Summer and Sabbath The Sabbath was a big deal for the Hebrews! It had been from the very beginning when God rested from and had finished creating everything. It was so important in fact, that there were laws regulating what you could and could not do on the Sabbath along with the punishments if you broke those laws. That attitude is exactly why Jesus said that ‘the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’ You see, the Sabbath was something that was meant to be enjoyed. It was meant to be a time of restoration for our mind, body and soul. We have a hard time with Sabbath and Sabbath rest. We always have to be doing something, going somewhere, or staying busy. However, there are stacks of books written that help us cope with the frenetic pace of this world because we do not practice a Sabbath ritual in our lives. We do not power off occasionally to get everything back in it's proper place and perspective. I will say to you, parents, that this is a hundred times more important for your children. It astounds me the schedule our children keep. We need to help them learn the joy of doing nothing. Get the electronics out of their hands and play with them in the yard or a park. School is almost out and Summer is upon us. Can we...this summer…begin to practice Sabbath rest now that the pace will slow down at least a bit? No plans, no schedule, no agenda just being together with family and friends over a long meal and conversation. We need to learn the art of slowing down, saying no, and reveling in the glory of God's goodness and love. God created Sabbath for us why don't we take it?

May 17, 2017 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 ............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

Family Promise First Church will host

June 4—10 If you are available to

help by providing a meal,

being a host, or staying

overnight, please sign up in

the Narthex with your name

& a contact number.

Rev. Tim Bracken

Welcome our new

Director of Youth Ministry

Josh Lyle and Family! Josh and his wife Jordan moved here

from Sarasota, Florida last June.

They have a daughter named Lilly

and their son Noah will be arriving any day now! Join us in making this

sweet family a part of our family

here at First Church.

Patty Hurley Patty is a native of Bristol, VA and moved to Cleveland in

2000. She has six grandchil-dren (two sets of twins!) and

lives in south Cleveland with her pups, Bentley and Tucker. She has been a

member of First Church for 17 years. Patty is retired from Volunteer Energy Coopera-tive and enjoys being a part of the FUMC Chan-cel Choir. She says that this provides an oppor-tunity for her to share in song by worship and fellowship with an amazing group of people. Patty is currently serving as our Communica-

tions Team chairperson.

Acolyte / Crucifer May 21 Emma Ratcliff / Lauren Thacker May 28 Brian Byerly / William Duncan

Dinner Servants May 21 Hale / Pennington

Going Away Party Join us on Sunday, May 21 from 4:00-7:00 PM at the

Duncans’ honoring Sarah Burt’s ministry. Meet at the church at 3:45 PM if you would like a ride.

We will be back between 7—7:30 PM. Don’t forget your swimsuit and towel!

Last Wednesday Night Youth Mtg - May 24 Wednesday nights will resume in the fall!

Summer Bible Studies Senior High - Monday, June 12 6:00-8:00 PM

at the Melton’s taught by Josh (new director)

Middle School - Tuesday, June 13 3:00-5:00 PM at the Berghoff’s

The Armor of God, taught by Truman Hale

Youth News

How to POST AN ANNOUNCEMENT Turn in information for the next newsletter by NOON on Tuesday, May 30. Information turned in after this time will not be posted until the next newsletter is due. Newsletters are printed every two weeks.

Fill out an Announcement Request Form online OR in the office!

We are in need of softball / baseball gloves for the Czech mission trip this summer. If you have gloves you are no longer using we would appreciate the opportunity to give them to the kids involved at camp. We do not need catcher’s mitts or first base gloves.

See Kellie Bracken.

Ball Gloves

Vacation Bible School Calling all VBS Heroes!!

July 16-20 9:00—12:00 PM At VBS Hero Central, we will

help our children discover their strength in God through Bible stories, missions,

crafts, games, science, music, & fun! Sign up to be a servant in a leadership role to-

day! You can be a guide, help teach, serve snacks, or decorate! Join us in the excitement! Register to serve as a volunteer or to register

your child(ren) online: www.cokesburyvbs.com/FirstUMCleveland

Contact Jill Ingram or Nina Wentz for more information.

Items for the August 4 & 5 Rummage Sale may now be taken to

Ledford Mini-Warehouses 4697 N Lee Hwy.

Visit their office to sign in & get a key. Please box & stack your items.

Rummage Items

Wednesday, May 24 11:30 AM The University of Tennessee’s “Voice of the Vols,” Bob Kesling will be here as the guest speaker. If you would like to attend this event, contact Nicole Rader at Holston Home, 423-787-8753 or nicolerader@holstonhome.org.

If you are available to help decorate, serve, or help with clean up for this event, please contact Cynthia Stewart.

And don’t miss the service this next week... Vice President of Holston Home, Charles Hutchins

will be here Sunday, May 21.

Holston Home Lunch

Arnold Elementary 5th Grade Award Banquet Tuesday, May 23 6:00-8:00 PM

We need help with: Decorating Tables - Preparing Food

- Plating Food and Serving - Clean-up Contact Jenann Lay or Kellie Bracken if you are

available to help in any way!

Arnold is our partner school and another way for us to celebrate, congratulate, and thank the faculty, staff, and administration is by “adopting”

a teacher. All this entails is handwriting that teacher a note and including a gift card. Names

are available on the table in the Narthex. Please turn in your cards by May 21.

Arnold Banquet

NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE TO ADD OR REMOVE NAMES

FROM THE PRAYER LIST.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK

Sunday, May 21 7:30 AM Sanctuary open for Prayer 8:30 AM Early Worship 9:30 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Worship Service 4:00 PM Youth Going Away Party of Sarah Monday, May 22 7:00 AM Prayer for Revival 6:30 PM Scouts Tuesday, May 23 9:00 AM Prayer for Revival 11:00 AM Staff Meeting 6:30 PM Arnold 5th Grade Banquet 8:00 PM Prayer for Revival Wednesday, May 24 11:30 AM Holston Home Luncheon 12:00 PM Prayer for Revival 2:00 PM Prayer for Revival Thursday, May 25 10:00 AM Prayer for Revival 12:00 PM Prayer for Revival Friday, May 26 7:00 AM Prayer for Revival

Monday, May 29 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

CDC - 7:00 AM–6:00 PM PDO - 9:00 AM–2:00 PM

“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

Sunday School Worship 05/07/2017 34 315 05/14/2017 58 225

Our Presence

Our Gifts

Our Service - May 21

Ron Merz and Family

Gayle Holbrook

Janet Lynch

Rosemary Warren

Sarah Janisewski LONG TERM PRAYER

Debbie Ambert

Sarah Bandy

Clifford Barger

Judy Barger

Amber Blair

Gladys Blankenship

Paxton Boyd

Charlotte Caraway

Debbie Trentham Case

Joann Casmey

Bill Cooke

Kaye Coultry

Emma Cummings

Beverly Crigger

Alan David

Budget Receipts 05/07/17 63,090.00 Receipts to Date: 242,095.36 Expenditures to Date: 230,436.54 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] 11,658.82 Budget to Date: n/a

Budget Receipts 05/14/17 5,935.00 Receipts to Date: 248,030.36 Expenditures to Date: 240,592.47 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] 7,437.89 Budget to Date: n/a

Prayer Team: Debbie Melton Monthly Prayer Focus: Sacred Road Ministries Acolytes: Emma Ratcliff and Lauren Thacker Ushers: Mark Lay, Head; John Driver, Ken Melton, Lee Stewart, Kevin Swafford, Todd Berghoff

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.

Altar Flowers will be in honor of Shelby and Douglas Graves’ wedding, given by Dianna Calfee.

Jordann Dempsey

Lorrie Duke

Dylan Duncan

Lois Ellis

Sharon Everson

Britton Gobble

Sean Hale

Jamie Hargis

Joe Hogan

Gail Howard

Teresa Lee

Chloe Littrell

Cliff and Janet Lynch

Charlie McDonald

Betty McLain

Larry and Barb Miller

Carmen Orr

Carolyn Owens

Kym Phillips

Tilley Phillips

Tom Phillips

Lois Pywell

Gary Ratcliff

Bob Richardson

Marcella Rogers

Nalini Samuel

Brenda Saunders

Nan Schlatterer

Nicholas Stark

Tim Steve

Kylene Stump

Van Swearingen

Lila Switzer

Stuart Switzer

Janice Tate

Addison Thompson

Jim and Sarah Wagner

Joan Wheeler

Jennifer Wilhite

RG Wolf

UPCOMING EVENTS

● May 29—OFFICE CLOSED

● June 1—Gad-A-Bout Potluck Lunch

● June 3—UMM Breakfast

● June 4—Youth Mystery Destination

● June 4-10—Family Promise Week

● June 8—UMW Unit Meeting

● June 10—Bread of Life

● June 11—VBS Training

● June 12—Senior High Bible Study

● June 13—May Dooley Circle, SOK

Day, Middle School Bible Study

● June 15—Gad-A-Bout Outing

● June 18—Father’s Day, No Youth

● June 18-23—Youth Mission Trip

● June 21—SOK Day

● June 24—Bread of Life

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

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 GraceWorks Ministry In memory of Linda Merz:

Sue Ledford Patty Hurley Bob & Sharon Lederer Janice S. Jones

Janey Sorrells Bill & Phyllis Brown Robert & Mary Hunsucker David & Ellen Smith

Gifts from the Church

Gad-A-Bouts News Mark your calendars...Thursday, June 1 at 12:00 PM

Gaye King will be here for our Potluck Lunch to show us “HealthRHYTHMS; Group Drumming and Interactive Rhythm Experiences.” You won’t want to miss this!

Bring your favorite dish to share!