February 22, 2017 •Editor: desira.mathes@bartlesvillefirstchurch.com

BARTLESVILLE FIRST CHURCHEPHESIANS 2:19-20: YOU ARE MEMBERS OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD, WITH CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF AS THE CHIEF

CORNERSTONEJoin us as we celebrate Missions Sunday at Bartlesville First Church this Sunday, Feb. 26. Keith Howard will be our guest preacher at all three worship services.

Keith, Vice President of Programs for the Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care and he holds degrees from the University of Central Oklahoma and Northwest Nazarene University. He has filled many roles in church and child welfare. Keith and his wife, Staci have two biological children and were foster parents. They adopted four children through the Texas foster care system.

We will host a Rise Against Hunger, formerly known as Stop Hunger Now food packing event in the Atrium from 8 a.m. - noon.

Our United Methodist church membership vows have us pledge to support the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. First Church missions are all about using our gifts and talents in the service of others. We strive to feed the hungry, help the poor, uplift the imprisoned, welcome the lonely, and spread the gospel through aid and acts of service.

‘MARDI BRA’ IS THIS SATURDAYOur ‘Mardi Bra’ is a benefit for the underserved women in our community. The need for feminine hygiene products is great and often overlooked. We hope to give basic comforts to those who are in need through our donations.

Invite your friends, dress in your favorite royal color, and join us for brunch on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. in the First Church Parlor. Please bring feminine hygiene products such as (but not limited to) tampons, maxi pads, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, incontinent pads to be delivered to Concern. If you cannot make it to the event, feel free to drop items off in the carts located outside the Library. Contact Cindy Fooshee at 918-331-5830 with any questions.

Save the Date

March 1 - Ash Wednesday Service- Project Transformation and

Kanisa camp applications available

March 8 - Symbols of Lent Fair (Children)

March 12 - Pajama Sunday

March 13 - 17 - Spring Break Camp

March 31 - Family Camp Out

April 9 - Palm SundayChildren’s Easter Egg HuntCanoe Easter Egg Hunt

April 12 - Midweek class "Baptism before John the Baptist" led by Dick Thompson

April 13 - Holy Thursday Service

April 14 - Good Friday Service

April 16 - Easter

April 28 - Donkey Block Party

May 3 - Children's Spring Musical

Tai Chi Beginners ClassTwo beginners Tai Chi classes are currently offered:

• Mondays - 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. • Wednesdays - 1:30 - 2:00 p.m.

Participants of any age are welcome.

JOIN US FOR MISSIONS SUNDAY, FEB. 26

UPCOMING SERMON SERIES: THE SIGNMARCH 5 - APRIL 16

Keith Howard and wife Staci.

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 5Minister-on-Call: 918-914-9001If you need to speak with one of our ministers, there is a minister-on-call available.

Van Ministry:February 26 Grace and Scott Farmer; Kent Carbaugh and Tom GravesMarch 5 Rusty and Heather Cutts; Wayne Middleton

Children’s Time:February 26 Callie RiveraMarch 5 Linda Thomas

Ambassadors:February 26 8 a.m. - Xandra and John Manley

10 a.m. - Karel and Frank RiehartMarch 5 8 a.m. - Roger Himstreet and Wayne Middleton

10 a.m. - Kathy and Rick Loyd

Flower Delivery:February 26 Brad and Amy DickeyMarch 5 Tom and Judy DeSalme

Green Country Village Vespers:February 26 Bob FarmerMarch 5 Tari Carbaugh

Thank you to each of you who expressed your support, encouragement, and hope after our three worship services on February 12th. That was the Sunday when the morning’s sermon outlined my sense of where I sense God is leading us, and what emphases I believe we need to focus on over the coming few years.

Because not everyone was present, and because I want every one of our congregation to have an opportunity to consider, think about, and perhaps even

respond or help refine these ideas, there is a copy of that sermon included as an insert in this edition of the Cornerstone.

