Newsletter

Newsletter

First Christian Church ( Disciples of Christ )                                                 October 2009
P O Box 872
Burnet TX 78611                                                     Rev. Dawn Rosignol, Senior Minister
512 756 2223                                                    Ernest Spiekermann, Associate Minister
                               Website:                                    fccburnettx.org
                               Pastor's Cell Phone:                    830/613-9393

THOU ART THE POTTER; WE ARE THE CLAY.

Dawn reflections…. 9/30/09
In Matthew 18:20 we find Jesus giving his disciples yet another promise: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among you.” In listening to the stories, I believe the men who went to retreat experienced the presence of Christ among them. Through powerful keynotes, genuine fellowship and faithful planning the men’s retreat was filled with God’s Spirit of mission.

The women also experienced the presence of Christ at our retreat. Through Marilyn’s detailed planning, a passionate keynoter with a story to share, powerful worship and fellowship the women’s retreat was filled with God’s Spirit of community and calling. Just ask any of the 5 men and 16 women who represented FCC Burnet how they experienced God at retreat this year.

God’s Spirit is alive and well here among us, too. Can you feel God’s presence? I experience God in our worship, in our service to others, in our fellowship, in our Bible study and prayer lunches, and in our planning. When we gather in Jesus’ name, I find God filling us with a spirit of empowerment to be the church that God wants us to be: together growing in faith, trusting God and each other more, sharing the gift of God with others.

Where have you experienced God lately? If you don’t think you have, ask God why. Maybe God wants you to become more involved in the congregation’s ministry. Maybe God wants you to become involved in a different area of the congregation’s ministry. Look around and you will find God. I’ll tell you my experiences if you’ll tell me yours. Then, let’s experience God together in new and powerful ways! For where we gather in Jesus’ name, there we will find God.

Excited about God’s Spirit at work among us,,

Dawn

DISCIPLES MEN Now that the Men’s Regional Retreat is over the Men’s group can start back on projects that we have scheduled. The Retreat was great and our Keynote speakers were excellent. Not all our time was spent on fellowship and worship, we had time for recreation and our horseshoe team of Rosignol and Moore won second place in the horseshoe competition. Hopefully more of the men in the congregation will join us for the Area Retreat in February in Gonzales. Since the last newsletter we have completed the upstairs shelves on the North wall and West wall. The paper roll and shelves above the stairs will be on our schedule of things to do. Hopefully by the time you read this article the hot water heater in the bathroom will have been repaired. As soon as we can get our scheduling in order we will be starting on the rent house project. Men’s fellowship breakfast for October will be Saturday the 17th and Ernie will be cooking gravy and biscuits. All men of the Church are invited and please bring a guest. We are glad Leslie Green is back and recovering from his surgery and look forward to Gerald Guthrie returning from his open heart surgery. Ron Rosignol, President
Ron Rosignol, President

Men’s Retreat at Lake Brownwood

OUTREACH REPORT
The Boys & Girls Club sends their thanks for the lunches provided this summer.

From the Board President:
    Once more I wanted to convey to you my deep gratitude on behalf of the Board of Directors and, more importantly, the kids, for your generous contribution of kids meals this summer for the Burnet Unit.
    This means a great deal to the efforts of the Positive Place for Kids and we are most grateful. Sincerely, Bill Parmeter
From the Executive Director:
    I wish to thank you for your generous donation of lunches to the Boys and Girls Club of the Highland Lakes, Burnet Unit. The kids loved the meals you provided and your support is greatly appreciated.
    Your support is essential to the success of the club and makes it possible for the youth of the Highland Lakes to attend our programs. You provided lunches to many children that may not have otherwise had one. Your contribution will not go unnoticed.
    I sincerely thank you for making the Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes a part of your philanthropic commitment and look forward to a lifelong partnership with you. Sincerely, Brian Jones

    Our Noisy Offering for September was $85.48 to benefit LACare Ministry.

