The EpistleThe EpistleThe EpistleThe Epistle

Volume 54, Issue 16Volume 54, Issue 16Volume 54, Issue 16Volume 54, Issue 16

September 2, 2012September 2, 2012September 2, 2012September 2, 2012

For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.

Hebrews 6:10 (NRSV)

Rev. Lisa Crone-Sheldon

PRAYER REQUESTS:

ST. PAUL’S MILITARY:

Carol Southard & Andrew Lawrence @ the Air Force Academy; Andy Killingsworth (son of Debbie Cain deployed to Kuwait); Phillip Swann (brother of Rebecca Blakeburn de-ployed to Afghanistan); Sgt. Shane Robinson (son-in-law of David & Linda Dyer deployed to S. Korea); ; Blake Moran (son of Rob and

Lisa Moran, deployed to Afghanistan)

ST. PAUL’S FAMILY :

Walter Finch; Deryn Stewart; Betty Link; Pastor Lisa; Margaret Montgomery; Betty Thrash; Gail Davis; Rose Marie Boggus; Nina Schatz; Bernard Simpson; Marge Robb; Linda Farr; Myrtle Waugh; Phyllis Larson; Mel Cain; Jimmy Schatz; Ruth Ritter; Joanne Round; Jenny Christian; Joy Stout; Virginia Lane; Joe Bartlett; Jerye Gauger; Joan Swaney; Ted & Betty Matson; Delbert Fair;

Robert Thompson.

ST. PAUL’S RELATIVES:

Francy Kusch (Linda Paulsen’s sister-in-law); Josh Ballard (Seldon & Eva’s grandson); Ralph Congoles (son-in-law of Myrtle Waugh); Larry Chase (brother-in-law of Stan & Denise Jones); Norman Cain (Mel Cain’s father); Liz Jonston’s brother; Bill Falkinburg (Joan Swaney’s nephew); Shellby Norton (niece of Char Beggs); Lola Tippin (mother of Jon Tippin); Sean McIntyre (Evelyn Ogan’s cousin); Jim Fisher (Martha Rodrigues’ son-in-law); Jeff, Madison and Matt Robb (Marge Robb’s family); Charles Hays (father of Marcy White); Barbara Ritter (Ruth Ritter’s nephew’s wife); Delmas & Dottie Failing (Lisa Moran’s parents); Allen Sheldon’s Aunt Ruth; Shane Simpson (niece of Bernard & Betty Simpson); Andi Luedeman (family member of Jo Ann Sherron); Jean Hoch (Gatlin Hoch’s mother); Susan Philips (Nancy VanZant’s sister); Kenny and Virginia Jones (Stan Jones parents); ; Wesley Crone (Pastor Lisa’s father); Linda Gardner (David Dyer’s

sister)

ST. PAUL’S FRIENDS:

Ginny Wasson (friend of Virginia Starks); Friend of Rose Marie Boggus; Cathy Ta-vanello (KST teacher); Amy Turner (friend of

Liz Johnston)

VOL. 54, ISSUE 16 Page 2

Dorothy Biddle (mother of Norma Casad) celebrated her 99th birthday on August 31. The beautiful flowers on the altar Septem-ber 2 were from Karan & Mark Morein. Happy Birthday Doro-thy!

(Editor’s note: Norma also celebrates a birthday on Sept. 5th, I know the number but I’m not telling!)

Bishop Hayes returning for 3rd term!

Delegates at the South Central Jurisdiction meeting in Oklahoma City ex-pressed jubilation in a standing ovation as the announcement was made that

Bishop Robert E. Hayes has been appointed to serve in the Oklahoma Conference for another 4 years. Bishop Hayes says, “I believe we can keep on working and make Oklahoma the model of ministry in the whole denomination. We have the right people, the resources, the opportu-nity, and the audacity.” Bishop Hayes is giving the churches of Oklahoma excellent leader-ship that puts us ahead of others in our response to, “The Call to Action,” a call to all churches to increase in vitality by implementing Key Drivers: 1. Effective pastoral leadership including aspects of management, visioning, and inspiration; 2. Multiple small groups and programs for children and youth; 3. Mix of traditional and contemporary worship services; and 4. High per-centage of spiritually engaged laity who assume leadership roles. Bishop Hayes is also help-ing us evaluate our work by measuring indicators of healthy ministry that were named in “The Call to Action,”: 1. Worship attendance; 2. Number of new professions of faith; 3. Number of small groups to grow the faith of disciples; 3. Number of members engaged through the church in community and world mission; 4. Amount of money given beyond the local church for com-munity and world mission. A full list of the 16 Key drivers of vitality is available at

www.umvitalcongregations.org.

