LAKESIDE STAFF

Pastor ................. Rev. Mark Rickman Music Director .................Jason Grife Pianist ........................Corie Melaugh Media ..............................Don Taylor Youth Director ........... Lauryn Schmitt Youth Director .............. Lanc Schmitt Admin. Assistant ..............Randy Rice Nursery Attendant ..... Patsy Kouhdari Nursery Attendant .......Deanna Bond Custodians ....... Scott & Kelly Schmitt

A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF LAKESIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH2925 NW 66th Street, OKC, OK 73116

405-843-5777lakesideumc@coxinet.net

web: lakesideumcokc.ning.com

The LAKESIDER February 2013

From The Pastor

Spiritual Pilgrims

How could one ever learn all the intricacies of Scripture? How could one ever hope to grasp all the dimensions of faith? The thought is so intimi-dating, so daunting, that some decide never to begin. It is like looking at the immensity of a forest and despairing over the effort it would take to learn all the varieties of trees and vegetation, the signs of seasonal shifts, the telling aspects of drought or stress or disease. It is hard not to envy the hard-won wisdom of a forest ranger, as of a biblical scholar or a spiritual pilgrim.

But they also had a beginning point. That’s a crucial step – to begin. We cannot let our fear of the journey’s demands prevent us from taking the first steps. As it is true for learning forests, so it is with learning the Bible, with learning the ways of faith. We don’t acquire faith by standing in a church anymore than we become naturalists by standing in a park.

Lent can be a time for taking first steps – again. As described elsewhere in this newsletter, Lent is a season to practice the spiritual disciplines that can train our hearts and better focus our minds. We can explore the rhythms of fasting, of daily Bible study, of intentional prayer, of tithing, and of the various spiritual practices that can sharpen our appetites for God and for the people of God.

We don’t do it simply for our own benefit, however. Because there will always be beginners to the ways of faith, there will always be a need for those whose guidance and support prove trustworthy – seasoned pilgrims whose lives reveal an intimacy with Jesus. This Lent, may we allow God to shape us more fully into the pilgrims the day demands.

Mark

Way to go, Lakesiders!

2012 was another year of amazing service and giving by Lakeside UMC. Lakeside started the year with a budget shortfall and had to borrow from the line of credit just to pay bills in the spring. There were very real concerns about the coming months.But, when the situation was explained and discussed in a joint Sunday School meeting, Lakesiders stepped up and met the challenge! Not only did most of us contribute separately to pay our apportionments, over one-third of us gave beyond our pledged amount. And, it is safe to say that every one of us either participated in or contributed to one or more of the great fund raising efforts sponsored by various Lakeside groups during the year – the Mardi Gras pancake supper, the golf tournament, the cabaret, the bake sale, garage sale and peanut brittle sale. Several of you also made cash gifts to the church at year-end. Thank you! Thank you!Your dedication and commitment to the Lakeside com-munity of faith in 2012 allowed us to: - Pay our monthly bills and obligations in a timely manner, - Pay our apportionments in full, - Completely repay line of credit borrowings, and - Begin 2013 with a small cash surplus.

Thanks to each of you for so generously sharing what God has given to you. Please continue to do so throughout 2013. It’s truly amazing what God is able to do through us.

LAKESIDE ON FACEBOOK Most everyone knows that Lakeside has a website – lakesideumcokc.ning.com – but do you know that we also have a Facebook page? Well, we do! www.facebook.com/lakesideumcokc is the address of the page. I would encourage those of you who use Facebook to “like” the page so that postings on our page will show up in your timeline. (If you don’t know anything about Facebook, I expect that last sentence will make absolutely no sense to you!) One of the best things about the Lakeside page is that everyone has the ability to make comments on the page, upload photos, and even upload videos! So let’s get those cameras going, Lakesiders.Events posted on the church’s website will also be shared on our Facebook page, as will monthly newsletters and This Sunday at Lakeside – a sum-mary of the upcoming Sunday’s church service.Let’s all have some fun and get involved in both the website and the Facebook page, because there is more on the horizon. Next up? YouTube! – John Richardson

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Send your kids to Sunday School!!! We have fun while learning about

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GAS OUTAGE AT LAKESIDE

On Monday, January 28th, ONG discovered a large gas leak from one of Lakeside’s meters behind the kitchen. The smell had been reported by residents in the neighborhood. The gas from this meter has been turned off pending ONG repair to the lines.

Looking for a place to meet God every day?

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of The Upper Room located on the

bookcase in the foyer. We would appreciate a $2 donation

for each book to help cover a portion of the cost.

