CHURCH STAFF TO UNDERGO SOME (GOOD) CHANGES
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After learning that Pastor Sara Bayles was being reappointed July 1 to Sylvan Hills UMC, the remaining pastors and the Staff-Parish Relations Committee became aware that there was a likelihood that we would not receive another associate pastor from the Arkansas Annual Conference. The Bishop and Cabinet have to provide pastoral leadership for almost 700 UM churches in Arkansas, and there have been more retirements than new pastors for the last several years. Several larger churches in Arkansas are losing associate positions as the conference feels the crunch of a pastor shortage.
This development, coupled with the loss of two employees in our business office, has allowed (forced!) the pastors and SPRC to create a plan for staffing the church strategically to move our ministry forward. We have already filled the Business Administrator and Financial Assistant positions with two excellent people, although the Financial Assistant is now part-time.
We will be creating two new full-time program ministry positions which will direct our attention toward our mission of making disciples and reaching new people. Most of Sara’s work will be covered by the
DIRECTOR OF ADULT DISCIPLESHIP.
Ministry areas will include Hospitality and Evangelism (Share team), Adult Discipleship development (Study team), and Missions (Serve team). We will also employ a full-time
WORSHIP LEADER/MEDIA SPECIALIST
who will lead music in the Connexion service, work with our expanding media and technology ministries, and assist with other ongoing worship ministries. Job descriptions will soon be posted on the church website (fsfumc.org/aboutus/employment). Resumes may be sent to Bud Reeves (
breeves@arumc.org
). Questions may be directed to Bud Reeves, Dane Womack, or Anna Brown, chair of SPRC.
Despite the loss of some excellent staff people, we believe that these new plans will continue to move us forward and strengthen our ministry at FSFUMC!
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8:30 am - Roebuck Chapel - Rev. Bud Reeves
Offertory “O Jesus, Blessed Lord” Sandy Hunt, Soloist
11:00 am - Sanctuary - Rev. Bud Reeves
Anthems by SHS Choir
“Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho”
“O Nata Lux” “Precious Lord” “The Plans I Have for You”
Southside High School Mixed Chorus and Chamber Choir
Micah Alt, Meg Norton & Joseph Udouj, Acolytes
11:00 am - Connexion FLC - Rev. Sara Bayles
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Despite my adverse reactions to the pollen all around us, I love the springtime. The temperature warms (finally!), the flowers and trees bloom (thus the pollen), and the golf courses get green again. There are signs of new life all around us. With such a rainy year so far, the moisture has provided abundant nourishment for all the beautiful azaleas, dogwoods and every other variety that we see everywhere.
I think there is a reason Easter happens in the spring. Jesus, who was dead, is alive again, and his new life brings us new life. Easter transforms us spiritually and gives us a new burst of energy to continue on the road to discipleship.
Just after Easter, I experienced new life on a week-long Academy for Spiritual Formation. Knowing that I would be somewhat depleted physically and spiritually after the Advent/Christmas/Capital Campaign/Lent/Easter season (not many days off in the last five months!), I signed up for a retreat to spend a week learning, listening to God, praying, and worshipping. I had never done that before, but it proved to be a Godsend. I came back with a refreshed spirit.
I have seen new life in our church recently. Wednesday Night Life set records. Worship has been deep and well-attended. We have received 43 new members this year--in just four months! Seven young people professed their faith last Sunday. There is a spirit of love and enthusiasm permeating the congregation. That’s the Easter Spirit at work!
I have seen new life through our Faith Forward Campaign. So many people put in extra hours of effort and committed sacrificial gifts to push our ministry forward. I wish I could tell you some of the stories I have heard. The campaign will bring new life to our ministry in the short term as we enjoy an updated Family Life Center, but we will also be strengthened for years to come as we support our endowed funds in the Foundation.
(If you haven’t yet made your commitment to Faith Forward, we will announce a grand total on May 13. Don’t miss being part of this huge victory for the church.)
On April 22, I preached on the “Doubting Thomas” text (John 20:19-31). It’s a great post-Easter story. It always makes me remember a conversation I had (but didn’t share in the sermon) with a woman several years ago. She was highly educated and a little skeptical, and she had just been attending church for a year or two. After Easter services, she approached me and said, “I don’t quite know what to make of Easter. I’m not sure I believe in the resurrection.” Then she added, “But I know YOU do!”
I do believe in the resurrection. I believe in the new life of Easter. Not just the historical fact of Jesus, but in the new life that I see all around--in the springtime, in my heart, in our church. I believe that new life is the risen Lord at work. Hallelujah!
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Senior Pastor
breeves@fsfumc.org
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We just completed our 2018 Confirmation Class. We have been meeting weekly since February 4 including an overnight retreat at Shoal Creek Camp and celebrated their Confirmations and Baptisms on April 29. Our class includes Austin Bercher, Grant Blythe, James Riche, Sawyer Sengel, Nicole Yutterman, Elijah Friery, and Avery Herrera. Grant, Sawyer, and Avery were also baptized at their Confirmation. Please hold these young people in prayer as we celebrate their Confirmation and look forward to their coming years of growing discipleship.
One of the strengths of our current Confirmation practice is our intentional involvement of parents and/or guardians. We encourage a parent/guardian to attend every Confirmation session with their child. Of course this is a challenge to the adults and families, but we believe it’s fundamentally important. Just like parents attend every baseball practice or band performances, why should they be any less involved in church?! I cannot stress this enough: children/youth involvement in church mirrors their parents commitment. Children and youth will can only be as involved as their parents. They learn directly, but even more so indirectly what their parents practice day-to-day. Confirmation is a great time to remind everyone of the importance of parent involvement in faith formation. We owe a special thanks to the parents/guardians who made great effort to support their children this spring.
Second, we have learned again this spring that small groups work. Our seven students represent five different schools from across Fort Smith. A few knew each other, but we were not a close group before we began meeting. But after 12 weeks including an overnight retreat, we know each other pretty well. In fact, it was at the retreat that our students came out of their shells. Eating dinner together, playing silly games, sharing in worship and prayer continue to be God’s surprising ways of binding us together. In a world marked by deep loneliness and fear, God has made us to be with and for one another. Confirmation is a crash course in our need for and joy found in other believers. Small groups are indispensable for all ages.
These two strengths of this year’s Confirmation class stand out to me because of how they are related. We celebrate that God continues to call new folks to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. But note, they do not fall out of thin air! New believers and church members practically always come to church on the coattails of someone they know, love, and trust. And when they get to the church, they need community and support from friends and peers. God calls us to be faithful disciples and make faithful disciples
together
. In our immediate family, in our church family, and in our broader community, we come to know and experience God’s love through one another. This month we give thanks for Austin, Grant, James, Sawyer, Nicole, Elijah, and Avery as they have responded to God’s call on their lives. But more broadly, we give thanks for the church. Despite all its deficiencies, this unlikely gathering of people continues to serve as God’s primary mode of mission in the world. We are saved in and through the church where other people welcome us, care for us, witness to us, and see us through.
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From L to R: Sawyer Sengel, Avery Herrera, Elijah Friery, Nicole Yutterman, James Richè, Grant Blythe, and Austin Bercher.
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Executive Associate Pastor
dwomack@fsfumc.org
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PENTECOST: UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER OF GOD’S SPIRIT
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I was recently driving to Van Buren to shop at one of my favorite grocery stores. I decided to drive to Van Buren from Midland, taking in the new trees as part of Keep Fort Smith Beautiful’s Midland tree planting. After driving across the river and hoping to make the left turn into Fayetteville Road, I found it would be impossible to cross, as the Van Buren Old Timers Day Steampunk Festival was in full swing. Instead of trying to fight across the traffic and find a new and more complicated route, I decided to park and take in the festival. It was a joyous time that I had not expected. Shopping, fair food, games, and all the pomp of a festival. I found some Mother’s Day gifts in the antiques store and walked streets I would have never intentionally set out to find. Without this traffic jam, I would have never known about this festival. I had forgotten how beautifully detailed the old buildings are along the Main Street of Van Buren. I had the extra time to stop and experience this festival I randomly encountered in downtown Van Buren and was better for it.
