Pentecost Sunday is May 11th
Pentecost is the third great festival of the Christian Year, after Christmas and Easter. Christmas celebrates God taking human flesh in the birth of Jesus. Easter celebrates the victory over the last enemy of death in Jesus’ resurrection to eternal life. Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Church, so that God is present and powerful in every disciple of Jesus and in the community of the Church. At Pentecost we revel in the wonder of continuous intimacy and ecstasy with the God who created humans in God’s image, became a human in Jesus Christ and liberated humans for the hope of the resurrection to eternal life.

In 2008 Pentecost Sunday comes on May 11, which is also the cultural observance of Mothers’ Day. Join in the festivities at 11:00 AM as the community of Central Christian Church gathers for this Sunday worship celebration. People often wear red to worship on Pentecost Sunday in keeping with the tongues of fire that came on the first apostles as recorded in Acts 2:3. Pastor Stolpe’s worship message will conclude his series on the resurrection parables of Mark 4.

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Sermon Series - Fifty Great Days With the Risen Jesus (April 6 – May 11)
Just as Jesus’ disciples marveled each time Jesus was with them after his resurrection, so we celebrate his living presence with us. Join us for worship each Sunday to revel in being with Jesus and the hope of sharing with him the resurrection to eternal life. Pastor Todd Boddy’s worship messages on April 6 and 13 open our eyes so see ourselves and Jesus with fresh perspective. Pastor Norm Stolpe’s worship messages on April 20, 27 and May 4, 11 explore the Resurrection Parables from the 4th chapter of Mark’s Gospel.

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National Day of Prayer Thursday, May 1, 2008, 7:00 PM in the Chapel
The first Thursday of May has long been identified as a National Day of Prayer when people can gather to pray for their community, nation and world. All are invited to join us at 7:00 PM on Thursday, May 1, 2008 in the Chapel for prayer seeking reliable refuge. This is a Safe Place event in which everyone can participate comfortably regardless of political, economic, cultural, ethnic background or religious experience. Friendly liturgy welcomes participation at any level: quiet observation, singing and reading, personal engagement. Besides our connectedness with others who are also praying on this day, opportunity for personal prayers for wholeness will be available.

Tim Madigan Will Be Guest Speaker for Palm Sunday
During our Palm Sunday Celebration, March 16th at 11:00 a.m. our guest speaker will be Tim Madigan, columnist with the Fort Worth Star Telegram and author of the book I’m Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers. Tim will be sharing how in his spiritual journey, Fred Rogers became God’s messenger of grace at a time of crisis. Tim will be available for book signing at the Fellowship Dinner following worship. Dinner is $7.00 for adults and children over 12. Reservations needed by March 9.

Click here for Tim Madigan's biography.

The Switcharoos of Bradfield Elementary Place Well in DI
The John S. Bradfield Elementary School of the Highland Park I.S.D. is a valued member of our church neighborhood. One of the young members of our church, Austin Anderton (the daughter of Bill and Nancy Anderton), is a Bradfield student and a member of Bradfield's 2008 Destination ImagiNation team for the fourth grade call "Switcharoo." The team participated in the 2008 Destination Imagination Regional Tournament on March 8, 2008.

Bradfeld's Switcharoos placed second in their challenge for their age group (Elementary Level - Kindergarten through 5th grade) and also received a special DaVinci Award for creativity. The 22-gram structure (made of nothing more than balsa wood and glue) that the Switcharoos built for the Team Challenge supported a combined weight of 350 pounds! That would be the equivalent of 180-pound person holding a 1.3-million pound weight (by the way, don't try that at your health club ;-)

We are proud to be hosting the video documentary of the tournament for the enjoyment of the parents, family, classmates and friends of the Switcharoos.

Click here for details.

The Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross - Sunday, March 9, 11:00 a.m.
On Sunday, March 9 at 11:00 AM the chancel choir and other soloists will present a musical program during morning worship based on the seven last sayings of Jesus. We will use selections from Dubois’ cantata and conclude with a setting of the Isaiah text “The Suffering Servant” about an innocent, righteous servant, with music by K. Lee Scott. The service will conclude with the tolling thirty three times of the Angelus carillon bells, a lonely peal marking Jesus’ years on Earth.

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Wendell Patterson Will Be the Subject of Our Faith Sharing Interview on Sunday, March, 2nd
Wendell has a vision for touching the lives of the neighbors of Central Christian Church that inspired the distributing of invitations to prayer with the carillon bells last Advent and to join in acts of kindness this Lent. He will be sharing some of the experience of bringing these invitations to our neighbors and the opportunities that opened for faith sharing.

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Mary Thompson Walker Will Be the Subject of Our Faith Sharing Interview on Sunday, February, 24th
Mary’s spiritual journey has included being born a Texas Baptist, investigating Hinduism, attending AA meetings for years, and finally settling in the Catholic Church. Faith and family are her first priority. Mary will be interviewed about how her faith influences how she deals with people in her business, where tough choices happen almost daily.

