Methodist Messenger Prague/Arlington Charge May,2016

“And are we yet alive …”

Later this month, Rebekah and I will join Sharon and the lay members of the annual conference as we

convene for the yearly meeting in Oklahoma City.

This will certainly be a bittersweet gathering because we know that this will be the last time our beloved

Bishop Hayes will preside over a session of annual conference. Since he arrived in September 2004, he has

been a ray of light in our conference. It is a joy to see him lay hands on those being ordained or declare “It is

done,” in his deep bass voice, after a business item is approved. By September 1, he will enter into a retired

relationship with our denomination and we will have a new bishop. More about that process will be outlined in

forthcoming editions.

Of course we will do many things at annual conference. One of the most meaningful will be our third year

focus on our relationship with the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference (OIMC). On Monday afternoon, a

special reconciliation service will be held with our partner conference. Native American storyteller Ray

Buckley will be the featured speaker. I am really looking forward to this service.

This year’s theme is “Enriched by our Diversity, United in our Love.” The conference logo features (see

page 2) both the Oklahoma Conference and the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference images, signifying our

strong partnership. OIMC is the last “true” missionary conference in our denomination. They have many

churches around our area. Their superintendent, Rev. David Wilson, is a candidate for the episcopacy and

hopes to be elected in July at our jurisdictional conference.

In a Christian Century column last fall, Disciples of Christ pastor Lee Hull Moses wrote this: … “we are a

covenantal church: we are obligated to one another only by our relationships. We need time and space to

nurture these relationships – in person, where we can hug each other and meet each other’s children and stay up

late together. We need the time and space to connect with the manifestations of the church that enable us to do

ministry more deeply and widely than any one congregation could ever do on its own.”

I agree wholeheartedly as did the Wesley brothers. One of the traditional songs we sing at conference

gatherings is one written by Charles Wesley. In fact, in some conferences it is the first song. It is called “And

Are We Yet Alive.”

According to an article by Dean McIntyre published on the Discipleship Ministries’ website, the song “first

appeared in the Wesley’s 1749 hymnal, Hymns and Sacred Poems. In 1780 John included it in his A Collection

of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodist as the first hymn in the section titled ‘For the Society . . .

at meeting.’” McIntyre suggests that “it was John himself who began the custom of opening the annual meeting

of Methodists by singing this hymn. The practice was picked up by Methodists around the world, and it largely

continues today. There is no requirement that this be the opening hymn at annual conference; but it is, indeed, a

cherished custom.”

The first verse is particularly meaningful. “And are we yet alive and see each other’s face. Glory and

thanks to Jesus give, for his almighty grace.”

As I participate in our annual conference session, I will run into many people I know, some of whom have

been particularly influential in my own faith development. I will run into old friends and seminary classmates.

I will visit with pastors of the churches I have served and formers pastors of Prague and Arlington. And each

time I will think, “We are yet alive and it is great to see each other’s faces.” Until I see you again, grace and

peace.

Pastor Derrek

Annual Conference 2016 coming up

“Enriched by our Diversity, United in our

Love,” based on Ephesians 4:16, is the theme of the 173rd gathering of the Oklahoma Annual Conference. This year’s session is set to convene on Monday afternoon, May 30, in Oklahoma City. The business sessions will be held at Oklahoma City University and worship services at St. Luke’s UMC. The conference is set to wrap up work on Thursday, June 2, by noon.

The conference will begin with the memorial service on Monday evening at 7 p.m. A retirement service will occur on Tuesday afternoon. Deacons and elders will be commissioned and ordained on Wednesday evening. The Monday and Wednesday services will be held in the sanctuary of St. Luke’s UMC. Each service includes a pre-worship concert at 6:30 p.m.

Last year for Bishop Hayes As this is Bishop Hayes’ last year as

Oklahoma’s Episcopal leader, he will be preaching at all worship services, many of them open to the public. You are invited to attend as you are able or join online.

A special evening celebrating Bishop Hayes’ leadership will begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. A short worship service will be held on-site at 8 p.m. Tickets are required.

Agenda Items A report from the delegates to 2016’s

General Conference, which will end just days before the Oklahoma gathering, will be a centerpiece of the agenda. Other items of business will include adoption of a budget, election of conference officers and reports from various conference ministries.

Offering This year’s offering will go toward creating

an endowed scholarship at Africa University, in Zimbabwe, in the names of Robert and Dee Hayes. This scholarship is being established in recognition of their devotion to worldwide missions and their love for Africa University. The minimum amount needed to endow the scholarship is $130,000.

Delegates Clergy delegates to the conference include

Derrek Belase, Rebekah Belase, and Sharon Capron. Lay members of the conference representing our charge are Diana Kinzey, Sara Martin and Jean Bradburn.

Watch it live! You can watch the business sessions and

worship services of annual conference as it will be streaming live on the worldwide web. Visit the conference website (www.okumc.org) for instructions and a link to the live stream.

GRADUATION 2016 May is a special time of year for those graduating from high

school and college. On May 15, high school and college graduates will be recognized during worship. Special gifts will be given and a short reception will follow the worship service. On May 15 at 6:30 p.m., the community baccalaureate service will be held at the Middle School Auditorium. The Ministerial Alliance and Senior Class are in charge of this year’s service. These are two great opportunities to support our graduates.

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Successful year for QUEST ends April 27

With an average of sixty children and youth

participating in our QUEST program each Wednesday night this school year, the year can be deemed a year of success.

Themes for classroom instruction and worship are selected for each semester. The theme for the fall was “God’s People on the Move,” with lesson series on Paul’s three missionary journeys, migration, and the Advent journey to Bethlehem. The spring theme was “Creating a Caring Community.” Lessons focused primarily on disability awareness and forgiveness.

New this year was a Covenant Leadership Class facilitated by Pastor Derrek. Members of the class provided two weeks of teaching or shepherding in the children’s area followed by

two weeks of learning together. The class focused issues of pastoral and lay leadership and biblical

hospitality as well as examining data about our church and community. Many new ideas were generated by these engaged young people.

In addition to church staff members preaching during the weekly worship services, we were blessed to have our three youth lay servants (Wanda Clark, Montrey Bond, and Sara Martin) and District Superintendent Rockford Johnson offer great sermons. Special events included a disability simulation night, Jesus’ birthday party and Christmas caroling, a Seder meal, and Upper Room Communion experiences. Dr. Charles Neff of Oklahoma City University taught some classes in the youth department.

The Christian year is highlighted in the 30 minute worship services. World Communion Sunday, All Saints Day, Advent, Ash Wednesday and Lent provide special opportunities to reflect on how God is active in our lives. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Wednesday night of the month.

Plans are already underway for 2016/2017. Watch the August newsletter and bulletin inserts for exciting announcements.

Quadrennial UM meeting kicks off eleven day meeting on May 10 The United Methodist Church’s top legislative

body – the General Conference – will gather May 10 through May 20 in Portland, Oregon. Eight hundred sixty-four delegates from around the world will set policy and direction for the church as well as handle other business. General Conference is the only entity that speaks for The United Methodist Church.

During the 11-day session, delegates will revise The Book of Discipline, which regulates the manner in which local churches, annual conferences and general agencies are organized. The book sets policies regarding church membership, ordination, administration, property and judicial procedures. The assembly may modify most disciplinary paragraphs by majority vote, but the Constitution can only be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote, followed by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the aggregate number of members voting in annual conference session. Delegates may not revoke or change the Articles of Religion or the Confession of Faith unless two-thirds of the delegates agree to change this provision and three-fourths of the annual conference members also agree.

Delegates also revise The Book of Resolutions, a volume declaring the church’s stance on a variety of social justice issues. The book contains more than 300 resolutions that are considered instructive and persuasive, but are not binding on members.

In addition, the assembly approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs for the next four years and elects members of the Judicial Council and the University Senate.

Equal numbers of lay and clergy delegates are selected from each annual conference. Every annual conference is guaranteed one lay and one clergy delegate. Seven Oklahoma clergy persons and seven lay persons will represent our conference at this important meeting.

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UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

Written by member Rev. Sharon B. Capron

The UMW of Prague and Arlington met on Thursday, April 14. The unit was delighted to receive several members of the Chandler UMW unit as program leaders, who told us how Chandler serves the hungry.

Also on the agenda was discussion of kolache baking and UMW Sunday. On Saturday, April 16, we baked 384 dozen kolaches!

buy, measure, mix, roll, cut, fill, bake, cool, …

Margaret Wallace and Margie Harms package

UMW Sunday, April 17, was a delightful

experience for all concerned. Rev. Mary Hughes Gaudreau, Director of Emotional and Spiritual Care for the Oklahoma Council of Churches was speaker at both churches. Participating UMW members at Arlington were Jean Bradburn, Paula Brauer, Rheta Smith, Genise Friedrich, Joe Ann Pritchett, and Linda Poteet. Participating members at Prague were Jo Sands, Barbara Holman, Leah Carver, Rev. Sharon Capron, Rebecca Bond, Tracy Howard, Pastor Derrek, Terri Tackett, Sara Martin, and MM Greene. Honorary member,Terri Tackett,

was also this year’s recipient for the mission service pin, thanks to her above-and-beyond efforts dealing with both the paperwork of major UMW mission projects and serving wherever needed when helping hands were required.

Rev. Mary Gaudreau Terri Tackett MM Greene

Safe Sanctuary and Suicide Prevention Training

May 21 11 am to 1 pm On Saturday, May 21, a very important

training session will be held at the Prague UMC Fellowship Hall. The session will be conducted by Pastor Derrek.

