Church guide

So here are the details for Sunday, May 5th, 2019 -- 10:00 a.m. (CDT) or join us Online www.fccrensselaer.life @ First Christian Church, Rensselaer, Indiana -- 2nd Sunday of OUR NEW Sermon Series: Favorite Acts. Come, as we explore some of my favorite acts of discipleship found in the book of Acts. Sermon Title: A Server At The Table of Life; Text: Acts 6:1-15 & 7:48-60; QOTD: “The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going.” by George Carlin.

Myself and Artist Abbie Parmele and her painting to kick off our new sermon series —Favorite Acts as we travel through the book of Acts. We began with Jesus’ Ascension.

So here are the details for Sunday, April 28th, 2019 -- 10:00 a.m. (CDT) or join us Online www.fccrensselaer.life @ First Christian Church, Rensselaer, Indiana -- NEW Sermon Series: Favorite Acts. Come, as we explore some of my favorite acts of discipleship found in the book of Acts. Sermon Title: Favorite Acts - The Beginning; Text: Acts 1:1-11; QOTD: “Death is an ascension to a better library.” by John Donne.

Just a reminder of the Joint Good Friday Service of 1st Presbyterian, Trinity UMC, and First Christian Church this evening @ 5:30 held @ 1st Presbyterian Church. Come, all are welcome on this solemn and holy of days as we journey into Christ's greatest sacrifice for a world and people he so dearly loves.

So here's the details for Easter Sunday, April 21st, 2019 -- 10:00 a.m. (CDT) or join us Online www.fccrensselaer.life @ First Christian Church, Rensselaer, Indiana -- Sermon Title: The Remains; Text: Luke 24:13-49; QOTD: “She was everywhere and nowhere and nothing and she was gone.” by Seth King from The Summer Remains. Hope to share with you this Easter Sunday Morning as we begin our celebrations starting with an Easter Breakfast and Baptisms @ 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Christ is Risen!! Allelujah!! Christ is Risen -- Indeed!

https://youtu.be/R39tK2JSgf0

So here's the details for Sunday, April 14th, 2019 -- 10:00 a.m. (CDT) or join us Online www.fccrensselaer.life @ First Christian Church, Rensselaer, Indiana -- Sermon Title: Clueless -- Growing Up for Palm Sundae; Text: Luke 22:14-23, 39-46 & Philippians 2:5-11, QOTDs: “Summer would not be summer without ice cream. Ice cream is the favorite currency of love.” by Puck & "Maturity is a high price to pay for growing up.” by Tom Stoppard. Hope to share with you this Sunday as we celebrate Palm Sunday while sharing in Christ's Passion!! See you on Sunday either online or in person.

So here's the details for Sunday, April 7th, 2019 -- 10:00 a.m. (CDT) or join us Online www.fccrensselaer.life @ First Christian Church, Rensselaer, Indiana -- Sermon Title: Hearts Return Home; Text: Luke 15:1-3 & 1b-32, QOTD: “Home is not necessarily where you live, but where people understand you.” by Christian Morgenstern. Hope to share with you this Sunday and if you come in person instead of online, please stay and enjoy an incredible Soup and Sandwich luncheon prepared by our Agape Ladies!! See you on Sunday!!

So here's the details for Sunday, March 31st, 2019 -- 10:00 a.m. (CDT) or join us Online www.fccrensselaer.life @ First Christian Church, Rensselaer, Indiana -- Sermon Title: The Hen In The Foxes' Den; Text: Luke 13:31-35, QOTD: “A fox is a wolf who sends flowers..” by Ruth Brown & "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg. Join us in-house or online for "live streaming" @ 10:00 a.m." by Samuel Butler.

https://youtu.be/PniELZpky1I

So here's the details for Sunday, March 10th, 2019 @ First Christian Church, Rensselaer, Indiana -- Sermon Title: Wilderness Risk-takers; Text: Luke 4:1-13, QOTD: “I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness; I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us. I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, and that peace and tranquility will return once more.” by Anne Frank. Join us in-house or online for "live streaming" @ 10:00 a.m. (CDT).

So here's the details for Sunday, March 3rd, 2019 @ First Christian Church, Rensselaer, Indiana -- Sermon Title: The Dangers of Building; Text: Luke 6:39-49, QOTD: “A person who works with their hands is a laborer. A person who works with their hand and their head is a craftsman. A person who works with their hands, their heads, and their hearts, is an artist.” by St. Francis of Assisi. Join us in-house or online for "live streaming" @ 10:00 a.m. (CDT).

So here's the details for Sunday, February 24th, 2019 @ First Christian Church, Rensselaer, Indiana -- Sermon Title: Measurers Anonymous; Text: Luke 6:27-38, QOTD: “Measure what is measurable, and make measurable what is not so.” by Galileo. Join us in-house or online for "live streaming" @ 10:00 a.m. (CDT).

Traveling with Luke this Lent In 2018, the season of Lent and Easter were early! But in 2019, Lent and Easter are late. That is good news for sweethearts and couples because Valentine’s Day can be celebrated without the overshadowing of the Christian calendar. However, the theme of love speaks directly to that of The Divine – God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit, without question! So, God’s love for Valentine’s Day is still there whether we want to recognize it or not! Let hope abound this Lent, as we wait for the season, Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday from March 6th, 2019 through April 21st, 2019. Therefore, may we also rejoice in the hope of better weather for 2019. Fingers crossed! However, I am pretty sure that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Groundhog Day, which means six more weeks of winter weather. However, this photo truly captures my spirit for more wintertime weather. This year at First Christian Church, we will celebrate the season by traveling through The Gospel of Luke as the story unfolds. For last year’s journey, we were accompanied by Marcus Borg and John Crossan’s book, The Last Week. New for the season for 2019 is a new study/devotional book by Amy-Jill Levine Entering The Passion of Jesus: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week. We all know that Jesus’ final days were filled with risk, anticipation, and danger. The outcome of which provides both great loss and great reward. Last year’s study revealed, the two different parades that happened on the first Palm Sunday and the dangers involved with Jesus’ demonstration. Jesus’ believers followed suit by leaving their homes behind and anointing him with costly oils and perfumes. So as we walk again in the footsteps of Jesus, what are we willing to risk in discovering something new and fresh for 2019? There is always something more to learn, a deeper understanding to gain, a new perspective to consider, and new feet to meet on the journey. This is the hope for our walk with Jesus and Luke’s gospel so that we embrace once again, a more fully equipped path for Christ in our world today. In Entering The Passion of Jesus: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week, author, professor, and biblical scholar – Amy-Jill Levine explores the biblical texts surrounding the Passion story. She shows us how the text raises concern for us both ethically and spiritually. Come along for the journey, Lent is sure to be passion-filled and we hope you are too. Blessings to you as we walk with Jesus this season. In Christ’s abiding love, e-Beth

Looking for past Sermons... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlyT8ubBu3T5x64LeAHskk2pms5E_eDV2

JOIN US for our current 4-week Sermon Series When The Work of Christmas Begins based on the poem Now The Work of Christmas Begins by Howard Thurman whose timing with God's help and not mine lines us perfectly with Dr. MLK, Jur Day since Howard Thurman was his mentor. Last Sunday, we focused on "the work of Christmas begins; to find the lost." This week's focus will be on "to heal the broken, to feed the hungry." So here's the details for Sunday, January 27th, 2019 @ First Christian Church, Rensselaer, Indiana -- Sermon Title: Every Dog Has Its Day; Text: Matthew 15:21-28, QOTD: “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” by Josh Billings and Sermon Song: "My Dog Jesus" by Dean Phelps. Join us in-house or online for "live streaming" @ 10:00 a.m. (CDT).

Upcoming New Book Study "Our Abba" on Sunday mornings @ 9:00 a.m. begins Sunday, January 13th -- 9:00 a.m. "Our Abba -- Praying the Lord's Prayer So It Comes Alive In Us" is an exciting start for the new year! You are invited to a new weekly Adult Sunday School starting on Sunday, January 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., facilitated by Eileen Phegley and Marcia Smith-Wood. Using the book "Our Abba" by Rev. James Miller, we will experience the Lord's Prayer in a fresh and faithful way, as we take it a little at a time each week and enjoy sharing how each of us is finding something surprisingly new and deeply meaningful in it. Learn about how the Lord's Prayer first came into being; how it developed over the centuries; why it has been called The Greatest Prayer; and spiritual suggestions from the book for praying the Lord's Prayer personally during the week..... The goal is to pray the Lord's Prayer so it comes alive in us! Hot coffee and tea will be available -- See you there!!

First Christian (Disciples of Christ) welcomes ALL to come and fellowship. Come just as you are and find God's love, grace, mercy, and hope. There is always a place for you at God's welcome table -- and always room for one more. You belong here. Christ welcomes everyone into communion by building God's Community of Faith. Therefore both the communion table and mealtime fellowship are highlighted and enjoyed with these People of God.