a publication of first christian church (disciples of christ), tulsa … · 2016. 3. 9. · church...

Double Ring ClassLast Sunday:

Celebra�ons:

Class Concerns:

Next Gen Class (new young adult/post youth group class)Last Sunday:

Next Sunday:

Sojourners ClassLast Sunday:

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Elder Prayers: Communion Prepara�on:Deacons Serving Communion:

Greeter:Flowers for Sunday: o

Flower delivery:


Greeters: Flowers for Sunday:

Flower delivery:

Elder Prayers: James Howard, offering; Susan Baston, communionCommunion Prepara�on: Dorman Rudene WaltonDeacons Serving Communion:

Greeter:Flowers for Sunday:

Flower delivery:

Serving Schedule Sunday, March 13


A publication of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), TulsaVol. 21, Number 5 Mar 11, 2016

From the Pastor’s PenKeyboard

FCC Activities & Opportunites

Birthdays, Attendance, Gifts

Serving Schedule, SundaySchool News, Save the Dates

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 913 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK • 918.582.8237 • fcctulsa.org Page 1 First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 913 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK • 918.582.8237 • fcctulsa.org

9:00 - 9:30 Breakfast for children and youth9:00 Coffee Fellowship, East Fellowship Hall9:15 - 10:15 Adult Sunday School9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for children and youth10:15 Coffee Fellowship, East Fellowship Hall10:45 - Noon Worship, Sanctuary 11:00 - 11:30 Children’s Worship, The Lo�, 4th Floor Sanctuary Building11:30 - 12:00 Children’s ac�vi�es, 3rd Floor

What’s in this Issue

Sunday Schedule

SundaySchoolClassNews

The First Christian Church VISION (USPS 012-958) is published semi-monthly for its members by First Christian Church at 913 South Boulder Ave., Tulsa, OK, 74119-2033. Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, OK. POSTMAS-TER: Send address changes to VISION, 913 S. Boulder Ave., Tulsa, OK 74119-2033.

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First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 913 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK • 918.582.8237 • fcctulsa.orgPage 16 First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 913 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK • 918.582.8237 • fcctulsa.org Page 1


Celebra�ons:

Class Concerns:


Next Sunday:


Celebra�ons:

Page 10



Flower delivery:



Flower delivery:



Flower delivery:



A publication of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Tulsa Vol. 21, Number 5






9:00 - 9:30 Breakfast for children and youth 9:00 Coffee Fellowship, East Fellowship Hall9:15 - 10:15 Adult Sunday School 9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for children and youth 10:15 Coffee Fellowship, East Fellowship Hall10:45 - Noon Worship, Sanctuary 11:00 - 11:30 Children’s Worship, The Lo�, 4th Floor Sanctuary Building 11:30 - 12:00 Children’s ac�vi�es, 3rd Floor


Sunday Schedule



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2 From the Pastor’s Pen Keyboard

3 Attendance & Gifts

4 FCC Activities & Opportunities

5 Happy Timer’s Concert

6 Holy Week Invitation

7 Worship Words

8 Easter Lillies, Easter Offering

9 Lenten Sermons Series

10 Reccommended Books for Lent

11 Holy Week Schedule

12 Easter Eggs, I-Phone & Tablets January Outreach

13 Mission Festival

14 Easter Eggs, I-Phone & TabletsJanuary Outreach

15 Wilder Side Prayers and Concerns

16 Serving SchedulesSunday School News

Mar. 11, 2016

March Outreach Program: The Appreciation Station

Take one of the Fire Trucks in the Lobby with the address for a Tulsa area Fire Department and write a letter showing your appreciation for the work that they do for us!

Some helpful suggestions for your thank you letter

-The recent fires have brought to mind all the many times and emergencies in which you risk your lives to help our communities-Thank you for giving of yourself for the sake of others, both for the thinks we hear about and the things we’ll never know about-The church is praying for your safety and courage-How can we pray specifically for you? (Invite them to contact you or the church with specific prayer requests)-On behalf of the people of First Christian Church, Tulsa, thank you so much for serving, protecting, and saving us in so many ways

Give them your name and let them know you are a member of First Christian Church, Tulsa. Remember, these are just suggestions, feel free to make your letter as personal as you want.

Our thoughts, prayers, and appreciation will let our brave firefighters know how much we care.

I’ve been reading several arti-cles lately about the rising cost of college, both public and private. Since the 1970s, the cost of col-lege tuition and fees has increased at a rate higher than inflation and sharply so since the 1990s. Follow-ing the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008, families have had less income available to put toward the cost of college education, and prices have continued to go up. At one point, it was common to pay for full-time college with earnings from summer and part-time work, but this is no longer the case. Bottom line: col-lege is vastly more expensive than it has ever been before, despite stu-dents having greater access to fi-nancial aid.

For many years, First Christian has had a scholarship program un-derwritten by the generosity of so many faithful persons who want-ed to help students afford to go to college. For decades, people have given their money and built up substantial funds which the church has invested and the interest from which goes toward the many schol-arship award we give in August of each year. Many of us have contrib-uted, and many of us have had our children and grandchildren receive such an award. In fact, this used to be the primary purpose of the schol-arship program: make sure FCC’s own children could get help to go to college. Most anyone who ap-plied received something, greater or smaller, and we as a church through this ministery have been a part of the lives of many students.

With the decline of our younger demographic within our congrega-tion, most of the applicants to our program are no longer members of the church but rather students pursu-ing their educational and vocational dreams and seeking any kind of help to overcome the massive mountain of expense that college has become. Our applicants are largely students at Phillips Seminary or Brite Divin-ity School, although not exclusive-ly. We still support many students, but the structure of our scholarship program functions under the mantra of “make sure every FCC student gets some money to help with col-lege” – a paradigm that no longer reflects current reality.

Our program is structured to give out several small scholarships with a relatively low threshold for dem-onstrated vocational potential or academic achievement. This made sense back when the purpose was to ensure the the church gave at least a little something to any FCC student going to college. Given the loss of many families with high-school or college-age students in our congre-gation over the past ten to twenty years, we now have a program that gives out several small scholarships to students who are by-and-large not members of FCC, students quite worthy of aid but for whom $500 per semester will barely buy books these days. It’s time to rethink how we do things if we want to make a lasting difference.

The Stewardship Team has begun to reinvest our restricted funds with the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation and the Christian Church Founda-tion, seeking to increase the inter-est we receive on these funds by a significant percentage and thereby increase the amount of scholarship funds available to us to distribute to worthy applicants. However, this measure alone will not fix the

problem. The Scholarship Team is considering combining scholarship funds (those with similar award re-strictions) and making for a fewer number of larger awards, especially for our seminary applicants. While $500 is still $500 and any amount is appreciated by students, it’s not enough to make a noticeable dif-ference given the cost of college. A few hundred dollars just won’t do it these days, but a few thousand will.

If we want to make a lasting im-pact upon students with great po-tential to succeed and for whom our scholarship aid would make a difference, we need to cast our nets less broadly and more deeply. In short, we need a diversity of size in our scholarship awards that both reflects our current demographic of members and of applicants. Too many people have given faithfully and generously for too long for us to let our program not reach it full-est potential. It would be irrespon-sible not to change with the times and ensure that their gifts still make a difference.

First Christian will continue to stand by the current group of schol-arship recipients throughout their program of study as we make this shift, rest assured. But if we want our efforts to make a difference, we need to change our scholarship program and give it new life fit for today’s reality.

Please pray for our Scholarship and Stewardship Teams as they go about this faithful and creative work, reinventing our scholarship program in a way that honors the past, upholds the present, and en-sures a future.

