Newsletter March 2020

E D I T I O N NO. 20.03 |

MA RCH 2020

|

MO NTHLY NEWSLE T TE R

UPDATE!

VISION 2020: FOCUSING ON OUR FUTURE

Dr. Matthew Mitchell Senior Minister

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s of February 25, our congregation has pledged $4,362,579.00 towards the $4.5 million goal. Church of the Servant has pledged 96.9% of the total commitment needed to fully pledge the Vision 2020 campaign.

Raising this amount of funding in 100 days has been remarkable! With this said, what are the next steps for Church of the Servant?

The next steps began on Friday and Saturday, February 8 and 9. When the Church of the Servant Board of Governance met to discuss the New Year and the possibilities for missions in ministry this year and for years to come. During these two days, the leadership team heard multiple reports from the finance team, reports about what was learned from the Unstuck Consulting Group during 2019, and heard from our District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Rockford Johnson, about the uncertainties surrounding the larger United Methodist Church. The weekend was truly a wonderful time of fellowship, learning, and decrement.

It was at this time that the next steps for moving forward with the Vision 2020 Campaign was discussed. With only $137,421 remaining to reach the goal, the Governance Board voted and unanimously approved moving forward with the project and continuing to raise the additional funds. Truly, it was a prayerful moment of joy, excitement, and faith for all who were in attendance.

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So what does this mean for the daily operations of the church? The project will begin to unfold slowly. The Building Committee will oversee all four components of the entire project.

The four components are: I. Celebration Center Sound—Spring/Early Summer 2020 a. Installation of the Hearing Loop for those who are using loop-enable devices. b. Design, Build, and Installation of a new sound system II. Concourse Enhancements and Updating—Dates TBD a. New Flooring, Paint, Sound Panels, Servant Café, Welcome Center/Guest Services III. Youth Wing Redevelopment and Updating—Dates TBD a. Complete gut and rebuild of current youth spaces.

IV. Construction of Multi-Ministry Building — Ground Breaking–Fall 2020

CHURCH OF THE SERVANT BOARD OF GOVERNANCE Now that the Vision 2020 Campaign has taken the next significant step in the life of Church of the Servant, it is time to begin to stretch for an even greater vision ahead. V25 is a place holder for a greater vision Church of the Servant hopes to become by the year 2025. While working with the Unstuck Group, the church staff was challenged to put specific goals down so that we could see what we hoped to become. This would help cast a specific vision that was measurable.

Friends, we are boldly and courageously moving into the future at Church of the Servant! Please take the time to read every article and learn about all the great things that have happened, are happening, and are being planned in the days ahead.

Serving Christ and His world together!

Through this process, this vision statement was developed:

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& FAMILIES E NT S

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VISION 2020

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$4.5M

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TALITY & GUEST

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So THAT—The world is transformed with the love and truth of JESUS CHRIST!

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• A movement where 501 people have made a first-time commitment or recommitment to Jesus Christ!

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• A learning and serving congregation with 60% of the worshiping congregation is involved in the Discipleship Pathway.

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• A Community where 401 to 501 kids and youth attend vibrant and vital weekly experiences.

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WORSHIP

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• A Worshiping Congregation of 2501 people each week.

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By the year 2025 Church of the Servant will have become:

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ServantOKC.org

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Men’s Morning Bible Study

BUCK and a BIBLE Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 a.m. | Community Hall Led by Dr. Matthew Mitchell, Senior Minister Grab your Bible and $1.00 to cover the cost of a donut or muffin, and join a group of early-rising, God-filled, fun-loving men in a study led by our Senior Minister, Dr. Matthew Mitchell.

Women’s Morning Bible Study

Women in the Word Servant Women in the Word

Tuesdays, 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Community Hall Led by Dr. Matthew Mitchell, Senior Minister

This large-group Bible Study, led by Dr. Matthew Mitchell, is a favorite among many women as it appeals to the beginning follower as well as the seasoned believer. Each session will essentially be an independent study, so even if your schedule will prevent weekly attendance, feel free to attend as often as possible. Join us on Tuesdays at 9:15 for coffee and donuts, and the program begins at 9:30 a.m. in Community Hall.

No registration required.

New Bible studies for Women can be found on the church website at ServantOKC.org/WOMEN.

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DISCOVER SERVANT! Are you or do you know someone who is new to Church of the Servant? Do you have questions about Servant, but don’t know who to ask? Would you like to meet Senior Pastor Dr. Matthew Mitchell? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, then you will want to come to Discover Servant. Once a month, Discover Servant will be offered for guests and regular attenders.

