The Link
The Weekly E-Newsletter of Disciples Christian Church
In This Issue
- Updated Prayer Requests
- DCC Board Meeting
- “The Dragonfly”
- Disciples Regional Assembly
- Disciples Women’s Ministry
- Address Change
- DCC Education Department News
- From The TechnoManor
- Men’s Bible Study
- Music Notes
- Children’s Sunday School
Updated Prayer Requests
- James Bortello, son of a friend of Chuck & Nancy
Bertschi’s, has
been diagnosed with lung cancer.
- Curtis Gulick is cancer free after radioisotope treatment for
thyroid cancer.
- Tom Kimball, friend of Rosie Lewallen, had a heart
catheterization/angioplasty last Wednesday.
- Kelly Frederick, a BBPS teacher, was hospitalized due to low
potassium.
- Brett Sweet, month-old grandson of Letha Sweet, former BBPS teacher, was
hospitalized with a heart problem, but is able to treat it with
medication.
- Jan Carter had her second chemo treatment on August 22.
The prayer
requests in The Link each week are recent updates. A list of ongoing prayer
requests appears in our worship bulletin each Sunday.
What a
great week we had at VBS! Power Lab was
just that: it was full of power and energy and God’s wondrous love! Thanks to all the helpers! We had about 34 of them! Wow!
And we had over 60 “funologists” (that’s the children!). And what fun they did have, helpers and
funologists, all!
Many, many
thanks are due to many, many folks.
Thanks to all our helpers, our leaders, our movers, our donors, our
prayers, and any who helped in any way!
Thanks to Bob Knoll for stepping in, in the middle of planning, and
Donna Atkinson for all her organizational skills. Thanks to FCC and other churches who
contributed props. The props were
terrific! As were the spirit and the fun
of learning about God’s wondrous power and love!
And thanks
to this wonderful congregation for all your prayers and support and love
through it all – and all the time! You
are all great!
God bless
you all,
Diane
DCC Education Department News
by
Youth News
- B-T-S Pool & Dinner Party – All youth are invited to the Knoll’s home TOMORROW, Friday, August 22 at
- Monday, August 25 – First day of classes at
P.I.S.D.!
- Saturday, August 30 – Six Flags Over Texas Experience starting at
- Sunday, August 31 – Final day of the Youth
Collection/Computer Campaign
- Sunday, September 7 – Webmaster Computer Session
with “Dave the Rave” Gillen. This
event will take place at
- Saturday, September 13 – Movie afternoon for DCC and
FCCC youth starting at 11 am.
Details to follow.
- Sept./Oct. – “Holy Spirit Experience” This event is still in the planning
stages. Information will be
provided as it becomes available.
Adult News
n A Christian Men’s Fellowship group is being organized. Contact Mark Mueller for more information.
“The Dragonfly”
submitted by Jeff & Gena
Hurst
Once,
in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads,
there
lived a little water beetle in a community of water
beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in
the pond
with
few disturbances and interruptions.
Once
in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of
their
fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and
would
never be seen again. They knew when this
happened, their
friend was dead, gone forever.
Then
one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge
to
climb up that stem. However, he was
determined that he would
not
leave forever. He would come back and
tell his friends what
he had
found at the top.
When
he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the
surface
of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so
warm,
that he decided he must take a nap. As
he slept, his body
changed
and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful
blue-tailed
dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body
designed
for flying.
So,
fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the
beauty of a whole
new
world and a far superior way of life to what he had never
known
existed.
Then
he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking
by now
he was dead. He wanted to go back to
tell them, and
explain
to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been
before. His life had been fulfilled rather than
ended.
But,
his new body would not go down into the water.
He could
not get back to tell his friends the good
news. Then he
understood
that their time would come, when they, too, would
know
what he now knew. So, he raised his
wings and flew off
into
his joyous new life!
Author
Unknown
DCC Board Meeting
The next
DCC board meeting is scheduled for this
Sunday, August 24 at
From The TechnoManor
This week
I digress. Let’s talk a little bit about
identity theft. I haven’t received a direct question, but
people have asked my opinion on this topic.
