NORTH CHRISTIAN CHURCH
(Disciples of Christ)
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Sunday, May
4
10:30 a.m. Celebrate Christian Learning –
Reception to follow
3:00 p.m. “Sing with the Spirit: A Hymn
Festival for Pentecost” – Reception to follow
Sunday,
June 1
10:30 a.m. Graduate Recognition – Reception to follow
June 16-20 PowerLab VBS . . . Invite your friends!
During the past two weeks we staff members have remarked again and again how glorious God’s creation is, especially as glimpsed in and through the landscaping surrounding North Christian Church. The magnificent pinks of the magnolias and the delightful yellows of the daffodils, framed by the red buds of the maples and the white blossoms of the pear trees have signed the Easter themes of new and transfigured life that God freely gives.
On
Sunday, May 4, two other churches
will gather with us for "Sing with the Spirit: A Hymn Festival for
Pentecost." Hymn festivals are
common among Lutherans up north, often used to celebrate a new pipe organ, a
church anniversary, or some other special occasion. The idea to do one here at NCC came from my
friend Nathan; we went to school together in
A
hymn festival is exactly that: a service of hymns woven together with choir
anthems, readings, and reflections.
Hymns from diverse backgrounds are included, some supported by organ and
brass, others by just our voices. We
will trace ideas of the Holy Spirit, both as a creative force and as an agent
for change and action. Hopefully the
festival will not only be a chance to enjoy singing with others and a
celebration of music, but also a time for reflection, insight, and ecumenical
unity.
The
music directors at
Please join us at 3:00 PM on May 4th, and bring a friend!
David
There is something happening around here! Something so exciting I
can't keep it to myself. What is it? There are people getting together each
week for months, now sharing a meal and talking about things like FAITH,
PRAYER, DISCERNMENT, and SPIRITUAL MATURITY. What is it? How do you get
it? Do we have it?
Folks
are talking about making prayer a priority, praying before meetings, seeking
God's guidance before making decisions. But people are also respecting
each other---respecting our different personalities and viewpoints; relying on
the freedom to speak from the heart and be heard. And because of this
safe haven--true, meaningful and lasting friendships have developed. No, it's more than friendship--it's brother
and sisterhood.
Do
you remember going to summer camp as a kid? When you got there you felt
shy and didn't know very many people---but once you shared experiences like
crawling through a muddy Wolf Cave or checking each other for ticks….well you
were best buddies!
This
group I belong to has spent months crawling through a damp, yucky cave of sorts
and we're beginning to understand why. We understand that we need these close
friendships that have grown out of the weeks of togetherness. Friendships like this only happen when you and
that other person experience something that touches you both deeply---in your
soul!
Well,
it's no secret that this church has shared a lot of experiences. And because of those shared experiences--both
old and new--our relationships, friendships---THAT BOND---has at its' root---the
love of God and Jesus Christ! And that can get us through ANYTHING!
We
have learned that we must be willing to trust God in all situations, especially
in times of crises & turmoil. My
friends and I have found our strength in each other; in feeling accepted and
respected and understood---but in also believing that GOD WILL PREVAIL!
And THAT's the Good News!
A large sixe umbrella with dark burgundy, hunter green and
navy blue cloth sections has been reported to missing to the church
office. If you happen upon it, please
place it in the lost and found bin located in the workroom. Thank you!
Are you missing items that you may have left behind at church? Check out the Lost and Found bin located in
the workroom.
Dear
Congregation,
I would like to thank all of the people who attended the pancake breakfast fundraiser for my Eagle Project. We raised an excess of $300, enough to fund the purchasing of materials for my project.
Thank you,Thanks
to all who have generously donated to Community and World Outreach Special
Offerings. Week of Compassion Special
Offering raised $2335.49 and we collected $466.70 for the Easter Special
Offering. All monies will support very important Ministries of the Disciples of
Christ.
Kelly Geckler
Coordinator, Community &
World Outreach Ministry Division
The Disciples Women’s Ministries groups will be busy in
May. The Morning Circle will meet at
9:30 a.m. on May 7th at the home of Ruth Davee;
The Evening Circle will meet at 7:00 p.m. on May 13th
at the home of Sandy Wilson.
The DWM Board will meet at 7:00 p.m. on May 27th in the Conference Room of North Christian Church.
2008
Disciples Men’s Baseball Outing at Victory Field,
Friday May 30th is the date for the 2008 Indiana Disciples
Men’s Baseball Outing at Victory Field. This year we will see the Indian’s take
on the Toledo Mud Hens in a 7:15 game that will be great fun for everyone.
Bring your men’s group, your youth group, the whole church, and your entire
family. We have seats reserved in Section 206 on the 3d base line. Tickets are
$11.00 each. Reservation deadline is May 2, 2008. For more information go to: www.indianadisciples.org. and click
on Baseball Outing.
North Christian Church will honor its High School, College, and Graduate School graduates on Sunday, June 1 in worship and with a reception following. If someone in your family is graduating, please contact the church office with names and information about future, post-graduation plans.
On Saturday, June 7,
those who are intending to be a part of the summer mission trip are invited to
"Build a House in a Box"!! We
will build a house, in sections, that will then be trucked to the final
assembly site! For more information, contact Terry Shaw at 342-6508 or email him at terry.m.shaw@cummins.com
Details are coming together for our summer hands-on mission
trip -- it looks like we'll be a group of about 50 people!!
