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Thanks to all who have been so very supportive during my father’s illness and recent passing. Your thoughts, cares, and prayers have been appreciated and uplifting. Thanks to all who sent flowers. They were a colorful illustration of God’s presence even in difficulty. Thanks to all who sent cards. The love of Christ is evident in each and every one of them. Thanks to all who made memorial gifts to Tunica United Methodist Church. Seeing so many of the members of my home church in the past couple of weeks has reminded me of the good foundation laid in me. Thanks to all who called to offer words of encouragement and support. That meant a lot to me. Thanks to those who made the day-long drive to be with me and the Potters in Tunica. You are beyond belief, and we are greatly humbled by your gestures.

A few observations, if I may.

A. Dad was as faithful a Christian Disciple as I ever knew. He dealt with prostate cancer for five years and four months. His illness was not a judgment by
God or a punishment, nor was it a test. In an imperfect world, crud like this happens, and who ya gonna call? God!

B. After seeing my Dad struggle with his disease, particularly in his last few weeks, I can now say with absolute certainty: Death is not the enemy; ILLNESS
is the enemy. Death is not even in the top ten bad things that can happen to you, if you are a Christian.

C. Sixty-four months ago, Dad was given six or eight months to live.  He hunkered down in his faith and family, and God stretched his time with us time dramatically.
    The smartest Oncologists on the planet were stumped and amazed by this man who refused to give up, and refused to lose faith.  Medicine in general,
    and oncology in particular, is not so much a science as it is an art.

D. Hospice is all it’s hyped to be. If we had it to do over, though, we would have gotten Dad into Hospice a few months sooner, so they’d have had a
chance to get to know him better, and thus make it easier for them to minister to him.

E. “If your Dad could come back to earth, he wouldn’t want to,” the man said to me at the visitation (wake, for you in Jackson County). Please,
even if you think this sounds profound and helpful, I PROMISE YOU that isn’t the way it’s heard by someone who is in grief! Don’t tell anyone that.

F. My Dad, who held just about every position of leadership you can hold in a UMC (Board Chair, Trustees Chair, PPRC Chair, Annual Conference
Delegate, Finance Chair, Cluster Representative, Choir member, Youth Sunday School teacher-20 years+) wrote a poem about church work that is
certainly true:

“Whatever the job,
Be it big, be it small,
Do it too well,
Get stuck with it all.”

In closing, thanks for your understanding, and thanks for your indulgence. Thanks for your support in this difficult time. I am inspired by a passage from the Apocrypha (the period of writing between the Old and New Testaments):

“The souls of the righteous
Are in the hand of God,
And there no torment shall touch them.
In the eyes of the unwise they seem
To have died,
But they are at peace.”

In Joy,
Tom Potter

Special Events

Our deepest sympathy to the Tom Potter family on the loss of Tom's father, Mr. Ralph Potter, who passed away on Wednesday, June 17th.

Our deepest sympathy to the Dale Ingersoll family on the loss of Dale's father, Mr. Dale M. Ingersoll, who passed away on Tuesday, June 16th.

We welcome new members Debra Van Purnell and Margaret Keenum to the family of Safe Harbor UMC. Both ladies joined on Sunday, June 7th. Debra comes to us by transfer from Greater True Love Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, and Margaret comes to us by transfer from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Moss Point. Norman Bosarge and Hunter Hackler received Holy Baptism on Sunday, June 7th. Hunter is the son of Chris and Sharon Hackler. We welcome you to the Kingdom of Heaven! By the way, that makes 26 new members and seven baptisms this year.

Welcome Myles Alan-Lee Coleman. Myles was born to Lee and Sumar Coleman on June 11th. His big sisters are Gracie and Autumn. His proud grandparents are Bruce & Tonia Lynd and Gary & Irene Coleman. Proud great-grandparents are Glenn & Marie Lynd.

Attention Campers! It's time for Camp Wesley Pines. Are you going? We need to know ASAP! Camp dates and fees are listed here. Older Elementary (4th - 6th Grades) date is set for July 6th thru 10th. Rhonda Thompson will drive them to and from camp. If you would like to go during this time, please let us know. See our Children's Minister, Youth Leader or foyer table for Registration/Information packet.

