“Humility”

Proverbs 15:33

Proverbs 18:12

Proverbs 22:4

Luke 14:7-11

World Communion

In Person, Facebook Live & YouTube 

Rev. DeeDee Autry

Offertory “Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether”

Soloist: Rylee Norton  

Organist: Benjamin Henderson  

In Person. Facebook and YouTube @ 6pm

Rev. Bud Reeves

“Open the Eyes of My Heart”

“Come Together”

“All The Poor and Powerless”

“Come To The Table”

In Person,Facebook Live,

YouTube and FM 103.5

Rev. DeeDee Autry

Anthem “Not Unto Us”

Offertory “Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether” 

Chancel Choir

Gaye Mings, Chancel Choir Director

Benjamin Henderson, Organist

HOW WE GIVE

Since we are considering “A Season of Joy” in our sermons and worship this fall and promoting the theme “Come Together” as a church, it only seems natural that we should talk about our financial support of the ministry God has given us to do. Our giving to God is one of the most “joyful” things we can do as followers of Jesus, and as a church, we need to “come together” to support life-changing transformations we see happening all around us.

Frankly, this year has been a challenge financially. We are still recovering from the shutdowns of the pandemic, and we have not restored the in-person participation we had three years ago. When people aren’t here (though some are faithfully viewing online), it’s hard to remember to send in the financial support. The economy has been topsy-turvy as well, and inflation has eaten away at our discretionary income. The fact is, even with the substantial support of our church foundation, our contributions are running over $120,000 behind our expenses for the year. And our expenses are under budgeted amounts! Coming out of the “summer slump,” we have some catching up to do for this year, and we will also soon be thinking about our support for the ministry in 2023.

So it seems like a good time to remind everyone of what we have been teaching for at least seven years (because it’s what I always teach). How do we give to God as we support the church?

We give PRAYERFULLY. All our decisions about following Jesus need to be bathed in prayer. Particularly with giving, we ask, “Lord, what do you want to do through me?”

We give PROPORTIONATELY. The Biblical idea is not amount, but proportion of income given to God. Different people have different capabilities, but someone with limited means can be just as faithful as someone with large capacity. The Biblically recommended proportion is the tithe–10%.

We give SACRIFICIALLY. Any great accomplishment requires dedication and sacrifice. Doing the right thing for God requires putting God in front of our own selfish desires. God showed us how to do that when Jesus came and died on the cross for us.

We give JOYFULLY. The satisfaction of healthy financial support is a deep blessing in our lives. Paul said, “God loves a cheerful giver.” Over the years, I’ve found tithing to be a great joy and one thing I can do that always blesses my heart.

We have made it easy for you to give prayerfully, proportionately, sacrificially, and joyfully. 

● You can attend church in person and put your offering in the collection plate or one of the collection boxes in each worship space.

● You can mail your check in to the church office.

● You can set up a bank draft to automatically and easily give regular support. (Call us to set one up.)

● You can give online at our website, www.fsfumc.org. Click the “Give” button and follow the instructions.

● You can text a gift from your phone to 73256.

● You can participate in Giving Tuesday, November 29, and join millions of Americans in supporting your favorite church.

● And here is an interesting option: As you consider your legacy through a major gift or bequest, you can endow your annual commitment from now until the end of time! Our Foundation will receive your endowment and distribute it according to your wishes. You can live the rest of your life and go to heaven with the assurance that you will be perpetually caring for your church. Talk to me or Patti Cox about how to do that.

God has given us a great church. We have many vital, life-changing ministries. I know you will do your best to make sure we continue to love God, love our neighbor, and make disciples of Jesus Christ at FUMC!

CORE BIBLE COURSE STARTING OCTOBER 11

Pastor Bud will offer the first installment of the Core Bible Course this fall. Starting October 11, the class will meet on Tuesday evenings from 5:30–7:00 p.m. for six weeks. The first course is an overview of the major movements of Scripture entitled, “What is the Bible?” The curriculum is fast-paced and delightful to read. Participants can join in-person (limit 10) or by Zoom (no limit).  

The foundation of our faith is the Holy Scripture. Make sure you are well-grouned by taking the Core Bible Course.

October is Such an Interesting Month for Me

Twenty-nine years ago John proposed to me on a beautiful fall day in October. Twenty-six years ago I became a mom for the first time with the birth of Emily. And this year I will reflect on the memory of my dad who passed a year ago. It’s funny how certain months bring us so many memories of all sorts. I wondered just the other day why I felt a bit melancholy. Once I stopped long enough to think about it, I realized why. 

Life deals us so many different cards for us to sort through. And the truth is we have just as many options as to how we might handle all that comes our way. For me I have to be extremely mindful that my first response isn’t to eat all the foods that do damaging things to my mind, body and soul. When emotions are heavy upon me I have to be intentional about most everything I do. And what I must be most mindful about is to not isolate myself from those things that bring me joy.

As we center our sermon series on a Season of Joy, I want to encourage each and every one of you to consider what brings you joy. When I center my life in Jesus and take my focus off myself it’s amazing how much more joy I feel. Remember joy is an attitude, not just an emotion. So that even when life gets a bit crazy, we can still muster up some joy in the midst of it all. 

Even though October will bring a lot of mixed emotions for me, I am so very thankful that I have a marriage to celebrate, a daughter who is thriving and my dad loved me deeply…and that brings me great joy!

FOUNDATION AWARDS $100K IN COMMUNITY GRANTS

The Fort Smith First United Methodist Church Foundation recently awarded 23 grants to deserving missions in the church and community. This is the third year for the community grant program, and it has made a significant impact. All of these recipients have a connection to someone in our church. Checks will be delivered the first week of October, and we’ll show pictures after that. Let’s celebrate the wonderful legacy of faithful donors to the Foundation who have made this possible!

Our 2022 grant recipients are:

● All Kids Bike Program, to equip schools with fleet of bikes–$6,000.00 

● Antioch Center for Youth and Families, for Christmas and Thanksgiving baskets–$3,000.00 

● Bost: Adaptive Tools, for arts program–$2,000.00 

● Casa Volunteer Training, for training sessions for volunteers–$2,860.00 

● Children’s Service League, for hygiene program for students–$1,700.00 

● Community Clearinghouse Backpack Program, to relieve hunger–$7,500.00 

● Community Rescue Mission, to aid with supplies, transportation, utilities, food–$6,000.00 

● FUMC Back to school bash, shoe vouchers for children–$2,500.00 

● FUMC Feed the Fort, for casserole ministry and Food Patrol–$4,500.00 

● Girls Inc., to assist purchase of new van–$6,000.00 

● Girls Shelter, to help pay utilities–$2,000.00 

● Good Samaritan Clinic, for equipment to do EKG and Ultrasound–$10,000.00 

● Gregory Kistler Center, to repair therapy chair, gate, new door–$1,286.00 

● Hope Campus, to cover one month of utility expense–$5,000.00 

● Methodist Village, to train medication technicians–$5,000.00 

● Modern Widows Club, for Christmas gifts for children of widows–$2,500.00 

● Next Step Services, to obtain birth certificates, IDs, bus tickets for homeless–$4,000.00 

● Ronald McDonald House, for 45 nights’ stay for families–$5,500.00 

● Sack Lunch Program, for food and prep/distribution–$6,000.00 

● Shared Beginnings, to support mothers of children to be adopted–$3,000.00 

● Single Parent Scholarship, for 10 scholarships and food baskets–$6,200.00 

● Sleep in Heavenly Peace, to build beds for children in Fort Smith–$5,000.00 

● UAFS, for student emergency fund, food pantry work, needy student scholarship–$2,500.00 

One of My Biggest Passions in Children’s Ministry

One of my biggest passions in Children’s ministry is intergenerational fellowship and worship. In September we started Dinner Church on Wednesday evenings. This is a time for people of all ages to come together, enjoy a meal, and grow in our faith. Sometimes we forget how important it is to include ALL ages in our programming. We perhaps don’t realize the faith formation happening when we include children in worship and times of fellowship. 

You may be able to remember as a child your first experiences of intergenerational worship. It was expected for you to sit through church. You can probably recall hymns you sang, the first time you said the Lord’s Prayer from memory, and maybe even a funny moment or two. However, there’s a generation of kids who were taken out of service. Who never learned how to interact with adults on a spiritual level. The church has felt the effects of this. You have millennials who struggle to find their place amongst a mature and diverse congregation. 

One of my goals as a Children’s Minister is to break down those generational barriers and assumptions. Children are naturally curious and spiritual beings who benefit greatly from learning and growing alongside adults. All of this to say, give our Dinner Church a try. Come to our Fall Fest, Chili Cook-off, and Dessert bake-off at the end of the month. Embrace the children. Be the church. 

OUTREACH

Last month Market Ministry had a great time at the Fort Smith Farmer’s Market on Garrison Avenue. We passed out over 200 bags to those shopping at the market. The farmer’s market was a fun way to invite new people to our church.

Coffee with the Pastors was great in September. We enjoyed getting to know more about the 12 people that attended. If you missed it, join us for the next one in January.

Join us for a Pet Blessing on Sunday, October 16th, at 3:00 pm at the Heritage Pavilion in Chaffee Crossing. The Pet Blessing will include a pet costume contest, ice cream, pup cups, giveaways, bandanas, and more! If you love pets, please volunteer for this event.

This year for Ingathering, we’ll be collecting relief supplies for October called Collectober. Drop zones will be in front of the church offices, the Narthex, outside the Sanctuary doors, and the Family Life Center. These items will be taken to UMCOR Global Ministries and distributed during times of disaster, whether socio-economic or as the result of a natural occurrence. Our goal this year is to collect enough items for 150 kits! 

