CCOK301, Author at Christian Church in Oklahoma

Memorial Service for Dr. Dennis Smith October 20

A Memorial Service for Dr. Dennis Smith will be held at The Phillips Theological Seminary on Friday, Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. to remember the departed colleague, professor, and friend Dennis E. Smith, Professor of New Testament Emeritus.

The service will be in the Meinders Chapel of the Cadieux Building, 901 N. Mingo Rd., Tulsa, Okla.

All who wish to remember and honor Dennis are welcome to attend. The service will also be available via Facebook live on the seminary’s page: Phillips Seminary on Facebook.

Smith died Sept. 16, 2017, in Galveston, Texas, of complications from cancer. He joined Phillips in 1986, retiring as the LaDonna Kramer Meinders Professor of New Testament Emeritus in 2015. Smith was the last faculty member who also taught in the Graduate Seminary of Phillips University. He was also the longest-serving faculty member of the seminary.

A reception in the seminary’s H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Commons will immediately follow the memorial service.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:42:38-05:00Oct 16, 2017|Clergy News|Comments Off

Update on Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief from Week of Compassion

Several ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada are collaborating to come alongside our sisters and brothers in Puerto Rico who have endured the ravages of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Given our close relationship with the Iglesia Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo) in Puerto Rico, Week of Compassion has been coordinating with various partners to provide relief. We are still waiting for assessments to take place, a process made particularly difficult because communication and power are down and will not be back up for months.

Within the last several weeks, Week of Compassion have provided over $100,000 for emergency needs just to the Caribbean, and over $300,000 to communities impacted by hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. And we are just getting started. This is great news. Thank you for your generosity, which makes this possible.

In the midst of extreme need, Rev. Miguel Morales, the General Minister of the Discípulos de Cristo in Puerto Rico explains, “The situation is getting harder every day. We are low on water. We have to wait in long lines to get gas. Our resources are running out.”

The hurricanes that affected Puerto Rico will call for the church to respond for the long term. In Puerto Rico, the entire island is affected – that’s 3.5 million people! Fatalities are many, and growing. Loved ones are missing, and families cannot connect with them because cell phone signals are unavailable in most places on the island. Gasoline is already being rationed, limiting long-distance travel.

And this is just the start of the needed response. The situation is dire and is a humanitarian crisis. We are responding, and will continue to help in the months ahead.

We are deeply thankful for the support received so far. However, based on initial assessments, much more will be required as we continue to comprehend the extent of the overall damage. Currently, we have only received about a half of the donations needed to fully respond. When you consider a year end gift, I encourage you to give now – don’t wait until December 31 – and designate it for Hurricane Relief so we can rebuild these communities for the long term. Remember, 100% of your designated gifts will go towards rebuilding and reestablishing many of these communities.

For a church, “acts of God” is not only a pseudonym for natural disaster. Acting in faith, we believe that acts of compassion and solidarity are also “acts of God.” God is calling us to act… now! God is calling us to act in Christ’s name, now! Your compassionate support is needed to ensure that hope will overcome despair and the human community thrives.

Will you join me and stand compassionately with these communities by giving a designated gift to Week of Compassion?

Vy Nguyen, Exec. Director

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:42:43-05:00Oct 10, 2017|Congregations|Comments Off

Retired Ministers Meeting on November 9, 2017

DATE CHANGE: This meeting has moved to December 7, 2017.

You are invited to the second gathering of retired ministers on November 9, 2017 in Tulsa. We will meet at Phillips Theological Seminary located at 901 N. Mingo Rd, Tulsa, OK 74116 to talk further about the Regional Communications Network of Retired Ministers.

We have lined up a great schedule of events, including a lecture and conversation with Rev. Dr. Lisa Davison (Johnnie Eargle Cadieux Professor of Hebrew Bible, and Director of Ministerial Formation for Disciples of Christ). Our special guest at lunch is Rev. Dr. Nancy Pittman, the Dean at PTS. Nancy will join us during lunch with four of her Capstone Course students for an engaging conversation.

Schedule of Events:

10:30am Arrive & Tour of Campus
11am Lecture & Conversation with Rev. Dr. Lisa Davison
12pm Catered lunch at Phillips from Arizona Mexican Food Restaurant with Rev. Dr. Nancy Pittman and four Capstone Course students. Cost for lunch $5.
1pm Wrap up and Depart

RSVP to Richard Ziglar (event coordinator) at 918-638-7649 or email rziglar@cox.net

Please let Richard know about any food or dietary restrictions.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:42:48-05:00Oct 10, 2017|Clergy News|Comments Off

Combined Worship at Shepherd Street Christian Church with First Christian Church Chickasha

In honor of Reconciliation and World Communion Sunday. Shepherd Street Christian Church and First Christian Church Chickasha are worshiping together for two Sundays in October.

On Sunday, October 1, 2017 both congregations met at Shepherd Street Christian Church for a combined worship service. Rev. Michael Oberlender provided the sermon.

On Sunday, October 8, 2017 both congregations will meet at First Christian Church Chickasha to worship together and Rev. Milton Bowens will provide the sermon.

Enjoy some pictures from the October 1st worship service at Shepherd Street Christian Church.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:42:55-05:00Oct 5, 2017|Congregations|Comments Off

PRAR T-Shirt Design Contest Deadline Extended to November 15th

Design a T-Shirt. Win a 2018 Camp Scholarship
Our Oklahoma PRAR regional ministry wants to spread the word about our important work. What better way than a T-shirt!

