Congregations Archives - Page 25 of 27 - Christian Church in Oklahoma

Minister of Administration Installed at First Christian in Tulsa

payneinstallation-1 First Christian Church in Tulsa celebrated the installation of Rev. Susan Payne during worship on Sunday, September 11. She joins the staff to serve as Minister of Administration. Rev. Michael Davison, Associate Regional Minister, led the covenant of installation liturgy for the congregation and staff.

Rev. Payne joins Associate Ministers Rev. Cassie Sexton-Riggs and Rev. Joshua Toulouse alongside Sr. Minister Rev. Michael Riggs in serving the congregation and downtown Tulsa.

Michael Davison2017-01-08T11:02:59-06:00Sep 12, 2016|Congregations|Comments Off

Barrier Breaking Ministries at FCC Lawton

FCC Lawton Hosts Monthly Health Clinic

First Christian Church in Lawton is finding new ways to engage the wider community. Kathy Cooper, church member and the head of a college nursing program, initiated a monthly health clinic as part of a new way to engage the wider community. The ministry was recognized by the local newspaper. READ>>

A Transgender Woman and Her Pastor Speak with School Board

Deanna Deville, a transgender woman, and Brandon Johnson, pastor at FCC Lawton, affirm transgender rights in Oklahoma and Texas. Their efforts were featured in the Texoma’s newspaper. READ>>

CCOK3012016-09-13T13:50:08-05:00Sep 7, 2016|Congregations|Comments Off

Be a part of eliminating racism – Reconciliation Offering 2016

The 2016 Reconciliation Special Offering is used to fund our Church’s mission imperative to become an pro-reconciling and anti-racist church utilizing experiential education, inclusive worship and intentional dialogue. Our efforts to promote healing, relationship and restoration in the whole family of God are enlivened by funds from this offering. The 2016 Reconciliation Offering will be collected in congregations Sept. 25 and Oct 2.

With this offering we are able to provide programs for

leadership development
curriculum for dialogue and learning, and
partnerships within the Church and our communities.

Recent events have reignited the conversation about human brokenness evidenced in the sin of racism and perpetuated in our institutional structures and systems. Your generous giving to Reconciliation Ministry is transforming lives and strengthening Christ’s witness in the world showing that we love one another, even as Christ continues to love us!

Your gift

promotes healing, relationship and restoration in the whole family of God

Why Have a Special Offering?

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has a history dating from the 1960s of sharing our resources to address the racism of our society and the racism within our own church. We have called this process the Reconciliation Ministry.

We receive this offering in the fall and use the funds throughout the year to give grants to the pro-reconciliation/anti-racism initiative to organize to dismantle systems and structures that perpetuate this sin of division within the Church.

The 2020 Vision adopted by our church names this work as one of the four priorities of our mission together as a whole church. This voluntary annual offering is the only source of funding for this ministry.

Learn More

Learn how to be proactive in your congregation with these Reconciliation resources.

Where Does The Reconciliation Offering Go?

The Reconciliation offering is divided in two parts with one half going back to the region from which it was received and one half going to the General Reconciliation Ministry administered by the Reconciliation Ministry Commission made up of volunteers from around our church body.

The regions choose the method of distributing the funds that remain within their own area. These programs vary widely between regions.

The Reconciliation Ministry Commission receives, reviews and allocate funds for grant requests submitted by our general ministries, higher education institutions, regions and recognized ministries of the church whose proposals meet the grant guidelines. Congregational grant requests are to be submitted to their Region for funding.

Donations on behalf of emergency grants on behalf of impacted communities and congregations toward healing for the communities of Ferguson, Staten Island, Charleston, S.C., and Baltimore can be directed to the Reconciliation Annual Fund/Racial Justice Response.

CCOK3012017-01-08T11:02:59-06:00Aug 25, 2016|Congregations|Comments Off

Rev. Barkhauer to Train on Legacy Stewardship & Joyful Giving

Fresh Insights on Sharing God’s Abundance

Lay leaders, laity and clergy are invited to engage with Rev. Bruce Barkhauer for fresh insights on sharing God’s abundance at “The Cup Runneth Over” events. As director of the Center for Faith and Giving, Barkhauer will speak on estate/legacy stewardship in the church and joyful giving. Clergy may receive continuing education credit for the event.

