Souper Bowl Of Caring
On February 12th the Youth and Youth Ministery Council, under the direction of Cassie Sexton, had wonderful Chili Cookoff. 10 different families or groups prepared a dazzeling array of chilis. There was truly something for everyone! The event made in excess of $450 which will go to Our Daily Bread to feed the hungry people of Denton County. Below are a few of the pictures of the event!
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Traumatic Brain Injury
There are numerous types of traumatic brain injury but two of the most common are the aneurysm and the stroke. At a recent seminar at Presbyterian Hospital in Denton some of the following information was given (At least this is what we think we heard -- ask your doctor for complete information!)
A stroke is when blood supply is cut off from an area of the brain. The blood supply can be cut off in two primary ways, first, a clot of some sort can block a artery so little or no blood gets through, or second, an artery (usually in the brain) can bust so that the blood does not continue down the artery but instead spills out into the surrounding tissues. Either way - no blood gets to an area of the brain. Without blood flow that area of the brain begins to die.
A T.I.A. is, in laymen's terms', a stroke that ends (blood flow is restored) before major brain damage is permanent and function to the affected areas.
An Aneurysm is when a wall in an artery weakens to the point that it bubbles out with the walls of the bubble getting thinner and thinner. If the bubble bursts then it is considered to be a stroke."
Where the stroke is makes a big difference in what areas of the brain are affected. Click here to see a chart of areas of the brain that are commonly affected by strokes.
Fast action is critical when a person has a stroke. Minutes count!! Many hospitals use the following anagram for identifying a stroke: F.A.S.T. F=Face - ask the person to smile - does one side of the face droop? A= Arms - Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one are drift downward? S= Speech - Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange? T= Time - If you observe any of these signs then immediately call 9-1-1.
Remember - this information is secondary to what your doctor may tell you. Talk to your doctor about your questions
The Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Team
Our Daily Bread, a vital Denton non-profit agency, is the beneficiary of a basketball game between the Harlem Ambassadors and a local team. The event costs $10 (all of which goes to Our Daily Bread -- expenses for the event have already been covered!) and will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Denton High School Gym on February 10, 2012. Pastor Burton has 10 tickets and they will go to the first 10 people who call him at 940-566-4990!
"Enjoy watching high-flying slam dunks, dazzling ball-handling tricks and hilarious comedy routines. Guaranteed to provide your family with non-stop laughs while delivering a positive message for all ages. See your friends, neighbors and civic leaders match their basketball skills and wits against an internationally acclaimed team. It promises to be an evening of fun and a chance to raise funds for Our Daily Break, a soup kitchen that serves a free, nutritious lunch Monday-Friday for the hungry in our community."
Go Red For Women
Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America. Come to a free lecture to hear about how to turn that around. At Texas Health Resourses/Presbyterian Hospital on February 8 at 7:00 p.m.
Click here to see the flyer about this and other events.
Souper Bowl Of Caring
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in- Matthew 25:35 NIV
Each year on the weekend of the Super Bowl, our youth host a chili cook off to collect donations to help feed the homeless. Every penny counts! All the funds raised go to our local homeless shelter and soup kitchen, Our Daily Bread.
We give gold and silver spoons out for the best chili and the best decorated table. And you get to vote with your money. For every five dollar donated you will receive one poker chip to place your vote for the best tasting chili! Our youth get to vote on who has the best decorated table. So be sure to come out at help stop hunger here in Denton!
Our Chili Cookoff will take place in our Fellowship Hall on February 5, immediately after worship or 12:15 p.m.
For more information about this nation wide effort please visit their website at http://www.souperbowl.org/
Winter Follies Talent Show and Fellowship Luncheon
This Sunday (January 22) immediately following worship, our Winter Follies will begin in the Fellowship Hall. The cost is $5/person. Lunch includes homemade soups, salad, breads and desserts. All proceeds benefit our youth summer camp program.
Scheduled to perform:
Texas Sky, a great band
A Men’s Gospel Quartet
Guitarist, Justin Weed
Singing Sister’s, Tully and Randall
Women’s Group,“Fashion Faux Paw ”
The Burton's Dramatic Duo featuring “Who?, Naturally!”
Rory Duncan and her Dinosaurs
Dancer, KateLynn Choate
A Youth Group Experience
and more…..
Don’t be a flake, join us this Sunday!
The Boar's Head And Yule Log Festival
On Saturday, January 7, all those interested will carpool from First Christian Church of Denton to University Christian Church of Fort Worth to attend their wonderful Boar's Head And Yule Log Festival, an ancient celebration of the meaning of Christmas in music, drama, and dance. We will depart at 1 p.m. so we can be there plenty early to get good seats for the 3:00 p.m. performance. We should be on the road home by 4:30 and back to FCC Denton by 5:30 p.m. This event is free but there will be a special offering to help defray the cost of the costumes and musicians. In addition, riders should consider helping pay for the cost of their driver's gas.
The Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival was first presented at Queen's College, Oxford, England, in the year 1340. It is perhaps the oldest continuing festival of the Christmas Season.
There will be over 185 persons in costume, an orchestra, handbell choirs, and a large chorus to make this a memorable and meaningful final celebration of the Christmas Season.
Click here for more information on the Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival.
Christmas Story Sunday - December 18
The Sunday before Christmas (December 18) is a service in which we focus on retelling the story if Jesus' birth through drama instead of a sermon. This year will be no exception! Pastor Burton and Charlotte Stephens (our official Drama Queen) will present a dramatic interpretation of Mary and Jospeh retelling the story. They call it "Christmas Memories". Children should especially enjoy this drama.
Soecial music for this Sunday includes: "The Star Carol" (Hutson and Burt) and "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella" (Traditional French Carol arranced by Doug Andrews) sung by the Sanctuary Choir, and "Fear Not The Lord is With You" (Choplin) by Russell Robertson.
All our facilities are handicapped accessible and we have a staffed nursery just 1 minute from the sanctuary. We serve communion every Sunday and joyfully share it with everyone who desires to partake. Membership is "open" -- anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is gladly accepted into our fellowship. For more information call our Church Office at 940-566-4990.
Click here to view previous sermons in pdf format.
Christmas Cantata - December 11
We love to sing the great carols and hymns of Advent and Christmas. So does our choir! So the third Sunday of Advent is for us "Christmas Music Sunday." This year the church choir, under the direction of Mark Graham, will be presenting an outstanding Christmas cantata entitled "Tapestry of Light: A Celtic Christmas Celebration," that will take the place of the Sunday sermon. Click here for more videos and much, much more information on the cantata.
Advent Devotions
As a service to members and friends, Pastor Burton and several members of the congregation have written a series of Advent Devotions that run from November 27 through December 25. If you click here it will take you to the devotions page. These devotions are written in response to some of the great Advent and Christmas carols. We were going to print the words of the carols with the devotions but our computer ate the file of all the words on the day we were going to publish and print the devotions. Maybe next year.
Christmas Ad in DRC
On December 2, 2011, this ad was in the Denton Record Chronicle. It was created for us by Mandy Duncan! Thanks Mandy!
Chrismon Tree
Chrismons (literally "Christ monograms" or less literally symbols of Jesus and of his work of salvation) are a unique part of our Advent and Christmas seasons. We have a lovely Chrismon Tree with a good number of existing Chrismons. 
Mandy Duncan, our Lady of the Visual Arts, and a group of dedicated volunteers, have been making additional, new Chrismons. is forming a small group of handcrafters who would like to expand our selection of Chrismons. The new Chrismons will be hung together with all the other Chrismons during the Hanging of the Greens service on November 27th.
Click here for more information on the Hanging of the Greens service.
Click here for the meanings of the Chrismon symbols.
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Christmas Eve Services - December 24
First Christian Church has two Christmas Eve services.
The first service is at 6:00 p.m. This service is especially designed to be child-friendly. In addition to singing all the carols, having a candlelight service, and serving communion to all who would like to partake, there will be a nativity drama that will feature many of the children from our congregation. This service should be out by 7:00 p.m.
The second service will be at 11:00 p.m. We will sing lots of carols (maybe not the same ones as at the early service), have a candlelight ceremony, and serve communion. This service, due to its start time, is much smaller, more intimate, and more adult. We'd be happy for you to join us. The service will conclude by midnight.
For more information of our Christmas Eve services click here.
Christmas Sunday Services - December 25
We know that Christmas morning presents special challenges for familes seeking to get to worship so we have made some accomodations. On Christmas Sunday we will have a shorter, more informal service that will begin at 10:50 a.m. There will be plenty of carols to sing and we will have communion. There will be a special Christmas Blessing of gifts and loved ones -- feel free to bring a favorite gift or to lift up a special person in your life. The service will flow from the Christmas scriptures in both the Book of Matthew and the Book of Luke. Our plan is to let the Word of God speak for itself and to design worship around reading those glorious scriptures. There will be a fellowship time before the service, beginning about 10:00 a.m. where beverages and Christmas treats (social lubrication) will be served. We would be delight to share both the goodies and worship with you. Join us!
Advent and Christmas at FCC Denton
Advent and Christmas are busy times for most families. Honestly, there are way too many things for most families to do. We get burned out and need to recharge our spirit. This Advent and Christmas season we offer a wide variety of services and activities because we know that most of you cannot attend everything -- so pick and choose what is uplifting for you! Our goal is to be ready when you are ready!
Hanging of the Greens
The "Hanging of the Greens" is the service in which we decorate the sanctuary and interpret the meaning of all the symbols and decorations. We do this in a special service held at 6:00 p.m. in our sanctuary on November 27th. It lasts an hour long, is child friendly, handicap-accessible, and sermon-free. Following the service we have a Dessert Tasting (at 7:00 p.m.) in the Fellowship Hall. Why not throw the diet away for just one evening and come join us for delisious food and fellowship! For more infomation click here. We'd love it if you would join us!
