A6 - THE PERKINS JOURNAL, Thursday, June 28, 2012
Church N
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Perkins First United Methodist Church
By Pastor Kip Heatley
I read online somewhere the other day that a pastor in an
extreme fundamentalist church that handles rattlesnakes as
part of its worship was bitten by one of the "liturgical" snakes
and died. Whether this sect is right or wrong in this practice
I'll not comment upon, except to say that I will never be a part
of such a sect.
With that said, I have to admit that sects like these fascinate
me in an odd way, as I am sure they do other believers. These
people keep a supply of real, live, poisonous rattlesnakes on
hand and use them regularly in their worship experience, han-
dling them as an act of faith. During worship, the leadership of
the church (and members?) pick up these deadly reptiles and
can'y them around the sanctuary, dancing with them, waving
them, and shouting biblical promises in their faces, as a testi-
mony to their faith in God.
This is no secret to anyone who attends or visits these churches;
everyone who comes to the services of these churches knows
that venomous snakes will be handled during the services.
Indeed, this may be the biggest reason most of the parishioners
come. The congregations may be small and the churches few
in number, but they are there and their members presumably
look forward to handling potentially life-threatening reptiles as
part of their service to God.
Still, I have to wonder: do these believers ever share their
faith outside of their sanctuaries? Do they ever verbally relay
to anyone what God is doing in their life, or what their worship
means to them? I will wager that they don't, that they would
rather handle rattlesnakes than talk about their faith, for if there
is anything the majority of believers seem loathe to do these
days, it is to talk to anyone about our faith in Jesus Christ or
even invite anyone to share in worship with us. I'll bet those
snake-handlers clam up just like the rest of us when it comes
to actually speaking about what is going on in our inner life or
the life of our church. And no matter how you look at it, silence
is bad news for any church. Ultimately, it means a slow and
wasting death - like the one many churches are facing today.
It is a well-known fact that the major US denominations (such
as United Methodists and Southem Baptists) have lost millions
and millions of members. Of course, a large percentage has
been lost through death. But the point is: there is no influx of
new believers to even begin to overcome the outflow. And the
main reason for that is silence.
I heard a wonderful story this week from a fellow pastor about
a woman in his church who asked her housekeeper of several
years if she would like to attend worship with her. The woman
replied that ever since she had been living in that community
she had been waiting for someone to invite herto worship. And
she had lived there for sixteen years!
Sixteen years, without a single invitation to worship. Can you
believe it? If you can't, then perhaps you need to think about
when it was you last invited someone to worship.
However, the story has a happy ending. That woman said yes
to her employer's invitation, ended up joining the church, and'
within a year six other people had joined that same congrega-
tion because of this woman's invitations to worship. All she
did was invite people, and God did the rest.
Regardless of what you may feel about inviting others to
worship, it really is easier than handling rattlesnakes.
Lost Creek United Methodist Church
June is a great ILrne to be part of Lost Creek! So far this month,
we've sent 23 youth and adults to work in Oklahoma City. As
soon as the Youth Force team returned, the Alaska Mission
team took off for Soldotna and Kenai Alaska. While there, the
25 person team did repair work at the Soldotna United Method-
ist Church and parsonage and continued work at the Friendship
Mission in Kenai. Lost Creek has worked in this area for the
past 5 years. The Friendship Mission is a homeless shelter and
halfway house for men in the Kenai area. A tent revival was
also held by the team for four evenings of the mission.
Meanwhile, back at home, Vacation Bible School drew a
large number of children. Donations from the offering each
evening went to buy a water well in Peru as we have done the
last several years.
For the first time, we have a member traveling to Venezuela
on a mission trip. Kees Preston, student at Ohio State University
and one of Lost Creek's own is spending in month in mission
there with Campus Crusade for Christ.
With only a couple days to regroup, Youth Force Perkins took
off Sunday evening. Nearly 150 youth and adults fi'om Kansas,
Oklahoma and Texas joined forces to work at 13 different work
sites around Perkins, in Cushing, Ripley and Slillwater: You
may have noticed an influx of United Methodist vans around
town. These young people ate breakfast and supper at Lost
Creek each day, and ended their day with worship together
there each evening. They were housed at Eden Chapel United
Methodist Church and at Oak Park Retreat Center. What a joy
to host and work along with these young people!
As you can see, Lost Creek is a place to put your faith into
action! You are welcome to join us for any of these activities.
Worship services are 8:30 and 11:00 on Sunday mornings.
Our Sunday School time is 9:45 with classes for everyone.
