Oakbridge. Life-Giving Words. What s Been Going On... S E P T E M B E R 2 3, S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T : October Birthdays

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1 S E P T E M B E R 2 3, S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T : 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 October Birthdays Piano Concert Life-Giving Words Memorials Calendar Prayer Requests Caring & Sharing Data & Info I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Pastor s Article 1 Chairman s 1-2 Update Concert Tickets 3 Anniversary 5 Sometimes one of the most difficult, yet most rewarding, part of ministry is in doing visitation. Sometimes you witness the failing health that an individual faces, or the despair the family members feel for their loved one. Yet, it is also a time when you witness hope and love. Hope in God and unknown things. A love so deep and rooted in one another that they sustain one another. I find it also refreshing in hearing those old stories that they have told several times, but it feels as though it is the first time. I find nuggets of truth to ponder in the wisdom they share. While visiting with Rita and Harvey Norris this past week, I heard something interesting. Rita shared with me one of the rules their family had growing up. On Sundays after church there was no fried pastor for lunch, I thought that was a pretty good saying. Even if the minister had a bad sermon one day, Harvey would always say no fried pastor for lunch today and that would stop anything bad from being said. The reason for this was to set an example for the children. If they went around complaining about what was going on, then that impacted the view the children had of the church and the minister. What we say and do impact the perspective others have of the church. There is so much wisdom in this phrase and you What s Been Going On... could substitute fried anything. When we focus on life-giving words, then people see a church full of love and a place that is lifegiving. This also fits so well into the sermon series of the tree. The leaves are what others see, the perspective that we help to shape through our words and deeds. The church is the trunk, which can support us and lift us towards God. But only when we stay rooted in God and find a way to continue to care for those roots. What can you do to help our roots continue to grow? What can you do to strengthen our roots for the tree of tomorrow? I hope we find ways to deepen our knowledge of God s love by showing that love to all. Caring & Sharing Neighbors Night Out 5 7 The past few months have been busy ones in the life of Western Oaks Christian Church, and not just with the planning of the 50th Anniversary Celebration! First, this has been a VERY active time for standing committees of the church. All have been charged with reviewing and updating their duties and descriptions as prescribed by the church constitution. Most of these descriptions have not been updated in many years, but all of them should be updated by the midyear cabinet meeting. At the same time, committees are currently reviewing their annual budget and drawing up recommendations for the 2015 annual budget to be approved by the Board in late November and the Congregation in December. Some committees have been particularly active in the performance of their program areas. Property committee has pretty much wrapped up it s oversight of the re-roofing project and is satisfied that the residual leaks have been dealt with in sufficient manner to warrant replacement of ceiling tiles. They are still at work, however, following up on damage and repairs from the lightening strike the church suffered earlier this year. Our air conditioning units are still failing as a result of the incident, and I am sure they will continue as an ongoing property committee project for many months.

2 P A G E 2 Vera Ruffner 10/1 Kelli Fearing 10/13 Marilyn Chalk 10/25 Todd Newell 10/2 Jay Wagner 10/13 Emily Gray 10/25 Barbara Johnson 10/4 Ethan McCaskill 10/16 Shelby Honeysuckle10/25 Gay Teter 10/4 Jacquie DeKinder 10/17 Jane Maytubby 10/25 Teresia Jones 10/5 Terry Spreier 10/18 Charlie Conner 10/28 Bonnie Bailey 10/7 Joni Burch 10/19 Ed Garrison 10/30 Steven Teter 10/7 Shirley Kitchens 10/21 Candance Scagnetti10/30 Kay Lehman 10/9 Brooklin Williams 10/21 Lyeal Amos 10/31 Sandra Cook 10/10 Jesse Thomas 10/22 Monet Ille 10/31 Taylor Simmons 10/11 Hald Dawes 10/24 Donella McCaskill 10/31 October Linda Whitt 10/11 Steve Lairson 10/24 Stephanie U Ren 10/31 Birthdays Monica Allen 10/12 Jerry Allen 10/25 Received a request and asked for additional information for the use of certain areas of the church for teaching weekly Tai Chi classes. (Continued) The Personnel committee has also been very active these last months. In addition to their standing duties of performing annual staff evaluations and reviewing personnel policies, the committee was recently charged with developing a long-term staffing plan for the church, and are now in the process of acting on some of that plan due to recent changes in personnel. The Standing Committee on Financial Policy works to manage all memorial, designated and permanent funds in the church. They are also charged with developing and managing longterm capitol projects and to that end are beginning the process to re-evaluate the recommendations, plans and deferred projects from past capitol campaigns and identify the needs and dreams for future capitol projects. Finally, the Administrative committee has taken action on a number of programs on the church, including the following: Charging the property committee to research and make recommendations concerning installation of video monitors or projection systems for Schwind Hall and the Sanctuary. The committee has contacted Dave Brown, the architect of the sanctuary, who is in consultation with local video and video projection experts at Francis Tuttle CareerTech. Charging the Property committee to research and make recommendations concerning the installation of a soft drink vending machine in the church. The committee is including Ken Whitt, church treasurer, in the process which will include recommendations of financial policy and controls if a machine is installed. Charging the Outreach committee to research and make recommendations concerning hosting a Health Fair for church members and members of the neighborhood. Asking the Stewardship committee, the stewardship counters, and the treasurer to review current policies and procedures for counting and depositing tithes and offerings and make recommendations for needed changes to the Administration committee. Charging the Property committee to research and make recommendations for actions needed to bring the physical plant into compliance with the Disciples of Christ Green Chalice program. The program is designed to focus congregations on sustainable energy and resource saving practices. O A K B R I D G E

