CCOK301, Author at Christian Church in Oklahoma

Week of Compassion at Work in Oklahoma

You Have Been Present . . .

In the last month, Oklahoma has sustained a severe weather pattern with unprecedented rain and tornadoes. El Reno endured flooding one week and a devastating tornado the next. The following communities also sustained flooding: Stillwater, Ponca City, Skiatook, Chandler, Miami, Muskogee, Langley, and the greater Tulsa area.

Thank you for your generous giving to Week of Compassion and the Oklahoma Disaster Fund, not just this spring season, but EVERY TIME YOU GIVE.

Every time you give, and there is a disaster in the world or in Oklahoma, you are there. Week of Compassion and Oklahoma Disaster Fund have provided assistance to individuals and congregations and will continue to do so because of your generosity.

Please continue praying for the long term disaster clean up in communities, for first responders who have rescued people and animals, for the Red Cross and the Medical Reserve Corps folks who are working endless hours with people, for the sandbaggers, for those who are providing clean water and a place to stay above water, for farmers who have lost crops, for those who still wrestle with weather anxiety, and who are battling extra mosquitoes, ants, and snakes. Your prayers hold a special place and fill the space between fear and safety.

Let us be grateful for our Disciples pastors who are prepared to stand alongside all those affected and members who are reaching out to love their neighbors in the name of Jesus Christ.

Images taken a few days after the first rain in May – view from I-35 and Ponca City exit. (Photo credit: Regional Minister Pam Holt)

CCOK3012019-06-11T15:50:52-05:00Jun 11, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Pentecost Offering

Pentecost Offering supports new congregations! Also, thank you for praying for our brothers and sisters who are called to start new congregations by reaching out into the community with Christ’s love. Your gifts are helping 4 congregations in Oklahoma.

OKC – Simplicity Church led by Israel Hogue, MDiv PTS student
OKC – The Table @ The Paramount led by Cece Jones Davis and Jonathan Martin
Tulsa – Seeking The Kingdom Ministries led by Mareo Johnson
Lawton – American Samoan congregation seeking to affiliate with Disciples of Christ.

CCOK3012019-06-11T09:48:57-05:00Jun 11, 2019|Pamela Holt Blog|Comments Off

Phillips University Legacy Foundation J. Gottman Begins as Director of Development

PRESS RELEASE:

ENID, OK June 3, 2019 — Phillips University Legacy Foundation is excited to announce that on Wednesday, May 1, J. Gottman began work as Director of Development. J. will work remotely, full time, from his home in Paducah, Kentucky, with regular trips to Enid as needed. He will serve in partnership with Executive Director, Kelly Coker, in support of the mission of PULF by providing scholarships and opportunities to educate and develop leaders who embody Christian values in their lives, service and work.

J. is a graduate of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and earned his Masters of Divinity in 1997 from Vanderbilt Divinity School. Prior to joining PULF, J. served as Director of Development for Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN. Additionally, he served 6 years as pastor at Century Christian Church in Owensboro, Kentucky, followed by more than 11 years as Lead Pastor at First Christian Church of Paducah. He is an experienced fundraiser and minister who appreciates the value of PULF’s mission of providing scholarships to undergraduate students who wish to attend a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) affiliated college or university.

J. has been married for 23 years to Erin, a Nurse Practitioner. They have a daughter, Bailey, who just graduated high school and will be attending Transylvania
University in Lexington, Kentucky, this fall; and a son, Gage, who will be a sophomore in high school. J. will have primary responsibilities for the Annual Scholarship Fund, alumni/ae relations, regional PULF gatherings around the country, major gifts, and the Legacy Foundation of planned givers. He is excited about partnering in the mission of PULF and looks forward to seeing the Legacy Foundation grow in providing even more scholarships to deserving students.

CCOK3012019-06-10T13:59:56-05:00Jun 10, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Association of Disciple Musicians’ National Summer Music Conference

Learn more about the many “Option Classes” that the Association of Disciple Musicians (ADM) will offer at the National Summer Conference in July. The National Summer Conference will take place July 7-12, 2019 in St. Louis.

The Conference will offer a broad spectrum of classes in addition to the plenary sessions of Worship Seminar. Take a look at these “Option Classes” and the impressive pros behind them.

You may review the conference brochure here
Register online here
Questions? Email ADM at [email protected]

CCOK3012019-06-10T13:50:14-05:00Jun 10, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Pentecost Video Message from General Minister and President, Terri Hord Owens

Watch the Pentecost video message from GMP, Terri Hord Owens here.

If you choose to donate to the Pentecost Special Offering, you may give online here.

