A civil rights activist who marched on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on "Bloody Sunday" will be the featured guest for Oklahoma Christian University's 2021 "History Speaks" event.
The free event will be virtual and available for viewing at 6 p.m. Sunday at oc.edu/live.
"History Speaks" is Oklahoma Christian's annual event highlighting civil rights activists. In an interview with OC's History Speaks founder Gary Jones, the 2021 featured speaker, JoAnne Bland, 68, will discuss her life as a leader fighting for equality. Among other things, Bland served as co-founder of the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute in Selma, Alabama, and she speaks and leads tours with Journeys for the Soul.
Ash Wednesday was more than a bit different as the pandemic and a winter storm brought some modifications to the Christian observance.
Many Catholic churches had already made changes to traditional portions of their services in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. No crosses made of ashes were to be smudged on the foreheads at Archdiocese of Oklahoma City parishes. Instead, priests planned to sprinkle ashes on the person's head, avoiding person-to-person contact.
Then, snow-packed roadways and the threat of energy blackouts offered more complications.
Nevertheless, the faithful braved the snow and frigid temperatures to attend in-person church services on Wednesday in the Oklahoma City metro area.
During a solemn Ash Wednesday ritual, local Catholic priests rub ashes on the foreheads of the faithful to create a sign of the cross.
These ashes from palm branches, moistened with holy water, are placed on congregants' foreheads in the most recognized symbol of Christianity to symbolize penance and contrition.
That ritual will change this year to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The smudging of crosses on parishioners' foreheads won't be part of it, said Diane Clay, communications director for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
Clay said the imposition of ashes will take place on Wednesday at archdiocese churches. Priests will sprinkle a small amount of ashes on top of each attendee's head, near their hairline.
Street outreach teams have been urging homeless individuals to seek shelter in the wake of winter storms that have brought freezing temperatures to the metro area.
The teams’ messaging seems to be working, said Dan Straughan, executive director of the Oklahoma City Homeless Alliance.
Monday, he said, outreach teams have been distributing flyers with a list of shelters and warming station locations. They were also sharing information about frostbite and hypothermia.
Straughan said, most of all, team members are telling people that the current winter storms are vastly different from storms many of the homeless may have experienced in the past.
“A lot of what they are saying is ‘Look, I know you've had winter
The Salvation Army of Central Oklahoma will be offering winter shelter for women, including women with children, as the state braces for winter storms.
The shelter for women and women with children will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, leaders of the faith-based nonprofit said Saturday.
Women are advised to enter the shelter using the southwest residential services entrance at the Salvation Army complex at 1001 N Pennsylvania Ave.
"The Salvation Army is ready to take in this vulnerable population as we expect deadly temperatures in the coming days," Maj. Stephen Ellis, area commander, said in a news release.