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5 Spotlight On Ministry
Barbara Germany 12 Your Child’s Spiritual Survival: How Far Will You Go?
Proof Reader By Demian Farnworth
Saturday
14 CEPIM
By Larry Weber
5:00pm
15 Watch Us Grow
For a complete listing of the Christ
www.mychristchurch.com When I think of family, I see my handsome husband of 30 years this July,
my adult children, their spouses and my 4 beautiful grandchildren. But my
family consists of more than those who sit at my dinner table and call me
© Copyright 2011, Christ Church.
Mom and Grandma.
Questions about the Flame?
Contact Donna Harrison at:
Each time I walk through the doors at Christ Church I am surrounded by my
donna@connectingwithchrist.com
brothers and sisters in Christ. What a blessed and precious bond we share.
Christ Church I’d like to encourage you to open your heart to God, the loving Father who
339 Frank Scott Pkwy E gave His one and only Son so we may have life eternal. Find a place to serve
Fairview Heights, IL 62208 your church family; when you do, you’ll be in the company of those who love
618.277.4659 God, love neighbor and want to see others connect with Jesus Christ.
The Family Begins... Brittani and I will be married for one year as of June
3
The World As I See It to work everyday! You are each a true gift to my life
and ministry. I am grateful for my United Methodist
By Rev. Shane Bishop family. It is an absolute joy to serve under Bishop
Gregory Palmer and Superintendent Gary Wilson. My
As I write this article I am reflecting upon what it colleagues in ministry comprise some of my closest
means to be 49 years of age. For one, it means that friends and God has given me many opportunities to
next year at precisely 2:22 in the afternoon of April 2, lead both regionally and nationally in this denomination
I will be 50. I will clearly have to set more time aside in this past year. John Wesley’s message has never
to ponder that one. been more relevant! I am delighted to be a part of the
human family. As we emerge from “The Hole in Our
The concept of “family” looms foremost in my mind Gospel” study, I am acutely aware of the blessings I
today. I am so glad to be a part of the family of God. have as a USAmerican and of the responsibility I have
As I mature as a person of faith, I am constantly in being a blessing to the world. I am just beginning
overwhelmed by the wonder of Christ’s acceptance to understand that I am indeed “my brother’s keeper”
of me. Despite my selfishness, pride, failures and and in this epiphany, I find myself wanting to better
short comings, Christ died for me and because of serve my neighbor and loving God all the more for my
the work of Easter, I am accepted by God! I rejoice efforts.
in my decision to accept Christ years ago, but I am
blown away by the fact that Christ accepts me! I So I am 49. I have lost some of my foot speed, range
am so thankful for my biological family. When both and vertical leap; they moved me from shortstop
of our children married three years ago, Melissa to second base on the tournament softball team. I
and I suddenly went from two children to four. With can barely see without glasses, my hair is white and
the emergence of Maddox Bishop Blaha and Elijah thinning and a normal day now consists of aches
Christian Bishop, the family again expanded. As and pains that would have constituted an emergency
I write, I have just returned from Memorial Hospital room visit twenty years ago. But I still have plenty of
welcoming my first granddaughter to the world. To add fire in my belly, Holy Spirit rattling in my bones and
to the joy, my sister Jill’s family and my parents all live a few hundred more line drives to hit. I have some
within a couple of miles of us. Being near my family is good sermons yet to preach, a shift from “mortgage
not something I take for granted. I am so thankful for to mission” to navigate and there are plenty of people
the Christ Church family. As I prepare to enter year who need introduced to Jesus Christ. Good heavens,
fifteen as your Senior Pastor, I find that I truly love this I am just getting started!
church and the people who comprise her more each
day. We have so many dedicated people here who And that is the world…as I see it.
so freely give of their gifts, talents and time to make
this a truly unique church. I can’t wait for Sundays to
come around. It seems God never fails to show up
in unexpected ways when we worship. I love going
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Spotlight On BWFC serves 3 locations: Nikki Gentes leads CAC/
High, and Deep little hand, I was able to instantly open my eyes.
(Mommy radar!) We’d pray and learn together to trust
By Mary Ann Turner our God that never slumbers and never sleeps.
The possibility of a mother’s love is as deep as the The rewards are priceless--childhood voices offering
ocean. It will cause her to embrace laughter like a “Mommy, let me pray for you,” the “wuv” notes I
none other, have pride that needs to be reigned in, found scattered throughout the days, the celebration
passion revealing the depth of her own needs and of knowing they are saved by the grace and love of
shortcomings, and memories that remain as real as Christ alone. I can’t think of a better calling in life than
when she first lived them. At times she will experience being a mother and raising disciples of and for Christ.
desperation driving her to her knees, nights filled with
half sleep, tears of intense joy or pain, and ultimately, God gives grace and wisdom to release our children a
a deeper understanding of the love of God. little at a time. Children, according to Psalm 127, are
arrows in our quiver--not meant to be hovered over,
We would never sacrifice our children willingly yet we they are meant to be released to make an impact in
serve a God who sacrificed His only son, a God who the world for Christ. There is no greater joy than this!