Discover Servant is Sunday, March 29, 10:30-11:15 a.m. in Community Hall. You will have a chance to meet Dr. Mitchell and hear more about Church of the Servant while enjoying a cup of coffee and a donut. No reservations required.

A STUDY ON PHILIPPIANS You are invited to join the newest women’s Bible study on Philippians. It will help to deepen your relationship with Jesus, turn your worries into worship, and develop gospel-centered tools for navigating relational conflict.

MEMORIAL PRE-PLANNING SEMINAR

The study will be led by Barbara Bonham on Thursday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. It begins April 2, and will meet in North Adult Center, Room 4. Come expecting to grow in your faith and to connect with a wonderful group of women. Feel free to bring a friend as well.

Have you been thinking about making some plans in advance for what your memorial service or funeral might look like one day? Perhaps you have some favorite hymns or songs, or maybe a particular scripture passage that would be meaningful for your family when they celebrate your life. Or perhaps you are just wondering about some of the “pre-arrangements” you can make that will cause it to be a lighter burden on your loved ones. It’s never too early to start thinking about such things. In fact, it can be a truly spiritual and devotional experience to think about the deep question, “How might I like my family members to celebrate my life one day?” We invite you to a special seminar on Sunday, March 29, at 2:00 p.m. in the Centrum. Adults of any age will find the information helpful. We will give you some guidance and resources that will be of help to you as you do some “pre-planning.” The seminar is free, but we’d love to know you’re coming—so that we will be prepared with enough handouts. If you plan to attend, just call Vicki Roberds at (405) 728-4738 or email her at vroberds@ ServantOKC.org.

WHAT’S YOUR MISSION? God gave the assignment to His people thousands of years ago: to bring “lost sheep” back into the love and safety of His kingdom. He said to become a “Kingdom of Priests,” and put God on display to show the world what He is like. It’s still our task today.

In this thirteenth volume of the “That the World May Know” ® film series, you’ll glimpse the urgency and rewards of welcoming the strangers and prodigals the Lord longs to embrace. Discover the mission that can give your life - and the lives of those around you greater meaning than you ever imagined.

Sunday, March 29, at 2:00 p.m.

Join renowned teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan as he guides you through the lands of the Bible. Beginning Tuesday, March 31, a new study on Israel’s Mission will be led by John Farr. It will be held in North Adult Center, Room 12 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

ServantOKC.org

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REBUILDING TOGETHER OKC REBUILDS LIVES! SATURDAY, APRIL 18

Every spring since 1992, Church of the Servant has partnered with Rebuilding Together OKC to help rebuild lives by volunteering one Saturday each year to repair homes of low-income seniors and families in our community. Volunteer teams make free home repairs to a home they have been assigned based on skill level. This year, Rebuilding Together is Saturday, April 18.

Rebuilding Together teams complete repairs, such as: interior and exterior painting, laying new carpet, repairing kitchen cabinets and countertops, and many more needed repairs. This is a great experience for small groups, families, and classes.

This year, we will be working in the Capitol View neighborhood bordered by N.E. 36th on the north, N.E. 23rd on the south, Lincoln Blvd. on the west, and Kelly Ave. on the east.

On Sunday, March 29, there will be an opportunity to help us raise money through a special Fish Appeal offering. Our goal is to raise $20,000 that will go directly to repairing homes in the Capitol View neighborhood.

Sunday, March 29, will also be the day registration opens for volunteers to help repair homes. You can register in the Concourse that morning. You can choose to work the morning shift or afternoon shift.

If you have questions, please contact Scott Smith at ssmith@churchoftheservant.com.

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EARTHGLOW GIFT SHOP BE A SWEETHEART! SHOP AT EARTHGLOW! Spring is in the air, Easter is just around the corner, and Earthglow Gift Shop is bursting with great new items for spring. There are all sorts of bunnies and chicks, beautiful glass eggs, ceramic crosses, and more to decorate your home for Easter. A new line of Larado’s dipping sauces will be the perfect addition to your Easter appetizers and dinner — and they will look great in the beautiful (and totally indestructible) white Melamine serving dishes. Soft plush toys will delight the youngsters in your family. And there are so many more exciting items appearing almost daily to tantalize your taste for shopping.

Best of all, every dollar of Earthglow profits is given to organizations within our community. The proceeds from purchases you made in 2019 will be distributed to agencies throughout the city within the next few weeks, so watch for an announcement of how your purchases provide blessings to others. Stop by Earthhlow often and find remarkable gifts for yourself or others.

