by Milton Bradley in 1960 with the help of Reuben Klamer and it was endorsed by Art Linkletter. The game has been updated several times and has been translated into 20 different languages.

The whole point of the game is to make it to the end of life with the highest net worth. All throughout the game you have to spin the wheel and take whatever life throws at you as well as make choices. Hopefully at the end of the game you end up in Millionaire Acres and not the Poor Farm.

I played this game a lot growing up and because of its theme it obviously mimics life. But lots of games mimic life. It’s not unusual to hear a football coach motivate his players by making comparisons to the game of life. And many of our television game shows and board games have aspects that mimic life. Life lessons are abundant in our popular games. The Apostle Paul even used some game type imagery a couple of different times as he compared running a race to life.

Over the course of July, we are going to have some fun as we take a look at four of my favorite games and what parallels we can find between them, life, and faith. Hopefully we will find that there is way more to life than just trying to make it to the end with some cash in our pockets and some kids in the back seat of the car.

Invite a friend or neighbor (or both!) and join us for worship in July!

On the journey with you,

Pastor Jim Perkin

Have you ever played the board game, “The Game of Life?” It’s a board game about being alive. Such a simple concept, however the board game has been inducted into the toy hall of fame. It was developed

What’s Inside

YEAR 26 VOLUME 7 POTEAU, OKLAHOMA 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 ................ 3Missions Report ..................... 3Cards of Thanks .................... 3Women of Faith ...................... 3News of Youth ........................ 4Leadership Team ................... 4Nursery Worker Needed ........ 4Birthdays, Anniversaries ...... 4

FIRST

Office Hours:Monday – Thursday

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

JULY 2018

ACOLYTES

WORSHIP GREETERS

WELCOME TABLE VOLUNTEERS

LITURGIST: Mike Lee

JULY CHURCH CALENDARPAGE 2 JULY 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/

4 Church office closed for holiday18 Membership Cares, 12 p.m.23 Trustees Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

• SUNDAY •Sunday School, 9:30; Morning Worship, 10:30

UMYF (CHAOS), 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

• TUESDAY •Boy Scouts, 7 p.m., CFLC

• THURSDAY •Senior Café will not meet during July.

1 Jamie and Tracey Gilliam 8 David and Kathy Robertson15 Robert and Tami Holt22 Peggy Talley and Liz Perry29 David McNair and Ted Kilgore

1 Khia Brookfield and Katlynn Figari 8 Burke Perry and Brady Perry15 Kendy Traywick and Alissa Figari22 Farah Brem and Maggie Wheat29 Caden Mitchell and Ryker Holt

1 Suzanne Klutts 8 Tami Matos15 Suzanne Klutts22 Mary Lynn Perkin29 Jim Perkin

1 Mike and Linda Lee 8 Peggy Talley and Jean Whigham15 Randy and Tami Matos22 David and Kathy Robertson29 Bill and Linda Lancaster

Prayer List (As of June 24, 2018)

To add or remove a name call 918-647-2217.Nursing Home/Homebound: Maxine Nyberg. Health: Landa Aubree, Don Baetz, Astarte

Baker, Silas Blanchard, Caren Bogart, John Car-brey, Sandy Carbrey, Perry Carter, Carol Coggins, Pam Cox, Allen Daniels, Jim Davis, Ruth Ann De-Camp, Susanne Dixon, Rob Ellis, Mendy Emmer-ling, Pam DeCamp Ernst, Mary Folsom, Dolores Fuller, Brooke Gardezi, Kay Gardner, Don Goforth Jr., Terry Harrison, Pam Hayes, Peggy Holstead, Darla Humphries, Allen and Jane Ann Inge, Don-na Jackson, Lorene Johnson, Makali Kemp, Jim Kersh, Jane Kilgore, Colton Knight, Tim Law-rence, Arlene LeMaster, Lisa Leming, Oleta Little, Lucy McMillin, Maureen McPherson, Keith Miller, Mason Mitchell, Jack Oehlschlager, Kallie Peck, Debbie Piovarchy, Kelly Pitchford, Jean Potts, William Quarry, Joe Renfro, Lucy Richmond, Joe Sabatucci, Jim Shore, Marilyn Smith, Pat Smith, Randy Smith, Janet Sockey, Richard Sockey, Earl Steimetz, Katie Strider, Zander Swithenbank, Darlene Ward, Darren Ward, 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 May 2018Average Attendance Figures for May: 1762018 Budget Requirements: $360,000.00

Needed through May: $154,833.33Year to Date Received: $130,820.06

May Receipts: $29,239.02May Expenditures: $32,974.33

Amount Owed on New Building Loan: $312,328.17

THE SANCTUARY CHOIR AND BELL CHOIRARE ON VACATION DURING THE

MONTH OF JULY.WE WILL BE ENJOYING SPECIAL MUSIC

DURING THE WORSHIP SERVICES.

• LIVE WORSHIP •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

JULY 2018 PAGE 3

• Children’s Ministry •By Suzanne Klutts

Dear Pastor Jim,We just wanted to say thank you again for the

lovely service you and your church family helped provide for my brother-in-law, Brett Blasdell. You all couldn’t have been more gracious or helpful and we really can’t even begin to tell you how much we appreciated everything – from your spending so much time planning it with us, to your thoughtful prayers and spirit-led words, to your facilitating all the details with such generos-ity and kindness. We’re just so grateful. And it’s comforting to know my niece and nephew have such a warm and embracing congregation and church so close at hand.

God bless you and your church. Have a great summer!

Nelsy and John Fleps, Southlake, Texas

Card of Thanks

Missions ReportBy JoLynn Dixon

Church Campers – Khia Brookfield, Alissa Figari, Darah Thomas, Jenci Quarry, and Katlynn Figari.

When you worry, Jesus Rescues! When you are afraid, Jesus Rescues! When you make mistakes, Jesus Rescues! Get the point? Anytime we need help, Jesus Rescues! That was the theme of Ship-wrecked VBS. We had an amazing week of Va-cation Bible School. With 80 students, 30 youth and 40 adults, the church was filled with crafts, games, songs, snacks and learning more about God! Thanks to all the parents who allowed their kids to attend and the wonderful workers for teaching our children.

The VBS mission project was collecting new and gently worn shoes for Poteau school students. We have a box in the narthex for shoes and will be accepting donations through July. Thanks for supporting and loving our kids!

Women of FaithBy Mary Ford

Just think, 133 days until the Fall Festival, Nov. 2, 2018. Mark your calendars so you won’t forget. Please pray for the festival and all those involved in helping. Pray that we all will share Christian love with each other and those attend-ing. The Women of Faith will not meet in July. Our meetings will continue to be the third Thurs-day of the month unless conflict occurs.

Women of Faith is a small group. please con-sider joining us. Membership has no restrictions and not a lot of demands. We enjoy sharing our faith.

The Missions Committee again thanks our awe-some congregation for helping us gather items for the Oaks Nursing Home and the shoe donations this summer. We also received a thank you note from our April mission – the New Day Camp. They were very grateful for your generosity.

The committee met this past month and are planning for a fantastic Fall. The Back to School Bash is coming soon this August. We’ll have hot-dogs and also be handing our school supplies. Also, we will have hair stylists available and offer free dental and eye screenings. Please consider coming out to help or to just join in the fun.

A Garage Sale is scheduled for September 8 in the Family Life Center to fund our Christmas An-gels ministry. Please help us by donating items to our sale. We will update you closer to Septem-ber on when you can drop off items.

The next Mission Committee meeting is sched-uled for July. Keep an eye out in the church bulle-tin for the exact date and time. All are welcome!

How many Facility Managers does it take to change a light-bulb?

Only one when it’s our own Super Phil, Phil Smith.

PAGE 4 JULY 2018

Youth Force 2018

The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended.The darkness falls at thy behest;To thee our morning hymns ascended,Thy praise shall hallow now our rest.

1 Patty Redhage 3 Chad Yandell 5 Randy Bridgman, Bea Cooper, Taryn Shelton 7 Nina Ritchie 9 Randy Cox, James Ford, Ernie Owens10 Karen Hahn11 Maci McMillin12 Tamra Parks, Kim Slater13 Arch Glover14 Susan Perkin, Jennifer Thompson19 Joanne Neuharth20 Bill King22 Robert Allen, Ashley Green23 Alicia Castillo24 Susan Hammond, Gary Hageman25 Haley Durant26 Luke Best, Missy Alexander27 Nancy Clark, Ann Young28 John Carbrey29 Andi Burton, Zach Harreld, Jaime Pickle30 Kelsey Sconyers

July Anniversaries

July 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-fice that information by calling 918-647-2217.

News of YouthUMYF (CHAOS) meets Sunday evenings from 5

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

By Melanie Wheat

JULY CALENDAR: 1 No Youth - recovering from Youth Force 8 Regular Youth15 No Youth - Vacation22 Regular Youth 27-28 We will be having a youth council retreat

at Jim’s lake house to relax, fellowship, and make out the calendar for the upcoming year. Everyone is invited to be a part of the youth council, but please keep this in mind: You must come to every youth council meet-ing, not just the one at the lake. We normally meet about once every two months. Please let Me know if you are planning on coming so we can make plans on transportation and food. It’s going to be a great weekend!

29 Regular Youth

Membership Cares CommitteeThe Membership Cares 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 someone for their list, please contact the church office or call 918-647-3491.

3 Bill and Linda Lancaster 5 Randy and Tami Matos 7 Wayne and Joanne Neuharth 7 Josh and Melissa Reyes 8 Dustin and Ashley Green 8 Kip and Suzanne Klutts14 Arch and Janell Glover28 Chad and Kendra Yandell

The Upper Room devotional guides for July/August can be picked up from the tables in the narthex. They are provided for you free in ei-ther the regular or large print version.

Worship Leadership

Nursery Worker Needed

If you would like to join our worship leadership team rotation as liturgist, usher, children’s mo-ments leader, welcome table attendant, or usher, etc., contact Pastor Jim.

We are looking to hire a third nursery work-er to help on Sunday mornings and as needed throughout the year. If you are interested, con-tact Pastor Jim.