Christmas Eve Service - Tradition and Surprise - Monday, December 24, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
The congregation of Central Christian Church along with neighbors, family and friends will gather on Christmas Eve, December 24 at 6:00 p.m. to welcome Jesus at the celebration of his birth. Christmas carols old and new, fresh dramatization of the ancient story, rocking chair reading of the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke. Here is a place for all to participate: young and old, singles and couples and families, church veterans and curious guests. Worship will close in candlelight sending all to an evening of anticipating the festival of Christmas morning.

Click here for details.

Christmas Eve Service Offering Designated to Habitat for Humanity of Dallas at 6:00 p.m.
This year Central Christian Church will make an extra benevolent gift to Dallas Habitat for Humanity. The Dec. 24th, 6:00 PM Christmas Eve and Candle Light Service will include a love offering exclusively for Dallas Habitat for Humanity.

Click here for details.
Click here for the Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity web site.

Fourth Sunday of Advent: Love
“Ready or Not, Time’s Up!” - Advent Sermon on Sunday, December 23, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.
The Step back from the hustle of last minute Christmas preparations. Catch your breath and renew your spirit with a worship break on Sunday, December 23 at 11:00 AM. The fully decorated sanctuary is a beautiful setting for Christmas carols and a message by Pastor Norman Stolpe from the Gospel of Mark 1:9-15. Just as, ready or not, Christmas comes, so God’s time is fulfilled and his Kingdom has come near.

Click here for details.

The Third Sunday of Advent: Joy
"Ceremony of Candles” - a Cantata for Advent and Christmas - Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.
The Chancel Choir and Music Ministry of Central Christian Church will present “Ceremony of Candles” by Joseph M. Martin in worship. This cantata will be performed on the third Sunday of Advent celebrating joy and is built around worship by singing, Scripture, celebration at the Lord’s Table and a festival of lights.

Click here for details.

Old-Fashion Hayride to See the Christmas Lights of the Homes of Highland Park - Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 5:30 and 7:00 p.m.
Join us for an old-fashion hayride through the Town of Highland Park to see the homes decorated with Christmas lights.

Note new date: This hayride has been rescheduled to December 19th from the weather delay of December 9th.

Click here for details.

Help Mike's Kids, Christmas Project for the Poorest of the Poor
Mike's Kids is an annual program that is supported by the North Texas Area Disciples of Christ Christian Churches and is part of the Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries in the Rio Grande Valley. This program supports children who have been abandoned or families that have been forced out of their homeland to a new country. As Christmas approaches, we begin filling banana boxes with new and gently used clothes and toys to be delivered to Reverend Feliberto Pereira in Los Fresnos, Texas to be distributed to "the poorest of the poor" in the area and to an orphanage just across the border in Mexico.

Click here for details.
Click here for Mike's Kids web site.

Second Sunday of Advent: Peace
“To Christmas Come!” - Advent Sermon on Sunday, December 9, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.
The Experience the high drama and comforting warmth of worship with Central Christian Church on Sunday, December 9 and 11:00 AM. Join in anticipation of the coming of the Prince of Peace. Music and mystery prepare for the celebration of Christmas with along with a message by Pastor Norman Stolpe from the Gospel of Mark 1:1-8. Hear for yourself the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

Click here for details.

Bell Concert, Pop and Traditional Songs of Christmas - Friday, December 7th , 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
The North Texas ensemble “Cast of Bronze” will carry you away into the themes, and memories of Christmas with both Pop and Traditional Christmas songs. Fifteen talented members, seven octaves of bells and chimes will inspire your hearts and captivate your ears. A Christmas treat to get you in the mood of advent. This musical celebration will be held in the sanctuary of Central Christian Church.

For details, see http://www.castofbronze.com/

“Longest Night” Worship - Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
At 6:00 pm, after the Advent Art Show, the evening will conclude with a brief contemplative worship experience of singing, scripture reading and candle lighting, releasing to God anything that might interfere with a fully joyous celebration of Advent and Christmas.

Click here for details.

