The Welcome Mat. Open Door Wednesday, February 12, 6 pm. Harvard Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Be loved. Believe. Become.

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1 The Welcome Mat Harvard Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Be loved. Believe. Become. Volume 55 January 22, 2014 Number 2 WHAT S INSIDE Page 2 Adult Education Sunday Sermon Welcome Mat Schedule Page 3 Outreach Opportunities Craft Crowd Follow Us! Page 4 We Are the Church On the Go! Spiritually Speaking Sign Up for Flowers Chick Flick & Italian Dinner Page 5 So I Took a Walk Today by Rev. Briley Let's by Rev. Richards Back Page Upcoming Events HACC Youth Sunday Mornings: 9:00 a.m. The Rising 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:15 a.m. Traditional Worship Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. -- Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Friday Next Welcome Mat Deadline: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 before noon visit us at Come one, come all at 10:00 AM on Sunday, January 26, as we hold an important congregational meeting in the sanctuary. After a word from HACC Moderator, Bill Richert and Rev. Mark Briley, HACC Treasurer, Lisa Rhynes, will report on 2013 s financials and present a 2014 operational budget for congregational approval. Immediately following, a ministry fair will be hosted by our Ministry Team leaders where all interested can get connected to 2014 volunteer opportunities. Come listen, participate, vote, and volunteer to help us press forward the vision God has for us this year! Open Door Wednesday, February 12, 6 pm It s only a few weeks old, but 2014 is already in motion to be the most exciting year in the life of Harvard Avenue. Not just the building or the events or the things going on around us, but the ways that people s lives are being transformed by God s grace and the power of Christ s spirit. We are so excited about all that is ahead and we are always eager to share the story of our church with newcomers and most of all to hear YOUR stories, too. Open Door is a relaxed gathering for those new to the HACC community to learn more about who we are, where we are going, and how to connect more deeply with our church by considering membership. Enjoy a light supper and great fellowship. Ask questions about our ministry. Get connected with pastors, with others on the journey, and with the ways you might be involved. Contact Betsey Owen (betsey@hacctulsa.org, ) to RSVP.

2 2 ADULT EDUCATION Adult classes meet at Grimes Elementary School, except for the Disciples class, which meets in the West Annex Building. Alpha&Omega/Seekers We re looking forward to a big weekend Soup and Sides at the Langenheims Saturday evening beginning at 6:30, followed by the Congregational Meeting and Team Fair on Sunday morning. We ll be back in class on February 2, for our next Beatitude led by Keith Huffman. Challengers On January 12, we had a most interesting and thought provoking lesson by Larry Akers. We learned that we Challengers are no longer at Half-Time but are in the Fourth Quarter of life! We learned we must not allow our lives to become lives of decline, boredom and increasing ineffectiveness. The best option for our Fourth Quarter, the next ten years, is to confirm our faith in God then serve God by serving others which brings peace, joy and satisfaction. Great lesson Larry, many thanks. This Sunday, Colt Stubblefield brought us up-to-date on Youth Ministries. A disturbing static: As a nation, 88% of High school graduates are leaving the church and never coming back but, as a whole, now seem to be trending up. As to our HACC Group, Colt, along with his delightful wife, Jess, is having great success with our youth. We give many thanks to Colt for the informative lesson and for his great work with the youth. Disciples Our study the last 2 weeks was from Matthew. We talked about the genealogy in Matthew and discussed why it is important that we know where we were born. This week, from Matthew 3 we talked about the baptism of Jesus and the beginning of his ministry. As we come to the final phase of our building project, we see new responsibilities, new possibilities, new ministries, new growth and a new future for our church. Explorers The Explorers represent one of the fastest growing Sunday school classes at HACC. We are comprised of a wonderful group of men and women, many of whom are parenting children from newborns to teenagers. Most of our lessons are in discussion format and cover a wide range of subjects, including