October 21, 2015
CHURCH OF THE SERVANT Bi-Weekly NEWSLETTER
Issue: 15.19
PLEDGE SUNDAY October 25
If you want to serve Jesus, you must do this… Let me tell you a funny story: When I was in seminary, Dr. Leighton Farrell was the minister of Highland Park Church in Dallas. He came to meet with a group of us who wanted to be Methodist ministers. He told us about a man in the church who once made a covenant with a pastor to tithe ten percent of their income every year. They were both young and neither of them had much money. But things changed. The layman tithed one thousand dollars the year he earned ten thousand, ten thousand dollars the year he earned one-hundred thousand, and onehundred thousand dollars the year he earned one million. But the year he earned six million dollars he just could not bring himself to write out that check for six-hundred thousand dollars to the Church. He telephoned the minister and asked to see him. Walking into the pastor’s office the man begged to be let out of the covenant, saying, “This tithing business has to stop. It was fine when my tithe was one thousand dollars, but I just cannot afford six-hundred thousand dollars. You’ve got to do something, Reverend!”
Dr. Robert Gorrell Senior Minister
The pastor knelt on the floor and prayed silently for a long time. Eventually the man said, “What are you doing? Are you praying that God will let me out of the covenant to tithe?” “No,” said the minister. “I am praying for God to reduce your income back to the level where one thousand dollars will be your tithe!”
“I am praying for God to reduce your income…”
And then Dr. Farrell looked at each one of us would-be pastors for a moment and said, “If you want to serve Jesus you must do this – you must give. No excuses. If you don’t, there will always be a wall between you and your Savior. You will serve yourself, but you won’t serve Jesus.”
At first I thought, ‘Well that is just a nice preacher story.’ But over the years I have found that to be true. The happiest people in church seem to be those who give generously. Those who struggle for spiritual peace always seem to have a reason not to give. Every year we make a pledge. It is not a requirement. It is an opportunity to join with Jesus in ministering to the world through his church. Join us October 25 as we bring our pledges to worship! - Robert
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Mission Opportunities
To Serve Internationally and Locally Sunday, Nov 8
- Operation Christmas Child Packing Party
Sunday, Nov 22
- Potter’s House Presentation
Sunday, Nov 8
Missions
- Christmas Grace Begins
from Guatemala Mission Team
and visiting missionaries 10:45 am in Centrum Sunday, Dec 20
- Operation Christmas Dinner
Operation Christmas Child Packing Party Sunday, November 8
A small shoebox can have a big impact. What goes into the box is fun, but what comes out of it is eternal. Be a part of changing children’s lives all over the world in Jesus’ name through the power of a simple gift with Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child was a ministry formed by Samaritan’s Purse in 1993 and over 124 million children have received shoeboxes and Christ’s love over these years. Last year, 10 million boxes were distributed in 123 countries. This will be Church of the Servant’s first year to partner and host a packing event for our congregation. This is a great opportunity for families, friends and groups to have an experience together preparing a Christmas gift for a child, filled with Christ’s love. There will be a prayer card to take after the party.
Pack a Box, Bless a Child
Boxes will be distributed beginning Sunday, October 11 in ALL worship services. Take a box, pick out a “WOW” item (a doll, a soccer ball with pump, or a stuffed animal are just some ideas), and bring your box back with $7 (for shipping) to finish filling it with your church family on Sunday, November 8.
Sign Up For a Shift!
At the Packing Party on November 8, there will be three packing shifts: 8:30-9:10, 9:20-9:50, 10:00-10:40 a.m. Sign up in the Concourse. During your shift you are invited to finish packing your box with items that will be provided. Then take a picture at the photo booth and write a note to go to the child. The worship services that day will be an opportunity to pray for the children who will receive the boxes. Boxes will be shipped to children by Christmas. Watch this informative video by Dr. Robyn Goggs: https://vimeo.com/139514796
PACKING PARTY LOCATION: Church of the Servant Community Hall DATE: Sunday, November 8
Christmas Grace
Serves Local Families
Begins November 8 Each holiday season, Church of the Servant works with 11 different agencies throughout the Oklahoma City Area to coordinate gifts for their clients who need a little extra help to provide gifts for their families at Christmas. During the month of November you are invited to come by the Christmas Grace table and choose a family or individual for whom to purchase gifts. It is a ministry at Church of the Servant with a long history of serveing our community. Sunday school classes, families, and groups are invited to come adopt clients together.
