the

CALLER

December 6, 2015

In This Issue
Remember in Prayer
2
Serving in the Military
2
Prayer Requests, 11/29
2
Spiritual Disciplines Wk.
2
Loving Hearts
2
Recipes Wanted/Statistics
3
Youth Save the Dates
3
Baby Shower/Former Mbrs
3
CW Fundraise/Thank You
3
Missing Chimes/Directory
4
Mary Circle/GNO
4
Council of Eldrs/ Mens Bkfsst 4
MMC Concert
5
Outreach Report
5
Call for Warm Clothing
5
Sr. Adult Tea
5
Nativity Display
5
Advent & Christmas
6&7
Christmas Cards for Japan
8
Serving Sunday
9

The Caller
is published
weekly
(Deadline Wednesday
at Noon)
by
First Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
109 E. Wilshire Ave.
Fullerton, CA 92832
714.525.5525
email:
fullerton1stcc@gmail.com
www.fullertonfirstchristian.org

Interim Pastor:
Rev. Dale Suggs
Editor:
Donna Woodbridge
Webmaster:
Lisa Parks

Issue 48

Events: December 6, - December 13, 2015

December 6: Second Sunday of Advent - Peace
8:00 A.M. - REAWAKEN Worship Service
9:00 A.M. - Sunday School for all ages
10:15 A.M. - REMEMBER Worship Service
12:00 P.M. - Loving Hearts Lunch at Cocos
1:00 P.M. - Casa de Oracin Service, Sanctuary, FH, classroom
December 7:
7:00 A.M. 9:30 P.M. Chapel on Wheels Fundraiser @ Pollys
6:00 P.M. Search Committee, Chapman Lounge
6:30 P.M. - Mary Circle Christmas Party @ Donnas
7:00 P.M. - Worship Ministry Team, Room 101A
December 8:
9:00 A.M. - Pathways of Hope Executive Board
6:30 P.M. - Bible Study @ Barrys
7:00 P.M. - Casa uses Sanctuary & Chapman Lounge
December 9:
7:00 P.M.- Council of Elders Meeting Outgoing & Incoming
members
December 10:
5:00 A.M. - CASA, Prayer time, Chapman Lounge
6:30 P.M. - Bell choir; 7:30 P.M. Chancel Choir
December 11:
10:00 A.M. - Homeschool Debate Club, Room 107
December 12:
8:00 A.M. - Disciples Men/Casa Mens Breakfast
8:30 A.M. - Greek Class @ Woodbridges
December 13: Third Sunday of Advent Joy
8:00 A.M. - REAWAKEN Worship Service
9:00 A.M. - Sunday School for all ages
10:15 A.M. - REMEMBER Worship Service, Cantata
11:30 A.M. Baby Shower for Evangeline Shepherd
12:00 P.M. - Loving Hearts Lunch at Cocos
1:00 P.M. - Casa de Oracin Service, Sanctuary, FH, classroom
AA Groups: Sun. 8 P.M., Rm. 107; Thursday, 8 P.M., FH
Friday, 7:30 P.M., FH; Sat. 8:30 P.M., FH
OCYPAA, Sat. 3:30 P.M., FH
Al-Anon: Fri. Noon, Rm. 101A
NA: Tues. 7:30 P.M.,
OA: Sunday, 10:30 A.M., Tues, 7 P.M., Room 107
1

Remember in Prayer
Continue to pray for: Helen Bailey
and family, Sue Bacon, Dottie Bense,
Amanda Borden, Sandra Brown, Jack
Doughty, Lorna & Skip Farnum, Carolyn
Kenrick, Colleen Langston, Flora Miller, Janet
Parker, Kristine Perry, Jeanne Randall,
Norma Rill, Betty Rollo, Gayle Schoeff,
Claudia Tammen, and Bob & Donna Vannoy.
Please pray for the following PSWR
Churches, Regional Office and General
Church
First Christian Church, Ontario
110 North Vine Avenue
Ontario, CA 91762
Frank Hamilton, Pastor
Pacific Southwest Region
Don & Susan Dewey, Co-Regional ministers
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
General Church ; Sharon Watkins,
General Minister & President

