Anna Hubbard, Minister at First Christian Presbyterian Church in Pryor, created this video by asking colleagues to submit photos of their empty sanctuaries. Out of the photos, she created a moving video entitled “Empty Sanctuaries. Right now, this is what LOVE looks like . . .”
We are loving our neighbor and friends and families by staying safe at home and worshiping on-line. I hope your sanctuary looks like this!
Under the inspiration and direction of Rev. Colton Lott, Senior Minister at First Christian Church of El Reno, the five Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations in Canadian County planned a coordinated series of Lenten events to benefit tornado and flood victims in Canadian County. “We still have improper housing following the May 2019 tornadoes and floods,” said Rev. Lott. “Our goal was to raise $2500 to help our neighbors.” This effort was in partnership with the Week of Compassion. First Christian Church of El Reno has been designated a Disciples Volunteering/Week of Compassion mission station in 2020. They will help coordinate volunteers in Canadian County, from around the state and country, to work in Canadian County this summer.
Congregations involved were First Christian Church of Calumet, First Christian Church of El Reno, First Christian Church of Mustang, First Christian Church of Yukon, and West Point Christian Church of Yukon. Special worship services on Sunday evenings were planned throughout the five Sundays in March. Each service was to be preceded by meal at 5 pm and contributions collected on each of the Sundays were to go toward the relief work.
Unfortunately, only two Sunday services were held before the COVID-19 crisis put a stop to large gatherings, including a Spring Break “at home mission trip.” However, $1416.66 was collected toward the outreach effort. While COVID-19 has put much uncertainty, groups are still scheduled to come and labor this summer from places like Indianapolis, Kansas City, and from Fort Worth.
Locally, there has been discussion about the possibility of continuing Lenten worship as Canadian County annually. For more information, contact Rev. Lott at rev.clott@gmail.com.
Click HERE to read the original article about Canadian County Lenten Workship and view pictures.
The Oklahoman published an article about First Christian Church OKC on April 2nd. Click HERE to read the entire article.
Article by Carla Hinton, The Oklahoman on April 2nd:
Photo taken by drone by Dave Morris.
The iconic church building at NW 37 and Walker Avenue soon will be empty.
This week, the First Christian Church of Oklahoma City (Disciples of Christ) congregation is moving into another structure on the church’s property at 3700 N Walker Ave.
And, the church building — with its distinctive egg-shaped dome — is still for sale, said the Rev. John Malget, First Christian’s senior minister.
“We were going to have the last service in the church building on Palm Sunday (April 5) and the first service in the new location on Easter, but things changed,” Malget said.
“Things have just slowed down. That’s just part of what’s happening right now.”
The congregation voted in October 2019 to relocate and close the preschool affiliated with the church. Malget said the church office and worship space will be in the building that formerly housed the preschool. He said the structure was originally the church’s youth center.
Meanwhile, at the time of the relocation vote, the church board decided to end the Jewel Box Theatre’s season after its production in December 2019.
This week, Malget said Jewel Box, a ministry of the church, would be moving to the same building as the church. He said the theatrical company would continue with a new director, Darron Dunbar. Jewel Box Theatre is Oklahoma City’s oldest continuously operating community theater.
First Christian put the historic building on its sprawling property up for sale about 3 1/2 years ago.
In 2019, Malget said the church’s cost of upkeep and utilities had become overwhelming and the congregation needed to move even though the property hadn’t been sold.
Historic preservationists had expressed concerns that a new owner might demolish the unique building on 31 acres in a prime spot just west of Interstate 235.
Then a reprieve seemed likely.
Preservationists and the First Christian congregation thought the building would be purchased by Crossings Community Church, a far north Oklahoma City megachurch whose leaders had expressed interest in it. On Easter Sunday 2019, Crossings’ leaders announced their hopes to purchase the building for use as a Crossings’ satellite.
By that August, however, that proposal had fallen through.
Crossings leaders said costs to renovate the landmark church building exceeded their initial expectations and the church would not purchase the First Christian building.
