firstunited methodistchurch CLASS OF 2014

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1 With you on your journey Volume 38 Issue 11 May 8, 2014 Introducing FANN- A New Kind of Food Co-op To provide food for those in need in a way that affirms dignity and builds community - this is the mission for Friends And Neighbor Network (FANN), a new ministry of the FUMC Food Ministry Team. Over the next few months, members of the FANN Team will be working closely with Food Security of America and the AR Foodbank Network to implement a food co-op model which promotes food security for families. Many people have to make a choice between rent, utilities, transportation or medicine and eating on a regular basis. FANN will not only help reduce monthly grocery bills but it will do so in a way that promotes dignity rather than shame. Your Faith Promise offering is making being the hands and feet of Jesus a reality for the FUMC FANN Team. Thank you!!! Our goal is to open FANN by fall Stay tuned for more details! SERVE Committee Fann Team- Jessica Szenher, Becky Falkowski, Patty Barker, Gary Stone, Inez Stone, Jerril Green, Rachel Green, Michala Roberts, Carol Sherer, Elaine Bultena, Liz Russell, Anthony Falkowski IN THIS ISSUE: NEWS Library Open House this week honoring Betty Ann Bullard. KIDS@FIRST We need summer volunteers! YOUTH Register now for Jr. and S. High Assembly MISSION & OUTREACH Quapaw Quarter Community Breakfast this week. Anabella Barnett - Central High Garrett Bennett - estem David Cole - Catholic High Kirby Fullerton - Central High Liam Hankins-Hull - Parkview High Emily Claire Mackey - Central High Kinsey Marsh - Sheridan High SENIOR SUNDAY - MAY 18TH Sunday, May 18th we will honor the Seniors in all three services. Please extend your personal congratulations to the seniors and their families as they enter the next phase of their journey. CLASS OF 2014 Joel Morell - estem Branson Myers - Sheridan High Sarah Newbern - Central High Chynna Stipe - Central High Lucas Utley - Central High Mattie Thacker - North Little Rock High Gracie Zeno - Sheridan High 723 Center Street Little Rock, Arkansas MISSION COVENANT Our promise is to be with you on your journey. Our purpose is to love God, love others, and change the world. Our mission is to be an inclusive downtown congregation that builds Christian community where people experience God s transforming grace. firstunited methodistchurch DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK

2 UPCOMING EVENTS: May 11th - 24th Sunday, May 11th 7:30 am - Quapaw Quarter Community Breakfast 9:45 am - What it Means to be a United Methodist (John Wesley Prayer Room, Rm 309) Happy Mother s Day Monday, May 12th 5:30 pm - Staff Parish Relations Comm (Rm 209) 6:00 pm - Cooking Matters (Geyer Springs UMC) Tuesday, May 13th 5:30 pm - Grief Support Group (Rm 209) Wednesday, May 14th 4:45 pm - Board of Trustees (Rm 209) Friday, May 16th 10:00 am - CDC Graduation (Sanctuary) Sunday, May 18th 9: 45 am - New Member Class (Rm 205) 9:45 am - What it Means to be a United Methodist (John Wesley Prayer Room, Rm 309) 12:00 pm - Senior Sunday Lunch (Fellowship Hall) Monday, May 19th 5:30 pm - Share the Good News (Rm 204) 7:00 pm - Mustard Seed Class (First Cup Cafe) Tuesday, May 20th 4:30 pm - Stewardship & Finance Ex. Comm (Rm 210) 5:00 pm - Stewardship & Finance Comm (Rm 210) 5:30 pm - Grief Support Group (Rm 209) 6:00 pm - Board of Stewards (Chapel) For a complete listing of on-going weekly activities, please visit our online calendar at WEEKLY BIBLE READINGS May 11: Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10 May 18: Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14 ANNOUNCEMENTS Library Open House Celebrating Betty Ann Bullard Please drop into the Library on May 11th, 9:00 to 11:00 am, for refreshments and the opening of the Adopt a Children s Book promotion in memory of Betty Ann Bullard. The Children s Collection that Betty Ann built needs new books and new readers. Stop by the Library and consider donating for one or more of the books up for adoption. There is no better way to keep Betty Ann s love of reading alive. Thank you for your support. The Library Committee Conversations about Methodism Beginning May 11th, 9:45 am- Rm 309 As part of our series on What it Means to be a United Methodist we will have conversations about the defining characteristics of our denomination. The group will meet during the Sunday school hour in the Wesley Prayer Room, Rm 309, beginning May 11th and continuing for 4 weeks. For more information contact George Hankins-Hull, ghull@uams.edu. New Member Class Sunday, May 18th at 9:45 am, Rm 205 If you have joined the church in the last year or two, please make plans to join us on Sunday, May 18th at 9:45 am for a New Member Class. The New Member Class will include general information about the church: Learn about the 5 ministry areas within the church: Nurture Spiritual Community, Share the Good News, Grow in Faith, Serve the World and Vibrant Worship Basic history of the church and a tour of the facilities A time to meet some of the church family General question and answer session Future opportunities for involvement For more information contact Rebecca Boggan at rboggan@ fumclr.org or Leslie Cochran at richandleslie@att.net 5-Week Grief Series, Tuesdays at 5:30 pm Life After Loss is a 5 week series that deals with the realities of grief following death. The group will meet Tuesday evenings from 5:30 7:30 pm in Room 209 beginning May 6th. Contact Rev. Donna Hankins-Hull (dhankins@fumclr.org) for more information. Annual Safe Sanctuary Training May 18th from 10-10:30 am Join us in the Children s Theater on the 1st floor for our annual Safe Sanctuary Training. This is for all adults that work in the following programs: Kids@First, First Youth, First Arts, Children/Youth Summer Camps, Children/Youth Sunday School, Confirmation Class.