Advent Art Show & Children's Crafts - December 2, 2007 at 4-6 p.m.
Celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season with an Advent Art Show! Sunday Afternoon, Dec. 2, 2007 from 4-6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Central Christian Church. Four Dallas artists will be displaying a combination of sculptures and paintings. Light food will be available along with interactive art activities for kids. The evening will conclude with the contemplative worship of the “Longest Night” Safe Place event.

Click here for details.

An Audio Reading of "An Unexpected Visitor" presented by Disciple Women/CWF
A long-standing tradition at the Disciple Women/CWF annual Christmas party is the reading of “An Unexpected Visitor” by our own Wanda Rodgers. The story is about Mary Gary and her unexpected guest for Christmas in her home. Last year, in 2006, we recorded Wanda’s reading and present it as streaming audio to remind us all of the meaning of Christmas.

Click here for details.

Praise and Worship in the Dog Park
While this wonderful weather lasts, we're going to continue our Sunday morning worship service in the Dog Park. You and your four-legged friends are invited to join us and the Friends of Central Dog Park at 10:30am-10:50am every Sunday (during good weather) for our weekly outdoor worship services in the Central Dog Park. Arrive at 10:20 for coffee and danish, enjoy the guitar music and get yourself ready for a little outdoor praise. All are welcome. Make sure you bring your dog. And please come as you are!

Click here for details.

The First Sunday of Advent
Dr. Abraham Vema Will Be Our Guest Speaker December 2, 2007
Dr. Abraham Vema of Abraham International Leadership Ministries will speak at the 11:00 am worship service on "Daniel the Diplomat." Dr. Vema will have a question-and-answer session before the worship service at 9:30 am in the Fellowship Hall regarding world political and religious movements. Please note that Dr. Vema's message will not be carried on our streaming media, podcast or TeleWorship service so please plan on being present.

Click here for details.

The Advent Season at Central
Advent is the four Sundays before Christmas and ends December 24th, Christmas Eve. Advent is a holy season, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ. Advent is a joyous time of the year for our church family and we celebrate with special worship services and other events. Details are listed below. All are invited and welcome to join our celebrations!

Click here for details.

Fellowship Dinner - Thanksgiving Celebration - Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 12:15 p.m.
The Following worship on Sunday, November 18 at 12:15 PM, the congregation and neighbors of Central Christian Church will celebrate Thanksgiving together with dinner in Fellowship Hall. Dinner is $7.00 for adults and reservations may be made by phoning 214-526-7291 by Wednesday, November 14. All are welcome.

Click here for details.

Fellowship Dinner - Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
Ms. Tatiana Androsov, President and Executive Director of Thanks-Giving Square will be the featured speaker at Central Christian Church’s Fellowship Dinner on Wednesday, November 14 at 6:00 PM in Fellowship Hall. Ms. Androsov will be presenting the mission of Thanks-Giving Square and highlighting upcoming opportunities there. Dinner is $7.00 for adults and reservations by phoning 214-526-7291 by Monday, November 12. All are welcome.

Click here for details.

Media of All 2007 Sermons Now Available
All of our recorded sermons are now available on-line and available for streaming or downloading from this site or as a free Podcast from Apple's iTunes Store. "Live Hope" messages are for those seeking God's Spirit along the winding and changing paths of life. Find more than clues here, as you move ever closer to the City of God guided by contemporary and ancient wisdom from the Bible. Pastors Norman Stolpe and Todd Boddy preach to help you find courage to participate in and celebrate fully the Lord’s gift of life.

Click here for our 2007 Media Catalog.
Click here for our podcasts using the iTune software.

Y-Sports Will Play Soccer at Central
In cooperation with the Park Cities YMCA, Central Christian Church will use our playing fields at the church for the Y-Sports fall soccer season. The Pre-K and Kindergarten teams will use our fields also every afternoon through mid-Novemeber.

Click here for details from the Y.

