First Jenks Messenger April 2020

APRIL 2020
ISSUE 4 VOLUME 32
MESSENGER
P A G E 2
I T I S W E L L
P A G E 6
K I D Z O N E
P A G E 8

MESSENGER
APRIL 2020
in this issue
ISSUE 4 VOLUME 32
At First Jenks We Believe:
Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior of all.
Engaging as Disciples
to reach others
Neighborly love being
lived out by serving others
Knowledge of Scripture
the foundation of our faith
Small Groups as vital
to our spiritual health.
rudy’s reflections......2
youth ministry......3
children’s ministry......4
music notes......5
monthly devotional......6
united methodist women......7
kidzone......8
youth devotional......8
church calendar....10
take note
All events have been cancelled or postponed
until further notice.
To stay up to date with everything happening
please be sure the church office has your email.
Email info@firstjenks.org if you aren’t receiving
church emails.
Additionally, follow us on facebook
at facebook.com/firstjenks.
Monthly Statistics
Tithes & Offerings: March 2020
(Only 2 services were held in March)
Monthly Anticipated Giving.......$25,893
Worship......$22,019.39
Sunday School.......$6
“Each of you should give what you have decided in
your heart to give, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
Attendance: March 2020
(Only 2 services were held in March)
Worship.............273
.............. 136 Avg./Sunday
Sunday School............73
.................36 Avg./Sunday
“Not giving up meeting together,
as some are in the habit of doing,
but encouraging one another - and all the more
as you see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:25
RUDY’S
Ref lect ions
Well… talk about a fluid situation. I
never would have imagined not having
an Easter service on Easter Sunday. Here
we are knee deep in the COVID-19
pandemic. Piper and I both suffered
through the H1N1 epidemic back in 2009,
and it was painful and life disrupting.
I am praying for each one of you during this
time as the impact will be both financial and
potentially health related. Please do your
part and stay in as much as possible and
wash your hands often. Basic precautions
will help keep you safe from catching this.
We are working to create a live stream
worship that will engage you and make
all of us feel as though we are still participating
in corporate worship together. I do
appreciate the emails, texts, and phone
calls of support for what we have been
doing this far. It is my hope, that when
this all subsides, we will have a huge fellowship
dinner and celebrate its passing.
What a joy it will be to laugh together,
My Help
Comes From
the LORD
eat together, and share together again.
I want to encourage you in these days to
look up and not out for the strength to
deal with all that comes our way. Psalm
121:1-4 reads, “I lift up my eyes to the
hills, where does my help come from? My
help comes from the LORD, the Maker
of heaven and earth. He will not let your
foot slip, he who watches over you will not
slumber; indeed, he who watches over
Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” (NIV)
As Christ followers we are not guaranteed
the trials and troubles will not come our
way, but God does promise to be with us,
and provides help with us as we go through
them. That’s always been enough for me
during any life circumstance I have dealt
with, and I know it is enough for you as well.
Please let me know if you have specific
prayer requests or needs and I will
work to help. (Rudy@firstjenks.org)
In Christ,
Rev. Rudy Freese
Senior Pastor
rudy@firstjenks.org

A month ago I wrote about planning season.
Now look at us. Everything is cancelled or postponed.
The timing is funny to me. The last week
we were able to have Sunday school, the youth
and I were going through the book of 2 Samuel
and the life of David.
By the time you get to chapter 7 in 2 Samuel,
David is king and is on a roll. He’s experiencing
military victories, he has set up a strong and
effective government and he has even moved the
Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Everything is
falling into place and he is moving along. Next on
his to-do list is the construction of a permanent
temple for the Lord. And the Prophet Nathan
comes to David and tells him to “God, do all that
is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” Then
the very next day, Nathan brings the news that
this isn’t going to happen. It’ll be done, but by
one of David’s sons. David didn’t get angry at
this news, and as a result Nathan conveyed that
God was now making a promise to David that his
throne would be established forever.
While David could have been defeated by disappointment,
he was rewarded and rejoiced at what
was ahead.
Your throne shall be established
F O R E V E R
2 S a m u e l 7 : 1 6
Be sure, God didn’t bring this pandemic on earth.
The Bible says that God is’t willing that any should
perish. But we can still rejoice because this is
showing us new things about First Jenks that will
carry us into the future. We can be innovative.
We can come together in all storms. And I think
that we are seeing that First Jenks is a family. One
that can do new and awesome things for God.
For the youth, we have had to postpone our next
youth night. But we will be using ZOOM to meet
once a week. It will be just like if we were still able
to be upstairs together. If you’d like to join us, or
if you know a teenager who should, we will be
“meeting” once a week in the evening, so feel free
to contact me to have an invite sent to you so you
can join us!
At the time I wrote this, school is out for the
semester. So I will also be working on some plans
for us to get together and do stuff together once
the Social Distancing doesn’t have to be so distant.
If you’d like to join us for these, send me an email!
Hang in there, church family! God is still on the
throne and we will be together to worship the
living God very soon!
Happy April First Jenks Kids!
We are in uncharted times! Pastor Rudy and the Staff have been doing all they can to keep you and your family
involved in Sunday Worship. Being inside can be trying and difficult, here are some ways to help you have some
fun using your imagination. Have some fun with your parents making these edible items. Make something
fun and have your parents take a picture and send it to info@firstjenks.org or have them post
the picture on facebook and check in at First Jenks so everyone can see what you have created.
I pray you stay safe and show the love of Christ to those around you!
Edible Marshmallow Play Dough
Regular marshmallows
Corn Starch
Powdered sugar
Coconut Oil
Food Coloring
Directions:
1. In a bowl mix 3 tablespoons of
cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of icing
sugar. Set to the side.
2. In a microwave safe container place
5 marshmallows, plus a tablespoon of
coconut oil and a few drops of food
coloring. Microwave in very short increments
and never take your eyes off of it.
The marshmallows expand like crazy!
As soon as they start to get too big stop,
let it cool for a moment and the marshmallows
will settle down, then start it
again. We needed about 30 seconds
in total in the microwave with about 4
“breaks” to let the marshmallows settle.
3. Using a spoon mix the marshmallow
mixture in the container
until it pulls together into a lump.
Remove the lump and place in your
cornstarch/powder sugar mixture.
Sprinkle some of the mixture on top
of your marshmallows so it is covered
completely. Let it sit for a few seconds
to cool, then lift it out with your hands
and start kneading it.
If it feels a bit sticky, press it into your
cornstarch mixture, then work it again.
It can get a little bit sticky as kids play
with it. So you might want to use it on
parchment paper, silicone mats or some
other non-stick surface. We found some
batches got sticky while others didn’t.
Probably because we needed a bit more
of the cornstarch in the sticky ones. It
didn’t slow the kids down though. They
had a lot of fun stamping, pulling and
rolling the play dough.
Edible Jell-O Slime
1 cup of cornstarch
1 3 oz pack of Jell-O mix – any
brand or color will work great
1/2 cup warm water
With just 3 simple ingredients, this
comes together for a really fun
slime activity everyone will love.
1. combine the cornstarch and
Jell-O powder mix in a large
mixing bowl until they are well
combined.
2. add in 1/4 of a cup of the
warm water into the mixture and
stir until it’s well combined. It will
be lumpy and difficult to stir once
you add water. Don’t worry, just
keep working with it.
3. After this, you’ll need to use
your hands to mix in the last 1/4
cup of the warm water. Knead
the slime with your hands until
the Jell-O is the consistency that
you prefer. I like it to be firm if
you squeeze and not drip like a
liquid. Pull it slowly and see if it
stretches if you pull. Pull it apart
fast and watch it stretch. So fun!
Tips for making Jell-O play slime:
If your slime is too sticky, add
more cornstarch. If the slime is
too firm, add more water. You can
easily work with this slime recipe
until it’s perfect
Piper Freese
Edible Finger Paint
Yogurt (I used greek yogurt to
keep things a bit healthier)
Food coloring
Small containers for the paint (I
used baby food jars- a great way
to recycle them!)
Popsicle sticks or a spoon for
stirring
Directions:
1. Place about 4 tablespoons of
yogurt into each container.
2. Place 5-10 drops of food
coloring in your first container
filled with yogurt. You can add
more or less depending on
the shade of color you wish to
achieve.
3. Stir well until all the food
coloring is blended into the
yogurt. Tip: use the side of your
popsicle stick to scrape the sides
of the jar so you can evenly color
the yogurt.
4. Repeat step 2 and 3 for each
additional color. I made 5 different
colors including; red, orange,
yellow, green, and blue.
5. Once all the paints are made
you can give them to your child
along with some paper and let
them have some fun with their
edible finger paint!
Edible Moon Sand
Brown Sugar (I used about half of a 2 lb bag for this)
A small tub
Cookie Sheet
Kitchen spoons, measuring cups, measuring spoons, whisks, etc.
This is great for a sensory play idea because there is no prep, and you
probably already have it in your cabinet. It’s also completely taste-safe
(even edible). The cleanup is pretty easy too since it’s in a tub. If you
put it in a tub with a lid you can save it for another day!

