Crown Heights receives several visitors each week requesting food and assistance with transportation. We maintain a small food pantry, which has been providing canned goods to the less fortunate for many years. We have been blessed to have several of our parishioners donate food in the past; however, we are currently low and need to re-stock. With the cold months upon us, we would like to request your help. Here are the kinds of items we typically package: canned soups or stews (with meat), chili, tuna, peanut butter, vegetables, pasta, fruit. It’s best to have easy open cans, since many of our visitors are homeless.

We’re hoping to have bus passes available to offer very soon. Also, the high price of gas is making it difficult for many people to get to work. So we are exploring new ways to address this issue, such as buying gas gift cards (which can only be used for gas).

If you’d like to contribute to any of these projects, please bring your cans to the Church in leave the Narthex, or if you prefer to write a check, just note “Gas Assistance Fund” or “Canned Goods” on your check. Your support allows us to extend a helping hand to those in need. Thank you.

One of the reasons I choose to be United Methodist is our commitment to being in ministry beyond our local churches. We choose to be present in a variety of settings, sharing the good news of God’s love with students, the hungry, and children in need. Here are three Oklahoma-based United Methodist ministries that need your support in this Christmas season.

My good friend the Rev. Dr. Leslie Long is the Wesley Foundation Director at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. I received word from her today that the Wesley Foundation has been offered a matching grant of up to $5,000.

This gift has the potential to make a real difference! In order to receive the full $5,000 dollar gift they must raise the matching funds by December 30, 2007.

That’s not much time to raise that kind of money! Anything you can give will help.

The Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church sponsors five important programs for children throughout our state, under the umbrella of Circle of Care. These include the Boy’s Ranch at Gore, the Children’s Home at Tahlequah, the Frances E. Willard Ministry Center in Tulsa, and the Holsinger Home in Enid. All of these institutions provide residential care for children with mental health issues or in need of a group setting for foster care. In addition, we have the Child S.H.A.R.E. programs in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, providing support, clothing, baby furniture, diapers and other necessities for emergency foster care placements. While we support the Circle of Care through our apportionments, they are dependent upon the special offerings taken each year in December to complete their fiscal year. Your support could help change a child’s life.

Most of us at Crown Heights are well-acquainted with the work of Skyline. This year Imogene is preparing to help 600 families for Christmas. The Skyline Food Cupboard has served over 4,500 families through the end of September 2007. Their eye clinic has examined 325 adults and 38 children. Over 1,500 children were provided with new clothes for school. The Jets program, the McKee Clothes Closet, and the Saturday Night Live worship service all continue to grow. Gifts to Skyline minister to many different people in many different ways.

If you’d like to help with any of these extension ministries, simply make your check out to Crown Heights, and note the name of the ministry in the memo line. Thank you for sharing the joy of Christmas

We are taking orders for the poinsettias that beautify our sanctuary each year. Please contact the church office at 524-8428 if you would like to give one or more in honor or memory of relatives and friends. The plants are $12.00 each. You may mail your checks (please mark it “poinsettias”) or include them in the offering on Sunday (along with a form in the bulletin). The deadline for placing orders is Monday, December 10.

Your information will be listed in the Christmas Eve bulletin. And you may take your

flowers home with you following the services on Christmas Eve.

The Crown Heights Youth Group is planning a ski trip to Angel Fire, New Mexico, for January 18-21. We will leave from the church at 4:00 p.m. on Friday the 18th, and return to the church by 10:00 p.m. (if not earlier) on Monday the 21st.

The cost of trip will be $220. Youth who are planning to go need to pay a deposit of $100 by

December 21st. If you need financial assistance, or have any other questions, just talk with me

The Oklahoma City University Film Institute will present the highly-acclaimed film, “Joyeux Noel,” in a special matinee showing at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 2nd.

The public is invited to enjoy this holiday movie based on the true story of the Christmas Truce of

The film will be shown in the Kerr-McGee Auditorium of the Meinders School of Business on

Our pastor has seen the film and highly recommends it: “This is a beautiful, powerful movie that reminds us of the peace-making impact of friendship.”

Barbara Hester, who is organizing the after-movie discussion, notes, “The movie tells a remarkable story of conscience and courage.” Refreshments will be provided following the film.

Reminder: Angel Tree gifts need to be returned to the church, unwrapped, no later than December 9^th. The Key Club from Classen High School will wrap the presents for us. Be sure to clearly indicate the number of your child on your bag.

