Newsletter 12.03.14

December 3, 2014

CHURCH OF THE SERVANT Bi-Weekly NEWSLETTER

Issue: 14.24

How Are You Preparing for Christmas?

Rev. Scott Bartlow Associate Minister

Christmas is coming a lot earlier than we think. Yes, of course, Christmas is December 25, but for many Americans it started last week on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. As we all know, every business is coming up with their best promotional deals on the latest electronics, clothing, and toys. The stores open their doors on Thanksgiving evening or three, four, five o’clock in the morning.

People are eagerly waiting to be the first in line to catch those deals.

A few years ago, I recall hearing a story about a Wal-Mart employee that was literally trampled to his death as people came rushing inside to find those amazing deals. Unfortunately, the good news of Christmas turned to tragedy for this young man and his family. Often times, the meaning of Christmas gets lost very quickly during the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. Quite literally, people run so quickly they forget the real meaning of Christmas. What doors will

you run to this Christmas?

Adam Hamilton said, “Advent is a time when we prepare ourselves spiritually to celebrate the birth of the Savior.”

Advent is the church’s opportunity to prepare our hearts and remember what Christmas is all about. It’s an opportunity to not run rampant toward the best deals at your local business store but to begin to run toward the open door of Christ’s loving arms. Let’s remember this Christmas the significance of a child being born two thousand years ago. Let’s remember that this Savior brings hope and a promise to ever man, women and child.

Let’s remember the best gift of Christmas is the birth of our Savior into our world. How will you prepare your heart this Christmas? Which door will you run toward to prepare your heart for his presence to meet you in your place of need? We have multiple opportunities for you to consider below in preparation this Christmas season:

The Gift of Christmas

A musical celebration, featuring full choir and orchestra ensemble on Sunday, December 14, with two performances at 6 & 8pm. Come early and enjoy the LIVE Nativity Scene, petting zoo and pictures with Santa’s Sleigh. Free tickets are available in the main office of the church. Walk-ups are welcome. Come join Church of the Servant’s Music Ministry, as they present “The Gift of Christmas” –– Sunday, December 14, 6 & 8pm.

Change the Story: The Compassion Experience

December 12-15, Church of the Servant will host The Compassion Experience.

It’s an immersive, traveling exhibition that lets you walk through the life of an actual child who has suffered the crippling despair of severe poverty. You can reserve a spot at compassion.com/change or go to www.churchoftheservant.com.

Christmas Eve Services

Are you looking for a special way to celebrate Christmas this year? Church of the Servant invites you to attend one of their Christmas Eve services. Ask your family and friends to join you to sing familiar Christmas carols and feel the warmth of Christmas.

Make plans to attend one of the three Church of the Servant Christmas Eve services –– the 3:30 family service, or 6 & 8 pm candlelight services.

Blessings, Rev. Scott Bartlow

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Missions Upcoming Mission Dates to Know:

Sunday, Sunday, Dec 7 –– Christmas Grace gifts to be returned Friday-Monday, Dec 12-15 –– The Compassion Mobile Experience Sunday, Dec 14 –– OBI Blood Drive Sunday, Dec 21 –– Delivery of Christmas meals - after worship

Volunteer your time to help share a mission experience with others: Compassion Mobile Experience!

Compassion International’s Change the Story: The Compassion Experience is making a four-day stop at Church of the Servant, December 12-15.

The tour brings visitors on an immersive journey into the lives of three Compassion beneficiaries living in developing countries around the world. Over 1.4 billion people in these countries live on less than $1.25 per day, facing questions, choices and challenges you’ll have to see to believe. The true stories featured in The Compassion Experience belong to three children who grew up in situations just like this. Through the use of a personal iPod, a headset and over 3,100 square feet of interactive space, you’ll visit homes, walk through schools and markets, and hear life-changing stories of hope–all from the perspective of a child growing up in poverty.

This free event is appropriate for all ages and provides, for anyone who has never had the chance to travel outside the United States, an excellent opportunity to get a small glimpse of what life is like in some developing countries. Go to www. compassion.com/change and complete the easy-to-follow instructions to reserve your spot for this free event.

