Thursday, September 29, 2011

Miracles, Signs & Wonders!

We are seeing miracles all around us. If you don't believe me, how about the fact that I made it to the age of 40 this week? Some would say that is a miracle. But seriously, think about everything we have seen together this year. This month we will take a look at Jesus' Top Five Miracles.
This Sunday, the first miracle: "Water Into Wine."
Bible giveaway trivia question:
How much wine (in number of bottles) was that?
How's your week going? Have you found your Nathaniel?
See you Sunday.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Snacks for October

October 2nd -

October 9th -Grizzles and Remkes

October 16th - Greens and Hassells

October 23rd - Elmores and Wheelers

October 30th - Folks and Dales

Prayer Requests for the week of Sept 25th

Thank you for praying often for the needs shared this week by fellow Homebuilders.

Terrills - They have had non stop sickness in their family so please pray for complete healing and good health this week.
Also Steven has started a new law firm. Pray for success and God to be glorified through Steven's new adventure.

Smiths - Sarah is struggling with her evening work schedule and not being home with Riley. Pray for peace for Sarah to be able to enjoy her new job and enjoy the time she has with her family.

Wheelers - Maggie was home with a sick baby this Sunday. Please pray for quick healing and for the rest of the family to be protected from illness.

Ingrams - Terry's friend, Matt, whose marriage we have been praying for, was in class this week. Praise the Lord. Also late last night, I heard from Cindy that Matt's wife, Angie, called Cindy out of the blue telling her that she had realized she needed the Lord in her life. There is great hope for Matt and Angie's marriage to be restored. Matt and Angie will be going to the Ingrams house tonight. Please pray for Terry and Cindy to have words of encouragement and good counsel for Matt and Angie. God is working BIG time in their lives so please, please be faithful to lift them up especially today and this week.

God is SO good ALL the time!!

'Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!'
Psalm 116:2

LOVE THAT VERSE!!!!

Friday, September 9, 2011

September Study Topic: ABUNDANT LIFE
This week, “GROW.”

We will look at the difficult but vital path to deeper faith.
Read: 2 Timothy 3:1-17
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%203:1-17&version=MSG
Our lesson writer states: “Growth in faith is something that lasts a lifetime and includes such pursuits as connecting to others, studying God’s Word, and following positive examples of others.”

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Praises and Prayer Requests for the Week of Sept 4th

PRAISES
Ingrams - Terry's dad is recovering from successful gallbladder surgery. Pray for continued healing.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Ingrams - Please continue to pray for Cindy's uncle, Kevin, as he undergoes intense chemo for an aggressive form of leukemia.

Bendures - Janna asks that we pray for their 4 year old, Aaron, and all the other kids that are now going to big church. Pray for them to be quiet and maybe even learn something!

Langleys - Court's mom had a biopsy on her leg to test for skin cancer. She has to wait 2 weeks for the results. Pray for negative results for cancer.

Dale - Amy's dad, Billy Brawner, will go back to the doctor this week to see if he can be released from his neck brace. Please pray that Billy's neck will have healed completely and will no longer have to wear his brace.

Elmores - Please continue to pray for our friends, the Stevensons, who are divorcing after 36 years of marriage.
Also Jim's nephew and his wife were in Atlanta on Saturday when the wife, Carrie, fell 18 ft off of a walkway between two buildings. She apparently tried to break her fall with her hands and shattered her left elbow and also broke a bone in her left forearm. She also broke her right wrist. She will see an orthopedic surgeon Wednesday morning to have surgery scheduled. Please pray for successful surgery and healing for Carrie. We are also praising God that she wasn't hurt more seriously and didn't hit her head from such a long fall.

Hassells - Debra asks us to pray for Jennifer Kerns who was in their former Life Group and is still an FBC member. Jennifer was attacked last week in the parking lot of the Brookside library. She has stab wounds and was very traumatized by the whole ordeal. Debra said it's been a rough year for their family between losing jobs, being transferred and now being a victim of crime. Please pray for healing both physically and emotionally for Jennifer and her family.

'Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.' Psalm 27:7



Thursday, September 1, 2011

September Study Topic: ABUNDANT LIFE

From our study writers: "How do you strive for a spiritually balanced life? And what's the importance of doing so? We'll consider these questions and more as we examine four major areas of spiritual growth emphasized in the New Testament": Connect, Grow, Serve, and Go.
This week, "Connect".
Read:
1 Corinthians 12:12-31 and Psalm 133:1-3

Homebuilders Night

Announcing: A night of food, fellowship and fun. will have a sign up for food in class.

