invited to a special session of our Monthly Church Member-ship Class. Usually, we reserve these classes for the final two Sundays of each month. This month our classes will be held on April 10th & 17th so we can prepare for the Easter celebra-tion. The class is our way of shar-ing with you our understanding of discipleship. Do not worry: you cannot fail this class; the class is free; you do not have to become a member if you attend the class; there are no reports and/or class presentations. All we want to do is let you know what it means to be a member of our church before you make that decision. If you are ready to make that decision, this Easter, April 24th, we will welcome you during our worship service. Contact John Fletcher for information.

Easter, the holiday, is the biggest celebration of our faith. We call it Resurrec-tion Sunday. It has held a meaningful place in the wor-ship, faith and discipleship of Christians. One practice of the ancient church, and still in some churches today, added another significant element to Easter morning; it involved welcoming new converts into the church. People who had been trained and taught the ten-ets of the Christian faith, often for several months, would be presented on Easter morning, baptized and welcomed into the life of the church. Their train-ing also involved spiritual exploration, development and nurturing. The Easter celebration was the most appropriate time to witness

to what God had been do-ing in the lives of these people and the church. Perhaps you have con-sidered becoming a mem-ber of Oak Haven. We would love to have you. It would be a joyous celebra-tion if we could welcome you on Easter morning. If you have thought about joining our church you are

A Resurrection Celebration INS IDE TH IS

I S SUE :

Guest Speaker 2

Calendar 3

Prayers,

Scripture, Ushers

& Acolytes

4

UMM Review 5

Words From

Wesley

6

A Blast From

The Past

7

UMYF News 7

A P R I L 2 0 1 1

V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 4

Under the OakUnder the OakUnder the OakUnder the OakUnder the OakUnder the OakUnder the OakUnder the Oak Oak Haven United Methodist Church NewsletterOak Haven United Methodist Church NewsletterOak Haven United Methodist Church NewsletterOak Haven United Methodist Church Newsletter

“Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us.” Joshua 24:27

Celebrate Easter with Oak

Haven this year

Our Easter Egg Hunt is a wonderful way to communicate the

love of God to the people in our community. We stuff and

hide eggs for hours and the children find everything within

minutes. And it is our hope that what we are able to share

has a lifetime of significance for everyone. So, join us Satur-

day, April 23 at 11am for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Every-

one is invited, and whether you get eggs or not you are

bound to have a good time! See you then.

2,000 Eggs are Waiting for You!

P A G E 2

Everyone is invited to

our monthly Chips, Dips

and Discussion time.

We will gather in the

church meeting room.

Paul Perrin will lead our

discussion. Join us Friday

April 15 at 7:00 pm.

There is a common

phrase preachers use:

That'll preach. Typically,

someone shares a story,

illustration or saying.

Maybe it is a story from

the headlines or an ob-

servation. Preachers are

always looking for ways

to connect sermons to-

gether; so, these stories-

become valuable in ap-

plying whatever spiritual

theme(s) for listeners to

take away what the

preacher is trying to say.

Perhaps the

preacher has

not decided if

she/he is going to use a par-

ticular illustration; maybe

the preacher does not know

how she/he would use the

story, and maybe they never

will. What is sure, though,

is: That’ll preach.

How good are you at find-

ing those things that’ll

preach? Okay, you are right;

you might not find yourself

behind a pulpit on a Sunday

morning (I use to think that,

too!). You do, however,

have a sermon to preach.

Yours typically happens

sometime between Monday and

Saturday. Yes, you have a ser-

mon to preach. Our faith has

always been evangelistic. Chris-

tians have traditionally been

ready and eager to share their

hope. In doing so, sometimes a

good illustration can help you.

So, think about stories you

know or things you hear. You

might be surprised at how much

that’ll preach.

Blessed Beyond Belief,

Messianic Secret

A term used to identify Je-

sus’ instruction to his fol-

lowers to not tell people he

was the Messiah, particularly

in the Gospel according to

Mark (Mark 8:30; 9:9).

Theological Word To Know

That’ll Preach

Our Social Principles: Organ Donation We believe that organ transplantation and organ donation are acts of charity, agape love, and

self-sacrifice. We recognize the life-giving benefits of organ and other tissue donation and en-

courage all people of faith to become organ and tissue donors as a part of their love and min-

istry to others in need.

Sunday April 17th—Christmas Cantata

Thursday April 21st—Maundy Thursday Service

Friday April 22nd—Good Friday Service

Saturday April 23rd— Easter Egg Hunt (11am)

Sunday April 24th—Sunrise Service (7am)

Sunday April 24th—Easter worship (10:45am)

Please celebrate Easter with the church! Re-

member that this is also a great time to re-invite

a friend or neighbor to church. Also, the church

will be open all day Thursday and Friday for any-

one who would like to take time to pray in the

sanctuary. We hope this invitation will be a

blessing to you and yours.

