Nonprofit Organization US POSTAGE PAID Stillwater, OK Permit No.

280

Facts & Figures for July 29, 2012 Attendance (67 and 82)..............................149 Sunday School..........86 General Fund Receipts...........$3,975.00 Capital Fund Receipts..........................$340.00 Loose Offering/Sunday School..$236.07 Non-Budget Funds Receipts......$9,305.88 Facts & Figures as of June 30, 2012 YTD Budget Receipts.........$227,747.84 YTD Budget Expenses....$226,306.02 Net Receipts over Expenses..$1,441.82 Presented by Kay Smith, Treasurer, dkwsmith@suddenlink.net

The Stillwater Christian

Volume 2012 In This Issue
Announcements Snapshots from Sondra Children & Youth 1 2 3

July 31 Oh no! The COCAA pantry is bare! Lets get it stocked! Specifically, they can use donations of spaghetti and sauce, PB&J, and canned goods of any kind.

First Sunday Food Drive This Sunday

Central Area Churches Praying for Churches This week we are praying for: FCC in Stroud!

Thanks so much to everyone who donated to this special fund which Birthdays & 3 helps Payne County residents with food, gas, and bills last Sunday. Anniversaries Sundays special offering total was $1,050.00 and that will be a huge Facts & Figures 4 blessing to those who come to us seeking assistance. Remember, you can also donate to this fund at any time, as it is an ongoing, active ministry. If you have any questions, please contact Leila Beeby, the Outreach Chair.

Generous Helping Hands Offering Received on Sunday!

Farewell Party for FCC Friends, August 4th at 6pm

Deb and Thea Norris and Linda Sheeran will be moving to Colorado soon. Please join us to give them a fond farewell. Bring the whole family and your favorite food to share as a side for brisket. Dress comfortably for an indoor picnic. We'll tell stories and share memories of our time with Deb and Linda. Please call Cara Beer, 624-9549, to tell us how many you are bringing, what you plan to bring, and if you'll need a babysitter. Everyone invited!

Mowers Needed!
Please pick a week to mow the property between now and Fall. Lots of slots available! Equipment provided. Performance Review Time For FCC Staff

Thank You From Property Committee

The Property Committee wishes to express a hearty thank you to the group who answered the call for the church work day on Saturday, July 21st. Significant progress was made in accomplishing a number of tasks which are not on the regular schedule, but which need periodic attention. Work projects included the lawn; the Sanctuary cleaning glass ledges and window sills; Lounge; Preschool classrooms; 3M Sunday School classroom; cleaning vents in the education wing; washing plastic light covers in the main building; hanging pictures; hemming drapes; scrubbing kitchen equipment; cleaning chairs in the Library; installing a shelf in the office work room; cleaning and organizing the storage area in Williams Hall; power-washing tables; and repairing cabinet doors/drawers in the Education wing. The help from this consistently loyal group is very much appreciated.

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Of Stillwater, OK, Inc. 411 W. Mathews Ave. Stillwater, OK 74075-7517

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Please take a moment and complete performance evaluations for the FCC staff and return them by August 6th to Ron Elliott, or in the secure box in the office.

The Stillwater Christian is a weekly publication of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The deadline for articles each week is 1pm Monday. Tracy Freeman, Editor editor@fcc-stillwater.org Church Office Phone: 405.372.7722 Fax: 405.372.7726 Find The Stillwater Christian and more information at www.fcc-stillwater.org

Christmas in July Set to Begin

We have received $3,543.69 in donations so far this year. While this is a fantastic amount, it is about half of what we normally collect to help children in Payne County with school supplies. Please consider donating to this important FCC outreach ministry. Questions? Please contact Leila Beeby or Kimber Taylor.
Join us this Sunday for Owen Caytons Message, Body Building based on John 6:24-35 and Ephesians 4:1-16 Traditional 9:00am Sunday School 10:10 Contemporary 11:10

