CHUMC: News & Events: The Trumpet

Many Sunday evenings you will find me (and often Jeff) camped in front of the TV watching ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, hosted by Ty Pennington. In case you haven’t seen one of these shows, the formula is simple: find a family in desperate need of a new home, with no resources to make it happen. Often the families have survived terrible tragedies–fire, hurricanes, the death of the breadwinner. Others live with ongoing challenges–serious health issues, chronic poverty, a darkening future. Once the family is selected, Ty and his team of designers do a little background work, including recruiting LOTS of local volunteers and businesses, in preparation for the major renovation.

When all the pieces are in place, the family is surprised with a week-long vacation, during which time their new home is created. They get tiny glimpses of the demolition and progress during the week, but basically have no idea what to expect when they return. The last 10-15 minutes of the show is the tour of their new abode, when they marvel at all the changes and the ways the design team has shaped this home to meet their specific needs. Needless to say, every show includes lots of excitement, tears and gratitude, as another family enters a new future.

I’m not really into other “reality” shows, but this one always pulls me in. I often learn something new, since many of the medical conditions or limitations are quite unusual. Such knowledge creates within me a new-found compassion for the families and individuals who have to cope with such challenges. I am frequently touched by the dire circumstances in which some parents are trying to raise their children. Their love for their young ones is no less than my deep attachment to Amanda, but their resources are so limited. Witnessing their conditions stirs up so many emotions in me—gratitude, embarrassment at my own wealth, anger at the systems that have failed, and inspiration as these parents courageously do their best. I’m also inspired by the cooperative efforts of the family’s neighbors, many of whom have never met these people but who now know the need and have come to help. You’d think that mass chaos could ensue at any moment, given the number of volunteers, but somehow it all works. Clearly, this is meaningful work for each and every person who is involved. They all have chosen to be there and to give of themselves, with no thought of remuneration. It is a powerful picture of humanity at our best. The brief interviews with the family members, the designers and volunteers often include moments of choking up. Try as I might, I virtually always end up with tears in my eyes too. I am amazed and grateful that ABC and their sponsors choose to invest this kind of money in changing people’s lives (and making compelling TV drama.) I am hopeful that the show will inspire other individuals, groups and communities to engage in similar cooperative efforts, which will help us get beyond our shells. And I am heartened by power of love, determination, and generosity to change our world for the better.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered James Harnish’s new Lenten study featured Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as a key metaphor for what God wants to do in our lives! He writes, “God intends nothing less than the total reconstruction of our lives, so that we can become the kind of people in whom the living Christ can take up residence and through whom the Kingdom—the redemptive reign, loving purpose, and saving will of God revealed in Jesus Christ—can become a tangible reality in this world.” Harnish maintains that it takes radical renovation to live a “cross-shaped life.” I’ll be using his study book as a springboard for my Lenten sermon series. At least one of our adult Sunday School classes will be using it as well. (You can pick up a copy of Radical Renovation: Living the Cross-Shaped Life at Cokesbury on May, if you’re interested.) I’m not sure if I’m up for an extreme makeover in my own life, but I do know that the dynamics of radical change, determination, courage, love, commitment and transformation are the very “stuff” of Lent. Are you ready and willing for God to design a new you? Will you consent to the renovations that need to take place? These will be our questions on this year’s Lenten journey. I hope you’ll join us.

Music Ministries

Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday

Dress Rehearsal

Chancel Choir, please mark your calendars for our Dress Rehearsal for both Palm and Easter Sundays. It will be Saturday, March 15th from 10:00 a.m. until noon. On Palm and Easter Sundays, we will meet in the Sanctuary at 10:15 a.m. for our Warm-Up, then proceed to robing.

We will present an Orchestral Ensemble of 10 for both Sundays, and present three extended Anthems on each of the Sundays.

UMW News

UMW to gather on March 1

United Methodist Women, all circles, will gather for a general unit meeting and lunch at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 1, at Iron Starr, Northwest. 36th and Shartel. If you are a member of any circle or would like to find out more about UMW membership, please join us for this fun gathering. We will have a brief program and will present special membership pins to our 50-year members. Child care will be provided at the church. Hope to see you there on March 1!

