WHAT ABOUT GRACE? My wife Donna’s maternal grandmother’s name was Grace. And believe me, she embodied that name. As I think of the body of Christ, I realize we too are to embody the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. For it is only through grace that we can enter into fellowship with the Heavenly Father who is holy. We are now engaging in a study from a book entitled Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey. The subtitle for the study is: Whatever Happened to the Good News? My personal contention is, it has not changed. But there is a current critique of the Christian Church wherein the impression has been

given to many in the culture that the Good News is not so good. As I observe responses of some described as Pre-Christian, meaning they do not have any real connection with church and the gospel message and Post-Christian, ones who have a broken sense of church past, I feel a certain sadness. Those from broken perspective appear to place all Christian believers in the same category as the persons or situations which ended nega-tively for them. Pre-Christians perhaps are more open generally yet use inadequate in-formation to keep faith possibilities at arm’s length. How do we who have been part of the church most or all of our lives respond? It is simple, we must embrace grace completely and lovingly share it with all persons we meet. Some will accept it, some will reject it. The spirit with which we share God’s truth is so vital in the days we live. Grace has touched my life on so many levels I could never express it adequately. But as God gives me opportunities to share the Good News, I want it not only stated as Good News but when examined closely in my life to be viewed as good news. May you be a person of Grace continually, living out the Good News. And may First UMC Cleveland, TN always be a Place of Grace to all who honor us with their presence. (Ephesians 4:7) Grace and Peace to all of you! - Pastor Curt

Rev. Curt McKee

April 14, 2021 from the pastor

Our Staff

• Pastor ................................ Rev. Curt McKee

• Administrative Assistant .............. Molly Near

• Financial Secretary .................... Mae Wilkins

• Director of Children’s Ministry ...... Jill Ingram

• Director of Youth Ministry ..... Albian Johnson

• Director of Senior Adults .......... Karen Wood

• Worship Director ....... Roberta Bishop Knight

• Pianist ...................................... Tausha Plate

• Organist .................................... Terry Barger

• Maintenance Director ................ Chris Offrey

• Maintenance ................................. Jeff Smith

• Director of CDC ......................... Cathy Smith

• Director of PDO ....................... Rachel David

• Assist. Director of CDC/PDO ....Karon Steve

Continue to worship with us online on Sunday mornings at 10:45 AM. You can subscribe to our YouTube channel by visiting this link:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7OTc1ZhVZhnxcWJzMOaqbQ

Good News! FUMC has continued serving our community in local, national, and international missions throughout 2020. With this

pandemic the needs of people continue to rise locally, nationally and internationally. So, we at First UMC need to rise to this opportunity that God has given us. For the next few Sundays we will have two

people refresh our church family about the missions we serve. •April 26- May 9—Check out the Mission Display Boards in the Narthex, see what areas interest you and learn ways to be involved

•May 1 9:00-12:00—Mission Workday. Help assemble Health Kits for Liberia & Hygiene Kits for Sager Brown, projects at Arnold Elementary School, or help pressure wash the sidewalks around the church. Sign-up sheets will be on the sign-in tables on Sunday morning or call Mabel Greene at 423-956-0395. • May 2 - Mission Emphasis Sunday • May 9 - Faith Promise Pledge Cards

Confirmation 2021

SCAN HERE FOR CHURCH BULLETINS

We will continue using the QR Codes to access the church bulletin during

in-person worship. Simply open the camera on your

smart phone or iPad, scan the image (do not take a photo) and open the link that appears. The link opens

a PDF file you can follow.

You may also access the bulletin and announcements on our church webpage. Simply visit www.clevelandumc.com and select “Worship with Us.” You will be led to the webpage with all past and present

video services as well as bulletin and announcement pages.

Our Confirmation Classes will be held on Wednesday nights 6:00-7:15 PM beginning

April 21st through October 3rd. Please join us in Prayer for our Confirmands:

Britton Gobble Harper Hale

Wyatt Keeton Ethan Longest

John Seay Max Thacker

Avery Vincent

We will be celebrating our 2021 Graduating Seniors on Sunday, April 25th during the

10:45 AM service. Join us in congratulating these seniors with an encouraging card!

