May 17, 2017
CHURCH OF THE SERVANT Bi-Weekly NEWSLETTER
Issue: 17.09
Boxes, Boxes Everywhere... Here in Atlanta, our family is in the final stretch of packing, saying goodbye to dear friends and wrapping up the school year. I cannot believe that in less than twenty days we will be in our new home and with all of you at Church of the Servant. Needless to say, we are working hard and becoming more and more excited with each passing day! I want to share another reason I am so excited. While I was in OKC a few weeks ago, I was able to meet many of you and work with the staff. We began to plan the summer worship schedule, and we discovered that as four services each Sunday was preachable, developing time for relationship building was going to be a challenge. The staff worked, discussed, prayed and contemplated the best way to have a time for worship and relationships. During this discussion, the idea of moving to three services was discussed and finally implemented. This was not an easy decision because we all knew this would impact almost every household at Servant. I left OKC wondering how the Servant Family would respond. When I spoke with Scott Smith this week, I was relieved to hear his response. He was excited to share with me how people are rallying around the idea. Hearing Scott’s enthusiasm put me at great ease. This also revealed to me the core of Church of the Servant. Servant has a great spirit of hospitality, which is essential for a church to grow and thrive in the 21st-century world we live in today. Deuteronomy 10:19 reminds each of us, “You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Dr. Matthew Mitchell Senior Minister Designate
Moving halfway across the country is not the norm for United Methodist preachers. Moving halfway across the country may not be a foreign land, but nonetheless, the welcome we have received has been amazing! From our brief time in OKC, to the overwhelming love and acceptance we have received in the form of cards, email and social media, Amber and I cannot thank you enough for the welcome we have already received. Plus, the welcome packets Mackenzie, Carter, Harris and Bailey received from Children and Student Ministries made a tremendous impression! Thank you for your welcome! The Mitchells PS – The kids love the OKC Thunder T-Shirts too!
New Worship Times Begin June 4th! Great news! Beginning Sunday, June 4, Church of the Servant will have three Sunday worship opportunities: • 8:15 – The first offering at 8:15 a.m. in the Chapel of the Cross will be a traditional service. • 9:30 – At 9:30 a.m. we will worship with a second traditional service in the Celebration Center. • 11:00 – Our third worship service will be a modern offering held at 11:00 a.m. in the Centrum. Rearranging our worship times in this manner will allow Dr. Matthew Mitchell to preach each of our three services and will allow us to focus supporting resources in Music Ministries and personnel to provide the best worship experience possible. The schedule also permits time for fellowship between the services as the Concourse is filled with people. Sunday school classes will meet at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Please check with your Sunday school leaders to see how this will affect your Sunday morning programming. Page 2 I ChurchoftheServant.com
It’s Project Transformation Time Again!
Missions
Church of the Servant has a long history of partnering with Project Transformation, a literacy camp for children in need, which builds their reading level and confidence. Every year, lives are changed, and the love of God and of learning are instilled in the hearts of hundreds of children. This year, we’re going back to the Chapel Hill UMC site for two weeks to volunteer. So, we need reading volunteers for Monday-Thursday, July 10-13 and July 17-20, from 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. It only takes a couple hours of your time to make a lasting impact on a child. In just that short time, you show them not only the awesome power of reading, but also that there are people in their community who truly care about them. I worked for Project Transformation when I was in college, and I could fill this whole newsletter testifying to Project Transformation’s power and efficacy. But instead, I want to encourage you to see for yourself! Please consider signing up for a two-day commitment to read with children and be a part of this ministry. If you can, please contact Susie Cobden at (405) 728-4711, or via email at scobden@ churchoftheservant.com. Let’s transform some lives! Rev. Michael Carpenter Associate Minister
Here Comes Summer! Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are just around the corner, and your friendly neighborhood Earthglow Gift Shop has a plethora of items to help you make the summer months enjoyable! Below are just a few of the treasures available. Summer for the children: A colorful play tent, Cutie Pie Butterfly Chairs for the little ladies and Giddy Buggy Chairs for the wee lads, all kinds of Melissa and Doug toys, even summer outfits for babies. Summer for the traveler: Nested travel bags, cross-body purses, journals to record all the marvelous events, tote bags, beautiful Busy Bee Travel Packs, books and reading glasses, and lots of great jewelry to take along on your trip. Summer for the gardeners: The ever-popular, best-in-the-universe gardening gloves, various styles of pots and containers perfect for small plantings, chimes, decorator picks. Summer for the home decorator: Bird nests, wreaths, lovely artwork, colorful summer inserts for doormats, orbs and floral items, tea towels with a summer flair. Summer Yummies: BBQ sauce, fudge bites, pretzel bites – even dog chewies for Rover. Summer Clean-up made easy: E-cloths and E-scratch pads. Earthglow will have regular summer hours for your shopping pleasure and the proceeds from every dollar you spend will be a blessing to one of the United Methodist missions in OKC. Come in today. You’ll be glad you did. SERVANT May 17, 2017 I Page 3
Adult
Jesus: Understanding His Death and Resurrection A Study of Mark 14-16
Wednesdays, June 14 – July 26, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Leader: Nancy Harris The long-awaited Messiah had finally arrived – only to be betrayed and sentenced to death. Why would Jesus, who knew beforehand all that would happen and who held the power of heaven at His command, submit to being humiliated, tortured, and ultimately killed? In this powerful study centered on the final chapters of the Gospel of Mark, you’ll consider for yourself all that Jesus endured to bring forgiveness to sinners and hope to the hopeless. And you’ll understand as never before why it’s so essential to share with others the good news of His death and resurrection. If you are not familiar with the Inductive Style of Study, this will be a good introduction for you. All work is done during class time, so this is perfect if you want to study “light” this summer. Join Nancy for seven weeks of exploring and Understanding the Death and Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and what this means to each of us as believers! Book cost is $8 and deadline to register is June 2. To register, contact Susie Cobden at scobden@churchoftheservant.com or 728-4711.
