What’s Inside

First United Methodist Church109 S. HarperPoteau, OK 74953

Non-Profit Org.

Permit No. 40

Poteau, OK 74953

Address Service Requested

YEAR 25 VOLUME 5 MAY, 2017 SERVing gOd 124 YEARS

The United Methodist News

The United Methodist NewsPASTOR TO PEOPLE

REV. JIM PERKIN

Sunday School9:30 A.M.

Morning Worship10:30 A.M.

Church Calendar ................ 2Prayer List .......................... 2Sympathy Note .................. 3Welcome New Members .... 3Children’s Ministry ............ 3News of Youth .................... 3Preschool Report ............... 3Mission Opportunity .......... 4Birthdays, Anniversaries .. 4

FIRST

A pastor friend of mine recently wrote, “Pretty fascinating to me that the gospel writers don’t portray Jesus’ post-resurrection as posing and strutting like an action hero. Instead, they share story after story of disciples finding Jesus hidden in plain sight. And maybe that’s how the kingdom works on us – not as a punch to the face, but as something slowly sneaking up on us from the background.”

Think about some of the stories of Jesus revealing himself after the resurrection. In Luke 24 we see two disciples walking along when Jesus comes walking up next to them and they don’t even recognize him. Another time recorded in John 21 some of the disciples were out fishing and Jesus shows up on the beach. Again, we see that the disciples didn’t recognize him.

These stories remind us that although we might like Jesus to come in a blaze of unearthly light, the truth is we find him more at supper time or walking along the road. I often find a sacred moment when I have intentionally set myself apart for a set time to be with God or to serve others like when I am at church camp or on a mission trip. But it is also true that the sacred moments can often be found in our everyday moments if we will be ready to look for them.

If we look with our hearts, if we listen with all our being, if we live from one moment to the next and not just surviving one thing to the next thing, what we may see is Jesus himself, what we may hear is the first faint sound of a voice somewhere deep within us saying that there is more to life than surviving. We may notice that these ordinary moments may already be sacred if we would only pay attention to how God is mov-ing in the world around us.

On the journey with you,

Pastor Jim Perkin

SeniorBrunch

May 21, 9:30 a.m.CFLC

• Clint Billingsley• Charlee Gilliam• Candace Graham• Emily Harreld• Ben Klutts• Jeremiah Loggains• Dawson Perry• Rece Ward

ACOLYTES

WORSHIP GREETERS

WELCOME TABLE VOLUNTEERS

LITURGIST: Allison Matos

PAGE 2 MAY 2017

THE UNITED METHODIST NEWSPublished by the Communications Committee

Carol Baker, EditorFIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

109 S. Harper, Poteau, OK 74953Telephone 918-647-2217

e-mail: adminassistant@poteaufumc.comwebsite: www.poteaufumc.com

Sunday School 9:30 a.m. • Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.Bishop Rev. Jimmy NunnDistrict Superintendent Larry BaumanSenior Pastor Rev. Jim PerkinDirector of Youth Ministries Melanie WheatDirector of Music Ministries Mary Lynn PerkinDirector of Children’s Ministries Suzanne KluttsAdministrative Assistant Melissa WardLead Nursery Attendant Jayla CraigOrganist Bill KingFacility Manager Phil Smith

District web page: www.gbgm-umc.org/mc-dist/

6 Church Yard Sale at Terri Martin’s. Call church or Terri for details.

Cavanal Chorale, 7 p.m. 7 Cavanal Chorale, 2 p.m.15 Finance Meeting, 6 p.m.17 Membership Care, 12 noon18 College of the Ozarks Concert, 7 p.m.20 Neighborhood Breakfast, 8-10 a.m.21 Senior Sunday Brunch, 9:30 a.m. Baccalaureate, 8 p.m., Bob Lee Kidd Civic

Center22 Trustees Meeting, 5:30 p.m.26 High School Graduation, 8 p.m., Costner Sta-

dium29 OfficeclosedforMemorialDay

• MAY CHURCH CALENDAR •• SUNDAY •

Sunday School, 9:30; Morning Worship, 10:30UMYF (CHAOS), 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

• MONDAY • Christian Preschool Monday – Thursday

• TUESDAY •Cub Scouts, 6 p.m.; Boy Scouts, 7 p.m., CFLC

• WEDNESDAY • Bell Choir 5:30 p.m.