You’ll be glad you did!

Joyful Noise Class – A class for young adults with special needs!

Every Sunday at 10:50 a.m., the Joyful Noise Sunday morning class meets together in the South Adult Center, Room 4. It is a class designed for young adults, ages 17 and above, with special learning needs. Each Sunday is filled with a Bible study lesson and discussion, as well as a craft that relates to the lesson. Donuts are always available!

Would you like to know more? Please contact Patti Ross at 405-324-4033 or 405-974-1938. The class does not meet in June, July, and August.

It resumes the Sunday after Labor Day. ServantOKC.org

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LOOK WHAT WE DID! SUPER SUNDAY! We had a great time during Super Sunday on February 2! We played games, ate snacks, had a dance party, jumped in the bouncy houses, and more! It’s always a fun day when we get to spend it with friends.

RISE AGAINST HUNGER On February 23, our Servant 45 kids helped bag meals for Rise Against Hunger. A total of 151,416 were packaged that morning (3,000 meals by Servant 45 Kids). We are proud of our fourth and fifth graders for generously giving of their time through service to help save the lives of others.

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MARCH HAPPENINGS...

FOLLOW THE LEADER

EVERY SUNDAY MORNING IN MARCH AGES 3 YEARS THROUGH KINDERGARTEN Following a leader is something preschoolers love and understand.

What they need to learn is that throughout life, there will be countless choices of leaders they can follow. We want them to know who the best leader is to follow. And that is Jesus! Jesus is the best leader we can follow!

Our memory verse this month comes from Matthew 4:19 and says, “‘Come and follow me,’ Jesus said.” Who can you follow? I can follow Jesus. By the end of this month, when we ask preschoolers, “who can you follow?”, our prayer is that they will answer, “I can follow Jesus.” Why? Because Jesus loves us, and He will always lead us in the best way.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday mornings in March!

DIY: FORGIVENESS IS UP TO YOU EVERY SUNDAY MORNING IN MARCH GRADES 1-5

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! WE POST UPDATES, INFORMATION, PICTURES, AND MORE, SO DON’T MISS OUT! GO TO @ SERVANTKIDS ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER! SIGN UP FOR TEXT ALERTS

BY TEXTING @SERVANTKI TO 81010.

This month, we will be learning about the connection between forgiveness and God’s character, as shown through God’s big story. Forgiveness is deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to pay.

Throughout the Bible, we can read about the importance of forgiveness. Right from the start, God made a way for Adam and Eve to have a relationship with Him again. The same is true for us. No matter how much we mess up, God will always make a way to forgive us. When it comes to forgiveness, we can also look to Jesus, who chose to forgive even those who were crucifying Him. Because of God’s amazing forgiveness, we should work hard to forgive others.

Our memory verse this month comes from Colossians 3:13 and says, “Put up with one another. Forgive one another if you are holding something against someone. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you.” We will discuss how we forgive others because God forgives us and how, when you forgive others, it can change them. We will learn about taking the first step to forgive others and how everyone needs to be forgiven. Join us for a new session each Sunday morning this month!

ServantOKC.org

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STILL TO COME...

SAVE THE DATE FOR SOME

FUN EVENTS HAPPENING SOON! KANAKUK KAMPOUT Mark your calendars now for the return of Kanakuk Kampout this summer! The dates are August 3-7, and the cost is $275 per Kamper.

This is for kids ages 5-12. Kampout is from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day that week. Registration is open at www.cometokamp.com.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Save the date for VBS, which is happening June 8-11, 2020. “FOCUS” VBS will help kids dive deeper into their faith. Kids will have a blast as they discover how to trust in what they CAN’T see because of what they CAN see by putting the FOCUS on God and His amazing plan for us. We’ll use this week to explore four different ways we can FOCUS on God: Hear, Pray, Talk, Live.

Follow along on Facebook @VBSCOS for updates and more information.

WEEKLY DEVOTIONALS FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS

SERVANT 45 Fourth and fifth graders meet each Wednesday night for games, small groups, activities, and a fun time with friends. Bring a Bible and join us! Pizza will be served on March 25 and April 29.

Meeting dates for this semester: March—4, 11, 25 April—1, 8, 15, 22, 29 May—6, 13

On our website, we have a section on the KIDS page (ServantOKC.org/KIDS) with weekly devotionals. These devotionals include activities that go along with the lesson learned on the previous Sunday morning. We would like to encourage you to spend a few minutes each day with your child(ren) reinforcing what they have learned about that week during Total Group and small groups. We also post Bible readings, reflection questions, and more each day on Instagram and Facebook. When the church and family work together to reinforce the concepts and lessons, we will have the greatest impact on the lives of our kids!