Music
It Is Well
Here is a picture of the men in our choir
hard at work in sectional rehearsals. It
was Ash Wednesday which is why they
have a cross on their foreheads. Pictured
in the back row is Jack McQuire Johnny
Barnes, David Green, and Jim Wise.
Pictured in the first row is Ken March,
Mark Hall, Rudy Freese, and Roy Pike.
The men are practicing on music for
Lent and Easter. There is still time for
you to join the choir. Come help us on
this special music.
Notes
The First Jenks Joyful Ringers participated in
the Tulsa Handbell Invitational on Saturday,
March 7. Under the direction of Sheryl
Martin our group participated in 3 massed
ringing pieces. We played with at least 10
other handbell choirs and had such a great
time doing it. We learned so much and came
away better players. We were so proud to
take our whole bell choir this year. Pictured
are Jane Butler, Kathryne Hall, Vicki Mask,
Tammy Barnes, Kay Marshall, Julee March,
Rachel Hall, Johnny Barnes, Monica DeBolt,
and Mark Hall.
“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.”
It is in times like these, you know that COVID-19 thing,
that I am reminded just how blessed I really am. This beautiful
Hymn speaks to my soul… it brings me peace… it fills
my spirit.
The United Methodist Discipleship Ministries shares this
about the Hymn, “It is Well”:
With this hymn comes one of the most heartrending stories
in the annals of hymnody.
The author, Horatio G. Spafford (1828-1888), was a Presbyterian
layman from Chicago. He had established a very
successful legal practice as a young businessman and was
also a devout Christian. Among his close friends were
several evangelists including the famous Dwight L. Moody,
also from Chicago.
Spafford’s fortune evaporated in the wake of the great
Chicago Fire of 1871. Having invested heavily in real
estate along Lake Michigan’s shoreline, he lost everything
overnight. In a saga reminiscent of Job, his son died a
short time before his financial disaster. But the worst was
yet to come.
Hymnologist Kenneth Osbeck tells the story: “Desiring a
rest for his wife and four daughters as well as wishing to
join and assist Moody and [his musician Ira] Sankey in
one of their campaigns in Great Britain, Spafford planned
a European trip for his family in 1873. In November of
that year, due to unexpected last-minute business developments,
he had to remain in Chicago, but sent his wife and
four daughters on ahead as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du
Havre. He expected to follow in a few days.
“On November 22 the ship was struck by the Lochearn,
an English vessel, and sank in twelve minutes. Several days
later the survivors were finally landed at Cardiff, Wales,
and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, ‘Saved alone.’”
Monthly Devotional
I can not imagine the grief and sorrow he was going
through when he wrote this Hymn. My greatest loss is
nothing compared to Spafford’s, yet his faith compelled
the heartfelt words of this Hymn. Read them… let them
soak into your mind… hear them with his grief…
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul. (refrain)
My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! (refrain)
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. (refrain)
But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! (refrain)
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul. (refrain)
As we travel this current crisis… let us be reminded, that
despite our worldly struggles, it is well with our soul.
Rachel Hall
Music Minister
rachel@firstjenks.org
Kathryne Hall
Associate Music Minister
kathryne@firstjenks.org
Spafford left immediately to join his wife. This hymn is
said to have been penned as he approached the area of the
ocean thought to be where the ship carrying his daughters
had sunk.
Rev. Rudy Freese
Senior Pastor
rudy@firstjenks.org

Devotional
Making connections and offering opportunities for faith, love, and service.
This is probably the most challenging of the
articles I have written. All of our lives have been
turned upside down in just these past couple of
weeks or so. But I will begin with a correction
to be made in my last article. In the newsletter, I
wrote “With all of the discussions and plans being
made for a split in the church, it is strongly felt that
there will be change in UMW…”. That is incorrect-what
was intended was to say THERE WILL
BE NO CHANGE in UMW. We will all continue
as before.
Next, I would like to express the gratitude of our
UMW to Pastor Rudy and Piper for the support
they have given to our UMW for these past 5 years.
Although I have not been a part of a time when the
pastor did not provide support, I am aware that that
does happen. We have been blessed to have Pastor
Rudy supporting us always and we are grateful.
With the churches not holding services for 10 weeks,
this effects both the monthly fellowship dinner sponsored
by our UMW and UMW Sunday in May.
Both are cancelled. Even if the crisis would end
prior to Mother’s Day, I feel it is in the best interest
of everyone in the church to return to our regular
type service and our speaker has been so notified.
However, we do have some activities we can
continue with. We need to know the names of our
college students so we can send cards and notes.
Also, we need to know names of those graduating
from college, including December graduates for their
cards. Please notify the church office or me directly
at 918-299-3363 or mkuzilik@cox.net. Your support
will allow us to continue in this mission.
