CCOK301, Author at Christian Church in Oklahoma

We LOVE Our Annual Fund Supporters!

Dear Regional Church Family,

We LOVE our Annual Fund donors! We also are grateful for our Annual Fund donors because your contributions richly support the ministries of the Regional Church! Your contributions allow us to continue to reach beyond our borders with mission trips, to enrich the minds and hearts of young people at camps and conferences, and to create new ministries such as the Refugees and Immigrant Ministries and the Pro-Reconciliation and Anti-Racism workshops.

Stories are powerful and so are pictures. We have created a snapshot of the variety of ministries around the Region for you to catch a glimpse of how your gifts are being used to connect, equip, and empower faithful Disciples across Oklahoma to love and serve like Jesus. It is an honor and a joy to make new Disciples who abide with Christ and are passionate about sharing the “good news” of Jesus Christ.

This work we are all engaged in is hard. Whether we are participating in deeply spiritual communities that are aging congregations, or are trying to grow something fruitful out of what feels like meager beginnings, or are in the streets of Oklahoma, both literally and figuratively, working on justice issues that seem too big for any one of us to make a difference, or are finding a new vision hard to imagine, following Jesus is hard. And yet, we all hold on to that one, miraculous thing that allows each of us and all of us to put our feet on the ground morning after morning – hope. The hope that things will improve, the hope that hearts will be changed, the hope that the love and spirit of God will move and breathe among the masses. It is our capacity for hope and your generous contributions to the Annual Fund that keep the Regional Church resourceful to our ministers, our congregations, and you.

Every dollar given is important. As we enter the final quarter of 2019, would you please consider making a gift to the Annual Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma? You may write a check and return it to Christian Church in Oklahoma (301 NW 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73118) or you may give electronically through “Givelify.” Our faith depends on God’s generosity, and we depend on your generosity to the Regional Church. Thank you!

Peace & God’s Grace,

Rev. Pamela G. Holt Regional Minister
P.S. To securely donate online visit https://okdisciples.org/donate-now/

Click HERE to download the Snapshot of Regional Ministries

CCOK3012019-10-08T12:55:21-05:00Oct 1, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off

October is Pastor Appreciation Month!

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. We thank each of our pastors and ministers for sharing their gifts, talents, energy, wisdom, kindness, and time to bless others. We appreciate all you do, every day for your local congregation and the Oklahoma Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Celebrate your pastor this month! Here are some ideas…..

1. Be Present in Worship: Join in worship with your Pastor and congregation.

2. Write a Letter: Take the time to write a personal note of encouragement and appreciation to your Pastor.

3. Provide Dinner: Pastors have to eat dinner too! How about a restaurant gift card or an invitation to your home for dinner one evening?

4. Supply Favorite Things: Think of a small treat your Pastor enjoys, such as M&Ms, fishing lures, coffee, etc. A thoughtful gift doesn’t have to cost much. The idea of knowing someone spent the time picking out one of your favorite things is a kind gesture.

CCOK3012019-10-01T10:38:34-05:00Oct 1, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off

PTS Ministry Training 2019/2020 Course Offerings: Registration Deadline Sept. 30

Phillips Theological Seminary’s Ministry Training Program has room for you! Register today!

2019 Session 3 Course Offerings (Classes running from October 14 – December 8, 2019) Registration Deadline is Monday, September 30, 2019.
2020 Session 4 Course Offerings (Classes running from January 6 – March 1, 2020) Registration Deadline is December 20, 2019.

Click HERE to see a full list of the courses offered.

CCOK3012019-09-30T10:27:21-05:00Sep 30, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Nov. 8, 2019: Oklahoma Family Empowerment Center 2019 Annual Dinner

Please join Oklahoma Family Empowerment Center for their Annual Dinner and Awards Program on Friday, November 8, 2019 at 7pm at Harvard Avenue Christian Church (5502 South Harvard Avenue, Tulsa, OK). Keynote speaker, Rev. Sandhya Jha will speak about “Transforming Communities – Healing Neighborhoods”.

A workshop will be held at Harvard Avenue Christian Church on Saturday, November 9, 2019 from 9am – 3pm.

Click here to download the flyer. Email https://www.ofec.co/ for more information.

CCOK3012019-09-30T10:03:26-05:00Sep 26, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Central Christian Church – Enid, Gives Away 925 Pairs of Shoes

Central Christian Church – Enid, partners with “Foster Feet“, which is a program that provides shoes to children in the community who need them. The original goal for the Foster Feet was to provide shoes to foster children who enter foster care with very little. The ministry has been expanded over the past couple of years to provide shoes to any child in need. Last year, the ministry provided shoes to over 700 children at the local schools and the church.

