FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

NEWSLETTER 200 E. 5

TH St. Claremore, Oklahoma (918) 341-1199

Vol. 9 No. 3 74017 March 1, 2016

Personally from the Pastor

Remember Forward

When my dad was the age I am now, he had celebrated 2/3 of his 94 birthdays. Mom had celebrated a bit higher percentage of her 89. No doubt about it, is there? The world looks different according to your birth-day. A ninety-five year-old sees the world with different eyes than does a five year-old. For most of us, eventually the truth hits home: “I have celebrated more birthdays than I will celebrate.” One event in particular can bring home this truth in a powerful way. You read about this event in Claremore just about every day. I count it a deep joy and great privilege whenever I am invited by a family to guide and participate with them in the event. Each month of this year, this minister of the Gospel has received that invitation. I understand my major purpose to the family and those assembled is to bring a word of truthful hope from God in Christ. I just cannot leave that truth outside the sanctuary or the chapel, like some kind of hopeful puppy or kitten, waiting in vain for someone to open the door. Tell me, what is a memorial service or funeral minus the Gospel? At a funeral or memorial service it is natural and right for us to remember. In a way, we are our memories, aren’t we? Travelling back in time is a fitting way to honor loved ones and friends as we give thanks for them before God. Deep gratitude for the true gift a loved one is to us is made possible by remembering experiences shared. Yet a Christian funeral or memorial service is also a time we “remember forward.” Our faith is based on a gracious and life-giving memory: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Seems to me,

the Gospel is definitely Christian remember-ing forward” the truth of God that Jesus was and continues to be. At the heart of our faith is the Savior who gave himself to die at the hands of sinful people and was raised so that we might see the forgiving heart of God; so that all who believe might know they have a future eternally embraced by God. Christians have a blessed opportunity each year. Yes, we can measure time with each birthday and with good memories of times shared with our loved ones. Yet every year, we enjoy another comforting privilege. We may measure time’s passing as we celebrate the day of hope and promise we call “Easter.” On March 27, we will come together in joyful Resurrection Day worship. I would love to see there every able member of our church family. I would love to worship with each and every believer of the First Christian faith community who can possibly participate. We are encouraging Sunday school classes and other groups to bring favorite breakfast casseroles, breads, fruit, or other delicious delights to enjoy in the Family Life Center, beginning at 10:00 AM. All are welcome! My sermon is titled “Remember Forward,” and is based on Luke 24:1-12. In Christian love,

The newsletter and upcoming events may be viewed

on the church website at claremoredisciples.com

When the need for an urgent prayer arises, the prayer chain is called to action. The chain operates mostly by email, though requests can be called in as well. By calling in or emailing a request, it can be sent out within a matter of minutes. You may send in your requests by calling 918-341-1199 or email fccaa@sbcglobal.net.

Virginia Phillips Carolyn Hauser Kyle Marilyn Bohlender Jerry & JoAnn Willm Ron Musser Larry & Pam Williams Mary Ann Linton Jim & Lottie Norwine Ray Cerda

Noon - March 24

Mar 2, 9, Noon Community Lenten Worship 16 & Luncheons @ First Christian Church

Mar 24 6:30 PM Maundy Thursday

Mar 25 Noon Good Friday Service

Mar 25-26 12:30 PM 24-hour Prayer Vigil Mar 27 7:00 AM Easter Sunrise Service @ Will Rogers Museum Theatre

Joel Grimmer was baptized on February 7. He is the son of Ryan & Michelle Grimmer. His sister is Hannah Grimmer. Their address is:

910 N Florence Ave Claremore, OK 74017

Cortney Phillips was baptized on February 7. Her parents are Farrell & Jennifer Phillips. She is the granddaughter of Virginia Phillips. Her address is:

28886 E 4th St Catoosa, OK 74015

Cortney Phillips & Joel Grimmer attend Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy. They are cousins.

Sunday School class members and all church members are invited to bring a favorite breakfast casserole, bread, fruit or other items to share with members and guest at our Easter brunch at 10:00 am. Please contact the church office to say what you will bring. Thank you!

EASTER LILIES We are currently taking pre-orders for Easer lilies in honor or in memory of loved ones. Our cost this year is $10.00. The plants can be taken home following Easter Sunday. Please include check with order, payable to: FCC, and write lilies on the memo line. Order forms may be dropped off at church office or in offering plate by March 20.

NAME __________________________________________________________________________________ IN MEMORY OF: _______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________ IN HONOR OF: __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

First Christian Church will be hosting a blood drive with Oklahoma Blood Institute on April 10 in the Family Life Center from 11:30am-1:30pm. Must have valid ID and lite lunch will be provided.

