Newsletter - 02.11.15

February 11, 2015

CHURCH OF THE SERVANT Bi-Weekly NEWSLETTER

Issue: 15.3

From a Pile of Ashes From a Pile of Ashes... While the children slept with friends, we spent the last night of our marriage senselessly arguing over who would get the furniture, the photographs and the dishes. I even remember hiding a plastic coffee carafe under the kitchen sink. Why? I’m not sure, but we often do dumb things when our lives are falling apart. By the time she drove off in a borrowed pickup truck, the house was an empty shell of blank walls, half-empty rooms and shattered lives.... Like Job, my lowest point was yet to come.... At precisely 8:00 the next morning, my doorbell rang. On the front porch stood, hand-in-hand, a smiling young couple ready to meet with their minister for pre-marriage counseling.

Their bright smiles soon disappeared as I walked them through the wreckage of my house toward the office. I explained what happened and assured them that I would understand if they asked another minister to handle the marriage service.

Dr. Robert Gorrell Senior Minister

That is how Larry E. Davies describes the end of his marriage in a piece called, “From a Pile of Ashes” (Sowing Seeds Devotion, September 8, 1999, sowingseedsoffaith.com).

As human beings, we know brokenness. We know heartbreak. What we sometimes miss is the presence and work of Christ in the midst of our brokenness and heartbreak.

Ash Wednesday begins the great season of Lent when we prepare ourselves to follow Christ to the Cross. On Ash Wednesday, we open our hearts to Christ and invite Christ to begin in us a process of healing and restoration.

Richard J. Fairchild and Alex Stevenson describe it so beautifully: 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… 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.1 Ash Wednesday is one of the most powerful worship experiences you will ever have. Don’t miss it. Services are on February 18 at 7:00 a.m. and Noon in the Chapel of the Cross, and at 7:00 p.m. in the Celebration Center and Centrum.

Join us and bring someone with you! You might be surprised what God can do with your heart and a little pile of ashes.

- Robert

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.

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Richard J. Fairchild and Alex Stevenson, Just a Little Ashes, rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/b-ashwed.html.

Missions Important Dates for Mission: Thursday, February 12 – My Heart’s Appeal Liberia Ministry Banquet Saturday, February 14 – Hannah’s Promise Sunday, February 15 – Church-wide Blood Drive Saturday, February 21 – Car Seat Event at Infant Crisis Services, 9-noon Sunday, February 22 – Stop Hunger Now Event Thursday, March 5 ––

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon at Hefner MS

Stop Hunger Now The Infant Crisis Center

is in critical need of infant clothing and coats at this time.

Please bring your donations to the Infant Crisis baby crib drop located in the basement by children’s ministry.

This article was in the Daily Oklahoman this week, if you want to use a portion of it.

Sunday, February 22 Shift times: 7:30, 9:15,10:30 a.m.

Please register if you have not yet done so!

On the Day:

Wear comfortable clothes and a ball cap.

OKLAHOMA CITY - As the cold weather comes back to Oklahoma, so racks at Infant Arrive in the Centrum 10 minutes before Crisis Services are bare. The agency is in need your shift for introduction and instructions. of donations. Supplies of 12-24 month clothing Come with a joy-filled expectation for a and coats in all sizes are running very LOW. “We have a cold snap wonderful day of mission! happen and all of a sudden folks need a coat and need more clothPlease begin to pray now - for the day, for ing than they are ordinarily using to put on their children,” director of the leaders, and for all who will participate. development and communications Jo Lynne Jones said. Jones said the Pray that logically and spiritually this will be shortage came out of nowhere. “We looked up this week and we were a fulfilling day - a day that blesses us here just running low. We were shocked that with the hopes of blessing those who receive we needed some of those items,” Jones the meals. said. Infant Crisis services is a an EMERGENCY FOOD, formula and diaper pantry available to local families with babies and Bless Our Schools: Hefner Middle School toddlers. When families arrive for supWe are half-way through the school year in our first year in partnership plies, they area also allowed to shop for six with Hefner Middle School. The goal of the partnership is to enrich the clothing items for the child, along with toys school by supporting and appreciating faculty, and filling any gaps serving and other supplies. “We know that children the students and faculty. Right now we prepare weekly backpacks of food are developing the fastest at birth to age for students to take home on the weekend. three,” Jones said. “Their little brains are developing so quickly that if they miss nuSome upcoming opportunities to serve at Hefner are: trition, they miss meals... it can have lifeBe a Test Monitor: Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb 24 & 25 - 7:30 - 10:30 time effect on them physically, mentally.” a.m. The primary purpose of test monitors is to observe the test sessions, although they are allowed to bring books to read.

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon: Thursday March 5, 11:00a.m.-1:00p.m.

Prepare a dish and/or come and serve the teachers.

If you are willing to help bless our schools, please contact Amber Neaves at neaves3@sbcglobal.net.

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Pack 177 On Saturday, January 25, a herd of 56 Pack 177 Cub Scouts descended into the south hallway of Church of the Servant for the third annual Pack 177 Pinewood Derby. With dreams of victory in their head, and dark stains of graphite on their parents fingers, all eagerly awaited their chance at the High Banks of Plank.

One by one, heats of 4 cars each sped down the shiny track, bouncing and swerving between lanes until only the fastest remained. At the end of the day, all had a great time, and a few went home with trophies.

Yours in Scouting, Marc McChesney Cubmaster, Pack 177 405-990-0497

Music Suzuki Strings at Church of the Servant is giving back to the community! The new year has brought a renewed sense of

giving, as each of the Suzuki Strings classes is spreading all the love and music that church of the Servant’s Music Ministry has to offer. Suzuki String’s first collaboration is with Church of the Servant’s very own Hannah’s Promise, dedicating entertainment and a helping hand while providing a memorable experience to children with specials needs.

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Children Church of the Servant Invites YOU to

EVEREST VBS:

Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power!

This year, Church of the Servant will take a peek into the unique and learn how we’re all special in our own way. Our four-day vacation bible school program will introduce kids to some of the weirdest animals out there, discovering how Jesus’ love is one-of-a-kind.

At EVEREST, kids discover what it means to hold on to God’s mighty power in everyday life. Kids participate in memorable Bible-learning activities, sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, make and dig into yummy treats, experience one-ofa-kind Bible adventures, collect Bible Memory Buddies to remind them of God’s love, and test out Sciency-Fun Gizmos they’ll take home and play with all summer long. Plus, kids will learn to look for evidence of God all around them through something called God Sightings. Each day concludes with a Summit Celebration that gets everyone involved in living what they’ve learned.

EVEREST is June 8-11, 9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. EVEREST is open to children ages 4 years to those entering 5th grade (with care for younger children of volunteers available). We will have a huge Family Celebration the night of June 11 to wrap up an amazing week.

Registration is FREE and begins in May. T-shirts and CD’s will be available for $10 each. Come join us for the coolest week this summer!

Mission Leadership Team

Children’s Ministries now has a Mission Leadership Team: Ellery Graff, McKenzie Russ, Avery Lay, and Amelia Stewart. Our vision is that these young people will begin their journey of serving others here, and have a great basis from which to build as they grow older. Also, we hope that they will understand our calling to serve others through our faith and build leadership skills in working for Jesus. We plan for this to be something that our younger children can aspire to take part in when they reach the 4th and 5th grade.

This leadership team will be responsible for searching for needs, determining choices and being involved in, as well as leading, the missions we support in our Sunday School, WOW, KOW, and Grapple groups.

This group is enthusiastic and ready to forge ahead! They have chosen as their first endeavor to work with the Compassion International group that came to our parking lot not too long ago. We are so proud of the effort they have put into our mission projects that will benefit children and their families through the Compassion International Program. They determined that each age group should raise money for a different need in the program.

- 3s through Kindergarten are working toward purchasing Bibles - 1st through 3rd grade are working toward purchasing livestock - 4th and 5th are working toward purchasing playground equipment All money collected in the Children’s area will go to this fund. We will continue collecting money for these missions until April 12, 2015.

You can find more specific information about these on our church Website: listed under Children’s Ministries/Special Events/Ministry News/Mission Projects.

If you have a child in one of these areas, we hope that you will talk to them about this and help build awareness. If you don’t have children in these areas, but want to help out, come on down and make your donation!

We are excited to see how much we can accomplish together and where God takes us next to do His will!

1st - 3rd grade WOW (Welcome on Wednesdays) made these chicken containers to keep their change in for the mission project for Compassionate International. Rachel Weber proudly shows her chicken, but more importantly, she uses it each week to collect her change for this mission project.

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Women S.M.I.L.E.: Single Moms In our Lord’s Embrace

A community of Faith, Hope, and Support for Women Raising Children on Their Own Meets each Sunday at 10:45 a.m. in North Adult room 6

Do you know a woman who is divorced or single, raising children and know she would like to connect with other women in the same journey of life? This is the community for her! Weekly, 12-15 women gather to share life, struggles, and celebrations as we seek to recognize Jesus’ presence with us in our days.

Our current study: Fight Back with Joy: Celebrate more, Regret less, and Stare down your greatest fears by Margaret Feinberg “What if joy is better than you imagined?

The cherished virtue has been wrapped in clichés, stamped on coffee mugs, and sewn onto decorative pillows. Fight Back with Joy declares that joy is more than whimsy; it is a weapon we can use to fight life’s greatest battles.”

Get Connected with Women’s Ministry information and stories on our blog: cos-women.com

Save the Date: Game Night, a Dish and Dice Friday, March 27, 6:30 p.m.

Bring a dish to share and a fun competitive spirit for a night of bunko.

Our $5 donation for the evening will go to support a women’s shelter mission. You won’t want to miss the food and fellowship of the evening! Childcare will be provided with advance registration. Registration begins online and at the Welcome Center this Sunday, February 15.

Book Club Begins This Week

You can order a book and even just walk in to the study this week.

