The Epistle
Volume 54, Issue 7
April 8, 2012
I am the resurrection and the life. Those who be-lieve in me, even though they die, will live, and eve-ryone who lives and believes in me will never die. John 11:25-26
Rev. Lisa Crone-Sheldon
PRAYER REQUESTS:
ST. PAUL’S MILITARY:
Phillip Swann (brother of Rebecca Blakeburn deployed to Afghanistan); Sgt. Shane Robin-son (son-in-law of David & Linda Dyer de-ployed to S. Korea); Chip Combs (son-in-law of Denice & Dennis Dickinson deployed to Afghanistan); Blake Moran (son of Rob and Lisa Moran, deployed to Afghanistan); Mike Ward (co-worker of Stan Jones deployed to
Afghanistan)
ST. PAUL’S FAMILY :
Myrtle Waugh; Rosemary Finch; Phyllis Larson; Mel Cain; Bill Robertson; Jimmy Schatz; Shawna Ogan; Ruth Ritter; Joanne Round; Jenny Christian; Joy Stout; Virginia Lane; Joe Bartlett; Jerye Gauger; Joan Swaney; Betty Link; Ted & Betty Matson;
Delbert Fair; Robert Thompson.
ST. PAUL’S RELATIVES:
Shellby Norton (niece of Char Beggs);Lola Tippin (mother of Jon Tippin); Sean McIntyre (Evelyn Ogan’s cousin); Jim Fisher (Martha Rodrigues’ son-in-law); Jeff & Madison Robb (Marge Robb’s family); Charles Hays (father of Marcy White); Barbara Ritter (Ruth Ritter’s nephew’s wife); Delmas & Dottie Failing (Lisa Moran’s parents); Allen Sheldon’s Aunt Ruth; Shane Simpson (niece of Bernard & Betty Simpson); Andi Luedeman (family member of Jo Ann Sherron); Jean Hoch (Gatlin Hoch’s mother); Susan Philips (Nancy VanZant’s sister); Kenny and Virginia Jones (Stan Jones parents); ; Wesley Crone (Pastor Lisa’s father); Linda Gardner (David Dyer’s
sister)
ST. PAUL’S FRIENDS:
Amy Turner (friend of Liz Johnston); Vie Bottger (friend of Kathy Tippin); Zipporah Kinney; Kenny Blake (friend of Martha Rodri-gues); Rick Gates; Debbie Ballard (friend of Joan Swaney); Ginger Hardy (friend of Joanne Giddens); Keith Humphrey (friend of Lowry Blakeburn, Stan Long, Stan Jones); Eddie Schneider (friend of Connie Wilson); Carol Harris (friend of Ila McKee); Carolyn
Renfro (friend of Virginia Starks)
PRAISE:
Jason Gradberg (Evelyn Ogan’s cousin)
home from Afghanistan
VOL. 54, ISSUE 7 Page 2
Natural Church Development (NCD) Retreat
Save the date: Saturday, September 15th
Spend the day with us @ McFadden Camp!!!!!
Guide to positive habits for handling conflict Develop better communication skills Discover the threefold art of Experiencing God Ropes Course for Youth! Outdoor activities and crafts for kids! Fun games and a cook out for the entire family!
“Jesus said to Mary, ‘Woman, why do you weep? Whom are you looking for?’ Sup-
posing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell
me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She
turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni.’ (which means teacher). Jesus said to
her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Fahter. But go to
my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my
God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have
seen the Lord” and she told them that he had said these things to her.” (John 20:15-18)
I noticed that one of the Iris flowers that Burton Casad gave me is about to bloom as I was pulling out of my driveway to leave for church. The purple flower is just beginning to peak out of the
green stem. I enjoy watching every day to see the progress of growth and new life.
That is what it is like for me to be a pastor at Saint Paul’s UMC. I see signs of new life as babies are born and our nursery grows. I see a sign of new life as our Sunday morning worship atten-dance continues to climb. I see church members maturing in their faith and leadership of wor-
ship and in mission. It is truly a joy to serve you!
