Developments in the Denomination
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I know for most people the policies and politics of the United Methodist Church are far from the world we live in. But we are a connectional church, and the ministry of the larger church, while mostly a source of pride and joy, is sometimes a concern. The most notable concern is our decades-long conversation about homosexuality. Of course, in the last 40 years, our culture has changed dramatically in terms of acceptance of LGBTQ persons and gay marriage. The 2016 General Conference of the UMC (the quadrennial meeting of worldwide United Methodists) formed a Commission on the Way Forward to give the church a plan to substantially deal with the issue that has been a source of division and rancor in the church. Bishop Ken Carter, who was recently with us, is one of the chairs of that com
Two months after the General Conference, the Western Jurisdiction (United Methodists from Colorado to the west coast) elected a married lesbian, Rev. Karen Oliveto, to the office of bishop. The Book of Discipline (our book of church law and organization) prohibits the ordination of homosexuals and gay marriage. Immediately a request for a declaratory decision was filed with the Judicial Council of the UMC (our denomination’s Supreme Court), asking for a ruling as to the legitimacy of this action.
Last week the Judicial Council met, heard both sides’ arguments, and ruled that indeed, the election of a lesbian married bishop is a violation of church law. The job of the Judicial Council is to rule on points of church law. However, the Judicial Council did not strip Bishop Oliveto of her office or her ordination. This action is outside the jurisdiction of the Judicial Council. The Book of Discipline specifically gives responsibility for complaints against bishops (which may result in them losing their office or ordination) to the College of Bishops within the Jurisdiction where the bishop resides. Therefore, having established that her election was in violation of church law, the question of Bishop Oliveto’s continued service and ordination must now be taken up by the other bishops of the Western Jurisdiction.
So what do we do now? How do we respond in a way that neither ignores what is going on nor obsesses about it? Here’s what I think we need to do:
- Be in prayer. Pray for our denomination, our local church, your pastors and staff, and the needs of our community. Daily. Don’t stop. Ever.
- Understand that good people are giving their best to this process. When we met Bishop Carter, we could see the kind of leadership we have at the top--kind, wise, humble, prayerful, and committed. Even among those on the Commission who disagree about the issues, there is no desire to do harm to the church.
- Focus on our local ministry. We have a great church that impacts many lives. Our church is on a positive track, and our ministry is growing. Let’s celebrate and concentrate on that. The local church is where disciples are made, people are helped, and God is worshipped. We have plenty to do to keep us busy.
- Be patient. Our current situation has been decades in the making. It will not get resolved overnight. The Book of Discipline has not changed. We have to let the process work without reacting to the latest blog or Facebook post. God is in this process, too, and God will work it out for the good of the church and the Kingdom.
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Senior Pastor
breeves@fsfumc.org
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On Sunday, April 2 in the Sanctuary service we celebrated the sacrament of Christian Baptism for Landri Louise Goodman. Her parents are Trey & Amanda Goodman and sister Maci Kaylynn Goodman. Maternal grandparents are Jerry & Pauletta Martin and Wade & Julie Rogers. Maternal great-grandparents are Jerry & Mary Dickens. Paternal grandparents are Cole & Staci Goodman and Barbee Goodman & Keith Griffith.
On Sunday, April 2 in the Connexion service we welcomed Les & Monica Smith and children Cameron & Cooper Smith.
On Sunday, April 16 in the Sanctuary service we celebrated the sacrament of Christian Baptism for Meredith Lark Peterson. Her parents are Kevin & Lark Peterson and brother Sean Michael Peterson. Maternal grandparent is Gail Cowart. Paternal grandparents are Jean & Mike Lucas and Mike Peterson. Paternal great-grandparent is Evelyn Higginbotham.
On Sunday, April 30 in the Sanctuary service we celebrated the sacrament of Christian Baptism for Jackson George Miller as a part of Confirmation Sunday. His parents are Howard & Lisa Miller.
On Sunday, April 30 in the Sanctuary service we celebrated the sacrament of Christian Baptism for Anna Claire Roberts as a part of Confirmation Sunday.
Her parents are Neil & Jena Roberts.
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Sports, music, art, or film – these mediums are set forth for our enjoyment. We literally pay to consume them. And when the level of entertainment is high, the product can be unbelievable. So then, churchy folks sometimes say things like, “If people only cared about church as much as sports.” I worry when we say something like that, we are propagating a belief that church is competing with popular forms of entertainment. And this simply cannot be true because church is not a form of entertainment.
The Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is our Christian understanding of God. The church famously decided this meant that God was one substance made up of three persons. Which raises questions about how these three persons relate. One of my favorite explanations is given by the church fathers in what they called perichoresis. Perichoresis, roughly defined, means something like “encircling and/while making room for one another.” The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are always making room for and surrounding one another. In layman’s terms, then, we might say that the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – are in a constant, eternal dance. That’s the key image here. And it’s not a highly orchestrated dance either; the steps are not predetermined. Each person is responding to and experimenting with each move. This is how the Trinity works – it dances – from eternity to eternity.
Dancing is different than entertainment. With popular forms of entertainment, we consume the product at our heart’s discretion. But with dancing, while there may be music in the background, we are no longer consumers, but participants. I don’t know much about dancing myself. I don’t have many moves. But I do know the feeling, when the music is right, the body wants to respond! Tap the steering wheel. Stomp your foot. Do something!
Today I am celebrating our new Confirmation class! They are just now learning the steps and rhythms of God’s grace - they are learning to dance with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But old dogs can learn new tricks too. Don’t be a wallflower! Church is not entertainment; church is a dance! If you sense a lull in your spiritual life, as I sometimes do, you might want to ask yourself, “Have I become a consumer of religion? Maybe I need a change in perspective. Where did I put those dancin’ shoes?”
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Executive Associate Pastor dwomack@fsfumc.org
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One of my favorite Wendell Berry poems ends with the line, “practice resurrection. ” For eight years after I first read this poem, I’ve called it the “Practice Resurrection Poem” only to recently learn that isn’t the name of this profound piece of literature. The entirety of the poem is so beautiful and I encourage you to look it up on google or come by my office to ask for a copy of the “practice resurrection poem.” We have celebrated Easter and are now here, as Easter People, trying to figure out what it means to practice resurrection. Being a Christian is to practice resurrection.
After the bright white blooms of our Easter lilies fade and wither, we’ll still be practicing resurrection. It’s our way of life. Practicing resurrection means following the example of Christ who appeared to his friends and proclaimed the good news. For me, this means stopping to talk with the mailman or catching up over coffee with friends, this means going out of my way to care for a friend who's received a cancer diagnosis, or send a card to a former classmate to let them know I’m thinking of them. It means to care enough about one another that we proclaim the good news of resurrection in the grief and madness of this world. This is what Wendell Berry is meaning in his poem.
Another of my favorite lines in this poem includes the phrase, “plant sequoias.” While I’m no master gardener and not sure if sequoias will grow well in our climate, I do plant trees. For Arbor Day this year, I planted one tree at the new location of the Sack Lunch Program, which is next to the Community Rescue Mission. I won this tree last year as part of Keep Fort Smith Beautiful Litter Pick-Up and have faithfully watered and nurtured its life for 13 months. This one maple tree, now has a baby tree, which will grow to be strong enough to plant next Spring. This one tree began my porch garden, which now features a lime tree, lemon tree, strawberry hanging plants, herb garden of cilantro, basil, and rosemary as well as a vegetable bed of tomatoes, asparagus, cucumber, green beans, zucchini, peppers, and squash. My little porch garden brings me closer to God and reminds me of a part the prayer by Oscar Romero, “We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing they hold future promise.” How true is this of practicing resurrection?
To plant is to practice resurrection. To care for people is to practice resurrection. To be a Christian means we must practice resurrection. Let us get to the work and fun of practicing resurrection.
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Associate Pastor sbayles@fsfumc.org
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Calling all of God's Super Heroes!! VBS is Coming Soon! June 12-16 Registration and T-Shirt Sales will begin soon!
VBS is open to children ages 3 years old (must have turned 3 by September of 2016) through the 6th grade. We will all be learning about some amazing Heroes from the Bible. Throughout the week of VBS our heroes will see how God's Heroes have HEART, HOPE, WISDOM, COURAGE and POWER! If you are interested in helping with VBS or to supply snacks for our fabulous VBS Leader and Shepherd heroes, please email Christie Jacobs at cjacobs@fsfumc.org. Another way to help out with VBS is to look for the VBS Giving Tree. Items needed for VBS will be tagged on the tree. Choose a tag, purchase the item and return it to the cart outside Sally's office. You can be a hero for a deserving child by purchasing a T-shirt! FUMC's VBS is always an amazing time for our children, as well as others in the community, where we can all Discover Our Strength in God!
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Director of Children's Ministry sware@fsfumc.org
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An Ode to the Volunteer
“I’m too old for this!” seems to be a reoccurring theme
And yet you’re here! and you signed up! No, this is not a dream…
This is a mission, to which you’ve enlisted, prepare for battle, friend!
Because FIRST YOUTH is crazy and wild and fun, and this ride never ends!
There’s lock-ins and breakouts and teenaged drama galore!
There’s smashball and ski trips and headaches with no cure
There’s banter and bruises and a goofy song in between
There’s free food and food fights and a bright new stain on your jeans
But this is a calling, is it not? You’ve heard and picked up the ring
You’ve offered your time, your gifts, your very self, to that kid with A.D.D.