3 W E S T E R N O A K S P A G E 3 Approved a building use request to use certain areas of the church for meeting and tutoring as a part of the Football Academy program that has recently opened locally. The program utilized facilities at Putnam City West High School and is a part of a larger program that works with recent high school graduates who are working to maintain and develop athletic skills while working to qualify for entry into university football programs under NCAA academic requirements. At this point the program uses the building only during church office hours or at times when the building is also in use by congregants. Received a request and asked for additional information for the use of certain areas of the church for teaching weekly Tai Chi classes. Through it s 50 year history, Western Oaks Christian Church has been an active and vibrant part of this community. With all due respect to our wonderful staff, over the years it has been the members who have been that driving force. Our Constitution and By-Laws defines a strong standing committee structure which, with God s grace, is composed of talented, resourceful, and energetic people. Not a member of a standing committee? You have to go no further than to contact a committee chair and request to be added. Peace, Bob Melton Chair of the Congregation Dear WOCC Family, Thank you for your continued love and support. I count it an honor and a privilege to be part of the WOCC family and sharing at the piano is a bonus! My next concert it right around the corner! This will be the third Black Friday concert and you do not want to miss. The concert will be at the Church of the Servant, November 28, 7 p.m. This is a 350 seat auditorium with comfortable theater seating. This year's concert will include Alex Hall, whom you have heard on several occasions. Marvin Matthews will also join us on stage.you will, without a doubt, be blessed by his singing. With limited seating, I would encourage you to get tickets as soon as you know you can be there. This will sell out quickly. Ways to get tickets: Online at WOCC office - See Janey WOCC - see Matt or Danet Trivette anytime we are at WOCC Cost - $20 per ticket I look forward to seeing you November 28! Matt Saints called home... Lloyd Pratt II 9/10/14 Alissa Green 9/19/14 If you wish to honor Alissa by donation, you may send your gift to: Hope Link 1423 SW 132 OKC, OK or

4 P A G E 4 SEPTEMBER 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Oct. 1 Oct. 2 Oct. 3 Oct. 4 Schedule of Events Sept. 24th Bridge for Fun (1:00PM 4:00PM) Sept. 27th Anniversary Welcome (3:00PM) Tasting Party (5:00PM) Sept. 28th New Beginnings Practice (9:30AM 10:15AM) 50th Anniversary Worship (10:30AM 12:00PM) Catered Dinner (12:00PM-2:00PM) Sept. 30th Elders Prayer Breakfast (7:15AM 8:15AM) Tai Chi for Balance (6:30PM 7:30PM) October 4th CMF Breakfast at Old Orchard (7:30AM 8:30AM) Prayer Requests Shirleen Mitchell is out of ICU & home Lloyd Gosnell & Helen Day (friends of now the Hills) battling cancer Safe travels for Bob Humphrey s son Sean Weise (Dianne Maier s grand- & family son) has cancer Millman family Matthew Martinez (Wilkersons Sue Halpain went home Aug. 14th friend) in rehab post brain tumor Lloyd Pratt Alvin Lawson (friend of the Lunsfords) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 Bill Parker s white blood cell count has gone up Kathy Brehm (Chris Brehm s stepdaughter) has lung cancer Shirley Pritchett is home Harvey Norris Becky Bacus (friend of the Russells) doing chemo Joan Proctor (Christine Wagner s cousin) Greg Morse (Linda Cobb s nephew) Lou O Brien

