This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:19-21 One fall, as a kid, I went Elk hunting with my grandfather. Grandpa was avidly looking for Elk, and I was following him through the backwoods of the Oregon Cascade Mountains. If I remember right, I was 9 years old, when somehow I noticed Grandpa was no-where to be found. He was scared half to death that he lost me, and I was scared to death for my life. At first, I remember thinking I needed to stay quiet to keep from scaring the Elk away. After an hour of wandering around in the deep fir tree woods, I decided I was more scared of being lost than of Grandpa not getting the elk, and I started yelling at the top of my lungs. I was terrified of being alone in the dark woods!! I remember that after a while I really couldn’t see my own hand in front of my face. Every sound became deadly; the rustle of leaves was a cougar or rattlesnake, and my imagination was getting the best of me. Thank God, eventually I found a tree I could climb up and was able to see a dim light shining off in the distance. I didn’t know what the light was, where it was coming from, or how I would survive getting to it in the dark undergrowth, but I knew it must be better than where I was. After what seemed like hours, I finally came out of the edge of the woods to see my grandpa’s truck. I may have never found my way in the darkness had I not seen a glimpse of that small glow of light! Among 300’ tall fir trees, in the midst of all that darkness, those two small headlights led the way. Light leads to The Way! The light Jesus offers does the same for us today. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World,” and “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 Through Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, we have a path to follow. He is our Light. Jesus will show you the way. If you have not made Jesus the Lord of your life and would like to, please know that there are many people who care about you from the First Christian Church in Garnett! We care to know you and see you know the Light of the World named Jesus!

The Church Office Will Be Closed: Monday, December 25, 2017 thru Monday, January 1, 2018 First Christian Church office will be closed. If you need to contact Pastor Chris Goetz his number is 503-474-7965. If you need to contact Brett Hartman his number is 620-215-1524. Merry Christmas ~ May the Peace and Hope of Christ’s birth be with you now and in the days to come. Wishing you lots of love, joy and happiness in the New Year “2018.” Chris, Brett, Mark and Marsha

Christian Visitor Weekly Newsletter Volume 70 ~ Issue 50 December 19, 2017

Office Hours: Monday ~ Thursday ~ 8:00 a.m. ~ 4:30 p.m. (Closed Friday)

Office Phone: 785-448-3452 ~ Website: www.fccgarnett.org

DECEMBER 17, 2017 – ATTENDANCE & FINANCIAL REPORT

Worship Service Attendance: 8:00 a.m. Worship – 75 10:30 a.m. Worship – 178

Sunday School Attendance: 9:15 a.m. Sunday School Classes – 81

Finance: General Fund $10,928 To Date $20,781 New Building $3,550 To Date $6,074

OPPORTUNITY CLASS: There were 7 present Sunday, 3 had Bibles and 1 daily

reader. Prayers requested for Darwin & Mary Hamilton ~ Julie Packard, daughter

of Rosie Jordan ~ Charlie & Becky Allen ~ Jim & Rosie Jordan ~ Jim Miller & the

family of Barbi Velvick. Mary Hamilton opened the class with prayer and led the

lesson, “Faith to Persevere,” Acts 14:8-11; 19-23. The class closed with prayer.

SOS CLASS: There were 20 present Sunday with 15 with Bibles and 5 daily readers. Prayers

were requested for Gene Watson ~ Charlie & Becky Allen ~ Nelda Potter ~ Gary & Linda Benjamin

~ Juanita Kellerman~ the family of Barbi Velvick ~ Orville & LaVerne Cole ~ Bob Meliza & Rusty

Coons. Gary Benjamin opened the class with prayer and presented more on lesson 3, “Present

Your Requests to God” followed by the video clip of “The Peace of God Will Guard Your Heart.”

The class closed with prayer.

