Briefly

A Claremore teenager is taking his Christian witness to the streets, literally.

Alex Ramsey ran 30 miles in June to raise funds for mission. During the week of Thanksgiving, he plans to bike 500 miles across the state in another fundraising effort.

Ramsey attends Claremore-First UMC and is a high school senior. He plays guitar for The Saving Motion and several church worship bands. He is active in both the church’s youth program and the Oklahoma Conference Council on Youth Ministry (CCYM). He was a youth delegate to the 2011 Annual Conference.

Pastor Ray Crawford of First UMC said Ramsey has shared his witness and action plans from the pulpit in worship services. The teen expects to attend OCU and pursue ministry as a vocation, said Rev. Crawford.

Ramsey’s run from the church to downtown Tulsa, with a following support car, benefitted Heifer International. He raised more than $3,500, well beyond his $2,000 goal.

The bike trip goal is $15,000 for The American Cancer Society. Churches, schools, and Fellowships of Christian Athletes are among those who have pledged to donate.

Contact the church, 918-341-4580, for more information.

Walk-a-thon beside zoo’s lake

A walk-a-thon on Oct. 29 at the Oklahoma City Zoo Lake will promote physical fitness and raise funds for United Methodist missions.

OKC-Quayle UMC is sponsoring the walk, from 10 a.m. to noon that Saturday. Sign-in begins at 9:30 a.m., at N.E. 52nd and MLK Avenue. Registration is required; call 405-424-2770.

Special organ concert at Nichols Hills

A special musical event, "The Living Legends Organ Concert," begins at 4 p.m. Oct. 23 at OKC-Nichols Hills UMC, 1212 Bedford Dr. The public program is free.

As the church celebrates the refurbishing of its 1963 Reuter organ, featured will be acclaimed concert organist Dorothy Young Riess, who played the organ’s original dedication recital. She will be joined by violinist Kyle Dillingham of Horseshoe Road; they will premier a piece composed by Callen Clarke especially for the Living Legends concert. Clarke’s work, "Meditation," is based on Proverbs 3:5 and was commissioned by the Richard Sias family, longtime members at Nichols Hills.

Dr. Riess will play the same program she did in 1963.

The program title honors Antone Godding, the church’s organist for 36 years. The new organ console is dedicated in his name. Dr. Godding is a professor emeritus at Oklahoma City University.

More information: 405-842-1486.

Art show to boost missions

OKC-Wesley UMC will hold its 3rd Annual Ruth Haddon Arts Festival on Nov. 5-6 in Fellowship Hall

This fundraiser will benefit the church’s missions and programs, including its support to build and equip an elementary school in Liberia. New Hope Academy will serve children in at least 10 villages.

Festival hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Festival information: 405-525-3521; www.wesleyokc.org.