1

April 2020

4 Debbie & Mike Malek anniv.

5 Josh McMahan

5 Cathryn Looney

6 Forrest Hutson

6 Aubrey Hart

6 Trenton Hart

8 Colbie Brooke Walls

8 Eddie Aslin

8 Allen Thomason

8 Randy Wright

9 Trace Price

10 Andria Curtis

11 George Garrett

12 Jill Bobo

13 Kelly Tyson

16 Sharon Moore

16 Ron Price

20 Nan Wright

21 Lilli Ramsey

22 Tommy & JoAnn Montgomery

22 Billy Bob & Julie Butler anniv

25 Jerry Monroe

25 Linda Ramsey

25 Kari Rohrbaugh

25 Karen Smith

26 Bill & Vickie Miles anniv.

26 Don Still

27Isaac Pruden

29 David Duke

Our bulletin board in the mall area

I never imagined that I would have to give up Sun-day School and worship at church for Lent. Lent is one of my favorite seasons of the church year with special ser-vices and the emphasis on Jesus’ suffering and sacrificial death. These things prepare me for the glorious celebra-tion of Easter. Yet as I write this, our church is closed to large and small gatherings until the end of April. We are living in a new normal. I hope we can get back to having regular Sunday mornings in May; but until then there are things we can do to maintain our relation-ships with God and one another. Our staff is learning how to do worship online. I hope you are making more time at home to do devotions by yourself or as a family. You can listen or sing along with hymns and praise songs on CDs, phones, IPads, computers or radio. As long as social dis-tancing is recommended, we can still check on one anoth-er by texts, telephone, email or notes. Why not use the church directory and pray for each person and family? Please pray also for health care workers, businesses, per-sons who’ve been laid off, churches, schools and world, national, state and local leaders. Let’s discover creative ways we can continue to do ministry during this unusual time. Continued on page 2

From the Pastor

April There will be no wor-

ship services in the sanctuary

May 3-Available

10-Anna Manny SS 17-Sandy Davis

24–Available 31-Available

Quick Reference Guide

Page 1- Pastor’s Notes/Birthdays Page 2– Memorials, budget info Page 3– April calendar Page 4–Prayer/Music/Red bows Page 5– Stewardship/Busy hands Page 6– MFH-Get Up & Give update Page 7– Youth news Page 8– Children’s news Page 9 – Upper room/happenings Page 10- Preschool news

Altar flowers are

$68.00. The flowers

may be taken home

after worship. Please

sign up on the flower

calendar outside the

office.

2

April 2020

In memory of Jeff Cook by:

James & Claudette Wilson

In memory of Mary Roesel by:

Don & Linda Worthey

In memory of Barbara Burke by:

Mary Ward

Barbara Brannan

Jerry Brown

Carolyn Crockett

Jerry & Darla Irby

Johnny & Gerolyn Lingo

John & Sue Ann Graves

Jim & Suellen Tate

Don Worthey

Don Freel

From the Pastor, continued… ****************************************************** We are learning that there are situations we can’t control which affect us dramatically. My com-mandment is: Thou Shalt Not Panic! God is still God and he knows what is happening. He promises to be with us to ease our fears, strengthen our faith, and see us through this virus crisis. Although it is heart-breaking to hear about anyone dying from COVID-19, we have the hope of Resurrection because Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! However we have to cele-brate Easter, let’s continue to proclaim and worship our risen Savior! Pastor Steve

Check out our

website!

www.hopefumc.org and on Facebook for updates on our virtual services

And opportunities to serve in the community.

2020 Budget: $414,502.00

March 1 offering: $8,814.00 March 8 offering: $4,984.00 March 15 offering: $8,815.00 March 22 offering: $1,834.00 March 29, offering: $2,279.00

E-giving received thru March 30th $14,485.00

Memorial money is used

by our Trustee committee

to maintain our church

facility. Please designate

on your check who the Me-

morial is for.

3

April 2020

Sunday Service

Watch our virtual church ser-vice online at our website or

Facebook Sunday mornings at 11:00am

Office Hours are: Monday thru Thursday

8:00am till noon 1:00pm until 4:00 pm

We are closed on Fridays

Spring Wednesday’s Schedule:

Currently suspended

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

6 Great Hours of Sharing– Springhill

2 Staff mtg. 8:45am

3 6:30– UMW Mtg.

410am/5:30–

pm-Revival book study 5:30 M&M’s

5

66:00-Men’s

book study

7

8 8:45am-

Worship commit-tee mtg.

