There is a great scene at the end of the movie, Finding Nemo. Perhaps you have seen it. After father and son are reunited and the credits have run, there is one more scene. This is a trend in some movies, a last scene, a gift for those of us who have waited. Until a friend pointed out this trend to me, I had missed the last scene, sometimes a teaser for a future movie. 

In the last scene in Finding Nemo, the fish that were in the aquarium in the dentist’s office manage to escape. They are in plastic bags filled with water, put there while the tank was being cleaned. They jump out a window, cross a busy street, and hurl themselves into the ocean. When the last of the fish make it, they all cheer and then one of them asks this question, “Now what?”  That is how the movie ends. 

Now what is a good question to ask from time to time.  Another way of asking the same question is this, what’s next?  When someone we love dies, we might ask the now what question. When the last child heads off to college, we might ask the now what question. Are you with me now?  If so, you might ask the now what or what’s next question in the church from time to time. 

Most of you know that we recently retired a debt that the church has had for many years. We celebrated that in mid-May. As I have said, we don’t have plans for future buildings. I believe we have all the facilities that we need. The need we do have is to maintain what we have. Just like our houses need updates from time to time, so do our church facilities. 

So let me encourage you to do what Susie and I are already doing. We have not stopped giving to the fund that we used to call the Building Fund. Each month, along with our gift to the General Fund of the church, Susie and I give to help take care of our wonderful church facility. Our Finance Committee has renamed the fund to the Facilities Maintenance Fund. The fund helps takes care of all our facilities, including the parsonage where Susie and I reside. 

My hope is that when there is a need, money will be there to take care of it. The need could be anything from a repair or replacement of an air conditioning system or new roofing for our facility. 

I believe it is one of my jobs to make you aware of the needs of the church. With the retirement of our debt, I’ve asked the Now What question. The best answer is this, let’s take care of God’s house!  To give to the Facilities Maintenance Fund, write those words in the memo line of your check. If you give online, please indicate that the gift is for the building fund.  We will be changing that wording on our website as soon as possible. 

Let me close with this. I thank you for every gift that you give to the church, for every prayer that you offer, for every time that you serve, for every time you are in worship or in a class, and for telling others that God loves them. 

Hope Always! 

Stewards:
Ben Leulf (team lead)
Charlene Ahrenstorff
Susie Fleming
Sherri Patton

9:00 Servers:
Bob Bodenhamer
Linda & Denny Francis

11:00 servers:
Tom & Patty Frase
Janice Williams

A four-week sermon series on encounters with Jesus around the Sea of Galilee. Come hear the stories that happened by the sea, and discover the Savior who still calls, provides, rescues, and redeems. 

Some of Jesus’ most unforgettable moments happened by the Sea of Galilee.  Experts tell us that Jesus spent seventy percent of his time near this body of water.  Among the things he did was to call his disciples, calm storms, feed crowds, invite deeper discipleship and to restore a disciple who denied Jesus. Each story gives us the chance to see who Jesus is and how Jesus is calling us to respond. 

The book of Psalms is well-known and well-loved — and the Seekers Sunday School Class is going to study the Book of Psalms for 8 weeks beginning August 2 in room 213.
Psalms is the Old Testament book most often quoted in the New Testament, and its quotations can be found everywhere from John Milton to Star Track to Congressional speeches.

Why so much attention?  The Church Father Athanasius said it best:  “whereas most of Scripture speaks to us, the Book of Psalms speaks for us.” This class will have weekly videos by well-known scholar Sandra Richter, a work book to allow for home study (but that’s not required) and in class discussions.

And if you miss a class, or want to watch the video again,  you will be able to view the teaching videos on your own devices any time you want.  Hope to see you there!

As school gets ready to kick off again, we’d love to bless not just the students’ backpacks, but also the students themselves and our wonderful educators. On Sunday, August 9th, we’ll be holding the Blessing of the Backpacks at each service. We’d be thrilled if all students and teachers could bring their backpacks/bags to worship that day to be blessed. Each student and teacher will receive a special tag to put on their backpack, a lovely reminder of God’s presence with them at school and the prayers of our church family. We’ll be praying over the students and educators, asking God to equip them with all they need for a wonderful 2026/27 school year.

