Personally from the Pastor

“It is more blessed…” Last Sunday, many enjoyed worship and good food at Claremore Lake. We are so grateful for the planning and follow through by the members and additional helpers of the Church Growth, Worship, and Church Life ministry teams. The devoted efforts of so many made possible this special event! I hope you and yours are safely enjoying as much time outdoors as you can. As I write, several members are taking vacation time for refreshment and renewal. One faithful member told me that when he’s away, he instructs his bank to send the church his offering. Our offer-ings of any amount make possible ministries that bless lives and glorify God. The money gifts to God we receive are absolutely essential to keep this launching pad for ministry and worship prepared. Our offerings of treasure, as well as time, and talents, are all ways we can express our joyful faith. These offerings help us do good in the name of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for every generous offering of time, talents, or treasure made to God, through the church. Please know that whenever you take time away from worship for needed refreshment and renewal, your church takes no vacation from worship, service, learning, and gathering. Many devoted servants of First Christian (Disciples of Christ), Claremore--including your pastor, and staff--continue their ministries within and be-yond our church family. Lives are changed for the better. Several outside groups continue to meet weekly in our building. Friendship Feast is served. Our offerings to “Light the World” continue to help others, such as the mother of four

whose electricity and water would have been cut off without our financial help with her bill. Although we may take needed time off, the ministries of your church and through the church building do not. Every week, the need continues for your faithful, grateful dollars to be transformed into offerings. The Lord Jesus was right, wasn’t he?--“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35.) So glad to be your pastor, PS If the amount of your intended money offer-ings is behind--and God has made it financially possible for you to--please “ketchup.” Thank you.

200 E. 5TH St., Claremore (918) 341-1199 July 1, 2019 fccclaremore.org

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Newsletter

Red & I would like to say thank you so much for your cards and prayers during Red’s recovery from his hip surgery. We feel so blessed to have such a wonderful church family. A special thanks to pastor Charles and Julie Ketcher. Julie is our Elder this year and does a marvelous job of watching over her flock! Red & Marilyn Vaughn

Praise God for helping the doctors find an unexpected cyst, that surgery went well, and for healing. I would like to thank Pastor Charles for coming and praying with our family before surgery and staying to make sure everything went okay. Thanks to Jerry Book for coming to the hospital and visiting. Thank you to our Elder and Master Chef John Franklin for the quick visit while I was in the hospital and the delicious meal on my first day back to work. Thanks to everyone who sent me cards during my recovery and your prayers. Thanks to Julie Ketcher for texting and checking in on me frequently. I can never give enough thanks to the one person who has been a great friend, keeping me company, and for everything she does around the church, especially volunteering in the office, Lynne Dosch. You are an angel. I can’t forget my family. Thank you Jim for taking time off work to take care of a stubborn patient, preparing meals and cleaning house and to Rachel and Mathew for helping out. Susan Kotoff

We Celebrate Generosity!

We celebrate these April-June worship offerings supporting ministries and missions beyond our congregation!

*$452 Jesus On the Go (J.O.G.) for random acts of kindness in the name of Jesus. *$297.00 Light The World (LTW) to help families with utilities and lodging. *$977.00 in Special Offerings to help bring life, love and learning through the general ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). *$0.00 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

2019 YTD Outreach Total: $3,239.47

Please note: To keep our doors open, our intended ministries fully funded, and our devoted staff paid, our weekly Sunday offerings must average $4,954. In April-June, our weekly Sunday offerings averaged $3,928.70

When the need for an urgent prayer arises, the prayer 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.

I

I am pleased to inform you that a donation has been made to the Regional Annual Fund by Rev. Pam Holt in honor of the ministry at First Christian Church Claremore. Thank you for all your work that blesses the Region.

Blessings, Jennifer Administrative Assistant Christian Church in Olkahoma

Please join Gwen and her family & friends for cake and ice cream.

We are the latest generations to call First Christian Church our home and support its mission with our prayers, presence, monies, and service. We want many others to experience First Christian as their home, too. For 125 years, First Christian has made big and little changes to serve God better. Some of these include new worship spaces, new leaders, new worship words and practices, and new ministries those inside and those outside church. These changes and many others were made to meet the changing needs of the communi-ty and the expectations of current and future members. We know that change is inevitable; it is a sign of life for a person and for a church. The Worship Ministry Team has decided to introduce several changes throughout the rest of the year. It is hoped that each change will help our guests who have not grown up in a church find the experience of worship at FCC more “user friendly” and eventually join. The music balance may shift a bit. The leadership from the front may shift a little in frequency and style. The arrangement of the furniture will be slightly altered. When a change is made, the Worship Ministry Team wants to know your thoughts, praise, or concerns. We ask that everyone first “tries it on” for 2 weeks to see how it “fits.” Then let your shepherding Elder; or the Worship Ministry team leader, Julie Ketcher, know how the new practice feels. You’re also invited to bring your thoughts, praise, or concerns to the whole Worship Ministry Team. Its next meeting will be July 21 at 4:00 PM in the church parlor. Of course, you may also speak to Pastor Charles. If you want to write down your suggestions to help the church

improve any of our ministries, you may put them in the Suggestion Box located in the entry area. Thank you. The Worship Ministry Team hopes all will continue to be the loving and supportive people of Christ that we are, regardless of the changes we’re “trying on.” Please remember that each “experiment” is being done with the same goal: that some guests will see First Christian is the church family they can become part of.

July’s Worship Changes Why? To offer a less formal atmosphere so worship guests with no church experi-ence feel more comfortable. * The choir and Pastor Charles will only

wear robes for special occasions. * The Welcoming Elder will be the same

person for one month at a time. * Eliminate the Stewardship moment. What we give back to God is connected

to our gratitude for God’s gifts. Those of our church don’t need a reminder of that just before we give our tithes and offer-ings.

* Make transitions between the elements

of worship more fluid.

Worship News

Disciples Women

On September 8th, we will celebrate the 125th Anniversary of those who gathered and eventually became the First Christian Church family in Claremore. Planned are a special service to which past members, pastors, and others will be invited. Former pastor Jim Robinson will preach. This will be followed by a catered luncheon. Church memorabilia and a new banner will be displayed to deepen our appreciation of where we have been following the ways of Jesus. If you wish to be part of the planning and execution of these events, please contact, Katy Galusha-White, Julie Ketcher, or Sara Masters.

Sav

e th

e D

ate

Sunday SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

1894 Claremore 2019

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

125 years

We are happy to reserve the church to our church family members for family functions (i.e. weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, etc…). Please call the church office prior to your event to reserve a date and so that we can double check that there are no other conflicts scheduled at the same time.

An Invitation

To all women of First Christian Church, Claremore

You are invited to lunch and our meeting

July 18th at noon in the Family Life Center.

We have two women’s groups of Disciples Women.

Both normally meet on the third Thursday each month. The Day Group at noon, the Rachel Group at 7 pm

We’d love to welcome you, get better acquainted, And serve our church and community.

Rachel Group will resume in September.

For more information, contact Sherrill Vosberg 918-629-1706 or

shvosb89@hotmail.com

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Cancer Patients - Tonia Robinson, Carissa Mann, Cinda Franklin, Lisa White, Josie Ragland Grimmet, Janet Edge

Health Concerns - Larry Hagood recovering from surgery, Josie Grimmet (Pastor Charles’ sister) recov-ering from surgery; Mary Carrell recovering from a broken wrist; Chad Riley (Cathie Riley’s son) recover-ing from surgery Prayers of sympathy for the family of Richard Swinney (Jennifer Swinney’s father-in-law), Praise - Larry & Patty Melton welcomed granddaughter, Isabella Illiana Melton on July 1. She weighed 8 lb 5 oz. Tyler Melton (friend of Krisalynn Mathis) is cancer free.

*ELDERS SERVING - JULY 2019

DATE

STANDING ELDER (Serving Claremore, Brookfield & Wood

Manor Nursing Homes)

SERVING & PRAYER ELDER

(Serving Homebound / Hospitals)

Jul 7 Don Wofford Julie Ketcher

Jul 14 Lynne Dosch Don Wofford

Jul 21 Katy Galusha-White Lynne Dosch

Jul 28 John Franklin Cinda Franklin

*DIACONATE SCHEDULE - JULY 2019

DATE SERVING

COMMUNION & GREETING SHEPHERD,

PREPARE & CLEAN-UP

Jul 7 Larry Young, Megan Robinson, Barry Clark, Linda Womack, Amanda & Tava Tobey

Larry Young Megan Robinson

Jul 14 Steve & Loretta Pool, Ron & Sandra Yost, Beverly Wofford, Nan Pope

Steve & Loretta Pool

Jul 21 Cathie Riley, Rachel Kotoff, Mary Carrell, Jim Watkins, Christine Pool, Barry Clark

Cathie Riley Rachel Kotoff

Jul 28 Diane Forst, Kenneth Hutchins, Larry & Kay Livingston, Brandon Pool, Christine Pool

Diane Forst Kenneth Hutchins

*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 7 Marty & Destiny Bittle

Jul 14 Gail Mullen

Jul 21 Don & Beverly Wofford

Jul 28 Tava Tobey

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 2019 YTD

Total Offerings and Other Income for Daily Ministries Expenses

18,370.23 101,435.26

Total Daily Ministries Expenses 15,739.51 101,880.53

Net Income (Loss) 2,630.72 (445.27)

Needed for Budget 24,770.35 128,805.82

Budget Excess (Shortfall) (6,400.12) (27,370.56)

5 Sam Cowherd 14 Ethel Vosberg 20 Megan Robinson

6 Bill Biard 16 Gail Bowen 25 Carol Low

9 Larry Livingston 16 Patty Melton 26 Linda Womack

10 Amanda Catalano 17 John Franklin 28 Gwen Eschliman

13 Jeanette Hallum 18 Codi Ruth 28 Dwayne Henderson

13 Red Vaughn 18 Darrell Low 29 Nancy Scott

13 Aiden James