| The Pastor’s Perspective A new year! Usually, at this time of year we talk about resolutions we might make for self improvement or living a better life. As we enter into 2021, we are still facing a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. While vaccines are being administered, the virus continues to rage and be deadly. We have to continue to be vigilant and to do everything we can to protect ourselves and others. On the other hand, a new year is ahead of us! As always, we hope for a better year than the one before. In many ways, we are like the ancients before us who faced exile. They asked “How can we sing God’s song in a foreign land?” (Psalm 137:4). They were taken away from their daily lives , isolated from loved ones, and their whole world changed. Sounds a little like our 2020, doesn’t it? The one thing we hold on to as people of faith is God’s promise. That promise, affirmed in Jesus, calls on us to rest assured that no matter what, God’s presence will see us though. The changing of a number on the calendar doesn’t make the bad year go away. It does, however give us an opportunity to hope for better days. In some ways, we look at each January 1st as a do-over. Let’s hope that as this year replaces the last, we will see an improvement over the last one, and that we will once again renew ourselves in God’s promise that in God’s love we will never truly be alone. Peace and blessings for the New Year! Gary ———————– YOUTH NEWS… The youth group met this Wednesday & we found some fun ways to stay at a safe distance. We are looking forward to a year full of exciting ministry and we took some time to dream about the future this week. Our youth are back in school for the second semester. Although the kids are very happy to see their friends again, they recognize the risk of contracting Covid-19. Please keep our students in your prayers as they face the stress of this pandemic as well as the other struggles that come with being a teenager. We are all very hopeful that 2021 will be different than 2020. We are never alone in the good times or bad and we are certainly blessed to have the presence of God as well as one another. If you are feeling alone in this new year, please call a friend or call the church. If you are feeling sad, please remember, you will not always feel the way you do today. This past year has taken a toll on all of us, but we will move forward together. As we all look toward a brighter future, we do so with the promise of God’s love. May God bless each of you in this New Year!! With love & prayers, 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 ————————  2021 Giving Envelopes are ready to be picked up. Please stop by the church anytime during regular office hours. Monday – Thursday: 9 am – 4 pm Friday: 9 am – noon —————— Property & Landscaping Work Day Saturday, January 9 beginning at 10:00 AM We will be moving more tree limbs this Saturday morning. Please help as able, to cut down, cut up and load broken tree limbs. We’ll have a tractor/trailer to move the limbs to the curb for city pick up. All regular and pole chainsaws are welcomed, and be sure to bring your work gloves. Your contribution will be most appreciated! Thank You, Mark Reid, Chair, Property Committee Tom Hill, Chair, Landscape Committee ———————–  FROM MOBILE MEALS – On Monday, December 28th we assembled and delivered bags of food to 42 very appreciative clients. Thank you for your generous food donations. We have such wonderful, caring people in this Church and our Mobile Meals Program is blessed by the support from this Church Family. A SPECIAL THANK YOU to those who helped sort, count, assemble and deliver our food bags. Our Emergency Food Kits have been a success over the past 5 years because of your dedication to our Mobile Meals program and our clients. Dottie Tucker Mobile Meals Coordinator ———————– OUTREACH NEWS… We are so grateful to announce that because of your generosity, FCC MWC was able to make two donations this past week. $500 to United Way Heartline 211 For utility bill assistance $500 to The Homeless Alliance This donation was matched for a total donation of $1,000 Thank you! Outreach ————————– Dear Mitsy and Members of First Christian Church of Midwest City, Thank you so much for your donation! I saw it come through and wanted to let you know how much we appreciate it. With temperatures now dropping below freezing at night and fewer shelter beds available throughout the community due to COVID, your support helps us continue operating our day shelter, turn it into an emergency night shelter on nights like tonight when it gets below freezing, and most importantly, move people off the streets and into more permanent housing. Kinsey Crocker, Director of Communications The Homeless Alliance ————————– Dear Christmas For Others, Thank you so much for providing Christmas assistance to some of our families! This has been a financially challenging year and our families are grateful for your organization! You are truly a blessing to our families and community. Please reach out if you ever have any questions of concerns! Jessica Watson, Counselor Nicoma Park Elementary ——————– To Give online: Log into MyFCC at: fccmwc.org/my-fcc Select Give from the dropdown 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 To mail your check to the church: 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: FACEBOOK Search name: First Christian Church MWC INSTAGRAM 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 Church website: fccmwc.org 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 |
| 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 *Millie Sawyer; *Judy Martin (Mitsy Martin Davis’ mother); Johnny Fillips (English); Craig Wiseman; Tanni Jamison; Nancy Hall; Lane Ross *NEW ADDITION Congregation Long-Term Prayer List: Julie Avants; Barbara Benge; Katie Benge; Donna Brubaker; Ashley Dean; Gene Gilbert; Katy Givens; Karen Holland; 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; 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); JoEllen Rush (Searcy); 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) |
