August 2005
The Pastor’s Column
By Rodney Newman
A Heart for Mission
If mission is the heartbeat of the church, we’ve heard some strong, healthy rhythms around here lately. Many of you joined with our Vacation Bible School children in bringing 131 jars of peanut butter to the church for the food pantry at Skyline Urban Ministry. A few months ago, you responded with donations totaling $2,711 to help the tsunami victims through the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The youth of our church are planning mission activities during their upcoming Youth Week and you have volunteered countless hours in supporting the many facets of our local church’s ministry.
We are also hosting two mission teams from other states here this summer. The first one arrived July 24 from The First United Methodist Church in Winfield, Kansas. They stayed a couple of nights and worked at the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank. The second team comes in July 30 from Our Savior UMC in Schaumburg, Illinois. They will be working the following week on a project at Quayle UMC. You can meet members of this second team during the fellowship time at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 31.
You will find more information in this newsletter on members of our church participating in Volunteer In Mission teams from Oklahoma. Let’s be in prayer for them as they share their ministry in London, England and the Budaburum Refugee Camp in Ghana.
I also encourage you to come to our special speaker series during the month of August. Each Sunday, compelling speakers will share their witness to how our church touches the lives of many people through our mission giving. We do make a difference in the lives of people. Let’s continue to share with grateful hearts.
August Lecture Series
Together We Serve
A real strength of the United Methodist Church comes from our connectional nature. By all the local churches pooling our resources, we are able to reach so many more than anyone of us could do so alone. Unfortunately, this means that we don’t always know about the many ways our gifts touch the lives of others.
Our lecture series this year focuses on these very stories. Individuals who have been personally affected or who coordinate our mission ministries will share their experiences with us.
August 7 – Joanne McNaught, Oklahoma Conference Treasurer, will discuss how our mission ministries are funded and answer your questions on how our gifts get to those in need.
August 14 – Ban Sarhan. This young woman escaped Iraq after insurgents killed her husband and child. Come hear her compelling story and how The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM) played an important role in her success in this country.
August 21 – Randy McGuire, Director of Camping Ministries of the Oklahoma Conference, will update us on the growth of our campgrounds both in physical structures and in programming.
August 28 – David Beal, Board Member, & Heidi Wilburn, Director of Development & Public Relations, Circle of Care. Now a successful attorney, David spent many of his formative years in our Children’s Home in Tahlequah. He will share his experience and Heidi will share how the ministries of the Circle of Care continue to impact the lives of many.
Each session will begin at 9:40 a.m. in the Youth Room of the Church
In Our Prayers
Jerry Wetmore recently hospitalized.
Baptisms
Evan Alexander Fernandez Watts, son of Shelley Lynn Watts & Maricio Fernandez from Coconut Grove, Florida, was baptized on July 3.
This Month in Worship
August Series on Matthew
The gospel of Matthew is known for its emphasis on Christian discipleship and the proclamation of the kingdom of heaven, particularly through Jesus’ parables. We will look at the parable of the sower at the end of the month. On the way there, we will listen in as Jesus reacts to how others perceive his mission and their struggles to take up their own.
Sermon Titles & Texts
August 7 Mundane Missionaries
Matthew 9:35-10:8
Twelfth Sunday of Pentecost
August 14 Mended Apron Strings
Matthew 10:24-39
Thirteenth Sunday of Pentecost
August 21 Religious Freedom
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Fourteenth Sunday of Pentecost
August 28 Reckless Hope
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Fifteenth Sunday of Pentecost
Best Wishes to Mary
Mary Altizer has led our ministry with children and youth for the past year and a half. She will be leaving us at the end of July to take a new, full-time position at Epworth UMC in Chickasha. This is a great opportunity for Mary but a loss to our congregation. You are invited to say your good-byes to Mary on her last day with us, July 31, as she leads the worship services on Youth Sunday.
Thanks for Vacation Bible School
Twenty-six children enjoyed a great week of learning, music, games, snacks, and crafts at the Circle G Ranch. Each evening, a horse named Sunny greeted the children, many of whom got into the spirit of the theme wearing their western gear. Thanks to each of the many volunteers who worked both behind the scenes and during the week. Special thanks to Ann Newman and Mary Altizer for their leadership.
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Music Ministry
by George Massey
Many thanks to our ensemble participants for the July Revival selections. You all did a wonderful job!
We are now in the process of music and cantata selections for the fall and I hope to have a letter sent to you in August with updates on music, special music Sundays, and especially the Christmas Cantata. I want to alert you now of that special date: Christmas Cantata on Sunday, December 11, with our Dress Rehearsal on Saturday, December 10, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
I know some of you may be planning fall trips. If possible, try not to schedule any “Sundays away” for that weekend (we need you all)! Enjoy your August vacation and be ready to resume Wednesday rehearsals on September 7!
Children’s Choir
We will contact the parents soon about the Children's Choir time for this fall and any special music dates. Please put two dates on your calendars now: Christmas Cantata on December 11 and the Children’s Christmas Presentation on December 18.
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Missions
Skyline School Clothes for Kids
Help a child choose the new school clothes he will wear the first day of school this year. On the evening of August 11, members of Crown Heights will go to the McKee Center and do just that. You can be one of those helpers by calling the church and putting your name on the list. You can also help by buying some new school clothes or shoes and bringing them to the church by August 7 or you can send in money to help buy clothes. This is our chance to make a difference in how a child feels about herself as she begins a new school year. Be a part of this effort.
A Taste of Mission Sunday Lunch
Food from around the world will be featured at the lunch on Round Up Sunday, September 11. Crown Heights has been involved in many missions in the past years and each will be represented as we feast together to raise money for more mission trips in the future. Put Sunday, September 11, on your calendar as a day to feast, fellowship, and work together for missions with your Crown Heights Family.
London Missionaries depart July 29
Children will be singing, learning scripture, eating and playing together in the first ever Vacation Bible School held in the Ketnon Methodist Church in London the first week in August. This will be part of the mission of a Volunteers in Mission group from Oklahoma that includes members of Crown Heights UMC. They will also be involved in painting and sprucing up the church property. This is a church looking to become more of what God calls it to be, and the Oklahoma group will be with them as they work toward that goal. Please be in prayer for Glen, Bridgette, and Aaron Gean, and Janet Kingsolver from our church and all the team members, for the people they will meet, and for the mission the days of July 29-August 7.
Ghana Mission Team leaves in September
The Budaburum Refugee Camp is anxiously awaiting their third VIM team from the US, and Crown Heights, when they arrive in September. The team, led by Evenly Phyffer, and including Taffy Fellingham both from Crown Heights, will be working in a clinic, leading Bible lessons, and helping refugees with supplies and financial help in two Ghana refugee camps. Supplies to fill all available space have been appropriated and the members are all preparing for their work. Financial support is still being received. If you would like to be a part of this mission, please be in prayer for them, and send financial support to the church with a note for the Ghana trip.
Whiz Kids begins in September
We’re planning for 25 Putnam Heights Elementary School students to participate in the Whiz Kids program, now in its third year at Crown Heights. These children struggling with reading problems have the chance to be mentored each week by a volunteer. Last year we had 18 Whiz Kids who improved their reading skills and developed wonderful relationships with caring adults from Crown Heights and the Mayflower Congregational Church. Anyone ready to make a real difference in a child's life and who can be available from 3-5 p.m. each Thursday can be a tutor. Training for the program will be done at the church before the children begin and ongoing training is offered throughout the year. Please prayerfully consider if you are being called this year to be a special friend and help to a wonderful 2nd or 3rd grader. Call the church for more information.