There’s the big celebration and then there’s what comes next! First the celebration. What a wonderful Easter Sunday. We began worship with two baptisms. While Jenna read the statement of baptism, Jerry Black entered the pool to…
We have three Sundays to go before Easter. That day, April 20, the church will be filled with members, families, and guests from the community. In the meantime, we have quiet preparation. Through the liturgies of the season, we will walk th…
FROM THE WORKSHOPI am sitting in on a webinar about church websites. The host serves one of our Regions as a staff evangelist. We’ll be looking at what we feature on our website and I have to say I haven’t looked lately. Mostly churches pos…
FROM THE WORKSHOP “O the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. As long as we’ve no place to go . . .” Most of us can sing the stanza without looking up the words. Most of us kno…
FROM THE WORKSHOP Sunday was a good day with Dr Jerry Black leading the service, bringing the message; Andrea and the choir and Praise Team directing our singing. Thank you to elders, deacons, deaconesses, security, sound, and acolytes…
FROM THE WORKSHOP What a couple of weeks! We’ve been through snow, more snow, and the “deep freeze” with Arctic air tumbling down and the Gulf air coming up. While that’s catching our attention, we had our church survey interpretation…
Here we are, 2025. There’s Sunday classes and services this weekend as usual. Then next Saturday, January 18 Elizabeth Hamilton*, our Holy Cow interpreter will be with us to go over our CAT results. I think Elizabeth is the best thing since…
FROM THE WORKSHOP Almost here. Advent is all about anticipation, waiting, lighting candles along the way, and noticing that “preparing” has been going on a long time. Now two women are singing. They and some angels are tak…
Holy Cow, it’s November. The citizen part of us has either mailed our ballot or stood in line. The “holiday” commercials are revving up, baseball is over, and football teams are sorting out their seasons. Here in the church thi…
FROM THE WORKSHOP Two weeks ago it was Helene’s destruction from Florida through North Carolina. Now Milton is coming. There are multiple sites for donations. If you want a good one, it’s our Disciple Week of Compassion. Go to htt…
FROM THE WORKSHOP As that famous theologian, Jerry Lee Lewis, sings, “Whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on!” This Sunday, September 15, our guest is Rev. Terry Ewing, Vice President of Advancement at Phillips Seminar…
FROM THE WORKSHOP We’re moving through the hottest week of the summer but cooler is on the way. And school, and football, and all the seasonal events. Opening up a long-closed office storage box, I “just happened to find” an autographe…
One Sunday driving into the parking lot, I noticed part of the fencing on the west side was missing. Closer examination found broken pickets on the ground and others half hanging to the 2X4 stringers (support boards). I wondered about it bu…
FROM THE WORKSHOP One Sunday driving into the parking lot, I noticed part of the fencing on the west side was missing. Closer examination found broken pickets on the ground and others half hanging to the 2X4 stringers (support boards)….
FROM THE WORKSHOP Thank you Jenna, Andrea, Kristi, Candice, Choir, Worship Team, Electronics gurus, Elders, Deacons and all for keeping the fires burning these two weeks. I am currently with the two grands at their Mimi’s home clo…
FROM THE WORKSHOP It’s June! Talk about fast, Vacation Bible School will be concluding by the time you read this! While some parts of the country are just having high school proms, our graduates are up and out! Great to see two fine yo…
Easter happened! Out of the old, God brought new life. Sunday was well-prepared and wonderful. Early on there was the bagel and donut spread, Easter egg hunt, and surprise visit from the Easter Bunny. Escorted by Mary Beth Roberts, E…
FROM THE WORKSHOP First, thank you Jenna for filling the pulpit on March 10. She felt positive about the day and the reception of her message. I was away with the family of a best friend for his graveside service in Austin, Texas. …
Those watching football are familiar with the phrase “running downhill.” It means shoulders squared, straight ahead, running full speed. So here we are running full speed into Lent headed for the goal line, Easter. Here are some dates and e…
FROM THE WORKSHOP This past Tuesday our CWF hosted the area gathering of Disciple Women, 40 including us from at least a dozen churches. The speaker, Lizzy Bozarth, is the executive director of Bridges of Moore, a foundation dedicated to su…
FROM THE WORKSHOP Hello 2024. Hello Epiphany for the next six weeks. As the church moves into the new year, this little season is snuggled in between Christmas and Lent. With John the Baptist and the wise men leading the way, the person and…
FROM THE WORKSHOP Joy is in the air. Music is everywhere! Last week members of the congregation went on a five-car caravan to sing with members at their residences. We sang on porch steps, in yards, and in front of fireplaces with ou…
FROM THE WORKSHOP Here we are in November, the month in between Halloween and December. All the pumpkin patches are gone. Lights are already up on the streets and homes. Stores have candy cane decor and our mailboxes are full of holiday cat…
BECAUSE OF YOU, OUR CHURCH CHANGES LIVES! Sufficiency: When the time comes for us to determine what part of our material blessings we should return to the Kingdom of God to help glorify His presence in our lives, we find it difficult to com…
From the Workshop: Pew Research tells us that today about 70% of Americans identify as Christian. That’s down from 90% 30 years ago. Part of that decline is young people walking away from congregations that are out of step with the t…
From the Workshop: October is peering over the backyard fence and she’s got a bunch of activities lined up (and we’re not even talking about all the youth events coming!). Sunday, Oct 1 — World Communion Sunday …
Sunday things were moving! It began with the request for a sermon on “the power of love”. Sunday (9/10) we sat at the feet of Genesis, Hosea, John, and Paul. They in turn took us to some insights on “love” that are speaking to us bot…
From the Workshop: We are moving right along through the summer although the high temperatures make the going challenging. As the summer turns to fall, the church calendar is returning to some familiar routines after Labor Day weekend (Sept…
From the Workshop: Our General Assembly (GA) of the Christian Church (Disciples) started July 29 in Louisville, KY and wrapped up August 1. It’s a four day gathering of “church”–worship, business, service, fellowship and plenty of eating t…
From the Workshop Here we are in the middle of summer, but just starting the Pentecost season. I am continuing to appreciate this congregation and have now been through another first, a board meeting. And even that was well done! As I share…
From the Workshop I am grateful to the Search Team for allowing me these two vacation weekends, one for a Father’s Day gathering, and this week my 50th college reunion. When I get back from Enid next week it’s just us from now until…
From the Workshop It is a joy to be here. There is energy pouring out in service and compassion in so many directions. We are moving into summer mode. Vacation Bible School this year is all about art. Mary Beth has paint…
New Beginnings Church, it is so good to be here with you! Thank you for your time, prayers and patience, for Andrea and I to arrive!You have been most gracious to us both. Thank you for the gift of the stoles and flowers – this…
Marilyn’s Moment: By way of introduction: I am a Rocky Mountain girl! Now you can laugh because though born and raised in Colorado, I haven’t lived there since 1988 when John and I were transplanted to Ponca City, OK. You push the numbers a…
Marilyn’s Moment: By way of introduction: I am a Rocky Mountain girl! Now you can laugh because though born and raised in Colorado, I haven’t lived there since 1988 when John and I were transplanted to Ponca City, OK. You push the numbers a…