Advent Memorial Service
This is a special service for persons who are grieving during the Christmas season and don't feel all cheery. We understand. We've all been there at some time or another. Click here for m0re information on this service which takes place on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. It is by R.S.V.P. only.
Peace Sunday - December 4, 2011
The second Sunday of Advent is traditionally called "Peace Sunday" due to its strong connection to the Old Testament texts predicting the coming of the Prince of Peace. We observe this service on December 4th and the service begins at 10:50 a.m. in our sanctuary. Come join us!
Being A Light For Jesus On A Dark Night!
Alex Jett and Stephanie Mobley, with help from some of their friends, went around on Halloween pulling a large cart and asking for donations of canned goods to help feed the hungry folks in Denton. Can I get an AMEN! They could have done like everyone else and collected candy to horde but they spent the night doing something for others! We are so proud -- and we think that Jesus is, too!
Please, Check Out Our Forums
On the right side of your screen is a red toolbar with lots of options, one of which is "Forums." If you click on this you will go to the Forums page and see the three brand new forums that we set up (about memories of Fall Follies, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). You can add your memories and thoughts and see what others share. Give it a try!
Youth Progressive Dinner
It was a fun night and no one went away hungry! Big thanks to Steve and Paula Shewmake, Myra and Allen Harrison, and John and Phyllis Burton who opened their homes and their kitchens to this hungry group. Thanks to the Harrisons, Joe and Maggie Smith, and Charlotte Stephens for driving the group. Thanks to Myra and Cassie for organizing the event.
Supper Clubs Kickoff
Supper Clubs are a great way to really get to know people you may only see in worship. We now have five clubs that will be meeting approximately monthly for food, fun, and fellowship. They meet on their own schedule and meet at homes or in restaurants, as they deep best. If you did not get into a supper club but would like to join now -- please call Pastor Burton at the church office and we will find you a welcoming club! It goes without saying that members of all the clubs are encourage to reach out to others and invite them to participate!
Click here to see the list of supper clubs.
CFY Day At TCU - Highlights!
We had a great bunch who attended the TCU Football Game VS New Mxico State. We won! Easily, in fact. Well, it was so easy that most of us when home shortly after halftime. Hey - you can only watch so many touchdowns in a one-sided game. Still, we all had a great time. Thanks to Cassie Sexton for making all the arrangements and hosting the trip! Go Frogs!
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Pumpkin Patch Plan B
It was a glorious rain on Sunday but it rained out our trip to the Pumpkin Patch. Not to worry, we had a Plan B. Charlotte Stephens had the kids carving pumpkins! All their friends are now jealous because our kids are the first ones in their neighborhoods to have carved pumpkins! We're not out to make other kids jealous but this was a pretty excellent Plan B! Click here to see more pictures on the Youth Page.
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First Christian Church Fair Day!!
One by one all the others dropped away but in the end Roy Watson and John Burton caught the A-Train and spent the day at the Texas State Fair. The train ride was wonderful! The temperature was cool! It was not crowded! Here are a few photos of our day. Plan to join us for next year!
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Fall Follies NOT Coming!
As much as it pains us sometimes we have to face facts. Trying to do the Fall Follies at the same time as BOTH the World Series (Go Rangers) and a Cowboys game was ill advised. So we are going to reschedule! Tentative plans are for a date in January!
Click here to go to the Fall Follies page!
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The Year Of Living Biblically -- In Only Six Weeks!!!
Beginning on Wednesday, September 14th, Pastor John Burton will lead a Book Study on A.J. Jacob's wonderful book, "The Year Of Living Biblically." The sessions will be at 7:00 p.m. (end at 8:00 pm)in the church parlor. Classes are free and guests are welcome to attend. In fact, people are invited to come at 6:00 pm and enjoy dinner in the fellowship hall before class. For either event come to the back parking lot of the church and enter the fellowship hall double doors. Mr. Jacob's book is a log of the year in which he attempted to live out, as closely as possible, all of the laws of the Bible,
both testaments. It is RICH in humor and insights. Come and enjoy! And just think -- it took Jacobs an entire year to get through it but we can do it in just 6 weeks! We must be genuises!
People who want to participate need to purchase their own copy of the book, which is widely available in local book stores and online.
For more information on A.J. Jacobs and his books click here.
The Annual All-Church Awards Luncheon
It was a wonderful luncheon -- so much nicer than the Cowboy's game vs Detroit!! Our thanks to all the chefs! We presented certificates of award and gave hearty applause to all our friends who were recognized for outstanding contributions to the life and work of the church! Congratulations to all of them!
Click here to see the full list of people who got awards!
Did You Know?
