Weakness, Groans and the Spirit Pentecost is this Sunday. Pentecost is the 50th day after the Resurrection. In Judaism it is the Festival of Weeks or a harvest festival. The timing for the Festival of Weeks and Pentecost is based on the Jewish calendar that relates to the Passover. At Pentecost the Spirit is given and is a significant event which marks the shift of God’s redemptive purposes from strictly the Jewish people to all people regardless of nationality. Paul tells us in Romans 8 that all creation is groaning to be made new just as we are groaning for God’s salvation to be consummated in His Kingdom. We as humans are straining against the bands of our own limitations and brokenness as we traverse this life. We live in a broken world that needs to be set free. The coming of the Spirit is another step in God’s saving acts for His world and its people. The Spirit comes and helps us in our weakness and brokenness. We know what it is like to groan in our prayers for our infirmities and that of those we love. We do not know how to pray, but as the creation is groaning to be made new so we groan to be made new as well. The Spirit is God’s promise to us that He is making all things new and that He wants more for His people and His world. God is on a mission! He hears our groans and knows our weakness. He sends His Spirit to comfort and help us. What are we groaning for? Just for ourselves? For the coming of the Kingdom? For Cleveland to be made new?

Think about it.

May 16, 2018 From the pastor

Our Staff

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

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

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

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

Director of Youth Ministry .............. Josh Lyle

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

Chancel Choir Director ..... Justin McElhaney

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

Rev. Tim Bracken

Calling All Mamas! The UMW is forming a new women’s circle for moms of

younger children and we would like your input. Join us on

Tuesday, May 22 at 6:30 PM at Panera in Cleveland for coffee and conversation. Childcare will

be provided at the church. Text or call Elisabeth Ferguson

at 404-307-7572 or elisabeth.douglas@gmail.com to RSVP or for more information.

Our Graduates

Joshua Bracken December 2017 Graduate of Lee University

Masters in Music; Music & Worship

Maggie Buchanan Baylor School

Austin Byerly University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Bachelor of Science in Communications

Brian Byerly Cleveland High School

Kyle Davidson Lee University

Bachelors of Music in Instrumental Performance; Trombone

Catherine Duncan Birmingham Southern College

Bachelor of Science in Global & Comparative Studies

Will Jenne Cleveland High School

Asher Johnson Home School

James Peters East Tennessee State University

Doctorate in Education

Amanda Ratcliff Cleveland State Community College

Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education

Ashlyn Williams University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Childcare Scholarship

It’s the time of year that students will be going off to college, lots of weddings, as well

as Mother’s Day / Father’s Day! The May Dooley Circle would like to remind you that

Rada products make great gifts! All proceeds from the sale of these products

go to mission projects. You may view them at www.radacutlery.com

Contact Nancy Boyd at 423-472-8974 or email: rnboyd@bellsouth.net to place orders or to get a catalog. The deadline for the next

order is May 18.

Rada order

CRAFT ITEMS Are you gathering items for our UMW

Rummage Sale? We are looking for craft items (paints, yarn, floss, quilting material, etc) that can be donated. Please box and mark as “CRAFTS.” We want them early so they can be measured, sorted, bagged and tagged

before the sale. Contact Kathy Farner at 423-464-5439 for further information/questions.

Thanks for your help!

UMW Unit Meeting

Donations The Seeker Circle will begin accepting donations for the Holston Home for Children now through June 12th.

The collection boxes are in the Narthex. Items needed are:

NEW—towels & washcloths NEW—twin sheet sets NEW—twin comforters

NEW—men’s & women’s socks NEW—duffle bags

NEW—hygiene products (non-aerosol) Board Games

Yarn & Knitting Needles/Crochet Hooks Visa gift cards are also accepted to purchase

clothing for the children. Please give the gift cards to Karen Wood.

The CDC/PDO is pleased to announce the establishment of the Linda Merz

Scholarship Fund to assist with the cost of childcare for families we serve. The Board invites you to contribute with charitable

giving; we will award our first scholarship in August 2018.

Make donations to: FUMC Child Development Center

June 17-21 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Register to volunteer or sign your child up online:

www.rrr.cokesburyvbs.com/1stumcleveland

Donation Items Needed: Camping/river items…rafts, boats, paddles, lifejackets, Christmas trees, and lanterns

Volunteers Needed for Decorating: May 23, 30 * June 11-14 * June 16 (all day—9-2 pm)

VBS Workers Needed: Bible Story Leader * Recreation Leader * Music Leader * 4-5th Grade Leader

Contact Jill Ingram if you can serve!

