Ready, Set, Go! It is 2016 and we are moving straight ahead into God's future for FUMC. It does not seem possible that the Christmas season is already over, because it should not have already begun! But, here we are getting ready to live into God's future. I want for myself, and for you, to be ready to live into that future; set our hearts, minds, eyes, hands and feet in the middle of God's plan, and GO. FUMC already has a lot on the calendar that we can 'go' into, but I also want us all to take the time to rest, listen and learn - which might be the hardest part of 2016. Having said that, I want to share with you a few things that I am excited about that are coming up real soon: 1. Mission's Conference January 29-31— I am excited about this year’s conference be-

cause one of my favorite people is coming to lead us - Rev. Barry Kidwell. I know that you will not want to miss him and his heart for the least, the last, and the lost. Friday night at 6:30 and Saturday 9 am breakfast, devotion at 10 and hands on projects to follow.

Of course regular Sunday Schedule applies. A mission fundraiser lunch will follow the 10:45 AM service.

2. Senior Luncheon on Monday February 8— I will be hosting a Senior Adult luncheon for all those who are retired. At this luncheon I will be giving a 'program' about the Story of First United Methodist Church Past, Present and Future. I will also be sharing about the future of our senior adult ministry. (This does not replace, but is in addition to, the Gad-A-Bouts)

3. Ash Wednesday and Lent— Ash Wednesday Service on Wednesday, February 10th at 6:30 PM in the sanctuary. This is the beginning of Lent and helps prepare us for our

Lenten Journey. Also, during Lent on Wednesday nights I will be teaching a class on the life of Jesus and the week before Resurrection. I will be using a great video series that will put us on the spot in the Holy Land for this study.

So, there are many things to help us get Ready, get Set and Go in 2016. I hope that you will take every opportunity to be involved in the work that God is going to do in us and through us in 2016 and beyond! Rev. Tim Bracken

January 13, 2016 From the pastor

Our Staff

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

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

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

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

Interim Youth Director ........... Kellie Bracken

Chancel Choir Director ............Dr. Jim Burns

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

Facts From First

Just visit the church website at

www.clevelandumc.com and follow the links! Or use the new kiosk

at the church!

Spaghetti with meat sauce

Salad Bar

Kids Menu: same as above

Adults $5.00 Kids $2.00 (12yrs & under)

Please make reservations by the Monday before on Sunday

mornings or through the church office.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER

Kitchen Update We are in the process of updating some

of the kitchen equipment...specifically the 6-burner stove, convection oven, and

possibly a new freezer. Some money has already been secured for this project, but

we are still needing $3,000. If you would like to help, write a check (with “kitchen” in the memo line)

or you can go online to give and designate it

”kitchen.”

Resurrection 2016 We will leave the church at 3:30 PM on January 22 and plan to return by 5:00 PM on January 24. If you do not have an

info sheet, you may pick it up in the youth office.

Parents: If you missed the Parent Meeting on January 10, please see Kellie ASAP to fill out forms for the year. Also, there will be

sign-up sheets for you to serve with the youth on the bulletin board outside the youth office. PLEASE SIGN UP!!!

We will be studying Galatians and Colossians on Wednesday nights and Resurrection preparations/follow up on Sunday nights. Sunday nights in February will be a Lenten Study.

Small Groups—begin January 25 6:30-7:30 PM

Acolytes / Crucifers January 17 Lauren Thacker / William Duncan January 30 Jake Jenne / Charlie Blackwell

Youth News

Admin. Council 2016

Chair ................................................... Curt Duncan Lay Leader ........................................ Doug Byerly Board of Trustees ........................... TBA Finance.............................................. Mark Lay Staff-Parish Relations ..................... Ginger Buchanan Leadership ........................................ Doug Greene Outreach/Missions ........................ Jenann Lay Discipleship ...................................... Debbie Melton Communications ............................ Patty Hurley Connections .................................... Libby Carmon Metrics ............................................... Shannon Ritzhaupt Worship............................................. Stacy Swafford Parsonage ........................................ Tricia Pennington CDC/PDO Board ............................ Dianna Calfee UMM President ............................... Don Wood UMW President ............................... Elaine Norris Children’s Director ......................... Jill Ingram Interim Youth Director .................. Kellie Bracken Financial Secretary ......................... Mae Wilkins Church Treasurer ........................... Lynn Gobble Lay Speakers….Bob & Sandra Donaghy, Kellie Bracken

