Consecration Sunday
Sunday, May 4
It’s
that time of year when April showers bring May flowers, when
the winter clothes can be stored for a couple of seasons,
and thoughts and plans are in the making for summer
vacation. It’s that time of year when the members and
friends of First Christian Church make financial commitments
in support of the ongoing ministries of this faith
community. It’s that time of year when we count the
abundance of blessing and grace God has bestowed upon us and
give thanks. Sunday May 4 marks this time of the year for
commitment and celebration.
Worship will be celebratory as we recount the mighty and
wondrous acts of God in and through this faith community
this past year.
Worship will be a time of financial commitment. Worship
will be filled with a variety of expressions of gratitude
and praise.
May 4 also offers an
opportunity for a wonderful, fun-filled time of fellowship.
A “tasty” potluck meal will follow worship. Beverages will
be provided; bring your table service and your favorite
spring dish to share!
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An 8 Week Journey
On Sunday March 30, Brian
Shaw began the eight week journey of “Sharing is Caring” by
challenging us to listen to Mary’s story of an encounter
with the risen Christ and the life-changing effect it had on
her. The “kick-off” luncheon following worship was attended
by 50 people ready and willing to allow God’s spirit to
empower a more effective sharing of the Good News of Jesus
Christ.
Weekly Bible Studies will
be held to nurture sharing through small group involvement.
The scripture texts for the coming weeks are:
April 13 Luke 2:41-52
April 20 Matthew 28:16-20
April 27 I Thessalonians 5
May 4 I Peter 3:8-15
May 11 Acts 2:1-21
May 18 Acts 2:37-47
Three small groups are meeting:
Wednesdays, 6:30
pm
in the Library with Matt and Jen
Reisetter
Thursdays, 9:30 am
in the Library with Liz Woodward
Sundays, 6:30 pm
in the Library with Brian Shaw
You
are welcome to join the exploration and conversation
regarding the power of faith and our responsibility to share
it. ˙
Inviting You to Join
the Adult Discussion Groups
A mentor of mine once pointed
out that there are 168 hours in a week, and that many
Christians only use one or two of those hours to "do
church". The rest of the time, they're out there trying
to 'fight the good fight of faith' in a wayward culture
that threatens to drag them down at every turn. So, he
pointed out, it's no wonder so many Christians have a
limited spiritual effect in the world - they're running
on empty tanks.
Well, even though it would
just play a small part, our hope is that this Wednesday
night discussion group will help to fill your tank a
little, and that you'll be encouraged to face the world
with the grace and truth of Jesus Christ. It's not that
"doing church" or being part of this discussion group is
the only way you can fill your tank, but it is one way,
and I want to seriously think about joining us ... the
conversation will be even richer with you there!
Until Wednesday,
Matt
˙
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Thank You
To All Participants of Youth
Sunday, April 13…
You all did a suburb job in
church! The youth ringing the chimes did a splendid call to
worship. All of the music that was performed was just
fantastic. The actors in the skits did a marvelous job of
speaking clearly and keeping up the energy. The deacons did
a professional job of collecting offerings. The speakers did
a great job of smoothly transitioning the service. Natalie
gave a truly inspiring testimony for her senior sermon.
Thanks to the elders for
going with the flow. Special thanks to Mary Jo Woody,
Marilyn Miller, Tami Mauer, Jane Harding, and Liz Woodward
for the various assistance that was given working with the
youth or with filling in great ideas. Thanks also to the
youth that assisted in preparing for youth Sunday even
though they were not able to attend service. It is truly a
joy to be able to see so many participants working together
to share a meaningful and fun worship service. Youth ~ keep
up the great work!
-Jeanine Fernandez
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Christian Conference Center Turns 40 this year!
Did you
know that over the past 40 years over 30,000 youth and adults
have gone to camp on this particular Holy Ground?
Did you know that the land was
originally farmland donated by Ralph McCague, a member of
Central Christian
Church in Marshalltown,
Iowa?
