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
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