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FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
NEWSLETTER 200 E. 5
TH St. Claremore, Oklahoma (918) 341-1199
Vol. 8 No. 6 74017 June 1, 2015
Personally from the Pastor
“Old Dog, Old Trick, part 2”
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
No doubt about it: it IS challenging to
teach a person something new, usually because
they have been doing what they do for so long that
learning how to do it differently is hard.
Last month, I offered some signals that the
Church is executing our “old trick” the Great
Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) faithfully and
effectively. The first signal is our focus on what
we are called to teach, the first part of this “old
trick.” 1. Its members are passionate about be-
coming and being teachers of the Gospel. 2. Its
members are committed to helping each other
learn and practice the Gospel.
So here is the second signal that we are ex-
ecuting the Great Commission: we focus on whom
we are called to teach about Jesus and his love.
This spring, all members of the high school
Sunday school class learned something new.
These younger Disciples accepted a challenge
from their teacher, Angela James. They memo-
rized something really, REALLY old--the books
of the New Testament. Then they celebrated with
a “field trip” for milk/hot chocolate and dough-
nuts. Yum!
Angela encouraged, led, and motivated
these youth to learn something new. They trusted
her thoughtful Christian insight that knowing the
New Testament books was something valuable for
Christians to learn. Trust between a teacher and
students is born from the time a teacher spends
with them, listening, leading, preparing. I believe
such golden teaching moments witness to how im-
portant are those younger and older persons whom
the church is called to teach.
A second example of our focus on on
whom we are called to “disciple” into Christ’s
body is found in the church’s commitment to
speak in “new languages.” Like missionaries who
learn the language of their mission field, the
church is challenged in our increasingly secular
society to identify and use methods that faithfully
and effectively translate the Gospel into language
understandable to persons who don’t know him.
We do some “Gospel translation” using audio/
video technology in worship and in our class-
rooms. Our use of a church webpage and several
church pages on Facebook also offer those beyond
the church a “translation” of the Gospel in a fa-
miliar form. And our works of love, serving and
helping others--our mission made visible--also
truthfully translate His gospel in ways under-
standable for those who have not seen or heard it.
In Christian love,
On May 31, the Board approved the hiring of Josh
Linton as our new Director of Youth Ministry.
We will have a reception and light supper for him
to meet our 6-12 graders and their families from
4 - 6:00 PM, Sunday, July 7 at the church.
NEWS
Kay Waterman Forest Schermer
Jim & Lottie Norwine Cecilia Villalobos
Dave & Adrienne Crutchfield Nancy Nees
Marilyn Bohlender Teri Robinson
Carolyn Wood Ronald Musser
Welcoming Words
Members Can Say to
Worship Guests
Thank you for being here.
Let me help you with that.
Please, sit with me/us.
Here is my phone number (or email address). Please
let me know if I can help in any way. (If the guest
mentions a need.)
May I show you where you need to go?
Let me introduce you to __________.
Would you join us for lunch?
The newsletter and upcoming events may be viewed
on the church website at claremoredisciples.com
Rev. Janet Edge transferred her membership from First
Christian Bethany on May 3. She is very active in the
Kairos Prison Ministries.
She currently resides at:
524 Will Rogers Blvd, Apt #301
Claremore, OK 74017
Ph: 918-407-2450
If you lost a stone out of a piece of jewelry, please
bring your item to the office to see if it fits and tell us
the color of the stone.
Please remember to notify the church office of any
phone or address changes so we may update church
records.
When the need for an urgent prayer arises, the prayer
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.
Noon - June 25
I wish to thank everyone for cards, prayers, calls, flow-
ers, also, Pastor Charles for visits during my hospital
stay with pneumonia. They all meant a lot to me.
Joyce Martin
My heartfelt love and thanks for the many well-wishers
and beautiful cards from those at First Christian Church
here in Claremore. I have had a rough journey thus far
and still have a long way to go. So it means a lot to know
others are holding me up in their daily thoughts and
prayers. Thanks for your great outpouring of love and
concern.
Pastor Mark Newman
Dear Church Family,
Thank you for my gorgeous faith journal. I can’t wait to
take it to Drury with me so I can write down all of my
experiences. Thank you for everything these past 18
years. You all have made such a profound impact on my
life and I could not be more grateful to have grown up
with such a loving church family. I love you all!
Love,
Madeline
Class of 2015
Kairos Prison Ministries of Oklahoma
Kairos Prison Ministries International operates in
nine countries and 35 states. Kairos has three main
sections:
Kairos Inside - brings a four day weekend, based
on the Emmaus Walk model, to the adult residents
of maximum or medium security prisons.
