June 2016 - First United Methodist Church

the
Messenger
JUNE 2016
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
100 NORTH 2ND
DARDANELLE, AR 72834
PASTOR JIM BENFER
479-229-3720
It's All About Giving
I want to take time to talk to each of you about giving. Being a Christian is, if anything, about giving. To follow Jesus is to
subordinate one's own will for that of Jesus and to give your life in the service of others and of God. Truly, Christians are to be all about
giving.
In one of the most scorned commands of the Bible, God commands that his people should tithe. Of course, tithe is an old
word which means ten percent. In other words, God isn't interested in how much you make, but is interested in knowing that you
understand that one hundred percent comes from God. Therefore the tithe is a command to grow in faith by giving ten percent back as
a way to show that your faith is real. In other words, our giving underscores our understanding that God gives us all we possess and will
continue to care for us whether we make a little or a lot.
The Church is God's way of organizing people into functional and effective units that spread the gospel of Jesus and make
disciples for God's kingdom. Giving to the local church is a way to make our part of God's kingdom more effective right here where we
live. The local church tithes to the general church to support even larger projects through our general boards and agencies. Take our
mission to Rio Bravo for example: The permanent missionary to Manos Juntas is funded by the General Board of Discipleship. Another
good example is our Nueva Vida church start: They are receiving funds from our District and from the Arkansas Annual Conference so as
to make new disciples for Jesus in the River Valley. Our giving and that of other local churches fund efforts like these and so many
more.
This is the time of year that I try to remind everyone that our local church often suffers over the summer months because we
have regular bills to pay and extra utility costs due to the heat. Your attention to making regular tithes and offerings to our church over
the summer helps us do the most good with the resources at hand. Please don't forget us when you are also making plans for vacations
and times away, so that we don't miss your gifts.
Many of you know that we have a large group of aging adults in our congregation. This presents challenges and opportunities
for the Dardanelle church. I would like to say to each who fall into this group that you can outlive your life in the Dardanelle church and
continue to give to United Methodist causes you care about through a legacy gift. Legacy gifts can continue to give through grants and
trusts that continue to further the kingdom work, educate new generations of leaders and support critical ministries.
Knowing that your support of the Church extends beyond your lifetime can bring you great joy. And, you may be surprised to
learn how easy it is to partner with the United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas to create a permanent charitable endowment fund.
It doesn't cost anything today to make plans to support this church and its ministries. I suggest that you email Janet Marshall
at jmarshall@umfa.org if you want to leave a legacy gift. All visits are strictly confidential and your gifts have the ability to support you
here and now through your IRA, Life Insurance, or a UMFA death beneficiary bank account.
Nothing excites me more than people who learn that giving is living. It's kingdom living. I hope you will make special time to
consider what God is asking you to do in your giving.
Blessings, Bro. Jim
UMW News by Dinah Johnson
Outreach/Mission Committee News by Bob Griffin
United Methodist Women met on Monday, May 16, with
Georgiana Tatum serving as our hostess. We were delighted to
welcome a new member, Sharon Balloun. A devotional,
presented by Jennie Jones, asked the question, "Would you want
to walk in someone else's shoes?" A birthday card was signed by
all members and will be mailed to a missionary serving in
Japan. During the mission moment, Janis Birkhead shared the
story of an American missionary sent to Nigeria. Many boxes of
cereal were collected for the Sharing & Caring Food Pantry, and
the Sunshine Basket was overflowing with goodies to be given to
a family in our church. A big "Thank You" goes out to all who
baked goodies for the recent bake sale.
A total of $403 was made, and this will be used to purchase library
books in Spanish for the Rio Bravo mission trip. After the
business meeting, we enjoyed a time of fellowship with delicious
refreshments served by Georgiana.
Our next meeting will be held on Monday, June 20, at 1:30 p.m. in
the Family Life Center.
We have been painting a home in our community as a local mission
project and it is still a work in progress. We would like to say a big
Thank You to all who have helped work on this project.
The Back Pack Ministry with First Baptist Church and our local
Sharing & Caring programs are ongoing areas of need. We
encourage you to participate in them regularly. The “drop off box” is
located in the rear of the Sanctuary. Thanks to our congregation for
your support.
XYZ News by Bob Griffin
On Wednesday, May 18th, sixteen of us went by the Senior
Center bus to Petit Jean State Park for lunch. A good time was
had by all. There is no better way to get to know your retired
church peers than by having a casual lunch together. Please
come and join us as we tour Historic Potts Inn on Wednesday,
June 15th. We will meet at our church parking lot at 11:00 am,
decide on a lunch place, then proceed to Potts Inn for a guided
tour. XYZ is open to any senior who wants to attend.
For the Lord God will help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced;
Therefore I have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
Isaiah 50:7
Be a Backpack Booster....
We will continue collecting food items throughout the summer
months. The need is great to help students have food to eat while
school is out, and plans are underway to get this done. You can
help by bringing easy-to-prepare foods and placing them in the
collection box located in the side entry of the sanctuary. Let's do
our part to keep students from being hungry.
The Wall of Crosses in the FLC is for all the church families. If
you have not brought a Cross to be placed on the wall, it is
not too late. Please bring your Cross to the church office and
the UMW will make sure it gets on the wall. We want each family in the Church represented on the wall. Thank you to the families that have brought Crosses. We have places some new
Crosses on the wall so be sure to check it out. It is never too
late to bring a Cross.
June Birthdays
Bro. Jim
06/01
Virginia Edwards
06/01
Divella Gray
06/02
Jason Pitts
06/07
Jill Sheets
06/09
Larry Birkhead
06/13
Sharon Balloun
06/15
Charles Webster
Cendyl McGowan
06/16
Buster & Donna Berryhill
Mallory McMillian
06/16
Barbara Pfeifer
Aryn Merritt
06/21
Franklin Wesley
Kristen Merritt
06/21
Hugh Conover
Robert Griffin
06/23
Lloyd Sheets
Addyson Seay
06/25
Jana Judkins
Lynn Murphy
06/28
Carol Spears
Donna Berryhill
06/30
June 2016
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
9
10
11
16
17
18
23
24
25
6 pm Pastor’s Bible Study
7 pm Choir
5
6
7
9:45 am Sunday School
10:55 am Worship
8
6 pm Pastor’s Bible Study
7 pm Choir
2 pm Wedding Shower
Morgan Austin &
Tyler Balloun
12
13
9:45 am Sunday School
10:55 am Worship
1:30 pm Prayer
Card Ministry
14
11:00 am XYZ
6 pm Pastor’s Bible Study
7 pm Choir
2 pm Wedding Shower
Hannah Bean &
Nathaniel McChesney
(at Liberty Hall)
19
20
9:45 am Sunday School
10:55 am Worship
1:30 pm UMW
26
27
9:45 am Sunday School
10:55 am Worship
1:30 pm Prayer
Card Ministry
15
21
22
6 pm Pastor’s Bible Study
7 pm Choir
28
29
6 pm Pastor’s Bible Study
7 pm Choir
5 pm
Austin-Balloun
Wedding
30
Across:
Down:
2. Place of torment
1. Leader of Israel
8. Lamb
3. Satan
9. Jesus' brother
4. Born again
11. David's father
5. Whale's supper
14, Tribe of Israel
6. First worship building
16. __ commandments
7. Used a fleece
18. Peter
10. Last O. T. book
19. Abraham's wife
12. First born son in Bible
21. Wilderness food
13. 23rd O. T. book
22. Jesus' betrayer
15. Isaacs's father
17. Prophet of Ahab's day
20. Became a serpent for Aaaron