The Red Oak Christian PUBLISHED BY RED OAK CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) GREENVILLE, NC 27834-7029 WWW.REDOAKCHRISTIANCHURCH.ORG Vol. XXXVI May, 2010 Number 5 Minister s Moment I have just returned from the 163 rd Regional Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in North Carolina that was hosted by our brothers and sisters in the Southeast District and was based in the lovely city of Wilmington. The theme of the Assembly was One Dream/One Church. At this Assembly the three strains of the Christian Church that coexist in North Carolina were gathered together to worship, to talk, to fellowship and to dream of a time when the historic divisions can become a thing of the past. Those strains are Christian Churches, Churches of Christ (Disciples of Christ) and the Piedmont Christian Convention. I felt the worship services along with the preaching, while certainly not for the faint of heart or spirit, gave me a glimpse of what One Church could be and what it will take to move beyond racial boundaries so that we could be One. Yes, that means preaching that is sometimes political and calls out the unspoken issues that divide. Yes, that means worshiping sometimes in styles that are uncomfortable because they are unfamiliar. Finally, to fulfill the dream of being One, means letting go of old habits and patterns of thoughts. But there is always a time of discomfort when change is happening. No one said being a Christian in a world of diversity was going to be an easy thing. The early church, read Acts of the Apostles, had real troubles getting their minds and hearts around the idea of Jews and Gentiles believing together, worshiping together and be accepting by God together. There is always a reason to be separate and to segregate. The hard work is to find reasons to be together. At Red Oak, I would ask us to find reasons to be open, to be un-afraid of the new and the different, and to be rejoicing that God has blessed us and the Body of Christ with diversity and creativity and grace. Yours in Christ, Pastor Craig
Wedding Bells are Ringing The congregation is invited to the wedding of Dean Luther and Liz Luther at 2pm on Saturday May 29 th. In lieu of gifts the congregation is invited to bring a snack or hors d oeuvres on glass or silver platters to share during the reception. If you are bringing food, please RSVP to Catherine Kirby-Grove or Carla Smith. Summer Worship Schedule The Worship Committee has authorized the addition to an early worship service to begin on May 30 and run through Labor Day, Sept. 5 th. The service will begin at 8:30am in the Sanctuary. Sunday school will remain at 9:45am and the traditional service will remain at 10:45am. Pentecost Special Offering May 16 & 23 Disciples are Expanding the Table Against the odds of being denied land and permits, Chimiste Doriscar, a Haitian new church planter, found a quaint site in Carl, Georgia that had 3.76 acres of land and a house. With a loan from Church Extension, this property became the site of Centre Evangelique La Pierre Angulaire. The house is now converted into a sanctuary with more than 100 chairs for the congregation. The church, founded in 2002, is thriving, said Doriscar. "Sometimes we have to add more chairs for worship." In 2001, New Church Ministry was involved in the planting of two Haitian congregations. Since then, of the 640 new Disciples churches started in the United States and Canada, 100 of them are Haitian congregations. There is a certain connectedness that is shared by those who are part of the new church movement. It's a welcoming spirit of Disciples kinship that reaches out to embrace all who come to the table of worship to be joined together as a family in service to God and neighbor. Now more than ever, New Church Ministry and all our partners embrace with love and support our Haitian families in the United States and in Haiti, who were impacted by the earthquake on January 12, 2010. We will continue to expand our reach - planting churches and extending the witness to new mission fields. Join the efforts of New Church Ministry in Expanding the Table in the United States, Canada and right here in your region by supporting the Pentecost Special Offering. This offering, divided evenly between your region and New Church Ministry, helps to fund recruitment, coaching and training of new church ministers, like Chimiste Doriscar. By Expanding the Table, you and New Church Ministry are reaching out to serve multitudes and to share God's message in new way.
Pastoral Installation You are cordially invited to the Pastoral Installation of Rev. Valerie J. Melvin, Saturday May 1 st, 2010 at 11:00 am. The newly called pastor of First Christian Church, 401 Hubbard Street, Reidsville, NC. A sign up sheet is available in the Narthex for those who would like to attend. Our fellowship luncheon is on May 16 th and we will be taking photos of our members and families on that day for the new church directory both during and after the luncheon. We hope you will to attend. - Mike Worthington Red Oak Softball Practice Softball season begins on Monday, May 10. For those players living inside the Winterville city limits, a $10 player s fee is due. For those living outside the Winterville city limits a $20 player fee is due. Please send your checks to the church office or give them to Tod Williams, Notate player s fee on your check. Don t forget we are the cosmic champions and defending our title is a must. Sign up now.