Kairos Torch - brings this same instructional
weekend of basic Christian beliefs to incarcerated
juveniles.
Kairos Outside - ministers to women impacted by
incarceration.
Women attending a Kairos outside may be wives,
mothers, daughters, siblings, aunts, or grandmothers
of an incarcerated person; or they may themselves
have been incarcerated during some period of their
lives. This ministry is brought to these women
because they are “serving time” along with their
loved one. Because of our often judgmental society,
they feel isolated. Since these women are often the
sole support of their families, Kairos Outside week-
ends begin on Friday evening instead of Thursday.
Kairos Inside hopes to be able to host 42 residents of
the facility at which the weekend is taking place. A
dozen cookies are given to each resident of the facility
on Friday and Saturday, not just the ones attending
the weekend.
At Mabel Basset, the maximum/medium facility for
women in Oklahoma, the cookies are homemade
according to one of three specific Kairos approved
recipes. 5,000 dozen cookies are needed for a week-
end here. At present store bough cookies, brought
inside in their original packaging are given out at the
men’s prisons.
No matter which weekend is being presented prayers,
cookies, financial support and volunteers are needed.
You can learn more about this ministry at
www.kairosoklahoma.org or feel free to call Janet
Edge at 918-407-2450.
Special Guest at
Disciples Women’s
Salad Supper & Installation
Yvonne Lewis walked away from 27 years as a TV
news anchor last September, when God called her
into the ministry full time. Minutes after her resigna-
tion, Yvonne was invited to accompany a group from
the Disciples of Christ to the Dominican Republic
last October. The Caminate Mission is supported by
Disciples Women groups nationwide. Come and learn
more about this special ministry to children at risk,
in danger of being drawn into prostitution or drug
running. All our church family are invited, including
our high school and college age, and a few interested
friends. Yvonne holds a Master of Divinity (MDiv)
from Phillips Theological Seminary. There will be
more information later. Sign-up sheets will be circu-
lated for those who want to come, so we will have
enough food prepared. Yvonne will be our guest
speaker Thursday, June 18th after our Salad Supper.
Plan to reserve June 18th and come.
If you saw the FCC Facebook post, you know Janet
Edge asked for prayers for Kairos Outside Western
Oklahoma (KOWO) #29. Kairos is a ministry to
women whose lives are impacted by incarceration
(either by family, friends, or they themselves have
been). An awesome weekend. It is amazing to be
able to watch God work in the lives of these women.
The next KOWO reunion is June 13 from noon - 3:00
pm @ Asbury UMC, 1320 SW 38th St, OKC. Kairos
Outside Eastern Oklahoma (KOEO) to be announced.
As of Jun 1
Proceeds support the Youth attending International
Affairs Seminar in Washington, DC and New York next
spring. 10% of proceeds will be tithed to Light the World
to help pay utilities and provide lodging for those in need.
June 5 & 6
Children Worship & Wonder June & July: Children will be
reviewing our manners and the sto-ries of the past year and finishing up work from our folders.
Children, Youth, & Young Adult Ministry News
Acolytes Schedule June 7 Abbi Elizabeth
June 14 Aiden Alec
June 21 Andrew Bobby
June 28 Trenton Zachery
Spring SUNDAY SCHOOL
9:30 am
First Floor Nurseries
Infants & Toddlers
Christine Pool
Pre K - 1st grade Jennifer Swinney
2nd Grade-5th Grade
Ann Smith/ Laurel Ragland /Sara Masters
Chi Rho 6th-8th
Barry Clark/ Cinda Franklin
CYF 9th-12th Angela James
Mission Campers: Have you paid your camp tuition ?
Was due MAY 31 in the church office.
Register for Mission Camp at the
Missionclaremore2015.com
Click on ONLINE Registration
On May 31, the Board approved the hiring
of Josh Linton as our new Director of
Youth Ministry. We will have a reception
and light supper for him to meet our 6-12
graders and their families from 4 - 6:00
PM, Sunday, June 7 at the church.
NEWS
Disciples Women
The Day Group of Disciples Women will be guests of
the Rachel Group for a $2 Salad Supper at 6:30 PM,
Thursday, June 18th. Following the supper, we will have
a very brief installation of officers. Everyone bring your
offerings from your Blessing Boxes. Then we will have
a very special guest speaker, Yvonne Lewis. See page 3
of newsletter for more details. Projects this month are
Habitat for Humanity and Caminante. Our speaker has
been to the Dominican Republic twice and will share her
experiences there at Caminante, a project supported by
all Disciples Women groups for the past few years.