3 MISSION AND OUTREACH Communion Assistance Fund About three weeks ago, I received an urgent call from a domestic violence shelter here in Little Rock. The shelter offers protection to women, with or without children, who are attempting to leave an emotionally or physically abusive situation. In this instance a woman, with four young children had to be moved to another state because the husband/ father located them here in our city. Our church, along with another agency, assisted in purchasing the Greyhound bus tickets to move this family to safety. After the family safely arrived, the shelter Director sent another note expressing gratitude for FUMC being willing and able to participate in transporting this family. Thanks to all of you who support this ministry that makes it possible for us to do this. It truly matters. Anthony Falkowski, Director of Mission & Outreach ( SERVE ) Almost $400 was raised for Faith Promise! SOUP Supper by the Mustard Seeds and UMW March 17th Help for QQUMC Food Pantry QQUMC Food Pantry is open every 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month and has been a presence of hope to those in need for over 25 years. The volunteers of QQUMC Food Pantry are asking for donations of several non-food items to give to their patrons, in addition to the food that is supplied. Following are the current needs: toothpaste, bath soap, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, toilet paper, paper napkins, kleenex, and diapers of all sizes. These requested items are NOT covered by SNAP (formerly food stamps) and are a great need for the patrons. Please place your collected items in the boxes provided by the church office! What Can Your Gift Mean? Donating to Faith Promise makes a real difference to real people. Here is what your gift can do: $10 can provide a month of meals for a child. $50 provides 10 families with almost 20 pounds of food each. $100 provides 4 Seniors with 50 pounds of groceries each. $240 provides up to 2400 meals for children through a summer food program. $500 sponsors an entire course of Cooking Matters, empowering low income families. Join us for the last two Soup Suppers on March 31st and April 14th! Did you know that our SERVE ministry (Missions & Outreach) has a new Facebook page? Like the page at FUMCLRSERVE to keep up-to-date onthe latest service opportunities and news at FUMC! Realize that your gift makes a difference to a child or a senior citizen or a family, and prayerfully consider what you can give! Help end hunger. Make a donation. Donations due by Easter Sunday, April 20th.

4 Congratulations on Baptisms Congratulations to Amy and Chad Green on the baptism of their son, Cooper Charles, on Sunday, March 23rd during First Tradition. Welcome New Members We welcomed Kimberly, Gavin and Cooper Brown into membership during First Word on March 16th. Kimberly was also baptized and joined by Profession of Faith. Congratulations to Kathy, and Nicholas Kelley on the baptism of their son, Jackson Nicholas, on Sunday, March 23rd during First Tradition. We welcomed Mary Kathryn Marcum into membership on Sunday, March 23rd during First Tradition. Mary Kathryn transferred her membership from Cornerstone United Methodist in Jonesboro. MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS In Honor of Darlene Scheibner and Helen Williams by Casserole Girls In Memory of Bill Adair by Frances Ross, Dodd & Rebecca Daggett, Ernest & Elaine Dumas, Dr. E. F. & Marinell Adair, Koinonia Sunday School Class, Cherry Light, Ed & Scotty Shively, Ruth Emerson (Bo Adair Fund) by Bob & Carolyn Nelson, Tommy, Carolyn, & Maddie Polk, Dr. John & Holly Haggard, Rev. Vic & Freddie Nixon, Thomas & Janice Fowler, Dr. Phillip & Mrs. Flo Deer, John & Willa Harkey, Judy Boreham, Richard & Joanna Johnson, John & Mary Jane Calhoun In Memory of Martha Nelsen by Koinonia Sunday School Class, Bob & Carolyn Nelson, Tom Norris, Beth Bennington, Joe Hundley & Sarah Hundley Wilf In Memory of Mary Claude Kingery by Cherry Light (StewPot Soup Kitchen) by Finley & Jane Corken, Koinonia Sunday School Class (Capital Campaign) by Bob & Carolyn Nelson, Alice Browning, First Tuesday Bridge Club of Little Rock, Carolyn Davis In Memory of Marie Garvey Fowler & William Geral Fowler by Koinonia Sunday School Class In Memory of Ina Robbins by Ruth Emerson ATTENDANCE Date First Light First Word First Tradition March March March GIVING FOR WEEK OF MARCH Annual Operations $ Honor Our Past, Commit to our Future $ GIVING FOR WEEK OF MARCH Annual Operations $ Follow the renovations on Facebook! Like our page at

5 REMINDER Board of Stewards Meeting Tuesday, May 20th 6 pm in the Chapel KIDS@FIRST Giving Donations of food continue in the children s wing. Non perishable foods with pop tops will be donated to help with tornado relief. Volunteer Our needs for the summer are becoming more specific. A big thank you to those who have already volunteered! For VBS, June Can you: Lead a mission project for Methodist Family Health 1 4 pm? Lead a scripture search to find animals in the Bible 1-4 pm? Lead a cooking activity to prepare animal treats for the Animal Shelter 1 4 pm? Decorate our children s area for VBS Weird Animals camp anytime during the week of June 9th? Escort a group of children through the activities 9 am -4 pm? For Sunday School, can you teach one or more Sundays, June 1 August 31, from 9:45 10:45 am? All materials supplied. Contact Pam- psnider@fumclr.org or call ext Save the Date Safe Sanctuary and Volunteer training is May 18th from 10-10:30 am in the children s theater. If you volunteer with minors in children s, youth, or music ministry, this is a mandatory annual training. Sunday School Promotion is June 1st. Please plan to attend First Word at 9:00 am with your children on this special Sunday. Summer Camps Two of our camps are full and now have waiting lists. The others are nearing capacity. Register now if you plan to attend. Online registration at Look for the registration tab and the top right of the home page. If your desired camp has been filled, please to be placed on a wait list at psnider@fumclr.org. LEGO Faith Builders Summer Sunday School We need a lot of Legos for teaching our summer lessons. Please donate what you can. Thank you! FIRST YOUTH No Youth this Sunday night- Happy Mother s Day! Assembly Registration is open for Junior and Senior High Assembly. Assembly provides students the opportunity to build relationships with other youth from all over the state and helps strengthen and nurture them in their relationship with Christ. This is a very beneficial week because Assembly takes place a few weeks before school begins. Assembly is a small group based event. There is always a great speaker and band for daily worship, plus time for fellowship and games with new friends from around Arkansas. The main focus is the small group made up of youth who dive into scripture, conversations, and each other s lives to get to know each other on a deeper level as friends in faith. Jr. High Assembly is for students who have completed grades 6-9 and Sr. High Assembly is for students who have completed grades Register online at fumclr.org/registrations. They are through constant contact. Summer Mission Trip Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky is the destination for our mission trip the week of July 6-12th. Henderson is a mission center of the United Methodist Church, dedicated to working to alleviate the realities of extreme poverty found around the coal mining communities of the Appalachian Mountains. We will spend the week working at a family s home engaged in renovations or improvements. Space is limited, so register early. Register online at fumclr.org/ registrations Lift up Others by Raising Your Hands Change the World Sunday May 25th United Methodists are people who value both words and actions. Occasionally, our efforts to shine light on how God is at work in our communities needs to take place beyond the walls of our sanctuary. On Sunday May 25th we have an opportunity to live into this year s Change the World theme by putting our faith in action and serving our community in a palpable and noticeable way. We plan to lift up others by raising your hands through a service project at MacArthur Park. Please help us plan for this event by letting us know of your commitment to be here on the 25th. Online registration is fumclr.org. Work will start at 9 am and shuttle services will be provided from the church to our service sight. Be sure to wear your red FUMC shirts. For more information contact Lesley Andrews, landrews@fumclr.org or

6 firstunited methodistchurch LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS The First United Methodist In the First Place (USPS ) is published every other week for a total of 26 issues by the First United Methodist Church, 723 Center Street, Little Rock, Arkansas Editor, Chris Cooper; Managing Editor, Lesley Andrews; Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, Arkansas. www. fumclr.org POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FUMC In The First Place, 723 Center Street, Little Rock, Arkansas PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID LITTLE ROCK, AR Follow us! facebook.com/fumclr The next issue of In the First Place will be published on May 22, Submission deadline is May 18th. Musical Theater Camp June 23-27th, 9 am - 4 pm We will learn music and choreography, build stage sets and back drops, and work on costumes for the musical, It s Cool in the Furnace, a musical telling the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Ages: 3rd - 7th grades. Cost: Church Members $50, Non-Members $80. Register online at www. fumclr.org/registrations