Current LACare needs:
     cans of tuna, corn, or refried beans
     1 lb pkgs of spaghetti or macaroni

    Four of our local restaurants have agreed to give a portion of their proceeds on the days listed to LACare. Please keep this in mind as you patronize the local restaurants and take advantage of this opportunity to support LACare.
1st Tuesday of the month     The Maxican
2nd Tuesday of the month     Texas Pizza Co.
3rd Tuesday of the month     Spokes
4th Tuesday of the month     Pizza Hut

COMMUNITY KITCHEN MONDAYS
Thanks to so many of you who have signed up to help! We pray that the number of those being served continues to grow.

August 24:          80
August 31:          92
September 7:      52
September 14:    100
September 21:    110
September 28:    110

LOOKING AHEAD...

October 4            World Communion Sunday
Children’s Moment                      Lisa Nance
Nursery                               Brenda Williams

October 11                 Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
Preaching                                  Pastor Dawn
Worship Leader                      Jerry Hostetter
Children’s Moment                      Ron Petrick
Nursery                                   Sharon Tippie

October 18                           Mark 10:35-45
Preaching                                  Pastor Dawn
Worship Leader                                  Youth
Children’s Moment                             Youth
Nursery                               Brenda Williams

October 25                            Mark 10:46-52
Preaching                                  Pastor Dawn
Worship Leader                       Ron Rosignol
Children’s Moment                     Art Johnson
Nursery                                       Ann Knight

AND BACK...
Attendance August 30                    57
September 6                 72
September 13               68
September 20               55
September 27               50

Treasurer's Report
Balance, July 31 2009                      $32,058.59
Deposits during August                      10,939.62
Disbursements during August             10,970.29
Balance, July 31, 2009                     $32,027.92

Pastor Dawn’s Anniversary
September 24th

In honor of Pastor Dawn’s second anniversary of serving here at First Christian Church, George Smith would like to share this poem.

The Lady Preacher
by GG Smith

Hey Paul, did you hear what they did?
Joe asked Paul his Sunday school teacher.
No, I haven’t. What did they do?
The committee hired a lady preacher.

A lady preacher! I never heard of such a thing.
So Paul, what ever should we do?
I am thinking about another church.
I sure don’t know about you.

Why don’t we wait a couple of weeks
asked Paul, and see just what she can do.
If she can’t cut it and run this church
I’ll go find a new one with you.

Dawn walked out with her head held high,
prayed to God for his guidance that day.
Breezed through the announcements and
spoke of the ill folks and asked us to pray.

Then she preached about Peter and fishing for men
and the miracles that occurred that day.
The communion and the offering then
we sang Blest Be the Tie and went on our way.

Several weeks later I had a chance
to talk with Joe and Paul,
and all the words they had spoken
I did recall.

Well, I asked, what about the lady preacher?
“She is great now and will continue to grow.
Don’t forget we are the ones who
sent the committee to her. Didn’t you know?”

And the congregation said
“Thank you Paul and Joe.”

“Thank You!”

“Thank You!”        Thank you so very much for your prayers, visits, cards, phone calls, food and other expressions of your love and concern during my recent trips to the hospital in Austin. We have such a loving and caring congregation!
       I want to especially acknowledge the visits and prayers of our wonderful pastor, the Rev. Dawn Rosignol, prior to my surgeries. We are so blessed to have her as our pastor!
                                     Leslie Kilby Green

Dear Church Family,
       Thank you for the scholarship you gave me to continue my studies at Concordia. I feel so blessed to have yall’s support in everything that I do. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers. I will see you soon.
                                     Zac

Dear Christian Folk,
       Thank you for the Silver Queen Dieffenbachia for the services of Mom. She enjoyed seeing the greening of the earth as well as the flowers. We will enjoy this plant well.
Sincerely,
jkk Arthur, Beverly, & Dan

Zac Darling
1910 Lobelia Drive
Cedar Park, TX 78613

Gentry Hearn
309 Amhearst
College Station, TX 77840

Lisa Hearn
Box T-3540
Stephenville, TX 76402

James Johnson
3304 San Jacinto
309 East 21st Street
Austin, TX 78705

Edna Sargeant
Granite Mesa Health Center
1401 Max Copeland Drive
Room 316
Marble, Falls, TX 78654

First Christian Church will have a special service to celebrate Worldwide

Communion Sunday on October 4. Please plan to be in worship on Sunday morning in honor of our Lord.

