the

CALLER
November 24, 2013 Issue 46

In This Issue Events – November 24 – December 1, 2013

Pastor’s Corner/Statistics 2 November 24: Thanksgiving Sunday
Remember in Prayer 3 8:00 A.M. - REAWAKEN, Early Worship Service
Spiritual Disciplines Wk 3 9:00 A.M. - Galatians/James Bible Study, Chapman Lounge
Prayer Requests, Nov. 17 3 10:15 A.M. - REMEMBER, Traditional Service
Serving in the Military 3
11:30 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. - Casa use Fellowship Hall
Work Day/ DMF 3
5:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. Casa de Oración Service, Sanctuary & FH
Mark Calendar 4
November 25:
Girls Night Out 4
7:00 P.M. - 12-Step Class, Chapman Lounge
Senior Adults/Mitten Tree 4
6:30 P.M. - OT Bible Study @ Woodbridges’;
MMC Concert 5
dinner: 6:30, class 7
Ingathering 5
FIMA Thanksgiving Svc 5
November 26:
Campbell’s Soup Labels 5 7:00 P.M. - FIMA Thanksgiving Service
Typhoon Relief 5 7:00 P.M. - Casa de Oración, Sanctuary, Chapman Lounge
Cards for Japan 6 November 27: Donna on vacation
Tri-Tip Distribution 6 November 28: Thanksgiving Holiday – Office Closed
Global Mission Church/PoH 7 November 29: Donna on vacation
Thanksgiving Offering 7 November 30:
Advent 8 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. - Casa de Oración use Fellowship Hall
December Schedule 9 December 1: Hanging of the Greens Sunday
Week of Compassion 10 8:00 A.M. - REAWAKEN, Early Worship Service
Global Missions 10 9:00 A.M. - Galatians/James Bible Study, Chapman Lounge
Calendar 11 10:15 A.M. - REMEMBER, Traditional Service
Serving Sunday 12 5:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. Casa de Oración Service, Sanctuary & FH
December 2:
6:00 P.M. - Girls Night Out Christmas party @ Anna Van Diest’s
The Caller
is published weekly 6:30 P.M. - OT Bible Study @ Woodbridges’;
(Deadline Wednesday
at Noon) dinner: 6:30, class 7
7:00 P.M. - 12-Step Class, Choir Room
by
7:00 P.M. Alzheimer’s Support Group, Chapman Lounge
First Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) December 3:
109 E. Wilshire Ave. 6:00 P.M. - Pathways of Hope Meeting, Chapman Lounge
Fullerton, CA 92832
714.525.5525 7:00 P.M. - Casa de Oración, Sanctuary, Chapman Lounge
email: December 4:
fullerton1stcc@gmail.com 5:30 P.M. - Hot Meal Ministry, Team A
www.fullertonfirstchristian.org 7:00 P.M. - Council of Elders Meeting
Senior Pastor:
December 5:
Rev. Darrell McGowan 3:30 P.M. - Bible Study, Chapman Lounge
Associate Pastor: 6:30 P.M. - Bell Choir, 7:30 P.M. –Chancel Choir
Rev. Debra Todd
Editor: AA Groups: Sun. 8:00 P.M., Monday, 7:30 P.M.,
Donna Woodbridge
Friday, 7:30 P.M., Sat. 8:30 P.M., NA Group, Tues., 7:30 P.M.

