From Pastor Kayla’s Desk 2/18
Save the Date: Saturday March 11, 9:30am-12:30pm for our “All-Church Visioning Retreat.” A light breakfast will be served at 9:30am, and then we will gather to reflect on the current strengths of our church, where we can focus our energies, and what our dreams and passions are for the future.
Over the next few week’s we’ll be taking a walk down memory lane as we review and remember our history as we look forward to discerning the future vision God has for us.
The Beginnings: The first five years 2000-2004
There were folk in Oklahoma City who wanted a church different from the others they had experienced in the past. For years, some of them had occasionally attended the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, Texas when they were in Dallas for business or pleasure. CoH-Dallas met this need for a new congregation in Oklahoma City. It all began with a small group bible study and a few big services at Christmas and Easter. With joy we gathered for our first, regular, Sunday service, and the early years were filled with exciting ventures. Quickly we became a congregation that reached out to our community through a variety of service projects. These ministries carried us through years of transition as we left one denomination and went through pastoral changes. We refined our vision and mission: “to empower all people to experience the presence of God, to grow toward wholeness, and to act in love.”
Fall 1999 Alpha Circle begins
August 5, 2000 First regular Sunday service held
September 1, 2000 Rev. Kevin McLemore installed as 1st pastor
December 2000 Annual Christmas baskets project begins
Winter 2001 First Sexuality & Scripture Conference held
August 2001 Annual Crayola Crusade school supplies project begins
March 2002 Women’s Circle is formed
April 2002 Church paints the Northwinds facility for those living with HIV/AIDS
September 2002 Rev. Tessie Mandeville comes as 2nd settled pastor
July 2003 Church disaffiliates with the Metropolitan Community Churches
December 2003 Men’s Circle formed from merger of previous groups
February 2004 First Habitat for Humanity project, Rev. Bob Wilcox begins service as interim pastor
Summer 2004 Vision and Mission statements developed
July 2004 Wilson Elementary School adopted for various projects