This month we are

scheduled to have a

guest speaker. Join us

Sunday, April 10th for

a sermon by Jeff Fletcher. Jeff, no rela-

tion to John, is a lay speaker in the Kerr-

ville District of the Southwest Texas An-

nual Conference. He and his wife Sherry

are in the process of returning to North

Texas. The Fletchers have been faithful

members of the Bandera United Method-

ist Church for many years, both active in

the KAIROS prison ministry and all

around great people. We trust you will

appreciate Jeff’s passion and desire to

make God’s truth known. Be sure to

thank the Fletchers for sharing time in

worship with us.

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1

2

3Com

munion Sunday

4:30 Youth Group

6 Evening Study

4 Office H

rs: 10-2

5 6pm First T

ues. Dinner

6 Office H

rs: 10-2

7pm Choir R

ehearsal

7 10am Bible Study

7Busy B

ees

8 Office H

rs: 10-2

9

10

6 Evening Study

11

Office H

rs: 10-2

7pm UM W

omen

12

7:30 Disciple I

13

Office H

rs: 10-2

7pm Choir R

ehearsal

14

10am Bible Study

15

Office H

rs: 10-2

7pm Chips, D

ips

16

17

Easter Cantata

4:30 Youth Group

18

Office H

rs: 10-2

19

7:30 Disciple I

20

Office H

rs: 10-2

7pm Choir R

ehearsal

21

10am Bible Study

7Maundy T

hursday

Worship Service

22

Office H

rs: 10-2

7Good Friday W

orship

Service

23

11 Easter Egg Hunt

24 Easter

New

sletter Deadline

7am Sunrise Service

25

Office H

rs: 10-2

26

7:30 Disciple I

27

Office H

rs: 10-2

7pm Choir R

ehearsal

28

10am Bible Study

29

Office H

rs: 10-2

30

Oak Haven United M

ethodist C

hurch

www.oakhavenumc.org

www.fa

cebook.com/oakhavenumc.org

Phone: 9

72.438.1431

Email: o

ffice@oakhavenumc.org

April 2

011

A CHURCH FA

MILY PR

AYE

RFU

LLY UNITED BY T

HE H

OLY SPIR

IT, B

OLD

LY COMMITTED TO SH

ARIN

G NEW LIFE

IN JE

SUS C

HRIST

.

P A G E 4

Ushers and Counters

Scripture Readings

...prayerfully united... ***Please help us keep this list updated***

Doris Sadler, Colton McGough, Linda Wright, Pauline Segura, Brittany Gilbert, Moino family, Gene & Pam Burk-haulter, Frances Huffman, Christchurch, Tamatha, Birdwell family, Davetta Cuthrell, Susan Terni-Love, Nancy Lumbardo, Carol Dupree, Jamie Peart, Claude & Maria Reynolds, Gary Alderson, Lisa Dameron, Melvin Knight family, Mr. & Mrs Chapman, Debra Randle, Pam Deskin, Susan Love, Tracey Robertson, Neta DeLeon, Ely Eck-les, Crystal Quintero, Cooper family, Sue Nungesser, Bob & Connie Ramsey, Nadine Jester, Laura Sirmon, Kyle Dupree, Doyle Hall, Danny Siegel, Valerie Milano, Martha Davis, Ellie Ruiz, Michael Vogan, Mr. & Mrs. Dennie Foster, family of Bonnie Simons, Ray Lowery, family of Curtis & Sandra Doyle, Martha Davis, New church choir director(s), Marry Allen, David Austin, Jeanie Davis, Roger Dalton, Wesley Burks, Charles Chilton, Bea Baker, Brian Deskin, Lorene Hall, Mike Burns, Jim Hallworth, Ruth Ann Wilhoite, Shanna Acton, Chris McDade, Denise & John Butler, Susanne & Dick Ramsey, Pat Buttery, Herschel Mixom, Louis Munoz, Norma Hernandez, Teri & Shane Higgs, Shawn Koogler, Ryan Kinnan, Bill Glass, Scott Quintana, King family, Bobby Garza, Walburga Ker-ner, Sue Harris, Nadine Justin, Mike & Michelle Cummings, our missionaries & military

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in

mind, be alert and always keep on praying

for all the saints. —Ephesians 6:18

Acolytes

Apr 3-Brittani Fletcher

& Hanna Stephens

Apr 10-Mya Garcia

& Lissette Garcia

Apr 17-Ashlei Fletcher

& Jade Vela

Apr 24-Hanna Stephens

& Nelson Norris

Apr 3 (Team 4) Apr 10 (Team 1)

Ricky Campbell Mary Lou Campbell

Stella Jones Ricky Campbell

Don Kent Ronnie Crow

Jonathan Perrin Don Kent

Sub: Mary Lou Campbell Sub: Stella Jones

Counters: Steve Perrin, Dorene Taylor Counters: Mary Owen, Bonnie Perrin

Apr 17 (Team 2) Apr 24 (Team 3)

