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
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