T.A.N.S.T.A.F.L. (There Ain’t No Such Thing As Free Lunch) – Bill Maynard, who worked in the financial administrator’s office for St. Louis Christian College during my years spent working on my bachelor’s degree, would often be heard in conversation with students using those anacronyms to form a word many of us had never heard before. It didn’t matter whether the discussion was over the finances concerning the meal plan at SLCC or tuition for which students were “feasting” upon the Word of God. Somebody had to pay!
But that type of conversation isn’t only had in the presence of poor college students who are scraping to get by with what meager finances they had, it is a conversation that has been going on for centuries. People are always wanting something for nothing. Maybe it is a free ride on a bus or a train because the vehicle still has to make the trip whether there was a paying fare or not. Or maybe it’s the abundance of food left over after the restaurant closes at night. It’s better it goes to feed a hungry stomach than filling a garbage can out back. Why is it that we always are looking for the freebies at the supermarket or discount store?
Well, during the time Jesus was ministering in the area of the Sea of Galilee, people were the same as they are today. They were looking for another miracle, another free meal (maybe not of fish and bread this time), another treat… Well, you get the picture.
In our text for this Sunday, we’ll explore the story of Jesus after He fed the 5,000 and how they went in search for Him the next day. They believed Him to be the Messiah and were hoping that his miraculous feeding was their clue that He was ushering in the Day of the Lord, and they wanted more of the manna from heaven which He could share.
But the bread which He would give was more than they could swallow at the moment; for Jesus truly was the Bread of Life.
So, I’m inviting you to come and break bread with us this weekend as we get a better understanding of what Jesus really has to offer, that which will satisfy the hunger of our soul.
John
THIS SATURDAY WE WANT YOU
You Are Invited to IDES Training
International Disaster Emergency Service www.ides.org Who:
All church members, Franklin County Christian churches and public safety organizations.
What:
IDES-International Disaster Emergency Service “Safe Worship” church security training.
When:
Saturday, September 11, 8 AM – NOON. Continental Breakfast 7:30 AM
Where:
First Christian Church, 150 Joel Ave. Union, MO
Why:
Steps to safeguard houses of worship. Learn how to:
Reduce the overall risk of violence, especially before the crisis.
Reduce the number of injuries during the attack.
Increase the survivability of injured persons in the minutes after the attack.
Who should attend “Safe Worship” Training?
Full-time and volunteer ministry staff; eldership/leadership.
Department heads; worship teams; children’s ministry teachers and helpers.
Greeters, parking lot, door greeters; those who regularly pass the communion and offering plates.
Members of existing safety/security teams.
Members of law enforcement and Fire/EMS; and members with concealed carry permits.
The Safe Worship seminar includes:
Background of IDES; Need for a Security Plan, Site Assessment; Greeters and Ushers – First Line of Defense; Safety/Security Team; Armed Security Team; Run. Hide. Flight (updated); Medical Response Teams; Crisis Recovery Teams; Emergency Medical Care.
Instructor:
Ed Sanow, IDES Director of Training, 30-year veteran of law enforcement, former editor of LAW-and-ORDER magazine, ALERRT-certified in Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events. He can be reached at esanow@ides.org or 765-491-1327 (call/text).
As many of you know, we've been working hard to create new Life Groups. And we are excited to announce that many of these groups will be starting this month. While we are still working out some of the details, here are a few things to keep in mind.
1) These groups are fluid and flexible. This means that some details may change like your meeting time. It also means that some groups will be slightly different than others and this is a good thing!
2) You can join any group that will best fit your schedule. We have multiple groups with multiple times to choose from, you can pick the best fit.
3) Start your own group! Maybe you have a handful of friends and acquaintances and you'd like to start a life group. We'd love that! And we will help you too.
4) Life Groups will be sermon based. Every group leader will get a Weekly Leader Update with the notes, group guide and any other information. We think it's important to take what we are learning together on Sunday mornings and flesh it out a bit more.
5) We will meet up through the month of November and take a break during December. This will give us time with our families and help keep this busy time a little less busy. But we will start back up again in January.