The Center for Faith and Giving exists to create a culture of generosity across the life of the whole church. It provides educational materials and serves as a conduit to teach stewardship as a spiritual discipline. Its mission is to encourage and promote the understanding of stewardship as a faith discipline and life practice in response to a generous God.

Stewardship is about more than money

It is about the faithful management of all of the resources and gifts that come into our lives - care for the earth, care for ourselves, care for the Gospel, observance of Sabbath, and care for our material goods and possessions.

Tulsa, Enid and Oklahoma City Locations

The Oklahoma Disciples Foundation is hosting the inspirational sessions at three locations in September.

September 18, 2016 • 2:30 – 5:00 pm • Tulsa – Harvard Avenue Christian Church

September 19, 2016 • 9:00 am – Noon • Enid – Central Christian Church

September 19, 2016 • 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Dinner Event • Oklahoma City – Jim Thorpe Museum
Reservations required. $40 per person or $300 per table of 8, includes dinner, wine, beer and soft drinks. Meal catered by the Petroleum Club.

Download a poster to promote this event in your congregation.

Registration

For details and registration visit www.okdfdn.org or call Julie Bowers at the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation 405.525.6530

CCOK3012017-01-08T11:03:00-06:00Aug 10, 2016|Congregations|Comments Off

Northwest Area Synopsis

Each month the Northwest Area ministers and congregations receive a short newsletter emailed with news and information. Click here to read the Northwest Area Synopsis.

Michael Davison2016-08-02T11:16:06-05:00Aug 2, 2016|Clergy News, Congregations|Comments Off

Author John Dominic Crossan to Speak in Oklahoma

FCC Edmond to Host Renowned Author John Dominic Crossan August 26-28

First Christian Church in Edmond is pleased to host an educational weekend event featuring renowned author and New Testament scholar Dr. John Dominic Crossan August 26-28.

The event is open to the public and will include small group presentations throughout the weekend. Dr. Crossan will also preach at three worship services on August 28; service times are 8:15, 9:00 and 11:00 am at the church located at 201 E. 2nd Street in Edmond.

New Testament Scholar

John Dominic Crossan has received awards for scholarly excellence from the American Academy of Religion, DePaul University, and an honorary doctorate from Stetson University, DeLand, FL. An author of twenty-seven books on the historical Jesus, the apostle Paul, and earliest Christianity, Crossan’s work has been translated into thirteen foreign languages. His most recent book is How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian: Struggling with Divine Violence from Genesis through Revelation (HarperOne, 2015).

For more information on the event contact the First Christian Church of Edmond (405) 341-3544 or go to http://www.fccedmond.org/summerseries. UPDATED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS LINK

About John Crossan

John Dominic Crossan was born in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, in 1934. He was educated in Ireland and the United States, received a Doctorate of Divinity from Maynooth College, Ireland, in 1959, and did post-doctoral research at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome from 1959 to 1961 and at the École Biblique in Jerusalem from 1965 to 1967. He was a member of a thirteenth-century Roman Catholic religious order, the Servites (Ordo Servorum Mariae), from 1950 to 1969 and an ordained priest from 1957 to 1969. He joined DePaul University, Chicago, in 1969 and remained there until 1995. He is now a Professor Emeritus in its Department of Religious Studies.

He was Co-Chair of the Jesus Seminar from 1985 to 1996 as it met in twice-annual meetings to debate the historicity of the life of Jesus in the gospels. He was Chair of the Parables Seminar in 1972-76, Editor of Semeia. An Experimental Journal for Biblical Criticism in 1980-86, and Chair of the Historical Jesus Section in 1993-1998, within the Society of Biblical Literature, an international scholarly association for biblical study based in the United States. He was elected Vice President of that Society for 2010-2011 and President for 2011-2012.

He has received awards for scholarly excellence from the American Academy of Religion in 1989, DePaul University in 1991 and 1995, and an honorary doctorate from Stetson University, DeLand, FL, in 2003.