Celebration Choir Rehearsal, 6:15 p.m.• THURSDAY •

Senior Café, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., CFLC

Poteau F.U.M.C. Report for March 2017Average Attendance Figures for March: 1502017 Budget Requirements: $345,500.00

Needed through March: $86,375.00Year to Date received through March: $80,331.85

March Receipts: $26,773.75March Expenditures: $28,191.24

Amount Owed on New Building Loan: $518,688.01

7 Nina Ritchie and Peggy Talley14 AnnYoungandGraceDehart21 Janet Sockey and Judy Peerson28 Jamie and Tracey Gilliam

7 DavidandKathyRobertson14 TedKilgoreandDonBaetz21 Bill and Linda Lancaster28 Mike and Karen Hahn

7 TaylorDarneal14 Sadie Perkin21 Mary Ford28 Taryn Shelton

7 Brock Call and Ryker Holt 14 Burke Perry and Brady Perry21 Kendy Traywick and Maggie Wheat28 Grant Thomas and Jenci Quarry

Prayer List(As of April 23, 2017)

To add to or remove a name from the list, call thechurchofficeat918-647-2217.

Nursing Home/Homebound: Maxine Nyberg Health: LandaAubree,DonBaetz, Astarte

Baker, Pat Branson, Ed Brody, Sinia Carbrey, PerryCarter,AllenDaniels,JimDavis,GennyDorsey,RobEllis,SusanEngland,BettyEvans,Mary Folsom, Janet Fox, Dolores Fuller, PamHayes, Karen Hahn, Allen and Jane Ann Inge, DonnaJackson,CurtisJames,LoreneJohnson,JimKersh,ColtonKnight,LloydandDanaLee,Arlene LeMaster, Lucy McMillin, Sharon Mik-kelson, Mason Mitchell, Christy Oehlschlager, JackOehlschlager,PatPate,KalliePeck,Deb-bie Piovarchy, Jean Potts, William Quarry, Bob-bie Rowland, Joe Sabatucci, Charles Saviers, Cathy Siefert, Jim Shore, Pat Smith, Randy Smith, Richard Sockey, Virginia Stanley, Earl Steimetz,KatieStrider,KarenTankersley,Den-nis Thomas, Rita Thomas, Patsy West.

Bereavement: Military and Law Enforcement:Tyler Berlin, Kaigan LeMaster Coggins, Bailey

Hahn, Zack Hall, Kyle Kinman, and all our mili-tary and law enforcement.

CHILDREN’S MOMENTS

We Love

Visitors

!

Welcome!

MAY 2017 PAGE 3

• Children’s Ministry •

Children’s Ministry is excited about this sum-mer’s VBS, Maker Fun Factory, which focuses on being God’s Masterpiece. Volunteers are still needed in many areas of VBS. If you have a heart for God and a little free time this summer, letmeknowandwewillfindaspotforyou!Alsolet me know if your child would be interested in attending one of the Children’s Camps at Camp Egan.

DATESFORSUMMERACTIVITIESJune5-9,9a.m.-12p.m.–VBSDecorat-

ingJune 11, 5-7 p.m. – VBS KickoffJune 12-16, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. – Vacation Bible

SchoolJuly 24-26 – Children’s Camp (entering

grades 3-5), Camp EganJuly 24-28 – Children’s Camp (entering grade

6), Camp Egan

By Suzanne Klutts

Our SympathyOur sympathy is extended to Tracey

Gilliam and family on the recent death of her mother, Jan Kelley.

2017 Confirmation Class

Rev. Perkin stands with the 2017 confirmands on April 2. They are, left to right, Sisnie Brookfield, Nathan Murray, Wyatt Holt, Wesley Garrett, and Sadie Perkin. Congratulations to them.

Welcome New Members!We welcome our newest members. Lenora

Williams joined on April 2 and John and Sandy Carbrey on April 23. All by transfer from other denominations. We are happy to have them as a part of our church family.

News of YouthUMYF(CHAOS)meetsSundayeveningsfrom

5 to 7 p.m. and is for all youth 6th – 12th.