Event Details
----------------------
What: Homebuilders Night
Who: FBC Homebuilders
When: Sat Sep 24, 2011, 5-7 pm CDT
Where: Folks Home
7203 E. 67th St. Tulsa, OK 74133

Here are our current Care Groups for this new quarter:

Care Group 1
Scott & Krystal Grizzle
Derek & Courtney Langley
Chris & Allison Walden
Aaron & Lynsi Whitaker

Care Group 2
David & Amy Dale
Brad & Amber Remke
Jared & Sarah Smith
Chris & Katie Teel

Care Group 3
Tori & Trent Goodwin
Terry & Cindy Ingram
Todd & Susan Rogers
Jason & Rachel Smith
Steven & Allison Terrill

Care Group 4
Matt & Camden Bearden
Brad & Janna Bendure
John & Debra Hassell
Justin & Stacy Tomberlin


Care Group 5
Omar & Nicole Delpratt
Adam & Emily Green
Anthony & Ryean Miller
Brandon & Heather Risinger
Brandon & Maggie Wheeler

Care Group 6
Zach & Andrea Dolan
Pat & Lindsey Green
Jason & Ashlee Osborn
Tim & Tiffany Zachary

Announcements

1. For Sunday, September 4:
– Promotion Day in Sunday School, Elevate & LIFE Groups
– No CrossOver
– No PM Activities
2. Momentum: Building the Kingdom Debt Free is a study that will change the culture of giving in our country – starting with the church, spreading to the community, and ultimately impacting the world. Momentum is an initiative to completely revolutionize the ways we handle God’s money. It’s about creating a church filled with intense, passionate, sold out, cheerful givers. You will learn to truly be doers of the Word in the area of financial responsibility. The results will be rewarding, life-changing, and lasting. This will be a 13-week course facilitated by Bobby Hart and assisted by Group Leaders. The course costs $100, for all materials, per person or couple. The course is being offered at five different times during the week. You may sign up for the one that is most convenient for you and your family, by going to the church website, www.tulsafbc.org, or by signing up in the Detroit Entrance Sunday, August 28, September 4 or September 11.
DAY BEGINS, TIME & PLACE
Sunday September 11 5:00-7:00 p.m. FBC Fellowship Hall
(childcare provided)
Monday September 12 6:30-8:30 p.m. Baptist Children’s Home in
Owasso
(no childcare)
Tuesday September 13 6:30-8:30 p.m. Canyon Crossing in Sand
Springs
(no childcare)
Tuesday September 13 6:30-8:30 p.m. CenterCross-South Tulsa
Wednesday September 14 6:00-8:00 p.m. FBC Fellowship Hall
(childcare provided)

2. This Fall for Preschoolers, Children, Students & Adults:

(a) Wednesday, September 7
Mission Groups begin for Preschoolers and Children at 6:00 p.m.
(for meeting rooms, please look under the Preschool & Children’s Ministry
headings below)
Student C-Groups begin at 6:00 p.m. in The Underground
Adults will begin a study on Rob Bell’s book “Love Wins” at 6:00 p.m. in Kaffe
Bona
Adults will also be involved in the Momentum: Financial Peace study at 6:00
p.m. in the Fellowship Hall
Celebration Choir Rehearsal will be at 7:00 p.m. in the Choir Suite

(b) Sunday, September 11
Missions begin for Students (TAG) at 5:00 p.m. in The Underground
Preschool, Children’s & Youth Choirs begin at 6:00 p.m.
(for meeting rooms, please look under the Preschool & Children’s Ministry
headings below)
Adults will be involved in the Momentum: Financial Peace study at 5:00 p.m. in
the Fellowship Hall

3. The Pastor’s First Glance Class, two sessions, will begin on Sunday, September 11, and conclude on Sunday, September 18. If you have recently joined or have been visiting FBC Tulsa and would like to take a closer look at our fellowship of believers, please make your reservation for the September sessions by calling Deron Spoo ’s office, 918-594-5019, to make a reservation. The class will meet in the Church Parlor at 9:45 a.m. and will be led by our Lead Pastor, Deron Spoo .

