October 2017Volume 14, Issue 3

T he Old Testament is Dying. The title of this book by

Brent A. Strawn is a startling declaration

of the perspective many contemporary Christians have toward the

Old Testament. Strawn laments that for many Christians the Old Testament no longer is received as sacred scripture. He calls us to renew our commitment to the Old Testament as it lays the foundation and offers insight into the New Testament and the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

In response to Strawn’s premise, we will retell The Stories of Old in worship during October. We will look at the major themes of Revelation, Creation, Covenant, Exodus, and Exile that dominate its pages.

Be in prayer for our deacons as they gather for breakfast and conversation on Sept. 30. During this season of All Things New it is important for our deacons to continue to offer their servant-leadership in meaningful and effective ways.

Nominations for our Deacon Ministry Team are being received through October 15. You may pick up a nomination form at church or simply email your nomination to office@fbcnorman. All members of FBC who meet the scriptural qualifications and have been a Christian for three or more years and a member of FBC for at least one year are eligible for consideration. Your nominations are the beginning point in discerning who God is calling to serve as deacon. Prayerfully consider who you will nominate.

At church conference on Sept. 24, the church approved a Minister of Discipleship and Children search committee. This position will fill the void created by the Hatcher’s transition to Waco. Kirk continues to serve faithfully as our Minister of Discipleship, but the Personnel Committee felt it important for the search committee to begin their work. This position provides overarching leadership in the area of discipleship, but focuses specifically in ministering to our children and their families. The need for a full-time minister to provide leadership to our children and families has been shared by many in our congregation.

Have you discovered Wednesday evenings at FBC? Our family meal begins at 5:15 p.m. with wonderful fellowship around the table. Evening Prayers are in B26 at 6:00 p.m., offering a quiet place for guided prayer and scripture reading. FBC Kids and Youth activities also begin at 6:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Bible studies and Foundations: New Testament Survey begin at 6:15 p.m. Worship Choir rehearsal starts at 6:30 p.m. There is a place for you on Wednesday evening. Join us and discover the joy of being part of the FBC community.

10-1Operation Christmas Child Kickoff

Friendship Sunday Supper4:00 p.m.

Clothes Closet 4:30 p.m.

10-2Adult 55+1st Monday Playtime

12:00 p.m. G.O.E.

Brown Bag Lunch1:00 p.m.

Wagner Hall, OU Campus

10-3WMU

11:30 a.m.FLC Conference Room

10-7Game Day Parking, Youth

8:00 a.m.

Calendar of Events

DR. WADE SMITH

Over the past month we have distributed 91 bags of food and need to re-stock our shelves. We need the following items:• Cereal or oatmeal• Macaroni and cheese• Canned chicken• Spaghetti sauce• Spaghetti• Peanut butter and jelly

• Canned fruit• Canned soups• Green beans• Toothpaste and tooth brushes• Deodorant• Shampoo• Size 4 diapers

Items can be delivered to the church office, either on Sunday or during the week.

Food pantry shelves in need of restock

Children in our Kaleidoscope and Kaleidoscope Jr. programs recently were treated to the comic and magical talents of Mr. Charlie.

The children were introduced to magic, dancing the bunny-hop, the hokey-pokey and learning the fine art of doing the limbo.

First Baptist Church and the Fee-Based Ministry appreciates Charlie Gass for his time volunteering to entertain our youngest guests.

If you have a special talent or idea you'd like to share with our Fee-Based Ministry, email Vickie Riggs at vickier@fbcnorman.org.

MR. CHARLIE VISITS FBC

Thank you for your response to the need of volunteers as we begin the journey together of having a decreased staff.

You have graciously found ways to assist in the office, support ministers and have been gracious in the ways that a few things may have fallen through the cracks. The job is far from over as we still have vacancies to fill in weekly office support in the main church office and the FLC.

I think Tiffany Noble said it best in her offertory prayer a few weeks ago. With all that is happening in our world, it leaves us in a sense of chaos. Who would have thought after Hurricane Harvey would be followed by Irma, followed by Jose and then Maria? How do we respond? Through prayers for those impacted, for sure!

We have shown great generosity with expressions of financial support. As to date, we have provided $9,635 to our partners in relief support. All of the support we raise will go to our neighbors in Texas and Louisiana.

Now the opportunity to go and serve is upon us. I have been asked to give some guidance to relief efforts. Please pray for wisdom in where and when we should go and offer some physical presence.

I see this support happening in many ways. Certainly there is need for demolition and clean up; restoration will be required; meals to be shared; cleanup to be accomplished; spiritual and emotional support to be offered, and the list goes on.

Where do you see God moving in your life to participate? This will be a long journey of recovery and I envision a number of trips. I am working on a trip for the week of Oct. 29. If you are interested in going on this trip, or one in the future, please let me know as soon as possible.

Beginning Sunday, Oct. 1, our giving to recovery efforts will change to support our own mission projects in Harvey restoration.

SCHOOL IS IN FULL SWING AND SO IS OUR FEE-BASED MINISTRY

Time to serve

ROY JOEHAM

MR. CHARLIE VISITS FBC

OctoberHighlights

Sept./Oct. Birthday Bash11:30 a.m.Koinonia12

Deadline for Deacon Nominations

Friendship Sunday Supper4:00 p.m.

Food Pantry4:30 p.m.

Norman North Football dinner6:30 p.m.FLC

15

16

9Brown Bag Lunch1:00 p.m.Wagner Hall, OU Campus

The Voices of Mobile will perform at First Baptist Church during the 10:30 a.m. worship on Sunday, Oct. 8.

The Voices of Mobile are a vocal ensemble consisting of 16 students from The University of Mobile. Voices maintains a performing schedule in churches, schools, conferences, and civic events throughout the United States and abroad.

Additional, ministry opportunities have included performances at the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church in NY, Southern Baptist Convention Pastor’s Conference, the White House, Carnegie Hall in NYC, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, Israel, the Cayman Islands, and a Coast to Coast tour traveling as far west as California and as north as New York.

Voices is produced by Dr. Roger

Breland and directed by Andrew and Jenna Goodwin.

“To me, they are more than singers —they are people that love God, representing their University and their faith. You will love the Voices of Mobile...I love their hearts,” Breland said.

Voices of Mobile to perform at First Baptist

OCTOBER 7FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH MOORE

301 NE 27TH ST., MOORE

CONTACT THE FBC NORMAN CHURCH OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION

DISASTER RELIEF MINISTRY TRAINING

AT FIRST GLANCE (USPS 008-741) is published monthly by the First Baptist Church, 211 W. Comanche St., Norman, OK (405)321-1753.  Periodical postage paid at Norman, OK.  POSTMASTER:  Send address changes to AT FIRST GLANCE, 211 W. Comanche, Norman, OK 73069-5698.

At FIRST Glance

First Baptist Church211 W

. Comanche St.

Norm

an, OK 73069

Address Service Requested

First Baptist Church would like to extend sympathies to:

Jean Tahkofper at the passing of her mother, Hazel Porter

Ada and Steve Sewell at the passing of Ada's brother, Alex DeGolyer

October 1 Jennifer Godinez, Charlotte Haxel, Sarah HoldenOctober 2 Bob Bell Sr., Debbie Davis, Kim Marks, Connie Matthews, Parker McMillenOctober 3 Joshua Cater, Jennifer Chen, Polly Dvorak, Michelle Foster, John Miller, Joy Beth RobinsonOctober 4 Isaac Atkins, Mark Hyde, Morgan Smith, Sharon Vinson, Von WortenOctober 5 Russell Burgess, Debbie Deering, Dorothy Kitchens, Dr. Bruce Naylor, Alice Rose, Bill Thurman, Andre WilsonOctober 6 Kelsey Couch, Kate Koutsoukos, Colleen Parrish, Philip Parrish, Rachel SherwinOctober 7 Catherine Brownlow, Kell Haworth, Craig NipperOctober 8 Nicholas PapacOctober 9 Hillary Dicksion, Ronald Hammons, Jack Lane, Robert TerrellOctober 11 Harold Fithian, Frances Geyer, Alisa Lane, Randy ReistOctober 12 Cynthia Avery, Connor Knudsen, Linda Lang, May Morris, Jessica WarrenOctober 13 Aileen Allison, Tom Crider, Chuong Le, Shaun Thompson, Gwen WhartonOctober 14 Dwight Cagle, Jenny WilsonOctober 15 D’June Emmanuel, Susan Murphree, Mary Louise SymcoxOctober 16 Caleb Adams, John Cherry, Chuck Gage, Randy PraytorOctober 17 Ted Greb, Murlene Reynolds, Evelyn Smith

October 18 Mike Weatherholt October 19 Barbra Landreth, Jim YeagerOctober 21 Priscilla Smith, Rachel SpannagleOctober 22 Anna Smist, Tommy Tiller, Gene Valentino, Steve Williams, George Wilson Jr., Bill YouseyOctober 23 Tyler Haxel, Laura Robertson, Addison Smith, Ainsley Smith, Tehmina ZafarOctober 24 Carlene Atkinson, Peter Bowles, Bill Durham, Chelsey Gravel, Barbara Hunt, Julie LesserOctober 25 Keith Hale Jr., Matthew Morris, Russell MorrisOctober 26 Aaron Dyer, Sue Green, Lavene NunnallyOctober 27 Deborah Fisher, Lois Merritt, Paridokhte Momtazzadeh, Charlotte Scott, Carter WindesOctober 28 Maxine Badgett, Beth Barbour, Stanley Caddell, Myles Deering, Victoria Elwell, Sherra Kirkpatrick, Aubrey McCraw, Kay Mercer, Joe Shockley Jr., Nora WeatherholtOctober 29 Charles Anderson, Brandon Bratcher, Steve SheltonOctober 30 Jeffrey A. Jones, Mary Strevett, Greg TerrellOctober 31 Mart Ellen Davis, Don Masters, Debbie Miller, Denise Upchurch

October Birthdays

Sympathies

Celebrating Excellence Banquet Planned

On Sunday, Oct. 22, CBF Oklahoma will hold its annual Celebrating Excellence Banquet at the National Weather Center Atrium, 120 David L. Boren

Blvd., in Norman. The banquet will begin at 6:00 p.m. Author of Four Fragile Freedoms, Walter Shurden, will provide the 2017 keynote address.

The banquet also will honor and celebrate the lives of this year’s honorees: Lana Bolhouse, Dan Day, Pam Durso and Charles Wade.

Register online at cbfok.org/2017-celebrating-excellence-banquet.

For more information, email Steve Graham at sgraham@cbfok.org or call 447-2471

Deacon NominationsNominations for our Deacon

Ministry Team are being received through October 15.

You may pick up a nomination form at church or simply email your nomination to office@f bcnorman.