Johnna Kosnoff
A Principled People: The Social Creed
The words we choose and the words we say form us. That is the purpose of creeds – to form us around a collective identity. We have creeds that help us understand who we are. Our United Methodist Social Creed is one example, reflecting what we affirm in our Social Principles.
A Special Note About our New Series
Starting this Sunday, we will spend five weeks looking at the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. The Social Principles are found in our Book of Discipline, which is our organizing document for being a United Methodist Church. The Social Principles are the aspirational positions of the church on a number of issues. We say aspirational because we recognize that we live in a very complicated world and we lack both the fullness of the reign of God on earth and the full wisdom to always know what is right in every situation. As we journey through this series, we remind you that full agreement with all of the Social Principles is not a requirement to be a United Methodist. We welcome questions and disagreement on such things in our church. It is how we all grow in faith and love for one another. If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Michelle or Ray for further conversation.
DATES AT A GLANCE
Friend Camp NWA Q&A - Sunday, April 14
Living Our Faith Speaker: Mayor Orman - Wednesday, April 17
Youth Summer Calendar Meeting - Sunday, April 21
Living Our Faith Speaker: School Superintendent Dr. Debbie Jones - Wednesday, April 24
Earth Day Fair - Saturday, April 27
Senior Recognition Sunday - Sunday, May 5
Baby Shower for Kristin Wells - Sunday, May 5
Urgent announcements
Living our Faith Speaker Series
To coincide with our sermon series on our Social Principles, our church will be hosting significant figures in our community to give one hour talks on Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. in Hines Hall, beginning April 17. Our April 17 speaker will be Mayor Stephanie Orman, and April 24 we will host Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debbie Jones. Please make plans to come hear from these outstanding women and to learn more about celebrations and challenges in our city.
Eclipse Glasses Collection
Bring your eclipse glasses to church this Sunday. We will collect them to send to kids in the next eclipse path of totality. Recycle the joy!
Family ministries
Senior Recognition Sunday
Senior Recognition Sunday is May 5th. If you are or know a graduating high school senior who we need to recognize, please reach out to our youth director, Kristin Wells, by Sunday, April 14.
Youth Summer Calendar Meeting
As you may know, our youth director, Kristin Wells, will be out on maternity leave for most of the summer. She will need extra volunteer support to make sure the 7-12th grade program runs smoothly. If you are someone who can help support this effort, please join us for a summer calendar meeting Sunday, April 21st at 10am in the youth area. Bring your personal calendar so that you can sign up to help with specific events!
Family Ministry Camping Trip
Families, mark your calendars! School will be out and we want to celebrate "family" style with you.
We will be camping for 2 nights at Devil's Den, and having our own Children First worship together. Sign up here!
Wonderfully Made
Wonderfully Made is a Christ-focused sexual education class for our 4th, 5th, and 6th graders, led by Ms. Allison and Ms. Lexie. Please mark the dates on your calendar if you are interested in your child attending this class. Cost is $10. Sign-up here!
VBS Signups
Vacation Bible School will be here before we know it, and this year we wanted to put a Methodist focus with it! We are teaching about Jesus through the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, which is a four-way approach to answering questions about Christianity. We will be using Lego, blocks, puzzles, and more to create ways for our children to feel growth in their own faith.
*Ages that can attend are 3 years old by August 1, 2024, through rising 6th grade.
Sign up here to enroll your child or to be a volunteer!
community events
90s Party! Jam to some unplugged 90s tunes while we raise money for EQUIPPED NWA.
EQUIPPED is a non-profit that aims to level the playing field by providing student-athletes, grades 7-12, with equipment and resources through school partnerships. We envision a future where EQUIPPED has cultivated relationships with all schools in Benton and Washington counties, dedicated to fulfilling the equipment requirements and resources of every student-athlete in need.
Beer & Hymns brings people together to raise our glasses, raise our voices, and raise funds for organizations that change the world.
Earth Day Fair April 27
Join us for our community Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 27 on the Green Space (or Hines Hall if it is raining) from 9a-12p. Activities include mastering the art of recycling, meeting environmental experts, and discovering the magic of nature! Make plans to stop by!
Also, if you would like to volunteer to help, contact Johnna Kosnoff at Volunteers will be needed from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
announcements
Deep End Bible Study
Do you have a desire to look deeply into the Bible? When you read for your personal devotional time, do you have questions about certain challenging stories? Deep End Bible Study may be a small group for you! We are people interested in in-depth study and discussion of the Holy Scripture. Be prepared for a lively and thoughtful discussion! We select a book to center our study and read reflectively and discuss in an open, non-judgmental way. We meet on Mondays from 12:00 pm -1:00 pm at FUMC Bentonville for a brown bag lunch meeting. For more information contact Pastor Ray (
).
Info about Social Principles and General Conference
On Sunday, April 21 and Sunday, April 28 during the 10 a.m. Sunday school hour, Pastor Michelle will be available in Hines Hall to answer any questions that you may have either about General Conference (our main denominational legislative meeting occurring April 23-May 3 this year) or our Social Principles, which we will be preaching about in our church for 5 weeks. The United Methodist Church will be in the national media for the next few weeks, so please come to this space if you need more information about what is happening.
A Friend Camp NWA Q&A
Are you ready for a summer of fun, friendship, and meaningful experiences? Join us for an information session at FUMC on Sunday, April 14th, at 10 am in Hines Hall, where Camp Director Liz Emis will share all about Friend Camp NWA!
Here's what you can expect:
- Understanding Friend Camp NWA: Learn about the mission and significance of our camp, and why it's essential for our community.
- Camp Demographics & Success Stories: Discover the diverse group of campers who have benefited from our programs in the past and hear about their incredible experiences.
- Camp Activities and Theme: Get a sneak peek into the exciting activities and the inspiring theme planned for this year's camp.
- Supporting Friend Camp NWA: Explore different ways you can support our camp, whether through scholarships, financial contributions, or volunteering your time and skills.
- Camper Signups: Learn how to sign up for this year's camp and secure your spot for an unforgettable summer adventure!
- Q&A Session: Have questions about Friend Camp NWA? We'll wrap up the session with an opportunity for you to ask anything on your mind.
- Save the date for our information session on Sunday, April 14th, at 10am in Hines Hall at FUMC, and let's come together to make Friend Camp NWA 2024 the best one yet!
FAQs about General Conference
Recently, our Bishop and delegation to the General Conference put together an FAQ about our upcoming General Conference. Click here to find that document.Fun Fridays Update
This Friday, April 12 there will be no games due to the Women’s Retreat.
However all other Fridays, except the First Friday of each month, there will be games in the Gathering Room from 1:30-3:30. Bring your own non-alcoholic beverage and if you choose, a snack to share. If you have a game you’d like to play please bring it. Hope to see you at Fun Fridays!
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