The Contact 10-2-24

THE OKLAHOMA UNITED METHODIST

Weekly

Volume 6, Number 40 • October 2, 2024 • www.okumc.org

Lazarus Community and an interfaith effort against execution 2

Patches of Pumpkins Are Popping Up 4

UM connection means tragedy and triumph ignore borders 6

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

Save the Date Employment Ministry in a Minute 10

Passages Appointments

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 2, 2024

Lazarus Community and an interfaith effort against execution

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execution either put someone to death or saw someone granted clemency, a cross would be painted green for clemency - or red, to represent bloodshed - and a completed execution.

“Oklahoma Former Oklahoma Senator Connie Johnson stands with scheduled 25 men others among the painted crosses on the grounds of for execution,” Lazarus Community in OKC. said Rev. Bo Ireland, pastor anti-death penalty leaders like Sister at Lazarus Community in Oklahoma Helen Prejean, who wrote Dead Man City. “One person a month for two Walking and was famously portrayed years. This process has slowed, but by actress Susan Sarandon; Shane only one person, Richard Glossip, has Claiborne author and founder of The been given temporary clemency.”

Simple Way and co-founder of RedMany of the people who have been Letter Christians; former Oklahoma executed were recommended for Senator Connie Johnson; and groups clemency by the Board of Pardons like Death Penalty Action and the and Parole; even so, they were Interfaith Alliance. executed anyway.

They have met with families of “We’re following the Social people executed, plus people who Principles of the United Methodist have survived the death penalty. The Church,” explained Ireland. group holds vigils around scheduled “Execution denies the redemptive execution dates and paints crosses power of God.” when outcomes are announced.

Twenty-five crosses, each eight “We’ve gathered here as people of feet tall and four feet wide, are different faiths and different cultures,” hard to miss. announced Ireland. “We’ve gathered Members of the Lazarus Rev. Bo Ireland marches with Sister Helen here to say, ‘This is not okay,’ in Community work alongside Prejean in opposition to the death penalty.

wenty-five wooden crosses stand along 23rd Street in Oklahoma City. Ten are red. One is green. The rest are white, awaiting a decision: green or red?

In June 2022, Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor called for the Oklahoma Court of Appeals to set execution dates for 25 people on death row. After a long delay, during which a stay had been granted so a federal judge could decide whether Oklahoma’s death penalty procedures violated the US Constitution, executions were scheduled to begin again.

By August, the Lazarus Community, along with other faith leaders and with the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP), erected 25 crosses - one to represent each scheduled execution.

The plan was to paint the crosses white. Then, as each scheduled

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one more execution in the state of Oklahoma by painting it red with something that looks a whole lot like blood,”said Ireland.

Each participant then had an opportunity to dip their hands in

October 2, 2024

the red paint. Whether by actively supporting death penalty legislation or by complacency, Ireland said the red paint will serve as a reminder that “we all have blood on our hands.”

Rev. Bo Ireland pours red paint on a cross to mark a completed execution in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma!”

“Emmanuel Littlejohn was executed by ‘We the People.’ And we, the people, stand in opposition to this, to remind the rest of ‘We the people,’ that this is wrong,” said Ireland at the vigil following the most recent execution in Oklahoma, which took place Thursday, September 29.

“We stand in front of an ancient method of execution, the cross.

Today, we will mark the occasion of

With the help of author Shane Claiborne and others, Bo Ireland, pastor at Lazarus Community stands among 25 crosses erected as symbols of 25 people scheduled for execution in 2022.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 2, 2024

Patches of Pumpkins Are Popping Up

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cross the conference, churches are gearing up for fall fun, offering pumpkins for sale, along with fun family opportunities. We’ve found a few: Good Shepherd UMC in Yukon has a daily pumpkin patch with pumpkins of all sizes for sale, along with free activities including hay rides, corn hole, photo opportunities, and more.

This patch is a fundraiser for outreach ministry.

Good Shepherd UMC in Yukon is set up with pumpkins for sale, hay rides, games, and more. Submitted photos.

St. Matthew UMC’s pumpkin patch raises money to give out community grants in the Mid-Del community. Spencer UMC helped unload the truck and set up the patch.

Southern Hills UMC in Oklahoma City’s pumpkin patch is a youth fundraiser.

St. Matthew UMC in Midwest City, with the help of friends from Spencer UMC, uses proceeds from pumpkin sales to offer community grants.

Highland Park UMC in Stillwater is partnering with the Lions Club to sell pumpkins, gourds, and straw bales daily. Admission and activities are free.

