First Christian Church Oklahoma City

Love LL the People

Welcome to First Christian Church! Our Vision for Ministry is Love! Live! Give!

LOVE God, love self, and love each other unconditionally. LIVE into our faith journey, shepherding one another. GIVE of ourselves to make a difference in our world.

Sunday Mornings @ FCCOKC

Bible Study 9:30

Worship 10:30

Fellowship 11:45 Pastoral Staff

John Malget Senior Minister RevJMalget@fccokc.org Cell 713-560-3632

Tom Harrison Minister of Technology Harrison.T@fccokc.org Cell 405-919-5114

Carol McDonald-Walley Chalice Kids Director Administrative Assistant McDonald.C@fccokc.org

Larry Batten

Chain Reaction Ministries Program Coordinator Cell 405-479-3809

www.fccokc.org

First Christian Church of OKC

@1stChristianOKC

First Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ) 3700 N. Walker Ave.

Oklahoma City, OK 73118 405-525-6551

Edgemere Elementary Holiday Program

Kindness Does Indeed ROCK! We are so excited to announce our Kindness Project. Chalice Kids have painted some Kindness Rocks to distribute into the community in hopes that people will pick them up and feel the warmth of kindness in their everyday life. We officially launched on February 24th and are excited to get the entire congregation and others throughout Oklahoma City in on distributing the kindness rocks. Each rock has one word from our vision statement—LOVE! LIVE! GIVE! and our web address on the back.

We hope you will join us in this new and creative venture. We want everyone to wonder with us what it would be like if we could make the world a more lovely, kinder place, one rock at a time. If you find one of our rocks, we hope you will find some joy in your day. We hope you will go on our website and leave us a comment about how it made you feel, and then either bring the rock back to us, or place it someplace so another person might be touched by a spirit of kindness and love.

“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves.” “with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” —Colossians 3:12

2019 Lenten Edition

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Malget’s Musings: More than a Building We have spent the better part of two months talking about the VISION of First Christian Church of Oklahoma City. Before I go in depth about our VISION for the future, let us be clear, FCC OKC is NOT closing! The buildings and property are for sale, but a congregation is more than a building, no matter how amazing the architecture is. We may be small in number, but mighty in spirit and mission. We have chosen not to be a congregation for any one particular segment of the community, but someplace welcoming to everyone. We care called to LOVE God and one another; to LIVE into our faith, sharing our story, and shepherding one another along the way; and to GIVE of ourselves in a way that pleasing to God. This is a day of new beginnings! First Christian Church has a bright future ahead. As we remember all that came before, the good times and the bad, we take those things that

are still relevant to who we now, and move forward into what God is calling us to do and be in the years to come. But we can’t live in the past. We have to live into that future NOW! We are not a building, but a community of LOVE.

“This is a day of new beginnings! Our God is making all things new!”

Lent is going to be a powerful experience this year. Our Theme is Characters of the Cross. Our Ash Wednesday dinner (5:30 pm) and service (6:30 pm) will be on March 6th. Make it a point to be in worship each Sunday to hear about many of the people whom Jesus encountered from the time he called his disciples to when he was crucified. Then join us Holy Week (April 14th-21st) for a number of meaningful experiences. Prayer Stations based on Jesus’ journey to the cross will be available all week upstairs in the dome. On Wednesday evening, April 17th, we will have dinner and conversations with many of the “Characters of the Cross” we will have heard about in the Lenten sermons. Finally, on Easter Sunday, April 21st, we will have breakfast at 9:30 am, a celebration of the resurrection during worship at 10:30 am, and a chance to watch our Chalice Kids hunt eggs following worship. Make it a point to be a part of this Lenten journey this year.

Rev. John Malget Senior Minister RevJMalget@fccokc.org

This Is a Day of New Beginnings by Brian Wren and Carlton R. Young

This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember and move on, time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that’s gone.

For by the life and death of Jesus, God’s mighty Spirit, now as then, can make for us a world of difference, as faith and hope are born again.

Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring, step from the past and leave behind our disappointment, guilt, and grieving, seeking new paths, and sure to find.

In faith we gather round the table to taste and share what love can do. This is a day of new beginnings. Our God is making all things new!

