June 2002

The Pastor's Column
by Rodney Newman

Anniversary Reflections

We’ve just experienced a remarkable few days here at Crown Heights. Our children warmed our hearts on Children’s Sunday as they led us in prayer, scripture readings, special music, and assisting at communion. On Mother’s Day, our attendance reached 192 as we honored our graduates and received our confirmation class. One of our adult groups took a trip to the Sam Noble Museum while the Trustees gave generously of their time and skills to renovate the parsonage. Our youth dazzled us at their talent show with a range of artistic abilities and a lively sense of humor.

What’s remarkable is that this seems to be typical for this church, a community of faithful people enjoying their life together and sharing their rich talents for the good of all.

As we come to the anniversary of my first year as your pastor, I am thankful to be a part of such a fellowship. You embody so much of what it means to be the church, from Sunday School parties and softball games, to reaching out to those in need through Skyline Urban Ministry and mission trips to Haiti and Cuba, to giving your best to God in choirs and faithful attendance in worship. The list could go on. And it will go on as you continue to live as those called to be witnesses of God’s love on the corner of 37th and Western in Oklahoma City.

Welcome Amy Curran

We are happy to welcome Amy Curran as our new Youth Director starting June 1. She follows Stephanie Hughes-Tremper who will be attending seminary next spring.

Amy comes to us with extensive experience in working with youth, including sharing in this ministry at McFarlin UMC in Norman, First UMC Stillwater, and St. Paul’s UMC in Shawnee. She is currently the Assistant Youth Coordinator for the South OKC District and Co-Dean of the South District Camp. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and will complete a Masters in Religious Education from OCU next year.

She and her husband, Dillon, are both natives of Enid. Amy grew up in the First Presbyterian Church there while Dillon was active at Christ United Methodist Church. They celebrate their second wedding anniversary this July. Dillon completed his undergraduate studies at Oklahoma State University and recently graduated from the OU School of Law.

Amy will get right into the job, joining the youth on their environmental mission trip to Washington DC leaving June 3. In September, Amy will also assume the duties of our Director of Children’s Ministries. After a year of dedicated, inspiring service in this position, Kate Walton asked to rejoin the ranks of the volunteers, a request we grant with our thanks for a job well done.

We invite you to extend your personal greetings to Amy as she is introduced in both worship services on June 2.

Vacation Bible School

God’s Great Gallery is our theme for VBS this summer. At God’s Great Gallery the children will explore the wonderful works of God and come to know that they are a masterpiece created by God.

God’s Great Gallery is opening its doors on July 11 & 12 from 5:30 – 9:00 (including a snack supper for both evenings) and July 13th 9:00 am - 12:00. We want all children ages 3 through 5th grade to join us for stories, songs, games, crafts and fun! Parents please call the office to register your child for this fun weekend or locate registration forms in the church. Volunteers are needed to help decorate or work with the children please contact Beth Noble at 525-2406.

 

This Month in Worship

Dysfunctional Family Month

     “Dysfunction” is a modern diagnosis for an old phenomenon. If you think your family’s a little messed up, take a look at those in the book of Genesis. Desperate attempts to win the love of a husband who loves another, hiding in fear from a brother betrayed, sibling rivalry leading to selling a favored brother into slavery, and that’s some of the better moments!

     Psychologist Harriet Lerner describes a dysfunctional family as any family with more than one person in it. What family doesn’t have its challenges? By eavesdropping on these biblical families, we’ll catch a glimpse of how God works in and through our family and social relationships.

Reverend Newman

Sermon Titles & Scripture Texts

• June 2 - What I Did For Love
  Genesis 29:15-35
  Second Sunday after Pentecost
• June 9 - The Person In The Mirror
  Genesis 32:22-31
  Third Sunday after Pentecost
• June 16 - Welcome News
  Genesis 18:1-10
  Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
• June 23 Guest Preacher, Mark Davies
  Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
• June 30 - Enough Love To Go Around
  Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
  Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
   

Youth News

Washington D.C. Environmental Mission
June 3-8

This month our youth will participate in a special mission learning opportunity with others from the Oklahoma Conference. In a workshop sponsored by the General Board and Church and Society, they will talk with Representative Brad Carson and Senator Jim Inhoff about environmental stewardship, have hands on work in park restoration and river conservation, see some of the sights of D.C., and learn more about what we can do to preserve God’s land and rivers that we call Oklahoma. Shane Jones, Roxie McKnight, and Amy Curran will serve as sponsors.

Thank You Stephanie!

For the past three years, Stephanie Hughes-Tremper has driven the van, played her guitar, painted murals, led retreats, shared from the Bible, and countless other activities that make up being a youth minister. Now that she has graduated from OCU, she will be entering the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley California in the spring. The youth, parents, and the whole congregation say a heartfelt thank you to Stephanie for having been a caring and compassionate example of the love of Christ.
 

In Our Prayers

Death of loved ones

• John and Brian Griffin and family
• Dorothy Hammond and family
• Mary Lou Stark and family
• Laura Topel and family

Illness

• Valerie Deweese
• Mary Wolf
  
   

CHUMC Scramble Golf Tournament

Saturday, June 29, 12:00 p.m.
Coffee Creek Golf Course,
Cost: $50.00. Call 524-8428 or email info@crownheightsumc.org

Transitions

Births
Stephen Lane Adkins III, born April 27, 2002 son of Stephen and Michelle Adkins.

Matthew Thomas Theodore Wallace, born May 9, 2002 son of Scott and Susie Wallace.

Deaths
John “Jack” Griffin passed away May 6, 2002. Graveside services were held May 9 with Reverend Rodney Newman officiating.

Stephen Stark passed away April 28, 2002.

New Member
William Funk, son of John and Marsha Funk, joined by profession of faith on May 12, 2002.

Congratulations
Janet Kingsolver named Oklahoma City School District’s Teacher of the Year for 2002-03.

 

United Methodist Women

Bruce Pitts Shares Mission Trip
 
 The United Methodist Women will meet on Tuesday, June 4 @ 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Our guest speaker will be Bruce Pitts. Bruce, a member of Crown Heights, recently returned from a mission trip to Cuba. Dinner will be provided by the Amity Circle. All are welcome to attend.

The Music & Children’s Ministry present
The Artful Dodgers & Veggie Tale Songs

On Sunday, June 16 during our worship service the children will present the musical The Artful Dodgers. It’s a story of a little league baseball team and the bullies that try to destroy their chances of winning a poster contest and tickets to the biggest baseball game in town. Perhaps Oliver, the lonely new kid in town, can save the day. Our youngest children will have a
part in this program and they will also present selections from
VeggieTales.

Music Appreciation Brunch

Everyone is invited to a brunch honoring all music ministry participants, chancel, children, youth & bell choirs, on Sunday, June 30 during the Sunday school hour.

 

Project Transformation

The United Methodist Church in the OKC area is sponsoring a summer literacy daycamp for elementary-aged children. You can help by becoming a reading volunteer. Contact the church office for dates and times.

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