There was a twinkle in an eye during the lesson that you taught
It made years of teaching Sunday School worth every last teardrop
Once you brought food that no one liked, and the kids just didn’t eat
Next Sunday you prayed with a homeless man and junior high girl, right on Garrison Street
One time you got hit with a dodgeball, and it stung for three days straight
Another time you told a student Jesus loved him, and carried all his weight
Maybe it’s true that you haven’t stayed up this late in years
But that night we were so tired we laughed until we cried tears
So thank you for being faithful as a youth group volunteer
We’re the church, and we’re together, now let’s bring His Kingdom near!
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“Living the Easter Life: Jesus is Lord Over Time”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, James 4:13-17
8:30 am - Roebuck Chapel - Rev. Bud Reeves
Offertory “Lord, Here Am I”
Alexandra Salamone, Soloist
Nancy Vernon, Organist
11:00 am - Sanctuary - Rev. Bud Reeves
Anthem “Lord, Here Am I”
Alexandra Salamone, Soloist
Offertory “To Everything There Is a Season”
Communion Anthem “Many Gifts, One Spirit”
Chancel Choir
Gaye McClure, Chancel Choir Director
Nancy Vernon, Organist
Acolytes: Vivian Apple, Kate Lanier,
and Sydney Sengel
11:00 am - Connexion FLC - Rev. Dane Womack
“We Believe” “Oceans”
“Holy Spirit” “Your Love Oh Lord”
“O Come To The Altar” “We Believe”
5:00 pm-Youth Meal/Devo/Games, Loft
5:00 pm - Mission Interest Meeting - Fireside Room
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Sunday, May 7-Senior Sunday
8:30am Worship, Roebuck Chapel
8:45am Holy Grounds, Narthex
8:45am Meet-N-Greet Seniors, Narthex
9:45am Sunday School
11:00am Worship, Sanctuary
11:00am Worship, Family Life Center
5:00pm Youth, Loft
5:00pm Mission Trip Meeting, Fireside Rm
Monday, May 8
2:00pm Staff Meeting, Conference Room
6:00pm Women’s Bible Study, Fireside Room
6:30pm Boy Scouts, 3rd Floor
Tuesday, May 9
8:45am BSF, 3rd Floor
UMW Circles, meeting at various times & locations
Wednesday, May 10
10:00am Prayer Group, Prayer Room, 2nd Floor
3:30pm Children’s Choir, Various Rooms
5:30pm Holy Communion, Roebuck Chapel
6:00pm Serving From the Heart, Fireside Room
7:00pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, May 11
7:00am Youth Breakfast Club, Chick-fil-A
10:00am Knitters & Knotters, Narthex
12:00pm UMM Bible Study/Lunch, Fireside Room
Friday, May 12
6:30am UMM Bible Study/Breakfast, Fireside Room
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In Memory of: Pam Weiler by Jerry & Cindi Pruitt, Donna Collins Family, Nancy Baker, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Ledbetter Guoping Huang by Patty Payne, Shirley Cothren, Ted & Ginger Taylor, The Jacimore Family Bill Hutcheson by Dick & Ann Appleton, Kimberly & Phil White, Stanley Burns & John Harris, Bob & Nadine Miller, Larry & Sharon Weir Herschel McClurkin by Doug & Loretta Parker, Marvin & Linda Mumme, Ted & Ginger Taylor, Bob & Jan Cooper, Jane Williams, Bryant Preserving Company, Tom & Rita Gray, Cole Goodman, Jack & Louanna Green, Glenda Brown, Warren & Cynthia Giss, Shirley Cothren, Thad Freeland, Becky & John Womack, Amanda & Tom Goldsborough, Kent & Nancy Blochberger, Charles & Jeanne Ledbetter, Richard & Kay Aclin, Kathleen & Donald Dickey, Kyle & Renee Parker, Nancy Baker, The Jacimore Family, Larry & Sharon Weir, Bob & Nadine Miller, Beth Watson, John & Rose Mary Ayers, Carole & George Beattie, Larry & Sandra Clark June Alexander by Bill Walker & Jane Klein, Jean Laws, Doug & Loretta Parker, Kent & Nancy Blochberger, Kyle & Renee Parker, Bob & Nadine Miller Ted Skokos by Bob & Nadine Miller Janice Hughes by Ted & Ginger Taylor, Cornerstone Sunday School Class Tommy Fleri by Mel & Carole Kuntemeier, The Jacimore Family Scott Thompson by Ted & Ginger Taylor, Doug & Loretta Parker, Kyle & Renee Parker, Nancy Baker Anya Rae Romano by Shirley Cothren In Honor of: Dottie & Nelson Kimes by John & Merelyn Aubrey
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Pat Reid in Mercy Hospital. Our Sympathies for: Patsy Janes and the loss of her husband Dr. Robert Janes Jr. Cindy Meadows on the loss of her sister Opal Darlene Hughes.
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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.
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