SPECIAL ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE

Lent: A Time of Reflection

 

            Once again, we will observe Ash Wednesday with a special service to be held on February 21 in the Golden West Aspen Room.  The service begins at 7:00 p.m. and all are welcomed.

 

            In the Christian calendar Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent.  It occurs forty-six days before Easter, but Lent is nevertheless considered forty days long, because Sundays in this period are not counted as days of penance.  It falls on different dates from year to year, according to the date of Easter; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.

 

            At services of worship on this day, worshippers are blessed with ashes by the minister.  The minister marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes, in the shape of a cross.  In many Christian churches, the minister of ashes may also be a layperson or non-clergyman.  The symbolism echoes the ancient Near Easter tradition of throwing ashes over one’s head, signifying repentance before God (as related in the Bible).

           

            The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations and mixing them with olive oil as a fixative.

 

 

PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE!

First Christian Church of Boulder is going to see a time change!  We aren’t talking Daylight Saving Time (that comes on March 11).  What we are talking about here is a change in the time that

our FCCafé presentations begin!

The time had been changed to 9:45 a.m. last September when the decision was made that continental breakfast would no longer be available.  Now it seems that choir members who like to attend the Cafés miss much of the sessions because they must be in rehearsal shortly after 10:00 a.m.  So….. beginning on Sunday, February 11th the FCCafé presentations will begin at 9:30 a.m.!  This will make consistent the starting times for educational opportunities for all ages on Sunday mornings.

 

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER

 

Rosella Bax (mother of Sharon Bax), Joe Centeno, Justin Coughlin (great-nephew of Rosie Campbell), Barbara Johnson, Virginia Mandry, Christine Rosa (daughter of Esther Campbell), Nelson Shepherd, Emma Slater, John Stickle, Juanita Taylor, life & death of Lowell McMahon (step-father of Becky Trejo).

 

LIFE AND NEWS OF THE CONGREGATION!

 

We offer a big thank you to Frank Campbell for replenishing our supply of cradle crosses given at Parent Child Dedication services.

 

Congratulations to Ikuko and Zachary Scheuren who will celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary on February 14th!  This wasn’t listed in our February calendar.  Sorry!

 

Switzerland!  Opera!  Family!  What could be better?  Not much, according to Jane Byers who recently returned from a trip to Suisse to hear daughter, Mardi, sing in Don Carlos. While there, Jane got to spend time with son, Jeff too!

               

Two of our Golden West friends, Emma Slater and Juanita Taylor, are currently at

Boulder Manor.

 

An article on the Boulder Unicycle Club featured quotes by our own Mary Rios who was instrumental in the club’s beginning.  The story was printed in the February 3rd edition of

the Daily Camera.

               

Our love and sympathy are extended to Becky, Jack and Emalyn Trejo upon the death of Becky’s stepfather, Lowell McMahon.

 

Our Youth Director, Sherrill Morris, was involved in an auto accident last week.  She is still in considerable pain and her car was totaled.

 

Not that we have a competitive staff, but our Music Director, Becca Hirsch, has been dealing with pain from kidney stones!

 

And our Administrative Assistant, Linda Abel is receiving treatment for back pain!

 

 

NEW IN THE PEW

Pam Ware joined our church family only a few short months ago, but has already jumped in to help out in a big way.  She is our 2007 Secretary of the Board and Chair of the Personnel Committee.  She brings professional skills to these jobs which will be invaluable.  She owns a new company, Front Range Hospice, based in Erie.  She is very excited that they obtained their licensure and have already signed up the required number of clients, all in very short order.  But watch out, she will be looking for volunteers for her new venture, and may ask YOU to help!

Pam moved to Longmont from Denver in April 2006, to live with her partner, Christie Baryames.  Pam was previously affiliated with the United Church of Christ.  She moved to this area from Los Angeles (via San Diego and Phoenix) 10 years ago.  She enjoys gardening, our friendly congregation, and the bread she received on her first visit.  She has experienced a remarkable spiritual journey which you should ask her about.