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 I hope you pause to give thanks this week. Perhaps your gratitude list is
especially long this year, and perhaps it is a bit shorter than in previous years.
Undoubtedly, you will find yourself expressing gratitude for those occasions when
others have shared their time with you. There is no more valuable gift we can receive…or give.
As your attention turns from gratitude for that which you have received to determining how
you will gift others this Christmas, consider giving the gift of time. You can give your time to loved
ones, organizations, and strangers in need. One of the best ways to give time is through a promise to
give it at the request of the recipient.
A few years back, I received one of the best gifts ever. Both of my children gave me an
envelope full of coupons redeemable for various favors, signs of affection, and opportunities to share
an activity with them. Of course, I recognized that the gift they offered had an inherent benefit to
them as well, and that only served to make the gift that much more valuable. I received many hugs,
played many card games, and had many memorable moments because of their gifts.
One of the unforeseen benefits of their gifts was the recognition that I can offer “home-made”
gifts to others. The possessions I most value are gifts others have made with their hands. I do not
make crafts (at least not any that someone else would value.) I have never learned to work with
wood, I cannot draw stick figures, and I most certainly cannot paint or sew. (I have even managed to
avoid learning how to sew a button back on, and that is one skill I have benefited from not
acquiring!)
I can, however, offer a gift of time. My “home-made” gifts serve as a way of allowing others to
make demands on my time at their convenience. I am obligated to set other things aside, in as much
as that is possible, and make good on the redemption of my offer. I cannot tell you how many times
someone, (usually one of my kids,) rescued me from being buried in some writing project or mindless
web-surfing to get me to do something really important. You see, like most people, I can get caught
up putting time into the urgent rather than the important.
So, I offer this bit of experience as an idea you can embrace or reject as you see fit. Before you
decide you do not have any way of giving gifts worthy of your friends and family, consider giving
them the most valuable gift they can receive: time. Time with someone they love, time away from
some mind-numbing task, time to sit and talk, or take a walk, or play a game, or sit and watch one.
Whatever they choose to do with this gift of time you have given them, you will both benefit from the
redemption of your offer.
And one last idea—offer a gift of time to God! Give God the gift of a few minutes or hours
every week. You can share them with God as you walk, as you read, as sit in the quiet, or as you
serve someone in need. Whatever you are doing, making that time a gift from you to God will bring
you a whole new appreciation of your relationship to the One Who Has Always Loved You.

Peace,

Sunday Statistics
Nov. 17 ‘ 2013 118(Remember Service)
7 (Reawaken Service) 98 (Casa 5 P.M. service)
Weekly Giving: $2,940.53 Missions: $326.73
Budget Goal: $3,881 Thanksgiving: $525
WOC (Philippines) $350

