The Contact 1-10-24

THE OKLAHOMA UNITED METHODIST

Weekly

Volume 6, Number 2 • January 10, 2024 • www.okumc.org

Ministry in a Minute 10

A Letter from the Bishop: Following up after the Special Called Conference 2 Foster mom helps teen girls grow and thrive with Circle of Care 8

Late choir director inspired new leaders to crack the code of inter-generational collaboration 4

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Save the Date Employment Passages

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

January 3, 2024

A Letter from the Bishop: Following up after the Special Called Conference Greeting in the name of Christ.

I want to thank each of you who were able to participate in our online called conference on Saturday. The worship was a beautiful way to remember that it was Epiphany and that we are called to let our light shine as we enter into 2024 and beyond.

As a part of his report, Rev. Carlos Ramirez shared four websites from which he and the conference leadership draw demographic information for our state. The first one, Mission Insite, is a subscription-based site that the conference provides for each of our churches. If you need to register for Mission Insite, you can find instructions here. www.missioninsite.com www.usafacts.org www.unitedstateszipcodes.org www.schooldigger.com Other videos from the conference session will be posted on the Conference YouTube page soon.

Transitional Ministry With the approval of redistricting from 8 to 5 districts, it is my intention to continue the role currently held by Rev. Dr. Tish Malloy as conference Director of Transitional Ministry.

There is still some disaffiliation work to be completed, a few more church vitality studies to be conducted and the process of redistricting is a big undertaking. Tish is well suited and equipped to do this work. She will remain a part of my Cabinet as well as the conference Executive Leadership Team. I appreciate her gifts of administration and management, which will serve the entire conference well.

District Boundaries Advisory Team As a part of the redistricting efforts, a lay advisory team has been appointed and will be meeting with Revs. Malloy, Ramirez and Connie Gibson, Dean of the Cabinet, as the work progresses.

Members of the committee include Dr. Don Kim, Sharri Hiller, Kristen Harlin, Tanya Case, Harri Williams, Kent Fulton, Dr. Bob Spinks and Alan Herzberger. Should you be interested in serving, the group is looking for one or two more members who bring expertise around population shifts and demographics. If you are interested, please let Rev. Derrek Belase, executive director of Connectional Ministry, know of your willingness to serve.

Upcoming District Meetings Beginning on January 20 and

Director of Communications: Joseph Harris Multimedia & Web Manager: Andrew Himes Editor of Publications: Jena Barber Communications Specialist: Tabitha Beckman 1501 N.W. 24th, Oklahoma City, OK 73106

Stories and photos by the editor unless otherwise noted.

Bishop Jimmy Nunn

continuing through mid-February, there are meetings taking place in all of the districts where information from our recent survey will be presented and more discussion on district boundaries will take place. With well over 500 responses to the survey, we have made the decision to close it on Thursday of this week. If you are still planning to take advantage of that opportunity, please do so before then. Please check with your district office if you aren’t certain of the date of your event. I highly encourage your participation in these meetings regardless of your leadership position.

Let me close with a final word to each of you reading this message.

I deeply appreciate you and your

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Submission deadline: Each Monday.

Next publication date: Jan. 17.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

January 3, 2024

willingness to serve in the annual conference during this pivotal moment in our history. I know that much has been asked of you, including four special conference sessions in the last two years. The work can seem overwhelming at times, but we know that it is isn’t, because we do it empowered by the Holy Spirit and with the encouragement of one another.

I look forward to continuing to be your Bishop as we move forward as the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Blessings, James G. Nunn

The January Special Called Conference, held by Zoom, passed the redistricting measure with 98.6 percent voting yes.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

January 3, 2024

Late choir director inspired new leaders to crack the code of inter-generational collaboration

BY JOAN CUNDIFF HUBBARD

I

n 1987, our choir director Jane Armstrong showed up at Perkins First UMC like Mary Poppins with multiple black suitcases and a smile on her face.

She had purchased some handbells in honor of her mother, Catherine Bell, and decided to organize a handbell choir (Jane had formerly

been a director of the handbell choir at Stillwater First United Methodist Church).

Jane began recruiting immediately and had a way of getting people to agree with just about anything.

Before we knew it, we had a handbell choir consisting of about 10 people of various degrees of musical skills.

Some of our original members were Dale Armstrong, Joan Hubbard, Paula

Focht, Dora Mercer, Ray Clark, Susan Blubaugh, George Hardin and Jerri Walters.

