The Pastor’s Column

By Rodney Newman

 A Year of Blessing

 As we make the turn into a new year, we pause to give thanks to God for the blessings our church enjoyed in 2004. At our recent Charge Conference, Evelyn Phyffer, lay leader of our congregation, reported on some of the highlights of the year.

 

75th Anniversary Celebration

                           

·       The highlight of this year was the celebration of our 75th anniversary in a worship service and lunch on June 6.

·       One worship service that day saw 330 in attendance with many former members and friends returning.

·       Special music included two anthems from an expanded choir and a bagpiper.

·       Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin presented a proclamation from Governor Brad Henry.

·       Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett issued a proclamation of appreciation.

·       Marsha Funk and Ann Trudgeon chaired a committee that oversaw preparations.

 Ministry and Mission

 

·        Saw continued growth in our mission work:

·        Started our second year hosting a Whiz Kids afterschool reading program in conjunction with Mayflower Congregational Church. Several of our members are serving as tutors, administrators, and Bible study leaders. This works with children from a neighborhood school, Putnam Heights Elementary.

·        Evelyn Phyffer led another mission team to Ghana and we welcomed the missionary from the refugee camp to address our congregation.

·        Sponsored a day mission trip to Nagawee mission.

·        Participated in Project Transformation at Wesley UMC.

·        Saw an increase in the number of cans received, from 1370 last year to 1860 this year, in the October Food for Skyline drive.

·        Served a meal at Saturday Night Alive with broad participation from the church.

·        Sponsored a flea market to raise money for a generator for the refugee camp and UMW missions.

·        Supported Skyline’s Back to School clothes drive.

·        Planned a mission trip to Rio Bravo Mexico the week after Christmas.

·        Continued support of the Angel Tree at Christmas.

·        Continued the Crown Heights Café on Wednesday nights during the school year. Volunteers prepare a meal served continuously from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. We are able to offer this meal at the affordable price of $3 for adults and $2 for children. We serve between 30-50 people each week. Many attendees are involved in the music programs. Many come for the fellowship, including a core group of senior members.

·        Held an all-church retreat at Canyon Camp in May.

·        Concluded Disciple Bible Study in the spring with 13 participants.

·        Our pastor led a special Sunday School series on The Purpose Driven Life during Lent.

·        Continued our fine music program with cantatas during Lent and Advent and other special musicians throughout the year. This included July revival, a blues Sunday, and a gospel music Sunday.

·        Encouraged fellowship through sports teams and meals such as Souper Sunday and an ice cream social.

·        Observed Laity Sunday in October with our Lay Leader, Evelyn Phyffer, and three other laypersons, Teresa Reiss, Daniel McKnight, and Charlene Jones, sharing a witness to their faith.

·        The Reverend Doug MacPherson presented the Holland Lectures.

·        Continued our August Sunday School lecture series with the theme of Christianity and the Arts.

·        A gift from Judge William Saied in memory of his wife, Marge, enhanced our worship. New paraments and stoles commissioned from liturgical artist Judith Hankins were introduced on June 6, new pew Bibles were dedicated on Easter Day and new chalices and bowls for communion on Christmas Eve.

·        We hosted two mission teams in our church, one from Strawbridge UMC from the Houston area and one from the Church of the Resurrection in Kansas.

·        Continued our van ministry and Mobile Meals.

·        The United Methodist Women continued their ministry through such means as hosting Tom Campbell, Director of the Circle of Care, a Spring Luncheon, the Pumpkin Patch, and supporting a variety of mission causes and scholarships.

Children and Youth 

·        The children and youth continue to be involved in our worship, serving as liturgists, acolytes, and singing and playing musical instruments.

·        Continued the summer programs of a music camp and Vacation Bible School.

·        Continued coordinating the children’s program through the Children’s Council and programs such as the Advent Festival and Egg Hunt.

·        Began the rotational Sunday School model in the fall with good results.

·        Welcomed six 6th graders to the youth group and invited youth from Epworth UMC to participate in our programs.

 

Membership Update

·       Since the last Charge Conference, we received 9 new members, 3 by profession of faith.

·       Baptized 5 persons, including two adults.

