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The Guidepost February 3, 2010 |
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Living Free Recovery Center
(A Ministry of First Christian Church)
Car Show and Fundraiser
2nd Annual Gear Heads Car, Truck, & Bike Show
February 6 · 8 am
To show a vehicle, call Jerry at 345-0982.
Petting zoo, pony rides, demos, live band, bar-b-que, and much more!
Free to spectators!
Free cholesterol and blood pressure testing will be performed by
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February Elders' Corner
Acts 6:4 indicates that deacons were appointed to serve the widows of the church in order that the elders might devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. What an awesome responsibility and ministry! Praying for our church, for God's leading and provision through the Holy Spirit, remains our job and our passion. Weekly, we receive the praises and requests from notes left in the offering or at the welcome center. Monday, our staff prays for each of these concerns. Tuesday morning, a few gather at the church to lift each request to God again. Then, Wednesday morning, the elders gather and pray corporately for your petitions, and thank God for His answers to prayer.
God promises to build His church. Psalm 127:1 proclaims that unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. For this reason, we elders are calling out to God to make this body a church that pleases Him in every way. The times we spend in prayer lead us to trust Him more and to see His Spirit work to build the faith of His people. We are hungry for the church of the Bible, the Christianity of the New Testament in all its spiritual splendor. We are not content with anything less than the Lord raising up a godly standard against the world, the flesh, and the devil... men and women who cry out with the psalmist in Psalm 63:1-5:
O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
My lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
And in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
With singing lips my mouth will praise you.
Together, let's watch God build His church.
Don Johnson for the Elders |
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The Revolution Has Begun!
I can't believe it, but the Revolution is emerging. The movement to love, to serve, to be transformed, to be like Jesus...it is all so exciting. It was exciting enough when the Revolution was just a "Saturday" thing, but now that the elders have embraced it and asked for it to move to Sunday, it is all too humbling.
This past Saturday, we saw an early preview to the big Revolution outreach event in March. We all have heard about the March event, but we also knew that there were some needs that required attention right now. On Saturday, about 25 to 30 Revolutionaries showed up to help out a single mom with various items needing real help. We had teams of people mending fence, people cleaning up yards, people pulling out trees and trimming trees, people fixing leaky roofs. We also had teams fixing damaged plumbing, building gates, and hauling off 5 loads of trash. In addition, people were organizing rooms in her house and were providing meals for her family. These people--these Revolutionaries--ranged in age from 8 yrs old to 65, and it was a true blessing to work alongside them.
This past Saturday, my coworker building the fence with me said, "Jesus was truly pleased here today with what took place." This is the spirit of the Revolution: that we serve not with word and tongue, but in deed and truth (1John 3:18). We look forward to more projects like this where we have the opportunity to shine the love of Jesus to those in need.
-Paul Mondragon |
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Linda and Christy Gfeller, Servants of the Month
This month we want to thank Linda and Christy Gfeller for their dedication and service to God's work here in Yuma. You may not know the Gfellers, but everyone who comes to worship with us is impacted by their service. The Gfellers make sure that the communion team has all the communion trays ready to go for each of our three services every weekend. They have been doing this for many years. This mother and daughter are also active in the choir helping to lead us through song to the throne of God. It is obvious, through their service, that they do not serve in these areas to receive the recognition or thanks from people, since most of the time they do their service behind the scenes or in a group, but their service is clearly for God. They understand the importance of worship and have given of themselves again and again in order that you and I can focus on Christ. Please take a moment to pray for and thank these servants, and consider in what way you may serve God that may never be noticed by men.
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Girlfriends Italiano
Friday, February 19 * 6-8:30 pm * FCC Café
Cost: $12 per person
(Bring unchurched friends for $6 each)
Register before and after services at the kiosk in the Main Lobby.
Dinner will be catered by The Olive Garden
(lasagna, salad, and bread sticks).
Fun Activities * Girlfriend Chats * Door Prizes
The evening is designed with YOU in mind!
