January 2015

518 North 19th StreetBirmingham AL 35203 www.firstchurchbhm.com

The First Church Newsletter

an OPEN place for ALL to WORSHIP, GROW, and SERVE

Grace & Peace

CONNECTIONS

“Epiphany,” from a Christian perspective, is defined as the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. This manifestation is most poignantly exemplified through the story of the Magi who came to Bethlehem seeking the Christ Child. Legend has it, that for the Magi, the search for the Christ Child began long before they took the first step toward Bethlehem. They had spent a great deal of time studying, read-ing, preparing, and searching long before their caravan began its journey to the City of David. They are, to this day, understood as scholars and adventurers, which is why we often call them wise.

As we enter the year 2015, we can learn much from the Epiphany experienced by the wise travelers. If we seek to encounter a manifestation of Christ in the year to come, according to the Epiphany story, we must first prepare and study. We must set our course with intention and be guided by the light that shines in the darkness. We must learn from the wisdom of those who have traveled this way be-fore. We must recognize that each step we take will either take us closer to the encounter with Christ, or away from Christ, so our choices matter.

The wise explorers’ methods match the Wesleyan practice of studying the ancient scriptures, meditat-ing in prayer, and leaving our comfort zone in our search to encounter Christ. If you seek for 2015 to be a transformative year in your life, follow the path of those who are viewed as wise. Make a commit-ment to study the scriptures, which is different than just reading them.

Spend regular time in prayer, where you will not only talk to God, but really listen. Get outside your comfort zone and encounter the Christ within those who are different from you.

There may not be a magical formula that guarantees we will have a personal epiphany, but these are the steps many throughout the centuries have taken to encounter Christ. I invite you to be intentional in your steps, and may God’s blessings be upon you in your journey this year.

Epiphany

“How to Love” Small Group Opportunities During the months of January and February as we discuss “How to Love” on Sunday mornings, we will also gather in small groups around the city of Birmingham to have a meal together and study The Five Love Languages by Gary Chap-man. Please visit www.firstchurchbhm.com or stop by the Welcome Center to sign-up for the dinner in which you would like to participate. Please note that if all of the following small groups fill up, we will add more locations and dates.

• January 11 | When you don’t feel like it• January 18 | When you feel unlovable• January 25 | When you’re angry

God is love. Jesus loves me. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. The greatest of these is love… Love is at the center of the Christian faith. Most of us, however, stumble through our lives blindly feeling our way through our attempts to love God, others, and ourselves. It’s not that we aren’t trying, but sometimes even our best efforts miss the mark. If love is at the center, then it is important that we learn to do it well. Join us for our January and February sermon series, as we explore “How to Love.”

• February 1 | When it’s all about you• February 8 | When you don’t like them• February 15 | When it’s all going right

• Tuesday Nights, 6:30pm-8:00pm | January 20, January 27, and February 3 At the home of Thomas and Jennifer Waters (Mountain Brook) | Led by Keith Thompson

• Wednesday Lunch, 12:00pm | January 21, January 28, and February 4 At Dodiyo’s Restaurant (Homewood) | Led by Keith Thompson

• Wednesday Nights, 6:30pm-8:00pm | January 14, January 21, and January 28 At the home of Katie Gilbert (Crestwood) | Led by Katie Gilbert

• Thursday Nights, 6:30pm-8:00pm | January 22, January 29, and February 5 At the home of Charles and Nancy Ferrell (Homewood) | Led by Stephanie Arnold

• Sunday Nights, 5:15pm-7:00pm | January 11, January 18, and January 25 At the First Church Birmingham (Fireside Room) | Led by Amanda Carmichael please note this will be a study of The Five Love Languages for Children

Join the Chancel Choir and brass and percussion ensemble for a concert of music per-formed in our Sanctuary since 1891. Former Chan-cel Choir member, Hannah Ellington, will return as soloist in Rossini’s Inflammatus, which was part of the music heard during the first service in the building. The choir will also feature mu-sic written by First Church musicians; the concert will end with a new setting of Gloria in Excelsis.

• February 1 | When it’s all about you• February 8 | When you don’t like them• February 15 | When it’s all going right

Allison, Jason, Russell, & Bennett Dearing

Adam HudsonRyan DeMarco

Emily & Ted ChastainNicole LeMaitre and Andrew Barker (Natalie & Henry)

Josh Hicks

On Sunday, January 18, of MLK you will have the opportunity to worship at 11:00am in the Sanctuary as usual or you’re in-vited to join The Loft at St. John AME (just a few blocks away) as we celebrate the formation of new friendships and efforts to be a united Birmingham community. The worship service will begin at 11:00am and will offer shared leadership between our two churches. For more information please contact Rev. Stephanie Arnold at Stephanie@firstchurchbhm.com. Also on this Sunday, First Church and St. John AME will join in a city-wide community dialogue project that seeks to facilitate conversations and greater understanding of issues of diversity. The Bethesda Life Center and REV Birmingham are inviting culturally diverse groups of people to commit to reading together Tanner Colby’s award-winning book, Some of My Best Friends Are Black, and then participating in dialogues in the month of February about issues the book raises. First Church is excited to partner with St. John as we desire to be both leaders in racial reconciliation and equality issues. If you are interested in reading the book and participating in diverse small group discussions, please contact Rev. Stephanie Arnold at Stephanie@firstchurchbhm.com.

Discovery Weekend at First Church has proven to be an indescribable experience. The best way to convey the meaning of the weekend is to first explain its purpose. Discovery Weekend was created to allow students to experience the love of God through Scripture, connecting with one another, and through feeling love and support from their church family.

The main goal behind the weekend is to place senior high students in a servant leadership role in which they plan and implement the entire weekend. Everything from funny and silly skits to deep and meaningful talks, the senior high stu-dents have their handprints all over the weekend. Junior high students are loved on, placed in a role of importance, and prayed over for the length of the weekend by senior high students and adult volunteers. What transpires is simply beauti-ful. Junior high students are left feeling accepted, included, and a part of a wonderful youth group after a life-changing experience.

There are many ways you will be able to be involved in this very important weekend and you will hear much more in the following weeks about these opportunities. Here are two important corporate events in which you as an entire congrega-tion will be able to surround and support our students here at First Church as they take this spiritual journey. Please mark your calendar with these dates:

• Saturday, February 28 – Discovery Prayer Service in the Sanctuary• Sunday, March 1 – Discovery Celebration Service in the Loft

We hope you will all make plans to be a part of this wonderful weekend! - Jonathan Goss

The Justice and Mercy Team invites you to make plans now to work with Hands on Birmingham in the Great Day of Service on Monday, January 19. Sunday School classes, families, and individuals are encouraged to take this day “off “and turn it into a day “on” for serv-ing others throughout Birmingham. You can visit http://www.hand-sonbirmingham.org/MLK to sign up as a group or individual. This year you have the opportunity to serve by cleaning up Turkey Creek Preserve outside, visiting elderly while playing games, working at Ruffner Mountain, or helping at the Community Food Bank. This is a great way to serve and help our community!

THANK YOU for supporting Project 12/25 in such a tre-mendous way this past year! We gifted 15 families with groceries, gifts, and love during this Christmas season. We had people shopping, wrapping, deliv-ering, and donating for weeks. Donations alone totaled more than $2800 in cash. This money was used to assist in gifts and groceries for adults and chil-dren. With additional money donated this year we also made generous gifts to Community Church Without Walls to be used for gift baskets for shut-ins in the West End community and we gave a gift to Church of the Reconciler to assist in needs for the homeless community. This was our most generous year to date! Thank you for all that you did to make this a special Christmas for others!

It is time to build the 2015 Panama Mission Team. We will be heading to Panama, Saturday, June 27, and returning Sunday, July 5. On the trip we will be working with children, doing construction, building friendships with Ngobe Indians, exploring the rainforest, see-ing the beaches, and will have an opportunity to tour Panama City. The trip will cost between $600-$700 per person if you help with all fundraisers. This is an intergenerational trip, however, children and youth under the age of 16 must have a guardian accompany them. You may complete a mission trip application now, which can be found on our website under “Serve” or in the Church Office. Please return completed forms and a non-refundable $50 application deposit to Stephanie Arnold or Mary Elizabeth Myatt by Febru-ary 1, 2015. Check out our web page for last year’s video to see what the experience is like and begin getting excited! Please contact Stephanie Arnold at Stephanie@firstchurchbhm.com with any questions or to inquire about possible scholarship assistance.