Central Has a Podcast Channel
Central Christian Church has a channel in Apple's iTunes Store for the podcasts of all of our 2007 sermons. If you have an iPod, simply click on the link below to add our free channel to your iTunes software. New sermons are added weekly and your iTunes software will automatically get the update whenever new content is added to our channel.

Click here for our podcasts using the iTune software.

St. Francis Pet Blessing, Sunday, Oct. 7th
Bring your pet to the Central Dog Park for the annual Pet Blessing and commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi. Pastors Norm and Todd will be present to lead in a short devotion to God with thanks, prayer and blessing over each precious companion. Join us to pause and thank their creator for the sacrificial love and companionship by which they grace our lives. Last year animals present were, dogs, cats, and birds. In addition, there will also be an unveiling of a new statue of St. Francis placed in the garden area of the Dog Park.

Click here for details.

Marriage Preparation Workshop
Our Marriage Preparation Workshop, required for all weddings at Central Christian Church will be on Thursdays, 7:00-9:00 PM September 6, 20, 27 and October 4. Make reservations by calling the church office.

Click here for our contact information.

Prayer Priority Monday September 17, 2007
The congregation will gather for Prayer Priority on Monday September 17 at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary. You are urgently needed to pray for God’s future for Central Christian Church. When teaching his disciples about prayer, Jesus said, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13) The singular focus of this gathering will be intensive, urgent prayer for the Holy Spirit to transform Central Christian Church in 2007-08.

Click here to watch a segment of Rev. Sharon Watkins address at 2007 General Assembly.

Guest Pianist and Vocalist in Worship on Sunday, September 9, 2007
Joining us in our Sunday Morning Worship on September 9th was pianist Otis Lloyd and vocal soloist Eran McGowan of Dallas. It was a joy and a blessing to hear these talented musicians sing of the glory of God. Both Otis and Eran are widely known in many Disciples Churches in the Southwest.

Click here for details and links to our stream media.

Central Art Show August 5-19, 2007
Welcome to Central's summer celebration of the arts! Beginning August 5, we will exhibit the work of four of our artists: Tina Weger, Crystal Kreitzer and Alice Oates are all members of the church and Tim Ninesling's wife, Laura, is our church secretary. The Art Show will run concurrently with the "Joyful Noise" production. Come to the play then browse and enjoy the art while you're there.

Click here for details about the Art Show.

Westside Players Present "Joyful Noise" Aug. 10-12, 2007
Handel's Messiah almost didn't happen! Brimming with humor and a special message of hope, this two-act play will be presented by the Westside Players at Central Christian Church. The play’s director, Ed DeLatte, has chosen eight actors to people London in 1741, the year Handel wrote his beloved masterpiece that is most often heard at Christmas or Easter. Adult tickets are $8 and Children under 12 are $5.

Click here for details about the production.

Central Kids Go to the Zoo on July 26, 2007
On Thursday, July 26, 2007, a group of our kids and their chaperons took a day-long field trip to the Dallas Zoo via a train ride on DART departing from Mockingbird Station.

Click here to see the pictures of their day at the zoo.

Central Goes to General Assembly
Representing Central Christian Church, Senior Pastor Norman Stolpe, Associate Pastor Todd Boddy and Board President Bill Anderton attended this year's General Assembly in Ft. Worth, Texas from July 22 -25.

Click here to see their report.

The Highland Park 4th of July Parade

Central Christian Church again participated in the 4th of July Parade for the Town of Highland Park. We had two trailers full of float riders that included friends, family, neighbors and Friends of Central Dog Park (plus their dogs).

New Video: To see our 2007 parade, watch our Windows Media movie (high-resolution version 512 kbps or the low-resolution version 45 kbps). Also, watch our 2006 parade from last year (high-resolution version 512 kbps or the low-resolution version 45 kbps).

New this year, we also served a tail gate breakfast to all of the people who seved as crew on the other floats that lined up early along Euclid Avenue for a good position in the parade. The breakfast was prepared by the wonderful bakery at Bread Winners Cafe and was served by members of the church and volunteers.

Click here for details about the parade.