Joseph: The Good Journey

Genesis 50:15-21

God intends every evil to turn out for good.

Communion Sunday

In Person

Rev. Bud Reeves

Offertory “Paraphrase on a Chorus from ‘Judas Maccabaeus’ of Handel”

Organist: Benjamin Henderson  

11:00 am Connexion

In Person, 6pm Premier Monday on Facebook and YouTube

Rev. DeeDee Autry

“Raise A Hallelujah” 

“The Way” 

“Build My Life”

“Amazing Love”

11:00 am Sanctuary

In Person,Facebook Live,

YouTube and FM 103.5

Rev. Bud Reeves

Anthem “This Joyful Eastertide” 

Offertory “In Thee Is Gladness”

Chancel Choir

Gaye Mings, Chancel Choir Director

Benjamin Henderson, Organist

SPRINTING THROUGH THE TAPE

I’ve never run a marathon, but I’ve seen videos of the finish line, with runners barely stumbling over the line, only to collapse in an exhausted heap. As I approach retirement, that is not the way I plan to go out! I’ve seen other videos of sprinters running their race, coming across the finish line at full speed, breaking the tape with arms held high and a smile on their faces. That’s more like it, and I think a more apt description of my last 2 ½ months as your pastor. Although transitional thoughts and preparations are necessarily taking up more time now, there is still a lot of ministry going on in the next ten weeks, and I want to encourage you to take part to the fullest extent possible.

I will start a new sermon series this Sunday called “Between the Ditches,” about some of the most famous characters of Scripture, and particularly how they dealt with hardship and suffering in their lives. It’s the perennial question, and I think each of the characters–Joseph, Job, Jeremiah, Jesus, and James–have a unique answer. Then, for my last four weeks, I will preach a series called “Legacy.” It will be everything I have told you before but want to make sure you remember about Methodism, the Bible, Discipleship, and Mission. I am excited to try to sum up 44 years of ministry in four weeks. (I promise they won’t be any longer than normal sermons!)

I am also offering my last New Member class on Wednesday evenings April 3, 10, 17, and 24. By the time you get this newsletter, it will be too late to make the first class, but you can join us for the second, third, and fourth. It will be a very short course in what it means to be a United Methodist church member–no homework or tests! Then we will have a joining Sunday on April 28. 

We also have many great church events coming up in the next two months. We will welcome a new Confirmation class into the church on April 21. The kids have a summer kickoff and a summer full of camps planned. The Youth have a big trip coming up. The Fort Smith Chorale will present their spring concert. Mothers’ Day and Pentecost are in May.

Though a pastoral transition looms on the horizon, I don’t plan to slow down until I get there. I hope you won’t, either. Let’s make these last few weeks truly wonderful as we put a crown of victory on a great nine years. Let’s sprint through the tape together!

New Member class will allow those who are interested to learn more about the United Methodist faith and become members of our church. The classes will be on 4 Wednesday nights: April 3, 10, 17, 

and 24, from 6:00-7:00 pm. The classes may be enjoyed in person or by Zoom. 

We are excited to share with you our Congregational Care Ministry Team has a new lay leader. Along with Rev. Janice Sudbrink, Nancy Vernon will now be leading the team. Our Congregational Care Ministry began in 2019 when Rev. Reeves asked Rev. Janice Sudbrink and Jeanne Starr if they would be interested in starting a group of laity to help in the area of pastoral care.  

Our primary emphasis is reaching out to church members in assisted living, nursing homes, and other facilities, as well as some of those considered homebound or perhaps dealing with an issue needing special attention. This is done by sending cards and making calls and visits. We want our church family to know they are loved and thought about especially when they are unable to attend church services in person.

The team consists of the following: 

Sandra Adams, Jack Green, Louanna Green, Barbara Kennedy, Allen Marshall, Sally Matthews, Larry Nelson, Gail Oakes, Cindy Peevy, Mary Prewitt, Janice Sudbrink, Patty Payne, Jeanne Ledbetter, Rick Pittman, Pam Dalke, and Nancy Vernon. We are also grateful to have another member, Tracy Culp, leading members of the Discussion Sunday School class in sending cards as part of our team. They are a welcome addition to our group. 

If you know of someone in our church you feel would benefit from contact by a team member, please contact Nancy Vernon and let her know. Our team is represented in all three services on Sunday and can be identified by their name tags.  

All FSFUMC women are welcome! 

There will be a meeting of Church Women United in the Narthex May 3rd @ 10:00am.

Church Women United is an interdenominational, multi-racial group of wonderful Christian women, who meet approximately 5 times a year to share Christian causes. Get to know area church women with like minds and hearts.

For more information contact Becky Rickman 479-414-1075.

Guatemala mission team report will be presented Sunday, April 28 at 10:00 during the Sunday School hour in the Great Hall. 

Please make plans to attend!

OUTREACH

Neighborhood Eats gave out 46 bags of groceries for March. Since it was Holy Week, we gave out small gospel bibles with invitations to our Easter Services. The recipients enjoyed receiving the Bibles. The kids received candy with invitations to the Summer of Camps and Summer Kick-off Party. The candy and invites for the kids were a hit as well! Our team enjoyed visiting with the families and helping ease some of the cost of groceries. We always have a place for volunteers to pack grocery bags, prepare cold food before giving out, or work the pick-up line. This ministry is a great way to spread the love of Jesus to our neighbors.

Prom Closet preparations have been happening this month. We’ll be helping high school students find prom attire, accessories, shoes, and more on Saturday, April 6th, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Prom Closet is about helping high school students feel valued and loved at this event. We will take donations for the Prom Closet until the day of the event. Thank you to everyone who has donated!

