Be God's love--ring a bell for an hour or two

Did you ever consider ringing the bell for the Salvation Army?  Because of the close association of the WOFCC with the Salvation Army, we coordinate bell ringers for the Elk City Walmart.

As it turns out, we need volunteers, some for as early as tomorrow.  If you could man a bell for an hour or two, please call 580 225-5500 and ask for Tim.  This is an easy way to be a part of God’s love here in western Oklahoma.

Wow! Look what's happening at Christi's Bazaar!

Black Friday has come and gone.  The same can be said for Cyber Monday, but the special sales at Christi’s Bazaar just keep on coming.

Why should I shop at Christi’s?

Despite the upscale sounding name, this is a thrift store.  That’s right; you should expect big savings on all items.  More than that, the proceeds of the store go to support the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center.

Here are half a dozen specials on the near horizon.

Christi’s Bazaar Special Sales starting next week.

1.      Tuesday and Saturday:  ½ price on everything in the store.

2.       Wednesday:  Senior citizen day--20% off storewide

3.       Thursday:  Secret Sale—you must go into store to see or check Facebook.

4.      Friday:  All household and knick-knacks--20% off. 

5.      Wednesday, December 9^th:  Christmas décor--70% off. 

6.      Bring your church bulletin in for a 10% discount any day.

Here is a special that wraps up this week:  This Friday, everyone who makes a purchase gets a free Christmas ornament.

There are great prices all of the time, plus sales, but the greatest incentive is that the proceeds go to help the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center.  That translates into helping your neighbors who are in need.

There aren’t too many places where you can indulge your urge to shop and help your neighbors at the same time.  Come and bring your shopping appetite and a generous heart to Christi’s Bazaar, 112 S. Main Street in Elk City, Oklahoma.

Please support Christi's--get a bargain and help people in need

To all of the saints living in Western Oklahoma,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Many of your congregations already know of the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center and what we do as God’s love in action in four counties in western Oklahoma.  Some, however, may not realize that we also operate a thrift store.

Christi’s  Bazaar is located at 110 S. Main Street, Elk City, Oklahoma and proceeds from the store support the Family Care Center.  We ask your help in letting your congregations know about us.  We need not only to generate revenue to support the center but need volunteers and donations as well.  Perhaps there are some within your families of faith that are led to volunteer.  They may stop in Christi’s and ask for a volunteer application Tuesday through Saturday.

To help promote traffic to Christi’s among the faithful in western Oklahoma, please announce that anyone that brings their church bulletin into the store will receive an extra 10% off any purchase through January 2016.

If you already have an allegiance to an area thrift store, we do not want to disrupt that in any way, but if anyone has not considered shopping at or donating to a thrift store to support local ministries, please consider Christi’s in the coming weeks.  Christi’s also has a Facebook page where we announce sales and specials.  Please help us be God’s love in western Oklahoma.

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Burns Flat Authors Team Up for Book Signing

Western Oklahoma Authors Bob Nagle and Tom Spence are teaming up for a book signing at Pedro’s Mexican Grille in Elk City, Oklahoma on Friday, 11 December 2015 from Noon until 2:00 p.m.  Bob and Tom will both have copies of current year releases from Tate Publishing.

Bob’s debut into the writing world is a screen play titled The Flies.  You may see this on the screen one day but this is your chance to catch the story early and learn to love a fly.

Tom will have a selection of his titles from Tate Publishing as well as his self published works.  Headlining Tom’s books are Throw Away Kids and PoMo Poverty.  These two take on hard hitting issues that impact almost every person in this part of the country.  Tom will also have his novel, Even the Elect, a story of love, lust, and deception set with a background of the end times available along with other titles such as Christianity for Marines.

Come meet both authors at lunch time on 11 December, buy a few books for Christmas presents, and enjoy a great meal at Pedro’s Mexican Grille, located at 2010 West Third Street in Elk City, Oklahoma.

Watch trailers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVqHR9hyJFo&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iJfuNHvPv0&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGmK4LRdPHA&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5FP_KJcSlI&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKXbdW9zlAY&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09zAW-i_2Jg&feature=youtu.be

Come and worship as one family of faith

Thanksgiving is upon us, and so is the Community Thanksgiving Service.  This Sunday, 22 November 2015, at 6:00 p.m. men, women, and children will gather at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church to give thanks to God.  This is the ministerial alliance community service and this year the CPC is hosting.

Come and give thanks to God is song, psalm, and even an offering.  The ministerial alliance hosts two community services each year, Thanksgiving and Easter.  It is November so it is time to given thanks as a community.

Some come to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church this Sunday evening no matter where you worshiped Sunday morning, or even if you have not been to worship God with other in a while.  It is time to give him thanks!

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE

SUNDAY

22 November 20, 2015

6 PM

CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

BURNS FLAT, OKLAHOMA

www.cumberlandpresbyterianchurch.com

Will Oklahomans respond to the tragedy unfolding around us with the same compassion as they do in the aftermath of a tornado?

Tragedy is often followed by remarkable examples of mercy and human kindness.  Such is the case with the loss of life and injuries to many in Stillwater, Oklahoma this past weekend.  As an Oklahoma State University graduate, albeit from the last millennia, there was a connection to the hurt experienced not only in the university and town but throughout the state.

But the state responded.  People responded. Help in all forms, including monetary donations continue to flow in. Oklahomans always respond to cases of great need; except that we don’t always respond.

There is great need all around us.  In Beckham, Custer, Roger Mills, and Washita Counties, people are being evicted from their homes, are living without water and electricity, and have survived the summer with no gas.  Winter is coming and the gas will become more important.

The tragedy doesn’t light up the media like something that involves 4 deaths and dozens of serious injuries.  Those events catch our attention and often we respond, but when a family’s income gradually withers away, it often goes unnoticed.  When a job is lost, then the bills are not paid, then the rent is four months past due; few take notice of this.

In most cases, these are not what the world would call “deadbeats.”  These are people who barely made it working two minimum wage jobs and now they are down to a single job or none at all with prospects for more work not very promising.  They have not given up; they just can’t catch up on their own.

There is some help from various government agencies, churches, and from a place that few people know helps a lot of people in all four counties—the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center.  The center helps with bills and food, medical and dental, and provides life counseling to not only meet an immediate need, but to help people get back on their feet and be productive.

The services are free to those who need them, and yes there is a screening process.  Yes, those who meet with applicants do know how to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves in doing benevolence work amidst a culture in which panhandling thrives. 

Many people might think, “I’m barely making it.  How can I help somebody else?”

The answer is that you are making it.  You still have a job, income, and somehow are blessed enough not to be lining up for free food and medical care. 

You still have a business and people are still buying your products and using your services.

You can still count yourselves among those who are blessed enough to help.

Help is exactly what the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center needs right now.  November 10^th is the annual fundraising dinner.  What is raised here will be budgeted across all of 2016 to help those in need.

What is needed?  The center needs $100,000 to continue to provide a full array of services for the year to come.  This year benevolence help often ran out mid month and some were turned away.  Many were helped but some were turned away.

If you would like to donate and help your neighbors, please call (580) 225-5500.  If you would like to know more about this faith based, board governed, donor sponsored organization, please purchase a ticket for the Fall Fundraiser to be held on 10 November 2015 at the Elk City Civic Center.  Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

There is a human tragedy unfolding around us.  Are you concerned enough to help?

http://www.westokfcc.com/

I keep hearing about this WOFCC. What is it? Why should I care?

I don’t know much about the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center, but what I have heard is good; well, except the part about needing more money.  That’s a little sad.

It would only take a little from each person to help those in the community who can’t keep their heads above water.  I think I want to give something but want to know a little more.

Great!  Here are two things that will help.

First, visit the website.  It is simple but explanatory.  You will find that it’s more than just help with bills and food.  There is a medical and dental clinic and a pharmacy.  Wow!

And here is the thing that might just get you to the point where you say, “Yes!  I want to be a part of that.  I want to donate money or time or something else.”

What’s the thing?  The WOFCC doesn’t just give out money.  There is a process that involves meeting with people about their relationship with God, godly living—especially in the area of budget, and getting a plan to get out of poverty.

Most effective ministries embrace this concept:  We meet people where they are.  Very effective ministries are not content with throwing them some help and leaving them there. 

The WOFCC is this community’s compassionate ministry and has its sights set on leading people to a better life.  The Family Care Center helps people in need now with the goal of seeing them become productive and contributing citizens in the future.

Second, come to the WOFCC fundraiser on the 10^th of November.  A ticket is only $25.  If you go to a political fundraiser, those tickets are $2,500 and you have to listen to a politician.  Tickets to the WOFCC fundraiser are only $25 and you can meet the board members and other donors in the community and see for yourself that the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center is something that is calling you to donate, volunteer, or otherwise participate.

Where can I get my ticket?

Tom Spence will be at Christi’s Thrift Store on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. selling and signing his books to support the WOFCC.  He will have tickets with him.

You can also stop by the WOFCC and purchase a ticket there.