First Christian opened in the 1950s, led by popular preacher Bill Alexander. At the time, it was one of the largest congregations in the metro area but, in recent years, the size of the congregation has dwindled.
Click HERE to read the entire article by Carla Hinton, The Oklahoman
Mass Poor People’s Assembly & Moral March on Washington on June 20, 2020 will not be postponed but will be transformed! We are going digital!
We will hold the largest digital and social media gathering of poor and low-wealth people and people of conscience in this nation’s history. The COVID-19 global pandemic is exposing the already existing crisis of poverty in America, and we are going to bombard every member of Congress and the White House so that we raise up the demands of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.
We will not be able to gather physically in Washington DC, but it is paramount that we have a forum where poor and low-wealth people can share their truths with a nation that needs its heart broken.
Cherilyn Williams, APR
Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Office of General Minister and President Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada
Disciples.org | cwilliams@disciples.org
| Alva | First Christian Church – Alva |
| Anadarko | First Christian Church – Anadarko |
| Bartlesville | Disciples Christian Church |
| Bartlesville | First Christian Church – Bartlesville |
| Bristow | First Christian Church – Bristow |
| Calumet | First Christian Church – Calumet |
| Chandler | First Christian Church – Chandler |
| Cherokee | First Christian Church – Cherokee |
| Chickasha | First Christian Church – Chickasha |
| Cleo Springs | First Christian Church – Cleo Springs |
| Duncan | First Christian Church – Duncan |
| Duncan | West Side Christian Church |
| Durant | First Christian Church – Durant |
| Edmond | First Christian Church – Edmond |
| Edmond | Southern Hills Christian Church |
| El Reno | First Christian Church – El Reno |
| Elk City | First Christian Church – Elk City |
| Enid | University Place Christian Church |
| Gage | First Christian Church – Gage |
| Guthrie | First Christian Church – Guthrie |
| Hennessey | First Christian Church – Hennessey |
| Hobart | First Christian Church – Hobart |
| Hominy | First Christian Church – Hominy |
| Jenks | First Christian Church – Jenks |
| Lawton | First Christian Church Lawton |
| Langley | South Grand Lake Christian Church |
| Lindsay | First Christian Church Lindsay |
| Luther | First Christian Church Luther |
| Mannford | First Christian Church Mannford |
| Midwest City | Midwest Boulevard Christian Church |
| Moore | First Christian Church Moore |
| Morrison | Morrison Christian Church |
| Norman | First Christian Church Norman |
| Nowata | First Christian Church Nowata |
| Oklahoma City | Britton Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Crown Heights Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | First Christian Church Oklahoma City |
| Oklahoma City | Hillcrest Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Iglesia Cristiana de Capitol Hill |
| Oklahoma City | Memorial Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | New Covenant Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | New Hope Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Nicoma Park Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Village Christian Church |
| Pauls Valley | First Christian Church Pauls Valley |
| Peckham | Peckham Christian Church |
| Perry | First Christian Church Perry |
| Ponca City | Community Christian Church |
| Pond Creek | First Christian Church Pond Creek |
| Prague | First Christian Church Prague |
| Pryor | First Christian Presbyterian Church, Pryor |
| Seminole | First Christian Church Seminole |
| Shawnee | First Christian Church Shawnee |
| Stillwater | First Christian Church Stillwater |
| Stroud | First Christian Church Stroud |
| Sulphur | First Christian Church Sulphur |
| Tahlequah | First Christian Church Tahlequah |
| Thomas | First Christian Church Thomas |
| Tulsa | New Beginnings Christian Church |
| Tulsa | East Side Christian Church – Tulsa |
| Tulsa | In The Spirit Christian Church |
| Wagoner | First Christian Church Wagoner |
| Waukomis | Waukomis Christian Church |
| Woodward | First Christian Church Woodward |