Send prayer requests and general email to office@fcc-stillwater.org

Snap shots from Sondra

Children/Youth Ministry Director youth@fcc-stillwater.org

CHILDREN & YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS

Sondra Ladd, Children/Youth Ministry Director youth@fcc-stillwater.org

It has been a crazy summer! I could talk for months about the lessons learned at Dry Gulch, Heifer Project, Costa Rica and El Reno and still wouldnt come close to sharing everything that happened. On Sunday, Sept. 9th, each group will be sharing pictures and stories of their summer adventures. I invite and encourage everyone to attend. After second service, we are hosting a lunch to allow more interaction with the participants. If you were a camper, a parent of a camper, someone who prayed, or just someone who wants to hear more about what goes on with our FCC children and youth throughout the summer; plan to attend. Thank you for praying for our campers this summer! I am confident that your prayers made a powerful difference. Thanks also to the incredible volunteer adult sponsors. Wade and Diana Watkins and Amy Goad, served as sponsors for Heifer Project Global Challenge. While our kids keep telling me how fun Global Challenge was, it was primarily intended to be a learning experience. Believe me, we learned a lot. It was also extremely difficult for not only the kids, but also the adults. The entire trip, even the fun stuff, was physically and emotionally demanding. After three days at Heifer Ranch, we floated the Buffalo River. There was little current, which meant we did LOTS of paddling with inexperienced canoers for five hours. The next day we had a wild cave tour in Blanchard Caverns. Here, we had to slide down one side of the grand canyon and climb up the other. Then, we crawled through tunnels, and wedged our way along steep edges. We all came home with sore muscles, but were too tired to care. Diana and Wade also traveled to Costa Rica, along with Keri Bruce, and Kenda and Jon Baker. We walked up and down a lot of Costa Rican hills, dug trenches, sodded hills, and painted houses. Besides the extreme physical labor, we river rafted and participated in a zip line through the rain forest. If Wade and Diana had recovered from Heifer Ranch, they were reintroduced to exhaustion in Costa Rica. Amy Goad joined me once again as a sponsor at Mission Camp El Reno where she was assigned yard work. While she didnt get to see the jungles of Costa Rica, she cleared a jungle in Oklahoma. And then there is Rick. On every trip, I am reminded more and more how much I love and appreciate him. His authentic love for the kids shines through everything he says and does and they eat it up. There is no doubt these adults have touched the lives of our youth. I know their actions have impacted me. Each one of them are incredible, and the summer experiences would not have been possible without any one of them. Among all the lessons our children and youth brought home this summer, I hope they know that they are loved. I pray that the actions of the adult sponsors who traveled with them this summer shout out I Love You to each one of them. The physical labor, (Cont. on next page)

23 participants returned Friday morning from Mission El Reno. Work crews did yard work, minor construction, painting, food distribution, and organization at a local thrift store. Participants also visited nursing home residents and mobile meals recipients. The group also participated in inspiring worship with Disciples youth from all over Oklahoma. Fun activities includes bowling, trolley ride, ghost tour, dance, movie, and entertainment provided by a improv and comedy group. All summer activity participants including Dry Gulch, Heifer Ranch Global Challenge, Costa Rica and El Reno Mission Camp will be presenting highlights, stories and photos from these events on Sunday, Sept. 9th during both services. Following the Contemporary Service a light lunch will be served in order to allow additional interaction with campers, parents and congregational members. PLEASE mark your calendars now and plan to attend this service. (Snapshots from Sondra Cont.) the adventures, and the exhaustion are all worth it, if one child understands this truth at a greater level: GOD LOVES YOU FCC CHILDREN AND YOUTH!!! Children and Youth, thank you for allowing us to share your summer. Make sure you let the adults who traveled with you know they were responsible for impact moments in your lives. Follow their example and go out and create your own. Impact moments + God = eternal influence. Happy Birthday to: 8/1 Bonnie Alexander, Jackie German; 8/2 Logan Sirbaugh, Taylor Swanek; 8/3 Lauren Gattis, Lori Krase-Cayton; Debbie Norris; 8/4 Tom Ikard, Eric Michalski; 8/5 Michael Elliott, Daryn Gattis, Jack Tornakian; 8/6 Kenda Baker Happy Anniversary to: 8/1 Tom and Ann Dugger; 8/2 Paul and Judith Haxton; 8/7 Woody and Carolyn Hedrick

Campers Return From Mission Camp El Reno

Summer Highlights Service, Sept. 9th