We are a community joined together in a reverent, thoughtful, loving quest for faith.
220 South Webster Avenue - Norman, OK 73069
We are a community joined together in a reverent, thoughtful, loving quest for faith.
220 South Webster Avenue - Norman, OK 73069
Statement from Rev. David Spain
The church is aware of the arrest of Chris Fourcade. He is no longer employed by the church. While the investigation and arrest does not focus on any children from the church, our staff is fully committed to the truth, and is fully cooperating with any requests regarding the investigation. It is the church's practice to never have adults alone with children, and we remain vigilant in that practice.
A Response to the Community
Sermon from May 28, 2023
In what will come as no surprise to you this morning, the sermon that had been written for this day no longer seems right for this moment. That sermon was distributed to those who ask for advance copies, but what will be spoken this morning that was written early this morning varies significantly from what was sent to you as the original sermon for Pentecost Sunday.
To state the obvious, the last 36 hours have been beyond agonizing. Perhaps the truest words to say this morning is that there are no words to say that can address fully what we are thinking feeling. However, just because our words are inadequate is no excuse for saying nothing. So, recognizing the imperfection of what will be said, it is right and necessary to offer these words to you this morning.
For the few who may not know, one of our staff was arrested Thursday evening and that news became public Friday afternoon. Since then, much work has been done in response to that news, work that will establish the groundwork for all that needs to happen in the days to come. All staff have been involved in a meeting yesterday morning, and the primary church leaders including the current President and the President Elect of the congregation, along with the Elder and Deacon Chair have been notified and consulted. Countless and almost constant hours of communication by phone, text, and email have been carried out since late Friday afternoon when the news came to my awareness. Those kinds of details are less important in this moment, but you need to be assured that your church is responding, including thanks to two of our wonderful women who have stepped in at the eleventh hour and led our children’s Sunday School this morning. Thank you very much.
To state the obvious, we are a church that is in deep, almost unfathomable grief. We are shocked, appalled, distraught, scared, angry, and fearful. It is important that we hear and honor each other’s deep and powerful emotions. If there is one thing the Biblical story says over and over again, it is that God hears the cries of those who are grieving, of those who are frightened, of those who are in deepest distress. This is a time when I have fallen back on that deeply held belief even though at times during the last 36 hours we have all felt profoundly and frighteningly alone. By faith we proclaim we are not alone…we have each other, and we have God who hears us when we cry and when we are afraid.
And so it is that we must, as God’s people, listen deeply, openly, non-defensively to whatever we need to say to one another. That is first and foremost. The old saying that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care must be foremost in our minds. With all the thoughts and emotions that have been stirred since Friday afternoon, we must practice the sacred gift of lending our deep and loving listening to each other—listening that comes without judgment and with deep acceptance of where each of us is in this moment and in the days to come. We can only be the church, and the church at its best, when we give each other our ears.
Pentecost, for all that it is, is first and foremost the gift of listening, the gift of hearing each other, the gift not of uniformity but of compassionate community in which we recognize that God’s Spirit poured out onto all flesh means that we have the grace, wisdom, and care to listen to and seek always to understand one another. Therefore, we must be open to tears, disappointment, confusion, anger, sadness, and who knows what else. We are not here to fix or correct anyone; we are here to listen, and we will do that.
That being said, we must also do more than listen. When we sing “They’ll know we are Christians by our love,” we are not speaking of sappy sentimentalism of cuddly emotions. We are speaking of a faith both courageously held and vulnerably offered. And so it is incumbent on us that every question that needs to be asked must be heard and answered—and it will be; every concern both immediately present and lingering later must be heard and answered—and it will be; every doubt or uncertainty that has been stirred must be heard and answered—and it will be. As was stated on the church website and on the First Christian Church Facebook page, our staff is fully committed to the truth and will cooperate fully in every way with any investigation and any inquiry. And most importantly, whatever changes that we discern need to be made will be made. We will do this together, openly, transparently, honestly, courageously, lovingly because this is the time to be fully Christian by our love. To that end, any staff member is available to listen to you and to care for you. At the same time, I have encouraged the staff to encourage all of you to reach out to me with any question or concern you have. While we are congregational church and the power is vested in you the people, and we the ministers are all your shepherds, I am the shepherd in the corner office, and in that position I bear that responsibility fully. As you might expect, the volume of communication has been constant, so even though it is always my intent to respond to you immediately, I must also be responsive and fully present to the person who is in front of me. My pledge and our pledge is to be fully present to you, and we will accept nothing less than that in our ministry.