Also, 54 volunteers are needed to host the different shifts and provide hospitality and care for the 3,000 people that will be expected to come from the community for the experience. If you are interested in volunteering for a shift on one of the days, please contact Susie Cobden at scobden@churchoftheservant.com.

All of the Christmas Grace families have been adopted!

Thank you for your faithfulness! Remember gifts are to be returned December 7 in the Courtyard.

Sharing Christ’s Love in the Community

By Sharing a Christmas Meal

The Chapel Community and 9:23 Worship Service are sponsoring 150 Christmas meals to deliver in the community on Sunday, December 21, right after worship. The meal consists of a bag of groceries to make a holiday meal plus a ham.

The goal is to deliver not to just fulfill a need, but to make a personal connection with another person or family in the name of Jesus Christ.

Three ways you can participate: 1. Take a grocery bag with the printed list located on the Mission Kiosk, fill it and return it by December 21; or make a donation in the Fish Offering and mark it Operation Christmas Meal.

2. Identify someone in your network of life who would be blessed by receiving this meal – someone who is finding the holidays hard emotionally or financially this year. You can email this contact to scobden@churchoftheservant.com with name, address and phone.

New animal patterned stretchy bracelets. Each bracelet purchased provides a mosquito net to a family in Ghana, West Africa. Great for stocking stuffers! As always, all profits go to Missions.

3. Help deliver the meals to friends in the community on Sunday, December 21, right after worship.

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Adult Celebrations! Preschool Fruit Sale Sunday, December 14 Oranges and Grapefruits - $20 a Box

Women

Celebrations! Preschool is a bilingual preschool education for low-income children that Church of the Servant has supported from its beginning. Its purpose is to enable children ages 3 to 5 years to learn the English language and the essential skills necessary to enter public school ready to learn and succeed. The children have a better chance at success in elementary school if they can speak English before they get to first grade. The proceeds from the Fruit Sale each Christmas season benefits the school for the year ahead.

This year’s Fruit Sale will be on Sunday, December 14. The M.V.C. Sunday School Class will be selling boxes of grapefruit, oranges or mixed. The cost is $20 a box. If you need assistance carrying the fruit to your car, please ask one of our helpers. And remember - fruit is a wonderful and healthy gift.

Annual Women’s Ministry Advent Luncheons: Contagious Christmas!

Tuesdays, December 9 and 16, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Bring a Brown Bag Lunch; Drinks and Dessert provided

This year’s luncheons will center on spreading the joy of Christmas. Women will enjoy getting to know one another as they share their own stories of joy as well as embracing the joy of the Christmas Story. Each week Dr. Robyn Goggs will teach, then we will make something to give to someone else, to share the joy of Christmas.

These luncheons are so much fun and uplifting during the season. Bring a friend with you!

Please register with Susie at 728-4711, scobden@churchoftheservant.com, or at the Welcome Center.

S.M.I.L.E. Single Mothers In our Lord’s Embrace

December Study - Plan B: When God Doesn’t Show Up the Way You Thought He Would

Meeting Sunday mornings at 10:45 in North Adult room 6, SMILE seeks to be a safe place to share, learn, and support women who are raising children without a partner in the home. Each week we have a faith-based topical conversation about life, led by Dr. Robyn Goggs. If you know a woman who would benefit from this kind of support, send her this way!

The SMILE ministry has adopted a care center in Northeast OKC as our mission focus, and as a class we will be preparing gift bags for 25 residents on Sunday December 14. Would you like to contribute items for these bags for our Christmas mission project? It is a dynamic and growing group of women offering support to each other and the community. If you would like to attend, support, or come be a part of a leading group, please contact Dr. Robyn Goggs at rgoggs@churchoftheservant.com.

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Healing Hearts for Wives with Heavenly Husbands Community Hall Saturday, December 13 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Bob Willis is a talented sculptor from Edmond, Oklahoma. As a demonstrating sculptor, he frequently entertains groups with his fascinating method of sculpting a bust in clay. He holds workshops at his Edmond studio and the House of Clay in Oklahoma City.

