Newsletter 07.15.15

JULY 15, 2015

CHURCH OF THE SERVANT Bi-Weekly NEWSLETTER

Issue: 15.13

“OUR CHURCH IS A PART OF THE LEGACY OF PAUL, BARNABUS, MARK AND OLD EUSTOLIOS. JUST LIKE THOSE GREAT CHRISTIANS, WE WANT TO SHARE CHRIST WITH THE WORLD!” - DR. ROBERT GORRELL, SR. MINISTER

you are part of a beautiful and amazing place!

Dr. Robert Gorrell Senior Minister

I have a picture of my wife and I standing in a beautiful and amazing place! That place is known as the island of Cyprus.

The closest neighbors are Syria and Lebanon. For over 12,000 years, it has been the crossroads between Europe and the Middle East. There are twelve stories in the Bible that center in Cyprus. Barnabus was born here. Mark was reborn here after his failure in ministry. Paul centered his ministry to reach the world here in Cyprus.

A Christian named Eustolios built his house in Cyprus years ago. He built it on a high place where everyone passing through that great crossroads would see it. Some think it was the most viewed house in the ancient world. This ingenious Christ follower decorated his house with Christian symbols. Prudy and I have stood next to the remains of that great house and have viewed the remaining symbols and art. Eustolios said to the world, “If you want to know about Jesus, inquire here!”

Our church is a part of the legacy of Paul, Barnabus, Mark and old Eustolios.

Just like those great Christians we want to share Christ with the world. Today, the world’s crossroads don’t following

the treks of wind-power ships. Today the world’s crossroads are on the internet.

Experts tell us that 90% of the people who join a church visit the church’s Website first.

So I am very excited we are rolling out several new communication pieces, including a new logo and a new Website. The Website will be awesome and offer great new features, like the ability for you to share sermons with your friends. I want you to pray that God will use these wonderful new tools to help us love, serve and share Jesus Christ with our neighbors.

Our mission is to love and serve people as we share Jesus Christ. Our desire is to be the presence of Christ in Oklahoma City and continue to be a church that meets the spiritual needs of our local community. Christ’s message is never changing, but our mode in which we effectively communicate the Gospel has to change.

At Church of the Servant, our passion is introducing people to God and giving them a place to serve. We have a beautiful and amazing church. Lets share our church with the people around us!

- Robert

NEW WEBSITE COMING SOON!

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Important Dates to Save on your Calendar:

Sunday, Sept 20 -- 6th Annual Fit to Serve 5K and Fun Walk Sunday, Nov 8 -- Operation Christmas Child

Whiz Kids

Serving one afternoon a week could change a child’s life forever

On Monday afternoons during the school year, our congregation serves approximately 46 children - grades 2 thru 5 - in the program known as Whiz Kids. The children are supported by a staff of dedicated tutors from Servant and partner church, Wesley UMC. When the children arrive each week, they are served a hot, nutritious snack meal. They share a Bible story lesson with a club time leader. For many of them this is their first introduction to the Lord Jesus Christ. They then spend the next hour in supervised reading practice, under the direction of a one-on-one adult.

We are beginning our 5th year with Whiz Kids. There are so many blessings to be shared as children are mentored and adults share Christ’s love in such a practical way of presence with them.

On August 16, we will be asking you to consider making a one-year commitment to our Whiz Kids ministry on Monday afternoons. Each year, we trust that God will provide the people we need to continue this amazing ministry. Maybe this is the year you could serve?

Please mark your calendar to be in worship August 16 and at 3 p.m. on Monday, August 17 for an ice cream social and introduction to the tutoring that will be happening at Wesley UMC. If you have any questions about the program, contact our coordinator, Shirley Rolston, at 850-7675.

Based on last year’s profits, Earthglow was able to donate $42,000 to various causes, as follows: $ 2,000

Prepare the Way

5,000

Circle of Care

3,000

Exodus House

3,000

Penn Avenue Redemption

5,000

Neighborhood Services

2,000

Hispanic Ministries

12,000

Skyline Eye Clinic

3,500

Skyline Food Pantry

5,000

Skyline Clothes for Kids

1,500

Stop Hunger Now

Since its beginning in 1976, Earthglow has given over $700,000 to various charitable causes.

Missions School Supplies for CHILDSHARE

Throughout the summer, school supplies go on sale. Why not pick up a few extras to help the foster children connected with CHILDSHARE? Drop your supplies at the Mission Kiosk on Sundays or bring them to the Missions office during the week.

