LOCAL

Shivering Country During Christmas
Scout Troop 509 Delivers Fifty Food Baskets

Shivering Country During Christmas

By BOB LEWIS

Associated Press Writer

More than 600,000 Southerners greeted Christmas without electricity after sleet and freezing rain toppled power lines, slickened roads and caused dozens of deaths across a shivering country.

In Virginia, some 300,000 homes and businesses went dark after the first major winter storm of the season crippled power service on Christmas Eve.

‘‘Ice for a utility is a nightmare,’’ said Virginia Power spokesman Jim Norvell. ‘‘This is a major ice storm.’’

The cold snap, which began over the weekend, made driving perilous across the nation and sent scores of cars spinning out of control. At least 30 deaths have been blamed on the freezing conditions; weather may have played a role when a bus crashed on a New Jersey highway Thursday, killing eight.

More freezing rain was forecast for today across the South.

In North Carolina, at least 106,000 utility customers faced a candlelit Christmas Eve bundled up in coats. Authorities urged people to stay off roads as bone-chilling rains glazed power lines and highways throughout the region.

The city of Raleigh opened three shelters for people without power.

‘‘In some areas of the county, they said it sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispies as limbs pop,’’ said Mike Hughes, a spokesman for Carolina Power & Light Co.

The Tennessee Valley Authority was trying to restore power to 112,000 of its customers.

‘‘As quickly as our crews restore power to an area, falling trees bring down the line again,’’ Electric Power Board president Harold DePriest said. ‘‘It’s very frustrating to them and our customers.’’

Elsewhere across the South, Mississippi had 125,000 without power and ice knocked out service to 128,000 in Louisiana. Some 30,000 people were powerless in Tennessee.

Except for the deep South, most of the nation awoke Thursday morning to below-freezing temperatures. Snow fell across New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware, with freezing rain and sleet from Texas to Virginia, and some of the worst ice hit Mississippi and Alabama.

In Dalton, Ga., a 46-year-old homeless man froze to death in an abandoned building less than a block from a homeless shelter. A friend, Richard Andre, said the man refused to go to the shelter Wednesday night.

‘‘I tried to get him to go with me, but he didn’t want to,’’ he said.

The Northwest also got snow and freezing rain. The storm brought the first major snowfall of the winter to Seattle and Spokane in Washington, and up to 10 inches more was forecast in the mountains today.

Delays and cancellations were reported at many airports, including Baltimore, Dallas, Charlotte, N.C., Richmond, Va., Greenville, S.C., and Memphis, Tenn.

The cold caused a run on stand-alone heaters, generators, gloves and firewood. The power problems inspired Sam’s Club outside Raleigh to push the emergency merchandise they normally sell during hurricane season.

‘‘We have been doing a brisk business this morning,’’ manager Kirk Erickson said. ‘‘We’re seeing a lot of people coming out. I’ve already sold out all of my generators. I’ve sold a lot of propane tanks.’’

In New York, leftovers from a light snow early Thursday was being touted as the city’s first white Christmas since 1976.

‘‘I think it’s exciting,’’ said Kathy Resnick, who was window shopping on Fifth Avenue. ‘‘It puts people in the Christmas spirit when you have crisp, cold, snowy weather.’’

Scout Troop 509 Delivers Fifty Food Baskets

First Baptist Church Boy Scout Troop 509 delivered Christmas baskets to fifty members of the church living in area rest homes and retirement villages. Scouts and Scout leaders numbered ten, including Steve Leonard, scoutmaster, who went out on the coldest and slickest night of the year delivering the baskets as a service project for the church. The United Supermarket in Ponca City donated the fruit to make this possible.

First Baptist Church is the charter organization for Troop 509 and allows the boys to meet at the church. Troop 509 has two Eagle Scouts.

The troop’s other annual activities include Scouting in Action held in March, one week of Scout camp at Will Rogers Scout Camp in Cleveland, and a canoe trip down the Illinois River in September with a two-night campout. Also planned are hiking trips at Osage Hills and Trappers Rendezvous in January.

