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Newsletter>
First Christian Church Newsletter, Feb 2007
February 14, 2007
What a great start
to the New Year.
It was a wonderful site to view all of the individuals that
stepped forward and to offer their time and talents to the
Church of Jesus the Christ. This is a great event in the
life of the church and we cannot help but look forward with
optimism to the coming new year. It does take a lot of
people to make a church operate and it could not be done
without these people.
The start of the New Year also means the beginning of
school for our many students, including myself. I have only
one class this semester and will be out of the office only
on Tuesdays until May.
On a sadder note, we continue to greave the passing of so
many friend and family of the Church. Our prayers still are
raised for those who stay behind here on Earth for a little
while longer and wait for that glorious day when we all
will be reunited before the throne of God.
Remember all of those on our prayer list.
Praying for you as I hope that you are praying for me.
Craig
UPCOMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY 10
VALENTINE BANQUET
SPONSORED BY
KIDS IN CHRIST
6:30 PM
FEBRUARY 11
DWF
5:00 P.M.
@ THE CHURCH
FEBRUARY 14
BOARD MEETING
7:00 P.M.
FEBRUARY 16
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
CHOIR PRACTICE
EVERY WEDNESDAY
5:00 P.M.
OUTREACH YEAR IN REVIEW
I'm starting this report just as I did the one for 2005.
We continue to support the Big Five Food Bank on a monthly
basis. Due to government cut backs the amount of free food
has been reduced. I'm not clear to what extent this will
affect the Big Five Food Bank. The fifty dollars we
contributed to them, on a monthly basis, helped to pay the
transportation and was also used for miscellaneous
purchases. The total number of meals we helped to provide
for the year, excluding the Thanksgiving and Christmas
baskets, was 2808 (312 persons were served); our donation
for the year was $600.00. This was a pretty good bargain
since we helped to feed each person for 3 days for less
than $2.00 per person. I think we can be proud of this.
In March Craig used $250.00 for a Church Member in need and
there was another expenditure of $100.00 for a family in
need in Thackerville that Craig brought to the attention of
the committee. In April, May, June, July, November and
December discretionary funds in the total amount of $191.00
were expended to help persons in need. In June we helped
to send some of our children to church camp the funds
approved for this were $615.00.
In August one of our committee members requested help for a
friend and co-worker who had a house fire and lost
everything our committee voted to give this person $200.00.
In September Craig used $37.50 to get a van title to a car
that was gifted to the church then he donated this vehicle
to Love County Systems of Care. In October and December the
committee voted to donate to the Mercy Love County Food
Bank $300.00 for a total donation of $600.00. In November
we again helped a fellow church member in need. The
committee approved $200.00, the requested amount.
We had a special donation in November for the Thanksgiving
Baskets ($200.00) and I managed to spend $196.14 for 16
turkeys and 4 turkey roasts. They had 6 turkeys left at
Thanksgiving and I was going to cut back at Christmas, but
then they had a greater need. They passed out 27 Christmas
Baskets serving 94 people. For Christmas I again purchased
16 turkeys and 4 turkey roasts ($193.18) and Big Five had a
ham that with the left over turkeys completed the 27
baskets.
We continue to collect good clothing, toilet paper,
personal products, kitchen stuff etc. for the women's
shelter. We made a large donation of toys to the
Children's shelter in December (women's group). I had to
make 2 trips because our generosity continued. We also
participated in the Food Drive for the Hospital. We had a
total of 77 cans and won a prize, which Carrie traded for a
savings bond. We also collected canned food for the Mercy
Love County Food Bank during the month of December.
It was a good year, our dedicated donations were up, and I
am proud of our generosity to the Outreach Program of The
First Christian Church.
The Committee members have agreed to continue in their
capacity for the New Year.
Respectfully Submitted
For the Outreach Committee
Yvone McGinnis, Darlene Beardsley, Rosa Knight, Ann
Drennan, and Gwen Bailey
PROPERTY YEAR IN REVIEW
The year started off pretty slow, but before January was
very old, we had new sign posts for the church drive
entrance and the new sign on the southeast corner of the
church property to install, however the ground was so dry
and hard it took a while to get them planted. Meanwhile
Alice and Jerry Cochran worked feverishly painting the new
signs to have them ready to install when the posts were
ready. We refilled or replaced all our fire extinguishers,
and relocated them for quick/easy access. Then, by early
February I had reworked one of the Pastor's ceiling lights,
discovered the roof steeple lights needed work or
replacement, also the stained-glass window on the west end
was no longer lit at night and most of the perimeter
lighting was out. In mid-February Jerry Dutsch and I
installed new 16,000 hour mercury-vapor lighting for the
steeple, replaced all the expired perimeter lighting, and
found the night-light on the northeast corner of the Church
had been so vandalized that it was beyond repair, so it was
replaced. But the day didn't end. I had been notified
earlier there was no heat in the youth classrooms and they
were wearing their coats to keep warm. Jerry Dutsch and I
inspected five heating units, lit the pilot lights, turned
on the gas and rewired where necessary to be sure the
Church was warm for the winter.
In March, new informational signs were installed in the
lobby showing directions to the pastor's office,
classrooms, restrooms, etc., the grass got mowed and the
hedges trimmed, all in preparation for spring and the
coming of Easter and the egg hunt. The church marquee
continues to bask in rave reviews from the public. In
April, Yvone McGinnis planted a new Red Maple tree and
brought it through the drought in good condition, the signs
at both entrances to the prayer garden were taken apart,
cleaned and repainted by Alice Cochran, a new mailbox
sprouted just in time to coincide with our official address
change to 210 3rd Street NW, and all is ready for spring.
