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Alive with the Spirit and Love of God FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF LOVELAND 2000 N Lincoln Ave, Loveland CO, 80538 / 970.667.1318 / Fax 970.663.4436 kirsten@lovelanddisciples.org |
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Children's Ministries
Tracy Morgan Hi! I'm Tracy Morgan, the Minister of Children and Family Ministries & Christian Education here at FCC. I've been in this position for the past 4 years. I've recently completed class at the Theological Education Institute and have become a licensed lay minister for our congregation. My strongest qualifications for this position is my love of God, of children, and of learning! Besides my work with the children I am also trained as a counselor for Prepare/Enrich, a marriage preparation and enrichment program. I have been and will be again a camp counselor for our regions week long summer camps. I graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1987. My original training and career was as a Medical Technologist and as such worked at McKee Medical Center as the Blood Bank section head in the Laboratory before deciding I needed to be spending more time with my family. While getting re-acquainted with my family I discovered a long lost member and that was God. I was so busy in my life that I'd lost God as the most important member of my family. I like to try to make things happen so that we can all develop and maintain a vibrant relationship with the Founder of all families. I married my husband Brad in 1991 and we have one son who was born in 1995. I love the outdoors and hiking and biking. I enjoy crocheting, scrapbooking, reading, playing games and just relaxing with my family. I've lived in Loveland since 1987. You can get in touch with me by calling the church office @ 667-1318 or through e-mail @ tracy@lovelanddisciples.org .
look how we love to play!
Sunday
School Our
Sunday school hour is from 9:50-10:40 AM on Sunday mornings. Children ages
Pre-K & Kindergarteners are invited to enjoy an age appropriate lesson with
teachers dedicated to enriching the lives of children that age. First through 5th grade are invited to join Tracy & Brad Morgan for an hour
of fun and learning.
July 28-August 1, 2008 9a.m. to Noon https://www.groupvbs.com/webtoybox/myvbs/FCCLAB2008 Click on the above link for on-line registration of participants and volunteers. One of
the highlights for our children is our annual
A Night at the Movies Help your kids find spirituality in our culture through movies! Thank you to Group Publishing for providing these insights. Reprinted by permission, GROUP Magazine E-Newsletter, Copyright 2006, Barnyard (PG)
Despite its scripting missteps, Barnyard still contains good fodder for spiritual discussion. First off, Otis feels caught between responsibility and having fun—something many of your students will probably relate to. Far too often, we perceive this as an either/or proposition, like responsible people can never have fun. As Christians, God has given us certain responsibilities that we can’t shirk—things that echo Ben the cow’s mantra: “A strong man defends himself. A stronger man defends others.” Rid your teens of any misconceptions of having to relinquish any sense of fun while fulfilling our calling. Show how responsibility not only frees us to have deeper, guilt-free fun, but also creates a safe environment for others. Secondly, the film explores the tension between “community” and “self.” Otis feels no compunction to worry about the needs of others, not even his father whom he loves. He’s out to enjoy himself, and that’s it. He initially rejects the call to step up and fill the leadership gap, believing that everyone can take care of themselves. (Besides, that means he has to worry about others and not just himself!) Challenge your own youth to look at their place within the community. Do they have any obligations? Are they overly focused on self? Hopefully by broaching this subject, they will look to the needs of those around them rather than simply fulfilling their own desires. MPAA Rating: PG for some mild peril and rude humor. One-on-One Questions:
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (PG-13)
Gospel Filter: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest might not have the out-of-left-field delightful surprise of its predecessor, but it does boast the same level of adventure, humor, romance and horror certain to fulfill all your of summer popcorn thrill needs. Filled with exotic locations, colorful characters, and absolutely astounding action sequences (especially the three-way sword fight on a rolling water wheel), the sequel follows solidly in the fantastic steps of its source material. The filmmaker’s attempts to top the first film’s terror factor, however, backfires. Though Bill Nighy brings a delicious panache and menace to Davy Jones, his monster crew looks unnecessarily gross and computer generated. (Undead skeletons are cool and frightening. Half decayed man/fish look disgusting and foolish.) Also, the plot can be confusing at times, with characters rushing to explain crucial details. It’s also disappointing