For Those Serving in the

Military
Adam Hawley, Deb Taylors nephew, is
back at Ft. Bliss.
Lt. Cmdr. Patrick OConner, Betty Rollos
grandson-in-law, who is stationed at Hanford, CA.
Lt. Patrick Rollo, Betty Rollos grandson, is
at sea for several months.
PFC Brandon Vannoy, grandson of Bob &
Donna Vannoy, has returned from Afghanistan.
Michael J. Borden, Chief, Nancy Geigers
grandson, in Norfolk, VA.
Brandon Johnson, Army Chaplain,
Mariette Linbergs cousin, Chaplain, at Fort Hood,
TX.
Lt. Austen Packer, Laura Lee Wiggins
friend, at Oceana, NAS, in Virginia
Lt J.G. Kip Packer, friend of Laura Lee
Wiggins, has been deployed to Moron, Spain.
Pvt. Kash Cross, Ted & Sammies grandson,
deployed to Korea for a year
Mjr. Christopher Evans, cousin of Annie
Fraters who is serving in Seoul, Korea.
Melody Martinez, who entered basic
training in North Carolina on October 26.

Prayer Requests, November 29, 2015

Lona Anderson
& Sammie
Adams
Mary Ann
Richmond
Heidi Beal
Bill Martin

Betty Rollo had a short

hospital stay but home now
recuperating from
pneumonia & Dorothy
Bense, health issues
Paige Richmond as she
prepares for final exams
My friends mom is having
a baby today
Daughter-in-law, Carroll
Campbell in hospital with
breathing problems. She
also has pancreatic cancer

Week of Dec. 7 Dec. 13, 2015

Monday, December 7: Reading:
Philippians 4:4-5; pray for Search
Committee as they meet tonight.
Tuesday, December 8: Reading: Philippians 67; Pray for Pathways of Hope Executive Board
meeting today.
Wednesday, December 9: Reading: Zephaniah
3:14-20; Pray for the Council of Elders meeting
tonight.
Thursday, December 10: Reading: Isaiah 12:24; Pray for Global Ministries Missionary
Michael Joseph in Columbia.
Friday, December 11: Reading: Isaiah 12:5-6;
Pray for the Homeschool Debate Club meeting
today in Room 107.
Saturday, December 12: Reading: Luke 3:7-9;
Pray for Disciples & Casa men meeting for
breakfast this morning.
Sunday, December 13: Reading: Luke 3:1-18;
Pray for the choir as they present their annual
Christmas Cantata.

Loving Hearts Luncheon

The Loving Hearts
Widows group meets every
Sunday after church at Cocos on Harbor. You
are welcome to join them. Just show up as
soon as possible after church.

Sunday Statistics
November 29, 2015
103 (Remember Service)
3 (Reawaken Service) 116 (Casa 1 P.M. service)
Weekly Giving: $3,729.69
Missions: $414.41
Budget Goal: $3,777
Pathways of Hope: Ingathering Donations $10
Thanksgiving Offering: $5

Youre Invited to a Baby Shower

We are finally getting to celebrate the
arrival of Evangeline Shepherd at a Baby
shower after church next Sunday, December
13, after the 10:15 worship service in Chapman
Lounge. The Shepherds are registered at
Babies R Us or you can contribute to an allchurch gift. Just get in touch with Donna as
she will be purchasing the gift.

Update On Former Members

Many of you will remember Beth and
Doug Parker, Chapman Students, who joined
our congregation from our sister congregation
in Ontario, while they were in college. Beth is
finishing her first semester at Claremont
School of Theology and is working as the
Church Secretary at FCC Pomona. She sends
her greetings to all of you. She is now living in
Ontario once again.
She informed us that her brother,
Doug, along with his wife Briana and their
three daughters moved to Plano, Texas at the
end of June. The move occurred because Doug
took a new job in Texas earlier this year. Briana
was a very good friend of Lyndsey Van Diest
from their days as students at Chapman.
Ed Linberg

Chapel on Wheels Fundraiser

Pick up a flyer on the counter in the
office and support Chapel on Wheels
Fundraiser at Pollys tomorrow, December 7.
20% of proceeds goes to Chapel on Wheels for
their Weekday Christian Education program at
elementary schools in Fullerton.

