It’s October – or it will be. I was looking over my schedule and the list of activities that are scheduled in the life of the church for the month. This is kind of a potpourri of several things on my agenda.

This Sunday, October 4, is World Communion Sunday. It is a time to be reminded of our oneness in Christ. Symbolically we celebrate the Lord’s Supper as Hebrews 12:1 suggests, with a great cloud of witnesses, with our fellow brethren in other churches and places of worship in our community. What a feeling to know we are joined together as one in Christ, in our congregation, and with the whole company of Christians around the world. Come to the table for a great gathering of Christians and Followers of Jesus Christ.

The Elders have been meeting on Sunday evenings in an Elders Training Session. Among this group are elders and others who want to know more about Elders responsibilities in the church. It is important to have various kinds of training programs in the church. We become stronger for them.

October is also Ministers Appreciation Month. October 11th I will be sharing as part of the morning message, some things about ministers and ministry in general.

Along with that, we will have our Consecration Sunday October 25th. This is a program I am familiar with, but was never a part of a church that used it. This will give me opportunity to learn about the Consecration Sunday program. Like many things I have learned from previous pastorates, it has possibilities of being something to share with a future congregation I might serve.

Blessings be with you all. Milton Bryarly, Interim Minister

SUNDAY SERMON
October 4, 2009
Title: A Great Gathering
Text: Ephesians 4:1-6

Sunday, September 27, 2009
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:30 a.m.
WORSHIP: 10:40 a.m.
OFFERING: $1,695.95

ATTENDANCE
Sunday School: 42
Worship: 88

VISITORS
Wichita, KS: Naussica Shinkle, Carly King
Haysville, KS: Michelle Swart
Mark, Lisa, Jacob, Alexis and Josh Hoffmeier

Dan Atkeson family, Jack Braden, Ernie Hurdle, Lynn Garrelts family, Tom VonFeldt, Shirlene Crain, Ed Carr, Ed Bull, Kirby and Pat Barnes, Neva Middleton, Beulah Rees, George Hatcher, Teresa Hall, Shaunna Hall, DeAsia Harding,Janet Goldwater, Mary Jane Bell, Shannon Lisk, Anetta Kay Webster, Annette Beal, Michael Galvan family, Pat Falley,Mary Ellen Shockey, Eric Daly, Jason Gray, Ralph Morgan, Dale Hollis, Sherry McCool, Stacey Estes, Marlene Fether, Butch Church, Adam Sead, Aaron Devan, Duane Nelson family, Jenny Ann Thompson family, Sarah Ingerson

Kathryn Proctor, mother-in-law of our daughter DeeAnn Proctor, both of Nashville, TN is in the hospital and not doing well after surgery on her carotid artery. Dale and Donna Atkeson

Wilbur Humphries is in St Francis Hospital with serious heart problems. Wilbur is the father of Nancy Rodgers, daughter-in-law of Beverly Rodgers.

Pat Falley sees the surgeon again this week and will schedule his back surgery. The three epidural shots did not prove effective. Please pray for the doctors and confidence in his decision.

Wally Sturm, father of Scott Sturm, will have surgery Wednesday to replace the battery in his pacemaker.

Butch Church is recovering at home following surgery last week at St Francis Hospital for a subdural hematoma. Keep Butch and Janice in your prayers.

Brandon and Breanna Lespagnard announce the birth of their daughter Aubrey Elise Lespagnard

She was born September 22, 2009 and weighed 7 pounds 15 ounces and was 20 inches in length.

She was welcomed home by her one year old sister Kinsley.
Grandparents are Mike and Jennifer Breese, Bill and Pam Doffing and Danny and Tammy Snelling.

Great grandparents are George and Anita Lespagnard, Richard and Geneva Croney and Dale and Loretta Snelling.

Seth Falley was chosen “Star Student” for Oatville Elementary. He was recognized on the school TV station where he was awarded a certificate and letter of thanks for his positive contributions to the school. Pat and Jeanette Falley

Betsy Burke got 6th place in the number 1 doubles section at the Goddard tennis tournament. The team, as a whole, got 2nd out of eleven.