TIMES: 8:30-9:10, 9:20-9:50, 10:00-10:40 a.m. SERVANT October 21, 2015 I Page 3
Women
The Gifts of Christmas
Presented by Women’s Ministries Friday, November 20 in the Centrum Prepare your heart for the season of Christmas. Give your guests a welcome to remember. Will you have bright paper packages under the tree and the presence of Christ? We will present you with the greatest gift you will never forget! Join your friends and special women in your life for a night of fun, fellowship and inspirations. Leave with ideas and gifts to get your Christmas started right. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased in the Concourse on Sundays, online, or in the Women’s Ministry office during the week. Event begins at 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Contact Susie Cobden for more details. OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY for the evening: Please bring a new or gently used coat – size 0-5t – to donate to Infant Crisis Services.
“Counting our Blessings” –
Kindred Community Dinner – A Sisterhood of Widowhood
Thursday, October 22, 6:00 p.m., in Community Hall
Bring a friend! The dinner is for fun, friendship, and inspriration, and open to all widows. RSVP: melissamarshall11@gmail.com or 405.314.6755 Page 4 I ChurchotheServant.com
Stewardship Pledge Sunday - October 25
 This week, you will receive an estimate of giving commitment card in the mail. On a practical level, we ask our members to turn in estimate of giving cards each year so that our Finance Committee is able to set an accurate ministry budget for the coming year. This allows us to make the most of every dollar given to the church. On a personal level, the commitment card is an opportunity for you to spend time in prayer and reflection, considering what offering you would make to God through our church in the coming year. Please be watching for the mailing to come this week. Then fill out the card and bring it with you to worship. If you do not receive your card in the mail before this Sunday, there will be extra cards in the pews, or simply fill out the card below and bring it with you to worship service this Sunday, October 25. Download here: http://www.churchoftheservant.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/CommitmentCard.pdf
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Our annual Earthglow Market is coming soon! Saturday, November 14, from 9 to 3 our building will be full of so many vendors and so much fun! The Earthglow Cafe’ serves beans and cornbread, chili pie, and hotdogs, along with our famous chocolate sheet cake. There will also be our popular bake sale – all kinds of goodies to munch on or freeze for upcoming holidays! Shoppers will find over 80 booths with handmade items, food items, accessories, soaps, wreaths, and so much more! Get a jump start on your Christmas shopping!
Adult
Earthglow will be stocked full of gift ideas. Booth rental from Earthglow Market, as well as all profits from Earthglow sales are donated to local missions and ministries. Your purchases and participation help us add to the amount of money we can give! Plan to join us! Invite your friends and family! See you on November 14, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Financial Peace University Coming January 6 We all need a plan for our money. Financial Peace University (FPU) is that plan! It teaches God’s ways of handling money. Millions of people have taken this journey. They have pulled worries off their shoulders and put on confidence. They have rewritten and secured their futures. On average, those families have paid off $5300 in debt and saved $2700 in the first 90 days. That is an $8000 turnaround. Now it’s your time to learn the steps to get where you want to be. You can do it! You just need a plan. 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 8:30 p.m. beginning Wednesday, January 6 through March 2. Tom McGee and Peter Weaver will be instructing the 9-week event. For more information and to sign-up, go to www.churchoftheservant.com/events. Page 6 I ChurchoftheServant.com
PRIME TIME Bring your best listening ears to Prime Time on November 12 in Community Hall at 10:30 a.m., as we enjoy the classical guitar magic of Edgar Cruz! Edgar has been named Top Performing Artist and/or Acoustical Guitarist for over ten years by Oklahoma Gazette. He has also been a headliner at the Chet Atkins Festival in Nashville since 1995. Edgar tours every year throughout the USA, France, Italy, Mexico and Peru. You don’t want to miss this one! Sign up at the Welcome Center, or call the church office, 721-4141 to reserve your spot to enjoy Edgar, a delicious lunch, and the fellowship of Prime Time.
Children
FALL FESTIVAL - October 30 Church of the Servant’s annual Fall Festival is next Friday, October 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. We are expecting more than 1,000 people from across the community to join us in this family-fun celebration of fall. What a great, nopressure way to introduce new folks to our church and wonderful Children’s Ministries programs! Please be thinking about who you could invite this year. On the night of the festival, our church will be transformed into a carnival midway with games, clowns, a cake walk, bake sale, bingo, giant inflatables, face painting and the always-popular therapy dogs. A delicious hot dog dinner will be available for a small fee, as well as cotton candy, popcorn and a bake sale. Again this year, we will be holding a raffle with some great familyoriented prize packages. Children are encouraged to dress in their seasonal costumes (no scary costumes, please) and to bring their treat bags! There is no charge to enter the festival. We do ask guests to bring donations to benefit Infant Crisis Services. Diapers, wipes and formula are always greatly appreciated. We still have opportunities to volunteer on the evening of the Fall Festival. For more information, please contact Erin Page at erinepage@gmail.com or 405-740-1208.
COOKIE DOUGH IS COMING
Children’s Ministries will be selling various varieties of cookie dough on Sundays, November 15 and 22. Monies raised from this fundraiser support the KIDZ CAMP program. Thanks to the 2 x 2 Sunday school class for again coordinating this sale.
