Summer is here and people will be moving into our area throughout the summer season. Please be on the lookout for new neighbors and invite them to come to our church. Many of us will be taking well needed and deserved vacations. I sure do like to receive bulletins from churches that you have attended while away. Please remember to be faithful with your tithes and offerings during the summer months as many ministries "ramp up" rather than slow down. If you have not considered our "electronic giving" capacity, this might be a good time to do so. I no longer have to worry about my giving being on time! Now the Lord gets my gifts as consistently as my mortgage company does.

Vacation Bible School was just incredible! Our Children's ministry department, led by Sondra Dutram, did an absolutely amazing job of organizing and planning for over 750 kids and 350 volunteers. We are so fortunate to have the leadership and volunteers that we have in our church. Our VBS was larger than any elementary school in Okaloosa County!

Another Annual Conference has come and gone. We had a great Conference in Montgomery this year. Lisa, Luke and I are more excited than ever to be reappointed to and serving the First United Methodist Church of Niceville. This is year 12 for us and we couldn't be more excited about the future and what God is doing here at Niceville First! Henry Blackaby said, "Find out where God is working and join Him there"! That is how I feel about our church. God is working here and I want to join Him. Wonder what the Lord is going to do this next year?

Join us beginning July 12, as we begin a new focus in the second half of the book of Colossians: Walking Against the Tide... Navigating Successfully Through Cultural Chaos. Because we are alive in Christ and because we have died with Christ, we must put off the things that belong to the earthly life of past sin. Obviously, this puts us on a collision course with our culture! When our minds and hearts are set on the things that are above , we "put off" the old life and "put on" the new life. Paul makes some very practical applications of his teaching in these last two chapters.

In the last week of July, Tim Cook, Gordon White, Matthew Ausley, and I will be part of a team going to the Congo to help teach a National Conference with the International Leadership Institute. The International Leadership Institute (ILI) trains and mobilizes leaders of leaders to accelerate the spread of the Gospel around the world. Based on global research, ILI provides advanced training in leadership, evangelism, and multiplication centered on the eight core values that are essential for effective Christian leadership. Qualified Christian leaders are strategically selected to attend ILI conferences based on their proven leadership ability, commitment to God, passion to reach people with the Gospel, and desire to train other leaders. Attendance is normally limited to thirty people in order to maximize the life impact for each person. Graduates are mobilized to apply the principle of multiplication by training 100 or more leaders within two years.

This entire conference is sponsored by our church! The 30 leaders will be brought in to the conference by your giving! Our Church's personal four year goal is to train 120 Congolese leaders to train 12,000 other leaders in the Congo. We plan to do this once a year for the next four years. Please be praying for us July 24 through August 2.

See you Sunday,

Rev. Rurel Ausley
Senior Pastor

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A WALK WITH JESUS... An Unforgettable Journey

Our remaining messages in our current series:

June 28 - Fullness of Jesus (Col. 1:24-2:5)
July 5 - The Freedom of Jesus (Col. 2:16-23)
July 12 Preparing for Jesus (Col. 2:20; 3:1-4)

And we continue this summer through the book of Colossians with this new series:

"Walking Against the Tide...Navigating Successfully Through Cultural Chaos"

Because we are alive in Christ and because we have died with Christ, we must put off the things that belong to the earthly life of past sin. Obviously, this puts us on a collision course with our culture! When our minds and hearts are set on the things that are above , we "put off" the old life and "put on" the new life. Paul makes some very practical applications of his teaching in these last two chapters.

July 19: "Living with a Focus"
July 26: "When People Rub You the Wrong Way"
August 2: "What You Do Comes Back to You"
August 9: "Does the Church Have Something to Say?"

Miss a message? Our message audios are online at www.fumcniceville.org/sernotes following each message!

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Rev. Greg McKinnon
Executive Pastor

Our Church Partners with St. Mark UMC

In February our church began a partnership with St. Mark United Methodist Church in Crestview. Lisa Ausley, Brice Early and I are providing their pastoral leadership. St. Mark pays Lisa to work 20 hours (she is working far more). We hired John Martin to help 20 hours in the Recreation Ministry (and St. Mark is paying his salary), so that Brice can devote 20 hours a week to St. Mark. I am working with the leadership of St. Mark and preach about one time a month. Brice preaches two times a month and Lisa preaches once.

In addition to the leadership provided by Lisa, Brice and me, there are many other ways that our church partners with St. Mark.

Our Sr. Adult ministry has invited the people at St. Mark to participate in activities and trips.

Our audio-visual ministry provides videos and power points for the sermons. They have also helped the folks at St. Mark with their sound and video equipment and provide help with their e-newsletter and web site.

