News/Publications
News/Publications
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Grounded in prayer
9/10/2010
Photo by Paula Lindblom
Worshippers literally will always stand on the Words of God at East Cross UMC in Bartlesville. A remodeling project is under way, and the congregation is writing biblical verses on the concrete floor. As they write, they pray for all the people who will use the facility and be impacted by the church’s ministries. Pictured are mother and daughter Kay and Kary Ruehlen. At one...Booked for travel
9/10/2010
Photo by Amelia Ballew
Mike Brown and Evelyn Phyffer of OKC-Crown Heights UMC are surrounded by boxes filled with books, ready for shipment to Ganta United Methodist School, Liberia, for a new library. The book drive began in November, and the donations filled several rooms at Crown Heights. Total: 12,000 books and 1,000 periodicals, in 271 boxes. Phyffer said donors were creative in procuring materials. One church member visited the...Fairland Backpack Program enters 3rd year
9/10/2010
Wagonload of love
Volunteers from Fairland UMC prepare to deliver backpacks filled with food for elementary students. From left are Norma Kraus, Glenda Sparkman, Joe Kraus, Pastor Carole Minter, Kim Anderson, and Jane Wilson.
The delivery vehicle was a child’s red wagon when the Backpack Program in Fairland was launched by First UMC in the 2008-09 school year.
The ministry has become a larger,...15 God Squads help Altus homeowners
9/10/2010
God Squads spark a powerful force for good
Volunteers swarm the Walnut house in Altus, refurbishing it as a Youth Force project.
Altus-First UMC hosted the mission teams for the second time. A total of 150 students and 40 adults volunteered to work, from Claremore-First, Enid-Christ, Mustang, OKC-St. Luke’s, and Owasso churches, as well as the host...Young leaders invite Christian activist to OKC
9/10/2010
Christian activist Shane Claiborne will speak at several United Methodist venues on Oct. 16 and 17 in the Oklahoma City area.
His presentations that weekend are jointly sponsored by the Youth and Young Adult Councils of the Oklahoma Conference.
Claiborne writes and travels extensively, speaking about peacemaking, social justice, and Jesus.
Claiborne is a founding partner of The Simple Way, an...United Methodist Women will gather at Tulsa-Asbury
9/10/2010
United Methodist Women from across the state will gather in Tulsa at the largest UM church in the state for their annual meeting on Oct. 1-2.
Tulsa’s Asbury UMC will host the 37th UMW Annual Meeting. Theme is "Let’s Get Together!" Guest speaker will be Yvette Richards of Kansas City, Mo., an elected director in the Women’s Division.
On Friday evening, sign-in opens at 5:30, with food and...Freshmen begin school year with worship
9/10/2010
Faculty and administrators line the sidewalk to applaud freshmen walking to the new school year’s convocation.
Oklahoma City University began the new academic year with the Matriculation Convocation on Aug. 18 in Kirkpatrick Auditorium.
This opening worship service previously was held in the chapel, but an overflow crowd there last year necessitated the move to the larger Kirkpatrick...Boating events set for Oct. 7-10
9/10/2010
The Oklahoma Regatta Festival and Head of the Oklahoma regatta return to the Oklahoma River on Oct. 7-10 in Oklahoma City. The festival is a four-day celebration of rowing, kayaking, dragon boating, and family fun on the Oklahoma River.
This year’s festival includes a national coaching clinic, OCU Head of the Oklahoma racing, OG&E NightSprints, and a family festival with live music, art, a children’s area, and food from...Boutique supports students
9/10/2010
August also saw the opening of a new venture sponsored by the university.
Bluetique, a resale shop for donated items, opened in a converted house at the northeast corner of 23rd and Virginia, at the edge of the campus.
This new enterprise offers employment opportunities for students, and proceeds from sales will fund more student job opportunities on campus....Meeting for laity offers insight about elections
9/10/2010
An informational meeting will be held Nov. 6 at OKC-St. Luke’s for any layperson interested in being nominated as a General or Jurisdictional Conference delegate, and anyone who wants to learn more about the election process.