“Blessing of the Animals”
Bring your animals to the church parking lot for a special blessing in celebration of St. Francis of Assisi Day on October 4 at 5:00pm. Owners will need to be responsible for the restraint of their animals. If you are unable to bring your animal, you can always bring a picture instead.

A WORD FROM THE MODERATOR…
Be sure to remember our annual picnic on Saturday, October 10th at our home. It starts at 11:00 am. Maps will be available after church, October 4th. Please come by for some fun & fellowship. Be thinking about your costume for the Fall Festival, another opportunity for fun & fellowship.
Thanks,
Jerry

Heartfelt sympathy is extended to Art, Beverly, and Dan in the death of Vee Wood.

Our Fall Festival will be on Sunday, October 25, from 5:30 - 8:00 pm. If you haven’t signed up yet to help with food and games, there are sign-up sheets in the Fellowship Hall. Activities will include “Trunk or Treat”, games galore, cake walk, costume contest for all ages, pumpkin carving and decorating, apple catching, musical chairs, face painting, and much more! Chili dogs and other treats will be served at 7:00 p.m. All ages are invited to come join the fun and fellowship!

CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, November 8, 2-4 PM

Church World Service partners with ecumenical bodies like Week of Compassion to respond to hunger and poverty issues around the world. Right here in Burnet, partners include our local churches and others working together to benefit LACare. One-fourth of the monies collected will return to support our local food bank.

You CAN make a difference in many ways to support this year’s walk:

Sign up to be a walker and collect funds.
Support a walker with your donations.
Pray for the success and safety of the walk.
Provide refreshments at the end of the walk (finger foods like cookies, sandwiches and chips).

Look for sign-up sheets in the gathering area or contact Laura Orr for more information.

STEWARDSHIP

8 Biblical Ways to Stretch Your Money

By actively applying these principles, “little can become much, when God is in it.”

Always honor God by returning the FIRST PORTION of any resources you receive back to the Lord. Proverbs 3:9; Haggai 1:4-11; Deuteronomy 14:23
Develop with your spouse an annual REALISTIC working budget that you carefully monitor and follow. Proverbs 27:23; 22:3
Adjust your lifestyle to live within the means God has currently provided for you. Ecclesiastes 5:10;Luke 3:14; 1Timothy 6:8-12
Commit to seeking the Lord’s provision instead of using credit or debt to buy things that aren’t in your annual working budget. Accelerate payments on any debt that you are currently carrying. James 4:13-16; Proverbs 22:7, 27; Luke 12:15
Make a written list of any new or major items you feel you need or want to purchase. Commit to praying about the item(s) for 30 days. Ask God to direct you to God’s provision or God’s direction concerning each purchase. 1Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:19; Proverbs 13:22; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Job 27:16, 17
Discuss and consider 3 creative alternatives (options) to meet any needs that you face. Proverbs 24:4, 5
Only make expenditures that both you and your spouse agree upon. Psalm 133:1; 1Peter 3:7; Philippians 2:2
Actively “de-accumulate” (sell, give away, or throw out) unneeded, unused or unprofitable possessions. Matthew 6:20

adapted from Brian Kluth, former president of the Christian Stewardship Association

Sixteen women represented FCC Burnet at the Women’s Retreat at Disciple Oaks in Gonzales. We won the most in attendance “Judy Award” for the second year in a row.

FROM THE ELDERS
The Elders continue to discuss and share our experiences with the new faith sharing material brought to us by Dawn. It has been amazing to see the Spirit work within each of us. Please keep all of us in your prayers to remain mindful of those seeking a closer relationship with God. As church, we are all ministers and we all have the ability to share with others. Dawn has encouraged each of the Elders to write down their story of faith----and Judy Ritchie did just that at the Women’s Retreat last weekend---what a beautiful story of faith and trust in God.
Please continue to count on each of us to be there for you should you have care, joys, or concerns!

Lisa

First Christian Church
P O Box 872
Burnet TX 78611

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Last updated by Hank Holt October13, 2009