Dear Church Family,
This week I want to focus on those of you who are married or contemplating marriage in the future…On March 5th – 7th in Wichita, Dartha and I along with over 350 other couples will be attending the “Weekend to Remember” FamilyLife Conference. We have attended this conference many times over the years. We find this experience enables us to re-focus our hearts on each other and make our relationship the priority it should be. I would highly encourage any couple in the church to attend. Whether your marriage is great, just OK or in need of some serious work, this conference you will find to be just what you needed. You will hear outstanding speakers, testimonies and an abundance of resources at you disposal.

The Wichita conference is different than the other conferences FamilyLife puts on, in that they are offering significant reduced rates for this year’s weekend. The cost is $99 per couple; the regular rate is $89 per person. The conference is held at the Hyatt downtown. Room rates are available at a discount as well. Dartha and I will be staying at the hotel, though it is not required. We would love to have some of you join us. All you need to do is contact me and I will give you the codes to register online with the FCC-Haysville group. If you would like to go and just can’t afford it, please contact me.

“This conference allowed us to look at ourselves and understand what we as individuals need to do to make our marriage better. We prayed together for the first time in 14 years. We were blessed to be a part of Weekend to Remember, we’ll go again!” -Husband married 14.5 years

Sunday, February 7, 2010
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:30 a.m.
WORSHIP: 10:40 a.m.
OFFERING: $4,577.00

ATTENDANCE
Sunday School: 65 Worship: 122

VISITORS
Valley Center. KS: Nick, Beth, Avery, Aydin and Jaxon Lewis
Tecumsch, KS: Dean and Judy Swibold
Wichita, KS: Todd and Anne Lewis, Justin Craig
Nashville, TN: Jesse, Jessica, Boston and Mira Katina

Dan Atkeson family, Jack Braden, Ernie Hurdle, Lynn Garrelts family, Tom VonFeldt, Teresa Hall, Beulah Rees, Kirby and Pat Barnes, Neva Middleton, George Hatcher, Shaunna Hall, DeAsia Harding, Shirlene Crain, Michael Galvan family, Janet Goldwater, Mary Jane Bell, Shannon Lisk, Annette Beal, Pat Falley, Anetta Kay Webster, Mary Ellen Shockey, Eric Daly, Stacey Estes, Dick Eastman, Roy Whitney and Larry, Jim and Laura Vargas, Mary Ann Morgan, Paul Smeltzer, Beverly Chisenhall, Margie Theil, Rina Beard, Charles Faidley, Colton Rosseu, Pierce Noah, Sandra Chambers

Pierce Noah had surgery to implant a pacemaker on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at Via Christi St Francis.

Plinio Andrade will have shoulder surgery on Thursday, February 25, 2010.

Dear Christian Friends,
I am writing to thank you for your generous gift of $262.50 to support Disciples Center at Tawakoni! Thanks so much for this gift as it demonstrates the partnership you share with your Regional Church as together we strive to provide excellent ministry to youth and others!

Thanks again for your ongoing support as indicated by your donation! Our shared efforts as Disciples in Kansas and the church of the future, are looking a little brighter due to our shared investment in youth and Disciples Center
Sincerely, Steven A. Martin, Associate Regional Minister/Director of Camp Ministries

Thank you to the property committee members Janice Church, Jim Holmes, Jake Lewis, Merrill Deck and Ted Clubb for applying lemon oil to all of the woodwork.

Jacob Lee Walston arrived in Norfolk, VA early Saturday morning February 6, 2010 weighing 10 pounds 4 ounces and measuring 22 inches long. He has lots of dark hair.

Welcoming Jacob are his parents Jason and Katie Walston and brother Grady. The Kansas connection is Great Grandma Betty Phillippe.

Barnes will celebrate her 80th birthday Friday, February 12. Let’s shower her with cards!

You are invited to stop by and have cake and ice cream with Pat on Friday, February 12 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Pat Barnes
4502 South Market
Wichita, KS 67216

Valentine Dinner

Saturday, February 13th at 6:00 p.m. is the Valentine dinner at church. Church Growth is cooking the dinner. We hope you will enjoy the evening. If you need a sitter there will be one here at the church. If you haven’t purchased your tickets, call Lenora at 524-4053 or Peggy Smith at 522-5213 and we will make sure to include you in the reservations. We will need to know this information by Wednesday, February 10. You may pay us Saturday evening. Thanks! We’re looking forward to a fun evening!!!!

Cookies for a Cause

The Cookies for a Cause for February is food for the pantry at the Haysville Community Outreach which is housed at West Haysville Baptist Church. This outreach program is for all families who live in the Haysville school district.

The foods that are needed the most are hot and cold cereal, peanut butter, canned fruit and canned meat. If you prefer to give other foods, those will be most appreciated too. These items will be collected all month and may be placed in the basket in the front hall. We know that this is a very difficult time for many people in our church too, but if your family feels led to give, one box or one can of something is all that is needed. As always, thank you for all you give.

AgapèCare Cradle

January’s Cookies for a cause was AgapèCare Cradle. A check for $130.12 was sent to them Monday. Thank you for the love you show to others as you donate to the causes each month.

Shrimp and Okra Bisque

The Bruce Causey family shared their southern recipe with FCC at the Soup-er Bowl lunch following worship.

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, in all
¾ pound okra- sliced ¼ inch thick (3 cups sliced, in all)
¾ cup finely chopped onion
¾ cup finely chopped green bell pepper
½ cup finely chopped celery
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons minced garlic
3 whole bay leaves
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Seafood Magic
¼ cup all-purpose flour
5 ½ cups, in all, seafood stock
½ cups finely chopped green onions
3 dozen peeled medium shrimp, about ¾ pound

In a 4 quart sauce pan, heat ¼ cup of oil over high heat for 1 minute. Stir in 2 cups of the okra; cook until browned, about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the onions, bell peppers, and celery and cook for 1 minute. Add butter and cook 1 minute; then stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the bay leaves and Seafood Magic and stir well; continue cooking over high heat for 3 minutes, stirring frequently and scraping the pan bottom well. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and the flour; stir and scrape the pan bottom well. Continue cooking until well browned, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1½ cups of the seafood stock and scrape the pan bottom well; then add 4 cups more stock and stir well. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Boil 2 minutes, then lower heat and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the remaining 1 cup okra. Continue simmering 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add green onions and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the shrimp, turn heat to medium and simmer just until shrimp turn pink, about 1 minute. Serve immediately.

Dear Friends,
At this time of such overwhelming need in Haiti, we know that our own Disciples Haitian churches and families are also suffering. I wanted to be intentional about reaching out to them after such a tragedy so they would know that Week of Compassion and our partners are already on the ground providing relief assistance. Some of them have also contacted us to ask how they can best respond. I know that it is incredibly frustrating for many of them who want to go to Haiti but at this time it is just not feasible or helpful. They have been relieved to know that our implementing partner organizations are already at work there, on our behalf, thanks to our gifts.

Working in partnership with New Church Ministry, who has been a crucial link in helping us support our Haitian sisters and brothers, we are sending this letter of solidarity to those churches. I thank Charlie Wallace here, especially, for all of his support—even at such a time as this when I know how personally he is grieving after his years of service in Haiti.

We continue to pray for the people of Haiti as we find comfort in knowing that God is with them and us, even in the midst of such destruction and heartache.

Faithfully, Amy Gopp, Executive Director


First Christian will receive the Week of Compassion Offering Sunday, February 21 and 28.

Saturday, February 13
6:00 p.m. Valentine Dinner

Sunday, February 14
8:00 a.m. Elders Meeting