DEATHS

Frank Davis
William Monroe Boyd
Eva Mae Buffalohead
Clifford Loyd Nutt

Frank Davis

PAWNEE — Frank Davis, resident of Pawnee, died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 1998, at his home. He was 78.

A funeral will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, 1998, at the chapel of the Poteet Funeral Home in Pawnee. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery.

Frank Davis was born Jan. 14, 1920, in Pawnee, the son of Joseph and Jane (Blue Hawk) Davis. He married May Guererro on Sept. 29, 1954, in Stockton, Calif. In 1959 they moved to Pawnee from California.

Davis was a member of the Native American Church, a member of the Pawnee Tribe and the VFW, a decorated veteran of World War II, and the grandson of Blue Hawk.

He is survived by one brother, Anthony Davis of Albuquerque, N.M.; three sisters, Olive Davis Campbell of Tulsa, Josephine Whish of Pawnee, and May Horn of Pawnee; and a number of nieces and other relatives.

William Monroe Boyd

BLACKWELL — William Monroe Boyd, resident of Blackwell, died early Thursday morning, Dec. 24, 1998, in the Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home. He was 83.

The funeral will be 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at the First Baptist Church in Blackwell with the Rev. Rick Longcrier, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home.

William Monroe Boyd was born May 17, 1915, in Page, the son of Monroe Lee and Maud Adeline (Lipscomb) Boyd. He grew up in Page and attended schools in Heavener, where he graduated. He married Olesta Germany on July 4, 1938, in Monroe. They later moved to San Diego, Calif. In 1946 they returned to Oklahoma, settling in LeFlore County, and he began working for the Kansas City Southern Railroad.

In 1950, he began working in full time ministry as a Baptist pastor. In 1952, they moved to Tulsa where he began working for Douglas Aircraft before retuning to the ministry at Mayflower Baptist Church as pastor. In 1954, they moved to Disney and in 1956 to Prattville where he served both communities as pastor of the local Baptist Church. In 1959 they moved to Stringtown where he served as pastor, and he continued pastoring at the Swink Baptist Church when they moved there in 1962.

In 1964 they moved to Blackburn where he continued his ministry, and in 1968 they moved to Sawyer as pastor of the Baptist Church. They moved to Idabell in 1974 for a short time before returning to the pastorate in Swink. Boyd retired in 1982 and moved to Blackwell and began working for Boyd Construction Company. He returned to the ministry as pastor of the Ranch Drive Baptist Church in Ponca City and retired from there in 1983.

His wife preceded him in death in 1984. He married Jeanette Blake on Jan. 5, 1993, in Fort Smith, Ark., and they settled in Howe. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

He is survived by his wife of Howe; one son, Bob Boyd; six sisters, Mildred Olive of Hodgens, Wanda Wade of Page, Maudie Smart of Los Cruces, N.M., Mary Anderson of Tulsa, Clarkie Hickman of Bethany and Barbara Poor of Erick; four brothers, Theodore Boyd of Hodgens, James Boyd of Tulsa, Paul Boyd of Sapulpa, and Howard Boyd of Texas; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; two daughters, Maudlee Dashner and Mary Boyd; three sisters; and an infant son.

Casket bearers will be Wayne Dashner, Paul Dashner Jr., Kevin Boyd, Jolen Boyd, Tommy Wade and Danny Kelley.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name at Kiamichi Baptist Assembly, P.O. Box 9, Talihina, Okla. 74571.

Eva Mae Buffalohead

Eva Mae Buffalohead, Ponca City resident, died early Thursday morning, Dec. 24, 1998, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 74.

Traditional Indian Feast will begin noon Sunday, Dec. 27, 1998. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the Otoe-Missouria Cultural Center with the Rev. Ted Freeman presiding. Burial will follow in the Otoe-Missouria Cemetery with arrangements under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Eva Mae Buffalohead was born July 20, 1924, at Pawnee, the daughter of Albert V. Black and Ada (Shadlow) Black. She married Robert F. Buffalohead at Red Rock, and she work as a cook in her earlier years. She enjoyed playing bingo, poker, going to garage sales, and visiting with her children and grandchildren and many friends.