Soli Deo gloria,Rev. Michael

Prayers and Cares

Donna and John AckenhausenMatthew AlspaughAmy BarnardPaul CampbellPeggie ClendeninJim DalbyJeff DanielMike FawcettEdward FinleyJake FlowersCyrus Ford & family

Roger FordLarry GibsonRussell O. Grettum, Jr.Nita GriggsAlexia HaleLes & Marcia HamesEbony HawkinsDan KimesIrene LewittJoyce MarstonPat & Dennis MolloyBill Northcutt

Pat & Carl OliverVic OsteenLeon Patterson & familyMark PitcherTammy ReatherSharon RedricksVeda RiggsAbbey Roberson’s momJack SandersChristie Richardson SchreppelCindy Skinner-Steward’s family

Betty SmithMichael SmithDoris SorensenBeverly SouthardAshley StubblefieldMary Sudberry’s familyOpal Irene TudorRick UmbargerVicki VandivortNeva VarnerJoy Welsh

Continued prayers for Prayer Quilt RecipientsAshley, Beckie, Beverly’s family, Brian’s family, Chesney, Christie, Cindy, Cyrus, David’s family, Debbie, Gordon’s family, Gyniss, Howard, Irene, Jerry, Jennifer, Joan, Joseph (PJ), Judy, Judy and family, Karen, Rev. Katie, Kern’s

family, Larry and Molly, Les, Lilia, Marcia, Maddie, Margaret, Marilyn, Mark, Michael, Miranda, Otavia, Paul,Ray, Richard, Rick, Shaina, Stacee, Susan, Susie, Sybil, Terry, Tonya, and Vicki

With all of the election news, the nicest thing I have seen is Jim Alspaugh sitting at his post, doing his civic duty! Thanks to all who do that job. It is a very long day and we appreciate your services.

James Howard gave me some “words to live by:”

“Good public servants vote for what’s in their heart. Good politicians vote for what’s in their hand.”

“The large print giveth and the small print taketh away.”

“It is impossible to insult a rude person.”

Several of us went to see Bernadette Peters Saturday night and she was amazing! She sang her little heart out for 90 minutes, without an intermission.

We had Super Eight Cell Group here Tuesday night, and we fit nine people in my new little house just fine. It has hosted Cell, cards, and a birthday party, so it has been bro-ken in.

One salon customer said to another, “You must meet my friend. She is a medium.”

“No thanks, it will only depress me; I’m a large.”A father looking at his son’s less than stel-

lar report card exclaimed, “An F in history? When I was your age, that was my easiest subject.” “Big Deal,” the son replied, “When you were my age, how much had happened?”

See you in church, Ruthie

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 913 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK • 918.582.8237 • fcctulsa.org First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 913 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK • 918.582.8237 • fcctulsa.org Page 15

From thePastor’sPenKeyboard

We extend our Christian sympathies to the family of Felix Walton, father ofDorman Walton, who passed from this life on Friday, March 4, 2016.

We extend our Christian sympathies to the family of June Phillips, who passedfrom this life on Saturday, March 5, 2016.


Memorial Gifts Budget Contingency Fund

In memory of

June Phillips from

Lynn and Don Ray

Double Ring Emergency Fund In memory of

June Phillips from

Kay and Paul Thompson

Music Fund In memory of Anne Webb

from Ray and Sharon Wright

Week of Feb 28

Worship 94Children 33Total Attendance 127

Sunday SchoolPreschool 9Elementary 24Youth 17Adults 69Total 119

General Fund $2,459.00Sunday School 23.00

Total $2,538.95

Worship 99 Children 27

Sunday SchoolPreschool 8Elementary 19Youth 17Adults 66


Attendance and Gifts

March 11-31, 2016Suzanne Beree 3/11Margaret Culley 3/11Leah Gann 3/11Jennifer Koljack 3/11Candace Berry 3/12Joey Bowlin 3/12Lindsay Swanson 3/13Molly Krumme 3/14Helen Pummill 3/15Connie Page 3/18Jared Page 3/18Rick McKee 3/21Virginia Boyd 3/22

Michael Major 3/23Amy Berryman 3/25Debbie Craine 3/25

Kara Sexson 3/31

Thanks Receivedfor Outreach

Dear First Christian Church,

Thank you for generously sponsoring our 20th Annual Empty Bowls Hunger Awareness Dinner. The support of generous donors like you will ensure families, children, and senior citizens throughout eastern Oklahoma won’t have to worry where or how they will get their next meal. Your sponsorship helps support the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and our Empty Bowls goal to raise 2 million meals to help Oklahomans struggling with hunger. With every dollar donated, the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklaahoma can distribute four meals. Through our network of 450 Partner Programs, the Food Bank distributes more than 346,000 meals a week throughout out 24-county service area. The need is great, and we’re

Sincerely,Ellen Ryan Bradshaw (Executive Director)and Heidi Ewing (Corporate Relations and Events Manager)

Thanks Receivedfor Scholarships

I hope the Lenten season has been a great one for you all. I want to say again how much I appreciate your scholarship assistance. Without your help, I would not be able to work on my Doctorate of Ministry degree at Brite Divinity School. It is with sincere gratitude that I write to you all, and I hope that God continues to bless your incredible ministry in Tulsa and around the world.

Thank you again for your care and compassion. Peace to you all.

Sincerely,

April 21, 2pm

Would you like some help learn-ing how to get more out of your tablet (iPad, Kindle Fire, etc) or smart phone?

Joshua will be teaching a class that will focus on learning some tips and tricks so you can do more with your technology!

If you are interested in attending, talk to Joshua at church or email him at [email protected]

iPhone/Tablet Class

We successfully delivered the books from our January outreach project to Hawthorne Elementary. Special thanks to all who donated to make this project such a success.

With the start of Lent, that means Easter is coming! Our Easter Egg hunt will be on March 20, but in order for that to take place, we need eggs for the children to find! And for that we need you!

There will be a basket in the lobby if you can donate plastic eggs for our hunt. Feel free to bring them already filled with goodies (wrapped candies, but avoid peanuts as a few of our kids have peanut allergies) and taped shut.

Thank you for helping to create a great experience for our children.

January Outreach


FCC Activities and OpportunitiesWednesday, March 91:00 Staff Meeting, East Fellowship HallMid-Week Peak 5:30 Light Supper, Fellowship Hall - $5.00 5:45 - 7:15 Bible Study - "According to Luke -

part two: The Acts of the Apostles"7:15 - 8:30 Sanctuary Choir rehearsal, Choir Rm.

Thursday, March 1010:00 - 2:00 Sewing Group, Rm. 1015:30 – 7:00 Outreach opportunity: prepare and

serve meal for folks at Day Center for the Homeless, 415 W. Archer; Sign-up sheets in Main Street lobby

Friday, March 11 – Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences for Tulsa Public Schools11:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyer

Saturday, March 12Communion Preparation: Jim & Sandra Freeman10:00 - Noon Good Friday Mass Choir

rehearsing, SanctuaryDaylight Saving Time begins at 2 AM Sunday

– set clocks forward 1 hour!

