March 2008

 From Dianne’s Desk

Journey to Jerusalem

Holy Week is nearly here, with all the pageantry and drama we’ve come to expect.  Palm-Passion Sunday is March 16^th, opening with the palm processional, celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. When I was a little girls, that’s where the story ended, until the trumpet and lilies of Easter morning. No struggle. No betrayal. No suffering on the cross. Just one mountain top moment to the next, with no valley in between. We tend to like it better that way—no blood, no pain, no sacrifice. But, when we skip over the “passion” part of the story , we’ve missed the core of the Christian gospel. Strange as it may seem, it was the passion narrative that was first put down in written form. Long before publishing Jesus’ sermon on the mount or the parable of the sower, early Christians felt compelled to carefully document Jesus’ last days, including the dinner with his disciples, Judas’ betrayal, the trials before the Sanhedrin and Pilate, and his tragic death on the cross. In this very human, painful story, we proclaim that the depth of God’s love is revealed. Every emotion is presented, from Peter’s guilt to Pilate’s callousness. Nothing is sugar-coated. Jesus could have walked away. He didn’t. He stayed the course, knowing it would cost him his life. He shows us what redemptive suffering looks like, and changes the life of the world. So our Palm-Passion Sunday will include not only the joy of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem but also look to the suffering of the week ahead. Our Maundy Thursday communion service on March 20^th at 6:30 p.m. will invite us to stay with Jesus through the longest night of his life. The Good Friday service on the 21^st, also starting at 6:30 p.m., will give us the opportunity to hear the whole story, told in scripture and song. Easter means more when you’ve been to the cross. I hope you will join us for the journey.
                                                                                                                                        Blessings, Dianne

 Lenten Mission Trees
Whose life will you change?

We hope you have noticed the Lenten Mission Trees in the sanctuary narthex and the lobby of the Youth Activities Building! They are covered with brightly colored tags describing many of our United Methodist ministries in Oklahoma and across the world. So far, 27 of these important ministries have been claimed by individuals, families, or Sunday School classes.  Your “second mile” giving during the Lenten season can make all the difference in the lives of students, young families, senior adults, and people living in poverty.  Please adopt a ministry soon, or simply send a check marked “Lenten offering” to go to an area of great need.

 

Easter Lilies

Look in our upcoming Sunday bulletins for forms to purchase an Easter Lily to beautify the sanctuary on Easter day. Honor your loved ones or remember your relatives or friends. The lilies will be $11.00 each. The deadline for these orders will be Monday, March 17. Donors will be listed in the bulletin. You may take your lily home on Easter Sunday.

 New Songbooks Added to Sanctuary

If you look carefully, you’ll discover “The Faith We Sing” songbooks have been added to our pew pockets in the sanctuary. We used them for the first time this past Sunday as we sang the powerful words, “Would I Have Answered When You Called?” 
These United Methodist songbooks were published in 2000 and they include a wide variety of music not included in our current hymnal: a few “golden oldies” like “His Eye is On the Sparrow,” a number of contemporary Christian praise choruses, new hymns set to familiar tunes, Taize and Celtic Christianity choruses, and some brand new hymns that are easy to sing and appeal to all ages.  We slowly will be introducing some of these songs, alongside our traditional hymns. 
Studies have taught us that the words we sing regularly are stored in a different part of our brains, leaving an indelible mark on our memories. (That’s why very few of us can remember poems we memorized in school, but everyone can sing “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”  Connecting words to music gives them lasting power.) This is the same rationale behind our consistent use of a single call to prayer or sending forth song for several weeks in a row.  Over time, we will all have a greater source of encouragement and connection with our faith, as these simple songs sink into our souls.  The faith we sing is the faith that will shape us and our generations to come. Let’s all make a joyful noise!

 Music Ministries
Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday Dress Rehearsal

 Chancel Choir, please mark your calendars for our Dress Rehearsal for both Palm and Easter Sundays. It will be Saturday, March 15th from 10:00 a.m. until noon. On Palm and Easter Sundays, we will meet in the Sanctuary at 10:15 a.m. for our Warm-Up, then proceed to robing. We will present an orchestral ensemble of 10 for both Sundays, and present three extended anthems on each of the Sundays.

Youth News

 Youth Service Day. This Saturday, March 1st. We will meet at CHUMC at 1:00 pm. We will do a service project and then eat and should be back at the church around 7 pm. Hope to see you all on Saturday at 1:00!

 Tentative date for mission to El Paso- June 26- July 1 (Give or take a day).  For this trip we would like to go down to Mexico for a day so if you don’t have passports, it would probably be good to start thinking about that now.

Dates- Sr. High Camp, June 16-20
                Jr. High Camp, July 7-11

If your youth wants to go to one of these camps please check the dates and let me know so that we can work on arrangements.   Tyler

 Trustee News

 We are pleased to announce that we have hired Studio Architecture to do a formal assess­ment of our entire church facility and our accessibility challenges. This is the first step to formulating our master plan for renovation and renewal at Crown Heights!  If you have specific concerns or suggestions, please forward them to Mike Giese, Trustees chairman.

We are also delighted with the beautiful new wooden doors leading into our sanctuary!  These have been made with a special finish designed to handle years of outdoor temperature changes, moisture, and wind.  We are grateful to the anonymous donor who made this project possible.  Thank you for making our doors welcoming and wonderful again!

 CHUM Café

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 26th at 5:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The cost is $4 for adults, $2 for children 3 -11 and children under 3 are free.

