Christian Courier

November 12, 2011

First Christian Church of Minneapolis (Disciples of Christ)

Open Source church growing person by person

Stephen said that, at age 34, he is the sixth oldest person participating in Open Source. The majority of people (2/3 to ) who have attended gatherings and events are men, who then bring along families or girlfriends. Many of the participants are completely unfamiliar with what a church is, with being a part of a community, with committing to regular financial support for an organization or with the basic Bible stories that earlier generations grew up knowing. Currently, Open Source holds monthly worship services, called gatherings, in a public event space on Sunday evenings. They have also organized weekly Beer and Bible sessions, bi-weekly events for kids such as playtimes or movie-going, and regular work at a local food bank packing food boxes. An upcoming event is called Wine to Water. Participants will buy tickets to a winetasting event, and proceeds will go toward supplying clean water to a Nicaraguan village. Open Source is also planning to host a Financial Peace University series, a program designed to help people get control over their finances. Open Source has both a website (opensourcerichester.com) and a Facebook page. The Haneys hope that by September, 2012, they will have weekly gatherings with 60 regular participants. Rebecca and Stephen really are living out the mission of their church, which is to bring people into relationship with God and Christian community.

Inside the Courier:

A Look at the Brite

Side, page 2 Search committee seeks input, page 3 Ministry Center News, page 3

ourier
Rebecca and Stephen Haney of Open Source

On the Web:
FCCs website Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) national organization Disciples in the Upper Midwest Open Source

Its one thing to move to a new town to start a new job as a minister, but its something else again when that new ministry has no building and no members. Yet thats just exactly what Stephen and Rebecca Haney signed up for when they moved to Rochester, MN, in January, 2010, to start a new church. Rebecca and Steve told their story during worship at FCC on Nov. 6. Their Open Source church in Rochester has grown from four members (Steve, Rebecca and their two children) to 40 active participants.

Photos from the organ recital are on FCCs Facebook page

We spend 40 to 60 hours a week building relationships, said Rebecca. This can be participating in community organizations, inviting people to dinner, going out for coffee or beers, playing Frisbee golf or board games with new friends. Stephen explained that he learned early on to wait until people asked him to begin talking about Open Source.

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November 12, 2011

A Look at the Brite Side

On plans to use assets for church start-ups

This is probably a good time to remind our congregation what the proposed plans are with the assets from our sale of the building. Theres a total of about $3.8 million; around $1.5 million is going into construction of our shared facility and the organ move. Of the remaining $2.3 million, what weve talked about is holding about $1.2-1.4 million for a support fund/draw-down account that would help provide extra support-above-giving for FCC; that would last us anywhere from 10-40 years depending on how fast the draw-down is. The rest of the funds, $900,000 to $1.1 million, would be used to start new churches in the Twin Cities, with some of that going to give Rochester a little extra boost, to the tune of $70,000 100,000. (It takes about $400,000 to start a new church, and the Haneys began their effort with less than $250,000 backing them up.) New church starts are THE form of revival in the church today. Revival can and does take place in established congregations (were having some of that here, arent we?), and the call of Christ is to pursue that newness of life the Scriptures talk about in such a way that people out in the world can see that newness as something attractive. Thats what were trying to do at FCC, and I think were having some success at that. Id like to see YOU on Sunday! Bob

It was a good Sunday of worship last week, with Stephen and Rebecca Haney preaching, giving us the update on the new church start in Rochester. One of the things that most fascinated me was Steve saying that, at the ripe old age of 34, he was the sixth oldest member of the gathering group at this point. It is a brave new world to start a new church in these days.

In our prayers
Gracious God, we lift up these persons in our prayers, asking the blessing of your Grace and outpouring of your Love upon them.

We pray in gratitude for all those who worked hard to clean the building on Share-the-Care day and for all those who contributed to the $1200 raised at the organ recital; in joy with James Rogers who now has nine months of sobriety; for blessings to Jay and Arlene Hillestad for their recent anniversary and for their generosity in hosting and facilitating a Ministry Center Board retreat; in concern for Charlotte Ronnei who has been hospitalized recently and for Greg Merkel and his mother and father; in concern that our local and national political representatives work together to fix the many problems in our society; in gratitude for active and veteran military members and their families; for all our homebound members, including Emma Armstrong and Bob Risinger, Amen.