March 10 The First Disciples John 1:35-51 Rev. John Malget

March 17 Mary and Martha Luke 10:38-42 Rev. Dr. Todd Adams

March 24 Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-10 Rev. Tom Harrison

March 31 The Woman at the Well John 4:7-15 Rev. John Malget

April 7 James and John Matthew 20:20-28 Rev. John Malget

April 14 Caiaphas Matthew 26:57-68 Rev. John Malget

April 21 Mary Magdeline John 20:1-18 Rev. John Malget

Lenten and Easter Sermon Series

Characters of the Cross

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A Letter of Thanks from Wanda I want to thank everyone who helped me through the loss of my precious soulmate, Jeff. Thank you all for your hospital visits, flowers, plants and cards. Thank you to all of you who participated in his wonderful memorial service. Thank you all for your gifts of food for the reception. But most of all, thank you for loving Jeff and for loving me! I truly love my church family!

A very special thank you to Rev. John Malget for being there through all of Jeff’s many hospital stays, but especially for being there with us until the end of Jeff’s time on this good earth.

I love you all and look forward to sharing each other’s joys and pains, ups and downs, and the ins and outs of our lives. We are a church family. We will be a shelter for one another for many years to come. Even as I miss Jeff, I see him in the faces of you who have walked along side of him in ministry here at First Christian Church.

In Loving Memory

Rev. Jeff Hamilton Minister for Life

First Christian Church of Oklahoma City

Givelify is an online giving platform that allows First Christian Church to receive offerings electronically. It is so easy to use. You can download the “app” on an iPhone or Android device, and give from your phone. You may also go to www.fccokc.org and tap the GIVE button at the top of the website, or simply tap DONATE on our church’s Facebook page. This will allow those who do not carry check or cash, or those who have to miss worship on a Sunday to continue to give to the ministries of First Christian Church of Oklahoma City!

Lenten Devotionals Available Now

Ash Wednesday

March 6th

Dinner — 5:30 pm

Worship—6:30 pm

Imposition of Ashes and

Prayer Stations

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Jewel Box Theatre Chuck Tweed, Production Director of the Jewel Box Theatre for the last 41 years has decided it is time to retire. Chuck has been the backbone of the Jewel Box for a very long time, and much of the reason for its success. The way the Jewel Box Theatre is operated comes from his many years of experience and love for this place. Even as we move forward with the second half of our 61st season, his presence will be missed. However, the show must go on!

The first half of our 61st season has been incredible! Barefoot in the Park received amazing reviews from the media and patrons alike. Join us March 7th – 31st, as Denise Hughes, in her Jewel Box directing debut, will bring us the very funny Wedding Belles by Alan Bailey and Ronnie Claire Edwards. We close out our season, April 18th – May 12th, with Samuel and Bella Spewack’s My Three Angels directed by Richard Lemin. Come enjoy these hilarious comedies!

For more information about how to come see a show, call our box office at 405-521-1786, or go online to JewelBoxTheatre.org. As an added bonus, we can now accept credit cards at the box office. To keep up with all the latest news, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/JBTheatre.

There is a reason we have been around for sixty one years: great plays, amazing audiences, incredible volunteers, and all those who help make us succeed!

Come enjoy the thrill of live theatre-in-the-round!

Josie Walley Jewel Box Theatre Box Office Manager info@jewelboxtheatre.org

The Chalice Kids have rolled into 2019 having loads of fun and learning the Worship and Wonder way. We have started wondering about what life was like for Jesus as a little boy and a young man. The parables of Jesus are up next and we are excited to explore the meaning of the parables and wondering how we can apply those lessons to our lives.

Valentine’s day we began our quest for kindness by decorating valentine cookies for the congregation and our Kindness Rocks Project began on February 24th. This ongoing project is a super fun way for the kids to learn about the kindness of Jesus and we hope you will join us in this new and creative venture. We want everyone to wonder with us what it would be like if we could make the world a a more lovely, kinder place, one rock at a time. Chalice Kids meets every Sunday in room 308 and we hope you will join us!

Carol McDonald Children’s Ministry Administrative Assistant McDonald.C@fccokc.org

Colossians 3:12

Humility

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Thanks Be to God for Dan Church!

If you have been up on the fourth floor of the church lately, you might have met Dan Church. We house a bike shop up there to rehabilitate the donated bicycles we receive. Dan came to us from Little Rock, Arkansas, his home state. He was a student in Brisbane, Australia for 8 years where he started a bicycle ministry fixing bikes for international students, and worked at another ministry called Bikes 4 Life. When he finished his degree in Theology and Education, he came back to the states to apply for permanent residency in Australia. Somehow, as a blessing from God, Dan found Chain Reaction Ministries. For the past four months he has blessed Chain Reaction Ministries with his bicycle repair talents and his bright and cheerful personality. Dan is leaving us March 10th to spend some time at home in Arkansas in the final months while he is waiting for his visa. Dan will be sorely missed around here, but we will forever give thanks to God for bicycle ministries of Dan Church!