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Remember in Prayer Prayer Requests: November 17, 2013
Continue to pray for: Sue Bacon, Dottie Ed Linberg First Christian Church, San
Bense, Harold Brickens, Mary Brill, Vio Bernardino & Centro
Danna Brant, Sandra Brown, Betty Ruth Familie Chrstiana
Restauracion celebrating
Buchanan, Linda Christman, Chris Collett, their first service in their
Lorna & Skip Farnum, Anna Lou Horspool, new location.
Kevin Johnen, Carolyn Kenrick, Flora Miller, Donna Julie Stuart who went to
Sue Miller, Jim Piper, Norma Rill, Julie Woodbridge Urgent Care suffering from
Stuart, Claudia Tammen, Dorothy Tanner vertigo
Betty Rollo Lona Anderson’s daughter,
and Bob & Donna Vannoy Claudia, having tests
Please pray for the following church in Melody My friend Carlos Gonzales,
the Pacific Southwest Region: Martinez who has multiple health
First Christian Church, San Bernardino issues.
2700 Little Mountain Drive #D-101 Eliana Villaroia Prayers of praise that
mammogram was good and
San Bernardino, CA 92405
Pamela Moore, Pastor
Serving in the Military:
Adam Hawley, Deb
Readings and Prayer Concerns for
Taylor’s nephew, is now home
Week of Nov. 25 – Dec. 1, 2013 from Afghanistan and back at Ft. Bliss with his
Monday, Nov. 25: Reading: Isaiah 2: 1-5; pray
family.
for Week of Compassion and Church World
Lt. Cmdr. Patrick O’Conner, Betty
Service as they continue to send help to the
Rollo’s grandson-in-law, will be back home for
victims of all the catastrophes around the
a couple of months to help take care of his wife
world.
after surgery.
Tuesday, November 26: Reading: Psalm 122: 1-
Lt. Patrick Rollo, Betty Rollo’s
5; pray for the FIMA Thanksgiving Service
grandson. He is training on a submarine in the
taking place tonight at St. Juliana’s.
Pacific.
Congregational Prayer Day, November 27:
Joshua Reynolds, Jane Reynolds’ son.
Reading: Psalm 122: 6-9; pray for Donna as she
He is at Ft. Riley, KS dealing with PTSD and
has a couple of days of vacation this week.
will be returning to Afghanistan soon.
Thursday, November 28: Reading: Psalm 100;
PFC Brandon Vannoy, grandson of Bob
Happy Thanksgiving. Give thanks to God for
& Donna Vannoy, is now stationed at Fort
all the blessings he has given you.
Campbell, Kentucky.
Friday, November 29: Reading: Romans 13: 11-
Petty Officer Michael J. Borden, Nancy
14; pray for our partner Global Ministries
Geiger’s grandson, who is stationed in Guam
Missionaries in Swaziland, Diana & Terry
for the next year.
Hunter.
Saturday, November 30: Reading: Matthew
All Church Work Day –
24: 36-42; pray for Casa de Oración as they
Saturday, December 7,
hold a workshop in Fellowship Hall today.
7:00 A.M.
Sunday, December 1: Reading; Matthew 24:
43-44; This is the first Sunday in Advent and
Don’t forget December 7. Yes,
our youth will be leading the Hanging of the
its Pearl Harbor Day but it is also the
Greens service at 10:15 A.M. Please keep Debra
FCC Men’s prayer breakfast. Come
Todd, Janelle Vannoy and the youth in your
and join us for friendship, sharing,
prayers.
and scripture. This is not to mention
great food and a great way to start a weekend.
See you at 8:00 am in Chapman Lounge.

