Koinonia focus

NEWSLETTER MARCH 3, 2020

Attendance & Giving

February 23, 2020

8:15 am (40) 10:30 am (78)

Total Needed $5,232.00

Total Received $3,628.00

Under Budget $1,604.00

March 1, 2020

8:15 am (46) 10:30 am (66)

Total Needed $5,232.00

Total Received $8,878.00

Over Budget $3,646.00

Serving Schedule

Servers for March 8, 2020

Elders: Robert Cunningham, Betty Dillon

Worship Leader: Larry Voise

8:15 Deacons: Virgil & Becky Beckner

10:30 Deacons: Jeff & Kaelyn Roberts, Ashleigh & Tucker Wheatley

Communion Preparer: Cindy St. Clair

8:15 Greeter: Open

10:30 Greeter: Youth

Homebound: Sue Klingaman

Servers for March 15, 2020

Elders: Sue Klingaman, Jim Sim

Worship Leader: Jay DeBord

8:15 Deacons: Tammy Kelly, Emile Kennedy

10:30 Deacons: Barry & Kristi Cook, Helen Fuller, Matt Klinglesmith

Communion Preparer: Virgil & Becky Beckner

8:15 Greeter: Barbara Schweer

10:30 Greeter: Cindy St. Clair

The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Perry is a family that finds ways of

supporting growth through the connection of worship and the compassionate care of our

church members and community.

Josh’s Jottings

Well, last time I wrote I had a plan of

what I was going to write and then I

got sick. I mean sick! It was the worst

10 pound diet loss I have ever had!

So, I thought it might be a good idea

to pick up where I left off...

Worship service opportunities, Transi-

tions of growth and possible pastor’s

class.

Worship Service Opportunities:

Hymns are a weird thing in the life of

the church. I would argue that our de-

nomination was founded on the crea-

tion and discussion of using hymns.

One example of this might be hymn

#363 Here, Savior, We Would Come

from our Chalice hymnal. This was

written by Alexander Campbell (one

of the founders of the Christian

Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1865.

The interesting thing is to me this is

considered an “old” hymn however

we have never sung and it and would

be considered a “new” hymn to us. I

have always been fascinated with the

history of the Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ) founders views

on the roles of hymns. Alexander

Campbell wrote in his first published

hymnal entitled Psalms, Hymns and

Spiritual Songs (without music)

Hymns are defined in three ways

1. Psalms are historic composition,

or poetic narratives.

2. Hymns are odes of praise directly

addressing the object of worship,

and declaring his excellence and

glorious works.

3. Spiritual songs are such composi-

tions as declare the sentiments de-

rived from the revelations of God,

and such are adapted to communi-

cate to others the views and feel-

ings which God, revelations sug-

gest. (taken from his 1828 edition)

Even in our own very short history as

a covenantal movement the discussion

of hymns and hymnals has always

been at the forefront of discussion of

what and how do we use music in

worship settings. My hope is that

when you read our hymns in the new

hymnal you would take an opportuni-

ty to ask questions like; “I wonder

whey they changed the words to this

hymn that we have been singing for-

ever?” or maybe “How old is this

hymn actually?”

You might not know this but in the

same way our early founders created

hymnals and in the same manner that

the Chalice Hymnal was created in

1992, I am going to create a new

hymnal for the 21st century. This

Chalice Hymnal gives me the oppor-

tunity to see what works and what

doesn’t as we look to see what we cre-

ate for the future of the denomination.

If you have not had a chance to,

please read the preface in the front of

the Chalice hymnal. It addresses a lot

of the discussion that I have been

writing about the last two weeks. Is

the new/old hymnal perfect? Nope!

However the intent in which it was

written is a testimony to our denomi-

nation striving to be a movement of

wholeness in a fragmented world.

I know new things are weird and they

help us grow and articulate not what

we believe but “who” we believe in!

Transitions of Growth:

I had this whole idea about this sec-

tion and it was going to talk about

things like: “Hey did you know that

we are growing?” and “did you notice

all the kids?” or “Did you know how

awesome you all are?”

Instead I have decided to tell you this,

You are an amazing congregation and

people are taking notice. I already

knew how awesome you are. I don’t

think I have done a good job talking

about how much this congregation

means to me. You all have allowed

me to be me and I feel like for the first

time in my 20+years working with

congregations I can be myself. It feels

weird. I love the way you welcome

people into our building. I love the

smiles you give when you see chil-

dren in the “Pray Ground” in the back

of the sanctuary. I love the way you

make people feel welcome and a part

of this community. I love the way you

try new things even when they are

scary. I love when you all get excited

about serving others and have not yet

ever turned down an opportunity to.

Growth in congregations is hard but

you all embrace it and I love that

about you! Thank you for being you

and I can’t wait to see what this new

year brings.

Pastors class:

It’s simple. If you have a 10 year old

or above and they have questions

about being baptized, joining the

church or any host of questions about

Easter...I want them to come to the

Pastor’s class starting Sunday March

8th at 4:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. It

will be an hour long and they will

need a bible and if they don’t have

one I will provide one for them.

(Another reason to be excited…)

We have a lot to be excited about and

I hope you are as excited as much as I

am in this time of Lent

Shalom, Joshua Bell

Hello Everyone! I hope you all are doing well! Here is the

latest in Christian Education:

Camp Fundraiser Update

A big thank you to those who came to our fundraiser

lunch and those who bought cookies from us. We made

around $2,700 through fundraising and donations!

Thank you all so much for investing in our kids to go

have an experience of a lifetime!

Winter Jam

A group of six of us went to Winter Jam this past week-

end. It was a blast getting to hear all the cool bands and

bond together over Uno and other games!

Sunday School

Just wanted to give an update on Sunday School. We

have decided to split the age groups. Ages 3-5 will have

their own separate class, led by April Bond. We will be

using the Owlgories DVDs, combined with a Bible story

and craft. 1st-4th grade will be continuing to focus on go-

ing through each book of the Bible with the curriculum

“What’s in the Bible”, with games, a Bible story and

more!

4th-6th graders

It has come to my attention that we have a lot of 4th-6th

graders in our Disciples kids’ program and in our Sunday

School program. I really have been thinking and praying

that we need something for them. As we pray more

about this, anyone interested in helping with this age

group, please let me know. We are considering do an

event during spring Break. If anyone is free during Spring

Break to help, please let me know!

Family Craft Day

We will be having a family craft day on Saturday, April 4

from 2-4pm. Any and all are invited! This is an oppor-

tunity to put our focus on the upcoming week leading to

Easter. There will be a craft that families or singles can

do together. More details coming soon!

Senior Recognition

We will be recognizing our seniors Sunday, May 10 with

a breakfast at 9:15am and a gift during the worship ser-

vice. If you know of a senior graduating high school or

college, please let me know!

Prayers are always appreciated! Thank you!

God Bless,

Sara

Christian Education & Youth Becoming disciples of Jesus through connecting with the

word, each other, and the community by then serving as

Jesus’ disciples.

March Birthdays

1 Ernie Luckert

3 Mary Fultz

3 Pam Lightfoot

6 Debby Fuller

11 Bunnie Klinglesmith

14 Marilyn Ring

14 Gerald Payne

16 Ashley Townley

17 James Meier

23 Jay DeBord

24 Brannon Bolay

30 Willetta Cutsinger

31 Pam Cunningham

March Anniversaries 6 Bob & Willena Cunningham

10 Bobby & Melanie Cunningham

17 Randy & Donna Parrish

Rev. Joshua Bell Senior Minister 620/491-3488 Sara Halpin Director of Christian Education & Youth Codi Hodge Administrative Assistant Paula Shryock Director of Music Nancy Wells Organist Sharon Worrell Custodian

CHURCH OFFICE (580) 336-4576

perryokfcc@gmail.com Monday - Friday

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

SUNDAY SERVICES 8:15am or 10:30am

SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:15am

Reoccurring Events

Church Services Sundays 8:15 am & 10:30 am

All Ages Sunday School Sundays at 9:15 am

Youth Group Sundays at 5:30 pm

Disciples Kids Wednesdays at 3:15-5:15 pm

Chancel Choir Wednesdays at 6:30 pm

Bell Choir Wednesdays 7:30 pm

Caraway 2nd Sunday monthly at 9:15 am

Connect 2nd Sunday monthly 4:00 pm

Cross Trainers B Tuesdays at 6:00 pm

Cross Trainers A Thursdays at 9:00 am

Quilters Thursdays at 1:00 pm

Christian Education Committee Meeting 1st Monday

Discipleship Meeting 2nd Tuesday monthly 6:00 pm

CWF Meeting 2nd Wednesday monthly at 1:00 pm

Board Meeting 2nd Wednesday monthly at 7:00 pm

March 2020

March 6th Zoo Snooze

March 16-20th Spring Break

April 2020

April 5th Palm Sunday

April 9th Maundy Thursday

April 10th Good Friday

April 9-10th 24 Hour Prayer Vigil

April 12th Easter

April 24th—25th Regional Assembly at Central

Christian Church in Enid, Oklahoma

April 26th Children’s Musical

May 2020

May 2nd OKC Dodgers

May 6th Last Disciples Kids

May 10th SR. Breakfast

May 14th Soup Kitchen

May 16th Graduation

CHOIR NOTES

This Sunday, the women of the choir will sing

“How Can I Keep from Singing?” We have sung

this as a praise song but with a different tune.

On March 15, the Choir will sing “Just As I Am,

I Come,” using a well-known tune

“O Waly Waly.”

See you Sunday!

Paula