2010 Camp Information The church s deadline for 2010 camps is May 17. A list of the camps offered and camp registration forms are in the Narthex. Please remember a copy of your child s medical insurance card must be included. Fill out the form and turn it in to the church office for Pastor Craig s signature. One half of the fee will be paid for members of Red Oak Christian Church. However, we do not want any child to be unable to attend. Scholarships are available. Please contact the church office with any questions. JOY CLUB NEWS Please mark your calendar for the upcoming speakers we will be having at our Joy Club meetings. Please invite your friends to come with you. Our meeting starts at 11:00 AM on the second Wednesday in the month. Please plan on joining us. May 12 Fun Day. Wear your funniest hat. Lunch will be provided. Christian Literature Mr. Joe Sturz is working with the Prison Ministries and has requested any Christian literature or books that are no longer needed to be donated to him for this project. I have a box in the library with old literature and request you put any literature you would have in the box. I will get it delivered to him. If you have old bibles or other Christian books at home that you do not use, he would appreciate these also. - Sue Hedgepeth MEMBERSHIP CONCERNS: Joann Cavenaugh, Matt Gaylor, Lou Joyner, Lee & Georgia Price, Joe Ray, Charles & Frances Stocks, Sis Stocks, Jarvis Tripp
Events in May An Elder s meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 2 at 8:00 AM. We will meet at the Cracker Barrel restaurant on the corner of Greenville Blvd and Memorial. Mother s Day is May 9. The Helping Hands Circle will meet on Monday, May 10 at 10:30 AM. The Night Worshipers Circle will meet on Tuesday, May 11 at 7:00 PM. The Joy Club will meet on Wednesday, May 12 at 11:00 AM. The Christian Men s Fellowship will hold its monthly breakfast on Saturday, May 15 at 8:00 AM. A church clean up day is scheduled for May 15. The Fellowship lunch to honor our mothers and take photos for our church directory is scheduled for Sunday, May 16. Photos will be taken both during and after the luncheon. Camp registration is due to the church office by May 17. Hazel Erwin, Ellie Boyd and Willard Kinsaul will prepare a meal for the homeless shelter on Wednesday, May 26. The June newsletter deadline is May 24. Children stay in Worship Sunday, May 30. Early Worship begins at 8:30am Sunday School 9:45am and Traditional Worship 10:45am. Year-To-Date Stewardship Report Let these words from the scriptures guide you as you consider your financial gifts to the church in support of our programs and ministries: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 The following figures are given for your information. They are accurate as of April 26, 2010. Remember, faithful Christian stewardship is not based on the Church s need to receive, but upon our need to give as Christ commands. Needed for General Fund for 2010... $179,410.00 Received for General Fund-YTD... $ 42,268.97 For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich (II Corinthians 8:9)
Serving Schedule For May, 2010 ELDERSHIP Jay Boswell, Captain Scott Corbin DIACONATE Mike Worthington, Pattie Worthington Curtis Gordon, Lynwood Stocks COMMUNION PREPARATION 2 Mike Worthington 9 Pattie Worthington 16 Curtis Gordon 23 Mike Worthington 30 Lynwood Stocks JUNIOR DIACONATES Ellen Williams, Tina Leggett ACOLYTES 2 Jadon Main 9 Jacob Corbin 16 Carson Worthington 23 Maury Boswell 30 Suzanne Hurtt CHILDREN S CHURCH Catherine Kirby-Grove FEED THE HOMELESS Hazel Erwin, Ellie Boyd, Willard Kinsaul
NURSERY CAREGIVER Lillian Barrett PREACHING TEXTS FOR MAY 2010 May 2, 2010 Acts 11:1-18 We Have Never Done It This Way Before May 9, 2010 Mother s Day Acts 16:9-15 And a Mother Will Lead Us May 16, 2010 Acts 16:16-34 The Power of God May 23, 2010 Acts 2:1-21 Birthday Party May 30, 2010 Memorial Day I Kings 18:20-39 The Ultimate Cook Off Red Oak Christian Church is currently searching for Choir Director to replace Sandie Worthington, who resigns this post to spend more time with her. If you have any suggestions, please contact Rev. Craig or Carla Smith.
May 2010 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Judy Jones 2 Elders 8:00am Board 12:15pm Softball practice 6:00pm 3 Sam Lancaster 4 5 Vespers 6:00pm Choir 6:30pm 6 National Day of Prayer 7 Lacey Lynn Allen Ruth Haddock Sue Hedgepeth 8 Skeeter McLawhorn 9 Mother s Day Bobby Denton 10 10:30 AM Helping Hands 11 7:00 PM Night Worshipers 12 11:00AM Joy Club Vespers 6:00pm Choir 6:30pm Stan/Belinda Leggett 13 14 15 8:00 AM CMF Breakfast in F.H. Property Workday Sam/Vickie Lancaster 16 Pentecost Special Offering Fellowship Lunch Church Directory photos 17 Camp Registration Due to Church Office 18 Caley Singleton Hugh Garris 19 Vespers 6:00pm Choir 6:30pm 20 21 22 23 Pentecost Special Offering 24 Willard Kinsaul 25 Lynwood Stocks 26 Vespers 6:00pm Feed the Homelesss Quin Wainright Chester/Pattie Worthington 27 Dillon Boswell Davis Pittman 28 29 Luther Wedding 2:00pm Mary Leggett 30 Early Service 8:30am 31 Church Office Closed Memorial Day (observed)
Vacation Bible School Volunteers August 8-13, 2010, 5:30pm (supper) 6:00pm (Opening)- 8:00pm-ish (Closing) I would like to help in one or more of the following areas (Please circle) Bible teaching Crafts Decorating Follow up Group Guides Music Prayer Support Publicity Games Skits Snacks Name: Address: Phone (easiest number to reach) Email If you have any questions about your involvement in Vacation Bible School call Lisa Allen or Rev. Craig Kirby-Grove. Please return this flyer in the Offering plate or to the Church Office.