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With you on your journey Volume 38 Issue 5 February 13, 2014 New Confirmation Program Going Strong! Confirmation is an important step in our journey of faith.

It brings worship, Sunday school, Bible study, service, and church ministries into confirmation.

1 With you on your journey Volume 38 Issue 5 February 13, 2014 New Confirmation Program Going Strong! Confirmation is an important step in our journey of faith. The First Church Confirmation program has been revamped, using the newest United Methodist confirmation curriculum called Credo. Credo is not just your conventional classroom experience! It brings worship, Sunday school, Bible study, service, and church ministries into confirmation. Confirmation typically starts at the beginning of students 7th grade year, and they are confirmed into full membership near the end of their 8th grade year. This year s confirmation class of 8th graders began their journey in the fall of In addition to learning about the United Methodist Church in their Sunday School curriculum, they, along with their mentors, have participated in First Youth activities; led in worship lighting the Advent candle; and engaged in service and mission projects by volunteering with the Quapaw UMC Sunday breakfast, the LR Marathon, the Barnabas House 5K, and church life events at FUMC. As a part of learning about the church s history and other faith traditions, they have worshipped at Temple B Nai Israel, the Cathedral of St. Andrew (Roman Catholic church), St. Mark Baptist Church (primarily African-American), and the Society of Friends (Quaker) Meeting. They have also enjoyed social events (including a Mardi Gras party complete with a costume contest) and participated in a retreat, where they made stoles they will wear as part of their confirmation ceremony. The 7th graders, who began confirmation in the fall of 2013, met with the 8th graders for Sunday School in the fall semester, and are now making their own visits to other places of worship. (They visited the Cathedral of St. Andrew last Sunday.) On June 1, Bradshaw Held, Tom Hopkins, Andrew King, Aiden Massenelli, William Purifoy, and Tristam Thompson will be confirmed in the First Tradition worship service. Please encourage them and pray for them as they continue their faith journey. Ginny and Shawn McMurray Confirmation Leaders Special Note: Please look inside for a listing of Confirmation leaders and mentors. 723 Center Street Little Rock, Arkansas IN THIS ISSUE: NEWS Prayer Bear Sunday - Feb. 16th! THIRD AGERS Trip to Old Washing State Park. KIDS@FIRST Get ready for Lenten Madness! YOUTH Catacombs re-scheduled for May. MUSIC Robes are On Trend this spring! MISSIONS & OUTREACH Family Promise - it s our turn! 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

UPCOMING EVENTS: February 16th - March 1st Monday, February 17th 7:00 pm - Mustard Seeds Class (First Cup Cafe) Thursday, February 20th 9:00 pm - FUMC Youth Basketball Game (PHUMC) Saturday, February

(Rm 234) 5:00 pm - Stewardship & Finance Comm.

please visit our online calendar at www.fumclr.org. ANNOUNCEMENTS Spread Your Love with Sanctuary & Chapel Flowers We still have alot of 2014 dates, please reserve yours today!

2 UPCOMING EVENTS: February 16th - March 1st Monday, February 17th 7:00 pm - Mustard Seeds Class (First Cup Cafe) Thursday, February 20th 9:00 pm - FUMC Youth Basketball Game (PHUMC) Saturday, February 21st 5:00 pm - FUMC Youth Basketball Game (PHUMC) Tuesday, February 25 12:00 pm - StewPot (First Presbyterian) Wednesday, February 26th 4:30 pm - Stewardship & Finance Exe. (Rm 234) 5:00 pm - Stewardship & Finance Comm. (Rm 210) Friday, February 28th - Sunday, March 1st 5:30 pm - Youth Leave for Veritas in Rogers, Arkansas 5:30 pm - Youth arrive back at FUMC For a complete listing on on-going weekly activities, please visit our online calendar at ANNOUNCEMENTS Spread Your Love with Sanctuary & Chapel Flowers We still have alot of 2014 dates, please reserve yours today! Call Kristine King in the office, or kking@fumclr.org to make your reservation. Below is just one of the many blessings received when you reserve a Sunday! Our Flower Girls visited me many times during a long recovery several years ago. They take our beautiful Sunday Flowers, make them into about a dozen smaller arrangements and deliver them to sick or home bound members on Mondays. They brought their love, prayers and encouragement with them. Those visits were little healing blessings to me. Later, I became a Flower Girl, wanting to pay back some of that love. I think I got more love from the visits than I could possibly give! I am fortunate to have had this rich experience with our amazing church members. Remember when you give altar flowers to remember or honor someone you love, you will also be sharing that love with people who need the flowers and the visits. Linda Fordyce WEEKLY BIBLE READINGS February 16: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37 February 23: Leviticus 19:1-2; Psalm 119:33-40; UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL The Upper Room daily devotional guide contains meditations that show real people struggling to live faithfully in real-life situations, with the Bible as the touchstone for and measure of faithful living. Pick up your copy around the church! You can also sign-up for daily s, visit Little Rock Marathon Time! March 2nd Since 2007, First Church has been visibly present in the Little Rock Marathon. With church members lining both sides of the street just in front of the church on Center Street, we ve been dubbed The Methodist Mile at mile-marker 9. Over the years, participants have told us our cheering gives them a lift as they ascend a difficult and gradual hill beginning at the 9th mile. We will have one service that Sunday at 11:00 am. Getting to church that day might be difficult with all the street closings, so maps will be available this Sunday at all three services outlining available routes. Please Lesley Andrews- landrews@fumclr. org if you are participating in the marathon this year. We want to be With you on your journey and ask the congregation to support you on Marathon Sunday. Following is our list of participants so far: (Full) Heather Collins; (Half Marathon) Jean Rolfs, Kathy Cooper, Joy & Lynn Rockenbach, Shawn & Ginny McMurray, Elizabeth Small, Jake Eisele, Joan Dudley, Katherine Lu, Lesley Andrews

