Click HERE to watch a video message from General Minister and President Terri Hord Owens, as Terri reflects on her first 16 months visiting around the Church. Terri also shares a message of hope and confidence for the church with an Advent greeting and invitation to General Assembly 2019.
Many have asked, “What can we do to help with the California Camp Fire?” The response is, “Continue to pray,” and “Please give an extra gift to Week of Compassion, designated California wildfires.”
Regional Minister Pam Holt has been in San Diego, California this past week attending the College of Regional Ministers. Rev. LaTaunya Bynum, Regional Minister of Northern California-Nevada, shared new updates every day and reminded us that the Woolsey Fire is also ongoing. On Oklahoma’s behalf, Rev. Holt has shared your ongoing prayers and promised we would faithfully respond with an extra gift to Week of Compassion.
While the fire devastation is unbelievable, there are some stories of grace and good news. While it was once thought the First Christian Church in Paradise burned, it did not. And, the home of the pastor of First Christian Church Paradise, Rev. Janice McCollester, is also still standing. However, both locations will not be able to be occupied for a while.
First Christian Church in Chico has made their parking lot available for living space, and its pastor, Rev. Jesse Kearns, has opened their doors for folks from Paradise to worship and to provide office space for Rev. McCollester. See following article from CBS.
Story from CBS/AP November 18, 2018, 10:50 PM
California wildfires fast facts
These are the current numbers as of Sunday night from Cal Fire.
Camp Fire Location: Butte County
Woolsey Fire Location: Los Angeles County, Ventura County
Please continue to pray for first responders and for the on-going grief from this destruction. We pray for families who are still waiting to see if their loved one will be found. We give thanks for the many, many people who are responding with care and love, even from a distance through gifts to Week of Compassion.
We are often surprised at how connected Disciples are. The following is a story from Larry & Diana Brown, First Christian Church Chickasha, Oklahoma, who have extended family in Paradise, California.
Larry & Diana’s niece, who was living in Paradise and at home when the fires started, was able to escape to Chico. She and her family are safe but the status of their home is unknown. The niece also had a horse in a nearby stable. Of course, there was no time to tend to the horse. Some good news is that all the horses in that stable somehow survived the fire. Their nephew, who lives in Chico, is hosting this niece and family. All the homes that Larry’s parents and sister once lived in are burned to the ground. Diana and Larry were in Paradise in early October for their niece’s mother’s funeral. All they have now are wonderful memories of a very special place.
We continue to pray for the communities in California affected by the current, deadly wildfires. On Sunday, First Christian Church, Paradise worshiped at First Christian Church, Chico, as Paradise was, and is, under evacuation orders. Pastor Jan McCollester, of First Christian Church, Paradise shared with Week of Compassion staff today that the church building, which was thought to have burned, appears sound, according to reports from firefighters in the area. However, most, if not all of the members of the congregation expect damage to or total loss of their homes. First Christian Church, Chico also has members whose homes have burned.
Gifts to Week of Compassion can be designated “US Storms and Fires” to support response and recovery efforts for these damaging fires.
Donate HERE
Fire image of Camp Fire courtesy of USDA Forest Services. Public Domain image 20181116-FS-LEICampFire-TH-007 11/16/18
The town of Paradise, California, held a vigil Sunday night to remember the dozens who died in the wildfire that swept through the region. The vigil at First Christian Church in Chico was a time for residents to quietly reflect, pray, bring photos or mementos of lost friends, family and pets and was a chance to seek help from counselors and mental health experts.
A sign at the vigil read: “We will rise from the ashes” and two hashtags: #paradisestrong #buttecountystrong
People hugged and shed tears as Pastor Jesse Kearns recited a prayer for first responders,”We ask for continued strength as they are growing weary right now.”
On October 20, 2018, the Regional Board heard many exciting ways regional ministries are connecting, equipping, and empowering Disciples to serve like Jesus!
Here are a few highlights!
As followers of Christ, Disciples of Christ, we never quit wrestling with reconciliation and with the power of love and grace. Every Disciples congregation is a vital part of the Body of Christ in Oklahoma. The Region is grateful for all of the work and ministry that happens in each congregation, each community, and the world. There is no greater joy than to love our neighbors as ourselves and to serve the Lord with gladness! In a time such as this, God surely needs each of us and all of us.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On Saturday, October 20, 2018, the Regional Church held its Year-end Board meeting. We heard some amazing stories from our Commission leaders about Regional Church ministries and from the Area Moderators about the on-going ministries in each area of the Region. Our ministry is never done, but we sure celebrated all the ways Regional ministry is connecting, equipping, and empowering ministry through the Commissions on Reconciliation, Evangelism, Leadership Training, Clergy, and Youth, Children & Young Adults. We’ve even agreed to start a new Commission to address the needs around immigration in Oklahoma.
Giving Falls Short
Despite our good and faithful ministries, the Budget Committee reported a mighty shortfall in Disciples Mission Fund (DMF) giving. After reviewing the Disciples Mission Funding giving over the past five years (2013-2017), the pattern of giving continues to decline. This is not surprising. It is happening in congregations all across our Region, and we realize that some congregations are struggling and making budget adjustments. For the Region, the projected decline for Disciples Mission Fund for Oklahoma in 2018 and 2019 is a deficit of approximately $50,000. Importantly, DMF is the primary financial support of the Regional Church, and it is the covenant by which we all live.
