OOLOGAH

united methodist church

JANUARY LOVE LETTER

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are

the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast

love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according

to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord! Psalm

25:4-7

I write this on the cusp of a new year, a new decade, and a new day. As I do so,

I look around at my desk and see a chaotic mess. It is all of the things still to

do; those things that are a part of the vision of the church for the future and

those things that are still undone from the year before. In ministry, there is al-

ways more to do.

As I look back on 2019 and on the 2010’s I am reminded that I do not have to

complete it all. In fact, it is virtually impossible. Thank God that our call is to

follow the path of God each and every day and to let those things that are un-

done, or not done well, be given to God for completion and forgiveness. If I

commit to live my life with God at the center - offering worship and praise,

studying the scriptures, listening to God through prayer, serving those in need, and sharing the Good News -

then each step I take can be a gift to God. Whether life is joyous or difficult, whether I have a list of things

completed or a list of things not yet done, whether I feel lost or found, I can take a breath and give my day,

my moment, my year, my decade, and my life to God.

There is a song in the new Disney movie, Frozen II, that comes in a time of grief, pain, feeling lost and alone.

The song has stuck with me after seeing the movie. It is titled, “The Next Right Thing.” It recognizes that

things change and sometimes that change is difficult. Part of the song goes like this: “I won't look too far

ahead, it's too much for me to take, but break it down to this next breath, this next step, this next choice is one

that I can make. So I'll walk through this night stumbling blindly toward the light and do the next right

thing.”

Whatever the last year, or the last decade had for you, I pray that as you walk into this new year you can give

yourself to God and try to “do the next right thing.” Listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and know that

the life of love in Jesus will guide us to know “the next right thing.” And, when you are confused about what

might be right, ask yourself this question: Is what I am doing/saying/thinking helping me to love God with

all that I am and helping me to love my neighbor as myself? If the answer is “no,” then it might not be the

right thing.

Blessings as we walk forward with God into 2020!

Rev. Dr. Jennifer Long

creating, growing & sending disciples

to transform the world

January Dates

5th: Worship at 8:30a and 11a. Sunday school at 9:40am.

5th: Putting up Christmas Decorations after the 11am service. Please stay and help!

6th: 10am - 2pm Food Bank Open. Volunteers always appreciated.

7th: Oologah-Talala School Back in Session

8th: Oologah Community Senior Citizens Luncheon. 10am Bingo. 11:30am Lunch

8th: Wednesday Night classes begin - 5:30pm Dinner, 6:30pm Classes (All ages!)

11th: Leadership Development Training from 9am - Noon

If you are serving on a committee in 2020, please plan to attend this training. We meet each

year to look back, look forward, set goals, and learn something new about leading through the

church. RSVP to the church office. Breakfast will be provided by our own Chef Jim Mathews.

12th: Worship at 8:30a and 11a. Sunday school at 9:40am.

12th: 5pm Women’s Group Meeting

13th: 10am - 2pm Food Bank Open. Volunteers always appreciated.

13th: Choir Practice, 6:30pm in the Sanctuary

14th: Mobile Food Truck. Volunteers needed from noon - 2p.

15th: Oologah Community Coalition meeting 11a - noon.

15th: Wednesday Night Classes for all ages. 5:30pm Dinner, 6:30pm Classes

18th: Cub Scout Pack 199 Pinewood Derby and Cake Bake Silent Auction Fundraiser - Noon - 2pm.

All are invited!

19th: Worship at 8:30a and 11a. Sunday school at 9:40am.

20th: 10am - 2pm Food Bank Open. Volunteers always appreciated.

20th: Choir Practice, 6:30pm in the Sanctuary

21st: Finance meeting at 5pm, Administrative Council at 6pm

22nd: Wednesday Night Classes for all ages. 5:30pm Dinner, 6:30pm Classes

26th: Worship at 8:30a and 11a. Sunday school at 9:40am.

27th: 10am - 2pm Food Bank Open. Volunteers always appreciated.