Caught Being Christian! If you have caught someone doing the Christian thing, we want to know. On the information table in the foyer, there is a box and cards. Fill out a card telling us who did the Christian thing and what the Christian thing was. Once a month we will read the cards and have someone draw the winning card for a $25.00 gift certificate to Catfish Point.

Here's a NEW way to count your blessings! If you receive a blessing, respond by dropping a quarter in the offering plate. Through this practice, we'll start recognizing more and more blessings in our life. Quarters will go toward the Playground Fund. We have deposited $2,643.25! So far, that's 10,573 Blessings!

Weekly Wednesday Supper Service Is Back! Beginning July 1st, we will have supper every Wednesday night. We do hope you enjoy this time of fellowship and that it helps your family by giving you one less thing to do before Bible Study. In order to keep this event ongoing, we ask that everyone dining please give a donation at each fellowship meal.

Help Feed The Hungry! The Circle Of Faith is sponsoring a food drive during the month of June for Our Daily Bread in Pascagoula. We are asking for non-perishable food only. Drop your donations in the box in the foyer. Supplies will be packed into backpacks and passed out to our children on Sunday, July 26th.

The Bessie Posey Circle is sponsoring their School Supply Drive again this year. Starting in June, we will be collecting supplies for the children of our church. We ask if you feel led to donate to the project, please choose from this list and place your donation in the tote in the foyer.

Tuesday morning Bible Study will not meet during the months of July and August. They will continue through the month of June and resume in September. If you would like to be a part of this small group Bible Study, we would love to have you!

Come out and support our Men's Softball Team on Thursday, June 25th, at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

The Prayers And Squares Quilting Group will meet again on Saturday, June 27th, at 10:00 a.m. in the Gym.

Christians In Action presents "Jesus Jam 2" at Big Point United Methodist Church on June 27th from 6:00 p.m. till 9:00 p.m. This outreach, featuring Muleskinners Association, Damon Westfaul, and Break Through, is to raise money for Alisha Broadus-Martin, a 41 year old woman who has blood cancer. As a community, we can help by showing our support at this event! All churches and community are invited to participate! For more information, please contact Glenn Clark at 228-217-0788.

Directory Portraits! On Sunday, June 28th, immediately following the morning service, Larry Dees will be set up (in the Gym) and ready to take portraits of all of you that weren't able to make it here in April. Please take a moment and have your portrait taken for the directory.

Vacation Bible School will be held June 22nd through 26th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. See Ashley Garner if you would like to help. This year's theme is "Crocodile Dock"! Invite your friends, neighbors, and relatives age 2 - 12 to come "Rock The Dock With Jesus". To make VBS a success, the following items are needed . Register your child as soon as possible. We are also seeking donations to feed the children and workers during the week of VBS. The cost per night is approximately $150.00. Two members have generously committed to help; all we need is three more. Mark your gift "VBS Food" and drop it in the offering plate!

Sacred Voice Recital featuring Byron Johnson (Tenor), Dr. Allanda Small (Soprano), with Christopher Lovely on Sunday, June 28th, at 3:00 p.m.

Fish Fry Fundraiser! Saturday, July 11th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Gym. We are asking members to sell tickets for Catfish Charlie's amazingly delicious catfish, baked beans, potato salad, hush puppies, and dessert! Dine-In or Carry-Out. Tickets are $7.00.

Scholarship Award Applications. Are you a member of SHUMC? Will you be a full time student this Fall? If you said "yes" to these questions, please fill out a scholarship application, place it in a sealed envelope and turn it in to Karen Upton or the church office by July 12th.

The United Methodist Women will host a Wedding Shower for Kristina Goff, bride elect of Travis Gammill, on Sunday, July 12th, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Gym.

The Annual Clergy Picnic will be held in the Safe Harbor UMC Gym on Tuesday, July 14th, at 6:00 p.m.