In May we installed a standard blue/white handicap parking
sign for a designated spot, then an unfortunate squirrel
tangled with the official OG&E rep. causing a power outage
during Sunday morning services, and it was the center of
conversation for a while. Heat warnings of 100 degrees
plus plagued everyone from early June to late summer, so we
used a lot of air-conditioning. For the next two months we
just couldn't seem to get ahead of the heat, as it turned
out the majority of the problem was the core unit of the
system in Sanders Hall. It was old and well used and just
wouldn't hold a charge 24 hours and had to be replaced.
The condensation leak in the west end was repaired and
re-plumbed also. Our September work-day was a huge
success. Lowell Baird, Randy McGinnis and Jerry Cochran
got the parking lot covered with the last of 55-gal of
sealant while Pastor Craig with an axe and Jerry Dutsch and
John Deere managed to remove several tons of tree stumps
left from an earlier project. Wrapping things up outside
were, Kendra Glazner and Bibiana Casteneda walking the
entire block to pick up whatever wasn't growing.
Meanwhile, on the inside making things look good, it was
Pat Burkett, Alice Cochran, Carrie Rutherford, Yvone
McGinnis and Charlie Beardsley. Everybody did a lot of
work, but we had a good time and enjoyed the fellowship as
a bonus.
How could it not be a great year when you have this kind of
dedication and help? I'm sure I speak for the entire
Church body when I say "THANK YOU" to all who gave so
freely and generously when called on to help.
Phil McGinnis
FOR THE COMMITTEE,
Jerry Cochran, Jerry Dutsch,
Lowell Baird, Carl Cochran
and all the great volunteers that keep our team going
MEMBERSHIP ~ EVANGELISM
Membership/Evangelism Committee Report: The 2007 committee
will continue to care for the members of this congregation
by keeping records, sending birthday and anniversary cards,
keeping up with the supplies needed in the kitchen,
scheduling fellowship dinners and after church fellowships,
editing the newsletter and managing the prayer chain. Many
people support others in our fellowship and don*t realize
they are actually working as part of our committee! We can
use everyone*s help.
Current members of the committee are: Alice Cochran, Chair,
Carrie Rutherford, Jerry Cochran, Florine Hill, Beth Willis
and Phil McGinnis. Craig as pastor and Curt as Board Chair
are members of every committee.
WOMEN'S EVENTS
PREVIEW
*Come to the Table* is the theme for Preview 2007. Preview
is a time for the local DWF groups to view the theme for
the 2007-2008 programs. There will be three locations this
year, April 14, April 21 and April 28 for local groups to
attend. More information will be in the next newsletter.
ENCOUNTER
Encounter 2007 will be held June 22- 24 at First Christian
Church, Norman. The theme is WOMEN OF THE CHALICE - WISE,
STRONG, COMPASSIONATE and the keynote speaker is Rev. Dr.
Sharon Watkins, Moderator of the General Assembly. Watch
for more details soon.
SAVE YOUR CAMPBELL LABELS!
The label box is still in the kitchen. Let*s fill it up.
There were over 3,000 labels turned in at the 2006 women*s
retreat. We have 9 months to save. Can we do better this
year?
UPDATED MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORIES
Phil McGinnis has been working on update pages for the 2007
church directory. Anyone that bought our new 2006 picture
directory will get an update soon. The committee chairs,
elders, deacons and officers of the church have some
changes and additions. These will be included in the update
pages as well as changes of addresses, phone numbers,
e-mails and new member picture pages. We have been blessed
with 9 new members this past year. If you have not
purchased a directory for $10.00 they are still available.
Check with Craig, Alice or Phil.
Thanks to Phil for his exacting work on these directories.
When Phil asks for your picture or information please help
him out. His work is excellent and the Membership Committee
is proud to have him as a member.
THANK YOU TO FLORINE HILL
If you wonder who is organizing our bereavement dinners for
church families, wonder no more! Florine Hill accepted this
challenge and has done a great job.
For all members information:
*1.*Please always keep our pastor Craig informed of joys or
concerns.
*2. *If there is a death in the family of a member, Craig
also needs to know.
*3. *Craig will make the decision about the necessity of a
dinner after or before a funeral and will **contact
Florine. He is usually the persons informed on the family*s
plans.
*4. *Florine sends out the word on food needed after
getting information (sometimes from family, **church
members or minister). She then plans the menu, asks someone
to be in charge in the **kitchen and coordinates food
supply.
This is a valuable service to our church and we all thank
her.
VALENTINE'S DINNER
Kids in Christ (Disciples Youth) would like to invite you
to the annual Valentine Dinner. Dinner will be served on
Saturday, February 10th at 6:30pm at the First Christian
Church. This has become a wonderful tradition to bring
your sweetheart or friend to dinner and have the
opportunity to support YOUR youth group. This year, the
menu includes Brisket, Salad, Yeast Rolls, and Chocolate
Covered Strawberries. The kids are looking forward to
serving you on this special night. We hope to see everyone
there. This event is free, but donations are accepted.
*
NEW PIANO*
You have probably noticed the new addition to our
sanctuary. In November, we received an offer to purchase
an almost new baby grand piano at a very discounted price.
A committee was assembled to research the cost to move the
piano, have it set up and tuned at the church. The
committee reported their findings to the board and it was
decided that the piano be purchased.
The Memorial Committee decided to make this purchase from
memorial funds. When money is donated tot he church in
memory of someone who has passed away it is placed in the
memorial fund. If there are no specific instructions on
how the money is to be used, it can be used at the
discretion of the committee. The memorial committee feels
that this is an appropriate use of funds. The piano will
be a permanent part of our sanctuary and a wonderful
addition to our worship services.
If you would like to make a donation to the memorial
committee as part of the purchase of the piano make a note
in the memo section of your check and place it in the
offering plate.
~Beth Willis, Memorial Committee Chair
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