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CHURCH COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER A Bi-Weekly Publication – Issue Date: 10/3/11

St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church

12424 East 31st Street, Tulsa, OK 74146-2202 (918-622-8703)

E-mail address: [email protected]

Website: stmatts.us

Michael Fletcher-Taylor, Pastor

Our Vision Statement: To enable our family of believers to lead our community to Jesus Christ

through love and the sharing of God’s Word and to be an inviting refuge of comfort.

A Word From the Pastor

Dear St Matthew’s Family, As many of you know after extensive study we started a coffee bar in the Narthex area. The primary reason for this was to welcome guests to our worship services and have a place for fellowship for all of those members and guests attending worship. We believe that this coffee bar has been successful in meeting the goals that we established for this ministry of Radical Hospitality. Studies have shown that first time guests want to feel respected and welcomed. Guests want to know that you are happy they are there and that you are serious about making sure they have a good experience. As a welcoming church we need to go above and beyond to make guests feel welcome, but do so with consistency. It is very important for both guests and regular attendees to see a consistent process in place for rolling out the 'red carpet'. One of the effective ways to do this is by having a hospitality area like our coffee bar. We are in the process of changing and improving the existing coffee bar. We have moved an additional table that can be used for serving food options. Food can go a long way in making a solid first-impression.

Quality, not extravagance, is the key. However, those of us who enjoy and participate in the food options need to remember this is not a “breakfast buffet” but a place to enjoy a time of fellowship, coffee and some quality food options. When we first started our coffee bar it was decided that we would not ask for donations. However, in the existing economic hard times we will be placing a donation basket and are asking regular attendees and those who can afford to donate to please do so. This of course DOES NOT include our guests, and if you invite a guest to share coffee or food with you, please make sure they understand we do not expect them to donate. If there are food or drink options that you would like to suggest in the future for the coffee bar, please e-mail or drop a note to Pastor Michael or Jan Colvin. You will be seeing additional changes in the future in how we welcome and assimilate guests into the life of the church. We have been working on this for several months and hope to have it in place during October. Grace and Peace, Pastor Michael

mailto:[email protected]


JOIN US FOR WORSHIP “Come and See” what is happening in worship at St Matthew’s

Radical Living

I am convinced that what we need in our lives today is a radical change and this is the focus of this 10 week series. The word radical is from the Latin and it means “from the roots” or to be rooted in the original. What we need today are radical believers who go back to the New Testament, and back to what God intended for Christians to do in the first place. Paul says in Ephesians 3 “May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand how wide, and how long, and how high and how deep his love really is. May you experience this love. This series is so important because it will help us to look at how deep our roots go. In Matthew 13 Jesus said, “They don’t have deep roots so they don’t last very long. As soon as life gets hard [like a recession] or the message gets them in trouble, they give up.” You don’t want to miss this series and please bring your friend and family. Oct 9, 2011 Sermon: “RADICAL LOVE-- Radical Living” Scripture: “May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.” Eph. 3:17 (NLT) “For God so loved the world that he gave his Only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not Perish but have Everlasting Life.” John 3:16 (KJV) Oct 16, 2011 Sermon: “RADICAL HOPE-- Radical Living” Scripture: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) Oct 23, 2011 Sermon: “RADICAL GENEROSITY -- Radical Living” Scripture: “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” Proverbs 11:24 (MSG) Oct 30, 2011 Sermon: “RADICAL FREEDOM -- Radical Living” Scripture: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 (NIV) “Freedom is what we have—Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.” Gal. 5:1 (TEV)


JOIN US FOR WORSHIP

WEDNESDAY EVENING SCHEDULE

5:45 – 6:30 p.m. Community Dinner and Fellowship

6:30 – 7:15 p.m. An Alternative Worship Experience 7:15 – 8:30 p.m. Choir practice

COMMUNITY DINNERS (Donations welcomed)

October 5 October 12

Salad Bar

Leaf lettuce

Carrots

Diced tomatoes

Shredded cheese

Cucumbers

Pickles – sliced onions

Jalapenos - Bacon bits - Olives

Dressing – Ranch, Italian, French

Fruit Bowl

Grapes, strawberries, pineapple, bananas

Mexican Night

Taco Salad

Tacos & Burritos

Chile—Refried Beans

Cheese Dip & Salsa-Chips

Soup night

Chicken Corn Chowder

Hamburger/Vegetable Stew

Cornbread & Crackers

Average Worship Attendance – 2011

January 156 April 177 July 131 October Annual 2009 155

February 148 May 150 August 143 November Annual 2010 158

March 156 June 147 September December Annual 2011

2011 MOWING SCHEDULE

If at all possible, please don’t mow earlier than Thursday of each week.