He has lectured to lay and scholarly audiences across the United States as well as in Ireland and England, Scandinavia and Finland, Australia and New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, and South Africa. He has been interviewed on 200 radio stations, including four times on NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross. He has been interviewed on television networks in England–such as Weekend TV, Channel 4 and the BBC; also in the United States–such as ABC’sPrimeTime, Peter Jennings Reporting, and Nightline, CBS’ Early Show and 48 Hours, NBC’s Dateline, and Fox News’The O’Reilly Factor, as well as on cable programs such as A&E, History, Discovery, and the National Geographic Channel.

Authored National Religious Bestsellers on the History of Jesus

He has written twenty-seven books on the historical Jesus, the apostle Paul, and earliest Christianity, and his work has been translated into thirteen foreign languages, including Polish, Hungarian, Russian, as well as Korean, Chinese, and Japanese.

Five of those books have been national religious bestsellers for a combined total of twenty-four months. The scholarly core of his work is the trilogy from The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant (1991) through The Birth of Christianity: Discovering What Happened in the Years Immediately After the Execution of Jesus (1998), to In Search of Paul: How Jesus’s Apostle Opposed Rome’s Empire with God’s Kingdom, co-authored with the archaeologist Jonathan L. Reed (2004).

Along with Marcus Borg, he has co-authored a series of books: The Last Week: A Day by Day Account of Jesus’s Final Week in Jerusalem (2006); The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach about the Birth of Jesus(2007); and The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church’s Conservative Icon (2009).

His most recent book is How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian: Struggling with Divine Violence from Genesis through Revelation (HarperOne, 2015).

CCOK3012016-08-17T10:01:13-05:00Jul 6, 2016|Congregations|2 Comments

General Assembly 2017 Promotional Sundays Set

July 31 • October 30 • January 29, ’17 • April 30, ’17

You have an opportunity this year to incorporate calls to attend the 2017 General Assembly with your worship and newsletters. Check this out!

• GA is providing a short video you can download from the promotion page to show before or during worship (or add to your website!).

• Just posted on the new General Assembly website is a document (in Word and PDF) that contains text for newsletters/bulletins and suggested hymns for the fifth Sundays between now and the opening of the event.

• In addition there are communion and offering meditations and liturgies based on the Common Lectionary for the date.

• And the first two weeks of this month (and offered again in October and continuously from January to June) you can order polo shirts with the General Assembly logo to wear as promotion and also bring along to the event. Ten percent of all sales benefit Disciples Mission Fund. You can also order customization for a small fee and your purchase will still benefit DMF.

General Assembly registration opens Friday, July 8, 2016

CCOK3012017-01-08T11:03:03-06:00Jul 5, 2016|Congregations|Comments Off

Central Area Disciples Men Invited to Quarterly Meeting

The quarterly meeting of the Central Area Disciples Men will be held at 6:30 pm on Thursday, July 14, 2016. The gathering will take place at Wildewood Christian Church (South Building), 6900 N. Kelley Ave., Oklahoma City.

Spouses are welcome to attend. Please phone your reservation for the $8.00 meal to Randy at (405) 306-9695 by Friday July 8.

CCOK3012017-01-08T11:03:03-06:00Jul 5, 2016|Congregations|Comments Off

Authors Crossan and Campolo to Speak at Summer Events

FCC Edmond to Host Renowned Author John Dominic Crossan August 26-28

First Christian Church in Edmond is pleased to host an educational weekend event featuring renowned author and New Testament scholar Dr. John Dominic Crossan August 26-28.

The event is open to the public and will include small group presentations throughout the weekend. Dr. Crossan will also preach at three worship services on August 28; service times are 8:15, 9:00 and 11:00 am at the church located at 201 E. 2nd Street in Edmond.

John Dominic Crossan has received awards for scholarly excellence from the American Academy of Religion, DePaul University, and an honorary doctorate from Stetson University, DeLand, FL. An author of twenty-seven books on the historical Jesus, the apostle Paul, and earliest Christianity, Crossan’s work has been translated into thirteen foreign languages. His most recent book is How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian: Struggling with Divine Violence from Genesis through Revelation (HarperOne, 2015).

