Print-formatted version of the newsletter for June 3, 2008 (uses Adobe Reader)
Registration begins Sunday, July 6th.
VBS planning meeting for all
teachers, assistants, and helpers (youth and adult) Sunday June 22,
immediately following the Contemporary Service.
The team of 13 adults will return Friday from a six-day trip. Join them Sunday as they share a report of the work being done in Matamoros and the work being done in their lives, during both the Traditional and Contemporary Worship Services. Follow the progress of the group as they send daily updates in text, pictures, and video to the Matamoros blog, by going to www.fcc-stw.org and clicking on Matamoros.
I am looking for a couple of adult-type people to help us brainstorm
activities for college students. My intention is that we would get some
of the college students who are active in the congregation to work with
Rick and myself on ideas that we as a church could carry out to
strengthen our ministry to college students, since we're essentially on
campus and all. We would want to meet before the end of June. Let me know
this Sunday or via email — owen (at) firstchristianstillwater (dot) org — if you are
interested in helping to brainstorm ideas.
Thanks — Owen
My family and I have now been in Stillwater almost 2 months. It is hard to believe it has been that long, although when I think about all that we (especially Lori) have accomplished, I guess it would have to be at least that long. The boxes are, for the most part, unpacked and things are where they go, despite a couple setbacks. Lori and the boys have already been on a trip to Colorado Springs with her family, and really felt like they were returning home on their way back to Stillwater.
For my part, I have certainly begun making my mess ... I mean, getting settled into my office. Now I am trying to develop patterns of working: setting meetings, talking with people, visiting the hospital and nursing homes, preparing for worship, researching and writing sermons and the like.
Patterns are very important, even for those of us who tend to be comfortable flying by the seat of our pants. We have patterns in different aspects of our lives: work, getting ready for the day (I never feel quite awake until I have brushed my teeth), worship, bedtime, bills, holidays, etc. Even nature follows patterns: the different seasons, the flight of birds, rings on trees, etc.
What I wonder is, "Who or what sets our patterns of life?" Are we intentional about allowing God, the author of life, to set the pattern for our days, weeks and years? Or, do we allow our busy schedules, our jobs, our activities to set our patterns?
I ask these questions because I know how easy it is for me to slip into allowing life to just happen to me, for my schedule to be filled up – with important stuff, mind you (if I didn't think it to be at least a little important, I would probably let a lot of it go). The more my schedule is filled, the easier it becomes to forget that God is the author of life. I jump right into work without spending time in prayer. Or I stop reading the Bible for anything other than sermon or Bible study preparation (and yes, there is a difference between that and reading the Bible for devotion). In short, I allow something other than God to set the pattern for my life – I push God aside as inconsequential to my day. Isn't it interesting that we use the terms, "I have to ..." for all sorts of things, but very rarely would we say "I have to spend time in prayer today"?
Who or what sets the pattern for your day? Are you intentional about opening yourself up to the patterns of the Author of all life? Will you join me in making a commitment to spend at least a little time in prayer each day? Let's do that together and see what happens to the patterns of our lives.
Shalom, Pastor Owen
Carson Grady Brown was born Wednesday, May 28th, at 2:18pm. He weighed in at 7lb.7oz. and measured 21 inches long. Proud parents are Casey and Lacy Brown.
Congratulations Casey and Lacy! Welcome Carson!
Sondra Ladd, Director of
Children's & Youth Ministry
E-mail: sondra (at) firstchristianstillwater (dot) org
Thanks to everyone who attended the Chi Rho Student Life and CYF Mission trip meetings. Information covered included: FEES AND NOTARIZED FORMS ARE DUE FOR BOTH STUDENT LIFE CAMP AND CYF MISSION TRIP.
Chi Rho Student Life Camp departure is Monday, June 23, at 6:00am. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT that each person bring one bed roll and one bag. Pack ONLY what you need. DO NOT BRING cell phones, i-pods, mp3-players or video games. See www.fcc-stw.org/Youth/Uthhome.htm for What To Bring List. Parents can visit www.studentlife.com for daily information such as pictures, camp news, e-mail availability; to experience worship; and to purchase gift certificates. Each student needs a minimum of $25 to cover required meals and snack stops, and $10 for a required key deposit that will be refunded when keys are returned. Optional spending money: free-time recreation (price sheets available in camp packets); camp snack bar, and spending money for Silver Dollar City. It is recommended that spending money be separated into marked envelopes, i.e.: cokes/snacks; Silver Dollar City; meals, etc. Please discuss with your child their budget. Please follow school dress-code rules and bring a one piece swim suit OR a dark T-shirt cover-up.
Our next Student Life Camp Meeting: THIS SUNDAY at Lake Carl Blackwell immediately following the Contemporary Service. Parents & siblings are invited to attend. Drink, hot dogs and fixin's provided. Girls are asked to bring a bag of chips and boys to bring a bag of cookies. We are just going to have a fun afternoon of volleyball, boating, tubing, etc. There will be approximately 20 life jackets available for use. If you have a life jacket of your own, please bring it. NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE WATER WITHOUT A LIFE JACKET. Lake shoes are recommended. You may bring rafts or floats if you would like. If you have lawn chairs, bring those as well. We will leave from the church and plan to take the church vans, HOWEVER, we also need parents who can help provide transportation. If you are available to help, please let Sondra know ASAP – there is a $3.00 entrance fee per vehicle.
CYF Panama City Mission Trip – Departure is Sunday, July 20th, at 7:00am. We will travel to Slidell, Louisiana, spend the night, and do the Cajun Encounter Swamp Tour, Monday morning at 9:30. Following the tour, we will eat lunch and travel on to Edgewater Resort in Panama City, Florida. Our mission work, a children's ministry or social ministry track, will be done as a group. Camp Pastor is Landon Dowden, and Worship Team is Spur58. Each student needs to bring enough spending money to cover five fast food meals, coke and snack money, and souvenirs. We leave camp Friday morning, drive to Memphis, spend the night, tour Bealle Street Saturday morning, and return to Stillwater around 8pm Saturday evening.
If you have questions regarding Chi Rho Student Life Camp or CYF XFuge Mission Camp, please contact Sondra Ladd.
More camp information at www.fcc-stw.org/Youth/Uthhome.htm
| Attendance: (148 & 194) | 342 |
| Sunday School | 160 |
| General Fund Receipts | $12,287.00 |
| Capital Fund Receipts | $910.00 |
| Sunday School & Loose Offering | $146.20 |
| Non-budget Funds Receipts | $5,682.49 |
| YTD Budget Receipts | $176,968.58 |
| YTD Budget Expenses | $154,936.43 |
| Net Receipts over Expenses | $22,032.15 |
Presented by Kay Smith, Treasurer, kaysmith (at) firstchristianstillwater (dot) org
All FCC men are invited to attend and bring a friend.
Our congregation is asked to pray for the church indicated for that
particular week.
June 1: Oklahoma City - New Vessels
June 8: Oklahoma City - Northwest Christian
The Stillwater Christian is a weekly publication of First Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ).
The deadline for articles each week is 1pm Monday.
Dana Craig, editor (at) firstchristianstillwater (dot) org
Church Office Phone: (405)372-7722
Fax: (405)372-7726
The Stillwater Christian and other information
about our church is available at
www.fcc-stw.org
Send prayer requests and general email to
firstchristianstill (at) firstchristianstillwater (dot) org