firstunited methodistchurch With you on your journey IN THIS ISSUE: News & Events United Methodist Women s Lunch and Program Sunday, September 18th

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1 With you on your journey Volume 40 Issue 18 September 1, 2016 Though it s been twenty years, I can still remember the poster that greeted me upon entering the bandroom of Valdosta Middle School: a clearly exasperated orangutan seated behind a gorgeous Pearl drum set with bright purple bubble letters declaring Music is not a spectator sport. Perhaps the premise of the poster in question begged more questions than it answered. Who exactly was this orangutan, how did he come into the possession of such high-quality instruments, and why did they vex him so? Regardless of the answers, I suppose, the intent was clear; this was a hands-on class. Wrong notes were to be played loudly and proudly and subsequently fixed without shame. This was a safe space for individual creative expression, a haven for team-building, and perhaps most importantly a place where each of us belonged. Fine arts education molded me into the person I am today, and I am tremendously excited to be part of a church that has chosen to bear that torch in a world where the bottom line has all but extinguished it in our public schools. First Arts officially kicks off this week, and there is much to celebrate. This year, we ve partnered with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra to offer group violin lessons as part of the Sturgis Music Academy (in addition to the piano, voice, guitar and art instruction we already provide). We re streamlining our footprint a bit enabling us to house the program entirely on the first and second floors. Also, we re offering a discounted rate to employees of the Child Development Center to thank them for all of the wonderful work they do. First Arts runs Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00-5:30 pm (with lessons beginning at 3:30). If you d like to volunteer, please contact me at jstanley@fumclr.org. IN THIS ISSUE: News & Events United Methodist Women s Lunch and Program Sunday, September 18th MISSION & OUTREACH New Service Opportunities! KIDS@FIRST Preschool Chapel Returns FIRST YOUTH Zombie Tag - Sept. 4th! OUR VISION As a community and individuals, we seek to be good neighbors to make Little Rock a place where children THRIVE. We will use all facets of our everyday lives to work for the things children need; Trust, Health, Relationships, Imagination, Value, and Education. James Stanley, Associate Director of Music and Worship Arts 723 Center Street Little Rock, Arkansas firstunited methodistchurch DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK

2 NEW & EVENTS Do you have an extra hour on Monday morning? WE NEED COUNTERS! Our Finance Manager, Roy Peterson, needs a few more people to add to the Counting Team. Every Monday morning, one volunteer from the team meets with Roy to count the money from Sunday s offering plates. This is a wonderfully easy service for your church, and it only takes an hour! With a team of 6-8, your commitment would be once every 6-8 weeks. If you can serve, please Roy at rpeterson@ fumclr.org. Thank you for your consideration. Urban Garden Project Gift - Thank You! In honor of Craig and Nancy Wood s 60th anniversary, their children have made a generous gift of start-up funds for our church s Urban Garden Project. Led by our youth, we have created several raised beds to grow fruits and vegetables for our downtown neighbors. This gift will enable us to install plumbing for more convenient water access, purchase new tools, and possibly a small green house. Congratulations to Craig and Nancy, and thank you for seeding this great new ministry. If you would like to contribute to the Urban Garden, contact Austin Hubbard (ahubbard@fumclr.org). Reception for Photograph Exhibit - September 11th, 2-3:30 pm The United Methodist Museum of the Arkansas Conference is extending an invitation to a reception for all those interested in seeing a fine-art exhibition of photos of a collection of historic Methodist churches. It will be held at the museum Sunday, September 11, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM. It is located in the lower level of First United Methodist Church, Little Rock. Several of the members of the Arkansas Women Photographers whose work was accepted for the show will be present to tell about their work. Awards donated by Bedford Camera and Video will be presented to those whom Mike Anderson, a Little Rock professional fine-art photographer, chose for first, second, third places and honorable mentions. Refreshments will be served, and there will also be time for everyone to see the museum s collection of historical items from Methodist churches in Arkansas over the past century and beyond. Arkansas Women Photographers is a closed group of over 600 members whose work is displayed on their facebook site. An invitation was extended to them, with a list of United Methodist Churches on the National Register of Historic Places, to photograph those of their choice. Twenty four photos were chosen for the show to be printed, some as large as 20 X 30, with high definition quality and properly framed. They will all be for sale with 25% of the sale price going to the museum as a fundraiser. United Methodist Women s Sunday September 18th, Lunch and Program 12:15 pm in the Fellowship Hall Sarah Wacaster, CEO of Camp Aldersgate In 1947, Camp Aldersgate was formally dedicated. The original purpose of the camp was to serve as a place for interracial fellowship, meetings and Christian training. Seeing a need for social change and racial harmony, a group of women of the Little Rock Methodist Council requested a grant of $25,000 from the Women s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries to purchase a 120-acre turkey farm to provide a place to accomplish this mission. As one of the first integrated facilities in the United States, the Camp s role in race relations led to challenges for the board and staff during the 1950 s. In the 1970 s, Dr. Kelsy Caplinger began the first social service program by inviting 12 children with asthma to Camp Aldersgate to participate in engaging activities they couldn t enjoy elsewhere. Camp Aldersgate has since evolved into serving hundreds of children with special needs plus senior adults. Camp Aldersgate now has 16 year-round staff members and more than 55 staff counsels who work during the Summer Medical Camps and Weekend Camps. It continues to provide year-round social service programs for 1,700 individuals of all ages and backgrounds. During the summer it hosts week-long medical-specific camps for children and youth with medical conditions such as muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, diabetes, cardiac condones, arthritis, kidney conditions, asthma, oncology and bleeding disorders. Please fill out the Journey Card in the bulletin to make a reservation for lunch so we will have enough food prepared. There is no charge for the lunch, but a donation is appreciated. EVERYONE IS WELCOME! Listening to our Neighbors September 12th at 7 pm The Interfaith & Ecumenical Library of FUMCLR will sponsor Listening to our Neighbors on Monday, September 12 at 7 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. We invite you to join us for a dialogue with some of our Muslim neighbors as they share personal experiences about living out their faith tradition in Central Arkansas. Sophia Said of the Islamic Center of Little Rock will moderate the conversation. The Interfaith & Ecumenical Library is a joint project of FUMCLR & Interfaith Arkansas. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information contact Anthony Falkowski, or afalkowski@downtownlr.com, or Rev. Stephen Copley, Interfaith Arkansas, Because we are more alike than different

3 Fall Learning Opportunities for Kids We kick off our school year after much prayer regarding the study resources for our children. We focus on learning styles that work best for each age group. In all groups, we remain as hands-on as possible, for we know that learning through Bible play and action is the very best way to learn and retain. If we refer to child development experts, we find quotes such as Not by force shall the children learn, but through play. Plato; Play is the highest form of research. Albert Einstein; and Play is the work of children. Piaget. We invite you to stop by our children s classes on any given Sunday and encourage their learning and their play research! And if you are brave enough to let go of your Sunday posture, why not play a bit! They need to know YOU, THE CHURCH are part of God s family and their church family. September 4th begins: Infants: Babies and Woddlers by Cokesbury Toddlers: Deep Blue by Cokesbury Preschool: Deep Blue by Cokesbury Kindergarten-1st: Godly Play Montessori by Jerome Berryman Elementary 2nd-3rd: Deep Blue Rotation by Cokesbury Tweens 4th-6th: Bible Movie Clips, Missions, LINK TOGETHER Leadership Training Preschool Chapel Returns! Weekly chapel for preschoolers returns Wednesday, September 7th in our second floor chapel at 9:00 a.m.. This worship program reaches our preschool age children (ages 3-4) with Bible stories and concepts presented at their level of understanding. Music, prayer, storytelling, puppets, drama and games allow our little ones to feel God s grace and love all around them. Our Child Development Center students attend weekly and anyone from our church and community is invited to attend. So, if you or anyone you know would like to spend time worshiping with children, help us share the good news about Preschool Chapel! Created by God Hey 5th and 6th graders, do you wonder what s happening to your body, and what s going to happen next? Do you want to fit in, but think you never will? Does anyone out there understand what you re going through? Relax! You are not alone. You ve begun the exciting journey that will take you to adulthood. God has created you and God is still at work, helping you become the person you were created to be. We will be offering a Created By God Human Sexuality training this year. If you and your parents are interested, please contact Pam and psnider@fumclr.org. Bible Boot Camp 2016 Bible Boot Camp was a success with 123 campers, leaders and parent chaperones learning how to use their Bible at beautiful Camp Tanako in Hot Springs! One parent said, I think I ve learned more than my child this weekend!

4 MISSION & OUTREACH FANN Food Trucked to Church By Faithful Volunteer John Boyd, a Ph.D. agronomist partly retired from the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, makes sure the Friends and Family Network has a truckload of food to unload every second and fourth Tuesday. When FANN requested a pickup truck to use for the program, his wife Debbie mentioned it to John. He agreed to help out for a while, and almost two years later he is still picking up the food at the Food Bank in southwest Little Rock and transporting it to FUMC every two weeks. Debbie says John likes to play tennis and a few years ago, started playing with a group of her friends from church. He now counts those people as his friends and always advises her that he is going out to play with the Methodists. Having a regular source of healthy food through FANN is helping downtown families thrive. For more information or to become a food ministries volunteer, contact Elaine Bultena at bultenae@yahoo.com or Volunteer Opportunity - Meet the Truck MEET THE TRUCK is a volunteer opportunity for the Back Pack program. It involves meeting the truck bringing our Backpack food supplies from the Arkansas Food Bank on the Tuesday afternoons listed below. Backpacks are for our partner schools, Booker Elementary and Franklin Elementary. Four volunteers are asked to be at the courtyard gate at 2:15 p.m. to unload the food onto carts and move into the food storage room. It would be a good service project for a Journey Group or other group that is available during the day or for anyone who has the time to support this wonderful FUMC Ministry. For more information or to sign up please contact Anthony Falkowski at afalkowski@fumclr.org or call him at , ext MEET THE TRUCK days for 2016: Sept. 6 & 20; Oct. 4 & 18; Nov. 1, 15 & 29; Dec. 6 & 20. A New STEP Tutoring Here s one way to make a difference in a child s life and help them to THRIVE! Join members and friends of FUMC Little Rock as we begin our eighth semester at Franklin Elementary with A New STEP, our Tuesday after-school reading program through ARKids Read. If you would like to join the other one-on-one tutors at Franklin, please Pamela Owen at anewstep2013@gmail.com. If our timing of Tuesdays at 3:30 doesn t work for you, sign-up through to tutor at Booker or Franklin Elementary during the school day when it is convenient for you. Communion Sunday - Sept. 4, 2016 Dawn and her daughter, Erikah, recently returned to Little Rock. She is newly divorced and seeking housing. Remember us, Brother Anthony?, she said accompanied by a handshake, warm hug, and big smile. Of course I remembered her from when she came to our church about 2 years ago. Erikah has grown into a lovely young woman, and Dawn is now a deacon in a local church. Sure, they still have struggles, but their lives have grown so much. Our church was able to be there one more time for them. It s a great thing that our church is here to give them yet another chance. That s the POWER of an enduring ministry. Many thanks to all of you for your continuing support in keeping this ministry vibrant and available. Anthony Falkowski, Director of Missions and Outreach You can support this fund on Communion Sunday by leaving your offering at the rail, in the Sanctuary and chapel, or a designated basket in First Word. Interfaith Power & Light Service Opportunity Gardening Fun at the Promise Garden, a community 12th and Peyton Street, Saturday, September 17th, from 7 am to 12 noon. Bring work gloves and small garden tools if you have them. Bring a re-usable water bottle. Volunteers will be planting, harvesting and maintaining the garden. They will be feeding chickens and collecting eggs. Come when you can and enjoy as long as you like. Healthy snacks will be provided. Contact Scharmel Roussel, Arkansas Interfaith Power & Light, or ArkansasIPL@gmail.com. Hope you will join us. FUMC church contact: Anthony Falkowski, or afalkowski@fumclr.org. FIRST YOUTH Sunday Morning at the Movies This Sunday we will finish watching Everything is Spiritual. This Rob Bell film points out that in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, no one ever uses the word spiritual...why?.. because to them everything is spiritual. Join us as we watch and discuss this mind-blowing film from 9:45-10:50 am. Sunday Night Youth All things are back to their regular schedules on Sunday nights. That means we meet from 5:00-7:00 pm for supper, a game, and break-outs. This Sunday night we are going to play Zombie Tag! The 8th grade confirmation class will not meet this week, however we will still have a one-off lesson during break out time. All other students will continue a study on the Beatitudes called The Kingdom Experiment during break-out time (6:20-7:00 pm).

5 FRIENDS & FAMILY Congratulations on Baptism & Membership A special congratulations to Hailey Kirk who was baptized Sunday, August 21st. Hailey also joined FUMC by Profession of Faith. It was such a wonderful day for Hailey; next time you see her - give her a warm First Church welcome! Welcome New Members We welcomed Greg Daniels and Lanny Hickey into membership on Sunday, August 21st! You might recognize Greg as the organist that has filled in for us for the past few months. Both Greg and Lanny join us by transfer of membership from another denomination. Be sure to give Greg and Lanny an official FUMC welcome. We welcomed Robert Bob Guess into membership on Sunday, August 28th during First Tradition. Bob joined by transfer of membership from another denomination. We are so excited to welcome back Bob! We also welcomed Darrin Clanton into membership on Sunday, August 21st. Darrin joined by transfer of membership from another denomination. Welcome Darrin! We also welcomed Dennis Horn into membership on Sunday, August 28th during First tradition. Dennis joined by transfer of membership from First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro. You might have already seen Dennis in the Chancel Choir! Congratulations Congratulations to Austin Clark who recently earned his Eagle Scout. This is quite an accomplishment. We are proud of your hard work and determination! We want to wish Jim and Lillie Major Happy 74th Anniversary! Your marriage is a wonderful example of love and devotion for us all. Congratulations! We also want to with Mabel Harris-Webb a very Happy Birthday! Mabel recently turned 98 years old! Your love of life and for the Lord are a beautiful illustration for us all. Sympathy To John and Janice Choate following the death of John s sister, Martha Choate Jenkins, on August 19th. To Jerry Tobler following the death of her brother Larry Morton, in Fort Worth, Texas on August 23rd. Honorariums & Memorials In Honor of the Koinonia Class by Kaye & Bill Burton In Honor of Nancy & Craig Wood by Bryn Bagwell & Russ Wood In Memory of Richard White by Companions In Memory of Martha Choate Jenkins by Choate Sunday School Class In Memory of Wesley Ross by Mary Ellen Murray WEEKLY BIBLE READINGS September 4, th Sunday after Pentecost Jeremiah 18:1-11; Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:25-33 September 11, th Sunday after Pentecost Jeremiah 4:11-12; Psalm 14:1-7; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10

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, David Freeman ; 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 September 15, Submission deadline is September 11. NEW First Church THRIVE T-Shirts! We have a few extra that will be on sale starting Sunday, September 4th. Crew Neck and V-Neck T-Shirts $15 Contact Lesley Andrews landrews@fumclr.org or call to reserve your shirt today!