She is survived by her husband of the home; three daughters, Donna Grace and Elinor Osorio, both of Ponca City, and Denise E. Kelley of Tulsa; one son, Kenneth P. Buffalohead of Helena; one brother, Kenneth Black; one sister, Etheleen Dowell; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and various other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, one daughter and one granddaughter.

The family will be at the home at 412 South Lincoln.

Funerals

Saturday

Clifford Loyd Nutt

Funeral will be 2 p.m. at the First Free Will Baptist Church in Blackwell with the Rev. Richard Hood, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Nardin under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home.

Monday

Linda Marie Scharpf — Funeral 2 p.m. at the Mills Funeral Home Chapel in McAlester with the Rev. Rick Stout, Northgate Baptist Church of McAlester, officiating. Burial will be in the Buggtussle Cemetery In McAlester.

NEWS BRIEFS

Window Broken — At 8:46 a.m. Thursday a business in the 400 block of West Grand Avenue reported a broken window.

Being Relocated, or in town for a short time? We have homes

available by the month or longer. All homes are full furnished with

appliances, furniture, linens, pots and pans. Inclusive of cable, local phone, and utilities. Please call 580-762-7980 or 580-718-0681.

adv.

Missing Box — A resident in the 200 block of South Lake Street reported missing a jewelry box at 8:46 a.m. Thursday.

Jueschke Carpet Cleaners. For professional carpet cleaning, call

the professionals. Jueschke Carpet Cleaners. 765-3421. adv.

Embezzlement — Police were advised of an embezzlement at a business in the 2900 block of North Fourteenth Street at 11:14 a.m. Thursday.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Saturday special 4-8 p.m. All you can eat

beef brisket with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $7.49. 215 South 14th, 765-7979. adv.

Assault — An assault in the 3200 block of West North Avenue was reported to police at 11:34 p.m. Thursday. The matter was handled by the Kay County Sheriff’s Office.

Total Close-Out. Prices reduced near cost. Graham Photo.

201 No. First. adv.

Fryer Fire — Fire units responded to a report of a “fryer on fire” at 5:03 p.m. Thursday in the 2900 block of North Fourteenth Street. All Ponca City Fire Department stations responded to handle the situation.

Vehicle Burglary — At 11:39 a.m. Thursday a man in the 200 block of Woodbury Road advised police that his vehicle had been burglarized.

Jim Bowen Construction­ Custom homes, room additions and

remodeling. Call 762-3077. adv.

Stolen Checkbook — A woman in the 100 block of Whitworth Avenue informed police at 12:35 p.m. Thursday that her checkbook had been stolen.

Head Country Saturday night special. All you can eat beef bris-

ket with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $6.95. 4-8 p.m. 1217 East

Prospect. adv.

Accident — An accident in the 2100 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported to police at 12:36 p.m. Thursday.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential.

Hours: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. adv.

Accident — At 1:03 p.m. Thursday an accident was reported in the 2100 block of North Fourteenth Street.

Need A gift idea? How about tickets to the New Year’s Eve

Celebration! They can be bought at the Master’s Touch. Comedian

Russ Reeves, One Light and Damascus Road Praise Band will be

there for an evening of fun. adv.

Yard Vandalism — At 2:50 a.m. Friday police were informed that a vehicle was driving through yards in the 1700 block of North Seventh Street.

Carpet Need cleaning? Confused about who or what to use?

Call Floorcraft 762-8381, let us help you make the right choice.

Call Mr. Clean at Floorcraft. adv.

Stolen Purse — At 5:39 p.m. Thursday police were advised that a woman had her purse stolen from the 1100 block of East Prospect Avenue.

Theft — At 1:18 p.m. Thursday a resident on Elmwood Avenue reported the theft of their hubcaps.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Friday special from 4-8 p.m., all you can eat

ribs with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $7.49. 215 South 14th,

765-7979. adv.

Vehicle Vandalism — At 2:53 p.m. Thursday police were notified of vandalism to a vehicle in the 100 block of East Ponca Avenue.

Break-In — At 3:55 p.m. Thursday a resident in the 700 block of North Osage Street reported a break-in at a storage building.

