Community by Lynn Armstrong “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” John 13:34 Community can be defined as “a feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common attitudes, interest, and goals”. Community plays an important role in every aspect of our lives – our work, play, family, and faith. Being part of a community connects us to other people. Unfortunately, last month brought significant challenges to how we interact with our communities. In our concern for one another, groups no longer meet in-person; schools have been closed; many are working from home or laid off from their jobs; sporting and social events have been canceled. Social distancing is

Winter-Spring of 2020 A Different World? Or is it? By Glenda Bourne A March 19 Courier Journal analysis of our current times by Ted Anthony really hit home for me. He wrote: When Americans are summoned to deal with an attack or defy overwhelming odds, the response typically goes something like this: Fight. Hold the line. Stand together. This won't stop us. Keep on living your life. We will prevail... Contrast that with a meme that has been popping up everywhere on social media: 'Your grandparents were called to war. You're being called to sit on your couch. You can do this. Things in the world have changed, our lives and communities have changed, on a dime. Our usual way of handling crisis i

First Christian Church of Louisville has an account with Zoom which we are making available to our FCC family for personal video "get togethers" with family and friends! Using Zoom is easy! If you have attended one of our recent online studies, any FCC meetings or Youth Group, you've already been on a Zoom call! If you have never used ZOOM before, this link will give you some instructions on joining a Zoom "call". All you need to host the call is a computer, tablet, or smartphone with video camera capabilities and access to the internet. And if one of your family members or friends doesn't have a computer or other device, they can join the call by phone. If you would like to use the FCC acco

A recent spring afternoon. The sun shines. The birds sing. On any other day, this might signal that all is well. But the people outside sit at least 6 feet away from each other, as they discuss how to bring all of us closer together in love and spirit while the world struggles with social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. There has to be more to this than monitoring symptoms, foraging for toilet paper, and worrying about what tomorrow might bring, they say. The elder turns to old teachings, and suggests living out, in ways we can, to love our neighbor in this frightening, trying time. The idea becomes something real as they discuss it. Let's use the church directory, the elder says

Join Us For Online Sunday School This Week at 10:00 a.m. These are uncertain times and many of us are experiencing increased fear, worry, and anxiety. Making things even harder is the fact that we are also isolated from many of the groups and places where we find comfort. To help bring you a sense of comfort and hope, First Christian Church of Louisville will be hosting an online study about how we can live with courage and hope in the midst of our current challenges. The study will be based on Adam Hamilton's book, "Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times." You do not have to buy the book to participate and each session is independent of the others so join when you can.

As concern over the coronavirus continues to mount, First Christian Church of Louisville has developed the following action plan. This will be updated as needed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact a member of our staff. First, please make sure you are staying informed. The best way of doing that is regularly visiting the following websites for information: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The World Health Organization Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Worship Decisions about whether or not worship services are held will be made on a week to week basis. We will post updates on our website, social media feeds, and e-news. If you are not on our e-n

Witness by Jane Connell Young Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us… ~Hebrews 12:1 Hebrews 11 lists many of the faithful who are commended for their faith. Hebrews 12 goes on to explain that because of that great cloud of witnesses, we may be emboldened to literally throw off the hindrance of sin that seeks to entangle us. This great cloud of witnesses is specialized in that they have run their race and have remained faithful. The fact that they persevered successfully may help us to fe

Receptivity to Care by Lynn Armstrong “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~Matthew 11:28 Most people are much more open to giving care than to receiving it. When a person is giving care, he or she is in a position of strength, stability, and authority. When a person is receiving care, he or she is acknowledging need, insecurity, and vulnerability. As a result, there are countless people today who, though they really could benefit from a Christian friend who would listen and care for them, tough it out on their own. They remain the strong silent type, or wear a smile on a face that is holding back a flood of tears. But God did not create us to be indepe