A Season of
THANKSGIVING
Commitment Sunday | NOVEMBER 12
Commitment Sunday – November 12 YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY!
At all four services on Sunday, November 12, each of us will have an opportunity to make our financial commitment to the work of God at Church of the Servant. This meaningful act of faith will help the staff and leadership establish the 2018 ministry budget. I am excited to see what God has in store for our great Church in the years ahead! This year’s Commitment Sunday will be important, because it will allow us to begin to see the true financial foundation from which we can plan and do ministry in Christ’s name.
Dr. Matthew Mitchell Senior Minister
During all four services, something else significant will happen. The mortgage note will be burned! Yes, Church of the Servant is DEBT FREE! On Wednesday, October 25, the final payment on the Church’s debt was paid! I hope you will come with great thanksgiving for the hard work and sacrifice by so many. As we are now debt free, we can begin to look at how the ministries and facilities can best be utilized to help people connect with God in new and wonderful ways. I know many people will have ideas and dreams of what is next. Many of the ideas will be good ideas. In fact, some will be great ideas! It will take prayerful discernment to determine which of these ideas are godly ideas – ideas that will help Church of the Servant follow God’s call for our church family.
In the New Year, we will begin to pray, listen, and discern what God is calling us to do to reach the least, the last, and the forgotten in our community. I call on you to begin to celebrate all that God has done, thank God for what He is doing, and begin to pray for what God is about to do here at Church of the Servant. I cannot wait for November 12!
November 12
Commitment Sunday is November 12. Within the next few days, you should receive a commitment card in the mail. Prayerfully consider your 2018 commitment, fill out the commitment card, and bring it with you to worship service on Sunday, November 12. Together, we can shape the future and change eternity!
Page 2 I ChurchoftheServant.com
CHRISTMAS GRACE... 20 years of sharing love at Christmas
Missions
Every year we partner with local community organizations who have identified families who need a little extra love and care at Christmas. We call it “Christmas Grace” and it begins this Sunday, November 5. A table will be setup in the Concourse where you can select a family or individual for whom you can purchase Christmas gifts. The information sheet you pick up will have the names and the needs of the family you have chosen, with instructions on what to buy. This is a great way for a small group, Sunday school class, or families to work on together; some of the families have 5-6 people. There will also be 60 Christmas meals on a separate tree; sign up if you would like to share a Christmas dinner with Whiz Kids and local school families. The church will purchase the hams again this year. Last year we shared love with over 950 people, and we plan to do it again this year! What a blessing this ministry is for the hundreds of families who will receive gifts and food this Christmas because of you and your desire to be a blessing to others! Gifts are to be returned by Sunday, December 3.
A Fantastic Shopping Opportunity Earthglow Market Benefits Local Missions
One of the highlights of fall at Church of the Servant is the annual Earthglow Market. You are cordially invited to spend a few hours on November 11 exploring the great selection of home décor and fashion items, enjoying the delicious food, and taking home yummy snacks from the bake sale. Vendors from throughout the state bring their creations and literally fill the Concourse and Community Hall with beautiful items to help you jump-start your Christmas shopping. Our parking is easy, everyone is welcome, and admission is FREE! All Earthglow activities benefit local missions. The total of the rental fees charged to vendors participating in the market, all proceeds from the bake sale and the café, and the proceeds from Earthglow sales that day (and throughout the year) are distributed annually to worthwhile community/state organizations, such as: Circle of Care, Neighborhood Service Organization, Exodus House, Skyline Urban Ministries, and Penn Avenue Redemption Church. In Earthglow’s almost 42 years of existence, over THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS have been distributed to such agencies within our state. Your dollars spent at the Earthglow Market (and throughout the year in the Earthglow Gift Shop) truly make a difference in the lives of folks in need right here in our community. Join us on Saturday, November 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Whiz Kids Fruit Sale December 10
The annual fruit sale will once again benefit Whiz Kids of Oklahoma. Boxes of oranges, boxes of grapefruit, and mixed boxes will be available for pre-sale on December 3 (for pick up on December 10) and for sale again on December 10. Look for the tables in the Concourse. The fruit is $20 per box and can be picked up on December 10 or picked up in the church office after the sale from December 11-13. Enjoy a healthful snack or gift to share with your family and friends while helping a FANTASTIC cause! What cause is that? Whiz Kids of Oklahoma – an organization that improves the lives of elementary school students by partnering each child with a caring volunteer tutor. The tutors are there each week to work one-onone with their student and to build a relationship. The volunteers help primarily with reading, but can help with any schoolwork necessary. The students are picked up from school, driven to a partnering church, fed a meal, spend time learning, and are driven home. The volunteers become invested in their students, get to know their families, and build lasting relationships. This organization relies on volunteers and funding. Please considering helping fund Whiz Kids by purchasing a box of fruit on December 3 and 10. SERVANT November 1, 2017 I Page 3
Charge Conference Saturday, November 11 at New Covenant UMC, Edmond 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Each year, United Methodist Churches have a very important meeting called Charge Conference. Today, these meetings are conducted with other churches from the Crossroads District and are used to train up leaders, build community, celebrate ministry, and conduct required business. Each year during this meeting, all appointed clergy salaries are voted upon and the leadership slate for the New Year is officially approved and recognized. This year, we will have ONE district-wide Charge Conference Connection for all churches. It will take place at New Covenant UMC in Edmond on Saturday, November 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. Our District Superintendent, Rev. Rockford Johnson, has planned for a vital and valuable learning event. The focus is exploring how church leadership can discern and be engaged with God’s barrier-jumping “innovation”— both incremental and disruptive innovation. Mark DeYmaz will be our keynote speaker and conversation leader on the topic of innovation. Mark wrote the book, Disruption: Repurposing the Church to Redeem the Community, and is founding pastor of Mosaic Church in Little Rock (www.mosaicchurch.net). You can also find him at Mosaix Global Network (www.mosaix.info). The Agenda for the Conference: • 9:30 a.m.
– Gathering, registration, coffee
• 10:00 a.m.
– Opening
• 10:15 a.m.
– District Outcomes & Strategies briefly communicated
• 10:30 a.m.
– Innovation—by Mark DeYmaz
• 11:30 a.m.
– Innovation at The Village UMC: Co-Pastors Carlos Ramirez, Elaine Robinson, Jay Williams
• 12:00 p.m.
– Lunch
• 12:45 p.m.
– INNOVATION Q & A: with DeYmaz, Ramirez, Williams, Robinson, and others
• 1:30 p.m.
– Charge Conference Voting
• 1:45 p.m.
– Wrap up and Dismissal
Charge Conference is open to all members of the church and members of the Charge Conference Leadership Team are able to vote on specific matters related to Church of the Servant. The Charge Conference Leadership Team members representing Church of the Servant are: Kelly McDonough
Terri Cooper
Clay Cockrill
Craig Robinson
Sherri Price
Jordan Page
Bobbie Roe
Russell Lawson, Ad Council Chair
Martha Stone
Bob Marshall
Blair Schoeb, PPRC Chair
Monica Wittrock, Finance Chair
Amber Neaves, Mission Council Chair
Russ Sullins, Trustee Chair
Matthew Mitchell, Senior Minister
Randy Shrauner, Executive Minister
Steve Johns, Controller
PLEASE REGISTER!
If you would like to attend this year’s Charge Conference, please register. Registration ends November 4 to ensure an accurate head count for lunch. Contact Becky Kittrell at bkittrell@churchoftheservant.com to RSVP.
Page 4 I ChurchotheServant.com
Travel to Ireland!
Travel with Church of the Servant Celebration Choir and Worship Orchestra in June 2019 to Ireland – the land of St. Patrick and Neolithic sites – to kiss the Blarney Stone, listen for banshees, look for leprechauns, and hear Gaelic spoken. Join with us in sharing the gospel in song (or just listen) in historic cathedrals, halls and abbeys, while you enjoy food, fun and fellowship with a great group of folks! You will experience 8 days and 6 nights visiting Bunratty, Cork, Ring of Kerry, Blarney, Waterford, Kilkenny, Glendalough and Dublin. The price of $3,700 (for double occupancy) includes round trip air fare from OKC, hotels, charter buses, entrance fees to attractions, and several meals. A deposit of $100 is due before January 7, 2018, then 12 monthly payments of $300 beginning March 1, 2018 through February 1, 2019. We typically have 4 or 5 nonchoir members participating in the choir with us, and about twenty friends and spouses who accompany us. JOIN US! Brochures detailing the trip, will be available in the Music Ministries office in early December.