Thank You One and All

Thank you to everyone who
came out and helped decorate the
Sanctuary for Advent and Christmas. We
appreciate all your hard work. A special thank
you to Terry Vannoy for providing the
delicious chili. A special thank you to Pastor
Dale and all the participants in the Hanging of
the Greens service. It was a great start to the
Advent season. Come join us for the rest of the
season as we prepare to celebrate the birth of
the Christ child.
The Worship Ministry Team

Recipes Wanted!
Everyone has a favorite
recipe - it's the one your friends
ask you for or the one your grandmother used
to make for you when you were a kid. Well,
we want to share those recipes! As a
fundraiser to support the Hospitality Team, we
will put everyone's favorites into a collection of
good eats! You can submit your recipe by
sending it via email to lschaffell@earthlink.net
or put it in the small basket on the Coffee Cart
on Sunday. If you have a story to share, add
that as well. Knowing the background makes
it special and adds even more interest. We will
be collecting these for a few weeks, I hope you
will take the time to write it down and submit
it. Thank you for supporting us!
Laura Schaffell & The Hospitality Team

Attn: Youth Save the Dates

Jan. Camp Grades 6 8)
January 15 18,2016 - Loch Leven
Camp Fees: $180 before Dec. 14, $200 after
Feb. Camp (Grades 9 - 12)
February 12 15, 2016 Pilgrim Pines
Camp Fees: $190 before January 12, $210 after

Directory Update
Please check the temporary
updated directory to be sure your
information is correct before I print a new one.
Once we have a new minister in place, we will
again contract with Lifetouch to take pictures
and give us a formal directory.
Donna

Attn: Council of Elders

All Outgoing and Incoming Council of
Elders are requested to attend the December 9
meeting and to prayerfully consider which of the
following areas where you are called to serve:

1.

Serve at the table during Sunday

service
2 Serve as Narthex Elder during Sunday
service
3. Serve Home Communion to those
unable to attend worship
4. Serve as an On-Call Elder willing to
respond to members who may need
spiritual comforting in times of crisis
5. Serve as Administrative Elder will be a
member of the Personnel Committee
and will be scheduled to act as a second
person to help the Financial Secretary
count the offering each Sunday after
worship service.
Pat Vannoy, Chair

Mary Circle
Mary Circle will be holding their annual
Christmas Party at Donna Woodbridges home
tomorrow, December 7 at 6:30 p.m. and would
like to invite any woman of the church who
would like to attend to join them. The
festivities start at 6:30 p.m. with appetizers and
desserts, great conversation and then a gift
exchange of no more than $15 is held. Its a
great time. We would love to have you join us.

Disciples/Casa Mens Breakfast

This Saturday (Dec. 12th), the men of
our churches (FCCF and Casa de Oracin) will
be gathering at 8:30 A.M. in Chapman Lounge
for a potluck breakfast, fellowship and sharing
of prayer concerns. Please contact Randy
Baxter (714-396-8858 or rbaxter@fullerton.edu)
for more details, and if you can contribute to
the breakfast -- i.e., so we don't end up with 6
fruit dishes and no protein! Donna
Woodbridge graciously provides coffee, but
juices are a welcome supplement. If you have
any ideas for service projects, you're welcome
to bring those up during our discussion time."

Case of the Missing Choir Chimes

We are still looking for the missing choir
chimes. If anyone can shed light on what
might have happened to them, we would
appreciate hearing from you. From the bells
that are missing it looks like it was the middle
register and they could have been used to play
a simple hymn. Unfortunately, it's been quite a
while since we opened the box so I have no
idea of how long they've been missing. I'm
pretty sure they were not stolen as they would
have taken both boxes. Thanks.
Sharlane Blakeley, Bell Choir Director

Girls Night Out Christmas

Party
Anna Van Diest has
offered to have our December
meeting at her home. The
theme will be Mexican. RSVP to Anna and
shell tell you need to bring. Of course there
will be an ornament exchange (under $10). We
will also be signing up for next years outings
(provided we still want to do this) as well as
the calendar to sign up on. Her address and
phone number are: 1644 Valley Lane,
Fullerton; 871-6177. Her email is:
annavan2005@aol.com. Remember were
meeting on Dec. 14th at 6 P.M. Please RSVP to
Anna by Dec. 9.
GNO Coordinator - Shar
4

Last Call For Concert

Tickets
Today, Dec. 6, is your last opportunity
to secure tickets at the group rate of $10 per
ticket to the Christmas Concerts of the
Mountainside Master Chorale, next weekend,
Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 P.M. and Sunday,
Dec. 13, at 3:30 P.M. at the First Christian
Church, Pomona. Tickets are good for either
concert. If you want to go to one of these
concerts, be sure to get your tickets from Ed
Linberg now as he must turn in money and
unsold tickets at the Chorales rehearsal on
Monday, December 7.
The concert, A Gospel Christmas,
features many familiar carols, spirituals and
other music of the season all of which will be
sung in a gospel or jazz style. Youve never
heard Silent Night or Hallelujah from
Handels Messiah, as they will be presented in
this concert.

Outreach Report on Hot Meal Ministry

Wednesday night, Dec. 2, we welcomed
a total of 84 guests. We distributed 53 hygiene
kits, nine New Testaments and three Spanish
Bibles.
Two long tables were set-up to display
various pieces of miscellaneous clothing and
shoes that had been recently donated. The
majority of the items were quickly claimed by
our guests. Many thanks to Donna
Woodbridge for her assistance and supervision
at both tables tonight. Please continue to bring
your donations and place them in the BIG box
in the narthex on Sunday mornings. Donna
reported that people were requesting socks
and one lady is looking for a pair of size 17
mens shoes. So if you know of anyone that
large, please ask for their castoffs. (See article
below for more info.)
Phil Forbes
There was a faux leather jacket in a small
womens size. I saw a girl about 10 yrs. old
and offered her the jacket. It fit perfectly and
she was one happy little girl. Thank you
whoever provided that jacket. You Donna

Call for Warm Clothing

The Outreach Committee is
renewing the call for usable warm
clothing to again distribute once a
month at our Hot Meal Ministry. Items most in
need, especially during the cold winter
months, are coats, sweaters, jackets,
sweatshirts, pants, scarfs, hats, socks, gloves,
shoes, etc. Also, if you have an extra umbrella
or two, they will be put to good use and will be
very much appreciated since major El Nino
storms are expected to hit our area very soon.
All Items may be dropped off in an area that
will be designated in the Narthex every
Sunday.
If you need more info or would be
willing to come on one of the first Wednesdays
of any month and help with distribution,
please contact me
Thank you, Phil Forbes

Senior Christmas Tea

All Senior Adults are
invited to our annual Christmas
Tea, Tuesday, December 15 at
2:00 p.m.
Join us in Chapman Lounge for some
scrumptious cookies, tea sandwiches, tea,
coffee and punch. Then we will adjourn to the
Sanctuary for a program about Christmas
Carols and their history.
Should be a great way to embrace the
holidays with great food, fellowship and
music.

Nativity Collection on Display

The Jones/Galea families
have graciously offered their over
200 Nativities collected over 50
years and from all over the world
for display at the First United Methodist
Church on December 19 from 2:00 6:00 p.m.
Admission is free but a free will offering
will be taken.
Come share some light refreshments
and music and celebrate the holidays.
5

Advent & Christmas Events

Sunday, December 6- Second Sunday of Advent

Sunday, December 13 Third Sunday of Advent

Chancel Choir Cantata

Sunday, December 20, 10:15 Fourth Sunday of Advent & Christmas Sunday
Childrens Choir during Childrens Moment

Thursday, December 24, 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service

Friday, December 25, Christmas Day Office Closed

Mitten Tree
We are still collecting hats, scarves, socks, mittens and gloves for the Mitten
Tree that will be in the Narthex during the month of December.
Each Wednesday during December we will give out approximately 40 tickets at the Hot Meal
on Wednesday nights and the recipients in turn will come over to the Sanctuary building and choose
an item from the tree. Look for the Christmas box on the table in the Narthex. 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.

Holiday Poinsettias
Its 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) __________________________________________

Reminder to Save Campbell Soup Labels

With the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons upon us, more of us will be
entertaining and that means more Campbells Soup cans will be opened.
The Disciples Women (Betty Rollo is our coordinator) ask that you continue to save your
Campbell product bar codes from the label on the cans or just bring the whole label and Betty will cut
out the bar code. Bring them to church and deposit in the silver box on the counter in Donnas office.
These labels are sent to Woodhaven Home for the developmentally disabled in Jefferson City, MO
Here are some of the products in addition to Campbell Soup labels that you can save:
Pepperidge Farms breads, crouton, rolls and stuffing, frozen puff pastry, turnovers, garlic
breads, cakes, BIC pens (all kinds) , highlighters, dry erase markers, Prego, V8, Pace, Goldfish,
Dannon Products, Glad, Post cereals (all kinds) Thanks for your assistance with this worthwhile
project.

Share your card

Again this year, you are invited to cut costs and bring a card to hang on
the garland in the Narthex during the month of December. You only have to
send one card, save lots of postage and at the same time, let everyone in the
congregation know that you are thinking of them. Lets see if we can fill the Narthex with cards.

Christmas Cards for Japan

The Outreach Ministry Team will be participating in the Christmas cards for Japan project again this year.
Cards are on the table in the Narthex next to the Mitten Tree box. Please sign the cards and then to pray for
the Japanese people during the holidays. These churches come to us from Missionary in Japan, Jeffrey Mensendiek.
Sendai Kawadaira Church, (no kindergarten) Pastor: Rev. Keiji Kojima, Membership: 45
Established: 1899; Address: 1-17-10 Kawadaira Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 981-0954 JAPAN
About the church: Located in Sendai City (population 1 million), this church was started by the Disciples of
Christ, USA. The church was not damaged during the disaster. The present pastor is a fresh graduate from seminary. He
has been ministering since April 2014.
Prayer Concerns: That we can share in the joy of worship with all the people who come on Sundays. That
through the ministry of our Sunday School many children will be led to church.
Iizaka Church, (no kindergarten) Pastor: Rev. Toshihisa Suzuki, Membership: 5
Established: 1888; Address: 17-6 Aza-Kaminaka Kawahara, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima-shi, Fukushima Prefecture 960-0201
JAPAN
About the church: Iizaka is a town known for its hot springs. In the past many great leaders came out of this
church, but now the flame of Christian presence in the community is small. The small church is supported by Rev.
Suzuki from the neighboring Kawamata Church. This year they decided to do something new in worship by planning a
musical worship. Six out of eight of our members in attendance were able to participate by providing some music for the
worship. This was a very blessed time for us.
Prayer Concerns: All of the church members are elderly. We pray that they will continue in health, and be able
to attend worship on Sundays. We pray that young people will come to church, and that we will be able to pass on the
faith to the next generation.
Aizu Wakamatsu Church, (pronounced I-zoo wah-kah-mah-tsoo), (no kindergarten)
Pastor: Rev. Katsuro Yaegashi; Membership: 36; Established: 1891; Address: 9-20 Miyamachi Aizu-Wakamatsu City,
Fukushima Prefecture 965-0801 JAPAN
About the church: Aizu Wakamatsu is the largest city in Aizu (population 125,000.) Aizu is the part of
Fukushima which has many mountains and is far from the coast. It is a rural community, with many rice fields. Though
not as high as other areas, the Aizu area also received high levels of radiant after the nuclear disaster. People for other
areas with higher radiation have evacuated to Aizu Wakamatsu. The church proudly carries on in the tradition of the
congregational church. Rev. Yaegashi used to be a high school teacher for many years. After retirement he entered
seminary, and just graduated this year. He came to the church in Wakamatsu April of this year.
Prayer Concerns: We aim to be the kind of church that values each individual, and seeks to love our neighbors.
And that we will be an open and inviting church, serving society and committed to social issues

