Personally from the Pastor

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going Do you ever say “Merry December 25th? I don’t either. But I do talk about “Fourth of July” more often than I say “Independence Day.” How about you? I can’t think of any other holiday people usually refer to as a date, rather than by name. The proverb goes, “You don't know where you're going until you know where you've been." No matter what we call it, our first national holiday can be a valued time to remember where we have been. Let’s each take some valuable time during this Fourth of July/ Independence Day to ponder where our nation has been; and then carve out some time to think over how each of us, as an American Christian, can faithfully act to influence where our nation—as the United States of America--is going. An Independence Day tradition at our house is listening to the very stirring reading of our Declaration of Independence on Nation-al Public Radio. You and yours might care to take turns with loved ones reading out loud all or part of the Declaration. You suppose if we remind ourselves it’s not a number we celebrate but… “Independence,” then more of us would carve out some grateful time to do just that? First Christian has a time-honored tradition of sending youth and children to camp. We have sent youth and adult sponsors to every Mission Camp since the first one in 2010. This year, we’re sponsoring four youth and their two adult sponsors to Mission Camp in Stillwater July 22-27. Please see page 2 for details of our July 8 fundraiser.

We will re-dedicate the Family Life Center on July 22! The first two phases of renovation were completed under the guidance of our Property Ministry team, headed by Cliff Johnson. New surfaces were applied to the lower walls and floor. Morgan Bohlender now guides our Property team and the contractor put up the first of the attractive sound-absorbing panels on June 25. Phase Three and all work is to be completed within two weeks of the start. We will re-dedicate the room on July 22 during the after-church luncheon. Fried chick-en and beverages will be provided. Please bring your favorite side dish! I hope you can be present. We will express our gratitude at that time to Esther Tanner and to Don Tanner’s sons for their generous gift in Don’s memory that has made possible the renovation. We have received many compliments on the room’s new look. This final work will make it possible for each of us to understand each other’s words easily. When that day is here, this space will truly be the “Friendship Room.” I want to thank everyone who takes time to alert me when someone is hospital-ized or needs pastoral care. I would rather hear about the same need six times than not at all.

Glad to be your pastor,

200 E. 5TH St., Claremore (918) 341-1199 July 1, 2018 fccclaremore.org

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Newsletter

In addition to being uploaded to the church website at fccclaremore.org, the newsletter is also distributed by email. If your email needs updated or you wish to be added or removed, please contact the church office at fccaa@sbcglobal.net or by calling 918-341-1199.

We Celebrate Generosity!

We celebrate these May worship offerings supporting ministries and missions beyond our congregation!

*$180.00 Jesus On the Go (J.O.G.) for random acts of kindness. *$119.00 Light The World (LTW) to help families with utilities and lodging. *$ 0.00 in Special Offerings to help bring life, love and learning through the general ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). *$100.00 budgeted and designated by givers to support these five ministries and missions beyond our congregation.

Disciples Mission Fund

Christian Church in Oklahoma

Northeast Area Churches of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma (NEACCO)

Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa

Camp Christian

2018 YTD Outreach Total: $4,241.00

Please note: To keep our doors open, our intended ministries fully funded, and our devoted staff paid, our weekly Sunday offerings must average $4,877. In June, our weekly Sunday offerings averaged $4,632.42.

When the need for an urgent prayer arises, the pray-er chain is called to action. The chain operates mostly by email, though requests can be called in as well. By calling in or emailing a request, it can be sent out within a matter of minutes. You may send in your requests by calling 918-341-1199 or email fccaa@sbcglobal.net.

If you wish to have an article or announcement placed in the next newsletter, you may email it to the church office at fccaa@sbcglobal.net no later than the 25th each month.

Desert Tasting &

Baking

Competition & Fundraiser

On July 8th at 4pm we will be having a competition for the best dessert. We will need volunteers to bring their best desserts so that we can taste and vote on who makes the best pie, cake, cookies or any other sweet and tasty dessert. We will be raising money for Mission Camp. Please contact Amanda Tobey with any other questions at 918-407-9271.

Next Regular Board meeting is on July 22. Pastor Ragland and Members of First Christian Church, Thank you so much for opening up your facilities for our family and friends of Elaine Gibson. We truly appreciate our generosity and kindness for Redeemer Lutheran members. Elaine is now with the Lord. Thanks be to God. Love in Christ, Chris & Jennifer Gibson & Gibson family

Disciples Women

General and Day Groups

Thursday, July 19 11:30 Executive Meeting

Noon $2 Luncheon Hostess: Group 1

Service Project: $300 School Supplies at

FUMC Officers: Please be available at 11:30 to discuss the schedule for fundraisers and months with 5 Thursdays, so Susan can reserve the times for us. Rachel Group will resume in September.