This is our most significant musical presentation of the year and we hope that everyone

will be in attendance on Sunday, December 9th at the second service, but also invite family

and friends. This years presentation is “Let Heaven and Nature Sing Gloria!” by Mark

Hayes. It blends familiar Latin phrases with new and old carols for a lovely variety of styles.

We will present over 38 musicians, including Joyce and Torrey Curtis, who will join us in

the choir with Christopher. We look forward to having you!

Cantata Rehearsal Reminders

Please take the opportunity to call family and friends and invite them!

December 20 is the last Thursday for our Whiz Kids to be with their tutors before school is out for the Christmas break. We are planning on making it a spectacular afternoon and evening for all of them and their families.

At 5 pm on the 20th the Whiz Kids, their families, and their tutors will enjoy a wonderful Christmas dinner together and be entertained by a few UCO theater majors, led by our own Myka Plunkett.

With 38 Whiz Kids, and 38 tutors, and the families of the kids, we are looking at a 'full to the brim' Fellowship Hall. There are several ways you can help.

1st: Keep our Whiz Kids and tutors and those involved in the celebration in your prayers each week.

3rd: During the dinner we are hoping to have about 20 servers to take the food to the families.

If you can be available between 4:45 and 6 pm on December 20th, this is your chance to

Advent begins with holy communion and the lighting of the candles on the Advent wreath.

On Sunday afternoon, December 9^th, we will gather at the church to go Christmas caroling, departing at 4:00. We hope to have enough to break up into two caroling groups to the homes of our homebound members, then we’ll join up at the end at one of the assisted living centers. We need people of all ages to help sing. Song sheets will be provided and you don’t have to be a great singer—your smile will make all the difference! Come share the joy of the season with your extended family members at Crown Heights.

Rehearsals have begun for our delightful, inter-generational Christmas pageant which will be presented with lunch following second service on December 16.

It’s not too late for you to be involved too, either behind the scenes or in front of the curtain! We need people to help with costumes, sets, and assisting our little ones back stage. We’re also looking for readers and singers who can help with the familiar carols. Upcoming rehearsals will be:

Please join in the fun and contact Myka at 580-276-8238. Or leave her a message at the church.

It just wouldn’t be Christmas without candlelight communion! Once again Crown Heights will be offering two opportunities for you and your family to worship on Christmas Eve. The 4:00 service will be somewhat shorter, remembering that very young children have a hard time sitting still on this exciting night. We hope that our children’s choir will be available to sing, and all the children will have the chance to join Dianne in singing “Away in a Manger.” Everyone will have the choice to participate in the individual candlelighting as we sing “Silent Night.” The 6:30 service will include beautiful solos in addition to the scripture readings, sermon and carols.

George has to be in Enid this Christmas Eve, so the choir members can choose which service they prefer to attend. The later service will also close in the glow of candlelight and the sound of “Joy to the World.” Child care will be provided for infants through preschoolers. Dress is casual. Invite your relatives and friends to join you for this most holy night!

Our 2008 Servant Leaders for Crown Heights were elected this past Sunday at our annual Charge Conference with District Superintendent Dan Pulver. While the list is impressive, (see the insert), these great people can’t do this work alone. In the coming weeks, we will be encouraging every member of Crown Heights to volunteer to serve in some significant way in 2008. The options are many and varied, ranging from committing to being a faithful, weekly participant in worship to assisting with planning fun fellowship events to being a part of the frequently needed “fix-up”crew to working as a Whiz Kids tutor. You could be a part of the prayer circle that receives prayer requests at home or by e-mail. You could be an usher or a liturgist in worship. We always need caring adults of all ages to help serve as a children’s Sunday School teacher or a nursery assistant.

The Care Team members will agree to consistently check on one homebound member, either by phone or in

person, representing the care of our congregation for each and every person. The Invitation Team will be

helping us create opportunities to invite our friends and acquaintances to events beyond Sunday mornings.

The Welcoming Team will be encouraging everyone to take the first 3 seconds at the end of worship to greet

someone we don’t know well, as well as finding other ways to offer genuine hospitality. The Discipleship

Team will help us develop new short-term groups and classes to help us grow in our individual faith journeys.

Believing that “where two or three are gathered” Christ will be present, the Prayer Team will meet in person

for prayer for one hour each week. These are just a few of new ways that you can connect with God and your

Christina Rossetti wrote these beautiful words in 1872: What can I give him, poor as I am?

