week of compassion Archives - Christian Church in Oklahoma

A Heart for Giving

Many just see churches as a place of worship only; some do see the learning and spiritual connections that are happening. Others, may pre-judge and think churches are some kind of snooty social club. Through my impromptu visits, I see warm inviting congregations that also have a heart for giving.

My visit Sunday took me to FCC Tulsa. The beauty of this building in downtown Tulsa’s “Cathedral Square” was reflected by the warm and caring congregation. FCC Tulsa’s numbers may be small but with help from Pine Street CC, they had recently made 400 snack packs to distribute to those in need. It would take pages to list all the giving happening at all of our churches.

This heart for giving is included in the activities of our Disciples Women. Retreats, events, and area meetings include service projects. Recently, the CADW meeting again touched my heart with the non-profit’s success with the women it helps. Hope House OKC, only using donations, over the years has expanded the size of their mission; God’s hand is in it.

During this month of February be aware of your heart for giving. You are doing this with your many ministries. One ladies group celebrates with collecting and donating their Blessing Boxes in February. With Blessing Box giving down in recent years, Office of Disciples Women in Indianapolis is in need. In honor of DW 150th birthday, they are asking for donations from $15 to $150. Send to Disciples Women, PO Box 1986, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206. Please memo DW 150th birthday. Or give online.

Another cause at our hearts is Week of Compassion. Yes, they help with the floods and fires! They also help women and girls. See their website for more information; they even provided help in Oklahoma! We will have opportunity to show our hearts for giving in these special offerings at our churches or you may give online.

A funny side note: For those of you that know my lost girl story, I had goggled Pine Street Christian Church and my directions took me to First Christian in downtown Tulsa. Could it be divine intervention? Quite the experience with God guiding your steps. It was a good experience at FCC Tulsa. Eventually, I would love to hear Pastor Brenda Denson at Pine Street! Only God knows where my next visit will be.

~Prayers and Blessings,
Marilyn Bohlender ODW President

Acts 25:35 (NIV) In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

ODW-bicycle-donation-800×600

Bicycle donation to Hope House OKC by Central Area Disciples Women

CCOK3012025-02-06T11:26:04-06:00Feb 6, 2025|Disciples Women|Comments Off

2025 Week of Compassion Special Offering

Friends, as we’ve reflected on God’s ever-present love – a love that persists even when we cannot directly hear it or see it – we are now invited to participate in making that love tangible for others around the world.

This special offering supports Week of Compassion, a vital ministry of our whole Church that serves vulnerable communities globally. Through this ministry, we extend our reach, our fellowship, our communion far beyond these walls.

Our faithful giving allows God’s love to be heard and seen in places of great need – in war-torn regions, in areas devastated by weather-related disasters, and in communities struggling with poverty and injustice. Let us give generously and joyfully, knowing that through our offering, others will hear and see God’s love in action.

Donate

Promotional Materials

Further information and promotional pieces for the Week of Compassion may be found on the WOC Special Offering page including the following:

Social media images
Sermon starters and scripture commentary
Mission Moment
Worship resources
QR code for online giving
Posters and bulletin inserts
Children’s sermon & activities
Youth activities

CLICK HERE FOR PROMO RESOURCES

Versión en español of “Heard and Seen” Video Link

CCOK3012025-02-06T12:34:57-06:00Feb 4, 2025|Congregations|Comments Off

2023 Week of Compassion Offering

Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.

Offering Collected February 19 – 26, 2023

Please give generously at your congregation or online at Week of Compassion.

“Yet it is because I remember all this
that I have hope
YHWH’s favor is not exhausted
nor has God’s compassion failed.
They RISE UP ANEW each morning,
so great is God’s faithfulness.”
(Lamentations 3:12-13, The Inclusive Bible)

CCOK3012023-02-01T16:26:50-06:00Feb 1, 2023|Congregations|Comments Off

Disciples Supporting Afghan Families

Loving and Helping Our New Neighbors

Soon Afghan families will be our new neighbors as they move into the metropolitan areas of Oklahoma. Some of our Disciple congregations are already making preparations to help welcome them. As you might imagine, the needs to help one family relocate are tremendous, and there will be many families who need our help. If your congregation would like to join this ministry and work together, please contact Mary Heath, Chair of the Region’s Refugee & Immigration Commission or the Regional Office. Please note there are many resources to help understand the needs of our Afghan communities. The resources below are just a start!

