Under the Oak December 2010

1) Christmas at the par-

sonage: Dec. 12th, 3pm

-5:30. Everyone is in-

vited to share in holiday

cheer with the pastor

and his family.

2) Christmas Cantata:

Dec. 19th, 10:45am.

Our choir has prepared

a meaningful selection.

3) Healing Service: Dec.

19th, 7pm. The holidays

can be difficult times for

many people; we are

offering Christ’s message

of healing and hope.

4) Christmas Eve:

A. Ashford Hall, 3pm

B. *The something new

Spanish Service, 5pm

A. English Service, 7pm

As we journey together

through the season of Ad-

vent (the Christmas season

doesn’t begin until Christ-

mas Eve) we are reminded

of the joyous promise of

Christ’s entry into the

world. Of course, that

promise wasn’t limited to a

day a couple thousand years

ago. Instead, we are able to

receive Christ each day, or

as we sing, “morning by

morning.” Amen!

With such a blessing how

can we keep from praising

God and celebrating? So,

during this time of year that

is exactly what we do. Our

church has scheduled sev-

eral events during Decem-

ber to remind us all of that

joyous promise.

Mark your calendars and

make sure to be a part of

these wonderful expres-

sions of Christian love and

fellowship. Contact our

church office or John

Fletcher for more informa-

tion about:

Something New at Oak Haven in December INS IDE TH IS

I S SUE :

13 Bad Attitudes

Of Killer UMC

2

Calendar 3

Prayers,

Scripture, Ushers

& Acolytes

4

UMM Review 5

Words From

Wesley

6

Birthdays 7

Don’t Forget

the Apples

7

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0

V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1 1

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

How will you prepare for the

Christmas season?

Here it is, the most wonderful time of the year! What makes Christmas so much fun

is experiencing traditions old and new. Here’s an old one. When I was a kid, the

start of the Christmas season officially began the moment the Sears Wish Book hit

the mailbox. My sister and I would lie on the floor and go through page after glossy catalog page of plastic wonderment in joyful

anticipation of receiving all the things we never even knew we wanted. It was exciting! Not that we ever received all that stuff.

That wasn’t the point. The fun was in the anticipation..the receiving..the surprise. Yes, when I was a child, I thought like a child.

Christmas is, after all, for children.

Today we realize that Christmas isn’t about shiny things wrapped in paper, but about celebrating the day the gift of salvation

came to mankind wrapped in swaddling clothes. Talk about the perfect gift! Thank You Jesus! Freely we have been given, so now

we freely give…..well, sort of. The old tradition of looking for things to receive as a child has been replaced by looking for things

to give as an adult, and it’s anything but free - oh joy. What do I get my father-in-law? Does my sister really —See Hope on pg7

Hope Sunday by Susan Stewart

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

Dec 17 at 7:00 pm.

You’ve seen the com-

mercials. Perhaps you’ve

even pictured yourself

driving along the rugged

path, treading through

dangerous territories and

winding curves in the car

or truck the commercial

advertized. What’s more

is that your driving fanta-

sies can become a real-

ity—for the right price of

course—if you had that

kind of car. Then you

notice something. Bur-

ied in small print, during all

the action of the commer-

cial, there is a warning: Pro-

fessional Driver. Do Not

Attempt This. In other

words, there is no way you

could do any of this! Ouch

and ugh. Back to my mini-

van I go.

Many people recognize

Christ’s command of disci-

pleship. However, there is a

misunderstanding that the

life Christ shows is best left

to be understood by the

professionals—funny because

they’re referring to me! That is,

there is no way I could do any

of this. Well, Scripture isn’t a

fancy car commercial. You may

not be able to live like Christ, by

yourself. That’s why we have

Scripture and the Holy Spirit

promised to us. God shows us

how to do what we can’t seem

to, and how to live like we think

we can’t. With God all things

are possible, even you.

Blessed Beyond Belief,

Means of Grace

These are different ways we

experience the grace of

God. For example we ex-

perience God: through the

Bible; by receiving Commun-

ion; in our baptism; by

prayer; and in our giving;

Theological Word To Know

Professionals Only?

Victoria District Superintendent

(SWTX Conference) recently shared

13 bad attitudes of first killer UM Church. Tell us what you think:

1) Don’t pray for church leaders especially the pastor. If she/he is called they should

already be prayed up!

2) Find fault; it will improve things. Find fault especially before PPRC meetings of all

the things that the pastor and staff need to do to improve. In fact, call all the peo-

ple you can and find out what they don’t like about the pastor and the church.

3) Don’t give financially—somebody else will give. After all, things are tight. What do

they do with all that money anyway?

4) Don’t show up for meetings! There are too many meetings anyway.