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Search Committee discussion set for Thanksgiving Sunday

The Pastoral Search Committee has met several times in the past few weeks, and has begun preparing for the work of identifying and hiring our next permanent minister. Committee members are Kirsten Cackoski, Tom Curry, Arlene Hillestad, Deb Murphy, Sandy Morgan, Max Hurlocker, and co-chairs Mike Hesano and Dean Creighton. So as we begin this long process, we need the ideas and input of the FCC members and family. To do that, on November 20, we will be conducting a fast paced, interactive and fun discussion session with members and guests. This conversation exchange will be held between the Thanksgiving worship service and our Thanksgiving dinner in Fellowship Hall. We will be asking specific questions about your visions for the future as we move into a new church setting. We need and value your input, and look forward to an enjoyable event. Schedule for Thanksgiving worship and Dinner: 10:30 Worship Service (Fellowship Hall) 11:30 -12:15 Interactive group discussions led by Search Committee 12:30 Thanksgiving Dinner

Ministry Center News

Although an official move-in date has not been set, the new Ministry Center at 28th and Garfield is nearly complete. All three churches hope to be worshiping in the building by January. Anyone who would like to see the current state of construction should call Pastor Brite to find out how to make arrangement for a hard-hat tour, The Ministry Center Board met on Oct. 22 and also held a day-long retreat on Nov. 5. Below are highlights from these meetings: Construction is currently right on budget. The new entry way is finished, windows are in, many rooms are painted, and bathroom tile is in. A name for the Ministry Center has been tentatively chosen, and the governing bodies of each church will be hearing and responding to the choice. A final draft of the Ministry Center Covenant is complete and will be presented to the governing bodies for approval at their November meetings. The 2012 budget is being developed by the Ministry Center finance committee. Discussion is underway about custodial and office staffing for the Ministry Center. Two more tasks groups will be formed, one on working in the community and one on evangelism The Ministry Center board will meet Nov. 17 and Dec. 18. Anyone with interest in Ministry Center business is welcome to attend. Dorothy Stegner shared this anecdote: I attended an organ concert some years ago where the talented Mormon organist played. How great! -- but one man arose after the applause had died down and rebuked those who clapped. The organist arose from the organ and in his quiet and kind way told the people that if the Lord moved them through his music, it is all right to clap. Please continue to share your thoughts about applause during worship with each other and in this newsletter.

Vandalism case resolved

The County Attorney's office informed FCC that the defendant in the vandalism to First Christian Church last winter/spring (several broken windows) has plead guilty to three counts of gross misdemeanor property damage and has been ordered to pay restitution. The individual will not have to serve jail time, but will be monitored by the mental health court in monthly visits for the next two years, to make sure that he receives the treatment and support he needs and does not resort to similar damaging behavior in the future.

Lets Talk: Applause responses

Four people responded directly to The Courier about applause during worship. Wouldnt you know: two people indicated they preferred quiet responses, and two people preferred applause! We do value our diversity here at FCC. {Continued

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Bi-Weekly Calendar
Sundays at First Christian Church
Sunday Worship at 10:30 am Before Worship After Worship

Reflections on the Word

from readings for 11.13.11 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. Matt. 25:29 The word talent often translates the word in the Greek here, which is Talantos, a weight that, like the British Pound, became a measure of currency. One talent was worth about 15 years wages. Is Jesus saying to take from the poor and give to the rich?! Jesus message, I think, was here metaphoric but clear: the more you use your gifts, the more they will grow; bury them and they will bury you. In other words, dont hide your lamp under a chair: let your light shine. Shine through our talents, O God, that we might share these gifts and glorify you through them. Thank you for sharing with us, that we might share with others. Amen. --Chris Wogaman

Breakfast Club 8:45 am Spiritual Formation Classes 9:15 am

Sunday, November 13 Food Pantry Sunday Elders Meeting

Fellowship Time 11:45

This Week at FCC worship: Fellowship HourFCC am Next Week at 11:45 After
5 pm Sunday November 20 Worship in Fellowship Hall Search Committee Activity Thanksgiving Dinner Tuesday, November 22 Ecumenical Lectionary group Wednesday, November 23 Bible Study Bell Choir Chancel Choir Thursday, November 24 Thanksgiving Day ` 10:30am 11:45 am

Monday, November 14 Carter Circle @ Barb Rusinaks 7 pm Tuesday, November 15 Retired Teachers Lunch Ecumenical Lectionary group Mission & Witness Committee FCC Board Meeting Wednesday, November 16 Nikkei Bible Study Bell Choir Chancel Choir Thursday, November 17 Handcrafters Ministry Center Board Saturday, November 19 Mens Group Laura Lynn/Naomi Circle noon 4 pm 6 pm 7 pm

4 pm

6 pm 6:30 pm 7:45 pm

9 am 6 pm 6:30 pm 7:45 pm 9 am 7 pm 9 am 10 am

A Thoughtful Church in the Heart of the City Ministry Team

All Members of the Congregation Robert Brite, Transitional Minister Dennis Sanders, Minister of Diversity and Mission Chris Wogaman, Office Manager Rick Bowman, Building Manager Deb Murphy, Director of Spiritual Formation & Community Ministry Jim Baumgartner, Director of Music Bryon Wilson, Organist/Pianist Serena Carlson, Nursery Attendant Martha Harris, Courier Editor Telephone: 612.870.1868 www.fccminneapolis.org E-mail: fcc-mpls@qwest.net Fax: 612.870.1860 Christian Courier is published bimonthly. Send items and ideas to church office or to Martha Harris harrismartha@mac.com by Sun. Nov. 21 for the next issue.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF MINNEAPOLIS (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)

2201 1st Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55404

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