Arrest — Police arrested a 52-year-old man at 4:09 p.m. Thursday from the 300 block of East Detroit Avenue for domestic assault.

Accident — An accident in the 2600 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported at 1:14 p.m. Thursday.

Gas Drive-Off — At 4:56 p.m. Thursday a $5.01 gas drive-off was reported at a business in the 700 block of South Waverly Street.

Accident — A two vehicle accident at East Highland Avenue and North Third Street was reported at 9:03 p.m. Thursday.

Arrest — Police arrested a 29-year-old man at 12:42 a.m. Friday from the 3200 block of North Fourteenth Street for resisting arrest, assault and battery on a police officer and public intoxication.

Arrest — A 34-year-old man was arrested at 3:42 a.m. Friday from North Fourth Street and East Hartford Avenue for driving under the influence, transporting an open container, improper start from stop, speeding, failure to dim headlights and failure to use turn signal.

LIFESTYLES

‘Taste and Tell’ Event for Unit III
Busy Bee Club Meets
Senior Center Director Named

‘Taste and Tell’ Event for Unit III

A festive Christmas “taste and tell” luncheon was held by Unit III of the Ponca City Mother’s Club on Dec. 18 at the home of Pauline Miles. Co-hostesses for the annual event were Vivian Mertz and Mary Joan McCann. There were 21 members in attendance.

Covered dishes, accompanied by individual recipes were brought by members, and hot wassail served from a “Cup of Christmas Tea” themed table. Gloria Harris will type the collection of recipes and distribute to members to add to the Mother’s Club cookbook.

Following the luncheon Mrs. McCann presented an original reading, “My Small White Tree,” and a second Christmas piece, “A Lump in the Throat Story.”

Mrs. Miles distributed gifts for the exchange. The next meeting of Unit II will be “lunch out” on Jan. 15. Hostesses will be Wauneita Burger, Tibby Coatney and Norma Lee Kinzie. Guest speaker will be Joanne Muchmore.

Busy Bee Club Meets

Members of the Busy Bee Club met Dec. 16 at the home of Viola Haley for the Christmas meeting. Ms. Haley gave the devotion “Nobody Paints Like God” by Donna Brittingham, and “Messiah” by Glenn D. Kittler. Beulah McCartney was in charge of the business session.

Helen Taylor led the salute to the flag, and “the Lord’s Prayer,” and Helen Hiskett gave the treasurer’s report. The group sent a donation to Hospice.

Games were played during the afternoon and were won by Ruby Harvey and Helen Hiskett. The mystery bowl prize was won by Vivian Davis. Stocking stuffers were taken to the American Legion by Beulah McCartney and Ms. Davis. The next meeting will be Jan. 6 at the home of Helen Hiskett, 3901 North Union.

Senior Center Director Named

The Retired Senior Volunteer Program has hired an activity director for the Senior Center afternoon program, currently operating Wednesdays and Fridays, 1:30-4 p.m., at 319 West Grand.

The senior center, through RSVP, has hired Donna Johnson as Activity Director. Donna is an active RSVP volunteer and serves as vice president of the RSVP advisory council. Donna, and her husband, David, moved to the Ponca City area from Elmira, N.Y. He is employed by Nickles Manufacturing, Quality Control. They have two children, Sharon and Gary, and six grandchildren.

The Johnsons are members of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church where Donna plays in the Bell Choir. She is also active with Newcomers and the YMCA, where she is dedicated to daily training in crossline exercise as well as water exercises.

Before moving to Ponca City, Donna volunteered at AIM Independent Living Center. She also enjoyed her involvement with the “Over the Counter” group, creating awareness through acting to students and organizations in the area.

Her hobbies include travel, crafts, baking and sewing. Donna possesses a real volunteer spirit for doing for others said Marie Trenary, RSVP director. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with such a fun and exciting group,” said Johnson. January activity calendars are available at the senior center or call Marie Trenary at the RSVP office, 762-9412. The senior center is open to all area senior adults.