Jesus was in the garden when he spoke to Mary on that first Easter. He shared the joy of new life with her amid the budding plants. In fact, she even thought he was the gardener. He spoke her name and she knew by his voice that it was her beloved Jesus. There is so much hope and love in the stories of Jesus appearing to Mary and the Disciples. These stories are shared with us in scripture so that we might hear and believe. I encourage us all to read the stories about Jesus appearing to his followers that are found at the end of each of the Gospels. Then go out to your
garden and enjoy working in the soil and setting out plants for your enjoyment.
Have a blessed Easter!
Pastor Lisa
Weekly Schedule
Sunday, April 8 (Easter Sunday)
Living Water (LW) Service— Casual Con-
temporary Worship 8:30a
Sunday School 9:30a
Fellowship time (F.H.) 10:30-10:45a
Classic Worship Service 10:45a
Living Water Service 10:45a
Monday, April 9
Scouts 7p
Finance Meeting 7p
Tuesday, April 10
Kid’s Special Time (KST) 9a-12 noon
Prayer Meeting (Library) 10a
Weight Watchers (FH) 6p
Wednesday, April 11
Kid’s Zone 3:30-5:30p
Bible Study 6:15p-7:30p
Midweek Connect SPY 6:30-8p
Choir 7p
Thursday, April 12
KST 9a-12 noon
UMW 9:30a
Men’s Coffee 10a
Bible Study 11:45a
Friday, April 13
Saturday, April 14
SPY Game Room Work Day 10a-4p
Sunday, April 15 (2nd Sunday of Easter)
Living Water (LW) Service— Casual Con-
temporary Worship 8:30a
Sunday School 9:30a
Fellowship Time (F.H.) 10:30a
Classic Worship Service 10:45a
Living Water Service 10:45a
Handbells 1:30p
SPY 5-7p
Page 3 VOL. 54, ISSUE 7
Praying the scriptures (Prayer
Methods from upperroom.org)
In his Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius urged that all be taught the examen, a daily examination of our deep-
est feelings and desires. He called these feelings our consolations (what connects us with God, others and
ourselves) and desolations (what disconnects us). He
believed that God would speak to us through these feelings and desires. It's not surprising that this saint
felt so strongly about the examen -- this prayer practice changed him from a wild soldier to a pilgrim
walking barefoot to Jerusalem. The examen helps us:
• Acknowledge sad or painful feelings and hear how God is speaking to us through them.
• Overcome a pessimistic outlook by encouraging us notice the good in each day.
• Tell the truth about who we truly are and what we need, rather than who we think we should be.
• Become aware of seemingly insignificant moments that ultimately can give direction for our lives.
Preparation: You may wish to light a candle. Do
whatever helps you to experience God's loving pres-ence with you. Take a few deep breaths. Breathe in
God's love, and when you breathe out, fill the space around you with it.
Ready to try it?
Donations are being accepted for a love offering for our Bishop Robert E. Hayes, Jr. He has traveled from Miami to Altus, from Idabel to Boise City to preach the Gospel in our smallest churches and our largest. He is our shepherd, our encourager, and our teacher. We are asking every church to express their gratitude for that outstanding spirit of commitment. Make your checks payable to Conference Treasurer mail to the church and they will be mailed by Monday, April 16th. Please notate “Bishop’s gift” on your check. The check will be presented on Tuesday night May 29 during the An-
nual Conference in Tulsa. Thanks for your generosity.
Page 4 VOL. 54, ISSUE 7
Mission Work
More pictures from Rio Bravo.
Great Work team!
VOL. 54, ISSUE 7 Page 5
St. Paul
St. Paul
St. Paul
St. Paul’s Youth
Youth
Youth
Youth
Children’s Activities Coming Up @ St. Paul’s
April 7- Annual Easter Egg Hunt 11:00am
April 8 Easter- Kid’s Rock for Jesus and
Annual Breakfast
April 28- Christian Fun Day @ Frontier City
$20 due by April 18*
April 29- Church Camp Registration Due*
May 9- Last day of KidZone
May 13- Annual Fishing Derby @ Marland Mansion
June 13- KidZone Kamp (FREE)
June 18-20 District Church Camp
Youth Activities Coming Up @ St. Paul’s
April 8 Easter- Hosting Annual Breakfast
April 28-Christian Fun Day @ Frontier City
$20 due by April 18*
April 29- Church Camp Registration Due*
June 4-8-District Church Camp
*If your you need Church Sponsorship or would like to Sponsor a child please contact
Tim Boyer (580)765-7512 or (580)402-1464 or at [email protected]
VOL. 54, ISSUE 7 Page 6
Page 7
Every Sunday Every Monday Every Tuesday Every Wednesday Every Thursday
8:30a Living Water
(LW) Service
9:30a Sunday School
10:30a Fellowship time
10:45a Traditional
Worship (main sanctuary)
10:45a LW Service
1:30p Handbells
5-7p SPY
8:45a Offering Counters
(Office)
7:00p Boy Scouts
9:00a KST
10:00a Prayer Mtg.
