1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

1st
The
FIRST EDITION
Of The First United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 350, Weatherford, OK. 73096
Lynn Brack, Pastor
United
Methodist
Church
November 3, 2014
THIS SUNDAY . . . NOVEMBER 9th
Liturgical Color . . . Green
6th Sunday in Kingdomtide
Text for the Day . . . Matthew 25:1-13
“Learning From The Wise Bridesmaids”
Guest Organist/Pianist . . . Glenda Walker
Bring Your Commitment Card to worship
this Sunday.
Place it in the “Treasure Chest.”
“Where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.” (MT 6:21)
7:00PM—Church Council in Neonate Classroom
. Advent Study Begins Nov. 12th & 13th
“Under Wraps: The Gift We Never Expected”
Sign-Up in the Narthex
. Tuesday, Nov. 18th
“Public Forum on the Islamic Religion”
7:00PM in the Fellowship Hall
John Kokalis, moderator
Sunday, Nov. 23rd
50th Anniversary of the Sanctuary Building
1964 to 2014
One Worship Service Only at 10:30AM
Sunday School as Usual
Catered Lunch Afterwards in the Fellowship
Hall
RSVP NOW for your FREE lunch ticket
Sign-Up in the Narthex or
Call the Church Office
.
1
TEEN TALK
The youth are hosting a “Fifth Quarter” this Friday, November 7th. We
host “Fifth Quarters” to give the youth in our community a safe place to hang
out and have some fun after home games. However, “Fifth Quarters” are not
possible without the support of the rest of the church. There are a variety of
ways that individuals can help. We need prayers! We need food! We could
use some cookies, sandwiches, pizza rolls, chips and dip, and snacks such as
crackers, chex mix, buggles, or any other finger food you think youth might like. We need pop and we ask
that you please bring canned pop. We need adults to be at the “Fifth Quarter”. We need outside and inside
security, we need registration monitors, we need help in the kitchen, and we need help with setting up and
cleaning up. If you think you could and would like to help with this “Fifth Quarter”, contact Kelley Ramey,
youth director, at the church 772-5565 and let her know what you can do or you can sign up to help at the
Ryden Welcome Center. If you sign up to bring food or drinks, please bring those items by the church office
anytime or have them in the kitchen by 6:00pm on Friday. If you sign up to be at the “Fifth Quarter”, please
be at the church by 9:30pm on Friday. The youth appreciate your support!
On Sunday, November 9th, the youth will be working on a mission project. We will meet in the youth
lounge at 4:30pm. The youth have taken on a project to make fleece tie blankets to give to children that have
to be taken out of their homes for whatever reason and are not allowed to take anything with them. We
started this project due to Jodi Kincanon. She had come up with the idea and we decided to dedicate one
Sunday a month to make these blankets. We then give the blankets to Jodi and she distributes them. Last
month was our first month to make blankets and we put together eight! It was really fun and we enjoyed
presenting them to Jodi! We hope that these blankets help provide some security to these children and we
look forward to making more.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7
You Are Invited!
SUNDAY
NOV. 23RD
10:30AM
ONE SERVICE ONLY
50th anniversary
of the sanctuary building
1964 TO 2014
FORMER PASTOR,
REV. KEN TOBLER, PREACHING
catered LUNCH
AFTERWARDS
rsvp for your
“free”
lunch ticket
sign-up now!!
