August 2002

The Pastor's Column
by Rodney Newman

Summer Cleaning

The church property is getting a face lift this summer, thanks to the hard work of dedicated volunteers. Shelves and closets in the children’s classrooms now sport organized bins for supplies and the Children’s Council and the Trustees are looking at plans to update the nursery as well. Many books in the church library were moved to make room for current titles, an assortment of religious journals, videos, and biblical study aids. The kitchen in the Education Building has been updated to better serve the youth and to enable other church dinners as well. Work continues on the parsonage renovation with the drainage systems installed and the kitchen beginning to take shape.

While all this makes our buildings more comfortable, it is also represents the excitement and dedication felt for this church. It says that we care about what goes on here, that we appreciate the resources we have been given, that we want this to be an inviting place for others seeking to join our fellowship. What a wonderful affirmation for what God is doing among us.
 

August Sunday School Series To Feature Missions

It has been the custom at Crown Heights for all the adult and youth classes to meet together for a series of lessons. This year we will hear how different members of our congregation are engaging in missions.

August 4 Crown Heights Youth
The youth group will present their experiences from their environmental mission to Washington D.C. and their recent work at Youth Force in Clinton.

August 11 Bruce Pitts
Bruce will tell of his mission trip to Cuba as part of a team from the Oklahoma Conference.

August 18 Evelyn Phyffer
Evelyn has led and participated in a number of trips to Africa and the Caribbean. Her most recent trip was to Haiti.

August 25 Mark Davies
Mark has a long history of involvement in service learning, including developing programs in Atlanta. He will share the work being done at Oklahoma City University to engage students in addressing social concerns in the neighborhood.

Classes meet each Sunday at 9:40 a.m. in the Youth Activities Room.

Everyone Invited!
 

This Month in Worship

This month we will read some of the best loved sentences in the Bible. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God. . . If God is for us, who is against us? . . . Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Christians often turn to these words in times of grief and loss and these texts are at the heart of Paul’s message to the Roman church. God’s love brings hope in the midst of suffering and reaches farther than we can see or imagine.

The month begins with our youth sharing their faith and leading our worship. We end the month exploring Christian-Jewish relations with Paul’s reflections as our guide.

Reverend Newman

Sermon Titles & Scripture Texts

• August 4 - Youth Sunday
  Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
   
• August 11 - He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands
  Romans 8:12-25
  Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
   
• August 18 - Trick Questions
  Romans 8:26-39
  Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
   
• August 25 - All In The Family
  Romans 9:1-5
  Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
   

Youth News

The youth are going to have a variety of events to participate in on Sunday evenings during the month of August. The first week of August we will finish this portion of our series on Religions: Encountering People of Other Faiths. The topic is Giving unto Caesar: When Religion Meets Politics. The following two weeks will be a mix of events headed up by Rod Newman while Amy and Dillon are in Europe. Finally, the last week of August we will view a film and discuss the religious implications with Elizabeth Anthony.

Sundays Youth Group Schedule
4:00-5:00 p.m. – Games
5:00-5:30 p.m. – Snack Supper & Fellowship
5:30-6:30 p.m. – Discussion

Youth Force: Building God’s Garden

The youth participated in Youth Force at Clinton, Oklahoma July 21-26. William Funk, Jack Funk, Andrew Johnson, Scott Pitts, Daniel McKnight, and Aaron Gean and two sponsors, Glen Gean and Amy Curran, had a wonderful time. We worked in teams of 6-8 people called God Squads. The projects we helped with included clean-up around homes, minor home repair, painting and roofing. In the evenings the youth participated in different kinds of recreation and worship. We stayed the nights at the First United Methodist Church in Clinton.

Youth Week Schedule
Sunday, July 28 - Youth Group 4-6:30 p.m.
Monday, July 29 - OKC Rocks 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 30 - Movie and Dinner 5-9:30 p.m.
Wed., July 31 - OKC Memorial Museum & Lunch
Thursday, August 1 - Lake Texoma
Friday, August 2 - Return from Lake Texoma

 

In Our Prayers

• Marie Kitchens
  
   

United Methodist Women

Executive Committee
5:30 pm Wednesday, August 7
Fellowship Hall

General Meeting
6:30 pm Tuesday, September 3
Fellowship Hall
Speaker: Rev. Cheryl Lynn Wofford Hill
Associate at Skyline Urban Ministry

 

Music Ministry

Summer Special Music

A big thanks to the July gospel quartet participants. The quartets and congregation had fun preparing and listening to those old time religion hymns. This could be an on-going July musical experience.

Christopher Curtis will be the guest choir director while George is away on vacation. If you are interested in singing a solo or duet during August call the church office or email Charlene@crownheightsumc.org.

Celebration Ringers

Our handbell choir will begin rehearsals in September under the direction of Mariann Searle. If you are interested in RINGING, contact George or Mariann. Prior musical experience is helpful, but we will be happy to assist our newer musicians!

Rehearsals begin:

Celebration Ringers
Wednesday, September 4
6:30 p.m. – 7:25 p.m.

Chancel Choir
Wednesday, September 4
7:30 p.m.

Children’s Choir
Sunday, September 8
9:45 a.m.

For Sale

Quilting Frame
Make offer. Call Charlene at 524-8428 for more information
 

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