The Stillwater

It is the mission of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Stillwater to be the church of Jesus Christ in the world. We do so by developing DISCIPLESHIP, Enabling OUTREACH, and embodying COMMUNITY in our lives together.

Christian
Volume 2013 | May 21
Schedule for Senior Sunday, May 26th 9:00 Sunday School Classes 10:00 Meet and Greet the Grads/Caf Bistro 10:30 Combined Worship Service Luncheon for graduates, their families, and friends to follow

We will be taking a Pentecost Offering this Sunday, May 26th.

FCC Class of 2013 front row: Rebecca Willoughby; Sydney Goad; Aaron Sharp; Erika Schaecher; Sarah Bales; Back row: Beau Bigheart; Garrett Guthrie; Zach Gregory; Ryan Parker; Taylor Swanek; Levi Ross. (not pictured: Mike Baker; Stephanie Dermer; Noah Gade; Lauren Miller; Madi Young and Mason Wells)

Mark Your Calendar

May 26 Senior Sunday, Family Movie Night June 2 Kids Own Worship Returns June 5 An Evening with The Wilsons June 3-9 Camp Dry Gulch June 22-July 7 Jamaica Mission Trips

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT, May 26th FCC will be hosting a family movie night, complete with snacks. Bring a folding chair or blanket and all the friends and neighbors you can round up! The movie will begin at 7:00 in Williams Hall. An Evening with Kathleen and Stephan Wilson, June 5th You are cordially invited to join the CWF for an engaging evening of music, stories about travel in Africa, and demonstration of African instruments by the Wilsons on Wednesday, June 5th at 7:00pm in Williams Hall. Please Donate Old Luggage For Jamaica Mission Trip! So many of our church have already played an incredible role in the Jamaica Mission experience. There are still more ways to be involved for those willing and able to help: we need luggage! Lots of luggage! It is used to carry all of the groups supplies to Jamaica and will be left there. So, please check your closets. If you have luggage that could be contributed, bring it to the church. Last time we made this trip, we collected 70 pieces of luggage. This is a HUGE contribution to our efforts and one of the ways that you can be involved in our mission. Mowers Needed! Sign up in the office to help with summer maintenance of the church property. Equipment provided.

Join us this Sunday for Senior Sunday, Sunday School 9:00 Combined Worship 10:30

Owen Cayton, Senior Minister

The Care and Feeding of A Candle

pastor@fcc-stillwater.org

Sondra Ladd, Children/Youth Ministry Director youth@fcc-stillwater.org

CH ILDR EN & YO UTH MI NISTR Y NEWS

Yesterday as we were learning about the horrific devastation from the tornado that traveled through Moore, OK, our good friend Chad Haney posted some information about the Salvation Army (He is in development for them in OKC). At the top of that information was a statement I found very striking and appropriate: We combat natural disasters with acts of God. So often we hear the language act of God to refer to natural disaster, perhaps because it is something that is completely out of our control. But to say that God had some intention by sending a tornado (or hurricane, or lightning storm, or) to destroy and devastate is, I believe, to misspeak about God. That is why I really appreciate the language used in the Salvation Army information, it turns that thinking on its head and reminds us that while God is present in all things, God is always working to bring good out of devastating circumstances; God is always working to redeem seemingly unredeemable situations. To put it more directly: it is one thing to say that God is actively working in every situation and circumstance. It is entirely different to say that everything happens for a reason. (We do not have to say the second to affirm the first!) As a church and as individuals we want to be a part of what God is doing in responding to this natural disaster. It is our impulse to help, to love, to care, even to heal. As a result a number of people have asked what we can do to be a part of the response. It is almost our first impulse to want to go and help. We want to volunteer; we want to do something there. However, this is most likely not the best thing that we can do. The kinds of response that are happening right now take significant training. People without that kind of training can do more harm than good when they descend upon those communities en masse. At the same time there are things we can do here to meet the direct need: We are already there through the Week of Compassion, and will continue to be for the long haul (http://www.weekofcompassion.org/ updates/2013/5/21/responding-to-tornados-in-oklahoma.html). Currently there are requests for water, non-perishable food items, diapers, toiletries, snack foods, work gloves, Gatorade, sunscreen, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, ibuprofen, shovels, rakes and buckets. PLEASE NO CLOTHING. These items can be dropped off Tuesday through Friday from 7am to 7pm in Lot 26 at Hall of Fame and Washington. Finally, I recall reading something that struck a chord with me after the Newtown, CT shootings. When they were being overrun by well-meaning people offering help that just couldnt be used, someone suggested that a way to make a difference was to find someplace locally to volunteer and do so in honor and memory of those affected by that disaster. There is always work to be done, and God is always actively working to bring the best out of any circumstance. Volunteering to get on board with what God is doing in our community at all times is a way we can respond to disasters in other places (think globally, act locally). There is a time when going to a different place to reach out is appropriate. Think about those places like Payne County Youth Services, Mission of Hope, or the Humane Society. Each of these organizations work directly with those similar to those we heard about on the news all day yesterday: youth and children, displaced people, and animals. I invite you, also, to continue to pray. Pray for those who have lost so much. Pray for guidance in ways you might be a part of Gods ongoing activity in the world. Pray for your own family. And pray for your church. Shalom, Pastor Owen