UMW Executive Committee

The UMW Executive Committee will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, February 13, in the Parlor. Child care will be provided. Officer and circle chairpersons please attend, or send another representative from your circle.

We had an excellent turn-out for our first Administrative Council meeting of the new year. The group agreed to read together over the coming months Bishop Robert Schnase’s book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. The next meeting will be on Sunday afternoon, February 17th, at 2:00, when we will be discussing chapter 1, “Radical Hospitality.”

Please thank and keep these leaders in your prayers: Paige Selby, Chairperson; Laura Whitaker, Secretary; Janet Kingsolver, Care Team; Shelly Giese, Children’s Ministry Council; Beverly Endicott, Communications; Evelyn Phyffer, Discipleship Team; John Funk, Endowment Committee; Brigette Gean, Fellowship Team; Mike Brown, Finance Committee; Cindy Krone, Invitation Team; Marsha Funk, Lay Leader; Christy Harris, Leadership Development Committee; Bob Anthony, Lay Member of Annual Conference; Phyllis Henry, Alternative Lay Member; Stacy Gilbert Coombe, Membership Secretary; Bruce Pitts, Missions Team; Carole Higgins, Prayer Team; Lee Endicott, Staff-Parish Relations Committee; Mike Giese, Trustees; Susie Wallace and Betty Langer, UMW Co-Presidents; Julie Benedict, Welcoming Team; Stacey Harris, Worship Team; Jeff Peters, Youth Ministry Council; George Massey, Music Ministries; Myka Plunkett, Children’s Ministries; and Tyler Kirk, Youth Ministries; Dianne Peters, Pastor.

So far we have received responses from 30 people to our requests to help us know how you’d like to serve in 2008. If you haven’t had a chance to fill yours out, please do so and drop it by the church office. We still need lots of people to staff our various ministry teams and to do very specific tasks like ushering, answering the phone in the church office or serving as a liturgist on Sunday mornings. If you’ve lost your form, just give us a ring and we’ll send you another. Together we can become a fruitful congregation!

The cost is $3.00 - $4.00 for adults, $2.00 for children 3 -11 and children under 3 are free.

Join us this Sunday for Souper Bowl of Caring. We will have a delicious pot luck of soups with all the “fixins”. We will also be collecting money and canned food items for our food Closet and for Skyline Urban Ministries. Help us continue this tradition by joining us and bringing something to share as a church family and something to give to those that are hungry.

Our own Evelyn Phyffer will be leading a “Volunteers in Mission” team to Liberia this coming week, February 4-21st. Please keep Eveyln, Terrill, Pat Parvin, and Matt Carr in your prayers for safe travel and effective work on this educational and construction mission. Funds for education in Liberia are still needed, so if you have not done so already, please give your gift to Evelyn this Sunday!

As United Methodists, we set aside “a portion meant for others” which helps to fund over 40 ministries beyond our local congregation. This is one of the great strengths of a connectional denomination, where each local church participates according to its means in the outreach and mission of the whole. Apportionments are based on a specific percentage of what each church spends on its own local expenses, averaged out over a three-year period. Typically, churches give about 20% of their total budgets toward apportionments, which includes not only many missions but also covers health insurance and pensions for the clergy. Through the generous giving of Crown Heights’ members and the diligent commitment of our Finance Committee, our church was able to complete our fair share of the apportionments for 2007, giving $59,554! Thank you for helping us meet this important goal!

One of the unique new askings for 2008 is a special gift from each church to help fund the formation of a fully-accredited seminary program on OCU’s campus. Through partnering with St. Paul’s School of Theology in Kansas City, we are now able to offer courses toward the completion of a Master of Divinity degree at Oklahoma City University. Since many of the people who are feeling called to ordained ministry are coming from other careers, with spouses and family needs to consider, offering a United Methodist seminary program in Oklahoma will be a major asset for our future. With the support of the churches and special fundraising efforts by OCU, we hope to have a fully functioning program, on-site, in five years time. An undertaking of this magnitude would be impossible without the cooperative efforts of all our United Methodist congregations. Doesn’t it feel great to be part of something bigger than ourselves!

