Stephen’s Strands

Summer is here and temperatures are heating up. As the temperature rises, we

instinctively thirst for water because our bodies need it to rehydrate. When our lives

heat up from stressful challenges, it is important for us to remember to spiritually

rehydrate with the living water of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 63:1-8 is a great example of what it means to “thirst” for God from the depths

of our soul. We must rehydrate our souls through the living water of the Holy Spirit. Let

this Psalm speak to you and guide your thirst for the Lord this summer!

God’s best to you! Stephen

Psalm 63:1–8 (NRSV) 1 O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. 5 My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips 6 when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Prayer List

Please Note: Names added to the prayer list will remain on the list for 30 days if needed. They will be relisted by request.

If you would like to have a prayer request emailed out or would like to add someone to the prayer list,

please email the Church office at office@fumcmv.org

In Memory of James Stutts Richard & LeNora Haynie Mr. & Mrs. Charles WinfieldIn Memory of Phyllis Page John Hicks Mr. & Mrs. Charles Winfield Beth BolgerIn Memory of Oscar Reeder John Hicks Willie & Mary Bane Richard & LeNora Haynie Mr. & Mrs. Charles Winfield Beth BolgerIn Memory of Rena Asimakis Scott & Kelly Newsome Beth BolgerIn Memory of Ila Fay Patrick Larry & Ann AdamsIn Memory of Chris Long Larry & Ann Adams

In Honor of Craig & Pam Greenberg Scott & Kelly NewsomeIn Honor of Our Graduates Scott & Kelly NewsomeIn Honor of Grace Notes & Sanctifying Grace Scott & Kelly Newsome

Members of First United Methodist Church express our thanks to each of you who have recently given a special financial gift in memory or in honor of loved ones.

Honors & MeMorials

Need A Friend?Someone to Listen?

Stephen Ministry is a lay ministry of pastoral care. Stephen Ministers provide compassionate and active listening under the guidance of the Holy Spirit - helping persons to know that they are loved by God....that God has not abandoned them....

and that God will enable their restoration.When life seems overwhelming, perhaps a Stephen Minister can assist you. Want to know more?

Call Pat Hudson at 903-588-3116 or Mary Bane at 903-860-2193.

Joe AndersonDejah ArnoldTroy ArterburyWillie BaneDavid BrewerBrandon CantrellPatty CheatwoodTerri ColemanCarolyn DaltonElaina DavisBarbara DanleyNorma Jean DraperLila DreesKenny DuckJames DuckSharron Meek ElliottChuck EtheridgeVictoria FletcherJim FritzTravis GannJan Banman GraciaTommy HeardHailey HudsonSheryl HughesMargie JaggersNadine JenningsJolynn Johnson

Blake JonesRobert JonesBob KerrCharles LowryLou Gene MaxtonDennis McBrideLanny MooreDonna NaberDawn ParsonsLena Mae Reeder Dan Rembold Don RoseAngela RussellCarol Ann ScottPeggy Stutts Johnny TomJune WeaverJulie WestromLiam WilmethCharles Winfield Wynne Family Marilyn Young

Sympathy to: ...Peggy Stutts, on the loss of her husband, James Stutts. ...Earl Page, on the loss of his wife, Phyllis Page.

Rainbow ConneCtionSummer is in full swing here at Rainbow! Already our summer camp kids have been to swim lessons, the petting zoo on the square, and vaca-tion bible school. New this summer was a visit to Mr. Stephen’s 402 Per-maculture Gardens. There they learned how worms make dirt and were even able to plant their own morning glory to take home. Thank you so much Mr. Stephen for providing us with such a wonderful learning experi-ence! Every Tuesday is the summer reading program at the library and on Wednesdays we will be going to the movies in Mt. Pleasant. Not to be left out on the summer fun, our younger kids will be able to enjoy water day here at Rainbow every Thursday. We have had a GREAT first half of sum-mer and are looking forward to more of the same for the second half.

Come by the office and we’ll get you set up

for automatic transfers.

2017 Lunches of Love July 10 - August 10

Lunches of Love is a summer lunch and activity program for children and youth in Mt. Vernon who receive free and reduced lunches during the school year. They will come to the family life center five days a week for five weeks. You can make a differ-ence in their lives.

how can You help? volunTeer TO:

Bus drivers needed (no CDL required) to drive one or two days per week for 5 weeks.

Contact Susan Sample at (903-860-7079).

MaKe a financiaL DOnaTiOn

Money is needed for food and supplies. Just write LOL on the bottom of your check to

FUMC.

