Christian Courier

First Christian Church of Minneapolis (Disciples of Christ)

June 5, 2010 Jenny Merkel graduates from South High

Inside the Courier: Jenny’s parents Kathy and
Greg celebrated Jenny’s grad-
• A Look at the Brite uation with First Christian
Side, p. 2
during Fellowship Hour on
• FCC board notes, May 23. Many of Jenny’s

ourier
news briefs, p. 3 family and friends joined in
this recognition of Jenny’s
• Calendar and a
Reflection on the
accomplishments.
Word, p. 4 This summer, Jenny will
work as a counselor at the
Christian Conference Center,
in Newton, Iowa. Next fall
On the Web: she will start classes at Min-
Jenny Merkel will make the grand march
across the stage to receive her high school neapolis Community Technic-
FCC’s website
diploma on Monday, June 7, at South High al College.
Disciples in Upper Congratulations to Jenny
Midwest School, Minneapolis.
and to Greg and Kathy!
Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
national organization
Grads and Campers to be recognized June 13
Graduates and church campers will be recognized dur-
ing worship on June 13.

Graduates include Jenny Merkel, Minneapolis South

High School and Corrie Brite, Butler University.

Several FCC young people will be working as counse-

lors at the Christian Conference Center in Newton, IA.
Amy Morton, who completed her first year at Hiram
Sign up for College, will be in Newton all summer working as an
June 10 intern. Ali Hesano and Jenny Merkel will each work
work group for one week as camp counselors. Jenny will also at-
tend her final week as a camper. Zack Hesano, Athena
Carlson, and Wes Creighton are attending a week of
camp this summer.
 Page 2

A Look at the Brite Side Transition Team update, points of agreement

Pastor Bob Brite
It’s been a while since we’ve up-
dated the congregation on the
work of the Transition Team.
They’re a busy group of people;
currently they’re reviewing sur-
vey data, have visited vacant
church properties, and are in
conversation with about five oth-
er churches in similar circums-
tances, including Spirit of St.
Stephens and the Lyndale
UCC/Salem Lutheran partnering
churches.
The goal is to, at some point,
prayerfully develop a set of op-
tions to bring forth to the con-
gregation for discussion and
eventual decision.
As of the end of this coming Au-
gust, we will have three years left
in the building on a financially
beneficial basis. We’re currently
supporting our budget with
$150,000 per year from the 5%
interest earnings from the build-
ing’s sale to MIA. (That’s a very
good interest rate, folks.) We
have an option on remaining
another three years after August
2013, but without the $150,000
of interest payment per year.
I, or members of the committee,
have looked at about nine differ-
ent possible church buildings.
Seven were unacceptable be-
cause of a lack of parking; one
was too small and the other had
major accessibility issues. This
will probably mean that we
won’t be moving to another
church building, that something
like a storefront or retail space,
warehouse, school, large house,
or other space, will be a more
likely place to go.
To this point, the Transition
Team has, among other things,
reached the following points of
agreement:
-- If we continue as a congrega-
tion, we want to do so as Dis-
ciples. While partnership with
another non-Disciple congrega-
tion is a possibility, merger
would not be something we, as a
congregation, would want to do.
There’s something distinctive
about us as Disciples that is
worth keeping and sharing.
-- What holds us together is a
strong sense of community. We
enjoy being with one another!
-- Our continued presence in this
building is too comfortable for
us; habit patterns and outlooks
tend to remain the same as they
have been. In order to be open to
the necessary transformation of
becoming a church of the 21st
century, we need to go through
the transformation of finding
another space, space that will
make our worship and ministry
different and more open to trying
new things.
Continued on Page 3

In Our Prayers
Gracious God, we lift
up these persons in
our prayers, asking the
blessing of your Grace
and outpouring of
your Love upon them
We pray in celebration for the recent birthday of Mike Hesano, and for
the Miguel and Christina Carter who are expecting the birth of their
twins any day now; for Katie Brite, daughter of Pastor Brite, to have a
safe journey to Tanzania; for those recovering from recent hospital stays,
including Karen Kandik’s father and Richard Schwersinske; for
those in hospital or receiving treatments including Mike Ronnei, David
Pyles, Deb Murphy’s cousin David and his wife Trudy, Kirsten
Cackoski’s sister-in-law, Sharon and brother, Carl; in sympathy for
Pat Carter whose brother-in-law passed away recently; for all our
homebound members, including Velma Fancher and Audrey Hanson.
Amen.
 Christian Courier Page 3

Board Notes
The General Board of FCC met May 18 for its reg-
ular monthly meeting. Thirteen people attended to
hear reports and vote on various motions. High-
lights from the board minutes include the follow-
ing:
 Treasurer’s report noted loss of rental in-
come from AAUW and Tiempo Nuevo, as
both organizations have moved out.
 Property chair Max Hurlocker announced
that we have two totally new air condition-
ing units that are not needed in our build-
ing. Anyone needing an air conditioner
should contact him.
 Outreach committee is working with Spi-
rit of Joy Christian Church in planning for
refugee family sponsorship.
 New picture directories are now available.
Anyone who wants one should contact
Mary Hurlocker.
 Transition Team visited church properties
on May 10.
 Volunteer opportunities: Rev. Dennis
Sanders reported that two volunteer oppor-
tunities are planned for this summer so far
to help those who are homeless, as well as a
prospective food drive to support Grovel-
and Food Pantry.

Whitakers to ride in MS Pat Carter to be hon- Brite side, cont. from p. 2

150 Bike Tour
Dave and Becki Whitaker
will be riding their bikes for
two days, June 11-13, on the
MS 150 Bike Tour in June to
raise money for Multiple Scle-
rosis.
The National Multiple Scle-
rosis Society uses money col-
lected to fund cutting-edge re-
search, to drive change through
advocacy, to facilitate profes-
sional education, and to pro-
vide programs and services that
help people with MS and their
families live fully.
If you would like to make a
tax deductible donation to this
worthy organization, you may
do so at
http://main.nationalmssociety.o
rg/goto/becki.whitaker,
http://main.nationalmssociety.o
rg/goto/david.whitaker, or by
giving a check to Dave or
Becki.
ored at Quadrennial
FCC member Pat Carter’s
long and accomplished resumé
as a Christian educator will be
recognized and honored this
summer at Quadrennial, the
gathering of Disciple women
that happens every four years.
Pat and other Disciple educa-
tors who have awakened the
spirit by their ministries, will
be celebrated during Quadren-
nial at Greensboro, N.C. June
23-27
Wedding Bells ring
for Kehoe family
Sean Kehoe, son of member
Terry Kehoe, was married to
Charlotte May Claire Spivey-
Shaw on May 15 in Hillsbo-
rough, N.C.
Congratulations to the new
couple!
The expedient choice, the ea-
siest choice, would be to close
in three to five years and use
the sale moneys to start 6 to 8
new congregations in the Metro
area. (In the Christian Church
in the Upper Midwest, 11 out
of the top 15 demographic sites
for starting new churches are in
the Twin Cities Metro.) Yet, to
a person, everyone on the Tran-
sition Team dislikes this op-
tion.
I keep encouraging TT folks to
ask themselves, “What is the
best future for FCC for build-
ing the Kingdom of God?” The
TT folks are being faithful to
keeping that in mind, and I
would ask that you do the
same.
I’d like to see YOU on Sunday,
Bob

Bus notice: The church bus will not be running

on June 13. Sorry for any inconvenience!
 Bi-Weekly Calendar
Sundays at First Christian Church
Before Worship (9:15 am):
Art of the Covenant Class
Bible Study/Hearthstone Class
This Week at FCC
Monday, June 7
Book Club at Westphal’s
AA
Tuesday, June 8
Property Committee
Worship Committee
Wednesday, June 9
Finance Committee
Outreach Committee
Thursday, June 10
Handcrafters
Feed My Starving Children
Friday, June 11
Article deadline for next Courier
Saturday, June 12
Men’s Group
Worship 10:00 am
Fellowship Hour 11:15 am
Next Week at FCC
Sunday, June 13
7 pm Grad and Camper Recognition
8 pm Food Panty Sunday
NOTE: NO BUS THIS SUNDAY
(Drivers unavailable)
7 pm
7 pm
Monday, June 14
AA 8 pm
5:30 pm Tuesday, June 15
5:30 pm
Board Meeting 7 pm
9 am Thursday, June 17
6 pm Handcrafters
Saturday, June 19
Men’s Group
Laura Lynn/Naomi Circle 10 am
Serve Men’s Shelter meal
9 am at St. Stephens
Reflections on the Word
from 6/20 lectionary readings
“A man…who had demons met
Jesus. For a long time he had
worn no clothes, and he did not
live in a house but in the
tombs.” –Luke 8:27
Two details strike me: this man
“wore no clothes, and…did not
live in a house…”. He was
naked and homeless. He lived
among the dead, not the living.
He met nobody’s standards of
decency. He was possessed.
Jesus met him where he was, but
didn’t leave him there.
9 am
Jesus, we experience so many
challenges. Turn our challenges
9 am into strengths that support our
lives and give you glory. In
6 pm your name we pray, Amen.
--Chris Wogaman

A Thoughtful Church in the FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

OF MINNEAPOLIS
Heart of the City
(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
2201 1st Avenue South
Ministry Team
All Members of the Congregation Minneapolis, MN 55404
Robert Brite, Interim Minister
Dennis Sanders, Minister of Diver- Address Service Requested
sity and Mission
Chris Wogaman, Office Manager
Bill Stump, Director of Music
Rick Bowman, Building Manager
James Barnett, Pianist
Serena Carlson, Nursery Attendant
Martha Harris, Courier Editor
Telephone: 612.870.1868
Prayer Phone: 612.870.0984
www.fccminneapolis.org
E-mail: fcc-mpls@qwest.net
Fax: 612.870.1860

Christian Courier is published bi-

monthly. Send items and ideas to
church office or to Martha Harris
harrismartha@mac.com
by Fri June 11 for next issue.