The Messenger

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

100 N 2ND STREET

DARDANELLE, AR 72834

479-229-3720 | www.fumcdardanelle.org

PASTOR JIM BENFER

August 2019

Let’s Get Back to Bible Study Finding God's kingdom and the life that God desires for you is one of the tasks the Church was created for. It was created to

point to the "gate" where you enter to find that life. Jesus explains, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:9-10)

Our Church is working hard to point people at that Gate (Jesus). How do we do that? We offer life-changing Bible studies and prayer groups. Unfortunately, not everyone who comes to worship takes advantage of them. We have Sunday morning studies at 9:45 a.m. so that you can study with others and find encouragement, prayer and fellowship. We also offer Wednesday evening Bible studies at 6:00 p.m. after our Fellowship meal at the Life Center. Here is a run-down of adult classes you might enjoy:

Pairs & Spares 9:45 am Sunday Lectionary Bible Study Education Building

Truth Seekers 9:45 am Sunday Verse-by verse Bible Study Life Center

Youth Bible 9:45 am Sunday Video & Bible Study Life Center

Nueva Vida 9:30 am Sunday Verse-by-verse in Spanish Administration

Grupo de Oración 6:30 pm Monday Spanish Prayer Group Administration

Small Group Bible 6:00 pm Wednesday Topical Bible Study Life Center

Young Adult 6:00 pm Wednesday Life Application Study Life Center

Pastor's Study 6:00 pm Wednesday Verse-by-verse Study Education

Estudia Biblica 6:30 pm Wednesday Bible study in Spanish Administration

Perhaps another group may form to be our Early Bird's Class on Wednesdays. I am looking for a couple of volunteers who might share class duties and form a group that meets at 4:00 p.m. and finishes just before our Fellowship Meal. This would help us include members who do not like to drive at night and want to get home earlier in the evening.

As a courtesy to make it easier for you to come to these studies, there is a free nursery available in our Education building for the Sunday and Wednesday studies. Additionally, there are children's studies on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Our aim is to keep pointing to the source of life, hope and salvation--Jesus our Lord. If you are not currently taking part in anything other than Sunday worship, I hope you will enrich your life by joining one of our studies. Truly, the Bible is wisdom we need for our living today.

Hosting Others

Scripture tells us to be hospitable to others. The book of Hebrews says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2) Over the past month we have been host to three groups who passed through our doors and stayed with us. You may not have been aware of them because they came in late and left early in the morning.

The Sheep Dog disaster assistance team stayed with us overnight at the beginning of the month as they passed through assisting families in the River Valley with flood recovery. Pictured with them are Vitalino Méndez and several of our members who helped prepare and serve their breakfast.

Two groups from Overland Summers Bike Across America used our FLC as an overnight stopping point the second week of July. They started on the Atlantic coast of South Carolina and were headed to the Pacific coast of California. Each group consisted of 15 high school seniors.

Time for Back to School Activities

While many in our families and friends are getting ready to go back to school, don’t forget that we will move from summer break and back to our regular schedule here at the church. It is also a time of renewed fellowship that we invite you into. We want you to make a habit of joining us for activities, food and ministry. And, don’t forget to include an invitation to new families and friends to join us. Here are some of the dates coming up for our start.

Wednesday, August 7—Our Pastor’s Bible Study resumes at 6 p.m. and Choir Practice meets at 7:10 p.m.

Tuesday, August 20—Our regular Spanish Classes resume at the FLC. Advanced learners meet at 4:30 p.m. and Spanish 1-B learners meet at 5:30 p.m. Classes meet each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Wednesday, August 21—Join us for the beginning of our Wednesday Night Life meals and fellowship. We will meet at 5:15 for a meal, and then we invite you to stay for an Ice Cream Social hour at 6 p.m. In the following weeks we will have our small group Bible studies at 6 p.m.

Sunday, August 25—Immediately following church we will have a Potluck luncheon for our FUMC and Nueva Vida congrega-tions.

Sunday, September 1—We will start our monthly Community Breakfast at 9:00 am in the Family Life Center .

Dardanelle Methodist Women

“I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us

will be a blessing to the other.” (Romans 1:12) Ladies, if you are not taking part in the monthly Bible study on En-

couraging One Another, you are missing out on a blessing! Come join us on the third Monday of each month at 1:00

p.m. in the Family Life Center as we learn how to encourage and be encouraged through using God’s word to teach us

and inspire us. In addition to our Bible study, we prepare a Sunshine Basket for a church member who needs a little

extra sunshine in his/her life. We also collect boxes of cereal for the Sharing & Caring Food Pantry and discuss ways

we can help our community. We end our meetings with a fellowship time which includes delicious refreshments and lots

of laughter. We hope to see you at our next meeting on August 19.

Cindy Benfer 08/01

Christopher Roberts 08/02

Linda Judkins 08/07

Sondra Crabtree 08/08

Scott Carter 08/09

Mike Duncan 08/10

Sandy Wood 08/11

Presley Cheek 08/14

Kenneth George 08/15

Susan Stevens 08/15

Brenda Woody 08/15

Gail Goins 08/16

Todd Middleton 08/18

Lucy Pitts 08/18

Martha Merritt 08/20

Ethan Middleton 08/21

Suny Bean 08/22

Peggy Sheets 08/22

Peggy Griffin 08/23

Chris Merritt 08/24

Jennifer Edwards 08/25

Kathleen Balloun 08/29

Janis Birkhead 08/30

Caleb Hicks 08/31

Peggy Griffin

Bud Choate

Chelan Bartlett

Linda Brown

Bob Griffin

Peggy Sheets

Ray Edwards

Raymond Couser

Jan George

Chris Roberts

Cathy Gwin

Dean Birkhead

Polly Merritt

Arlevia Scott

Jewel Boyce

Hugh Conover

August 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

4 9:45 am Sunday School 10:55 am Worship 4:00 pm Confirmation Class

5 6 7 6:00 pm Pastor’s Bible Study 7:10 pm Choir Practice

8 9 10

11 9:45 am Sunday School 10:55 am Worship 4:00 pm Confirmation Class

12 13 14 Back to School Dominos at Senior Center

15

16 17

18 9:45 am Sunday School 10:55 am Worship

19 1:00 pm DMW

20 4:30—6:30 pm Spanish Classes

21 11:00 am XYZ WNL Starts Back 5:15 pm WNL Meal 6:00 pm Ice Cream Social Hour

22 4:30—6:30 pm Spanish Classes

23 24

25 9:45 am Sunday School 10:55 am Worship 12:00 pm Potluck Dinner

26 27 4:30—6:30 pm Spanish Classes

28 5:15 WNL Meal 6:00 pm Small Groups Bible Studies 7:10 pm Choir Practice

29 4:30—6:30 pm Spanish Classes

30 31