Website    Calendar    Events   Contact Us    Newsletter Archive

Lent is a season of the Christian year when we contemplate our own mortality, face our sin, and turn back toward God. We walk with Jesus to face his death on the cross. But the annual Lenten journey isn't a time to sit is darkness and sadness. The purpose is to wrestle with all that is destroying our life and then turn toward all that gives us life. After all, Lent doesn't end at the cross, but at an empty tomb.

This Lent we're moving from death to life. Each Sunday, we'll look deeply at stories where people encountered Jesus and how he called them to leave behind the the things that destroy life and embrace all that creates life. Each worship experience will move us with stirring music, challenge us through the exploration of scripture, and connect our hearts with community and liturgy. Join us each Sunday, February 26th-April 2nd at 9:00 and 11:00 for our Lenten series "i who have died am alive again today..."

*taken from e.e. cummings' poem, "I Thank You God for Most this Amazing Day.

On Wednesday nights during Lent our Kids age 3 through 5th grade are invited to experience Lent through music, learning and fun. As we prepare for the joy of Easter Sunday, kids will have the chance to experience the joy of worship, the stories of Jesus, and time for open play. The nursery will be open for kids 2 and under. Click to Register.

Will Our Children Have Faith -Spiritual Formation for Families.  

Spirituality very broadly refers to an inner belief that the universe and all people are connected in ways we cannot always see, and that life is about more than oneself. A sense of personal meaning and purpose is enhanced when children of all ages have a deeper understanding of something greater than themselves.  Please join us for this class where we will explore what it means to be a person of faith, how we acquire our views, values and belief and how to share them with others. We will also discuss spiritual practice ideas for children and families.   Click to Register.

Come join this conversational study of food, justice, creation and faith on Wednesday evenings during Lent. We will discuss how scripture and sacred traditions related to food and agriculture show us about the Kingdom of God, and how that vision calls us to deeper relationships and loving, justice-fueled actions for our neighbors, both human and non-human. Each week will include a group spiritual practice and practical ideas for deepening our discipleship. Click to Register.

We live in a culture that doesn't value rest. Every day we receive messages to work harder or make it look like you've got everything under control. But this lifestyle sucks the life out of us. And yet, God tells us to take a day for rest every week because God knows we need that to discover the full life God intends. We're extending a challenge to practice the Sabbath during Lent. Take a day, or a part of a day, or at least a few hours every week for intentional life-giving rest. Each Wednesday night, David Freeman will lead a discussion about the understanding of Sabbath, offer strategies to face this challenge, and process our experiences. We'll use the book Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest by Ruth Haley Barton as a study guide and discussion starter. Click to Register.

We have been taking church directory photos for several months. However, it's not too late if you did not have your picture taken. You may submit your own picture over the next two weeks if you want to be included. The deadline for submission is Friday, February 24th. You may email photos to Lesley at landrews@fumclr.org. Photos must be of high quality (if there are issues with the submitted photo, she will contact you)—no professional photography, as there are usually copyright issues.

Completed directories will be available on Sunday, March 12th. If you would like to purchase a directory for $15, please fill out the form by clicking here and following the payment instructions you receive by email once the form has been submitted. The deadline to purchase directories is March 1st at 4:30 pm. If you are purchasing a directory, consider donating extra to help offset the cost of directories for families of different means. Thank you in advance for your consideration and generosity! 

If you have any questions, please email Lesley Andrews (landrews@fumclr.org).

The Faulkner Circle will meet at noon February 27th in Fellowship Hall. All women of FUMC are invited to bring a sack lunch and listen to our speaker, Hannah Cheek, Director of the Gertrude Remmel Butler Methodist Child Development Center. One parent said about the CDC “…not just a day care…it is a family.” The CDC is another way FUMC seeks to help all of God’s Children THRIVE.

Habitat for Humanity has a historic and proven record of transforming lives through providing housing. They empower families by making them a part of the building and funding process, and they bring whole communities together. Our church has been a part of several Habitat projects over the years and it is a great way to live out our bold initiative to be in relationship with those experiencing homelessness.

We've been invited to be a part of a very special Habitat project called an "Apostle's Build" this year. Apostle's Builds are when several churches come together to build a house in the community. Our Apostle's Build is bringing together several United Methodist churches in Little Rock; Asbury UMC, First UMC, Highland Valley UMC, Pulaski Heights UMC, St. James UMC, Trinity UMC, and Wesley Chapel UMC. The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas is also helping with this build. Each church is contributing financially and people power to build this new home. It's exciting to join with our United Methodist siblings to extend our mission of making Little Rock a place where all God's children THRIVE.

