The Caller
A Good Time to Re-prioritize Church Membership
Happy New Year! I am looking forward to another year in ministry to you and with you. And here’s how we’re going to start the year together. We’re going to think together about what it means to be a member of our church family.
Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, wrote a short book entitled I Am a Church Member. From Sunday, January 7th, to Sunday, February 12th, we’re going to use the six main ideas in his book to help us remember what it means to be a member of the church. Here’s what Thom says in the introduction.
“Join me on this journey of discovering or rediscovering the privilege and joy of church membership... When this journey is over for you, two things will likely take place. Frist, you will likely have a new or renewed attitude about your church. You will learn the joy of being last instead of seeking to be first. Instead of being a whiner complaining about what’s wrong with your church, you will be a unifier seeking what’s best for your church.
Second, your church will begin to change. It will become healthier because one of its members is healthier. And as the church gets healthier, it will have a greater impact on its community and the world.
We may discover that the reason our nation is in such bad shape is because our churches are so unhealthy. That lack of health is evident when nine out of ten churches are no longer reaching their communities.
But that can change. With you. Beginning now.
I am a church member.
Get ready for your life to change. Get ready for your church to change. And watch what an impact your church can have on the community and, indeed, the entire world.”
As we journey together as church members in the beginning of the New Year, let’s be in prayer for one another that we’ll individually become the church members our Lord would have us be. I can’t wait to start that journey with you!
Pastor Jeff
Sunday, December 31st
10:00 a.m. Worship Service
Pianist: Susan Dinkel
Song Leader: Emileigh Dinkel
Elder: Royce Cook
Deaconess: Susan Dinkel
Sunday, January 7th
9:00 a.m. Bible Study
10:00 a.m. Worship Service
Pianist: Tema Trumbo
Song Leader: Leisha Hilt
Elder: Brad Matthies
Deaconess: Robyn Raile
Older Children's Church: Matthisen Witzel and Makaila Matthies
Younger Children's Church: Crystal Schultz and Hadleigh Hilt
Sermon Passage: Romans 12:1-8
Sermon Title: I Will Be a Functioning Church Member
Sunday, January 14th
9:00 a.m. Fellowship Breakfast (Host and Hostess: Tim and Margaret Poling)
10:00 a.m. Worship Service
Pianist: Tema Trumbo
Song Leader: Leisha Hilt
Shut-Ins: Brad Matthies and Eddie Brunk
Elder: Royce Cook
Deaconess: Robyn Raile
Older Children's Church: Judy Reynolds and Carter Matthies
Younger Children's Church: Grace Landers
Sermon Passage: Colossians 3:12-17
Sermon Title: I Will Be a Unifying Church Member
11:00 a.m. Annual Meeting (followed by regular monthly board meeting)
Sunday, January 21st
9:00 a.m. Bible Study
10:00 a.m. Worship Service
Pianist: Susan Dinkel
Song Leader: Leisha Hilt
Elder: John Finley
Deaconess: Robyn Raile
Older Children's Church: Crystal Schultz and Grace Landers
Younger Children's Church: Paula Keller and Makaila Matthies
Sermon Passage: Philippians 2:1-11
Sermon Title: I Will Be a Servant-Minded Church Member
Friday, January 26th
7:00 p.m. Marriage Friday Dinner and Discussion (Fellowship Hall)
Sunday, January 28th
9:00 a.m. Bible Study
10:00 a.m. Worship Service
Pianist: Susan Dinkel
Song Leader: Leisha Hilt
Elder: Brad Matthies
Deaconess: Robyn Raile
Older Children's Church: Julie Brunk and Hadleigh Hilt
Younger Children's Church: Carter Matthies
Sermon Passage: 1 Timothy 3:1-13
Sermon Title: I Will Be a Prayerful Church Member
Prayer Requests
Sincerest Sympathy Is Extended to Tim and Robyn Raile and their family. Robyn's brother, Clay, died unexpectedly Monday night, December 18th. Clay's funeral was held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bird City on Friday, December 22nd, followed by his burial at the Bird City Cemetery.
