With in-person services suspended in many local churches, religious leaders have found creative ways to observe Ash Wednesday and Lent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral's efforts are literally in the bag.
The church, led by Dean Katie Churchwell, is offering parishioners "Holy Lent Bags," which include items that individuals and families need to observe the Lenten season at home. The church, 127 NW 7, is distributing the bags in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday on Wednesday.
"Our goal with the Holy Lent Bags is that people will have a holy Lent, and a global pandemic doesn't necessarily have to get in the way of that, regardless of whether people feel comfortable doing things in person,"
Bill Barnett, a prominent Oklahoma Baptists pastor and Native American ministry leader, died on Feb. 5 of COVID-19. He was 87.
Barnett was founding senior pastor of Indian Nations Baptist Church in Seminole and a former first vice president of Oklahoma Baptists, also known as the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
"We are thankful to have been a part of his amazing life; although we are saddened, we find comfort in the hope that God instilled within us that we will be together again," Barnett's family said in a social media post. "Let us be joyful as we remember the many blessings he brought to all of us as a man of God called to do his work. 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
A northeast Oklahoma City church will distribute free food boxes Saturday and Monday, despite frigid temperatures forecast for the region.
The Rev. Derrick Scobey, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, said his church is committed to distributing food to families in need no matter the weather.
The preacher said he had learned that the church would not be part of a fifth phase of food distribution planned for February and immediately called the offices of Gov. Kevin Stitt and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice to see if the elected leaders could find out why the church might have been bypassed.
"I was worried because the need is still here," Scobey said.
What connected a Christian pastor in Oklahoma City with a Jewish philanthropist and author in Washington, D.C., whom he'd never met?
Hope.
Faith.
Resilience.
The Rev. Bob Long, senior pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, liked Sanford "Sandy" Greenberg long before he received Greenberg's first email.
The two men hope to meet one day when travel is not hampered by the pandemic.
This is the story of their faith-filled connection that began just before Christmas 2020.
Realizing that the holiday at his church would be dramatically different, Long prayed for inspiration and something that would capture the imagination of his congregation.
The Rev. John Anthony "Tony" Miller, senior pastor of The Gate Church in Oklahoma City, died on Jan. 19. He was 63.
"Tony finished his race strong and fulfilled his mandate scripture of Acts 13:36, 'Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep.' Bishop Miller fulfilled his purpose, ran his course with joy, and has handed the baton to us to run our race and fulfill our destiny in the Kingdom," said an obituary posted on the house of worship's website.
A virtual celebration of life was held on Monday.
Miller, a Warrenton, Virginia, native, had been in full-time ministry with his wife Kathy for more than 35 years. He was known internationally as a "pastor to pastors.