See!

The winter is past; Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:11-12 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11 Today (March 20) is the first day of Spring. As I look off the back porch of the parsonage I am struck by how quickly leaves have returned to the oaks, elms and other deciduous hardwoods. Almost overnight, it seems, they're green once again. Spring and Easter go hand-in-hand. Jesus overcame sin and death, and offers eternal life to all who trust Him. This morning, one of our long-time church members, Blanche Philcox, passed from this world into the eternal care of her gracious Lord. For Blanche, winter is over. SPRING has begun. Were on the web! www.tsumc.org Easter also represents God's ability to renew all of life. The One who can produce "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" lives in you. (Gal. 5:22) Sometimes we experience something like a cold winter of the soul. Perhaps you're going through severe challenges, struggles or setbacks. Be reminded that "nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37) From the cold emerges warmth. On the other hand, winter isn't always severe. For instance, this

year's winter in North Texas was very mild compared to years past. The temperatures dipped below freezing only a few times and there was no extended period of "hard" freeze. At times it didn't even feel like winter. Yet it was winter. The leaves were gone, the grass was brown and flowers were not in bloom. It was winter. Sometimes our spiritual lives are like this year's winter; mild, temperate, luke-warm. We fool ourselves into thinking all is well. We coast along without seeking God, or sensing our need for God. However, if we're not seeking God and if we don't sense our need for God, we're in winter, though it is mild. The fruit doesn't grow. Some are experiencing a harsh spiritual winter. Others are experiencing a mild spiritual winter. May Jesus' resurrection bring all of us out of winter into His glorious Spring. It is a privilege to serve with you at Tyler Street. I appreciate you so much. Happy Easter. Blessings, Ed

ANNIVERSARY/WEDDING RING Class opened on Mar.11 by singing Beneath the Cross and a prayer by Nina Wakefield. Glad to have Nina back. We celebrated Jean Helsems birthday. Dennis Jeters lesson was on Creation, It Just Didnt Happen. Jesus and Wisdom were both at creation. R.E. Frederick brought refreshments. Thanks! On Mar. 18, we opened by singing Weve a Story to Tell to the Nation followed by a prayer by Nina Wakefield. R.E. Frederick fell and broke his shoulder. Keep him in your prayers. Frank Fosdicks lesson was very good on How Did Jesus Come into Your Life. He asked Peter, Lazarus, Paul and the thief on the cross this questionhow it changed their lives. We opened class on Mar. 25 with singing Are Ye Able and a prayer by Buddy Holley. R.E. Frederick is better. Patsy Thompsons lesson, What Will You Leave at the Cross, was very inspiring. Helen Parker volunteered to be Sunshine Chair. TWO BY TWO Don Lindholm led the class on Mar. 11 in singing, My Saviors Love and Nearer My God to Thee. Carl Schoono-

ver gave the prayer. Jim Gettman gave a good lesson on 1 Peter dealing with the elders of the church. On Mar. 18, Don Lindholm led the class in singing, My Hope Is Built and Just As I Am. Shirley Jackson gave the devotion and prayer. Don Lindholm gave a good lesson on the book of Esther. Don Lindholm led the class on Mar. 25 in singing, He Keeps Me Singing and Near to the Heart of God. Mary Schoonover gave the prayer. Shirley Jackson shared a video called In the Arms of Angels, about a girl named Bell doing missionary work. Praise the Lord that Janet Rhodes hip replacement surgery was successful. Glad to have Frank Avaritt back in class today. Pray for Joy and Dale as they mourn the loss of their mother, Blanche Philcox. Continue to pray for: Shirley Jackson; JoAnn's daughter, Pam, as she has hip surgery; Ray and Maxine Matthews; Deloris Lewis as she moves; Frank Avaritt as he recovers; Mary Roberts as she has knee trouble; Janet Rhodes hip replacement recovery; Ben Schoonover; Mildred Lindsay, and grandson Josh, and their family.

Order Your Easter Lily

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________________________ In Memory of: __________________________________________________________________ In Honor of:____________________________________________________________________ At Easter, we have beautiful lilies in the sanctuary. You may order an Easter Lily for a loved one or friend. The price is $10.50. Please attach your check, made out to TSUMC marked for "Lily" and place in the offering plate or give to the ushers. After the Easter service, you may take your lily home. NOTE: For your loved one's name to be included in Easter Sunday's bulletin, please have your order in by Monday, April 2, at 5 pm.

