Newsletter 11.18.15

November 18, 2015

CHURCH OF THE SERVANT Bi-Weekly NEWSLETTER

Issue: 15.21

Sponsored by: Music Ministries More information on page 5

SBNR SBNR. Spiritual But Not Religious…

The topic is a hot one in Christian circles today. A middle-aged woman who spends Sunday mornings on a hiking trail might say, “I’m spiritual but not religious.” A young man who says he loves Jesus but hates the church might identify himself as SBNR. Today, more than 70 percent of Millennials describe themselves as “more spiritual than religious.” Books talk about the end of the church and the birth of a new spiritual awakening.

But guess what? You cannot truly be spiritual without being religious.

Nancy Ammerman, a sociologist of religion, has finished a new study of religion in everyday life. She concludes that the SBNR is a unicorn -- it is a species that does not exist in reality. Ammerman found that, for most people, organized religion and spirituality are not two separate realms. Instead, they are one. The people who were “most active in organized religion,” she discovered, “were also most committed to spiritual practices and a spiritual view of the world.”

Religion supports spirituality. It’s hard to have one without the other. But what about people who say they are spiritual but not religious? Turns out that they are neither spiritual nor religious. The 72 percent of Millennials who describe themselves as “more spiritual than religious” are not doing much to deepen their spirituality: - 65 percent rarely, or never, pray with others.

Dr. Robert Gorrell Senior Minister

- 65 percent rarely, or never, attend worship services.

- 65 percent don’t read the Bible or any other sacred texts.

Congregations remain the very best places to practice spirituality, even when they are made up of biased, broken and sinful people. According to Anthony Robinson, congregations “are the settings or vessels that give shape and encouragement to the spiritual life and practice of individuals and families.” Reflecting on Nancy Ammerman’s work, he says that “with a congregation, a person is more likely to be spiritual, and without such a community of spiritual discourse and practice, individuals tend to be less spiritual, or not spiritual at all.” Ammerman concludes that the people “with the most robust sense of sacred presence are those who participate in religious activities that allow for conversation and relationship.”

You cannot truly be spiritual without being religious.

Robert

EARTHGLOW GIFT SHOP: Now available – Scented wax vessels for Christmas - the candle that doesn’t burn! Also, 2 pair of earrings for $9.00, your choice. Thank you for your support. All proceeds go to missions!

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Missions Operation Christmas Dinner Last Christmas, over 200 meals were coordinated through the 9:23 worship body and delivered throughout our local community by dozens of people. Mark your calendar for the delivery day, December 20, as this will once again be an opportunity to reach out around our neighborhoods.

Bags will go out in 9:23 earlier in December.

Christmas Grace Every year, we partner with local community organizations that have identified families who need a little extra love and care this Christmas. We call it Christmas Grace! A table is set up in the Concourse where you can go by and select a family or individual. The information sheet you pick up will have the names and needs of the family you chose with instructions on what to buy. What a blessing this ministry is for the many families who will receive gifts this Christmas because of you and your desire to be a blessing to others! Gifts are due back by Sunday, December 6.

Potter’s House Guatemala, Missionary Visit Sunday, November 22 Potter’s House Association is sending two of their full-time mission workers, Anabella and Laura, who have previously worked with our six teams, to present a partnership award in worship. Then they will be speaking at the 10:45 hour in Chapel of the Cross about the ongoing work and types of poverty that the Potter’s House addresses in the city dump of Guatemala City.

Christmas Eve Mission Offering: Skyline Urban Ministries Clothes for Kids Each year, Church of the Servant helps to provide children throughout the city with school uniforms by partnering with Skyline Urban Ministries. We want to get a head start preparing for children in 2016, so our Christmas Eve Offering in all three services will be for Clothes for Kids. $85 will put a child in OKC public school system uniforms for one year. As you are preparing for your giving this holiday season, would you consider making this special gift to help a child in the 2016 school year?

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Missions

Operation Christmas Child Packing Party was Wonderful!

The spirit of Christmas is alive and moving at Church of the Servant! On Sunday, November 8, at our very first Packing Party for Operation Christmas Child, hundreds of individuals and families came together to pack over 800 shoeboxes full of gifts for children all around the world. With gifts of necessities like toothbrushes, combs, and socks, children will have their most basic needs met. With gifts of toys, stuffed animals, and dolls, the children will be brought joy this Christmas season. Most importantly, with the personal pictures, hand-written notes, and prayers that were included in the boxes, the children will experience the love of Christ and his Church.

