First Christian Church

Tallapoosa, Red Sticks, Gen. Jackson, Horseshoe Bend, Chief Menowa and Pastor Edd- What do all these names have in common?  All but General Jackson are from Alabama.

Well, to get our history correct, Alabama was not even a state until 1819, and the events that we will tour and learn about were all at Horseshoe Bend before that date. Pastor Edd will be driving our church bus. We will stop in Alexander City for lunch at a great cafe.

Sign up now and be ready to go on Tuesday, April 27.

FYI...The Red Sticks are part of the Creek nation and our tour guide will be Alabama Park Ranger, Sean Williams.

                                                                                                            See you, Janet

A good time will be had by all. Steve Pasky is planning a special meal that everyone will enjoy. We want this month to be a special time of fellowship and Christian camaraderie.

While we are not planning to have a special speaker, we are planning a couple of things that we think you will enjoy.

So plan to come join us for an extra special meal and enjoy the evening with the other men of the church. This would also be a good time to invite a friend, neighbor, or relative to come together in Christian fellowship.                                                                        Shalom, Bud  

Our Chi Rho and CYF youth will once again lead us in a unique and meaningful worship experience on Sunday, April 25th  at 10:00.

In the sermon portion of the worship, our youth will present in mime a unique reenactment of the highlights in the life of Christ. In addition, they will guide us during the entire worship service through prayers and special music.

We are extremely fortunate to have such talented and dedicated young people to lead us in worship.

Please make every effort to worship with us on youth Sunday and invite a friend.

The 2010 Regional Assembly of the Christian Church (DOC) in Al/NW Florida will be held at First Christian Church, Decatur, on April 23-25. Complete information on registration and housing is available on the website: www.alnwfldisciples.org

The 2010 Regional Assembly will focus on the theme, “..to the Ends of the Earth.” The assembly will emphasize the mandate from Christ, as found in Acts 1:8, for his disciples to continue his work of proclaiming the good news to the ends of the earth.

We will be joined by several partners representing ministries that are taking the Disciples witness to the ends of the earth. These partners include: the Rev. Amy Gopp, the Rev. Sandra Gourder, and the Rev. Felix Ortiz.

Wednesday, April 14, 21, 28, The Shack Study group will once again return to complete the book. We have had an exceptional group and fantastic discussions and learning.

On April 14th we picked up with Chapter 14.

We will meet in the Fireside room at 5:30-6:30.

Mary Pat will conduct the group until she leaves for Sabbatical.

The 5th Annual Birmingham CROP Hunger Walk is this Sunday (April 18)!  We're looking forward to seeing everyone at Caldwell Park. (New location this year next to the Virginia Sanford Theatre; 1116 26th. St. So.)

Registration at 1:45 PM, Walk Starts at 2:30 PM.

If you've already signed up (by website or by receiving a donation envelope), please continue to collect donations.  We're hoping to raise $20,000 or more this year.  If you haven't signed up yet, feel free to drop by on Sunday and bring friends!  There's no fee to participate, but donations are always welcome.

Thank you for helping hungry and struggling families in Birmingham and around the world.

www.bhamcropwalk.org
1-888-297-2767 (CWS/CROP Regional Office)

Our Easter Sunrise Worship and Breakfast is Easter Sunday, April 4 at the outdoor amphitheater at Hargis Retreat. This year we are blessed to have George and Judy Dudley lead us in worship at the Sunrise Service.
Following the service, breakfast will be served in the Hargis dining room at a cost of $5.75 for adults and children 6 and over, $3.75 for children ages 3 – 5, and children 2 years old and under are free.

Please sign up for your breakfast reservation in the narthex or call the church office.

We are having a Twenty-Four Hour Prayer Vigil beginning at 9:00 pm on Thursday, April 1 and ending at 9:00 pm on Friday, April 2.

The Prayer Vigil will be in the sanctuary with each person praying at their special time. A prayer chart consisting of 48 thirty minutes prayer periods is in the narthex.

During the Prayer Vigil there will be material available for reflection and prayer. There will also be security in the parking lot for those praying during the night hours.

Please sign up on the chart in the narthex. Please remember that the Prayer Vigil takes place in the sanctuary.

On Thursday of Holy Week, Jesus gathered His disciples to share a Passover meal. Passover was the celebration of God’s bringing the Hebrew people out of bondage to the Pharaoh of Egypt. The Hebrews were told to slay a lamb and place it’s blood on the doorpost of their homes to avoid the plague that struck the Egyptians. Death “passed over” them. They were saved by the blood of the lamb.

Jesus reinterpreted the meaning of the Passover feast for His disciples in terms of His own ministry. He became the Lamb of God. His body was to be broken and His blood shed. His emphasis changed from the physical salvation the Hebrews experienced in Egypt to a spiritual salvation.

At the meal together, Jesus gave them a “new commandment” that they “love one another”. Therefore, the word Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum meaning commandment. On Thursday we celebrate the new commandment of His love.

 We will come forward for communion, celebrate special music from the choir, and have a special worship experience led by Edd & Mary Pat. The nursery will be open.

Invite a friend for worship.

Cookie monster never met a cookie he didn't love…and we, the Young at Heart, will have our hand in the same cookie jar as the monster. It's those cute little bite size cookies that we have to taste and share. Yumm...

March 30th, that's a Tuesday…we are on our way to visit the Best Buds Bakery. Picnic lunch, inside or outside, depending on the weather. We will begin at 12:00, either at the church or in a park. Sign up soon so you will have a seat on the bus and a taste of Birmingham's Best Cookie.

Just a reminder, in April we will have a trip to Horseshoe Bend Park, Alabama with Ope Johnson as our guide.

In June we have the tap dancers and dinner at the church and much, much more to come. Oh, we are sooo Young!   

Love Janet