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS Sunny Richardson ............ 01 Andrew Geist ................... 01 Sarah Burkhead ................ 02 Sean Proctor ..................... 06 Molly Smith ..................... 06 Tamina Brady ................... 07 Miriam McGaugh ............. 14 Lanc Schmitt .................... 17 Cody McGaugh ................ 17 Larry McGaugh ................ 19 Scott Schmitt .................... 19 James Johnson .................. 23 Dylan Davis ...................... 24 Brian Kouhdari ................. 24 Mary Lou Denny .............. 26 Phyllis Harvey .................. 28

Please contact A.M. Nowlin with prayer requests and updates.(843-6811) or

Use prayer request card located in sanctuary seat back

Family of Shirley James Pam Young Trudy Davis

Rebecca Hemme JoAnn Willingham (sister of Mary Ellen Cromwell) Jim and Judy Prophater

Donita Peterson Christel Murdock

Ken Appleby Linda Hoog

THANK YOU

I want to thank you all for all you do and prayer for my successful recovery from surgery. – Sylvia Frank

Theft at Lakeside As some of you know, two of Lakeside’s air conditioning units were burglarized recent-ly and stripped of all their copper. To pre-vent additional thefts, the Trustee Commit-tee has bought equipment that will “encage” all of the units and make them secure. Experts attribute the increase in copper wire theft to the current price of metals. Copper wire can easily be stripped from places like the roofs of buildings, power lines on streets, memorial decorations in cemeteries, air conditioning units and the piping in homes.

Oklahoma Conference of Churches 30th Annual Day at the LegislatureMonday, February 11, 2013

Following a tax debate,

legislation related to the environment will be presented by Rev. Kirt Moelling, a member of the OCC IMPACT Committee and pastor at St. Ste-phens United Method-ist-Broken Arrow.

Register and pay on-line!http://okchurches.org/upcoming-events

Please submit

information from Sunday School classes

to the office for publication in the monthly newslet-ter by the 25th of

each month. We ask that each class put someone in charge of this task so that

we will not have a month with-

out your in-formation.

Thanks.

IN MEMORY OF SHIRLEY JAMES

1934 – 2013So when a dear one heeds the call

Our hearts should be at rest For there beyond the rainbow end

A loving God knows best.

Adult / Young Adult Interfaith Tour

March 3, 2013By request, the Religions United Committee of OCC is again offering an Interfaith Tour for Adults / Young Adults. Attendees will visit three different houses of worship in the Okla-homa City area. The tour will begin at Holy Temple Baptist Church, with check-in at 1:00 p.m. Transportation between tour stops will be provided, with light refreshments served. Registration fee is $15 per person. Other details are still being finalized but will soon be available on the OCC website at www.okchurches.org. Online registration already available at : http://www.okchurches.org/upcoming-events

Meeting N

eeds Making D

isciples Making a D

ifference

Six Week Lenten Study

Beginning Sunday, February 17, Pastor Mark will offer a six-week Lenten study called The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus by

Adam Hamilton. Much of the video is shot on location in the Holy Lands. Come see some of these significant locations in our story of faith.

We’ll meet at 4:30 pm each Sunday until the beginning of Holy Week. Lent is a season of self-examination and spiritual discipline. Please consider making this study an important time

in your spiritual growth and practice of faith. Study books are not required, but you may purchase one at Cokesbury if you are interested. Please call Pastor Mark with any questions.

Methodism Study

This Sunday, February 3, and next Sunday, February 10, at 4:30 pm, Pastor Mark will offer a brief introduction into the history and teaching of the United Methodist Church. If you haven’t participated in such a study for a while, please see this “refresher” as an opportu-

nity to celebrate our denominational background and situation. This is open to any interested persons, and no study materials need to be purchased.

Mark your calendars!Blanket Valentines will be sold February 3rd and 10th after church. Cost: $5.00 per Valentine

This valentine will purchase a blanket for those in need here, and around the world. What more could you do in honor of, or in memory of a friend or loved one, than to purchase a valentine to give warmth to others? “Blanket the World with Love!!!” – Mary Ellen Cromwell

9:30 am - Sunday Schl 10:45 am - Worship, COMMUNION

9:30 am - Sunday Schl 10:45 am - Worship Noisy Offering

9:30 am - Sunday Schl 10:45 am - Worship, COMMUNION

9:30 am - Sunday Schl 10:45 am - Worship

Valentines - Church World Service blankets will be sold – $5.00

7:00 pm AA

Groundhog Day Trustees – breakfast and paint office

6:30 - Finance Committee, Monthly Meeting

6:00 pm-Bells Prac.7:00 pm-Choir Prac.

6:00 pm Bells Prac.7:00 pm Choir Prac.

6:00 pm Bells Prac.7:00 pm Choir Prac.

1 2

6 7 8 9 4 3

12 13 14 15 161110

191817

24

Sunday Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

6:30 pm-Worship Service 7:00 pm – Choir Prac.7:00 pm - AA

20 21

5

Tuesday

22 23

5:00 pm Youth Group

5:00 pm Youth Group

5:00 pm Youth Group

25 26 27 287:00 pm - AA

GREETERS AND USHERS

Following is the schedule for the next two months:

February – Disciple Class March – Share Class

5:00 pm Youth Group

4:30 pm Methodism Study

7:00 pm Charge Conference

4:30 pm Methodism Study

4:30 pm Lenten Study

4:30 pm Lenten Study

2013

VALENTINE’S DAY

Valentines - Church World Service blankets will be sold – $5.00

5:30 – Worship Committee Meeting

.RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

LAKESIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2925 NW 66th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73116

Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christian-ity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count). Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection. Not all Christian churches observe Lent. Lent is mostly observed by the Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican denominations, and also by Roman Catho-lics. Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Orthodox Easter. Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begins on Monday (called Clean Monday) and Ash Wednesday is not observed.

What is Lent?