FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) SAN MARCOS TEXAS 78666
The year 2009 began with the following staff serving our FCC membership:
Rev. David Green, Senior Minister
Char Wood, Office Manager
Rae Bostwick, Treasurer
Britney Ritchey, Bookkeeper
Mabel Hall, Pianist
Cecilia Pena, Organist / Accompanist
Anne Weaver, Music Director
Rosie Smith, Nursery Supervisor
Rachel Greenwood, Caregiver & Children’s Church
Mary and Johnny Wasson, Custodians
Fred Villanueva, Groundskeeper
Board Members for 2009 were Gary McCaffrey, Chairman; Claire French, Vice-Chairman; Lenore Bolton, Secretary; Rae Bostwick, Secretary. Other Board members were Gary Swenson, Julia Herndon, Susan Ballard, Robert Pfeiffer, Sue Diegelman, Don Harmon, and Art Johnson.
Celebration Worship Services were held Sundays at 8:30 a.m., Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., and Traditional Worship Services at 10:30 a.m. A new Alternative Worship Service was added and is held the Third Saturday of each month at 5 pm.
We are blessed to have a number of ministers as members of our congregation. In addition to Dr. Mark Miller, Rev. Rev. Jack Knox, and Dr. Jimmy Cobb ,Pastor Emeritus, our member ministers include Connie Burke, J.D. Elsworth, Cari Fowler (who was ordained at FCC in ’09), Albert Lorber, Maggie Mossler, and Gregory Ross.
The following Sunday School Classes met weekly: Blessed Babes, Infant to 12 mo; Little Lambs, 1 to 2 years; The Amazing Angels, preschool; Shining Stars, K thru 2 yr; Faithful Followers, 3 thru 5 yr; Junior High, grades 6-8, High School, grades 9-12, Partnership, women; Exploration, adult; Parent/Marriage, adult; Sojourners, adult.
The following groups met weekly: KidTime 3 mo – 3rd grade, JYF grades 4-6, Chi Rho grades 7-8, CYF 9-12, , Adult Mid-Week Bible Study, Chancel Choir, Bell Choir Heart & Soul Celebration Choir, Jam with the Band, and Guitar Lessons. Monthly meetings were held by Energizers (50+ ages), CWF, Family Night at the Movies, and Men’s Fellowship.
The Fellowship Committee hosted monthly luncheons after the 10:30 worship service as well as an Ice Cream Social, and Church Picnic.
Rev. Jack Knox, a native Texan, was called to serve as Youth and Young Adult Minister in February. Jack, majoring in Ancient History and Classical Civilizations graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and received his Masters of Divinity degree from Brite Divinity School in 2009.
A called congregational meeting was held for the purpose of amending the bylaws to call Youth Deacons. The first class of Youth Deacons included Effie Husbands, Felicia Mossler, Taylor Ralph, Summer Stallings, Cole Stapp, and Clinton Sutphen.
Once again, FCC invited the San Marcos area to walk its Stations of the Cross for individual tours April 5-9. On Good Friday, we hosted worship services and group tours.
Photos were taken of individual congregation members in May and June to be compiled in a Pictorial Membership Directory.
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A very successful evening Vacation Bible School, chaired by Mattie Howard was held in June. Mary Skidmore artistically converted the sanctuary into a virtual fishing dock for the Crocodile Dock VBS. Dr. Mark Henry Miller and Rev. Gregory Ross led the adult sessions.
Dr. Mark Henry Miller, United Church of Christ, was called to serve as Interim Senior Pastor effective August 1 to fill the position of Senior Minister left vacant by the resignation of Rev. David Green to assume the Chaplaincy of Hospice Care of the Southwest in Amarillo TX. Rev. Green’s last service was June 14.
The position of Office Manager was replaced by that of Church Secretary. Nicci Lesak was hired for the position in August. Mattie Howard was named as Director of Children’s Ministry.
A Pastoral Search Committee for a new Senior Minister was named with Gary Swenson serving as chairman, Robert Herndon, vice chairman, and Rudie Stallings, secretary. Other voting committee members were Tracy Brutcher, JoAnn Carson, Rita McGuire, and Mary Skidmore. Serving as non-voting alternates are Margie Harmon, Jason Braun, and Cole Stapp.
First Christian Church, in cooperation with three other area churches, hosted Camp Hope, a Christian Day Camp) during July for area children. We also hosted the non-denominational weekly Community Bible Study from September until June and opened our doors to the following musical groups: Heart of Texas Men’s Chorus, San Marcos High School Choirs, Texas State University Music Department, and traveling youth groups.
An all member Mission Trip was made to Matamoros Mexico to build a $3000 casita in the slum areas of the city. The Youth Groups of the church held fundraisers throughout the year in order to fund their mission trip to Arkansas to make repairs to an elderly couple’s home. Youth fundraisers included Christmas Wrapping at a local mall for tips, Sweetheart Café, Bake Auction, and a Raffle for Western items.
The month of October was devoted to financial and service stewardship. The culmination of the Stewardship Drive was a special Commitment Service held November 1 with members placing their pledge cards on a table at the front of the sanctuary.
In addition to denomination- wide participation, the congregation was also deeply involved in ecumenical and community involvement.
DOC participation included Area, Regional and General youth events; camps for grades 6-12 at the Disciples Conference Center, Gonzales TX; Bluebonnet Area/Lower Rio Grande Valley District Assembly; Capitol Cluster of BBA; Disciples Outreach to the Mentally Ill; General Assembly, Regional Assembly; Ministers Week at TCU; Reconciliation Offering; Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries; Week of Compassion; Youth Sunday.
Ecumenical Activities, both local and regional, included Baccalaureate Service at San Marcos H S; Camp Hope; Community Bible Study; Community Thanksgiving Service; Good Friday Service; Good Samaritan Counseling Center; Habitat for Humanity; San Marcos Ministerial Association; United Campus Ministry (Texas State University), Stations of the Cross; and Musical Programs with other congregations at Easter, Christmas, cantatas, etc.
FCC’s Community Outreach activities included Angel Food Ministries; Camp Hope; CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates); San Marcos Heritage Association’s Cottage Kitchen; Crop Walk; Habitat for Humanity; Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center; Homespun; Meals on Wheels; Prison Ministry (Childrens Art); Salvation Army; San Marcos Area Food Bank; San Marcos Area Youth Shelter; Senior Ministers Discretionary Fund; Southside Community Center; Vacation Bible School, Wedding Ministry.
Gary McCaffrey will continue as Board Chair in 2010.
