“You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet!”

John 1:43-51

God is with us to calm our fears.

Human Relations

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

In Person

Rev. Bud Reeves

Offertory “The Wonder of It All”

Phil Costner, solo

Organist: Benjamin Henderson  

11:00 am Connexion

In Person, 6pm Premier Monday on Facebook and YouTube

Rev. DeeDee Autry

“Open Up The Heavens”

“Come And See”

“Greater Things”

“Here’s My Heart”

11:00 am Sanctuary

In Person,Facebook Live,

YouTube and FM 103.5

Rev. Bud Reeves

Anthem “Waiting”

Offertory “Shout The Glad Tidings”

Chancel Choir

Gaye Mings, Chancel Choir Director

Benjamin Henderson, Organist

It Was A Great End Of The Year!

The Advent and Christmas seasons have been great experiences for eight of the nine years I have been the pastor here. (2020, in the middle of the pandemic, with no live services, was a bummer.) But 2023 met and exceeded our expectations! 

It was a very musical month. We enjoyed the Children during our Hanging of the Greens service on November 29, the Fort Smith Chorale on November 30, the Hendrix College choir on December 14, the Carols and Lessons service on December 17, and of course, Christmas Eve was phenomenal.

On Christmas Eve, we had the highest in-person attendance since the pandemic–833 people in all three services. It was awesome! One thing we didn’t have before the pandemic was our online services. We live-streamed all of our Christmas Eve services, and we have had over 1,200 views of the services on Facebook and Youtube! Although not all of those watched the entire service, some did, and some had more than one person watching the stream. I think it’s safe to say we reached more people on Christmas Eve this year than ever!

The generous people of FUMC came through in December again in 2023. According to our preliminary year-end report, our ministry expenses in 2023 equaled $1,989,518. That’s a tiny bit over what was budgeted. But our income for the year totaled $2,031,930. This gave us a surplus of $42,411. Our total income included $300,000 from our Foundation (and a lifesaver it was!), but 85% of our income was from the generous folks of FUMC. Thanks to all who contributed to do the work of ministry for Jesus Christ through our church!

One note of concern: The income we can count on to be completed by the end of the year usually comes from those who make estimates of giving or establish auto drafts for their contributions. This year, we lost several faithful supporters to death, several moved away, and a few families left the church in the denominational split. As we expected, this caused a drop in our anticipated annual income of $168,000. While that amount is significant, it is only 8.5% of our annual budget. Nevertheless, we will have to be good stewards of our ministry income this year, and we will be counting on the generosity of our members and friends to do the work God calls us to do. In all my years of ministry, I have seen God provide through God’s people for all the support that is needed to do the work God wants done.

Thanks to everyone who made a commitment, everyone who gave, and everyone who made church a priority in 2023. As the upcoming sermon series will say, greater things are on the way in the future God has planned for us!

AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

I shared with the Staff-Parish Relations Committee on January 7 that I will be retiring from active ministry on June 30, at the end of this conference year. I have been appointed as a United Methodist pastor for 44 years, and it has been a blessing all the way. Not the least of which has been my last nine years as Senior Pastor of Fort Smith FUMC. It is bittersweet in many ways, but I know in my heart and spirit that it is the right time. The ministry of the church is at a turning point that will be best served by new and vigorous leadership. The SPRC will be in consultation with the District Superintendent and the Bishop to get the best leadership possible for the church.

While my retirement is on the horizon, we have much to do in the six months that remain. I don’t plan to slow down or disengage until after I retire. I want to leave the church in the best possible position to receive your new senior pastor. There will be time at the end for reflection and benediction. For now, let us continue to “press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14) 

God bless you all.

Welcome to our staff,

Sloane Harper, director of hospitality services. Sloane joins our staff with a wealth of experience in restaurant and catering. She jumped right in during the month of December and is looking forward to the coming year. Be on the lookout for our first Sunday Lunch on February 4th. Menu and more information to follow. Please help us welcome Sloane to our ministry team.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

January 24th

9:30 am

Fireside Room

Join us for a study on the book of James

Thrive: Living Faithfully in Difficult Times

Walking in Faith…even when times are tough.

Books will be at the first class $15.

In Thrive, author and teacher Jen Cowart helps women develop the habits and attitudes necessary to thrive, whatever their circumstances. Leading readers through the Book of James, a letter written about enduring hardships, she lifts up six characteristics of mature Christians. From endurance and humility to controlling our words, Jen helps participants find the divine and the practical in living faithfully.

Jen’s teaching has inspired thousands of women across the country. Her authenticity inspires others to open their hearts and minds. One reviewer wrote, “Her ‘realness’ and her vulnerability just work together to open your heart to dig deeper and deeper.”

In Thrive, author and teacher Jen Cowart helps women develop the habits and attitudes necessary to thrive, whatever their circumstances. Leading readers through the Book of James, a letter written about enduring hardships, she lifts up six characteristics of mature Christians. From endurance and humility to controlling our words, Jen helps participants find the divine and the practical in living faithfully.

Jen’s teaching has inspired thousands of women across the country. Her authenticity inspires others to open their hearts and minds. One reviewer wrote, “Her ‘realness’ and her vulnerability just work together to open your heart to dig deeper and deeper.”

FUMC KIDS

As we begin our final month of 2023, we have lots to be thankful for and anticipate. In November we concluded our Fall Wednesday Kids Activities. This semester we learned how to be a friend from people in the Bible. From Johnathan We ended 2023 with a bang! We provided multiple gifts for 50 children for our Angel Tree mission. We explored the different names of Jesus through Bible study, crafts, and activities during our Wonderland Wednesdays. We decorated cookies, took an active role in the Christmas story, explored our church with a scavenger hunt, and played games during Cookies for Santa. Finally, we explored the Christmas story through an M&M in each Christmas Eve service with a time specifically for the Children. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to 2023. 

This year we have a variety of ways your kiddos can grow in faith with God, one another, and the world. We strive to offer opportunities for your children to learn the importance of God’s word through small groups, enrichment programs, mission projects, and more. 

This month we are having a Winter Mission Drive where we are collecting socks, hats, blankets, and gloves for those in need in our community. I have challenged the kids to fill up their m&m tubes they received at Christmas with quarters. Those tubes fit $14 worth of quarters. In a Children’s Moment recently we discussed all the ways we can help those in need with $14. We hope to see the basket full by the end of the month! You can drop your donations in the grocery cart in the Family Life Center. 

In January we are also starting our Wednesday programing back up. This semester we will be exploring how kids in other countries experience Christ. We are going to dive into their cultural influences, their struggles, and the differences and similarities to our own experiences. It’s going to be a fantastic way for your kids to learn about the world in a Christian context! 

David to Ruth and Naomi, even Jesus, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, all taught us important lessons about what true Christ-like friendship looks like. It was a blessed time!

If any classes, couples, or individuals 

are willing to provide a meal for 

Sunday Night YOUth, you can 

signup here (it will send you an email reminder beforehand): 

https://bit.ly/fsyouthsupper2324

or email Brandon at 

bbates@fsfumc.org

OUTREACH

In December, we hosted the Holiday Express at Creekmore Park. We had the best weather and a great time out in the community. We invited people to church and shared hot cocoa, cookies, coffee mugs, and glow sticks. Thank you to our church family that attended.

Feed the Fort Ministry had a great year with the start of Neighborhood Eats in May. Our team gave out over 290 bags of food to households and over 900 individuals through this ministry! One memorable moment was when we gave out turkeys for the holidays. One of our recipients had never had a turkey before! The volunteers walked him through thawing and cooking a turkey for his family. Another memorable moment was when two children asked if we had any Bibles. We were able to give each of them a Bible. Our team is blessed when kids in the pick-up line get excited about grapes, oranges, etc. God has been at work in this ministry. We hope and pray for these relationships to grow more this year.

Now we move into the new year! We are collecting formal wear for the Prom Closet. This event will take place on Saturday, April 6th. We need formal dresses, shoes, and accessories. This year we want to offer more for boys and need suits, ties, and dress shoes. We had such a great event last year and hope to make it another great event for high school students.

The Guatemala mission trip is happening February 17th – 24th. We are collecting cotton underwear for women, pads, and ChapStick with sunscreen. Collection tubs are located by the office, in FLC, and near the side door entrance into the Sanctuary. Please pray for this team as we prepare to provide care to remote areas of Guatemala.

The Guatemala mission trip is happening February 17th – 24th. We are collecting cotton underwear for women, pads, and ChapStick with sunscreen. Collection tubs are located by the office, in FLC, and near the side door entrance into the Sanctuary. Please pray for this team as we prepare to provide care to remote areas of Guatemala.

Hello! 

I am Becky Rickman and am so happy to be the 2024 UMW/UWF President. To me it is a great honor. I am married (54) years) to Phillip Rickman and we have 2 boys, Blake and Rhett. We have 4 grandchildren, two dogs and three granddogs. I am a retired teacher (30 years) of History from Southside High School. I hope to bring expeirience, compassion and fellowship to this position. I want us to work on serving the Church and membership.

FIRST YOUth 

We wrapped up 2023 with some great stuff by writing Christmas cards to some of our homebound folks, shopping for kids on the Angel Tree, utilizing a laundromat to sort and clean donated clothes to Children’s Service League so that they can be distributed to students in the FS School District. (Big thanks to Kim Swaim for setting that up). Our YOUth served almost 500 hours this past year, both locally and on our Spring Break Mission Trip. We also had a great night of fun with a White Elephant gift exchange, where presents from headphones, to wigs, to assorted duct tape, to bags of candy were received.

Veritas Registration is open and the cost is $90 (meals and tshirt included in cost), if you register by Jan. 15 Friends are welcome to attend. We’ve got 13 registered so far, and room for more! Veritas is a statewide United Methodist youth event for both Middle School and High School students. It is a big atmosphere event that brings together all youth in grades 6-12 together for a weekend to celebrate, worship, learn, experience, and be energized by the presence of one another to serve God. 

