CONTACT: Rev. Mark Taylor mtaylor@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

What would Christmas be without beautiful poinsettias? FCC Student Ministries has a long-honored tradition of offering poinsettias for purchase during the Advent season. This fundraiser helps decorate the church worship spaces for Christmas while honoring loved ones. Poinsettias may be purchased for the church or for your home or office for $15 each and may be purchased in honor or memory of a loved one. Order online at www.fccedmond.org/register or pick up an order form at the Welcome Center. 

All proceeds benefit the Student Ministries Mission Fund. Orders are due by December 8, and take-home orders will be available the following Sunday, December 15, just in time for Christmas. Thank you for supporting the youth!

CONTACT: Rev. Mark Taylor mtaylor@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

Join us each Sunday morning at 10 am in the Family Life Center for breakfast, announcements and Sunday School classes! Go to www.fccedmond.org/studentprograms for all Youth event details.

SAVE THE DATES:

Saturday, January 11 – Snowball “Christmas” Party! Watch the mail and your email for details.
Wednesday, January 15 - UNITE Starts Back Up!

CONTACT: Rev. Dr. John Regan jregan@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

This year the first Sunday of Advent fell on the Sunday immediately after Thanksgiving. Of course, every year the days seem to accelerate towards Christmas Day. But we don’t expect Advent to sneak up on us! This Sunday will be the second Sunday of Advent, and I look forward to our Children’s Musical in the evening. I never tire of listening to the sound of children singing. The voices of children raised in song is simply magical.

As our Advent sermon series Listening for God in the Songs of the Season continues, I encourage you to listen to the songs you hear in movies you will watch. Most of us have a list of Christmas movies we watch during the season of Advent that are filled with music soundtracks. Every year I watch It’s A Wonderful Life and Love Actually at least once. In Love Actually my favorite scene is where all the characters gather for the school Christmas program. The children sing one of Mariah Carey’s songs-- All I Want For Christmas Is You. The song is a little cheezy but the message, for those who are looking for it, is absolutely divine. All God wants for us for Christmas is to know that we are loved.

CONTACT: Rev. Dr. John Regan jregan@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

As of December 3, we have received 169 Commitment to Give cards for a total of $699,041. You still have time to make a commitment for 2020 by filling out a card located in the pew, going to our web page, or by contacting our Business Administrator, Karla Mahan, in the church office at 405.341.3544.

As always, the church can receive prepaid commitments until December 31, 2019. In recent years some of our senior members have made qualified charitable distributions. With recent changes in the tax law you might want to consult with your financial advisor to see if it is something you might want to pursue.

Your Church depends upon your generosity to support the ministries that make an impact in our community and our world. Thank you for supporting the mission of First Christian Church.

CONTACT: Rev. John Regan, Executive Minister jregan@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

This Advent we are sharing hope and joy through our 2019 Christmas Offering! Gifts to the offering can be designated to support the work of Breakfast on Boulevard and our partner school, Ida Freeman Elementary.

With your gift for Breakfast on Boulevard we will continue the vital work of offering nourishment for our neighbors who are hungry. Just $15 is all it takes to feed one person a full week of breakfasts and sack lunches, and for $75 a family of five can receive those same meals.

Through gifts to Ida Freeman Elementary we will inspire reading by giving a new book to all 512 children at the school, purchase a commercial refrigerator to store fresh produce that we are adding to the weekend backpack food program, and underwrite some of the costs of our 2020 summer STEAM camp for children who might not otherwise have a camp or enrichment experience.

You may give online at www.fccedmond.org/christmasoffering or in worship during December. You also have the option of making your gift in honor of someone. We have Christmas cards you can send to them that give details of the hope and joy you have shared in their name. These are available Sunday mornings through December 22 in the Rotunda. May you experience the joy we find in giving hope to our neighbors!

CONTACT: Jennifer Humphrey jhumphrey@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

It’s December and time for the season of the church year that leads to Christmas; Advent. This year during Advent, First Christian has wonderful events planned, including:

Children’s Christmas Musical – Sunday, December 8, 6:30pm
Christmas Cantata – Sunday, December 15, 6:30pm
Children’s Christmas Eve Service – Tuesday, December 24, 5:30pm
Candlelight Christmas Eve Services – Tuesday, December 24, 7 & 11pm

Our calendar of Advent events is ready for you to share with your family, friends, and neighbors. So, explore our advent page online www.fccedmond.org/advent - mark your calendars, invite your friends, and join us to experience the beauty and wonder of the Advent season.

CONTACT: Rev. Dr. Chris Shorow cshorow@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

There will be a congregational meeting on Sunday December 15 immediately following the 11:00 worship service. Ballots for the 2020 slate of leadership will be available at all three services.

CONTACT: Karla Mahan kmahan@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

Do you shop on-line for your holiday and other purchases? Shop from home and give to First Christian Church through Amazon Smile! All eligible purchases made at Amazon.com will contribute one half of one percent back to First Christian Church. For the third quarter of 2019, almost $68 was received via the Amazon Smile program and over $1,406 since we first signed up. Just imagine how that might grow if everyone signed up and used smile.amazon.com each time they shop on Amazon!

CONTACT: Jennifer Humphrey jhumphrey@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

Join us Wednesday, January 15, 2020, as we kick off our Spring Semester of UNITE with food, fellowship, learning and fun! Adults, children, and students can UNITE for a delicious meal, share meaningful conversation, and experience faith development in one of our classes or small groups. To find a full list of adult, children, and student activities, check out www.fccedmond.org/unite

To watch live streaming of our services, follow the link at www.fccedmond.org/live

To listen, visit our Sermons page at www.fccedmond.org Tell your friends, neighbors, family, and co-workers about First Christian Church, point them to our website, and encourage them to watch and listen online! Need Wifi? Be our guest! Public wifi access is available at First Christian Church. Use password "fccedmond".

Worship With Us Each Sunday at 8:15 (Chapel), 9:00 (Modern), 11:00 (Traditional)

December 8, 2019 - Second Sunday of Advent - Minister: Rev. Dr. Chris Shorow; Scripture: Luke 1:26-38; Children Worship & Wonder: Advent III

December 15, 2019 - Third Sunday of Advent - Minister: Rev. Dr. Chris Shorow; Scripture: Luke 1:39-45; Children Worship & Wonder: Advent IV

December 22, 2019 - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Minister: Rev. Dr. Chris Shorow; Scripture: Luke 2:8-14; Children Worship & Wonder: Christmas (Meeting the Christ Child)

December 29, 2019 - Minister: Rev. Dr. John Regan; There is no Children Worship & Wonder on this Sunday.

January 5, 2020 - Children Worship & Wonder: The Boy Jesus in the Temple

CONTACT: Shelley Regan sregan@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

Join us Sunday, December 15, between 8:30 and 11am, for a gift wrapping gathering! We'll be wrapping over 500 books to give to every child at Ida Freeman Elementary as Christmas presents.

If you would like to help wrap, come to Fellowship Hall. We have gift wrap, scissors, and tape but welcome any stretchy or soft ribbons that will not crush easily when the packages are stacked.

CONTACT: Rev. Dr. Chris Shorow cshorow@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

Thank you to all those who made donations benefiting FCC's Outreach Ministries through our Jams & Jellies project this year. A total of $3,425 was raised, helping 12 areas of our Outreach Ministries. Thank you again!

CONTACT: David Larrison wlarrison@cox.net 580.231.1409 

During Operation Christmas Child's National Collection Week, 3,109 shoe boxes were collected - 407 from First Christian Church! Since 2009, when First Christian became a relay center drop off location, a total of 37,877 boxes have been dropped off, packed and shipped. First Christian Church has done 6,160 of those boxes. Thank you so much for your participation, donations and prayers!

CONTACT: Jennifer Humphrey jhumphrey@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

Every year, First Christian Church and the Child Care Center join together to bless families in need by setting up the Angel Tree to collect gifts for children from our Church and Center who may not otherwise receive them. This year we have 12 families who need help with gifts for their children. Can you bring Christmas to one of these families? Helping is easy! Take an angel (or two) from the Angel Tree located in the Child Care Center Hallway. Purchase the item listed on the angel and return the gift (wrapped or unwrapped) with the Angel attached to the Child Care Center by December 13. If you aren’t able to wrap the gift, that’s ok! We have a team of volunteers who will get the job done. Monetary donations are also accepted and will help offset the cost of angels left on the tree. Make checks payable to FCC and put “angel tree” on the memo line. You may turn in the check with your worship offering or bring it to the church office before December 13. Thank you for blessing the children of First Christian Church and Child Care Center!

CONTACT: Jennifer Humphrey jhumphrey@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

If your 5th Grader is interested in being involved in the 2020 Pastors' Class, please let Jennifer Humphrey know as soon as possible. There will be a Parent Information Meeting January 26, 2020, at 12:15pm. Pastors’ Class begins with an overnight retreat the first weekend of February and is followed by six Sunday morning sessions taught by our ordained staff. Students will have the opportunity to make a confession of faith, receive first communion, and be baptized at the end of the journey. It is fitting that this journey is taken during the season of Lent and Easter.

CONTACT: Jennifer Humphrey jhumphrey@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544
Ages 3 years old – 5th grade, join us each Sunday morning at 10am in the Children’s Education Building for Sunday school:

Preschool & PreK (3, 4 & 5-year-olds) - Room E12 (Children's Hallway)
K & 1st Grade - Room E19 (Children's Hallway)
2nd & 3rd Grade - Room E17 (Children's Hallway)
4th & 5th Grade - Room A23 (Family Life Center)

Save the Dates! 
Sunday, December 8 – Children’s Christmas Musical, 6:30pm
Wednesday, January 15 - UNITE Starts Back!

CONTACT: Rev. Mark Taylor mtaylor@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

What would Christmas be without beautiful poinsettias? FCC Student Ministries has a long-honored tradition of offering poinsettias for purchase during the Advent season. This fundraiser helps decorate the church worship spaces for Christmas while honoring loved ones. Poinsettias may be purchased for the church or for your home or office for $15 each and may be purchased in honor or memory of a loved one. Order online at www.fccedmond.org/register or pick up an order form at the Welcome Center. 

All proceeds benefit the Student Ministries Mission Fund. Orders are due by December 8, and take-home orders will be available the following Sunday, December 15, just in time for Christmas. Thank you for supporting the youth!

CONTACT: Rev. Mark Taylor mtaylor@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

Join us each Sunday morning at 10 am in the Family Life Center for breakfast, announcements and Sunday School classes! Go to www.fccedmond.org/studentprograms for all Youth event details.

SAVE THE DATES:

Saturday, January 11 – Snowball “Christmas” Party! Watch the mail and your email for details.
Wednesday, January 15 - UNITE Starts Back Up!

THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Ed & Mary Walker, John & Dot Hammond

OUR SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS TO The Family of Marcella Halliday who passed away on November 3. Her services were held November 22 at FCC-Edmond AND TO The Family of James “Jimmy” Hargrove who passed away on November 25. His services were held December 2 AND TO The Family of Jean Barnes who passed away on December 2. Her services are scheduled for Thursday, December 12 at 1:30pm at FCC-Edmond.

WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Dave & Julie Hockensmith joined on November 19 AND Jason & Vanessa Hart joined on November 24.

Please share your prayer requests with us so we can pray for you. Contact Pastoral Assistant, Iris Muno Jordan at ijordan@fccedmond.org or 341-3544, ext. 110.

12/7 Emily Bare, Julie Holliman, Foster Johnson, Bristol Mangum, Dana Theobald

12/10 Ashton Havenar, Kimberly Kerr

12/11 Olivia Hendricks, Robbie Shaw

12/12 Gaylon Bright, Sue Fraim, Max Vazquez

12/13 Terry Bernard, Brenda Dunn, Clarity Farrah, Scout Killackey

12/14 Martina Dowell, Abby Kerr, Lucy Mecoy, Madison Murphy

12/15 Mandy Burnett, Jason Hart, Scott Peters, Benjamin Prejean

12/16 Jim Burke, Calvin Koopman, Cody Ward

12/17 Craig Adkins, Carlita Walters

12/18 Zach Benear, Tyler Burleson, Jerri Dillon, Neal Hunt, Ted Perrin, Gwen Shaw

12/19 Linda Burke, Marynm Martin, Ellie Young

12/20 Sandra Brinkmeyer, Allison Ernst, Corvin Harlin, Jeremy Peters, Riley Robertson, Pat Warner

12/21 Tyler Black, Robert Carroll, Emily Luschen, Callie Nester, Melissa Windsor

12/22 Brock Becker, Terra Conlin, Cathy Justice, Bob McKibbin, James Wynn

12/23 Adam Bowen, Jennifer Cain, Sarah Cain, Andrea Deal, Cora Deal

12/24 Wendy Fine-Thomas, Martha Roach

12/25 Anthony Campbell, Sarah Lindley

12/26 Diana Lee, Jim Ware

12/27 Lawton Berberet, Sally Leonard

12/28 Clint Stone, Nancy Zuckermandel

12/29 Melva Davis, Jake Privette

12/30 Carl Gibson, Kody VanOsdol

12/31 Wayne Coats, Velia Deal, Roger Quinn, Tim Zimmer

1/1 Tatum Fondren, Misty Mihelich, Michele Schlough, Sharron Suarez

1/2 Charmei Coleman, Madi Huffer 

1/3 Gary Bartley, Ty Burnett, Shirley Clabaugh, Kathi DeSpain

1/4 Alexis Downs, Alex Kelley, Emri Lindley, Alexis Walters

1/5 Judy Joy, Shirley Michael, Ashley Sutch

1/6 Keven Cody, Vanessa Hart, Jimmy King

1/7 Tim Clark, Lori Fuller, Heather Galyon, Katie King

1/8 Madelynn Bartley, Matt Morris

1/9 Michael Grant, Amanda Smith, Connie Westhof, Becky Winn

1/10 Traci Bartley, Kelly Black, Bill Dobson, Jo Anne Hatley, Kate Kerr, Wayne Prewitt

1/11 George Hauser, Lance Orendorff, Patrick Palmer, Kathy Thomas

1/12 Cherrie Steele

To watch live streaming of our services, follow the link at www.fccedmond.org/live

To listen, visit our Sermons page at www.fccedmond.org Tell your friends, neighbors, family, and co-workers about First Christian Church, point them to our website, and encourage them to watch and listen online! Need Wifi? Be our guest! Public wifi access is available at First Christian Church. Use password "fccedmond".

Worship With Us Each Sunday at 8:15 (Chapel), 9:00 (Modern), 11:00 (Traditional)

December 8, 2019 - Second Sunday of Advent - Minister: Rev. Dr. Chris Shorow; Scripture: Luke 1:26-38; Children Worship & Wonder: Advent III

December 15, 2019 - Third Sunday of Advent - Minister: Rev. Dr. Chris Shorow; Scripture: Luke 1:39-45; Children Worship & Wonder: Advent IV

December 22, 2019 - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Minister: Rev. Dr. Chris Shorow; Scripture: Luke 2:8-14; Children Worship & Wonder: Christmas (Meeting the Christ Child)

December 29, 2019 - Minister: Rev. Dr. John Regan; There is no Children Worship & Wonder on this Sunday.

January 5, 2020 - Children Worship & Wonder: The Boy Jesus in the Temple

CONTACT: Shelley Regan sregan@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

Join us Sunday, December 15, between 8:30 and 11am, for a gift wrapping gathering! We'll be wrapping over 500 books to give to every child at Ida Freeman Elementary as Christmas presents.

If you would like to help wrap, come to Fellowship Hall. We have gift wrap, scissors, and tape but welcome any stretchy or soft ribbons that will not crush easily when the packages are stacked.

CONTACT: Rev. Dr. Chris Shorow cshorow@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

Thank you to all those who made donations benefiting FCC's Outreach Ministries through our Jams & Jellies project this year. A total of $3,425 was raised, helping 12 areas of our Outreach Ministries. Thank you again!

CONTACT: David Larrison wlarrison@cox.net 580.231.1409 

During Operation Christmas Child's National Collection Week, 3,109 shoe boxes were collected - 407 from First Christian Church! Since 2009, when First Christian became a relay center drop off location, a total of 37,877 boxes have been dropped off, packed and shipped. First Christian Church has done 6,160 of those boxes. Thank you so much for your participation, donations and prayers!

CONTACT: Jennifer Humphrey jhumphrey@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

Every year, First Christian Church and the Child Care Center join together to bless families in need by setting up the Angel Tree to collect gifts for children from our Church and Center who may not otherwise receive them. This year we have 12 families who need help with gifts for their children. Can you bring Christmas to one of these families? Helping is easy! Take an angel (or two) from the Angel Tree located in the Child Care Center Hallway. Purchase the item listed on the angel and return the gift (wrapped or unwrapped) with the Angel attached to the Child Care Center by December 13. If you aren’t able to wrap the gift, that’s ok! We have a team of volunteers who will get the job done. Monetary donations are also accepted and will help offset the cost of angels left on the tree. Make checks payable to FCC and put “angel tree” on the memo line. You may turn in the check with your worship offering or bring it to the church office before December 13. Thank you for blessing the children of First Christian Church and Child Care Center!