Sunday, March 13 – Fifth Sunday in Lent Daylight Saving Time begins9:00 Coffee Bar open, East Fellowship Hall9:00 - 9:30 Breakfast for children and youth,

South Fellowship Hall 9:15 -10:15 Sunday School for adults9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for children

(PreK-5th) 3rd floor, Ed. Bldg.9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for youth

(6th-12th Gr.) 4th floor Sanctuary Bldg.10:15 -10:35 Choir rehearsal, Choir Room 10:15 -10:45 Coffee fellowship, East Fellowship

Hall10:45 -12:00 Worship service, Sanctuary11:00 -11:30 Children's Worship in the Loft,

4th floor Sanctuary Bldg.- NE corner11:30 -12:00 Children's activities, 3rd floor,

Ed. Bldg.AFTERNOON CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS (Pre-K – 5 th grades)12:00 – 2:30 (Junior Youth Fellowship) 3rd FloorYOUTH PROGRAMS (6 th – 12 th grades)12:00 – 2:30 (Chi Rho and CYF) 6th-7th Graders

Movie Room; 8th-12th graders in Youth Room12:00 - 2:30 Pastors' Class, Fellowship Hall 1:30 - 3:30 Mission Tulsa serving meals to

homeless in east parking lot 3:30-5:00 "We are Family" Lenten Disciples

Fellowship, Pine St. Christian Church, 762 E Pine St.

NEACCO Prayer Calendar: South Grand Lake, Langley

Monday, March 14 TPS Spring Break March 14 -188:00 Prayer Breakfast, McDonald's

49th & Harvard11:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyer6:00 Ministry Council, East Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, March 159:30 Prayer Group, Library

Wednesday, March 1611:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyer1:00 Staff Meeting, EFHMid-Week Peak 5:30 Light Supper, Fellowship Hall - $5.00 5:45 - 7:15 Bible Study - "According to Luke -


Thursday, March 1710:00 a.m. Outreach Opportunity - Snack Pack

Packing, Rm. 10410:00 – Noon Disciples Women in EFH11:00 Happy Timers, Fellowship Hall - Shelby

Eicher

Friday, March 1811:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyer

Saturday, March 19Communion Preparation: Christy Brooks and

Betsi Phillips10:00 - Noon Good Friday Combined Choirs

rehearsing, Sanctuary10:00 Food Pantry Volunteers here 11:00-1:00 Homebuilders Food Pantry OPEN

Sunday, March 20 – PALM SUNDAY Easter Offering9:00 Coffee Bar open, East Fellowship Hall9:00 - 9:30 Breakfast for children and youth, South Fellowship Hall 9:15 -10:15 Sunday School for adults9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for children

(PreK-5th Grade) 3rd floor, Ed. Bldg.9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for youth (6th-12th

Grade) 4th floor Sanctuary Bldg.10:15 -10:35 Choir rehearsal, Choir Room 10:15 -10:45 Coffee fellowship, East

Fellowship Hall10:45 -12:00 Worship service, Sanctuary11:00 -11:30 Children's Worship in the Loft,


Ed. Bldg.12:30 Easter Egg Hunt, Playground1:30 - 3:30 Mission Tulsa serving meals to


Fellowship, Fellowship Hall; light refreshmentsfollowing


Monday, March 21 - Holy MondayVision to be published8:00 Prayer Breakfast, McDonald's

49th and Harvard11:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyer

Tuesday, March 22– Holy Tuesday8:30-11:30 CDC Amazing Athletes, Motor Room9:30 Prayer Group, Library5:30 Seder Supper led by Rabbi Micah Citrin,

Fellowship Hall (child care provided)

Wednesday, March 23 – Holy Wednesday11:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyerNo Mid-Week Peak meal tonight7:15 - 8:30 Sanctuary Choir, Choir Rm.

Thursday, March 24 – Maundy Thursday7:00 Maundy Thursday Service, Fellowship Hall

Friday, March 25 - Good Friday11:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyer6:00 Good Friday Combined Choirs rehearsing,

Sanctuary7:00 Good Friday Service for area Disciples

Churches, Sanctuary; Reception following (Child Care)

Saturday, March 26 – Holy SaturdayCommunion Preparation: Dorman and Rudene

Walton10:00 PM Easter Vigil at First Lutheran Church,

13th and Utica

Sunday, March 27 - EASTER SUNDAYEaster Offering9:00 Coffee Bar open, East Fellowship Hall9:00 - 9:30 Breakfast for children and youth,


(PreK- 5th Grade) 3rd floor, Ed. Bldg.9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for youth (6th-12th

Grade) 4th floor Sanctuary Bldg.10:15 -10:35 Choir rehearsal, Choir Room 10:15 -10:45 Coffee and donuts, East



Ed. Bldg.NO AFTERNOON CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH PROGRAMS1:30 - 3:30 Mission Tulsa serving meals to

homeless in east parking lot NEACCO Prayer Calendar: First Christian,

Mannford; Easter Offering for DMF

Learn & Do Mission WorkHave you ever thought that Regional Assembly should be more of a party? Or maybe a “Festival” instead? Well, this is your lucky year! This year’s Oklahoma Regional

Assembly will be a Festival of Missions and we will be hosting it at our church!

There will be ways to celebrate all the ways the various churches in our region do mission work in their own particular communities and contexts. There will be a video highlighting the various missions different churches do as well as a “Missions and Carols” closing worship where the message will be various churches throughout the region sharing stories of their own particular mission work!

There will be sites where actual on-site mission work will be accomplished! Work alongside people from through-out the Region at a mission site that you choose. We have eight different sites for all different types of passions and abilities.

There will be a presentation from the General Church on their new “Mission First” program, calling Disciples to name a church-wide, shared mission focus. This program is about Disciples making a difference by putting God’s mission first, and they will be here sharing how Oklahoma can play a vital part towards meeting that goal.

With worship, food, fellowship (including a Golf Tournament), and hands-on mission work, this Regional Assem-bly will truly be a Festival of Missions.

Oklahoma Regional Assembly at First Christian Church, Tulsa, April 29-30Register online at okdisciples.org


First Christian Church, Tulsa “Making a Difference in the Heart of Tulsa”

Ministry Council Agenda • Monday, March 14, 2016

1. Call to Order and Welcome, establish quorum– Kathy Davis, Moderator

2. Opening Prayer – Rev. Michael Riggs3. Approve Minutes:

a. Ministry Council – February 8, 20164. Financial Report: Mary Byrne5. Reports from Ministry Council Representatives:

Administration: Jim McKinneyResources: Bill OsteenSpiritual Growth: Clarke KendallOutreach: Becky Gray/Susan PrabhuNurture/Healing: Report will be given with Elders’ ReportWorship – OpenCommunications: Marilyn CarltonHospitality: Susan McKeeStrategic Planning/Evaluation: James Howard

6. Old Business:a. First Christian Church Parent Handbookb. Open Leadership Positions

i. Vice Moderatorii. Worshipiii. Pastor Parish Relations Teamiv. Update on various Trust Positions:

1. Endowment Trust Team2. Board of Trustees3. Endowment and Wheeling Trusts

7. New Business:

8. Additional Reports:a. Elder Chair: Susan Bastonb. Deacon Co-Chairs: Andrea Rumley/Sandra Lewis

9. Staff Reports:a. Michael Riggsb. Cassie Sexton-Riggsc. Joshua Touloused. Beverly Vale Brown

10. Additional Comment/Questions from Membership

11. Next Meeting: Monday, April 11, 2016

12. Motion to Adjourn

Please make reservations by Monday, March 14, 2016

at 918-582-8237

Happy Timersand the musical stylings of

Shelby Eicher

Join us atFirst Christian Church

Downtown Tulsafor

onThursday, March 17, 2016

at 11am Shelby grew up in Northern Ohio playing square dances with his mom, dad and grandmother with the band, the Fulton County Sand Shifters.

As a member of Roy Clark's band for 15 years, Shelby recorded Þve albums with Mr. Clark and appeared numerous times on The Tonight Show and Hee Haw. Currently he performs 20 times per month and teaches Þddle, mandolin and guitar to 30 students.

