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Volume 18 Issue 7 July 2016
The First United Methodist Church
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Closed for lunch 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.)
Friday - closed
CHURCH STAFF Rev. Dan Pulver, Senior Pastor
Rev. Matt Thompson, Associate Pastor Hannah Birney, Director of Children’s Ministry Shelly Thompson, Director of Youth Ministry
Vonna Stout Interim Director of Music Ministry ZaQue Hutchings, Keyboardist Jeana Malone, Office Administrator
Kim Campbell, Secretary Matt Erickson, Facility Manager
THE FLAME is a monthly publication of First United Methodist Church, 15502 S. Memorial Drive, Bixby, OK 74008. Phone: 918-366-4463 Fax: 918-366-4465 Website: www.fumcbixby.org Church E-mail: [email protected] To submit information: [email protected]
The August issue of THE FLAME will be mailed on July 27. Deadline for submissions is Wednesday, July 20.
SUNDAY SERVICES Praise & Worship 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Traditional Worship 11:00 a.m.
The Flame 15502 South Memorial Bixby, Oklahoma 74008
Out of the
Lions’ Den...
God is doing something big here! Raising $907,895 is certainly a God-sized task as we look toward
restoring our facility and making it water tight; but God is doing even more than that at Bixby First. Every time
the Finance Committee has gathered to discuss the fund raising, it has turned into a conversation about what this
church has meant to the lives of people in Bixby and beyond. This church has produced several clergy, as they
discovered the deep meaning of the gospel and heard their calling to serve while being members of this church.
This church has been available to help reach people for Jesus, getting them involved in life-changing ministries
and mission projects. This church has fed the hungry students of Bixby and provided missional giving to the
Bixby Outreach Center to care for families in the region.
Our church has been on a plateau for the last seven years. Plateaus tend to make congregations lethargic
and satisfied with things as they are. In my experience, God-sized projects come along and open the door to all
kinds of possibilities. God is opening hearts and gifting people with the spiritual gift of generosity. When that
happens, God begins gifting people for all kinds of ministries and mission projects that God needs to accomplish
through us.
Did you notice on the Raise the Roof estimate of giving sheet, before we asked for the amount you would
contribute to the campaign, we first of all asked you to share the dreams and visions God has given you for
ministry and mission? We are just as interested in your dreams and visions as we are in your financial
contributions. The Finance Committee is convinced God is about to do something really big through this
congregation at the same time we are restoring this building.
I am always fascinated by the people who use Facebook to tell their stories of products that have changed
their lives and the lives of their friends and family. I can’t help but fantasize about what might happen if we were
as effective in sharing the story of what Christ and His Church have done for us. To paraphrase a contemporary
Christian song, “if I told you my story, it would be all about Jesus! I can’t tell my story without it being about
Him.”
God is doing something big here! I can’t wait to see what will happen as we all give, opening
ourselves to be part of Jesus’ story.
-Daniel
Have You Seen the Nursery? Members of the Haven Class contributed all the money and did all the work to renovate the two Nursery rooms by the Children’s Desk. They put a fresh look on the rooms used by our youngest people. We are grateful for their initiative, their hard work, and their generosity.
Go by and see the rooms east of the Children’s Desk.
“Come to Me . . . and I Will Give You Rest”
Imagine yourself worn out from the responsibilities of life, exhausted by
the busyness of each day, worried about decisions you need to make,
maybe even despairing about what the future holds for you. Now, think
of a person, a loved one or a very good friend, you could go to for
comfort, understanding, encouragement and release.
What would it take inside of you to lean against that person, both
physically and emotionally, to tell the person what’s on your mind and in
your heart, to let that person wrap you in hugs and soothing words?
Trust that the person will keep your confidences?
Faith in the person to understand and not condemn you?
Surrender of your sense of control and your desire for strength?
God is always that person, the loved one and very good friend you can
trust with your bared soul, your darkest secrets and your most precious
dreams. He chose you before you were born, He loves you regardless of
the mistakes in your life, and He wants you to spend eternity with Him,
starting right now.
This month in “Disciple’s Journey” we’ll consider the invitation to rest in
God. What does that mean? How do you go about it? What does
Scripture say? Join me as we practice resting in God.
A Disciple
Disciple’s
Journey
On July 10, at the end of 11:00 Worship, we will
have an official Church Conference to give final approval to
the Finance Committee to enter a mortgage agreement with
Mabrey Bank to fund our “Raise the Roof” campaign. We
are only required to have a Church Conference if we borrow
more than $1.2 million. With our existing debt, we will be
very close to that number, unless some people choose to be
extremely generous. So we are going to follow the Book of
Discipline and secure the permission of our church members
and our District Superintendent, even if we do not have to
borrow that much money. Dr. Peil has asked our Senior
Pastor to preside over the Conference in his absence.
All official members of the church can vote.
Our church provides the Upper
Room Daily Devotional book to aid
in prayer and meditation.
Please pick up your copy in the
Narthex just outside the Sanctuary.
Called Church Conference
Bixby First Youth
SERVE GROW CONNECT
Sunday School
We are studying 1 Corinthians:2 Beginning June 26 and continuing through July
Please remember to read the chapter before Sunday
morning and be ready with questions for discussion.
Mark Your Calendars
Church Camp coming soon!
Growin’ In Grace, Egan Camp, July 18-22
Tweens, Egan Camp, July 18-22
Sonshine, Canyon Camp, July 23-24
Register online: www.okumc.org or
Contact Hannah for paper registration forms.
Fall Preschool We are now enrolling for Fall
Preschool. Our preschool
follows the Bixby Public
School calendar.
For more information, contact
Marsha, 918-261-1217
Camp Awesome
June 13-17
Work Force-Owasso
June 26-July1
Youth
Wednesday Evenings
6:30 p.m.
Thank You Surf Shack VBS was a great success! We averaged 140 children per day. Bible stories, crafts, games, snacks, science & especially participants and volunteers-combined for an exciting week. We appreciate everyone’s contributions and we will look for you next summer.
Breath Prayer “Jesus, lead us to your path.”
SERVE GROW CONNECT
Reminder:
Our regular Wonderful
Wednesdays will not be on the
schedule for the summer.
We will resume in September.
When You Give Digitally …
Several people have used our new electronic tablet for digital
contributions. When we decided to update the ability of our young adults to
give, we knew the 2.75% cost for each transaction would happen, but we failed
to realize how quickly that can add up. The Finance Committee would like to
inspire you to help pay the cost for this convenience, especially when paying for
things like camp, T-Shirts, and other fixed cost items. Consider giving an
additional 2.75% to help pay the cost of this digital convenience.
Thank you for considering this.
John & Deborah Knehans Joined on 4-24-2016
Susan Owen Joined on 4-17-2016
Bixby First welcomes new members who joined with us this Spring. Susan Owen and John & Deborah Knehans joined in April and are all members of the Encouragers Sunday School class.
ATTENDANCE FOR WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday, May 29 June 5 June 12 June 19 June 26 8:30 a.m. 86 107 86 86 108 11:00 a.m. 142 217 167 151 147 TOTAL 387 320 281 264 255
Monthly Meeting Reminders:
(known meetings from the office calendar)
Stephen Ministry-off for Summer
Trustees-Sunday, July 10
At 5:00 p.m.
Grow Team-Monday, July 11 & 25
At 6:30 p.m.
Stitchers of Love Prayer Shawl Ministry
We will meet Tuesdays
July 12 & July 26
At 10:00 a.m.
If you know someone who is need of a prayer shawl
we have several available.
Please contact the church office.
Sermons are available online
www.fumcbixby.org
Quilting
Hand quilting is done by our
quilting group on Thursday
mornings. If you have a quilt you
need help with, contact Evelyn for
more information, 918-277-9077.
Second Friday Club
is on vacation
until September
See you in the Fall!
Dear Church Members,
We would like to thank-you for supporting
the 2015-2016 Spartan Backpack Program.
Because of everyone’s generous donations we
were able to send over 3,000 food backpacks
to students (6th-12th grades) in need of
weekend meals.
Thank you for your support.
Bixby Public Schools
July
20
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Gro
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gan
- July
18
-22
So
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July
23
- 24
Yo
uth
CY
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Lead
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-8
So
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at Can
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July
23
- 24
Trek
2 C
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in C
olo
rado
- July
24
-31
Non-Profit Organization
Pre-Sort Standard
Bixby, Oklahoma 74008
Permit No. 18
July 2016
Or Current Resident
First United Methodist Church 15502 South Memorial Bixby, OK 74008 (918) 366-4463 email: [email protected] Website: www.fumcbixby.org
The Flame
Please pray for these active duty military personnel :
Air Force: Senior Airman Kyle Seaman,
Son of Lee & Jean Seaman
Serving at Shaw AFB, South Carolina
Air Force: CJ Griffith,
Son of Eric Griffith
Grandson of Jack & Joyce McKenzie
Air Force: Joe McMath
Son of Carol McMath
Army: Conner Walcher,
Great Nephew of June & David Skaggs
Serving in Germany
Army: Sgt. (E5) Nathan Hamelund
Grandson of Ken & Tommie Bond
Serving in Germany
Army: Sergeant E-5 Tony McAmis
Son of Rick & Sarah McAmis
Serving in Hawaii
Marines: Sgt. Joseph Adib,
Nephew of Susan and Bill Apker
Serving in Germany
Navy: Kole C. Hilton
Son of Ryan & Beth Hilton
Serving at Camp Lejeune, NC
Navy: Lt. Scott Sides
Brother of Melissa Morrow, Brother in law of Phillip Morrow
Navy: Lt. Cmdr. Clay Cooper
Son in law of Susan McKinney
