OOLOGAH united methodist church

Transcription

1 OOLOGAH united methodist church AUGUST LOVE LETTER If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbour. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. -- Deuteronomy 15:7-8 Our church and community are grieving as we prepare to bury an entering 6th grade boy who was a part of our church on Wednesday nights and during Vacation Bible School. His name was Chase and his death happened too young at his own hands. We don t know why and no one can answer that question for us. What I do know is that our community was a place where he could come and be loved, learn about Jesus, and hear about the Good News of God s love for him in Christ. He had been with us for a short 2 years but in that time he heard multiple Bible stories, began to pray out loud, received correction when needed with love, and ate many a meal. Chase will be missed. He also reminds me of why we gather as community. Wednesday nights are often attended by more children than adults. We have a lot of kids who come from the community and don t connect with the church any other time. When you, as an adult, come on Wednesdays, you become a part of their lives. You can get to know their names and offer them a hot meal. You get the opportunity to share the love of Christ with them and help teach them how to act with love and kindness. You can be a smile they need or a friendly hug they crave. You can be the hands and feet of Jesus. Many people come on Wednesday nights because there is a class they want to attend. I know it is hard to add another thing to your week. I know it is hard to get back up and get to church if you feel done for the day. But I m asking you not just to come for yourself but for the children. They need you. They need to know they are loved. They need you to help teach them and to be happy they are there. They need you to show up each week, even when you are tired, and engage with them. They need our community and we need to be there for them. This same thing is true for Vacation Bible School and other activities we do with the kids. Come for them. Share some extra time and make a difference in someone s life. If you have 45 minutes to make a commitment each week, call the school and sign up for the PAL mentoring program. These kids need us. Chase needed us. And though we can t change what happened, at least we know we were here for him and shared God s love while we had him. For that I am thankful. On the journey together, Rev. Dr. Jennifer Long creating, growing & sending disciples to transform the world

2 Thank you to all of our volunteers! I recently made a list of people who volunteer in different areas of our church. These areas included children and youth, Vacation Bible School, music and worship, church maintenance and upkeep, food bank, garage sale, school walk out, office help, money counters, acolyting, blood drive, under the bridge, and more. I listed each person only one time even if they volunteered in multiple areas. Do you know how many people were listed? 125!!!! That is how many people have given their time and energy this year to help the church be the church of Jesus Christ. 125 different people! And, I only listed those connected to our church, so that number is without those who come from the community to help. 125! Wow!!! Thank you all for your help. The church is the church because of you. Thank you!!!!! Pastor Jennifer Back to School Blessing Bring the kids, teachers, and families to worship on the 19th as we bless all of those who are walking the path of education this year. Invite your friends and let us offer a blessing to them at both the 8:30am and 11am services. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Bob & Kimberly Shoup and Heather Slutz-Coderre UMW NEWS Month of September Undie Sundays, October- Socktober (donations will be taken to Cookson Hills mission in November October 19,th, 20th, 21st Branson trip for Samson, November 9th-11th Cookson Hills November 10, 2018 Christmas Bazaar March 2019 Women s Cruise

3 CHURCH CAMP 2018 Joy and Sonshine Campers: Back row- Pastor Jennifer, Jason Bush, Jessica Major. Front row- Lydia Pierce, Raegan Prunty, Rylee Long - Bush, Taylor Long Bush, Layla Major Oct 19-21, 2018 oumc women s branson weekend Branson s Sight & Sound Theater Presents Samson If you have already signed up, or would still like to go; please pay $50.00 by 7/15 to secure tickets for Samson at the Sight & Sound Theater. We will get tickets to the 3:30 show on Saturday, Oct. 20th & will stay at the Holiday Inn Express again (aprox $50/night 2 to a room) which includes a free breakfast. If you can t have your $50 by 7/15 please let Cindy Lovelace know ( ). Make checks out to Cindy Lovelace & call me if you have any questions.

4 Adopt an Apportionment In order to be responsible with our budget, we have lowered the amount we will pay in Apportionments (a-portion-meant for others) from our church budget. In order to meet this responsibility, we are asking people to Adopt an Apportionment. Please check out the envelopes in the welcome area and find one, or five, that you might take for the year and help in ministry. You can also choose to pay a portion of one. Apportionment amounts start as low as $10 and go into the thousands. Sunday school classes, church groups, and individuals can take part in this way of reaching out in service to the world. Days in August to remember 1st: Wacky Wednesday Kids Program from 10a to 1p. Bring a lunch. 4th: All Church Work Day 9am -noon 2nd: Moving For Wellness Adult Fitness at 10am 5th: Holy Communion Worship at 8:30am and 11am. Sunday school at 9:40am 6th: Food Bank open 10a - 2p. Volunteers needed 8th: Oologah Community Senior Citizens Luncheon. 10am Bingo. 11:30am Lunch 8th: Wacky Wednesday Kids Program from 10a to 1p. Bring a lunch. 9th: Moving For Wellness Adult Fitness at 10am 12th: Worship at 8:30am and 11am. Sunday school at 9:40am 13th: Food Bank open 10a - 2p. Volunteers needed 15th: Wacky Wednesday Kids Program from 10a to 1p. Bring a lunch. 16th: Moving For Wellness Adult Fitness at 10am 19th: Back to School Blessing during Worship at 8:30am and 11am. Sunday school at 9:40am 19th: Ice Cream Social at 6pm 20th: Food Bank open 10a - 2p. Volunteers needed 22nd: School Begins! 23rd: Moving for Wellness Adult Fitness at 10am 26th: Blood Drive 8:30am - 2:30pm 26th: Worship at 8:30am and 11am. Sunday school at 9:40am 27th: Food Bank open 10a - 2p. Volunteers needed 30th: Moving for Wellness Adult Fitness at 10am Ice Cream Social Sunday, the 19th, at 6pm Join the fun as we come together as a community and join in the wonder of ice cream and games! Bring homemade or store bought ice cream or a dessert to share. These are the moments to just sit back, relax, and get to know one another better. Please plan to come and be a part of the community joy.

5 2018 BLOOD DRIVE DATES August 26, 2018, Sunday 8:30 am to 2:30 pm November 25, 2018, Sunday 8:30 am to 2:30 pm MOBILE FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION OUTREACH Emergency Food Pantry Food for Kids Backpacks are filled with nutritious food items and sent home. September 11, 2018, Tuesday 9:30 am to 12:30 pm December 11, 2018, Tuesday 9:30 am to 12:30 pm December is our Annual TOY Give Away Christmas Toy Drive Prayer Team Mobile Food Banks Hospitality Teams Senior Specialty Program, Commodity Supplement Food Red Cross Blood Drive Happening Weekly Monday: *Choir Practice, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Activities: *Potluck Dinner *Men s and Women s Classes August ,15 Wacky Wednesday 10a-1p 8 Senior Citizen lunch-12pm 14 Nomination committee meeting 6:00pm 18 School Work day 8a-12p O-T schools 19 Back to school blessing-8:30a, 11:00 19-Ice Cream Social 6:00pm 22 School starts 26 Blood Drive 8:30am-2:30pm 9,16,23,30 Moving for Wellness 10a-11a *Havoc & Chaos Wednesday Night Kids *Breakthrough Youth Group Sundays: *Worship Services 8:30 a.m. Traditional & 10:50 a.m. Casual *Children s Worship Approximately 11:00 a.m. Dismissing from 2 nd Service *Children & Youth Sunday School 9:40 a.m. *Adult Sunday School 9:40 a.m. All Creation Sings Led by Diana Johnson Cornerstone Adult Class Led by Ken Skidmore Son Shine Adult Class Led by Dian Root

6 Debit Authorization Did you know that you can sign up to have your contributions to our church debited from your personal checking or saving account. With summer vacations coming up it may be convenient for you to have this taken care of so if you miss a Sunday you know the many programs of our church will continue with the help of your contributions. Attached to the newsletter is a copy of the Debit Authorization Form. All you need to do is fill out the form, attach a voided check and mail to: Oologah United Methodist Church 5834 East 410 Rd. Oologah, OK For More Information on: Oologah United Methodist Church Ministries or Outreach; East 410 Road, Oologah, Ok UMW MEETING 10:00 A.M. First Saturday of the Month