Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Garnett looking for a designer

Garnett Church of Christ is looking for a good designer to produce several new brochures to describe our church, ministries, and outreach. Are you a designer? We welcome talking with anyone who would either volunteer or charge a fee--just be straight with us about your abilities (bring some samples) and what you'd like to charge or not charge. We'll take a look at samples of your work or that of others you recommend, and make a decision early in 2009. Deadline for getting samples by Christmas. Mail samples to 12000 E 31st St. Tulsa OK 74146 Attention: Greg Taylor. You can also email PDF files to gtaylor@garnettchurch.org.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

First week of Advent

Today is the first day of Advent. The following format tells us about this practice but can also be used by families or groups, with younger people asking the question and others answering.

What is Advent?

Advent is a tradition of Christians that means "coming" and calls us to live in the tension of how Jews felt while waiting for the Messiah. They waited for Emmanuel, God with us.

What do we wait for?

We're waiting for the return of Jesus, but until he comes, we live expectantly as disciples who seek the light of Christ in a dark world.

Is that why we light candles?

Yes, four candles are lit, one each week. Some people make wreaths with four candles. My family has a block of wood that my sister gave us that says, "Jesus is the light of the world" and has space to put four votive candles. We've lit the first candle with family during Thanksgiving weekend and spoke about Jesus as our light who is coming.

Isn't this just a tradition of men and not biblical?

The return of Jesus is certainly biblical and Adventus is Latin translation for the Greek biblical word, "parousia," meaning second coming. So Advent is both a reminder of how the Jews waited for Messiah and also a reminder that we wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here are the first two weeks of Advent, and we'll post next two later.

Make an Advent Wreath
Take a shallow bowl and fill with sand or salt and place four purple candles around the edges, or use candle holders. Place one large white candle in the middle. Make a circle of evergreens and place around the bowl or candle holders.

You need a Bible, matches, and you can also use a manger scene. Light one candle during this week’s reflection. The second week, light two, then three the third week and four the fourth. On Christmas Eve, light all and the middle white candle. Set aside some time each week for this short ceremony. Invite those who are alone to join you in worship. Use the telephone to join someone. Gather as a family or with friends.

First week of Advent: Read Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44. Waiting for Advent also teaches us to wait for the return of Jesus. Light candle. Pray the Lord’s Prayer together.

Have a Family Meeting. Hold a family meeting to decide what your goals are for the holidays. What are your spending limits? Avoid debt. Put away credit cards.

Draw names. Consider drawing names rather than everyone giving something to everyone else in your giving circle. Set a budget. Don’t buy everything on a child’s list. Don’t rush out and get something for someone just because they got you something or to “equal” what you think they’ll get or to make the number of gifts equal. Consider giving the gift of time, a handmade gift.

Hope in a Bowl. Write down scriptures such as Isaiah 9:1-7 and Jeremiah 33:14-16—ones that announce coming of God’s redemption, Jesus the Messiah—on index cards. Drop the cards in a bowl. In the days leading up to Christmas, when you sit down to eat together, draw out a card and read the scripture.

Idea for 2nd Sunday of Advent – Dec 7
Light 2nd candle.

Read Luke 2:25-26
What is unique about this man?
Read the passage again. What word do you hear repeated. How many times?
Who is this man and what is he waiting for? What are we waiting for at Christmas?

Pray: Say the Lord’s Prayer together.

Do: With your Nativity scene at home . . . What if we hide Wise Men, Shepherds, Jesus until we read that part of the story closer to Christmas, then we put each person in as we read along?

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Core Beliefs

What does our church believe? Our shepherds are asking us to meditate each day this week on these core beliefs.

What We Believe (Core Beliefs)

God
We believe God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities--God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He came to earth and lived a perfect life, as God and man. Through his death, burial, and resurrection we can claim eternal life, freedom from sin, and access to God. Through faith in Jesus Christ we become children of God.

Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a gift from God and lives in the heart of each believer. The Holy Spirit's power is to help each Christian to understand and accomplish God's will. He is our comforter that provides peace in times of loss, grief and despair. The Holy Spirit works through the Bible and the body of believers to guide us, reveal God's plan for us and bring Glory to our heavenly Father.

God's Word
We believe that the Bible is God's word to us. Human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit wrote the Bible. It is the supreme source for Christian beliefs and living. It is the only written authoritative voice of God on the earth.

Baptism
We believe that baptism is a part of the salvation experience. We believe in the practice of baptism by immersion in water.

Salvation
We believe that all mankind is sinful and falls short of God’s glory. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by following Jesus Christ can we enjoy the benefits of salvation.

