So What Faith

Greg Smith

My Visit to Quail Springs United Methodist (#2260)

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This morning I worshipped for the fourth time this year and eighth time in the last two years in Oklahoma. My prior experiences include:

About Quail Springs United Methodist

Quail Springs United Methodist Church is “an inclusive, diverse, and faithful community, that shares the love of God, beginning with our neighborhood and extending to a needy world” that seeks to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” The congregation is part of the Reconciling Ministries Network (an organization “working full participation of all LGBTQ+ people throughout the life and leadership of the Church”) and is a Lighthouse Congregation (a designation given to “local churches in the Oklahoma Annual Conference that are willing to offer ministry to anyone whose church has closed or disaffiliated and who wish to remain a United Methodist”).

Welcome

My wife and I arrived on the church campus 12 minutes before the service. As we parked we noticed a large number of handicapped spots, including several designated as such only on Sundays. Absent directional signage, we chose our entry point by observing others ahead of us.

Quail Springs United Methodist Parking Lot (photo by Greg Smith)

A greeter welcomed us we entered. Just a few steps later we arrived at a welcome center and were greeted once again. This time we were invited to register our names before proceeding to the sanctuary. Before entering, we receive bulletins with detailed service information alongside numerous announcements.

Once in the sanctuary we selected a pew toward the back and seats near the center aisle. Very few people were in the sacred space when we sat down, but the room filled quickly over the next ten minutes. A countdown timer was displayed on screens suggesting that the service would begin promptly at 10:00am.

As people entered they warmly greeted one another. A few made an intentional effort to say good morning to us and one noticed we were new and introduced herself and shared her gratitude for our presence.

Worship

While the bulletin or program provided us with the order of service, all present were able to worship without that or any other paper since everything needed was shown on the screens.

As attendance grew to nearly 100, the service opened with an announcement from a lay leader about the need to raise funds in order to replace two thirty-four year old air conditioners servicing the worship space and area just beyond it.

Worship (photo by Greg Smith)

After an opening prayer from the congregation’s Lead Pastor, Kirt Moeller, everyone was invited to greet one another via the sharing of Christ’s peace. During this extended time of fellowship, many people not only welcomed us with expected religious jargon but also with their names and words of welcome.

All of the music was accompanied on piano, including a special number performed by the nine member Chancel Choir.

Chancel Choir (photo by Greg Smith)

The Children’s Moment, led by the congregation’s Director of Children’s Ministry, Becky Hobble, brought together around ten young disciples for a message linking Dr. Seuss and Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Following a reading from the second and fourth chapters of Ephesians and a Gospel reading of the Parable of the Good Samaritan from the tenth chapter of Luke, Pastor Kirt delivered a twenty-two minute message titled “Who are We Together?” Pastor Kirt reminded those gathered that they’d been working toward answering today’s question over the last few weeks with messages on “Who is God?” and “Who am I?” He suggested that together we are the church, which is a necessarily communal entity that behaves in intentional Christ-like ways.

Pastor Kirt Moelling Preaching (photo by Greg Smith)

The sermon was followed by an offering, an affirmation of faith, and an invitation. Finally, some announcements were shared and the minister and choir recessed during the singing of a closing song.

Reflections

When preparing to visit a congregation I always check out their website and social media. I was surprised by two deficiencies on their website:

  • Worship page: link to the weekly bulletin took me to a bulletin from three months earlier
  • Staff page: bio for Lead Pastor Rev. Kirt Moelling lacks a photo despite the associate pastor and other senior staff having photos included in their bios

I am grateful to have worshipped with this community of faith today and to have briefly met Pastor Kirt following the service.