Carletta Brown, a member of the First Baptist Church, would join us each week for practice. She would skip the services at her church to perform with us. Joining the adult choir later would be Deborah Allensworth, Velda Ewing, Becky Morton, and our pastor Susan Ross

The Perkins First UMC handbell choir has members ranging from 10 to 77, and works hard every year to bring a joyful noise each Christmas season with their lovely ringing. Submitted photo.

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The early years were so much fun.

Jane handed us a pair of gloves and a polishing rag, as we did everything we could to protect our shiny new bells. We shared a music stand with our neighbor, which was invaluable.

If it appeared our partner was lost, we would shout out the correct measure.

We also had a tendency that, if we missed our time to play our bell, to play it after the fact. That would result in a sour note which caused us all to erupt into laughter. Jane continued to work with us with the patience of Job and when she thought we were travel ready, we would pack up our bells and play for nursing homes. Once we even performed a Christmas concert with the Perkins-Tryon H.S. Band.

I guess Jane decided she needed a new challenge, and she began a program for our youth called Kids Klub. Some of the kids that passed through the youth handbell choir were Joanna and Jordan Hubbard, Darcee

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

and Dusti Blubaugh, Daphne and Ashlee Drake, Aaron Worley, Stephen Vinson, Chelsea Cobb, Kessie and Jessica Brown, and Kristi Hall. After the youth practiced the bells, Jane and her husband Dale would host the kids for swimming and snacks at her house.

Her faithfulness and dedication to our adult and youth group never ceased to amaze me and this was on top of her directing our choral choir.

She also performed solo bells and played at my parents’ 50th anniversary party. Kerry Morton, one of our youth, also learned to play solo and played at her father Wendell’s memorial service.

Our handbells, under Jane Armstrong’s tutelage, made an impact not only in our church, but our community. The outreach was significant. When Jane passed away, the bells were silent for a few years. There were some half -hearted attempts to “get the band back together” but we had lost the momentum and energy of our fearless

January 3, 2024

leader Jane.

Several years later, we decided that while our church members were not able to commit to a full-time choir, we would revive our bells at Christmas time. Steven Cundiff stepped up as our director and he cheerfully recruited young and old alike. It was not uncommon to have two generations of members playing and at one point Steven was playing with his son, daughters and grandchildren.

Our current choir ranges from age 10 to age 77. Choir members still wear their gloves, still polish the bells, and still, on occasion, hit a sour note. Jane would be so proud.

Handbells across history According to Handbell Ringers of Great Britain, handbells have been in use since the 1500s, but became popular in the 1700s. Before handbells, musicians would ring swinging tower bells.

Tower bells were very loud, and even practicing them would wake the entire village. To practice without the loud tower - or change - bells, handbells were adopted.

Handbells were a traditional recreation for boys starting around 15 years old from 1890 to 1896. Bands would hold competitions, with rivalries among neighboring communities.

The peak of handbells’ popularity

was from 1855 to 1926, when handbell ringers would compete in the British Open. Thousands attended the events, causing trains to have to make special excursion trips just to bring spectators to the grounds.

Winners then went on tour across the world, including the famous Almondberry Ringers’ tour of the United States in 1897 to 1899.

Before that, the Peake Family Ringers brought handbells to the United States in the 1830s. In the next decade, P.T. Barnum brought a group of mustachioed Englishmen - billed as Swiss ringers - for an American tour for one of his many stunts, according

to RiverBells, a community handbell ensemble in Sacramento, California.

A handbell choir can consist of 25 to 97 - or more - bells, with ringers each playing as many as six at a time.

From their beginnings as practice items for change bells - which didn’t have melodies but rather consisted of a series of notes, to the modern music of handbell choirs, handbells have played a part in church music for centuries.

Many United Methodist hymns are interpreted for handbell choirs, and those choirs can include any combination of children, youth, and adults of all ages.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

January 3, 2024

Mediating Healthy Relationships through King’s Model of Nonviolence Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 15, 2024 at 4:00pm Quayle United Methodist Church 5001 N. Everest Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

GUEST SPEAKER 17th President Dean of Gammon

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy is remembered because he played a pivotal role in the American Civil Rights changes.

We desire to impact the Oklahoma Conference, the ecumenical church and the larger community in transformative ways.