Lent is the time to invite God to be at work within us, shaping us from the inside out into the image of Christ. These 40 days, plus Sundays, will prepare us for the resurrection of Easter morning. Dianne’s sermon is titled, “Under Construction,” based on Philippians 2:1-8 and Psalm 51:1-12. Ash Wednesday is traditionally the day when we vow to start over in our spiritual lives, seeking deeper ways to connect with God in Christ. The service will include the optional imposition of ashes, in the shape of the cross, on your forehead or the back of your hand. Please join us for this special time of worship at 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, February 6th. Child care will be provided.

Occasionally you’ll hear someone ask, “So what are you giving up for Lent?” We tend to trivialize this spiritual practice by responding with “chocolate” or “brussel sprouts” or some other food item we don’t really like anyway. But the original intention was to give up something of substance in order to be closer to God and to serve our neighbors. Maybe you’d like to try giving up 30 minutes of TV each day in order to read your Bible and pray, or perhaps you’d like to fast from one meal each week and give the money you would have spent to those who are hungry. Your Lenten gift is limited only by your own imagination. Find something that touches your heart, that truly makes a difference in the lives of others, and give yourself to it during this Lenten season.

Soon we will be putting up our Lenten Giving Trees for Missions. These trees will include cards with some of the specific missions we support through Crown Heights. You’ll be encouraged to choose one or two—or more!—and agree to fund these ministries with your Easter offering. This means you have until March 23rd to save up your pennies to meet this important goal. This is a great thing to do as a family during Lent, choosing a specific ministry together and then adding loose change to a special container each day as you work toward your total. Be watching for more information on each of these special missions, through which we share “a portion meant for others.”

Like the cathedrals of Europe, (and our own sanctuary), we are called to live out our faith in the shape of a cross. Lent is the season to focus on such expectations.

Who would have thought the Son of God would show up washing feet? How does serving lead to greatness?

Two wealthy men encountered Jesus, but came away with very different experiences. What is the one thing that interferes with our relationship with God?

As Christians, our definition of love is shaped by the cross. How do we put such love into action?

Jesus broke down barriers and brought about reconciliation between humanity and God. Where are we promoting reconciliation?

Experience Jesus’ last night with his disciples, as we share communion around his table.

Even though our lives have been under renovation this Lenten season, God isn’t finished with us yet.

fellowship with a wonderful turkey meal, singing, and laughing. The 38 Whiz Kids,

Phyllis Henry and John Harris coordinated the dinner with help from Marcia Brown,


About Us Worship Ministries Outreach News & Events Calendar The Trumpet Trumpet Archives Staff & Leaders Links Contact Us	Crown Heights Home > News & Events > Transformation Enacted Many Sunday evenings you will find me (and often Jeff) camped in front of the TV watching ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, hosted by Ty Pennington. In case you haven’t seen one of these shows, the formula is simple: find a family in desperate need of a new home, with no resources to make it happen. Often the families have survived terrible tragedies–fire, hurricanes, the death of the breadwinner. Others live with ongoing challenges–serious health issues, chronic poverty, a darkening future. Once the family is selected, Ty and his team of designers do a little background work, including recruiting LOTS of local volunteers and businesses, in preparation for the major renovation. When all the pieces are in place, the family is surprised with a week-long vacation, during which time their new home is created. They get tiny glimpses of the demolition and progress during the week, but basically have no idea what to expect when they return. The last 10-15 minutes of the show is the tour of their new abode, when they marvel at all the changes and the ways the design team has shaped this home to meet their specific needs. Needless to say, every show includes lots of excitement, tears and gratitude, as another family enters a new future. I’m not really into other “reality” shows, but this one always pulls me in. I often learn something new, since many of the medical conditions or limitations are quite unusual. Such knowledge creates within me a new-found compassion for the families and individuals who have to cope with such challenges. I am frequently touched by the dire circumstances in which some parents are trying to raise their children. Their love for their young ones is no less than my deep attachment to Amanda, but their resources are so limited. Witnessing their conditions stirs up so many emotions in me—gratitude, embarrassment at my own wealth, anger at the systems that have failed, and inspiration as these parents courageously do their best. I’m also inspired by the cooperative efforts of the family’s neighbors, many of whom have never met these people but who now know the need and have come to help. You’d think that mass chaos could ensue at any moment, given the number of volunteers, but somehow it all works. Clearly, this is meaningful work for each and every person who is involved. They all have chosen to be there and to give of themselves, with no thought of remuneration. It is a powerful picture of humanity at our best. The brief interviews with the family members, the designers and volunteers often include moments of choking up. Try as I might, I virtually always end up with tears in my eyes too. I am amazed and grateful that ABC and their sponsors choose to invest this kind of money in changing people’s lives (and making compelling TV drama.) I am hopeful that the show will inspire other individuals, groups and communities to engage in similar cooperative efforts, which will help us get beyond our shells. And I am heartened by power of love, determination, and generosity to change our world for the better. Imagine my surprise when I discovered James Harnish’s new Lenten study featured Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as a key metaphor for what God wants to do in our lives! He writes, “God intends nothing less than the total reconstruction of our lives, so that we can become the kind of people in whom the living Christ can take up residence and through whom the Kingdom—the redemptive reign, loving purpose, and saving will of God revealed in Jesus Christ—can become a tangible reality in this world.” Harnish maintains that it takes radical renovation to live a “cross-shaped life.” I’ll be using his study book as a springboard for my Lenten sermon series. At least one of our adult Sunday School classes will be using it as well. (You can pick up a copy of Radical Renovation: Living the Cross-Shaped Life at Cokesbury on May, if you’re interested.) I’m not sure if I’m up for an extreme makeover in my own life, but I do know that the dynamics of radical change, determination, courage, love, commitment and transformation are the very “stuff” of Lent. Are you ready and willing for God to design a new you? Will you consent to the renovations that need to take place? These will be our questions on this year’s Lenten journey. I hope you’ll join us. Blessings, Dianne Music Ministries Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday Dress Rehearsal Chancel Choir, please mark your calendars for our Dress Rehearsal for both Palm and Easter Sundays. It will be Saturday, March 15th from 10:00 a.m. until noon. On Palm and Easter Sundays, we will meet in the Sanctuary at 10:15 a.m. for our Warm-Up, then proceed to robing. We will present an Orchestral Ensemble of 10 for both Sundays, and present three extended Anthems on each of the Sundays. UMW News UMW to gather on March 1 United Methodist Women, all circles, will gather for a general unit meeting and lunch at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 1, at Iron Starr, Northwest. 36th and Shartel. If you are a member of any circle or would like to find out more about UMW membership, please join us for this fun gathering. We will have a brief program and will present special membership pins to our 50-year members. Child care will be provided at the church. Hope to see you there on March 1! UMW Executive Committee The UMW Executive Committee will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, February 13, in the Parlor. Child care will be provided. Officer and circle chairpersons please attend, or send another representative from your circle. 