March 20 & 27

Donations to the Easter Special Offering support General Ministries’ commitments to being the hands, feet, voice and heart of Jesus through countless serv-ants all around the world. With our giving we model the life of the One who gave the gift of Living Water that transforms the world.

Worship News

Beginning March 6 and then from time to time, our worship offering to God will open with singing. We will lift to God a group of several songs or choruses of traditional or contemporary music. “O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” - -Psalm 95:1-2

Board and Cabinet Meeting Changes At its February 21 meeting, the church board adopt-ed the recommended change to our church by-laws from the Constitution and By-laws Revision Committee. The change is in the meeting time for the board and the cabinet. Begin-ning in March, the church board will regularly meet on the third Sunday of each odd-numbered month. Beginning in April, the cabinet’s regular meeting time will be on the third Sunday of each even-numbered month. This change was adopted in order to increase the efficiency of our Board’s meetings so we make best use of every Board members’ time. With fewer meetings each year, and with a greater focus on business items, the changes are intended to increase participation and attendance at the Board’s meet-ing by the officers of our faith community.

Wednesday, March 9 7:00 pm

Sundays @ 1:15 pm

Children Worship & Wonder

March 6 Zaccheus March 13 Jesus the King March 20 Last Supper March 27 Empty Tomb

Children &Youth Ministry News

Acolytes Schedule

Mar 6 Abbi Callie

Mar 13 Ricky Andrew

Mar 21 Elizabeth Lucas

Mar 27 Trenton Zachery

Children’s Sunday School

Jennifer Swinney & Christine Pool Pre-K — 2nd

Ann Smith 3rd—5th grade

Mission Guthrie - Project 7:16

July 16-20

Kids who have completed 6th-12th grade are invited to attend

Mission Guthrie this summer.

Rooms are set! We will be staying at the brand new La

Quinta... Hope they are ready for us ;)

Worship Band is STARS GO DIM!!! It's STARS GO DIM!!

They are currently on Winter Jam tour but in July they will be

leading worship!! We are so excited!!

There will also be a block party, a Tacky Tourist dance, a

Luau, going to a drive-in movie and more.

Follow Mission Guthrie 2016 on Facebook to find out what is

happening.

REGISTRATION DEADLINES: $25.00 down payment by

April 1st - no joke ;) Remaining $225.00 due by June

1st. Get your paperwork in and your T-shirt size so we can

get your T-shirt ordered...

Go to http://www.fccguthrie.org/Websites/

firstchristianguthrie/images/

Mission_Guthrie_2016_Registration_form.pdf to

download and print registration form. The church will pay

half of registration towards one camp for each child who is

active in our church. Please complete form and return to Josh

along with the down payment by March 27.

International Affiars Seminar Zoe White & Rachel Kotoff leave on an eight day journey begin-ning March 11 for International Affairs Seminar in Washington DC and New York with 18 youth from other Oklahoma Disciples churches. They will learn about ways Christians can respond to immigration. While there, they will visit Washington monuments & memorials, Holocaust museum, Ellis Island, 9/11 museum and meet Senator James Lankford. They will worship sitting together on the “Oklahoma pew” at National City Christian Church in Washington DC. They will also get to watch a comedic “who done it?” show at the Kennedy Center and two Broadway plays, Le Miserables and Matilda . Please pray that they have a fun, safe trip and that they will learn more about how their faith influences their actions as Christian citizens as member of Christ’s body on earth. We look forward to their report when they return.

Disciples Women

Rachel Group

March 19 Saturday, 10 am

Hosted at Sara Masters home

Service Project: Gift boxes for our college students

General and Day Groups

Thursday, March 17 11:30 Executive Meeting

Noon $2 Luncheon Hostess: Group 1

Study & Worship: Esther Tanner

Service Project: Craft Supplies for Rogers Co. Adult Day Care

Craft Supplies Needed

Disciples Women are collecting craft supplies for Rogers County Adult Day Care. They were very thrilled with the donations we gave last year! Items may be brought to their meeting this month or dropped off on DW table. Suggested items:

Pointed scissors, glue guns, plastic beads, elastic bead cord, colored construction paper, colored pencils, washable colored markers, popcicle sticks, suncatcher kits, yarn, string, plastic sandwich bags (cheap, no zipper or zip lock to make wreaths), artificial flowers (add to wreaths), velvet pictures to color, empty plastic coffee cans with lids

Book Club

Do you like Sci-Fi and Suspense novels? Book Club will meet on Tuesday at 7 pm, March 29 in the Library. Our book this month is Transgres-sion: A Time Travel Suspense Novel, the first in the City of God series by R.S. Ingermanson. The book is available from Amazon on Kindle for free and from a number of Amazon used book sellers. A copy will be available in the library by mid March. Come join our discussion!

We are preparing to do another photo directory. We are partnering with Lifetouch to take family photos May 5-7. Watch the bulletin and April newsletter for more information about scheduling an appointment.

Northeast Area Disciples Women Spring General Meeting

Saturday, March 5

Registration begins at 9:00 am. Meeting and worship begins at 9:30 am. Guest Speaker will be Yvonne Lewis, former KTUL news anchor. Program: Walk to Courage. Business meeting to follow. Lunch will be provided by our Day Group and Rachel Group.

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Cancer Patients - Bob Hayes, Arleigh Williams, Mark Newman, Shondra Shultz, Donna Moore, Maria Eubanks, Dave Robbins, Joyce Johnson, Lillian Johnson, Libby Fairchild

Health Concerns - Jerry & Sheri Book recovering from pneumonia; Kelly Peterson (friend of Ann Schermer) recovering from a successful surgery; Fred Northrop (friend of Barbara Strickland) hospitalized for tests; Maria Eubanks in hospital for tests; Chelsie Semkoff (granddaughter-in-law of Don & Beverly Wofford) in hospital due to pregnancy complications; Clarice Doyle (friend of Trudy Hedgpath) broke ankle; Ronny White (friend of Gail Mullen) recovering from open heart surgery; Alice Stacy chronic headaches; Tegan Crum recovering from surgery; Helen Mersch high blood pressure Sympathies to the family of Willie Lee, Lloyd Cowan, Vic Fry, Carl Clayton (friend of Lynne Dosch), Jolene Womack (friend of Susan Kotoff), Lorine Aryes (Jim Kotoff’s grandmother)

*ELDERS SERVING - MARCH 2016

DATE

STANDING ELDER (Serving Claremore, Brookfield & Wood

Manor Nursing Homes)

SERVING & PRAYER ELDER

(Serving Homebound / Hospitals)

Mar 6 Loretta Pool Gwen Eschliman

Mar 13 Janet Edge Loretta Pool

Mar 20 Imogene Crutchfield/Helen Mersch

Janet Edge

Mar 27 Lynne Dosch Imogene Crutchfield/ Helen Mersch

*DIACONATE SCHEDULE - MARCH 2016

DATE SERVING

COMMUNION & GREETING SHEPHERD,

PREPARE & CLEAN-UP

Mar 6 Morgan Bohlender, Sara Masters, Cliff & Charlottte Johnson, Gene & Peg Dary, Sherrill Vosberg, Rachel Kotoff

Morgan Bohlender Sara Masters

Mar 13 Gail Mullen, Jim Watkins, Steve Pool, Jennifer Swinney, Larry Melton, Larry Young, Robbie Ellison, Meg Robinson

Gail Mullen Jim Watkins

Mar 20 (Palm Sunday)

Brandon Pool, Katy Galusha-White, Renee Smith, Sheri Book, Mary Carrell, Dee Dee Clark, Angela James, Zoe White

Brandon Pool Katy Galusha-White

Mar 27 (Easter)

Gene & Peg Dary, Sara Masters, Morgan Bohlender, Cliff & Charlotte Johnson, Larry Melton, Rachel Kotoff

Gene & Peg Dary

*If you are unable to serve on your scheduled day, please notify the office once a replacement has been found so we can update who is serving on the bulletin.

DONUT DUTY

Mar 6 Jim Kotoff

Mar 13 Don & Beverly Wofford

Mar 20 Amanda Tobey

Mar 27 Morgan Bohlender

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH NON-PROFIT ORG (Disciples of Christ) U.S. POSTAGE PAID 200 E 5

th St CLAREMORE, OKLAHOMA

Claremore, OK 74017 PERMIT NO 48 Rev. Charles Ragland, Pastor Josh Linton, Youth Director Susan Kotoff, Secretary ________________________________ Sean Robinson, Interim Music Director Ray Teakell, Accompanist ________________________________ RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

MARCH

OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday

8:30 a.m. - 12:00 Noon 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

FAITHFUL FINANCES FEBRUARY 2016 YTD

Total Offerings and Other Income for Daily Ministries Expenses

16,763.89 37,934.40

Total Daily Ministries Expenses 18,365.05 36,536.10

Net Income (Loss) (1,601.16) 1,398.30

Needed for Budget (including Outreach Ministries)

20,441.07 41,256.86

Budget Excess (Shortfall) (3,677.18) (3,322.46)

2 Trudy Hedgpath 13 Joel Colpitts 24 Payten Taber

3 Jerry Book 15 Rileigh Taber 25 Larry Young

10 Angela James 16 Lynne Dosch 28 Jennifer Swinney

11 Danny Widener 19 Mary Lee Spinks