Guests at FCC on Sunday, December 17: We are grateful that you came to be with us Sunday

morning. We pray that you felt the love of Christ and His presence during our worship and pray

you will visit us again real soon! Blessings to you! Brianna Erhart granddaughter of Sandra

Erhart and Judson Cole ~ Dennis Eilenstine ~ Wayne & Vicki Hulett ~ John & Sharon Pruett

daughter and husband of George & Jeanine Zentner ~ Patty Sommer ~ Gerad Wight ~ Ryelee

Rockers guest of Lena Adams ~ Rylea & Kira Felt nieces of Karl & Morgan Hurt ~ Jody & Ruben

Harmon ~ Travis & Kelli Kopf, Madison, Emily & Ronnie ~ Ian Rocker son of Butch & Sharon

Rocker ~ Kristina Sommer ~ Dwight & Gaylene Wiehl parents of Nathan Wiehl ~ Henry Wight

guest of the Wight family.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING A POINSETTIA In Loving Memory of: Wayne and David Penn shared by Betty, Susan, Debbie, Becky & Families Bill & Josephine Graham; Joe & Bertha Sobba; Glenda Cramer shared by Frank & Mary Graham & families Scot Schuster shared by Carolyn Schuster; David & Kathy Schuster Alfred & Goldie Hardesty shared by Mary Martin

Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear. Anonymous

This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118: 24

ROOTS and JR HI Discipleship will NOT meet Wednesday, December 20, December 27,

2017 or January 3, 2018 due to Christmas Break and New Year Holiday. They will resume

on Wednesday, January 10, 2018.

The Care Team Committee will meet in the Fellowship Hall Thursday, December 21 at

7:00 p.m. and will be assembling Christmas gift bags.

The Ladies Bible Study will meet at the Annex at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 21.

Any questions contact Becky Allen ~ 785-433-1338.

REMINDER: Please take your special hand-made ornament from the Memory tree for your

own Christmas tree in years to come after the Worship Services Sunday, December 24.

LEGACY will not meet on Sunday, December 24 and 31 during Christmas break. They

will resume on Sunday, January 7, 2018.

Join us as we celebrate the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ! The First Christian Church

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be held in the Family Life Center at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 24. Take note that we are only having one service this year.

Take note that there will NOT be a “Christian Visitor” for the week of December 26

Take note that there will NOT be a “Prayer Warrior” for the week of December 26

Christian Crafters will NOT meet on Thursday, December 28. Any questions contact

Connie Meyer ~ 913-909-7164.

The Emergency Food Assistance Food Distribution is scheduled for Thursday, December

28 at the Anderson County Quonset Hut beginning at 4:00 p.m.

The next Community Meal in December at First Christian Church ~ Family Life Center will

be Thursday, December 28 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ~ Come enjoy a hot meal and a

good dose of Fellowship! Please enter thru the South Doors.

The Ladies Bible Study will meet at the Annex at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 28th.

Any questions contact Becky Allen ~ 785-433-1338.

FCC’s annual “Mitten Tree” was once again a success in helping to keep

ones in our community warm this winter. We were able to warm the hands

and feet with 149 items. All donations were distributed to ECKAN. Thank

you all for your heartfelt generosity & donations to this great need.

Thank You Very Much! Thank you for the Care Package to Korea.

The snacks were amazing and there was plenty to share with my fellow

airmen. The toiletries were awfully handy as well! Merry Christmas and

Happy New Year! Jesse Hale

Mission Haiti Hog Raffle ---- Whole Hog ----- Processing fees are Included

---- All Proceeds benefit the First Christian Church Medical Mission to

Haiti ---- The Drawing will be Sunday, December 31st ---- $1.00 a chance

/ 6 for $5.00 ---- You may purchase the tickets thru the Mission Team:

Nathan Wiehl, Doug & Connie Meyer, Denise Scheibmeir, Gayla Corley

and Sue Caylor Harsch. Thank you for your support and prayers for a

safe journey to and from Haiti! The Mission Team

If you have any old Christmas or Greeting cards you have received

that you no longer want to keep please consider bringing them by the

church office for Gayla Corley. She would like to recycle them and

use them in a Bible Verse project for Haiti when they go in January.

She would like them no later than January 1, 2018.

A Moment with Mission Haiti

Just a quick update on your mission team to Haiti. We will be

leaving for Haiti on January 14th and our team consists of eleven

medical personnel, pharmacist, and teachers. We will be taking

small fleece blankets, medicines, seeds, and miscellaneous

items with us to the mission House of Bread operated by Jim and

Gayle Durham. There we will operate a medical clinic for three

days, work with the school children on the compound and the boys at House of Bread Mission.

