COLLEGE STUDENTS are invited to a free lunch immediately following the 2^nd worship service in the Family Life Center, multi-purpose room. 

Stan Says...

I would venture to guess that the majority of those who will be in worship this Sunday at First Church have never heard a sermon from the text that I will be using this coming Sunday.  The sermon for Sunday, October 8th is titled: One of the Hot Questions of Jesus’ Day, and the text is from Mark 10:2 – 16.  One of the “hottest questions of Jesus day” was ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ The very title may cause some of you to stay away. I hope not. 

Divorce has touched all of our lives in one way or another.  We have experienced it either personally or through a family member, a close friend or co-worker.  We all have been affected to the point that we may want to steer away from this passage because it is too personal or too painful.  The sermon this coming Sunday will revolve around this tough saying of Jesus on marriage and divorce.  I hope to put this saying in a proper theological context for you because I’m sure that, while you might not have heard a sermon on it in a long time, it is a passage that has caused you trouble. 

The context of this passage is very important.  In ancient societies, where women rarely owned property, marriage meant a guarantee of support for the most vulnerable members of society – women and children.  Without the protection of the laws against divorce, women were totally at the mercy of their husbands and fathers.  In criticizing those who advocated easy divorce (and there were many in Israel who did so in his day), Jesus puts himself on the side of the weak and the vulnerable. 

Jesus justifies his tough position against divorce and remarriage by an appeal to the creation in Genesis 1.  God intends that married people stay together.  God is on the side of unity, community, and togetherness.  This gives order and stability to the world that, without people who show enduring commitment to one another “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, until death do us part,” would be a heartless, unstable, and chaotic place.  Alas, with the rate of marital separation in our society, with poorly enforced child support laws, our world has become unglued for many, and it’s the children who suffer.  “From the beginning it was not so,” says Jesus. 

I think we’ve got to fight the tendency to explain away Jesus’ words on divorce or any other subject for that matter, but remember this.  The one who says that divorce and remarriage after divorce is a sin is the same one who repeatedly says (so many, many more times than he condemned divorce!) that he has come to seek and to save and to forgive. 

If you have been hurt through divorce, then Sunday’s sermon is the good news that Jesus came into the world to save us, to forgive us, to offer us the gracious means whereby we can pick up and start over. 

This is what I believe…In the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.   Amen 

Shalom,

Stan

 FIRST FAMILY NEWS

KNOWN HOSPITALIZED:
Stillwater Medical Center:
Winifred Kahn
Betty Floyd
Bill Moore
Mary Wayne Monnett
Alfred Howell 

St. Francis – Tulsa:
Jack Griffith

SYMPATHY:
Sympathy is extended to Phil Kenkle and his family on the loss of his father, who passed away on 9/28/06.

MUSIC MINISTRY

Thanks to the Children’s Choir for singing last Sunday in worship!  Revelation sings and the Jubilee Ringers play this Sunday, October 8.  The busy fall season is underway and we will continue to be blessed by offerings from church members through their work in music ensembles!  Offering musical gifts to God takes the time and energy of all the members participating.  We encourage everyone to consider becoming a member of an ensemble and contributing to the enhancement of our worship experience. 

The FUMC Music Ministry will be offering a dinner and concert on Saturday, December 16.  Plan now to come and hear a variety of wonderful Christmas music and share in a fine meal!

 DRAMA NEWS 

Thanks to Chris Rink for directing the play on bullying during Sunday School on August 24th.  The play included many people from the church and was a delight to watch.  The actors did an outstanding job of bringing so many storybook bullies to life and delivered a great message about not being a bully!  Look for more acting opportunities coming your way as the season progresses!

 Umw news

 Fellowship meetings for the month of October:

 Mary Martha will meet in the home of Phyllis Mayberry, Wednesday, October 11th at 9:30a.m. 

Naomi will meet in the home of Billie Jean Ward, Wednesday, October 11th at 9:30a.m. 

Rebecca will meet in the home of Eva Belle Hines, Wednesday, October 11th at 9:30a.m. 

Ruth will meet in the Church Parlor, Wednesday, October 11th at 2:00p.m. 

Susanna Wesley will meet in the home of Julia Dowlen, Wednesday, October 18^th at 7:00p.m.

finance news

 Are you a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) person?

If so, you need to know that:

1. If you’re 70 ½ years old, have substantial assets in a regular or Roth IRA, and are having to take Required Minimum Distributions that have adverse tax consequences such as being taxed at high rates, causing your Social Security benefits to be taxed, or prevent you from itemizing deductions; then

2. the Pension Protection Act of 2006, just signed into law, allows you for two years, 2006 and 2007, to make charitable contributions up to $100,000 from your IRAs (regular and Roth); and 

3. it could be to your benefit to utilize these IRA assets to make your current contributions to FUMC, perhaps even to make advance payments for several years of intended future pledge commitment, or to make that ‘once in a lifetime’ endowment gift to your FUMC Foundation; so that 

4. the problem mentioned in #1 at the beginning of this article will either be eliminated or reduced. 

5. BEAR IN MIND that you don’t include the distribution used to make the charitable contribution in income, and neither do you get a charitable contribution deduction. 

See Richard Buchanan for more information if you’re an ‘RMD’ person who’d rather share your accumulated wealth with God than with the tax man.

