The Contact 10-16-24

THE OKLAHOMA UNITED METHODIST

Weekly

Volume 6, Number 42 • October 16, 2024 • www.okumc.org

Communities Impacting Poverty Workshops 2

Little Darci Lynne is all grown up and making music 4

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

Grace that shatters the things that bind us 6

Save the Date Employment Passages

Ministry in a Minute 10

Appointments

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 9, 2024

Communities Impacting Poverty Workshops

Churches in the Northeast District gathered at University UMC in Tulsa, with Kris Mayberry teaching, and Jeff Jaynes, director of Restore Hope Ministries speaking, along with Bishop Laura Merrill.

Centenary UMC in Lawton hosted a large group and fed them during the workshop.

Director of Communications: Carlos Ramirez Multimedia & Web Manager: Andrew Himes Editor of Publications: Jena Barber Communications Specialist: Tabitha Beckman 1501 NW 24th, Oklahoma City, OK 73106

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

Bishop Merrill visited with folks and spoke at Communities Impacting Poverty workshops across the state.

October 9, 2024

Fifteen churches were represented at the event hosted by Christ and Peace UMCs in Enid.

Geary UMC, along with multiple others, attended a Communities Impacting Poverty workshop in Weatherford.

Lakeside UMC hosted multiple churches, including this group from Moore First UMC.

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

•

W W W. L AST I N G G O O D.O RG

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 9, 2024

Little Darci Lynne is all grown up and making music

you would like to join us on October passed that on to her daughter. Not only 24, 2024, at Church of the Servant, is she gifted in voice, but also stage 14343 North MacArthur Blvd., OKC. performance, and in writing shows for he 20 year old Darci Lynne The concert begins at 7 p.m. You can herself and her puppets, and now even seems at first glance to be purchase tickets online or at the door. as a recording artist. as shy and timid as the 6 What isn’t as widely year old Darci that her mother Misty shared among all the put in Cinderella pageants all those stories about Darci Lynne years ago. However, when you begin is that she grew up in the to talk with her, you can see why the charm and talent of this beautiful young United Methodist Church specifically, Church of the lady, caught the attention of the entire Servant, where her family country back when she was only 12 is still active. Darci feels years old. at home at Church of the Darci Lynne was a shy young lady Servant, and credits her when Misty decided that she needed to bring her little girl out a bit. She put faith in Jesus Christ, to her upbringing in the church. She her in gymnastics, which she excelled and her parents Clarke and at, by the way. Then Misty put her in Misty Farmer, as well as her pageants, and it was at those pageants three brothers, were reared that Darci Lynne found her niche, her in the church, and she credits love, and a place to share her talent much of who she is to the with the world. church.

Darci saw a young lady doing Darci will share her gifts ventriloquism and she became a at a concert at the Church of student of this lost art. She was active the Servant, alongside family in gymnastics, but she began to study friends, Point of Grace. Darci the art of puppetry and ventriloquism, and her parents at first did not take her is donating her time to this cause, and was asked why seriously. In fact, at first they did not she would do this. She said, want to even buy her a puppet. It took “This church is responsible some coaxing and even a small win to for who I am today, and I will help them realize that she was serious about it - and that she was really, really never not say yes to doing what I love in this church.” good.

The concert is sponsored Darci Lynne, at 12 years old, wanted by the women’s ministry very badly to be in America’s Got of Church of the Servant, Talent. And so she was. She got the to help fund how they do golden buzzer, and then she went on mission in the church, to win the whole thing. With a coach helping her - and with her heroes, Terry community, and the world.

The church is thrilled to offer Fater and Jeff Dunham - to look up to our community the music to, Darci was on her way to a career Darci Lynne Farmer, who won season 12 of of Point of Grace and Darci America’s Got Talent with her performance with in the art of ventriloquism, and with puppets, returns to her roots at Church of the Lynne Farmer in concert. singing. Darci’s mother Misty has a Servant for a musical performance. Photos by There is plenty of room if fabulous singing voice, and obviously Joseph Llanes Photography.

BY REV. SHERI LASHLEY

T

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 9, 2024

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 9, 2024

Grace that shatters the things that bind us

BY REV. TRACEY IVY

O

opportunities to host and get involved with the Fentanyl and Narcan training, you quickly realize that it aligns with the core Christian values of love, service, and compassion. It allows us as the church to support those in need actively. It builds positive relationships within the neighborhood and demonstrates our faith through tangible actions.

Ultimately, it helps us fulfill the mission of caring for the community as Jesus did. Isn’t that what loving our neighbor is about? Isn’t that what inviting people to the table looks like?

Everyone wants to be seen and valued. When people know that you see them and value them, not what they can give you or where they are in life, whether on top of the world, somewhere in the middle, or down in the valley, they will let down their guard and open up to you.

We all want to experience the grace that shatters the things that bind us.

Southern Hills seeks to share God’s grace by loving our neighbors and building solid relationships in our community.

ctober is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month.

People from every walk of life are committed to equipping individuals with knowledge and support to make intelligent choices, ensuring healthier lives, and steering people clear of harmful pitfalls; Southern Hills UMC is no different.

