Fill our kids' Easter with joy by helping us fill plastic Easter eggs with candy. We are now accepting tasty, individually-wrapped candy to get ready for the citywide Easter egg hunt. No homemade candy, please, and no chocolate that can melt in the sun. Place your donated candy in the Narthex Box by March 22nd. In addition, we are helping the Nora Sparks Warren Library provide snacks for after school programs. Individually wrapped single-servings such as crackers, Cheese-Its

Each year, the First Christian Church, the First Presbyterian Church, and the First United Methodist Church join together to put on community worship services for Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. This year, the Ash Wednesday service will be held at the First Christian Church on Ash Wednesday, February 18th, at 6:00pm. Come join our Methodist and First Christian friends for this meaningful worship service. For information on all the shared services, visit the M

On Sunday, February 15th, immediately after the congregational meeting, the youth will gather for pizza in the basement to be followed by a solemn burning of the palms. We will take the palms from last Palm Sunday and wrap them in aluminum "turtles" and cook them in Pastor Chas' propane grill until they turn into ashes. These ashes will be used in the Ash Wednesday service at First Christian Church on Wednesday, February 18th.

The Session has called a congregational meeting to elect two members of the congregation to the Officer Nominating Committee. The meeting will be on Sunday, February 15, immediately after the 11:00am worship service. The Officer Nominating Committee consists of one person appointed by Session from among the active Ruling Elders, and two people not currently serving on Session nominated by and elected from the congregation. Normally, these two people are elected at our annu

Join us Sunday, February 8th, immediately after church for our SOUPer Bowl Luncheon! This is a free event, but we will be accepting donations to help support our Youth Haitian missions and Pauls Valley Samaritans. Take advantage of this relaxed time of soup and fellowship with our church family—and invite a friend to come enjoy good food and great company.

This past Christmas we held a congregational meeting to elect officers for the new year. In January, we held officer training for all the active elders and deacons of the church, and session examined the new officers. On January 18th, we celebrated the officers who've ended a term of service and thanked them for their service, and we installed the new officers. Ending a term of service for which we are grateful: Jonathan Grimmett, Trustee; Rhylee Billus, Deacon; Jonathan Ed

The magi came on Epiphany and told us--told everyone they met including Herod--that they knew the king of the Jews was born. "Where is he who is born the King of the Jews? For we have seen his star." Who is this baby born to Mary? He is the King of the Jews. Epiphany, the word, has to do with revelation. The revelation of Christ by the magi to be the King of the Jews is THE revelation that gives us the name of the religious day on January 6th. Epiphany can also be the re

Participate in the church's February focus. We are now accepting both socks and underwear for schoolchildren in our city. New clothing only please. The local schools say sizes 4 to 8 in both girls and boys underwear would be appreciated. Children's socks also requested. Bring the clothing and place them in the box in the Narthex.

Due to extreme winter weather including accumulation of snow and ice and extremely cold air temperatures with dangerous wind chills as low as -20°F , the session has decided to cancel all in-person worship at the church for this Sunday, January 25. We care about you. We want you stay home and stay warm and not go out on icy roads to risk damage to your car or icy sidewalks to risk damage to yourself. If, ahead of the storm, you need help getting to the store to get provis

Immediately after church on Sunday, January 18th, the youth will gather in the basement to make cards for our friends at the Willows Assisted Living Residence. When we go to the Willows for the Third Wednesday Worship, we'll take them with us and distribute them. Current Presbyterians at the Willows include Judy Lindsay and Harry Millard, but through the Wednesday Worship program we have made many friends. Anyone can come downstairs on Sunday, the 18th, after worship to ma

On Saturday, January 10, join the crew to remove and pack away the holiday decorations from our sanctuary and annex. There's plenty of work to do and good volunteers so you enjoy the time together. The effort starts at 9:00am, so come when you can and help as long as you can.

Music is an important part of our worship time together. In that vein, we welcome Steven Elkins Kennedy to the role of Music Director and Organist.  Steve is the rehearsal keyboardist for the Garvin County Choral Society.  He  most recently held the position of Music Director and Accompanist at the First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City.  He also has kept a busy schedule accompanying students at the University of Oklahoma as well as accompanying many musical theater producti

In January, we train and install and ordain the officers we elected at the congregational meeting in December. What does "to ordain" mean? It comes from the same root as the word "order." Presbyterians get teased somewhat justifiably for trying to do everything "decently and in order." The image is an organization full of too much bureaucracy, taking too much time in deliberation, keeping around too many documents and minutes of meetings. This is in contrast to a lighter

While it may be hard to care about cold weather when we have unseasonably warm temperatures these days, we know frigid weather will come soon enough. In that vein, we want to continue our collection of warm hats, socks and gloves for kids at the Pauls Valley elementary schools and Whitebead School. Bring your donations and place them in the collection box in the Narthex. Thank you for helping us to keep our little ones warm.

Last New Year's Day I challenged you to take up the New Year's resolution to read four chapters of the Bible per day. I did this with you and finished back in October sometime. I will be starting this again on New Year's Day and invite you join me again. But this year, I am not so much inviting you make a resolution to read four chapters of the Bible per day as I am inviting you to make a resolution to read the Bible on an ongoing basis. If you read with me last year, then y

Our Children's Worship time during the worship service is canceled for Sunday, December 28. Children are welcome to attend and participate in the regular worship time with their parents on that day.

We've made it to Christmas and we celebrate the birth of Jesus. God became incarnate; the unlimited became limited in the form of a baby boy. Matthew says this fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that "the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel." Let's dig a little so that this does not become a cliché. In Isaiah, God tells Ahaz to demand a sign. Ahaz, by the way, is NOT a good king. One way to tell that in this Isaiah passage is that Ahaz do

The church office will be closed from Thursday, December 25, through Monday, January 5. In case of pastoral emergencies, please contact the church On Saturday,

Our Adult Sunday School class continues through the two weeks of the season following Christmas. We WILL be meeting on both December 28th and January 4th. The topics are currently "to be determined," but we are sure they will be meaningful. Starting January 11th, we will return to The Present Word with a series called "Enduring Beliefs of the Christian Faith" highlighting the essential teachings of the Bible in relation to defining elements of our Christian faith. Come a

Hello, friends, The Family Night Dinner was lovely last night. The catered food was tasty, the homemade food was even better, and best of all was the fellowship. We expressed appreciation for people who worked to bring it together, Christmas carols were sung, and photos were taken with the guy in the red suit. Also at the Family Night Dinner, the congregation honored the staff. Speaking on behalf of the staff, we ARE honored to serve this great congregation. We also great