Did you
know that many of the youth who attended the
first year of camp held
at the Christian Conference Center are now proud grandparents
and some of them have come back to Grand Camp with their
grandchildren?
Did you
know that when Chi Rho Rustic Camp first started, campers not
only had to fix their own meals over a campfire, but had to
build their own tent/shelter and use a solar shower?
Did you
know that in 40 years
we have added hotel-style rooms, 2 new meeting rooms, changed the
main entrance of the building, added kitchenettes in the cabins
and made the tents into huts?
Come on Saturday, April 26
10
am-4
pm
to learn more and celebrate the
stories and ministry!
5064 Lincoln St, Newton IA 50208
641-792-1266
Conference Center Info
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Camp 2008
NOW is the time to register
your youth for the summer camping ministry of the Christian
Church in the Upper Midwest. Information is posted on the
bulletin board in the Division Street entryway. Registration
deadline (to the church office) is April 26.
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Pee Wee Camp
-Completed 2nd Grade |
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July - 3
(#1) |
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Junior Camps
- Completed 3rd, 4th or 5th
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Jun 9 - 14 (#2) |
Jun 23 - 28 (#3) |
Jul 7-12 (#4) |
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Jul 21 - 26 (#5) |
Jul 29 - Jul 1 (#6) |
(mini Jr. camp) |
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Chi Rho Camps
- Completed 6th, 7th or
8th |
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Jun 9-14 (#7) |
Jun 16 - 21 (#8) |
Jun 23 -28 (#9) |
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Jul 7-12
(#10) |
Jul 14 - 19
(#11) |
Aug 4 -
9 (#13) |
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CYF Conference
-
Completed 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th |
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Jul 28-Aug 2 (#14) |
Jun 16-21 (#15) |
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Jul 14-19
(#16) |
Jul 28-Aug 2 (#17) |
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Post High -
Age 18 -23 |
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Dec 26-28 (#18) |
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Grand Camp
K - 2nd
grade and grandparent |
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Jun 5-6 (#20) |
June
6-7 (#21) |
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Trec Camp |
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Jun 29-Jul 5 (#23) |
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Family Camp |
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Aug 8-10 (#22) |
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Equestrian Camp |
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Jun 21-26 (#26) |
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Couples Canoe Camp |
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Jun
22-24 (#27) |
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Adult Canoe Camp |
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Jul
20-25 (#29) |
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The Christian Church in the Upper Midwest presents…
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Transforming in
Troubling Times |
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May 1, 2, 3 2008
West Des
Moines Christian Church
-
Mainline
churches are in distress
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The old ways
aren’t working
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Congregations
are struggling
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People feel
overwhelmed by rapid change all around them.
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These changes
demand bold and decisive action. The
Congregation Transformation Task Group in the
Upper Midwest invites all ministers to attend a
three-day event, with three or more lay leaders
joining the pastors on Saturday. Each day will
be enveloped by prayer, worship, dwelling in
scripture, and journaling.
Transformation is
a spiritual,
systemic, and strategic journey traveled
by a congregation urgently striving to realize
what God has called it to be and do.
The journey
requires we step out in faith. We don’t know
the destination. But we do know God calls us to
go forward, and guides us along the way.
I am eager to
attend this event as I believe it dovetails
beautifully into the opening door before us
concerning evangelism. Information about this
event was presented at the January Board
meeting. Two members have indicated their
willingness to embark on this journey. Are you
interested? Willing to attend the Saturday
workshop? More information is posted on a
bulletin board in the narthex, take the
information and prayerfully consider joining
this journey in transformation.
Registration deadline:
Sunday, April 13.
Let Liz know your interest soon!
-Liz
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Fill the Pantry
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The emergency food pantry is
in need of canned fruit, Jell-O and pudding.
Thank you for your willingness to help our
brothers and sisters in need. |
The “emergency
food pantry” is looking bare.
