Last December, we launched our “All In” campaign, inviting everyone to join us in aggressively reducing our building debt while benefiting from a low interest rate. Many of you have generously stepped up, contributing through regular giving or one-time gifts, and we are grateful for your support. As we continue this effort, we invite you to prayerfully consider participating in a Special “All In” Offering on Sunday, April 13. Our goal is to raise $75,000 throughout April to further advance the “All In” campaign, and your generosity can make a lasting impact.
Let’s go “All In”
Let’s go “All In”
In March of this year, we moved into our freshly renovated Worship Center. I think every one of us is thankful for the improvements that have been made to our facility and that it is set up to serve our church and the residents of our community for the foreseeable future. Of course, a project like this comes with a hefty price tag, and thank you to everyone who has given so generously over the last couple of years to help us make strides in paying for it.
When we started the project, we were fortunate to secure a low interest rate of 3.45% for five years. If you have shopped interest rates lately, you know what a great rate this is. However, we only have two more years left at this rate and need to pay as much as possible before the rate increases. We have set the lofty goal of taking in $1.5 million between now and the end of 2026. This would help us make a considerable dent in what we owe before the rate increases.
While this goal is attainable, it will take all of us giving generously and, at times, sacrificially above our general gifts to the church. Because of this, we have chosen the theme “All In” for this two-year campaign. For us to see this debt reduced and eventually paid off, we are all going to have to join in and give together. Every gift matters, and every one of us can contribute something. You will receive additional information in the coming weeks, but this campaign will kick off on December 15th with a special offering at our church Christmas Gathering. I want to ask you and your family to join us in our steps to go above and beyond our regular giving to see this much-needed upgrade to our facility paid off. If we all go “All In,” I know God will bless it and help us see this project through to the end.
For His glory and your joy,
Pastor Charlie
Christmas Season 2024
Special Events & service times
Friday, December 6—Christmas Spectacular at 6:30 pm at Moore’s Central Park.
Friday, December 13—Parents’ Night Out, 6-9 pm at First Moore. Children, wear all things Christmas!
Sunday, December 15—First Moore’s Christmas Gathering at 10:30 am. We will have breakfast in the Atrium at 9 am.
Sunday, December 22—Worship Service 10:30 am. There will be no Life Groups on this day, but we will have Preschool Ministry and Kids Worship during service.
Tuesday, December 24—Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6:30 pm. We will take communion during this service! Preschool ministry for children through 2-year-olds.
Sunday, December 29—Worship Service 10:30 am. There will be no Life Groups on this day, but we will have Preschool Ministry and Kids Worship during service.
Next, on December 13 from 6-9pm, is our Parents’ Night Out! This three hour opportunity will cost you a small fee of $5 per child or $20 family max. This is for 6th graders and below. Register below by Wednesday, December 11th!
Missions Month
| November is Missions Month |
We have prayer stations around the church to learn and pray about people worldwide.
Pastoral & Ministerial Appreciation Month
First Moore has many staff members (Pastors, Ministers, and Directors) to whom we would love to shower with appreciation. The Deacons are asking you to do the following:
1. Make a gift, over and above your normal tithes and offerings, to the “Appreciation” Fund here:
2. Write notes of appreciation to those who work in the areas that affect you and your family.
3. Stop and say “Thank you” as you see them around the church!
-Deacon Body
Serving Opportunity
On September 28, the Foster Care and Adoptive Association of Oklahoma will be using our campus for a training from 9am-3:30pm. We would like to serve the parents attending by caring for their children. If you would like to serve this day, you can pick a three-hour time slot and what age you would prefer to care for. Please register below to let us know you want to help!
MPS Gift Bags
To help start off the year on a positive note, we are collecting Clorox wipes, Kleenex tissues, and Expo Dry Erase Markers for our MPS Educators! We have a goal to collect 2500 of each item by July 31! Donation boxes will are located around the church campus to drop off the items. Please share with your Life Group to encourage them to bring the items to church this week. We are also accepting monetary donations for school supplies. You can donate by clicking the button below.
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Q&A with Pastor Charlie #1
I told you last month that for the rest of the year, I intend to answer questions from the body concerning things like faith, doctrine, and life according to the Bible. You can submit these questions via email at questions@firstmoore.com. The first question that I am going to address has to do with baptism. There were many questions attached to this, and since I have such limited space, I will share our church’s belief regarding baptism.
Simply put, we believe that baptism is an ordinance of the church (the other being the Lord’s Supper) by which one publicly declares their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation by identifying themselves with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. It is important for me to state that we do not believe baptism is necessary for salvation, as we believe that our salvation is through grace alone and received by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). This means that salvation is not something we earn or work for but rather is a gift of God that we receive through faith in Jesus. This is one of the things the reformers fought for, and it is important for us to understand lest we believe that salvation is a work or ritual. This does not downplay the importance of baptism, as we see that Christ commanded it after His resurrection and before His ascension in Matthew 28:19-20 (also known as the Great Commission). If Christ commanded it for His disciples, we should see it as important and obey it. However, it does make a clear distinction between what is necessary for salvation (faith, apart from any work) and what is an act of obedience following salvation.
We need to understand several other things about baptism if we are to apply it properly. First, baptism in the Bible is always by immersion. We know this because the word for baptism in the Bible, baptizo, means to immerse, dip, or plunge. Second, every description of baptism in the Bible speaks to immersion. When the Bible describes someone being baptized, it includes phrases like “in the river” (Mark 1:5) or “he came out of the water” (Mark 1:10). These all describe baptism as immersion rather than something like sprinkling. Third, because the picture of baptism is an identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, symbolizing our own death to sin and new life in Christ, then immersion is the mode that most clearly tells this story. Going into the water and coming out is the clearest picture of what baptism symbolizes (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12).
The next thing we need to see is that baptism is for believers only. Only those who profess faith in Jesus, have a biblical testimony of salvation and have a clear understanding of what salvation is (and isn’t) and what baptism is (and isn’t) should be baptized. This safeguards us against baptizing unbelievers or those who may put their faith in the wrong thing.
The final thing that I think we should see is that since baptism is an ordinance of the church when there is a local church available, it should be conducted by and with the gathering of the church. It is the church that is to bear testimony to one’s faith, it is the church that should celebrate with the new believer, and it is the church that is welcoming one into their fellowship. This is not to say that baptism must happen within a church building, but rather with the gathered body when able, affirming and celebrating God’s work in their life.
If you are a believer in Jesus who has not followed in baptism following your salvation, please reach out to us so we can discuss the next steps for you at firstmoore.com/baptism.
For His glory and your joy,
Pastor Charlie
Next Gen Summer Events
MAY
15th - Next Gen Summer Kickoff
23rd to 25th - Camp Perfect Wings (Special Friends)
29th - Crosstimbers Parent Meeting
JUNE
3rd to 7th - Super Summer
11th to 14th - Crosstimbers Kids Camp
12th - Falls Creek Parent Meeting
16th - Family Dedication
19th - Movie Night
24th to 29th - Falls Creek
30th - Freedom Celebration Student Missions Dessert Auction
JULY
8th to 11th - VBS
11th - VBS Family Night (6-8pm)
13th to 20th - Student Mission Trip
24th - Next Gen Water Night
AUGUST
10th - 7th Grade Welcome Event
11th - Promotion Sunday & Next Gen Skate Night
14th - Fall Kickoff
New Director of Kids Ministry
Welcome, Rachel Coleman!
We are excited to introduce Rachel Coleman as our new Director of Kids Ministry position. Rachel and her husband, Chad, currently reside in Edmond with their two daughters, Brynlee and Brooklyn.
Rachel grew up in a godly home, as her father served as a campus missionary through Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM). At eight, she put her faith in Jesus and began following Him. Her faith has been important to her throughout her life.
