Under the Oak Oak Haven United Methodist Church Newsletter
March 2012 Volume 3, Issue 4
Beauty will save the world. When considering Christian faith and practice, we are used to asking, "Is it true?," but we also need to ask the question, "Is it beautiful?" The ancient Greek philosophers, and later the early church fathers, spoke of three prime virtues: truth, goodness, and beauty. As prime virtues, truth, goodness, and beauty need no further justification—they are their own justification, which is a way of saying that truth, goodness, and beauty don't need to be made practical— they don't have to do anything to be of value. The value of a virtue is inherent; we simply choose truth, goodness, and beauty because they are true, good, and beautiful. Early Christian theologians located the source of these prime virtues as proceeding from God himself—truth, goodness, and beauty are virtues because God is true, good, and beautiful. Thus this trinity of virtues becomes a guide to Christian living as we
seek to believe what is true, be what is good, and behold what is beautiful. But it is this third virtue, the virtue of beauty, that has been most marginalized in the way we understand and evaluate Christianity. As a result, Christianity has suffered a loss of beauty—a loss that needs to be recovered. With an emphasis on truth, we have tried to make Christianity persuasive (as we should). But we also need a corresponding emphasis on beauty to make Christianity attractive. Christianity should not only persuade with truth, but it should also attract with beauty. Along with Christian apologetics, we need Christian aesthetics. Christianity needs… to be presented as beautiful. Often where truth cannot convince, beauty can entice. The aesthetic aspect of Christian witness and doctrine needs to be developed, and we do this by focusing on the unique form of Christian beauty. The unique form
of Christianity is the cruciform— Christ upon the cross, arms outstretched in offered embrace, accomplished in his death-and it is an astounding claim forgiving the world its sins. This is the beauty that saves the world, and the symbol of this saving grace is the cross. That the Roman cross, an instrument of physical torture and psychological terror, could ever become an object of beauty representing faith, hope, and love is an amazing miracle of transformation. Every cross adorning a church is in itself a sermon—a sermon proclaiming that if Christ can transform the Roman instrument of execution into a thing of beauty, there is hope that in Christ all things can be made beautiful! This is precisely the claim that the Christian faith makes concerning what Jesus accomplished in his death—and it is an astounding claim! Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Christianity Today, Carol Stream, IL 60188.
Inside this issue: Words from John
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UMW
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UMM
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Prayers of the Church
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Calendar
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Scripture readings
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Ushers/Counters
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Special points of interest: • Acolyte Schedule page 2 • Family Promise of Irving page 3 • Great Days of Service page 5 • Birthdays page 5
I Just Want to Celebrate! In a few months, our family is going to celebrate an undertaking we’ve been working toward for some time. I already know what I am going to do when it happens—it’s a Friday tradition. I am going to call into Dave Ramsey’s radio show and announce to the world that, “WE’RE DEBT FREEEEEE!” That may not sound significant to you, but it is something wonderful because we haven’t always been faithful stewards. People would ask what credit cards we had. Jok-
ingly, my response was, “The mall.” We both had decent jobs, but it always seemed like we had no money. When we went to one job that paid half of the others we really didn’t have any money. Through that, though, we learned to trust God. We had to. And the good news? We’ve never lacked for anything. Yes, we waited to buy what we thought we wanted and didn’t always get away like we deserved. But God has
been too good to us to be foolish and selfish. We learned we are called to be financially responsible, and we must continue to give. There is freedom and a joy in that, and I hope you’ll yell with me! Blessed Beyond Belief,
