I hope you enjoy the play on words in the title of this month’s Pastor’s Article.  

Here’s the play of the words: First, it’s summer, and we live in the hills. Second, there is a collection of Jesus’ teachings found in Matthew’s gospel, which we refer to as The Sermon on the Mount. So, I thought we should name our June sermon series “Summer on the Mount.” 

During the month of June, I am going to preach a series of sermons based on this collection of teachings. It is hard to argue that the Sermon on the Mount is the best sermon ever preached. You can find the sermon in Matthew 5-7. You can read the sermon in a matter of minutes but the lessons will last a lifetime. Jesus leaves no subject untouched in the sermon, covering everything from prayer to firm foundations. As for our sermon series, here is my plan: 

June 7th:
Summer on the Mount: “True Blessings” Matthew 5:1-12 

June 14th:
Summer on the Mount: “Salt and Light” Matthew 5:13-20 

June 21st:
Summer on the Mount: “The Power of Prayer” Matthew 6:5-13 

June 28th:
Summer on the Mount: “Building Plans” Matthew 7:24-27 

I invite and encourage you to read the entire Sermon on the Mount in preparation for this series. And I encourage you read the lessons above before each week’s sermon. I love to be in worship with you each week and I am especially happy when a good series of sermons is before us. 

I hope that you are enjoying these summer days! We have so much going on at the church this summer and first off is Vacation Bible School. If you are volunteering for this year’s VBS, thank you. If you will pray for it’s success, we appreciate it. If you have children or grandchildren in the area, please sign them up to join us in Rome. As one of the lines of Vacation Bible School puts it, “There’s No Place Like Rome!” 

Summer Blessings! 

Stewards
Vicki Kauth
Michele Elders
Ruth Greer
Bob Martin
Sherri Patton

9:00 servers
Charlene Ahrenstorff
Linley & Stephanie Reubin

11:00 servers
Kris Glover
Carl & Umeka Pickett

Seekers Sunday School Class will begin a new 6 week study on May 31st. We will be viewing Ray Vander Laan’s DVD on “Prophets and Kings” from his “That The World May Know” series. Ray will take us on-site to various locations to explore the turbulent history of Israel’s prophets and kings.  No book is required for this study – just come, listen and learn. Seekers class meets Sundays at 10:00am in Room #213.  All are welcome anytime to come and enjoy!

It’s summer time! We’re here for you. We will continue having worship every Sunday and sharing the gospel in beautiful and meaningful ways. We will continue to be a resource of good news to the community. We will continue to find ways to help you grow in your faith and walk alongside you in this faith journey. So, as you’re vacationing and boating at the lake or floating on the river, remember us. Take some time to be here for us and with us in worship, in giving, in serving God’s Kingdom. We’re doing God’s work. Let’s do it together. 

Join for a new sermon series with Pastor John! The series, titled Summer on the Mount, will begin June 7th. We hope to see you here!

Registration is now open for VBS 2026! At VBS Rome - Paul and the Underground Church we will step back in time to Rome, exploring the life of the apostle Paul and the underground church. Kids will participate in a memorable Bible-times marketplace, sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, dig in to Roman eats, visit Paul while he’s under house arrest, and collect Bible Memory Makers to remind them of God’s Word. Each day begins and concludes with a time of upbeat worship that gets everyone involved. Kids will even have the opportunity for a local mission as they bring donations that will help feed families in need in our own local community.

Register your child(ren) or grandchildren now using the button below! VBS will be June 8th - 11th, 9:00 am - 11:30 am.

VBS SETUP
We will be doing all the setup for VBS on Sunday, June 7th. This is quite an ordeal and we need all hands on deck! If you are able to help, we will begin right after the 9:00 service. If you attend the 11:00 service, we will still be working so please join us after worship. We will provide a sandwich lunch for all our helpers!

With the school year ending this means that our Summer Feeding program is about to kick back up in full gear. We are in need of volunteers to help hand out the boxes of food when families come to collect. Summer Feeding distributes boxes of food every Monday from 11:00 am-1:00 pm with volunteers arriving at 10:30. Please email Shannon Wescoat using the button below or contact Hollye in the Church Office.

On Sunday, June 21st we will have donuts available in the CWC at 10:00am to celebrate dads and all the men who are influencial in the lives of others.  Don't forget to to take a picture at the Father's Day Photo Op!

Welcome new members Cole & Taylor Barrow! We are so happy to have you join our church family!

Congratulations to this year's scholarship recipients, Jack Coleman, Kolsen Reed, Jaxon Wescoat, Estes Owens, Aubrey Rush, Ayden Havens and Brian Suntken (not pictured)!

