What's New at FCPC
A Five Year Plan
We held another successful retreat at Camp Christian Saturday the 6th. Although we need to refine these goals and set completion dates, these are the goals we set.
- Goal One: High Community Visibility – we added some thoughts on how to accomplish this goal including: newspaper ads, bumper stickers, a facebook site, print tickets to our dinners with a map on the back, and have with the dinners certain community events once a month highlighting local help agencies, and using cable TV or other media.
- Goal Two: A Youth Director in Two Stages – Stage one was to hire a student pastor in place by Bible School this summer, and stage two a full time youth director by 2011 who will teach a young adults class, work with a Sunday Evening Youth group, and be present 2-3 days a week for activities.
- Goal Three: Expand the Community Dinner Functions – ideas include: at least once a month bring in Community resources or groups to provide information; publicize special programs; provide youth or special activities after dinners
- Goal Four: Institute a Contemporary Worship Service: steps leading to this would be to play more lively music before worship; have choir occasionally sing contemporary music; have soloists provide contemporary special music, designate one service each month for contemporary worship; finally separate contemporary worship – offer on Wednesday?
- Goal Five: Institute a Dynamic Children’s Program to include Children’s Worship and Wonder Service: begin W&W at the conclusion of construction, add volunteers, buy or create programs for W&W
- Goal Six: Add 25 Families as we meet and publicize the above changes and invite others to share our joy.
- Goal Seven: Feed Our Own Souls – through encouragement, Topical Bible study, Instruction on prayer, meditation and developing Spiritual Disciplines There is work to be done to enable each of these goals and some serious questions exist, like providing funding for the youth minister. These will not leap off the paper, it will take some hard work to make these dreams become a reality.
Lenten Season
The season of Lent begins a week from Wednesday -- February 17, Ash Wednesday. Many Christians around the world observe these days with special devotions, fasting, "giving up" something for Lent, etc. Often I've suggested that we add things instead, like 10 minutes of Bible Study, prayer, or one of the other spiritual disciplines. But here is a list of things it would really be good to give up:
- Give up grumbling! Instead, "In everything give thanks." Constructive criticism is OK, but "moaning, groaning, and complaining" are not Christian disciplines.
- Give up 10 to 15 minutes in bed! Instead use that time in prayer, Bible study and personal devotion.
- Give up looking at other people's worst points. Instead concentrate on their best points. We all have faults. It is a lot easier to have people overlook our shortcomings when we overlook theirs first.
- Give up speaking unkindly. Instead, let your speech be generous and understanding. It costs so little to say something kind and uplifting.
- Give up your hatred of anyone or anything! Instead, learn the discipline of love. "Love covers a multitude of sins."
- Give up your worries and anxieties! Instead, trust God with them. Anxiety is spending emotional energy on something we can do nothing about: like tomorrow! Live today and let God's grace be sufficient.
- Give up TV one evening a week! Instead, visit some lonely or sick person. There are those who are isolated by illness or age. Why isolate yourself in front of the "tube?" Give someone a precious gift: your time!
- Give up buying anything but essentials for yourself! Instead, give the money to God. The money you would spend on the luxuries could help someone meet basic needs. We are called to be stewards of God's riches, not consumers.
- Give up judging by appearances and by the standard of the world! There is only one who has the right to judge, Jesus Christ.
- Learn to Give up yourself to God.
May God richly bless you this Lenten and Easter Season.
For Visitors
If you're new to Pryor or Northeast Oklahoma, we'd like to extend an extra special welcome to you. Our frequently asked questions page provides an overview of our church and other areas provide additional detail on us and our faith.
We would enjoy meeting you at Sunday services when you visit.