| A Pastor’s Perspective Every so often, in the midst of what can often be a chaotic life, we need to take a moment and process what’s going on for us personally. Too often we worry about the things we can control and also the things that are beyond our control and we fail to move past that worry. We are in the midst of a global COVID-19 pandemic, political stress and other events, our lives are full of change. We are having to keep our distance and wear face coverings to protect one another. While some have been given the vaccine against the virus, many of us wait. We wait and hope that this will be a time where we finally might get back to “normal”, but will we ever get back to “normal”? Last week, I was feeling a need to take a moment away from the phone, computer, and all of the issues of the day. I walked into the sanctuary to spend a quiet moment away from calls, texts, emails, and other experiences of the day. I opened the door, I walked into the entrance, and saw the light streaming in through the window above the baptistry. The shadow of the cross in the window stretched across the floor in front of me, and I felt a certain peace. Having left my phone in the office, I had to go get it and take the picture that accompanies this article. I was glad that I had taken that moment to take a break.  I took this picture and sat down for a moment in the stillness and calm of that place. When I got up to go back to the busyness of the day, the shadow of the cross had moved from the middle of the isle. As the sun proceeded across the sky, the shadow of the cross had also changed position. It’s like that for us, isn’t it? No matter how we wish life could stay the same, it rarely does. As we go through these days, I pray that you will be able to take just a moment away from the chaos that has become our “normal” to see something beautiful in our world and give thanks to God for it! Peace, Gary ————————- YOUTH Beginning this week, Wednesday Youth Group will meet online from 7- 8 pm by Zoom meeting. If you have friends who would like to join us, just forward the Zoom meeting link to them. We would love to have them! Prayers of encouragement and good health for you all! Shauna Becker ———————–  ———————– | |
| For the time being, Sunday Worship service has moved to online streaming only. Catch it live on YouTube at 10:00 AM or watch it later at your convenience. Share the link with your family and friends!https://www.youtube.com/user/FirstCCMWCOK Drive-In Communion in the church parking lot (enter Anderson Road) at 11:30 AM ———————-   ——————— MUSIC NOTES – Santo, Santo, Santo Holy, holy, holy. My heart, my heart adores you! My heart is glad to say, the words: You are holy, Lord! As 2020 (thankfully!) recedes into the rear view, in our worship planning a few weeks back we decided to “live” in Epiphany and Christmastide awhile. The ideas, thoughts, and feelings of the revelation of the Messiah, and what his presence means –and has meant—for over 2000 years is a wonderful, rich, and unspeakably beautiful thing. We weren’t quiiiiiiite ready to let that go yet! In this Sunday’s music you’ll hear the lovely “Santo, Santo, Santo” prepared by members of our Sanctuary Choir. It is an echo of Mary’s ‘Magnificat’ from Luke: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” As we contemplate the deep, rich meaning of these words and as we apply them to our lives –at times struggling to do so—still we find the meaning embedded there, and, as a recent speech mentioned, perhaps also find our own better angels. Though we might not know what’s ahead for each of us in 2021, we stand confidently in His presence at the Gate of this Year and look forward into His providence for each of us and for FCC/MWC. What will you find? Grace and Peace, Mark Johnson ———————-  Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Calling All Choir Members! NO REHEARSAL tonight, Jan 27 or next week, Feb 3. We’ll resume on Wednesday, February 10th at 7:00 p.m., refreshed, renewed, recharged and ready to move into Lent and Eastertide music. Thank you!!! Mark Johnson ———————— Giving Online Log into MyFCC at: fccmwc.org/my-fcc Select Give from the drop down menu on the top left. Follow the instructions to set up a recurring gift or send a one time gift. If you have questions, please watch this video: https://player.vimeo.com/video/170043827 Or mail your contribution to: First Christian Church of Midwest City 11950 E Reno Ave Midwest City, OK 73130 When dropping your offering in the church mailbox, please make sure it slides all the way to the back of the slot so that it drops down into the lock box area. Thank you for your faithfulness! ——————- FOLLOW US AND STAY CONNECTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Search name: First Christian Church MWC Search name: FCC Midwest City YOUTUBE Search name: First Christian Church Midwest City ——————– |  First Christian Church MWC (Disciples of Christ) 11950 E Reno Ave Midwest City OK 73130 405.769.2717 Senior Minister: Rev. Gary Mitchell OFFICE HOURS: Monday – Thursday: 9 am – 4 pm Friday: 9 am – noon Disciples Around The Web www.disciples.org www.okdisciples.org www.weekofcompassion.org Disciples News Service |