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 Mark Your Calendars!
December 19, 7:00 P.M. –
FIMA Longest night Service, St.
Jude Medical Center Chapel
December 21 at 5 P.M. -
Gifts of Love program.
Immediately following the program we
will be having a Worship Dinner Experience -
complete with a full turkey dinner! The former
Sunday evening worship group will be
preparing the meal, some music, and
opportunities for sharing during this service.
Please join us for both activities on December
21 to kick off the week of Christmas with joy
and thanksgiving!
Girls’ Night Out Holiday Get
Together
We’ve missed a couple of
months so it’s time to catch up at our GNO
holiday get together. Anna Van Diest has
once again offered to have it at her house.
Anna’s going to cook us a big pot of chili.
Should be perfect for our theme of “wear your
favorite Christmas sweatshirt”. What a great
idea. She and Lyndsey are providing the main
dish, corn bread, beverages, and paper goods.
We need salads (green and fruit) and dessert(s)
so when you RSVP (and this is a must please
for planning purposes), please tell her what
you’d like to bring. We’ll also be doing the
ornament exchange (under $10). I’ll bring a list
of restaurants you can choose from (or if you
have an idea of your own add to the list) for
next year’s outings (provided we still want to
do this) as well as the calendar for sign up.
Her address and phone number are: 1644
Valley Lane, Fullerton; 871-6177. Her email is:
annavan2005@aol.com. Remember we’re
meeting on the 1st Monday (Dec. 2nd) at 6 P.M.
See you there. Please RSVP to Anna by
November 29.
GNO Coordinator - Shar
Mitten Tree
Thank you so much for all the hats,
scarves, socks, mittens and gloves that you
have brought for the Mitten Tree.
Starting next Sunday, there will be a
Christmas tree in the Narthex with these items
and each Wednesday at the Hot Meal Ministry
we will give out approximately 40 tickets and
they in turn come over to the Sanctuary
building and choose an item from the tree. If
you would like to volunteer an hour or so
anytime during the month of December, please
get in touch with Sue Harless and/or Diane
Daugherty who are the coordinators of this
project.
Senior Adults Met Tues,
November 19
The Senior Adult Ministry
Group met this past Tues. November 19 for our
annual Thanksgiving luncheon. There were 29
present in Fellowship Hall to enjoy a
wonderful meal together and a program of
singing, word puzzle and trivia game. We
have some great cooks in our group so the food
was outstanding and the turkeys that Pastor
Darrell baked were perfect. Of course
everyone joined in to help and said they had a
great time. Pastor Darrell shared with us
what a blessing our seniors are to him, our
church, each other and our community. We
have much to be thankful for.
Our next gathering is Tuesday,
December 17, at 2:00 P.M. for our annual
Christmas Tea. We will start in Chapman
Lounge with refreshments and then move to
the Sanctuary for our Christmas program.
There is a sign-up sheet on the counter by
Donna’s desk if you would like to take part in
the planning. Invitations will go out to all of
our seniors the first week of Dec. If you don’t
receive one, please let us know. We try to have
all seniors on our mailing list. There are
different schools of thought as to what age we
become seniors but we are not particular. If
you want to be on our list and join us for our
events, especially the tea, just let Donna know.
Put Dec 17 on your calendar now and plan to
join us for fellowship, food and worship.
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Tickets Available
Ed Linberg invites
members of the congregation to
attend one of the Christmas
Concerts of the Mountainside
Master Chorale, December 14 and 15. Both
concerts will be held at the UCC Church in
Claremont, 6th and Harvard in Claremont. The
Saturday concert will begin at 7:30 P.M., while
the Sunday concert will begin at 3:30 P.M.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $17 for seniors
and students. However, the group rate is just
$14 if ten, or more people buy tickets. If you'd
like a ticket, or tickets, speak to Ed. He will
have tickets available for you through Sunday,
December 8. This year's concerts will feature
such favorites as "Still, Still, Still," "I Saw Three
Ships," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and
"O Holy Night," plus many others.
The Tradition Continues On
Sunday
For many, many years our
worship center on the Sunday prior to
our nation's Thanksgiving Day Celebration has
been graced with a lovely cornucopia created
by Sammie Adams, with help from Ted. That
tradition will continue this Sunday. Coupled
with this "decoration tradition" is another one--
the ingathering of food items that are given to
Pathways of Hope to support the work they do
in our community by providing food to needy
families on a year round basis through their
Distribution Center. So bring canned or
packaged food items when you come to
worship this Sunday. You may place those
items on the floor in front of the communion
table before the worship service begins, or you
may give them to one of the children who will
collect them during Children's Moments.
The Worship and Outreach Ministries
FIMA Thanksgiving Service
Tuesday, November 26
7:00 P.M.
St Juliana’s Catholic Church
1316 N. Acacia Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92831
Campbell’s Labels
The holidays are fast
approaching and that means
more Campbell’s Mushroom