 Whiz Kids: A Growing Ministry
By Janet Kingsolver

 Have you noticed the large trophy on the donut table?   It was given to our Whiz Kids program for being the site with the most growth this year.  There are over 600 Whiz Kids, and their 600 tutors, in the Oklahoma City school district.  That means there are about 1500 people involved in Whiz Kids throughout the metro area.  Our particular site, which serves students from Putnam Heights Elementary School, has 40 students meeting each Thursday afternoon. 
The Whiz Kids continue to prove that mentoring a child and helping them read each week with a caring adult raises not only reading scores, but also their confidence and self-worth.  And the tutors find that their own well-being is enhanced every time they see the smile and feel the hug of their Whiz Kid as they know they are loved and are succeeding. 

 Care Team at Work

 A committed group of our church family has agreed to coordinate our efforts to care for each other in our church family during the coming year.  We are working to see that our homebound members are contacted on a regular basis, and those in the hospital are visited by members of our church family.  We also are organizing transportation for those who need a way to get to worship on Sunday morning.   We are enlarging the number of people involved in the prayer chain for our congregation, and organizing more ways to help those in need of meals during crisis times.  You can help this team in several ways.  First, let the church (524 8428), know if you or your family members:

·         are hospitalized,
become homebound,
need prayers for something in your life.

Second, volunteer to be on a list to :

·         be a part of the prayer chain,
visit members who are in the hospitals,
call or visit a homebound member regularly,
provide meals to families needing temporary meals in their homes,
provide transportation to worship services.

Being a part of a church family means we care for each other, and receive care from each other.  Call to let us know of your needs or your willingness to help others.

 Community News
New Members

 Brenda Pitts was baptized and joined by profession of faith on February 10. Brenda is the wife of Crown Heights member Bruce Pitts.
Kerra Fletcher transferred her membership from First United Methodist Church, London, OH, on January 28.

Deaths

Marion King passed away on February 16. His service was held at Blackburn Cemetery on February 23.
Pat Wetmore passed away on February 17.  Her service was held at the church on February 23.

 Deli (and Dessert!) with Dianne”
March 2, Noon

Have you noticed all the new faces in worship lately?  Visitors and newcomers are invited to stay for lunch this Sunday in the Fellowship Hall, for a get acquainted time with Pastor Dianne and each other.  We’ll spend a little time talking about ways to get involved at Crown Heights and answer any basic questions regarding United Methodism.  If you’d like to attend, please call Stacy to RSVP at 524-8428.

March Sermons

 March 2:          “Cross-Shaped Love”
                             I John 4:7-21 and Mark 12:28-34
                            As Christians, our definition of love is shaped by the cross.  How do we put such love into action?

 March 9:          “Something That Doesn’t Love a Wall”
                            Ephesians 2:12-22 and Matthew 15:21-28
                            Jesus broke down barriers and brought about reconciliation between humanity and God.  Where are we promoting
                             reconciliation?

March 16:        Palm-Passion Sunday: “What a Waste!”
                           Mark 14:3-11 and Matthew 21:1-11
                           The cross is coming.  How will we respond?

March 20:        Maundy Thursday Communion           6:30 p.m.
                           “The Longest Night”
                          Mark 14:12-15, 32-50
                            Experience Jesus’ last night with his disciples, as we share communion around his table.

March 21:        Good Friday Tenebrae Service    6:30 p.m.
                            A service of prayers, scripture lessons and hymns that tell the story of the cross.

March 23:        Easter Sunday: “Unfinished Projects”
                           Mark 16:1-8 and Colossians 3:1-4
                           Even though our lives have been under renovation this Lenten season, God isn’t finished with us yet.

 March 30:        “Having Doubts?”
                             John 20:24-31 and I Peter 1:3-9
                            Thomas is our kindred spirit for all those who struggle with faith and doubt.  Fortunately, Jesus understands!
 

 Crown Heights Kids Chat
Important Dates to Remember:

March 16          Children’s Choir will sing on Palm Sunday
(Parents, please bring two dozen filled eggs to church on Palm Sunday for the Easter Egg Hunt on Easter)
March 23          Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday during the Sunday School hour.

March Acolytes: 
  2                Claire  A./Jacob W.
  9                Jacob W./Jordan R.
16               Mitchel W./Claire A.
23               Jordan R./Mitchel W.
30               Claire A./Jacob W.

March Sunday School Teachers are:
4-5 year olds                      Samantha Bradshaw
6-7 year olds                      Kate Lott
8-10 year olds                   Marsha Funk

March  Nursery Volunteers are:
  2           Katie L.   
  9             Olivia L.  
16            Susie Wallace         
23            Brenda Pitts               
30            Samantha Bradshaw

Summer Camp Dates are as follows:
Vacation Bible School June 16 thru 20 with a performance on June 2
Tween’s Discover, 6^th Grade                                                  July 14 – 18
Growing Through Grace 3^rd, 4^th, & 5^th grades           July 16 – 18
Sonshine Camp, 1^st and 2^nd grades                                    July 19 –20
   (kids will be accompanied by adults from our church)
Music Camp                                                                                         August 4 – 8
Look for registration and scholarship information in April newsletter.

Hours:
       Nursery - 8:00 to 12:00
      Children’s choir 9:15 to 10:00
       Sunday School 10:00 to 10:45

Thanks to our Children’s Staff - Myka, Kokoa, Justin, Trinity, Collin and Matt for all their love and hard work!