The Chalice

CONNECTION
A publication of First Christian Church of Edmond, OK

Vol. 3 No. 15 April 28, 2011

Getting Ready for Sabbatical

Rev. Chris Shorow, Senior Minister
As many of of what Sabbath is about. Letting go. When I return, I look forward to sharing
you know, Giving up control. Realizing that we are some important learnings from my time
I am in the not in charge of the world. Clearly I need away, and hearing from you what you
midst of mak- some work on this—and I suspect that I have learned in my absence.
ing all of the am not alone. Sabbatical should teach At the top of my list is the importance
arrangements me many things about my control issues. of Sabbath. Kay Sullins shared this great
surrounding Another area of concern is being quote about Sabbath from Wayne Muller:
my sabbatical gone from the church for that amount “Sabbath is a way of being in time where
this summer. of time. What if someone dies and I’m we remember who we are, remember
Thanks to the not there? What if tragedy occurs and I what we know, and taste the gifts of the
Lilly Endow- can’t be there to help out? Hmm, sounds spirit and eternity. During Sabbath, we
ment, and this congregation, I will be like more control issues. Our church is are less concerned with what is missing
gone from May 22 until the beginning a family and we are there for one an- and more grateful for what has already
of September. My family and I will be other—whether I’m there or not. Our been given.”
spending part of that time in Florence, staff is a wonderful staff. Jerry and Greg These words really speak to what I
Italy, where we have rented a condo will be there to provide pastoral support know you will be doing, and what I hope
downtown, with a beautiful view of the and they will be able to handle anything to experience during my time away. I
Duomo. Sounds like a dream trip for us that happens. Will I be missed? I hope invite you to read the RENEW article on
and we are excited. so. Will life continue without me? Most page two to learn more about your sum-
However, I am discovering that mak- certainly! We have a wonderful church mer experience. As Muller suggests, I’m
ing plans to be gone for that long a time community and you all will do wonderful already finding myself more grateful for
involves many issues. I am stressed trying things in my absence. what I’ve already been given, and pray
to make sure all of the details are cov- Thanks to the Lilly Grant, and the you experience those remembrances and
ered. I’d hate to think that a critical detail creative plans set in motion by our Re- gratitude as well. I am forever thankful for
has been overlooked as I stand in front newal Task Force, you’ll be having your this wonderful church family!
of Michelangelo’s David. Thinking about own Renewal process this summer. I am
that is driving me crazy. But that’s part excited about what you will experience.

Photography for New Church Album Underway

Just Three Sundays Left for YOU to Have YOUR Picture Taken!
Members of the Communications Ministry team are taking photographs of everyone in our congregation. There are no pesky sales
people pushing you to buy a photo package. In fact, we won’t sell the photos, just utilize them to produce a helpful ministry tool
- our next photo directory! We believe this is a simple way we can contribute to creating a WELCOMING environment at FCC.
We want EVEYRONE to have their photograph taken for the album. Come as you are. Wear whatever you feel comfortable
wearing. No appointment necessary!
Photographers will be in the rotunda from 8:45 to 12:30 on Sundays May 1,May 8 and May 15. PLEASE have
YOUR photo taken as soon as you can! We want to complete photography before summer, and produce the album as quickly as
possible.
Thanks for participating! Cameron Woods & Andrew Harris for Communications Ministry
 experience! To foster a creative, collaborative joy to participate in this event! As a con-
and unified environment, we will alter our gregation, we are incredibly blessed by our
Sunday morning schedule during the month ministers, staff and lay leaders, and by one
of June for a 4 week process we are calling another, as we are led by the Holy Spirit.”
“Table Conversations.”
As many of you know, Rev. Shorow and our Each Sunday morning at 9:15 we will The power of the renewal process will
congregation were awarded a grant from the gather around round tables in Fellowship Hall help unify us as a congregation! COME
Lilly Endowment which will fund both Chris’ to share our stories. We hope you add your RENEW as we focus on the best of who we
sabbatical and a congregational renewal proj- voice, your ears and stretch your imagination are, hear from one another the ways in which
ect during his time away. The Lilly Endow- as we celebrate together and listen to discover our church has been a life-giving prsence,
ment understands the persistent obligations what God has in store for us! and discover common threas that can guide
of daily church service are demanding, and as we live our ministry in years to come.
believes in providing a period of renewal, Our Sunday Morning Schedule
reflection and refreshment for clergy. They
fund sabbaticals to provide time for inten-
for June 5, 12, 19 and 26 Please Join Us
tional exploration, reflection and the pursuit of Sunday, May 15
activities which make the pastor’s heart sing. 9:15am: “Table Conversations” for Rev. Chris Shorow’s last Sunday
To support congregations during their
minister’s sabbatical, Lilly also provides fund-
with us before Sabbatical
ing for activities which replenish and renew 10:45am: Unified Worship
congregational vitality. To shape our congre- Service of Blessing
gational experience during Chris’s sabbatical, Our “Table Conversations” experience will be to commission both his Sabbatical
the church Board approved the formation of followed by a fellowship gathering, hosted
a task force.
and our Renew process
by Membership Ministries. Children in 3rd
Members of the Renew Task Force are: through 5th grade will take part in the June during all 3 services.
Larry Ball & Billy Harrison, co-moderators 5 and 12 “Table Conversations.” 6th through
and Frank Gresh, Robbi Kinnaird, Kay Sullins 12th grade will join in all four weeks. Membership Ministry invites
and Don Wiechmann. They began their work
earlier this spring, by consulting with Dr. Gary These table conversations stimulate hope,
you to experience a
Peluso-Verdand, President of Phillips Theo- creativity, and collective commitment. These “Little Taste of Italy”
logical Seminary. conversations are ACTION, because they are from our coffee bar from 8:30 to 11
Dr. Peluso-Verdand, led 68 leaders and the wellspring from which relationships and and to help send off the
our staff through a refreshing process during a trust are generated and informed decisions
day-long retreat Saturday, April 2. grow. We have heard so many positive com-
Shorow family in style between
The process is called “Apprecitive Inquiry” ments from the leadership retreat participants. 10 and 11 in Fellowship Hall.
and involves answering positively framed Marcia Tunison shared, “The recent leader-
questions to appreciate what we’ve done well, ship conference was a totally enjoyable and
create a shared sense of what matters most at positive experience. As we worked through
First Christian, and identify ways to build on the questions leading us to FCC’s positive
our strengths for an even brighter future. core, it became obvious that our congrega-
We will continue the renewal process dur- tion does tremendous work, both inside and
ing the month of June giving EVERYONE the outside the church, demonstrating God’s great
opportunity to experience the same positive love to all those who are touched. It was a