Current Life Groups
2 - Sunday Evening Groups
1 - Wednesday Evening Group
1 - Thursday Evening Group
2 - Friday Evening Groups
VOLUNTEER SHOUT-OUT!
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 6:30 PM
It is time to “SHOUT-OUT” some thanks and appreciation to FCC’s faithful and hard-working volunteers. All of you that are loving the Lord by giving your time and talents to this church are invited to this “VOLUNTEER SHOUT-OUT”. A BBQ meal will be provided, the fellowship will be enjoyed, vital information will be shared. A FREE GIFT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU.
Who should attend? The following teams: First Impression Team: parking lot, door and lobby greeters, lobby communion servers, communion meditation givers Worship Team: – vocalist, instrumentalist, slide, lights & sound, 212 Youth Team: Leaders, New City Kids Children’s Ministry: teachers and helpers, Facilities Team: members, Finance team: members, Elders. If you are a volunteer in any ministry or serving in a ministry that is not named, or interested in discovering your team, please plan on attending. YOU ARE INVITED, AND WE HAVE A SPECIALGIFT FOR YOU.
Saturday, September 18, we will be hosting a Family Fun Fest out at the Matthews' Farm in Leslie, MO from 7 AM to 4 PM. This will be a day of fun, fellowship, and of course…great food, with events planned for the entire family. We will provide pork steaks, hamburgers, brats, and hotdogs, as well as iced tea, lemonade, and water, and everyone is invited to bring a side or dessert to round out the meal. We will have prizes for the fishing tournament, the games, as well as attendance prizes for all ages. Everyoneis invited, so bring a friend, a neighbor, your Uncle Joe from Katmandu, and join us as we close out Summer 2021 with a bang and make a few great memories along the way.
Directions:
Hwy 50 west, to left on CC at Leslie
8 miles on CC
Antioch Christian Church is the halfway point.
Left on Hecht road - 1 mile, farmhouse on the left.
4847 Hecht Road, Leslie, MO
Did you know that Sunday, September 19th is ‘National Back to Church Sunday’? It’s true! And we believe now is not only the perfect time for you to get plugged back in, but for you to invite someone to join you!
Our schedules can get filled up with many things, but ‘many things’ won’t have near the same eternal value as worshiping our Savior with one another. As you begin to find your rhythm, we want you to consider who it is in your life that might need to know Jesus. Is there a friend or family member or teacher or associate that needs the saving grace of Jesus?
Would you begin praying for that person? And would you take a step of faith and ask them to join you for worship on September 19?
Join us for National Back to Church Sunday!
Volunteer Help!
“The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” - Luke 17:5
We love seeing how the Lord is working at First Christian Church and in New City Kids. We are BUSTING at the seams and we need your help!
As more and more families come back to church, we are in need of more kids volunteers.
We Want You!
The disciples had their worries when it came to following Christ and becoming kingdom-minded people. In Luke 17:5 they shout out, “Increase our faith!” What a subtle yet incredible prayer of faith. We are asking the Lord to increase our faith so that we may increase our ministry.
So, we are adding people to our children’s ministry team now. We need YOU to pray and consider being a part of this awesome team. You get to teach, help, pray and love on our kids as we point them to our savior, Jesus! Is there anything better than that?
We know that this may be a step of faith for you, but it’s only when we take those steps of faith that we are stretched and real growth happens. You can do this! You will get so much joy and satisfaction in being a part of this team. We have spots for teachers, helpers, check-in helpers, and more.
We will be available this Sunday and in the weeks to come to help answer your questions and get you connected. You can fill out a card this Sunday, connect with Christine Rash or you can email us at: kids@fccunion.org
Thank you all and may God continue to bless our church, families and community!
UPCOMING EVENTS
September
11, All Church Safety/Security Seminar
14, Volunteer Shout Out!
