On Friday morning, February 25th, 2022, in eastern Europe, Russia declared war and invaded Ukraine. About an hour later, it was still Thursday night, around midnight in Arkansas. That’s when I saw the news and my heart sank. I prayed for the people of Ukraine. Then, I wondered what this would mean for the rest of the world. 

Naturally, our first response is to pray. Scripture reminds us over and over to not worry or fear. While that’s easier said than done (because human nature is like that), we can immediately turn to the one who is always with us.

Moreover, we are encouraged in James 5:16 with these words, “For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve.” (CEB) 

Our prayers are powerful! To use a play on the word power, prayer is our connection with the divine. It’s an ongoing circuit of conversation with God that reminds us God is always listening, and when plugged in we can always listen to God, because we are constantly connected. Prayer brings us into the power grid of serving God’s purpose. Not only does our prayer ground us to disperse our fear, but it energizes us for action. Finally, prayer rectifies our own selfish desires bringing us parallel with the sovereignty of God. 

Nonetheless, scripture reminds us over and over of the human inclination toward inhospitality, cruelty, and violence. Therefore, what lies ahead may not be an easy road. It will require Christian Courage. So, I want to encourage you to worship often and pray continuously as we head into this Lenten season. 

So, let’s be people of prayer. Let’s pray for peace, reconciliation, healing, and the overflowing of God’s grace. Pray for protection of the innocents. Pray for the leaders and people involved to experience God’s presence, conviction, and courage to lay down their arms and find a peaceful resolution. Our prayers are powerful and effective because we serve an all-powerful God.

Finally, the joyful work of following Jesus through praying, serving, and loving one another is at hand. We are a people who seek to “make life better and you better at life through Jesus Christ.” This work isn’t supposed to be comfortable, it’s supposed to be comforting. Yet, God is with us and with God, all things are possible. 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Daniel 

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. The forty days represent the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by new converts and then became a time of penance by all Christians. Today, Christians focus on relationship with God, growing as disciples and extending ourselves, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of ourselves for others. Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter" and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection. Pray about your own self-examination this Lent. Parents, talk to your kids about Lent and maybe give up something or add something as a family this Lenten season. It is important to experience this self-refection and the sorrow of Holy Week and the Passion of Jesus so that we can truly celebrate the joy of Easter and the Resurrection. Plan to attend the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services. They are both very powerful and help us to remember the days leading up to Easter.

Easter Lilies will go on sale this month. Lilies can be purchased for $18 each.  You can order by filling out a form at the church office, filling out an online form using the button below or calling the church office Monday-Thursday 8:00-4:00.  Payment for lilies can be made by check to the church, online via the website at fumcmh.org/give or using the direct link provided after you have submited your order. Remember to type "Easter Lilies" in the notes/memo section. 

Do you ever feel like the happy ending of your story is a million miles away?  Then you know how the Jewish people felt when they returned to their wrecked land after exile and began rebuilding the temple. They were distracted, discouraged, and ready to throw in the towel. But the prophet Haggai reminded them they could find courage in the God who had never left them.
 
Sometimes the landscapes of our lives feel wrecked, with our hope and purpose in shambles. We too get distracted and discouraged. However, God’s presence and promises give us courage to press on and trust Him with our story.
 
On Monday, March 7th at 5:30pm, we will beging our new study with Jennifer Rothschild entiltled "Take Courage". This 7-session study on the Book of Haggai will teach us to walk confidently in our calling, stay motivated and courageous despite opposition.  Books can be purchased at lifeway.cim, amazon.com or christianbook.com.

Lent is a time of preparation for the coming of Easter.  It is a time of self-examination and reflection a time of repentance, fasting and prayer. Most people want to pray better. If you’re like me, we want a more meaningful prayer life. We want to be more confident in how we pray. Essentially, we want to pray better. So, this Lenten season, we are going to explore the prayer Jesus taught us. We will learn how this is the most important prayer and how we can learn to pray with meaning and confidence.  

Hello Families!

It's hard to believe March is here and Lent is about to start! On Sunday Februaury 27th, I handed out these Family Lent plans.  If you missed Sunday School you may print yours using the button below. I hope this helps you prepare for the coming of Easter.  Remeber to stay for the Ash Wednesday service after 

Wednesdays are going great other than When we have to cancel for inclement weather.   Thank you to all our volunteers who are making this possible.  We could use a couple extra hands for kitchen cleanup as well as substitute volunteers.  Let me know if you are interested.   If you wou;ld like to donate for snacks, please let me know.  You can either purchase snacks and drop them off at church or donate money for us to purchase snacks.

