The Contact 2-28-24

THE OKLAHOMA UNITED METHODIST

Weekly

Volume 6, Number 9 • February 28, 2024 • www.okumc.org

Civil Rights Leader Still Has Lessons to Teach Us 2

Are you prepared for a disaster?

4

Disability Awareness Day 6

E HERbs, K CLIC ts, jo even for more! and

Fundraiser inspired by lunch-time walk 8

Save the Date Employment Passages Ministry in a Minute 11

Appointments

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

February 28, 2024

Civil Rights Leader Still Has Lessons to Teach Us

BY REV. VALERIE STEELE

A

ll the events swirling around the globe when Paul McCartney composed Let It Be perhaps encouraged him to write this song. When all is not well in the world, we want answers. For some individuals, those answers are demanded and vehemently sought.

That is the intersection where real change for the good of humanity occurs.

Have you ever heard of Bayard Rustin?

Like so many hidden figures in history, it was not until decades later that current history lifted his story and accomplishments to the light of day. He was a proponent of nonviolence. He was a civil rights activist and one genius of an organizer.

Rustin was a man humbly comfortable with his place behind

the scenes, pushing others forward to the spotlight. He worked with some heavyweights of African American history such as A. Philip Randolph on the initial March on Washington in 1941. This effort demanded and led to the desegregation of the U.S. military.

Yet, a literal march never occurred.

He was a close family friend of the Kings (yes, that King family.)

Working with the up and coming Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he organized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This was a

busing laws. Although there was unprovoked violence and bloodshed by white mobs and mass arrests, a change did come.

While the 1941 March on Washington did achieve the results it sought, his crowning glory of a monumental movement was the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Rustin organized this March with a group of young people seeking and demanding that this be a nation with liberty and justice for all. In the mix were some other behind-the-scenes veterans of the Civil Rights Movement such as Ella Baker and Dr. Anna Hedgeman and once again, A. Philip ~The Beatles, 1970 Randolph.

Following John F. Kennedy’s Civil Rights address vehicle that assisted in catapulting on national television and the Dr. King into the spotlight as its assassination of Medgar Evers the first president and this civil rights same day, something stirred inside organization exists to this day.

Rustin organized Freedom Rides Bayard Rustin to strike while the iron was hot. In less than two which demanded the southern states, still wielding Jim Crow laws, months, just seven weeks, the team of young and veteran civil rights abide by the desegregated federal

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be There will be an answer, let it be.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

marshals were present to guide the crowd; celebrities like Harry Belafonte, Charlton Heston, Mahalia Jackson, James Baldwin, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Marlon Brando and many more were present.

It is estimated that at least 250,000 people were at the largest rally in that space ever.

Dr. King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech right there on the steps of the of the Lincoln Memorial. When it was all done, it was said that Bayard Rustin picked up a trash collecting sack and began picking up the trash left by attendees. His successful Bayard Rustin at a news briefing on the Civil Rights March on Washington. Photo efforts and giftedness led to the

by Warren K. Leffler. passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 followed by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. workers, under his leadership, Rustin was raised by his pulled off the miraculous. grandmother, who taught him From the very beginning, Christian values in the Quaker faith the movement was fraught with tradition. She preached and lived naysayers, stumbling blocks and the virtue of humility. She taught saboteurs from outside of the him that no person was worth any movement. There were even a less than any other person. He few leaders within the civil rights movement - Adam Clayton Powell worked wonders behind the scenes, pushing so many future leaders of and initially Roy Wilkins - who the civil rights era to the forefront. attempted to cut it off before it could even be born. After King and As in that time and even today, his being a gay, Black man loomed Randolph publicly put their stamp heavy over his life. His efforts to of approval on the March, it was a make America a more just society go! for ALL were called into question Under Rustin’s leadership, tens of thousands of dollars were raised; simply because of his being homosexual. hundreds of buses were chartered; How many times throughout multiple flights arranged; food was history, in our churches and our prepared with plenty water made own lives, have we counted available; a multitude of unarmed

February 28, 2024

someone out or excluded specific groups because of who are considered the outcasts of the time? Persons who are of a different race/ethnicity. Persons whose first language is not English. Persons who may be undocumented immigrants. Those experiencing homelessness and poverty. Low-wage earners unable to keep up even in Oklahoma’s economy. A whole community of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

Of course, there are more lines of division we humans have created. No doubt Jesus’ words from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,” had to include humans’ propensity to exclude others. We need to remember that in these often “excluded groups” are gifted, prophetic people willing to speak truth to the status quo, powers that be, the church even, seeking answers and demanding justice pushing us toward our best selves as humanity together.

The German philosopher Georg Hegel was quoted, “The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.”

Frightening, but true. But, if we have learned anything from history, it is you cannot legislate morality.

That is a heart issue.

As Christians, It comes down how well we really understand the mission of the one who came over 2,000 years ago reflecting God to us as a holy example. We still have much to learn if we both seek and demand the answers.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

February 28, 2024

Are you prepared for a disaster?

