The following items are considered necessary, but
acquisition was not regarded as urgent. There are insufficient funds for most
of these. There are no current estimates as to cost.
Sign
Pews or Chairs
New Van
Van Protection Structure
Youth Center Plus $2M
For the past 15 plus years, the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church has provided help with school supplies at the
beginning of the school year. Some
years, we have received help from the Ministerial Alliance and occasionally
from a special offering at another church body in our community.
That said, funds are scarce this year.
We are optimistic that we can pull this off, and we are confident that God
wants us to continue this ministry to relieve some of the burden that parents
carry these days.
You all know that the past few years
of inflation have devastated many family budgets, some more than others. While
we all have taken some financial hits, most of us have found a way to overcome.
For some, purchasing school supplies
for 2 or 3 children means going without something essential somewhere else.
We have all the money we need to buy
these supplies. The problem is that much of it resides in the pockets and bank
accounts of our community's residents.
This asks you to consider being
generous in a time of scarcity. Yes, the preacher is asking you to put on your
big girl panties and see if you might have something to contribute.
Our planning factor used to be $50 per
student. I’m not sure how much it has gone up, but the days of significant back-to-school
bargains are gone. So please see if you can contribute something.
This may require some sacrifice of self-gratifying
purchases, but many families are faced with giving up something essential, not
a few trips to McDonald's.
If you can help, please stop by the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church and see Tom or mail a check to CPC, Box 8, Burns
Flat OK 73624. Please write BACKPACKS in the FOR line.
Money is the most helpful as we do our
best to match the supplies we give out to the prescribed lists by grade.
This is mainly for our elementary
students, but we have always been able to help with something for the junior
and senior high students as well.
Dates and times will follow shortly.
For now, please examine your situations and be as compassionate and generous as
possible.
Blessings!
Moderator Report
Updated
June 2025
May was wet. Summer is here. Jesus is Lord!
Seek Justice. Love
Mercy. Walk Humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Missions.
In the outreach arena, we, as a church, contributed $100,
and the MA contributed $300 towards rent for Susan Kroeker. We helped with food,
and Sam McConnell cut her grass. Please put her on your prayer lists. She is
trying to make it on her own in Burns Flat. I will share details at the meeting.
Worship.
A worship review was conducted on 4 June. See Report.
Education
VBS is completed. A draft F4 Schedule is included in your
packets.
Building and Grounds.
The AC guys came and fixed two units. The invoice will be
mailed, so I don’t have an estimate at this time. Derrick fixed the sink (spray nozzle) in the
west kitchen sink. We have a notice from Brotherhood Mutual of a rate change. I
contacted them and forwarded their response, including the new rate.
Fellowship
The next fellowship meal is scheduled for 29 June 2025 (Team
2). Heard it from a friend who, heard it from a friend who… Received a
call from someone searching for Tom Collins. She was calling for a relative who
used to talk to Tom all the time—I passed on the phone number. Hopefully, this
will uplift Tom’s spirits.
Other
Elder Retreat. The Elder Retreat is scheduled for 9
August 2025. Please submit your agenda items and any supporting materials to me
by 9 July 2025 so as to promulgate the agenda with time to provide all
attendees a chance to review them sufficiently beforehand.
Elders. Please begin your prayer and meditation on whom
to nominate as our next elders to serve on the session. Please review the Cumberland
Presbyterian Constitution 2.70. I have requested those elders not currently serving
to verify their intentions towards future service. We typically begin the
nomination process in September or October. I will update this list as responses
are received; however, the pace of responses should not detract from your
prayer time. See Kathy for elder rotation.
Ethan
Delp Yes
Danny
Rush Not at this time
Rick
Reeves No response
Kathy
Stegall No response
Larry
Walker No response
Rodney
Chilton As a last resort
Carolyn
Murray No response
Considering
the number of elders available and those willing to serve, we should consider
reducing the number of elders serving on the session to 3. This would require a
congregational meeting prior to one to elect elders (which may be delayed for a
year if we changed); however, the session should first decide whether to pursue
this option or not. If we want to do this, the time is now, and the reduction,
if approved, would be accomplished by the expiration of two terms at the end of
this year. A new rotation schedule to have one term expire each year would be desirable.
Michael Ashmore (580 225 9046) from Dobson stopped by
to let us know that they are ready to sign up people and businesses for fiber
internet service.