TEEM Summer Hygiene Drive

The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM) is an interfaith, 501(c) 3, nonprofit organization. TEEM has served Oklahomans in need with education, social services, job training and job placement assistance since 1987. Each summer we support TEEM by bringing small travel-sized hygiene items for their drive. These items are given, along with professional clothes, to the clients as they reenter the workplace. Items need to be unused and can be brought to the box found at the Mission Kiosk during July.

Bless our Schools Hefner Middle School Teacher Blessing Boxes

Pick up boxes on Sundays, July 26, August 2 and 9; Return boxes on Sunday, August 16

Last August, the teachers and staff of Hefner Middle School were speechless when they arrived to their classrooms the first day to find a box of supplies and goodies given to each one by Church of the Servant congregation! The Mission Council is thrilled to sponsor this opportunity again. Pick up a box or two with a suggestion list, fill and return it by Sunday, August 16. Boxes will be delivered to Hefner on Monday, August 17. This is a strong partnership, forged over the last year, that connects our church in the community.

Thanks for shopping Earthglow!

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Missions

MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

Later this summer, each of us will have an opportunity to participate in a project that can make a long-term difference in the lives of our Vietnamese partners in the gospel. Sunday August 30, Church of the Servant will take up a special “Fish Offering” raising funds that will be used to support pastoral sustainability projects throughout that country. These projects are designed and intended to provide an economic anchor for pastors and their families allowing them to live fully into their calling as evangelists and ministers to their people.

Over the past two years there has been much discussion as to what exact form these projects would assume, how they would be administered, and how we would launch this initiative. What has been of critical importance is that the whole project has not been driven from the top down, rather, the leadership of the Church in Vietnam has spent much time asking their people what it is that they need and what they believe can be most successful. A range of ideas have been considered: from goats to ducks, coffee trees to fish farms. After much prayer, conversation, and reflection, the churches asked for assistance in establishing small herds of cattle.

The proposal is a sound one. We at Church of the Servant have been asked to provide seed-stock for twenty cattle herds, beginning with two cattle each. These herds will be located in four different regions of the country, with each area’s projects under the supervision of a pastor who is responsible to the Vietnamese Methodist Church for the success of the individual cattle herds. The purchase of each cow will require $1,000.00--an amount equivalent to the annual salary of a Methodist Minister in Vietnam. These small herds can then provide a means for pastors to support their families and feed their children from the future proceeds, thus ensuring their ability to continue in full-time ministry within their communities. These projects can make a difference for years to come. Compounding the impact of a gift to these sustainability projects is the fact that over the course of three to five years, each project will return the initial investment to the Vietnamese Methodist Church, who on an annual basis will then reinvest the money and launch a new cycle of projects. Our gifts will truly be gifts that keep on giving!

Military historian John Keegan often wrote of the leadership imperative of kinship--the need to ensure that there is never any doubt in the hearts and minds of our people that at the end of the day we are in the struggle together. On a personal level I am deeply invested in the future of the Vietnamese Methodist Church and my family is going to support this project to the full extent of our abilities. The Church in Vietnam is spreading the “Good News” of Jesus Christ in a profound and powerful manner. God is moving in their hearts and transforming their country one person at a time. I pray that each of you will consider how you might join in this powerful work of the Holy Spirit, and I ask that you help support these ministers and their families on August 30.

Rev. Randy Shrauner Executive Minister

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Annual Ladies Night Out, August 28 Crafting with Emily Buckingham $30, Plus a Snack to Share

Women

Come and bring a snack to share as we fellowship and paint a beautiful sign for our home front doors. Local artist Emily Buckingham will bring all the supplies for the evening to create a fun piece of decorative art. Pre-registration required, please come by the women’s table on Sundays beginning August 2, or call Susie Cobden at 728-4711.

On this evening, information about all the Fall Women’s Discipleship Groups will be available to explore and join as well. Fall Studies begin September 15.

Mark Your Calendar: October 2-4 Fall Women’s Retreat in Sulfur, Oklahoma

This weekend will offer an opportunity for renewal, fellowship, worship, and inspirational learning in a beautiful setting at the Chickasaw Nation Retreat Center overlooking Arbuckle Lake. Early registration is $199 and will begin online July 15.

