A GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL!    

We had a great Leadership Orientation in January.  We invited all the elected leaders of the church to come for a morning of information and discussion about the ministry of FUMC. On a dreary Saturday in January, 54 leaders got out of bed and showed up.  That in itself was impressive!

We enjoyed a presentation by Dane Womack on new realities in the church world, and we had highly engaged discussion around the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing FUMC.

As the outcome of the discussions, some things became clear about our trajectory moving forward. Three ministries we do well and want to keep strong include:

  •  Excellence and diversity of worship services,
  •  Engagement with mission field through community missions, and
  •  Educational ministries (Sunday School, Bible Studies, Wednesday Night Life).

Some new or  improved ministries that we will add or emphasize anew in the coming months will be:

  •  Lay Ministry Empowerment (through spiritual gifts), 
  •  Hospitality/Evangelism ministries, and 
  •  Technological improvements (video/streaming).

Again, I appreciate everyone who took part in the Orientation, and I believe we are getting some traction on the uphill climb toward growth and vitality in our church!  If you are not currently an elected officer of the church and would like to see the documents related to the Leadership Orientation, just call the church office and we’ll get them to you.

Then last Sunday the Finance Committee met and recommended a budget for our 2017 ministry.  We were pleased to note that we ended the year 2016 with a surplus of about $70,000.  That’s awesome and a hefty chunk of change, but it is only about 4% of our total budget, or about 2 weeks’ worth of operating funds.  (So don’t take a vacation from your giving!)  But it’s nice to start the year with a little cushion.  

Budgets are boring exercises in numbers on paper, but they are essential tools for any organization, and the ministry represented by the numbers on paper is changing lives and transforming our community.

That’s one of the things that makes me so excited to be your pastor.  We have great leadership that is dedicated to creating a vital congregation that makes disciples who make disciples in order to transform lives, communities, and the world. That’s our mission, and I’m so proud when we take some positive steps in the right direction.  Go church!  
Rev. Bud Reeves
Senior Pastor
breeves@fsfumc.org

CONFIRMATION COLLABORATION
Greetings FSFUMC! I write to you this month with great enthusiasm about our 2017 Confirmation Class beginning February 5th! We have around one dozen 6th and 7th graders who will begin their journey toward confirming their Christian faith as members of First UMC Fort Smith. As a church, we ought to be overjoyed to have this group of young folks exploring and leaning in to their faith in this season.

What’s new? We are doing some new things this year with respect to Confirmation. We are combining this year’s class of 6th and 7th graders so that in the future Confirmation will be primarily 6th graders as a bridge between children's ministry and youth. We are also using a new curriculum called Co-lab-orate from SPARKHOUSE publishing. This is a catchy, nifty series including funny videos that introduce and get students to thinking about our Methodist heritage and doctrine. One thing we like about this curriculum is the emphasis on the confirmand’s spiritual development. Confirmation is not just about head-knowledge, but is also about learning to get a sense for our inner-spiritual life as we grow in our faith. 
We will also involve the parents of the confirmands on a weekly basis, so it will be a family process. As a mission activity, confirmands will be assisting in Last Sunday Breakfast. Finally, we’ll be taking a one-night retreat at Shoal Creek Camp in April for some set apart time of worship, bonding, and fun. We’ll have a great 12 weeks together culminating in Confirmation Sunday on April 30.

I share this information with you for two purposes. First, I want all of you to be informed about what’s going on in Confirmation! I know our church is large enough that our ministries can sometimes be siloed: “Children over there. Youth over here. Adults in there.” Confirmation should be celebrated across our whole church. This is truly an exciting time. Second, I want you to hold these confirmands and this process in prayer with thanksgiving and joy. The changing dynamics of church life are well known to us. “Things aren’t like they used to be.” And yet, here we have 12 students, children of the church, who are growing into their faith and accepting the responsibility for the vows of baptism. A new generation of believers is coming of age week-in and week-out as gather for worship, Sunday School, VBS, YOUTH and so on. Thanks be to God!
Rev. Dane Womack
Executive Associate Pastor
dwomack@fsfumc.org

GUATEMALA MISSION TRIP      
The last week of February our mission team of doctors, dentist, nurses, dental assistants, dental hygienists and myself will take off for our annual Guatemala Mission Team. In worship on February 12th during the 11am Sanctuary service, we’ll commission this team. I invite you to be in prayer for this mission. Already our Guatemalan partners are preparing the way by contacting potential patients that we’ll meet. The patients that we will see will be of all ages and most will have not seen a medical professional in the last 2 months, at the very least. Some have not ever received medical or dental care! There is a dire need for medical and dental care in these rural Guatemalan villages outside of Cunen (see map for an idea of where Cunen is). Therefore, we go and set up clinics each day in community buildings. Often times when we arrive, there is a long line of Guatemalans waiting for a turn to be seen by doctors and dentist. We’ll pull teeth, offer medicines for cold and sinus problems, stomach problems, joint pain, and so much more. But most importantly, we’ll offer Christ’s love to those we encounter.
This mission would not be possible without the support of our entire church. During February 18th-25th   I invite you to be in prayer specifically for:
 
  •  For good health for our team of 16 individuals while in Guatemala and for their families and  friends who are without their spouses, parents, and friends for a week
  •  Safe travel for our team and continual safety for our team on Guatemalan soil
  •  For the hundreds of patients that we will serve
  •  For our translators, bus drivers, cooks, and helpers in Guatemala
  •  For God to be at work in amazing and transformative ways
 
We look forward to getting back and sharing with you during the Sunday School hour on March 12th all about our 2017 Guatemala Mission.
Rev. Sara Bayles
Associate Pastor
sbayles@fsfumc.org
Recent Memorials
In Memory of:

  •  Edythe Jakiun by Marie Readd, Miss Laura’s Starrs, Uplifters Class, Jean Williams, Robert &  June Harrower, Sallie Konert, Gene & Dorothy Staton, Crag & Mary Burge, Patty Payne
  •  Janie Atwood May by Bob & Jan Cooper, Jane & Randy Bittle, Judy & Bob Dawson
  •  Judy Massey by John & Jane Stauffer
  •  Connie Buell Maxian by Morgan & Margaret Bryant
  •  Ted Sokos by Linda & Byron Ware, Bill & Toka Beall
  •  Bette Childers by Mary Lee Kulin
  •  Ival Parker by Janice & Bob Powell, Judy & Bob Dawson
  •  Doug Udouj by Nancy Baker  
In Honor of:
  • 50th Wedding Anniversary of Jerry & Cyndi Pruitt by Nancy Baker, Floyd & Judy Bradberry
  • David & Connie Adrion by Marvin & Linda Mumme
     
This Sunday 2.5.17
8:30 am - Roebuck Chapel - Rev. Sara Bayles
Offertory “O Jesus, Blessed Lord”
Sandy Hunt, Soloist
Nancy W. Vernon, Organist
 
11:00 am - Sanctuary - Rev. Sara Bayles
Offertory Anthem “Come, Let Us Sing”
Communion Anthem “O Jesus, Blessed Lord”
Gaye McClure, Chancel Choir Director
Nancy W. Vernon, Organist
Acolytes: Hannah Schmidt, Sophie Stites, & Meg Norton
 
11:00 am - Connexion FLC - Rev. Bud Reeves
“Carried to the Table”  “Follow You”
“Remembrance”  “Blessed Be Your Name”
“10,000 Reasons”  “My Lighthouse”
 
5:00 pm—Youth Meal/Devo/Games, Loft 
COMMUNITY RED BOX

Club 56 has been and will continue to collect items for the Community Red Boxes.  Each week a classmate will take a couple of bags to be dropped off at the Red Box on B Street, located at the Board of Realtors office (near our church). Children can learn from this experience that we have needy people in our own neighborhood and we can help.

If you’d like to help, please bring items such as, but not limited to, the following, to the shopping cart outside the children’s ministry office:

Canned goods, hot hands, tube socks, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, soups, packages of peanut butter crackers, packages of cheese crackers, adult’s and children’s gloves and hats. And anything else that you feel might be useful!





Russell Key delivering to community Red Box.
Sally Ware
Director of Children's Ministry
sware@fsfumc.org 
CHILDREN’S DAY OUT & WEEKDAY SCHOOL

“Love is in the Air”…..
at FUMC Children’s Day Out & Weekday School!
 
The children are busy this month making cute Valentine artwork for their classrooms and it is a happy reminder that “LOVE” is the cornerstone of our Children’s programs at FUMC !

Children’s Day Out & Weekday Preschool are an accredited program that offer childcare for 3 months   through 5 years old.  These faith based programs are licensed by the State & governed by a Board that includes members of our church & community.

These children are so blessed to be taught by the best teachers and loved by all our staff at FUMC.  The wonderful support that our church offers to our children is so appreciated. The ministers & staff even pray for our children on their first day of school as well as the entire year, so we feel that love everyday!!  