Another thing we can continue, but in a slightly
altered form is the food donations for the Jenks Food
Bank. Rather than bringing the food to the church,
the food can be taken directly to them at Cedar and
Aquarium. Each time we shop we can pick up items
and deliver to them. You can choose soups, peanut
butter and jelly, mac n’ cheese, canned meats, rice,
beans, etc. when you are in one of those sections
in the store or requesting the store to gather your
supplies just add items as just mentioned and then
you can deliver them yourself - there is a box outside
for drop-offs.
We will continue to think of ways we can be of
service although we not are meeting. If anyone has
a suggestion let me know by phone or email above.
Just because we are home bound does not mean we
cannot continue to serve. And last, we can continue
to pray for this crisis to end as soon as possible. If
there is a congregation anywhere who is totally aware
of the power of prayer, it is First Jenks.
God Bless you all, may you maintain good health,
search for ways to keep smiling, and wash those
hands.
I just got back from vacation. I went to the beach and
was overwhelmed at how beautiful God’s creation truly is.
After I took my morning walk on the beach, I’d go back to
my room and get ready for the day while the TV was on
the news. It surprised me how things can be so beautiful
and so peaceful for me where I was, but all over the world
and in this country, things were in chaos and panic.
But what could I do? I mean, I’m just one guy. I had
a couple options as to how I could respond to this virus.
I could ignore it. After all, I’m young. I’m not “at risk.”
But we know that God’s love puts others first. I can’t act
in such a way that thinks only of myself. God’s love has
been put directly into my heart by the Holy Spirit. I can’t
not care about other people any time - especially now.
But what I can do is take steps in the natural and in the
spiritual to help. I can follow what experts say I need to
do - I can help keep others from getting sick by avoiding
it myself. This is why you won’t be going back to school
this semester. Just because God is a miracle-working God
doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do things in the natural. Jesus
had to pay attention to this. Remember when He fed the
multitude with a boy’s lunch? Why did He do this? He
saw they were hungry! So He stopped feeding them spiritually
to help them naturally.
I can also do something spiritual and pray. But I’m just
one person and this is a global problem. What can my prayers
do? James 5:16 tells us the prayers of the righteous are
powerful and effective. As a child of the Most High,
your prayers make a difference in everything no matter
what the problem or how big that problem is. So pray.
And when you pray, stand strong in your faith that your
prayers are helping to make a difference in this world.
And then, relax. It may seem chaotic all over the world
right now, but faith isn’t just confidence of what we are
praying for. If you study Hebrews 4, it talks a lot about
faith. And in verse 11 it says that through this faith we
labor to enter into rest. Faith enters into rest.
So, while you may feel stuck at home with scary news
updates, pray. Know that it makes a difference, and enter
into His rest and His peace in the midst of it all!
First Jenks KIDZONE!
April Memory Verse
Matthew 28:6
He isn't here! God has raised him to life,
just as Jesus said he would.
Come, see the place where his body was lying.

Our Sunday School classes are
discussing ways that they can
meet online with various means
of video/teleconferencing. If you
are unaware of what your class is
doing, or if you’d like to join a
class, please contact the church
office for information on how
you can join them!
MESSENGER
IS GOING DIGITAL!
COMING IN MAY, OUR
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
WILL BE A DIGITAL PUBLI-
CATION. IF YOU RECEIVE
EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS
FROM THE CHURCH AL-
READY, YOU WILL BE
GETTING THE NEWS-
LETTER IN YOUR EMAIL.
IF YOU DO NOT CURRENT-
LY RECEIVE CHURCH
EMAILS, PLEASE EMAIL
INFO@FIRSTJENKS.ORG
TO BE ADDED.
THE NEWSLETTER WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO
READ AND PRINT ON FIRSTJENKS.ORG.
A LIMITED NUMBER OF PRINT COPIES CAN BE
REQUESTED FOR PICK-UP IN THE CHURCH
OFFICE BY REQUEST.
Thursdays @ 1:00pm
This group of knitters and crotcheters gather every
Thursday to make hats for those in need,
plus they knit together a special fellowship time.
Join them this and every Thursday.
Service
Livestream @ 10am
Vimeo and Facebook
Service
Livestream @ 10am
Vimeo and Facebook
Service
Livestream @ 10am
Vimeo and Facebook
Easter
Service
Livestream @ 10am
Vimeo and Facebook
Maundy THursday Good Friday
All Monthly Events are cancelled or Postponed due to CDC Guidelines.
Services will be livestreamed at 10AM on Sunday Morning.
Once Guidelines have been modified, services will resume their normal times.
Traditional at 8:45am, Sunday School at 10AM, and Modern at 11:15 Am.