Yes, you read the title to this newsletter article correctly. In our denomination, the appointment of pastors to serve is from July 1^st to June 30^th. The practice of sending or the appointment of pastors to churches is as old as the founder of the Methodist movement. John Wesley believed that there was the threat of complacency if a pastor stayed in one location for too long. I won’t go into the process here, but if you’d like to know more, I’d be happy to fill you in.

At the end of Annual Conference each year, our Bishop “fixes” the appointments. What that means is that the appointments for the next year are finalized. I will have to tell you that I don’t take this process for granted. It is an honor to be appointed to serve a church as pastor. And when our Bishop fixes the appointments, I am always grateful for mine.

For this next conference year (and I hope for many to come), we will be together. I can only imagine what this next year will be like. There will be weddings and there will be memorial services. There will be Bible studies and there will be small group meetings. There will be sermons and there will be studies. There will be activities for our children and our youth. There will be Vacation Bible School and our Easter Extravaganza. There will be Christmas Eve services and there will be Easter celebrations. There will be our Trick or Trunk event and there will be Wednesday afternoon activities. There will be a Christmas Cantata and there will be special services during Holy week. There will be baptisms and confirmation classes and new people discovering that this is a great place to call home. There will be hospital calls and conversations and Sunday School classes. And these are just the things that we know about!

You get a brand new John this year. Every year, with the beginning of a new conference year, I like to hit a pastoral reset button. For the mistakes that I made last appointment year and for the ones I’ve made in my thirty plus years of ministry, I am sorry. I promise not to make the same mistake again.

I do believe that bright days are ahead for our church. There is a fresh spirit here. I hope you feel it. As I hit a reset button, why don’t you do the same as a member or active part of our church. Commit again to our ministries. Get involved in studies. Don’t miss worship services. Volunteer as often as you can. Make a difference!

Hope Always,

John Fleming

The church will be closed on Thursday, July 3rd in observance of Independence Day.  Have a safe and happy holiday.

Communion Stewards
Michele Elders
Christine Linville (team leader)
Ruth Greer

9:00 Crossraods Servers
Kraigen Partee
Sheila Partee
Tina Benton

11:00 Traditional Servers
Tom &  Deborah Knox
Jan Peitz

Traditionally, our summer giving is lower than the rest of the year. There are a number of reasons for that (including summer vacations). In the next few days, you will be receiving a letter from the church about where you stand in your giving this year. We're also working on a video that will help to visually show you where money goes and the need that we have right now. There are a number of ways to give, including online giving and giving by bank draft (ACH). To give online, use the button below.  If you would like to move your giving to ACH bank draft, call Lisa in the church office. I am thankful for every gift that you give. Your giving is especially important now as our bank balance is lower than I'd like to see it. Again, thanks for all you give and do. 

Rev. John Fleming
Senior Pastor

Welcome to our newest members! The folowing people have recently become official members of our church family here at FUMCMH:

Denny & Linda Francis (joined 03/09/25)
Scot Donaldson (joined 06/08/25)
Julie Fleming (joined 06/08/25)

Congratulate them and introduce yourself if you haven't already! Also, if you are interested in joining the church, please contact Pastor John.

The chancel Choir will be taking a break from Wednesday evening practices beginning July 9th.  They will resume practice on September 3rd at 6:30pm.  This would be a great time to join the choir if you are interested.

The Youth will be taking a trip on Friday, July 11th to White Water in Branson. The bus will be leaving at 9:15 am and will return 9:00 pm(tentatively). Cost is $45 per student (scholarships are available if needed). Please contact Kyra Anthony by Monday, July 7th at 12:00 pm if you would like to attend.

Children and Youth (as well as any parents/grandparents who are able) are invited to join us for an afternoon of bowling at Driftwood Lanes on Tuesday, July 15th at 1:00pm. If your child needs a ride from Summer Celebration, the Youth Center or an MH day care, please let us know. The bus will leave the church at 12:30 pm for those pickups so if your child will be riding from the church, make sure you are on time. If you know your child will be attending this event, please let us know so we can get a basic headcount. We will have fellowship and a game of bowling followed by ice cream at Baskin Robbin's. Fun, Fun, Fun! The cost will be $7.50 per person for bowling and ice cream. Scholarships are available. Be sure you wear or bring socks for bowling.

Join us for Family Movie Night!  We will have popcorn, candy and water. Doors will open at 6:30 and the movie will start at 7:00. We will be watching The King of Kings from Angel Studios. Although it's an animated movie, it's a great message for children and adults of all ages! We hope you will join us!

On Wednesday, July 30th, at 6:00pm we will be celebrating Pastor John's reappointment to FUMCMH with a fun night of ice cream, fellowship and musical bingo! Our theme for musical bingo will be "Jamming to the Oldies!" So, bring your favorite ice cream to share and your bingo skills and join us for this fun event for all ages!

