OOLOGAH united methodist church - creating, growing & sending disciples to transform the world
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
OOLOGAH
united methodist church
creating, growing & sending disciples
to transform the world
APRIL/MAY LOVE LETTER
“Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high
mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became
dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah
with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to
be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He did not
know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud
there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’ Suddenly when they looked
around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.” (Mark 9:2-8)
This scripture is generally read right before Lent begins. It’s the scripture where
Jesus is transfigured right before Peter, James, and John’s eyes. Peter’s immediate reac-
tion is to tell Jesus that he would like to build three dwellings on the mountain where this
incredible event happened. He wanted to capture that feeling of awe and live in that
moment forever. But they didn’t. They left the mountain to follow Jesus into the future.
As we begin to emerge from this pandemic, this is the scripture that comes to my
mind. I have heard it said, and have even said it myself, that it will be so good when
things can go back to normal. However, I think we are finding ourselves in the same posi-
tion as Peter was in this scripture. We long to capture a moment in time before the pan-
demic, a “normal” moment, and try to stay there. Whatever “normal” was is gone. Socie-
ty has gone through a collective trauma over the past year. We are not the same peo-
ple now that we were in March of 2020.
There are some things that I am glad have changed. If I never again have to spend seven hours in a car for
a two hour long meeting, I’m good with that. I like the convenience of grocery pick-up. I love that so many busi-
nesses have apps now that make them more user-friendly. Online worship has blossomed into a beautiful, neces-
sary, permanent thing. Likewise, there are some things that I am sad have changed. Like many of you, I lost a friend
and congregant to COVID. I haven’t been “home” to my parents’ house since October (but I’m planning a trip
soon, because my grandparents are now vaccinated!). My stress level has escalated in ways I never knew possible.
My body has been changed by fighting COVID, and I still don’t feel completely like I once did. Things are different
now.
As scary as a different future can be, we are walking into the future as a church knowing that we are walk-
ing into it with the Holy Spirit. Some things around the church are slowly looking like they did last March, while other
things will probably never go back to what they looked like then, and that’s okay. We will probably always keep up
the disinfecting of common areas, because it keeps us all healthier from all kinds of germs. We will keep checking
the temperatures of our nursery children for the safety of all of our children. We will keep broadcasting both the
8:30 and 11:00 am worship services so people can attend worship from wherever they are. As soon as we can get
our technology in place and working without glitches, we hope to move the 8:30 service into the chapel.
You’ll see greeters and coffee and announcements in the lobby again. As summer approaches, we
are enrolling for camp and planning Vacation Bible School. We do encourage masking and/or distancing and
other precautions when meeting in large groups. It’s a slow and measured approach to moving into the fu-
ture.
Things will never be exactly as they were last March, but I believe with all my heart that God is creating
a beautiful, exciting future as a church, filled with ministry, love, connection, support, and faith in the One who
loves us and never leaves us. I hope that you will join me in being part of that future.
-Pastor Shannon
P.S.- I love being friends with you all on Facebook, but I rarely send friend requests, because I know that some
people don’t want to have their pastor on their Facebook, which is okay with me! If you do want to be friends,
send me a request, and I’ll love seeing snippets of your everyday life. You’ll see a lot of pictures of my silly dog-
go, Zacchaeus.
OOLOGAH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CALENDAR
April /May
Every Monday—Food Pantry 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Mondays—Choir practice—6:30 pm
April 20-Finance-5:00p/Council Mtg.6:00p
May 2—Red Cross Blood Drive
May 2—VBS meeting 12pm
May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31—Choir
May 5 & 19—Meet the Pastor—6pm
May 9—Mother’s Day “Mom’s & Muffins”
May 11—Mobile Food Truck
May 12—Meet the Pastor—10am
May 16—Graduation Sunday @ 11am service only (Kole Franklin & Drake Black)
May 18—Finance-5:00p/Council Mtg.6:00pm
May 28—Senior Breakfast 8:00 am Casseroles needed
Children & Youth Camp—Online registration is open. Register online at OKCAMPS.ORG
Dear Parents, My name is Sydney and I teach the PK-2nd grade Sunday school class. I wanted to introduce myself and let you all know that all Sunday school classes are open! We are following all social distancing and sanitization guidelines to make sure that you and your children stay safe and healthy. All Sunday school classes are between 1st & 2nd services and we hope to see you all soon! Blessings Sydney C. Dear Family and friends of Oologah United Methodist Church, My name is Elaine Ramsey and I am your supervisor of the nursery and toddler department. We are open every Sunday at 8:15am to immediately after second service. Our rooms are sani- tized, and we work hard to keep your baby safe and we hope to see you soon. Blessings, Elaine Ramsey Tayler Malotte
OUTREACH
Emergency Food Pantry
Food for Kids
Backpacks are filled with nutritious food items
and sent home.
Christmas Toy Drive
Prayer Team
Mobile Food Banks
Hospitality Teams
Senior Specialty Program, Commodity Supple-
ment Food
Red Cross Blood Drive
Happening Weekly
Monday:
*Choir Practice, 6:30 p.m.
Sundays:
*Worship Services – 8:30 a.m. Tradition-
al
& 10:50 a.m. Casual
*Children’s Worship – Approximately
11:00 a.m. Dismissing from 2nd Service
*Children & Youth Sunday School – 9:40
a.m.
*Adult Sunday School –9:40 a.m.
“All Creation Sings” – Led by Diana John-
son
“Cornerstone” Adult Class—Led by
Gabriel Rossainzz
“Son Shine” Adult Class – Led by Dian
Root
Debit Authorization
Did you know that you can sign up to have your contributions to our church debited
from your personal checking or saving account. It may be convenient for you to
have this taken care of so if you miss a Sunday you know the many programs of our
church will continue with the help of your contributions. Please contact the church
office to receive a copy of the Debit Authorization Form. All you need to do is fill
out the form, attach a voided check and mail to:
Oologah United Methodist Church
5834 East 410 Rd.
Oologah, OK 74053
For More Information on:
Oologah United Methodist Church
Ministries or Outreach;
www.oologahumc.orgor
5834 East 410 Road, Oologah, Ok 74053
918-443-2457
May 2, 2021 June 27, 2021 August 22, 2021
October 17, 2021
You can also read