This week will be introduction and a reading plan will be given.

Meet in 13:2 Cafe’ for The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd Tuesdays –– 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.

Wednesdays –– 12 noon -1:00 p.m.

Thursdays –– 10:00 -11:00 a.m.

Check out our new decor in 13:2!

Next time you’re at the church, stop by and take a look at our Hebrews 13:2 verse on the back wall.

We still have some 20 oz 13:2 Mugs available for purchase! They are $8.00 each.

Please thank our many wonderful volunteers when you see them. They work hard and 13:2 simply could not run without them!

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Our Life Together Our Prayers

Our Prayers

u Dan and Terri Bruner as Terri’s mother, Patricia Wilson, deals with health issues.

u Chuck and Pam Weatherford as Pam recuperates from surgery at McBride Orthopedic Hospital.

u John and Genny Brewer as Genny faces surgery at Integris Baptist Medical Center.

u Dave and Marge Carmichael as Marge faces surgery at Bone & Joint Hospital. u Heather Clark and Mackenzie as Heather’s friends Kyle and Leslie Knoblock, ask for prayers. u Roger and Priscilla Cude and Pat Cude as Roger’s aunt and Pat’s sister, Betty Sue Clark, deals with health issues. u Nancy Deal as Nancy recuperates from an illness. u Paul and Anna Donat as Paul is hospitalized at Deaconess Hospital. u Suzie Drake as Suzie’s sister, Lynnette Ramey, recuperates from surgery in Tulsa. u Ron and Sharon Hendricks as their great niece, Ashley Jae Moreland, deals with health issues. u Kent, Dana, and Blake Israel and Kyle and Tara Israel, as Kent’s and Kyle’s grandmother, Pat Clark, deals with health issues. u Paul and Ruth Johnson as Ruth faces surgery at Integris Baptist Medical Center. u Ron and Donna Kozak as Ron recuperates from surgery at McBride Orthopedic Hospital. u Joe and Pam Lovell as Pam deals with health issues. u Barbara Maillet as Barbara’s father, Armand Maillet, recuperates from surgery in Florida. u Ryan, Rebecca, Micah, and Ezra McGee as Rebecca’s sister, Carrie Couch, recuperates from surgery. u Steve and Doris Morrison as their niece, Julie Gilles, deals with health issues and faces treatment. u Dick and Susan Muehleisen as their son, Matt Muehleisen, recuperates from surgery in Texas. u Renny and Harli Reeves as Renny deals with health issues and faces treatment. u Paul and Patti Teague as Pattie recuperates from surgery. u Jennifer Tippen as Jennifer’s father, Jon, deals with health issues.

u Dan and Linda Trammell as their home burned and they ask for our prayers.

u Tom and Evelyn White as Evelyn deals with health issues. u Bill and Nancy Whitten as Nancy deals with health issues. u Lloyd and Zoe Williams as Lloyd recuperates from surgery at St. Anthony Hospital.

Celebrating

u Harold and Jean Coleman at the birth of their 3rd great grandchild, Jirech Henninger.

The proud parents are Chase and Marissa Henninger. The proud grandmother and aunt are Rhonda Coleman-Jackson and Shelby Jackson. u Brad and Becky Crowdis at the birth of their son, Brantley Hale Crowdis. u Chad and Lauren Kelliher at the birth of their daughter, Ainsley.

Our Sympathy

u Jean Arbuckle and Family at the death of Jean’s cousin, Richard Hays. u Lloyd and Carolyn Bean and Family at the death of Carolyn’s cousin, Robert Roberts. u Dan and Terri Bruner and Family at the death of Dan’s father, Robert Bruner. u Jim and Carolyn Clark and Family at the death of Jim’s father, B.C. Clark Jr. u Family and Friends at the death of Linda Duncan. u Craig Henry and Cindy Schultz and Family at the death of Cindy’s sister’s husband, Edward Wingfield. u Tad and Margy Milewski and Family at the death of Margy’s mother, Nancy Ayres. u Wilma Pickens and Family at the death of Wilma’s husband, Harrell Pickens. u Randy and Beth Plant and Family at the death of Randy’s sister, Sharron Masterson. u Margo Price and James Price and Family at the death of Margo’s mother and James’ grandmother, Virginia Craig.

Spring is in the air at Earthglow… with Aromatique’s Honeysuckle Vines potpourri. Get yours before it sells out, and bring the smell of a flower garden inside. All profits go to support missions.

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 312-4634.

Television Ministries

We are looking for volunteers to help with setup, tear down, sound checks, and run the soundboard on Sunday mornings. Schedule is as follows: 7:30-9:00am - Setup and soundcheck 9:00-10:30am - Run sound for 9:15 service 10:30-11:50am - Run sound for 10:45 service 11:50am-12:15pm - Tear down equipment If you or anyone you know might be interested in helping with any or all of the above, please contact Heather DeShazo at hdeshazo@churchoftheservant.com.

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Church of the Servant

14343 N MacArthur Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73142-9725

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED