NEW WORSHIP SERIES - Starting September 11th
The last two and a half years have brought so much disruption to our lives. Even now, as we return to familiar patterns, we can’t fully return to what we consider normal. Maybe we’ve even forgotten what normal is. So, maybe we need to get back to the basics of life and rebuild from there.
This fall at FUMCLR, we’re going back to the basics. Each week in worship, we’ll focus on the basics of our Christian faith. These practices enrich our lives, draw us closer to Christ, and fuel our life’s journey; worship, prayer, study, serving, community, and generosity. With Romans 12 as our scriptural guide, we will rediscover the purpose of these basics and maybe find new ways to practice them. When these practices are our normal, we have a stronger foundation to create all the other parts of our lives, no matter what life brings our way.
Join us each Sunday, starting September 11 at 9:00 and 11:00 and get back to the basics.
September 11 Back to Worship
September 18 Back to Study
September 25 Back to Prayer
October 2 Back to Serving
October 9 Back to Community
October 16 Back to Generosity
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COMMUNITY LEVEL - MEDIUM, MASKS RECOMMENDED on Sun, Sept. 4th |
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CHURCH DIRECTORY TIME! STARTING SEPTEMBER 11th
Friends - it's been too long since our last church directory! After so many requests, we are finally gearing up for a new one! Starting Sunday, September 11th, Lesley will be in the courtyard taking directory photos from 10-11 am and 12-12:15 pm! Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.
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Third & Fourth Grade Bibles - September 18th
In both worship services on Sunday, September 18th our third and fourth graders will be receiving a Bible in worship as we celebrate their ongoing discipleship journey. If you have a 3rd or 4th grader in your life who would like to be a part of this important faith milestone, please contact Rev. Brittany ( bwatson@fumclr.org). |
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Surviving to Thriving Survey
Our church’s vision for the next few years is to help people move from surviving to thriving. Living in chronic survival mode for the past couple of years has left many people burned out and spiritually empty. Yet, we believe that the grace of God can heal us and allow us to thrive again. We need your help measuring how effectively we’re moving from surviving to thriving. Please follow the link below to a survey that will assess our church’s current state between survival and “thrival.” Your input is extremely important for how we can create experiences for spiritual healing and renewal in God’s grace. The survey should take less than 10 minutes and we are grateful for your time and feedback.
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Conference-wide Young Adult Book Study:
Gather with young adults from around the state for learning and discussion. The book club will be on the 2nd Sunday of each month beginning on Sunday, September 11 from 8-9 pm on Zoom. We'll be reading the book The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone over a three month period and will gather each month to discuss a section of the book. If the cost of the book is a challenge, we can help. If you’re interested in joining us, sign-up here: https://forms.gle/EeHgVwKhLJwwPnxm7.
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This year’s special guest speaker is Imam Khalid Latif. Imam Khalid Latif is the University Chaplain for New York University and Executive Director of the Islamic Center at NYU. Imam Latif’s experiences as chaplain at NYU, the New York City Police Department, and at Princeton University, inspired him to work across the divisions of many faith groups. Working closely with Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, Latif co-founded Of Many Institute for Multifaith Leadership in response to NYU students who sought opportunities to cross faith boundaries. Imam Latif and Rabbi Sarna’s work was featured in Chelsea Clinton’s documentary film “Of Many”. Imam Latif and Rabbi Sarna co-teach a course at NYU titled, “Multifaith Leadership in the 21st Century”
Love Thy Neighbor will also feature the words and songs of Sophia Said, The Interfaith Community Choir, Diya Chakraborty, Adrienne Collins & Band, Sister Deborah Troillett, R.S.M., The Rev. Susan Sims Smith, and Jud Martindale
Join us in person at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church or on The Interfaith Center’s Youtube channel at 6pm on Thursday September 8. We can’t wait to see you!
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United Women In Faith is meeting on September 11
On Sunday, September 11, UWF will have their lunch and meeting in the Fellowship Hall after the 11:00 am worship service.
The speaker will be Anna Beth Gorman who is the Democratic Nominee for Secretary of State. Anna Beth has a strong vision and plan for how to expand the office to ensure that all Arkansans can exercise their constitutional right to vote and that Arkansas is seen as a leader in economic and democratic equity. Anna Beth and her husband Colin are members of FUMC LR and call North Little Rock their home.
Also, in 2016 Anna Beth became Executive Director of the Women's Foundation of Arkansas. In her current role as CEO she has led the organization through tremendous growth and expansion, while increasing the investment and impact on Arkansas Women and Girls economic mobility.
Please call the church office at 372-2256 or fill out the journey card in the bulletin to make a reservation for lunch so enough food will be prepared. Everyone is welcome to come!
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New Boy Scout Troop
The Quapaw Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America is working to increase their diversity and inclusion for all youth and recognized a lack of youth program opportunities for kids that live in and around downtown Little Rock. Therefore, they have approached our church about hosting a new scout troop in our building (this is a slightly different arrangement than being a Chartering Organization). This means that as they start a new Cub Scout Troop this fall, they will be meeting in our church at least one night a week. This troop will recruit participants from several downtown schools including our partner school Washington Elementary. In the conversations with the Quapaw Area Council, our church's Board of Trustees was pleased to hear that their values align with our church's mission and value of inclusion as Boy Scouts are open to all boys and girls. They also maintain a rigorous background check and monitoring of all adults who work with the Scouts. We are grateful that Charles Feild, who has worked closely with the Boy Scouts for decades and currently serves on their Board of Directors, has agreed to be our church's liaison to the troop. This is another exciting opportunity for our church to live out our mission of being good neighbors to make Little Rock a place where all God's children THRIVE.
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Join our Washington Reading Tutor Team
It’s time to organize our tutoring program at Washington Elementary! Below you will find all the details about commitment and how to sign up. Join the legacy of reading tutors at Washington from FUMCLR. Our goal is to have 15 reading tutors this school year. If you have any questions, please contact our lay leader Pamela Owen at pamelarowen@yahoo.com.
The Commitment: Spend one hour per week from the week of October 3rd through the week of March 13th (with two weeks off for winter break) serving as a reading tutor, mentor, and friend to an elementary student.
1. Sign up online by visiting www.arkidsread.org/volunteer and select Washington Elementary as your site. In late August, AR Kids Read will reach back out to you to schedule your exact tutoring times, but daytime school tutoring will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. After-school tutoring times will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 3:30 and 5:30 pm.
2. Complete a background check form.
3. Attend a tutor training session.
4. Start tutoring!
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Meal Packing Postponed, Ingathering Save the Date
The meal packing event scheduled for Sunday, September 25 has been postponed. Any money donated will go directly to our Washington Elementary partnership for ministries on Wildcat Way. We are looking forward to our 4th quarter church wide mission project, Ingathering, at the Arkansas Food Bank. Mark your calendars for this Conference wide event on November 12 where all ages are welcome. We will be sending out more information shortly on how FUMCLR will prepare for this hunger and disaster relief event by gathering UMCOR hygiene kit supplies in October.
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Retreat Opportunity for Spiritual Renewal
R3 Retreat: Rest, Rejuvenation, and Resilience
Autumn in the Ozark Mountains
R3 is a retreat to experience rest and rejuvenation while building skills for resilience. While there are several opportunities in life for the first two R’s, rest and rejuvenation, building the third R, resilience, helps people avoid spiritual burnout and emotional exhaustion. This retreat led by David Freeman and Mary Jane Cole will provide an opportunity to experience all three R’s. There will be time each day for light hiking or walking in some of the most beautiful spots in the Ozark Mountains (White Rock Recreational Area and Devil’s Den State Park). The combination of rest, meaningful conversations, and exploring God’s creation will increase capacity for resilient and wholehearted living.
To sign up or get more information, contact David Freeman (dfreeman@fumclr.org, 501-372-2256 ext. 204)
Dates: September 19-21
Location: Mount Sequoyah Retreat Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Cost: Single occupancy room=$375 per person, Double occupancy room=$275 per person (Includes lodging, transportation, and most meals.)
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Have you joined The Next 200 Birthday Club?
In honor of your birthday or the birthday of a loved one, give a dollar for each year of life. Your entire gift will go to the Perpetual Endowment Fund helping us reach our Next 200 goals. You can place your gift in the envelopes available in the sanctuary pew racks or contact Sonja Taylor-Larkowski (stlarkowski@fumclr.org, 501-372-2256 ext. 209).