Personnel Changes
The Region has been good stewards and has trimmed Regional expenses year after year. But after careful examination the Board determined there was no place to cut $50,000 except in personnel. The Budget Committee requested the Personnel Committee make some very difficult decisions. Personnel regretfully proposed to the Regional Board to eliminate three positions for 2019: two part-time positions, the Region’s Oklahoma City office Facility Manager Richard Keith and the North East Area Administrative Assistant Lori Richcreek (Broken Arrow office), and one full-time position, Associate Regional Minister Rev. Leslie Dotson. They will be employed through the end of this year. These employees of the Region have served long and well, and their presence and ministry within the Regional Church will be missed.
Beginning in 2019, the Regional Church will retain its remaining four staff members: Regional Minister Rev. Pamela Holt, Regional Associate Minister Rev. Michael Davison, Executive Assistant Ellen Beer and part-time Administrative Assistant Jennifer Gallaway.
How You May Help Your Region
There are two ways you may help your Region in these challenging financial times – prayer and a financial donation. Your donation is tax-deductible and 100% supports the Region’s ministries.
You may donate to the Region’s Annual Fund. The Annual Fund has long been a tradition in the Oklahoma Region where individuals and even congregations support us directly. You may donate securely online at THIS LINK and we also accept gifts mailed directly to the office: Christian Church in Oklahoma, 301 NW 36th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73118. Please note Annual Fund on your check.
Or you may choose to give through your congregation. The Christmas Offering provides significant support for the Region – and 100% of the Christmas Offering supports Regional Church ministries. Please consider making a gift on December 16th and 23rd using the offering envelope found in your bulletin. Look for the colorful bulletin insert for more details on how your gift is put to work!
God still needs us as partners to bring healing and wholeness in this fragmented and broken world. Your prayers and gifts to the Region help us walk and live as Jesus.
In the name of Christ,
Tom Stanley, Moderator Pamela Holt, Regional Minister
On Sunday, November 4th, Regional Minister Pamela Holt installed Coy Remer as Pastor of First Christian Church Yukon. Coy responded to this call with gratitude and joy, and he looks forward to leading and caring for the congregation and the neighboring community.
In addition to this call, he and his wife, Jessica, are new parents to James Victor Remer! Congratulations!
For many, it is really difficult to work on Thanksgiving Day. East Side Christian Church will try to help the day go a little better for some of the people in Tulsa that have to work on Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers at East Side Christian Church will participate in their 7th Annual Thanksgiving Outreach Program by providing a fully layered Thanksgiving meal in a 32 oz. tub, they have named “Cuppa-Thanks!”
This year, East Side Christian Church plans on serving 700 meals, up from 600 last year! They deliver to places like QT, Walgreens, CVS, Dollar General, Braum’s, and various other businesses open on Thanksgiving Day. They also drop off meals to any of the Tulsa emergency responders they find along the way.
Would you like to be a part of this amazing community project? Sponsorship levels are available starting at $60 all the way up to $1000. For more information or if you would like to help, please contact Evan Taylor at office: 918 744 1377 / cell: 918 693 8932 or email etaylor@escc.org
Are you interested in getting involved with Week of Compassion? Well, your opportunity has arrived!
Rev. Caroline Hamilton-Arnold (Associate Director, Week of Compassion) will be at Shades of Brown Coffee Shop (located at 3302 S Peoria Ave, Tulsa, OK 74105) from 2pm-5pm on Thursday, Nov. 15 to meet with anyone interested in learning more about Week of Compassion and how to get involved.
Drink coffee, get inspired and learn how to make a difference with Week of Compassion.
Integris Pastoral Care presents, “The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse” for clergy and clinical staff. Tuesday, November 13, 2018 from 9 a.m. to noon at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center Auditorium. No registration required for this free program.
No one should feel manipulated, controlled, shamed or condemned within the walls of their own churches or places of worship. But places of shelter and encouragement become abusive when spiritual leaders begin to use their authority to meet their own needs for importance, power or spiritual gratification. Those attending this presentation will learn how spiritual abuse develops, the subtle ways leaders and systems “hook” and control believers, scriptural help in recognizing healthy spiritual relationships and effective strategies for escaping abusive situations.
Presenters:
Jeff Van Vonderen is a highly sought after speaker and consultant both nationally and internationally. For more than 35 years, individuals, families and organizations have benefited from his skills and understanding in the areas of addiction, family systems and recovery. Van Vonderen is a featured interventionist on the A&E network’s Emmy-winning documentary series, INTERVENTION. He is the author of six books and numerous journal and magazine articles.
David Johnson is the senior pastor of Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, Minn. A widely recognized speaker, his Growing in Grace radio broadcast is syndicated internationally.
This activity is provided through INTEGRIS Health for 3 contact hours of continuing education.
The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Pauls Valley had an amazing Youth Sunday on October 28, 2018. They had 18 children in attendance who led the church in all aspects of worship.
The children provided key elements of worship such as the Call to Worship, Devotional messages, serving as Diaconate during Offering and also assisting with the Invitation to Communion and Offering.
The highlight was the children singing with song leader, Matt Howsley, two special songs: “Sanctuary” and “God is So Good”.
Pastor Elaine Howsley and Elder Teresa Begley assisted the group as well as many of the children’s parents and grandparents. It was a blessed event for FCC Pauls Valley’s congregation and a continuance of their monthly group known as Chalice Kids.
Pre-Orders for the 2019 Just Women Bible Study are now being accepted.
2019 Theme: The Church: Mission Possible
Click HERE to order until December 1, 2018. The 2019 Bible Study will be mailed in January 2019.
This study will highlight some of the most important lessons of the early church and challenge us to apply those lessons. Although the gospels mention the word “church” only a few times, beginning in the Acts of the Apostles, the New Testament is filled with repeated stories of the first century church, along with instructions on what it means to be the church.