Sparks First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
560 Queen Way, Sparks, NV 89431
Come join us not only for worship and communion but for fellowship opportunities, service to the community, drama in worship, play readings, picnics, movies nights, visual arts in worship, vacation bible school, adult Sunday school, and opportunities for children and youth.
Mother’s Day 2010: Our Mothers, Our Rocks
This was a beautiful, participatory service where we shared how our mothers and other women have influenced our lives and how they have been our rocks, symbolized by bringing forth a beautiful variation of rocks to the communion table. The care committee also gave out gifts to all women in attendance. The children helped pass out the bags.
Pentecost 2010
The table of inclusiveness.
A wonderful celebration of life was held for Alice Anderson on 5/30/10. The church was full with friends and family who shared the amazing life of Alice Anderson, wife, mother, teacher and volunteer. Stories were told all the way from when she met her husband Mel through getting her driver’s license renewed just a few years ago and passing both the written and practical tests!!
A window was also dedicated to Mel and Alice.
All will miss you Alice Anderson!!
Memorial Day May 30, 2010
In honor of all those who have served our country and in memory of those who paid the untimate price for our freedom.
Our own Captain Terry Bolen.
Special flowers for Memorial Day.
Congratulations to our 2010 Fernley High Graduate, Jeremiah Wren.
Sunset at Fernley High and new dawn for the future.
Class of 2010 at Fernley High, Fernley, NV.
JJ receives his diploma.
The Many Faces of Chuck Neighbors 6/6/10
Worship is always different at Sparks First. Today we were challenged with a great Christian drama by Chuck Neighbors of Master’s Image Productions, supporting World Vision, to consider, “What would Jesus do?” in his one person drama “In His Steps.” Chuck is a great actor and took us to “First Church” in “Raymond” where a minister challenges his congregation to pledge for a year to consider their every word and action first with “What would Jesus do?”
From the Master’s Image website, “What would Jesus do?” is the challenge offered by the humble “tramp” interrupting the worship service at First Church of Raymond. To follow “In His steps” is the Reverend Henry Maxwell’s response as he and members of his congregation embark on a spiritual journey to do just that. Set in the early 1900’s, In His Steps is a one-man dramatic adaptation of Charles Sheldon’s Christian classic that has inspired millions of readers and is one of the best selling books of all time!
Here are some stills from today’s performance and a preview of some of Chuck’s other plays!
Pentecost Project and Urgent Prayer Request
Here is what it is: The Pentecost Project is an intial three month project that helps people in our neighbohood or in the wider community. We commit to listening to God in the midst of this process. We also commit to sharing our experiences with the congreagation at the end of the project.
We now have an URGENT need for the pre-school on our property. The preschool director spoke with Steve and he doesn’t know how long they can keep the doors open. With the economic downturn, the enrollment has dropped from 58 to 17! The director went home on Monday to raid his fridge because some of the families simply don’t have food. He shared about one family who had decided to do without electricity for the summer! Enrollment is down because families are opting to have their young children watch their babies for the summer break. It is a horrible shame that it has come down to children caring for children. But what choice do families have?
Let’s help our preschool by considering the following: 1) Wave the school’s rent for the next 3 months (July, August & September). It would be sign of encouragement and support for his ministry. 2) Steve and Sue will be providing lunch once a week. 3) We challenge ourselves to consider sponsoring a family. This would involve buying an extra bag of groceries a week. We would let the families know that this would be for the next 3 months. This a Pentecost Project in our own back yard. Please call Steve at the church if you have questions.
As a church we have been praying about those hurting around us and I think God has just made a need very clear. Pray about how we/you will respond.
Please bring non-parishable food (canned, boxed, etc.) to church on Sundays through September or alternately make checks payable to Sparks First Christian Church and mark them “Food for our preschool families.”
Right click and select view image for each page. Print out, complete and return to the church.
50th Anniversary Celebration 9/12/10
50th Anniversary Banner
Steve asked us to guess what the stick was for. It used to be for opening the tall windows. It is now something we no longer need. It is going in the dumpster and the dumpster and what in it is a sign of change.
The childreren’s moment with Steve.
Ben Bohren, the regional Disciples of Christ minister, was our guest preacher with his sermon theme about the miracle of the loaves and the fishes.
Randy and Karen Siever joined the church! Yeah!!
We are so glad you are a part of our church family!
World Communion Sunday 10/3/10
Chris Wren returns after graduating from D.A.V.E. School. Congratualtions Chris and welcome home.
The kids’ table.
Pumpkins and Pie 10/24/10
A surprise liturgical drama from Steve on the theme from Luke 18:14, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” resulting in a little pie in the face for JJ who played the “Righteous Religious Elite.” Thanks to Gary Klein for being the “Humble” man. In the end they were both invited to the communion table and served each other, celebrating communion together.
The commumion table was filled with pumplins of all sizes and the children decorated little pumpkins for their activity.
Our table ready for fall.
Gary “rocked us” with his Call to Worship, 80s style.
The children were kept busy with pumpkin decorating.
Steve narrates the drama.
A humbel outcast enters and kneels in prayer.
The Righteous Religious Elite enters and starts his prayer, written down so he won’t forget a word of what he wants to say to God with, “Dear God, It is I, your beloved, amazing talented, good looking son.” He tells God that the church would close their doors without him. He thanks God that he is not like the humble man. He reminds god in the end that he tithes, works hard and is SO GOOD LOOKING.
In the background we hear the humble man asking for mercy but at the same time the Righteous man, taking advantage of free pies made by the youth group, stumbles and falls face first into one of the pies.
The Righteous man, being helped by others, is humbled.
The Righteous man is invited to the table along with the humble man.
The Righteous man pours wine for the Humble man and the Humble man breaks bread for both of them.
The Righteous Mand and Humble Man stand and pray and the congregation joins them for communion.
Fall and Halloween 10/31/10
The congregation participated in a version of “Make Your Own Sunday” with banners and projects for the kids. There were some great pumpkins and banners. We had pumpkin pie and whipped cream during the coffee hour.
Advent 2010, Sunday 12/5
The Hanging of the Greens and Lighting the First Two Advent Candles
Our advent wreath
A little guidance
A first timer got a little carried away with the hanging of the greens.
JJ helped hang decorations up high.
Justin giving sage advice to Kaleb.
Kylee wants to help too.
Decorating the tree.
Four Wise People
Our Three Kings Banner
The lighting of the first two advent candles.
Our Decorated Sanctuary
The Third Sunday of Advent 12/12/10
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Dan Whittemore sings with us.
35 of us sing with Dan.
The lighting of the fourth advent candle.
The lightin of the third advent candle.
Our new manger banner.
Christmas Eve 12/24/10
Welcome New Members 12/26/10
A wonderful welcome to our new member this Sunday, from left to right, Dave and Pat Ruth and Nancy and Bill Geiger.
Also welcome our new “at home” member, James West. Yahoo!!
Christmas Eve saw our sanctuary full of worshipers and with amazing lights decorating both the interior and exterior. There were wonderful luminaries lighting our path to the chapel. It was a beautiful worship service with Nathan’s Mom playing the piano and his sister, below, singing a solo. JJ and Justin brought our advent wreath to light and lit the Christ Candle. Merry Christmas to all!
Let it Shine
Sunday, 2/6/11
Steve inspired up to Let it Shine!
Letting it shine with music!!
Sparks First Christian Church 