Our mission team will be returning home from Bolivia today, May 23. When they return, I know they will have many stories to tell. This is a note we received from team leader, Doug Valley:

"Greetings from Bolivia on our last night in San Pedro. Today we completed our construction project in really good shape. The work went much faster than anticipated with about seven local workers, our Mission team, and our interpreters and host.

Everyone pitched in to mix and poor cement. The floor is essentially completed. I’m sure they will eventually install ceramic tile. And I know it will be beautiful because they do fantastic tiling work in Bolivia. They still have walls to stucco inside and out, so they won’t do the tiling until that is completed. This is the first building in what is eventually going to be three, I believe.

We have been extremely successful with the most important part of this mission; that is the relationships we are developing with the local congregation and townspeople. Things are really great and I believe we are loved as much as we are sharing our love.

Tomorrow morning, we will be honored at a farewell celebration, followed by lunch at the church – a good old-fashioned church dinner. We will return to Santa Cruz and on Thursday we have scheduled an immersion trip to some Inca ruins. Thursday night we will head for the airport by 10 PM for our 1 AM return flight. Hope to see you all this weekend.

I know you have been thinking of us and praying for us and we can feel those prayers. God bless and we will see you soon!"
- Doug and the Bolivia Mission Team

On Tuesday of this week, our new associate pastor, Rev. Corey Shirey, arrived for a full day visit. Since he met with us for staff meeting, we decided it was a great time for a staff picture. Welcome, Pastor Corey!
We are looking forward to your arrival in July.

This past Sunday, we honored nine high school seniors from our FUMC family of faith. Congratulations Markie, Leah, Brandon, David, Hank, Kamdyn, Etta, Ella, and Lily on your upcoming graduation! Thanks to everyone who made “Senior Sunday” a special morning of celebration, and thank you church family for the years of pouring into and encouraging these young people. Please keep each of them in your prayers as they prepare themselves for the next chapter of their lives!

Athletes from all over gathered in Stillwater last week for the 40th year of Oklahoma's Special Olympics, including members of the First United Methodist Church's Faith Class. Our Faith Class members attend our 8:30 a.m. Worship service before going to their Sunday School Class. Many of them wore the medals that they won this past Sunday morning. When you see them this Sunday, be sure to congratulate them on their accomplishments! 

Four members of our congregation will join our two pastors at the Annual Conference gathering in Tulsa, OK next week. Our lay delegates are: Kathy Heil, Monty Karns and Rachel Weaver. We also have one ex-officio delegate, Roger McMillian, who serves in a number of positions at the district and Conference levels. In addition to our four lay delegates, we also send our two clergy delegates: Rev. Charla Gwartney and Rev. Cindy Robertson Riedel.

Wednesday, May 28, will be a day set aside for learning. Several workshops are offered for laity and clergy. Meetings and events begin on Thursday, May 29 and continue through Saturday, May 31. This year, delegates will be voting on constitutional amendments passed at General Conference 2024. Business and worship sessions will be held at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. A special highlight will be the commissioning of our incoming associate pastor, Rev. Corey Shirey, at the ordination service on Saturday morning.

Most sessions of Annual Conference can be joined via livestream. You’ll find more information at: https://www.okumc.org/annual_conference

Join us for a celebration of Pastor Cindy Robertson Riedel’s six years as associate pastor at Stillwater First UMC! We’ll gather in the Social Hall on Sunday, June 15, 3:30-5:00pm. Come and go as you like - we will have plenty of fun and refreshments available throughout! Cards and well wishes appreciated. Special presentations will be made at 3:50pm.