Lakeside StaffPastor........................Rev. Mark RickmanMusic Director.......... Jason GrifePianist .......................Corie MelaughOrganist .................... Jean ShackletonYouth Director .......... Lauryn LauppAdmin. Assistant .......Kyna BurnettNursery Attendant .... Patsy KouhdariNursery Attendant ....Deanna Bond

Lakeside United Methodist Church2925 NW 66th Street, OKC, OK 73116

405-843-5777lakesideumc@coxinet.netweb: lakesideumc-okc.org

LAKESIDERLAKESIDERTHETHE

January 2012The Gospel Chorus

You will be reading these comments, many of you, on January 6th – the twelfth day of Christmas (Dec. 25 – Jan. 6), also known as the Day of Epiphany. It is the day traditionally celebrated as the day the Magi, or Wise Men, arrived to worship the Christ Child. That was not a date or event given much notice when I was growing up. I’m sure I heard the word ‘epiphany’ mentioned, but as far as I knew, the wise men (and women?) were gathered around the manger along with the shepherds and various animals, as depicted in most Nativity sets. My ignorance was the result, I believe, of a caution over disrupting peoples’ long-held beliefs or traditions. Afraid of stirring up concerns or complaints, differences in various accounts of scripture have been often ignored or slighted. But it’s worth knowing that Luke’s account of shepherds reflects his concern for reaching the poor and marginalized, and that Matthew’s inclusion of wise men reflects his concern for those outside Israel. Preachers have often worked hard to “harmonize’ such scriptural discrepancies so as not to stir up any anxieties among their congregations. But when we fail to let the scriptures speak for themselves, when we try to blur accounts, the amazing variety of experiences and expressions is muted. It’s like having a choir where everyone is singing the same notes. How much richer and fuller is the sound when each voice is given room and space to make its own contribution. It would be like having a church where only one way of living out our faith was allowed. It’s by recognizing and honoring the amazing variety among us that the Gospel Chorus known as Lakeside United Methodist Church can really begin to sing. So, friends, make sure your voice is counted in our chorus. Without your unique contribution, our witness is muted.

We appreciate all the Sunday School Classes for providing Greeters and Ushers every Sunday. The following is the next two months schedule:

January - Wesley & YouthFebruary - Joy

As we do our part in serving may we be mindful of Jesus’ words from Matthew 25:35, “I was a stranger and you wel-comed me.” Hospitality calls us to see people as Jesus sees them and to see Jesus in the people God brings before us.

Greeter and Usher Schedule

Please bring:your old prescription eyeglasses for Skyline; your Campbell soup

UPC code (labels for Educa-tion) and cereal BoxTops$ for Education at Cookson Hills.

Place them in the drawer of the credenza in the foyer.

Skyline is also needing eyeglass cases. They try to provide each person who gets glasses from the clinic with a case for their

new glasses.

January 2012—Page 2

Human Relations Day Offering - January 15, 2012

United Methodist Womenof Mayfair Heights UMCpresent Tammy Pinkston, Personal Self-Defense Trainer

—Empowering Women to Protect Ourselves—

Monday, January 9 at 6:00 pmEveryone is invitedFor information call 473-1838 Mayfair Heights United Methodist Church3131 NW 59th Street (3 blocks East of Hefner Parkway)

Your Human Relations Day offering supports vital community ministries that teach and advocate for justice, especially among people struggling to survive in the margins of society. For example, students at United Methodist-related Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., are becoming involved in social concerns with help from the United Methodist Voluntary Service program. Combining academics with activism, the tiny, historically black college—with ”Think Justice” as its motto—is teaching students to pursue justice for a better world. During one Thanksgiving week students explored and responded to the worsening plight of hunger and homelessness in central Arkansas. They hosted a Faces of the Homeless symposium, volunteered at a shelter and soup kitchen, slept in cardboard boxes outdoors overnight and collected food and clothing for 100 needy families. Other lessons have come from a letter-writing campaign to lobby for tougher drunk-driving laws and public forums with consciousness-raising guest speakers. Your gifts to Human Relations Day provide avenues to restored relationships through ministries like Youth Offender Rehabilitation, Community Developers self-improvement programs and United Methodist Voluntary Services community advocacy programs. It’s time to think and support justice, to become radical in changing lives and changing the world. Please give generously on the 15th of January to the Human Relations Day Offering.

January Birthdays

Bob Prest ..........................01

Jack Andrews ....................02

Ava Roberson ...................10

Hailey Miller .....................12

James Aikman ...................19

Jim Aikman .......................19

Nick Schmitt .....................20

Lauryn Laupp ...................28

Heather Thompson ...........30

Please contact A.M. Nowlin with prayer requests and updates (843-6811).

January 2012—Page 3

Sunday School News:The Joy Class Happy New Year everyone! The holidays are so much fun but it’s kind of good to get back in a routine. We were saddened to hear of the passing of David Moore’s son, Greg. Our deepest sympathy goes to David and his family. Also to Ellie May’s family in the sudden death of her sister-in-law. Our prayer’s are with Max and Barbara Harris as Max’s condition worsens. Hope to see everyone in Sunday School Jan. 8. Let’s keep Christmas in our hearts!

