November  2004

By Rodney Newman

Thankful

 I am thankful . . . to live in a country where we enjoy unprecedented freedom and where we can express our religious faith without fear.

I am thankful . . . for my wife, a loving companion, whose very presence reminds me of what’s really important in life.

I am thankful . . . for our seven-year-old son, proud defender of centerfield, whose energy and love of life lifts everyone around him.

I am thankful . . . for our daughter, about to turn five, full of questions and tender-hearted, ready to take on all comers in a game of Go Fish.

I am thankful . . . for family and friends whose love transcends our differences and whose nurturing embrace feeds my spirit.

I am thankful . . . for being part of a congregation with a rich spiritual heritage and with the desire to continue sharing God’s grace with others.

I am thankful . . . for those who told me the stories of Jesus, then showed me their meaning by living compassionate lives.

I am thankful . . . for those who have been patient with me in my learning, honest with me in my struggles, supportive of me in my dreams.

I am thankful . . . for the tears and the laughter, the scars and the celebrations, the accomplishments and the disappointments, everything that’s given shape to my life.

I am thankful . . . for having been embraced by a profound mercy and a divine love that will not let me go.

Stewardship Campaign

Underway

Thanks to all those who have responded to our annual estimate of giving campaign. Many are increasing the anticipated amount of their financial offerings to the church in 2005. If you have not yet responded, you may do so by returning your pledge card or calling the church office.

Celtic Spirituality Speaker

at OCU

November 3 & 4

 J. Philip Newell will deliver the Willson Lectures at OCU on the theme, The Christ of the Celts: A Spirituality for Today. He will speak on November 3 at 7:30 p.m. and on November 4 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. He will also lead a chapel service that day at 1:00 p.m. The cost is $5 per lecture or $15 for the entire event. Call 521-5011 for more information or visit Dr. Newell’s website www.jphilipnewell.com.

Advent Festival

Sunday, November 28

4:00 p.m.

This annual event is one of the highlights of our life together. People of all ages are invited to come to a brief service in the sanctuary to mark the beginning of Advent then stay for a snack supper and make crafts to celebrate the season in your home. See inside for more details.
 

Congratulations!

Jason Galt and Kim Longnecker were married October 23, 2004 at Ivory Gardens Chapel in Norman with Rev. Rodney Newman officiating. They will make their home in Kiowa, Oklahoma where Jason serves with the local police.

This Month in Worship

We end this liturgical year by looking at two famous stories found only in Luke’s Gospel. One tells of Jesus healing ten lepers with only one returning to give thanks. The other happens in Jericho as Jesus moves to Jerusalem for the final days of his life. A tax collector named Zacchaeus goes to great lengths to see Jesus and his risky efforts are richly rewarded. On the last day of the month we begin a new liturgical year on the first Sunday of Advent.

                                                    Reverend Newman

Sermon Titles & Texts

  November 7            Say “Please” and “Thank You”

                              Luke 17:11-19

                                   Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

November 14           Aaron Tiger, Guest Preacher

                             Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

                             Gospel Sunday

November 21           Three Strikes

                             Luke 19:1-10

                             Reign of Christ

November 28           A Vision of Hope

                             Isaiah 2:1-5

                             First Sunday of Advent

Music Ministry

by George Massey

 Gospel Sunday

Please put down Sunday, November 14, as a very special day – Gospel Sunday.  We will have our instrumental ensemble join us in two exciting anthems and accompany our first hymn with everyone singing!

 Chancel Choir

Our Cantata approaches so make every effort to be in attendance at Wednesday evening Choir rehearsals.

Our dress rehearsal is Saturday, December 11, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Also, the Choir Dinner is Wednesday evening, December 15, at 7:00 p.m. at Eddy's Steak House. We will take dinner reservations in November.

In Our Prayers

Don Gardner

Bill Saied

Welcome to

Our New Members

 Glendon and Jayne Hudson both joined Crown Heights on October 10. Glendon transferred his membership from Trinity UMC in Purcell and Jayne from St. John Lutheran Church in Okarche where they were recently married.

 Memorial Gifts

In memory of Alice Eddings

Bob Green

Children’s and Youth Ministries

by Mary Altizer

Children’s Choir

Parents: We would love to have as many children as possible for our Christmas pageant! Rehearsals begin on Wednesday, November 10, at 6:00 p.m. The children wishing to be a part of the pageant will need to attend the Wednesday night rehearsals and a rehearsal on Saturday, December 11, from 1:00 to 2:30. The pageant will be Sunday, December 19. For more info contact Alyssa.

Also: If you borrowed a costume in the past year from the children’s area, please make sure you have returned it so that we will have them to give out again this month.

Other dates: The Children’s Choir sings in service on November 14 for Gospel Sunday and November 28 for the First Sunday of Advent.

