E D I T I O N N O. 18 .11 |
NOV 2018
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MO NTHLY NEWSL ET TER
A WALK THROUGH BETHLEHEM
Dr. Matthew Mitchell Senior Minister
DECEMBER 14 & 15 (6-9PM) AND DECEMBER 16 (6-8PM)
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n December 14, 15 and 16, a new tradition will begin at Church of the Servant. On these three special nights, part of the campus will be transformed into a far-away land and an immersive experience for God’s children of all ages. A Walk Through Bethlehem will serve as a unique and special way for each of us to share the great story of the birth of Jesus and invite our friends and family to Church of the Servant. During these three nights, you will have the opportunity to walk the streets of Bethlehem! The royal decree of Caesar Augustus will be fulfilled as all are counted in the census! You can attempt to check into the King David Inn (is there a vacancy?). And as you stroll the city bazaar, you will be transported back in time to the great story of the day of Christ’s birth. You can also experience a petting zoo at the Royal Stables, a manger, and many other special interactive booths in the bazaar. As Church of the Servant prepares for this special season, you are invited to become a part of the cast! Many cast members are needed to make A Walk Through Bethlehem a great success! Plan on attending the Casting Call meetings in Community Hall on November 18 and 25 at 3:00 p.m. to learn more. 100 volunteers are needed! You will not want to miss out on this wonderful time where the greatest story ever told comes to life!
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Photo: Chris Roughgarden (GWINNETT Daily Post)
CHRISTMAS EVE – DECEMBER 24 Christmas Eve service times will be 3:00 p.m. for our childfriendly service led by NextGen Ministries, and 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. for our Candlelight Communion services led by our Celebration Choir and Worship Orchestra.
THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC FESTIVAL Saturday, December 8 & Sunday, December 9 This year’s CHRISTMAS MUSIC FESTIVAL is jammed packed with great music. Our 100-voice choir is working hard with our 40-piece worship orchestra to create a special night of Christmas memories. While last year’s performance included some secular music, this year we focused completely around our Lord, the babe of Bethlehem. Jane Jayroe Gamble will be our hostess for this year’s festival. We are so excited to have Jane with us this year. In addition, we will have the Hill Irish Dance Troupe! We will elevate the center floor so you can get a good look at their award-winning step dancing! “Mary Did You Know” will include an original dance from choir member Shauna Gerlach. “O Holy Night” will take you to a splendid place of peace. The soulful voice of Lindsay Ballard will have you on your feet and clapping your hands. This Year, the music festival will be on Saturday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. and again on Sunday, December 9 at 4:00 p.m. Nursery will be available for children ages 2 and under.
THE POLAR EXPRESS PARTY The POLAR EXPRESS PARTY will be a special event for children who may not want to sit through the Christmas Music Festival. Of course, all are welcome. However, sometimes children really want to have fun in their own special way. Servant Kids ministry is planning and preparing for a special showing of Polar Express during the music festival. Golden tickets, hot chocolate, and maybe even dancing waiters will be highlights of this special event. The event will only take place on Sunday afternoon during the music festival (NOT Saturday). Please plan accordingly. ChurchoftheServant.com
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WOMEN’s MINISTRIES
Bible Studies & Small Groups Servant Women in the Word
Tuesdays, 9:30-10:45 a.m. Community Hall Led by Dr. Robyn Goggs
This large-group Bible Study is a favorite among many women as it appeals to the beginning follower as well as the seasoned believer. This fall, Dr. Robyn Goggs has been leading us in a study of the “Women of the Bible”. There will be no meeting Thanksgiving week, November 20, and we will conclude our fall session on Tuesday, November 27, with a potluck breakfast. You will not want to miss this gathering, when Sally Riffey will share one of her marvelous renditions of one of our favorite women of the Bible. Our studies will resume on Tuesday, January 15. 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.
Women’s Advent Morning Gathering: Coffee and Coats!