EDUCATION

Rural Schools Feeling Left Out
New Immunization Requirements For OK Schools and Day Cares

Rural Schools Feeling Left Out

By LESLEY DAHLKEMPER

Education Commission

As states apply for new federal funding for schoolwide reform, some rural district and school officials believe they are taking a backseat to more densely populated urban districts.

While recent federal legislation earmarking $150 million for schoolwide reform is good news for schools, it presents a challenge to rural communities. Because schools must work with outside developers — those people who have researched, designed, and are helping to put in place school improvement models — distance is an issue. Rural schools are often isolated from one another, making it more expensive and time-consuming to travel from one school to the next.

Further, developers acknowledge they only have a limited number of staff members to respond to school inquiries. Some developers say they are spread thin and are building their internal capacity to meet the increasing demand brought on by the new congressional funding known as the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Project (CSRD).

These challenges are making rural states nervous, says Joan Buttram, executive vice president and chief operating officer with the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL) in Austin, Texas. “They (rural states) are very apprehensive right now... It’s an untested situation at this point.” In spite of these concerns, some rural districts are having success attracting developers.

Centennial School District is located in one of Colorado’s poorest communities. Situated more than 400 miles south of Denver, school administrators held out little hope of attracting a developer until the district began to “cluster” schools — band together a group of geographically close rural schools for service by one schoolwide reform model. The district’s State and Federal Programs Coordinator Helen Vessels says this approach has paid off.

But reaching this point wasn’t easy. Teachers and principals in the district had not heard about comprehensive school reform — an approach that allows teachers, administrators, parents and policymakers to improve all aspects of a school’s operations — until Vessels told them new federal funding was available.

There was another group Vessels had to convince, too — developers of the schoolwide reform models. She had to persuade them that schools in her isolated district were worth their time and effort. Vessels contacted five developers she believed offered models well-suited for her district.

“Their reaction was all very polite,” recalls Vessels. “They would typically say, ‘We’re not in your area,’ ‘You’re too small,’ or, ‘Where the heck are you?’” Only one developer expressed interest. Shortly after receiving a call, Greg Farrell of Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound (ELOB) traveled to Colorado to meet with Vessels and her colleagues. ELOB runs a charter school in Denver and has agreed to serve two schools in the Centennial School District.

Developers say clustering schools can actually save money over time. Many developers reduce the per-school cost of adopting a model if more than one school is involved.

“In order to work with schools, it has to be cost effective,” says Pat Harvey of America’s Choice, a schoolwide reform model based in Washington, D.C. “Our design costs about $65,000 a year. Schools get training for the entire faculty. They get a curriculum, materials and a lot of support. We have a regional cluster leader who lives and works in the area. For us to provide all the support and training that is called for, we have to be able to be there. If a school is not close to another school, that increases the cost for us to travel.”

In a recent survey by the Education Commission of the States of 26 developers of schoolwide reform, ten said they would work with individual schools, but most said they preferred targeting districts willing to cluster schools for service by one or more models.

Vessel’s concerns about drawing developers to rural areas are shared by Martha Michael of the Oklahoma Department of Education. “I’m personally very excited about CSRD funding. It’s an opportunity to move some research-based programs into Oklahoma. Our concern is whether the developers will come.”

Michael says the state education department mailed letters to the 17 developers listed on the federal CSRD project. Department officials asked the developers if they would consider coming to Oklahoma. Only four responded, says Michael, including Accelerated Schools and High Schools That Work.

Oklahoma is taking a different tack from neighboring Colorado. The state has the largest in American Indian population nationwide. Michael is encouraging developers to consider tapping Oklahoma’s fast-growing Indian and Hispanic populations to pilot programs specializing in schoolwide reform for minority students.

As the demand for research-based, schoolwide reform models grows, developers say they will look at other ways to deliver training, curriculum and related services.

“If we can build the capacity and provide technical assistance electronically — by fax, by phone — and then conduct on-site visits, that could help,” says Jim Meza of Accelerated Schools. “For example, coaches from the school might attend a monthly network meeting.”

“Our training model in satellite centers provides us with more of an opportunity to service rural sites,” says Meza. But he adds developers alone cannot shoulder all the weight for bringing reform models to rural areas.

