The folklore surrounding Poland’s famous concert pianist and prime minister, Ignace Paderewski, includes this story, which though fictional, provides a true image of what God does with us:

A mother, wishing to encourage her young son’s progress at the piano, bought tickets for a Paderewski performance. When the night arrived, they found their seats near the front of the concert hall and eyed the majestic Steinway waiting on stage. Soon the mother found a friend to talk to, and the boy slipped away. When eight o’clock arrived, the spotlights came on, the audience quieted, and only then did they notice the boy up on the bench, innocently picking out “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” His mother gasped, but before she could retrieve her son, the master appeared on the stage and quickly moved to the keyboard. “Don’t quit--keep playing,” he whispered to the boy. Leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side, encircling the child, to add a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized.

You may be reading this in a season of your life that is better symbolized by the thorns on a rose bush than the flowers. But don’t quit! Keep playing! Right now, God is in the process of making something beautiful out of your life.

One of my favorite songs is “Beautiful Things” by a band named, Gungor. There is a line in the song, You make beautiful things out of dust, You make beautiful things out of us. That is exactly what God does in my life and what God does in yours.

Life is hard. Brokenness happens. But when God is at the center of your life He is always willing and able to make something beautiful out of the pieces. Don’t quit…. Keep playing!

On the journey with you,

Pastor Jim Perkin

What’s Inside

First United Methodist Church109 S. HarperPoteau, OK 74953

Non-Profit Org.

Permit No. 40

Poteau, OK 74953

Address Service Requested

YEAR 26 VOLUME 5 MAY 2018 SERVing gOd 125 YEARS

The United Methodist News

The United Methodist NewsPASTOR TO PEOPLE

REV. JIM PERKIN

Sunday School9:30 A.M.

Morning Worship10:30 A.M.

Church Calendar ................ 2Prayer List .......................... 2Children’s Ministry ............ 3Preschool Report ............... 3Welcome New Members .... 3Gratitude Sunday ............... 3Discipleship Project .......... 3Thank You, Mike Lee ......... 3Ministry Sunday .............. 4-5News of Youth .................... 6Birthdays, Anniversaries .. 6

FIRST

Office Hours:Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Celebration Sunday!May 6

Potluck Lunchfollowing worshipHawaiian theme.Come enjoy the

celebration. Tropical attire encouraged.

ACOLYTES

WORSHIP GREETERS

WELCOME TABLE VOLUNTEERS

LITURGIST: Connor Matos

PAGE 2 MAY 2018

THE UNITED METHODIST NEWSPublished by the Communications Committee

Carol Baker, EditorFIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

109 S. Harper, Poteau, OK 74953Telephone 918-647-2217

e-mail: adminassistant@poteaufumc.comwebsite: www.poteaufumc.com

Sunday School 9:30 a.m. • Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.Bishop Rev. Jimmy NunnDistrict Superintendent Larry BaumanSenior Pastor Rev. Jim PerkinDirector of Youth Ministries Melanie WheatDirector of Music Ministries Mary Lynn PerkinDirector of Children’s Ministries Suzanne KluttsAdministrative Assistant Melissa WardLead Nursery Attendant Jayla CraigOrganist Bill KingFacility Manager Phil Smith

District web page: www.gbgm-umc.org/mc-dist/

5 Cavanal Chorale/Treble Choir Concert, 7 p.m. 6 Celebration Sunday – Pot Luck following morn-

ing worship Cavanal Chorale/Treble Choir Concert, 3 p.m. 8 Natlynn’s Voice Recital, 6 p.m.16 Membership Cares, 12 p.m.20 High School Senior Brunch, 9 a.m.21 Trustees Meeting, 5:30 p.m.28 MemorialDay–ChurchOfficeclosed

• MAY CHURCH CALENDAR •• SUNDAY •

Sunday School, 9:30; Morning Worship, 10:30UMYF (CHAOS), 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

• MONDAY • Christian Preschool Monday – Thursday

• TUESDAY •Cub Scouts, 6 p.m., CFLCBoy Scouts, 7 p.m., CFLC

• WEDNESDAY • Bell Choir, 5:30 p.m.

