Skiatook First United Methodist Church

Methodist

Messenger Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the

transformation of the world!

1007 S. Osage P.O. Box 910

Skiatook OK 74070 www.fumcskiatook.com

Email: office@fumcskiatook.com

918-396-2519

Fax: 918-396-7973

May 2020

Online Worship in Skiatook

23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as

you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10: 23-25)

We are now heading into week 8 of this COVID-19 quarantine/social distancing, and online only worship. I hope that many of you have been watching and participating in worship each week. Some weeks it has been livestreamed, other weeks it has been pre-recorded and then uploaded on Sunday morning. We are still trying to find the best way to do this! This is new to all of us here in the office as well as to you, and our learning curve has been steep! Thank you for your patience as we experience ALL kinds of issues, from being kicked off the internet in the middle of worship, to sideways camera angles, to bloopers such as the Easter Message “The sanc-tuary is empty, but the tomb is not!” “Oh, wait, yes it is!!!” We all deeply miss having you here, in person wor-shipping with us. Fellowship is a big part of the church experience! Preaching to Miria and Ka’Lu only is just not the same! Bishop Nunn and the Oklahoma Annual Conference have been monitoring the situation carefully. The latest communication received is that we are to remain closed through May 17. The situation will be re-evaluated at that time. My guess is that worship will not likely resume until June, and even then, there will be some social distancing requirements, and we realize everyone may not feel comfortable returning so soon. We need to re-member that many of our church members are some of the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus. Small groups of 10 or less are allowed to meet, but only with 6 feet of distance and frankly, none of our classrooms with the exception of Room 103 are big enough to follow those guidelines. Even the state guidelines, which are more lax, do not allow for nursery at this time. I know this is a difficult time, and it seems discouraging. I think of the early church, throughout history, who had so many more hardships—persecutions, meeting in secret, limited access to worship spaces and Bible manu-scripts—yet they thrived and grew and still spread the gospel. So I remind you once more of Paul’s words to the Hebrews, “do not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10: 23-25). I know it is easy to be discouraged, and even think “Why bother?” watching worship. That’s why every week, we invite you to participate with us. Pray the Lord’s prayer, give the appropriate response, and seek to find God’s presence. Even online. Sign in, say hel-lo to your neighbors, and receive a Word from God. See you Sunday!

Blessings,

Pastor Susan

MA

Y 20

20

Hello, everyone!

I hope you are all well. I know these are crazy and weird times!

I can’t wait until we are able to spend time with the children again!

I am starting a Groupme for us all, so watch for it!

There will also be another story on our Skiatook FUMC Children’s page

on FB. When we are able to have Sunday School and Children's Church

again we will have a HUGE CELEBRATION!!!

Love, Miss Miria

***BIG ANNOUNCEMENT*** ASAC is reopening 05/04/2020

VBS & CHURCH CAMP

Updates coming just as soon as decisions are made.

May 2020

Skiatook FUMC Youth

Happy graduation! Sort of...

As we enter the month of May, we approach a lot of milestones for our

2020 graduating seniors. Only this year, our seniors don’t get to celebrate

the joy and pride of having accomplished something they have worked so

long to complete. It’s a loss and we at Skiatook FUMC stand in support of

our seniors Kaitlan Teague, Serenity Beene and Will Jones. Ceremony or no

ceremony, cap and gown or no cap and gown, you are amazing and we ap-

plaud all that you are and will be. We are proud of you and we grieve the

loss of this moment with you.

We are still finding our stride with Zoom and FaceTime. Every Wednesday

at 6:00 I connect with the kids via one of those platforms, alternating each

week so everyone gets a chance to talk. I really have to brag on our kids.

They’ve been real troopers through this and I’m impressed with how they

have handled things.

I can’t wait to see all of you when this is all over!

MAY CALENDAR

Senior Sunday………………..17

All activities and meetings are cancelled until further notice from the bishop.

STUFF TO KNOW

• Youth on Wednesday nights via FaceTime or Zoom from 6:00-8:00!

• FIX is canceled until further notice

• Questions? Call Meg at (918)906-0414. Texting is even better!

Serenity Beene

Kaitlan Teague

Will Jones

Misc. Happenings

Servant Spotlight

Thanks to:

Ka’Lu Underwood, Miria Jones, and Meg Burris for being part of helping with our online worship

Beverly Dollar, Robin Edens, Cathy Allred for providing rec-orded music in our online wor-ship service. .

Patti McKinney, our treasurer, for submitting paperwork for the Payroll Protection Payment au-thorized by the Cares Act passed by our government.

Tom Weathers, for cleaning out the janitor’s closet, and moving the parking bumpers back to their places.

Gifts are given…

In Memory of Jenny Leona Enloe by Jackie Jones, Jennifer Hallum, and Ron Cohea

In Memory of Jenny Leona Enloe to the LAF Debt Relief by the C.H.U.M.S.

In Memory of Steven Cornelius by Mary Overlease

In memory of Gary Dunham by Mary Overlease

To the LAF Building Relief by Glendell Brown

To the LAF Building Debt Relief by Glenn & Mary Nelson

With Heartfelt Sympathy

We offer our deepest sympathies to the

family of Jenny Leona Enloe, a long-

time Saint of Skiatook FUMC. Leona

passed unexpectedly on April 17, 2020.

She was a faithful member of

C.H.U.M.S. and enjoyed playing domi-

noes and bingo. She will be greatly

missed.

Our condolences

also go out to the

family of Steven

Cornelius who

graduated this

life on April 29, 2020 following a hard

fought battle against cancer. Steven at-

tended school and church as often as he

could, and he was always up for an ad-

venture. We will continue our prayers

for his family and friends, and give

thanks that his suffering is no more.

Thank you so

much to all of

you who have

faithfully con-

tinued to support the church and

its ministries during this time of

online worship only! This is truly a

situation we have never been in

before!

SO—WHAT ARE WE DOING

ABOUT FINANCES?

• First of all, giving has remained

fairly stable. Our total giving is

down somewhat, but not nearly

as much as we had originally

feared. Your generosity has

kept us on track pretty much.

Because the building hasn’t

been used much, utility costs

and other maintenance repairs

are lower as well.

• Secondly, we applied for and

received a Payroll Protection

Loan as part of the COVID-19

relief package. This ensures

salaries are covered for ap-

proximately 10 weeks. If

proper procedures are fol-

lowed, and we meet criteria, it

will be come a grant in the fall

that we don’t have to pay back.

• Third, we have been given a 3

month forbearance on our LAF

Building Loan. Three months

of no payment will ease the

burden significantly, and is just

added on to the end of the loan

period.

• Fourth, we have instituted

online giving through PayPal.

Go to our website, and click on

the link, or use your own Pay-

Pal link or app.

• Fifth, we have established a

special fund for those who

wish to give to relief efforts

during this time, helping fami-

lies in need both in our church

and in the community.

Thank you!!!!!

Happy Anniversary!

On May 1, 2010, I began my first day

as the Administrative Assistant here at

Skiatook FUMC. I had attended church

here for several years, and customer

service is part of my DNA, so I thought

I knew what to expect. There have been

weddings, graduations, baptisms, and

many professions of faith over the

years. But there have also been funer-

als, transfers, and my own life circum-

stances that have sometimes gotten in

the way. Thank you, Church Family,

for always being so gracious and loving

to my family and me. Thanks for a

great 10 years! Love, Ka’Lu

Red Cross Blood Drive

May 5, 2020

12:30pm — 6:30pm

Room 103 in Church Building

Donating blood products is essential to

community health, and eligible donors

are encouraged to donate during

the COVID-19 outbreak. The Red

Cross follows the highest standards of

safety and infection control, and volun-

teer donors are the

only source of blood

for those in need.

For the safety of our

donor community and

in accordance with

CDC guidelines, all donors are re-

quired to wear a face covering or

mask. Please bring one to your dona-

tion. If you do not have one, a mask

will be provided to you.

Thank you for your ongoing support of

patients in need.

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

10:00: Yoga

2

3 10:30: Worship livestreamed

4

11:00: level 1 yoga

5 12:30-6:30: Blood Drive

6 11:00: Yoga Lev-el 1

6:00-8:00 Youth

Video Chat

7 4:30Chair Yoga 6:00: Level 2 Yoga

8 10:00: Yoga

9

10 10:30: Worship livestreamed

11 11:00: level 1 yoga

12

13

11:00: Yoga Lev-el 1

6:00-8:00 Youth

Video Chat

14 4:30: Chair Yo-ga 6:00: Level 2 Yoga

15 10:00: Yoga

16

17

10:30: Worship livestreamed

18

11:00: level 1 yoga

19

20 11:00: Yoga Lev-el 1

6:00-8:00 Youth

Video Chat

21 4:30: Chair Yo-ga 6:00: Level 2 Yoga

22 10:00: Yoga

23

24 9:30: Sunday School

10:30: Worship

31 9:30: Sunday School 10:30: Worship

25 11:00: level 1 yoga

26

27

11:00: Yoga Lev-el 1

6:00-8:00 Youth

Video Chat

28 4:30: Chair Yo-ga 6:00: Level 2 Yoga

29

10:00: Yoga

30

A S A C O p e n s f o r S u m m e r C a r e 6 : 3 0 a m - 6 p m

Celebrate a 2020

graduate with a

card or note of

encouragement.

Call the office for

addresses.

May Building activities

continue to be limited throughout

May. Notice of updates to will be made by email and

Facebook. Thank you for your

understanding!

First United Methodist Church

1007 S. Osage

P.O. Box 910

Skiatook, OK 74070

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

PLEASE RECYCLE!

Transitions

Hello! I’m Rev. Sarah Thornhill and I’m excited to embark on a new chapter in ministry together! I’m an Oklahoma native - I was born and raised in Bartlesville, and attended The University of Oklahoma for undergrad (boomer!), where I met my husband Chase. We’ve been married since 2012. I studied at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary for my Master of Divinity. We moved back to Oklahoma in 2015 and I served at Bos-ton Avenue UMC. In 2016, I was appointed to FUMC Owas-so where I’ve served, learned, and grown the past four years. There are many things I love about ministry. I have a great passion for preaching: declaring the Good News in a way that is relevant and empowering for people is a chal-lenge I love taking on! I absolutely love connecting with people and learning their stories! Sitting down to coffee with someone new is fun to me (and doesn’t seem like work at all)! I love to be part of the community that we’re serving: engaging in service, connecting with community leaders and finding where the energy is, and seeing how the Holy Spirit might be calling us to new creative minis-

tries.

I also count it as such an honor to be part of really tender moments in people’s lives: weddings, crises, illness, and funer-als. It’s a privilege to be invited into these moments.

I love to be active: walking and hiking (anything that gets me outside), dance, and yoga. I’m a voracious reader, and a good book is one of my favorite ways to unwind. My hus-band is a building superintendent for a builder in Tulsa. He’s a big golfer in his free time. We love to play games and soak up time with our 19 month old, Griffin! Griffin is active, joyful, and a little ornery, so he keeps us on our toes! We have two furbabies, Foster and Ollie, who love to cuddle and wait for any food Griffin drops.

I look forward to how the Holy Spirit leads us in sharing Christ’s love in new ways with our community!