Financial. I attempted to negotiate a lower rate for
our church's phone and internet service. Kinetic did not authorize me to
conduct business on this account. Many here in Burns Flat have received
substantial rate cuts since Dobson’s arrival. The worst Kinetic can say is no.
Session Meetings.
I suggest two December meetings. The first would be our regular December
meeting on 21 December 2025. We would conduct the normal session business. The
second would be on 28 December 25 with the Moderator Pro Tempore as a
confirmation meeting for what is ahead.
Pastor Turnover. 1 January 2026 remains the target
date for a seamless turnover, though some time without a pastor is not
necessarily a bad thing. I suggest that serious searching begin about 1 October
2025.
Tom Personal, I will be away for two consecutive Sundays
in August/September. My last Sunday in
the pulpit is scheduled for 21 December and my last day as pastor is 31
December 2025.
Projects
in Search of a Champion.
Kendra Walker, Kristy Denbo, Laci Stegall, Mike Kiser, and
Tom Spence met in the Pastor’s Study at 6 pm on Wednesday, 4 June 2025 to
discuss worship. Tom had previously
promulgated an agenda via email.
Tom opened with prayer.
The first item addressed was the order of worship. This was
left mostly intact with a few minor adjustments. The songs/hymns would be
reduced by one. A time of Praise and Celebration would be offered before the
worship warmups. The warmups were retained with 3 phrases being set as optimal.
The Monthly memory verse would be led by the liturgist
beginning with 3 times on the first two Sundays and reducing the repetition to
one time by the last Sunday of the month.
Once or twice a month (maybe more), we will ask Mike to play
during the offering. The other Sundays will remain with singing Give Thanks
– 359 concurrently with the offering.
Special Music would not be scheduled every Sunday, but
remain in the bulletin in case someone was led to offer a special. Some new
songs might also be introduced at this point, but mostly it is for those who
have a song that God has placed on their heart.
A Time of Testimony would continue at the current rate of 3
or 4 times per year.
We will vary the Hymn of Invitation more but retain Step
by Step (494) as a standing hymn of departure.
Tom asked for input on hymns that we know and received a
substantial list that will be incorporated for the remainder of the year.
A draft order of worship for 15 June 25 is attached. Tom
selected a Words on the Wall song—Good, Good Father—as the special as it
is Father’s Day. Future selections will mainly come from those in the meeting.
The questions of how do we get more specials and get back to
short messages in drama remains a challenge for the group. We will also
consider recruiting someone for a more traditional Christmas Program/Play.
While all missed their children having the experience of a Christmas program;
landing a director being the sine qua non.
F4 was touched on and the possibility of getting some of our
own youth to help lead was considered as well as looking to college students
who may be led to partake in this ministry, at least on occasion.
The clipboard and candy for children were considered
acceptable.
In the course of general discussion, Mike proffered
something of a Youth Chorus/Choir for those who were interested in a little
more. This would probably land in the F4 arena with a time between 5:45 an 6:00
pm (just before F4 starts).
It would culminate most likely in something for the F4
Finale and might even migrate to a Sunday morning service. Mike is working on
the basics and we can add some meat to the bones as we go and see what response
we have.
This would not be a general music time or class, but working
with a few who are called to do more. It is a skin-in-the-game sort of deal
with the commitment of those involved essential to its success.
Other things such as Cantatas were discussed with some
inquiry with other church groups to follow.
Other topics were discussed on an ad hoc basis and may
resurface again at a later date.
Tom thanked all for the two plus hours set aside for this
meeting. It was very fruitful.
Kendra closed us in prayer and the meeting was dismissed. A
time of fellowship ensued.
4 June 2025
Kendra Walker, Kristy Denbo, Laci Stegall, Mike Kiser, and
Tom Spence met in the Pastor’s Study at 6 pm on Wednesday, 4 June 2025 to
discuss worship. Tom had previously
promulgated an agenda via email.
Tom opened with prayer.
The first item addressed was the order of worship. This was
left mostly intact with a few minor adjustments. The songs/hymns would be
reduced by one. A time of Praise and Celebration would be offered before the
worship warmups. The warmups were retained with 3 phrases being set as optimal.
The Monthly memory verse would be led by the liturgist
beginning with 3 times on the first two Sundays and reducing the repetition to
one time by the last Sunday of the month.
