The Insight

Rev. David Grandgeorge

Dennis Bell

Ida Wortham

Bonnie Hutson

January 22, 2020 Volume 20, Issue 537

You may have noticed that our

congregation’s website is “down.” It was

“hacked” and shut down by someone in

“cyberspace.” Our tech guy is working on

rebuilding it from ground up, which

should take a couple of weeks. All that

reminds me of one of those road signs

outside a house of worship with a humorous and deeper message, “Sign

broken. Come in for message.” How shall we communicate our good

news in this new Age of Information? Children are using keyboards to

learn to write. Information that used to need lots of research is now

almost instant on the “Web.” Humans are being taken out of customer

service replaced with “algorithms” in computers when we are trying to

get help. That hardly ever turns out well. National retailers know more

about us than our spouses. There is no turning back. We must wade

through the unexpected consequences as we bless the innovations that

new technology brings. I suspect the Age of the Printing Press brought

its shock and awe as well. The Church has done without websites and

social media for generations. But we also have done without air

conditioning, television, radio, autos, and even electricity. God knows

about all of this stuff. We just need to catch up in ways that match our

vision, mission & values (See those statements also on this page, bottom,

right). It is a good time to read them again. Perhaps we should begin

with the lament of those captives from Jerusalem taken into exile

centuries ago. “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land

(Psalm 137:4)?” And then continue with Jeremiah’s advice to the exiles,

“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you . . . pray to

the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare

(Jeremiah 29:7).”

We have opportunities to share our good news to passers-by on

the road and on social media. Let’s get our hearts together and then our

heads together to sing that new song.

Grace and Peace,

David Grandgeorge, Interim Senior Minister

PRAYER GROUP MEETING

Tuesday, February 4, 2020 2-4:00 p.m.

Meet at the church! All are welcome

Dear Christian Friends ….

Thank you for the poinsettia and for the darling basket of goodies. That was a

special bonus, plus the visit from the Chilcote couple that I have known since their beginning. Thank you for allowing God to use you in a special way in my life.

Barbara Bell

Susan Ritchie 2/1

Dalilah Ridenoure 2/2

Gene Osment 2/6

Victoria Graham 2/13

Michael Ridenoure 2/14

June Swink 2/18

Sarah Herring 2/18

Dezmen McCormick 2/20

Betty Gee 2/22

Hunter Jenkins 2/25

Delaine Baughtman 2/27

David Grandgeorge 2/29

January 26, 2020

Communion Preparation Margie Godfrey

10:45 Diaconate Merritt Osment Joseph Osment

Mary Lou Chilcote Martin Chilcote

10:30 Elder

Mary Lou Chilcote

Scripture Reading Mary Lou Chilcote

Counters

Mary Elizabeth Chilcote Alison Brown

Children’s Sermon

David Chilcote

Greeters Delaine Baughtman

February 2, 2020

Communion Preparation Mary Elizabeth Chilcote

10:45 Diaconate Mary Lou Chilcote

Alison Brown Hallie Brown

Martin Chilcote

10:30 Elder Alison Brown

Scripture Reading

Alison Brown

Counters Fred Chilcote Carolyn Keith

Children’s Sermon

Dennis Bell

Greeters Peggy Pratt

February 9, 2020

Communion Preparation Mary Lou Chilcote

10:45 Diaconate

Mary Elizabeth Chilcote Steve Swartz

David Chilcote Andrew Skinner

10:30 Elder

Brad Chilcote

Scripture Reading Brad Chilcote

Counters

Mike Spinks Marilyn Loomis

Children’s Sermon

Luetta Danforth

Greeters Joyce Alley

Louise Satterfield

Ida Pettit

Chrystal Hart

Carolyn Olsen

Jackson family

Lola Roberts

Jo Jo Lusk

Lynne Haubenreich

Diane Treece

Carol Strong

Lynn Jenkins

Bob Waggoner

Barbara Bell

Mary Ann Grabiel

Tom Curry

Bereavement for Fred

Morse & family

Rebecca Taylor

Mini Ruth Osment

Larry Roberts

Searcy & Betty McBurnett

Tuesdays @ 6:00 p.m. Come join us—something for everyone!

From 6-6:30 we will have a light dinner. From 6:30-7:30 we will break into classes.

LUNCH BUNCH

Thursday, January 23rd, 2020

Meet at the church at 11:00 a.m.

We’re headed to Oceans!

Come enjoy the fun and fellowship!

Monday, January 27, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel at Reubel Funeral Home

6313 W. Markham St. Little Rock, AR 72205

Reception to follow at Fred’s home: 1421 N. University, South Bldg., S-107

Little Rock, AR 72207

Thoughts to Ponder …

“When It is God Versus ‘Stuff’, Who Wins?

We live in a culture … that is

preoccupied with money. We respect

people who have it and write whole

series about how they make it and

spend it. While church members hear

one sermon a week on average, they

are exposed to about sixteen hundred

commercials everyday, on billboards

and bus seats, in newspapers and

magazines, on matchbooks and clothes

with designer and product logos, on

radio and television, each offering

advice on how to spend their money.

What is the church’s responsibility for

guiding them through this cacophony

of opportunities?”

People who object to any

mention of money in the church forget

that Jesus talked about it frequently.

He said that commitment to “stuff”

undermines our spiritual health and

challenges his lordship. “Then Jesus

told his disciples, ‘If any want to

become my followers, let them deny

themselves and take up their cross

and follow me. For those who want to

save their life will lose it, and those

who lose their life for my sake will

find it. For what w ill it profit them if

they gain the whole world but forfeit

their life? Or what will they give in

return for their life?” (Matthew 12:24-

26).

On the playing field of your

personality, who wins—God or stuff?

You are a part of Christ’s Body

The human body has many parts. The foot might say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body.” But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body. The ear might say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body.” But saying this would not stop the ear from being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, it would not be able to hear. If the whole body were an ear, it would not be able to smell. If each part of the body were the same part, there would be no body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the foot, “I don’t need you!”

I Corinthians 12:14-19, 21

Dear Child ..

When you heart is breaking, it is easy to feel isolated. It is natural to see yourself as separate from those who are not going through the same kind of suffering. But I am asking you to remember that you are not alone. If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, you are a part of Him. And that means you are also a part of the great host of believers who make up His body on earth. You may not feel that you are a part, but that does not change the fact that you are. And whether you realize it or not, you desperately need the other parts of the body, and they need you.

Think of your own body. Could you function at full capacity without a foot or a hand or an eye? Of course not! You need every member of your physical body terribly. In the same way, your brothers and sisters in Christ need you. They need to know what you are going through and how they can help. They need to understand your grief, for each of them will someday face it in his or her own life. Don’t be afraid to share your pain. Don’t be too proud to ask for help. Find your place in Christ’s body.

You are surely a part, God

If we threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s we would

grab ours back.

Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

Many many thanks to all those who provided the delicious

casseroles and those who helped served!

You are appreciated!

Sunday, January 26 9:30 Sunday School 10:30 Worship Service Monday, January 27 10:00 Memorial Service for Fred Morse - Reubel Funeral Home followed by a reception at Fred’s home 6:30 Scouts Tuesday, January 28 Lunch served at Jericho Way 12:30 Staff Meeting 6:00 Tuesday Night Live Wednesday, January 29 6:00 Bells 7:00 Choir Thursday, January 30 No events scheduled Friday, January 31 No events scheduled

Sunday, February 2 9:30 Sunday School 10:30 Worship Service

THE INSIGHT First Christian Church 14411 Taylor Loop Rd. Little Rock, AR 72223 (501) 225-5656

OPPORTUNITIES THIS WEEK ...