that the film relies more heavily on the occult. Though not explicitly stated, Jack Sparrow and company get advice and guidance from Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris), who looks like a voodoo priestess in her swamp hut filled with bones and knick-knacks. No one calls upon evil spirits for aid, but their presence can definitely be inferred. Finally, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest feels overly long, which might prove especially frustrating since it’s only part one of a two part adventure (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End releases next year). Regardless of these stumbles, you probably won’t find a more purely entertaining and enjoyable film all summer. Because of its supernatural elements, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest offers some rich discussion for youth. First, Jack must somehow pay off his debt to Davy Jones or forfeit his soul. Sounds creepy. It also leads to a discussion of the soul and its universal importance of our eternal essence. (Sounds like a perfume fragrance.) We get so wrapped up in our physical bodies, spending literally billions on making this flesh and blood carcass last longer and look better. We focus on the package rather than the truly priceless component, the soul, which will spend eternity somewhere. Unfortunately, we mortals often remain shortsighted, putting our divine spark in service of the temporal (in Jack’s case, trading it for 13 years as captain of a ship), rather than looking toward eternity in heaven. Discuss the soul and ways your youth can prepare and nurture it now for the long haul with God. Jack’s decision to pledge his soul to Davy Jones reveals another interesting topic—our personal choices affect others. Because of his foolishness, Jack puts his crew, Will, and Elizabeth at risk. His push for self-preservation leads him into a downward spiral of selfishness that threatens the lives of all he comes into contact with. Though your students aren’t pledging their souls to a watery pirate, it’s a great way to reveal how their “personal” choices create a ripple effect of consequence. True, it’s difficult to envision all of the various ramifications of any individual action. Understanding that our actions can’t be self-contained, however, at least gets the ball rolling, helping us turn to our heavenly Father for his wisdom and perspective. Jack Sparrow’s actions demand a discussion about friends and trust. Both Will and Elizabeth, as well as Jack’s crew, place their faith in Jack despite his selfish behavior. They believe him to be honorable deep down inside, even though his actions typically indicate otherwise. Let’s face it—we all love scoundrels. Han Solo, Jack Sparrow, the bad boy in your school: There’s something cool and compelling about these rogues. That attraction usually doesn’t translate into a genuine, healthy friendship though. Talk to your young people about the appeal of less-than-trustworthy people and what genuine, trustworthy, God-fearing friendship looks like. Finally, two pirates have a great argument over divine providence versus luck. One sees God’s hand at work in saving their lives while the other believes they simply lucked out. This quibble will undoubtedly continue until Jesus returns in physical body to reclaim his throne and remove all doubt. In the meantime, it’s important to dissect this dispute for two reasons. First, it’s prudent to get your students focused on seeing the “luck” in their own lives as divine providence rather than the work of Lady Luck. Secondly, it provides them with practical responses when they find themselves engaged in the same quarrel. Hopefully, you will discover ways to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of those who lean upon “luck.” There’s no sure-fire way to prove the Divine, but there are always ways to inspire “what ifs” and pray for the Holy Spirit to finish the conversation in his own life-changing way. MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of adventure violence, including frightening images. One-on-One Questions:
Nacho Libre (PG)
Gospel Filter: Nacho Libre connects the quirky cinematic style of writer/director Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) with more structured storytelling to hilarious effect. This isn’t your typical high-concept Hollywood comedy. Hess borrows heavily from director (and cult-fave) Wes Anderson, adding in a heavy dose of the absurd, with an obese woman who crawls through hidden tunnels in her house, and a pair of rabid wrestling pygmies. He maintains this surreal tone throughout, so the audience rollicks with it. Jack Black shines as the pure-hearted monk looking for some earthly appreciation. Everyone can relate to his desires while busting a gut laughing at his antics, whether he's dressed in wrestling tights or dispensing dubious spiritual advice to the orphans. Christians especially will find loads to laugh about since the religious humor doesn’t bash our faith, but only plays on characters’ ignorance of its tenants. Nacho Libre is goofy glorious fun that will likely supplant Napoleon Dynamite as the youth group film of