Please consider a donation of:
v
Oatmeal
v
Cereal (Non-sugared cereals, please)
v
Peanut Butter and Jelly or Jam
v
Macaroni and Cheese
v
Spaghetti and/or Pasta Sauce
v
Spaghetti
v
Helper Meals (Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper,
etc…)
v
Money for
Hy-Vee food cards and meat is always welcome
Each family helped through the
Emergency Pantry receives 1 lb frozen ground beef and a $10 gift
card to HyVee for milk, bread, or other items of need. Monetary
gifts may be made to the Emergency Pantry by noting on the memo
line of a check
“Emergency Pantry.”
Thanks for your help
in helping us reach out in Jesus’ love.
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First Readers Book Club
May’s Book Selection
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Kate
Fitzgerald has had leukemia since she was 2 years old, and
her family conceived their next child, Anna, in hopes that
her genetic makeup could be used to help Kate stay alive.
Now Kate is 16, and Anna 13. Kate is getting worse, and
Anna's parents want her to donate a kidney as one last
chance for her sister. After years of surgery, trauma, and
heartbreak, Anna rebels. She even finds herself a lawyer to
plead her case. As the hearing approaches, Kate's condition
worsens, their older brother Jesse's problems escalate, and
Anna begins to wonder if she is doing the right thing. Jodi
Picoult specializes in writing fiction about families in
extreme situations. My Sister's Keeper alternates among
several points of view, including the legal and ethical
issues involved, as Picoult devotes her considerable
novelistic skill to examining this controversial issue.
˙
The next
gathering will be
Thursday, May 22
C.F. Library (tentative location)
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Kiwanis Club Honors Outstanding Citizens
Each year the Cedar Falls
Kiwanis Club honors a group of Cedar Falls volunteers for
outstanding service to the community. This year the
volunteers active in the C. F. Community Meals were
recognized. Alyce Jenkins represented the “5th Tuesday
Group” of combined volunteer work by St. Luke’s Episcopal,
Valley View Baptist, Unitarian Universalist Society and
First Christian Church.
The recognition plaque is in the church office window. Take
a moment to see it and offer an extra hug of appreciation to
Alyce!
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Year End Celebration
Date: Wednesday, April 30
Time: 5:30 pm
Where: Fellowship Hall
Please
join the youth, parents and staff of
Logos as we
celebrate the time we’ve spent together exploring and
building our faith. We will share a potluck meal with one
another and Lampost Theatre will provide the entertainment
for the evening.
Please
bring a hot and cold dish to share and your own table
service. Drinks will be provided. Call 266-5959 with
questions.
As a congregation, you have supported this ministry in so
many ways. We hope you’ll join us.
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Spring Fling Potluck
Yes, we are confident that Spring is
coming and we are going to welcome it with a potluck after
worship on Sunday, May 4. Find your favorite recipes
and bring a dish or two to share with others. Bring your
own table service and your delicious items to share.
Beverages and desserts
will be provided.
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2008 Flower Calendar
The flower calendar for
2008 is been posted in the narthex. Sign up for a date to
share flowers with your church family. Celebrate or
commemorate a special date or give flowers “just because you
want to.”
The church office will make a reminder call during the week
preceding your scheduled date. Flowers can be ordered by the
office from Bancroft Florist or you can order them from the
florist of your choice. Flowers from your own garden are
also welcome. Please call the church office if you have a
question.
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Acts of Service
- Opportunities to Serve
In the
narthex every Sunday are many opportunities to become
actively involved in the ministry and service of First
Christian Church. Among those opportunities are communion
preparation, serving communion during worship, lighting the
candles before worship and extending a hand of fellowship as
worshippers arrive on Sunday mornings. If
you have questions, please call
Mary Jo Woody, Stephanie Weaver, Penny Lowman or the
church office.