“With fear and trembling,” I offer them as your pastor, and pray that you will read and consider the less-than-once in-a-lifetime opportunities before us. With God as our helper, Christ as our teacher, and the Holy Spirit as our guide, I am confident that we can fulfill God’s call and purposes among us.

LEARNING ALONG THE WAY: WITH FEAR AND TREMBLINGDr. Kevin Tully

Thank you for joining together on this journey!

See you Sunday, Kevin Tully

Midweek Meals

March 1Tacos

Chips and SalsaRefried Beans

Brownies

March 8BBQ Beef Sandwiches

Baked BeansCarrot Cake

March 15Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Spanish RiceTortilla Chips

Chocolate Cake

Suggested Donation:Adults - $5

Children under 12 - $3Family of 4 or more - $15

MARY MARTHA OUTREACHMary Martha Outreach is an organization that supplies food, clothing, furniture, household items, books and haircuts to individuals in need and encourages them to improve their quality of life through their own actions. You’re invited to join the Mini Missionaries on their trip to help at Mary Martha Outreach on March 5. We’ll carpool from church at 3:15 p.m. Adults and children of all ages are encouraged to participate in this short mission project! Children kindergarten and younger must be accompanied by a parent.

BOYS’ BREAKFAST AND TEA WITH TARIAll PreK through 5th grade students are invited to a morning of bonding, prayer, and learning with their pastors and adult helpers on March 4.

• Tea with Tari (girls only!) 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Pastor Tari’s House (2444 US Hwy 60)• Boys’ Breakfast (boys only!) 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. at Pastor Kevin’s House (918 S. Johnstone)

To RSVP or to request transportation on the church bus for this event, please email laura.painchaud@bartlesvillefirstchurch.com.

BOX TOPS COLLECTIONBox Tops is a program that helps schools collect money to provide new materials for their students. We will have a small box out to collect Box Tops for Jane Phillips. The collection box will be at the coffee bar in the Atrium.

Concern Food Pantry Needs

Items needed for the month of March are: canned fruit, flour, mac-n-cheese, powdered milk, and canned meat.

Please place items in the two rolling carts in the Atrium by the library.

SANCTUARY FLOWERS WERE GIVEN:In loving memory of Tom Rogers, by Janice Rogers.

OUR CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED TO: Shua and Cindy Smith on the death of Cindy's mother, Deborah Taylor who passed away on Feb. 5.

TULSA DAY TRIPFirst Church Senior Adult Ministries is sponsoring a day trip to Tulsa on March 24. The group will leave the church at 9 a.m. for a tour of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. Lunch will be at Olive Garden in Utica Square before touring the Sherwin Miller Jewish Museum. Bring money for lunch and $3 museum admission. Sign up in the Atrium.

CALLING ALL GARDENERSGardeners will gather in the Narthex Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. to kick off the Garden of Eatin’ 2017 season. Anyone interested in gardening a personal plot or helping with the community plots is invited to join the group.

In addition, there will be a Garden of Eatin’ work day at 9 a.m. on March 4. Come to the garden and help clean up the beds and do other preparation necessary for the upcoming season. There will be plenty of work for everyone. Bring gloves, garden tools, gasoline powered weed eater, and your work ethic!

PAJAMA SUNDAYMarch 12 is the day we switch to daylight savings time. It’s just a minor nuisance setting the clocks in our house forward the night before, but most of us have more trouble setting our body clocks forward. Getting going that first day is always a struggle!

Save yourself a little time on Sunday, March 12, and come to church and small group in your pajamas that morning, if you want. Bring a few pairs of pajamas for children aged two through twelve with you. We will deliver those pajamas to Circle of Care. Cash contributions will be accepted as well.

The State of Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services supervises the care of more than eleven thousand abused and neglected children in our state. United Methodists across the entire Oklahoma Conference, of which we are a part, join together through Circle of Care to provide services to some of these abused and neglected children. Circle of Care finds, trains, and supports foster homes for these children. Through our donations to Circle of Care, United Methodists join together to support these children and their families so that they will have a home, not just a place to stay during a time of crisis.

