Trinity Sunday

“Blah, Blah, Blah…Love”

Psalm 8

Matthew 28:16-20

Communion

In Person, Facebook Live & YouTube 

Rev. DeeDee Autry

Offertory “Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Anthem”

Rylee Norton, Soloist

Organist: Benjamin Henderson  

In Person. Facebook and YouTube @ 6pm

Rev. Ben Anderson

“Gracefully Broken”

“Gratitude”

“Praise The Father Praise The Son”

“All The Poor and Powerless”

In Person,Facebook Live,

YouTube and FM 103.5

Rev. DeeDee Autry

Anthem “Hymn to the Trinity”

Offertory “Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Anthem”

Chancel Choir

Gaye Mings, Chancel Choir Director

Benjamin Henderson, Organist

A SEASON OF HOPE

Memorial Day is past; school is out; summer is officially underway! For those who are still in school or those who work in the school system, there is a definite change of rhythm during the summer. (Although being married to a school teacher, I can tell you the work does not stop during the summer. It’s just a different sort of work.) But even for the rest of us, gainfully employed or retired, there is a different feel to summertime. I am hearing the song from “Porgy and Bess” in my head: “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.”

My friend Bishop Ken Carter, whose schedule is much busier than mine, began his weekly blog last week talking about the different rhythm of summer. In the church, although we celebrate several liturgical seasons, there are really just two seasons: fall and winter/spring. Fall is the busiest time for programs, stewardship emphases, administrative work, and oh yes, Advent and Christmas. I have said for years, “I jump in the deep end on Labor Day and don’t come up for air until after Christmas.” After a short break, we are back at it through Lent and Easter to Pentecost, then we definitely slow down.

Again, this is not so true for children’s and youth ministries, who try to do a lot with the young people during the summer.

I don’t quit work during the summer, either, but it is a different rhythm. Summer is when I think back on what has happened and try to learn from it. I look ahead to the coming year and try to do some strategizing for the ministry and the direction of our church. I try to read some novels to stimulate a different part of my brain. I try to play more golf and work in the yard. And I make sure to take two weeks continuously for vacation (which I am doing as you read this.) There is still plenty of work to do, but I try to make opportunities to restore my body, mind, and spirit.

The research from sports medicine and the corporate world both speak of the importance of varying your rhythm in order to flourish. For every time of exertion and maximum engagement, there needs to be a corresponding time of rest and recuperation. God actually worked this into the rhythm of creation. It is called Sabbath.

I hope you have some different rhythms this summer. It can be good for your spirit. It’s also good for your spirit if you attend church when you are in town. If you have weekend guests, it will be good for them to join you in church; that is a great witness to your priorities. If you have young people, kids or grandkids, sign them up for the wonderful opportunities we make for them. And don’t forget your financial support; summer is not a slack time for the costs of ministry.

I hope to see you often this summer, with a smile on your face and mine, because we are having such a good time!  

NEWS FROM THE FSFUMC FOUNDATION

We are excited to announce our new executive director for the Foundation, Mrs. Abbie Cox. Mrs. Patti Cox (They’re not related!) has done an excellent job as our executive director for the last five years, and is “retiring” to pursue her favorite activity–grandparenting! Abbie is currently the executive director of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund and will continue that responsibility as she takes on the part-time job as our executive director. Abbie and Patti will be working together on our community grant cycle this summer. Then we will let Patti go, and Abbie will take off! Abbie has lots of experience in the non-profit world and grant-writing and fund-raising, so she will be a perfect fit for our Foundation.

Applications for Community Grants are now open. The application documents and related information can be found on the church website, fsfumc.org/foundation. 

We are also so pleased to announce two generous gifts to the Foundation from families who were thoughtful enough to include the church in their estate plans. We received a gift from the estate of Dr. Eldon and Betty Pense and a continuing distribution from the trust of Mrs. Pat Shaw. Both of these endowments will continue to fund ministry in the church and community in the name of First United Methodist Church and for the mission of Jesus Christ.

Dr. and Mrs. Eldon Pense

Mrs. Pat Shaw

If you would like to learn more about ways you can support the church and its ministry with a permanent gift to the Foundation, contact Rev. Bud Reeves or Mrs. Abbie Cox, our new executive    director (479-782-5068).

PACESETTERS

Pacesetters have two interesting programs for June. Everyone is invited to join us at 10:00am in the Fireside Room of the Family Life Center.

June 2 Jay Randolph, Groundskeeper at Ben Geren Park, takes us back to Laura Ingalls Wilders’ “Little House On the Prairie” as he shares his efforts to preserve the small remnant of our own Massard Prairie.

June 19 Susan Devero, Marketing Director of Arkansas College of Health Education, tells us about the many new additions and endeavors at the college. She will share the plans for the recently purchased former Leisure Lodge building on Highway 255 South.

Shall we invite a friend and call members who have been missing?

Stay for Lunch

WELCOME NEW CHURCH MEMBER

Jeffrey and Yvonne Breland. Jeff joined by Baptism and Profession of Faith and is employed by Verzion and Yvonne joined from another denomination and is employed by IBM.