A Kindred Community Fellowship on a Summer Evening

Last Thursday evening, 40 women gathered for fellowship, food and an evening of laughter. Our own ten-year old Darci Farmer was the entertainment for the evening. She kept us laughing and amazed as she shared her gift for ventriloquism in a 30-minute program with 3 puppets! A great picnic-style dinner was shared, followed by a s’mores bar for dessert.

This is the first of the quarterly events that our Women’s Ministry wants to host for widows in our community, with the hope that they will find a kindred community of support here at Church of the Servant.

If you know a woman who is on this journey looking for others to walk and share life with her in this new season, please contact Sherri Price at 202-6954.

What is Kindred Community?

Kindred Community: A support group for women who have lost their husbands. Losing a spouse creates membership in a club that no one really wants to join. Learning to live alone after being married for years can be a difficult and isolating experience. As much as others try to support and understand, no one really understands if they haven’t been through the same loss.

Kindred Community is a support and prayer ministry that is part of Stand in the Gap Ministries. Our chapter here at Church of the Servant currently has 4 small groups. The small groups meet twice a month for 90 minutes to share and pray.

There are women ready to begin a new small support group and the invitation is open for others as well. If you would like to be part of a Kindred Community or know some-one who might benefit from this support - no matter where they are in the journey – please contact Sherri Price at 202-6954.

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Adult Financial Peace University Coming September 23

We all need a plan for our money. Financial Peace University (FPU) is that plan! It teaches God’s ways of handling money. Through video teaching, class discussions and interactive small group activities, FPU presents biblical, practical steps to get from where you are to where you’ve dreamed you could be. This plan will show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more!

FPU will be held at Church of the Servant from 6:30 to 8:30pm, running Wednesday, September 23 through November 18. Tom McGee and Peter Weaver will be instructing the 9-week event. For more information and to register go to: www.churchoftheservant.com

On Sunday, August 23, many of our Sunday morning classes will begin a new curriculum series called, Believe: Living the Story of the Bible to Become Like Jesus. Believe is a curriculum designed to help people discuss their faith in God. While most who attend Servant would say they believe in God, many may have a difficult time explaining why. We all wrestle with questions about faith, but may not have a class or small group to ask. Believe is designed to help spur our faith conversations as it covers the 10 key beliefs of Christians, the 10 key practices of Christians, and the 10 key virtues or fruits of Christians.

Also, in both the 9:15 and 10:45 Celebration Services, Dr. Robert Gorrell will be preaching on the very topic being taught each week in the class. His sermon series, called “Rooted,” will go week-by-week focusing on the topic being taught by the Believe curriculum. So, not only will you hear it from the pulpit, you will get to go further in discussing it with your class. If you attend the 8:15 or 9:23 services, the curriculum is designed to stand-alone as well.

To learn more about Believe: Living the Story of the Bible to Become Like Jesus, go to the following link: http://believethestory.com. Are you looking for a Sunday morning class? You can get more information and signup with a participating class by going to www.churchoftheservant.

Children “Fun in the Sun”day at Church of the Servant Please mark your calendars for Sunday, July 26, because your kids won’t want to miss Sunday FUNDAY during the 10:45 Sunday school hour. Kids are invited to wear SUPER HERO, water-friendly attire to celebrate their real SUPER HERO – JESUS. Special Guests: Some of our LOCAL SUPER HEROES will be here to add to the fun. Instead of the traditional Sunday school lesson, a brief message will be shared with all grades, and then the teachers will take the children outside for some fun-filled and wet activities. (Parents: NO SWIMSUITS please….shorts, t-shirts and tennis/water shoes and a TOWEL will be perfect!)

THANK YOU for the T-shirts!! Children’s Ministries KIDZ CAMP and the children are so very blessed by the outpouring of love you’ve shown in bringing t-shirts for us! These will be used to the benefit of each child in our camp, and during our FUN in the SUNday activities on July 26.

