Relief for Earthquake Victims in Chile

If you would like to make a donation in response to this weekend’s earthquake in Chile, Christ Church suggests our ministry partner, Samaritan’s Purse. They are a trusted partner with whom we have a working relationship, and they accept tax-deductible electronic donations through their website.

Donate to Samaritan’s Purse »

For questions about Christ Church’s international mission work, contact Susan Kerr at 214-291-5028.

Available on DVD: Rebel Without A Clue

Based on the book of Jonah, the recent four-sermon series, Rebel Without a Clue, is available on DVD through the Christ Church Bookstore for $20. If you would prefer it mailed, please email or call 214-291-5032. (Shipping fee $2.50.)

About the Sermon Series
Everyone has something to say to God…sometimes positively and sometimes negatively. But sometimes we need to stop and hear what God has to say to us! Jonah wass a minor prophet with a major lesson for everyone. Considered by some to be a children’s story, the book of Jonah packs very adult and very contemporary lessons and insights for us today.

Study Guides

• January 16/17 – Get Over Yourself
  Sermon Study Guide
• January 23/24 – You Can Run But You Cannot Hide
  Sermon Study Guide
• January 30/31 – You Get Another Chance
  Sermon Study Guide
• February 6/7 – I Have a Question for You
  Sermon Study Guide

New Vestry Members Elected

During the Annual Meeting of the Christ Church Parish on February 21-22, 2010, the following four members were elected to serve three-year terms on the Vestry.  Outgoing members are: Rich Bedford, Matt Atkinson & Dave Coveney.

Toby Eisenberg

• Wife (for almost 16 years) – Suzy Eisenberg
• Children: Nathan (age 10), Audrey (age 8), and Ellie (age 3.5)
• Why do you feel called to be on the Vestry? Though an attorney by occupation, my life’s calling is to help equip the Church for the ministry of the Gospel. God has allowed me to pursue this calling by heading a small groups ministry, teaching adult Sunday school, teaching religion courses at SMU, serving on a committee to help aspirants discern whether called to ordained ministry, and serving as an appointed Vestry member to fill a one-year vacancy. As I complete doctoral-level studies in theology and seek to help the Church discern how best to live out the Gospel, I feel called to seek election to the Vestry.

Teri Herrick

• Husband: Tom
• Children (2): Ben 12, Austin 11
• How long have you been a member of Christ Church? I have been a member of Christ Church for 25 years less the 7 years Tom and I lived in the Boston area just after being married.
• Why do you feel called to be on the Vestry? My gratitude for all the love that God has made clear to me through Christ Church over my lifetime is immeasurable. I would love to help do my small part with the perspective of a wife, mother, and long-time member of Christ Church to ensure that we continue to serve those in need in our community through growth, worship, and service. It was an honor being nominated and it would be a privilege to be able to give back to the Christ Church community by serving as a vestry member.

Joel Roper

• Family: Ginger, Haley (13), Hayden (11), Holly (8)
• How long have you been a member of Christ Church? 11 years
• Why do you feel called to be on the Vestry? Christ Church has been an integral part of my life ever since Jesus saved me through the preaching of the Word here. For the past several years I have served as a teacher in the Children’s Ministry and as a Small Group leader. My family and I have been blessed through our association with the people of this parish, and I am honored to be considered for this position.

Paul N. Wageman

• Spouse: Anna Wageman
• Children: Nicholas (15), Mack (12), Caroline (9) and Hannah (9)
• How long have you been a member of Christ Church? Ten years
• Why do you feel called to be on the Vestry? Christ Church enriches me and my family spiritually and provides us with fellowship and community. I enjoy teaching 3rd grade Sunday school and volunteering with GAP 45 and Middle School Youth Group. I want to continue giving back to Christ Church for all it has done for us. I will serve the Vestry with humility and commitment to our faith. Anna and I have been married for 18 years and are blessed with four wonderful children – Nicholas, Mack, Caroline and Hannah. I am an attorney and serve on several private company boards and chair the board of the NTTA.

Related

Current Vestry »

Update: Disaster Relief Offering for Haiti

Our church, I am proud to say, has responded to Haiti with grace and generosity. As of now, we have received donations totaling over $30,000. Funds have been transferred to Franklin Graham’s organization, Samaritan’s Purse, and to New Missions. Both of these groups are poised to help in enormous ways. Graham’s organization already has their desalinization plant up and running and producing 1,000,000 gallons of water a day!

A final note about Haiti: I know that many, many people gave, and are still giving, to the relief efforts. The generosity of this parish and thousands of parishes and millions of people all around the country is a testimony to the spirit of hope and goodness that is the byproduct of a Judeo-Christian heritage. We really do believe that humans…all humans…are created in the image of God. Jesus taught that when we reach to help another person who is in distress, we are actually reaching and touching the Lord God himself. (Read Matthew 25)

Susan Kerr
Director of Missions and Outreach
214-291-5028

In response to the devastation from the recent earthquake in Haiti, Christ Church has made an urgent donation of $5,000. But your donations are also needed.

