FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH Disciples of Christ

701 Holly Street Perry, OK 73077

E-MAIL: perryokfcc@gmail.com WEBSITE: www.fccperryok.com

****** Rev. Joshua Bell

SENIOR MINISTER 620/491-3488

Kim Ward CHURCH SECRETARY

Paula Shryock CHOIR DIRECTOR

****** CHURCH OFFICE

(580) 336-4576 Monday - Friday

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

******

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES

8:15am or 10:30am SUNDAY SCHOOL

9:15am

January 22, 2018

Sunday January 21, 2018

ATTENDANCE: 8:15 worship 52 10:30 worship 76 TITHES & OFFERINGS received:

General Fund $8,828.00

The Perry Christian First Christian Church Disciples of Christ

Chili Cook-off was as HUGE Success!

We had our very first Chili Cook-off! It was AWESOME! We had 18 entries, 3 different kinds of

soup, lots of desert, and a WHOLE BUNCH of people (seriously though someone counted 100

people!) I want to thank the Fellowship committee for doing such a wonderful job. We learned a

lot from this first go around and are already making plans for next year. I personally want to thank

my wife and daughter who created the AMAZING trophies. Last of all I want to thank everyone

who attended and made this first event such a success!!! Someone mentioned that we should have

an “Homemade Ice-Cream” showdown this summer…Challenge accepted!!!

I have to just take a moment and say thank you to all of those that came and took down Christmas

Village this past Saturday! This was a hard-working crew and we truly could not have done it with-

out your help. I really want to list all of the names of those that came and helped but honestly there

were so many people in so many places I know I will forget someone. Not only did they take down

Christmas Village they also took down the Live Nativity set all in the same day. This hard-working

crew blew my mind by the teamwork they exhibited with each other and the new faces that came to

help with this monumental task! There was almost a sense of the divine at work as we worked side

by side. It made me think “how awesome would it be if we had an “Adult” mission trip?” Thank

you thank you thank you. Continued on page 3

New Requests: Barbara St. Clair, Sandy Somparyac family (Jim Lightfoot relation), John Wayne Ewy

(Klingelsmith’s relation), Todd Hatchett (is recovering at home), Gayland Sandy, Elroy Sylvester, Janelle

Harrison, Andrew Golay, Ladd Casteel (infant son of TJ & Bonnie Casteel recovering at home)

continuing prayers. . .family of Robert Goforth (Arlie Goforth’s brother), Joyce Cameron (lung cancer

diagnosis), Clint Cosgrove, Hannaeh Schwandt, Rhea Ducker, Caleb Phipps, Deanna Kae Robertson,

Beth Noteware, Curly Foster, family of Carol Kinniston, family of Ryan Benton, Twylla Ducker Jackson, (cousin of Anglia

Klinglesmith), Jim Choplin, Nancy Wells, the family of Dwayne Williams, the family of Joe Habben, Kristy Clement (high risk

pregnancy), Ericka & Emily Hughes, Micah Jump (upcoming surgery), Hanneah Schwandt, Quinley Rigdon, Brantley Taylor, Zoey

Johnson

Nursing Home/Assisted Living/Homebound: Jean Manley, Doris Edwards, Dick Sullins, Ilene Branen, Maxine Schwartz,

Colleen Robison, Priscilla Wallace, Dr. Charles Martin, Jean Yeager/Stillwater, Barbara St. Clair, Kenny Cheney

Cancer survivors: David Riggs, Joyce Bailey, John Taylor, Karen Bigbee, Connie Henderson, Linda Stangl, David Tharrington, Wayne

Speer, Duane Dickson, Marilyn Goforth, Kristie Cook, Gerald Payne, Melva Edgar, Gary Moore, Kate Yost, Harold Price, Becky Hammock,

Bonnita Foster, Misty Leeper, Jim Taber, Gene Zavodny, Jim Gall, Beverly Klingaman, Randy Beeman, Keli Schweer, Branen Kirtley, Nor-

ma Hughes, Marilyn Ewy, Jim Ewy, Cathy Wells-Drury, Gary Wells, Barbara Habina, Maxine Schwartz

Missionaries: Z family, Southeast Asia, Andrew & Reilly Bowers (granddaughter of the late Faye and Mary Odell), West Afri-

ca, Lauren Anderson-Park, Thailand

these serving our country: Nehemiah Scott-Navy, Ethan Stringer-Army National Guard, Anthony Moore, Austin Moore, Devin Blan-

sett-Marines, Shelby Schultz-National Guard, Colonel Stephen Lightfoot-Marines, Thomas Henke-Marines, Jared Mann-Navy, Ryan

Padilla, Bryson Running-Navy, John Maehs, Scott Collins, Chip Collins, Jr., Jeremiah Givens, Lindsey Bishop, Trevor Schultz-National

Guard, Kyle Thomason

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” Philippians 4:6

January 21- February 3 Doris Bridal-21 Verna Skouby-23 Barbara Schweer-25 Redd Clavier-25 Dian McGuar-27 Tom Trumbla-28 Mollye Henley-30 Billie Sullins-30 Marnie Skouby-31 Larry Hall-31 Paul Morrow-31 Lana Moore-1 Mary Kerfoot-1 Happy Anniversary

DeWayne & Robyn Drury-2 Tom & Hulda Trumbla-3 If we missed a special day, please let us know.

for the week of January 21, 2018

Total needed for the week: $5,170.00

Received this week: $8,828.00

Over weekly budget: $3,658.00 Total needed for the month: $22,298.00

Received for January $17,649.50

Under monthly Budget: $4,648.50

VISITORS IN WORSHIP

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Mason & Annalise Filtz

Guests of Marilynn Ring

CHOIR NOTES

It was so good to have the choir back and singing in the 10:30 service. This Sunday’s anthem will be a communion piece, “I Will Remember Thee.” The praise songs will be “Mighty to Save” and “Our God.” See you Sunday! Paula

Thank you so much for

your prayers, cards, and

food while I was ill. A

Special thank you to the

CWF ladies for the

lunches. It was such a big

help

Nancy Wells

Highlights of January meeting….

The upcoming Women’s Communi-

ty Spring Luncheon was discussed. A date of

April 24 was set. Our church will serve as

hostess with other churches to assist.

A CWF women’s luncheon will be held, Feb-

ruary 14. All ladies of the church are invited

to attend at 12 pm.

Soup Kitchen was discussed, the group will

serve on February 8.

13 members were present.

Dear First Christian Church, On behalf of Chapter BH, P.E.O. I want to say thank you for allowing us to have our January meeting at the church at the last minute. We sincerely appreciate your kindness ! Cindy St. Clair P.E.O. and Perry Study Club

Youth News

DISCIPLES KIDS

JANUARY 24

Wednesdays

3:15-5:00pm

Kindergarten-6th grades

The church vans will pick up students at the school

and transport to the church.

Guardians will need to pick up students at the

church at conclusion of the program.

YOUTH GROUP EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT 6:00PM

7TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES

The first Sunday of the month

at 9:15 A.M.

Next performance FEBRUARY 4

Come join us as we welcome back

our favorite little people as well as

some other really crazy characters.

Pastor’s message continued….

Goals continued…

I just want to remind our readers that we will be spend-

ing the next few weeks discussing what goals we set for the next

six months as a church at our leadership retreat. Personally, I

think these goals should be for all time, but we are going to be

intentionally finding ways of implementing them especially the

next six months! Last week I discussed Goal # 1

“the Fellowship Committee will focus on activities that encourage

interaction between members and attendees such as small group

dinners and activities which focus on establishing strong bonds

between all.”

Goal #2 “As a church our goal is to reach out to members and

potential members to attend and participate more regularly.”

I can not even begin to tell you how many churches say

this phrase. I am not trying to sound sarcastic but in all honesty, I

really have heard this phrase a lot of times! Have you ever heard

in institutional banter the statement “Don’t worry the STP will

take care of it!” (the Same Ten People) Those that were in attend-

ance felt very strongly that we should find and create more ways

of including larger groups of people. I feel as though this goal is a

do-able goal if the church wants to grow numerically and spiritu-

ally. I know there are some that want to see us grow, and some

that are a little more hesitant. Let’s be honest, it’s scary meeting

new people especially in a place that is sacred to us. Imagine be-

ing a “new person” walking in the doors of our church on a Sun-

day morning! People walk into this place where there is obviously

something already organized. There are a lot of questions we need

to ask ourselves when it comes to the identity of a congregation.