Praise the Lord! Alex Marsh earned the rank of Eagle Scout this last week. Thanks to everyone that supported him on his trail to Eagle Scout. Ken and Birgit Marsh

It's a Baby Shower honoring
Teresa Hall
Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Cambridge Suites
711 S. Main, Wichita
Hosted with love by:
Cassandra Grayson (sister)
Johnna Hall (mother)
Registered at Babies R Us
Reply by October 1 to 390-0859 (Cassandra)

7:00-8:00 p.m.
Church Library
Tuesday, October 6 (May not meet)
Tuesday, October 20

This is a reminder to the men of First Christian of the Fellowship Breakfast on Saturday, October 3 at 7:30 a.m. Come and join the men for a good breakfast, good fellowship and lots of fun! Call the office (524-5884) if you didn’t sign up Sunday so the cooks will know how many to plan for.

The Haysville Community Outreach is a non-profit organization in to serve the less fortunate families in the Haysville School District. If they qualify, all residents of USD 261 may apply for Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance.

Applicants must bring proof of identification, Social Security card for each member living in the household, proof of income for the past two months for each adult member living in the household, proof of address (current driver license or utility bill in the last 30 days.) If loss of work is the reason for the application, bring proof of gas, electric, water, car payment, mortgage, etc.


Residents of the Haysville USD 261 may sign up for Thanksgiving and Christmas food boxes and Christmas gifts for children on October 10 and 24, between 1- 3 p.m. If they miss these dates they may sign up for only Christmas boxes and gifts on November 14, between 1-3 p.m. at West Haysville Baptist Church, 141 Lamar, Haysville, KS.

The 2009 Reconciliation Offering gives us an opportunity to support seven Kansas projects, all of which are opportunities to help carry out Christ’s ministry of Reconciliation. The total goal for our 2008 Kansas Reconciliation Offering is $37,000.00. Half of the receipts ($18.000.00) will be used for Kansas projects and the other half will be shared with the wider church to help fund Reconciliation projects elsewhere.

The following are Kansas Projects. Birthday Backpack Program, Pine Valley Christian Church; Camp Friendship, Disciples Center at Tawakoni, Augusta, KS; Flint Hills Community Clinic Manhattan, KS; Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen (Link), Lawrence, KS; Neighborhood Breakfast Program, Fairview Christian Church; Sunflower Community Action Democracy School; and Vida (“life”) Eastboro Life Together Ministry, Topeka, KS.

The Reconciliation Offering will be received at First Christian on Sunday, October 4, 2009

Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disaster, disease and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His son, Jesus Christ. Since its inception in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has impacted the hearts and souls of over 69 million children in some 130 countries. The “power of a simple gift” begins with compassionate individuals in the U.S and 12 other sending countries who fill shoe boxes with toys, hygiene items, and school supplies. The boxes are processed by volunteers in regional warehouses and then shipped overseas where local ministry partners distribute them to children living in impoverished communities. These same children are invited to a follow-up discipleship program that introduces God’s Word through a series of Bible lessons. Upon completion of the program, graduates receive their own copy of a New Testament Bible. As they discover Jesus’ love for them, hundreds of thousands of these children receive Him as Savior and share their faith with family and friends. You can be a part of this amazing ministry by stopping by the table in the entryway and picking up a shoebox and mailing label. Take the box home, lovingly fill it with items chosen specially by you and return your box to the church by Sunday November 22. Don’t delay!

Are Youuu Reaadyyy for some Footbaaaallllll???? The CHAOS /TOE youth invite you to come cheer on our Campus Colts football players and band members this Friday October 2 at their Homecoming Game at Colt Stadium. Find the FCCCCFC van (that’s the First Christian Church Campus Colts Fan Club van) in the REX/HMS parking lot before the game and join us for some pre-game drinks and snacks. It all starts at 6:00 p.m. See you there! Go Colts!

One of the suggestions that was made at the Education/Youth forum held in August was to combine the pre K-High School Sunday School classes on the first Sunday of every month. The idea is to provide respite for our teachers and to give our older youth the chance to teach and share their faith with the younger kids. This Sunday, October 3, Kenny and Birgit Marsh will be supervising our first effort at implementing this idea. All youth should report to the KFC room during the Sunday School hour. If you have any questions about this, please call Machaelle.