Our Church Book Club
A group of readers met in the Church Library on
Tuesday, May 5 to discuss the author C.S. Lewis and
his 1941 satirical book, The Screw Tape Letters.
It was, for the most part, agreed that this was a rather
difficult read and Lewis had admitted that it was some-
times difficult to write this tale of a reversal in theolo-
gy. The book is perhaps an example of the author's
playing "the devil's advocate" in order for readers to
really think and analyze their beliefs and behaviors.
This is the fourth book to be read and discussed
since the Education Mission Team launched the book
discussion project in the fall of 2014. Other books have
been; The Red Tent by Anita Diament, a fictional
account of what Jacob and Leah's daughter Dinah's life
may have been like. At Home in Mitford by Jan
Karon, the first in the Mitford series featuring Father
Tim Kavenaugh. Same Kind of Different as Me by
Ron Hall and Denver Moore, a true story of how a
wealthy art dealer and a homeless man became friends.
Chosen for June 25 is The Giver by Lois Lowry.
A children's opera in which Mariah Robinson sang a
solo and a movie have been made from this book about
a society in which the residents have no memories and
few emotions. Books will be available at the church,
at Boarding House Books and at the Public Library.
You are welcome to join the discussion even if you
have not read the book.
Cancer Patients - Karsyn Bratch, Arleigh Williams, Maria Eubanks, Kathy Steele, Toni Weeks, Marcus Matthews, Joe
Beson
Health Concerns - Garrett Robinson (Susan Kotoff’s brother) had kidney stone removed; Pat Robinson (Susan Kotoff’s
mother) having a heart monitor put in; Judah Smith (Gail Mullen’s grandson) was in ICU at St Francis Children’s hospi-
tal; Margaret English (Gail Mullen’s friend) had a massive heart attack; Mabel Bennett not feeling well; Andrew Brown-
lee has been having seizures; Lacy Vickerey (Helen’s grandson’s wife) recovering from heart surgery; Maime ??? (Sally
Marlar’s daughter) recovering from surgery; Jennifer Fuhrman (Danny & Shirley Widener’s daughter) recovering from
surgery;
Sympathies to the family of Lorretta Burrows, Gene Russell (friend of Sherrill Vosberg), Captain Jason Farley
Praise: Cliff & Charlotte Johnson celebrated their 22nd anniversary on May 15. Darrell & Carol Low celebrated their
57th anniversary on May 25. Danny Widener, Jr graduated from Platte College with Culinary Degree
*ELDERS SERVING - JUNE 2015
DATE STANDING ELDER
(Serving Claremore, Brookfield & Wood Manor Nursing Homes)
SERVING & PRAYER ELDER
(Serving Homebound / Hospitals)
Jun 7 Bill Smith Sean Robinson
Jun 14 Mary Fry Bill Smith
Jun 21 Jim Kotoff Mary Fry
Jun 28 Patty Melton Jim Kotoff
*DIACONATE SCHEDULE - JUNE 2015
DATE SERVING
COMMUNION & GREETING SHEPHERD,
PREPARE & CLEAN-UP
Jun 7 Don & Beverly Wofford, Brandon Pool, Sherrill Vosberg, Sheri Book, Zoe White
Don & Beverly Wofford
Jun 14 Larry Young, Sara Masters, Larry & Kay Livingston, Jim Watkins, Rachel Kotoff
Larry Young, Sara Masters
Jun 21 Loretta Pool, Angela James, Katy Galusha-White, Mary Carrell, Gail Mullen, Robbie Ellison
Loretta Pool Angela James
Jun 28 DeeDee Clark, Larry Melton, Ron & Pam Clark, Renee Smith, Madeline Clark
DeeDee Clark, Larry Melton
*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.
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 VACANT, Director of Youth Ministry 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 2015 2015 YTD
Total Offerings and Other Income for Daily Ministries Expenses
$24,946.16 $101,687.40
Total Daily Ministries Expenses $18,275.77 $93,726.99
Net Income (Loss) $6,670.39 $7,960.41
Needed for Budget (including Outreach Ministries)
$25,515.63 $111,764.53
Budget Excess (Shortfall) ($569.47) ($10,077.13)
1 Ray Teakell 9 Barry Clark 19 Mabel Bennett
5 Lori Cook 11 Jack Spinks 25 Cinda Franklin
7 Sean Robinson 14 Jery Porterfield 25 Mary Fry
8 Mariah Robinson 15 Emalee Ruth 28 Greg Smith
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