You do not want to miss our annual Hanging of the Greens Service. You have an opportunity to hear the word of God and the best children’s choir around. Please make plans to join us as we kick-off the Christmas season.
After the children’s program we will retreat to the gym for the Tasting Bee. The cooks of BCC will have a smorgasbord of your favorite holiday treats.This is a great time to fellowship with members of the BCC congregation.
Dear Friends,
I am amazed each week to see new faces sharing with us in worship at BCC. Our church is not on the beaten path, but the Lord keeps sending people our way. It is always a blessing to see the Lord lead people to Britton Christian Church who want to be a part of our ministry to the larger community. I am grateful for those who come to BCC wanting to make a difference by using their gifts to be a blessing to others and to bring glory and honor to God alone.
On Sunday, November 25 we had the blessing of welcoming Vicki Bogardus and Steve and Leah Jeryc to BCC. Vicki is pictured with Karen Douglas and Steve and Leah are pictured with Jennie Rosch. I hope you will take the time to welcome these folks to BCC.
In His Steps,
Mike
We are strange creatures. We think that we know everything when in fact we don’t know much of anything. We think we know the right path when in reality we so easily mislead ourselves. We think that God is trying to rob us of life, of really living it up, when in reality we rob ourselves of the abundant life that only God can give. We are some strange creatures.
We are much like the Prodigal Son. He had a good father. His father provided him with love, good home training, three square meals a day, a warm place to lay his head in the winter, a cool place in which to rest during those hot summers, and his dad was so kind to have written his son into his will. Yet, in the boy’s eyes, his father wasn’t cool; he didn’t know how to have fun. The boy couldn’t wait to get away from his dad and call the shots for his own life. You know what happened. The boy almost ruined his life. He wasted his father’s inheritance, he got in with the wrong crowd, and ended up homeless. Well, he wasn’t really homeless if you call living with hogs in a hog pen having a home. In the desperation of his condition the boy came to his senses and went home with his hat in his hand.
Thanksgiving is so many things to so many different people: it is the beginning of the holiday season; it is the beginning of a steady diet of large quantities of good food; it marks the time that kids can begin to make their Christmas wish list; it begins the count-down to that time of the year when there is nothing on T.V. but college football bowl games; and for some it is an opportunity to stop and express heartfelt gratitude for God’s bounteous blessings!
The Middle School Youth showcased their skills on the lanes. It was a joy watching the kids show their enthusiasm and competitive spirit. We have a talented group of kids and parents you should be proud of them. I want to thank all of the adult sponsors who have been a blessing to our Middle School Youth. The kids want to invite all middle schoolers out to join them for bible study and fun.
Because He Lives,
Herman
The second Sunday of each month is Mission/Fun Sunday for our Middle School and High School youth. The kids spent their morning serving those at the Indian Mission and the Alterra Nursing Center. The afternoon was filled with fun. Our high school youth went to Laser Expedition in Yukon on Sunday afternoon and it was soooo much fun for everyone.
None of us had played laser tag on an outdoor course, but all of the kids (and adults) had a blast! They divided us into two different teams and after some guy named “Snake” walked us through the basics of laser tag combat we were sent to our home bases. I was fortunate enough to be teamed up with some real sharpshooters. The Bravo team must have had their share of sharpshooters as well because we split the two games with them.
I’m convinced that the kids got together before we started the game and decided that they were going to team up on me because my sensors acted like I was in the middle of a fire drill. Every time I moved it seemed like one of the kids was knocking me out of commission. That’s “OK” though because I’ve signed-up for the “Terminator Laser Tag Tactical Boot Camp” beginning next Sunday after church. So, next time we hit the field of battle I’ll be ready!
In His Steps,
Mike
For the last month, we as a church, have been praying about what God is calling us to do in the upcoming year. God has gifted each and every person who calls Britton Christian Church “home.” He desires that we use the gifts that He has given us to bring glory and honor to His name, and to serve and bless His people. Paul wrote to the folks in Rome and said,
Friday night is movie night at the Hays’ house. The only problem with movie night is that sometimes it can be tough to find a decent movie for the whole family to watch. If you’ve been having problems finding something that’s not full of cuss words, sexual innuendo, or the whole cast being killed off one by one then I’ve got a movie for you.
“The Ultimate Gift” is an awesome movie that the whole family can enjoy. It’s the story of a wealthy man, James Garner, who dies and a spoiled family who can’t wait to find out what they are going to get now that he is gone. The greedy gang plays a minor part in the movie. The story really revolves around a grandson, Drew Fuller, who lacks motivation and who has spent his life looking for nothing more than a good time. He shows up for the reading of his grandfather’s will, but he doesn’t expect anything since he and his grandfather were estranged before his death.
