Community Party Celebrating Our New Front Porch
The Hanging of the Greens
First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011
Sarah Dearman guided us through the hanging of the greens including the history behind the first Christmas tree, boughs of green, the poinsetta, the nativity scene and the lighting of the candles in the advent wreath. Everyone helped decorate the tree!!
Children’s Christmas Party with Kids in His Care Preschool 12/14/11
Our children got together with the children from Kids in His Care Preschool, with the help of Kayla Klein and a host of helpers! The kids has lots of crafts including making gingerbread houses, stringing beads, coloring, playing with bubbles and tons more in our wonderful preschool basement. A hot dinner was provided for the children and their parents. Some kids didn’t want to leave and we heard rumors that Santa was present in the company. (Now who could that have been?) What a turnout too!!
Upcoming Outreach Projects for 2012
From our Outreach Chair, Kayla Klein:
Project #1 — I was inspired by a story I heard about a church that handed out $10 grocery gift cards to the homeless, so with the help of others we have decided to make some kits to keep in our cards with a small can of nuts and two bottles of water, and if we can raise the money, a gift card in as many as possible. So when we see the people on the corners we can hand them a kit knowing that will probably do better than money. Steve and I are hoping to incorporate the making of these kits into a sermon, more details to come when that is finalized!
Project #2 — Sandy and Randy turned me on to a wonderful project, the same one she told us about last Sunday, many of the churches in the area get together on Sunday afternoons and meet down at the old tent city to serve meals. This would be more of an individual thing for those who can find the time to be there. For more information please talk to Miss Sandy or call her at 813-1697!
Project #3 — Chapel Café Concert Series:
Proposed dates: Friday nights, 7-9pm; June 1, July 6, August 3, September 7, and if the weather stays ok, October 5 (these are basically the first Friday of each month).
Purpose(s):
1. To reach out to our community by providing a free evening of musical entertainment, coffee and conversation.
2. To provide a small venue for local musicians and poets to perform their art.
3. To help put our little church “on the map” with young people, in particular, who might be interested in music and coffee.
4. To “mine” young, local talent who might be willing to help out with music on Sundays at some point.
For general questions, please call Kayla at 842-8965.
Kayla Klein’s Baptism Rededication
Tenebrae Candles April 6, 2012
A Powerful Service
Easter 2012 with the Samoan Congregational Christian Church
Butterflies emerging from the tomb.
Easter baskets for all the children. These were a gift from the Samoan church!!
The Samoan choir. They were GREAT!
Dan leading us in song.
Mary Magdalene (Megan) at the empty tomb.
Pastor Amosa.
Pastor Steve.
The youth of the Samoan church dancing the Easter message.
Terry Bolen preparing for the offering.
The Bolen family serving communion.
Egg hunt for the kids!
In Deepest Sympathy
Where there is a loss in our congregation we share in the grief of the family. Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to the Bolen family on the loss of Terry’s son in Texas. Know how much we all love you and hold you in our prayers in the coming days and weeks.
Michael and Carol on the left. Sloan and Terry on the right.
Prayer Teams
The members of Sparks First Christian Church have taken powerful prayer and laying on of hands into the community to visit members who are isolated from the church due to illness and infermity. Recently teams of members have had prayer circles, communion and a laying on of hands service for people in the hospital. For those receiving the blessings, it is a powerful time of bringing Christ, the church and the fellowship of members to them for healing and/or comfort. Members have even donned protective surgical garb for a parishoner in medical isolation in the hospital. We are so thankful for those participating in bringing these powerful experiences into the community.
As a side note, the children have joined their parents in going to the hospital, bringing with them art works of greetings and well wishes. One member reports that multiple members of the hospital staff have really noticed and said, “Wow, that is really nice. What church do you go to?!” Good job kids!!
In Deepest Sympathy
In Sympathy
Our prayers go out to our friend and church musician, Dan Whittemore, on the loss of his wife of 40 years, Chris. Chris’s struggle with cancer ended on July 13, 2012 at Renown hospital surrounded by Dan and family. Dan has been such a grace filled person during these last several weeks as Chris struggled. We can hardly imagine his sorrow and his grace filled peace in facing this. Our prayers continue for you. Your love for Chris and your Savior shine through even in the darkest hours. Our deepest sympathy and love. –Your church family at Sparks First Christian Church.
The Youth Group from Sac First Christian Church is here! They will be sleeping on pews and getting up early to help at the Food Bank on 7/28/12.
Youth from Sacramento First Christian!
Farewell to Ben Bohren As He Retires
Sparks First Christian Church and the Samoan Congregational Christian Church celebrated Ben’s 8 years as Regional Minister and said a fond farewell to him with best wishes for his retirement. We had a full house!! Both congregations presented gifts and a cake and ice cream reception followed.
Dan Whittemore leads us in song.
A full house!
The lady behind the camera that never makes it into the pictures!
Randy leads us in the call to worship.
Pastors Steve and Amosa blessing Ben.
Ben telling us his wonderful story!
The youth of the Samoan church dancing.
Pastor Amosa making a presentation to Ben.
Our new front doors! Thank you Terry for your coordination of this project.
Dan leads us in song.
Easter congregation.
Steve wearing a robe and in a new stole.
Sandy helping with the reading.
Steve showing the children what they will being doing during Sunday school. (A cooking project having to do with a tomb, Jesus, marshmallows, pastry, cinammon and sugar! Our youth helpers ar eto the left.
Steve as Peter and sue as Mary Magdalene. They presented a wonderful play about Mary trying to convince Peter that Christ was really alive.
Kayla and Steve presenting our mission project. Next week we will be assemblying packages that we can carry in our cars to give to people in needs. The packages will include helth items and food.
Our new front doors!!!
Easter 2013!
Sparks First Christian Church 