Communion
We believe in observing the Communion as a way of celebrating what Jesus did for us on the cross and anticipating His return.

Love
Our faith in God is displayed in our love for each other.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Small Group Questions for Sep 14

  1. Read Matthew 5:3-12. When you read the Beatitudes, do you typically read them as “kingdom blessings” (this is the way things are in the kingdom) or “ethical prescriptions” (this is the way you have to be to enter the kingdom)?
  2. Why do you think it makes a difference?
  3. What is your understanding of what it means to be “poor in spirit”?
  4. Can you tell us about a time in your life when you’ve felt “poor in spirit”?
  5. Do you know someone who is right now “poor in spirit”?
  6. If so, what can you/we do to be the hands and feet of Jesus to this person?
  7. How can we pray for you?

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Gala & Daughters of Anna Lunch

Garnett Bilingual Preschool Starry Night Gala, “Night of Our Little Stars”
A benefit dinner and auction is being held on Friday, September 19, at 6:30 p.m. in Phillips Hall. Tickets are $50 per person and may be purchased online at www.GarnettBilingualPreschool.com or by contacting Heather Hodges at 918-625-8155. Tickets will be available for sale after the assembly in the mall area.

Daughters of Anna
The Daughters of Anna monthly luncheon will be held after services Sunday, September 21, in the Great Room for all ladies who attend church services alone, all ages.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

News

Contact Church Work Day
Work day for the Contact Church Recovery House II is Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (or when work runs out!). Address is 5003 S. 34th W. Ave. Here is the link for the map. Call Greg Taylor with questions: 918 576 8442 or email gtaylor@garnettchurch.org.

Sunday Mixer
Sunday, September 14, 9-10 a.m. in the Mall. The purpose of this mixer is to gather those in the stage in life roughly between 25-50 years old, both singles and married, with kids and without to get to know one another and discuss Sunday class options.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

First week in September

Children’s Bible Classes
Class Location Teachers
2 year olds 2 yr old room Charles Johnson & Kim Baker
3 & 4 year olds 4s room Kathy Erwin
Kdg. & 1st grade 1st grade room Charles Pearson, Vickie Forbrich, Glenda Johnson
2nd & 3rd grade 3rd grade room Memory Bledsoe & Kay Anderson
4th & 5th grade 5th grade room Millie & Steve Frost, Jananne & Mark Hillenburg,
Sherri & Kirk Taylor

4th and 5th graders will check-in at their room. All other ages and grades need to check-in at the check point in hall 3.

Children’s Ministry had a great response for volunteers. However, we are still in need of volunteers to fill the following positions:

2 & 3 year old teacher on Wednesday nights
Elementary helper on Wednesday nights
Volunteers to help in Preschool Children’s worship once a month
Volunteers to help in 2 year old worship once a month

Please volunteer so we can continue teaching these little ones about Jesus.

Adult Bible Classes
James Lawrence’s Bible class in 606 resumes 9 a.m. Sundays.

College and twenties age will be in Hall 1 starting September 7 at 9 a.m.

Class for 25-50 years old (single or married with children or without) will begin September 21. See below for plans for Sep 7 and 14 for this group.

Sunday Family Mixers
Sunday, September 7, 9-10 a.m., in the Mall; Sunday, September 14, 9-10 a.m. in the Mall. The purpose of these mixers is to gather those in the stage in life roughly between 25-50 years old, both singles and married, with kids and without to get to know one another and discuss possible Sunday morning classes, new small group formations, and how this group can serve together on Wednesday nights during meals or in greeting or other ministry areas.

Small Group Questions
  • Read Matthew 4:12-25. What strikes you about this passage? Why do you think it is important to read this passage before studying the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)?
  • How much time have you spent studying the Sermon on the Mount in the past? How does it make you feel when you read through it?
  • Right now, would you characterize yourself as a “disciple” of Jesus who is actively trying to follow him and do what he says or are you more a member of the “crowd,” amazed by his words and actions, but still not sure what to do with him?
  • How can we pray for you?

Moms in Touch
Start the school year off right by gathering with other moms to pray for your children’s school and each others’ children. Find out about Moms in Touch. Call Phyllis Fields (747-8915) or Annie Mileur (627-4544).

August Freeze
We'd love your feedback on our "Summer Freeze" experiment in August. Please write your feedback on the back of the response card and either place it in the collection plate or hand it off to a staff member or shepherd.

Garnett Bilingual Preschool Starry Night Gala, “Night of Our Little Stars”
A benefit dinner and auction is being held on Friday, September 19, at 6:30 p.m. in Phillips Hall. Tickets are $50 per person and may be purchased online at www.GarnettBilingualPreschool.com or by contacting Heather Hodges at 918-625-8155. Tickets will be available for sale after the assembly in the mall area.

Contact Church Recovery House
A work day is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, 9-3 p.m., at 5003 S. 34th W. Ave. in Tulsa. This is the site where Garnett is partnering with several other churches and Contact Church of Christ to help prepare a place for several men coming out of prison and seeking new lives and work. Contact Loy Johnson, 625-1182; Bob Schweikhard, 663-5787or Greg Taylor, 576-8442, for more information.

Monday Morning Ladies’ Classes
“A Place Called Home"
September 8th - October 13th, 9:30 AM
Shirley Staires Place: 1920 S. Yorktown Ave. Tulsa, Ok. 74104
The cost is $50 for the full 6 weeks including the book. We have a class scholarship if funds are a problem. We want you to be there without any financial barrier. For carpool and other information call Annie Mileur, 627-4544.

"Jesus the One and Only" - Beth Moore Series
September 20 - Dec. 8
Will meet here at the church building
For more information contact Annie Mileur, 627-4544.

Wednesday, Sept. 10, Meal is OUTDOORS!
Barbque, Chicken and Ribs
Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Dessert, Drink
Adults $5, Children 4 and above $3
This will be an outdoor cookout.

Please email all information to garnettinfo@gmail.com no later than 9 a.m. Thursdays.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Garnett News - Labor Day Weekend

Neighborhood Kitchen - Free Wednesday Community Dinner
Come help set up tables and chairs at 4 p.m., volunteer orientation at 4:30 p.m., clean up at 7 p.m.

After the Wednesday meal September 3, a POST-Summer Freeze conversation for Garnett partners in Phillips Hall 7-8 pm.

Wednesday meal September 10 is outdoor cookout!

Sunday Family Mixers
Sunday September 7, 9-10 a.m., in the Mall; Sunday, September 14, 9-10 a.m. in the Mall. The purpose of these mixers is to gather those in the stage in life roughly between 25-50 years old, both singles and married, with kids and without to get to know one another and discuss possible Sunday morning classes, new small group formations, and how this group can serve together on Wednesday nights during meals or in greeting or other ministry areas.

Contact Church Recovery House
A work day is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, 9-3 p.m., at 5003 S. 34th W. Ave. in Tulsa. This is the site where Garnett is partnering with several other churches and Contact Church of Christ to help prepare a place for several men coming out of prison and seeking new lives and work. Contact Loy Johnson, 625-1182; Bob Schweikhard, 663-5787or Greg Taylor, 576-8442, for more information.

Garnett Bilingual Preschool Starry Night Gala, “Night of Our Little Stars”
A benefit dinner and auction is being held on Friday, September 19, at 6:30 p.m. in Phillips Hall. Tickets are $50 per person and may be purchased online at www.GarnettBilingualPreschool.com or by contacting Heather Hodges at 918-625-8155.

Sunday Classes
James Lawrence’s Bible class in 609 resumes 9 a.m. Sundays. A class for college and twenties age will be in Hall 1 starting September 7 at 9 a.m. A class for ages approximately 25-50 years old (single or married with children or without) will begin September 21 after two Sunday mixers for this group Sunday, September 7 and 14 at 9 a.m.

Moms in Touch
Start the school year off right by gathering with other moms to pray for your children’s school and each others’ children. Find out about Moms in Touch. Call Phyllis Fields (747-8915) or Annie Mileur (627-4544).

Secret Sisters Dinner
The Secret Sisters dinner is Thursday, September 4, 6:30 p.m. at Delta Café, 41st and Garnett. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Erwin (445-1665) or Debbie Anderson (663-4239).

Pay Online
Did you know that you can give your tithes and offerings to Garnett online? Click button on right navigation bar.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Partner Survey Results

Several months ago, Garnett partners and attenders were invited to take a survey designed to give the leadership team some helpful information about church demographics and partner perceptions. If you'd like to see the results of the survey, follow this link.
If you have any questions or observations, please direct them to a member of the Leadership Team (Shepherds and Staff).

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Neighborhood Kitchens - Wednesday Meal

In July we opened the kitchen for the community to come for free meals. We serve more than 800 meals during the month. We'll open the kitchen again starting in September, Wednesdays 5-7 pm.

Would you like to know more about the Neighborhood Kitchens Project? This is a partnership we're in with community schools (Union and TPS), local business people and organizations to help make the community a better place. For Garnett, we're partnering because we don't have the power or money to educate and serve like all these organizations do, so we humbly partner and make our facility available for this meal and as a path to people getting other educational, medical, social services to make their lives better. For us, we want to keep our church identity as serving in the name of Christ to make the neighborhood better, and we'll keep doing what we do best: being the hands and feet of Jesus.

See this link:
http://neighborhoodkitchens.pbwiki.com/

Connected with the Wednesday Meal, we'll also be launching some new classes at 7 pm. One class we're developing is a Dollars&Sense class for children and their parents. Tulsa Teachers Credit Union is developing this class with us. We're also considering and developing a class for single parents, a contemplative prayer class, and a Christianity 101 class.

Also possible for Wednesday evenings during and after the meal, is a group of mentors who could organize tutoring for neighborhood children who need tutoring. Betty Haynie organizes a mentoring group at Cooper Elementary, but we're looking for others who want to organize another group of mentors to do tutoring on Wednesday nights.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

You Can Now Give Online!

Did you know that you can give your tithes and offerings to Garnett online? Just click the "donate" button on the right sidebar. You can give out of your Paypal account, with a credit/debit card or direct transfer from your bank. After you've donated, you'll be able to print out a donation receipt for your tax records. If you're traveling or have fallen behind on your giving or simply prefer online transactions, stop by the website and check out this new feature. Thanks for your generosity.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Free Meal Wednesdays in July

Starting July 2 Garnett is hosting free meals for our community. We need your help to come and fellowship with people in the community, set up and tear down tables, and help Roy with whatever is needed to serve. Please contact Jeff Krisman or Roy Victory, who are bringing the idea of a "Neighborhood Kitchen" to Garnett. Chef Roy Victory has also wanted for many years to host a meal where those in need can eat for free. We'll be doing this Wednesdays in July from 5-7 pm in Phillips Hall. Come and fellowship and serve and eat and enjoy.
Greg Taylor

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Free Download of UnChristian


If you'd like to download the audiobook version of UnChristian for free, follow this link. When checking out, use the coupon code WILLOW and you will not be charged for the download. This offer is available to us because we're members of the Willow Creek Association.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Suggested Small Group Discussion Questions for April 20th

1. Have you read the Left Behind books? If so, what is your opinion of them?

2. In his message, Wade contended that “in the gospels Jesus had very little if anything to say about what we call his ‘Second Coming.’” Do you agree or disagree? What questions does this raise for you?

3. Read 2 Peter 3. What strikes you most about this passage?

4. What impact does our expectation of Jesus’ return have on the way we live now?

5. How can we pray for you?

Monday, March 10, 2008

Fundraiser for at-risk youth

Partners in Action Celebration: A fundraiser for at-risk youth worldwide

You believe in changing the world. And you’d like to help at-risk children right here in Tulsa and beyond. But how?

Wednesday, March 26 at the Green Country Event Center is a great opportunity to help change the lives of at-risk youth in Tulsa and worldwide in places like Ukraine, Ghana, and Denver, Colorado.

Click here to learn more

Friday, February 22, 2008

Last Week To Complete the Survey

This is your last opportunity to complete our demographic/feedback survey. Thanks to all who have already completed it.

The survey shouldn't take you more than 10 to 15 minutes to complete. By completing this survey you'll be giving us helpful demographic information about our church, as well as giving us some much needed feedback on a variety of ministries and service opportunities at Garnett.

This survey is for current Garnett Partners and Attenders only.

Link to the Survey

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Attention All Current Garnett Partners and Attenders

Below you'll find a link for a survey we're conducting in conjunction with the University of Oklahoman-Tulsa. A special thanks goes out to Chan Hellman for helping us put this together.

The survey shouldn't take you more than 10 to 15 minutes to complete. By completing this survey you'll be giving us helpful demographic information about our church, as well as giving us some much needed feedback on a variety of ministries and service opportunities at Garnett. There is also a section of the survey that will give Chan and his crew at OU-Tulsa some data for a study they're doing.

This survey is for current Garnett Partners and Attenders only.

Link to the Survey


Thursday, January 3, 2008

Register now for Crown Financial Freedom Seminar



We're hosting a Crown Financial Freedom Seminar Saturday, January 19, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. The cost is $25 a person and you are invited. See our ad in Community Spirit Magazine. Check out Crown's web site--a great site by the way--for more information and to register. You can register and pay online and then just show up ready for the seminar Saturday, January 19.