We'll be breaking ground after Easter and we will have a few workdays where you can put your hands to work. Until then, we're seeking to raise $5,000 to contribute to the project. You'll have an opportunity to contribute on upcoming communion Sundays. However, if you would like to make a special gift to this project, you can send your gift to the church or contact Sonja Taylor-Larkowski (stlarkowski@fumclr.org, 501-372-2256). I hope you'll be a part of this project either with a gift or by participating in the workdays or both.

Gracefully,

David

Do you think you’re too young for a will? Do you think you don’t have enough assets to warrant having a will? Did you know those are two of the reasons people delay creating their will? The truth is it’s never too soon or too late to make a will!

Do you have children under the age of 18? Who will care for them if something happens to you? Not only will a will determine the distribution of your assets, it is also the document in which you name a guardian for your children along with any wishes you have about their upbringing.

With a will, YOU decide who will care for your children. With a will you can avoid the possibility that your children could end up in a foster home or that the state would be left to decide.

Rev. Lynn Kilbourne, Director of Development with The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas, will join us on Monday, February 27^th at 5:00 p.m. to talk more about Planning a Legacy at FUMCLR. The event includes a meal and childcare, both are paid for by the Foundation. Please put this event on your calendar, and RSVP to OfficeManager@fumclr.org to reserve your spot at the presentation. 

We are on a mission to stock the Incentive Store for Parents/Families. Students take a gift home to their family member for helping them meet their weekly goals of R.O.A.R.ing (Showing Respect, Ownership, Achievement and Responsibility). Help us stock the store by shopping our Amazon Wish list! Be sure to include your name with your purchase. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/39XM2JG4ATKNL?ref_=wl_share

These are simple opportunities to get involved in life of our partner school Washington Elementary. Please contact Rev. Haley at hjones@fumclr.org if you would like to volunteer. 

The Afghan sponsorship ministry team is looking for volunteers to assist with the Peashe Wal family’s adjustment to life in the United States! If you are eager to learn about another culture and join a service-oriented ministry team, prepared to be charmed as you get to know the family!

Volunteers need not commit to a weekly time slot! We need volunteers for occasional needs, such as monthly pickups at the PHUMC diaper bank, transportation for Mom as she has opportunities to meet up with other Afghan women in central Arkansas, and babysitting the utterly precious three older children (10, 8, and 6).

We are also on the lookout for a used minivan or SUV that will transport a family of six. Their current vehicle is great for getting Dad to work but cannot accommodate the entire family at one time. If you know of anyone who is thinking of switching out their fleet, their vehicle donation could qualify for a tax deduction.

Thanks to everyone who has assisted in so many ways, especially in helping them set up their household when they arrived fourteen months ago. The family is adjusting remarkably well, and we are honored to be with them on their journey.

If you can would like to volunteer or would like additional information about the ministry, contact Liz Russell (501-307-7833 or lizrussell99@gmail.com) or Rev. Haley Jones Wells (501-372-2256 or hjones@fumclr.org).

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).

October: Bill Owens, Cindy Shenep, Roger Chinn, Rockenbachs, Kaye Burton

November: Hamp Rasco, Terry Rasco, Susan Cazort, Holly Trantham

December: Bill Burton, Don Weir, Martha Faulkner, Susan Faulkner Tynes, Susan Weir

January: Rockenbachs

Wednesdays in Lent, March 1- March 29, 5-7 pm

An OMP "Pop Up" has popped up! I visited the mission site this weekend to assess and draw up plans for a small wheelchair ramp and back deck for a neighbor who lives in Benton. Please encourage your youth to come out on 3/4/23 and spend the day learning about tool safety and constructing a much needed ramp for our neighbor in Benton. I need a head count by this Friday 2/24/23 so I can bring the right amount of tools and know if I need to call in reinforcements. Please let me know if your youth is planning on coming by texting me at 501-749-3575 or emailing me at adamakirby@gmail.com by the end of the day on 2/24/23.

We will meet on Saturday 3/4/23 at 8:00 am at FUMC. We will load up in a church van and drive out to Benton, where the lumber will be waiting on us. We will spend all day Saturday building the ramp and a small deck. We should return to the church no later than 4:30 (but potentially early depending on how things go). The church will get Subway or something similar for lunch. The only thing your youth needs to bring is plenty of water. If they have tools and want to bring them that is great, MAKE SURE THEY ARE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED. We will be using drills, speed squares, circular saws, tape measures, AGAIN IF YOUR YOUTH WANTS TO BRING ANY OF THOSE TOOLS PLEASE HAVE THEM MARKED AND IDENTIFIED AS THEIRS.

This is a really exciting opportunity for all our youth, and those who are interested in OMP and are planning on attending this summer, this will give them a bit of a headstart on what they will experience this summer.

Congratulations to Sean and Holly Foster on the baptism of Liam on Sunday, February 19th during First Word.

Congratulations to Haley and Alex Wells on the baptism of Wren on Sunday, February 19th during First Tradition.

■ 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.