The Promise of Easter

John 14:1-14

In our journey to external life, God makes our reservation, shows us the way,

& gives us the power.

Communion

In Person, Facebook Live & YouTube 

Rev. Bud Reeves

Offertory “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”

Rylee Norton, Soloist

Organist: Benjamin Henderson  

In Person. Facebook and YouTube @ 6pm

Rev. DeeDee Autry

"The Way"

"Cornerstone"

"Run To The Father"

"Before The Throne"

In Person,Facebook Live,

YouTube and FM 103.5

Rev. Bud Reeves

Anthem “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”

Offertory “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”

Chancel Choir

Gaye Mings, Chancel Choir Director

Benjamin Henderson, Organist

A SEASON OF HOPE

The Easter season (the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost) is a season of hope. We are in the aftermath of the resurrection, remembering the appearances of Jesus to various disciples until his Ascension into heaven. Then came the gift of the Spirit on Pentecost. What an exciting time, especially given the trauma of Holy Week!

I believe we can see signs of hope in this season of hope, as surely as we see the signs of springs when the flowers and trees bloom and the grass greens up. We are in a season of blooming, if we can see with the eyes of faith.

That is not to say the challenges are behind us. Far from it. We are still trying to figure out how to deal with the changes in attendance patterns following the pandemic. There is still conflict and misinformation being spread about our denomination. Though we are decidedly United Methodist, the division has been hurtful to many of our people. Outside the church, there are many societal challenges we think about every day. And personally, we all still deal with the human condition–sin, disease, death, and troubled relationships.

So where is all this hope I see?

Two weeks ago, Pastor DeeDee and I attended a week-long retreat called the Academy for Spiritual Formation. In five days of prayer, worship, silence, and teaching, I was reminded of the timeless truths of our faith, and I was spiritually refreshed. No matter what else happens, God is still God, Jesus is our Savior, and love is the way.  We cannot lose that hope.

The pandemic was terrible and history-changing, but it was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed us to focus our ministries on what is important and effective. We have been able to let some things go, and we can intentionally spend our time, energy, and money on the priorities, like making disciples, loving our neighbors, and transforming lives and our community.

We are constantly seeing new faces at church. We had a healthy attendance for our Coffee With The Pastors last Sunday. New people are wanting to be a part of FUMC, and we are doing our best to welcome all of them!

We are making strides in our children and youth ministries. Attendance is growing, and the quality of the ministry is outstanding. Our young people are being led by some amazing staff and volunteers. We are moving forward in that crucial ministry!

Our community outreach continues to grow. A new outreach to teens and families through Prom Closet, new feeding programs, and partnerships with local mission ministries are making FUMC become known as a community-minded, loving, and gracious church.

Honestly, our ministry is entering a new age. Much of what we do does not translate into the ways we used to measure church health–primarily attendance and money. But what we are doing is having a Kingdom impact and touching the lives of people, sharing the love of Christ in the world. This is why it is so important for those of us in the church to undergird our ministry in the time-tested ways: prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Sound familiar?

The apostle Paul certainly knew his share of challenges–persecution, imprisonment, shipwreck–but he never lost hope. To me, of his most comforting passages comes in 2 Corinthians 4: “We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed, always carrying around in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. …So we do not lose heart.” I could write a whole sermon on that text; in fact, I have!

In May of 1940, Winston Churchill, the prime minister of England, made a speech to the House of Commons. The national situation was dire. The Nazi conquest of Europe had been swift; the British army had been defeated at Dunkirk; Paris had fallen; France had surrendered, and German bombs were falling on London. Yet Churchill was a man of hope who saw the reality of the situation with different eyes. He ended his speech with these memorable words: “Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire… lasts for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour!’”

I can hear it now. Looking back, may future generations say of us, “In the years following the great pandemic of 2020, with all their challenges, for the people of First United Methodist Church of Fort Smith, this was their finest hour!” In this season of hope, may it be so.  

“FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION”

TO HAVE INAUGURAL EVENT

A new group, the Friends of the Foundation, is having their initial luncheon on Tuesday, May 9, at noon in the Fireside Room of the Family Life Center. This group is for any friend or member of FUMC who wants to know more about the work of the Fort Smith FUMC Foundation. At the luncheon, we will thank those who have contributed to the strength of the Foundation and review the work of the Foundation over the last year. We will hear from a few of the recipients of the Community Grants awarded by the Foundation. And we will talk about ways that friends can continue to make the Foundation strong. We will get a lot done in an hour!

Any friend or member of FUMC is welcome to attend the luncheon. Please RSVP to the church office or to Patti Cox (pcox@fsfumc.org) by noon on Monday, May 8, so we can arrange lunch for you. Hope to see you at the first of many wonderful events.

PACESETTERS

“Spring sprang out all over in April for the Pacesetters as they created Easter bonnets from microwaved styrofoam mini-cups. You must see it to believe such adorable bonnets can appear from a lopsided cup. Wrap the crown in colorful polka-dot ribbon, add a feather and a couple of tiny blossoms, and voila! you’ve got the cutest little Easter bonnet for the Easter parade.

