| First Christian Church of Midwest City (Disciples of Christ) 11950 East Reno Ave Midwest City, OK 73130 405-769-2717  ————————– YOUTH NEWS… I hope you are all enjoying this advent season. I know 2020 has been a year of unexpected challenges but I hope this Christmas season brings you unexpected JOY! The youth group has been quite busy helping with Christmas for Others and they enjoyed passing out the gifts, special needs and food items as the families drove through this Saturday. They always have a good time being together whether they are serving, learning or playing. I hope each of you have time and energy for all three as we wrap up 2020 together. The youth group will be meeting IN PERSON this Wednesday for a Christmas party, at the JCAC. We will be preparing some parking lot luminaries for the Christmas Eve service & celebrating the joy of Christmas with games & refreshments! Christmas time is so exciting for kids. The dreams of what could be… The memories of what once was… and the knowledge that school will soon be out… all add to their high hopes. As adulthood approaches however, the reality that the holidays don’t always live up to the hype creeps in and attempts to steal our joy away. My prayer for all of you is that you find joyful things to meditate on this week. I hope that you can remember, as well as look forward to the joyful feelings this time of year can bring. JOY TO WORLD THE LORD IS COME, may each of us remember THE WONDERS OF HIS LOVE as we share Christ’s joy with others. 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 https://www.youtube.com/user/FirstCCMWCOK Drive-In Communion in the church parking lot (enter Anderson Road) at 11:30 AM ———————  ——————— ADVENT WEEK III – JOY You have changed my sadness into a joyful dance, you have taken away my sorrow and surrounded me with Joy. Psalm 30:11 This coming Sunday we light the advent candle of Joy. Joy of the season that is down in our heart. Joy is gladness and calm assurance that in spite of what is happening all around you, Jesus is walking by your side. In this tumultuous year let us remember the children. Children bring us so much joy. They keep us grounded and show us what is truly important. They Believe. God has blessed us with the joy and care of children. Let us follow the example of Jesus as we raise them. Help us give our children the best gift this Christmas, our love and attention. Let us remember the Christ child that was born. Every year at this time we get to redeem our belief in children through the birth of Jesus. Help us also to remember the children in our church that we love and support through our children’s programs. Let Jesus come into your heart, flood your soul with Joy. O precious Jesus, how you thrill our souls with Joy. Joy to the world! The Lord is come Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns He rules the world with truth and grace Repeat the sounding Joy! Repeat the sounding Joy! Prayer: Thank you for the joyous season. Thank you for today and the prayers of joy that we can share with our children. Joyful, Joyful we adore thee. Amen. ——————– MUSIC NOTES “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel“ This hymn, originally in Latin, takes us back over 1,200 years to monastic life in the 8th- or 9th-century. Seven days before Christmas Eve monasteries would sing the “O antiphons” in anticipation of Christmas Eve when the eighth antiphon, “O Virgo virginum” (“O Virgin of virgins”) would be sung before and after Mary’s canticle, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46b-55). The Latin metrical form of the hymn was composed as early as the 12th century. John Mason Neale (1818-1866), the famous architect of the Oxford movement, discovered the Latin hymn in the appendix of an early 18th-century manuscript, “Psalterium Cationum Catholicorum,” with a refrain. Neale, a translator of early Greek and Latin hymns, included it in his influential collection, Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences (1851). British hymnologist J.R. Watson provides a context for the antiphons included on the second page after the hymn in the UM Hymnal: “The antiphons, sometimes called the ‘O antiphons’ or ‘The Great O’s’, were designated to concentrate the mind on the coming Christmas, enriching the meaning of the Incarnation with a complex series of references from the Old and New Testaments.” Each antiphon begins as follows: O Sapentia (Wisdom) O Adonai (Hebrew word for God) O Radix Jesse (stem or root of Jesse) O Clavis David (key of David) O Oriens (dayspring) O Rex genitium (King of the Gentiles) O Emmanuel Put together, the first letter of the second word of each antiphon spells SARCORE. If read backwards, the letters form a two-word acrostic, “Ero cras,” meaning “I will be present tomorrow.” All of the Latin attributions to the coming Messiah are from the Old Testament except “Emmanuel,” which is found both in Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23. Matthew quotes Isaiah virtually verbatim—“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel”—with the exception that Matthew adds the phrase: “which being interpreted is, God with us.” Although now we use it more freely, the “O Emmanuel” antiphon was traditionally sung on the night before Christmas Eve, revealing the meaning of the liturgical riddle through the completion of the acrostic. A Christly musical crossword puzzle for the ages: how cool is that? With Grace, Peace and Anticipation, Mark Johnson Edited and adapted with permission from my colleague, C. Michael Hawn, D.M.A., Perkins School of Theology at SMU.  