First Christian Church, Flora, Indiana

We had an excellent attendence for Phillip’s talk: 168!

Phillip Gulley will speak at Flora First Christian Church

When: August 14, 2011, at 7 p.m.

We will serve refreshments following his presentation

His books will be available for sale as well, and he will sign them if you wish.

Admission to the program is free

Beloved Indiana author and Quaker pastor Philip Gulley has become the voice of small-town American life. He will speak at Flora First Christian Church on August 14, 2011 at 7 p.m. In this talk, he will share some of his wonderful stories with us.

Gulley is the author of 16 books including the acclaimed Harmony series of novels chronicling life in the eccentric Quaker community of Harmony, Indiana and the best selling Porch Talk series of inspirational and humorous stories. He is also the author of the recently released theological book, If the Church Were Christian and is co-author of the books If Grace Is True and If God Is Love, written with James Mulholland.

Everyone is welcome to  come and enjoy Phillip’s talk. After the talk, we will serve refreshments and have his books available for purchase.

More information about Phillip Gulley:

Gulley attended Marian College in Indianapolis where he studied theology and sociology. He then enrolled at Christian Theological Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity in 1992. While in seminary, he became the pastor of Irvington Friends Meeting in Indianapolis and began writing essays for the church’s newsletter. Paul Harvey, Jr. received those newsletters and shared them with a publisher. A few months later, the publisher invited Gulley to publish his essays, which became his first book, Front Porch Tales. He has been writing ever since. Gulley continues to pastor at Fairfield Friends Meeting near Indianapolis. He hosted the television program “Porch Talk with Phil Gulley” on the Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI and their flagship show Across Indiana, for which he received Emmy® Awards in 2007 and 2009. He also writes the popular monthly Home Again column for Indianapolis Monthly Magazine. In 2010 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by his alma mater, Christian Theological Seminary.

In his NEW MEMOIR I Love You, Miss Huddleston: And Other Inappropriate Longing of My Indiana Childhood, Gulley takes us on a hilarious and nostalgic trip back in time to those innocent and awkward days of adolescence. Evoking an age when childhood was less sheltered, and the only rule was to be home by dinnertime, Gulley and his friends Peanut, Bunny, and Suds Norton embark on a series of misadventures in their small town of Danville, IN leaving a trail of rotten tomatoes and a shapely red-headed mannequin in their wake. With Gulley’s sharp wit and keen observation, I Love You, Miss Huddleston is a story that captures a nearly extinct phenomenon–a childhood of unrelieved and happy chaos. In the same vein as Bill Bryson’s The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, and with a dash of The Dangerous Book for Boys, Gulley’s memoir is sure to strike a chord with readers of all ages.

Gulley continues to pastor at Fairfield Friends Meeting near Indianapolis. He hosted the television program “Porch Talk with Phil Gulley” on the Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI and their flagship show Across Indiana, for which he received Emmy® Awards in 2007 and 2009. He also writes the popular monthly Home Again column for Indianapolis Monthly Magazine. In 2010 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by his alma mater, Christian Theological Seminary.

“Gulley has illuminated a childhood where risk and frivolity are combined into one. An engrossing and propelling story that never once lets the reader forget that it’s our youth that makes us all what we are, I Love You, Miss Huddleston reminds us that family, friendship and fondness are the keys to living life… and to enjoying its big ole’ belly laughs.” ~DOUG CRANDELL, author of Hairdos of the Mildly Depressed and The Flawless Skin of Ugly People

“Philip Gulley’s memoir is sweet and funny – funny enough that you’re tempted to read parts aloud just to amuse yourself further.” ~ JAY ALLISON, host and curator, NPR’s This I Believe

“Humor beats nostalgia and drama; this stuff is a laugh-out-loud funny tweaking of a not terribly misspent youth.” ~PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY

“Flat-out hilarious” ~BOOKLIST

For more information about Philip Gulley, please visit www.philipgulley.org

Phillip Gulley quote sheet (PDF file)

A few months ago, Janalie and Miriam Robeson traveled to Ireland. On July 17, 2011,  all Sunday School classes will  meet together in the fellowship hall to watch a slide presentation by Janalie. Invite a friend, and let’s go to Ireland!

Plans are underway, after a successful lunch at the Whistle Stop, to gather in Kokomo at the Opalescent Glass Factory, maker of stained glass. The trip will be on July 6, leaving the church at 8:30 a.m. The tour begins at 9:30 and then have breakfast at Cracker Barrel. The tour will cost $5. Please sign up at the sound cabinet or in the entrance, starting June 19.

Come to Flora Community Park on July 4 to enjoy the 6th Annual Gospel Fest!  This FREE public concert features Ginny Yoder, Falling Higher, Zanzahmint, Malachi Jaggers, and The Master’s Own. It starts at 6 p.m.

Come and enjoy this time of music, before the fireworks begin!

FCC members: if you can help set up or tear down, please let Miriam know.

Vacation bible school will be held at Flora Presbyterian Church

Dates: June 12 – 16, 2011

Registration: 5:45 p.m.

Dinner: 6 p.m.

Program ends at 8:30 each evening

Registration begins at 5:45 p.m. followed by supper at 6 p.m. During the meal, we will be doing our mission project which is collecting canned items for the food pantry. Please bring a can of food each night. BUT WAIT . . . THE WHOLE CHURCH CAN BE INVOLVED. Everyone at First Christian is invited to bring food items to the church by June 11 and leave them in the new entry. We will add these to the food collected by the kids at VBS.

During the week we will meet Chef Basil, Scraps the Raccoon, sing songs, put together crafts and have fun. There will be egg beaters, mixing spoons, cheese graters and rolling pins and maybe cookie cutters. On Thursday night there will be a closing. Each night’s activities will end at 8:30.

June 9 – 11 Grandparents and Me (K – 3). Children from Kindergarten to age 3 go to camp, take one of their grandparents with them, and spend 2 nights at Camp Barbee. Just think of the fun you’ll have with your grand kids. Nothing can compare.

June 13 – 18 CROSS (sports) (grades 6 – 12)

June 20 – 25 Young Disciples (grades 4 – 5). It has been a long time since we sent a lot of youth in the 4 – 5 grade level to camp, but why not this year! Ask a friend (yes, we will pay their fees too) and go to Camp Barbee for 5 nights of fun and excitement.

June 19 – 25 Created to Be Me (8th grade). Created to Be Me camp will be held the week of June 19-25 at Camp Camby in Camby, Ind. (between Indianapolis and Mooresville). This camp is for 8th graders only and is focused on sexuality and faith issues.

June 27 – July 2 Chi Rho (grades 6 – 7)

July 6 – 8 New Beginnings (grades 2 – 3). This camp is for first-timers who are in grades 2 – 3 who have never been to camp. It is a fun 2 night camp and you will learn a lot about what it means to be at church camp.

July 18 – 23 CYF (grades 9 – 12)

July 25 – 30 MAD Camp (grades 6 – 12)

August 1 – 3 Grandparent and Me (K – 3)

The church will pay 100% of your camp fees, as  long as registrations are turned in by April 24 to the church. A health form needs to be turned in also. If you didn’t receive these forms in the mail, please see Pastor Woody or see the following website: indianadisciples.org/camp. We’ll be delighted for you to attend church camp!

Parents, we want to encourage you to talk to your kids about camp. It is one of those things that can make a big difference in their lives. It is something every youth should be involved in.

Check out indianadisciples.org/camp for more information.

13 folks attended the lunch, and it was a great success. We’ll have another lunch in June.

Here, for the record, is the announcement: We tried once before, but the pastor decided it was more important to have heart surgery. So, we will try again. On Saturday, May 21 any all church members and friends aged 50 and over are invited to join together and drive about 45 minutes to the Whistle Stop just outside Monon for lunch.

We will leave the church at 11:15 and should return about 2 p.m. You can bring as many friends as you want, but entertaining them in the car to the restaurant is your responsibility. We will carpool so everyone doesn’t have to drive.

This casual restaurant serves lunch in the $5 to $8 range. For those who want to stay longer, there is a rail museum to tour, at additional costs. You need to sign up at the church starting May 8. Reservations need to be made no later than May 19. It will be fun. And remember, no hospitals!