BY DANA PARKER

A

re you prepared for disaster? With tornado season coming with spring storms, it’s a question that needs asking. OKUMC Disaster Response Ministry is offering a guided program called Connecting Neighbors that helps your congregation and/or community’s individuals and families develop or review their own disaster plan.

This program helps individuals and families make sure all their needed documents are readily

available, understand and review a position to offer comfort to the their insurance coverage, have community when disaster hits. supplies on hand, and have a plan in What unique things come from place in case families are separated your congregation’s people and when disaster strikes. property? With helpful ideas, areas The program also offers guidance that fit your specific congregation for the local church to have a become starting points to building disaster plan in place as well. a disaster response outreach within The third your community. component of This program is the program designed to be offered in 3 is to become sessions with each session aware of lasting about 2 hours. It’s the church’s very flexible and can be assets that presented over 3 weeks, place it in a weekend, or in one day.

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The curriculum is provided by the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and presented by our Oklahoma Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, Dana Parker and Rev. Tim McHugh.

Call or email Dana Parker (918510-7507, dparker@okumc.org) to schedule your church.

Members from McFarlin UMC clear debris after the February tornado in Norman in 2023. Submitted photos.

Beyond construction or physical labor, congregations can provide meals or even simply check on neighbors.

Photos by depositphotos.com.

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

February 28, 2024

March 10 is UMCOR Special Sunday Offering

One of the greatest parts of our United Methodist connection is the United Methodist Committee on Relief. You can find UMCOR in places all around the world, offering humanitarian aid after disasters, developing programs for environmental and agricultural sustainability, and serving people in the middle of migration.

UMCOR offers financial support and training in these areas so that local churches and agencies can be the hands of Jesus in the midst of human suffering.

UMCOR does its work through donations from you. Money raised during the UMCOR Special Offering Day is designated for operating costs so that any money given through its Advance projects is 100% used for the project. One of UMCOR’s Advance projects is U.S Disaster Response. Through this Advance, OKUMC has received $80,000 in grant funding that has helped 33 families in Eastern Oklahoma recover from flooding in May 2022, and will be able to help 35 more. A recovery grant for $150,000 was approved for residents of Pottawatomie, Cleveland, and McClain counties that received damage from the April 2023 tornado.

You can be a part of this great work and learn more about all the ways UMCOR is active in our world by celebrating the Special Offering Day on March 10, or whatever day best fits your church’s schedule. Find out more at this link.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

February 28, 2024

Disability Awareness Day

BY LEVI DUGGAN

Xzavion often serves as a greeter to churchgoers at our new church plant. A big part of ability inclusion is making sure that everyone’s included in service in the church.

He can use his skills of incredible friendliness, and love for people to make guests feel welcome. Kiah is a 10-yearold in our church who is on the autism spectrum. She particularly loves yoga on Wednesday nights during our children’s ministry time. There are many ways to make people of differing abilities feel included and welcome and Xzavion greets members and visits with a smile at Ceili Community. Photos by Levi safe in your church spaces. The Duggan. name of the game is flexibility.

In addition, it’s really important assistive technology, adult group to focus on listening to the voices homes, therapy and respite options, of those who experience different and more. abilities.

What can you do this week to March 5th, 2024 marks People support PWDAD? This is a moment with Disabilities Awareness Day each year where churches and (PWDAD). Often caregivers, followers of Christ are invited to advocates, and people with reflect on disability, to consider your disabilities will visit the Capitol worship spaces and programming, in Oklahoma City to meet with and ask if there are ways to improve legislators and discuss pressing accessibility or outreach to families issues of accessibility, health care, impacted by disability. While it caregiving, and education. Then in makes a lot of sense to add supports the afternoon, we make our way like noise canceling headphones over to the Oklahoma History Center or sensory fidgets to your worship where scores of tables are set up experience, the best place to start in with various information including

becoming more ability inclusive is to listen to the voices of people in your congregation who are impacted by disability. Here are some ideas on how to get started: ● Start an Ability Inclusion Task Force and invite individuals of all abilities to serve ● Utilize the free United Methodist Accessibility Audit, which the Conference asks about every year on your annual reports! ● Consider more training for Children and Youth leaders in the area of special needs. If maximal inclusion is a focus or passion of your church, you can go to my website for resources that include everyone.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is 2 Corinthians Chapter 5. I love verses 14 and 15 which read: “For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.” One of the reasons I love these words so much is that they connect life to service.

Our truest and best life comes when we live for others, when we strive to serve and love others. When we live for Christ, we are compelled to love people. One of the most important questions any church can ask themselves is: who are we leaving out?

So often, this includes individuals

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with disabilities who do not feel included for physical, cultural, or relational reasons. If the sermons, songs, worship liturgy, and ministry programs all assume ability first, it becomes difficult to retrofit inclusion on the back end. Instead, work to listen to others, to live for them, and constantly seek new ways of including those who are left out the most. This is the best way to respond to the invitation that is People With Disabilities Awareness Day.