5) Fight to prove your point and protect your turf.

6) Don’t allow new people to serve on boards. New people don’t know our ways.

7) Don’t change the music. What’s wrong with the old, old, old hymns?

8) Don’t reach children or youth. Children will only make noise and scuff your floors.

9) Help people fail. People ought to experience failure; it’s good for them.

10) Don’t change the worship service. The worship service is perfectly fine the way it

has always been. It was good enough for mother and her mother before her

mother and her….

11) Don’t share your pew! Don’t share a classroom!

12) Don’t ever invite people to church. We know everybody and we are comfortable

just the way things are.

13) Don’ pay apportionments. What do they do for us?

13 Bad Attitudes of Killer UM Church

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1

Office h

rs. 10-2

7Choir R

ehearsa

l

2

10 Bible S

tudy

7 Busy B

ees

3

Office h

rs. 10-2

4

5Communion

Hope S

unday

4:30 Youth

6

Office h

rs. 10-2

7

7Dinner a

t Ron &

Pattie’s

7:30 Discip

le I

8

Office h

rs. 10-2

7Choir R

ehearsa

l

9

10 Bible S

tudy

10

Office h

rs. 10-2

11

12

3:30-5 Christm

as @

the p

arso

nage

13

Office h

rs. 10-2

7UMW

14

7:30 Discip

le I

15

Office h

rs. 10-2

7Choir R

ehearsa

l

16

10 Bible S

tudy

7 Busy B

ees

17

Office h

rs. 10-2

7Chips, D

ips &

Discu

ssion

18

19

Christm

as C

antata

4:30 Youth

7 Healin

g Service

20

Office h

rs. 10-2

21

7:30 Discip

le I

22

7Choir R

ehearsa

l

23

10 Bible S

tudy

24

3 Ashford Hall

5 Spanish

Service

7English

Service

25

Christm

as D

ay

26

27

28

7:30 Discip

le I

29

7Choir R

ehearsa

l

30

10 Bible S

tudy

31

December 2010

December 2010

www.oakhavenumc.org

Oak Haven United Methodist Church




P A G E 4

Ushers and Counters

Scripture Readings

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

Sue Nungesser, Marie Pittman, Connie Ramsey, Nadine Jester, Valerie Milano, Martha Davis, Jesse

Ford, Lorene Ingham, 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, Debra Randle, Wesley Burks, Avis Jordan, Charles Chilton,

Bea Baker, Brian Deskin, Lorene Hall, Mike Burns, Jim Hallworth, Ruth Ann Wilhoite, Jo Sutter, Shanna

Acton, Chris McDade, Denise & John Butler, Susanne & Dick Ramsey, Pat Buttery, Herschel Mixom,

Louis Munoz, Carl Ryser, Norma Hernandez, Teri & Shane Higgs, Shawn Koogler, Ryan Kinnan, June

Montgomery, Bill Glass, Scott Quintana, King family, Bobby Garza, Walburga Kerner, Sue Harris, Nad-

ine Justin, Mike & Michelle Cummings, our missionaries & military

For the eyes of the Lord

are on the righteous,

and his ears are open to

their prayers.

1Peter 3:12

Acolytes

Dec 5-Lissette Garcia

& Haley Stephens

Dec 12-Mya Garcia

& Nelson Norris

Dec 19-Ashlei Fletcher

& Jade Vela

Dec 26-Brittani Fletcher

& Hanna Stephens

Dec 5 (Team 3) Dec 12 (Team 4)

Don Kent Ricky Campbell

Mike Matkin Stella Jones

Ben Shemo Don Kent

David Triggs Rebecca Wheeler

Sub: Rebecca Wheeler Sub: Mary Lou Campbell

Counters: Mary Lou Campbell, Stella Jones Counters: Steve Perrin

Dec 19 (Team 1) Dec 26 (Team 2)

Mary Lou Campbell Mary Lou Campbell

Ricky Campbell Jonathan Perrin

Ronnie Crow Rob Scully

Don Kent Rebecca Wheeler

Sub: Stella Jones Sub: Mike Matkin

Counters: Mary Owen, Bonnie Perrin Counters: Ann Kent, Steve Perrin

Dec 5 Dec 12

Isaiah 11:1-10 Isaiah 35:1-10

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 Luke 1:47-55

Romans 15: 4-13 James 5:7-10

Matthew 3:1-12 Matthew 11:2-11

Dec 19 Dec 26

Isaiah 7:10-16 Isaiah 63:7-9

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Psalm 148

Romans 1:1-7 Hebrews 2:10-18

Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew 2:13-23

UMW Bring the Blues? P A G E 5

Our November meeting began with the

reciting of the purpose, followed by our

cares and concerns. After the prayer,

Rebecca Wheeler gave a very inspiring

devotional and Micki Triggs read the mis-

sionary birthdays from the missionary

birthday calendar. After the business

meeting we were served delicious re-

freshments provided by Dorene Taylor.