April 21 Louise led a one-lady show as she led the group through unique activities, including the rhythm game, chair exercise, magic broom writing, and drama in a bag. Using props from a bag, four groups created and presented scenes for the entire group. Debbie and Regina enjoyed hearing our lively activities and joined us for the dramatic presentations.

May 5 we will get to know our church Director of Youth Ministries, Brandon Bates. I’ve met and passed him in the halls and am eager to know his personal story. He will share his vision for our youth of FSFUMC.

May 19 Tanya Sarlls, Vice President of Operations for the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, comes to share recent and future city developments. Come prepared with questions concerning our city.

Pacesetters welcome all for singing, devotions, fun and fellowship. Come to the Fireside Room in the FLC at 10:00 the first and third Friday mornings of each month. Stay for lunch.

WELCOME NEW CHURCH MEMBER

Rick Pittman is a recently retired physical therapist. He transfers from another United Methodist congregation. Rick is already involved in the Cornerstone Sunday School class and the congregational care ministry. Welcome, Rick!

FUMC KIDS

OUTREACH

The first Prom Closet event was a success! We helped 30 students find prom attire, accessories, and shoes. The volunteer team made the girls feel like it was a boutique shopping experience. The girls enjoyed snacks and a picture spot where they could say, “Yes to the Prom Dress!” The girls were even pampered with mini facials and make-up by our volunteer esthetician, Judith Cordon. A special thanks to Dolores Chitwood for doing alterations for the students. The team put in a lot of work and were able to share the love of Jesus with these students and their families! Thank you to our church and community for helping us make this outreach event a success. 

This month was finals for the medical students at Arkansas Colleges of Health Education. Our staff team cooked baked ziti to take to the students for some studying energy. We enjoyed serving and visiting with around 100 students. It was a great way to show care and support to them.

A new food ministry is beginning in May called Neighborhood Eats. Food insecurity has increased in our neighborhood. Neighborhood Eats will offer free groceries to local families. Our goal is to reach families that live near our church by taking our partnerships with the schools through our Casserole Ministry to the next level. This ministry will be a drive-thru on the last Thursday of the month from 5:30 – 6:30 pm. Recipients must sign up prior to the pickup time. This ministry wants to build relationships with families and provide tools they need to stretch their budgets. You can help us with our efforts by volunteering to pack bags or work the drive-thru. We will also take any monetary donations. Our first drive-thru is on May 25th. We appreciate all the support as we continue to serve others in our community. 

A state mission trip opportunity is developing for UMCOR Sager Brown in Baldwin, LA. UMCOR is a leader in serving hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of natural or human-made disasters. While at Sager Brown, you may work in the 48,000 square-foot depot receiving, sorting, packing and shipping supplies for disaster relief or be a part of a community project, such as housing rehabilitation or providing food for older adults. This mission trip date is to be determined. If you are interested in this opportunity, please email me at tpierce@fsfumc.org.

The Guatemala mission trip will begin fundraising very soon! Rising costs will have our team working extra hard. The mission team will provide medical care to remote communities with limited resources. Those interested in learning more about being a part of this mission trip should attend the meeting on Sunday, May 7th, at 5:00 pm in the Narthex. Thank you to our church members for their continued support.

FIRST YOUth

Spring Break Mission Trip to New Orleans Recap: 

Day 1 We served with Youth Rebuilding New Orleans, where we worked on draining issues. With a city below sea level that has put concrete over swampy land, when rain comes down it has nowhere to go. This was kind of a theme for some of our work. We worked at 2 homes, filling a sink hole, adding river rock after concrete had been removed, and added recycled, rounded glass pieces that help with drainage and decoration. The organization took on these paid jobs which allows them to do work refurbishing other homes to be able to sell them at affordable prices to healthcare workers, first responders, and educators.

Day 2 & 3 We served at Covenant House, an organization that houses homeless teenagers and young adults, provides medical services, meals, clothing, and much more. They had received a large donation of clothes, so we purged winter clothes and sorted clothes that would be wearable for those in their care.

In the afternoons we went to Green Light New Orleans where we cleaned and prepped used 50 gallon olive barrels, primed them, painted base coats, and decorated some. These barrels are taken to people to help alleviate yard flooding to an extent, but to also use captured rainwater for various purposes at people’s homes.

On Day 3 we finished early at Covenant House so we went to the Lower 9th Ward Living Museum with our extra time. We discovered the museum was now housed in a new museum as part of the TEP Center in the old McDonogh 19 school in NOLA. At the age of 6, Leona Tate, Gail Etienne, and Tessie Prevost integrated the school in 1960. We got to learn about them and all that they experienced, as well as learn about the Lower 9th Ward’s history and devastation from Hurricane Katrina.

Our last day of work had us drive across Lake Pontchartrain to serve at the North Shore Food Bank Thrift Store. The store supports to feeding opportunities of the Food Bank. Our work saw us take in donations, sort, size, and price clothes, and organize the store for an optimal shopping experience for customers. Our group did a little shopping as well. Following our shift we headed to a nearby park for lunch, then drove back across the lake and headed for a little fun outing of a swamp tour where we got to see plenty of alligators. 

In addition to all of our work each day, during the nights we would gather to process the day, where we may have seen God, and to also have a devotional shared by one of the youth.

Huge thanks to Jen Faldon, Erin Bouxsein, and Kim Swaim for chaperoning.

YOUth MAY

May 7 Senior Sunday Worship Service @ 11 in Connexion. No Sunday Morning Small Group.

Sunday Night 5-7pm Dinner, Game Night, & Devotional

May 8 High School Out ‘N Eat @ Zapata’s. 6pm

May 14 Sunday Morning Small Group @ 10am in The Loft. NO Sunday Night YOUth

May 21 Sunday Morning Small Group @ 10am in The Loft. YOUth Mission Night 5-7pm

May 28 Sunday Morning Small Group @ 10am in The Loft. NO Sunday Night YOUth

On Day 3 we finished early at Covenant House so we went to the Lower 9th Ward Living Museum with our extra time. We discovered the museum was now housed in a new museum as part of the TEP Center in the old McDonogh 19 school in NOLA. At the age of 6, Leona Tate, Gail Etienne, and Tessie Prevost integrated the school in 1960. We got to learn about them and all that they experienced, as well as learn about the Lower 9th Ward’s history and devastation from Hurricane Katrina.

Our last day of work had us drive across Lake Pontchartrain to serve at the North Shore Food Bank Thrift Store. The store supports to feeding opportunities of the Food Bank. Our work saw us take in donations, sort, size, and price clothes, and organize the store for an optimal shopping experience for customers. Our group did a little shopping as well. Following our shift we headed to a nearby park for lunch, then drove back across the lake and headed for a little fun outing of a swamp tour where we got to see plenty of alligators. 

In addition to all of our work each day, during the nights we would gather to process the day, where we may have seen God, and to also have a devotional shared by one of the youth.

Huge thanks to Jen Faldon, Erin Bouxsein, and Kim Swaim for chaperoning.

YOUth MAY

May 7 Senior Sunday Worship Service @ 11 in Connexion. No Sunday Morning Small Group.

Sunday Night 5-7pm Dinner, Game Night, & Devotional

May 8 High School Out ‘N Eat @ Zapata’s. 6pm

May 14 Sunday Morning Small Group @ 10am in The Loft. NO Sunday Night YOUth

May 21 Sunday Morning Small Group @ 10am in The Loft. YOUth Mission Night 5-7pm

May 28 Sunday Morning Small Group @ 10am in The Loft. NO Sunday Night YOUth

Who likes singing Hymns? Do you have a Hymn that you have always wanted to sing? On May 21st at 5:30pm, in the Sanctuary, we will have an Evening of Hymnody. Louis Benson says that Hymnody is a “spiritual gift which each Christian brings to the sanctuary and contributes to a common song of spiritual fellowship.” What is more special than selecting our favorite Hymns and joining in the common song of spiritual fellowship? We would like as much congregational input as possible. If you have a Hymn from our Hymnal that you adore or that you have wanted to sing for a long time, submit your Hymn here.

Please tell your friends, neighbors, coworkers, and everyone to not miss this wonderful time of fellowship and song.

NEXT MEETING: Thursday, May 11, 2023

RSVP by Tuesday, May 9 

Our program will be given by Sally Wheeler, an EFT Tapping Coach. Research shows that tapping

calms the amygdala in the brain, regulates our nervous system, and reduces stress and anxiety 

Definition and function of the amygdala - 

a part of the limbic system within the brain, which is responsible for emotions, 

survival instincts, and memory. 

We will have Taco Salad and Apple Esponnado.

Feel free to bring a widow friend.

For more information email Gail Oakes at RiverValleyWidowsgroup@gmail.com

Or call 479.459.0479

IN MEMORY OF:

Mary Ellen Jesson

Thomas & Nancy Robertson

Margaret Whillock

Mike & Bonnie Smets

Jerry & Jane Hartfield

Bob & Judy Dawson

Steve Gates

Richard & Ann Appleton

Robert & Mary Young

Sue Plattner

Betty Pence

Richard & Ann Appleton

Helen Couvillion

Richard & Ann Appleton

Betty McGee

Richard & Ann Appleton

Ann Scott Winters

Bob & Judy Dawson

Richard & Ann Appleton

Mike & Bonnie Smets

Tony & Lynnell Leraris

Robert & Mary Young

Lori Hardin/Mike Willis

Sue Plattner

David Hutcheson

Earlene Howard

Alma Boyd

Sandra Clark

Judy Fisher

Karen Hutcheson

Lana Gately

Doyl Brown

Paula Higgins

Karen Martin

Dr. Pat Phillips

Lori Hardin/Michael Willis

Taylor & Mary Prewitt

Scott du Bois

Clay & Lynn Gilliland

Fred & Monica Naucke

Jack & Louanna Green

Lawrence, Schluterman & Schwartz Inc

Mary Kay Aclin

Lynn Creekmore

DPM, Inc.

Janice Powell

Dr. James Adamson

Jimmie Lou Sagely

Rick & Jan Beauchamp

Andy & Lisa LaGrone

David & Leanne McClanahan