reached down to us, who made a way for us to strip
off the pride and pretension and repent of our sin and I am a grandmother now….”Grammy.” I am
receive Life. If you have ever listened to a confession experiencing pure delight. This season of life affords
given by your child, whatever other emotions you may more time to savor the moments, time to fully realize
have experienced at the time, the one that I think that the mistakes and pleasures of motherhood are
stands out the most is compassion and the desire to covered with a certainty of God’s mercy and grace,
hold them close, to communicate a depth of love that with much more to learn in the years God will give to
has no words. It’s a desire to take it away and make it me. Thankfully, the God designed rhythm of life goes
right. That is what God does for us. My children have on and I trust that my grandson will have plenty to
taught me so much about the love of Christ and for teach me. I plan on teaching him too, about Love that
that I am eternally grateful. is deeper than the ocean, found only in Jesus Christ.
“Just five more questions mommy . . . just five more.” (In the real life stuff of motherhood our experiences
I can still hear my daughter’s little voice at bedtime are varied. As I pondered the writing of this piece it
delaying sleep and me submitting, with every tired is with deep respect for each reader and any pain,
bone in my body, to her questions. I recall the regret, or loss we experience on life’s journey. We can
sweetness of looking at her little face and then kissing have complete confidence that Jesus Christ covers it
her goodnight, all tucked in with songs and prayers. all with His love and His bloodshed on the cross for
We learned that God never tires of our questions. us. God’s love is the only perfect parental love. I pray
for all of us to be confident in the comfort found under
With happy songs about fire trucks, boats and planes the covering of His unending love.)
and goodnight kisses and hugs, my son fell asleep
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Rhythm Talk about them when you are at home
By Rachel Frazure Sit down and eat together. As I was writing this, I
realized we as a family had only sat down twice the
Rhythm? My family previous week as a family to eat. I texted that to Don,
has it. I would like to and he just wrote back “That’s sad!” Mealtimes allow
say it is in the genes. for intentional discussions. It is one of the few times
My husband Don and I that you are all sitting down together!
had a feeling that any
children that the Lord Talk about them when you are on the road
would bless us with Get off the cell phone, turn off the radio or DVD player
would have at least a slight inkling of artistic flair due and temporarily hide your child’s gaming system. Let
to our musical backgrounds. Juliana, our 8 year old, those car rides be a time of positive, life-changing
has been doing her own version of scat singing since conversations with your child. I heard a story of a
she was 2, often inserting syncopated rhythms. She mother whose child was asking about Jesus from the
also has a thing for the drums. Shelby, our 4 year back seat of the car. As a result, they pulled over and
old, has a very pretty singing voice, and we might see the child prayed to receive Christ into her life. I know
American Idol in her future, but it will totally be her that mother will never forget that car ride.
decision! Yes, our family has rhythm, but where we
need improvement is creating rhythm within our home, Talk about them when you are going to bed
and that won’t happen with any musical lessons. Don’t just send your kids to bed, but take them to bed.
My kids are still rather young, so this doesn’t seem too
In Deuteronomy Chapter 6, Moses is putting out a call odd for me. However, I wonder if there is a time when
to the Israelites for a wholehearted commitment and he my kids will get too old and I will miss out on those
gives the Israelites a plan to transfer their faith to the intimate conversations with them? I hope that I will
next generation. Deuteronomy 6:4-6 are some of the have lots of opportunities to listen to my children at
most powerful scriptures in the Bible urging us to love bedtime – listen to their heart and let them know at that
God with all our heart, soul and strength and to make moment how much I love them and most importantly,
a wholehearted commitment to our love of God and to how much Jesus loves them.
the commands He has given us. In Deuteronomy 6:7-
9, Moses talks about how to live out this commitment Talk about them when you are getting up
and that this love must be shared with our family. We I don’t know about you, but mornings are primetime to
are to repeat them again and again to our children; me, because it is a brand new day – a fresh start. It is
talk about them at home and on the road; and when also a brand new day to set a good course relationally
going to bed and when getting up. In the book Think with your children. In Think Orange, Reggie Joiner
Orange, author Reggie Joiner offers a translation of says “Just a few encouraging words carefully spoken
how Moses might have given these commandments or written can give your children a sense of value and
to families of today: “If you are going to impress these instill purpose.” How many carefully spoken words
truths in the hearts of your children, you will have to be have you instilled in your child before sending them
more deliberate about creating a rhythm within your out the door for the day? It really makes me think.
home. In the future, there will be a host of things that
will distract you, and it will be easy to drift away from You may be like me and say “Well, I spend time with
the importance of having an everyday kind of faith.” my family – we just spent the WHOLE day at the zoo
together!” However, the difference is that rhythm is
Children learn best through routine. Even the most often a strong, repeated pattern. So, rhythm, in and
chaotic households (including mine) have routines that of itself requires that we be intentional and constant. I
make the day run a lot smoother. My kids know the encourage you to read Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 and begin
order of events in the morning before school, and we thinking now how you can create rhythm within your
also have a bedtime routine, which includes watching home that will make a spiritual impact on your home
a classic cartoon or short story on “Daddy’s AT&T and on your kids. I suggest that the rhythm you create
Phone” – yes, that’s what they call it! Could Moses will be “fascinating” and fun – maybe with a touch of
be suggesting establishing a routine or a rhythm in our syncopation.
homes which teaches us to impress on the hearts of
our children the character of God?