18, Family Fun Fest
19, Back To Church Sunday
22, See You At The Poles
25-10/2, Ninos de Mexico Missions trip
October
3, Church In The Park
22, City of Union BooBash
23, 212 Students Hog Roast
November
14, All Church Thanksgiving
December
24, Christmas Eve Service
Mark your calendar for these special events. All events are subject to change so keep an eye on the "E-newsletter" and the "First to Know" bulletin for more details.
Jesus Storybook Bible - Family Reading Plan
Hi parents! This week's Jesus Storybook Bible reading is week one for September, "Washed with tears". You can find it on page 280 of your book. Gather the kids around and have fun reading this story.
Keep it simple. Read the story and ask your kids what their favorite part of the story was? Or what picture did you like the most? And then say a short prayer. That's it!
We pray this is a blessing to you and your family.
Last week we continued our series, Freedom in the Kingdom, with a study on Galatians 5:19 that centered on the concepts of impurity and sensuality. Students were once again challenged by the Scriptures not to conform to the world, and particularly for the worldly lust for excess and being proud of their sin. This week we pick up where we left off, moving into Galatians 5:20 and a look at the warnings against idolatry and sorcery. In a selfie culture that is largely driven by what it can get (the heart of idolatry), and one that is increasingly accepting of drug usage (the root of sorcery), this promises to once again serve as a practical, counter-cultural, powerful evening that students won’t soon forget.
I’d like to leave you with a Word from the Apostle Paul, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery,” (Galatians 5:19-20)
As Paul continues to lead readers through the works of the flesh, a word is added that for many of us contains a bit of mystery: sorcery. When most of us think of sorcery we picture Harry Potter or perhaps Mickey Mouse trying to get brooms to do his chores in the Disney Classic, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, from Fantasia. It’s not really until we look at the Greek word used by Paul that we begin to get a far less mysterious understanding of what sorcery is all about.
Pharmakeia is the Greek word Paul used that we have translated as sorcery. If “pharmacy” or “pharmaceutical” immediately sprang to your mind when you read the Greek word you are correct, as it is the root word for both, and in the context of what Paul is communicating here, sorcery is best understood as using drugs to contact or attempt to control supernatural forces. Sorcery is intimately connected to witchcraft and idolatry, with both being fostered by the use of drugs.
Pagan religion was ripe with drug use, as drugs, alcohol, and sex all played major roles in helping people connect with the dark powers of the supernatural world. For instance, the Oracle of Delphi was the name of the high priestess of the temple of Apollo at Delphi. The Oracle was famous throughout the ancient world as a prophetess to such a degree that Aristotle, Clement of Alexandria, Herodotus, Plato, Plutarch, and Sophocles mention the oracle in their writings, and even Alexander the Great consulted the Oracle as he built his empire. While there were many methods attributed to how the Oracle was able to connect to Apollo, supposedly being divinely possessed by Apollo to provide her oracular statements (prophecies), the use of marijuana to open her up for this demonic possession is a prime example of pharmakeia.
“Getting high”, being “under the influence”, or “gateway drugs” all take on a different, and much more accurate and complete, meaning when a biblical understanding of drugs is applied. Today our society attempts to describe drug use in terms of chemical reactions in our brains and bodies, but a biblical teaching looks beyond the natural, to the supernatural consequences of using the substances. There is indeed a gateway opened and an influence established as a result of sorcery, and the chaos and destruction that come with drug use serves as evidence of these demonic forces at work in the lives of those engaged in the use of these substances.
It is of no wonder that God would speak so clearly against the practice of sorcery throughout the Scriptures, as with all aspects of idolatry it leads us away from God and ultimately to eternal separation from God unless we repent and turn to Christ. Our culture is increasingly accepting of drugs. From the decriminalization of marijuana, to medical hallucinogenic mushroom prescriptions in Oregon, let alone the overwhelming impact of the opioid crisis which could hardly be more relevant with the death of a 13-year-old just a couple weeks ago as a result of smoking fentanyl, our culture is no less ripe with sorcery, just like any other form of idolatry, than the ancient, and in no less need of understanding what God is clearly communicating in His Word on the subject.