Our Children's Ministry staff has helped evaluate room usage at St. Mark and the puppet ministry has led their children's worship; our Congregational Care Ministry has visited St. Mark members in the hospital; and our Youth Ministry has provided materials for the youth group and invited St. Mark youth to participate in special events and trips.

As our partnership continues there will be many other ways that we come alongside St. Mark so that together we can do more for the Kingdom of God than we can separately.

At this year's Annual Conference in Montgomery our partnership with St. Mark was highlighted in a video that is now available on our website. I would like to encourage you to view it and then pray for us as we continue this partnership.

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The job doesn't stop when the building opens...

The NEW Children's Building is getting closer to its completion, but the job doesn't stop when the building opens. That's just beginning. All the bells and whistles of the new building are great, but it's our volunteers that will impact the kids when they walk through the doors. Many, many new volunteers are needed to be a part of changing kids' lives. Could that be you? Could you be a...

• Sunday school teacher or helper at 9:40 or 11:00
• Sunday school superintendent at 9:40 or 11:00
• Worship & Wonder (Kindergarten) storyteller or helper at 11:00
• Preschool Worship (4 & 5 year olds) leader or helper at 11:00
• Audio Visual help at 9:40 or 11:00

Please let us know if God is touching your heart to serve His children. Call the Children's Ministry office at 678-4411 extension 126 for more information. We can't do it without you!

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Save the Date for the Children's Building Grand Opening!

With the current construction schedule we will have our grand opening for the New Children's Building on Saturday August 22.

Kidz Blitz LIVE, a nationally acclaimed ministry event for families, will be joining us for our grand opening. More information will be forthcoming.

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New and exciting Wednesday Night programming
for all 2nd-5th graders starts
August 26, 5:50-8:00 p.m.
in the new Children's Building, 2nd floor!

• Large Group
• Teaching
• Music
• Games & Activities
• Hang Time
• Small Group Discussion
• Scripture Memory
• Special Activities

John 10:28 "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."

Registration begins June 30 for H2O! Visit www.fumcniceville.org/children
Forms are also available in the Children's Ministry Office.
For more information, call 678-4411, ext. 126.

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THANK YOU

To our church family who made our 2009 Crocodile Dock the best VBS ever!
We could never have prepared for 760 children, and raised over $2,200.00 for missions,
without your prayers, encouragement, and willingness to serve. We had over 1,000 people in attendance each day, and an incredible Children’s Celebration Sunday on June 21.

“It takes a Church!” Thank you from the entire Children’s Ministry crew!

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July 1 Revive Worship (College) July 3 Independence Day observance--Church Offices closed July 3-4 Community Life Center Closed (Holiday) July 11-18 Puerto Rico Youth Mission Trip July 19 Discover FIRST July 26 Upward Indoor Soccer Awards Ceremony July 26 Youth Family Night July 30 Senior Bash July 31 Cafe Revive (College)

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We joyfully welcome the following new members to our church family, who joined in May 2009:

(at left) John and Susan Akers; Rebecca Niceville Steve and Avice Alderfer Niceville (Not pictured; no photo available)		Debbie and Joe Carloni Niceville
Myrean Springfield Niceville	Mel, Dawn and Audrey Petersen Niceville	Pam and Laura Griner Niceville
Lou Ella McGeorge Niceville	Scott and Carrie Morton Niceville	Carmelita Neal Niceville
T.J. and Heather Cavanagh Santa Rosa Beach	Tim and Becky Voigt Crestview	Welcome to our Church Family!

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To sign up or get more information, contact the Adult & Family Ministry Office, 678-4411, ext. 127, 123. We welcome you to join in the fun and fellowship! Check out the Senior Adults Information Bulletin Board in the main hallway behind the sanctuary choir loft.

Fifty-Plus Travelers Events:

To sign up or get more information, contact the Adult & Family Ministry Office, 678-4411, ext. 127, 123. We welcome you to join in the fun and fellowship! Check out the Senior Adults Information Bulletin Board in the main hallway behind the sanctuary choir loft.

Dinner at the Aegean Greek Restaurant - Everyone is invited to join the Greece travelers for dinner (dutch treat), Tuesday, July 21, departing from Parking Lot A at 5:00 p.m. Please call to reserve your seat on the bus 678-4411, ext. 123 or 127.

Young At Heart Luncheon, July 7, noon, $4.50. Patriotic Music by Ann Jolly and Mary Ann Wilder. Please sign up in the church office, 678-4411, or use the Communication Card in the bulletin by the deadline, noon, Wednesday, July 1.

50 Plus Summer Bash - An evening of fun for active adults over 50 years of age, on Thursday, July 30, 5:00-8:00 (home before dark), in the Community Life Center Gym. Program includes: Gourmet dinner, entertainment, and fun. Cost: $14.00. Tickets are available now in the Adult & Family Ministry Office and the Main Office and at the Welcome desk on Sunday morning and Wednesday Evening.

Join us for lunch, a morning of activities and a personal tour of the new adult day care center Daybreak, Thursday, July 9, 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m., departing from Parking Lot A. Call Marti, 678-4411, ext. 127 for more information. Cost for lunch: $4.00.

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Home from College and want to get connected?

College Ultimate Frisbee – Sundays, 9-11 p.m., Community Life Center Gym.

College Bible Study – Sundays, 6–9 p.m, at the Pierson’s. Email rpieiam@yahoo.com for directions.

Revive Worship – Wednesday, July 1, 9 – 11 p.m., Community Life Center Youth Theater.

Café Revive – Friday, July 31, 9 p.m. – Midnight, Community Life Center 2nd Floor. Food, fun, music, ultimate Frisbee.

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4:12 Student Ministries is bursting with kingdom fruit this summer! We built three porches, two wheelchair ramps, repaired 2 roofs, painted and landscaped a local school, and showed Christ’s love to a load of neighborhood kids in and around Gretna Florida at Love at Work. We introduced fifty 5th graders to the ball of wild energy that we call NEXUS at our "Nexus in the afternoon" program at VBS. That wild energy was directed towards the Lord through songs, talks focused in the gospel message, and small group experiences! Soon our high school students will be going to Puerto Rico, too, for a week of love and service. All of this without even mentioning weekly prayer lunches, regular FUSION, NEXUS, and Sunday School programs, and all of the ministry that happens in one-on-one relationships during the summer….I am worn out and exhilarated just thinking about it!

Upcoming Events:

Monday Fun Days–Grades 6-8 Fall 2009, Mondays, June 22 – August 10, 2 – 4 p.m., Community Life Center (CLC) 2nd Floor.

Dive Bible Study – Grades 9-12 Fall 2009, Thursdays, 1-3 p.m., Community Life Center Youth Café.

Dive Bible Study Fun Day – Grades 9-12, Thursdays July 16 and August 13, 3-5 p.m. Have to attend the Dive Bible study that day and bring $10. Meet at Community Life Center.

Movie Night – Grades 9-12, Sundays July 19 and August 16, 7-9 p.m., Community Life Center Youth Theater.

Summer Hang Time – Grades 9-12, Wednesdays, June 24-August 19, 4-6 p.m., Community Life Center Youth Café.

All-Youth Family Night – Sunday, July 26, 5:30–8 p.m., Community Life Center. Potluck–bring a dish to share. The whole family is invited. We’ll have inflatables, activities, and a parent informational meeting. RSVP 678-4411 ext. 151 with how many are coming by July 20.

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Co-Ed Softball League is now forming. Twelve game schedule begins August 3rd. Practice starts in July. Interested? Call the Community Life Center at 678-2821 or email mtaylor@fumcniceville.org no later than June 30.

First United Methodist Church Men’s Basketball begins September 1. Early registration ends August 6. Registration fee is $40; deadline for registration is August 13. After August 13, add a late fee of $10. Final deadline for registration is August 19. Sign up individually or as a team.

Summer recreation is in full swing! We offer a different activity every day for students 1st-6th grade. Check our schedule out and come have some fun!

Upward Flag Football (ages 3rd- 10th grade) and Upward Prep Basketball (ages 4yrs to 2nd grade) are registering now! Practices start in August and games will be played from August 29th through October.

Emerald Coast Autism Society is excited to partner with CARD-FSU (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities) and First United Methodist Church of Niceville to offer a summer social skills program. “Fun Fridays” will be held on July 10, 17, 24 & 31 in our Community Life Center:

Children with ASD:
Age 3-6, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Age 7-12,12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Age 13-18, 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

A variety of activities will be planned for each age group. Parents will be expected to stay with their children while they participate. Each child attending will need to bring a snack and drink. Children do not need to attend all four sessions, although participation each week is encouraged. Siblings are encouraged to attend. All sessions are free. Please contact Myra Fowler at myra@ecautismsociety.com to sign up so that we know how many people to expect or if you have any questions.

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A CALL TO FALL IN HUMBLE PRAYER - Sunday, July 5

Nearly 23,000 churches and people have committed to pray on July 5 for real change in America. We need it, but it won't come from Washington or Wall Street. It will only come from God. He tells us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

God promises real change if we follow the guidelines. We will join with these thousands of others and focus our prayer time during worship on Sunday, July 5. We invite you to join us as we pray for real change!

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We have a new class name! "Box of Rocks"

We are studying "Cracking the Communication Code: Learning to communicate better in our relationships so that we can show and share the love of Christ." We meet in Portable 1 at 11:00 a.m.

You may say, "Box of Rocks? ... What in the world does that mean?"

Picture a stream with rocks on the bottom. The water moves the rocks, bouncing and rubbing off one another, causing each stone to become smoother and lose its rough edges. That is the analogy for believers in Christ! As we come together and create relationships with one another and allow Christ (the living water) to run through us ,we begin to lose some of our rough edges and begin to look more like Christ.

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Come discover our vision and mission, ministries, beliefs, and much more about our church by attending the next "Discover First" class. You'll meet our pastor(s) and some of our staff, and get answers to questions you may have. This class is open to anyone (and is also a requirement for membership if/when you are ready to join).

Upcoming Schedule:

Sunday, June 28, 3:00-5:00 p.m., Community Life Center, Room 905-907

Sunday, July 19, 3:00-5:00 p.m., Community Life Center, Room 905-907

Contact Barbara Wilder, 678-4411, ext. 123, to make advance childcare reservations for children up to 11 years old for the Sunday afternoon sessions.

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Recently Hospitalized:

Bill Apfel, Bill Apple, Bill Bridge, Addison Cavazos, Frances Chambers, Jim Crooke, Don Dearman, Claudia DuBois, Steve Duke, Jordin Early, Jill Hyde, Diane Leardeau, Josephine Lloyd, Jeanne Mallette, Pat Morgan, Marion Mullinix, James Northerner, Jane Perkins, John (Pete) Peterson, Bruce Shepard, Carolyn VanPelt, Ralph Wade, Andrew Watson, Billie Whiddon, Jack Wilson, Liz Winburn.

Sympathies:

To Sharon Chase on the death of her father;
To Mike Reavey on the death of his mother;
To the Family and Friends of Evelyn Peters;
To Jackie Crot and family on the death of her husband, Steve;
To Mary Sirico on the death of her mother;
To the Family and Friends of Harold Thigpen;
To the Family and Friends of Ruth Richards;
To Paul Fleming on the death of his mother.

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Dear Church Family,
Thank you so much for the prayers, cards and flowers during my recent surgery and hospitalization. The visits from Herstel Carter and John Macon were very much appreciated and all the prayers brought me safely through 7 1/2 hours of surgery and placed me securely on the path to recovery. Words cannot express my love and gratitude to the old (certainly NOT in age or spirit!) newsletter gang. The cards, gifts, flowers, prayers and visits carried me through some bad days. But I’ve asked God to bless you especially for the”meals on wheels” which allowed me to rest and stay off my feet. We dearly love our church family and Tom and I will so miss you when he retires in July and we move to our retirement home in The Villages, Florida. Love and hugs, Claudia and Tom DuBois.

Dear Church Family,
I wish to thank everyone for the cards, calls, visits, and prayers during my recent heart attack and hospitalization. It is a wonderful blessing to know how much you love me and Belinda. Steve Duke

To our Wonderful Church Family,
How can we ever say thank you enough? Your prayers have sustained us through the last 4 months. We know that God heard your prayers for healing and He honored them. Thank you for the prayers, cards, visits, food, flowers, everything before and after my surgery. Many thanks to Lew, Herstel and Allison for sitting at the hospital with Robert and Jennifer. God is alive and active in this church and we are blessed because of you. Many thanks, Debbie Simmons

Dear Church Family,
Pat and I thank you for the love that you poured out on us while I was in the hospital recently. Your cards and emails, your visits, the beautiful flowers, and especially your prayers comforted both of us. I want to thank those who stayed with Pat during my two procedures. I am a bit overwhelmed by your “extravagant generosity.”
Our love and appreciation, John and Pat Peterson

Dear Church Family,
Thank you for the flowers, and all your thoughts and prayers during my recent back surgery and recovery. Pat Morgan

Congratulations...

To parents, Sean and Elvia Linn of Albuquerque on the birth of Daniel Jacob, May 15, 2009. Proud grandparents are Tom and Annette Linn. Daniel is their 6th grandchild.

To parents, Lori and Andy Saczynski on the birth of Jonah Jerome, born on June 6, 2009. He is also welcomed by sister Taylor, and brothers Nathan and Noah. Proud grandparents are Harold and Teresa Gilland.

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This report below is an image.

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This listing is an image below. For a complete listing of all staff with email links, visit the Staff Contact List online.

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