Join the Painted Sky Opera for their annual production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. The production is directed by Dr. Molly Johnson and will feature a very special “pre-curtain” version of “We Three Kings” featuring Dr. Mark Johnson. Use either link below for information on in-person or on-line tickets: https://www.paintedskyopera.org/amahl-and-the-night-visitors https://www.facebook.com/paintedskyopera/ ———————–  We asked and boy did you respond and in a BIG way. Every time we asked for help whether it was sorting items, cutting out nativity scenes, shopping for gifts, shoes, coats, pet food or socks you were there. Loading or sorting groceries, driving the bus, decorating our grounds, wrapping parent gifts, buying specific need items or standing outside on a chilly Saturday morning to serve our neighbors, you were there. I am so grateful for every one of you that helped make the 50th CFO such a wonderful morning. As Shauna said later in the day “God certainly showed up today” and He DID. I hope all of you have a healthy and happy Christmas season. Mitsy and Alex Christmas for Others Co-Chairs ——————— MOBILE MEALS MINISTRY  Mobile Meals is once again asking for your help. We are approaching that time of year when the weather is unpredictable and this year, we are also dealing with the craziness of COVID 19. We will be preparing our Emergency Food Kits again this year to ensure that none of our clients go without food because we are unable to deliver due to unpredictable weather or the possibility of having to shut down our ministry because of COVID. We will be collecting food items starting Sunday, December 6th thru Sunday, December 20th. There will be a collection box in the Narthex marked “Mobile Meals Emergency Food Kits”. Items needed: canned goods such as soups, stews, and ravioli; ramen noodles, Macaroni & Cheese; canned meats (i.e. tuna, chicken ham); individually packaged peanut butter or cheese crackers, fruit cups or pudding cups, individually packaged cookies, Ensure, or any non-perishable food item that can be eaten cold or easily heated. Please remember some of the dessert type items need to be sugar free for our diabetics. We deliver food to 40 people, some of whom are members of our Church. We are able to do these Emergency Food Kits every year because of the generosity of our Church Family. Please help us make our Kits a success again this year by donating a few items from the list above. Your donations will be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact Dottie Tucker at 610-6959 or 919-4589. ——————- “Candles and Carols” 2020 Christmas Cantata Join us via live stream on YouTube for Cantata Sunday, 10:00 a.m. on December 27th. The service will feature beautiful music of the season, as well as meditative reflections and scripture readings — all presented by members of our Chancel Choir. ——————— 2021 FCC CHURCH DIRECTORY It’s time to update the church directory for 2021. If your address, phone number or email changed this past year, please call the church office 769-2717. I hope to begin printing these by the end of December. Thank you! Nancy Harkey ——————— 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! 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 Also go to: fccmwc.org Check out the church’s new and improved website! |  11950 E Reno Ave Midwest City OK 73130 405.769.2717 Senior Minister: Rev. Gary Mitchell OFFICE HOURS: Monday – Thursday: 9 am – 4 pm Fridays: 9 am – noon Disciples Around The Web: www.disciples.org www.okdisciples.org www.weekofcompassion.org Disciples News Service |
| ———————– MEMORIAL In memory of Lloyd Kitchell Given by Nancy & Bill Graham to the Memorial Fund ———————-  In loving memory of Phyllis Fennel’s husband, Arvin Fennell. Remembering him on his birthday and their wedding anniversary. ———————— 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 Rev. Don Tiller; *Family & Friends of Dona Harris; *Family & Friends of Ron Sipes; *Family & Friends of Jane Tipton; *Tanni Jamison, surgery 12/4; *Craig Christensen, pneumonia (Adam’s dad) *Ellie & Grandmother, involved in a car wreck 12/6 (Anita Oliver) Family & Friends of Lloyd Kitchell; Nancy Hall, OU Medical; 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; Ray & Joyce Shirley; Shirley Tharp; Renata Thomas; Barbara Wilson Family/Friends Long Term Prayer List: Tom Acree (Acree); Alvin Bates (Moler); 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); Leisinger Family (English); 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) |