Location:
Accommodations: We'll be staying in barracks -- real beds! AND, Air
Conditioning!!
Work: Roof
repair and interior/exterior storm damage repair (for people that don't like
roofs!) remain the needs of the residents!
Approximate Cost: $300 per person (Scholarships are available!). Youth will be given opportunities to
"work off" up to half the cost!
Lower Age Limit: Must be at least 14
years old and going into 9th Grade
Upper Age Limit: 117!
Contact: Terry Shaw at 342-6508 or email terry.m.shaw@cummins.com.
There is an opportunity for us to participate in a mission
trip to work with Washington United Church of Christ in
Washington UCC is located in
arrive Sunday ‘evening’
get settled in our accommodations
have a pizza, salad and dessert
supper
orientation
lights out at 11:00.
Monday through
Thursday:
8:00 breakfast
8:30 worship and assignments
9:00 report to work projects
12:00 lunch and break
1:00 work projects
4:30 showers for the dirty ones
5:30 supper
6:30 group time
11:00 lights out
Friday:
8:00 breakfast
9:00 pack up, clean up, and head for home.
The cost is $200.00 per person, with fee waived for the
group leader. This includes lodging, meals, materials, and the t-shirt. If we
desire to do a street feast for 200-300 under resourced people, then there is
an additional cast of $150.00. We need to send a $50.00 deposit for each
participant. We have some funds for ‘scholarships’.
Please contact David
Smith at 317-359-7126 (as soon as possible) if you (and your family) are
interested in participating in this mission trip.
This is a unique opportunity for NCC in it’s mission trip work.
David Smith
Centering Prayer group meets at North Christian Church on
Tuesdays from 11:15 –12:30 a.m.
in the Prayer Chapel, Lower Level Room 6.
Christian Contemplative Prayer and Centering Prayer Overview
Christian Contemplative Prayer is the opening of mind and heart - our whole being - to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words and emotions, whom we know by faith is within us, closer than breathing, thinking, feeling and choosing; even closer than consciousness itself. The root of all prayer is interior silence. Though we think of prayer as thoughts or feelings expressed in words, this is only one expression. Contemplative Prayer is a prayer of silence, an experience of God’s presence as the ground in which our being is rooted, the Source from whom our life emerges at every moment.
For the Church's first sixteen centuries Contemplative Prayer was the goal of Christian spirituality. After the Reformation, this living tradition was virtually lost. Today, with cross-cultural dialogue and historical research, the recovery of the Christian contemplative heritage has begun. The method of Centering Prayer, in the tradition of Lectio Divina (praying the scriptures) is contributing to this renewal.
Centering Prayer is a method of prayer, which prepares us to receive the gift of God's presence, traditionally called contemplative prayer. It consists of responding to the Spirit of Christ by consenting to God’s presence and action within. It furthers the development of contemplative prayer by quieting our faculties to cooperate with the gift of God’s presence.
Centering Prayer facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer — verbal, mental or affective prayer — into a receptive prayer of resting in God. It emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God. At the same time, it is a discipline to foster and serve this relationship by a regular, daily practice of prayer. It is Trinitarian in its source, Christ-centered in its focus, and ecclesial in its effects; that is, it builds communities of faith.
Centering Prayer is
drawn from ancient prayer practices of the Christian contemplative heritage,
notably the Fathers and Mothers of the Desert, Lectio Divina, (praying the
scriptures), The Cloud of Unknowing, St. John of the Cross and St.
Teresa of Avila.. It was distilled into a simple method of prayer in the 1970’s
by three Trappist monks, Fr. William Meninger, Fr. Basil Pennington and Abbot
Thomas Keating at the Trappist Abbey,
As
with any good journey, this is one we aren’t ready to end. So far, 14 children of all ages have
participated! “Kids Knit the Mystery”
meets on Sunday mornings from 10:00-10:30 AM in the Prayer Chapel (Room - Lower
Level 6). During upcoming sessions,
beginners are welcome and those with some proficiency will be taught next-step
skills. Adults who knit are invited to come as helpers. Yarn, needles and instruction are provided.
Thanks
to Lesli Lanteigne for organizing
and leading this group and to Lesli,
Doris Traylor, Sandy Wilson, Sheryl Elston and Shauncee Johnson for sharing their skills and love of knitting with
the 14 children who have participated.
April
is the month for North Christian Church to supply food for Love Chapel. All North members and friends can
participate—the Community and World Outreach Ministry Division invites children
to bring peanut butter and jelly, while adults are asked to make monetary
gifts. Fish Offering envelopes will be
in the pews throughout the month of April.
Love
Chapel provides those in need with a number of services: food pantry, job search assistance, and
financial assistance throughout the year with utility bills, cost of GED tests,
rent, overnight shelter, transitional shelter and other needs.
Love Chapel is a vital year round ministry that demonstrates to the world that Christians are brothers and sisters called together by God in both witness and work. Much of our local outreach is done through Love Chapel and its ministry. Please give generously!
The
North Christian Church March of Dimes March for Babies team is seeking your
support. The team consists of Lesli Lanteigne, David Smith, Caroline
Cox-Smith, and Jean Thompson.
Donations
may be given to any of the team members listed above or may be made on line at www.marchforbabies.org
through credit card or PayPal.
Thanks for your support to help the work of the March of Dimes prevent premature births!
Webmistress: denise@northchristianchurch.com
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