Upgraded Hearing
Faith UMC recently upgraded our hearing assistance system. Previously, we owned radio packs that fit over the person’s ear and offered them a greater sound experience. Some of our folks did not like this system or the way that it set on their ear. With the new technology in hearing aides with bluetooth pairing, we now have a system that will actually connect to your hearing aides and provide sound directly through them. It is an easy process in order to get started with this new system. We have a dedicated network that is called “FaithListen” for you to log into. If you would like to use this system on your personal cell phone, you simply download the LisenWiFi app and then join FaithListen. We also have a QR code that you can scan at the Service Station. You will then open the app and connect to Channel 3. Then you simply adjust the volume for your particular needs.
This system also works with cochlear implants. We have very blessed to have Ken and Myra Noteboom testing the system for us. Ken uses an implant and Myra uses hearing aides. We believe that we have worked out the bugs and delays that the system had when we first turned it on. Mark Eldridge installed and upgraded our wifi system to be able to use this new dedicated hearing upgrade. We also have devices that you can check out at the Service Station. You can bring your own personal earphones or use the ones that are provided. In addition to earphones, we also have two hearing loops that you can check out to use. Myra has agreed to help people who wish to use this system learn how to do it. She is also going to train our Welcome Team leads so that we can help people learn how to use them. This is just one more way that we are trying to make accessibility available to every person who wishes to worship here. Our District Superintendent said something powerful about accessibility issues. He said “People get confused that it is a financial issue but it is a moral issue.” We hope and pray that this new system helps people enjoy and participate in worship who may have struggled previously. Without the faithful gifts of this congregation, this upgraded system would not have been possible.
Lastly, I wanted to lift up the Shrove Tuesday (March 4) Pancake dinner. We have been asked to partner with University UMC to provide this meal to help raise funds for the TU Wesley Foundation. Many of the funders for this ministry disaffiliated from our denomination and took their financial gifts with them. With the change in leadership and restructuring of the Board, they are back to running vital and safe ministry. This is an opportunity to enjoy pancakes made by volunteers from Faith UMC. The sausage that night is being provided by our Bixby location and those dedicated volunteers. Dave Gardner in the Dialogue Sunday School class will have tickets for sale on Sunday. You may also prepurchase tickets in the church office. This meal is the evening before Ash Wednesday and kicks off the season of Lent.
Stay warm out there,
Pastor Heather