October 6 Team 1 *Del Gatzke, Elson Hargrove, Bob & Tammie Blessing

Catherine Peters


PRAYER CONCERNS – 9-25-11 HEBREWS 11:6 - "WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD, BECAUSE ANYONE WHO COMES TO HIM MUST BELIEVE HE EXISTS AND THAT HE REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM." Michelle (Chelle) called me and asked for prayers for her grandparents (her Dad's parents). Joyce Hargrove is asking for continued prayers for Nancy Famelos. Arnold McDowell would appreciate prayers for his Army buddy, Bob Kahler. Barbara Youngblood would appreciate prayers for her

Aunt Jean and Paul's cousin, Donnie.

Continued prayers for the Hime's daughter-in-law, Susie Hime. Continued prayers are needed for Manilla Taylor. JOYS - What a blessing it was to see Louise Coursey at the Traditional Service. BEREAVEMENT Louise Coursey and family June Vannoy and family Pauline Grove and family Robert Stage and family Chuck Wise and family ONGOING PRAYERS Marge Perry and her sister Carol; Margaret Toni; Youngblood's daughter- in-law and family; Catherine Peter's friend Ron Gibbons; Bob Johnson; Robin Mundt's brother-in-law Bob Parsell; Swaringim family; Stephanie Butler's friend Tammy Harmon; Richard and Virgie Bachelder, June Vannoy; Kay Holt's son Brady Rousset; Barbara McDowell's daughter-in-law's mother and her friend Donald; Judi Olsen, her mother Arlene Harper and friend Pat Elias; Deanna Peterson and her sister Kathleen; Smokey and Judy Tipton; Martha Sabourin and her mother Elizabeth and son Richard; Bob Staebler and son Paul; Mary Saville; Louise Coursey; Frances Martin; Mary Trumbull; Bettie Fry; Janie & Lawrence Long; Barbara Roderick's friend and neighbor Renee Palos and her parents; her friend Emmitt Bean and his wife Dotti and her friend Esther Wilson and her husband. Pray for our military, our President and government leaders, our country, our Clergy, the jobless and homeless.

PRAYER CONCERNS- 10-2-11

JOHN 16:24 - "ASK USING MY NAME, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE, AND YOU WILL HAVE ABUNDANT JOY." Barbara Youngblood has three prayer requests her Aunt Jean Bauer passed away- Paul's cousin Kimbra and Paul's cousin Donnie. Joyce Hargrove is asking for continued prayers for Nancy Famelos recovery. Dena Erickson is asking prayers for her sister Janice. Suzanne is asking for prayers to find full time employment. Continued prayers are fervently needed for Richard Brasher and family. Continued prayers for the Himes' daughter-in-law, Susie Hime. Barbara Roderick is asking continued prayers for her friend, Pat Schwaninger and her son, Pat. BEREAVEMENT Louise Coursey and family Pauline Grove and family Marie Loveless and family Robert Stage and family Chuck Wise and family ONGOING PRAYERS Marge Perry's sister Carol; Manilla Taylor; Margaret Toni; Jerod Patterson; Freda Heath's classmate's sister; Robin Mundt's brother-in-law Bob Parsell; Swaringim family; Stehanie Butler's friend Tammy Harmon; Richard and Virgie Bachelder; June Vannoy; Kay Holt's son Brady Rousset; Barbara McDowell's daughter-in-law's mother and her friend, Donald; Arnold McDowell's friend Bob Kahler; Judi Olsen, her mother, Arlene Harper and friend Pat Elias; Deanna Peterson and her sister Kathleen; Smokey and Judy Tipton; Martha Sabourin, her mother Elizabeth and son Richard; Bob Staebler and son Paul; Mary Saville; Louise Coursey; Frances Martin; Mary Trumbull; Bettie Fry; Janie & Lawrence Long; Barbara Roderick's friends Renee Palos and her parents and Esther Wilson and her husband. May all your days be "Blessed Beyond Belief." Yours in God's love, Barbara


OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

1 Barbara McDowell 17 Catherine Peters

1 Jan Polliard 17 Dillon Horn

3 Nasos Famelos 20 Barbara Roderick

5 Pastor Michael 22 Lyla Cervantes

9 Pauline Grove

16 Joy Barkat

Please contact Alon at 622-7006 to list your birthday.

LOV-ED Scholarship Recipients

There were two recipients of LOV-ED

scholarships for the fall college semester –

Destiny Butler and Leslie Youngblood Faulkner.

Destiny is a sophomore at Tulsa Community

College and Leslie is in her second year at

Northeastern State University Optometry

School. Congratulations to our college students.

St. Matthew’s thoughts and prayers are with you

for your continued success.

LOV-ED Scholarship Committee Member

Deanna Rocha

IT’S BREAKFAST TIME!

Hungry for pancakes? Biscuits & sausage gravy?

Cheesy scrambled eggs? French toast? Come on

down! The VIM Team will be serving their down-

home, freshly-made breakfast on Sunday, Oct.

16th. Your favorites will be hot and ready for you

from 7:30-9:15 a.m. Thanks for your support.

Meet you at the breakfast table!

VIM TEAM

Pumpkin Patch Fellowship Luncheon

The Fellowship committee will be serving lunch on

October 8th when the pumpkins arrive. We will be

having hamburgers and all the fixings. If you plan on

coming please bring a dish of potato salad, baked beans

or a dessert. The committee will provide everything

else. As yet we don't have a time; it depends on when

the pumpkins arrive. I will let you know.

Martha Sabourin

Fellowship Committee Chairman

RONALD McDONALD HOUSE

We furnish one meal a month for Ronald McDonald

House. Our wonderful cooks for October 27, 2011 are

Bonita Young and Freda Heath for the Main Dishes and

Barbara Youngblood and Deanna Rocha for desserts.

Thank you.

Sarah Circle

Please join us Tuesday mornings at 9:30 in the

Parlor for Bible study and refreshments. Bring

your Bibles.

Jeanine Keller


Murder, Mayhem, and Marshmallow Salad

What does this mean? Come help support the youth and find out.

December 4th @ 4:00pm the youth will be bringing you a Christmas Dinner Theatre. The price of admission and

the menu will be announced in the next newsletter, but put the date on your calendar now. You won’t want to

miss this chance to enjoy a fantastic sit down dinner while putting on your detective hats to solve a murder

mystery as you dine. So save the date and bring your friends and come have a few laughs.

Holiday Evergreens

Youth will soon be selling Christmas Wreaths as a Mission Trip Fund Raiser. These wreaths are beautiful and

Handcrafted from Minnesota Balsam Fir Trees. When our information arrives we will be available in the Adult

Sunday School hall with catalogs for you to view. Wreaths will be delivered Around Nov. 21st or you can have

them shipped directly if you would like to send one as a gift. We appreciate all the support you give us.

Debbie Gant

UMW NEWS

October 14, 2011 …… UMW provides lunch at

the Wesley Foundation in Tulsa.

October 26, 2011 ……. Broken Arrow First

Church's UMW has invited anyone that would

like to come to their General Meeting at 9:45

A.M. Meri Whitaker will be their speaker and

talk about her book. We need to let them

know a week or so before how many will be

attending so they can have enough food for a

light lunch.

VIM TEAM TO NEW ORLEANS AREA

FOR 7th MISSION

If you have been thinking about serving on a

mission, this may be the one for you! A team is

scheduled to return to the New Orleans area

for the 7th straight year on Feb. 11-18, 2012.

Mark your calendar for a week of serving our

sisters and brothers who are still needing

assistance in putting their lives back together.

Think about making a Christian difference in a

life that is struggling and hurting. See Ann

Marie Boyce, VIM Team Leader, for more

details. The first team meeting will be in late

Sept. You are needed and wanted.