2
Requesting Prayers
TH I S W EE K S EV E NT S
Thursday, November 6
2:30pm Kingdom Connection
5:30pm Leave for OKC’s Bricktown Movie
Friday, November 7
2:00pm Prayer Time
6:30pm Lay Servant’s Training @ Wesley
10:00pm Fifth Quarter
Saturday, November 8
8:00am Lay Servant’s Training @ Wesley
Sunday, November 9
8:30AM Worship Service
9:15am Fellowship Coffee - Neonate Hosting
9:30AM Sunday School Classes
10:30AM Worship Service
4:00pm “Get My People Going”
4:30pm FUMY: Mission
7:00pm Church Council
Monday, November 10
5:30pm Trustees
Wednesday, November 12
1:30pm Dorcas Circle
4:00pm “Kids Like Me Kamp”
4:30pm Hand Bell Choir
5:15pm 3-D Wednesday
Lois Huddlestone Sr.; Ann Widner;
Wayne Fisher;
James Ediger; Linda Stengl;
Alene Macaulay; Jason Mills
Paula Horsburgh; Mike Gragg
The Dickey Brothers: Jack, David, Glenn;
Those Grieving, heartaches & illnesses;
Jana Sexton, Phil Tannehill’s daughter
In Our Father’s House
Family of Linda Gragg, Friend of Jo Klingman
•
Extended Care
Facilities & Homebound
Annette Dahlgren, (W’Wood #49)
Duane Rea (W’Wood) (Brother of Joyce Hamburger)
Ella Vogt (Corn, Corn #F7)
•
Arlen Hamburger (W’Corn #38)
•
•
•
Jack Phelps for Rehab (W’Corn # 36)
Jim Lovell (W’Corn #16)
Glassnell Smith (W’Corn #19)
Virginia Lantz (W’Corn #22)
Nellie Verhines (W’ford Living Center)
Dorotha Downing (W’ford Living Center #313)
Vanita Morris (Sterling House # 120)
Flossie Pray, (Sterling House #105)
Louise Wyatt (Sterling House #28)
Ernestine Wright, (Sterling House #13)
Evelyn Minton, (Sterling House #107)
Sharon (Segress) Raskin, (McKinney, TX)
Kaye Lee, Methodist Center, Clinton (Garla’s Mother)
Gene Hays, Elkwood Memory Care Center, Elk City
Gary Webb, Sterling on Council Rd., Bethany, OK
Curly McAlpin, Grace Center, Clinton
•
•
•
•
Meri Whitaker – Cookson Hills Center, Cookson, OK
Dakin Cook and his wife, Bolivia
Kristen Brown
Christians & Missionaries
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Oklahoma State Legislature
Our Nation
Armed Forces & Military Service and their Families
All Police, Law Enforcements & Corrections Officers
Brent Webb, USAF
Lt. Col. Judy Webb-Hapgood, USAF
William Johnston, US Army serving in Iraq
Chris Bonner, son of Merle & Nelda Bonner
Charles & Autumn (Wright) Wood
Dakota Duree
Austin Baugh USMC
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
MENU: Ham & Cheese Stromboli, Salad, dessert
•
6:30pm Advent Study
6:30pm Chancel Choir
8:00pm HS Disciple
Thursday, November 13
2:30pm Kingdom Connection
4:30pm Advent Study
7:00pm Frances Good
•
•
•
•
•
•
Missionaries
Frances Good Circle November 13, 2014 First UMC 6:30 pm Worship Bags 7 pm Devotional………………………….Marti Bessinger Program…Joyce T-Sophia Lee-Music Therapy Hostess……………..…..……..Marti Bessinger
Those In The Service of Our Country
Found
Reading glasses
Sun glasses
Green Treat & treat pumpkin with treats
Please claim them in the office.
•
UP-COMING EVENTS
th
Thursday, November 6 . . .
7:00PM—Movie at OKC, “When God Left the House”
Van leaves the church at 5:30PM
th
th
Friday & Saturday, November 7 & 8 . . .
Friday, 6:30PM to 10:00PM
Saturday, 8:00AM to 4:00PM
Lay Servant Training (Introductory & Advanced)
th
Friday, November 7 . . .
10:00PM—“Fifth Quarter”
th
Sunday, November 9 . . .
11:30AM—First Sunday Potluck luncheon in Fellowship
Hall
7:00PM—Church Council meeting
th
Tuesday, November 18 . . .
7:00PM—Public Forum on Islamic Religion
Fellowship Hall with Refreshments
rd
Sunday, November 23 . . .
th
50 Anniversary of the Sanctuary Building—1964
One worship service at 10:30AM
Catered Lunch Afterwards in Fellowship Hall
Food Pantry
The Food Pantry item for
November is
Bread: Saltine, Graham Crackers
& Muffin Mixes
Women’s Shelter Items
(Frances Good Circle)
The items for November is:
Diapers; all Sizes, Baby Toiletries,
wipes, rash cream, powder
Prayers of thanks
To give thanks in solitude is enough.
Thanksgiving has wings and goes where it must go.
Your prayer knows much more about it than you do.
—Victor Hugo
3
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
“SHOE BOX GIFTS”
D.J. & Vernell Snider gave me a copy of an article that appeared in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette,
August, 2014 and following is a condensed version: Operation Christmas Child is offered by the nondenominational relief organization Samaritan’s Purse led by Franklin Graham. At a church in Conway,
Arkansas Irini Creek testified about receiving a “shoe box” as an 11-year old orphan in Russia. Now as an adult
Irini says she grew up in harsh conditions in a Russian orphanage feeling unloved and forgotten. She tells
how receiving the “shoe box” filled with gifts made her feel special and gave her hope. She still has a hair clip
she received in her box.
Our Missions Committee is again collecting “shoe boxes” – choose from ages 2-4, 5-9, 10-14 for
either boys or girls. Fill a shoe box (Christmas wrapped so the lid can be removed) with toys (small dolls,
stuffed animals, jump ropes, balls, etc.); school supplies; hygiene items (toothbrush, soap, hair brush, etc.);
clothing (t-shirts, hats, sunglasses, hair clips, etc.). You can make it personal by writing a note and praying
for the child who will receive the box.
A $7.00 fee helps pay for shipping. A table will be near the Ryden Center to collect the boxes.
Collection will end November 17th.
ADVENT STUDY TO BEGIN SOON
SIGN-UP IN THE NARTHEX
“Under Wraps: The Gift We Never Expected”
The pastor will be leading our new Advent study from Cokesbury. He will offer it on Wednesdays
during the Discipleship portion of 3-D Wednesday, 6:30PM to 7:30PM beginning Nov. 12th. The study will also
be offered on Thursdays at 4:00PM, beginning Nov. 13th. We will not meet during the week of Thanksgiving;
the four-session study will conclude Dec. 10th and 11th. Cost of the student study book is $10.
The coming of Christmas is a season filled with anticipation. Often before the annual Thanksgiving
meal has come and gone, we begin thinking about all that must be done in the coming weeks.
Long ago, as all of creation anticipated the first Christmas, God was getting ready to change the world
through one very special gift, a gift God had planned from the very beginning.
The theme of Under Wraps reflects how the character of God is revealed completely and perfectly in
Jesus. Together we will see specifically how four characteristics of God—God is expectant; God is dangerous;
God is jealous; God is faithful—are described in the Older Testament and then revealed through Jesus and the
time He spent here on earth. Each week we will explore one of these four characteristics.
Jesus—God under wraps—took on human flesh and came to live among us to show us who God is and
what God is like. Join us each week during these four sessions as we prepare together with study book and
DVD for the coming of the Christ yet once again. Each session has been prepared by a different author—
Jessica LaGrone, Andy Nixon, Rob Renfroe, and Ed Robb.
PUBLIC FORUM ON ISLAMIC RELIGION
TUESDAY, NOV. 18th, 7:00PM
FELLOWSHIP HALL
Our church will be sponsoring a “Public Forum on Islam” for members of our church as well as the
entire community of Weatherford. With the mixed messages coming from the Muslim religion (peaceful and
violent) and while mainstream Islam remains virtually silent regarding the violence and terrorism of their
extremist brethren, this forum will be particularly timely.
John Kokalis of our church is organizing the event and will serve as the moderator during the forum on
Tuesday, November 18th, 7:00PM in our Fellowship Hall.
The forum begins with the premise that Christians and Muslims wish to honor their faiths’ two central
commandments—love God and love one another. The goal of the forum is to cut through the myths and
conflicting information being circulated through the internet and the media about Islam that does not accurately
represent the 1.2 billion people who call themselves Muslim.
John has invited two professors from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, who are both of the
Muslim faith, to be our guest speakers at the forum. Presenting will be Muatasem Ubeidat, professor of
Biology from Jordan, and Faruk Khan, professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences from Bangladesh. You will have
an opportunity to ask questions.
Make plans to attend this most timely and informative forum. Refreshments will be served during the
break time.
NOTE FROM YOUR FINANCE COMMITTEE
Please Return Your “Treasure” 2015 Commitment Card
to the Church As Soon As Possible.
You may snail mail it, or drop it off at the church office.
You may also bring it to worship with you and
place it in the collection “Treasure Chest,”
located at the entrance to the Sanctuary.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
4
MAKE PLANS NOW TO ATTEND
50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
SANCTUARY BUILDING
1964 – 2014
Fifty years ago, the faithful and obedient members of
the Weatherford First Methodist Church launched a vision for a
new church building. It came to fruition, at great sacrifice to
themselves, in 1964 when they moved into the new, ultramodern facility at 817 N. 7th Street. We owe much thanks to
these our forbearers of the faith for their tireless and fearless
efforts to provide future generations of Methodists with such a
fine church building that has served the entire Weatherford
community for fifty years.