Tyler Street Christian Academy is having a garage sale at the school on Saturday, April 21, from 9am to 3pm. If you have any items you would like to donate, please contact Geneva Jackson at 214-729-0057 or silverpkk@yahoo.com. You can also arrange a pick up of any donated items if needed. We will have a special Easter offering that will be taken on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Our love and sympathy... To family and friends of Blanche Philcox. To Alice Hargis in the loss of her son, Roy Hargis. To all my dear friends at Tyler Street, I want to thank you so much for all the beautiful cards I received on my 86th birthday! What a

blessing it was. This hospital house where Joe and I live has never seen that many cards before for one person. Joe sends his love and thanks to you also. We really do miss everyone. You can never know how much. I thank you again so much! Love, LaVerne Vogel It is now possible to give to Tyler Street online. If you have any questions, please contact Kay Talbert in the church office. Thank you for your investment in the ministries of Tyler Street. Financial update through February 29, 2012: Jan-Feb budgeted receipts Jan-Feb actual receipts $131,833 $125,466 or 95%

Jan-Feb receipts under budget $6,367 or 5%

Holy Week Schedule

April 5 7pm Chapel

The Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples.

Easter Eggstravaganza
Bring a picnic lunch for your family and join us in Anderson Hall.

Easter Sunrise Service

6:45am

660 S. Zang Blvd. is the new home of Oak Cliff Christian Church and Ecclesia de Christiana de la Roca (formally Gonzalez Funeral Home and Chamber of Commerce building).

He is not here, He has risen!

Easter Services Sunday, April 8 8:30 & 10:5am

Palm Sunday April 1, 2012 12:30pm

Nominations for this years MOTHER OF THE YEAR are now being accepted. Please send a letter describing the Christian character of the nominee. You may submit it to Donna Reed in the church office or by email to donnareed@tsumc.org. NOTE: The deadline is Tuesday, May 1.

Are you yet

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-the LORD, who remains faithful forever. Psalm 146:5-6 As we continue to progress toward Holy Week, Good Friday and onto Easter, what word can I give that expresses what this journey means? Hope. As a means of making this word come to life, maybe I could offer the acronym Hold Onto Prayer Every day. Or perhaps Have Only Positive Expectations. Then there is Holding Onto Promises Eternally. However, one might want to remember what this word means to them. I offer it as a word that will be fuel in tough times. It is a word that can be medicine for the pains that affect the body, the mind and the spirit. A word that shines a light of clarity into the corners of our life, where hidden are the things that no human eye may see. It gives us a reason to get up again. It is something to help us keep going and something to hold onto. I often heard as a child the questioning expression, "Are you yet holding on?" I would wonder holding onto what? With what? I've learned that I am holding onto hope and I am holding on with hope. That's a pretty big job for one word. Yet Jesus is our hope and whom we hold onto and the Blessed Spirit with whom we are able to hold onto. Hope the word that I offer as we come to the end of Lent, the word of Easter.

Troop/Veterans update...We need the current updates/status of active, inactive troops and veterans connected to our church. If you have an update, you may put it on the Troop bulletin board on the first floor of the sanctuary.

Parents' Night Out at Tyler Street happens every 3rd Friday of the month from 5-9 pm. It includes dinner and plenty of fun! For more info, email Jamie Nelson at jamienelson@tsumc.org. You may register online at www.tsumc.org.

The Phantom of the Opera

This performance recalls the days in the 1920s before the advent of "talkies," in which the only soundtrack provided for a moving picture came from an orchestra or organ. Since most theatres could not afford a live orchestra, organs were installed and organists were employed to play creative accompaniments to feature films. Renowned organist, Benjamin A. Kolodziej, has composed music for this original film and will accompany the silent movie in our sanctuary. You will remember in 2010, he played for the silent movie, The Parsons Widow. Dont miss this unique and entertaining experience!

As Jesus journeyed toward Jerusalem toward the cross he repeatedly offered hope. He gave hope through his words and his actions. He gave hope to the woman who had suffered with an issue of blood for longer than she could probably remember. He gave hope to a father who thought that he had lost his child. He gave hope to Mary and Martha four days after Lazarus had died. Going to the cross for us Jesus is our hope. He is I AM not I WAS or I USED TO BE, not I COULD BE but I AM. That's hope. As we reflect on the journey of Christ to the cross let us hold onto the hope of that cross. So that whatever is going on in our lives we realize that there is a hope and his name is Jesus. Let us remember that the cross is a powerful symbol of truth over falsehood, hope over despair and life beyond death. As Paul writes, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18) That is hope, my brothers and sisters.

