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Focus “Reflecting and Responding Go Hand in Hand” We are delighted to welcome friends and neighbors who visit to worship God here, including Nathaniel Dempsey, Karen St. Marie, J.D. Fleming, Lori Adams, Patti Case, Olivia Adams, Liz Stilwell and Madelyn, Marlene Reddick, Ana & Angel Guardiola, Judy Kidd, Khwanza LeBlanc, Vickie Hawkins, Christine & Leland Mott, Allison, Steve, and a number of faithful folks who participate regularly. Hope to see you again soon! Boy Scout Eagle Court of Honor for Ian Parvin-Asher Riverside Military Academy senior and Boy Scout Ian Parvin Asher has completed all requirements for the honor of becoming an Eagle Scout. His Eagle Court of Honor is set for February 26 at 3 p.m. at Oak Grove United Methodist Church. We also celebrate that Ian and Alex’s sibling Kaitlyn has been accepted into the Master of Divinity Degree Program at Emory’s Candler School of Theology. Congratulations! Decatur Cooperative Ministry In-Kind Donations Toiletries: Crest Toothpaste, Dove Deodorant, Body Wash, Dove/Spring Bath Soap, Pantene Pro-V Relaxed & Natural Shampoo, Cocoa Butter/ Vaseline Body Lotion, Thermometers, Ear Drops, Cough Drops, Nasal Spray. Food: Instant Oatmeal Packets, Breakfast bars & Box Cereal. Household Goods: Umbrellas, 5 bathroom mat sets, 5 sets of shower curtain rings, Cleaning/Paper Products: Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels, Powder & Liquid laundry detergent, Powder & Liquid dish detergents, Bleach!!!!!! Office Supplies: New Legal pads 8.5 x 11, 2012 Calendars, desk & wall types, Personal Journals for the Moms, Pocket Notebooks, Organizers. Gas Cards: For our residents with vehicles Thanks, Thanks, Thanks First, I apologize for being a bit tardy in expressing my thanks to all of you at Decatur First, for all of your kindness following the accident. The visits (although most people who came said I looked like a panda, with my purple eyes), the many, many cards, the food, flowers, and most of all your love and prayers – all were moist appreciated by my family and me. You are indeed a special bunch of folks, and I am most grateful for each and every one of you. Much love- Elizabeth Hamm Please Help Support Azeb Gidey’s Family Church Custodian Azeb Gidey’s sister in Kenya passed away recently. Her sister had five children, and Azeb is trying to help support them. Azeb would like to have additional cleaning jobs in order to help her support both her family and her sister’s. You can reach Azeb at the church on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 404-378-3621. Thank you, Sherry Davis Spiritual Listening Workshop March 10 th from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at First Christian Church of Decatur Have you heard? Would you like to learn what it means to listen in a spiritual way? Have you ever considered listening as a spiritual gift? Join us at the Spiritual Listening Workshop being held on March 10 th , beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 1:00 p.m. with lunch together. The workshop is sponsored by the Caregiver Spiritual Support Ministry. A donation of $20.00 is requested to cover the cost of the books each participant will receive. All are welcome. Email Rev. Daphne Reiley at [email protected] to reserve your space and/or (770-366-1206) to reserve your seat or ask any questions you might have. Did you meet and greet…? Recent Visitors Watching our figures News and notes for God’s folks Sunday, January 15,, 2012 8:30 a.m. Awakenings Service 6 10:50 a.m. Sanctuary Service 69 Total 75 Offering $ 3,385.00 Caregiver Offset 150.00 Musical Recital 60.00 Ponce de Leon Group 60.00 Reimbursement Restricted 75.00 Church Van Gas Donation 90.00 Pathfinders Book Offsets 61.60 Honorarium 300.00 Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale Proceeds 28,000.00 Total $32,181.60 Sunday, January 22, 2012 8:30 a.m. Awakenings Service 10 10:50 a.m. Sanctuary Service 69 Total 79 Offering $1, 860.00 Offset (Spring Into Spanish) 500.00 Offset (Leah Jacobson Music Lessons) 75.00 Offset (Ponce de Leon Group) 75.00 Caregiver Retreat 189.30 Pathfinders Books Offsets 46.30 Total $2, 745.60 Sunday, January 29, 2012 8:30 a.m. Awakenings Service 9 10:50 a.m. Sanctuary Service 66 Total 75 Offering $3,382.00 Pathfinders Books Offsets 46.30 Phone Bill Reimbursement 49.95 Offset (Candlelight Group NA) 60.00 Total $3,538.25 Total Annual Giving Jan.1-Dec.31, ‘11 ‘11 YTD Total Income $253,289.01 ‘11 YTD Total Expenses $247,072.62 ‘11 YTD Surplus (Deficit) $ 6,216.39 February Birthdays Andrew Darby - Feb. 2 Cathy