Join us for some olÕ time ÞddlinÕ


HOLY WEEK SCHEDULEPalm Sunday (3/20)

10:45 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary)

We begin Holy Week with the grand tradition of celebratory palms branches as we remember Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Holy Tuesday (3/22)5:30 p.m. Seder Supper (Fellowship Hall)

Come discover the Passover roots of our Eucharistic tradition and share with Rabbi Micah Citrin from Temple Israelas he leads us in a Jewish seder supper.

$10 suggested donation.(Because of the special menu for this supper, reservations are required – please call

Rev. Cassie at the church office or email her at [email protected])

Maundy Thursday (3/24)7:00 p.m. Worship & Communion (Fellowship Hall)

This is an intimate service of candles, scripture, holy communion, and stations of prayer. Meditative acoustic music and hymns heighten our sense of community as we sit concentrically around the Table of our Lord and remember the Upper Room

and the commandment to love one another.

Good Friday (3/25)7:00 p.m. Tenebrae Worship (Sanctuary)

Come join with other Disciples and Christians from the Tulsa Metro Area as we gather to remember Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

Through readings of sacred scripture, the extinguishing of candles, and the music of the mass choir, we will hear again the story of Christ’s Passion and his great

love for us all. A simple reception will follow.

Holy Saturday (3/26)

We have again been invited by the people of First Lutheran Church of Tulsa & Fellowship Congregational Church of Tulsa to share in a joint Easter Vigil. The service will begin with the kindling of the fire of the Resurrection, prayers of new hope, scriptures of life, and sharing together in holy communion. For those who wish to participate in this most ancient of Easter traditions, the service will be at

First Lutheran Church at 10:00 p.m.1244 S. Utica Ave., Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104 – (918)582-0917

Easter Sunday (3/27)


“Christ is risen!” “He is risen indeed!”Come share in the feast of the Resurrection as we share

in the most important worship service of the entire year!

The story is told of a man who went to church only on Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday. When asked why he attended so rarely, he replied: “The music is ter-rible! It’s as if the only hymns we can sing are ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Christ the Lord Is Risen Today’ – I don’t even know why I come at all!”

There’s an old saying: “You get out of it what you put into it.” And that’s certainly true about church, especially around Holy Week. The week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday is the busiest in the life of the church, with special meals and worship servic-es throughout the week. For those of us for whom church means an hour of worship on Sunday and/or an hour of Sunday School with our friends, we may wonder, “What’s all the fuss is about Holy Week? Why are there so many events? And how come we should attend? Isn’t one extra trip to church during the week enough?” Again, we get out of Holy Week what we put into it.

More than just waving some palms in the air, Holy Week takes a critical look at what Christ was truly doing in our lives and in the world and how we may or may not at first be on board, how we can turn fickle when things turn uncomfortable. Holy Week invites us to share in the Upper Room and wrestle with Christ’s command that we love one an-other and all the implications such a command has upon our lives. Holy Week makes us confront the cross and the shadows within the human soul that led to it. And ultimately, Holy Week presents to us the baffling surprise of God changing all the rules by showing us an empty tomb. Holy Week is crucial to our understanding of our Easter faith.

First Christian is going through its own transfor-mation. It too is struggling to follow Christ on this new way of discipleship, this new way of being church. And as we are led by Christ, we need to em-

brace the Passion story once again and participate in Holy Week – each and every one of us – if we are to find ourselves resurrected in our faith and in our dis-cipleship together. Holy Week is unfathomably im-portant to our congregational vitality, and therefore it is just as important for us to participate as much as we are physically able.

On Holy Tuesday, there will be a traditional seder supper shared with Rabbi Micah Citrin from Temple Israel in which we learn about the Passover tradition in which the Lord’s Supper finds its roots.

On Holy Thursday, there will be a Maundy Thurs-day worship service of candlelight, prayers, and acoustic music as we sing hymns and hear the sto-ries from the Bible by which Christ calls us to love one another, culminating in Holy Communion.

On Good Friday, there will be a Tenebrae Service (service ending in darkness) that laments the cross, explores our human failings, and hears the seven last words of Christ on the cross through scripture and choral anthems presented by a combined choir.

On Holy Saturday, there will be a late-night Easter Vigil at the First Lutheran Church of Tulsa where we hear the stories of resurrection from the Bible and celebrate the arrival of Easter with song and Holy Communion.

Yes, these are all in addition to Sunday morning worship. Yes, this is a busy Holy Week schedule. Yes, it’s more than this church has done in the past. Yes, it’s the bedrock of our Christian faith. And yes, you get out of it what you put into it.

Don’t settle for reruns of “Silent Night” and “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” – discover the power of Holy Week and discover how it can transform your faith! It’s only one week a year, and it’s worth clear-ing your calendar. May we make the most of it.

See you then,Michael, Cassie, and Joshua

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 913 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK • 918.582.8237 • fcctulsa.orgPage 10

Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicalsby Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, and Enuma Okoro

If you have been following one of the Lent liturgy/prayer books we recommended, perhaps you have discovered that daily prayer and meditation is really have a great impact on your spiritual life. This book will allow you to take that Lent-en practice and make it a year long practice. Tools for prayer are scattered throughout to aid those who are unfamiliar with litur-gy and to deepen the prayer life of those who are familiar with liturgical prayer. Ul-timately, Common Prayer makes liturgy dance, taking the best of the old and bringing new life to it with a fresh fingerprint for the contemporary renewal of the church.

God Gave Us Easterby Lisa Tawn Bergren Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant

This book is a fun tale of a family of bears celebrating Easter and learning the real reason that we celebrate it. The beautiful art and charming story work together to help children understand the real story of Easter and take it be-yond Easter Eggs and the Easter Bunny and learn about the miracle of resurrection and the meaning of God With Us and the simple but profound truth that God loves us.

Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Livedby Rob Bell

While the idea of God’s love and God’s judgment can be quite troubling, Rob Bell makes the argument that ques-tioning the relationship between the two is very impor-tant work for the church to do. Bell looks at the ideas of heaven, hell, and salvation, and he looks at what Jesus and the Bible actually say in regards to these terms. This is a very accessible book that unflinchingly tackles dif-ficult topics and invites the reader to question along with the author all towards find-ing that God’s Good News might be even better than we ever could have imagined!

Book Recommendations for Lent

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 913 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK • 918.582.8237 • fcctulsa.org Page 7

A man went to visit a Scottish-Presbyterian Church on a Sunday morning to share in worship. The church was a very stern and staunch place – a quiet and solemn congregation who didn’t say a word outside of those places where the bulletin indicated. Everyone was still in their seats, sitting upright as a board, ready to receive the Bible message in absolute, proper decorum. The visitor took his seat just as the minister began to preach. Moments later, hearing the profound call to the gospel from the preacher, the visitor was convicted of spirit and lifted up his hand and cried out, “Praise the Lord!” ...and the people around him glanced in his direction with great alarm at the outburst but immediately snapped back to the preacher. Again, the message was convicting of Spirit and rent the visitor’s heart, moving him to his feet with the exclamation, “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!!” … and now the people were truly worried that his outburst might continue to interrupt their worship. There was some silent commotion in the several adjacent pews, but everyone agreed that the best course of action was to remain silent and ignore the visitor. Once more, the preacher delivered a fiery message from the pulpit and the visitor raised his hands and jumped up and cried out, “Praise the Lord! Yes, praise the Lord!! PRAISE THE LORD!!” ...at which point one of the elders got up, moved toward him, placed a cold quiet hand on the visitors shoulder, looked him in the eyes, and said: “Sir, we do not ‘Praise the Lord’ here.”

Think about it.

Now do something about it., See you Sunday!

