Nov. 4, 2022
South Central Jurisdiction Announces Rev. Laura Merrill as new Arkansas Bishop-Elect
The Rev. Laura Merrill, currently serving the Rio Texas Conference, has been assigned to the Arkansas Annual Conference as Bishop for two years, beginning January 1, 2023. 

Delegates elected Laura Merrill, age 59, at the South Central Jurisdiction’s meeting at First United Methodist Church in Houston, on the first ballot on November 2, 2022. She received 99 votes and needed 77 votes to be elected. 

Merrill was elected by the South Central Jurisdiction’s 160 total delegates, an equal number of United Methodist clergy and laity, from the 12 Annual Conferences forming the South Central Jurisdiction. 

Nov. 6, 8 am – 1 pm in the Gym
Don’t miss the chance to shop for Christmas gifts as you support 18 nonprofits and First Church missions from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov 6. From jewelry and purses to custom-made linens and First UMC branded items, there are hundreds of choices. Take a fun family photo and choose a child to sponsor for Methodist Family Health. Stop by to make donations to your favorite nonprofit in honor of your friends and family. Then enjoy a pancake breakfast to support Washington Elementary projects and pack some school supplies! Choose from 18 different booths of nonprofits and First Church missions to Shop for Good from 8 am to 1 pm Nov. 6. In the Gym:
Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance
  • Camp Aldersgate 
  • Central Arkansas Library 
  • Child Development Center 
  • Teacher Support
  • Equal Exchange
  • Esse Purse Museum
  • Family Christmas Photos for The Pantry Backpack Ministry
  • FLAME
  • FUMC Swag
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Heifer Project
  • Literacy Action of Central Arkansas
  • Methodist Family Health Angel Tree (waiting on confirmation)
  • Our House 
  • Ozark Mission Project
  • ancake Breakfast for PAWS (Washington School Projects) 
  • The Pantry Backpack Ministry
  • Sew and Serve
  • Village of Hope for Uganda
UMCOR Kits Ready to Pack! THIS Sunday
It’s time for our church wide service project. On Sunday, November 6 we are packing UMCOR School Kits for children in Arkansas. We are packing kits between 8:30am-1:00pm at the Shop for Good Christmas Market in the gym. Come pack a few kits, shop for Christmas, eat some pancakes, and enjoy the company of your FUMCLR family. It’s going to be a FUN day.
Have you made your 2023 Commitment?
Thank you for your prayerful consideration!
Communion Fund this Sunday, November 6
Each communion Sunday you are invited to leave a special offering on the rail during communion. This is a special fund that goes directly into our community. Donations left this Sunday, November 6 will be sent to Canvas Community. Canvas works directly with our homeless and near homeless neighbors by providing food, personal items, access to healthcare, and more. Simply leave your donation on the altar and we will collect it to send to Canvas.
Grief Expressions- A Creative Way
to Engage with Grief and Loss
Sundays, November 6th and 13th,
Noon – 3 pm, Lunch provided
Join us for a creative arts activity to honor whom or what you have lost. While the source of our loss varies, all can benefit from the opportunity to engage with our grief in a creative and transformative way. The afternoon will include lunch, prayer, experience based workshops in journaling and art therapy. Artistic experience or ability is not required to participate and enjoy the workshop, just the willingness to create. All are welcome. Please rsvp to the church office by Nov 3rd, 372-2256. If you have questions, see either Donna Hankins, dhankins@fumclr.org or Mary Jane Cole, mcole@fumclr.org. We look forward to this special space and time to acknowledge, create and honor together! CLICK TO REGISTER!
Canvas Community Worship - Sunday’s at 5:30 pm
1111 W 7th St., Little Rock, AR 72201
As we turn our attention to the new Church vision God has placed before us, we seek to build a stronger relationship with our unhoused and near homeless neighbors. We can best do that by building relationships with organizations assisting neighbors. Canvas Community, just down 7th street, helps our unhoused and near homeless neighbors meet their basic needs and work towards their goals. We want to build a stronger relationship with Canvas Community and join the good work of loving our neighbors well. We invite you to join us on Sunday nights at 5:30 pm for a unique worship experience with our unhoused neighbors.
Ingathering is a great service opportunity for individuals, families, and small groups at the Arkansas Food Bank. When you sign up for a volunteer slot, you can expect to sort food items and build food boxes for Arkansans. You can find out more information here: https://arumc.org/ingathering/
Next 200 Birthday Club - New Members
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 new Birthday Club Members:
Nancy Foster
Joe Roddy
Mary Lou Rasco
Mary Davis
Bill Sherman (in memory)
Carole Sherman
Marcia Caplinger
David Smith
Joy & Lynn Rockenbach
Pat Lile
Sam Smith
Kay Burton
Linda Deloney
Evan Hankins-Hull
Bill Owens
KIDS@FIRST
Three Things to Know This Week: 

1) First Family Sunday School is this week! Instead of our usual programing, families are encouraged to participate in the Shop for Good event! There will be a pancake breakfast, shopping opportunities, and a service opportunity as we prepare for Ingathering. There will be no other Sunday School activities offered this Sunday.

2) Parent Bible Bootcamp will be offered on Sunday, November 13 at 10 a.m. in the First Cup Cafe. All parents are welcome as you learn more about scripture and how to incorporate it into the life of your family. 

3) We are back on FACEBOOK! Make sure you are following our Facebook page! You will find reminders along with some pictures of all that is happening with Kids@First! Here is the link to the page! Instagram is not too far behind! 


Dates to know: 

November
Friday, November 4 from 5:30-8:30 pm: Parent's Night Out
Drop off your kiddos at church and enjoy a night out. 

Sunday, November 6 at 10 am: Family Sunday School
Enjoy the pancake breakfast, Christmas market, and UMCOR service opportunity. 

Saturday, November 12: Ingathering
This is a family friendly mission opportunity at the Arkansas Food Bank. 

Sunday, November 13 at 10 a.m.: Parent Bible Bootcamp
While this is for our parents of 3rd and 4th graders, all parents are welcome to learn more about the Bible and find ways to incorporate it at home. 

Saturday, November 19: 3rd and 4th Grade Bible Bootcamp
This is a fun, full-day retreat at Ferncliff! 

December 
Sunday, December 4 at 10 a.m: Family Advent Fair 
The entire family is invited to a fun, interactive event where you can learn more about how to celebrate Advent at home! 

Sunday, December 11 at 4 p.m.: Parents/Kids Christmas Party
Two parties in one night! Kids are invited to a fun and sweet party in the Gym! Parent's are invited to gather in the First Cup Cafe for a party of their own. 

Sunday, December 18 at 10 a.m.: Nativity Pageant 
Gather at 10 a.m. to get dressed and rehearse our super fun Christmas Pageant! The pageant will be a part of the 11 a.m. worship service. 

Saturday, December 24th at 12 pm, 6 pm and 11 pm: Christmas Eve Worship
All services will include carols, communion, and candles BUT our noon services will be particularly family friendly! 

Sunday, December 25- Sunday, January 8: NO SUNDAY SCHOOL 
We will not be offering Sunday School during winter break


YOUTH
Sunday, November 6

Sunday School Hour
The youth will help with the service project in the gym during the Shop for Good Market. We will also help clean up after the Shop for Good Pancake Breakfast. 

Sunday Evening
Confirmation class will be participating in a Scavenger Hunt around the church.  
Youth will meet for the regular Sunday night meeting. 
MUSIC NOTES
I was a very, very awkward teenager. My teeth were quite literally growing in the wrong order, and for several months my left eye tooth was much, much longer than my front two teeth. To say I was self-conscious would be an understatement. My youth group was full of kind people who genuinely tried to make me feel welcome, and it wasn’t their fault that I avoided interacting with others. My best friend and I used to sneak away from youth events (don’t worry, the leaders were just letting us think we snuck off, they were keeping an eye on us the whole time) and follow around whatever music thing was happening in the church instead.  

One evening, the director of music got tired of my friend and I trying to go unnoticed in the hallway and conscripted us into the soprano section. In just one day, we gained 50 spare aunts and uncles and grandparents. We always felt loved and welcomed. I credit that choir with teaching me the meaning of community. Of course, we learned fabulous music, of course, we led the services. But more than anything, we loved each other fiercely. Being a moody teenager is hard. It’s a lot easier when you have a few dozen shoulders to cry on. I learned to become comfortable singing solo in front of people at church. I bombed the first few times, don’t let my 50-odd aunts and uncles fool you. Those same choir members greet me with a hug and a smile whenever we happen to cross paths. When I moved to Oklahoma City for my undergraduate degree, a former member of that choir who moved to OKC the year before to be closer to her grandkids became my “Oklahoma Grandmother.” I really should call Margaret Keith more.  

Nothing is sadder to me than someone saying “oh, I can’t sing.” Yes, you can! You just haven’t really stretched that muscle much. Imagine someone saying “oh I can’t swim as fast as the pros, so I can’t swim at all.” We’re not asking anyone, even our fabulous section leaders, to swim alone. I promise, it’s much, much easier to tread water with your friends than you realize. Until that instinct kicks in, and it will, you’re surrounded by friends who can help keep you afloat. Besides, James and I have water wings and pool floaties and life vests to help people who aren’t ready for the deep end just yet. Should a choir make amazing music? Absolutely! But we are always, always welcoming newcomers and people who may need a bit of help keeping their head above water.  

A church choir is never about the music, or choir tours, or rehearsals, or parties. It’s about being part of a loving, supportive community. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. This church is so, so fortunate to have not just one, but two fantastic choirs (and a bell choir!) The chancel choir meets at 7:00 on Wednesdays. That’s the choir that sings most Sundays. We enjoy getting to know new people and new voices. For those of you who think that pool’s waves might still be a bit too strong, we have the Ensemble at 7:00 on Thursday nights. To be honest, the Ensemble is less a choir and more an excuse to have a community. Honestly, we need community now more than ever. As we move from surviving to THRIVE-ing, maybe being part of a musical community may just help make you feel a little less alone. 

Shannon Rookey
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.

■ Online: Visit fumclr.org/give to give by credit card or ACH.

■ 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.
Being good neighbors to make Little Rock a place where children THRIVE.