The Link
The Weekly E-Newsletter of Disciples Christian Church
September 9, 2009
In This Issue
- Updated Prayer Requests
- A Message from Rev. David
- DCC
- Men’s Bible Study
- Adam’s Animals Tagging Party
- John Calvin for Today’s World
- History of Christianity
Seminar
- Thanks to “Mystery Donor”
- DCC Board Meeting
- H1N1 Flu Information
- BBPS Sunny Parents Rummage
Sale
- Disciples Women’s Reading
Group
- Relief Nursery Update &
Volunteer Search
- Music Notes
Updated
Prayer Requests
- Laura Young underwent a number of tests on August 31 and received
good news.
- Julia Manning’s niece is receiving treatment for
cancer.
- Agnes Pieper’s nephew is dealing with an ongoing illness.
- Ron Cohen, Jan Carter’s friend, will participate in clinical
trials for pancreatic cancer later this month.
- Kay Ferguson, friend of the Bertschis, diagnosed with cancer.
- Kay Walker, mother of Sandy Snyder, is dealing with health issues.
The prayer requests in The
Link each week are recent updates. A list of ongoing prayer requests
appears in our worship bulletin each Sunday.
A Message from Rev. David
The other day I was working on an
assignment in which the professor asked that the students reflect on how our
understanding of God has influenced our ministry (past, present and
future). I suppose that each of us might
do well to give this some consideration.
Why do we believe what we do about God and Jesus and what effect does
that understanding have in our life that is in our ministry?
As I thought about myself it goes
without saying that my understanding of God has played a major role in my life
and call to ministry. God, in all the
ways I understand Him to be, is larger than life but small enough to care about
the most intimate details of it.
Consider that the same God who created the heavens and the earth and the
creatures that move about and have their being, cares enough about us humans,
that He’s numbered the hairs on our head, that He knows us by name, that He
hears us when we cry and that He understands us and our life as no one else
can. Moreover, consider that God loved
us enough to send His son to die for our sake; to redeem us from a way of life
which separates us from all that is good and perfect and holy and to do so for
all eternity. If this is how much God
cares about us, can we do any less as His followers, as children made in His
image and likeness?
Our call and ministry is about
connecting with people, right? More
times than not God is seen and described as a God who’s not far from His people
and who stretches out His righteous right hand to protect, to help and to
deliver not because He has to but because He desires to. Jesus, God’s son, is of course the quintessential
example of this. Both divine and human,
Jesus understood that ministry was about people, to be with them, to walk with
them, to listen to them, to comfort them, to heal them, to deliver them and to
accept them for who they are, not who they should be. One of my favorite stories from the New
Testament is that of Jesus and the woman at the well. A woman bruised and battered by the scorching
heat of the day and by the accusations and gossip from her own people. To Jesus however, she was more than
that. She was a woman who was capable of
meeting the needs of others and who had a unique life and story that was
deserving of love and grace and forgiveness – yes, in spite of her imperfection. There you have it, the evidence is
overwhelming, the Gospel in a nutshell. God
is a God who cares about his creation and made this known through the life,
death and resurrection of His Son Jesus.
With that as our example can we do anything less in our life, in our
ministry?
Although each of us will form a
slightly different understanding about God based in part on a variety of
influences such as culture and society, family upbringing, geographical
location and denominational affiliation that’s okay, in fact that’s one of the
things that makes our denomination so special.
So I urge you to stop and consider your understanding of God and Jesus
and to draw on this knowledge as minister to the needs of other.
Peace and Blessings
In Christ’s Love
David
DCC
As Rev. David announced in worship last Sunday, Jan will be
out of the DCC office from September 10 through September 17 and back in the
office on September 21. Rev. David will
be out September 16 though September 22 and back in the office on September 24.
If you should need to reach someone regarding a pastoral
issue contact Dixie Deen.
Contact Nancy Bertschi with any DCC property issues. For anything else, please contact Rick Boyer,
DCC Board Chair.
Men’s
Bible Study
Calling
all men! Come join us at IHOP (
Adam’s Animals Tagging Party
You are
invited to a Tagging Party for Adam's Animals. Come help tie Adam's Animals
tags on wonderful, huggable, furry stuffed animals. Food, Fun, and
Fellowship!