Keeler - Feb. 9 Marion Meador - Feb. 10 James Brewer-Calvert - Feb. 10 Judy Kidd - Feb. 11 Phuong Nguyen - Feb. 16 Don Middour - Feb. 16 Tim Lohr - Feb. 17 Carl Sax - Feb. 19 Suzette Perrillioux - Feb. 20 Thomas Reiley - Feb. 20 Sally Anderson - Feb. 20 Ryan Sexson - Feb. 23 Will Kidd - Feb. 25 Sue Zur Schmiede - Feb. 26 Mary Ellen Fountain - Feb. 27 Genevieve Browning - Feb. 28 February Anniversaries Sage & Paul Appleby - Feb. 8 Senior Pastor Brewer-Calvert’s 14th Year at FCC - Feb. 9 Sally Ann & Wayne Darby-Jobson - Feb. 15 Barbara & Bob Powell - Feb. 17 Caroline and Jay Leslie - Feb. 20 On Sunday, February 5, our beloved Doug Schuette – architect, big-time KU and Michigan fan, and lifelong Disciples of Christ -- will speak on mission opportunities that are presently before us as a community of faith. His chosen scripture is the biblical story of the Good Samaritan. This familiar parable coupled with the adjoining story of Mary and Martha offers insight into how to put God-given grace and service into practice in our fair city. The Good Samaritan is in the tenth chapter of Luke. Also in the tenth chapter of Luke we find Jesus in the home of sisters Mary and Martha. Martha is busy serving and making ready for Jesus; meanwhile her sister Mary is busy listening to Jesus. Jesus had barely sat down to dinner when suddenly he found himself in the middle of a family tiff. Martha asked Jesus to tell her sister to help, and all eyes looked to their Lord for help. Methinks this was not the first time Martha’s expectation of Mary’s help was denied. And maybe it wasn’t the first time Mary sat down to contemplate the divine when big sister Martha decided that idle hands are the devil’s workshop. Jesus stopped teaching to seize upon this teachable moment. He had been blessed with a teachable moment just the day before. He had been approached by a lawyer, who said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said, “What is written in the law?” The lawyer answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself the lawyer asked, “But who is my neighbor?” So Jesus told him the parable of a man that was beaten and left to die by robbers, and then ignored by first a priest and later a Levite. A Samaritan came by and picked up the hurt stranger and cared for him. Jesus then asked the lawyer, “Who was neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” And now we return to the home of Martha and Mary, where Jesus found himself before a person filled with so much doing she may not have even realized she was in the presence of God. When Jesus responds he calls Martha’s name not once but twice: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful.” He seeks to break through her distraction and get her attention. He allows Martha to see Mary anew; she is a faithful disciple, not a neglectful host. He allows Martha to see the value and grace in her ministry as well. Christian Church pastor and professor Dr. Beverly Gaventa points out that, “Mary, in listening to Jesus’ word, has at least begun where faithfulness begins. But what does this suggest? That the life of contemplation is preferred over the life of action? Hardly. Place in your mind this story of Mary and Martha next to that of the Good Samaritan, which is where Luke places them, side by side. Mary’s place alongside the Samaritan affirms that discipleship has to do not only with love of neighbor but also with love of God, not only with active service but also with a silent and patient waiting upon God’s supreme prophet. The Samaritan and Mary belong together. Doing without listening can easily degenerate into busyness that loses its purpose. Listening without doing soon becomes no more than a mockery of the words.” In the practice of grace we discover the joy of both doing and listening, of reflecting and responding to the needs of our neighbors as well as to our own souls. There is a sacred time to go and do; make sacred time to listen and reflect. Knowing when and which is a matter of deep spiritual discernment. We are blessed to be on the verge of entering Lent, a liturgical season designed to help us in the process of discernment and putting grace into practice. When Jesus arrives at your home, ask Him whether you should emulate the lives of Martha, Mary, or the Samaritan. His answer will probably be, “Yes.” As always, First Christian Church of Decatur, I am delighted to be your pastor. Thank you so much for 14 years (2/9/98-2/9/12) of shared hospitality and service. Shalom, James L. Brewer-Calvert “There is a sacred time to go and do; make sacred time to listen and reflect.”
