Peace Sunday #5 – Bruno Hussar and Desmond Tutu
Peace Sunday #5
Michelle Haynes & Marla Loturco, leading
Download the Morning Program or read it below w/o having to download it.
Download the Morning Program or read it below w/o having to download it.
This morning for our fourth Peace Sunday we continue this special series based on the book Great Peacemakers: True Stories from Around the World by Ken Beller and Heather Chase. Our Peace Sunday candidates this month are mixed in their familiarity. Bruno Hussar believes in “Interfaith Harmony” and has created an experiment in living. A better-known individual, Desmond Tutu, believes “All Belong”. Both have interesting stories, and we hope you will enjoy learning about these two peace makers.
YOU MAY DOWNLOAD THE MORNING PROGRAM HERE
or read the Morning Program below without having to download it😏
The Worship Team leads this morning’s assembly in anticipation of Thanksgiving. We will celebrate this widely loved holiday in a ceremony of sharing. We ask that you bring the gift of yourself along with a favorite reading, song or story to share with the gathered community, and we will all share a symbolic meal of bread from the good Earth.
SPECIAL REMINDER: Bring a favorite reading, song, story etc. to share during the morning assembly.
We often tend to focus on how education an make us better as individuals and help us to be more prepared and successful in our careers, but it is important not to lose sight of the importance of education for the common good as we work together to create beloved community
YOU MAY DOWNLOAD THE MORNING PROGRAM HERE or read it below without downloading.
About our visiting minister:

Rev. Dr. Mark Y. A. Davies is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics, Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility, and Executive Director of the Leadership. Education, and Development (LEaD) Hub North United States for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) at Oklahoma City University where he has worked in both teaching and administration for 25 years. He is an ordained elder in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church where he has served as Chair of the Board of Church and Society from 2015 to 2018.
Mark’s Ph.D. is from Boston University in the area of Social Ethics, and he has served Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) as a member of its Dean’s Advisory Board and as the alumnus representative on BUSTH’s Green Team as part of the Green Seminary Initiative.
Mark has led and implemented a number of initiatives in coordination with the Division of Higher Education of the United Methodist Church including a Methodist Higher Education Global Ethics Initiative from 2008 to 2012, a United Methodist Higher Education Interfaith Initiative from 2015 to present, and a Global Methodist Higher Education Social and Ecological Responsibility Initiative from December 2016 to the present. Mark has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics.
In 2017, the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church selected Dr. Davies to serve as the convener of the writing team tasked with revising “The Natural World” section of the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. This is the first time the Social Principles have undergone a thorough revision since their adoption by the denomination in 1972.
Mark is one of the inaugural members of the New Room Books Editorial Board. New Room Books is a reviewed academic monograph series that offers scholars from the Methodist tradition and their students a way to share their work.
Since 2015, Mark has served on the United Methodist University Senate, which is “an elected body of professionals in higher education created by the General Conference to determine which schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools meet the criteria for listing as institutions affiliated with The United Methodist Church.”
Mark engages in advocacy and activism in the areas of peace, social justice, and ecological sustainability. Locally this is expressed through his work with the Human Community Network, which works to create non-violent systemic change for a just and flourishing human and ecological community through collaboration, education, innovation, and action. See www.humancommunitynetwork.org.
He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters who attend Oklahoma City University.
The Rev Dr Mark Y.A. Davies, leading
YOU MAY DOWNLOAD THE MORNING PROGRAM HERE later in the week.
Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai of Kenya led a movement to restore the forests of Kenya for the sake of the environment and the economic well-being of all people. Her efforts were met with fierce resistance, but her work led to the greenbelt movement and international recognition for her sacrificial work for justice and peace.
About our visiting minister:
About our visiting minister:

Rev. Dr. Mark Y. A. Davies is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics, Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility, and Executive Director of the Leadership. Education, and Development (LEaD) Hub North United States for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) at Oklahoma City University where he has worked in both teaching and administration for 25 years. He is an ordained elder in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church where he has served as Chair of the Board of Church and Society from 2015 to 2018.
