Sometimes people need a little help. Week of Compassion is here to help in many ways during times of crisis. Watch Executive Director of Week of Compassion, Rev. Vy T. Nguyen’s personal story.
Hold on tight! We will all get through this season together one day at a time.
Click HERE to watch.
Click HERE to read more about Week of Compassion
Phillips University, Inc. (PU) is pleased to offer a merit based Seminary scholarship program for full-time, first year seminarians who are pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree, are committed to pastoral ministry and will attend one of the following Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) affiliated seminaries or foundation homes:
The purpose of this program is to perpetuate the mission and the legacy of Phillips University by helping educate people who will be future ministers of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
“For nearly 100 years, Phillips University played an important role in the foundation and education of Christian ministers,” said Kelly Coker, Vice-President. “Because of the Phillips University Seminary Scholarship Program, PU is able to continue to influence the lives of not only the clergy of tomorrow, but also the lives of the countless people they will touch through their future ministries. We feel blessed to be able to help these remarkable Divinity scholars in their theological quests while attending these amazing institutions.”
For more information about the Phillips University, Inc. Seminary Scholarship Program, please contact Tamela Harsha, Scholarship Administrator, at (580) 237-4433 or email [email protected]. Applications can be accessed online at www.phillips.edu/seminary-application. The application deadline is Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Last Sunday, Randy and I set up all our devices and joined eight online worship services in our Region. It was a remarkable and uplifting experience to hear a variety of expressions of “good news”! Thank you to all who are worshiping and connecting with one another in this unprecedented time. One clergy person said to me, “I never thought I’d be a televangelist overnight!”
Since Sunday, the government issued new guidelines about gatherings: No more than 10 people. In order to safeguard and protect one another, the Region continues to encourage all of us to follow the CDC guidelines. That means this upcoming Sunday many more of you are choosing not to gather in the sanctuary for worship, but through other means. Thank you for making this very difficult and painful decision. We are posting worship opportunities on our website here.
While we do not know how long this season of stillness will be, we are aware that not gathering on a Sunday morning for worship will also affect regular giving. We anticipate a decline in giving, because of anxiety about the virus or the economy, but we could all be surprised. Stewardship is still important and giving is always a part of our practice of faith and our gratitude. I can think of many reasons to be grateful right now. In your online worship and regular communications, please continue to lift up opportunities for stewardship and how your congregation will continue to receive the gifts.
Givelify is offering a webinar on Friday. Those of you using Givelify might want to participate. Follow this link.
The Regional Executive Committee had a called meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 to assess the health crisis and how it will affect the 2020 Regional Assembly & Leadership Training School in Enid in April. The Executive Committee felt strongly that we should be following the CDC guidelines of no more than 10 people gathering and cancelled the Regional Assembly/LTS event. The following words were released from the Regional Moderator this afternoon.
Due to the extraordinary circumstances presented to the church by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Executive Committee of the Regional Church has cancelled the Regional Assembly scheduled for April 24-25, 2020.
As prescribed by the Bylaws, the current Moderator will call a special Regional Board meeting to meet by Zoom (date yet to be determined). With a 2/3 vote, the Regional Board will call a special Regional Assembly as soon as it is safe for the Regional Church to gather with at least 30 days notice to congregations and clergy.
Our current board will continue until the called Regional Assembly has met and voted on the new slate of board members.
The following cancellations pertaining to the Region are also posted here. This list is updated daily.
The Regional Office Staff continues to serve the Regional Church although Jennifer, Ellen, Michael, and I are mostly working from home. We are utilizing our Zoom video conferencing account and email to stay connected and focused on serving clergy and congregations. The office phones are forwarded so that one of the staff can receive calls between 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, and we are checking voicemail regularly. We are checking the mail and will deposit any checks we receive. Michael remains available to help set up online worship or study experiences.
Our daughter-in-law, Tali McKell Beesley, is the CEO of the non-profit All Mental Health. They have put together a resource to be supportive to individuals at this time. I offer it to you as yet another resource for your people. Use this link.
Lent has certainly taken on new meaning this year. May God bless the space between us as we keep walking to Jerusalem with Jesus, and may God’s peace and grace continue to be upon us, our family, friends, and neighbors, and beyond in this strange and extraordinary time.
With and hope,
Pamela Holt, Regional Minister
Phone: 405-528-3577
Email:
3-19-20
The Regional Executive Committee had a called meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 to assess the health crisis and how it will affect the 2020 Regional Assembly & Leadership Training School in Enid in April. The Executive Committee felt strongly that we should be following the CDC guidelines of no more than 10 people gathering and cancelled the Regional Assembly/LTS event.
Due to the extraordinary circumstances presented to the church by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Executive Committee of the Regional Church has cancelled the Regional Assembly scheduled for April 24-25, 2020.
As prescribed by the Bylaws, the current Moderator will call a special Regional Board meeting to meet by Zoom (date yet to be determined). With a 2/3 vote, the Regional Board will call a special Regional Assembly as soon as it is safe for the Regional Church to gather with at least 30 days notice to congregations and clergy.
Our current board will continue until the called Regional Assembly has met and voted on the new slate of board members.
Tom Stanley, Regional Moderator
Pam Holt, Regional Minister
Updated on 3/19/2020
The Regional Office announced the following event cancellations on 3/16/20. If you have questions please contact the Regional Office. Thank you.
The physical health and well-being of our youth, their families, and congregations is as important to the Region as their spirituality and walk with Jesus. Tuesday, I learned information that indicated if one of our IAS participants would have presented with symptoms consistent with Covid-19, chances are health officials would have quarantined our entire group. Also on Tuesday, the United Nations canceled our March 20, tour and has closed to the public until April 1. The odds that other prearranged activities in DC and New York would be canceled were growing. Our siblings in faith at Park Avenue Christian Church in Manhattan have decided to close the church to the public and not hold worship for the next couple of weeks, as the Governor of NY has asked places of worship to suspend holding services. The Regional Ministers for New York and Washington DC indicate people are living normally amidst growing anxiety of the unknown of the disease.
So, Pam, Tom (Regional Moderator), and I discussed the best information we had from several sources and determined that, however unlikely that an IAS participant would become infected, the possibility existed. This would be a burden on the participants, their families, and their congregations. We also didn’t want to bring back a pathogen that might harm a vulnerable member of a congregation. So, we made the decision to cancel the trip late Tuesday afternoon. All participants and their families were informed Tuesday night. We wanted to pass on this information to our siblings in faith.
Our prayers:
– for participants living with some disappointment;
– for those physically and emotionally affected by Covid-19;
– for employees, businesses, doctors, nurses, and leaders that are currently making the best choices they can based on what we know and don’t know about Covid-19.
– for residents of Nashville continuing to clean up and begin the restoration of lives and property after the tornado.
O God who hears, for these and many more we offer our prayers. Amen
The event on March 17 at Edmond Trinity Christian Church has been cancelled.
Marilyn Knott and Delois Guess have decided to cancel the March 18 PRAR Training.
In the best interest of our retired clergy, Bill Shields has made the decision to cancel the Retired Ministers Gathering on March 23 at Southern Hills Christian Church, Edmond. Information will be mailed about about future events.
Rev. Mary Gaudreau Hughes has cancelled the March 25-26 Academy. Click here for details on an online option.
Marilyn Bohlender, President, Delois Guess, along with the Oklahoma Disciples Women have made the decision to cancel their upcoming Spring Meeting on March 28, 2020. A new date will be announced in the future.
The Central Area Disciples Men have made the decision to cancel the Central Area Disciples Men Meeting. A date will be announced in the future.
Inman Jones, President, has made the decision to postpone the April 3-4 Retreat until next fall. They do so to protect the health of their fellowship. A date will be announced in the future.
The Executive Committee of the Regional Board will meet on 3/17/2020 to make a decision on whether to postpone the 2020 Regional Assembly & Leadership Training School due to the continuing concerns about the Corona Virus (Covid-19). Please watch the Region’s email newsletter, website and FaceBook page for updates.
The 2020 OK-CADP Annual Awards Dinner and Meeting has been postponed until fall. If you have purchased tickets you have the option of a refund, or saving your seat for fall.
Please watch a message from General Minister and President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens as she provides faithful guidance and resources concerning COVID-19.
| Alva | First Christian Church – Alva |
| Anadarko | First Christian Church – Anadarko |
| Bartlesville | Disciples Christian Church |
| Bartlesville | First Christian Church – Bartlesville |
| Bristow | First Christian Church – Bristow |
| Calumet | First Christian Church – Calumet |
| Chandler | First Christian Church – Chandler |
| Cherokee | First Christian Church – Cherokee |
| Chickasha | First Christian Church – Chickasha |
| Cleo Springs | First Christian Church – Cleo Springs |
| Duncan | First Christian Church – Duncan |
| Duncan | West Side Christian Church |
| Durant | First Christian Church – Durant |
| Edmond | First Christian Church – Edmond |
| Edmond | Southern Hills Christian Church |
| El Reno | First Christian Church – El Reno |
| Elk City | First Christian Church – Elk City |
| Enid | University Place Christian Church |
| Gage | First Christian Church – Gage |
| Guthrie | First Christian Church – Guthrie |
| Hennessey | First Christian Church – Hennessey |
| Hobart | First Christian Church – Hobart |
| Hominy | First Christian Church – Hominy |
| Jenks | First Christian Church – Jenks |
| Lawton | First Christian Church Lawton |
| Langley | South Grand Lake Christian Church |
| Lindsay | First Christian Church Lindsay |
| Luther | First Christian Church Luther |
| Mannford | First Christian Church Mannford |
| Midwest City | Midwest Boulevard Christian Church |
| Moore | First Christian Church Moore |
| Morrison | Morrison Christian Church |
| Norman | First Christian Church Norman |
| Nowata | First Christian Church Nowata |
| Oklahoma City | Britton Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Crown Heights Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | First Christian Church Oklahoma City |
| Oklahoma City | Hillcrest Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Iglesia Cristiana de Capitol Hill |
| Oklahoma City | Memorial Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | New Covenant Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | New Hope Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Nicoma Park Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Village Christian Church |
| Pauls Valley | First Christian Church Pauls Valley |
| Peckham | Peckham Christian Church |
| Perry | First Christian Church Perry |
| Ponca City | Community Christian Church |
| Pond Creek | First Christian Church Pond Creek |
| Prague | First Christian Church Prague |
| Pryor | First Christian Presbyterian Church, Pryor |
| Seminole | First Christian Church Seminole |
| Shawnee | First Christian Church Shawnee |
| Stillwater | First Christian Church Stillwater |
| Stroud | First Christian Church Stroud |
| Sulphur | First Christian Church Sulphur |
| Tahlequah | First Christian Church Tahlequah |
| Thomas | First Christian Church Thomas |
| Tulsa | New Beginnings Christian Church |
| Tulsa | East Side Christian Church – Tulsa |
| Tulsa | In The Spirit Christian Church |
| Wagoner | First Christian Church Wagoner |
| Waukomis | Waukomis Christian Church |
| Woodward | First Christian Church Woodward |
| Yukon | First Christian Church Yukon |
| Yukon | West Point Christian Church |
| Ada | First Christian Church – Ada |
| Aline | First Christian Church – Aline |
| Alva | Avard Christian Church |
| Ardmore | First Christian Church – Ardmore |
| Arnett | First Christian Church – Arnett |
| Broken Arrow | Fellowship Christian Church |
| Broken Arrow | First Christian Church – Broken Arrow |
| Camargo | Camargo Christian Church |
| Carmen | Carmen Christian Church |
| Carnegie | First Christian Church – Carnegie |
| Carney | Carney Christian Church |
| Checotah | The Federated Church – Checotah |
| Chickasha | Shepherd Street Christian Church |
| Claremore | First Christian Church – Claremore |
| Cushing | First Christian Church – Cushing |
| Cyril | First Christian Church – Cyril |
| Davenport | First Christian Church – Davenport |
| Del City | Del City Christian Church |
| Edmond | Edmond Trinity Christian Church |
| Enid | Central Christian Church – Enid |
| Enid | Christian Church of the Covenant |
| Enid | Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai |
| Fairview | Central Christian Church – Fairview |
| Frederick | First Christian Church – Frederick |
| Garber | Garber Christian Church |
| Geary | First Christian Church – Geary |
| Hartshorne | First Christian Church – Hartshorne |
| Healdton | First Christian Church – Healdton |
| Henryetta | First Christian Church – Henryetta |
| Hugo | First Christian Church – Hugo |
| Hunter | Hunter Christian Church |
| Idabel | First Christian Church – Idabel |
| Kingfisher | First Christian Church – Kingfisher |
| Lamont | First Christian Church – Lamont |
| Lawton | Blvd Congregational and Christian Church |
| Lawton | Liberty Heights Christian Church |
| Marietta | First Christian Church Marietta |
| Marland | Marland Methodist-Christian Church |
| Medford | First Christian Church – Medford |
| Miami | Bethany Christian Church – Miami |
| Midwest City | First Christian Church Midwest City |
| Morris | First Christian Church Morris |
| Mounds | First Christian Church Mounds |
| Muskogee | Second Christian Church |
| Mustang | Mustang Christian Church |
| Nash | Nash Christian Church |
| Newkirk | First Christian Church Newkirk |
| Okeene | First Christian Church Okeene |
| Okemah | First Christian Church Okemah |
| Oklahoma City | East Sixth Street Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | New Vessels Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Northwest Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Refuge Fellowship Church |
| Oklahoma City | Simplicity Church |
| Oklahoma City | Western Oaks Christian Church |
| Oklahoma City | Wildewood Christian Church |
| Okmulgee | First Christian Church Okmulgee |
| Okmulgee | Osage Avenue Christian Church |
| Owasso | Disciples Christian Church – Owasso |
| Pawhuska | Pawhuska Ecumenical Parish |
| Pawnee | First Christian Church Pawnee |
| Ponca City | First Christian Church Ponca City |
| Ponca City | Woodlands Christian Church |
| Purcell | First Christian Church Purcell |
| Sand Springs | First Christian Church Sand Springs |
| Sapulpa | Linden Street Christian Church |
| Skiatook | First Christian Church Skiatook |
| Skiatook | Skiatook Christian Church |
| Stigler | First Christian Church Stigler |
| Taloga | First Christian Church Taloga |
| Tulsa | Bethany Christian Church Tulsa |
| Tulsa | First Christian Church Tulsa |
| Tulsa | Forest Park Christian Church |
| Tulsa | Harvard Avenue Christian Church |
| Tulsa | Odyssey Christian Church |
| Tulsa | Pine Street Christian Church |
| Tulsa | Yale Avenue Christian Church |
| Wakita | Wakita Christian Church |
| Warr Acres | Putnam City Christian Church |
| Waurika | First Christian Church Waurika |
| Waurika | First Christian Church Waurika |
| Weatherford | The Federated Church – Weatherford |
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:35-36, NIV)
This Wednesday the Foundation’s Grants Committee meets to decide funding allocations for the 52 grant requests received this year. Volunteer Disciples’ Committee Members have the arduous task of allocating more than $90,000 to requests totaling more than $296,000. Many of the requests were for community feeding programs for children, families and seniors experiencing food insecurity issues.
After reviewing Grant Reports from last year’s Grant Funding, we calculated more than 26,800 individuals from across Oklahoma received meals or food baskets, fresh fruit or healthy snacks through the Foundation’s Grants Program. What a blessing it is to be able to provide funding to the churches feeding the hungry within their communities.
We are grateful to the churches, the donors who have supported the Grants Program and especially to the Grants Committee Members who have graciously given their time and expertise to review applications and recommend funding.
The Foundation holds many worthwhile endowments benefiting the church, the Region and its missions and ministries, including funds for grants. Click this link: “Together We Touch Lives” if you would like to make an honorary or memorial donation to one of these funds.
Blessings,
Eric Gray, CAP®
Executive Director
(article provided by Oklahoma Disciples Foundation)
The Phillips Alumni/ae Association recently recognized Myrna J. Jones and Gene Spillman, Jr. as the 2020 recipients of The Frank H. Marshall Award for Ministerial Excellence at a celebration dinner during Remind & Renew.
Jones received both her MDiv (1992) and DMin (2006) degrees from Phillips Theological Seminary. Spillman has his BA (1970) from Phillips University and MDiv from Phillips Graduate Seminary (1974). The award is the highest honor given by the Alumni/ae Association and is presented to one or two individuals each year. The award recognizes graduates of Phillips Theological Seminary, Phillips Graduate Seminary, The Graduate Seminary of Phillips University, or the College of the Bible whose service to God, the Church and the human Community has been faithful and exemplary.
(article and photo provided by Phillips Theological Seminary)
Please join Crisis Care Ministries, on March 25 – 26, 2020, at the First United Methodist Church at 1115 S. Boulder Ave. W., Tulsa, OK for the Disaster Emotional and Spiritual Care Academy. A module-based Academy from Crisis Care Ministries that participants can customize to build their practical skills in helping their disaster-affected communities.
In response to the 2019 Oklahoma spring flooding and severe storms, Crisis Care Ministries offers training in practical skills so that local community leaders, through their day-to-day interactions with their disaster-affected community, can more affectively assist with recovery. This Training Academy, offered at no cost, offers separate, distinct training modules so that participants can customize their training experience.
This course is offered at no cost to participants. Participants may order an onsite box lunch, payable by check or cash.
Click here to view the flyer with all of the details.
Click here to register.
Crisis Care Ministries provides consultation, training, resources, and operational collaboration in disaster and crisis preparedness, response, and long term recovery, particularly related to emotional and spiritual care. Working collaboratively with faith communities and existing local, state, and national networks, Crisis Care Ministries helps local communities build their own resources toward holistic community preparedness, response, and recovery whether an incident is high-profile, low-attention, or limited to a crisis within a family or individual.
Contact Rev. Mary Gaudreau Hughes, LPC, Executive Director of Crisis Care Ministries with any questions. [email protected]