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ServantOKC.org

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HOLY WEEK Join us at Church of the Servant for Holy Week as we remember the events of Easter: from Jesus’ triumphant entrance on Palm Sunday, to his last meal (Holy Thursday) and fateful death (Good Friday), and finishing with his miraculous resurrection on Easter Sunday! Come experience the full story with powerful worship and encouraging messages that express how the journey to calvary can transform everything!

Join us!

SUNDAY, APRIL 12 – EASTER SUNDAY CELEBRATE EASTER WITH US! – Sunday, April 12 at 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 a.m. – Join us for Easter services as we celebrate the risen Christ! We are offering five worship opportunities: Chapel service with communion at 8:15 in Chapel of the Cross; Traditional/Blended Celebration services at 9:30 and 11:00 in Celebration Center; and Modern Worship at 9:30 and 11:00 in the Centrum. No Sunday School, Student, or Children’s programming today.

Nursery care is available for children ages 2 and under.

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SUNDAY, APRIL 5 – PALM SUNDAY SERVANT KIDS’ WAIVING OF THE PALMS – On Palm Sunday, April 5, Children (3 years old through 5th grade) will be participating in the traditional Procession of Palms during the 9:30 worship service in the Celebration Center and the 11:00 service in the Centrum. All children are welcome and encouraged to begin their Holy Week experience with us. The re-enactment of the Waving of the Palms during Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem is always such a moving experience for the congregation. Children will meet at 9:20 outside the Celebration Center and at 10:50 by the Centrum. After the Waiving of the Palms, Servant Kids will go back downstairs for a lesson, and then the leaders will bring the children upstairs to meet their parents for the Servant Kids Family Easter Celebration at Noon.

SERVANT KIDS’ FAMILY EASTER CELEBRATION – Servant Kids is hosting the Family Easter Celebration on Sunday, April 5, 12:00-1:00 p.m. (immediately after 11:00 service) on the Servant Lawn. This gathering is for kids ages birth – 5th grade and their families. Come and enjoy lunch, games, inflatables, sno cones, prizes, and candy-filled eggs! Invite your friends and neighbors and their kids to join us for a time of fun with friends!

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please consider donating one of the following: 1.) bags of individually wrapped candies (we do not need eggs; just lots of candy); 2.) monetary donation to purchase supplies. Drop donations in the bins by the waterfall by Sunday, March 29.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9 – HOLY THURSDAY On Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m., Holy Thursday Service (also known as Maundy Thursday) will be led by the Modern Worship Team and Dr. Matthew Mitchell, Senior Pastor. Come and share in a time of worship, prayer, and reflection.

ServantOKC.org

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FRIDAY, APRIL 10 – GOOD FRIDAY Music Ministries urges you to experience the greatness of God’s sacrifice at the Good Friday Service on April 10, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. in the Celebration Center. John Rutter’s classic work “Requiem” will guide us through a solemn Altar Stripping symbolizing how God’s life was stripped from the world leaving nothing but darkness. Come join us in reflection of God’s purposeful suffering and death for us and for our salvation.

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A WEEKEND TO BE FIERCE! On January 31 and February 1, a new tradition began for Women’s Ministry at Church of the Servant. A two-day women’s event called Fierce. Guest preacher, Rev. Jennifer Cowart of Harvest Church, shared inspiring messages. Over 350 women gathered over the two dates for fellowship, pop-up shopping, worship, teaching, and smallgroup time. The church was buzzing with activity as members and guests came to see what was happening at Church of the Servant.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the response from fifty-seven women who stated they wanted to be connected in a new way in small group ministries.

The weekend would not have been possible without the hard work of so many awesome women and the Facilities Ministry staff. Our next Women’s Ministry event will be on April 23. Contact Melissa Marshal at melissamarshall11@gmail to learn more and take part!

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Church of the Servant 14343 North MacArthur Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73142-9725

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S.POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO 99

OKLAHOMA CITY 73125

Follow Us! A United Methodist Congregation @ServantOKC SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE TIMES

8:15 • 9:30 • 11:00

CONTACT US: 14343 N MacArthur Blvd.

Oklahoma City, OK 73132 ServantOKC.org 405.721.4141

LIVE STREAM Sunday Mornings @ 9:30 & 11:00 churchoftheservant.churchonline.org Also on Facebook @ServantOKC