Again, we are nostalgic about our many, many Christmas Eve worship services shared in our previous home and many have shared their fondest memories.

For some, the recollections of cantatas, bell choirs, and children’s music programs emerge as what has made the Advent season so special.  For others, it is the words of our beloved ministers from the past whose words at the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service still ring in their ears. The most popular memory shared by so many was captured in the words of John Gladson: [During one very special Christmas Eve Candlelight Service], Rev. Dan Haggard, our interim minister, looked out at all those gathered and proclaimed “What a beautiful family!”  I remember having a feeling of warmth and peace that was about much more than the beautifully-decorated sanctuary.  I felt encouraged and thankful to be a part of something so much greater than myself. That moment was especially significant, as our congregation had endured some tough times during the previous year or so.  Several of our beloved families had even left the church.  Despite all that, our church family still had much to celebrate as we gathered around Christ’s table that Christmas Eve.  I will always be grateful to Rev. Haggard for reminding us of that!

 And yet another frequently shared remembrance, also originating from one of our previous ministers, was shared by Carolyn Ahring:  I think my most fulfilling memory during the Advent season was the Candlelight Christmas Eve service that Reverend Biggs sang, “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and everyone left the sanctuary in silence.  When we got outside it had started snowing and it was absolutely beautiful and peaceful. So many of us recalled that exact night because of that beautiful tenor voice piercing the darkness from the balcony coupled with the silent exodus into the snowy twilight. It was truly a holy night!

May you also be comforted by these shared recollections. Know that we have been truly blessed to have communally experienced so many wonderful Advent seasons together as a congregation. It is those heart-warming and spiritual moments that bind us together and make us a strong and united Christian family.

Come join us on Christmas Eve for our Candlelight Service. None of us knows exactly how it will look or sound, but each of us who has been there before knows that it does not matter that we have walked across the street. We will be given the gift of love through our meaningful worship service. “Come and worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn king!”

Merry Christmas and God Bless You!
Terry Johnson

Confession By: Steve Ahring

It is hard to own your mistakes and shortcomings. It is always easier to blame the circumstances or someone else. As Christians, we are required to confess our sins and pray for forgiveness. I have always struggled with this and have often attempted to justify myself by pointing to the behavior or actions of others. However, as I have matured it has become increasingly evident that I am solely responsible for myself.

I have never been comfortable verbalizing my thoughts in conversation or in front of crowds. I get tongue-tied and the words just come out wrong. Therefore, I am committing this confession to paper and ask that you (the reader) bear witness and think no worse of me for this honest exposition.

1. Lord - As a young man, I was always on the look for more, never satisfied. Always seeking a thrill but constantly bored.
2. I had money, yet was poor. I was strong but oh so weak. Free as the breeze, yet slave to desire.
3. I sought revenge for every wrong and demanded respect yet gave little in return.
4. I was alone in a crowd – never trusting anyone.
5.  Believing in God but not allowing that belief to get in my way.
6.  Oh so smart, yet so dumb. How do you teach someone who knows all?
7. My philosophy was, "Life is short – party on." Now I understand that a life well lived is eternal. I was lost but now am found.
8. I have transformed in spite of myself. Jesus Christ, through love, compassion, and truth has triumphed in my life and I rejoice in this fact.

The key for me was recognition of something far greater than myself. In Christ, I have obtained contentment and peace with myself and my place in the world. I have discovered that the secret to a happy and rewarding life is helping others. I remain far from perfect but have become a better person through the grace of God.

In Matthew 7:7, Jesus tells us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." If you are seeking answers, or would just like to share fellowship with some good people, The First Christian Church in Girard, Kansas invites you to join us for worship at 10:45 A.M. on Sunday mornings.

TOGETHER

Psalm 133:1  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

 In life we are always going to encounter times of trouble or face challenges.  My mother once told me she was the happiest when she and my father were really struggling financially because, during those times, they were working together to make their life better.  I think I remembered her saying this because, at the time, this statement did not make sense.  As a young teenager, I could not understand how “hard” times could be better than “easy” times.

I am no longer young and have come to understand what my mother meant. Our church has been working diligently to raise money for a new church building while we continue to also support the operations of our current ministry.  We have faced many obstacles along the way and very likely will face many more.  However, I have found it very inspiring to experience how everyone is working together to help accomplish our objective.  Although the fundraisers are a lot of work, I have enjoyed working with others towards a common goal.  I have also enjoyed seeing people inside and outside our community supporting our mission and in essence “working together” with us.

My mother’s strange statement no longer seems so odd.  That one word, together, is what makes challenging times enjoyable.  I feel like the members of our congregation are a family.  We don’t always agree, but we do value each other and enjoy spending time together.  Yes, I could worship the Lord in any church or even at home, but I would miss out on the “togetherness.”

If you would like some “together” time, visit us at The First Christian Church in Girard.

Carolyn Ahring

In Perfect Harmony

           

Colossians 3:14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

On a recent visit to my daughter and son-in-law’s in Massachusetts, we decided to travel down towards Cape Cod and partake in the cranberry harvest festival, something that had been on my bucket list for several years. As we set out on a Sunday morning when the grandkids got home from Sunday school, my focus was on the many anticipated cranberry-related events of the day—the actual harvest, the festival food booths, the multitude of New England craft exhibits, the numerous road entertainers and musicians, and the beautiful setting of the bogs.

That was, until we made our way through the Boston burbs and got out on the highway. It was at this beginning of our journey that I was struck with the true awesomeness of New England foliage in mid-October, totally catching me by surprise. Yes, I knew that the travel brochures were filled with opportunities to view the colorful landscapes of New England in the fall; and yes, I have several friends who have come home to report the beauty of such trips. However, I had been inadequately prepared for the abundant splendor of a New England autumn!

It was at this juncture that my sole purpose became capturing the most gorgeous of trees that lined the thoroughfare—those with the many shades of reds, yellows, oranges, greens, golds, browns, burgundys and everything in between. It was tricky looking ahead to select the most gorgeous trees and then being ready with camera aimed to shoot them as we passed. My photographic adventure was accompanied by my constant ooh’s and awe’s as I declared each new tree as the prettiest yet. The beauty of God’s creation was both striking and inspirational!

Later in the day, as I was sitting out in the crisp but glorious sunshine waiting for the grandkids to come down from the cranberry harvest viewing podium, I could no longer postpone reviewing my many photos from the drive that morning. I was so eager to see what I had captured during my frantic photo shoot earlier in the day…(Would the most magnificent tree be a crimson, a golden, a crisp burgundy? Would I even be able to choose a favorite?)

As I scanned over fifty snapshots from the trip, I was totally disappointed at my bounty. I KNEW I had selected only the best-of-the-best trees to capture on my camera; yet when I scrolled through the multitude of images, each and every tree was a disenchantment compared to the blazing foliage my mind’s eye had witnessed at the same time. Their likenesses were unrecognizable compared to the glorious trees I remembered and had just seen a few hours earlier.

The cranberry harvest did NOT disappoint. After saturating our day with the many sights and sounds of a New England festival, we headed to the van, beginning our journey homeward. This time, I wasn’t remotely interested in trying to capture the foliage. What I thought had been beyond beautiful showed up as mediocre looking vegetation. (I made a mental note to myself to have my vision checked when I got back to Kansas.)

Then, much to my surprise, I found myself gazing out the van window, again in amazement. The flamboyant fall foliage was more beautiful than I had even remembered or could have imagined. It was on that trip back to Boston that I relaxed and let my mind wander while looking out the window—it took the totality of the hillsides full of beautiful and harmonious trees to make up the splendid display of colors I had so enjoyed before, and a single tree by itself could not create that glorious impression.

Much like we are at First Christian Church of Girard, as individual members, we have our own value for sure, but it is when we come together as a unified congregation that we can worship, serve and glorify the Lord in an amazing way.

Join us some Sunday and see the harmonious beauty that belonging to Christ’s family creates. None of us alone is as great as all of us together.

Roaming through New England……

                        Terry

FREE POPCORN

                                                   
There is nothing like the smell of freshly popped popcorn to fill the air.  Along with the salty yellow butter that is drizzled over it when done popping, it is a treat that is hard to pass by.

Another word for smell is aroma.  The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 2:15, “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” Did you know God likes for us to be an aroma? You may think, "How can I be an aroma for Christ, I’m just one person?" 

He wants you to live like Jesus, so that others around you notice Christ in You.  When we seek to live like Christ, what a wonderful aroma for God. He loves to sense the aroma of his children living like Christ.

As you live out the aroma of Christ, people around you will notice and they may want to have some. They will see your joy and your Christ-like heart and they will want some of what you have. 

The Outreach Committee will be handing out FREE POPCORN during the Homecoming Parade this Saturday morning.  I haven’t heard where our booth will be set up along the parade route. Just follow the AROMA of the popcorn. We at FCC want you to have some of what we have.  
Patty

Pictures from Homecoming Fall Festival

Are You Ready for Some Football? By: Steve Ahring

It's that time again. The NFL and college football seasons are underway and most Americans are tuning in. The 2014 Super Bowl had a record 111.5 million viewers, making it the largest audience ever for a television event. On any given Sunday, it has been estimated that as many as 64% of all Americans tune in to at least a portion of one or more NFL games. In contrast to this football frenzy, church attendance has declined. In polling data, when asked "Have you attended church in the last seven days?" about 40% of people report that they have. But, in studies that count actual attendance in real churches, the true number is about 20% attend on a weekly basis.

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with watching football (I watch as often as I can), when contrasted with church attendance, it does say something about our societal values and priorities. After all, does watching football make you a better person?

More importantly, if parents are not attending church services, the kids don't either. That means that 75% to 80% of kids today are not hearing life's most important message. They are not learning about Christian values and ethics. In today's world, this is not only irresponsible but dangerous as well. For example, the internet is a wonderful reference and information resource. However, it is also a haven for child predators, pornography, and scam artists of every sort. In order to combat the temptation and evil present in our modern culture, we must ground ourselves and most importantly our children in Christ.

Perhaps the kindest and most generous act you could ever do for another person is to get them back into a church, any Christian Church.

With this in mind, I want to extend a personal invitation to anyone reading this post to join us in our Sunday morning worship services. The First Christian Church of Girard, Kansas is a small congregation of dedicated Christians who freely offer their hospitality and will welcome any and all who are searching for answers or looking for a church family.

For more information about the First Christian Church, please contact Reverend Doug Amend at (620) 238-1730 or revdbamend@yahoo.com