Given in memory of

____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Given in honor of

____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Given by ___________________________________________ Phone ______________________________________________

________ Total Lilies at $15 each = $ _________________

Paid by Check $_________ Paid in Cash $ __________

Check will be mailed or delivered by March 24th _________

_____ Please use lilies as a gift to FCC members (tax deductible)

_____ I will pick up lily (lilies) after church Easter Sunday (not)

Easter Lilies

2016 Easter Offering

Your gift to the Easter Offering helps bring life, love, and learning through the general ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Ministries that receive funding from the Easter Offering include the Center for Faith and Giving, Central Pastoral Of-fice for Hispanic Ministries, Communication Minis-tries, Council on Christian Unity, Disciples Church Extension Fund / Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation, Disciples of Christ Historical So-ciety, Disciples Home Missions, Disciples Women, Division of Overseas Ministries/Global Ministries, Higher Education and Leadership Ministries, Na-tional Benevolent Association, National Convoca-tion, North American Pacific/Asian Disciples, and Treasury Services.

We will be taking the special Easter Offering in wor-ship on March 20 and March 27.

2016 LENTEN SERMON SERIES“What Should the Church

Give up for Lent?”

The First Sunday in Lent (2/14)

“Same as It Ever Was:The Talking Heads of Church”

(Luke 4:1-13)with apologies to Talking Heads

The Second Sunday in Lent (2/21)“I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)”

(Luke 13:31-35)with apologies to Hall & Oates

The Third Sunday In Lent (2/28)

“Looking for Figs inAll the Wrong Places”

(Luke 13:1-9)with apologies to Johnny Lee

The Fourth Sunday in Lent (3/6)(Lætáre Sunday – WEAR PINK!!)

“I Just Dined inYour Arms Tonight”

(Luke 9:10-17)with apologies to Cutting Crew

The Fifth Sunday in Lent (3/13)

“A Nard Habit to Break”(John 12:1-11)

with apologies to Chicago

Palm Sunday (3/20)“The Sound of Silence”

(Luke 19:28-40)with apologies to Simon & Garfunkel


First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 913 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK • 918.582.8237 • fcctulsa.org First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 913 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK • 918.582.8237 • fcctulsa.org Page 11

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULEPalm Sunday (3/20)


We begin Holy Week with the grand tradition of celebratory palms branches as we remember Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Holy Tuesday (3/22)5:30 p.m. Seder Supper (Fellowship Hall)

Come discover the Passover roots of our Eucharistic tradition and share with Rabbi Micah Citrin from Temple Israelas he leads us in a Jewish seder supper.

$10 suggested donation.(Because of the special menu for this supper, reservations are required – please call

Rev. Cassie at the church office or email her at [email protected])

Maundy Thursday (3/24)7:00 p.m. Worship & Communion (Fellowship Hall)

This is an intimate service of candles, scripture, holy communion, and stations of prayer. Meditative acoustic music and hymns heighten our sense of community as we sit concentrically around the Table of our Lord and remember the Upper Room

and the commandment to love one another.

Good Friday (3/25)7:00 p.m. Tenebrae Worship (Sanctuary)

Come join with other Disciples and Christians from the Tulsa Metro Area as we gather to remember Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

Through readings of sacred scripture, the extinguishing of candles, and the music of the mass choir, we will hear again the story of Christ’s Passion and his great

love for us all. A simple reception will follow.

Holy Saturday (3/26)

We have again been invited by the people of First Lutheran Church of Tulsa & Fellowship Congregational Church of Tulsa to share in a joint Easter Vigil. The service will begin with the kindling of the fire of the Resurrection, prayers of new hope, scriptures of life, and sharing together in holy communion. For those who wish to participate in this most ancient of Easter traditions, the service will be at

First Lutheran Church at 10:00 p.m.1244 S. Utica Ave., Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104 – (918)582-0917

Easter Sunday (3/27)


“Christ is risen!” “He is risen indeed!”Come share in the feast of the Resurrection as we share

in the most important worship service of the entire year!

The story is told of a man who went to church only on Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday. When asked why he attended so rarely, he replied: “The music is ter-rible! It’s as if the only hymns we can sing are ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Christ the Lord Is Risen Today’ – I don’t even know why I come at all!”

There’s an old saying: “You get out of it what you put into it.” And that’s certainly true about church, especially around Holy Week. The week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday is the busiest in the life of the church, with special meals and worship servic-es throughout the week. For those of us for whom church means an hour of worship on Sunday and/or an hour of Sunday School with our friends, we may wonder, “What’s all the fuss is about Holy Week? Why are there so many events? And how come we should attend? Isn’t one extra trip to church during the week enough?” Again, we get out of Holy Week what we put into it.

More than just waving some palms in the air, Holy Week takes a critical look at what Christ was truly doing in our lives and in the world and how we may or may not at first be on board, how we can turn fickle when things turn uncomfortable. Holy Week invites us to share in the Upper Room and wrestle with Christ’s command that we love one an-other and all the implications such a command has upon our lives. Holy Week makes us confront the cross and the shadows within the human soul that led to it. And ultimately, Holy Week presents to us the baffling surprise of God changing all the rules by showing us an empty tomb. Holy Week is crucial to our understanding of our Easter faith.

First Christian is going through its own transfor-mation. It too is struggling to follow Christ on this new way of discipleship, this new way of being church. And as we are led by Christ, we need to em-

brace the Passion story once again and participate in Holy Week – each and every one of us – if we are to find ourselves resurrected in our faith and in our dis-cipleship together. Holy Week is unfathomably im-portant to our congregational vitality, and therefore it is just as important for us to participate as much as we are physically able.

On Holy Tuesday, there will be a traditional seder supper shared with Rabbi Micah Citrin from Temple Israel in which we learn about the Passover tradition in which the Lord’s Supper finds its roots.

On Holy Thursday, there will be a Maundy Thurs-day worship service of candlelight, prayers, and acoustic music as we sing hymns and hear the sto-ries from the Bible by which Christ calls us to love one another, culminating in Holy Communion.

On Good Friday, there will be a Tenebrae Service (service ending in darkness) that laments the cross, explores our human failings, and hears the seven last words of Christ on the cross through scripture and choral anthems presented by a combined choir.

On Holy Saturday, there will be a late-night Easter Vigil at the First Lutheran Church of Tulsa where we hear the stories of resurrection from the Bible and celebrate the arrival of Easter with song and Holy Communion.

Yes, these are all in addition to Sunday morning worship. Yes, this is a busy Holy Week schedule. Yes, it’s more than this church has done in the past. Yes, it’s the bedrock of our Christian faith. And yes, you get out of it what you put into it.

Don’t settle for reruns of “Silent Night” and “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” – discover the power of Holy Week and discover how it can transform your faith! It’s only one week a year, and it’s worth clear-ing your calendar. May we make the most of it.

See you then,Michael, Cassie, and Joshua

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 913 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK • 918.582.8237 • fcctulsa.orgPage 10

Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicalsby Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, and Enuma Okoro

If you have been following one of the Lent liturgy/prayer books we recommended, perhaps you have discovered that daily prayer and meditation is really have a great impact on your spiritual life. This book will allow you to take that Lent-en practice and make it a year long practice. Tools for prayer are scattered throughout to aid those who are unfamiliar with litur-gy and to deepen the prayer life of those who are familiar with liturgical prayer. Ul-timately, Common Prayer makes liturgy dance, taking the best of the old and bringing new life to it with a fresh fingerprint for the contemporary renewal of the church.

God Gave Us Easterby Lisa Tawn Bergren Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant

This book is a fun tale of a family of bears celebrating Easter and learning the real reason that we celebrate it. The beautiful art and charming story work together to help children understand the real story of Easter and take it be-yond Easter Eggs and the Easter Bunny and learn about the miracle of resurrection and the meaning of God With Us and the simple but profound truth that God loves us.

Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Livedby Rob Bell

While the idea of God’s love and God’s judgment can be quite troubling, Rob Bell makes the argument that ques-tioning the relationship between the two is very impor-tant work for the church to do. Bell looks at the ideas of heaven, hell, and salvation, and he looks at what Jesus and the Bible actually say in regards to these terms. This is a very accessible book that unflinchingly tackles dif-ficult topics and invites the reader to question along with the author all towards find-ing that God’s Good News might be even better than we ever could have imagined!

Book Recommendations for Lent

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 913 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK • 918.582.8237 • fcctulsa.org Page 7

A man went to visit a Scottish-Presbyterian Church on a Sunday morning to share in worship. The church was a very stern and staunch place – a quiet and solemn congregation who didn’t say a word outside of those places where the bulletin indicated. Everyone was still in their seats, sitting upright as a board, ready to receive the Bible message in absolute, proper decorum. The visitor took his seat just as the minister began to preach. Moments later, hearing the profound call to the gospel from the preacher, the visitor was convicted of spirit and lifted up his hand and cried out, “Praise the Lord!” ...and the people around him glanced in his direction with great alarm at the outburst but immediately snapped back to the preacher. Again, the message was convicting of Spirit and rent the visitor’s heart, moving him to his feet with the exclamation, “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!!” … and now the people were truly worried that his outburst might continue to interrupt their worship. There was some silent commotion in the several adjacent pews, but everyone agreed that the best course of action was to remain silent and ignore the visitor. Once more, the preacher delivered a fiery message from the pulpit and the visitor raised his hands and jumped up and cried out, “Praise the Lord! Yes, praise the Lord!! PRAISE THE LORD!!” ...at which point one of the elders got up, moved toward him, placed a cold quiet hand on the visitors shoulder, looked him in the eyes, and said: “Sir, we do not ‘Praise the Lord’ here.”

Think about it.

Now do something about it., See you Sunday!


FCC Activities and OpportunitiesWednesday, March 91:00 Staff Meeting, East Fellowship HallMid-Week Peak 5:30 Light Supper, Fellowship Hall - $5.00 5:45 - 7:15 Bible Study - "According to Luke -


Thursday, March 1010:00 - 2:00 Sewing Group, Rm. 1015:30 – 7:00 Outreach opportunity: prepare and

serve meal for folks at Day Center for the Homeless, 415 W. Archer; Sign-up sheets in Main Street lobby

Friday, March 11 – Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences for Tulsa Public Schools11:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyer

Saturday, March 12Communion Preparation: Jim & Sandra Freeman10:00 - Noon Good Friday Mass Choir

rehearsing, SanctuaryDaylight Saving Time begins at 2 AM Sunday

– set clocks forward 1 hour!

Sunday, March 13 – Fifth Sunday in Lent Daylight Saving Time begins9:00 Coffee Bar open, East Fellowship Hall9:00 - 9:30 Breakfast for children and youth,


(PreK-5th) 3rd floor, Ed. Bldg.9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for youth

(6th-12th Gr.) 4th floor Sanctuary Bldg.10:15 -10:35 Choir rehearsal, Choir Room 10:15 -10:45 Coffee fellowship, East Fellowship

Hall10:45 -12:00 Worship service, Sanctuary11:00 -11:30 Children's Worship in the Loft,


Ed. Bldg.AFTERNOON CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS (Pre-K – 5 th grades)12:00 – 2:30 (Junior Youth Fellowship) 3rd FloorYOUTH PROGRAMS (6 th – 12 th grades)12:00 – 2:30 (Chi Rho and CYF) 6th-7th Graders

Movie Room; 8th-12th graders in Youth Room12:00 - 2:30 Pastors' Class, Fellowship Hall 1:30 - 3:30 Mission Tulsa serving meals to


Fellowship, Pine St. Christian Church, 762 E Pine St.


Monday, March 14 TPS Spring Break March 14 -188:00 Prayer Breakfast, McDonald's

49th & Harvard11:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyer6:00 Ministry Council, East Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, March 159:30 Prayer Group, Library

Wednesday, March 1611:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyer1:00 Staff Meeting, EFHMid-Week Peak 5:30 Light Supper, Fellowship Hall - $5.00 5:45 - 7:15 Bible Study - "According to Luke -


Thursday, March 1710:00 a.m. Outreach Opportunity - Snack Pack

Packing, Rm. 10410:00 – Noon Disciples Women in EFH11:00 Happy Timers, Fellowship Hall - Shelby

Eicher

Friday, March 1811:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyer

Saturday, March 19Communion Preparation: Christy Brooks and

Betsi Phillips10:00 - Noon Good Friday Combined Choirs

rehearsing, Sanctuary10:00 Food Pantry Volunteers here 11:00-1:00 Homebuilders Food Pantry OPEN

Sunday, March 20 – PALM SUNDAY Easter Offering9:00 Coffee Bar open, East Fellowship Hall9:00 - 9:30 Breakfast for children and youth, South Fellowship Hall 9:15 -10:15 Sunday School for adults9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for children

(PreK-5th Grade) 3rd floor, Ed. Bldg.9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for youth (6th-12th

Grade) 4th floor Sanctuary Bldg.10:15 -10:35 Choir rehearsal, Choir Room 10:15 -10:45 Coffee fellowship, East



Ed. Bldg.12:30 Easter Egg Hunt, Playground1:30 - 3:30 Mission Tulsa serving meals to


Fellowship, Fellowship Hall; light refreshmentsfollowing


Monday, March 21 - Holy MondayVision to be published8:00 Prayer Breakfast, McDonald's

49th and Harvard11:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyer

Tuesday, March 22– Holy Tuesday8:30-11:30 CDC Amazing Athletes, Motor Room9:30 Prayer Group, Library5:30 Seder Supper led by Rabbi Micah Citrin,

Fellowship Hall (child care provided)

Wednesday, March 23 – Holy Wednesday11:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyerNo Mid-Week Peak meal tonight7:15 - 8:30 Sanctuary Choir, Choir Rm.

Thursday, March 24 – Maundy Thursday7:00 Maundy Thursday Service, Fellowship Hall

Friday, March 25 - Good Friday11:00 Snack Packs given, Chapel foyer6:00 Good Friday Combined Choirs rehearsing,

Sanctuary7:00 Good Friday Service for area Disciples

Churches, Sanctuary; Reception following (Child Care)

Saturday, March 26 – Holy SaturdayCommunion Preparation: Dorman and Rudene

Walton10:00 PM Easter Vigil at First Lutheran Church,

13th and Utica

Sunday, March 27 - EASTER SUNDAYEaster Offering9:00 Coffee Bar open, East Fellowship Hall9:00 - 9:30 Breakfast for children and youth,


(PreK- 5th Grade) 3rd floor, Ed. Bldg.9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for youth (6th-12th

Grade) 4th floor Sanctuary Bldg.10:15 -10:35 Choir rehearsal, Choir Room 10:15 -10:45 Coffee and donuts, East



Ed. Bldg.NO AFTERNOON CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH PROGRAMS1:30 - 3:30 Mission Tulsa serving meals to

homeless in east parking lot NEACCO Prayer Calendar: First Christian,

Mannford; Easter Offering for DMF

Learn & Do Mission WorkHave you ever thought that Regional Assembly should be more of a party? Or maybe a “Festival” instead? Well, this is your lucky year! This year’s Oklahoma Regional

Assembly will be a Festival of Missions and we will be hosting it at our church!

There will be ways to celebrate all the ways the various churches in our region do mission work in their own particular communities and contexts. There will be a video highlighting the various missions different churches do as well as a “Missions and Carols” closing worship where the message will be various churches throughout the region sharing stories of their own particular mission work!

