VOLUME 1 # 5 MAY 1, 2023

FCC Disciple
Historic Traditions, Progressive Practices

May All-Church
Service Project
Worship
Join us for this month’s service
Sunday 10:30a
project helping restock the shelves
for the Good Samaritan Food Bank. Sunday School
Adults 11:45-1
This month, FCC will be collecting, 2nd & 4th Sundays
transporting, and shelving food at the
Good Samaritan Food Bank. Items needed Teens 9:30-10a
includes canned or boxed meals, rice, beans, pasta, cereal, and cleaning
products like laundry detergent, dish detergent and household cleaners. Children PreK-8th
10:30-11:30a

Supper/
Transporters Needed Fellowship/Bible
Study
Help is needed to transport the collected food
2nd/4th Wed 5-7p
items to the Food Pantry on the 2nd and 4th
Mondays of the month. It usually only takes 30 Prayer Group
minutes. Sign up with the Outreach Avenue of First Thursday of
Service Leader. each month the
prayer group meets
from 12:15-12:45p

1 2 3 Life of the
Congregation
Meetings
NEEDED ITEMS TRANSPORT ITEMS STOCK SHELVES Parenting Group
Bring items each Items will be Help stock shelves on Meets the 1st
Sunday during the transported on the 2nd the 2nd & 4th Fridays Monday of each
month. & 4th Mondays month

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 First Christian
Receives Green
Chalice
Certification
For the fifth time, First Christian
has received Green Chalice
Certification from Disciples Home
Missions. The Green Team has
reported on the ongoing work to
“live out our faith by caring for God’s creation.”
FCC Building Upgrades Needed
In a way, the church's buildings are a reflection of past
visioning efforts. Over the years, the buildings have
been remodeled and/or rebuilt and each time the needs
and desires of the church community have been
expressed in those efforts. The current education
building was built in 1964 and the current sanctuary was
built in 1993.

Our solar array continues to provide energy for

our church and reduce our carbon footprint.

Our LED lighting also helps to reduce our

dependency on fossil fuels.
Our recycling program continues to reduce the
waste we contribute to the county landfill.
We continue to host community groups
dedicated to helping preserve our environment
each week.
We have become a leaders in the Carbondale
community! Congratulations!
During the planning for the current sanctuary, meetings
of the congregation were held to bring together thoughts
on building location (remain downtown or move to a
residential area), size of building, use or reuse of
furnishings, accessibility, acoustics, etc.
Once again accessibility (elevator in the education
building) is being considered as well as visioning for
better use of the third floor (art space), location of
Sunday school classrooms HVAC and other energy
needs. We look forward to suggestions from the
congregation on how we can fund theses much needed
upgrades to the education building. Send comments and
suggestions to the Board Chair of the Facilities Avenue
of Service Leader.


Monthly Family Event-Craft Night

The church family is invited to the next monthly event on
January 15th. This month we will begin a scrap book page for
each family in attendance. Once finished the pages will be
displayed on the MEMBER’S AND FRIENDS bulletin board. The
goal is to display a page for each family and friend so everyone
can learn more about the congregation at FCC. If you are unable
to attend the craft night, you may get materials to complete your
page at home.

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 You are Invited!

What: January Small Group, Cottage Prayer

Worship & Arts Team!
Meeting Report

Focus this month is on Fruits of the Spirit

“For where two or three are gathered together in
my name, there am I in the midst of
them.” Matthew 18:20
When: Tuesday, January 19th, 5-7 PM
Where: This month, hosted by the Smith Family
The Worship and Arts Team (WAT!) thanks all
of you who are taking leadership in worship.
Our team of 4 song leaders each takes a
Sunday and energizes our singing, backed up
by Derek’s gifted fingers on the piano.