(Library)
6:00p Wt. Watchers
(Fellowship Hall)
3:30-5:30p Kid’s Zone
4:30p Youth UMW circle
5:30p Fellowship dinner
6:15-7:30p Bible Study
6:30-8p Midweek Con-
nect –SPY
7p Choir practice
9:00a KST
10:00a Men’s Cof-
fee (SEFI classroom)
11:45a Bible Study
Every Saturday
11:00a Bobbie/Organ
(Sanctuary)
VOL. 54, ISSUE 7
April 2012
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Palm Sunday Suzanne Sumpter B/D
2 9a-3p PA Quilters
3 Gage Watson B/D
4 5 7p Maundy Thursday Service @ 1st UMC Bill Ziegenhain B/D Verla Sigle B/D Jon/Kathy Tippin Anniv.
6
Kyle Blakeburn B/D Pat Thompson B/D Paul Stewart B/D
7
8 Easter Sunday
11:45a Trustees Mtg.
9 7p Finance Meeting
10
11
12 9:30a UMW
13
14 10a-4p SPY Game Room Work Day
15
16 David/Carol Moore Anniv.
17 1p UM Game Day @ Albright UMC
18 Jane Thomason B/D
19
20 4:30-7p Friendship Feast benefit Spa-ghetti Supper in the Fellowship Hall
21
22 Earth Day Betty Matson B/D
23
2410a Love Quilts Gary Hughes B/D Lauren Blakeburn B/D Reese Webb B/D
25
26 . Linda Sparks B/D
27 Joe/Wilma McGlone Anniv.
28 Christian Fun Day @ Frontier City grades 3-5
29 Mile of Pennies (Native American Sunday)
30 Jo Ann Hintergardt B/D
.
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 230
Ponca City, OK
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Mission Statement 2010 and Beyond
THE MISSION OF ST. PAUL’S UMC IS TO
MAKE DISCIPLES FOR JESUS CHRIST.
For 2010 St. Paul’s commits to reach out to the spiritually
hungry and those in need in the Ponca Community to sup-
ply the love of God and to nurture our community. We will
develop and implement an outreach program to older people
who have needs that are not currently fulfilled with existing
programs. And if you spend yourselves in the behalf of the
hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your
light will rise in the darkness. Isaiah 58:10
“THE EPISTLE” (USPS 230) is published every other week, a total of 27 issues per year, by the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1904 N. Pecan Road, Ponca City, OK
74604.
STAFF
Minister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa Crone-Sheldon Administrative Assistant . . . . . . . . . .. David Moore KST. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . ………….. Debbie Cain Kid’s Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cheryl Hillman Youth Ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……….Tim Boyer Organist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bobbie Motz Financial Secretary ……….. . . . . . ….David Moore Custodian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cliff Bazil Stillwater District Superintendent . . . . David Wiggs Bishop, Oklahoma Area UMC.. .Robert E. Hayes Jr.
Missionary . . . . . . . . . . Kristen Brown (Bethlehem)
1904 N. Pecan Road Ponca City, OK 74604-3000
ST . PAUL’S UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH
Phone: 580-765-7512 Fax: 580-765-7551
[email protected] [email protected]
www.stpaulspc.com
Believe, Belong, Become
Benefit Spaghetti Dinner for Friendship Feast
St. Paul’s UMC
Friday, April 20th, 2012
4:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (meatless available), Salad, homemade bread, drink & dessert (bread and carryout dinners available)
$7 adults—$3 children (under 10) larger donations welcomed all proceeds go to the Friendship Feast meals
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