The Stillwater

It is the mission of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Stillwater to be the church of Jesus Christ in the world. We do so by developing DISCIPLESHIP, Enabling OUTREACH, and embodying COMMUNITY in our lives together.

Christian
Volume 2013 | April 22

Thank you, Blood Donors Thank you to everyone who donated blood on Sunday at the blood drive. Also, thank you to everyone who baked treats and helped make it a success! At our February Blood Drive, the Red Cross was able to collect 38 units of blood which potentially saved 114 patients lives. The blood has been sent to hospitals in Tulsa, OKC, South OK and the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The Red Cross, hospitals, and patients also wish to thank everyone for their participation. Our next blood drive will be June 30th. Please consider being a donor!

Welcome Center Hosts Needed

Welcome Center hosts are needed for June, July, September, and November. If you are willing to serve in this capacity as an individual or as a Sunday School class, please contact Diana Watkins (405.614.2848 or diana.watkins@okstate.edu). Thank you!

Be The Church Schedule

There is so much excitement about this effort! If you are still unsure about where you would like to or can help, or what you would like to do, take a look at the schedule below and see what works for you. For more information about what the specific projects are at each site, contact the person listed there. If you want to help out where there is still the most need for volunteers, consider Life Center on Wednesday and Mission of Hope on Saturday.

Outreach Corner
Did you know that

In 2012, through our Outreach Department, FCC donated more than $23,000 to missions projects throughout the country and the world.

Wings of Hope 4/24: 9-3, 4/25: 5:30-7:30, (if needed) Terry Varnell

Habitat Build 4/23: 8-noon, 4/25 and 4/27 (if needed) Ron Beer

Habitat ReStore 4/23: 9-noon, 4/25: 9-noon (if needed) John Leonard

Humane Society 4/27: 1-3 Wade & Diana Watkins

Life Center 4/24 6pm Kyle & Keri Bruce

Mission Of Hope

Payne Co.Youth Srvcs

Goody Bags before 4/24 Mary Ann Grimsley

4/27: 9-3pm or 4/20 11-12:30 (completed) Laura Sharp Chuck & Susan Willoughby

Mark Your Calendar

April 28 Croft Reception May 8 CWF May Luncheon May 11 CMF Breakfast May 26 Senior Sunday

Burkhauer Visit a Success FCC enjoyed a great weekend of interactions with Rev. Bruce Barkhauer, Minister of Faith and Giving for the Disciples of Christ denomination. He preached in both services on Sunday, spoke Saturday morning on the biblical basis for a culture of generosity, and engaged in helpful conversations with the Trustees and the Stewardship Department. We learned a great deal from Bruce and look forward to following through on a number of his ideas and suggestions. Ron Elliott, Stewardship Chair

Reception for Lisa Croft, Sunday April 28th

You are invited to a reception honoring Lisa Croft and her 12+ years as our Song Leader at FCC. It will be held on Sunday in Caf Bistro from 10:45 to 11:10am.

Join us this Join Sunday us this for Sunday the Childrens for Owen Musical, Caytons The Message, Prodigal Clown, Joyous in the Light: Sunday The Geography School 9:00 of Joy! Combined based on Service Isaiah 10:30 61:1-11 and John 13:31-35 Traditional 9:00am Sunday School 10:10 Contemporary 11:10