Throughout the month of October, this pumpkin patch will also host bake sales, carriage rides, handson activities for children, music, a carnival, and even goats!

Christ United Methodist Church in Enid took delivery of about 45,000 pounds of pumpkins - and with lots of help, the church’s pumpkin patch is up and running, ready to go.

Christ United Methodist Church in Enid has been preparing for its pumpkin patch for quite some time.

Their massive volunteer force has made a spectacular pumpkin patch ready for visitors.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 2, 2024

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 2, 2024

UM connection means tragedy and triumph ignore borders

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urricane Helene cut a mileswide path of devastation across the southeastern United States, causing over 160 deaths across six states. Thousands are still missing, since many areas are stranded without electricity or even cell service.

Roads are closed due to flooding, washouts, and blockages.

Estimates show over two million people without power, and infrastructure in many places, like clean water and accessible roads, is set back by a century. The Department of Defense and FEMA will airlift supplies to inaccessible areas, according to a CNN report. The Army Corps of Engineers is working to quickly repair roads and bridges that have cut off contact.

Bishop Tom Berlin of the Florida Conference said approximately 50 churches were impacted in some way, “but more importantly, all of our communities have been impacted in every way.”

“We’re here to help those who have been impacted, not only in Florida, but beyond - because, as you know, the storm has touched many lives across the southeast region,” continued Berlin. “And so we’re in connection with those other localities to see if there’s other things that we can all do together. That’s the blessing of a connectional church.”

Bishop Tim Carter of the Western North Carolina Conference acknowledged the crucial work of first responders, stating, “Helene has brought great flooding and damage and devastation to many of our communities.”

He shared, “We look forward to the time when many of our volunteers can join in the recovery efforts. Our annual conference is already engaged in the response, which is ongoing and long-term.”

In the In less than 24 hours after the North Georgia Conference North Georgia of the UMC shared a donation request, goods from across Conference, at the connection began pouring goods into the area. Photo least six United

by Peachtree City UMC in Peachtree City, GA. Methodist churches sustained uprooting trees, destroying buildings damage. Hundreds of Georgia and homes, and decimating properties families are in shelters and thousands and crops.” have lost power or cell service. At the time of this writing, Augusta was in Feeling the pain in Oklahoma an active state of emergency.

Even half the country away, Bishop Robin Dease offered, Oklahomans can feel overwhelmed by “Hurricane Helene has moved the scope of the disaster. Many want to through Georgia leaving destruction know how they can help. With hearts in its wake. From Valdosta to in throats, some may be compelled to Augusta and so many areas in drive to the affected areas and try to between, the impact of the hurricane render aid. is heartbreaking. On behalf of the While this sort of response comes South Georgia and North Georgia from a place of love, it can often have Conferences, we send our earnest a negative impact on affected families prayers to all those persons and and on first responders. The North communities affected by Hurricane Georgia Conference announced the Helene.”

Augusta emergency with this caveat: The South Georgia Conference “Please do not travel to Augusta shared, “For many across our individually. The area resources South Georgia Conference, this including gasoline are limited, and Sunday looks very different. Whole it is imperative that we not become communities have found themselves a burden by using the community’s ravaged by Hurricane Helene and the resources as we offer help. Please devastation she brought in her wake. only deliver the specifically requested The wind and rain were intense, supplies to these four drop off

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locations at the time specified.”

What you can do Dana Parker, who heads up disaster response for the Oklahoma conference, gave advice for Oklahomans who want to help those affected by the hurricane.

“People can give to UMCOR US Disaster Relief through umcmission. org,” she suggested.

“They can be sure the money they donate will be used in the US for disaster needs,” she explained, noting that specific disasters are usually not given individual funds because of the way UMCOR grants work.

“People can also send money to the conference office, which can send them on to the different conferences that would use them.”

“As far as response work,” continued Parker, “right now we wait to be invited by the conference. I’m sure emergency rescue work will be going on for a week or more. Then, Early Response Teams [ERTs] can be

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

October 2, 2024

requested by the affected conference for help with debris removal, tarping, chainsaw work, water-soaked debris removal (muck-outs), and more. Our Early Response Teams can go if they are able after that invitation.

Parker invited any groups wishing to form a team to contact her. She can work with teams to coordinate training, protocols, contacts, and more. “That work will be two weeks out and stretching into the next several months,” she added.

to changing needs and lessons learned, so please check before sending.