Wesley Kitchen will be closed for the annual 2 week summer break on Monday, July 7th and Monday, July 14th.  We will return serving the meal on Monday July 21st.

This year during True North VBS, our mission project was Bundle Up Hope! This outreach project gave kids the chance to bring hope and warmth to kids in our community. By bringing their loose change each day of VBS to kids will help provide brand-new warm clothes and blankets for a child this Fall and Winter! The children and volunteers donated $158 towards this effort! 

Before school starts back, we would like to bless not only the backpacks of the students, but also the students themselves and the educators.  Sunday, August 10th we will be doing the Blessing of the Backpacks at each service.  All students and teachers are encouraged to bring their backpacks/bags to worship that day to be blessed.  Each student & teacher will recieve a backpack tag to place on their backpack as a reminder of God’s presence with them at school and the prayers of their church family. We will pray over the students and educators and ask God to equip them with all they need for a wonderful 2025/26 school year.

This year we will be having our back to school bash at the city pool on Sunday, August 10th! We will have pizza and popsicles. Bottled water will be available but you are welcome to bring your own drinks if you like. All are welcome to join us! We will also be having a crossover event to celebrate all of the kids who are crossing over from our First Kidz Children's Ministry to our 605 Student Ministry so put this date on your calendar! You won't want to miss it!

Hello All!  

What a great summer we are having so far!  Thank you to the many volunteers who helped with True North VBS!  It was a huge success and the kids had a blast learning about how God is our True North! Adult and Youth Volunteers had just as much fun and we couldn't have done it without them! We have a few more events this summer so mark your calendars!

Laura Pedigo

Join FirstKidz on Social Media!

SUMMER FEEDING
In memory of Barb Hagebock:
Cathy Roshon

WESLEY KITCHEN
In memory of Dovie Tinsley:
Bill & Mary Margaret Pearson
In memory of Jim Callis:
Ann Lasch

HOPE FOR ALL
In honor of Tom Frase:
Seekers SS Class

Prayers After Loss:
Family and Friends of Barbara Hagebock on her passing.

Concerns:
Bill Wagner (6/29/25)
Joyce Holsted (06/15/25)
Bruce Burr (06/15/25)
Jaymeson Miller (06/08/25)
Lisa Dennis (06/08/25)
(Mike Densmore’s Niece)
George Rohr (06/01/25)
(Christine Rohr)
Wally Smietanski (05/19/25)
Sandi Franklin (05/18/25)
(Kaye Jarvis’s Niece)
Jack Chance (05/06/25)
Krew Hudson (05/06/25)
(Classmate of Emma Jones)
Skyler Law (05/06/25)
Mona Brewer (04/22/25)
Bob Dickerson (04/13/25)
Teresa Kenyon (04/01/25)
David Miller (04/01/25)
(Jill Chandler’s Cousin)
Rexene Watson (03/23/25)
(Tom Yoder’s Sister-in-Law)
Bryan Tomlinson (03/17/25)
(Gail House)
Natalie Tyson (03/13/25)
(Mary Margaret Pearson)
Ruth Ramaker (03/02/25)
(Kristi Nelson’s mother)
Bobby Myers (02/27/25)
(Gail House’s Cousin)
Mike Thompson (02/25/25)
(Bev Thompson’s Son)
Curtis Gomez (02/23/25)
(Christine Rohr)
Genie Widerstrom (02/18/25)
(Rebecca Williams)
Will Thompson (02/17/25)
(Billy & Ashley Thompson’s son)
Nancy Cox (02/16/25)
(Christine & Cleo Holm)
Kelly Bertrand (02/11/25)
Bonnie Benham (01/19/25)
Ron Riddell (01/12/25)
(Sharon Hamilton)
Kate Melnik (01/13/25)
(Tom Yoder)
Wesley Werner (1/7/25)
Diana Blackburn (12/29/24)
Mark, Melissa & Jason Morgan (12/23/24)
Doug Dethloff (12/22/24)
Pat Harris (12/01/24)
(Tina Benton)
Paula Flippin (12/01/24)
(Tina Benton)
Diane Lucas (12/01/24)
(Tina Benton)
Emily Jones Griffin (12/01/24)
(Teresa Kenyon)
Scott Cain (11/19/24)
(Jill Chandler’s Son)
Elden Lowe (11/19/24)
(Jill Chandler’s Nephew)
Tim Dorram (11/12/24)
(Yvonne Hall)
Matt Zipperer (10/29/24)
(Sue Storm)
Ruth Greer (10/29/24) 
Sharon & Wendell Dennis (10/13/24)
(Debby Bodenhamer)
Jack Knight (09/22/24)
(Jill Chandler’s brother)
Ruth Clark (09/19/24)
Regina Gillihan (09/15/24)
(Bernice Koonce)
Sue Robinson (09/01/24)
(Marilyn Bonecki)
Denise Rohr (08/18/24)
(Christine Rohr’s daughter)
Ronald Robinson (07/29/24)
(Marilyn Bonecki)