April 20, 2016
CHURCH OF THE SERVANT Bi-Weekly NEWSLETTER
Issue: 16.8
Church-Wide Packaging Event Sunday, May 1, 2016
Growing the Kingdom
Like a lot of kids, I dreamed of being a professional athlete at one point in my life. Although basketball wasn’t my best sport, I dreamed of playing in the NBA. Unfortunately, I didn’t have NBA skills and neither did anyone else on our team. After a disappointing season, our coach started a new program for us. He told us we were going to focus on the fundamentals of basketball. That sounded awful to me. I hated basketball drills. I saw them as something I had to endure in order to play the game. Then our coach made “the speech.” I call it “the speech” because it really changed how I looked at everything. Coach asked, “Do you know what the first fundamental of basketball is?” I immediately thought, “shooting the ball.” The answer from our coach, “The first fundamental of basketball is fun! There were times on the court last year when we forgot to have fun. You have fun in basketball by playing and winning as a team.” Over the next few weeks, we relearned basketball – not as a game for individual achievement, but as a game played by a team with everyone working together. About the third week into the new program, we were running a defensive drill and I suddenly realized I was having fun again.
Dr. Robert Gorrell Senior Minister
In a way, church is like that too. We can have wonderful individual moments. But the greatest joy in church comes when we are all working together toward the same goal. To reach that powerful spiritual experience and serve Christ, we all have to be pulling in the same direction. Over the next few months, we will share with you ways that we can come together and grow the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. - Robert As we look to the immediate future of Church of the Servant, it has become apparent to us that we need to invest a season in examining the “basics” that provide the foundations for who we are as a congregation. As Robert inferred in his notes above, we need to ensure that we are fundamentally sound and have a clear understanding of who we are as a congregation, and more importantly, where we are headed as a church. To this end, we have laid out the Administrative Council Four Strategic Imperatives, upon which we will focus in the coming months. The four imperatives are: • To develop a Culture of Integrity • To develop a comprehensive NextGen Ministry (Children and Students) • To have a clearly defined Discipleship Plan for our congregation • To strengthen and refine our Worship Life as a church Over the next series of newsletters, we would like to talk about each of these critical areas, address why they are currently important to us, and describe how working on these specific areas can help us grow into the Church that God desires us to be. I would like to begin this week by talking about developing a Culture of Integrity. Often when we think of being a person of integrity we only think in terms of whether or not we are “honest” and do we tell the truth. While that is certainly a component of integrity, it in no way exhausts the fullness of the term. Drawing from Stephen M. R. Covey’s book The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything, integrity is built upon two related components: character and competence. Character involves our honesty but also our intent and motives. Men and women of character not only tell the truth, but they also work to leave the right impression. Rev. Randy Shrauner Executive Minister
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Missions
STOP HUNGER NOW
Church-Wide Packaging Event Sunday, May 1 Stop Hunger Now is not just an event! It is a mission to end hunger in our lifetime! Want to join the mission and save lives? Sign-up this Sunday at the Shack in the Concourse, or online at www.churchoftheservant.com/events, to be a part of our Stop Hunger Now packaging event on Sunday, May 1. It will take an hour and a half of your time, resulting in 151,000 meals packaged when the event is over! Saved lives and changed lives is what Stop Hunger Now is all about! See you next Sunday with your ball cap!
Spring Cleaning? Remember Skyline! Remember that the blue bins located in the Concourse are for Skyline. Clothes, household items, and appliances are received to help individuals struggling in our city. Food is also appreciated for the pantry and can be placed in the grocery cart. Thank you!
