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In The First Place
Monthly Newsletter of First United Methodist Church of Sheridan, Arkansas
www.fumcsheridan.com
June 2015
Youth Director’s Notes
Greetings from the Youth Room:
We would like to thank all that were present for the
“Youth Sunday" services. “Youth Sunday” is a wonderful opportunity each year for our youth to participate in our Sunday morning worship services. The
services allow us to share some of our experiences
during the past year and our future plans; all of
which are made possible by your generosity through
the purchase of youth stock each month. If you
missed this “Youth Sunday” you really missed out
hearing our young peoples’ wonderful singing voices-WOW!
After the youth services, we welcomed a new class
of members and took the youth and all of their
mothers on a Mother’s Day Outing to Crazy Hibachi
in North Little Rock. We made some more of those
“memories” Ike spoke of. We look forward to what
these new young people will bring to our program.
Eight of us attended “Spring Rally” May 15 - 16 at
Bear Creek Campground where we experienced fellowship with youth groups from all over the Southeast District. We would like to thank our congregation for providing a wonderful lunch on Saturday for
the whole group, which was cooked by our one and
only-- Sam Green.
We will close the school year with our annual “Rally
Days” on May 27. We have never experienced this
event. We have only helped to clean up the aftermath, so we are super excited to let the games
begin!
As the school year comes to a close, we are preparing for a wonderful trip to San Antonio, Texas on
June 28 – July. Please be in prayer for us as we
travel and fellowship. In addition, we will start the
summer youth hours on Sunday, June 14, by meeting
from 7:30 – 9:00.
Thanks again for your wonderful help and support,
because, without our congregation, nothing we do
would be possible.
Summer Feeding Program Update
We are looking forward to the Summer Feeding Program which will run June 8 through August 14. All
the paperwork has been submitted to the Arkansas
Department of Human Services and the Arkansas
Hunger Alliance. An agreement is in place with PepsiCo's "Food for Good" Program to provide the
meals. Flyers are being sent home with all students
at Poyen and Sheridan Schools, and posters are being put up throughout the county. In the next couple
of weeks you will see banners out in front of all the
feeding sites.
Now, we are ready to enlist volunteers to help with
this mission project! Sheridan FUMC will be one of
the feeding sites and we will need an assortment of
volunteers, two per day, throughout the summer to
help at our church. We will need more volunteers
the weeks of June 8 and August 10. Those two
weeks our church will be responsible for distributing
food and assisting at the other three sites - the
Freshman Academy, Poyen Music Building and the
Faith Assembly of God Church in Leola. We will need
6 to 8 volunteers on each of those days to deliver,
assist the sites, and return the leftover meals to
our church. Sign-up sheets to volunteer are located
in the narthex. Also, all volunteers will need to get
forms from Brother John or Mike Carpenter for
their criminal background checks.
I would like to thank everyone for their continued
support! If you have any questions or need a poster
to put out please call Mike Carpenter at 870-9418277.
Mike Carpenter, Feeding Program Coordinator
Health Screenings for June
Sunday, June 14
8-8:30 a.m.
Lezleigh Robinette
9:45-10:30
Pam Reed
~ Joe and Shannon Archer
Greeters: Sam and Georgia King
Counters: Joe Archer, Lauren Goins
Usher Team: Mike Harrington, Charles Tadlock, Bobby
Pierce, Jeff Archer, Gary Hines, Scott Hines
June Children’s Church
7 - Lauren Goins
14 - Suzanne Frisby
21 - Kristen Weigand
28 – Kim Embrey
June 2015
UMW President’s Message
As we enter our “summer
break,” I want to sincerely
thank all the UMW ladies for
their hard work and dedication
to the UMW mission. A huge
thank you is also extended to
this wonderful church for your
support and donations to UMW and its activities.
When we begin our regular circle meetings in September, we will be making preparations for our annual
Salad Luncheon in October. Have a wonderful summer!
I hope you enjoy the poem below. I am so glad we
“pass the peace” and greet our visitors every Sunday!
~ Betty Cook UMW President
A Poem About Shoes In Church
I showered and shaved…I adjusted my tie..
I got there and sat…In a pew just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer…As I closed my eyes.
I saw the shoe of the man next to me…Touching my own. I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side…I thought, “Why must our soles
touch?”
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine…But it didn’t bother him
much.
