FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

NEWSLETTER

200 E. 5TH

St. Claremore, Oklahoma (918) 341-1199 Vol. 10 No. 6 74017 June 1, 2017

Personally from the Pastor

Grateful Turtles?

The old saying may be from Oklahoma or Arkansas, but no matter. It’s true: “If you see a turtle on a stump, you can be sure it didn’t get there all by itself.” We’re all turtles, aren’t we? You didn’t get where you are all by yourself and neither did I. I don’t know anyone who ever did. Do you? The story goes that Gene Autry was singin’ and strummin’ one day at work in the Chelsea telegraph office when up walked Will Rogers. Will asked him to continue his song and when finished, Will advised him to head east to make his fortune as a singer. Gene went west of course. He made a bunch of singing cowboy movies and he credited Will Rogers for encouraging him to launch his career. You and I know people who are natural encouragers, people who seem to always say and do things that give confidence to others so they make better choices and do their best. Openly or behind the scenes, in their own positive ways, encouragers transmit that expectation. In their own positive ways, they help others move forward. We are grateful for them! People being people, you and I don’t always desire to do what we should do. Some-times younger people and older people get confused about what is best for us, and at those times we are thankful for the one who dis-courages us from taking a step we would regret. It seems to me any Christ-follower can expect another follower to be an encourager of what’s good and a dis-courager of what is not. Here’s a picture:

“…imagine a group of people ascending a moun-tain, each one always having someone a step above and ahead of them to emulate and follow, plus someone a step behind and below them to encourage and bring upward and onward.” --Pastor Brian McLaren. He is describing Church. On Pentecost Sunday, June 4, we will celebrate what I calculate is the 1,984th birthday of Christ’s Church. Pentecost worship will include a processional of red, orange, and blue “flaming” streamers! Another special moment in worship will be the dedication of our new “outreach tree” worship banners, whose creation was carefully overseen by Loretta Pool. We are thankful for everyone who will make possible our special Pentecost observances! So I offer the above picture of how the members of Christ’s Church are encouragers of each other. Try this. Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. Write at the top of the left side “People Who Encourage Me.” Write at the top of the right side “People I Encourage.” Whose names are there? Who has made you a “grateful turtle”? Are there “turtles” who are grateful for you? Glad to be your pastor, P.S. Even when you take a vacation, your church’s ministries do not. Your generous and regular summer offerings are absolutely essential to support the church’s life and witness.

The newsletter and upcoming events may be viewed

on the church website at claremoredisciples.com

Cathie Riley transferred her membership from First Baptist Church in Danville, AR on May 28. Her address is:

453 Paradise Ln Claremore, OK 74017 Ph: 918-808-0367 Birthday: October 6

NEW DRILLERS GAME OUTING DATE!!!!

On Sunday, June 11 at 1:05 p.m., we’ll drive to downtown Tulsa to the baseball field immediately after worship. Cost is $8 per person. Seating will be together. Please fill out a form with the number of tickets you wish to purchase and return to Diane Forst, Amanda Tobey or the church office. A head count is needed as soon as possible. Please pre-pay for your game tickets by Sunday, June 4. Cash or check. Write check to First Christian Church and add “ballgame” in memo line.

When the need for an urgent prayer arises, the pray-er 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.

Ron Musser Virginia Phillips Greg & Holly Litton Traci Smith Bernice White Sherry Myers Nancy Scott Faye Fuller Vic Fry Kenneth Gleba Desi Bentley Eloise Wright

Noon - June 26

Rogers County Adult Day Care

BBQ Lunch Fundraiser

Friday, June 2 from 11 am - 2 pm at First Christian Church

Smoked ribs or pulled pork (choice of 2 sides) macaroni salad, baked beans,

or potato salad bread and drink

for only $10

Will deliver with 10 orders or more! Call 918-341-7588

The staff would like to express our gratitude for the Love Offering that was collected on our behalf. It was greatly appreciated. It is wonderful to be loved by our church family.

