The Chalice

CONNECTION
A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK

Vol. 3 No. 7 March 3, 2011

Spiritual Pruning
By Rev. Chris Shorow, Senior Minister

As I write, The house will look pretty bare soon That’s what the season of Lent
there is a without all that tree growth around. It is all about. As we enter the 40 day
crew at may be painful to look at today, however, preparation for Easter beginning on Ash
my house I know it’s for the best. It will make for Wednesday, March 9, we are entering a
trimming healthier trees in the future and the period of “spiritual pruning.” Traditionally
some of the pruning will help them to grow. I felt the we give up something for that time to
trees in our same way about the trees that were cut mark our spiritual discipline. But it doesn’t
yard. I can’t down at the church, but it looks so much have to be giving up something, it can
be there to better now, I realize that the initial cutting be any spiritual discipline that helps us
watch, as was important. to grow—like picking up a new habit of
the trimming makes me nervous. I grew Jesus talked about pruning. He knew reading scripture, praying, reaching out
up in Oregon, where trees are plentiful that cutting back was essential to the future to someone else, or helping a neighbor.
and somewhat sacred. Although there are of the plant. The dead part had to be cut Consider how you may use this Lenten
many tree farms, we didn’t take the cutting away to allow for new growth. And he season to grow spiritually. And pray for
down of trees lightly. So when they said compared it to our spiritual lives. We must my trees!
we had to “take out a tree,” I winced. cut out some things in our lives to allow
for new growth.

The Season of Lent:

March 9—April 23, 2011
Lenten Bible Study and Devotions Available
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection.
Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time
for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were
instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days
of Lent, we imitate Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days.

The General Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are

inviting all Disciples on a journey for the 40 Days of Lent. Two special
opportunities to deepen your faith and further understand the work and
witness of our General Ministries have been created.

You can sign-up to receive a daily Lenten devotion, story or prayer in your email, beginning March 9! You can also download a
Lenten Bible study written by Dr. Richard Lowery. Log on to fccedmond.org/lent to sign up for the daily devotionals or to download
a PDF copy of the Bible study. Additional copies of the Bible study available at the Welcome Center.

Dr. Lowery is an adjunct professor of Hebrew Bible at Lexington Theological Seminary. Lowery is married to the General Minister
and President, Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins. He has taught courses Biblical Studies at Phillips University, Yale Divinity School, and
served 17 years as Professor of Hebrew Bible at Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa, OK. He presently lives in Indianapolis where he
works in research, writing, and teaching.
Summer Church Camp is filled with fun activities, Bible study, and adventure to build
friendships and memories that last a lifetime.
First Christian offers partial scholarships to member campers. Campers register for
camps based on GRADE COMPLETED by June 2011. To learn more, including camp
prices, early bird discounts, and for a registration form go to www.fccedmond.org/camp or
ask Greg, Mark, Anna Lisa the next time you are at church!

The following camps are available:

n Chi Rho 1 (grades 6-8) June 6-10 n Discovery (grades 1-3) June 24-26 n CYF (grades 9-12) June 27-July 2
n Junior 1 (grades 4-5) June 27-July 1 n Chi Rho 2 (grades 6-8) July 18-23 n Junior 2 (grades 4-5) July 18-22

What Are You Doing This Summer?

Save
Consider These Opportunities
First Christian Church Family Camp
The
Estes Park, Colorado - June 26-July 2, 2011
Sign up NOW for FCC’s Family Camp! There are just a few spots left for this
Date!
adventure - June 26 thru July 2, 2011. To sign up - drop by the table in the rotunda on
Sunday morning and pick up an info packet, or log on to fccedmond.org/familycamp
Questions? Contact Susan Huffer at 340-1619. Golf Tournament
General Assembly of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Friday, May 13
Nashville, Tennessee - July 9-13
Disciples will gather for the 2011 General Assembly in Nashville, TN, July 9-13, with the
Kickingbird Golf Course
theme “Tell It!” based on Deuteronomy 6:1-12, reminding Disciples to tell the Good News of
God’s healing love to world.
First Christian’s Student Ministry summer musical mission trip participants are traveling College Summer
to General Assembly, where they will learn, grow and participate in worship, sharing Internship Program
their gift of song. Rev. Greg Bunton, Mark Taylor and sponsors will also participate in the applications being
Assembly activities and come back eager to “Tell It!” accepted through
General Assembly offers a wide range of learning opportunities, with a special focus April 6. Get
on equipping congregations for mission and ministry, including 50 Different Resource details at www.
Groups - 1 to 2.5-hour workshops on variety topics: Justice, Leadership, Mission, Spiritual fccedmond.org/
Disciplines and Vital Congregations. Have questions about General Assembly? If you are
internship
interested in learning more about this opportunity, you can contact Rev. Chris Shorow at
[email protected] or Rev. Greg Bunton at [email protected]. You can find
detailed information about General Assembly online at www.disciples.org/ga

Save these dates for Vacation Bible School!

