New Safety on Wednesday Nights

If you were here last Wednesday when we kicked off our new fall classes, you may have noticed a Tulsa Police Officer just inside the North doors. The Discipleship team identified that they are busy teaching on Wednesdays and could not monitor the doors. Last year we had two incidents with strangers who entered the building that raised our awareness of our vulnerability. So we have moved some of our budget to providing this officer for the safety of our children and youth. We are asking everyone to use the North Door to enter the building for Wednesday night classes. If we have a tornado warning, the fire alarm goes off again or a person that presents a risk enters the building then this officer will decide if we need additional help and release us when it is safe. We give thanks for the giving from this congregation that affords us the ability to provide this safety.

It was a wonderful first night of ministry as the Bible Explorers ate foods from the Holy Land and talked about what is was like in Bible times. The 40 Youth had colored powder wars on the East lawn and they all left multi-colored! Some of the brave adults who volunteer in that ministry were covered in powder as well. Aren’t they amazing? The littlest in the building stayed a safe distance away from those crazy youth while playing on the playground and eating popsicles. They do a Bible memory verse each week.

The adults tackled Multi Ethnic conversations with daily Bible reading and conversation. The Parenting Teenagers class was loud and authentic in their frustration and bonding. Other adults prepared music with the Bell Choir and the Chancel Choir. We need people for both of these choirs and would love to introduce you to this world of music. I would say it was a wonderful night to kick off our Fall ministry at Faith.

But in the midst of this first week together we lost two of our own. Jenny Cummings went to heaven on Sunday after being a member here since 1981. She is now residing in the church triumphant! And we lost our dear Ingrid Matthews on Tuesday. She was so lovely and we are so glad she moved to town and joined us in 2014. And when we thought that was all, Laural Zavodny’s fifty-four year old son Doug died down in Plano, Tx. Our heart breaks for Laural and the loss of her child.

I feel like you probably need something profound from me now. A scripture that will make us feel better. But I am not sure that I have it in me today. This roller coaster that we call life is a scary ride sometimes. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Ecclesiastes says that there is a time for everything. A time to dance and a time to mourn. These two things have blended together in the life of the church this week. I pray that you found a time to dance.