Cindy Venables is caught here working with her "cue cat" and laptop to catalog the church library. Church Librarian JoAnn Boyd has been working with her on this project but was not present when the photographer walked by with a camera and said "Smile!" Cindy and JoAnn are using a new technology that allows them to scan in bar codes or type in book information to create a catalog which will be stored on "the cloud." We guess this is another sign of technology seeping into the church in helpful ways! Our thanks to both Cindy and Joann!
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Free Prostate Cancer Screening
Did you know it is estimated that one in six men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime?
Mark your calendar and tell your family and friends about Presbyterian Hospital's FREE prostate cancer screening, Tues., Oct. 4 from 6 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.
For the sake of your health or the health of a loved one, call today and register to attend this FREE screening event—1-877-THR-WELL.
Interfaith Service on 9/11
The interfaith service was a huge success. Pictures are the children leading the congregation in singing "Let There Be Peace On Earth." The Methodist church was full -- so much so that they ran out of worship bulletins! And there was a dizzying array of religious leaders present. On my pew I sat with a lady representing the Tibeaten Buddhists and a man representing the Pagans. I had no idea just how diverse the Denton area is! The service was a positive and uplifting service. I was delighted to see Oran and Charlotte, Joan, Dick and Barbara, Phyllis, and Jim in attendance! ~~ John Burton
Return Of The Orange Buckets
The Disciples Men's Group is putting out the big, orange paint buckets again. This time it is to collect extra contributions to help pay for the $1,000 insurance deductable to get our sanctuary roof repaired after it was hit by lighting in June. Needless to say, a lightning strike was not in our budget. We have not needed to keep out the rain, much, but at some point this fall or winter we will. Any donations to fix the roof will be appreciated. The buckets will be out no more than three Sundays, beginning September 25th. If we get $1,000 then we will stop taking further donations.
Notice: members covered the full $1,000 deductable on the first Sunday (Way to go, team!) so we will not have the buckets out the next two weeks! Thank you for all who contributed!
Look For Our DRC Ad
Mandy Duncan has done an outstanding job of creating an ad for us to have in the September 2, 2011 edition of the DRC. Give here a pat on the back and a big thank-you. This stuff is so difficult and she makes it look so easy!! You might consider clipping the ad and giving it to someone who might be looking for a church! There is so much information about us on the website we want people to look us up and check us out!
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Youth Looking Forward To Going To The Pumpkin Patch
On October 9th our youth will be going to the Pumpkin Patch. Please call Cassie for more details but we know that all kids planning to go will need a permission slip from one of their parents and $10. Hope we have a big group going!
Norma Harrison Installed As Elder Emeritus!
Norma Harrison will be installed on Sunday, September 25th, as Elder Emeritus of First Christian Church of Denton. Norma has been a faithful member, leader, and Elder of our church for decades and we are delighted to honor her contributions by giving her this honorable position! We hope that member and friends will come to bear witness and to celebrate Norma's installation. The installation will take place during the morning service of worship, which begins at 10:50 a.m.
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Introducing our New SS Teachers
Please welcome our wonderful new Sunday School teachers for fall 2011. They have volunteered to give their time and talents to help the children, youth, and adults of our church through our educational ministries. They deserve our highest respect and appreciation! Not only that, but wouldn't it be great if people like you made it to church in time enough to get to a class and learn something about the faith which we count on to get us into Heaven!
Teachers pictured are: Kenia Luna - Nursery; John Clay - Young Adults; Joe Smith - Jr. High; Cassie Sexton - High School; Barbara Anderson - Fellowship (Adult); Becky Burke - Grades 3-5; Virginia Choate - New Adult Class; Cindy Venables - K-2nd Grade; Joanne Arrington - Rainbow; Judy Gohlke - K-2nd Grade; Linda Morrow - Rainbow. Not pictured: Cassandra Morrow - Nursery; Kendall Franks - Nursery.
Texas Wildfires
Texas is in the midst of one of the worst droughts ever and fires are buring in all areas of the state. Click here to see the terrifying photo sent to us by Al Croix. Please keep in your prayers all the profesional and volunteer firefighters, the people who have lost their homes and business, and families who have lost loved ones. And...pray for rain!
Ghost Ranch Golfers
Some of you have inquuired about the event I attended in August. If you Click Here it will take you to an article I wrote about my stay in Santa Fe, New Mexico with some photos. Don't hesitate to ask me for more information.
~~ Rev. John Burton
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Together In Faith - 9/11/11
An Interfaith Service Of Remembrance And Hope
On Sept. 11 at 6:00 p.m. there will be an interfaith service at First United Methodist Church at 201 S. Locust Street in Denton with a reception to follow. Rev. Burton will participate as will representatives from the Methodist, Catholic, Baha"i, Jewish, Hindu, Pagan, Lutheran, Buddhist, Unitarian Universalist, Presbyterian and Islamic congregations of the Denton area.
We invite you to come, to participate, to remember, to listen, and to help our country move toward a culture in which we can respect one another even when we do not agree with particular beliefs. Let's make this anniversary a waypoint toward a better tomorrow.
