CCOK301, Author at Christian Church in Oklahoma

Mission Camp Road Show Hits the Road for Hurricane Harvey Recovery Work

Mission Camp Road Show hit the road on July 7th to Texas City, Texas to help with Hurricane Harvey recovery work. 54 volunteers from 10 Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) churches will join the recovery efforts this week.

Michael Davison will be leading the Mission Camp Road Show July 7-13. This mission trip is coordinated with Reach Beyond Mission, a Disciples non-profit ministry out of Austin. The youth and adults will travel by charter bus to Texas City, Texas, where they will join the leadership of Reach Beyond Mission. Their work will include assisting Disciples Volunteering in Mission with long term recovery following Hurricane Harvey, and their learning will be “Creation Justice.”

Thank you to Southern Hills Christian Church – Edmond, Central Christian Church – Enid, Christian Church of the Covenant – Enid, FCC El Reno, New Covenant Christian Church – OKC, Western Oaks Christian Church – OKC, Putnam City Christian Church, FCC Stroud, Forest Park Christian Church – Tulsa, and FCC Woodward for participating in this important mission project.

A special thank you to our sponsors for their financial support!

Charter Bus Seat Sponsors

Adult Bible Study Class, Central CC Enid
Anonymous Donor (2 seats)
FCC Durant
Genesis Class, Central CC Enid
Rev. John & Sally Wheeler
Ken & Phyllis Hambrick (3 seats)
Linda & Rev. Pat Sutherlin
Lois Tilley
Max Johnson
Michael Allen
Patricia Swann
Rev. Dr. Lisa Davison
Rev. Geoff Brewster
Rev. Paul Ragle
Ruth Moore
Thom & Laurie Bushman (2 seats)
Travis Carlson Family

Trip Sponsors

Central Area Ministries
Central Christian Church Enid
Children, Youth, & Young Adult Commission
First Christian Church El Reno
First Christian Church Moore (overnight host for groups arriving on Saturday before the entire group left Sunday morning at 7am).
Leadership Training School Offering
New Covenant Christian Church
Northeast Area Ministries
Oklahoma Disciples Foundation Grant

Could your congregation, Sunday school class, or you be a sponsor of the trip? We need 50 seat sponsors for the charter bus. Sponsor a seat for $100 and we will put your name on a seat for the trip. Click here to become a sponsor today with an secure online gift.

CCOK3012019-07-23T12:26:44-05:00Jul 8, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off

Celebrating Their Last Service Together as Odyssey Christian Church Closes

The congregation worshiped for the last time on June 26th. Odyssey had moved from First Christian in Jenks to Boston Ave. United Methodist Church. A few excerpts from Rev. Phil Ball’s last letter to the congregation:

“I write to you in celebration of the 14 years we have both experienced and shared God’s Light. While Odyssey’s form will soon separate into its component parts, you will continue to bear the light as those who have known a place where real life was integrated with real faith lived out in vulnerability, growth, expansion, compassion, grace, and service.

I need to add something we did which in my own mind stayed below the radar for most of us. Because we have been so personal in our missional activities, and these consistent gifts from 10% of our regular budget were not directly ‘personal’, it was easy for them to go unnoticed and uncelebrated. We have from May of 2005 through June of 2019 given a minimum of 10,000 dollars per year to these combined agencies including the Disciples Mission Fund; Disciples Week of Compassion, The Annual Fund of the Christian Church in Oklahoma; the Northeast Area Office of the Christian Church in Okla., and finally the global Church World Service which serves millions of people worldwide and especially the refugees from war. We have to my memory never had a year where giving to our regular budget was less than 100,000 dollars annually which meant that the minimum we have given away to these 5 agencies was more than 140,000 dollars over Odyssey’s life span. And that was in addition all the special acts and items we gave during the year!

I invite you to be proud of the witness this congregation that never had an average worship attendance of more than 45 people per week has done through the generosity of God, and the vision that we could make a positive difference in God’s world. We have!”

CCOK3012019-07-03T13:17:17-05:00Jul 3, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

General Assembly is Drawing Near

General Assembly is Drawing Near
July 20 – 24, 2019
“Abide With Me”

Passionate worship! Important business! Engaging workshops! Joyful fellowship!
Many Disciples are anticipating seeing their colleagues and friends soon at General Assembly in Des Moines, Iowa. Both Michael Davison and Pam Holt will be attending the 2019 General Assembly in Des Moines, Iowa from July 19- July 24. We hope to see many of our Oklahoma Disciples in Iowa engaging in the work of the larger church.

The Oklahoma Region will have many of our clergy and lay folks traveling north for this assembly.

