CONTACT: Rev. Chris Shorow cshorow@fccedmond.org
This past Sunday we started a four-week series in worship on our history as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I know this topic sounds as dry as dirt, but really it is an exciting venture for us. Our history is not only filled with great stories and passionate people, but people who continue to inspire us to this day. We need to know and appreciate our past as Disciples so that our future is just as inspirational.
We talked about the focus of our early founders—restoration and unity. This week we will finish with our restoration roots and then we will look at our goals of unity. What does it mean to be a restored church and what does true Christian unity look like? And we might even throw in some great historical facts along the way. Did you know that the only minister to be elected to the office of President of the United States was a Disciples minister? And two other Presidents were raised Disciple, and one faithfully attended National City Christian Church, our national cathedral, in Washington, DC. Yes, and the author of Ben Hur was a Disciple. So was Janice Joplin, John Dillinger (remember, we’re forgiven, not perfect!) and famed poet Vachel Lindsay. For entertainment, John Stamos, Frances McDormand and Sela Ward are all Disciples, demanding communion every week like many of the rest of us Disciples. J. William Fulbright and Carrie Nation, too, were Disciples, and I’m betting Carrie made sure it was Welch’s grape juice in her communion trays! (For answers to our Presidential questions, you may just have to show up on Sunday!)
Another thoroughly Disciple thing is the ordinance of baptism. Central to our identity for our founders was believer’s baptism. And I am excited, as I am every year, as we begin our Pastor’s Class leading up to baptism for these young folks on Palm Sunday. This year we have 13 wonderful 5th graders ready and excited for a wonderful journey of faith. The retreat to kick things off starts Friday, February 6. Please lift up our Pastor’s Class as they begin their journey: Josh Anthony, Todd Anthony, Brock Becker, Tyler Burleson, Campbell Christensen, Emerson Hagy, Jett Humphrey, Emily King, Zoey Lee, Brooke Medley, Cole Morgheim, Alex Peters and Hunter Steuart.