We're very glad to have Pam worship, work, and grow with us!

Sandy Bish

 

FROM THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE TO OUR CHURCH FAMILY

WEEK OF COMPASSION SPECIAL OFFERING

FEBRUARY 18 AND FEBRUARY 25

 

What would you do if your neighbor’s home was completely destroyed?  What if your

neighbor became seriously ill and needed your help just to take care of life’s basic needs? You’d probably be right there, helping out in any way you could — giving your time, your energy and your money.

But what if the same things happened to someone across town? Or in the next state?  Or in another country? Many of us have been wonderfully generous as we’ve responded to the crying needs splashed on our television sets after the tsunami in Asia, the earthquake in Pakistan/Kashmir, and the hurricanes on the Gulf Coast.  We’ve added our contributions to the money that has flowed from the hearts and pocketbooks of people around the world.

Yet systemic “disasters” occur every day in the lives of millions of other people — extreme poverty and chronic hunger, terminally unclean water and nonexistent sanitation, terrorizing war and devastating loss. We see the images from time to time, and our hearts go out to those people.  But that’s different, right? After all, we can’t be there for everyone.

Jesus might not agree. When a young lawyer queries Jesus about the command to ‘love your neighbor as yourself,’ he asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds with a story.  He tells the young lawyer about a stranger who helped a man who had been robbed and beaten and left for dead — a stranger who freely gave his time, his energy and his financial resources to help another human being whom he didn’t know and might never see again.  Jesus tells us that we are all neighbors and need to respond to each other’s needs.

Since 1946, the Week of Compassion offering has provided an opportunity for each of us to become participants in humanitarian work that expresses God’s love to our neighbors far and wide — not just to victims of the major disasters that saturate the media, but to victims of the disasters that repeat themselves each and every day.

Gifts to Week of Compassion support programs that help our neighbors around the world build lives and communities that are healthy, safe and sustainable, making a huge difference in the lives of millions of families —

• creating sustainable sources of food for rural villages

• providing women micro-credit to start poverty-escaping businesses

• teaching trades and job skills to people maimed by landmines

• offering children a chance to survive past the age of five and go to school

• helping rebuild communities ravaged by natural disasters

• and so much more.

In the coming weeks, our congregation will participate in the Week of Compassion special offering.  We’ll offer activities to help us better understand the problems facing our neighbors in other countries, and we’ll present an opportunity for you to make a gift that reflects your desire to show the kindness, compassion and mercy to which Jesus calls us.

When Jesus responded to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” he set a standard that wasn’t easy to meet.  But, by participating in Week of Compassion, we can experience the joy of showing and sharing God’s love — offering a hand to that stranger in need and making a difference in the lives of our neighbors around the world. And in so doing, we are changed.

 

 

FCCAFÉ PRESENTATIONS

(Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in Riley Hall)

 

February 18 – Martha Mason – “A Crash Course in FCC History”

 

February 25 – Questions of Faith: "Who is God?”

 

ELDERS

 

Following the 10:45 a.m. worship service on February 11 the Elders will meet in Riley Hall.

 

DEBORAH-REBEKAH GROUP

 

Deborah-Rebekah Group meets Thursday,

February 15 at 9:30 a.m. in the Spruce Room at Golden West.

 

FCC – COMMUNITY TABLE

 

Thursday, February 15 is FCC’s night to serve at Community Table.

 

WORSHIP COMMITTEE

 

The Worship Committee will meet in the Education Building, Room #5 following the 10:45 a.m. worship service on February 18.

 

DISCERNMENT MEETING

 

The next discernment meeting is Sunday,

February 25 following the sanctuary worship service.  We’ll have an all-church potluck meal and discussion.  You are encouraged to attend to make your views known.

 

DWCC

 

Thursday, March 1 at 9:30 a.m. the Disciple Women Coordinating Committee meets in the Education Building, Room #5.