Disciples Hospitality & Welcome

These links will take you to the most comprehensive resources to learn about Disciples hospitality and welcome of Afghanistan refugees into our midst. You are welcome to use any and/or all of these resources in your congregation.

Disciples Statements on Refugees and Immigration

Share this video from Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President, and this video from Week of Compassion on Afghan Welcoming.

Disciples Refugees & Immigration Ministries (RIM)

These links will direct you to many resources for your congregation to learn more about the Afghan refugees.

Web Resources Facebook Resources

Week of Compassion

Refugees and Displaced People

Church World Service

Church World Service is an organization in the US serving the Afghan resettlement program. There are twenty-one CWS offices around the US. Just recently, CWS approved the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program to make it possible for CWS to provide resources to communities who want to partner with CWS who are further than 100 miles from a CSW office, places like Oklahoma and West Virginia.

Please follow the links below to help your congregation learn about the CWS Afghan Resettlement ministries and worship resources.

5 Ways You Can Help Welcome Afghans Video

Resources and Worship Guide for Reflecting and Praying for the Displaced

Oklahoma Congregations Already Preparing

The Region of Oklahoma has eight congregations already preparing to help in the resettlement of Afghan families.

Edmond Trinity
Norman FCC – working ecumenically in the Norman community
OKC Crown Heights
OKC Western Oaks
Ponca City FCC
Stillwater FCC – working ecumenically in the Stillwater community; OSU has contributed housing
Tulsa Harvard Avenue – working ecumenically in the Tulsa community
Weatherford Federated

How Your Congregation can Participate

The needs of resettlement are great. Here are some of the many ways your congregation can be a partner in this ministry.

1. Pray for these Afghans who have been displaced from their home and are seeking a new home — here.
2. Partner with a larger congregation who is already in motion.
3. Designate a point person in your congregation to contact one of the congregations noted above to see what the needs are and report back to your board to determine the best way for your congregation to partner. Some of the needs include:

financial support for rent, utilities, legal services
medical care
transportation
furniture and home goods
appropriate seasonal clothing for adults and children
language interpreters for Dari and Pashto
volunteers when the time comes

4. Make a financial contribution to the Region’s Restricted Fund: Refugee & Immigration Afghan Resettlement.

We cannot do this ministry by ourselves. We work best together. Let us welcome and love our new neighbors with joy and gratitude!

Peace & God’s Grace,
Rev. Pamela Holt

CCOK3012021-10-12T14:52:18-05:00Oct 12, 2021|Regional News|Comments Off

Hold on Tight! Executive Director of Week of Compassion’s Personal Story

Sometimes people need a little help. Week of Compassion is here to help in many ways during times of crisis. Watch Executive Director of Week of Compassion, Rev. Vy T. Nguyen’s personal story.

Hold on tight! We will all get through this season together one day at a time.

Click HERE to watch.

Click HERE to read more about Week of Compassion

CCOK3012020-04-06T14:47:01-05:00Apr 2, 2020|Regional News|Comments Off

A Message from Rev. Terri Hords Owens

Please watch a message from General Minister and President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens as she provides faithful guidance and resources concerning COVID-19.

CCOK3012020-04-01T16:14:21-05:00Mar 16, 2020|COVID-19 Resources, Regional News|Comments Off

Putting Our Faith in Action in Canadian County, Oklahoma

On Monday, December 9, 2019, First Christian Church in El Reno hosted the Rev. Caroline Hamilton-Arnold, Associate Director of the Week of Compassion for Domestic Disaster Response. She came to help the church think through how to best coordinate their congregation, Disciples Volunteering, and the Week of Compassion to respond to the 2019 May flooding and the May 29, 2019 tornado. Both events caused significant property damage (including to Disciples families) and loss of life for two in El Reno.

We currently need volunteer work teams (ideally between 5-10 folks!) who could work in the spring of 2020 and especially the summer of 2020 (for a few days or a week). We currently need funding for supplies and repairs volunteer teams cannot properly address. We currently need skilled laborers to give up a day or a week to teach others how to do home repairs.

We currently need prayer and continued awareness that all is not well for our friends and neighbors in Canadian county and across Oklahoma after the 2019 spring storms.