Last year we treated 880 patients in three days with approximately two thirds of those being

children. We were able to do this through your generous donations and the funds we raised

during various fund-raising projects through the year. The funds we raise pays for insurance,

medicines we buy at Blessings International in Oklahoma, costs incurred for baggage fees,

interpreters, and staying at House of Bread and other expenses. Donations of medications and

other items are also received from local pharmacies in Garnett and Iola.

The seeds we receive are given to local people around the Mission to grow food in their gardens.

This food feeds their families and supplies vegetables for them to sell at their local markets so

they can buy other necessities.

We see more patients every year we return to Haiti and capability to care for these patients

comes from your generous donations. THANK YOU very much for your support of Mission Haiti.

Your Mission Haiti Team

Our Church Families Long Term: Phyllis Adams, Charlie & Becky Allen,

Linda Benjamin, Lois Gebert, Clarence Hermann, Jim Jordan, Jim McAllister,

Wilma McIntosh, Bob Meliza, Linda Miller, Nelda Potter, Reed Richardson,

Steve Watkins

Extended Family & Friends Long Term: All her family (request by Wilma McIntosh), Debra

Bailey (Angie Wright), Shirley Hermreck (wife of Joe Hermreck / daughter-in-law of Norma

Hermreck), Jo Lowe (Ken & Barbara McMillan, Judy Tisor), Judy Meyer (Nancy Horn), Waunita

Porter (Larry Porter), Steve Richardson (son of Reed & Carol), Becky Roush (request by Carol

Hermreck & sister Carolyn Schuster) & Bill & Lola Thornton

Our Loved Ones in Care Centers: Guest Home Estate - Ruth Gorrell, Bob Young,

Betty Penn, Gladys Zwiener; Parkview Heights - Jean Brown, Olive Kline, Marcene

Jasper, Ruby Schuster; Residential Living Center - Bill Young, Vera Wills (aunt of

Phyllis Adams); Morningstar Care Home - Ottawa, KS - Birdie Zentner

Our Veterans and Military - Air Force: Matthew Schryer - Grandson of Frieda Hurt & nephew

of Marcia Spring; Air Force: Paul Kuder, nephew of Reid & Karen Miller; Air Force: Nicholas L

Wales, grandson of Orville & LaVerne Cole; Air Force: Jesse Hale, nephew of Rosemary

Turner; Army: Ethan Bilderback, grandson of Dave & Janette Bilderback; Marine: Noah Kuder,

grand-nephew of Reid & Karen Miller

Our Church Families / Friends

December 17 – Week 1: Mark Jr, Jeremy & Jimmy sons of Mark & Sondra Grieshaber ~

Raymond Watkins, brother in law of Kay Gwin (Nelda Potter) ~ Ed Dennison; Families of Military,

Police & Highway Patrol (Rosemary Turner) ~ Darwin Hamilton (Mary Hamilton)

Praise: God’s healing power. Mark & Sondra Grieshaber

Praise: Thank you to all that said prayers for me with my back surgery. Blessings Lennet

Thomas

Praise: Church Decorated beautiful – super! Ken & Barbara McMillan

Praise: God Bless America (Rosemary Turner)

December 10- Week 2: The family of Mike Crist ~ The family of Barbi Velvick ~ Gene Friesen

(Nancy Horn)

December 3 – Week 3:

If you wish continued prayers: After 3 weeks, your prayer request will be removed unless

you write it on the Sunday flap or email Marsha Dulin at marsha@fccgarnett.org

JANUARY 2018 BIRTHDAYS

January 1 Steve Richards

January 2 Craig Cole

January 3 Birdie Zentner

Krista Hedrick

January 8 Aailynnia Adams

January 12 Andrew Peine

January 16 Iona Sweers

Marguerite Ryman

Max Worthington

January 17 Lilly Spring

January 18 Alice Marie Leim

January 20 Carol Hermreck

Karen Petersilie

Mary Ann Umbarger

January 21 Alice Valentine

January 22 LaVerne Cole

January 24 Milton Greiner

Aaron Hedrick

January 25 Kim Stapp

Lisa Modlin

Landry Hedrick

January 26 Jennifer Kettler

January 30 Betty Sumner Love doesn’t make the world go round,

love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES

January 3 Chris & Natasha Goetz

January 7 Karl & Morgan Hurt

January 16 Tarry & Linda Miller

Hey everybody! I hope that you had a good weekend and

since this is the last Visitor Article until after Christmas….

