First Christian Church, Flora, Indiana

March, 2012

A lot has happened around First Christian Church this past month. While our attendance has been lower that I expected with the good weather, we have had some very inspirational worship events. We will continue to worship and praise God during the Lenten season moving forward to the day of Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

The project in the upstairs Sunday School Rooms has been completed. We now have a brand new space in which our children can learn. After a long time of considerations, and now that the project is complete, we can be proud of the renovation. Be sure to go upstairs and take a look.

The sanctuary is getting some long needed repairs too. There has been cracking of ceiling plaster in two of the sections at the front of the church, and that is being taken care of  (the last week of February and first week of March). The lights in front of the church and in the church sign have also been repaired. Drive by at night and take a look!

Major consideration has been held concerning the adoption of First Step Pre-School by our church. The pre-school found it necessary to move because of space limitations in their current location. Our church leadership did a great job in researching what was needed, the costs, etc., and they presented that information to the church body through a letter and a congregational informational meeting. They later voted to invite First Step to our church, but the congregation will have to approve or disapprove their recommendation. That meeting is on Sunday, March 4, after worship. Thank you to all who have asked questions and who have been working on this major new ministry for the church.

I attended a Pastor’s School in Phoenix, AZ. The First Assembly of God in Phoenix was the host, and about 1000 pastors and lay leaders attended. Much was learned which I will share in the next few weeks with different committees. I appreciate the church giving me the opportunity to attend this conference, and to get a couple of extra days of vacation with Barbara.

As we journey towards Easter, let us do so with the assurance of God’s presence and power in our lives. We need to consider what the cross of death, as well as the empty cross, means for our lives. I will focus on those questions for the remainder of Lent. As always, I appreciate your thoughts.

Pastor Woody