Newsletter 01.30.13

January 30, 2013

Church of the Servant Bi-Weekly Newsletter Issue: 13.2

Believe s Belong s Become

United Methodist

Church of the Servant s 14343 North MacArthur, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73142 s (405)721-4141 s www.ChurchoftheServant.com

STOP HUNGER NOW SPECIAL FISH APPEAL This Sunday, Feb 3 in all worship services!

$163 feeds a family of 4 for a month. This special fish appeal is the opportunity for all of us to be connected and invested in this amazing mission that feeds people around the world. Help us reach the goal and celebrate the work God is doing through our church. Registration begins this day as well! Come by the table to sign up and begin to get excited for this March 3 day of mission. Thank you for planning ahead how you will be involved in Stop Hunger Now. Make plans now to wear your ball cap and be a part of this great mission opportunity!

Stop Hunger Now M&M Containers

This past Sunday M&M containers were floating around the church for everyone!

Hopefully you have had a sweet treat this week and filled your container with $14 worth of quarters. The quarter campaign is a great way to involve your work, your extended family, and your kids in the Stop Hunger Now mission of feeding people around the world. Take a container and ask someone in your life network to fill one for you. We are praying that all the efforts we make as a congregation will help us raise the $37,750 it costs to make the 151,000 meals on March 3, our biggest church mission day of the year! Please bring your quarters back to the Stop Hunger Now registration table which starts Feb 3.

Dates for Mission Events and Ministries: • Sunday, Feb 3

- Stop Hunger Now Fish Appeal

• Sunday, Feb 24

- Blood Drive at COS

• Saturday, Feb 23 - Car Seat Fitting (9-Noon) • Sunday, March 3 - Stop Hunger Now

• Sunday, March 10 - Edgar Cruz Concert

to benefit Mobile Meals

Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday, February 3

With the help of more than 70 volunteers, City Care serves more than 4,000 meals each month to the homeless of downtown Oklahoma City. It averages 150 guests per day for a hot breakfast. Approximately 100 food basket recipients come to City Care weekly.

On Super Bowl Sunday, February 3, Church of the Servant will be helping City Care in their efforts by participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring. Please bring $1 to put in the big black soup pot by the Welcome Center in the Concourse. Be a part of helping to feed the homeless in Oklahoma City.

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The Mission Kiosk in 2013

Last year the Mission Council introduced the Mission Kiosk as a place to seek information about mission opportunities and upcoming events. If you have any questions about mission opportunities, mission trips, Fish funds or serving in a ministry, come by the Mission Kiosk on Sunday mornings and talk to one of our team members. The kiosk will be moving to different places around the Concourse this spring to be available to people throughout the building. During February the Mission Kiosk will be located by 13:2 Cafe’.

The new mission calendar of events and opportunities for 2013 will be available on February 3.

What Do Ashes Mean?

We all say things that we wish we could take back! We all have those things in our life for which we wish we could be forgiven.

Ash Wednesday is about saying I’m sorry. It’s about asking God for forgiveness. Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, a time in which we prepare for the powerful message of Easter. Lent is a time we confess our sins and shortcomings. It is also the time we hear God say in a powerful way, “You are forgiven.”

Our Ash Wednesday services are February 13. Rev. Randy Shrauner will preach in the 7 am, noon and 7pm services in the Celebration Center. I will be preaching in the 7pm service in the Centrum. Our WOW children’s ministry will have special activities centered around Ash Wednesday that night.

Ash Wednesday is your opportunity to experience God in a powerful way.

Invite someone to join you.

What do the ashes in Ash Wednesday mean? I love what Richard J. Fairchild and Alex Stevenson said in Just a Little Ashes:

Dr. Robert Gorrell

Just a little ash that’s all it is. And what are ashes? They are the product of burning something away. They are what is left over after fire passes over or through something. They are the waste after the heat and light are gone.

I remember when I was growing up and we had a fireplace. It was my job to take the ashes out. They were useless so we would dispose of them as just so much trash. Now that I am much older and live in a home with a wood stove I find myself doing the same thing I did as a child taking out the ashes and throwing them away.

So why, tonight, do we put this (for lack of a better word) garbage on our foreheads? Where did this strange tradition come from and what does it mean?

First of all, these ashes are a reminder of who we are. The Bible tells us that we came from the dust and to the dust we shall return.... These ashes are also a sign of repentance. Lent is a time of mourning our sins. It is a time when we are called to repent and change our ways.... These ashes tonight are meant to be for us symbols of our repentance and signs that we truly seek to follow in God’s path.

Please join us for Ash Wednesday!

- Robert

We Use the Church Prayer Calendar in Our Daily Devotion Time

Sign Up TODAY!

We are scheduling appointments NOW for photography sessions beginning February 5.

There is no cost to the church and no sitting fee for your family.

Sign up in the Church office.

The Prayer Calendar published by our church has become a very important part of the spiritual lives of my wife and me. It forms a portion of our devotional that we practice on a nightly basis. Our devotional centers on The Upper Room lessons for each given day. I read the lesson aloud including the scripture assigned for that day.

After reading the short prayer at the end of each lesson, we move to the Church of the Servant Prayer Calendar for that day, and read the prayer aloud. This prayer is linked to the daily Upper Room scripture. All of this sets the situation for our personal prayers for our church, our fellow members of the Body of Christ, the leadership of our country and the world, and for our family and us. My wife and I alternate in the recitation of our personal prayer on a daily basis. This is a ritual that works for us and I am sure will work for others, who should add their own meaningful touches to the process as they add it to their daily routine.

- Dave Carmichael Pick up your copy of the Prayer Calendar in the Church office, at the Welcome Center, or view it online at www.churchoftheservant.com.

SERVANT January 30, 2013 I Page 3

He Chose the Nails

What Decisions is Christ Leading Me to Make?

Lenten Luncheons begin Wednesday, February 20 for five Wednesdays, 12-1 p.m.

Using a Max Lucado curriculum, a team of amazing women will lead our Lenten Luncheons Series. Sherri Price, Julane Borth, Karla O’Hara, Sara Kyte and Dr. Robyn Goggs will be leading each week and bringing their own unique perspective on this holy season and how it speaks into our lives as women.

Lunch will be served for $9 or you can brown bag at no cost. Reservations can be made on Tuesdays at Sharing the Kingdom beginning January 22 and through Mary Jessup at mjessup@churchoftheservant.com or 721-4141. Prepayment for lunches is very helpful!

An Evening with SANDI PATTY

Sandi Patty, Oklahoma’s nationally-known recording artist, will be presenting a concert and conversation at Church of the Servant in Oklahoma City on May 7 at 7:00 p.m.

No other Christian artist at work today is better suited to sing about life’s journey than Sandi Patty. Still bursting with creative energy and magnetic talent three decades into her career, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee with 40 Dove Awards, five Grammy Awards, and an armload of platinum and gold albums has seen professional peaks and personal valleys alike while in the spotlight, all of them tempered by the grace of God. Join us for this very special evening as we get to know the woman behind “The Voice.” For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.churchoftheservant.com or stop by the church office.

Presented by: Esther Women (www.estherwomenokc.org)

Beyond the Broken Heart Begins - March 7

How do you understand grief when your heart is broken by the death of a loved one? Can you spiritually grow through this difficult time? Come and find support, advice for living, and some answers about how to foster healing in your own grief journey. At Church of the Servant we will offer a course using a book called Beyond the Broken Heart. This will be an 11-week support group for anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one. The leaders for the group will be Don and Judie Ellis, longtime members of Church of the Servant. A complimentary copy of the book will be provided for each participant. The group will meet each Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 in Room 1 & 2 in the South Adult area of our church. The first session is Mar. 7 and the last session is May 23. We will not meet on Mar. 28, which is Maundy Thursday. To sign up for the group and reserve a book, call Vicki Roberds at Church of the Servant at 728-4738 or email her at vroberds@churchoftheservant.com. Books will be distributed at the first session.

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Adam Hamilton

“Living as a Christian Today” We are proud to welcome Adam Hamilton to Church of the Servant on Thursday, February 28th as part of the Lemons Lecture Series. This series is open to everyone who would like to attend. The lectures are free. Dinner with Q&A is $10. For more information about Adam Hamiton’s lecture series and how to register, go to www. churchoftheservant.com.

Even more than usual, the Rev. Adam Hamilton seemed to be here, there and everywhere in 2012, earning him designation as the Reporter’s United Methodist of the Year.

Mr. Hamilton, 48, is a megachurch pastor, best-selling author and much-in-demand conference speaker. He’s a board member of one of the UMC’s seminaries (recently stepping down as chair) and played a key role in the lead-up to General Conference, while serving as a delegate and prime-time speaker there.

Through sermons, addresses, books, videos and blog posts, the bespectacled Kansas pastor may reach more United Methodists than anyone else in the denomination.

- Quote by Sam Hodges, Editor of UM Reporter

Lecture Schedule:

- At the OCU Chapel 1:00 p.m. - Can We Agree to Disagree? Discussing Sexuality in the Church - At Church of the Servant 4:00 p.m. - When Christians Get it Wrong (Centrum) 5:30 p.m. - Dinner Q&A with Adam Hamilton (Community Hall) - $10 Register at www.churchoftheservant.com.

