What do you love about camp?
Junior Camp Bytes begins its second day with 17 campers and 7 adults. The image above is during worship.
Virtual Vacation Bible School
Covid-19 (coronavirus) has changed the ways we participate in congregational life and the things congregations offer during the summer. Vacation Bible School is a summer tradition for many congregations and it has a long, rich history as a part of our denomination’s outreach ministry. The Region asked a group to create an intergenerational VBS that can be done at home. This self-guided VBS is designed for families to do together. Congregations may want to use video conferencing for some or all of the activities to do together as another way of connecting their members.
Virtual VBS is a four day program that is designed to last a couple of hours each day. A short registration form is required to access the VBS. Registration opens June 18th and Virtual VBS will publish on June 22.
We give thanks for the talents, gifts, and dedication of the Virtual VBS Team, and offer our thanks to their congregations for gifting their time to this project.
Watch the short video to meet the team: Rev. Darlene Martinez, Rev. Julia Jordan-Gillett, Chris Fourcade, and Rev. Sarah Combs
(June 5, 2020) Camp Bytes goes live next week.
Working with our volunteer Camp Directors and Counselors, the Commission for Children, Youth, and Young Adults has reimagined our summer camp program as our Nation, and the world, lives through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chi Rho Camp Bytes (June 9-11) kick off the camp season. Each day between 10am and 12pm, counselors and campers will gather for an online camp that will have a live element. Campers must be registered to enter camp and, just like our physically in person program, we cannot accept same day registration for any of our digital camps. Similarly, Camp Bytes for Junior campers, CYF campers, and Discovery campers will be offered. Visit the Families & Youth section of our website to learn more and register today.
Just like our physically in person camp program, each day of digital camp will include: play, prayer, study, worship, and service.
We are excited to announce that campers who registered between February 1 and May 2 for traditional summer camp will receive a Camp Bytes t-shirt in the mail this summer! Yes, if you listed a t-shirt size in your registration for traditional summer camp, the Region will send you a camp shirt FREE. We are able to provide Camp Bytes and the t-shirt through the generous gifts by donors like you to the Region’s Camp & Conference Resource Endowment Fund throughout the years. This fund is managed by the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation.
You didn’t register for traditional camp, but want a shirt? No worries. You can purchase a summer camp shirt through an online store later this month, and that purchase will support the Region’s program ministries for children and youth which includes summer camp. Maybe you don’t want a shirt, but still want to support our program ministries for children and youth. Thank you! Visit our Givelify page to make a contribution today and select children and youth ministry. Yes, you could also mail a check to the Region. If you have other questions, please contact Rev. Michael Davison, Associate Regional Minister.
Yes, Camp Bytes is a bit more screen time this summer, but it will connect you to campers across our Region who want to connect with you. So, don’t wait! Time is running out to register for Chi Rho Camp Bytes. Registration for Chi Rho closes at 3pm, this Sunday, June 7.
- Chi Rho Camp Bytes (Jun 9-11) 10am-12pm
- Junior Camp Bytes (June 16-18) 12pm-2pm – Registration Closes June 13
- CYF Camp Bytes (June 23-25) 9:30am-12pm – Registration Closes June 20
- Discovery Camp Bytes (July date TBA)
Faith In Action: Care of Earth
You have given [humans] dominion over the works of your hands—Psalm 8:6a
The Faith in Action Commission is working toward strengthening our efforts regarding the Care of the Earth. If leadership regarding the Care of the Earth is a potential calling in your faith journey, please let us know. We are first going to develop a plan to start the process and then develop a Team to champion that plan and further plans throughout the Christian Church in Oklahoma congregations. Please contact the Chair of FIAC, Marilynn Knott at [email protected] to let us know of your interest. We would love to have a few leaders from both laity and clergy in each of the Regional Areas.
New Ministry Training Opportunities at Phillips Theological Seminary
Phillips Theological Seminary’s Ministry and Lay Training Program offer 8-week summer classes beginning June 22 – August 16, 2020, followed by many classes offered during the 2020 – 2021 sessions.
If you want to ask questions about any of these courses prior to registering, please join the Question and Answer Zoom Meeting on June 2, 2020. Click HERE to register.
20/21 Session 1 summer classes are:
- Christian Ethics, Instructor: Dr. George Flanagan
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Church Administration and Planning, Instructor: Dr. John Bracke
- Disciples History and Polity, Instruction: Dr. Lisa Barnett
20/21 Session 2 will begin August 17-October 11, 2020.
- Theology, Dr. Trish Greeves
- Spiritual Development, Dr. Kris Tenny-Brittian
- Communication, Kurt Gwartney, M.Div.
- United Church of Christ History and Polity, Rev. Margot Pickett
20/21 Session 3 will begin October 12- December 6, 2020.
- Mission of the Church, Rev. David Avery
- Conflict Utilization, Dr. Kris Tenny-Brittian
- Disciples History and Polity, MTP Adjunct Faculty
20/21 Session 4 will begin January 4-February 28, 2021
- Church History, Rev. Jerry Albright
- Evangelism, Dr. Bill Tenny-Brittian
- Worship, Rev. Bob Kemp-Baird
20/21 Session 5 will begin January 15-April 11, 2021
- Overview of the Bible, Dr. Alex Ruth
- Christian Ethics, Dr. George Flanagan
- Introduction to the New Testament, Dr. Kris Tenny-Brittian
- Disciples History and Polity, MTP Adjunct Faculty
20/21 Session 6 will begin March 29-May 23, 2021
- Pastoral Care, Rev. Darrell Vandervort
- Church Administration and Planning, Dr. John Bracke
- Ecumenism, Dr. Andy Mangum
Poor People’s Campaign Going Digital on June 20, 2020
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 | [email protected]
FCC Bartlesville’s Member Offers Support to COVID Frontline Workers
First Christian Church Bartlesville member, Gay Cooper and her store Sew Uptown! are offering anyone who sews the chance to help nurses, doctors, and other health care workers during the pandemic. When these front-line professionals come home to their families, they shouldn’t have to worry about bringing the virus with them on their clothes. These drawstring bags will allow them to change at work, put dirty clothes in the bag, and then throw the whole bundle into the wash at home – bag and all!
Gay is donating the fabric, providing instructions, etc. Just pick up packets at her store, sew, and return! Call Gay at 918-332-8956 for more information.
Thank you Gay and everyone who is serving the Bartlesville community with this special gift.
Creavitity Abounds: This is What Love Looks Like Right Now!
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 . . .” Loving our neighbor and friends and families by staying at home and worshiping on-line. Even though watching this video is emotional, I know your sanctuary looks like this out of our love for one another.
Update on Canadian County Lenten Worship Series
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 [email protected].
Click HERE to read the original article about Canadian County Lenten Workship and view pictures.
First Christian Church – OKC Moves Out of Iconic Building
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