With hundreds of partygoers, our Packing Party was busy, bustling, and so much fun! I was uplifted to see the children of our church picking out gifts for other children just like them. I was encouraged by all the people who responded to this ministry, choosing to begin this holiday season with an act of selfless giving and community fellowship! Special thanks go out to Amber Neaves for chairing and organizing this event and the Two by Two Sunday school class who ran the event that Sunday. Thank you to the youth who gathered hairbrushes and combs. Thank you to the children who brought bars of soap. Thank you to all the people who dropped off extra items to pack boxes or gave time to help organize.

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus took a child in his arms and said to his disciples, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.” (Mark 9:36-37). By giving your time, efforts, and gifts at the Packing Party, you were welcoming a child into the arms of Jesus. What may be just a pair of socks to us will be the hand-held, tangible reality that they are loved. Because of the impact our boxes will have, I was so blown away by our church’s response, and now the process begins to make our Packing Party more organized, more fun, and more transformative next year!

Rev. Michael Carpenter

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Music SYNERGY CONCERT “Tunes and Treats”

November 22, 4 p.m.

In the Courtyard

A fun hour of not-so-serious holiday songs and treats!

HOLIDAY HOMES

Everybody is invited for this fun look at the holiday season.

Holiday Homes Christmas Open House Tour is coming again! Five different homes – located in Canyon Lakes, Briarcreek, The Greens, Blue Quail Ridge, and Gaillardia – will be on display on Sunday, December 6, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Enjoy viewing these decorated homes and munching on hors d’oeuvres. Tickets on sale in the Concourse and at the church office.

Tour in any order:

Stacey & Cary Decker – Canyon Lakes 7605 NW 133rd Place // minisandwiches, relish tray Jimi Hadley & John Schille Briarcreek – 7001 NW 100th Street // bite size hors d’oeuvres’ Sue Dye The Greens – 13029 Green Valley Drive // dips with chips & vegetables

The Joy of Christmas December 13, 9:15 and 10:45 a.m.

Sue Knight & Debbie Knight – Blue Quail Ridge 15605 Allegheny Drive // punch & desserts Sherri & David Boyd – Gaillardia 5300 Wisteria Drive // fruit, cheese, crackers, sparkling juice Price: $15 per person // $25 per couple

Featuring: Celebration Choir, Worship Orchestra, and SYNERGY (vocal ensemble) The Joy of Christmas will be a joyous celebration of the holidays. You will experience the holiday spirit with some of your favorite Christmas songs and carols, such as: •

O Holy Night

•

Little Drummer Boy

•

Do You Hear What I Hear

•

Mary Did You Know

•

Carol of the Bells

Plus many others, including a “huge” Christmas Carol sing-along! We guarantee you will leave with a smile on your face and a carol in your heart.

Plan to join our entire Church family for “The Joy of Christmas!”

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Children ADVENT IN CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES It is the desire of the ministries at Church of the Servant that during Advent its members prepare their hearts, minds and spirit for the birth of the Christ child. Children’s Ministries has prepared the following Advent plan for its families in hope that it will help them be able to focus and to be reminders of this Holy Season: Praying for our Families: The families that are served by the staff and volunteers of Children’s Ministries will be prayed for daily during Advent in hopes that the “over-stimulated chaos” of the holiday season can take a back seat to the “real reason for the season” in their home. Open Hands, a Servant prayer group, has agreed to be the prayer group behind this effort for our families.

Sunday Mornings: Sunday lessons for children in Advent will coordinate with the sermon series, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”, being offered to those that attend one of the 4 worship services offered on Sundays: The Key Verse for this series is Luke 2:12 – “And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

The concept of this series is for everyone to look through the eyes of those who met Jesus in that humble manger and learn from them as we prepare to meet him anew at Christmas.

Each morning lesson will focus on the following: November 29 – Angels: Messengers of Good News Luke 1:26-28, 2:1-14 December 6 – Joseph: Unsung Hero Matthew 1:18-25 December 13 – Mary: Servant of God Luke 1:26-30, 46-49 December 20 – Shepherds: The Blessed of the Lord Luke 2:8-20 Family Advent Devotionals – These devotionals will be available at the Welcome Counter in the children’s area. They include simple family activities for this season, as well as devotional time, if using an Advent wreath at home.