Enid Public Schools currently supports a student population of which almost 80% receive free or reduced prices lunches. To qualify for this, students and their family’s income must be less than 200% of the federal poverty level. The need was clear to Central Christian Church – Enid, and their ministry team.

On August 12th, they gave away 925 pairs of shoes to kids and families. Rev. Tom Stanley, (Senior Minister at Central Christian Church – Enid) says, “One of the most amazing things I have ever seen is the look of pure joy when a child receives a new pair of shoes.”

Thank you to Lauren Anderson who had the vision to create Foster Feet. Thank you to Central Christian Church – Enid, for partnering in this ministry and providing such an amazing outreach ministry to the Enid community.

CCOK3012020-02-04T11:23:09-06:00Sep 26, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

UCC Annual Meeting Oct. 18 – 19, 2019: Kansas-Oklahoma Conference Welcomes the Rev. Diana Butler Bass

What’s Gratitude Got to Do With It?

Join the Kansas-Oklahoma UCC Annual Conference in welcoming the Rev. Diana Butler Bass! Rev. Butler Bass will use her latest book, Grateful, as the basis for her presentations, What’s Gratitude Got to Do With It: Embracing Thanks as a Path to the Future.

Saturday October 19, 8:00 a.m.—3:30 p.m., Doubletree Hotel, 616 West Seventh Street, Tulsa, OK

DIANA BUTLER BASS IS AN AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR, PREACHER, AND PUBLIC SPEAKER on issues of spirituality, religion, culture, and politics. She has appeared on numerous television and radio programs. She has been featured in Time, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Times, among other publications. From 1995 to 2000, she wrote a weekly column for the New York Times Syndicate. She was a founding blogger for both Beliefnet and Huffington Post religion. Her bylines include The Washington Post and Atlantic.com. She has preached and taught in hundreds of venues around the world.

SCHEDULE:

8:00 a.m. Breakfast sponsored by Phillips Theological Seminary
9:30 a.m. Gathering Words and Introductions
10:00 a.m. Presentation, Diana Butler Bass
11:15 a.m. Lunch and Book Signing; Visit Display Areas
1:30 p.m. Presentation, including questions, Diana Butler Bass
3:00 p.m. Sending forth

Download the flyer HERE

Register at https://tinyurl.com/KObutlerbass Select the “Saturday ONLY” option on the tickets page: tickets are $60 and include both presentations by Rev. Butler Bass, plus breakfast and lunch. Registration deadline: Oct. 11.

CCOK3012019-10-08T10:28:31-05:00Sep 19, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Sept. 24: Oklahoma Disciples Foundation Hosts “FAITH UNDER FIRE: Teaching & Preaching Generosity”

Oklahoma Disciples Foundation is pleased to offer a free seminar titled “FAITH UNDER FIRE: Teaching and Preaching Generosity”. Please plan to join this one day stewardship and generosity seminar featuring Guest Speaker, Rev. Dr. Dale McConnell with Horizons Stewardship.

Click HERE to view the flyer

Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2019 • 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Yale Avenue Christian Church, Tulsa
Cost: Free, plus complimentary lunch
Continuing Education: 4 contact hours
Register Online: HERE
Registration Deadline: 9/18/19
Questions: call Julie 405-525-6530 or jabowers@okdfdn.org

Rev. Dr. McConnell will present these topics:

Worst Practices in Stewardship
Next Level Generosity
Effective Preaching for Inspiring Generosity

The Foundation holds many worthwhile endowments benefiting the church, the Region and its missions and ministries, including funds for grants. Click this link: “Together We Touch Lives” if you would like to make an honorary or memorial donation to one of these funds.

CCOK3012019-09-12T10:46:07-05:00Sep 12, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Rev. Terri Hord Owens Will Preach at East Sixth Street Christian Church’s Centennial Celebration

The East Sixth Street Christian Church, a (Disciples of Christ) congregation, will celebrate 100 years of ministry this fall. The congregation has a rich history filled with service to this city and indeed the world. The celebrations have been designed to reflect that local, state and national manifestations of ministry.

The church is delighted to have as its special guest for this celebration, the Rev. Teresa Hord Owens, the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. Rev. Owens is just the second woman, and the first African American to be elected as General Minister and President. She will be the speaker for the Centennial Banquet on Saturday, October 12th, at the Embassy Suites Hilton, OKC Downtown Medical Center, on NE 8th and Phillips. The banquet is from 6pm-9pm. Tickets are $60.

