Gathering for New Ways to Worship

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!”

CDC Guideline Change

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.

Stewardship

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.

2020 Regional Assembly & Leadership Training School

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.

Other Cancellations

The following cancellations pertaining to the Region are also posted here. This list is updated daily.

  • DRCO Lunch
  • Oklahoma Disciples Men April Retreat
  • Central Area Disciples Men Meeting
  • Oklahoma Disciples Women Spring Meeting
  • Disaster Emotional & Spiritual Care Academy
  • Retired Ministers Gathering
  • PRAR Training
  • Speaker John Dear at Trinity Christian Church, Edmond
  • International Affairs Seminar

Regional Office

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.

Other

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

How to Contact Us

Phone: 405-528-3577
Email: