April 2003

The Pastor's Column
by Rodney Newman

In Between

The headlines on the television screen trumpet success on the battlefield then two minutes later announce unexpected stiff resistance. The doctor comes in and says,
“We’re not sure what’s going on; we’ll get the test results next week.” A letter arrives from your university of choice for the fall. You’re on the waiting list.
So much of life is lived in between – between despair and hope, certainty and fear, anticipation and disappointment. The not knowing, the unresolved tension, becomes an overbearing invisible presence we wish to swat away like an annoying insect.
A couple of years ago a theologian made an interesting observation about this feeling of living in between. He noted that in all the attention we pay during Holy Week to Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter, we overlook Saturday. He suggested that we look again at this forgotten day, a day between the death of Jesus and his resurrection, a day in a cold tomb. Jesus goes with us through the valleys and the mountaintops to be sure, and, thankfully, through all those in between spaces too.
 

Holy Week Services

Palm Sunday Choir Presentation
April 13
11:00 a.m.

The chancel, children’s, and bell choirs join with guest musicians to mark the beginning of Holy Week and focus our attention on the passion of our Lord.

Please note that our 8:30 worship service will also be held this day with our regular order of worship.

Holy Thursday
April 17
7:00 p.m.

The Reverend Bill Henry returns to the Crown Heights pulpit to lead us in this special service of remembrance of the suffering of Christ and the
Last Supper.

Good Friday
April 18
12:05 p.m.

A brief service of prayer, scripture, and music
in meditation on the death of Jesus.

Easter Day
April 20
8:30 & 11:00 a.m.

Two glorious services in celebration of the
resurrection of Jesus. Our Chancel Choir and special musicians will lead both services concluding with the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus.

Children's Ministry

 

Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 19 @ 10 a.m.
Candy, chewy fruit chews, small gifts for prizes, are needed. Please drop your donations in the baskets located in the narthex and the room off the Sanctuary. To volunteer contact the church office at 524-8428.

Children’s Choir Festival @ OCU
Saturday, April 26 @ 9:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
This festival is for children in the 3-6th grades. SonShine director, Jan Zisman, has been teaching the songs to the choir and will be attending the festival with the children. The cost is $5.00 per child. Registration is due to Amy by April 6. A worship service for parents and participants will conclude the festival.
 

This Month in Worship:

We will run the gamut of emotions with our scripture readings and liturgy this month. The closing Sundays of Lent have us sensing the ominous impending death of Jesus and considering the meaning of this act. On Easter we’ll consider how Mark’s gospel leaves its readers hanging when telling of the resurrection of Jesus. And we’ll conclude the month with the risen Lord’s instructions to the early church.

Also, I want to say how much I am looking forward to hearing Dr. Bill Henry preach on Holy Thursday. I know we all will be blessed by his reflections during Holy Week.
 

Reverend Newman

Sermon Titles & Scripture Texts

• April 6 Storm Warning
  John 12:20-33
  Fifth Sunday in Lent
   
• April 13 Money Is No Object
  Mark 14:1-9
  Palm Sunday
   
• April 20 To Be Continued…
  Mark 16:1-8
  Easter
   
• April 27 Clear Instructions
  Acts 1:1-8
  Second Sunday of Easter
   

Youth News

The youth are planning a “Rock-A-Thon” to raise money f or their summer programs. A “Rock-A-Thon” is four rocking chairs rocking from 8:00 p.m. Saturday, April 5 until 11:00 a.m. the following Sunday morning. Please support them with your pledges and encouragement on Sunday morning April 6.

The youth will be participating in a North Oklahoma City District youth mission day at Canyon Camp April 27, from 3:00-7:00 p.m. They will be assisting in preparing the camp for the summer camps and conferences that will be held in the upcoming months.
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Memorial Gifts

MEMORIAL FUND
In memory of Cecelia J. Williams
Bill and Marjorie Saied
Peggy Sanders

In memory of Bob DeGraffenreid
Charles Caylen
Larry and Sue Emmer
Charles Fagin
Joe and Janice Singer
David and Laney Spear
Robert and Shirley Wasserman
Albert and Elaine Weise

MOBILE MEALS FUND
In memory of Bob DeGraffenreid
Stanley Kitchens

In memory of Lyle Froh
Stanley Kitchens

TRANSITIONS

Deaths
Ruth Craig Jones passed away May 2002.
Don Welch passed away February 1, 2003.
Roy Dalziel passed away March 24, 2003

Births
Alexander Francis Cook born March 8, 2003, son of Tim and Bridgid Cook.
 

Mission Minutes

What do a refugee camp in Ghana, Africa, and Crown Heights UMC have in common?

Janet Kingsolver, April Helms and Evelyn Phyffer, team leader, will be there in August as a part of a Volunteer in Mission trip. As a congregation we too can participate in this trip through continued prayer, financial help, and bringing office and school supplies to be taken to the camp.

The Missions Committee at Crown Heights is also looking at other mission opportunities closer to home. We will be asking many questions of Tish Malloy, who works with the VIM program on Sunday, April 6, at 3 p.m. in the Youth Activities room. Anyone interested in finding out more about mission trips is welcome to this presentation.
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2003 High School Seniors

Congratulations to April Helms and Greg Rice our 2003 high school graduates. Please show your support by writing a personal letter of inspiration and encouragement. Mail, e-mail, or give these letters to Amy by April 20 and she will present them to April and Greg at the Senior Lunch. Text.

United Methodist Women

Our unit continues to be active in the missions of our local community and world. We are excited about two of our members, Evelyn Phyffer and Janet Kingsolver joining a Volunteer in Mission trip to Ghana in August 2003.

To raise money to support our missions, we are planning a spring luncheon and program on Saturday, May 3 @ 11:30 a.m. The theme this year is “Quilts.” A monologue based on the book, The Quilters: Women and Domestic Art will be given by Patricia Hudson. For those of you who have a quilt that holds a special meaning to you, please bring it and share a story about this fabric of your life.
 

Music Ministry

Palm Sunday Music

On Palm Sunday, April 13, the music ministry will present a special Lenten musical presentation, Missa Festiva by John Leavitt. This is a traditional Mass with Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei that will be performed by the Chancel Choir, soloists and a 10 member instrumental ensemble. In addition to the Mass, a special Palm Sunday anthem with an instru-mental ensemble featuring our children's choirs will be presented.

Palm Sunday Rehearsal

The dress rehearsal will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 9:30 – noon in the sanctuary. The handbells and children's choir will be rehearsing from 11:00 – noon.

Easter Sunday Music

On Easter Sunday, we will present two extended Easter anthems and will be assisted by our youth brass ensemble and handbells for both the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services.
 

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