THIS SUNDAY
April 3, 2022
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“And Lead Us,
Not Into Temptation”
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In Person
Rev. Bud Reeves
Special Music “I Am Thine, O Lord”
Ruth Aguilar, Soloist
Nancy W. Vernon, Organist
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In Person, 6pm Premier on Facebook and YouTube
Rev. DeeDee Autry
“I Will Follow”
“Oceans”
“Run To the Father”
“Fall Afresh”
“The Lord’s Prayer"
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In Person, Facebook Live, YouTube, and FM 103.5
Rev. Bud Reeves
Anthem “If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee”
Anthem “The Meditations of My Heart”
Chancel Choir
Gaye Mings, Chancel Choir Director
Nancy W. Vernon, Organist
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Sunday, April 3
8:30 am Chapel Service
9:30 am Holy Grounds
9:45 am Sunday Small Groups
11:00 am Connexion Worship, In Person,
11:00 am Sanctuary Worship, In Person, Facebook Live, YouTube & FM 103.5
12:00 pm Guest Services Training, Sanctuary
2:00 pm SPRC Meeting, Narthex
4:00 pm Confirmation Class
4:30 pm Middle School Youth, Loft
6:00 pm Connexion Premier on Facebook & YouTube
6:00 pm High School Youth, Loft
Monday, April 4
12:15pm Downtown Lenten Service, Goddard UMC
Tuesday, April 5
4:00 pm Centennial Committee Meeting, Conference Room
7:00 pm Young Adult Ministry, St. Paul UMC
Wednesday, April 6
9:15 am Women’s Bible Study, Fireside Room
10:00 am Ladybells, Bayliss Hall
5:00 pm Children’s Choir
5:30 pm Evening Prayer, In Person and Facebook Live
5:45 pm Wednesday Night Life & Classes
6:30 pm Praise Band practice, The Great Hall
7:00 pm Chancel Choir, Choir room
Thursday, April 7
10:00 am Knitters & Knotters, Fireside Room
11:00 am PEO Meeting, Aldersgate
Friday, April 8
Confirmation Retreat
Saturday, April 9
Confirmation Retreat
10:00 am Modern Widows Club Easter Brunch, Fireside Room
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The Last Thing is Never the Worst Thing |
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In a sense, Lent is the saddest time of the church year. In Lent, we focus on the passion of Christ. We travel with him into Jerusalem. We tell the story again of his betrayal, arrest, torture, crucifixion and death. This year with our Lord’s Prayer series, we have done a little less of that than usual, but it is still in the background. It’s sad to think of what Jesus had to go through so that we could be reconciled to God. It’s sad that he had to suffer as he did, all for the sake of love. |
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Yet I think it is a sign of God’s providence that Lent happens in the springtime. “Lent” actually comes from an old German word “lenz” or an old English word “lencten,” both of which refer to spring and the lengthening of the days. Of course, the Passion is also connected to the Jewish festival of Passover, which occurs on the first full moon after the spring equinox.
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But I think it was in God’s design to have this sad season happen when the earth is experiencing rebirth. There are signs of new life all around us. The flowers blooming, the grass greening up, the wind blowing warmer, and more daylight to enjoy–all these signs remind us that the dead of winter is giving way to the life of summer. God is still running the universe, and we are going to be OK. |
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It seems like we have been in a long Lent for over two years now. We have been dealing with some challenging times: pandemic, economic disruptions, war, anxiety, exhaustion. You name it; we have been fighting it lately. |
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But as author Frederick Buechner said, “The worst thing is never the last thing.” For Christians, the worst thing would have to be the crucifixion of our Lord. But it was followed in three days by the best thing ever-–the resurrection on Easter. Death gave way to life. Sin and evil gave way to love, joy, peace, and salvation. The challenges we face can be overcome. Our obstacles are not insurmountable. God is still God, and God is good all the time! |
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I am excited for the signs of life that are coming up in the church. Holy Week and Easter are just a couple of weeks away. We are going to have real Communion again on Maundy Thursday. I hope our Easter crowd will be close to our pre-pandemic levels. Following Easter, we have a class of 16 confirmation students who will profess their faith and join the church. Then on April 30 and May 1, we will celebrate our Centennial Homecoming. Our sanctuary is 100 years old, and that’s something, but what we are really celebrating is our church–its history, its tradition, its people, and its mission. |
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The message this springtime is unmistakable. It’s an Easter message. The dark days are over, and if they aren’t, they will not define us. At First United Methodist Church, we are rejoicing. We are back; we are alive; and we are strong! Join us in the celebration! |
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Confirmation Class of 2022 |
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What a great joy is has been to journey with 16 of our 6th and 7th graders as they learn more about their faith and being a member of the body of Christ. Each week we have focused on an aspect of our faith and looked at scripture, shared experiences, asked questions, and discovered new insights. These 16 students bring hope and promise for the future of our church.
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We will be wrapping up our class with a retreat on April 8-9 where we will focus on worship, baptism/communion, and end the retreat with an activity that challenges us to help serve and encourage one another. Then on April 24th we will celebrate Confirmation Sunday at our 11 o’clock services.