The first thirty minutes will cover the basics of our church’s safe sanctuary

policy. This policy is implemented for the protection of children and youth attending our various programs. This section of

training will end with a question and answer period.

At noon, a suicide prevention workshop will be held. The program is called “QPR,” which stands for question, persuade and refer.

According to the QPR website, the mission of this program is to save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. After the short session, all people, regardless of their background, will be empowered to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know.

A crock pot chicken spaghetti lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. Please register by contacting the church office so we can have enough materials for all participants.

UNITED METHODIST MEN

Information from secretary/treasurer Jerry Opela

The UMM met Saturday, April 2, Pres. Jack Vaughan presiding, 8 members and 2 guests present. Jack offered the devotional, “Holiness.” Next potato bar is scheduled for May 15. Pastor will order Mother’s Day flowers. Following breakfast and meeting, the men gathered outside to spruce up the Prague UMC yard and to work on outside lighting.

The next UMM gathering is 7 am, Saturday, May 14, due to conflict with the Kolache Festival on the 7th. Randy Eby will give the devotional, “Clarity.” All men and boys are invited to join in the fellowship, breakfast, devotional, and service.

Written by Children’s Team Leader Melinda Pruett

Come join the fun in Sunday school. We get hands-on with our lessons and have great discussions on the Bible. Note we are coming to the end of Quest [April 27] until August, when school starts back up. Also, get ready, because Vacation Bible School is coming. We will have a VBS workshop on May 21 at 1:00 pm. If you are interested in volunteering, please come or let me or Derrek know, so I can add you to the list. VBS starts June 19th and ends the 24th at the Prague pool. It will be in the evenings: Sun-Thurs, dinner at 5:30 and programming 6 – 8 pm. The pool party will be Friday, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Thank you for your support. - Melinda

The resurrection

The Last Supper

Jesus’ trial by Luke and Seth

Abbey gets materials ready

Madison & Molly built the crucifixion

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UNITED METHODIST YOUTH

Written by Youth Team Leader Tina Thompson

As reported in the April newsletter, our confirmation class has completed! This special series of classes culminated in the confirmation of Leslie Clark, Gage Powell and Riley Waltonbaugh. The entire church was invited to remember their own baptisms during this special service.

Pastor Derrek, Leslie, Tina, Gage, Riley, Sharon

Gage with parents Stanley and Sheila, and grandparents,

Dean and Janet Baker on Easter morning

mom Hilary Spears and sis Rhyder join Riley

mom Tonya, dad Robert, and sis Wanda join Leslie

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We have been learning about forgiveness in our Quest program; stressing that Jesus told us that God will forgive us as we forgive others. We learned that we need to cover up the things that we are forgiving and not continue to bring them up. This lesson was emphasized by covering up our friends in toilet paper!

Dr. Charles Neff visited us again, this time for our Sunday school class, where we learned about some of the books that didn’t make it into the Bible. We learned stories about the childhoods of both Jesus and Mary, the relationship that Jesus had with Joseph and the difference in focus, not only in other denominations but in the gospels.

For example, the Christmas story, as told in Luke, focused on the common people, telling about the shepherds, the stable, and the manger. Matthew focuses on the kings, relaying the part of the wise men, their expensive gifts, and the jealousy of King Herod. By the time this newsletter is printed, we will have had our second class of this series. More about that in the next newsletter!

Upcoming events include festivities surrounding the last week of Quest until next school year, a trip to UCO Wesley Foundation and end of school year activities.

EASTER, MARCH 27 2016

The narthex and sanctuary were decorated to Paige Baldridge played her trumpet for the sunrise commemorate all of Holy Week. service and then played with the bell choir to open the Prague service. She also sang an Easter solo!

Nancy Jean Carrie Leslie Tina Robert Carlton Wanda Opela Gibbard Good Clark Thompson Thompson Bond Clark

“Christ the Lord is Risen Today!”

rang out with trumpet and bells as the Prague service began.

On the Sunday following Easter, over twenty Arlington and Prague vocalists, after many

weeks of practice, joined to sing “Champion of Love,” directed by Barbara Holman. 7

Peace with Justice Sunday offering to be taken on Trinity Sunday

Moved by Christ’s love to pursue

reconciliation and peace, honoring the dignity of every individual made in God’s image, The United Methodist Church is unwilling to turn a blind eye to injustice.

Although no congregation contains all the necessary resources to effect change in a broken world, your giving is vital for the UMC to continue its global ministries of reconciliation. Because of the Peace with Justice Sunday offering, the people of The United Methodist Church are able to make a difference together by sowing seeds—and yielding fruit!—of peace.

Peace with Justice Sunday, May 22, this year, is one of the six United Methodist Special Sundays with offering. Established by the 1988 General Conference, the denomination’s highest policy-making body, Peace with Justice Sunday supports programs that advocate peace and justice at home and around the world.

Half of the Special Sunday offering is retained in annual conferences to fund local Peace with Justice programs. Half is remitted to GBCS to help fund U.S. and global work in social action, public-policy education and advocacy.

Offering envelopes will be included in the bulletin to receive your generous offerings.

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New Sermon Series begins May 8 On Sunday, May 8, Pastor Derrek will begin

a three-week sermon series called “Fall Afresh on Me.” For many mainline Christians, the Holy Spirit is the person of the Trinity they understand the least.

How does the Spirit impact the life of the church and our individual lives? These three sermons will explore the various dimensions of being a spirit-filled United Methodist!

May 8 – The fortieth day of Easter is when the Ascension of our Lord is observed. Since that day is a Thursday, we will explore this incident on the following Sunday which is also Mother’s Day. The story is found in Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:1-11. The sermon is titled “Wait for the Spirit.” May 15 – Fifty days following Easter is the observance of Pentecost. The story in Acts 2:1-21, narrates the story of the Spirit of God descending on the disciples gathered in the Upper Room. The sermon is called “Receive the Spirit.” We will also honor high school graduates. May 22 – What does it mean to live as a person filled with the Spirit? The final sermon of this series, which falls on Trinity Sunday, will explore this idea. The sermon “Life in the Spirit” is based on Romans 8:5-11. We will also receive the Peace with Justice Sunday special offering.

MAY 2016 Sunday, May 01

9:15 Arlington worship

9:30 Prague Sunday school 10:30 Arlington Sunday school

10:45 Prague worship

Monday, May 02

Tuesday, May 03

Noon – Lions Academic banquet In Prague Fellowship Hall

6 – 7 pm AA & Al-Anon BD Carlton Bond

Wednesday, May 04 11 am Arlington Ladies Day Out

6:30 pm Vocal Choir practice 7:30 pm Bell Choir practice

Thursday, May 05 DAY of the ASCENSION

Noon – Nat’l Day of Prayer at City Hall

WA Bob & Tina Thompson

Friday, May 06

6 – 7 pm AA & Al-Anon FLAME CLOSED

Saturday, May 07

KOLACHE DAY

WA Jerry & Nancy Opela

Sunday, May 08 MOTHER’S DAY

WA Chris & Kristen Hamm

Monday, May 09

Tuesday, May 10

UMC General Conference opens in Portland, OR

6 – 7 pm AA & Al-Anon

BD Bob Thompson

Wednesday, May 11 11 am Arlington Ladies Day Out

vocal & bell choirs BD Ken Bond

Thursday, May 12 6 pm United Methodist Women

BD Sharon L. Smith

Friday, May 13

6 – 7 pm AA & Al-Anon

7 – 11 pm at The Flame for 6th – 12th graders

Saturday, May 14

7 am United Methodist Men

District Youth Summit at Good Shepherd UMC, Yukon

Sunday, May 15

PENTECOST GRADUATE RECOGNITION

Noon – POTATO BAR

12:45 Prague Finance Counters Training

1 pm Prague Admin Council 6:30 pm Baccalaureate

BD Destiny Donaldson

Monday, May 16

6 pm Arlington Admin Council BD Sunny Weddle

Tuesday, May 17

6 – 7 pm AA & Al-Anon

Wednesday, May 18

11 am Arlington Ladies Day Out vocal & bell choirs

Thursday, May 19 2 pm Parkland birthday party

Friday, May 20

7 pm PRAGUE SENIOR GRADUATION

6 – 7 pm AA & Al-Anon

FLAME CLOSED BD Rick Martin

Saturday, May 21

11 am – 1 pm Safe Sanctuary/QPR

suicide prevention training & lunch BD Juanita Coffey

Sunday, May 22

TRINITY SUNDAY PEACE WITH JUSTICE offering

WA Billy & Jamie Bruce

Monday, May 23

Tuesday, May 24

6 - 7 pm AA & Al-Anon

Wednesday, May 25

11 am Arlington Ladies Day Out vocal & bell choirs

Thursday, May 26

Friday, May 27 6 – 7 pm AA & Al-Anon

7 – 11 pm at The Flame for 6th – 12th graders

Saturday, May 28 BD Rhyder Mendoza

BD Abbey Warren

Sunday, May 29 BD Madison Belase

Monday, May 30

MEMORIAL DAY Church office closed.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENS

Tuesday, May 31 6 – 7 pm AA & Al-Anon

BD Sue Smith BD = birthday WA = wedding anniversary

Remember – NO QUEST in May

this year.

Mon. May 30 – Thurs. June 2

Oklahoma Annual Conference, OKC

June 19 – 24

Vacation Bible School

June is CHURCH CAMP TIME! Check with Melinda Pruett for

information on children’s camps and with Tina Thompson for youth

camps.

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