Dorene also provided us with a meaning-

ful program entitled Advent. Thank you

ladies for all you do. The December

meeting will be held on Monday, Dec 13

at 6pm at Minnette Puckett’s home (1907

Douglas Circle). Please bring a dish for

our potluck dinner. In lieu of gifts, we

are accepting donations to benefit the

Irving Police/Fire Departments’ “Blue

Christmas” project which helps buy toys for

disadvantaged children. They are in particular

need of toys for ages 10 and up. If you would

like to give your gift by check, please make it

payable to: Oak Haven United Methodist

Women with a notation “Blue Christmas” or

cash is always welcome. If anyone needs a ride

to Minnette’s home, please call me.

As a reminder, our “Christmas Card for In-

mates of Texas Prisons” will continue through

the holidays. There is a collection box near the nursery. All do-

nations will help this project. Our other ongoing projects have

donation boxes available. They are: Campbell’s Soup labels for

Dallas Bethlehem Center; toiletries, current year magazines, puz-

zles and games for Ashford Hall.

Our January meeting is scheduled for Jan 11 at 7pm at the

church. I hope to see all of you at Minnette’s home soon and at

our January meeting. I would like to take this opportunity to

wish each and every one of you and your families a very blessed

Christmas and a New Year filled with peace and love.

Mary Lou Campbell, President

The United Methodist Men adjourned early

from their November 18th meeting to the ham

smoker to finish loading and unloading hams.

We had no other business or discussion—just

hams! A very special thanks to all the men who

offered their time in helping with the hams and

turkeys. Don’t forget, we’ll need your help again

this month (our Dec 16th meeting will be at

the smoker). If anyone would like to purchase a

ham or turkey for Christmas, contact Steve

Perrin for more information.

Join us for a blood drive dedicated in special honor of

Don Kent, enjoying his 7th year with his new heart. Let’s

make this a great one! Invite your friends and neighbors

to help bring life to those in need.

Date: Saturday, December 11

Time: 10am-2pm

Look for the Red Cross bus stationed in the church’s

north parking lot. Sign up today by stopping by the office

to add your name to the schedule or by contacting

Minnette Puckett. There is still room and need for you.

We are excited to have this opportunity to celebrate

and share with Don and his family the blessing he received

7 years ago. So, even if you can’t give blood (If you can

then we know you will want to) maybe it’s a good time to

to let the Kents know how grateful you are to God for

their lives.

P A G E 6

DALLAS (UMNS) — A star-studded array of

officials from the last presidency turned out Nov.

16 to break ground for the George W. Bush

Presidential Center at United Methodist-related

Southern Methodist University. The former first

couple, both United Methodists, were joined by

their pastor, the Rev. Mark Craig of Highland

Park UMC, in lifting shovels full of dirt symboliz-

ing the start of work on the 225,000-square-foot

brick and limestone presidential library center,

scheduled to be completed in Feb 2013.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Next summer United Methodist youth from the United States

can participate in weeklong mission work experiences in Nashville that help children, older

adults, the homeless and people with special needs.For the second year, the youth mission

trips will be sponsored jointly by Young People's Ministries, a division of the United Methodist

Board of Discipleship, and YouthWorks!, a multidenominational youth-mission organization.

The program will be hosted at McKendree United Methodist Church in downtown Nash-

ville.The mission experience is open to youth who will enter the seventh grade in the fall of

2011 through current high school seniors. Eight weeklong sessions will be available in 2011,

beginning the week of June 12 and ending the week of July 31. Cost is $248 per person. More

information is available at www.youthworks.com by clicking on the link for “UMC churches” in

the left column.

Short-term Missions Available for Youth in 2011

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.

General Conference Delegates Stay the Same

SMU Breaks Ground

Words from Wesley

Do all the good you can, by

all the means you can, in all

the ways you can, in all the

places you can, at all the

times you can, to all the

people you can, as long as

ever you can.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — More than

500 United Methodists recently answered

a survey from United Methodist Commu-

nications on how they felt about simple

living, using the definition: “a lifestyle char-

acterized by consuming only that which is

required to sustain life.” For many, the

answer is: The spirit is willing, but the

flesh is weak.

Simple Living?