LADIES: Saturday, December 1, at 10:00 a.m. in Community Hall, we will be having a coffee gathering for all the women of the church to celebrate the Christmas season. Come, relax and take some time to get to know your “sisters” at Servant. Learn about some exciting new programs we are starting for our “sisters” in 2019. In the giving spirit of the holidays, we are asking you to bring a new or gently used coat for Infant Crisis Services. The biggest need is for coats size Newborn to 12 months. If you don’t have time to shop, cash donations will also be accepted. Please sign up online so we have an estimated number of people attending. Questions? Please contact Barbara Bonham at 405-413-3309 or Susie Cobden at 405-721-4141.
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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, Godfilled, fun-loving men in a study led by our Senior Minister, Dr. Matthew Mitchell. This group will not meet the week of Thanksgiving, Tuesday, November 20, and will wrap up the fall session with a meeting on Tuesday, November 27. Study will resume on January 15 and will be ongoing throughout the winter and spring.
FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY
Coming January 16, 2019!
Does the topic of finances ever come up in your home or is it avoided at all costs? What does the financial future look like for you and your family? Discussing finances, developing budgets, and creating a financial plan for your life can be difficult if you don’t know the steps to take. Every year, Church of the Servant offers a 9-week course called Financial Peace University (FPU) that will teach you the financial steps to take! It teaches God’s ways of handling money. This is a class that millions of people have taken. They have pulled worries off their shoulders and put on confidence. They have rewritten their futures and secured their futures. On average, those families have paid off $5,300 in debt and saved $2,700 in the first 90 days. That is an $8,000 turnaround. Are you ready to carve out 9 weeks in your schedule 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 8:00 p.m. beginning Wednesday, January 16 through March 13. Tom McGee and Peter Weaver will be instructing the 9-week event. For more information and to register go to https://www.financialpeace.com/classes/1075590/registration.
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“Shepherd’s Servants” Veteran’s Ministry
To Listen, To Hear, To Understand, and To Provide Hope “Our mission is to provide services to our Veteran Community in the Oklahoma City area in the form of Transition Assistance Programs, deployment support for spouses of active duty military, spiritual guidance and emotional support for all veterans, regardless of their current status.” – David Myers In 2019, led by layperson and veteran, David Myers and a team of passionate people, a ministry is unfolding to adopt and support military families in the Oklahoma City area, support spouses of veterans when deployment is being experienced, transition assistance for veterans and families moving from the military service, assisting veterans with VA disability claims, and mentoring and connecting with scouting programs. If you are interested in serving in this ministry, please contact David Myers at bugmesh@gmail.com.
It Was a Wet One! The 22nd Annual Servant Foundation Golf Outing held October 13 was wet and cold but still successful, raising almost $6,000 for the Music Ministries Intern Program! The Team Winners of the Outing were: •
First Place: Team 2 - Mike Bible, Brad Bible, Randy Allison, Trent Fisher.
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Second Place: Team 3 - Luke Lucas, Bill Boone, Mark Beard, Tom Roe.
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Third Place: Team 6 - Rick Harris, Connor Harris, Fred Harris, Gary James.
The men’s ‘Longest Drive’ was won by Trent Fisher. The women’s ‘Longest Drive’ was won by Gerry Pinkston. Men’s ‘Closest to the Hole’ winner was Gary Clonts. Women’s ‘Closest to the Hole’ winner was Carolyn Clark. Five people ‘Beat the Preacher’ on closest to the hole on a par 3. They were: Mark Behring, Matthew Branam, Ruby Cline, Jay Kriegel, and Tom McGee. Rain or shine, our Golf Outing is always a fun opportunity for wonderful fellowship!
No Special Plans for Thanksgiving? Join others in your Servant family for a free Thanksgiving Day lunch in Community Hall, November 22, 11:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m. Make a reservation for yourself and any guests by Sunday, November 18. Contact Bobbie Roe (405-615-2003; broespirit@gmail.com), or sign up at the “Thanksgiving” table in the Concourse this Sunday.
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Remembrance THE REMEMBRANCE TREE: If you have recently lost a loved one, we know you are painfully aware that the holidays won’t be the same as years before. We all handle this kind of loss in different ways. Some old traditions may need to fall by the wayside, and new traditions emerge to provide healing for a joyful and meaningful holiday. You and your family can remember and honor your loved ones this Christmas by inscribing their name on a beautiful blue ornament and hanging it on the white Remembrance tree that will be located at the window near Earthglow in the Main Concourse, beginning November 25. Perhaps you might want to do that after a church service, or you and your family might decide to do that with a special visit to the church. What a meaningful way to honor your dear one this Christmas season.