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39’ers Plan for 2008
by Pat McGraw & Harriet Hahn
Attention 39’ers! Following is the
list of couples who have agreed to head up a 39’er event
or “meet and eat deal” in 2008. Please clip this out
and use it as your reminder for when your month rolls
around. There are still some open dates so if anyone is
interested in filling one of them, please let us know.
We need to keep 39’ers going!
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January: Open |
May:
Phyllis VerPleog |
September:
Harriet Hahn and
Pat McGraw |
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February:
Jane Buck |
June: Ray & Darlene Cannon |
October: Mary
Ann & Norm Calhoun |
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March:
Don & Marlene Rasmussen |
July: Open |
November:
Open |
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April:
Liz Woodward "Come Walk with Me" |
August:
Open |
December: Jane Cunningham |
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Reader X-Change
Share the good books you have read! A
shelf in the library has been designated for this "Reader
X-Change." Place on the shelf any book you would like to
offer to others. Add a note about it for the next reader, if
you like. When you take a book, drop $1 in the blue "Reader
X -Change" box.
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Elder’s Fund
Pam
Taylor, Elder Chair
Thanks to those
who contributed to the Elders' Fund collection that was
taken the first Sundays of August and September. We have
received $499. The Elders' Fund is one of many ways we care
for our church family.
The Elder’s will
take collections the first Sunday of each month to replenish
the Elders' Fund. This is an emergency fund that is
available, confidentially, to members of our church family
who might find themselves in need of resources to tide them
over in an emergency or some other unexpected event. While
the fund is sometimes reimbursed by recipients, there is no
obligation for, or expectation of, reimbursement.
Requests can be made to
Liz, Matt, or one of the elders if you are aware of anyone
who is in need of assistance.
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Labels for Woodhaven
The
Campbell’s Soup Company
has made a change in the Labels for Education program. Rather
than collecting the front label portion, Campbell’s will
now
only take
the UPC bar-codes.
A listing of what food items
apply and also a collection box is located on the table in the
narthex. If you have been saving the front labels, bring them in
as soon as possible. A final shipment of front labels will be
sent the first week of November. Disciple Women collects the
labels to support Woodhaven, a home in Columbia, MO, which
serves persons with developmental disabilities.
Please keep those
Campbell’s UPC barcodes
coming! (Remember, we no longer take front labels!)
And for those in Midwestern states, we collect Best Choice UPC
barcodes also.
More details
are available at our website www.nbawoodhaven.org.
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New Service Project -
The Disciples Women of First Christian Church will
be collecting Campbell’s soup labels for the NBA facility of Woodhaven in Columbia,
Missouri.
NBA
Woodhaven is a not-for-profit organization that
serves men and women living with developmental
disabilities. Woodhaven serves individuals ranging
in age from 19 – 70 in 45 homes and apartments
throughout Columbia. Inclusion is a large part of
Woodhaven’s pro-gram and the individuals are active
members of the community. They provide
opportunities for God’s resources to get into the
lives of God’s people.
For over
20 years, NBA Woodhaven has participated in the
Campbell’s Soup Labels-for-Education program.
During that time, churches, CWF groups and many
individuals have provided enough labels so Woodhaven
could acquire four 15-passenger, handicapped
accessible vans. While Campbell’s Soup is no longer
offering the vans, they will help “purchase” more
needed items for the men and women served by
Woodhaven. Computers, microwave ovens, emergency
radios, flashlights with fluorescent lamps, and
alarm sirens can all be “purchased” with your
donated labels.
A full list of eligible labels
will be distributed at the Disciples Women Circle
meetings in April and is posted on the narthex
bulletin board. A container will be placed in the
narthex to receive your labels. Thank you!
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Borrowing from the Church
Lots of
items will be borrowed from the church
this season
for garage
sales, receptions,
family dinners, etc. It is important to check
with the church office
before borrowing tables to make sure there
is not a church event at the same time. It is also important to
return items in a timely fashion. Sign up sheets are in the
kitchen. Restrictions are also listed on these sheets. Thanks
for your cooperation.