7:00 p.m. - Why? Making Sense of God’s Will (Celebration Center) Nursery - PreSchool and Under - Available for 5:30 Dinner and 7:00 Lecture.

Register Online at www.churchoftheservant.com.

These are exciting times in Music Ministry here at Church of the Servant! All the choirs and the orchestra are growing. This is a very good time to get involved!

Coming up!

• • •

Ash Wednesday Feb. 13, 7 p.m. - The choir and orchestra will provide very special music in the Celebration Center for this meaningful service.

Good Friday Passion Presentation March 29, 7p.m. - Gripping music and realistic drama will present the last hours of our Savior’s life. The service is based on Master Works of Art depicting the Passion of our Lord.

May 5, 6 p.m. - Revelation Youth Choir will present “Godspell Jr.” in the Centrum. In addition we will have our silent auction.

Interested in being part of this dynamic ministry?... choirs?... bells?... orchestra?

Contact: Chuck Weatherford Director of Music cweatherford@churchoftheservant.com SERVANT January 30, 2013 I Page 5

Grace Based Parenting Class Offered To Parents of Students

This semester, Student Ministries and Young Adult ministries will be partnering together to offer a parenting class called Grace Based Parenting that is designed specifically for parents with students grades 6 through 12. This incredible class is a five-week study of the book Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel, and will be lead by Senior Minister, Dr. Robert Gorrell and Director of Young Adults, John Gilstrap. The class is all about learning to see ourselves and our children through God’s limitless tenderness and discovering how to raise our kids the way God raises us. Grace Based Parenting will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8 in Community Hall on February 6, 20, 27 and March 6 and 13. You can pick up a registration at the Welcome Center or download one at www.churchoftheservant.com. If you have any questions, please contact John Gilstrap at 728-4726 or jgilstrap@churchoftheservant.com.

PRIME TIME

Prime Time is right in step as we honor our Presidents’ birthdays in February. On Thursday, February 14, we will proudly present Shari Carney, who will portray Martha Washington. A native Kansan, she has been an Oklahoma resident since 1964. She has been a professor of Political Science at UCO since 1976, and in 1996 was named Political Science Professor of the Year for Oklahoma.

Shari, who loves acting, rock climbing, running, and her grandchildren, is a re-enactor of many famous and historic women, including Lauren Bacall, Sacagawea, Jackie Kennedy, Georgia O’Keefe, and many others.

Sign up at the Welcome Center, or call the church office, 721-4141, before Monday, February 11. This incredible program and delicious lunch will only be $9. Program alone is $2. Again, if you sign up but find you are unable to attend, please let us know, as Prime Time must pay for all meals ordered.

See you at Prime Time!

Advanced Bridge Class

Beginning in February, Dorothy Adams will be teaching an advanced bridge class. Classes will be held on Monday afternoons 1:00-3:00 here at the church on February 11 and 18, March 4, 11 and 18, and April 1 and 8. Cost of the class is $30 per person. The subjects that will be covered are: playing no trump contracts, playing suite contracts, singling, partner, counting opponents’ cards, weak opening two bids, use of double and Jacoby transfers. If you are interested in being a part of this class, call Dorothy Adams at 721-7796 to enroll or have questions answered.

New Arrivals in Earthglow!

New things that were ordered at Market are already arriving in Earthglow!

Be sure to come in and see our merchandise! Where else can you purchase a gift that also helps others? Thank you for supporting Missions!

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WOW on Ash Wednesday

WOW will meet on Ash Wednesday, February 13 as usual, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. The evening lesson will be focused on preparation for the Lenten lesson.

Fourth-graders and fifth-graders will attend an Ash Wednesday service in the Centrum with their leaders at 7:00 p.m., after meeting in Suite 45 at 6:30.

Preschool and lower elementary children and their leaders will travel to Chapel of the Cross for an Ash Wednesday message and ash disbursement, led by Rev. Jeremy Sanders.

Children that have not registered or participated in WOW this year are invited to join us for the evening. Just check in at the Welcome Counter in the children’s area.

We encourage parents to drop their kids off by 6:30, then attend one of the 7:00 Ash Wednesday services here at Church of the Servant.

Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, begins one of the most devoted times of the Christian faith. It is the time of year to recognize the sufferings that Jesus went through while on earth to give all Christians alike the forgiveness of sin. It is the perfect time of year to teach children about Jesus and what the sacrifice of his life means to Christians, so please make attending Ash Wednesday services a priority for your children.

WOW notes…

Believing in God changes your life... Ella and Emma along with their WOW friends learned that believing in God changes their lives, just like Rehab when she put her faith in God and hid the spies in her home. When WOW kids decorated their masks, which were symbolic of the spies, they (the masks) immediately turned from black to full color and served as a reminder of the changes that God makes in our lives; but more importantly, if we let Him in, He is there to walk through our life changes with us.

High School Ministry’s Spring Mission

Come join us March 17-22, when we will travel to New Orleans and work with Kenner United Methodist Church. Forms are due March 3. Join us for this incredible opportunity!

High School Confirmation

This is a wonderful opportunity for high school students who haven’t been confirmed to experience confirmation! We will start on Feb 10! Sign up and join us!

SERVANT January 30, 2013 I Page 7

u Russ and Tawanna Barrett as Russ recuperates from surgery and undergoing treatment. u Gary and Darlene Berkovsky as Darlene’s aunt, Lora Moss, deals with health issues. u Cary, Mindi, Blake, Bayli, and Braeden Blanchard as Mindi recuperates from a procedure. u Nancy Deal as she deals with health issues. u Leon, Debbie, and Sean Gold as Sean recuperates from a procedure. u Jim and Deanna Gregory as Deanna’s mother, Cleta Ann McMurphy, deals with health issues. u Mickey Gross, and Peter and Terry Weaver as Mickey is hospitalized at Mercy Health Center. u Don and Millie Henderson as Don deals with health issues and recuperates from surgery. u Ron and Sharon Hendricks as Sharon is hospitalized at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. u Mary Jessup as her daughter, Karri Hall, recuperates from surgery. u Allen and Judy Marlin as their daughter, Angela Marlin, deals with health issues in Texas. u Noel and Sue Matlock as Sue recuperates from surgery and is hospitalized at Mercy Health Center. u Cindy Mueller as she deals with health issues and recuperates from surgery. u Robbie Robertson as she deals with health issues and faces surgery at OU Medical Presbyterian Hospital. u Bruce and Patty Ruby as Bruce recuperates from surgery. u Bill and Martha Snyder as Bill is hospitalized at Integris Baptist Medical Center. u C.V. and Connie Spencer and Chris and Brenda Spencer as C.V. and Connie both deal with health issues. u Arvon and Marilyn Staats as Arvon is hospitalized at the OK Heart Hospital.

u Nina Ford and Family at the death of Nina’s husband, Doyle Ford. u Velta Jones and Family at the death of her brother, Obie Costner. u Mike and Susan Ketchersid and Kent, Dana, and Blake Israel and Family at the death of Susan’s brother and Dana’s uncle, John Blethrow. u Rob, Christy, and Elyse Peterson and Family at the death of Rob’s grandmother and Elyse’s great-grandmother, Edith Peterson. u Jim and Cheryl Wheelbarger, Richard, Sherri, Madison, and Taylor Kuebler, and Greg Wheelbarger and Family at the death of Jim’s father, Sherri’s and Greg’s grandfather, and Madison’s and Taylor’s great-grandfather, James Roy Wheelbarger. u Judy Wilkins and Family at the death of Judy’s mother, Mabel Allred.

u John and Robyn Goggs at the birth of their daughter, Julia Grace Goggs. The proud brother and sister are Noah and Daisy Goggs.

The proud grandmother is Sally Ghotly. The proud uncle, aunt, and cousins are David, Amy, and Christain Chao and Kailee Anderson. u Congratulations to Greg Skuta, who has just been named president-elect for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is also president of the Dean McGee Eye Institute, and is the Edward L. Gaylord Professor of Ophthalmology and head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Greg and his wife Ann, a nurse at Baptist Integris Hospital, and their children Cate, Jon and Matt, are long-time members of our church. u Congratulations to Whitney Armstrong, who was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year at James L. Dennis Elementary School, where she is a kindergarten teacher. She and husband, Stephen, are also long-time members of our church along with their children, Jake and Annie.

CARE MINISTRIES

When a family is faced with an illness or crisis, it is sometimes difficult to remember to inform Care Ministries of that special situation. As a church family, all of us can help. If you know of a member who would benefit from our specialized care or our prayers through Care Ministries, call Care Ministries at 728-4738 or 728-4735.

LOST and FOUND

We have a number of items in Lost and Found which have accumulated over time, including earrings, books, umbrellas; more recently a men’s Seiko watch and a wedding band, and, several pieces of sterling silver jewelry. Lost and Found is in the Church office across from Community Hall.

Trading in Your Truck?

The maintenance department here at the church is in need of a good used pickup truck to help in everyday chores. The truck we have been using is over 25 years old and in poor condition. Perhaps you have been thinking of trading your truck in on a new one, or maybe you have a truck you just don’t use much. We could certainly use it here! Donating a vehicle to the church can be beneficial to you tax-wise too. Please call Don Cole if interested.