March 22, 2017 •Editor: desira.mathes@bartlesvillefirstchurch.com

BARTLESVILLE FIRST CHURCHEPHESIANS 2:19-20: YOU ARE MEMBERS OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD, WITH CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF AS THE CHIEF

CORNERSTONESymbols of Lent Fair

ORDER YOUR EASTER LILIES TODAY

If you would like to purchase an Easter lily in honor or in memory of someone, you may do so for $20. Please call the church office or mail in a check with your instruc-tions and “Easter lily” written on the memo line.

EGG STUFFERS WANTED!We have over 1,000 Easter Eggs that need to be filled with candy and treats for the children’s Easter Egg Hunts! To help with this fun project, pick up empty eggs and a bag of candy in Laura’s office (Room 112) and bring back the filled eggs! Or you can fill your own eggs with small toys or wrapped candy to donate by April 5. If you would like to donate candy, please make sure it is wrapped and nut-free!

PALM SUNDAY PARTICIPANTS WANTED! We want you to help re-create the experience of the first Palm Sunday for the First Church congregation. Children and those willing to help with the children are invited to arrive in the children’s wing at 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, April 9 to dress in Biblical costumes and get palms to wave as we remember the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem!

HOLY WEEK SERVICES• Holy Thursday service will begin at 6:30 p.m. on April 13 featuring the play Trail's End.

Join us as members of our church perform an old west variation of the last supper.• Good Friday Service will begin at 6:30 p.m. on April 14. This service will be a time of

meditation on Jesus and the Cross, through contemporary poetry and music.

TRADITIONAL EGG HUNTThe annual First Church Easter Egg Hunt will be on Sunday, April 9 immediately following the 11:10 service. Children two years old through 5th grade are invited to hunt eggs, experience a retelling of the Easter story, and enjoy cookies and punch. Family and friends are encouraged to come help the little ones hunt eggs, take pictures, and enjoy refreshments too!

1ST - 5TH GRADE NAUTICAL EASTER EGG HUNTAt 2:30 p.m. on April 9, 1st - 5th graders are invited to participate in a Nautical Egg Hunt! We will provide canoes, life jackets, and an adult for each canoe. Children will set off on a 35 minute canoe quest to gather floating Easter Eggs that can be redeemed for prizes! Participants are responsible for wearing clothes and shoes that can get dirty (no flip flops please!). If you would like to be an adult canoe captain for this event, please email laura.painchaud@bartlesvillefirstchurch.com.

Adults, Families, and Teens: Bring a picnic blanket and a tailgate snack to share and come enjoy the weather and watch the race for eggs! At 3:15 the canoes will be available for anyone who wants to go out on the lake with their friends and family!

The children kicked off their Lenten study with the Symbols of Lent Fair on March 8. They continue to study the season of Lent on Wednesdays through April 12.

The twisty shape of pretzels reminds children of arms folded in prayer.

Pastor Tari served communion and reminded children of the last supper.

“If you only knew…” is a phrase used in many settings, both positive and negative. This week, I thought of those words as I listened to the most recent report from our church Missions Committee.

I get the feeling that not enough of us know or realize the full scope of what we help accomplish in Christ’s name through the ministries of Bartlesville First Church. Thus, I hope you will read over the following report submitted on behalf

of the Missions Committee (and in many ways, in your name as well) by committee chair Sandy Singleton.

As you read his words, please remember – this is just one monthly report. This kind of ministry is done each week, 52 weeks a year because of your faithful support and involvement.

So now that you know…wouldn’t you agree that it’s a wonderful thing to be part of a church like ours, and to have the

LEARNING ALONG THE WAY: IF YOU ONLY KNEWDr. Kevin Tully

privilege of serving in so many ways as the people of God?

See you Sunday, Kevin Tully

Concern Food Pantry NeedsItems needed for the month of March are: canned fruit, flour, mac-n-cheese, powdered milk, and canned meat. Items should be placed in the two rolling carts in the Atrium by the library.

SANCTUARY FLOWERS WERE GIVEN:In loving memory of my son, Tim, by Karen Lynch.

OUR CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED TO:Paul and Karen Venamon on the death of Karen's mother, Betty Lou Burdick, who passed away on March 1.

MISSIONS REPORT TO CHURCH COUNCILBartlesville First Church’s support of Jane Phillips Elementary school continues. Ten reading/math volunteers are working with the kids weekly. Four Bingo volunteers served in March. The church will provide and drive the new Ford Transit to transport 13 students and one Jane Phillips Elementary School staff member to donated eye exams on March 28. Some students have already received their new glasses from the first two visits! Bartlesville First Church will provide volunteers to act as test monitors for state testing on April 6, 11, 12, 18, and 19. Many Mini Missions (children's missions) program prepared about 150 “Test Kits” with encouragement items for upcoming state achievement testing. Those interested in helping our Jane Phillips partnership can contact Nancy Farmer to volunteer.1. Bartlesville First Church volunteers serve lunch at Agape Mission on the first Friday of each month. Three volunteers served at

Agape on March 3, three are scheduled to serve on April 7, and two for May 5; another volunteer is needed for May 5. Contact Sandy Singleton to help.

2. Missions Sunday was Sunday, Feb. 26, and a Stop Hunger Now meal-packaging event was held in the Atrium. Thirty workstations packing over 10,000 meals at a donation cost of $3,380. Keith Howard, Vice President Program Services at Circle of Care, was the guest speaker in worship. So far, $10,416 has been received in the special offering for Missions, representing an increase over 2015 and 2016. Missions Council appreciates all the support from the staff and congregation in making this a successful event!