Christmas Eve Services – The 3:00 p.m. Family Service is specially designed for families with children. Every child will have the opportunity to participate in the GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD during this service.

Communion will be served. There will be no nursery during the 3:00 p.m. service. The nursery will be open for the 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. Candlelight services.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS PARTY DECEMBER 20

This celebration will begin at 9:15 during Kids Own Worship and will continue into the 10:45 Sunday school hour.

9:15: The Kids Own Worship and Grapple lesson, which includes music, activities and videos, will focus on the lesson of the shepherds.

10:45: During Sunday school the children will travel (with their adult leaders) to different areas where they will share birthday breakfast, sing carols, make a Christmas art project, as well as see and hear the Christmas story. The Christmas story will be dramatized, by the 4th and 5th graders, complete with costumes and actions will give life to the GREATEST STORY ever told. The children will follow the story of Joseph and Mary on that eventful trip to Bethlehem and see the special event that blessed the shepherds with a special message.

We will have a wonderful time celebrating the birth of our Savior all morning. Make plans for your children to be with us all morning on December 20.

Adult PRIME TIME Community Hall December 10, 10 a.m.

This month, we have nothin’ but fun for the Christmas gathering - our Annual Bake Sale & Silent Auction plus great music by David Anderson and Friends! The silent auction will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Come early so you don’t miss a chance to bid on delicious cakes, cookies, candy, etc. prepared by our own Prime Timers. The proceeds of this auction will be used for our Christmas Mission Gifts.

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 $5300.00 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 8:30pm 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

Congratulations, Bill White!

Last Friday, Bill White of Oklahoma City was inducted as the 32nd member of the Eastern Oklahoma State University Alumni Association Hall of Fame.

This award is presented annually to an Eastern alumnus who – through extraordinary achievement and service at the local, state, or national levels – has brought honor and distinction to both themselves and the institution.

Following the auction, singer David Anderson and a few of his musical friends, accompanied by our own keyboard magician, Dr. Matt Schinske, will perform THE MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS. It’s always great fun to anticipate which “Friends” David will bring each year, and to enjoy the wonderful, spirit-filled music they share with us. Don’t miss this gathering of friends as we share a festive Christmas season!

Following the program, we will share a yummy and bountiful holiday meal.

You can enjoy the program and lunch for $10.00. If you come only for the program, the cost is $2.00.

Be sure to sign up at the Welcome Center, or call the church office, 721-4141 no later than 4:00 p.m., Monday, December 7 to make your reservation. If you sign up, then see you will be unable to attend, please call to cancel your reservation, as Prime Time must pay for all meals reserved.

Prime Timers: you will need to deliver the pies, cakes, candy, etc. by 9:30 a.m. Please label your items with your name and a description.

Congratulations, Bill White!

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Women Kindred Community For Women Who Have Lost Their Husbands

Paint Your Art Out Event and Luncheon December 12, 11 a.m.

Come paint, eat, and share a fun morning with other women. You will be amazed at the masterpiece you will take home! Please reserve your spot with Susie Cobden at scobden@churchoftheservant.com.

Women’s Ministry presents The Gifts of Christmas This Friday, November 20, 6:30 p.m.

Women’s Advent Luncheons Begin December 1

Tickets can be bought at the door.

Tuesdays, 11:30am -1pm Have you ever wondered how this Christmas could be different? How can I breathe new life into old traditions? Our advent study this year will be focused on how we feast on the Word of God during these times of feasting and celebrating. Dr. Robyn Goggs will be leading us through Advent with Scripture and reflection during our luncheons. Revive an old tradition or begin a new one and watch your season be different!

No reservations required, just show up in Community Hall with a brown bag lunch; drinks provided. Nursery is available with reservations by November 24.

A Women’s Night Out! You and the special women in your life won’t want to miss this fun evening full of ideas for Christmas! The evening begins with Eileene’s gourmet cookies and coffee, followed by four energetic presentations of special holiday details.

• Prepare your Heart: Ideas for making a perfect Advent, presented by Brooke Bartlow and Kristin Hersom.

• A Welcome to Remember: The Art of Hospitality at Christmas, presented

by Erin Page and Debbi Marshall.

• Bright Paper Packages Under the Tree: latest trends in wrapping and decorating, presented by Millie Fernald, Amber Neaves and Andi Neaves.

• The Greatest Gifts: Top 10 ideas for gifts this season, presented by Cindy Long and Meghan Thompson.

We will be collecting new or gently worn children’s coats for Infant Crisis Services that evening as our outreach.

Every woman will go home with several gifts to help make your Christmas so special. It will be a night we will be talking about all season! You don’t want to miss it!

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or at the door.

Christmas Eve Family Service This service has become a beautiful tradition in the life of our congregation and will once again begin at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The service is a wonderful way for children to participate. This year, all children who attend will play a surprise role that will be given to them on arrival. The playful fun of the service lends itself for all to enjoy Christmas through the eyes of a child. It is also a memorable time for families to share Communion together on this special eve of our faith. Consider making the family service part of your Christmas Eve experience.

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Our Life Together Celebrating

u Neal and Kim Bilger as they welcome their daughter, Hallie Marie Bilger into their family.

The proud siblings are Madelynn and Micah Bilger.

Celebrating Memories u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Angela Stall by Dona Love & Paul Sullivan. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Ester Fowble by Nancy Woods. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Nita Miller by William & Jennifer Scimeca. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Elisha Fund in memory of Esther Fowble by Belynda Clanton & Fred Cox. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Elisha Fund in memory of Ester Fowble by Belynda Clanton & Fred Cox. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Becky Mosher by Phyllis Mosher and family. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministry in memory of Dorothy Kepler by Pat McGarrity & Leroy Ball.

Our Prayers

u Jack and Carolyn Bedingfield as their daughter-in-law’s brother, Brent Tenorio, deals with health issues and recuperates from surgery in California. u Gary and Darlene Berkovsky as their grandson, Sawyer Pitt, deals with health issues. u Kenyatta, Christi-Lynn, Colby, Sadie and Samuel Bethea as Kenyatta’s father, Robert Bethea, is hospitalized at Mercy Health Center. u Gary, Susie and Katie Cobden as Susie’s brother, Jim Hooper, recuperates from outpatient surgery. u Elliott Fenton as Elliott recuperates from injuries from a fall. u Cary and Terry Fisher as Terry faces surgery at Deaconess Hospital. u Jim and Coleen Henry as their daughter, Alyson Crawford, faces surgery in Lubbock, Texas. u Brian, Angela, Josh and Kylie Perry as Brian recuperates from outpatient surgery. u Kathlyn Reynolds as Kathlyn recuperates from a procedure. u Jim and Kathryn Roberts as their grandson, Cale Roberts, deals with health issues.

Our Sympathy

u Carolyn Beavers and Family at the death of her sister, Marjorie Son. u Bill and Leslie Cunningham, Ginger Durall and Family at the death of Bill’s and Leslie’s brother-in-law and Ginger’s husband, Curt Durall. u Bonita McCoy and Family at the death of her sister-in-law, Nancy Moreland. u Dick and Susan Muehleisen and Family at the death of Susan’s aunt, Christine Martin. u Susie Musae, Tate, Gina, Ryan and Jaeden Musae and Family at the death of Susie’s brother and Tate’s uncle, John Wilkerson. u Dan and Bonita Pulver and Family at the death of Dan’s father, Rev. Merle Pulver. u Tom White and Family at the death of Tom’s wife, Evelyn White. u Pat Wilson, Dan and Terri Bruner, D.J., Amanda, Slayton and Harper Bruner and Family at the death of Pat’s husband, Terri’s father and D.J.’s grandfather, James Wilson.

u Jay Stout as Jay deals with health issues. u Bob and Susy Wilson as Bob recuperates from surgery and is hospitalized at Integris Baptist Medical Center.

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.

Oh the FUN we have learning God’s word and stories of our faith in Sunday School!

Last Sunday, we learned about Esau and Jacob and the disquise used by Jacob and his mother, Rebekah, to get the family blessing from Isaac. The story shows how messy families can be, but through it all, God is present!

Our wonderful teachers reveal the love of God through fun activities and sharing stories of the Bible each Sunday at the 10:45 hour. The children learn through stories, activities and crafts, while building relationships that will last a lifetime.

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Church of the Servant

14343 N MacArthur Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73142-9725

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