Growing the Kingdom ... Continued from page 2 Likewise, character involves congruence: “Do we always act in harmony with our deepest values and beliefs?” Humility is a component as well. Covey writes, “A humble person is more concerned about what is right than about being right, about acting on good ideas than having the ideas, about embracing the truth than defending outdated positions, about building the team than exalting self, about recognizing contribution than being recognized for making it” (Speed of Trust, p.63). To be a people of integrity also involves the courage to do the right thing—even when it is hard! As Christians it should be easy for us to recognize in these basic elements the person of Jesus. Our hope and reason for being is that together we might develop as and become devoted followers of Jesus Christ, so beginning with issues of character and integrity is fundamental. Integrity also involves what Covey terms “competence.” As a congregation, we pour our hearts and souls—as well as many dollars and hours of hard work—into the ministries of Church of the Servant. Are we achieving the results we desire? Are we playing our role within the Kingdom of God to our fullest
potential? To become fully competent, we need to explore deeply our capabilities. Do we have our people working in their areas of greatest giftedness and passion, and have we trained and resourced them so that they can complete the job they have been given? God has created us as unique individuals; each designed to play a specific role within our life together for the sake of the Kingdom of God. We are committed to the task of matching the person with the mission. To do so will require a season of prayer and discernment. But in this, we can be assured that God wants to speak into our lives. Our task is to simply listen and respond to his voice! All these important questions surrounding the development of a Culture of Integrity will be topics of intense conversation and study for both the staff and the lay leadership of Church of the Servant in the months to come. Robert and I have every hope that this work will move us forward as a congregation and help us live into the call that Jesus has placed on our lives together. We look forward to including you in the dialogue! - Randy SERVANT April 20, 2016 I Page 3
Missions
Sat, April 30 – CAR SEAT FITTING (at Infant Crisis Services)
Sun, May 1 – Stop Hunger Now Church-Wide Packing Event Sun, May 8 – Special Fish Appeal, Clothes for Kids
SKYLINE CLOTHES 4 KIDS SPECIAL FISH APPEAL Sunday, May 8 $85 dollars will put a child in uniforms for the 2016-2017 school year! For many years, Church of the Servant has partnered with Skyline Urban Ministry to provide two pairs of pants, two shirts, shoes, socks, and underwear to children in need for the upcoming school year. Approximately 89% of children in the Oklahoma City School District are eligible for free or reduced school lunches due to incomes at or below poverty. ALL Oklahoma City Public Schools require children to wear uniforms, but no financial assistance is offered for the uniforms through the state. It can be a financial burden on families that are already struggling to make ends meet. It is such a blessing to be able to serve these children so that they can attend the first day of school wearing clothes and shoes that are just as shiny and new as the clothes that all the other children are wearing. Skyline begins fitting uniforms the first week in July. Thank you all so much for your support and for helping us to help those in need in our community.
Sat, May 14 – Hannah’s Promise 5-9 pm
Month of June – Church-wide Food Drive for Skyline
Rebuilding Together Day Celebrates Community and Serving Others! Last Saturday, fifty-two people from our congregation gathered to serve two senior members of northeast Oklahoma City. The home of Ms. Kitty, 84 years old, was given new windows, a total interior paint job, and several other serious repairs. What a blessing to know she will sleep in a freshly painted house and not worry about carbon monoxide poisoning (with her house now heated again)! Miss Monica and her mother are both disabled and were so grateful for the painting, cleaning and repairs done on their home. Our church is amazing! The hard work and love poured out by you were wonderful. Much gratitude goes to Clay Cockrill, our chairperson who organizes our projects, to our church Fish Funds that supply funds for materials, and to the many volunteers who came and served. It was a great day of moving forward God’s message of love for one another!
Adult Covenant: God’s Enduring Promises by Kay Arthur Wednesdays, 9:00 to 11:15 AM, May 11 – July 13 | South Adult Room 6 | All
Covenant: God’s Enduring Promises explores God’s initiatives with humanity by studying His covenants throughout history. Kay Arthur shows that the idea of covenant – God’s enduring promise – is key to understanding our relationship to God. Learn about the remarkable ways the old covenant points to the promises of the new covenant. No more empty promises. Trust issues develop because people fail us, but biblical truths have the power to sustain us, because God’s Word never fails. Join us for this 8-week inductive Bible study that will teach you how to seek and find these truths through documented covenants. You can register on the Connect Card, at the Welcome Center, or online (Deadline to sign up is April 27). Led by Nancy Harris. Page 4 I ChurchotheServant.com
Handbell Concert
Sunday, April 24 at 4pm // Courtyard
Music
Think handbells only play hymns? Think again. Both the adult and youth bell choirs, along with Matt Schinske on piano, will be performing a variety of music. Songs like “Good Vibrations” and several Beatles songs. The group will also play some more traditional handbell music with many added features you don’t often get to experience “close up.” The youth handbell choir “Bronze” will be touring in the Santa Fe area on Memorial weekend. You will get to hear many of the songs they will be performing at St. John’s UMC and the famous Loretto Chapel. Please make plans to attend this 45-minute, intimate concert in the Courtyard.
Thank You for Helping Earthglow Make a Difference You, the faithful shoppers of Earthglow, have purchased many exciting gift items to share with your friends and beautify your homes. You have browsed the shop, compared the great selections with your church friends, laughed with the beautiful volunteers that serve you within the store, and taken home countless treasures. But your contribution certainly did not stop there! Each and every dollar of proceeds from the sales within our store is carefully distributed to various local organizations. This past year yielded profits of $45,000 that has recently been passed along to the following most worthy recipients: • Skyline (Clothes for Kids, Food Pantry and Eye Clinic) • Penn Avenue Redemption (Prison Ministry) • Circle of Care • Exodus House • Neighborhood Service Organization • Hispanic Ministries • TEEM (The Education and Employment Ministry) Thank you, loyal customers, for 40 wonderful years of partaking of the treasures of Earthglow. Because of you, we have distributed $746,224 to local Missions and Ministries. Happy shopping! Keep up the good work!