There will be sites where actual on-site mission work will be accomplished! Work alongside people from through-out the Region at a mission site that you choose. We have eight different sites for all different types of passions and abilities.

There will be a presentation from the General Church on their new “Mission First” program, calling Disciples to name a church-wide, shared mission focus. This program is about Disciples making a difference by putting God’s mission first, and they will be here sharing how Oklahoma can play a vital part towards meeting that goal.

With worship, food, fellowship (including a Golf Tournament), and hands-on mission work, this Regional Assem-bly will truly be a Festival of Missions.

Oklahoma Regional Assembly at First Christian Church, Tulsa, April 29-30Register online at okdisciples.org


First Christian Church, Tulsa “Making a Difference in the Heart of Tulsa”

Ministry Council Agenda • Monday, March 14, 2016

1. Call to Order and Welcome, establish quorum– Kathy Davis, Moderator

2. Opening Prayer – Rev. Michael Riggs3. Approve Minutes:

a. Ministry Council – February 8, 20164. Financial Report: Mary Byrne5. Reports from Ministry Council Representatives:

Administration: Jim McKinneyResources: Bill OsteenSpiritual Growth: Clarke KendallOutreach: Becky Gray/Susan PrabhuNurture/Healing: Report will be given with Elders’ ReportWorship – OpenCommunications: Marilyn CarltonHospitality: Susan McKeeStrategic Planning/Evaluation: James Howard

6. Old Business:a. First Christian Church Parent Handbookb. Open Leadership Positions

i. Vice Moderatorii. Worshipiii. Pastor Parish Relations Teamiv. Update on various Trust Positions:

1. Endowment Trust Team2. Board of Trustees3. Endowment and Wheeling Trusts

7. New Business:

8. Additional Reports:a. Elder Chair: Susan Bastonb. Deacon Co-Chairs: Andrea Rumley/Sandra Lewis

9. Staff Reports:a. Michael Riggsb. Cassie Sexton-Riggsc. Joshua Touloused. Beverly Vale Brown

10. Additional Comment/Questions from Membership

11. Next Meeting: Monday, April 11, 2016

12. Motion to Adjourn

Please make reservations by Monday, March 14, 2016

at 918-582-8237

Happy Timersand the musical stylings of

Shelby Eicher

Join us atFirst Christian Church

Downtown Tulsafor

onThursday, March 17, 2016

at 11am Shelby grew up in Northern Ohio playing square dances with his mom, dad and grandmother with the band, the Fulton County Sand Shifters.

As a member of Roy Clark's band for 15 years, Shelby recorded Þve albums with Mr. Clark and appeared numerous times on The Tonight Show and Hee Haw. Currently he performs 20 times per month and teaches Þddle, mandolin and guitar to 30 students.

Join us for some olÕ time ÞddlinÕ

I’ve been reading several arti-cles lately about the rising cost of college, both public and private. Since the 1970s, the cost of col-lege tuition and fees has increased at a rate higher than inflation and sharply so since the 1990s. Follow-ing the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008, families have had less income available to put toward the cost of college education, and prices have continued to go up. At one point, it was common to pay for full-time college with earnings from summer and part-time work, but this is no longer the case. Bottom line: col-lege is vastly more expensive than it has ever been before, despite stu-dents having greater access to fi-nancial aid.

For many years, First Christian has had a scholarship program un-derwritten by the generosity of so many faithful persons who want-ed to help students afford to go to college. For decades, people have given their money and built up substantial funds which the church has invested and the interest from which goes toward the many schol-arship award we give in August of each year. Many of us have contrib-uted, and many of us have had our children and grandchildren receive such an award. In fact, this used to be the primary purpose of the schol-arship program: make sure FCC’s own children could get help to go to college. Most anyone who ap-plied received something, greater or smaller, and we as a church through this ministery have been a part of the lives of many students.

With the decline of our younger demographic within our congrega-tion, most of the applicants to our program are no longer members of the church but rather students pursu-ing their educational and vocational dreams and seeking any kind of help to overcome the massive mountain of expense that college has become. Our applicants are largely students at Phillips Seminary or Brite Divin-ity School, although not exclusive-ly. We still support many students, but the structure of our scholarship program functions under the mantra of “make sure every FCC student gets some money to help with col-lege” – a paradigm that no longer reflects current reality.

Our program is structured to give out several small scholarships with a relatively low threshold for dem-onstrated vocational potential or academic achievement. This made sense back when the purpose was to ensure the the church gave at least a little something to any FCC student going to college. Given the loss of many families with high-school or college-age students in our congre-gation over the past ten to twenty years, we now have a program that gives out several small scholarships to students who are by-and-large not members of FCC, students quite worthy of aid but for whom $500 per semester will barely buy books these days. It’s time to rethink how we do things if we want to make a lasting difference.

The Stewardship Team has begun to reinvest our restricted funds with the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation and the Christian Church Founda-tion, seeking to increase the inter-est we receive on these funds by a significant percentage and thereby increase the amount of scholarship funds available to us to distribute to worthy applicants. However, this measure alone will not fix the

problem. The Scholarship Team is considering combining scholarship funds (those with similar award re-strictions) and making for a fewer number of larger awards, especially for our seminary applicants. While $500 is still $500 and any amount is appreciated by students, it’s not enough to make a noticeable dif-ference given the cost of college. A few hundred dollars just won’t do it these days, but a few thousand will.

If we want to make a lasting im-pact upon students with great po-tential to succeed and for whom our scholarship aid would make a difference, we need to cast our nets less broadly and more deeply. In short, we need a diversity of size in our scholarship awards that both reflects our current demographic of members and of applicants. Too many people have given faithfully and generously for too long for us to let our program not reach it full-est potential. It would be irrespon-sible not to change with the times and ensure that their gifts still make a difference.

First Christian will continue to stand by the current group of schol-arship recipients throughout their program of study as we make this shift, rest assured. But if we want our efforts to make a difference, we need to change our scholarship program and give it new life fit for today’s reality.

Please pray for our Scholarship and Stewardship Teams as they go about this faithful and creative work, reinventing our scholarship program in a way that honors the past, upholds the present, and en-sures a future.

Soli Deo gloria,Rev. Michael

Prayers and Cares

Donna and John AckenhausenMatthew AlspaughAmy BarnardPaul CampbellPeggie ClendeninJim DalbyJeff DanielMike FawcettEdward FinleyJake FlowersCyrus Ford & family

Roger FordLarry GibsonRussell O. Grettum, Jr.Nita GriggsAlexia HaleLes & Marcia HamesEbony HawkinsDan KimesIrene LewittJoyce MarstonPat & Dennis MolloyBill Northcutt

Pat & Carl OliverVic OsteenLeon Patterson & familyMark PitcherTammy ReatherSharon RedricksVeda RiggsAbbey Roberson’s momJack SandersChristie Richardson SchreppelCindy Skinner-Steward’s family

Betty SmithMichael SmithDoris SorensenBeverly SouthardAshley StubblefieldMary Sudberry’s familyOpal Irene TudorRick UmbargerVicki VandivortNeva VarnerJoy Welsh

Continued prayers for Prayer Quilt RecipientsAshley, Beckie, Beverly’s family, Brian’s family, Chesney, Christie, Cindy, Cyrus, David’s family, Debbie, Gordon’s family, Gyniss, Howard, Irene, Jerry, Jennifer, Joan, Joseph (PJ), Judy, Judy and family, Karen, Rev. Katie, Kern’s

family, Larry and Molly, Les, Lilia, Marcia, Maddie, Margaret, Marilyn, Mark, Michael, Miranda, Otavia, Paul,Ray, Richard, Rick, Shaina, Stacee, Susan, Susie, Sybil, Terry, Tonya, and Vicki

With all of the election news, the nicest thing I have seen is Jim Alspaugh sitting at his post, doing his civic duty! Thanks to all who do that job. It is a very long day and we appreciate your services.