Membership Ministry is taking a Sabbatical...from Donuts!

For the month of JUNE, we are looking for people who would like to bake (or purchase)
muffins and breakfast breads to share with the congregation during our Renew “Table
11:30 Registration 1:00pm Shotgun Start
Conversation” time on Sunday mornings. Please contact Julie Bunton by May 15 at Four Player Scramble
juliebunton@cox.net or 317-4180 if you would like to serve in this way! We would like to Men, Women and Students!
have 20 dozen muffins per Sunday - so let’s start baking! J Thank you!
Kickingbird Golf Club
May 7 - 9am to 2pm Family Life Center
Donations Needed! We would appreciate gently used clothing (no shoes please), toys, furniture, working
electronics and household items. Funds raised at the sale support our mission trip this summer and the
remodel of our youth room in the family life center. Volunteers available the week of May 2-6, from noon to
7pm to receive your donation drop-offs in the Family Life Center. Limited pick up for furniture items only willl
be available; first scheduled-first served. Call Greg at 341-3544 for more info.
 Prayers of the People Happy Birthday!
5/1 Allyson Cain, Susan Hurst, Luke Preslar
THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Dona Lee Denton (Carrie Akin’s 5/2 Chuck Racster, Dana Shadid, Emily
sister), Barbara Thornton, Steve Wilson, Bill Hamilton, David
Taylor
Smith, Chris Banks (Jennifer McGrew’s brother), Joe Samuels,
John T. Stone, Eric Koegel, Rose Marie McKee, Bart Rodr, Ann 5/3 Allen Clark, Sarah McCall, Tim McFall
Douthitt (Duke Douthitt’s mom), Sharon Luton (Susan Black’s cousin), Ed Berry, Hank 5/4 Debbie Schmoyer
Thomas (Randy Thomas’ brother) 5/5 Deia Crull, Bret Keel
5/6 Alan Schmoyer, Jack Stuckey
CELEBRATING THE GIFT OF A NEW LIFE Katherine Paige Robertson born April 26 to Gabe 5/7 Terry Earnheart, Jennifer Jollota
& Erin Robertson. 5/8 Harrison Goosen, Caleb Stanley

Men - Come SING to Honor our MOTHERS!