Senior Sunday, May 26th Please help us celebrate the accomplishments of the members of the Class of 2013. Sunday School will be held at 9am. A meet and greet will be held at 10am in Williams Hall. Worship, led by the Seniors, will begin at 10:30. A luncheon in honor of graduates will be held immediately following worship. Graduates, family and friends are invited. 17 students will be recognized including: Mike Baker; Sarah Bales; Beau Bigheart; Stephanie Dermer; Noah Gade; Sydney Goad; Zach Gregory; Garrett Guthrie; Lauren Miller; Ryan Parker; Levi Ross; Erika Schaecher; Aaron Sharp; Taylor Swanek; Rebecca Willoughby; Mason Wells and Madi Young. We encourage our entire congregation to join us in celebration of this incredible group of young people. Jamaica Mission Team Event, June 9th We really need all team members present if you are unable to attend contact Sondra Ladd immediately. Group 1 2:00-3:00 Group 2 3:00-4:00. FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT, May 26th FCC will be hosting a family movie night, complete with snacks. Bring a folding chair or blanket and all the friends and neighbors you can round up! The movie will begin at 7:00 in Williams Hall. Dry Gulch is just around the corner! Check Your Child for Head Lice! No camper will be allowed at camp with any signs of lice. We leave on Monday, June 3rd at 1pm from the church parking lot. Pack light! 1 small bag, 1 piece of luggage, and a bedroll. Also bring an envelope with meal money for the trip home, which you give to Sondra at check in. We have healthy snacks this year! The price of the snacks is included in the camp fee, so all spending money that the kids bring will be used for their purchases in the General Store. We suggest $20 per child of spending money. It is put on their account in the General Store and is used for souvenirs, camp song CD, etc. The camp t-shirt will be available for $5.00. Any remaining money at the end of camp is returned to the camper. Well return Saturday June 8th. Please have your cell phone handy for the pick up call, which youll get when we are 1 hour away.

The Stillwater Christian is a weekly publication of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The deadline for articles each week is 1pm Monday. Tracy Freeman, Editor editor@fcc-stillwater.org Church Office Phone: 405.372.7722 Fax: 405.372.7726 Find The Stillwater Christian and more information at www.fcc-stillwater.org Send prayer requests and general email to office@fcc-stillwater.org

Facts & Figures for May 19, 2013

Attendance (134 & 107)...241 Sunday School....95 General Fund Receipts..$14,762.73 Capital Fund Receipts....$25.00 Loose Offering/Sunday School.....$67.10 Project Funds Receipts$793.47 Facts & Figures as of April 30, 2013 YTD Budget Receipts...$149,553.29 YTD Budget Expenses.....$149,565.83 Net Receipts over Expenses.(12.54) Presented by Kay Smith, Treasurer, dkwsmith@suddenlink.net

Happy Birthday to: 5/22 Ray Sharp 5/24 Jim Baker 5/25 Julia Bollinger, Judith Haxton, Maynard Human 5/26 Gary Oberlender 5/27 Lora Webb Happy Anniversary to: 5/27 Norman and Jan Filtz 5/28 Forrest and J.B. Hall; Gary and Terry Varnell