PANAMA CITY, Panama (UMNS)—The Rev. L. Fitzgerald Reist announced Nov. 5 that the

number of delegates for the 2012 General Conference will be near the 1,000-delegate

limit. "Although a variety of opinions have been expressed, I've heard strong pleas to retain simi-

lar numbers as before, and I believe any significant reduction in the number of delegates should

occur in concert with a more comprehensive look at the whole process,” said Reist, who is sec-

retary of the quadrennial legislative gathering. “It’s essential that we not undermine the level of

trust. With so many substantive changes expected to be considered during the 2012 General

Conference, it is important to avoid any perception that a reduction in the number of delegates

might somehow be intended to influence outcomes.”The exact number of delegates will not be

available until calculations have been completed, but the secretary of each (regional) annual con-

ference will be notified by Dec. 1 how many delegates their conference will have. General Con-

ference will meet in Tampa, Fla., in spring 2012.

need a pair of bunny slippers? What if they already have an electric

quesadilla maker? What size does Aunt Mavis wear? And as I stare at the blinking red and

green lights of the far distant traffic signal, I wonder how long I’ll have to wait in this long cara-

van of wise men on I-35 who are following that star to Sears, and Macy’s and Best Buy in or-

der to purchase gifts to bear to somebody who, like me, is probably also wishing for all this

Christmas “joy” to finally be over, bah humbug! Well at least we still have catalogs, and inter-

net. Using these tools certainly makes Christmas shopping bearable... sigh.

One day, I was surfing the net looking for that perfect gift for I forget who, when I came

across a catalog I had never heard of before. It was the World Vision Gift Catalog. “Ooooo, I

bet this is full of organic goodies,” I said aloud just as the ghost of Christmas Catalogs Past sat

down on my shoulder. Yes, it was filled with organic things alright. But instead of kidskin

gloves and leather coats, there were pictures of live goats, and real cows. They had rabbits

and chickens, ducks and donkeys, sheep and…. children? Yes, sad children, serious children,

hurt children. What in the world? Then the ghost of Christmas past began to whisper in my

ear.

“What was the best gift you have ever received in your life?” he asked. “That’s easy,”

I thought. “The best gift was Jesus. He gave me salvation, hope, peace and a future.” “Then

wouldn’t it make sense to give to them,” he said pointing at the children, “what Jesus gave to

you, something truly meaningful? A hope and a future?” “Wait, who are these children?” I

asked. “Those lambs are who Jesus calls “the least,” he responded. The girl is Poverty, and

the boy is Injustice. “What about their guardians, the people who are supposed to care for

them?” I asked. “Where are they?” “Oh, they could be anywhere,” my spiritual informant

shrugged. “At the mall, McDonald’s, at home sitting in front of a computer screen paging

through catalogs. Why, on December 5 th, they could even show up at Oak Haven United

Methodist Church for Hope Sunday.” “What’s Hope Sunday?” I asked.

“Hope Sunday will be an opportunity for those who have experienced the gift of

salvation to give the gift of hope to a child who desperately needs it. You know, following in

the footsteps of Jesus and all.” “But what about my sister’s bunny slippers,” I protested weakly.

“Won’t she be disappointed?”

“What about them?” the Christmas spirit asked with a twinkle in his eye. “You

could give her a pair of fake bunnies or……..” “OR I could give a pair of REAL bunnies to a

family to raise for food and warmth in her name!” “Brilliant!” exclaimed my new found

Christmas friend. “Believe it or not, that’s exactly what separates the sheep from the goats.

And, won’t your sister be surprised! Yes, it’s time to start a new tradition Sis….Dad….Aunt

Mavis. Merry Christmas Everyone!

P A G E 7

Dec 7

Stephen Siegel

Dec 14

Lynda Johnson

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.

Hope, Cont from pg1

We have three upcoming projects we would like your input and cooperation with.

1) Do you have a particular question about the Bible, faith or God? Our pastor

would like to put together a series of sermons centered on questions you have. So,

submit 3-5 questions to John.

2) Our pastor would like to host a monthly Sunday School teaching series. Sug-

gest 1-2 topics for consideration.

3) We would like to add a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) video segment. to

our church website. Guests can read through commonly asked questions and re-

sponses. A personal touch would be to have members of the church answer those question

themselves. Think of how you would answer some of those common questions.

For more information about any of the projects above, please contact John Fletcher.

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

D E C E M B E R

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

You can download this

publication at

www.oakhavenumc.org

John blogs at: www.anotherjohn.com

The Way Home

You’ve read a lot this

year (Haven’t you?). Let’s

watch a movie this

month. The Way Home

is a story of a community

coming together during a

family’s most tragic

moment—a story of

prayer, hope and faith.

What do you think?

Faith is Fun Reading With the Pastor


1600 N. Irving Heights

Irving, TX 75061

Documents

Under the Oak December 2010