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Our Prayers

Our Life Together

u Bryan, Karen, Peyton, Brayden, and Chloe Ann Annett as Peyton deals with health issues. u Lloyd and Carolyn Bean as Lloyd deals with health issues. u Kenyatta, Christi-Lynn, Colby, Sadie and Samuel Bethea as Kenyatta’s father, Robert Bethea, recuperates from surgery. u Dan and Barbra Case as Dan deals with health issues. u John and Linda DeFrees as their niece, Katy Hughes, deals with health issues. u Harold Deislinger as Harold deals with health issues. u Dave and Kay Filson as Dave recuperates from surgery at Mercy Health Center. u Doug and Jaci Finch as Jaci recuperates from surgery. u Leon, Debbie and Sean Gold as Debbie recuperates from injuries from a fall. u Poppy Hock as Poppy’s daughter, Pam Dickinson, recuperates from surgery at the OK Spine Hospital. u Jerry and Patricia Hocker as Jerry recuperates from surgery. u Donald and Sara Kyte as Sara’s brother, Bill Farr, recuperates from surgery and is hospitalized at the OU Medical Center Presbyterian Hospital. u Judith Malarkey as Judith deals with health issues. u Bill and Janie Medina as Bill recuperates from surgery; and Janie recuperates from an outpatient procedure. u Dick and Kathy Parr as their daughter, Shelley Conrad, deals with health issues. u Kathlyn Reynolds as Kathlyn recuperates from surgery at Integris Baptist Medical Center. u James, Kim, Ethan, Jillian and Andrew Schlecht as they ask for prayers for Andrew and Andrew’s father-in-law, Dave Knippers; as Andrew donated one of his kidneys to Dave Knippers. u Linda Shaw as Linda’s son, Daniel Shaw, deals with health issues and undergoes physical therapy. u Larry, Carrington, and Katelynn Tibbetts as Larry deals with health issues and undergoes treatment. u Tricia and Joey Waugh as Joey faces surgery at Integris Baptist Medical Center.

3 Reasons to Read the Bible (And Where to Start)

My powers of persuasion rarely work on my daughter. But I’m hoping for better results today. I’ll be straight with you – I want to talk you into doing something.

I’m hoping to convince you to read the Bible every day this week. 7 days in a row.

Here are three reasons I think you should: 1. There’s interesting stuff in the Bible. Don’t ever let someone tell you the Bible is boring. If someone says that, they’re not reading it right. Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath, Samson and Delilah, wars and conquest, love and marriage, Peter cutting off a soldiers ear, a dead man coming back to life...I could go on and on. There are some incredible stories in the Bible.

2. The Bible is unlike any other book. This might surprise you, but the Bible isn’t really a book at all. It’s a collection of 66 small books or letters. It was written by 40 different authors across a couple of continents and in three languages. It’s been collected. Organized and preserved for us.

3. The Bible has influenced the world like no other book. The Bible has shaped more than preachers - it’s influenced Presidents and Kings.

I know it’s overwhelming, but did you know if you read just 15 minutes a day, you can read the whole Bible in about a year. If you read God’s Word for just 15 minutes a day, I think you will benefit.

SO, WHERE DO I START? I know this sounds weird, but if you want to start reading the Bible, I don’t recommend starting from the beginning. (I told you the Bible wasn’t like other books...can you imagine starting a novel from the middle?)

If I were you, I would start with the New Testament, specifically the Gospel of John. It’s all about the life of Jesus, and it was written by one of his best friends.

If you want to read online, check out YouVersion or BibleGateway. You can follow a reading plan or just dive in to the Book of John.

So what do you say? Will you give it a try?

Pastor Scott

Celebrating

u Eric and Allison Latham at the birth of their son, Levi McGarrity Latham. The proud brothers are Noah and Manu. The proud grandparents are Leroy Ball and Pat McGarrity. The proud uncle, aunt, and cousins are Craig, Jennifer, Anthony, Ashleigh, Courtney, and Danielle Robinson. u Bob and Freddie Nelon at the birth of their granddaughter, Nelon Caroline Stout. The proud parents are Eric and Lindsay Stout of Plano, TX. The proud uncle is Greg Nelon.

Celebrating Memories

u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Jerry Potter by Kay and Clark Musser. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Jerry Potter by Willard Moran.

Our Sympathy

u Greg and Stacey Browning and Jordan Picchione and Family at the death of Stacey’s father and Jordan’s grandfather, Tony Picchione. u Diane Capps and Family at the death of Diane’s mother, Imogene Scott. u Leta Grimes and Family at the death of Leta’s brother, Jim Baker. u Glenda Hargis and Family at the death of Glenda’s sister-in-law, Mary McClung. u Bob and Debbie Marshall, Jordan, Erin, Addison and Hutchinson Page and Family at the death of Debbie’s sister and Erin’s aunt, Jeanne Brace. u Ingrid Matthews and Family at the death of Ingrid’s husband, Arthur R. Matthews. u Donna Murray and Family at the death of Donna’s mother, Odean Murray.

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Church of the Servant

14343 N MacArthur Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73142-9725

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED