Oakbridge. Merry Christmas D E C E M B E R 1 8,

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1 D E C E M B E R 1 8, Oakbridge W E S T E R N O A K S C H R I S T I A N C H U R C H Dec 9 the Salvation Army Kettle Brigade Crew was out in full force to ring for WOCC division. Serving their neighbor was: Pat Brown and Andrea Teter, Jimmy Ille, Ed & Mary Garrison, Charlene Majetic and Fern Melton, Tina Bayliff and Charles, Wendy and Alex Wilkinson, Kari Simmons and Monica and Tobi and Kadan Frank! Bucket was full to the max! Great job crew Pat Brown and Andrea Teter! Date GIVING 12/10 General $7, Blessing Fund $ /17 General $16, Blessing Fund $25.00 Tobi and Kadan Frank Date ATTENDANCE 12/10 9 AM No Service 11 AM /17 9 AM AM 85 Merry Christmas Please Sign in on Attendance Sheets

2 This Year at Western Oaks With Christmas approaching and thinking of the gifts we are buying, the gifts we are sharing and the gifts we receive, I would like to think for a moment about the gifts of the church. Western Oaks Christian Church has been a blessing in so many ways to so many people. Here are just a few ways that Western Oaks has been a gift and a blessing this past year: The church was recognized by being awarded a certificate of excellence and trophy as a Certified Healthy Congregation by the State of Oklahoma this past year. We are one of only 19 congregations to receive this recognition in the last year. The church was also recognized as a Green Chalice congregation for our conscious effort to reduce utility consumption by installing LED lights, programmable thermostats and also for providing recycling to the community. The House FM recognized Western Oaks as the Church of the week for the Neighbor s Night Out and the Health fair we provided for the community. Western Oaks has been recognized by Whiz Kids for our efforts to provide one on one tutoring to elementary students struggling to learn to read. The school has reported significant improvement. This summer Western Oaks partnered with the Bethany YMCA to offer a Christian Day Camp for children throughout the summer. We fed the hungry, providing 4 meals to the homeless downtown at Refuge Church. We provided meals to those who are home bound through mobile meals each week, 52 days of the year. But we also hosted events such as Stamp out Starvation to help fight hunger locally and abroad. I have also served as the Chairperson of a Faith based coalition through the City County Health Department and on a Corporate Committee for the Regional Food Bank. These really get the name of Western Oaks and our own efforts within the community more recognition. In addition to all this I lead a Clergy Discussion group that I started and meet monthly with several clergy from across the Metro area and from various faith backgrounds. Western Oaks has also been recognized by the Putnam City Schools for our various efforts in partnering with the schools and know how important it is to work together when serving the youth of our community through providing space for football team meals, teacher breakfast and other efforts. But we have also been there to help in hurricane relief, providing blankets and clothes to the homeless, supporting Church World Services who rush in after disasters, or Disciples4Water who brings clean drinking water to poverty stricken places. There are so many ways that Western Oaks has been a blessing and a gift to the world in 2017 and is clearly a place where we live out the gospel of Jesus Christ in truth and love. This is not everything the church has done, but there is so much to be proud of that Western Oaks Christian Church does and is a part of in our community! Thank you for the opportunity to faithfully serve and thank you for being a part of this amazing gift to the community, to the world, and to God! Shalom, Daniel

3 WISHING ALL OF YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS My family and I would like to thank you for opening your hearts and your friendship to us. It is hard to believe my first Sunday with you was two years ago. Thank you for sharing in all our projects; from the Easter Egg Hunt, Children Worship & Wonder, Vacation Bible School, Trunk or Treat and the Christmas program and all the details in-between!! We feel your hospitality and warmth as we work side-by-side. Advent has given us Hope, Love, Joy and Peace as we have journeyed together. May this new year bring more ways for us to share this season with each other, our community and our world. Thanks for being on the journey together!!! Julia Jordan Gillett and family Caring & Sharing Event December 27th Wednesday 5:00 p.m. Eat Olde Orchard Restaurant (7339 NW 23rd, Bethany) Any Questions call Margo Thein or OR Charlene Majetic For some the holidays are filled with grief and painful memories which can make it difficult to feel merry or thankful. No matter how long your loved one has passed away, grief can make holidays a difficult time. But there is hope. New Covenant Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is offering a one evening event will take a look into our holiday traditions and offer suggestions on how to handle parties and invitations, and where to find comfort and hope in this meaningful, but perhaps bittersweet, season. Contact Debbie Keith at New Covenant Christian Church , ext. 305 for more information.

4 I am so very appreciative of the work that everyone puts forth in various ways that you share your gifts and talents with the church. Justin Gamble has done an amazing job of tracking attendance and keeps a list of everyone. Santa may keep a list of who is naughty and nice and check it twice, but I am impressed with the list Justin creates and checks it twice. Because of his detailed records I can tell that in the last 45 days there have been a total of 246 different people attend worship. This might otherwise be hard to tell because what I discovered looking at his list is that not everyone shows up on the same Sunday. But in that same time frame 63 different people attended the 9am service and 195 attended the second service (and only 12 attended both services on the same day). Of those in the 11am worship, 60 were nonmembers and 13 non-members attended the 9am worship. However, in the past year the numbers show that we have had 244 church members attend worship at least once. Some people we only see on Christmas and Easter. But we have had 208 non-members attend at least one service in the past year. Granted, many were family members that attended while visiting in town or other events. It is great to look back on 2017 and see good things like this. -Daniel 1/1 Donna Miller 1/2 Rob White 1/3 Aanika Gillett 1/4 Dianne Ille 1/4 Karen Russell 1/5 Barbara Gardner 1/5 Denise Miller 1/6 Joshua Mars 1/7 Mary Thorn 1/8 Tony Pinazza 1/9 Sue Hale 1/10 Dora Crenshaw 1/10 Mike Merry 1/10 Jeffrey Newell 1/11 Angela Wilkinson 1/11 Pat Word 1/12 Samuel Atwood 1/12 Kim Ellis 1/12 Patricia Orr 1/13 Sandra Boydston 1/13 Jan Hulsey 1/13 Crystal McAffrey 1/13 Kerri McAffrey 1/14 Matthew Gillett 1/14 Phil Halpain 1/14 Grant Ledbetter 1/14 Mark Phillips 1/16 Cathy Routon 1/17 Mike Buckley 1/21 Daniel Burke 1/21 Lois Northcutt 1/24 Lisa Phillips 1/26 Talitha Thomas 1/27 Dirk DeKinder 1/27 Carolyn Juedeman 1/27 Ira Meador 1/28 Charles Hogan 1/28 Brenda Pratt 1/28 Mark Watts 1/29 Cheryl Omundson 1/29 Turner Suchy 1/31 Kristina Hackney

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6 A Big Thank You to: Sean Lehman was a wonderful puppeteer and taught Daphne and Amelia Farris who helped with the puppets. Sandra Cook made the present boxes for props. Kelli Fearing made the sheep ears. Dean Lunsford made the bag for presents. Wendy Wilkerson made the bows to give away. Mark Gillett, Janet Harper, Jamie Joseph, Lechelle Calderwood and Jennifer Reynolds assisted during play practice each week. Rebecca Thompson, Ron Manning and Rosa McCroskey helped the children learn the music.

7 Church Events In December Dec. 24 th Fourth Sunday of Advent 9 am worship 10 am Sunday School 11 am Worship 6 pm Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Worship 11:30 pm Christmas Eve Midnight Candlelight Worship Dec. 25 th Season of Christmas begins MERRY CHRISTMAS Dec. 31 st First Sunday of Christmas 9 am worship 10 am Sunday School 11 am Worship Merry Christmas Western Oaks! The CWF members have had a successful year. We support Citizens Caring for Children, an organization assisting foster parents with clothing, school uniforms, backpacks, toiletries, etc. One of our handmade quilts is given to each new participant on his/her first visit. In 2017 we gave 321 quilts to these children. Tuesday s workers cut jean and cotton print squares for these quilts and Charlene Majetic, Charli Meador and Sandra Cook sew the quilt tops together and back. Each one of these comes back to the group for tacking. In addition, Mary Francis Hedrick has made 63 pillows for breast cancer patients to use in their recovery rehab. Barbara Johnson made 7 turbans for cancer patients. 78 crocheted caps were given to CCC along with 39 fleece blankets. This week we will deliver Christmas Stockings to the church s home centered members. Consider Joining Us on Tuesday Mornings in 2018!

8 Church Staff Senior Minister: Rev. Daniel U Ren Daniel@woccdoc.org Associate Minister: Rev. Julia Jordan Gillett Julia@woccdoc.org Interim Youth Director: Hope Lairson Administrative Assistant: Rae Euwins Office@woccdoc.org Music Director: Dr. Ronald Manning ronald_manning@att.net Pianist: Rosa McCroskey Organist: Angela Farris Praise Band Leader: Todd Newell Praise Band Members: Brett Hawk, Hope Lairson, Jeff Newell, and Rosanne Rowe Sound Technician: Matthew Gillett & Alex Wilkinson Custodian: Lawrence Johnson Nursery Attendants: Shaylee White and Janet Harper Upcoming Events Tuesday, December 19th 7:00 p.m. Admin Meeting Sunday, December 24th 5:00 p.m. Sharing & Caring (Olde Orchard Restaurant) 6:00 p.m Christmas Eve Services 11:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Services Sunday, December 31st Congregational Meeting Monday, January 1st 12;00 p.m. Oakbridge Artlice Due Saturday, January 6th 7:30 a.m. CMF (Olde Orchard Restaurant) Tuesday, January 9th 7:00 p.m. Admin Meeting The Church office will be closed Dec. 25th Jan 1st Merry Christmas! Loving God, Serving our Neighbor 8100 NW 23 rd Street Oklahoma City OK