This isn’t exactly a computer question, yet computers are often
involved.
Have you
gotten a letter beginning something like the following?:
“Dear Sir or Madam:
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services
provides …. On
Or you may
have seen a headline like the following…
(The
Wall Street Journal,
These are
examples of the growing problem of identity theft. That is, someone - without your knowledge -
has stolen a piece of your strategic information: your Social Security Number, driver’s license
number, bank account number(s), credit card number(s), or other
information
And they
are using your information to obtain money, buy stuff, or to masquerade as you.
This
hasn’t happened to me (yet). However,
this is what I would do if I learned my identity had been stolen.
First,
stay calm, but act with diligence. Now
is not the time to get wigged out, pointing fingers, guessing who might be the
culprit. Besides, after you follow
through with Things You Can Do, you
will have a better idea of what has happened and its implications.
Second, by
the time you learn your identity has been stolen, it is too late. Your information has most likely been
used. So, let’s properly frame what
you’re doing next: You are playing
cleanup.
Things
You Can Do
- Log
your actions. Tracking stuff down
can quickly get confusing. Record
the date, what you did, what organization you contacted, who you spoke to,
and the results. You can refer back
to this log to give you some sense of balance as you work through the
cleanup.
- Contact
the company that notified you of the identity theft. They may be able to give you additional
information that was not in the initial notification. This may include any accounts affected
by the breach.
- Create
a list of account names and numbers impacted by the theft.
- File
a police report. This may be
necessary for creditors who want proof of the crime.
- Monitor
your statements. Look for charges
or entries that you didn’t make or that seem odd. This may also be the time to sign-up and
use your financial institution’s Web-based tool for managing your
account. This will allow you to
check for rogue transactions before you receive your statement in the
mail.
- Contact
the account-holders. Tell them of
the possible identity theft and when you believe it occurred. Ask them what their procedure is for
dealing with such a theft. Be sure
to record this in your log
- Enroll
in notification services. Some
credit card issuers offer a service to contact you if they detect
suspicious transactions (e.g., unusual purchase items, large purchase amounts,
or purchases from a foreign country)
- Contact
credit reporting agencies and place a fraud
alert on your credit report.
Following are the three major credit reporting agencies:
Equifax
1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.com
Experian
1-800-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
www.experian.com
TransUnion
1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com
- Learn
your rights under state and federal laws, and any resources available to
you. The following Web sites are
good starting points:
Texas State Web site for identity theft:
www.texasfightsidtheft.gov
Federal Trade Commission Web site for Identity Theft:
www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/index.html
Federal Trade Commission Web site with links to federal and
state laws establishing your rights related to identity theft
www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/reference-desk/laws.html
- Cancel
the affected accounts. This is a
last resort step, but one that may be needed.
How will
you know if you’re successful in your cleanup?
Basically, time has passed and nothing unusual has occurred. In fact, by the time you were initially
notified, chances are you already experienced some unwanted activity in your
account if it was going to happen. Like bread out of the oven, information is
most valuable when it is fresh. The
longer it is unused, the more likely it will change (like you’ll close that
account).
Companies
that notify you of identify theft often don’t figure out a theft occurred for
weeks, or months after it happened. It
then takes more time for them to determine who to notify and how. Allow a few more days for the letter to be
delivered. So, when you learn of the
theft, you may already have been impacted.
(Side
Note: The letter I reference above bears
out this time delay. The theft occurred
on
Ok, so
what if you’ve been lucky so far. Is
there anything you can do to reduce your risk of identity theft (Note: I didn’t say prevent.)?
Here
are Things You Can Do
- Shred
that paper! When you’re finished
with a statement, report, or anything bearing your name and a number, put
it through a paper shredder (unless you’re like me who “pack rats” all
financial information). This
prevents “dumpster diving” which is a source of identity theft.
- Monitor
your statements. Look for charges
or entries that you didn’t make or that seem odd. Have you received your statements on
time lately? This can be an
early-warning clue that someone may have already stolen an account number
and changed the mailing address.