Click Here to see the official flyer.
In addition, on Tuesday, September 6 at 7:00 pm, First United Methodist Church - Denton will be hosting a panel discussion with academic representatives from three of the great Abrahamic faiths. It is open to the public. Half of the 1 ½ hours together will be devoted to their responses to questions about Christian-Muslim-Jewish relations and issues 10 years after 9/11. The other half will be devoted to their answers to questions from the audience. You and your congregations are warmly welcomed to attend. Our panelists are:
Dr. Mahmoud Sadri, Professor of Sociology, TWU;
http://www.twu.edu/sociology/mahmoud-sadri.asp
Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis, Adjunct Professor of Jewish Studies, UNT;
http://jewishstudies.unt.edu/faculty/rabbi-geoffrey-dennis
Dr. Emile Sahliyeh, Associate Professor of Political Science, UNT;
http://www.psci.unt.edu/sahliyehe.htm
Dr. Robert Hunt, Director of Global Theological Education, Perkins School of Theology, SMU;
http://www.smu.edu/Perkins/FacultyAcademics/DirectoryList/Hunt.aspx
This panel discussion is prelude to the Together in Faith service of Remembrance and Hope that we will host on Sunday, September 11 at 6:00 pm in our church’s sanctuary. The discussion, which is open to the public, will be held in our Flinn Hall which is on the south side of FIrst United Methodist Church of Denton's campus at the corner of S. Locust and Sycamore (http://www.fumc-denton.com/location.shtml). Greeters will be there to direct you.
We hope you will consider attending this contribution to the ongoing conversation so necessary amongst our faiths and our communities.
Sunday School Kick Off - August 28th
The Sunday School Kickoff was a huge success with lots of youth and adults attending. There was juice and more donuts that we could eat -- when was the last time you can remember that happening! Our thanks to Cricket Choate and Charlotte Stephens for all their hard work putting 
this together! Charlotte led songs and gave out gifts to all the teachers who were introducted to their classes and then we were dismissed to meet with our classes.
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Sermon through Song Sunday
On August 21, 2011 we hadour annual "Sermon Through Song" service which was full of wonderful music. We had an old fashion hymn sing, music from C-Unit, the Choir, and the Rainbow RIngers, as well as solos by Allie Smity, Joshua Mobley, Russell Robertson, Roy and Connie Watson, and a trumbpet solo by Dan Englilsh. If that was not enough, Charlotte Stephens preached a wonderful sermon! Worship was hitting on all cylinders! Afterward there was a big lunch that raised $600+ for our music ministries! What a great day!
Summer Church Camps
The last of our youth and children have now gone to and returned from Disciples Crossing outside of Athens. It has been a fabulous summer for all those who had the opportunity to 
attend. They learned a lot. They made lots of friends. They grew deeper in their faith. They are already planning on going 
back to Athens next summer. The youth pictured here are but a few of our kids who attended this summer -- when you look at their smiling faces we hope that you will remember when it comes time next Spring to help send all our children back to camp because we cannot do this, we cannot make this difference in their lives without your help. So thanks to each and every one of you who helped this year!
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Rainbow Class Singers And Ringers
The members of our Rainbow Class lead worship this past Sunday, July 31, 2011. They led the congregation in singing "This Little Light of Mine" and in accompanying hymns on the handbells. They were outstanding and deserved every bit of the applause which the congregation showered on them. The Rainbow Class and each of its members are so special and important to our congregation. It is almost inconceivable that when the 
Rainbow Class was started so many, many yeras ago that the people who started it could have guessed how important this group is to the church and how much it has changed who we are! Way to go Rainbow Class! We are your biggest supporters!
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The Piano Man!
Don Simmons with help from his "little buddy," Mark Graham, accompanied the congregation as it sang "Amazing Grace." Don and Mark's paino duet is something that we have come to love and anticipate every year. In fact we can never fully get it off our mind! Don, you did a great job - you are Mr. Amazing Grace!
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General Assembly Report
With great thanks for the opportunity to attend the General Assembly, I want to let you know how the GA went and give you a taste for it. It took place at the convention center in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The GA was most definitely aware of its location and the music had that great Nashville sound. If you click here it will take you to our General Assembly page to see my much longer report and a few pictures that I took. The next GA is in 2013 in Orlando, Florida! Might this not be a great time for you to take a trip to Florida?? -- John Burton
Disciples Men's Group Breaking News
At the July meeting the Disciples Men's Group voted to donate $800.00 toward repairs of the church's airconditioning system. Keeping those 18 AC units going is really expensive and we sure appreciate the donation! Thanks guys!
On another matter, the men, along with Stewardship Chairs Gene and Judy Gohlke decided to have two large 5-gal. paint buckets in the foyer and gathering area after worship to collect donations to pay off our debt for the new sanctuary roof! The buckets were out last Sunday for the first time and people really seemed to respond! Thanks to all the guys as well as to all the donors!
F.Y.I.
Did you know that Justin Tiemyer graduated from Brite in May with a Masters of Theological Studies. Congratulations to Justin wherever he may be!!
Stinky Not Welcome!
Yes, it has finally happened. Someone has come to church who was not welcomed. Her hair is well groomed. She looks nice from a distance. She is shy and quiet. But, well, she has a certain body odor. There has to be a line somewhere and this is it: skunks are not welcome here! "Stinky," (not her real name) took up residence at FCC Denton this week. She is living underneath the sidewalk just outside the Gathering Area as you go into the courtyard. She has been well behaved so far but she is exhibiting some abnormal behavior -- she is wandering around during the day -- not something that nocturnal creatures normally do, so there is a possibility that she is diseased. The Denton Animal Control Unit has a trap set up for her with some tasty food but so far Stinky's not interested. Please keep an eye out for her in case she is still her on Sunday!! She is NOT there for our children to play with!!
Disciples Men At Work!
At their last meeting the Disciples Men's group voted to give $800 to the church to help with air conditioner repairs. And the whole people said..."Amen!" And "thank you"! With about 18 air conditoners here making sure folks are cool in the summer is a big job and something, somewhere is always breaking.
Also, the Disciples Men, with the blessing of the Stewardship Committee, have two bright orange 5-gallon paint buckets which they making available on Sundays for people who want to give a few extra bucks to help us pay off our note on the church roof. We are getting really close so if you can throw in some loose change or a few bills that have been cluttering your wallet then we will retire this note real soon.
Summer Church Camp
To generations of Disciples, summer means going to church camp at Disciples Crossing (which we used to call The Christian youth Foundation) outside of Athens, Texas. We have had a large number of our youth attending this summer. Pictures are a few of the youth who just came back from camp, glowiong not from the heat but from the fellowship and the spirituality that seems to dwell in that place. Be sure to ask any of these young people about their week at camp! They have stories to tell and if you just ask the right question it might be hard to get them to stop talking! Camp inspires that!
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Summer Choir Party - Picking and Grinning on the Porch!
The Choir had a Summer potluck picknick with lots of pickin' and grinnin' and even an old fashion water balloon toss contest. People ate too much, enjoyed the jam session, and solved all the world's problems. The choir will be on vacation for most of the rest of the summer -- they will be missed but any folk who work as hard as they do deserve a vacation, don't you think!
Lauren Featherstone Receives College Scholarship
We congratulate Denton High School Senior, Lauren Featherstone, on receiving a college scholarship from the Denton ISD Foundation. Lauren received a $7,000.00 award from the Jordan Blake Miller Memorial Art Scholarship Fund. Lauren was also one of her class valedictorians. Congratulations, Lauren, your church family is proud of you!
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Brush Removal By Fellowship Hall
If you have been behind the church you have to have noticed -- most all of the trees and brush along the creek are gone. The owner of the property across the creek is preparing that property for a possible sale and was cleaning up all the dying trees and brush that detracted from its value. He offered to take care of the scrub and some of the stunted, broken, or dying trees on our side. We literally jumped at the opportunity. We know we are going to lose some shade but we are also going to lose some places where theives, vandals and worse could have hidden before assualting somone getting into or out of their car. It looks bad now with all the brush laying around but when it is all hauled away we think it will be a huge improvement -- and it will have cost us no money and no man-hours to clean up the creek!
Apple Tree Outreach
The Apple Tree Project at Interfaith Ministries provides school supplies, clothing, backpacks, and shoes to children from low-income families in the Denton Independent School District. It’s vision is for every child to be able to start off the school year on a competitive level with their peers.
Every year there are families in Denton that struggle to find the money to send their children back to school with necessary supplies and clothing that fits. Currently, Denton ISD estimates that 41.2% of enrollment, or 9,908 children, qualify as economically disadvantaged. Supporters of the Apple Tree Project believe that education is the key to ending cycles of poverty. The primary goal is to promote success in education by equipping economically disadvantaged children with the essential items for back-to-school which will boost children’s motivation, increase readiness and preparation, and decrease hardship on low-income families.
The project has been given a grant from the Denton Benefit League for the school supplies, and they have also received vouchers from Payless Shoes to buy shoes.
How You Can Help : Adopt/sponsor a child off the Apple Tree and commit to buy two outfits of clothing for that child! Estimated cost per child is estimated to be about $40.00 - $50.00.
The Apple Tree will be in the narthex area this Sunday morning. Monetary donations are accepted! You can adopt a child and let our youth help with the shopping. Please return all clothing items purchased to the church office no later than July 15. Each bag must be marked with child’s name and apple attached. Your help and involvement is greatly appreciated!!
First Christian Church T-shirts Available
Mandy Duncan has come up with a terriffic design for our new church t-shirts. The saying directly and rather obviously plays off the fact that for Disciples worship is centered on communion -- hence the invitation to "eat and drink". And if you ever come to one of our Wednesday Night Live dinners or join us for Tablehoppers or go to a supper club then you know that we are certainly a "merry" group of Christians. We are taking orders for shirts now -- don't miss out! You can even buy them as gifts to send to old friends and family! The cost is only $10 each. To order please call the church office, 940-566-4990.
Youth Sunday Review
It was not a performance -- it was worship! Our youth led us in a thoughtful and provocative worship service filled with great music. Many youth took part in leading the service and shared the responsibility. They were well prepared by Youth Minister Cassie Sexton and Children's Choir Leader Olivia Justice Countryman. The sermon in song and motion focused on all the things that separate youth from God's love, the depression and dispair one can experience, and the saving love of Christ. It was powerful!
Honoring Our Graduates
Disciples have always supported and encouraged higher education. In the last 150 years Disciples founded a large number of colleges and universities, the most noteable being TCU (Texas Christian University). So it is with great please we recognize five of our students who have graduated this year.
Christine Byrkit -- University of North Texas
Amanda Deal -- West Texas A&M (not pictured due to scheduling conflict)
Lauren Featherstone -- Denton High School
Kelly McGill -- University of North Texas
Preston McNairy -- Guyer High School
There was a beautiful reception following worship where people had the opportunity to give personal words of encouragement.
As a playful token of our support, high school grads received a laundry basket and laundry supplies "since they will be doing their own laundry from here on out," and college grads received a gift bag.
Garage Sale & Car Wash
FCC was a busy place on Saturday, June 4th! The garage sale drew big crowds and our voluneers worked hard to empty the Fellowship Hall of donated items. Our thanks to all the donors and the volunteers. Whatever money is made will be divided between several different projects. At the same time Team Lori was out front washing cars to support the Susan B Komen Walk For the Cure. Thanks for all the people who helped and those who brought their cars to be washed!
Landscaping Project Blooms
You might not recognize the entryway into the Fellowship Hall. You might drive right on by the first time you come to church! That's OK. In fact that would be a great compliment to all the people who have worked on this project! Karen and Lee Fry are the ones who conceived of and funded this transformation. John Thompkins is the one who ramrodded it. Gene Gohlke is the one who got us the best rate on the flagstone. Bart and Lori Yoder and Bandi Owens joined John Thompkins and John Burton in putting down the flagstone walk. Glenna Thompkins, Phyllis Burton, Pat Martin, Dixie Smalley and John Burton planted all the plants. John Thomplins installed the edging and the mulch. That was a lot of hard work which saved a whole lot of money. This project would not have happened without generous donors and faithful workers! One last thing -- standing there when it was all done someone said, wouldn't it be nice if we had some park benches (the kind that are set in concrete so they don't walk away) so that people could sit out under our trees and enjoy things before coming in to Wednesday Night Live. Well, 2-4 benches might be the cherry on the ice cream sundae -- so if anyone feels called to donate towards a bench or two or four please talk to the pastor or John Thompkins who will help us get the right type of bench for the project!
Click here to see more pictures of the landscaping project!
Youth Sunday at FCC Denton- June 4th
Please join us this Sunday in worship for Youth Sunday!
“What Faith Can Do”
What’s popular is not always right
and what’s right is not always popular.
You may go away from Christ,
but he is always there for you.
Youth Sunday promises to be a really unique worship experience. Following worship there will be a fundraiser luncheon in Fellowship Hall. Cost of the meal is a minimum $5.00 love offering with all proceeds benefitting our youth camp fund.
Please plan to join us as we show our appreciation and support for our dedicated youth.
Fundraiser luncheon following worship!
Youth Sunday Is Coming
Our youth are hard at work planning the Youth Sunday service which will take place on June 5th. Youth Minister Cassie Sexton is helping to organize and plan the worship service. We know that we can count on you to support our youth with your attendance on this Sunday. You know that they will have an interesting and possibly provocative service. shortly after this youth will start heading out to all the various camps which they will be attending for the rest of June and July.
Dynamic Sermon By Doug Kriz
A large crowd was on hand to hear Rev. Doug Kriz (pictured here with his wife and Pastor and Mrs Burton) preach a fabulous sermon on Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23. It was a great challenge to "become sloppy sowers" of kindness, forgiveness, grace, and forgiveness, spreading those seeds into all different corners of our community, especially to those folk whom we might assume to be to "hard", too "thorny", or too "shallow" to receive the Good News. We think that the people of Prosper are getting a dynamic, thoughtful preacher and pastor. It is hard not to imagine this "soon to be born" church getting off to a great start. We will be discussing how we can help "with the delivery."
Click here for more information about the Church in Prosper.
Landscaping Project Soon To Bloom
Pictured here are John Thompkins, Lee and Lori Yoder, and Bandi Owen who (along with the photographer, John Burton) worked hard to complete the first stage of the major landscaping project that Lee and and Karen Fry envisioned and funded. Let's give all those folks a big hand! The wonderful new flagstone walkway makes for a grand entrance to the fellowship hall. It was backbreaking work but all the free labor made this possible. The rest of the area between the fellowship hall and the parking lot will soon be planted with a variety of shrubs and ground cover plants. In fact, we are inviting people to help us do the planting this Wednesday evening (May 25th) right after the Wednesday Night Live dinner.
