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
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