We continue to have an ever increasing demand for adult bicycles as this ministry continues to grow. If you, your neighbors, your friends, or your family members have any adult bikes that can be donated, please call the church at 405-525-6551 or my cell phone at 405-479-3809.

Still Changing Lives One Bike at a Time!

Chain Reaction Ministries Chain Reaction Ministries serves God by serving the least and the last among God’s children. We repair and give away donated bicycles to those in need so they can have life-changing transportation. To that end, we have given away over 3,000 bikes.

Larry Batten Chain Reaction Coordinator (405) 479-3809

Hello everyone! As you can see on your right, our kids love having time to play. Every day is an adventure in learning and experiencing fun.

During February, we did arts and crafts and enjoyed our annual Valentine’s Day parties. Springing into March, we are looking forward to warmer weather and getting to play outside on a more regular basis. Our spring break is March 18th through March 21st. School resumes Monday, March 25th.

We are looking forward to Easter and hunting eggs. As always, thanks for your ongoing support for our Preschool and Children’s Day Out.

Virginia Nolen Preschool Director nolen.v@fccokc.org

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Steve Felton Board Chair

Reminded and Renewed

I wrote this all the way back on January 23rd in Tulsa, OK, acting as your (sort-of) foreign correspondent at what was once called Minister’s Week. After we returned from our two days on the road, we had a chance to go by the hospital and tell Jeff a little about what we learned. This event was right up Jeff’s alley. Here’s what I wrote:

John Malget and I are here for the annual “Remind & Renew” event at Phillips Theological Seminary. We are here to recharge our spiritual batteries for ministry, and also to fulfill some of the requirements for continuing education which the Oklahoma Region places upon our ordained ministers. Accounting for this every year is a new thing in our region, although I’ve been filling out an annual form concerning my ministry in OK since the 1980s.

By doing this, we renew our “ministerial standing,” which is something related to, but different from our ordination. Ministers are ordained for a lifetime, but standing in our region is another requirement for which we apply and give account of our ministry toward the end of every calendar year. We have to fulfill a certain number of hours of continuing education each year. The OK Region provides opportunities such as “Remind & Renew” to fulfill this requirement, and more importantly, to keep us sharp and informed of contemporary issues in ministry.

This year we are hearing about how the New Testament dealt with the Roman Empire, and what we can learn about it for our own current age. So far we’ve studied how this Empire theme is found in the books of Acts and Matthew. It is some fascinating and important information!

Ministerial Excellence Awards were given to the Revs. Paul Krueger and David Hockensmith at dinner tonight. I’ve known both of them for decades. The banquet was tasty, funny, entertaining and inspirational.

Tomorrow morning we go back to learn more, beginning with Opening Prayers at 9:30 am and wrapping up with Closing Worship at 2 pm. I’m looking forward to it! I want to thank First Christian Church for making it possible for us to come to Tulsa again this year. Events like this are empowering for church leaders. And it’s always good to see some of our old friends and celebrate that we are in this ministry thing together.

John and I greatly enjoyed the event, and learned a great deal from it. You may see evidence of it cropping up in our sermons, lessons and conversations.

Rev. Tom Harrison Minister of Technology iTomHarrison@gmail.com

Board Chair’s Perspective First Christian Church of Oklahoma City is alive and well. John has been preaching about our congregation’s VISION, a vision of love and acceptance for all. He reminded us last week that the church is NOT the building, but the people. As we move forward with the sale of the property, there will be many rumors. We will let you know more information as it becomes available. Keep your board in your prayers as we make decisions on your behalf.

I also want to recognize the passing of Rev. Jeff Hamilton and Cici Goodwin. They both served this congregation with love for many years. Keep their families in your prayers. Give them a call. Write them a note. Share God’s love!

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Prayer Corner Continuing Prayers: Family of CiCi Goodwin; Jack and Carol Moore; Chevelle Warrick; Mark Maddy; Dwayne Vallandingham; Cricket Thompson; Betty Long; Peggy O’Neal; Ray Lambert; Pat Waters; Martha Johnston; HenryEtta Chaney; Leslie Harrison; June Kinzy; Meredith Harrison; Russell and Louise Linholm; Martha “Peggy” McQuown; Marilyn Wilhite.

