It Matters! This past Sunday we ended our time with the reminder that what we do each day matters! It matters eternally. We believe that in a intellectual-spiritual manner but we are really not sure about a practical every day manner. We are not sure that what we do, how we act, what we say, what we do not say and how we treat others really matters eternally. Further, we are really not sure if what we do on Sunday mornings matters eternally i.e. worship. Does all of this matter? Or do we believe that this world is not my home and I am just passing through? Or has God put each of us here at this time, in this place for a reason? I believe that He has! Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 that upon the confession of Peter that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God that He - Jesus- would build 'My Church'. Think about that for a minute (we covered this last Wednesday in Bible study) Jesus said MY CHURCH. That struck me hard - MY CHURCH. Often times preachers talk about 'my church' or church people talk about 'my church' and we are all wrong - it is Jesus' church. If First United Methodist Church is in fact Jesus' church - and I believe that it is - then what we do on Sunday morning matters and what Jesus sends us out to do Monday through Saturday matters as well, because the building that we meet in at 3425 Ocoee Street North is not the church...WE are the Church and that Church belongs to Jesus the Christ the Son of the Living God. Therefore, what we do matters every single day. How we teach our children, how we spend our time, money, talents and resources matters, as well as, how we behave and how we treat those around us. Worship matters! Walking daily with Jesus matters. I do not know about you, but I need to up my game - because it matters! Rev. Tim Bracken

February 24, 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

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

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

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Salad Bar

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

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. Items turned in after time will not be included until the next newsletter is printed.

Turn in information for the next newsletter by NOON Tuesday, March 8, 2016.

Facts

From

First

We all pray...some more than others. God calls the church...you and me...to pray for the church. Here at First Church, there are

plenty of great opportunities to pray and to pray together. The Prayer Ministry Team has worked hard to set apart a place

were prayer can happen here in the church. We have a designated Prayer Room specifically for prayer, and you will find it to be a peaceful, pleasant place. We also have other opportuni-

ties for you to pray for the church. You will find those times listed in the church worship guide this coming Sunday, and each

area will be highlighted in upcoming newsletters. Come and pray and let’s watch God move in and among us like

never before. If we pray, He will come!

“The TRUE church lives and moves and has its being in prayer”

Small Groups Monday, March 7th at 6:30 PM

Spring Break Mission Trip March 20-23 UMCOR Depot in Decatur, AL

Only 15 spots...adults welcome! Sign up on the bulletin board.

Spring Retreat April 15-17 Sign up on the bulletin board today!

Summer Mission Trip June 12-17 St. Simmons Island, GA Sign up today! There are only 44 youth spots available!

Acolytes / Crucifers February 28 Caroline Shotts / Charlie Blackwell March 6 Emma Ratcliff / Colton Berghoff

Youth News

As of this date, our Faith Promise Gifts total

$5,942.36 Continue in prayer

about your faith giving! God is GOOD!

Our faith promise

Bread of Life Food items needed for Bread of Life:

March 12th meal Italian Dressing Evaporated Milk

Green Beans Bring them to the Narthex

UMM Thank you The United Methodist Men would like to thank everyone for their support in making this year’s

Chili Lunch a success. We raised a total of $1,500 for mission projects. ($785 from Chili

donations and $615 from the dessert auction)

Beginning on Thursday, March 10 it’s OPEN GYM for Volleyball. All ages are invited to join us between 6:00 & 7:30 PM on Thursday nights in March.

Depending on participation we will continue to meet!

Volleyball

“By Request” Cancelled The “By Request” Luncheon planned for Sunday, March 6th has been cancelled.

There are occasional times when the office is in need of volunteers to help answer the phone due to staff

absences (ex. vacations, mission trips, etc…). If you are interested in helping in this small way, please call the

office! Volunteer times could vary depending on availability of the volunteer. Any time you could offer

during these times is greatly appreciated! We would also like to thank those of you who have and/or

continue to help as volunteers with office needs! You do not go unnoticed or unappreciated!

Office volunteers

Special Request

1st kidz

Bereavement Lunch

The Confirmation Class of First Church has adopted the Baby Bottle Boomerang to raise money for the New Hope Pregnancy Center. We would like you to join us

by taking home a baby bottle and filling it with cash, loose change, or a check. You can return

your bottle to the bottle collection sight at the church anytime from now until April 3rd.