Celebration Choir Rehearsal, 6:15 p.m.• THURSDAY •

Senior Café, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., CFLC

6 Jerry and Mary Ford13 Liz Perry and D.J. James20 Brian and Katie Shore27 David and Patty Redhage

6 Ted Kilgore and Don Baetz13 Bill and Linda Lancaster20 Mike and Karen Hahn27 Hank and Barbara Harris

6 Sadie Perkin13 Mary Ford20 Tami Matos27 Suzanne Klutts

6 Grant Thomas and Warrick Quarry13 Maggie Wheat and Ryker Holt20 Waylon Murray and Nathan Murray27 KhiaBrookfieldandCadenMitchell

Prayer List (As of April 29, 2018)To add or remove a name call 918-647-2217.Nursing Home/Homebound: Maxine Nyberg. Health: Janet Allison, Landa Aubree, Don

Baetz, Astarte Baker, Silas Blanchard, Caren Bogart, Ed Brody, John Carbrey, Sandy Carbrey, Perry Carter, Carol Coggins, Sue Covey, Allen Daniels, Jim Davis, Susanne Dixon, Rob Ellis, Mendy Emmerling, Pam DeCamp Ernst, Betty Evans, Mary Folsom, Dolores Fuller, Brooke Gardezi, Kay Gardner, Don Goforth Jr., Terry Harrison, Pam Hayes, Peggy Holstead, Darla Humphries, Allen and Jane Ann Inge, Donna Jackson, Lorene Johnson, Makali Kemp, Jim Kersh, Jane Kilgore, Colton Knight, Tim Law-rence, Lloyd Lee, Arlene LeMaster, Lisa Leming, Oleta Little, Lucy McMillin, Maureen McPher-son, Keith Miller, Mason Mitchell, Christy Oe-hlschlager, Jack Oehlschlager, Pat Pate, Kallie Peck, Debbie Piovarchy, Jean Potts, William Quarry, Lucy Richmond, Joe Sabatucci, Charles Saviers, Jim Shore, Pat Smith, Randy Smith, Janet Sockey, Richard Sockey, Earl Steimetz, Katie Strider, Sheila Taylor, Rita Thomas, Dar-lene Ward, Darren Ward, Rachel Ware, Jonathan Wecker, Carole White, Lenora Williams, Shelia Wilson, Keith Wright, Lori Yarberry.

Bereavement:Military and Law Enforcement:Nathan Berlin, Tyler Berlin, Bailey Hahn, Zack

Hall, Kyle Kinman, Kaigan LeMaster, Kodee Le-Master, and all our military and law enforcement men and women.

CHILDREN’S MOMENTS

Welcome!

Poteau F.U.M.C. Report for March 2018Average Attendance Figures for March: 1662018 Budget Requirements: $360,000.00

Needed through March: $92,900.00Year to Date Received: $71,932.54

March Receipts: $23,255.29March Expenditures: $28,297.00

Amount Owed on New Building Loan: $361,345.33

If you are unable to attend worship on Sun-day morning, you can watch our morning wor-ship service live at 10:30. There is a place there where you may register your attendance. Go to www.poteaufumc.com

MAY 2018 PAGE 3

• Children’s Ministry •By Suzanne Klutts

Welcome New Members!We welcomed our newest members in April.OnApril1membersofthe2018Confirmation

Classwereconfirmedandbaptizedorpreviousbaptisms remembered. They were Jace Bandy, Farah Brem, Kileha Johnson, Waylon Murray, Brady Perry, Burke Perry, and Grant Thomas.

Mike and Sandra Harrison joined on the 15th. Please let them know we are happy to have them as a part of our church family.

ByTracey Gilliam,

Preschool Director

May is the last month of this school year. Pre-schoolers will be learning about the Fruits of the Spirit throughout the month. The weekly themes will be Busy Buzzy Bees, Beautiful But-terflies,andFantasticFrogs.

Preschoolers will be focusing on the letter Z this month. They will also be reviewing all the ABCs, colors, shapes and numbers they have learned about this year.

The Graduation Celebrations will be held on Tuesday, May 22 and Wednesday, May 23 in the sanctuary at 10:30. Have a wonderful summer!

Ever heard someone say that kids don’t know Bible stories anymore? Well I have and we’ve got the solution on Sunday mornings at 9:30. Our church uses a fun interactive curriculum that teaches Bible lessons through scripture, games, songs and crafts.

During April our theme has been “Go and Tell.” The class has learned they can spread the good news of God, like in the stories of Paul and Timothy.

Sunday School is for grades Pre-K through 5th and meets in the Education Building.

Vacation Bible School will be June 11-15.3rd-5th Grade Camp is June 25-27 ($96); 6th

Grade Camp is June 25-29 ($152).

The Upper RoomThe Upper Room devotional guides for May/

June can be picked up from the tables in the Narthex. They are provided for you free in either the regular or large print version.

During April the congrega-tion had the opportunity to express their thankfulness and other sentiments on several Sundays by writing on wooden blocks and filling the church frame built for us by Lloyd Lee. This picture is from April 8, the first Sunday of this event. Chairpersons were Katie Shore and Jayla Craig.

Gratitude Sunday, April 8Kaleo Discipleship Project

for Charlee GilliamCharlee Gilliam is raising funds to take part

in a 9-week summer project in Orlando, Florida. The program helps students in areas of Lead-ership, Character, and Faith. While there she will be strengthening her relationship with God while learning to lead others spiritually. She will also have the opportunity to be employed with a 40-hour a week job.

The cost is $3,700 to go and Charlee would greatly appreciate her church family investing in her during this incredible opportunity.

You may donate cash, a check payable to “Student Mobilization, or online https://sm.managedmissions.com/My Trip/charleegil-liam1

You can contact Charlee at 918-839-4711.

Thank you for the years, Mike Lee!For the first time since 1991

Mike Lee did not portray Peter in the annual Easter drama, The Living Lord’s Supper. He decided this year to turn that role over to Robert Martin. Thank you, Mike Lee, for many years of blessing us with your por-trayal of the Big Fisherman.

PAGE 4 MAY 2018

FORWARD TOGETHER

H Highlighting Our Church’s Ministries H

• Ministry Sunday •April 15

Our acolytes and pastor led the pro-cession of those carrying banners in observance and celebration of Ministry Sunday.

“Lord, what do You want to do through Me?

Postersare ondisplayin the

sanctuary throughMay 6.

MAY 2018 PAGE 5

• Missions •By JoLynn Dixon

The Missions Committee would like to say a big thank you to our generous congregation. Our Monthly Mission Collections have been very successful. This past month we were able to purchase two pallets of paper to give to our area schools.

For May, we will be collecting items to donate to the Oaks Nursing Home Acorn Store. Oaks residents can earn “Acorn Bucks” as they par-ticipate in the various activities the nursing home offers. In turn, the residents can shop in the store for things like lotions, stationary pads and other goodies. Baskets will be located in the Narthex for your donations--and as always, monetary contributions are appreciated.

Thank you to Grace Dehart for being willing

to host our annual garage sale. This is a great way for us to fundraise so that we may serve as many as we can. More details on this soon.

The next Missions Committee meeting is Tuesday, May 15 at 5:30 p.m. Please consider joining us. All are welcome!

Tami Matos and Man-dy Mitchell “rise” to the occasion as they decorate the Chris-tian Family Life Cen-ter for the Celebration Sunday potluck lunch which will be held on May 6. Everyone is invited to come join the Luau fun following morning worship.

PAGE 6 MAY 2018

2 Kendrick Hardaway 3 Jessica Bridgman 4 Morgan Ward and Sarah Mixon 5 Steve Clark and Shirley Blackshare 6 Ryan Neurohr, Kevin Ramirez and Makali Kemp7 KevinGriffith,JeffMixonandJerryKemp 8 Leslie Chastain, Mandy Wilson, Kennedy

WhitefieldandJackelynnGuiterrez11 Robert Reed and Libby Bridgman13 Tori White14 Nicholas Roberts and Marie Hinton15 Tucker Garrett and Austin James18 Aiden Alexander and Stevee McMillin19 Jenci Quarry20 Haley Redhage21 EmilyNorgeotandChrisBrookfield22 Rhett Garner24 Eva Daigle25 Cash Balentine, Burke Perry, Brady Perry andJoniGriffith26 Kade McMillin and Katie Rust27 Freda Ogle and Kawika Santos28 Joey Hall30 Charley Clark, Daz DeCamp, Cora Rolens and Warrick Quarry

May Anniversaries

May Bir thdays

Help make our birthday and anniversary lists complete. If we do not have your family members’ birthdays and anniversaries, please give the of-ficethatinformationbycalling918-647-2217.

News of YouthUMYF (CHAOS) meets Sunday evenings from

5 to 7 p.m. and is for all youth 6th – 12th.

By Melanie Wheat

MAY CALENDAR: 5 Youth Service Project 1:00 -?. Drive-in mov-

ie afterwards depending on what is show-ing.

6 No Youth 13 No Youth/Mother’s Day20 Senior Sunday Brunch in the Family Life

Center. No Youth that evening27 No Youth/Memorial Day Weekend

Sign ups are going on for District Camp at Camp Egan. The date for the camp is June 18-22

Youth Force is scheduled for June 24-29. Sign ups are full at this time. If you would still like to go, we can add you to the waiting list. As of right now, we have a total of 16 students and 4 adults signed up!

• Mission Opportunity •Pastor Jim is leading a mission trip

opportunity the week of July 8th to Eagle Pass, Texas through Mission: Border Hope. If you are interested, please contact the pastor.

4 Will and Kela Miller15 Jerry and Mary Ford19 David and Lisa Barnes20 Chad and Jennifer Cravens20 Mike and Cindy Darneal23 Jim and Mary Lynn Perkin24 Scott and Jennifer Miller24 Jamie and Tracey Gilliam25 David and Terry Hall28 Jerry and Jan Thompson29 Bob and Deanna Reed

The Youth had a great time at Ele-vate and Fu-ji’s! This was their reward for working so hard on the service projects!