At Southern Hills, we partnered with Light of Hope, a nonprofit ministry that assists and educates individuals and families struggling with substance misuse; on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, Southern Hills UMC hosted a Fentanyl town hall to raise awareness about the two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illegally made fentanyl. Both are considered synthetic opioids, and the misuse of them is happening in our communities and across the nation.

We see these town hall trainings as an outreach and an opportunity to get to know our neighbors, build relationships, and raise awareness about this deadly force that robs us of friends and loved ones. From an outreach perspective, it is an opportunity to reach those in our community who might not otherwise hear about Jesus’ love and plans for Tulsa Southern Hills UMC pastor Tracey Ivy interviews with the news; members of the their lives.

When you think about the church meet for the town hall.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

URGENT:

October 9, 2024

Relief Kits Needed!

Hurricanes Helene and Milton have depleted Sager Brown Depot’s supply of relief kits.

Churches, Sunday school classes, and other groups are encouraged to help restock the supply.

UMCOR collects relief supplies in the form of cleaning kits, hygiene kits and menstrual hygiene kits that are assembled by United Methodist volunteers for distribution in the United States and its territories. Donations to assist UMCOR in purchasing supplies for kits can be made through Advance 901440-Material Resources.

When kits are donated to the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot – the hub of relief supply operations – or to an affiliate warehouse, volunteers assemble, verify and pack the kits.

The kits are stored until a request for supplies is received; once a request is processed, the kits are shipped to communities in need.

ASSEMBLE A KIT You can help keep UMCOR’s relief supply kit inventory ready to go by sending completed kits or giving toward the purchase of needed supplies.

UMCOR encourages the purchase of local materials for kits that are appropriate to the context and support the local economy.

Learn how to assemble and ship each UMCOR relief supply kit below: Menstrual Hygiene Kit (“Period Pack”) Instructions Hygiene Kit Instructions Cleaning Kit Instructions

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 9, 2024

Mats for Missions & Prayer Shawl Learn how to make homeless mats out of plastic bags!

Workshop Saturday, Nov. 2 10 am - Noon

Looms available for sale!

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Experience the freedom you deserve and check out our spacious cottages and beautiful apartments at EpworthVilla.org.

14901 N. Pennsylvania Avenue | Oklahoma City, OK 73134 | (405) 225-3038 |

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 9, 2024

OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 14, 2024

2025 HealthFlex Annual Election Annual Election is Your Opportunity* to Select 2025 HealthFlex Benefits!

1) Use ALEX Benefits Counselor to find the plan that might be the most cost-effective for your family or individual needs 2) Select medical/pharmacy, dental and vision plans 3) Choose which eligible dependents to cover—contact your benefits office if you don’t see your dependents listed

2025 Highlights • Benefits Access has everything you need for Annual Election, including helpful resources and plan comparisons, videos, and much more at my.benefitsaccess.org/HealthFlexBenefits • Call your Wespath Care Coordinator if you have questions about what your claims might cost if you choose a different plan in 2025 • Use the OptumRx Drug Pricing Tool to help you estimate your pharmacy costs for 2025

4) Utilize health accounts for pre-tax savings this year and to save for future needs

Make Your Elections Online Scan the QR code to access my.benefitsaccess.org/ HealthFlexBenefits For Annual Election support, call 1-844-688-1375

Use ALEX® Benefits Counselor ALEX Benefits Counselor uses simple language to explain your plan benefits. Use ALEX to: • Compare HealthFlex plans—learn which plan(s) might cost you the least • Estimate out-of-pocket costs and how to make the most of health accounts • Visit my.benefitsaccess.org/ HealthFlexBenefits to get started

*After Annual Election, you can only change benefits, add or drop dependents, or make new health account elections if you experience a qualifying “change of status” event, such as marriage, divorce, death of a spouse, birth/adoption of a child, or loss of spouse’s health coverage. You can change health savings account elections any time during the year.

a general agency of The United Methodist Church

4838/092524

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 9, 2024

Ministry in a Minute The volunteers and customers at the Nicoma Park UMC Thrift Store celebrated the 101st birthday of loyal thrift store patron, Mrs. Faye Flowers. She is pictured here with Rev. Trish Harris, pastor of NPUMC. Mrs. Flowers has shopped at the thrift store for many years and has her own special place to sit and visit with everyone. Her daughter, Diane, brings her nearly every time the store is open and Faye shares the stories of her years as a missionary as well as stories and photos from her childhood in Oklahoma! What a blessing she is! We’re looking forward to birthday 102!!

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 9, 2024

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 9, 2024

Call to Action Send us photos and stories about your fun Fall events!

We’d love to share your fall festivals, haunted houses, pumpkin mazes, hot chocolate bazaars, trunk-or-treats, sugaramas, or anything else you’ve been doing in this - finally! - cooler weather! Send photos and stories to editor@okumc.org.

The Ministry Center will be closed for the following holidays: Nov. 27-28 - Thanksgiving Dec. 25-26 - Christmas

Share your event or job opportunity in the Contact.

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