“You Can Do This!”

Jeremiah 29:11

John 21:1-19

To face great challenges, we bring God’s greater resources.

In Person, Facebook Live & YouTube 

Rev. Bud Reeves

Offertory “Be Not Afraid”

Rylee Norton, Soloist

Organist: Benjamin Henderson  

In Person. Facebook and YouTube @ 6pm

Rev. DeeDee Autry

“Battle Belongs”

“Cornerstone”

“Way Maker”

“How Great is Our God”

In Person,Facebook Live,

YouTube and FM 103.5

Rev. Bud Reeves

Anthem “Be Not Afraid”

Offertory “The King of Love my Shepherd is”

Chancel Choir

Gaye Mings, Chancel Choir Director

Benjamin Henderson, Organist

A MISSION-MINDED CHURCH

I am excited to be leaving in a few days with 21 other missionaries for our annual trip to the Salud Y Paz (Health and Peace) clinic in Guatemala. This is the first trip we have been able to make since 2020 because of the pandemic, so we and they are very excited to have us back. I have never had the opportunity to go with the team, so I am looking forward to joining them this year. This is primarily a medical and dental mission, so I am going to take my guitar, do devotionals, and obey orders!

I love that our church takes its commitment to missions seriously. Meeting the human needs of people goes back to Jesus, of course, who healed and fed and cast out demons. Matthew 25:40 is one of the most important verses in the Bible, where Jesus said, “In as much as you have done it to the least of these members of my family, you have done it to me.”

Missions is also in our Methodist DNA. John Wesley started ministries with the poor, the prisoners, and the victimized children of his day. Methodist support for missions in the American Methodist church began in 1819. Today the United Methodist Church has a massive commitment to missions. The Board of Global Ministries deploys missionaries in 60 countries as doctors, nurses, educators, agricultural specialists, and pastors. The United Methodist Committee on Relief responded to disasters in 25 countries and sent resources to 13 disasters in the United States in the last year.

These amazing numbers don’t even count the thousands of local United Methodist churches like ours that reach out locally and globally. FUMC Fort Smith has a reputation in our city as a church that cares for the community. Our Feed the Fort mission consists of five different feeding programs with kids, cops, homeless, poor, and the schools. Through our community grants, awarded by our church’s Foundation, we impact about 20 non-profits each year, from food to clothing to medical help to housing. We have members of FUMC involved with every one of those non-profits, and it’s amazing to see the things they do!  

Our children’s and youth ministries always have an element of mission going on, teaching our young people to serve in the name of Jesus. And some of our Sunday Small Groups also have their own mission projects.

It’s what we do as Christians, as United Methodists, and as members of a mission-minded church. We are honored to share the love of Jesus with so many people, to bless their lives and meet their needs. In the process we are blessed even more than they are, because we get to see the face of Christ in everyone we serve.

DISCIPLESHIP COACHING

Recently I was a part of a 3 day webinar around the topic of Discipleship Coaching. Several years ago I spent time being certified as a discipleship coach. Much of how this practice is designed looks at the practices of Jesus and how he spent so much intentional time with his 12 disciples. In a recent sermon, Bud challenged us to spend time practicing 5 disciplines that will strengthen our discipleship: prayer, reading scripture, worship, giving and service. In the coaching process I would ask you which discipline would you want to focus on and what outcome would you like to see in growing in the practice. It is really an enlightening experience for us to consider where we are and where we would like to be. In our Dinner Church conversations, we are looking at what type of disciple we are. Do we follow more like Matthew, Mark, Luke or John? You can find out what type you are here. 

The point I’m trying to make is that our being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not a stagnant relationship. It’s not a once and done decision. But rather it is a lifetime journey of living and growing in our discipleship to imitate and emulate Jesus in all that we do. So it takes practice and it takes time and it takes surrounding ourselves with others who are striving to do the same.

All through this year we are going to offering you many opportunities to grow in your discipleship, and I hope you will make time to be a part. And if you ever want to have a deeper conversation about how you can grow in your discipleship…give me a call, I would love to walk along side of you as you grow and experience the love of Christ that is within you.

WELCOME NEW CHURCH MEMBERS

Patricia “Tricia” Sloan 

transferred from another United Methodist Church and is retired. She is the daughter of the late King and 

Rev. Dorothy Collier.  

Howard and Emily Vernon transferred from another United Methodist Church. Howard works at Hanna Oil and Gas. Emily is an occupational therapist with an Autism Clinic. They have two children, Howard and Eleanor.

Sharon Barr is a retired medical lab director. She joins by transfer from another denomination.

IT'S THE START OF SOMETHING NEW!

In January we kicked off our Wednesday night activities. This semester we are doing a series called Created: Growing Together in the Image of God. Each week we are learning about who God says we are while creating self-portraits to illustrate the lessons. At the end of the series, we will be doing a formal art show where the children will share their art with the congregation. You won’t want to miss it, so go ahead and mark your calendar for March 29th.  

A lesson that the kids learned just this past week really resonated with me, so I thought I’d share in hopes of encouraging and challenging you as well. When talking about the image of God we often find ourselves in Genesis 1:27, but if you keep reading we discover a little bit about what being made into the image of God really means. It means that we are to care for the earth and other creatures that inhabit it. Just as God is over all creation, so we are to care for the world. Sin messed everything up a bit. Our motivations became selfish, but through our Salvation, we move closer to God’s image. So maybe today or this week you take the time to ponder how you can help care for the world. For the kids, we focused on recycling and limiting our use of single-use items. Perhaps together, as the body of Christ, we can care for the world and its inhabitants in deep and meaningful ways living into the image for whom we are created.  

The month of February happens to be one of my most favorite months of the year. It’s not only my birth month but often times the season of Lent kicks off during this month. This year, we will be offering printed calendars with daily challenges/ encouragement for our families to follow through the Lenten season. We will also be having our first annual Bible Bootcamp event. Bible Bootcamp is an overnight experience for 4th-5th graders. Our goals are to learn how to use the Bible more effectively, help those homeless in Fort Smith by packing 75 snack kits, and have fun! It’s sure to be an exciting month. I can’t wait to see how the Holy Spirit moves among us.  

OUTREACH

In January, the Blood Drive had eight people successfully give blood! Thank you to those who donated to those in need!

Prom Closet is off to a successful start in gathering donations for high school students in our community. Our mission is to help high school students feel confident and experience the love of Jesus at our Prom Closet event. On April 1st, each student will have a personal shopper that will help the students pick out and find the perfect attire for prom. They’ll experience someone teaching them about make-up, snacks, fun photos, and more. We want this day to be memorable for students in our community. We are accepting donations from now until the end of March. Please continue to share and donate to this special event. We are taking monetary donations at the link below. Be sure to select Prom Closet when using the link.

https://onrealm.org/fsfumc/-/form/give/now

The Casserole Ministry has continued to make casseroles for families at our local schools and partner organizations. We’re excited to extend offering these meals to single-parent households. Through the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund, we are helping those that are parenting, working full-time jobs, and going back to school to further their education. These meals provide a much-needed break for these busy parents working hard to provide for their families. Thank you to the teams that make these meals each month!

FIRST YOUth

For Spring Break we are heading to New Orleans to serve with various organization, enjoy the culture, and have some fun. The trip is open to 6-12 grades. We are staying at Aurora United Methodist Church on the West Bank. 

Registration cost is $250 (includes $100 deposit) and covers transportation, work, lodging, swamp tour, and lunches and dinners while in New Orleans. We will serve at Greenlight New Orleans, the Ronald McDonald House, and Covenant House.

YOUth FEBRUARY

Feb. 12- Super Bowl Party 5pm-end of halftime. Bring food to share and soft drinks will be provided. We also have some prizes. Bring some folks and let’s have some fun.

*Feb. 13- Spring Break Mission Trip Registration Deadline.

Feb. 19- YOUth 5-7. Dinner, Games, Small Groups, and focus on 

Friendships pt. 2.

Feb. 26- YOUth 5-7. Snacks & mission experience on poverty.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

The Concordia Choir will be presenting a concert on March 14th at 7pm. Tickets are available in the FUMC office M-F 8:30-12:30, 1:30-4:30. This concert will be absolutely unbelievable and ALL ticket revenue will go, in its entirety, to The Concordia Choir.

 This nationally known collegiate choir may well be the most recorded choir in our country. Having concertized in every major venue in the US; they have also toured extensively abroad. This concert will be the sixth time our church has hosted this wonderful choir.

IN OUR PRAYERS

In Northwest Medical Center Rehab:

• Lisa Evans

In Tulsa Hillcrest Medical Center:

• Lana Gately

Loss of Loved Ones:

• Juanita Dyrhood - mother of Leslie Jackson (Randy), grandmother of Cassie Dyer, Sam Jackson and Hannah Cheek.
• Betty Pence - mother of Michelle Harris (Scot), Cindi Glidewell (Jerry), Dryden Pence (Laila).

IN MEMORY OF:

Sue Vines by

Dr. & Mrs. Robert Mack

Bob Worley by

Janice Powell

Suzanne Stephens by

Luther & Carolyn Plant

Gene & Teija Nelson

Osceola Class of ‘67

Suzy Stosberg by

Jack & Louanna Green

Betty McGee by

Chapel Sunday School Class

George Gaines by

Chapel Sunday School Class

Fran Bateman

John & Pamela Shelby

Mary Morreale by

Kyle & Renee Parker

Danny Dye by

Disciples Sunday School Class

Toka Beall by

Bill Beall