January 20, 2016 The OPEN DOOR LAKEWOOD CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ) “An Open Door to a Vital Faith” www.lakewoodchrisanchurch.org 6509 Bosque Blvd. Waco, TX 76710 Phone: (254)772-3416 Fax: (254)772-9354 Email: of- [email protected]Rev. Sue McDougal Interim Minister Carrie Forehand Choir Director Brad Forehand Handbell Director Cristina Wolfe Organist/Pianist Pam Huffstatler Director, CDC Brandi Goddard Administrative Assistant OFFICE HOURS: Monday—Friday 7:30am—4:00pm PASTORS HOURS Tuesday & Thursday 10:00am—6:00pm January 10 Sunday School– 17 Morning Worship– 68 Offering—$3996.00 January 17 Sunday School– 22 Morning Worship– 74 Offering—$3648.00 ($100 for 2015) The Musings of Your Minister Dear Members & Friends of the Lakewood Christian Church Community of Faith, I want to thank you for being a part of the lovely Thanksgiving and Christ- mas seasons we have just finished celebrating together. It was strange coming into a new church setting as interim minister, just as those two big holiday cele- brations were kicking into high gear. Those “biggies” tend to run on auto pilot, with so many traditions that have become important to so many different people over the years. Not only do individual families each have their own ways of cele- brating both holidays, but there are lots of traditions particular to every congrega- tion that come into play as well. I appreciate the gracious ways you accepted my contributions, as I was not only trying to plan meaningful worship experienc- es, but was also trying to learn names, figure out the sensitive microphone system and catch up on pastoral calling, which had not been done by a pastor for some time. You were very tolerant of my missed steps in worship with the microphone and with candle-lighting challenges, and with lengthy sermons, that I didn’t get cut, as “the 4 hours a day of driving to and from Waco” seriously cut into the preparation and slicing time, I’d been used to having. I was deeply saddened, as I know you were, by Anjanette’s fall in the middle of Christmas festivities, and by her eventual death. She took her Senior elder duties, and her church decorating joys very seriously, as she did expressing her love for her family, church family and for her meals on wheels assignees and colleagues at work. Continued on the back…
January 10 Sunday School– 17 Morning Worship– 68 Offering—$3996.00 January 17 Sunday School– 22 Morning Worship– 74 Offering—$3648.00 ($100 for 2015)
The Musings of Your Minister
Dear Members & Friends of the Lakewood Christian Church Community of
Faith, I want to thank you for being a part of the lovely Thanksgiving and Christ-
mas seasons we have just finished celebrating together. It was strange coming
into a new church setting as interim minister, just as those two big holiday cele-
brations were kicking into high gear. Those “biggies” tend to run on auto pilot,
with so many traditions that have become important to so many different people
over the years. Not only do individual families each have their own ways of cele-
brating both holidays, but there are lots of traditions particular to every congrega-
tion that come into play as well. I appreciate the gracious ways you accepted
my contributions, as I was not only trying to plan meaningful worship experienc-
es, but was also trying to learn names, figure out the sensitive microphone system
and catch up on pastoral calling, which had not been done by a pastor for some
time.
You were very tolerant of my missed steps in worship with the microphone and
with candle-lighting challenges, and with lengthy sermons, that I didn’t get cut, as
“the 4 hours a day of driving to and from Waco” seriously cut into the preparation
and slicing time, I’d been used to having.
I was deeply saddened, as I know you were, by Anjanette’s fall in the middle of
Christmas festivities, and by her eventual death. She took her Senior elder duties,
and her church decorating joys very seriously, as she did expressing her love for
her family, church family and for her meals on wheels assignees and colleagues at
work.
Continued on the back…
January 24, 2015
OPEN/CLOSE BLDG:
ELDERS:
OFFERING/LOAF:
Jim Young
CUP:
Jack Harbour *
COUNTING TEAM:
Rick Cross & Russell Scott
January 31, 2015
OPEN/CLOSE BLDG:
ELDERS:
OFFERING/LOAF:
Charlie Piscacek
CUP: Terry Ermoian
COUNTING TEAM:
Anna Futral & Linda Jensen
* Jennifer Roach visits for Hazel
Martin
* Jennifer Olson visits for Jack
Harbour
CWF/DW CORNER
Priscilla Group, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 7 p.m.
Candace Sheppard will speak on "How Well Do You Know . . . .?" Bette Cook and Teresa Bailey are hostesses. Join
us for this interesting evening!!
2016 CWF Outreach contributions are being mailed to the following groups: The Disciples Mission Fund $300, Meals and Wheels $450,
Mission Waco After School Program $400, Pure Freedom Ministry $250, Family Abuse Center $200, and Disciples Crossing Capital
Campaign $200. Many thanks to our congregation for the support of CWF
fundraisers that allows us to contribute to these worthy causes.
New benches in Courtyard--Thanks to Janice Kriegel (and Pete) for the new
benches in the courtyard! They complement the benches redone by Jon and Ila Jean
Carothers.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>LOAF<<<<<<<<<<<<<
LOAF will next meet on Thursday, Feb. 4, with Billie Jorda and Hazel Martin as
hostesses. Put the date on your calendar and join us! It begins at 10 a.m. with
coffee and cookies, followed by a potluck luncheon at noon. All are welcome!!!
Steering Board Meeting Thursday, January 21st at
6:00pm. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Katherine Arrowood, Deanne Bigham, Carolyn Brown, Sun-ny Brous, Edward Busch, Bill Collins, Elias Cordero, Earl Delaney, Chili & Ganna Denton, Louise Dyess, Nathan Lack-ey, Ashley Lowry, Gary & Marian Fraser & family, Tracy Golden, Nell Harbor, Donya Hiilsmeier, Greg Howell, Shirley Hundley, Bob & Billie Jorda, Lois Landis, Tinka Nelson, Peii Pardaen, Danny Pardaen, Colby Preston, Pat Rash, Margaret
Richardson, Frieda Shipley, Kathy Snider, Matt Tiller, Karen Waddell, Emily Wet-land, Sheri Weltland, Jennifer Williams Please contact the office with your birthdays, anni-versaries, joys, or prayer requests!
Jim & Alice Young
Bob & Shirley Watson
Ross & Annette Smith
Janda Hill, Sue Lowry, Leonard Moses,
Gloria Walker, Sheila Sparks, Kimberly
Gorski, Calvin Forehand, Cristina Wolfe,
Scott Cromie, Jean McAtee, Pat Rash, Bill
Jensen, Gene Hall, Ashton Roach, Leon
Cheney, Mary Alexander, Travis Brown,
John Strickland
Lawrence & Melba Bowers
Sherman & Aletha George
Charles & Jean Vestal
Charlie Piscacek, Chance Mosley, Hazel Martin,
Richard Sparks, Roxanne Glaser, Jeremy Filz,
Bill Mathews, Carrie Forehand, Marlee Veloz
The Musings of Your Minister Continued… I’m just thankful that she was able to attend our Christmas Eve service, and see the large circle of candlelight
lighting up the faces of the people she loved, in the sanctuary that night. There were so many attendees that
we ran out of candles.
I had the experience that night that I’d had as an interim ministry in Indianapolis, years ago at Central Chris-
tian Church. I began work with that congregation in Advent also. There were only 46 people in attendance
throughout the season of Advent. Several of them had told me they’d be going out of town for Christmas,
and so wouldn’t be in attendance for Christmas Eve. Some had even suggested, maybe we should not hold a
Christmas Eve service that year.
I arrived at the church about an hour before worship that evening to do all of the set up, since many of the el-
ders and deacons had said they’d be out of town for Christmas. I turned on the lights in the sanctuary to sig-
nal to the city-dwellers downtown that Central Christian was open for Christmas Eve worship. Then, I went
down the hall to my office to put on my robe and to get last minute service notes together. I thought I might
find 10 or 12 people upon my return to the sanctuary. I had fixed communion for intinction, thinking I’d
waste fewer supplies if I didn’t fill individual communion cups.
Later, as I was walking back to the sanctuary, I heard the organ crank up to some very festive Christmas car-
ols prior to the prelude. I heard a rumbling of voices in the background, and figured that the distance was
playing a trick with my ears. Were they singing carols? Or just talking to one another that loudly? When I
turned the next corner, I heard several people trying to talk to one another over the sound of the music. They
were not singing yet. The rumble was larger than just a few people. I walked into the sanctuary to find 150
people in worship. God had filled the sanctuary to celebrate the birth of Jesus, despite the fact that I wasn’t
expecting them. I shook my head, as a tear ran down my cheek, and I thanked God, that divine invitations to
worship are more effective than mine. By now, it was snowing outside, and the beauty of the fresh snow on
the sidewalks and cars, and on the tops of heads, as people continued to come in the door to join in worship
just made the night more magical.
I reminded myself, as I locked the building that night, “God is NOT going to be without a witness to the
amazing love given humanity in Jesus Christ. We need only “be” faithful ones”, and” join our voices in song,
and bring our witness of love,” and God will provide the people who are seeking the Christ among us.
I saw this happen in Indianapolis, where Central is now a thriving congregation, and I’ve begun seeing this
happen here at Lakewood too. I’ve been exceedingly impressed by the ways you all reach out and welcome
each guest, even my reclusive daughter, who visited with me over her Christmas break from college. She re-
marked,” how friendly and welcoming the Lakewood folks are.”
We are especially pleased to welcome our two newest members, Dan and Cheryl Catherall who joined the
church on January 3rd. Cheryl is Scott Cromie’s mother. Dan and Cheryl, who are Roman Catholics, want to
worship in the same community of faith as their children and grandchildren, and so placed their dual member-
ship here at Lakewood .
Welcome Dan and Cheryl! And, to the rest of you, “Keep making that joyful noise!”
