“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart…” (Phil. 1:3-7b)

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I can’t begin to thank you enough for your faithful witness and loving service during the 10th Annual OKC Memorial Marathon. Our “Second Wind” Ministry once again rose to the occasion to care for the needs of thousands of runners, family members, children and friends. It was my joy to get to see many of you in action at First Church and on the course! I actually had my best run ever - the 5K; EMSA was standing by, but not needed by me! My special “Thanks” to our Marathon Coordinators and their assistants: Kirk Norman (Marathon Coordinator), Mary Nethercutt (Course Marshals), Sandie Blake(Expo Booth), Bill Mullins (Hospitality), Teri Weiss (Greeters), Diana Mooney ( Dining Room), Frank Weiss (Kitchen ), Sara Hurston (Children’s Area), Lynn Todd (Nursery ), Peggy King and Kevin Collier (Facilities) and Laura Alfonzo and Tony Moran (Media). It was my pleasure to bring the Word from Proverbs 3:5-6 at our Saturday evening “Blessing of the Shoes” Worship Service and our 5:30am Sunday worship service at the Survivor Tree. Thanks to Ross and Megan Chaffin for providing anointed worship music as well at that early hour! Our First Church vision includes “Serving with Love” – thanks for doing it in such a practical and meaningful way!

Frank Weiss told me we served around 3500 people pancakes, our largest crowd ever! Our bathrooms were well used and appreciated too! Our Marathon Worship services were also bigger than ever with several runners being blessed and anointed for their run. I enjoyed cooking pancakes during my shift at the Expo on Saturday with Lisa Turley, Shelley Moran and Nan and Ken Miller. You just can’t get enough good pancakes!

Thanks for serving on your feet last weekend! Now… I ask you to give your feet a break and get down on your knees this coming week May 5 -6 for The National Day of Prayer. First Church has been asked by The OK Regional Director of the National Day of Prayer to host a 24-Hour Prayer Vigil and once again a Prayer Service at the Survivor Tree. Our Youth will begin the vigil at 5:30pm on Wednesday, May 5, and we’ll kick off our event at 6:00 with Overflow in the sanctuary. Robin McAdow, Lyn Kruecke, Pam Thompson and Patricia Meyers have set prayer stations in our Prayer Chapel for the event. We’ll pray all night and all the next day concluding with the Prayer Service at the Survivor Tree at 5:00 on Thursday, May 6. I’ve invited several Downtown Pastors to lead us in prayer and local Christian recording artist, Jamie Smith, will provide special music. You can sign up today online at FirstChurchOKC.com. Michael Davis has arranged for First Church Security for the nighttime hours.

With recent court rulings, you know we need to intercede for our nation now more than ever! Come pray “on site with insight.” You’ll be blessed and our nation will be too!

Yours in Christ,
Mark

P.S. I begin a 4-week series on the Book of Esther this week. Take a few minutes and read chapters 1-2 to be prepared! Blessings!