Where’s Michael? October

For you and for me, a place at the table,
though wounded and sore, with need to forgive,
in anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy,
for you and for me, a new way to live,

And God Will Delight When We Are Creators
Of Justice And Joy, Compassion And Peace:
Yes, God Will Delight When We Are Creators
Of Justice, Justice And Joy!(1)

This song has followed me around. I’ve heard it and sung it several times since Regional Assembly ’26. Like the song a workshop group created with Carrie Newcomer’s help at RA ’26, it captures our desire to describe the kind of hosts Disciples strive to be as followers of Jesus. This month, First Christian Church in Stillwater is expanding their table by partnering with other congregations to participate in The Longest Table, a community meal in a public setting.

Our congregations are mobilizing their banquet tables through food pantries, giving away backpacks and school supplies, serving at soup kitchens, community clothing closets, listening, learning, and standing with and up for the marginalized in our communities. The Commission on Faith in Action is lending a hand by providing ten (10) congregations with a reconciliation grant to assist their ministries. The October 21st Regional RoundUp will have a list of those congregations and their activities.

We are passing a lot around the table this month.

The Christian Church Commission will meet to consider grant requests to support congregations in these counties: Oklahoma, Kingfisher, Logan, Lincoln, Pottawatomie, Cleveland, McClain, Grady, and Canadian.  Congregations can apply for grants up to $4,000 to help address their strategic challenges unique to each context.

Seventy-five (75) women attended the Oklahoma Disciples Women’s Retreat (Oct. 2–3) at Camp Christian to celebrate the ways each one is a new person in Christ. Keynotes, campfire, worship, meals, and more filled this 36-hour retreat. We are grateful for Marilyn Bohlender and her planning team for their good work and leadership.

The Commission on Laity and Commission on Worship and Spirituality are sponsoring Theological Table Talk: Praying at the Lord’s Table, on October 11th (3:30 pm). This free Zoom webinar welcomes Rev. Dr. Lisa Barnett and Dr. Warren Carter, Phillips Theological Seminary Faculty, as they lead elders, clergy and laity in sessions to encourage us to express a variety of understandings of this meal.  Click the link above to learn more and register.

East 6th Street Christian Church celebrates the 30th anniversary of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s ministry with the congregation on October 4th.  First Christian Church in Chickasha celebrates 100 years of worship in their sanctuary on October 25th. These anniversaries are examples of staying: physical and spiritual commitments to journey with one another as a community of faith through grief and joy, in hard times and abundance. 

This is a season of creating banquets through budgets that will welcome and sustain ministry in 2027. Budgets tell a theological story about what we value. We don’t think of it this way, but a budget is one way Disciples renew their covenant each year to do ministry.  Budgets are more than dollars.  Your attention, participation, and service are part of the covenant, too.  Your commitment to your congregation, your congregation’s commitment to participating in Regional life, and your giving to the Disciples Mission Fund and the Christmas offering renew the covenant of ministry we do together, locally, with the Region, and with the denomination.  Thank you.

Disciples, don’t forget that God delights in the ways you host banquets in your community, and in the covenant we share as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma. We are co-creators of justice, joy, compassion, and peace, following the ways of Jesus

Thank you for being a voice of gospel. Stay centered in God’s shalom.

Disciples, you are a blessing.

Note
1. Shirley Erena Murray, For Everyone Born (Hope Publishing) 1998.