Once or twice a month (maybe more), we will ask Mike to play
during the offering. The other Sundays will remain with singing Give Thanks
– 359 concurrently with the offering.
Special Music would not be scheduled every Sunday, but
remain in the bulletin in case someone was led to offer a special. Some new
songs might also be introduced at this point, but mostly it is for those who
have a song that God has placed on their heart.
A Time of Testimony would continue at the current rate of 3
or 4 times per year.
We will vary the Hymn of Invitation more but retain Step
by Step (494) as a standing hymn of departure.
Tom asked for input on hymns that we know and received a
substantial list that will be incorporated for the remainder of the year.
A draft order of worship for 15 June 25 is attached. Tom
selected a Words on the Wall song—Good, Good Father—as the special as it
is Father’s Day. Future selections will mainly come from those in the meeting.
The questions of how do we get more specials and get back to
short messages in drama remains a challenge for the group. We will also
consider recruiting someone for a more traditional Christmas Program/Play.
While all missed their children having the experience of a Christmas program;
landing a director being the sine qua non.
F4 was touched on and the possibility of getting some of our
own youth to help lead was considered as well as looking to college students
who may be led to partake in this ministry, at least on occasion.
The clipboard and candy for children were considered
acceptable.
In the course of general discussion, Mike proffered
something of a Youth Chorus/Choir for those who were interested in a little
more. This would probably land in the F4 arena with a time between 5:45 an 6:00
pm (just before F4 starts).
It would culminate most likely in something for the F4
Finale and might even migrate to a Sunday morning service. Mike is working on
the basics and we can add some meat to the bones as we go and see what response
we have.
This would not be a general music time or class, but working
with a few who are called to do more. It is a skin-in-the-game sort of deal
with the commitment of those involved essential to its success.
Other things such as Cantatas were discussed with some
inquiry with other church groups to follow.
Other topics were discussed on an ad hoc basis and may
resurface again at a later date.
Tom thanked all for the two plus hours set aside for this
meeting. It was very fruitful.
Moderator Report
June 2025
May was wet. Summer is here. Jesus is Lord!
Seek Justice. Love
Mercy. Walk Humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Missions.
NTR
Worship.
A worship review is scheduled on 4 June.
Education
VBS is completed. A draft F4 Schedule is included in your
packets.
Building and Grounds.
We have one AC unit not functioning. It was not a factor for
VBS. Derrick fixed the sink (spray nozzle) in the west kitchen sink. We have a
notice from Brotherhood mutual of a rate change. I contacted them and forwarded
their response.
Fellowship
The next fellowship meal is scheduled for 29 June 2025 (Team
2).
Other
Elder Retreat. The Elder Retreat is scheduled for 9
August 2025. Please submit your agenda items and any supporting materials to me
by 9 July 2025 so as to promulgate the agenda with time to provide all
attendees a chance to review them sufficiently beforehand.
Elders. Please begin your prayer and meditation over who
to nominate as our next elders to serve on the session. Please review the Cumberland
Presbyterian Constitution 2.70. I have requested those elders not currently serving
to verify their intentions towards future service. We normally begin the
nomination process in September/October. I will update this list as responses
are received; however, the pace of responses should not detract from your
prayer time.
Ethan
Delp Yes
Danny
Rush Not at this time
Rick
Reeves No response
Kathy
Stegall No response
Larry
Walker No response
Rodney
Chilton No response
Carolyn
Murray No response
Michael Ashmore (580 225 9046) from Dobson stopped by
to let us know that they are ready to sign up people and businesses for fiber
internet service.
Session Meetings.
I suggest two December meetings. The first would be our regular December
meeting on 21 December 2025. We would conduct the normal session business. The
second would be on 28 December 25 with the Moderator Pro Tempore as a
confirmation meeting for what is ahead.
Pastor Turnover. 1 January 2026 remains the target
date for a seamless turnover, though some time without a pastor is not
necessarily a bad thing. I suggest that serious searching begin about 1 October
2025.
Tom Personal, I will be away on Sunday, 22 June 2025.
My last Sunday in the pulpit is
scheduled for 21 December and my last day as pastor is 31 December 2025.
Moderator Reports
Instead of repeating information from one report to another,
I have elected to post previous reports for handy reference and reduce the
verbiage in the current report.
