Disciples of Christ
The Newsette
A monthly publication of the life of our church.
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Pastor's Pen
Sisters and brothers,
We enter the season of Lent in an effort to be Homeward Bound—to enter our wilderness places in order to grow our spirits. A few weeks ago I preached to you from Isaiah and from Luke’s Gospel concerning call. How timely is God’s divine wisdom, to place this scripture and lesson before us in the season of change—where winter is trying to become spring, where church is discerning leadership, where we prepare to examine ourselves to reconcile with God to receive the gift of Christ’s grace. I have been praying for our church and region. Little did I suspect that I was going to receive a personal call to discern. I have been asked to consider serving the region as the next moderator. My first inclination was, “Noooo way,” until the message of my own sermon caused me to pause and say, “I will pray about this.” In the combination of Scripture study, prayer, discussion, reflection, questioning and receiving
guidance, I have received God’s call. In the long-short week, I have turned from fear to trust. My heart races, but my soul is at peace. I ask you, the leaders of this church, to sense this call from your own place. It will have its own voice in our midst. God is doing a new thing, in my life and yours. Let us enter this new season together with confidence that God us growing us into an as yet, unrevealed future. I hope to hear you say, “We are sharing our pastor with the Northwest Region,” -- a wholehearted commitment that this is our call.
Pay attention to the opportunities to take time away from worldly concerns to connect in fellowship and reflection. The Lenten sign ups are out in the hall, ready for you to sign yourselves in. Trust that you are needed and be willing to schedule your time to set up, clean up, or decorate. Yes, I suspect that God is calling YOU. I trust that you will find time to deepen your walk with Christ—to allow yourself to be in a place of calmness and quiet where the Holy Spirit can reveal love to you, anoint you with peace and give you the courage to grow in grace. I am pleased to see that our 24 Hour Prayer Vigil is fully signed. For those of you new to the experience, that hour will fade fast. The experience will be holy. Prayer takes place in the library from Maundy Thursday April 1 (9:00 pm) until Good Friday April 2 (9:00 pm). Please come in by the 9th Street entrance. Arrive a few minutes early. You will find instructions outside and inside.
The Elders have entered into a study called Binding the Gospel. I would like to see other groups consider this study. If your prayer group, book group, women’s group, men’s breakfast, committee, 5 F’s or perhaps YOU would like to form a group to study this book study, let me know. I will encourage you all the way. Meanwhile I encourage you to enter our Sunday adult Bible classes, both meeting in the first hallway at 9:00 am. In the Library the Adventurer’s Bible study is studying 1 Peter. In the Fireplace Room Don Payne and I are teaching ALONG THE WAY - stories and places of Jesus as he sets his face towards Jerusalem.
Blessings to All on this Sacred Season, Debbie
We enter the season of Lent in an effort to be Homeward Bound—to enter our wilderness places in order to grow our spirits. A few weeks ago I preached to you from Isaiah and from Luke’s Gospel concerning call. How timely is God’s divine wisdom, to place this scripture and lesson before us in the season of change—where winter is trying to become spring, where church is discerning leadership, where we prepare to examine ourselves to reconcile with God to receive the gift of Christ’s grace. I have been praying for our church and region. Little did I suspect that I was going to receive a personal call to discern. I have been asked to consider serving the region as the next moderator. My first inclination was, “Noooo way,” until the message of my own sermon caused me to pause and say, “I will pray about this.” In the combination of Scripture study, prayer, discussion, reflection, questioning and receiving
guidance, I have received God’s call. In the long-short week, I have turned from fear to trust. My heart races, but my soul is at peace. I ask you, the leaders of this church, to sense this call from your own place. It will have its own voice in our midst. God is doing a new thing, in my life and yours. Let us enter this new season together with confidence that God us growing us into an as yet, unrevealed future. I hope to hear you say, “We are sharing our pastor with the Northwest Region,” -- a wholehearted commitment that this is our call.
Pay attention to the opportunities to take time away from worldly concerns to connect in fellowship and reflection. The Lenten sign ups are out in the hall, ready for you to sign yourselves in. Trust that you are needed and be willing to schedule your time to set up, clean up, or decorate. Yes, I suspect that God is calling YOU. I trust that you will find time to deepen your walk with Christ—to allow yourself to be in a place of calmness and quiet where the Holy Spirit can reveal love to you, anoint you with peace and give you the courage to grow in grace. I am pleased to see that our 24 Hour Prayer Vigil is fully signed. For those of you new to the experience, that hour will fade fast. The experience will be holy. Prayer takes place in the library from Maundy Thursday April 1 (9:00 pm) until Good Friday April 2 (9:00 pm). Please come in by the 9th Street entrance. Arrive a few minutes early. You will find instructions outside and inside.
The Elders have entered into a study called Binding the Gospel. I would like to see other groups consider this study. If your prayer group, book group, women’s group, men’s breakfast, committee, 5 F’s or perhaps YOU would like to form a group to study this book study, let me know. I will encourage you all the way. Meanwhile I encourage you to enter our Sunday adult Bible classes, both meeting in the first hallway at 9:00 am. In the Library the Adventurer’s Bible study is studying 1 Peter. In the Fireplace Room Don Payne and I are teaching ALONG THE WAY - stories and places of Jesus as he sets his face towards Jerusalem.
Blessings to All on this Sacred Season, Debbie
Current Focus
JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
What Are We Doing?
Long ago, (Conference on the Present) we prioritized our ministry to three top priorities.
plan of meeting our priorities through our Common Life, how we are formed (Formation) while using our Resources (Stewardship of our Gifts) and Structure. At a potluck dinner on August 5th at 6:00 pm we will complete the Design Task. Thank you Jesus! From this point a writing team will create a unified plan for formal presentation to the congregation. Following this, we will move to Phase 5 (the final phase).
- Minister to all ages} We strive to be an intentional community—to invite and include all people. We attempt to listen and bear one another’s burdens and practice our faith through Bible Study, prayer, service, inclusive hospitality and joyful worship.
- Serve Our Community Neighborhood} We are discerning how to respond to needs within our community. We seek to bear witness to Jesus Christ as a sign of hope to the world.
- Meet
the Needs of our Changing Culture} We strive to overcome the forces
that degrade, enclave and oppress God’s creation and to become an
expression of God's new creation. We desire to "do justice, and
to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God." (Micah 6:8b)
plan of meeting our priorities through our Common Life, how we are formed (Formation) while using our Resources (Stewardship of our Gifts) and Structure. At a potluck dinner on August 5th at 6:00 pm we will complete the Design Task. Thank you Jesus! From this point a writing team will create a unified plan for formal presentation to the congregation. Following this, we will move to Phase 5 (the final phase).
Journey of Discovery
Design Teams
It is no secret - Design Teams
are at work. They are studying, evaluating ideas and input and
putting them into a plan to be shared with you. Common Life is
concerned with how we build a common life and shared ministry that
expresses Christian faith. Formation is talking about how we
design and develop processes and practices that form our congregation
as a missional community. Another way of putting it: how we are
trained to be in the tradition of being followers of Jesus Christ.
Resources describe the abundance of God's gifts. It concerns how we cultivate, develop and utilize and manage the gifts entrusted to our stewardship. Structure follows the other three, attempting to design our church organization to embody our Missional Strategy. The teams will gather this week and will report to each other and develop a way of sharing with the congregation. Soon, very soon, you will be asked to participate in the process.
We are traveling towards our future with intentional steps. May we travel together with the shared purpose of faithfulness to God's call.
Resources describe the abundance of God's gifts. It concerns how we cultivate, develop and utilize and manage the gifts entrusted to our stewardship. Structure follows the other three, attempting to design our church organization to embody our Missional Strategy. The teams will gather this week and will report to each other and develop a way of sharing with the congregation. Soon, very soon, you will be asked to participate in the process.
We are traveling towards our future with intentional steps. May we travel together with the shared purpose of faithfulness to God's call.
GUIDING VISION
First Christian Church of Bremerton is a diverse
group of people seeking to respond to the vision of God's purpose
revealed through Jesus the Christ.
We believe this vision calls us to be an intentional community, which engages persons in Christian practices. These practices include the Lord's Supper, joyful worship, Bible Study, prayer, service, and inclusive hospitality. We anticipate being open to all people, discerning how we can respond to needs within and beyond our congregation. As a community we will listen to and bear one another's burdens, and work on behalf of justice for all God's people.
To embrace and manifest Christ-like relationships in our community, we desire to communicate Jesus' death on the cross and bear witness to His resurrection as a sign of hope in this world. We seek to realize this hope by finding ways to overcome the forces that degrade, enslave and oppress God's creation.
In this vision we seek to know, to discern, and to act on the Holy Spirit's guidance to become an expression of God's new creation through our personal gifts and resources. In our actions we strive "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [our] God." (Micah 6:8c)
We believe this vision calls us to be an intentional community, which engages persons in Christian practices. These practices include the Lord's Supper, joyful worship, Bible Study, prayer, service, and inclusive hospitality. We anticipate being open to all people, discerning how we can respond to needs within and beyond our congregation. As a community we will listen to and bear one another's burdens, and work on behalf of justice for all God's people.
To embrace and manifest Christ-like relationships in our community, we desire to communicate Jesus' death on the cross and bear witness to His resurrection as a sign of hope in this world. We seek to realize this hope by finding ways to overcome the forces that degrade, enslave and oppress God's creation.
In this vision we seek to know, to discern, and to act on the Holy Spirit's guidance to become an expression of God's new creation through our personal gifts and resources. In our actions we strive "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [our] God." (Micah 6:8c)
Copyright © 2003 First Christian Church of Bremerton. Stained glass by Fred Hereth