The Diocesan Digest Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma

Today we sit down with David Zahl, Director of Mockingbird Ministries, he is a lay preacher in the Diocese of Virginia, College and Young Adults Minister, a storyteller, a father, a husband, and the list goes on. We chat about the upcoming Mockingbird Ministries conference taking place in Tulsa this year at Christ Church. Mockingbird Ministries is an organization devoted to connecting the Christian faith with the realities of everyday life in fresh and down-to-earth ways. David shares with us what it means to be radically kind In a radically unkind world. He opens up about his faith journey and his experiences as a Christian and a content creator!

Today we learn about a beautiful and unique musical instrument, the organ! We are joined by Joseph Ripka, Canon musician designate at St. Pauls Cathedral. and Diocesan music missioner. Joesph is the organist and is responsible for a large and varied cathedral choristers program at St. Pauls Cathedral. He is an internationally respected and acclaimed organist who has played across the world. We do a get-to-know-you podcast today with Mr. Ripka today, he shares with us how an organ works and his love for teaching music!

Today we are joined by The Rev.Tim Sean Youmans, he serves as the Vicar of St. Edward the Confessor Chapel and Chair of the Religion Department at Casady School. He also serves the Cathedral as Canon for Youth and Families. Fr Tim Sean recently wrote a new book Blessed to bless, an introduction to the Bible which seeks to train your bible muscle and teach you how to read the Bible in many different ways. In this podcast Fr. Tim Sean shares his love of the Bible, why he wrote this book and how it can serve youth and adults.

Today we are joined by the dynamic priest duo Fr. Tim and Mtr. Kirsten Baer! Tim and Kirsten helped start a Diocesan church plant in Yukon, Oklahoma called Grace Church. They recently broke ground on their new building on 6th and Mustang Road in Yukon last week with the Bishop. In this episode, we chat about their background and dreams as church planters coming alive in the great success story of Grace Yukon. They share about the vision for the church, how they do evangelism and what it looks like to make the Episcopal Church accessible to folks who aren’t familiar with liturgical traditions.

This week’s episode features Sabrina Evans, our beloved Diocesan Director of Christian Formation. Sabrina retires this week after serving the Diocese for the last decade. Most notably, Sabrina has played an integral role in the development of small church christian formation and helped organize the 2017 Episcopal Youth Event in Oklahoma City. In this episode, Sabrina and I chat about her favorite moments working in the Diocese , her passion for children’s ministry and plans for retirement. We thank Sabrina for her commitment and ministry to the Diocese, we will miss her greatly.

This week’s episode features special guest and St. Crispin’s Camp alumni Patrice Armour and Marta Reiman, creators and directors of Tulsa’s newest theatre, Greenwood Theatrical.

Patrice and Marta are Tulsa natives that became friends as youngsters at St. Crispins’ camp and dance class and eventually shared an apartment as adults in New York.

Patrice attend St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, Oklahoma on a dance scholarship and moved to NY several years after graduation to follow her sister. She’s held numerous roles in non-profit organizations including Cable Positive and Wendy Hillard Gymnastic Foundation. She’s also worked for the New York Times in advertising and currently works as the Gymnastics program director of Aim High Academy at North Tulsa.

Marta is an actress, dancer, playwright and producer originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma but has been based in New York since 2003. She graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy and The Hartt School of Performing Arts at the University of Hartford. Marta’s New York and regional theatre career has consisted of acting in new works and playing infamous women; such as Marilyn Monroe, Mae West, Zelda Fitzgerald and Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, among others.

Marta and Patrice created the Greenwood Theatrical theatre company to be dedicated to racial equity, healing, and education through theatre, community programming, and dialogue. Their first play production, written by Marta, is an adaptation of Oklahoma novelist, Rilla Askew called the Fire in Beulah. The play tells the story of women’s lives during the Tulsa Race Massacre and will be shown on May 21st via an online viewing to commemorate the Centennial Memorial of the Massacre.

It was a joy and a privilege to speak to these two inspiring women. I’m honored to share their ministry of racial healing through the arts. To donate to the Greenwood Theatrical and to view the play on May 21st visit greenwoodtheatrical.org