By Melanie Wheat

MAY7 5 to 7 Regular Meeting - Meal provided by

Terri Martin14NoYouth-Mother’sDay21 Senior Sunday Brunch at 9:30 a.m. No Youth - Senior Baccalaureate28NoYouth-MemorialDayWeekend

DistrictCampisJune19-23atCampEganin Tahlequah. Cost is $133. Camp is filling up quickly!

Youth Force is July 23-28 in Grove, Okla. Cost is $75. We have 20 student openings and four adult openings.

If you would like to sign up for Camp or Youth Force or both, please take your payment to the church office. They will then give you the link to enroll online. If you have any problems enrolling, please don’t hesitate to call or text me at (918) 649-7766. I will be more than happy to help walk you through the process.

ByTracey Gilliam,

Preschool Director

Preschool students will be learning about the Fruits of the Spirit this month. Students will also be learning about animals in the ocean, ladybugs, and what is fun to do in the summer. Students will also be celebrating what a great school year, 2016-2017, they have had.

The preschool end of year celebrations will be held in the sanctuary on May 23rd and May 24th at 10:30. The preschool students will be singing songs, receiving certificates and playing on bounce-arounds in the Family Life Center.

Preschool will resume classes on August 14th, 2017. The preschool currently still has openings for the next school year. Please visit thePoteauFUMCFacebookpageandlikeandshare it with your friends and family.

PAGE 4 MAY 2017

May Anniversaries

May Bir thdays

The Membership Care Committee meets on the third Wednesday of each month in the Chris-tian Family Life Center from 12 to 1 p.m. They try to stay in contact with those in need through cards, phone calls and visits.

If you know someone they need to add to their list,pleasecontactthechurchofficeorcallKayThomas at 918-647-3491.

Anyone who knows of someone who would benefitfromaprayershawl,whetherachurchmember or not, should call Cindy Brody at 918-385-1542 or the church at 647-2217.

–––––If you desire the church’s prayer chain to pray

for you, make your request known by contact-ingthechurchofficeat918-647-2217.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Living Lord’s Supper 2017 4 Will and Kela Miller15 Jerry and Mary Ford19 DavidandLisaBarnes20 Chad and Jennifer Cravens MikeandCindyDarneal23 Jim and Mary Lynn Perkin24 Scott and Jennifer Miller Jamie and Tracey Gilliam25 DavidandTerryHall28 Jerry and Jan Thompson29 BobandDeannaReed

Membership Care Committee

April saw the 26th Living Lord’s Supper drama presented during the Holy Week service. Twenty-eight people made the drama possible both in the spotlight and behind the scenes. Randy Bridg-man operated the spotlight for his 23rd year. Pic-tured in the DaVinci’s Last Supper pose are, left to right, David Barnes, Steve Clark, Robert Holt, Kennedy Thomas, Mike Lee, Steven Sockey, Ran-dy Matos, Jon Mitchell, Bill King, Chad Yandell, Tom Puckette, Jason Bandy and David Redhage.

Mission OpportunityAnother mission trip opportunity is available

forsign-upnow!ThedateisJuly16-21,2017.DestinationistheUnitedMethodistCommitteeonRelief(UMCOR)DepotinBaldwin,Louisiana.If interested in signing up, contact Pastor Jim.

2 Kendrick Hardaway 3 Jessica Bridgman 4 Morgan Ward and Sarah Mixon 5 Steve Clark and Shirley Blackshare 6 Ryan Neurohr, Kevin Ramirez and Makali Kemp7 KevinGriffith,JeffMixon,andJerryKemp 8 Leslie Chastain, Mandy Wilson, Kennedy

WhitefieldandJackelynnGuiterrez11 Robert Reed and Libby Bridgman13 Tori White14 Nicholas Roberts and Marie Hinton15 Tucker Garrett and Austin James18 Aiden Alexander and Stevee McMillin19 Jenci Quarry20 Haley Redhage21 EmilyNorgeotandChrisBrookfield22 Rhett Garner24 EvaDaigle25 Cash Balentine, Burke Perry, Brady Perry andJoniGriffith26 Kade McMillin and Katie Rust27 Freda Ogle and Kawika Santos28 Joey Hall30 CharleyClark,DazDeCamp,CoraRolens and Warrick Quarry

• College Grads •We have been informed that Wilson Klutts is

graduatingfromNSU.Ifyouknowothersfromour church graduating college, please let the office know.