3. Kent Mitchell and Kent Carbaugh will be participating in the next Kairos Prison Ministry Weekend at Dick Connor Correctional facility on March 30 - April 2. Pastor Tari Carbaugh will participate in the closing ceremonies for the weekend. Bartlesville First Church volunteers baked and bagged over 87 dozen cookies for Kairos and 106 dozen cookies for the Washington County Correctional Center on March 20 (over 2,300 cookies!) Prayer Chains are requested from our small groups and youth ministry for delivery to those incarcerated. Placemats have been made by our children’s ministry. Donations of cookies and cash are welcome!

4. The Missions Council had set the following dates for 2017 activities.• A Missions Fair will be held on Sunday, April 2 to highlight local agencies we support and introduce the major mission events for

2017 to the congregation.• A Volunteers in Mission workday at Circle of Care Boys’ Ranch will be held on Saturday, April 22.• A Volunteers in Mission workweek at Circle of Care Boys’ Ranch will be held July 29 - Aug. 4 • A Community Care Week is planned in conjunction with our youth for June 12-17.• A congregational/community meal planned for a weekend day in Oct. A proposal has made from the Missions Council to the

Fellowship and Family Life Committee to collaborate on a congregational meal including games for kids. The community, in particular the Kids First families and Jane Phillips Elementary families will be invited to attend for free hot dogs, hamburgers, and a free small pumpkins for the kids. This would help replace the Pumpkin Patch event, and invite the Kids First and Jane Phillips Elementary families to connect further with the congregation. All families attending will be encouraged to bring canned or boxed food or cash donations for the CONCERN food pantry.

5. Larry Gillham coordinated two Garden of Eatin’ workdays in March. Community beds have been composted and prepared, and the initial planting has been completed. Some individual plots are still available.

MARCH 26 - APRIL 2Minister-on-Call: 918-914-9001If you need to speak with one of our ministers, there is a minister-on-call available.

Van Ministry:March 26 Grace and Scott Farmer; Wayne MiddletonApril 2 Wayne Middleton and Shawn Prufer; Mickey Ramirez

Children’s Moment:March 26 Dr. Kevin TullyApril 2 TBA

Ambassadors:March 26 8 a.m. - Mickey Ramirez and Harry Farnsworth

10 a.m. - Jennifer and Chuck McCauleyApril 2 8 a.m. - Xandra and John Manley;

10 a.m. - Charlie and Corky Bowerman, Bob Hasbrook

Flower Delivery:March 26 Matt and Colleen RuntyApril 2 Jerry and Jane Bylander

Green Country Village Vespers:March 26 Tasha HollopeterApril 2 Tari Carbaugh

Midweek Meals

March 29Chicken Alfredo

Steamed VegetablesBread Sticks

Angel Food Cake

April 5Beef TipsBroccoli

Egg NoodlesRolls

April 12Enchiladas

Spanish RiceBrownies

Suggested Donation:Adults - $5

Children under 12 - $3Family of 4 or more - $15

CHURCH COUNCIL ADOPTS ALL-CHURCH GOALSThe mission of Bartlesville First Church is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” In keeping with the mission, our staff, and work area committees set various goals to be reached by our many ministries. And each year, the Church Council selects a few of those goals to be lifted up for special emphasis by our entire congregation. This year, the Church Council has selected the following goals for this special emphasis.

• Adopt our Kids First Child Care Center as an outreach mission of the entire church so as to improve its ability to reach children and families with love and the good news of Christ

• Continue our mission to Jane Phillips Elementary to assist children and families in the community achieve success and know they are loved by God

• Resume plans for construction of a Columbarium on church property to provide a beautiful, dignified, and permanent place of memorial for our loved ones

• Extend some utilities to the barn and garden area to enhance the effectiveness of those ministries and to further enhance usage opportunities for other parts of our land

• Further extend the paved or improved-surface sidewalk from its current locations to other areas around the lake to improve the accessibility of our land for children, family, and other ministries

• Enhance and resolve problems with the church website to increase the effectiveness of our outreach to persons considering joining or wishing to learn more about Bartlesville First Church

Our church has a vibrant Christian ministry; these six goals are only a part of our work. However, by adopting these as all-church goals, the Church Council intends to increase congregational awareness and help achieve success in this ministry year. Stay tuned! You will hear and see more about our progress – and you will have many opportunities to take an active part!

MIDWEEK CLASS - BAPTISM BEFORE JOHN THE BAPTISTDick Thompson will lead the next Midweek class "Baptism before John the Baptist." This six week class will begin on Wednesday, April 12 at 6 p.m. in room 175.

How do you answer the question “Was there baptism before John the Baptist?” The search might take you to ski slopes of Israel, rafting the Jordan River, the geography of Jerusalem, the rift valley of the Jordan, the Dead Sea Scrolls, baptismal sites on the Jordan, and the “Teacher of Righteousness” – all before trying to answer the question. Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat! If this interests you, join Dick in an adventure to find an explanation.

ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP Bartlesville First Church has 7 members who are certified by the Alzheimer’s Association to lead support group sessions. Two support groups will be offered beginning in April. One will be April 3 and 17 from 7 to 8 p.m. The second will be April 12 and 26 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Support groups will meet in Room 174. For further information or questions, contact the church or Ann Woodin at 918-333-6476.

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