Boundaries
Class Starts May 8 The SOLO Sunday school class will begin a 9-week study of this wonderful book by Dr. Henry Cloud. Clear boundaries are essential to a healthy lifestyle. Come and learn with us about all kinds of boundaries: physical, mental, and emotional. We meet in North Adult, Room 6 at 9:30 a.m.
Adult PRIME TIME
Thursday, May 12, at 10:00 a.m. Prime Time will finish the season with a doubleheader on Thursday, May 12, in Community Hall at—and don’t miss this—not at 10:30, but at 10:00 a.m. That’s because we have a very busy morning planned. First, there will be some special entertainment—our very own G3 (Gospel Guitar Guys), who will bring us their own brand of “American Gospel” - a combination of blue grass, rock and roll, country, blues, and jazz. If you haven’t heard them yet, believe me, you are in for a treat! Then we’ll get to the important business of BINGO! And about that BINGO, this year you won’t have to worry about bringing your own prizes, since we have arranged for some very special prizes to be provided. No peeking now! You’ll see what they are when we start playing! Well, we’ll certainly work up our appetites with all that busyness! So last, but not least, we’ll eat ourselves silly on a yummy picnic meal of BBQ, baked beans, potato salad, and wait for it... peach cobbler! Then bring out the wheelbarrows to roll us out of there! And all this fun for the same price as usual - $10 for program and meal, $2 for program only. You don’t want to miss this double-header morning lined up for you at Prime Time on Thursday, May 12 at 10:00 a.m. So sign up now at the Welcome Center! Can’t wait to see you there! SERVANT April 20, 2016 I Page 5
Children SERVANT KIDZ CAMP July 17-19 , Canyon Camp
A camping we will go to make new friends, hang-out with old friends, hike, study our Bible, make some nifty crafts, swim, and, most importantly, WORSHIP our Heavenly Father. Where are we going to do this? Servant Kidz Camp, which will be held July 15-17 at Canyon Camp near Hinton, Oklahoma. The 2016 theme is “Friends,” and the scripture for the weekend is John 15:12 – “This is what I command. Love each other as I have loved you.” Servant children, grades 1st – 5th fall 2016, are invited to participate in summer camp, a camp created especially for them. Servant Kidz Camp is more than just church camp. It will be 48 hours where lives can be changed, friends will be made, and every camper will come home with their spiritual juices renewed! Camp registration forms are available at www. churchoftheservant.com/events, at the Welcome Center, and at the children’s Welcome Counter (downstairs). Camp space is limited and will be reserved on a first come basis, so registrations should be submitted as soon as possible. Adult leaders are absolutely a must for this ministry to succeed – so adults (parents, grandparents, adults who love God, kids and the outdoors) please commit today to experience this amazing weekend with your child/ren. The camp fee for campers is $150 and there is no charge for adults. Comments from parents who have participated at Kidz Camp: The live band and worship messages were all wonderful. Hard to pinpoint a favorite event – enjoyed it all! Awesome experience! Love that we (COS) had the camp grounds to ourselves. Great experience for kids and adults. Teens were so helpful and wonderful to all the campers. Great opportunity for friendship and worship. Contact Cathy Hersom at chersom@churchoftheservant. com with any questions.
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4th and 5th grade WOW participants made special bracelets to remind us that God is our strength and is with us always!
Our Life Together Our Prayers
u Lorraine Aken as Lorraine’s daughter, Carol Titus, deals with health issues. u Wendall and Mary Louise Bearden as Mary Louise deals with health issues. u Gary and Darlene Berkovsky as their son, Scott Berkovsky, ask for our prayers. u Tracey Bonebrake as Tracey’s daughter, Melinda Crider, deals with health issues. u Mike and Cindy Brecheen as Mike’s mother, Rita Brecheen, deals with health issues. u Don and Maurie Cole as their sister-in-law, Dianna Cole, recuperates from injuries from an automobile accident. u Warren and Sue Collins as their daughterin-law’s mother, Wanda Kittredge, and their friend, Ronald Cox, deal with health issues. u Don and Donna Combs as Donna deals with health issues. u Bryan, Dawn, and Phoenix Fair as their friends, the Gildon Family, ask for our prayers. u Larry and Sharon Fanning as Sharon recuperates from surgery. u Pierce and Barbara Gandy as Pierce recuperates from surgery. u Jana, Grace, and Emilie Harrison as Emilie deals with health issues. u Robert and Prudy Gorrell as Robert’s uncle, Charles King, deals with health issues. u Don and Millie Henderson as their daughter, Cindy Kelley, deals with health issues. u Karen Henderson as Karen deals with health issues. u Steve, Angie and Jenny James and McKenzie Bursch as Steve’s mother, Carolyn Parks, deals with health issues; and Angie’s cousin, Stephanie Dunn, recuperates from surgery.
