Holy Humor Sunday Wesley United Methodist Church May 2025 Newsletter What’s Inside: Pastor’s Note Ministry Highlights UMM & UWF Missions Christmas Calendar & More!

Note from Pastor Jana Dear Church Family, Have you ever heard someone say, “Everything happens for a reason,” or “God won’t give you more than you can handle”? These phrases are often spoken with good intentions. They sound comforting, and in some ways they feel spiritually reassuring. But what if they’re not entirely true? Starting May 4th, we are diving into a thought-provoking and spiritually enriching sermon series based on Adam Hamilton’s book Half Truths: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things the Bible Doesn’t Say. Each week, we will explore one of these familiar sayings, unpacking what Scripture actually teaches and how a deeper understanding can transform our faith and relationships. Here are the topics we'll cover: Week 1: Everything Happens for a Reason Week 2: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves Week 3: God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle Week 4: God Said It, I Believe It, That Settles It Week 5: Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin This series invites us to think critically, reflect biblically, and grow spiritually. It reminds us that while these sayings may contain a grain of truth, they often miss the fullness of the Gospel message. Together, we will discover how God's grace, love, and call to compassion move us beyond cliché toward a more authentic faith. In Christ, Pastor Jana Easter Sunday

UWF & UMM New plaque in the fellowship hall and was presented on April 27th. United Women in Faith meeting to learn about a wonderful care project being developed in our area in honor of Chad Colley. This new Care House will serve as a residence and resource for individuals in need of a safe, supportive place to stay while receiving hospice care. Worship Scriptures, Birthdays May Praise Songs May 4 Battle Belongs Breathe May 11 Living Water All the Poor and Powerless May 25 Living Hope Holiness (Is What I Long For) Worship Scriptures May 4 Deuteronomy 30:19-20a May 11 Psalm 10:14,27-28; Psalm 18:6, 16; Psalm 121:1-2 May 18 1 Corinthians 10:13; Psalm 46:1-12 May 25 Deuteronomy 23:12-14 Listen Along with Our Worship Playlist Stay connected to the songs we're singing in worship all month long! Use the Spotify code below to access our curated playlist anytime on your phone or tablet. How to Scan the Spotify Code 1. Open the Spotify app (free to download if you don’t have it). 2. Tap the Search icon ( ) at the bottom of the screen. 3. Tap the camera icon in the search bar. 4. Point your camera at the code below to scan it. 5. Spotify will open the playlist— just press Play and enjoy! Tip: If you’ve saved the code as a photo, you can tap “Select from Photos” instead. Let us know if we missed your birthday or you have corrections.

Trustee Update Maya Project: We are excited to invite you to join us for the HistoryMakers’ Closing Ceremony & Celebration on Saturday, May 10th, from 1:00 - 3:00 PM at Wesley United Methodist Church. We’ve had the honor of hosting this incredible group of scholars, mentors, and community partners as they’ve worked toward their goal of empowerment and education. Now, it’s time to come together to celebrate their accomplishments! Please join us as we mark this special occasion, show our support, and express our gratitude to all those who made this journey possible. We hope to see you there! Trustee Update: Spring flowers have been set out, the azaleas are blooming, grass is green, the shrubs and trees are leafed out and our campus is beautiful. And you can rest assured that Mildred and Kim , our custodians have our buildings pristine clean. They are spending about 3 times more hours each week cleaning than the previous custodian. Our proposals for replacing all light bulbs with LED energy saving bulbs and incentive from OG&E will be available to present to One Council soon for consideration to save energy and cost. The key board [small piano] has been moved from the sanctuary to the fellowship hall so it can be utilized on occasions for events. 30 new padded metal chairs have been purchased for Blanche and Suzanne's Sunday School classrooms at no cost to the church. On the trustees wish list is that we can replace the 25-28 year old chairs in the Fellowship Hall with new padded ones in the future. Holy Humor and Snack Bags That’s a wrap! We packed on April 27th and packed enough bags to finish the school year up. Each bag contains 2 breakfast meals, 3 meals and snacks. That means we roughly handed out 1,800 bags to 4 elementary schools in the school year. Which means about 9,000 meals were served plus snacks!

April Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date April 6 Sanctuary Online Total 30 — April 13 31 April 17 28 April 20 42 April 27 32 Gifts: Date 30 129 160 75 103 117 159 87 119 General Missions April 6 $2,089 $270 April 13 $1,006 April 20 $1,400 April 27 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Thanksgiving Meals, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church April 2025 Newsletter What’s Inside: Pastor’s Note Ministry Highlights UMM & UWF Missions Christmas Calendar & More!

Note from Pastor Jana As we journey through the final weeks of Lent and anticipate the joy of Easter morning, this season invites deep reflection on Christ’s sacrifice and the hope of resurrection. Lent has been a time of repentance, prayer, and preparation—a season of drawing closer to God as we remember Jesus’ path to the cross. Now, as Easter approaches, our hearts turn toward the promise of new life. One of the most beautiful symbols of this transformation is the Flowering Cross, a tradition that visually represents the movement from sorrow to joy. On Easter Sunday, a barren wooden cross, which has reminded us of Christ’s suffering, is transformed by fresh flowers, symbolizing the victory of life over death. Each bloom placed on the cross reflects the resurrection power of Christ and the renewal of our spirits. If you have never participated in this tradition, consider bringing fresh flowers (or we will have some on hand) to add to the cross on Easter morning as an act of worship and celebration. As we walk through Holy Week together, we will remember Jesus’ journey—his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the sorrow of the cross, and ultimately, the joy of the empty tomb. Easter morning will bring us together in celebration as we proclaim: Christ is risen! But the joy of Easter does not end there! The Sunday after Easter, we will continue the celebration with Holy Humor Sunday—a tradition dating back to the early church when Christians would gather to laugh and rejoice in God’s ultimate joke on the devil: the resurrection! On this day, we embrace the joy of our faith, sharing laughter, lighthearted worship, and reminders that the Good News is meant to bring us joy. May this season of Lent lead you into the fullness of Easter joy. Whether through quiet reflection, acts of kindness, or joyful laughter, may we all experience the deep and abiding love of God in fresh and life-giving ways. Pastor Jana Lenten Service at Wesley hosted with Cavanaugh

UWF & UMM & Trustee Update This is for all of the women at our church. We hope you will join. This is for all of the men at our church. We hope you will join. UMM Award, Bible Study, Worship Scriptures, Birthdays Honoring Dedication and Service: The George Jensen United Methodist Men Award We are delighted to announce that this year, the United Methodist Men have established a special award in honor and memory of George Jensen, recognizing his legacy of faith and service. The first recipient of the George Jensen United Methodist Men Award is Jack Sides, a faithful servant of Christ who has dedicated many years to his church, family, community, and country. This well-deserved honor celebrates Jack’s unwavering commitment to spiritual growth, mission outreach, and Christian fellowship. Please join us in congratulating Jack Sides on this well-earned recognition. May his example continue to inspire us all to serve with faith and love.We are delighted to announce that this year, the United Methodist Men have established a special award in honor and memory of George Jensen, recognizing his legacy of faith and service. Dates for Breaks: No Class April 16 & April 30 Wrap up May 14th for summer Break Lenten Online Study Wraps up April 14th April 6 Worship Scriptures John 12:1-8 April 13 Luke 19:28-40 April 20 John 20:11-18 April 27 John 20:11-18 Let us know if we missed your birthday or you have corrections.

Trustee Update We would like to introduce our new custodians, Mildred Jones and Kim Allen. They started with us February 1st. and their first order of business was deep cleaning our facility which hasn't been done in over 5 years. They not only deep cleaned, they organized and sanitized. They spent about 50 hours before doing the routine weekly cleaning. They will clean the church weekly on Thursday. Some services they have already performed and will do things weekly that haven't been done in the past. 1. All carpet will be vacuumed. 2. Tile floors will be dust mopped or wet mopped. 3. All tables will be wiped down with disinfecting wipes. 4. Piano, Organ and water coolers cleaned. 5. Glass entry doors to sanctuary cleaned. 6. Exterior entries and mats cleaned. Kim left, Mildred right All pew and choir chair cushions have been cleaned. The pew wood has been polished. A robot has been used to vacuum under and between and under the pews. This has never been done. These items will be done on a monthly or quarterly basis. Since one of the choir members fell one night after choir and Frances almost fell on the wet steps to the office they have been painted with non slip, non skid paint and a solar light has been installed for better lighting for safety reasons. A new child's commode has been installed in the old nursery Things observed recently: Grease in the small kitchen sink and left a mess. Dead bolt on kitchen door not locked. Thermostat not set correctly in Fellowship Hall [this has happened several times]. Read the sign attached to the thermostat. Missing Item: The microfiber cloths and glass cleaner that the custodians had in a bag in the storage room across from the kitchen are missing. They took them out of the bag and left the bag. Holy Week and After Easter New Sermon Series

April Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Mar. 2 Mar. 9 Mar. 16 Mar. 23 Mar. 30 Gifts: Date Mar. 2 Mar. 9 Mar. 16 Sanctuary Online Total 35 24 34 29 28 86 84 91 94 89 General Missions $2,955 $1,200 $1,340 $163 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Thanksgiving Meals, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. 121 108 125 123 117

Wesley United Methodist Church March 2025 Newsletter What’s Inside: Pastor’s Note Ministry Highlights UMM & UWF Missions Christmas Calendar & More!

Note from Pastor Jana As we enter the season of Lent, many of us find ourselves in a time of reflection, marked by both joy and sorrow, victories and failures. Lent is a season unlike any other, offering a sacred invitation to pause, to breathe, and to acknowledge the world’s fragility. It is a time to stop pretending that things will suddenly get better and, instead, to meet God right where we are—in the messiness of life. This year, our Lenten journey is guided by Kate Bowler’s powerful series, *The Hardest Part*. Bowler, known for her honest and tender approach to life’s complexities, invites us to lean into the uncomfortable truth that life is not always tidy or predictable. She encourages us to hold space for both the heavy and the hopeful, allowing us to see God’s presence not just in the mountaintop moments but also in the valleys. Lent teaches us that transformation doesn’t always come in grand gestures or miraculous turnarounds. More often, it comes in the quiet persistence of faith, in the steady work of showing up even when things feel hard. It is in staying with the difficult parts of life—whether grief, disappointment, or uncertainty—that we often find the deepest sense of grace. In this season, we are reminded that when we stay with the hard part, the good part begins to unfold. It may not happen quickly, and it may not look the way we imagined, but hope has a way of breaking through. Bit by bit, we are invited to look for what might still be possible, to trust that God is at work even in the shadows. As we walk through these forty days, let us hold space for both our burdens and our blessings. Let us embrace the full spectrum of our human experience, knowing that God meets us in every part of it. And as we do, may we find comfort, healing, and the quiet promise of new life. May this Lenten season be one of deep reflection, gentle hope, and profound renewal for each of us. In Christ, Pastor Jana UWF & UMM & Trustee Update This is for all of the women at our church. We hope you will join. This is for all of the men at our church. We hope you will join.

Lent Fellowship

Scout Sunday Script for Scout Sunday by Walt Swearingen Historically, Scouting program became a community outreach of Wesley by the desire of its Methodist Men’s group to make a change to help youth hereabouts. You at Wesley had wanted to make a difference in its surrounding neighborhood back in 1978 and selected (“volun-told”) two of its members, Ed Brody & Walt Swearingen, to take on a seven-day BSA National Wood Badge training at Camp Orr in the Buffalo River wilderness. Neither of us knew what was being asked, how difficult, life-changing this assignment would be. My “ticket” (my goal) to complete this training was forming a new Scout troop and provide for it’s program development for one year. As a result, Wesley received from National BSA a charter for Troop 19 in Aug. 1978. Furthermore, by your faithful support to help grow its Scouting program, Wesley expanded its Scouting program by receiving a charter for Cub Scout Pack on Aug. 1983. “Your vision in this community outreach, thru all these years, has resulted in something remarkable. You’ve given us access to your facilities and supported us in many ways, which has resulted in many young lives & families changed, where some grew to become community leaders, some successful in many businesses and professions. Some had families and have brought their children into Wesley’s Scouting program. “Currently Scouting at Wesley includes a Family Pack 19 with 27 youth participants, from Kindergarten Lion den thru Arrow of Light den for 5th graders. Also meeting on Tuesdays for Scouting at Wesley are Troop 19B (serving boys 11-18 yrs old) and Troop 19G (serving girls 11-18). The Scouting program remains volunteer led, including parents, grandparents, & other adult leaders who share their time & talents, complete required leader-specific & youth protection training; their keen interest becoming mentors to the youth and guides for activities which build upon the methods of Scouting (like camping, hiking, learning a whole host of different vocational or hobby skills). These volunteers have jobs and family obligations to juggle with time to plan, meet and track the varied Scouting adventures. It’s not an easy gig being a Scouting volunteer, so why do it? The answer may vary, but most would be centered on “change”, where youth become resilient, develop good character habits, instill certain values for life. Scouting builds upon enduring relationships. Scouting America’s mission statement is “to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.” Scouting America’s vision statement is “…prepare every eligible youth in America to become responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath & Law.” “From all of us participants in Scouting, both youth & adult volunteers (its Scouters), to YOU of Wesley UMC, we do give THANKS for your faithful, prayerful support to those of Pack 19, Troop 19B & Troop 19G! We are grateful for the changes you made by this community outreach, in sharing the Love of Christ Jesus!” Bible Study, Worship Scriptures, Birthdays Dates for Breaks: No Class Lenten Online Study Wraps up April 14th March 26 April 16 April 30 Wrap up May 14th for summer Break Lenten Discussion with our series. Mar. 2 Worship Scriptures Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a) Mar. 5 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 Mar. 9 Luke 4:1-13 Mar. 16 Luke 13:31-35 Mar. 23 Isaiah 55:1-9 Let us know if we missed your birthday or you have corrections.

December Calendar and Living Out our Membership Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Feb. 2 Feb. 9 Sanctuary Online Total 39 28 28 Feb. 16 23 Feb. 23 32 Gifts: Date 78 108 68 96 66 101 Feb. 2 $1,980 General Missions $220 Feb. 9 $2,565 Feb. 16 $5,510 Feb. 23 $3425 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Thanksgiving Meals, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church February 2025 Newsletter What’s Inside: Pastor’s Note Ministry Highlights UMM & UWF Missions Christmas Calendar & More!

Note from Pastor Jana February is often a month associated with love, renewal, and the promise of spring just around the corner. It is also the perfect time to reignite our spiritual passion through Dynamite Prayer—prayer that is bold, powerful, and expectant. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells the disciples, *“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”* The Greek word for "power" here is dunamis, the root of our word "dynamite." This reminds us that prayer is not meant to be weak or passive, but explosive, transformational, and full of divine energy. When we commit to prayer with faith and expectation, God moves in mighty ways. Many in our church are embracing this idea, praying boldly for revival, healing, and direction. The excitement is growing as we witness prayers being prayed, hearts being stirred, and new opportunities unfolding. When we pray with the confidence that God hears us and is at work, we step into a deeper relationship with the Spirit, who empowers us for ministry and mission. How can you practice Dynamite Prayer this month? Consider setting aside intentional time each day to pray specifically and boldly for what God is doing in your life and in our church. Use the book, Dynamite Prayer to pray daily, join Bible Study, come to worship, and so many ways to join. This February, let’s not settle for routine prayers. Let’s pray with faith, passion, and confidence, trusting that God’s power is at work. May this be a season of renewal, revival, and spiritual breakthrough in our church and community! In Christ, Jana UWF & UMM & Trustee Update This is for all of the women at our church. We hope you will join. This is for all of the men at our church. We hope you will join.

Visioning Day Goals Visioning Day Goals

Upcoming Dynamite Prayer, Birthdays, and Worship Scriptures Feb. 2 Feb. 9 Worship Scriptures Ephesians 3:16-21 Luke 24:49; 1 Corinthians 6:14 Feb. 16 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Feb. 23 Colossians 1:9b-12 Let us know if we missed your birthday or you have corrections.

December Calendar and Living Out our Membership Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Jan. 5 Jan. 12 Sanctuary Online Total 30 — 28 Jan. 19 32 Jan. 26 28 Gifts: Date 78 68 108 96 66 101 Jan. 5 $2,890 General Missions $115 Jan. 12 Jan. 19 $,795 Jan. 26 $2,230 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Thanksgiving Meals, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church January 2025 Newsletter What’s Inside: Pastor’s Note Ministry Highlights UMM & UWF Missions Christmas Calendar & More!

Note from Pastor Jana As we step into a new year, we are reminded that the journey of faith is one of continual discovery. In this season of Epiphany, we have a unique opportunity to deepen our spiritual reflection through the tradition of Star Words, a meaningful prayer practice that connects us to the guiding light of God. What Are Star Words? Rooted in the story of the Magi who followed a star to find Jesus, Star Words—or "star gifts"—are intention words chosen to guide individuals throughout the year. These words are meant to serve as a focal point for prayer, reflection, and spiritual growth. The process is simple but profound. Each participant draws a word, trusting that it is the word God intends for them. The practice is one of receiving rather than choosing, reminding us to release our desire for control and embrace the presence of God in our lives. We invite you to join us for our Epiphany service on Sunday, January 5th, where we will explore the story of the Magi and the light of Christ in our lives. During the service, you will have the chance to receive your Star Word and begin this journey of intention for 2025. If you are not able to make and would like a star word, reach out, and I will get on to you. Let this practice be a reminder that, like the Magi, we are called to follow the light wherever it leads us. May your Star Word guide you in discovering God’s presence in new and transformative ways this year. Blessings for a year filled with reflection, growth, and the joy of following the Light of the World! In Christ, Pastor Jana December Highlights

UWF & UMM & Trustee Update This is for all of the women at our church. We hope you will join. This is for all of the men at our church. We hope you will join. Missions Mission Recap from the Year Written By: Carrie Miller 2024 was another great year for missions at Wesley. With our main focus yet again, on combating food insecurity in our community. We continued working in tandem with Cavanaugh UMC to supply weekend backpack bags throughout the school year for Carnall, Cavanaugh, Beard, and Ballman Elementary Schools. We are currently supplying 244 bags a month between the 4 schools. This summer we wrapped up our 7th year of our Farmer's Market Ministry delivering donated, fresh produce to 13 blessing boxes around Fort Smith. The people in our community who utilize the blessing boxes for food are incredibly grateful for this ministry and love that they are provided fresh produce. In November we completed our 4th year of supplying Thanksgiving Meal Kits to families who receive weekend backpack bags. Over the 4 years we have given 73 meal kits to food insecure families. This year each family was given 4 cans of corn, 3 cans of green beans, 2 cans of cranberry sauce, 2 packages of mashed potatoes, 2 boxes of stuffing, 2 packages of gravy, a loaf of bread or rolls, a dessert, and a Walmart gift card worth $15 to help purchase the meat or food items of their choice. What a wonderful gift for each of those families. Each month we also gathered change jars, with the money donated going to a different organization or mission need, each month. We gathered over $1700 this past year in change jars. We are truly making change in our community. Wesley also gathered supplies for UMCOR emergency kits for our Ingathering mission. We gathered enough supplies to provide 65 kits! Thank you to everyone who donated their time to bagging backpack bags, sort and deliver produce, donated food, donated emergency kit supplies, and/or monetary donations to support these wonderful missions. None of this would have been possible without your help. Way to go Wesley!!

Dynamite Prayer - Sermon Series and Congregation Spiritual Formation Christmas Eve Pictures, Birthdays, and Worship Scriptures Worship Scriptures Matthew 2:1-12 Jan. 5 Jan. 12 Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Jan. 19 John 2:1-11 Jan. 26 Matthew 25:14-30

December Calendar and Living Out our Membership Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Dec. 1 Dec. 8 Dec. 22 Dec. 24 Dec. 29 Gifts: Date Dec. 1 Dec. 8 Dec. 15 Dec. 22 Dec. 29 Sanctuary Online Total 28 30 28 35 25 78 68 66 70 General Missions $2,641 $1,735 $5,025 $8,160 $763 $112 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Thanksgiving Meals, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. 28 108 96 101 95

Wesley United Methodist Church December 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: Pastor’s Note Ministry Highlights UMM & UWF Missions Christmas Calendar & More!

Note from Pastor Jana As we enter this final month of the year, the season of Advent invites us to pause, reflect, and prepare. Advent is a time of anticipation, marked by the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. In our worship and devotion this month, we are exploring these themes through the lens of Words for the Beginning, a powerful resource from Sanctified Art. These reflections remind us that in every beginning, God’s creative Spirit is present, offering us the courage to step forward in faith. As 2024 approaches, we give thanks for the many ways God has been at work in our church this year. From meaningful worship experiences to acts of service in our community, we have seen God’s love and faithfulness in abundance. Reflecting on this year, we celebrate the moments where we have grown together as a congregation and reached out to others with compassion and care. This is also a time to consider how we will carry the spirit of Advent into the new year. As a community, we are called to embody the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love throughout all seasons. How might you continue to live out these words in your daily life? Who in your life need to hear these words as well? During this time, we have many opportunities to invite new friends. Sunday morning worship 9:30 Joint Christmas Cantata Dec. 15th at 10:45 at Cavanaugh Blue Christmas Service Dec 15th at 3:00 at Cavanaugh Joint Christmas Eve Dec. 24th 5:00 at Wesley As we embrace the waiting and wonder of this holy season, may you find moments of deep peace and joy. May this Advent be a time of renewal for your spirit and a reminder that, in every new beginning, God is with us. In Christ, Pastor Jana November Highlights

UWF & UMM & Trustee Update This is for all of the women at our church. We hope you will join. This is for all of the men at our church. We hope you will join. Missions

Christmas Visioning Day, Birthdays, and Worship Scriptures Worship Scriptures 12.1.24 Luke 1:26-38 12.8.24 Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 12.15.24 Luke 3:7-16 12.22.24 Matthew 1:18-25 12.24.24 Luke 2:1-20

December Calendar and Living Out our Membership Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Nov. 3 32 Nov. 10 29 Nov. 17 21 Nov. 24 25 Gifts: Date Sanctuary Online Total 74 106 81 110 66 87 64 89 General Missions Nov. 3 $3,242 $201 Nov. 10 $1,268 $50 Nov. 17 $798 Nov. 24 $2,098 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Thanksgiving Meals, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church November 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: Pastor’s Note Ministry Highlights UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More!

Note from Pastor Jana A few weekends ago, Chase planned a surprise party to celebrate my 40th birthday. He had family and a few friends, who are really like family there for a party. We got to eat delicious food, share stories, open presents, and more. It was a fun time. Turning 40 is a milestone I never imagined would feel this significant! As I pause to reflect on the blessings of this past year, I find my heart deeply grateful for each one of you. Thank you for the warm notes, thoughtful cards, and heartfelt wishes that have poured in—you have truly made this new chapter special. The journey to this milestone has been shaped by many paths, and the privilege of serving as your pastor has been one of the greatest. Every Sunday, every conversation, every moment spent in prayer together reminds me of the unique and loving community we share. This is more than a congregation; it’s a family of faith, one that continues to encourage, support, and inspire me. Looking back over the past few years, I see how God has worked through each of you to teach me, guide me, and show me more of what it means to live out our faith in a real and profound way. Your steadfast love, generosity, and kindness are blessings I cherish. As I step into this next decade, my prayer is to continue serving you with renewed purpose, energy, and love, reflecting the same grace and kindness you have shown me. Thank you for the lovely cards! I am so excited to wear my new stole. I am overwhelmed by your generosity. Thank you for making this milestone so memorable. I look forward to the years ahead with excitement and gratitude, knowing we will continue to grow in faith together. In Christ, Pastor Jana Packing Event on Oct. 13th

UWF & UMM & Trustee Update This is for all of the women at our church. We hope you will join. This is for all of the men at our church. We hope you will join. Missions

Upcoming Worship Opportunities Poinsettia Order Form, Birthdays, and Worship Scriptures Worship Scriptures 11.3.24 Matthew 5:1-12 11.10.24 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 11.17.24 Ephesians 2:4-10 11.24.24 Micah 6:6-8

November Calendar and Living Out our Membership Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Gifts: Date Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Sanctuary Online Total 43 32 24 23 84 67 104 63 General Missions $4,115 $721 $923 $875 $132 $13 $30 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. 127 99 128 86

Wesley United Methodist Church October 2024 Newsletter Wha ’s Inside: Pastor’s Note May Recap Upcoming Pastor’s Note UMM UWF UMM UWF Missions Missions Wesley United Methodist Church September 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: Calendar & More! Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana It is truly an honor to serve as your pastor. Ministry comes with its challenges, but facing those challenges together with such a faithful and resilient congregation makes the journey easier. I am continually inspired by this church’s dedication to loving neighbors, building connections, and serving God in ways that showcase our faith. There is a deep passion and commitment to serving the community through various mission focuses. We gave over 70 hats and gloves, etc to Carnall Elementary this winter. We are collected supplies to make 65 UMCOR Hygiene Kits, we gave 30 Thanksgiving bags to Carnall and Ballman elementary schools. We faithfully have served the community through Farmer’s Market, led by Billy and Peggy Higgins. We made a goal to be a 5 star church through Global Ministries. Even in the midst of feeling smaller as a congregation, we’ve made significant difference in our community. Even with feeling smaller, we have a big heart. We are able to make so much happen. We are a capable congregation. So, we are working on growth. Not just numerical growth, but an inward growth. We need our spiritual growth to be off the charts. Our first step is having a book study with 8 members and myself. We are meeting in September for this study. The book is Your Church Can Thrive by Harold Percy. We hosted a deep dive into prayer for our church the Saturday before it kicked off. We are already feeling a difference. I know the past few years have not been easy, particularly as we’ve navigated the complexities and disagreements surrounding General Conference decisions and disaffiliations. The outside pressures from friends and family hearing one-sided views about what this means about the United Methodist Church. Some of those differences have been difficult to reconcile, yet so many of you have remained steadfast. Your commitment to Wesley, even in times of disagreement, speaks volumes about your love for one another and for this church. I am grateful for your faithfulness and the grace you have extended to one another. As we continue to grapple with our identity and figure out who our target audience is, I recognize the growing weariness among our leadership in carrying much of the load. This is why we must be intentional about defining our purpose, focusing on who we want to reach, and working together to grow Wesley. Thank you for inviting me into your lives and for your collaboration in the work of Jesus Christ. May the Lord continue to increase and overflow our love for one another and for all, as we move forward together with hope and faith. In Christ, Pastor Jana United Women in Faith Sunday Thank you for being strong leaders of the faith!

UWF & UMM & Fellowship Event Congregations that make discipleship a priority and become effective in helping their members grow are exciting places to be. They pulsate with excitement and anticipation. -Harold Percy Missions

Trustee Update World Communion Sunday is October 6th. Bring your change jar offering. Fellowship Events, Birthdays, and Worship Scriptures Worship Scriptures 10.6.24 Communion - Lessons 10.13.24 Mark 10:17-31 10.20.24 Laity Sunday 10.27.24 Mark 10:46-52

October Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Gifts: Date Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Sanctuary Online Total 22 54 25 29 38 25 — 50 69. 48 General Missions $1,348 $2,054 $3,014 $2,048 $401 $117 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. 76 25 79 107 73

Wesley United Methodist Church September 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: Pastor’s Note May Recap Upcoming UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana As fall approaches, we find ourselves drawn to the comforts of the season. The cooler days invite us to snuggle under a warm blanket, dive into a good book, or savor a steaming cup of coffee or tea. It's a time that feels cozy and restful—a much-needed reprieve from the chaos that seems to fill our lives lately. These past months have been a whirlwind, and it’s easy to feel worn down by everything happening in the world. On those gray, chilly days, the temptation to retreat back into bed can be strong. But as we’re reminded in Ephesians 5:14-17: *“Wake up from your sleep, climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.”* This passage is a call to action—a reminder to stay alert and aware. What situations around us need God’s light to shine through? Maybe you’re being called to be that light. Instead of letting the challenges we face make us weary or grumpy, let’s focus on seizing the moments we have right now. Find and create joy at every opportunity. Yes, these are desperate times. We feel the weight of that every day. But in these times, our need for God is even greater. Let’s make sure we’re putting our trust and hope in God, who is our source of comfort, guidance, and joy. This scripture reminds us to seek out God’s desires for us, especially in difficult times. When we rest in God’s strength and faithfulness, we can be reassured that we are not alone—and that God is still calling us to act, even now. Blessings, Pastor Jana Church Growth Needs Please sign up to pray for our church. Find a prayer partner if you don’t want to be there alone. The doors will be locked so you won’t be interrupted by surprise guests. Our membership vows include praying. Sign up today.

UWF & UMM & Fellowship Event September 10th Western Sizzlin 6:30 September 7th Cavanaugh UMC 8:00 AM Missions

Trustee Update Fellowship Events, Birthdays, and Worship Scriptures Worship Scriptures 9.8.24 Acts 10:30-48 9.15.24 Acts 17:16-28 9.22.24 9.29.24. Luke 6:32-38 UWIF Sunday

Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows September Calendar September 7th UMM at 8:00 at Cavanaugh Day of Prayer 10-3 September 8th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Book Study 11:45 September 9th Gospel Concert - 4 at Cavanaugh Bible Study 6:30 zoom September 10th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Evening Stars 6:30 September 11th Bible Study at 12:00 Choir 5:30. Bells 6:30 September 15th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Book Study 11:45 September 16th Bible Study 6:30 zoom September 17th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 September 18th Bible Study at 12:00 Choir 5:30 September 22nd Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Book Study 11:45 September 23rd No Bible Study September 24th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 September 25th No Bible Study Choir 5:30 Bells 6:30 September 29th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Last Book Study 11:45 September 30th Bible Study 6:30 zoom Bells 6:30 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Aug. 4 23 Aug 11 22 Aug 18 29 Aug 25 30 Gifts: Date 34 57 73 95 40 69 44 74 General Missions Aug 4 $3,726 $432 Aug 11 $6,793 Aug 18 $663 Aug 25 $1,908 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church August 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: Pastor’s Note May Recap Upcoming UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana We know that all we have is a gift from God. If you have been around the church long enough, you know the Biblical principle of tithing, extravagant giving, and doing for the least and the lost. This letter is NOT about asking for money for the current budget, or even a capital campaign. It IS a letter and invitation for you to think about your legacy and Wesley United Methodist Church that you love dearly. I am inviting you to join me for a 90-minute presentation, Planning a Legacy, that will be held at Cavanaugh UMC on Sunday, August 25th immediately following the 10:45 service. Please plan to arrive around 11:45. The program is being presented by The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas. The Foundation was started by Arkansas Methodists to provide a way for faithful stewards to support Methodist ministries. The Foundation is here to help the local church and people who want to do something for their local church. You will learn basic information about wills, funeral and memorial services, and end of life planning. If you are over 65 you will also learn about ways, you can give that can offer you immediate financial benefits, provide you with a lifetime income, and make a legacy gift to the church. As Christians, we believe in a life after our earthly life, but most of us are not planning for the transition from this life to the next. This presentation will help you think about that planning, including practical information and useful forms. The event includes a meal, which is paid for by the Foundation. Childcare will be provided (also provided by the Foundation) for those with young children (that is correct, it is never too early to start thinking about and making these plans). Thank you for your commitment to the church, and I hope you will prayerfully consider attending this important presentation. contact me. To help plan for the meal, I do ask you register for the event you can sign up by putting your name on the sheet in the back, text or email Pastor Jana. We kindly ask that you register by August 11th. In Christ, Pastor Jana If you have any questions, please Church Growth Needs

UWF & UMM Returns in September September 7th Cavanaugh UMC 8:00 AM UMM met on August 3rd. Tom Clark led a devotion about Christ making us free. In July, Steve Christian resigned as president for family reasons. We have greatly appreciated his leadership. Thank you for all that you have done to lead the men. Elections were held and Joe Collinson was nominated as president and accepted the position. Making the treasurer position become open. Justin Cates was nominated and accepted the position. UMM Missions UMCOR Hygiene Kit Drive a Success! Well done, Church! We have collected enough supplies to send 65 kits to UMCOR. This is in connection to Ingathering this Fall. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Goal Accomplished!

Trustee Update Fellowship Events, Birthdays, and Worship Scriptures Worship Scriptures 8.4.24 8.11.24 8.18.24 8.25.24 Ephesians 4:1-16 Ephesians 4:25-5:2 Ephesians 5:15-20 Ephesians 6:10-20

Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows August Calendar August 6 August 10 August 11 August 13 August 15 August 18 August 20 August 24 August 25 August 27 August 31 Choir 5:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Farmer’s Market Pick up - 12:00 Boy Scout Planning Meeting 4:00 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Movie & Ice Cream - 4 at Cavanaugh Choir 5:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Let’s Do Lunch 10:30 - 1:00 at Cavanaugh Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 One Council 11:45 Choir 5:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Farmer’s Market Pick Up 12:00 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Planning a Legacy - 11:45 @ Cavanaugh Choir 5:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Farmer’s Market Celebration Pastor’s Bible study will resume in September. Bible Study Invite from Faith UMC The women at Faith United Methodist women's bible study are beginning a book entitled Unveiling Mary Magdalene on August 25th and are inviting any women from Wesley or Cavanaugh who may be interested to attend. They meet at 6:00 on Monday evenings. They share a light dinner, then discuss the reading. Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. Gifts: Date General Missions July 7 $1,869 $137 July 14 $2,895 July 21 $565 July 28 $1,840 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total July 7 28 July 14 28 July 21 27 July 28 25 33 61 63 91 52 79 62 87

Wesley United Methodist Church July 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: Pastor’s Note May Recap Upcoming UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana Rev. Brittany Watson shared a message at Ordination. I would encourage you to go and listen to it on the conference website under Conferences - Annual Conference 2024. It will be listed in the Ordination video. I can also send the link if you really want to listen. She shared about home renovation and a mistakes she made getting really into DIY home renovation. She said “Home renovation is not for the faint of heart what typically happens is you start with one small project and it quickly devolves into an endless list in fact at some point during my very tiny renovation project, I turned to my spouse and said let's just move we can sell the house as is or just let the Earth take it back who cares? My husband laughed worriedly because he knew I was only half joking and said we are home.” Drawing a parallel to our denomination's recent struggles, Rev. Watson reflected, “Some of our siblings turned to each other and said let's just move. Start a new home, sell this one, as is, or let the Earth take it back, who cares? And they did, but some of us, those of us right here in this room, we knew that this was already home. Friends we can see the good bones. We remember how every scuff and dent got on those walls and we loved the builders who carefully laid each tile and painted each door… we knew that there was still life begging to live be lived here and so we committed to the work, to the pain, to the tears, that will make it better that will make it our own and this work is not for the faint of heart.” Her message is a stirring reminder that we, too, have chosen to stay and invest in the future of our church. We all know the value of hard work; we've done it before and we will continue to do it. We've found a home in the United Methodist Church, and we recognize that there are many out in the world who are searching and longing for a place to call home. Now is the time for us to roll up our sleeves and continue the work of renovation and renewal. Let us be encouraged by Rev. Watson's words and recommit ourselves to the labor of love that is our ministry. Let's invite others into this journey, showing them that through dedication and perseverance, we can create a welcoming, loving home for all. Together, we can transform our church into a place of refuge, hope, and community, embodying the spirit of Christ's love in everything we do. Let's embrace this opportunity to build something beautiful, not just for ourselves, but for all who seek a place to belong. In Christ, Pastor Jana Full Blessing Boxes

UWF & UMM, SCJ Conference On Summer Break July 13th at Cavanaugh UMC 8:00 AM Missions Supplies Needed Hand Towels - 36 WashCloths - 0 Combs -55 Toe or Fingernail Clippers - 46 Bath Soap - 30 Toothbrush - 24 Bandaids - 250 Total (10 per 65 kits) - Need 400 individual bandaids To complete 65 kits, the needed items are listed above. Good job church!

Trustee Update Fellowship Events, Birthdays, and Worship Scriptures Worship Scriptures 7.7.24 7.14.24 7.21.24 7.28.24 Acts 20:7-12 Numbers 27:1-11 Ephesians 2:11-22 Ephesians 3:14-21

Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows July Calendar July 2 July 3 July 4 July 7 July 8 July 9 July 10 July 13 July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 27 July 28 July 29 July 30 July 31 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Zumba with Carrie 6:00 Happy Fourth of July! Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Zumba with Carrie -6pm Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Zumba with Carrie -6pm Men’s Breakfast 8:00 at Cavanaugh Farmer’s Market Pick Up Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Movie Night - 4 at Wesley Zumba with Carrie -6pm Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Zumba with Carrie -6pm Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 One Council 11:45ish Zumba with Carrie -6pm Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Zumba with Carrie -6pm Farmer’s Market Pick Up Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Zumba with Carrie -6pm Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Zumba with Carrie -6pm Gifts: Date General Missions June 2 $1,825 $80 June 9 $703 June 16 $2,301 June 23 $494 June 30 Not Yet Recorded Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. $20 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total June 2 24 June 9 21 June 16 22 June 23 26 36 60 61 82 65 87 57 83

Roses for Mother’s Day Wesley United Methodist Church June 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: Pastor’s Note May Recap Upcoming UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana I started getting involved in the United Methodist Church when I was a high school student. My brother had been attending youth group there with friends and then worship. So, we all started going to Piedmont First United Methodist Church. When we started attending, there was an interim pastor. Then, in January, a new pastor arrived, Rev. Sam Powers. He held a confirmation class and as a sophomore in high school I participated. In confirmation, I learned about church in general and about the United Methodist Church. I loved everything I was learning. I loved how connectional we were as a denomination. I loved how worldwide our denomination was. I loved how the UMC believed people had brains and could use them to think for themselves. In other words, you could have a differing opinion and that was alright! I loved how mission focused the church was. I loved the United Methodist Church. So, in college, it made sense I would participate in the Wesley foundation, the United Methodist Church campus ministry. Because of our connection, I got involved in Project Transformation, which is a summer program that focuses on literacy for children and helps college age adults with discernment. Because of all of those experiences, I went on to work at Wesley United Methodist Church as the children’ and youth minister. However, God was not done there and kept tugging on my heart to go to seminary. So, I traveled with several other students and did a seminary tour through the Oklahoma Conference. We saw 10 of the 13 UM seminaries on that trip. When the time came, I found myself at Wesley Theological Seminary in DC. Of course, you know what happened there, I met Chase, got engaged and then graduated. The rest is history. During that time, I was commissioned by the church and then later ordained as an Elder. It is because of the United Methodist Church and all the experiences that are not listed that happened in between all of this. I served in missions, went to Annual Conference, attended General Conference, attended multiple conferences where connection happened because of the common connection of our church. Our church is of course more than the denomination, it’s the people that make the church. However, its because of our denomination that we have lived out certain experiences. I would love to hear why you love the United Methodist Church. Let’s share our stories. In Christ, Pastor Jana Photos from April

UWF & UMM, Golf Outing On Summer Break June 1st at Wesley UMC 8:00 AM Missions Supplies Collected Hand Towels - 27 WashCloths - 63 Combs -15 Toe or Fingernail Clippers - 19 Bath Soap - 15 Toothbrush - 7 Bandaids - 8 Bring Bath Soap 3oz or larger and single packaged toothbrushes this month!

Trustee Update Fellowship Events, Birthdays, and Worship Scriptures Worship Scriptures 6.2.24 Mark 2:23-3:6 6.9.24 6.16.24 Daniel 3:13-30 6.23.24 Judges 4-5 6.30.24 Acts 16

Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows June Calendar June 1 June 2 June 3 June 4 June 5 June 8 June 9 June 10 June 11 June 12 June 15th June 16 June 17 June 19 June 19-21 June 23 June 24 June 25 June 26 June 30 United Methodist Men Breakfast Farmer’s Market 11:45/12ish Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Movie Night at Cavanaugh 4:00 Zumba with Carrie -6pm Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Zumba with Carrie 6:00 Golf Outing 8:00 am Worship 9:30 Zumba with Carrie -6pm Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Zumba 6:00 Farmer’s Market 11:45/12ish Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Happy Father’s Day Zumba with Carrie -6pm Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Annual Conference in Hot Springs Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Zumba with Carrie -6pm Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Zumba 6:00 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total May 5 25 May 12 40 May 19 28 May 26 22 40 65 44 84 47 75 45 67 Gifts: Date General Missions May 5 $4,247 $75 May 12 $1,988 May 19 $1,812 May 26 $977 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church May 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: April Recap UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana I am almost shocked that it is already May. Where did the month of April go? We went from Advent almost immediately into Lent. Then, we celebrated Easter. I know as a pastor, I had thought the month of April will be slower. I was wrong. The month went fast. A lot happened in that month, there was a movie night hosted at Cavanaugh. We watched Breakthrough and the movie tugged on everyone’s hearts. Charlie is still talking about it! Stories of people whose lives have been touched by God are powerful and can move us. So, I hope you will join us this upcoming Sunday at Wesley at 4:00 to watch and share in fellowship with one another. We also had a huge packing party for the backpack ministry. It takes many folks to make that happen. It was a joy to see so many come together to work for a common mission. In about 30 minutes of time we packed 300 bags! That is incredible. I am thankful for both churches coming together to make this ministry happen. The counselors greatly appreciate not having to make the tough decisions of who won’t receive because of you! They know all the kids will be provided for and the kids are thankful as well. In the midst of a fast-paced April, filled with movie nights, packing parties, Bible studies, and worship, we've been reminded of the power of community, compassion, and faith. From the heartwarming impact of movie night to the collective effort of our backpack ministry, we've witnessed firsthand how stories of resilience and acts of kindness can unite us and deepen our connection to God and one another. As we move into May, let's carry forward the spirit of fellowship and service that has defined our April, knowing that together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those around us. In Christ, Pastor Jana Photos from April

UWF & UMM, Upcoming Event May 14 at 6:30 Western Sizzlin on Towson Missions

Trustee Report Alan and grandson are hard at work in the choir room. They are pulling up the carpet and installing new tile. Look for the finished photo in next month’s newsletter. This is to prevent mildew from the flooding that happens during heavy rains. Golf Outing, Bible Study, Birthdays, and Worship Scriptures Worship Scriptures 5.12.24 5.5.24 John 15:9-17 John 17:6-19 5.19.24 Acts 2:1-21 5.26.24 Romans 5:1 –11

Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows May Calendar May 1 May 2 May 5 May 7 May 8 May 9 May 12 May 13 May 15 May 16 May 19 May 20 May 22 May 23 May 26 Bible Study 12:00 at Cavanaugh Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Movie Night at Wesley 4:00 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Bible Study 12:00 at Cavanaugh Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Zumba 5:30 Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Happy Mother’s Day Zumba 5:30 Bible Study 12:00 at Cavanaugh Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Zumba 5:30 Let’s Do Lunch at Cavanaugh 10-1 One Council 6:30 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Zumba 5:30 Bible Study 12:00 at Cavanaugh Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Zumba 5:30 Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total April 7 30 April 14 29 April 21 28 April 28 26 Gifts: Date 40 70 43 72 40 68 38 64 General Missions April 7 $3,063 $118 April 14 $1,437 April 21 $2,320 April 28 $1,615 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church April 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: Lent Holy Week Feb. Recap UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana As Easter people, we know that even in the tragedies of life, God is at work bringing renewal. Some of those renewals we get to experience: national revival, new church projects completed, working towards hunger insecurity. Others, like the death of a loved one, we wait to celebrate in the Kingdom of God to come. As Christians, we experience resurrection every day and are called to share it in our worship and work. Every day can be Easter, all year long. I love the hymn Easter People Raise Your Voices. It was written by Rev. William M. James. He wrote around 50 hymns. He once said “I wrote hymns for my congregation whenever I needed one. 'Easter People' is not the greatest hymn I have, but it took better than the others.” This song is important reminder to live every day as Easter people—individuals whose lives are transformed by the promise of resurrection. Resurrection symbolizes not only the triumph of life over death but also the promise of new beginnings and eternal life. Just as Jesus emerged from the tomb, victorious over death, believers are called to embrace the transformative power of resurrection in our own lives. It is a time for reflection, renewal, and recommitment to living out the principles of love, compassion, and forgiveness exemplified by Christ. We are challenged to let go of fear and doubt, and to embrace hope and faith instead. Just as the disciples were transformed by the resurrection of Jesus, so too are we called to be agents of transformation in the world around us. Through acts of kindness, generosity, and reconciliation, Easter people bear witness to the transformative power of Christ's resurrection and share the message of hope with all they encounter. As we journey through the Easter season, let us embrace our identity as people of resurrection hope. May the joy of Easter inspire us to live boldly, love extravagantly, and proclaim the Good News of new life in Christ. In doing so, may we embody the timeless truth: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! In Christ, Pastor Jana Easter

UWF & UMM, Upcoming Event Missions

Trustee Report General Conference, Bible Study, Birthdays, and Worship Scriptures Worship Scriptures 4.14.24 4.7.24 4.21.24 4.28.24 1 John 1:1-2:2 1 John 3:1-7 1 John 3:16-24 John 15:1-8

Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows April Calendar April 6 April 7 April 9 April 10th April 11th April 14th April 16th April 17th April 18th April 21st April 24th April 25th April 28th April 30th United Methodist Men Breakfast 8:00 at Wesley UMC Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Pack Snack Bags at Cavanaugh 5:30 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Evening Stars 6:00 at Western Sizzling Bible Study at Cavanaugh - 12:00 Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Movie Night at Cavanaugh 6:00 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study 12:00 at Cavanaugh Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Let’s Do Lunch at Cavanaugh 10-1 One Council 6:30 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Service 5:00 at Cavanaugh UMC Bible Study at Cavanaugh at 12:00 Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Gifts: Date General Missions Mar. 3 $2,860 $135 Mar. 10 $2,313 Mar. 17 $465 Mar. 24 $1,988 Mar. 31 $1,156 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Mar. 3 33 Mar. 10 23 Mar. 17 23 Mar. 24 30 Mar. 31 41 30 63 42 65 32 55 40 50 50 91

Wesley United Methodist Church March 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: Lent Holy Week Feb. Recap UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana In seminary, we loved the lounge in our dorm building. We all gathered there frequently. Random conversations, game playing, tv watching, it all happened there. One time, we started talking about Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. This theory rests on the assumption that anyone involved in the Hollywood film industry can be linked through their film to Kevin Bacon. We then were trying to figure out what our number would be. Don’t we all think about this at some point? At the time, former press secretary Mike McCurry was a fellow seminary student. He attended church where one of our friends was the youth director. Our group of friends had encountered him enough that it was more than an acquaintances. Of course, he was mentioned. It was decided that he knew Bill Clinton, who probably had encountered Kevin Bacon. Thus, we were then 2 degrees away. (If that theory checks out, you are now 3 away, you’re welcome!) We hold certain people with high esteem. Knowing them personally can make us feel a pride and can build our egos, if we are honest. We are in awe of knowing them. Is that the same for our relationship with Jesus? Do we hold that same awe in knowing Jesus? After all, anyone can know Jesus, so it Is that the same for our relationship with Jesus? Do we hold that same awe in knowing Jesus? After all, anyone can know Jesus, so it's not about exclusivity or degrees of separation. Rather, it's about the depth of understanding, the intimacy of connection, and the transformative power that comes from knowing Him. Unlike knowing a celebrity or a prominent figure, knowing Jesus isn't just about a casual acquaintance; it's about entering into a profound relationship that transcends human connections and reaches into the realm of the divine. It's about encountering the source of unconditional love, boundless grace, and eternal truth. In knowing Jesus, we find not just someone to admire from afar, but a Savior to walk alongside, a friend who understands our deepest joys and struggles, and a guide who leads us into abundant life. So yes, the awe in knowing Jesus far surpasses any admiration we may feel for human figures, for in Jesus, we find the fullness of God's glory and the depth of love for us. May we be certain to seek that closer relationship through this wilderness season. In Christ, Pastor Jana Lent Lenten Series You are invited to join in this Lenten season. How are you reminded of God’s love again & again? What might you give up to experience God again? Cavanaugh and Wesley are hosting on March 17th at Cavanaugh. Worship will be a combined effort. Cavanaugh is coordinating the food with Wesley to provide a great night for everyone. Sign up in the narthex. What practice might you take up to have an encounter with God? Take a moment to pray about what your Lenten practice might be and let God show you how God shows up again and again.

UMM & UWF Missions and Thank You Remember to bring your change April 7th Thank you for helping sort and clean up the food room. Thank you Joe! Joe picked up the food order from the Food Bank and helped unload it. This food is used to fill our blessing boxes and some will be used for the backpack snack bag program.

SCOUTS & TRUSTEE Scout Sunday Holy Week, Bible Study, and Worship Scriptures Worship Scriptures 3.3.24 3.10.24 3.17.24 3.24.24 3.28.24 3.29.24 John 2:13-22 John 3:14-21 John 12:20-33 John 12:1-19⁹ John 13:1-17, 31b-35 John 19:1-30 3.31.24 Mark 16:1-8

Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows March Calendar March 2nd March 3rd March 5th March 6th March 7th United Methodist Men Breakfast 8:00 at Wesley UMC Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Service - Hackett UMC Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study at Cavanaugh - 12:00 Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 March 10th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Service - Faith UMC March 12th March 13th March 14th Evening Stars 6:00 at Western Sizzlin Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study 12:00 at Cavanaugh Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 March 17th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Service 5:00 at Cavanaugh UMC March 20th March 21st March 23rd No Bible Study Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Let’s Do Lunch @Cavanaugh 10:30-1:00 No Bible Study Duck Gumbo 5:00 March 24th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 March 26th March 27th March 28th March 29th March 31st Lenten Service 5:00 at Goddard UMC Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 No Bible Study Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Maundy Thursday at Wesley - 6:30 Good Friday at Cavanaugh 6:30 Sunrise at Cavanaugh Worship 9:30 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Feb. 4 42 Feb. 11 33 Feb. 18 23 Feb. 25 34 Gifts: Date 17 59 22 55 20 43 27 61 General Missions Feb. 4 $3,392 $90 Feb. 11 $1,178 Feb. 18 $747 Feb. 25 $1,624 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church February 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: Epiphany Dec Recap UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. It is one of my favorite seasons of the church. There have been times in my life when I have felt a flurry of emotions over things happening. Lent is a grounding season. It allows us to experience our human emotions without shame. We are able to feel and be openly vulnerable with God. It is a powerful season. In Lent, we’re reminded that, again and again, suffering and brokenness find us. We doubt again, we lament again, we mess up again. Again and again, the story of Jesus on the cross repeats—every time lives are taken unjustly, every time the powerful choose corruption and violence, every time individuals forget how to love. With exasperation we exclaim, “Again?! How long, O God?” And yet, in the midst of the motion blur chaos of our lives, God offers a sacred refrain: “I choose you, I love you, I will lead you to repair.” Again and again, God breaks the cycle and offers us a new way forward. This theme provides a clear invitation in a time when much is unclear. We come to God again and again with our prayers, our dreams, our hopes, and our doubts. We will continue to love God with the same persistence God chooses and claims us. Our sub-title, A Lenten Refrain, speaks to the ways God can make music of our lives. “Refrain” also reminds us that Lent is a season of abstaining from certain practices in order to take on new rhythms and habits. In this season, we need rituals—both old and new—to remember and be transformed. Embodied practice builds muscle memory. Repetition helps retrain our neural pathways. We need the 46 days of Lent because this season shapes us into more faithful disciples. Join us this Lent as again and again, we bring all of who we are to God and trust that God will meet us, time and again, along the way. In Christ, Pastor Jana Lent Lenten Series You are invited to join in this Lenten season. How are you reminded of God’s love again & again? What might you give up to experience God again? What practice might you take up to have an encounter with God? Take a moment to pray about what your Lenten practice might be and let God show you how God shows up again and again.

