The Link
The Weekly E-Newsletter of Disciples Christian Church
December 10, 2009
In This Issue
- Updated Prayer Requests
- A Message from Rev. David
- Congregational Meeting
- Children’s News
- Young at Heart
- Youth News
- Music Notes
- Mike’s Kids
- DCC Christmas Eve Concert
& Worship
- DWM Special Projects
Updated
Prayer Requests
- Nazy, co-worker of Jerry Carter’s, diagnosed with biloma and
is receiving chemotherapy and radiation.
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
Messages, messages,
and more messages. I don’t know about you but I feel overwhelmed,
bombarded and flooded by the sea of messages that come my way. This past Monday morning I opened my email to
find that I had amassed a whopping 249 messages. Okay you’re probably wondering if I ever
check email…and…I do…I just hoard them thinking I’ll need to refer back to them
someday. That said I knew I had to get
rid of at least some of them or our mail server wouldn’t let me receive any
more. As I went through them I noticed
that about a third of them I didn’t remember receiving, another third were
fairly important so I…kept…them and the remaining third were advertisements so
I…deleted them and removed my name from their email lists, or so I think? I didn’t realize that signing up for a couple
of coupons would initiate the onslaught of newsletters, sales ads and opinion
polls and surveys? This brings me to my
next point which is that in the defense of those retailers overwhelming me with
their specials we’re nearing Christmas and the season of giving and they’re
working hard to get their message out.
Messages. We have to understand that it doesn’t matter
whether we’re talking about emails or some other form of communication
everyone, (especially consumer driven companies), are all bidding for our
attention and hoping that we’ll bite.
Christmas has become the largest consumer holiday with people spending
billions each year on stuff, much of which won’t get used or will get broken or
will be old and outdated by the time it’s unwrapped. Over the years the message has been buy more
and more because it will make you and those around you (family, friends,
co-workers, neighbors and those just passing by) feel better. We’ve all heard these kinds of messages
before but is this the message, is this the word that we want to get out?
For
Christians and many others this becomes a real problem, a paradox of
sorts. On the one hand we desire to keep
the central focus of Christmas on the Birth of Christ (the true message of
Christmas). On the other hand we realize
that so many people depend on the goods we buy.
Just think about it. How many of
you work or know someone who works in retail?
How many of you work or know someone who works at the plant which builds
the things that retailers sell? How many
of you work or know someone who harvests the fruits and processes the flour and
crafts the tins that those famous Christmas fruitcakes come in? Well this list could go on and on. So where does that leave Christians who want
to be faithful to the true message of Christmas but who are inundated with consumer
driven messages to buy more and more and perhaps the guilt of not buying
enough?
Perhaps
the first thing we absolutely have to do is keep our Christmas eyes in
focus. The message for Christians is
clear, that is, that we’re to be the hands and feet of Christ, “from our
doorsteps to the ends of the earth” and what better opportunity to share/show
this than at Christmas? Jesus calls us
to offer others a sense of hope, peace, joy and love. In this way we remind ourselves and others
that Jesus is the reason for the season.
Secondly while it’s critical that we support our economy we can’t take
the weight of an already shaky financial system and put it on our
shoulders. Besides, how many people
really buy things with the financial stability of others in mind?
As
Christians our message is to become or continue to be both aware of the
significance of the birth of Jesus in our life and in the lives of others and
be wise about the way in which we spend or donate the resources entrusted to
us. In this way we give needed support
to our economy while keeping the message of Christ in focus, a message we don’t
want to “accidently”… delete!
From our
family to yours --
Peace and blessings this Christmas season
In Christ
David
Congregational
Meeting
A congregational meeting is
scheduled to take place following worship THIS Sunday, December 13. This is an important meeting as the new DCC
board and annual budget for 2010 will be voted upon, so it is important that
everyone attend.
REMINDER: Please be
sure to check emails for important nominating committee information!
Children’s
News
Hello DCC Children 5Th
grade and younger! We want to invite you
to a special Birthday Party for Jesus. We’ll
have party hats, fun and games. And just
like any birthday party bring a gift (a canned food item) to share with
someone. By doing this we’re showing
love for others like Jesus loves us.
When: Sunday December 13 @ 9:30-10:15AM
Where: DCC
What: Fun, games and surprises!
Who: DCC children 5th grade
and younger!
(Remember to bring a canned food “gift” to share with our
local food pantry.)
Young at Heart
The Young
at Heart Christmas party will be held at Donna and
Youth News
Christmas Party (Jr. and Sr. High)
When: Sunday December 20 from 4-7 PM
Where: DCC
What:
FOOD, FELLOWSHIP, MOVIE, AND GIFT EXCHANGE
Who:
DCC youth and friends, the more the merrier! (Think about inviting a couple of
your friends.)
If you can, bring a unisex gift to give, $5.00 max, (we’ll
have more on hand if we need them) AND bring a canned food item to give
to our local food pantry!
Thanks in Christ
David and Kristina
Music Notes
Laura Young
Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for “Joyful,
Joyful!” during worship THIS Sunday, December 13th!
Chancel Choir is rehearsing from
6:30 – 7:30 pm on Wednesday nights and 9 – 9:25 am on Sunday mornings.
Handbell Choir is rehearsing
immediately after worship on Sunday afternoons.
Members of the musical groups AND
members of the congregation are invited to let Laura Young know if you would
like to present a solo or volunteer for a narrator part on December 13th. Thank you!
Upcoming Concerts
Plano Civic Chorus will present Handel's
"Messiah" on Saturday, December 19th at 8 p.m. at St. Andrew United
Methodist Church (
Cast of Bronze Handbell Ensemble will be performing on
December 19th at St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church in
Mike’s Kids
Mike’s Kids is an annual program
that is supported by the North Texas Area of Disciples Christian Churches, the
Christian Men’s Fellowship, and the Southwest Good Samaritans Ministries. This program supports children who have been
abandoned or forced out of their homeland to a new country. The banana boxes need to be filled with
clothing (appropriate for South Texas) and child-sized underwear (new), toys
(new or gently used), food, etc. for Mike’s Kids in the
Like previous years, DCC is a
collection point for this program. The boxes
will be picked up next Monday, December 14.
DCC
Christmas Eve Concert & Worship
The annual
DCC Christmas Eve Concert will be at 6
p.m. on December 24th, followed by 6:30 p.m. candlelight communion service. The music will be provided by DCC musicians.
DWM
Special Projects
DCC’s Disciple Women’s Ministry group will be collecting a special
offering during the month of December.
The money collected will be donated to the Heifer International
non-profit organization. The mission of
Heifer is to provide gifts of livestock and training to help families improve
their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways. When making a donation, indicate in the memo
section of the check that it is for “DWM Heifer” and place it in the offering
plate.
Be sure
to pick up your ‘Blessing Box” on the welcome table in the Atrium!
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