Soup and others will be in
great use. The Disciples
Women (Betty Rollo is our
coordinator) ask that you save
the labels, bring them to church and deposit in
the RED box on the counter in Donna’s office.
These labels are sent to Woodhaven Home for
the developmentally disabled in Jefferson City,
MO. The part we need is the bar code on the
label but feel free to peel off the whole label
and Betty will cut out the part she needs.
Thanks for your assistance with this
worthwhile project.
Typhoon And Tornado Relief
We remind you that you may be part of
the relief effort that was begun immediately
after the devastating typhoon struck the
Philippines and the relief effort that has been
launched following the tornadoes that hit the
midwest this past Sunday by making a gift in
any amount to our church and by designating
it as a special gift for Week of Compassion on
the memo line of your check. Week of
Compassion regularly partners with other
relief organizations, like Church World
Service, to make responses to disasters as
quickly as possible. You can be confident that
100% of your gift through our congregation to
the Week of Compassion actually goes to the
places that have suffered the most whenever a
disaster occurs.
Another article in this issue of "The
Caller" gives you details about the response of
Week of Compassion to the storms that did
damage in the Midwest on November 17.
Look for it and read it so you will know more
about how your church is involved in response
to natural disasters. Thank you for your
compassion for those who are suffering in the
Philippines and in the Midwest.
The Outreach Ministry
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 Distribution Of Profit From
Tri-Tip/Bratwurst Project
The Outreach Ministry, with input from
many of the volunteers who worked on this
project from April through October of this
year, plus the presence of four volunteers who
do not serve on the Outreach Ministry, i.e. Tom
Beck and Dirk McCuen, Coordinators, plus Bill
Henke and Mike Silva, determined the
distribution of the profit from this year's
Farmer's Market sales at its meeting this past
Wednesday.
The profit from the Farmer's Market
totaled $13,912.12. One of the volunteers, not
wanting to work with odd figures, will make a
donation by Sunday to make the total to be
distributed an even number--$14,000.00. So
using that amount of money, the group
approved this distribution of these funds. First,
$3,000 was designated for retention to cover
the start-up costs for the 2014 Farmer's Market.
This includes Health Permits from the County,
Fees charged by the City of be part of the
Farmer's Market and capital to purchase the
food and beverages to be sold on the first night
in April. The remaining $11,000 was
distributed as follows.
1. Kitchen Fund to purchase a new cooler and
cleaning the kitchen -- $1,500
2. Loch Leven -- $1,500
3. Mexico Build Project -- $1,500
4. Disaster Relief, Week of Compassion -
- $1,000
5. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County --
$1,000
6. Heifer International -- $1,000
7. Hot Meal Ministry -- $1,000
8. Mission Trip through Disciples
Volunteering -- $1,000
9. Scholarship Fund, First Christian Church --
$1,000
10. Fullerton CROP Hunger Walk Sponsorship
for 2014 -- $500
Again, we thank all of the volunteers
who made the 2013 Farmer's Market Project
happen on behalf of our congregation so we
could support a wide-variety of ministries
locally, in Southern California and around the
world. Special thanks goes to Tom Beck and
Dirk McCuen, our Coordinators, for this
project and to Barbara Fenters and Donna
Woodbridge, who coordinated the weekly
assignments of volunteers and made sure we
had accurate financial records.
Christmas Cards for
Japan
The Outreach Ministry
Team will have Christmas
cards on the table in the Narthex the next two
Sundays to send to the following churches in
Japan who are still recovering from the
earthquake. We are asking you to sign the
cards and then to pray for them during the
holidays. These churches come to us from our
Partner Missionary in Japan, Jeffrey
Mensendiek.
Sendai Kawadiara Church – Pastor
Rev. Keiji Kojima. This church was established
by the DOC in 1899. Although they did not
have damage, they have been very involved in
the relief effort. They have been searching for a
pastor for the last year and now have a new
one. Their prayer concerns are that God guide
and protect their community. May the joy of
their faith be contagious as they share it with
family members and friends.
Iizaka Church - Pastor Rev. Toshihisa
Suzuki
This church was damaged but has been
able to continue worshipping thanks to pastors
in a larger church who have helped to support
their worship. Their prayer concerns are that
because the people in their church are aging
they will be able to continue to attend worship.
Last Christmas two young men were
baptized and sang for the church in a special
concert. They have felt so blessed and ask for
prayers for more younger people to come to
church and that the church will find a future in
the younger people.
6
 We Are A Global Mission
Church
During Sunday's Annual
Meeting, the congregation
approved the proposal submitted by the
Outreach Ministry that we become a Global
Mission Church. On Wednesday, during the
November meeting of the Outreach Ministry,
"The Disciples and UCC Be A Global Mission
Church Covenant Statement" was signed and
dated by our Pastor, Darrell McGowan. It will
also be signed, at her convenience, by Deb
