This will be the ONLY retreat in 2012, so register now!

Time is running out to return your applications for the 2012 HIV Retreat – and space is limited! Don’t forget: THIS WILL BE THE ONLY RETREAT HELD IN 2012.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, MAY 4TH

Mail (or hand deliver) the registration form and $10.00 to:

Community of Hope2545 S. Yale Ave.Tulsa, OK  74114.
We Will Notify You After May 5th.

Click Here For An Application Form

If You Have Questions, Please email Karl Villadsen or call him at: 918-813-0110

Community of Hope FINALLY has a brand new Twitter account!

Community of Hope Twitter

If you’re on Twitter, don’t be a stranger! Click the image or the link above to stay up-to-date on blog posts and random commentary from your lovely Administrative Assistant!

(Personally, I have seen some AMAZING things happen via Twitter, as it is a way to reach a LOT of people VERY fast. Join us if you’re on Twitter too!)

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who came out to our Annual Spring Garage Sale on April 6th and 7th!

Whether you donated or bought, everyone helped raise almost $800 – which 90% of  will go to our Nicaragua mission and the remaining 10% will go to the operating budget for the church!

Thank You! Thank you!

Our next garage sale is scheduled for June 2nd and will also benefit our Nicaragua mission – stay tuned for those details right here on our website, our Facebook and our brand new Twitter account!

The gnome hath speaketh! There is to be a Grounds Beautification Meeting!

What: Grounds Beautification Meeting

When: Thursday, April 26th | Saturday, April 28th

Where: Ministry Team Office at Community of Hope

Time: 6pm – 7pm | 1pm – 2pm

Why: To discuss the needs Community of Hope has for volunteers to help keep the grounds of our wonderful building beautiful: lawn mowing, weed pulling, weed eating, flower planting, etc.

Everyone knows that keeping the inside of our place of worship neat, tidy and welcoming is an important part of adding to the inviting atmosphere Community of Hope is known for – but what about the outside?

The outside is just as important! A pleasant and beautiful outside reflects our effort into our building, which is such an integral part of who we are; It allows us to gather, to worship and to welcome new Companions into its fold!

If you’re interested in attending this meeting to discuss volunteering in any way to help keep our grounds beautiful, please come to the Ministry Team Office at Community of Hope (2545 S. Yale Ave.) for the Grounds Beautification Meeting at 6pm. All are welcome, Companions and friends alike!

Can’t make it on Thursday? You’re in luck! We will have a second meeting on Saturday, April 28th from 1pm – 2pm in the same location. Again, all are welcome!

(Click on flyer for a larger view.)

Community of Hope, UCC and the George Kaiser Family Foundation are proud to announce: Long Time HIV Survivors Spring 2012 Retreat – May 18th, 19th and 20^th

If you are HIV positive and want to experience a weekend full of fun, great food, sharing of personal stories, learning how to strengthen your immune system, inspiration, and build a network of old and new friends, we want to hear from you!

We will be packing up and leaving the Community of Hope (2545 S. Yale) on:

Friday, May 18th at 2:30 pm for Camp Christian, near Chouteau.
We will be returning Sunday, May 20^th at 2:30 pm

Space is limited, so register now!

This will be the only retreat in 2012.

Mail (or hand deliver) the registration form and $10.00 to:

Community of Hope
2545 S. Yale Ave.
Tulsa, OK  74114.

We will notify you after May 5^th.

If you have questions, please contact Karl Villadsen at 918-813-0110 or e-mail him at villadsen@cox.net

**This year’s retreat will be dedicated to the memory of Keryn Scott**

Click here for an application form.

(Click the flyer above for a larger view.)

This event will happen April 6th and 7th at Community of Hope!

Hours:

Friday, April 6th: 8am—3pm

Saturday, April 7th: 8am—12pm

90% of the proceeds will go to our Nicaragua mission and the remaining 10% will go to the operating budget for the church. You are welcome to bring your gently used items to donate anytime after April 1st.

Feel free to stop by and take a look around—and help support TWO great causes in our Community!

Just Eating? Responding to God’s Call.
Reflecting on our experiences and taking action.

The schedule for Wednesday, March 28th, will be as follows: Diving More Deeply into Just Eating

6:00pm — Prayer and meditation
Meditation on scripture, silence and prayer.

6:30pm — Vegetarian soup supper
Join us for soup , bread and companionship.

7:00pm — Exploring the Issues
Join us for a presentation, discussion and a movie.

The movie we will be showing is entitled “Urban Roots.” From their website, at Urban Roots America:

Urban Roots is the next documentary from Tree Media. Produced by Leila Conners (The 11th Hour) and Mathew Schmid and directed by Mark MacInnis, the film follows the urban farming phenomenon in Detroit. Urban Roots is a timely, moving and inspiring film that speaks to a nation grappling with collapsed industrial towns and the need to forge a sustainable and prosperous future.

