April 2008
From Dianne’s Desk
Easter Has Arrived!
Wonderful things are happening at Crown Heights! Can you feel it? There’s a
growing sense of excitement about new possibilities. We’ve had so many new
visitors since the first of the year. I wonder what kinds of marvelous gifts
they will bring to share with our faith community? Several have already made
the decision to become official members; others are still in the process of
determining whether Crown Heights will be their church home. Please continue
to make them welcome and take the time to get acquainted. You will be as
blessed as I have been!
The sale of our parsonage certainly eases our financial
strain. Freeing up about $1200 per month from our loan payment means we will
be able to invest in new programming to minister to our newcomers and our
community more effectively. This combined with your ongoing generosity means
that we can remain financially stable as we look toward beginning our building
renovations.
Speaking of building renovations, we will begin meeting in
the next few weeks with our architectural consultants, Studio Architecture
about the many needs of our facility. With their assistance, we will begin to
map out a plan for an energy-efficient, more accessible future for this grand
old church. Obviously, this will take our best efforts, our full
commitment and our financial support, but I have little doubt that the will is
there and we will make this building even more beautiful and usable.
April is
Missions Month! One of the most important signs of vitality in a church is how
much time, money and energy is spent on others beyond the four cozy walls of
the sanctuary. As you’ll read in this edition of the Trumpet, you will have
several opportunities to really make a difference this month, from
contributing canned goods to building a Habitat house. I hope you will find at
least one way to make mission a part of your life in the coming weeks.
April will also bring more opportunities to experience the
gift of music! George has planned a Folk Music Sunday for April 6th,
featuring Matt Bergman’s parents. We will be singing more songs and choruses
out of our new The Faith We Sing songbooks, including a peppy Caribbean
piece for our sung sending forth, a beautiful new hymn, and several new sets
of words to familiar tunes. We know the musical tastes of our congregation are
varied and wide-ranging, and we hope to have a little something for
everyone in the weeks to come. By the way, if you enjoy
singing, we would love to have you join us in the choir! We rehearse on
Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. and sing for the 11:00 service. No auditions
are required. Come check out this fun group of folk who love making a joyful
noise!
Blessings, Dianne
CHUM Café
Come and get it on Wednesday, April 30th at 5:30 p.m. Mark your calendars! Join us for fun 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.
Sign Up For Email Delivery of the Trumpet
The Trumpet can now be delivered to your home via email. This electronic distribution will save printing and mailing costs. To sign up for the email service, please send a message to Stacy at stacy@crownheightsumc.org
Music Ministries
Chancel Choir
Many
thanks to our Chancel Choir for their superb services during
the Lenten season. Everyone appreciates our
dedication to the music ministry and for singing both services on Easter!
Please place April 6 on your calendars for our special
Folk Music Sunday. We
are very fortunate to have Matt Bergman's parents accompanying us and
providing another selection; it will be a fun Sunday!
Welcome new members
Nathan Wright
Katie Mazur Byers
Jake McClelland
Youth News
Tentative date for mission to El Paso- June 26- July 1 (Give or take a day). For this trip we would like to go down to Mexico for a day so if you don’t have passports, it would probably be good to start thinking about that now.
Youth Force OKC 7th
– 12th Graders June 22-27
District Youth 7th – 12th Graders
July 7-1
Help Wanted
We will soon need a Snack person for our Whiz Kids Program. Once a week for approximately one hour, prepare a snack for the Whiz Kids each Thursday during the school year. For information contact Julie Armstrong or the church office.
Crown Heights Kids Chat
April Sunday School Teachers
4-5 year olds - Julie Benedict
6-7 year olds - Chris Rice
8-10 year olds - Justin Larman
(10:00 to 10:45)
April Nursery Volunteers are:
6 Christy Harris
13 Jake Benedict
20 Julie Williams
27 Stacey Harris
Summer Activities:
Vacation Bible School June
16 - 20
Music Camp
August 4 - August 8
:
United
Methodist Camping Experiences for All Ages
Tween’s Discover
6th Grade July 14 - July 18
Growing Through Grace
3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade July 16 - 18
Sunshine Camp
1st and 2nd Grade July 19 and 20
(kids will be accompanied by adults
from our church)
All these camps are being held at Canyon Camp near
Hinton, Oklahoma. For more information go to
www.okumcministries.org/camps There you will find other camping options;
however, these are the specific camp dates that the Children’s Ministries
Council have selected to encourage Crown Heights’ kids to attend. For
registration information, call 530-2035. Early registration is encouraged. We
hope to provide at least half of the cost of camps through church
scholarships. Buy lots of goodies at the Bake Sale on April 6th. Look
for registration information in next month's newsletter.
Hours:
Nursery - 8:00 to 12:00
Children’s choir 9:15 to 10:00
Sunday School 10:00 to 10:45
Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Thanks to our Children’s Staff - Myka, Kokoa, Justin, Trinity, Collin and Matt for all their love and hard work!