| Yukon | First Christian Church Yukon |
| Yukon | West Point Christian Church |
| Ada | First Christian Church – Ada |
| Aline | First Christian Church – Aline |
| Alva | Avard Christian Church |
| Ardmore | First Christian Church – Ardmore |
| Arnett | First Christian Church – Arnett |
| Broken Arrow | Fellowship Christian Church |
| Broken Arrow | First Christian Church – Broken Arrow |
| Camargo | Camargo Christian Church |
| Carmen | Carmen Christian Church |
| Carnegie | First Christian Church – Carnegie |
| Carney | Carney Christian Church |
| Checotah | The Federated Church – Checotah |
| Chickasha | Shepherd Street Christian Church |
| Claremore | First Christian Church – Claremore |
| Cushing | First Christian Church – Cushing |
| Cyril | First Christian Church – Cyril |
| Davenport | First Christian Church – Davenport |
| Del City | Del City Christian Church |
| Edmond | Edmond Trinity Christian Church |
| Enid | Central Christian Church – Enid |
| Enid | Christian Church of the Covenant |
| Enid | Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai |
| Fairview | Central Christian Church – Fairview |
| Frederick | First Christian Church – Frederick |
| Garber | Garber Christian Church |
| Geary | First Christian Church – Geary |
| Hartshorne | First Christian Church – Hartshorne |
| Healdton | First Christian Church – Healdton |
| Henryetta | First Christian Church – Henryetta |
| Hugo | First Christian Church – Hugo |
| Hunter | Hunter Christian Church |
| Idabel | First Christian Church – Idabel |
| Kingfisher | First Christian Church – Kingfisher |
| Lamont | First Christian Church – Lamont |
| Lawton | Blvd Congregational and Christian Church |
| Lawton | Liberty Heights Christian Church |
| Marietta | First Christian Church Marietta |
| Marland | Marland Methodist-Christian Church |
| Medford | First Christian Church – Medford |
| Miami | Bethany Christian Church – Miami |
| Midwest City | First Christian Church Midwest City |
| Morris | First Christian Church Morris |
| Mounds | First Christian Church Mounds |
| Muskogee | Second Christian Church |
| Mustang | Mustang Christian Church |
| Nash | Nash Christian Church |
| Newkirk | First Christian Church Newkirk |
| Okeene | First Christian Church Okeene |
| Okemah | First Christian Church Okemah |
| Oklahoma City | East Sixth Street Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | New Vessels Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Northwest Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Refuge Fellowship Church |
| Oklahoma City | Simplicity Church |
| Oklahoma City | Western Oaks Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Wildewood Christian Church |
| Okmulgee | First Christian Church Okmulgee |
| Okmulgee | Osage Avenue Christian Church |
| Owasso | Disciples Christian Church – Owasso |
| Pawhuska | Pawhuska Ecumenical Parish |
| Pawnee | First Christian Church Pawnee |
| Ponca City | First Christian Church Ponca City |
| Ponca City | Woodlands Christian Church |
| Purcell | First Christian Church Purcell |
| Sand Springs | First Christian Church Sand Springs |
| Sapulpa | Linden Street Christian Church |
| Skiatook | First Christian Church Skiatook |
| Skiatook | Skiatook Christian Church |
| Stigler | First Christian Church Stigler |
| Taloga | First Christian Church Taloga |
| Tulsa | Bethany Christian Church Tulsa |
| Tulsa | First Christian Church Tulsa |
| Tulsa | Forest Park Christian Church |
| Tulsa | Harvard Avenue Christian Church |
| Tulsa | Odyssey Christian Church |
| Tulsa | Pine Street Christian Church |
| Tulsa | Yale Avenue Christian Church |
| Wakita | Wakita Christian Church |
| Warr Acres | Putnam City Christian Church |
| Waurika | First Christian Church Waurika |
| Waurika | First Christian Church Waurika |
| Weatherford | The Federated Church – Weatherford |
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Edmond, Oklahoma, seeks a part-time organist/accompanist. Applicants must have excellent skills in organ and piano performance, sight reading, and be able to accompany the choir in all styles of music. College degree in music education or music performance preferred. Prior experience as principal organist preferred. Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, March 31st.