Mark’s Ph.D. is from Boston University in the area of Social Ethics, and he has served Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) as a member of its Dean’s Advisory Board and as the alumnus representative on BUSTH’s Green Team as part of the Green Seminary Initiative.
Mark has led and implemented a number of initiatives in coordination with the Division of Higher Education of the United Methodist Church including a Methodist Higher Education Global Ethics Initiative from 2008 to 2012, a United Methodist Higher Education Interfaith Initiative from 2015 to present, and a Global Methodist Higher Education Social and Ecological Responsibility Initiative from December 2016 to the present. Mark has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics.
In 2017, the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church selected Dr. Davies to serve as the convener of the writing team tasked with revising “The Natural World” section of the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. This is the first time the Social Principles have undergone a thorough revision since their adoption by the denomination in 1972.
Mark is one of the inaugural members of the New Room Books Editorial Board. New Room Books is a reviewed academic monograph series that offers scholars from the Methodist tradition and their students a way to share their work.
Since 2015, Mark has served on the United Methodist University Senate, which is “an elected body of professionals in higher education created by the General Conference to determine which schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools meet the criteria for listing as institutions affiliated with The United Methodist Church.”
Mark engages in advocacy and activism in the areas of peace, social justice, and ecological sustainability. Locally this is expressed through his work with the Human Community Network, which works to create non-violent systemic change for a just and flourishing human and ecological community through collaboration, education, innovation, and action. See www.humancommunitynetwork.org.
He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters who attend Oklahoma City University.
Download the Morning Program HERE. Or you may read it below without having to download it.
This morning for our fourth Peace Sunday we continue this special series based on the book Great Peacemakers: True Stories from Around the World by Ken Beller and Heather Chase. Our Peace Sunday candidates this month are people we weren’t very familiar with. Coleman McCarthy who advocates “teaching peace” and Oscar Arias who believes “US” refers to all of humankind. Both have interesting stories and we hope you will join us to learn about them.Download the Morning Program here or read it below w/o having to download it.
“Out of Our Comfort Zone”
Sometimes our greatest growth as persons comes during times when we either intentionally or unintentionally find ourselves outside of our normal comfort zones. Sometimes we need to hear and experience things that make us uncomfortable so that we begin the hard work of questioning what we think we know in order to come to a better understanding of ourselves and others.
About our visiting minister:

Rev. Dr. Mark Y. A. Davies is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics, Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility, and Executive Director of the Leadership. Education, and Development (LEaD) Hub North United States for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) at Oklahoma City University where he has worked in both teaching and administration for 25 years. He is an ordained elder in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church where he has served as Chair of the Board of Church and Society from 2015 to 2018.
Mark’s Ph.D. is from Boston University in the area of Social Ethics, and he has served Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) as a member of its Dean’s Advisory Board and as the alumnus representative on BUSTH’s Green Team as part of the Green Seminary Initiative.
Mark has led and implemented a number of initiatives in coordination with the Division of Higher Education of the United Methodist Church including a Methodist Higher Education Global Ethics Initiative from 2008 to 2012, a United Methodist Higher Education Interfaith Initiative from 2015 to present, and a Global Methodist Higher Education Social and Ecological Responsibility Initiative from December 2016 to the present. Mark has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics.
In 2017, the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church selected Dr. Davies to serve as the convener of the writing team tasked with revising “The Natural World” section of the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. This is the first time the Social Principles have undergone a thorough revision since their adoption by the denomination in 1972.
Mark is one of the inaugural members of the New Room Books Editorial Board. New Room Books is a reviewed academic monograph series that offers scholars from the Methodist tradition and their students a way to share their work.
Since 2015, Mark has served on the United Methodist University Senate, which is “an elected body of professionals in higher education created by the General Conference to determine which schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools meet the criteria for listing as institutions affiliated with The United Methodist Church.”
