1 DISCIPLES DIGEST Loving God, Loving Neighbor, Making Disciples November 19, 2010 Context: Martin E. Marty on Religion and Culture is gone. “For 42 years Marty has been collecting, condensing, editing, and commenting on articles gleaned from books, magazines, journals, newspapers, reviews and the culture at large.” – That‘s what John Buchanan in the latest issue of The Christian Century. I started reading Martin Marty’s work in The Christian Century. The last few issues of Context have been composed of highlights from the years of publication. Some of them were entertaining: February 1, 1988: MEM: “The old definition of a bore: Someone who, when you ask him how he is, tells you. The new definition of a bore: Someone who, when you give him a chance, talks about his word processor. I try to spare you computer talk here. But a trauma occurred recently. After 37 months of flawless performance, my machine gave me a bit of trouble. So I am reduced to typing on an old IBN Correcting Selectric typewriter, and it seems to me as primitive as an old yellow pencil.” (Nov. 2010, Part B, page 4) Some of the highlights were raising important points that surfaced when unexpected. June 1, 1987: MEM, in a talk to the Religion Newswriters’ Association convention, musing on what he would say if he were a veteran religion writer meeting with his editors: “Not to sound grabby, but could I also write for other pages? Would you trust me to handle religion in features, not just in news? Religious people almost never recognize themselves or all their interests in just conflict and combat stories. People are not religious in order to have fights or to assassinate leaders. They want to find meaning, to belong to something. They often say interesting things and do good things worth writing and reading about. Our paper talks about athletic games, not just about athletic scandals. We report on financial trends, not just ‘insider trading’ sleaze. Will you let me dig up and focus on analogues to these in religion? Two thirds of America’s voluntary hours, two thirds of America’s voluntary dollars, are channeled through religious causes. Can we s how that, on the days when the religious fund-raising is not corrupt or degrading? I’m going to miss Marty’s publications. I used to type on a Selectric, that is, when I had access to a really good machine! These days, it’s hard to remember that a huge part of the charitable work in our culture is a direct result of faith imperatives. Marty has helped me remember. Martin Marty has been for me what the church is for many. Just as he has helped me remember, via stories, what matters, the church does the same. Where else can you count on hearing from Scripture and from someone you know, every week, a story, a reminder, a challenge from our faith experience of God through Jesus Christ? Don’t tell me that you can get it on TV. I’ve watched way too many folks talk their way right around the scripture into something that is anything but Biblical. But the church is more than memory and storytelling. (Continued on Page 2) Celebrating 30 Years of Ministry at The Woodlands Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Transcript
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DISCIPLES DIGEST Loving God, Loving Neighbor, Making Disciples
November 19, 2010 Context: Martin E. Marty on Religion and Culture is gone. “For 42 years Marty has been collecting, condensing, editing, and commenting on articles gleaned from books, magazines, journals, newspapers, reviews and the culture at large.” – That‘s what John Buchanan in the latest issue of The Christian Century. I started reading Martin Marty’s work in The Christian Century. The last few issues of Context have been composed of highlights from the years of publication. Some of them were entertaining:
February 1, 1988: MEM: “The old definition of a bore: Someone who, when you ask him how he is, tells you. The new definition of a bore: Someone who, when you give him a chance, talks about his word
processor. I try to spare you computer talk here. But a trauma occurred recently. After 37 months of flawless performance, my machine gave me a bit of trouble. So I am reduced to typing on an old IBN Correcting Selectric typewriter, and it seems to me as primitive as an old yellow pencil.” (Nov. 2010, Part B, page 4)
Some of the highlights were raising important points that surfaced when unexpected.
June 1, 1987: MEM, in a talk to the Religion Newswriters’ Association convention, musing on what he would say if he were a veteran religion writer meeting with his editors: “Not to sound grabby, but could I also write for other pages? Would you trust me to handle religion in features, not just in news? Religious people almost never recognize themselves or all their interests in just conflict and combat stories. People are not religious in order to have fights or to assassinate leaders. They want to find meaning, to belong to something. They often say interesting things and do good things worth writing and reading about. Our paper talks about athletic games, not just about athletic scandals. We report on financial trends, not just ‘insider trading’ sleaze. Will you let me dig up and focus on analogues to these in religion? Two thirds of America’s voluntary hours, two thirds of America’s voluntary dollars, are channeled through religious causes. Can we show that, on the days when the religious fund-raising is not corrupt or degrading?