Youth, children and even adults may enter the PRAR T-shirt design contest. Please download the flyer for the design contest rules and submission details. Deadline for entries is November 15, 2017, with the winner being announced the week of November 26th. The winner will receive a 2018 camp scholarship courtesy of Rev. Michael Davison.

We can’t wait to see your great designs!

Blessings from your Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Task Force

ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA PRAR TEAM:
The Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Task Force (PRAR) is a Regional ministry of Oklahoma. We are moving towards building a PRAR team from across the Region. Our purpose can be summed up by these words: “We will encourage members of the Body of Christ to be conduits of God’s love among all of God’s children throughout the earth. We will enable justice work addressing reconciliation and defeating racism. We will promote restorative justice.”

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:43:00-05:00Oct 4, 2017|Congregations|1 Comment

Northwest Area Disciples Women Fall Retreat Update

The Northwest Area Disciples Women gathered at Central Christian Camp in Guthrie on Saturday, Sept 29-30, 2017 for their Fall Retreat. The theme was “Who’s Afraid of the Dark?” with keynote Speaker, Ginger LaCroix and song leader, Regina Smith.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:43:05-05:00Oct 3, 2017|Disciples Women|Comments Off

October Is Pastor Appreciation Month

Ministry as a vocation is filled with joy and sorrow. Ministry is energizing and tiring. Ministry is challenging and difficult. Ministry is listening and talking. Ministry is leading and following. Most importantly, ministry is transforming and heart changing.

Thank you, clergy, for representing God to the people and the people to God! We are grateful for your teaching, preaching, caregiving, and leadership in whatever ministry to which you are called. We are here to celebrate with you and walk along side you on the journey!

Rev. Pamela Holt, Rev. Michael Davison, Rev. Leslie Dotson

Special Opportunity for Our Preaching Clergy

One way we want to celebrate our preaching clergy is by publishing a collection of sermons. Please send us your favorite Advent sermon that you preached in years past or one you have prepared for 2017. These submitted sermons will be published on our website as an e-Book in January 2018. Please use the criteria below when you submit the sermon.

To submit a sermon to the Christian Church in Oklahoma:

Advent sermon title
Scripture
Date preached
Congregation

Word format (no special characters)

Please include a brief, two sentence bio which includes where you are currently serving.

Thank you for participating! We look forward to reading and sharing the Word of God that is revealed through each of you.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:43:10-05:00Oct 3, 2017|Clergy News|Comments Off

2018 Clergy Continuing Education Grants Applications Open

The application period (Sept. 1 – Oct. 31, 2017) for the 2018 Clergy Continuing Education Grants is open. Applications completed by Disciples Clergy with Standing (Ordained or Commissioned) will be considered for awards to be distributed next year.

These awards are to help DOC clergy participate in continuing education experiences in 2018 that will enhance their gifts and graces for ministry.

You can find out more, and access the application process here. https://www.discipleshomemissions.org/clergy/scholarships/christian-vocation-continuing-education/

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:43:14-05:00Oct 3, 2017|Clergy News|Comments Off

Mental Illness Workshop

You are invited to a live presentation for clergy and clinical staff titled “Mental Illness and the Church’s Mission”. Churches hold a special attraction for many people who struggle with mental illness. With this attraction comes a unique responsibility to respond in a loving and productive way. Some respond by sending people away; how does your church respond?

This workshop will help you understand the church’s unique position in your community and the responsibility that comes with it. It will highlight three ways many churches get it wrong, along with some key questions to help you formulate a different response.

Presenter: Amy Simpson, MBA, is the author of award-winning books Troubled Minds: Mental Illness and the Church’s Mission and Anxious: Choosing Faith in a World of Worry (both InterVarsity Press). She serves as editor-at-large and contributor for Christianity Today’s CTPastors.com and a regular contributor for Leadership Journal, Today’s Christian Woman, Christian Singles, Group magazine, Children’s Ministry magazine, Q Ideas, ChurchLeaders.com, Relevant, and Prism magazine. She is a well-known speaker and life and leadership coach.
When: Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 9 a.m. to noon
Where: INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center Auditorium

No registration required for this free program.

Approved continuing education credits available for social workers and nurses. INTEGRIS Health is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This activity is provided through INTEGRIS Health for 3 contact hours.

INTEGRIS Health is accredited as a provider of continuing education by the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers CEP #20170008. This offering for 3 contact hours has been provided by INTEGRIS Health.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:43:20-05:00Oct 3, 2017|Clergy News|Comments Off

300+ Clean Up Buckets Donated to CWS

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

A few weeks ago, after Hurricane Harvey created its disaster on the coast of Texas, we asked for Oklahoma congregations to participate in creating desperately needed Church World Service Hygiene Kits and Clean Up Buckets. Look what you all have done! You all have responded in an astounding way!

Since this request, Hurricane Irma made her mess in the Caribbean islands and Florida. Then, Hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico. All your work and your prayers will be delivered to unknown recipients who will receive these gifts with deep gratitude.

Blessings,
Rev. Pam Holt

Here are pictures of our congregations uniting to help.

FCC Edmond has been featured in The Edmond Sun for the bucket project. Read more HERE.

On Friday, September 29, 2017, Regional Minister Pam Holt met the volunteers from congregations who served as drop off locations at the OK Conference UMC Ministry Center in Oklahoma City to help unload the buckets and hygiene kits. These much needed supplies will assistant in hurricane relief efforts for U.S. citizens in the mainland and Puerto Rico.