Members At-Large: 2016 2017 2018 Mark Grissom Donna Barrow Bill Martin Steve Medley Kirk Gobble Mabel Greene Evelyn Brunson

The Bereavement Support Group will meet on Wednesday, January 20th at 11:30 AM at the

Gondolier on Keith Street. Please contact Evelyn Brunson at 473-8694 to reserve a spot.

Bereavement Lunch

Trip Dates: June 4-11 There are 5 spots available for this trip. Please see Kellie ASAP to reserve your spot.

There will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, January 20 during dinner at 5:30 PM. Come if you are

even just a little bit interested. (Please make a reservation for dinner if you plan to come to the meeting and would like a plate)

Sacred Road Mission Trip

UMM Breakfast The UMM started off the New Year with a breakfast meet-ing on January 9 and discussed this year’s activities and support for various missions/organizations in our area.

The next meeting is scheduled for February 6 at 8:00 AM. All men interested in taking part, please come join us!

MISSION CONFERENCE 2016 Guest Speakers: Rev. Barry Kidwell—Associate Pastor at First Centenary UMC Chattanooga, TN

and Founder of Mustard Tree Ministries John and Ruth Stanley—Retired Missionaries with Christian Radio Broadcasting Ministries

Dr. Michael Calfee—Orthopedic Surgeon and Medical Missions Participant

Friday, January 29th 6:30 PM

We will gather together for stories and photos from our guest speakers along with

a Dessert Fellowship.

CHILDCARE PROVIDED

Saturday, January 30th 9:00 AM

Breakfast and Short Devotion with Rev. Barry Kidwell

10:30 AM Break for off-campus

Outreach Projects

Sunday, January 31st 10:45AM

Join us as Rev. Barry Kidwell leads us in worship!

12:00 PM Missions Fundraiser Lunch

(All donations benefit FUMC Summer Mission Trips)

A FAITH PROMISE is exactly what is says—a promise made in faith between an individual and God. That promise is based on what the giver believes God wants him or her to give to ministries beyond those of the local church.

In practical terms, tithe money runs the local church and its ministries. Faith Promise is a way for us to give specifically to reach the unreached of the world. Faith Promise giving tangibly expresses my desire that the whole world know the Good News.

Saturday Outreach Projects: Bread of Life Ministry, South Pointe Ministry, Work at Arnold Memorial Elementary,

Family Promise, and we will assemble Health Kits & Food Buckets at the church. Please SIGN UP in the Narthex for the outreach area you and/or your family would like to participate in.

NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE TO ADD OR REMOVE NAMES

FROM THE PRAYER LIST.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK

Sunday, January 17 7:30 AM Sanctuary open for Prayer 8:30 AM Early Worship 9:15 AM Confirmation Class 9:30 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM 1st Kidz 3:00 PM First Youth 7:00 PM Handbell Choir Practice Monday, January 18 OFFICE CLOSED Tuesday, January 19 9:00 AM Prayer for Revival 11:00 AM Staff Meeting 5:30 PM Outreach Committee Meeting 8:00 PM Prayer for Revival Wednesday, January 20 11:30 AM Bereavement Support Group Lunch 2:00 PM Prayer for Revival 5:30 PM Sacred Road Mission Trip Meeting Thursday, January 21 12:00 PM Gad-A-Bouts to 5-Points Museum 6:00 PM MDS Board Meeting Friday, January 22 3:30 PM Youth leave for Resurrection

Monday—Friday 7:00 AM CDC 9:00 AM PDO

“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.”

