WEEKLY CONNECTION VOLUME 48 No. 18 MAY 10, 2017

Patrick Wayne Beasley, Jr. Jackson Lloyd Bridges

Michaela Michelle Bryan Gary Lee Carnathan

Tate Williams Clayton Carrie Anne Cole

James Landon Craig Elizabeth Chappell Emmons

Harrison Davis Hawkins Mollie Clark Hudson Cameron Jacob Hunt

Noah Gregory Hunt Tanner Hudson Jaggers Jacey Elizabeth Jenkins Lilla Steinriede McGraw Hayden Miller Palmer Anna Kirklyn Presley Dakin Taylor Reed

Bobby Gerald Simmons, II Katherine Brown Stone

DeVonté LaQuan Thomas

On Sunday we will celebrate the great accomplishments of the Class of 2017! Take a moment to congratulate them and please be in prayer as they begin this special time in their lives.

The women at the Clothes Closet have been serving faithfully 3 mornings a week since 1999. Their numbers have dwindled over the years and there are currently six (6) women trying to do what 15+ women used to do. We desperately need more volunteers, primarily on Saturday mornings from 9 – 11 a.m. You don’t have to be a woman to volunteer; men are wel-come also! If we don’t get more volunteers soon, the Clothes Closet will be forced to close. Please call Bonnie at 690-8100 to help, even if you can only be there once a month!

VBS 2017 June 5-9

Registration forms are now available.

The deadline is Sunday, May 21.

From the Board of Trustees Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ! The Trustees have had a busy year so far, and we wish to share some of our progress. Long awaited Lou Bland Memorial Chapel repairs are underway! A quick description of repairs in-clude: patching and painting of interior walls, repair of loose interior millwork, refinishing of exte-rior doors, and replacement of deteriorated exterior window sills, moulding, and corner finials. The project will be completed in the coming weeks. It will always be accessible on Sundays, but if you need access during the week remember it is currently a construction zone. A much needed shade element was installed in our playground area from a generous bequest. Recently we completed a long deferred remodel of the Mote Parsonage kitchen. The original 1951 kitchen needed major repairs and updating. The kitchen is now an area that will provide many years of comfort and joy for its occupants. Kitchen repairs include: new commercial tile flooring, painting, new cabinets, new countertops, a new stove, dishwasher, and refrigerator, drywall re-pair, exterior brick repair, and new lighting. Let me end by sharing our Board’s goal: To maintain, advance, and plan accordingly for the physi-cal well being of FUMC-Tupelo, so that, God’s people may worship and advance the mission of the Church; “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” We look forward to sharing more progress through the year.

Lindsey Leake, Chair of Board of Trustees

St. Luke United Methodist ChurchCordially invites you to a

Service of Dedication

Sunday, June 4, 2017 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Church Tours & Refreshments

RSVP to: Paula@stluketupelo.org

BOOKS AVAILABLE A limited number of copies of “The Right Order of Things,” by Dr. Jim McCormick are available for purchase ($15). If you were unable to come to the book signing and would like a copy, please call Beverly McAlilly (662-690-8100, ext. 18).

JOHN AND KAREN SUDDUTH TO SPEAK AT MAY 18 LUNCHEON

The Rev. John Sudduth and his wife Karen will return to FUMC Tupelo on May 18 in Wesley Hall to share the story of Together Ministry Center – a compassionate ministry of relationship, hope, and help reaching out to underserved and disenfranchised people of all ages, races, and backgrounds in Desoto County and Northwest Mississippi. The luncheon, sponsored by the senior adults, is at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $6. John Sudduth served several years as associate pastor at FUMC Tupelo before becoming minister of Maples United Methodist Church in Olive Branch. According to www.togetherministry.org, he and Karen began TMC in 2014 to “address the needs of people in our own backyard. Struggles in-clude abuse, addiction, loneliness, job and family instability, food and nutritional needs, as well as medical, educational, and

financial needs. Poverty has spiritual roots as well as physical. And all ages and races are affected by these struggles.” Karen, a former teacher and delightful musician, is a cancer survivor and now serves as a programs coordi-nator for Wings Cancer Foundation. John, who lost his eyesight to late-stage glaucoma, says his “spiritual vision became more keen as his physical vision became more dim.” “Together Ministry Center acts on the belief that regardless of circumstances, Jesus is able to heal and de-liver,” the Sudduths say. “And He uses ordinary people like us to reveal His extraordinary love and grace. TMC invites you to participate in ministry with us: pray, volunteer, donate.” Danny McKenzie

The United Methodist Women will collect Soap for Helping

Hands during May. Please bring these donations to the Old Fellowship Hall

and Wesley Hall.

SUNDAY, MAY 14 8:45 Worship, Sanctuary 8:45 Worship, Wesley Hall 9:45 Fellowship, Gathering Room 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship, Sanctuary 6:00 Youth Small Groups 6:00 6th Grade Small Groups MONDAY, MAY 15 9:00 Preschool/Kindergarten 2:30 CASA, CLC 5:15 Parsonage Study Committee, CR 5:15 Stewardship Committee, Rm 205 7:00 Boy Scouts, Scout Hut TUESDAY, MAY 16

8:00-11:30 Clothes Closet Open for Donations

9:00 Preschool/Kindergarten 9:00 Invitation Planning, CR 10:00 Faithbuilders, 207 10:30 Staff Meeting, Conference Room 2:30 CASA, CLC 5:15 Finance Committee, FH WEDNESDAY, MAY 17 6:45 Youth Prayer Breakfast, Connie’s 12:00 Prayer Bible Study, Chapel 6:00 Youth Exam Week Party 7:00 Chancel Choir THURSDAY, MAY 18 9:00 Invitation Planning, WH 11:30 Senior Adult Luncheon, WH

2:30 CASA, CLC FRIDAY, MAY 19 7:00 Prayer Group, Chapel 2:30 CASA, CLC SATURDAY, MAY 20 9:00-12:00 Helping Hands Open Youth Choir Tour Leaves

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH—TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI CALENDAR FOR MAY 14-20, 2017

SERVING SUNDAY, MAY 14, 2017

ACOLYTE/CRUCIFER: 8:45: Addy Eckard (a) 8:45 Invitation: Mary Hodges (a) 11: Jack Sanders (a), Batton Barber (c) TV OPERATORS: Joe Bailey, Jim Karrant, Jason Pannell SANCTUARY SOUND: 8:45: Butch Dendy 11: Jim Karrant GREETERS: 8:45: Elsie/Dick White 8:45 Invitation: Jeff Green 11: Jodie/Sean Thompson USHERS: 8:45: John Brady, Harry Collins, Steve Holland, Gordon Hollingsworth 8:45 Invitation: Donnie Bridges, Todd Buskirk, Jeff McGregor, Ken Waldrip, Jim Zuelzke 11:00: Sam Agnew, Jim Diffee, Buzzy Mize, B.B. Hosch, Jak Smith, Markel Whittington, Joe Yarber

STEWARDSHIP 2017 Budget Goal ............................................ $2,424,213.45 2017 Needed Weekly............................................ $45,739.88 2017 Five Month Budgeted Amount ............... $1,010,088.36 Last Week’s Offering through 05/04 .................... $40,950.25 2017 Offering through 05/04 .............................. $904,815.16 Spent to Date 2017 through 05/04 ...................... $752,445.84

SYMPATHY

• Our sympathy is extended to the family of Morris Gill Herndon who passed away recently in Tupelo, MS. He was the stepfather of Leslie Barry and the grandfather of Autry Barry.