First Christian Church of Midwest City (Disciples of Christ) 11950 East Reno Ave Midwest City, OK 73130 405-769-2717 A Pastor’s Perspective A Cautious Return! – This Thursday, June 18, a group will meet to finalize plans for returning to limited in-person worship on Sunday, July 5. After this meeting, using current COVID-19 information on local trends and using the most current CDC guidelines, we will present final plans for resuming in-person worship in our sanctuary. Our goal is the safety and heath for all present! Watch for more information on our website, Facebook page, and in next week’s newsletter! ———————————————————- Technical Difficulties! – We had some technical issues with our livestream this Sunday and our tech guys are busy correcting those problems! Thank you for your patience as we continue to learn our new system and technology! A special thanks to Brett Mole, Matt Moler, and Jason Updegraff for volunteering to move us into a more technological future! ———————————————————- Out of the Office! – I’ll be taking some vacation time next week. Rev. Shauna Becker will be bringing the message this Sunday, June 21, and I will return June 28. I and thankful for this time away, and give thanks for the many great leaders we have here at FCC! ———————————————————- Sad News! – Sunday’s Zoom board meeting included the reading of a letter of resignation from our organist and pianist Garry Dowell. I am thankful for our time together, and give thanks to God for his talents and his commitment to sharing God’s love through music! You’ll find a copy of his letter to our congregation inside this newsletter. As we begin a search for a new organist/pianist, we thank Garry for being part of our church family! We wish him all the best as he enters into this new ministry, and pray God’s blessings as he and Martina answer God’s call for their future! Peace! Gary —————————— Join us live on Sunday mornings at 10 AM! This link will take you directly to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FirstCCMWCOK —————————– YOUTH NEWS… The current plan is for the youth group to resume regular Wednesday evening meetings on July 15th, following the mission trip. All youth group members who are attending the mission trip (7/5/20-7/9/20) may attend the 10:50 worship service on Sunday Morning July 5th. We will be receiving a send off blessing for our trip. This week on Wednesday, from 6:00-7:00 pm the youth will meet to discuss our upcoming trip. Students will receive a packing list and other important information. A parent meeting will follow from 7:00-7:45 pm. I would appreciate at least one parent from each household attending. This meeting is vital to the success of the mission trip. The youth will be entertained in another area & will not be present during the parent meeting. As we approach the time when we can worship under the same roof again, I’m so grateful for each of you. A house becomes a home when people live in it & I believe the same is true for God’s house. This church building is a home when we join together as a church family within these walls. Although our ministry has been vital and alive during these past several weeks apart, we need each other to be all God has called us to be as a church. I’m looking so forward to seeing you all and I’m excited to see what God has planned for the remainder of 2020. With Love, Shauna Becker —————————— | |
Giving Through 6/10/2020 Annual Budget $ 401,551 Weekly Budget $7,722 General Budget & Acct 107 $ 5,817 Diff to Budget $ 1,998 Capital Fund $ 3,483 Other (not Budget) $ 420 Total Weekly Giving $ 9,720 *The May Total Giving Report will be published in next week’s newsletter. —————————- Dear First Christian Church Midwest City, I would like to take this time to tell you how much I have enjoyed serving this church as organist. I have appreciated the opportunity to work closely with Rev. Gary Mitchell, Mark Johnson, and your great chancel choir. I appreciate how welcoming and supportive you have been to me as I have retired from my “corporate” life and have begun my true passion, church music work. I couldn’t have found a better opportunity to begin this new chapter in my life. It is with a sad heart to let you know that I have decided to take an opportunity to go back and serve as organist at First Christian Church Edmond starting July 6, 2020. As many of you know, First Christian Church Edmond is the church I grew up in and played as organist during the 80’s and early 90’s. I also played as substitute organist in the 70’s during high school under the mentorship of Vera Enz, a saint of the Disciples faith. I then studied with Elizabeth Farris at UCO. The position as organist became open unexpectedly when the former organist of 10 years left to take a position at First Christian Church Norman. He lives in Norman with his family. Again, I hope you know how much I value our time together. The friendships and relationships will be what I miss most. Again my last Sunday will be July 5th. I hope to talk to you or see you before I leave. Please take care and know I will miss you. Blessings, Garry Dowell ————————— OUTREACH UPDATE: Because of your support to the Outreach Ministry of FCC MWC, we were able to send a $250 donation to Week of Compassion for COVID 19 Relief. We appreciate our faithful givers! Thank you! Outreach Ministry —————————–  This link will take you directly to YouTube on Sunday Morning at 10 AM: https://www.youtube.com/user/FirstCCMWCOK —————————– MEMORIALS To the Memorial Fund in memory of Kenneth King – From Nancy Graham To Mobile Meals in memory of Kenneth King – From Don & Mary Nicholson —————————– 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 You can also drop your giving envelope in the church mailbox. It is a secure, locked dropbox and is checked daily throughout the week. 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 Also go to: fccmwc.org Check out the church’s new and improved website! |  First Christian Church (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 |
| ————————– THANK YOU! A Thank You to the wonderful Mobile Meals crew for preparing and delivering our Monday lunch.Thank You! Katy Benge & Barbara Benge —————————- All church services and group activities are suspended until further notice. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or needs. 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] Happy Father’s Day to all our Dads! Sunday, June 21st  Please contact the church office with new prayer concerns and with updates on those who are listed. Thank you! PRAYER CONCERNS *Alyse Walker (Gambill); *Betty Martin (hospice care); Sandy Lees (St Anthony); Paul & Jo Pettrigrew; Richard Layman (shoulder surgery); Debra Philips; Wilma Wylie (Jim’s mother); Julie Avants; Bev Rubino; Nancy Hall; Mario Castro (Moler); Malik Givens (J Avants); Shirley Niehoff; Ralph Seabaugh (McKinney); Karen Holland; Faye Miller; Katy Givens; Becky Long; Doug Egerer (M Holt); Tom Jamison; Rev. Lee Nirschl; Lori Lange; Michael DeGennaro (Camp); Angela Bruning (Martin-Davis); Jim Gladney (Moler); Wayne Haney (Moler); Sue Crumrine (Gambill); Lori Zang (M Holt); Nancy Williams; Blair Lanning (Avants) *NEW ADDITION Congregation Long-Term Prayer List: Nellis Adams; Julie Avants; Barbara Benge; Katie Benge; Ashley Dean; Gene Gilbert; Tanni Jamison; Lloyd Kitchell; Richard Layman; Lloyd family; Mary Nirschl; George Pettigrew; Kristyn Reid; Vicki Richey; Lane Ross; Millie Sawyer; Wanda Williams; Jim Wylie. Shut-In Prayer List Lola Jean Ashford; Virginia Douthitt; Ken Foust; Dona Harris; Betty Martin; Dr. Gifford McBride; Bill & Robbie McGruder; Bertha Owen; Cole Padgham; Harold Powers; Margaret Scears; Ray & Joyce Shirley; Shirley Tharp; Renata Thomas; Barbara Wilson; Julia Wingate. Family/Friends Long Term Prayer List: Tom Acree (Acree); Jim & Bonnie Brooks (Lloyd); Lori Bonnewell (Bonnewell); Debbie Broome (Philips); Jacob Burkhart (Avants); Jerry Calcote (McGruder); Lisa Coffman (Stanfill); Coleen Crow (Lange); Adrienne DiCarlo (Northcutt); Barbara Fretwell (Reid); JoAnn Fritz (S Updegraff); Jennifer Fulton (Lewis); Johnna Harvey (S Updegraff); Tom Henthorn (Albee); Leo Hickman (Gambill); Betsy Hormel (Wakely); Rev. Lawrence & Mary Howard (M Howard); Sam Howard (Howard); Jim Johnson (Greffin); Rita King; (Brubaker); Gary LaVigna (S Updegraff); Amber Leamy (Niehoff); Misty Leeper (Jamison); Evelyn & Norman Lees (Lees); Rod & Cathy Lees (Lees); Leisinger Family (English); Don Martin (Spradley); Cathy Martinez (Moler); Sue McCormick (Brubaker); David & Diane McEvoy (Walters); Annis Hickman Miller (Gambill); Cathy Miller (Reid); Jordan Mitchell (Miller); Michael Niehoff (Niehoff); Emily Richey (Moler); Kyndra Slechta (Brubaker); Susannah Smith (Lees); Judy Soltis (Lewis); Joel & Jeff Staggs (Walters); Michael & Debbie Stevens (McGruder); Rosa Stock (M Holt); Jim & Betty Temple (Williams); Alton Ray Tidwell (Niehoff); Austin Traylor (Traylor); Lucille Williams (N Williams); Cindy Winkle (Fennell). |
