THIS SUNDAY
February 2, 2020
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Rev. Bud Reeves
Offertory: “
He Shall Feed His Flock” and “Come Unto Me”
Keely Sattazahn, Breck Cogswell, Soloists
Nancy W. Vernon, Organist
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Rev. Bud Reeves
Offertory:
“He Shall Feed His Flock” and “Come Unto Me”
Offertory Anthem:
“Consider the Lilies of the Field”
Keely Sattazahn, Breck Cogswell, Soloists
Gaye Mings, Chancel Choir Director
Nancy W. Vernon, Organist
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Rev. Roy Beth Kelley
“Come As You Are”
“The Table”
“Just As I Am”
“Your Love Never Fails”
“O Come to the Altar”
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IS THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DIS-UNITING?
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Recently a proposal from a group of United Methodist leaders gained national attention, and multiple sources reported a split in the United Methodist Church as if it had already happened or was soon to happen. As usual, the secular press misunderstood how the church, and particularly the United Methodist Church, operates.
Here is the brief version of the situation as it now stands:
You may recall that in February of 2019, a special called General Conference of the Church (the only body that can speak for the denomination or make changes to denominational policy) met to consider a single item agenda--our policy regarding homosexuality, gay marriage, and ordination of gay persons. The policy that was passed by a narrow margin was called the Traditional Plan, and it strengthened prohibitions against homosexuals and increased punishments for clergy or churches that violated policy. Because the majority support for this action came primarily from United Methodists overseas, there was widespread pushback in the United States. It became apparent that latitude on the issue combined with structural unity, which had been the hope of many, including myself, was not going to happen.
Since last February, several groups have proposed plans of separation into different groups within the Methodist family. I prayed that the leaders of the church would somehow just talk to one another and come up with a way constructively and graciously to continue in ministry, even if it meant separating into different groups. In the fall, one of the African bishops called together just such a group of leaders from across the theological spectrum. Many of them had worked together trying to reach a consensus prior to the 2019 meeting, and there was a foundation of love and respect, even among those who disagreed on the issues. After three months of conversations and the work of a skilled mediator, they proposed a plan called “A Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation.” It was unanimously supported by the leaders.
In a nutshell, the Protocol allows Traditionalists to form a new Methodist denomination which will continue the restrictions and prohibitions of the past. The United Methodist Church will continue as it has, but in its new form will probably relax the restrictions and prohibitions. Annual conferences and local churches will have choices to make with regard to affiliation. Wherever they land, local churches will retain their property, assets, and liabilities, and the pension plans for all pastors will remain intact. The implementation of any agreement would be phased in over the next four years.
What most of the secular press misunderstood is that the Protocol is just a proposal and that definitive legislation will be presented and dealt with at General Conference in May. Of course, there is more to the Protocol than that brief summary, and much more that has yet to be worked out. I will put a couple of links to pertinent and reliable information below.
What I want the church to know at this point is that we have a great ministry at First United Methodist Church of Fort Smith, and we will continue to do everything we can to be about the mission God has given us in this community. There will be some challenging times ahead, but we have been in ministry in this community for 178 years, through wars, depressions, and upheavals of various sorts, and God has seen us through and will again. God has a plan for our church, and it is a future with hope.
What is important for our members and leaders especially to do in this season is to stay at the table, remain in the conversation, and be positive about the great ministry we have in this church. Continue to support your church with your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. I will do my part to keep leading the church in positive ways, keeping the church informed about developments as they occur, and keeping our focus on the mission to make disciples of Jesus, transforming lives and this community for the glory of God.
If you want to know more, we are scheduling a “town hall” meeting for Sunday, March 8, at 3:00 p.m. in Roebuck Chapel. We will give more detail about the Protocol and share in developments that have happened in the meantime.
Article on release of the “Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation”
Protocol
FAQ on Protocol
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Senior Pastor
breeves@fsfumc.org
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WE WELCOME NEW STAFF MEMBERS!
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We are excited to announce two new additions to our staff team at FUMCFS! These two part-time positions will encompass the duties previously held by Rev. Don Thrasher.
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Elizabeth Thames
will serve as our Director of Adult Discipleship. Her duties will include educational and mission ministries. She will coordinate adult Sunday School, Wednesday Night Life, Bible studies, community and international missions, and Pacesetters.
Elizabeth is a well-known leader in our church, having worked with children and youth and chaired the Study Team for the last two years. She has degrees from Hendrix College and UAMS. Elizabeth and her husband Michael and children Will, Hailey, and Lucy have been members of FUMC since 2001.
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Rev. DeeDee Autry
will join our staff as part-time associate pastor. She will be involved with teaching, worship leadership, pastoral care, and occasional preaching.
DeeDee has degrees from the University of the Ozarks and Vanderbilt Divinity School. She is an ordained elder in the UMC and has been in ministry for 30 years, recently returning to Fort Smith to establish a ministry in coaching and wellness. DeeDee was raised at FUMCFS and is married to John. The have two daughters, Emily and Mary.
Let’s welcome Elizabeth and DeeDee into their new roles in our ministry!
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IN THE COLD AND SNOW OF WINTER
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(Natalie
Freitheim pictured)
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One of my favorite hymns is the Hymn of Promise. The first verse goes like this:
In the bulb there is a flower;
In the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
There's a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see. (UMH 707)
The transformative work of God is sometimes hidden from our human eyes, but in the fullness of time, God’s glory is revealed in some really amazing ways. The winter is cold and snowy, but the spring reveals new things were in the works all along.
This winter is the beginning of at least two new things at FUMC, and our prayers are that the hard work to come will bear much fruit (and veggies, too) come spring! First, I want you to know about the Community Garden that is in the dreaming and planning stages. This is intended to be a joint project with First Presbyterian Church on the property of FUMC, for the purpose of helping to feed our community, build relationships and celebrate God's goodness in the process. I’m happy to let you know FUMC received a community grant to help us get started from the Arkansas Conference of the UMC through their 200K Reasons Initiative to end childhood hunger in our state. Please join us for a 30 minute organizational meeting on
Sunday, February 2 at 12:15 p.m.in the Friends Classroom.
People of all skill levels are welcome to join in.
The second exciting event is the beginning of the 2020 Confirmation Class. Confirmation is designed as a short term experience for the spiritual growth of our young people in 6th grade and up. It culminates with Confirmation Sunday in April when students are invited to profess their faith in Christ and become full members of FUMC. This winter will be a time of growth and learning for the students as we explore the meaning of Christ in our lives, and as we practice living out our faith through spiritual disciplines, service and generosity. The group’s first meeting will be February 9 at 4 p.m. in Room M310. Please email me with questions or to sign up for either Confirmation or to help with the garden.
We covet your prayers for both the Garden and the Confirmands. May the Holy Spirit be at work within us throughout the winter, so that God’s glory will be revealed in the Spring!
Peace and grace to you and yours,
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Executive Associate Pastor
rbkelley@fsfumc.org
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- Jimmy Harris—Profession of faith
- Larry McGowan and Sanna Sullivan—Transfer
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Sanna Sullivan and Larry McGowan
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FROM THE LIPS OF CHILDREN AND INFANTS
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The blind and the lame came to Jesus at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
from the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
Matthew 21: 14-16
If the word hasn’t reached you yet, allow me the honor of announcing to you that Miriam Mings (7lbs 3oz) has arrived on the scene! Sarah and I are so thrilled to bring new life into our church. Our heart has been warmed not only by God’s precious gift of our sweet child, but also by your unwavering support of two wide-eyed new parents (us)!
I haven’t quite been a dad for even a month, but I’ve learned the quick lesson that there are few things more peaceful than holding a sleeping baby. Maybe that bliss comes from the feeling of warmth radiating from the swaddle, or the gentle rhythm of a baby’s breathing, or the easy glide back and forth in a rocking chair. But on further thought it can’t just be one of those things, can it? Could it be that these moments of serenity are an act of worship?
In this passage of Scripture in Matthew, we see a scene that strikes us as very ironic. Though people with physical afflictions like blindness and leprosy would’ve been considered to be “
steeped in sin”,
Jesus finds it fitting to meet them with healing. Children were considered to be lesser citizens and were therefore kept quiet, yet Jesus commends their shouts of praise. The religious teachers, those who should be recognizing where God was at work, were indignant towards the power of God on display in Jesus. The religious leaders should’ve been the ones shouting praises, but instead they were the ones who were blind. The children aren’t looking to the religious leaders as an example of true worship; they’re setting the example of worship themselves!
With that in mind, we can reflect on how children have a special way of calling us to renew our simplicity of heart. Jesus quotes from the psalms when he says “
from the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise.”
The thought that the sweet coo of my child might be a lesson in how to worship the King of Kings is a thought that leaves me in awe. Praise God for the ironic, bewildering ways in which He calls forth our worship!
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Director of Youth Ministries
mmings@fsfumc.org
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In Mercy Hospital:
- Floyd Bradberry
- Sue Cooley
- Lynda McDaniel
- McKee Cox
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Sunday, February 2
8:30 am Roebuck Chapel Worship
8:45 am Holy Grounds, Narthex
9:30 am Prayer Ministry, Prayer Room
9:45 am Sunday School, Various Locations
11:00 am Sanctuary Worship
11:00 am Connexion Worship, Great Hall
12:15 pm Community Garden Meeting, Friends Classroom
5:00 pm First Youth Super Bowl Party, Great Hall and Fireside
Monday, February 3
2:00 pm Staff Meeting, Conference Room
6:00 pm Women’s Bible Study, Friends Classroom
6:00 pm Cub Scouts, Room 309
6:30 pm Scouts, Room 300
7:00 pm Men’s Dart League, Youth Loft
Tuesday, February 4
8:30 am BSF Leaders Meeting, Room 312
Wednesday, February 5
10:00 am Ladybell Practice
4:00 pm Children’s Choir Practice
4:30 pm WNL Early Class, Conference Room
5:30 pm Holy Communion, Roebuck Chapel
5:45 pm WNL Shared Meal, Fireside
6:30 pm WNL Classes, Various locations
7:00 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal
7:30 pm Connexion Band Practice, Great Hall
Thursday, February 6
10:00 am Knitters and Knotters, Fireside
Friday, February 7
10:00 am Pacesetters, Fireside
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Don’t miss a single sermon!
If you happen to miss a Sunday (we know, rarely that happens!) you can access the FSFUMC sermons two ways:
On the website:
Podcast: search for “FSFUMC” on your podcast app and subscribe!
Sermons are usually posted during the week after they are preached.
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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.
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FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
200 N. 15th St. Fort Smith, AR 72901
(479) 782-5068 | fsfumc.org
Pastor on Call (479) 459-5060
Email: fsfumc@fsfumc.org
Office Hours: Monday-Friday
8:30AM-4:30PM
Closed for lunch 12:30PM-1:30PM
SUNDAY SERVICES
- 8:30AM Roebuck Chapel
- 9:45AM Sunday School for all ages
- 11:00AM Sanctuary (Radio broadcast on 96.7 FM)
- 11:00AM Connexion, Family Life Center
Nursery is provided during worship services for birth through Kindergarten age.
WEDNESDAY SERVICE
- 5:30 PM Holy Communion, Roebuck Chapel
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In Memory of:
- Hugh Atwood by Sherri Karber and Norman Wilkinson, Jim and Dixie Spears
- Jim Hayes by Roy and Mary Olson, Dr. GH Harms, Terry and Connie Olson, Jack and Mary Jane Freeze, Margaret Graham, Sherri Fry, Anonymous
- Ron Powell by Jim and Dixie Spears, David D. Medkeff
- Judy Staggs by Ben and Lane Shipley
- Maud Powell Mulvany by Discussion Class—FUMC
In Honor of:
- Sally Ware by Henry and Melissa Udouj
- Nancy Vernon by Lady Bells—FUMC
- Ann Rosenberg by Lady Bells— FUMC
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FIRST UNITED METHODIST NEWS published weekly except the last week of the year by First United Methodist Church 200 North 15th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901.
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