CCY Connect march 2025 edition

That’s a question that varies among all of us and may depend on the circumstances at the time. We know patience is a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22. The words patient and patience are used throughout the bible and used most often with the word “wait.” Now we should ask ourselves, how are we at waiting? That may bring on a whole new emotional mindset! The word wait is used in the bible over 140 times so there’s something we are required to learn, and it teaches us a lot about God’s timing and reliance on Him.

Most of us have heard the phrase “you have the patience of Job!” There is one other who I admire who was patient and that was King David – okay, he wasn’t patient with his desires for Bathsheba! But besides that, David wrote about himself waiting patiently on the Lord and he uses the word “wait” many times in the Psalms. In the study of this word there are different Hebrew words but basically have the same meaning. What is interesting is they are all verbs which are an action. Most have the meaning “to expect” or “to hope for” but a couple of the words I find amusing that are in Hebrew are ‘chuwl’ חוּל (pronounced ‘khool’) which means “emotional distress” or “pain” but at the same time can mean “to twist, whirl, dance.” Several times we read in the Psalms of David crying out to the Lord, in particular Psalm 22, from feeling abandoned and despised to victorious. This chapter is often compared to the suffering of Jesus ending with the exaltation of His deliverance. And ‘damam’ דָּמַם (pronounced ‘dah-MAHM’) which means to be silent or quiet. Sometimes when we’re hurting and we just don’t know what to say or how to pray, all we have to do is be silent and He will console us in those quiet moments.

One of my favorite definitions comes from the Hebrew word ‘qavah’ קָוָה (pronounced kah-VAH): “This word stresses the straining of the mind in a certain direction with an expectant attitude …a forward look with assurance.” Do you realize what a stress relief this is!? Give it to God, cry out to him but don’t take back control, and maybe during that time be quiet in total reliance in Him or maybe just dance and expect great things.

Ah, March - the month where we lose an hour of sleep but gain more sunshine and a desperate need for allergy meds. While we’re groggily adjusting to daylight saving time, let’s also think about how we can spring forward in faith this season.

New Season, New Growth

Spring is nature’s way of reminding us that God is always doing something new. Trees start budding, flowers bloom, and we start wondering why we ever thought it was a good idea to plant a garden. Isaiah 43:19 says, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"

Maybe you’ve been stuck in a winter season - spiritually, emotionally, or just literally because Oklahoma weather can’t make up its mind. But guess what? God is in the business of making things new. Now’s the time to refresh your faith, shake off the dust, and step into what He has for you!

Time for Some Spring Cleaning

And no, I don’t mean just clearing out that junk drawer (though… you probably should). I’m talking about the clutter in our hearts - worry, bitterness, distractions, that thing you’ve been stressing about but haven’t actually prayed about. Philippians 3:13-14 reminds us to let go of what’s behind and focus on what’s ahead. So this season, let's:

• Declutter our minds - replace worry with worship.
• Freshen up our faith - commit to prayer and Bible study.
• Throw out what’s weighing us down - because God never meant for us to carry it anyway.

What’s Next?

As we head toward Resurrection Sunday, let's be intentional about growing closer to Jesus. That might mean spending more time in the Word, inviting a friend to church, or finally saying yes to that thing God’s been nudging you about.

So set your clocks forward, grab a cup of coffee to make up for lost sleep, and let’s step boldly into this season of renewal - with faith, joy, and maybe a little Allegra.

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

• 🗓 March 18-19
• 🚗 Carpool Departure: 5:30 PM
• 📍 Destination: Wichita Mountains (Doris B Campsite)
• 💰 Cost: $5 per person (Max $20 per family)
• 🔥 Campfire 🥾 Hiking 🍴 Great Food 🤝 Fellowship

Join us for a weekend of adventure and connection in the great outdoors! Gather your family and friends, and don’t miss this opportunity to relax, bond, and enjoy God’s creation.