I’m going to miss Marty’s publications. I used to type on a Selectric, that is, when I had access to a really good machine! These days, it’s hard to remember that a huge part of the charitable work in our culture is a direct result of faith imperatives. Marty has helped me remember.
Martin Marty has been for me what the church is for many. Just as he has helped me remember, via stories, what matters, the church does the same. Where else can you count on hearing from Scripture and from someone you know, every week, a story, a reminder, a challenge from our faith experience of God through Jesus Christ? Don’t tell me that you can get it on TV. I’ve watched way too many folks talk their way right around the scripture into something that is anything but Biblical. But the church is more than memory and storytelling. (Continued on Page 2)
Celebrating 30 Years of Ministry at
The Woodlands Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
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The church is where we, in covenant with God and with one another, dare to consider the things we see and hear in the light of Christ. And this is where we act on them. It’s is appropriate, then, for us to mark Veterans’ Day with recognition, thanksgiving, and prayer. It’s appropriate for us to mark Thanksgiving, a national holiday, in worship as we celebrate this place and those who prepared the way for us. To paraphrase an old folk song, This land is God’s land – and God-s world- and God’s bounty. And we must, if we’re aware at all, be thankful people.
Come to worship this weekend. We’ll be giving God thanks, we’ll be listening for God in the Scripture and the telling, we’ll sing, pray, and share. Come, let’s remember, and worship Christ together.
My spirit was moved last week during worship as we sang, “How Great Thou Art.” It is a song that meant so much to my late grandmother, Doris Burks, who passed away a few months ago. With her passing, our family will spend the next several weeks celebrating the holidays without her. The family gathering will be incomplete this year.
The loss of someone dear and close causes many to experience feelings of brokenness. Wholeness is elusive because we have lost a piece of what makes us whole. Scripture provides us with many stories of healing from Jesus’ ministry. When Jesus heals someone, we often hear him saying, “Go, your faith has saved you.” The Greek also can be translated to say, “Go, your faith has made you well.” I prefer the phrase, “Go, your faith has made you whole.”
As we come closer to this holiday season, may your faith bring you ever closer to the one who is your stronghold and your fortress. May your faith allow you to feel yourself under God’s wing. May your faith make you whole.
Blessings, Chad
Chad’s Chatterbox
Youth Ministry Upcoming Events Saturday, Nov. 20 – 10:00 a.m. Meet at the church to shop for Christmas Angels. Sunday, Nov. 21 – No youth activities. Sunday. Nov. 28 – 5:00 p.m. Hanging of the Greens
Children’s Ministry Upcoming Events We are planning a Christmas party for the children’s fellowship group on Sunday, December 12 from 4:00-6:00p.m. Please contact Chad for more information!
songs that imitate the style of commercial music heard on Top 40 radio stations. However, the Chalice Hymnal contains a generous selection of hymns written in the last quarter-century that, despite their obvious modernity of music and text, really fit quite comfortably with the tradition of hymnody that began with Ambrosian and Gregorian chant (and these may actually have roots in ancient Jewish music), and continued with Lutheran chorales, psalm paraphrases of Isaac Watts, and the stirring choruses of John Wesley. The tradition was enlivened by African-American spirituals, revival choruses, and, more recently, the rhythms and melodic inflections of rock. These varied styles shared singability, engaging poetry, music that reflected the mood of the text, and a willingness to deal with specific theological ideas. Gather Us In is a modern song. Its energetic guitar-generated rhythms and modal (pitches derived from sources other than conventional major and minor scales) harmonies are strongly reminiscent of music from the 1960’s. What sets this song apart from most Christian “pop” music is its text, consisting of real poetry in several stanzas. Avoiding the intentional theological vagueness of many new songs, this one employs a lively imagery to celebrate the sacraments of the Christian faith and to petition God to “gather in” his people for worship. The dominance of light as an image recalls another contemporary song , Shine, Jesus Shine , that also feels as much like a traditional hymn as it does a popular song. For the 11:00 worship this Sunday (Nov. 21), we will sing Gather Us In as a Communion hymn, as the third stanza refers to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The Chancel Choir will use the first stanza of the hymn as an introit, helping the congregation to learn the melody. A versatile hymn, indeed! According to the Chalice Hymnal Worship Leader’s Companion (St. Louis, 1998), Marty Haugen was born in a small Minnesota town in 1950, graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and studied at St. Paul School of Divinity. His songs are immensely popular in the Roman Catholic church, and seven of his hymns appear in our Chalice Hymnal. He currently works as composer-in-residence at Mayflower United Church of Christ in Minneapolis. Other important writers of hymns in our time are Fred Pratt Green, Brian Wren, Ruth Duck, Hal Hopson and Austin Lovelace. In the more populist praise and worship movement, writers that stand out for integrity of their texts are Chris Tomlin and Brian Kelly. We should encourage the creativity and theological depth of these artists by including their songs in our worship when suitable.