Susan Kotoff Sean Robinson Josh Linton Ray Teakell Christine Pool

Read through the Bible in a Year

Have you ever read the entire Bible all the way through? By committing just 20-30 minutes a day you can use the following daily reading plan to help you do just that in one year. The abbreviations used here are explained in the front of the Bible. Begin today and discover the riches of God’s Word!

We Celebrate Generosity!

We celebrate these May worship offerings supporting ministries and missions beyond our congregation!

YTD Outreach total: $4,516

*$88.00 Jesus On the Go (J.O.G.) for random acts of kindness *$248.00 Light The World (LTW) to help families with utilities and lodging. *$0.00 in Special Offerings to help bring life, love and learning through the general ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). *$0.00 designated by givers to support these five ministries and missions beyond our congregation. * Disciples Mission Fund * Christian Church in Oklahoma * Northeast Area Churches of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma (NEACCO) * Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa * Camp Christian

Please note: To keep our doors open, our intended ministries fully funded, and our devoted staff paid, our Sunday offerings must average $5,157. In May, our Sunday offerings averaged $4,815.

You are invited to the All Church Birthday Pot Faith Dinner on Sunday, June 25 immediately after worship in the Family Life Center. Meat will be provided by Family Life Ministry, congregation members are requested to bring a side dish to share. Members are encouraged to sit at their birthday table and enjoy fellowship with respective birthday congregational members. If you would like to decorate a table, please contact Diane Forst, 918-231-7786, or Amanda Tobey, 918-407-9271.

We are so excited to host and are even more excited about your interest in joining us in serving our community. We have several aspirations for camp - 1) to draw each participant into a deeper connection to God and a richer more meaningful faith 2) to provide greater connections between Disciples youth 3) to provide the optimal experience of service; worship; social activities; lodging; food and FUN. We pray the youth who come; go back into their churches with a renewed enthusiasm to serve in their own communities, rooted in a greater understanding of how loved and valued they are in Christ.

We know this is a holiday weekend and one of the few times families often get to be together. Our first day of service is July 4th - families will be invited to come and serve alongside their youth (how cool is that!). This obviously isn't mandatory but it is an option. Families will also be invited to a huge cook-out and fireworks display - SO...please pass on that word as you share. ~ Rev. Sondra Ladd, Assoc. Minister, FCC Stillwater

SUMMER TIME means CAMP TIME!!

Camp registration for Chi Rho, Junior, Discovery, and CYF Conference is closed. Although, no one has expressed interest in these camps this year, I can call Michael Davison to inquire if places are available should your child want to attend. You can find more information on DOC camps in Oklahoma at okdisciples.org/connect/families-and-youth/.

Mission Camp Several youth and adult sponsors are attending Mission Stillwater Camp, July 2-7. We will have a commissioning and send off for these individuals during worship July 2.

Grand Camp Pack-up the grandkids and spend some time away at Camp Christian this summer. Grand Camp regis-tration closes June 15. This camp is at Camp Christian, July 18-20. It is a camp designed especially for grandparents of all ages and grand-children (K - 8th grade). If you are interested, contact Susan Kotoff, Administrative Assistant for registration forms, or you can download and copy directly from the website above.

If you have questions, please call Sara Masters 918-269-8779.

Sunday Youth Group June 4th | 1 - 2:30 pm June 11th | 1 - 2:30 pm

June 14th | 7 - 9:30 pm Wednesday Night Claremore Lake Fishing

June 25th | TBA Skiatook Lake Trip

I will send out details and info for lake trips soon. I need some parent volunteers for these trips, and if someone wants to bring an additional boat to Skiatook lake that afternoon it would be some extra fun.

Looking Ahead July 9th, I am preaching in Bartlesville at Disciples Christian Church and will take any of the youth with me who want to go. Leave the building at 9 am, have lunch together in Bartlesville then head back to Claremore.