4. A beginning American Sign Language Class will start on Wednesday, September 14, and continue through November 16. The class will meet in Room 700 South from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. There is no charge for the class, but you will be able to purchase a book if you need one. Emphasis will be on conversational sign language and religious signs. Everyone is welcome to join us in learning the third most used language in the United States – which you can put to immediate use with the Deaf members of our congregation. Plus, it’s just fun!

5. SIGN Choir begins on Wednesday night, September 14, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., in Room 707 South. Sign Choir is a great opportunity to begin learning and applying sign language. Songs will be worked through step by step. Later, there will be opportunities to perform the songs and you can decide if you want to do that or not; it's not required. One of the favorite activities is "Christmas Caroling" for deaf people. Many people that can hear have the opportunity to hear Christmas Carols throughout the Holiday Season. We want to bless persons who are deaf with the same opportunity – they love it! There will be other opportunities to minister with music throughout the year. Please join the group on the 14th.

6. The FBC Men’s Ministry has pre-purchased 100 tickets for the premiere of the movie Courageous. The movie will premiere Friday, September 30, 7:00 p.m., at the Cinemark 17 Theater (Hwy 169 and 71st Street ). Tickets are available to FBC members at a price of $6.00 for a package of two tickets. Tickets may be purchased in the Detroit Lobby beginning this Sunday, September 4.

7. Leading the Way Capital Campaign Update! As of the end of August, we have given $3,555,471 towards our pledges totaling $4,065,949. We are just $510,478 from reaching our goal.

8. Women’s Bible and Book Studies: Ladies, please look under the Women’s Ministry banner below for information concerning the five Bible and Book Studies being offered this Fall.

Calendar Highlights for September
4 Promotion Day in SS, Elevate & LIFE Groups
No PM Activities / No CrossOver
5 Labor Day / Church Offices & Caring Center Closed
6 First Steps Program Begins
7 Children’s Mission Groups Begin
Mission Committee Meeting
8-9 FBC Staff Calendar Planning Retreat
9 Student Ministry Overtime
11 First Glance Class #1
Bible Memory Awards & 1st Grade Bibles-AM Services
The Springs 2nd Anniversary Celebration
College Lunch
Evangelism Committee Meeting
TAG for Students Begins
Children’s & Youth Choirs Begin
Momentum: Financial Peace University Begins
13 Caring Center & Community Ministries Committee Meeting
14 DivorceCare Begins
15 Finance Committee Meeting
18 First Glance Class #2
VIP Orientation
WMU Council Meeting
19 Deacons’ Meeting
21 Encore for Senior Adults Begins
21 & 28 Stephen Ministry Overview/Interviews
25 Momentum Class #2

Children’s Ministry
1. Wednesday, September 7, Mission Groups begin for all boys and girls, Grades 1-6
a) Girls, Grades 1-6, in Girls in Action will meet in Room 329 North
b) Boys, Grades 1-6, in Royal Ambassadors will meet in Room 319 North

2. Sunday, September 11, Choirs begin for all boys and girls, Grade 1-6
a) Grades 1 & 2 boys and girls will meet in Room 304 North
b) Grades 3 & 4 boys and girls will meet in Room 329 North
c) Grades 5 & 6 boys and girls will meet in Room 327 North
d) Handchimes for Grades 1-6 will meet in Room 310North

Missions
FBC’s Mission Action Project for September focuses on Operation Christmas Child: Samaritan’s Purse. In 1993, the first shoe box gifts were collected for young war survivors in Bosnia , and since then, over 70 million gift-filled boxes have been distributed to children in over 100 countries. Every box represents a precious child of God in need of a Savior. In addition to gifts, each box contains a Gospel booklet in the child’s own language. Through the follow-up discipleship program, over 2 million boys and girls have accepted Christ. Here is how you can help:
Empty shoe boxes, rubber bands, and labels (colored printed labels available online also) will be available behind the Security Guard’s desk, in front of the Adult Library and Children’s Library, in the Detroit Tower lobby, and in the Student Center lobby.
Label each box as to boy or girl and age—2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Tape the label to the top of the box.
Fill the box with a variety of items that will bring delight to a child! A detailed list is available with the boxes. Place the provided rubber bands around the filled box and bring them to the mission action collection bins by the Security Guard’s desk in the Detroit Entrance or in the foyer of the South Education Building .
Wonderful volunteers will wrap our gifts, so no wrapping is required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift! The deadline for item collection will be Sunday, November 6. For more information, contact Maribeth Dean at 481-5834 or check out www.samaritanspurse.org!