This may also be the time to sign-up and use your financial
institution’s Web-based tool for managing your account. This will allow you to check for rogue
transactions before you receive your statement in the mail.
- On
the computer: make sure your
anti-virus software, anti-spyware software, firewall, and computer updates
are turned on and current. This
will help prevent unwanted software from sneaking onto your computer to
steal account numbers and passwords.
- On
the computer (#2): Never, never, never, click on links in e-mail that purport to
be from a bank, the federal government, or other institution. These are fraudulent (known as phishing). Only initiate a session by going to a
known Web site (something printed and verifiable in a statement).
- On
the computer (#3): If you conduct
online banking or purchase things through the Web, only go to known Web
sites. When you’re about to enter
sensitive information, always look for a little lock icon (
) near
the top or bottom of your Web browser. This lock indicates that it is a secure
session and information exchanged is encrypted. It also means the Web site you’re going
to has purchased an electronic certificate which verifies their identity. - On
the telephone: Do not give out
vital information to someone who calls you. If it sounds legitimate, get their name
and organization – but not their number.
Call an official number for this organization (from the phone
directory or a statement), and ask for the person. Then give your vital information.
- Question
Authority: Why does someone need
your driver’s license or Social Security Number? Always question any request. Many times, these numbers are used to
simplify record keeping – not because they’re required by law. Lax record keeping is another source of
identity theft. If the answer
sounds fishy, the request probably is, too.
Sorry to
be a little long-winded on this…and yet I barely scratched the surface. May you never be faced with having your
identity stolen.
If it happens, I hope this article gives you the tools and grounding to
survive it.
As
always…got a computer, e-mail, Web, or related question? Cobble together an email message and send it
to me at:
I’ll
attempt to answer one each week in
Men’s Bible Study
Calling
all men! Come join us at IHOP (
The 2008 Regional Assembly for the Christian Church in the
Southwest will take place October 17-19 at University Christian Church and TCU
in
Disciples Women’s Ministry
The next Disciples Women’s
Ministry meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 2 at
Address Change
Gary Boyd
has moved and has new address and phone information:
469-579-4115 (home/office)
214-240-5334 (cell)
GBOYD4@tx.rr.com
(new e-mail)
Music Notes
by Laura Young
Music
Director
Chancel
choir resumes on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Our first Sunday to sing will be Sept. 7th. New
members are welcome. We have members as young as middle school up through
senior adults. Music reading is not required (but don't be surprised if you find
it easy to learn as we go). If you can carry a tune in a bucket, as the old
saying goes, and you love to sing for the Lord, we have a place for you. We
will all be fitted for robes that night, as all of the robes and stoles have
been cleaned and pressed during our break.
Handbells
will meet seasonally, beginning in plenty of time for Christmas. For planning purposes,
please let me know if you would like to participate in bell choir.
Children's
and youth choirs will also meet seasonally. Please let me know if you have a child or
grandchild who would enjoy singing with us!
Upcoming
local concerts:
The
Plano Symphony Orchestra will present a concert on Sat. Sept. 20th at the
As always,
if you know of local concerts or school arts events which you would like to
have publicized in the "Music Notes" column in "The Link,"
please let me know. Thank you!
Laura
Young, Music Director, 972-744-9941
Children’s Sunday School
ALL PARENTS,
GRANDPARENTS, AND KIDS!! A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS FOR
PRE-K
THROUGH 5TH GRADERS MEET, AT
ALL KIDS WELCOME
BIBLE
STORIES, ACTIVITIES, FUN, MAKING NEW FRIENDS
=
LOTS OF LEARNING AND GROWING!
For more information contact pharbaugh@verizon.net
The
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
Diane & Galen Clark, Co-Transitional Pastors
Laura Young, Music Director
Linda Gulick, Preschool Director
Julie Chen, Pianist
Jan Carter, Administrative Assistant
Dave Gillen, Webmaster frenchygrey@gmail.com
email: theoffice@dccplano.com
phone: 972-398-2240