Thank you for your support! William Knox Duncan and Colton David Berghoff

Children Kindergarten—5th grade will be traveling to South Pointe on Sunday, March 6th to sing and worship with that outreach ministry. We will leave the church at 10:45 AM and return by 12:15 PM.

Please make sure you have the proper forms on file if your child is riding the bus.

*weather permitting—50° or higher & not raining*

Any and all are welcome to join us on Tuesday, March 1st for lunch at The Cookie Jar. We will

carpool from the church at 11:30 AM. Please call Evelyn Brunson at 473-8694 for a reservation.

Gad-a-bout lunch The Gad-A-Bouts will be holding their monthly “Potluck Lunch” on Thursday,

March 3rd at 12:00 PM in the Commons. Bring your favorite dish to share. Looking forward to seeing you all!

Karen Wood, Director of Senior Adults

Saturday, February 27th We will be splitting wood, but there are many other less strenuous projects that need attention. ALL are

welcome ...young, old, male, and female! Bring gloves, chain saws (helpful, but not necessary), and safety glasses. We will leave the church at 6:30 AM (or you may drive yourself) and return by 4:00 PM. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Please call the

church office and let us know if you will be joining us, so that we may plan transportation.

Camp Lookout Work Day

NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE TO ADD OR REMOVE NAMES

FROM THE PRAYER LIST.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK

Sunday, February 28 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 10:45 AM Worship Service 5:00 PM First Youth 7:00 PM Handbell Choir Practice Monday, February 29 7:00 AM Prayer for Revival 5:30 PM Connections Committee Meeting 5:30 PM SPR Committee Meeting 5:30 PM Cub Scouts Blue & Gold Banquet Tuesday, March 1 9:00 AM Prayer for Revival 11:00 AM Staff Meeting 11:30 AM Bereavement Group Lunch 6:00 PM Music Recording 6:00 PM Facilities Team Meeting 8:00 PM Prayer for Revival Wednesday, March 2 10:00 AM Women’s Bible Study 2:00 PM Prayer for Revival 5:30 PM Dinner 6:00 PM Wild 1’s-Recording 6:00 PM Music Recording 6:15 PM First Youth 6:30 PM Lenten Bible Study 7:30 PM FUMC String Band Thursday, March 3 10:00 AM Prayer for Revival 12:00 PM Gad-A-Bout Potluck Lunch 12:00 PM Prayer for Revival 6:00 PM Music Recording Friday, March 4 7:00 AM Prayer for Revival Saturday, March 5 8:00 AM UMM Breakfast

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 ● March 6—Joyful Noise Choir to

South Pointe ● March 6-13—Family Promise

Week ● March 7—CDC/PDO Board

Meeting, Youth Small Groups ● March 8—May Dooley Circle ● March 10—UMW Ex. Meeting

Open Volleyball in CLC ● March 12—Bread of Life ● March 13—Confirmation

Sunday, Time Changes

Our Prayers

Our Presence

Our Gifts

Our Service—February 28

Our country, our leaders, and our troops

Family of Nell Morton 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

Karen Fisher

Gil Frederick

Toye Gibson

Sunday School Worship 2/14/16 58 241 2/21/16 65 214

Budget Receipts 2/14/16 7,094.00 Receipts to Date: 67,005.63 Expenditures to Date: 73,125.86 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [6,120.23] Budget to Date: 84,869.88

Budget Receipts 2/21/16 9,724.00 Receipts to Date: 76,729.63 Expenditures to Date: 88,622.42 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [11,892.79] Budget to Date: 99,014.86

Prayer Team: Beverly Johnson Ushers: Mark Grissom, Head; Frank Calfee, Don Wood, Joe Hogan, Ron Merz. Acolytes: Caroline Shotts and Charlie Blackwell First Kidz Church: Jill Ingram, Kathy Farner, Leslie Conley, and Liza Green Sonshine Kidz: English Smith Altar Flowers—sign up outside the church office.

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

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

Colton Malone

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 Wilhite

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 Scouting Ministry In memory of Jim Gibbons:

Marjorie Carson

To the Children’s Ministry In memory of Ruth Lee: Bob and Nancy Boyd

Gifts to the Church