Barb Barnhart (recovering from a broken femur; now back home), Rodney Bracelin (continual recovery), Pat Carman (health issues), Shelley Christensen (issue with her liver), Compassion kids in Brazil, Esther Confer (breast cancer), Royce Cook (recovery from knee replacement surgery), Mandi Cooks (Achilles tendon surgery recovery), Pat Crabtree, Patrick Delano, Dean Dinkel (cancer surgical recovery), Henry Dinkel (cancer), Ron Donner (Paula Keller's brother-in-law; health concerns), Teresa Douthit (surgical recovery), David Dunn (Becca Landers’ grandfather; Alzheimer’s), Ellen (Fern Forsythe's sister; surgical recovery), Ron Ewing, Brett Fort (Shirley Watson's grandson; stationed in Qatar with the Air Force), Tina Fort (Shirley Watson's daughter; cancer), Doyle and Doloris Hall (Fort Collins), Tish Havel (ongoing recovery), Mickey Graves, Diane Hockenbary, Dan and Sheree Keller and Campus Crusade staff, Pete and June Lauer (Brad Matthies’s and Leisha Hilt’s grandparents; health issues), Daryl Loyd (surgical recovery), Marsha Magley (ongoing recovery), Dan McCurry (torn meniscus in one knee), Gerri McCurry (recovery of strength), Megan (recovery from breast cancer surgery), Jason Moses (recovery from perforated intestine), Danny Penton, Jackson Reese (continued health after chemotheraphy treatments), Dee Richman (Andy Poling’s mother-in-law; cancer), Kevin Ritchey (in critical condition after a motorcycle accident), Pat Rooney (rehabilitation), Doug Ross (stem cell procedure), Keith Schorzman (now recovering at home), Rodney Shay (bladder cancer; recently received a very good report), Marshall Squires (surgical recovery), Michelle Stafford, Rolle Stephens (friend of Brad Matthies; pancreatic trouble), Kelly Studer (had a lumpectomy last year), Nic Sulc (recovery from tractor accident; now at home in Virginia), Taven (in need of adoption), Jo Turbeville (recovery of health), Cole Vap (Perry and Paula Keller's nephew; health concerns), Jim Walters (recovery from injuries), Carol Weeks (stage four melanoma cancer), Holly White (missing from Taos, New Mexico, since May), Dave Wright (heart condition), and Leon Wright (recovering from a stroke)
*Those residing in care/assisted care facilities: Gladys Cullum (St. Francis), Joan FINLEY Davis (California), Janetta Evins (St. Francis), Ron and Dot Hill (Greeley, Colorado), Margaret Hilt (St. Francis), Ella Mae Keller (St. Francis), Don Love (Kansas City), Debra McCurry (St. Francis), Charlene Meyer (Atwood), Jane Milner (Goodland), Florence Peacock (St. Francis), Fleda Raile (Goodland), and Kenneth Roberson (St. Francis)
Have You Noticed the Change?
Recently, our church board made the decision to make a change to our online giving option. We had been using two separate vehicles to give online – EasyTithe and Vanco (through our online membership application). When Vanco chose to end a relationship with The Ruth Institute because of that institute’s affirmation that marriage is to be the union of one man and one woman, our church board began to explore some options. We settled upon PayPal. What did that do for us? It eliminated a monthly service charge of $10 through EasyTithe. And that change obtained for us a lower transaction fee in comparison to EasyTithe and Vanco. Now that we’ve made a change, maybe it’s time for you to consider making a change. Maybe that change for you is to start or re-start giving to the life and ministry of our church family. Or maybe that change for you is to begin using online giving. Either way, in this New Year of service on behalf of our Lord, we truly appreciate your financial gifts.
Offering Update
November Offerings: $5,456.00
November Expenses: $6,607.56
Last Sunday's Offering (December 24th): $162.00
December Offerings (to date): $11,654.26
Ballots are still available for our 2018 church board members. Feel free to stop by the church office to cast your ballot. Of course, you can do so this on Sunday morning as well. This coming Sunday, December 31st, is the final day to cast a ballot.
New Phone Number
Pastor Jeff has a new mobile number. That number is 785-772-6138.
"Thank You" from Camino Global
Dear First Christian Church,
Thank you for your gift,* which helps directly transform Spanish-speaking communities, equip believers, and reach the world for Jesus Christ.
Your generosity makes it possible to help those devastated by natural disasters—from massive hurricanes in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean to the strongest earthquake to hit Mexico in a hundred years.
Together with you, we’re journeying alongside missionaries, churches, ministry partners and families in Houston, south Florida, northern Cuba, Mexico and Guatemala to help meet both their physical and spiritual needs.
There are thousands of people facing incredibly difficult situations who desperately need the hope of the Gospel.
So thank you again for giving to reach more Spanish-speakers with the love of Christ during tough times!
Sincerely,
Douglas Livingston
President
*Our church family supports Roger and Judy Raymer (pictured above), missionaries with Camino Global, with a gift of $25 a month.
Getting a New TV?
We'd like to add an HDMI-enabled TV to the Adult Bible Study room. This would allow our teachers to use audio/visual resources with their lessons. If you're planning to upgrade one of your TVs this holiday season and would like to donate your old TV, please let Jeff know.
News from Gary and Judy Woods in Tanzania
Merry Christmas as we celebrate the greatest gift ever given, Jesus.
Your partnership continues to bring great advances for the Gospel in Tanzania and beyond. Read below about the amazing new places that God is opening up.
Because You Care for the Stranger, the Less Fortunate
As we celebrate Christmas with our family this year, we are feeding people in one of the worst droughts to hit Tanzania. So many people are hungry and our CMF team, in conjunction with IDES, is distributing food in many areas.
Our team continue to expand our ministry. This week our team has been teaching about discipleship in Burundi. Mike and Joann Noel are there right now teaching 15 men who all have a call to go into 5 different nations. God is good!
Two years ago, there was no church in this area along the Rwanda border in Kagera Region. Now there is a thriving church and the food distribution is taking place through this new church.
God continues to open the door to new opportunities for ministry among many different kinds of people. When we started in Tanzania, we worked in one tribe, and now we minister among 31 tribes in Tanzania.
If you are able to give a year-end gift to our ministry, it will be greatly appreciated as we continue to reach into previously "unreached" places with the Gospel. Click here to give.
We return to Tanzania to continue the ministry on December 30th.
January Birthdays and Anniversaries
6 - Royce Cook
10 - Deb Hilt
10 - Jayce Landers
10 - Marsha Magley
10 - Eddie Zuege
17 - Laura Brunk
23 - Grace Landers
28 - Phyllis Weaver
You'll Find Us on the Web at