We are pleased to welcome our newest members, our 2026 confirmands!

Emma Jones
Tucker Coleman   
Zane Loftis  
Kynlee Ahrenstorff

We had a fabulous time celebrating the start of summer with our Last Blast! See you this Fall!

The Annual Conference of the Arkansas United Methodist Church will be held Monday-Wednesday, June 15-17 at the Hot Springs Convention Center. Each year clergy and lay members of United Methodist Churches attend their conference's annual conference session for worship, fellowship, and to conduct the business of the conference. These sessions include reports of past and ongoing work; adoption of future goals, programs and budgets; ordination of clergy members as deacons and elders; and election of delegates to Jurisdictional and General Conferences (every 4 years). The bishop presides over these meetings. This year’s theme, “The Way of Love,” will emphasize our common baptism and Wesleyan heritage. Please be in prayer for the representatives from our church as they attend. 

The flip flops are flopping.  The sunscreen is lathered.  The baseball hats and sunglasses are on. Summertime is one of my favorite times of year!  We are so blessed to live in a place where the beauty of God's creation is all around us. With the rivers, the lakes, the hiking trails and so much more we have endless opportunites to enjoy the many things made by God's hands.  Topping the list, without exception though, is time spent with family and friends.

Relaxed summer schedules afford us the opportunity of taking time to create memories.  It’s a chance to live out faith on the road, towards new destinations and old stand-bys. A huge component of living out what we believe, is allowing Scriptures to come alive in the midst of our journeys.  We want our kids to be immersed in the Word, just as they are immersed in the many summer activities they will experience. Take time whether it's at home or away on vacation to read the bible with you kiddos!

We are hoping to have a few activities for the kids throughout the summer. Activities and dates will be nailed down soon for summer events so keep watching for that! Registration is open for VBS. Our theme this year is Rome! If you have not registered your kids/grandkids, get them signed up using the button in the VBS section of this newsletter!  Remember that we can pick up at the daycare centers, Summer Celebration and the Youth Center for VBS as well. A BIG THANK YOU to those who have volunteered to help with VBS. We hope to make this an awesome experience for all the children, youth and adults who participate!

Blessings to all of you parents and kiddos! Have a wonderful summer!

Laura Law

Possible Summer Activities
VBS (June 8-11 • 9:00am-11:30am)
Bowling & Icecream
Movie Matinee (Sun Valley Cinema)
Back to School Bash

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605 Students, Families, and Friends, 
 
Happy Summer!!! We are officially in the time of rest, relaxation, recuperation, and preparation for all that is to come to us this summer and in the fall- but let’s not rush that! 
 
May was so full and we are so blessed with everything that the end of the school year brought us. We had an amazing graduation season, endings to so many of our activities, a fantastic Last Blast, and so much more! 
 
As much as I love the school year, I am so looking forward to some time this summer to rest, hangout with friends and family, and soak in all that God is shaping in us this summer. I am excited to see how He is going to move and to allow the Spirit to move as we engage in Bible Study, have some times to hang out, and start planning for what is to come. I hope you will take some time this June to also slow down and allow God to move and speak to you in the quiet and the calm. 
 
While things are slowing down, we still have a bunch of awesome opportunities for our students this June, check out the highlights and a full June Calendar: 
 
Pop-Up Events: Make sure to keep an eye out in your email, the band app, and our social media for events that will pop-up throughout the summer! We hope to have some awesome local things to do here sporadically. 
 
Day at Silver Dollar City: Monday June 15th we are heading to SDC for a day in the park! Please let Kyra know by Friday June 5th if your student(s)/family would like to join us! 
 
Lunchin’ with the Lord: We will be having lunch Bible Study on both Wednesday June 3rd and June 17th! We will meet at 12:00PM for lunch and study. We hope you will join us! 
 
June Calendar
June 3rd: Lunchin’ with the Lord @Slim Chickens MH 12:00-1:00PM 
June 5th: RSVP Deadline for Day at SDC 
June 7th: VBS Decorating 12:00PM 
June 8th-11th: VBS Each day 9:00-11:30AM 
June 15th: Day at Silver Dollar City 
June 17th: Lunchin’ with the Lord @ Chili’s MH 12:00-1:00PM 
June 21st: Donuts with Dad @10:00AM in the CWC 

Kyra Anthony

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There are no memorials or honorariums in the month of May.

If you wish to add a concern to our list, please contact the church office at 425-6036. You can also submit prayers to the prayer wall on the church app.