A prayer began: “Our Father”…I thought, “This man with the shoes…
has no pride.
They’re dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on
the side!”
“Thank You for blessings,” the prayer went on.
The shoe man said…a quiet “Amen.”
I tried to focus on the prayer…But my thoughts were on his shoes
again.
Aren’t we supposed to look our best…When walking through that
door?
“Well, this certainly isn’t it,” I thought, Glancing toward the floor.
Then the prayer was ended…And the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud…Sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters…His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear…The shoe man’s voice from the sky.
It was time for the offering…And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached…Into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out…What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft “clink”…as when silver hits tin.
The sermon really bored me…To tears, and that’s no lie.
It was the same for the shoe man…For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service…As is the custom here.
We must greet new visitors…And show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow…And wanted to meet the shoe man.
So after the closing prayer…I reached over and shook his hand.
He was old and his skin was dark…And his hair was truly a mess.
But I thanked him for coming…For being our guest.
He said, “My names’ Charlie…I’m glad to meet you, my friend.”
There were tears in his eyes…But he had a large, wide grin.
“Let me explain,” he said…Wiping tears from his eyes.
“I’ve been coming here for months…And you’re the first to say ‘Hi.’”
“I know that my appearance…”Is not like all the rest.
“But I really do try…” To always look my best.”
“I always clean and polish my shoes…”Before my very long walk.
“But by the time I get here…”They’re dirty and dusty, like chalk.”
My heart filled with pain…and I swallowed to hide my tears.
As he continued to apologize…For daring to sit so near.
Page 2
Thanks for the Contributions Received:
In Memory of Sheree Clark: Youth by Dee Ann Daniel, Sparky and
Cindy Hedden, David and Charlene Holloway, Sam and Georgia
King; Summer Feeding by Gary and Zoe Hines; Choir Fund by Good
News SS Class
In Memory of Al Morgan: Youth by Dee Ann Daniel, Good News SS
Class; Summer Feeding by Gary and Zoe Hines
In Memory of Bob Pritchard: Youth by Scott and Susan Schultz
In Memory of Owen Hoskins (Grandfather of Frankie Rutherford):
Youth by Margaret Hoskins
In Memory of Virginia Harrington: Youth by Scott and Susan Schultz
In Memory of Margaret Covert: Youth by Scott and Susan Schultz
In Memory of Bob Shannon: Cookson Hills by Charles and Kathy
Tadlock
In Memory of Frances Sketoe: Bldg by Dorothy Moudy
In Memory of Clinton Graves: Memorial Fund by Bobby Graves and
Sons
In Memory of G.E. Snell: Snell Scholarship by Scott and Susan
Schultz
In Honor of Joe and Shannon Archer: Youth by Betty Cook, Gregg
and Summer Scott
In Honor of 2015 HS Graduates: Youth by Donna Clark
In Honor of Grandchildren (Bonnie, Ches, Jaime. Amanda, Lana,
Nolan, J.C., Chad, Braiden, and Karsyn): Cookson Hills by Jack and
Wanda Bush
Welcome New Members:
Randal and Deborah Bush
43 Pebble Loop * Sheridan
Confirmation Class Members: Jameson Archer
Brock Melton
Jaxon Ray
Jonathan Ross
He said, “When I get here…”I know I must look a sight.
“But I thought if I could touch you…”Then maybe our souls might
unite.”
I was silent for a moment…Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison…I spoke from my heart, not my head.
“Oh, you’ve touched me,” I said…”And taught me, in part;
“That the best of any man…”Is what is found in his heart.”
The rest, I thought,…This shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am…That his dirty old shoe touched my
soul.
You are special to me and you have made a difference in my life.
I respect you, and truly cherish you.
~ author unknown
Let old friends know you haven’t forgotten them, and tell new friends
you never will. Remember, everyone needs a friend.