“I feel personally that the district role and state role is just as critical as the designer in terms of trying to service the remote areas,” says Meza. “If we can build capacity at the state and district levels, too, we can begin a shared responsibility. If schools depend totally on the designer, schoolwide reform won’t happen.”

New Immunization Requirements For OK Schools and Day Cares

The Oklahoma State Board of Health has approved changes to the immunization requirements for attending school and day care.

Hepatitis A and varicella (chickenpox) vaccines were added to school requirements, and hepatitis A, hepatitis B and varicella were added to day care requirements. The changes to the school immunization law were adopted by the Board of Health on an emergency basis on June 18, 1998, and became effective on July 29, 1998, when they were approved by Governor Keating. The new day care requirements were adopted by the State Board of Health on Nov. 19, 1998, and will become effective in late spring of 1999.

Students attending kindergarten and seventh grade this year (1998-99) are required to have two doses of hepatitis A vaccine, with the first dose on or after the second birthday and the second dose six to 18 months later. Each year hereafter the requirement shall be extended one grade level so that in the school year beginning in 2004, all children attending school shall be required to have two doses of hepatitis A vaccine.

Students attending kindergarten this year (1998-99) are required to have had one dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine given on or after the first birthday, or a parent’s statement of a history of the disease will be accepted instead of vaccination. Each year hereafter the requirement shall be extended one grade level so that in the school year beginning in 2010, all children attending school shall be required to have the one dose of varicella vaccine or a parent’s statement of a history of the disease.

When the new rules become effective in late spring 1999, children attending licensed day care centers and homes will be required to have both the hepatitis A and varicella vaccines on the same schedule described above for schoolchildren, as well as hepatitis B vaccine. Hepatitis B vaccine was already required for schools. Other vaccines required for school and day care attendance include MMR (measles, mumps, rubella); DTaP or DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis); polio; and haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib).

For more information on immunization requirements for children call 1-800-522-0203.

RELIGION

Pastors Needed
‘Come Let Us Reason Together’
New Year’s Eve Celebration
Celebrate Christmas with Max Lyall
Woodlands Christian to Celebrate Merle’s Anniversary
First Lutherans Continue Celebration of Christmas
In The Spirit of Christmas
Southside Baptists Announce Plans
First Pentecostal In Revival Sunday
Watch Night Service

Pastors Needed

Attention area pastors: You are invited to join other pastors as we start the New Year in a weekly prayer meeting! Hosted by Pastor Blaine Herron, we will gather at 6 a.m. on Tuesday mornings for a time of unified prayer. These meetings will take place at the Ponca City Foursquare Church at Lincoln Center, located at 700 West Broadway. Pastor Blaine has three specific goals for these meetings:

* Unity for our churches

* Revival for our city

* Fellowship for our pastors

The first meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1999.

Church Briefs

‘Come Let Us Reason Together’

The Hartford Avenue Church of Christ invites you to share God’s Word with them every week. Sunday Bible classes are at 9:30 a.m., worship at 10:30 a.m., Sunday evening at 6 p.m.a and Wednesday at 7 p.m. There are classes for all age levels — nursery through adult.

“Simon Peter answered ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”

During the Christmas season, people seek happiness in a variety of ways. Some make lists of presents they want. Others enjoy buying just the right gifts for family and friends. Some decorate their homes inside and out. Some enjoy helping others by working in a food pantry or homeless shelter.

None of these ways is necessarily wrong, but true and lasting happiness comes from knowing Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God. People who think Jesus was only a great prophet, teacher or moral example, will not experience the true joy His Father intends for people to have. True happiness, or blessedness, comes from a saving relationship with Jesus Christ that leads to loving and serving God and others.

New Year’s Eve Celebration

The Damascus Road Productions will present New Year’s Eve Celebration at Hutchins Memorial Auditorium with Russ Reeves from Arlington, Texas, one of God’s funniest creations in the form of a minister as special guest.

Also joining this production will be “One Light”, formerly known as Legacy. This Contemporary Christian Quartet is from Arkansas City.

