A publication of :

First United Methodist Church

With Campuses at Caddo and Durant

5400 W. Main

Durant, Oklahoma 74701

(580-924-4670) (580-367-2415) Caddo

firstumc@durantumc.org

Rev. John Breon—Senior Pastor Tim Ford—Associate Pastor & Youth Kim Vincent — Director of Children’s Ministries Nancy Breon—Director of Traditional Music Ivan Matthews-Director of Contemporary Music Dakota Marcy—Worship Technology Director Dalton Marcy– Sound Technician Lindy Hanson– Administrative Assistant

Please e-mail Tower news to: firstumc@durantumc.org

We talk about vision for the church. Years ago, we did “Vision 2000” to help us look ahead. 2020

is now just a couple of years away. How about a “Vision 2030”? What does God want First UMC to

look like and be doing twelve years from now? What do we need to do now to take us in the

direction God wants us to go? How do we prepare to see God’s vision and pursue it?

I was looking over notes from a class I took on spiritual transformation and leadership. One thing

I learned is that the church needs to be intentional about asking God to show us what God wants the church

to be and do. I developed a prayer guide, using the Lord’s Prayer. I invite you to pray for the church and ask

for God’s vision, guidance, wisdom, and help. Later, we’ll plan to have a gathering to pray for the church.

Our Father, who art, in heaven, hallowed be thy name. We’re united as family recognizing God’s greatness and

goodness. Are we devoted to honoring God’s name? How can we best honor God’s name?

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We’re committed to being kingdom people,

doing God’s will. What is our role in God’s kingdom and how is God calling us to extend the influence of the

kingdom in and around Durant and Caddo? What is God’s will for First UMC? What will it take for us to do

God’s will?

Give us this day our daily bread. God provides what we need to be kingdom people. What resources do we

need so we can do what we believe God wants us to do? Do we trust that God will provide?

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Where do we need forgiveness?

Whom do we need to forgive?

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. We want to stay on track in the way God leads. It’s

tempting to think only of ourselves and not think about the people in the community that God wants to reach

through us. It tempting to keep to ourselves and not give ourselves away in service and witness. Pray for

protection from anything that would try to thwart God’s will in our lives and in the church.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Recognize that God rules, God has the

power to get done through us what God wants to do, if we cooperate, and God gets the glory and praise.

“Amen” means “so be it,” “yes,” “right on!” Can we express our agreement with God’s will and our commitment

to do it?

As you pray this way and ideas for the church come to you, share them with me or others on staff.

Pastor John

Youth Summer Schedule:

Slumber Party: Mon, June 4 - Tues,

June 5, Cost $10

VBS Leaders: Mon, June 11th - Fri,

June 15th, 8am -2pm

Destination Unknown (Bennington):

Mon, June 18th

Destination Unknown (Caddo): Tues,

June 19th

Destination Unknown (Calera): Wed,

June 20th

Destination Unknown (Durant/Silo/

Mead): Thurs, June 21st

Cross Point Camp: Mon, June 25th,

1pm - Fri, June 29th, 1pm

Summer Camps

Camp time will be here before you know it!! If

you would like to help a child or teen go to

camp this year, make a check out to FUMC

and mark Summer camp Youth or children in

the memo.

Church camps are Spiritually impactful and

memorable, sometimes changing the course

of one’s life. Would you consider helping a

young one in this way?

Sunday Happenings 9am Worship

10am Sunday School

11am Worship

11:30am Worship Caddo

5-7pm No UMY for the

Summer

Cross Point Camp Kingston, OK

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL is just around the corner! This year we

will ‘Take the Ride of a Lifetime with

God’ at VBS. Mark your calendar for

June 11th -15th

for this adventure.

Come and be a part of this wonderful

community outreach!

If you have Christmas Trees for

decorations, contact Kim 580-380-5458

Or the church office 580-924-4670

ALL-CHURCH PICNIC! Our church family joined together for an all-church picnic/cookout on Sunday April 29th at noon in our beautiful new pavilion. The Pavilion behind the church is provided by the generosity of Leroy Watson who dedicated it to the memory of his wife, Wanda.

Leroy was assisted in the project by Tim Smith. The 10 picnic tables were initiated with lots of good food and fellowship. They were provided by gifts given in memory or honor of several of our long time members.

Thanks to the Fellowship Committee for getting this together. A Bounce House, Volleyball, Basketball, Corn Hole and other games were enjoyed by all in attendance.

