FROM THE PASTOR

Greetings,

Well we made it back. For those of you in our worship gathering Sunday, you got a small dose of our trip to Matamoros in Mexico. In a nutshell, it was an experience I will treasure for the rest of my life.

On the island we visited on Friday we met a very special family. Please join me in praying for Julio and his family. Julio, upon meeting us and discovering I was the pastor of the group, immediately began to pray revealing to us a vision he had for the church here and our ministry specifically. With Raphael translating as he prayed, I was blessed beyond words at a man’s faith and hope amidst severe poverty. What a blessing then to walk further with Julio and his family to the church building. We got a feel for the community and the special history of the church building itself.

We met another “special” man. Freddie not having anything of material wealth wanted to give a gift to the group. He went into the sand hills and came back with three stalks of what we call Yucca blossoms. These are flowers the people actually eat. I sampled the petals and found them to taste a bit like lettuce. This was Freddie’s gift to us. He was so generous, giving all he had. When these things happen, it changes something inside of you.

I can’t wait to go back. We will be taking the entire church with us, as you prepare ministry bags, give financially and send your church community back to Mexico.

Blessings, Pastor Jay

Dates to remember for those going to Mexico…

• April 11th- Experiencing God Bible Study begins 9:30 Sunday Mornings
• April 25th- First ½ of your $250 is due in the office (second half due June 6th)
• Passports must be applied for immediately (takes up to 6 weeks to get passport). You may choose to get a Mexico travel card (half the price of a passport for ground travel only). Cost of passport is around $100

Sunday, March 21, 2010
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:30 a.m.
WORSHIP: 10:40 a.m.
ATTENDANCE
Sunday School: 58 ~Worship: 96 OFFERING: $ 2,371.85
VISITORS:
Columbus, KS: Judi Etter
Haysville, KS: Bruce and Kyle Richardson
Wichita, KS: Andy Reynen, Carly King, Misti Swank



 

PRAYER LIST

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, Ed Carr, 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, Mary Ann Morgan, Paul Smeltzer, Pierce Noah, Matthew Proctor, Marsha Schelor, Walt and Joeann Strawder, Patsy South, Bob and Ollie Robbins, Jim Walker

Matt Rempe, a 19 year old student at ITT, has had surgery for a brain tumor. He is now taking chemo. Mark Eastman

My oldest brother Gerald Poulter (87) has been diagnosed with liver cancer. He has battled throat cancer for 12 years.
Shirley Lieurance

Prayers for Lance Corporal T. Clark Rothgeb! He has been deployed to Afghanistan.


 

NOTE OF APPRECIATION

I want to thank the General Board of First Christian Church, Haysville, for bestowing on me the title, Pastor Emeritus. It has been an honor for me to be the pastor of this congregation from April of 1988 to January 2009. Anita, my wife, has been a faithful co-worker with me throughout my years of ministry. We are glad to continue serving God with you.

Again, thanks. George Lespagnard


 

THANK YOU

Pastor Jay, Pastor George and members of First Christian Church,
It is with deep appreciation that we thank you all for opening your beautiful church, hearts and arms to our family at this time of great sorrow and need. It’s not often in this time that complete strangers are made to feel the grace of the Lord like you all have. Please know that you all will be remembered in our thoughts and prayers. May the Lord continue to shine His light on you all, and keep all safe in his loving care. With deepest thanks from the family of Charles E. Faidley: Sharon L Faidley, Brian and Denise Faidley, Tina, Kurtzlea,
Craig and Tehra Faidley and Alicia and Michael Holmes

From the Faidley family,
Thank you all so much for your support and love during our time of grieving and joy. Thanks to the ladies of the church for the wonderful meal after the funeral service for Charles Faidley. Sharon Faidley has returned to Michigan. Her youngest daughter, Alicia and her husband accompanied her home.

Thank you to Jim Holmes and Jay Lewis for picking up the new round tables. These tables (10) were purchased with money from the Pat Carr Memorial fund. Our thanks to Ed Carr for approving this purchase!

Our trip to IL went well. We had a good visit with Stacey and her family. Thank you to everyone for cards and prayers for Stephen and me. We are so grateful for such a great church family. Stephen and Shirley Lieurence


 

DID YOU KNOW?