Rachel has much experience working with children and in the church. After graduating with an Elementary Education degree, she served as an elementary classroom teacher in the Tulsa area for ten years. Upon moving to Edmond, she began working in the weekday program at Quail Springs Baptist Church. She has served there for nearly 12 years, including as Director of Weekday Education for the past four years.
We believe that Rachel brings many great skills that will make her a great asset to our Next Gen Team and leader of our Kids Ministry. Her creativity, leadership, and organizational skills will help us as we continue to build a Kids Ministry that assists parents in the discipleship of their children.
Rachel will begin her ministry at First Moore on June 2. Please join us in praying for her and her family as they make the transition from Edmond to Moore.
Next Gen Summer Events
LESSONS FROM TAYLOR SWIFT
In all honesty, I would consider myself a bit of a Swiftie. Over the years, I have found her songs clever, thoughtful, and catchy. More than a few times, my daughters and I have turned up the radio and sung her hits in the car together. Recently, she has once again been the topic of discussion with her latest album release, “The Tortured Poets Department.” This album continues the trend of a darker side to her music and, sadly, has been in the news due to the darker content, the more frequent use of profanity, and even anti-Christian/blasphemous themes. As Christians who live in the world but are not to be part of the world, we often struggle to know what to do with things like this. Let me interject some thoughts about lessons we can learn from situations like this.
DON’T EVER BE SURPRISED WHEN THE WORLD ACTS LIKE THE WORLD
First, we must always remember that the world will always act like the world. This shouldn’t surprise us. Before our regeneration, we, too, were lost and lived accordingly. Sin manifests itself in different ways in individuals' lives, and we should never be caught off guard when an unbeliever is okay with things God says are wrong. There is a difference between the standards of believers and unbelievers, and we should never be surprised when Taylor Swift or any other unregenerate person is okay with things that we know to be counter to what God says. Remember, though, that as Christians, we are indeed called to different standards, and we are no longer to live according to the world. Therefore, we should not be okay with these practices.
BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR INFLUENCES
This leads us to make sure that we are careful about who and what we allow to influence our lives. If you have been to a Taylor Swift concert (or any concert for that matter) or watched her Era’s Tour film, you can tell how much influence she holds, especially over ladies and young girls. We all must be careful with who we allow to hold influence over our lives, and music and media are some of the things that can influence us most greatly. Words have power; what we listen to and allow to speak into our hearts and minds holds power in our lives. All of us, especially parents, need to be mindful about what we and our children are allowing to have sway over their thoughts and beliefs. Let me encourage you to evaluate regularly what and who you are allowing to influence you and your family. Is it pointing you to Christ or away from him?
One of the things I have been concerned about with many of Taylor Swift’s lyrics, beyond her more frequent use of profanity, is her seemingly constant internal problems and struggles. The name of this album speaks of being internally tortured. We already have an epidemic of mental health issues, especially among our young people, and I am concerned that things like this might make it worse, normalize these feelings, and possibly even glamorize them. Her tone is that of unforgiveness and revenge, while her identity sadly seems to be wrapped up in relationships, what others say about her, and her fame. As Christians, we know that these are empty cisterns and should only let our identity be found in Christ.
TAYLOR SWIFT REINFORCES WHAT THE BIBLE WARNS ABOUT IN ECCLESIASTES
Taylor Swift is a billionaire who has everything the world can offer. Wealth, fame, beauty, prestige…you name it. However, she refers to herself as tortured and often sings from a point of dissatisfaction and emptiness. How can this be? Because the Bible tells us there is nothing in this world that can satisfy. Solomon learned this lesson as well. Full of wealth, wisdom, and women, he realized how empty this world was. He records this in the book of Ecclesiastes. Sadly, we have a hard time learning from the failures of others. There is only one thing that can satisfy us, and He is not of this world. Taylor’s own words reinforce what the Bible warns us about.
WHERE DO WE DRAW THE LINE?
