Page 1 The Calling VOL 23 ISSUE 13 September 3, 3, 2018 SEMI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF ARDMORE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Church Events September 5 Midweek Programs begin 5:15pm-7:00pm September 6 Precept Study 2 Timothy begins 9:00am September 8 Emmaus Gathering 4:00pm Cross Point Camp September 9 Membership Class 12:20pm September 9 District Pre-Charge Conference 2:30-4:00pm September 12 Stephen Ministry 5:00pm Room A8 September 16 United Methodist Men 6:00pm You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 New International Version I think that perfect peace has to be much like the Apostle Paul talks about in his letter to the Philippians. He talks about a peace that goes beyond understanding or comprehension. This is a peace that would be experienced in the greatest of moments and in the times of our lives that are terrifying or overwhelming. The world can offer up a litany of things to try to address our lives but ultimately they will all fall short. It is so easy to place our faith in trust in people, ourselves, or things. We can usually talk or control or manipulate these earthly objects to our own desires. Yet, we find out eventually that even those things leave us high and dry. Sometimes we have to finally get to the place in our lives when we ve tried everything that this world offers before we give the saving grace of Jesus Christ the opportunity to change our hearts and lives. When think about perfect peace I think about the times I ve looked over the Sea of Galilee in the morning or in the evening. Imagining what it had to have been like when Jesus disciples were afraid they were going to drown. They wake Jesus up and cry out to Him. He speaks to the wind and to the waves and the lake becomes peaceful. Maybe that s your situation today. Having the peace of Jesus of Nazareth doesn t keep us from the trials and struggles of the day. But when the rain and the wind comes, we are anchored in and upon the One in which all of this universe has to answer to. What would you say you re anchored to today? The Lord? Work? School? Activities? Who is comes first in your heart and life? This coming Wednesday we will begin our Midweek program. We will offer you Bible Studies, nursery, children, and youth and choir opportunities. It would be a great way for you to reconnect to the Lord and to the body of believers here at First Methodist. When our hearts and minds are at peace with God and ourselves, we can love, laugh, forgive and enjoy all that God has for us. When life throws us a curve ball, we have the peace of Jesus Christ to see us through any struggle. I pray that the peace of Jesus Christ would be yours today and each day to come! In Jesus Name. Amen. Jesus is Lord, Pastor David L. Daniel READ ON YOUR DEVICE! DOWNLOAD THIS NEWSLETTER AT WWW.FUMCARDMORE.COM
Page 2 The Calling September 3, 2018 What is Kairos Prison Ministry? Kairos is a prison ministry whose mission is to share the transforming love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ to impact the hearts and lives of incarcerated men, women, youth and their families, to become loving and productive citizens of their communities. Kairos has a strategy to bring a prison s leaders both positive and negative to a 3 ½ day Weekend, where a volunteer team from the free world shows the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ through talks, meditations, chapel visits, music, listening and loving. And when the prisons allow; the team takes in delicious meals, fresh produce and homemade cookies, as tangible evidence of God s love, sent to them from the people outside the prison. After the Weekend, the ministry continues with small Prayer and Share groups held on a weekly basis; monthly Reunions also take place with the free-world volunteers in attendance. By having a front-row seat to God s miracles, we are blessed by the participants through His blessings. The following is a reflection by one of the inmates. I want ya ll to know that last weekend was truly a life changing experience for me. Being pregnant in prison is scary and lonely and depressing to say the least. But since Kairos I feel encouraged, not alone and I feel the true love of Christ s love. Knowing I have people out there who truly care and are praying for me and my baby brings hope in this darkness. You will never know how Kairos and the ladies I have come to know and love truly mean to me. God bless ya ll. Calista O. Kairos is a faith based Christian ministry which addresses the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, women, youth, and their families. By sharing the love and forgiveness of Christ, Kairos hopes to change hearts, transform lives and impact the world. Kairos sprang up in 1976 in the state of Florida from the Cursillo movement and is now in 37 states and 9 countries. Kairos is supported by volunteers from the 4th day movements of many denominations including the Upper Room s Walk to Emmaus as well as volunteers from independent and non-denominational churches. As a ministry, Kairos embraces a diverse group of volunteers working together to fulfill Christ s call to action In Matthew 25:36. An inmate s reflection: First, I want to say thank you Father God for another day, another opportunity to get together. What I got out of this experience was a new perspective of my life and my walk with Jesus. It gave me an inner self view of who I am and who I can be. I also got a whole lot of love that I couldn t imagine a whole new family of sisters in Christ. I m very honored to have this new family in my life. So thank you very much. San Juana R. Kairos is a ministry of the church a ministry of the apostles who Jesus, the Christ, has called into community and sent forth into the environment of the correctional institution. Kairos has been called the best example of the early church in existence today. Kairos means God s Special Time or in the Fullness of Time. indicating an opportunity for our participants to reconsider their life choices and through Jesus Christ hearts are changed, inmates begin to take responsibility for their actions and lives are transformed to impact the world. it has been said that it costs the government $1 million to keep me locked up, and a $250 program from Kairos set me free. Inmate reflection: It was like a lesson to me, taking one step at a time. Each day was like I was taught how to get closer to God. How to pray to always give thanks for everything. I was able to open up and heal some things that I have been holding on to for a long time. I got a lot of love from our table leaders and I m learning how to forgive and show others love. Susan F. CCDC Church Services Jail Ministry News On occasion, I receive desperate pleas for prayer from women in jail or prison, terrified of demons within. They see evil, frightening faces when they close their eyes and they hear evil, terrifying voices when they are alone. For them, there is no rest and they will often wish for death. For most of us, the thought of being demon possessed brings to mind horror movies we watched as kids. I doubt that many of us have visited the realm of darkness that these men and women have lived in most of their lives. Jesus said in Matthew 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! We believe in spiritual warfare and the armies of God are not shadow boxing. As these women begin to consider their identity in Christ, the ungodly strongholds will not leave without a battle. I am asking you to pray fervently for the incarcerated in our county jail. Many are coming to CCDC church on Sunday mornings. Many are making decisions to live godly lives and many are encountering bitter opposition. Prayer is our first and most effective line of defense. What peace it brings to them when I share that our church body is praying for them. The very idea that church people would care enough to lift them in prayer is an encouragement. Thank you for your support of this ministry. Every Spiritual Blessing, Kim Hunt.
Page 3 The Calling September 3, 2018 New Midweek Services begin September 5! Join us for our Wednesday Night Programs from 5:15-6:00 pm for a family style meal in the Room 133, for $3 per person or $15 family maximum (kids 4 and under eat for free). Then, check in your kids for Mid-Week Elementary and Nursery at 5:45 pm, at the main building. All children 6 weeks old- 5th grade must be checked in by a parent. All classes will begin at 6:00 pm Nursery: 6 weeks old through pre k (main building nursery department) Elementary: kindergarten- 5th grade (main building fellowship hall) Youth: 6th-12th grade (main building youth room) Adult class "Grace" led by John Hollon ( room 116) Adult class "Prayer" led by Ginger Daniel (Colvery Ministry Center room 115) At 7:00 pm parents pick up at the main building. See you there! 2 Timothy - A Study in Discipleship - Precept Upon Precept Paul entrusted the Gospel to Timothy and others. Are you guarding the treasure of the Word that has been entrusted to you? By your life? By your words? Even in the midst of persecution? Join us for this study on Thursday mornings, September 6 - October 18; 9:00-11:00 am in Room 116 at the. There will be 7 sessions, including the introduction on Sept 6. Wayne Barber will be the DVD lecturer and Cheryl Patman will lead the discussion. Cost of the workbook is $14.00. You may purchase the workbooks at the Welcome Center before the study starts or at the first session on September 6. Christian Joy - Air Force (Fairchild AFB) Jerry Bright - Navy (Little Creek, VA) David Seals - Army Seth Haynes - Air Force (Eglin Base, FL) Paxton Killblane - Army (Fort Bragg, NC) Wesley Patzkowsky - Army (Pilot, Deployed) Tyler Black - Army (Iraq) If you have a loved one serving in the Armed Forces, please contact the church office. We want to acknowledge and be in prayer for each of our service men and women. September 3 - Labor Day - Church Closed September 5 - Midweek Programs begin September 15 - District Women s Retreat @ Faithbridge in Heavener September 21-23 - Global Impact Celebration September 22 - UMW District Annual Meeting October 11-14 - True North Base Camp for Men @ Cross Point Camp November 9-11 - Tool Tyme Mission November 22-23 - Thanksgiving Holiday - Church Closed December 24 - Christmas Eve Services @ 4pm, 6pm, 8pm December 25-26 - Christmas Holiday - Church CLOSED December 27, 28 & 31 - Church Open 8-12pm January 1, 2019 - Church CLOSED
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Page 5 The Calling September 3, 2018 SYMPATHY Our thoughts and prayers are with Walter & Josie Sampley and Jason & Micia Sampley, with the passing of Josie s mother and Jason s grandmother, Martha Roberta Muncrief, on August 7th. Her services were August 10th at the Craddock Memorial Chapel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Onita Ann McMillan, with her passing on August 6th. Her services were August 10th at Crystal Rock Cathedral. She was employed at FUMC as housekeeper for 17 years. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mike and Christy Mordy with the passing of Mike s father, Burke Greider Mordy, on August 10th. His service was held at St. Phillips Episcopal Church on August 14th. MEMORIAL In honor of DeB Edwards, a contribution was received from L. J. Buck for the Building Fund. In memory of Burke Mordy, a contribution has been received from Mark and Cathy Melton for Circle of Care.
Page First United 6 Methodist Church David The Daniel, Calling Senior Pastor September 3, 2018 501 W Main Brad Dery, Pastor Ardmore, OK 73401 John Hollon, Pastor Sunday Services 9:00 am Traditional 10:00 am Sunday School 11:05 am EPIC Prayer Chain Lenny Frank 580-465-7515 frank.lennylisa@yahoo.com Wadell & Sheila Altom 580-223-7272 Call or email us: (580) 223-5390 info@fumcardmore.com Televised at 11:00am on CableOne, Channel 56, Broadcast at 9:00am on KVSO AM www.fumcardmore.com Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Ardmore, OK Permit No. 183 Celebrate Recovery DivorceCare Stephen Ministry Prayer Groups Small Groups Bible Studies Home Church Stephen Ministers have been trained to care for those who are suffering. Please call Louise Daniels at 580-465-5958 or the church office at 580-223-5390.