SPRING BREAK CAMPSpring Break Camp for Pre-K–5th grade students is coming up! Each Spring Break Camper will explore Psalm 23 and the many ways that the Lord is our shepherd and then participate in active and engaging afternoon activities including horseback riding, swimming, gymnastics, and more!

Camp is March 13-17 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Please sign up at bartlesvillefirstchurch.com. A daily donation of $5 per child is suggested.

SUNDAY CONNECTION GROUPThe 6 p.m. Sunday Connection group is a varied group of singles and couples ranging from late 20s to early 70s. This group started the Wesley Challenge at the beginning of January.

John Wesley challenged his brother, Charles, and his friends to live a more authentic faith by answering 21 Questions. The Connection group decided to take the challenge. Each week the group will discuss a different question so one can drop in any week. If you want to be challenged or learn more about the 21 questions, join the Connection group at 6 p.m. on Sunday evenings in Room 179. For more information contact, Colleen Runty at clancyc@gmail.com or 630-405-3450.

MUTUAL TUESDAY HOUSE VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDMUTUAL Tuesday House always needs volunteers, both men and women, to help with sorting, pricing, and unloading items that are donated, especially on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Call 918-336-9154 to volunteer or schedule items to be picked up.

You may drop off items on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday House is now open on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. All proceeds benefit MUTUAL Girls Club.

I think I have probably officiated at several hundred weddings through the years. That means hundreds of brides and hundreds of grooms have stood before me and pledged themselves to each other. Some are beaming with joy; some of them have tears in their eyes, or streaming down their faces because of the emotion. And many…if not most of them, are trembling a little. Some are trembling because of standing up in front of a crowd, but more of them, I think, are trembling because they understand the importance of that moment. I like that.

And it is a big moment, in which they are, I hope, realizing “I’m committing myself to you and you alone. I’m pledging to spend the rest of my life with you. I don’t know everything that’s coming our way, but I promise to face it with you…for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.” They’re trembling not because they are frightened, but because it’s an awesome thing, joining with this other person in becoming who they believe they are called to be.

If you heard the words of scripture that were read a moment ago, perhaps you heard the Apostle Paul writing about a similar experience that he encourages his readers to experience. He says, “Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation.” What does he mean, with fear and trembling? And what does it mean to “complete your salvation?” Well, I think he is describing the awareness that can, and we hope does, come to us, when we realize, “this is what I’m going to do. This is me, seeking to live the life to which I’ve been called. Not waiting; not just planning; but actually doing it. In light of God’s acceptance and mercy, this is my response.” Colin Hay sings a song with the words, “Waiting for my real life to begin”. What Paul is writing about is just the opposite. No longer waiting; but living the life; doing the things; responding to the call of God in the here and now. It is awesome; in the sense of inspiring awe…it ought to bring a sense of fear and trembling. After all, what could be bigger than joining with God to do what we are supposed to do and thereby becoming who we are called to be?

This morning's sermon is a bit different from other sermons, and I am approaching it with a sense of fear and trembling. Not because I’m frightened, but because of the gravity of this moment. This morning I’m going to share with you my sense of where God is calling us as a congregation over the coming few years. It’s an awesome responsibility, because I’m asking for a portion of your life. Your time. Your resources. I do so recognizing that we have been brought together in this place and time, to be the church at Bartlesville First Church, to follow the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit. It’s a big deal. I hope I tremble a little bit while I’m preaching to you.

Today’s sermon is the fifth in this series of sermons on “Drawing the Church” Today’s sermon is titled, “With Fear and Trembling”.

What Tari and I have been seeking to do over the past several weeks is to see if we can get us together on some central points of agreement, so that we can then move together into the future as God’s people at Bartlesville First Church.

The sermons have set out some broad understandings; key teachings about being Christians and being the church. We began with acknowledging that we live in a time of national division, of angry people blaming each other. Does the Bible have anything to teach us about that? I think so. Jesus’ disciples were very different

from each other, and yet, he prayed that they “may be one.” So, we began with acknowledging where we are, as a nation, with some people who believe that focusing on our differences is the most important thing you can do. That’s where we are; that’s the environment in which we live. That realization – and the example of Jesus – ought to have some bearing on us.

