Others are plowing ahead with candlelight and good spirits

Tulsa churches without power are going into the weekend with hundreds of Christmas services and programs on the line.

Some have canceled services; others will hold them even if it is cold and dark, and all are hoping for a last-minute reprieve from their power company.

Numerous Baptist churches are without power and are hoping to have it restored by Sunday, said the Rev. Bill Rains with the Metro Association of Baptist Churches.

Among them is Parkview Baptist Church, 59th Street and Sheridan Road.

Pastor Bill Hulse said the church always tries to have something on Sunday mornings for those who can get out, even in bad weather, but is undecided about this Sunday.

At Evangelistic Temple, 5345 S. Peoria Ave., a major Christmas musical and drama production was postponed until January because power was out to the church all week, and rehearsals could not be held. Power was restored late Friday.

The Assembly in Broken Arrow has scaled back on its annual Christmas party, dinner, and gift giveaway because its downtown Broken Arrow campus is without power and unable to prepare food.

Those who signed up can still drop by and pick up gifts between 5 and 7 p.m. Saturday, said spokeswoman Sarah Pendergraft.

John Johnson, chancellor of the Diocese of Tulsa, said most Catholic churches in the Tulsa area have

Bishop Edward J. Slattery will celebrate the 10 a.m. Mass at Holy Family Cathedral downtown, which is without power.

Slattery's home, and the chancery offices of the diocese, were without power until 4:50 p.m. Thursday.

Holy Family has been holding three daily Masses all week.

St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brookside has been holding 9 a.m. Masses all week in the dark and cold.

"It was a wonderful Mass. It was beautiful," Allyson Black said Friday morning as she came out of the service.

"We received the ultimate nourishment at the Mass. His (God's) grace is abundant, even in these circumstances."

Several of those who attended the 9 a.m. Mass stayed on to help clean up debris around the church.

Monsignor Dennis Dorney, pastor of St. Mary's, said the 6:30 a.m. daily Mass was canceled this week because the parking lot was hazardous in the dark, but the 9 a.m. Masses were held by candlelight.

Other church activities during the week were not held, in keeping with the church policy to cancel events when Tulsa Public Schools is out.

He said if power is not restored by the weekend, evening services will be canceled, but Sunday daytime services will be held as usual.

"We'll have no PA system, no lights and no organ, but we can have Mass," he said.

At Presbyterian Churches of Brookside, 3500 S. Peoria Ave., a partnership of three Presbyterian churches, the building was closed, and maintenance staff member Chris Zizzi was clearing debris Friday morning.

The Rev. Ann LaMar, pastor of St. Andrews, one of the three partner churches, said main services Sunday will be canceled if power is not restored, but someone will be at the church to pray with anyone who does not get the word.

The Rev. Greg Coulter, general presbyter for the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA, said the several Presbyterian churches without power are hopeful it will be restored by Sunday.

"It's day to day," he said.

"A lot of Christmas programs are scheduled this weekend."

He said some churches are making alternate plans, and others may try to hold services by natural light or candlelight.

"Especially at this time, it's really important to bring the light of Christ into the world, so our churches are expecting to be open Sunday," he said.

The Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, pastor of All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria Ave., said Sunday services will be held even if power is not restored.

"I've told my congregation, we'll always have a service, regardless of the weather," he said.

"We'll keep the service short if it's cold."

He said the temperature in the church Thursday was in the low 50s.

The Rev. Tamara Lebak will preach at 10 and 11:30 a.m. on "Power and Powerlessness," and hot chocolate and coffee will be served.

Bill Sherman 581-8398
bill.sherman@tulsaworld.com