When:
Friday, September 11, 6:30 - ?
Where: The
A Good Time Will Be Had By All!
John Calvin for Today’s World
The Third W.A. Welsh Seminar
Saturday,
September 12, 2009 (8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.)
David J. Gouwens, Professor of Theology,
Presented
by:
Preston
Hollow Presbyterian Church,
Marking
the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin (1509-64), this
course will explore the character, influence, and lasting relevance of his thought
for twenty-first century Christians. A figure of central importance in the
history of the church and in Western civilization at large, his impact on both
continues today. We will first explore
the context of Calvin’s life and then focus upon how Calvin’s thought addresses
issues facing today’s church and culture.
David J.
Gouwens has taught at
Registration
is $35 and includes a light lunch.
(Scholarships available)
To
register or for more information: www.brite.tcu.edu/stalcup or
817.257.7580
History of Christianity Seminar
A History of the Christian Witness: From the Apostles to Us
Saturday,
September 26, 2009 (8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.)
D. Newell
Williams, President and Professor of Modern and
Presented
by:
Christianity
is a historical faith. It had its beginnings in history and has been
shaped by historical developments. This one-day seminar will provide an
overview of the History of Christianity with special attention to spirituality,
the development of the New Testament, the Reformation, eighteenth and
nineteenth century revivals, and contemporary issues facing the church in North
America.
Before
assuming his present positions at
Registration
is $35 and includes a light lunch.
(Scholarships available)
To
register or for more information: www.brite.tcu.edu/stalcup or
817.257.7580
Thanks
to “Mystery Donor”
The DCC office staff is unsure
who so generously put the shelving, food and sundry items for donations in the
Information Area recently. It is a
wonderful resource to have here, especially for people experiencing difficult
economic times. Recently we were able to
provide a bag of food to a man who’d come to the church asking for
assistance. So, whoever you are, THANK
YOU SO MUCH (and maybe let us know who you are?)!
DCC
Board Meeting
The next board meeting will take
place this Sunday, September 13 at 7 pm in the Atrium. All board members should plan on attending
and have your committee reports prepared.
H1N1 Flu Information
BBPS Sunny Parents Rummage Sale
Disciples
Women’s Reading Group
The
Disciple Women of DCC will be meeting on Tuesday,
October 13, to discuss the book THE
RED TENT by Anita Diamant. Plan now to join us at
7 PM.
For more details, contact Dixie Deen. Come and bring a friend.
Relief Nursery Update & Volunteer Search
Our
"Plano Fun Ride" event was successful. We are grateful to many
sponsors, but also to the Sullivan's who lent us some supplies for the day.
We have
now started providing respite care one morning a week (for new and existing
clients) at
By the end
of this month, we will have parent education classes running and we are
preparing to re-open our therapeutic preschool classrooms two mornings a week
in a new location in
We are
also seeking volunteers to assist a teacher during Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday or Thursday morning classrooms or Monday evening childcare during the
parent education classes. If childcare is not your strength, but you wanted to
help our mission, we are also seeking people to help our board with fundraising
events.
Thanks for
all of your support! If you have questions, want to ask for assistance, or wish
to learn about volunteering, please call our new
number, 972-517-6308.
Thank you!
Laura Young, Early Childhood Specialist, Relief Nursery of
Music
Notes
By Laura Young
Music Notes
Chancel
Choir resumed this week! It is great to
have you back! New members are still welcome. We are meeting from 6:30-7:30
Wednesday nights in the sanctuary. (In the event of carpeting installation, our
backup plan is to use the preschool music room.)
Handbell
Choir will resume this month, time TBA next week. We can accept up to three new members this
fall. If you are interested, please call
Laura Young this week so I can save you a spot and find out when you are
available for rehearsals. Thank you
Children's
Moments
Thanks to
Jan Sullivan, Lois Teed-Gillen and Fred Hall who have offered to help with some
of the children's moments! If you are interested, but not listed here,
please talk to Pastor David, Laura or
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
Rev. David Nordyke, Senior Pastor
Laura Young, Music Director
Linda Gulick, Preschool Director
Julie Chen, Pianist
Jan Carter, Administrative Assistant
Dave Gillen, Webmaster
Email: theoffice@dccplano.com
Phone: 972-398-2240