MISSION AND OUTREACH StewPot- February 25th! First Church serves lunch the fourth Tuesday of every month (February 25th) at StewPot in downtown Little Rock.

3 MISSION AND OUTREACH StewPot- February 25th! First Church serves lunch the fourth Tuesday of every month (February 25th) at StewPot in downtown Little Rock. StewPot is a ministry of First Presbyterian that provides 150 homeless, lowwage, and transient persons with a hot meal every weekday. For each rotation, we need 7 volunteers. Please contact Anthony Falkowski if you would like to volunteer - afalkowski@fumclr.org. Food Ministry Needs Your Help! The Food Ministry has scheduled a Cooking Matters at the Store tour (formerly Shopping Matters) on Sunday, February 23rd at 10am. The tour will be held at Family Market Grocery which is next door to Healing Waters Outreach Ministry in Shannon Hills. The group will meet for First Light at 8:30 am and then go to Healing Waters immediately after the service. We are in need of 2-3 facilitators to help lead tours! If you would like to become a tour facilitator, it is VERY easy! Please contact Stephanie Purifoy (spurifoy@arhungeralliance.org), Patty Barker (pbarker@ arhungeralliance.org), Kathy Webb (kwebb@arhungeralliance. org) or Elaine Bultena (bultenae@yahoo.com) for info. Family Promise - It s Our Turn! Through IHN, now called Family Promise (not Faith Promise), FUMC was one of the first churches in Arkansas to host families who had become temporarily homeless. One of our hosting partners was then, and is now, our Second Baptist neighbors at 222 E. 8th. They came to our church for a number of years; our volunteers now go to their church. Four times a year, one week each, we are responsible for providing evening meals 3 nights during the week to the guests (takes a minimum of 2 volunteers to prep and serve) and on those same evenings we provide 2 overnight hosts who take sleeping bags and stay overnight on fold-out beds with the families (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.). During our 4-rotation weeks we also spend two Saturdays with the families, planning an activity of interest (movie, Discovery Museum, etc.). Join us the week of February 23rd on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday evening in sharing our FUMC radical hospitality with these families. For more information or to sign up to share your time and talents, contact Claire Martin, FUMC Family Promise Coordinator, clairgpm@swbell.net, or Becky Falkowski, Serve the World Chair, becky.falkowski@gmail.com or Pictured above: Confirmation Mentor Steve Shultz, along with confirmands Aiden Massenelli, William Purifoy. Confirmation Leadership & Mentors If you see any of the volunteers listed below, give them a big THANK YOU! These gracious leaders have and are providing the confirmands an enriching experience that will provide a stable foundation for their faith journey. You are all a blessing to this church, and we thank you! The program is led by a Confirmation Team, chaired by Shawn McMurray, with Austin Hubbard as the Staff liaison. Other team members who have worked with the curriculum, taught classes and organized events have included Lanie Konecny, Howard Hendrickson, Ginny McMurray, Kaye Hoover, Mike Cole, Michael and Gay Lee Poole, Cindy Wallace, and Tom Small. Each confirmand also has a mentor, and we are grateful for John Churchwell, Howard Hendrickson, Eddie Martin, Steve Shults, Jeff Waddle, and Helen Williams for mentoring our 8th graders. Mentors for the 7th grade class are Loyd Bultena, Rich Cochran, Stuart Jackson, Marianne Ligon, Scott Schallhorn, Jessica Szenher, and Tim Tucker. Printed Newsletter Reminder: In the First Place is now a bi-weekly publication, starting with this issue. The newsletter should arrive in your mailbox on either Friday or Saturday with the issue focusing on the two weeks following. On the back side of every newsletter, you can note the date of the next publication and the deadline for submissions. The e-newsletter will still be ed every week. If you would like to add your name to the e-newsletter list, notify me at landrews@fumclr.org. Third-Agers Outing to Old Washington State Park The Third Agers Group is revving up with plans for at least four interesting noontime gatherings and several day trips for 2014! The first one will be Friday March 14th, a day trip to Old Washington State Park (google that website to learn more!). Nancy and Jim Foster are in charge of the day trip, and Richard Butler Jr. will be our host and guide once we arrive for the first day of the annual Daffodil Festival. Church vans will leave at 9 am and return by 5 pm. The group will tour a number of historic homes and buildings and enjoy lunch at the Williams Tavern which has a varied menu but also serves great fried catfish on Fridays, Richard notes. Park admission is $8.00, lunch in range of $10.00, and we will pitch in toward fuel costs. Guests are welcome, but do reserve your places on a church van by calling the church office or ing Bill Lewis, willardlewis@comcast.net.

