The Christian flag has a pole!

Chaplain Dennis Maloney has been stretched way outside of his comfort zone and he is doing a great job out there!  Today, he laid the foundation for the flag pole and hoisted the Christian flag in front of the chapel.

Way to go, Bro. Dennis!!

The next breezy day, we will get a better picture of the flag. 

UPDATE:  Caught a breeze!

Here is a picture of the Christian flag so you can see what it looks like.

Today the Christian Flag is one of the oldest unchanged flags in the world. It was conceived at Brighton Chapel, Coney Island, New York, Sunday, September 26, 1897.

Pledge to the Christian Flag

There appears to be more than one version of this pledge to the Christian Flag. One version is:
“I pledge allegiance
To the Christian Flag
And to the Saviour,
For whose Kingdom it stands.
One Saviour, crucified,
risen and coming again,
With life and liberty
for all who believe.” 

Many school children in private Christian schools immediately following the pledge to the American flag turn to the Christian Flag right hand still over the heart and recite:
PLEDGE TO THE CROSS
I pledge allegiance to the cross, of our Lord Jesus Christ,
And to the faith for which it stands, one Savior, eternal,
with mercy and grace for all.

<o})><

The Sycamores Chapel

Rt. 2, Box 2131

Checotah, OK  74426

Fall is here!

Sally and Dennis Maloney taking a break from all the hard work they have been doing, getting The Sycamores Chapel and grounds ready for whoever God brings and for the meetings to be held here next month.

Enjoy the beauty of the season with us.... 

Tuesday night Bible study...

Tonight, we were thrilled to have a couple, Tommy and Kay, from the community, joining us for Bible Study at 6:30. Tommy and Kay, master gardners, have indicated an interest in helping us with the community garden we have a vision for here on the chapel grounds. We had a wonderful time of study and fellowship.  Many thanks for all the prayers for the ministry in this community as we share the love of Jesus.

Matthew 20:1-16 was the text for our study.

The Sycamores Chapel

Rt. 2, Box 2131

Checotah, OK  74426

First Fall Sunday

Chaplain Don Baker going to church. If you look closely you will see a dim round orb on top of his head. He had something humorous to say about that. Come visit us and we will tell you... the rest of the story.

This is how we sing until God calls a worship leader to The Sycamores Chapel. 

It looks like LaVon Baker is leading the singing but she's really only standing close to the CD player so she can change it to the next song chosen. Making a joyful noise. 

God's Word was brought to us by Bro. Richard McCool this morning. To discover the sanctification process of the Believer, check out 2 Corinthians 5 and 6.

Bro. Richard's message begin with:

"Some people will change when they see the Light;

Others move only when they feel the Heat." 

What a glorious Sunday it is.  Cooler temperatures and crystal blue water reflecting the crystal blue sky. 

What are we doing?

We make no apologies for not knowing exactly what God is up to here. That is what "walking by faith" is all about, right?  We could get discouraged. We could get down. We could have a big old pity party. But we are not. We choose to rejoice and be glad in each and every day and YOUR prayers and encouragement are a huge help in our ability to keep on trusting and waiting.  

Don and Dennis were out in the community last week to pass out flyers and met many people. They came back excited and heartbroken.  The harvest is here and we have begun to plant the seeds.  It will take time, but there are hurting and desperate people here who now know that we are here and our door and our hearts are open for them.  We understand that we cannot, nor should we, pound the Bible into anyone.  We are only called to share what we can and love as much as they will allow us.  Please continue to pray for us and all the things and people that The Sycamores Chapel represents in this community.  (As of yet, we don't even know what all that could be, but we know The One who does!)

The Sycamores Chapel

Rt. 2, Box 2131

Checotah, OK  74426

The Sycamore Tree

Just in case you are like me and did not know exactly what a Sycamore tree looks like, this post is for you.  Don brought me a Sycamore leaf and seed pod.

Is Chaplain Don looking for Zaccheus? 

Chaplain Don Baker chatting on the phone. 

The Sycamore Tree makes a really good shade tree and it is my understanding that they grow pretty fast, also. 

Now, we just need to find some Sycamore seedlings to plant at the chapel.

Luke 19

2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 

3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 

4 So he ran ahead and climbed a SYCAMORE tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said.“Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Ms. Sally's garden

The bumble bees love the Cosmos.

International Spiritual Life Conference Agenda

 Friday October 18^th

10:30 AM – 12:00 – Ordination Council for Gary Laird

                                  (Location The Sycamores Chapel)

                                 The council will be made up of the following men:

                                  Senior Chaplain Bob Ruesh, Chaplain Jerry

                                  Donahoo, Senior Chaplain Dennis Maloney,

                                  Senior Chaplain Richard McCool, Chaplain Don

                                  Baker, Senior Chaplain Jack Gregory, and Senior

                                  Chaplain Fred Campbell.  Dr. Dan Griffin will

                                  act as moderator of the council.

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Check In  

                                     (The Sycamores Chapel Fellowship Hall)

2:00 PM – 4:30 PM - Training (International will be storying training;

                                    Life Borders Int’l training to be determined. 