The Centennial activities begin this Saturday, September 7th with a church cookout, music and games at Edwards Park, beginning at 11am. The next day, former Pastor Rev. Boyze Edwards will preach an Ancestor Memorial Service honoring those who built East Sixth Street. Pastor Edwards served as pastor from 1986 to 1996.

Our next event will be a Children’s Choir Musical on September 15th, at 3:30pm. On Sunday, September 29th, the celebration goes statewide as we host the Oklahoma Convocation of Christian Churches musical. Congregations across the state from Tulsa to Chickasha and in between will join us for a grand celebration of gospel and inspirational music.

We will cap the musical portion of the celebration with a Reunion Musical on October 6th at 3:30pm. If you were ever a member of any one of East Sixth Street’s choirs, the congregation wants and needs you to participate in celebrating 100 years of ministry. Rehearsal workshop will run from Tuesday, October 2nd – Friday, October 4th from 7pm – 8:30pm. Cost of the Workshop is $20 which includes ALL music and your official reunion t-shirt.

Wednesday, October 9th, Pastor Dwayne Rodgers and the Wildewood Christian Church family will join us in worship for our UNITY Service at 7pm, with Pastor Rodgers as the guest speaker. East Sixth Street and Wildewood were one congregation for the first 53 years of East Sixth Street history. “This ‘Reunion’ service not only recognizes a shared past but looks towards an unknown future with excitement and wonder”, said Rev. Jesse Jackson, pastor of East Sixth Street.

The celebration will conclude with Rev. Teresa Hord Owens preaching the Centennial Sermon on Sunday, October 13, at 11am at East Sixth Street Christian Church (located at 1139 N.E. 6th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117). The congregation invites the entire community out to all these events, especially former members, family and friends.

Centennial Events at Glance:

September 7, 2019 11am-3pm Church Picnic Edwards Park
September 8, 2019 11am Ancestors Memorial Service (Guest Minister: Rev. B. Edwards, FL)
September 15, 2019 3:30pm Children Choir Musical
September 29, 2019 3:30pm Oklahoma Convocation Service
October 6, 2019 3:30pm ESCCC Reunion Musical
October 9, 2019 7pm Unity Service with Wildewood Christian Church (Guest Minister: Pastor Dwayne Rodgers)
October 12, 2019 6 pm-9pm 100th Anniversary Banquet at Embassy Suites by Hilton-OKC (Guest Speaker: Rev. Teresa Owens, General Minister and President Christian Church, Disciples of Christ)
October 13, 2019 11am 100th Anniversary Service (Guest Speaker: Rev. Teresa Owens, General Minister and President)

Photos from the Memorial Service

Photos from the Children’s Musical Choir

Photos from the Oklahoma Convocation of Christian Churches Musical

Photos from the Reunion Musical

Photos from the Centennial Banquet

CCOK3012019-12-03T10:42:49-06:00Sep 11, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Commission on Refugees and Immigrants Ministry (RIM) Children’s Clothing Drive

Please join us in prayer for the safety of those traveling to Brownsville, Texas. The volunteers are driving and delivering the abundance of children’s clothing that were collected over the past couple of weeks. We give thanks to each of you that purchased, donated, sorted, folded, and loaded all of these items that are headed to the Texas/Mexico border on Friday, Sept. 13. In addition to the donated clothing, RIM has received over $4,800 in donations to support this ministry.

Thank you for using your resources to help bless those in need, and answering the call to help our brothers and sisters in need. Watch the Region’s website and social media over the next couple of weeks to see how your donations have made a difference.

We know as Christians and people who call ourselves Disciples of Christ, that we are called to love and serve our neighbor. We have neighbors on our southern border who need us. The environment for our brothers and sisters is not only a humanitarian crisis but a faith crisis. We are limited in what we are allowed to do to help, but there are a couple of actions we can take and the Church must act.

If you feel led to donate to the Commission on Refugees and Immigrant Ministry (RIM). You may give online or mail your donation to the Christian Church in Oklahoma Regional Office located at 301 NW 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73118. Every dollar helps! (Make sure to note: “RIM donation”)

CCOK3012019-09-16T13:30:00-05:00Sep 10, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off

Megan Alleman’s Ordination

Rev. Megan Alleman was ordained on August 17, 2019 at Village Christian Church, Oklahoma City. Regional Minister Rev. Pam Holt presided and Larry Brown represented the Oklahoma Regional Commission on Clergy. Join us in congratulating Rev. Alleman.

CCOK3012019-09-10T09:40:12-05:00Sep 10, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off

CCOK301

About CCOK301

Photos from the Memorial Service

Photos from the Children’s Musical Choir

Photos from the Oklahoma Convocation of Christian Churches Musical

Photos from the Reunion Musical

Photos from the Centennial Banquet