UPCOMING EVENTS ● January 24-31—Family Prom-

ise Week ● January 25—SPR Meeting ● January 26—Trustees Mtg ● January 27—Joyful Noise to

sing at Morningside ● January 28—Dist. Re-Think ● January 29-31—Annual Mis-

sion Conference ● January 30—Bread of Life ● January 31—Mission Lunch ● February 3—Altar Guild Mtg ● February 6—UMM Breakfast ● February 7—Scouting Sunday ● February 8—Senior Luncheon ● February 10—Ash Wednes-

day Service ● February 13—Bread of Life ● February 14—Introduction of

Committee Chairs, UMM Chili Lunch

Our Prayers

Our Presence

Our Gifts

Our Service—January 17

Our country, our leaders, and our troops

Family of Lloyd Callaway

Nell Morton

Colton Malone

Jim Gibbons LONG TERM PRAYER

Don Alley

Debbie Ambert

Judy Barger

Bill Cooke

Rusty Cooke

Kaye Coultry

Bill Creech

Alan David

Bob David

Jordann Dempsey

Lois Ellis

Gary Farner

Kim Faulkner

Sunday School Worship 1/03/15 33 190 1/10/15 55 203

Budget Receipts 1/03/15 6948.10 Receipts to Date: 6,948.10 Expenditures to Date: Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] Budget to Date:

Budget Receipts 1/10/15 6,826.00 Receipts to Date: 13,774.10 Expenditures to Date: 16,484.92 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [2,710.82] Budget to Date: 14,144.98

Prayer Team: Beverly Johnson Ushers: Mark Lay, Head; John Driver, Ken Melton, Lee Stewart, Kevin Swafford. Acolytes: Lauren Thacker and William Duncan First Kidz Church: Jill Ingram, Kathy Farner, and Leslie Conley Sonshine Kidz: English Smith Altar Flowers will be in honor of George Poe and Addison Elliott, given by their family.

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

Karen Fisher

Gil Frederick

Toye Gibson

Britton Gobble

Jamie Hargis

Renee Henderson

Mike Hodnett

Joe Hogan

Gail Howard

Clint Hutto

Debra Norton-Jenkins

Nancy Lane

Elaine Larson

Teresa Lee

Neil Liner

Chloe Littrell

Charlie McDonald

Betty McLain

Lee Mercer

Larry and Barb Miller

Norma Murphy

Carolyn Owens

Gail Ownby

Tilley Phillips

Darci Pittman

Kylene Stump

Stuart Switzer

Janice Tate

Addison Thompson

Emily Varnell

Rosemary Warren

Judy Watts

Joan Wheeler

Jennifer Wilhie

Malcom Youngblood

Harrison Zierenberg

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 Children’s Ministry In memory of Marcia Chickering:

Dennis and Juliette Moore Melinda Chase Jim and Jane Rufener

To the Memory Garden In memory of Ruth Lee: In memory of Gina Schrecengost: In memory of Marcia Chickering:

Mildred Sparkman Tim and Laurie Bouch Mildred Sparkman

To the Mary Diana Samuel Home In honor of the Seekers Circle: In honor of Bob and Libby Carmon:

Evelyn Brunson Jim and Nancy Carmon In memory of Marcia Chickering: In memory of Ruth Lee:

Evelyn Brunson Evelyn Brunson

To the Youth Fund In memory of Mike Goodman:

Mike and Nancy Cooper Evelyn Brunson Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nelson Brenda Love

To the General Fund In memory of Roy E. Smith: In memory of Gina Schrecengost:

Bob and Nancy Boyd Pat Dodd In memory of Mike Goodman:

Cathy Goodman

Gifts to the Church

The church newsletter is printed every two weeks. Any information wished to be entered is to be submitted NO LATER than noon the Tuesday before it is printed and mailed/emailed.

Newsletter request forms are located in the church office. Information turned in after time will not be included until the next newsletter is printed.

Turn in information for the next newsletter by NOON Tuesday, January 26, 2016.