Mary Lou Campbell Don Kent

Jonathan Perrin Mike Matkin

Rob Scully Ben Shemo

Ben Shemo David Triggs

Sub: Mike Matkin Sub: Mary Lou Campbell

Counters: Ann Kent, Steve Perrin Counters: Mary Lou Campbell,

Stella Jones

Apr 3 Apr 10

1 Samuel 16:1-13 Ezekiel 37:1-14

Psalm 23 Psalm 130

Ephesians 5:8-14 Romans 8:6-11

John 9:1-41 John 11:1-45

Apr 17 Apr 24

Isaiah 50:4-9a Acts 10:34-43

Psalm 31:9-16 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Philippians 2:5-11 Colossians 3:1-4

Matthew 26:14-27 John 20:1-18

Our March meeting was held on

March 14, 2011. Many thanks to all

who attended. The 11th Annual La-

dies Tea is now history, but I would like to give Pattie Crow our tea chairman and all

her tea cabinet a huge THANK YOU for a wonderful event. Also, a special thank you

to Ashlei and Brittani Fletcher for all their hard work in serving and cleaning up.

At our meeting this month, we had a guest speaker, the activity director for

Ashford Hall, Mary Jane. She gave us many good ideas for ways we can enhance our

ministry to Ashford Hall. Many thanks to Mary Jane for sharing her time with us. Our

regular meeting continued with a meaningful devotion given by Micki Triggs and deli-

cious refreshments by Ann Kent. Thank you ladies for all you do.

Thanks to all of you who participated when we delivered over 500 Christmas

cards to Bob Diggs, representative for the Texas Prison Ministry.

We have received an invitation for the United Methodist Women of 1st UMC, Grand Prairie to

attend a short study from the North Texas School of Christian Mission entitled “For the Love of God,”

taught by Rev. Jo Bickerstaff, who is a very accomplished and dedicated leader.

Also we are invited to join the Bishop and Mrs. W. Earl Bledsoe at Lovers Lane UMC, Dallas on

Tues. April 5. They will present “Joy to the World,” Mission in the Age of Global Ministry. RSVP by March

30 to me at (972)255-3152 or Ruth Smith (214)706-9675. Our next unit meeting will be Monday, April 11,

2011, at 7:00 pm at the church. I hope to see you there. Mary Lou Campbell, President

Thank Yous and Invitations

P A G E 5

The UMM did not hold their regularly scheduled meeting in

March. They were too busy mixing, flipping and serving pan-

cakes the week before! Our 3rd annual Pancake Supper was a

success, complete with Oklahoma bacon, sausage, friends and

family. You remember we asked you to bring in peanut butter

and canned meet items as your price of admission. Well, you

heard us. In all, we collected and presented to Irving Cares

175lbs of food. We also collected $32 in monetary donations. Thank you so much for your participation.

We have no other new business to report now. You’ll hear later about some of our on-going projects.

Ricky Campbell, Secretary

Save The Date March 5 2-4 pm UMW Ladies 11th Annual Tea March 14 7 pm UMW Unit Meeting July 18 -21 School of Christian Mission July 22 – 24 Weekend Cooperative Mission Event Sept. 24 Metro District Annual Meeting First UMC, Richardson Oct 7-8 Oak Haven Annual Ladies Retreat at Bridgeport Oct. 8 NTC UMW Annual Meeting- First Denton UMC, Denton

P A G E 6

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Fourth-

year Meharry Medical College students were

matched with prestigious academic centers such

as the Mayo Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine,

and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the tradi-

tional Match Day held at medical schools nation-

wide March 17.

More than 30,000 students apply for the match

to find a position at a U.S. teaching hospital

where they will undertake a three- to seven-year

period of specialized training. Meharry’s overall

match rate of 89 percent for the 2011 class of

graduating seniors exceeds the national match

rate of 73 percent for all applicants. Meharry is

the only United Methodist-related historically

black medical college.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- United Methodist schools of theology that educate more students for

ordained ministry in the denomination will get more church funding in 2012 under a new formula for

distributing money from the Ministerial Education Fund. The Directors of The United Methodist Board

of Higher Education and Ministry had approved the changes last fall, but tweaked the formula at the

spring 2011 meeting to include money for full-time United Methodist faculty and senior administrators

at the seminaries.

New rule for schools: more clergy, more money

Stories on this page are provided by United Methodist Communications. Summaries of sto-ries, UMTV videos and other informa-tion from the United Methodist News Ser-vice are received via a weekly email di-gest. Access the complete versions of the stories at http://umns.umc.org.

NEW YORK (UMNS) — As Japan confronts a crisis with its water and food supplies, churches and indi-viduals might feel compelled to send material aid.