The first one in my mind is “are we here to socialize, worship, or

work?” If the congregation was only here to socialize you would

see nothing but assigned pews, parties that are invitation only, we

would charge rent just to use the restroom etc… If a church was

only for worship, you would only be allowed in the building for

“worship” services. The sanctuary would be locked, as if it was

some sort of sacred place that only the ones who know when it is

open are welcome. There would be no need for Sunday school

classes, programs like C.W.F., youth ministry, or anything else

that wasn’t designed specifically for worship. If the church was only for work we would have no need for the sanctuary because we

would just need space for a food pantry, clothes bank, an appliance ware-

house to help with Habitat builds etc… There would be no need for pian-

os, organs, music (except what was playing on the radio.). We still would

need showers and bathrooms, but our church would look more like a

functioning warehouse than a social gathering place or some sort of sa-

cred space only opened on Sundays or whenever deemed necessary.

What tends to happen is for whatever reason why we come

together on Sundays for worship, we split off into our groups of interest,

and tend to only all come together for fellowship dinners as long as it fits

into our schedules. I am not trying to be harsh it is just a harsh reality.

Can you imagine what it would look like if a church did all three and did

all three with the expressed intention of loving God and loving Neigh-

bor? I think that is what we are trying to accomplish. We are trying as

hard as we can to let people know we care and they are more than just

welcome, they are needed. I am not writing this to make you feel guilty I

am writing this to say if you feel as if you are on the periphery, help us

help you. We desire to make all of God’s creation feel a sense of Sanctu-

ary in our place of worship. We are striving to assist people follow their

calling as the work for the glory of God. Finally, we want people to feel

welcome in this place of love and compassion. See, my article isn’t all

doom and gloom! We are excited to see what awaits us as we begin this

journey together as church and as family. I hope you are excited and are

listening to God’s voice guiding you in this exciting time together.

Shalom, Joshua Bell

Thank you

PURPOSE STATEMENT OF FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Perry, Oklahoma

To glorify God by leading people to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Servers for Sunday, January 28, 2018

ELDERS: Kim Sheets & Robert Cunningham

WORSHIP LEADER: Betty Dillon

8:15 DEACONS: Virgil & Becky Beckner

10:30 DEACONS: Jim & Marilyn Ewy, Brandan Sheets,

Suzanne Voise

DEACONESS: Willa Coker

8:15 GREETER: Sherry Schweer

10:30 GREETER: Kim Ward

COMMUNION TO HOMEBOUND: Fred & Joniece

LeValley Servers for Sunday, February 4, 2018

ELDERS: Fred & Joniece LeValley

WORSHIP LEADER: Larry Voise

8:15 DEACONS: Gordon & Tommie Cargill

10:30 DEACONS: Pam Cunningham, Marilyn Branen,

Ron & Nancy Frazier

DEACONESS: Johnny Fuller

8:15 GREETER: Velma Shelton

10:30 GREETER: Nila Nuttle

PRAYER CHAIN: Call your prayer request to the church office at 336-4576. Prayer warriors are ready to receive your need for prayer.

Find us on

Facebook FCC Perry Oklahoma

Dates to Remember:

February 25 Community Fellowship Sunday

Preparing for the Challenges to Come One Day Conference with Joel Richardson Session 1 “Why Israel Matters” Time: 9:30 AM Location: First Church of the Nazarene (Fellowship Hall) 829 Jackson Perry, OK. *Childcare provided for ages newborn – 5 years. Session 2 “The Spirit of Adoption” Time: 10:30 AM Location: First Church of the Nazarene (Sanctuary) 829 Jackson Perry, OK. *Childcare provided for ages newborn-5 years Session 3 “Islam and the End Times” Time: 5:30 PM – Teaching will begin imme-diately following dinner. Hamburgers and hotdogs will be served at no charge to those attending conference. Location: First Christian Church (Activity Center) 701 Holly Perry, OK. *Childcare provided for ages newborn-5

years

All sessions are FREE and the community

is invited.