Itinerary

📅 Tuesday, March 18th

• 🕐 1:00 PM – Early Group meets at CCY (in front of the gym)
• 🚗 1:30 PM – Depart for Wichita Mountains
• ⛺ 4:00 PM – Arrive & set up at Doris Campground (📞 Emergency: 580-429-3222)
• 🌭 5:00 PM – Dinner: Hotdogs, soft drinks, chips, s'mores, campfire & games
• 🚗 5:30 PM – After Work Group meets at CCY & departs
• 🌙 9:00 PM – Quiet time (Lights out at 10:30 PM)

📅 Wednesday, March 19th

• 🍳 7:00 AM – Breakfast
• 🔥 8:00 AM – Campfire devotional
• 🥾 9:00 AM – Hike
• 🥪 12:00 PM – Lunch
• 🙏 1:00 PM – Prayer walk/hike
• 🧹 4:00 PM – Clean up camp

At Christ's Church of Yukon, we understand that parents need a little extra help during the summer months. That’s why our Parent's Day Out program was created - to provide a loving, Christ-centered environment where your little ones can learn, play, and grow in faith.

We cherish the opportunity to build lasting relationships with families in our community while offering excellent, loving care for the children entrusted to us. Our program incorporates play-based learning with a mix of unstructured, structured, and creative play. Each day, children will enjoy engaging themes, hands-on arts and crafts, and meaningful chapel time where they can learn about God’s love.

The Parent's Day Out Summer Session runs from June 10th to July 31st (Closed the week of July 4th), on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM to 2 PM. Designed for children 15 months – 1st Grade (6 years), this program is all about making summer fun and enriching in a safe, nurturing Christian atmosphere.

Enrollment Details:

• Enrollment Fee: $50 for one child, $75 for two children, $100 for three or more children.
• Activity Fee: $10 per child (one-time fee).
• Session Cost: $350 for one child, with a $25 discount for each additional child.
• Payments: Due at the start of each month; full session payment is due by June 10th.
• Payment Plans: Available upon request—please contact the program director.

We can’t wait to welcome your little ones for a summer filled with faith, friendship, and fun! Spots are limited, so be sure to register soon.

For more information or to enroll, visit www.ccyok.com/pdo or call the church office.

We look forward to spending a joyful and faith-filled summer with your family!

At Christ’s Church of Yukon, we believe that every person is created in the image of God, uniquely designed with purpose and value. With that in mind, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our Special Needs Ministry, beginning March 9th, led by Maritza Kizzar.

This ministry has been prayerfully developed to provide a safe, loving, and inclusive space for individuals with special needs to grow in their faith, build meaningful friendships, and experience the love of Christ. We recognize that families navigating disabilities often face unique challenges, and we want to walk alongside them, offering support, encouragement, and a welcoming church home.

Through this ministry, we will provide tailored teaching, sensory-friendly environments, and compassionate volunteers who are dedicated to ensuring that every individual can participate fully in worship, learning, and fellowship. Whether it's a child, teen, or adult, we want each person to know:

You are seen. You are loved. You belong.

If you or someone you know would benefit from this ministry, or if you feel called to serve as a volunteer, we would love to connect with you! Visit www.ccyok.com/specialneeds to learn more and find out how you can be part of this beautiful new chapter at CCY.

Let’s continue to be a church that loves, includes, and celebrates every person, just as God does.

Church family you brought the heat and the sweet. We battled over chili, banana pudding, fudge, and cake. It was an epic battle that got a little spicy. We had amazing chili and saw new winners this year.

First there were Drew and Natalie’s grandson and nephew taking the win for most creative and crowd favorite with their Chuck Wagon Chili, and Libby came in first for Best Chili and won our first ever championship ring. The judges had a hard time deciding who would take that title home.

Now in all seriousness we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It was a fun night with lots of food and fellowship, and a time came together for the children. Together we raised $2,050 to put towards new changing tables and paint for the children’s classrooms.

Now the question is…who is ready to paint?

Tori and Melissa