Sparks First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
560 Queen Way, Sparks, NV 89431
Mailing address 550 N McCarran Blvd. #420, Sparks, NV 89431-5278
Phone: 775-358-0507
Activities in the Life of the Church
Scout Retreat November 2005:
Four boys from three different scout troops are all working on their “God & Me” badges. The Rev. Steve Wren is serving as their mentor. The congregation has agreed to be their host and prayer support. On January 8, 2006 the scouts will lead worship and share their projects with the congregation. The boys in the photos are JJ & Chris Wren and Bryson & Colton O’Gorman.
Easter 2006
June 11, 2006 Blessing of the Animals
From songs and prayers to a social hour with treats for four and two footed friends and painting bird houses by our children, lots of dogs and their families enjoyed this special service celebrating and blessing animals of friendship and service.
Annual Picnic on June 25, 2006 at Lazy 5 Park.
Summer 2006 Movie Nights for Five weeks beginning July 12 at 6:00 p.m.!
Boy did we have a great time. Movies, hot dogs, popcorn, drinks, salads and lots of goodies combined with parents, kids and friends made for a summer of Wednesday fellowship. Here is what we saw:
“Lord Of The Rings” July 12th 6:00 PM at the church
“CRASH” July 19th 6:00 PM at the Jones
“Matrix” July 26th 6:00 PM at the Fernley Wrens
“Narnia” August 2nd 6:00 PM at the Church
"Pay it Forward" August 9, 6 pm at Nathan and Sarah DeArman's home
Vacation Bible School July 31, August 1, 3-4 Evenings at the Church and Sunday Morning August 6, 2006
How cool is it when two members get married?!
Here are some photos from the Terry Bolen and Carol Starr Wedding on August 12, 2006 at the church with the reception at the Hilton.
On August 13, 2006 one of the founding fathers of the Disciples of Christ, The Rev. Alexander Campbell (aka Prof. John Bolen) came to our church. He preached on Christian unity. And if you don't believe that it was the real Alexander Campbell (at over 200 years of age), you should have been there!
Mini Miracle Day April 1 and 2, 2007
WOW, the Saints from Las Vegas did a great job at the Sparks church. From their participation in our Sunday morning service to creating memorial stones to the last pansy planted on Monday - they were pure joy! This was a great pre-miracle event. Many thanks to all who helped make this event so blessed! --Steve
April 21, 2007
And the disciples gathered and entered the garden and lo, water sprang forth from the ground. What? You haven't heard of this miracle? Well, then you weren't at Sparks First Christian Church on April 21. The disciples indeed gathered, dug trenches and holes, fixed pipe and we cheered when the sprinkler system actually worked when the switches were turned on. And it was one cold day too. The sweatshirt just goes to show that Disciples are a diverse group of people!
Communion is not just a weekly activity but an active, daily component of disciples' lives. Here a basin and towel sit along side the of the cup and the bread as a reminder of Christ's commission to serve others. (See John 13)
The fruit is from the sermon and worship service on 6/3/07 about the Fruit of the Spirit.
Pentecost 2007 (April 27) greeted people with kites flying in the sanctuary reminding us of the great wind that brought the tongues of fire (see the kite tails?) to the disciples.
June 3, 2007 Kaleb Charles DeArman, all of 9 days old, joins his church family for his first Sunday at church. (It is OK Kaleb if you sleep through the sermon, this time.) Congratulations to Nathan and Sarah who did not look at all sleep deprived. We started a little late because we were all amazed at "our baby."
July 14, 2007 Miracle Day Meeting in Sparks
Sparks First Christian Church hosted the 7/14 Miracle Day meeting. Thirty -three people attended and our leaders guided us through the process and shared lots of ideas and information. Thanks to everyone who came over "the hill" and especially to all those who helped in all the preparations.
Baptism!
What a joy it was to have Raven be baptized on Sunday morning July 23, 2007
Rummage Sale on 9/22/07
Despite the prospect of rain we had a great turn out for the Sparks First Christian Rummage Sale. Not wanting to be rained out, we held it in our meeting room, The Melton Room. Bright pink signs led the way down the street to the festivities inside. We had lots of stuff and priced to sell! Mom, dads, kids, young and old got to pick out great stuff and even our members went home with a few treasures. We raised $230 for Miracle Day. Yahoo!!!