Please pray . . .

for the Holy Spirit to blow among us to give us deeper understanding of who we are as Disciples of Christ!
for all who have given endless hours to plan this great gathering!
for safe travels for all our Disciples!
for the four Oklahomans who will serve as Regional Delegates
Sandy Malget, member of Central Enid
Randy Holt, member of FCC Norman
Jacqueline Bass, member of OKC Wildewood
Ann Scott, member of OKC Wildewood
Jeff Champeau, FCC Norman, who is serving as Oklahoma’s member of the General Board!

Oklahoma Disciples will have a night of celebration while at Assembly. Stay tuned to your email and social media for details.

CCOK3012019-07-02T11:26:24-05:00Jul 2, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off

Aug. 2-3: Children Worship and Wonder Storytelling Training

Please plan to attend the Children Worship & Wonder Storytelling Training at Western Oaks Christian Church (8100 NW 23^rd St. Oklahoma City, OK 73127) on August 2, 2019 from 6pm to 9pm and August 3 from 9am to 4pm.

After completing Children Worship & Wonder Storytelling Training, you will be certified to be a CW&W storyteller. You will be equipped to share biblical stories and encourage faith formation in a special worship space dedicated to children. Register online HERE

Light dinner will be provided on Friday
Lunch provided on Saturday
Cost is $120 if registered by July 29. $150 after July 29.
Trainer: Julia Jordan Gillett

Click HERE to find more resources about Worship & Wonder. If you have any further questions, please contact Rev. Julia Jordan Gillett at (405) 821-0108 or mgillett@aol.com

CCOK3012019-07-17T10:58:05-05:00Jul 2, 2019|Clergy News, Congregations|Comments Off

Where in the World Are Your Regional Ministers?

You’ll find your Regional staff across the U.S.!

June 29 – July 13: Pam on vacation in Colorado
July 4: Regional Office closed for Independence Day
July 7 – July 13: Michael Davison at Mission Camp Road Show, Texas City, Texas
July 15: Pam returns to the office
July 15 – August 16: Michael is on Sabbatical (a few days in Chicago)
July 19 – July 24: Pam & Michael attending General Assembly, Des Moines, Iowa

Summer is here! The spring storms have withered away leaving an abundance of mosquitoes, flies, frogs, ants, and still a lot of clean up. And now Oklahoma has transitioned into the hot, humid days of summer.

Camps

June has been rich with summer church camps:

Chi Rho Camp at Oak Ridge in Anadarko
JYF Camp and CYF Conference at Central Oklahoma Camp & Conference Center in Guthrie
Chi Rho & CYF at Texoma Christian Camp
Water Weekend in Kingston
Camp still to come: Grand Camp at Camp Christian in Chouteau

Of course, Michael Davison has been present for these camps, and I have made an appearance! The photo gallery of these camps can be found here.

Camp is one of the most amazing places to meet God, to deepen one’s faith, to make a commitment to be a disciple of Christ, to experience true community, to make life-long friends, and to begin to connect the dots that we practice our faith every day in a variety of ways.

Thank you to ALL who make camp possible: camp staff, counselors, directors, parents, grandparents, congregations, Disciple Mens ministry, Commission on Children, Youth & Young Adults, Regional staff, and the young people. We are especially grateful for the presence of a Disciple Peace Intern and two Global Missionary Co-Workers from Beirut, Lebanon. It takes more than a village! And always with the power of the Holy Spirit!

Mission Camp Road Show

Michael Davison will be leading the Mission Camp Road Show July 7-13. This mission trip is coordinated with Reach Beyond Mission, a Disciples non-profit ministry out of Austin. Fifty-four youth and adults will travel by charter bus to Texas City, Texas, where they will join the leadership of Reach Beyond Mission. Their work will include assisting Disciples Volunteering in Mission with long term recovery following Hurricane Harvey, and their learning will be “Creation Justice.”

Vacation

Pam & Randy are vacationing with their family in Pagosa Springs, Colorado for two weeks. She will be out of the office from June 29-July 13.

San Juan River, Pagosa Springs, CO. 2019

San Juan River, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. 2019.

Pagosa Peak. 2019.

Sabbatical

Michael Davison enters the third leg of his sabbatical from July 15-August 16. During these five weeks, in addition to rest and General Assembly, Michael will be traveling to Chicago, Illinois to attend the Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders presented by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center.

Pray . . .

As we pray for you, we also invite you to give thanks . . . for the Holy Spirit that has touched and transformed the hearts and minds of many campers . . . for opportunities to reconnect with family and friends, near and far, and . . . for safe summer travels.

General Assembly

Both Michael and Pam will be attending the 2019 General Assembly in Des Moines, Iowa from July 19- July 24. We hope to see many of our Oklahoma Disciples in Iowa engaging in the work of the larger church. Yes, there will be a night where Oklahoma Disciples gather for fellowship. Stay tuned to your email and social media for details.

CCOK3012019-07-17T10:54:28-05:00Jul 2, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off

Job Posting: Phillips Theological Seminary, Vice President of Advancement

Phillips Theological Seminary is searching to hire the position of Vice President of Advancement. Mission of Position: The Vice President of Advancement, in collaboration with the President, the Board of Trustees and other administrators, leads and oversees all activities and programs related to understanding and building financial support for the mission of Phillips Theological Seminary.