In the second sermon, we recalled how both John Wesley and the Apostle Paul both came to understand that the gospel of grace can unite us, despite our differences; that love and commitment; to Christ is more important than our brilliant opinions or our outstanding accomplishments. Because none of us is perfect, we’re saved by grace. And that grace extends to those other people whose points of view or politics or lifestyles we don’t approve of. It was this understanding that transformed each of them into the persons we know and revere, even today.

Tari reminded us that this gospel of grace then calls us to reach out to others. We’re called to reach out and care about others, wanting them to also discover the joy of living in harmony with God. And last week, I reminded us that what we do in here is so important - but it’s not the end goal. Prayer is important. But prayer leads us to action. Learning is important. But learning is supposed to make us better, wiser, more loving. Celebrating God’s mercy and grace to us is so important. But then, that realization is to lead us out there to share that good news so that others experience it, as well.

So, if we can agree on all those points, the question becomes, “so what then? What should we do? How do those understandings guide us as the people of Bartlesville First Church, in this day, time, and place, and perhaps in the coming 10 to 20 years?" That’s what I want to outline to you this morning.

1. First, we are to live as faithful Christians, in the United Methodist tradition.Being faithful Christians means following the way of Christ. One of the biggest obstacles that we must overcome these days is the fact that many people, when they hear about Christianity have the opinion, “I like Jesus; I’m just not crazy about the people who claim to be his friends.” One of the problems we have as Americans who have such freedoms is that we don’t do as well as we could with the idea of making Jesus the Lord of our living. Yes, we may want to do – or not do - certain things, but being a Christian means we do what Jesus teaches, whether it’s easy or not. We need integrity.

Next, we’re Methodist. The best way to describe our tradition is to say that we United Methodists, I think, major in the major points of the faith, while recognizing that there are other points on which we may disagree. That’s why, in this one denomination, we have liberal churches and very conservative churches. We have churches whose worship is very formal and liturgical, and others that speak in tongues and are folksy and informal. Hey, any time you have a denomination whose membership includes both Rush Limbaugh and Hillary Clinton, well, that tells you something.

And we are a thinking people. Some denominations are still ranting against science, Darwin, the big bang theory. Most Methodists are not. One of John Wesley’s great quotes is “Let us unite the two so long divided – knowledge and vital piety.”

DRAWING THE CHURCH: WITH FEAR AND TREMBLINGA sermon preached by Dr. Kevin Tully on Feb. 12, 2017; Philippians 2:1-4, 12-13

Some people think you can either be smart of be religious. Wesley believed – and we believe – a person can be both.

I hope we will be who we are by virtue of our spiritual DNA and our theological heritage.

2. We should work with God to develop the gift of this land.The truth is, that every church is unique, because every church has its own location and neighborhood and ethnic makeup and membership and leadership. But ours is particularly unique, because of the land that God inspired so many of you to help purchase. And if you understand the old phrase “bloom where you are planted,” then you understand that God has given us the opportunity to bloom in a special way. Today is Boy Scout Sunday. Later this month, our Boy Scout troop will have a three-day campout, and guess where they have to go to have it? Right here. Our land. Your land. Their land.

Trends in churches come and go. Family life centers and gymnasiums, lay-witness mission weekends, youth choir tours, revival weeks. I’ve seen them come and go. They have all done a certain amount of good.

But one thing has continued for hundreds of years, and that is the inspiration of nature. Rabbi Harold Kushner commented on how even the space explorations to the moon began to bore people after a while. If you’ve seen the movie Apollo 13, then you know that by the time the third mission to land men on the moon happened, people stopped watching. But when people go to the Grand Canyon, they still speak in hushed, reverent tones. Georgia and I experienced this a few years ago, when we visited the Redwood National Forest in California. On one side of the admissions cabin, people were laughing, joking, talking loudly, and then, on the other side, once they stepped among these giant trees, their voices became quiet, almost as if they were in a church.