Condolences to Mary McQueen in the death of her husband, Ken; and to David Moore in the death of his son, Greg.

Barbara Johnson Pat DonnellyDean Hoel Randy ShugartDebbie Hamlin Tara & Adam BrownKen Brokaw Ted & Jean WolfordMark Williams Terrie ThomasMary McQueen Tim Payne & FamilyMax Harris Family of Greg Moore

What is Financial Peace University? There will be an introduc-tion and overview to Financial Peace University (FPU) on Wed., Jan. 11, with the sessions beginning on Wed., Jan. 25. FPU is a biblically based video curriculum that incorporates small-group discussions to encourage accountability and discipleship. Taught by Dave Ramsey on DVD, FPU is highly entertaining for everyone, with a unique combination of humor, infor-mative financial advice and biblical messages. Hope to see you there!

January 2012—Page 4

January 3, 2012

Dear Members of Lakeside;

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! In case you have not noticed, 2012 is already upon us! The New Year is here. How is God calling us to fulfill our vision of “meeting needs, making disciples, making a difference in 2012”? What should we do the same and what should we do differently this year? We’re glad you asked.

On Saturday, January 14, 2012, (just two short weeks away) we will have our 2012 Planning Retreat from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. Who should be there? YOU! Consider this your personal invitation. Moreover, if you: •are(orwillbe)onAdministrativeCouncil;or •are(orwillbe)servingonaministryteam,workareaorcommittee;or •careaboutmission,directionandfutureofLakesideUMC,Then we especially encourage your presence! We are not the same without you.

Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. by Pastor Mark. By 8:15 we’ll begin with a time to open us to God and to each other for the future of Lakeside’s ministries. We will then quickly review our mission, purpose and vision for the coming year and look at the “big picture” of what our church is about.

Each committee will break out to plan their calendar for 2012 including regularly sched-uled meetings. We will then gather together and with Greg King’s computer skills, prepare the church calendar for 2012.

Where is God leading us? How will we welcome others into Christ’s community of faith, hope, and love? Does God want to do a “new thing” here? We are excited to journey with you! Begin praying today and may we experience an epiphany, together!

Mark Rickman, Pastor Henry Bockus, Ad Council Chair

2012 Planning Retreat

January 2012—Page 5

January 2012

10:00 am Worship

NEW YEAR’S DAY

9:30 amSunday School10:45 amWorship5:00 pmYouth 5-12 grade

9:30 amSunday School10:45 amWorship5:00 pmYouth 5-12 grade

9:30 amSunday School10:45 amWorship5:00 pmYouth 5-12 grade

9:30 amSunday School10:45 amWorship5:00 pmYouth 5-12 grade

6:30 pmBell Rehearsal7:15 pmChoir Rehearsal

6:00 pm Financial Peace University Preview6:30 pmBell Rehearsal7:15 pmChoir Rehearsal

6:30 pmBell Rehearsal7:15 pmChoir Rehearsal

6:00 pm Financial Peace University6:30 pmBell Rehearsal7:15 pmChoir Rehearsal

1 2 3 49:00 amWorship Planning

7:00 pmAA

9:00 amWorship Planning

7:00 pmAA

9:00 amWorship Planning

7:00 pmAA

9:00 amWorship Planning

7:00 pmAA

9:00 amWorship Planning

7:00 pmAA

7:30 amMethodist Men’s Breakfast

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8 9 10 11 12 13 14

17 18 19 20 211615

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAY

CHURCHOFFICECLOSED

8:15 am - 10:30 am 2012 LAKESIDEPLANNING RETREAT

MARTIN LUTHER

KING HOLIDAY

CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

The Lakesider (USPS 021-154) is published monthly by Lakeside United Methodist Church located at 2925 NW 66th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73116. Periodicals Postage Paid at Oklahoma City, OK. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Lakeside United Methodist Church, 2925 NW 66th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73116.

The LAKESIDER PERIODICALS

January 2012—Page 6

Department of Communications Apportionment “We just need to get the word out.” Why didn’t someone tell me that the meeting was yesterday?” It seems that there is never an end to the need for communication. The story needs to be told again and again—in new ways—to new people—with new information. That is the task of the communications department. The most well-known product of the commu-nications department is the semi-monthly publi-cation of Contact. The newspaper is sent free of charge to all officers of each local church, to help them stay informed about the plans and happen-ings of the annual conference and its ministries and to share the inspirational stories from local churches. Contact Digest is a free electronic newsletter distributed in coordination with the newspaper. This e-newsletter uses Internet technologies to reach a wider community with information about the church in Oklahoma.

The communications department is also the official publisher—and final editor—of much of the printed materials provided by the annual conference such as the Conference Journal, the Pre-Conference Work-book, the worship materials used during the annual conference session, and print resources for the Annual Conference Council programming. Many people are also familiar with the videotapes and DVDs produced by the communications depart-ment, showing images of the lives affected by the ministries of the annual conference. This aspect of the department is also used to produce instructive videos for many settings. Other evidence of the work of this office is the maintenance of news posted on the conference Web site, www.okumc.org. The first conference Web site in the denomination was established by our com-munications department, and the staff continues to be instrumental in the redesign and expansion of the Web site.