To see lots of pictures of the picnic, go to our website at durantumc.org and click on the Photos link, Church Picnic 2018.

Cross Point Camp

Announcing the

Ageless Women's Retreat

June 2, 2018

9:30am to 4:00pm

Discover God’s perfect treasure-filled plan

for your life!

“Ageless” is a retreat designed for senior-

aged women, but registries will not be

turned away.

for more details.

Scholarships Available

We have two different scholarships

available in the Church Office.

The Dollarhide scholarship is given to

a student who is a member of the First

United Methodist Church Durant/

Caddo. They must be enrolled in

college and have a financial need.

The Patel scholarship is awarded to a

graduating high school senior with a

financial need and a GPA of at

least 3.0.

Contact Church Office 580-924-4670

We will have new

office hours for the

Summer!

The office will be open

9am-3pm Mon.-Thurs.

Putting the Church in your Will helps the work

of the Lord to continue on. Will you consider it?

Vacation Bible School is here!! June 11-15 from 9:00-12:00 for

ages Pre-k to 6th grade. Bring your kids, your grandkids, your

neighbor’s kids and let them Experience the Ride of a Lifetime

with God. We will spend the week learning about Jesus, and how

he is with us when we pass through the waters! Caddo will be

joining us at the Durant campus, transportation to and from will

be provided. If you would like to help navigate or decorate

please let Kim know.

Please be in prayer for this great outreach event. Pray for the teachers, the

church and especially the kids that they will learn of God’s love thru us!

Summer Camps are coming! The church will pay ½ the cost of camp for any camper wanting to join in on this awesome experience. Also I am excited to

let you now I will help as a Co-dean this year at Growin’ in Grace. If you would like to help send a kiddo to camp, we are in need of donations to help provide scholarships for those who are not financially able. Please see Kim or simply make a note on your check donation. We thank you in advance for

these gifts, they have helped both Tim and me send kids to camp who, otherwise would have not been able to go. Please see the information below

to find the camp that is right for your kiddos: Sonshine: entering grades: 1-2 June 23-24 cost $ 84

Growin’ in Grace: entering grades: 3-5 July 13-15 cost $192 6th Grade came: entering grade 6 July 13-15 cost $192

Come join us July 4th in front of the church for our 3nd annual

Lights on the Lawn. From our front lawn you can see fireworks

from all over the city, as well as a great view of the show put on by

Choctaw Casino, without the traffic. There will be drinks and

snacks provided by the children’s department. Bring your lawn

chair or blanket and some bug spray and come join in on the fun.

The festivities will start at 8:30.

Sundays: Sunday School @ 10am / Wednesdays: GPS @ 6pm

Kimberly Vincent-- 580-380-5458-- childrendirector@dumc.org

FUMC First Kids News

Another month has rolled around and it’s that time to share some more

insight.

Jesus Wants Us to Know him Intimately.

Jesus defined what it means to be a follower in Luke 9:23 (NIV) like this, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” In the original Greek, “Come after me” means to “passionately pursue.” It’s the idea of a romantic relationship where one person passionately pursues the other person in order to know and be known by them.

I had met this girl when I was in college, and I married her (Shelly).

But before we were married, we had known each other for some time but we really didn’t know each other until we began going on dates. During this dating period I was in pursuit of her and wanted her to know just how much I cared for her, I wanted to know her.

This one time, she showed up one night at my work to go out on a date. She was unaware of what was about to happen. When she showed up, I was already gone. I know she was a little confused but I left her a note on my desk with a rose. The note directed her to walk around the corner to this specific address and when she got there, she had to tell the person her name. So, she followed the instruction, walked in to this flower shop, said her name and the worker gave her another rose with another note. Still unaware, she opened the note and was directed around the corner to another downtown shop. Following each note, she headed around the corner yet to find another note and rose. I placed notes and roses in different shops and sent her on this journey all over downtown. Finally when it came to her final destination, she found me sitting at one of the tables at this really nice restaurant. It was this romantic pursuit of wanting to get to know her. I was pursuing her with great passion. That night I remember, eating and getting to know her in a deeper more intimate level. It wasn’t just hanging out it as friends, it was the pursuit of something more. I was in pursuit of a deeper relationship. So let me ask you, what are you pursuing with great passion? Does pursuing Jesus look different than everything else you pursue? Are you pursuing Jesus, spending time with him in order to go deeper in your relationship? Because that’s what it means to become a follower, to come after Jesus. To pursue him passionately. To fall in Love with him and this desire to want to know him at a much deeper level. In Matthew 15:8 (NIV), Jesus described a group of religious leaders, or Pharisees, who knew a lot about God but didn’t really KNOW Him. This is what he said, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” You see, Jesus is looking for completely committed followers. He wants us to know him personally. He wants us to passionately pursue him, to come after him starting with our hearts. So, here’s my question: Do you really know Jesus or do you only know about Jesus? Because Jesus wants us you know him at a deep intimate level.

Summer Schedule: Slumber Party: Mon, June 4 - Tues, June 5, Cost $10

VBS Leaders: Mon, June 11th - Fri, June 15th, 8am -2pm

Destination Unknown (Bennington): Mon, June 18th

Destination Unknown (Caddo): Tues, June 19th

Destination Unknown (Calera): Wed, June 20th

Destination Unknown (Durant/Silo/Mead): Thurs, June 21st

Cross Point Camp: Mon, June 25th, 1pm - Fri, June 29th, 1pm

June Birthdays: 2nd-Dorothy Ratcliff

4th– Jessica Boothe

6th– Jenny Sanchez, Jerry

Holmes, Jensen Pierce

7th—John Carey

8th—Leigh Anna Mazzone

10th— Donna Pound

14th—Jacob Nelson, Hudson Hamilton

17th—JoAnn Howard

18th—Kevin Gordon

19th—Richard Mazzone Jr., Dewey Shaffer

21st—Marylin Collier, Michael Sumner

23rd—Mason Phillips, Weston Jackson

24th—Paul Balkenbush

25th—Mary Jo Heron

30th—Gina Smith, Miles Hamblin

June Sermons

3 “Delivered from Sin and Death” (Ex. 12:1-13)

10 “Cleanse Our Hearts” (Matthew 15:1-20)

17 “Anointed by the Spirit” (Luke 4:14-21)

24 “Examine the Scriptures” (Acts 17:10-15)

9am Service—Pastor John Breon

Sermons can be heard at durantumc.org We welcome you to any of our three services Durant 9am and 11am and Caddo 11:30am

Let’s keep our Soldiers in our prayers!

Travis Dill– Deployed

David Dill– Deployed

Arthur Thomas

Tim Hanson– Deployed

Micah Hanson-Ft. Sam

Mason East– Ft. Polk

Jebraun Abello– Ft. Bragg

Camaron Smith-Deployed

Trey Hill– Deployed

If you know someone who needs to be on this list contact the Church office. 580-924-4670

Welcome new baby boy!! Hayden Christopher Briscoe, Linda Spencer’s great grandson

Born May 14, 2018

Now Hiring!! We are in need of a Nursery

worker on Sunday mornings and

Wednesday nights. If you are

interested or know someone who

is please contact the

Children’s Director, Kim Vincent

580-380-5458 or call the Church

office 580-924-4670.

Must be 18 yrs. of age able to

pass a background check.

Finance Committee Meeting~ Tues., June

5th 6pm

Ad Council Meeting~ Sun., June 10th 6pm

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First United Methodist Church

PO Box 518

Durant, Oklahoma 74702

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

Durant, Oklahoma Permit No. 151

Volume 22 June 2018 No. 6

Remember In Prayer Military Personnel

Tim Hanson-deployed Micah Hanson –Ft Sam Houston

Travis Dill-deployed

David Dill –deployed

Mason East– Ft. Polk

Jebraun Abello– Ft. Bragg

Camaron Smith-deployed

Special Needs Pat Mauldin’s son– Alan Mary Capshaw’s daughter, Elizabeth Steve Kirven Anna Grace Herrig– granddaughter of Steve & JoAnn West Sue Morris Mahala Wright

Janet Moyer

Beth Boothe

Ron Shepard

Sue Dill’s family & nephew– Carl Wright

Special Needs

Shelly’s Uncle Jack

And Dad, Jim Cox

Margie Simpson

Judy Starbuck

Mildred Coleman

Jim Saunders

Linda Hatch

Malcolm Krumme

Allison Hanson

Agnes Easterling

Mahala Wright

Nursing Care Helen Eggleton Jim Jones Myra Lester

Assisted Living Lyn Fene Odessa McKinney Janet Tompkins Robert Rhoden

Home Bound Christine Tillett Jack & Johnnye McBee Ann Endebrock

TOWER DELIVERY

If you would like to get your Tower online please do the following: Send an e-mail request to the church office: firstumc@durantumc.org

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