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER NEWS

Early Childhood Center Open House

“Constructing Minds, Building Bodies”

Thursday, October 5

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

MEANDERING METHODISTS

The MEANDERING METHODISTS are going to 3 Broadway plays in the distant future.  The first one, in Tulsa, is titled "On Golden Pond", on Thursday January 11th, at 7:30p.m.  Orchestra seats are $41.  The second play, in Oklahoma City is "Wicked", on June 7th at 1:30p.m.  Orchestra seats are $66.  The last play, also in Tulsa, is "Spamalot", on July 12th at 7:30p.m.  Orchestra seats are $71.The deadline for committing with your money for "On Golden Pond" is December 1st, for "Wicked", February 1st and for "Spamalot" January 1st .  We will be taking the church vans to each of the shows, seats are available on a first come first serve basis for an additional of $5 per person.  For more information or to sign up contact Nelda Kirby at 377-9530.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thursday night community meal anniversary:
We all know the story of the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 'men' that had come to hear him speak and to be healed. It is in all four gospels: Matt. 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13.. The term 'men' as used in the text is understood to actually mean men, not people, so there were probably many more total people fed that afternoon from the 5 loaves and 2 fish. On October 6^th, 2005 our church, under the leadership of Glenda Phillips, the wonderful cooking of Elena Ferriera and with the support of several other volunteers, a new ministry was initiated to feed hungry people in our community.   Although it began slowly with a handful of diners, it has grown to about 200 servings each Thursday night. The growth in attendance has been steady. The growth in the number of volunteers required each week has kept pace with the need, with about 15 people now helping with the many essential tasks each week. We have seen Jesus in the faces of those that come and have ministered to Him, as in Matthew 25:35. We struggle sometimes with having the correct amount of food, but rarely does anyone leave hungry. We haven't had anyone bring 5 loaves and 2 fish; although, Bill Woodruff did cook fish for everyone several months ago!  Do miracles happen in 2006? Yes they do. We, the diners and the workers,  have been changed by this outpouring of unconditional love, from the simple acts of providing food, friendship and a listening ear. And what is the connection to the 5,000? Although we keep rather sketchy records, we believe that by October 5^th, 2006, about 5,000 meals will have been served at the Thursday Night Community Meal! Thanks be to God.

pass the salt:
Join us for PASS THE SALT, Sunday, October 8th 5p.m., in the FLC Multi-purpose room.  Bring dinner for your family, then enjoy a Bible story, play games and make a craft!

flc Movie night:
The next FLC Movie Night will be Friday, October 13th.  Come and watch “Casablanca”!  An animated feature for kids will also be shown in the Youth Common area of the FLC.  Showtime will be at 7p.m. in the upstairs classrooms of the FLC.  We will provide the popcorn and drinks.  Feel free to bring along blankets, pillows, etc. and cozy up to watch a movie.

Bible sunday:
On Sunday, October 15^th, the third Graders will be honored at the 8:30a.m. worship service when they will receive Bibles in a special presentation.  Please contact Karel Payne at 372-5854, if your third grader has not received information about this special day.

all saints sunday:
We will again display pictures of those saints who have gone before during our All Saints Sunday worship times on October 29^th.  Please bring framed pictures no larger than 8”x10” of loved ones in your lives to place on this display.  We will remember those from our congregation who passed away in the last year with the reading of names and lighting of candles as always, but pictures can be of anyone important in your life.  Your name, address and phone number should be on the back for returning it to you.  Bring pictures to the church office between now and Thursday, October 26^th.  Contact Ed Davis if you have any questions.

New bible studies:
A new Bible Study is being offered.  Stan Warfield will be facilitating a 13-week study titled, Bible 101: Genesis.  This class will offer a very basic study of the book of Genesis.  Both an evening and morning section are being offered to meet the varying needs of busy schedules. Each section is a separate class.  

Section 1:  Tuesdays September 26th - December 19th, 7-8:30p.m. in the FLC Room 107. 

Section 2:  Thursdays September 28th - December 21st, 10-11:30a.m. in the FLC Room 107 

Childcare will be provided upon request.  To sign-up please email Stan Warfield at aggiepriest@fumcstw.org or call the church office, 372-5854. For questions or more information contact Stan at 372-5854.

F.r.o.g. t-shirt sales:
Do you have your F.R.O.G T-shirt?  These fun T-shirts that go along with our F.R.O.G theme, will be used during children's and youth events throughtout the year.  The cost of the T-shirts are s-xl = $10 and xxl-xxxl = $12.  You may order your shirt by visiting the Hospitality Desk, located outside the church office, or by contacting Brandon Dollarhite at 372-5854 or bdollarhite@fumcstw.org.

Quilters:
Wanted: Dedicated sewers who would like to put a little joy into another person’s life.  The Friday Quilters would like you to join the in making quilts and lap quilts for others.  Most materials, machines and supplies are provided.  We can guarantee your finished quilts will be loved and well received.  We meet Fridays starting about 1p.m. in Room 111, and close when your get tired or finish your project.  No one stays later than 4p.m.  Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome as we like to show0off our finished quilts.  For more information, call Wilma Ramming.  Donations of material are also accepted.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Al-Anon - meets every Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 12 noon, Room 108.
Head Injury Support Group – 2^nd Monday of each month, 7 p.m., Room 111.
PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays) - 2^nd Thursday of each month, 7:30 p.m., in the Parlor.