Christian Courier

F irst Christian Church of Minneapolis (Disciples of Christ)

April 10, 2010

Easter celebration at FCC full of joy and music
Inside the Courier:

! A Look at the Brite

Side, p. 2

! #$%e'()$ *+((+)$

ourier
update, p. 3

! ,+(-+./e( +$ 0**i-
gration rally, p. 3

On the Web:

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The Easter Sunday cele"#$%&'()$%)*++)&(,-./0/)$)1".230#),#'34)'5),6&-/#0()5'#)
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blog
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free Easter basket with goodies such as biblical books and puzzles, stickers, and
More art and reflec- craft kits. Deb Murphy handed out 13 baskets in all.
tions from Deb Mur-
phy The hymns and choir anthems pulsed with an extra air of celebration as Becki
Whitaker on the tympani and a brass quartet (Heather Nicole Patton, trumpet; Kris
Bloomquist, trumpet; Chris Fulton, trombone; Orin Larson, trombone) joined in.
FCC Flickr photos
;$8%'#)B#&%078)80#2'()'()1C)D'%)'5)D$.E684)#02&(/0/)-&8%0(0#8)%6$%)%60)F08.r-
#0,%&'(G)-&H0)-$.E6%0#G)1%$H08):6$%)&8)/$#H)$(/)%.#(8)&%)&()%')8'2e%6&(E)%6$%)&8)-&E6%>4))

First steps being taken to sponsor refugee family

Our congregation has sponsored four sion of the Minnesota Council of

refugee families over the years, starting
with the Nguyen family in 1980, fol-
lowed by the Tun family in 2000, the
Htoo family in 2003 and the Fu family
in 2005.
A small group from FCC is now
working with Refugee Services, a divi-
Churches, to get ready to help another
family settle in the Minneapolis area.
Household goods and furniture will
be needed, so if you have items another
family could use, contact Warren
Westphal or Martha Harris to find out
how and when to donate.
Page 2 April 10, 2010

A Look at the Brite Side

Living with both crucifixion and resurrection

Christ is risen! One of the things As I said in my Easter sermon,

Pastor Bob Brite
That’s the point of the Chris-
tian journey: to live as citi-
0ens of heaven while we’re
here on earth.
that so surprises me on a regular
basis is just how much we live
crucifixion and resurrection in
our lives, and how the two are
intertwined. Every pain, strug-
gle, disappointment can be spiri-
tually connected to crucifixion;
every discovery, joy, movement
forward has its connection to re-
surrection. Sometimes a resur-
rection experience can imme-
diately be followed by a crucifix-
ion one, even though we normal-
ly think of it being the other way
around.
The whole point of the crucifix-
ion/resurrection connection is to
provide us with opportunity to
grow. Souls who run from pain
instead of facing it will never
know the strengthening power of
crucifixion experiences, nor will
they know the heights of joy that
a resurrection context can pro-
vide, nor will they have the con-
fidence of death being only a
change, rather than an end.
one of the marks of Christians is
%6$%)%60A)/'(7%)50$#)/0$%6>))
I1<0$%6)6$8)-'8%)&%8)8%&(EG4)$8)%60)
Scriptures say.) While I still
have a lot of trepidation about
dying J K)/'(7%)#0$--A):$(%)%')E')
%6#'.E6)%60)%'.E6)8%.55)K7@0)800()
so many times to get to death J I
trust in God to provide heavenly
reality for me. In fact I try to live
with a sense of heaven in my
2&/8%G)60#0)$(/)(':>))L6$%78)%60
point of the Christian journey: to
live as citizens of heaven while
:07#0)here on earth.
Have a blessed Resurrection sea-
son, even if there are a few cruci-
fixions here and there during the
times.
K7/)-&H0)%')800)MNO)'()=.(/$AP
Bob

In our prayers
Gracious God, we
lift up these persons
in our prayers, ask-
ing the blessing of
your Grace and out-
pouring of your Love
upon them.
We pray in thanksgiving for all our regular and guest musicians who
brought us beautiful, worshipful music for Easter; for Fern Risinger,
now in rehab recovering from back problems, and also for Bob Risinger;
for !"s$or (ri$e’s former f"$.er-in-law who recently had quadruple by-
ass surgery; for /ris$en 1"2koski’s sis$er-in-law Sharon who is under-
going chemotherapy; for De5 67r8.y’s mo$.er having hip replace-
ment surgery, and for Deb78)5''%)&(Q.#A)%#0$%20(%R)5'#)%60)5$2&-A)-'8%)&()
the fire in south Minneapolis, and the family in Woodbury who lost their
home but escaped injury from a fire; for those dead
April 10,and missing miners
2010
along with their families from Whitesville, WV; for those fighting addic-
tions and in joy for those finding sobriety through Christ; for all our
homebound, including A udrey H anson and H elen Smith. Amen.
 Christian Courier
Anderson mission update
Ron and Judy An-
derson, former
members of FCC,
are still keeping
busy with mission
work. Ron recently
shared this update
on their adventures:
1S./A)$(/)K)830(%)TU)/$A8)&()=-&/0--G)D'.&8&$($)
on the alternate spring break build. A huge
church/community Missions Center building is
being built at FCC Slidell, Louisiana, for joint
use by the church and mission stations. The ex-
terior dimensions of the building are 40ft X
80ft. We also worked on several homes that
needed a great deal of repair in the area. The
second week we were there over 100 young
people were there. You can check out pictures
at the blog site: gd4jc.org
Blessings to all, Ron and Judy
K5)A'.)-''H)$%)%60)3&,%.#08)F'()20(%&'(8G)A'.7--)800)
his familiar suspenders as he helps raise the trusses
for the Mission Center.
Dining Out for a good cause
Want to go out for dinner with friends and do good
at the same time? On April 29, restaurants in the
Twin Cities will participate in Dining Out for Life,
an annual event where eateries donate a portion of
their proceeds to help the Aliveness Project, a local
charity that provides nutritious meals to those with
HIV/AIDS.
First Christian is taking part and would like to
get a group to go to a local restaurant. If you are
interested, please sign up in the Lounge after ser-
vice on April 11.
Camp Registration due April 18
The Christian Conference Center in Newton,
Iowa, offers summer camp experiences for all ages,
from Pee Wee camp for kids up to 2nd grade, to
Junior, Chi Rho and CYF Conference camps, to
grandparents-E#$(/,6&-/#0(78),$23G)%')C/.-%)
Couples Canoe camps. Information about all these
Page 3
and more can be found at this website:
www.uppermidwestcc.org/ministries_camp.html.
Registration forms, available online at the
above website, should be in the church office by
April 18 so that all forms may be sent together.
Disciples join in Washington, D.C.
rally for immigration reform
A diverse group of
people from all
walks of life ga-
thered on the Na-
tional Mall in
Washington, D.C.
on Sunday, March
21 to march in
support of compre-
hensive immigra-
tion reform. Dis-
ciples could be
found among the
crowd, including
representatives of Disciples Home Missions and its
Refugee and Immigration Ministries, Global Min-
istries, the Disciples Justice Action Network, and
Disciples Haitian immigrant groups. General Mi-
nister and President Sharon Watkins gave the in-
vocation for the three-hour March for America.
Watkins also preached the interdenominational
worship service for Ecumenical Advocacy Days
(EAD) earlier that morning. EAD's annual meeting
coincided with the rally and also focused on immi-
gration. To read a review of Watkins' sermon, visit:
http://www.ncccusa.org/news/100321eadwatkins.h
tml
Numerous faith leaders, including Watkins, met
with White House and Congressional leaders the
next day, Monday, March 22, to call for just, hu-
mane immigration reform policies. Click here for
more: snurl.com/v21jv
 Bi-Weekly Calendar Reflections on the Word
from Lectionary Gospel of 4.11
Sundays at First Christian Church
1[Jesus said,] If you forgive the
Before Worship (9:15 am): Worship 10:30 am sins of any, they are forgiven them;
Art of the Covenant Class Fellowship Hour 11:45 am
if you retain the sins of any, they
Bible Study/Hearthstone Class
are re%$&(0/>4 JJohn 21:23
This Week at FCC Next Week at FCC
K()$2'(E8%)L6'2$878)/'."%&(E)
Monday, A pril 12 Sunday, A pril 18
B''H)+-.")V)W08%36$-78 7 pm Food Panty Sunday
S08.87)#08.##0,tion is this fascinat-
Elders Meeting 12 n ing line: forgive (release) sins and
T uesday, A pril 13
Disciples Ministers Mtg. 12 n. you let go; hold on to them, and
Monday, A pril 19
Property Committee 7 pm B''H)+-.")V)W08%36$-78 7 pm you keep your grip. This word for
Wednesday, A pril 14 1#0%$&(0/4)relates to the Greek
Finance Committee 5:30 pm T uesday, A pril 20
Mpls. Retired Teachers 11 am word for power, !"#$%&, seen in
Lectionary Group 6 pm
Prayer Circle 7 pm Board M eeting 7 pm %60):'#/)1/02'c#$,A>4))Z'-/&(E)
Bell Choir 6:30 pm Wednesday, A pril 21 onto the sins of others gives you
Chancel Choir 7:45 pm Nikkei 9 am power, but also takes power from
T hursday, A pril 15 Lectionary Group 6 pm you. Releasing these sins gives
Handcrafters 9 am Prayer Circle 7 pm freedom to you and to the sinner
+$#%0#)+&#,-0)V)W'-@0#%'(78)))X)32 Bell Choir 6:30 pm over whom you have power.
F riday, A pril 16 Chancel Choir 7:45 pm
-Article deadline for next Courier
T hursday, A pril 22
Saturday, A pril 17 Handcrafters 9 am Forgiving God, give us the freedom
:lders’ Re$re"$ >-3 @ H illest"d’s to release our grip on the judgment
Sat. A pril 24
90(78)Y#'.3 9 am 90(78)Y#'.3 9 am of others, and on ourselves. Judge
Downtown Grief Group 9:30 am Downtown Grief Group 9:30 am us alone with grace and under-
Laura Lynn/Naomi Circle 10 am standing, in the light of the resur-
Shelter meal at St. Stephens 6 pm
rection. Amen. JChris Wogaman

A Thoughtful Church in the F I RST C H R IST I A N C H U R C H

O F M I N N E A P O L IS
Heart of the City
(D ISC IP L ES O F C H R IST)
2201 1st Avenue South
M inistry T eam
A ll M embers of the Congregation Minneapolis, MN 55404
Robert B rite, Interim Minister
Dennis Sanders, Minister of Diversi- A ddress Service Requested
ty and Mission
C hris Wogaman, Office Manager
Bill Stump, Director of Music
Rick Bowman, Building Manager
Serena C arlson, Nursery Attendant
James Barnett, Pianist
M artha H ar ris, Courier Editor
Telephone: 612.870.1868
Prayer Phone: 612.870.0984
www.fccminneapolis.org
EmaiL fcc-mpls@qwest.net
Fax: 612.870.1860

Christian Courier is published bi-

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church office or to Martha Harris
harrismartha@mac.com by F ri
A pr. 17 for next issue.