FUMC Newsletter

The scripture Lesson for this Sunday is from John 2:1-11

1  On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ 4 And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ 5 His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ 6 Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim.
8 He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

 

Stronger Together Worship Service

Our worship service next Sunday, January 26, will be at R-S Central High School’s Auditorium at 11:00 a.m.

There will not be a worship service at FUMC on the 26th.

 We will be worshiping together with a number of other churches in our county of various denominations.  Please mark your calendars and plan to attend worship on the last Sunday in January at R-S Central High School at 11:00 a.m.

Church Calendar

  • Food for Friends resumes this Sunday, January 19. We will be serving pork loin, sweet potato casserole, and green beans. Our friends at the Town and Country Hotel truly appreciate the homemade desserts! Please bring individually wrapped desserts by this Sunday, January 19.
  • Church Offices Closed this Monday, January 20, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
  • The Mountain Dulcimer Group will now meet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Choir Room. The next meeting is January 21. Anyone who is interested in taking a beginner dulcimer class led by Anna and Gene at Providence Methodist, please contact the church office. 
  • Stronger Together Worship Service – Our worship service next Sunday, January 26, will be happening at R-S Central High School’s Auditorium at 11:00 a.m. There will not be a worship service at First UMC on the 26th as we will be worshiping together with a number of other churches in our county of various denominations. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend worship on the last Sunday in January at R-S Central High School at 11:00 a.m.
  • The Community Meal will be next Monday, January 27, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Our menu will be chicken broccoli alfredo.
  • FUMC-ERHS Baking Ministry – Next Tuesday, January 28, from 8:45-10:45 a.m.
  • Souper Bowl Sunday is February 9! Bring your soup cans to church and place them in the large soup pots. Each year, we celebrate the big game with food and monetary donations to Yokefellow Ministries. We appreciate your participation in the outreach!
  • The Administrative Council will meet on Monday, February 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the Men’s Bible Study Classroom.
  • 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. This ministry will begin again once we have been given permission to return (due to a high level of sickness at Brookdale). 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. We are beginning a new series on the book of I Peter. Everyone is invited to attend.
  • The Handbell Choir will resume rehearsals soon.

 

FUMC Youth

  • This Sunday, January 19 – Meet at 3:30 p.m. to load the vans for Food for Friends.
  • Next Sunday, January 26 – UMYF at 5:00 p.m.

 

Wonderful Wednesday 2025

Wonderful Wednesday Resumes! We are looking forward to our Wednesday evening meals.  Diane Warner, Cherry and Russ Garmon, Rosemary Spradlin and Neil Danner are planning these gatherings.  We will meet on the SECOND and FOURTH Wednesdays of the month.  Mark your calendars and come hungry!  Food will be served at 5:30 p.m.  Watch for more information. 

 

Income and Expenses 

Weekly Budget Needs: $8,479.33

Tithes and Offerings January 6-12 – $2,578.25

Expenses January 6-12 – $16,632.17

Received YTD – $9,716.25

Budget needs YTD – $16,958.66

 

Worship Helpers

This Sunday, January 19

Lector – Cooper Flack

Finance – Freida Phillips, Gary Shipley

Greeters – Barbara Millwood, Lois Hasty, Russell Spicer

Ushers – William Blice, Jimmy Okpych

Head Usher – Tim Ridenhour

 

Next Sunday, January 26

No service at FUMC. We will be participating in the Stronger Together Service at R-S Central at 11:00 a.m.

 

Yokefellow is collecting instant oatmeal for the months of January-March 2025. Please bring donations to the church office.

 

January Birthdays

MacKenzie Brown            01/01

Micaela Brown Endicott   01/01

Ronda Eaker                    01/01

Sharon Still                      01/05

Norman Jones Sr.              01/08

Angela Flack                    01/10

Margaret Brooks               01/11

Frances Hernandez          01/11

Elaine Wolf                      01/13

Braxton Flack                  01/15

Trent Parris                     01/15

Keely Somerset               01/16

Jim Still                           01/16

Judith Harrill                   01/24

Emersyn Tate                  01/24

Zachary Eaker                01/25

Jude Garland                   01/27

Caleb Hoyle                    01/27

Patti Hopper                   01/29

Matthew Trout               01/30

The FUMC Newsletter

This page in 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.