As long as I can remember, my life has revolved around the school year.  Both of my parents were teachers. I went to school for more than 20 years (including college and seminary). My wife, Susie, is a teacher. We sent our daughters to school. Our youngest, Julie, will soon start her sophomore year at the University of Central Arkansas.  So, yes, for as long as I can remember, my life, our lives, have revolved around a school schedule. Susie will report for duty next week. Julie will begin classes in the middle of August. And soon, our area schools will begin again. When I was young, it seemed as if the summers moved too fast. They hardly began before we were purchasing school supplies. 

Because my life revolves around such a schedule, when it is time to go back to school, I want to be involved in a small group or a study, often teaching one. In a sermon a few weeks back, I said that one of my goals was to teach a study this fall and spring. I hope that you will join me for this study. The study I have chosen lasts 30 weeks but is divided into 3 sections of 10 weeks each. That seems less scary, doesn’t it?  The study is written by Randy Frazee and is called Believe.  At one time, Randy was a teacher pastor with Max Lucado in San Antonio, Texas.  The study is video based. We will begin with the video each week and then delve into the lessons. Here are the titles of a few of the lessons: God, A personal God, Salvation, the Bible, the Church, Compassion, Stewardship, Worship, and prayer (just to name a few). The study will meet on Sunday afternoons. If you are interested in being a part of this study, please let us know. We will make sure that you will have both a book and a workbook. I’ve already ordered the videos. I have taught this study before. I believe that it will be a blessing for you and for our church. 

So, I'm including "Back to Church" as part of this article. There is a movement I have participated in before that I would like for to do this year. It is simply called "National Back to Church Sunday". You will be seeing promotional materials such as banners, videos, and bulletin inserts that promote this special Sunday.  Simply put, the movement is to encourage people who do not have a church home to visit our church. And for our members, who have not been in church for a while, to come back and join us. We miss you! The Sunday set aside for National Back to Church Sunday is September 21st. We will be talking more about that Sunday as it draws near. So it seems to me that back to school (and classes, Life Groups, and studies) and back to Church are two great ideas! What a great time it is to be a part of our church discipleship and worship! 

John Fleming
Senior Pastor 

Stewards:
Christine Linville (team leader)
Pansy Dimick
Michele Elders
Ruth Greer

9:00 Servers:
Helen Martin
Mike & Sue Strop

11:00 servers:
Jack Chance
Lynx Still
Sharon Williams

Last month I made an appeal. In an email (which included a video), I let you know that our church finances were down. This is typical in a lot of churches during the summertime months. I asked you to do what Susie and I were going to join you in doing, to make an additional gift to the General Fund. Thanks to all who were able to do that. For those still contemplating such a gift, it is never too late. 
I wanted to give you an update on our giving. During the month of May, our general fund giving totaled, $41,000. In June (with five Sundays), our general fund giving was $53,000. In July (the month in which our appeal was made), general fund giving rose to $61,000. We keep a history of giving, and July’s offerings were the highest in a six-year span. June’s giving was down $5,000 from last year. May’s giving was up $6,000 from 2024 numbers. 
We are still behind where I would like for us to be, but we are narrowing that gap. I write these words to say both “thank-you” and “good job!”  Please continue to make the church a priority in your giving, in your serving, in your witness, in your prayers, and in your presence. 

John Fleming
Pastor 

We are organizing a church wide trip to the Sight and Sound Theatre in Branson to see David on Saturday, September 20th at 11:30 am. We have reserved 30 seats at this time and would love to fill each seat and have to add more! Tickets are $75.00 for ages 13 and up and children ages 3-12 are $35.00. We will leave the church at 9:00 am, go see David and then enjoy a lunch together before returning home. We will be taking a church bus if you need transportation. You can either sign up here using the button below or from the church website or on the sign up sheets located at the welcome desk. You can also sign up by calling the church office during operating hours and we can get you signed up! The deadline to reserve your ticket will be Monday, August 18th by 4:00 pm. Call or email Hollye in the church office if you have any questions. 

Before school starts back, we would like to bless not only the backpacks of the students, but also the students themselves and the educators.  Sunday, August 10th we will be doing the Blessing of the Backpacks at each service.  All students and teachers are encouraged to bring their backpacks/bags to worship that day to be blessed.  Each student & teacher will recieve a backpack tag to place on their backpack as a reminder of God’s presence with them at school and the prayers of their church family.  We will pray over the students and educators and ask God to equip them with all they need for a wonderful 2025/26 school year.