To be sure, with such a public event there has been the rush of media and social media. The church has received some scathing criticisms from those who are ready to assume the worst and lump all of Christendom into one hateful evil. While each of us is responsible for his or her reactions to this, such blind hatred directed at this church in particular is unjustified. I have no intention of responding to those who are ready to pounce when a story like ours hits the news. Thankfully, such caustic rhetoric has not come from any of you, not come from any who are members of this church, and who are acquainted with the ways of this church. The vast majority of responses since Friday have been in the form of deep prayer, deep care, and the willingness to offer expertise as any have that expertise and willingness to offer. At least on my phone, and I can imagine on every other staff members’ phones, that message of prayer and care has been readily offered and repeated. So thank you for the ways you are ministering to the staff, and the ways you will minister to one another. This Christ-like courage and care is part of what makes First Christian Church of Norman the incredible gift that it is.
Going forward, we will be striving to find our balance. That this has shaken our foundations is obvious. So, we must operate in two lanes all at the same time. On the one hand, we must deal fully and completely with all our concerns and questions as has already been affirmed. On the other hand, we must never lose sight of the ministry God is still calling us to embody on Christ’s behalf. There are still the hungry to be fed, there are still the homeless to be housed, there are still the thirsty who need a drink of water, there are still those in tattered clothes who need a decent pair of shoes, there are still those who are strangers and feel alone who need the hospitality of Christ’s Table, there are still those who are sick in body and heart sick and each one of them deserves our best care, there are still those who are imprisoned either in a building or in their own souls or know someone who is who need the compassionate care. That we are currently dealing with this terrible news in this church—and deal with it we will—does not mean we are any less responsible for caring for those whom Jesus said he resides in—the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the unclothed, the sick, the imprisoned. Jesus said this is our ministry, and that has not changed. Jesus calls us to this good work of redemption and healing. On this Pentecost Sunday, particularly on this Pentecost Sunday, we commit ourselves to this redemptive, restoring, reconciling work, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.
Dear First Christian Church Congregation,
The events of this past week have left us with powerful emotions—deep grief and anger, profound loss and fear. You have shared many of those emotions with me, and I hope you will continue to do so.
There have been many offers of care and prayer for the church. One particular expression of care comes from several counselors who have offered their professional help. If you would find talking with a counselor helpful, please contact the church office and we can supply you with names of those who have offered to help.
Again, reiterating what was stated Saturday and preached Sunday, please contact me by phone (405-329-2192) or email david@fccnorman.org. if you want to do so. I want to hear how you are deeply impacted by this, to answer your questions, and to provide the support you need through this profoundly painful time.
Sincerely,
Rev. David Spain
Morning Prayer
Scripture & Anthem
Sermon & Sermon Transcripts
This podcast will bring together ministers, church members, special guests, music and musicians, and members of the community to share their respective thoughts and reflections on life in the context of our shared journey.
(second and fourth Thursdays)
FALL FOOTBALL SEASON PARKING
Though it is mid May, thoughts are already turning to fall football. Again this year, the church’s west lot will be available to any who would like to reserve a parking spot for the entire football season. The cost is only $150, and your parking spot will be held to one hour before kickoff, thus saving you the trouble of having to come two or more hours ahead of kickoff, which is when the south lot is filled.
We are delighted that all the parking proceeds, from season pass parking to each game day parking, goes directly to the youth mission trip fund. So, be encouraged to support the church’s mission work as part of your fun attending home football games. To make a reservation for season pass parking, please contact the church office by emailing stephanie@fccnorman.org or calling the church office at 405-329-2192. Thank you, and enjoy the Sooners final season in the Big 12 Conference.
ChARM Events (Christian Association of Retired Members)
Thursday, June 15—8:00am—PAWsitively Wild Animal Encounters and lunch at Reba’s Place in Atoka. Please RSVP to Stephanie for your seat on the Church bus.
Saturday, June 24—9:00am—Potluck Breakfast
Please RSVP to Stephanie.
BRANSON TRIP
October 17—October 20 ChARM is going to Branson. Please RSVP to Stephanie.
Please contact Stephanie at 405-329-2192 or email her at stephanie@fccnorman.org for more information.
Thank you.
Pictures from a recent ChARM luncheon at an OKC restaurant!
GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS SUMMER
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) General Assembly will be held in Louisville, Kentucky from July 29th through August 1st this summer. Each church is entitled to a certain number of delegates who will represent the church at General Assembly. Delegates are to be active members of the church. If you have interest in serving as a delegate for General Assembly or have questions about General Assembly, please contact the church office to speak with Rev. Spain or email david@fccnorman.org.
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