Giving and Getting I almost despise talking about stewardship in terms of blessings we receive from giving, because I believe we should give whether we are blessed because we give or not. We should give because we are thankful for all that we have already received. It also does not help that there are many TV preachers and others who preach giving as a mathematical equation (my tithe x God = more blessings for me2). But the scripture is clear that when we give we are blessed more than those who receive the gift. We are told in Acts that it is more blessed to give than receive; we are told in Malachi that we are to test God in this one thing – give and He will open the heavens. Unlike the televangelists, the opening of the heavens is not that God will give us more money or a better job, but that we will be blessed. I take that to mean we will have the joy of knowing and seeing others needs being met by our giving. Sure when you give to the church we have to pay the light and heating bill, but paying that light and heating bill helps us to minister to kids, families, youth and adults every single day of the week. When we give to First UMC we are not just paying the light bill we are investing in God’s present and future by the lives that are touched with the message of the gospel whenever the doors of the church are opened. And if knowing that is our “getting” that is enough.

November 14, 2018 From the pastor

Our Staff

Pastor ............................... Rev. Tim Bracken

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

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

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

Director of Youth Ministry .............. Josh Lyle

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

Chancel Choir Director ..... Justin McElhaney

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

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

Maintenance Director ................ Chris Offery

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

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

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

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

Rev. Tim Bracken

Wednesday

Night

Dinners

Will resume after the New Year.

Going Deeper with Jesus as we steward all of God’s gifts.

Please be in prayer as you listen for God’s call to “Go Deeper” with Him.

Stewardship Sunday - November 25th

Listed are mission opportunities for 2019 that are available for ANYONE to be a part of!

Lebanon March 16-24 — $1,200

Sacred Road June 1-8 — 8 spots available — $1,000

Czech Republic July 3-14 — 15-20 spots available — $1,750

Sager Brown August 25-31 — 10 spots available — $300

Haiti Last week of December — $800-900

Contact Kellie Bracken for more information.

2019 Mission Trips

Don’t Throw That Away! Help our Cub Scouts save the earth!

Pack 3136 is recycling old toothbrushes, empty toothpaste tubes, and dead magic markers and sharpie markers. There are

boxes on the desk in the Narthex for these items. Thank you for helping in this

on-going service project.

Needed Items

It's that time of year again… Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army!!

We are scheduled for Saturday,

December 1st at the North

campus Walmart. Sign up today!

This is a great family

Christmas Bell Ringers

New Members Rev. Walt and Nita Simmerman

September 30, 2018

Brian and Andrea Lessig November 11, 2018

I wish to thank family and friends who said prayers, called or sent cards while I had my operation and now I’m in therapy. I really appreciate all of it. It’s good to be back in church. I’m still in therapy, but doing good.

Thank you, Kathy Buckingham

Thank you for supporting the May Dooley Pecan Sale. All profits are used to support our mission projects.

May Dooley Circle Members

Down to Earth: The Hopes & Fears of All the Years are Met in Thee Tonight

An Advent Study by Mike Slaughter

This 4-week will start on Wednesday, November 28th at 10:00 AM. Sign up now

for your book to be ordered - cost is $12.00.

Women’s Bible Study

Thank you!

Charge Conference Wednesday, November 28th

6:00 PM in the sanctuary

Annual Pigeon Forge Day Trip November 15th

We will leave the church at 9:30 AM

(2 spots available, call Karen)

Christmas Party December 6th at 11:30 AM

Dress Christmas-y! RSVP to Karen by November 30th.

Gad-a-bouts

NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE TO ADD OR REMOVE NAMES

FROM THE PRAYER LIST.

Sunday, November 18 7:30 AM Sanctuary open for Prayer 8:30 AM Early Worship Service 9:30 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Worship Service 5:00 PM First Youth Monday, November 19 7:00 AM Prayer for Revival 6:00 PM Youth Council Meeting 6:30 PM Scouts Tuesday, November 20 9:00 AM Prayer for Revival 11:30 AM Rose Circle 6:00 PM Outreach Meeting 6:15 PM Chancel Choir 8:00 PM Prayer for Revival Wednesday, November 21 12:00 PM Prayer for Revival 2:00 PM Prayer for Revival Thursday, November 22 OFFICE CLOSED Friday, November 23 OFFICE CLOSED Saturday, November 24 10:00 AM Bread of Life

HAPPENING THIS WEEK “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 Presence Sunday School Worship 11/4/2018 41 201 11/11/2018 41 194

Our Gifts

Our Service - November 18

Sean Hale

Clifton Moore

Sarah and Jim Wagner

Buddy Chance

Ava Berghoff

Angela Hawes & Family

Carolyn Owens

Craig Hogan

LONG TERM PRAYER

Connie Bancroft

Sarah Bandy

Clifford and Patsy Barger

Judy Barger

Rachel Boring

Kathy Buckingham

Charlotte Caraway

Debbie Trentham Case

Chad Chism

Bill Cooke

Terry Cruise

Budget Receipts 11/4/2018 20,520.00 Receipts to Date: 451,516.09 Expenditures to Date: 588,980.39 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [137,464.30] Budget to Date: 655,141.80

Budget Receipts 11/11/18 10,062.00 Receipts to Date: 461,578.09 Expenditures to Date: 596,144.97 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [134,566.88] Budget to Date: 670,031.40

Prayer Team: Andrea Byerly Monthly Prayer Focus: FUMC Senior Adult Ministry Ushers: Mark Lay, Head; John Driver, Ken Melton, Lee Stewart, Kevin Swafford, Todd Berghoff Altar Flowers last Sunday were in memory of Grant Stephen and Addison Jewell Gobble, given by Kirk and Brittney Gobble.

First Kidz Church begins at 10:30 AM every Sunday in the Christian Life Center. (It does not meet the first Sunday of the month.) Sonshine Kidz is for preschoolers ages 3,4, & 5 Nursery is available for children 3 yrs old and younger. Located in the CLC.

Emma Cummings

Pat Dodd

Lorrie Duke

Sharon Everson

Melinda Flowers

Jamie Hargis

Bonnie Headrick

Gary Holden

Brenda Holder

Russell & Patty Johnson

Janna Jordan

Teresa Lee

Chloe Littrell

Gloria Martin

George McCoin

Betty McLain

Carmen Orr

Kym Phillips

Tilley Phillips

Tom Phillips

Haley Poe-Jones

Sharon Racek

Don Ritzhaupt

Marcella Rogers

Nalini Samuel

Nan Schlatterer

Nicholas Stark

Kylene Stump

Rachel Suderland

Lila Switzer

Stuart Switzer

Janice Tate

Addison Thompson

Terri Twyford

Kim Van Dusen

Jennifer Wilhite

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

● November 25—Stewardship Sunday

● November 28—Charge Conference

● December 1—UMM Breakfast, Bell

Ringing

● December 6—Gad-A-Bout Christmas

Banquet, Children’s Choir Trip

● December 8—Breakfast with Santa,

Bread of Life

● December 9—Kid’s Christmas Play

● December 10—PDO Christmas Pro-

gram

● December 11—May Dooley Circle,

Friendship Circle, CDC Christmas

Program

● December 13—UMW Christmas

Luncheon

● December 14—Seekers Circle

● December 16—Chancel Choir

Christmas Program

● December 19—Church Christmas

Party

● December 21—Parent’s Night Out

● December 24-25—Office Closed

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