News/Publications
News/Publications
Christmas in the Oklahoma Conference
12/2/2011
(Holiday visions of sugar plums? Consider this vision as your church fulfills its giving to the Apportionments for 2011.)
By Karen Manera
Treasurer, University UMC, Tulsa
The Annunciation
The angels gathered around Mary. “Hey, we would have sent you an email, but we needed another $134 to keep COMMUNICATIONS going. But now that we’re here, guess what? Christmas is coming.”
The Nativity
As Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, Mary said, “I am...SCJ delegates respond to Oklahoma invitation
11/11/2011
At OKC-St. Luke’s, Judy Benson and Bob Long greet Bishop Ann Sherer-Simpson, center, of Nebraska. She was the first woman elected to the episcopacy in the South Central Jurisdiction. She will retire next year.
General/Jurisdictional Conferences
By Holly McCray
Two...THE DAY WITH THE BISHOP
9/30/2011
Photos by Joe Harris
A crowd of 500 took part in the first-ever "Day With the Bishop" on Sept. 19 at The Reed Center in Midwest City. In the morning, Mark Matheis from Disney Institute, shown above with Bishop Robert Hayes Jr., presented "Building a...Breaking News September 2011
9/9/2011
UPDATE: Oklahoma City wildfire response 9-15-2011 (see more photos on our facebook page)
On Sept. 10, more than 20 people from the Summit and OKC-Chapel Hill congregations combined strength and skills to help recent wildfire victims in northeastern Oklahoma City.
Amid sifting sooty debris and removing blackened trees, the workers joined in a shining moment: a gift presentation. A minivan was donated to a woman whose work...Communications --Equipping leadership with the right tools
9/9/2011
This is one story in a continuing series about the Oklahoma Conference Strategic Plan.
The King James Bible, printed and bound in leather; Sunday worship bulletins and monthly newsletters; Christmas letters from missionaries — all tangible forms of communicating, across the years, for the Church in ministry in the world.
Today, that which is invisible drives much Church communication: the Internet. And we ponder, as did the...Help online for military families
8/19/2011
An awareness campaign is encouraging churches to become bridges to healing for military personnel and their families.
Free resources are on the Conference website, in cooperation with U.S. Army OneSource.
"Some of our churches have a lot of people deployed. How can we offer resources in a healthy way to help families through this time?" noted Diana Northcutt, Conference director of Discipleship Ministries. Other...Chaplain relies on Oklahoma faith family
8/19/2011
At Annual Conference, Chaplain Marty Barnes hugs Elmeda Payne of Duke UMC.
Photo by Holly McCray
By Holly McCray
Far from his home conference, Chaplain Marty Barnes of Oklahoma sought to comfort the military...Holy moments in the Holy Land
8/19/2011
On a replica first-century boat, the Oklahoma clergy educational tour launches into a journey upon the Sea of Galilee.
...2012 General/Jurisdictional Conference delegation
6/17/2011
On May 30 after the evening voting session in OCU‘s Freede Center, those elected are shown in four rows and named from the right. The women at front are: Kathy Caldron, Linda Harker, Judy Benson, Debra Davis, and Frankye Johnson. Second row: Carlos Ramirez, Sam Powers, Jessica Seay, Tom Harrison, Joe Harris, Sharri Hiller, Wade Paschal, Bill Junk, Don Kim, Sam Aguirre, and Tish Malloy. Third...Hospital honors Powell for help in medical crisis
4/15/2011
Jonathan Powell of Oklahoma City was named the 2010 Heart Hero, announced Feb. 11 by Oklahoma Heart Hospital South during national Heart Month.
Powell provided CPR that saved a man’s life on March 21, 2010.
That day, 57-year-old Tom Tharpe was working in an Edmond warehouse. He suddenly became overheated, felt lightheaded and nauseated, then fainted. Working nearby, Powell and a friend saw Tharpe fall.
...Archives & History resources now on Web
4/15/2011
National meeting here in July
Planning to celebrate your church’s anniversary? Researching Methodism in Oklahoma?
A Web presence recently was activated by the Oklahoma Conference’s Commission on Archives & History. The address: www.okumc.org/Archives_History.
You will find help there from multiple resources: Q&A for churches’ historians, suggestions to celebrate milestone moments, guidelines to...Cokesbury opens at new OKC location
3/25/2011
At the OKC Cokesbury store dedication are, from left, Regional Pastor Thomas Jewell of The Christian Church-Disciples of Christ, Bishop Robert Hayes Jr., and Jeff Barnes of The United Methodist Publishing House.
...Project Noel also blesses those who give
2/11/2011
Youth Director Penny Hammonds, right, helps Miranda Hathaway and Dusty McDonald pick out gifts for their child in the Fletcher UMC Christmas Store.
By Penny Hammonds
The United Methodist Church in Fletcher applied for Project Noel at the...Following the Plan - Young leaders bring vitality to Fort Gibson
2/11/2011
This page continues a series focusing on the Oklahoma Conference Strategic Plan. www.okumc.org/strategicplan
By Linda Harker, Muskogee District Superintendent
One of the emphases of our Oklahoma Conference has been the intentional recruiting of younger persons for ministry—both lay and clergy alike. Believing in the priesthood of all, as part of our Strategic Plan, we’ve committed to recruit, assess, equip, and send...Tabbernee named to lead Conference of Churches
1/7/2011
After a nationwide search, William Tabbernee has been appointed new executive director of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches (OCC).
Dr. Tabbernee, formerly president of Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, has had extensive experience in ecumenism and interfaith dialogue.
He was moderator of the Australian Council of Churches’ Commission on Faith of Order before coming to the U.S.A. in 1991. For more than 20 years,...Free offer extends Christmas outreach this month via Web
12/2/2010
Christmas time is here, and your church members often are on the move—whether it’s over the river, through the woods, or flying high. Internet Live Streaming can connect them to their church home—whether they are homebound, visiting family out of town, serving their country overseas, or on mission trips.
Our Church Video (OCV) is offering this service free to your church through the month of December.
Through Live Streaming, anyone can be a virtual participant in...Following the Plan
11/12/2010
Oklahoma churches must connect with more diverse people to grow God’s kingdom, according to the Strategic Plan. http://www.okumc.org/strategicplan
Such variety can be measured by age, income level, family size, etc. Racial/ethnic diversity, united by Kingdom work, is given attention in this Contact newspaper.
In Lawton, a primarily Korean-speaking congregation is worshipping in a new building.
In...Contact magazine honored
11/12/2010
Dear readers,
We are pleased to announce Contact, the Magazine has won a national award from the United Methodist Association of Communicators (UMAC).
The Department of Communications’ role usually is one of pursuing news across our state—from Conference, district, and local church groups. We enjoy our work behind the scenes, to connect, educate, and inspire Oklahoma United Methodists.
This time,...Design debut
10/22/2010
This is the new official logo of the United Methodist Ministry Center, the Conference’s headquarters in Oklahoma City. In the design, the color red reflects the red clay of Oklahoma’s soil, and a rising sun recalls the state’s extensive days of sunshine. Boundary lines on a state map show the 12 districts of our Church. The UM cross-and-flame emblem overlooks all. The logo was created by graphics designer Alicia Galyon of the Communications...LIFE COACHING SESSION
10/1/2010
Football players surround Coach Bob Stoops and Bishop Robert Hayes Jr. on Sept. 18 at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Bishop Hayes conducted a worship service for members of the team, prior to the Sooners’ afternoon game against Air Force. Stoops attends McFarlin UMC in Norman.
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