The Damascus Road Praise Band will also be introduced at this time. Jeff Denton and Guy (Mark Russell) will keep the evening flowing smoothly. Concessions will be provided. The evening will begin at 7 p.m. and last until 10 p.m. Cost for this event will be $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Tickets are now on sale. For more information call Debra Lockwood at 580-762-9523.

Celebrate Christmas with Max Lyall

First United Methodist Church invites the public to join them Sunday morning, Dec. 27 at the 11 a.m. service to a services of Christmas music presented by the legendary pianist and recording artist, Max Lyall.

Pastor Denny Hook said Lyall is one of the most gifted pianists of sacred music in the country. He is on the faculty of Golden Gate Theological Seminary in San Francisco, Calif. A native of Tonkawa, Max is featured on many recordings of his own as well as those of other recording artists.

Woodlands Christian to Celebrate Merle’s Anniversary

Woodlands Christian Church is planning to help Marilyn Merle, Associate Minister, celebrate her 10th anniversary as Associate Minister on Sunday, Jan. 10th. A reception is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a,n, that Sunday morning in the sanctuary. More information will be available later, it was noted.

First Lutherans Continue Celebration of Christmas

The services at First Lutheran Church on Dec. 27 will continue the Christmas celebration. The entire service will be a cooperative venture between pastor and people as they join in reading the Psalm, the Old Testament reading, the New Testament reading, and the Holy Gospel. Each of the readings will be followed by the singing of a carol. Even the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer will involve singing. Pastor Ramsey’s sermon is entitled “Bonded by the Birth: It’s Not All Fun and Games.”

The regular Sunday evening alternative service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 27. That service will center around Bible study and the singing of carols.

On New Year’s Eve a service at 7 p.m. will look back at the year 1998. Each of the seasons of the Christian Church Year will be reviewed in scripture and song. Pastor Ramsey’s sermon title is “1998-It Was a Very Good Year.” During the service Stephanie Beier will sing "O Holy Night.” Holy Communion will be celebrated at the service.

The congregation at First Lutheran invites anyone to join them in concluding the year in the proper way, being in God’s house to thank Him for all the blessings He has given.

In The Spirit of Christmas

By PATTI PFEIFFER

News Staff Writer

In the spirit of Christmas, in a desire to share…

My friend in Houston had been inviting me to a women’s retreat for years. Although the excuse differed from year to year, the answer always remained the same — no.

“Retreat” — the word itself sent chills down my back and my imagination into over drive. I visioned a “holier than thou,” non-sinning person, clad in a white angelic gown, complete with halo, towering upright(eous) above me pointing an accusing finger at me, the sinner.

There I would sit, knees pulled securely to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around them, my head bowed in shame, the scarlet letter “S” beaming an embarrassing but brilliant red. Nothing would need to be said for the truth would now be known, a sinner was amongst them.

Why would I want to dare subject myself to any additional guilt, shame and the certain humiliation? I didn’t need, want, desire or see any reason a person would want to go to a retreat, especially a person like me.

My mind was made up. I wasn’t even the least bit curious, the less I knew the better off I was for my idea of a “retreat” was already embedded in my (narrow) mind.

This year I knew that I was safe and retreat-free for I had moved out of state and over 500 miles from Houston. I was sure that my friend wouldn’t dare subject herself to what had become the annual ritual of rejection. How wrong I was! She not only extended the invitation but to her total shock and my surprise, not only did I agree to attend this year, I actually forked out the bucks to buy an airline ticket just for the occasion.

I couldn’t explain why after all these years of saying no that now — when it was geographically undesirable to attend and the excuse more profound — that I said yes. It was only after actually attending that I discovered why God had lead me to that retreat at this time in my life.

Without a life story I will say only that I had come to a point in my life where I was struggling and lost. I knew oh so well what I had once had, only I couldn’t quite figure out how to regain what it was that I so desperately wanted and needed — that personal relationship with God. I had been trying to find my way back to God. Where once God had once been the center of my life, I had allowed the every day problems of life to become the focal point of my existence.

