Contrasts I’m back! What a whirlwind the past 16 days have been in the Bracken family. Travel to the Czech Republic, travel to Texas, the passing of my father-in-law, travel to and fro (my trip home was the longest travel time I have ever had, so if you see me and my eyes are glazed over you know why) and all the logistical details, – well, it has been a rough 16 days. As I was in the Czech Republic and reflecting on the people there and all that was going on in my family. I saw the contrast that exists in a way I have never seen them before. Here is how it goes: I was talking with a team member while we were in a subway stop; I told him the following statistics, or at least guesstimates, 1) 90%+ of the people you see right now have never heard the gospel in any meaningful way or at all, 2) everyone over 70 years of age lived most of their life under communism and only people under 26 never knew communism. Fairly sobering statistics don’t you think? Now, thinking of my father-in-law, who was a shining example of faith, and what he passed on to his friends and family, I was humbled and thankful that I have had his witness in my life that only a very small percentage of our Czech brothers and sisters have had in their lives. It is the contrast of light and dark. We have been given so much light and we are meant to share that light – not hide it under a basket. Let us pray for those in darkness and maybe pray more for ourselves who have so much light and refuse to share. I am thankful for the life of my father-in-law and I hope I will always remember to allow Jesus to shine His light through me as Jesus shone through Walter Rowe. Rev. Tim Bracken

August 24, 2016 From the pastor

Our Staff

Pastor ............................... Rev. Tim Bracken

Administrative Assistant .............. Molly Near

Financial Secretary .................... Mae Wilkins

Director of Children’s Ministry ...... Jill Ingram

Interim Youth Director ........... Kellie Bracken

Director of Senior Adults .......... Karen Wood

Chancel Choir Director ............Dr. Jim Burns

Pianist ...................................... Tausha Plate

Organist .................................... Terry Barger

Maintenance Director ................ Chris Offery

Maintenance ................................. Jeff Smith

Director of CDC ......................... Cathy Smith

Director of PDO ....................... Rachel David

Assist. Director of CDC/PDO ....Karon Steve

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Salad Bar Kids Menu:

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Adults $5.00 Kids $2.00 (12yrs & under)

Please make reservations on Sunday mornings or through the church office by Monday.

Wednesday Night Dinner

Wednesday Nights start August 31

Join us for Dinner—5:30 PM (with a reservation), Chancel Choir—6:15 PM, and First Youth—6:15 PM Adult Bible Study & Children’s Choirs begin Sept. 7

Chris and Kim Todd, Missionaries to the Muslim World in Tyre, Lebanon, will be speaking to us on August 31 at 6:15 PM.

The Todd’s are in the middle of what we see daily on the news concerning ISIS and many other conflicts. Come, and learn about how God is working to spread His Word to this

Muslim nation and Syrian refugees.

Don’t forget to make a dinner reservation!

Sign up to volunteer OR sign up to ride! We need volunteers for: * Registration * Set-up

* Clean-up * Turn Guides * Meal Servers * S.A.G. Support

(course water/snacks)

Sign-up Sunday in the bulletin or call the church office and let us know the area which you

would like to serve. Contact Kellie Bracken or Bob Donaghy for more information.

Regular Scheduling for the School Year

Sunday - 5:00-7:00 PM Wednesday - 6:15-7:30 PM

Small Groups September 12 & 26 from 6:30—7:30 PM

at the church

Fall Retreat Put it on your calendars - October 21-23.

Resurrection 2017 You may sign up now for Resurrection

January 20-22. The cost is $75.

Youth News

Our monthly Potluck Lunch will be on Thursday, September 1st at 12:00 PM in the Commons.

Lois Myers, from McDonald Boomers and Seniors, will be our special guest and will share about the different

trips they take and what is available. Join us!

Bread of Life First Church is very active in preparing and serving lunch at the Salvation Army on the second and last Saturday of every month. Are you interested in being a part of this

outreach opportunity? Contact Albian Johnson for more information.

Gad-A-Bout Lunch

Do you love children? Has God gifted you with a love for music? Then join us in

Children’s Ministry by leading a choir on Wednesday evenings! It’s only 11 nights for

30 minutes from Sept 7 through Dec 7! Our kids need you! Will you help?

Contact Jill Ingram for more information.

1st Kidz choirs

Women’s bible study Kellie Bracken will be leading a Women’s Bible

Study on The Lord’s Prayer on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 AM beginning September 7.

Join us as we study this beautiful prayer!

POST AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE NEWSLETTER Turn in information for the next newsletter by NOON on Tuesday, September 13th.

Information turned in after this time will not be posted until the next newsletter is due. Newsletters are printed every two weeks. Fill out an Announcement Request online OR in the office!

Flu Shots Flu shots will be given on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 5:30 PM in the Library. Insurance/Medicare

may cover cost, if not the cost is $20. Pneumonia shots are available if requested.

Sign up in the Narthex. Call Ann Smeltzer, RN for more information.

UMW News UMW Finance Committee Meeting

Tuesday, August 30th at 10:00 AM in the Murphy Class

All Circle Treasurers are members of this committee and are asked to attend. If the treasurer is unable, a representative of each Circle is required to be there. Questions? Please call Evelyn Brunson at 473-8694.

Thank You! The UMW would like to thank everyone who was

involved in our Rummage Sale. A special thank you to all the workers who were here all week setting up;

those who donated and those who shopped. We were able to clear $8,000 for missions!

Fall Market Planning Meeting Thursday, September 8th at 9:30 AM in the Murphy

class. Please bring your ideas and join us!

Cleveland circuit ride

United Methodist Men The UMM met on August 6th. Larry Janisewski did a

presentation of Lee University’s Encore Program, geared toward senior adults wishing to continue their

education. Come, join us for our next meeting on Saturday, September 10 at 8:00 AM in the Commons.

I would like to express my most sincere thanks and gratitude to all of you for your prayers, cards, texts, and memorials made in memory of my dad. Your prayers and love were, and continue to be, a constant support of our family. I cannot put into words my love for each of you for showing me God’s grace and presence. I am most sorry that my dad was never able to meet the people of First Cleveland ...he would have loved you!

Kellie Bracken

Thank you

NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE TO ADD OR REMOVE NAMES

FROM THE PRAYER LIST.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK

Sunday, August 28 7:30 AM Sanctuary open for Prayer 8:30 AM Early Worship 9:30 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Worship Service 5:00 PM Ministry Team Meeting 5:00 PM First Youth Monday, August 29 7:00 AM Prayer for Revival 6:30 PM Scouts Tuesday, August 30 9:00 AM Prayer for Revival 10:00 AM UMW Finance Meeting 11:00 AM Staff Meeting 8:00 PM Prayer for Revival Wednesday, August 31 12:00 PM Prayer for Revival 2:00 PM Prayer for Revival 5:30 PM Dinner 6:15 PM Chris and Kim Todd 6:15 PM First Youth 6:15 PM Chancel Choir 7:30 PM String Band Thursday, September 1 10:00 AM Prayer for Revival 12:00 PM Prayer for Revival 12:00 PM Gad-A-Bout Potluck Lunch Friday, September 2 7:00 AM Prayer for Revival Monday—Friday 7:00 AM CDC Tues/Wed/Thurs 9:00 AM PDO

“I will be loyal to the United Methodist Church and do all in

my power to strengthen its ministry by my prayers,

my presence, my gifts, my service, and my witness.”

Our Prayers

Our Presence

Our Gifts

Our Service—August 28

Kellie Bracken and Family

Chad Chism

Bob Carmon

Craig Brown

Lisa Tate and Family LONG TERM PRAYER

Don Alley

Debbie Ambert

Judy Barger

J. T. Brooks

Ryan Burns

Randall Butler

Debbie Trentham Case

LeeAnn Childress

Bill Cooke

Rusty Cooke

Kaye Coultry

Emma Cummings

Bill Creech

Alan David

Bob David

Jordann Dempsey

Sunday School Worship 8/14/16 67 210 8/21/16 62 221

Budget Receipts 8/14/16 4,867.00 Receipts to Date: 375,924.21 Expenditures to Date: 388,604.42 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [12,680.21] Budget to Date: 466,817.34

Budget Receipts 8/21/16 3574.00 Receipts to Date: 379,498.21 Expenditures to Date: 404,268.05 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [24,768.84] Budget to Date: 480,962.32

Prayer Team: Tricia Pennington Monthly Prayer Focus: Mary Diana Samuel Home Ushers: Kirk Gobble, Head; Frank Calfee, Don Wood, Joe Hogan, Ron Merz. First Kidz Church: Jill Ingram Sonshine Kidz: English Smith Altar Flowers—sign up outside the church office.

Open hearts, open minds, open doors...the people of the United Methodist

Lorrie Duke

Dylan Duncan

Lois Ellis

Sharon Everson

Kim Faulkner

Karen Fisher

Toye Gibson

Britton Gobble

Jamie Hargis

Renee Henderson

Mike Hodnett

Joe Hogan

Clint Hutto

Russell Johnson

Elaine Larson

Teresa Lee

Chloe Littrell

Colton Malone

Charlie McDonald

Betty McLain

Ron Merz

Larry and Barb Miller

Carmen Orr

Carolyn Owens

Tilley Phillips

Darci Pittman

Lois Pywell

Wayne Reynolds

Marcella Rogers

Nalini Samuel

Nicholas Stark

Kylene Stump

Van Swearingen

Stuart Switzer

Janice Tate

Addison Thompson

Emily Varnell

Rosemary Warren

Joan Wheeler

Jennifer Wilhite

UPCOMING EVENTS

● September 5—OFFICE CLOSED

● September 7—Women’s Bible

Study, Adult Bible Study, Wild 1’s

Children’s Activities Resume,

Flu Shots

● September 8—UMW Fall Market

Meeting, UMW Executive Meeting

● September 10—Bread of Life

● September 13—May Dooley Circle

● September 15—Gad-A-Bouts Trip

● September 18—Ministry Team Mtg,

3rd Grade Bible Presentation

● September 19—Seekers Circle

● September 20—Rose Circle

● September 22—Friendship Circle

● September 24—Bread of Life

● September 25—Mary Diana

Samuel Home Lunch

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Cleveland, TN

Permit No. 321

Return Service Requested

3425 Ocoee Street North Cleveland, TN 37312

423-476-4504 www.clevelandumc.com

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Child Development Center Phone: 423-478-1426

Gifts to the Church

To the English Speaking UM Church in Czech Republic In memory of Walter Rowe:

Mark and Bev Johnson Tricia Pennington Sue Ledford Patty Hurley Bucky and Tracy Marshall Ernest and Nancy Campbell

To the Scouting Ministry In honor of Newton Guthrie:

David and Ellen Smith

Congratulations, Andrew Lay! The FUMC United Methodist Women are proud to announce that Andrew Lay

has been awarded their first Divinity

Scholarship! We are proud of

you, Andrew, and look forward to following your

pastoral ministry!

Annual Camp Lookout Golf Tournament

Saturday, September 17 The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay

8:00 AM Tee Time

4-person teams for $400 or $100 individually

Brochures are available in the Narthex and the church office.

Please consider sponsoring a hole or entering a team!