Wayne and Laura Fawcett have transferred from another United Methodist Church. Wayne is retired, having been a school superintendent, and Laura works for Arkansas Tech.

BAPTISM CONGRATULATIONS

Barrett Elizabeth Beauchamp was baptized 

on May 14.

With parents Ricky and Leah, sister Halle and brother Graham.

Jeffrey Breland was also baptized on May 14.

FUMC KIDS

OUTREACH

May was a busy month for Outreach. We started the month by showing appreciation to the teachers at one of our partners in education, Tilles Elementary. The teachers and staff received a meal of beef vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. We love supporting our local schools!

One of our favorite ways to get out in the community is to attend the Chaffee Crossing Farmers and Artisans Market. Ashley and I passed out 500 reusable shopping bags to the attendees. Inside each bag was information about our church and upcoming VBS. We saw lots of people and got to enjoy all the local businesses. 

This month we started giving out free groceries to those in our community. The neighborhood around our church was given postcards about this program. There is a great need as grocery prices continue to increase. We gave out 28 bags this month. Each bag has meat, produce, bread, dairy, and other staples. Those with children received books in their grocery bags as well. Join us in praying that this ministry will build relationships with the families in our community. 

FIRST YOUth

Registration link has all details.

Friends welcome.

Vacation Bible School– YOUth are needed to help and assist in a number of ways. Friends are welcome. For more details, contact Ashley at amcneal@fsfumc.org. The YOUth that serve every day at VBS will get free Gator Golf on June 11.

Mission Day work will be announced later, but lunch will be included.

YOUth JUNE

June 4 NO Sunday Morning Small Group

Float Trip @ 8:30am-4:40pm

$30 Register by May 30

June 7-10 Vacation Bible School @ 4:40-8pm

June 11 Sunday Morning Small Group @ 10

Mini Golf @ Gator Golf 5-7pm

June 18 NO Sunday Morning Small Group

NO YOUth



June 25 Sunday Morning Small Group @ 10am

Family Game Night 5-7pm

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Children’s Choirs finished their Spring semester performing three anthems in the sanctuary for Mother’s Day. The Children also crafted plaques and hand-print signs for their mothers during Wednesday night rehearsals. Special thank you to Nancy Vernon, Becky Trahan, Kelley Desoto, Rylee Norton, and Emma Friery for their work with the children these past months. 

On May 21st, we gathered for an Evening of Hymnody, with a great turnout. Together the congregation sang and enjoyed over 25 hymns and hymn settings from our United Methodist Hymnal. Musical gifts of Anne Rosenburg and Rylee Norton were shared, and Benjamin Henderson performed classic hymns “Precious Lord, Take my Hand,” and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” in the form of jazz piano. A successful love offering for the church feeding ministries was taken. 

Benjamin Henderson is looking forward to “Sharing God’s Light” with the children, teaching music at our upcoming VBS weekend June 7-11th. If you’d like to help with VBS, contact Ashley McNeal.

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce there will be a “Rescue in the Night” this year at FUMC Music Camp July 24th-28th! Taking registrations for this musical week in the Lion’s Den! Contact Benjamin Henderson for more information.

NEXT MEETING: Thursday, June 8

RSVP by Monday, June 5

Our program will be given by

Dr. Deborah A. Braboy

PhD, LPC-S, NCC

Anchored Hope Counseling

Deborah is trained in 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessin, a technique used to relieve psychological stress. This is an interactive psychotherapy technique that is shown to be effective in treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

It is an approach that uses the client’s own 

rapid, rhythmic eye movements.



We hope to see you on June 8th as Deborah helps us understand more about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and how it may help some of us.

We will have Chicken Spaghetti, green beans, bread stick and cobbler.

Feel free to bring a widow friend.

For more information email Gail Oakes at RiverValleyWidowsgroup@gmail.com

Or call 479.459.0479

IN HONOR OF:

Jeff & Yvonne Breland

John & Jane Stauffer

IN MEMORY OF:

Patricia Yeager Shaw

Daniel Shaw

Margaret Graham

Ken & Linda Schmidt

LaVonne Hayes

Lori Hardin & Mike Willis

Jerry & Jane Hartfield

Charles & Jeanne Ledbetter

Fran Bateman

Larry Kennedy

Jack & Louanna Green

Steve & Bettye Boone

Bob & Nadine Miller

Betty Pence

Bob & Nadine Miller

Helen Couvillion

Bob & Nadine Miller

Betty McGee

Bob & Nadine Miller

Dr. Pat Phillips

Dr. John & Garnet Watts

Bob & Nadine Miller

Bryant Dooly

Bob & Wanda Blanchfill

Mary Ellen Jesson

Dr. John & Garnet Watts

Ann Scott Winters

Bob & Nadine Miller

Janet Byers

Roundtable Sunday School Class

Darline LeValley

Karen Hutcheson

Jay Hartfield

Rebekah Circle

Ruth Davis