UMM, UWF, Called Charge Conference Missions, Thank You, and Easter Lilies Remember to bring your change February 4th

Scout Sunday Ash Wednesday, Worship, Bible Study, & Birthdays! Worship Scriptures Mark 1:29-39 2.4.24 2.11.24 Mark 9:2-9 2.18.24 Mark 1:9-15 2.25.24 Mark 8:31-9:8

Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows February Calendar February 3rd United Methodist Men Breakfast 8:00 at Wesley UMC Sweetheart Banquet at Cavanaugh 5:00 February 4th Worship 9:30 Boy Scout Sunday Small Groups 10:30 February 6th February 7th February 8th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study at Cavanaugh - 12:00 Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 February 11th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 February 13th Evening Stars 6:00 at Western Sizzlin Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 February 14th Bible Study 12:00 at Cavanaugh Ash Wednesday 6:30 at Wesley February 15th Let’s Do Lunch at Cavanaugh 10:30-1:00 Called Charge Conference 6:00 One Council following No Bible Study February 18th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Service 5:00 at First UMC February 20th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 February 21st Bible Study at Cavanaugh - 12:00 Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 February 22nd Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 February 25th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Service 5:00 at St. Paul UMC February 27th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 February 28th Bible Study at Cavanaugh - 12:00 Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 February 29th Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Jan. 7 28 Jan. 14 Gifts: Date 22 Jan. 21 27 Jan. 28 23 24 52 21 43 18 45 24 47 General Missions Jan. 7 $2,779 $103 Jan. 14 $6,538 Jan. 21 $145 Jan. 28 $1,780 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church January 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: Upcoming Events UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana I don’t know about you all, but the week before Christmas did not go how I had planned. We knew Charlie would be on break and thought a little bit of work with some fun breaks would be thrown in. I had thought the last minute Christmas items would get done. Deep cleaning on the house, finish wrapping gifts, Christmas Cantata, Christmas lights at Creekmore Park, get the Christmas cards out, and probably more. Plans got derailed. Covid hit our household. (Are we not done with that silly thing yet?) Some hit harder than others. We have appreciated so many checking in on us. We are healing and will be weary for a little bit. (Covid takes your energy in a lot of ways). Our plans often get changed. Whether for good or bad. We may feel weary because of it. We might be carrying our weariness yet wanting to celebrate. Our Advent series has been “How Does A Weary World Rejoice?” We have discovered all the ways that we can rejoice in spite of our weariness. The end of the year is upon us. We might be feeling weary for the state of our church. The United Methodist Church has had a weary year. 1/4 of the churches in our denomination left. Leaving heartache and weariness behind. We are still weary from all the repercussions of Covid. It was a difficult setback with churches. We still want more people in our pews. Yet, we still have some rejoicing to do. In 2023, we did a lot, church. • We joined with Goddard and Cavanaugh UMCs for a night of trivia and fellowship. • Together, we wrote Lenten Devotions with Cavanaugh UMC. We also got to connect again with our fellow friends in the Lenten Community Worship Series. • We did lots of building upkeep along with new floors in the fellowship hall! • It’s hard to keep track of how many bags we passed out during the school year to 4 elementary schools. Estimated to be around 2200 bags for 9 months. That’s a lot of kids being fed. • United Methodist Men hosted a great golf outing in May. • The summer Farmer’s Market Ministry returned. Being successful yet again. • We hosted Cooking Matter classes with 10 people from outside of our church. • We celebrated 60 years! It was quite the celebration with over 150 people in attendance. • Spring Street band held a concert here and we had a great time. • We celebrate that we paid our past due apportionments to the conference a little over $5,000. There’s more that could be mentioned, these are just some highlights. No wonder we are weary, we have been busy. We end this year financially stable. That is no small feat for a smaller congregation. Well done! We continue to dream big and have goals (new missions, outreach and more!). Shouldn’t we be rejoicing? Maybe the questions is How Does a Weary Church Rejoice? We ask God for miracles and we expect the miracles to happen. We love deeply. We keep turning outwards to the community. We celebrate everything. My hope for us in 2024 is that we continue being the light of Christ in Fort Smith. We bring others in on the journey trusting God to do the rest. In Christ, Pastor Jana Epiphany

UMM, UWF UWF met for a Christmas party at Blanche’s house. There was even a special guest visitor, Cindy Lou Who. “Cindy” read us the Grinch Who Stole Christmas and shared a short devotion with it. Great time together and deeper love of Christ happened. United Women in Faith Missions & Cantata Remember to bring your change January 7th This past year, we have done a lot with missions. We have raised just a little over $1700 just from Change Jars! Missions What amazing ministry this is to share with the community. Great job, church! December 17th was a musical extravaganza day for CUMC and WESLEY UMC. The combined choirs presented the congregations with a magical Christmas Cantata — “Christmas Presence” — with members of each church gathering together to present an awesome cantata. Thank you choirs and all who helped. A huge thank you to Jo Maxwell for all of her hard work. Cantata Dec. 17th

Christmas Dinner - Thank you to our hosts. Lent, Worship, Bible Study, & Birthdays! Worship Scriptures Luke 3:21-22 1.21.24 Mark 1:14-20 1.28.24 Mark 1:21-28 1.7.24 Matthew 2:1-12 1.14.24

Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows January Calendar January 6th January 7th January 9th January 10th January 11th January 16th January 17th January 18th United Methodist Men Breakfast 8:00 at Cavanaugh UMC Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study at Cavanaugh -12:00 Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 January 14th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study at Cavanaugh - 12:00 Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Let’s Do Lunch at Cavanaugh 10:30 -1:00 One Council - 6:30 January 21st Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 January 23rd January 24th January 25th January 30th January 31st Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study at Cavanaugh - 12:00 Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 January 28th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study at Cavanaugh - 12:00 Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Dec. 3 28 Dec. 10 28 Dec. 17 27 Dec. 24 23 Dec. 31 34 Gifts: Date 33 61 20 58 25 52 24 47 25 59 General Missions Dec. 3 $4,012 $195 Dec. 10 $1,238 Dec. 17 $1,698 Dec. 24 $6,510 Dec. 31 $2,426 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church December 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: Upcoming Events UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana “A thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices…” Has this lyric ever struck you as odd? A weary world rejoices?! The line in question here arises from a familiar Christmas hymn, “O Holy Night.” To be weary is to feel or to show tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep. I would argue that the “excessive exertion” is often not so much physical exertion, but even more so the mental and emotional exertion so many are dealing with on a day-to- day basis. Perhaps many of us live with the myth that joy is not something we deserve—or that it is wholly out of reach. But our joy is rooted in the truth that we belong to God. Can you tether yourself to that deep truth? You deserve to feel joy—fully. The world needs your joy, even if you are weary. Our joy is better when it is shared. The headlines are looking grim: War. Increase in hunger and food insecurity. Mental health issues on the rise. Continued increase in violence. And those are just the national/global headlines. Marital/relationship issues. Family conflict. Health scares and diagnoses. We can’t help wonder from time to time: How does a weary world rejoice? This year the season of Advent begins on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Our worship series this Advent is titled: “How Does a Weary World Rejoice?” We will be taking a dive into the Gospel of Luke to address this very question. From the opening chapters of Luke’s Gospel, we will find a few answers: we acknowledge our weariness, we find joy in connection, we allow ourselves to be amazed, we sing stories of hope, we make room, we root ourselves in ritual, and most importantly, we trust our belovedness. In the parallel birth stories of Jesus and John, joy arrives—despite trepidation, fear, or grief. In these stories, we find rhythms for rejoicing. As we move through our series, we hope to create space for acknowledging the weariness of our world while celebrating God’s closeness with great joy. And so, this Advent, we will hold space for our weariness and our joy. We will seek a “thrill of hope” in our hurting world. We will welcome joy—even if, like the prophet Isaiah, we cry out for comfort (Isaiah 40:1). In this weary world, may we find many ways to rejoice. In Christ, Pastor Jana Upcoming Events

UMM, UWF Filled the Fence United Women in Faith We have helped the UWF fill the fence this year. They collected a lot of great items for the kids at Carnall Elementary school. 55 pairs of socks, 40 pairs of gloves, and 70 hats! Well done! Picture is from the November meeting Missions On Nov. 12th, we had a Thanksgiving potluck. After we broke bread, we filled the sacks for the Thanksgiving bags. The need doubled this year. With your generosity, we provided for 30 families at two schools! The estimated amount to cover all that we gave would be around $700. Thank you all for your dedication to serving the community. BackPack Snack Program Remember to bring your change December 3rd Each week we provide 53 bags to 4 schools in partnership with Clearinghouse. Dec. 6th, we will pack snack bags to finish out the semester. Come help at Cavanaugh at 5:30. Missions If you would like to support this mission, donate money by designating it for the BackPack Program.

Hanging of the Greens, Trustee Report Hanging of the Greens Thank you to Amy, Justin, and Will Cates, Gloria Cates, Steve Christian, Charlie Green, Donna Moreton, and Blanche West for coming out on a cold Sunday evening to help decorate and prepare our church for Advent! Advent, Worship, Bible Study, & Birthdays! Worship Scriptures 12.3.23 Luke 1:1-23 12.10.23 Luke 1:24-45 12.17.23 Luke 1:57-66 12.24.23 Luke 1:46-55

Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows December Calendar December 2nd United Methodist Men Breakfast 8:00 at Wesley UMC December 3rd Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 December 5th December 6th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 BackPack Packing 5:30 - Cavanaugh Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 December 10th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 December 12th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 December 14th Cantata Choir Practice 7:00 December 17th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Cantata - 3:00 December 19th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 December 21st Let’s Do Lunch at Cavanaugh 10:30-1:00 December 24th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Christmas Eve Service - 5:00 December 31st Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Nov. 5 29 Nov. 12 30 Nov. 19 37 Nov. 26 34 Gifts: Date 15 44 24 54 29 66 20 54 General Missions Nov. 5 $4,379 $335 Nov. 12 $674 Nov. 19 $2,395 Nov. 26 $363 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. $250

Wesley United Methodist Church November 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: Upcoming Events UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana I love fall. It is one of my favorite seasons and I love the month of November because people begin to be more joyous. They live in a spirit of gratitude. Thankfulness changes us and how we approach others. It makes us kinder, more graceful, loving, and it can be contagious. I recently heard that when people maintain the practice of gratitude it has the effect similar to low dose medicine to treat depression. The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless. People who regularly practice gratitude by taking time to notice and reflect upon the things they're thankful for experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit." Our faith points us to give thanks in everything. We are encouraged to give thanks and to rejoice. If we don't it's implied we might be quenching the Spirit. We allow the Holy Spirit to work through us in our gratitude. We know the physical benefits, but do we truly understand the spiritual side as well? Let your thanks flow through you. Open your hearts to the Holy Spirit to flow through you. Watch and see how God will move through you. My gratitude is to you all. I give thanks for those who have shared their musical talents. I give thanks to those who serve faithfully through the food ministries, ushering, acolyte, liturgists, filling in the gaps, visiting the homebound, sharing prayer requests, welcoming those to the church. The list could go on. I am thankful to Wesley UMC for your generous hearts and the way you follow Christ. - Pastor Jana Upcoming Events Missions

UMM, UWF, Mission In December, we will collect for Community Rescue Mission Remember to bring your change December 3rd Missions FOR CARNALL ELEMENTARY We will be collecting food for a special mission. We will be collecting items to create thanksgiving baskets for families at Carnall Elementary. On November 12th, we will have a Thanksgiving meal and pack the boxes. ITems Left to bRIng nov. 12tH Rolls, loaves of bRead, desseRts Great job church! Come help pack and bless the boxes on Nov. 12th Missions

Ingathering, Trustee Report Drop off in the church Narthex Worship, Bible Study, & Birthdays! Worship Scriptures 11.5.23 Matthew 5:1-12 11.12.23 2 Kings 10:15 11.19.23 Matthew 25:14-30 11.26.23 Matthew 25:31-46

Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows November Calendar November 1st Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Handbell 5:30 Choir 7:00 November 2nd Bible Study - Zoom - 6:00 November4th November 5th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 November 7th November 8th November 9th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study - Zoom - 6:00 November 12th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 November 14th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 November 15th Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 November 16th Let’s Do Lunch at Cavanaugh 10:00 am One Council Meeting 6:30 November 19th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 November 22nd No Bible Study November 23rd Happy Thanksgiving November 26th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Hanging of the Greens 4:00 November 28th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 November 29th Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Handbell 5:30 Choir 7:00 November 30th Bible Study - Zoom - 6:00 United Methodist Men Breakfast 8:00 at Cavanaugh UMC Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Oct. 1 31 Oct. 8 34 Oct. 15 29 Oct. 22 27 Oct. 29 Gifts: Date 27 19 50 22 56 15 44 21 48 15 42 General Missions Oct. 1 $ Oct. 8 $2,841 Oct. 15 $2,392 Oct. 22 $1,341 Oct. 29 $421 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church October 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: Upcoming Events UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana The Arkansas Conference celebrated National Good Neighbor Day this past Thursday, they highlighted on their social media pages some of the ways our United Methodist Churches are good neighbors in their communities! We were one of the churches celebrated! They shared about our Cooking Matters class from this summer. "Wesley United Methodist Church in Fort Smith recently finished hosting a six week Cooking Matters course. Cooking Matters provides participants with the knowledge and skills to cook meals at home and how to get the most out of their budget. Nine participants registered and by the end of the course, had created a community within themselves and with church members." It’s great for us to be recognized for being good neighbors. The truth is that we do a lot more than just that in our community. They could have shared about our Farmer’s Market Ministry. That really is being good neighbors. We are partnering with the Farmers who work hard for their harvest and have generous hearts to give to the community. We are the hands and the feet in delivering to blessing boxes across Fort Smith. They could have shared about our partnership with Clearinghouse and providing snack bags to 4 elementary schools. Along with books each quarter. Way to be good neighbors. There are a lot of ways that I have witnessed Wesley UMC being good neighbors. Matthew 22:37-39 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ This is evident in the works of this church. You are living out these commandments. You love God fiercely and wholly and you love your neighbor as such. Let us keep searching for ways to be the church and a good neighbor. In Christ, Pastor Jana Upcoming Events Missions

UMM, UWF, Mission Collected $80.01 in October for Next Step! Good job, Church! In November, we will collect for Ozark Mission Project Remember to bring your change November 5th Missions FOR CARNELL ELEMENTARY We will be collecting food for a special mission. We will be collecting items to create thanksgiving baskets for families at Carnall Elementary. On November 12th, we will have a Thanksgiving meal and pack the boxes. ITems to bRIng octobeR 8TH, & 15TH octobeR 22nd, 29th, & nov. 5th green beans, Corn, cRanbeRRy sauce Stuffing, mashed potatoes, gRavy nov. 12tH Drop off In the narthex Missions Rolls, loaves of bRead, desseRts

Trustees, Communion Theology Trustees Update We have a new ice maker that is to be installed in the kitchen! This is great news because it will make the ice more accessible and we will have a reliable ice maker for our events. Thank you to donations that made this possible. Harley Sting was caught in the act of service at the church. He is preparing for new trees to be planted. Thank you Harley for all of your years of hard work and dedication. Missions Charge Conference, Bible Study, and Trustee Update Laity Sunday This day calls the Church to celebrate the ministry of Christians of all ages in the home, workplace, congregation, community, and world. We are honored to have Donna Moreton sharing a word. Also, many of our laity leading us in worship. Join us on Oct. 22nd for this special service. Worship Scriptures 10.1.23 10.8.23 James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a James 5:13-20 10.15.23 Matthew 22:15-22 10.22.23 LAITY Sunday 10.29.23 Matthew 22:34-46

Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows October Calendar Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 October 3rd October 4th October 5th October 7th October 8th October 10th October 11th October 12th Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study - Zoom - 6:00 United Methodist Men Breakfast 8:00 at Wesley Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Trivia 3:00 at Goddard UMC Evening Stars 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study - Zoom - 6:00 October 15th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 October 17th October 18th October 19th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Let’s Do Lunch at Cavanaugh 10:00 am One Council Meeting 6:30 October 22nd Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 October 23rd October 24th October 25th October 26th October 28th Charge Conference at Mission UMC 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study - Zoom - 6:00 Golf Outing 8:00 am at Deer Trails October 29th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Sept 3 31 Sept 10 25 Sept 17 23 Sept 24 44 32 63 16 41 18 41 22 66 Gifts: Date General Missions Sept. 3 $3207 70.16 Sept. 10 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 $1530 $2680 $1455 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church September 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: August Highlights Missions Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana School has started. This is a first for us. We have to get in the rhythm of a new routine. Our goal is to be ready by 7:30. We have always woken up early enough, but there was never urgency to leave by a certain time. So, we got up and went at a slow pace.Sometimes, that was tested with some earlier days, but the more pressing time of not being tardy has made us change our ways. We have had to shift our priorities in the morning. Our focus has changed making us more alert and ready. It’s time for all of us, not just our church, but the church as a whole who need this reset. We need to shift our priorities and focus on the important matters. Ephesians 5:14-17 Wake up from your sleep,Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants. First, wake up from your sleep! This is a call to make us be alert, to be aware. What is going in the world right now that needs God’s light to be made known? Ask yourself that question and see if God is calling you to be that light. Make the most of every chance you get. Instead of feeling grumpy about how things are, we need to be finding the moments right now and embrace them.We should celebrate every opportunity that someone comes in our church’s doors. Every moment is from God and we need to celebrate that. Make joy happen every chance you get. These are desperate times. We feel that. Oh how we feel that these are desperate times. But, that means we even more so need God. Be sure that you are putting your trust and hope in God. This passage reminds us to make sure we understand what God desires from us. So we turn to God in desperate times. We know God is the source of comfort, hope, guidance, and joy. We turn to God who can reassure us that this moment may seem daunting, but by resting in God’s strength, courage, faithfulness—we can be reassured we are not alone. In Christ, Pastor Jana August Highlights It was a great concert on Sunday the 27th! Thank you to the United Methodist Men for putting on a great event. SpringStreet Concert On August 26th, there was a surprise party for Blanche. She was celebrated and pictured is the Vice Mayor, Jarred Rego, presenting a proclamation in celebration of Blanche’s birthday.⬇ Cooking Matters - That’s a wrap! Thank you to our leaders, Carrie Miller and Joanne Peterson for making this an awesome class. We had 8 graduate from the class. A community formed and it was a success.

UWiF, UMM Collected $70.16 in September for Clearinghouse! Good job, Church! In October, we will collect for Good Samaritan Remember to bring your change October 1st

Finding and Celebrating God’s Joy Farmer’s Market Wrap Up Thank you to so many that helped with the farmer’s market this summer! Goddard UMC is hosting a Spirituals concert Sunday, Oct. 1st. Save that date. It sounds like a great event that we will want to join. Worship Scriptures 9.3.23 Exodus 3:1-15 9.10.23 9.17.23 9.24.23 James 1:17-27 James 2:1-17 James 3:1-12 Trustees Update We have purchased a safety step ladder with hand rails for the church. It is recommended for senior use. It is stored in the custodian closet and the other step ladder will be stored in the big storage room by the Win One SS Class. September Calendar September 9th United Methodist Men’s Breakfast 9:00 at Cavanaugh September 10th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 September 11th Evening Stars 6:30 at Western Sizzlin September 12th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 September 13th Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 September 14th Bible Study - Zoom - 6:00 September 17th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 September 19th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 September 20th Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 September 21st Let’s Do Lunch 10:30 - 1:00 @Cavanaugh Worship 6:00 One Council 6:30 September 24th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 September 26th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 September 27th Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 September 28th Bible Study - Zoom - 6:00 October 1st Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Aug 6 34 Aug 13 28 Aug 20 29 Aug 27 32 Gifts: Date 21 55 21 49 28 57 21 53 General Missions Aug. 6 $3620 Aug. 13 Aug. 20 Aug. 27 $440 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. $2,015 $1,745

Wesley United Methodist Church August 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: 60TH ANNIVERSARY Missions Calendar & More

Recap of Anniversary Celebration CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF MINISTRY @ SO 22 & PHOENIX AVE. As the song says, "It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing. That's how it is with God's love once you've experienced it; you spread His love to everyone; you want to pass it on." Last November/December, 2022, Suzanne Harmon Gibson remembered that Wesley's 60th anniversary of moving into their new facility would be rolling around in 2023, and a celebration was in order, causing a spark of excitement to ignite into a full flame within the congregation. The current church actually was formed in 1960 with the merger of two small southside churches, Glover and St. Luke's; however it took three years under the guidance of architect Jack Ledbetter and a building committee formed of a balanced group from Glover and St. Luke's to acquire land and complete erection of a facility on the corner of So. 22nd and Phoenix, where the first worship service was held on Easter Sunday, 1963. Under Gibson's able guidance and organization, the current membership of Wesley UMC hosted a homecoming/reunion celebration on Sunday, July 30, with 135 people in attendance for a rousing worship service led by Rev. Dennis Spence, who had his first pastoral appointment at Wesley. Based on Romans 8:1-4, Spence challenged the congregation to be three dimensional in living their Christian lives: be faithful (past), be relevant (present), and be hopeful (look/move to the future). Several current and former musicians were present to share their talents: Jo Maxwell, Justin Cates, Carrie Miller, Mary Beth Oliver,Shane Sanderson, Randy Alexander, Debbie Reather Travis, Kathy Sharp Plant, and Blanche (Hill) West. Two Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to two brothers in Christ from the original churches of Glover and St. Luke's who have faithfully served Jesus Christ with dedication: George Jensen and Harley Strang. Blanche West, Chair of the current One Council Board, presented the awards, focusing on the two men's loyal and never-faltering service in several different capacities such as finance and stewardship, trustees, and children's ministries, as well as Young at Heart activities through-out the years. Since 1960, Jensen and Strang have been "walking the talk." Scripture says: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9. "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Jesus." Colossians 3:17 The audience erupted in a standing ovation of love and appreciation for the two. 60TH ANNIVERSARY HIGHLIGHTS From the Sanctuary, the crowd moved to the Fellowship Hall to enjoy a wonderful catered meal, a time to see archives, renew friendships, hear a short review of Wesley's history presented by Gibson, and sing out old-time favorite hymns led by the Garners, as well as much picture-taking, forming new memories, moving Wesley's legacy forward. There is room for YOU to join this amazing circle of brothers and sisters in Christ. Worship in the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m., join a small group for study and fellowship and prayer at 10:30 a.m. Serve on one of the mission efforts. Contact Pastor Jana Green jana.green@arumc.org The church office may be contacted by calling 479-646-9702 and leave a message. There is room for YOU! -Blanche West, One Council Chair

60TH ANNIVERSARY Celebrating Music Rev. Dennis Spence Fellowship and Lunch Missions Cooking Matters Cooking Matters has kicked off. We have 12 people registered and attending the class. Each week focuses on a nutrition lesson and they get the hands on experience of cooking. Huge thanks to 200K More Reasons for providing a grant to help get this class started at Wesley. Thank you to all of the volunteers who make this class happen each week. Collected $142 in July for Hope Campus! Good job, Church! In August, we will collect for Next Step Remember to bring your change August 6th

Missions Farmer’s Market Ministry Thank you to all who have pitched in so gallantly for the repacking and delivery of fresh produce to the ten blessing boxes we cover. They are all open to the public and the produce is typically picked up entirely within two hours of our placing it in the box. Most blessing boxes are on church grounds and they include Catholic, Episcopalian, Baptist, Presbyterian, and four Methodist Churches. And then one park, Creekmore, one school, Carnell. Wesley alternates with Cavanaugh and Wesley has two more Saturday dates, August 13 and August 27. The vendors are most generous, and while most are Asian growers, there are Anglo and Hispanic growers as well that contribute their surplus veggies to our mission. -Billy Join on August 13th and 27th Finding and Celebrating God’s Joy August 23rd Worship Scriptures 8.6.23 Genesis 32:22-31 8.13.23 Gen 37:1-4, 12-28 8.20.23 Genesis 45:1-15 8.27.23 Exodus 1:8-2:10 The ice machine is now repaired and can provide ice for for future needs. Trustees Update

August 1st August 5th August 8th August 12th August Calendar Handbell 5:30 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Cooking Matters 10:00 - 12:00 August 6th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Cooking Matters 10:00 - 12:00 Farmer’s Market August 13th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 August 15th August 17th August 19th Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Let’s Do Lunch 10:30 - 1:00 @Cavanaugh One Council 6:30 Cooking Matters 10:00 - 12:00 Farmer’s Market Small Groups 10:30 August 20th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 August 22nd Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 August 23rd Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Zoom - 6:30 August 26th Cooking Matters Starts 10:00 - 12:00 August 27th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Spring Street 4:00 August 29th Handbell 5:30 Choir 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 August 30th Bible Study 12:00 - Cavanaugh UMC Zoom - 6:30 Choir 6:30 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total July 2 25 July 9 32 24 49 25 57 July 16 31 — 31 July 23 24 July 30 139 Gifts: Date July 16 21 45 57 196 General Missions July 2 $3,365 $142 July 9 $2,208 $1,413 July 23 $4,495 July 30 $7500 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church July 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: Note from Pastor UMM UWIF Homecoming Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana The theme of Annual Conference this year was Come to the Table. One of the pieces I took away from that theme is that we have to be willing to come to the table, not only to sit, but to share and grow. It is not enough to just come to the table, but we have to be willing to participate. As we have seen the hurt happening in the denomination, we have witnessed what can happen when people are not willing to come to the table. We forget how powerful the table truly is. We come to the table to feast - to be fed (spiritually and physically) - to share in community - to hear stories and get to know one another. Bishop Merrill shared an incredible and powerful episcopal address. She spoke about connection and the importance of building relationships. Bishop Merrill shared that people have spoken horrible things about the United Methodist Church. We have been told many things that are not true. She shared “that those are not the voices that we need to listen to. God Bless the people who use those voices and may God bless their Ministry. I say that sincerely but they do not speak the truth about the United Methodists of the state of Arkansas. Those words do not speak who we are. They will not give us life. No. We are standing on Holy Ground today. Many of you have heard me say that if you're still here, you are here for a reason.” There has been a lot of rough seasons for the church - pandemic, division, etc. You have stayed in the church. You have not given up on coming because you are here for a reason. So, let us gather around the table and share the body of Christ with all we encounter. In Christ, Pastor Jana Annual Conference Highlights Bishop Laura Merrill giving Episcopal Address District Staff: Rev. Dr. Blake Bradford, Becky Neighbors, and Maggie Ramirez Annual Conference was smooth and peaceful this year. I think those who attended felt a real sense of hope. Hope for our conference as we move forward. Several times, throughout conference, we would split into different tables to share with one another. We shared around hope, serving others, and building connection. Each time, you could hear the pride as people shared what their church is doing in the world. As United Methodists, we should be quite proud. There is incredible ministry happening in Arkansas through the United Methodist people. There is a lot happening around food ministries and it is making an impact. Several years ago, our conference created 200,000 Reasons. It was an initiative to tackle childhood hunger. At that time 1 in 3 children were hungry. We have expanded that ministry, but the food portion has made an impact. It is 1 in 5 children are hungry. Even though we celebrate making change, we know there is still more work to be done. 3 people were ordained, one as a deacon and two as elders, we commissioned 7 people. It was a great joy. I would invite you to check out the conference website to learn more and to watch the videos. https://arumc.org/ac2023/

UWIF, UMM, Homecoming Evening Stars will be taking a summer break. They did a wonderful job leading worship in June 4th for United Women in Faith Sunday. Mission Collected $85.27 in June for Children’s Emergency Shelter Good job, Church! In July, we will collect for Hope Campus. With all the summer heat, they will need a boost this summer. Remember to bring your change July 2nd! Farmer’s Market Ministry Pictures from Saturday, July 1st. We delivered to 10 blessing boxes! Next time July 15th. Home Visits Gloria Cates, Paula Cockburn, and Blanche West Huge thanks and appreciation to Gloria and Blanche for visiting those at home. What a blessing.

Cooking Matters Starts this month! We are excited to be offering this class. If you or someone you know is interested in joining this class, let us know. It will be a great time of fellowship, cooking, and learning together. Invite people to sign up while there are spots available. Finding and Celebrating God’s Joy Spring Street - Save the Date Wesley Fellowship Hall Trustee Report All of our planned projects have now been completed. The biggie as reported before was new vinyl plank tile in the Fellowship Hall. Recently 13 window with the seals broken replaced Vinyl tile floors in the kitchen and two classrooms have been stripped, cleaned and waxed. New solar shades in Clydes classroom New blinds in the old nursery Worship Scriptures ESTHER 4:9-17 7.16.23 7.23.23 ESTHER 6:4-10 ESTHER 8:15-17 Esther 10 Old azaleas on the Eastside of sanctuary replaced with Encore azaleas 7.2.23 7.9.23 Dead dogwood South of sanctuary replaced with a Japanese Maple Security gate installed by Kitchen to discourage uninvited guest.

June Calendar July 1st July 4th Farmer’s Market Ministry 12:00ish July 2nd Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Happy Fourth of July! July 5th Worship Meeting 6:00 July 8th July 9th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 July 15th July 20th Farmer’s Market Ministry 12:00ish July 16th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Let’s Do Lunch 10:30 - 1@Cavanaugh One Council 6:30 July 21st LAST DAY to RSVP for Homecoming Lunch July 22nd Cooking Matters Starts 10:00 - 12:00 July 23rd Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 July 29th July 30th Cooking Matters Starts 10:00 - 12:00 Farmer’s Market Ministry 12:00ish 60th Anniversary Homecoming Worship 9:30 United Methodist Men Breakfast at Cavanaugh 8:00 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total June 4 32 June 11 32 June 18 31 June 25 33 Gifts: Date June 18 18 50 19 51 19 50 21 54 General Missions June 4 $3,800 $85.27 June 11 $1,647 $865 June 25 $1,607 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church June 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: Note from Pastor UMM Events UWIF Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana Ahhh, summer! The time is here. This usually means more people are taking weekend getaways or going on vacations. It’s a wonderful season of taking time to relax and spend time with your loved ones. Something we don’t think about is that we get a break, but bills never take a summer off. I believe churches learned this during Covid. Even though many could not meet during that time, money was needed. Hopefully, we have learned how helpful it is to continue to give regularly, even if you are away. Chase and I have these discussions when it comes to our own personal tithes. We feel it is a good spiritual practice to tithe. We should not give begrudgingly but with joy and generosity. There is joy in giving and the greater the generosity the deeper the joy. John Wesley’s summary on tithes, “Gain all you can…. save all you can… give all you can.” We are to seek to earn all we can in ways that are helpful to ourselves and others, never harmful. We are to “save all we can” by being frugal in our expenses. And then having earned all we can and spent only what we must to care for our own basic needs and those of our family, we are to give everything else away. The amount does not matter. If you are faithful in your giving, even if it is just a few dollars, that is what is important. You are living out your faith. You are giving abundantly. Obviously, it’s easier to give when you are present, but there are ways to keep us on track in giving. Set up bill pay: Most online banking services will write and send checks for you. Just plug in the church address, the amount of the gift and how often you want it sent. Viola! You’re done! Use our Online Giving: You can give through our online giving portal via PayPal. Give monthly or quarterly: Sometimes it’s hard to anticipate how many Sundays you’ll be away from church. Planning your gift, tithe or offering for monthly or quarterly can keep you current. Let’s be honest, these methods are beneficial not only for the summer months, but also for the whole year. Those who embrace giving as a spiritual discipline often find that their lives of faith are enriched and their sense of joy and fulfillment is deepened. Malachi 3:10, in which God urges, "Bring your full tithe to the temple treasury. ... Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams" (The Message). Tithing is biblical and can allow us to experience the richness of our faith fully when we are generous. Pastor Jana May Highlights Golf Outing Carnall Elementary The end of the school year is here. We dropped off cupcakes for the teachers to celebrate, the weekly snack bags, and some books for summer reading. e of St. Paul UMC closing worship Holy Communion The books were provided by a grant from 200K more reasons to Cavanaugh UMC.

UWIF, UMM, June 4th is United Women in Faith service. We hope that you will come and be part of this special worship. Evening Stars will be taking a summer break. UMM GOLF SPRING FLING RESULTS 2023 THERE WERE 21 PARTICIPANTS FOR OUR BI-ANNUAL GOLF OUTING, SPRING FLING. WE DIDN’T HAVE AS MANY AS IN THE PAST, YET WE HAD QUALITY TIME WITH GREAT COMPANY. THE REAL WINNERS THIS YEAR WAS ANYONE WHO GOT SOME OF JOE COLLINSON’S BBQ PORK BUTT WITH ALL THE FIXINS, NOT MENTION HIS COBBLERS!! STRAWBERRY/RUBARB AND BLACKBERRY. TEAM SCORES: • 63—JUSTIN CATES, BEN CATES, MIKE GIBSON, BUDDY ALLEN, STEVE CHRISTIAN • • • • 65—JACK & CHAR GODFREY, DEANNA STEWART & DALE HUDSON 67—JOE COLLISON, CHRIS WELCH, CHASE & JANA GREEN 68—DALE & EDITH DUNN AND DENVER & SHYLA DUNN 69—SAMANTHA MENLEY, JEFF BLACK, ZEKE ALLEN & ZEB ALLEN BIG “THANK YOU!” TO JORDAN AND CARRIE MILLER FOR THEIR HELP LOOKING AFTER SOME OF US OLD FOLKS AND KEEPING AN EYE ON THE “PINK PIG.” THE PINK PIG IS OUR FUNDRAISER FOR OUR MISSIONS, THE PIGGY BROUGHT IN $80! SEE PICTURES ON PREVIOUS PAGE. Mission Collected $141.05 in May for Community Rescue Mission Good job, Church! In June, we will collect for Children’s Emergency Shelter Remember to bring your change June 4th Also, we raised $641 for Ozark Mission Project in May. Farmer’s Market Ministry Pray for our farmers and their crops will be fruitful this summer. It was a hard season last year with the extreme heat. Pray for our volunteers and those who pick up fresh produce from the blessing boxes around town. Pray about if you are able to help. June 3rd and June 10th will be at Wesley We have 12 blessing boxes we deliver to this summer. Worship Scriptures 6.4.23 Psalm 126:4-6 6.11.23 Matthew 13:1-9;18-23 6.18.23 Matthew 9:35-10:8 6.25.23 ESTHER 2:19-23

We are excited to be celebrating 60 years. Make sure and save that date now. We will have worship to kick off the day with Rev. Dennis Spence preaching. https://www.wesleyumcfs.org/homecoming---60thanniversary.html We will have a catered luncheon to continue the celebrating. You can rsvp on our website. Starting July 22nd! Finding and Celebrating God’s Joy ← To join the Zoom call: Scan this Code 1. Open the Camera app on your phone. 2. Then point your phone at the QR code to scan it. 3. Finally, tap the pop-up Spring Street - Save the Date Wesley Fellowship Hall

June Calendar June 3rd June 4th United Methodist Men Breakfast at 8:00 at Wesley UMC Farmer’s Market Ministry 12:00ish. United Women in Faith Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 June 6th Worship Planning Committee 6:00 June 10th Farmer’s Market Ministry 12:00ish June 11th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 June 15th Let’s Do Lunch 10:30 -1:00 at Cavanaugh UMC No One Council June 18th Father’s Day Worship 9:30 June 21st Annual Conference -Hot Springs June 22nd Annual Conference - Hot Springs June 23rd Annual Conference - Hot Springs June 24th Farmer’s Market Ministry 12:00ish June 25th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total May 7 26 May 14 37 May 21 27 May 28 29 22 48 22 59 25 52 24 53 Gifts: Date General Missions May 7 $3,758 $141.05 May 14 $1,041 May 21 $910 May 28 $425 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Backpack Ministry, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. $641.00

Wesley United Methodist Church May 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: Note from Pastor UMM Events UWIF Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana Soon, many of us will be embarking on our summer vacations. It's an exciting time, but it can also be a time of stress as we prepare for our trips. There's always a never-ending list of things to do before we leave, from packing to securing our homes. While we are busy getting ready for our trips, it's easy to lose focus on the present moment. We can get so caught up in the anticipation of our upcoming vacations that we forget to enjoy the present. But May is a month that reminds us to stay present and enjoy the blessings of each day. For some of us, the summer months are filled with activities and fun events that we look forward to all year. However, not everyone has something to look forward to. If you find yourself feeling discouraged or wondering if things will ever get better, remember to be encouraged and hold onto hope. Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us that we shouldn’t worry about the future. We need to be present right now. We need to be turning our concerns over to God and find the peace of God. May we all take time to appreciate the blessings of each day, whether we are looking forward to a vacation or simply enjoying the present moment. Let us lift each other up in prayer and support as we journey through this season of life together. Pastor Jana April Highlights & Farmer’s Market Backpack Ministry We had several volunteers help the snack packs for the month of April. We packed 305 bags to go to Carnall, Ballman, Beard, and Cavanaugh. Thank you to all who helped. We will have one last packing for the school year on May 10th at 5:30 at Cavanaugh UMC. The event is being planned, but save the date. Get ready for some yard games, fellowship, and a celebration of the church’s birthday. Farmer’s Market Ministry Pray for our farmers and their crops will be fruitful this summer. It was a hard season last year with the extreme heat. Pray for our volunteers and those who pick up fresh produce from the blessing boxes around town. Pray about if you are able to help. A sign-in sheet will be placed on the table in the sanctuary foyer for volunteers for Saturdays during the growing season. We will need volunteers to pick up the food donations, label sacks, separate and sack the food, and deliver to area Blessing Boxes. Volunteers from last summer working on sorting. Picture of St. Paul UMC closing worship Holy Communion

UWIF, UMM, & Picnic Info Pentecost Picnic May 28th After Small Groups Invite your friends and neighbors to join us for a pentecost picnic. The event is being planned, but save the date. Get ready for some yard games, fellowship, and a celebration of the church’s birthday. Mission Opportunity Contact Jana if you are interested We have received a grant from 200K More Reasons to begin a Cooking Matters class. Wednesdays This is a 6 week class. Participants learn about cooking, meal prep, grocery shopping, food budgeting, and nutrition. We will need volunteers for several components. We will work with getting training and there is lesson plans to follow. Prayerfully consider if you would like to help. In-Person Noon Zoom 6:30 Ways to Volunteer: Lead Coordinator Teach the Nutrition Lessons Lead the Cooking part Shop for groceries Sort the groceries Assist during the class Collected $176.31 in April for ARUMC Disaster Relief Good job, Church! In June, we will collect for Community Rescue Mission Remember to bring your change May 7th. Worship Scriptures 5.7.23 1 Peter 2:2-10 5.14.23 5.21.23 5.28.23 OZARK MISSION PROJECT 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 Acts 2:1-21

Ozark mission project Karen Anderson is the Community Development Coordinator and will be here to speak about OMP and its mission on May 14th. There will be an opportunity for a special offering. They appreciate us partnering with them. Come learn more about their mission and how they have been serving the community for 36 years. Finding and Celebrating God’s Joy Trustee Report - From Harley Since we sold the parsonage in January we have some funds to do some improvements at the church that we weren't able to do before due to the lack of fund. As mentioned in last months newsletter the big improvement was installing new vinyl plank in the Fellowship Hall. It looks fantastic. Also, the Trustees, Finance Committee and the One Council has approved 2 new trees to replace the ones that partially died and was removed on the South end of the sanctuary. A Japanese Maple was planted to replace a dead dogwood and a new small dogwood planted on the lawn South of the sanctuary. Our beautiful azaleas on the East side of the sanctuary are victims of our dry winter and will be replaced with new bright red ones. We have a contract to replace 13 of the insulated windows with the seals broken. They should be replaced in the next week or two. We have also done some long overdue maintenance: Had all the windows professionally cleaned inside and out, had the carpet professionally cleaned. The vinyl tile in the kitchen and 2 classrooms will be cleaned and waxed hopefully in the next week or two. The Martinez Lawn and Landscape Company that maintains our lawn and landscaping has brightened the place with new spring flowers. We believe that the first impression of our church is form the lawn, landscaping and building. So, we strive to keep it looking good.

May Calendar May 3rd May 6th May 7th May 8th May 9th May 13th May 14th May 16th May 18th May 20th May 21st May 23rd May 25th May 28th Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 United Methodist Men Breakfast at 8:00 at Cavanaugh UMC Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Evening Stars 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Special Called Session of the Conference Hot Springs 10:00-6:00 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Let’s Do Lunch 10:30 -1:00 at Cavanaugh UMC One Council 6:30 Golf Classic Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Worship Meeting 6:00 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Pentecost Picnic May 30th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total April 9 44 April 16 24 April 23 28 April 30 26 26 70 29 53 12 40 28 54 Gifts: Date April 16 General Missions April 2 $2,473 $176.31 April 9 $3,070 $1,545 April 23 $1,672 April 30 $1,592 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Backpack Ministry, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. $1,000

Wesley United Methodist Church April 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: Note from Pastor UMM Events UWIF Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana If I were to mention Frozen the movie, everyone thinks about the song Let it Go. Then Frozen 2 came out. I am probably controversial in saying I think the second is better. It's really a good storyline and the songs can be catchy. However, there's one song in particular that stands out. Anna has hit rock bottom. She is struggling. She is losing hope. So, in those moments as a Disney Princess, you sing, right? Part of the lyrics are: This grief has a gravity, it pulls me down But a tiny voice whispers in my mind You are lost, hope is gone But you must go on And do the next right thing The song starts off in the darkness and moves to talking about light and hope. She recognizes her grief, but then knows she must keep going. We must keep going. We don't always know what the next right thing is, however, we can trust God to lead us. Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Holy Week has come and gone. During Holy Week, we begin with Palm Sunday and then move through the week. By the end of the week, we can feel like we are losing hope. Good Friday is a solemn day then we move into the hope and joy of Easter Sunday. Then what? How do we keep living out the resurrection in our daily normal lives? God is with us wherever we go. God will lead us to the next right thing. So, be strong and courageous in taking those next steps. Pastor Jana March Highlights Game Night March 17th, we had a game night with a baked potato bar. Amy led a game. Everyone wrote down different facts about themselves and we had to guess who it was. There was plenty of laughter and we learned a lot about one another. Pastor Jana preaching at First UMC March 19th Lenten Community Services We wrapped up the last community Lenten service. It was a great time. We took offering at each service. We collected $3129 total. Here is the breakdown: Shoal Creek - $2372 Mission Feeding Ministry - $284.50 Camp Tanako - $234.50 Picture of St. Paul UMC closing worship Holy Communion

UWIF, UMM, & Potluck Info Church Potluck April 30th After Small Groups Invite your friends and neighbors to join us for a potluck. Theme is Spring Chicken. Bring your best chicken dishes. We will also need sides and desserts. (Those don’t have to be chicken based.) Great time of fellowship. Bible Study and Mission Opportunity Wednesdays In-Person Noon Zoom 6:30 Often we make a mess of our lives and wonder if there is any redemption. This study helps us to see our mess through the eyes of Christ to find redemption and restoration. Using Scripture, devotional tools, and the writings of Ignatius of Loyola, John of the Cross, St. Augustine, John Wesley, Evelyn Underhill, and others, Berlin encourages reflection and meditation through our own brokenness. Only then can we focus on the cross as the place where we truly surrender control, leave our mess, and find redemption. Contact Jana if you are interested We have received a grant from 200K More Reasons to begin a Cooking Matters class. This is a 6 week class. Participants learn about cooking, meal prep, grocery shopping, food budgeting, and nutrition. We will need volunteers for several components. We will work with getting training and there is lesson plans to follow. Prayerfully consider if you would like to help. Ways to Volunteer: Lead Coordinator Teach the Nutrition Lessons Lead the Cooking part Shop for groceries Sort the groceries Assist during the class

Easter Finding and Celebrating God’s Joy Collected $127.59 in March. Good job, Church! In May, we will collect for Children's Emergency Shelter. Remember to bring your change May 7th. Farmer’s Market Ministry Summer will be here before you know it. Pray for our farmers and their crops will be fruitful this summer. It was a hard season last year with the extreme heat. Pray for our volunteers and those who pick up fresh produce from the blessing boxes around town. Pray about if you are able to help. Worship Scriptures 4.2.23 Matthew 21:1-11 4.9.23 4.16.23 4.23.23 John 20:1-18 John 20:19-31 1 Peter 1:17-23

April Calendar April 1st April 2nd April 4th April 5th April 6th April 7th April 9th United Methodist Men Breakfast at 8:00 at Goddard UMC Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 Maundy Thursday 6:30 at Wesley Good Friday 6:30 at Cavanaugh Sunrise Service and Breakfast Potluck 7:00 at Cavanaugh Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 April 10th April 11th April 12th April 16th April 18th April 19th April 23rd April 25th April 26th April 30th Evening Stars at Western Sizzling 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Church wide Potluck Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Mar. 5 27 Mar. 12 25 Mar. 19 30 Mar. 26 27 Gifts: Date Mar. 5 Mar. 12 17 44 30 55 17 47 General Missions $4,558 $127.59 $1345 Mar. 19 $980 Mar. 26. $1,762 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Backpack Ministry, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church March 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: Note from Pastor UMM Events UWIF Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana I was a Junior in high school and my youth group went on a mission trip. We stayed at Canyon Camp, but then did work at Wilderness Camp. It was in the same Red Rock Canyons, but the only way in was to park and walk down the side of a steep hill. There weren't any working toilets down in this canyon. It was called Wilderness camp for a reason. We did the work to have a mission retreat because they needed the work done but we also got a discount. I have always loved camp...I never did Wilderness camp, because, well, you heard the conditions. However, we would go down in the canyon and we were cut off from all outside. Cell phones did not work in the canyon. For most, this was troublesome. For me, I always welcomed the "silence". We were surrounded by nature. We had walls of red canyon surrounding us, open valleys, cabins filled with bunk beds. The camp was a majestic place. We were in the wilderness and it gave us an opportunity to explore our faith, deepen relationships with each other, and know God. We often think of Wilderness as a desolate place. We think of it as scary and not the place we want to be. We see it as lonely. Wilderness can be a lot of these things and more. On Epiphany Sunday, we drew stars that had words on them. They were words prayed over and the hope would be the word would be a gift from God for the new year. The word I received was GROW. I feel like being in ministry is all about that word. We want to grow closer to God. We want to grow into a better person. We want to grow the church. Aren’t I working on that already?! Truthfully, it’s about the grow(th) in our lives. The church I love is facing turmoil. I pray for us to grow as a denomination where our love and joy is known in the world. I know there is growth needed around letting go of certain things, but boy, does that threaten my security. Change is all around that threatens the stability we know and love. This can make us feel as though we are in a wilderness where nothing seems to grow. Lent has begun and our new sermon series is centered around the lectionary. The theme is Seeking: Honest Questions for Deeper Faith. Doesn’t that just tie in with growth? Asking questions and seeking answers helps us to grow. Be open to see how God will push you, comfort you, and grow you. Pastor Jana March Highlights Sweetheart Banquet - Hosted by United Methodist Men It was a great crowd at the Sweetheart banquet on Feb. 19th. It was a joy to have this even after a pause with Covid. Congratulations to Mike Gibson who won the “Man of the Year” award. Thank you for all that you do. Lenten Community Services These services have returned after a break due to Covid. Thank you to all who provided food. It was a great success and a full house.

UWIF, UMM, & Game Night Game Night March 17th at 5:30 We’ll gather in the fellowship hall for a baked potato bar. Sign up to bring your favorite topping. After we eat, we will play some games and have a great time of fellowship. Invite your friends and neighbors. Wednesdays In-Person Noon Zoom 6:30 Often we make a mess of our lives and wonder if there is any redemption. This study helps us to see our mess through the eyes of Christ to find redemption and restoration. Using Scripture, devotional tools, and the writings of Ignatius of Loyola, John of the Cross, St. Augustine, John Wesley, Evelyn Underhill, and others, Berlin encourages reflection and meditation through our own brokenness. Only then can we focus on the cross as the place where we truly surrender control, leave our mess, and find redemption. Community Lenten Services 5-Mar @ Faith UMC Bud Reeves 12-Mar @ Hackett UMC Donna Ward 19-Mar @ First UMC -FS Jana Green 26-Mar @ Mission UMC Steve Poarch 2-Apr @ St. Paul UMC - FS David Bassham Pictured is the palms from last year’s Palm Sunday being burned to make ashes for Ash Wednesday service. Ash Wednesday emphasizes two themes: our sinfulness before God and our human mortality. The service focuses on both themes, helping us realize that both have been triumphed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In March, we will collect for Clearinghouse. Remember to bring your change March 5th. School will start back this month and they will need extra support. In the fall semester, we made roughly 700 bags that were distributed to Bell, Beard, Carnall, and Cavanaugh Elementary schools. Trustees Update Carpet has been cleaned.. Windows cleaned inside and out. Re-keying products ordered, job will be completed soon. New flooring in FS Hall now being installed. Getting bids on replacing window with broken seals. Wednesdays Worship Scriptures 3.5.23 3.12.23 3.19.23 3.26.23 John 3:1-17 John 4:5-42 John 9:1-7 Ezekiel 37:1-14 Finding and Celebrating God’s Joy

March Calendar March 1st March 4th March 5th March 7th March 8th March 12th March 14th March 15th March 16th March 17th March 19th March 21st March 22nd March 26th March 28th March 29th Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 United Methodist Men Breakfast at 8:00 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Service Faith UMC 5:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Service Hackett UMC 5:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 Let’s Do Lunch (Cavanaugh UMC) 10:30-1:00 Game Night at 5:30 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Service First UMC 5:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Service Mission UMC 5:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Backpack Ministry, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Feb. 5 27 Feb. 12 28 Feb. 19 34 Feb. 26 19 Gifts: Date Feb. 5 Feb. 12 23 50 20 48 23 57 General Missions $8,305 $2,510 Feb. 19 $1,015

Wesley United Methodist Church February 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: Note from Pastor UMM Events UWIF Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. It is one of my favorite seasons of the church. There have been times in my life when I have felt a flurry of emotions over things happening. Lent is a grounding season. It allows us to experience our human emotions without shame. We are able to feel and be openly vulnerable with God. It is a powerful season. Following our lectionary (The lectionary is a series of Scripture readings for specific days of the year. The United Methodist Church uses the Revised Common Lectionary, which is a three-year cycle of readings.), many stories of Jesus encountering people who are seeking: Nicodemus comes to him in the veil of night, he approaches a Samaritan woman at a well, he heals a man born without sight. In these stories, each person is seeking a new beginning, a different life, a deeper faith. What unfolds is an exchange filled with questions and exploration. Often, an unveiling occurs—assumptions are disrupted, a new perspective is revealed, mystery grows. The sermon series is called Seeking. It is founded on questions. Many of our weekly questions feel restorative. Some feel like a charge or challenge. Some questions are hopeful and curious. Our questions won't necessarily lead to answers, but they can help us find clarity and a new perspective. Ultimately, we pray they lead to a new beginning, a restoration, a wider grace. Like the characters in our Lenten scriptures, we are also seeking many things: clarity, connection, wonder, balance. We are seeking our calling, the sacred, and how to live as a disciple. Throughout the turbulence of the past few years, many of us are asking big questions about our lives and our faith. Throughout this season, I hope you will continually ask yourself: what am I seeking? What is God seeking? This Lent, you are invited to engage in the spiritual practice of seeking. Stay curious, open, and nimble. We pray that these questions will create a safe space to explore—to be drawn more deeply into the fullness of life, into the heart of God. In Christ, Jana We had about 40 at the Trivia Night hosted at Goddard on the 22nd. We had a lot of fun with the different questions and team names. Wesley Wanders did a great job representing Wesley UMC. The cover photo for our newsletter is a picture of Charlie with all the prizes for the night. Charlie and Genie (member at Goddard) did a great job running the answers in for all the teams. We will look at having another Trivia night in the fall sometime. It was wonderful to see all the different congregations represented.

Lent - February 22nd - April 2nd Ash Wednesday - 6:30 at Cavanaugh UMC Maundy Thursday 6:30 at Cavanaugh UMC Good Friday 6:30 at Wesley UMC Community Lenten Services begin Feb. 26th Sundays at 5:00 (More information to come) This Lent we are working on a daily devotional. This is a great way for our church to share our faith. There is a list of scriptures and sign up. The list is at the church to sign up or you can email Pastor Jana at jana.green@arumc.org to sign up. The devotions do not have to be long or super scholarly. Think of your Upper Room devotions. I am excited to journey through Lent with you all. Often we make a mess of our lives and wonder if there is any redemption. This study helps us to see our mess through the eyes of Christ to find redemption and restoration. Using Scripture, devotional tools, and the writings of Ignatius of Loyola, John of the Cross, St. Augustine, John Wesley, Evelyn Underhill, and others, Berlin encourages reflection and meditation through our own brokenness. Only then can we focus on the cross as the place where we truly surrender control, leave our mess, and find Planning Meeting Recap from Jan. 29th Finding and Celebrating God’s Joy We know the last few years have been difficult. We are tired and exhausted over all of the changes. We know that community was greatly missed during Covid. It’s easy to get stuck with an attitude that is of gloom. Psalm 118:24 tells us “This is the day the Lord has made; Let us Rejoice and be glad in it!” That’s what our leadership team has decided to do! We choose a theme of Finding and Celebrating God’s joy in 2023. This means we want to want to have opportunities to be in fellowship with one another. Also, it means being intentional of celebrating God’s joy as we serve our community. Some of our fellowship plans will include outreach to those in the community. That means inviting our neighbors to events, but also we will have a missional moment at some of the events as well. Go ahead and mark the dates down in your calendar. We ask one more thing of you. Please be praying over these dates. We want to grow together as a church and become a bigger light in the community. Pray for your church leadership as they plan these events. Pray that we will find God’s joy and celebrate it well.

In February, we will collect for Clearinghouse. Remember to bring your change February 5th. School will start back this month and they will need extra support. In the fall semester, we made roughly 700 bags that were distributed to Bell, Beard, Carnall, and Cavanaugh Elementary schools. Bishop Merrill Arkansas Annual Conference has received a new bishop. Bishop Laura Merrill began her position in January 2023. On Jan. 28th, there was an official installation service at Pulaski Heights UMC. Bishop Merrill is from Texas and has a great background in the church and her work. Check out arumc.org to learn more about her. In the meantime, pray for our new bishop and her leadership. Trustees Update Worship Scriptures 2.5.23 Matthew 5:13-20 2.12.22 Matthew 5:21-37 2.19.22 Matthew 17:1-9 2.26.22 Matthew 4:1-11 Wednesdays In July 2022, we followed the Book of Discipline procedures and had approval from the District and held a charge conference. The charge conference gave an unanimous vote to sale the parsonage. Part of the reason is that we felt that future pastors would choose the Cavanaugh parsonage over ours. It was looked at the benefits of selling vs. renting. The conclusion was that in the long term, it would be better to sell. After fixing up a few minor things. We put the parsonage up for sale. After a few months, we were able to sell the parsonage. The money from that sale will go into a capital improvements fund. 20% of the proceeds will be saved for future housing needs for the pastor. Otherwise, we will be able to use funds for maintenance upkeep. Soon, you will be seeing some projects being completed around the church. This is great news for Wesley as we won’t need to tap the general fund for such repairs. Big thanks to all who made this happen.

February Calendar February 1st Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 February 5th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 February 7th February 8th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 February 12th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 February 14th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 February 15th Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Zoom at 6:30 February 16th Let’s Do Lunch (Cavanaugh UMC) 10:30-1:00 February 19th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Sweetheart Banquet 5:30 at Cavanaugh UMC February 21st Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 February 22nd Ash Wednesday 6:30 at Cavanaugh UMC February 26th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Community Services 5:30 February 28th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Handbells 5:30 Choir 6:30 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Jan. 1 27 Jan. 8 36 Jan. 15 30 Jan. 22 30 Jan. 29 28 Gifts: Date 10 37 13 49 11 41 13 43 16 44 Jan. 1 $2975 Jan. 8 $7507 Jan. 15 $1780 Jan. 22 $1060 Jan. 29 $1531 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Backpack Ministry, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. General Missions $98

Wesley United Methodist Church January 2023 Newsletter What’s Inside: Note from Pastor UMM Events UWIF Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana The hustle and bustle of holidays has happened. Gift boxes, shipping boxes, shreds of gift wrap, holiday messes are around. The need to clean up clutter and get organized might just be a pressing thought. Or perhaps, like many the vow to start eating better in a new year is at the forefront of your mind. We all earnestly want new beginnings. We want that fresh start. We yearn for our life not to be filled with clutter. We make these resolutions and want to start out a new year well. How many of our resolutions are centered on Christ though? If we allowed ourselves the space and time to let God into our lives, we might just find all of those resolutions become easier. When we turn to our Savior and ask for courage; we just might be able to try new things. When we turn to our Creator and ask for love; we just might be able to love ourselves as we are. When we turn to our Sustainer and ask for guidance; we just might be able to accomplish more than we could ever dream. Go ahead and dream and vision for 2023. I know I will be for church and for many other things. However, I am making a commitment to deepen my faith in 2023. I hope you will join me on this journey. May you find space to be still with God. May 2023 be the year that you find peace. In Christ, Jana UWIF, UMM Evening Stars meet January 9th at 6:30. Hope to see you there. Good job, Church! Thank you to so many who helped to fill the fence. Items will be taken to Carnall Elementary and to Community Rescue Mission. UMM are hosting a duck gumbo on January 21st at 5:00. The church is invited to attend.

Trivia Night January 22nd 4:30 We are excited for a joint event with Cavanaugh, Goddard, and Wesley UMCs! Trivia night will be a great time of fellowship. Goddard is hosting the event in their great hall. Each church will bring something to contribute. Goddard will cover snacks. Cavanaugh will bring desserts. Wesley will bring drinks. We ask that you make up teams of 2-6 people. We will have prizes for the top 3 finishing teams. Brush up on your trivia, grab some friends, and we’ll see you on the 22nd at Goddard UMC. 1922 Dodson Ave, Fort Smith, AR Missions & Star Words Change Jars In January, we collected for Hope House. They have seen an increased need because of the colder weather. Remember to bring your change February 5th. We will collect for Clearinghouse. School will start back this month and they will need extra support. In the fall semester, we made roughly 700 bags that were distributed to Bell, Beard, Carnall, and Cavanaugh Elementary schools. Star Words On the first day of the new year, we had worship. At this service, we introduced Star Words. We celebrated Epiphany. We remember the star that led the magi to Jesus. At communion, people were invited to take a star word (A star shaped paper with a word on it.) We believe that word is something is guided by the Holy Spirit. We will use this word to pray and see how we are led to Jesus this year. If you did not receive a star word and would like to, let us know. We would be happy to mail you one or you can visit shorturl.at/doKPS

Bible Study, Worship Info, and Special Note Wednesdays Resumes Jan. 18th! Wesley UMC, A donation to operating expenses was made in honor of Blanche West and Gloria Cates for their 50 plus years of dedicated Christian Service. A donation was made in memory of Rev. Victor and Mary Green whose lives shone the light of Christ to all. 1.1.23 Matthew 2:1-12 1.8.23 Matthew 3:13-17 1.15.23 Worship Scriptures John 1:29-42 1.22.23 Matthew 4:12-23 1.29.23 Matthew 5:1-12 Special Note Calendar, Membership Vows Lived Out January Calendar January 1st Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 January 8th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 SPRC Meeting 11:45 January 9th January 10th January 11th Evening Stars 6:30 Mission Meeting - 6:30 - Zoom Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Bells Practice 5:30 Choir 6:30 January 15th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 January 17th January 18th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Bells Practice 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study 6:30 Zoom January 19th Let’s Do Lunch (Cavanaugh UMC) 10:30-1:00 January 21st UMM Duck Gumbo 5:00 January 22nd Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Trivia Night 4:30 at Goddard UMC January 24th January 25th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Bible Study In Person 12:00 (Cavanaugh UMC) Bells Practice 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study 6:30 Zoom January 29th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 January 31st Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Dec. 4 33 Dec. 24 30 Dec. 25 31 Gifts: Date 37 Dec. 11 At Cavanaugh Dec. 18 29 70 31 60 19 11 49 42 General Missions Dec. 4th 4,395.00 $173.76 Dec. 11th 1,010.27 Dec. 18th 2,505.00 Dec. 25th 1,353.60 $500.00 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Food Collection, Winter Gear Collection, Backpack Ministry and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church December 2022 Newsletter What’s Inside: Note from Pastor UMM UWF Trustee Advent, Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana We continue remembering our vows and what they mean. This is the last article on our vows because service and witness go together! Here are the vows we take when we join the church: We vow to faithfully participate in the life and ministries of our local congregation through our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Now this is really about putting those gifts in action! You want to serve in a way that fills your soul. You want to joyfully serve or at the very least enjoy it to some extent. Otherwise, it’s not being authentic to who you are. It’s allowing all of the pieces of our vows to come together. Pray for how God is calling you to serve. By sharing your gifts and service, you are going to be present and others are able to witness your faith in action. Our vows really intertwine together. What God desires is a faithful response, a joining in mission and ministry that responds to God's love and grace. In the General Rules of the church, John Wesley called the early Methodists to live out their faith by "doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all [people]." What good can you offer in the world? We know there are all types of way to serve. Good at writing cards? Send a card or note to someone letting them know they are loved or invite them to church. Good at singing - Join the choir! Good at cooking - join Let’s do lunch crew. You can find something that can be done at church and is needed. You can find ways of serving the community around us too! Identifying the needs in a community and taking action is what witness is all about. When we live out these vows, we can do it privately, but we are called to witness. So, every once in a while be sure to live them out loudly. You can do that by sharing with neighbors or strangers. As Saint Francis of Assisi says, “Preach the gospel at all times and use words when necessary.” Leading a Christian life by example is a form of witness. In Christ, Pastor Jana Golf Outing On November 5th, we had the golf outing and it was a great time. $159 was raised that was added to the purchasing of Thanksgiving hams for the elementary schools. It was a great Fall Classic and we look forward to the next one. Thank you to everyone who participated in the golf outing and at the hot dog roast after.

UWIF Please continue to bring items for the fence. Save the date: January 22nd at 4:30, we will have a trivia night! Chase and I thought it would be fun to get our churches together. There will be information to come. Save that spot on your calendar. Dear Church, Music Update As you may know, our music director, Deborah Ellis is leaving at the end of the month. Deborah’s husband has a new job in Talequah, OK. As much as we would love for her to commute, that would be a really big commute! Deborah has added so much to our worship experience. We have been very blessed by her talents. We will recognize her at our worship service on Dec. 18th. We wish Deborah and her family many blessings. Thank you, Deborah, for leading us in music. We truly appreciate you. This means that we have started a search and if you know of anyone looking, please send them our way. Pastor Jana Missions FOR CARNELL ELEMENTARY Thank you to everyone who donated to the Thanksgiving Baskets. We were able to provide a full Thanksgiving meal to 11 families at Carnall Elementary and 4 at Ballman Elementary. It is such a joy being able to provide those and I am thankful and grateful for everyone making that possible. ↑ Boxes and extra snack bags being delivered at Ballman elementary. ↑ Snack Bags being loaded with extra goods for the longer school break. Bring Your Change Jars on Sunday - Dec. 4th We will collect change jar change December 4th. The money collected will go to help provide lunch for the teachers and staff at Carnall Elementary as an appreciation and thank you to them.

Advent Advent began on Nov. 27th. We are doing the series “What Can’t Wait.” Reminder of Combined Service Dec. 11th - Christmas Cantata at Cavanaugh UMC at 10:45 with a combined choir. Sund Sml Groups The Sunday morning adult small groups invite you to join them for an advent study “Prepare the Way for the Lord: Advent and the Message of John the Baptist.” Written by Adam Hamilton, this is a 4-week study that explores the Advent themes of John’s life and ministry and includes DVD/video sessions featuring Adam Hamilton. The sessions will be held in the Fellowship Hall following worship services. The first session will be Nov. 27. Contact Clyde or Blanche for more information and to register. Sund Wip Bible Study, One Council, Worship, & More One Council Dec. 15th 6:30 PM Wednesdays We are taking a winter break. Resumes Jan. 18th worship Scriptures 12.4.22. Matthew 3:1-12 12.11.22 Cantata 12.18.22 Matthew 1:18-25 12.24.22 Luke 2:1-20 Trustee Reminder A friendly reminder that the person or persons in charge of a meeting or event are responsible for checking to see that the thermostat is set, water in lavatory's and sinks turned off, lights tuned off and all doors locked. Two times in the last 30-45 days hot water has been running on Saturday in the sink in the mens bathroom by the kitchen. That would indicate that it has been running for several days and nights. Let's be good stewards of our property. Be Sure the doors are locked. We have had a visitor at night trying to come in the buildings.

Calendar, Membership Vows Lived Out December Calendar December 3rd United Methodist Men’s Breakfast December 4th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 December 6th Boy Scouts - Eagle Scout Ceremony 7:00 December 7th Bells Practice 5:30 Choir 6:30 December 11th Worship 10:45 at Cavanaugh UMC December 13th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 December 15th Let’s Do Lunch (Cavanaugh UMC) 10:30-1:00 December 24th Christmas Eve at Cavanaugh 5:00 Christmas Eve at Wesley 6:30 December 25th Worship at 9:00 am Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Oct. 30 25 33 Nov. 6 Nov. 13. Nov. 20 Gifts: Date Nov. 20th Nov. 27th. 32 30 27 58 27 59 19 49 25 52 General Missions Nov. 6th 5,655.00 $236.51 Nov. 13th. 550.00 1,875.00 7,875.00 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Food Collection, Winter Gear Collection, Backpack Ministry and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors. 100.00 25.00

Wesley United Methodist Church November 2022 Newsletter What’s Inside: Note from Pastor UMM UWF Trustee Scouts, Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana 1 We continue remembering our vows and what they mean, Here are the vows we take when we join the church: We vow to faithfully participate in the life and ministries of our local congregation through our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. A couple of months ago, I invited you to be in prayer for our church. Then, last month, I asked you to be present in our church, Let’s add in gifts. Our vows ask us to provide gifts. What do gifts mean in the UMC? While the term "gifts" often brings to mind money, there's much more to it. (But, we will gladly accept those gifts too!) More so, it’s about the spiritual gifts we have to offer. Have you ever taken a spiritual gifts test? Maybe it can help you to understand what gifts you have to offer the church. Do you score high in hospitality? Then, let’s make you a greeter! Do you have an excellent aptitude for music? Then, let’s get you in the choir or rotation to offer those gifts. Great at meeting new people? You can be in charge of outreach. We have to be willing to share our gifts, but we need to connect those gifts to the life of the church. You know that classic children’s song, “This Little Light of Mine” When we have great gifts to share, we cannot hide them under a bushel. No! We need to let it shine. When we all pitch in, the church is better for it. God’s kingdom is better for it as well. So, take some time and be in prayer. Reflect on how you can show up AND offer your gifts. You might think this is such a small thing, but those small things add up and truly make an impact. We know this! We say, small but mighty! When we all offer our gifts, we get mighty things done. In Christ, Pastor Jana Bingo Recap 2 Bingo Night What a great night! We had 85 or so at our church on October 23rd. Mike Gibson did a great job calling the bingo numbers. We had several winners and more than enough prizes. We had the opportunity to honor our boy scouts. We had gotten a special prize for them. Scout Zayin Basham-won the 2022 Walking Liberty silver dollar. He was very excited. We had two winners for our Blackout Bingo grand prize. Carolyn and Kennedy split the $100. Everyone had a great time and it was done because of so many who stepped up. Thank you to those who brought prizes, helped with setup and cleanup, kitchen volunteers, bingo helpers, and all who contributed. Way to go church! We are looking forward to connecting more with our community. It was a full house!

UMM and UWIF 3 Golf Outing The tournament includes both ladies and gents. Arrive at Deer Trails at 9:30 to register. Tee-off time is 10:00am. The total cost will be $22.00 to non-members of Deer Trails. Around 2:00, there will be a hot dog roast. Bring your lawn chair. We are looking forward to a great time. Hope to see you Nov. 5th. November 14th, the Evening Stars, will meet at the church. Bring some type of salad to share. The program is “Count Your Many Blessings.” Please continue to bring items for the fence. Missions 4 + FOR CARNELL ELEMENTARY Ingathering is traditionally a time when everyone in our conference comes together to collect food items or relief kits for United Methodist Committee on Relief. In the years past they have had to adapt the mission because of Covid. It’s not just one day in November at the Little Rock Food Bank. We have been challenged to collect food. Since, we have feeding ministries, we will collect for our church. We will record the amount of pounds and financial gifts we get to report to them. During Collectober, churches are encouraged to “one-up” themselves by collecting more food than last year. This year, we will be collecting food for a special mission. We will be collecting items to create thanksgiving baskets for families at Carnall Elementary. Change Jar money will be used for the meat. Thank you for participating in this effort. ITems to bRIng octobeR 2nd, 9TH, & 16TH octobeR 23RD, 30TH, & nov. 6TH nov. 13tH green beans, Corn, cRanbeRRy sauce Stuffing, mashed potatoes, gRavy Rolls, loaves of bRead, desseRts, Drop off In the narthex

Advent 5 We will begin with a potluck in the fellowship hall. After, we are finished, we will get to work on decorating. Please plan to be there. “Hanging of the Greens" refers to the practice of adding evergreen plants to the worship space. The symbolism of evergreens points to the unending life of the age to come when Christ returns, the dead are raised, and the righteous enter life in the new creation. Advent will begin Nov. 27th. We will be doing the series “What Can’t Wait.” Note some changes for the season. Dec. 11th - Christmas Cantata at Cavanaugh UMC at 10:45 with a combined choir. Dec. 25th Christmas Day Worship Christmas falls on a Sunday this year. We will have a combined service at 9:00 that day. More details to come. Sund Sml Groups Sund Wip The Sunday morning adult small groups invite you to join them for an advent study “Prepare the Way for the Lord: Advent and the Message of John the Baptist.” Written by Adam Hamilton, this is a 4-week study that explores the Advent themes of John’s life and ministry and includes DVD/video sessions featuring Adam Hamilton. The sessions will be held in the Fellowship Hall following worship services. The first session will be Nov. 27. Contact Clyde or Blanche for more information and to register. Bible Study, One Council, Worship, & More 6 One Council November 13th 4:00 pm worship Scriptures Wednesdays 11.6.22 Hab. 1:1–4; 2:1–4 11.13.22 2 Thess. 2:1–5, 13–17 11.20.22 Luke 21:5–19 11.27.22 Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122 Trustee Reminder A friendly reminder that the person or persons in charge of a meeting or event are responsible for checking to see that the thermostat is set, water in lavatory's and sinks turned off, lights tuned off and all doors locked. Two times in the last 30-45 days hot water has been running on Saturday in the sink in the mens bathroom by the kitchen. That would indicate that it has been running for several days and nights. Let's be good stewards of our property. Special Called Annual Conference This special session has been called to deal with the following two issues, and is limited to dealing only with these two issues: 1. Voting on various congregations in the ARUMC who are using ¶2553 to disaffiliate. 2. If allowed by the Judicial Council’s upcoming decisions concerning Docket 0522-02, the consideration of legislation to adopt a standard process governing the use of ¶2548.2 for the transfer of churches from the Arkansas Conference to one of the Pan-Methodist or another Evangelical Denomination. This is a heartbreaking time for our denomination. Please pray for all those who will be in attendance. If you have questions or concerns, please talk to Pastor Jana.

Calendar, Membership Vows Lived Out November Calendar November 1st Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 November 2nd Bible Study In Person (Cavanaugh UMC) 12:00 Bells Practice 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study Zoom 6:30 November 5th Golf Outing 10:00 Hot Dog Roast 2:00 November 6th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 November 8th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 November 9th Bible Study In Person (Cavanaugh UMC) 12:00 Bells Practice 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study Zoom 6:30 November 13th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 One Council Meeting 4:00 November 14th Evening Stars 6:30 November 15th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 November 16th Bible Study In Person (Cavanaugh UMC) 12:00 Bells Practice 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study Zoom 6:30 November 17th Let’s Do Lunch (Cavanaugh UMC) 10:30-1:00 District Charge Conference 6:30 - Zoom November 19th Called Annual Conference Hot Springs 10:00 - 6:00 November 20th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Hanging of the Greens (Potluck 5:00) November 24th Happy Thanksgiving! November 27th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 November 28th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 November 30th Bible Study In Person (Cavanaugh UMC) 12:00 Bells Practice 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study Zoom 6:30 Advent Begins Daylight Savings 7 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Oct. 2 Oct. 9 30 30 Oct. 16 33 Oct. 23 31 Oct. 30 25 Gifts: Date Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 27 26 39 29 33 57 56 72 60 58 General Missions $4,650 $196.73 $2,570 $1,075 $1,075 $1,100 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Food Collection, Winter Gear Collection, Backpack Ministry and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church October 2022 Newsletter What’s Inside: Note from Pastor UMM UWF Trustee Scouts, Calendar & More

Note from Pastor Jana 1 I shared that I would be talking about our vows in the newsletter for the next view months. Just a reminder that the vows we take when we join the church are: We vow to faithfully participate in the life and ministries of our local congregation through our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Last month, I invited you to be in prayer for our church. I hope you have been doing this. Our vows take us one step further by being present. What does it mean to have a presence in the UMC? Ken Sloane shared his viewpoint on this vow. "The vow of presence, I thought, was always the easiest. You just have to show up, right? OK, no problem -- once a week I can make an appearance: potluck suppers, good people doing good things, worship, fun times and fellowship -- presence is a breeze! I don't have to worry about living up to that promise. As the years have progressed, I've realized that my promise of supporting the church with my presence is about more than showing up. The main question asked is if you will "faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness." While potluck supper and fun activities fall in that category, there are times when offering presence is more challenging. When someone has lost a loved one (a parent, a spouse, child, or sibling), words seem so inadequate; but we can give the gift of presence. When violence or dishonesty has shattered a family, we can give the gift of presence. When natural disasters have ripped through a community, whether it is a flood 10 miles away, or a tornado 1000 miles away, or a typhoon 5000 miles away; we can give the gift of presence.” Presence is more than showing up (though that is just as important). It is reminding people that they are not alone. It is about acknowledging others in their struggles, their joys, their everyday lives. The gift of presence is going above and beyond without being asked. It’s showing up AND DOING. I have seen that in the life of this church. Showing up to provide meals for grieving families, showing up to care for the building and grounds, showing up to run AV, showing up to lead music - choir, piano, organ, showing up to teach Sunday school, showing up to take care of the finances, showing up for our mission programs, showing up to help one another without asking, honestly the list could go on, and most importantly simply showing up and being the church. Honestly, when you see the life of the church giving the gift of presence, you can’t help but to joyfully show up. Let’s make this vow together to give each other the gift of presence. In Christ, Pastor Jana United Methodist Men 2 Men’s Breakfast Oct. 1st Golf Outing The tournament includes both ladies and gents. If you are not a golfer, they are planning a wiener roast after the tournament for everyone to enjoy. You will need to register by 9:30 and the tee-off time is 10:00am. The total cost will be $22.00 to nonmembers of Deer Trails. Sign up in the Narthex.

UWiF, General Information 3 Donna Moreton displays her quilt, “Homegrown,” at the recent Belle Point Quilters Guild show. The Guild meets the fourth Monday of each month, 6:30 pm at Cavanaugh Senior Center. Missing Wheelchair A wheelchair that was in the kitchen is missing. If you know where it might be or borrowed it, please let Harley know. Thank you. Photo Credit: Blanche West Missions 4 + FOR CARNELL ELEMENTARY Ingathering is traditionally a time when everyone in our conference comes together to collect food items or relief kits for United Methodist Committee on Relief. In the years past they have had to adapt the mission because of Covid. It’s not just one day in November at the Little Rock Food Bank. We have been challenged to collect food. Since, we have feeding ministries, we will collect for our church. We will record the amount of pounds and financial gifts we get to report to them. During Collectober, churches are encouraged to “one-up” themselves by collecting more food than last year. This year, we will be collecting food for a special mission. We will be collecting items to create thanksgiving baskets for families at Carnall Elementary. Change Jar money will be used for the meat. Thank you for participating in this effort. ITems to bRIng octobeR 2nd, 9TH, & 16TH octobeR 23RD, 30TH, & nov. 6TH nov. 13tH green beans, Corn, cRanbeRRy sauce Stuffing, mashed potatoes, gRavy Rolls, loaves of bRead, desseRts, Drop off In the narthex

Scout Ministry 5 Wesley’s Scouting ministry, since 1979 has celebrated a number of Eagle Scouts out of Troop 19-B (boys). Now Wesley gets a direct benefit of its most recent candidate for Eagle Scout, Yan Li. He’s an honor-student Senior at Southside High School with significant computer skills, and has benefitted from Wesley Scouting program since 5th grade, starting in Pack 19. On July 7th Yan Li met with Jeff Jones to develop his Eagle project to create a proposal for Harley Strang’s consideration. Wesley’s two storage sheds by its Rockhouse were needing renovation and rearranging, and Yan Li wanted to help with that. On July 15th Harley met with Yan Li and accepted his Eagle proposal, his approach to solving the shed-problem, along with caring of a few other needs surrounding Wesley’s Rockhouse. Good news! Yan Li developed a detailed plan in early August for his Eagle project and delivered it to BSA local council for scope-of-work approval. Shortly thereafter paint & lumber materials were obtained and special shelving ordered, all covered by special donations Yan Li secured. On Aug. 26th Yan Li’s fellow Scouts emptied all items from storage sheds into Rockhouse, and cleanup of shed began. Temporary roof repair was needed on south shed before any painting of interior could start. On Sept. 3rd roof repairs & priming of interiors were done; first finish-coat on walls & doors were also done, all evidence of good work by our Scouts. However, Yan Li’s 18th Birthday made this Eagle Project deadline BEFORE Sept. 15th! With diligence, Yan Li led his “selective few” to meet this deadline. On Sept. 9th new ramps for both sheds were begun, special epoxy floor-paint 1st coat done. The 2nd coat of floor paint and installation of ramps for both sheds were accomplished by next day, along with trees & shrub trimmings and touch-up painting. Many man-hours were involved! On Sunday, Sept. 11th Rev. Jana Green, Blanche West and her wonderful crew of women sorted thru all the items stashed at the Rockhouse, chose items for organizing in south storage shed, with remaining items for donations elsewhere (or thrown). On Sept. 12th Wesley’s items were moved onto new shelves in south shed, now easily accessible in a nicely finished “storage facility!” Yan Li’s Eagle project was now accepted as complete! Final cleanup followed on Sept. 13th. Indeed, Yan Li met his critical deadline and Wesley UMC got a double blessing: renovated storage sheds and an “Eagle Scout soon-to-be”! Lay Servant Ministries, Bible Study, One Council, and Worship 6 Lay Servant Ministries This fall, there will be 3 opportunities around the district to participate in the Introductory Course. The advanced classes on Discovering Spiritual Gifts, UM Polity, UM Heritage and Preaching will also be offered. It is not necessary to have taken the Introductory Course before taking an Advanced Class, however, to be considered “certified,” the Introductory class must be taken at some point. If you are interested, there will be classes at St Paul in Fort Smith on October 15th. Click on the link for more information or talk to Carrie Miller. https://form.jotform.com/222263824049152 About Lay Servant Ministries Lay Ministry is the work of mission or ministry to which each believer is called. As Christians we are all called to this ministry or priesthood – not just clergy. Each of us has a responsibility to proclaim the Good News and reach out to others. One Council October 20th 6:30 pm Wednesdays worship 10.2.22 10.9.22 Luke 17:5-10 Luke 17:11-19 10.16.22 Laity Sunday 10.23.22 Luke 18:9–14 10.30.22 Colossians 3:12–17

Calendar, Membership Vows Lived Out October Calendar October 1st UMM’s Breakfast 8:00 Planning Task Force 10:00 October 2nd Worship 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 October 4th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 October 5th Bible Study In Person (Cavanaugh UMC) 12:00 Bells Practice 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study Zoom 6:30 October 9th Worship 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 One Council 11:45 October 11th Mission Meeting Zoom 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 October 12th Bible Study In Person (Cavanaugh UMC) 12:00 Bells Practice 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study Zoom 6:30 October 16th Worship 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 October 19th Bible Study In Person (Cavanaugh UMC) 12:00 Bells Practice 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study Zoom 6:30 October 20th Let’s Do Lunch (Cavanaugh UMC) 10:30-1:00 One Council Meeting 6:30 October 23rd Worship 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Bingo Night 4:30 October 25th Boy Scouts 6:00 - 8:00 October 26th Bible Study In Person (Cavanaugh UMC) 12:00 Bells Practice 5:30 Choir 6:30 Bible Study Zoom 6:30 October 30th Worship 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 7 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Sept. 4 48 Sept. 11 28 Sept. 18 33 NA. 33 29 Gifts: Date Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 48 51 62 General Missions $3,340.00 $82.47 $2,680.00 $1,065.00 Sept. 25. $1,655.00 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Food Collection, Winter Gear Collection, Backpack Ministry and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.

Wesley United Methodist Church September 2022 Newsletter What’s Inside: Note from Pastor UMM Trustee UWF Lay Servant & More

Note from Pastor Jana 1 What if we took our membership vows seriously? How transforming would that be for your life and the life of the church? A lot of members do take those vows seriously. They are committed. Then, there are some that probably forgot they even took vows when they became members. Or perhaps, you attend regularly, but aren’t an actual member (talk to me if that’s the case, we can change that!). Even if you aren’t an official member, I would hope you would hold these vows in your heart. In our membership vows, we vow to faithfully participate in the life and ministries of our local congregation through our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. These vows will be the focus of my newsletter articles in the next several months. As we dream and vision for our church, we need to hold these vows up. We need to be living them out in so many ways. Our prayers can change things. We know this. Whether they change the situation or often times, our emotions get changed. We find clarity, we find hope, we find God. We know this to be true. We believe in prayer. That is why we send out prayer requests. We lift up people and situations in worship. We believe that prayer truly makes a difference. Let me first say, thank you to those who came to the planning retreat. We were able to flush out some things that need to be worked on here. We need to be better at communication. We have goals to expand hospitality in how we greet new people, dreams of a once a month dinner as a community plus new friends, sharing our story and hearing each other’s stories of faith. This is just a little bit of those dreams. Will you hold these in your prayers? May these ideas be mustard seed dreams that grow beyond our wildest imaginations. Let’s start praying, let God get to work, and respond by being the hands and feet of Jesus. Amen. Pastor Jana UMM,UWF, Trustee Update 2 Trustee News The parsonage at 4101 Dallas has been prepared and put on the market for sale and has been listed for sale with Weichert Realty. The 2 dead trees on the South end of the sanctuary has been removed and hopefully will be replaced this fall with new trees that will compliment the sanctuary and not take away from it. Here is the link to view the parsonage sale. Be sure to share with others who might be looking for a house. https:// www.propertypanorama.com/4101-Dallas-StreetFort-Smith-AR-72903

Missions & Lay Servant Ministries 3 Carnall Elementary Outreach On the first day of school, we delivered cookies, water & backpack tags/keychains to the teachers and staff at Carnall. We hope to build a relationship with the teachers and staff at Carnall. So, our missions team is making it a monthly goal to do something for them each month. So get ready church. We may be asking you to help in this way. Front cover picture is the box of goodies dropped off. Farmer’s Market Wrap Up ICYMI (In case you missed it) The volunteer group on the last Saturday of the Mission are pictured: Billy and Peggy Higgins, Trefana Christian, Suzanne Gibson, , Chris Bates, and Stephen Christian. Photo credit: Jackie Nichols Our Three Month Mission in distributing produce donated by the farmers in the downtown Fort Smith market concluded last Saturday. The 60-70 lbs of veggies were sacked and distributed to the ten Blessing Boxes that stretch from the south to the north side of town. My heartfelt thank you to all of the Wesley members who volunteered to help with the Mission this season. It seemed always to be good feelings generated by this work that brought nature, food, and human kindness and need all together. Sincerely, Billy Lay Servant Ministries, Bible Study, One Council, and AV Training This fall, there will be 3 opportunities around the district to participate in the Introductory Course. The advanced classes on Discovering Spiritual Gifts, UM Polity, UM Heritage and Preaching will also be offered. It is not necessary to have taken the Introductory Course before taking an Advanced Class, however, to be considered “certified,” the Introductory class must be taken at some point. If you are interested, there will be classes at St Paul in Fort Smith on October 15th. Click on the link for more information or talk to Carrie Miller. https://form.jotform.com/222263824049152 About Lay Servant Ministries Lay Ministry is the work of mission or ministry to which each believer is called. As Christians we are all called to this ministry or priesthood – not just clergy. Each of us has a responsibility to proclaim the Good News and reach out to others in l 4

Wesley United Methodist Church August 2022 Newsletter What’s Inside: Note from Pastor UMM Trustee UWF Planning Retreat Info

Note from Pastor Jana 1 A few years back, three Wesley Foundations came together for a leadership retreat. We had a lot of things planned for them. One was that we did some coaching. Rev. Dee Dee Autry led them in the Nehemiah Response. It was a helpful tool and reminder. It was a model that looked at where you were, where you wanted to be, setting a vision and celebrating accomplishments, and then seeing the transformation. This model is rooted from Nehemiah. You may be familiar with the story of Nehemiah. If not, here’s a very brief summary, Nehemiah was a Hebrew in Persia. He got word that the wall around Jerusalem was broken down and the gates destroyed. So, Nehemiah prayed to God. Then, he asks the King of Persia if he can go and fix this situation. It wasn’t easy, but it seemed as people united together to build the wall. After he leaves, things go awry. Nehemiah returns to find the walls strong but the people weak. So, he works on teaching them and reestablishing their relationship with God. That is very much a reader’s digest version. But, you have understanding and some context of this book of the Bible. The creators of this model share that Nehemiah’s first response was to seek out God and see the situation from his perspective. Nehemiah took time to survey the site when he got to his destination. Nehemiah was not looking for a “quick fix.” Nehemiah desired to be patient and to wait, being careful to align with God’s vision. I am looking forward to August 20th. We will gather on Saturday morning. We’ll have time to be in prayer, set vision/goals, and plan. We have some time before that session, so I have a few asks of you. First, make a commitment that you will be there. Second, begin praying daily for Wesley UMC and for this time together. Third, listen to what God is calling our church to do. Let’s start asking the questions and preparing our hearts. “What is it God wants to accomplish through you?” “How are you preparing yourself to meet that challenge?” Andy Stanley says, “Vision is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be. Vision is a preferred future. A destination.” May God give us vision and may we be fueled with conviction to reach the destination. UMM, UWF, Trustee Update 2 Trustee News A big thank you to the following persons that cleaned up the parsonage lawn getting it ready to list for sale. Billy and Peggy Higgins, Justin Cates, Steve Christian, one scout mom, one scout dad and three scouts. The parsonage should be ready to list with the realtor next week. The two dead or dying trees at the South end of the sanctuary are scheduled to be removed next week. A friendly reminder to be good stewards of our property. The person in charge of a meeting or an event is responsible for making sure the air conditioning or heat is set, the lights turned out and the doors locked.

Missions & Community Garden 3 Community Garden Thank you to everyone who came and helped harvest the watermelons at Carnall. Due to the overly dry conditions we've had, the garden did not produce as many as we hoped for but we had a good harvest none-the-less; and the watermelons were delicious! Our next crop will be turnips in the fall. Our harvesting plan with those will be pick as you please - no planned or scheduled harvesting day. That way if you want turnip greens, you can pick them when they are ready. We are so blessed to have that partnership with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Carnall. Missions & Church Leadership 4 Farmer’s Market Sorting on July 31st One Council Reminder: One Council 3rd Thursday, August 18. Please try to have a team meeting before then. Church Wide Planning Retreat August 20th at 9:00 in the fellowship hall. We'll spend the morning, praying, reflecting, and planning. We'll break into groups to vision together about Hospitality, Communications, Family Ministries (children, youth, intergenerational), Outreach, and Missions.

Wesley United Methodist Church June 2022 Newsletter The very last What’s inside: “From the Desk of Pastor Zeke” Churchwide UMM Golf Scramble Informational on Disaffiliation

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Thankful “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” -Colossians 3:12-15 I’m not great at goodbyes. One would think that being a UMC pastor would eventually, after enough moves, make it easier- but it doesn’t. It has been such an incredible privilege to serve alongside the people of Wesley UMC in the last four years. I have tried to serve and lead with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,” just as it mentions in Colossians 3. However, I have left many things undone and made my share of mistakes and missteps along the way. For those things, I ask for your forgiveness. Ministry has its share of blessings, burdens and comes at great cost many times. I am so grateful for the grace and love many of you have extended to me these years together. As I have reflected on our time together, a lot has happened in four years. Wesley held a mortgage burning to celebrate paying off the debt. We endured a global pandemic as a result of Covid-19, which would take the lives of a few of our members. In addition, many other long-time, faithful members of Wesley have gone on to glory joining the church triumphant and that has been terribly difficult for all of us. Wesley has engaged in meaningful mission including the building of the community garden on the Carnall Elementary campus; providing food for hungry school children at Carnall, Beard, and Cavanaugh Elementary through the backpack program; distributing fresh produce throughout town from our Farmer’s Market ministry; and giving funds to various local mission organizations around town through our communion offerings- to name a few. Wesley has endeavored and completed many wonderful projects to improve the church, including: a complete landscape overhaul; new carpet, tile, and blinds in the entryway and foyer of the sanctuary; Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2022 Pastor Zeke Cont. Page 2 Pastor Zeke Continued refurbished bathrooms in both main buildings; new roof, new blinds in the Fellowship Hall, Win One Class, Children’s Class, and Gleaners Class; new carpet, paint and blinds in the pastor’s office; and all the carpet cleaned throughout the church. One of my greatest regrets is that I was not able to lead in a way that saw Wesley grow in numbers and members. However, I celebrate what I believe is considerable spiritual growth within the people of Wesley. I have seen roots of faith deepen within the folks of Wesley as we have sought to better understand who we are in light of God and who we are to be in this world. I delight in the diversity of belief and theological views within the church family. I believe we are a good cross-section of faith within our denomination and that is to be celebrated. So for all of these things, I am incredibly thankful. Thank you for the privilege of being your pastor these past four years. Know as I leave later this month and prepare for my next charge that my heart is both full and empty- full of gratitude and love from each of you and empty knowing I have to say goodbye to so many people I have grown to love and adore. I will be in prayer for Wesley and for Jana Green as she leads you. Whatever the future holds, I ask you to please, now and always, keep the faith strong. -Zeke Cavanaugh Elementary School presented Zeke with this wonderful appreciation award for his ministerial contributions to the students at Cavanaugh Elementary over the past 4 years. Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2022

UMM Golf Scramble Page 3 UMM Golf Scramble There were 24 participants for our second golf outing. We are growing this event every time we do it. We do not focus so much on “who’s the best, lowest scores, best clubs, balls or material objects of the game” but focus on enjoying each others fellowship, encouragement and what God has allowed us to share while we are in this world. Therefore, everyone is a winner while playing golf with us! Our rules aren’t necessarily aligned with the USGA or R&A, but rather WWJD. We had a great time not only getting to play golf, but even better—sharing in a fish fry with all the fixins, plus wonderful desserts: blackberry cobbler (Prepared by Wesley’s Joe Collinson) and coconut cream pie (furnished by the ladies of Cavanaugh). Yum! We thank Suzanne Gibson and Carrie Miller for handing the beverage carts, keeping us hydrated and all others helping with the fish fry. Closest to the hole winners were Dale Dunn, Billy Higgins, and Blanche West. Team Scores: • • • • • • 57 — Dale and Edith Dunn, Denver and Shyla Dunn 58 — Mike Gibson and Billy Higgins, Chistopher Welch and Steve Christian 60 — Buddy and Janie Allen, Blanche West and Paul Vieth 60 — Zeke and Zeb Allen, Chris and Gladys Rink 64 — Jack and Charlotte Godfrey, Joe and Twana Collinson 70 — Justin and Ben Cates, Jeff and Renee Black Let’s do this again in the Fall! - Steve Christian Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2022 UMM Golf Scramble Page 4 Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2022

Open Meeting Page 5 Wesley & Cavanaugh Open Meeting Wednesday, June 8th, 6:00PM Wesley Fellowship Hall There will be a video message from Bishop Gary Mueller on the “Current Landscape and Options for the Future” within the United Methodist Church. Pastor Zeke will have a question and answer portion to hopefully be able to answer any questions you have. We hope you can attend. Annual Conference 2022 Zeke, Carrie Miller, and Renee Black all attended Annual Conference in Hot Springs June 1-4. The theme this year was Reset, Repair, Renew. Many great discussions were had concerning the future of the UMC, we heard some great reports on all the amazing things going on within the Arkansas Conference and we passed a resolution concerning Responsible Fire-Arm legislation. A copy of the resolution will be sent to U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Little Rock; U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Rogers; U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro; U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock; U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, RRogers and U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, RHot Springs. If you would like to know more about the resolution, Arkansas Online has a story (www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/ jun/04/methodists-ask-arkansas-congressional -delegates/) It was a wonderful few days of great discussion, fellowship and learning. The trip was capped off by attending the Running of the Tubs tub races. Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2022 Missions Page 6 Missions Farmers Market - A HUGE thank you to Billy Higgins for taking over the responsibilities of coordinating Farmers Market pickup this summer. I know that this mission is in GREAT hands and I am so thrilled to know that it is continuing. Pickup and sorting kicked off June 4th at Wesley. They delivered fresh produce to 10 Blessing Boxes around Fort smith. Billy said they revisited 4 of the boxes later that evening and each of them were empty so there is most definitely a want and a need for fresh produce in our community. If you would like to help pickup, sort or deliver please get with Billy Higgins from Wesley or Carolyn Ratterree from Cavanaugh. Sorting location Schedule: June 11 — Cavanaugh June 18 — Wesley June 25 — Cavanaugh - Carrie Wesley UMC Newsletter Community Garden - The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance planted watermelons at our community garden at Carnall Elementary. They should be ready for harvesting mid to late July so everyone be on the look out for harvesting information within the next couple of months. ZEKE’S LAST SUNDAY IS JUNE 12TH. Please join us for his last worship service at Wesley at 9:30am, then say your “until we see each other agains” at a pot-luck in honor of Zeke at Cavanaugh UMC at 11:30. There will be a box for each family to give him a farewell/good luck card. June 2022

Shoal Creek Camp Page 7 Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2022

Wesley United Methodist Church May 2022 Newsletter What’s inside: From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Zeke’s “Surprise” Birthday Party Scouting News

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke The Beauty of Brokenness “Again Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” John 8:12 In Matthew 4:8, Jesus says “Be perfect as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” What does perfection mean for United Methodists? Of the nineteen historic questions asked all those seeking ordination as elders within the United Methodist Church, two of them relate to perfection. The second historic question is “Are you going on to perfection?” And the third is “Do you expect to be made perfect in this life?” And I answered “Yes” to both at my ordination. What does this mean? I’ll give you a hint: it does not mean being sinless or morally flawless. For that, we can all breath a little easier. When Wesley taught about perfection, he meant perfection in the sense of maturity. The call to Christian perfection is a cry to be something more than you currently are. It is a cry for more love, more joy, more peace, and more Presence. This is not accomplished by the sweat of one’s brow but by the surrendering of ones life into the perfecting work of God present through the Holy Spirit. God is making each of us perfect in love. As United Methodists, we believe in the entire work of sanctification as the trajectory of authentic discipleship. Therefore, the “journey toward Christian perfection” is less about a statement of status (have you reached it or not) but more about orientation (is your life oriented toward a complete life of faith). This is a call to journey, with God, toward a life of faith that is deep and wide and full. It is a call of faithful surrender and willing submission to be shaped and molded by God. There is a unique Japanese ceramic artform known as Kintsugi. Kintsugi artisans take broken pottery and carefully piece them back together using gold-infused glue. The final outcome is incredibly beautiful (for reference look up Kintsugi and see the amazing images). Kintsugi celebrates the cracks and brokenness as part of the overall story. It lifts up the beauty of brokenness. I am encouraged by this when I think of our own lives- messy and broken- who need to reimagine life and success through the eyes of God. I believe we are all made in the image of God and bear that Divine image to the world. Faithful people are called to love of God and love of neighbor. Cont. on Next Page Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2022 Pastor Zeke Cont., Golf Scramble Pastor Zeke Continued Page 2 Yes there is incredible suffering and brokenness in our lives and the world but I have come to believe God uses our brokenness to shape and reshape us into a restored and beautiful people. Through our brokenness, the light of Christ shines even brighter. Let us honor the light of Christ that breaks forth in new ways in spite of and through our brokenness. Let us also surrender to the molding and shaping of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Finally, let us practice surrender allowing and inviting God to shape us as we journey towards Christian perfection. -Keep the Faith Strong, Rev. Zeke Allen Zeke needs empty moving boxes if anyone has any they want/need to get rid of. Thank you to the Congregational Care Committee and the congregation for the Easter baskets to the kid’s Sunday School class. Big shout out and ‘Thank You’ to Donna Moreton for making these super cute bunnies that were placed in each of the Easter baskets that were delivered to the shut-ins. Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2022

Easter Page 3 We had a great Easter Sunday service. Thank you to everyone who was involved in the service in any way. All of the music was absolutely beautiful. All of the family photos taken in front of the Flower Cross can be seen on the Wesley Facebook page. Cavanaugh & Wesley through Zeke a “Surprise” belated birthday party April 24th. A good time and delicious food was had by all! Thank you to Carolyn and Cavanaugh for coordinating. Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2022 UMM, UWF Page 4 If you have not signed up for the Golf Scramble but would like to, please do so as soon as possible. Steve and Joe want to make the teams before the day of the scramble. In March the UMW made the decision to realign and become more inclusive to all women. With that decision, the UMW decided to rename to United Women in Faith. “The move is part of a refreshing of the organization that includes a new logo and an array of new and improved programs to nurture current members and welcome new women to join to put their love in action on behalf of women, children, and youth.” Patrice Hulsey, Blanche West, Donna Moreton, and Gloria Cates attended the Women in Faith District Conference in Russellville on April 15th. Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2022

Scouts Page 5 Greetings from Pack 19! Our Pack has had a busy springtime full of fun and adventure. In addition to knot tying, games and learning about nature we have had several camping opportunities. March 11-13 was the original date of the Arkansas Gathering. Mother Nature interfered but several scouts and leaders braved the snow anyway. April 8-10 the Gathering proceeded with nice weather and many Scouts in attendance. Our annual District Family Camp was this past weekend, also at Rogers Scout Reservation. Scouts participated in BB shooting, archery and slingshots along with making various instruments, fishing and canoeing. March 22 was our Pack Pinewood derby races. We had about 20 racers across all age levels. Scouts showed a lot of creativity and good sportsmanship in their competition. April 2 several of our Scouts competed in the district Pinewood Derby races at Central Christian Church. Our Arrow of Light level Scouts will be crossing over into Scouts BSA on May 17th. We have five Scouts graduating from Cub Scouts. June 6-10 at Columbus Acres Scouts from the area will participate in Twilight Camp with a theme of the Wild West. We invite all elementary age children to visit us on Tuesday evening at 6:00pm to see if Scouts is for them. Yours in Scoutings Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2022 Missions Page 6 Missions Farmers Market - As many know for the last several summers, Wesley in coordination with Cavanaugh has picked up donated produce from the Saturday farmers market and distributed that produce to Blessing Boxes around town. This has been such a great mission for each church and such a huge blessing to our community. We want this mission to continue, however, Carrie and Denver (our coordinators of this mission) are tired and in need of a break. We are looking for a coordinator at Wesley and one for Cavanaugh. The main duties include scheduling the volunteers on pick-up days and making sure they have the necessary supplies. If anyone is interested in taking over the coordinator job but has questions before hand, please feel free to contact Carrie. She will answer any and all questions you have. We typically start in June, so we need to get things scheduled and in place as soon as possible. Wesley UMC Newsletter Change Jars - Thank you to everyone who has brought in their spare change each month. We might be small but we are mighty. Aug & Sept ‘21 FS Children’s Shelter $263.94 October ‘21 UMCOR $135.06 December ‘21 Comm. Rescue Mission $96.46 January ‘22 Salvation Army $58.03 February ‘22 Wesley Blessing Box $260.61 March ‘22 Comm. Rescue Mission $150.95 April ‘22 Next Step Day Room $102.64 May ‘22 Hannah House $118.55 If there is an organization you would like to see our change jar offering go to please let us know. We like to keep it in our community or within our State. Backpack Bags - Thank you to everyone who has helped bag and deliver backpack bags this school year. Between Carnall, Cavanaugh and Beard Elementary schools, we provide 53 kids a week with weekend food during the school year. May 2022

