FUMC Newsletter

The scripture Lesson for this Sunday is from Acts 11:1-18

1  Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, 3 saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’ 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5 ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” 8 But I replied, “By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. 11 At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; 14 he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.” 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’ 18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’

 

VBS

Vacation Bible School is just around the corner! VBS will begin on Sunday, June 1, and continue through Thursday, June 5, from 6-8:00 p.m. Our program this year is:

Magnified! Discovering the bigness of God in the smallest of things.

Please contact Leanne Summey to volunteer. Let’s kick off the summer with a great VBS program. Thank you for your support of this outreach to our community!

 

Church Calendar

  • Wonderful Wednesday – The wonderfulness happens this week on May 14 for a taco bar and dessert, and next on May 28 for hamburgers and hot dogs with all of the sides and homemade ice cream. The cost is $5.00 per person, $15.00 per family. Food will be served at 5:30 p.m. Everyone has been enjoying the food and fellowship of our Wonderful Wednesday gatherings. If you haven’t been yet, please join us! It’s a great place to reconnect with old friends, meet someone new, share a meal and strengthen the friendships that make a church strong. Activities will be available for the children. See you there!
  • This Sunday is Graduation Sunday – Please let the church office know if you have a new high school or college graduate to be recognized in the service. We are proud of our graduates, and honor their achievements.
  • Food for Friends – The next Food for Friends meal at the Town and Country Hotel will be this Sunday, May 18. Individually wrapped desserts are always welcomed!
  • The FUMC Community Meal will be on Monday, May 19, from 4:30-6 p.m. Individually wrapped desserts are always welcome.
  • FUMC Preschool Graduation – Next Wednesday, May 21, at 9:00 a.m. in the sanctuary.
  • The WoW Factor – The next WOW Factor event will be on Wednesday, May 21. Meet at 9:15 a.m. for breakfast at Strawberry Hill.
  • The Mountain Dulcimer Group meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Choir Room.
  • The Brookdale Visitation Team meets at Brookdale at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. This is a special interactive time of fun, and worship for the residents. Call the church office for more information.
  • He-Brews Coffee and Conversation meets on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. at Hope House Coffee Co. 1066 S. Broadway in Forest City. Our current series is on the book of Ecclesiastes.  Life is a gift, but it rarely turns out how we expect. We’re convinced things like wealth, power, fame, and control will give us meaning and lead us to a flourishing life—but, every time, they let us down. So where do we go when the bottom falls out? Where do we turn when things are going great but we still feel empty?  In this ten-session series, we will journey through the book of Ecclesiastes and see that we are not alone in our search for meaning. Join us for this study and discover how God himself, not the things of this world, satisfies our deepest desires for meaning.  Everyone is invited to participate!

 

FUMC Youth

  • This Sunday, May 18 – Meet at 3:30 p.m. to load the vans for Food for Friends.
  • Next Sunday, May 25 – Regular UMYF at 5:00 p.m.

 

A Note from UMCOR-

Thank you for your generation donation to the UMCOR Sunday offering. With your support together, we reach children, families and communities who have experienced devastation in the wake of disaster.

 

Income and Expenses 

Weekly Budget Needs: $8,479.33

Tithes and Offerings May 5-11 – $7,046.00

Expenses May 5-11 – $25,111.81

Received YTD – $131,561.57

Budget needs YTD – $161,107.27

 

Worship Helpers

This Sunday, May 18

Lector – Judy Toney

Finance – David Eaker, Mike Gavin

Greeters – Rich and Paula Rogalski

Ushers – Marc Duncan, David Eaker

Head Usher – Tripp Flack

 

Next Sunday, May 25

Lector – Katherine Earley

Finance – Chris Cross, Tim Ridenhour

Greeters – Russ & Cherry Garmon

Ushers – Don Hastings, Mike Gavin

Head Usher – Tripp Flack

 

The food item for Yokefellow through August is Vienna Sausages. Please bring items to the office.

 

May Birthdays

Susan Taunton          05/04

Liza Iwerks               05/06

Cody Danner             05/07

Rachael Hoyle           05/08

Andrew Harrill          05/09

Debbie Arnold           05/12

Annette Landis          05/12

Allison Tate               05/12

Sarah Webber           05/12

Cooper Flack             05/15

Deirdre Bright           05/16

Mandy Smith            05/20

Russ Garmon            05/21

John Tate                  05/21

Sawyer Bright          05/22

Kevin Keever            05/22

Deecon Bright           05/23

Sullivan Bright          05/23

Abram Brown           05/26

Finn Eaker                05/26

Karen Duncan           05/27

Marlowe Street         05/28

Barbara Hawkins      05/30

Kanaan Humphries   05/30

 

The FUMC Newsletter

This page on the church website is the permanent home of the newsletter. Text-to-speech apps will work on this page. Older newsletters are archived, and the current newsletter will always be at this address. This mobile-friendly format is much more accessible and allows for immediate updates to information. Feel free to check by as often as you like. The goal is for major updates to happen on schedule by Wednesday, and a print edition will still be sent via US Mail to those who have requested it. If you no longer need the printed copy, please let the church office know. 

May the Peace of the Lord, and His Blessings be with you all, and we hope to see you on Sunday!

Services are livestreamed on our YouTube Channel.