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

February 28, 2024

Kiah enjoys Wednesday night yoga with the children’s ministry at Ceili Community.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

February 28, 2024

Fundraiser inspired by lunch-time walk The idea of the “Boston Avenue Eats” Cookbook went from a topic of conversation to becoming a reality in less than two months after that walk. The idea was shared with Boston Avenue members, and it brought smiles to the faces of

$2800, funds which were donated to one of Boston Avenue’s newest mission projects, The Smiles of hen Boston Avenue Faith Mobile Dental Clinic. And this staff members Teresa ‘pop up’ mission activity not only Bond-Mason, Lisa raised funds for missions, but also Hines, Evelyn Caruso, and Blaire created a sense of community among Hines (pictured above from left those who sent recipes and to right) took an after shared stories with those who lunch walk in the church purchased the cookbook. building one day, their Everyone who has read conversation about food the Cookbook can’t help turned into questions but smile at the photos and about cookbooks. One stories along with the recipes of them wondered when it contains. The Boston Boston Avenue had last Avenue Work Area On published a cookbook Missions has been smiling of member recipes. One ever since it heard the idea question led to another, and even more so after they and the conversation learned how much money the launched the idea of cookbook raised. The Smiles creating a Boston Avenue of Faith Executive Director, Cookbook.

Staff and Board smiled when The Boston Avenue they received the muchBoston Avenue UMC staff members Teresa Bond-Mason, Cookbook was an Lisa Hines, Evelyn Caruso, and Blaire Hines, took a walk, appreciated donation, and inspired idea. It was one had an idea, and turned that idea into a fundrasier for the the Smiles of Faith patients church’s mobile dental clinic. that brought smiles to are smiling because of the their faces. I believe this dental care the proceeds help is often how God’s spirit to fund. Truly, because these dozens of members who responded works. As Galatians 5:22 reminds four women on an after-lunch walk with recipes, photos, and stories. us, God “brings us gifts into our responded with action to an idea Recipes were typed, editing was lives much the same way that fruit done, photos were cropped, graphics that God’s spirit had planted in their appears in an orchard….” hearts and minds, there are ‘Smiles were developed, and soon orders The blessings come when we were being taken for what had once all Around!”. allow those ideas to spur us on to “A cheerful heart brings a smile to action. After the walk had ended, the been nothing more than an idea that your face….” Proverbs 15:13a idea that had brought smiles to their brought a smile to the faces of those Ed Payton is the missions faces turned into action, with each of four. facilitator at Boston Avenue UMC in The Boston Avenue Cookbook them making plans on how this idea Tulsa. sold 250 copies! It raised almost could become a reality.

BY ED PAYTON

W

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

February 28, 2024

Presented by the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference Multi Ethnic Office and the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

MOVIE NIGHT FREE EVENT

FEBRUARY 29TH 5-9 PM 5 pm Doors open (first 180 people) 6-8 pm Movie 8-9 pm Discussion led by John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation, Director of Outreach and Alliances Popcorn, drinks & candy supports local ministries

SHARED LEGACIES

The often forgotten story of the coalition and friendship between the Jewish and African-American communities during the Civil Rights Movement.

Homsey Hall in the Sarkeys Science and Math Center Oklahoma City University register at https://okumc-reg.brtapp.com/ RegistrationforBlackHistoryMonthMovieNight for more information contact Rev. Dr. Bessie Hamilton at bhamilton@okumc.org 405-509-0116

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

February 28, 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.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

February 28, 2024

Ministry in a Minute

On January 31, The SWOSU Wesley had its annual pancake dinner fundraiser. Over 150 people came to eat, and the event raised over $3,000 for future mission work.

Submitted photos.

Purcell Trinity United Methodist Church youth decorated and filled goody bags for their local assisted living community, Westbrook Gardens. The bags contained useful items like hand lotion, tissues, eye glass cloths and, of course, just a few pieces of candy. When the youth director asked the youth if they would like to do something for the United Day of Kindness on February 16, they jumped at the idea. Area retailers and organizations donated most of the items. The youth decorated 45 bags with hope-filled messages and images to raise the spirits of the recipients. The youth also took cookies to the police and fire station for first responders to enjoy. They plan on expanding their acts of kindness next time to include the nursing home and other areas who need a bit of hope.

Submitted photos.

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

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METHODIST

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

February 28, 2024

Call to Action Register today for Ecofaith Revolution: The Community of All Creation, a retreat hosted by the Conference Board of Church & Society. Find more here.

An OIMC church is looking for 12 used pews 10 to12 feet long. If your church is looking for a new home for used or stored pews, this church is in the Southeast part of the state and can pick up and transport the pews. Contact Donna Pewo at dpewo@oimc.org.

Share your event or job opportunity in the Contact.

For consideration, email your listing to editor@okumc.org.