8
What drives you every day?
I like to have a finished product. For example, on
Sunday when a service comes together, that’s the
most rewarding feeling. I can’t really explain it.
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We’re “Love cannot be learned in isolation. You have to
be around people – irritating, imperfect, frustrating
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Your Child’s Peter 1:3,4 (NIV) What exactly is that inheritance?
The Lord himself. David said, “Lord, you alone are my
Spiritual Survival: portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.” Paul
said, “I consider everything a loss because of the
How Far Will You surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whose sake I have lost all things.”
I’ve also seen the power of a dad in my experience in Whatever our experience with our own earthly father,
student ministry. I’ve seen a dad’s power to build and we must ultimately go to our Heavenly Father to
his power to destroy. In my experience, here are a receive the perfect picture of a dad. When we spend
couple things for Christian dads to think about: more time with Him, we find the example and guidance
in how to bring our children up in the discipline and
The Power of Dad’s Example instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).
Until your child comes to know Jesus personally,
you are your child’s primary example of God. We are
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Family Needs
By Steve Barrett
What does it mean to be a family? For many of us we in the context of this scripture speaks to seeking God’s
don’t often think of the roles that are filled within our will through our actions. To put it into terms most of us
individual families. Taking out the trash, cooking, doing have heard, you can think of it as, “WWJD” or “What
yard work and cleaning up are all roles we perform would Jesus do?” Now we simply have to apply that
without much thought because they have become to our lives. Easy, right? It can be easy… Think of
familiar to us and we are comfortable performing them. the stories you’ve read in the Bible. When Jesus’ feet
Switch gears for a moment and let’s think about our were anointed with expensive perfume or when Jesus
Church family. Why is it that when we see something took time to wash the disciple’s feet, these were acts
that needs to be done within the Church, we find some of service to His family of believers. They didn’t take
reason why we’re not able to do it? Could it be that much effort and required no training. In much the same
we’ve become “comfortable” talking with our friends, way we can act to serve our family of believers. Some
singing with the Worship Team, and listening to an will choose to do so around the globe in mission to
engaging sermon before heading home? As Christians foreign countries. Others will do so around the corner
we are called on to serve and to do so cheerfully. As on trips to serve the homeless in St. Louis. However,
we find ourselves becoming transformed to be more let us not forget the needs of the Church down the
Christ-like, we find more and more joy in serving our hall. Whether serving by listening to children recite
families, whether at home, down the hall, around the scripture in AWANA on Sunday evening or serving
corner, or around the globe. I’m fond of how Jesus Communion to your friends and family during service,
consolidated the Commandments when He was asked we all have a part to play in accomplishing the Will of
which was the most important… Jesus boiled down God and moving toward perfection. But you have to
the Commandments handed down through Moses take that first step. If you’re not sure how, find a staff
into loving God and loving neighbor. I would add a member or ministry leader and ask. The joy of serving
further boiling down to really get to what is asked of us. can have a transformational effect in your life.
In Matthew 5:48, Jesus states, “therefore be perfect, Look for opportunities to serve. Your Church family
just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” What does needs you.
it mean to be perfect? Are we really capable of that?
And what does that have to do with family? Perfection
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Watch Us Grow Attendance
--------------------------------
March Worship = 1,475
New Members March Connection Classes = 520
--------------------------------
March Year Avg. Worship = 1,560
Aaron Benedict, Amy Benedict, Cindy Ann Erwin,
John Lercher, Margaret Lercher, Debra Marshall,
Kathy Hilliard Terrell, J. Kramer Terrell, Sara E. Terrell, Finances (as of 04-14-11)
Robin Alan Watt --------------------------------
General Budget
April YTD Giving = $593,558.09
Dana L. Burgner, Carol A. Burgner, Francine Chatman, YTD Expenses = $579,662.78
Tahisha Hicks, Jamie A. House, Kimberly D. House, Annual Budget = $2,041,873.99
Jon Kelly, Eun Kyung Kelly, Nicholas Jong In Kelly,
Charity M. Kipp, Devon P. Lettie, Christine Philips, Building Fund Total
Randy Phillips $78,794.01
Baptisms
--------------------------------
March
Nicholas Jong In Kelly, Robin Alan Watt
April
Tahisha Hicks, James Hong In Kelly, Jerry Trent, Jr.
Member Passings
--------------------------------
JoAnne Frame – February 26
Wedding
--------------------------------
Kyle James Jacob and Marquitta Lynn Koshak –
February 27
15
Nonprofit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
E. St. Louis, IL
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