27th: Choir Practice, 6:30pm in the Sanctuary

29th: Wednesday Night Classes for all ages. 5:30pm Dinner, 6:30pm Classes

February Dates

2nd: Worship at 8:30a and 11a. Sunday school at 9:40am.

2nd: Blood Drive 8:30am - 2:30pm.

3rd: 10am - 2pm Food Bank Open. Volunteers always appreciated.

3rd: Choir Practice, 6:30pm in the Sanctuary

5th: Wednesday Night Classes for all ages. 5:30pm Dinner, 6:30pm Classes

Confirmation will begin in January

Confirmation Classes will begin January 8th at 6:30pm at OUMC. Pastor Jennifer Long will lead our youth,

6th grade and above, who have not yet gone through Confirmation. What is Confirmation? It is an

“opportunity for young people to affirm the faith into which they were baptized and, for those who were

baptized as infants or small children, to renew the baptismal vows taken for them by their parents or guardi-

ans. Confirmation also makes young people aware of how God is and has been at work in their lives, even

before they were old enough to realize it. And confirmation affirms a new commitment - a new covenant

relationship - between a young person and Christ’s body, the church.” (Introduction to Confirmation -

Creedo Curriculum) Confirmation looks at the story of faith from Creation to the Church, teaches an un-

derstanding of the sacraments, worship, discipleship, salvation, and the history of the church, and offers an

opportunity to commit to a life with Christ. For those who have never been baptized, it offers a fuller under-

standing of faith and the church with an opportunity to say “yes” to God in Christ Jesus. If you have some-

one who would benefit from this class, please let Pastor Jennifer know.

Commitment to the church in 2020

If you have not yet turned in your commitment cards for 2020, please do so as soon as possible. We are

making the budget and will adjust ministries and staff as needed to be faithful to what God provides through

each of you.

A personal note of thanks

Thank you to everyone who so graciously and generously showered me and my family with gifts over the

Christmas season. We love you all and are blessed to be here.

Love, Jennifer, Jason, Rylee, and Taylor

New Wednesday Night Classes beginning January 8th

“When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself” by Steve Cor-

bett and Brian Fikkert. Led by Kerry Banzet and Open to all.

Poverty is much more than simply a lack of material resources, and it takes much more than donations and

handouts to solve it. When Helping Hurts shows how some alleviation efforts, failing to consider the com-

plexities of poverty, have actually (and unintentionally) done more harm than good. But it also looks ahead.

It encourages us to see the dignity in everyone and to empower the materially poor. When Helping Hurts

provides proven strategies for effective poverty alleviation, catalyzing the idea that sustainable change

comes not from the outside in, but from the inside out.

“Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times” by Adam Hamilton. Led by Jason Bush and

Open to all.

Drawing on recent research, inspiring real-life examples, and fresh biblical insight, Hamilton shows how to

untangle the knots we feel about disappointing others, failure, financial insecurity, loneliness, insignificance,

and aging. Then he helps readers understand and counter fears related to such outsize perils as terrorism,

death, and the apocalypse.

Writing with generosity and intelligence, Hamilton shows how believer and unbeliever alike can develop

sustaining spiritual practices and embrace Jesus's recurring counsel: "Do not be afraid." For anyone strug-

gling with fear or wondering how families and communities can thrive in troubled times, Unafraid offers an

informed and inspiring message full of practical solutions.

Confirmation Schedule 2020

Classes: Wednesdays 6:30p-7:30p

Jan 8: Unit 1: Know Your Story - Creation

Jan 15: Unit 1: Know Your Story - Sin and Redemption

Jan 22: Unit 1: Know Your Story - Holy Spirit

Jan 29: Unit 1: Know Your Story - Church

Feb 5: Unit 1: Know Your Story - New Creation

Feb 12: Unit 2: Confirm Your Faith - Grace and Way of Salvation

Feb 19: Unit 2: Confirm Your Faith - Wesleyan Quadrilateral

Feb 26: Unit 2: Confirm Your Faith - Worship (ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE)