Announcements Page 7 • Education Leader, Suzanne Gibson wants to remind everyone that both adult Sunday School classes have resumed studying the quarterly. The children also continue to study with Patrice Hulsey as their leader. • “THANK YOU” to all those who have provided lunch for the Cavanaugh parsonage workers. Work is moving right along! If you would like to help with this effort, contact Harley Strang, Blanche West or Chris Rink. • As our Lead Trustee, Harley Strang deserves a big “thank you” and pat on the back for over-seeing our buildings and church property. He lead the charge on getting the roofs inspected after our last hail storm and in getting the AC units replaced in the sanctuary. • Carrie Miller, Suzanne Gibson, Blanche West and Zeke all traveled to Clarksville for the NW District Charge Conference. Carrie Miller from Wesley and Renee Black from Cavanaugh will represent our congregations at Annual Conference held in Hot Springs this year, June 1-4. Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2022

Wesley United Methodist Church March 2022 Newsletter What’s inside: From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Golf Scramble Info Parsonage Work

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Firm Foundation “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise person who built their house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish person who built their house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell- and great was its fall!” Matthew 7:24-27 As many of you know, I grew up fishing with my family. On way too many occasions, I have encountered storms while out in a boat. It sort of goes with the territory. One storm, in particular, I will never forget. We were night fishing for crappie, and we were catching them like crazy. Off in the distance, we began to see flashes of lightning. It grew closer and closer. However, we were still catching fish, so we stayed. It was still calm where we were and everything seemed okay at the time...until it wasn’t. And when the storm hit, it hit hard and fast. We pulled up anchor just as five foot swells began. The boat motor cranked over just before we were blown into a cliff by the raging wind. We had a long way to go back to the vehicle and most of that way required us to be on the open water. Dad told us all to lay down in the bottom of the boat. We were terrified. I remember the gigantic waves and the horrific sound of the boat going over the waves and soaring so high that the motor came out of the water whirling as we zoomed through the air, only to then collide with the next wave. Dad got us under a bridge where we tied up and rode the storm out for the next hour, thankful that we survived. I’ll never forget that unmoored, wave-tossed, tempest of a pickle we were in that night. I share this story because it has been on my mind. With news coming in the last few weeks about the postponement of the General Conference gathering of the United Methodist Church and the announcement of the launch of the Global Methodist Church (GMC), I have witnessed many who have felt “unmoored” in the church. Our denomination continues to make national and local news as these things have unfolded. These are tempest-laden times to be certain. However, I want to share a few things that I believe are helpful. First, some things shared with me from a gathering with the Bishop and the clergy of the Northwest District: Continued on Next Page Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2022 Pastor Zeke Cont., Golf Scramble Page 2 Pastor Zeke Continued No church is required to vote on anything The UMC is still the UMC and churches wishing to continue being United Methodists will just keep doing and being themselves The results and effects of the launch of the GMC on May 1st is still unfolding Second, as your pastor, I have been and continue to be called and serve within the United Methodist Church and continue to do so. Third, I value the diversity of theologies and personalities within our church family and will do my best to lift up and nurture those within the church as a whole. Fourth, our focus will continue to be on the Gospel of Jesus and his command for us to love God and to love our neighbor as our self. This will be our focus and way forward. Lastly, let us not forget Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:24-27, where He reminds us of the solid foundation of the Gospel. Our church is built on the solid foundation of Jesus and that foundation holds true - in times of calm and in times of storm. Trust that mooring. And may all of us be known by our love - of God and others. Just as my dad knew exactly how to steer us to safety in the midst of a great storm, I believe God will guide us and steer us safe and sound to exactly where we need to be. And maybe, just maybe, we will also have a lot of fish to show for it! -Keep the Faith Strong, Rev. Zeke Allen Meet the New Pastor! Informal drop-in meet and greet with Rev. Jana Green at Cavanaugh from 10:00-12:00 We are collecting Change Jar donations for the month on Sunday, April 3rd. All donations collected will go to the: Next Step Day Room Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2022

Parsonage Remodeling Page 3 Parsonage Remodeling! We are only a few months away from our new pastor Rev. Jana Green and her family from joining us at Wesley/Cavanaugh. They have decided to call Cavanaugh’s parsonage home. With that comes some necessary work to completed before move in day. Starting on Wednesday, April 6, we will begin working inside the parsonage. This project is NOT a one or two person job. Some of the work will be hired out to contractors, but the real work is in the removal of the flooring, deck renovation, painting, and baseboard removal. These items, the churches can help with. Helping in these areas will also save untold $$. The first days for demo work will be April 6-8 and April 11-15. We will have a roll-off dumpster during those days at the parsonage for demolition items. We will need a minimum of 6 volunteers each day during these days. I will send a request for volunteers for painting as those days approach where we will need at least one person per room and sometimes two depending on the size and scope of work. Please give your time for this worthwhile project. Chase, Jana, and Charlie will be appreciative of the work and love poured into the parsonage remodel. Please contact Chris Rink with any of the dates and times you are available to help. 479-997-5701 or at dcrink@gmail.com. “CHAZOWN” I have learned a new word just recently: “chazown.”Pronounce it “khaw-ZONE.” Its meaning is vision and comes to us from our Hebrew ancestors. Proverbs 29:18 Clearly and plainly states, “Where there is no ‘chazown,’ the people perish.” So I challenge you: do you have your own personal chazown? Do you have chazown for your family? What about chazown for Wesley and the UMC? Expand the idea of chazown to different areas of your life. Find and follow your chazown. - Blanche Wesley UMC Newsletter EASTER SUNDAY—Help us flower the cross and celebrate the resurrection of Christ! April 2022

Wesley United Methodist Church March 2022 Newsletter What’s inside: From the Desk of Pastor Zeke UMW & UMM News New Sunday School Book Study

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Preparation Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the Kingdom of Heaven! He was the one of whom Isaiah the prophet spoke when he said: the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight. -Matthew 3:2-3 As we move into this Lenten season, we are invited into a time of preparation and anticipation. Lent is comprised of the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter not counting Sunday’s. Lent invites the faithful into a spiritual journey to experience God in more meaningful ways. Lent, within the liturgical calendar, remembers the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before beginning his ministry. As sacrificial acts, many people will “give up” something in the Lenten season as a discipline of sacrifice. For many, this is a meaningful way to observe Lent. Another common practice of Lent, is to “take up” a new healthy habit or practice with the goal of deepening your relationship with God. Both of these practices can be very helpful in enriching the Lenten journey and holds the potential to yield bountiful results. However, observing Lent will only be meaningful to the one who observes it. It is an opportunity for each of us. I hope you will choose to take this journey as an individual trying to follow Jesus. Also, I hope, collectively, that we as the church can unite around this effort knowing that God will bless us in the process. So may we all, in this Lenten season, prepare our hearts, our souls, and our lives to experience God in deeper ways. -Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2022 UMW, UMM, Facility Info Page 2 All men are encouraged and welcome to join in the fellowship hall. Making Change in Our Community The UMW ladies had the pleasure of meeting and sharing a meal at Bob & Wanda’s Wagon Wheel in Barling with special guest speaker Rev. DeeDee Autry. UMW meets once a month and all ladies are welcome to join. Kimball Organ Norma Strang has a Kimball Organ that has been in her family since it was new. If an individual or small church needs one she is willing to give it to them. If interested call 479-646-9329. Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2022 We are collecting Change Jar donations for the month on Sunday, March 6th. All donations collected will go the Community Rescue Mission.

Baby Giovanni, Volunteer Opportunities Page 3 One Council NEWS A Word from 1 Council Chair With the start of Lent on March 2, Ash Wednesday, One Council joined with all of Wesley’s congregation to use this important season of the church year to reflect on personal spiritual development. At the February 17 monthly meeting, our “Coach” Zeke encouraged the gathering to recognize that each individual person is a valued part of the Wesley “team,” with a necessary function/talent or gift, for Wesley’s ultimate good health. He urged each body member to recognize his/her value in how well our Church can operate. A body/team needs every single part to be at its optimum best health. Zeke urged each body/team member to recognize his/her value in how well our Church can operate. I Corinthians 12 reminds us to value all the differences within the congregation/team. What an opportunity the Lenten Season is to develop positive spiritual muscular health for our Wesley body/team! Thank you, “Coach” Zeke! Go Team!! -Blanche REMINDER!! New book study group begins March 6th and runs through April 10th during the Sunday School hour 10:30-11:30 in the Fellowship Hall. The book being discussed is “He Chose the Nails: What God Did to Win Your Heart” by Max Lucado. Each session will include a 15 minute video of Max Lucado sharing his book, followed by group discussion/fellowship time. Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2022

“Above all, show sincere love to each other, because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 Wesley United Methodist Church February 2022 Newsletter What’s inside: From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Baby Gio’s Baptism Gospel Discipleship

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Uncertain times necessitate faith. Faith grows feet in the midst of strife and struggle. If we are honest, during the easiest times of life, faith can seem like a mere accessory. However, when everything falls apart, faith becomes our life-blood hope. It becomes that which carries us through, enabling us to endure, persevere, and even grow. I believe that when we dare to clasp onto our faith, a faith which tells us that “God is God and that we are not”, we begin a journey into the Divine Imagination. Our imagination is one of our most unique attributes. Unfortunately, we often are taught that imagination is a useful attribute of childhood and must be subjugated as we age. I disagree. Our imagination is priceless and necessary to a full and wonderful life. When you add faith to the attribute of imagination, you get the most powerful image that we will ever have or know. We see that image most concretely in the image of God Jesus bore to the world. I believe the Divine Imagination may look different to each person but bears the following characteristics in common:  God loves all of us- simple statement on the surface but if we are to begin to fully “realize” this statement we must believe that all people (like yourself or different) bear the image of God.  God never gives up on us and desires to dwell in relationship with all of humanity.  Jesus ushered in a clearer understanding of what it means to be a child of God- born in God’s image, grew up, struggled, experienced God’s presence through angels, was baptized, lived and led as a humble, loving, wise, and persistent resistance to the powers of the day, lived faithfully even to the bitter end of his life, found and displayed for the world that death is not the end of the story. If you bear the name of Christ as a Christian, you are in covenant with God. This covenant holds that you will strive to love God with heart, soul mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. So who is our neighbor? Everyone. You carry the hope and belief that today’s reality is not the last chapter of history. It is our collective belief that God wins in the end so today’s reality is not the end of the chapters of humanity. This gift of faith and imagination afford us a tenacious hope that transcends the despair of the day. Welcome the gift of Divine Imagination into your life. In doing so, we will all be better. -Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2022 UMW, UMM, Facility Info Page 2 Facility Information UMW invite all the ladies to their monthly meeting on Monday, February 21, at Bob & Wanda’s Wagon Wheel in Barling at 6:30pm. Rev. Dee Dee Autry will be the featured speaker. Evening Stars collected 20 pairs of socks, 33 hats, and 48 pairs of gloves for kids in need at Carnall Elementary. Thank you to everyone for your donations. In December the custodians found the double glass doors to the Fellowship Hall not properly locked. I think that was just before the vandals got in the Fellowship Hall and classrooms and trashed every classroom. Found water running in a lavatory in the men’s bathroom by the kitchen. Found several paper towels and a large amount of glitter in a commode in the ladies bathroom by the kitchen. The custodians also found a key left in a lock of one of the exterior doors. Please, let's be better stewards of our property. Thank you, Harley Making Change in Our Community The Wesley men will be having a men’s breakfast on Saturday, February 12th at 8:00am. All men are encouraged to attend and enjoy a time of fellowship and good food. If you have any questions or would like further information, you may contact Joe Collinson—479-420-3909 or Steve Christian—479-420-4836 Wesley UMC Newsletter We are collecting Change Jar donations for the month on Sunday, February 6th. All donations collected will go to the purchase of food for the Blessing Box. February 2022

Baby Giovanni, Volunteer Opportunities Page 3 On January 16, Wesley celebrated the Baptism of baby Giovanni Jesus Figueroa. It was a beautiful and joyous occasion. Volunteer Opportunities The church is more than just the facilities. It’s the worship service, Sunday School classes, and all the programs that serve our members as well as the community we live in. In order to keep all parts of the church thriving we need each member to share their gifts and talents. We have volunteer opportunities in worship, missions, and music. If you feel called to help in any of those areas please contact Joanne Peterson or Carrie Miller. Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2022 NEW Book Study Group Page 4 Each participant should have a Study Guide: “He Chose the Nails Study Guide” @ $8.00 Max Lucado’s book “He Chose the Nails: What God Did to Win Your Heart” @ $12.00 Place Study Guide & Book Orders with Suzanne Gibson Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2022

One Council Page 5 One Council NEWS 2022 is a Year for You!! You Were Made for this Moment—Courage for Today and Hope for Tomorrow, a book based on Queen Esther’s story, written by Max Lucado, inspired and encouraged me as I completed the first month of a new year. 2022 holds some great challenges for us all, including church life as we live together in Christian Fellowship within Wesley UMC. While supporting our Wesley family, we are also to reach into our neighborhood, city, state, and beyond with the Good News of the Gospel. Your One Council is striving to do just that as we balance and weave together the work of The Church with the work of Like in the World. We need and want you to work with us by sharing your talents and finances in order to keep life balanced and fruitful, so I encourage you to seriously consider saying “yes” to opportunities for service as they come along throughout this year. Reading the story of Queen Esther from the Bible in the book bearing her name will refresh her fascinating story for you. Even though her book never mentions God’s name, his presence is strongly felt throughout its pages. *A sincere “thank you” is extended to both Donna Moreton and Rick Schmitz for their service on the One Council as their time was completed at the close of 2021. Donna has agreed to continue sending out prayer concerns through email this year. *”Thank you” is also extended to Lois Wade and Debbie Green for their work in assembling Communion packets this past year. “Thank you” to Peggy Higgins, who has said “yes” to serving in that capacity this year. *We look forward to Scouting Sunday on February 13, when our Scouts will be present to assist with the Worship Service. Wesley UMC Newsletter Continued on page 6 February 2022 One Council Cont. Page 6 *Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris conducted leadership training for One Council members of both Wesley and Cavanaugh on January 22 in the Wesley Fellowship Hall. She identified 4 styles of leadership based on her book, Gospel Discipleship, and helped the group see how knowing these characteristics can help our churches work together harmoniously. You can check out a copy of Dr. Morris’ Gospel Discipleship book from the church office during office hours— Monday-Thursday, 9-11. Thank you, Michelle, for coming and leading that for us. In His Service, Blanche Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2022

Iceagedon Page 7 Iceagedon 2022 Iceagedon 2022, a winter storm that rolled through Arkansas yesterday, has iced/sleeted us in so that we literally can’t go anywhere. If it warms up enough, we may be able to get out later today; but odds are it will be sometime tomorrow. For someone like me, losing this much control could be anxiety producing. However, the disruption imposed by Iceagedon 2022 has actually been a blessing because it has helped me see things in new ways. Like how often I take for granted having a warm home and plenty of food. How Covid has allowed me to perfect the art of Zooming so I can continue to get done what I need to get done. And how cold weather plays a necessary role in the Arkansas’ ecosystem for the health and well-being of trees and plants, as well as controlling insects this coming summer. Iceagedon 2022 also has helped me see my relationship with God in new ways. Like how easily I can fall into the trap of asking God to keep my life ordered in ways that make me comfortable, when what I really need to do is ask God to disrupt my life so that I can see things in new ways that will help me grow in my faith and my faithfulness. And that’s why I’m going to try a new prayer over the next several days: Lord, disrupt my life in just the ways You know I need. - Bishop Gary Mueller 1 Council has a meeting, February 17 6:30pm, Win One Classroom Anyone is welcome to attend Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2022

Wesley United Methodist Church January 2022 Newsletter What’s inside: From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Welcome Baby Girl Cotton Donation to General Fund

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke “The truly happy person doesn’t follow wicked advice, doesn’t stand on the road of sinners, and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful. Instead of doing those things, the person loves the LORD’s instruction, and they recite God’s instruction day and night! They are like a tree replanted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don’t fade. Whatever they do succeeds.” Psalms 1:1-3 A new year is dawning for us all. Goodbye 2021. This time of transition affords us all unique opportunities which are not always so easily before us. First, let us take a quick inventory. What were the top five best things that happened in your life during 2021? Put those things in a list and hold on to it. Remind yourself of those things often; doing so will help ground you in a life that is filled with gratitude. We are all better people when we live life from a place of gratitude. Now for the other side, the dark side, that long list of all the things you did wrong: all the mistakes, all the brokenness, heartbreak, sickness, and struggle. Most of us are really adept at holding onto all these things. We become so good at this, we end up lugging the weighty baggage of past pain and mistakes and so moving anywhere forward is really challenging. Now, this is a perfect opportunity to lighten the load a bit. Make a list of all these things and with a prayer discard it in the trash. Let go and try to start fresh. Then return to and read over those top five things of 2021. Remember and reinforce their meaning and value. Second, take a moment to think about and name the things and people you are truly grateful for. Spend a few moments thanking God for those things and for those people. Grateful lives move forward more freely. Third, without confines, in prayer to God, offer your hope for the year to come. A new year brings with it the opportunity of new goals and new aspirations. Do not be afraid to dream big. Lay your hopes at the feet of the Lord. After six months, it is believed that only about 46% of New Year’s resolutions still hold. While resolutions can be helpful, I would like to invite you to view the New Year through the lens of faith. We remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 28, “I will never leave you.” We should claim that promise and believe God journeys alongside us into 2022. Cont. on page 2 Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2022 Pastor Zeke Cont., Welcome Baby Girl Cotton Page 2 From Pastor Zeke Cont. And so we do not journey alone. God is with us. Also, we know the vocational work faith brings: love of God and love of neighbor. So, we have hope and purpose and are liberated by the grace of God. With all these things - faith, past failures, past joys, future hopes - 2022 is bursting with possibilities and potential. Claim that promise. But lastly, as we leave 2021 and a step into 2022, offer a hopeful and humble prayer: “O God, in all these things, all my hopes, all my dreams, all my life in the year to come; not my will, but Yours be done. Amen” - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Our accompanist, Deborah Cotton and her husband Daryl welcomed their beautiful baby girl, into the world December 29th. 8lbs, 20” long. Welcome to the world & to the Wesley Family Charlotte May!!!! Duck Gumbo Night Saturday, January 15 6:00PM—Wesley Fellowship Hall Good fun, food, and fellowship! Happy, Happy, Happy! We had a wonderful Advent season. Thank you to everyone who helped decorate the sanctuary and participated in services in any way. The music, the messages, the fellowship and being able to worship together as we celebrated the birth of Christ was truly magical. Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2022

General Fund Donation Page 3 A donation by Louise Finney has been made to the General Fund in Memory/Honor of: Jack Cates Iris & Bedell Hightower Bob Longley Margaret & Dee Walton Janie & Hoyle Hightower Bonnie & Paul Kinder Jerry West Betty & Bob Reather Pullen Family Donna Dinsmore Sally & Jim Fiser Mary Green Anna Bateman Carol & Ronnie Bateman Mattie Barton Gloria Cates & Family Donna & Monroe Moreton Ellen Brown & Chris Bates Etta & George Jensen Shirley & Johnny Wilson Sally & Dave Rickard Suzanne Harmon Gibson Victor Green Harley & Norma Strang Kathy Sharp Plant Lois Gray Wade Linda & Jack Sides Linda Barton 1 Council has a meeting, January 20 6:30pm, Win One Classroom Anyone is welcome to attend Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2022

Wesley United Methodist Church December 2021 Newsletter What’s inside: From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Thanksgiving Celebration Missions Update

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke “Gifted” ‘Tis the season to figure out what gift you are going to give the significant people in your life. Are you one of those amazing gift givers? You know, the ones who have been watching and planning and inquiring so that they can find the perfect meaningful gift for someone they care about. As I reflect on all the gifts I have received in my lifetime, some of the most meaningful gifts have not been the most expensive. Mostly the most amazing gifts I have received were made by others for me or came with a meaningful story as to why that gift was given. Gift-giving comes with its share of stresses and challenges. This Advent, as we journey yet again toward the manger and celebrate the coming of the Christ-child, I want to invite you to think of God’s greatest gift to the world. Why is the gift of Jesus especially meaningful to you this year? In our world, there is so much division, frustration, anger, violence, and unrest; how can we the church offer our neighbors a different kind of gift? How do we embody Jesus to our neighbors? Christmas time is a perfect time to invite a neighbor or friend or acquaintance to church. People are more apt to attend a church service during Christmastime. I would like for each of us to invite one person to church this Advent. They may say no and that’s ok. However, what if they say yes. We are often fearful about inviting others but this Christmas I invite you to reach out to someone else. Invite them to come worship with you. Be brave and act on faith. If we all join together and do this, it holds great potential. I believe the gift of Jesus to the world is the greatest gift ever given. Jesus is the gift that never tarnishes or grows old. Jesus is the reason for the season. So may we all have the courage and the faith to invite others to experience that same extravagant gift of God’s Son. Won’t you share this gift? -Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2021 Facility Information, UMW, Cantata Page 2 Thank you to everyone who attended the baby shower or sent gifts for Deborah, Daniel and their baby girl. Facility Information The ugly water pond has been replaced with flower bed with fall flowers and plants. A little more work to be done, then it will be finished. A reminder that the lights over the steps going down to the covered walk are on a timer. The lights under the covered walk are on a wall switch the needs to be turned on when arriving for a night meeting or activity, but turned off when you leave. Christmas Cantata Sunday December 19 during 9:30AM service. We hope to see your there! UMW is collecting scarves, hats, gloves and socks for kids in our local community who need them. You may place any you bring on the lattice in the hallway just down from the office. Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2021

Thanksgiving Celebration Page 3 A good time was had by all who attended the Thanksgiving gathering. It was great to see everyone there. Thank you to One Council for organizing and running the evening and to Dr. McClure for being our keynote speaker. A Christmas List with a Twist When I was a kid, I would engage in the tradition passed down from generation to generation of preparing a Christmas list for Santa of things I wanted. I long ago ceased that practice, but think maybe it’s time to embrace it again – with a twist. The twist is that my list won’t be filled with stuff I want. Rather, it will contain those things I pray others will receive. Prayers for healing for those who are ill. Prayers of hope for those who despair. Prayers for wholeness for those whose lives are broken. And prayers for all that they will come to know the Lord Jesus like they have never known him before. I wonder what might happen if you were to create your own Christmas list of prayers for others. While I’m not certain about the outcome, I know this. Life would change for a lot of people. And it would change for the better. - Bishop Mueller Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2021 Financial Letter Page 4 Dear Wesley Family, In this Thanksgiving season, I am so thankful for each of you and the blessing you are to me and to our church. Everyone at Wesley is an essential part of the church. I have found Wesley to be a church filled with loving, faithful Christians who welcome others with open arms. Wesley continues to be a powerful presence in our community through our work with the blessing box food, school backpack program, and community garden. We will deliver fifteen boxes of food for a Thanksgiving feast to families at Carnall Elementary. We continue to host the scouting ministries at Wesley which are a true blessing to many young people in our community. We support local and national ministries through our communion offerings. Wesley is making a difference as the hands and feet of Jesus to the world. This Sunday, November 14th, we had our first communal meal since the outbreak of Covid. It was so great to gather together as a church family and laugh and enjoy the fellowship. We continue to improve the facilities at Wesley. Most recently, we had all of the carpet in the hallways of the church and the aisles in the sanctuary cleaned. They look wonderful. These are all good things about our church of which we should be so proud. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, churches across the state have struggled in many ways. I have been so proud of Wesley for keeping the faith through this difficult time. Members of Wesley have been patient as we tried to figure out how to be the church in this moment. We are steadily coming into what will be our new normal for church. However, we have faced some loss and challenges over the past year. Since October 2020, Wesley has lost twelve faithful members. We have also not had anyone join our church in the same time. Additionally, over the last six months, our average weekly offering has been $3,008.47 while it has taken roughly $3,334.27 per week to keep the church running. These expenses include utilities, insurance, salaries, and other regular expenses from the general budget. This estimate does not include capitol improvement or other unexpected expenses. The current balances in our accounts are: General Budget Capitol Improvements Emergency Mission Memorials $4,128.45 $8,840.83 $2,748.87 $6,650.95 I give you these figures to be transparent about the financial reality of Wesley, to encourage -Financial Letter Continued on Next Page Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2021

Financial Letter, Advent Wreath Page 5 -Financial Letter Continued you to continue in your faithful giving, and to ask you to be in prayer for the mission and ministry of our church. You are essential part of Wesley. Thank you for your continued generosity and support. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns that you would like to discuss. Keep the Faith Strong, Rev. Zeke Allen The Advent wreath began as a German and Scandinavian home devotional practice used to mark the four weeks of Advent. Families would light a candle for each past week and the current week at their dinner or evening time of prayer. The configuration of candles, whether in a line or a circle, did not matter. Neither did the color of the candles (all colors are used in homes in Europe). What mattered was the marking of time and the increase of light each week in the face of increasing darkness as the winter solstice approached. As Advent wreaths began to be used by congregations on Sundays in some places in Europe and America beginning in the late 19th century, several adaptations were made to make them work better in public worship spaces. Candles needed to be larger and more uniform than the "daily candles" handmade or purchased for home use. They also needed to be more uniform in color to fit with other décor in the sanctuary. That is why candles used in the Advent wreath are usually purple or blue, to coordinate with color of the paraments used during this season. This shift in context from home to public use also made it important in the eyes of some for the candles to be given a meaning more that simply marking time and increasing light. This led to special ceremonies being developed for lighting these special candles each week. -Advent Wreath Cont. Next Page Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2021 Advent Wreath Cont. Page 6 -Advent Wreath Cont. As this practice began to catch on by the mid-twentieth century, several church supply houses who sold Advent wreaths and candles for public worship also developed resources, banners, and bulletin covers assigning a theme to each week, and thus each candle, based on scriptures from the one-year lectionaries used at that time. Those themes were Hope, Love, joy, and peace. Today, almost no one uses those one-year lectionaries, so those themes may not always fit the scriptures we hear in worship. The one exception is the Third Sunday of Advent, where the current lectionaries have continued to support the centuries old observance of "Gaudete" or "Joy Sunday." That is why church supply houses often offer rose or pink colored candles for the wreath for use on this day. So how may we talk about the meaning of the Advent wreath today? We can reclaim the original home use of marking time with the hope of increasing light as we await the return of Christ, that day when "The city no longer has need of the sun or the moon to shine upon it, because the glory of God illumines it, and its lamp is the lamb." And we can develop meanings or themes for each week based on the focus of the scriptures themselves. After all, the candles and the wreath are an accessory, not an end in themselves. Their meaningfulness comes from how we use them to point toward Christ, the world's true light, who was, and is, and is to come. REMINDER—1 Council has a meeting December 16th at 6:30 in the Win-One classroom across from the kitchen. We will reflect on a year passed & look forward to a new year. Anyone is welcome to attend 1 Council meetings. Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2021

Missions Page 7 Missions Don’t forget to bring in your change jars on Sunday, December 5th. All change collected that day will go to the Community Rescue Mission. Thank you to everyone who donated food items for our Thanksgiving Meal Kits. We were able to provide 15 families from Carnall Elementary food for their Thanksgiving meal. Wesley truly made a difference in so many lives in our community this Thanksgiving. Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2021

Wesley United Methodist Church November 2021 Newsletter What’s inside: Christmas Cantata Information Thanksgiving Celebration Sweet Potato “Harvest”

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke “Diversity and Unity” “There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; and there are different ministries and the same Lord, and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 In my recent visit to the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS for the COR Leadership Conference, I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Bob Goff speak. Bob Goff is a man of many talents, one of which is being a powerful motivational speaker. Though I took lots of notes during his presentation, one thing Bob said that has stuck with me is: “Oneness is not the same as sameness” Yes!! In a world where we are experiencing unprecedented division and polarization, we all need to hear these words. I believe that we were all crafted in the image of God and that each of us is of sacred worth. This belief comes not only from the testament of the biblical witness but also through my experience with people. As people who live out lives within the church, we all have God-given gifts and abilities that are necessary for the church to thrive. What are some of your God-given gifts, talents, and abilities? How are utilizing those gifts to serve within the church? In what ways might you better serve which utilizes those gifts? So we are all gifted by God. These gifts, talents and abilities can be so different from others. In our scripture from 1 Corinthians, Paul is addressing a church who has allowed their different gifts and abilities and experiences of God to cause division. In chapter 12, Paul reminds the Corinthian church of the unity with which God calls. That unity is made possible by the presence of God in their midst through the Holy Spirit. I have appreciated our Methodist heritage of diversity from the onset. John Wesley and George Whitfield had longstanding arguments over theology and ministry. At Whitfield’s funeral, Wesley preached: “There are many doctrines of a less essential nature... in these we may think and let think... we may ‘agree to disagree.’ But, meantime, let us hold fast to the essentials.” I believe, that in this time of great cultural polarization, we must learn to celebrate our diversity as we unify Continued on page 2 Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2021 From Pastor Zeke Cont., Baby Shower Info Page 2 - From Pastor Zeke Continued ourselves firmly upon the foundational tenets of faith. In doing so, I believe we will be able to experience both the unity that is found through Christ and the diversity of gifts that God has bestowed on each of us. Let us celebrate this unity and our diversity, in doing so, we shall more clearly embody what Christians should be about. - Keep the Faith Strong, Facility Information We are still in the process of improving and maintaining our property. Fall flowers have been planted. Another small tree added to the median at the East parking lot. One more to be added. Painting of the facia board on the 5 high arches to begin this week weather permitting. Cleaning the rest of the carpet scheduled for November 1st. Lawn maintenance company to remove the waterfall and add a flower bed to that area. All 36 of the light bulbs in the hanging lights in the sanctuary have been replaced with LED bulbs that are more energy efficient, using 135 watts instead of 930 watts. Thanks, Harley, Trustee Chairman Baby Shower for Deborah Ellis Date: Sunday, November 21 Time: 2:30pm Where: Wesley Fellowship Hall Registered at: Walmart & Amazon Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2021

Thanksgiving Celebration Page 3 AN IMPORTANT INVITATION FROM YOUR ONE COUNCIL With the season of Thanksgiving upon us, a celebration with the theme “GIVING THANKS WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS” is planned for Sunday, November 14, 5:00 p.m., focusing on FUN, FOOD, FELLOWSHIP, and INSPIRATION. You are being asked to bring your favorite party food to share with your friends. Game master, Suzanne Gibson, will have some original fun games oriented towards giving thanks and being grateful for our many blessings. Music Director Jessica Whitekiller has some tunes you will enjoy, and guest Dr. Phillip McClure will be inspiring us with thoughts promoting gratefulness for the many ways God has so richly blessed us as individuals as well as a Church. There is no charge for this party; volunteers have donated decorations and supplies, however, we will be taking an “Offering of Gratitude” to defray Dr. McClure’s expenses. Blanche West is preparing a photo display for the party and is taking individual shots of as many Wesley members as she can get in the next couple of weeks, so be prepared with your best smile when you get to church on Sunday mornings. In order to have enough seats ready, we do need reservations by Wednesday, Nov. 10. You may call the church office at 479-646-9702 and leave a message with your name and how many will be coming; or email wesleyumcfs@yahoo.com letting us know you are coming and how many will be coming; or text Blanche at 479-651-0179. Need a ride? Please let a One Council Member know. With covid restrictions being lifted, we are excited to be able to gather to enjoy giving thanks with grateful hearts. Be there, or be square! Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2021 UMM, UMW Page 4 UMM hosted a golf outing for Wesley & Cavanaugh members. Everyone had a great time and apparently we have some semi-pro golfers on our hands. UMW is collecting scarves, hats, gloves and socks for kids in our local community who need them. You may place any you bring on the lattice in the hallway just down from the office. Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2021

Thanks giving Is a Way of Living Page 5 Thanks Giving Is a Way of Living November 2021 | Arkansas United Methodist I love Thanksgiving for more sentimental reasons than you possibly care about. That’s why I’ve decided not to bore you with my ‘Top Ten Favorite Things about Thanksgiving’ list this year. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to talk about Thanksgiving. I am. Well, sort of. Kind of. Actually, I’m going to talk about Thanks Giving. We have allowed Thanksgiving – which is a holiday filled with all kinds of beloved traditions – to replace Thanks Giving – which is a way of life grounded in faith, reflection and gratitude. Be absolutely clear. I’m not advocating getting rid of Thanksgiving. That would be a travesty! Rather, I’m advocating that we get a whole lot more serious about embracing thanks giving as a way of living. I understand that even suggesting this is tantamount to opening a giant can of worms. After all, how can we give thanks with integrity when someone we love is suffering, our lives are falling apart or it seems there is conflict everywhere we turn? It’s hard. Really hard. Maybe even impossible. But doing so is essential in our walk as Jesus’ followers. And it’s very doable. Absolutely doable. All it takes is a willingness and – as the old saying goes – practice, practice, practice. Start by embracing an essential understanding. Thanks Giving is not primarily something you do when you feel good about things. It is something you intentionally do all the time regardless of what’s going on. Then do the obvious. Find things for which to be thankful. While this can be hard when life is falling apart, I have discovered through a great deal of trial and error that you can always find something for which to be thankful. It’s not enough, however, just to find things. You also have to voice your thanks. And when you do, you’ll discover more and more things you’re thankful for, articulate your thanks more clearly than you imagined possible, and discover that your thanks is becoming deeper and more genuine. Next, make the most natural shift in the world by viewing your life primarily through the eyes of your heart. This enables you to discern exactly how God is using everything that happens in life – be it good, bad or in-between – to shape you into the person God has created you to become. Of course, there is only one possible outcome when you start seeing things in a brand new way. You are joyfully compelled to give all thanks, honor, praise and glory to God. And so you do. Not just silently. But so someone else hears it, too. That’s when it hits you like a ton of bricks. Thanks Giving changes your attitude. Which changes how you deal with people. Which changes you. Which changes how you handle life – especially the difficult parts. And that’s why Thanks Giving is a way of living that needs to be at the very heart of all your living. Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2021 Missions Page 6 Missions Thanksgiving Meal Donations Wesley will be providing Thanksgiving meal boxes to all the kids at Carnall Elementary who receive weekend backpack snack bags every week. That is 15 families total. We are requesting certain items each month to help fill those boxes. In November we are asking for rolls, cookies, & loafs of bread. Since these are perishable items, we are asking that you please bring those items November 14th. As of right now we have enough of everything we asked for to provide each family with more than one of each item. Thank you all so much for your generous hearts and giving spirit. Don’t forget to bring in your change jars on Sunday, November 7th. All change collected that day will go toward the purchase of hams for our Thanksgiving meal kits. Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2021 Community Garden - Thank you to everyone who came out and helped bag sweet potatoes during our “harvest”. Since our garden did not produce what we were hoping for a very generous farmer in Wynne donated 2,000lbs. All we had to do was bag them!

Upcoming Events Page 7 Christmas Cantata Sunday December 19 If anyone is interested in singing or playing an instrument during the cantata please contact Jessica We have a lot of talent at Wesley, we would love to share it with everyone. REMINDER—1 Council has a meeting November 18 at 6:30 in the Win-One classroom across from the kitchen. Wesley’s music director, Jessica Whitekiller performed her Senior Recital at First Presbyterian Church, October 30th. Everyone who attended enjoyed it thoroughly. Congratulations Jessica on your accomplishment. Wesley is so proud of you! Looking for ways to serve? Worship Committee: Joanne Peterson UMW: Patrice Hulsey UMM: Steve Christian Missions Committee: Carrie Miller HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2021

Wesley United Methodist Church October 2021 Newsletter What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke Deborah’s Baby Shower Missions

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 As United Methodists, we are to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” How good are we doing with this mission? I believe, when it comes to making disciples, we do an excellent job within the church of forming faith of the disciples we have. We have a rich heritage of education and faith development. We also do an excellent job at engaging in mission within our communities and world. These are all things that we can be incredibly proud of. They are certainly things I am proud of as your pastor. Matthew 28:19 -20 are the last instructions Jesus gives his followers. You have probably heard it called the “Great Commission.” In Christendom, these final words of Jesus are the impetus for Christian evangelism. How are we, as Methodists, doing when it comes to inviting folks into the Faith and into the church? As a whole, pretty tragically. Consider this statistic: “the average United Methodist member invites only one person to church every 38 years.” That is a LOW bar for living out the Great Commission! So what are we to do with this reality? I know that you each love your church. I know you have experienced blessing upon blessing because you are part of this faith community. The confronting question must become, “Is my church and my faith good enough to share?” I believe in the power of faith in Christ. I also believe in the power of being part of a faith community. In addition, I believe that the Methodist message of a God of grace and a faith that becomes action in ministry to the world, is exactly what people want and need. We just need the courage to invite. We don’t have to have all the answers, just offer the invitation. So may this be our prayer today and in the days to come: “Lord, give me the courage and the words to invite someone to church. Help me share the bountiful blessing that faith has brought me.” Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2021 Christmas Cantata, Baby Shower Info Page 2 Since we are still unable to have a full choir but want to put on a joyful Christmas Cantata we are planning one with solos and small ensembles rather than a full choir. If you are interested in being a part of the cantata please contact Jessica for more information. We have some amazing talents at Wesley and are so excited for this. REMINDER—1 Council has a meeting October 21 at 6:30 in the Win-One classroom across from the kitchen. Baby Shower for Deborah Ellis Date: Sunday, November 21 Time: 2:30pm Where: Wesley Fellowship Hall Registered at: Walmart & Amazon Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2021

Missions Page 3 Missions Community Garden - Unfortunately the garden at Carnall Elementary did not produce as many sweet potatoes this year as we had hoped or planned. A sweet potato farmer in Wynne has generously donated 2,000lbs of sweet potatoes. The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance will deliver those on Friday so on Saturday we will have a Sweet Potato Round-Up. Everyone is welcome to come out Saturday morning at 9:00am to bag and handout sweet potatoes. There are sweet potatoes in the garden to pick so if you wish, you can still pick those as well. Change Jars - July: Blessing Box $224.83 August & September: Children’s Shelter $263.94 October: Ingathering $135.65 Thank you to everyone who has saved their change and brought it in each month. We are truly helping to Make CHANGE in our community. Our next collection date will be November 7th. Thanksgiving Meal Donations Wesley will be providing Thanksgiving meal boxes to all the kids at Carnall Elementary who receive weekend backpack snack bags every week. We are requesting certain items each month to help fill those boxes. In October we are asking for Boxed Stuffing, Instant Mashed Potatoes, & Gravy. All donations can be left in the box outside the sanctuary or in the office. Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2021

Wesley United Methodist Church September 2021 Newsletter What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke Sunday School Information Scouts Update

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Dodging Elephants One weekend during college, a friend and I had gone to Camp Ozark to lead worship. We were headed home late Saturday night. All of a sudden my brakes went on and the car came to a complete stop. There sat in front of us a huge bear. He was sitting on his rear and just looking at us. It was a standoff. There was no going around him. We were stuck. “Church is too often the most risky place to be spiritually honest” – Peter Enns Stuck-ness is an inevitable element of life. I grieve because the church has narrowed the scope of faithful living to a nice, neat life. As long as you’re not too messy, disruptive, inappropriate, showered… the list of pre-req’s go on and on. This element of church is pervasive within and also well documented in the minds of those who do not go to church. As I read Jesus and study his interactions with others, there is a radical, stipulation-demolishing, profiling denying, boundary crossing, and radical grace about him. Jesus was more concerned about meeting people where they were- literally and spiritually- than tending to any precept of image. This radical accepting nature of the church has been misplaced- not lost- misplaced. Truthfully- there will always been elephants in the room- un-dodgeable, gigantic elephants. I long for a church that welcomes the elephant along with the person. For in doing so, we will be closer to a grace-filled church than ever before. After all, we are not here for a place where the righteous gather to talk about how we got everything right, we gather to acknowledge our brokenness and seek the redemptive love afforded us by God through Christ. I pray that each of you might experience that love and, in turn, share it with everyone you meet. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter September 2021 Sunday School Info, Thanksgiving Meal Donations Page 2 Testaments. The lessons do not study the Bible in book order, but the units are designed to cover the entire Bible over a period of time. Everyone is welcome to join one of our Adult Bible Study classes, which meet after Sunday morning worship. Whether you are new to Bible Study, or have gone to Sunday school all your life, young of age or just young at heart – there is a place for you in our small groups at Wesley. The Alive class, led by Clyde Bates, meets in the Gleaners classroom at the bottom of the stairs. Across the sidewalk in the Fellowship Hall wing, Patrice Hulsey leads the children’s class, and Suzanne Gibson meets with the Win-One class for coffee and discussion across from the kitchen. The fall quarter starts Sunday, September 5th, and is centered on the theme “Belong.” The lessons in this unit look at the various way that the Bible makes clear how we belong to God’s people even when we appear to be outsiders. Editor, Jan Turrentine, reminds us that “our response to God’s gracious salvation means responding to others. God plans a future with hope for everyone, and God chooses to use us in bringing about that future.” The Adult Bible Studies material covers scripture from the Old and New Wesley UMC Newsletter September 2021 REMINDER—1 Council has a meeting September 16th at 6:30 in the Win-One classroom across from the kitchen. Thanksgiving Meal Donations Wesley will be providing Thanksgiving meal boxes to all the kids at Carnall Elementary who receive weekend backpack snack bags every week. We are requesting certain items each month to help fill those boxes. In September we are asking for canned corn, canned green beans, and canned cranberry sauce. All donations can be left in the box outside the sanctuary or in the office.

Scouts Update Page 3 Greetings from Pack 19, Pack 19 has wrapped up our summer activities and embarked on a full schedule for the school year. This summer we built and launched air powered rockets, did an egg drop contest to see who could build the most secure vessel for a raw egg to be dropped without breaking, went swimming at Hardscrabble Country Club, held a Raingutter Regatta, racing boats that the scouts built themselves and had a snake presentation to get some snake handling experience. On August 24th we held our first meeting of the new year with many eager scouts and parents ready for new adventures and experiences. August 28th our own Cubmaster Burt Jones organized a Community Flag Retirement Ceremony at the Fort Smith Amphitheater. This event gives the public a chance to see how the United States flag is properly retired after it’s useful service life. We invite all interested children to come visit Pack 19 at 6:00 pm Tuesday evening to experience Scouting for themselves. Yours in Scoutings Best, Justin P. Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter September 2021

Wesley United Methodist Church August 2021 Newsletter What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke Missions News COVID-19 Update

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Follow the Leader “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 3:14 Did you ever play the game “Simon Says?” It is a really difficult game to follow only the instructions that “Simon says” and not to follow any other instructions. With a great “Simon”, who is crafty in their misdirection, it is almost impossible. Sometimes the Christian faith can seem like one big game of Simon Says with Jesus playing the role of “Simon” and us trying to follow his teaching with so many other teachings, distractions, and pulls going on around us and within us. In church terms, a follower of Jesus is known as a disciple. Those who practice following Jesus in their lives practice discipleship. Disciples of Jesus seek to follow his commands and teachings in word and deed. Easy to say but often difficult to do. People will often articulate a moment or a process where they experienced Jesus for the first time. This can also be understood as when you first became a disciple. In our church, what are our discipleship ministries? Sunday School or Bible Study are two of our discipleship ministries. Are there others? These are places where we engage in training to be deeper followers of Jesus Christ and structure systems to nurture this growth. In the next year, I would like to spend some time with each family/ individual in our church talking about discipleship. I believe that, through these conversations, we will begin to make clear what are to be our next steps as a church. There are four basic questions around discipleship that I will be asking. I believe these will help us clarify our vision and mission as disciples. The questions are: • When have you most felt like a disciple of Jesus? • What breaks your heart? • What makes your heart sing? • If you had unlimited money, time, and resources; what would you do? Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2021 Follow the Leader Cont., Baby Noah, UMM Follow the Leader Cont. Page 2 I invite you to each begin to think and pray about these questions, asking that God might give us all insight and discernment. These conversations and this work hold great potential for our church and, I believe, our living out our faith. My hope and prayer for you now and always is that you all experience true Shalom. So Shalom Ya’ll. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Welcome to the World Baby Noah! We cordially invite all men of the church to join us at Cavanaugh UMC for breakfast on Saturday, August 7th. There will be a brief devotional and lots of great food. We’ll meet at 7:30AM. Come on out for some great company and wholesome fellowship! If you need a ride, please call me at (479)420-4836, be happy to get you. - Steve Christian Three days after the baby shower, Noah James Welch made his entrance into the world, weighing 8lbs 13oz and 20 1/4 in. Baby, Mother and Father are well and at home. Thank you for the prayers, cards and gifts.—Twana Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2021

One Council News Page 3 1 Council NEWS One Council continues to move forward in 2021, “pressing on, reaching towards the goal God has set for us,” Philippians 3. What a flurry of activity we have seen since May, refreshing our physical campus and renewing our spirits as we have all pitched in and worked together to accomplish some much-needed clean-up and repairs/remodeling! I am reminded of how Jesus fed the 5,000 from the start of a few fish and loaves of bread: the necessary money was generated quickly, and the work is still going on! And we have had plenty of money and resources to get it done. Wesley has been blessed, indeed. What an honor to participate with so many of the Wesley Family as we came together “in one accord!" Now let’s work together and invite others to worship with us, either in-person (sporting a mask) or tuning in to fb live at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Our “biggest, most-important work” is sharing the love of Jesus and spreading the Gospel, and everyone is commissioned to do so. Each one invite one. Let’s “press on and reach for the goal that has been set for us.” The next One Council meeting will be the third Thursday, August 19, 6:30 p.m. Wesley’s One Council Members Lay Leader/Lay Delegate: Carrie Miller in the meeting room across the hall from the kitchen. All subcommittees are encouraged to meet before then to look at achievements so far this year as well as plans for the fall and winter months and be ready to report the progress. –Blanche West, One Council Chair Wesley UMC Newsletter Clyde Bates Amy Cates Gloria Cates Steve Christian Twana Collinson Suzanne Gibson Billy Higgins Patrice Hulsey Donna Moreton Jackie Nichols Joanne Peterson Rick Schmitz Harley Strang Blanche West August 2021 July 4th Celebration Page 4 Wesley and Cavanaugh enjoyed worshiping and sharing a meal together July 4th. Everyone had a great time and missed those who could not attend. Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2021

Missions Page 5 Missions Farmers Market - Below is the sorting schedule for July. Anyone is welcome to come help sort and deliver produce Saturdays at 11:30. August 7 - Wesley August 14 - Cavanaugh August 21 - Wesley August 28 - Cavanaugh Thank you to everyone who helped sort and deliver produce in July. Change Jars - We will collect again on August 8th with what’s collected going to The Children’s Shelter. Food Room - We have restocked the food room. If anyone would like to take a box of food to restock the blessing box throughout the week, please get with Carrie Miller and she will make sure you receive one. Community Garden - Thank you to the Southwest Times Record for the write up on the Community Garden at Carnall. Trefana even made the front page! If you have not read it there is a copy on the bulletin board in the Education Building or you can read it here. https://www.swtimes.com/story/ news/2021/07/14/improve-your-health-and-better -your-community-planting-seed/7888049002/ Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2021 COVID-19 Update, Shoal Creek Page 6 This week Wesley sent out an email and Bishop Mueller released a video with updated guidance concerning COVID-19. With deep concern and in order to protect our most vulnerable (our children under the age of 12) who are unable to receive the vaccine yet, Wesley and the Arkansas Conference of the UMC is recommending that anyone who attends worship in person and/or Sunday School wear a mask. Hopefully this will only be necessary for a short period of time. Bishop Mueller has requested 2 things for the sake of our children: 1. Get vaccinated if you have not yet been vaccinated. 2. Wear a mask at church and everywhere you go inside. We appreciate your patience, understanding and cooperation as we travel through these crazy times together. Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2021

Prayer Page 7 2200 Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901 The Wesley Newsletter goes out the first of each month. If you have anything you would like published in the next newsletter please contact Carrie Miller. Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2021

Wesley United Methodist Church July 2021 Newsletter What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke 1 Council News Bishop Mueller COVID-19 Update

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke “Bald Cheetah’s” “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” -Psalm 90:12 What is the most useful or valuable thing that you have? You might be tempted to respond with something you have that has the biggest cash value. Or, maybe something that carries the most nostalgia. Or, maybe something you worked for years to finally possess. Of course all of those things have value but are any of them the most valuable thing that you have? Pause for a moment. I remember this quote from a movie I watched long ago. It says “time is like a bald cheetah.” I know, I know- that is weird. As I become more “mature” in age, I have come to value the truth in this because time is like a bald cheetah. I have come to believe that one of the most valuable commodities that we have is time. That’s right- time. Have you ever said “I wish I had more time” or “I ran out of time”? It is on the surface a very strange concept to want or need “more time.” We have 7 days a week, 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in an hour, and so on…but there is never an occasion when there is suddenly more time. So what might we be getting at when we talk about needing more time? Sunday, during my sermon, I shared the quote that “procrastination is the thief of time.” This gets, at least partially, at our pickle with time. It is not so much the concept of time as it is the usage of our given time. We are stewards of the 24 hours we receive each day. We choose how it is used. Wisdom, when it come to our time, is knowing how to maximize and prioritize how we use our time. This is a life-long work-in-progress saga. All of us wrestle with how we use our time. I would say, at its core, this is a spiritual dilemma. We live in relationship with a God who, from God’s first creative work, created in a rhythm of time and space. The Jewish and Christian practice of Sabbath is in many ways a work to reestablish a balance of our usage of time. I want to share a few things that have helped me along the way with this concept. - Time is one of the most precious gifts we have so spend it wisely Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2021 Bald Cheetah’s Cont., Facility Information Page 2 Bald Cheetah’s Cont. - When you say yes to something new in your life you also, as a direct result, have said no to something else in your life and vice versa Ask this question: When others look at my life and see how I spend my time, what would they say I most value? Now the follow-up question: How can I manage my life in a way that places the most time in harmony with those things I most value? Even with bald cheetah’s there is always hope. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Celebrate baby Noah with Christopher & Caitlyn Welch Facility Information The church van keys that hangs in the key box are missing. If you have any information about this please call the church office. All the mulch in the shrub and flower beds has now been applied and 5 new trees have been set out. Two more will be set out when they are available in the fall. Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2021

One Council News Page 3 1 Council NEWS At the June 17 meeting, there were 13 of the 18 members present, and those not able to be present were accounted for. As the chair of this group, I find that fact to be phenomenal! This group is actively engaged in moving forward as a Church, seeking to follow Christ and do God’s will. Members of the congregation are volunteering to help out wherever there’s a need, such as preparing communion elements and keeping the liturgical scarves for worship services current, as well as making monetary donations above and beyond normal tithes and offerings. Exciting times abound! Pastor Zeke continued to encourage us with focusing on Philippians 3:12, striving for maturity as Christians. He challenged us to think about what our passions in life are, and how we can live our lives as Christians fulfilling those passions. The Trustees under Chairman Harley Strang’s guidance continue to complete landscaping and campus clean-up through generous donations from members and other interested parties. During the latest initiative to spread landscaping rock alongside the sidewalk connecting the two buildings, a total of $660 was raised inside 10 days! Thank you to all the donors and the trustees for all the work and planning required. Keep your eyes open to see your $$$ at work! Steve Christian is the one to contact to express your interest in developing an active United Methodist Men’s group. We will be missing Shane Sanderson as our music leader upon his departure the last Sunday of June. We wish him well in his future endeavors and have been blessed with his leadership and talent for the past four years. The next One Council meeting will be July 15, the third Thursday of the month, @ 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room across the hall from the kitchen. Blanche West, Chair, One Council Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2021 New District Superintendent, Wesley in Worship Page 4 The district has officially welcomed Rev. Blake Bradford as the new District Superintendent to the Northwest District. Wesley in Worship On June 27th we had to say “Until we see you again” to Shane. We are so thankful for the time we had him at Wesley. His dedication to Wesley and our members is so greatly appreciated. We wish him good luck in his future endeavors. Looking for ways to serve? Worship Committee: Joanne Peterson UMW: Patrice Hulsey UMM: Steve Christian Missions Committee: Carrie Miller Upcoming Events Choir will start back up mid-August under the direction of our new music director Jessica Whitekiller. If you are interested in being apart of the chancel choir or bell choir be on the lookout for further information. Wesley UMC Newsletter Intercessory prayer group meets at Norma Strang's, 9509 Jenny Lind Rd. the 3rd Tuesday each month at 10:00am. Call Norma for information 479-646-9329 July 2021

COVID-19 Update from Bishop Mueller Page 5 The last several weeks have seen a rise in COVID-19 cases in many communities in Arkansas. During the last two days, the number of reported and active cases, hospitalizations and deaths have dramatically increased. This new and dangerous landscape is the result of the Delta variant present in our communities, vaccines possibly being less effective and the fact that the number of people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 has plateaued at an alarmingly low rate. I have worked closely with the Bishop’s COVID-19 Task Force to develop the latest guidance as your Boards of Trustees use the ARUMC dashboard, CDC guidelines and information about the vaccination rate in your congregation to make decisions about how best to keep those in your church safe. While none of us like having to remain vigilant after having such high hopes about the vaccine allowing life to return to normal, we must deal with reality the w a y i t i s a n d n o t t h e w a y w e w i s h i t w e r e . 1. Utilize the ARUMC COVID-19 dashboard. Check the county-focused dashboard that now contains vaccine data and may be found here: https://arumc.org/covid19/dashboard/ Be aware that the benchmarks do not account for the vaccine data, nor do they distinguish between non-vaccinated cases or vaccinated cases. Consider collecting self-reported vaccine data from individuals in your ministry setting without asking any questions other than “Have you been vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus?” This may help you better understand how many of the people attending events at your church are vaccinated. 2. Continue to follow the safety guidelines set forth by the CDC. Access the CDC links on the ARUMC website that are updated weekly and may be found here: https://arumc.org/covid19/ Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2021 COVID-19 Update Cont. Page 6 Strongly recommend, or perhaps even mandate, that those not vaccinated wear masks and socially distance by at least 6 feet. Move events outside if members of your congregation test COVID positive. 3. Act to keep our children safe. Since they cannot receive a vaccine yet, children under age 12 should be considered high-risk for contracting COVID-19. Create a ‘cocoon of safety’ by asking everyone - vaccinated and unvaccinated - to wear masks at church. Encourage all individuals in your community who qualify to get fully vaccinated since this provides the best way to keep our children safe. Follow the safety guidelines for children’s ministries which can be found here: https:// arumc.org/covid19/safe-church-reopening-guidance/ministries-with-children/ 4. Think ahead. Prepare for flu season by continuing to sanitize hard surfaces, offering hand sanitizing stations, limiting shared surfaces, and offering only pre-packaged foods. Help people understand that there is a possibility for vaccinated individuals to require a booster dose of their vaccine later this year. We do not wish to alarm you, but we believe that churches need to take the lead in keeping people in our congregations and communities safe. Just yesterday, an Arkansas United Methodist Church learned that 4 fully vaccinated members wearing masks who attended wo r s h i p l a s t S u n d a y h a v e b e e n d i a g n o s e d w i t h COVI D . We are grateful for how Arkansas United Methodists have led the way in responsibly addressing the COVID crisis the past 18 months. It is time for us once again to step forward and make a positive difference in our congregations, communities and state as we proactively address the rapidly changing COVID landscape by getting vaccinated, socially distancing and wearing masks. We join you as you pray for each other and care for each other. This statement has been compiled and shared by Bishop Gary Mueller and the Bishop’s COVID-19 Task Force Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2021

Missions Page 7 Missions Farmers Market - Below is the sorting schedule for July. Anyone is welcome to come help sort and deliver produce Saturdays at 11:30. July 3 - Cavanaugh July 10 - Wesley July 17 - Cavanaugh July 24 - Wesley July 31 - Cavanaugh Thank you to everyone who helped sort and deliver produce in June. Change Jars - We are “Making Change in the Community”. If you have not picked up a change jar to donate your spare change for the month, those can be picked up at the church. We will collect again on August 8th with what’s collected going to The Children’s Shelter. We want to say a HUGE and GRANDE shout out to Blanche West for everything she has done lately to help give Wesley a much needed face lift. She took note of a need and worked diligently to make it happen. And of course, thank you to everyone who gave so generously to help make it happen as well. It only takes a spark! Wesley might be small but we are certainly MIGHTY! Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2021

Wesley United Methodist Church June 2021 Newsletter What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke Music News Welcome baby Giovanni Jesus!