This is a defining decade for United Methodist Churches as a whole. Many churches are in decline, but some are vital and growing. Bishop Hayes is steering Oklahoma churches in the right direction for vitality and growth. That is one of the reasons why it is so timely that we are involved in the Natural Church Development studies on Sunday mornings. If we learn from the NCD materials and take the survey, we will ultimately gain specific strategies for becoming more vital as a congregation. Bill Thomason made a key point in his Introduction to NCD last Sunday, “Every church reaches a point of inflection where they will either grow or decline. Either we have the indicators of healthy ministry or we decline. There is no standing

still.”

Thank you, Bill for your wisdom!

Pastor Lisa

P.S. Pastor Lisa would like to thank everyone for their prayers, support and food during

her recent surgery and recuperation.

Rev. Darrel Hardy will bring a message to the Traditional Worshipers

Sept. 16th. Darrel was St. Paul’s Senior Pastor from 1988-1995. We will

have a catered lunch after worship. Bring a dish to share.

Page 5 VOL. 54, ISSUE 16

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U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No. 230

Ponca City, OK

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Mission Statement 2012 and Beyond

THE MISSION OF ST. PAUL’S UMC IS TO

MAKE DISCIPLES FOR JESUS CHRIST.

St. Paul’s commits to reach out to the spiritually

hungry and those in need in the Ponca Community

to supply the love of God and to nurture our com-

munity. We will develop and implement an out-

reach program to older people who have needs that

are not currently fulfilled with existing programs.

And if you spend yourselves in the behalf of the

hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then

your light will rise in the darkness. Isaiah 58:10

“THE EPISTLE” (USPS 230) is published every other week, a total of 27 issues per year, by the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1904 N. Pecan Road, Ponca City, OK

74604.

STAFF

Minister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa Crone-Sheldon Administrative Assistant . . . . . . . . . .. David Moore KST. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . ………….. Debbie Cain Kid’s Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cheryl Hillman Youth Ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……….Tim Boyer Organist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bobbie Motz Financial Secretary ……….. . . . . . ….David Moore Custodian …………….. . . . . . . . . . . . . Eliza Foster Stillwater District Superintendent . . . . David Wiggs Bishop, Oklahoma Area UMC.. .Robert E. Hayes Jr.

Missionary . . . . . . . . . . Kristen Brown (Jerusalem)

1904 N. Pecan Road Ponca City, OK 74604-3000

ST . PAUL’S UNITED METHODIST

CHURCH

Phone: 580-765-7512 Fax: 580-765-7551

stpaulspc@cableone.net stpaulspastor@cableone.net

Believe, Belong, Become

Believe, Belong, BecomeBelieve, Belong, BecomeBelieve, Belong, BecomeBelieve, Belong, Become

Fall Fellowship Suppers

Plans Underway

It’s hard in the middle of summer to be thinking of the cool days of fall…but it will be here before we know it. The Fellowship Supper Committee is starting the plan-

ning now.

Put Wednesday evening, Sept. 5 on your calendar for St. Paul’s as we kick-off our Fall Fellowship Suppers. For those new to St. Paul’s each Wednesday evening we have a meal often followed by a Bible study. Occasionally there will be a short program

during the meal.

Supper begins at 5:30 pm and any scheduled program from 6-6:15 pm.

This year we’re keeping the cost the same affordable price. Children 5 and under are FREE! Yes that’s right FREE. Everyone else is $5 per person (over 12) and $3

per person (6-12) with a maximum of $15 per household.

To make it even more affordable for everyone our first dinner on Sept. 5 is FREE FOR EVERYONE. We’ll have fried chicken and homemade ice cream. The church will provide the chicken and some members are bringing the ice cream. We’re

asking everyone else to bring a dish…pot luck style….either salad or dessert.

For those with small children wanting to stay for the Bible student FREE child

care will be provided.

If you have any program ideas please contact Kathy Tippin at jktip-pin@gmail.com or phone 765-8043. Groups or individuals interested in providing a meal for a Fellowship Supper should contact Laura Godsey at cegodsey@cableone.net or

phone 765-3626.