Record Attendance at Servant Fall Fest! Number of people that attended this year’s Servant Fall Fest?? Too many to count! Over 35,000 pieces of candy were donated through the church-wide candy drive! Over 500 hot dog meals were sold; Hot Dog Cafe´raised $1100! Bake sale, sponsored by Music Ministries, raised over $300! Lots and lots of people brought baked goods for the bake sale and the cake walk. Many people volunteered their cars and time to make our first Trunk-or-Treat a HUGE success! And the firework show was a perfect way to end a fantastic evening! Thank you to all who volunteered, donated, sponsored, and participated in any way! See you all next year!
Music
NextGen
SERVANT November 1, 2017 I Page 5
Adults
PRIME TIME
November 9 at 10:30 a.m. Prime Time welcomes back our friend, and the master of classical guitar, the incomparable Edgar Cruz. Edgar will entertain us with an incredible variety of musical styles. If you’re listening to Edgar play “classical”, you might find yourself listening to a Latin favorite, a classical medley, jazz, or even a big band favorite!
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers Support Group Are you caring for or giving support to a loved one who has Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia? If so, we invite you to attend our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers Support Group, which will meet from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month, beginning November 12, 2017. This group is designed to give Christian support and encouragement to people who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Whether you and your loved one are far along on this difficult journey, or if you are brand-new to dealing with this challenge in life, you are invited to join us. Some may have their loved one living at home with them, while others have their loved one cared for in a nursing home or care center. Either way, we welcome all of you, the caregivers and supporters. Here’s how it works: Just take it upon yourself to set up any care that might be necessary for your loved one during the time of our meeting (we don’t offer such care on-site here at Church of the Servant)…and then join us for a time of learning, sharing, and caring for one another in a Christian environment. If you’re interested, contact Vicki Roberds at 728-4738 or vroberds@churchoftheservant.com. Page 6 I ChurchoftheServant.com
Edgar has been named Oklahoma’s Top Performing Artist and/ or Acoustic Guitarist for more than ten years by the Oklahoma Gazette. He holds a bachelor’s degree in guitar performance from Oklahoma City University, where in 2010, he was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award. His YouTube video of Bohemian Rhapsody reached 15,000,000 hits worldwide. As Oklahomans, we appreciate how generous Edgar is to share his special talents at many public occasions, often performing concerts as fundraisers for charitable organizations. To hear Edgar, all you have to do is come to Prime Time! We’ll be here Thursday, November 9, at 10:30 in Community Hall. Following Edgar’s performance, we’ll enjoy a feast to be thankful for - starting with Turkey and dressing, all the way to Pumpkin Pie! The program alone is $2; with the feast, it’s $10. Sign up online at www.churchoftheservant.com/events, at the Welcome Center, or call the church office, 721-4141. Don’t forget - Prime Time fellowship is free!
OH WHAT FUN! – A Christmas Crafting Morning Saturday, December 9 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. in Community Hall $35 (all supplies for 2 projects and breakfast included) Come join women’s ministry for a Christmas Crafting morning! will feature coffee, bagels, fun and fellowship. We will be painting and creating a custom Christmas decoration as well as four wooden ornaments. Register and pay at www. churchoftheservant.com/ events or on Sunday mornings in the Concourse beginning the first Sunday of November. Limited spots available, so register early! The mission outreach for the morning will be to provide a new or gently used baby/toddler coat for Infant Crisis Services.