These cards are to be placed in the boxes on the graduates designated tables in the Narthex

on the above mentioned Sunday. Our Graduates:

Lily Bradney Mary Emily Buchanan Kelsey Carman Toby Ginn Truman Hale

Anna Ingram Jackson Ritzhaupt The church continues to operate Bread of Life the last Saturday of each month by providing

lunch at the Salvation Army. The meal is prepared in the church kitchen then

transported to the Salvation Army and distributed in to-go containers.

We need a few helpers for Saturdays: May 29 & June 26

No prior experience needed! If you would like to volunteer to cook or serve one of these Saturdays, please contact Andrea Byerly

at andbyerly@gmail.com.

Bread of Life

Sundays 10:45 AM Worship Service 5:00 PM First Youth

Sunday, April 18 6:00 PM Administrative Council Meeting Tuesday, April 20 5:30 PM Trustees Meeting 6:00 PM Elan Circle Wednesday, April 21 11:30 AM Bible Study 6:00 PM Bible Study 6:00 PM Chancel Choir 6:00 PM String Band 6:00 PM Confirmation Class Saturday, April 24 9:00 AM Bread of Life Sunday, April 25 10:45 AM Worship Service/Seniors Day 2:00 PM Roberta’s Drive-Thru Shower Wednesday, April 28 11:30 AM Bible Study 6:00 PM Bible Study 6:00 PM Chancel Choir 6:00 PM String Band 6:00 PM Confirmation Class

HAPPENING IN APRIL

NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE TO ADD OR REMOVE NAMES

FROM THE PRAYER LIST.

“I will be loyal to the United Methodist Church and do all

in my power to strengthen its ministry by

my prayers, my presence, my gifts, my service, and my witness.”

Our Prayers

Our Gifts

SHORT TERM PRAYER • Alan David • Ken Adcock • Pat Hogan and Family • Jane Rufener

LONG TERM PRAYER • Mary Helen Allen • Patsy Barger • Paxton Boyd • Jerry & Linda Clevenger • Gary & Kathy Farner • Cathy Goodman • Larry Gutsenberger • Sean Hale • Bonnie Headrick • Charlton Hedgcock

Income as of 4/11/2021 $223,311.00 Expenses through 4/11/2021 $191,197.30 Under Receipts $32,113.70 Budget to Date 4/11/2021 $225,420.00

• Brenda Holder • Betty McLain • Alesia McNelley • Carolyn Owens • Janet Parks • Eleanor Perkinson • Don Ritzhaupt • Carolyn Rogers • Mavis Smith • Stuart Switzer • Betty Watt • Olivia Weatherford

Open hearts, open minds, open doors...the people of the United Methodist Church.

TITHES & oFFERINGS You may mail your Tithes & Offerings and

Memorials to the church at 3425 Ocoee Street N, Cleveland, TN 37312 To give your Tithes & Offerings online go to https://holston-reg.brtapp.com/ChurchOffering

(Online is for Tithes & Offerings ONLY. You cannot post memorials online.)

When prompted to choose which district choose "Hiwassee"

then choose "First UMC Cleveland"

Our Presence In Worship

In-Person Online 03/21/2021 10:45 AM 110 75 03/28/2021 10:45 AM 121 120 04/04/2021 10:45 AM 191 184 04/11/2021 10:45 AM 114 32

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Cleveland, TN

Permit No. 321

Return Service Requested

3425 Ocoee Street North Cleveland, TN 37312

423-476-4504 www.clevelandumc.com

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Child Development Center Phone: 423-478-1426

To the Mary Diana Samuel Children’s Home

In memory of Nalini Samuel: Mountain Brook Homeowners

Phil and Sue Newman David and Ellen Smith Gary and Kathy Farner

In memory of Jean Benecke: David and Ellen Smith

Gifts to the Church

First United Methodist Church

3425 Ocoee Street North

Cleveland, TN 37312