It is my hope and prayer that in a culture convoluted with conflicting messages on the drugs, the light of God’s Word would provide a clear path, with some clear boundaries, by which we may all walk in freedom from the bondage of drugs and the demonic forces at work behind them. Grace and peace to you friends, God bless and keep you in the week ahead.
We Need You
As I Am Music, our student-led worship band and music ministry, has grown so has our need for leaders and teachers. If you are musically gifted and would be willing to spend Tuesday evenings from 6-8:30 PM pouring into our students, I Am Music is looking for you. Even if you could only spare one Tuesday a month, please contact Shaun at shaunratcliff@fccunion.org so we can work together to help our students grow as musicians, Christians, and leaders.
Tuesday mornings from 9-11 AM. The Bible is always applicable, so even if you can't make it at the beginning, you are always welcome! The gathering is in the Fellowship Hall downstairs.
Join us Saturday, September 11 @ 7 AM for a men's Bible Study at Red, White, and Brew Coffee Company.
Needs arise more than just on a Sunday morning. If you need prayer at any time, please know you can text ‘prayer2fcc’ to 94000 and a staff member will receive your request any time and be praying for you.
You can also email your request or call the church office to be placed on the prayer list. There is a prayer table in the lobby where you can place a prayer request in the box and we will pray for you!
We are family, and we want to support you in any way we can and prayer is always the first and best place to start. Please feel free to reach out to us at any time.
Join us in the Fellowship Hall downstairs for Celebrate Recovery. We will start with a time of food and fellowship at 6:00 PM. We have childcare starting at 6:30 PM. Please sign your child in at the welcome desk and a team member will assist you in helping them to their class. We want to spread the love of Jesus to everyone in recovery from life's hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
So many times we hear “leave a legacy'' which sure- we should leave a legacy; Dave Ramsey has spent the better part of his life teaching how to do just that financially with his ‘7 Baby Steps’. There are many people who have left legacies, like Albert Einstein in the educational world and who can deny the spiritual legacy left by Billy Graham? What if, instead of dying to leave a legacy we strive to live a life of legacy. Check out how Celebrate Recovery can help you start living your best life and living to leave a legacy. Click here to see our new blog!
Check out our Facebook page at @FCCUnionCR. If you have any questions, comments, or requests feel free to email us.
Tai Chi Fitness
Tai Chi Fitness Fun for All!
Monday's from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM, First Christian Church,Union will be a place to participate in a free class for (mostly) senior citizens, but anyone pursuing a healthier life is welcome. Tai Chi fitness is a program developed by Dr. Paul Lam, a Chinese physician living in Australia. It is used worldwide for anyone who wants to improve their physical health and strengthen themselves for fall prevention.
Tai Chi originated in the orient, but the emphasis will be on Christ, beginning and ending each session with prayer. Any reference to any kind of oriental philosophy will be turned toward Christ and His sovereignty.
The medical field and Medicare recognize its effectiveness in improving health and vitality. It is a slow-moving exercise designed to deliberately make a mind/body connection, enabling awareness of our center of gravity, weight distribution and where our balance lies. It is not rigorous, and we don’t get down on the floor. If necessary, this program of Tai Chi can be done by holding onto a chair or even sitting in one. So, if people can get into the building, they can do it! Sessions will be held downstairs in the large, blue room nearest the glass double doors.
Questions? Call the church office, ext 5, or Jenny Hannaford.
Have you ever wanted to do a Bible study with your spouse, kids or maybe a group of friends but you didn’t know where to start? Leading a Bible study can seem like such a big task. Planning what to say and what questions to ask can be one of the reasons people are so hesitant to lead a study. Well, what if we took all the planning and prep work out of it and made it easy for you to do right in your own living room?
As someone who attends First Christian Church you have access to RightNow Media, a website with hundreds of video-driven studies. There are studies on just about every topic you may want; from parenting to having “the talk” with your older kids, marriage, studies on books of the Bible and so much more. There are even cartoons for the kids that teach Biblical principles. And the best part is, it costs you nothing! If you would like to check out this incredible resource you can sign-up here.