 

NEW WOMEN’S GROUP

 

The next New Women’s meeting is on Saturday,

March 3 at 9:30 a.m. in the Golden West

Cottonwood Room (Penthouse Level).  Louise

Johnson will host and Priscilla Gifford will facilitate the discussion, focusing on the 23rd Psalm.  Please call Louise or Cindy to RSVP and if you need a ride contact Cindy Zimmerman at 303.439.0704.

 

FNATM

         

 

March 9

Host:  Martha Mason, 660 S. 42nd Street, Boulder, 303.494.1057

Born into Brothels – This Oscar-winning documentary is a portrait of several unforgettable children who live in Calcutta's red-light district, where their mothers work as prostitutes.  Spurred by the kids' fascination with her camera, Zana Briski, a photographer documenting life in the brothels, decides to teach them photography.  As they begin to look at and record their world through new eyes, the kids awaken to their own talents and sense of worth.  Although set in some of the worse slums of India, this story will bring the movie-goer a sense of hope.

 

FCC BOARD MEETING

 

The next FCC Board meeting is Sunday, March 11 following the sanctuary worship service in the Education Building, Room #5.

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

 

The Outreach Committee of First Christian Church wants to thank everyone who contributed to the Outreach offerings during 2006.  Your generosity is overwhelming.  The following list shows the amounts you have for "over and above" giving in addition to your regular pledges and contributions.

 

1. There are six special offerings taken yearly and sent in to the Church Finance Council.

$  908     Week of Compassion (for disaster relief)

$  897     Easter (for general ministries of the church)

$  533     Pentecost (new church ministries, etc.)

$  541     Reconciliation (for anti-racism)

$  560     Thanksgiving (for higher education)

$  821     Christmas (for regional ministries)

 

2. There were two one-time offerings.

$  500     Heart for Kids and Camps (for youth)

$2,855    Africa School Project in West Darfur, Sudan

 

3. There are three offerings that are a part of the regular FCC budget.

$1,800    Disciples Mission Fund

$  550     Community Table

$  300     UMHE (United Ministries in Higher Education) at CU

 

4. There were other special gifts.

$1,443    Tennyson Center for Children at Colorado Christian Home

    (from sale of the church van)

$  962      ARC Thrift Store (also a result of the sale of the church van)

 

5. There were other all-church projects.

Valentine Rose Bowls

Cookies for College Students

Rummage Sale

UMHE Dinners for CU Students

Community Table

Colorado Christian Home Denver Dinner

Dress A Child (Colorado Christian Home)

 

This is how you have shown your support.  We think that is totally awesome.  Thank you so very much; and please remember, each gift is truly appreciated.

 

2006 Outreach Committee:

Carol Ashmore, Chairman

Janet Barringer

Marcie Geissinger

Priscilla Gifford

Keith Lance

Kay Lowe-Wendling

Joe Sellers

 

 

HELP PROVIDE A DINNER FOR THE UMHE STUDENTS!

Wednesday February 14th is FCC's week for providing food for United Ministry in Higher Education's weekly gathering.  As students are often poor, busy, and inexperienced at cooking, the free home-cooked meals are a very important part of the ministry!  Please let me know if you can contribute.

Thank you,

Heather Avens (720-890-1252)

 

 

NEXT RAM’S HORN DEADLINE: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19

 

 

First Christian Church

950 28^th Street

Boulder, CO  80303

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1   2  3  4   5 6   7,

 

 

 

     

 

April 13

 

Host:  Sandy Bish, 1381 Carlson Avenue, Erie, 303.828.0348

The Keys to the House – After his wife dies giving birth to their mentally and physically handicapped son, Paolo, Gianni is unable to cope with his duties as a father.  Fifteen years later, he returns to mend his fractured relationship with his son but finds that rebuilding a bond won't be easy.  His friendship with the mother of a disabled child provides the support he's been looking for and the tools he needs to make amends.  This is a heart-warming story of reconciliation and forgiveness.

 

Everyone is invited!  You may come one time, or every time.  Come and enjoy the movie

and gathering.  Please let the host know that you will attend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have a place for you at First Christina Church.

In the pews, behind the scenes, in Sunday School, or   

 

There’s something for everyone!

You are the ones you’ve been waiting for.