Mark your calendars for 10/6 as we are going to have rummage sale PART II starting at 8 a.m. through noon. After the rummage sale we will be walking around the neighborhood, distributing letters telling them about Miracle Day.
Thanks to all the Wrens, the Fernley Wrens, O'Gormans, Kleins, Joneses, DeArmands and Bolens for all the help.
Miracle Day on 10/20/07
75 People from all over Northern Californian Disciples of Christ churches descended on our church for Miracle Day-the Disciples' version of a church makeover. There was WORSHIP, painting, plumbing, gardening, landscaping, door and ceiling repairs, cleaning and praying. In the end we had a more beautiful church and many new friends made and hope for the future.
Wedding Bells for One of Our Members!
Once again the church was decorated for a wedding! Ross Jones and Scarleth Rios were married on 4/19 in the chapel with red and white rose petals lining a satin carpet down the center isle. Scarleth wore a unique red dress to match the flowers! Pastor Steve personalized the ceremony with his thoughts about the couple and then blessed the union with the wrapping of the couple's hands with a special wedding stole made for the day by the groom and his mom. The church looked wonderful and all celebrated a joyous occasion!!
Another Baby on the Way!
Kaleb (seen in these photos) is soon to have a buddy! The church celebrated the upcoming arrival of Kale with a baby shower for Ross and Scarleth Jones. We gathered after church for a party hosted by the "Care Committee" (aka Dawni Klein and Kelly O'Gorman) for a delicious lunch, cake and a shower of gifts for the parents to be, fun games and great prizes.
The foosball table in the basement is a guaranteed place to find these two in the future with hopefully a budding friendship in the years to come -- as soon as they can reach the table!
Soup Supper 11/3/08
What a wonderful bounty of soup we had with wild rice soup, white bean and chicken and chicken noodle. Breads, drinks and cookies topped off the feast with time for fellowship and listening to Kaleb gently playing the piano. (Kaleb, can you say "future organist?")
Easter Sunday April 12, 2009
What a wonderful play was presented with all of the Women of Lent with our stage setting that took the congregation back over 2000 years. The women of the congregation told a heart felt story, written by Pastor Steve, of emotions of the women during the time of the crucifixion and resurrection.
Life sized banners surrounded the congregation, one for each of the women and for each Sunday in Lent.
4/9/09 USA Today
USA Today put Sparks First Christian Church in the highlight for a day with the recognition of our liturgical artist, Julie Jones.
Here is the link to the article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-04-08-easter-passover-art_N.htm
Julie stands next to some of the banners that have hung in our church. Julie's liturgical art as seen at ArtFromTheSoul.com, and now full time occupation, was spurred on by Pastor Steve.
Come join us not only for worship and communion but for fellowship opportunities, service to the community, drama in worship, play readings, picnics, movies nights, visual arts in worship, vacation bible school, adult Sunday school, and opportunities for children and youth.
6/20/09 Garage Sale to Benefit the Window Fund
Wow, was this a great garage sale. We raised over $450.00 for the window fund. The weather cooperated most of the time and we had fun! We all found great bargains.
Gary "Mr. Organizer"
Terry "Board Chair" Lawn care extraordnaire.
Dawni "Mrs. Organizer"
Shoppers
Sarah finding baby clothes bargains.
Nathan guarding the bank.
Kayla and Cassie
Cassie and Kaleb checking out the toys
Steve and his posse.
May 12, 2009 Mother's Day Youth Service
We were all so proud of our youth on May 12!! What a wonderful job they did from scripture reading to the sermon. JJ gave the sermon and it was both insightful and humorous. We hope we know what direction JJ is headed. Here are a few of the youth.
Promoted as "Hawaiian Shirt Sunday" on 7/26/09 it was really Steve re-proposing to Sue and a renewal of their vows including flower "children!" Lots of Steve's family was there too!!