CCOK3012019-06-10T13:10:19-05:00Jun 10, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off

Harvard Avenue Christian Church Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Join us in congratulating Harvard Avenue Christian Church, as they celebrate their 60th Anniversary. Their first worship service was on Palm Sunday in 1959, in a borrowed space at an elementary school. Their 60th Anniversary celebration took place on Pentecost Sunday 2019, in a packed sanctuary with more than 400 in attendance, followed by an indoor/outdoor picnic lunch.

Thank you Harvard Avenue Christian Church for sixty years of preaching the good news and enriching your community by showing them the love of Jesus.

CCOK3012019-06-10T12:49:57-05:00Jun 10, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Join Us in Prayer for the Upcoming Caminante Mission Trip

Please join us in prayer for Bret Carter, Molly Carter, Madison Rubino, and Cecelia Tolley, as they prepare to depart on July 21 for the Dominican Republic to bless the Caminante Ministry. We pray for their safe travels to and from Boca Chica and a blessed summer community fair for the children in Boca Chica.

This summer community fair serves around 300 children and teenagers over a three day period. While in the Dominican Republic the group will also help make coconut jewelry with Haitian teenagers, visit a sugar cane plantation community, visit the Caminante vocational school for hair braiding and haircuts, go to church Sunday evening in Boca Chica, and visit Santo Domingo to tour the cathedral, the fort, and Christopher Columbus’ home.

CCOK3012019-07-24T10:24:35-05:00Jun 6, 2019|Mission|Comments Off

June 18: Retired Clergy Gathering

Dear Retired Clergy Friends,

We are working toward several gatherings of Retired Clergy this next year and want to invite you to participate. We are imagining these gatherings to be three times per year: one in the OKC area, one in the Tulsa area, and one alternating between Stroud and Enid. These meetings will primarily be fellowship, and occasionally a program. And, we will be collaborating on some organizational matters.

The first of these gatherings will be at 10:30am at First Christian Church Stroud on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. Lunch will follow at the Rock Cafe,
114 W Main St., Stroud.

Future gatherings will be:

Tuesday, June 18, 2019: First Christian Church Stroud, 323 W. 4th St., Stroud
Monday, Sept. 23, 2019: Harvard Avenue Christian Church, 5502 S. Harvard Ave., Tulsa
Monday, March 23, 2020: Southern Hills Christian Church, Edmond, 3207 S. Boulevard, Edmond
Tuesday, June 23, 2020: Christian Church of the Covenant, 1205 S. Cleveland, Enid

Please make your reservation through the Regional Office by contacting Ellen Beer, Exec. Assistant at (405) 528-3577 (M-Th 8:30 am-4:30 pm) or emailing [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you June 18th!

CCOK3012019-06-06T13:46:28-05:00Jun 6, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off

Congratulations to the 2019 NEACCO Grant Recipients

Congratulations to the recipients of NEACCO 2019 grant funding this year: Disciples Village Apartments Auxiliary Closet, In The Spirit Christian Church, and the Oklahoma Family Empowerment Center.

The Disciples Village Apartments Auxiliary Closet has received a Cargile & Senior Hands-On Ministry Grant of $5,500 to help supply residents of this HUD subsidized, low-income apartment complex for older adults with basic household necessities, at no cost to them. Located in Tulsa, OK, Disciples Village was established by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma.

In The Spirit Christian Church (ITSCC) and the Oklahoma Family Empowerment Center (OFEC) have been awarded a Connection Grant in the amount of $5,000 for a collaborative, nine-week summer camp for underprivileged children (ages five to 13) around the area of 11^th and Garnett in Tulsa, OK. A Summer Camp to Remember: Ecology Exploration will take place June 3^rd – August 2^nd, 2019.

NEACCO gives thanks for the faithful donors of generations past that have enabled the funding of ministry grants such as these. We look forward to celebrating the impact that these grants will have on the future of ministry in Northeastern Oklahoma.

CCOK3012019-06-06T10:42:06-05:00Jun 6, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

July 18 – 20: Green Chalice’s Clergy Retreat

What: Clergy Retreat: Resilient Hearts, Leaders & Communities
When: July 18-20, 2019
Where: Wakonda Christian Church (Des Moines, IA)
Why: It doesn’t take long in ministry to realize that your own “stuff” shows up when caring for all of God’s creation from people to planet. What can we do to show up as our best selves, even in the worst situations? In 36 hours, our goals are big and bold. This retreat will meet at the intersections of Compassion Practice, Sabbath, Race, and Creation to make peace within our own wounds so that we might make peace within these intersections.

Interested? Click here for more information or email Sandra Summers at [email protected]

CCOK3012019-06-03T13:50:14-05:00Jun 3, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off