ICOM, MAP, CAMA and Mobile food pantry weekly update

Mid-November 2017 brings multiple opportunities and events to be aware of, including:

* ICOM - the International Conference on Missions, formerly the national missionary convention, will take place this week in nearby Peoria, IL. If you are a part of our church, you are already registered! Let us know if you are planning to attend and we will get your name on the list!

* MAP Meeting - this Sunday morning at 9:30am in the Family Life Center - all are welcome to an explanation of the 2018 Ministry Action Plan.

* Mobile Food Pantry - this Saturday at the American Legion building - FCC is in charge this month! Can you help? Contact Cody and get signed up or just show up Saturday at 9am.

* The Star - special, private showing this Saturday at 10am at the Clintonia theater - just $5 gets you admission, popcorn and a drink! Much sign up in advance - contact the office or check out the website for more info.

* Reload for Men - Tomorrow morning at 6am - great food, great fellowship and inspiring Bible study!

* CAMA thanksgiving service - this Sunday evening at 6pm at the Methodist church

* Angel Tree breakfast - this Sunday morning at the Methodist church! Support a great cause!

* FCC Thanksgiving offering for 2017 - our local Angel Tree program - let's give generously to a great cause!

* Bi-Annual Congregational Meeting - Sunday December 3 at the end of each morning worship service.

* Choir Cantata Preview - Sunday December 3 at 5pm - FCC is hosting this fundraising gathering that will feature many local church choirs and raise money for Dove.

* ONE service Sundays - Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 at 9:30am.

* Christmas Eve services at FCC - 4pm and 6pm and December 24

 Yesterday, we hosted a Discover FCC gathering and we were blessed by another strong turnout! Well done Lindsey and Melinda! Discover FCC looks at the history, theology and ministries of FCC. This morning, I wanted to include in the weekly update a brief, general history of our church, shared as part of Discover FCC:

Organized in 1852, eight years before Abraham Lincoln would be elected our country’s 16th President, First Christian Church built their first brick building at the corner of South and Quincy.  First Christian Church is not denominationally affiliated, but is part of what is known as the Restoration Movement.  Also known as the Stone-Campbell movement, this 200 plus year old fellowship of churches considers their “founding fathers” to be men such as Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone and Walter Scott.  Today, the Restoration Movement has three “branches:”
 

• The Disciples of Christ
• The Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
• The non-Instrumental Churches of Christ. 
• FCC is considered an Independent Christian Church.

 
Within many Independent Christian Churches, paid ministry turnover can be very frequent for local congregations.  Clinton FCC has proved to be the exception over its history, with six ministry staff serving over a decade at our church:
 

• Harry Wheaton served from 1928 – 1952 (24 years)
• Billy Junkins served from 1952 – 1962 (10 years)
• Winston Zastrow served from 1962 – 1978 (16 years)
• Kent Hickerson served from 1983 – 2016 (33 years)
• Ernie Harvey served from 1992-2013 (21 years)
• Greg Taylor began ministry in 2006 and continues to serve at FCC (11 years)

 
FCC has been blessed with three church buildings during its history, with the current building at the corner of Main and Jackson being dedicated in September of 1949, and a new sanctuary completed in November of 1997. Major building renovations took place in 2004, 2015 and 2016. FCC was a mobile church for over three and a half years, following a fire that destroyed their second building at the corner of Adams and Monroe on the Saturday before Christmas in 1945.
 
Today, FCC offers two Sunday morning services, a more traditional service at 8:15am and a more contemporary service at 10:45am.  A church-wide Bible School hour begins each week at 9:30am, and activities for youth and adults take place on Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings during the school year.
 
For 165 years, First Christian Church has strived to make a difference in Clinton and DeWitt County. 

Have a great week!

Greg www.clintonfcc.com.