Tulsa church earns national Interfaith award

From left: Vicky Langston, who chairs Boston Avenue Church’s Interfaith Concerns committee; Mark Kharas of the National Council of Churches; and pastors Mouzon Biggs Jr. and Bill Crowell. Boston Avenue Church in Tulsa is one of five congregations...

Quail Springs gets moving with wellness program

Photo by Cindy Mason Virginia Calame demonstrates exercise using resistance bands, with the help of Pastor David Clewell. ...

Clergy family finds medical help just a phone call away

Photo courtesy of Lifetouch Colleen and Randy Little cuddle Belle, one of several pets. 24/7 Nurseline: 800-581-0407 By Chris Kinyon Schutz,...

McFarlin dedicates big new space for play

More room to play Above, children express their joy as the new playground is dedicated at the McFarlin church in Norman. Nurtured...

Talley relishes his role of elf for Project Noel

Photos by Amelia Ballew Top, Chris Talley manages the Project Noel warehouse. Above, Paige VanMeter and Adam Brinson from Fairview-First UMC shop the warehouse as Cecelia Brooks, Langston campus minister, helps them on Dec....

Motorcycle ministry: Open hearts, open minds, open road

Bikes are lined up outside OKC-Chapel Hill while riders attend worship. By Cindy Mason, Contributing Writer When you think of the term "circuit riders," do you think of early-American preachers and the Methodist plan of multiple...

Senior adult class becomes high school football team's patrons

Cheering on the Putnam City West High School football team are members of the Perspectives Sunday School Class from OKC-Church of the Servant. From left: Nancy Whitten, Arlene Keim, and Helen and Alven Lawson.  The Perspectives Sunday School Class...

New church connects in Edmond

Equipment including black drapes and quality sound and lighting transforms a school room into worship space, where Adam Ricks preaches on a Sunday in Edmond. Younger people embrace entrepreneurial spirit By Holly McCray Church...

Re-Ignite! Classes generate enthusiasm to grow disciples

www.okumc.org/lclw (Registration, District schedules and class information online) The song declares, "It only takes a spark." That also describes the Re-Ignite! workshops this winter, at 11 locations across the state. They begin Jan. 14 in Altus, at First UMC. Planners want to spark spiritual growth in United Methodist disciples of all ages and stages, laity and clergy. Purposefully, they are offering...

Boise City church opens doors in blizzard

With roads closed and motels full, travelers found refuge at St. Paul's UMC, Boise City, OK. (Dec. 19) George Lupton wades out for snow duty. He is pastor of St. Paul's UMC, Boise City, OK. A family gathers in the basement of St. Paul's UMC, Boise City, OK, for shelter during a severe snowstorm Dec. 19. ...

2 small-town churches embrace big move

One of the Strategic Plan's guiding principles is that we are open to creative solutions and emerging truths as informed by our biblical heritage and power of the Holy Spirit. www.okumc.org/StrategicPlan By Jeneane Jones No one in this town can remember with certainty when Mount Vernon UMC began serving mostly black families in Crescent, population 1,411, northwest of Guthrie. But Norman Bufford, whose parents were among its...

CREATURES TO COMFORT

Photo by Nellyne Hanlin Children at New Hope UMC give fluffy toy animals to a paramedic in Oklahoma City. Twice a year, the congregation collects "warm fuzzies" and donates them to both EMSA (Emergency Medical Services Authority) and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, for use at emergency scenes. The toys are held and prayed over during worship. Pastor J.D. Ward even keeps one at the pulpit. When the children deliver the...

Special delivery to the Congo

‘There is nothing like seeing a person getting a Bible for the very first time.’ Asbury providing 22,000 Bibles in native language By Chris Schutz, Contributing Writer The word of God is reaching poor and...

Winter workshops revamp for wider appeal

Re-Ignite Workshops (Local Church Leaders Workshops) DISTRICT DATE LOCATION Clinton* Sat., Jan. 14 Altus Woodward Sat., Jan. 21 Woodward-First Tulsa Sat., Jan. 21 Boston Avenue ...

Poteau-First completes new building

‘The congregation has worked so hard’—Greg Tener By Carol Baker A new chapter in history began on Sept. 25 for Poteau’s First United Methodist Church. On that day, the spacious new sanctuary building was consecrated. Demolition of the old building took place in June 2010, with groundbreaking in July. After a construction period of more than a year, the congregation is enjoying worship in the beauty of...

Post your church ads online

Your church can post free announcements—job openings, items for sale, upcoming events, and giveaways—in two places on the Conference website, www.okumc.org. The two sections are titled "Classifieds" and "Local Church calendar." The Department of Communications is promoting more awareness of these sections to grow connections between churches. Here are the steps to follow. ...

Ministry snapshots

Photos by Nancy Salisbury HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VICI—United Methodists parade from the train depot to the Vici church for centennial activities. These modes of transportation were common when the church was founded. Bishop Robert Hayes Jr. rides with Pastor Don...

Pumpkin proceeds plentiful at St. Matthew

"The Mystery Garden Trunk-or-Treat" 5-7 p.m. Oct. 29 OKC-Quayle UMC Free admission More than 20 cars, games, music, food Sponsors: Community Youth Outreach and Quayle UMC ...

Healing power - Sunny Lane launches new prayer ministry

By Chris Schutz, Contributing Writer Chuck Horton, right, uses oil to anoint Faye Perry, pastoral care minister at OKC-Sunny Lane. Photos by Chris Schutz ...

6 regional workshops emphasize music, worship

Small-Church Discipleship Make note of these mid-October workshop dates for help with music and worship in smaller churches. At six locations in the state, Bruce Epperly and Daryl Hollinger will keynote "From a Mustard Seed: Enlivening Worship and Music in the Small Church." Their presentations are designed especially to benefit churches of 25 to 80 people in worship, but all are welcome. ...