BEST CHOICE UPC CODES

Please bring your UPC Codes from Best

Choice Products. I lack about 300 labels till

I can send them in.

Thank You. Joyce Hargrove

Please mark your calendars for 2 important

meetings being held in October & November.

On Sunday, October 16th there will be a Church

Council meeting about 12:15. Tuesday, Nov. 1st,

7:00 there will be a Church conference with our

new District Superintendent. Both meetings

are important & informative about what’s going

on at St. Matthew’s. Please plan to attend. Alon

HAPPY CHILDREN’S HOME

You are invited to the celebration of the 5th

anniversary of the Tulsa District Happy Children’s

Home in China. We hope that everyone will join us for

this delicious meal. Lunch will be served Saturday,

November 5th at Trinity UMC, 3737 S. Peoria, from

11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, donation only, and includes

dessert and drink. There will be a short program at

noon. Please RSVP by October 25th through the Tulsa

District office at 918-742-7496 or email

[email protected]. The event includes a silent

auction. All proceeds support The Happy Children’s

Home. Contact Joyce Hargrove by Oct 23rd to confirm

your attendance.

THE PUMPKINS ARE COMING!

Don’t miss the fun and excitement of unloading

hundreds of pumpkins this Sat., Oct. 8th around 9am.

We say ―around 9am‖ because that’s the

―guesstimate‖ for their arrival. Come join the

camaraderie. Your smiling face and assistance are

always needed and wanted! The Pumpkin Patch

proceeds support our missionary, Diane Wimberley,

serving in Bolivia. She is very passionate about

training pastors there. Have you signed up to work a

shift or two at the Patch yet? Look for the Pumpkin

Patch schedule in the Fellowship Hall or Narthex and

add your name. It ―takes a village‖ to make this a

success for His mission in Bolivia. Thanks for your

radical support.

Ann Marie Boyce and Chuck Wise

TU WESLEY FOUNDATION Greetings, We are excited to let you know about our annual fall golf tournament fundraiser for the TU Wesley Foundation. Please consider sponsoring a hole if you are far away or don't have time to attend the event. This is our only fundraising event of the year and would like to see all alumni and local churches participating. Details: Thursday, Oct. 13th, 1pm at Whitehawk Golf Club, $100 to play (cart, range balls, dinner, and green's fee). Sponsorships start at $150 to represent your family, church, business, church group, or a quotation/scripture. Gifts have ranged from $150-$5000. Prizes: Donate prizes that we will give away at our tournament dinner. We look forward hearing from you, Charlie & Ron....and the Wesley Student Council University of Tulsa Wesley Foundation 918-592-5778 www.wesleytu.org If you are interested, contact Deanna Rocha for a copy of the registration or sponsorship forms


http://www.wesleytu.org/


UPCOMING EVENTS IN OKLAHOMA

Volunteers In Mission Team Leader Training

11/5/2011

Starts 9 a.m.

Ends 4 p.m.

Chapel Hill, UMC

Kristin Terrell-Wilkes

Administrative Assistant of

Communications and Office Volunteers

Oklahoma United Methodist Volunteers In Mission

405-530-2029

[email protected]

www.okvim.org

Circle of Care Boys Ranch Rodeo

10/15/2011

Starts Noon

Directions

Located 7 miles north of Gore on

Highway 100 and Highway 10A junction

If you are interested in any of these, please let me know and I will get

more information for you. Deanna Rocha, Mission Chair

Senior Adult University

October 10-12, Holliman Lodge, Camp Egan

• Open for all senior adults in the Oklahoma

Conference

• It will be a time of fellowship

• Meaningful worship

• A place to listen and learn from one another

• Special guest speakers

• Cost: $130 for triple; $140 for double

Retirement from work does not mean

retirement from following and doing the

will of God. In fact, one’s senior years can

be the best in ministry because of their life

experiences and the extra time that can be

given to serve our Lord.