Register here: https://bit.ly/firstyouthveritas24

How to “Adult” 

(life skills for YOUth)

Join us Wednesday Nights @ 5:45pm for dinner ($7) in the Fireside Room and then life skills for all YOUth. If you don’t want dinner, you can hangout with us before we change rooms for the class. We will do a few weeks of cooking basics & safety (cooking basic things, chopping, proper food disposal, etc), followed by a few weeks of basic vehicle maintenance (how to change a tire, jumping a battery, checking fluids, etc). If you missed the signups, we will be offering more in the fall.

Spring Break Serve Trip

This is for YOUth in grades 6-12 and friends are welcome to come. We will have a great week of serving, learning, and having fun. Cost for the trip includes travel, lodging, lunch and dinner while in Atlanta, and admission to the World of Coca-Cola

Our work will include the Furniture Bank of Atlanta, which builds furniture for people coming out of homelessness or for people who have left abusive family situations, Friends of Disabled Adults and Children which sorts and assembles equipment for people with physical disabilities, plus more is being finalized. We will also visit the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis and the Human Rights Museum in Atlanta. Sign up by Feb. 19 at https://bit.ly/firstyouthspringbreak24

First YOUth Wall of Support Fundraiser

This fundraiser is a way to directly invest in the ministry of the YOUth, and help us provide opportunities where students can experience Christ. The funds will be used for YOUth Missions, Retreats, Conference Events, New Ministries, and for scholarships to defray costs for any students who want to participate and need assistance. There will be 3 sets of walls around the church, and each of them will have numbered envelopes on them. You’re asked to take an envelope and contribute at least the amount that corresponds to the number on the envelope. (There will be instructions in the envelopes).

All are welcomed!

We hope to see you January 17^th!

Our Cards of Care Ministry makes homemade cards for our FSFUMC members over the age of 80. The cards will be designed before we gather. We stamp, glue, paper punch, die cut and assemble our cards.

Our Ministry is led by Kelly DeSoto and Gail Oakes. We will meet on Wednesdays, beginning January 17th from 6:30-7:30p.m. All of our gatherings will be in the Aldersgate Room (105). We will be making our Valentine's Day and Easter cards. We hope to see you. All are welcome. Even if you can come for just thirty minutes or need to leave early, please come. If you have never been before we hope you will come. Call Gail @ 479-782-5068 with any questions. Feel free to bring a friend!

Wednesday @ First Schedule

5:00 pm - Children's Choir

5:30 pm - Prayer and Communion - Roebuck Chapel

5:45 pm - Dinner - Fireside Room, FLC

6:30-7:30 pm - Cards of Care Ministry

I am sometimes asked, “What is Pacesetters?” Pacesetters are folks who enjoy getting together twice each month in the Fireside Room of the Fellowship Hall to interact with old and new friends, share joys and concerns, learn new things, share memories, make handicrafts, take trips, sing, pray, and laugh. Research shows that people who reach out to others through socialization live longer, more satisfying lives. 

Pacesetters welcome everyone, meeting the first and third Friday mornings at 10:00 in the Fireside Room of the Family Life Center. Park in the North 16 Street Parking lot, cross the street, and enter through the double glass doors.

Please join us, bring a friend, and stay for lunch.

December began on the first day with Pacesetters Bingo Bash. Pastor Dee Dee called as players frantically tried to cover the numbers and shout,”BINGO!” Organist Ben Henderson accompanied as we sang Christmas carols. Carols continued December 15 in the sanctuary with the music department’s annual Pacesetters Lessons and Carols, complete with handbells and vocals. Traditional Christmas lunch followed in the parlor.

River Valley Widows Group would like to thank Rose Mary Ayers, Tracy Keifer, Joanne Phillips, Sharon Barr, Jan Walrod, and Jennifer Oberste for the wonderful Christmas Brunch they fixed for us. 

THANK YOU for the time and effort you put into it. A true labor of love. Most of all thank you for always making RVWG feel special.

For more information email Gail Oakes at 

rvwidowsgroup@gmail.com

Or call (479) 479-459-0479 

HONORARIUMS:

Kelly Newton by

Jack & Louanna Green

Linda Mumme by

Allan Marshall

Nancy Cochran

David & Connie Adrion

Charles Palmer

Rick Pittman

George Beattie

David Phillips

MEMORIALS:

River Valley Widows Group in memory 

of Donald Hall by

Deborah Hall

Nelson Kimes by

Ben & Lane Shipley

Geraldine Barnes by

Cathy Williams

Donna June New by

Lizbeth Winford

Gary & Tracy Keifer

Dick Aclin by

Mary Kay Aclin

David Bowers by

Patricia Jenkins

Randy & Jane Bittle

Dr. Boyd & Jane Almon Saviers by

Ann Appleton

Judy Temple by

Jack Denur