The Messenger - April 2026
Albany United Methodist Church
Rev Bendi Burgin, Pastor
From Rev Bendi’s Desk:
I love Christmas. I love the Nativity story and everything that comes with it, but I love Holy Week even more. I have memories of Holy Week that help me develop my ministry during this time. Let’s talk a little about Holy Week. Holy Week is the time when Christians re-live the events of Jesus’ last week on earth: from Palm Sunday’s entrance into Jerusalem, to the Last Supper, to the crucifixion, and then Easter.
48 years ago, on March 23rd 1978, Maundy Thursday, I was confirmed into the United Methodist Church. Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper when he broke bread and gave the cup to his disciples. Maundy Thursday takes its name from the Latin word for commandment, mandatum. At the Last Supper Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another.”
That brings us to Good Friday. Again, when I was a youth, our church shared in an Easter Prayer Vigil. We lived right around the corner and my mom let me sign up for a “middle of the night” time. I got to ride my bike to church and be there; it was always a special time for me. We can have all the celebrations of Christmas and Easter, but without Good Friday those celebrations are useless. We CANNOT forget the crucifixion and death of Jesus.
Then that glorious Easter Sunday! We celebrate God’s great love for us through the resurrection of Jesus. Let’s have a blessed Holy Week, a week of worship, a week of church family, and a blessed Easter!
Rev Bendi
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Holy Week
Sunday March 31 - Palm Sunday
Wednesday April 1 - Men’s Breakfast at the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints 6:30am
Thursday April 2 - Men’s Breakfast here at our church 6:30am
Maundy Thursday/Good Friday Worship - Gilman City UMC - 7:30pm
Fri April 3 - Women’s Good Friday Breakfast at the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 7:00
Carry the Cross - Noon around the Albany Square
Maundy Thursday/Good Friday Worship - 7:30pm
Saturday April 4 - Commodity Distribution 9:00
City-Wide Easter Celebration at Silas’ Park 10:00 - We will be handing out DONUTS
Sunday April 5 - Sunrise Service - At the cross just west of town 7:00am
Easter Worship - 9:15am
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Summer Camp Registration
Camp Heartland is coming again this Summer!
June 22-26
Get registered NOW! We are only taking 36 kids this summer!
If your child came last year and they want to come again,
let me know and I can register them for you!
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Monday Funday
April 27
We will be leaving church at 10:00 and going to Jim and Donna Humphrey’s house to fish, fellowship and eat lunch! We will return around 2:00pm.
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Something to Remember
Many of us struggle with that daily decision of what to have for supper. Let’s think about each other! If you make too much supper, share it with someone in your pew! If you make a casserole, take half to someone who worships with you! If you aren’t sure who to share with, let Rev Bendi know, she will help you!!!
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Loads of Love
This is a new pop-up ministry of our church. We will pick a date in April and May to show up at the Laundry Mat here in Albany and pay for random people’s laundry! If you would like to help by hanging out at the laundry mat for a few hours, let Rev Bendi know!
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Food Pantry Needs
As always we need boxed dinners and canned meat. However, with the cost of things going up, we are also in need of non-perishable items such as hair care products for men and women, deodorant, shampoo, body wash, dish soap and laundry detergent. Just bring a donation to the church office.
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Food Ministries
Walmart Excess and Food Pantry Days
April 7 and 21, 2026 - 9:00am-10:00am
Commodity and Senior Box Distribution
April 4, 2026 - 9:00am - 10:30am
We need volunteers to help people take their commodities
to their cars.
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Happy Birthday
2 - Don Groves/Caden Wilson/Jered Rolves
7 - Deanna Gillispie/Hannah Almquist
9 - Larry Wilson
10 - Barb Axon
13 - Cindy Wilson
17 - Marilyn Poff/Jerry Findley
21 - Norma Hill
22 - Myrlene Brown
27 - Julie McLain
Anniversaries
26 - Brad and Koty Risser
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Sunday Worship Volunteers - Communion Bread
April 5 (Easter Sunday) - Jerry and Kim Findley
Greeters
5 - Richard McConkey
12 - Dave Kent
19 - Jerry and Kim Findley
26 - Todd and Angelia Martin
Scripture Readers
5 - Marta Meyer
12 - Zane Freeman
19 - Clara Almquist
26 - Eliza Rolves
Children’s Moments
5 - Jess Rolves
12 - Staci Freeman
19 - Bells
26 - Chris Birdsell
Counters
5 - Richard McConkey and Denice Harness
12 - Jeffrey Epperly and Gregg Salmon
19 - Debbie Lippincott and Blayre Crawford
26 - Steven Meyer and Ryan Almquist