Near and Dear: Lydia Jones, Sean Blubaugh (Hamilton); Judi Jones (Tom and Raylene); Brandon Wallace (Katy Love); Melvin Cowden (John Hornbeck); Rhonda Culver (Allen Johnson); Lila Williford (Mills); Betty Waters (Pat Waters); Justin Schnell, (Malget); Mike Nelms, (Michelle Nelms); Kathy McCarty, Anne Boone and Lara Beth Livingstone (Betty Long); Jeff Shannon, Davalyn Billings (Cricket Thompson); Barbara Carr (Rogers); Kyleigh Jones, Jerry Calcote, Bill McGruder, Robbie McGruder, Amber Campbell, Michael Stevens (Warrick); Jon Lewin (Lewin).

February, March, and April Birthdays February 1 Patricia Waters March 9 Patty Empie April 3 Joann Moorehead February 3 Rev. Tom Harrison March 13 PJ Mosley April 5 Betty Hulsopple February 4 Patricia Harris March 20 Christine Mills April 6 Leslie Harrison February 11 Jon Annesley March 24 Toni Thompson April 11 Shirley Querry February 11 Rev. Loma Sullivan March 27 Sherri Malget April 16 Latasha Giddings February 12 Ezra Mann March 27 Lisa Moore April 17 Jordan Malget February 19 Ray Lambert March 31 Peggy O’Neal April 22 Eva Painton February 25 Marilyn Wilhite April 25 HenryEtta Chaney

The Welcoming Table! The Welcoming Table is a Wednesday evening fellowship which includes an amazing meal for

a suggested donation of $5, but no one will go hungry if you cannot contribute. Following dinner, we have a chance to talk about how our faith impacts our lives in a time of informal

discussion, but there is no pressure to stay and chat. Each and every person who walks through our doors is welcome

We believe that ALL means ALL! And ALL includes YOU!

We know you have heard it before, but we are endeavoring to make this a reality here in Oklahoma City. Whether or not you have been a believer your entire life, or you don’t know what you believe, or even if you believe, you are welcome here. Whether you are young, old, conservative, liberal, black, white, Asian, Hispanic, gay, straight, or questioning, it doesn’t matter because you are a beloved child of God! First Christian Church of Oklahoma City is a place of unconditional love, a place to come and ask the hard questions of faith in a judgment free zone. There is a seat at the Welcoming Table just for you.

Join us!

April 29

5:30 pm

Worship

and Dinner

Refuge Fellowship Church

Stations of the Cross

Holy Week in the Dome

9:30 am

April 21st

Holy Week Dinner

Characters of the Cross

Wednesday April 17th

6 pm

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First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

P. O. Box 18636 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73154

(405) 525-6551 — FAX (405) 525-6562

email: disciples@fccokc.org web: www.fccokc.org

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Oklahoma City, OK

PERMIT No. 426

TIME VALUE PUBLICATION RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Important Dates @ FCC

Weekly Activities

Sunday Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am Fellowship Coffee 11:45 am

Monday Staff Meeting 10:30 am

Tuesday Mobile Meals 10:00 am

Wednesday The Welcoming Table Dinner 5:30 pm Discussion 6:30 pm

For a complete calendar visit our website:

www.fccokc.org

Mardi Gras Luncheon Mar. 3—Noon

Ash Wednesday Dinner Mar. 6—5:30 pm Ash Wednesday Service Mar. 6—6:30 pm

Holy Week Prayer Stations April 14 - 19

Holy Week Dinner Apr. 17—6 pm

Easter Breakfast All-Church Apr. 21—9:30 am Easter Services —10:30 am Easter Egg Hunt in the Dome —11:30 am

Pasta and Praise Apr. 27—6 pm Combined worship and dinner at Crown Heights Christian Church

OKC Marathon—No services Apr. 28

Refuge Fellowship Church Apr. 29—5:30 pm

Jewel Box Performances Wedding Belles Mar. 7-31 My Three Angels Apr. 18-May 12 Thursday-Saturday —8:00 pm Sunday Matinee —2:30 pm

RSVP:

Mardi Gras Party and Lunch

FCC Dining Room Sunday, March 3rd

NOON