Host will be Oklahoma Conference Lay Leader Judy Benson. "Our goal is to inform interested people about the process of being a delegate, as well as what to expect when elected and what is expected...Wesley scholars to lead retreats
9/10/2010
Seated are James and Molly Davis Scott, who are the guest presenters for the upcoming Bishop’s Retreats. With them are, from left, planning team members Derrek Belase, Janice Meese, Brian Matthews, Tish Malloy, and Craig Stinson.
Focus for the 2010 Bishop’s Retreats later this month is "The Methodist Movement: Who Were We and What Were We Doing."
UM elders James Scott and Molly Davis Scott...Wetumka broadcasts Internet radio program
9/10/2010
Wetumka-First UMC is taking advantage of growing interest in Internet radio by offering a weekly 30-minute program of Bible teaching by Pastor Dan Eischen.
The program, "Biblical Principles for Kingdom Living," airs at 12:30 p.m. Sundays and can be accessed at www.tenacityradio.com. It is archived on that website for listening at any time.
Rev. Dr. Eischen has 17 years of broadcasting experience, in country and...Back-to-school blessing offered in Lawton
9/10/2010
To mark the beginning of the school year in Lawton, Pastors Norma Quinn and Chris Symes conducted the "Blessing of the Backpacks" on Aug. 15 at Centenary UMC.
The prayer ritual blessed students, school teachers, and Centenary members who work with children in any setting—plus backpacks, briefcases, and daily planners.
Pins imprinted with "I have been blessed" were presented to 102...Douglas Blvd. delivers meals to senior citizens
9/10/2010
"Feed His People" is the mobile meal program at Douglas Boulevard UMC, Midwest City. Janet Fryar steers a cart of bread.
Generosity is feeding the success of a meal delivery program, for senior adults, offered by Douglas Boulevard UMC in Midwest City.
Last fall, the church applied for a grant, to address reports of state cutbacks in senior nutrition programs. The church already had in place a free meal program, in...Clergy Family
9/10/2010
In memoriam
Margaret Southall, 81, died Aug. 13 at Overland Park, Kan. She was the mother of Rev. Susan Southall, associate pastor of Enid-First UMC.
Ina Frisby, 91, of Yukon died Aug. 29. She was the mother of Rev. Dan Frisby, retired elder.
Viola Brotherton, 92, of Tulsa died Aug. 17. She was the mother of Rev. Bruce Brotherton, pastor of Idabel-First UMC.
...Opportunities
9/10/2010
Youth Director: Part-time. El Reno-Wesley UMC, richardcato1@sbcglobal.net, 405-262-3734.
Worship Leader: Contemporary service. Barry Collins, Fort Gibson UMC, bcollins@sbcglobal.net, 918-478-3811.
Church Secretary: Part-time. Computer skills. Cookson UMC, Box 15, Cookson, OK 74427, 918-457-5717, cooksonumc@gmail.com.
Youth Director: Part-time. Susan Whitley, Coweta UMC, swhitley@cowetafumc.org, ...Clarita church to mark 100 years this month
9/10/2010
Clarita-First United Methodist Church will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Sept. 26, starting at 10 a.m. and continuing through the day and into opening night of the annual Fishermen’s Revival.
The 10 o’clock worship service will feature music and pastors from years past as special guests. At noon, a catered BBQ lunch will be served. At 2 p.m., the centennial commemoration program begins. The 5 o’clock meal will...Storm Update
9/10/2010
STORM UPDATE—In Tulsa, broken roof rafters were bound together to form a cross in Aldersgate UMC after a tornado. Amid ongoing repairs, Aldersgate hosted almost 50 children for Project Transformation, buoyed by the gift of space at a former UM church building and by volunteers from nine partner churches....VIM puts safety first with training
9/10/2010
Participants practice chainsaw safety skills. They are Richard Norman, Ed Bevers, Kent Carbaugh, Mike Sheehan, trainer Joe Glenn, Curtis Cromwell, and Scott Stone.
Some disaster response volunteers were puzzled. Did they really need three days to learn about chainsaw safety?
In the "Storm Damage CleanUp Course," six Oklahoma volunteers came to value that time commitment.
Trainer Joe Glenn, a...Two witnesses honored
9/10/2010
A question is asked on the nomination form for the prestigious Harry Denman Evangelism Award. "What difference has this person made in the lives of people, the Church, and the community?" Nominees should be "persons respected for their outstanding success in helping others experience God’s transforming love through Jesus Christ."
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