So, where do we draw the line in this world? We clearly cannot throw out everything that is secular. What about when it comes to entertainment? Should we have a good old-fashioned record burning in the church parking lot? We each have to decide where we draw the line. However, here is my biggest concern with some of the newest lyrics from Taylor Swift’s newest album. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, her words mock and belittle the very thing that Jesus did to earn our salvation. There is a lot that Christians can tolerate from a lost world, but when things belittle our God and the gift of his Son, that is a line that we should feel is unacceptably crossed.
For His glory and your joy,
Pastor Charlie
Collecting Canned Corn
Through February, the Care Center - Food Pantry is collecting canned corn. If you can, please bring non-expired canned corn and drop them off in the collection boxes around the campus! Thank you!
Christmas Season 2023
December is here and with that comes many activities and schedule changes!
The first event and outreach opportunity is this weekend at Moore’s Central Park. It is the Christmas Spectacular and it will begin at 6:30pm on December 1st. Click the image to learn more about this event.
Next, on December 8 from 6-9pm, is our Parents’ Night Out! This three hour opportunity will cost you a small fee of $5 per child or $20 family max. This is for 6th graders and below. Register below by Tuesday, December 6th!
Special service times in December
Sunday, December 17- First Moore’s Christmas Gathering at 9:00 & 10:30am. We will also have our normal schedule of Life Groups this morning.
Sunday, December 24- Worship Services at 9:00 & 10:30am. There will be no Life Groups on this day but we will have Preschool Ministry and Kids Worship during both services..
Sunday, December 24- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 5:30pm. We will take communion during this service! Preschool ministry for children through 2 year olds.
Sunday, December 31- Worship Service at 10:30am. No Life Groups. Preschool ministry for children through 4 year olds.
Missions Month
November is Missions Month, but that doesn’t stop us from getting started early! We have prayer stations around the church to learn and pray about people worldwide.
WHAT IS PRAYER WALKING?
Prayer walking is “praying on-site with insight.” Allow what you see, hear, feel, smell, and taste
to help inform your prayers.
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you pray.
HOW DO I PRAYER WALK?
Begin with praise and confession.
Thank God for the opportunity to partner with Him in His work by lifting up the spiritual and physical needs of the people group or community you walk through.
Confess any known sin so that you intercede with a clean heart.
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and prayers as you go.
If you aren’t sure what prayer needs to ask for, praying Scripture is a great place to start. Pray through any verses that come to mind. Be sure to note what passages and insights the Lord brings to your mind.
Wednesday Dinner Teams
We are working to create a set of rotating teams that will help serve and clean up after our Wednesday Night Meals. We hope for teams to serve once every four weeks. If you are interested in serving on a team, please contact Stephanie at stephanie.gaches@firstmoore.com
Donation Opportunities for VBS
A note from our pastor..
“The single, biggest evangelistic event we have all year long for kids is Vacation Bible School. We are hoping to fill our building with boys and girls from all over our community. The focus is simple, tell them about Jesus. Through games, crafts, and Biblical teaching, we will do our best to introduce every kid who comes through the doors to Jesus Christ. We will be sharing that He alone is the "Way, Truth, and the Life." We are praying that the Gospel would be sown into precious little hearts and that many would trust in Jesus for salvation.” - Charlie Blount
WILL YOU HELP BY DONATING?
Boxes will be located throughout the building for drop-off donations. Thank you!
If you have any questions, please contact the Next Gen office at 405-793-2646 or via email at brennan.ludwig@firstmoore.com.
Next Gen Summer Calendar
We're Remodeling
DETOUR AHEAD!
Demolition has officially begun and the Worship Center is now a construction zone that should not be entered without authorization and proper protection. All of the Worship Center doors will be locked and there will be a temporary wall in both breezeways that will restrict access to the hallway behind the worship center. The bathrooms and choir room will still be accessible. We are excited and thankful to be in this season of work.
With that being said, to get from the East building to the West building and vice versa, we recommend accessing the second floor by stairs or elevator and traveling across the Atrium walkway behind the black curtains.
State Question 820
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