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! I’ve got only a couple of

announcements for you this week.

~ No Roots this week ~ we will resume January 10, 2018

~ No Legacy until January 7th, 2018

~ We will be going skating in Ottawa, KS at Everett Cox’s

Skating Rink Saturday, December 30th. We will leave FCC

parking lot at 6:30pm and will be back at 10:00pm. The cost

is $5 and if you want any additional food you will need to

bring extra $.

I want to give a special thanks to all the staff that helped at

our Legacy Christmas Party! You made it an awesome

night and I can’t thank you all enough…Have a good and

safe Christmas! Everybody thank you for all that you do.

Brett

Reminders for Serving in January 2018 Worship Services

Deacons: Dan Dulin, Jeff Finn, Lynn Wilson, Mike Croucher, Ron Anderegg

Communion Preparation: Tim & Tammy Clark

Communion Offertory Communion to Shut Ins (Deacons)

Elder / Usher Elder Prayer Devotion

January 7 Kevin Lewis Doug Meyer Aaron Hedrick Jonathan Born

January 14 Jason Sjorlund Larry Varvel Cody Clark Nathan Wiehl

January 21 Mike Zentner Kevin Lewis Craig Cole Bill Ratliff

January 28 Steve Spring Jason Sjorlund Gaylon Corley Dane Byerley

8:00 am Audio / Visual 10:30 am Audio / Visual

January 7 Dylan Cole / Sophia Cole Jonathan Born / Hope Goetz

January 14 Diana Knox / Twyla Duryea Nate Wiehl / Hope Goetz

January 21 Dylan Cole / Sophia Cole Virgil Wight / Jenna Wight

January 28 Dylan Cole / Sophia Cole April Powls / Morgan Crabtree

8:00 am Pianist / Song Leader 10:30 am Pianist / Song Leader

January 7 Nancy Horn / Chris Goetz Morgan Crabtree / Worship Team

January 14 Carmen Powls / Bethany Powls Carmen Powls / Worship Team

January 21 Nancy Horn / Chris Goetz Carmen Powls / Worship Team

January 28 Carmen Powls / Bethany Powls Carmen Powls / Worship Team

Greeters West Door Greeters East Door

January 7 Juanita Kellerman Richard & Cassandra Kinder

January 14 Nicci Denny family Iona Sweers

January 21 Gary & Kim Stapp Bill & Barbara Ratliff

January 28 Juanita Kellerman OPEN

We at FCC want to take a few moments to express our thanks and appreciation to all our

volunteers who make our church run “like a fine oiled machine.” Merry Christmas and Blessings

to you and your families in the New Year 2018! FCC Board, Chris, Brett, Mark & Marsha

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH ELDERS

*Kevin Lewis: 785-204-2257

Doug Meyer: 913-909-7680

Jason Sjorlund: 785-448-7660

Steve Spring: 913-215-8290

Larry Varvel: 785-448-5794

Mike Zentner: 785-204-1105

PASTORS AND SECRETARY

Chris Goetz, Senior Pastor

Phone: 503-474-7965

Email: chris@fccgarnett.org

Brett Hartman, Children & Youth

Phone: 620-215-1524

Email: brett@fccgarnett.org

Marsha Dulin, Secretary

Office: 785-448-3452

Phone: 785-448-4367

Email: marsha@fccgarnett.org

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH DEACONS

Ron Anderegg: 785-448-6366

*Jonathan Born: 620-340-7784

Dane Byerley: 785-304-2831

Cody Clark: 785- 448-8093

Craig Cole: 785-448-4504

Gaylon Corley: 785-448-8373

Mike Croucher: 785-448-8077

James Dodd: 785-418-5479

Dan Dulin: 785-204-1185

Jeff Finn: 620-431-8486

Greg Gwin: 785-229-5105

Aaron Hedrick 785-304-1236

Earl Peine: 785-448-6186

Bill Ratliff: 785-448-3695

Nathan Wiehl: 785-204-2178 Lynn Wilson 785-448-3451