Preschool Ministry
1. Wednesday, September 7, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., our Mission Groups for Preschoolers will begin:
a) Babies thru 1’s will meet in Room 111 North (Ground Floor)
b) Preschool 2's will meet in Room 233 North
c) Preschool 3's will meet in Room 234 North
d) Pre-Kindergarten will meet in Room 202 North
e) Kindergarten will meet in Room 205 North

2. Sunday, September 11, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., our Preschool Choirs will begin:
a) Babies thru 1’s will meet Room 111 North (Ground Floor)
b) Preschool 2's will meet in Room 233 North
c) Preschool 3's will meet in Room 234 North
d) Pre-Kindergarten will meet in Room 204 North
e) Kindergarten will meet in Room 207 North

Women’s Ministry
There are five Bible and Book Studies, offered at six different times, for women this Fall. Prices vary from $12 to $17 and scholarships are available. Childcare will be offered on all studies except the DownPour study. For childcare reservations, please contact Cindy Seay in the Preschool Ministry Office, 918-594-5028, or email cseay@tulafbc.org. For additional information about the studies, please contact individuals leading the study.
On September 7 – “Loved by God”, by Liz Curtis Higgs, will be held every Wednesday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., beginning September 7. This seven week course will be led by Jill Willey, with possibly a second study, in Room 410 North. Does the Lord love us when we fail him? When we run in the wrong direction? Is God’s love enough? Liz answers those vital questions in a unique, heart-changing way, bringing to life the ancient stories of Jacob and Leah for 21st Century women. Her research is thorough and her style is appropriate for women at all ages and stages. Liz has one goal in mind: reaching women’s hearts with God’s life-changing love. For more information, please email jilwilley@aol.com.
On September 7 – “A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place ”, by Beth Moore, will be held every Wednesday, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., beginning September 7. This eleven week course will be led by Pam Rader in Room 410 North. The study is taken primarily from the Old Testament book of Exodus and it takes you on a journey into why God would choose to live in a wilderness tabernacle made by human hands. You will explore the parallels between the physical tabernacle and the tabernacle of the human heart in this fascinating account of the building of the tabernacle, the significance of its intricate design, its pivotal role in God's eternal plan, and its variety of meanings for women today. For more information, please email pkrader@tulsaconnect.com.
On September 8 – “DownPour, He Will Come to Us Like the Rain”, by James MacDonald, will be held every Thursday, 12:00 Noon to 1:00 p.m., beginning September 8. This twelve week course will meet Room 410 North. This study can provide an absolute soaking of God’s Spirit for your walk with Him. Maybe you are experiencing a season where your relationship with God seems empty and dry. Does your heart long for an encounter with God that will refresh your love for Him and saturate you with more joy than anything you have known before? You can experience spiritual renewal and victory. Consider your dry spell over and bring on the downpour. There is no childcare for this study.
On September 14 – “Bravehearts”, by Sharon Hersh, will be held every Wednesday, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., beginning September 14. This eleven week course will be led by Dell Coutant in the new Small Conference Room (former bride’s room) off the Detroit Entrance. Within every woman is the desire for extraordinary relationships. There is the craving for intimacy and interconnectedness, companionship and camaraderie. Yet most women eventually begin to wonder if they want too much. What is behind this yearning? Does it have a purpose? In this study, you will see how your deepest longings can lead you to rich relationships and give you the courage to love with abandon. For more information, please email dellanna@aol.com.
On September 20 – “Always True: God's Promises When Life Is Hard“, by James MacDonald, will be held every Tuesday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., starting September 20. This seven week course will be led by Susan Jacobs at CenterCross Church at 61st & Mingo. The study will lead to an understanding of the nature of God’s promises, which are always true whether in good times or during trials in the believer’s life. During an extended season of personal crises in his life, James discovered that God’s promises are always true and that we can trust God to be faithful to His word no matter what we face. These universal promises are based on biblical truths and principles that will provide hope to all believers who face hardship. For more information, please email jsjacobs53@msn.com.