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The Chippie Syndrome
A story appeared in a newspaper in Galveston, Texas, about a woman and her parakeet named "Chippie." The woman was cleaning Chippie's cage with a canister vacuum cleaner. She was cleaning the bottom of the cage with no attachment on the tube, when the telephone rang. She turned her head to pick up the phone, continuing to vacuum the cage. As she said, "Hello" into the phone, she heard the horrible sound of Chippie being sucked up into the vacuum. Immediately she put down the phone, ripped open the vacuum bag, and found Chippie in there, stunned but still alive. Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him, ran into the bathroom, turned on the faucet and held the bird under the water to clean it off. When she finished this, she saw the hairdryer on the bathroom sink. She turned it on and held the bird in front of the blast of hot air to dry him off. A few weeks later, a reporter from the newspaper that had originally published the story, went out to the house and asked the woman, "How is Chippie doing now?" She said, "Well, Chippie doesn't sing anymore. He just sort of sits and stares."
There are times in our lives when we've experienced what might be called the "Chippie Syndrome." We have the feeling that life has kind of knocked us around a bit and we have that "blown away" sensation.
Romans 8:28 says, "We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose." (NAS) Notice, it does not say, "all things are good." Individually, not everything that happens in our life is good, but, they work together for good when God blesses them.
When you are cooking, individual ingredients often don't taste good, but together they are okay. For instance, have you ever made cookies? You get a little shortening-- have you ever tasted shortening by itself? Yuck! Then you get some flour-- have you ever tasted flour by itself? Yuck! Have you ever tasted raw eggs by themselves? Salt by itself? Baking soda by itself? But you take them and put them together, and you get a pretty good tasting cookie. God weaves the ingredients of our life together; He takes the good and bad, the sorrow and pain, the happy days and dreary days and weaves them together, and causes all things to work together for good. God can even bring good out of evil. Therefore, our hope is in the Lord and not in our moment by moment or day by day setbacks. If you are going through discouraging times, this reminder is just for you!
-Phillip Krueger |
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 Vanguard University Women's Chorus Sunday, March 14, 6:30pm
FCC Worship Center
A freewill offering will be received.
Housing will be needed for approximately 50 students on Sunday night. If you are interested in opening your home to some of these students, please contact Darrin at the church office or darrinakin70@yahoo.com. |
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Congratulations to the following members of this year's Chile and Kenya Teams:
Chile Team - June 17-29
Leader: Kevin Swearingin
Rene Botha, Nicole Burton, Randy Creek, Jason Deming
Sara Deming, Amber Hart, Isidro Lopez, Claudia Padilla
Alice Rhodes, Kroix Springer
Kenya Team - June 22-July 4
Leader: Rick Keeling
Chrissy Keeling, Charlie Kosmata, Kim Kosmata, Marcia Butler
Please be in prayer for each of these teams and their members as they begin 5 months of preparation and training.
Because He Lives, Laretta K. Shrader, Missions Minister
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Love & Respect Marriage Video Conference
 Friday, March 5 * 5:30-9:45 pm
Saturday, March 6 * 8:30-1:00 pm
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Learn how to get off of the "Crazy Cycle," understand your spouse, and
have the marriage God intended for you!
$10 per couple (pre-registration)
$10 for singles (pre-registration)
$15 at-the-door
*Registration begins Sunday, January 31 and Saturday, February 6 (Twenty4/7 Service)
for more information. |
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Children's Ministry
Rick Keeling, Children's Minister
Les Gompert, Associate Children's Minister
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14
The FCC Children's Ministry Team firmly believes the best place, by far,
for children to learn of their Savior and grow in faith, is in the home with believing families. That being said, Jesus established the church as a body and gave various gifts to be shared. Throughout the week, we offer a variety of times where children can come and fellowship, learn, and worship.
Wednesdays
Wednesday nights at 7:00 pm is our Faith Weaver Friends program, where kids learn in a fun way through crafts, stories, snacks, and games. Come and check us out! If you've always just come at one particular time, why not spread your wings a little and try something new this week? There are numerous adult Bible classes or worship times that correspond with all of our times.
Saturdays At 6:00 pm (during Twenty4/7), children ages 3 through (?) have an opportunity to worship and praise. From 6:30-7:15 pm, they will have
class time with a Bible lesson and crafts.
