May 1-31, 2012; Vol. 58 - First Community Church

In the AirA TestimonialMy sister, Joan Snyder of Columbus,went home to the Lord on February 27after a battle with cancer. She watchedyou faithfully each week on TV.Her children thought it appropriateto have her memorials made to thechurch she came to love.Your ministry is an important one.Sincerely,Marjorie ClaussnerLooking aheadDr. Wing is preparing thefollowing sermons:May 65 th Sunday of EasterTHE JOY OF SUBTRACTIONJohn 15: 1-8May 136 th Sunday of Easter/Mother’s DayOUTSIDERSActs 10: 44-48May 207 th Sunday after EasterHOW FAR?Acts 1: 15-17, 21-26May 27PentecostFIRE EXTINGUISHERSActs 2: 1-21SoundingsWithout Fail, Read This–– The Reverend Dr. Richard A. Wing, Senior MinisterDick Wood, Sr. told me to read without failure thearticle by Andrew Sullivan: Christianity in Crisis inthe April 9 issue of Newsweek.I did.Here in Sullivan’s article is the best summary ofwhat has gone so terribly wrong with Christianity.What got Christianity messed up? Answer: makingthe simple way of Jesus into doctrines. Early onpeople were followers of “The Way.” They imitated the spirit of Jesus. LaterChristianity made itself into the demand for “right belief” rather than followingthat spirit. Big mistake!Listen to Sullivan: “The saints, after all, became known as saints not becauseof their success in fighting political battles, or winning a few news cycles, orfunding an anti-abortion super PAC. They were saints purely and simply becauseof the way they lived.”The Way of Jesus “was radically simple:• It was explained in stories, parables, and metaphors—not theologicaldoctrines of immense complexity.• How he conducted himself through opposition and death calmly, lovingly,radically surrendering (as a means) to truly transcend our world and be withGod.• Jesus possessed nothing—and thereby everything.• The way of Jesus comes not from the head or the gut, but from the soul.And it is not afraid.”“In the anxious, crammed lives of our modern twittering souls, in the materialistobsessions we cling to for security in recession, in a world where sectarianextremism threatens to unleash mass destruction, this sheer Christianity, seekingtruth without the expectation of resolution, simply living each day doing whatwe can to fulfill God’s will, is more vital than ever.” And I might add, needednow more than ever.The way forward at First Community is to gather people together weeklywith an invitation to imitate the spirit of Jesus for our transformation and thetransformation of the world. Nothing matters more than this.Peace to you,Watch First EditionFirst Edition features the previous week’sservice on ONN and WBNS 10.2 viadigital outlets on Sundays at 9 am.For onlineBroadcast/Live Streamgo to www.FCchurch.com.May 1 - 31, 2012 3