THE OKLAHOMA UNITED METHODIST
Weekly
Volume 6, Number 3 • January 17, 2024 • www.okumc.org
Your church’s digital curb appeal is more important than ever 2
Nurturing Balance – Body, Mind, and Spirit 4
Confronting our shameful history can heal and humble 8
ERE , H K bs CLIC ts, jo even for more! and
Save the Date Human trafficking: a global menace everyone can help fight 10
Employment Passages
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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact
January 17, 2024
Your church’s digital curb appeal is more important than ever
I
n today’s digital society, a website is often more important than a building’s location, curb appeal, or signage. It’s important to ensure that your church has a robust, dynamic website that shares necessary information and introduces visitors to your authentic, unique character. Starting a website can be daunting. It’s more than going online and “signing up,” as we do for most things these days, like Facebook and Amazon. A website needs three main components, each of which must then work together to make it work: A domain name is the URL - or what comes after www and before .org or .com. If you search commonlynamed churches, you’ll see that most are already taken. For instance, if you’re First UMC in Oklahoma City, you might look for okcfirst.com as a domain. Unfortunately, that name is currently being used by First Church of the Nazarene. It’s important to get a domain name that is short enough to be memorable but that isn’t already in use. Hosting is where your website itself - the files, the code, etc., is actually stored. There are tons of web hosting companies. Many churches pay for five years of hosting, then forget the host name - or staff changes and institutional knowledge is lost. When this happens, staff can find that all of
a sudden, the church website is down and no one knows how to set it back up. Keeping that information in a safe, obvious spot is imperative. Web design is the final piece of the website puzzle. This is where church staff or volunteers can become equipped to log in and change information, upload photos, and more. Web design software can range from relatively easy, with sites like Wordpress or Wix, to very difficult, using computer coding languages to design the sites. What does this all mean to a church looking to add a website to its portfolio? Each item listed has a cost attached. From domain rental - you never really “own” your domain name - to hosting to design, a good website is never free. Some all-in-one membership management software, like SalesForce or Salsa, offer included websites, but for the purposes of this story, we will assume that if that is an option, your church can also take advantage of their free or low-cost training.
to log into their account and add information such as worship and education times, leadership introductions, available ministries, detailed descriptions, and even photos. The search engine optimization (SEO) used by UM Comms is firstrate, which means that if you use FindAChurch, your church will come up in Google searches of your area. Another free web resource that every church should be taking advantage of is social media. Whether your target audience is on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat, your church can have a presence. The caveat to some social media platforms is that safe sanctuaries policies do apply to children and youth using those apps, so a good policy will be of utmost importance. Ensuring your Google location is up-to-date is an additional step that often gets overlooked. The second option is to use UM Comm’s Website Services. This service is available to all United Methodist churches at a low cost and includes all three necessary This article focuses on three basic components to a website, plus training. options for your church. One advantage of UM Comm is The first is to take advantage of that their services are specific to our totally free resources available on denomination; another is that they the web. assist through the entire process, from Find-A-Church is United Methodist beginning to end. Third, they are by far Communications’ most-visited site. the least expensive paid option. This tool allows church representatives The third option is to do the
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.
Send news to editor@okumc.org. Submission deadline: Each Monday. Next publication date: Jan. 24.
Subscribe online at www.okumc.org.
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research and purchase each component a la carte. The advantage of this option is that you have more control over the process from start to finish. If you have a web designer on hand who is familiar with a particular platform, this might be the best option for you. We’ve compiled an analysis for the lowest cost for each option (see the chart to the right). Whether you go with the free route or one of the alternatives, an online presence is vital in this digital age. Consideration should be given to ensuring at least one person is trained and available to keep the site updated and ensure content on social media and FindAChurch is accurate and upto-date.
The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact
January 17, 2024
CHURCH WEBSITE SOLUTIONS COMPARISON The Free Option
UM Comm Website Services
Self-Pay A La Carte Option
Domain cost
None
Starts at $13.99 a year
Starts at $22.99 a year
Hosting cost
None
Starts at $51 a year
Starts at $118 a year
Website design cost
None
Starts at $200
Varies greatly by provider and skill level
1 to 2 hours a week
Several days at first, then 1 to 2 hours a week
Time Social media - 2 hours a week needed FindAChurch - 1 hour a month
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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact
January 17, 2024
Nurturing Balance – Body, Mind, and Spirit BY SONJA TOBEY
A
t our recent meeting of the orders, we discussed self-care particularly as it pertains to mental health. I, as many others, have typically received the mixed signals of “self-care” and “productivity.” It seems counterintuitive that taking time for yourself increases your productivity. But it does. In our fast-paced, technologydriven world, where the demands of
work and personal responsibilities often seem unending and busyness is an addiction, the ancient practice of Sabbath keeping offers a remedy for weary souls who find themselves chronically tired. Clergy and church leaders are often the worst examples of Sabbath keeping. Sabbath observance provides a valuable pattern for cultivating balance, rest, and reflection in our lives. It is part of what the church offers a world in desperate need of reconnection. According to the Judeo-Christian
Whether on a hammock in the woods, a sofa in the family room, or a bicycle on a track, it’s important to keep a Sabbath to refuel and de-stress. Photo by Tabitha Beckman.
tradition, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, sanctifying it as a day of rest. Contradictory passages say that God never wearies, indicating God has no need for rest. Most, though not all, translations use the word “rest.” However, another translation, and perhaps a better translation, would be, God “ceased from all his work(s)” of creation. (Septuagint, Wycliffe, and Youngs) “Ceasing” our labor is an intentional action where “resting” seems a wasteful use of time. Observing Sabbath is counter cultural. It challenges the prevailing notion that constant productivity is the key to a fulfilling life and invites us to embrace a comprehensive approach to our well-being. By incorporating regular periods of ceasing from labor, individuals reduce stress, enhance creativity, and improve overall mental and physical health curtailing our tendency to make “work” an idol. At its core, Sabbath keeping is an intentional time of rest, renewal, and connection with God and others. While the traditional observance of Sabbath seems legalistic, modern interpretations recognize the need for flexibility. We must adapt and develop the practice for our own rhythms. Going beyond abstaining from work;
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Sabbath involves a deliberate focus on activities that nourish us holistically. Setting aside time, whether a whole day or a portion of the day, to unplug from digital devices, stress, and work leaves time to engage in more life-giving activities. Time spent with family, enjoying nature, prayer, and meditation leads to improved mental health, increased productivity, enhanced relationships, and a greater sense of purpose; benefits exceeding
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the day of rest itself. Sabbath keeping encourages us to step back from the demands of life and appreciate the beauty of simply existing. A deliberate pause for rest, reflection, and connection remains a timeless and universal concept that has the power to transform our lives in profound ways. As we navigate daily challenges, perhaps it’s time to
January 17, 2024
rediscover the wisdom in the ancient tradition of Sabbath keeping. As Lent approaches, perhaps it is an opportunity to develop your own rhythm of Sabbath. “Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again” by Ruth Haley Barton is a good resource to help you be intentional about your Sabbath practice. Shabbat Shalom!
10 easy ways to take time for you and why you should BY TRICIA K. BROWN
1. Take a timeout. Church leadership is challenging. If you find yourself increasingly frustrated, depressed or stressed, put yourself in timeout. Find a nice, quiet spot alone, and leave your phone behind. When there, close your eyes and take several deep breaths, say a prayer, tense and relax your shoulder muscles and roll your head and neck. 2. Leave for lunch. Everybody deserves a break. The busier the day, the more important it is that you take one. If at all possible, leave the church. Have your spouse or a friend meet you, but make it a rule not to talk “shop.” 3. Move that body! Finding time to exercise is hard when your schedule is already full, but exercise offers many emotional as well as physical benefits. Even mild efforts are helpful and can help prevent burnout and fatigue. 4. Be natural. Fresh air, scenic views, warm sunshine on your face … through God’s design, our bodies seem to naturally recharge whenever we venture outdoors. With the portability
of technology today, there’s no reason that work can’t be accomplished outside just as well as inside. 5. Maintain a hobby. Reading, sewing, shopping, building, baking, taking pictures — whatever you like to do, do it! You can’t just say you have a hobby, you need to spend time maintaining it. At least once a week, block out time on your schedule to do the things you love. 6. Reward yourself. Treats aren’t just for children. Even the most serious no-nonsense adult enjoys a reward. Purchase a variety of small items that you consider indulgences, things that you really like but wouldn’t normally purchase for yourself. Pick up several items and then tuck them away at home and at the office. When you’re having a particularly bad day, pull one out and enjoy. 7. Create memories. Good memories help carry us through rough times. Make a point to create lots of them. Spending time with the people you love builds emotional reserves that help you get through those busy, chaotic days that never seem to end.