In April, we’ll head out to the East Side of Fort Smith to feed lunch to the Arkansas College of Health Education students. Students will be preparing for upcoming finals, so we wanted to show some love to them! Be looking for this date in April.

BAPTISM CONGRATULATIONS

We celebrated the Sacrament of Christian Baptism on Easter Sund for Gideon Duke Dobler, son of Nick & Judy (Drummond)Dobler and brother of Nolan & Wyatt.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Do you love singing hymns? Is there a specific Hymn you’ve always wanted to sing? Join us on May 19th at 2pm for an Afternoon of Song in the Sanctuary. Louis Benson believed that Hymnody is a “spiritual gift which each Christian brings to the sanctuary and contributes to a common song of spiritual fellowship.” What better way to connect than by choosing our beloved Hymns and uniting in 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, please use this Google Form to submit your Hymns: https://forms.gle/edrd3GizAcHUTi458

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

FIRST YOUth

Feb. 23-25 was Veritas, held right here in the Fort this year. It was a great weekend for our YOUth that went, filled with worship, fun, learning, foolishness, meeting new people, and much more. The theme was ‘Under Pressure’ and focused on the pressures that youth face and how they can overcome and grow from them. There were also small groups, dozens of breakout sessions from Spiritual Gifts (led by Dee Dee), to yoga, to how to help friends in need, and how to “chillax”. There was also a large game room, a prayer room, a late night dance, as well as a live karaoke band (led by Trevor and his band The Remnants) We had a tremendous group who had a great time! Thank you to Kim Swaim, Brandi Garner, and Kim Weiler for chaperoning!

On Wednesday Nights for the last couple of months we’ve had “How to Adult” classes following the Wednesday night meals. The first few weeks we had some cooking basics and safety with chopping/cutting vegetables, frying bacon and how to dispose of grease and deal with a grease fire. After Ash Wednesday we did some basic vehicle maintenance with how to change a tire, jump a battery, check tire pressure and fluids, etc. They were some good nights filled with laughter and learning, and we couldn’t have done them without the help of Sally Matthews with the cooking classes and Scott Faldon with the vehicle classes.

Wall of Support Update

Thank you to everyone who took an envelope back in January and February to support YOUth missions and ministries. If you took an envelope and have not returned it, you still can mail it to the church, put it in the offering plate, or put it in one of the metal offering boxes. If you meant to get one and forgot, you can still pick a “digital envelope” at 

https://bit.ly/firstyouthwallofsupport24

Registration is now live

for the April 19 and 20 

Lay Servant Ministries Academy 

in Fort Smith.

You can see a listing of classes available on the ARUMC website. Class size is limited to 15 participants per class. 

Pacesetters ushered in March 2024 like a lamb with Dr. Taylor Prewitt’s sharing highlights from his latest book “Before It Got Complicated: Medicine in Fort Smith And the Arkansas River Valley 1817-1975.” Fascinating to me was the story of the Smith brothers, Dr. Jim and Dr. Mac, whose first medical practice was established in a cabin near Chismville in 1880. The pair later moved to Paris where a new hospital was completed in 1913. It was in use until 1971.

Lynn Wasson, editor and owner of the popular magazine Entertainment Fort Smith, returned to share the history of her residence on North 16th Street and the Breckenridge family, who previously owned the home and were active in state and national politics. Mary Breckenridge was one of the first nurses to take nursing care into the homes of rural areas, as well as increasing the effectiveness of midwives.

April 5 we invite you to join us when Ashley McNeal, FSFUMC Children’s Minister, visits to share activities in which our children are involved. Perhaps she can offer ways we can assist in children’s activities. Ashley will also delight us with a craft project.

April 19 Josh Buchfink, Public Relations Manager for the City of Fort Smith, brings greetings from our local city government, providing detail on the organization and direction of our city. I requested that Josh be prepared to answer our questions regarding city government, particularly clarifying the city’s recycling process. Be thinking of concerns you would like for Josh to address.

Pacesetters meet the first and third Friday mornings of each month from 10am-12pm in the Fireside Room of the Family Life Center. Please come, bring a friend, and stay for lunch.

-Louise Finney

Book Club will follow immediately after.

Urgent: Phone System Overhaul Underway!

Our current phone system is on the fritz, and voicemail has gone AWOL. Fear not! We’re actively shopping for a new, robust system to restore seamless communication.

Hang tight—resolution is imminent!

IN OUR PRAYERS

Loss of Loved One:

• Vicci Lynn Hiller - wife of Sam Hiller and mother of Scott Austin.
• Pollye Greb - aunt of Beth Watson. Shayne Smith - husband of Tracy, son-in-law of Robert and Mary Young, brother-in-law of Christy Ivey (Cliff) and uncle of Catherine, Elizabeth and Mary Vivian Ivey.

MEMORIALS:

Jack Gedosh by

Lori Hardin & Michael Willis

Helen Lanier

David Hutcheson by

Karen Hutcheson designated 

for River Valley Widow’s Club

Ann Byars by

Byron & Linda Ware

Anita Paddock

Lori Hardin & Michael Willis

PASTOR ON CALL

M-F 8:30 AM-4:30 PM: (479) 782-5068

Weekends and Evenings: (479) 459-5060

When there is a hospitalization, a death in the family, or any other time you may need urgent pastoral care, we encourage you to use these numbers. The pastors rotate on-call responsibilities to assure that one of them is always accessible. 

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

200 N. 15th St. Fort Smith, AR 72901

(479) 782-5068 | www.fsfumc.org

Email: fsfumc@fsfumc.org

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 

8:30AM-4:30PM

Closed for lunch 12:30PM-1:30PM