In a day and age when screen time – and constant attention to smart phones are making people less social, when they are reducing the time that families spend actually talking to one another and encouraging people to live virtual lives, the development of our land, as a way of working with God, and preserving a natural setting that is beautiful, and inspirational, has the potential to speak in ways that technology cannot. It has the potential to bring people into moments of togetherness, and reflection that technology simply cannot.

3. The idea of trajectory. We’ve spoken about this before. Jesus’ first message when he began preaching was “repent, for the Kingdom of God is near.” To repent means to change direction. Some people need to do a 180-degree turn, and some…well, all of us – need continuing course adjustments of a less radical kind. One of the great things about trajectory is that as we learn and grow, we gain a greater capacity for learning and growing, and the trajectory can become an upward curve. Sometimes God’s spirit puts within us an ever-deepening hunger for him, and it produces the same effect.

But the idea is to influence people’s lives so that they are aimed more toward the path God is calling them to walk. Let’s say that, without God, a person’s life is on this kind of track. But here, let’s say when they’re 30 or 40 years of age, they have a spiritual awakening, and there’s this upward shift. Look what it does, over time. They draw closer to God, and they also avoid all this bad stuff that probably would have – or at least likely would have

happened – without this change. So we value even the little shifts in trajectory, understanding that over time, it can result in great changes. Jesus told a parable about the way faith starts, small sometimes…but over time, grows.

The other realization that this gives us is the value of getting folks pointed in the right direction as soon as possible. Can you suddenly make a first-grader into a fully-functioning adult that knows everything she or he needs to know about life or the scriptures or anything else? You can’t do it. It takes time. But you can aim them in the proper direction. That’s why children’s ministry is so important.

Look, all ministry is important. And kids can’t pay the bills. So you have to attract and please the adults. But if we only pay attention to the needs of 40 year olds, in ten years they’re 50 year olds. 20 years after that, they’re 70 year olds. And they may like all the church is doing for them, all the programs we have for 70 year olds, but 20 years after that, most of them are dead. And where are the people to take over? Unless we continually seek to include those who are younger, we will reach a tipping point that leads to decline and death.

Here's what I’ve learned: adults will put up with second-rate preaching to attend a church where their kids like going. I want us to have a first-rate children’s and youth ministry.

But it’s about more than just providing for the church’s future. It’s about the importance of shaping young lives. Frederick Douglass has been in the news recently. Here’s one of his better quotes: “It is easier to build up strong children than to repair broken men.” And that is true.

We should focus on youth and children because direction in life begins early. I know some people who want to get rid of their racism, but it’s just so deep in them. They were raised in a certain way. When should we begin teaching people about God? The answer is, “from the beginning.”

4. Finally, I think we must be broadly inclusive. This is not simply because I’m a moderate-to-left-leaning kind of preacher. We should be broadly inclusive because it’s the gospel. Hey, if it wasn’t for the early church reaching out to those who weren’t Jewish, who were considered unclean, Christianity would be a small sect within Judaism today, if it continued to exist at all. Jesus instructed us to not judge others. Leave the judging to God.

The world is becoming browner. We know that. We live closer to people of differing races and nationalities and ethnicities than ever before. In many ways, the opportunity before us is very much like the one presented to the early church, as the early apostles went out in all directions, to people of all sorts who came from all kinds of backgrounds. And thank God, they fulfilled their calling during their time on earth. With fear and trembling, they dared.

When Paul knew he was near the end of his time on earth, he reflected upon the opportunities God had given him, and what he had made of them, and he wrote these words: “the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

And won’t it be wonderful for all of us – when our time comes – who are able to look back on our lives and say the same?

© Copyright 2017 Kevin Tully

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WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS

Twila and Jenna Divine Kerry Gorby

First Ladies Meeting

Women of Bartlesville First Church:

You are invited and encouraged to put your two cents in on March 7 from 5:30 p.m. in the Parlor.

This meeting will focus on planning women's events for the next 6-9 months. Contact Janice Rogers at 918-397-0712 for more information.