2008 Administrative Council Off to a Great Start! We had an excellent turn-out for our first Administrative Council meeting of the new year. The group agreed to read together over the coming months Bishop Robert Schnase’s book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. The next meeting will be on Sunday afternoon, February 17th, at 2:00, when we will be discussing chapter 1, “Radical Hospitality.” Please thank and keep these leaders in your prayers: Paige Selby, Chairperson; Laura Whitaker, Secretary; Janet Kingsolver, Care Team; Shelly Giese, Children’s Ministry Council; Beverly Endicott, Communications; Evelyn Phyffer, Discipleship Team; John Funk, Endowment Committee; Brigette Gean, Fellowship Team; Mike Brown, Finance Committee; Cindy Krone, Invitation Team; Marsha Funk, Lay Leader; Christy Harris, Leadership Development Committee; Bob Anthony, Lay Member of Annual Conference; Phyllis Henry, Alternative Lay Member; Stacy Gilbert Coombe, Membership Secretary; Bruce Pitts, Missions Team; Carole Higgins, Prayer Team; Lee Endicott, Staff-Parish Relations Committee; Mike Giese, Trustees; Susie Wallace and Betty Langer, UMW Co-Presidents; Julie Benedict, Welcoming Team; Stacey Harris, Worship Team; Jeff Peters, Youth Ministry Council; George Massey, Music Ministries; Myka Plunkett, Children’s Ministries; and Tyler Kirk, Youth Ministries; Dianne Peters, Pastor. Thank You for Volunteering! So far we have received responses from 30 people to our requests to help us know how you’d like to serve in 2008. If you haven’t had a chance to fill yours out, please do so and drop it by the church office. We still need lots of people to staff our various ministry teams and to do very specific tasks like ushering, answering the phone in the church office or serving as a liturgist on Sunday mornings. If you’ve lost your form, just give us a ring and we’ll send you another. Together we can become a fruitful congregation! Valentine’s Day –February 14 Remember to send a valentine to those who may be alone this Valentine’s Day. Or bring a smile to someone’s face by letting them know you remembered them. CHUM Café is coming: Wednesday, February 27th at 5:30 p.m. This is a great way to get better acquainted with your church family and enjoy some delicious food! The cost is $3.00 - $4.00 for adults, $2.00 for children 3 -11 and children under 3 are free. Souper Bowl Sunday This Sunday at noon Join us this Sunday for Souper Bowl of Caring. We will have a delicious pot luck of soups with all the “fixins”. We will also be collecting money and canned food items for our food Closet and for Skyline Urban Ministries. Help us continue this tradition by joining us and bringing something to share as a church family and something to give to those that are hungry. Mission Prayer Partners Needed! Our own Evelyn Phyffer will be leading a “Volunteers in Mission” team to Liberia this coming week, February 4-21st. Please keep Eveyln, Terrill, Pat Parvin, and Matt Carr in your prayers for safe travel and effective work on this educational and construction mission. Funds for education in Liberia are still needed, so if you have not done so already, please give your gift to Evelyn this Sunday! 2007 Apportionments Paid in Full! As United Methodists, we set aside “a portion meant for others” which helps to fund over 40 ministries beyond our local congregation. This is one of the great strengths of a connectional denomination, where each local church participates according to its means in the outreach and mission of the whole. Apportionments are based on a specific percentage of what each church spends on its own local expenses, averaged out over a three-year period. Typically, churches give about 20% of their total budgets toward apportionments, which includes not only many missions but also covers health insurance and pensions for the clergy. Through the generous giving of Crown Heights’ members and the diligent commitment of our Finance Committee, our church was able to complete our fair share of the apportionments for 2007, giving $59,554! Thank you for helping us meet this important goal! One of the unique new askings for 2008 is a special gift from each church to help fund the formation of a fully-accredited seminary program on OCU’s campus. Through partnering with St. Paul’s School of Theology in Kansas City, we are now able to offer courses toward the completion of a Master of Divinity degree at Oklahoma City University. Since many of the people who are feeling called to ordained ministry are coming from other careers, with spouses and family needs to consider, offering a United Methodist seminary program in Oklahoma will be a major asset for our future. With the support of the churches and special fundraising efforts by OCU, we hope to have a fully functioning program, on-site, in five years time. An undertaking of this magnitude would be impossible without the cooperative efforts of all our United Methodist congregations. Doesn’t it feel great to be part of something bigger than ourselves! Saturday, February 16 Saturday Night Alive in Christ Saturday, April 12 Not Alone Day community service opportunity Saturday, April 26 Habitat for Humanity Day Lent Begins This Week Ash Wednesday February 6, 6:30 p.m. Lent is the time to