Green Country District

Announcements

• BISHOP NUNN ON RACISM

  

  Racism has no place in the Church of Jesus Christ.  Neither does it have a place in society.  Racist beliefs, attitudes and actions have their roots in hatred and are manifest in cruel, life threatening and life ending actions, and betray all of humanity.  Racism is sin.  

  It is incomprehensible that racially motivated murders have been occurring with alarming frequency in the United States.  A recent communication from the Council of Bishops named a few of the victims: “The list of innocent Black lives who have been needlessly killed grows each day: Eric Garner, Terrence Crutcher, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Samuel DuBose, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, Tamir Rice, Laquan McDonald, Sandra Bland, Walter Scott and now Ahmaud Arbery. These are just some of the ones we know. We are saddened that there are many more names that could be added to this list.”  Unfortunately, another person has been added to that list.  George Floyd has joined that list of persons who have been murdered.  

  Oklahoma has seen its share of horrific acts as well.  Within the last few weeks, a delivery man, who was doing his job was detained by over zealous persons.  He kept his cool, knowing that if he took any action, it could cost him his life.  The virtual graduation ceremony at OCU was hacked and defaced with racist filth.  The cowardly perpetrator(s) are free to plot more terror.  Countless people, especially people of color, live in fear of random racist actions.  

  Racism is not Christian.  It is a lie.  It is demonic.  It destroys.  It is not what we believe.  

  The 2016 General Conference passed a resolution that I have reproduced below.  This resolution was recently included in a letter from the Council of Bishops.  It is a reminder of what we believe and a call for us to commit to act on our beliefs.  

  “Because we believe: 1. That God is the Creator of all people and all are God’s children in one family; 2. That racism is a rejection of the teachings of Jesus Christ; 3. That racism denies the redemption and reconciliation of Jesus Christ; 4. That racism robs all human beings of their wholeness and is used as a justification for social, economic, environmental, and political exploitation; 5. That we must declare before God and before one another that we have sinned against our sisters and brothers of other races in thought, in word, and in deed; 6. That in our common humanity in creation all women and men are made in God’s image and all persons are equally valuable in the sight of God; 7. That our strength lies in our racial and cultural diversity and that we must work toward a world in which each person’s value is respected and nurtured; 8. That our struggle for justice must be based on new attitudes, new understandings, and new relationships and must be reflected in the laws, policies, structures, and practices of both church and state. [Therefore,] we commit ourselves as individuals and as a community to follow Jesus Christ in word and in deed and to struggle for the rights and the self-determination of every person and group of persons.” [2016 Book of Resolutions, #3371]

  Let us not be deceived by racist propaganda.  It is not of God.  Instead, let us follow Jesus Christ.

• TRIBUTE FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF MURRAH BUILDING BOMBING

  BELOW IS A MESSAGE FROM THE BISHOP AND CONFERENCE LEADERSHIP REGARDING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MURRAH BUILDING BOMBING AND HOW WE CAN SHOW OUR REMEMBRANCE OF THIS PIVOTAL EVENT IN OUR HISTORY.

  PLEASE READ AND TAKE NOTE OF THE TWO ITEMS WE ARE BEING REQUESTED TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN:

  1.  At 9:02 - Pause and observe a 168 second silence in remembrance of those that lost their lives.

  2. At 12:19pm - Pause and say a prayer for the pandemic we are living through presently.

  These unprecendented times call for us to be in unity.  Please join us!

  Greetings in the name of Christ.

  On Sunday, when Oklahomans gather for another week of disbursed worship experiences, we will also be remembering the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.

  We can remember where we were at 9:02 a.m. We can remember what we were doing. We can remember who we were with when 168 of our fellow Oklahomans lost their lives due to an act of terrorism.

  Today, drive to the former site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and you can see a beautiful memorial and museum built so that we can memorialize those who lost their lives and remind ourselves of exactly what happened that fateful day.

  Unfortunately, this year there will be no gatherings around the Survivor Tree, and we will have to watch the memorial services on the television. Our own First United Methodist Church, directly across from the site of the bombing, will sit empty. The church was heavily damaged by the bombing but has been beautifully restored.

  Even though churches will be meeting electronically, we encourage you to do two things to mark this day. First, pause at 9:02 a.m. and observe 168 seconds of silence to remember those who lost their lives that day. Then, at 12:19 p.m., pause and say a prayer for the pandemic we are currently living through. Pray for those who are ill, for families who have lost loved ones, for political leaders and for those working on the frontlines.

  We are living through unprecedented times, but we know in the days and weeks that followed the Oklahoma City bombing, journalists from around the world began to call our response “The Oklahoma Standard.”
  Blindsided by the bombing, Oklahomans responded. Volunteers and donations poured into Oklahoma City from around the world. First responders from all corners of Oklahoma rushed to see how they could help. Blood drives were set up. Scholarship funds were established to help children who were in the Murrah Building’s daycare center or whose parents had died.

  Today, even as we observe this milestone, we see that same spirit evident across the world as, collectively, we are rising to another challenge. The coronavirus is wreaking havoc on our state, and yet every day we see the Oklahoma Standard shining through. Just as we survived then, we will survive this moment as well. In fact, we will thrive on the other side.
  As we said in our video earlier this week, we stand in awe of the creative, innovative, passionate ways our churches – pastors and laity alike – are rising to this occasion.

  May God grant us grace and peace and we continue bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to a hurting world.

  Serving you faithfully,
  Bishop Jimmy Nunn, Area Bishop, Oklahoma Episcopal Area
  Rev. Dr. Joe Harris, assistant to the bishop/director of Communications
  Rev. Derrek Belase, director of Connectional Ministry
  Randy Compton, interim treasurer
  Rev. Tish Malloy, dean of the Cabinet

   

   

• MORE BABIES... WELCOME TO THE GCD FAMILY!

  CONGRATULATIONS!!

  Jim Jones, our Pastor in Checotah and his wife LouAnn are Grandparents to new twin babies!

  Their daughter Laurie Fanning gave birth to beautiful twin babies - Claire Ann (4 llbs 10 oz) and William Ray (6 lbs 7 oz) on April 15th.   Big Brother Ben who is 5 also welcomed the birth of his new brother and sister!  We send our love and blessings to Laurie and Russell!  

  God Bless these new additions!  Jim advises that all are doing well!

   

• Message from District Superintendent

  Friends, you are on the front lines of ministry where the tires of making disciples really do meet the road of local churches in local communities.

  These days, we are discovering that, on occasion, not meeting is a way of meeting a need.  By the time you read this, dozens more cases of COVID-19 will have been diagnosed, even with the limited testing available only for those who are symptomatic.  Just today, we've learned of more Methodists in Oklahoma, not in the cities, contracting the virus.  In words many of your farming folk will understand, the fences are down, the gates are broken, and we have no idea where all the cows are.  "Forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" physically, for the sake of being part of a healing process, shows worthy restraint that the Great Physician surely understands.

  Again, I will reiterate how crucial it is that we follow the Center for Disease Control guidelines in all our churches in the conference.  Currently, that standard is no more than 50 people for any purpose, and the possibility this needs to run for at least 8 weeks. The Bishop pointed out the expectation we have as a cabinet that standard be observed.  Most of our churches already have acted and have adopted even more stringent limits.  In addition, Governor Stitt in a conference call with religious leaders today pleaded that we observe a limit of no more than 10 for at least the next 15 days.  Be assured of a couple of things: 1. I am keeping detailed notes, and I am grateful for all of you who are making compassionate and sacrificial decisions with your church leadership; and 2. I will have your back as you insist on doing that which is best for the sake of public health right now.

  However, just because we follow CDC guidelines as responsible citizenry, as citizens of the commonwealth of heaven, we also have the responsibility of "body of Christ" standards.  Ramping up connections with folks via phone, making wise use of the internet, doing some porch-calling, etc. are key ways to maintain personal touch.

  I am committed to finding and passing along creative, productive ideas on a regular basis as one way to help navigate the rapids of these days.  So, here are a few:

  COVID CREATIVE CHURCHING

  Front windows/doors of the church as a "prayer wall"

  Turn sermons/Bible studies into "fireside chats" on Facebook, YouTube, etc

  Host a drive up prayer station

  Have an errand/chore hotline staffed with volunteers so people can request aid

    (If there is a suggested "fee," that money could be used to help

     underemployed folk during this time)

  Nursing home/care center outreach ideas:

    People take turns reading via phone or other media

    Artistic people paint/draw on plywood outside windows

  Serve as a broker of services that church people make available

  Set up "Meals on Wheels" program or help with your community's

  Schedule online daily devotions

  Help people set up conference calling or Zoom so they can be connected

  Distribute sermon manuscripts or Bible study outlines so people can use them

   

  There are lots of ideas going around.  I'm so impressed by the ways the Spirit has been freely at work.  Even though we are constrained, the Spirit is not!

   

  Beginning tomorrow, I will be doing a couple of things:

  1. a daily blog, not necessarily related to this health crisis, but spurred by it

  2. inviting you to gather with me in small groups via Zoom for mutual encouragement

  You'll get invites to both of these options via email.

  In case you're wondering, yes, the cabinet is engaged in appointive work.  The conditions already were challenging, and now they're daunting.  But technology has its blessings.  We are working to do seatings and exits of pastors via Zoom and conference calls as we try to model public health concern.

  Again, I value the sacrifice and compassion I have seen from so many of you.  I believe deeply I am where I need to be, doing what I am supposed to be doing just now.  I pray you share a similar conviction for your own ministry.

   

  Lenten Blessings,

  TK

• Bishop Nunn's letter regarding the "Protocol"

  There are no further details for this announcement.

• DISASTER RESPONSE

  

  ”In the hours and days after disaster, those who survive are looking for anything to give them hope. ERTs can provide the kind of imme-
  diate response that restores hope, builds faith, and encourages those who are looking to their neighbor for support.
  —Rev. Tom Hazelwood, Assistant General Secretary, UMCOR