Rob
“Music is the universal language of mankind“ - Longfellow
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Youth In Action
Tracie Miller played the part of “Grandma Ethel” in the comedy, Moon over Buffalo, presented from Nov. 4 – 8 by the theatre department at The Woodlands College Park High School.
Lauren Ward performs at halftime of the York Jr. High football games. Lauren is a member of the York Liberty Babes Drill Team.
department at The Woodlands College Park High School. Mitchell Mackert & Cortland Samford attended the Coastal Plains Area Chi Rho Fall Rally in Galveston on Nov. 12-14. The 6th, 7th & 8th graders are pictured here after picking up trash off the beach.
Sunday, November 28 at 5:00 p.m. “Hanging of the Greens” We are asking everyone to bring one of your favorite Christmas decorations to hang our tree. Or you may come early at 4:30 p.m. and create your own Christmas decorations for our tree, and later take home to be a part of your Christmas traditions.
Poinsettias orders need to
be in by December 8, please. The order will include a dedication to honor a loved one in the bulletin. You may take your Poinsettias home or donate them after Christmas. They are white with gold foil and $10 each.
DWF Project – Socks for Seniors We will be
collecting socks for our local Senior Citizens on behalf of Interfaith. Please choose bright, colorful, fun, SOFT socks for our women, and SOFT calf or knee high socks for our men. We will be collections from now through Dec. 4th. Contact Karen Townsend, Service Chair, for more information email: [email protected] or call 281-419-8212. Thank you for your support!
DWF Craft Sale Sunday November 21 in the Parlor between worship services. Get your
Christmas shopping done early!
Christmas Traditions
Our Advent planning committee would still like to try to incorporate more diversity into our worship during the Advent and Christmas season. We are asking you to share your own special memories and Christmas traditions with us, with the possibility that we might just try them out at TWCC. Traditions that have already been shared in the last few years are the crismons that have been made for each family for the Christmas tree, having Moravian Love Feast buns for communion, and taking our candles outside to the fire after Christmas Eve services. Please share your tradition by emailing a brief description to [email protected] and include your best phone number just in case we have any questions. We still need your suggestions as soon as possible, please. We are looking forward to a blessed and “traditional" Advent season.
Thursday, December 2 Young of Hearts Luncheon- Outback Steakhouse 11:30 am
Sign-up sheet in the Narthex. Your hosts are Rose and Lonnie Sinclair 936-271-0045
New Member Welcome Please Doreen Fiedler
who joined the TWCC congregation on November 14, 2010. If you would like to send a warm note of welcome, please mail to: 303 Cactus Dr., Conroe, TX 77385. Welcome to the family!
JOYS and CONCERNS God knows all our joys and concerns
before we do.