Taylor, President. When her signature is on the
document, it will be sent to Indianapolis so
that Julia Brown Karimu and Bob Shebeck can
sign it representing Global Ministries. Julia is
the Co-Executive of Global Ministries with Jim
Moos who represents the UCC's, while Bob is
the Co-Executive for Mission Interpretation
with Jan Aerie of the UCC's. When they sign
the document it will be returned to us as a
continuing reminder of our decision to be a
Global Mission Church.
In addition, we have notified Casa de
Oración of our action and await their
confirmation of joining us as partners in this
venture. If they have approved being our
partners, they, too, will have the opportunity
to sign the Covenant Statement mentioned in
the first paragraph.
We thank the congregation for this vote
in support of our proposal. We look forward
to working with all of you and with the
representatives of Casa de Oración in this new
partnership. FYI, these persons agreed to
represent our congregation on the Global
Mission Church Task Force during the
Outreach Ministry meeting this past
Wednesday.
We'll keep you posted as activities to
carry out this partnership emerge during the
coming year. The first such formal activity is
set for January 26 when Jeffrey Mensendiek,
Missionary to Japan, will be our pulpit guest
and will speak to those who come together for
a share meal after worship that day. Please
save this date!
The Outreach Ministry
Pathways of
Hope
You can
begin voting now for Pathways of Hope and
help them win a grant up to $10,000 from the
OC Community Foundation. V
OTE YOUR
THANKS by visiting the PathwaysofHope.us
website. Go to Get Involved, click on Vote
Your Thanks for instructions on how to vote.
You can vote once per day until December
Third. So tell your friends and vote early and
often to help Pathways win the grants.
Thanksgiving Offering To Wrap
Up This Sunday
Today is the last Sunday that we will
officially receive the 2013 Thanksgiving
Offering. We remind you that this offering
supports the colleges, universities and
seminaries of the Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ) located in many states across our
nation. The two institutions which are nearest
us are Chapman University in Orange and the
Disciples Seminary Foundation in Claremont.
Our gifts in support of the Thanksgiving
Offering express our commitment to the
teaching ministry of these two institutions in
developing future leaders for our churches,
both lay leaders and clergy.
We listed names of our members who
graduated from Chapman in last week's article
about the Thanksgiving Offering. Two were
omitted. We learned that Sammie Adams also
graduated from Chapman. And, we also
learned that Nicole Coffaro, daughter of our
members, David and Carrie Coffaro, is
currently in her Junior year at Chapman. She is
a member of the University Choir and had two
solo parts in their concert on campus on
Saturday, November 16.
The goal we set for the 2013
Thanksgiving Offering is $2,000. To date, we
have received gifts totaling $636 toward that
goal. Please make your gift this Sunday. Use
the special Thanksgiving Offering to make
your gift and/or write Thanksgiving Offering
on the memo line of you check. Thanks for
your generous support of this offering.
7
 2013 Advent Devotional
Guide
Our Advent Devotional Guide 2013, with
scripture, meditations, and prayers for each
day in Advent, Dec. 1 through 25, will be
available in the narthex and on our FCCF
website on the first day in Advent, Sunday
Dec. 1.
Please pick up your copy that Sunday,
or let the church office know if you need one or
more copies and cannot personally pick up
your copy that day.
This year, our booklet is blessed not
only with the inspirations of members of FCC
but also with members of Casa de Oración de
Fullerton. Portions of it will be bilingual. This
may help us better communicate with our
community, and you may wish to obtain
additional copies to share with neighbors, both
English and Spanish speaking. What a natural
way to share the Advent message this season.
Once the electronic version is on our website,
we may also share it by sending links to it on
our own and the church’s Facebook page, or by
emailing that link to friends.
This booklet speaks each year as our
collective witness to the Christ who comes to
us in Advent
Advent Season
The Church’s calendar starts with the
season of Advent, not New Year’s. This year
that falls on Sunday December 1.
Friends and visitors may wonder what
exactly is Advent, anyway?
The word comes from the Latin
advenio, which means “to come upon” or
“find.” In this season the Church rehearses
what it was like to come upon or find the child
born in Bethlehem, whom by faith we herald as
the Anointed One, the Christ.
We go through the world in darkness,
and light candles to celebrate the light. We go
through despair to hear and embrace the new
meaning given to hope, not so much in the
world or ourselves, but in the One who
transforms the world and all within it. We go
through sadness to discover what the gospel
writers meant by a joy that was not mere
human happiness but instead a way of being
enveloped by God’s shalom, the reign of God’s
kingdom on earth. We move from numbness
and isolation to the love God showed us in this
Christ child.
It takes us four weeks to complete this
symbolic and devotional journey to Bethlehem.
Advent ends on Christmas Eve, as we come
upon the holy birth of the one born to show us
what human life was meant to be.