                                    International training will be at Sycamores

                                    Chapel.  Life Borders training will be held at

                                    North Fork Baptist Church.    

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM – Clean up – Q&A

5:30 – 7:00 PM – Dinner on your own

Saturday October 19^th

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM -Morning devotions - Dr. Dan Griffin (Sycamores

                                                                     Sanctuary)

10:00 AM – 12:00 AM – Training – International training will be Dr.

                                                           Dan Griffin on interpersonal

                                                           relations.  Life Borders Int’l is

                                                           to be determined.         

12:00 – 1:30 PM – Lunch on own

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM – Ordination service for Dr. Bill Artherholt and

                                     Chaplain Gary Laird.  (Dr. Dan Griffin and

                                     others)  Location – Northfork Baptist Church

                                      sanctuary. Dress is business casual.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Reception Northfork Baptist Church Fellowship

                                    Hall.

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM – Dinner on your own.

6:30PM – 7:30 PM – Dr. Les Unruh, SIM/USA Church Relations

                                   Director.  Dr. Unruh will speak of joint ministry

                                   opportunities in Liberia, West Africa.                 

                              

                                   Dress is business casual. Location is The

                                   Sycamores Chapel sanctuary.

Q&A to follow.

Sunday October 20^th, 2013

10 AM – Sunday Morning Worship – Dr. Dan Griffin – Worship music

                                                              leader tbd.

11:00 AM – Dedication of The Sycamores Community Church – Dr.

                     Dan Griffin – Sanctuary Outpost International Mission

                     Pastor.

12:00 PM – 2 PM – Lunch on your own.

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Communion and Season of Prayer (Dr. Dan

                                    Griffin will lead communion and Senior Chaplain

                                     Richard McCool will lead time of prayer for

                                     CRM Int’l, Sanctuary Outpost, Life Borders Int’l,

                                     and the ministry of “The Sycamores Chapel”.             

4:00PM – 5:00PM – Dr. Les Unruh – Open time to discuss Liberia

5:00PM  – 6:30PM – Dinner on the grounds.

6:30PM – 7:30 PM – Bible study with Dr. Dan Griffin

MONDAY CLEAN-UP

9:00 – 10:30 - Devotion time with Dr. Dan, Praise time and Prayer

                        Requests.  (For those who can be there)

The Sycamores Chapel

Rt. 2 Box 2131

Checotah, OK 74426

It's Back-to-Church Sunday

Good friend, musician, songwriter and preacher, Ron Jarman, joined us this morning to lead us in worship and bless us with special music.

Ron, thank you so much for driving over from Purcell, Oklahoma to minister to us.

We were also blessed with visitors Kim and Becky, who are friends of Ron's.  It was a joy to meet them and share a fellowship meal together here at the chapel.

You are invited...

This is the flyer that Don and Dennis will be distributing door to door in the community.

Update letter from Chaplain Dennis Maloney

Hi everyone.

Just a quick note to tell you of our Labor Day weekend at The Sycamores Community Church and how we spent it.  Don and LaVon Baker, Jack and Karen Gregory and Sally and myself felt the need for a prayer and fasting time prior to the kick-off of Sunday services here at the Sycamores.  We began this discipline on Friday and ended today, Sunday, September 1st.  

On Friday morning at 9 AM Clay Turner, associate pastor at Lindsey Chapel here in Eufaula, led us in a time of devotion concerning the Lord leading us on narrow pathways and the fact that we are to be meek and gentle in our personal walk.  (Matthew 5:5).  This was followed by a time of corporate prayer where we sought God's PERFECT will for such a time as this as we move forward.  The remainder of the day was spent in individual prayer as we sought to re-ignite our walk with Jesus.  

Saturday morning Pastor Tim Turner, senior pastor at Lindsey Chapel, brought us a devotion on doing the right thing in the right way.  The scripture he used was found in 1 Samuel 13:8 where Saul offered sacrifices to the Lord.  It was a good thing done in the wrong way.  Pastor Tim reminded us that as we seek to serve Him we should do those things that honor God and do those things in the prescribed manner found in God's Word. Following this we met for corporate prayer and then dismissed into the remainder of the day seeking God in individual prayer.  

Sunday we each went to our respective church services (we have scattered out among local partner churches for Sunday worship until such time as we begin here at "The Sycamores") We each heard powerful messages on the Holy Spirit and on The Great Shepherd.  We broke our fasts with Sunday noon meal as we fellowshipped around the noon meal at the fellowship hall at "The Sycamores".  

We gathered back at 5:30 PM for Chaplain Don's message from Matthew 9:36-38.  The Harvest is plentiful and we are to ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers.

God has been good to speak to each of us during this time.  Our devotion times, our prayer times and our individual seeking of the Lord has indicated our direction to us.  We are to begin, here at The Sycamores Chapel, a community garden.  We will teach life skills and lessons through parables from the garden.  At the same time, we will feed the hungry and teach them to fish.  Please pray for our kick off here on September the 15th.  God is going to do a great work.

Blessings

Senior Chaplain Dennis Maloney

International Director

CRM Int'l

Clay Turner