Watch the Epistle for updates on our Fellowship Suppers in the months ahead.

Church Family,

Thank you so much for helping build my relationship with God. You’ve been a great supporter over the past 18 years of my life and I’m very grateful! Through girl scout cookie sales, Washington D.C. field trips, and so much more. You guys have always been there! I’m so thankful for each and every one of

you, because you have all made a huge impact in my life one way or another.

Love Always,

Heather Lynn Winter

Weekly Schedule

Sunday, September 2

Living Water (LW) Service— Casual Con-

temporary Worship 8:30a

Sunday School 9:30a

Fellowship time (FH) 10:30-10:45a

LW Service—Contemporary Worship 10:45a

Kids Rock for Jesus 10:45a

Classic Worship Service 10:45a

SPY 5-7p

Monday, September 3 (Labor Day)

Church Office Closed

Tuesday, September 4

Kids Special Time (KST) 9a-12 noon

Prayer Meeting (Library) 10a

Weight Watchers (FH) 6p

Wednesday, September 5

Kid Zone 3:30p-5:30p

Fellowship Dinner 5:30p

Bible Study 6:15p-7:30p

Thursday, September 6

KST 9a-12 noon

Men’s Coffee 10a

Bible Study 11:45a

Young Lives (Voyagers classroom) 7p-7:45p

Friday, September 7

Saturday, September 8

Sunday, September 9 (Grandparents Day)

Living Water (LW) Service— Casual Con-

temporary Worship 8:30a

Sunday School 9:30a

Fellowship Time (F.H.) 10:30a

Classic Worship Service 10:45a

Living Water Service 10:45a

SPY 5-7p

Special Services upcoming

Jayna Swords will bring her testimony

and report from her recent missionary

trip to Sierra Leone in the Sept. 9 Liv-

ing Water service.

Rev. Darrel Hardy will bring a mes-

sage to the Traditional Worshipers

Sept. 16th. Darrel was St. Paul’s Sen-

ior Pastor from 1988-1995. We will

have a catered lunch after worship.

Bring a dish to share.

Page 3 VOL. 54, ISSUE 16

Page 4

Every Sunday Every Monday Every Tuesday Every Wednesday Every Thursday

8:30a Living Water (LW)

Service

9:30a Sunday School

10:30a Fellowship time

10:45a Traditional Worship

(main sanctuary)

10:45a Kid’s Rock for Jesus

(1st Sunday of month)

10:45a LW Service

1:30p Handbells

5-7p SPY

8:45a Offering Counters

(Office)

7:00p Boy Scouts

9a KST

10:00a Prayer Mtg.

(Library)

6:00p Wt. Watchers

(Fellowship Hall)

3:30 Kid Zone

4:30p Youth UMW circle

5:30p Fellowship Dinner

6:15-7:30p Bible Study

6:30-8p Midweek Connect

–SPY

9a KST

10:00a Men’s Coffee

(SEFI classroom)

11:45a Bible Study

7p-7:45p Young Lives (in Voyagers class-

room)

Every Saturday

11:00a Bobbie/Organ

(Sanctuary)

VOL. 54, ISSUE 16

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 10:45a Kid’s Rock for Jesus

3 Church Office Closed

4

5 5:30p Fellowship Din-ners resume Norma Casad B/D

6

7

8

9 Grandparents Day

10 9a PA Quilters 7p Finance Meeting

11

12

13 9:30a UMW 3:30p CPR training for KST/KZ

14 6-8:30p NCD church retreat @ St. Pauls

15 9a-2p NCD church retreat @ Camp McFadden Nancy Van Zant B/D

16

11:45 am Trustees Meeting Darrell Hardy preach-ing for 10:45a Tradi-tional Service Catered dinner after 2nd services

17

10:30a PA Quilters Board Meeting Virginia Lane B/D

18

1p UM Game Day @ St. Paul’s Paula Matson B/D

19

20

David Dyer B/D

21 Betty Rutz B/D

22

First Day of Fall

23/30 Ed & Lana Jones B/Ds (23rd) (yes, this is correct) Gary Lanman B/D (23rd) Robert Montgomery B/D (30th) David Awtrey B/D (30th)

24 7p Admin. Council Mtg

25 10a Love Quilts 6:30p-8:30p CDC Open House

26 UMW Work Day

27 Ila McKee B/D

28

29 Martha Rodrigues B/D

September 2012