choice. Obviously, since Nacho Libre stars monks and nuns, there’s plenty of opportunity for spiritual discussions. (In fact, the most hysterical scene involves a forced baptism that will launch a spirited conversation once the laughter dies down!) You could easily talk about our duty to orphans, God vs. science, false idols, or living a double life. A great area to wander around within, though, is Nacho’s desire for recognition and respect. He feels completely taken for granted and longs to have people notice and appreciate him. (A desire everyone can relate to.) What’s great about the film is they don’t force Nacho to suppress his feelings. He explores them and seeks God’s will within it. Often, Christians attempt to suppress the desire for self-recognition. Nacho Libre (rightly I believe) challenges the viewer to use the desires God places in our heart. It’s not a sin to be noticed, but one must choose wisely what to do with that recognition once it comes along. This leads into making sure we do everything for the glory of God, not out of a desire for personal fame or fortune. Sister Encarnación explicitly states that wrestling isn’t a sin, but what men do with the fame and fortune they receive from it turns their efforts to dirt. The man wrestling for God remains righteous. Challenge your students to examine their own dreams and motivations. Can they pursue their dreams with Nacho’s purity of heart? If so, they will truly fulfill God’s will in their life. (I’m not saying God wills for us to emulate Nacho Libre, just that we should do everything for God’s glory.) The film also plays on Nacho’s tension over remaining content with his life while wanting more. Many times (and with extreme humor), Nacho expresses his extreme “joy” with monastic life—getting up before dawn, sleeping alone, and so on. It’s obvious he loves the orphans, but he’s dying to wrestle as well. How does one remain content, as Paul commands, in spite of wanting something more? This is a delicate, difficult balance, but one that must be achieved. Jesus doesn’t call his followers to a sedentary existence of frustrated acceptance, but he does want us to live in joy and peace no matter what our present circumstances. Finally, Nacho Libre shows us what it’s like to be disappointed with our heroes. Ramses is Mexico’s most famous luchador, but Nacho and the orphans learn firsthand that he’s a big jerk. This shakes them all—how can their hero be mean? It’s a hard lesson, but an important one to discuss with your youth. In our celebrity obsessed society, heroes fall like stars from the sky. That’s why we can only hold up Christ as the perfect standard. Though it’s healthy (and even worthy, in my opinion) to find men and women to admire as examples, only Jesus remains unblemished. Encourage your teens to choose their heroes wisely while always keeping their humanity in mind. MPAA Rating: PG for some rough action, and crude humor including dialogue. One-on-One Questions:
REACH Bob Tinnen REACH
for
God for
3rd-5th graders every Wednesday night from 6-8 games,
singing, lessons, and a lot of fun! Call
Bob Tinnen 667-7748 or Tammy Swartz 962-9612 .
Nursery Tammy Swartz, Coordinator
Nursery Our nursery is staffed with loving, caring and trained staff. We have a large room stocked with lots of toys. Right next door is a changing table, rocking chair and port-a-cribs for sleepy babies.
Nursery
Attendants
Who is Tammy Swartz? Hello, my name is Tammy Swartz. I am your Nursery Coordinator here at
First Christian Church. I currently organize all the nursery attendants
for Sunday mornings as well as for some evening activities. I have been married for 14 years to Matt and we have two beautiful daughters;
Katie, 13 and Miranda, 10. i have attended My hobbies are scrapbooking, gardening, softball, crafts, and being with my
family and friends. I am currently a youth sponsor for the middle and high
school youth and I participate in the Young Adult group study. I look forward to talking with each and everyone of you soon. In Christian Fellowship, Tammy Swartz
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Gospel Filter: Barnyard is The Lion King-lite, with
some big laughs sprinkled throughout its sloppy storyline. It’s a story
we’ve heard told better before, but the themes and messages never grow old.
The cutesy animation works, even if it looks like a cross between the superior
Wallace and Grommit claymation and ancient 3-D blockheads of MTV’s “Money
for Nothing” video. Otis and his immediate circle of friends create a colorful
cast. Unfortunately, the filmmakers felt compelled to include an incredibly lame
love interest subplot in Daisy the cow that feels completely superficial and
unbelievable. (I know I’m talking about an animated talking cow movie, but
still, you should believe these bovines would jump over the moon in
love.) The film only flies when the human and animal worlds collide to hilarious
effect, especially when Otis and company commandeer a car for a late-night
joyride and prank. Barnyard might make for an amusing afternoon at the
movies for a family looking for a break from the heat, but it fails to truly
break outside the fence to a wider audience.