Rev. Doug Kriz To Preach
On May 22, 2011 FCC Denton will welcome Pastor Doug Kriz to our pulpit. Doug, who is the Pastor Developer for the new congregation-to-be in Prosper, will share with us the Gospel and good news of this new congregation. Doug is a dynamic speaker so let's all be here to welcome him. After worship there will be a benefit luncheon in the fellowship hall with all proceeds going to help plant this new congregation. See you there!
Doug Kriz is a native Texan, growing up in Houston, Texas and earning his B.S. at TCU. In 2001, he was ordained as a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and called to Speedway Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana as Associate Minister. He was later called in 2006 to serve as Senior Minister at Speedway. Doug writes, “I am passionate about making the Christian faith engaging, relevant and creative. While the wisdom and stories upon which we reflect are ancient, their impact is absolutely contemporary. I believe it is most important that people literally feel swept away by what God is doing among them and how God is using them.”
For more information on Doug or the Church in Propser please click here!
The Church Cabinet
The Church Cabinet is the body which meets every other month to oversee the programming of the church, schedule upcoming events, brainstorm ideas and solutions, and generally speaking make sure that the work of the church is getting done. Cabinet members are committee chairs or are other officers crucial to the programming of the church. They usually work so far behind the scenes that people don't know who they are -- well take a look! Bet you recognize some folks who sit near you in the pews. They give up a Sunday afternoon ever other month. This picture is from the May 15th meeting and was taken by Pastor John who chairs the Cabinet.
Kendall Franks Installed As Regional Youth Exec!
Congratulations to Kendall Franks! We were all delighted that she was selected for the unusual honor of being a Regional Youth Exec for the coming year. The installation was a part of the North Texas Area Assembly which took place at Plano FCC on May 1, 2011. We all stand behind Kendall and are proud of her! Way to go! She will begin her term of office this summer and serve through summer 2012! Please be sure to seek her out and pat her on the back or hug her cheek!
Easter 2011 Highlights
Easter Sunday was a fabulous day!
At the Sunrise Service we had to bring in more chairs! It was a short, sweet, vibrant celebration of the resurrected Christ.
The Contemporary Easter Service was dynamic with a mix of sacred and contemporary music and a drama by the youth group.
The Easter Breakfast served a multitude of joyful diners either staying after the Contemporary Service or coming early for Sunday School and the Traditional Easter Celebration.
The Traditional Easter Celebration was chocked full of fabulous music (wasn't that string quintet wonderful) and we got to witness and celebrate the baptism of four youth.
The Easter Egg Hunt followed our traditional service. We got it in between showers. Lots of smiling faces with chocolate stained teeth!
Look under the "About Us" table for the Easter 2011 Page!
Kendall Franks Selected to Serve on the NTA Youth Ministry Council
Congratulations to your congregation on the selection of one of your own, Kendall Franks, to serve on the North Texas Area Youth Ministry Council for 2010-2011! Our new council is filled with energetic, creative, and dedicated young people; not only will they plan meaningful and effective activities for the youth of the North Texas Area, they will serve as role models for the young people of our congregations.
Kendall will be installed with the Youth Ministry Council at the Area Assembly on Sunday, May 1, at First Christian Church, Plano at 3:00 p.m.
In addition, Kendall was chosen to serve as our representative to the Regional Youth Council, where I am confident she will represent the North Texas Area with grace and wisdom.
Thank you for your witness, and for sharing Kendall with us! May God continue to bless your ministry and witness!
Joy and blessings,
Irie L. Sessions, Associate Area Minister
North Texas Area of the Christian Church in the Southwest
Easter Sunday at First Christian -- April 24
Come, join us for as we celebrate the glorious reserection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who was crucified for our sins and by whose resureection all who believe in him are offered eternal life in God's kingdom. Join us as we celebrate the holiest day of our year!
6:45 Easter Sunrise Service (Weather permitting it will be outside on the tiled entryway to the church)
7:15 Continental Breakfast in Gathering Area (Juice and donuts for the earlybirds)
8:00 Contemporary Easter Service in Sanctuary
8:45 Easter Breakfast in Fellowship Hall (A full breakfast so come hungry!)
9:30 Sunday School Classes
10:50 Traditional Easter Worship Service in Sanctuary with baptisms for four youth.
12:15 Easter Egg Hunt starting in the Gathering Area
Easter Egg Hunt
On Easter Sunday, immediately after the 10:50 a.m. Easter Worship Service, we will hold an Easter Egg Hunt on the Church grounds for all the children attending worship. Children will hopefully bring a basket in which to put their eggs. Children will meet in the Gathering Area as soon as worship is over.