Christmas Offering To Be Received On Dec. 13 and 20

The annual Christmas Offering will be received on the next two
SundaysDecember 13 and 20. This is our final special offering
that supports the ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for
this year. We have received five special offerings that benefit our denominations ministries to date in
2015. They are: Week of Compassion, Easter, Pentecost, Reconciliation and Thanksgiving. The
Christmas Offering will support the work of the Disciples in our Regionthe Pacific Southwest
RegionDon and Susan Gonzales Dewey, Co-Regional Ministers.
Inserted in the worship bulletin for this Sunday, December 6, youll find a half-sheet that
describes the work of the Regional Church and an offering envelope for your use in being part of the
2015 Christmas Offering. The goal for this 2015 Christmas Offering is
$1,066.00. This is a 5% increase over the amount our congregation gave in support of the 2014
Christmas Offering. We thank you in advance for your generous support of the 2015 Christmas
Offering.
The Outreach Ministry

The Alternative Christmas Tradition Puts Faith and Love Into Action at Habitat
OC
by Ariel Yarrish
For generations, churches throughout Orange County have hosted Alternative Christmas Fairs to
help raise funds for local, national and international non-profit causes. Alternative Christmas Fairs
offer individuals the opportunity to make a donation and purchase holiday gifts in the name of
their loved ones, with the money directed toward non-profit missions, serving those most in need.
Every year, Habitat OC sets up shop at churches around Orange County to sell merchandise and
raise donations in support of our mission to create a world where everyone has a decent place to
live.
We would like to thank the following churches for inviting Habitat OC to participate in their Alternative Christmas tradition
this giving season:

First Christian Church of Fullerton

First Presbyterian Church of Santa Ana
First Presbyterian Church of Westminster
Lutheran Church of the Cross
Taylor Bruder and The Bruder Family
The Covington
Trinity United Presbyterian Church
Westminster Lutheran Church of Hope

It is through faith partnerships and the generous contribution of donors and volunteers that we are able to continue
changing the lives of families in need. This holiday season, give the gift that matters most, the gift of home, and make a
donation, volunteer your time or become a faith partner.

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 Group: Sunday, 1:00 P.M.
First Christian Church . . .
Celebrating the diversity of all of Gods children,
we are Disciples of Christ practicing spirit-filled worship,
faith-building community, and passion-powered service
to our neighborhood and to the world.
Where encounters with God are not only ordinary,
theyre extraordinary!
Where invitations not only happen on occasion,
they happen on every occasion.
Where not only minds grow in knowledge,
hearts grow in faith.

Serving December 6, 2015

Serving December 13, 2015

Greeter: Phil Forbes

Guest Book: Beverly Reinke
Coffee Host: Hospitality Ministry
Acolyte Parent: Baxter-Herrera
Sound & Video: Travis Robidoux
Lay Leader: Barbara Fenters
Childrens Moment: Rev. Suggs
Elders: Joshua Dorrough, Nancy Malotte,
Phil Forbes
Diaconate: McCuens Team
Prepare: Dirk McCuen, Paul Robidoux
Ushers: Dirk& Shawn McCuen
Serve: Luanne Bailey, Dirk & Shawn
McCuen, Paul Robidoux, Anna Van Diest,
Alice Wallace
Clean Up: Dirk & Shawn McCuen, Paul
Robidoux

Greeter: Lin Garcia

Guest Book: Phil Forbes
Coffee Host: Hospitality Ministry
Acolyte Parent: McCuen
Sound & Video: Paul Robidoux
Lay Leader:
Childrens Moment:
Elders: Pat Vannoy, Luanne Bailey
Phil Forbes (HC)
HC Elders: Kathy Robidoux, Barry
Woodbridge, Judi Smedley
Diaconate: McCuens Team
Prepare: Dwain Van Diest, Craig Wallace
Ushers: Jan & Dirk McCuen
Serve: Luanne Bailey, Dirk, Jan, Kelly &
Shawn McCuen, Craig Wallace
Clean Up: Anna Van Diest, Alice & Craig
Wallace
Alternate: Paul Robidoux