Can you help us fill a need?

Colton Lott,

Senior Minister
FCC El Reno
(405) 262-3539

CCOK3012019-12-16T13:09:04-06:00Dec 12, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

Hurricane Dorian, Bahamas, and the Southeast U.S. Coast: The Most Up-To-Date Information From Week of Compassion

Event Summary from Week of Compassion:

After passing over the USVI and Puerto Rico with limited damage, Hurricane Dorian strengthened to a Category 5 storm and stalled over the northern islands of The Bahamas. Damage to the islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco is incredibly severe. The storm then tracked the eastern coast of Florida, remaining a short distance offshore, and causing some damage due to strong winds and storm surge. Greater impacts are expected in the Carolinas, where the track will bring the storm closer to shore with a potential eye-wall landfall.

How Disciples are Involved:
Local Partners:
The Bahamas: World Council of Churches, ACT Alliance, and Global Ministries partners
United States: Congregations in the Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia Regions; Volusia Interfaith Agencies Networking in Disaster; Children’s Disaster Services; Pamlico County Disaster Recovery Committee; Christmount Camp and Conference Center; Bethany Hills Camp; The Retreat at Silver Springs

Early Response: Week of Compassion is in touch with Disciples in the affected regions to provide solidarity grants for households and congregations. The Christian Church in North Carolina has worked with Barton College and local congregations to preposition hygiene and clean-up kits. Several Disciples camps and conference centers opened for evacuees. Our partners at Children’s Disaster Services have teams deployed to North Carolina to provide childcare in evacuation centers. We are also in communication with local long-term recovery groups working in communities affected by past storms that are now facing threats from Dorian.

Ongoing Engagement: To be determined.

How to Help:
Volunteer: Stay tuned for details about volunteer opportunities.

Give to Week of Compassion: Click HERE Designate “Hurricanes”

Pray: Continue to pray for those affected by the storm and for our Week of Compassion partners.

Advocate: Watch our social media feed for photos, stories, and updates about this recovery.

CCOK3012019-09-09T11:11:13-05:00Sep 9, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off

Week of Compassion at Work in Oklahoma

You Have Been Present . . .

In the last month, Oklahoma has sustained a severe weather pattern with unprecedented rain and tornadoes. El Reno endured flooding one week and a devastating tornado the next. The following communities also sustained flooding: Stillwater, Ponca City, Skiatook, Chandler, Miami, Muskogee, Langley, and the greater Tulsa area.

Thank you for your generous giving to Week of Compassion and the Oklahoma Disaster Fund, not just this spring season, but EVERY TIME YOU GIVE.

Every time you give, and there is a disaster in the world or in Oklahoma, you are there. Week of Compassion and Oklahoma Disaster Fund have provided assistance to individuals and congregations and will continue to do so because of your generosity.

Please continue praying for the long term disaster clean up in communities, for first responders who have rescued people and animals, for the Red Cross and the Medical Reserve Corps folks who are working endless hours with people, for the sandbaggers, for those who are providing clean water and a place to stay above water, for farmers who have lost crops, for those who still wrestle with weather anxiety, and who are battling extra mosquitoes, ants, and snakes. Your prayers hold a special place and fill the space between fear and safety.

Let us be grateful for our Disciples pastors who are prepared to stand alongside all those affected and members who are reaching out to love their neighbors in the name of Jesus Christ.

Images taken a few days after the first rain in May – view from I-35 and Ponca City exit. (Photo credit: Regional Minister Pam Holt)

CCOK3012019-06-11T15:50:52-05:00Jun 11, 2019|Congregations|Comments Off

California Wildfires: How You Can Help!

A Message from Regional Minister Pam Holt

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.”

Pastoral Update

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.

Some Good News

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

150,000 acres burned
65 percent contained
77 fatalities confirmed
1,276 unaccounted for
12,794 structures destroyed

Woolsey Fire Location: Los Angeles County, Ventura County

96,949 acres burned
91 percent contained
3 fatalities confirmed
1,452 structures destroyed, 337 damaged

Prayer

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.

Oklahoma Connections

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.

A Message from Week of Compassion

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

Vigil Held in Chico, CA for Wildfire Victims

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.”

CCOK3012018-12-18T12:13:13-06:00Nov 15, 2018|Regional News|Comments Off