Try One of Our Prospective Members Gatherings!
Monday, May 14 6:45 pm.
Monday May 21 6:45 pm
Room 206, Main Building
This is an informal time to visit with our Senior Pastor, Dr. Bert Potts, ask questions about Methodism, our congregation and work out any Baptism, transfer and other membership issues you might have. There is no expectation that you must be ready to join to come, just know this is a time to get acquainted. Everyone is welcome in the Family of Faith!
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Don’t forget about the ongoing fundraising for the choir with the Legacy Choir Project … Beautiful hand crafted wooden crosses, and amazing jewelry pieces starting at $5.00 … Come to the choir room between church services and find the treasures that are available to be adopted and given new homes.
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“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” –Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a great person of faith and action. He was a German pastor, theologian and author who showed incredible courage while facing the evil Nazi regime. He knew how important it was for Christians to support the Jews who were being wiped out by Hitler’s Third Reich. A humble man of faith, he left the safe haven of America to go to Germany and openly oppose Hitler in all ways possible. He was radical, courageous and joyful about justice. He was executed in a concentration camp in 1945. America and the world defeated Hitler’s forces soon thereafter.
Passion for truth and justice matters. Edmond First and the overall body of Christ exist because the downtrodden all over the world should have advocates who speak and act with courage and conviction in the face of oppression of any kind.
We study the Bible and live the faith for all the right reasons. To stay on track, we need intimate relationships with God and each other as we sort our way through the daily maze of current struggles, complications and issues that affect all of creation. Sometimes we are weak and sometimes we are hypocrites. We falter. We fall. We fail. We also succeed and become more mature and faithful with God’s help and with the fellowship and nurturing support of each other. Our struggles are holy and sacred. Our struggles are worthy. Consider the issues raised by Bonhoeffer below in a writing he drafted while in prison in Germany before his execution.
WHO AM I?
Who am I? They often tell me
I stepped from my cell’s confinement
Calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
Like a squire from his country-house.
Who am I? They often tell me
I used to speak to my warders
Freely and friendly and clearly,
As though it were mine to command.
Who am I? They also tell me
I bore the days of misfortune
Equally, smilingly, proudly,
Like one accustomed to win.
Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I myself know of myself?
Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
Struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat,
Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
Tossing in expectation of great events,
Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?
Who am I? This or the other? Am I one person today and tomorrow another? Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,And before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling? Or is something within me still like a beaten army, Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved? Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine. Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am Thine!
Let us pray that we will be as serious and concerned about living a meaningful, passionate life of faith with as much introspective struggle and outward life of action as expressed by the living example of Bonhoeffer.
Rev. Don Vaught, Minister of Discipleship and Administration
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NOW WE HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY COMING UP
AS WE CELEBRATE MINISTRY SUNDAY
Wow! What fun we had at our Vision Celebration event on Sunday afternoon. We all loved the ponies, the media presentations coming from Spirit Act and Kepha productions and the sharing of testimonials, the music, the ringing of the bells and the FOOD!. Some of us even had our photos taken at the special photo scene painted by Vic Ward. The displays on our history and our building plans were interesting. The table décor was out of sight!!! And having the petitions moved helped us have more room and we could even see the sun coming in from the setting sun. It was a very good day!!! Thanks to all who participated and all of the outstanding leadership. It is now a great memory but one that helps remind us to be grateful for all the gifts passed on to us by making certain we pass on special gifts to those who follow us in future days. Well Done, First United Methodist Church!
Now, what about this Sunday? Just what is MINISTRY SUNDAY? With the leadership of Jim VanDerwiele and Janie Johnson a great worship service is being planned. Every one of our major ministries will be highlighted in a creative and personal way. You will be surprised at the way this celebration comes together so you will not want to
miss this Sunday. Instead of a regular sermon the “witness” will be shared about our various ministry areas throughout the service. We will have not just one preacher for the day but MANY. You will learn interesting things about our ministries and how they touch people’s lives. You will also learn new things like, “ Did you know that we now have a new name for our YOUTH MINISTRY?” Come on Sunday and find out what it is.
This celebration of ministry will be in all of our three services. It will be an exciting day so don’t miss it!!!
Blessings
Bert
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OKVIM is organizing its annual Kit Drive to help in this tremendous need and ministry opportunity. Will you help us? UMCOR has made a special request for School Kits. Include a check totaling $1 per kit made out to OKVIM. These funds help UMCOR deliver the kits to those in need. UMCOR is also in need of financial gifts to purchase supplies. Make your checks out to OKVIM. Our church will be collecting the items for the School Kits. We will start collecting items on May 6, 13 & 20.
See supplies are listed at UMCOR’s Website http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/.
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This program involving the neighborhood kids, our kids and the Rolling Greens kids was such a success last summer, that plans are being made for this summer. Beginning June 13 through August 1, the kids will meet on Wednesday evenings at 4:30 for a meal and then have activities for all age groups. This is a great way for our church to participate in an activity that involves lots of kids and gives support to them. These activities and meals take many adults to help.
Bus riders as we pick up kids
Adult at each table to enjoy the fellowship with the kids
Helping supervise groups
Cooking and serving meals
Getting permission slips signed
Come one time or all seven weeks
To volunteer, please contact Ray Parker, 340-5274 or call the office, 341-0107.
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