Volunteer Salute
Thanks to All of Our Volunteers!

The old expression in the United Methodist Church is that clergy come and go, but laity run the show. Without the efforts of volunteers, the day to day ministries at church simply would not happen, and we want to give you all a great big THANK YOU.

On May 7, there was a special luncheon held in honor of our volunteers with an attendance of 75 people. David and Alice Eckhoff generously catered the luncheon, and dessert was provided by Pastor Robin – brownies for all!

On the following page (click this link) is a list of all of our volunteers represented doing the following ministries: wedding coordinators/facilitators, SAM, altar flowers, Red Shirts, AV Support, ushers, Coffee and Donut crew, bus drivers, communion preparers, Showers of Blessings support, Pew Patrol, telephone volunteers, groundskeepers, CHAMP, liturgists, bulletin and spire stuffers, money counters, grocery cards, and food pantry.

If we’ve forgotten your name, forgive us – there’s 258 names listed and we’re betting that we forgot to tag somebody accidently. Let us know and we will make sure your name is in the next Spire.

God bless you all, and continue your great work!

Safe Sanctuary

If you are joining the VBS team or helping out in summer Sunday school this is for you! This will be a painless two hours with Jean Szoko and Dawn Orndorff and helps us to ensure a safe and secure environment for the children and youth of FUMC.

The Safe Sanctuaries program trains and certifies people as safe workers with children and youth in Missouri Conference ministries. The policies were adopted in 1999, in response to God's call to welcome all children and to protect them from the devastating effects of child abuse.

Please contact Dawn at (636) 947-0066 or dawnorndorff@sbcglobal.net to sign up.

Do You Hear the Joyful Call

Come to the Chaifetz Arena from 4:00pm - 6:00pm on Pentecost Sunday, May 31st, for the Global Day of Prayer.  Be a part of the largest single-day worldwide prayer and praise event in all of history as we honor God and pray for repentance and community transformation.

Let's get together as one family and ask God in the name of His Son Jesus to shower the St. Louis Region with His joy and His light.  His presence can transform us as we stand together united in love for Him and each other.

HE  IS  ALIVE!!

Global Day of Prayer - St Louis
www.praystl.org (314)-783-0078
gdop.stl.prayer@gmail.com

Trivia Night

First United Methodist will host a trivia night to benefit the Special Concerts Fund of the Music Ministry on Friday, May 29, 2009.  Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and play begins at 7:30 p.m.  Admission is $15 per person or $120 per table of 8.  This is a smoke/alcohol free environment.  Soda and popcorn will be provided; bring your own munchies!  The event will have cash prizes for winners and attendance prizes.  Mulligans will be available.  No cell phone use is allowed.  To make reservations, please call Mary McClure at (636) 946-2958, or e-mail FUMCTrivia@gmail.com with "May 29 Trivia" in the subject field with your name and phone number.

Special Offering: 2009 Missouri Annual Conference

The 2009 Missouri Annual Conference begins its session on June 5th. Last year the special offering for the Conference was PET (Personal Energy Transportation), carts designed to help those with disabilities improve their mobility in developing countries. We had a wonderful response from the congregation for that offering.

This year, the Conference session offering is designated to completing unfinished church buildings in Mozambique.

Across Mozambique, there are 180 + parishes, with about thirty of them having unfinished permanent church buildings. These buildings are in every stage of construction. Some need only a small amount of work to complete and others need major construction to make them usable.

The Missions Team has selected Nazareta United Methodist Church as a focus for our offering. Nazareta has over 600 members. They need roof joists, finished floor, plastering, paint, windows, and doors. The estimated cost is about $6000.

We will have a table set up in the Atrium on May 17th and May 24th. Please stop by and learn more about Nazareta UMC and how your contribution can make a difference in the lives of Christians in this extremely poor country.

Thank you.

- The Missions Team

New Members

Are we, as a church, a good neighbor to those around us?

Many years ago the congregation of FUMC chose to remain as a Central City Church located on First Capitol. As such, we have a responsibility to be a good neighbor and to minister to those who live in the community around us.

One of the goals established by our Church Council is to, over the next 3 years, develop ministries and programs that touch the lives and address the needs of those who reside within a 12 block radius of the church.

With this goal in mind the Missions Team is exploring what can be done to engage in outreach to our surrounding neighborhoods.

We would like to start with a two-pronged approach:

First: to identify service projects - primarily disabled or elderly people that have homes or properties that need repair, maintenance, or cleaning and who lack resources or other forms of assistance to accomplish these tasks. The need might involve providing a means of transportation for grocery shopping or medical services. Other types of local service projects may be suggested.

Second: identify volunteers who would be willing to serve, individually, or on project teams. We will also seek to identify volunteers with specific skills (carpentry, electrical, plumbing, etc.).

To get started, an organizing meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 23 in room 301.

If you would like to participate in this neighborhood outreach ministry, please contact Paul Boughton (boughstl@charter.net or 636-947-1301) or just show up at the church on Saturday the 23rd.

Alan Finke Memorial Scholarships

Congratulations to John Critchlow, Danny Crenshaw, and Kaitlyn Fouch for receiving the Alan Finke Memorial Scholarships this year. They are shining examples of youth who “walk in the way that leads life.”

Why does a church give out scholarships to college bound youth? On the day of our children’s baptisms, we, as a congregation, pledge to surround these children in steadfast love and to aid in establishing them in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.

What better way to honor this pledge than to support our children from the church nursery through graduation and beyond? Giving a scholarship helps our children know that we are always supporting them in their faith journey wherever it may lead them.

The Alan Finke Scholarship has been given out for 7 years and needs continual funding to assure that it will be able to go on for many more years. This year, a fundraiser luncheon will be held in Wesley Hall, immediately after the last service on June 7. Tickets will be on sale for the luncheon on Sunday, May 17, May 24, and May 31 in the Atrium.

If you cannot attend, but still would like to financially support our fund, donations will be collected at the ticket table or through the church office.