However, relief officials urge that donations be made instead. Sending supplies can actually ham-per the relief effort, while monetary donations can be used most effectively by agencies on the ground to provide people with the help they need. Donations can be made to the United Meth-odist Committee on Relief. UMCOR will use 100 percent of the donation for Japan relief.

United Methodist partners include: Church World Service, Stop Hunger Now and GlobalMedic.

Ways to Help Japan

Meharry medical students matched with health centers

Words from Wesley

“Once in seven years I burn

all my sermons; for it is a

shame if I cannot write better

sermons now than I did seven

years ago.”

Fargo, N.D. (UMNS) — United Methodists from the Dakotas Annual (regional) Conference

have completed the first step in their flood fight: filling sandbags. Operations at a warehouse

dubbed Sandbag Central wrapped up March 11 as volunteers put the finishing touches on

about 2.5 million bags. The National Weather Service is predicting a third straight year of

major Red River flooding in the Fargo and Moorhead, Minn., area, prompting officials to begin

making sandbags a month earlier than last year. The river is expected to crest in late March

or early April.

United Methodists prepare for Red River floods

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) –– A $7,300

grant from the Human Relations Day offer-

ing will enable the Commission on United

Methodist Men to continue recruiting

adults to serve as mentors of children of

incarcerated parents through the Amachi

program of Big Brothers Big Sisters. In

2010, the commission recruited 41 adults

in 12 annual (regional) conferences to

serve as mentors. The Human Relations

Day grant, awarded by the United Method-

ist Board of Church and Society, will en-

able the commission to introduce or ex-

pand the Amachi program into

more cities.”

Grant provides mentors for prisoners’ children

P A G E 7

Happy Birthday!

April 7

Kim Matkin

April 7

Susan Perrin

April 22

Karen Gebert

April 23

G.W. Kennemer

We are giving every

effort to update our list.

If your name should be

here, please let us know.

If you know of a name

we have missed please

contact Minnette

Puckett or John Fletcher.

We Need

Your Help!

1) Provide us

the most

information

about this

picture

2) Provide a

caption for

this picture

A Blast From the Past

Youth Group Youth ministry matters. It is not because we need to give young peo-

ple a safe place to hang out, though that is not a bad thing. It is not

because young people are the future of the church, though that is

partly true. It is not because churches need to sell a program to in-

quiring families, though they should know the church cares.

Youth ministry matters because it is part of who we are as the

church. Young people do not need another place to connect their

WiFi or play the latest game. Unfortunately, most youth programs think of those things

first. Consequently, ideas that are intended to be pointers to something else (God), say for

example, technology, become what is pointed to more than anything. When our focus is on

creating pointer after pointer, we only create expectations that our young people will carry

with them into adulthood. Now, what does this all mean for us?

Close your eyes and think for a moment. Think of the term “youth ministry.”

What comes to mind? For a lot of people the first thing they mention is games, fun and

friends. Now, close your eyes again—we’re assuming you opened them to read the previ-

ous sentence—and think of the term “youth worker.” What comes to mind? We have had

this conversation with many people. The “youth worker” that people first imagine most

often has a certain look. First, the person is probably younger. The person probably knows

all the answers, has all the time in the world, is a musician, is energetic and the life of the

party. Sure, some youth workers fit that description. Most, however, do not.

That is not a bad thing, and no one is suggesting throwing out games and good

times. The youth ministry our church is trying to foster is a congregation-wide, intergen-

erational and relational one. That means it is all of us involved in nurturing the faith of our

young people, and that means throw out what you think a normal youth worker looks like.

Unless, of course, that youth worker looks like you. We all have a part to play in ministry

together. You can teach young people, and they can teach you. Our young people are not

the church of tomorrow; they are just as much the church of today as any adult. So, close

your eyes again and ask, “How can I minister with young people today?”

Phone: 972.438.1431 | Fax: 972.554.1686 |

Sunday School 9:45 am |Sunday Worship 10:45 am

We are a church family prayerfully united by the Holy Spirit, We are a church family prayerfully united by the Holy Spirit,

boldly committed to sharing new life in Jesus Christ.boldly committed to sharing new life in Jesus Christ.

U N D E R T H E O A K

A P R I L

2 0 1 1 www.facebook.com/oakhavenumc.org

You can download this

publication at

www.oakhavenumc.org

John blogs at: www.anotherjohn.com

It’s Hard to Dance With the Devil on Your Back

Maybe you weren’t able to

attend our study. You can,

however, take advantage

of this great resource. Ray

Buckley considers what, or

who, keeps us from

dancing. Don’t take my

word for it; ask anyone

who participated in the

study—it’s a good read!

Faith is Fun Reading With the Pastor

Oak Haven United Methodist Church

1600 N. Irving Heights

Irving, TX 75061