4 Prayer Bear Sunday, This Sunday February 16th! Providing A Place of Belonging On February 16th, each church member has an opportunity to participate in the children s February mission project during First Word and First Tradition. We ask you bring a new, small stuffed bear to worship with you! The bears will be blessed in worship, tagged by our children with ribbon and Bible verse, then given in love to the Little Rock Fire Department. Did you know that firefighters carry small stuffed animals in each fire truck to provide emergency comfort to a child victim of fire, accident, etc? MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS In Honor of the Good Shepherd Retirement Center Cove Sunday School Class: Bill Robinson, Bob Lanford, Shawn McMurray, Jim Foster, Joy Rockenbach and Jim Wohlleb by Good Shepherd Retirement Center Cove Sunday School Class (Missions) In Honor of Patsy Frost celebrating her Great-Grandchild by Lynda Lewis In Honor of Bob & Carolyn Nelson s 50th Wedding Ann. by Mary Ann Lee In Memory of Jason Molitor by Stephen Wheeler In Memory of Bettye Szenher by Jessica Szenher (Sewing Machine) In Memory of Lance Phillips by Cherry Light SYMPATHY To Rev. Jim and Lillie Major on the death of her nephew, Richard Shewmaker, Jr. who passed away on February 2, To the family and friends of Frances Goodenough who passed away on February 10th. ATTENDANCE Date First Light First Word First Tradition January February February 9 No service due to weather. 204 GIVING FOR WEEK OF FEBRUARY Annual Operations $18, Honor Our Past, Commit to our Future $1, GIVING FOR WEEK OF FEBRUARY Annual Operations $22, Honor Our Past, Commit to our Future $3, ANNOUNCEMENTS 4 week Sunday Morning Class Continues This Sunday, Room 205 The Gospel of John according to Jim, a rather unconventional analysis of the fourth gospel, will be led by guest speaker Jim Hester. Jim is Professor of Religion, Emeritus, at the University of Redlands, Redlands, CA. He was a Fellow of the Jesus Seminar and Director of the Rhetorical New Testament Project at the Institute of Antiquity and Christianity at Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, CA, and a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the Society for New Testament Studies, and the Society for Values in Higher Education. He has preached and lectured in England, Germany, Switzerland, and South Africa. Currently Jim and his wife are members of Second Presbyterian Church, where he teaches short-term classes for adults. If you would like more information about this class or Jim Hester, please contact George Hankins-Hull, ghull@uams.edu. The class will meet February 9, 16, 23 and March 9th in Room 205. Kroger Rewards Program First Church youth are now registered and eligible to participate in the Kroger Rewards Program. This program pays cash to the church based on total purchases using your KrogerPlus card or key-tag. To earn credit for FUMC Youth, members need to register on-line at Have your KrogerPlus card handy, you will need that number, and follow these steps: 1.) Log-on to 2.) Create an account or sign-in 3.) Click on My account 4.) Under Account Settings select community rewards 5.) Find your organization and select your organization (NPO number 81402) For members who do not use computers, we can sign up for you. Participation in the Community Rewards Program does not affect your gas points. Please let us know if you have any problems with this process, we will be glad to help work it out. Kroger gift cards are no longer part of the Kroger Rewards program. All monies received from this program will be used to support youth mission and outreach programs. For more information, please contact Austin Hubbard (ahubbard@fumclr.org). On February 16th, the youth will be set up in the First Cup Cafe after First Tradition to help you register your Kroger Card if you need assistance.