By Carla Boss As was the custom at the time, Linda Bilhartz Bannick attended her regular after-school children's choir practice at Tyler Street Methodist Church. It was around 4:00 in the Then and Now afternoon on Tuesday, April 2, 1957. It was raining outside and suddenly seemed to be raining harder and harder, and then the sky became really dark. To the children it seemed like any other Texas thunderstorm. The lights flickered on and off a little but the children still were not alarmed. A man came into the room and whispered something to Mr. Barcafer, the choir director. Mr. Barcafer then calmly told the choir to walk orderly out the door in single file. The children then thought it must be some sort of drill and were told to stay in the hallways. By then the wind was howling, the lights had gone completely out, and a man was struggling to close the Polk Street door. Even so, Mr. Barcafer continued to reassure the children in his soft, calm voice. As the winds calmed, the children were led outside to a sight they could never have imagined. A tornado had touched down at Wilomet and Tenth and began a path of destruction through Winnetka Heights and into Kessler Park. Linda says that through the whole terrible ordeal, Mr. Barcafer prayed with them, remained calm and reminded them of how strong God is and how much He loved them all. Tyler Street was spared that day. Tyler Street had also been spared 25 years earlier when creditors foreclosed on the building and would be spared again in 1966 when an electrical short in the organ would start a fire in the Sanctuary. But Tyler Street is so much more than mere bricks, mortar and beautiful stained glass. It is the people. The congregation of 1932 was determined to keep their church and through sacrifice managed to pay off their debt by 1940. The Tyler Street church family lost 13 of their fine young men during WWII, but those who came home went on to build the largest Sunday School in Methodism. In that spring of 1957, the Tyler Street people immediately began to help their friends and neighbors recover and rebuild their neighborhood after the tornado. In 1966 there was never any question that the Sanctuary would be renovated and that ministry would continue to move forward. As the people of Tyler Street enter their second century of service we remember that great cloud of witnesses that has gone before us. In 2012 our country is still involved in a far-away war, unemployment and economic woes are still with us and natural disasters will always be a part of our lives. But at the center of our lives is the living Christ. Following the example of those before us, "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Runways and Cupcakes

A centennial celebration of fashion, so dress your best! Saturday, April 21 2-4 pm in Anderson Hall
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by Keum Hwang Holy communion, what does it mean to you? This was Jesus' last supper with his hand chosen beloved disciples who had been with him day and night for three years. Jesus knew this was his last supper with his friends, but what about the disciples? Perhaps Judas knew but the other eleven could not have fathomed the thought of having a last supper with their teacher. How is your dinner table at home? How about a dinner party of thirteen with your friends? Breaking bread, noise of forks hitting the plates, beautiful sounds of conversation from all around the table, etc. it would be very noisy, rowdy, and perhaps you would get some stares from the other customers in the restaurant. Even at home, if you had thirteen people, I can only imagine the chaos level of trying to organize one activity. For me, holy communion is the last supper I have with Jesus every week. Although I know, through the Bible, that this is the last supper, it is still a dinner table with Jesus's disciples, no, with the community of faithful all around the world; underground, above ground, persecuted, able to freely believe, past, present and future saints of Christians. It is a festival of its own. What a privilege and a miracle to share a weekly feast with my Savior and all those who have been saved by Christ's sacrifice! Thanks be to God!!! Holy Communion, a solemn occasion? Silent conversation? Speak only when spoken to? A fearful dinner table trying hard not to upset those around you? Even though Christ knew this was his last supper with his disciples on earth, Christ also knew this was the start of a worldwide dinner feast, a party! Worldwide, all kinds of cultural, festive, upbeat music would be on my playlist. What kind of songs would be on your playlist at a worldwide dinner party for all Christians?

Coming Soon from The Time Is Right Capital Campaign!

Please 'Pardon our Dust' as new flooring is installed in Yeats Hall and first floor hallways this summer. Watch for information regarding possible meeting relocations during this phase of the project.

Pew Cushion Update

Thanks to the continuing generosity of members and friends, our pew cushion fund is now at $19,220.25! The Trustees are now in the process of taking final bids and will keep the congregation advised of their progress.

Another Big Thank You!