You can find out more about Lost Creek by looking at our
website--lostcreekumc.org, calling the church office at 405-
377-0927 or "like" us on Facebook. Lost Creek is located
between Perkins and Stillwater on 80th Street. We'd love to
have you join us!
in the Sanctuary, 10:30am Gathering in the Fellowship Hall,
1 l:00am Sunday School and Special Classes. ,
This is the 5TH Sunday after Pentecost and it is Communiorl
Sunday at Eden Chapel. The scripture this Sunday comes from.
the New Testament Book of 2 Corinthians 8: 7-15 with the title
of the sermon being "Generosity: A Fair Balance". A quote
from Bob Hope "Laughter is an instant vacation. Giving to
God is like a two-week cruise- WITH PAY !" Yes, God loves,
a cheerful giver and as Christians we are called to give. Not
because your church needs the money, but because it is part"f, ii"'
of being a Christian. It is that simple, give because God gives!
Generosity is the unselfish willingness to give in order to make,
a positive difference for the purpose of God's kingdom. Let'S i
face it we should give because it makes us feel good knowing
that God likes it when we do give, just like a two-week cruise
- WITH PAY!
Please remember you are always welcome to come and ii
experience avery unique way of learning more about God and' "".
church family. Again weekly Communion is at 9am; Wor-
ship Service starts at 9:30am; Gathering Time is 10:30am with :"
classes at 11:00am. Eden Chapel United Methodist Church is,
located at the comer of 92nd Street and S. Fairgrounds Road.
We are the little church under the big sign. Come see us, we"
think you will find a home with us!
Immanuel Baptist Church
Eden Chapel United Methodist Church the juice, as the church remembers together what Christ has
tt nt J'~l
By Claudia Andrews
"Amazing Wonders Aviation" Vacation Bible School is on' '
until Fri June 29! Children who have completed Kindergarten ',
thru Grade 6 are invited to join us these last 3 days for exciting,i, i,
Bible lessons, music, crafts, and recreation!
We continue to worship at Oak Park Relxeat Center, 805 E'
Kirk, on Sundays. Reva Anderson and Lynn Davis played a
duet viola and violin offertory "Grace Greater Than our Sin"
and Lynn Davis sang "Amazing Grace" at their conclusiom, - ,
The IBC choir sang the special "God Be Praise (with Our God[," :
Reigns)" before the sermon for those who came to celebrate
Jesus as Lord on Sunday. i~
Brother Robin Foster's message "The Lord's Supper: A
Symbol of Sanctification and Unity was taken from Luke 22i ,
14- 23, I Corinthians 11:17-34, plus others. The Passover was
the background/foreshadow when Christ shared the Lord's
Supper (last supper) with His disciples. The significance of '.
the Lord's Supper is a partaking of the elements: the bread i'i)f
/
Welcome to Eden Chapel United Methodist Church a very
unique experience in worship. We do Sundays a little different
at Eden Chapel and we believe you will enjoy it as much as
we do. We begin every Sunday morning with a very personal
Communion Experience in our Prayer Chapel. Then we pre-
pare for our Sunday Morning Worship which leads us into our
Gathering Time; after that we are off to Sunday School to share
our lives and experiences with each other. We have children,
youth, adult and inter-generational groups, so we just know
that we have one for you. Our Sundays are as follows: 9:00am
Weekly Communion in the Prayer Chapel, 9:30am Worship
done for each one through His sacrifice on Calvary for those U.
who believe. It's a remembrance that we have been sanctified '"
or set apart for holy use, having been redeemed by the blood of
Jesus and shows the love and unity within the church. It is not
tobe taken, lightly, "just because" or with a special group, but
whenthe church comes together' each examining themselves
and collectively, realizing that it is not what we have done, bur :" !'
what He has done and is doing in our lives. We are to do thi
on a regular basis until Jesus comes again to drink the final
restoration "cup" ! .
Brother Robin's evening message was a continuance of the
See CHURCH, page A7
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HARRIS ELEq
Residential Electrical Service
24 Hour Emergency Service Calls
License # OK35905
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Pirst Assembly of God
Perkins 54%5111
Pstor Rick Thacker
Sun
Choir-WeAnesday--7~00 :
'River of Live
Phone: (405) 547-4064
P. O. Box 366
Perkins, OK 74059 QENERAC"
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You Can
Pffy ne
Bank
(405) 547-2436
www.paynecountybank.com
Perkins 54%2494
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
623 S; West St Stillwater * 372-6886
6p.m.
F Perkins
213
246 S. Main o 547.2414
Steve & Kelley Myers
See you in church Sunday
Tryon Assembly
Open Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:30 p.m.
& Sat. 8-Noon
Sadler Road & Hwy. 33.Perkins
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