First Church of God

My four year old just started playing soccer for the very first time. As we have watched the first couple of games, we watch in amusement as six four year olds mean- Contact Info der around the field. They are so willing to do whatever needs to be done, the problem

is they are a little confused about the objective. We find ourselves often encouraging Phone from the sidelines, “No, kick it the other way!” As amusing as the controlled chaos can 918.825.1062 be on the kids’ soccer field, it gets me to thinking that we may often function in a similar way in the Kingdom. So many of Christ’s servants are eager and willing to step in and do Fax whatever is necessary, but sometimes the objective is unclear. If the team doesn’t know 918.825.1063 which way to kick the ball or where the goal is, it is hard to serve. In many ways the pastoral staff is supposed to act as coaches. In fact Scripture sug- Office Hours gests that those in vocational ministry are supposed to be diligent in “equipping the saints M-F 8:30am-4pm to do the work of the Church.” It’s our job to point out the direction, and encourage you to help move the ball down the field! We are introducing a new way of communicating needs within the church. This is an effort to help you know what is needed, and see where you might be able to serve and fit in to help the church grow and serve our community better. In the hallway behind the Sanctuary you will find a dark blue bulletin board in the shape of a church building. We will regularly post tags on that bulletin board with jobs that need to be done around the building, or ministry areas where we need volunteers to serve. Check the bulletin board periodically and see if there is an area that aligns with your interests, abilities and gifts. If you want to take up the offer of volunteering for one of the posted tasks, simply take the tag off the board and contact the person noted on the tag to let them know you are willing to serve. That contact person will help answer any questions you may have, and will be a point of reference as you dive into your selected project. First Church of God has a great team, and the Kingdom objectives are great before us. Thank you for your willingness to help this Body of Christ run as smoothly and effectively as Lead Pastor possible! Andrew Rehbein

Associate Pastor Lynn Higgins

Children’s Pastor Lori Bradshaw

Student Pastor Chase Perkins

A special thank you to all who helped make our Administrative Assistant Jessica Marlin 2014 Single Mom’s Day a success! APRIL

Humility is putting others first by giving up what you think you deserve. When we put others first, sometimes we have to make sacrifices. But nothing we sacrifice will

SUNDAYS compare with the great sacrifice made for us. Wednesday, April 2 Pajama Night Wear your pajamas to church. Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

Wednesday, April 9 Bring a Friend Night A Super Hero Sacrifices

Wednesday, April 16 Jelly Bean Night Check in at 6:15pm at the A Super Hero Arises Boarding Station in the Wednesday, April 23 Front Lobby. WEDNESDAYS Missions Night Pick-up is at 7:30pm.

Wednesday, April 30 Crazy Socks Night Wear crazy socks to church. The Disciples: Sidekicks Go and Tell the World

Sunday, April 6: Donkey Tales Dinner & Dress Rehearsal @ 5:00 Sunday, April 13: Donkey Tales Musical @ 11:00 & Picnic @ 5:00 Sunday, April 20: Sunday ( Kids will be singing @ 11:00 service. ) EXTRAS Student Ministry Guys, Guns, and God! Skeet shooting, food, and Jesus! ALIVE April 5th,12pm-3pm See Pastor Chase for INFO In April we will explore Jesus is alive and how he has made us alive. Come join us to discover what makes us alive!!!!

Girls Spa Day @ Journey Center Small Groups April 5th, Time 12-3 March

Classy Finger Foods, Massages, Facials, and more!

CD of the Month

4/26 Every Sunday Evening 5:00-6:30pm For more Info contact Pastor Chase Pastor Chase Perkins Mobile: 918-803-3966 Email: [email protected] & Easter Events

Palm Sunday kicks off a meaningful Holy Week of worship and fellowship. Sunday, April 13 we will have a regular 8:45 service, but at 11am our chil- dren will present their Spring Musical, Donkey Tales. Come hear our kids tell us about three important Bible stories that involve donkeys, and be encouraged by their energy and love for Jesus. Then, that evening join us on the Church Property (on East Hwy 20) for age appropriate Hunts, inflatables, the Forgiven Quartet, and delicious BBQ. Bring a side dish or dessert and your lawn chair and come enjoy a beautiful Spring evening with Church family. Don’t forget to invite a friend! Join us for a service on Wednesday, April 16 at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary. Tenebrae comes from the Latin meaning “darkness”. This service leads us through the last seven words that Jesus spoke on the cross. As each word is spoken a candle is extin- guished to symbolize the Light of God being snuffed out. Of course, we know that Easter is coming, but the resurrection is much more meaningful when we remind ourselves of the suffering and death Christ first endured. This will be a special part of your Holy Week...plan to attend! Connection Ministries Connect This Month... It’s all about Connection . . . SEW FUN CONNECTION Come bring your sewing projects, sack lunch, and get In the next few weeks you will be seeing more ready for a day of laughter and fun. We meet this information about Connection Groups. These month on April 9th & 23rd from 9am-4pm. groups are designs to help you find a deeper fellowship with other believers. New groups ROMEO Breakfast are being offered that will include a new April 10th ROMEO meets in Fellowship Hall. 8:00am bunko group, Women’s fitness, Mom’s Bible Study, a Sportsmen’s group, Men’s basketball JULIET LUNCHEION (ALL Ladies) and an Eat-out group. April 10th Juliet meets in Fellowship Hall. 11:30am we will go to Pizza Hut. The current list of Connection groups include:

Sew-Fun, Make-a meal, Motorcycle, Camping, GRIEF SHARE Romeos, Juliets, Running/Walking, Bunko, Di- Support group for those individuals who have lost a vorce care, Grief share, Bridges, Men’s fellow- loved one. Mondays at 6:30pm ship, Senior Adult trips, Pryor Ministry Center,