For More Information Contact Rev. Dr. Bessie Hamilton, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries for New Faith Communities and Multi Ethnic Initiatives - bhamilton@okumc.org

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

January 3, 2024

Reading recommendations

BY LAURA BUCHANAN

W

hen you are starting a new year or a new season, books can be an encouraging source of guidance to strengthen your relationship with God. Consider these helpful titles from the United Methodist Publishing House: •

Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith, by Adam Hamilton

•

The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer, by Matt Miofsky

•

On Purpose, by Magrey deVega, Sam McGlothlin, Jevon Caldwell-Gross and Susan Robb

•

The Bible Year Devotional,

by Magrey deVega

•

Holy Living – Simplicity, by Wendy J. Miller

•

Holy Living – Neighboring,

by Jorge Acevedo

•

Holy Living – Prayer, by Ray Buckley

Learn more about these titles on the website.

Photo by depositphotos.com

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

January 3, 2024

Foster mom helps teen girls grow and thrive with Circle of Care

F

ostering children is a desperate need across the country.

In Oklahoma, one Second Mile Ministry has risen to the challenge.

The organization, Circle of Care, couldn’t do what it does without the help of several volunteers, foster parents, and others who open their hearts and homes to children who need a safe place to thrive as they navigate their young lives.

They shared the story of April Bryant, a foster mom who works with teen girls.

Adapted from Circle of Care: “You have to give them the April Bryant and her two biological daughters welcome Chloe, RIGHT, on her adoption leeway to be who they are. You day. Chloe was April’s first foster placement and is her oldest child. Submitted photos. can never expect a teenage kid to be perfect or what you had in mind.” April Bryant speaks passionately about her heart for of the children placed in her home. has turned the hard lessons she learned teenage girls and how fostering Chloe was her first placement.

She from her childhood into a blessing for teenagers has been both a challenge also has a six- year-old adopted son. others. “I have so much love, so much and a blessing.

You might assume that with a full knowledge. I believe I can help them In the United States, only 58 percent house, April would be done fostering, succeed in life.” of foster teens live with a family, but you’d be sorely mistaken.

She From navigating school, to finding a compared to 95 percent of children is fostering two more children at the job, to earning a driver’s license, April 12 years old and younger, according moment. believes she can be there to help them to a Pew Research study. April is one What motivates April to foster -through all the challenges of teenage person who has opened her home to fill especially foster teenagers?

“I didn’t life. It’s challenging for her, as well. this desperate need. have a good upbringing,” she explains.

“They’re teenagers, so they’re going A single mom with two biological Both her parents dealt with substance to be stubborn,” April comments. “But daughters of her own, April has been a don’t ever be embarrassed of your Circle of Care foster parent for nearly abuse. “I should have been removed from my home,” she says.

But April foster kids, even when they act a fool. five years. She has since adopted two

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

They’re doing that for a reason, but I’m doing this for a reason. I’m here to help them through it all.”

But through it all, April talks about how rewarding fostering teenagers can be. “I have learned so much,” she says.

“I’ve discovered weaknesses in myself and learned new parenting skills.”

She encourages others to take on the challenge and bless the life of a young person in need. It’s an opportunity to grow together.

April has made a commitment to continue her fostering journey and to see each placement to the end, keeping foster kids in her home until they are reunified or find a forever home. We are so grateful for foster parents like her who take on the challenges of this amazing journey. To learn more about how fostering could be a part of your journey, visit their website.

January 3, 2024

“They’re doing that for a reason, but I’m doing this for a reason. I’m here to help them through it all.”

Circle of Care is one of the extension ministries supported by pledges from churches across the Oklahoma conference. To support the vital work of Circle of Care in additional ways, through volunteering or foster parent support, reach out to them today.

Chloe and April Bryant were all smiles on the day Chloe’s adoption was final.

Watering the Earth :

S TA R T W I T H V I S I O N A N D A P U R P O S E

CONTACT US TODAY TO PROVIDE FOR THE MINISTRIES OF YOUR CHURCH AND LASTING GOOD IN YOUR COMMUNITY

OKLAHOMA

METHODIST

F O U N DAT I O N

405-525-6863

•

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

January 3, 2024

Ministry in a Minute

McFarlin UMC will host Yancey and Miles Red Corn at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25. Yancey appeared in the film Killers of the Flower Moon and his son, Miles, also worked on the film as assistant to the publicist. They are both members of the Osage nation and from Norman.

They will speak about making the film, the involvement of the Osage nation in making the film, the history of the Osage murders and their family experience during that time, and the adaptation of a book written by Yancey’s father called A Pipe for February, which is being developed into a series by Miles, who is working on this project with Martin Scorsese.

During Sunday’s sermon about curiosity and Jesus, a little boy came forward and brought Baby Jesus from the nativity to pastor Rev. Shyloe O’Neal. The unexpected moment proved a perfect lesson about how children have lots to teach adults.

Submitted photo.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

January 3, 2024

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