By Diane Ball, Music Minister The men of the chancel choir invite all SINGING
men to join them as they sing a special anthem to honor moms on Mother’s Day,
May 8th, at the 11:00 service. Rehearse with us on Wednesday May 4th at 8pm in the
sanctuary. Questions? Contact Diane Ball at 341-3544 or dball@fccedmond.org

Extreme Makeover Youth Room Edition A Wild Adventure

For the past 4 months our youth have been re-modeling the youth room in the Family
Life Center. They spent months simply talking about their ideas, picking paint colors,
choosing flooring, and finalizing their plans. In January our students began working on
is coming your way…
the room. They have painted, ripped out carpet, scraped glue off the floor, installed the Register for VBS 2011 TODAY!
new flooring, framed t-shirts, and picked out furniture and accessories. And now after
4 months of hard work it is complete! June 13-16 from 6 to 8:45 PM
Join us for an OPEN HOUSE, Sunday, May 1 so we can share the room with you! for ages Pre K to 5th Grade.
Please come check it out during the Sunday school hour or after the late service. After
Registration is $10 until June 1st.
all, it is your continued support of our fundraisers that have allowed us to create such
an awesome space for our students! You can sign up at fccedmond.org or
Sunday mornings in the rotunda.
Parents: For questions or to get
Doing Some Spring Planting? involved, contact:
Courtney Moeller
Purchase TLC Greenhouse Cards and Support Our Students! asadator@live.com
You can buy $20 TLC Greenhouse gift cards from our students, now through May 8. Shannon Medley
Your purchase will help support our youth mission trips and our youth room remodel. ssill@mindspring.com
The TLC cards are good for all plants, trees, fertilizer and soil. to help you get your or Anna Lisa Stanley
garden growing this spring! (excludes landscaping services) Easy to purchase on astanley@fccedmond.org
Sundays and Wednesday evenings. Contact Sherry Parks at 471-4354 with questions.
“O Lord, you have searched me and you
know me.” Psalm 139

Join the Classics for a trip to the Zoo & Botanical Gardens!
You can ride or walk! Give Life.
Ride the tram and see over 60% of the zoo! Give Blood.
Tuesday, May 17
Meet at the church at 8 AM and we carpool to the zoo. We’ll eat lunch First Christian Church
together at the zoo restaurant. RSVP to Winnie Hall at 341-4297
$6.25 (includes entry and tram ride) Payment required with reservation.
Checks payable to FCC (write zoo trip on memo line).
Blood Drive
Sunday, May 1st
8AM to 12PM
K d F G L N P Blood Mobile on West side of church
 Come, Be Blessed!
By Rev. Greg Bunton, Associate Minister of Student Ministries
I am blessed. God has with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
Worship called me into a ministry
I love – working with
And let me assure you - our students do love
God with overwhelming passion.
at First Christian students! It is such I often feel guilty that not everyone gets
8:15, 9 & 11am an exciting ministry, to experience what I get to on a weekly, often
and there is always daily basis. And I look for moments in which
something new to discover and experience. to share, or allow our students to share, their
May 1, 2011 I love working with them on service projects, passion for God.
Youth Sunday - 9 & 11 Services watching them “get dirty for Jesus” and reach Sunday, May 1, is one of those
8:15am Message, Rev. Chris Shorow out compassionately to others. I love taking opportunities. It is Youth Sunday - a time
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 pizza to their schools, hanging out with them for our students to lead worship. We have
and their friends, and learning about what is experienced some very creative, entertaining,
going on in their lives. I love their questions; and thought provoking Youth Sunday services
May 8, 2011 they are not afraid to ask the tough ones, the over the years. But I guarantee there has never
Mother’s Day silly ones, or the really important ones. I love been a youth service more worshipful, more
Message: Rev. Chris Shorow their ideas – and let me tell you, they are full of passionate, and more from the heart than what
Scripture: Mark 7:24-30 them! It gives me lots to think about. But most you are invited to come and experience on
of all, I love being in the midst of them as they May 1 at both the 9:00 and 11:00 services.
worship. And how can I be so sure? Because it
Every Wednesday evening is a powerful comes straight from their hearts! The songs,
The Chalice CONNECTION moment for me as I encounter the Holy the prayers, the scriptures – it’s what they truly
Shelley Regan, Editor through our students. They are passionate believe, what they live by. It’s who they are as
sregan@fccedmond.org about our God, and they have no hesitation children of God!
Read News Online in letting it show – on their faces, through Come, worship with our students. Come,
@ fccedmond.org/news their voices, and in their lives. They take to hear the words that guide them on their
heart what Jesus said when he was questioned Journey. Come, sing with them as they offer
Submit Articles to
about the greatest commandment. Jesus said, their praises to God. Come, encounter the
news@fccedmond.org “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, Holy. Come, be blessed. Come!

Edmond, OK 73083
USPS 210-360 changes to The Chalice CONNECTION, PO Box 3548,
Edmond, OK Edmond, OK 73034-456 POSTMASTER: Send address
Postage Paid postage paid by First Christian Church, 201 E. Second,
Periodicals of New Year’s Day and Christmas Day). Periodicals
(USPS 210-360) is published weekly (except weeks