All ladies of FUMC are invited to the next UMW Unit Meeting on Thursday, June 14 at

10:30 AM. The program speaker will be sharing with us about Camp Horizon---

A Special Camp for Special Kids, which is hosted at Camp Lookout.

This is a covered dish lunch, so bring your favorite. Dessert hostesses, Elan Circle.

NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE TO ADD OR REMOVE NAMES

FROM THE PRAYER LIST.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK “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 Sunday School Worship 05/06/2018 35 162 05/13/2018 46 203

Our Gifts

Our Service - May 20

Sean Hale

Don Wood

Ted Clarke

George Ross

LONG TERM PRAYER

Connie Bancroft

Sarah Bandy

Clifford and Patsy Barger

Judy Barger

Paxton Boyd

Charlotte Caraway

Debbie Trentham Case

Chad Chism

Bill Cooke

Spencer Cranfield

Emma Cummings

Jordann Dempsey

Lorrie Duke

Dylan Duncan

Sharon Everson

Budget Receipts 05/06/2018 14,386.00 Receipts to Date: 178,071.43 Expenditures to Date: 256,630.81 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [78,559.38] Budget to Date: 268,012.80

Budget Receipts 05/13/18 6,141.00 Receipts to Date: 184,212.43 Expenditures to Date: 257,164.55 Receipts/Expenditures + or [-] [72,952.12] Budget to Date: 282,902.40

Prayer Team: Buddy Simpkins Monthly Prayer Focus: Sacred Road Ushers: Mark Lay, Head; John Driver, Ken Melton, Lee Stewart, Kevin Swafford, Todd Berghoff Altar Flowers—sign up outside the church office.

First Kidz Church begins at 10:30 AM every Sunday in the Christian Life Center. (It does not meet the first Sunday of the month.) Sonshine Kidz is for preschoolers ages 3,4, & 5 Nursery is available for children 3 yrs old and younger. Located in the CLC.

Jamie Hargis

Steve Jackson

Russell & Patty Johnson

Janna Jordan

Teresa Lee

Chloe Littrell

Gloria Martin

Charlie McKenzie

Betty McLain

Carmen Orr

Carolyn Owens

Kym Phillips

Tilley Phillips

Tom Phillips

Lois Pywell

Bob Richardson

Don Ritzhaupt

Marcella Rogers

Nalini Samuel

Nan Schlatterer

Nicholas Stark

Kylene Stump

Rachel Suderland

Lila Switzer

Stuart Switzer

Janice Tate

Addison Thompson

Kim Van Dusen

Jim & Sarah Wagner

Rosemary Warren

Joan Wheeler

Jennifer Wilhite

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

Sunday, May 20 7:30 AM Sanctuary open for Prayer 8:30 AM Early Worship Service 9:30 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Worship Service 5:00 PM Administrative Council Meeting 5:00 PM First Youth Monday, May 21 7:00 AM Prayer for Revival 6:30 PM Scouts Tuesday, May 22 9:00 AM Prayer for Revival 5:30 PM Arnold 5th Grade Banquet 8:00 PM Prayer for Revival Wednesday, May 23 9:00 AM Set up for VBS 10:00 AM Last Women’s Bible Study 12:00 PM Prayer for Revival 2:00 PM Prayer for Revival 6:00 PM Chancel Choir 7:30 PM String Band Thursday, May 24 10:00 AM Prayer for Revival 12:00 PM Prayer for Revival 6:30 PM Overflow Prayer & Worship Friday, May 25 7:00 AM Prayer for Revival Saturday, May 26 10:00 AM Bread of Life

CDC - 7:00 AM–6:00 PM PDO - 9:00 AM–2:00 PM

UPCOMING EVENTS

● May 28—OFFICE CLOSED

● May 29-31—VBS Set up

● May 31—Overflow Prayer &

Worship

● June 2—UMM Breakfast

● June 1-9—Sacred Road Mission

Trip

● June 7—Gad-A-Bout Lunch

● June 9—Bread of Life

● June 10-16—Youth Mission Trip

● June 11-16—VBS Set up

● June 11—Seekers Circle

● June 12—May Dooley Circle,

Friendship Circle

● June 14—UMW Unit Meeting

● June 17-21—VBS

● June 21—Gad-A-Bout Outing

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 Holston Home for Children

In memory of Elizabeth Bracken:

Mark and Beverly Johnson

In honor of Evelyn Brunson:

Sandra Clariday

To the Bread of Life Ministry In honor of the May Dooley Circle:

Charlotte Adcock