Giving of your time, your energy, and your talent is precisely the kind of gift that pleases the Christ Child. How


About Us Worship Ministries Outreach News & Events Calendar The Trumpet Trumpet Archives Staff & Leaders Links Contact Us	Crown Heights Home > News & Events > Did You Know? Crown Heights receives several visitors each week requesting food and assistance with transportation. We maintain a small food pantry, which has been providing canned goods to the less fortunate for many years. We have been blessed to have several of our parishioners donate food in the past; however, we are currently low and need to re-stock. With the cold months upon us, we would like to request your help. Here are the kinds of items we typically package: canned soups or stews (with meat), chili, tuna, peanut butter, vegetables, pasta, fruit. It’s best to have easy open cans, since many of our visitors are homeless. We’re hoping to have bus passes available to offer very soon. Also, the high price of gas is making it difficult for many people to get to work. So we are exploring new ways to address this issue, such as buying gas gift cards (which can only be used for gas). If you’d like to contribute to any of these projects, please bring your cans to the Church in leave the Narthex, or if you prefer to write a check, just note “Gas Assistance Fund” or “Canned Goods” on your check. Your support allows us to extend a helping hand to those in need. Thank you. Extend Your Love Through... United Methodist Extension Ministries One of the reasons I choose to be United Methodist is our commitment to being in ministry beyond our local churches. We choose to be present in a variety of settings, sharing the good news of God’s love with students, the hungry, and children in need. Here are three Oklahoma-based United Methodist ministries that need your support in this Christmas season. Wesley Foundation at UCO My good friend the Rev. Dr. Leslie Long is the Wesley Foundation Director at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. I received word from her today that the Wesley Foundation has been offered a matching grant of up to $5,000. This gift has the potential to make a real difference! In order to receive the full $5,000 dollar gift they must raise the matching funds by December 30, 2007. That’s not much time to raise that kind of money! Anything you can give will help. All gifts should be sent to: The Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry at UCO P.O. Box 764 Edmond, OK 73083 Circle of Care The Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church sponsors five important programs for children throughout our state, under the umbrella of Circle of Care. These include the Boy’s Ranch at Gore, the Children’s Home at Tahlequah, the Frances E. Willard Ministry Center in Tulsa, and the Holsinger Home in Enid. All of these institutions provide residential care for children with mental health issues or in need of a group setting for foster care. In addition, we have the Child S.H.A.R.E. programs in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, providing support, clothing, baby furniture, diapers and other necessities for emergency foster care placements. While we support the Circle of Care through our apportionments, they are dependent upon the special offerings taken each year in December to complete their fiscal year. Your support could help change a child’s life. Skyline Urban Ministries Most of us at Crown Heights are well-acquainted with the work of Skyline. This year Imogene is preparing to help 600 families for Christmas. The Skyline Food Cupboard has served over 4,500 families through the end of September 2007. Their eye clinic has examined 325 adults and 38 children. Over 1,500 children were provided with new clothes for school. The Jets program, the McKee Clothes Closet, and the Saturday Night Live worship service all continue to grow. Gifts to Skyline minister to many different people in many different ways. If you’d like to help with any of these extension ministries, simply make your check out to Crown Heights, and note the name of the ministry in the memo line. Thank you for sharing the joy of Christmas - Dianne We are taking orders for the poinsettias that beautify our sanctuary each year. Please contact the church office at 524-8428 if you would like to give one or more in honor or memory of relatives and friends. The plants are $12.00 each. You may mail your checks (please mark it “poinsettias”) or include them in the offering on Sunday (along with a form in the bulletin). The deadline for placing orders is Monday, December 10. Your information will be listed in the Christmas Eve bulletin. And you may take your flowers home with you following the services on Christmas Eve. Youth Ski Trip Plans By Tyler Kirk The Crown Heights Youth Group is planning a ski trip to Angel Fire, New Mexico, for January 18-21. We will leave from the church at 4:00 p.m. on Friday the 18th, and return to the church by 10:00 p.m. (if not earlier) on Monday the 21st. The cost of trip will be $220. Youth who are planning to go need to pay a deposit of $100 by December 21st. If you need financial assistance, or have any other questions, just talk with me on Sunday. Free Movie This Sunday The Oklahoma City University Film Institute will present the highly-acclaimed film, “Joyeux Noel,” in a special matinee showing at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 2nd. The public is invited to enjoy this holiday movie based on the true story of the Christmas Truce of 1914. The film will be shown in the Kerr-McGee Auditorium of the Meinders School of Business on the OCU campus at NW 27th and McKinley. The movie is rated PG-13 for limited violence, language, and implied sexuality. Our pastor has seen the film and highly recommends it: “This is a beautiful, powerful movie that reminds us of the peace-making impact of friendship.” Barbara Hester, who is organizing the after-movie discussion, notes, “The movie tells a remarkable story of conscience and courage.” Refreshments will be provided following the film. Reminder: Angel Tree gifts need to be returned to the church, unwrapped, no later than December 9^th. The Key Club from Classen High School will wrap the presents for us. Be sure to clearly indicate the number of your child on your bag. Music Ministries By George Massey Christmas Cantata This is our most significant musical presentation of the year and we hope that everyone will be in attendance on Sunday, December 9th at the second service, but also invite family and friends. This years presentation is “Let Heaven and Nature Sing Gloria!” by Mark Hayes. It blends familiar Latin phrases with new and old carols for a lovely variety of styles. We will present over 38 musicians, including Joyce and Torrey Curtis, who will join us in the choir with Christopher. We look forward to having you! Cantata Rehearsal Reminders Chancel Choir, please ensure these dates and times are on your calendars: Wednesday, December 5 7:15 until 9:00 p.m. Our rehearsal with our guest vocalists. Saturday, December 8 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. In the Sanctuary with the Chancel Orchestra (coffee donuts at 9:30 a.m.. Rehearsal begins promptly at 10:00 Sunday, December 9 10:15 a.m. promptly For a warm up (robe AFTER this rehearsal.) Please take the opportunity to call family and friends and invite them! Whiz Kids Christmas Dinner By Janet Kingsolver Here’s your chance to help with Whiz Kids. December 20 is the last Thursday for our Whiz Kids to be with their tutors before school is out for the Christmas break. We are planning on making it a spectacular afternoon and evening for all of them and their families. At 5 pm on the 20th the Whiz Kids, their families, and their tutors will enjoy a wonderful Christmas dinner together and be entertained by a few UCO theater majors, led by our own Myka Plunkett. Phyllis Henry has agreed to lead a group in preparing the meal for the evening. With 38 Whiz Kids, and 38 tutors, and the families of the kids, we are looking at a 'full to the brim' Fellowship Hall. There are several ways you can help. 1st: Keep our Whiz Kids and tutors and those involved in the celebration in your prayers each week. 2nd: Phyllis Henry needs help during the day to prepare the meal. 3rd: During the dinner we are hoping to have about 20 servers to take the food to the families. If you can be available between 4:45 and 6 pm on December 20th, this is your chance to be a part of this wonderful ministry. Call the church to volunteer your time on December 20. Sunday, December 2 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Advent begins with holy communion and the lighting of the candles on the Advent wreath. Sunday, December 9 11:00 a.m. Choir Cantata “Let Heaven and Nature Sing Gloria!” Sunday, December 9 4:00 p.m. Come Christmas Caroling with Us! On Sunday afternoon, December 9^th, we will gather at the church to go Christmas caroling, departing at 4:00. We hope to have enough to break up into two caroling groups to the homes of our homebound members, then we’ll join up at the end at one of the assisted living centers. We need people of all ages to help sing. Song sheets will be provided and you don’t have to be a great singer—your smile will make all the difference! Come share the joy of the season with your extended family members at Crown Heights. Sunday, December 16 Noon “The Very Important Christmas Pageant” Rehearsals have begun for our delightful, inter-generational Christmas pageant which will be presented with lunch following second service on December 16. It’s not too late for you to be involved too, either behind the scenes or in front of the curtain! We need people to help with costumes, sets, and assisting our little ones back stage. We’re also looking for readers and singers who can help with the familiar carols. Upcoming rehearsals will be: Sunday, December 2 (includes pizza lunch) noon-2:30 Saturday, December 15^th 10:00-noon For more information contact Myka at 580-276-8238. Volunteer actors, singers, stage set, cooks, etc. are still needed. Please join in the fun and contact Myka at 580-276-8238. Or leave her a message at the church. December 23 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. “True Love,” a sermon in song December 24 4:00 & 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion It just wouldn’t be Christmas without candlelight communion! Once again Crown Heights will be offering two opportunities for you and your family to worship on Christmas