April Sermons
Eastertide in April
April 6
"Jesus Comes as One Unknown" Folk
Music Sunday
Acts 2:42-47 and Luke 24:13-35
When invited, Jesus the guest becomes the host and is revealed as the
risen Christ. How often do we miss the
opportunity to issue this invitation? Will we recognize Jesus at our
tables, our workplaces, and in our church?
Join us for holy communion at both services.
April 13
"Gateway to the Abundant Life"
Psalm 23 and John 10:1-10
Jesus' definition of the abundant life is very different from Madison Avenue's
description. Even in the 21st century,
we need the guidance of the Good Shepherd who becomes the gateway for all
kinds of sheep.
April 20
"Let All Creation Sing!"
Earth Day Celebration
Genesis 1:26-2:3 and Romans 8:18-25
God has entrusted us with caring for the earth. What changes must we
make if all creation is going to sing? How can
our daily living reflect more fully our stewardship of God's creation?
April 27
"Where Do You Come From?"
Heritage Sunday
Psalm 47 and Ephesians 1:3-14
April Highlights
Missions:
Month of April
Skyline Can Drive Contact: Greg Jorgensen
April 12 Not Alone Day
Contact: Bruce Pitts
April 26 Habitat For Humanity
Contact: Cindy Krone
Children & Youth:
April 6 Bake Sale to support camp
Contact: Shelly
Giese
scholarships for children/youth
April 13
All-Church luncheon Contact: Brigette
Gean
Coming Soon UMW Virtual Tea Party
April 26 UMW Tea Party Contact: Susie Wallace
April 23 - May 2 General Conference Fort Worth, TX
United Methodist Women
Enjoy a cup of tea and support UMW missions! You are invited to a Virtual Tea Party. No need to dress up, pick out a new hat, get out the good china, get a babysitter or drive across town. No mess, no fuss, just enjoy a quiet cup of tea in the comfort of your own home. We are asking our friends to brew up a cup of tea or two in honor of the many United Methodist Women who are in mission across the world. If you wish, please make a tax-deductible contribution to United Methodist Women’s local mission projects. You will soon be receiving an invitation with a tea bag enclosed to the UMW Virtual Tea. Please make your donation to support local missions, such as Skyline Urban Ministries and others, by May 4 by sending your check made payable to Crown Heights UMW, Attn: Charlotte Trobaugh, UMW Treasurer, at the church address.
Or, if
you wish to join us for an actual tea and conversation, you are invited to a
UMW Tea Saturday, April 26, 3–5 pm
in the Crown Heights United Methodist Church Parlor. Thank you for
your support of UMW missions!
UMW
Executive Committee to meet
The Crown Heights United
Methodist Women Executive Committee will meet on Tuesday,
April 8, at 6 pm, in
the church parlor. Circle chairs, officers and others who are interested
please join us. Child care will be provided.
God is Good
When Jesus came to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NIRV)
We
are back and God is good. Throughout our time in Liberia we heard, daily, “God
is good, all the time; all the time, God is good.” We returned on Thursday,
Feb. 21. Probably, much like you, I have several devotional resources that I
read on a daily basis. On Sunday, Feb. 24, the devotion for that day in “Our
Daily Bread” began with this phrase. How often do we repeat this without
really reflecting on its meaning? Our team was reminded of God’s goodness,
often, during our mission.
Bishop John G. Innis, Resident Bishop of the Liberia Area
Conference, his Cabinet, the Conference staff and the delegates and volunteers
graciously allowed us to be a part of the 175th Session of the
Liberia Annual Conference which was held at Mt. Scott United Methodist Church,
Harper, Maryland County, Liberia, and Feb. 12-17. This is an extremely
beautiful area with lovely beaches and swaying palms on the Atlantic Ocean.
Turn around, however, and you are immediately brought to terms with the
ravages of 14 years of civil unrest. When asked, “How are you doing?”, the
reply is often, “I’m trying.” Now, I understand that as never before. The
residents of Harper and the entire Conference, in the midst of their own
struggles, recovery efforts and repairs, did everything
possible to make us feel welcome and
comfortable. Yet, do not let the fantasy of serving in Africa obscure the
reality of the lack of running water from time to time and place to place,
electricity that comes and goes, and mosquitoes (that seem to have preferred
some of us more than others). The true reality, what really matters, is the
steadfast faith in God, the unswerving belief that God IS goodall of
the time, and the unquenchable hope that Liberia will rise again. God’s
purpose for this mission in all of this was fulfilled.
Our task actually began on Feb. 7, in Monrovia where we
taught the first group of lay speakers-to-be. Coordinated by Rev. Dr. Solomon
Gueh, Director of Conference Course of Study/Pastoral Care, we met at the S.