My job, my travel plans and the Houston traffic — I overcame every obstacles along the way and once at the retreat lodge I knew immediately I was right where I needed to be. I listened and I learned. I discovered what was lacking in my life, where I had taken the wrong turns. I made friends — the true and everlasting type. Most importantly I found my dilemma was not unique, that I was not alone in my fight to find the path. It didn’t take much time for me to learn where I had gone astray, why I was lost and how to get where I wanted to be.

I had told my friend Donna, only the night before the retreat, how it saddened me that my heart had become hardened. It was then a real shock to discover that the topic of the retreat was “A New Heart.” If I didn’t know how God works, the coincidence would have been scary.

Where I was once found safety in the fact that I was not required to attend the retreat sessions, I soon found myself looking forward to each and every one of them.

I listened attentively as the guest speaker so eloquently explained where all of us human beings had started, where we should strive to be and how to make the journey that would lead us there.

I felt to stray (temporarily), as I had done, was something only I had done. From others in attendance I learned that becoming so wrapped up in daily life was unfortunately a part of living. God had not left me, I had temporarily lost sight of Him.

Through the lessons I learned, the conversations I had, the friends I made, I found my Guiding Force, regained my strength, restarted my journey and accepted with gratitude the gift of a New Heart, new hope and new friendships.

I left that weekend saying “Thank you dear Lord for the place you led and the friends you brought together during the event I now call my Realignment Retreat.”

Southside Baptists Announce Plans

Southside Baptist Church, 1518 South Fifth, announces that it will be holding its final service in the present facility this coming Sunday, Dec. 27 at 10 a.m. Members will gather there one last time to share their memories and commemorate 43 years of service from this South Fifth location. The Sunday evening service will be back at the Marland Mansion Conference Center at 6 p.m. The church is using the Mansion facilities as a temporary home while arrangements are being completed for a new permanent facility. Stave Harden, pastor-teacher at Southside, shares the following brief history of the church.

The Southside Baptist Chapel met for the first time on May 1, 1955. The Chapel held morning services in the McKinley School and evening service in the homes of members. In August of that same year, property was purchased at 1522 South 5th and in 1958 the property at 1518 South 5th was acquired. On Jan. 89, 1961, Southside Baptist Church constituted and called their first pastor. The church constituted with 111 charter members. The South Fifth facility was built in 1962 and a second floor was added to the Education portion of the building in 1978.

Southside Baptist has seen many changes take place during the four and a half decades of ministry in Ponca City. There have been changes in the congregation, the neighborhood, the city, and the nation. However, none of these changes have affected the convictions and message of this congregation. The church has been firmly planted upon the authority and sufficiency of the Word of God, the Bible as the sole source of authority and guidance for ministry, Pastor Harden points out.

All friends and former members of Southside are invited to participate in this final commemoration service. An open invitation is also extended to join the congregation at the Mansion facility for teaching and worship each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

First Pentecostal In Revival Sunday

Pastor Rick A. Hughes of First United Pentecostal Church, 1518 East Hartford, announces that this Sunday, Dec. 27, the church will be in revival with Evangelist Greg Godwin. The revival is for one day only, with two great power-packed services. The Rev. Mr. Godwin has been mightily used by God to inspire Biblical faith in the lives of many across this nation. Come expecting to receive something from God in these two services — 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Pastor Hughes believes that Church should not be dead, dry and boring! Since we serve a living God, our worship and church services should also be alive, he pointed outths in the world today.

Pastor Hughes extends a warm welcome to the public to visit one or both of these special services. You will not leave disappointed, he added. For more information, contact Pastor Hughes at 767-1482.

If you have questions regarding these articles, please contact me at 765-6782 (work) or 767-1482 (home).

Watch Night Service

St. John Baptist will have an annual Watch Night Service on Thursday, Dec. 31 starting at 9:30 p.m. with a fellowship lasting until 10:45. At 11 p.m. a period of Thanksgiving will be offered for the Blessings received during 1998. In order to maintain our Christian focus for 1999 a joint prayer will end 1998 and open 1999, according to Pastor Robert Palmer. Please join with us in praising and thanking God for His goodness.

SPORTS

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