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Through the generosity of a generous Tyler Street supporter, Hearing Assisted Devices have been purchased for the sanctuary. Our goal is to have them available by Easter Sunday. Please see an usher for the device and instructions.

By Martha Matzke Remember the marchers last Sunday with the WHO IS JESUS signs? They represented the 2 billion people in the world today who have not heard the Good News of Jesus. In order for 2 billion people to walk by the pulpit, these marchers would have to keep going 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 86 years! It would take a lifetime of marching 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to get to the number 2 billion. About one-third of the worlds population still doesnt know who Jesus is. No one has ever taken the time to tell them in a language they can understand. The Bible is very clear that it is OUR responsibility to tell others how they can know Jesus as Savior. Yes, each of us has that responsibility. We can tell people nearby who speak a language we do, about Jesus. Most of us here cannot go to another country that has a different culture and language to tell people about Jesus. But we CAN make it possible for others to do it. Thats why we at Tyler Street Church provide money for missionaries. We make it possible for missionaries who have good training to tell people the Good News of Jesus. Have you ever heard of a faith promise? Its a promise a person makes to God. Making a deal with God sounds a little scary. Its not really. God lets us make the decision. Hes not forcing us to do anything. Hes ready to help us make good on whatever we decide. It works like this. God wants people like you and me to get the Good News of Jesus out. Most of the people who dont know about Jesus are overseas. The best way we can help right now is to pray for and give money to missionaries. Our part is vital. We ask God how much we should promise to give this year. We do this even if we dont know where the money will come from. God wont send you a letter with the amount; hell put a thought in your head. The amount might scare you at first, but because God gave you the thought, you can trust him. And somehow God will make it possible for you to give that amount.

Remember, this is a promise you make just to God. Take this information home with you this week. Pray about the promise you should make. When you are ready, cut out the form below and fill it out. Keep it in your Bible to remind you what you promised God. Then see how God helps you to fulfill your faith promise. You become an important member of the world team telling people about Jesus.

You may want to express your faith promise in one of these ways. By faith, I am planning to give $_______ weekly to the mission outreach of Tyler Street UMC By faith, I am planning to give $_______ monthly to the mission outreach of Tyler Street UMC By faith, I am planning to give $_______ yearly to the mission outreach of Tyler Street UMC Name:___________________________________ Date:___________________ Keep this form in your Bible as a reminder of your faith promise. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6

The global impact committee continues to recycle ink cartridges that are used to support Global missions. Drop your used ink cartridges in the labeled box and the committee takes it from there!

By Amy Alburtis Tyler Street United Methodist Church hosted Os Guinness and Stuart McAllister, international itinerant speakers on 'Apologetics', sharing breakfast with local pastors and speaking to the secondary students at Tyler Street Christian Academy. The first weekend in March was a busy one for the international speakers. As worldwide lecturers associated with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, the men in partnership with local area churches, presented an Apologetics Conference March 2-3, 2012 at Spring Valley United Methodist Church. While in Dallas, Guinness and McAllister were guests in the historic home of Oak Cliff residents Fred and Teresa Durham. Former Tyler Street United Methodist Senior Pastor Durham arranged the conference with his daughter, Kathy. The Durham family handled the logistics for the busy weekend. Guinness, the child of missionaries, was born in China. An Oxford Irishman, he is from the family that makes the famous Dublin Ale and The Guinness Book of Records, the second most published book in the world next to the Bible. Mr. Guinness, who holds a Doctor of Philosophy in social sciences, addresses current issues and the Christian intellectual struggles related to these concerns. He also speaks to the humanitarian needs of those at risk within society. Guinness believes "what we need today is a new renaissance: a restoration of radical faithfulness to Jesus and His way of life, and a fresh flowering of entrepreneurial ventures in culture." He was joined on this

tour by Stuart McAllister, Doctor of Divinity and a native Scot, who brings a special relevancy with his colorful Scottish background when sharing Jesus in 2012. The pair presented informative, applicable Gospel information with a no -holes barred approach to their audience. Tyler Street United Methodist Church hosted a Pastor's Breakfast on Friday, March 2nd where the speakers joined local pastors for breakfast, fellowship, and the discussion of Apologetics. As a special treat, Mr. Guinness and Mr. McAllister also shared in a special Chapel assembly of Tyler Street Christian Academy secondary students who were fascinated by the discourse and were blessed with an active, honest, and significant question and answer session regarding Christianity in today's society.