The morning
Our Prayers
Our Life Together
u Donna Armstrong as Donna’s great niece, Caitlyn McOsker, deals with health issues. u Kyle, JoAnn, Kammy, Kynleigh, and Kyrsten Bene as Kyle’s stepmother, Mary Bene, deals with health issues. u Bill and Lisa Boone as Bill recuperates from surgery. u Rob and Cindy Brackenbury as their sister-in-law’s father, Carl Lampley, deals with health issues. u Edgar, Danielle, and Sadie Cruz as Sadie recuperates from surgery. u David and Kay Filson as David deals with health issues. u Holly Gray as Holly faces surgery at Ok Heart Hospital. u Joe and Nancy Harris as Nancy recuperates from surgery after injuries due to a fall. u Rhonda Haumpo as Rhonda’s father, Dale Frazer Fish, deals with health issues. u Jerry and Shaney King as Jerry undergoes tests. u Don and Marygaye LeBoeuf and Talova Jones as Marygaye faces surgery at Integris Baptist Medical Center. u Kay Moore as Kay’s son, Greg Isokrari, is recuperating from injuries after an automobile accident. u Phyllis Mosher as Phyllis’ grandson, A. J. Mosher, is hospitalized at OU Medical Center Children’s Hospital. u Donald and Evelyn Norris as Donald deals with health issues. u Sherry Robertson as Sherry’s mother, Gay Allen, is hospitalized at Mercy Health Center. u Susan Robinson as Susan undergoes tests. u James and Kim Schlecht as their niece, Emily Honeycutt, deals with health issues. u Delbert and Linda Simmons as Delbert deals with health issues. u Larry and Cheryl Spears as Cheryl is hospitalized at Integris Baptist Medical Center. u Colby, Martha, Xander and Avery Stone as Martha’s mother, Joy Watson, deals with health issues. u Lynn and Joyce Treece as Lynn deals with health issues.
Our Prayers Continued
u Dennis and Cheri Warren as Dennis recuperates from surgery. u Chuck and Pam Weatherford as Chuck deals with health issues. u Susy Wilson as Susy’s grandchildren, Hearly and Josey Carter, both deal with health issues.
Our Sympathy
u Warren and Sue Collins and Family at the death of Warren’s aunt, Neva Grant Summers. u Niles and Brenda Martin and Family at the death of Brenda’s father, Clifford McKaughan. u Family and Friends at the death of Leo Ross Mix. u Chloe Roberts and Family at the death of Chloe’s brother, Jon Wade. u Family and Friends at the death of Beverly Smith. u Deborah Templeton and Family at the death of Deborah’s husband, Mike Templeton. u Sharon Wallace and Jeff, Michelle, Jeffrey, and Jayden Knight and Family at the death of Sharon’s husband and Michelle’s father, Wayne Wallace. u Andrew Williams and Family at the death of Andrew’s mother, Sue Williams. u Bettie Zachary, Thomas Nix, and Family at the death of Bettie’s mother and Thomas Nix’s aunt, Pauline Douglas.
In the Kitchen
Thanksgiving Feast Buffet!
November 19 Make your class reservations by calling Michele & Will Snow at 405-973-7793 or andrea.barnett@live.com. Nov 5 – Cheesy Baked Potato Soup, Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Tortilla Turkey Wraps, Salad, and Dessert. Nov 12 – Homemade Chicken Fried Steak Dinner or Chicken Fried Steak Sandwiches, Mashers, Fries, or Onion Rings, and Dessert. The Kitchen is located just inside Community Hall. Join us on Sundays for hot breakfast or lunch!
Celebrating Memories u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Senior Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Peggy Akins by Exploring Together Sunday School Class u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Boy Scout Troop 177 in memory of Dale Putnam by Ron and Sharon Hendricks u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Hannah’s Promise in memory of Bud Williams by Stanley and Joanne Dobler u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Hannah’s Promise in memory of Bud Williams by David and Diane Mier u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministries in memory of Rick Grosshans by Dale and Phyllis Regier u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministries in memory of Rick Grosshans by Doris Cline u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministries in memory of Rick Grosshans by TLC Sunday School Class u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Senior Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Elmer Smith by TLC Sunday School Class u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Senior Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Elmer Smith by Jim Cross and Roberta Carrier-Cross u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Music Ministries in memory of Rick Grosshans by Jim Cross and Roberta Carrier-Cross u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Hannah’s Promise in memory of Charles Williams by Mary Jane Lang u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Senior Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Elmer Smith by Creative Container, Inc. u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Senior Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Elmer Smith by Danny and Dana Baze u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Senior Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Elmer Smith by King Electric u A contribution has been made to Church of the Servant Senior Minister’s Discretionary Fund in memory of Elmer Smith by Steve Turner
SERVANT November 1, 2017 I Page 9
Church of the Servant
14343 N MacArthur Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73142-9725
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED