We are hosting a community blood drive this Sunday! If you are interested in making an appointment, please visit www.obi.org. Walk ups also welcome.

We are excited to announce that Nathan Elliott started as our new Facility Manager this week. He jumped right in on his first day, overseeing projects underway and facilitating some new projects around our buildings. Nathan will be onsite Monday - Friday. When you see him, please offer him a warm Stillwater First UMC welcome!

Join us for Promotion Sunday -- August 16 -- as we celebrate a new year of learning and growth for all ages! During all three worship services, we will bless the backpacks. Anyone who takes part in educating or being educated, bring an item you carry each day (backpack, bag, keys, etc.)  We'll invite you to bring this forward for a blessing and send you forth with a special gift as a blessing reminder.

All students and parents (Pre-K-12) are invited to breakfast on August 16: 9:45am in the north end of the Social Hall. Parents will have an opportunity to complete registration paperwork and ask questions. At 10am, we will sendevery age group to their new Sunday School classes, from preschool through youth.

We'll wrap up the day with Jump Time at Ultimate Air from 4:00pm - 6:00pm, dinner provided.
Parents of preschool through 5th-grade children are asked to stay during the event. 
Parents of youth are invited to meet briefly with Pastor Corey at drop-off before returning to pick up their students at 6:00pm. 

All jumpers must have waivers completed before they can jump. Complete this waiver ahead of time by CLICKING HERE or bring a paper copy. (Irene and Corey will have these in Children's and Youth's spaces.) Please email Pastor Corey at cshirey@fumcstw.org or Irene at iupson@fumcstw.org with any questions you may have.  We are excited to start our new school year with your family!

Our musical ensembles return! Whether you are a lifelong singer, an aspiring bell ringer, or looking for a wonderful community for your children, there is a place for you to make music with us.

Here is everything you need to know about our upcoming ensemble schedules and kick-off events:

Revelation (Youth Choir)
Open to 5th graders through early college. We are kicking off the season with a special Revelation Retreat! Friday, August 14 - 6:30pm - 9:00pm (dinner is included.) Saturday, August 15 - 9:30am - 1:00pm. We will then meet back up at 4:00pm for an afternoon of bowling. This retreat will launch our regular rehearsal schedule.

Regular Schedule: Sundays from 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: The Music Suite

Jubilee Ringers
We have exciting news for our handbell ministry: Jubilee Ringers will now include youth bell ringers!
Start Date: Wednesday, August 19
Regular Schedule: Wednesdays from 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: Room 108

Children's Choir
Our youngest singers are getting ready to start a fantastic new year of music!
Launch Date: Sunday, August 23
Regular Schedule: Sundays from 9:30am – 10:00am
Location: The Music Suite

Adult Choir
Our Adult Choir is officially back in session, and we are always accepting new members! Join us at any time during the year.
Regular Schedule: Wednesdays from 6:30pm - 8:00pm

We cannot wait to make music together this year! If you have any questions, please contact Keegan Rose at krose@fumcstw.org

This special small group experience for college students will start back up on Sunday, August 16. We meet at the back of the sanctuary after late service is finished to decide where we will go to eat. All college students are invited and welcome! 

The next "Young Professionals" gathering will be at Hideaway on Tuesday, August 11th at 7pm. If you are a young adult (under 35ish) and do not consider your primary occupation to be "student," this group just might be for you.

We can't wait for the butterfly reveal at our Annex building (on the south side 8th Street, just behind the Family Life Center.) This is planned for Monday, August 10 at 5:15pm.
All are welcome to join and celebrate with us!

For more information about the butterfly statue CLICK HERE

The Mission Committee will meet in the Annex on Monday, August 10 at 5:30pm.

After more than 50 years of faithful ministry, Rev. Richard Ayers is officially retiring from active pastoral service in the Oklahoma Methodist Conference! Richard began his ministry in 1974 as a youth pastor while attending Phillips Seminary in Enid. His decades of dedication have touched countless lives along the way. Join friends and family in celebrating this incredible milestone at a come-and-go reception:

Saturday, August 15
2:00 - 4:00pm
Yale United Methodist Church
108 South C Street, Yale, OK 74085

Enjoy punch, cake, and cookies as we honor Richard's years of faithful service! No gifts, please - cards are welcome if you'd like to share your congratulations and well wishes!

Last Thursday, Mrs. Irene, Pastor Corey, and several of our youth traveled down to OKC to volunteer at The Urban Mission. It was an awesome (and hot) day filled with fun, service, laughter, and some ice cream! 

We are looking for folks who have a heart and passion to serve our youth. There are lots of ways you can support this important ministry. Note: all youth volunteers must go through a background check and meet our volunteer guidelines. If you are interested in serving but have questions, reach out to Pastor Corey.
The button below will get you to the sign-up sheet.

This past Monday, two teams (East and West) from the United Methodist Men’s group delivered a total of 6,349 pounds of cast-off food supplied by the Walmart’s, Aldi, and Sprouts to Our Daily Bread to help feed food insecure folks in Stillwater and the Payne County area. The two teams struck up a friendly competition. So far, the weekly winner has seesawed back and forth between the teams, adding to the joy in serving humankind, meeting one of their basic needs.