Mark your calendars and plan to attend the annual all-you-can-eat Pancake and Sausage Supper hosted by the Journey of Hope class Friday, March 5th 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Adults:  $6.50 Children under 12:  $3.50 Children under 3:  free Please plan to attend and invite your friends and family!

Thank you for the warm welcome to Ponca City and to the Albright United Methodist Church!  You have been more than gracious in making me feel right at home by helping me move into the parsonage (and thank you for the new carpeting and the painting as well as some new blinds!) and by helping me as I enter the church at a busy time of the year.  On Sunday, February 21^st, we had our annual planning session of all the committees and the Administrative Council.  There is a lot going on at Albright!  And you all have some great new ideas for the coming year.  I am very grateful for the leadership of Albright.

We also have entered the season of the church year known as Lent. Lent is that time of the year that we acknowledge our humanity and turn away from sin and toward God as we make our way to the events of Holy Week, the Cross, and the Empty Tomb. Traditional practices during Lent include give alms (money) to the poor, prayer, and fasting. Many of you are already active in our church and in our community making a difference for those less fortunate than us. But I want to encourage everyone to make a donation to help the poor among us during Lent. Giving to relief efforts in Haiti or even giving to the work of the Friendship Feast are two great ways to “give alms” this Lent. There are many others. Ask God to show you where to give this Lent. And please be in prayer for me and for the church as together we discern what God is calling us to do as a church community in this new year. We have a long and rich history, but we also have a great future to look forward to. In addition to prayer, God may be calling you to fast. Fasting may be new to many of you. Certainly we have all heard of people giving up something for Lent. The purpose of giving up something is to draw us closer to Christ. I have printed off some articles about fasting and Lent which explains this in more detail and these are available on the table by my office door.

Speaking of my office door, my door is always open to you. Feel free to stop by anytime if you need to discuss anything or just want to chat. You will also find me out and about in the community. One of my goals during the next couple of weeks is to visit all our members who are in nursing homes or home bound. All of us will have the opportunity to get to know one another better at “cottage meetings” which will be held between now and Thanksgiving. These will be gatherings in people’s homes and you will be hearing more about this in the very near future. In the meantime, if you cannot reach me at the church, please feel free to call me on my cell phone (716-7057).

Again, I am glad to be here as your new pastor and am looking forward to what God has in store for us in 2010 and the future.

Peace,

Pastor Scott

F.O.G. will meet March 7^th, 21^st, and 28^th at 5:00p.m.

Confirmation: Confirmation in the United Methodist Church is a time for learning what it means to follow Jesus Christ and what it means to be an active member of the church community. Typically confirmation is for young people 6th grade and older. However, some of our churches are beginning to have confirmation classes for adults as well. We have had some youth express an interest in confirmation and church membership. We will begin a confirmation class soon! Please let Pastor Scott know if you are interested. Coming to the class does not mean you will actually be a member. Each participant will have the opportunity to learn more and make the decision on whether now is the right time or not to publicly profess faith in Christ and to become a full member of the church.

If we have adults who also want to learn more about following Christ and joining the church, I will offer an adult class as well. This can also be a refresher course for members who want to remind themselves about what the United Methodist Church teaches about all these things. Just let Pastor Scott know!

Sara Palmer hosted the Dorothy McBride Circle in the Earnest Seeker's Classroom on February 2^nd, with ten members and five guests present.  Paula Coppock introduced Jane Bond, Assistant Dean of the Oklahoma Cooperative School of Missions, who gave a slide presentation on her mission trip to Uruguay in November, 2009, with a mission group of eight women and five men from the Muskogee district.  The group had gone to the city of Mercedes to work on the church.  They repaired the roof, windows, and started building a new kitchen.  She talked about how friendly the people were and if you ever have a chance to go on a mission trip to Uruguay you will enjoy it very much.  After the presentation, Paula gave the Call to Prayer and Self-Denial 2010 program “Property Makes Mission Possible!” and a special offering for Self-Denial was taken.  The next circle meeting will be on Tuesday, March 2^nd, in the Earnest Seekers Classroom hosted by Kay Miller at our new time of 6:30 p.m.  Guests are always welcome.

The Earnest Seekers Sunday School class had a Valentine's party on Wednesday, February 10^th in the Fellowship Hall.  A nice meal was catered by Head Country.  Thirty-two members and guests were present.  Donna Evans led the group in singing “old” love songs, selecting one person to sing the first line of each song.  Phyllis Lansdowne and Eldridge Manering were selected as the winning singers and thus, crowned the King and Queen.  Valentine Bingo was also played.  We welcome the Friendship class who have joined our Sunday School Class. 

Essie Ford,

Reporter

Good news for all who send cards!  I have ordered some new cards – Thank You, Birthday, and Sympathy.  Please let me know just what you like and I will order more.

Thanks,

Alberta

Fun Friday is for children (pre-k - 6^th) and youth.  Children meet from 6-8p.m.  The children participate in games, crafts, music, story time and snacks.  Youth come from 6-8p.m. To help with the children.  From 8-11p.m. The youth enjoy fellowship, food, and games.  Currently children and youth from AUMC, Connor Chapel AME and Shidler UMC attend.  Fun Friday dates are:  March 12^th, and April 16^th.  We hope to see you there!