PLEASE COME IN THE FRONT DOOR AND JOIN US IN THE SANCTUARY. PLEASE DO NOT DISRUPT THE GROUPS MEETING IN THE BACK ROOM AND CLASSROOMS.

We hope to see you there!

As I think about reflecting on the past 2+ years of ministry among you, I find myself thinking about the word “reflect.” I believe, in this case, that is a most apt word because my life, from this point on, will be a reflection of our time together. In fact, my life has already been reflecting our time together. I am, without a doubt, a much better person, and a much better Pastor because of my time here. And for that I am extremely grateful.

As we prepare to part and each seek the future to which our still-speaking God has called us, I would like to share with you the following thoughts.

The phrase that is found most often in our sacred texts is “Be not afraid.” It was the phrase proclaimed by the angels as they announced the birth of Jesus, and it was the first thing Jesus said to his disciples when he appeared before them behind locked doors after the resurrection. It is also the phrase that you and I have in common from our similar pasts of responding to a dreaded and deadly disease called AIDS. In the midst of watching an entire generation of SF’s gay men die, I learned, just as this community learned, that sometimes all you can do is show up… sometimes all you can do is stand there like the lion in the Wizard of Oz with your knees knocking and your voice shaking as you cry out for relief. You and I know what it means to stare death in the face and to hear the still, small voice of God from deep within proclaim, “Be not afraid.” We have learned that, in the face of adversity, doing anything, even something that doesn’t work, is better than doing nothing at all. As Martin Luther King, Jr said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Say something… DO something… even if you think it may be the wrong thing. For the greatest wrong one can commit in the face of adversity is to do nothing. I hope that is how you will remember my time among you. We may have made mistakes along the way, but no one can say we didn’t try. In the face of adversity, we stood strong and boldly continued proclaiming God’s radical and extravagant welcome.

So, tonight, I invite you to remember the confidence with which you let go of your safe past and rose to meet the call of God and the call of your fellow humans in your response to HIV/AIDS. I ask you to remember that you cannot sail to distant shores without losing sight of the safety of the harbor. I ask you to remember the words of our scriptures and the words that we have lived together these past two years, “Be not afraid.”

In closing, I would like to read one of my favorite quotes from Thomas Merton.
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does, in fact, please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”

If you have been touched by Bob’s ministry, you are invited to this celebration and opportunity to bid farewell.

Please join us on Sunday, December 11 at 6pm for a celebration of Bob’s ministry among us through a Service of Farewell. There will be a community potluck meal and reception following the service. Everyone who has been touched by Bob’s ministry is invited to attend.

Announcement regarding resignation

After much prayer and discernment, I have submitted my resignation as Pastor of Community of Hope UCC. My resignation was presented to the Coordinating Council Monday night and approved, with regret.

I am extremely grateful for the 2+ years I have been blessed to be your Pastor. My time with you has provided me with many opportunities for joy as well as growth, and I believe I have become a much better person as well as Pastor because of our time together. I will carry with me the stories of our lives together, full of grace and joy.

My Service of Farewell, and last day serving as your Pastor, will be Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 6pm. More information about plans for my farewell will be included in the Weekly Call. In accordance with the Ministerial Code of Conduct, I will sever my ties with this community at that time so that you (and I) may more readily grow into the next chapters of our lives.

Please know that I love each and every one of you and wish you great adventures as you seek where our still-speaking God may be calling you. This community will always continue in my prayers, and I trust your prayers will follow me.

Bud Abbott, Chair of the Coordinating Council, will be sending a separate announcement soon regarding plans for pastoral leadership after my departure.

Sincerely,
Rev. Bob Lawrence

Letter of resignation

After much prayer and discernment, I am submitting my resignation as Pastor of Community of Hope United Church of Christ. The decisions and dialogue at the recent Community Meetings lead me to believe it would be in the best interest of Community of Hope as well as myself for me to resign at this time.

I will continue in an administrative role through Tuesday, December 6 (to host the World AIDS Day event that is planned to happen at Community of Hope). During that time I will work with the appropriate individuals to ensure as smooth a transition in pastoral leadership as possible, but I will remove myself from community life leadership immediately.

I have contacted our Interim Conference Minister, Rev. Krista Betz, and asked her to assist with my Service of Farewell on Sunday, December 11 at 6pm.

My life has been enriched during the 2-1/2 years I have been blessed to be your Pastor. My prayers and love for each of you will continue.

Sincerely,
Rev. Bob Lawrence