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Simply Powerful Over these past few Sunday’s, I invited you to pray some simple but powerful prayers. I want to remind you of them: • God show me the next step • God send your Holy Spirit • God make me holy • God unify us • God spill out your Holy Spirit on our church Often, our most powerful prayers are simple ones. I believe each of these prayers have the potential to be incredibly powerful in all of our lives. Hebrews 4:16 says: “Let us, therefore, approach the throne of grace with boldness” I remind you of this verse because I think it helps us engage in a vital approach to prayer. Specifically, that we must pray boldly. Often times we can get in “prayer ruts” where we say the same prayer and pray the same way. When we do this we can easily fall into the prayer doldrums. It is a place without anticipation or expectation. It can become a place of apathy and obligation rather than a place of invitation, collaboration, and blessing. Jesus modeled a bold prayer life. The disciples carried on that tradition throughout the New Testament. From the beginning of Christendom, people of faith have prayed boldly and born witness to God working in and through their prayers. That same powerful God is working through us, within our prayers, today. So pray boldly. Do not hesitate to ask and to invite God to work within your life in powerful ways. As the church of the living Christ and as people of the living Christ, we are invited into an intimate relationship with God. Lean into that relationship within your prayer life. Don’t be afraid to share your hearts desires with God. Ask boldly and without fear. Place your concerns into the capable hands of God. In doing so, I believe we will all see radical change in our lives and in our situations. Keep the Faith Strong, Pastor Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2021 Wesley in Worship, Facility Information Page 2 Wesley in Worship The worship committee has been busy brainstorming ideas to make certain worship services just a little more memorable. From flowers for Mothers day to cupcakes for Pentacost, we strive to add a special touch to each of these services with the hopes that it will make it more memorable for everyone. We look forward to honoring the men on Fathers Day and our country on the Fourth of July. Soon, we will be making a request for your favorite hymns and praise songs to see if we can work those into our future services. So be thinking of those songs that have touched your heart so you can suggest them when the time comes. Facility Information In addition to the extreme clean-up of the Wesley campus, you can expect to see new trees and plants to replace those severely damaged or completely frozen from the last hard freeze the area experienced. A new Dwarf Japanese Maple has already been planted at the East Entrance to the Sanctuary. As soon as the rains let up, two Japanese Maples will be planted at the front of the Sanctuary with new shrubs or flowers around them. A Pink Dogwood and another Japanese Maple will go in on the South end of the Sanctuary. In the island on the East Parking Lot, a Hydrangea Tree, a Dwarf Red Bud, and a Pink Parasol Japanese Snowball (all three dwarfs) will be planted. Thank you to Harley Strang and the Trustees for your diligence and work on this project. These additions will certainly enhance the beauty of our campus. Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2021

Music News Page 3 Greetings!! Dear Wesley UMC Family, Nearly four years ago, I saw an advertisement for a church in Fort Smith needing a choir director. I remember reading the job description thinking, "Do I really want to be a choir director again?" I knew the answer: I wouldn't have been curiously looking at job postings if I did not. I had become somewhat jaded against the idea of being a choir director in a church again because there had been a couple of bad experiences in my past, and these made me hesitant. However, I submitted my resume, looked up as much information as I could about the church, and stepped out in faith. It was one of the BEST decisions that I have ever made. Since my first Sunday here, I have had the blessing of working with such wonderful and talented people, who have always been such a joy. This church has such a loving spirit, and over these four year, my faith in the church has been restored by watching you live as I feel people of God should. You have accepted those whom others might push away or deem unworthy. You have demonstrated extraordinary generosity. You have worked hard in the community to fulfill the needs of those around you while expecting nothing in return. You have been an example to others of what people with faith guided by a sense of love for their neighbor can do. In essence, you are a small but mighty church, and it has been inspiring to me to see the grace and blessing that God wields through you. I am grateful to God for my time among you. I have laughed, cried, healed, and been restored many times throughout these four years. My best friend Nate and I had a discussion recently in which we were remembering times when each of our lives have changed direction. While comparing notes, we both came to the realization that these moments only came when we were willing to give up something that we had been holding on to. A few days later, I attended a funeral for a high school friend of mine who passed away suddenly. His name was Bobby, and he was a well-known musician who played in several bluegrass bands all over the country. Continued on page 4 Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2021 Music News Cont., Grounds Clean-up Page 4 Music News Continued—As I sat and listened to all the stories people shared about his life in music and how it touched them, I had a sudden epiphany. Bobby was a musician; it was his life. This was something he did every day. God spoke to me in that moment, showing me that while music has been a gift from when I was young, it is not my life. My life has been about forging relationships and being a leader, even when I did not really want to be. What I realized is that once again, I am being asked to give up something so that God can send me in a different direction. I just never realized that church music would be that thing. That doesn't mean that I will quit singing or even being a part of a choir someday. What it means is that for now, I have to let go of something that I really want to hold on to--being a church music leader--so that God can lead me in a different direction. So, as I end this, my last article to you, I want you to know that I take nothing but happy memories from this church, and I am SO GRATEFUL that God led me to you those years ago. And though I am headed down a different path now, I know that I will have to stop in from time to time to catch up with a group of people whom I truly love and care for. Yours in Christ, Shane Wesley UMC Newsletter We sing about it, and now we’ve witnessed it first-hand! “It only takes a spark to get a fire going…” We didn’t start a fire, but we did start a spring clean-up of Wesley’s grounds and fence rows when Gloria Cates said she’d give $100 towards hiring a crew to tidy up the lawn and landscaping. Blanche West agreed to match her donation, and the “sparks flew,“ gathering momentum in the form of 30 more donations for a total of $4000 during the month of May to “make it happen!” Thank you to all those who contributed over and above their regular giving in order to make it happen. Another word of thanks goes to Renee Figuerora for donating his grounds crew to trim out the frozen foliage between the two buildings. June 2021

Missions Page 5 Missions Farmers Market - Below is the sorting schedule for June. Anyone is welcome to come help sort and deliver produce Saturdays at noon. June 5 - Cavanaugh June 12 - Wesley June 19 - Cavanaugh June 26 - Wesley Change Jars - Keep your change!!! The missions committee will be passing out change jars on Sunday, June 6th to send home with members to collect your change. The first Sunday of each month we will count the change and whatever is collected will be donated to a mission program or non-profit we have chosen for that month. If you have a program or place you would like to see the donations given to, please let us know. We are open to suggestions. Community Garden - A handful of Wesley members as well as a handful of workers from the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Americorp planted sweet potatoes at the community garden. It was muddy but everyone had a great time. Harvesting will take place in September so be on the look out for that date. Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2021 Sunday School Page 6 The Reset study group recently completed a ten week intensive study of the book of Nehemiah and celebrated with a graduation fellowship on May 16 with lunch, playing Spin the Wheel to Victory, and marching in a parade complete with noise makers and pom-poms, from the fellowship hall to the commencement exercise in the Sanctuary, with Pastor Zeke offering Communion and handing out diplomas to each graduate. Class member Clyde Bates challenged his classmates to “be strong in the Lord” and “put on the whole armor of God….that they may withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:1020 Congratulations! Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2021

Welcome baby Giovanni Jesus!!!! Born: 5/18/2021 Time: 3:44pm Weight: 8lbs 2.9oz Length: 20 3/4” One Council will meet June 17th at 6:30 in the meeting room below the church office. God, help me encounter you today. 2200 Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-646-9702 Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2021

Wesley United Methodist Church May 2021 Newsletter What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke Easter Recap Farmers Market Update

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” - Isaiah 43:19 John Maxwell penned the quote that “change is inevitable, growth is optional.” Just think about the things that have changed in our lives in the last year. Church has not been immune to this radical change. For me, I had to learn how to stream worship and preach into a camera with an empty sanctuary. I had to learn how to care for our church members without being able to visit them in their homes or even in the hospital. Even now, as much of our church members have been vaccinated and have come back to in-person worship, change is in the air. Let me be clear; I do not want to go back to the way things were before Covid. I believe this is an opportunity for us to reimagine church, our relationship with God, and our relationships with one another. We have all felt, to one degree or another, what it is like to be isolated. It is contrary to our God-created selves. I believe that we now have the distinct opportunity to reimagine church and what a vibrant faith community should be about. We should not take for granted our relationships. We should feel the importance of our faith community and want to be an active part of it by serving in new ways. This is an opportunity for each of us to reimagine our roles as part of the church body. Our reality and context have changed. Will we do the same? I believe we are at a place where Isaiah 43:19 speaks profound truth to us. God is still at work among us. Will we choose to grow from that moving of the Holy Spirit or will we sit back? I hope and pray that we will all be open to the new things God is doing in this time of radical change. I invite each of you to pray this prayer with me: “God, conform me to your will and way, Search me and clean and restore me, Guide me into how I might serve you and my church, With every new thing, let me be faithful. Not my will but your be done” Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2021 UMW News, Facility Information Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION News & Activities Evening Stars will meet Monday, May 17 at Western Sizzlin’ on Towson at 6:30. You do not have to be an Evening Star to attend. All women of the church are invited. Come join us for an evening of fellowship! Facility Information The new carpet and tiles have been laid in the entryways and foyer and bathrooms. It looks fantastic! Greetings from Pack 19, It has been another busy month for the Pack. Several of our members participated in the District Pinewood Derby races at Central Christian Church with many of our scouts posting excellent results. The weekend of April 23-25 Pack 19 traveled to Rogers Scout Reservation at Ione for the annual spring Family Camp. Camp got off to a soggy start but the rain let up and a good time was had by all. Scouts are preparing to Crossover to their nexts ranks and begin summer activities. This is perfect time for any interested family to visit a pack event to discover Scouting for themselves. Yours in Scoutings Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2021

Easter 2021 Page 3 Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2021 1 Council News Page 4 1 Council NEWS  Pastor Zeke continues to help us press forward in 2021 by keeping us focused on Philippians 4:13, noting how athletes lean into their race, which gives us encouragement to do the same as Christ followers.  Congregational Care - Special plans to celebrate Mother’s Day are in progress. Contact Donna Moreton for details.  Education - Those interested in starting a new Adult Sunday School class, please contact Suzanne Gibson. Thank you, Jack Sides, for serving as teacher for the Gleaners Class for many years. Thank you to Jackie Nichols for volunteering to help Patrice Hulsey with Children’s SS class. The 10 week Reset Study concludes with a celebration luncheon on May 16 following worship service. All are invited for this time of accomplishment and fellowship, and since a free lunch will be served, reservations are required. Clyde Bates will resume teaching the Alive! Class on May 23.  Worship – Thank you to Joanne Peterson and the worship ministry for the Easter celebrations, creating a special period of worship and praise. If you are interested in serving as a liturgist during worship services, contact Joanne for information. There are special plans in the works for Pentecost and July 4 Sundays.  Trustees - Our next project is to manicure the lawn and remove plants that froze during the extreme cold spell we had earlier this spring. Many of the congregation went above and beyond their regular giving to fund this much-needed project. As the song says, “It only takes a spark to get a fire burning.!” Thank you, Gloria Cates, for providing the “spark!”  UMM – Stephen Christian is busy organizing the men of the church to form a new Men’s group. See Stephen to become a part of this valuable group. Wesley UMC Newsletter As you can readily see, Wesley is actively working to give to and serve in various ways within the church and community. Find your place. You are needed. Blanche West, 1 Council Chair May 2021

Missions Page 5 Missions We have so much coming up and a lot of mission opportunities ahead. Farmers Market - We will begin our famer's market ministry on Saturday, June 5th and go through each Saturday of the summer. We collect donated produce at the close of the farmer's market on Saturday's and bring that back to the church, sort the produce, and distribute the produce into blessing boxes across town. If you are interested in helping with this mission, there will be a sign up sheet at the church or send an email to the church and we will get you on the list. Teacher Appreciation Bags - We will be putting together small appreciation bags for all the staff at Carnall and Cavanaugh Elementary Schools. We will put these together on Wednesday, May 19th at 5:00 at cavanaugh. We are asking for donations of any individually wrapped chocolates or candies to put in the bags. You can bring them on Sunday mornings or drop them by the church office. We will be collecting these through Sunday, May 16th. Wesley UMC Newsletter Community Garden - For those who do not know, Wesley, has partnered with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Carnall Elementary to place a community garden on the playground of Carnall. Since it began we have planted and harvested turnips and sweet potatoes. This has been a great experience and learning opportunity for the kids at Carnall and has done great things to help fight hunger in our community. With all the rain we’ve had lately it has been difficult for the Hunger Alliance to get out and get the ground ready for our new crop to be planted. Brandon with the Alliance is hoping to get out here as soon as the ground is dry enough so that we can plant sweet potatoes sometime this month. As soon as we know more, we will make sure everyone is made aware. Change Jars - Keep your change!!! The missions committee will be passing out change jars very soon to send home with members to collect your change. Once a month you will bring the jar back, we will count the change and whatever is collected will be donated to a mission program or non-profit we have chosen for that month. If you have a program or place you would like to see the donations given to, please let us know. We are open to suggestions. May 2021 Crunchy Slaw, Cheesy BBQ Bites Page 6 Crunchy Coleslaaw Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) package Coleslaw (grated cabbage and carrots) 4 green onions, chopped 6 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 3 tablespoons sugar 1 package ramen noodles 1⁄2 cup slivered almonds 1⁄2 cup sunflower seeds Instructions: 1. Toss together coleslaw and green onions. 2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, and sugar. 3. Pour over salad and toss together. 4. Just before serving, add ramen noodles (broken into small pieces), almonds and sunflower seeds and toss together. Cheesy BBQ Bites Ingredients: Ground beef or Chicken Chopped onions Barbecue sauce Pillsbury Grands Shredded cheddar cheese Instructions: 1. In a skillet, cook your ground beef. Add onion and barbecue sauce. Stir to combine. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, and sugar. 2. Once the meat mixture is cooked, prepare your muffin tin by spraying it with non-stick spray. Pop open your Pillsbury Grands and cut them in half, putting one half in each muffin tin and spreading the dough out with your fingers. 3. Fill the cups with the meat mixture and top with shredded cheese. 4. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes until golden brown. Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2021

Wesley’s One Council Members Lay Leader/Lay Delegate: Carrie Miller Clyde Bates Amy Cates Gloria Cates Steve Christian Twana Collinson Suzanne Gibson Billy Higgins Patrice Hulsey George Jensen Donna Moreton Jackie Nichols Joanne Peterson Rick Schmitz Harley Strang Blanche West The Wesley UMC Newsletter goes out at the first of each month. If there is anything you would like submitted in the newsletter, please send the information to Carrie Miller (carrielynn12983@gmail.com) or the church office at Wesleyumcfs@yahoo.com. 2200 Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-646-9702 Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2021

Wesley United Methodist Church April 2021 Newsletter What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke Holy Week Schedule Cub Scout Pack 19 News

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Silence or Noise? “Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid” -Mark 16:8 “And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” -Mark 15:37-38 Easter is coming this Sunday! The biblical testament of Holy Week is simultaneously noisy and extraordinarily quiet and intimate. Interestingly enough, God is found in all those instances. The presence of God permeated the final week of Jesus. From his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the final teachings offered to his disciples, his last meal, foot washing, prayer in the Garden, his arrest, his crucifixion on Calvary and in the empty tomb and beyond. God is present in all of it. I think this is important for us today because I believe God continues to be found in all reaches of life- both those which are still and quiet and those which are loud and busy. The story of Easter is, in part, that our story is still being written. What once looked like the bitter end became an act of salvation and hope and strength. Part of that hope and strength is that we serve a living God in which even death itself cannot keep down. We must remember that the presence of God is with us always. Life can feel lonely at times and can be so incredibly difficult. Often, in difficult seasons of life, we can feel abandoned and cut-off. Easter reminds us that God is with us even in times that seem completely hopeless. It is my prayer that we might draw on the strength and hope of life through faith in Christ. Let us celebrate the fact that “Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!” - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2021 From Bishop Mueller, Missions Page 2 Bishop Gary Mueller “Feed Your Soul” There are going to be times when people challenge you, life gets tough and you feel like you’re all alone. When this happens, you need to feed your soul by trusting God, following Jesus and asking the Holy Spirit to help you make decisions about what you need to do. In fact, the tougher things get, the more you need to care for your soul. And when life is at its absolute worst, that’s when the single most important thing you can do is to engage in soul work. It won’t magically solve every problem. But it will place you right in the middle of the Kingdom of God. And that’s the best place of all to be! Missions Our missions team met recently to discuss current and future projects for Wesley and we are excited for the work we are currently doing and what’s to come. Backpack Bags—Wesley, in collaboration with Cavanaugh is providing 45 weekend backpack bags to children at Carnall, Cavanaugh, and Beard Elementary schools each week. We will continue to provide bags until the end of the school year. Community Garden—The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance will be out at Carnall soon to begin working up the dirt in preparation for planting sweet potatoes in May. More information on planting plans to come. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love, prayers, support, kind words, food and financial support from everyone at Wesley. The kids and I could not have made it through that difficult time without each of you. Each day is better because of your prayers. We are truly blessed with the absolute best church family. Many Blessings—Carrie, Landon and Jordan Wesley UMC Newsletter Farmers Market—After having to take a year off from farmer market pickup we will be resuming that project starting in late May or early June. More information and a sign-up sheet to come! We have other mission opportunities brewing, stay tuned! April 2021

Sunday School Page 3 Facility Information Continuing in April, Blanche West is leading a class on Dr. David Jeremiah’s book “Reset”, a call for refocus and recommitment to God in our lives. The group meets in the Fellowship Hall after Sunday morning service around 10:30. There is plenty of room to social distance, so anyone who wants to join the group can still attend through the month of April. On Sunday, May 2nd, Sunday School will restart with classes for all ages. New classes will be forming, so now would be a great time to reconnect with Wesley friends or meet new people. Please pray for this ministry in our church. Bring flowers from your yard or from the store on Easter Sunday to help us Flower the Cross. Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2021 Two new projects have been approved by the One Council. On Monday the day after Easter our installer will start removing the 32 year old tile in the East and South entries and carpet in the sanctuary foyer. Porcelain tile will be installed in the two entries and carpet squares in the foyer. After this project is finished our installer will redo the women's and men’s bathrooms by the office. New tile floors will be installed, new paint, new Formica on the vanities, new mirrors and new commodes in the women's bathroom. Both of these projects are totally funded by memorials. 1 Council News, Holy Week Schedule Page 4 1 Council NEWS  At the March 4 meeting of 1 Council, there were 14 members present to continue pressing forward in 2021, as advised in Philippians 3:12-15. Pastor Zeke is using this scripture as a focus throughout this year, challenging us to set goals personally and as a church.  The worship team announced plans for the days before Easter Sunday:  Adults & children are meeting for in-person Sunday School immediately following 9:30 a.m. worship service. Presently all adults are meeting together in the Fellowship Hall, while the children are gathering in the children's area.  Installation of new flooring in the foyer and restroom areas will begin on April 5.  The monthly meeting date has been changed to the Third Thursday, 6:30 p.m. beginning April 15. Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2021

Cub Scout Pack 19 News Page 5 Greetings from Pack 19, On March 13th we held some exciting Pinewood Derby races in the Wesley Fellowship Hall. 22 Scouts participated in the racing action. Overall winners were First Place Grayson Alexander, Second Place Megan Kasper and Third Place Maggie Meeks. As always the scouts worked very hard on their cars and did a great job building them. This past weekend of the 27th & 28th was the Arkansas Gathering at Rogers Scout Reservation. Scouts from all over the district met to trade trinkets, build wooden mallets and stools, hike, fish and enjoy the beautiful spring weather. We always invite all school age children to visit our meetings and experience Scouting for themselves. Yours in Scouting’s Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2021 Cadbury Crème Egg Brownies, Parmesan and Garlic Asparagus Cadbury Crème Egg Brownies Page 6 Ingredients: 1 box brownie mix Needed ingredients to make Brownie mix 8-12 mini Cadbury Crème Eggs Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 325°. Line baking pan with parchment paper. 2. Make brownie batter according to package instructions. Be careful not to over-mix. 3. Pour brownie batter into parchment lines baking pan. 4. Cut each Crème egg in half and press into the brownie batter. Use as many as you want up to 12. 5. Bake according to brownie box instructions. 6. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Lift out parchment paper and let fully Parmesan and Garlic Asparagus Ingredients: 1 lb asparagus spears, woody base removed 1 tsp olive oil 4 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 tsp lemon juice 1/8 tsp salt Dash ground black pepper 1/4 c parmesan cheese Instructions: 1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add trimmed asparagus spears and boil for 2 minutes, just until the spears are bright green and float to the top. Remove spears and place on a paper towel. Pat dry. 2. In a large, non-stick skillet, heat the oil. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, 1 min. 3. Add asparagus and sauté over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. 4. Remove from heat and toss with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. 5. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving. Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2021

Wesley’s One Council Members Lay Leader/Lay Delegate: Carrie Miller Clyde Bates Amy Cates Gloria Cates Steve Christian Twana Collinson Suzanne Gibson Billy Higgins Patrice Hulsey George Jensen Donna Moreton Jackie Nichols Joanne Peterson Rick Schmitz Harley Strang Blanche West The Wesley UMC Newsletter goes out at the first of each month. If there is anything you would like submitted in the newsletter, please send the information to Carrie Miller (carrielynn12983@gmail.com) or the church office at Wesleyumcfs@yahoo.com. 2200 Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-646-9702 Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2021

Wesley United Methodist Church February 2021 Newsletter What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke 1 Council News Cub Scout Pack 19 News

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Hankering for a Hunk O’ Cheese “As the deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul long for you, O God… Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God… Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me… Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.” - Psalm 42:1,5,7,11b In the 1970’s there was a series of commercials called Time for Timer. I still remember these commercials because of the phrase “I hanker for a hunk O’ cheese”. I remember it in part because of me and my brothers own “hankering” for cheese. I grew up on grilled cheeses. On the regular my brother and I would eat a loaf of bread’s worth of grilled cheeses at one sittingGod bless my parents and their grocery bill! Have you “hankered” lately? When I think about hankering it brings me to Psalm 42. There is a deep longing for all those in relationship with God through Christ. For me, I yearn for God. I guess that is my hope for all of us. That we might yearn for God and seek God in our days and lives. I know there are a lot of people in our world and in our church that have experienced or are experiencing souls that are downcast. There is a weary restlessness within so many of us. I feel, in my own life, waves of weariness and waves of hope washing over me. These are not waves to battle against, for in doing so you will be tossed about. In contrast, we must let those waves wash over and through us. Trust the sure foundation that your feet are planted on. When the storms of life rage and the waves crash, the foundation of Christ will hold. I pray that each of you might experience that profound truth and the strong hope that can only come through a life of faith. Likewise, I pray that each of us might always have a hankering for God- a deep yearning that seeks God daily. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2021 Music Ministry Page 2 Greetings!!! Greetings Wesley UMC Family!!! You have undoubtedly noticed that we have begun including more praise & worship music in our services. This comes from several requests that we have received from members. However, sometimes the phrase "praise and worship" music brings up certain images: being at a rock concert with flashing lights and singers running around on stage, etc. Some people (including me) have had the disappointing experience of loving some praise & worship songs, yet not being able to sing them because praise leaders often sing these songs in such a high key that they are not comfortable for the voice. I am a child of two worlds. Having grown up learning the Heavenly Highway Hymns and my family singing four-part quartets, I love classical church music. Part of what first drew me to serving in the Methodist Church was what one professor of mine referred to as "high church music," the cathedral feel with pipe organ, piano, choir, handbells, and even an orchestra. As a person with an advanced degree in choral music, I will never let go of my love for this music. However, I also went to college at a time when popular Christian music became "a thing." I have been to more Christian concerts than I have rock concerts. I have sung in several praise groups, and I am drawn from deep within my being to the tight, three-part harmonies that are present in much praise music today. As a singer and harmonizer, I am never going to lose my love for praise & worship music either. As an English teacher and writer, I am drawn to the significance and deeper meaning of a text. I always like to see how the words of hymns in the Methodist hymnal are different from those of, say, the Baptist Hymnal, and how these reflect the Methodist faith. That faith is important to me, and is, in fact, why I am now a member of the Methodist Church rather than just 'serving' in one. In the same way, praise choruses express deep spiritual meaning, and many of them are directly scriptural. So, what's the point of all this rambling, then? As your music director, I want to assure you that I am never going to trend toward a complete shift to praise music. There will always be a place for hymns and those classic great songs of the faith. - Cont. on Page 3 Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2021

Music Ministry Cont. However, I also love the deep scriptural meanings and prayerful intent of most praise & worship music. I believe that it is possible to love and use both hand-inhand to create meaningful worship. Also, I want you to know that Zeke, Carrie, Deborah, and I are taking great care to make sure that any praise music we sing in church will be prayerfully considered and tastefully done, whether it is simply as special music or as a praise song that we want everyone to know and learn. Yours in Christ, Shane Sanderson Arkansas Conference News The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas will host Arkansas author John Grisham as its February guest speaker for its ongoing speaker series, “In Conversation Together.” For more information contact: Haley Walker Klein 501-664-8632 hklein@methodistfoundationAR.org “In Conversation Together” gathers online on the third Thursday of each month from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CST. The Foundation hosts the calls from our facility in Little Rock. Visit: www.methodistfoundationar.org Wesley UMC Newsletter The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song will premiere on February 16 & 23 at 8 p.m. on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings). This moving four-hour, two-part series from executive producer, host and writer Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, traces the 400-year-old story of the Black church in America, all the way down to its bedrock role as the site of African American survival and grace, organizing and resilience, thriving and testifying, autonomy and freedom, solidarity and speaking truth to power. February 2021 Northwest District News Rev. Stephen Coburn, the current NW DS will be retiring this year. Bishop Mueller has appointed Rev. Dr. Blake Bradford, who currently serves as the Central DS to become the NW DS, starting July 1. Bradford said his focus as DS will be to continue building on the work that Coburn and the churches of the Northwest District have already put into motion, while also figuring out what the post-COVID church will look like going forward. 1 Council News Page 4 1 Council NEWS  13 members of the 2021 1 Council met on January 7 via Zoom to “press [forward] to answer the upward call of Jesus Christ.” Using Philippians 3:12-15 as his focus, Zeke shared with the group “3 P’s of a Pandemic:” 1. Persevere 2. Plan 3. Provide care & concern. He challenged each one to keep these 3 P’s in mind as a personal area of ministry would be chosen to serve during 2021. The Council was encouraged to share these “3 P’s” with others in the congregation and conduct our business throughout 2021 with the “3 P’s” in mind as plans are formulated.  In an order of business, George Jensen, long-time faithful and loyal treasurer of Wesley, is passing the torch. This church could say “Thank you, George” a hundred times a day for the remainder of the year, and it would not adequately express our gratitude for a job well-done, for his impeccable bookkeeping and financial expertise as he has gladly fulfilled his duties, answering and “pressing on to the upward call of Christ Jesus.” Wesley does thank you, George!  Because of her skills as an accountant and her desire to answer “the upward call of Christ Jesus,” Twana Collinson has accepted the duties of Wesley’s Treasurer for 2021. Thank you, Twana.  Other items to note: 1. While we are not able to meet in person, Clyde Bates will lead an adult Sunday School class via Zoom at 10:30 a.m., shortly after Sunday morning fb worship services. 2. Besides ministering to two churches, Zeke is “pressing on to the upward call of Christ Jesus” by teaching an “intercom lesson” with all the students at Cavanaugh Elementary School each Wednesday morning during their school-wide assemblies.  Next regularly scheduled 1 Council meeting via Zoom: First Thursday, Feb.4, 6:30 p.m. Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2021

Cub Scout Pack 19 News Page 5 Greetings from Pack 19, Pack 19 started out December with our long awaited Pinewood Derby races on the 4th. We had 17 racers participate this year with some awesome cars running. We also got to use our new racetrack that many Wesley members helped to support with their purchase of Blue & Gold meat products. On December 19th the Butterfield Trail District races were held at the Scout Office. Many of Pack 19’s scouts performed very well on the district level. Due to COVID-19 restrictions we were not able to do our annual Christmas caroling to Gorman Towers. Our Lions Den collected toiletries and goodies to make bags for each of the residents there. With the temporary closing of Wesley’s campus in January we would like to thank Grace Community Church for the use of their facilities for our meetings. On February 6th Scouts will be placing Scouting for Food bags on doors throughout Fort Smith. Be looking for yours and be sure to fill it up and place it outside on the 13th. Yours in Scouting’s Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2021 Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole Page 6 Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole Ingredients: 1.5 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts 28 oz can of Enchilada Sauce 10 ct Corn Tortillas cut into stripes 2 cups grated cheddar cheese 3.8 oz can black olives Instructions: 1. Add chicken breasts to the slow cooker with enchilada sauce and cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 6-8 hours. 2. After cooking, shred the chicken while still in the slow cooker. 3. Cut the tortillas into stripes, add to the chicken and sauce, and stir. 4. Add 1/2 cup of cheese and half the olives into the sauce and chicken mixture. Stir again. 5. Flatten the mixture. 6. Add the rest of the cheese and the olives on top. 7. Cook on low for about 40-60 minutes longer. 8. Serve! Top with sour cream if desired. Chocolate Crescents Ingredients: 1 can Pillsbury crescent rolls 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 8 miniature dark or milk chocolate candy bars Instructions: 1. Heat oven to 375°F. 2. Separate dough into 8 triangles. In small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle about 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon-sugar on each triangle. Place 1 candy bar at shortest side of triangle. Loosely roll up, starting at shortest side and rolling to opposite point. Place point side down on ungreased cookie sheet; curve into crescent shape. Sprinkle with about 1/8 teaspoon additional cinnamon-sugar. 3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2021

Wesley’s One Council Members Lay Leader/Lay Delegate: Carrie Miller Clyde Bates Amy Cates Gloria Cates Steve Christian Twana Collinson Suzanne Gibson Billy Higgins Patrice Hulsey George Jensen Donna Moreton Jackie Nichols Joanne Peterson Rick Schmitz Harley Strang Blanche West 2200 Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-646-9702 Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2021

Wesley United Methodist Church January 2021 Newsletter What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke Music News One Council Info

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke New Beginnings “I hereby command you: be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord God is with you wherever you go” - Joshua 1:9 Is it true? Can it be? Did we survive 2020? This past year has been a very difficult year for everyone. However, as I reflect on this past year, I am aware of the many blessings I have witnessed. I have seen the resilience of our church and its people. In March when we postponed all in-person services and meetings, the resilience of the church shone bright. We all figured out together how to have virtual church. It was way different for us all but we made the best of it. I saw church members call one another, check in, write cards, make calls, and send texts. Even though we couldn’t physically be together we found a way to be together. Each of you have embodied Jesus by the way you have loved and cared for one another. Even though we couldn’t worship in person on Easter, we still find ways to celebrate the gift of Jesus all year. When we returned to in-person worship, we found a way to continue streaming our worship services for online viewing. While things are far from normal now, I believe we have all made the best of 2020 and some real blessings and hope have come our way. I have come to believe faith grows legs in the midst of struggle and strife. We have had plenty of both of these and thank God we are all people of faith. Faith has carried us and faith will continue to carry us. In the scripture above, the Lord is speaking to Joshua and the people as they prepare to finally enter the Promised Land. These words to “Be strong and courageous” are perfect words for us in our context right now as we stand on the precipice of a new year. I am so hopeful for 2021. I can be hopeful because I know God is with us and I know the faith of the people in our church. Please pray for our church and for our world. Please continue to support our church and its mission and ministries. Most of all, continue to love each other and care for one another. Do not neglect one another and love courageously. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2021 Music Ministry Page 2 Greetings!!! Greetings Wesley UMC Family!!! I hope each of you enjoyed our music for Advent and Christmas. I want to say a special "Thank You" to Carrie, Justin, and Kathy for singing and playing throughout the season and for our Christmas Eve service. We made a real attempt to have our Christmas Eve service be a mix between a traditional lessons and carols and a Cantata Service. I feel that it went very well!! I would also like to give a shout-out to my bell players, who worked really hard on the music for Christmas. I picked music that looked fairly easy, but it only appeared that way. So, thank you to Justin, Amy, Suzanne, Twana and Deborah for stepping in and letting us have bells for Christmas! I would also like to thank Deborah for her fine playing and musicianship. We are truly blessed to have her here in our church!!! Deborah was willing to step into an absence in our bell choir, and she did a great job!! Finally, I would like to thank the church for their gracious gift. I am always blown away by the blessing we receive each year, and you all are such a wonderful group of people. I love our congregation here, because I feel that we are a loving church that works hard to help bless and provide for others. This is what church should be about, in my opinion. Yours in Christ, Shane Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2021

Thank you to everyone who participated in the reading and lighting of the Advent Wreath. It was a wonderful Advent Season even with all the constraints placed on us. One Council meets Thursday, January 7 at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall. This will be our first meeting with the new incoming Council members. Wesley’s One Council Members Lay Leader/Lay Delegate: Carrie Miller Clyde Bates Amy Cates Gloria Cates Steve Christian Twana Collinson Suzanne Gibson Billy Higgins Patrice Hulsey George Jensen Donna Moreton Jackie Nichols Joanne Peterson Rick Schmitz Harley Strang Blanche West 2200 Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-646-9702 Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2021

Wesley United Methodist Church December 2020 Newsletter What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke Mortgage Burning Celebration Hanging of the Greens

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke “Incarnation” “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” - Isaiah 9:6-7 The Incarnation is the central theological theme of Christmas. Incarnation means something like “embodiment” or “to take on flesh”. It claims that God became flesh in Jesus. Within the Incarnation, we find valuable questions like: Why did God come to us in Jesus? What was the purpose of the Incarnation? How are we meant to respond to the Incarnation today? These questions are meaningful when we begin to get to the real reason for the season as people of faith. This entire Advent season we will be talking and learning about the Incarnation. We will be doing this by looking at the different titles given to Jesus by the Gospel writers. At a time when we are all experiencing such extreme polarization in our country and our world, this has the unique potential to unite us around Jesus Christ. No one could have ever imagined the change ushered in by a baby in rural Bethlehem of an unwed teenage girl in a manger teeming with farm animals. God’s way of changing the world is unique indeed. The Incarnation is God’s gift to us- a miracle and a blessing. I invite you to each gather again as we journey toward the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. In doing so, I believe, we will be changed and unified. This is my hope and my prayer for us all. Keep the Faith strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2020 Mortgage Burning Celebration Page 2 After 60 years, Wesley is able to celebrate being debt free! During the November 22nd service we celebrated with a mortgage burning. Thank you to Harley for your words and service to Wesley all these many years and thank you to anyone who has ever given and supported Wesley. Without your support this would not have been possible. Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2020

Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! Greetings, Wesley UMC Family! What a great time of year is Advent! It truly is my favorite time of year. I love the songs and traditions of the season, and Christmas carols and songs are simply my favorite type of music. I know many of you are missing the choir singing each week, and Heaven knows that the Choir and I are missing getting to work together. However, I believe that we will soon be back into the swing of things, and in the meantime, our Bell Choir are busy rehearsing to add beautiful music to our Advent and Christmas Eve. Be sure to take time to thank our wonderful pianist, Deborah, for her fantastic playing. I always appreciate her ability to take a simple hymn and transform it into accompaniment that is truly fun to sing to! BTW. Some of you may notice me 'playing' with my phone during services. I just want you to know that I am not checking my Facebook or bitcoin portfolio. I am actually connected through the sound system, which I can control using an APP on my phone. Since we cannot have a cantata this year, we are working on a special Christmas Eve service this year! Be sure to join us on Thursday, December 24 at 5:00 for a special evening of music as we celebrate Christ's birth. Yours in Christ, Shane Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2020 Hanging of the Greens Page 4 Thank you to everyone who helped with the Hanging of the Greens and to Harley and Norma for the purchase of our new 12 foot tree. The sanctuary looks beautiful and ready for the Advent/Christmas season! Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2020

Recipe - Gingerbread Cookies Page 5 It wouldn’t be Christmas without gingerbread. I have looked high and low for the perfect gingerbread recipe and I think this one might be it. Ingredients • 2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar • 2/3 cup unsulphured molasses • 1 large egg, at room temperature • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 3 1/2 cups flour • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 tablespoon ground ginger • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves Instructions 1. In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter for 1 minute on medium speed until completely smooth and creamy. Add the brown sugar and molasses and beat on medium high speed until combined and creamylooking. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Next, beat in egg and vanilla on high speed for 2 full minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. The butter may separate; that’s ok. 2. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves together until combined. On low speed, slowly mix into the wet ingredients until combined. The cookie dough will be quite thick and slightly sticky. Divide dough in half and place each onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Wrap each up tightly and pat down to create a disc shape. Please see photo and description above in my post. Chill discs for at least 3 hours and up to 3 days. Chilling is mandatory for this cookie dough. I always chill mine overnight. 3. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. (Always recommended for cookies.) Set aside. 4. Remove 1 disc of chilled cookie dough from the refrigerator. Generously flour a work surface, as well as your hands and the rolling pin. Don’t be afraid to continually flour the work surface as needed- this dough can be sticky. (Cont. on page 6) Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2020 Recipe Cont., Facility Info Page 6 4. Roll out disc until 1/4-inch thick. Cut into shapes. Place shapes 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Re-roll dough scraps until all the dough is shaped. Repeat with remaining disc of dough. 5. Bake cookies for about 9-10 minutes. If your cookie cutters are smaller than 4 inches, bake for about 8 minutes. If your cookie cutters are larger than 4 inches, bake for about 11 minutes. My oven has hot spots and yours may too- so be sure to rotate the pan once during bake time. 6. Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet. Transfer to cooling rack to cool completely. Once completely cool, decorate as desired. 7. Cookies stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 1 week. Facility Information The new blinds for the sanctuary foyer are to be installed this week. Fall and winter flowers have been planted in front of the office and choir room to add a little color this winter. Pack 19 has relaunched our activities for the year. All scouts are excited to be back together again. October 17th and 18th our pack participated in a district wide family camp at Rogers Scout Reservation outside Booneville. Scouts and their families had plenty of time to become reacquainted as well as engage in archery and BB gun shooting. December 4th we are holding our Pinewood Derby races. The races have been delayed many months and are always an exciting time for all involved. We invite all school age children to check out all the fun Scouting offers Tuesday's at 6:00pm. One Council meets Thursday, January 7 at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall. This will be our first meeting with the new incoming Council members. Thank you to Frances Hunt and Sydney Fulbright for your service to One Council and to Wesley. Your input and support has been invaluable. Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2020

Wesley’s One Council Members Lay Leader/Lay Delegate: Carrie Miller Clyde Bates Amy Cates Gloria Cates Steve Christian Twana Collinson Suzanne Gibson Billy Higgins Patrice Hulsey George Jensen Donna Moreton Jackie Nichols Joanne Peterson Rick Schmitz Harley Strang Blanche West 2200 Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-646-9702 Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2020

Wesley United Methodist Church November 2020 Newsletter 2200 Phoenix Ave. | 479-646-9702 What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke Alive! Sunday School Class 2021 Info Pan Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon ______ Orange Dreamsicle Salad

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Thankful “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave THANKS, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” - Luke 24:30-31 I can’t believe it is November. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. In this weird and crazy 2020 year, I think it would do us all good to take a gratitude inventory. There are always things we can be thankful for but often we lose sight of those things. Likewise, there are always people in our lives that we should be thankful for. I invite you to do 2 things surrounding thankfulness: 1) make an inventory of the top ten things you are thankful for and 2) write 2 thank you letters to someone with whom you are thankful for. I know this is a simple exercise but I think it can be a powerful one. I love the story in Luke 24 known as the Walk to Emmaus. It is one of those Bible passages that is full of irony, humor, suspense, and revelation. In verses 30-31, Jesus’ true identity is finally revealed in the breaking of the bread. It is important to note, especially when thinking about thankfulness, that Jesus offered thanks to God before he broke the bread. Jesus modeled again and again a life of gratitude as he offered time and time again giving thanks to God. As people of faith, we are called to model a Christ-like life. I believe thankfulness is an essential part of a life of faith. We must assume an attitude of gratitude. As we do this, we are transformed into a life that sees the glass of life half-full- hopeful and joy-filled. In 2020, I think this is more important than ever. Life can be so incredibly overwhelming. Remembering the things and people we are thankful for can help us keep a healthy perspective to life and to faith. It can create balance and a healthy life. So in this month of thanks, may we all engage in an attitude of gratitude for in doing so we will have our lives transformed. -Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2020 Alive! 2021 Info, Facility Info Page 2 Alive! 2021 Information As year 2020 races to a close, The Alive! Sunday School Class is making preparations and anticipating a welcome to the New Year of 2021 with a study called "RESET," based on teachings from the book of Nehemiah, by Dr. David Jeremiah. Just in time for the beginning of a new year, ten principles of Christian living will be presented, comprising 10 weekly topics plus a closing lesson, for a total of the first 11 weeks of 2021. Plans include in-person classes meeting in the Fellowship Hall so we can practice safe-distancing. Classes will immediately follow 9:30a.m. worship services. Participants will need a book and a study guide in order to gain the most benefit from the class. All are welcome to be a part of this effort. Look for an e-mail flier with more in-depth details and then contact Blanche West to get registered for this e x c i t i n g a d v e n t u r e i n B i b l e study. Deadline for registration will be Friday, November 27. Blanche: phone or text 479-651-0179; email <blanche.west@cox.net> Facility Information Occasionally we need to be reminded to be good stewards of our property. Friday morning October 2nd. some of the sanctuary lights had been left on and the South double door to the sanctuary was unlocked and open probably from Thursday night. When leaving the building the double glass doors to the sanctuary has to be physically pushed until they click closed, then you pull on them to make sure they are closed and locked. As a reminder the person in charge of a meeting or an event is responsible to see that the thermostat is set, lights turned out and doors locked. If an individual enters the building for any reason when the office is closed and the custodian is not there, then they are responsible for the same. Thanks, Harley UMW is collecting hats, gloves, & scarves for local children in our community. Drop by the church and hang your donations on the lattice located outside the sanctuary. Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2020

Recipes Page 3 Thanksgiving is just a few short weeks away so you know what that means - family, football, giving thanks and of course, FOOD! Pan Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon You might not like Brussel sprouts but you will after eating them this way. Serves 4-6 Ingredients 4 strips of thick cut bacon 2 tablespoons butter 1 pound of Brussel sprouts, halved 1/2 large onion, chopped Salt and pepper Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crispy. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate, then roughly chop. In same pan with bacon fat, melt butter over high heat. Add onions and Brussels Sprouts and cook, stirring occasionally, until sprouts are golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and toss bacon back into pan. Serve immediately. Orange Dreamsicle Salad Ingredients 1 box orange Jell-O 1 box instant vanilla pudding 1 cup boiling water 1/2 cup cold water 1 Cool Whip 8 oz. 1 can mandarin oranges 14 oz. , drained 1 cup mini marshmallows In a large bowl combine orange Jell-O and boiling water. Whisk until Jell-o is dissolved. Add cold water and allow to chill for 15 minutes in refrigerator. Slowly whisk in vanilla pudding mix until smooth and chill for another 15-20 minutes or until it becomes slightly thickened. Fold in Cool Whip, mandarin oranges and marshmallows Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2020

Wesley United Methodist Church October 2020 Newsletter What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke Community Garden Update Cub Scouts Pack 19 Update

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Chillax Chillax (verb)- to calm down Sometimes… well, if I am truly honest, most of the time the news raises my blood pressure. So many stories of suffering, loss, violence, hopelessness, grief, people arguing, and, as if that were not enough, sensationalism at its finest. We have a 24-7 news cycle- it never stops and it never sleeps. So how do we, as people of faith, respond in this reality? Not just the news cycle, our own lives are so incredibly full. Time is a rare and precious commodity. It seems like for me, as a parent of two teenagers, there is always a place to be and things to do. Many of you have encouraged me as a parent and reminded me to enjoy this season of my life- thank you. Still yet, a full life is demanding and challenging. I would bet that most of you are facing some type of significant challenge in your life right now. Maybe a significant health crisis, a looming decision, or maybe relational strains- the list of possibilities are endless. If so, how is your faith helping you? Authentic faith is wrought in struggle. In the crucible of life’s messiness is where faith grows legs. I have the great privilege to witness people living out their faith through their struggles almost daily. Each of you have inspired me by the way your own faith carries you through. Our faith is not a fickle thing, when and where God is involved we have power far beyond our own capacities. It would do us all well to remember that daily. In 1 Peter 5:7 it says: “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” In a world that is loud and full and broken, this verse reminds me to “chillax”. Let us have enough faith and wisdom to do so daily. -Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2020 Community Garden, Cub Scouts Page 2 Thank you to everyone who came out and helped pick sweet potatoes over the last couple of weeks. It is not how we wanted or planned to harvest but as usual God provided and it worked out. Several hundred pounds of potatoes have been distributed to the kids at Carnall and our neighbors in the community. We are small but we are mighty! Greetings from Pack 19! Pack 19 has relaunched our program and are glad to be back together. Scouters are eager to have adventures as a group but have all been busy working on advancements and being in the outdoors with their families. We are using our masks and distancing ourselves while meeting. October 17-18 we are heading to Rogers Scout Reservation for our first campout together in many months. We invite every elementary aged child to come check us out and join the adventure. Yours in Scouting’s Best, Justin Cates “That Will Never Change” Backpack Program - We are finally getting numbers in on the amount of backpack bags we will be bagging each week. Just like last year, we will bag 2 or 3 weeks in advance on a Wednesday evening. More information about when that will begin, to come very soon. Wesley UMC Newsletter On both your best and worst days, God still reminds you that you are created in God’s image. On both your best and worst days, Jesus still died on your behalf, and longs to be your Lord and Savior. On both your best and worst days, the Holy Spirit still prompts, prods and leads you into the fullness of the Jesus’ life for which you are created. And this is true today regardless of whether it turns out to be your best day or your worst day - or somewhere in between. Here’s why. God loves you passionately and that will never change. - Bishop Gary Mueller October 2020

Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! Greetings Wesley UMC Family!!!! I want to begin by saying a huge "Thank you!!!" for your prayers for my mother and me during our recent bout with COVID. It will not lie: it was pretty rough, and my mother is still dealing with some pretty bad symptoms. However, there is power in prayer, and I am confident that she will make a full recovery soon! I am feeling much better now and looking forward to being back in church in a couple of weeks! Unfortunately, my turn with the crud interrupted the revival of bell choir. We met one time and had such a great time together. Always full of lots of fun and laughter. My plan is for us to begin bells once more on Wednesday, October 7th from 6:00 - 6:30. We have some good music picked out that will also feature our pianist, Deborah Ellis. By the way, I think we are so blessed as a church to have Deborah with us. Each week, I find so much joy listening to her play and accompany our singing. As a fellow musician, I often hear and recognize the unique musical choices and style that Deborah brings to her playing, and it is always creative and very stylistic. Thank you Deborah for all you add to our church!!! I am looking at a way to possibly keep some semblance of a Christmas Cantata without actually having a choir. More information to come!!! Yours in Christ, Shane Sanderson 2200 Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-646-9702 | wesleyumcfs@yahoo.com Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2020

September 2020 Newsletter 2200 Phoenix Ave, Fort Smith, AR 72901 What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke Connecting with our Community Series Recipe: Not Yo’ Mama’s Banana Pudding

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all time, having all you need, you will abound in every good work” - 2 Corinthians 9:8 I believe there is a big difference between existing and living. I feel like, in the past six months, there have been a lot of people just merely existing- people who have hunkered down and tried to just weather the storm. The tough thing is the storm is sticking around and around and around. That concerns me greatly. There is a lot of loneliness and isolation among people and that can cause a myriad of complications. We have seen it manifested among some of our own church family. When I think about people who are truly living rather than just existing, I think beyond things people are doing. To live is as much a state of being as it is a state of doing. In the passage above, it speaks about “having all you need”- note it does not say “all you want”. There is a big difference between what we want and what we need. People who truly live have more closely aligned their wants with their authentic needs. They have a sense of fulfillment and joy. I believe faith plays an integral role in clarifying what it takes to truly live. There can be an inward spiritual work which helps us prioritize life. When that inward work, through faith, is allowed to proceed; the results are beautiful. In this, balance is more closely achieved and, with balance comes joy, peace, fulfillment, confidence, and power. My hope, for all of us, is that we will all truly live our God-gifted lives. In doing so, we will all be transformed from the inside out. Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter September 2020 Bible Study, RVRFB, Webinar, Cub Scouts Pastor’s Bible Study If you are interested in taking part in Pastor’s Bible Study Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm, email Pastor Zeke at zeke.allen@arumc.org. He will email you a link for Zoom along with detailed instructions on how to connect. Each week he will teach on the scripture he will preach on the following Sunday. You will grow in your knowledge of scripture and enhance your worship experience on Sunday mornings. River Valley Regional Food Bank Food banks rely heavily on volunteers to keep their doors open and operations running. Unfortunately, RVRFB has not been able to utilize volunteers due to COVID but that has not stopped them or slowed them down. They are still supplying food to thousands of hungry people in our community. Thanks to the food bank we are able to supply backpack bags to children at Carnall and Cavanaugh Elementary Schools at little or no cost to us. If you would like to support the food bank there are a couple ways to do so. Monetary donations are always welcome. You can mail or drop off your donation to 1617 South Zero St., Fort Smith 72901 or donate online at www.rvrfoodbank.org/donate. You can also become a Social Media Ambassador by Following the food bank on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and share the food bank’s posts and stories. Follow the food bank on Facebook at RVRFoodBank. Wesley UMC Newsletter Page 3 Connecting with our Community Series 200,000 More Reasons and The Delta Project initiatives of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas, invite you to participate in an upcoming series of webinars aimed at helping individuals connect with their communities. The webinars will take place on three consecutive Wednesdays - September 9, 16 and 23, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. via Zoom video conferencing. There will be three different webinars in this series, each focusing on an important element of alleviating poverty in Arkansas: • Understanding Poverty • Understanding Literacy • Ministry WITH Our Neighbors Arkansas United Methodist Bishop Gary Mueller, along with Dr. Jay Barth, Chief Education Officer for the City of Little Rock, and the Rev. Shantell Hinton Hill, equity officer with the ALICE Project and the WinRock Foundation, will host the first webinar in the series on Understanding Poverty. To register visit www.arumc.zoom.us/ webinar/register Cub Scouts Interested in joining Cub Scouts? Wesley is proud to say we host Pack 19 at our facility and they are always welcoming to boys and girls. With COVID, programs have slowed but if you have a child interested in joining contact Justin Cates. September 2020

Recipe Page 2 Not Yo’ Mama’s Banana Pudding Ingredients 1 (12-oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream 1 (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened 2 cups milk 1 (5-oz) box instant French vanilla pudding mix 6 to 8 bananas, sliced 2 bags chessmen cookies Directions Line the bottom of a 13x9x2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top. In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve. The Wesley UMC Newsletter goes out at the first of each month. If there is anything you would like submitted in the newsletter, please send the information to Carrie Miller (carrielynn12983@gmail.com) or the church office at Wesleyumcfs@yahoo.com. Wesley UMC Newsletter September 2020

Wesley United Methodist Church August 2020 Newsletter What’s inside: A note from Pastor Zeke 200K More Reasons Recipe: Ravioli Lasagna

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke “And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?” - Matthew 6:27 So how are you doing? Really… how are you doing? We are seven months into this pandemic and it would do us well to do a little self-inventory. Are you okay? Life can be so hard and difficult. Our current reality hasn’t made any of life’s challenges easier. If anything, it has only exacerbated things. Our Christian heritage is one paved with struggle and triumph. The Bible is chalked full of stories about God’s people and their struggles. In many ways, reading these stories can bring us hope in our current reality. Yes life is hard but also God is with us in this challenging time. I think this scripture from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is exactly what we need to remember daily. Our future rests in the love of an all-powerful God. We must remember that perfect love casts out all fear. Much of our anxieties are well-placed but can be overcome through our faith in God working through the Holy Spirit inside each of us. In faith, we experience a peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray for that peace within my life and within each of your lives. Surrender to faith and your fears will lose its ultimate power over you. I was speaking with my dad the other day and he was telling me how ready he was that things would just go back to the way they were before Covid-19. I too wish this so very much. So many things I took for granted that are now gone. The reality is that things are different for the unforeseeable future but the people of faith are resilient and tenacious when challenges present themselves. Never underestimate the power of God nor the power of God working through people of faith. I am so overjoyed that we have begun in-person worship again. It has been so good to be in worship in-person with at least some of you. I have missed everyone so much. This comes with some real anxieties and risk. Our Relaunch Team has done our very best to make worship as safe as it can possibly be. I am so thankful for their preparatory work. For those of our church family that cannot rejoin us in in-person worship yet, we will continue to stream worship using Facebook Live. Please be in prayer for our church and for the health of its members. Hang in there and may your worries be replaced with the powerful peace of God. Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2020 Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! Greetings Wesley UMC Family . . . It was really good to get back to some sense of normalcy this past Sunday with our first in-house worship in some time. It seems a bit odd, the way that we are having to do things, but I truly believe that we are doing what is necessary to keep our members safe. I know that everyone who has been helping with organizing our worship has been very intentional on keeping both the health and spiritual needs of our congregation in mind as we continue forward. I want to say especially to my choir and bell ringers that I miss you all! It seems like a month of Sundays since we have been in rehearsal together, but I also know that we will be back to making music together soon. Yours in Christ, Shane Sanderson WELCOME BACK!! We had a great first service back August 2nd. We were so glad to see everyone that was able to attend. For those not quite ready, hopefully we will see you soon. Until then, you can watch the live stream on the Wesley Facebook page every Sunday morning at 9:30. Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2020

200K More Reasons Page 4 1 in 4 kids in Arkansas are food insecure. They do not know where their next meal will come from. In 2014, Annual Conference voted to fight childhood hunger in Arkansas. Over the past 6 years, we have seen the number of food insecure children in Arkansas drop from 200,000 to 162,270. 86% or 540 churches have or are providing food to hungry children and their families, and 200,000 Reasons has distributed more than $200,000 in small grant awards to help support congregations in their feeding ministries. Feeding ministries allow families to spend their limited income on other necessities like rent and utilities. However, the relief is temporary in so many cases. More needs to be done to significantly move the needle on childhood hunger. We are asking the Annual Conference to approve an expansion and extension of the work we have begun. As 200,000 More Reasons, we are asking churches to add poverty alleviation strategies to their ministries with hungry children. Specifically, we will focus on literacy and promoting healthy, stable families as means of hope and assistance for families to move out of poverty. The main objectives to the 200K More Reasons mission are: Nutrition: 200,000 More Reasons will continue fighting childhood hunger through the 5 Action Areas – Feed, Provide, Garden, Teach & Public Witness. Literacy: 200,000 More Reasons will provide literacy support so that every child in food insecure homes can read at grade level. Stability: 200,000 More Reasons will offer ministries to the adults in the lives of food insecure children that promote a healthy and stable family life. The work Wesley and Cavanaugh has done helping food insecure children in our community is monumental and there is still so much more we can do. For more information about the 200K More Reasons initiative and for ideas, ministries and resources, visit: http://arumc.org/our-ministries/200k-more-reasons/ Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2020 Missions Update Page 5 Blessing Box: It is our best guess that around 20 people a day either visit or are “blessed” by our Blessing Box. Ways you can help: • Pick up a few extra items next time you are at the store and place them in the Blessing Box. • Take a box of food from the Wesley Food Room and place items in the Blessing Box at your convenience. If this is something you would be interested in contact Carrie or Zeke. Community Garden: As many of you know, Wesley worked in conjunction with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Carnall Elementary to place a Community Garden on the grounds of Carnall Elementary. Last winter we harvested over 1,000 pounds of turnips which were distributed to students and families of Carnall and placed in Blessing Boxes around Fort Smith. In May we planted a 1/2 acre of sweet potatoes which will be ready to harvest in September. Harvesting Event information to come. Wesley UMC Newsletter Backpack Program: With school beginning in just a few weeks, we will also be restarting our backpack program which supplies weekend food items to food insecure children at Carnall and Cavanaugh Elementary schools. We do not have a start date to begin yet, however, bagging will take place Wednesday evenings at Cavanaugh UMC. Bagging typically only takes about 30 minutes if we can have 5-10 people bagging. Ways you can help: • Help bag items. • Deliver bags each week to one of the schools. Farmers Market Produce Pickup: Unfortunately due to COVID-19 we decided to not begin our Farmers Market Produce mission this summer. Our hope is that we will be able to pick it back up next year as it does provide fresh produce to those who normally would not receive any. Ways you can help now: • Grab some fresh produce next time you are at the grocery store and place it in the Blessing Box. • If you have a little extra produce from your own garden, consider placing some in the Blessing Box. The best vegetables to donate are: tomatoes, squash, okra, zucchini, potatoes, onion, carrots, cucumbers August 2020

Back to School Needs Page 2 Here are a couple of immediate ways to help others in our community. 9 kids need back to school items! Your donation of $400 covers the costs of: 2 pairs of shoes for $100, 5 pairs of pants for $150, 5 shirts for $150, socks, underwear, accessories for $100 ... Monetary donations help the Children’s Shelter to gift their kids with shoes and clothes that FIT. FIT their bodies, FIT their personalities & help them FIT in at school! … You can donate directly at https:// fschildrensshelter.org/donate-to-the-cesfoundation/ Wesley UMC Newsletter Riverview Hope Campus has a list of some much needed food items: • Eggs • Canned Fruit • Canned Veggies • Canned Beans • Ranch Dressing • Drink Mixes • Coffee • Ketchup • Mustard • Relish • Cereal • Chicken Broth • Pasta • Mayo Monetary donations are always welcome. You can make an online donation at https://riverviewhopecampus.org/donate/ August 2020 Recipe: Ravioli Lasagna Page 6 We have some amazing cooks at Wesley. Since we are missing potlucks and all those delicious dishes, we thought why not share those recipes in the monthly newsletters. With school starting in a few weeks, let’s start with a quick and easy, week night dinner. Ravioli Lasagna Ingredients: 1 - 25oz bag of frozen cheese ravioli Shredded mozzarella cheese 1 - 45oz jar of spaghetti sauce 1 lb Italian sausage 1 - 5oz package of pepperoni Step 1 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray. Cook ravioli to package directions and brown Italian sausage. Step 2 - Place 1 layer of cooked ravioli in the bottom of baking dish, spread a layer of spaghetti sauce on top of ravioli, place all the Italian sausage on top of sauce, add a layer of mozzarella cheese. Add another layer of ravioli and spaghetti sauce, then add a layer of pepperonis and top with mozzarella cheese. Step 3 - Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until mixture is hot and bubbling. If you would like to submit a recipe for next months newsletter you can email it to Carrie Miller at carrielynn12983@gmail.com Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2020

The Wesley UMC Newsletter goes out at the first of each month. If there is anything you would like submitted in the newsletter, please send the information to Carrie Miller (carrielynn12983@gmail.com) or the church office at Wesleyumcfs@yahoo.com. Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901 Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2020

Wesley United Methodist Church July 2020 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke “New” “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17 In this moment in our lives, things have become quite serious and frightening. The reality of Covid-19 as affecting people we know has come front and center. My prayer that “everyone is safe and well” is more fervent than ever. It is interesting to see the different reactions people have to a global pandemic. Some are doing their best to follow guidelines and be as safe as possible while others feel things should just go back to the way they were before the virus. I cannot presume to think that this virus does not affect me personally or we, as a church corporately. I mourn not being able to see everyone, interact with folks, and see the body connecting and interacting with one another. It as if part of who we are as a community of faith has been taken from us. To some extent, I think that very well may be true. As I reflect on our new “normal”, I wonder, with some significant anxiety, what church will look like in the future. I am certain it will be different and know that is not altogether a bad thing. So what are we to do, to think, to believe? First and foremost, we must remember that God is still God. In control, all-loving, and all-powerful. We must remember the power of God, through Christ, working within the presence of the Holy Spirit is in our lives. This affords us the opportunity to evaluate what is truly important in our lives and in the lives of those we love. It must remind us that we are loved and cherished by God. We must be creative about how we live out our faith. 2 Corinthians 5:17 has been on my heart and my mind in these past few weeks. It is filled with such hope. A hope that God is still creating newness in our lives. Of us, as people of faith, hope is not something fragile. We are in a place and time when we need a whole lot of hope. As Christians, regardless of the situation, there is always hope. So if and when you find yourself overwhelmed with our current reality, may you know with confidence, that we always have hope which is found in Jesus Christ. There is always the light of Christ that is shining in the dark places of our lives. I love each of you and pray for abundant hope and newness in your lives. -Keep the Faith Strong, Pastor Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2020 Drive-In Church Page 2 In-person Worship Update: I’m sure by now you have all received either an email, a letter in the mail, or saw the update on Facebook but if you by some chance did not, after much prayer and careful consideration the Wesley relaunch team has decided to push back our reopening until the end of July. We are thankful for everyone’s input, prayers and of course patience as we wade through these uncharted waters. In the meantime we hope to see everyone at our Drive-In Church Service and of course join us on our Live Stream on the Wesley Facebook page. Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2020

Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! Greetings, Wesley UMC Family!!! I often wonder what he thought as he sat there. He had been told to do something profound, something that defied explanation and that no one else had ever had to do before. It was something that seemed so difficult and at times so ridiculous. More than that, he had been told that if he did not do this thing, he and his family would be in danger. So, there he sat. He had been shut in for weeks, seeing the same faces everyday with nowhere to go and nothing to do but the chores that were available to him. He had no doubt grown weary of the worry, the complaining, the arguing. There was truly no end in sight to his misery. It seemed like the world was ending. And then the dove returned. The story of Noah reminds me so much of our current situation. It is no doubt easy to look around at the misery and the suffering and a world that seems intent on imploding. But I think that it is times like this that narrow our focus and help us to spot those blessings that might otherwise go unnoticed. Never before have I gotten such pleasure out of something so simple as a vegetable garden. I find myself going out two or three times a day to commune with my plants, to visit them and see how they are getting along in their day. I hope that each of you, too, is finding some sort of small blessing that you had not realized was there before. If not, look around. I know you can find one!!! My pontificating done, I want to invite everyone to the drive-in service this Sunday. I think the last one went very well and was very enjoyable for everyone!!! Just make sure you get out of Rhonda's way at communion time! :-) Yours in Christ, Shane Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2020 Missions Page 4 Sweet Potato planting - I want to say a HUGE “Thank you” to everyone who came out and helped plant sweet potato slips at Carnall Elementary in June. 16 people, ranging in ages from 6-77, planted a 1/2 acre of slips in an hour and a half. Our anticipated harvest date is mid-September. Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2020

Dismantling Racism Page 5 United Methodist Communications Office of Public Information FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 16, 2020 Nashville, Tennessee: United Methodist Church leaders will launch a plan of action to galvanize church members and others to actively stand against racism in the wake of the George Floyd and protests across the U.S. The “Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom” initiative is a multi-level effort throughout the church to initiate a sustained and coordinated effort to dismantle racism and promote collective action to work toward racial justice. The church-wide effort will kick off on June 19, 2020, to coincide with Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. An announcement from members of the United Methodist Council of Bishops will be broadcast at 11:00 am CT on UMC.org/EndRacism and Facebook. Participating in the event will be Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey of the Louisiana Episcopal Area, president of the Council of Bishops and the first Hispanic woman to hold that post, Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi of the Pittsburgh Episcopal Area, Bishop Bruce Ough of the Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area, Bishop Gregory Palmer of the Ohio West Episcopal Area, and Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the New York Episcopal Area. “Words are great, words are important – but action is really important,” said Bishop Harvey. “Pick up your pen, pick up your voice, pick up your feet, and do something.” A day of prayer and worship will follow on June 24, 2020, with an online service to be broadcast at noon CT on UMC.org/EndRacism and Facebook. There will also be a denominational virtual town hall event on July 1. Regional and local worship events and town hall meetings involving community partners will subsequently take place, either online or in keeping with social distancing protocols. Wesley UMC Newsletter Continued on page 6 July 2020 Dismantling Racism Continued, Devotional & SS Materials , Shoal Creek Page 6 Continued from page 5 Advocacy and worship resources will seek to equip leaders, members, and the public to join in this important racial relations work. To encourage wide participation, a variety of materials will be made available in English, Korean, Spanish, French, and Portuguese translations. The denomination has a long-standing history of advocating for justice. The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church recognize racism as a sin and commit to challenging unjust systems of power and access. Additional information and resources are available online at UMC.org/EndRacism. Hey Campers! We regret to inform you that the District Day Camp, and the Great Adventure camp have been cancelled for this year. We thought by now the virus would be slowing, but to err on the side of caution, we are needing to cancel. We will try to plan something for the fall, if this virus slow by then. Please continue to support the camp with your prayers and gifts as summer camps create most of our income for the entire year, so with the cancellation of most camps, our income will be down considerably. Hope to see you soon! Devotional & Sunday School Materials Upper Room Devotional materials for July and August as well as Quarterly Adult Bible Study materials are both available at the office. Either one can be delivered to your front porch by calling the church office or you can pick them up Monday-Thursday 9:00am-12:00pm. Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2020

We hope your Holiday is safe and full of The Wesley UMC Newsletter goes out at the first of each month. If there is anything you would like submitted in the newsletter, please send the information to Carrie Miller (carrielynn12983@gmail.com) or the church office at Wesleyumcfs@yahoo.com. Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-646-9702 Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2020

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org June 2020 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke “New Normal” “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” 2 Corinthians 5:17 I used to have a buddy who would say something like- “I am normal and everyone else is weird”. So what really is “normal”? In this midst of a crazy pandemic we have found our freedom and our fears come to the forefront. I would imagine you, like myself, have had a myriad of emotional responses. These might include frustration, anger, fear, anxiety, depression, and apprehension for the future. I would advocate that all of these things are “normal”. I have come to believe that God is okay with our normal. Our deepest frustrations and most paralyzing fears do not threaten God, in my opinion. I believe God meets us where we are and just as we are. However, God loves us enough to not leave us where we are. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, God continues to reshape those “in Christ” into new creations. We have learned over the past two months that there are a lot of things that are out of our control. What, I believe, we must begin to learn from are those things that are in our control and focus on them. These might include things like your reaction to things, the condition of your spiritual heart and your orientation and relationship with God. I believe that if we focused on even these three things our perspective on life would be altered and bettered. Whatever our new “normal” is in this pandemic, my hope for us all is that we might claim the “new life” afforded us through Jesus Christ. My all of feet be firmly planted on the rock foundation of Jesus who is our Christ. -Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2020 Shoal Creek, Missions Page 2 Summer 2020 Camp Opportunities: • The Great Adventure Camp - July 19-21 • Exploring God’s Creations Day Camp - July 23 Backpack program - School is officially over until August. With that, the backpack program is on hiatus. Thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone who helped bag the bags each week and/or delivered to the schools. Without your willingness to volunteer and your support our mission to make sure hungry children have food each weekend would have been much harder. Campers can download forms on the Shoal C r e e k C a m p w e b s i t e www.shoalcreekcamp.com and send them to the director for that camp. Camp size may be limited do to Corona Virus so be sure to get your forms in as soon as possible. Farmers Market - We have been in contact with the Farmers Market concerning our start date to begin produce pickup. The Market is still down several vegetable vendors from normal so we are waiting to find out if what is there will be enough to gather donations. We are hoping to hear something within the next week concerning that. Stay tuned for updates! Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2020

Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! Dear Wesley Church Family, Greetings!! I want to begin by saying a special Thank YOU!!!! to those of you who sent me cards and Happy Birthday messages last week! I truly had a special birthday this year--the best one I have had in a long time--and you were part of it!! We are now entering what seems like our fifth year of quarantine, and I know that many of us are longing to be back together each week to fellowship and worship together! I want to keep emphasizing how much I miss my bell and Chancel choir. I hope that each of you is safe, healthy, and well! I know that one of the fruits of the spirit is patience, and God is definitely growing this in us all right now!! I, like you, am looking forward to the day when I can be back with you all, especially my singers and ringers!! Yours in Christ, Shane Sanderson Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2020

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org May 2020 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Grounded In a Shaking World “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7 I hope this month’s newsletter finds each of you well and safe. This has been a prayer of mine for each of you during this time. I would guess most of us have experienced heightened anxiety over the past few weeks. Likewise, a lot of uncertainty, loss of freedom, maybe a touch of depression, and some pent-up frustration. I can say this because I, too, have been feeling these things. I continue to try to navigate how to be your pastor in our new reality of Covid-19. It has not been altogether easy. While I can honestly say that I don’t know what the future holds as far as when we can gather again, I can say without hesitation that God has got this. If I had a bumper sticker verse for these days, it would be 1 Peter 5:7. I know the God that we serve and place our faith in. God’s ways are steadfast, uncompromising, tenacious, foundational, filled with love, and within reach for us all. I must daily remind myself of these truths. I will not fear because “perfect love casts out fear”. We are called to “cast our anxiety on him” and that is something we all can do. I believe that is the path forward for us all. Likewise, I believe this time of self-quarantine and mass prohibitions will not last forever. We will again be able to gather for church. We will again be able to experience the joy of communal worship. I believe that, when we are able to gather again, none of us will take it for granted. We will cherish our time together in worship and as a church united in the name of Jesus. I want you to know that I love and cherish you all. You are each so precious to me and it is true joy to have the privilege to serve as your pastor. Hang in there and, as always, keep the faith strong. -Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2020 Facility Information, Missions Page 2 Facility Information Blanche West is on a roll. She and Justin Cates installed and painted the new pantry doors in the kitchen and installed new mini blinds in the kitchen at no cost to the church. After that her project was ceramic tile floors and new paint in the men’s and women’s bathrooms by the kitchen. Thanks to her and Jerry and an anonymous donor this project was done at no cost to the church and they are beautiful. When we open up you invited to take a look. The new heat and air conditioner for the Win One SS room and kitchen has been installed. Our 2 year old riding lawn mower that we started the 3rd wowing season with, motor froze up and is not cost effective to repair. A donor has purchased a new John Deere Riding mower for the church. Wesley UMC Newsletter Farmers Market produce pickup will begin very soon. We are working to finalize our start date with the Farmer Market. As soon as we have dates and details we will post those on Facebook and send out an email. May 2020 We might not be able to worship together inperson but our food ministries are still going strong. Since school is technically still in session we are still supplying weekend backpack bags each week to Carnall and Cavanaugh Elementary schools. We also received an anonymous donation of $1,000.00 to help fill our food room, which helps fill our blessing box. We are beyond grateful for this very generous donation. It has allowed us to purchase more food, which will serve even more people in our community.

Music Ministry, Great Financial News Page 3 Greetings!!! Dear Wesley UMC Family, I hope that you have been enjoying our bi-weekly streaming services. Though it is odd "playing for an empty house" as they refer to it in the music business, as a music director there is something very satisfying about being able to still lead worship for our congregation during this time. I want to speak for a minute to my choir and bell ringers. I want each of you to know how much I have been missing you these last few months. Every week, I enter practices carrying a load of stress and frustration, but by the time I am done making music with you all for two hours, all the stress and frustration is gone. I miss the fun of working with all of you, making music together, and laughing. I do have plans in the works for us to be able to practice a song that we have been working on so that we can hopefully have an anthem ready in the event we are able to return to a full worship service. I will share more about that soon. To our entire church body, I want to say that I am looking forward to seeing each of you in person, even if we can't hug or shake hands at first. As the Word says, "It came to pass..." and this, too, will pass. Yours in Christ, Shane Sanderson Great Financial News Thanks to work from Harley, George and Francis, we applied and have been approved for SBA loan from the government. The amount will total around $10,400.00. Three quarters of this must go toward paying salaries. This will help our church greatly through this time of not being able to worship in person. Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2020

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org April 2020 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke CoronaCare “I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers” Philippians 1:3 Paul begins his letter to the church in Philippi with this verse. It reminds me how there are still active things we can be doing as a church even when we are not meeting in person. James 5:16b says the “prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective”. I believe this to be truth and power, especially for us in these tenuous days. The fact of the matter is, however, that we are in a time when our faith must put on skin, grow legs, and carry us. With anxieties high and our social distancing it is critical we retain community in whatever means possible. CoronaCare is what we need to be engaging in. Make a phone call a day and check on someone. Drop a letter in the mail. Touch base with someone each day- it will be good for them and good for you. Lastly, be thankful. No matter how bad things get and how isolated we may become, there are always things to be thankful for. I think part of being a person of faith is having an attitude of gratitude. We must seek out things for which we are thankful for and focus on them. I think, when we do this, our perspective is shifted and our lives are lived more fully. Stay safe in these crazy days. If you need anything at anytime, please call me (501.650.1293) and I will do whatever I can to help. Be sure to check on one another and care for one another- it is part of what it means to be the church. -Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2020 UMW News, Cub Scouts, Worship Updates United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION There will be no Wesley UMW activities until further notice. God bless each of you and stay safe. While March began normal enough for Pack 19 with regular den activities it has experienced an unprecedented and abrupt halt like the rest of the country. Our scouters have been using this time to individually work on advancements, hike, fish and other outdoor activities. Once the health threat has subsided meetings will resume as usual. Scouts are working extra hard to prepare their Pinewood Derby cars and will also be selling Blue & Gold Meats soon. In these times remember the Scout Motto; Be Prepared. Yours in Scoutings Best, Justin P. Cates Worship & “Fellowship” Updates I received an update from our conference office recommending we cancel any in-person church gathering through the end of April. While this is the last thing I want to do, I believe it is the responsible thing to do. Therefore, we will not gather for worship through the end of April and then we will Wesley UMC Newsletter • We will continue to have live worship on the Wesley Facebook page (WesleyUMCFortSmith) — 9:30 every Sunday morning. If you are unable to join us then for worship, you will still be able to watch the service at a later time on the Facebook page. • Clyde Bates of Wesley UMC will teach a Sunday School online from the quarterly. If you are interested in this, email Clyde at —clydewilly@live.com • I will offer Bible Study on Facebook on Wednesdays at 6:00. We are striving to creatively be the church within our context and that has proven to be difficult but we are all trying to make the best of it. • Please continue to financially support our church. We need your support to be able to pay our regular monthly expenses. If you have any questions on how to do this, please call me 501.650.1293. • If you or someone you know needs anything, please call me and myself or another volunteer will help make it happen. We are here to help. Just ask. Pastor Zeke Page 2 reevaluate from there. April 2020

Music Ministry, Facility Information Page 3 Greetings!!! Dear Wesley UMC Family, I want to begin by saying that I hope you are all well and safe. I know that we are living in uncertain times; I woke up with a slight cough the other day and promptly spent the rest of the day stressing out. It went away after an hour or so, and I have felt fine since. However, that is the world in which we now live. Fortunately, we are a people of faith. Faith is not the absence of fear; it is the understanding that despite that fear, God is in control and taking action based upon that belief. But, faith does not, I believe, call us to "dare" God or challenge his provision for us. I have said many times in the last couple of weeks that God does give us faith, but he also gives us common sense; he expects us to use both. I want to encourage all of you to continue in your faith and to keep trusting that by doing our part to slow the spread of this disease, God is also working within us and alongside us. That being said, I am about to go stir crazy!!!! I want to say to my choir and bell choir members that I really miss you all. It has been very difficult to not see you each week--to laugh, joke, and sing together. However, I want each and every one of you to be safe so that we can come back together soon to make wonderful music. In the meantime, everyone please stay safe and healthy and keep the faith, knowing that we will all be together again soon. Yours in Christ, Shane Sanderson Facility Information The new heating and air conditioning unit that services the kitchen, One Win Sunday School class, and rest rooms is scheduled to be installed the last week of April. Thank you to Harley for facilitating this and working so hard to keep our facilities up and running. Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2020

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org March 2020 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zek “And the Crowd Goes Wild” “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us” -Hebrews 12:1 What if each of us had our own cheering section in life- a crowd that gathered daily to cheer us on and encourage us? I know there are plenty of days I could benefit from something like that. Hebrews 12:1-2 lays out the image of a runner who is inside a crowded stadium with masses cheering them on. The race is the race of faith and the crowds are all those saints who have gone before us and already finished the race. They are shrouded in glory and cheer us on in our race of faith. I love this image. I love the idea that we are never alone in our walk of faith. I believe we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. We are all, in one way or another, a product of saints who invested in our lives and in our faith. The thought that those saints now cheer us on in our own faith journey is humbling and energizing. The race set before us is more like a marathon than a sprint. It is one of endurance and pilgrimage. The word for perseverance here in verse one means literally “steadfast endurance”. It is the Greek word huponomē. It means one who patiently endures something until they eventually master it. This is contrasted to an endurance that just takes things as they are and tries to survive. It is mastering faith and life that we are called to. None of these things are possible without Jesus- the perfect example of faith who has run the race and finished with excellence. In this month of March, I pray you might feel the saints cheering you one in life. I pray that you might have steadfast endurance in all matters of faith. And I pray that you might feel the presence of Jesus in all things. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2020 UMW News, Facility Information Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES The Morning Glories will meet on Tuesday, March 17 in the Rock House at 10:00 a.m. Etta Jensen will give the Devotional, Wanda Clark will present the Program and Rosie Turnquist and Doris Cruce will be hostesses for the Pot-luck Salad Lunch that will follow the Program and Business Meeting. We welcome you to join us in our "meeting and eating". God Bless you! Evening Stars will meet March 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the Rock House. Please join us for an evening food and fellowship. UMW Sunday was wonderful. Thank you to each woman that helped lead the service in some way and a special thank you to Rev. Louise Finney for being our guest speaker. Congratulations to Carol Tuck and Carrie Miller for receiving UMW Mission Recognition pins! Facility Information  We are excited to say that we sold the Rogers Organ that was donated to the church a couple of years ago.  Thank you to Justin Cates and Blanche West for installing new doors on the paper goods storage closet in the kitchen.  If you took any wash cloths or towels home to wash, please remember to bring those back.  We are halfway to our new AC Unit fund goal. Thank you to everyone who has donated, cooked/brought food for our COOL Lunch fundraisers and helped in any way possible to get us to where we are. Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2020

Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! So many have asked for this recipe, so I wanted to share it with you all... Chicken Gnocchi Soup 1 medium yellow onion, diced 2 stalks celery 1 carrot, diced or grated three or four cloves of garlic, minced family size rotisserie chicken 4 cups chicken stock bundle of thyme (I use fresh) or 1 tsp dried thyme 1 cup heavy cream 1. Heat 1 Tsbp olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter in a saucepan. Add onions, celery, and carrots and saute on medium heat until beginning to soften, 3-4 minutes. I usually add a bit of salt to help season and soften the vegetables. 2. Add the garlic and continue to saute for 1 minute. 3. Remove chicken meat from the bones and either dice or shred. 4. Add the chicken stock and thyme to the pot and cook for about 20 minutes or so on a simmer. 5. Remove the thyme stems (if you use fresh) and add the gnocchi. Continue to simmer for 5 minutes. 6. Add the cream and half and half and simmer for two or three minutes more. 7. Stir in the parmesan and spinach. Turn off heat and allow the parmesan to melt while stirring and the spinach to wilt. Salt and pepper to taste. Please make and enjoy!!! Shane Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2020 1/2 cup half and half 1 package baby spinach 1 package gnocchi (I get the one at Walmart near the pasta section) 1 cup grated parmesan cheese 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 Tbsp butter salt & pepper to taste Finding Strength in Our Connectionalism Page 4 Finding Strength in Our Connectionalism By: Caleb Hennington, The Arkansas United Methodist Digital Content Editor If you don’t know what connectionalism is -I’m not being snarky, I didn’t know either until I started working in the conference office -- it is a significant piece of Methodist theology that ties every part of the United Methodist Church together. Connectionalism manifests itself in some of our most common practices, including the appointment of pastors by bishops; our church, district, annual, jurisdictional and general conference meetings; the shared funding for our mission work across the globe; the shared ordination ceremony of our elders and deacons; the list goes on and on. But on a much smaller scale, our connectionalism reveals itself through the work of the people serving our local churches. The story of an eye clinic at Oaklawn UMC is one example of a pastor who has brought an idea from one church to another, carrying on the mission of providing health care services to people who cannot afford it on their own. Another is the therapy dog ministry, which started at Quapaw Quarter UMC and was carried over to Pulaski Heights UMC thanks to passionate leaders who saw the program as a way to minister to their community through the power of paws and fur. The sharing of ideas and ministries is a wonderful strength of our denomination, and more church leaders should be carrying these ideas over into the churches in which they are appointed. There’s no reason that a backpack ministry that worked at your last church in the big city can’t be brought over to your new church in rural Arkansas as well. Even though our denomination seems to be at an impasse, and plans have been made to divide us up, I believe that the ministries we have crafted and the people we have served through shared ideas can still carry on into whatever future lies before the United Methodist Church. Our connectionalism is our strength. We should always remember that. Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2020

Veritas 2020 Page 5 Our 3 confirmands, a long with Zeke and Carrie attended the 2020 Veritas Youth Conference in Rogers. They worshipped, prayed, played, and heard some incredible messages. If you would like to watch all the full worship services from the weekend you can visit the Arkansas CCYM Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/arkansasccym Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2020 Cub Scouts Page 6 Greetings from Pack 19. We began the month with our annual Scouting for Food drive. Scouts collected about 1500 pounds of food from surrounding neighborhoods. The food was donated to the Rye Hill Baptist Church food mission. We held our Blue and Gold Banquet on February 4th. This annual event is a celebration of the birthday of Scouting. February 9th was Scout Sunday. Pack members helped to lead the service at Wesley as they attended with their families. Several other scouts attended their home churches. Scouts have been working hard on advancements in their den meetings. Scouts are beginning to work on their Pinewood Derby cars, the most competitive time of the year. We always invite any interested family to check us out and see what Scouting can offer them. Yours in Scoutings Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2020

UPCOMING EVENTS March Birthdays Mar 4 Wed. Bible Study @ Wesley 6:00pm, Wesley Hand Bells 6:15pm, Chancel Choir 7:00pm Mar 5 Thurs. One Council 6:30pm Mar 9 Mon. Evening Stars 6:30pm, Rock House Mar 11 Wed. Bible Study @ Wesley 6:00pm, Wesley Hand Bells 6:15pm, Chancel Choir 7:00pm Mar 17 Tues. Morning Glories, 10:00am, Rock House Mar 18 Wed. Bible Study @ Wesley 6:00pm, Wesley Hand Bells 6:15pm, Chancel Choir 7:00pm Mar 19 Thurs. Young @ Heart 6:00pm Fellowship Hall Mar 25 Wed. Bible Study @ Wesley 6:00pm, Wesley Hand Bells 6:15pm, Chancel Choir 7:00pm 12 - Rachel Arnold 13 - Gloria Groves 13 - Billy Strang 18 - Norma Robison Anniversaries 10 - Ben & Misty Cates 23 - Dennis & Patrice Hulsey Lenten Service Schedule All services start at 6:00pm March 8 - Cavanaugh UMC, Steve Poarch March 15 - Midland Heights UMC, James Harris March 22 - St. Paul UMC, Dr. Bobby Bell March 29 - Wesley UMC, Dazzle Burns April 5 - Mission UMC, Dan Williams Fellowship meal to follow each service Wesley UMC Newsletter If you would like to submit any info to be published in the next newsletter please send info to Carrie Miller at carrielynn12983@gmail.com March 2020

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org February 2020 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Demonstrating God’s Love “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” - 1 John 4:7 The top 2 of the Christian faith- love God and love your neighbor- seem simple enough on the surface. When you get down to the nitty gritty of it, it is really tough. It can seem almost impossible to love God when everything is falling apart and God seems absent or at the very least apathetic to your woe. Have you ever shaken your fists at the sky and asked God “Why?” and God was silent? Reconciling faith with suffering may be the hardest work in one’s faith journey. I don’t have a simple plan as to how to go about this. The work is tough and requires a tenacious faith and some thick skin. Even now, I struggle with this myself. It certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. Also, when your neighbor is hateful, hurtful, egotistic, self-righteous, vindictive… it is hard to love them if not almost impossible. It is one thing to shake your fist at the sky at God but it is another when you know exactly what a person said or did and your trying to love them anyway. Faith begins where certainty ends. Faith itself is a gift from God. It is a gift from the graciousness of God for us to weather life and its storms. In part, we demonstrate God’s love with how we go about living our lives. The greatest testimony one can offer is the way they live their life. Actions do talk louder than words. When we gather on Wednesday to prepare our backpack food for the elementary we are demonstrating God’s love. You probably will never know one kid who receives a backpack but you are choosing to love anyways. When you do this, you demonstrate God’s love. Actions do not purchase God’s love. Actions testify to the love of God found in each of us. Actions become the hands and feet of Christ. Actions are faith in motion. Actions of love confront the darkness of our lives. For some, being a mere consumer of God’s love is just far enough with faith. For others, those seeking a deeper relationship with God, actions of love demonstrate and testify to the presence of God in our midst. It is in those individuals that the world becomes a better place and others have the potential to be blessed through us. In February, the love month, choose an avenue where you can demonstrate the love of God. There are tons happening just within our church. Let that work become an action of faith. In doing so you will not only demonstrate the love of God but you will also be transformed in the process. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2020 UMW News, UMM Valentine Banquet Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES The Morning Glories will meet on Tuesday, February 18, at 10:00 a.m. in the Rock House. Wanda Clark will give the Devotional, Doris Cruce will present the Call to Prayer and Self-Denial Program (ladies, remember - we give an offering during that program), and Betty Reather and Wanda Clark will be the hostesses for the Salad Pot-Luck Lunch that will follow the Program and Business Meeting. We invite you to come join us for this time of inspiration, food, and fellowship! Evening Stars will meet February 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the Rock House. Please join us for an evening food and fellowship. Thank you to Wesley for donating 126 items to children from Carnall Elementary. Thank you to the children for helping hang the items each week. United Methodist Men will host their Annual Valentine Banquet on Sunday February 9, at 6:00 p.m. at Cavanaugh UMC. Choice of NY strip or grilled chicken. Please specify temp preference if ordering steak. $30/couple, single ladies are free. If you are interested in attending please sign-up on the sign-up sheet in the narthex or contact Denver Dunn at 918-839 -1254. Please have your food order in by Monday February 3. Everyone always has a great time, with amazing food and great fellowship. We hope you can join us! Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2020

Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! Greetings Wesley UMC Family! I want to speak about my vision for worship. I see worship as more than just singing and music. To me, worship is a state in which you want to be in the presence of something more than anything else. If there is something you want in your life more than anything, that is what you worship. When we have a worship service, it is a visible manifestation of this desire to be in God's presence. Music and singing are manifestations of praise, the outward display of our desire to be in God's presence. As we outwardly engage in praise, we invite God's spirit to inwardly be present with us. To me, this is the inherent beauty of bringing in the light at the beginning of each service and then carrying that light with us as we go back to the world. This is why music is so important to me personally and why I highly value our singers, ringers, soloists, and Deborah; I feel that it is the purpose of all our music ministry to help manifest praise and welcome God to sit among us each time we gather. I hope that our music has been and continues to be a blessing to each and every one of you. I also want to thank all of those who give weekly of their time in helping to bring something special into our worship. Yours in Christ, Shane Sanderson Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2020 COOL Sunday Lunch, Facility Use Page 4 FACILITY USE Our Building & Usage Sunday ~ Lunch Do you usually go out to lunch after church and Sunday School? Join us for a soup/bean lunch February 23 beginning at 11:45 a.m., and contribute to our AC fund what you usually spend for lunch and tip. This could greatly benefit the Wesley AC replacement fund and in addition you can have a great lunch & fellowship time! What else can you do to help with this Cool Sunday Lunch? We will need contributions of crackpots of soup/beans and desserts. We will also need help setting up the dining room, making coffee and tea, and clean-up after the meal. Mexican Cornbread, crackers, and beverages will be provided by One Council members. We will have a sign-up sheet in the narthex. Please sign up to provide soup/beans or dessert and a job duty to help with this great event. We had a great time at our last Cool Lunch and helped put a nice dent in our AC Unit fund. We hope you can join us! PLEASE READ & TAKE NOTE After those meeting in the Rock House smelled gas, our plumber found a major gas leak in the line under the floor. The gas has been shut off & we cannot use the house until a new line is installed from the meter to the house & one under the house that is connected to the heating unit, water heater & stove. The repairs are scheduled to start February 4th. Please do not remove any supplies or equipment from church property without first contacting the church office. If you need to use the facility for any reason you MUST let the church office know first so they can put it on the calendar. Whoever puts in the requests is responsible for returning the items and/or making sure the facility is cleaned after use & items put away. The food in the Food Ministry room is to support our Blessing Box ministry & for those who contact us requesting food assistance. Please do not take food from the room without first letting someone know. We must report each month the amount of people served & approximate amount of food given. Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2020

Missions Page 5 On January 25th about 20 people from Wesley, Carnall Elementary and the community joined together to pick turnips during our Community Turnip Harvest at Carnall Elementary. We picked roughly 700 lbs of turnips that day. I cannot thank each person enough who came for taking time out of your Saturday to come help. The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance is beginning to make plans for the future. As soon as they decide what the spring crop will be, they will get the ground prepped and ready for planting. Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2020 Cub Scouts Page 6 Pack 19 got back into the swing of things after a well deserved holiday break, though the weather did cause some rescheduling of plans. Scouts from the Arrow of Light den planned and executed a cleanup service project at Spradling Park in Fort Smith. Scouts have sold Blue & Gold Meats twice in order to raise funds for a new aluminum Pinewood Derby track. That goal was realized this month with the delivery and assembly of our new high quality track. This new track will serve the Pack for many years to come. The highlight of the month was our pack birthday party for Granny Gail Swearingen who turned 80 years young. Thanks to Christal Powell for the yummy birthday cupcakes. As always all children are invited to visit Pack 19 at 6:00pm each Tuesday and try Scouting for themselves. Yours in Scouting Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2020

UPCOMING EVENTS Feb 5 Wed. Bible Study @ Cavanaugh 6:00pm, Wesley Hand Bells 6:15pm, Chancel Choir 7:00pm Feb 6 Thurs. One Council 6:30pm Feb 9 Sun. UMM Valentine Banquet @ Cavanaugh 6:00pm Feb 10 Mon. Evening Stars 6:30pm Feb 12 Wed. Bible Study @ Cavanaugh 6:00pm, Wesley Hand Bells 6:15pm, Chancel Choir 7:00pm Feb 18 Tues. Morning Glories 10:00am Rock House Feb 19 Wed. Bible Study @ Cavanaugh 6:00pm, Wesley Hand Bells 6:15pm, Chancel Choir 7:00pm Feb 20 Thurs. Young @ Heart 6:00pm Fellowship Hall Feb 23 Sun. COOL Sunday Lunch 11:45am Fellowship Hall Feb 26 Wed. Bible Study @ Cavanaugh 6:00pm, Wesley Hand Bells 6:15pm, Chancel Choir 7:00pm February Birthdays 5 - Wanda Clark 10 - Trefana Christian 11 - Rebecca Jensen 11 - Chelsey McKenzie 11 - JoAn McMullin 15 - Rhonda Hamm 25 - Joe Collinson 26 - Jo Bateman 26 - Taylor Dunn 28 - Emily Patterson Anniversaries 1 - Jerry & Lois Wade If you would like to submit any info to be published in the next newsletter please send info to Carrie Miller at carrielynn12983@gmail.com Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2020

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org January 2020 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zek I can’t believe it is 2020! Happy New Year to you all. By the way, you all have an 8% chance of keeping your New Year’s resolutions so good luck. At the beginning of the new year, we have a unique opportunity to be reflective on the past year and visionary as we look ahead at the year to come. I am so incredibly proud of our church because of all the vibrant mission and ministry that has been accomplished in 2019. We may be small but that doesn’t stop us from accomplishing amazing things. Your faithfulness and tenacious service make it a joy to serve alongside each of you. Thank you. As we look forward to 2020, I ask that each of you dream for and pray for our church. I don’t know what God has in store for us but I am excited to be on this ride together. My prayer for each of you is that you will consider this scripture from Hebrews: “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” - Hebrews 4:16 I have come to realize we all have a guilt complex when it comes to our spiritual lives. Maybe you have said or thought something like: I don’t deserve God’s love, I keep making the same mistake, how can you continue to forgive me, and on and on. When guilt is mixed with shame you have a volatile mix. Even though we might know that God loves us no matter what, making this a reality in our lives is another thing altogether. This verse confronts our guilt and shame head on. It is one of my memory verses that I quote when I am having a particularly bad day. My hope is that each of you can find the boldness this talks about. I know I need more mercy and grace in my life and I’m convinced you do as well. As we enter 2020, I pray that each of us realize a boldness to approach God and our lives. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2020 UMW News, COOL Sunday Lunch Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES The Morning Glories group of Wesley UMC have a "Bear" money holder and at each meeting the members put their "loose" change in it and this year we gave money to Hannah House from "the Bear". The Morning Glories will meet on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, in the Rock House at 10:00 a.m. JoAnn McMullin will give the Devotional, Wanda Clark will present the program, and Etta Jensen and Doris Cruce are Hostesses for the Salad Pot-Luck lunch that will follow the Program and Business meeting. We invite anyone to join us for the Mission Program and the fun, food, and fellowship - you will be our guest and do not need to provide a "dish". God bless you. Due to conflicts, the Unit meeting scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020 is rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. Sunday * Lunch Do you usually go out to lunch after church and Sunday School? Join us for a soup/be.an lunch January 12 beginning at 11:45 am to 12:00 noon, and contribute to our AC fund what you usually spend for lunch and tip. This could greatly benefit the Wesley AC replacement fund and in addition you can have a great lunch & fellowship time! What else can you do to help with this Cool Sunday Lunch? We will need contributions of crackpots of soup/beans and desserts. We will also need help setting up the dining room, making coffee and tea, and clean-up after the meal. Mexican Cornbread, crackers, and beverages will be provided by One Council members. We will have a sign-up sheet this Sunday, January 5. Please sign up to provide soup/beans or dessert and a job duty to help with this great event. Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2020

Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! Dear Wesley UMC Family, I want to say a huge thanks to everyone who came to our cantata and Christmas Eve services this year! I feel that we had two very special times of music and worship, and I truly hope that each of you was blessed. I have been hearing many wonderful comments from you and the community about our cantata service. I want to say publicly how blessed I am to work with these fine people and to be part of such a wonderful church body. I always love to tell people that we are SMALL BUT MIGHTY!!!! I would also like to thank both the congregation and choir for their generous gift for Christmas. You all bless me in so many ways, and I thank God for each of you!!!! I would like to finish my thoughts this year by honoring someone who was very special to me and who has now left us. Dr. Sharon Kenney was formerly the Director of Worship for Greenwood UMC. I had the joy and blessing of being able to sing in her choir and work alongside her for several years. She was not only a good friend, but also a magnificent teacher and mentor to me, as well. Sharon had immense musical talent; however, even greater still was her intense passion for worship. She worked seemingly tirelessly to do all she could to help create meaningful and moving worship experiences for her congregation. All she did was for the glory of the Lord. In many ways, Sharon is part of our music here and that of many other churches, as well. I have told the choir that much of what I am able to teach our choir is due to her teaching and mentoring me. I also try in many ways demonstrate the same passion for meaningful music that I saw in her. Sharon, I know that you are singing now for joy in the presence of our Lord. Thank you for teaching me, mentoring me, and for being my friend. I will miss your laughter and passion for music! Yours in Christ, Shane Sanderson Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2020 Wesley in Worship Page 4 Wesley in Worship We had a beautiful and wonderful Advent Season at Wesley. We are blessed beyond measure with so much musical talent and those willing to give their time to make worship at Wesley a holy and spiritual experience. Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2020

Missions Page 5 Backpack Program - Thank you to everyone who has diligently shown up to help fill backpack bags each week. They are such a needed blessing for each child that receives one. Also, a thank you to everyone who donated candy and helped put together the goody bags for all the staff at Carnall, Cavanaugh, and Beard Elementary schools. Hannah House - Thank you to each person that purchased a gift from the Hannah House board or donated financially. We were able to provide approximately 24 Christmas presents (12 each) for 2 young ladies that currently reside at Hannah House. Your generous hearts are beyond appreciated. Carnall Community Garden - Pastor Zeke, Carrie and Blanche had the pleasure of helping harvest turnips in December. With help from some of the students we were able to pick approximately 350lbs of turnips. COMMUNITY HARVEST JANUARY 11TH CARNALL ELEMENTARY Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2020 Cub Scouts Page 6 Happy New Year from Pack 19. December saw our scouts getting into the Christmas spirit. December 7 was the annual Christmas Honors Wreath Laying at the Fort Smith National Cemetery. Several Scout families participated in this great event. On December 10 we had a huge group of scouts visit Gorman Towers for our annual caroling. The scouts and residents both receive a lot of joy from this experience. A big thank you to Blanche West for playing piano and Shirley Rowe for leading the songs. On December 14 Scouts from around the community marched in the Fort Smith Christmas Parade. We wrapped up our year with a Pack Christmas party at the Creekmore Park Rose room. Santa Claus made a special appearance to visit with all the children and make sure his list was accurate. 2020 will be another adventure filled year and we invite all interested elementary age children to come check out the great things happening with Pack 19 and Cub Scouts. Yours in Scouting Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2020

UPCOMING EVENTS January Jan 5 Sun. Removal of the Greens, 4:00pm Jan 8 Wed. Bible Study Resumes, 6:00pm, Wesley Hand Bells, 6:15, Chancel Choir, 7:00 Jan 11 Sat. Community Harvest, Carnall Elementary Jan 12 Sun. COOL Sunday Lunch, 11:30 after Sunday School, Fellowship Hall Jan 15 Wed. Bible Study, 6:00pm, Wesley Hand Bells, 6:15, Chancel Choir, 7:00 Jan 18 Sat. One Council Retreat, 9:00am, Win One Classroom Jan 21 Tues. Morning Glories, 10:00am, Rock House Jan 22 Wed. Bible Study, 6:00pm, Wesley Hand Bells, 6:15, Chancel Choir, 7:00 Jan 25 Sat. UMW Unit Meeting Jan 29 Wed. Bible Study, 6:00pm, Wesley Birthdays 5 - Rosie Turnquist 6 - Debbie Green 9 - Mike Gibson 11 - Jackie Nichols 11 - Mary Ross 17 - Leo Patterson 21 - Norma Strang 22 - Jerry West 23 - Carol Tuck 24 - Twana Collinson 29 - Carrie Miller 31 - Lisa Moen Anniversaries 30 - Terry & Patsy Hendrickson Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2020

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org December 2019 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zek "Faithful" What does it mean to be faithful? Not the kind of faith that George Michael sings about but the kind of faith that our relationship with God calls us to. We know that “God’s faithfulness endures to all generations” (Psalm 119:90) and that God’s “faithfulness surrounds us” (Psalms 89:8). Faithfulness gets to the essence of the character of God. God’s faithfulness speaks to the Divine qualities of truth, devotion, fidelity, constancy, stability, and dependability. These characteristics are vital to our belief in who God is and how we live in relation with God. Faithfulness is imperative in the Divine-human relationship. Jesus modeled that faithfulness for us. The Gospels proclaim the faithfulness of Christ, not only in relationship with God, but also in relationship with humanity. Jesus’ love for us is steadfast and never wavers. His faithfulness shouts out the love of God for humanity. Jesus’ faithfulness was unwavering even to the cross and then beyond the grave into life beyond life. It was through the faithfulness of Jesus all the way to the cross that we experience the salvific grace of God. So what does it look like to be faithful in our lives? Did Jesus model faithfulness in a way that is far beyond our reach? Is faithfulness possible in a flawed and broken world and humanity? For me, I believe we all must strive toward faithful lives. This means, first and foremost, strive to live faithfully in light of our relationship to God through Jesus Christ. This is no easy fare however. It takes a lifelong journey alongside Jesus as our guide, the Holy Spirit as our catalyst, and a vigilant eye on the Father. It is not something we can just do on our own. Faithfulness is yet another gift from God and only through the grace of God may we ever live into it. In addition, we called to live faithfully in relationship with one another. I so desire to have a life and character that bears the marks of faithfulness- of truth, devotion, fidelity, constancy, stability, and dependability. I can’t help but imagine how much better our lives and our world would be if we all were faithful. I know it is a tall order but I believe, with God’s help and one another it is achievable. I am mindful of Jesus’ words: “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful in much” (Luke 16:10). May faithfulness be a mark of our lives and our church. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2019 UMW News, Facility Use, Staff Tree Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES The Morning Glories will meet on Tuesday, December 17, in the Rock House at 10:00 a.m. It will be our Christmas Meeting with a time for revealing the name of the Sister to whom we have sent communications through the year. We will also have an exchange of Christmas Ornaments. Following the exchange of gifts and ornaments we will enjoy a Christmas Dinner with chicken and dressing, vegetables, salads, desserts and all of the other items for a delicious meal. If you are interested in being a member of the Morning Glory group, we encourage to join us (as our guestdo not bring a dish; we'll have plenty for extras) for a time of fellowship and fun. God bless each of you during this Advent season! Evening Stars Christmas party is Monday, December 9th at 6:30pm in the Rock House. It will be potluck so bring your favorite dish or dessert. All women of the church are welcome to join us in a wonderful time of fellowship. Save-the-Date: NW District UMW Local Officer training & updates will be held on Saturday, January 4th at Springdale FUMC. Please bring hats, gloves, scarves, & socks for the fence. We would love to see it full! Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2019 Trustees Note A reminder of our Building Use Policy: In order to keep track of what’s going on in our facilities it is important to contact the church office to reserve and schedule the date, time of meetings and events. If something comes up at the last minute so to speak, that the use of the building is needed, please notify Harley, Francis or Zeke. The staff Christmas tree is up in the narthex. If you would like to give the staff a little extra ‘Thank You’ this holiday season you can place your gift in one of the envelopes hanging on the tree.

Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! Greetings Wesley UMC Family! Well, we are full on into the Advent and Christmas season. Christmas is my favorite time of year, and I love Christmas music and carols. I love the day after thanksgiving when I can break out my Classic Christmas playlist and enjoy the music of the season. Since we just celebrated Thanksgiving, I want to share my thanks for a couple of folks who have been a blessing over the last couple of months. The first of these is Lois Wade, who created wonderful black covers for our bell pads in the choir room. The pads by themselves were such an eyesore. The black is wonderful, and just adds a touch a class. I have included a picture of them (pardon the sloppy folders and such!) Thank you, Lois, for doing this for the bells. You are truly a blessing! Another person whom I would love to thank is our pianist, Deborah Cotton. I hope everyone has been enjoying her musicianship and creativity since she joined us this summer. I have sprung a few pieces of music on Deborah in the past couple of weeks, and she always handles these moments with grace and creativity. You may not notice, but she does a great job of improvising and adding depth to our hymns and singing. Thank you, Deborah, for being adaptable and creative. You are truly a blessing! I hope everyone is looking forward to our Christmas music season. We have a wonderful cantata this year, and both the Chancel Choir and Bell Choir hope that you can join us for our cantata presentation on Sunday, December 15 at 6:00. We also have a very interesting Advent Lessons and Carols service planned for that morning service, in which we celebrate and remember several key prophecies concerning Christ's birth. We will celebrate the fulfillment of these prophecies at our Christmas Eve service on December 24. Please be sure to mark your calendar and bring a friend to these wonderful services! Yours in Christ, Shane Sanderson Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2019 Hannah House Page 4 Hannah House Christmas Each year during Advent Wesley takes on a special missions project. Last year we collected 500 non-perishable food items to donate to The Community Services Clearinghouse. This year we have decided to provide Christmas for 2 of the young ladies at Hannah House. For those that do not know what Hannah House does, it houses young women ages 13-29 who are experiencing crisis situations in their lives, providing a place that empowers young women, allowing them to have a chance to stabilize their lives and prepare them for a better future. A board will be up in the narthex with items the girl’s have requested. Pull as many items as you fill called to pull. If you would like to make a monetary donation you can give the money to either Zeke, Carrie, or place it in the offering plate with it designated for Hannah House. Items we will be collecting: Julianna Body Spray XL Hoodies Breanna Perfume Flat iron XL tights & tunic tops Athletic wear Coat Scarfs Socks - sz 10 Underwear - sz 10-12 Sports bra - XL Pantie liners Eyeliner Joggers - Sz 14 American Eagle outfit American Eagle skinny jeans - sz 14 petite Paint, paint brushes, & Canvas Makeup remover wipes Socks - sz 6-7 Scrunchies Makeup brushes Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2019

Hanging of the Greens, The Poinsettia Story Page 5 Thank you to everyone who came and helped decorate the Sanctuary in preparation for the Advent season. It looks The Poinsettia Story By: Lois Stearns John Poinsett was U.S. Ambassador to Mexico in 1824. When he attended Christmas services at the small churches in Mexico he greatly admired the beautiful red flowers that adorned the altars. Poinsett took seedlings of the flowers back to his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina where he cultivated them and grew new plants in his greenhouse. He then proceeded to present the floral plants to Charleston churches. Soon the red blooms became associated with Christmas celebrations throughout the United States and were called “poinsettias” in honor of John Poinsett. The red of the plant has become a symbol of the blood Jesus shed on the cross while the green stands for the promise of eternal life offered to us through that sacrifice. During this Holy Christmas season, remember all that Jesus has done for us and praise His Holy Name! Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2019 Cub Scouts Page 6 Greetings from Pack 19. November was another fun filled month for our Pack. We started the month with an awards ceremony. Scouters received recognition for the advancements earned over the last several months. The meeting concluded with our annual pie-in-the-face event. Scouts who sell a certain dollar amount in Trailsend Popcorn get to put a cream pie in the face of the leader of their choice. November 9th was the annual Veterans Day Parade at Chaffee Crossing. On November 12th we met at Home Depot for a craft night. Scouts were able to complete a wooden eagle using hand tools and following written instructions as well as helping each other. November 19ths meeting was absolutely cold blooded. Jeremy Sloan, local reptile enthusiast with 30 years experience brought some of his crawling friends to share with us. We had a corn snake, a copperhead, a timber rattler and an alligator. He demonstrated his safe handling techniques, told of the importance each animal has in the ecosystem and even some history of snake symbolism in American history. Yours in Scouting’s Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2019

UPCOMING EVENTS December Birthdays Dec 4 Wed. Bible Study, 6:00pm, Cavanaugh Hand Bells, 6:00, Chancel Choir, 6:30 Dec 5 Thurs. SPRC, 5:30pm One Council, 6:30pm, Gleaners Room Dec 9 Mon. Evening Stars, 6:30pm, Rock House Dec 11 Wed. Bible Study, 6:00pm, Cavanaugh Hand Bells, 6:00, Chancel Choir, 6:30 Dec 15 Sun. Lessons & Carols, 9:30am Christmas Cantata, 6:00pm Dec 17 Tues. Morning Glories, 10:00am, Rock House Dec 18 Wed. Bible Study, 6:00pm, Cavanaugh Hand Bells, 6:15, Chancel Choir, 7:00 10 - Jordan Smith 11 - Lois Wade 11 - Andrea Stark 12 - Wanda Blaylock 16 - Patsy Hendrickson 16 - Terry Hendrickson 20 - Luke Patterson 24 - Andrea Allen 24 - Dean Pendergrass 31 - Doug Pendergrass Anniversaries 18 - Wes & Rachel Arnold 27 - James & Martha Watson 30 - Huey & Wanda Clark Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2019

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org November 2019 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke There is a rabbinical proverb that says “blessed is the man that carries the dust of his Rabbi on his feet”. I love this for multiple reasons. First, if we want to know Jesus and experience his presence, we need to spend some time with him. “Christian” means literally “tiny Christ”. How can we begin to understand Jesus and have a relationship with him without spending time with him? We do this by reading stories about Jesus in the Gospel’s and by spending time in prayer and meditation. Relationships take time, energy, and effort. If we want to have a vibrant relationship, it takes these things. Second, we must always be students of the Gospel and of faith. "“Rabbi” means teacher and is a great privilege to learn and grow from Jesus- his teachings and the model he gave us through his life, death, and resurrection. John Wesley, in his sermon title “The Use of Money”, communicated this idea: “You should be continuously learning, from the experience of others, or from your own experience… to do everything you have to do better today than you did yesterday” It is my hope and my prayer that all of us, myself included, would be open to the instruction and guidance of the Spirit in the myriad of ways God reveals Godself to us. -Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2019 UMW News, Wesley in Worship Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES UMW Unit Meeting: Saturday, November 2 at 9:30am in the Rock House. Please help Fill the Fence! UMW is collecting hats & gloves for area children in need of them. We would love to see the fence full! The Morning Glories will meet on Tuesday, November 19 at 10:00am in the Rock House. Etta Jensen will give the Devotional, Doris Cruce will present the World Thank Offering Program and Ellen Brown and JoAn McMullin will be Hostesses of the Pot-Luck Salad which follows the Program and Business Meeting. LADIES - please do not forget to bring the money you have been saving all year to express our thankfulness for the MANY blessings we receive throughout the year. Evening Stars will meet Monday, November 11 at 6:30 in the Rock House. Any and all ladies are welcome to attend. We are still collecting Best Choice labels and would appreciate your assistance in this “Money Raiser”. Wesley UMC Newsletter PLEASE NOTE: The Wesley United Methodist Women provide The Upper Room Devotional magazine for the members and friends of the church. We have the Large Print and Regular Print of the magazine and we encourage you to pick up a copy for you and a neighbor, relative, or friend. These devotionals are written by persons living all over the world (such as Brazil, Canada, Texas, California, and even Arkansas) and their thoughts are very uplifting! Wesley in Worship October was Pastor Appreciation Month. On October 13th Pastor Zeke was presented with a plaque & gift certificate to his favorite restaurant to show just how much Wesley appreciates all his hard work, dedication, & love to Wesley. Thank you, Zeke! We can’t say that enough. October 20th was Laity Sunday. Thank you to everyone who was a part of worship & made the service so special. We have some amazing people at Wesley. November 2019

Trustees Note, 2020 Commitment Card Page 3 Trustees Note If you use the facilities for any reason please make sure all lights are off, all doors are closed and locked, all appliances in the kitchen (if used) are turned off and the thermostats are set to the right temperature before leaving. In October we found a kitchen light left on, the south double glass door was left slightly open (we believe it got hung on the door mat), and the coffee pot in the kitchen was left on so what little coffee was left in the pot was scorched to the bottom and obviously left a horrible smell. The person in charge of the meeting or group is responsible for making sure all the above items are complete. We appreciate your cooperation in being good stewards of the property. 2020 Commitment Cards have been mailed out. If you did not receive one but would like one please call the Wesley office and let them know or you can print off the below card and turn it in. Wesley has some amazing things at work and your commitments are what help make those possible. Your contributions are what help us pay staff, utilities, maintain the buildings & grounds, and fund programs and missions. Without your help, we cannot do those things. We ask that you prayerfully think about what you and your family are willing to give. Please turn your card into the office or the offering plate on or by November 17th. Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2019 A.R.K. News Page 4 We have gotten into a great system packing backpack bags at Cavanaugh. We bag each Wednesday at 5:30 in Cavanaugh’s fellowship hall, even during the months Bible Study is at Wesley. 6 or 7 people can get it done in 15 minutes. Thank you to everyone who has helped bag and deliver food. It is no small feet but vitally important providing weekend food for 67 kids. Pastor Zeke went for a swim or 2 or several at Cavanaugh’s Fall Festival. The kids LOVED dunking him and we certainly enjoyed watching it. One Council meets Thursday, November 7 at 6:30 in the Gleaners Room. Anyone is welcome to attend the meetings. They are a great way to find out what’s going on in the church and gives the Council other opinions on matters going on within the church. Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2019

Trunk or Treat Page 5 Trunk or Treat was cold, windy, & a little wet but was a great success and a lot of fun for everyone. Thank you to everyone who decorated their vehicle, provided candy & handed out food. Especially a big THANK YOU to Amy Cates for working so hard to plan & execute the event. Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2019 Cub Scouts Page 6 Greetings from Pack 19. October was another busy month for our pack. We wrapped up our annual Trails End Popcorn sale. This was the first year we did "Show and Sell". Scouts spent two days at Quick Discounts and Atwood's selling popcorn and taking donations to send popcorn overseas to American service people. October 5th some members of our group participated in a flag retirement ceremony at the Fort Smith Elks Lodge. The weekend of October 18-20 was the annual Cub Adventure Camp at Rogers Scout Reservation. This years theme was 'Games with a Purpose'. Scouters learned marble games, human foosball, 3 legged race, archery, BB guns, slingshot and other activities. We had beautiful weather for the 500 registered participants to enjoy the camp. Our next Pack outing will be November 9th at the Chaffee Crossing Veterans Day Parade. Come join us as we celebrate our veterans. Yours in Scouting’s Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2019

UPCOMING EVENTS November Birthdays Nov 6, 13, 20 Wed. Bible Study, 6:00pm, Wesley Hand Bells, 6:15, Chancel Choir, 7:00 Nov 2 Sat. UMW Unit Mtg, 9:30pm, Rock House Nov 7 Thurs. One Council, 6:30pm, Gleaners Room Nov 11 Mon. Evening Stars, 6:30pm, Rock House Nov 19 Tues. Morning Glories, 10:00am, Rock House Bible Study will be held at Wesley for the month of November. It meets weekly from 6:006:45pm. It’s a wonderful addition to that week’s sermon. 1 - Don Groves 2 - Jill Pulse 8 - Landon Miller 12 - Brandon Smith 14 - Steve Christian 14 - Sara Ross 17 - Monroe Moreton 20 - Martha Watson 21 - Andy Ross 23 - Luke Schluterman 26 - James Watson 26 - Denver Dunn 29 - Will Cates 30 - Dana Olcott Anniversaries 7 - Jim & Sharon Bell 22 - Don & Lawatha Langford Wesley UMC Newsletter November 2019

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org October 2019 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zek “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 Our blessing box in the church parking lot is often a source of rich conversation. Some people love the fact that you place food in there and then whoever comes along can get however much they need. Others truly struggle with the blessing box because they cannot control who gets the food and the fact that some people take more than they need and abuse it. I imagine there are many more thoughts about it but these two seem to be the most common. Admittingly, I struggle with giving up control with most things. I want to be a wise steward with all that I have been given. Sometimes I do good and other times fail miserably. I have come to view the blessing box as a faith exercise for myself. It is a no-strings-attached venue for the grace of God to flow through us. It is what a gift is supposed to look like. When you put food in there, it is a gift made in faith. Then you drive away and have to let go. This is easier said than done for many of us. I am amazed at the random people who show up and put food in the box- this happens a lot. Who are these random saints and what makes them do this? Amazing. These things make me think of Ephesians 2:8-9. Salvation is a gift. I have come to believe that the Methodist understanding of salvation as a means of grace is right on. Salvation come as grace through faith- all of which is a true gift of God. You will never do enough to earn it and never be good enough to deserve it but still it is given. We are the hungry ones that find ourselves at God’s blessing box. No matter what others say or think, we need God and God is offering Godself to us as a true gift. We don’t control how much grace God gives nor do we control who receives this grace. We only testify to that which we have received and invite others to feast on God’s grace. So when you drive by the blessing box, may you remember that you were once the hungry one in need of God’s nourishment and that God is faithful to feed us. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2019 UMW News, Wesley in Worship Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES Northwest District UMW Annual Meeting: “Celebrating 150 Years in Mission”. Date: October 12, 2019 Place: Goddard UMC Time: Registration - 9:30am Meeting - 10:00am-2:00pm Registration ($15) Deadline, Sat., October 5 Late Registration ($20) Any questions or registration information contact Patrice Hulsey. The Morning Glories will meet on Tuesday, October 15 in the Rock House at 10:00 a.m. Rosie Turnquist will give the Devotional, Ellen Brown will present the Pledge Service for 2020, and Wanda Clark and Betty Reather are the Hostesses for the Salad PotLuck Lunch that follows the Program and Business Meeting. You are welcome to join us as we learn about the missions all over the world. May God continue to bless you and guide you. Evening Stars will meet Monday, October 14 in the Rock House at 6:30. Any and all ladies are welcome to attend. We are still collecting Best Choice labels and give thanks to the person who has already placed some in the envelope. Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2019 Wesley in Worship We had some awesome music in September. Thank you to Shane and the choir, Kathy Plant, Deborah, Rev. Zeke and Carrie Miller for sharing your amazing gifts and talents to make our worship services so wonderful and memorable. During worship service on 9/22, Ron Fulbright, Justin Cates, and Carrie Miller were presented with plaques of appreciation to say ‘Thank You’ for their service and dedication to Wesley.

Music Ministry, Trustees Note Page 3 Greetings!!! Dear Wesley Church Family, Our cantata has been ordered, and the choir is beginning the task of preparing for a great evening of music to celebrate Advent and Christmas. This year's cantata is titled Love Made a Way. It is a nice mix of traditional and contemporary styles that contain some very beautiful music. There is a really nice solo part and a really nice duet that you all will love! I hope that you will all be able to come to this year's cantata service and bring friends. More on the date and time in next month's newsletter. I am looking for a seamstress (or a seamster!) who could make some covers for our foam bell pads in the Choir Room. The pads we have work well, but they remind me of old seventies hospital tile. You know, the color of tile that you saw in Quincy, M.D.? It used to be one of my favorite shows, but the color has worn on me. If you know of anyone who would be able to make some simple covers, please let me know. I will buy the materials needed. I just want to cover up that awful color!!! If you like southern gospel, be on the lookout for a couple of gospel hits from the choir coming soon! Only 13 weeks until Christmas!!!!! Yours in Christ, Shane Cool Change - Help up keep cool in 2020!! Donate your change or anything larger if you choose to help us purchase a new AC unit for the education building. We hope to be able to replace it by the time warmer weather returns next spring. Our estimate for a new unit is $5,800.00 so every little bit you give will make a huge difference for the future. There is a jug located in the narthex for your donations. Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2019 A.R.K. News Page 4 A.R.K. News We are going strong with the backpack program. So strong, that the Clearinghouse has asked us to bag all of the bags they provide to Cavanaugh Elementary as well as the bags they provide to Beard Elementary. They supply the food each month and we will bag each week. We are still providing the backpack food for the kids at Carnall and Cavanaugh that the Clearinghouse does not cover. Great things are at work!! Date: Wednesday, October 30 Time: 5:00-7:00 Place: Wesley Parking Lot Decorate your vehicle and bring some candy! We would like to have at least 10 vehicles decorated. There is a sign-up sheet in narthex or you can let Rev. Zeke or Amy Cates know. If you need some help with decorations please see Rev. Zeke. We also need candy. There is a donation box in the narthex for any donations. Cavanaugh is holding a Fall Festival for the kids and families at Cavanaugh Elementary. They will have games, bounce around, food, and even a dunk booth for “Dunk the Pastor”. If you would like to help in any capacity or just want to come out and see Pastor Zeke get soaked it will be Sunday, October 27 from 5:00-6:30pm in Cavanaugh UMC’s parking lot. Wesley UMC Newsletter This will be such a fun time with our neighbors. October 2019

Happenings Page 5 Lay Servant Academy will be at Central UMC Rogers November 15-16. Friday will offer the Intro class and a never before offered Missions class to help equip congregations for more effective missional engagement in their communities. Saturday will include a Preaching class, the Polity class and Transforming Evangelism. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A CERTIFIED LAY SERVANT TO TAKE THESE CLASSES!! These classes would be great for anyone active in their congregation. Deadline to register is November 1st. Visit https://www.cumcrogers.com/ layservantministry for more information or to register. United Methodist Men had a great time at the 1st Annual Men’s Night. Gentlemen from Wesley and Cavanaugh shared in great food, great fellowship, and a great guest speaker, Principal Hank Needham from Cavanaugh Elementary. One Council meets Thursday, October 3rd at 6:30 in the Gleaners Room. Anyone is welcome to attend the meetings. They are a great way to find out what’s going on in the church and gives the Council other opinions on matters going on within the church. Bible Study will be held at Cavanaugh UMC for the month of October. It meets weekly from 6:00-6:45pm. It’s a wonderful addition to that week’s sermon. Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2019 Cub Scouts Page 6 Greetings from Pack 19. We have opened our new year with many new faces due to in school recruiting. September kicked off with our annual campout at Wells Lake and the Janet Huckabee Nature Center. This close to town campout gives new scout families the chance to experience camping while still having access to conveniences. The highlight of this trip is the Coke bottle fishing derby. Scouts use a bottle and fishing line as their tackle instead of a pole. Sept 17 was the kickoff date for annual popcorn sales. Scouts sell Trails End popcorn to help support the Scouting program. 73% of the proceeds goes back into Scouting. Sept 21 was our first ever "Show and Sell" at Quick Discounts on Jenny Lind. Scouts had popcorn products on hand for customers to purchase or make donations to send popcorn to American service people overseas. The month wrapped up with the "Webelos Woods" campout. This campout is for Webelos and Arrow of Light ranked scouts. Scouts camp away from parents (but with lots of supervision) to give them an idea of what it will be like when they move to a Scouts BSA troop. If you know an interested child please invite them to come visit Pack 19. Yours in Scouting’s Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2019

UPCOMING EVENTS WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU! Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Wed. Bible Study, 6:00pm, Cavanaugh Hand Bells, 6:15, Chancel Choir, 7:00 **No BS Oct 30th** Oct 3 Thurs. One Council, 6:30pm, Gleaners Room Oct 14 Mon. Evening Stars, 6:30pm, Rock House Oct 15 Tues. Morning Glories, 10:00am, Rock House Oct 17 Thurs. Young @ Heart, 6:00pm, Fellowship Hall Oct 27 Sun. Fall Festival for Cavanaugh Elementary, 5:00-6:30pm, Cavanaugh UMC Oct 30 Wed. Trunk or Treat, 5:00-7:00pm, Wesley October Birthdays 1 - Jamison Hayes 2 - Etta Walker 10 - Billy Higgins 13 - Linda Wright 16 - Rosalie Allen 17 - Madison Hill 20 - Linda Barton 21 - George Jensen 24 - Devin Pulse 24 - Nathan Smith Anniversaries 17 - Don & Gloria Groves 19 - Zeke & Andrea Allen 28 - Justin & Amy Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2019

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org September 2019 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zek Wesley Family, Out of the 613 Toratic laws, we have a grossly simplified task. Love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and love our neighbors as ourself. Thank you Jesus. Love in our culture is overused. It might be a shirt that you “love” or even any possession which you “love”. Maybe it is a television show you love or a place that you love to go. It might be someone you love- a friend, family, significant other or spouse. All of these things are but facets of the sum total of what love truly is. For me, faith is only possible through God’s grace and love. Faith is a gift from God. It can neither be earned or achieved. To believe differently is to border on works theology with which I cannot reconcile to the Gospel. In my own life and in the lives of those around me, I believe there is a deep need for the realization, over and over, that God really does love us even in the messiness of life. I believe this is the message of Jesus Christ, a transforming love that lived, died, was resurrected, and ascended into heaven. I continue to meet brothers and sisters who has become disenfranchised by the church because of judgment and guilt. This breaks my heart. I continually strive to be a pastor that not only preaches the grace and love of God but also lives that out daily. It is my hope that you might do the same. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter September 2019 UMW News, Wesley in Worship Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES The Morning Glories will meet on Tuesday, September 17 in the Rock House at 10:00 a.m. Etta Jensen will give the Devotional, Ellen Brown will present the Program and Rosie Turnquist and Doris Cruce will be the hostesses for the Pot-Luck lunch that follows the Program and Business Meeting. You are welcome to join us for inspiration, information, and wonderful fellowship. God bless you and guide you. Evening Stars returns Monday, September 9. Meet at the Rock House at 6:30. It will be potluck. All ladies are welcome to join us for an evening of good food and fellowship. Wesley in Worship August worship was full of wonderful events. Blessing of the backpacks and educators was a wonderful service for all the kids and adults. We welcomed Kathy and Twana & Joe Collinson as the newest members of the Wesley family. Wesley UMW is collecting Best Choice Labels to increase our checking account so we can, again, be able to give to Mission Projects. An envelope is posted on the bulletin board outside the church office and on the UMW bulletin board in the Educational Building - we would appreciate your help. God bless you. Wesley UMC Newsletter And it was great having the choir back up front sharing their voices with us. It looked a little lonely behind the pulpit without them. September 2019

Music Ministry, Trustees Note Page 3 Greetings!!! Greetings Wesley UMC family!!! I would like to begin by saying that I have been very pleased to welcome Twana Collinson as part of our Bell and Chancel choirs. I have sung with Twana at Greenwood, and am so glad to have her kind spirit join our music program. Believe it or not, though it is only September, we have already begun making choices for our Christmas Cantata. I have selected a cantata for this year that is a new and exciting take on music for the season. There is even a bit of disco, so I hope that you will all set aside the date and join us for this year's cantata. I will have more on that next month. The choir is robing up once more and they and the bells will be busy rehearsing and presenting new music throughout the fall season. We are even working up some fun southern gospel, so make sure you are here every Sunday!! Yours in Christ, Shane Trustees Note Any group large or small that needs to meet in the Fellowship Hall, or a classroom and may use the kitchen please notify the office so that it may be listed on the calendar. The evening of the 23rd or Saturday the 24th someone met and left the coffee pot on and it wasn’t discovered until Sunday morning. There was no one listed on the calendar to meet on those dates. The re-roofing of all of our church proper buildings with a pitched roof has now been completed and the total cost to the church is $500.00. An example of carrying proper insurance to protect our property. Wesley UMC Newsletter Lenten Service on March 25 @ Vietnamese UMC September 2019 A.R.K. News Page 4 A.R.K. News Farmers Market sorting has ended for the season. Between when we began May 18 to our last pickup August 17, we picked-up, sorted and delivered approximately 2800 lbs of donated produce. None of that would be possible without the VERY generous vendors at the Farmers Market and each one of you that helped pickup, sort and deliver. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for donating your time. Our backpack program has restarted for the school year. Once again, we will supply weekend backpack bags for kids at both Carnall and Cavanaugh Elementary schools. The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance is prepping the ground at Carnall to ready it for planting the fall crop. More information to come on harvesting events. Wesley UMC Newsletter September 2019

Save the Date Page 5 River Valley Ovarian Cancer Alliance Wings of Hope Memorial Butterfly Release Sunday, September 15, 2:00pm Fort Smith Public Library - 3201 Rogers Ave. Join the RVOCA as they honor survivors and remember the friends and families of those we’ve lost to ovarian cancer. There will be a short ceremony, during which we will release dozens of painted lady butterflies in memory of those we’ve lost. Refreshments will be served. This is a FREE community event for all ages. Contact Blanche West for more information. Wesley UMC Trunk - or - Treat Lay Servant Academy will be at Central UMC Rogers November 15-16. Friday will offer the Intro class and a never before offered MisDate: Wednesday, October 30 Time: 5:00-7:00 Place: Wesley Parking Lot We would like to invite everyone to decorate their vehicles and bring candy to the church. Wesley UMC Newsletter sions class to help equip congregations for more effective missional engagement in their communities. Saturday will include a Preaching class, the Polity class and Transforming Evangelism. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A CERTIFIED LAY SERVANT TO TAKE THESE CLASSES!! Registration will be coming soon. September 2019 YOU ARE INVITED: The children of Doris Cruce (Martin, Dan, Steve, Pam, and Ken) are having a 90th Birthday Celebration for their mother on Saturday afternoon, September 21, in the Fellowship Hall of Wesley United Methodist Church from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and would like for you to come and join in the fellowship of the occasion. See you there! Cub Scouts Page 6 Pack 19 wrapped up another great summer of adventure this August. We started off the month with a game night at Wesley. Scouts played giant Jenga, worked puzzles, played bean bag toss, dominoes and other games. August 13 we took a break to allow Scouts get back into school mode. August 20th we held a Pack awards ceremony. Scouts were presented with the awards they have earned over the summer and was an impressive list of accomplishments. August 27th was our annual Water Kickball at the Rock House. This wet and wild event is anticipated all summer long. Now is a great time to sign up any interested youth in our Scouting program. We always invite families to join us and see what Scouting is all about. Yours in Scouting’s Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter September 2019

September UPCOMING EVENTS September Birthdays WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU! Sep 4 Wed. Bible Study, 6:00 pm, Wesley Hand Bells, 6:15, Chancel Choir, 7:00 Sep 5 Thurs. One Council, 6:30 pm, Gleaners Room Sep 9 Mon. Evening Stars, 6:30 pm, Rock House Sep 11 Wed. Bible Study, 6:00 pm, Wesley Hand Bells, 6:15, Chancel Choir, 7:00 Sep 15 Sun. RVOCA Butterfly Release, 2:00 pm, Sep 17 Mon. Morning Glories, 10:00 am, Rock House Sep 18 Wed. Bible Study, 6:00 pm, Wesley Hand Bells, 6:15, Chancel Choir, 7:00 Sep 25 Wed. Bible Study, 6:00 pm, Wesley Hand Bells, 6:15, Chancel Choir, 7:00 Anyone is welcome to attend One Council meetings to learn what’s going on in the church. Wesley’s One Council Members Lay Leader/Lay Delegate: Donna Moreton* Blanche West (Chair)* Ellen Brown George Jensen Harley Strang Patrice Hulsey Gloria Cates Sydney Fulbright* * member of SPRC subcommittee Wesley UMC Newsletter September 2019 Rich Schmitz (Co-Chair) Amy Cates Jackie Nichols* Carrie Miller* Suzanne Gibson Frances Hunt 1 - John Rissinger 3 - Dennis Hulsey 3 - Chris Bates 5 - Bruce Spencer 6 - Jerry Huey 7 - Kaira Ledford 22 - Doris Cruce 23 - Wes Arnold 23 - Roger Hightower 26 - Chris Hulsey 26 - Suzanne Gibson 30 - Kathy Plant Anniversaries 5 - Jack & Linda Sides 16 - Monroe & Donna Moreton 19 - Ricky & Karen Hill 20 - Harley & Norma Strang 20 - Denver & Shyla Dunn 22 - Andrea & Amanda Stark 26 - James & Kathy Plant

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org August 2019 Newsletter Wesley strives to be a church that keeps Jesus the main thing in all we do. This means we try to offer the same grace, love, and acceptance that Jesus offers others. We strive to love God and our neighbors with everything we have and everything we are. We believe faith is meant to be lived out within community. We believe that all people are made in the image of God and of sacred worth.

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zek “Love is the Answer, Now What Was the Question” “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” -Colossians 3:14 If you could name one thing people would remember you for, what would it be? I think about this because it is a good tool to refocus decisions and actions day to day. As I think about the future of our church, I am always asking this question: “What church will my grandchildren inherit?” This question helps me focus the decisions made today. I hope that my grandchildren will inherit a vibrant church, strong in community and Christ-centered, to name a few. Like it or not, we all are leaving a legacy. Our words and our actions influence what it will become. If there was just one thing we could leave as a legacy, I would hope it would be love. In this text from Colossians it sums it up beautifully. Love is like clothes you put on daily. It is a daily decision which takes effort and intentionality. I would hope that people speak of our church as “loving”. There is not another characteristic which sums up what should be the goal of one’s life not the goal of the church. We will be known by how much we loved. With the decisions you will face today, this week, and this month I hope that this question will become an integral part of your decision: “How can I love more today?” It is simple but not easy. I believe, in doing so, we will create a perfect harmony that we have yet to experience. Keep the Faith Strong, Rev. Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2019 UMW News, Wesley in Worship Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES There will be a Unit Meeting Saturday, August 3 at 9:30 in the Rock House. Everyone is encouraged to attend. The Morning Glories will meet on Tuesday, August 20 in the Rock House at 10:00 a.m. Wanda Clark will give the Devotional, Doris Cruce will present the Program, and Etta Jensen and Wanda Karnes will be the hostesses for the Salad Potluck Luncheon that will follow the Program and Business Session. Any person is welcome to join us for information about the work of the United Methodist throughout the world. Evening Stars will not meet in August. Regular monthly meetings will resume in September. In July we welcomed our new accompanist, Deborah and her husband, Daniel to Wesley. We are thrilled to have both with us. We had a little congregation participation during Children’s Time. We are collecting Best Choice Labels to increase our checking account so we can, again, be able to give to Mission Projects. There will be a Brown envelope on the bulletin board outside the church office and a Brown envelope on the UMW bulletin board in the Educational Building - we would appreciate your help. God bless you. Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2019

Music Ministry, Security Policy Page 3 Greetings!!! Dear Wesley UMC Family, Greetings! I want to thank everyone who volunteered to provide offertory specials during the month of July. The choir and I thank you so much for helping give them a much needed break. Alas, summer is coming to a close, and the break will soon be over. Bell Chancel choirs will once again begin rehearsals on Wednesday, August 7th. Bells will meet at 6:15 and Chancel Choir will meet at 7:00. Speaking of bells, we need one or two people who like music who would be willing to learn how to ring. Some may think that ringing bells is difficult. However, if you can count to three or four and know your left hand from your right, you can ring bells. The bottom line is that our Chancel and Bell choirs make beautiful music and have fun doing it!! So, we want to invite anyone who likes to sing or ring to be a part! Yours in Christ, Shane Trustees Note Part of the church’s security policy is the sanctuary doors from the East and South parking lots are locked 5 minutes after the 9:30 service starts. If they are locked when you arrive there is door bell button to the right of each door that you push to alert someone to come and let you in. The doors to the other parts of the building are also locked. Wesley UMC Newsletter Lenten Service on March 25 @ Vietnamese UMC August 2019 A.R.K. News Page 4 A.R.K. News Thank you to everyone who helped with Farmers Market sorting in July and especially thank you to everyone who helped provide lunch to the Farmers Market vendors. We had a lot of fun giving back to all the people who give to us each week so that we can provide fresh produce to those in our community who might not normally have any. August Schedule: 8/3 - Cavanaugh 8/10 - Wesley 8/17 - Cavanaugh 8/24 - Wesley Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2019

Community Rescue Mission Page 5 The Community Rescue Mission’s Board is made up of members of the Fort Smith churches. Norma and Harley has represented Wesley for several years. The Mission is faith based, receives no federal, state, or municipal funds; it is funded solely by individual and cooperate donations. In addition to money & donated food they are always in need of personal items for their residents. Listed below are items that they need on a regular basis. Wesley is providing a drop off box in the church office for donated items during office hours 8:30am-12:00 noon Monday-Thursday. If you have items you want to give and you are unable to bring them to the church, you can call Harley and Norma and they will be glad to pick them up. Helping the Mission with their needs in providing for the homeless and needy is a blessing. Pastors from the churches represented on the board lead the worship service each Sunday. Our Pastor Zeke, leads the services in November. Community Rescue Mission Needs: Twin Sheet Sets Twin Blankets Bath Towels Sugar Kid Snacks - pudding/crackers/fruit snacks… Instant Potatoes BBQ Sauce Ranch Butter Coffee Tea Kool Aid Ibuprofen Tylenol Naproxen Deodorant Bath Soap Razors Sunscreen Calamine Lotion Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2019 Cub Scouts Page 6 Pack 19 has concluded another great month of Scouting adventure. We started the month off by designing and building kites from scratch. No 2 kites were the same. Some small and some big and everything in between. The following week we attempted to fly the kites, but Mother Nature would not allow enough wind for extended flight. Awards were given for longest flight, largest kite, most Scout spirit and best design. The weekend of July 20 & 21 Pack 19 headed to Blue Mountain Lake for our annual summer camping trip. It was a scorcher. Even with the heat, fun was had by all with games, swimming, relaxing, playground time and fellowship. The BSA is one of a few groups allowed to officially retire US flags and we presented a flag retirement ceremony at the campground. The Scouts invited other campers to join us for the program. Over 20 flags were properly retired by fire in a solemn and special ceremony. It is always a proud and moving moment. On the 23rd scouters visited the Eastgate swimming pool for some water fun. And finally on the 30th Pack 19 took over the Creekmore Putt Putt for some heated minigolf competition and sno-cones. As children get ready to head back to school it is also a great time to get into Scouting. All interested families are invited to attend any Pack event to meet other Scouts and check us out. Yours in Scouting’s Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2019

UPCOMING EVENTS WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU! August Birthdays Aug 1 Thurs. One Council, 6:30, Gleaner’s Room Aug 3 Sat. UMW Unit Mtg, 9:30, Rock House Farmers Market @ Cavanaugh, 12:15 Aug 7 Wed. Bells (6:15) & Choir (7:00) Resume Aug 10 Sat. Farmers Market @ Wesley, 12:00 Aug 11 Sun. Blessing of the Backpacks/Educators Sunday, 9:30 Aug 17 Sat. Farmers Market @ Cavanaugh, 12:15 Aug 20 Tues. Morning Glories, 10:00, Rock House Aug 24 Sat. Farmers Market @ Wesley, 12:00 Looking for ways to serve? We can always use new members in the choir or handbells. Please see Shane if you might be interested. Music not your thing? Consider being a greeter or serving as liturgist. Get with Rev. Zeke if you might be interested. Blessing of the Backpacks Educators Sunday August 11, 2019 Wesley UMC Newsletter August 2019 2 - Wanda Karnes 10 - Jonathan Moen 12 - Lu Pullen 13 - Danielle Patterson 19 - Amy Cates 19 - Syd Fulbright 22 - Bryan Patterson 24 - Sharon Bell 29 - Jack Sides 29 - Titus Schluterman 29 - Paul Ross 31 - Iris Hightower 31 - Blanche West 31 - Shirley Washenberger Anniversaries 16 - Jake & Danielle Patterson

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org July 2019 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke New Car Smell In my life, I have only ever known that smell one time. Years ago Andrea and I bought a brand spanking new Toyota car hoping to finally have a dependable vehicle. Needless-to-say that wonderful smell didn't last long. Well... it has been one full year since I was appointed to Wesley/Cavanaugh and that new pastor feeling is long in the dust by now. What a ride it has been! I went into this appointment knowing I didn't know anything about a two point charge. I was painfully aware of my known shortcomings and sure others would quickly be revealed. You have all shown so much grace to me as your pastor. Thank you for being patient with me and for loving me and my family. I have come to love each of you and truly enjoy living life alongside everyone. I am hopeful for the year to come. I truly believe that we are going to see God move in us and through us in the year to come. There is no doubt we will continue to engage our community and mission field as we act out our faith through mission. In addition, my prayer continues to be that others might experience what we enjoy as part of our church. I have no doubt there are many in need and searching for a place- a place where they can feel safe, supported, and loved. I believe our church offers that kind of place and that kind of people. In the next year, I hope we can further our efforts to invite and encourage others to experience our church. In this year to come, I will continue to seek God's guidance for me, as your pastor, and for us as a church. Likewise, I hope to deepen our relationships with one another and with God. Thank you for a great year and I can't wait to see what this next one will bring. Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2019 UMW News, Community Rescue Mission Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES The Morning Glories group WILL NOT meet in July but will meet again in August. Evening Stars will not meet in June, July, and August. Regular monthly gatherings will return in September. The Wesley UMW unit has decided to collect Best Choice labels again so that they can receive additional money for their treasury. There will be more details in next month’s newsletter. Wesley UMW appreciates your help with this project. God bless each of you! The Community Rescue Mission’s Board is made up of members of the Fort Smith churches. Norma and Harley has represented Wesley for several years. The Mission is faith based, receives no federal, state, or municipal funds; it is funded solely by individual and cooperate donations. In addition to money & donated food they are always in need of personal items for their residents. Listed below are items that they need on a regular basis. Wesley is providing a drop off box in the church office for donated items during office hours 8:30am-12:00 noon Monday-Thursday. If you have items you want to give and you are unable to bring them to the church, you can call Harley and Norma and they will be glad to pick them up. Helping the Mission with their needs in providing for the homeless and needy is a blessing. Pastors from the churches represented on the board lead the worship service each Sunday. Our Pastor, Zeke leads the services in November. See the next page for list of needed items. Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2019

Music Ministry, CRM Needs Page 3 Greetings!!! Greetings Wesley UMC family! I would like to welcome Deborah Ellis, our new accompanist!! You may have noticed Deborah and her husband sitting in services the last couple of weeks. I hope that you will take time to make them welcome! Other than that, bells and choir are on vacation through July, so they will see you again in August!! Yours in Christ, Shane We will have some wonderful special music through July while bells and choir take a break. Join us Sunday morning to hear what we have in store for you. Community Rescue Mission Needs List Twin Sheet Sets Twin Blankets Bath Towels Sugar Kid Snacks - pudding/crackers/fruit snacks… Instant Potatoes BBQ Sauce Ranch Butter Coffee Tea Kool Aid Wesley UMC Newsletter Lenten Service on March 25 @ Vietnamese UMC July 2019 Ibuprofen Tylenol Naproxen Deodorant Bath Soap Razors Sunscreen Calamine Lotion A.R.K. News Page 4 A.R.K. News Thank you to everyone who helped with Farmer’s Market in June. You generously volunteering your time helped give hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to those who would otherwise go without. July Farmer’s Market Schedule: 7/6 - Cavanaugh 7/13 - Wesley 7/20 - Wesley 7/27 - Cavanaugh We will be providing lunch to the vendors at Farmer’s Market again this year on July 27th. We will need plenty of hands on this day as we will also be sorting and delivering that day as well. More details to come in the next couple of weeks. Community Garden Update: Due to the weather we have suffered over the last couple of months we missed our window to plant the watermelon for summer. A fall crop of turnips will not be planted in late August or early September with an estimated harvest month of late October or early November. Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2019

MB Farewell, TNIT Page 5 On June 16th we said farewell to Mary Beth with a small reception. She will be greatly missed and wish her all the best as she begins her new position at her home church. One Council Meeting July 11 @ 6:30 Gleaner’s Room All are welcome to attend ** SPRC will meet at 5:30 prior to One Council** Wesley UMC Newsletter Cub Scouts Page 6 Pack 19 has had an exciting June. We started the month with our annual District Twilight camp. Five nights of activities which included guest speakers, archery, B.B. guns, building boats and racing them in the Raingutter Regatta, craft projects, skits, learning about fishing and many other fun adventures. June 11th the pack divided into teams and built rockets out of soda bottles and other materials. Due to inclement weather we have yet to launch our creations. On June 16th Pack 19 was well represented at Flag Day ceremonies at the Fort Smith National Historic Site and helped post the garrison flag. June 18th the Pack met at Home Depot for a fun craft night. On June 25th we held our annual egg drop contest at Wesley. Scouts each get an egg and construct a protective casing from various materials. The eggs are then dropped from the sidewalk to the bottom of the stairs. Some eggs survived, some were not so fortunate. As always, we invite any interested child to visit any meeting or event to check out Scouting for themselves. Yours in Scouting’s Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2019

Upcoming Events Join us! July July 6 Sat. Farmer’s Market @ Cavanaugh, 12:00 July 11 Thurs. One Council, 6:30, Gleaner’s Room July 13 Sat. July 20 Sat. July 27 Sat. Farmer’s Market @ Wesley, 12:00 Farmer’s Market @ Wesley, 12:00 Lunch for Farmer’s Market vendors, 10:30 Farmer’s Market sorting @ Cavanaugh, 12:00 Great worship and fellowship during the joint worship service and potluck with Cavanaugh on June 30th. Birthdays 6 - James Plant 9 - Nita Bean 11 - Jeff Pulse 15 - Sarah Patterson 16 - Misty Cates 17 - Justin Cates 18 - Ted Pullen 19 - Don Langford 23 - Mary Oliver 23 - Randy Smith 26 - Karen Hill 27 - Abigail Smith 28 - Edith Dunn 29 - Linda Sides Anniversaries 5 - Randy & Abby Smith 16 - Jerry & Blanche West 17 - George & Etta Jensen 19 - Ron & Sydney Fulbright 25 - Ted & Lu Pullen Wesley UMC Newsletter July 2019

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org June 2019 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Pummeled But Not Demolished “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed…so we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed each day” 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9, 16 Where do you go and what do you do when everything falls apart? When you’re stressed? When you feel despair, hopelessness, sadness, anger? We all have our places, those places that serve as our own personal bunkers to wait out the storm, to regroup, to re-evaluate life and direction. As I type this, folks continue to recover from the tornadoes that struck not far from Wesley. Likewise, the river continues to rise and more roads continue to be closed. Literally, there are people who are living this verse from 2 Corinthians. For me, it is one for those that I have committed to memory. I did this because it holds special meaning for me and has been a protection in times of despair. As I prepare to attend Annual Conference, these verses will be a place I can abide if things get difficult. I hope and pray for each one of you- for your lives, that God’s presence in your lives will be clear, that each of you might know the love of God, and that our church might be one where love abides with power. As people of faith, let us abide in the truth that God is with us every step of the way. As people of faith, let us not allow of circumstance to determine the arc of our lives and faith. As people of faith, may we be tenaciously loving, exceedingly gracious, perplexingly holy, abidingly steadfast, and peacefully followers of Jesus. -Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2019 UMW News, Acolytes Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES The Morning Glories group of Wesley UMW will meet on Tuesday, June 18, at 10:00 a.m. at the Rock House. Ellen Brown will give the Devotional, Wanda Clark will present the Program and Etta Jensen and Wanda Karnes will be the hostesses for the Salad Pot Luck Luncheon which will be served following the Program and Business Meeting. You are welcome to join us at this informative and friendly meeting. God Bless You. Evening Stars will not meet in June, July, and August. Regular monthly gatherings will return in September. The acolytes had a mini training session in May to talk about the importance of acolytes and what their role is in the church service. They have also agreed to take on more responsibility during the service by helping with the offering. These kids are awesome and it is such a joy watching them take part in worship. Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2019

Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! Greetings Wesley UMC Family!!! I want to begin by saying what an absolute joy it has been to have the very talented Mary Beth Oliver as our pianist for the past year. Mary Beth brought with her a great spirit, a wonderful work ethic, and beautiful musicianship. Some of my favorite moments this year were being able to sing with her and Zeke. It has been a great joy being able to collaborate and work together to create impactful musical moments in our worship services. I actually knew Mary Beth from my time at Greenwood and already considered her a friend when she came to Wesley. Now, I can't explain how much I and we are going to miss her. Mary Beth, it was truly wonderful to get to work with you, and I hope the best for you and your husband in your new position with First Christian Church!!! Summer is here! Soon, the choir will be taking time off roe a rest, and we need people who will share their talent throughout the month of July. If you would like to sing or play an instrument, please contact me by text at 479-459-7199 or by e-mail at shane.sanderson@arumc.org. We have been blessed with a lot of talent in our church, and I know that everyone would enjoy seeing that talent used in our services! With Mary Beth's departure, we have need of one or two people who might like to ring bells in our bell choir. You don't necessarily have to read music. If you can tell your right hand from your left and can count, you can be a part of a great and fun group of people who love to ring together!!! Yours in Christ, Shane June 16th after worship we will have a small reception to say “farewell and thank you” to Mary Beth Oliver for all the wonderful music she gave us in her time at Wesley. Unfortunately she will be leaving us to take a position at First Christian. June 16th is her last Sunday at Wesley. Wesley UMC Newsletter Lenten Service on March 25 @ Vietnamese UMC June 2019 A.R.K. News Page 4 A.R.K. News Farmer’s Market pickup started in May. As expected its been a slow start due to all the rain and it’s still early in the season but we are filling as many Blessing Boxes around town as we can with fresh produce every Saturday. For many this is the only time they are able to get fresh produce. The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance started the dirt work on the Community Garden at Carnall Elementary, Wesley is partnering with the Alliance on. Next, they will come lay plastic and plant the watermelon seed. We are moving right a long. Thanks to the weather we are not moving as quickly as we originally intended but none-the-less we are getting there. June Sorting Schedule: June 1st: Pickup/Haul - Carrie Miller Harley Strang Sort/Deliver - Carrie Miller Jackie Nichols Amy Cates Gloria Cates June 8th: Sort at Cavanaugh June 15th: Pickup/Haul - Carrie Miller Harley Strang Sort/Deliver - Carrie Miller Steve & Trefana Christian Mike & Suzanne Gibson June 22nd: Sort at Cavanaugh June 29th: Sort at Cavanaugh If you want to help with sorting and delivering please be at the sorting location at noon. Wesley UMC Newsletter Keep checking back for updates and information for harvesting events. June 2019

Accompanist Ad, Youth Page 5 Accompanist Position Wesley United Methodist Church is currently seeking a part-time piano/organ accompanist. This position involves playing for the Sunday morning service and for choir rehearsals, currently scheduled for Wednesday evenings, playing for special services such as Christmas Eve and Maundy Thursday/Good Friday. The accompanist works alongside the choir director and pastor to plan and lead worship. The salary will be $750 per month with two paid Sundays off per year. The accompanist works with the Choir Director and Pastor to assure coverage during any absence. Participation in High Holy Days including Easter and Christmas Eve is required. Submit your resumé by Monday, June 17 Rev. Zeke Allen 2200 Phoenix Ave. Fort smith, AR 72901 Zeke.allen@arumc.org YOUTH Denver & Shyla Dunn, along with Rev. Zeke took the youth from Wesley & Cavanaugh on a camping/canoeing trip on the Ouachita River. A good time was had by all. Be on the look out for more trips in the near future. Special Service On June 30th we will have a combined service and a potluck following the service. We will worship at Wesley at 11:00 with special music and celebration. More information will follow as we get closer. Please begin making plans to join us. This is going to be a fun event and a great time to invite a neighbor to church. Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2019 Cub Scouts Page 5 Pack 19 held their annual Cross Over Ceremony at beautiful Bell Park in Greenwood this month. This ceremony is were Scouts advance to the next rank and receive awards and recognition for all their hard work throughout the year. The following week we had our annual Potluck to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of summer activities. May 17-19 many of our families went camping at Shoal Bay and thankfully avoided much of the severe weather we had here at home. Coming up June 3 -7 is District Twilight Camp at Columbus Acres. This is a five night day camp where scouts get to do shoot BB guns, learn archery, do craft projects, have special guest speakers and other adventures. As always we would like to invite any interested child and parent to come and visit our activities and see what Scouting is all about. Yours in Scoutings Best, Justin Cates On May 11 at the Butterfield Trail District Banquet our own Walter Swearingen was awarded The Silver Beaver Award. This prestigious award is given to only a select few people who have dedicated their time, talents and service over many years to Scouting. A huge congratulations to Walt and many thanks for all that he and Gail do for Scouting, here at Wesley and in our District. Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2019

June June 1 Sat. Sat. Farmer’s Market @ Wesley, 12:00 June 6 Thurs. One Council, 6:30, Gleaner’s Room June 8 June 15 Sat. June 16 Sun. Farewell Reception for Mary Beth, 10:30, Fellowship June 18 Tues. Morning Glories, 10:00, Rock House June 22 Sat. June 29 Sat. June 30 Sun. Combined Service & Potluck, 11:00, Wesley Farmer’s Market @ Cavanaugh, 12:00 Farmer’s Market @ Cavanaugh, 12:00 Farmer’s Market @ Cavanaugh, 12:00 Farmer’s Market @ Wesley, 12:00 Birthdays 2 - Dean Pendergrass 2 - Linda Pendergrass 3 - Joanne Peterson 3 - Amanda Stark 5 - Craig Plant 5 - Jerry Wade 6 - David Sides 13 - Chester Bean 17 - Mattie Barton 20 - Ellen Brown 20 - Zeb Allen 21 - Rylee Tuck 22 - Olivia Arnold 25 - Betty Reather 29 - Carol Bateman ONE COUNCIL MEETING, JUNE 6, 6:30, GLEANER’S ROOM Wesley’s One Council Members Lay Leader/Lay Delegate: *Donna Moreton Blanche West (Chair)* Ellen Brown George Jensen Harley Strang Patrice Hulsey Gloria Cates Sydney Fulbright* * member of SPRC subcommittee Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2019 Rich Schmitz (Co-Chair) Amy Cates Jackie Nichols* Carrie Miller* Suzanne Gibson Frances Hunt Anniversaries 2 - Clyde & Chris Bates 21 - Doug & Teresa Pendergrass 22 - Gene & JoAn McMullin 22 - Austin & Tracy Olcott 25 - Dale & Edith Dunn

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org May 2019 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Failing Your Way to Success Are you successful? Would your friends, family, coworkers say you are successful? Most often, when you greet someone new the first question out of the box is: “What do you do?” This is a peculiar quandary… Are we as individuals so defined by what we do that it becomes the thing we are most known as? Is what we do and how good we do it the defining thing in our lives? I hope not for all of our benefit. In the book “Falling Upward” Father Richard Rohr perceptively writes: “We grow spiritually much more by doing it wrong than by doing it right. That might just be the central message of how spiritual growth happens; yet nothing in us wants to believe it.” I believe this is true. However, I want to live and act as this is true. In honesty, I really hate to fail. I’m just not too good at it. I brood, reflect, encourage anxiety to build, reflect more, and develop a strategy so that this failure will never happen again. I imagine many of you are similar to this. I have come to experience, personally and within community, that our greatest failures in life have the potential to shape, motivate, commission, and propel our lives radically toward betterment. Unfortunately, these can equally crush you as well. For those who endure and persevere, you will gain character, resolve, and confidence in who you are. Somewhere along the way, our cultures fixation on success at all costs have found its way into the theology of people of faith. This is where belief systems of reward and punishment, divine favor, works righteousness, and hierarchical faith have found root. From my first days as a person of faith, it has been the divine depth of God’s grace that has captivated my life and my heart. Grace is “accepting that you are accepted” (Peter Rollins) at its most basic. Accepting that God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it. When one lives out their faith in light of God’s grace, failure can be transformed into an “opportunity for growth”. Grace is the glue that holds us together when everything else falls apart. (Continued on page 2) Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2019 From Pastor Zeke Cont, UMW News Page 2 (From Pastor Zeke, Continued) It is the safety net when we crash and burn. It is the lens through which the extravagant love of God can be experienced. If you want to learn how to learn to fail your way to success, you got to have a clear understanding of the grace of God. After all, it is only by the grace of God that I can be your pastor. It is only by the grace of God, that we can be the church. It is only by the grace of God that we- broken-down folk that we are- can thrive as people of faith. As people of faith, let us seek to offer ourselves and one another, as much grace as God offers to each of us. In doing so, life with all its failures will be transformed into opportunity after opportunity. - Keep the faith Strong, Zeke United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES The Morning Glories group of Wesley UMW will meet on Tuesday, May 21, at 10:00 a.m. in the Rock House. Wanda Karnes will give the Devotional, Doris Cruce will present the Program and Ellen Brown and Betty Reather will be the Hostesses for the Pot-Luck Salad Luncheon that will follow the Program and Business Meeting. We welcome you to join us for inspiration, Mission education, food, and lots of good fellowship. If you cannot make it to Morning Glories, Evening Stars will meet May 13, in the Rock House at 6:30pm. There will be a UMW Unit meeting Saturday, May 4, 2019 in the Rock House at 9:30 am. Wesley & Cavanaugh Youth will be taking a canoe trip to the Ouachita River May 17-18. If any youth are interested in going please let Zeke or Denver Dunn know. The 2019 Northwest District Conference will be on Sunday, May 5 at 3:30pm at St. Paul UMC in Fort Smith. Annual Conference will be May 29-June 1 in Hot Springs at the Hot Springs Convention Center. For more information visit www.arumc.org/ac2019/ Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2019

Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! Dear Wesley UMC Family! Thank you to the chancel choir, soloists, and handbell ringers for your beautiful, worshipful, and meaningful gift of music through Lent and the Easter season! As always, thank you to the congregation for your support and appreciation. Thank you to Pastor Zeke for your inspirational and thought -provoking Final Word series of sermons and your gift of music. We couldn’t do it without all of you! As we began the journey through Lent, taking words from the choir’s rendition of He Chose Calvary, we were reminded that He chose Calvary to bring eternal life and to redeem and set us free from sin and shame. We proceeded through Lent with handbell and choir versions of Ah, Holy Jesus and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. We sang the loud hosannas celebrating Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, only to prepare for the events of Holy Week and the solemn service of Tenebrae on Good Friday. Just as the flowers of Spring have burst forth, the handbell choir opened the Easter service with A Jubilant Peal, as we celebrated the risen Christ and the congregation participated in the flower cross. I had never before seen a flower cross done in this way and personally think it is a tradition that should continue and be done in all churches. Christ is Risen…He is Risen Indeed! The choir and handbell ringers are continuing to work weekly on special music to enhance the worship experience here at Wesley. Kathy Plant is scheduled to play a flute solo of “The Stranger of Galilee” this coming Sunday morning. It is always a joy to hear Kathy present her beautiful gift of music to us. We have a small but dedicated and committed group of people participating in music ministry and our door is always open to any of you that would like to join us! The choir and handbell ringers will be taking about a month-long break in the summer months. More information on that will follow. If you would be willing to sing a solo or duet, please let Shane or me know and we will work with you and add you to the schedule. Yours in Christ’s Service, Mary Beth Wesley UMC Newsletter Lenten Service on March 25 @ Vietnamese UMC May 2019 Shoal Creek, Young @ Heart, Farmers Market Page 4 Young @ Heart will have a night of fellowship, Thursday, May 16 at 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. Take a virtual trip to the Holy Land with Adam Hamilton as your tour guide! Join the Young at Heart group for a potluck dinner and a movie night featuring "Simon Peter, Flawed but Faithful Disciple." Simon Peter was "an ordinary fisherman who heard an extraordinary call." Bring your favorite dish to share with the group and enjoy a special time of fellowship. All are welcome. If you are interested in volunteering there is a sign-up sheet in the narthex or you can contact Carrie Miller. Our hope is to have enough volunteers that no one has to work more than once a month. A schedule will come out soon. Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2019

Cub Scouts Page 5 April was another action packed month for Pack 19. The District Pinewood Derby races were held on April 6. Andru Hutson won first place in the Wolves, while Owen Williams took first in the Arrow of Light. Little brother Lincoln Williams dominated the Outlaw class. Pack 19 leaders Sam Peterman, Kayla Plank, Monica, Brandon and Tyler Gregory and others organized and ran the races, and we thank them for their efforts. Special thanks goes to Central Christian Church for the use of their facilities. Scouts completed their sale of Blue & Gold sausage, bacon and chicken. They sold 1566 pounds of meat in an effort to raise funds for a new aluminum Pinewood Derby track that will benefit scouts for many years to come. Thank you to Pic-N-Tote #6 for the use of freezer space for this sale. On April 16th scouts headed to TacAir at the Fort Smith Regional Airport for a special look at some really cool planes and some awesome new firefighting equipment in use by the 188th Wing and the airport. Our Tigers and Lions planted their annual flowerbed at Western Sizzlin on Towson Avenue. Stop by there and enjoy there handiwork. We wrapped up the month at Rogers Scout Reservation for the Westark Area Council Family Camp on the 26th-28th. Scouters participated in BB gun shooting and archery, kickball, canoeing, crafts and lots of food, fun and fellowship. As the school year winds down and our summer activities begin, Pack 19 would like to invite any interested child to come try us out, meet the scouts and leaders and begin a lifelong journey in Scouting. Yours in Scoutings Best, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2019 Easter Page 6 We had a wonderful and reflective Holy Week and Easter Sunday. We hope everyone enjoyed the services as much as we did. Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2019

May Birthdays May 2 Thurs. One Council Mtg, 6:30, Gleaner’s Rm May 4 Sat. UMW Unit Mtg, 9:30am, Rock House May 5 Sun. NW Dist. Conf., 3:30pm, St. Paul UMC May 13 Mon. Evening Stars, 6:30pm, Rock House May 16 Thurs. Young @ Heart, 6:00, Fellowship Hall May 1718 Fri-Sat Youth Canoe Trip, Ouachita River May 18 Sat. Farmers Market Pickup Begins May 18 Sat. UM Heritage Class, 9:00-5:00, Central UMC Rogers May 21 Tues. Morning Glories, 10:00am, Rock House May 29June 1 WedSat Annual Conference, Hot Springs Convention Center ONE COUNCIL MEETING, MAY 2, 6:30, GLEANER’S ROOM Wesley’s One Council Members Lay Leader/Lay Delegate: *Donna Moreton Blanche West (Chair)* Ellen Brown George Jensen Harley Strang Patrice Hulsey Gloria Cates Sydney Fulbright* * member of SPRC subcommittee Wesley UMC Newsletter May 2019 Rich Schmitz (Co-Chair) Amy Cates Jackie Nichols* Carrie Miller* Suzanne Gibson Frances Hunt 1 - Frances Hunt 3 - Harley Strang 7 - Dee Carter 8 - Ricky Hill 11 - Ashley Hulsey 12 - Christopher Moreton 12 - Jake Patterson 17 - Gloria Cates 23 - Peggy Higgins 23 - Shane Sanderson 23 - Joe McKenzie 24 - Lois Stearnes 25 - Clyde Bates 25 - Ron Fulbright 29 - Ette Jensen 30 - Susan Schmitz 30 - Allison Cates 30 - Pauline Longley Anniversaries 13 - Leo & Sarah Patterson 20 - Mike & Suzanne Gibson 21 - Paul & Mary Ross

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org April 2019 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke The Grit of Love “And these three remain, faith, hope, and love, and the greatest is love” - 1 Corinthians 13:13 We live in an “Shock and Awe” world. Everything is vying for our attention in more ways than ever. Our world seems to be full of violence, unrest, oppression, and anger. The church has always been a place for me of peace. I don’t mean that I have always found peace at church. However, I do mean that I have always found my faith, my church and my church family as a place of solace and peace. Now, our global denomination is in unrest. There seems to be people from all sides gathering their troops, fortifying their stances, and circling the wagons. There doesn’t seem to be peace. I have observed a lot of groups claiming to be “Orthodox” Methodists claiming to have the one true biblical interpretation and application. “Orthodox” means literally “right belief”. As I have journeyed through the years, my beliefs have changed dramatically and thus, my understanding of what is “right” has shifted as well. In the ancient rabbinical tradition, there was no concept of the one true interpretation about scripture. Rather, one was to offer one interpretation in a sea of possibilities. This allowed for the living word of god to continue to speak. These days I find the concern with Orthodoxy less appealing than another focus in the life of faith. This is called “Orthopraxy”meaning “right practice”. In a time when everyone seems to have the corner market on every scripture, I find the practice and action of faith to be paramount. This is where the corpus of scripture is clear. Likewise, this is where 1 Corinthians 13:13 abounds. We are to practice faith by loving. There should be no argument over this. When you feel overwhelmed with life and even with faith- practice love. This gritty, tenacious love will carry us through. For me, no matter what the future holds, I will seek to love in all I am and all I do. I pray you will choose to do the same. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2019 UMW News, Car Decals Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES Morning Glories - Will meet on Tuesday, April 16 but we have a different schedule for this month. We will meet in the Rock House at 9:30am and car-pool to the Community Services Clearing House for a “guided tour” of the facilities and the ways in which they serve our communities. Thank you to Etta Jensen for making the arrangements for this trip. We will return to the Rock House for the devotional by Doris Cruce and the business meeting. We decided to “eat out” for this meeting (unfortunately, we could not find hostesses who would agree to foot the bill. HA!) You are welcome to visit our group and learn about some of the “helping hands” of our community. May God bless each of you and we wish you a Happy Easter! - Doris Evening Stars - Will meet on Monday, April 8 at 6:30pm in the Rock House. Any and all women of the church are welcome to join in on the fun and fellowship. WESLEY HAS CAR DECALS!! You can pick one up at the church office or in the narthex. Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2019

Music Ministry, 5th Sunday Fellowship Page 3 Greetings!!! Greetings, church members!! Easter is almost here and our Chancel choir is working diligently to prepare music for all our services. We hope that you find what we sing moving and an enhancement to our worship. If you do, make sure to let a choir member know!!! We have a lot of great music specials prepared for the coming months and cannot wait to share all the talent, the members of Wesley have with you all. Yours in Christ, Shane Sanderson We had a great time at our 5th Sunday Fellowship. If you missed it, we hope you can join us at our next 5th Sunday, June 30th. Wesley UMC Newsletter Lenten Service on March 25 @ Vietnamese UMC April 2019 Manes & Miracles, Easter Lilies Page 4 FRI EN DLY All proceeds from the event go to benefit Manes & Miracles. For more information about Manes & Miracles, to register for the Run, and to buy breakfast tickets visit www.ManesandMiracles.org. If you would like to order Easter lilies in memory/honor of loved ones to decorate and fill the sanctuary on Easter Sunday you can print, fill out, and return the below form to the church office by April 7th. Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2019

Cub Scouts Page 5 Greetings from Pack 19. March has been a busy month for our Scouts. On Saturday March 16th we held our annual Pinewood Derby. Scouts spent many hours carefully designing, building and painting their Derby cars. This event is a fun-filled time that teaches craftsmanship and sportsmanship. 95% of Pack 19 scouts participated. Morning races determined the winners in each of the 5 dens. The afternoon races used a double elimination bracket to determine the fastest cars among the whole pack. Along with first, second and third place awards each racer receives a special design certificate and Derby medal. First and second place winners will advance to the districtwide race on April 6th. Also on March 16th we celebrated a baby shower for Joshua Declan Echevarria, son of Daniel and Molly, and little brother to Wolf Scout Phoenix. Scouts have been selling Blue and Gold sausage, bacon and chicken products this month to help raise funds to purchase a new racetrack to benefit scouts for many years to come. March 30 & 31 scouts attended the Arkansas Gathering at Rogers Scout Reservation near Booneville, a time for trading trinkets, toys and gear, fellowship and outdoor adventure. Yours in Scouting, Justin Cates Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2019 RVOCA Laugh & Learn Page 6 YOU are invited! Wesley UMC Newsletter April 2019

APRIL 2019 Upcoming Events Apr 4 Thurs. One Council Mtg, 6:30, Gleaner’s Rm Apr 7 April Birthdays Sun. Lenten Service, 6:00, Midland Heights UMC Apr 8 Mon. Evening Stars, 6:30, Rock House Apr 14 Sun. Lenten Service, 6:00, Cavanaugh UMC Apr 16 Tues. Morning Glories, 10:00am, Rock House Apr 18 Thurs. Young @ Heart, 6:00, Fellowship Hall Apr 21 Sun. Easter Sunday!! 1 - KD Olcott 6 - Donna Moreton 15 - Julia Hayes 15 - Zeke Allen 17 - Sharon Vaughn 18 - Gene McMullin 22 - Jessica Hayes 23 - Rick Schmitz 26 - Ben Cates 30 - Reed Cates Anniversaries 1 - Bruce & Barbara Spencer April Liturgist Schedule 7 - Chris Bates 14 - Suzanne Gibson 21 - Carol Tuck 28 - Bruce Spencer Zeke’s Office Hours Mon - 8:30-9:30 @ Miss Anna’s 9:30- 12:00 @ Wesley Tues - 9:00-12:00 @ Wesley Wed - 8:30-9:30 @ Lewis’s 9:30-12:00 @ Cavanaugh Thurs - 9:00-12:00 at Wesley Wesley UMC Newsletter The Wesley UMC Newsletter goes out at the first of each month. If there is anything you would like submitted in the newsletter, please send the information to Carrie Miller or the church office at Wesleyumcfs@yahoo.com April 2019

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org March 2019 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Over the past few days I have had many conversations with Methodist colleagues and many church members regarding the actions and reactions from General Conference. Many of those have been raw, emotional, anxiety-ridden conversations. Meaningful words have been scarce for me and trite comments even more hollow than normal. I serve two churches that represent the full spectrum of beliefs. As a UMC pastor I have cherished the spectrum of individuals and beliefs of each person. I authentically love diversity. It has been a joy to seek to foster faith communities that live in the creative tension of diversity and faith. When done in love, it is a beautiful thing. However, there have been many precious people left feeling injured, further marginalized and unwelcome. I truly strive to live a life that does “No Hard”. As a core tenant of what it means to be a UM, we, the people and the institution on the UMC, have done harm. It pains me to see others wounded by the church. I believe all people are of sacred worth who have been created in the image of God, beautiful and beloved. I will continue to strive to love God and love my neighbor. I will continue to lead others to do the same. In this tenuous time within our denomination, grace and love are essential. Pointing fingers and picking sides cannot be the steps in the days to come. Love must abound. Grace must abound. The world will truly know us by our love. So for everyone of you, in whatever place today finds you, may love be the light that illumines your steps. I love each of you and I stand with you all. My prayer for all of us is that we all might experience lives of true shalom. Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke A prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.” Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2019 UMW News Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES I would like to thank everyone for their part in UMW Sunday. A ‘thank you’ to Carrie Miller for bringing the message. Congratulations to Wanda Karnes and Sydney Fulbright for being presented a Special Mission Recognition Pin and Certificate for their dedication to the church and the community. More UMW news continued on page 4 Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2019

UMW News Cont., St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Page 4 Morning Glories: Will meet Tuesday, March 19 at 10:00am in the Rock House. Betty Reather will give the devotional, Iris Hightower will present the program and JoAn McMullin and Doris Cruce will be the hostesses for the Salad Potluck that will follow the program and business meeting. You are invited to join us for Mission information, good food and amazing fellowship. Note: We are collecting Best Choice Symbols for our money-maker (since we no longer are able to have the Annual Rummage Sale); we would appreciate your help. God bless you, one and all! Upcoming Event: Northwest District UMW Spiritual Growth study “Embracing Wholeness: An Earth Perspective for Covenantal Living” Speaker will be Rev. Pam Estes. Place: Clarksville FUMC Date: April 6, 2019 Early Bird Registration ($15) - Deadline March 29 Late Registration ($20) Contact Patrice Hulsey for registration info at 650-0303 FRIENDLY REMINDER If you use the kitchen, please wash and put away anything you use before leaving. St. Patrick’s Day Celebration You, your family, and friends are invited to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Mardell McClurkin and family on Sunday, March 17, in the Skokos Family Life Center at Kibler UMC. This is a FREE celebration for all ages and everyone is invited to eat between 11:30am5:00pm. On February 24, we welcomed Joanne Peterson as an “official” member of Wesley. Joanne was already a member of the Wesley family in our eyes, this was merely a formality. Wesley UMC Newsletter Meal: Irish Soup and Fixin’s Entertainment: 11:30am - Ms. Senior AR, Cameo Club 1:00pm - Irish Dancers, Lizzie Boone and Matt Petrick 2:00-5:00pm - Video Tour of Ireland For more information call: 479-461-5209, 479-632-5822, or 479-632-4433 March 2019 Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! Wesley UMC Family, I would like to say how encouraging it is to see people posting videos of our music on social media. I love that I get to share these with my family and friends. After my and Mary Beth's duet the other day, one of my students came up to me at school and said, "Mr. Sanderson, I didn't know you could sing like that!" I want everyone to know that we are working on music for Lent and have quite a bit of music in store for you. So, make sure you are here every Sunday to enjoy the wonderful talent we have in our church and to hear Zeke teach us from the word!!! Yours in Christ, Shane Wesley UMC Newsletter Lenten Service on March 25 @ Vietnamese UMC March 2019

One Council, Cub Scouts Page 5 Our One Council is made up of some amazing people. They all work hard for Wesley to make sure our ministries, missions and fellowships are the very best they can be. One Council meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 in the Gleaner’s Room. Everyone is welcome to attend. We had a wonderful service on Scouts Sunday. Thank you to everyone who attended the service and a special Thank you to all the Scouts who participated in worship. Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2019 Lenten Schedule, ARK News Page 6 March Lenten Service Schedule All Services begin at 6:00pm 3/10 - Hackett, Rev. Dazzle Burns 3/17 - Wesley, Rev. James Harris 3/24 - St. Paul, Rev. Zeke Allen 3/31 - Mission, Rev. Steve Poarch A.R.K. News The Backpack Program is moving right a long. We are providing 11 bags to Carnall Elementary and 8 to Cavanaugh Elementary each week and we have mentioned possibly adding 1 or 2 more schools to our list. Thanks to our partnership with the food bank we receive free Backpack Program food items each month which helps offset the costs for the churches and members. We also get a pallet of food each month for minimal costs with Wesley and Cavanaugh splitting the cost of the pallet. This food helps us put food in the Blessing Box more often. If you ever want to donate monetarily to help cover the costs of our Blessing Box food you can give your donation to George Jensen or to Carrie Miller. We are also working out the logistics to partner with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance to plant a Community Garden at Carnall Elementary. If everything works out, our hope is to plant the first crop this spring. Lastly, within a couple of months we will begin picking up produce from the Farmer’s Market again to place in Blessing Boxes around town. It is my hope that we have enough volunteers that each person will only have to pickup and distribute once a month. If you don’t know about the program, we pickup donated produce from the Saturday Farmer’s Market. Take it back to either Wesley or Cavanaugh, sort it and then distribute it to Blessing Boxes around town. It really is a great way to show love to your neighbors in need. Think about whether or not it is something you might want to do and be on the look out for a sign up sheet within the next month or 2. Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2019 Justin Cates was presented the UMM Man of the Year Award at the Valentine’s Day Dinner hosted by the UMM at Cavanaugh. Congratulations Justin, well deserved! Thank you for all you do.

March 2019 March Upcoming Events Mar 3 Sun. 5th Sunday Fellowship Potluck, 6:00pm, Fellowship Hall Mar 6 Wed. Ash Wednesday Service, 6:00pm, Cavanaugh UMC Mar 7 Thurs. One Council Mtg, 6:30, Gleaner’s Rm Mar 10 Sun. Lenten Service, Hackett UMC, 6:00 Mar 11 Mon. Evening Stars, 6:30pm, Rock House Mar 17 Sun. Lenten Service, Wesley, 6:00 Mar 19 Tues. Morning Glories, 10:00am, Rock House Mar 21 Thurs. Young @ Heart, 6:00pm, Fellowship Hall Mar 24 Sun. Lenten Service, St. Paul UMC, 6:00 Mar 31 Sun. Lenten Service, Mission UMC, 6:00 Birthdays 1 - Carmen Flores 2 - Layla Olcott 12 - Rachel Arnold 13 - Gloria Groves 13 - Billy Strang 18 - Norma Robison 27 - Seren Ledford Anniversaries 10 - Ben & Misty Cates 23 - Dennis & Patrice Hulsey March Liturgist Schedule 3 - Amy Cates 10 - Frances Hunt 17 - Sydney Fulbright 24 - Iris Hendrickson 31 - Blanche West Wesley UMC Newsletter Zeke’s Office Hours Mon - 8:30-9:30 @ Miss Anna’s 9:30- 12:00 @ Wesley Tues - 9:00-12:00 @ Wesley Wed - 8:30-9:30 @ Lewis’s 9:30-12:00 @ Cavanaugh Thurs - 9:00-12:00 at Wesley The Wesley UMC Newsletter goes out at the first of each month. If there is anything you would like submitted in the newsletter, please send the information to Carrie Miller or the church office at Wesleyumcfs@yahoo.com March 2019

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org February 2019 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Reorienting Life 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! - 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 Often times, if I’m honest with myself and others, I run on anxiety. In ministry there are always things left undone. In my entire life of ministry, I cannot ever remember leaving church with the assurance that everything is complete and good. Such is life not just in church but in all things. Honestly, running on anxiety is not a very Christian attribute. It is something I am always working on. These verses from 2 Corinthians are ones that I strive towards. Understanding life, through the lens of faith, can transform your perspective. The call of Christ is one which denies the human view of life to be the ultimate concern. Faith believes there is always more at play. We have this great advocate, we know as the Holy Spirit. It is the presence of God as plentiful in our lives as the very air we breathe. In 2019, I am challenging our church and each of you to not operate from a place of fear, rather, to operate from a place of hope and gratitude. I believe that we are at our very best when decisions and directions are made from a place of hope and gratitude. This is not a new orientation of church and life. It is, a place from which I believe we can thrive as a church. I invite you all to be in prayer for our church and its leaders. Likewise, I invite each of you to do some personal inventory work. Spend some time making two lists. First, what are you truly grateful for. Second, without working out all the details, dream and hope for our church. Invite God to align our church with God’s own will. I believe these are our next steps for our church. I believe this holds the potential to transform our vision and hope for our church. I also believe, this is how we reorient church and life. Yes this takes work but what in life that is worth much doesn’t take work? Come join us, together we can experience the world anew. - Keep the Faith Strong, Rev. Zeke Note: Our theme for 2019, is that we will “keep Jesus the main thing”. This is something all of us can remember and something all of us can strive towards. Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2019 UMW News Page 2 United Methodist Women FAITH · HOPE · LOVE IN ACTION NEWS & ACTIVITIES The United Methodist Women will have a unit meeting Saturday, February 2, at 9:00am at the Rock House. An Evening with Evening Stars All women of the church are invited to join Evening Stars on Monday, February 11, at the Rock House. Ashley Fitzhugh, Director of Development of the Children’s Emergency Shelter will speak. The Shelter has provided a safe home to more than 3,752 abused and neglected children of our community. Dinner will be served at 6:30pm. We look forward to spending the evening with you as we learn about this vital mission. Morning Glories will meet on Tuesday, February 19 at 10:00 a.m. in the Rock House. Iris Hightower will give the Devotional, Ellen Brown will present the Call to Prayer Program and Etta Jensen and Wanda Karnes will be the Hostesses for the Salad Pot-Luck Luncheon that will follow the Program and Business Meeting. Members of the group - please remember that we give an offering at this Call to Prayer meeting. We welcome you to visit us in our meeting and learn about our mission projects of United Methodist Women and to enjoy the fellowship and food with us. God bless you! A ‘Thank you’ for the donations of hats, gloves, and scarves for the fence. 60 gloves, 28 hats, and 28 socks were divided and delivered to Carnall Elementary and Cavanaugh Elementary. Upcoming Events:  UMW Sunday is February 17  Spiritual Growth Study at Clarksville FUMC on Saturday, April 6. More information to come. Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2019

Music Ministry Page 3 Greetings!!! Wesley UMC Family, I am so grateful to all of your for the continued comments that my choir and bell ringers are receiving over the music that they have been making. This support is so meaningful for a group of volunteers - to hear that their work is having a positive effect on our church and our congregation. It has been and continues to be my sincere prayer that everything we do will be for the glory of God and will minister to the needs of our church body. I personally had a good time at the One Council retreat last Saturday. I had several important takeaways from that meeting, especially in learning about the Home Depot model for leadership. Concurrent to that, I would like to say a sincere THANK YOU to a special church member, Bruce Spencer. Bruce, I love to see your heart for music and for choir. You always say something encouraging and are quick to let the church know of your joy and the exciting things that happen in our music program. I love your hard work, your humble spirit, and that you always think to bring me that bottle of water to rehearsal each week! You are a valued member of our choir, and I am thankful for you! I am thankful for all of our choir and bell members. We always have such a great time together. We sing, we laugh, we pray. Sometimes, we fuss, too, but that is all part of the experience of growing and sharing together. We are a musical family, and I continue to be grateful that I get to work with you all. We are lining up our bell, choir, and solo music for the Lent and Easter season. If you have been enjoying the music here and think you would like to be a part of it, feel free to come and sit in on a rehearsal and decide what you think. We would love to have any of you!!!! Yours in Christ, Shane Sanderson Wesley UMC Newsletter Lenten Service on March 25 @ Vietnamese UMC February 2019 Rent House, Facility Notes, CRM Rent House Page 4 Wesley’s rent house at 2120 Phoenix Ave. will be available for rent about March 1st. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, large living room, kitchen/dining/den combined, enclosed garage, central heat and air, fenced back yard. $700.00/month, $400.00 deposit. If you know someone interested they may call Harley at 479-646-9329 or the church office at 479-646-9702. FRIENDLY REMINDER If you use the kitchen, please wash and put away anything you use before leaving. UPDATE ON SECURITY POLICY The Sanctuary doors are locked during worship service. We now have an alarm system installed on the sanctuary doors. The greeters, ushers and Ron Fulbright are designated to check the doors if anyone approaches after they are locked. We ask your cooperation that if you see someone at the doors after they are locked, get one of the designated persons to check it out. Please, do not check it out yourself. Wesley UMC Newsletter The Community Rescue Mission has been functioning without a cook for quit a while. They are interviewing for the position and will hopefully find the right person soon but in the mean time they are needing assistance. They are beginning a Casserole Ministry to help relieve some stress off the meal prep everyday or when a cook is not available. They are also inviting churches to come and prepare the evening meal for the residents on occasion. Doing this would take an enormous amount of stress off of the mission’s staff. If anyone is interested in preparing casseroles or cooking a meal at the Mission, please let Carrie Miller know and she will get with Kathleen Halliburton for further details and instructions. We had a wonderful One Council Retreat on January 26. A lot of good information was given and shared along with some wonderful fellowship. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for Wesley in 2019. We are small but mighty. February 2019

One Council, Cub Scouts Page 5 ONE COUNCIL Leadership according to Jethro is a good model to follow. Do you remember who Jethro was? Pastor Zeke introduced Jethro at the One Council Retreat on Saturday, January 26. I challenge you to find him in the Old Testament section of the Bible, Exodus 18:13-27. I believe you will agree that Jethro gave some wise counsel to Moses, advice that Wesley UMC can benefit from during 2019. Wesley’s theme for this year will be “KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING – JESUS CHRIST.” The One Council will have their first regularly scheduled monthly meeting for 2019 on Thursday, February 7, 6:30 p.m., in the Gleaners Classroom. If there is business that needs to come before the Council, please email Blanche West, Chair, immediately. Greetings from Cub Scout Pack 19. Pack 19 has kicked off 2019 with a full schedule of learning and adventures. We have 38 children registered in the pack at this time. We have scheduled several field trips and camping adventures in addition to our weekly meetings to earn advancement awards. Pack 19 is a year round group with activities through the summertime. This month we will participate in Scouting for Food on February 2nd for distribution of bags and the 9th for collection. Please help support this initiative when you receive a bag in your own neighborhoods. February 10th is Scout Sunday at Wesley. Scouters will help with many aspects of leading morning worship. Coming up on March 2nd is one of the biggest days on the Packs calendar; The Pinewood Derby. The Derby races are an exciting time for the Pack and brings many dozens of family members into the walls of Wesley. Justin P. Cates Pack Committee Chair Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2019 the Experience The Experience, Wesley in Worship The Experience had a nice worship service and then shared in a delicious meal and fellowship. Page 6 Wesley in Worship Wesley had many beautiful worship services this past month. We remembered our baptisms, had a wonderful prayer service, and as always enjoyed some amazing music. Wesley UMC Newsletter February 2019

February 2019 Feb 2 Sat. Feb 6 Wed. UMW Unit Mtg, 9:00am, Rock House Bible Study begins at Wesley, 6:00pm, Gleaner’s Room Feb 7 Thurs. One Council Mtg, 6:30pm, Gleaner’s Room Feb 10 Sun. Feb 11 Mon. Feb 17 Sun. Feb 19 Tues. February Prayer Service, 6:00pm, Sanctuary Evening Stars, 6:30pm, Rock House UMW Sunday, 9:30am Morning Glories, 10:00am, Rock House Feb 21 Thurs. Young @ Heart, 6:00pm, Fellowship Hall Anniversaries 1 - Jerry & Lois Wade February Birthdays 5 - Wanda Clark 7 - Leslie Hayes 10 - Scottie Nichols 11 - JoAn McMullin 15 - Rhonda Hamm 23 - Natalie Nichols 26 - Taylor Dunn February Liturgist Schedule 3 - Donna Moreton 10 - Mike Gibson 17 - Clyde Bates 24 - Patsy Hendrickson Zeke’s Office Hours Mon - 8:30-9:30 @ Miss Anna’s 9:30- 12:00 @ Wesley Tues - 9:00-12:00 @ Wesley Wed - 8:30-9:30 @ Lewis’s 9:30-12:00 @ Cavanaugh Wesley UMC Newsletter The Wesley UMC Newsletter goes out at the first of each month. If there is anything you would like submitted in the newsletter, please send the information to Carrie Miller or the church office at Wesleyumcfs@yahoo.com February 2019

Wesley United Methodist Church 2200 Phoenix, Fort Smith, AR 72901 www.Wesleyumcfs.org January 2019 Newsletter

From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Happy New Year. I want to thank you all for being a part of a wonderful Advent season. Our worship services were excellent and the love shared among each other and with our community this Advent was exceptional. We collected over 650 cans of food to help prevent childhood hunger in Arkansas as part of the UMC mission 200,000 Reasons. Blanche West and my kids delivered the food to the Community Clearing House for them to distribute. Our Christmas Cantata, which featured the combined choirs of Wesley and Cavanaugh, was outstanding. Shane Sanderson’s leadership in this endeavor was excellent and Mary Beth Oliver’s accompanying skills were excellent. I am honored to serve alongside a church staff that is capable, talented, and passionate about the mission and ministry of our church. The staff greatly appreciated the generous gifts presented to us during Advent. Thank you to everyone who worked and served sacrificially to make this Advent such an incredible success. As I reflect on my first 6 months at Wesley, I am keenly aware of the spiritual depth and potential for our church. This gives me hope and encouragement for the future. As I look to 2019, I invite each of you into a time of prayerful discernment for Wesley. This Spring we will begin a monthly service of prayer and healing at our church. We will gather on the second Sunday of every month in the Spring to pray for our church, its members, and God’s direction for us as we engage in mission and ministry this year. I believe that as we gather together and pray for our church as we seek God’s direction for Wesley, we will become aware of the direction God would have us go. I ask each of you to pray for our church and its leaders daily. I am convinced that as we bathe our church in prayer God will clarify our direction and empower us to engage in vibrant mission and ministry. Please pray for our church. Seek faithful discernment for how God is wanting to use you to engage in ministry in 2019. In addition, I ask each of you to pray for God to use you in 2019. I can’t wait to see how God will use each of us to actively engage in the mission and ministry of Wesley as we seek discernment and direction. Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2019 2018 Reflections Page 2 2018 REFLECTIONS By Blanche West With the close of year 2018, it is good to recall some highlights from the past twelve months. One Council members began the year in January with a day apart at the Fort Smith Public Library for training and planning with Cavanaugh UMC under the leadership of Pastor Michelle Morris. The theme for the year was set: “Love Like This…in Remembrance of Jesus.” For each Communion service throughout the year, the choir sang “In Remembrance,” keeping to the theme. Other highlights throughout the year include: Participation in Cavanaugh UMC’s Valentine Banquet Andrea Stark was awarded Special Mission Recognition by Wesley’s United Methodist Women Sent a Destination Imagination team of 5 youth to National Competition Donna Moreton and Blanche West attended Congregational Care Ministry Seminar @ Church of the Resurrection UMC in Kansas City Wesley & Cavanaugh partnered to collect excess Farmers Market fresh produce each week during the growing season to supply 13 Blessing Boxes throughout the city On-line giving was initiated to receive pledges and tithes The former library was remodeled into a nursery area Wesley & Cavanaugh partnered to sponsor a free back-toschool community-wide party at Parrot Island, hosting 900+ guests of all ages Wesley & Cavanaugh partnered to present an original Michelle Morris play, “The Trial,” for the Easter season The roof leak between Wesley’s two buildings was successfully repaired (Continued on page 3) Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2019

2018 Reflections Continued Page 3 (Continued from page 2) 16 backpack bags containing food items to supplement the weekend Clearinghouse Backpack program for both Carnall and Cavanaugh Elementary Schools each week Wesley signed on as an agency with the River Valley Regional Food Bank United Methodist Women sponsored a mittens, gloves, & hats drive Christmas canned food drive benefiting the Clearinghouse exceeded the 550 goal by 100 items Scout Sunday was celebrated in February Shane Sanderson began duties as music director, and Mary Beth Oliver became accompanist for the choir and worship services Wesley & Cavanaugh choirs partnered to present a Christmas musical, “Shout for Joy” for both congregations With Pastor Michelle’s appointment to the AR Conference, Pastor Zeke Allen was assigned to Wesley & Cavanaugh, preaching his first service July 1 Pastor Zeke initiated a Wed. night Bible study to enhance the following Sunday’s sermon More events and activities were carried out to fulfill the theme of loving like Jesus. Thinking about the possibilities the new year of 2019 holds for us to be in mission for Jesus is exciting. The One Council will be meeting at the church on Jan. 19, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. for a planning retreat. Please be in prayer for the group as they gather. I want to express my gratitude and thanks to the choir and congregation for your generous Christmas gifts! I have enjoyed being a part of the music ministry at Wesley and have been blessed to get to know you and share in the worship experience. I look forward to the new year with you and wish you all a blessed new year! With warmest wishes, Mary Beth Oliver Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2019 UMW News, Commitment Card Page 4 United Methodist Women NEWS & ACTIVITIES Northwest District UMW Local Officer Training & Updates will be held Saturday, January 5 at First United Methodist Church of Bella Vista. Please contact Patrice Hulsey at 650-0303 if you plan to attend. Registration will begin at 9:30 am with training starting at 10:00 am. No registration fee. The Morning Glories group of Wesley United Methodist Women will meet on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. in the Rock House. JoAn McMullin will give the Devotional, Wanda Clark will present the Program and Ellen Brown and Iris Hightower will be the hostesses for the Salad Pot-Luck which will follow the Program and Business Meeting. Anyone is invited to visit with us and if you desire to attend, you do not need to bring a dish because you will be our guest. We hope everyone has a Happy Year and pray that God will continue to bless each of you in the new year. Thank you to everyone who has already turned in your 2019 commitment card, however, we still have many that have not turned one in. The importance of those cards is significant as they help us plan and set a budget for the year. If you have not already turned yours in, please pray and consider what you might be able to contribute to Wesley financially. Your contributions are what help us pay staff, utilities, maintain the building & grounds, and fund programs and missions. Without your help, we cannot do those things. If you need a commitment card you can get one from the church office or print and cut the below card out. Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2019

Music Ministry Page 5 Greetings!!! Dear Wesley Family, I want to say a huge thank you for the wonderful gifts I received from the congregation and my wonderful Chancel and Bell Choirs! I am always amazed at our church's generosity and am blessed each week to be part of such a wonderful group of people!!! I also want to thank each of you who attended our Cantata and Christmas Eve services. We have gotten a good deal of positive feedback, and it is my sincere hope that the music we presented added to your worshipful holiday season. I am already looking towards and planning for Lent, Palm Sunday, and Easter. (Can you believe I already have an anthem for Palm Sunday???). I look forward to seeing as many of your share your talent in this coming year as we can have do so. I don't really like making resolutions, but I do believe in making plans. So, my plan for this year is to keep finding ways to include and use the talent that we have in our church in special ways to enhance worship here. Again, thank you all for helping me have a truly blessed and non-stressful Christmas Season! Wesley United Methodist is truly small but mighty!!! Yours in Christ, Shane Sanderson Wesley UMC Newsletter Lenten Service on March 25 @ Vietnamese UMC January 2019 The Experience Page 6 the Experience The Experience finished up a sermon series on rebuilding by experiencing rebuilding through making gingerbread houses. It was a tasty and fun time and everyone enjoyed it. The Experience meets every Sunday evening at 5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall and everyone is welcome to come. Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2019

A.R.K., Wesley at Work, Zeke’s Hours Page 7 A.R.K. (Act of Real Kindness) News The backpack program received some amazing news. The River Valley Regional Foodbank will be supplying 2 pallets of food to the program each month from now and until May. This is a HUGE blessing as we are currently providing weekend food bags to 16 kids (8 at Carnall Elementary, 8 at Cavanaugh Elementary) each week. We also placed and picked up our first order from the foodbank which will go to help fill our blessing boxes. We might be small but we are mighty! We also want to thank Pic-NTote for donating shelves to our food room and Justin Cates for installing those. That is a giant step forward in our mission to alleviate food insecurity in our community. Wesley UMC Newsletter Wesley at Work During the months of November & December Wesley collected food items to donate to the Community Services Clearinghouse as part of the UMC mission 200,000 Reasons. Our goal was 550 food items and we collected over 650 food items. Thank you to everyone who donated to this much needed mission. Your generosity made the lives of people in our community a little happier this Zeb & Rosalee Allen dropping off food items to the Community Services Clearinghouse. Aubrey, a worker from the Clearhinghouse and Zeb, Rosalee and Pastor Zeke Allen, a long with Blanche West (not pictured) unloading the food items. Security Update Thanks to an anonymous donor, Wesley has purchased and installed “door bells” to the east & west entrances of the sanctuary. When pushed, a light will light up at the sound board to alert that someone is at the door. January 2019 Christmas Joys, Lay Servant Ministries Page 8 The Choir presented Pastor Zeke with his very own leather bound hymnal. Amy, Gloria, Justin and Will Cates lighting the Advent Wreath during worship service. The Northwest District of the Lay Servant Ministries will be holding an Introduction to Lay Servant Ministries (basic, beginning class) on Saturday, January 26, 9:00am-5:00pm at Dover United Methodist Church. Deadline to register is January 23. You will need to send $20 fee and registration form (can be found on the district website) to 325 Buck Point Trail, Dover, AR 72837. For more information contact Patrick Brown at 479-264-4351 or psbllb@suddenlink.net or Heather Sprinkle at 479-280-8206 or Heather.Sprinkle@arumc.org. A Lay Servant is:  Ready and desirous to serve the church  An active member of the UMC  Eager to serve through the church  Well-informed and committed to scripture, doctrine, heritage, organization and life of the UMC.  Inspires others to a deeper commitment to Christ and more effective discipleship. Wesley UMC Newsletter January 2019

January Birthdays January 2019 Jan. 5 Sat. Jan 9 Wed. Jan 13 Sun. Jan 15 Tues. Jan 19 Sat. Jan 26 Sat. UMW Local Officer Training, 9:30am, First UMC Bella Vista Bible Study begins, 6:00pm, Cavanaugh January Prayer Service, 6:00pm, Sanctuary Morning Glories, 10:00am, Rock House One Council Retreat, 10:00am-3:00pm, Wesley Intro to Lay Servant Ministries, 9:00am-5:00pm, Dover UMC Love like this….in remembrance of Jesus January Liturgist Schedule 6 - Chris Bates 13 - Suzanne Gibson 20 - Carol Tuck 27 - Bruce Spencer Know Jesus, Grow Faith, Go Serve! Wesley UMC Newsletter Zeke’s Office Hours Mon - Community Hours 8:309:30 at Miss Anna’s, 9:30- 12:00 at Wesley Tues - 9:00-12:00 at Wesley Wed - Community Hours 8:309:30 at Bob and Ellie’s, 9:3012:00 at Cavanaugh Thurs - 9:00-12:00 at Wesley The Wesley UMC Newsletter goes out at the first of each month. If there is anything you would like submitted in the newsletter, please send the information to Carrie Miller or the church office at Wesleyumcfs@yahoo.com January 2019 2 - Keagon Cox 5 - Rosie Turnquist 6 - Debbie Green 9 - Mike Gibson 11 - Jackie Nichols 11 - Mary Ross 17 - Leo Patterson 21 - Norma Strang 22 - Jerry West 23 - Carol Tuck 29 - Carrie Miller 30 - Kylie Pendergrass 31 - Nelson Payne 31 - Lisa Moen Anniversaries 30 - Terry & Patsy Hendrickson