Our children have monthly tuition's and our school has limited scholarships for some that are in need.  If you would like to help support a child with a monetary donation please contact our church at 782-5068. You’re blessing the children of our future.  

STEADILY LEARNING  
One thing that I love about our Methodist heritage is the dedication to life-long learning. Our founder, John Wesley, was so passionate about education that he insisted all of his preachers in the early Methodist movement read and sell books that were produced by Methodist publishing enterprises. At a time when literacy rates weren’t as high as they are now, that could’ve been a big challenge to many Methodist preachers!

This passion and emphasis for education is still alive today. It can be seen at FSFUMC on any given Sunday morning or Wednesday night as members and guests gather in classrooms all around our building to study the Scriptures.  Because of our church’s great commitment to learning, I had the opportunity last month to continue my Christian education at the Perkins School of Youth Ministry in Dallas, TX.

At PSYM I was privileged to learn the ins and outs of youth ministry through a weeklong Foundations to Youth Ministry course. Youth ministry veterans from around the nation taught on subjects such as preaching, teaching, organization, and professionalism. We discussed trends and cutting-edge practices with proven effectiveness in the church.

In a classroom full of newly hired youth directors such as myself, there were several common challenges that we all faced. Working through those challenges with my peers helped us to leave Perkins with hope, confidence, and a fresh desire for excellence in our profession of youth ministry. After my week at Perkins, I feel much more equipped to help our church’s youth find their personal, lasting relationship with Jesus Christ.

If I hadn’t attended the Perkins School of Youth Ministry, I’d be in my freshman year at the School of Hard Knocks. Thank you, FSFUMC, for investing in my development as a youth pastor! My prayer is that God would honor this investment so that He may be glorified by fruitfulness at First Youth and our church. May we always have teachable hearts as walk with our Lord, our Savior, and our Teacher!
Michael Mings
Director of Youth Ministries
mmings@fsfumc.org
ATTENDANCE
January 29
 
Communion: Wednesday 65
8:30am Roebuck Chapel 68
11:00am Family Life Center 136
11:00am Sanctuary 229
Nursery 26
Worship Total 524
Youth Sun. Evening 33
Sunday School Total 303
WEEKLY CALENDAR
Sunday, February 5
8:30am Worship, Roebuck Chapel
8:30am Holy Grounds, Narthex
9:45am Sunday School
11:00am Worship, Sanctuary
11:00am Worship, Family Life Center
12:00pm Created By God, Children’s Area
4:00pm Confirmation, 3 floor Youth SS Room
5:00pm  Youth Meal/Devo/Games, Loft
 
Monday, February 6
6:00pm Women’s Bible Study, Fireside Room
6:30pm Boy Scouts, 3rd Floor
 
Tuesday, February 7
8:45am BSF, 3rd Floor
9:30am Staff Meeting
12:00pm Memorial Committee, Conference Room
6:30pm SERVE Team Meeting, Fireside Room
 
Wednesday, February 8
9:15am Women’s Bible Study, Fireside Room
10:00am Prayer Group, Prayer Room, 2nd Floor
3:30pm Children’s Choir, Various Rooms
5:30pm Holy Communion, Roebuck Chapel
5:45pm WNL Meal, FLC
6:30pm Wednesday Night Life Groups, Various Rooms
7:00pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal
 
Thursday, February 9
7:00am Youth Breakfast Club, Chick-fil-A
10:00am Knitters & Knotters/Mats that Matter, Narthex
12:00pm UMM (Men’s) Bible Study/Lunch, Fireside Room
 
Friday, February 10
6:30am UMM (Men’s) Bible Study/Breakfast, Fireside Room
 
Saturday, February 11
7am Boy Scouts Merit Badge University 
PACESETTERS
February 3 at 10:00 am in the Fireside Room:
Melissa Schoenfeld, Executive Artistic Director of the  Western Arkansas Ballet, will give the program. Lunch is $5 and includes: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, California Blend Vegetables, rolls, dessert
 
February 17 at 10:00 am in the Fireside Room:
Valerie Coleman, Director of Volunteers for Mercy Hospice, will give the program. Lunch is $5 and includes: Goulash, salad, green beans, bread sticks, and birthday cake.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

UMW Circles Meeting February 14 at the following locations:

  •  Hannah-Elizabeth-Aldersgate Room
  •  Ruth-FLC 101
  •  Deborah-Home of Wilma Hill
  •  Rebekah-Home of Dixie Spears
  •  Naomi-Home of Nancy Cochran

FIRST UNITED METHODIST NEWS published weekly except the last week of the year by First United Methodist Church 200 North 15th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901.