 

Administration

·        The Trustees oversaw major work removing repairing fascia boards and repainting much of the exterior of the building.

·        Thirty people participated in a work day in March. Improvements included renovating the Garden Room, removing shrubbery, cleaning gutters, cleaning the wood in the sanctuary, and cleaning out the prayer chapel.

·        We made several improvements to our offices including the installation of a new telephone system, upgraded our computer operations, upgraded our security system, and installed a keyless entry on the door coming into the Youth Activities Building.

 

 Memorial Gifts

In memory of Don Gardner

Ron and Linda Blalock

Stanley Kitchens

 

This Month in Worship

During the first month of 2005, our pastor will be continue looking at the early life and ministry of Jesus in his sermons. We begin by following the holy family into Egypt to escape Herod then remember his baptism and calling of the disciples.

                                              Reverend Newman

 

Sermon Titles & Texts

 

     Jan 2      Another Chance at a New Beginning

                     Matthew 2:13-23

                 Epiphany of our Lord

 

  Jan 9      Stan Basler, Director of Criminal Justice Ministries, Guest Preacher

                 First Sunday after the Epiphany

 

   Jan 16      When God Says “Yes”

                     Matthew 3:13-17

                 Baptism of Jesus

 

   Jan 23      New Pictures in Old Family Albums

                     John 1:29-42

                 Third Sunday after the Epiphany

 

   Jan 30      Fishing for a Living

                     Matthew 4:12-23

                 Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

 

Church Officers for 2005

 

Chairperson Admin. Council        Dennis Moore

Lay Leader                             Evelyn Phyffer

Lay Member Annual Conf.         Bob Anthony

Alternate Member                    John Amick

Council Secretary                     Michael Qualls

Staff-Parish Relations                Bill McKnight

Finance Committee                  Lee Endicott

Church Treasurer                    Jack Thompson

Fellowship Committee               Sally Hayes

Worship Committee                  Elizabeth Anthony

Care Committee                      Melissa Milburn

Mission Committee                   Janet Kingsolver

Welcoming Committee              Michael Qualls

_____________________________________________________________________________________

 

Music Ministry

by George Massey

Christmas Musical Presentations

I would like to congratulate and thank everyone involved in our 2004 Christmas Cantata (Mariann, Soloists, Choir and Orchestra) for our glorious presentation on December 12. As always, I received some lovely comments on this very special service. We want to thank and show our appreciation once again to Celeste Rippeto and her entire family for their wonderful gift! Congratulations also go to Alyssa Lane and the Children’s Choir for their superb Christmas Pageant presentation on December 19.

 

New Year Resolution

If you are not presently enjoying participation in one of our musical ensembles, we hope you will consider joining us in 2005! We will be in preparation for our Lenten presentation for Palm Sunday and, of course, our Easter Day musical festivities. Happy New Year to everyone!

Youth News

by Mary Altizer

 

Twelve youth participated in the progressive dinner on December 12. The food was delicious and I’m still full. However, I did get the best gift in the Santa gift exchange. So thank you, whoever brought the foot massager I stole from Hilary. Thanks also to these families for their hospitality of food and homes: the Gean, Evans, Massey, and Funk families.

 

The youth went shopping for our families in Mexico on December 19. Three youth, Aaron Gean, William Funk, & Daniel McKnight, will take these gifts of sheets, dishes, & silverware on the mission trip to Rio Bravo. Please keep them in your prayers as they travel, bringing their presence into the lives of the needy, and being examples of disciple-ship. Have a fun, safe, and meaningful trip guys!

 

It’s that time of year again. The time when grown-ups yell at the television and debate the outcome. No, it’s not election time, it’s Superbowl time. I am told the tradition is to congregate at the Funk home, so we will do so on February 6. Details to follow.

 

I hope you all had a joyous Christmas and I wish you a very happy New Year! Mary

 

Crown Heights United Methodist Church 2004 Mission Summary

Project/ Event	Mission Goal	# Hours Volunteered	# People involved	$ involved
TOTALS	18 projects/events	9,256 service hours	841+ people  serving and served	$24,281 +
Mobile Meals	Serve homebound with meals	416 - 2 hours each week for 4 people	36 - 12 cooks and drivers serving 24 meals each week	approx. $2500 - @$2 per meal for 24 meals, 52 weeks per year - paid for by donations
Whiz Kids	Provide mentors to neighborhood children.	3024 hours -    thru the school year - @ 56 hours per person (2 hours per week/28 weeks)	54 people - 24 mentors, 24 students & 6 coordinators -- 11 from CHUM, others from Mayflower Congregational Church	$1000, mostly from Mayflower Church
Whiz Kids Christmas Dinner	Share God's love and resources with neighborhood families in a meal together	42 hours in one 7 hour day	106+  - 100 + served, with 6 preparing meals and decorating,	$400 -- $200 for gifts for students paid for by tutors, $200 for food-donated by Sunday School classes
Saturday School Van Ministry	Transport mentally challenged adults to a Saturday church school event once a month	42  hours over 7 months	9 -  5 drivers, 4 riders	approx. $30 for gas
Saturday Night Alive	Worship with and provide meal to homeless congregation.	120 hours in one Saturday night - 4 hours per person	180 - 30 cooking and serving,         150 eating	$100, from donations and Sunday School Class
Flea Market	Raise Money for generator for refugee camp and UMW mission fund.	440 hours on one Saturday	approx. 55 -                                  30 manning booths and coordinating, others donating items	Raised $2300
Nagawee mission day trip	Paint and clean area around small Indian Conference church	172 hours on one Saturday	18 - 13 missioners, 5 UMW preparing lunches	$350 - $250, from mission budget for trip, $100 from UMW for lunches
Project Transformation	Provide listeners for children reading in a summer day camp for neighborhood children	36 hours over 2 weeks	27 - 3 listeners for 9 children	$0 involved
Kansas City meals	Provide meals to visiting youth mission group, raise funds for missions	approx. 120 hours  in one week	36 - 21 served with 10 preparing & serving meals, and 5 bringing desserts	Spent $253, Raised $626
Discipleship Moments in Worship	Introduce mission experiences to congregation	4 hours of planning and coordinating over five Sundays	5 people	$0 involved
Peanut Butter Drive	Collect peanut butter for Skyline food closet during VBS, raise awareness of mission opportunities with children	3 hours in one week	20+ (don't know how many contributed to drive)	95 jars of peanut butter, approx. $125
Back to School Clothing Drive	Collect and help distribute new clothing to school kids thru Skyline, joint project with UMW	40 hours over a two week period and one 4 hour evening	10+ (don't know how many contributed to drive)	$300, from donations
Budaburum mission weeks trip	Send money and one person to refugee camp in Africa	800 hours for 1 person over 2 weeks plus coordination over months	31 - 1 person to Africa,                          donations from 30+	$5500, from flea market and donations, and missioner expenses
Round Up Sunday meal	Raise Money for trip to Rio Bravo, raise awareness of missions	36 hours in 2 afternoons	12, worked with Fellowship team	Raised $300
Month of mission Children's time in worship	Provide instruction to children about mission opportunities for them	4 hours of planning and coordinating over five Sundays	6 spoke	$0 involved
Skyline Food Drive	Collect canned food for Skyline Food closet	7 hours over 5 weeks	106 - 6 involved in motivating, packaging and transporting food, 100 + (don't know exactly how many contributed to drive)	1860 cans, approx. $750
Angel Tree Christmas Gifts - December 2003	Collect gifts for families in city for Christmas	50 hours over 4 weeks	85 - 55 families in the church provided gifts, 30 local school students involved in gift wrapping and transporting gifts	250 gifts, approx. $2000
Rio Bravo mission week trip - December 2004	Share God's love and resources as we build 2 homes in Rio Bravo	3900 hours for the trip and coordination for the 1 week	51 - 26 people going on trip, approx. 25 other church members involved with donations	Approx. $10,300 - $6500+ trip cost paid by missioners, $2800 from endowment fund for casita costs, approx. $1000 in material donations collected
TOTALS	18 projects/events	9,256 service hours	841+ people  serving and served	$24,281 +

 

Children’s Ministry News

by Mary Altizer