E-mail resumes to John Regan our Executive Minister at jregan@fccedmond.org or mail to:
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Attention Search Committee
P.O. Box 3548
Edmond, Oklahoma 73083
Job description available by contacting John Regan at the Church 341-3544.
The five Disciples Congregations in Canadian County are gathering to share a meal (5 pm) and worship (6 pm) during the first five Sundays in Lent. We are meeting to build relationships with one another and to get excited to do long-term recovery work together following the Spring 2019 storms. Our hope is to raise $2,500 over our five weeks of worshipping together.
Each night, one congregation hosts, another congregation supplies special music, another congregation supplies the dessert, and one of the pastors from yet another congregation supplies the preaching.
Our theme is “Fixed on Jesus,” which will help us to prepare for Regional Assembly (April 24, 2020 at Central Christian Church in Enid.)
Our first County Lenten Service will be held on March 1st at First Christian Church, El Reno, with Pastor Randy Martin (Mustang Christian Church) preaching, with special music from First Christian Church, Calumet, dessert provided by West Point Christian Church, Yukon, and happy attendance from the First Christian Church in Yukon.
By doing this, we hope to remind ourselves that we are Disciples of Christ together in Canadian County.
Rev. Coy Remer, FCC Yukon
Regional Minister Pamela Holt
Pastor Tim Clausing, FCC Calumet
Rev. Colton Lott, FCC El Reno
Pastor Randy Martin, Mustang Christian Church
Pastor Lisa Wynn, West Point Christian Church
Pastor Tara Dew, FCC El Reno
Each Lent Rev. Daniel U’Ren (Senior Minister at Western Oaks Christian Church) puts together a program called “Soup for the Soul”. The congregation gathers for some good hot soup and then engage in a discussion. U’Ren brings in a different guest speaker each week to talk on the same topic that has been selected as the theme for Lent. This year Western Oaks Christian Church Western Oaks Christian Church, will take a closer look at “Fear Can Be Paralyzing”. During Lent come join on Sundays at 6pm for the meal followed by the lesson at 6:30pm.
The series this year will begin on March 1st with Adam Soltani and Dr. Imam Imad Enchassi leading the discussion.
Please rsvp to the church office (405) 789-8812 if you plan to attend.
Western Oaks Christian Church (DOC)
8100 NW 23rd
Oklahoma City, OK 73127
(405) 789-8812
Please join Edmond Trinity Christian Church (located at 1400 NW 178th St. Edmond, Oklahoma) on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. to hear John Dear, long-time peace activist speak on his new book, Praise Be Peace: Psalms of Peace col Nonviolence in a Time of War and Climate Change. It is a collection of meditations on the anti-war, pro-peace psalms, and the psalms that celebrate creation, as a way to ground ourselves in faith and trust in the God of peace during these times of war and climate change.
Dear has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times, including by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Dear has been arrested 75 times in acts of civil disobedience against war and nuclear weapons. He has lived in El Salvador, Guatemala and Northern Ireland and traveled in war zones across the world, including Iraq, Palestine, Nicaragua, Afghanistan and Colombia.
Dear has written 37 books, including The Nonviolent Life and his autobiography, A Persistent Peace. He is a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Monterey, California and serves as Outreach Coordinator of Pace e Bene [Peace + All Good].
Dear’s talk will be free and open to the public. Registration is not required. For more information, contact Rev. Don Heath at (405) 823-8511 or disciples@edmondtrinity.org.
New Hope Christian Church is completing a renovation of their worship space. The church is replacing their pews with sanctuary chairs. They have 12 pews available for donation to another congregation. The pews are in good condition and measure 12 feet in length. Each pew has two hymnal racks and card pockets. Any congregation interested in acquiring these pews should contact New Hope Christian Church to take a look at them and/ or to make arrangements to pick them up. You may contact the church at 405-691-5366 or email at newhopeccokc@sbcglobal.net
