Wednesday, December 31, 2025 | E-News | Vol. 7, Issue 26 | | "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!" – Psalm 100:4 | |
Epiphany Sunday, January 4
8 a.m. traditional worship, Kerr Chapel
8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. contemporary worship, Stephenson Hall
11 a.m. traditional worship, Sanctuary
11 a.m. international worship, Great Hall
5 p.m. Epiphany bonfire & polar plunge, Camp Loughridge
Begin the New Year by celebrating Epiphany with us at First Church. As our regular service schedule resumes, we’ll reflect on the call to seek Christ through the sermon “Pursuing Jesus.” Join us for meaningful worship as we step into the year ahead together. And, join us at beautiful Camp Loughridge's Lake Parthenia for our Epiphany bonfire and polar plunge. More details below.
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New Year’s Eve Watch Night worship
Wednesday, December 31, 9 p.m. - January 1, 12:30 a.m., Great Hall
Come gather with us to bring in the new year for a night of worship with the TIF worship team and guest speaker Kevin Waita.
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Epiphany Bonfire & Polar Plunge
Sunday, January 4, 5 p.m.; Camp Loughridge
Gather at Camp Loughridge for an Epiphany tradition featuring a warming bonfire, a short homily, cookies, and hot cider or cocoa—followed by a bracing plunge into Lake Parthenia to retrieve the cross. Bring your greens for the bonfire, with greenery drop-off beginning January 1 at Camp Loughridge.
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Newcomer Gathering
Sunday, January 18, 9:30 a.m.; Miller Library
Are you a new or longtime visitor, or just want to find out more about the church? Join us for light breakfast and fellowship as you explore life at First Church.
- Learn what it means to become a member
- Discover opportunities to get involved
- Ask questions in a relaxed setting
- Connect with other newcomers and longtime members
This event is not just for newcomers! First Church members: make a plan to stop by and greet these newcomers. A warm welcome, friendly conversation, and simple hospitality are some of the easiest ways to be an ambassador for the church and help our guests feel at home. For more information or to RSVP, email Emma Myatt.
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Annual Chili Cook-Off: Sunday, January 25, 2026
Donations support our mission at Anderson Elementary
Calling all chili cooks! Share your best recipe and compete for the Most Popular Chili, Judges’ Choice or Most Creative awards. To enter, contact Cindy DeVore at 918-630-2626. Every cook will receive a long-sleeve Chili Cook-Off t-shirt as a thank-you for participating.
Everyone is invited to come enjoy warm fellowship, sample a variety of homemade chilis and vote with event “fun money” sold that day. Funds raised through the Most Popular Chili vote support grocery food boxes for Anderson Community Nights, along with uniforms, coats and other essential needs for Anderson Elementary families—strengthening our ongoing partnership while bringing our church community together.
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Presbyterian Women January Mission
The Presbyterian Women’s January mission project is Anderson Elementary School. They are collecting pencils, crayons, erasers, copy paper, white construction paper, boxes of tissues, and disinfectant wipes. Please place items in the black PW mission container, which will be in the atrium on Sundays and Wednesdays.
| | Wednesday Night Downtown resumes January 7 | |
Created for Connection:
How to build Christ centered, healthy relationships rooted in trust and love
6:15-7:30 p.m., Miller Library
Dr. Tom Philp, LPC and therapist at Stonebridge Couples, explores God’s design for healthy, life-giving relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners by integrating biblical wisdom with sound psychological insight. Through Scripture, discussion, and practical reflection, participants will learn how attachment, emotional awareness, boundaries, forgiveness, and repair shape our ability to love well. The class emphasizes Christ-centered relationships marked by trust, that weaves its way through each discussion.
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Class 1 - Biblical Teaching About Right Relationships with God and Others: The class aims to bridge faith and wisdom, helping participants understand how Christ-centered love fosters trust, security, and mutual growth in all relationships.
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Class 2 – Relationship Repair: A special focus is given to the rupture and repair process—how misunderstandings, hurt, and disconnection are inevitable, but also how God uses repair to deepen intimacy, trust, and resilience.
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Class 3 - Family Systems: This class invites participants to examine their stories with compassion and truth, discovering how God works through family systems to bring healing, growth, and restoration. Together, we will explore how Christ-centered awareness can help break generational patterns, strengthen communication, and cultivate healthier relationships within families.
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Class 4 - From Anxiety to Peace: Anxiety has become one of the most common struggles of our time, impacting individuals, families, and communities in ways previous generations did not experience. This class explores anxiety through both biblical wisdom and sound psychological insight, helping participants understand why anxiety is so prevalent today and how faith and science together offer pathways toward peace, resilience, and hope.
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Class 5 - Boundaries: This class invites adults to explore how to set healthy, Christ-centered boundaries while still practicing forgiveness and pursuing reconciliation. Many believers struggle to know where love ends and self-sacrifice becomes harmful, or how to forgive without enabling unhealthy patterns. Drawing from Scripture and sound psychological principles, this class clarifies the difference between boundaries, walls, and reconciliation.
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Class 6 - Decision Making: Every stage of life brings important decisions—some small and daily, others life-shaping. This class explores how to make wise, Christ-centered decisions as individuals, as couples, within families, and while caring for both children and aging loved ones.
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Seekers Bible Study
6:15 - 7:30 p.m., E104
Rev. Wambugu leads us through the remarkable book of Esther, a Jewish woman who courageously saves her people from annihilation of the Persian empire by relying on God’s divine providence.
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Pastor Nominating Committee update
The Pastor Nominating Committee continues its faithful weekly work—reviewing candidates, listening to sermons, and seeking God’s leading with unity and optimism. The team is now engaging with pastors across the PC(USA) and the broader Presbyterian family, remaining committed to the high standards that have long shaped First Church’s ministry.
As the search moves forward, the PNC asks for your continued prayers—for wisdom, endurance, and for the pastor God is preparing to call to First Church.
Watch the video of PNC chair Joel Donohue's update on our YouTube channel here.
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Stay connected with First Church - Join realm today!
Haven't signed up? Learn how here.
First Church members, have you joined Realm yet? This powerful tool helps you stay connected, update your profile, find church events, give online, and engage with your groups—all in one place. Watch this short video with Kathy Wilson and Emma Myatt as they explain how Realm makes church life easier and more interactive.
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Update your contact information
Have you moved or changed your phone number or email address recently? Please take a moment to update your information on your profile in the Realm Connect app, or contact Kathy Wilson at 918-301-1029 to share your new details. Keeping our records current helps us stay connected and serve you better.
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Reporting births, marriages and hospitalizations
Since most hospitals are no longer providing information to the church about our members who are hospitalized, you can help us. Please call the church at 918-584-4701 or email Kathy Wilson to report hospitalizations, births and marriages. To directly request prayer by the Guild of Intercessors, call Paula Peterson at 918-296-5548 or text her at 918-688-2163.
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