T. Nagbe United Methodist Church. Though we started with less than 10, by the
end of the day we had 48 attendees. During the Conference, additional sessions
were held. One session included an “evangelical” group of young people who met
on Saturdays. It was an ecumenical group of Methodists, Lutherans,
Episcopalians, and Pentecostals whose leader thought this would be an
opportunity for them to explore other ways to serve. This group was given an
overview of the lay speaking ministry in the United Methodist church.
By the end of the Conference, certificates were issued to 13
local church lay speakers and the Conference appointed a Director of Lay
Speaking Ministries. Upon our return to Monrovia, we were able to complete the
second half of the training, as promised, and an additional 40 local church
lay speakers received certificates and pins, as well as a new Bible. As we
were preparing to leave there were inquiries about when we would be returning
to teach an advance course or courses so that they could become certified lay
speakers. There is a tremendous desire and urgency for education at all
levels.
God is Good!
It appeared uncertain for awhile but we actually
reached, and exceeded, our commitment to the LAC of $5,000, raising $5,104.00,
however, it is the $4.00 that I want to tell you about. I was transported to
the airport by Airport Express (you know the bright blue vans). My driver was
a 70-something grandmother (she told me). As we rode along, she asked where I
was going and why. Not missing the opportunity, I told her of our purpose and
our tasks. As I paid her the fare and offered her a tip, she said, “No, take
that (the tip) for your mission.” Now, we are very grateful to all of you for
the $5100.00, but you can also see why that $4.00 is special. You never know
who will be touched by the mission message. Here is a brief recap of how those
funds were used:
Lay Speakers’ Workshop (Monrovia)
Bibles (approx. 160-180) for lay speakers and pastors who are serving without Bibles
Liberia United Methodist Women –various programs for women and children (including a day care center, see your current Response magazine)
Liberia United Methodist Volunteers in Mission-purchase and installation of equipment necessary to provide internet/email access at the Conference Center (provides access for 4 computers)
Liberia United Methodist Empowerment Foundation-long-range endowment fund for the LAC’s future
Liberia United Methodist Clergy Women Assoc.-scholarship fund for women seminarians and others pursuing higher education degrees
Bishop’s Endowment Fund – scholarship fund for needy students
Dept. of Evangelism & Mission – auto repairs for ministry’s vehicle
Lay Speaking Ministry – operating funds for new ministry
Conference Course of Study/Pastoral Care
One of the bright spots of the Conference
was the live transmission of the major events of the Conference over the
Conference’s radio station which enabled those who could not attend to hear
the sermons, devotions and other major conference proceedings. Almost every
day, we were a part of spirit-filled worship services, inspiring sermons by
Bishop Innis, Rev. Dr. Ken Lutgen (pastor of Blue Ridge Boulevard UMC, Kansas
City, MO, and former head of UMCOR ), Lloyd Rollins, Director of Development
for Africa University, and others, and devotions from many pastors and
district superintendents from the U.S. and Liberia, including Terrill.
Thanks to Team #302 for joining me on this journey. Thanks to
each of you for your prayers and your financial support. We know the Matthew
scripture cited above as The Great Commission, and this was the scripture text
for the Conference. We usually speak of it as a call to go, to teach, to
baptize, to make disciples, but let us also remember that it brings the good
news that God is good all of the time, even to the end of the age.
Our own Bishop Robert Hayes has been invited to be the
Conference Speaker at the 176th Session of the Liberia Annual
Conference, February 11-15, 2009, at Gbarnga, Bong County, Liberia. If he
accepts that invitation, look forward to information regarding the next
mission team to Liberia, and prayerfully consider joining us. It is not an
easy mission, but oh, so rewarding.
In service with love, Evelyn
Not Alone Day, Saturday April
12
Community Blitz Service Day
Come and share God's love with your neighbors
Make a difference in the lives of families, children, adults, and the elderly
One form for each participant please. Print form, complete, and send to church office.
Name_______________________________ T-shirt size______
Congregation___________________________
Phone #___________________
Email_________________________________
Place an X by the project
on which you wish to work:
____ Refurbishing a house with Rebuilding Together, Inc.
_____ Making baby blankets
____ Cleaning yards (please bring your own tools if possible)
_____ Planting flowers at Shepherd Manor
____ Making get well and greeting cards
_____ Helping at the Presbyterian Mission
____ Preparing/serving/delivering lunch for workers
_____ Cleanup/fix-up at Putnam Heights Elem.
Children can help too! Complete a separate form for your child. Elementary age children must work with a responsible adult. If this registration is for a child, please list the name of the adult here____________________________________.
You can also help by
providing:
____ Fleece with children's themes for blankets. Requirements:
____ Materials to make cards:
fire
resistant
cardstock w/envelopes
44" square
colored cardstock
non-shedding
good pictures from used cards
____ Cookies for fire and police personnel
crafters glue
____ Baked goods for carnival bake sale
ribbon
____ large lawn garbage bags