CONTACT: Jennifer Humphrey jhumphrey@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544

If your 5th Grader is interested in being involved in the 2020 Pastors' Class, please let Jennifer Humphrey know as soon as possible. There will be a Parent Information Meeting January 26, 2020, at 12:15pm. Pastors’ Class begins with an overnight retreat the first weekend of February and is followed by six Sunday morning sessions taught by our ordained staff. Students will have the opportunity to make a confession of faith, receive first communion, and be baptized at the end of the journey. It is fitting that this journey is taken during the season of Lent and Easter.

CONTACT: Jennifer Humphrey jhumphrey@fccedmond.org 405.341.3544
Ages 3 years old – 5th grade, join us each Sunday morning at 10am in the Children’s Education Building for Sunday school:

Preschool & PreK (3, 4 & 5-year-olds) - Room E12 (Children's Hallway)
K & 1st Grade - Room E19 (Children's Hallway)
2nd & 3rd Grade - Room E17 (Children's Hallway)
4th & 5th Grade - Room A23 (Family Life Center)

Save the Dates! 
Sunday, December 8 – Children’s Christmas Musical, 6:30pm
Wednesday, January 15 - UNITE Starts Back!

THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER Ed & Mary Walker, John & Dot Hammond

OUR SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS TO The Family of Marcella Halliday who passed away on November 3. Her services were held November 22 at FCC-Edmond AND TO The Family of James “Jimmy” Hargrove who passed away on November 25. His services were held December 2 AND TO The Family of Jean Barnes who passed away on December 2. Her services are scheduled for Thursday, December 12 at 1:30pm at FCC-Edmond.

WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Dave & Julie Hockensmith joined on November 19 AND Jason & Vanessa Hart joined on November 24.

Please share your prayer requests with us so we can pray for you. Contact Pastoral Assistant, Iris Muno Jordan at ijordan@fccedmond.org or 341-3544, ext. 110.

12/7 Emily Bare, Julie Holliman, Foster Johnson, Bristol Mangum, Dana Theobald

12/10 Ashton Havenar, Kimberly Kerr

12/11 Olivia Hendricks, Robbie Shaw

12/12 Gaylon Bright, Sue Fraim, Max Vazquez

12/13 Terry Bernard, Brenda Dunn, Clarity Farrah, Scout Killackey

12/14 Martina Dowell, Abby Kerr, Lucy Mecoy, Madison Murphy

12/15 Mandy Burnett, Jason Hart, Scott Peters, Benjamin Prejean

12/16 Jim Burke, Calvin Koopman, Cody Ward

12/17 Craig Adkins, Carlita Walters

12/18 Zach Benear, Tyler Burleson, Jerri Dillon, Neal Hunt, Ted Perrin, Gwen Shaw

12/19 Linda Burke, Marynm Martin, Ellie Young

12/20 Sandra Brinkmeyer, Allison Ernst, Corvin Harlin, Jeremy Peters, Riley Robertson, Pat Warner

12/21 Tyler Black, Robert Carroll, Emily Luschen, Callie Nester, Melissa Windsor

12/22 Brock Becker, Terra Conlin, Cathy Justice, Bob McKibbin, James Wynn

12/23 Adam Bowen, Jennifer Cain, Sarah Cain, Andrea Deal, Cora Deal

12/24 Wendy Fine-Thomas, Martha Roach

12/25 Anthony Campbell, Sarah Lindley

12/26 Diana Lee, Jim Ware

12/27 Lawton Berberet, Sally Leonard

12/28 Clint Stone, Nancy Zuckermandel

12/29 Melva Davis, Jake Privette

12/30 Carl Gibson, Kody VanOsdol

12/31 Wayne Coats, Velia Deal, Roger Quinn, Tim Zimmer

1/1 Tatum Fondren, Misty Mihelich, Michele Schlough, Sharron Suarez

1/2 Charmei Coleman, Madi Huffer 

1/3 Gary Bartley, Ty Burnett, Shirley Clabaugh, Kathi DeSpain

1/4 Alexis Downs, Alex Kelley, Emri Lindley, Alexis Walters

1/5 Judy Joy, Shirley Michael, Ashley Sutch

1/6 Keven Cody, Vanessa Hart, Jimmy King

1/7 Tim Clark, Lori Fuller, Heather Galyon, Katie King

1/8 Madelynn Bartley, Matt Morris

1/9 Michael Grant, Amanda Smith, Connie Westhof, Becky Winn

1/10 Traci Bartley, Kelly Black, Bill Dobson, Jo Anne Hatley, Kate Kerr, Wayne Prewitt

1/11 George Hauser, Lance Orendorff, Patrick Palmer, Kathy Thomas

1/12 Cherrie Steele