marriage, relationships, service and outreach. We value the different perspectives and experiences all members bring to the class. Have questions? Not sure if this is the right class for you? Visit us this Sunday at 10:00. We'll save you a seat! Contact Christina Maxwell for more info at Genesis Christy led class Sunday as we spent time discussing the purpose, forms and hindrances to the practice of Meditation. We are using Richard Foster's book Celebration of Disciplines as the basis for our study. Thank you, Christy, for facilitating our class and for preparing an overview and discussion questions. This Sunday we will participate in the Congregational Meeting during class time and on February 2 we will continue with a deeper understanding of meditation and how to use it to grow in our faith and relationship with Christ. Sunday's Sermon: New God Parents usually profess to love their children equally, but in her book, The Favorite Child, Ellen Weber Libby says she discovered that many parents privately admit that they have a favorite child. The problem, says Libby, is not that one child might be preferred over another, but what the parent does with this knowledge. With God, parent to all, her work begs the question, Does God have favorites? Join us on Sunday at 9:00 or 11:15 AM as Rev. Mark Briley continues the sermon series New with this installment: New God. (Acts 10:34-48) Sunday Attendance January 12: Rising 129; Traditiional 143; Total 272 January 19: Rising 105; Traditional 161; Total 266 The Welcome Mat Schedule for 2014 The Welcome Mat is published twice a month. The article submission deadlines for 2014 are: February 4 & 18; March 4 & 18; April 1 & 15; May 6 & 20; June 3 & 17; July 8 & 22, August 12 & 26; September 9 & 23; October 7 & 21; November 4 & 18; and December 2 & 16. articles to betsey@hacctulsa.org before noon on those Tuesdays.

3 3 OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES Moore OK: Come and See (God) Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? Matthew 25:31-46 You learn a lot serving on a mission trip: how to paint quickly and well, that drywall dust is the most invasive substance in the world, that water can do damage in minutes and last a lifetime. But you also learn that there is great grace in sweat and work, and that to give your time just because someone needs you is to reveal the very heart of Christ. Soon we will have a chance to see Christ while helping the people of Moore recover from last spring's tornadoes. A mission trip to Moore is planned for the week of March 30 - April 5. Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is building many houses, so we will have plenty of work. The trip is being coordinated by Oklahoma Disciples in Mission, so we will be joined by other volunteers from around the state and elsewhere. We tentatively plan to stay at the Moore Christian Church, keeping costs relatively low. A $50 deposit will hold your place. Each volunteer is being asked to contribute $200 as a donation to help with building costs. When the shepherds watching their flocks were told by the angels of the birth of Christ, they dropped everything and hurried to Bethlehem to see Him. Will you join us and hurry to Moore to see Christ? Contact Danny Forthman, d4thman@ yahoo.com, (918) to sign up or for more information. Christmas Eve Offering The 2013 Harvard Avenue Christian Church Christmas Eve offering was designated for Southside Meals on Wheels. The generous offering received was $2,295. Following is the letter we received from Meals on Wheels. Thank you for your generous gift to Meals on Wheels, which will help bring nutritious meals and friendly visits to homebound elderly and disabled persons in our community. We appreciate your kindness and support. Susan Enzh Craft Crowd We continue to work on Toddler Blankets for the children served by Emergency Infant Services. We d love to have you join us - no special skills are required, just a desire to help others. We meet Tuesday mornings, from 9:30 to noon, at our satellite location East 17th Street, Unit U. If you need directions or a ride, call Lynn Fisher ( ). Find us, follow us, like us, join us! Facebook: Harvard Avenue Christian Church Tulsa for events, news, updates, reminders, relevant articles and sermon connections. Twitter: HarvardAveCC a daily sentence prayer to repeat and share, carrying forward the theme from Sunday s worship Instagram: HarvardAveCC pictures! especially of building progress and special events Pictorial Directory online at Look for this bar at the bottom of the home page.

4 4 We Are the Church! Thank you, Dear HACC family, Your thoughtfulness is so appreciated by me and my family following the death of my sister, Suzanne Cluff, on January 13, The cards, flowers, kind words, and gracious understanding of time off suddenly needed was such a blessing. Thank you so much for being my other fabulous church family, Betsey Owen and family I've been invited to be part of the Disciples' General Assembly 'Program and Planning' Team for the 2015 Assembly, to be held in Columbus OH. I'll spend a few days this week to meet with other Disciples leaders to review the '13 Assembly (Orlando) and imagine what lies ahead. Grateful for a staff and congregation that empowers this ministry, I ask your prayers for safe travel, meaningful work, and for the staff and moderator team of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). See you Sunday! - Courtney... Spiritually Speaking If you ve only looked at the outside of our new buildings recently, you might conclude that not very much is happening right now. But the number of pickup trucks in the parking lot each day would suggest otherwise. It might be that there is a lot going on inside the new buildings that is not readily apparent to our casual glances on the outside. And, in fact, that is the case. A lot of interior work is going on that most of us are not yet able to see. This reminds us of how God often works in people s lives. The casual observer might see no major changes in an individual s outside appearance, manner or behavior. But significant changes and growth may actually be occurring on the inside. 1 Samuel 16:7 tells us that man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the inside, at the heart; Ezekiel 11:19 refers to God s process of changing hearts of stone into hearts of flesh; and 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that, as followers of Christ, we are gradually being transformed into the image and likeness of Christ. So, within our fellowship, a lot is happening, whether we can see it or not. Landscapes and buildings and lives are being changed. We may not recognize it right now, but much is happening and eventually we will be able to see it. Sign Up for Sanctuary Flowers in 2014 Flower arrangements to enhance the sanctuary for Sunday morning worship are $75.00, created and delivered weekly by Toni's Flowers. If you have a special occasion or wish to honor a loved one, you can select your week on the "flower calendar" or with Betsey Owen in the church office ( ) and will be acknowledged in the weekly worship bulletin. You may also give anonymously, or for no reason at all. The 2014 Flower Calendar is on the church office door! Dinner and a Chick Flick All women of the church are invited to RSVP for an evening of Italian food, the movie Enchanted April, and scintillating discussions on Friday, January 31st beginning at 6:30 pm. Dinner will be hosted in the Narthex Italian Villa, followed by the movie & discussions in the Disciples Annex. Please RSVP to either Lynn Fisher at lynn@ hacctulsa.org, or Pastor Darlene at darlene@hacctulsa.org.

5 5 So I Took a Walk Today Even in late December, the dream of occupying 52,000 additional square feet at HACC seemed a lifetime away. I suppose its reality was lost in the sentiment: Oh that will happen next year. Then overnight, next year became this year and this year became three months and three months became twelve weeks and twelve weeks became ninety days. And now here we are, January threatening to go the way of 2013 history. Ninety days becomes sixty and so on. You know how this game plays out. Today, the staff team suited up with hard hats, safety goggles, and neon vests for a special tour of Phase Two progress. It was truly a joy to see the ear-to-ear grins of a team enamored with the possibilities that await. Dust on the finger-test and dirt on the shoes were reminders that we are still amid construction. Even so, there is no doubt that it won t be long. Soon, the HACC family will fill the spaces to pray the prayers, study the scriptures, share the laughs of fellowship and the sweat of recreation. Kids will be moved to consider God s loving acceptance of them just the way they are. Youth will realize a space that says their congregation cares that they are creating community among us. It is truly a marvelous thing. As we all count the days, would you say a little prayer every time you think of the building? Every time you think, I wonder how it s coming? or say It s looking so great! would you pray, Thank you, God, for the treasure of this faith family. Thank you, God, for this marvelous tool that will serve so many. And would you pray for our staff and countless volunteers who will give of themselves tirelessly to share God s love in these spaces? That would be more appreciated than you could possibly know. So I took a walk through construction today and I thought of you and your families; the sacrifices made, the encouragement given, the faith-in-action so tangible and evident. I shook my head in awe of God s goodness and the responsibility we have to steward that goodness in this world. And that ear-to-ear grin that I so enjoyed seeing on the faces of my colleagues became my own. I have been unable to shake it yet. Mark Briley Let s Many seek protection from all hurting influences by building some wall around themselves. But the canopy over the earth is so high that a wall cannot be built high enough, and the only thing one can do is to live in the midst. to live in the world and yet to keep above the world is like walking on the water. There are two essential duties for {people} of wisdom and love; that is to keep the love in our nature ever increasing and expanding and to strengthen the will so that the heart may not be easily broken. Balance is ideal in life; {we} must be fine and yet strong, {we} must be loving and yet powerful. Inayat Khan, Sufi teacher If you think they are so different from us, that east is so far from west, that right is too far apart from left, that that is less important than this read that teacher s words again and then consider the words of another teacher: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:37-40 There is so much in the world that will try to tell us we are not good enough, smart enough, strong enough, enough enough. Let s not add to it with the way we judge others, or judge ourselves. We say we believe that we are created in the image of God AND YET we say that we are not enough. How can both of those be true?! Let s assume that God is at the heart of the world. Let s live in ways that recognize God in others and in ourselves. Let s love God with all of who we are, because all of who we are is exactly what God loves. Courtney Richards

6 The WELCOME MAT (USPS ) is published semi-monthly by Harvard Ave Christian Church at 5502 S Harvard, Ave. Tulsa, OK Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, OK. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The WELCOME MAT, 5502 S Harvard Ave., Tulsa, OK Visit us on our website at Senior Minister: Rev. Mark P. Briley mark@hacctulsa.org Associate Minister: Rev. Courtney Richards -- courtney@hacctulsa.org Director of Children s Ministries: Darlene Martinez darlene@hacctulsa.org Director of Youth Ministries: Colt Stubblefield colt@hacctulsa.org Communication/Administrative Director: Betsey Owen betsey@hacctulsa.org Finance Manager: Lynn Fisher -- lynn@hacctulsa.org Director of Music Ministries/Organist: Susie Daugherty susie@hacctulsa.org Chancel Choir Director: Brad Burnham brad@hacctulsa.org The Rising Band Leader: Isaac Herbert isaac@hacctulsa.org Office Assistant: Beci Worley beci@hacctulsa.org Periodical Postage Paid at Tulsa, OK Jan. 23 Jan. 25 Jan. 26 Jan. 30 Jan. 31 Feb. 2 UPCOMING EVENTS Ministry Leadership Team, 7:00 pm Elder Orientation Breakfast, 9:00 pm Youth Climbing Event, 4:00 pm Elder Commissioning, 9:00 & 11:15 am Congregational Meeting, 10:00 am HACC Bridge Group, 10:00 am Chick Flick & Italian Dinner, 6:30 pm Day Center for Homeless Meal, 5:00 pm Welcome Mat Deadline Please your articles to betsey@hacctulsa.org, drop them by the church office or fax them to The next deadline is February 4, 2014 before noon. HACC YOUTH Climbing at Life Time: The youth have a fantastic opportunity to spend time in the climbing gym at Life Time Fitness this Saturday. We will meet at Life Time, S Memorial Dr, Bixby, at 4 pm. We ll climb and hang out at the club until 7 pm, then grab a bite to eat out south. The climbing is free but youth need to bring some $$ for dinner. I do need a head count to let them know how many of us to expect, so if you are interested in joining us, please let me know on Wednesday. Youth Super Bowl Party: February 2nd: This year s youth Super Bowl party will take place at the Scroggins house. The plan is to hang out, eat ridiculous amounts of food and watch the big game. I m bringing the drinks; all you need to do is show up and bring some snacks to be shared. Kickoff is at 5:30 pm, we are meeting there at 5:10 pm. If you need directions to the Scroggins house, please let me know or check your for the address. Souper Bowl of Caring: January 26th & February 2nd: This will be the 5th year in a row that our youth have participated in the Souper Bowl of Caring, which is a great opportunity for us to partner with a great organization and greatly benefit our local community. This year the youth will collect food that will go directly to Iron Gate whose primary mission is feeding the hungry and homeless of Tulsa, everyday. The gate opened in 1984, and provides 600 meals every day of the year, which equals 219,000 meals a year. They also provide 100 grocery bags of food a week, or 5,200 a year. Last year as a church we raised 184 cans and $ to support Iron Gate, and this year we hope to surpass that mark. The mission of the Souper Bowl of Caring is to connect organizations like us, with programs like Iron Gate on a nationwide scale. Did you know that more than 11.7 million children in the US live in households where people have to skip meals or eat less to make ends meet? That means one in ten households in the U.S. are living with hunger or are at risk of hunger. Through the Souper Bowl of Caring, you can help! By joining the team, you become part of a national movement that benefits people right in your own neighborhood.. If you would like to participate, the youth will be collecting food and $$ at the Welcome Center on Sunday January 27th and Sunday February 3rd. So come and show your support for such a worthy cause. In His Grip, Colt (918) colt@hacctulsa.org