A Taste of Faith Smiling faces, stories that touched the heart, delicious food, tables adorned in themes as varied as the beautiful women that surrounded them. Such was the scene on Thursday evening, May 4, as over two hundred mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends gathered for “A Taste of Faith – Snapshots of Our Lives.” The evening highlighted the faith stories of Elene Christensen, Juli Hudson, Ann Butler, Pat McGarrity, and Patricia Hocker – women within our church community, helping us to realize that no matter how different our backgrounds and life circumstances might be, we worship a God that strengthens each of us to transcend whatever trials and tribulations life may place in our path. We explored issues such as trust, resilience, change, wholeness and legacy. We enjoyed the mother/daughter musical talents of Misty and Darci Farmer, and we were inspired by the dramatic presentation from Crystal Johnson. A wonderful meal was lovingly delivered to our tables by members of Girl Scout Troop 177, who also inspired us with the work they have done to educate young girls in the fight against abuse toward women. An offering of more than $4,400 was collected for the YWCA battered women’s shelter. Sometimes, sharing our stories with others and revealing those snapshots of who we really are can be a bit intimidating, but the more we open our hearts to one another, the more we begin to live in community just as those early followers of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Women’s Ministry, for providing an opportunity to share a meal and our hearts with one another. Page 4 I ChurchotheServant.com
SUMMER BIBLE STUDIES will begin the week of June 12. For more information, go to www.churchoftheservant. com/connect/bible-studies/ for Bible Studies and www.churchoftheservant. com/women/classes-studies/ to see Women’s Offerings, or contact Susie Cobden at 721-4141 and scobden@ churchoftheservant.com. THE COLUMBARIUM at Church of the Servant will be open Memorial Day, May 29, 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Anyone who would like to visit is welcome! TASTING AT EARTHGLOW! Stop by the table outside Earthglow Gift Shop this Sunday and grab a sample of one of the food items available in Earthglow. Then head on into the shop to find gifts, cards, boutique items, and toys – a plethora of treasures. Thank you for supporting local missions! VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT SERVANT: There are many ways to get involved at Church of the Servant – from teaching a class to building sets for the annual Christmas program – there is something for everyone. If you would like more information, go to www.churchoftheservant.com/connect/volunteer/ and check the boxes beside areas of ministry that might interest you.
Children
Change In Sunday Worship Times And Children’s Ministries On June 4 when Worship Service times at Church of the Servant change to 9:30 traditional and 11:00 modern, Children’s Ministries Sunday morning programming will also make some changes to align with the new worship times: Kid’s Own Worship will meet at 9:30 a.m. and Sunday school will meet at 11:00 a.m.. Preschool and Elementary doors will open at 9:15 a.m. Nursery is open at 8:00 a.m. for children of individuals attending the Chapel Service and 9:15 a .m. for children of individuals attending Worship or Sunday school classes.
Children’s Ministries Mission Leadership Team We celebrated the close of another year of Children’s Ministries Mission Leadership Team at Canyon Camp! These great kids and their parents gave up a Saturday to help with “yard work” at Canyon Camp. We picked up limbs, raked, and cleaned pathways. We also got to see a cabin that had just recently been rebuilt after a storm. This cabin (#9) was beautifully done, and our group got to see the new mattresses that the $860 donated by the children of Church of the Servant helped to purchase! Some great things are going on at Canyon Camp, and we have been very blessed to be a small part of helping make that happen! THANK YOU to everyone who donated! Your money went to a wonderful cause! This year’s team consisted of: Anna Traynor, Macey McFarlane, Alyssa Caywood, Caroline Flurry, Brooklyn Glenn, Katherine Russ, Will McFarlane, Xander Stone, Greyson Gebb. They worked together to choose our Children’s mission focus, let others know about the mission, and helped to make it a reality. Upcoming 4th and 5th graders will be able to sign up to be a part of our next team very soon! Keep your eyes open for applications in Suite 45.
IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE IN CHILDREN MINISTRIES The KAMPOUT! Day Camp Adventure sponsored by Kanakuk Camp Ministries from Branson, MO still has openings for children ages 5-12. The camp will be July 10-14, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Church of the Servant. Camp fee is $250. The Day Camp experience is filled with fun and adventure. Incredible activities include: a climbing wall, zip line, and water slides. The camp is run by the professional, servant-hearted Kanakuk staff. Kanakuk describes KampOut! as a “one-week high energy, non-stop excitement, traveling Christian day camp.” Parents are encouraged to register their child as soon as possible at kanakuk.com/kampout. There are security scholarships available and if interested, or even curious about what a security scholarship is, contact Cathy Hersom at chersom@churchoftheservant.com.
We have immediate openings for individuals who want to share their faith with the children of this congregation. – Kindergarten Sunday school teachers (2); teach 2 Sundays a month;
– 4th grade Sunday school teachers (2); teach 2 Sundays a month. Sunday school meets at 11:00 a.m (beginning June 4). – Elementary Kids Own Worship small group leaders; – Preschool Kids Own Worship small group leaders. Kids Own Worship meets at 9:30 a.m. (starting June 4). For specific details, contact Cathy Hersom at chersom@ churchoftheservant.com or 728-4715. SERVANT May 17, 2017 I Page 5
Vacation Bible School We are ready for your curious kids with MAKER FUN FACTORY VBS! Vacation Bible School is coming to Church of the Servant – Monday, June 5 - Thursday, June 8, 9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. each day. Kids from age 4 to those entering 5th grade are invited to take part in this FREE week of fun, and we also need lots of adult volunteers to make this incredible week happen. Registration is free and available online NOW. Go to churchoftheservant.com/events and click on the VBS link. VBS T-Shirts and Music CD’s will be available to purchase for $10 each at the table in the Concourse starting May 14. Sign up and invite your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, neighbors, and friends! Our VBS theme for this year is MAKER FUN FACTORY: Built by God, Created for a Purpose. Kids will see the church transformed into a wild, wacky factory as they experience God’s love and learn to watch for God in everyday life. At MAKER FUN FACTORY VBS, kids discover not only that God made them the way they are, but for a purpose too. MAKER FUN FACTORY is filled with incredible Bible-learning experiences kids see, hear, touch, and even taste! Sciency Fun Gizmos, team-building games, cool Bible songs, and tasty treats are just a few of the standout activities that help faith flow into real life. MAKER FUN FACTORY is an exciting way for kids to learn about God’s love. Each day concludes at the MAKER FUN FACTORY Finale - a celebration that gets all participants involved in living what they’ve learned. We hope MAKER FUN FACTORY will get everyone thrilled about God in our community. Each year, we wrap up the VBS fun with a family night. This year, we will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 8 for a closing program in the Celebration Center. Following the program we will have an Ice Cream Sundae Party in Community Hall. Mark your calendar now and plan to join us! Kids will have the opportunity to participate in a mission project during Vacation Bible School week. Each year, we collect supplies to benefit an organization. This year, we will support Citizens Caring for Children – an organization that provides support for children in foster care. We will collect toothbrushes and toothpaste for the toiletry bags given to each child who visits the Resource Center at Citizens Caring for Children. These donations really have an impact in the community! Can you help make an impact on a child’s life by volunteering with Vacation Bible School? We need help with a variety of tasks and are sure to have an area that corresponds to your particular talents! Participating in VBS is guaranteed to touch your life as well as that of the children involved. You can help out even if your children are too young or old to participate in VBS. We can always use teen helpers, and nursery care is available for volunteers’ children that are younger than four. Please prayerfully consider how you can help support this tremendous ministry. If you have any questions at all, you may email me at marthastone@gmail.com or call/text (405) 822-7484. Volunteer and child registration is available at churchoftheservant.com/events. I hope to see ALL of you at Vacation Bible School this year! Martha Stone, VBS Director
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Thank You, Connie, Stephanie, Debbie, and Max!
At the end of this school year Connie Brewer, Stephanie Henson, Debbie Colclasure, and Max Colclasure will retire as Children’s Ministries Sunday morning leaders. These individuals have combined service of over 30 years – and they can never be replaced. They had the hearts of every child who passed through their Sunday school room, and even more importantly, the desire for these children to know, love and serve our Jesus. Thank You, Faithful Servants… You will be missed.
Our Life Together Our Prayers
u Roger and Marilyn Bailey as their granddaughter, Megan Callan, and their grandson-in-law, Josh Bonjour, are recuperating from surgery. u Gary and Darlene Berkovsky as Darlene’s brother, Doug, is dealing with health issues. u Jerry Black as Jerry is dealing with health issues. u Marty and Dottie Christensen as they ask for prayers for Aaron and Terri Shipp, as Terri, their daughter, is hospitalized at Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
Our Sympathy
u Susan Amis and Family at the death of Susan’s sister-in-law, Betsy Daugherty. u Allen and Sharon Bumgardner and Family at the death of their friend, Bobbie Lynn Brown. u Michael, Kim, Jordan, Nathanael, Olivia, and Phillip Dean and Family at the death of Michael’s and Kim’s daughter and Jordan’s, Nathanael’s, Olivia’s, and Phillip’s sister, Leighanne Dean. u Family and Friends at the death of Harold Deislinger.
u Nancy Deal as Nancy deals with health issues and is a resident at Gran Gran’s Place in Yukon.
u Leon and Debbie Gold and Sean Gold and Family at the death of their friend, Mark Smith.
u Randy and Gayle Dekker as Randy is dealing with health issues and is hospitalized at Integris Baptist Medical Center.
u Teri Green and Family at the death of Teri’s cousin, Celia Ann Rogers Card.
u David and Kay Filson as Dave is facing surgery at Mercy Hospital I-35. u Vicki Gilstrap as her granddaughter, Jaylene Gilstrap, recuperates from surgery in Texas. u Gene and Daveene Hightower as Daveene’s friend, Shelly Thomas, is dealing with health issues. u Bill and Carolyn Hines as Carolyn is dealing with health issues. u Rob and Sissy Holloway as Rob is recuperating from surgery and is hospitalized at Integris Baptist Medical Center. u Elizabeth Large as Elizabeth’s brother, Steve Large, is dealing with health issues. u Rick and Joyce McDaniel as Rick’s brother, Steve McDaniel, deals with health issues; and Joyce faces surgery at Mercy Health Center. u Ann McDonald as Ann undergoes rehab and is a resident at Epworth Villa. u Henry and Darlene Neff as Darlene is dealing with health issues. u Richard and Sally Nickel as Richard’s mother, Rosa Mae, is recuperating from injuries from a fall. u Sherri Nunziato as Sherri recuperates from surgery. u Jo Ann Pace as JoAnn recuperates from injuries from a fall.
u Denny and Edie Mesenbrink, Rachel Caywood, and Karen Mesenbrink, and Family at the death of Denny’s and Edie’s son, Rachel’s brother, and Karen’s husband, Adam Mesenbrink. u Elaine Schmidt and Lance, Stephanie, Solomon, Theo, and Stella Schmidt and Family at the death of Elaine’s mother, and Lance’s grandmother, Bennie Holston.
Celebrating
u Michael and Rachel Carpenter at the birth of their son, Oliver Michael Carpernter.
Sundays in the Kitchen Full Breakfast - $6; Lunch - $9; Kid’s Plate - $3.50
u 5/21 – Catfish (Fried & Baked), Green Beans, Corn on the Cob, and Dessert. u 5/28 – CLOSED for Memorial Holiday.
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 721-4141.
Children’s Ministries: This Sunday is Move-Up Sunday Sunday, May 21, is move-up Sunday for Kindergartners thru 5th grade (fall 2017). Three-year-olds to five-year-olds move up on their birthdays. Two-year-olds begin participating in preschool activities when they turn three; they must be potty trained. On Move-Up Sunday, kids will meet their new teachers and participate in fun activities planned especially for Move-Up Sunday. The Children’s Ministries staff and the Sunday morning leaders are here every Sunday to support the Servant families in leading their children to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. When the Children’s Ministries staff is preparing the lessons, the content is intentional and designed to help children Know and Love God – learning who God is and how to love Him with heart, soul, mind, and strength; to Trust and Accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior; to Grow their Faith by engaging in community life and developing habits of spiritual growth; and to Serve God and People by understanding the call to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. Even though all four of these Core Truths are presented in lessons, the main emphasis for children is to Know and Love God and Trust and Accept Jesus. A special thanks to our Sunday Morning Leaders who have committed their time to share their love of Jesus and to serve God through the children of this congregation. SERVANT May 17, 2017 I Page 7
Church of the Servant
14343 N MacArthur Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73142-9725
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