Come join us on Sunday, August 9th, as we kick off the school year with water fun, pizza, and fellowship! We’ll have water slides, pools, water games, water balloons, and lots more! Everyone’s welcome, and feel free to bring lawn chairs! We’ll have tables for eating and canopy tents for shade. Come enjoy the fellowship and fun!

On Thursday, August 13th, we will begin a new 7-week study on the book of Acts entitled “The Gospel on the Ground – The Grit and Glory of the Early Church” by Kristi McLelland.  This highly popular DVD study examines how Jesus’ message of hope and reconciliation began to spread from Jerusalem, along with the struggles of the early church in a historical context.  The study guide is highly recommended and will cost about $23.00.

Thursday Morning Joy meets Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 AM in the Seeker’s Classroom, #213.  Visitors are welcome any time to check us out.  We have bible study along with fun, fellowship, prayer, and coffee.  It’s a great way to spend a Thursday morning!  Call or text Sandra Bainbridge at 870-656-3950 for more information or to order a book.

Baxter County Fair is September 16th-19th. 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.

A benefit dinner will be held at First United Methodist Church of Mountain Home for Harper Graves, daughter of Dustin and Kapra Graves, on Friday, August 21st, starting at 5:00 pm. During the meal, a silent auction of donated items from local individuals and businesses will be available for bidding. A pie/dessert auction will commence promptly at 6:00 pm. Donated baked goods for the live auction should be delivered to the UMAC no later than 4:00 pm that day. Harper and her family are a special part of our family of faith here at FUMCMH! Let’s come together and support this precious girl and her courageous journey ahead in battling an aggressive brain tumor.

With school starting in a few weeks, it will be time to begin filling backpacks with weekend food for kids again. We will have our first “Pack” at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19th. We could also use volunteers to collect food at Bomberfest on Friday night, August 14th at the High School and to sort it on Saturday morning, August 15th at 9:00. We usually receive 30-40 bins of food, which really helps fill the backpacks for the first weeks of backpack. We are always in need of men to help deliver the backpacks to the schools one Wednesday morning a month. 

20 Year Anniversary
This year is Backpack Food 4 Kids 20th Anniversary!  Starting with 9 kids in 2006 and growing to feed 300 kids/weekend  today is amazing!  We will be doing several activities to celebrate. Watch for more information next month.

Join us for a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to support Hope For All and Christian Clothing Exchange on Friday, September 25th at 5:30pm! The event will be catered by Holy Smokes and the cost is $15 per person or $85 for a table of 6! We hope you will support these ministries by attending 

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!

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 personnel 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.  

Although it’s still summer, the Chancel Choir is gearing to start back our Wednesday rehearsals on September 2nd! 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 Movie Day at Sunvalley when we had popcorn & candy and watched Toy Story 5!

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 9th 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 Bash! on Sunday, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm out on the field! There will be water slides, pools, water balloons and various other water games and activities! We will have pizza for dinner and cookies for dessert. Water will be provided but you may also bring your own drinks.  All are welcome! 

Wednesday afternoon ministry will start back the Wednesday after Labor Day, September 9th, 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 9: Blessing of the backpacks • both services
August 10: Back to School Bash • 5:00-7:00pm
September 9: Wednesday ministry starts back
September 16-19: Baxter County Fair

Join FirstKidz on Social Media!

GENERAL FUND 
In honor of Rev. Tom Frase 
FUMC Batesville Chaney-Huddleston SS Class
In honor of Bernice Koonce 
Sara Czeschin
In memory of Wesley Werner
Gary Albrect

BACKPACK FOOD 4 KIDS
In memory of Wesley Werner
Kathy Bauer
Michael Cooley
Claire & Kerry Kilgore

Prayers after Loss:
Patti Werner and family on the passing of Wesley.

