What’s Inside

First United Methodist Church109 S. HarperPoteau, OK 74953

Non-Profit Org.

Permit No. 40

Poteau, OK 74953

Address Service Requested

YEAR 25 VOLUME 11 NOVEMBER, 2017 SERViNg gOd 124 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 .......................... 2Cards of Thanks ................ 3Children’s Ministry ............ 3Sympathy Note .................. 3Preschool Report ............... 3News of Youth .................... 4Staff Appreciation .............. 4All Saints Sunday .............. 3Birthdays, Anniversaries .. 4

FIRST

Women’sFall FestivalFriday, Nov. 3

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Luncheon 11 to 1

(Chicken and Dressing, Mashed Potatoes and

Gravy, Green Beans, Cran-berry Sauce, Rolls, Pump-kin Dessert or Assorted

Cakes, Coffee, Tea)

Bake Sale 9 to 3Door Prizes

VendorsQuilt Drawing at 1

Silent Auction

There was once a woman who was always able to find something for which she was thankful. One morning there was a terrible snowstorm, but she still showed up in time for work, and she was thankful. Her supervisor was sur-prised to see her, and was equally surprised to hear that she was thankful to make it to work in such a storm.

When asked why she was so thankful, she said that she was thankful that she lived so close to work. Her supervisor still did not understand how she could even walk on the icy sidewalks with the blowing winds. She said that she was so thankful that she was able to crawl to work on her hands and knees. Her supervisor was astounded, and asked what was so wonder-ful about crawling to work on her hands and knees. The woman smiled and said, “During the blizzard in the early morning light, no one was able to see me!” (Parables, Etc. November 1993)

As we prepare to go into the holiday season this year and especially thanksgiving our minds and hearts naturally turn to all the things we are thankful for. Often, I hear people say that they are thankful for good food, good friends, and good family. But what about when things are rough? Can you find the strength to give thanks when things are not going so well? The goofy story above teaches us that in every part of life there is always some-thing to be thankful for if we will look hard enough. But I think thankfulness goes even a bit further than even that truth will take us.

Our scriptures teach us that thankfulness is not just a reaction to the circumstances around us but an attitude that can actually affect our lives. Consider Philippians 4:6, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (NRSV)” With thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Thankfulness is not just to be the reaction to the good things we find in life, but the attitude with which we view life (including our problems which we take to God.) Thankfulness is not just reaction, it is medicine and it will help us heal.

On the Journey with you,

Pastor JimGive thank

s

ACOLYTES

WORSHIP GREETERS

WELCOME TABLE VOLUNTEERS

LITURGIST: Pat Shelton

PAGE 2 NOVEMBER 2017

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/

3 Women’s Fall Festival, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 5 Daylight Savings Time ends. Turn clocks back

one hour. Treble Choir, 2 p.m. Ronna Bell Shower, 2 p.m. 6 Missional Area Charge Conference at Faith-

bridge UMC, Heavener at 7 p.m.11 Cavanal Chorale, 7 p.m.12 Cavanal Chorale, 2 p.m.15 Membership Care, 12 p.m.22, 23, 24 Church Offices closed27 Pastor Consultations, 1 p.m.28 Pastor Consultations, 12 p.m. Trustees Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

• NOVEMBER CHURCH CALENDAR •• SUNDAY •

Sunday School, 9:30; Morning Worship, 10:30Bible Study, 4 p.m.

UMYF (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., CFLCBible Study, 1 p.m.

Poteau F.U.M.C. Report for September 2017Average Attendance Figures for September: 176

2017 Budget Requirements: $345,500.00Needed through September: $259,125.00

Year to Date received through September: $237,710.13September Receipts: $22,462.22

September Expenditures: $27,585.65Amount Owed on New Building Loan: $450,230.97

5 Robert and Tami Holt12 Peggy Talley and Liz Perry19 David McNair and Ted Kilgore26 David and Lisa Barnes

5 David and Kathy Robertson12 Ted Kilgore and Don Baetz19 Bill and Linda Lancaster26 Mike and Karen Hahn

5 Jim Perkin12 Suzanne Klutts19 Taylor Darneal26 Sadie Perkin

5 Brady Perry and Burke Perry 12 Colton Frazier and Brock Call19 Khia Brookfield and Jenci Quarry26 Caden Mitchell and Ryker Holt

Prayer List(As of October 29, 2017)

To add to or remove a name from the list, call the church office at 918-647-2217.

Nursing Home/Homebound: Genny Dorsey and Maxine Nyberg,

Health: Landa Aubree, Don Baetz, Astarte Baker, Ed Brody, Sandy Carbrey, Perry Carter, Allen Daniels, Jim Davis, Rob Ellis, Mendy Em-merling, Betty Evans, Mary Folsom, Dolores Fuller, Kay Gardner, Brooke Gardezi, Don Go-forth Jr., Pam Hayes, Peggy Holstead, Allen and Jane Ann Inge, Donna Jackson, Lorene John-son, Jim Kersh, Jane Kilgore, Colton Knight, Lloyd Lee, Arlene LeMaster, Lucy McMillin, Maureen McPherson, Mason Mitchell, Christy Oehlschlager, Jack Oehlschlager, Pat Pate, Kal-lie Peck, Debbie Piovarchy, Jean Potts, William Quarry, Lucy Richmond, Bobbie Rowland, Joe Sabatucci, Ronnie Sanders, Charles Saviers, Jim Shore, Cathy Siefert, Pat Smith, Randy Smith, Richard Sockey, Virginia Stanley, Earl Steimetz, Paul Stottsberry, Katie Strider, Rita Thomas, Darlene Ward, Darren Ward, Shelia Wilson, Keith Wright.

Bereavement: Military and Law Enforcement:Nathan Berlin, Tyler Berlin, Kaigan LeMaster

Coggins, Bailey Hahn, Zack Hall, Kyle Kinman, Kodee LeMaster, and all our military and law en-forcement men and women.

CHILDREN’S MOMENTS

We Love

Visitors

!

Welcome!

NOVEMBER 2017 PAGE 3

• Children’s Ministry •By Suzanne Klutts

Our SympathyOur sympathy is extended to the fam-

ily of Nikki Perry whose grandmother passed away recently. Notice was re-ceived too late for the last newsletter.

Staff Appreciation

All Saints Sunday

Cards of Thanks

Apprec ia t ion of the Perkin Family was ex-pressed during morning wor-ship. Pictured are Sadie, Pas-tor Jim, Landon and Mary Lynn.

Staff members were recognized and introduced by Keith Thomas and presented a gift by David Barnes on behalf of the church. Pictured with him are Rev. Perkin, Phil Smith, Bill King, Melissa Ward, Suzanne Klutts, Melanie Wheat, Kaycee Quarry, Jayla Craig, and Mary Lynn Perkin.

ByTracey Gilliam,

Preschool Director

Happy Thanksgiving!The preschool memory verse for November is

“Let us love one another.” This month the week-ly themes will be Happy for our Homes; Imagine If . . . ; Thankful for Thanksgiving; and Jobs of Community Helpers.

Students will be working with the shape square, the color brown and the letters H, I and J. The numbers 1 through 5 will be reviewed.

October has been an exciting month for JAM (Jesus and Me). An average of 130 students are having fun learning about God!

We have completed the study of Jesus’ par-ables and are now focusing on our upcoming Christmas program.

November 1 will be our monthly meal, so come join us at 5:05 for tacos.

If you are available on Wednesdays at 3:15, we are always looking for volunteers. As always, thank you, church family, for supporting this amazing children’s program.

Dear Church Family, It was very thoughtful of you to honor us on

Staff Appreciation Sunday. We are blessed to be a part of this church family. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we serve God and grow in our discipleship with you.

Poteau FUMC Staff

Thank you to Poteau United Methodist Church Women for preparing the food for the Taste of LeFlore County fundraiser on October 12. It was a most successful evening.

Women of Faith,Dorothy James

November 5th is All Saints Sunday when we will be reading the names of all our church members who have passed away this past year.

If you have a loved one who has passed since last All Saints Sunday whose name you would like read, please contact the church office.

The Upper RoomThe Upper Room devotional guides for No-

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

PAGE 4 NOVEMBER 2017

November Anniversaries

November Bir thdays

Help make our birthday and anniversary lists complete. If we do not have your family members’ birthdays and anniversaries, please give the office that information by calling 918-647-2217.

The Membership Care Committee meets on the third Wednesday of each month in the Chris-tian Family Life Center from 12 to 1 p.m. They try to stay in contact with those in need through cards, phone calls and visits. If you know some-one for their list, please contact the church of-fice or call 918-647-3491.

Anyone who knows of someone who would benefit from a prayer shawl, whether a church member or not, should call Cindy Brody at 918-385-1542 or the church at 647-2217.

–––––If you desire the church’s prayer chain to pray

for you, make your request known by contact-ing the church office at 918-647-2217.

Prayer Shawl MinistryMembership Care Committee

NOVEMBER 5 Annual hayride at the Gilliams. Boys bring

a 2 liter of pop and girls bring a bag of chips.

11 Casting Crowns Concert in Shawnee.12 No Youth19 No Youth. Thanksgiving Break26 Youth Council meeting right after church.26 Regular Youth

Thank you to everyone who brought candy and baked goods for the carnival, or helped in any way. It was truly appreciated.

News of YouthUMYF (CHAOS) meets Sunday evenings from

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

By Melanie Wheat

• LIVE WORSHIP •If you are unable to attend worship on

Sunday morning, you can watch our morn-ing worship service live at 10:30. There is a place there where you may register your at-tendance. Go to www.poteaufumc.com

1 Keely Hambrick and Fredric Ritchie 3 Wesley Garrett and Phil Smith 5 Kaycee Quarry 6 Sondra Sampson 7 Ronna Bell, Demi Kay Gilliam and Barbara Harris 8 Maci White 9 Elizabeth Perry, Linda Lee, Martha Renfro and Angela Price 10 Sterling Brookfield11 Jean Gaylor and Nikki Perry12 Deanna Reed, Allison Matos, Bessie More-

land and Mandy Roberts13 Brad DeSpain, Justin Barnes and Jenny

Harreld15 Randy Matos and Colton Castillo16 Christy Oehlschlager17 Lance Owen19 Elissa Bridgman, Cynthia Stoughton and Jamie Gilliam20 Keely Carsello21 Henry Hardaway, Jennifer Cravens and Nina Bowen23 Mary Ford and Sandy Carbrey25 Ed Brody26 Connor Bandy27 Kela Miller28 Charlee Gilliam and Gary Price29 Artheia Hageman

20 Randy and Libby Bridgman R.L. and Janet Sockey22 Mark and Sheri Zabala26 Alan and Clyda Ware28 Ted and Christie Williams

Rockers and Hip-pies were among those in costume at this year’s fall carni-val. Pictured are our pastor (yes, our pas-tor) Jim Perkin and Nathan Murray.