Advent Countdown
What You’ll Need: Large glass jar, felt balls or pompoms, embroidery
floss, needle, pen, scissors, glue, strips of paper
How to Do It: Write a ‘treat’ on each strip of paper that will get kids
excited, like "Get out of chores" or "Extra hour of TV tonight." Come up with
25 and then number them. Attach a pompom with a bit of glue to the end of
the paper. Once they’ve dried, place these designs in the jar. When the
number is pulled from the jar, tear off the pompom and string it onto a long
piece of embroidery thread with the needle. When Advent has ended, you’ll
have a pretty garland to hang on your tree!
Why We Love It: It’s two-for-one—Advent in a jar and a craft project, too. Download the
template to label the jar or create your own design.

8
 Advent & Christmas Events
As usual, Advent worship experiences will also occur at 8 A.M. (Reawaken)

December 1 – First Sunday of Advent (Hope Candle) -

Youth will be presenting “Hanging of the Greens”
Distribution of the Advent Devotional Booklet

December 8 – Second Sunday of Advent (Peace Candle)

December 15 – Third Sunday of Advent (Love Candle) –

Choir Cantata

December 21, 5:00 P.M. – Gifts of Love & Dinner to follow

December 22 – Christmas Sunday – Fourth Sunday of Advent (Joy Candle)

December 24 – Christmas Eve (Christ Candle)

December 25 – Christmas Day – Office Closed

Church Christmas Card Display

In an effort to be a more “green” church and save some money in the process,
we invite you to wish a “Merry Christmas" to the entire congregation with one card
by hanging it on the garland that is available in the Narthex on Sunday mornings until Christmas.
You can also mail it to the church office at 109 E. Wilshire Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832 and we will
post it for you. When filling out your Christmas cards this year, take one of your cards and send a
thoughtful note to this address: Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, Maryland
20791-5456

Holiday Poinsettias
It’s time to order poinsettias to decorate our sanctuary during the Advent Season. The cost
is $8.50
each. Return the form below with a check made out to First Christian Church, mark
poinsettias in the memo line.
Please order me/us _____poinsettia/s, for $8.50 each.

From:_____________________________________________________________________________
In Memory of/In Honor of (choose one)
____________________________________________________________________________________

9
 Week of Compassion Report (written Monday, November 18)
A swath of tornados struck the Midwestern United States last Sunday, causing
significant damage across the region. Media outlets are reporting that 68 tornados were
spotted, leaving thousands without power, destroying hundreds of homes, and killing 6
people in Illinois.
Communities from Washington, IL to Kokomo, IN, have been impacted. Week of Compassion
is currently monitoring the situation and working with regional offices to assess needs. We have been
in touch with Regional Ministers and local church pastors and will continue to respond as needed. As
always, Week of Compassion and our partners are committed to Long Term Recovery in
communities affected by disasters and plan to respond in the days to come.
We give thanks to the God who calls us to respond to chaos with hope, peace, and
compassion, and we give thanks for all of you who partner with us to minister to those affected.
Please consider putting your Compassion into Action by responding to needs in Illinois and Indiana.