Sheridan First United Methodist Church
Corner of Church and Main Streets
PO Box 357 * Sheridan, AR 72150
John Embrey, Pastor
Betty Lancaster, Church Secretary
Kathy Tadlock, Newsletter Editor
Church office - 870-942-4127
www.fumcsheridan.com
Sheridan First United Methodist Church
June 2015
Sunday Worship Services:
8:45 a.m. Early Service
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
10:50 a.m. Regular Service
SUN
SOS Food
of the Month:
Cans of
Vienna Sausages
Or
Beanee Weenees
7
Coffee & Donuts
after 1st church
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE
ICE CREAM DAY
MON
1
TUE
2
8
SUMMER
FEEDING
PROGRAM
STARTS
3
FRI
SAT
4
5
6
9
10
11
12
13
National Corn
on the Cob
Day
Choir - 7:00
UMY
5:30-7
14
THU
National
Doughnut
Day
Choir - 7:00
Snell Scholarship
Deadline to Apply
Coffee & Donuts
after 1st
church
Coffee
& Donuts
after 1st church
WED
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: 8-11
15
Health Screenings
8-8:30 and
9:45-10:30
FLAG DAY
16
FRESH
VEGGIES DAY
6-8:00 P.M.
17
18
Sit & Stitch
9-11:00
VBS
POOL
PARTY
19
20
Blood Drive at
Sheridan FUMC
10:30-3:30
GO FISHING
DAY
Choir - 7:00
UMY 7:30-9
21
2
Coffee
Coffee && Donuts
Donuts
after
after 1st
1st church
church
ANNUAL CONFERENCE: 14-17 HOT SPRINGS
22
23
24
NATIONAL
PINK DAY
28
Coffee & Donuts
after 1st church
26
TAKE YOUR
DOG TO
WORK DAY
27
Choir - 7:00
UMY 7:30-9
Coffee & Donuts
after 1st church
25
29
30
YOUTH TRIP TO SAN ANTONIO - JUNE 28-JULY 5 * * * HAVE A GREAT TIME AND TRAVEL SAFELY!
Choir - 7:00
June 2015
Page 4
From the Pastor’s Pen
“In God we live, move, and exist.” Acts 17:28a CEB
As we begin the summer months, I would like to take
this opportunity to share with you some of the events
that will be a part of the mission and ministry of our
Church during the month of June.
The first week of summer break (June 8-12) arrives
with two volunteer opportunities for our church. The
first of these is a joint ministry with other churches in
our county to be in service to our community through
the Summer Feeding Program. The Ministerial Alliance
has made several changes to the program this year in
an effort to stabilize and increase its effectiveness in
reaching hungry children in Grant County. Mike Carpenter, the Summer Feeding Program Coordinator, has
supplied information in this newsletter about how you
can help to make this program a success this summer.
The second volunteer opportunity is Vacation Bible
School. VBS is an opportunity for us a congregation to
help our children learn what it means to be disciples of
Jesus Christ, in a concentrated week long effort. This
year’s theme “G-Force” will be an opportunity for our
children to learn the stories of Moses, Solomon, Bartimaeus and others. As they learn these stories they
will consider what it means to Move, Act, Care, Follow,
and Share our faith with the world! VBS is always an
exciting time for our Church, and I hope that you will
find some way to participate or to pray for our children
as they learn about Christ.
June will also bring with it the 2015 Arkansas Annual
Conference of the United Methodist Church. This
year’s conference will be held in Hot Springs, and will
be attended by several of our members who will serve
as delegates including Zoe Hines who will represent our
Church, and Dee Ann Daniel who will represent the
Southeast District. This year’s Annual Conference will
be considering some major changes to our structure,
and shared ministry. One of these possible changes is
a new Apportionment Formula that will consider our
shared ministry based on revenue instead of expenses.
A second possible change involves the Clergy Health
Insurance program and a possible way to help churches
and clergy to save money on insurance premiums.
Also, at this year’s Annual Conference we will be electing delegates for the 2016 General Conference and
Jurisdictional Conference. This year’s Annual Conference will elect 4 clergy and 4 lay delegates to represent Arkansas. This is a smaller number than the last
few General Conferences. In an effort to save money
at General Conference the 2012 Conference decided to
cut the number of delegates who would attend. So
every Annual Conference will be sending fewer delegates. As Annual Conference approaches I would ask
that you be in prayer for the work of the Conference,
the important decisions that we will make together,
and for those who will be elected to serve and represent us to the upcoming General and Jurisdictional
Conferences.
June’s a busy month, and it’s all possible because we
live, move, and exist in God!
~ Rev. John Embrey
Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors. The People of the United Methodist Church.
First United Methodist Church
PO Box 357
Main & Church Streets
Sheridan AR 72150
NON-PROFIT ORG
U.S. Postage PAID
Sheridan, AR
PERMIT NO. 56