Throughout this last year, I have been part of a continuing education cohort through the Lilly Endowment and Hendrix College called the Hendrix Institute for Clergy and Civic Engagement. We met every four months for a few days to learn and grow in the practice of ministry focused on connecting churches and congregations with civic and community concerns. Thus far, we’ve covered topics such as poverty and education, immigrant and legal system, and most recently, the Enneagram, which is a personality assessment tool handed down throughout Church history. I was not expecting to enjoy the Enneagram as much as I have these last few months. This “tool” has helped me to understand myself, my community, and how we are all connected and communicating with each other. Another unexpected encounter that came across my path, and I was better for it.
This upcoming month of May is full-- graduations, family commitments, Mother’s Day, school ending, making summer plans, and all the normal stuff of daily life. I have my own plans to start packing up my home and office for my upcoming move and all the work that comes with an appointment change. May is one of those times when the days are long but the month is short. One of the best parts of this season-- along with the spring showers and May flowers, is Pentecost, this year on May 20th.
After Christmas and Easter, Pentecost the third most important
“high holy day”
that we celebrate in the church year. We do not always celebrate Pentecost Sunday with the same zeal and energy of Christmas and Easter; but we should! Pentecost celebrates when the Holy Spirit came down upon the church in Acts 2, and reminds us that the same Holy Spirit is still alive and active in our church and our world today. In part, we mainstream Methodists are sometimes hesitant about the Holy Spirit. Our Sunday School lessons and Bible Studies are rarely about the Spirit. The Holy Spirit can make us uncomfortable. When we invoke the Holy Spirit, we are invoking business as
un-usual
! It’s more than the birthday of the church; Pentecost Sunday is a celebration of the Holy Spirit and our commitment to live in the power and boldness of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, we remind ourselves that when the Spirit pours down upon the church in Acts-- or upon our church in Fort Smith-- that we are part of the crazy, fiery, powerful, messy, holy chaos that gave birth to the church and continues to sustain the church. Pentecost is an unexpected, undeserved, unplanned encounter with the Holy Spirit. Just like an unexpected festival or discovering the Enneagram, Pentecost changes us. Pentecost is unexpected and full of joy and chaos that can only come from the Holy Spirit.
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Associate Pastor
sbayles@fsfumc.org
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MONTHLY MISSIONS HIGHLIGHT: BACKPACK PROGRAM
CHAPEL CLASS RECEIVES CLEARINGHOUSE AWARD
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Each month, we’ll feature a short article on one of the many mission ministries of our church. We hope to let our church family know of the ongoing missions and the ways in which they can support this great work.
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On March 1
st
, volunteers from our church were packing backpacks for the school children at the Clearinghouse. The Director, Chuck Goux, came to the group and thanked them for being so faithful to the mission of feeding the children through the Backpack program. We support the program financially; we have volunteers to pack the food and volunteers to deliver the food to the schools to be distributed. We have been supporting the program for at least 18 years. Goux presented a plaque to David Matlock, and David brought it back to the class. The Chapel Class and other volunteers at the “Last Sunday Breakfast” donate all the money from the breakfast to the Clearinghouse. The money goes to buy food for the children. There are also many more members of the church who have helped in many positions at the Clearinghouse and donated money to feed hungry school children. The Chapel Class wants to share this plaque with all the church and say thank you for helping hungry children.
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Debbie Hicks
has been on staff at First United Methodist Church for almost 23 years as the Facility Manager. Debbie grew up in Fort Smith. Before coming to FSFUMC, she managed at Braums. Some things she loves:
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The Voice
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Cheese dip
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Razorbacks
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The Patriots
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Cooking
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The beach
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Camping
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Dancing
Things Debbie doesn’t love: Dishes & cleaning toilets.
Debbie’s passion is helping those less fortunate and believes that everyone matters.
When asked to describe FSFUMC in 3 words:
Home, compassionate, and open.
She has seen so many homeless and needy people be fed and clothed and loved through the programs that we have here at church.
If you haven’t met Debbie, please introduce yourself to her.
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Get ready to be RESCUED BY JESUS!!!
VBS will be June 11-15!! We’re going to be SHIPWRECKED! We need your help in gathering items for our Shipwrecked adventure. There will be ‘Giving Trees’ in the Narthex and FLC, please take a tag off the tree, purchase the item listed and leave it outside Sally’s office. These items range from liter cokes to baby wipes.