Eve. The 4:00 service will be somewhat shorter, remembering that very young children have a hard time sitting still on this exciting night. We hope that our children’s choir will be available to sing, and all the children will have the chance to join Dianne in singing “Away in a Manger.” Everyone will have the choice to participate in the individual candlelighting as we sing “Silent Night.” The 6:30 service will include beautiful solos in addition to the scripture readings, sermon and carols. George has to be in Enid this Christmas Eve, so the choir members can choose which service they prefer to attend. The later service will also close in the glow of candlelight and the sound of “Joy to the World.” Child care will be provided for infants through preschoolers. Dress is casual. Invite your relatives and friends to join you for this most holy night! New Servant Leaders Elected Our 2008 Servant Leaders for Crown Heights were elected this past Sunday at our annual Charge Conference with District Superintendent Dan Pulver. While the list is impressive, (see the insert), these great people can’t do this work alone. In the coming weeks, we will be encouraging every member of Crown Heights to volunteer to serve in some significant way in 2008. The options are many and varied, ranging from committing to being a faithful, weekly participant in worship to assisting with planning fun fellowship events to being a part of the frequently needed “fix-up”crew to working as a Whiz Kids tutor. You could be a part of the prayer circle that receives prayer requests at home or by e-mail. You could be an usher or a liturgist in worship. We always need caring adults of all ages to help serve as a children’s Sunday School teacher or a nursery assistant. The Care Team members will agree to consistently check on one homebound member, either by phone or in person, representing the care of our congregation for each and every person. The Invitation Team will be helping us create opportunities to invite our friends and acquaintances to events beyond Sunday mornings. The Welcoming Team will be encouraging everyone to take the first 3 seconds at the end of worship to greet someone we don’t know well, as well as finding other ways to offer genuine hospitality. The Discipleship Team will help us develop new short-term groups and classes to help us grow in our individual faith journeys. Believing that “where two or three are gathered” Christ will be present, the Prayer Team will meet in person for prayer for one hour each week. These are just a few of new ways that you can connect with God and your faith family more deeply. Christina Rossetti wrote these beautiful words in 1872: What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man, I would do my part; Yet, what I can I give him: give my heart. Giving of your time, your energy, and your talent is precisely the kind of gift that pleases the Christ Child. How will you serve in 2008? What will you give? Administrative Council: Chairperson Paige Selby Secretary Laura Whitaker Lay Leader Marsha Funk Lay Member of Annual Conference Bob Anthony Alternate Lay Member Phyllis Henry Membership Secretary Stacy Gilbert Coombe UMW President Susie Wallace + chairpersons of committees and teams Trustees: Chairperson to be elected in January 2008 Mike Giese, Dennis Moore, Ann Trudgeon Steve Harris, Bill McKnight, Carol Weaver Julie Williams, Julie Armstrong, Tom Krone Staff-Parish Relations Committee: + Lay Leader and Lay Member of Annual Conf. Chairperson Lee Endicott Barbara Batchelor, Jeanene Carver Ed Armstrong, Glendon Hudson, Kate Lott Lee Endicott, Sally Hayes Lay Leadership: Chairperson Dianne Peters Vice-Chairperson Christy Harris Bill McKnight, Joy Robison, Susie Wallace Lee Endicott, Christy Harris, Steve Langer Charlene Jones, Ed Wise Finance: Chairperson Mike Brown Treasurer Colleen Bicket Financial Secretary Libby Campbell Ad Council Chairperson Paige Selby Lay Leader Marsha Funk Lay Member of Annual Conference Bob Anthony Trustees Chairperson Mike Giese SPRC Chairperson Lee Endicott Endowment Chairperson John Funk At-Large Jacob Benedict Laura Whitaker Colleen Bicket Endowment Trustees: Chairperson John Funk 2009 Mike Brown, Jack Thompson 2011 Colleen Bicket, John Funk 2013 Dennis Moore, Charlotte Trobaugh Missions Team: Chairperson Bruce Pitts Invitation Team: Chairperson Cindy Krone Welcoming Team: Chairperson Julie Benedict Discipleship Team: Chairperson Evelyn Phyffer Sunday School Secretary Mike Brown Holland Lectureship Planning Group Bob Anthony, Elizabeth Anthony, Bill Henry, Mac Thompson, Robert Trobaugh Communications Team: Chairperson Beverly Endicott Prayer Team: Chairperson Carol Higgins Worship Team: Chairperson Stacey Harris Staff: Dianne Peters, George Massey, Mariann Searle Care Team: Chairperson Janet Kingsolver Children’s Ministry Council: Chairperson Shelley Giese Staff: Myka Plunkett, Matt Bergman Youth Ministry Council: Chairperson Jeff Peters Staff: Tyler Kirk Fellowship Team: Chairperson Brigette Gean Meals Provider: Sally Hayes Staff are ex officio members of the Administrative Council Indicates Administrative Council members Return to the top.*
	Last updated: April 16, 2008. © 2002-2006 Crown Heights United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.