This year we will be having our back to school bash at the city pool on Saturday, August 17th! We will have pizza and popsicles.  Bottled water will be available but you are welcome to bring your own drinks if you like. All are welcome to join us! You won't want to miss it!

Baxter County Fair is September 10th-13th. First United Methodist Church will have an indoor booth again this year and we are looking for volunteers to man the booth in shifts. We would like at least 2 people at each shift. If you would like to sign up for a shift or several shifts, you can sign up now using the button below or on the sign up sheet located in the office during the week and at the welcome desks Sunday Mornings. You can also call the church office and we can help get you signed up.

This September, First United Methodist Church will join with thousands of churches nationwide for Back to Church Sunday. We will be reaching out to those who we haven't seen in a while and inviting them to come to church on September 21st! We also encourage you to invite friends and neighbors to join us for worship that day.

With the recent statistics and studies showing that loneliness is a real issue in our culture, we want our community to know that our church is here as a resource and a place where people can connect, make friends and find support for when life gets hard. This year’s Back to Church Sunday campaign is designed around a “Life is Better Together” theme, encouraging all of us who regularly attend FUMC to invite friends and neighbors to overcome loneliness and find connection, support, and hope here at our church. As well as discover the deeper, spiritual benefits that faith can provide. 

This is a wonderful opportunity for all of us who love our church to be inviters! Did you know that eight out of ten people say they are open to visiting church if invited—they are just waiting for an invitation! We will have postcard invites available later this month that you can share with anyone and everyone you know!

Thank you to everyone who has taken apples from the giving trees in the hallway accross from the kitchen! Items are pooring in.  We still have a few more items we need to get ready for when the kids cstart back on Wednesday afternoons. back AIf you would like to help us with these items, simply choose an apple or two from the trees. Items can be dropped off at the church office. Thank you for supporting our children & youth ministries!

We had a wonderful time celebrating the reappointment of Pastor John and the Fleming family last Wednesday night at our Ice Cream Social and Bingo Night! We had delicious ice cream, wonderful fellowship and loads of fun! A huge thank you to Jessica & Let's Get Quizzical! 

Many of you have asked about who sends the wonderful cards to the people listed on our prayer list. Well, we have a ministry that began many years ago called The Sunshine Ministry. Carla Johnson is our designated Sunshine person and is the one you have to thank for the lovely cards sent out on behalf of our church. This is an important and powerful ministry that can make a big impact on our loved ones listed on the church prayer list. Thank you to Carla for her years of dedication to this ministry. If you see her or talk to her, be sure to thank her!

Backpack Food 4 Kids will begin packing and delivering food again soon. We’ll kick off the program by collecting peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, and individual snacks as the entry fee for Bomberfest on Friday, August 15. We hope you will come out and show your support! We could still use a few men for our delivery teams (to deliver the bins to the schools ). It only takes about 2 hours one Wednesday morning each month. Please call Kathy Bauer 870-321-0019 or the church office to volunteer. We appreciate your support and prayers as we begin a new school year!

With the start of the new school year coming up this month, it's a good time to remind everyone about our can tab collection program.  Many Hackler Intermediate School students in need look forward to the help you give by collecting can tabs for recycling.  The money received from the recycling center helps school personal purchase supplies for the student in need such as food, school supplies, tooth brushes, haircuts and occasionally lunches.  Please keep your can tabs from, fruit, vegetables, soda, dog or cat food, etc. and bring them to the church office.  

Back to school is a great time to remind you to clip and collect labels from Best Choice®, Clearly by Best Choice®, and Best Choice® Superior Selections® for our local schools. The Save-A-Label program allows us to earn $0.30 for each UPC symbol redeemed from the Best Choice® family of brands. By participating, you are not only supporting our local schools, but also supporting our community by shopping at our local grocers!

Labels that are collected may be dropped off at the church office.

Although it’s still summer, the Chancel Choir is gearing to start back our Wednesday rehearsals on September 3rd! If you are interested in joining us or even just thinking about it, let me know. Pray about this. God may just be calling you to do so, or even just joining us for the Christmas Cantata. In mid-September we will begin studying and rehearsing for that. This a great opportunity to be part of a small group. We sing, we laugh, we pray, we worship, we lead, we serve.  It’s a lot of fun and I KNOW it pleases our LORD!  I look forward to hearing from many of You!