Children’s Sunday School

For the first six weeks of rotational, the children learned about the Christian Bible. They learned about the authors, the languages, how it was originally handed down orally from generation to generation, then recorded and published. They also learned more about the actual books of the Bible themselves. The next unit will teach about the promise of a Messiah as found in Isaiah. The children have learned a great deal, but we still need your help to continue! If you may be interested in teaching or shepherding, contact Mary. Working with our children will bless your life.

Thank you to all our first unit teachers! Lee Endicott, Ann Newman, Roxie McKnight, Dawn McPhetridge, Melissa Milburn, and Jan Zisman, you did an outstanding job! Your gifts are invaluable.

Acolyte party! I will take the acolytes to CiCi’s on Saturday, November 6, to thank them for their service in our worship services. We will leave the church at 9:30 a.m. for the CiCi’s on 23rd Street and we will return at 12:30. The pizza will be our treat, but the kids can bring extra money for games. Then the acolytes will be recognized in service on Sunday, November 7. I hope everyone can be there!

Youth

Seven youth from Crown Heights youth and four youth from Epworth UMC, went to Frontier City to pass out candy on the trick-or-treat trail as a fund raiser. We made a little over $150. Thanks to Betty Langer who helped out as a parent volunteer.

Parents: please sign up for snack supper in the Youth Activities Room. The sign up sheet is still posted on the closet door and we will need volunteers for November.

There will be no youth on November 21. This is the day of the Hanging of the Greens and Advent Festival. Youth are invited to join in decorating the church and attending the worship service. I will also be asking youth to help with the activity centers during the festival.

Other news: The Mid-High will work on painting their room on Wednesday, November 10, and possibly during youth on November 14. All mid-high are urged to come participate in redecorating their room.

Advent Festival

The Advent Festival, along with the Hanging of the Greens is November 21. We will begin decorating at 2:00 p.m. and then have a short worship service at 4:00. After the service we will go the Fellowship Hall for dinner and crafts. If you would like to help with any of these events, please contact Mary or the church office.

Nursery will be available during the Hanging of the Greens, but will close for the worship service, dinner, and festival so everyone can worship and fellowship together.

Mission Trip to Rio Bravo

The papers have been signed and notarized, the checks have been turned

in, the vans have been reserved and the materials to build the casitas are

being bought. The team of Crown Heights people have met and begun to make

decisions about the trip and many people have signed up to bring house warming gifts for the team to take with them. Our first week long mission trip is on its way to happening. There is excitement in the air around those who are going.

Now is when those who can't make it on the trip can begin to be a part of it all. Prayers are needed for those who are going to Rio Bravo, and for the families we will be serving. There is also a possibility we can take bicycles with us for the children to ride to school.

  Angel Tree Gifts

Getting a couple of gifts at Christmas is something children look forward to all

year. Not being able to provide those gifts for their children is a fear many

parents in our city experience during the holidays. Soon you will be able to help

relieve those fears and bring smiles to the children.

Our annual Angel Tree will arrive at Crown Heights in mid-November. On the

tree will be the names and Christmas gift wishes of about 50 children who live in

our city. You will have the opportunity to take a name, and do some Christmas

shopping for the child you choose. When you bring the gifts back to the church,

they will be wrapped by the Key Club of Classen School of Advanced Studies before being taken to Skyline McKee Center to be given to the parents before Christmas.  Watch for the Angel Tree and help make a family's Christmas a little better this year.

  Skyline Canned Food Drive

Once again Crown Heights UMC has come through for the hungry in Oklahoma City. As of October 24th, over 1000 cans of food have been taken to the Skyline Eighth Street Food Closet. And there is still one week in our month of service for more cans to be donated. As the family of God at Crown Heights we can be proud that we have been able to share our blessings in such a large way.

Van Ministry

The Saturday School van has had its first run. It was enjoyable seeing the

people again since last year. Greg Jorgensen continues to joke with the guys

and make it a fun time for all of them. He is still looking for a few drivers and assistants for the second Saturday of each month from 9 am - 12:30 pm.

 Whiz Kids

Whiz Kids is off to a flying start. We have 20 kids, 20 tutors, 6 substitutes, 4 coordinators, a club time person and a snack person involved. 1 coordinator, the club and snack people, 2 substitutes and 5 of the tutors are members of Crown Heights. The others are members of Mayflower Congregational Church who is paired with us and Putnam Heights Elementary School for this ministry. Julie Armstrong, the snack person, has become acquainted with the Food Bank and is providing great, interesting snacks for the kids, like fruit bagels and bagel dip (otherwise

                 known as fruit yogurt). Greg Jorgensen has the kids learning bible stories and going

                      wild with fun games in club time. It is really a great year for Whiz Kids so far. If

                      you'd like to be involved with Whiz Kids, it's not too late. There is always a

                      waiting list of kids who need tutors.