Collectober Items:

• 2 oz. bottle of hand sanitizer
• Travel pack of Wet Ones
• Regular and Super Tampons
• Sanitary Napkins
• Unscented
• Long super ultra-thin
• Bath-size soap (3 oz. bar or larger)
• No ivory or Jergen’s soap
• Do not remove from packaging
• Flushable wipes (42 count)
• Unscented
• Travel sink-size laundry detergent (.25-.45 oz.)

The casserole ministry has been busy as the school social workers have seen a great need for struggling families. Social workers are telling us that the meals are asked for and enjoyed. Thank you for serving and contributing to this ministry.

We have new opportunities to serve in the community. Our church will be cooking and serving meals at Community Rescue Mission on the second Sunday of the month at 4:00 pm. All the food and materials are on site for this volunteer opportunity. We need 3-4 people for November and December. Another serving opportunity is to volunteer at our local hospitals like Baptist Health. Baptist Health reached out to our church because of the high need for volunteers in new positions. As we receive asks from the community, be looking for these opportunities to serve others with the love of Jesus!

YOUth & YOUNG ADULT

Parents and Church members, if you would like to sign up to provide dinner for the YOUth some Sunday night this semester, please do so below.

If you have questions, you can contact Brandon at bbates@fsfumc.org

YOUth OCTOBER

Sunday Night Dinner @ 5pm in the Fireside Room in the FLC unless otherwise noted.

Oct. 2 Game Night 5-7pm Come ready to have some fun, plus compete in socked feet.

Oct. 9 UMY Night. 5-7pm Fun, Food, & small group discussion, divided by grades. THIS IS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR REFUGE

Oct. 16 Bonfire Outing at the Williams’s. Time TBA

Oct. 23 Worship Night. 5-7pm

Oct. 30 Mission Night. Fall Festival. 4:45-7:15. 

YOUth are needed to help run games and make it a great night for the kids.

Dinner Church on Wednesday Nights from 5:30-7pm

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Children’s Choir started September 14th with great enthusiasm with children from all around the area. We are learning singing, ringing, scripture, symbolism, and how to read from a hymnal. It has already been such a joy to work with your intelligent children and see their exuberant faces in the afternoon. I look forward to each rehearsal and working with them. We would love to have more friends in the choir, so please reach out to Benjamin Henderson if you know of a child that may want to join. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 4pm. 

UPCOMING MUSIC DEPARTMENT DATES

OCT 23 • 4PM Organ Concert by Benjamin Henderson

DEC 1 • 7:30PM Fort Smith Chorale Christmas Concert

DEC 5 • 6:30PM Northside HS Choral Winter Concert

DEC 18 • 11:00AM Lessons and Carols

WELCOME NEW CHURCH MEMBERS

Linda Porter transferred from another UMC. Linda is a retired Lab Manager from UAMS West. She likes gardening, quilting and reading.

Linda is already involved with the Casserole, Sack Lunch and Cookie Ministries here at FUMC.

IN OUR PRAYERS

In Baptist Hospital

• Tom Hardgrave

Loss of Loved Ones

• Nancy Bradt – mother of Debbie Hicks, Doug Bradt (Jennifer) and family, Ricky Bradt and family, grandmother of Brandon Hattabaugh (Aimee), Erik Batt, great grandmother of Justin (Mackenzie), Tyler, and Anna Grace Hattabaugh and great great grandmother of Jasper. Aunt of Brent Williamson.
• Nancy Sickmann - wife of Bob Sickmann, sister of Susan (David) Roberts, Kathryn Awbrey, and Janice (Richard Patterson) Radcliff.
• Catherine Crosland - mother of Lyle Crosland and sister of Deloris Thames Berger.

This group of Pacesetters attended Shoal Creek Camp Celebration at New Blaine September 24.

IN MEMORY OF:

• Marvin Mumme by

John & Jane Stauffer

Kyle & Renee Parker

David & Leanne McClanahan

• Alison Hardgrave by

Tom & Debbie Hardgrave

• Ann Woods by

Larry & Janet Nelson

Bill Wiggins

• James Foster by

Judy Caruthers & Family

David & Betsy Farris

Tony & Lanelle Leraris

Crystal Bridges Day Trip - Saturday, Oct 8

We will leave the church parking (16th & C Streets) @ 9:45am, staying at Crystal Bridges until 1:30pm. You no longer have to have a ticket to see the US Constitution. They have a coffee bar with sandwiches between $5 & $7 and chips are extra. You may take your own water bottle in but may not drink it in the exhibits. Please let me know if you would like to go. We still have several spots left. 

Next Meeting

October 13 @ 12:00 Noon • Video @ 11:30am

FSFUMC Family Life Center

We will hear how to “Help Search For The Disappearing Skill” with Janna Newton.

Book Club 

Thursday, October 27, 2022 

10:00am @ FUMC Room 302

Janna Newton is our Book Club Leader and 

our new book is -

Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage

Books will be available at our October meeting. Please feel free to bring a Wister friend. 

If you need more information or have questions please email fortsmith@modernwidowsclub.org

or call 479-459-0479.  

Child care available upon request