Rev. Dr. Andy Mangum, who prefers to simply be called Andy, is the Regional Minister of the Christian Church in the Southwest.  He is married to Lori Mangum.  They both graduated from West Texas A&M University.  They have three children.  Madison Coleman who is married to Taylor, Andrew Mangum and Joshua Mangum.  They have identical twin granddaughters, Annaleigh and Elizabeth Coleman.  Andy is a graduate of Brite Divinity School (MDiv) and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (DMin).  He served in youth ministry at First Christian Church, Amarillo and Central Christian Church in Weatherford, Texas.  He has served as pastor at First Christian Church, DeSoto, Texas, First Christian Church, Irving, Texas, and First Christian Church in Arlington, Texas. 

Dr. Mangum will be our guest preacher on Sunday, 6/7/2020.
Sermon Intro: 
Those who recite the Nicene Creed confess faith in the “Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life.”  While we often think of the Holy Spirit as one who guides, equips, convicts and comforts, scripture also speaks of the Spirit as the force of God which animates creation (Psalm 104:30).  In our focus text for this series, the Spirit’s participation in creation is symbolized in “Fruit.”  Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia, “The Fruit of the Sprit is  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  I am reminded of the many Sunday School lessons that placed these virtues on paper apples, pineapples, oranges and bananas.  If we were lucky, the teacher would go through the extra effort of having actual fruit and we would be given grapes, or orange wedges, or apple slices to chew on while we studied the scriptures.  I used to love that imagery—I still do.  However, the direct or indirect message we received through these lessons is the we were to cultivate these virtues within ourselves through our own force of will.  Yet, fruit of the Spirit is more than an object lesson for Paul.  Fruit is more than a symbol of life.  Fruit is the embodiment of life.  It is the womb of a tree or vine or bush.  Without fruit there is no complex plant life.  To speak of the fruit of the Spirit is to speak of God’s generative act in forming us and making us.  We do not produce out of our own character.  Fruit of the Spirit emerges from us through the Spirit’s act.  Fruit emerge from us through the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life. 

We want to be proactive, not reactive. We want to take the situation seriously and act to keep our community healthy and avoid unnecessary risks. So...

1) Actions we have taken: disbursed hand sanitizer more widely around the campus; started using gloves to prepare communion; all serving communion use hand sanitizer before; encouraging elbow mumps or "hands together bow" in lieu of handshakes.

2) What are your own personal thoughts about your personal risk level and toleranace and what you think you need to do?
3) Elders, please reach out to the folks in your family group who are active and get feedback from them. How anxious are they? 
4) The situation is obviously fluid. We will watch day to day and make decisions as staff and executive com. If you have concerns, please let myself, Russell, Anne or the church office know.

LINKS:
Disciples of Christ response
Dallas County Health Dept
City of Dallas
CDC

Please take care of yourself and those around you. Check on the elderly or others who are at greater risk - do they need help with shopping etc if they're self-quarantining? 

Be smart. Be hopeful.
For heaven sakes wash your hands!!!

Ken

Pastor Ken talks briefly about how Central has opened its campus to the community.

Join us for this adventure as we learn to "Love your neighbor as yourself." 
Saturday: September 28, January 11 and April 25th - 10am-4pm
Central Westside Campus - 4711 Westside Drive, Dallas, 75209

We are excited to announce an expansion of the new Adult ESL program at Maple Lawn Elementary. Thanks to a generous donor, and mentoring from Aberg Center for Literacy, we are able to offer a 12 week sessions Fall and Spring, scheduled to begin September 3 and January 14.
Program Director and Sit Coordinator will be part time, paid positions to organize and lead center.
Volunteers will serve one night a week for 12 weeks, either Tuesday or Thursday. They will receive robust training and support from the staff as well as from Aberg volunteers who are mentoring us.
Use the donation button to make additional contributions to support this program. Just note "ESL" in the comment box to have the gift credited toward this program.
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Please fill out the form below to request more information.

Dear Central Christian Church,

It has been less than two months since I started working and worshiping here, and yet I feel like I have found a home and a family in the people of Central. For this reason, and many others, it is extremely difficult for me to tell you all that I have to leave Central, Dallas, and the XPLOR program. A lot of time, prayer, and discernment has gone into this decision and trust me when I say it was not an easy one to make. The short answer to the question "why?" is that my family back home needs me right now. They have been struggling financially and with mental and physical health problems since before I left for the program in August. But now those problems are escalating and I have been feeling a tugging at my heart that I need to be there to support them as they have supported me my entire life. 

While I am going to help my family in Tucson, I truly do feel as if I am leaving behind a family here in Dallas. In such a short time you all have touched a placed in my heart that will leave a lasting memory forever. You have shown me the true meaning of unconditional love and hospitality. You have shown me what doing Church outside of the walls of a sanctuary truly looks like. You have helped me learn about my calling and what my next steps may look like to further my own understanding of what Ministry can be. Every single person here has greeted me with open arms and has made me feel a true sense of belonging, and that is not always something that is easy to find.  So for all of these things that you have done for me and all of the things that I have not mentioned here I want to say thank you. Those two small words do not feel powerful enough to really show the gratitude I have for all you have done, but they will have to do for now. 

I want to leave you with a few wishes that I have for Central. I hope that you continue to throw your doors wide open to the lost and broken. I hope that you find yourselves wandering out of those doors more frequently and in larger quantities to experience God's transforming love with your neighbors. I pray that God will continue to wrap God's arms around this space and all of the people that inhabit it and the work that is being done. I truly wish that more people will experience the amazing thing that you have going for you all here at Central. In the short time I have been here, I have seen such a true sense of mission and God's love in the leadership and direction of this Church. If I can discover so much in the short chapter I have been here, I can't imagine what is to be discovered in the rest of the book that is Central Christian Church. 

As for me, I ask that you keep me and my family in your prayers through this difficult time. I also ask that you keep my housemates, Erin, Myma, and Neo in prayer as they move into a new phase of their lives here in Dallas without me. I will try to find you all on Facebook and if you feel so inclined to add me back I would love that. I would love to stay in touch with each and every person here at Central who has made such a huge impact on my life. I promise to keep Central and all of its ministries and people in my prayers. I hope that our paths will cross in the future and if I am ever in Dallas I will make sure to stop in and say hello.

Many blessings and best wishes,

Stephanie Sager

This series launches October 3rd at Central. Check back here for info on each show.