Easter Schedule and Announcements

Regular Worship/Study Events

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Sunday School...9:30 AM

Fellowship...10:30 AM

Worship...11:00 AM

Sunday Evening Bible Study...6:00 PM

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Regular Events

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Knitting Group...Wednesday, 2:00 PM

Choir Practice...Wednesday, 7:00 PM

CYF, Youth Supper...Wednesday, 5:30 PM

Ministry Council Meeting, Second Sunday every even month

Board Meeting, Second Sunday, every odd month

Elder's Meeting, Fourth sunday, every month, 8:00 AM

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Announcements

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Elder's Breakfast, March 29th, 8:00 AM

Mexican Dinner (Stice Family Mission Trip) 5:00 PM, March 29th

April Birthdays celebrated during Fellowship time. Cake provided by Lonna Riley. 10:30 AM

Palm Sunday worship with Easter Cantata, April 5th, 11:00 AM

Good Friday Services, 7:00 PM, April 10th. Community Invited.

Easter Sunrise Service at Pioneer Park (Alt. Presbyterian Church) April 12th

Pot Luck Breastfast following Easter Sunday Sunrise Service. Please bring a dish. Everyone invited.

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If you have a prayer request for someone in the church family, or in your immediate family, that you would like to send through the Church E-Mail Network, send your request to: John Turner: john@christviewmin.org.

Fair Trade Coffee Project

Disciples Brewing Of Fair Trade Coffee Is Heating Up

Disciples are part of the growing movement to support fair wages for farmers around the world by their participation in fair trade projects. The volume of fairly traded products purchased by Disciples of Christ Coffee Project participants increased by 93 percent last year to 6,608 pounds (3.3 tons) of coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar and snack products. A report issued by Equal Exchange on Disciples participation in the project showed continued growth despite national economic challenges.

About 117 new congregations joined the Coffee Project in 2008 bringing the total number of congregations that have participated since 2007 to 201. Equal Exchange has contributed $991 to Disciples Home Missions and Week of Compassion for the Disciples Hunger Relief and Food Security Fund since the project was launched in early 2008.

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To find out more about this project, go to: www.equalexchange.coop/doc

More Dirt Work at FCC Community Garden

Sodbusters!!!

Bill Hudspeth and Brian Scheller break ground in preparation for the First Christian Church Community Garden.

Kari Keever Kicks Things Off!

FCC's Good Earth

FCC Farm Manager Kari kicked off the First Christian Church's Community Garden on Monday, March 15th with the able help of Brian Scheller and Bill Hudspeth, who bobcat'ed and tilled a large patch of garden plot directly behind the old white church.

Kari reports that her next steps are to assign garden space to families within the larger garden, and then to cover the soil with black plastic to kill off any weeds that might lurk beneath the newly plowed earth.

Then the exciting part begins! Planting, tending, and harvesting!

FCC Gardeners to Tour Fiddlehead Farm

Learning from the Experts

First Christian Church Berryville Community Gardeners will tour Fiddlehead Farm at 3:30 PM this coming Saturday (March 14) to learn from one of Carroll County's most expert Market Gardeners, Dr. Fred Mayer. Community Gardeners will see how beds are prepared using the no till method, learn basic organic gardening practices, and be helped to identify what plants need to thrive in newly prepared gardens. Mayer, one of the area's most diversified small farmers, also produces free range eggs for area restaurants.

Members wanting to take the tour should be at the church at 3:10 on Saturday. The visit was arranged by Kari Keever.

A Hundred and Thirty Eight...and Still Going Strong

Founding of the First Christian Church Berryville

"In October, 1871, a devoted and committed group of men and women meet together in Berryville, Carroll County to organize a Christian Church and to make plans for a building in which they might worship. At the close of this meeting they pledged their time, talent, and material possessions to accomplish their purposes. The first elders were W. C. Stephens and M. W. Fisk; the first deacons were W.A. Bonner and S.B. Meek."