| MEMORIALS In memory of Charlene Ainsworth In memory of Jean Catlett In memory of Dona Harris In memory of Lloyd Kitchell In memory of Chris Lange In memory of Ray Shirley In memory of Ron Sipes In memory of Rev. Don Tiller In memory of Jane Tipton In memory of Wilma Wiley To the Memorial Fund given by Beverly Bonnewell In memory of Lloyd Kitchell To Current Expenses given by Tom & Pat Padgham To the Memorial Fund given by Lyle & Lillian Fry ———————— For the time being, we are not gathering for in person worship. Please join our Live Stream Worship Service on YouTube, Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM. We will have drive thru communion here at the church at 11:30 am in the Anderson side parking lot. https://www.youtube.com/user/FirstCCMWCOK Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Church Office: 769-2717 email: [email protected] Rev. Gary Mitchell cell: 245-8678 email: [email protected] For Youth related events Shauna Becker cell: 820-3178 email: [email protected] For Choir related events Mark Johnson cell: 903-312-3827 email: [email protected] ———————— Please contact the church office with new prayer concerns and with updates on those who are listed. Thank you! PRAYER CONCERNS *Family & Friends of Nancy Hall; *Family & Friends of Lorene McMahan; *Family & Friends of Tom Marshall (Pastor Gary’s friend); *Pat Isaac (hospitalized with covid); *Andrea Kintzinger (covid); *Mrs. Oakley (Melissa Richey’s grandmother, hospitalized with covid); *Rev. Chris Muse, Nicoma Park CC (covid); *Carilee Delano; Alan & Elta Bowman (mobile meals clients, Alan has advancing Parkinson’s and Elta is his primary caregiver); Grace & Hannah Oliver, (covid); Anita Oliver, ongoing health issues; Anita Oliver’s mother, ongoing health issues; Mayme Philips; Jim & Lynne Wylie; Ki Gooch; Matt Franck and daughter Sage (Bev Rubino); Jude Lees; Millie Sawyer; Judy Martin (Mitsy Martin Davis’ mother); Johnny Fillips (English); Craig Wiseman *NEW ADDITION Congregation Long-Term Prayer List: Julie Avants; Barbara Benge; Katie Benge; Donna Brubaker; Ashley Dean; Gene Gilbert; Katy Givens; Karen Holland; Tanni Jamison; Lange families; Richard & Mary Layman; Sandy Lees; Lloyd family; Becky Long; Faye Miller; Shirley Niehoff; Rev. Lee & Mary Nirschl; George Pettigrew; Kristyn Reid; Vicki Richey; Lane Ross; Millie Sawyer; Jim & Connie Sharp; Wanda Williams; Jim Wylie Shut-Ins Prayer List: Lola Jean Ashford; Virginia Douthitt; Ken Foust; Dr. Gifford McBride; Bill & Robbie McGruder; Bertha Owen; Cole Padgham; Harold Powers; Margaret Scears; Joyce Shirley; Shirley Tharp; Renata Thomas; Barbara Wilson Family/Friends Long Term Prayer List: Tom Acree (Acree); Kate Benge (Benge); Lori Bonnewell (Bonnewell); Glen & Allie Benson (Brubaker); John Booth (McKinney); Jim & Bonnie Brooks (Lloyd); Betty Brubaker (David’s mother); Angela Bruning (Martin Davis); Jacob Burkhart (Avants); Johnny Cambell (S Updegraff); Michelle Canada (Beverly Albee’s niece); Lisa Coffman (Stanfill); Chris Cornelius (Cornelius); Coleen Crow (Lange); Sue Crumrine (Gambill); Michael DeGennaro (Camp); Doug Egerer (M Holt); Barbara Fretwell (Reid); JoAnn Fritz (S Updegraff); Malik Givens (Avants); Jim Graves (Moler); Wayne Haney (Moler); Johnna Harvey (S Updegraff); Tom Henthorn (Albee); Leo Hickman (Gambill); Rev. Lawrence Howard (M Howard); Sam Howard (Howard); Jim Johnson (Greffin); Blair Lanning (Avants); Larry & Sandra Stanfill); Gary LaVigna (S Updegraff); Amber Leamy (Niehoff); Misty Leeper (Jamison); Evelyn & Norman Lees (Lees); Rod & Cathy Lees (Lees); Cathy Martinez (Moler); Sue McCormick (Brubaker); David & Diane McEvoy (Walters); Annis Hickman Miller (Gambill); Cathy Miller (Reid); Kathleen Miller (Gambill); George Niehoff (Niehoff); Michael Niehoff (Niehoff); Darryl Rowton (Northcutt); Ralph Seabaugh (McKinney); Charlene Shirey (Pettigrew); Ann Simon (Lange); Susannah Smith (Lees); Joel & Jeff Staggs (Walters); Michael & Debbie Stevens (McGruder); Rosa Stock (M Holt); Jim & Betty Temple (Williams); Alton Ray Tidwell (Niehoff); Austin Traylor (Traylor); Alyse Walker (Gambill); Megan White (Suffridge); Lucille Williams (N Williams); Ann Windel (Cornelius); Cindy Winkle (Fennell); Jorge Zamora (Gallegos); Lori Zang (M Holt) |