invite God to be at work within us, shaping us from the inside out into the image of Christ. These 40 days, plus Sundays, will prepare us for the resurrection of Easter morning. Dianne’s sermon is titled, “Under Construction,” based on Philippians 2:1-8 and Psalm 51:1-12. Ash Wednesday is traditionally the day when we vow to start over in our spiritual lives, seeking deeper ways to connect with God in Christ. The service will include the optional imposition of ashes, in the shape of the cross, on your forehead or the back of your hand. Please join us for this special time of worship at 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, February 6th. Child care will be provided. Sacrificial Giving is Part of Lent Occasionally you’ll hear someone ask, “So what are you giving up for Lent?” We tend to trivialize this spiritual practice by responding with “chocolate” or “brussel sprouts” or some other food item we don’t really like anyway. But the original intention was to give up something of substance in order to be closer to God and to serve our neighbors. Maybe you’d like to try giving up 30 minutes of TV each day in order to read your Bible and pray, or perhaps you’d like to fast from one meal each week and give the money you would have spent to those who are hungry. Your Lenten gift is limited only by your own imagination. Find something that touches your heart, that truly makes a difference in the lives of others, and give yourself to it during this Lenten season. Soon we will be putting up our Lenten Giving Trees for Missions. These trees will include cards with some of the specific missions we support through Crown Heights. You’ll be encouraged to choose one or two—or more!—and agree to fund these ministries with your Easter offering. This means you have until March 23rd to save up your pennies to meet this important goal. This is a great thing to do as a family during Lent, choosing a specific ministry together and then adding loose change to a special container each day as you work toward your total. Be watching for more information on each of these special missions, through which we share “a portion meant for others.” Lenten Sermons 2008 Radical Renovation—Living the Cross-Shaped Life February 10: “Living the Cross-Shaped Life” Mark 8:27-35 and Philippians 2:1-8 Like the cathedrals of Europe, (and our own sanctuary), we are called to live out our faith in the shape of a cross. Lent is the season to focus on such expectations. February 17: “God Came to Serve?!” Mark 10:32-45 and Isaiah 42:1-4 Who would have thought the Son of God would show up washing feet? How does serving lead to greatness? February 24: “What Is that One Thing?” Luke 18:18-34 and Luke 19:1-10 Two wealthy men encountered Jesus, but came away with very different experiences. What is the one thing that interferes with our relationship with God? March 2: “Cross-Shaped Love” I John 4:7-21 and Mark 12:28-34 As Christians, our definition of love is shaped by the cross. How do we put such love into action? March 9: “Something That Doesn’t Love a Wall” Ephesians 2:12-22 and Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus broke down barriers and brought about reconciliation between humanity and God. Where are we promoting reconciliation? Holy Week Services March 16: Palm-Passion Sunday: “What a Waste!” Mark 14:3-11 and Matthew 21:1-11 The cross is coming. How will we respond? March 20: Maundy Thursday Communion 6:30 p.m. “The Longest Night” Mark 14:12-15, 32-50 Experience Jesus’ last night with his disciples, as we share communion around his table. March 21: Good Friday Tenebrae Service 6:30 p.m. A service of scripture lessons and hymns that tell the story of the cross. March 23: Easter Sunday: “Unfinished Projects” Mark 16:1-8 and Colossians 3:1-4 Even though our lives have been under renovation this Lenten season, God isn’t finished with us yet. Whiz Kids Christmas Dinner Joyous Time For All By Janet Kingsolver About 150 people joined together the week before Christmas to enjoy joyous fellowship with a wonderful turkey meal, singing, and laughing. The 38 Whiz Kids, their families, and tutors joined with their congressman, school principal, supporters from OCU, and church members from our church and Mayflower Congregational Church to celebrate a successful first semester together. Phyllis Henry and John Harris coordinated the dinner with help from Marcia Brown, Elizabeth Anthony, Roxie McKnight and Jeanene Carver. About 30 church members came to serve the Whiz Kids and their families and help clean up. Myka Plunkett and her UCO crew entertained the group with holiday songs. Pastor Dianne was the master of ceremonies for the event, welcoming and introducing all the visitors and activities. Greg Jorgensen led the traditional spirited “12 Days of Christmas” song which included much laughter and animation. Each Whiz Kid was presented with gifts from the OCU future educators group, and new sweat shirts from the Whiz Kids program. After a few weeks off, the Whiz Kids and their tutors are back to their normal routine of reading, learning Bible stories, and smiling together each Thursday. More tutors and substitute tutors are needed to care for all who need help. If you would like to be a part of this extraordinary ministry of mentoring children, call Janet Kingsolver, 524-3895. Crown Heights Kids Chat We are looking forward to a great year at Crown Heights! Return to the top.
	Last updated: April 16, 2008. © 2002-2006 Crown Heights United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.