Owen Cayton, Senior Minister

The Care and Feeding of A Candle

CH ILDR EN & YO UTH MI NISTR Y NEWS

Sondra Ladd, Children/Youth Ministry Director

pastor@fcc-stillwater.org

youth@fcc-stillwater.org

Last week after the tragedy in Boston, a good friend and colleague of mine, Chuck Jones, and I had a thoughtful exchange on Facebook. The conversation was helpful to me in many ways. While I would love to share the bulk of that conversation with you, I realize this format is not conducive. However, it is worth offering some bullet points for thought from that conversation (there will not be closure in this article, but it is left intentionally open to foster discussion). There is a danger inherent in talking about the Christian response to something. Indeed, Christians respond to things differently, and each is uniquely Christian. I hope we ponder these things as we listen to each other in our varied responses to this and other tragedies. Jumping from the horror of a tragedy too quickly to love your enemies can be damaging. To tell people what to do and feel in the wake of such pain and confusion makes a lot of assumptions and doesnt leave room for people to experience their own healing. It can also create further feelings of guilt upon an already devastated soul. The Psalms are full of expression of pain and grief. Indeed, lament psalms are the largest single category in the Psalter. Further, there are Psalms of Deprecation (punish my enemy, God!). Read Psalm 137. Lets be honest about two things: 1. Anger is a valid emotion in the aftermath of a tragedy. And 2. We are not always comfortable with expressions of anger. It is okay to sit with our anger and grief and allow these ancient writings and even writings and prayers of our own to express those emotions before God. The church bears witness to God who responds to death and violence with resurrection and life-giving grace. When I, as a person of faith, am unable to move beyond my grief and anger to bear an effective witness to resurrection and forgiveness, I rely on the community of faith to maintain that witness for me: to pray for my enemy when I cannot, to love the perpetrator that I cannot all the while caring for me and acknowledging my pain. As we wrestle with these and other issues within and outside of ourselves, we are certainly called to pray and offer hope and healing to those who have been unalterably affected by these events. In addition, we continue to pray for those in West, TX whose tragedy has, in many ways, taken a backseat to the tragedy in Boston. Shalom, Owen The Stillwater Christian is a weekly publication of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The deadline for articles each week is 1pm Monday. Tracy Freeman, Editor editor@fcc-stillwater.org Church Office Phone: 405.372.7722 Fax: 405.372.7726 Find The Stillwater Christian and more information at www.fcc-stillwater.org Send prayer requests and general email to office@fcc-stillwater.org

Vacation Week for the Ladds! Rick and Sondra are on vacation; but were staying busy! Please check out the revised schedule and updates for the next couple of weeks: May 1st Deadlines There are several May 1st deadlines. FINAL PAYMENTS FOR JAMAICA MISSION TRIP DRY GULCH FINAL PAYMENTS, AND MISSION EL RENO. Questions about balances? Contact Leola in the office. All checks need to be made to FCC and submitted to the church office. Payments have already been made, so its very important to meet all deadlines. Be The Church Participation Youth have 2 opportunities to participate in Be The Church this week. Please do your best to be a part of one of these. I want to see as many of you as possible being a part of this incredible effort to reach out to our community and be the church outside of the walls of our building. Stillwater Humane Society, Wed. 4-6 at the Stillwater Humane Society. Diana and Wade Watkins are the group leaders. Shelby Brawley will organize the youth who attend. All participants under 18 must have a signed Humane Society release waiver (attached to the newsletter, or in the office). Life Center, Wed. 6pm with Kyle and Keri Bruce. We will help with various cleaning projects and can use as many helping hands as possible. May 5th Events Graduates Meeting, May 5th at 5:30pm. All SHS and area Class of 2013 grads are asked to meet in the youth room at 5:30 on Sunday, May 5th (parents are encouraged to attend) to discuss plans for the Senior service, Sunday, May 26th. We hope to take a group photo and are asking the grads to wear jeans and a white shirt. Please bring approximately 15 pictures for the photo slideshow to be presented during the service. Jamaica Mission meeting at 6:30 in the youth room. We will be distributing release forms, discussing policies and expectations and covering transportation needs. It is very important that EVERYONE attend this meeting. If you are unable to attend; then you must set up a meeting with Sondra (between 5/2 and 5/5.) Cancellations to Note No SMS or SJH breakfasts through May 1st. No Youth Meeting on Sunday, April 28th.

Facts & Figures for April 21, 2013

Attendance (118 & 111)...229 Sunday School........80 General Fund Receipts.$7,919.00 Capital Fund Receipts..$555.00 Loose Offering/Sunday School...$210.75 Project Funds Receipts....$458.71 Facts & Figures as of March 31, 2013 YTD Budget Receipts......$115,327.92 YTD Budget Expenses.....$115,114.32 Net Receipts over Expenses.213.60 Presented by Kay Smith, Treasurer, dkwsmith@suddenlink.net

Happy Birthday to: 4/26 Jeff Bales, Mark Nordquist 4/27 Caryl Jobe 4/29 Sharon Gober, Gayle Ward 4/30 Arlene Chapman, Regan Sirbaugh