Celebrations: We welcome our newest member,
Doreen Fiedler! Joyce McGlohn had her highly anticipated surgery at Lakeside this week. She is currently a patient at St. Luke’s Lakeside, room 303. Jane Young is at home! We celebrate a wonderful worship service and Thanksgiving meal last Sunday. Prayer and Sympathy are extended to the Dan Cox family. Dan’s memorial service will be held this afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
Grace-Full Prayers: Bill Cadwell is at Odyssey Place, room 108 in Conroe; Mary Walther is at Reliant; Paige DeJarnett; Heather Elliott Ordie Cherry, surgery on the 29th; Paul Cameron III, surgery on the 30th; Juan Pablo, surgery December 3rd; Cheryl Barton, missionary friend of the Daniels, cancer returned; Elmer Hefelfinger, brother-in –law of William Lentz; Aimee Imboden; Diane Rosemond, cousin of Marilyn Morris; Gayla Shanks; Chad Turner; Gorman Vandiver and Shirley Williams; the Keith Ward family; AJ Gelb; Coastal Plains Area Minister Search Committee.
Ongoing Prayers: Phyllis Benson; Lucile Castle; Mike Davis; Larry Ducote; Ken Dyson; Ron Fugarino; Jean Marie Howells; Suzy Lynskey’s son, Brian Stanfield; Rose Mae Nokes; Betsy Rabon; Heide Sumter; Opal Weaver; and for the family and friends of The Woodlands Christian Church. Protection and Safety for our traveling members and for those serving in our military, and all the medical teams, both civilian and military men and women serving around the world, and the family and friends who are waiting at home for their loved ones to return.
Arley & Lonnelle Walters 11/13
Donnely & Gayla Shanks 11/19
John & Kathleen Bauman 11/27
Paul & Ruth Cameron 11/27
Chad & Cindy Turner 11/28
Bill & Lavena Jennings 11/29
TWCC Permanent Endowment Fund
Account balance to date: $82,036.66
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Daniel Martin Cox January 12, 1929-November 18, 2010
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New Stephen Ministry Class to be offered at TWCC February –April/May 2011
Would you like to join a group of caring individuals who will receive 50 hours of training to become Stephen Ministers at TWCC? If we can get enough persons, we plan to have our next class in the February-April/May 2011
period. You could become part of this team that provides care and support for a person who has suffered a recent loss. Here is an excerpt from a Stephen Minister’s experience.( She is not from our Area).
Twenty-four years ago, Joanne, the young mother of an infant child, was devastated by the unexpected death of her husband. In the weeks and months that followed, she tried several ways of dealing with her grief, but found few resources to help her. As a result of this experience, a seed was planted in her heart--a desire to be there for others who faced similar circumstances.
Several years later, when Joanne saw a notice in her church bulletin calling for people to serve as Stephen Ministers, she responded. "It sparked something in me," Joanne said. "I went to the training, and I've been with it ever since."
In her decade of service as a Stephen Minister, Joanne has had the opportunity to care for people with a variety of needs, including a recent care receiver who was a young widow. Joanne noted, "This care receiver's circumstances were similar to what mine were. It was very satisfying to be able to give her the kind of help I didn't have."
Like many Stephen Ministers, Joanne has noticed a positive ripple effect on many other aspects of her life as a result of her involvement in Stephen Ministry. "It helps me handle my friendships and family relationships more maturely, and before I retired a couple of years ago, it improved the way I related to my co-workers, too. I think I've developed a more compassionate and listening nature." Joanne also uses the skills she's learned as a Stephen Minister in her volunteer work with a local ministry that aids the working poor.
Each of our TWCC Stephen Leaders, Sue Liptrap, Nathan Higginbotham and Steve Montgomery has over 12 years experience in Stephen Ministry. They will be teaching this class. Please see them, or one of our current active Stephen Ministers, Kay Benes, Paula Byrd, Tom Evans, Billy Shaw, or Luke Vandiver to express interest in becoming a part of this wonderful ministry. Also, pick up a Stephen Ministry brochure in the church foyer for summary information.
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The Woodlands Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
1202 N. Millbend Dr. The Woodlands, TX 77380 Phone(281) 292-8858 FAX (291) 292-8881 www.twcc.org
Ministry Team John C. Callison, D.Min., Senior Minister Chad Turner, M.Div., Associate Minister, Children & Youth Dr. Robert Hunt, Director of Music Ministries Suzanne DuBois, Office Manager Shelia McFarland, Receptionist
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