Join a Mowing TeamFuMc has 4 teams that rotate mowing

during the growing season. We’ve lost several members to moves, illness, etc. It appears we are down to just two teams at present with perhaps one or two others from the previous teams. So we desperately need volunteers to start

now as the mowing season is upon us.each team is in need of help.

call cody Bradford @ 903-452-1135

FUMC Office and Rainbow Connection

will be closed Monday and Tuesday,

July 3rd & 4th. Both will re-open Wednesday.

Donate Now!

Finance Counters

July 2 linda Barnhart Brian ruyle 9 Mike fisk neil Scott16 Linda Moore Monty newsom 23 Gary Givney randall Byrd30 elease hubbell ellen Jaggers

Finance UpdateJune Opening Balance $78,703.13Income thru June 30 $29,916.00Expenses thru June 30 $42,241.62June Closing Balance $66,377.51

SUNdAy SermoNS oNLiNeYou can view sermons at FUMC online:

www.fumcmv.org Go to Worship/Sermons

SUNdAy SerViCeS oN Cd & dVd

You can pick up a previous week’s service on CD or DVD in the narthex.

Coleman Johnston July 1Judd Scott July 1Robert Robinson July 1Brooke Baze July 1Sandy Gardner July 2Sue Whiteley July 2Johnny Kirby July 3B. F. Hicks July 3Julie Grant July 3Justin Pamplin July 5Pat Wright July 6Keely Sheets July 7Charles Winfield july 8Charles Stanley July 8Kaitlynn Venteicher July 8Hal Gibson July 9Victoria Fletcher July 9Kathy Byrd July 9Johnny Newsom July 10Terry Pace July 12Daniel Hicks July 13Destiny Barron July 13Barbara Hunt July 15Ken McDonald July 15Billy Jordan July 16Emmi Patrick July 16Katherine Jordan July 16Lawson Powell July 17Maitland Rutledge July 19Judy Kirby July 20Linda Moore July 20Mary Beadles July 21Lillian Johnston July 21M. Lorraine Deaner July 22Connie McGill July 23Carolyn Hammonds July 25Larry Casey July 26Joy Stone July 26Garrett Greenberg July 27Bill Crowson July 27Alyssa Auringer July 28Randy Olson July 29Betty Lightfoot July 30Emmersyn Reed July 30Veronica Jordan July 31

Dates for Youth:*Sr. High Mission Trip - Eureka Springs, AR July 16-22*Jr. High Bridgeport - July 17-21

*Deposit for Sr. High Mission trip due aSaP

I wanted to take this opportunity to share that anything you do, whether BIG or SMALL in honor of our Lord, and you glorify Him…It’s a GOOD THING!!! We are eternally grateful for the hard work that was done by the UMARMY adults and students. There were 140 people working as teams in Mt. Vernon & surrounding cities, and if you would like a tour of the homes, I will be glad to take you! All week long the students invited their clients (these are the people that had the work done) to din-ner on Friday night. The gym was packed and Van Alstyne people brought smoked briskets along with sides…I loved seeing the activity of the people as

church families gathered together all as one in the name of Jesus Christ! Afterwards, we gathered in the sanctuary and the friends shared these won-derful stories of gratefulness coming from their hearts of the work being done by the students. The Holy Spirit welcomes us always…and to witness the work of the Holy Spirit through the words shared is amazing!! Also, THANK YOU to everyone that brought desserts—they all gobbled them up as quickly as they were brought. I stand in Awe…thank you FUMCMV for sharing God’s church!Grace and Peace

Cindy & FUMCYOUTH

uM army and FuMc Youth Worship at Walleye Park

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8FUMC Office and Rainbow Daycare Closed

FUMC Office and Rainbow Daycare Closed

9:30am Prayer Time

9 10 11 12 13 14 155:15pm Rainbow Board Meeting 6:00pm Trustees Meeting

8:30am Women's Bible Study 2:00pm Prayer Shawl

9:30am Prayer Time

6:00pm Scouts Dist Cmte

16 17 18 19 20 21 226:00pm Finance Meeting

9:30am Prayer Time

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 9:30am Prayer Time

30 31 8:30am Worship Service

9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 6:30pm Grace Notes

8:30am Women's Bible Study 2:00pm Prayer Shawl

8:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 6:30pm Grace Notes

8:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 6:30pm Grace Notes

8:30am Women's Bible Study 4:00pm Stephen Ministry

8:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 6:30pm Grace Notes

8:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 6:30pm Grace Notes

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Children's Camp at Bridgeport July 3rd - July 7th

Lunches of Love July 10th - August 10th

Senior High Mission Trip to Eureka Springs July 16th - July 22ndLunches of Love July 10th - August 10th

Lunches of Love July 10th - August 10th

Lunches of Love July 10th - August 10th

Junior High 2 to Bridgeport July 17 - 21st

Vacation Bible Camp July 24th - 27th