Volunteer from here Flood buckets - also known as cleaning kits - are extremely helpful kits used to assist families in preparing their still-standing homes for reentry. This task can seem overwhelming, so cleaning kits can relieve a bit of the burden. Check here to see what goes into a flood bucket.

Contents change from year to year due

Giving links North Georgia Conference South Georgia Conference Florida Conference Western North Carolina Conference UMCOR

Be in prayer for those affected.

From displaced families to those who lost loved ones to first responders to leaders making tough decisions, there are many who need prayers throughout the coming months.

The United Methodist connection means we are one big family, scattered far and wide, sending love and material assistance where it’s needed.

The South Georgia Conference of the UMC shared some examples of love in action across the conference, including preparing a camp to host volunteer teams; volunteers clearing downed trees and tarping roofs; churches feeding, sheltering, and providing showers; churches deploying Early Response Teams and putting together cleaning kits and hygiene kits; and people of all ages volunteering, donating, and providing support.

Photos courtesy South Georgia Conference.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

Reclaiming our voices ... telling our stories

Norman First American UMC Gala Indigenous People’s Day Dinner & Fundraiser October 14 at McFarlin UMC

October 2, 2024

Our Goal Norman First American UMC is partnering with McFarlin UMC on a critical capital campaign to complete the NFA church and educational facilities. As the sole Native congregation in the Norman area and the only provider of regular fellowship for Native students at OU, NFA holds a vital role as a spiritual and cultural hub for Native peoples across Oklahoma and the United States. Serving over 5,000 Native individuals annually, we have outgrown our current space and urgently require expanded facilities to meet the growing demand.

Our vision includes the construction of a new sanctuary, an expanded kitchen, and additional classrooms for children and youth. These enhancements are essential for strengthening and expanding our Native ministry in Norman. The new facilities will also feature a state-of-the-art multimedia technology center, enabling us to foster connections and collaboration with tribal communities and institutions nationwide.

Please RSVP online by scanning the QR code, visiting our website, or filling out the enclosed RSVP card. We look forward to celebrating this special evening with you!

5:30pm–Silent Auction 6pm–Dinner 7:45pm–Live Auction

RSVP by scanning the QR code or by visiting mcfarlinumc.org/nfa-gala

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October 2, 2024

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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October 2, 2024

Ministry in a Minute

Edmond First UMC’s adorable Cherub Choir is directed by Debbie Lord and Karen and John Hudgens.

Sometimes, Inola UMC feeds more than people during Monday lunches. Submitted photos.

Youth at First UMC in Muskogee constructed and floated their entries into the Cardboard Boat Races.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

What you should know about

Applicant Requirements

October 2, 2024

Why serve?

Young adults between the ages of 20 to 30 in the year that service begins Hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience Able to communicate in English at a conversational proficiency level Committed to two years of service Willing to live and serve in solidarity with others Dedicated to addressing the root causes of injustice Called to put their Christian faith into action

Benefits

Fellows are invited to see differently so they can serve differently.

Fellows put their faith into action as they pursue social justice, discovering ways to engage in the community to be a part of meaningful change.

Fellows enter into communities, understanding their challenges and assets through relationships with the long-term goal to overcome systemic oppression.

Next Step Resources Discernment resources are available on our website.

Competitive medical and mental health care plans Paid vacation and end of service award Ongoing training, education and networking opportunities throughout service Learn about more benefits online!

Want to learn more? Request to meet a fellow and hear about their mission journey!

Attend a mission engagement session to hear a fellow share about their work.

International Track

Important Dates More details on the selection timeline can be found on our website.

Open to passport holders from any country Placed outside their home country Serve in areas such as children’s ministry, health education, advocacy, TESOL, agricultural development and worker's rights

International Track Application Launch: October 1, 2024 Final Deadline: January 15, 2025

globalmissionfellows

globalmissionfellows

www.umcmission.org/gmf

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youtube.com/@UmcmissionOrg

missionaryinfo@umcmission.org

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October 2, 2024

Call to Action Register for a Communities Impacting Poverty Workshop.

• OKC (Lakeside UMC) - 10 am - 2 pm, Saturday, Oct. 5 • Weatherford - Sunday, 3-7 pm, Oct. 6 • McAlester (First UMC) - 10 am - 2 pm, Saturday, Oct. 12 • Lawton (Centenary UMC) - 3-7 pm, Sunday, Oct. 13 Click here to register.

The Ministry Center will be closed for the following holidays: Oct. 14 - Indigenous People’s Day Nov. 27-28 - Thanksgiving Dec. 25 - Christmas

Share your event or job opportunity in the Contact.

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