City joins in Oak Cliff UMC 120th celebration

BY JOHN A. LOVELACE
Special Contributor

For its two-day 120th anniversary celebration, Oak Cliff UMC first looked outward --- across the street, specifically --- then inward.

Saturday morning, Sept. 29, at the church's initiative, the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department rededicated the restored Turner Plaza as a public park. Three months of fervent volunteerism and generous partnerships timed to the church's anniversary had turned a nondescript plat into a greenspace jewel at the intersection of Marsalis and Jefferson, across from the church.

 

Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Elba Garcia, speaking alternately in English and Spanish, praised the community spirit behind the project, wished the church a "Happy 120th" and praised it for "making a difference in this community."

City Council member David Neumann, whose District 3 includes part of Oak Cliff, also commended the gift to the community and expressly thanked Oak Cliff UMC Senior Pastor Rev. Diane Presley for her leadership.

Rev. Presley, in turn, identified the new associate pastor, Rev. Edgar Bazan, as having originated the idea for the park restoration effort. Rev. Presley, in her fifth year at Oak Cliff, said she exclaimed "Get real!" to Rev. Bazan, appointed to Oak Cliff in June. But as the hour-long Sept. 30 dedication program ended, she asked the crowd of 100 or so, "We did 'get real,' don't you think?" Lusty applause provided the answer.

As symbols of community cooperation and ownership, a four-member honor guard from the Adamson High School ROTC crisply presented the U.S. and Texas flags; four little girls from the School of Liberal Arts and Science housed at the church stole hearts with their unison reading of thanks to the church and the city, and a 17member choir from nearby brand-new Felix G. Botello Elementary School chanted an uplifting declaration ending "I am a miracle ... we are a miracle!" The Dallas Police Department sent a friendly squad who placed placed "Dallas Police" stickers on children's welcoming limbs and garments.

Sponsors in addition to the church and the City of Dallas included the Tornado Bus Co., an international line that shares a city block with the Church; Methodist Health System, whose central hospital has been an Oak Cliff/Dallas landmark for decades; the North Oak Cliff Greenspace Group, Friends of Oak Cliff Parks and the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League.

Next day, Sunday, Sept. 30, the tree-shaded park gleamed like new as hundreds of members, former members, friends and guests gathered at the church angled on the northwest corner of the Jefferson/Marsalis intersection. The sanctuary dates to 1915, two years after the name change to Oak Cliff Methodist Episcopal Church South --- and, coincidentally, two years after the City of Dallas took ownership of what now is the newly rededicated Turner Plaza.

As worshipers gathered, more than one person was heard to say, "We were married here." A typical conversation went like this:

"It's so good to see you."

"It's good to be seen."

Rev. Presley, welcoming the congregation of approximately 300, said, "Isn't it wonderful what God is doing with this church at this time?" She invited everyone who wanted to get monthly e-mail updates to fill out request cards in the pews.

A call for all former members to stand brought perhaps three-fourths of the crowd to their feet. Similarly recognized were 12 to 15 former members of Boy Scout Troop 8, chartered in 1936, and a halfdozen or so members of Warren UMC in south Dallas who found a temporary home at Oak Cliff UMC within the past 10 years after their church near Fair Park was destroyed by fire before it was replaced by new facilities.

Current Oak Cliff UMC members, asked to stand, totaled a few dozen. Rev. Presley called them "stalwart saints... dear, dear people."

Former pastors who helped lead the service were Rev. Noel Bryant (1954-1961), Rev. Ben Shinn (1986-1993) and Rev. David Blackmon (1995-1999).

Before reading the Old Testament text from the Psalms, Dallas South District Superintendent Milton Guttierrez commended Oak Cliff for "daring to believe what God will continue to bless this church to do."

Special music was provided by the 11-member Chancel Choir, a predominantly Hispanic praise band and singers named "Oak Cliff ConeXion" with Rev. Bazan on drums, the Carillon Ringers bell choir with Rev. Presley ringing two bells, flutist Mary Shinn and guest organist Margaret Gumma.

Rev. Bazan's invitation to the children's sermon produced something of a two-dozen rainbow. After a brief message, he had them join hands for a prayer.

Bishop Alfred L. Norris, who had participated patiently during the first hour, noted with a grin that "it's after 12 and I'm just getting up to preach." He jokingly asked ushers to "lock the doors" and explained "I'm gonna be here a few minutes and I want you here with me." Throughout his 20-minute message, numerous "Amens" and occasional applause indicated that they were, indeed, "with him."

As his text he took the 10 verses of First Thessalonians Chapter 1. Noting that the Apostle Paul had changed the order from his "faith, hope and love" letter to the Corinthians, the bishop preached on "the three-dimensional church" built on, in this order, faith, love and hope.

In the "love" section, referring to "people who don't look like us," he admitted "I almost shouted" when the children came forward at Rev. Bazan's invitation. The bishop added, "If the children can model for us, then God be praised." The congregation applauded.

Concluding, the bishop commended Oak Cliff UMC "on your faith, love and hope. The people of the North Texas Conference are praying with you and for you. They believe in you, and they celebrate with you... Thanks for inviting me to your party." Applause at 12:25 p.m. seemed to indicate the celebratory congregation's appreciation.

Rev. Presley, noting the abundance of people and promising an abundance of food, followed with explicit directions to restrooms, stairs, an elevator and lunch available in Wesley [fellowship] Hall and several classrooms. The old walls hadn’t been so joy-filled in a long time.