Monday through Thursday To volunteer, contact Courtney Moeller
June 13-16, 2011 at [email protected] or Shannon
Medley at [email protected]
This year’s theme is PandaMania -
Where God is Wild about You! VBS “Thank you for making me so
will be held in the evenings at First wonderfully complex.” Psalm 139:14
Christian & registration begins May 1st!
 Prayers of the People Happy Birthday!
3/6 Doris Dowell, Davis Ernst, Jonathan
OUR PRAYERS FOR THOSE IN THE HOSPITAL
Jones, Loree Rice, Donna Smith
Jean Barnes, Mercy; Joe Samuels, OU-Edmond; Jim Hayes,
Baptist 3/7 Forrest Danley, Beau Schwabe,
Warren Shepherd
THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Don Barnes, Eric Koegel, George Gilbreath, Larry Scott, 3/8 Robert Fields, Henry Pearce, Jackie
Joan Grant, Phil Fraim, Bob Bennett, Ola Drennon, Teddi Long-Owen, Bob Earl, Jeri Privette, Jesse Raines
Brigham, Mary Lou Womble, Jeff Stephens, Larry Griffin, Wayne Wilson (Tracy 3/9 Becky Adams, Teresa Fritz
Turner’s dad), Kay Burks, Rose Marie McKee, Bart Rodr, Ralph Greenwood (Jackie Combs, Matt Holliman, Tara
Stafford’s dad), Ann Douthitt (Duke Douthitt’s mom), Sharon Luton (Susan Black’s
Linville, Aubrey McClendon
cousin), Ed Berry, Hank Thomas (Randy Thomas’ brother)
3/10 Braxton Coil, Alicia Galyon, Vicki
OUR SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS To Jamie Gable and Jennifer Schmitz in the passing Griffin, Dane Malzahn, Brooke
of their grandmother, Bernice Bolling, on February 26. Services were held Wednesday, Medley, Dene Smith
March 2 in Midwest City. 3/11 Barbara Pope, Pam Timmons,
Rachel VanOsdol, Pat Wathen
CELEBRATING THE GIFT OF A NEW LIFE Parker Eloice Whitney, born February 23 to 3/12 Randy Adams, Florine Shirley
Blake & Lauren Whitney of Dallas, TX. Proud Grandparents are Billy & Jan Harrison. 3/13 Brad Bowers, Bill Parks

1905 Cookbook
Food for Body and Soul
The Edmond Christian Church Ladies Aid
Society compiled their favorite recipes
in 1905. One hundred years later, Judy
Steiger Howard was rummaging through
a bin in an antique store and came across
that recipe book.
Those recipes and many of the women’s
stories live on in Howard’s new book,
“1905 Cookbook - Food for Body and Soul”.
Hey Kids - Come Join In! This cookbook makes a great gift for
anyone passionate about food, family and
Our children ages Pre K – 5th grade will lead us in worship on Children’s Sunday, fellowship with heartwarming pioneer
March 27th. If your child is interested in participating be sure to bring them to music stories, 200 vintage photos and 300 tanta-
rehearsals on Wednesdays, March 6 and 23. lizing recipes.
Howard believes in giving back and
Schedule:
because our church ladies became the
5:00 K-5th Grade Music 5:30 Pre K Music inspiration for her - she is offering these
6:00 Dinner 6:30-7:30 Rehearse books for $14.95 with all the proceeds
Questions? Call or email Anna Lisa 341-3544, ext. 14 or [email protected] going to Breakfast on Boulevard.
If you are interested, please see Karla
Mahan or Kay Mades.
 “The Economics
of Happiness”
Worship Premiere Film Screening
at First Christian Friday, March 11, 2011 - 7:30 pm
8:15, 9 & 11am Meinders School of Business Kerr
McGee Auditorium, OCU
March 6, 2011
NW 27th St. & McKinley Avenue
Message: Rev. Chris Shorow
A new film, “The Economics of Happi-
Scripture: John 13:2b-6 ness,” says our spiritual satisfaction, our
sense of security, our joy, derive from our
March 13, 2011 deep connections with others and our natu-
Message: Rev. Chris Shorow ral environment. It also states globalization
Scripture: Psalm 147:1-6 destroys security by undermining com-
munity, subordinating local connections to
the dictates of distant profits and creating dissatisfaction by replacing local cultures with
consumer culture. View the movie trailer online www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org
The Chalice CONNECTION Vicky Rose, daughter of Bernie and Joyce McNickle, has helped assemble an out-
Shelley Regan, Editor standing panel to spark provocative conversation and dialogue following the film screen-
ing. Rev. Chris Shorow will be part of the panel. Other invited panelist include a banker, a
[email protected]
physician, a sociologist and an expert on finance. This wide range of perspectives should
Read News Online ensure a lively discussion. Each panelist will offer a brief comment on the film, leaving
@ fccedmond.org/news time for dialogue among the panelists and Q&A from the audience.
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