Concerns:
Christy Reed (07/29/26)
(Teresa Kenyon)
Kaye Jarvis (07/19/26)
Stacey Simmons (07/17/26)
Cleo Holm (07/13/26)
Dan & Nina Huddleston (07/09/26)
(Tina Benton)
Joan Lowe 
(Jill Chandler’s Sister)
Trisha Ramsey (06/30/26)
(Susie Fleming)
Haley Plumlee (06/29/26)
(Tommy & Brenda Knight’s Daughter)
Dick Karrer (06/27/26)
Harper Graves (06/25/26)
Kristi Nelson (06/23/26)
Dennis & Donna Slankard (06/21/26)
(Gail House)
Bob Dickerson (06/21/26)
Kristine Doornbos (06/14/26)
(Bill & Donna Kimes Daughter)
Brantley Gracy (06/14/26)
Melissa Morgan (02/09/26)
(Dianna Blackburn)
Bob Budolfson (06/10/26)
Peggy Weber (06/10/26)
Shirley Argo (05/31/26)
Naomi Tallmen (05/31/26)
(Henry Caststeel’s Aunt)
Keith & Venita Stafford (05/31/26)
(Pat Johns)
Bonnie Benham (05/21/26)
Hannah Moore (05/07/26)
(Rick Steiner)
Ruth Ramaker (05/04/26)
(Kristi Nelson’s Mom)
Joyce Cameron (05/07/26)
Steve Morris (05/03/26)
(Sheila Partee)
Gary Patterson (04/26/26)
Deb Spears (04/26/26)
(Mike & Sue Strop)
Jo Wolf (04/15/26)
Curtis Gomez (04/12/26)
(Christine Rohr)
Ann Grice (03/29/26)
(Joyce Smietanski)
Hannah & Isabell Rodriguez (03/12)
(Dianna Blackburn)
Markie Morgan (03/10/26)
Roger Steele (03/10/26)
Eldon Hellums (03/08/26)
(Whitney Rodgers Grandfather)
Glenda Bodenhamer (03/03/26)
Jeff Allen Monninger (02/23/26)
(Tom Frase)
Sarah Kee (02/22/26)
(Vicki Kauth)
Teresa White (02/01/26)
(Eileen Howe)
Mary Margaret Pearson (01/27/26)
Jody Horne (01/21/26)
(Brenda Knight)
Krew Hudson (01/18/26)
(Classmate of Emma Jones)
Ruth Clark (01/08/26)
Bob McKuin (12/29/25)
(Vicki Garner)
Kim Freitag (12/28/25)
(Carole Freitag)
Rexene Watson (12/28/25)
(Tom Yoder’s Sister-in-Law)
Rachel Goostree (12/16/25)
Jennifer Thogmartin (12/14/25)
(Paula Bodenhamer)
Tim Wallace (12/14/25)
(Vanessa Ford)
David Callahan (12/03/25)
(Ruth Greer)
Katie Ammon (11/30/25)
(Vicki Kauth’s Sister-in-Law))
Helen Brown (10/19/25)
(Libby Seftar)
Vickie Martin (09/24/25)
(Tim Nelson’s Aunt)
Wyatt Sitzberger (09/15/25)
(Freddie Garner’s Great Grandson)
Kathleen Carr (08/24/25)
(Sue Storm)
Chris Holm (08/05/25)
David Francis (07/22/25)
(Denny Francis’ Brother)
Lois Nichols (07/20/25)
(Joyce Holsted)
Bruce Burr (06/15/25)
Jaymeson Miller (06/08/25)
Lisa Dennis (06/08/25)
(Mike Densmore’s Niece)
Jack Chance (05/06/25)
Mona Brewer (04/22/25)
Teresa Kenyon (04/01/25)
Bryan Tomlinson (03/17/25)
(Gail House)
Natalie Tyson (03/13/25)
(Mary Margaret Pearson)
Mike Thompson (02/25/25)
(Bev Thompson’s Son)
Nancy Cox (02/16/25)
(Christine & Cleo Holm)
Kate Melnik (01/13/25)
(Tom Yoder)