Congratulations to August Birthday Club Members with gifts totaling $518:
Melinda Martin
Marie Jordan
Ben Jordan (in memory)
Sophia Lu
Thomas Lu
Samuel Lu
James Bynum
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Bring us your #5’s
Caring for our community by recycling
During one of our June Lunch and Learns, we discovered that #5s can be recycled in Little Rock, but they just can’t be included in our curbside carts. We can help with this! First Church will collect your clean #5 containers and bring them to Natural State Recycling. #5 are things like yogurt tubs, sauce/dip tubs, or to go containers where the opening at the top is larger than the base. Recycling is one of many ways we can be good neighbors.
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First Family Sunday School, Sunday, September 4 at 10 am
On the first Sunday of the month we invite the entire family to gather for Sunday school. We will start in the First Cup Cafe and then offer an opportunity for the whole family to play, learn, and grow in faith together.
Razorback Watch Party, September 10 at 11 am
Location: TBD (Let me know if you want to host!)
Football, friends, food, and fun- there's not much else to it! Watch the whole game or just stop in to say hi. We don't have a host for this event yet, so let me know if you might be interested.
Parent Info Meeting, September 11 at 10 am
Come and get a glimpse at what to expect with Kids@First for the next few months. Calendars, forms, questions, and so much more! Kids can hang out in the Cokesbury Center or go the gym for some supervised play!
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NO YOUTH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th
September 9-11 - Fall Youth Retreat
Our group will leave at 5:30 on September 9th and head to Shepherd of the Ozarks. The cost for our youth is $50, plus if your student would like to participate in a special activity, like high ropes course, horse riding, zip line, etc. they will need to bring $10. There are plenty of fun free activities during free activity time, so this extra money is optional. We will return by 10:30/11 on Sunday, September 11th. For more information, email Adam Kirby (youth@fumclr.org).
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The Chancel Choir's performance of Gabriel Faure's Requiem has come and gone, and I couldn't be more proud of or pleased with our singers and their faithful dedication. Taking on a major work in the midst of preparing for regular Sunday services is quite a task, and they met it with grace, aplomb, and joy. However, I can tell you from years and years of performance that the greatest feeling in the cycle of learning big, important music is not the concert itself but the moment you get to shelve the score after the audience has cleared the hall. "... and I'm done with that..." is an unparalleled sense of relief.
Although, if I'm going to be honest, I do not excel at shelving my scores. It seems I am constantly thinking "as soon as I get through this project, I will get my office organized." This, of course, is a lie. My office is littered with the bones of bygone events. The notebook that housed my May recital is still on the music rack of the organ in my office. The sheet music from the chamber recital in July sits in a pile on my desk. Even now, as I type these words, I look around my office and think "... I'll get to that eventually... maybe after I email this article to Lesley..." I probably won't.
I think humanity is naturally wired to seek closure. We want to be done with the task at hand. But there's something else innate in our souls that keeps us from closing the deal. The last mile of a marathon is the longest. My own brother took a decade to write his dissertation once his coursework was done. I struggle to unload the dishwasher or put the folded clothes away. We get through the hard part, but never close the book. We've come a long way through the Covid pandemic, and there are still precautions that need to be taken. It's time to push through the anxiety and come back. This chapter is nearing its end, and it's time to turn the page. Our ministries are all returning in one form or another. I hope you'll prayerfully consider your place and role in them.
James Stanley
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Congratulations
Congratulations to Tom and Claudia Utley following the recent marriage of their son Lucas Utley to Samantha Huckabay on August 13th.
To parents Mary Katherine and Heath Henderson and grandparents Donna and David Smith, following the birth of Heath Harley Henderson on August 30th. Garret and Piper Henderson are excited to finally meet their little brother!
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5 WAYS TO GIVE
Following are ways you can give your tithes and offerings:
■ Mail: You may still mail to the church office.
723 Center Street, Little Rock, AR 72201.
■ Bank Draft: Contact our Finance Director, Sonja Taylor Larkowski by phone at 501-372-2256 Ex. 209 or email stlarkowski@fumclr.org.
■ Church App: Click Give in the church app. To download text FUMCLR App to 77977. Or search for FUMCLR in your App Store.
■ Text: Text FUMCLR to 77977. Follow instructions in reply.
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Being good neighbors to make Little Rock a place where children THRIVE. |
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