Keep pictures of good times and loved ones on your phone or desk to remind you of good memories. 8. Worship and praise. No amount of service can take the place of worship. Prioritize not just Bible study time but worship as well. If you are a pastor, schedule a week when you don’t have to preach but can listen to someone else’s sermon. 9. Get away. You may think that everything will fall apart if you aren’t there, but you will fall apart if you’re there too much. At least once a year, take a vacation or staycation. Delegate someone else to be in charge, and get away. Turn off your phone. Unplug your computer, and just relax for a while. 10. Eat, sleep and maintain balance. You know what you need to do. Eat right. Get a good night’s rest. Get a physical every year. Follow health and safety recommendations. Take care of yourself. There’s only one of you! Set an example for your team and family and encourage them to lean into similar practices.
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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact
January 17, 2024
BFW Is Coming! No Cost to You
Location:
May Annual Conference Health Check 5/30-5/31 6:00AM-10:00AM OCU-Freede Center
Register by:
5/29/2023
Event: Date: Time:
Blueprint for Wellness® (BFW) Details BFW Overview
•
WHAT: The BFW health screening includes a blood draw and a few measurements such as blood pressure and waist circumference. You’ll receive personalized data on 30 health factors. WHY: Earn $100* REGISTER: It is strongly recommended that you register for this event. Walk-ins are very limited. There are two ways to register: • Online: Log in to your Virgin Pulse® account and find Blueprint for Wellness under the “Benefits” tab or through Benefits Access (for participants). • Phone: 1-855-623-9355 Employer group: Wespath2024 ALTERNATIVES: If you can’t attend the BFW event, you can complete the BFW at a Quest Diagnostics® facility at not cost to you. Registration is required. The Well-Being Programs FAQs includes additional ways to complete the BFW if you can’t get to this event or a Quest facility.
11222023
Wellness Credits
Earn 20 Wellness Credits for each of seven health measures that meet the American Heart Association’s recommended range or are improved over your previous year’s BFW results. Seven qualifying health measures = 140 Wellness Credits total. Participants and spouses in HealthFlex can each earn $100*—and up to 140 Wellness Credits depending on results. Earn 150 Wellness Credits before the end of the year and receive an additional $150*. If you missed the BFW last year, you’re still eligible for Wellness Credits for achieving healthy results, and you’ll have a baseline next year.
•
Fast Overnight
•
Confidential Results E-mailed and Mailed Directly to You
•
Fasting overnight gives the most accurate results. Ask your doctor or other primary care provider (PCP) if it’s safe for you to fast.
Share with your PCP.
Health Check
Don’t forget to take the Health Check to avoid a higher deductible in 2025.
