You’ve heard of Christmas in July, right! I have been known to listen to Christmas music in July. I’m not quite yet ready to decorate the sanctuary, but I am thinking about Christmas time. This Advent season, I’m planning a People’s Choice: Advent Edition sermon series. I’d like to answer your questions about Advent and Christmas during the sermons. Please send me a request for a sermon topic or question to be answered that relates to Advent or Christmas. I’m going to pick 5 of your requests/questions to preach about during the season of Advent and on Christmas Eve.
Pastor T
Elders & Deacons Schedules
All Elders & Deacons received a schedule by email for the serving schedule beginning July 18 th . Please review the schedule and email. Please let Pastor Tracy, Marie or Brenda know if you have any questions or need to change your schedule.
Donuts
I heard chatter that we’d like to have donuts and coffee on Sunday mornings. If you are interested in bringing donuts, please contact the office. Once we have a list of people who’d like to be in rotation, we’ll set a schedule and begin the practice of gathering.
Church T-shirts
If you haven’t yet picked up your shirt(s), please be sure to do so. They’re in Pastor T’s office if you’d like to come by during office hours. If you haven’t yet made a donation to the church for your shirt(s), you may do so at any time. A donation of $5 – $10 is suggested.
Pride Chairs
If you left a bag chair in our booth at Pride, we picked it up and brought it back to the church. There are 2 chairs in the Conference Room. Please pick up your chair.
A Guided Walk of Gratitude (resource offered in the Reformed Worship June 2021 edition)
Based on Philippians 4
THINGS TO KNOW
1 This activity could be done alone, in pairs, or with a group of people. You can do it with anyone of any age and adapt it to work best for you.
2 This exercise could be done on a drive, on a walk, or, with a little creativity, even from your living room chair! You can use your imagination as you “walk” through memories, scroll through pictures, or gaze out the window.
3 The purpose of this activity is to spend some time in thoughtfulness, to soak in the beauty of nature, to observe, to slow down, and to play.
4 There are no rules. Do what you want, how you want, when you want. Use the provided guide or do your own thing. Enjoy the exercise in any way that gives expression to your gratitude.
To guide you for this walk of gratitude, please download a printable copy at tinyurl.com/RW140Walk
STEP 1: BREATHING AND RHYTHM
Say: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).
As you begin your walk, practice some deep breathing to help clear your head and get your rhythm.
Take a deep breath in, holding it for two seconds, and a long exhale. Do this a few times until your steps and your breathing are in sync.
Think about these questions: How does deep breathing change how your body is feeling? What is amazing about your body?
Express gratitude for something you are feeling right now.
STEP 2: LOOKING AROUND
Say: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
As you walk along, look closely at what is around you. Look up, look down, look all around.
Here are some things you might want to try to discover. Maybe you could collect some of these things, take pictures, or just store them in your memory:
Something with seeds;
All the colors of autumn; red, orange, yellow, brown, green.
A place where some small creature might live.
A surprise where you didn’t expect it, a nest, or something moving.
Wonder about what you have seen. How will small creatures stay warm in the winter? How do those seeds find a place to grow? Why are there colors?
Express gratitude for what you have seen.
STEP 3: LISTENING
Say: “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near” (Philippians 4:5).
After a few more deep breaths, practice walking in silence and listening.
Perhaps you can hear: bird songs, a gurgle of water, a big vehicle, your own heartbeat, something that chimes, something unexpected.
Wonder about what you have heard. Why do birds sing? How do the sounds of the city mix in with the sounds of nature? Does everyone’s heartbeat sound the same?
Express gratitude for what you have heard.
STEP 4: PRAISE
Say: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).
Take more deep breaths. This time, while you breathe out, whisper, “Thank you.”
As you walk, think about or talk about some of these other things to be grateful for: people in your life, past or present, friends and family, someone older than you, someone younger than you, someone you wish you knew a bit better.
Food, your favorite food, your least favorite food, the food that makes you feel strong and healthy.
Things you are doing in school, at work, at home, as a volunteer, with friends, something you recently learned or discovered.
Express gratitude for these things.
** for all Zoom meetings, contact the office for passcodes). **
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
Please join us for Bible study on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 pm. There is an optional prayer time
at 1:45p.
ELDERS MEETING
The next Elder’s Meeting will be Tuesday, July 27th at 7:00p.
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEETING
The next Leadership Council Meeting will be Sunday, Jul 18, 2021 07:00p
Regional Board Calls Don Gillett as Regional Minister
Rev. Dr. Donald K. Gillett II has been called as the new regional minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kentucky. Rev. Dean Phelps will be completing his Transitional Regional Minister. To say thank you to Rev. Phelps, there will be a reception on Sat. July 24th from 1-3p at South Elkhorn Christian Church, 4343 Harrodsburg Rd., Lexington, KY 40513. If you cannot make the reception but want to send a card here is the address: P.O. Box 910503, Lexington, KY 40591 and we will be sure it makes it to the reception.
In honor of my dog Mo Mo’s gotcha day, I will be offering a pet blessing on Saturday, August 28th at 1 pm. I will be offering some readings, an anointing with oil, blessing charm for their collar, certificate of blessing and treats. All pets must be leashed or crated and good around other animals and kids. Please let me know if you are thinking about coming and what pet(s) you will be bringing so I can prepare treats, charms and certificates.
First Christian Church 