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Sunday, February 17, 11 a.m. Worship - Monologue Title: "Get Them Talking"
When Jesus healed a man who could not hear or speak in Mark 7:31-37, he set the whole community talking and hearing about what he had done. When people tell about the difference Jesus makes for them, unstoppable conversations get started.

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Warren Hogan Will Be the Subject of Our Faith Sharing Interview on Sunday, Feb, 10th
During On Sunday, February 10th at 11:00 a.m. Warren Hogan will be the subject of our Lenten Season Faith Sharing Interveiw. Warren will tell how deciding to become his own god at age 9 in response to a childhood tragedy propelled him into a highly successful business career. He will also tell how business setbacks and the fallout from the events of September 11, 2001 brought him to let Jesus become his boss.

Click here for Warren Hogan's biography.

Ebby Halliday Acers Will Be the Subject of Our Faith Sharing Interview on Sunday, Feb, 17th
On Sunday, February 17th at 11:00 a.m. Ebby Halliday Acres of Ebby Halliday Real Estate will be talking about her involvement with ThanksGiving Square and how she shares her Christian identity in that inter-faith environment.

Click here for Ebby Halliday Acrers' biography.

Sunday, February 10, 11 a.m. Worship - Monologue Title: "Get Going"
Many people who look like they are doing just fine have deep wounds in their souls. Mark 6:7-13 tells how Jesus sent out his twelve disciples to cast out demons and cure the sick. Jesus is still sending his disciples today to bring wholeness and peace to people with hidden pain. Jesus has a word for those who want to be healers and well as to receive healing.

Click here for details.

Make a Positive Activity Vow for Lent
Instead giving up something for Lent, try making a Positive Activity Vow. Do something to help a neighbor, help a stranger or say something postivie to someone.

We have collected a list of suggestions and started a discussion forum where you can add you own personal suggestions to the list.

Click here for details.

What Difference Does Jesus Make?
In her book Unbinding the Gospel, Martha Grace Reese says that people in vigorous, healthy churches can tell you what difference being a Christian makes in their own lives. They share with others their personal understandings that life is better, richer, truer if one has faith in Christ and lives in a faith community. You are invited to read and respond to the members of Central Christian Church and the difference they say Jesus makes for them.

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Unbinding Your Heart
Don’t give up anything for Lent, add something! Join in 40 days of prayer and faith sharing. Throw your lot in with God’s pilgrim band for 40 days of spiritual adventure beginning Febuary 6th and carrying us through Easter, March 23rd. Your heart was created to pray and to soar in the joyful imagination of the Spirit and good news of Jesus.

Come along and experience 40 days of prayer and faith sharing with the congregation in small groups, prayer triplets, and daily personal devotions. Make this Lenten season a time of spiritual discovery and sharing with positive activity vows.

Unleash the better angels of your nature this Lent. Join us for Unbinding Your Heart.

Click here for details and a letter from our pastor.

Test Drive a Small Group for Lent
Has your spiritual life been in “park” or “reverse” for too long?  Let’s put it in “overdrive” and “floor it” for six weeks. Now is a good time to jump into a small group as most begin a new emphasis for Lent.  During the season of Lent, Feb. 6 through March 23, 2008 all the following groups, with the exception of the Sawdust group will be suspending their regular studies and format to join in with the entire congregation, using the brand new material from Martha Grace Reese’s book, Unbinding Your Heart ... Forty Days of Prayer and Faith Sharing.

Click here for details.

Prayers to Unbinding Your Hear for Lent
To help you start the 40 days of prayer and faith sharing, here are some prayers to help you unleash the better angels of your nature this Lent.

Click here for the prayers.

Read Unbinding Your Hear for Lent
We are using the newly released and anticipated book Unbinding Your Heart . . . Forty Days of Prayer and Faith Sharing as an all-congregational study during Lent. This book is a combination of small group studies and 40 unique devotions and prayers. You’ll be challenged to take a road toward faith renewal on your way to celebrating Easter. The book is available in our church office now, for $15.00. Call (214) 526-7291 to reserve and pick up your copy.

Click here to order from Amazon.com.

Learn About Lent
Lent is the forty-day liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. The forty-day period represents the time Jesus spent in the desert where he endured temptation by Satan. The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial before Easter, the commemoration of the death and desurrection of Jesus.

Click here to learn about Lent.

Streaming Media From Rick Morse's Worships Available
The spirit of the 2007 General Assembly continued with the 2008 North Texas Area Leader Event with a feast of opportunities to worship, learn and fellowship that prepare us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. The North Texas Area Leader Event was held at Central Christian Church on Saturday, January 19, 2008 beginning at 8:00 a.m.

Two featured workshops were delivered by our event keynote speaker, Rick Morse, Vice President for New Church Ministry and Mission Initiatives, Church Extension, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Both of Rick's worshops were captured and are available here via streaming media

Click here for details and links to media.