Blessings,
Terre

Hello All!  

It's been a great but hot summer so far! We had an amazing time bowling at Driftwood Lanes, followed by ice cream at Baskin Robbins! We also had fun at our Family Movie Night when we ate popcorn and candy and watched King of Kings!

With back to school time approaching quickly, we would like to invite school kids of all ages, as well as educators to bring your backpacks/bags to church for Blessing of the Backpacks on Sunday August 10th to get them blessed and get a backpack tag! We will also be celebrating Back to School that same day with a church wide event, Back to School at the Pool on Sunday, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the City Pool! We will have pizza for dinner at 5:00 and popsicles for dessert. Water will be provided but you may also broing your own drinks.  All are welcome! 

Wednesday afternoon ministry will start back the Wednesday after Labor Day, September 3th, so make sure you register your child(ren) for the upcoming school year. You can register them using the button below or from the Children's Ministry page on the church website at fumcmh.org/children. If you are an adult and you are interested in volunteering with the children on Wednesdays, please let me know. If you have any questions or would like to help on Wednesdays, email me at llaw@fumcmh.org. Thank you for all your support!

God Bless!
Laura Pedigo

UPCOMING EVENTS
August 10: Blessing of the backpacks • both services
August 10: Back to School at the Pool • 5:00-7:00pm
September 3: Wednesday ministry starts back
September 9-13: Baxter County Fair

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GENERAL FUND 
In honor of Rev. John Fleming 
Seekers SS Class
In memory of Barb Hagebock 
Thursday Morning Joy 

Prayers after Loss:
Jeff Quick and family on the passing of his father, Garry Quick.

Concerns:
Lucille Walther (07/31/25)
(Skyler Law) 
Nick Suntken (07/24/25)
(Linda Vornheder’s Grandson)
David Francis (07/22/25)
(Denny Francis’ Brother)
Lois Nichols (07/20/25)
(Joyce Holsted)
Sandi Franklin (07/20/25)
(Kaye Jarvis’s Niece)
Barbara Sandberg (07/13/25)
Bill Wagner (06/29/25)
Joyce Holsted (06/15/25)
Bruce Burr (06/15/25)
Jaymeson Miller (06/08/25)
Lisa Dennis (06/08/25)
(Mike Densmore’s Niece)
George Rohr (06/01/25)
(Christine Rohr)
Wally Smietanski (05/19/25)
Jack Chance (05/06/25)
Krew Hudson (05/06/25)
(Classmate of Emma Jones)
Mona Brewer (04/22/25)
Bob Dickerson (04/13/25)
Teresa Kenyon (04/01/25)
Rexene Watson (03/23/25)
(Tom Yoder’s Sister-in-Law)
Bryan Tomlinson (03/17/25)
(Gail House)
Natalie Tyson (03/13/25)
(Mary Margaret Pearson)
Ruth Ramaker (03/02/25)
(Kristi Nelson’s mother)
Bobby Myers (02/27/25)
(Gail House’s Cousin)
Mike Thompson (02/25/25)
(Bev Thompson’s Son)
Curtis Gomez (02/23/25)
(Christine Rohr)
Genie Widerstrom (02/18/25)
(Rebecca Williams)
Nancy Cox (02/16/25)
(Christine & Cleo Holm)
Bonnie Benham (01/19/25)
Kate Melnik (01/13/25)
(Tom Yoder)
Wesley Werner (1/7/25)
Diana Blackburn (12/29/24)
Doug Dethloff (12/22/24)
Pat Harris (12/01/24)
(Tina Benton)
Paula Flippin (12/01/24)
(Tina Benton)
Diane Lucas (12/01/24)
(Tina Benton)
Emily Jones Griffin (12/01/24)
(Teresa Kenyon)
Elden Lowe (11/19/24)
(Jill Chandler’s Nephew)
Tim Dorram (11/12/24)
(Yvonne Hall)
Matt Zipperer (10/29/24)
(Sue Storm)
Sharon & Wendell Dennis (10/13/24)
(Debby Bodenhamer)
Jack Knight (09/22/24)
(Jill Chandler’s brother)
Ruth Clark (09/19/24)
Sue Robinson (09/01/24)
(Marilyn Bonecki)
Denise Rohr (08/18/24)
(Christine Rohr’s daughter)
Ronald Robinson (07/29/24)
(Marilyn Bonecki)