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.
Fifteen churches were represented at the event hosted by Christ and Peace UMCs in Enid.
state.
Lakeside UMC hosted multiple churches, including this group from Moore First UMC.
Geary UMC, along with multiple others, attended a Communities Impacting Poverty workshop in Weatherford.
Bishop Merrill visited with folks and spoke at Communities Impacting Poverty workshops across the
Little Darci Lynne is all grown up and making music
BY REV. SHERI LASHLEY
The 20 year old Darci Lynne seems at first glance to be as shy and timid as the 6 year old Darci that her mother Misty put in Cinderella pageants all those years ago. However, when you begin to talk with her, you can see why the charm and talent of this beautiful young lady, caught the attention of the entire country back when she was only 12 years old.
Darci Lynne was a shy young lady when Misty decided that she needed to bring her little girl out a bit. She put her in gymnastics, which she excelled at, by the way. Then Misty put her in pageants, and it was at those pageants that Darci Lynne found her niche, her love, and a place to share her talent with the world.
Darci saw a young lady doing ventriloquism and she became a student of this lost art. She was active in gymnastics, but she began to study the art of puppetry and ventriloquism, and her parents at first did not take her seriously. In fact, at first they did not want to even buy her a puppet. It took some coaxing and even a small win to help them realize that she was serious about it - and that she was really, really good.
Darci Lynne, at 12 years old, wanted very badly to be in America’s Got Talent. And so she was. She got the golden buzzer, and then she went on to win the whole thing. With a coach helping her - and with her heroes, Terry Fater and Jeff Dunham - to look up to, Darci was on her way to a career in the art of ventriloquism, and with singing. Darci’s mother Misty has a fabulous singing voice, and obviously
passed that on to her daughter. Not only is she gifted in voice, but also stage performance, and in writing shows for herself and her puppets, and now even as a recording artist.
What isn’t as widely shared among all the stories about Darci Lynne is that she grew up in the United Methodist Churchspecifically, Church of the Servant, where her family is still active. Darci feels at home at Church of the Servant, and credits her faith in Jesus Christ, to her upbringing in the church. She and her parents Clarke and Misty Farmer, as well as her three brothers, were reared in the church, and she credits much of who she is to the church.
Darci will share her gifts at a concert at the Church of the Servant, alongside family friends, Point of Grace. Darci is donating her time to this cause, and was asked why she would do this. She said, “This church is responsible for who I am today, and I will never not say yes to doing what I love in this church.”
The concert is sponsored by the women’s ministry of Church of the Servant, to help fund how they do mission in the church, community, and the world. The church is thrilled to offer to our community the music of Point of Grace and Darci Lynne Farmer in concert. There is plenty of room if
you would like to join us on October 24, 2024, at Church of the Servant, 14343 North MacArthur Blvd., OKC. The concert begins at 7 p.m. You can purchase tickets online or at the door.
Darci Lynne Farmer, who won season 12 of America’s Got Talent with her performance with puppets, returns to her roots at Church of the Servant for a musical performance. Photos by Joseph Llanes Photography.
Grace that shatters the things that bind us
BY REV. TRACEY IVY
October 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 their lives.
When you think about the
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.
Tulsa Southern Hills UMC pastor Tracey Ivy interviews with the news; members of the church meet for the town hall.
URGENT: 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
Mats for Missions & Prayer Shawl Workshop
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
4) Utilize health accounts for pre-tax savings this year and to save for future needs
2025 HealthFlex Annual Election
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
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
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!!
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.