Communion Field Trip During Worship 8/2/09
The sermon on 8/2 was about the importance of communion to Disciples, its meaning and what lengths we would go to to be able to give and receive communion. Our resolve was put to the test as at the beginning of communion Steve announced that we were going to caravan over to our local nursing home, Hearthstone, where one of our members, Alice Rodriguez, lives under Hospice Care and hasn't been able to come to church since last fall. Alice misses everyone, misses being in church and misses communion! So we got into our cars and met under a lovely shade tree at Hearthstone's main patio and held communion. It was beautiful. We ended with an a capella singing of God be With You and then socialized with Alice and cupcakes provided by the DeArman Family.
The members that caravaned to have communion with Alice.
The flower from Steve and Sue's yard on the communion table that was also given to Alice.
Despite the chilly morning we had a wonderful worship service at Rock Park on 8/23/09. In worship we had an opportunity to remember our baptism with symbolic water (bottled for this occasion) with the glorious river in the background. We even had two passers-by join us!!
There was a wonderful feast afterwards of hot dogs, hamburgers and all the fixings provided by the "Care Committee," aka the Klein and O'Gorman family, with Vic and Gary manning the grills. Side dishes and deserts too numerous to mention filled the tables. After the picnic the kids and young adults, including one named "Steve," headed towards the river and had a grand time in the water (dunking, bucketing, water cannoning, playing--kid stuff). JJ and Chris found buckets of ice water to help with the drenching. We even had a water rescue: Nathan rescued Colty from being pulled down stream, when he ventured out to the middle and found the current to be too strong. Fortunately all ended well except for perhaps Nathan's cell phone. The little kids played on the play structure and the other adults (sans the one named Steve) mostly stayed dry and chatted under the canopy. Nathan demonstrated to Kaleb how to soak his mom and he joyfully complied. Lets do this again!
Panorama of the Truckee River and our park worship banner inviting all to join us.
Details about who the shawls represent can be found HERE. Just click!
August 29-30, 2009
A Listening Time with Ben Bohren, Our DOC Regional Minister
Saturday 8/29 and Sunday 8/30 before church, groups from the congregation gathered with Ben Bohren as a dedicated listening time to discerne and reflect where we going in the next five years. Ben asked a series of questions and we each were able to respond. (For example, What drew you to this church? Where do you see the church in 5 years? What do we need to do this? What are the roadblocks? What will I do to see this happen?) Ben will compile the responses and send them to us as a report which we ALL promised to read.
Here are some photos of our worship time together on Sunday 8/30/09.
Youth Leaders on 9/20/09
One of our youth, JJ Wren, guest preacher for the day, 9/20/09
More youth leaders!!
DeArman Baby Shower 9/20/09
A baby shower for Kylee DeArman.
Gifts from the congregation to the family.
Sarah and a balloon and in case you didn't know-- it's going to be a girl.
Big brother gets gifts too!
Kaleb show of his "I'm a big brother now" book.
Games too by the "Care Committee," Dawni and Kellie.
Kellie's colorful pasta salad!
Miracle Day at the Community of the Great Commission
10/3/09 in Foresthill, CA
The miracle was in transforming the camp! Jane and JJ Wren, Carol and Terry Bolen and Julie Jones came from Sparks.
Here are a few pictures.
With almost 400 people attending, there were cars as far as the eye could see.
Breakfast goodies for everyone.
The dining hall entry.
The dining hall entry.
Morning worship.
Ben Bohrn, regional minister and our morning leader.
With so many people, everyone parked outside of the camp.
Morning worship with movement.
Termite eaten wood made it a lot lighter to move off of the trails!!
Sparks First in the Summer 2009 Issue of "Mercury" Magazine
Kudos and thanks to Lynette Cook, the author, and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for the mention of Sparks First Christian Church in their Summer 2009 issue of "Mercury" magazine. Sparks was mentioned in a discussion of how space artists, such as our member Julie Jones, have diversified into other fields, such as liturgical art, in an article titled, "Is Space Art Dead?" We find it bold and refreshing to have a scientific writer and a scientific magazine include liturgical art in the discussion. Several images were included. "Mercury" is a members only magazine.