For more information on the event contact the First Christian Church of Edmond (405) 341-3544 or go to http://www.fccedmond.org/summerseries.

Tulsa’s East Side Christian Church Welcomes Author Tony Campola June 17-19

Over his many years of Christian service, Tony Campolo has boldly challenged millions of people all over the world to respond to God’s boundless love by combining personal discipleship, evangelism, and social justice. East Side Christian Church, Tulsa, has scheduled a weekend of events to give people the opportunity to participate and be inspired by Tony’s powerful message of hope.

Baptist minister Tony Campolo is an American sociologist, author, public speaker and former spiritual advisor to U.S. President Bill Clinton. A professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University, Campolo is founder and president of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education. He has written more than 35 books, and is one of the founders of the Red Letter Christian movement.

Schedule of Activities

Friday, June 17
Noon: Private clergy lunch. Area ministers from all churches are invited.
7:00 pm: Speaker at a public event in the East Side CC sanctuary. This is the BIG event.

Saturday, June 18
7:00 pm: Speaker at Oklahomans for Equality, open to the public. 621 East 4^th St., Tulsa, OK

Sunday, June 19
10:45 am: Preaching at East Side Christian Church
2:00 pm: Dessert social – all area Disciples of Christ invited

There will be no charge for any event, and books will be available for purchase as well as book signing at every event. For more information on the event contact East Side Christian Church, (918) 744-1377, 1438 South Indianapolis Tulsa, OK at the church website Or Oklahomans for Equality (918) 743-4297.

CCOK3012017-01-08T11:03:04-06:00Jun 6, 2016|Congregations|1 Comment

Laity and Clergy Events Examine Faith Traditions

“Beyond Coexistence” Series Explores Three Faith Traditions and Prayer

In an effort to understand the prayer traditions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, local religious leaders will share their views of prayer in a series of messages this month at the Restoration Church at the Dome, 3700 N. Walker Ave. Oklahoma City.

Similarities can be acknowledged. Differences can be respected. And a big part of that journey is simply knowing. The “Beyond Coexistence” series looks at three faith traditions and their approach to prayer: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.

Senior Imam Imad Enchassi, founder of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, was the guest speaker June 5. The Rev. John Malget, co-pastor at Restoration Church at the Dome, will be the speaker at 10:30 a.m. June 12. Rabbi Vered Harris, spiritual leader of Temple B’nai Israel, will be guest speaker at 10:30 a.m. June 19.

Church leaders said the purpose of the series is to move beyond coexistence in interfaith work and worship to an appreciation of the rich heritage that three of the world’s major faith communities share. It is believed that by sharing the differing but similar approaches to prayer by Muslims, Christians and Jews, a growing ecumenical spirit will be strengthened, they said.

For more information on the interfaith series contact: The Restoration Church at the Dome, (405) 525-6551, 3700 N. Walker Ave. Oklahoma City, OK or visit their Facebook page.

Clergy Discussion Group Sponsored by Western Oaks Christian Church

Clergy are invited to attend a new monthly Clergy Discussion Group, sponsored by Western Oaks Christian Church. This diverse group comes with no agenda but rather a time to gather to enjoy a meal together and converse with one another of various faith backgrounds.

When: Third Wednesday of every month, 12:00-1:00 pm.
Where: Temple B’nai Israel, 4901 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Oklahoma City
Lunch: Contact Western Oaks CC with lunch preferences (405) 789-8812

OTHER NEWS

Oklahoma Gazette Article Features Historical Dome of Restoration Church

Restoration Church at the Dome (a Disciples of Christ congregation), along with the Okie Mod Squad, hosted the first Annual Oklahoma Modernism Weekend May 20-22. Oklahoma Gazette recounted the amazing story of Rev. Bill Alexander’s mission to build the “Church of Tomorrow!”. The architecture of “the Dome” is a Mid-Century Modern Icon, not just in Oklahoma City, but throughout the country. Read the article.

CCOK3012017-01-08T11:03:04-06:00Jun 6, 2016|Congregations|Comments Off