We are working with two ministry partners who are already in place in Haiti and can address the immediate needs. They are Samaritan’s Purse and New Missions. The quickest way to get your donation to them is to make an electronic donation to Samaritan’s Purse:

Alternatively, you can bring your contribution to church this weekend. Checks should be made out to Christ Church Plano and put “Haiti” in the memo line. Please remember to pray for Haiti. Pray that the Lord would be their refuge and their strength and that they would put their trust in Him. Questions? Contact Susan Kerr, Director of Missions and Outreach for Christ Church, at 214-291-5028.

Related

• Poorer Than Poor

Christmas Cards for Our Soldiers

As our 3rd grade Sunday School classes prepared for Christmas, one of their lessons focused on Mary’s visit to Elizabeth and the idea that Christmas is a time to share good news with those we love.

Teachers Jamey Smrekar and Kym McDaniel decided to have the children make Christmas cards for soldiers in Iraq. The result was an envelope full of cards mailed to Christ Church member Col. Rob Woodmansee who is stationed there.

After sharing the cards with his soldiers, he sent back pictures of the smiles on everyone’s faces. Rob will return to the States at the end of January and plans to visit the 3rd grade classes to personally thank them. Click on a thumbnail below to view full image.

2009 Year In Review

Fr. David Roseberry hosts a 2009 video recap of the programs, outreach and missions of the past year made possible through the generous financial and prayer support of Christ Church Plano members.

Middle School Youth Shop for Angel Tree Gifts

At Christ Church, we want all of our members to worship, grow, and serve (Pick 3!). You will find this simple, biblical model undergirds all of our ministries and everything that we do as a church. As we train up disciples in our Children and Youth Ministries we want to make sure that these core values are passed on to the next generation of christians in our midst. This was on display this past Wednesday night when our Middle School Youth Group took the opportunity to serve together. In fact, 87 Middle School students and 22 of the High School Teen Helpers that mentor them every week, along with a dedicated team of adult volunteers and our wonderful Youth Ministry staff went Angel Tree shopping together! Our students contributed financially and then personally selected gifts for 67 people, ranging from ages 3 to 83. This will be a huge blessing for those receiving gifts and was a blessing to our students, as well.

More than the number or gifts purchased and participants involved, I know that Pam Coghlan, our Youth Ministry Director, was struck by the care and compassion of these young followers of Jesus. Our students were on a mission to make sure that each person received what was on their list and even went above and beyond to supplement the gifts with additional items. For example, what good is a new waffle iron without some Bisquick and syrup to go along with it?

Great things are afoot in our Youth Ministry and it is wonderful to see such enthusiastic service from our middle school students. Our high school students have a full morning ahead of them this Sunday as they worship and grow together at the 9:15 hour and then serve by going Angel Tree shopping at 11:00. Then they’ll return to the church to wrap the Christmas gifts and have lunch together. If you have a student in middle or high school, I hope you will let us partner with you to raise them as a follower of Jesus through our Youth Ministry Department and the leadership of Pam and her team.

Debt-Free: Danny & Sandra McGee

Danny and Sandra McGee talk about how they got out of debt through their journey to generosity.

Greetings from Casa Hogar

A few of the kids from the Casas Hogares orphanages in Arequipa, Peru give greetings to Christ Church Plano. Meet Margot, José, Manuel and Susana.

Hard-Pressed, Not Crushed

We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…for we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our body.

It’s a classic “I Love Lucy” – Lucy and Ethel stomping grapes in a vineyard. That particular episode came to mind last week as I was reading from Oswald Chambers’ devotion book, My Utmost for his Highest. Chambers speaks of the disciples of Jesus as being broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of God.

There likely are moments when we feel there’s no wine to squeeze out of the “grape” that is our life. Who among us has not experienced times where we were “hard pressed?” And yet as I look back on some of those times in my own life I see that God has given strength, courage, faith and hope to persevere. No way would I have chosen those hard-pressed seasons! Nevertheless, God has used it all; nothing has been wasted. All is redeemed. When we are abiding in the vine – remaining in Christ – we can have hope, we can be set free from fear and be at peace and we can rest in the all-sufficient grace of God.

Jesus speaks to his disciples in John 16:33 – I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. Jesus has overcome the grave and he has overcome all the things that are “death” in our lives – broken relationships, lost jobs, crisis, serious illness and injury, impossible circumstances. No matter what you are facing, Jesus willingly gives all we need to overcome so that his life may be revealed in us.

If you are experiencing trials and hardships, I encourage you to be firmly rooted in Christ. Spend time in scripture and in prayer. Be in community – connect with a small group, reach out to your TLC minister and/or our Christ Church clergy.

May we be broken bread and poured out wine – for Jesus’ sake. May Christ be revealed in every one of us and in his body that is Christ Church Plano.

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