5 WOCC 50th Anniversary Celebration P A G E 5 The time for our 50 th anniversary celebration is almost here! We hope you can join us for all of the activities. The festivities begin on Saturday with a storytelling time followed by a tasting party. Please bring a generous plate of your favorite finger foods. Saturday, September 27, :00 p.m. Storytelling in Schwind Hall beginning with a 48-minute photo slide show with video clips of events and remembrances of the last 50 years Live story telling 4:40 p.m. Adjourn to sanctuary for a mini concert by Matt Schinske while Schwind Hall is reconfigured for the tasting party and all the food is set out 5:00 p.m. Tasting Party and conversation; Dr. Schinske again at the piano 7:00 p.m. During this time, 50 th Anniversary Commemorative Brochures will be available, one for each family Sunday, September 28, :30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship Service, Amy Northcutt preaching 12:00 noon Catered Luncheon Slide Show will be shown again in the sanctuary continuously after the worship service; you are invited to linger over lunch and informally reassemble in the sanctuary after lunch to view or re-view the slide show in its entirety. Youth will have memory stations throughout the building and will have guest books to sign. Families may pick up their 50 th Anniversary Commemorative Brochures. We hope to see you there! WOCC 50 th Anniversary Committee Caring & Sharing The Caring and Sharing group met with Cecillia Tolley, a professional grief councilor, with educational training from Vanderbilt University. She provided the group with an open-ended discussion exercise based on their past experiences. This provided an insight into the many similarities of their past experiences. OCTOBER DATES: October 8 th Eat Out at LUBY s 5:00PM 9410 N May (on the east side of the mall) October 19 th Meeting at WOCC 4:00PM 5:00PM Speaker will be Arnetta Yancey, Warr Acres Senior Center Coordinator October 22 nd Eat Out at IHOP 5:00PM Westmark Drive Yukon (east of Mustang Road) For further information call Margo Thein ( ) or Charlene Newkirk ( ).

6 P A G E 6 Mission Success! Thank you God for our successful Kids Against Hunger event. We packaged 25,488 meals! For the dollar-for-dollar matching, over $2,000 was given. Way to go, WOCC!! WOCC PHOTO DIRECTORIES ARE HERE! If you had your picture taken and have not picked up your directory yet, please go to the Church office to get your copy. Thanks to all that helped with the directory, and I truly hope you enjoy it! Shirley Kitchens Home #: Cell #: Corrections to the Directory Cathy Routon Lonnie & Rita Walker Address: 3636 Jess Hunter Dr. Sulphur, OK Kari Simmons Home #: (none) (business , not personal) Taylor Simmons Cell #: Mike & Becky Buckley mrnmrsbl7@gmail.com Tony Pinazza Address: 2030 E. Broadway Rd. Tempe, AZ Articles for the next OakBridge will be due Monday, October 6th. Date GIVING 9/14/14 General $8,870 Capital $600 9/21/14 General $3, Capital $362 Date ATTENDANCE 9/14/14 9:00 AM 51 11:00 AM 72 9/21/14 9:00 AM 55 O A K B R I D G E 11:00 AM 97

7 Neighbors Night Out P A G E 7 Many thanks to the following people who contributed to the success of the September 9 Neighborhood Night Out Parking Lot Party: Daniel U'Ren, Janey Merry, Robert Wilkerson, Dianne Maier, Judy Walker, Dorothy Uhl, Beverly Parker, Roy Avants, Marilyn Chalk, Max and Linda Patzack, Gay, Steve, Andrea and Steven Teter, Tom and Karen Russell, Fern Melton, Charmaine Hipp, Jacob Foster, Roy Ruedy, Vince Pinazza and members of the congregation who showed up in support. We served over 200 hot dogs!! Thank you all so much for your contribution to the success of this event. Charlene Newkirk, Community & World Missions Committee

8 Church Staff Rev. Daniel U Ren Senior Minister (Daniel@woccdoc.org) Israel Ragle-Tullis Director of Children & Youth (Israel@woccdoc.org) Janey Merry Administrative Assistant (Janey@woccdoc.org) Dr. Ronald Manning Music Director (ronald_manning@att.net) Dr. Matt Schinske Pianist Todd Newell Praise Band Leader Darren Heath, Rosanne Rowe, Dale Knowles, Hope Lairson, & Jeff Newell Praise Band Members Vincent Pinazza Sound Technician Lawrence Johnson Custodian Samantha VanOsdol Nursery Supervisor Loving God and Serving Our Neighbor Hope Lairson Youth Intern We re on the web!