Would you believe?  Our youth group has served meals at the North Texas Annual Conference for the following groups:

• UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) & VIM (Volunteers in Mission) (Monday Lunch)
• Highland Park United Methodist Staff (Monday Lunch)
• Bishop, Cabinet, Extended Cabinet, Dignitaries, Preparation & Qualifications Committee, Ordinands, & Those Being Commission (plus family and mentors of all of the above) before the Ordination Service (Monday Supper)
• North Texas Conference Order of Deacons (Tuesday Lunch)

THANK YOU to our youth for your service and for representing FUMC so well!

Thank you, also, to Bryan Press of Monarch Catering (and FUMC Member) for the delicious food!

The 2010 Relay for Life in Wichita Falls was a huge success.  Overall, $112,157.29 was raised by 97 different teams for cancer research and awareness.  In particular, this is what the FUMC- Wichita falls team raised:

• Team:  $4,780 – making our team the 4th in overall money raised of 97 teams!
• Individual, Trudy Wilcox:  $3,530 – Trudy raised the 2nd highest amount of 1031 individuals.

GO TEAM!

Be sure to congratulate the 2010 High School Graduates of our church!  This year we have graduates from:

• Air Academy High School, Colorado – Commencement was held Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 6:00pm in Colorado;
• Burkburnett High School – Commencement will be Friday, May 28, 2010 at 8:00pm in the Kay Yeager Coliseum;
• Rider High School – Commencement will be Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 2:00pm in the MPEC; and
• Wichita Falls High School – Commencement will be Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 5:00pm in the MPEC.

Macy Bretschneider	Born:  Wichita Falls, TX School:  WFHS Favorite Class:  Human Anatomy Plans:  Attend Texas A&M to pursue a degree in Biomedical Engineering Clubs / Organizations:  Student Council; Yearbook; Senior Class President; Band (Drum Major); Cross Country; Quill & Scroll; Math / Spanish Club Honors:  Ranked 3rd in Senior Class; National Honor Society; Scholastic Letter Award; WFHS Who’s Who of Spanish, Physics, Anatomy, Calculus; Academic All-State Cross Country; Young Texanne Scholarship Finalist; All District & All Region Band; State Solo & Ensemble; Voted Senior Class “Most Intelligent” Church Activities:  Choir (12); VBS; Praise Band; UMYF (Council President); UMYF Mission Trips; Bible Study Favorite Memory:  Flipping off the dock during YAW and landing “less than gracefully”
Jared Fadow	Born:  Wichita Falls, TX School:  Home & MSU Favorite Class:  Mr. Ginn’s Sunday School Class Plans:  Attend MSU to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering Church Activities:  FJM Sunday School; UMYF; TV Ministry Favorite Memory:  Skeet & Archery during YAW
Nancy Farabee	Born:  Wichita Falls, TX School:  WFHS Favorite Class:  Science Plans:  Attend UT Austin to pursue counseling / social work Clubs / Organizations:  Young Life; Yearbook Honors; National Honor Society
Corbin Ginn	Born:  Sylva, NC School:  WFHS Favorite Class:  Physics Plans:  Attend MSU to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education Clubs / Organizations:  Newspaper; Cross Country; Quill & Scroll Honors:  Voted Senior Class “Most Daring” Church Activities:  Choir; VBS; UMYF; UMYF Mission Trips; Nursery; Bible Study Favorite Memory:  San Marcos Mission Trip
Dylan Haynes	Born:  San Antonio, TX School:  Rider HS Favorite Class:  Music Theory Plans:  Attend the University of North Texas Clubs / Organizations:  Martial Arts Club; Band Honors:  National Honor Society Church Activities:  Choir; Ringers; Orchestra; VBS; Praise Band; UMYF (Worship Leader); UMYF Mission Trips; SYM Tech Crew Favorite Memory:  Jammin’ Blues with Pappa G
James Hinze	School:  Air Academy High School, Colorado Plans:  Attend University of Colorado Clubs / Organizations:  Varsity Football Honors:  Voted Most Valuable Teammate, Varsity Football; Colorado FBLA State in Economics
Derek Montano	Born:  Bitburg, Germany School:  Rider HS Favorite Class:  Lunch Plans:  Navy; Special Warfare Combat Crewman Clubs / Organizations:  Soccer; Track; Swim Team; Water Polo Team Church Activities:  UMYF; UMYF Mission Trips
Spencer Riley	Born:  Wichita Falls, TX School:  Rider HS Favorite Class:  Anatomy & Physics Plans:  Attend University of Arkansas Clubs / Organizations:  Soccer; Guitar; Young Life Honors:  All District & Academic All State Soccer Church Activities:  Acolyte Favorite Memory:  VBS
Merideth Selvidge	Born:  Wichita Falls, TX School:  Burkburnett HS Favorite Class:  American Sign Language Plans:  Attend MSU then continue to USAO to pursue a degree in American Sign Language Clubs / Organizations:  Student Council; Drama; Boomtown Babe’s Drill Team; Project Graduation Honors:  National Honor Society; Who’s Who in Foreign Language; Theater Honors; State UIL Prose & Interpretation Church Activities:  Choir; UMYF; Youth Council; SYM (7 seasons); Bible Study Favorite Memory:  Lock-in with Floral Heights UMC when I fell asleep on the pool table. . .
Alexander Curlin
Anthony Davis