Update on Global Ministries Response to Typhoon Haiyan

Following is an edited excerpt from a communiqué from Global Ministries Mission
Intern, Matt Fehse, on the Philippines typhoon (full article posted on the bulletin board
by water fountain.)
Matt and a group of 60 doctors, nurses, and lay personnel are in Tagbilarian to
provide trauma therapy. They will be providing medical consultation, minor surgery, distributing
small relief packs of medical/toiletry, and worship. The relief pack consists of 5 kilos of rice, 4 cans
of meat, 2 packs instant noodles, ½ kilo salt, ½ kilo sugar, pack of coffee, 2 packs of matches, pack of
milk, 2 packs of biscuits and water. That’s $11.46 per week or $1.63 a day.
Even before the storm hit, the West Visayan Jurisdiction was discussing what their
responsibilities would be. They organized very small relief missions, distributing food that would
last two days in the early days of the storm.
Matt has lots to say about Anderson Cooper’s broadcast and his criticism of the Philippine
government and feels he was very out of line. “This typhoon is just the tail end of a string of
disasters the government’s been dealing with over the last two months. At the end of September,
fighting with Muslim separatist broke out and over 10,000 homes were burned and displaced more
than 100,000 in the area of Zamboanga. Then, in October, heavy rains caused flooding displacing
another 17,000 people. Then an earthquake hit Bohol and 350,000 more people have been displaced
and now the typhoon hits. No government in any part of the world could have done better than how
the Filipino government is operating. Yes, there’s been corruption and mistakes made, but with what
the government has been dealing with, Cooper spoke extremely out of line.”
The best ways that we can help is to send money to Global Ministries (United Church of
Christ, Philippines) and funds are distributed to the jurisdictions where they prioritize and get
supplies to the areas where they are the most needed.
In addition, we are asked to pray for the protection of the environment, to stop the wholesale
mining industry, and the unchecked logging (particularly in Leyte which has caused landslides and
flooding.) The lack of care and concern for the environment has caused these storm’s after-effects to
grow stronger and more destructive.
We are also asked to speak out on the militarization of communities around the Philippines.
Conflicts are being dealt with weapons rather than peace-talks.
On behalf of Matt and the UCCP, thank you for the prayers, donations and concerns

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First Christian Church
109 E. Wilshire Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92832
Reawaken (Early Worship Service) Sunday, 8:00 A.M.
Church School for all ages: Sunday, 9:00 A.M.
Remember (Traditional Worship Service) Sunday, 10:15 A.M.
Youth Groups: Sunday, 1:00 P.M. & Wednesday, 3:30 – 5:15 P.M.

Serving November 24, 2013 Serving December 1, 2013

Greeter: Youth Greeter: Marguerite & Heide Beal
Guest Book: Phil Forbes Guest Book: Phil Forbes
Coffee Host: Hospitality Ministry Coffee Host: Hospitality Ministry
Acolyte Parent: McCuen Acolyte Parent: Angulo
Sound: Clare Keech Sound: Kyle Fought
Video: PJ Vannoy Video: Clare Keech
Lay Leader: Chris Fee Lay Leader: Youth
Children’s Moment: Shawn McCuen Children’s Moment: Youth
Elders: Dwain Van Diest, Janelle Vannoy, Elders: Craig Wallace, Chris Fee,
Pam Findley-Flor Diaconate: Paul’s Team
Diaconate: McCuen’s Team Prepare:
Prepare: Barbara Fenters, Ben Stuart Ushers:
Ushers: Barbara Fenters, Ben Stuart Serve:
Serve: Barbara Fenters, Masumi & Mike Clean Up:
Hogan, Bill & Jodie Martin, Ben Stuart Alternate:
Clean Up: Masumi & Mike Hogan, Nancy
Knott
Alternate: Nancy Knott

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