James Howard gave me some “words to live by:”

“Good public servants vote for what’s in their heart. Good politicians vote for what’s in their hand.”

“The large print giveth and the small print taketh away.”

“It is impossible to insult a rude person.”

Several of us went to see Bernadette Peters Saturday night and she was amazing! She sang her little heart out for 90 minutes, without an intermission.

We had Super Eight Cell Group here Tuesday night, and we fit nine people in my new little house just fine. It has hosted Cell, cards, and a birthday party, so it has been bro-ken in.

One salon customer said to another, “You must meet my friend. She is a medium.”

“No thanks, it will only depress me; I’m a large.”A father looking at his son’s less than stel-

lar report card exclaimed, “An F in history? When I was your age, that was my easiest subject.” “Big Deal,” the son replied, “When you were my age, how much had happened?”

See you in church, Ruthie


From thePastor’sPenKeyboard

We extend our Christian sympathies to the family of Felix Walton, father ofDorman Walton, who passed from this life on Friday, March 4, 2016.

We extend our Christian sympathies to the family of June Phillips, who passedfrom this life on Saturday, March 5, 2016.


Memorial Gifts Budget Contingency Fund

In memory of

June Phillips from

Lynn and Don Ray

Double Ring Emergency Fund In memory of

June Phillips from

Kay and Paul Thompson

Music Fund In memory of Anne Webb

from Ray and Sharon Wright

Week of Feb 28

Worship 94Children 33Total Attendance 127

Sunday SchoolPreschool 9Elementary 24Youth 17Adults 69Total 119


Total $2,538.95

Worship 99 Children 27

Sunday SchoolPreschool 8Elementary 19Youth 17Adults 66


Attendance and Gifts

March 11-31, 2016Suzanne Beree 3/11Margaret Culley 3/11Leah Gann 3/11Jennifer Koljack 3/11Candace Berry 3/12Joey Bowlin 3/12Lindsay Swanson 3/13Molly Krumme 3/14Helen Pummill 3/15Connie Page 3/18Jared Page 3/18Rick McKee 3/21Virginia Boyd 3/22

Michael Major 3/23Amy Berryman 3/25Debbie Craine 3/25

Kara Sexson 3/31

Thanks Receivedfor Outreach

Dear First Christian Church,

Thank you for generously sponsoring our 20th Annual Empty Bowls Hunger Awareness Dinner. The support of generous donors like you will ensure families, children, and senior citizens throughout eastern Oklahoma won’t have to worry where or how they will get their next meal. Your sponsorship helps support the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and our Empty Bowls goal to raise 2 million meals to help Oklahomans struggling with hunger. With every dollar donated, the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklaahoma can distribute four meals. Through our network of 450 Partner Programs, the Food Bank distributes more than 346,000 meals a week throughout out 24-county service area. The need is great, and we’re

Sincerely,Ellen Ryan Bradshaw (Executive Director)and Heidi Ewing (Corporate Relations and Events Manager)

Thanks Receivedfor Scholarships

I hope the Lenten season has been a great one for you all. I want to say again how much I appreciate your scholarship assistance. Without your help, I would not be able to work on my Doctorate of Ministry degree at Brite Divinity School. It is with sincere gratitude that I write to you all, and I hope that God continues to bless your incredible ministry in Tulsa and around the world.

Thank you again for your care and compassion. Peace to you all.

Sincerely,

April 21, 2pm

Would you like some help learn-ing how to get more out of your tablet (iPad, Kindle Fire, etc) or smart phone?

Joshua will be teaching a class that will focus on learning some tips and tricks so you can do more with your technology!

If you are interested in attending, talk to Joshua at church or email him at [email protected]

iPhone/Tablet Class

We successfully delivered the books from our January outreach project to Hawthorne Elementary. Special thanks to all who donated to make this project such a success.

With the start of Lent, that means Easter is coming! Our Easter Egg hunt will be on March 20, but in order for that to take place, we need eggs for the children to find! And for that we need you!

There will be a basket in the lobby if you can donate plastic eggs for our hunt. Feel free to bring them already filled with goodies (wrapped candies, but avoid peanuts as a few of our kids have peanut allergies) and taped shut.

Thank you for helping to create a great experience for our children.

January Outreach


Celebra�ons:

Class Concerns:


Next Sunday:


Celebra�ons:

Page 10


Greeter:Flowers for Sunday: o

Flower delivery:



Flower delivery:

Elder Prayers: James Howard, offering; Susan Baston, communionCommunion Prepara�on: Dorman Rudene WaltonDeacons Serving Communion:


Flower delivery:



A publication of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), TulsaVol. 21, Number 5 Mar 11, 2016






9:00 - 9:30 Breakfast for children and youth9:00 Coffee Fellowship, East Fellowship Hall9:15 - 10:15 Adult Sunday School9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for children and youth10:15 Coffee Fellowship, East Fellowship Hall10:45 - Noon Worship, Sanctuary 11:00 - 11:30 Children’s Worship, The Lo�, 4th Floor Sanctuary Building11:30 - 12:00 Children’s ac�vi�es, 3rd Floor


Sunday Schedule



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Celebra�ons:

Class Concerns:


Next Sunday:


Celebra�ons:

Page 10



Flower delivery:



Flower delivery:



Flower delivery:



A publication of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Tulsa Vol. 21, Number 5






9:00 - 9:30 Breakfast for children and youth 9:00 Coffee Fellowship, East Fellowship Hall9:15 - 10:15 Adult Sunday School 9:30 - 10:30 Sunday School for children and youth 10:15 Coffee Fellowship, East Fellowship Hall10:45 - Noon Worship, Sanctuary 11:00 - 11:30 Children’s Worship, The Lo�, 4th Floor Sanctuary Building 11:30 - 12:00 Children’s ac�vi�es, 3rd Floor


Sunday Schedule



23456



2 From the Pastor’s Pen Keyboard

3 Attendance & Gifts

4 FCC Activities & Opportunities

5 Happy Timer’s Concert

6 Holy Week Invitation

7 Worship Words

8 Easter Lillies, Easter Offering

9 Lenten Sermons Series

10 Reccommended Books for Lent

11 Holy Week Schedule

12 Easter Eggs, I-Phone & Tablets January Outreach

13 Mission Festival

14 Easter Eggs, I-Phone & TabletsJanuary Outreach

15 Wilder Side Prayers and Concerns

16 Serving SchedulesSunday School News

Mar. 11, 2016

March Outreach Program: The Appreciation Station

Take one of the Fire Trucks in the Lobby with the address for a Tulsa area Fire Department and write a letter showing your appreciation for the work that they do for us!

Some helpful suggestions for your thank you letter

-The recent fires have brought to mind all the many times and emergencies in which you risk your lives to help our communities-Thank you for giving of yourself for the sake of others, both for the thinks we hear about and the things we’ll never know about-The church is praying for your safety and courage-How can we pray specifically for you? (Invite them to contact you or the church with specific prayer requests)-On behalf of the people of First Christian Church, Tulsa, thank you so much for serving, protecting, and saving us in so many ways

Give them your name and let them know you are a member of First Christian Church, Tulsa. Remember, these are just suggestions, feel free to make your letter as personal as you want.

Our thoughts, prayers, and appreciation will let our brave firefighters know how much we care.

a publication of first christian church (disciples of christ), tulsa … · 2016. 3. 9. · church...

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