The Youth would like to say thank you to everyone who made chili, stew &/or dessert for the Youth Chili Cook-Off.  We also want to thank everyone that stayed for the dinner.  Thanks to your generosity, we made about $590 after expenses to help pay for Mid-Winter, District Summer Camp, the youth summer trip, and other youth activities.  Thank you for your support!!!!!

The SMAC (Stillwater District/McAlester District) Mid-Winter Retreat was February 19-21.  This years theme was Transformed:  Mind, Body, and Spirit.  Six youth and five adults from Albright attended.  Those attending from Albright were:  Katie Bottger, Brad Brewer, Lara Patton, Ebone' Sanders, Cody Steele, Trey Steele, Randy Dehn, Tommie Dehn, Andrew Dehn, Katie Hill, and Arvey Mackey.  We all had a great time!

Kids – don't forget to bring your loose change to church with you and put it in the “Children Helping Haiti Children” bottle.

Farewell to Joe and Judy

January 31, 2010

Although it's not ours to reason why

It has come time for us to say goodbye.

Goodbye to a man we have come to know

Who can truly be described as a good old Joe!!!

He never once pointed a finger of condemnation

during his fiery sermons of Brimstone and Damnation!!!

1

And, goodbye to Judy who would quietly sit,

however, we know she walked softly and carried a big stick.

1

However, we know he wore orange

and she wore red!!!!

1

But, he probably had the last word in that family of two,

since she drove the old car and he drove the new!!!

1

We can't say that he's chintzy as that wouldn't be nice

but at our bake sale he waited until things were half price!

1

And if push came to shove, there really is no one sweeter,

Judy told us the reason – He's a closet sweets eater.

1

He is a faithful praying fan of OSU to the core,

how else could those cowboys have gotten nine and four!!!

1

Now Joe, in remembering your churches past,

just don't forget.  You served the best one last!

1

Yes, we are saying goodbye to Joe and Judy today

but they are not going far, only forty miles away.

 1

Remaining that close may not be too wise,

as the Open Door Class may show up yelling “Surprise!”

By Donna Evans

Blood pressure and mini health checks will now be done on the second Sunday of the month following the morning worship service.  If a meal is being served after the worship service on the second Sunday, then the health check will be moved to the third Sunday. 

Come walk the halls and stairs with us Monday – Thursday from 12:15 to 12:45.  We will gather at the church office and begin wandering the halls at 12:15.  Everyone is welcome to join us.  If you have any questions call Chera at the office.

Facebook is a way for our church to interact with past, present, and future members.  Fans of Albright on Facebook are able to post happenings at the church, pictures from events, and chat with each other.  Albright has had a Facebook fan page for two weeks and we are already up to 74 fans, and the number is growing daily.  I encourage everyone with a Facebook account to become a fan of Albright, it is a great way to keep updated and interact as a church.

Allison Brown

Russell Allen is turning 90 years young this month, so his kids are throwing a party!  Please join us on Saturday, March

27^th from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall for a Birthday Bash for Grandpa Allen, Uncle Russel, Mr. Allen, or your good friend Russ. 

Hope to see you there,

Cheryl, Dean, and Ron Allen.

Remembering our United Methodist Missionaries

birthdays in March

Marsha Alexander - March 9 (Administration) Hands Together Ministry, 520 S. Illinois, Weslaco, TX  78596

Pat Hoerth – March 11 (Deaconess) 6201 CR90, Red Rock, OK  74651

John Fujimori – March 21 (Missionary Associate) 10-7 Yukigaya-Otsuka-Machi, Ota-ku, Tokyo 145-0067 Japan

Jacques Umembudi – March 26 (Aviation) 2867 Avenue Des Ecuries, C Nagaliema, Kinshasa, DR Congo

We donated 41 jars of peanut butter and 2 miscellaneous items to the NERA for the month of January.  The NERA thanks you for being so generous! 

Our generous church members donated 23 “Health Kits” for Haitian Relief.  Each kit included a hand towel, washcloth, comb, nail file, bar of soap, toothbrush, bandages, and $1.00 for toothpaste.  Thanks to all who donated!

Electric Scooter Available – I have Don Carter's electric scooter available for anyone to borrow.  Until recently, Bill Brown was using the scooter and really enjoyed it.  Please call Edridge Manering if you have need for this scooter.

Our puzzle is filling in...can you guess what scripture it is?  Buy a letter for the Bible Scripture puzzle located outside the office.  Consonants cost $20.00 and vowels cost $25.00.  Every letter purchased will reveal up to four tiles of that letter, so some letters may have to be purchased more than once.  You can specify which letter you are purchasing or a random letter will be chosen for you.  Envelopes are on the shelf outside the office.  Let's see who can solve the puzzle first!

We are considering starting a pilates, yoga, and/or a karate class.  If you are interested, email the church and let us know.