Print-formatted version of the newsletter for June 17, 2008 (uses Adobe Reader)
Casey and Lacy Brown joined our church by transfer of membership during the 11:10 service on June 15.
Casey and Lacy have been married for 4 years and are excited to welcome their new baby Carson into their lives. Both of them graduated from OSU, Casey with a degree in Business and Management and Lacy with a degree in Agricultural Economics and Accounting. Casey works for BancFirst and Lacy works for the DA’s office.
Take a moment to welcome them into our fellowship and let them know how excited you are they are here.
Anyone, youth and adults, interested in helping with our Vacation Bible School this year should plan to attend the planning meeting this Sunday in the youth room following the Contemporary Service.
Children, PreK-5th grades, will discover Jesus' miraculous power through Bible study, Music, Crafts, and Activities. VBS is July 14-18 from 6pm-8pm. Registration begins Sunday, July 6th.
"It is not good for the human being to be alone." (Genesis 2:18) With these words, God identifies a crisis in the garden. In Genesis 1, the word 'good' is used to describe creation seven times (including one 'very good' after God takes a step back and looks at the canvas of creation). In Genesis 2 up to verse 18, the word 'good' is used four more times. This proclamation by God, "t is not good," is incredibly important! God steps back from the Highlights magazine and says, "What’s wrong with this picture?"
What is wrong with the picture is: the human being is alone. The human being needs a companion; we were and are created to be in relationship with others. Notice: God has given the human being everything a person needs for life: the fruit of the trees for food, the garden provides shelter, and water from the rivers that water the garden. Further, the human being had a relationship with God. Yet, God identifies in the human being a need for a companion, a partner. "It is not good for the human being to be alone."
The crisis is so huge that it is the impetus for the creation of all the animals as God and the human being work together to seek a fitting companion. Loneliness is a crisis calling for desperate response and hard work.
There are so many in our world going through life very lonely, feeling alienated from the rest of the world, isolated. This loneliness stretches beyond visible bounds and many struggles cause people to even isolate themselves; struggles like financial problems, deaths, broken hearts, desire to move ahead in a career, etc.
A priest who retired in the early 50s was asked what he had learned about people in 40 years of hearing confessions. He responded, "People are more miserable than you realize, and people are not as good as you think they are."
There is pain out there in the world, pain often covered up by facades of fine-ness. The trouble is many people are suffering alone. In addition, there is undoubtedly suffering and alienation right here in our midst of which we are completely unaware. The 'garden crisis' is alive and well. We as disciples of Jesus Christ must respond to the crisis the same way God did – working desperately and hard! We must care for each other by sharing ourselves with each other. Further, we must respond to the pain and loneliness in the world. We must be instruments of repair to the crisis: it is not good for the human being to be alone.
Shalom, Pastor Owen
HELP WANTED: We have openings for people who are interested in running the sound board for worship on Sunday mornings. If you are such a person, please contact Daniel Yates, 372-7722.
Sondra Ladd, Director of
Children's & Youth Ministry
E-mail: sondra (at) firstchristianstillwater (dot) org
Please keep the following campers in your prayers this week:
Logan Sirbaugh and Dustin Bickell at Chi Rho,
Central OK Christian Camp in Guthrie,
and Regan Sirbaugh at CYF Conference, Camp Christian in Chouteau.
Chi Rho Student Life Camp departure is Monday, June 23 at 6am.
CYF Panama City Mission Trip departure is Sunday, July 20th at 7am.
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
The FCC team is scheduled to play two games this week. Thursday, June 19 at 6:30pm on Field 1, and Friday, June 20 at 8:30pm on Field 1. Players should be at the ballpark 30 minutes prior to games and wear a gray T-shirt. Entry fee for each person will need to be paid this week. Questions, contact Lyle Sallee at 714-1443.
If you know of shut-ins who would enjoy a visit from the traveling group of bell-ringers this summer, please contact Nancy Crenshaw, 747-0057.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I was quite surprised and humbled by your generosity toward me regarding my losses in the recent house fire. Such an act is a clear display that you are the salt of the earth, for I know if you are generous to me, you are generous to others as well.
It is a great thing to see visible signs of the bond for charity that makes us one in Christ. I know that of myself, I am undeserving of such generosity. You display what our faith is all about. God gives because of His goodness, not because we deserve anything from Him.
I am grateful for your generosity and on an even deeper level, I rejoice in your goodness.
Sincerely, Rev. Ken Harder — Parish of St. Francis Xavier
| Attendance: (134 & 187) | 321 |
| Sunday School | 168 |
| General Fund Receipts | $9,810.00 |
| Capital Fund Receipts | $1,515.00 |
| Sunday School & Loose Offering | $860.24 |
| Non-budget Funds Receipts | $1,430.34 |
| YTD Budget Receipts | $221,290.74 |
| YTD Budget Expenses | $205,736.08 |
| Net Receipts over Expenses | $15,554.66 |
Presented by Kay Smith, Treasurer, kaysmith (at) firstchristianstillwater (dot) org
The brainstorming session for college activities has been moved from Thursday evening to Wednesday evening at 6:30pm this week, June 18.
Our congregation is asked to pray for the church indicated for that
particular week.
June 15: Oklahoma City - Putnam City Christian
June 22: Oklahoma City - Village Christian
Join us this Sunday for Senior Minister
Owen Cayton's message
"A Jesus Worth Following" based on the texts
Genesis 21:8-21 & Matthew 10:24-39.
Traditional Worship - 9:00am
Sunday School - 10:10am
Contemporary Worship - 11:10am
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