Bob will lead us through an experience that engages our senses and encourages us to experience Christmas in new and creative ways. Lunch is included. R.S.V.P. by Monday, December 8 to Sherri Price at sherriprice@cox.net or 202-6954.

Adult DISCOVER CLASSES

Have you wondered how people get connected to Church of the Servant?

Have you wondered what the Church offers for a new guest and new members?

Church of the Servant has recently created an intentional process to help people connect, grow and serve.

We believe people grow best when they are connected through relationships with others. We are committed to coming alongside anyone who wants to move forward in their relationship with God. We are committed to help make Servant a place we all can call ‘home.’

Therefore, we created a clear assimilation process that allows people to get connected to the life of our Church. It’s simply called, “Discover Classes.”

Discover Servant: Guest orientation the first of the month held in the courtyard at 10:30am and 11:45am. The purpose of Discover Servant is a fast-fire meet and greet with our pastors and team to learn about the church. Further, we have a Guest Central Kiosk by the Courtyard for new guest to get quick information and meet one of our great volunteers or staff.

Discover You: Spiritual Gifts class offered quarterly. The purpose is to help people identify their unique spiritual gifts and how they might use them to serve in the church.

Discover Membership: Membership class the last Sunday of every month. Offered at 9:15 a.m. on odd-numbered months and 10:45 a.m. on evennumbered months. The purpose is to learn about the church’s mission, vision, values, and biblical beliefs, and find practical ways to get involved.

For more information about Discover Classes, contact Scott Bartlow at sbartlow@churchoftheservant.com.

PRIME TIME Thursday, December 11, 10:00 a.m.

The Blue Christmas Tree

During this Advent season we decorate and celebrate in our lives and in the church. But we also realize that the holidays are a difficult season for those whose lives have been changed this year by the loss of a loved one or who have experienced a significant change in their lives.

We mark this at Church of Servant with our Blue Christmas Tree. During this season if you are remembering someone dear to you or just yourself, please come and write a name on a blue bulb in the basket and hang it on the white tree in the Courtyard.

Say a special prayer for that person and yourself as we honor and remember this season.

This month we will have two items of entertainment and fun on the agenda: the Annual Bake Sale & Silent Auction and a musical presentation by David Anderson and Friends. The silent auction of the baked goods will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to bid on delicious cakes, cookies, candy, etc. prepared by our own Prime Timers! The proceeds of this auction are used for Christmas Mission Gifts given by Prime Time. Prime Timers: you will need to deliver the pies, cakes, candy, etc. by 9:45 a.m. Please label your items with your name and a description.

Following the auction, singer David Anderson and gifted pianist/composer Dr. Matt Schinske will perform THE MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS. This will be a profusion of artistry and unexpected pleasures to make your spirits bright. In addition, there will be a delightful surprise guest from ABC’s “Good Morning America” that you will long remember. Don’t miss this presentation of the music, innocence, and power of Christmas!

Following the program, we will have our usual time of fellowship with old and new friends as we enjoy the festive holiday meal prepared for us. You can enjoy the program and lunch for $10.00. If you come only for the program, the cost is $2.00.

Sign up at the Welcome Center, or call the church office at 721-4141 no later than 4:00 p.m., Monday, December 8, to make your meal reservation. If you sign up, and then see you will be unable to attend, please call to cancel your reservation, as Prime Time must pay for all meals reserved.

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Children Happy Birthday Jesus Party Includes breakfast and Bethlehem!

Make sure your children are in Children’s Ministries on Sunday December 21 for the most important birthday party of the year! We will celebrate our Savior’s birth during both the 9:15 and 10:45 hours.

At 9:15 during Kid’s Own Worship, children will praise and worship God for sending his Son to be a living example of His perfect love.

And at 10:45, the children will be treated to Breakfast and Bethlehem. The children will have breakfast, sing carols, make a Christmas art project, as well as see and hear the Christmas story.

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 Sunday, December 21.

Save the Date: Vacation Bible School 2015

We are already planning for VBS next summer. The theme is Everest: Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power and it will be June 8-11, 2015. With the cold and snow blowing in, this is the perfect time to be thinking about a trek up Mount Everest! We have a few new positions on our VBS team and you might be perfect for one of them.

We need a Hospitality Director who will be in charge of hospitality during VBS as well as securing volunteers to sell shirts/CDs and a few other hospitality duties. We also need a Crew Director who will put all of our kids into their groups for the week. It’s a pretty detail-oriented job but we know the perfect person is out there for this job! And during your outings, if you happen across a great deal on fake snow and you are willing to donate some to our VBS decorating team, please feel free to do so! If you are interested in any of the available VBS team positions, please contact Martha Stone at 405-822-7484 or marth@hotmail.com.

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Our Prayers

Our Life Together

u Doug and Jaci Finch as Jaci recuperates from outpatient surgery. u D.A. and Carol Heggie as both D.A. and Carol deal with health issues and undergoes tests. u Fred and Sharon Knight as Sharon faces surgery at Integris Baptist Medical Center. u Ron and Donna Kozak as Donna recuperates from surgery. u Charles and Dorothy Luke, as their granddaughter, Jacie Smith, deals with health issues. u Henry and Jere Marcotte as their daughter, Sherry Nunziato, deals with health issues and undergoes physical therapy. u Robert and Debbie McCord as Robert recuperates from surgery. u Bill and Zana Willey as their granddaughter is hospitalized in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Celebrating Memories

Celebrating Memories

u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Dorothy Wellborn by Primetime.

u A contribution has been made to The Servant Foundation, Inc. in memory of Elizabeth Weaver by Peter & Terry Weaver.

u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministry in memory of Linda Kepler by Primetime. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministry in memory of Fred Knight by Lemon Family Foundation. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministry in memory of Ramon Sutton by Lemon Family Foundation. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Whiz Kids in memory of Dean Naranche by Cynthia Stutsman. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Care Ministry in memory of Pat Hansen by Marian Hill.

u Jamie and Shelly Willis, as Jamie recuperates from surgery, and is hospitalized at The Spine Hospital.

u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Ramon Sutton by Neil & Marilyn Litzenberger.

CARE MINISTRIES

u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Ramon Sutton by William & Glynda Henderson.

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.

Our Sympathy

u Robert Adams and Family at the death of Robert’s brother, Max James Adams. u Robert and Deanna Clark and Family at the death of Deanna’s son, Rex Warshell. u John and C.K. Farr, and Brady, Dalton, and Ethan Farr and Family at the death of C.K.’s mother, Brady’s grandmother, and Dalton’s and Ethan’s great grandmother, Dorothe Bailey.

u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Ramon Sutton by William Brown. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Ramon Sutton by Nancy Woods. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Ramon Sutton by Nancy Wienecke. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Ramon Sutton by Bobbie Ann Buchanan. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Ramon Sutton by Dean & Glenda Truitt. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Care Ministry in memory of Ramon Sutton by Parakletos SS Class.

u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Children’s Ministry in memory of David Barnes by John & Denise Lingo. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Executive Minister Discretionary Fund in memory of Hazel Hutchinson by Koinonia Sunday School Klass. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Kenya Mission in memory of Jason Goff by Mark & Diana Scherber. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Phyllis Pease by Penn & Quill Book Club. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Phyllis Pease by Dick Wright. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Phyllis Pease by Robert & Margaret McKeown. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Phyllis Pease by Bud Belz & Associates. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Hannah’s Promise in memory of Ryan Jaxon Wolfe by Eric & Sandy Eissenstat. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Hannah’s Promise in memory of Ryan Jaxon Wolfe by Sheryl Winn. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Hannah’s Promise in memory of Ryan Jaxon Wolfe by Rose DeGuilio u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Phyllis Pease by Primetime. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Sr. Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Jo Gentry by Primetime. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Care Ministry in memory of Betty Smith by Transitions Sunday School Class. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Youth Ministry in memory of Greg Muehleisen by Bill & Carol Burnett.

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Church of the Servant

14343 N MacArthur Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73142-9725

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