Ministry snapshots - UMMen support readers

In Madill, United Methodist Men write in hearts the greatest story ever told by volunteering for meetings of the Dad and Me Book Club.

The men served most recently at the Jan. 13 session of the club, which is a program of the Madill Early Childhood Center. They have been volunteering for three years.

UMMen and the church filled key roles for the book club’s first meeting of this academic year, said Pastor Brett Thomasson. The church raised the funds to provide the books and arts-and-crafts materials for that event.

Each child went home with a new book, "Kindness Counts," and a craft item.

Airplanes and air formed the theme of that first meeting. Seven UMMen and Rev. Thomasson facilitated the activities for the 60 kindergarten and first-grade students who attended with their dads, granddads, and other guests — about 120 total.

Carl Stephens opened the evening with an air show, operating a remote-control plane that flew and flipped above the crowd. He also is a member of the church’s praise band.

After reading their books, the children and adults read online and worked puzzles, using the center’s computer lab. They also created a marshmallow popper, designed paper airplanes, and made straw air rockets. They assembled and painted a wooden airplane, created a hot-air balloon sticker art project, and played with a giant parachute.

For one game, they attempted to float a ping-pong ball with a straw and some hot air!

Joining Stephens and Thomasson as UMMen volunteers were Dale Coulson, Snell Green, Lonny Holdeman, Keith Long, Pat Tickel, and Don Whittaker.

Dale Coulson of Madill UMC, center, helps a father and daughter complete a craft during a meeting of the Dad and Me Book Club.