Thank you and God Bless!

Please join us for a baby shower as we celebrate with Michaela and Ben Luelf upon the arrival of their little one, Nathaniel Luelf!  The Luelfs are registered at buybuybaby.com, Freckles Chic, and Walmart.

Hostesses:  Kellye Cannon, Deborah Knox, Mary Margaret Pearson, and Terre Ware 

We are so excited to announce the arrival of our new bus!  Thank you to all who helped make this possible.  Make sure to check it out when you get a chance!

We are still collecting funds for another new bus so anytime you are interested in2nd mile giving, you can donate by check or online using the button below.  Be sure to put bus fund in the memo/notes section to designate your donation.

Join us for our Wednesdsay Night fellowship Meal at 5:30pm.  Dinner begins at 5:30pm.  There is no cost but donations are appreciated.

Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, also referred to as simply Winter Jam, is an annual American music tour featuring contemporary Christian music artists of all genres, stunt and/or comedy performances, as well as a tour speaker. It is the United States' largest annual Christian Music Tour.  If we get enough folks signed up we will take a group to Springfield on Thursday, March 24th.  There is a sign-up sheet at each welcome desk.  The cost is ONLY $10 at the door!  General Admission for the preshow starts at 6:00pm.  The show starts at 7:00pm.

YCW is back! (April 1-3) Silver Dollar City's Young Christians' Weekend willis designed to bring youth groups together for three incredible days of worship, learning and fun at one of America's Top Theme Parks! With concerts and powerful workshops, youth will come away energized and ready to serve and worship the Lord. Plus, they'll have a blast on over 40 thrilling rides & attractions! The cost for the 2-day ticket is $65 each. (Scholarships are available.) If your student would like to attend, please let us know by March 14th.  There are sign-up sheets at the welcome desks.  Or you can call or email the church.

Thursday Morning Joy will be restarting their 10-week "Angels" study by Dr. David Jeremiah. We meet at 9:30 am on Thursdays in Room #213 next to the kitchen.  All ladies are welcome! If you have questions, please contact Bernice Bell at (870) 404-6990.

Have you ever wondered who prepares the Lord’s table for communion, who gets all of those little candles ready for Christmas Eve services and tidies them away again, or who decorates the church for Christmas and Easter? 

Are you looking for a way to contribute to your church family in a way that doesn’t eat up big chunks of time?  The answer to these questions is simple: Members of the Altar Guild.  And our dedicated band is looking for others to join us.  Altar Guild is an important behind-the-scenes part of the life of the church.  What’s expected of members?
• Help prepare communion once a month for three months.
• Dust the altar once a week for a month.  We dust the piano, organ
  and woodwork from the chancel rail up to the bell choir stations.
• Help with activities surrounding Lent, Easter, Advent and Christmas, including:
           • Decorating and removing/changing decor in worship spaces
             for Christmas and Holy Week.
           • Stripping and dressing the sanctuary altar during Holy Week
           • Preparing and stowing away the Christmas Eve Candles
           • Helping other Altar Guild members as needed.

None of our tasks is onerous.  Few require more than one or two hours at a time.  Altar guild members have included men in the past, and we would welcome the help of our young people.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Vicki Kauth at (870) 421-5369 (leave a message and she’ll call you back) or email her using the button below.

Join us Wednesday April 13th at 6:30pm as the Chancel Choir presents the soul-stirring work of Pepper Choplin, Come Walk With Me.  The choir will lead us through the Passion story, retracing Christ's path during His last days in human form. The music supplies the drama and passion through its incredible mix of styles that range from classical to Appalachian, bluegrass, and Celtic folk idioms. The piece includes monologues from those witnessing or participating in Christ's final steps on earth which helps enhance the stark reality of each scene with their observations, their frustrations, and their fears. This will be a powerful part of this year's Holy Week Experience at First United Methodist Church Mountain Home.

Holy week begins April 10th on Palm Sunday.  Children and youth will be processing with palms at both services and the children wil sing at both services.  This year we have something scheduled almost every day of Holy Week.  Tuesday we will have a service of prayer and healing at 6:30pm.  Wednesday  the Chancel choir will perform their Easter Cantata, Come Walk With Me at 6:30pm.  Thursday we will have our Maundy Thursday service of Holy Communion at 6:30pm.  Friday will be our Tenebrae Service, a powerful service of shadows.  Saturday we will have our Easter Extravaganza for childre 0-5th grade.  There will be an egg hunt at the end of our time so bring your Easter baskets!  Then of course on Sunday morning we all gather for the joy of Easter morning! Services will be at the usual times.  What a powerful and meaningful Holy Week we have in store! 

GENERAL FUND
In memory of Vaska Cope
Maria McGinley
Bette Gould
Rob & Mindy Conner
Mark & Jill Simpson
Cathy Roshon
Mary Jessica Shelby
Carolyn Helvey
Vicki Kauth
Calvin & Sissy Czeschin
Don & Debby Stanuch
In memory of Joe Norcross
Sara Zimmerman
In memory of Thelma Jean Herrold
Deborah Coddington
In memory of  Angie Burnell
Margaret Schmidbauer
In memory of Helen Clark
Ruth Clark
In memory of Elmer Clark
Ruth Clark
In honor of Cathy Bodenhamer
William & Sharon Jones

BUILDING FUND
In memory of Vaska Cope
June Willborn

MUSIC
In memory of Bud Ludwig
Zo Holley
In memory of Vaska Cope
Zo Holley

BACKPACK FOOD 4 KIDS
In memory of Thelma Jean Herrold
Deborah Coddington
In memory of Vaska Cope
Tommy & Jo Strickland
Kathy Norcross
Mike & Linda DeMass

YOUTH
In memory of Vaska Cope
Bill & Mary Margaret Pearson

WESLEY KITCHEN
In memory of Angie Burnell
Margaret Schmidbauer

MISSIONS
In honor of Debby Bodenhamer
Bob & Sharon Jones

ALTAR GUILD
In honor of Bette Gould
Greg & Michele Elders

Prayers After Loss:
Kathy Bauer's Family
(on the loss of Kathy’s mother, Mildred Behnke) 

Concerns:
Peter Peitz (2/20/22)
Alan Erickson (2/20/22)
Mike Crotts (2/13/22)
(Zo Holley)
Marti Gilbert (2/13/22)
Earl Kinney (1/30/22)
Ron Odegard (1/30/22)
(Sandy Odegard’s husband)
Karen Sutton (1/23/22)
(Juanita Kelm)
Sam Rickon (1/23/22)
Tommy Gracy (1/23/22)
Doug Gregg (1/9/22)
(Clay Williams)
Glenda Bodenhamer (1/9/22)
Ed & Coni Baldwin (1/9/22)
Bob Thompson (12/12/21)
(Bev Thompson’s son)
Pat Garner (12/5/21)
Wilma Stockton (11/21/21)
Flossie Wiesend (11/21/21)
(Larry Gobble)
Natalie Dixon (11/21/21)
Brandy Nelson (10/31/21)
Jim Brown (10/31/21)
Debbie Dickerson (10/24/21)
Josh Monderen (10/17/21)
(Kim McDowell’s son)
Jaystan Davis (10/10/21)
(Mary Margaret Pearson)
Nira Wilkerson (10/3/21)
Jeffrey Smith (9/26/21)
(Carolyn Densmore)
John Taylor (9/5/21)
(Sandy Odegard’s daughter’s father-in-law)
Leah Jewel (9/5/21)
(Carl & Umeca Pickett’s daughter)
Twyla Krawczyk (8/29/21)
Nick Mavromatis (8/8/21)
(Susan Dernick’s nephew)
Elden Lowe (8/8/21)
(Jill Chandler’s nephew)
Monique (6/13/21)
(Marti Gilbert)
Klaus Neumann (4/18/21)
(Mary Margaret Pearson)
Ima Moss (3/21/21)
(Carolyn Whisenant’s mother)
Karen Jackson (3/7/21)
(Mary Margaret Pearson)
Jerry Wilkinson (10/25/20)
Scott Cain (6/7/20) 
(Jill Chandler’s son)
Robin Sancho (3/8/20) 
(Paulette Hill)
Julian Toler (11/3/19) 
(Ashley Hardy’s brother)
Beth Griggs Miller (9/29/19) 
(Larry & Debbie Griggs)
William McClendon (4/7/19) 
(Cathie Bodenhamer)
Greg Kostka (3/31/19) 
(Bette Gould’s son-in-law)