5 A Place of Belonging Don t forget to bring your Prayer Bear to worship this Sunday! They will be blessed during First Word and First Tradition worship, then delivered to the local fire department to soothe children in trauma. Giving Our children s food collection through the end of February is soup and beans, dried or canned. Please leave in wire baskets on the 1st floor. All are invited to help our children learn how important it is to feed those who are hungry! Lent Madness Lent is often not understood by the general community, and some are surprised it is observed in the United Methodist Church. We want to help with this, so your children will be making Lenten Pinch Pots on Sunday, Feb. 23. Be on the lookout for a great way to observe Lent in your home as a family this season. If you happen to be out of town this Sunday, your child will have a second chance to make their pot at the Fat Tuesday celebration on March, 4th, 5-7 pm. Hope to see you there! Save the Dates Summer Camp online registration for our 4 camps in June will open on March 1st. Camps will be limited in number, so be sure to register early. Children s Art Night March 7th from 5:00 7:00 pm. YOUTH Catacombs Rescheduled Due to the exciting renovations taking place, Catacombs has been rescheduled to May 4th. There will be a Star Wars theme...get it- May the 4th be with you. Progressive Scavenger Hunt! On February 23rd, during youth we are going on a Scavenger hunt to different members houses in search for ingredients that will make up a recipe. Upcoming Basketball Games: 2/13 - FUMC v. Christ the King 9:00 PM 2/15 - St. James v. 8:00 PM 2/20 - FUMC v. Fellowship 9:00 PM All games are held at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Woodlawn Avenue. MUSIC NOTES Choir Robes are Trending this Spring! The music ministry is trying to fill open spots for the upcoming Lenten season! The Chancel and Ensemble Choirs and Center St. Ringers would love for you to join in the fun! Please hurry as robes are becoming limited, and I hear that they are Trending in this spring fashion season! Please come check us out on Wednesday nights at the church at 5:30 pm for Center St. Ringers, 7 pm for Chancel Choir or Thursdays at 7 pm at the home of an Ensemble member. All groups request your presence, and you will be blessed for it! To make a reservation for your custom robe fitting, please contact klinson@fumclr.org- can t wait to meet you! Parents and Youth! Get ready for the VOICES EXPLOSION! We are starting something new with you this spring. We know you are very busy, brilliant and talented folk- so we are trying a new schedule. We are going to have a burst of practice in a short time to see if we have greater results in attendance. I think it will be fun, and you can have the calendar right now so you can plan ahead! Rehearsals will be Sunday evenings starting March 16th April 13th at 7:30 pm at the church. This gives us 5 rehearsals to be ready to open the Cokesbury Space for Easter in First Word! Parents- we are asking these things of you: commitment of having your youth at rehearsals no matter what for this short time support of this ensemble, knowing that it must not go away share the importance of singing and playing for God in a Youth Experience please be in town on Easter Sunday for them to sing at 9:00 First Word Service! Youth VOICES- we are asking this of you: be present Sunday from March 16th April 13th at 7:30 pm be wonderfully excited and ready to give some wonderful energy for Easter Sunday please be in town on Easter Sunday to sing and play at 9:00 First Word Service ask ALL friends who sing and play to join us! We want many! Let s make this an AMAZING EXPERIENCE for all of us! Parents, please send me questions if you have klinson@fumclr. org. I hope this will trigger more energy for this ensemble, so we can grow and reach new amazing heights! Kyle Linson, Director of Music and Worship Arts klinson@fumclr.org, (Ext. 212)

firstunited methodistchurch LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS The First United Methodist In the First Place (USPS692-190) is published every other week

Editor, Chris Cooper; Managing Editor, Lesley Andrews; Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, Arkansas. www. fumclr.

PAID LITTLE ROCK, AR Follow us! facebook.com/fumclr The next issue of In the First Place will be published on February 27, 2014.

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 February 27, Submission deadline is February 23rd. Mark your calendars! Fat Tuesday Drop-In Dinner March 4th, 5-7 pm Red Beans & Rice Take-Out Available, Adults $5, Kids $2 Proceeds benefit a new stove for the kitchen.

Exciting Changes in Communication and Evangelism

With you on your journey Volume 38 Issue 4 January 30, 2014 Exciting Changes in Communication and Evangelism FUMC is embracing 2014 with a renewed focus on Communications and Evangelism! A few of those