This year for our VBS mission project, the children will gather things for Community Clearing House. We are asking the congregation to help support our mission project by bringing one or more of the following food items to church on June 17
th
: Dried Pasta, Canned Tuna, Canned Chicken, Canned Fruit, Cereal, Oatmeal, and Peanut Butter.
Our teachers are in place and preparing, but we need volunteers to Shepherd the children during this exciting week! So please call Sally Ware at 782-5068 or Hillary Key at 870-918-1916, if you can help.
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Director of Children's Ministries
sware@fsfumc.org
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UNAFRAID
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” — 2 Timothy 1: 7
“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love…all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.” — John Lennon
Over the next month, FIRST YOUTH students will be joining in a series of discussions on courage and fear. After all, the Bible instructs “Do not be afraid” over 140 times! We’re calling it UNAFRAID: God’s Power, Your Courage.
Fear can be paralyzing, deceptive, and manipulating. What’s good for us is that God has not given us a Spirit that makes us timid. God’s Spirit gives us power, love, and self-discipline! At FIRST YOUTH, we want to discover that for ourselves. Please pray that we would come to trust in God’s promises, that we would develop a faith that fights fear, and that we would attack anxiety with action. We want to be led by God, not led by fear. May we all have the holy boldness to follow Christ, wherever He may lead us. Amen.
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Maya Mwanza transferred to FSFUMC from another Methodist denomination on April 8 in the Sanctuary. Hannah Grace was baptized on April 8. Also pictured: Dr. Daniel Mwanza and Rebekah Mwanza.
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Walter, Lynnette, Carey and Gabby Woodie, transferred to FSFUMC from another UMC on April 15 in the Connexion Service.
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Brad & Trish McCully transferred to FSFUMC from another UMC on April 22 in the Connexion Service.
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Brandon, Patti, and Avery Jade Herrera transferred to FSFUMC from another denomination on April 29 in the Connexion Service.
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For those in the hospital:
We mourn with:
- Connie (Greg) Copley, Eric (Amanda) Copley, Amanda (Travis) Mulhearn, and Emily Copley in the loss of their father and grandfather Milton Franklin Davis.
- Staci (Howell) Schmidt in the loss of her cousin Steven Hampton McMillian.
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Recent Gifts in Memory of:
Harry Shipley
by Michael Johnston, Gary & Pat Fine, Jerry & Jane Hartfield, Fran Bateman, Kelly & Marilyn Newton, Jack & Louanna Green, William S. Walker & Jane Klein, John & Harriet Beasley, Jim & Wanda Foster, Elizabeth Haupert, Carl Corley, Kate & Hugh Maurras, David & Deborah Butler, Jane & Randy Bittle
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Sunday, May 6-Senior Sunday
8:30 am Classic Worship, Roebuck Chapel
8:45 am Holy Grounds, Narthex
9:45 am Sunday School
11:00 am Classic Worship, Sanctuary
11:00 am Contemporary Worship, Family Life Center
5:00 pm Youth, Loft
5:00 pm Finance Meeting, FLC, Room 101
6:00 pm Administrative Board Meeting, Fireside Room
Monday, May 7
2:00 pm Staff Meeting, Conference Room
6:00 pm Women’s Bible Study, Fireside Room
6:00 pm Cub Scouts, 3rd Floor
6:30 pm Boy Scouts, 3rd Floor
Tuesday, May 8
10:00 am VBS Workers, Children’s Area
10:00 am UMW Circles:
- Deborah meeting at home of Lynda McDaniel
- Naomi meeting at the home of Ann Woods
- Ruth meeting in the FLC, Room 101
1:30 pm UMW Circle: Hannah-Elizabeth, Friends Class
Wednesday, May 9
10:00 am Prayer Group, Prayer Room, 2nd Floor
12:00 pm CDO Mother’s Day Lunch, Aldersgate Room
3:30 pm Children’s Choir
5:30 pm Holy Communion, Roebuck Chapel
7:00 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, May 10
7:00 am Youth Breakfast Club, Chick-fil-a
10:00 am Knitters & Knotters, Narthex
12:00 pm UMM Bible Study/Lunch, Fireside Room
Friday, May 11
6:30 am UMM Bible Study Breakfast, Fireside Room
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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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