Sundays in the Kitchen Full Breakfast - $6; Lunch - $9; Kid’s Plate - $3.50
u 4/24 – Chicken Florentine Casserole, Crisp Romaine Salad, Rolls, Dessert, Tea. u 5/1 – CLOSED for Stop Hunger Now u 5/8 – Enchilada Casserole, Rice & Beans, Chips & Salsa, Dessert, Tea.
Our Prayers Continued u Kathy Kennedy as Kathy’s son, Scott, recuperates from injuries from a fall; and Kathy’s son, Mark, asks for our prayers. u Jay, Jennifer, Brooke, and Kate Lacy as their friends, Bruce and Jean Lester, ask for prayers for Jean as she deals with health issues. u Lloyd Leveridge as Lloyd’s brother, Harold Leveridge, deals with health issues. u Bob and Marilyn Long as Bob recuperates from surgery. u Jeremy, Amy, Cap and Ella Patman and Jason, Jennifer, Isabelle and Noah Stringfellow as Jennifer’s daughter, Lana Robertson, deals with health issues. u Roy, Trina, and Zayne Ramirez as Trina’s mother, Tina Wylie, recuperates from surgery. u Jonathan, Margot, and Charlie Rico as Magot deals with health issues. u Chloe Roberts as Chloe’s son, John Roberts, recuperates from surgery. u Laveta Simpson as Laveta recuperates from injuries from a fall. u Bob and Nancy Smith as Nancy’s brotherin-law and sister, Jim and Rena Holland, ask for prayers for Rena as she deals with health issues. u James and Hilda Smith as their great niece, Kaitlyn, recuperates from surgery. u Doug and Ella Sprung as their granddaughter, Madison Sprung, deals with health issues. u Colby, Martha, Xander and Avery Stone as Martha’s father, David Watson, recuperates from surgery in Abilene, Texas. u Larry, Carrington, and Katelynn Tibbetts as Larry deals with health issues. u David and Mary Walker as David deals with health issues and faces surgery. u Wayne and Sharon Wallace as Wayne deals with health issues; and for their family members Mollie Lovelace, Frank and Kay Nelson, and Blake as they deal with health issues. u Bob and Susy Wilson as Bob deals with health issues, undergoes tests and faces treatment.
Celebrating
u Clyde and Fran Kirk at the birth of their grandson, Griffin Jack Wilson. The proud parents are Ben and Sarah Wilson of Midland, Texas. The proud sister is Madison Wilson.
Our Sympathy
u Don and Maurie Cole and Family at the death of Don’s brother, Stan Cole. u Family and Friends at the death of Claire Glenn. u Minta Hays and Family at the death of Minta’s mother, Peggy Young. u Steve, Angie and Jenny James and McKenzie Bursch and Family at the death of Steve’s grandmother, Charlene Frazier. u Jack Pebworth and Family at the death of Jack’s wife, Louise Pebworth. u Lee Snowden and Family at the death of Lee’s nephew, Howard Martin.
Celebrating Memories
u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant, Servant Foundation in memory of William N. Weaver Jr. by Terry and Peter Weaver. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant, Servant Foundation in memory of Frank Gross Jr. by Terry and Peter Weaver. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Senior Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Don Cline by Mary Austin. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministries in memory of Sue Knight by Richard and Donnie Jennings. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministries in memory of Sue Knight by Rick and Dixie Grosshans. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministries in memory of Sue Knight by Bill and Melba Howard. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministries in memory of Sue Knight by Barbara Eskridge. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministries in memory of Sue Knight by Sue Miller. SERVANT April 20, 2016 I Page 7
Church of the Servant
14343 N MacArthur Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73142-9725
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Stop Hunger Now
On Sunday morning, May 1, we will host our 7th Stop Hunger Now packaging event! This is a day the entire church works together, over a 5-hour span of time, to package 151,000 meals. These meals are boxed and shipped all over the world to help feed hungry children. It truly is an amazing, life-saving event! After this year’s packaging event, we will have packaged over 1,000,000 meals. You, your family, your Sunday morning class and/or small group are invited to join our mission of ending global hunger! This Sunday, you can register and find out more about Stop Hunger Now at the Shack in the Concourse, or register online at www.churchoftheservant.com/events.