March 4: Unit 2: Confirm Your Faith - Sacraments

March 11: Unit 2: Confirm Your Faith - Way of Discipleship and Living a Holy Life

March 18: NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK

March 25: Unit 3: Live Your Commitment - Renounce, Reject, Repent

April 1: Unit 3: Live Your Commitment - Accept

April 8: Unit 3: Live Your Commitment - Confess

April 15: Unit 3: Live Your Commitment - I Believe (the Creeds)

April 22: Unit 3: Live Your Commitment - Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service, and Witness

April 26th: Rehearsal for Confirmation Service (during the Sunday School hour)

Confirmation Sunday: April 26th, 11am service

Visit to Mosque: The date of the Mosque visit is still being worked out. I will let you know as soon as

I know. Parents and Mentors are Invited.

Visit to Jewish Temple: We will attend a Shabbat service and have an oppor tunity to speak Rabbi

will answer questions for us following the service. Bring $10 to eat at Wendy’s before we head back. Par-

ents and mentors are invited. Date TBD

Confirmation Retreat: February 28-29th at Camp Canyon, $65 per person. Please let Jennifer know

if that is a barrier to your going. We will need two adults to go as Pastor Jennifer is not available to do this

weekend (It’s her daughter’s birthday party weekend). Please let her know if you want to go and we will get

times for leaving out ASAP. Canyon Camp is 1 hour West of Oklahoma City (so about a 3 hour drive).

Confirmation Mission Activity: The group will decide on a mission activity. We can talk about possi-

bilities together.

Requirements: Attend 12 of the 15 sessions, Attend 2 of the 3 extra activities, and participate in the

mission activity.

2020 UNDER THE BRIDGE

When: February 20, 2020

Where: Under the Bridge Tulsa

Meeting to carpool at OUMC at 5:00

pm

Mark your calendars!

Keeping our kids active physically and spiritually and on the right track here at Oologah United Methodist Church on our Wednesday Nights at OUMC !! Congratulations Amadeus Szalay for being our First recipient of the SMILER MILER prize. What the Smiler Miler award is for the kids that walk around inside the perimeter of OUMC Family Life Center for a mile which is 24 times around . Amadeus was our 1st recipient. Several of our children who attend OUMC Wednesday night classes will be getting their prizes soon.

Come join the fun all kids are welcome here !!!

SMILER MILER AWARD

February 2, 2020 March 29, 2020 May 24, 2020

July 19, 2020 September 20, 2020 November 15, 2020

THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY

FOOD BANK FILLED

YOUR WORK IS A TRUE BLESSING TO OUR COMMUNITY

Oologah Lower Elementary

represented by Principal Crysti

York and her Elves Riley and

Taylor

Oologah Assembly of God “The

Well” and also the Fellowship of

Christian Athletes of the Oologah-

Talala Schools representative

Wade Bright

Kenzie Burnside and her

donation of deer meat and

hamburger helper.

Thank you Kenzie!

Happening Weekly

Monday:

*Choir Practice, 6:30 p.m.

Sundays:

*Worship Services – 8:30 a.m. Traditional

& 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 Ken Skidmore

“Son Shine” Adult Class – Led by Dian Root

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

Monthly Food Bank

January 14, 2020

Volunteers please be at the church at 12:00 pm

January

7th-Oologah-Talala School back in session

8th-Senior Citizens Luncheon-10am bingo, 11:30am lunch

11th-Leadership Development Training from 9am to noon

12th-Women’s Group Meeting-5pm

14th-Mobile Food Truck, volunteers needed noon to 2pm

21st-Finance meeting-5pm, Admin Council 6pm

February

2nd-Blood drive-8:30am-2:30pm

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. With summer vacations coming up

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 contri-

butions. Attached to the newsletter is 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

Oologah United Methodist Women

Bring your favorite thing to dip in our choc-

olate fountain and let’s gather for fun, food

and fellowship with our WINGS ladies for

Valentines Day. Bring a tee towel to

exchange with a fun game for all! Wende

Blackwell is our new president for 2020 and will be heading up The

Affair this Year. Welcome Wende!!!