Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.wesleyumcfs.org April 2018 Going Global Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I've commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age." (Matt. 28:19-20 CEB) Do you know how we usually refer to those verses given above? We call them the Great Commission. These were the last words Jesus left us with in the Gospel of Matthew. Last words are important. These last words are particularly important because they are also our instructions. Jesus could have said anything to the disciples. He chose to tell us that our purpose is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them about him. What kinds of instructions do we follow? Ones that make a difference if we do or do not follow them. Does it make a difference if we do or do not follow these instructions from Jesus? What if we quit making disciples? What would happen? The faith would die. We would have failed Jesus. There will be no one to remember. But how can we follow instructions if we don t know them? The Barna Resource Group recently released the results of a study on the Great Commission. What they found was that 51% of churchgoing Christians do not know the Great Commission (https://www.barna.com/research/half-churchgoersnot-heard-great-commission/). If we don t know it, how can we possibly know how to do it? Maybe the instructions seem overwhelming. Make disciples of all nations? All nations? Really? How are we supposed to do that? Well, we start with our little corner of the nations. We start in our neighborhood. We encounter people everyday who do not really know Jesus. We can start there. Sometimes, though, God gives us an opportunity to reach farther. How amazing is it that our little church in this southwest corner of Fort Smith is about to send four of its youth to a global competition in Knoxville, TN the end of this month! These kids will have the opportunity to meet other kids from all 50 states and up to 30 different countries. They will be representing our church, which means they also will be representing Jesus in the midst of a secular academic competition. What an opportunity we have to take a chance at making disciples of all nations! When District Superintendent Stephen Coburn came to preach to us, he talked about the everwidening circle of reaching others. He also reminded us that we are bigger and stronger than we think we are. Let s make a big splash for Jesus. Let s take this chance we have, and the chance we have every day, to make disciples of all nations. Grace and peace, Pastor Michelle
UMW NEWS AND ACTIVITIES The Morning Glories group of the UMW will meet Tuesday, May 15 at 10:00 a.m. in the Rock House. Betty Reather will give the devotional, Ellen Brown will present the program and Etta Jensen and Wanda Karnes will be the hostesses for our Salad Luncheon that will follow the program and business meeting. United Methodist Women will have a Unit Meeting, Saturday, May 19 at 9:30 am at the Rock House. We welcome any adult or youth female to join us for Mission information, fun, food and fellowship. NEW SAFETY POLICY At the April 8th One Council meeting a formal Safety Policy was approved. Please take note of the below safety procedures to ensure our church members, as well as property are kept safe and secure. West Building (Fellowship Hall): Lock all doors when service or activities are in progress in the East building. East Building (Sanctuary): 1. Lock all doors during service or activities 5 minutes after start time. 2. Post volunteers at both entry doors to Sanctuary. 3. Have one usher keep lookout on both entry doors to Sanctuary. 4. Pastor will have cell phone in pulpit in case of emergency. 5. Volunteers manning Sanctuary doors have whistle to alert if there is an apparent risk or emergency. Farmers Market Farmers Market pickups begin this Month. It s not too late to sign-up if you wish to help out. Contact Carrie Miller if you would like to be on the list. Keep buying toys for all ages for our Christmas Store!
Greetings!!! We are almost through the Easter season now and headed into summer. I hope that everyone found the music for Easter especially meaningful and that it spoke to you in some way. As you know, we are looking at several changes that will come upon us shortly: we will be getting both a new pastor and accompanist. I want to say on a personal note that I have enjoyed working with you, Pastor Michelle, these last six months. Your patience and guidance have been invaluable in helping me transition back into the life of church music. Priscilla, I know that both I and the church greatly enjoy and appreciate the beauty and musicianship in your playing and for your leadership in the music program. I will miss you both! As choir director, I ask our whole congregation to be in special prayer for Michelle as she begins an exciting new position with the state conference, Priscilla as she and Andrew take up the leadership of a new congregation, for Zeke as he begins to lead us, and for our choir and new accompanist as we begin to work together. These times can be scary, sad, and exciting all at the same time. But we have this promise: God means all of this for the good of each of us and for our church. On a musical note, we are planning on having a Beginning Bells Bootcamp some time later this summer. So if you like hearing bells and have ever thought, "I wish I could do that," then watch for more information in a later newsletter. Yours in Christ Shane Church Accompanist Position Open This position requires someone who can play piano and/or organ for church services. This would include regular Sunday morning services, special services (like Christmas Eve and Good Friday), and weekly rehearsals (currently occurring on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m.). There may also be a need to play some funerals and weddings, though those can be negotiated as the events arise. The weekly service typically includes expectations of a prelude, postlude, approximately 3 hymns and an offertory anthem. Typical Hours: 9a.m. to 11a.m. Sundays, 6:45p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays, Individual practice time as required to prepare and additional hours for seasonal/special services. Expected Skills: Ability to play piano and/or organ proficiently, Skilled at reading music, including sight-reading, Interest in playing traditional church music and possibly some more contemporary pieces as well and recruiting fill-in accompanist in case of absence. Interested applicants should send resume to Wesleyumcfs@yahoo.com or mail to the church office. Salary will be set based on experience and skill set in conversation with the applicant. Lenten Service on March 25 @ Vietnamese UMC
May 19 th 6PM-9PM Wesley Fellowship Hall Compete in a variety of retro games like Mario Kart, Ms. PacMan, Oregon Trail, Trivial Pursuit and more! Cost: $5 per person to enter tournament, $2 per person to watch - all proceeds go to help the DI team get to Global competition in Knoxville. Prizes will be awarded to winners, concession will be available to purchase. The Experience Worship Service will be held approximately once a month and will be an experiential worship service. What does that mean? It means that every month we have an experience where we identify where God is present. We believe that God is part of our whole lives, and this service allows us to live that reality out. We are still in the soft launch stage that involves experimentation with the format, but we would love to have you join us! ARK is hosting a lawn social for families in the community at Cavanaugh Elementary on May 19th from 2PM-7PM. Games - Bounce Houses Food - Beverages
A little news from TOPS Club here at Wesley Spring is here and summer is on its way. Taking care of ourselves not only increases our self-worth, but it also gives us more stamina so we are able to better help others. We are here to support, encourage, and enhance your development of positive behaviors to help you lose those unwanted pounds. We can stand up for ourselves and with one another to help each of us feel better, and be more active also. We have several new members just starting on their journey to a more active life and that itself helps the rest of the club members to be motivated also. We are starting a new exercise class with UA Fort Smith called Extension Get Fit. We have an instructor that comes and teaches us balance and strengthen exercises that will help us in our daily lives. Those classes are Wednesday and Friday 10:30 to 11:30am in the Fellowship Hall. You do not need to be a member of TOPS to attend these classes. They are put on by the University and the cost is $20 per year. Can't beat the price for instructor lead classes! Come on out and see what all is happening. If you would like to attend a TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meeting, please feel free to come and visit. Our meetings are 9:30 to 10:30 on Wednesday mornings, in the Fellowship Hall. See you lighter! Donation Giveaway For a Full Size Churn Dash Hand Quilted Quilt Colors are blue and lilac Tickets are $2 Each or 3 for $5 See a DI Member for Tickets One Council Meeting: Thursday, May 3, 6:30 p.m.in the Gleaner s Room Please bring one idea that you would like to see in practice at Wesley by 2021 (3 years). It only takes a spark to get a fire going. Know Jesus, Grow Faith, Go Serve!
Love like this in remembrance of Jesus Welcome to our newly appointed Pastor As many or all of you know by now we found out in April Rev. Zeke Allen has been appointed to take over as the Senior Pastor at Wesley and Cavanaugh. Zeke, as he prefers, is coming to us from First UMC Benton where he has served as their Associate Pastor for 3 years. Prior to Benton he served as Associate Pastor in Maumelle as well as spent time serving as a Youth Pastor. In his time at Benton he has helped smoothly transition the church through a Senior Pastor change, launched a new contemporary service, kept his preaching chops fresh by preaching weekly at one of their four services, has worked with missions and evangelism teams as well as teach classes. He brings with him his wife, Rev. Andrea Allen who is currently on leave, a son, Zebediah, age 12 and a daughter, Rosalee, age 10. On his personal time he enjoys spending time with family, woodworking, fishing, hunting, playing music and being outdoors. He is excited to be coming and can't wait to get started. Feel free to send him a quick introductory "Hello". He would love to see support from his new parishioners. His email is zeke.allen@arumc.org On April 18, Donna Moreton and Blanche West headed to Leawood, KS, to participate in the Congregational Care Ministry Seminar at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, a church well-known internationally for its educational and spiritual development events. The seminar was held in the original church building, now called Wesleyan Covenant Chapel. In two and a half days of intense training under the leadership of Karen Lampe, an associate pastor at Church of the Resurrection (CoR) as well as the developer and author of the seminar materials, four main areas of congregational care were studied: prayer ministry, support ministry, hospital visitation, and grief and death ministry. The Pastoral Care Team will be reviewing these topics with Donna and Blanche to determine Wesley's starting place, developing a plan of action appropriate for Wesley's congregation. In the coming days and weeks, be alert, watching for an area where you can fulfill your calling to serve. Keep in mind this quote: "When we do what we can, God will do what we can't." It is with deep gratitude that Donna and Blanche thank Pastor Michelle Morris for her support in sending them to the conference.
Dine to Donate Come out and help support Wesley UMC DI Team Monday, May 7th. Dine at Texas Roadhouse in Fort Smith May 7th. Mention the fundraiser to your server and Texas Roadhouse will donate 10% of your total food purchase to the DI Team! Take a flyer at the back of the church. The Youth Escaped!! Wesley s One Council Members Lay Leader/Lay Delegate: *Donna Moreton *Justin Hayes George Jensen Harley Strang Patrice Hulsey Gloria Cates Amy Cates Tracy Olcott *Jackie Nichols *Carrie Miller Suzanne Gibson Patsy Hendrickson *Blanche West (chair) Frances Hunt Rick Schmitz *Sydney Fulbright * member of SPRC subcommittee
May Birthdays Thurs. May 3 One Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Gleaners Rm Mon May 7 Pastoral Care, 11:00 a.m. Mon May 7 DI Fundraiser @ Texas Roadhouse, 10% of sales with a flyer goes to DI Team Mon May 14 Evening Stars, 6:30 p.m., Rock House Tues May 15 Morning Glories, 10:00 a.m., Rock House Wed May 16 Let s Do Lunch, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., CUMC Wed May 17 Young at Heart, 6 p.m. Sat May 19 CUMC Lawn Social, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Cavanaugh Elementary Sat May 19 Retro Game Night, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Tues-Sun May 22-27 Destination Imagination Global Competition 01-Frances Hunt 03-Harley Strang 07-Dee Carter 08-Ricky Hill 11-Ashley Hulsey 17-Gloria Cates 24-Lois Stearnes 25-Ron Fulbright 29-Etta Jensen 30-Susan Schmitz 30-Allison Cates Anniversaries Good Friday Service 20-Mike and Suzanne Gibson It only takes a spark to get a fire going.