I don’t want to give the movie away, but it has a great message, a message that is desperately needed in our day. There are some wonderful actors in the movie like Lee Meriwether, Brian Dennehy, Bill Cobbs, Abigail Breslin, and Drew Fuller. With all of the hype that surrounds the blockbuster movie releases you can easily walk right by “The Ultimate Gift” as you’re looking for a hot new release. Pass by the blockbusters and spend two hours watching a movie that will touch your heart and stir your mind.
Dear Friends,
On Sunday night we had the most amazing “home going” celebration you can imagine as we celebrated the life of our dear friend John Chandler. Sunday was full of tears, laughter, singing, Scripture, and bringing glory to God as we celebrated the life of His servant and our friend, John.
I sat and listened to the speakers tell stories about John’s life and how the Lord had used him to impact the lives of the people at Western Village Academy, Britton Christian Church, and our community. My heart swelled within me as I listened to the kids from John’s school sing, “Proud,” and “Take The Lord With You.” It was an experience I will never forget.
We were so blessed to have John’s mother, Darlene Simmons, and her dear friends, James and Markenna Duff, with us on Sunday morning for worship and Sunday night for John’s memorial service. John’s mother was overwhelmed by all of the people who had been blessed by her son during his time here in Oklahoma City. We need to continue to pray for John’s family as the Lord leads them through this time of great sorrow, but we can also take heart in knowing that there is not a doubt in their minds that John is home, his mission is accomplished, and his legacy lives on each of you who were touched by his deep love for the Lord.
As I looked out over the many people who who had come to be a part of John’s memorial service I thought about the first day that John arrived here in Oklahoma City less than three years ago. He came here for a fresh start. He wanted to put his past behind him. He wanted to live a new life, a life lived for the cause of his King. After John was killed the newspaper announced that a “missionary from Mississippi” had been shot and killed. When I first heard that phrase it caught me off guard. “Missionary” wouldn’t have been the word I would have used to describe the kid I met at Ted’s Escondido. He didn’t know any of us, he didn’t know what to expect, he just knew he wanted a fresh start. What John “was” on the day her arrived in Oklahoma City was not who he became during the course of the past two plus years. The Lord has worked mightily in John’s life. John loved the Word of God, he took his sin so serious, as an affront to Almighty God, and he desired to share God’s grace and mercy with everyone he met. John couldn’t see it happening, but a transformation was taking place each day, and just as Saul was transformed into Paul so John became “The Missionary From Mississipp.” What a story!
Friends. The mention of the word stirs all kinds of emotions within our hearts and minds. When we find our health failing and we become unable to take care of ourselves — a friend lightens our heavy burden. When our birthday rolls around and we have people to help us celebrate that special day — a friend magnifies our joy. When we lose our job and depression threatens us at every turn — a friend sheds light into dark places. When we experience the joy of child-birth with all of its overwhelming emotions — a friend affirms our feelings of joy. On the other hand, when we share in a relationship with someone only to have our trust trounced under foot — a friend becomes an adversary. When we find out that a friend has taken advantage of us — a friend becomes a foe. When we find out that our friend is “two-faced” and is speaking negatively about us when we are not around — a friend becomes an antagonist. Friends can share with us when our hearts soar with excitement and celebration; and friends can cut us so deeply that the wounds may never heal without help from God.
Dear Friends,
We’ve been making plans for you and your friend’s arrival for many weeks now. We are so excited about meeting some new friends and welcoming all of those that you will bring to church with you this Sunday. Our men’s Promise Keeper’s group will cook the most awesome breakfast in town and it will be ready for you at 9:30 on Sunday morning. Be sure to use the north parking lot to leave room for those who will be visiting with us.
Studies tell us that on any given Sunday morning there are more people still nestled in their bed than there are people sitting in sanctuaries. I hope that this Sunday morning you and I begin to change that statistic by inviting our friends who don’t have a church home to experience the joy of worshipping our King. I can’t wait to see all of you!
The 2007 Fall Festival was a huge hit! Thanks to all of you who worked so hard to put together such a wonderful evening for all of those in our community. We had lots of friends and visitors come to share in the fun and great fellowship that took place during the Fall Festival. There were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Pirates, Cinderella stopped by, as well as Dog the Bounty Hunter and his wife, Beth. You can see from the picture that Pastor Herman ran into a little trouble when Dog and Beth showed up.
It is always such a joy to see all of the kids in their costumes having such a great time and stuffing their sacks with so much candy that they have to bring a wagon to pull them around the gym with them. It is always such a blessing to see so many adults and teenagers volunteer their time to be a blessing to the little ones. It is always such a blessing to see a church come together to serve the community. We want to thank everyone who contributed in any way! You made our event a huge success! Click on “more” to see even more awesome pictures from the evening.
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