Reasonable alternatives or waivers will be made available for those who cannot achieve recommended or improved measures due to an underlying medical condition. Requests for a reasonable alternative may be made by: • •
E-mail—healthteam@wespath.org U.S. mail—Wespath Benefits and Investments Attention: Incentive Request, 1901 Chestnut Avenue, Glenview, IL 60025
Participation in HealthFlex well-being programs is voluntary. * Incentive rewards are provided in “Pulse Cash,” the “rewards currency” for HealthFlex—you must be enrolled in Virgin Pulse to earn and redeem Pulse Cash. Pulse Cash is delivered straight to your Virgin Pulse account and can be transferred to your checking account or redeemed for gift cards, merchandise or charitable donations. The IRS considers wellness incentives as taxable income. Please consult your tax advisor. 4371P1
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January 17, 2024
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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact
January 17, 2024
Confronting our shameful history can heal and humble BY MICHAELA DRAIN
I
t is difficult to listen to stories in which you or someone you love is the bad guy. There are a lot of things that must go right to make this moment healing. The storyteller must feel comfortable enough to be really honest and the listener must be humble enough to actually hear. This creates a space for even the toughest of tales to invite God’s peace and presence into our future together. On November 15, 2023, I was honored to be one of the U.S. Army Chaplains that Fort Sill leaders and Comanche tribal elders form a prayer circle at Chief’s Knoll to pay welcomed the Comanche their respects. Photos (including cover) by Chris Gardner. Nation Elders in a tour of the sacred sites around Fort Sill. also got to share about what our local The tour is a part of Fort Sill’s Acts of The tour group journeyed through United Methodist churches do to create Healing Project. The project is helping various grave sites, Medicine Bluff, more sacred spaces for worshipping and the Fort Sill Museum stopping to to promote deeper understanding together. between the military and Native tribes. share stories and pray at each spot. Hearing the stories of the people I was grateful to and the land was cathartic. Humbly be a part of the tour as listening helped me, as a local, to someone who was born confront my previous lack of curiosity and raised here. As a about my friends and neighbors. United Methodist, I have Sharing the stories in these sacred always been blessed to spaces allowed us all to acknowledge eat and worship with the pain of the past and look forward my Native American to the hope of continued reconciliation neighbors through the in the future. various ministries of I encourage you all to continue the Oklahoma Indian sharing the stories of your church and Missionary Conference. its involvement in history. Some of At that moment, I got to our churches have been around for a represent the Oklahoma Comanche Elders Leru Parker, LEFT, and Francine Army National Guard. I long time. They hold the hurtful and Frisch view artifacts.
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hopeful memories of generations of Oklahomans. I hope that you not only share the stories where we are the good guys but also the ones where we are the bad guys. Because if we want to really heal from the hurt of the past, we will need to continue to create spaces where both can be shared. If you are in the area, I encourage you to visit these sites to read about or share your own stories of Oklahoma’s history. Here are a few photos from the event. If you would like to read more about this tour, there is a lovely article written by Chris Gardener. Her articles and photography capture more perspectives from the Comanche Nation Elders. For more photos follow this link. To read more about the Acts of Healing Project, read the article, “Honoring Ancestors and Building Bridges Cultural Journey,” by Chris Gardner.
January 17, 2024
Edmond Nevaquaya, cultural counselor for the Comanche Nation Prevention and Recovery Program, places a wreath at Chief Tabananika’s headstone.
Comanche tribal elders view tribal artifacts at the Fort Sill Museum.
Comanche tribal elders inspect a mausoleum at Otipoby Cemetery.
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January 17, 2024
Human trafficking: a global menace everyone can help fight BY REV. DERREK BELASE
T
he month of January is designated as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The United Methodist program calendar designates January 11 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Bishop Nunn and his Cabinet observed that day by beginning their work focusing on how the church in Oklahoma might respond to this horrific situation. Since blue is the color to honor and remember victims of Members of the Bishop’s cabinet wear blue to bring attention to Human Trafficking trafficking, they also wore blue that Awareness Day. Submitted photo. day. There are estimated to be more than 27.6 million people — adults and children — subjected to human • Living with employer trafficking around the world, including being more alert and reporting to authorities situations which seem out • Poor living conditions in the United States. Traffickers often • Multiple people in cramped space of the ordinary is the best way to get take advantage of instability caused • Inability to speak to individual by natural disasters, conflict, or even a involved. alone Churches can mentor and pandemic to exploit others. • Answers appear to be scripted and support vulnerable persons in In 2021, the hotline for human their communities because human rehearsed trafficking in Oklahoma received • Employer is holding identity traffickers often prey on the outcasts 438 signals with 206 of those being of society, those whom others will not documents from victims. Of that, 99 cases were • Signs of physical abuse miss if they are gone. identified involving 180 victims. • Submissive or fearful Much more information can be Nearly 90 percent of those were • Unpaid or paid very little found here. sexually related cases. • Under 18 and in prostitution The General Board of Church The US State Department offers and Society offers a website full If you suspect someone is being the following list of indicators that of information regarding human someone may be trafficked: trafficked, call 911 or call the National trafficking. Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888While not an exhaustive list, these January is a perfect time for are some key red flags that could alert 373-7888. churches to raise awareness of you to a potential trafficking situation responding to human trafficking. By that should be reported:
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January 17, 2024
OKUMC Briefs and Events
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