Sundays
Each Sunday at 9:30 am, pre-K through K have their worship in "Praise Time" with singing, worship, and Bible story time. Grades 1-5 are in Sunday School classes, then between services they switch. The little guys go downstairs, and the elementary kids take over the Kid Zone Room. During the 11:00 service, the elementary kids have their praise and worship time, while the pre-K & Ks have their Sunday School classes. |
Youth Fellowship Opportunities
Jeff Elzey, Youth Minister
Join us at 9:30 am in our classrooms upstairs!! Every Sunday morning, Middle School and High School students gather to fellowship and learn more about God! These exciting groups meet for one hour. Middle School meets in Room 207, and High School meets in Room 208. Bring your friends, and come be a part of these great studies! Don't forget Midweek Upper Room!! We're meeting each Wednesday night at 7 pm in the Upper Room for mid-week worship. This is for everybody from 6th grade and up. It is an excellent time to invite friends and come worship with us! We'll see you there!!
High School Study--The Zone
Sundays, 7-8:30 pm, Room 207
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Elders
Jack DeLange
Tom Dyson
Don Johnson
Ron Miller
Rod Reed
Lynn Ware
Mike Watson
Glenn Wright
Staff
Darrin Akin,
Worship/Music Minister
Lynette Berry,
Women's Ministry Director
Alan Dyson,
Involvement Minister
Jeff Elzey,
Youth Minister
Jerry Elzey,
Pastoral Minister
Sandra Gist, Ph.D
Christian Counselor
Les Gompert,
Associate Children's Minister
Rick Keeling,
Children's Minister
Phillip Krueger,
Associate Minister
Rick Lathrop,
Business Administrator
Paul Mondragon,
Media Minister
Laretta K. Shrader,
Missions Minister
Deborah Stewart,
School Administrator |
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Twenty4/7
Alternative Worship:
Saturdays
6 pm
Worship Services: Sundays
9:30 and 11 am
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday,
8 am-4:30 pm |
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Worship Service Attendance:
1/3 1441
1/10 1509
1/17 1410
1/25 1602
1/31 1622 |
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New Members
Baptisms:
Dr. Loc Nguyen, Jan LaFata, Andrew Reyes, Lisa Medina, and Delaney Medina
Transfers:
Suzanne "Kelly" Nace, Kristina Grandlund, Benjamin Granter, Rebecca Granter, Terry Fudenna, Scott Grosset, Jackie Grosset, "Willie" Guillermo Baldazo, and Loyanne Perry |
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Please Pray for:
Cancer Patients
Otto Rapp, Rebecca Cole, Ruby Winter, Vicki Peterson, James Frazier, Phyllis Sollers, Sharon Fraser, Jamey Thimell, Luanne Watson, Judy Dyson, Mike Boren, Christy Heaton, Bruce Griswold, Joe Vaughn, Jim Newton, Tammy Kahlen, Theresa Allen, and Rex Thomas
Health/Recovery
Arthur Guiles, Tim Beeman, Deborah Rapp, Sharon Womer, Judy Stroh, Richard Parks, Ray Rodgers, Marion Tompkins, Shirley Johns, Cal Macon, John Rapp, Bonnie Canan, Mirle Fett, Pauline Cochran, Randy Creek, Jose Rivas, Shirley Flermoen, Marguerite Ware, Jim Wedemeyer, Juanita McCauley, The Mullins Family, Scotty McGregor, Jim Iwan, Bonnie Benbrooks, Judy Echols, Kaiya Dyson, Dana Carrier, Rene Ozuna, Linda Beltran, and Geraldine Stevens
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Our Deepest Sympathy...
to the families of the following people who recently passed away:
Diana Richards' mother, Esta Watson; Darlene Erwin's mother, Doris Fennell, and Michael Steve's mother. Please keep their families in prayer during this difficult time. |
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Niños de Baja (formerly Rancho de los Niños) needs for this month:
Laundry detergent, fabric softener, and copy paper. Bring these items to the Church Office at any time. Thanks for caring and sharing!
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Congratulations to Tyler and Krystal (Schotten) Keck on the birth of their son, Elijah Ray, born January 6. He weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 18-1/2 inches long. |
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