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First Christian Church of Warner Robins, Georgia Pastor's Corner

First Christian Church of Warner Robins, Georgia Pastor's Corner

Monthly Archives: October 2009

Pastor’s Corner – November 2009

30 Friday Oct 2009

Posted by fccwrpastor in Pondering

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The key to any relationship is communication.  As Christians, we are to converse with God through prayer.  This conversation is two-way; we speak and we listen for God’s return comments.  When I counsel couples about to get married, I always stress the importance of communication, especially when children come into the picture.  Two parents can easily be outnumbered by one child if they don’t communicate with each other and share answers to children’s requests.


As a congregation, we use a variety of methods of communication.  As in most organizations, there is the “grapevine.”  You know how that works.  Someone hears about something and calls their friend or visits with a neighbor and soon the story is all over town.  We call it the calling tree or prayer chain.  This works well; however, there are times, like all things, when it falls short.  I enjoy the story of the prayer chain notice where a loving elderly woman called to let the next person on the list know that “Mrs. Jones was to have a vasectomy in the morning.”  When the person called tried to explain that this just was not possible, the caller insisted that this was the accurate information and therefore Mrs. Jones was indeed having a vasectomy.  I would love to have heard how the insurance company responded.


We also use the bulletin and announcement time at the beginning of worship.  The bulletin boards in the fellowship hall and sanctuary entrance help convey information to people as they come to the church for worship or other events and meetings.  Inserts and handouts also assist in communicating with those attending church.


Because of technology, we have a way of reaching people all over the world by the use of our web site at www.fcc-wr.org.  Photos, special music, information, and our newsletters are found there.  This is a real benefit for friends and family members away from home.  It also allows former members to keep track of the events going on in Warner Robins.


Our final tool for communication is the Warner Robins Disciple, which you are holding in your hand right now.  Here is information about what has happened and what is going to happen at First Christian.  This is a tool for us to keep up with the changes in other people’s lives as well.  When someone moves, the newsletter is returned and often labeled with the new address.  The downside is that the person to whom it was sent misses out on that issue.  We also have to put together a list of 200 addresses to maintain the bulk rate permit.  Some months this gets to be a challenge.  Time is invested in producing, folding, sealing, sorting and then often resorting at the post office because the handling requirements have changed since last month.


This newsletter is our primary tool for sharing the life and ministry of this congregation.  We need to put it into people’s hands in the most effective way available.  We need your help.  As responsible stewards of God’s creation and our resources, we want to be more efficient.  It might be possible to send out the newsletter in a variety of formats in order to utilize technology and assure that it reaches as many friends and families as possible.


We are currently exploring mailing out the newsletter first class to those who wish to receive a printed copy and also sending it outelectronically as e-mail to those who would rather view it online.  Doing this could save time, paper, and money.  Please let us know what you think and which format you would prefer to receive.  You can write to the church at 100 N Houston Rd., Warner Robins, GA  31093, call the church at (478) 923-1536, or e-mail us at pastor@fcc-wr.org.  No change will occur until the February 2010 issue of the Warner Robins Disciple.


Talk to us, so that we may keep open the best lines of communication possible.


Shalom,  Darrell

Pastor’s Corner – October 2009

04 Sunday Oct 2009

Posted by fccwrpastor in Pondering

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H1N1, regular flu, pneumonia, terrorists, economic weak-ness, Global warming, etc., etc., etc.  Let’s get all the fears on the table at one time.  Most of us remember the tale of Chicken Little.  As I remember it, Chicken Little was not the hero of the story; rather he was the nuisance who raised the alarm over things that were not a threat.  Granted the list above is serious and not to be ignored.  However, as Christians should these things demand our time, energy and fear to the degree they seem to do?


Paul talks in Romans about not fearing the powers and principalities for they cannot deprive us of what is most important, God’s Love.  Repeatedly, messengers of God are telling individuals and groups to not be afraid.  Even Jesus told all who would listen to not be concerned about food and clothing (I think it would be safe to add any of the above list) for God will provide.  We are to trust in the power and presence of God in the world and in our lives, especially when crises arise.


We fail in our faith and trust in God when we let the fears of all that could happen prevent us from dealing with the challenges God calls us to take on.  The problem with all of these fears is that the focus is on the self.  Yes, we can fear these things for other people, but if we are totally honest, it is the fear that it could be us that grabs us.  Selfish fear prevents us from loving our neighbors as our self.  Selfish fear prevents us from loving God with all that we are and trusting in the absolute Presence that never goes away.  God is present in the face of all these terrible things that “might” happen, and when they really do happen.


Yes, there are things of which we should be afraid.  But that fear should lead us to trust God and face those fears with God at our side, all around us, and within us.  The greatest fear out there is the fear of death; yet we are supposed to have faith that death has been overcome through the Grace and Love of God visible in the life and resurrection of Jesus.  Let the fear become the energy that helps us move to assist those who suffer from diseases; let the fear be the motivation to empower others in love and to take the power away from those who only preach hatred; let the fear move us to truly become the good stewards God made us to be to care for all the Creation for which God called us to tend.  “May God grant us the courage to change the things which we can, to accept the things we cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference.”  This also applies to the things we fear.


Shalom,  Darrell

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