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To wrap up this Confirmation journey, the class will be hosting a mission event for the entire church on April 27th. Join us for a “Packing Party” as we pack 20,000 meals that will be distributed to our local mission partners here in Fort Smith. Take a look at this video and learn more about The Outreach Program that will be leading us in this effort.
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Holy Week Stations of the Cross |
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As it has become a custom for us to offer you the opportunity to experience the last week of Christ’s life through the Stations of the Cross, this year will not disappoint. This year beginning on Palm
Sunday and all throughout Holy Week, the Roebuck Chapel will be open during office hours for prayer and reflection. This year the art used is by Lauren Wright Pittman.
Below is her description:
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The Stations of the Cross is an ancient meditative pilgrimage inviting the spiritually hungry to walk the “Way of Sorrows” with Jesus to his death on Calvary hill. Traditionally depicted in fourteen visuals, the Stations highlight pivotal moments in Jesus’ final hours. This graphic art rendition of the Stations by Lauren Wright Pittman nods to tradition while imagining Jesus’ journey toward crucifixion through a modern lens. In twelve black and white images, this series condenses the version Pope John Paul II introduced on Good Friday in 1991. Stripped down and textured, these visuals highlight the metaphorical and emotional layers of Jesus’ journey toward his last breaths. |
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We invite you to use these Stations and this Companion Guide to walk the path of our suffering Savior with your eyes and heart wide open. Walk along the road with the One who took on human flesh, stepping into the depths of betrayal, injustice, mockery, judgment, and pain in order to free us from their grip. Walk the journey of the One who chose nonviolent resistance as the means to redemption. Walk the path of the One who leads us to the tomb but hushes death before it can speak the last word. Walk in the footsteps of the One who proves that even crucified love still lives. |
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With every step, may you know—fully and freely—that there is no place God won’t go. |
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Our Children’s Ministry is Busier Than Ever This Spring |
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There are so many opportunities for your kids to grow together in Christ. First, we are doing a kindness collection of bottled water and prepackaged snacks for the homeless. As many of you know, our Lenten sermon series has focused on the Lords Prayer. When we talked about the line “Give us this day our Daily Bread”, we recognized that we aren’t just praying for ourselves but also for others. We want God to use us to help provide for others. A major way we can do that is by providing a few of the very basic things people need to survive, clean water and food. You can drop off your donations in the shopping cart located in the Children’s ministry area. |
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Easter will be here before we know it! On Palm Sunday, we invite EVERYONE to bring their children to wave the palms. We will be waving Palms in BOTH services! We will first wave them in the Sanctuary and then we will wave them in the Connextion service. We will meet in the Children’s Ministry area at 10:30 to get our palms and go over instructions. If you’d like more info, shoot me an email! |
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On Easter Sunday, we will meet during the Sunday School hour in the Youth Loft on the third floor. We will kick off our time together with a Story time and craft. Following the craft, we will have an egg hunt like you’ve never experienced before! I encourage parents to stick around and lend a helping hand. We are going to be all over the place, so the more hands the better!! |
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Finally, preparation for Vacation Bible School is in full swing. Our theme this year is Food Truck party. Our dates are Thursday, June 9th- Sunday, June 12th. We will kick off VBS on Thursday evening from 5-8pm. On Friday and Saturday, we will meet from 9am-2pm. On Sunday, the kids will share what they’ve learned in service, and we will have a HUGE Food Truck Party directly following service. What I need now is VOLUNTEERS. I need station leaders, shepherds, and various other volunteers. If you think you MIGHT be interested. Shoot me an email or give me a call! I’d love to talk to you about how you can get involved!
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Gifts to support the people of Ukraine can be made in the following ways:
- Online at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/982450
- By toll-free telephone: 888-252-6174
- By check with “Advance #982450-Ukraine” written on the memo line, either mailed and addressed to Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY, 10087-9068 or given at or through any United Methodist church.
One hundred percent of all Advance contributions go to the designated cause.
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Would you like to be a part of
Sanctuary Guest Services?
Join us
Sunday April 3rd
12pm in the Sanctuary
For more information call Gail 479-782-5068
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In Tulsa Hospital:
Loss of Loved Ones:
- Kenzi Williams - grandniece of Beth Watson.
- Steve Arnold - son of Cecie Hopkins and brother of Chris Arnold.
- Cody Nicklin – brother of Mckenna Sudbrink (Sam).
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In Memory of:
Bob & Jan Cooper
Cheryl Powell
Ted & Ginger Taylor
Carole & George Beattie
Sandra Clark
Mary Booth
George & Carole Beattie
George & Carole Beattie
Suzanne McCord
Jim & Suzie Dunn
Jack & Laura Hayes
Bill Beall
Ted & Ginger Taylor
Jack & Mary Freeze
David & Leanne McClanahan
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Bill & Kathy Priakos
Mary Lee Kulin
The Glidewell Family
Ruth Davis
Jim & Pat Bolin
Janice Powell
Clay & Lynn Gilliland
Sue Plattner
Springdale Policeman Benevolent
In Honor of:
Lori Hardin & Mike Willis
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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 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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