TO THE MEMORIAL FUNDIn Memory of Ralph Irvinfrom Sherry and Buddy Coker

In Memory of Virginia Rae Siscofrom S. Marion Hicklin

In Memory of Josephine Milton Beckhamfrom Joellyn Beckham

In Memory of Huell Dendyfrom Berenice Dendy

TO THE RADIO FUNDIn Honor of Robin Bakerfrom Jomarian L. Holland

TO THE MUSIC FUNDIn Memory of Ralph Irvinfrom H. Denson Wood

In Honor of Dr. and Mrs. James H. Cookfrom Larry Ward

In Honor of Ralph and Mary Ann Batesfrom Larry Ward

In Honor of Fletcher and Betty Thoringtonfrom Larry Ward

In Honor of KC and Mark Hayesfrom Larry Ward

TO THE LIVING CHURCH FUNDIn Honor of Virginia McLean and Dot Perryfrom Melanie and David Hutto

In Honor of Bentley, Melissa, Mary Rose, and Sarah Lib Patrickfrom Margaret and James Patrick

In Honor of Keith and Stephaniefrom Kathy and Ken Clements

In Honor of Dale Sandersfrom Jerri and Milton Sanders

TO THE AFRICAN DISEASE RELIEFIn Honor of Dr. Mike Kozak and familyfrom Jack Sharp

TO THE SANCTUARY RENOVATIONSIn Memory of Bob and Johnie Cordellfrom Marilyn and Ray Grant

In Memory of Mr. and Mrs. Austin Gray Edwardsfrom Elizabeth E. Conboy

In Memory of Ellen and Philip Jacksonfrom Miriam J. McClung

In Honor of Mary Gene and Thomas Boulwarefrom Patty and Larry Faulkner and family

In Honor of Wayne Hester and KC Hayesfrom the Ecclesia-Wingard Class

In Honor of Virginia McLeanfrom Dot Perry

In Memory of family church membersfrom Patty and Larry Faulkner and family

Mark your calendar and make plans to join us for the following dates and book discussions! • January 8 Ginger Harvill Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini• February 12 Mimi Boston People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks• March 12 Marnie Brown Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana by Anne Rice• April 9 Marion Lagman Noah’s Wife by T.K. Thorne

GIFTS RECEIVED BY THE CHURCH

WEDNESDAYS:4:00pm - Prayer Shawl Knitters 6:00pm - Collision Bible Study 6:30pm - Chancel Choir Rehearsal 6:30pm - Converge Midweek

SUNDAYS: 8:30am - Traditional Worship 9:45am - Sunday School 11:00am - The Loft & Traditional Services 5:15pm - City Kids & Collision

THURSDAYS:6:45am - Muffin Men

FRIDAYS: 6:45am - Men’s Prayer Breakfast

January 26TH 5:30pm - Trustees Meeting

January 25TH 2:30pm - Renovation Concert 5:15pm - City Kids

January 1ST ~ Office Closed ~

January 2nD ~ Office Closed ~

January 8TH 6:30pm - Generations

January 21ST 11:30am - Garden Club

January 15TH 7:00pm - Vincent-Bernhardt

January 19TH ~ Office Closed ~ 11:00am - Circle 25

January 11TH 12:00pm - College Lunch 5:15pm - City Kids

January 18TH 11:00am - Worship with St. John AME 5:15pm - City Kids

January 20TH 5:30pm - Staff Parish

January 13TH 6:00pm - Executive Council Finance Commitee

JAnUARY CALEnDAR

firstCHURCH

BIRMINGHAM

an OPEN place for ALL to WORSHIP,GROW, and SERVE

518 North 19th Street • Birmingham AL 35203205-254-3186 • www.firstchurchbhm.com

Senior PastorKeith Thompson

PastorStephanie Arnold

FIRST CHURCH BIRMINGHAM STAFF

Choir DirectorJim Cook

Loft Worship Blake Hobbs

Music DirectorMark Hayes

Children’s DirectorLinda Thorne

CDC Executive DirectorRobin Pate

College / Young Adults DirectorKatie Gilbert

Youth DirectorJonathan Goss

Administrative AssistantRobin Baker

Engagement AssistantMary Elizabeth Myatt

Wedding DirectorNonna Tindal

Financial AssistantPeggy West

Nursery DirectorGinger Gambill