Greeters and Sound/computer. DIVORCE CARE If you would like to know more about any of Support group for those people going through these groups, call the church office or talk divorce. Mondays at 6:30pm with Pastor Lynn. Find your connection at the First Church of God. PRYOR MINISTRY CENTER Those who serve at the Pryor Ministry Center stock the SENIOR ADULTS CONNECTION food pantry, sort and organize clothing and assist in distributing these items to those in need. Mon- Salt Meeting days & Wednesday Thursday April 10th 10:30am

Day Trip MEN”S BASKETBALL Thursday April 24th Leave Church 10am Guys 16+ are invited to come play Basketball in the Travel by bus to Honor Heights Park @ FCOG gym from 6:30-8pm. April 7th & 21st Contact Muskogee to view Azaleas. We will eat lunch Pastor Chase for details . [email protected] together then head to Jenks About 1:30 or 2:00 to enjoy time at the Aquarium. Aquarium entry $10

April Menu 4-2-14 Chicken & Rice, Green Beans & Dessert 4-9-14 Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread & Dessert 4-16-14 Ham, Potato, Green Beans & Dessert 4-23-14 Sloppy Joes Chips & Dessert 4-30-14 Chicken & Stuffing, & Dessert

Wednesday nights at Adults - $4 5:30pm Children - $2 Classifieds Birthdays

MARCH APRIL

We would like to thank the church, and 2nd Tylor Arnold 2nd Verland Lawrence everyone who brought gifts and set it up. 3rd RC Greninger 2nd Ruby Thomason It was wonderful and we are very thankful 5th Patricia Faircloth 4th Christy Peters for it all. 5th Emily Grubbs 6th Dale Martin 7th Dustie Marshall 6th Theresa Holloway Thank you, 10 th Bob Brandon 6th Pete Smith Jeromi and Erica Arnold 11th Betty Ballard 9th Deacon Greninger 12th Brandon Marlin 10th Zella Maslen 12th E.J. Cox 10th Leonard Poppino 13th Ray Sien 10th Connie Holt 13th Damon Burroughs 11th Virgil Miller Anniversaries 15th Kenneth Sheats 13th Eula Gage 18th Katie Thompson 15th Billie Cox 18th Zachary McElwain 20th Kyle Kemp MARCH 18th Tom Bradley 20th Frank Owings 20th Gene Gage 23rd Betty Blakely th 4 Gene & Eula Gage 20th Burl Trickett 23rd Carman Justus th 16 Kenny & Bobbi Faulk 22nd Kathy Hart 24th Linda Daniels th 16 Bill & Alline Kemp 22nd Pam Peters 24th Franklin Hart th 19 Mark & Laura Lindsey 22nd Souix Greninger 26th Dell Elkins 24th Cliva Erwin 27th Jerry Arnold 25th Steve Booher 29th Glendola King APRIL th th 25 Max Hart, Jr. 29 Lydia Lawrence th th 11th Clint & Pat Lane 25 Jeff Mead 30 Paul Marty th 30 Tony & Tommy Graves If you want your Birthday or Anniversary added to the list please call the Church Office at 825-1062 Thank You!

February Stewardship Corner March Stewardship Corner

Average Sunday School Attendance 169 Average Sunday School Attendance 164 Average Worship Attendance 297 Average Worship Attendance 295 General Fund Giving $30,998.98 General Fund Giving $30,172.89 General Fund Budget Requirement $36,172.08 General Fund Budget Requirement $36,172.08 Designated Giving $110.00 Designated Giving $3734.00 *statistics do not reflect 5th Sunday

Plan to attend our Easter service and breakfast on Sun- day, April 20. A special choir will sing, energetic wor- ship music will be experienced, and a meaningful Easter message will be delivered. Plan to attend our Easter Lilly Memorial early service and stay for a 10am breakfast, or join us for breakfast and then stay for the 11 o’clock service. Easter memorial envelopes will be Easter Sunday is one of the greatest opportunities to available in the Sunday bulletin and the invite friends and family members to attend a worship Welcome Center. You may purchase an service. Begin praying about who you might be able to Easter Lilly for $15 in honor of a lost loved invite to worship with you this Easter. Postcard invita- tions will be available on a few Sunday mornings lead- one. Names of those honored will be pub- ing up to Easter. Use these as invitations to help you lished in the Easter Bulletin and the lilies invite those God is laying on your heart. will decorate the stage on Easter Sunday. You may pick up your Easter Lilly after the late service on Easter Sunday, or choose to leave it at the church. Lilies that are left will be delivered to shut-ins and Sing in the Easter Choir! local nursing home patients with a Join us for the following rehearsals… copy of our Easter Wednesday, April 2 at 6pm in the Sanctuary Worship Service. Wednesday, April 9 at 6pm in the Overcomers Class Wednesday April 16 at 6pm in the Overcomers Class

There will be a workshop to put together Child Training Bibles at 5:30 on April 25th. Please let Pastor Lori know if you are interested no later than Sunday, April 6th.

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:7

If you’re interested in helping call the Church office at 918-825-1062 Presorted Standard Non Profit Organization U.S. Postal Paid PO Box 1091 Permit No. 81 Pryor, OK 74362 Pryor, OK 74362

Love God . Love others . Live out

THE CHURCH OF GOD NATIONAL CONVENTION IS COMING TO OKLAHOMA CITY THIS SUMMER! Visit chogconvention.org for more details or to register. You can also contact the church office if you have questions or would like to register.