A big “thank you” is extended to all of our church family who came back at 4 pm on June 10 to prepare, serve and clean-up. The dinner we served to the Redeemer Lutheran Church members was much appreciated and very successful. The Disciples Women “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Mark 10:45 Dear Pastor Ragland & Volunteers, On behalf of the members of Redeemer Lutheran church, I would like to thank your volunteer group for its courtesy & efficiency in hosting our installation dinner for Pastor Honeycutt and family. We greatly appreciate your opening your church facilities and hearts to make this celebration possible. Thank you for your generosity and loving kindness toward us. Sincerely, Cynthia Appel Congregational Secretary

MISSING

A Reminder: Anyone borrowing ANY ITEM from the church is supposed to notify Susan, or at least, leave a note on her office door. Sara reports a large light brown flower pot, value about $25, is missing from the Come Join Us classroom. Also, one of a matching pair of shiny brass pots is missing from the flower room, located behind the sacristy (communion prep area). It is needed for a pair of flower arrange-ments in the sanctuary, after July 4th. Please return if you have them. Or if you have a matching pair of pots you can donate, brass plated about 9" diameter by 9" tall, contact Sherrill Vosberg

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Cancer Patients - Arleigh Williams, Maria Eubanks, Janet Newman, Matt Newman, Tonia Robinson, David Carnahan, Henry Gonzales

Health Concerns - Lynne Dosch recovering from cataract surgery; Ernie Green having health issues; Patty Melton having sleeping problems and fatique; Doug Walker (friend of Diane Forst) recovering from heat stroke; Kacy Bainbridge (friend of Megan Robinson) has some health concerns;

*ELDERS SERVING - JULY 2018

DATE

STANDING ELDER (Serving Claremore, Brookfield & Wood

Manor Nursing Homes)

SERVING & PRAYER ELDER

(Serving Homebound / Hospitals)

Jul 1 Renee Smith Greg Smith

Jul 8 Loretta Pool Janet Edge

Jul 15 Gwen Eschliman Loretta Pool

Jul 22 Katy Galusha-White Gwen Eschliman

Jul 29 John Franklin Cinda Franklin

*DIACONATE SCHEDULE - JULY 2018

DATE SERVING

COMMUNION & GREETING SHEPHERD,

PREPARE & CLEAN-UP

Jul 1 Cliff & Charlotte Johnson, Steve Pool, Jennifer Swinney, Jim Watkins, Krisalynn Mathis

Cliff & Charlotte Johnson

Jul 8 Cathie Riley, Linda Womack, Tava & Amanda Tobey, Kenneth Hutchins, Megan Robinson

Cathie Riley Linda Womack

Jul 15 Don & Beverly Wofford, Diane Forst, Lynne Dosch, Ron & Sandra Yost

Don & Beverly Wofford

Jul 22 Larry & Kay Livingston, Linda Womack, Steve Pool, Jennifer Swinney, Morgan Bohlender

Larry & Kay Livingston

Jul 29 Ron & Sandra Yost, Cathie Riley, Jim Watkins, Don & Beverly Wofford

Ron & Sandra Yost

*If you are unable to serve on your scheduled day, please notify the office once a replacement has been found so we can update who is serving on the bulletin.

DONUT DUTY

Jul 1 Amanda Tobey

Jul 8 Diane Forst

Jul 15 Don & Beverly Wofford

Jul 22 Amanda Tobey

Jul 29 Gail Mullen

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH NON-PROFIT ORG (Disciples of Christ) U.S. POSTAGE PAID 200 E 5

th St CLAREMORE, OKLAHOMA

Claremore, OK 74017 PERMIT NO 48 Rev. Charles Ragland, Pastor VACANT, Youth Director Susan Kotoff, Secretary ________________________________ Sean Robinson, Interim Music Director Ray Teakell, Accompanist ________________________________ RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

July

OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday

8:30 a.m. - 12:00 Noon 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

FAITHFUL FINANCES June 2018 YTD

Total Offerings and Other Income for Daily Ministries Expenses

18,529.66 106,571.02

Total Daily Ministries Expenses 18,517.29 107,953.45

Net Income (Loss) 12.37 (1,382.43)

Needed for Budget 19,510.64 121,941.50

Budget Excess (Shortfall) (980.98) (15,370.48)

6 Bill Biard 14 Ethel Vosberg 18 Darrell Low

9 Larry Livingston 16 Gail Bowen 20 Megan Robinson

13 Jeanette Hallum 16 Patty Melton 25 Carol Low

13 Red Vaughn 17 John Franklin 28 Gwen Eschliman

13 Aiden James 18 Codi Ruth 28 Dwayne Henderson