The Pastor’s Column

By Rodney Newman 

Anxious for Easter

            One of the gifts of the church that I regard with increasing appreciation is the Christian calendar – that system of telling time that takes us through the life and teachings of Jesus. With Easter coming early this year, I have to admit that I had trouble adjusting from the joy of Christmas to the heaviness of Lent. The glow from the manger still beckoned while Jesus was driven into the wilderness to be tempted.

     The fact that Easter candy lines the store shelves and egg decorating kits must be bought doesn’t help. Why not just go into a holding pattern until the calendar allows us to celebrate the good news of the resurrection with complete freedom?

     But we can’t do that – not and be honest with the fact that suffering and sacrifice are part of the human experience made sacred by Jesus taking it on himself. As our Bishop Hayes reminded us recently in our Conference newsletter:

     Lent is an opportunity for you to get right with God and with yourself. Within all of us there are planted innumerable hidden, buried possibilities, and until our lives come into the right adjustment with the source of light and life, then our possibilities cannot become realities. Simply put, Lent can be a springtime for your soul if you make the needed and necessary adjustment of your life with God.

     Springtime in Lent? Yes, the two do go together when we embrace the whole story of God’s love for us in Christ.

 

 

 

 

Lenten Music Series

All Handel Sunday

March 6  X   11:00 a.m.

 Our chancel choir will present selections from the passion section of Handel’s Messiah oratorio. Accompanied by an instrumental ensemble, these pieces will be woven throughout the liturgy. Come hear the stirring tenor solos and the moving chorus

And With His Stripes We are Healed. 

Palm Sunday Choir Presentation

March 20  X   11:00 a.m.

The chancel and children’s 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 on these two Sundays with our regular order of worship. 

Holy Week Services

Holy Thursday

March 24   X   7:00 p.m.

We will remember the Last Supper with a service of holy communion. This will be followed by a special Tenebrae service with candles extinguished and symbols removed from the sanctuary as we reflect upon the seven words of Jesus from the cross.  

Good Friday

March 25  X  12:05 p.m.

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

Easter Day

March 27   X   8:30 & 11:00 a.m.

 Two glorious services in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus with a brass ensemble and Chancel Choir ending with Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.

 

Memorial Gifts

In memory of Don Gardner

Mike & Roberta Allen

Peggy Sanders

John & Jean Amick

In memory of LaMoyne Kerr

Kay and Ann Taylor

E. R. Ledbetter, Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. James McTiernan

Kirk D. Fredrickson

Open Circle Class – Nichols Hills UMC

Mary & Dale Hart

Howard and Ann Hopps

This Month in Worship

The first three Sundays of March are the last three in the season of Lent. The lessons from the epistles invite us to consider living as children of light, our struggle with sin, and the work of Jesus on the cross. We conclude the month with the Easter celebration where we will hear the wonderful story from the Gospel of John’s unique perspective.

 

Sermon Titles & Texts

 

         March 6      A Cure for Emptiness

                              Ephesians 5:6-17

                        Fourth Sunday of Lent

 

    March 13      An Oasis or a Mirage?

                        Romans 8:1-11

                        Fifth Sunday of Lent

                       

       March 20      Celebrating With Tears

                              Philippians 2:1-11

                              Palm Sunday

 

       March 27      Saving the Best for Last

                              John 20:1-18

                        Easter

Children’s Ministry

Palm Sunday Processional

March 20 @ 11 a.m.

We want every child to be a part of this special Sunday. Be sure to be at Sunday School on time this day since we will be rehearsing early.

 

Childcare for Holy Week

Childcare for the Holy Thursday service begins at 6:45 p.m. We do not have childcare scheduled for the Good Friday service but we will make arrangements to do so if you contact Mary or the office.

Egg Hunt

Saturday, March 26 @ 10 a.m.

All children are invited to this annual event. Bring your egg baskets and have a great time!

 

Music Ministry

by George Massey

Lenten Music Series

Our Lenten Music Series begins on Sunday, March 6 and continues for our Palm Sunday service on March 20 and our Easter Service on March 27. On each of these Sundays, we will be joined by a small complement of instruments to accompany us for these three special musical presentations. March 6 will be an All Handel service, highlighted by 7 selections from his glorious Part II of The Messiah. Special anthems and our Children's Choir will be featured on Palm Sunday and brass instruments will assist us on Easter with extended anthems and the Hallelujah Chorus to conclude the service. We would also like to invite anyone in the congregation to sing this wonderful chorus with the Chancel Choir. Those that would like to join us are invited to come to the Chancel area during the singing of the final hymn. 

 Missions

Flea Market for Missions

Coming May 14

Spring is the time to begin thinking of cleaning out and getting rid of the extra stuff we have around the house. What better way to dispose of these items than by bringing it all together with your church family and sell it for missions. This year you will have that opportunity on May 14 at the church.

Last year the Flea Market brought in $2,000 for a generator for the new school at the Budaburum Refugee Camp in Ghana, Africa, and about $500 for UMW local mission projects. 15 booths were set up with over 50 Crown Heights members selling their treasures. This year the Genesis Sunday School Class will sponsor this event to raise money for various mission projects. They are hoping for more booths, more money, and even more fellowship. So start collecting your treasures to sell, put prices on them, and set aside May 14 as the day to spend with your church family raising money on behalf of others.