Oak Haven United Methodist Women - Faith - Hope - Love in Action On our February 13th meeting, Minnette Puckett presented a program entitled “Partnering with Others In Mission.” We first made small posters of all the missions we currently participate in: Shoes for School, Christmas in July for Ashford Hall, the annual Ladies Tea, Christmas Angel Tree, and our World Wide Mission, to name just a few. We found that we have several that keep us busy all year long! But we may need to partner with other UMW circles and even other organizations, such as Family Promise to accomplish more of God’s work. Paul addressed the issues of groups or cliques in the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians , Chapter 3. The people did not want to connect with one another because they followed different leaders. We can go beyond that thinking in order to
help in our community for God’s world. Partnering in mission leads to growth. Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave me growth.” (1 Cor. 3:6) We can grow with God. Our next meeting will be held on March 12 at Oak Haven UMC at 7:00 p.m. Please join us! Thank you,
ACOLYTE SCHEDULE: 03/04/12
Karen Gebert, President
SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, March 1, 2012 Hat Sales at Methodist Hospital from 9:30 am. To 5:00 pm. Monday, March 12, 7:00 pm UMM at the church Saturday, May 5, Ladies Tea—May Day Celebration—details TBA
Ashlei Fletcher & Jade Vela
03/11/12
Gabby Moreno & Kayani Gardner Mya Garcia and Lissette 03/18/12Garcia Noah Moreno & Piper Sheffield 03/25/12
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Ashlei Fletcher & Jade Vela
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Family Promise of Irving Family Promise of Irving has reached it’s goal of 65K, recruited 14 host churches—of which we are one and has established a board of trustees. In addition, we tentatively have a church that has graciously agreed to provide one of their buildings free of charge to Family Promise as their day facility! Several volunteers will be needed to help while these families stay at our church once a quarter for a seven day period.
In addition, we need clean/new, twin sized sheets and blankets, as well as standard size pillow cases.
Frwy.; *Chili’s on April 11th from 10:45 am—10:30 pm at 3421 W. Airport Frwy.; *El Chico on May 12th Upcoming fund raisers: from 5 pm—11pm; *Applebee’s Pancake *CiCi’s Pizza on June breakfast from 8 am— 14th from 5 pm—8 pm 10 am on March 3rd at at 3435 Beltline, Ste. Beltline & 183; 114. *Aspen Creek Restaurant all day March 14th at 4300 W. Airport
Finally, please mark your calendars for Beat the Heat 10K/5K and 1 Mile Fun Run April 28th. Please contact Minnette Puckett or Pam Moynihan for more information.
Oak Haven United Methodist Men The United Methodist Men did not hold their regularly scheduled meeting in February. Instead, they held and hosted the 4th annual Pancake Supper on February 21st. The event was a success and we raised $269.00 in proceeds.
At the beginning of this year, UMM elected officers for 2012 which are as follows: David Triggs—President; Don Kent–Vice President, Steve Perrin— Treasurer, and Ricky Campbell— Secretary and Communications.
UMM also delivered food for Irving Cares and collected 76 pounds of dry food goods for the families in need. There are no changes in our group’s financial fund and we are still honoring our missions for Boy Scouts of America and World Core.
Although UMM didn’t have a meeting in February and no devotional, there is a passage in the book of James that refers to all of us the wisdom we need to follow His word. (paraphrased from James 1:56)
Please don’t forget to bring a donation of canned or dry food items or peanut butter for Irving Cares. The box is over by the nursery. Our next meeting will be March 15, 2012 at 7:00 pm. We hope to see you all then for good food and fellowship. Ricky Campbell, Secretary
Prayers of the Church Ann Kent, Micki Triggs, Patsy Alvarado, Remona Frelon, Adrian Lee, Joyce Washington, Anette Hinton, Doris Sadler, G.W. Kennemer, Darrell Story, family of Riley Rawlins, Irving Promise, Lorene Ingham, Teresa Agler, Pauline Segura, Claude & Maria Reynolds, Jerry Woods, Ralph and Sherry Forster, Rhea Hopkins, Jerry & Sue Harris, Don LaRocca, King family, Mandy Kannenburg, Stacey Yarnell, Jenny Sower, June Jamison, Jani Rogers, Meredith Greenstreet, Charlotte Gleghorn, Gene & Pam Burkhaulter, Frances Huffman, Melvin Knight family, Debra Randle, Sue Nungesser, Laura Sirmon, Danny Siegel, Martha Davis, Mr. & Mrs. Dennie Foster, New church choir director(s), Mary Allen,