Important:
White tables may
not leave the building!
There are several of the old-style tables that may be checked
out for home use.
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 Communion
Juice Your gifts of juice for use in our
celebration of the Lord’s Supper are greatly
appreciated.
The 46-ounce jars work best for our Sunday needs.
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Cedar Falls
Community Meal
This Community Outreach Meal is served at
First United Methodist Church each Tuesday. Our church
participates during months with “5th Tuesdays.” Sign up in the
narthex to donate cakes, prepare, serve and clean up the meal.
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A Calling Ministry
Home Calling Ambassadors are a
group of people who make “home visits.” This calling
ministry enables home-bound and nursing home people
to remain connected and a part of the total ministry
of First Christian Church. There is an opportunity
for you to join the calling team. Are you willing to
reach out and touch someone’s life? If so, call the
church office or contact Darlene Cannon.
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Disciples Are There
....
Johnny
Wray, Week of Compassion Director wrote yesterday, “Week of
Compassion's first priority continues to be getting adequate
re-sources to partners, local interfaith groups and
congregations that are assisting survivors in Louisiana,
Mississippi and Alabama, but also in a growing number of
communities across the country. The incredible outpouring of
contributions to WOC is enabling us to do that quickly and
strongly. Scores of Disciples congregations are now working to
provide temporary shelter, food and pastoral care to thousands
of the displaced. Disciples pastors, and members are
volunteering at Red Cross centers, organizing local interfaith
response efforts, offering homes as places of refuge, putting
together health and school kits, and reaching out to survivors
in a host of ways.”
Week of Compassion website for daily updates is:
www.weekofcompassion.org.
If you would like to help
with the recovery efforts for our brothers and sisters along the
gulf coast, your monetary gift to WOC will be gratefully
received and join the efforts of Christian Church members across
our denomination to “make a difference.” 100% of the money
designated for Hurricane Katrina will go for the recovery
efforts. Make your checks payable to First Christian Church,
marking “Katrina” on the memo line.
Receipts for Week of
Compassion on Sunday, September 4 were $1878.67. Thank you for
your generous spirit.
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Websites for Disciple Women
Want to know what’s going on with
Disciples Women? Check these websites often for
resources, information, contacts and events:
www.discipleswomen.org
and
www.dreamonsisters.com
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On Vacation ?

Remember
to check the website
www.cedarfallsdisciples.org while you are away for current
news of the congregation.
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If You Don’t Do
It, Who Will?
If you get it out, put it away
(in its rightful place, please);
If you open it, close it;
If you spill it, wipe it up;
If it boils over, clean it up;
If it’s dirty, wash it;
If it can be recycled,
put it in the recycling bins;
If you break it or it needs fixing, tell the office;
If you use the last one, tell the
office (or the LOGOS Kitchen Steward)
If you unlock it, lock it;
If you are the last one out,
turn off the lights and lock the
doors.
If we all do our share, our building will reflect our care!
Have you heard it all before? Maybe your mother or dad said
something similar to you when you were growing up. However
redundant, it is true. We all need to take responsibility
for our building. We cannot expect “someone else” to pick
up after us. Who picks up the bulletin left in the pew? Who
tosses the used coffee cups in the trash and empties the
half-full pop cans? Who wipes up the kitchen counters when
something is spilled? And the list goes on and on…
If we all
do our share, our building will reflect our care!
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First Christian Church Mission Statement
In response to the love of God through Jesus Christ, we of
First Christian Church, Cedar Falls, seek...
U
To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word
and deed;
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To gather as a community of faith to worship
God with reverence, joy and beauty;
U
To nourish personal faith and commitment through
study, prayer, fellowship and service;
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To be a caring community of faith working with God's
love for human dignity and justice in our neighborhood and
around the world; To give visible expression to the oneness
of Christ’s Church
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