Mark engages in advocacy and activism in the areas of peace, social justice, and ecological sustainability. Locally this is expressed through his work with the Human Community Network, which works to create non-violent systemic change for a just and flourishing human and ecological community through collaboration, education, innovation, and action. See www.humancommunitynetwork.org.
He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters who attend Oklahoma City University.
Download The Morning Program here or read it below without having to download it.
Our experiences and understandings of wilderness are quite varied. For some, wilderness is a place of life threatening danger. For others, it is a place of trial and temptation. Some look at wilderness as wasted land that needs to come under the control, use, and ownership of human beings. Some see wilderness as a place of great beauty and spiritual inspiration. And some see wilderness as having value for its own sake as a place of biodiversity and flourishing ecosystems. This discourse will explore both historical and contemporary visions of wilderness with special attention given to the importance of preserving wilderness for sake of all life on earth.
About our visiting minister:

Rev. Dr. Mark Y. A. Davies is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics, Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility, and Executive Director of the Leadership. Education, and Development (LEaD) Hub North United States for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) at Oklahoma City University where he has worked in both teaching and administration for 25 years. He is an ordained elder in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church where he has served as Chair of the Board of Church and Society from 2015 to 2018.
Mark’s Ph.D. is from Boston University in the area of Social Ethics, and he has served Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) as a member of its Dean’s Advisory Board and as the alumnus representative on BUSTH’s Green Team as part of the Green Seminary Initiative.
Mark has led and implemented a number of initiatives in coordination with the Division of Higher Education of the United Methodist Church including a Methodist Higher Education Global Ethics Initiative from 2008 to 2012, a United Methodist Higher Education Interfaith Initiative from 2015 to present, and a Global Methodist Higher Education Social and Ecological Responsibility Initiative from December 2016 to the present. Mark has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics.
In 2017, the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church selected Dr. Davies to serve as the convener of the writing team tasked with revising “The Natural World” section of the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. This is the first time the Social Principles have undergone a thorough revision since their adoption by the denomination in 1972.
Mark is one of the inaugural members of the New Room Books Editorial Board. New Room Books is a reviewed academic monograph series that offers scholars from the Methodist tradition and their students a way to share their work.
Since 2015, Mark has served on the United Methodist University Senate, which is “an elected body of professionals in higher education created by the General Conference to determine which schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools meet the criteria for listing as institutions affiliated with The United Methodist Church.”
Mark engages in advocacy and activism in the areas of peace, social justice, and ecological sustainability. Locally this is expressed through his work with the Human Community Network, which works to create non-violent systemic change for a just and flourishing human and ecological community through collaboration, education, innovation, and action. See www.humancommunitynetwork.org.
He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters who attend Oklahoma City University.
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Download The Morning Program here or read it below without downloading
Stages of Faith or Spiritual Development
The Rev. Walter Norris, leading
In 1981, James Fowler, a Methodist Theologian at Emory University, developed the idea of a developmental process of human faith or spirituality. We will consider the different stages that endure throughout a person’s individual life. An example of one of these stages is the last or sixth stage, Universalizing Faith. It is the stage that many never reach. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and Mahatmas Gandhi are those who have reached this phase. It is a phase that considers all people important. They strive to create social justice in the world.
INTRODUCING OUR GUEST MINISTER
I am a former Southern Baptist. I have a BA and a MDiv from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I rejected Baptist views and am a retired social worker in mental health issues. I am passionate about civil and human rights. Currently I am a docent educator with the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum.
I took a sharp left turn from my religious training and left evangelicalism. I am very interested with oriental traditions and like to focus on a spiritual life rather than a religious one.
Walter and Susie Norris joined our congregation in August 2022.
Download the Morning Program HERE
This morning for our third Peace Sunday we continue this special series based on the book Great Peacemakers: True Stories from Around the World by Ken Beller and Heather Chase by taking a look at leaders who ‘live peace’: Mother Theresa and Thich Nhat Hanh, two well-known individuals. Their lives stand out for peace in our current situation and learning more about them can be inspiring.