MORE Happy New Year!
2012
Well the new year has finally arrived–and frigidly so! New Year's celebrations often find us pondering the year past and the one ahead, so this year arrives just as all the others.
The Past––This time last year we were anxiously awaiting the dedication service for the renovation project. Crews of volunteers were scrambling all over the facilities cleaning and sorting, dusting and decorating. We could finally see the end draw near. Our hard work was almost complete. The completion of the renovation brought forth a year worth celebrating! 2011 was a year of wonderful ministry!
**February 25th, 26th and 27th First Christian Church hosted the annual Bourbon County Youth Ministers' Network Youth Event —RUSH (R U Seeking HIM?)–even though the renovation wasn't exactly complete.
**March 6th we opened our doors to over 200 people, both members and visitors, for our Dedication Celebration and fellowship meal following.
Wonderful Wednesdays kicked back into gear with great options for members and visitors from the community alike. So many people worked very hard to make these weekly events possible and memorable.
Our annual Easter Egg Hunt welcomed in many guests from the community. All of whom had a terrific time.
The Clothing Closet reopened with brighter spaces, more display areas and a group of loving, hard-working individuals committed to furthering this ministry to the community.
Our New Website Launched in March and continues to be updated and upgraded. Jeff Miller put so much time and effort into this outreach ministry. This new website offers a great service to our members as well as visitors who are looking for a faith family to call their own.
Our technological future began with the formation of a new Technology Team that works hard to keep us forever moving forward.
In June we commissioned 17 campers to 4 different church camps, we recognized 4 graduates' efforts and gave them our blessings as they moved on to the next chapter of their lives. Each Sunday School class has since taken a graduate under their wing to nurture through the college years.
We also had our first ever Relay for Life team and managed to raise a little over $1000 to donate towards cancer research.
We celebrated Vacation Bible School with a BIG Jungle Adventure! Our sanctuary was transformed into a beautiful jungle, complete with a flowing river, rocks, animals and jungle noises.
We hosted our first of what promises to be many, Dave Ramsey Financial Peace classes. 22 participants registered and gathered together weekly to learn of God's plan for us to be good stewards of our finances and our lives.
The DWF Fall Festival resumed this year with a delicious meal, yummy baked goods and great items for purchase. All their proceeds benefits missions for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Our last warm-weather event was something we never tried before, but proved to be a great Technology fundraiser. A Hawaiian Luau, complete with pork barbeque, baked pineapple, leis, Hawaiian music, grass skirts and fun for all ages.
Our Hayride and Bonfire is now a firmly ingrained tradition. So many people came out to enjoy the crisp fall weather, time in the countryside, all the beautiful animals and wonderful hospitality of the Clark family. We're already counting down until next year's event.
We offered our first annual, Trunk or Treat event! Eleven cars gathered in our parking lot, decorated for Halloween and bearing treats for all our Halloween visitors. Many people from the community joined us to share a beautiful day and a great deal of fun.
Our Handbell Choir was resurrected and has already played several times for our worship services. The bells are in need of refurbishing, but we've already begun this process and look forward to hearing the bells chime for many Sundays to come.
Blue Christmas was a new service we offered this year as part of our Advent celebrations. This worship service offered comfort and healing for those who greet the holidays with sadness because of life's tragedies. Our church was able to reach out to many in need, offering solace during a time which is often dark and lonely for those experiencing grief during the Christmas season.
The Future–now we greet the New Year with anxious anticipation for all the year will bring. We no longer have to prepare our newly renovated building for all the ministries awaiting us! It is done and we can jump in with both feet! What awaits us tomorrow?–only time will tell. But we do know 2012 will be a year of missions for First Christian Church.
Mission Outreach has long been a value and tradition of this church and for 2012, we get back to the business of making a difference in the world and working to create God's Kingdom on Earth.
- Our Middle School youth will be traveling to Perryville, Arkansas to work at Heifer Ranch.
- Our High School youth will be traveling to Arecibo, Puerto Rico to work with the poor and rehab homes.
- Our adults will be traveling to the Midwest to help with reconstruction following the devastating summer of tornadic activity which left many towns in ruin.
2011 was, in many ways, a great year full of wonderful ministries with old friends and new. But, as we journeyed through time, we lost some very important people in our lives. Still we struggle to fill the gaping void of their passing while facing an uncertain future with grief.
As we look to 2012 we pray for a future of MORE for First Christian Church and MORE for each other: MORE opportunities for great ministry, MORE time with old friends, MORE opportunities to make new friends, MORE time to remember fondly the ones who could not share our future, and MORE time to find healing and comfort within our family of faith.
I wish for you in 2012 MORE blessings,
Tracy