From: Arkansas Disciples: A History of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arkansas. Shown above is Walter Scott, an early Disciples' evangelist.

Growing Community from the Ground Up

FCC Starts Community Garden

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First Christian Church of Berryville is starting a community garden. First Christian Church Natural Garden "Growing Community From the Ground Up" will be made up of 12 foot by 12 foot plots in the churchyard. There will be a plot for the church, for the youth group, and one for Loaves and Fishes Food Bank. There will also be plots run by individual families and groups of friends. The produce will be used by the church, Loaves and Fishes, the youth group, and the gardeners of the plots. Any extras will be sold at the Farmer's Market and to local businesses. Anyone from the congregation can help with the garden and have their own plots if they wish to do so. We are praying that this will be a great success.

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The Community Garden will be managed by Kari Keever. Call Kari for more information.

FCC Supports Loaves and Fishes

Supporting Loaves and Fishes is an Active Part of FCC's Ministry

More and more Ozark families struggle to meet basic needs during this difficult economic time. First Christian Church Berryville has responded by supporting Loaves and Fishes through special fund raising initiatives, regularly monthly support, and by volunteering with food distribution each Friday.

Currently, gardeners within FCC's congregation are discussing the potential of a community garden on the Loaves and Fishes grounds to provide fresh produce to local families. For more information, contact Kari Keever at FCC.

Congratulations, Pastor Turner

Pastor Judy Turner Elected to Carroll County Fresh Board of Directors

Judy Turner, co-pastor with her husband John of First Christian Church Berryville, has been elected to the Board of Directors of Carroll County Fresh, a sustainable agriculture advocacy group dedicated to assuring that the people of Carroll County have consistent access to safe, affordable supplies of locally grown food. Pastor Turner was elected to a 2 year term.

Lectio Divina

On Wednesday, March 11th, First Christian Church Berryville begins "Listening to God" a weekly series to explore God's message to us through a spiritual practice called Lectio Divina, or Divine Reading.

Lectio Divina is an early church practice of spiritual reading and prayer for the purpose of helping create closer communion with God the Father, Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit, and to increase our knowledge of God's will and His purpose for our lives.

In 1150, a Carthusian (Trappist) monk named Guigo II wrote a book titled The Monk's Ladder. There, he described Lectio Divina as a four rung practice comprised of reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation. Today, monastic communities still follow this old practice.

To learn more about how you can incorporate this effective and spiritually fulfilling practice into your life, call Rev. Judy Turner at 479 253 864.

Ministry Opportunities

Ministry Opportunities in and Through First Christian Church

Discipleship Ministry Team - Barbara Hale

Sunday School Teachers:

Elementary age children’s class- volunteers needed on a rotating basis

Middle School and High School Youth Class- substitute teacher needed

Adult Bible Study Class- substitutes needed.

Adult topical studies are sometimes offered. Anyone interested in leading a class, or helping with existing classes, talk with Barbara.

Adult Bible Study

Adult Bible study on Sunday evenings – overview of the Bible. If interested in helping write a simplified curriculum, talk with John Turner.

Nursery Volunteers:

Our nursery is available for infants and preschool children during worship services. Volunteers are scheduled every Sunday and also for special services. See Linda West

Vacation Bible School:

VBS is offered for children in our community in partnership with the Berryville Alliance of Churches. Our church is hosting VBS in 2009. Teachers, providers of refreshments, crafts leaders, etc. are needed

Christian Youth Fellowship: (meets on Wednesday nights)

Team teachers needed for the elementary children’s class. Volunteers needed to provide meals for youth and adult workers. Volunteers needed to help our Youth Leaders with activities and outings

“The 9 Ways” Spiritual Growth Emphasis

Anyone with ideas for encouraging ongoing spiritual growth, talk with Barbara.

A class on “Christian Basics” for new Christians is needed

Evangelism and Compassion Ministry Team – Susan Krotz and Elaine West

Worship Guest Welcome Baskets:

When someone visits our church, we try to deliver a welcome basket. Volunteers are needed to make the deliveries. See Elaine.

Angel Tree Christmas Ministry

The church provides Christmas for a needy family. A coordinator for this project is needed.

Earth Care

What are your ideas for helping the church as we “go green”? Volunteers needed to implement a plan for native plant landscaping around the church. See Susan Krotz

Church recycling - Fred West is in charge. Let Fred know if you want to help. Christian Youth Fellowship recycles aluminum for a fundraiser.

Volunteers needed to pick up large items for recycling. Talk to Scott or Amanda Frame.

Community Garden – see Kari Keever

Community Harvest Dinner

Scheduled for fall 2009. Volunteers needed for cooking, decorating, handling tickets, setting up tables, and much more. See Susan Krotz

Loaves and Fishes Food Bank

Our church provides the volunteers to run the Food Bank on Fridays. See Loretta Tanner.

Community Outreach Ministries:

Any ideas for how we can make the love of God real for people in our community are welcome.

Anyone interested in heading up a group to build a Habitat for Humanity house? Talk with Judy Turner about your ideas.

Mission Trip

Preliminary discussion of a mission trip in 2010. Let Judy Turner know if you are interested.

Worship Ministry Team – Allawayne Carr

Choir

Singers and instrumentalists always needed to provide special music for woship services. See David Bell.

Worship Arts

Decorating the church for special services and special seasons; Using the visual arts and drama to help communicate worship themes. See Jennifer Hudspeth and Kamela Carr

Friendship and Hospitality Team – Mary Ann and David Bell

Sunday Fellowship Refreshments – Cakes needed once a month. See Mary Ann Bell

Church Picnic - Volunteers needed in May to grill burgers, set up, clean up

Funeral Dinners – Dinners are provided at the church for members who lose a loved one. Volunteers are needed to bring food and help set up, serve, and clean up. A volunteer coordinator is needed. See Joann Carr.

Care Ministries - Volunteers needed to send cards or make phone calls to homebound members and members who are missing in worship services and who we miss - Talk with Judy Turner

Facilities Committee – Robert West

Church Building Maintenance Volunteers needed

Grounds Maintenance Volunteers needed

Filling the Baptistry Volunteers needed

Finance Committee – Shirley Porter

Annual Budget Preparation: if interested, talk with Shirley

Teaching and Promoting Financial Stewardship: Volunteers are needed for this important ministry. See John Turner

Communications

Publicity:

Susan Krotz regularly sends press releases. Anyone interested in writing stories and taking pictures at our church events?

Church Newsletter

At this time, there is no church newsletter. Volunteers are needed to write articles, format the newsletter, produce it, send it electronically or mail it. See Judy Turner

Church Website

There is a church website, but volunteers are needed to update and maintain the website. See Dave Buttgen

Church Fellowship Directory

Volunteers are needed to take photos of new members and provide updated information for the Fellowship Directory. See Shelley Buttgen

Bulletin Boards

Volunteers are needed to develop a plan for attractive, informative bulletin boards in the fellowship hall. Someone needs to be the “point person” to implement the plan and keep the bulletin boards updated.

Fundraisers

Church Yard Sale: Someone needed to head up the project. See Barbara Hale

Fireworks Stand :Volunteers will be needed to help set up, take down, and run the stand, if the church decides to undertake this project this summer.

Church Handyman Service

The idea is that teams of people from the church are available to help people with their home and grounds improvement projects, such as painting, repairs, landscaping (starting within the congregation). The people served will pay for the materials and also make a donation to the church for this service. Needed: someone to head up this project. See John Turner

Women’s Ministries

Joy Group

Volunteers needed monthly to host the group in their homes

See Louise Rusterholz

Men’s Ministries

At this time there is no active men’s group. Anyone interested in starting and leading a men’s group, talk with Don Rusterholz.