We Need Bars of Soap! In preparation for Church of the Servant’s Mission event, Operation Christmas Child, on November 8, our children are being asked to bring at least one wrapped bath-size bar of soap. These bars will be used as part of the supplies for the “packing party” that will take place here in the Community Hall on that date.
Water4 Mission Project
Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, we are bringing money to help African school communities learn to build their own equipment for water wells. Water4 teaches these communities to make the materials needed and how to drill the wells. This helps the families have clean water to drink and because of that, they are more healthy. This project was chosen by our 4th and 5th-grade Children’s Mission Leadership Team.
We are asking that these bars be brought on Sundays (either the 9:15 or 10:45 hours) during the entire month of October. We pray that you and your family will take part in this amazing outreach. SERVANT October 21, 2015 I Page 7
Music Music Ministry is off to a great start this season! The Bronze, our youth handbell choir, is full and will perform on a regular rotation in worship. This group will tour during the summer. We are taking a step back with our children’s music ministry as we relook at the structure and try to find the very best way to move forward. Our Adult handbell choir, Celebration Ringers, is still looking for one last ringer. The group meets on Thursdays at 5:30 pm in the Music Suite. If you are interested please contact Chuck; cweatherford@churchoftheservant. com The Worship Orchestra continues to thrive! We are still taking in new members. Just this week we added two new players, both very fine musicians from our Youth Handbell Choir. We meet Wednesdays at 6:15 in the Celebration Center. We would love to have you! Childcare is provided.
Upcoming Musical Events: November 22 – “Pre-Holiday Tunes and Treats” –
SYNERGY in the Courtyard. Featuring songs like “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch”. Tickets will go on sale soon. Proceeds go to support Music Ministry programming.
December 6 – 2nd Annual Christmas Open House –
Proceeds will go to support the Youth Handbell Choir tour and mission trip in 2016.
December 13 – “The Joy of Christmas” –
Christmas concert in the Celebration Center. Featuring: Celebration Choir, Orchestra, Bells, and SYNERGY.
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Our Life Together Our Prayers
Celebrating Memories
Celebrating Memories
u Garry and Deanna Atkinson, as Garry’s mother, Kay Atkinson, recuperates from surgery.
u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Mobile Meals in honor of Edgar Cruz by Pete Gelvin
u Margaret Beck, Craig, Melissa (Beck) and Andrew Timmons, and Lance Bennett, as Craig’s father, Harold Timmons, deals with health issues.
u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Carol Heggie by Jane Rauch
u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Kenneth Koerner by Dona Kippenberger
u Donna Boyd, as her grandson, Hagen Vogel, deals with health issues in Joplin, MO.
u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministry in memory of Carol Heggie by Rick & Dixie Grosshans
u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Prime Time in memory of Milt Ferguson by Marie Cleland
u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministry in memory of Jo Russell by Rick & Dixie Grosshans
u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Carol Heggie by Bobbie & Cliff Phillips
u Shawn, Kimberlee, Mia and Kyle Brownlee, as a family friend, Todd Ferrell, deals with health issues. u Frank and Fran Esch, as Fran deals with health issues. u Esther Fowble, as Esther deals with health issues and is hospitalized at Integris Baptist Medical Center. u Jim and De Anna Gregory, as De Anna recuperates from a fall. u Gloria Hudson, as Gloria deals with health issues and is hospitalized at Mercy Health Center. u Lloyd Leveridge, as Lloyd recuperates from a fall, and is hospitalized at Mercy Health Center.
Our Sympathy
u Kent, Lauri and Keaton Buchanan and Family at the death of Kent’s mother, and Keaton’s grandmother, Mickey Buchanan. u Harold and La Donna Leverett and Family at the death of Harold’s brother, Isaac Leverett. u Tommy and Rita Team and Family at the death of their son-in-law, Myles Smith.
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.
u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Carol Heggie by Bill & Melba Howard
u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministry in memory of Larry Larson by Bill & Melba Howard
u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministry in memory of Carol Heggie by Phyllis Armstrong u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Earthglow in memory of Jo Russell by Earthglow Managing Staff u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Jack & Norma Hope by Pam & Barry Henthorn u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Don Patton by Pam & Barry Henthorn u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Milt Ferguson by Pam & Barry Henthorn u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministry in memory of Dorothy Kepler by Kathy Shelton, Sheila Barfield, Marcia Knight u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Care Ministry in memory of Jack Hope by Sherri Bumps u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Carol Heggie by Charles & Lonna Bruner u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministry in memory of Larry Larson by Doris & Don Cline u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministry in memory of Larry Larson by Warren & Suzanne Wilson SERVANT October 21, 2015 I Page 9
Church of the Servant
14343 N MacArthur Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73142-9725
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED