 WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE March 28 Palm Sunday at 10:00 am: (online and limited in-person seating) April 1 Maundy Thursday at 6:00 pm: (online and limited in-person seating) Prayer Vigil: Immediately following Maundy Thursday service thru Friday at 6 pm April 4 Easter Sunrise at 6:30 am (in-person only – outdoors, weather permitting) Easter Service at 10 am (online and limited in-person seating) Peace! Gary YOUTH *SCHEDULE CHANGE* We are not meeting tonight, March 24th. Love & Prayers Shauna Becker “It Is Finished” As Jesus dies in John’s Gospel, he exclaims, “It is finished” (John 19:30). One way of understanding this cry from the cross is that it signifies Jesus’ accomplishment of the mission God has entrusted to him. It is often interpreted as a cry of triumph. God has commissioned Jesus to make known God’s love (John 3:16) and life (John 10:10). Jesus has carried out this mission faithfully in the midst of and despite opposition, resistance, and hate. These are important insights. Yet we know that crucifixion was a horrible, painful way to die. It broke bodies, excluded an unwanted problem-person from society, intimidated spectators, and reinforced the ruling power of the crucifiers. Not surprisingly, many have wondered how such an act might accomplish the divine purposes. Would a loving, life-giving God consign God’s son or child to such a death? We also know that crucifixion is not the end of Jesus’ story. Crucifixion leads to resurrection which leads to ascension which leads to Jesus’ return to earth from God. These actions cause us to re-view crucifixion, to see the cross in a larger context and perspective. In part, crucifixion shows how far those who ruled the Roman empire would go to protect their privileges, status, power, and wealth. Jesus’ teaching and actions questioned their way of organizing the world for their own benefit. He challenged its hierarchy that privileged a few at the expense of the rest. He indicated that the world marked by domination, “power over,” and the submission and suffering of many did not have to be this way. Challenged and exposed, they crucified him. Yet they could not keep Jesus dead. God’s resurrection of Jesus shows that the power of the mighty Roman empire is limited. It could not protect its death-bringing power, structures and practices against the life-giving power of God. It could not thwart the display of God’s purposes. Jesus’ resurrection shows that a new world, a new way of living, is possible. Jesus’ resurrection demonstrates that the ways of hostility, hate, and exclusion are not the final word on how we humans might interact with one another. Jesus’ manifestation of God’s life and mercy, displayed in teaching, merciful healings, supplying food, and creating a new community of love and inclusion, offers an alternative way of living. It is finished. The way of domination and selfish power is not the way ahead. Jesus’ manifestation of God’s loving and life-giving purposes is accomplished. God invites us to be partners in living those loving purposes that bless all people. Warren Carter PhD Meinders Professor of New Testament Phillips Theological Seminary | |
| Join us for in-person worship or online at our YouTube channel Sundays at 10:00 AM Share the link with your family and friends!https://www.youtube.com/user/FirstCCMWCOK Weather permitting Drive-In Communion in the church parking lot (enter Anderson Road) at 11:30 AM   Thank you to everyone who helped with the landscaping clean up last week. I appreciate each one of you! Tom Hill Landscaping Department Chair Marshall Mason, Ki Gooch, Cayden Wright, David Wright, JoDee Burger, Denise Jenks, Jan Teel & Pat Wiseman  Prepare Ye All things are ready, if our mind be so.” ― William Shakespeare, Henry V “Opportunity does not waste time with those who are unprepared.” ― Idowu Koyenikan If you’ve never seen the 1987 movie “The Princess Bride” directed by Rob Reiner, I highly recommend it. A sweetly satirical, American “kitch-classic,” it has a whimsical yet grounded humor that, in the end, leaves you satisfied that things have turned out as they should. In it, one of the main characters, Inigo Montoya, has a famous scene in which he avenges the death of his father. As he sword fights the villain, he says over and over: “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Really – watch it – you can thank me later. My point today, however, is that when God the Father sent Jesus the Son into the world – He had done just that: prepared. For centuries after the Fall, God’s people had been led, nurtured, scolded, scorned and redeemed – over and over again. But that redemption was only as good as the last burnt offering, and was persistently without ultimate resolution. But God . . . (there’s that theme again. I promise I’ll write about that Oral Roberts sermon one day!). But God in his infinite Wisdom, had prepared His mind and had patiently sought opportunity over the ages of time, until, as St. Paul so aptly puts it “…the fullness of time had come…” In other words, God was prepared. But are we prepared as we gaze forward to Palm Sunday and Passion Week? Have we done all we can to open our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls to the indwelling presence of God and his Holy Spirit – on earth and in our lives? I don’t know about you, friend, but for me, it’s an open question, and one I try to ask myself every day: “What can I do today to be prepared to open myself to the power of The Creator in my life?” The passion of Inigo Montoya’s quest was impressive and drove his entire life until he attained his goal. Won’t you join me on this quest? Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. With Grace, Peace and Persistent Preparation, Mark Johnson  Sign Ups for Worship Leader and/or Offertory Message are open for April & May Log in to MyFCC: GROUPS WORSHIP SERVICE ATTENDANCE NEEDS Once on the NEEDS page, select Worship Leader or Offertory Message. Choose the date you would like to serve. If you need help signing up, or do not have access to a computer, call the church office. We can help!Thank you!  Life Line Screening is coming to FCC MWC Wednesday, April 7 from 8:30 – 4 pm To register, go to www.lifelinescreening.com. If you need help registering, please call the church office at 405-769-2717. Giving 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 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: FACEBOOK Search name: First Christian Church MWC INSTAGRAM Search name: FCC Midwest City YOUTUBE Search name: First Christian Church Midwest City |  First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 11950 E Reno Ave Midwest City OK 73130 405.769.2717 Rev. Gary Mitchell Senior Minister 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 |
 Thank you to our church family for the cards and your many prayers during these last few months. I am recovering nicely from my heart procedure and Shirley is doing well with her dialysis treatments. We appreciate each one of you very much! Paul & Shirley Niehoff MEMORIALS To the Memorial Fund given by Fern Burling In memory of Patrick Isaac In memory of Lori Lange To the Memorial Fund given by Carol Hamilton In memory of Rick McCulloh To the Mobile Meals Fund given by Carol Hamilton In memory of Leta Callahan Join us for in-person worship on Sundays at 10:00 am. We are also streaming live on the YouTube Channel. Weather permitting, we will have drive through communion following the service 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 Leta Callahan; *Family & Friends of Carolyn Slaughter (Niehoff); *Andrea Kintzinger, St. Anthony’s, fell and broke her thigh bone, surgery 3/22); *Taylor Bonnewell, covid-19 (Beverly Bonnewell’s granddaughter); *Esilla Becker, covid-19 (Tim & Shauna’s daughter in law); Braeden Fennell (Phyllis Fennell’s grandson); Brian Foughty (Phyllis Fennell’s son in law); Karen Holland; Leo Holland; The Lange and Moler families; Lane & Randy Ross; Beverly Rubino; Lucille Williams (Nancy Williams mother); Betsy Hormel, cancer (Leah Wakely’s aunt); Kathleen Woodruff (friend of Deidre Burk); Carilee Delano; Anita Oliver and her mother (ongoing health issues); Judy Martin (Mitsy’s mother) *NEW ADDITION Congregation Long-Term Prayer List: Julie Avants; Donna Brubaker; Ashley Dean; Gene Gilbert; Katy Givens; Karen Holland; Tanni Jamison; Richard & Mary Layman; Sandy Lees; Lloyd family; Becky Long; Faye Miller; Shirley Niehoff; Rev. Lee & Mary Nirschl; George Pettigrew; Harold Powers; 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; Margaret Scears; Joyce Shirley; Shirley Tharp; Renata Thomas; Barbara Wilson Family/Friends Long Term Prayer List: Tom Acree (Acree); 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); 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); 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); 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) |