Jeanie Davis, Roger Dalton, Bea Baker, Brian Deskin, Mike Burns, Shanna Acton, Denise & John Butler, Susanne & Dick Ramsey, Pat Buttery, Herschel Mixom, Louis Munoz, Norma Hernandez, Teri & Shane Higgs, Scott Quintana, Bobby Garza, our missionaries & military. If you need a name or names added or taken off of the prayer list, please contact John Fletcher.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and healing shall spring up quickly. Isaiah 58:8
Volume 3, Issue 4
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Malaria’s death toll nearly cut in half NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Every 60 seconds, malaria claims a life in Africa. Does that sound a little different from what you’ve heard before? It should because it is different — the rate of death has slowed from every 45 seconds to a minute. But a little different to us is a huge difference to families in Africa. Imagine No Malaria announces the change based on the recent 2011 World Malaria Report, issued by the World
Health Organization, citing a declining death rate. Malaria’s toll has been reduced to an estimated 655,000 deaths annually — down from 1 million just three years ago
Join us Sunday evening for our new Lenten study. We are beginning a study entitled Final Words From the Cross. The study will begin at 6:30 each Sunday evening. We will sing, pray, listen and consider how Jesus’ final words on the cross impact our lives as Christians. Also, before our study, we are gathering to pray for each other. We all have prayer needs: health conditions; family situations; spiritual discernment; marital problems; financial concerns, etc. The church is supposed to be a praying community. So, let’s pray together each Sunday evening at 6pm.
Happy Birthday! STEPHEN COOPER
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STELLA JONES
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RICKY CAMPBELL
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ROB SCULLY
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Great Days of Service Great Days of Service is a faith-based, interdenominational association of Irving churches which are united in serving God and community by renewing neighborhoods and aiding homeowners in the restoration of their properties. There are many ways that you can help this wonderful local organization. Join a Leadership Team; tell us about a home in your neighborhood or congregation that needs repairs; help qualify homeowners who need help; help move materials to worksites; deliver lunches to worksites; cash contributions and/or prayers.
Volume 3, Issue 4
The Great Days of Service dates will be April 13—14 and April 20—21. At our church you can contact Minnette Puckett for more information. Great Days of Service can be directly contacted at (972) 510-5084. Or you can contact the Host church and Headquarters at First United Methodist Church at 211 West Third Street, Irving, (972) 2533531 for more information. First UMC has a Prayer Breakfast scheduled on Saturday April 14th at 7:00 am to unify the pro-
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Oak Haven United Methodist Church Newsletter
1600 N. Irving Heights Irving, TX 75061
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Phone: 972-438-1731 Fax: 972.554.1686 Email: online@oakhavenumc.org Blog: www.another john.com www.oakoakhavenumc.org Twitter:www.twitter.com/oakhaven
You can download this publication at: www.oakhavenumc.org
We are a church family prayerfully united by the Holy Spirit, boldly committed to sharing new life in Jesus Christ.
March Scripture Readings/Ushers/Counters March 4: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:23-31 (UMH (Purple) 752); Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38
March 18: Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3; (Purple) 17-22 (UMH 830); Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21
Ushers: Stella Jones, Don Kent, Jonathan Perrin, Mary Lou Campbell. Counters: Steve Perrin, Pam Moynihan
Ushers: Stella Jones, Jonathan Perrin, Brittani Fletcher, David Triggs. Counters: Steve Perrin, Ann Kent
March 11: Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19 (UMH 750) (Purple) 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22
March 25: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12 (UMH 785) (Purple) Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33
Ushers: Stella Jones, Don Kent, Ronnie Crow, Mary Lou Campbell. Counters: Mary Owen, Bonnie Perrin
Ushers: Don Kent, Brittani Fletcher, Mary Lou Campbell, Dave Triggs. Counters: Mary Lou Campbell, Betty Guenter