Members of our Staff Pastor Parish Relations
Committee, under the leadership of Shandelle Recker, chairperson and with the assistance of Judy
Sisson and Jamie Sisson, have put together a wonderful day of celebration and thanksgiving.
We will observe our 50th building anniversary on Sunday, November 23rd. On that day, there
will be only one, large worship service at 10:30AM; Sunday School will meet as usual. The Reverend
(retired) Ken Tobler, former pastor of this church from 1974-1979, will be preaching that day. The
Chancel Choir, Children’s Choir, and Ju-Bellation Hand Bell Choir will come together to provide
special music that day. Following worship, we will gather in the Fellowship Hall for a FREE catered
lunch. You do need to RSVP and get your lunch ticket so we can have an accurate head count for
the meal preparation.
Don Hertzler will be preparing a special DVD presentation of some old photographs from when
the church was built in 1964, and photos of members from that time period. Don will also be securing
a commemorative tree, which will be planted that day to mark the occasion. Don will be planting a
“Shurmard Red Oak” from the Sunshine Nursery in Clinton. An Historical Table will be displayed in
the Fellowship Hall showing items and photographs from the period. Some of our folks have been
asked to provide special decorations for the occasion. Weather permitting, there will be several large
blow-up toys for children to play on that day. There will also be a “work day” on Saturday, November
22nd, so we can all work together to “spit and polish” the building in preparation for our special 50th
birthday.
Tell us if you were active in this church in 1964. We will want all those members who were
here then to sit together as a group so we can recognize you during the service. Lynn will be using
the same basic order of worship as was used in 1964 when they began worshiping in this Sanctuary
with the Rev. Gordon Spencer.
It will be a grand day . . . you and your family will want to be here for the festivities. Be
sure and register your RSVP for your meal ticket by signing-up in the Narthex or calling the church
office. Plan now to attend!
5
Gratitude’s gifts
Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff. To reflect on your blessings is to rehearse God’s
accomplishments. To rehearse God’s accomplishments is to discover his heart. To discover his heart
is to discover not just good gifts but the Good Giver.
Gratitude always leaves us looking at God and away from dread. It does to anxiety what the
morning sun does to valley mist. It burns it up.
—Max Lucado, You’ll Get Through This
Christian symbol
Circle
The circle is a symbol for God, as well as for eternity, due to its lack of a beginning or
an end. It also reminds us of how the church year (not unlike the secular calendar) flows from
season to season and moves smoothly from Christ the King Sunday (the culmination of the
liturgical calendar) to the First Sunday of Advent (a new beginning). Indeed, the One who rules all is the same
One whose first and final comings we anticipate anew during Advent.
Bible Quiz
What was the source of Samson’s strength?
A. His huge muscles
B. The Spirit of God
C. His uncut hair
D. He inherited it from his father
Answer: B (See Judges 14:19.)
Why praise God?
In Reflections on the Psalms, C.S. Lewis shared that he was confused and embarrassed by God’s
instructions to offer him praise. “We all despise the man who demands continued assurance of his own virtue,
intelligence or delightfulness.”
But then Lewis thought about great artwork, for which admiration is the only appropriate response.
Otherwise, he wrote, “we shall have missed something.”
Lewis concluded that God wants praise not only because it’s right but because we need to do it.
Praising God fulfills our highest purpose. As Psalm 33:1 (NIV) says, “It is fitting for the upright to praise him.”
—Adapted from Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering, Timothy Keller
Something’s fishy
On her blog “Tales of Wonder,” Marlo Schalesky writes about the
short-lived goldfish her family has accumulated over the years. When her
daughter brought two more home, Schalesky tried to lower her expectations:
“Fish like this don’t live that long.” Yet those particular fish thrived — one lived
five years! Schalesky figured their well water must have been purer than the
city water their previous pets inhabited.
People are like fish that way, Schalesky suggests: What surrounds us has power over us. Constantly
“swimming” in negativity and impure thoughts hinders our growth and well-being. Yet if we seek Christ-like
surroundings, we’ll thrive spiritually.
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things” (Philippians 4:8, NIV).
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
817 North Seventh Street
NON-PROFIT ORGRANIZATION
U.S. Postage Paid
P.O. Box 350
Weatherford, OK 73096
(580) 772-5565
Web Address: http://fumcmethodistok.org
Permit #43
Weatherford, OK 73096
E-Mail: [email protected]
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
6