Disciples Women

General and Day Groups

6:30 pm Thursday, June 15 Salad Supper & Installation of Officers

Hostess: Rachel Group

Study & Worship: Mary Fry

Bring Blessing Boxes

NOTE: The Rachel Group does not meet in July or August.

Something for all ages

In addition to all this, there are special opportunities for youth and

children as well as mission projects.

I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. John 17:20-21a

Visit http://ga.disciples.org/ to view the schedule of events and activities and to register online.

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Cancer Patients - Arleigh Williams, Mark Newman, Shondra Shultz, Donna Moore, Maria Eubanks, Patsy Gunter, Lillian Johnson, Donna Weaver, Maurice Colpitts, Lonnie Butler Health Concerns - Julie Ketcher broke her arm; Sally Clark recovering from knee surgery; Nan Moore health con-cerns; Vada Wheatley (Imogene Crutchfield’s sister) undergoing tests; Melvin Jacobs (friend of Helen Mersch) be-gins chemo & radiation; Ray Craft (Sara Masters & Susan McCoy’s brother-in-law) recovering from knee replace-ment surgery; Susan McCoy was hospitalized for tests; Bob Clark recovering from fall; Praises - Amanda & Tava Tobey celebrated their 1st anniversary; Darrell & Carol Low celebrated their 59th anniversary; Cliff & Charlotte celebrated their 24th anniversary; Bob Leerskov (Imogene Crutchfield’s nephew) home from therapy Sympathies for the families of Theo Pool (Steve Pool’s dad), Joyce Johnson (Cliff & Charlotte Johnson’s daughter-in-law), Sue Walton, Kenneth Vale

*ELDERS SERVING - JUN 2017

DATE

STANDING ELDER (Serving Claremore, Brookfield & Wood

Manor Nursing Homes)

SERVING & PRAYER ELDER

(Serving Homebound / Hospitals)

Jun 4 Janet Edge Loretta Pool

Jun 11 Bill Smith Janet Edge

Jun 18 Lynne Dosch Bill Smith

Jun 25 Barry Clark Lynne Dosch

*DIACONATE SCHEDULE - JUN 2017

DATE SERVING

COMMUNION & GREETING SHEPHERD,

PREPARE & CLEAN-UP

Jun 4 Dee Dee Clark, Morgan Bohlender, John & Cinda Franklin, Steve Pool, Jennifer Swinney

Dee Dee Clark Morgan Bohlender

Jun 11 Kenneth Hutchins, Sara Masters, Katy Galusha-White, Zoe White Megan Robinson, Aiden James

Kenneth Hutchins, Sara Masters

Jun 18 Ron & Sandra Yost, Amanda & Tava Tobey, Larry & Kay Livingston

Ron & Sandra Yost

Jun 25 Diane Forst, Beverly Wofford, Gene & Peg Dary, Joel Grimmer, Robbie Ellison

Diane Forst Beverly Wofford

*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

Jun 4 Michelle Grimmer

Jun 11 Don & Beverly Wofford

Jun 18 Jim Kotoff

Jun 25 Amanda Tobey

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

June

OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday

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

FAITHFUL FINANCES May 2017 YTD

Total Offerings and Other Income for Daily Ministries Expenses

19,259.62 92,913.95

Total Daily Ministries Expenses 15,879.33 87,433.87

Net Income (Loss) 3,380.29 5,480.08

Needed for Budget (including Outreach Ministries)

25,849.86 118,598.27

Budget Excess (Shortfall) (6,590.24) (25,684.32)

1 Ray Teakell 11 Jack Spinks 19 Mabel Bennett

5 Lori Cook 14 Jery Porterfield 25 Cinda Franklin

7 Sean Robinson 15 Emalee Ruth 25 Mary Fry

8 Mariah Robinson 16 Noah Heath 28 Greg Smith

9 Barry Clark