FOUR SESSIONS

1. Personal Faith Development

Guy Langston

2. Aging Productively

Rebecca Kingsbery

3. Church Role, Mentoring

Mel Whittington

4. Inter-Faith Panel

Coordinated by Guy Langston

Plus options during the evening

For more information contact:

Janey Wilson, [email protected],

(405)321-6266

Register online at

http://www.okumc.org/camps.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

Don’t forget! The deadline to submit articles for the October 17 newsletter is

October 11. Please send articles to the church at [email protected] and be sure to copy

[email protected] Thanks


http://www.okvim.org/

http://www.okumc.org/camps




Needed: FALL BREAK or ANY BREAK TEAMS! Disaster Long Term Recovery Needs

The months of April and May 2011 brought tornados to Oklahoma which cut paths of destruction in 28 counties of our state. Several families are well on their way to recovery, but many other families have a much longer road to travel to recovery. We currently have five Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRC) operating around the state of Oklahoma. These LTRC are the spark of hope through which United Methodists work together with other faith based, non-profit, and governmental agencies to reach out to disaster victims helping direct those victims on a path to a new normal in their lives.

Many people have long forgotten the needs of these disaster victims, but we must not forget! We are called to be there for our neighbors in need! We must all be there for them until the last disaster victim has been helped. Please consider forming a VIM Team to help as soon as possible. There are needs in Central Oklahoma, Southeast Oklahoma, and Northeast Oklahoma. At this time, the needs include general cleanup, along with major and minor repairs. Also, if you live in these areas consider offering to assist the "Long Term Recovery Committees" and "Project Coordinators" in managing the work and the volunteers. Pass along this information to all Oklahoma United Methodists. You never know when the next victim of disaster may be you and/or your family. To sign up to help, contact Richard Norman, 405-530-2032 or 405-620-3901; [email protected] or Lori Foster, 405-530-2070 or 405-919-4865; [email protected]. Upcoming Mission Grove-First UMC Mission to Roatan Honduras

A mission trip to Roatan, will be March 17-24, 2012, and is open to others who might like to go. This will be the second trip to Roatan in two years. Our host will be Joe Summers, missionary of Project Honduras and a member of Grove-First UMC.

The medical team welcomes doctors, dentists, PAs, and/or nurses. The construction team needs both skilled and unskilled laborers to continue the construction of a sea wall and a new church.

If you have a desire to serve we can use you. The cost will be $1,800-2,000, with a $100 deposit and the balance to be paid before December 1. Make your check payable to Grove-First UMC and send it to P.O. Box 450387, Grove OK 74345.

For more information contact team leaders Ken or Nancy Flowers at 918-791-9183 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Mission Opportunities Contact listed team leader if you are interested in serving in Haiti.

Oct 5-13, -- Laraine Waughtal, [email protected], Central Texas Conference

Oct 8-15, -- Greg Reis, [email protected], West Ohio Conference (Reynoldsburg UMC)

Dec 3-10, -- Andrew Jones, [email protected], North Texas Conference

Dec 5-13, -- Jeff Jones, [email protected], North Illinois Conference

Help needed in delivering UMCOR Kits

The OKVIM office is full of UMCOR kits that need to be delivered. If your team is headed to Sager Brown and is interested in taking kits, contact our office, 405-530-2029.

OK VIM has one more Team Leader Trainings scheduled for 2011.

November 5 All trainings will be in Oklahoma City. To register visit our website, or call 405-530-2029.








http://www.okumc.org/site/link/BOHGENHEIBPCFJOEGDHHNCGHIHPCIBEMJFBNHHPBJHMNKHDJDCPLEK


St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church

12424 E. 31st Street

Tulsa, OK 74146-2202

INSIDE THIS ISSUE *Best Choice UPC Labels 7

*Ronald McDonald House 5

*Birthdays 5 *Sarah Circle 5

*Church meetings 7 *Sermon Highlights 2

*Fellowship Luncheon 5 *TU Wesley

*Happy Children’s Home 7 *UMW News 6

*Love-Ed Scholarships 5 *VIM - New Orleans trip 6

*Mowing Schedule 3 *VIM Breakfast 5

*Newsletter Deadline 8 *Wednesday Evening

Schedule

3

*News from Mission chair 8 *Word from the Pastor 1

*Oklahoma VIM News 9

*Pumpkin News 7 *Worship Attendance 3

*Prayer Concerns 4 *Youth 6

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