Most Tuesdays find a group of people gathered around the table in Fellowship Hall at Central Christian Church enjoying community lunch. Pastor Ken Crawford initiated the lunches about two years ago so that people had a place to meet for conversation and fellowship during the work week.

Whether in the field or behind the computer, working alone can become lonely, and Central aims to help remedy that with a weekly pot-luck.   You can bring a lunch, a dish to share or just come and eat.  There is always plenty. 

This week, the group enjoyed sandwiches from Pot Belly, home-made Tortilla soup, salad and carrot cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes to celebrate Pastor Ken’s birthday.   You can’t beat a lunch like that.

Tuesday’s lunch is only one of the ways Central reaches out to the community to provide a place for everyone.  The first and third Sundays of the month there is a 9 a.m. worship service in the one-acre community dog park located on the grounds so that people can bring their dog to church with them.  Twelve-step programs, Yoga, Co-Working are some of the activities that fill the building during the week.

Stop by anytime for a tour or visit Sunday morning at 11 a.m. All are welcome!  And if you come on Sunday, be sure to plan to stay for fellowship following worship.

Re-gifting, a phrase coined by comedian Jerry Seinfeld more than a decade ago is a controversial practice and can get you in a heap of trouble if you are not careful. However, Emily Post says the once tasteless, social faux pas is now acceptable. And Central Christian Church has gambled and won the unwanted gift dilemma by using them as prizes for White Elephant Bingo. 

Following morning worship, members gathered in Fellowship Hall to play bingo while enjoying cheese and pepperoni pies fresh from the kitchen’s huge pizza ovens. 

While it may sound corny to some, many folks look forward to the annual event. Central member Mary Chris Gibbons loves it.  Artist and jewelry maker, she often finds beauty in stuff that others don’t and refers to the quote “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” An avid Elvis fan, she has added to her Elvis cup collection at After Christmas Bingo, year after year. 

Mary Chris’ good friend Lisa Church won a bird feeder and 10 lbs. of seed this Sunday, brought we believe by bird lover, Katheryn Livengood.  It’s all fun! While members may come to Central to worship, they stay for fellowship! 

Morning worship is at 11 a.m. on Sunday mornings in the sanctuary and at 9 a.m. on the first and third Sunday of the month in the community dog park located behind the church.  But it is not a church that is open only on Sunday, there is something going on every day.  Yoga, Bible Study and Tuesday community lunch are only a few of the happenings at Central.  Visit the church website  for more information.     

Disciples Women of Central Christian Church celebrated their annual Christmas party and cookie delivery Tuesday morning.

The women have been baking and delivering homemade treats during the month of December for more years than most members can remember.  Margaret Wilson was married in the church in 1947 and she can’t recall exactly when the tradition began, “but it was a long time ago” she assured.

Festivities began with a visit from Santa before the meeting was brought to order by President Becky Riggins.

The Christmas program was presented by singer/actress Lois Leftwich.  Lois chose Christmas songs featured in Broadway shows and entertained the women with trivia and stories associated with the song and the storyline from the production.

 Her selections included “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree,” and of course, the classic, “White Christmas.”  

Accompanied on the piano by Carolyn Shinn, Lois performed the songs and ended the program with the audience joining in to sing “White Christmas.”

Following the meeting, the ladies enjoyed a delicious soup and salad lunch before assembling the plates of Christmas goodies and delivering to the members who are no longer able to attend church activities due to age and immobility. 

The Disciples Women is a service organization who reaches into the community to lend a hand to those who may benefit by caring and nurturing.  If you want to be a part of their ministry, make plans to attend one of their meetings.  You don’t have to be a member of Central or any church for that matter.  Just contact the church or shelia0806@sbcglobal.net to learn more about the organization.   

During last Sunday’s morning worship at Central Christian Church, actor David Tinney narrated the sermon portraying Stage Manager from the Thornton Wilder play, “Our Town.” 

That may not seem like a typical delivery of a sermon, but as Rev. Dr. Ken Crawford shared,” “Theatre both expresses and forms our feelings, beliefs and ideas. Whether about ourselves, the world, or God, we engage in this drama to re-member and re-create God’s work in and around us and convey our hopes and fears.”

Sunday’s service was in part a celebration to remember the late Ed Delatte, who revived and directed Central’s drama troupe, the Westside Players. The drama company was originally founded by former pastor, Rev. Dr. E.C. Rowand, his wife Mary Louise, and Mary Ellen Cunyus during the 1960’s.  When Ed joined the church in 2000, he developed new interest in the theatrical ministry and presented plays like “Our town” and “I Remember Mama” on Central’s stage in fellowship hall.

Ed was an actor in movies and television commercials, founder and artistic director of the NorthPark-based Dallas Repertory Theater, Associate Professor of Theatre in the Department of Dance and Drama at the University of North Texas, an instructor of drama at Hockaday School and El Centro College, but it was as church elder and friend to everyone at Central that Ed most wanted to be remembered.  

In addition to fond memories of theatrical productions, Ed left a monetary gift to the musical ministry of Central.  The sanctuary’s beautiful grand piano is a result of Ed’s generosity and love for the church and a plaque honoring his gift was unveiled and placed on the piano during Sunday’s service.

Following the service, a reception in fellowship hall re-united many of the original members of the Westside Players and memorabilia like costume books and photo albums were displayed.

If you or your child has an interest in theater, please contact Lois Leftwich at Central for more information on productions and performances.

The “Hanging of the Greens” is one of the most festive days during Advent.  The sanctuary is decorated with greenery and Poinsettias.  The North Texas Jazz Band complements David, Tim and the Chancel Choir in a beautiful musical ministry. 

Following Sunday morning’s 11 a.m. worship service everyone is invited for “A Taste of Christmas” in fellowship hall.  This is the day to bring your favorite Christmas party fare—cheese ball, sausage balls, tamales, fudge, divinity or even a figgy pudding.  Show off your favorite holiday food— that sweet or savory that says Christmas to you! 

Kids love "the Hanging of the Greens" and will be delighted with the sugarplums served after the service, so make this a family celebration during the Christmas season.

At 4 p.m. the sanctuary will again celebrate the beautiful season with “Advent Lessons and Carols,” the third year of a collaboration between Central Christian Church and St. Thomas the Apostle.  Leaders from both churches and members of both choirs will perform readings, carols and anthems. Following the service, holiday refreshments will be served in fellowship hall. 

All are welcome to any or all of these joyous celebrations on Sunday, December 9. All means “all.”