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servant kids W
e started using Orange Curriculum for preschool and elementary aged kids in October, and the kids and leaders love it! There are activities, videos, and life application challenges each week that are all age appropriate. The theme for October was contentment, and November’s theme is cooperation. Here are what a few of our leaders are saying about it: “I think the Orange Curriculum is good. I like that we have more in depth questions once we are in the classroom for discussion. It really gives us a chance to dig deeper and apply what the video talked about to everyday life. Now that the kids are older, I hope that they will be able to take what they learn on Sundays and use it out in the world or see how the Bible applies to our lives.” – Troy Weber, 5th grade teacher
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“Of all the children’s materials I’ve used over the years, Orange is by far my favorite curriculum. It teaches Bible truths that are easily relatable to the children’s lives. Using Orange has greatly increased class participation & discussion. I love it!” – Ann Glenn, 4th grade teacher Join us each Sunday morning at 9:30 for Total Group and 11:00 for Small Groups (Sunday School) downstairs in the children’s area!
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!
SERVANT FALL FEST and Trunk or Treat WOW! The 2018 Servant Fall Fest was outstanding this year! We had beautiful weather and a record turnout. We had inflatables, games, trunk-or-treating, face painting, balloon animals, hot dogs, a bake sale, and more! The fireworks were an incredible ending to our night. Lots and lots of people brought baked goods for the bake sale and the cake walk. We made around $1,000 for Servant Kids ministry from the sale of the hot dogs, baked goods, popcorn, and cotton candy. Many people volunteered their cars and time – totaling 41 trunks – to make Trunk-or-Treat a HUGE success! We collected 82 packages of wipes and 1,520 diapers for Infant Crisis Services. Thank you to all who volunteered, donated, sponsored, and participated in any way! We couldn’t have done it without you. See you all next year!
UPCOMING MISSION EVENTS June 10 - 13, 2019:
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!
July 8 - 12, 2019:
Kanakuk Kampout is coming back next summer! Registration will be available in early 2019.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need help leading children to Christ! Servant Kids is searching for adults who are willing to lead a small group or Sunday School class or to sub when a Sunday morning leader needs to be gone. This is for an hour on a Sunday morning, either at the 9:30 or the 11:00 hour. We also need help once a month on the first Wednesday night from 6:30-8:00. For more information, contact Kourtney Aller, Director of Servant Kids, at 405-721-4141 or kaller@churchoftheservant.com. ChurchoftheServant.com
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Special night designed for
4TH & 5TH GRADE STUDENTS Somewhere between leaving childhood behind and treading wide-eyed into the teenage years lurk a thousand bewildering questions. Where did God come from? How come I’m not perfect? Why doesn’t everyone go to Heaven? Preteens need the truth. Grapple helps them find it. The lessons in Grapple – based on real questions asked by real 10 to 12-year-olds – grab their attention and don’t let go. Kids will learn how to search the Bible for answers and build a faith foundation that guides wise choices. Each lesson of Grapple plunges preteens into the Bible to find answers to their biggest questions about relationships, faith questions, and choices. Each Grapple lesson includes irresistible Bible studies that encourage kids to explore the truth with their heads and their hearts, thought-provoking videos to get preteens thinking and talking, and Grapple Dares that challenge kids to apply what they’ve learned. Join us the second Wednesday night of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for dinner ($2 per person), friendship, fun, and to “Grapple” with some of the issues our preteens face today.
High school Servant High School Winter Retreat “LIGHT” Servant High School Students, mark your calendar for December 7-9. This is our Winter Retreat. ALL 9th-12th grade students are invited to come! Join us for this wonderful weekend filled with worship, biblical teaching, small groups, games, hiking, and so much more! Registration is available online. Register by November 18. Contact Sang Nguyen at snguyen@churchoftheservant.com if you have any questions.
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Servant
STUDENTS Middle School Sunday Morning Program Servant Middle School Sunday Morning program is for 6th-8th grade students and starts at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday in The Point Student Center. During this time, students gather together with other middle school students and caring adult leaders to experience games, a relevant message, and group discussions. Our Sunday Morning program is all about helping students to know and love God, and to grow in their faith.
MIddle School Wednesday Night Program Servant Middle School Wednesday Night program is for 6th-8th grade students and takes place from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in The Point Student Center. During this program, students will take part in games, a lesson, and age/gender-based small groups. Wednesday Night is all about helping students to connect with each other, adult leaders, and most importantly, to our Savior. Please join us this week!
Servant High School Sunday Morning Program Our Servant High School Sunday Morning program meets at 9:30 a.m. in the high school auditorium at The Point Student Center. This is for all 9th-12th grade students! Our morning is filled with breakfast, games, a teaching time, and discussion groups with adult leaders. We want students to know and love God, trust and accept Jesus, to grow in their faith, to serve God and others.
High School Wednesday Evening Small Groups All High School students are invited to join a small group! Our small group consists of students (same gender and grade) and two caring adults. We meet in the Chapel of the Cross for a time of worship before heading off into our small group space! We meet all semester, on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Register and join a group today. What if I have questions? Contact Sang Nguyen at 405-728-4754 or snguyen@ churchoftheservant.com.
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CHRISTMAS GRACE is going strong and still needs family sponsors! Sixteen families and individuals are still waiting for someone to take their form and fill their Christmas wishes. This ministry of 21 years is a huge part of how Church of the Servant makes a difference in the community during the Christmas holidays. Come by the table this Sunday and be a part of making someone’s Christmas special.
BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE! COATS NEEDED. If you are cleaning out closets or getting a new coat this season, please dry clean your gently used ones and bring them to the church. Adult coats can go in the Skyline Blue Bins and Toddler/Infant Coats can go in the baby crib in the children’s area to assist Infant Crisis Services during this busy season. Donations to either of these ministries are ways to purchase coats this season and can be done through the Fish Funds each Sunday; just designate your check to which ministry.
FRUIT SALE
Benefits Whiz Kids The annual fruit sale will benefit Whiz Kids of Oklahoma. Boxes of oranges or grapefruit and mixed boxes of oranges and grapefruit will be available for pre-sale on December 2 and for sale on December 9 at the tables in the Concourse for $20 per box. Fruit can be picked up on December 9 or picked up in the church office after the sale, December 10-12. The members of the MVC Sunday School Class will be happy to carry the fruit to your car. Whiz Kids of Oklahoma is 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-on-one with their student and to build a relationship. The volunteers help primarily with reading. 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 student, get to know their families, and build lasting relationships. Please consider helping fund Whiz Kids by purchasing a box of fruit on December 2 or 9!
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Stewardship
COMMITMENT CARDS Commitment Sunday is this Sunday, November 18. This is always a great celebration of the continued faithfulness of our church family! This week, you should have received an estimate of giving Commitment Card in the mail. On a practical level, we ask our members to turn in an estimate of giving card each year so that our Finance Committee is able to set an accurate ministry budget for the coming year. This allows us to make the most of every dollar given to the church. The Commitment Card is also an opportunity for you to spend time in prayer and reflection, considering what offering you would make to God through our church in the coming year. WHAT’S NEXT? Simply fill out your Commitment Card and bring it with you to worship services this Sunday or mail it into the church office. If you do not have a Commitment Card, there will be extra cards in the pews, in the bulletin, and at the Welcome Center, or you may print the card below.
Name(s)__________________________________________________________
Env #___________
Address____________________________________________ City/State/Zip______________________ I will support the church with my prayers, my presence, my service, my witness, and the following financial gift...
2018
2019
Commitment
Commitment
$_______________
Annual
2 Cor 9:11
$_______________
Annual
Choose One: $__________ weekly for 52 weeks $__________ monthly for 12 months $__________ as follows ___________________
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (NIV)
If you choose, your pledge could be automatically drafted from your bank account or charged on your card.
Monthly Bank Draft Authorization
I authorize United Methodist Church of the Servant to draft my account during 2019 on the q 3rd or q 20th of each month in the amount of $_________. I have enclosed a voided check which will be used to set up the draft with my bank.
Credit/Debit Card Authorization for 2019 q VISA
q MasterCard
q Discover
Card Number ______________________________
VIN# ____________ Exp. Date ________________ Please charge $___________
q on the 15th of each month, q each quarter, or q one time on _____________________ Month/Year
Signature for Bank Draft Authorization
Signature for Credit/Debit Card Authorization
Print Name
Name on Card (Print)
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EARTHGLOW GIFT SHOP A GIFT BOUTIQUE THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
2018 EARTHGLOW MARKET An Overwhelming Success
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hurch of the Servant’s hallways were bustling with enthusiastic shoppers on Saturday, November 3, when the annual Earthglow Market hosted 109 artisans and craft people sharing their gift items, holiday and home décor, jewelry, food items, and more. It was perhaps the most successful market ever hosted by Earthglow. Proceeds from booth and table rental, food/bake sales, as well as the profits from the Gift Shop, are distributed annually to local missions. Over our history, Earthglow has donated over $817,000 to various missions in our community. Your participation in our Earthglow Market has made a valued contribution to this effort! Thank you for your continued patronage! The 2019 Earthglow Market is already scheduled for Saturday, November 9, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Earthglow advertises in numerous ways in our church and on social media. If you are interested in signing up as a vendor for next year’s event, go to churchoftheservant. com/events. Earthglow is filled with beautiful, unique items that will meet the specifications of the most discriminating shopper. Make it a point to stop by often – there are new items arriving almost every day!
A Heartfelt “Thank You” from TEEM
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hroughout this past summer, Earthglow shoppers donated many hygiene items that were then forwarded to The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM). The following letter was received from TEEM:
Dear Church of the Servant Friends – On behalf of the board of directors, staff, and participants of The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM), thank you for participating in this year’s “Spring Cleaning” Summer Hygiene Drive. Because of your partnership, TEEM collected over 9,000 hygiene items for our participants! This level of community support demonstrates the care and concern that is life changing for the justice involved individuals. One of the many barriers TEEM participants face is a lack of basic hygiene items to address basic needs. Your decision to participate in this year’s drive alleviates this challenge by providing necessary hygiene products directly to participants. Thank you for your continued support of our organization and mission, and most of all, thank you for believing in our participants. TEEM serves approximately 1,500 individuals each year and your support helps TEEM to continue breaking cycles of incarceration and poverty by empowering individuals to achieve personal and career goals. Thank you again for making this year’s drive successful! We look forward to partnering with you again in the future. Kris Steele, Executive Director
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Journey TO THE HOLY LAND
2019 HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE September 2-14, 2019
I would like to personally invite you to join me in 2019 for a journey to the Holy Land. This will be my first pilgrimage to this very special and historic part of our world. As many of you know, Church of the Servant has a long-standing tradition of traveling to the Holy Land. Pastor Emeritus, Dr. Norman Neaves, began this tradition years ago and I am excited to continue this special tradition. I hope you will join me and many others as we discover and reconnect to our religious roots and experience the land of prophets, disciples and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Here are a few important details for the 2019 trip: WHO: All are invited, but only 58 spots are open for this year’s journey. WHAT: A pilgrimage to the Holy Land, guided by On Eagles Wings Tours and me. This is the same award-winning travel agency used for many years by multiple groups from Church of the Servant. WHEN: September 2-14, 2019 WHERE: Multiple cities, including 1 night on the coast, 3 nights in Galilee, 2 nights at the Dead Sea, and 5 nights in Jerusalem. WHY: This pilgrimage will be a first for many and possibly a return for others. More than a vacation or “Christian tourism” can be expected. The 2019 trip will be a time of relationship, education, discovery, and so much more. HOW MUCH: $5,280 Per Person, Standard Air. If you would like to know more, please plan to join me on December 2 and 16 at 5:00 p.m. in South Adult rooms 1 & 2 for more in-depth information, a detailed itinerary, deadlines, and an opportunity to ask questions and learn more. Marching, and flying, to Zion… the beautiful city of God, Dr. Matthew Mitchell, Senior Minister
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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