The Link
The Weekly E-Newsletter of Disciples Christian Church
November 9, 2006 - Vol 1, Issue 38
In This Issue
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Updated Prayer Requests
A Thanksgiving Feast
Thanksgiving

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost"

We sing that song of praise and thanksgiving every Sunday. Join your church family for further thanksgiving - complete with turkey and all of the trimmings - on Sunday, November 19 directly following worship. Rebecca Nilsen and Rosalie Hughey, the Community Ministry Team coordinators, will be circulating a sign-up sheet before Sunday School and worship THIS Sunday. Be sure and sign up to bring a dish. If you will not be here to sign up, please contact Rebecca or Rosalie by clicking on their name.

A Season of Worship and Wonder at Disciples Christian Church

Do you feel like the Christmas season is too busy? Do you feel like we've lost sight of the reason for the season? Then join us at DCC, where we are choosing to celebrate the Advent season with an array of events. All of these activities allow us to turn our attention away from the hustle and bustle, and to the baby in the manger.

  • Wednesday, Nov. 29 ... Advent Decorating Party
  • Special Worship elements throughout December ... "Come and Behold" message series; family devotions; special music
  • Sunday, Dec. 3 ... All-church fellowship outing to see "The Nativity Story" movie
  • Monday, Dec. 4 @ 6:30 pm ... Disciple Women dinner and revealing of Secret Pals
  • Sunday, Dec. 10 ... Choir Christmas Cantata in worship
  • Saturday, Dec. 16 ... All-church mission experience at The Samaritan Inn in McKinney
  • Sunday, Dec. 17 ... All-church Christmas brunch
  • Thursday, Dec. 21 ... Young at Heart Christmas Dinner
  • Sunday, Dec. 24 @ 10:30 am ... Youth- led worship
  • Collections for Salvation Army Angel Tree and Mike's Kids (see article in The Link)
Finally, the entire DCC family (and many guests) will gather at 7:30 pm on Sunday, December 24 for a Candelight Communion Christmas Eve Service. A piano concert, featuring Julie Chen playing seasonal favorites, precedes the service at 7 p.m.
Rev. Brian Coats
In the last 11 months, I have had quite a few conversations with various DCC members about how we can reach out and share the love of Jesus Christ more with our immediate neighborhood, especially our largest and most visible neighbor - Plano Senior High School.

I am happy to report that we now have a plan.
golf
Come and join us for a fundraising golf outing on Friday, December 1 at 11 a.m. at Pecan Hollow Golf Course in Plano. The cost for the four-person scramble is $65/player, which includes green fee, range balls, goodie bags, and participation in special contests (closest to the hole and longest drive).

To sign up yourself or a foursome, downl oad the registration form on the DCC website, fill it out and return it to the DCC church office.

Ninety percent of the funds raised go to help families with multiple family members going on the DCC Ski Trip. The other ten percent goes to the DCC Outreach ministry.
By Donna Atkinson
Minister to Youth and Families

David wrote Psalm 100 as a Psalm of Thanksgiving. As you prepare for the upcoming holiday season gathering with your family and friends around the table breaking bread together and sharing in fond memories, I invite you to meditate on these words of scripture and come and celebrate in worship giving thanks to our Creator God whose “steadfast love endures forever and his faithfulness to all generations”! ALLELUIA and AMEN!

Scripture and Song each Sunday in November – All youth gather in the Sanctuary at 9:30 am ... Our Choir Director, Laura Young and pianist Julie Chen will lead us in hymns followed by a devotion led by our youth. We will be preparing for our Youth-led Christmas Eve Service so join us as we share our gifts together to share the Christmas story!

Christmas Eve Youth Sunday Worship Planning Sessions ... Saturday, Nov. 11 from 10-Noon and Sunday, Nov. 12 following worship – 2pm ... ALL Youth preschool – 12 grade are asked to be present at one of these sessions. Parents are welcome to stay and assist as the youth use their gifts to create a very special worship service. Please let Donna know which session you will be attending.

Sunday, November 19 ... Thanksgiving Meal - Bring your friends to church to join you in a wonderful time of fellowship and good food following our worship service as we give thanks and praise for all God’s blessings!

YOUTH SERVICE Opportunity in November ... November 12-26 ... Adopt an Angel – Make it a special time with your family as you shop for Christmas gifts for your adopted angel.