Please email a cover letter expressing interest in the position, being as specific as you can, and detailing relevant professional experience, education, and training, along with a resume, including the names and contact information of at least three professional references to gwen.derrick@ptstulsa.edu.

Read the full job description HERE.

CCOK3012019-07-17T10:52:21-05:00Jul 1, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off

July 14: Oklahoma Family Empowerment Center Benefit Concert

Please join In the Spirit Christian Church (1020 S. Garnett Rd. Tulsa, OK) on July 14th at 3:30pm for a concert to benefit the Oklahoma Family Empowerment Center. Oklahoma Family Empowerment Center is a not-for-profit agency that seeks to provide resources and assistance to individuals and their families that will empower them to live a successful and purposeful life.

CCOK3012019-07-01T13:26:37-05:00Jul 1, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Church World Service Kits Program: Emergency Kit Depots Needed! Watch the Video

Watch a video about the emergency kits impact!

A Letter From Church World Service:

As you might have heard, the CWS Kits program is a critical one for disaster responses both near and far. But we have one big problem: we don’t have an easy way for congregations in your area to collect the supplies needed to fuel those responses.

We’re determined to overcome that problem this year, which is why I’m reaching out to your congregation. We’re looking for one congregation to serve as our Emergency Kit Depot in your area when disasters strike the U.S. It’s a very low-maintenance commitment with a powerful outcome. Will you consider serving in this role?

As an Emergency Kit Depot, your congregation would open your doors for a limited period of time (around two months) following a major emergency, and only when CWS makes it clear that there is a need. This gives local congregations a place to drop off their emergency cleanup buckets, hygiene kits and school kits based on your availability.

Our team supplies almost everything you’d need to make this a smooth process: we communicate with local congregations, we send you a toolkit with preparation information, and we arrange for kits to be picked up at a date that is convenient for your congregation. You would simply be offering storage space and a handful of volunteers to help with the collection.

If your congregation is interested, I’d love to share more information with you about this important opportunity to see if it’s a mutual fit. Just complete this interest form and we’ll reach out to you right away – this is a first step in learning more, but it does not commit your congregation to the kits ministry.

Thanks so much for your support as we respond to more needs together,

Samantha Fore
Congregational Outreach Specialist
Church World Service

CCOK3012019-07-01T13:18:27-05:00Jul 1, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Letter from the President of the Christian Church Commission

For more than 60 years, the Christian Church Commission, in relationship with The Christian Church (DOC) in Oklahoma, has been a part of the formation of almost 20 congregations in the greater Oklahoma City area. The Commission helped with my home church, Southern Hills Christian Church in Edmond, and may have helped with your church! In the past few years, the Commission has helped Iglesia Cristiana de Capitol Hill, Refuge Fellowship and Simplicity Christian Church with funding and support.

The Commission continues to pursue its mission of starting new churches in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. We feel a real need to continue working toward bringing the Good News to all that we can reach.

As a Commission, we have not done a very good job lately of publicizing our mission, or even our existence! We hope to do a better job of that this year. As part of that process, we have updated our brochure. For those of you who attended the Leadership Training School in February, we hope you saw our booth and picked up a copy of the brochure.

We would love to have you join us in our mission and we would love to visit with you and your church to let you know how you can help. You may view our brochure HERE. If you would like copies of our brochure or for someone to come to your church and make a (short) presentation, please let us know. We would be happy to!

Karl F. Hirsch
Hirsch, Heath & White PLLC
901 Cedar Lake Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73114
Telephone: (405) 235-1768

CCOK3012019-06-26T12:50:26-05:00Jun 26, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Sept. 9-11, 2019: Northwest Area Clergy Retreat

Northwest Area clergy invite Oklahoma clergy in active service of a congregation to join your colleagues for time away to rest, for continuing education, and connection to others that share a call to ministry. The retreat will focus on congregational transformation. The theme is “So You Think Something Needs to Change!”

Presentations by: Rev. Gene Spillman, Pastor Jeanette Heitfeld, Rev. Larry Metzger, Rev. Tom Stanley, and Rev. Pam Holt. Continuing education credit available.

The retreat is held at Roman Nose State Park. Housing options include typical hotel rooms in the lodge and small duplex style cabins away from the main campus. Housing options are limited, as this event is limited to 22 participants. The Northwest Area Cabinet underwrites up to 50% of this event so that the cost is a reasonable $160 per person.

Questions? Contact Michael Davison mdavison@okdisciples.org

Click here to register.

CCOK3012019-06-26T09:21:07-05:00Jun 26, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off

CCOK301

About CCOK301

Camps

Mission Camp Road Show

Vacation

Sabbatical

Pray . . .

General Assembly