Thanks, too, to those of you who serve as

123 Street Road liturgists, elders, deacons, and help with kid’s
church.
Why: Get to know members of your church family
better! Spend time meditating on bible scriptures
On 5th Sundays WAT! collaborates with
and create a sacred time in your schedule for
Outreach for “Jesus has left the building.”
prayer.
Wear work clothes, and after a song and
prayer, we’re off to do Jesus’ work through a
RSVP: 555-5555
service project.
Are you willing to host a cottage prayer meeting
for next month or the following? First Sundays are testimony Sundays. If you
Please contact Frank. We have ideas we can feel called to share a holy new experience, let
share with you for meeting scripture and/or
someone from WAT! know, and we’ll put you
prayer focuses. Choose a time that works for
your family. on the schedule.


 WAT! is looking for summer inspiration. If

Youth Group
Do you have a child in your life, grades 6-12?
you know musicians or preachers/speakers
who would inspire us, let a WAT! member
know. The Spirit is alive and well at First
Christian on Sunday mornings!

Check out our cooperative youth group! Thanks be to God.

FCC, UCC, and First Presbytarian meets

together

1:00 PM, Sunday afternoons at

First Presbytarian, Carbondale.

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 How to Volunteer
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you
welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you
came to me.” Matthew 20:35-36

Feel called to serve the “least of these,” but are unsure how or where to plug-in? Check
out these service opportunities, both inside and outside of our church walls:

! Be involved in our quarterly “Jesus Has Left the Building” events.

! Get a background check on file & help teach our children or plan a quarterly family
event

! Join the Knitting Ministry, which meets Thursday nights in the foyer. This ministry knits
chemo caps for those in need, prayer shawls for those dealing with life struggles, and
takes on other similar projects to bless others.

! Join our Tuesday morning team to prepare and serve the homeless a noon meal at
“Feed My Sheep,” organized and hosted by AME church.

! Donate books to “Reading Reduces Recidivism,” housed on or 3rd floor. This ministry
collects and distributes books to prisons, right here in southern Illinois.

! Become part of our health ministry at FCC. We hold blood pressure monitoring events,
organize blood drives, host health-related education events, loan out medical equipment
from our medical equipment closet, and visit our members who are homebound.

! Volunteer to spearhead one of our numerous drives each year: school supplies in the
fall, spirit of Christmas gifts in December, food drives for Good Samaritan in April, plus
more.

! Host a small-group Cottage Meeting. Get to know other church members by providing a
sacred time and space for prayer and fellowship. This can be a one-time or a regular
time-commitment.

! Join Sparrow Coalition - our local coalition for the homeless

! Volunteer to help with a “Fine Dining at FCC” event

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 Small Groups
Let’s Socialize! Parenting Support Group

Wednesday evening the parenting support

Next Saturday, those interested will join the
group will meet at Jenny’s home at 7. Any
Carbondale community at a benefit dinner for
who wish to laugh and learn and support
the Rainbow Coalition, which serves LBGT
each other through the challenges of
youth.
parenting young children are welcome.
Don’t forget the Miners baseball game on
Helping Hands Team
Friday. We will meet to carpool at the Parr’s at
6 PM.
Our Helping Hands team will gather after
Worship next Sunday to lift up the families
There will be a guided nature walk at Green
and individuals within our church family
Earth Chautauqua Bottoms on Sunday
with special needs, and determine how best
afternoon, led by our own Tom Smith. We
to assist them over the coming month.
will see wildlife, wild flowers and grasses,
and learn about the important functions of a
Homebound Volunteers
water shed. Please join us as we draw close to
our Creator in nature.
The Homebound Visitation volunteers were
busy last month, checking in with several of
our members and bringing communion to
them.

Awards Prayer Group

Our small prayer group will gather Thursday

Graduates! Our scholarship presentation for at noon, and all are welcome to attend. Feel
high school grads among our church family free to share your requests for prayer—your
who are continuing their education is coming joys and concerns and we will pray together.
right up. If there are other grads—college,
middle school, pre-school—please bring them
to the Pastor’s attention so we can
acknowledge their accomplishments as well.
Health Ministry Blood
And speaking of presentations, all children Pressure Checks This
who are preparing to finish 3rd grade have a Sunday following
special invitation to join us in Worship on the
20th, where we will present each with their
Worship
own Bible as a gift from our congregation.