Last Sunday we mentioned DeeAnne (Atkeson) Proctor’s Marine son Matthew. Matthew was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan the 1st of the week. We ran out of information sheets on the back table which gave the address and items that Matthew and Alpha Company will need. They are on a front line of defense where living conditions are primitive. Items in particular are baby wipes as they have no running water and medium and large socks. Thank you for your support and prayers. Dale and Donna Atkeson

USD 261 and Laura Spears-Vargas, Head Coach Special Olympics USD 261 Special Needs Teacher, recently hosted the 8th Annual Kristen Swartzendruber Special Olympics Basketball Tournament. 530 athletes participated in this event. The Athlete’s Oath ~“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”


 

CHURCH GROWTH

Easter Fun Day
Saturday, April 3 ~ 10:30-12:00

We have a fun day planned for the children of the church, their friends and neighbors. We will have crafts, an egg hunt and lunch. Please sign the clipboard at the back of the sanctuary so we will know how many children and adults to expect. We need adult to help out at craft tables. Please let Lenora know if you can help with this part. If you have middle or high school youth who want to come, they can hide the eggs for us and help children at the craft tables. We need three people to provide two dozen plain cupcakes for the children to decorate.

Cookies for a Cause

The cause for March is Victory in the Valley. The people at Victory in the Valley are attempting to bring some hope and encouragement into the lives of the cancer patients and families they serve. With our help, they are able to do this through programs like Hospitality Centre where patients can wait for their appointments or lab results in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. It has become a “Place of Hope” for more than the1400 visitors it serves each month.

UFO/Craft Night

This Friday, March 26 will be UFO night. Bring your crafts and join us at 7:00 p.m. for a fun evening of crafts and fellowship. We will be finishing the turbans for Victory in the Valley. If you would like to help us do some sewing for others, bring your sewing machine.


 

DISCIPLES MEN 5TH TUESDAY MEETING

South Central District Men’s 5th Tuesday
Tuesday March 30, 2010
Newton First Christian Church, 102 E. First, Newton, KS

7:00 pm Meal and Program

Meal: Deluxe hamburgers with all the fixins, chips,
Dave Blocher’s secret recipe incredible baked beans and homemade peach cobbler

Cost: $7.00
Program: Regional Listening Conference
Please RSVP your reservations to Dee (524-5884) by March 24, 2010.


 

BABY SHOWER

You’re invited to a Baby Shower


To celebrate the birth of
Kayden Darnell Marshall
Born January 21, 2010
to Yolanda Hall & Tony Marshall

Saturday, March 27th
3:00 pm
5815 E. 9th, Wichita
Edgemoor Park "Lounge"


Please R.S.V.P. to: Johnna Kaye Hall at 650-8482


 

YOUTH

This is a reminder to the high school and middle school youth! Your activity forms and registration for World Vision 30 Hour Famine event are due Wednesday, March 24. Please see Machaelle if you need more information.

We are in need of a couple of sponsors for the 30 Hour Famine. The dates are 6:00 p.m. Friday, April 9 through 7:00 p.m. Saturday, April 10. Please contact Machaelle if you would like to take part in this fantastic experience.


 

FRIENDS NIGHT OUT

Johnny B’s Pizza Place
240 N Main, Haysville, KS
Thursday, March 25
6:00 p.m.
This is a new eating place in Haysville! They have a variety of reasonably priced items on their menu; appetizers, pasta, sandwiches, salads, calzones and super-specialty, specialty and build your own pizzas. Join us for an evening of fellowship.


 

WORSHIP COMMITTEE

The upcoming two weeks are very important events in our church calendar. We plan on giving the children palm branches to wave as they enter church service on Sunday, March 28. Then on Easter, April 4, we plan on having our traditional "Blossoming of the Cross" in our church service. If you have your own 'homegrown flowers' and wish to put them on the cross personally, we invite you to do that. If you do not, you might want to contribute some flowers by buying an inexpensive bunch from the grocery store. The church will cut them and prepare them for the "blossoming" on Sunday morning. It is a worshipful event that we have used for several years, and we "oldies" look forward to it each year!

 

CHOIR REMINDER

Don't forget our 9:00 AM rehearsal for this Sunday, March 28. We want to make a joyful noise for the Lord!!

 

First Christian Church • 7465 S. Meridian • Haysville • KS • 67060