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April 2007
The Pastor’s Column
By Rodney
Newman
Consider the Cross
During the Lenten season, our thoughts turn to the last
week of Jesus’ life and his death on the cross. Much like the Christmas
story, it’s easy for the accounts from the different gospels to blur
together into a patchwork narrative. But each of the four gospel writers
brings a different perspective in response to these events. The early
Christians had to deal with the scandalous fact that their leader, the one
they called Messiah, was executed as a criminal in humiliating and public
fashion. Why did Jesus die this way? What meaning could there be to redeem
this tragic death?
The oldest gospel, Mark, focuses on the suffering of
Jesus as a means to show his solidarity with the human condition common to
us all and his nature as Messiah. Matthew amplifies his theme of
discipleship by showing Jesus as obedient to the end. Luke hammers home the
fact that Jesus was innocent of all criminal charges, lending legitimacy to
his ministry and to that of his early church. As usual, John takes a
completely different turn from the other three. He sees the passion and
crucifixion of Jesus as his glorification, triumphantly overcoming death in
order to usher in the freedom of eternal life.
Having four such different interpretations within the
New Testament offers us a profound gift. As we travel through our life
experiences, one will speak to us more clearly than the others. When going
through trials, I find comfort in knowing that Jesus suffered along with us.
When spiritual lethargy comes knocking, Jesus’ obedience inspires me to
revisit the source of my faith. I invite you in these days leading to Easter
to spend time to consider the passion of Jesus through reading the gospel
accounts and at our Holy Week services to hear how God is speaking to you
this Lent.
Holy Week Services
Holy Thursday
April 5
X
6:00 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
April 6
X
6:00 p.m.
A brief service of
prayer, scripture, and music in meditation on the death of Jesus.
Easter Day
April 8
X
8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
Two
glorious services in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus with a special
musical ensemble and the Chancel Choir ending with Handel’s Hallelujah
Chorus.
Lenten Giving Tree for Missions
 Giving
on behalf of others is a traditional way to observe the season of Lent. You
may support specific United Methodist mission agencies through our giving
tree. Select a particular ministry you wish to support from the trees
located in the narthex of the church and in the lobby of the Youth
Activities Building. These trees have cards with the mission’s name and an
amount representing a percentage of our church’s gift toward that cause.
Take a card and return it with a check to the church for the prescribed
amount. Or you may wish to give a gift of any amount to be used where most
needed in our missional giving. You may do so by mailing a check to the
church office or dropping your gift marked Easter Offering in the
offering plate.
 Special
Gifts
Gift
to Youth Program in honor of the five confirmed members on March 4
Libby Wheat
Gift to Music Ministry in memory of Billye
Bowman
Cheryl A. Weintraub
New
Members
Ed and Erma Wise joined by Profession of Faith
on March 4.
On March 4 we welcomed our confirmation class of five
young men:
Zack
Armstrong
Harry
Endicott
Benjamin
Wallace
Wiley
Walton
Tanner
Wimmer
This Month in Worship
by Reverend Newman
The
first Sunday of April also begins Holy Week. Our musicians are planning a
special day, our children will lead our palm processional, and we’ll hear of
Jesus entry into
Jerusalem.
Easter promises to be another special day as we go with the women to the
tomb and hear the witness of the resurrection.
Sermon Titles &
Texts
April 1
Ominous Beginning
Luke
19:28-40
Palm
Sunday
April
8 …Then They Remembered
Luke
24:1-12
Easter Sunday
Sermon
Series on Celtic Christianity
There has been a
revival of interest in the form of Christianity practiced by the ancient
Celtic people. Ireland didn’t succumb to Roman domination so Christianity
developed with different emphases from the Roman church. An exploration of
the Celtic church from the early middle ages yields rich spiritual
traditions that include a greater appreciation for the whole of creation, an
emphasis on the Trinity, and recognizing God in our daily routine, to name
but a few.
In the six weeks of
Eastertide beginning April 11, we will listen to the early Celtic Christians
as guides on how we may enrich our own spiritual development and nurture. To
enhance our celebration of this tradition, we will welcome a number of
Celtic musicians to our 11:00 worship services on four of these Sundays.
Ginger Howl from First UMC Stillwater will also join us to lead us in
singing Celtic-inspired hymns.
Invite your friends and
neighbors to be part of what promises to be a lively and meaningful series.
April 15
Colonies of Heaven
Hebrews 12:1-3
2nd
Sunday of Easter
Musical Guests: Banish
Misfortune
April 22
More Than Ordinary
2 Corinthians 4:1-7
3rd
Sunday of Easter
Musical Guests: Calliope House
April 29
Blessings
Psalm 91
4th
Sunday of Easter
Musical Guest: Ginger Howl
Chancel Choir Dates
by George
Massey
Easter Service Preparation
We
will have our dress rehearsal for the Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday services
on Saturday, March 31, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. until
noon. The handbells will
meet with us for thirty minutes during that time.
Chancel
Choir Easter Schedule
Please be robed at
8:00 a.m. on Easter Sunday for the first service. (Breakfast will be
served in between the services!)
Children’s Ministry News
by Ryan Steer
Easter Egg Hunt
March 31
We will have our egg hunt early this year. Make plans now
for the Saturday before Palm Sunday, March 31, at
10:00 a.m. for this
festive time.
Children and Children’s Choir
Palm Sunday -
We will rehearse our Palm
Sunday palm procession and our special anthem on Palm Sunday, April 1, at
10:15 a.m.
Mother’s Day –
Children’s Choir will sing at the
11:00 service.
Death
Roy Nelson, Jr., husband of Cora, passed away
on February 26.
Baptism
Carter Ray Webster
was baptized on March 18. Carter is the son of Kacie Roesler and Jimmy
Webster. Proud grandparents are Anita and Richard Roesler.
 Crown
Heights Café
April 25
Come share
dinner together with our church family at the Crown Heights Café on April
25. Dinner is served between 5:30 and 6:30 pm. The cost is $3.00 - $4.00 for
adults, $2.00 for children 3 -11 and children under 3 are free.
Easter Lilies
If you would like to give one or more lilies in honor or
memory of relatives or friends,
please notify the church. Deadline is Monday, April 2.
Lilies are $11.00 each.
Missions
Not Alone Day
April 21
We're
joining with Crown Heights Christian and First Presbyterian churches again
this year to help our local community through “Not Alone Day” on April 21.
Look at these ways you can participate:
- Refurbish
a house
- Check
smoke alarms
- Work
on yard cleanup
- Improve
our local Putnam Heights Elementary
- Make
baby blankets
- Make
cards for shut-ins
- Provide
lunch for those working
- Make
cookies for fire and police stations
Sign-up boards for some particular areas are in the Breezeway.
Let's
join together to help our community as we share God’s love in service with
our neighbors. Call me with any questions –
Greg Jorgensen
at 840-1878.
United Methodist Women
Executive
Committee Meeting
On Tuesday, April 10,
at 6:00 p.m. the UMW Executive Committee will meet in the parlor.
Child care will be
provided.
UMW Gathering
Saturday, April 28
 All
circle members and women interested in finding out more about United
Methodist Women are invited to join us for a Crown Heights UMW Unit
Gathering on Saturday, April 28, 11:00 a.m., at Café Do Brasil, 440
NW 11 (11th & Walker). We will enjoy a fantastic brunch and have a few
announcements about upcoming events. Hope to see you there!
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