Choctaw United Methodist Church
Most Frequently Asked Questions

What are your worship times?
8:30 and 10:45 each Sunday

When is Sunday School?
9:45 each Sunday. We have classes for adults, youth and children. We also have occasional short-term classes that meet for 6-8 weeks.

What programs do you have for children and youth?
For children, we have nursery care for ages birth to two years old during both worship services and Sunday School. We have Sunday School at 9:45 am for the following ages:
• Pre-school to Kindergarten
• 1st – 3rd grade
• 4th – 5th grade
• 6th – 8th grade (Jr. High)
• 9th – 12th grade (Sr. High)
We offer children’s church during the 10:45 worship service. It begins after the children’s moment and goes through the end of worship. It is for ages 3-7. (We encourage children older than 7 years old to be in worship with their parents).
Our youth group, called UMYF, (7th – 12th grade) meets each Sunday evening from 4:00 – 5:30 pm. This time includes fellowship, snacks, and growing their faith together. They take occasional trips and fun outings. Please contact Tim Bodenstein for more information on their activities.

What discipleship opportunities do you have for adults?
We have four Sunday School classes that meet at 9:45 each Sunday: Open Door, KIHU (Kan I Help You), Pairs & Spares, Seekers. We also have occasional short-term classes like a Bible study, Transforming Discipleship, and Beginnings. These classes usually meet on a weeknight and are advertised in our newsletter and bulletin.


What about men’s and women’s ministries?
Our United Methodist Women’s unit meets quarterly. Please call the church office for their meeting schedule. They are involved in various mission projects. They also have a study group that meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday in different homes. It is called, Circle of Grace.
Our United Methodist Men’s group meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday at 6:30 pm. They share a meal and devotion time. They work on various service projects for the congregation and community.

What committees do you have?
We have six administrative committees: Staff-Parish Relations Committee, Trustees, Finance, Building Committee, Nominations and Administrative Council. We have six programming task forces: Outreach, Fun & Fellowship, Discipleship, Children and Youth. We elect people to serve in these areas annually at our Charge Conference. Please let Pastor Charla know if you are interested in serving.

What ministries can I be involved in and what is required?
We welcome volunteers in our children and youth ministry. All volunteers working in these areas must go through a background check and fill out a volunteer application, according to our Safe Sanctuaries policy. Volunteer positions include: Sunday School teacher, Children’s Church leader, Vacation Bible School helper and youth sponsor. Interested persons should visit with Tim Bodenstein.
We welcome new singers in our chancel choir. They rehearse each Wednesday at 7:00 pm. We also welcome new ringers in our handbell choir. They rehearse each Wednesday at 5:45 pm. Please visit with Lanna Mullens if you are interested in chancel choir and Kurt Gwartney if you are interested in handbells. No previous musical experience is required for either chancel choir or handbells.
We welcome volunteers to help lead worship. Positions include: liturgist, greeter/usher, media volunteer. Please visit with Pastor Charla if you are interested. Training is offered annually for all positions.

What mission and outreach projects do you have?
During the school year, we offer an after-school tutoring program for students at Choctaw Elementary. We can always use volunteers on Monday & Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. If you are interested, please visit with Bonnie Morton.
Every Wednesday, we serve Mobile Meals to residents in the Choctaw area. We can always use volunteers to help prepare food and deliver meals. If you are interested, please visit with Pastor Charla.
We are planning a Volunteers in Mission trip to Rio Bravo, Mexico for July 2008. The mission team will build a small house called a casita for a family just across the border that is currently homeless.

When do you expect to move into your new building at NE 10th and Choctaw Road?
Construction is currently underway on our new building. Estimated completion date is August 2008. Our Transition Team is planning several prayer practices and open houses during the time of construction. We are planning our Consecration Sunday for Oct. 5, 2008 and Grand Opening Sunday for Oct. 19, 2008.

What do you do for the community?
We have two main community outreach events each year. On Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter), we host a community-wide Easter Egg Hunt on our new property. Everyone is welcome to participate and volunteers are always needed.
On the Saturday of fall break, from 1-4 pm, we offer the Pumpkin Fest. Everyone who comes gets a free pumpkin. We have games and fun activities for kids and free food. Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in volunteering for either event, please visit with Casey Warren.

What is the main mission of your congregation?
We want to help people in the Choctaw area who don’t have a church home find a place to connect with Christ and belong to a caring family of faith. We want to grow together in our faith and find tangible ways of expressing our faith to our community and our world.