School for Little People held their moving on celebrations in the FUMC park on May 19 & 20, 2010.  A great time was had by all as each student was recognized and as families shared in picnics together.  (See below for pictures of these great events).

Then on May 24, 2010, the summer care program got kicked off with 78 children!

Let us give thanks for the wonderful ministry that the School for Little People provides to FUMC and our community!

The Wesley, Trinity, and Cherub Choirs sang and performed beautifully together for this annual musical event that showcases the talent in our church’s children’s choirs!  Just looking at the pictures gives you some insight into how great this event was that started with a meal of fried chicken, continuing with the musical, and culminating in an awards ceremony recognizing young people in the children’s and youth choirs.

Here is a note from our Music Director, Kristen Gossett:

Thank you for all your help this year. Your support and encouragement as well as your time is essential to our music ministry.

It is a humbling experience each week to see dedicated parents and volunteers who are “regular and committed” to the gifts with which God has blessed them, using those gifts and encouraging our children to serve and inspire others in worship and mission.

Thank you for all your love and support.

God bless,

Kristen Gossett

Click the strip below to see pictures of this great event!

A team effort went into the 36th Annual Senior Adult Luncheon to honor the senior citizens of our church for past and current support of our church.  The event began with a tasty meal of orange glazed chicken, rosemary potatoes, sauteed vegetables, a roll, and red velvet cake prepared by Bryan Press of Monarch Catering.

Then, Payton Beggs (a Junior at Old High) took the stage, wowing the honorees with her beautiful voice on old-time and modern country tunes.

Next, awards were given:

Potted Flowers:

Thanks to a generous donation of Tammy & Kristian Kowing of the Exodus Sunday School Class, someone at each table received a potted flower that served as the center piece for each table!

2009-2010 Sunday School Attendance:

• 100% – Harry & Evelyn Kinkead (Win-Some);
• 98% – Barbara Davis (Win-Some); and
• 96% – Ed Kuhn (All Saints) & Mary Leath (Fidelis).

J.B. & Joyce Barham Award for Dedicated Service to FUMC:

Mary Nell Taylor joined FUMC on September 19, 1954 and has been very involved in the Win-Some Class, Women’s Fellowship 4 (aka Creative Creatures), Library Board, Heritage Committee, and YES events.

Tom Golden joined FUMC on August 29, 1999 and has participated in and helped lead discussion in the 3rd Thursday St. Simeon Group. Likewise, he is serving his 3rd year as President of the Bi-the-Way Class where he leads / teaches classes and has gotten the class involved in the Annual Fall Food Drive and the Mt. Calvary UMC Power Meals.

This event would not have been possible without the following people:

• Tammy & Kristian Kowing (of the Exodus Sunday School Class) and their daughter Kelsey who decorated the tables;
• The FUMC Youth and Jeff Ginn who helped setup, serve food, and cleanup;
• Members of the Young Adult Singles of The Journey Sunday School Class who served drinks and helped cleanup;
• Members of the Genesis Sunday School Class who helped serve food, cleanup, and washed the dishes;
• Payton Beggs for providing the entertainment; and
• Bryan Press for the great food!

Check out pictures of this great event here: