First Christian Church, Flora, Indiana

Evening Bible Study: Held at 7:00 p.m. at the church

We will resume classes November 6, 2011

This is led by Randy and Teri Larimore.  Feel free to join in!

We will watch a  video, followed by discussion.

We will be using the book “The Prodigal God”, by Tim Keller

Please see Teri Larimore if you would like a book. We will not meet every week, it depends on other events happening in the church.

As a teaser, think about this: How many times have you started reading the Bible on January 1 with the plan to read it straight through by the end of the year? Most of us have tried that. Many have failed.

Starting on Easter 2012 and lasting for 31 weeks, we will all have the opportunity to make that reading a success, by using “The Story” and reading one chapter of the novel type Bible each week. One day each week, you can come to a discussion group of that week’s reading.

As the time gets closer, we’ll give you more information and tell you how to order “The Story“.

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.

Note 2-28-11 – This program has been discontinued for now as the kids have too much going on.

Thursday night coffee café at First Christian church offers a comforting place to study with friends, a place to gain internet connection for studies after the library closes, and a place to share a snack with friends.

The “café” is open to junior high and high school youth from 7 – 9 p.m. each Thursday night during the school year.

Youth may bring laptops, study, visit quietly, and listen to music.

Coffee, lemonade and light snacks are provided.

Adults who are able to assist may contact Marge Spray, Miriam or Pastor Woody.

VBS Thanks:

What a great week the three churches had on July. From our church, we were led by Rhonda Hicks and Kimberly Stoddard. But they did not do it alone. They recruited a group of adults and youth who cooked, taught, sang and led activities all week. We give a tip of the hat to those who helped, as well as to the children who participated.

Join your friends for an out of this world adventure for “Galactic Blast”. All ages welcome!

Dates: July 18 – 22, 1020 (Sunday – Thursday)

Time: Supper served at 6 p.m.  Class and recreation 6:30 – 8:30

Where: Cutler Presbyterian Church, 40 East, 500 South

All youth who are considering baptism this spring are invited to the Christian Foundation Class, led by Pastor Woody.

• These classes will meet on Sunday afternoons, from 3:30 to 4:30 on February 28, March 7 and March 14.
• If you are interested, please let Pastor Woody know no later than February 25.
• If these times are not convenient, let him know and something can be worked out.

In her book, Unbinding Your Heart”, Disciples of Christ author Martha Grace Reese says, “We have heard stories of inspiration, struggle, excitement, disappointment, spiritual learning and changes in lives in churches for years. We have found no rigid formula for success, no magic plan that will work for every church. Each individual must enter the great adventure by thinking, learning, learning more, praying and asking God a humble question, Which small things can I do today to help more people know you?”

Flora First Christian Church will use Reese’s book as the basis for a study into ways the church can reach out to those who do not know Christ, or have allowed that relationship to become less important in their lives. This is a class about Evangelism, an often misunderstood word that is tossed around in the church today. All think it should happen, but few want to do it.

After talking with more than 1200 lay people and pastors, Reese came up with the following answers to the question, “What do you think about when you hear the word evangelism?

• I don’t want to knock on the doors of strangers and give them a pamphlet.
• Our pastor gives this boring, annual muddled sermon that “evangelism is pointing out the laden table to a hungry man . . . ” whatever that means.
• I cringe at the memories from the years when I pummeled people with these embarrassing questions about salvation.
• I don’t even want to think about evangelism. We’re doing a bad job, period.
• I know we are supposed to talk with people about faith and invite them to church but I don’t want to lose friends.  I feel guilty.

The format for the Unbinding Your Heart study is simple. There will be 3 groups that meet each week, each one repeating the same lesson. If you are unable to come to your regular meeting, you can “make it up” at one of the others. We will be led by Pastor Woody as he shares the following topics:

Why Do Evangelism

Unbinding the Gospel – with prayer

Real Life

What New Members Want – transformed lives

How’s Flora First Christian Church doing?

Smart Sailing – navigating distractions and getting started

Class 1: Sunday afternoons 4:30 – 6:00. February 7, 21, 28, March 7, 14, 28 (3:30 on Feb. 7), 2010

Class 2: Wednesday noon hour 11:00 – 12:30. February 10, 24, March 3, 10, 17, 31

Class 3: Wednesday evenings 7:00 – 8:30. February 10, 24, March 3, 10, 17, 31

There are at least 4 important questions we must consider, and answer, if possible:

1. What do we think when we hear the word “evangelism”?
2. What difference does it make if people are Christian?
3. What motivates us to share the gospel?
4. How could being a Christian matter in someone else’s life?

Sign up forms are available in the church, or you may (E-mail Pastor Woody) pastorwoody (at) ffni (dot) com.