CALLING ALL MEMBERS OF DCC PLANO! Are you ready for a life changing, transforming opportunity? The youth activities this month provide the perfect opportunity to help mentor our youth as they grow in faith. Do you have a heart for worship? Would you like to offer your assistance with the youth ministry through sharing your love for music, drama, or creative writing as we reach out to share the love of Christ with our neighbor? PLEASE prayerfully consider how you can share your time and talents to help assist our youth. God has uniquely gifted each of us! There is much we can learn from one another as we work together sharing our gifts as the Body of Christ. The youth need you! E-mail Donna for details.
We'll mark the season of Thanksgiving with two sermons about gratitude. Come and share the worship of Jesus Christ with us, and be reminded that it's often the "simple things" that bless us the most.
Angel Tree
Angel Tree ... Each year Disciples Christian Church participates with the Salvation Army in their Angel Tree ministry. The goal of this program is to make sure every child and senior has a gift for Christmas. This year we are “adopting” 30 angels comprised of both children and seniors. These “angels” will not have Christmas presents without our help. Martha Pusko will set up the Angel Tree for November 12 and it will stay up until November 26. The gifts are due back on Sunday, November 26. Please consider joining in this wonderful ministry. Adopt an angel or two this year! If you would like to adopt an angel but you cannot shop for the gifts, please call the church office at (972) 398-2240 and we will coordinate a “designated shopper” for you.

Mike's KidsMike’s Kids ... This collection supports children who have been abandoned or forced out of their homeland to a new country. You are invited to fill up Banana boxes with children’s clothing, child-sized underwear (new), toys (new or gently used) and food for Mike’s Kids in Los Fresnos, TX, a ministry in partnership with Southwest Good Samaritans Ministries. Disciples Christian Church is a collection point for donations to Mike’s Kids. Please drop off any of these items before Monday, December 11.
Welcome
We are blessed with many regular guests who attend each week and make DCC their church home. "Continuing Visitors" are those new people who have recently attended two or more Sundays.

Continuing Visitors:
Claude Prewitt
Jenee & Josh Prewitt
Ty Young

First-time Visitors (Nov. 5):
Omar Jarjur
Terry Deskin
Carole Bartholomew
By Laura Young
Music Director

Please remember that all youth are invited to meet in the sanctuary at 9:30 each Sunday of this month in order to have devotional time and Christmas program rehearsal time with Donna Atkinson and Laura Young.

At 10 a.m. on Nov. 12 and 19 in the preschool Sunday school room, Laura will meet with interested kids ages 3 through fifth grade to learn a Thanksgiving song (with added rhythm instruments) to be sung in the November 19 Thanksgiving service.

If you are interested in joining the choir for Christmas music, come soon! We are well into the cantata music, but would still welcome new singers. We rehearse at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the choir loft, and warm-up at 8:30 Sunday morning before Sunday School. For more information, please contact Laura Young.

Upcoming concerts: The Richardson Community Band will be performing their annual Children's concert at the Countrywide Theater at the Eisemann Center in Richardson at 2 p.m. November 12. There will be an opportunity for interested kids to come up to the stage to assist the director in conducting the band. For ticket and concert information, please see www.richardsoncommunityband.org ... Julie Chen will be accompanying the Great Land Choral Society's annual concert at 7 p.m. November 18th at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 5801 W. Plano Parkway. They will be joined by mezzo-soprano soloist Dr. Angela Cofer. For free tickets and information on the concert repertoire, please see www.greatlandchoralsociety.org ... If you are looking for something to enjoy following our November 19 Thanksgiving dinner at DCC, consider joining our friends at First Christian Church of Plano (813 East 15th) for a voice recital. Debbie Johnson, soprano, will be performing works by Mozart, Handel, Gluck, Hayes and more at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary.
website
If you have not stopped by the DCC website recently, click on over. A significant update was made on Monday, October 30. There are more photos, and church leaders can find important documents on the download page. Additionally, all of Rev. Coats sermons can be found on a new message series page.

Also, don't forget to visit the online calendar. It enables you to send yourself reminders of upcoming events, send invitations to friends and colleagues and download the church schedule to your personal computer. You can find all of the church activities, birthdays and anniversaries on that calendar, as well as the scheduled Elders, Deacons and Greeters for each Sunday.

Also, there is a place to submit prayer requests and a new feature called "DCC TV," which includes the videos from the "Let's Grow" campaign.

For website suggestions, please e-mail the church office.

Feel free to forward this e-mail on. If you are the recipient of a forwarded e-mail, and you have more questions about anything you see here or about Disciples Christian Church, send an e-mail to brian@dccplano.com.

The Mission of Disciples Christian Church
In order to follow Jesus and worship God, we will serve our neighbors. We will minister to our fellow Christians. We will live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ in all we do.
Disciples Christian Church Staff
Brian Coats, Senior Pastor
Donna Atkinson, Minister to Youth and Families
Laura Young, Music Director
Linda Gulick, Preschool Director
Julie Chen, Pianist
Jan Carter, Administrative Assistant
Heather Elliot, Nursery Attendant

phone: 972-398-2240

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This email was sent to brian@dccplano.com, by brian@dccplano.com
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Disciples Christian Church | 2001 Independence Pkwy. | Plano | TX | 75075