1 July 2021 Last month, I wrote that I would be sharing insights and ideas from a discussion with those in the Arkansas Conference on the book “The Post-Quarantine Church.” The first chapter focuses on the people of the church regathering to fulfill the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. This includes making new disciples of persons who are not following Jesus. The author asks, “What if we viewed our church facilities as a tool to reach our community?” How can our church be more intentional about connecting our ministries with people in the community? For example, we are doing this in our Preschool and when we invite non-members to our Bible/book studies. Other churches in Hope are doing ministries on addiction recovery and grieving losses. One church elsewhere transformed a Sunday School room into “a birthday room” so kids in the neighborhood could have their parties for free. Members assisted with the parties and invited the neighbors to worship and children’s ministries. Another church did tutoring after school, allowing the students to use the church’s Wi-Fi. Some offer M.O.P.S., support groups for mothers of preschoolers. The book also asks, “What if we asked the community how our church facilities could best serve them?” What needs do people have that we could meet? I do know that one issue with which almost all persons struggle is money management, especially in our materialistic culture. Thus, our church will be offering a six session study on financial well-being in the Fall for anyone in our church and community. The Leader Guide states, “The goal of this study is for members to become grounded in a biblical understanding of a proper relationship to money and for each of them to commit to and develop a biblically based Spending Plan for their households.” Make plans to attend and to invite friends and neighbors. Quick Reference Guide Page 1— Pastor’s Note/Birthdays & anniversaries Page 2— Memorials/Budget/ e-Giving Page 3— July calendar Page 4— Prayer Initiative/ Stewardship Notes Page 5— What’s Happening? Page 6— Children’s news Page 7— Youth news Page 8— Senior Spotlight/Sunday School update Page 9— Puzzle/Upper Room Page 10- Preschool news 1 Laura Zimmerman 3 Bob Lewis 3 David & Carol Ann Duke anniversary 3 Alice Ann Watkins 5 Patty Burke 5 Barbara Wylie 6 Dave Bramlett 8 Charles & Cathryn Looney anniversary 10 Carolyn Purtle 10 Artie Johnson 10 Don & Elaine Kennemer anniversary 11 Beverly Smith 11 Sharma & Kenneth Switzer anniversary 11 Kristie Lang 12 Brandi Tuttle 12 John King 13 Randy Quillin 14 Mary McPherson 15 Rhett Tuttle 15 Darby Kate Coffee 16 David Piper 16 Cayden Quillin 17 Sterling Burkhart 20 Ashlea Quillin 21 Julie Butler 21 Cynthia Szebenyi 21 Vivian & John Wilson anniversary 25 Blake Curtis 26 Zerick Bailey 26 Don & Linda Worthey anniversary 31 Jessica Fisher July 4– Red & Kim Smith 11– Bob & Marilou Lewis 18– Randy & Nan Wright 25– Joan Hardee August 1- Trevor Coffee 8– Jim Vaughan 15– Available 22– Eddie & Carolyn Aslin 29- Margaret Parham Altar flowers are $68.00. The flowers may be taken home after worship.
Transcript
1
July 2021
Last month, I wrote that I would be sharing insights and ideas from a discussion with those in the Arkansas Conference on the book “The Post-Quarantine Church.” The first chapter focuses on the people of the church regathering to fulfill the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. This includes making new disciples of persons who are not following Jesus. The author asks, “What if we viewed our church facilities as a tool to reach our community?” How can our church be more intentional about connecting our ministries with people in the community? For example, we are doing this in our Preschool and when we invite non-members to our Bible/book studies. Other churches in Hope are doing ministries on addiction recovery and grieving losses. One church elsewhere transformed a Sunday School room into “a birthday room” so kids in the neighborhood could have their parties for free. Members assisted with the parties and invited the neighbors to worship and children’s ministries. Another church did tutoring after school, allowing the students to use the church’s Wi-Fi. Some offer M.O.P.S., support groups for mothers of preschoolers. The book also asks, “What if we asked the community how our church facilities could best serve them?” What needs do people have that we could meet? I do know that one issue with which almost all persons struggle is money management, especially in our materialistic culture. Thus, our church will be offering a six session study on financial well-being in the Fall for anyone in our church and community. The Leader Guide states, “The goal of this study is for members to become grounded in a biblical understanding of a proper relationship to money and for each of them to commit to and develop a biblically based Spending Plan for their households.” Make plans to attend and to invite friends and neighbors.
July 4– Red & Kim Smith 11– Bob & Marilou Lewis 18– Randy & Nan Wright 25– Joan Hardee
August 1- Trevor Coffee 8– Jim Vaughan 15– Available 22– Eddie & Carolyn Aslin 29- Margaret Parham
Altar flowers are
$68.00. The flowers may be
taken home after worship.
2
July 2021
In Memory of Sonya Branch by:
Hope High School Class of 1957
Jerry & Brenda Rothwell
Don & Linda Worthey
Jerry & Twyla Pruden
In Memory of Kevin & April
Clark by:
Jerry & Brenda Rothwell
In Memory of Lucille McCorkle
by:
Mary Ward
Jerry & Twyla Pruden
Sandy Davis & John Henley
Don & Linda Worthey
In Memory of Patsy Burke by:
Don & Linda Worthey
In Memory of Laura McGhee by:
Jerry & Twyla Pruden
2021 Budget:$396,115 June 6 offering: $8,702 June 13 offering: $4,946 June 20 offering: $4,282 June 27 offering: $3,186
e-Giving received through June 28: $39,069
Pastor’s Fund On Communion Sundays, any money
placed on the altar rail is allocated to our Pastor’s Fund. This money is used for helping out individuals/families in need through the discretion of our pastor.
Church Directory Online
If you have not joined us yet, it’s
easy to do!! Just download the
“Instant Church Directory” in the
app store on your phone or
computer and follow the
prompts. You will need to use the
same email that you have shared
with the church office. If you
have any questions,
please call the office.
Memorial money is used by our Trustee committee to maintain our church
facility. Please designate on your check who the memorial is for.
3
July 2021
Video Service
Watch our 10:50 worship service online at our website
or Facebook on Sunday afternoon.
Worship Update
Worship with us on Sunday mornings at 10:50am in the
sanctuary. Sunday School at 9:45am
M&M’s & Youth Schedule Wednesday night programs are paused
for Summer Break but for more info about children’s & youth activities,
contact Rose!
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Regular Sunday
Services are as
follows
9:45 Sunday
School
10:50 Worship
1 2
6:30am Men’s
book study
(Fellowship Hall)
Office closed
3
4 Regular Sunday Services
5
Office closed
6
10:30am Artie’s
book study (Pairs
& Spares room)
7 10:15am
Class Meeting
5:30pm
Stewardship mtg.
(Pairs & Spares)
6:30pm Choir
Practice
8
6:00pm Galatians
Book Study
9
6:30am Men’s
book study
(Fellowship Hall)
Office closed
10
11Regular Sunday Services
12
10-4 Bible Camp
13
10-4 Bible Camp
10:30am Artie’s
book study (Pairs
& Spares room)
14
10-4 Bible Camp
6:30pm Choir
Practice
15
10-4 Bible Camp
16
6:30am Men’s
book study
(Fellowship Hall)
Office closed
17
18Regular Sunday Services
19
6:30pm Finance
mtg.
7:00pm Admin.
Board mtg.
20
10:30am Artie’s
book study (Pairs
& Spares room)
21
10:15am Class
Meeting
6:30pm Choir
Practice
22
6:00pm Galatians
Book Study
23
6:30am Men’s
book study
(Fellowship Hall)
Office closed
24
25Regular Sunday Services
26 27
10:30am Artie’s
book study (Pairs
& Spares room)
28
10:15 Class
Meeting
6:30pm Choir
Practice
29
6:00pm Galatians
Book Study
30
6:30am Men’s
book study
(Fellowship Hall)
Office closed
31
July 2021
4
July 2021
“There’s no question that money is a big day-to-day issue in all our lives – regardless of how much of it we have. In fact,
if you add up the hours we spend making it, spending it, worrying about it, fighting over it, trying to protect it, and trying to manage it, you would find that we spend a lot of
our waking hours focused on money.”
Those words come directly from the introduction to Saving Grace: A Guide to Financial Well-Being, a book selected by Pastor Steve and the Stewardship Committee to be the subject of a book study to begin at the end of September here at FUMC. From the back cover of the book: “Saving Grace: A Guide to Financial Well-Being helps people of faith create healthy relationships with money and bring their financial lives in line with their faith journeys. “Weaving Wesleyan theology together with sound financial advice, Saving Grace offers concrete guidance on saving, earning, giving, spending, debt and how to build a sustainable financial plan. How much should we give, and why? What are the dangers of debt, both financially and faithfully? How can we live into John Wesley’s advice to ‘Gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can’? “Saving Grace is a faith-based, comprehensive system for getting off to a good financial start or for turning your finances around today.” Do you see yourself and your concerns in the above? Would you like to strengthen your understanding and faith in the Christian principle of giving? Be sure to watch for more information on this book study as fall approaches.
A few weeks ago, during the offertory time of the worship service, Bitsy sang the song, “Word of God Speak.” In this song, the author asks God that he be allowed to be so at home in the presence of God that he/she can hear God speaking. Many of us struggle to hear God speak to us, particularly when we sit in silence before Him. Hearing God speak is a practice that can be nurtured. Perhaps the most common way God speaks to us is when we read Scripture. After all, it was penned by authors as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit so that you and I can come to know salvation history and to understand God's will and ways. Too often though, disciples of Jesus Christ don't read the Bible routinely, as a daily discipline. So, how can God speak to us? We have lots of excuses about why we don't read it. It's got names and places that are too hard to pronounce. We don't know where these strange sounding places are or what they have to do with us. The Bible is filled with stories that we don't understand or that make us uncomfortable. The stories are often set in a culture and context that we have difficulty understanding. Believe me, I'm not trying to tell you all the reasons you shouldn't read the Bible. I'm saying I understand why it is a daunting task. However, the benefits of reading the Bible and getting to know God through the Bible is worth the effort and subsequent questions. Besides that, despite all the things that we don't understand, there is a multitude of things that we can understand that will take a lifetime to practice. Our aim is to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ, so how can we do that if we don't know what that is. When trying to follow God and live according to His principles, it can be useful to see how others walked with Him, and how God interacted with them. So, I'm encouraging you to pick up your Bible and read it. I think that if you stick with it, you will find that it is worth the effort. You will also find that as you invest time in Scripture, you will begin hearing God speak to you through its words. It is not necessary (or perhaps even advisable) to begin at Genesis. Perhaps it is better to start with the gospels in the New Testament, or Psalms. No matter how you choose to read it, just begin. Now, for the most important part. We cannot hear God speak to us through Scripture without the power of the Holy Spirit guiding us, instructing us, interpreting for us. We need the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual ears to hear God speak, and spiritual eyes to see God at work. So, our prayer focus this month is twofold. First, determine to read the Bible, and second, as you open your Bible to read, pray for God to give you understanding as you read it.
5
July 2021
Starting Thursday, July 8, Mrs. Artie will be leading a
book study based on David A. deSilva’s The
Letter to the Galatians. This study will last 8 weeks.
Each day, there will be an assignment with scripture passages, readings, and reflection questions. On Thursday evenings, there will be a group meeting
with discussion and a short video lesson.
First United Methodist Preschool is now accepting applications for 2 Preschool teachers and a Director for the 2021-2022 school year.
Applications are available in the church office. You may
also contact Tiffany Purtle at 870-777-8816.
The CDC issued updated guidance that fully vaccinated
people are no longer required to wear face masks or physically
distance, indoors or outdoors, in most settings. These new
guidelines allow for churches to host indoor and outdoor
gatherings and not require face masks or physical distancing for
individuals who have been vaccinated.
For those who have not yet been vaccinated, masks and physical
distancing are still recommended for indoor and outdoor settings.
6
July 2021
7
July 2021
8
July 2021
In May, we celebrated our graduating seniors, Makayla Purtle and Libby Tyson. They were each awarded a $500 scholarship from the church and Rose gifted them personalized,
engraved Fossil watches from the Youth Group. It has been a joy watching these girls grow into young ladies and we know they are destined for great things! Congratulations again to
Makayla & Libby! We love you!
FUMC Sunday School Class locations: (starting reference point is the mall area)
Anna Manney meets in the Parlor off the fellowship hall
Spares and Pairs meets in the Genesis classroom, right beside the Choir room
Adult Discussion meets in the last classroom off the hallway across from the kitchen/
fellowship hall
Century Bible Class meets in the fellowship hall
Mixed Nuts meets in the outside wing thru the double doors on the left side
Children’s classes see Miss Rose and she will get you with the
appropriate class.
Sunday School begins at: 9:45am
On Sunday, July 11, we plan to return our Sunday services to the “normal” we knew pre-Covid. We will have our regular Sunday School
classes & muffins and coffee during Mall Fellowship after Sunday School. We hope to see everyone enjoying their classes and a full
sanctuary for worship! This is an exciting time for our church so let’s come together again to praise God for our many blessings!
9
July 2021
THE ROYAL LAW
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.”-James 2:8
Not long after we got married, my wife and I went to a sandwich shop. l We were about to eat when a man in ragged clothes gazed at us and asked for food. At first, I tried to pretend that I didn’t notice him, but my wife looked at him. She gave her sandwich to that man. I pouted and thought, How impractical! It is easier to get rid of this beggar by giving him a few coins than buying him such costly food! After we went home, I pondered the incident. I felt ashamed of my attitude toward that man. I had been selfish. I thought about my many blessings. Those blessings are God’s grace—not my own achievements. And God wants me to share those blessings with everyone. When I had the opportunity to share at least one of those blessings, I wanted to share only the leftover part by giving the man a few coins. I failed to practice the royal law of love in today’s quoted verse. Because I gave more importance to my pleasure than his need, I was not loving him “as myself.” God has shown us how to love our neighbors as ourselves through Jesus, who not only taught us the royal law of love but lived it out by giving up his life on the cross. Prayer: Dear Lord, fill our hearts with compassion so that we can love others as ourselves. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY How will I love someone as myself
today?
10
July 2021
Over the last 6 years, I have enjoyed my job as
Preschool Director. It has been not only rewarding, but
also challenging and I have come to learn a lot
about myself. I love my church and my church family
and I will continue to help it thrive! The Preschool is
currently looking to hire 2 teachers and a Director. If
you know of anyone who might be interested, please
encourage them to consider joining our team!
First United Methodist Church Pastor: Steve Johnson 2300 South Main St. PO Box 400 Hope, AR 71801 Office: 870-777-8816 [email protected] www.hopefumc.org