6 Great Hours of Sharing– Blevins

9

10

6:30– Philip Yancey book study

11 10am/5:30

–pm-Revival book study 5:30 M&M’s

12

13 6:00-Men’s

book study

14

15

6 Great Hours of Sharing– Hinton

16

6:30-Finance 7pm– Admin Board mtg

17

Emmaus mtg. 5:30pm

1810am/5:30

–pm-Revival book study 5:30pm M&M’s

19

20 6:00-Men’s

book study

21

22

6 Great Hours of Sharing– here at FUMC

23

Spring Break begins………..

24

25

5:30 M&M’s 10am/5:30–pm-Revival book study

26

276:00-Men’s

book study

28

29

6 Great Hours of Sharing– Washing-ton UMC

30 6:00-Companions mtg

31

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 Feed workers at the Christian Charitable Clinic at 4:30pm

3 Office closed

4

Read about our scarf project

5

6

Holy Week .

7

8

9

Live stream– 7pm

10Office closed

11

12

13

14

15

16 Feed workers at the Christian Charitable Clinic at 4:30pm

17

Office closed

18

19 20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

4

April 2020

Break Through Prayer Initiative

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 NIV)

What a difference a few days can make! All of us know that it only takes one tragedy or event to turn our world upside down. And, that is exactly what has happened in the last few weeks. None of our lives are like they were only a few days ago. For some, the

changes are more than for others, but all of us have been impacted. In the verses above, the Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Thessalonica, and his words of advice are so appropriate for us today. First, praise God. He is always worthy of our praise. Keep praying. One of the hardest things to do is to keep prayer as part of our daily routine, especially when our daily routine is suddenly upended. But, just do it-pray. Don’t forget to be grateful. Although things are difficult right now, take time to thank God for the multiple blessings he has given and continues to give daily. These are the things God wants us to do. And, whatever you do, give God room to do new and innovative things that he’s never done before. Don’t quench the Spirit. For example, it may be weird worshipping with your fellow congregation mem-bers by looking at your computer or phone, but God is mighty, and he can still bind us together and make his presence felt even when we have gathered separately. So, there is no specific prayer focus this month. Just pray. Here are a few suggestions. Pray for God to deliver us from the effects of the corona virus. Pray for those who are infected by the virus. Pray for scientists and researchers who are looking for treatment options and a vaccine. Pray for our church that we will continue to be a community of faith even as we are separate from each other. Pray for our church staff as they seek innovative ways to keep us together as the body of Christ. Put your prayers into action by caring for those around you in ways that are safe to all.

Although we are not currently meeting, we are still the church. We are one in Christ all the time. Eventually we will be able to gather again as the church family in our beautiful sanctuary here at FUMC. Every Sunday we gath-er for worship and Bible study, we give witness to the Easter story of the resur-rection and new life in Christ. This past January, the chancel and handbell choirs started working on new music for the seasons of Lent and Easter. These wonderful people who are dedicated to these music groups look forward to sharing this music at a later time. For now, let us remember the refrain from the hymn: We Are the Church (UMH 558) I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus, all around the world! Yes, we’re the church together!

Wrap It In Red Campaign Many have posted that you are growing weary of reading “virus news” although

that is much-needed right now. So...let’s heed the warnings and continue to ad-

here to the social distancing rules all-the-while putting plans in place to celebrate

when this is all behind us (and it WILL be).

Please join us in placing a Red Ribbon on your home and/or business to show

community support and excitement over what will be (one day). Red can mean

energy, strength, determination and a call to action! When that day comes, we

will post news of the exact time that we can all step outside and cut our ribbons

and open our doors in celebration and love for Hope and Hempstead county!

This is from our Hope-Hempstead Chamber of Commerce

Our bow on the front steps of the church

5

April 2020

Need to Stay at Home? Want to keep your hands busy?

Let’s make scarves or shawls “together” while we sit home for either our nursing home friends or a homeless shelter. These shawls will grow in number over the spring, summer and fall and when we get close to winter weath-er, we will ask Pastor Steve to bless them for us and we will choose where we will distribute them. Directions are simple. Pull out stored yarn that you

have packed in that closet you never open or go get some pretty skeins that catch your eye. Remember, if we give these to homeless men, they may prefer camo or brown rather than pinks and light blues! There are some great multicolored yarns that make very pretty shawls or scarves at WalMart. I like the yarn called Puzzle, it’s a large skein of 7oz. I think it costs $5.87 each and comes in several colors. I try to use skeins of 6-7 oz and I use the entire skein for each scarf. Shawls may take more. I make my knitted scarves 25 stitches wide and shawls 40 stitches wide. If you want to have fringe, then cut 80-90 pieces 8-10” long before you start and put them aside to apply when finished. If you crochet, I can’t tell you how many stitches, but the best size seems to be about 9” wide for scarf and 16” wide for a shawl. These are just guides! Make them the size, stitch, color or style you are happy with. Share your products on the church Facebook page and let us see what you’ve done. Contact Cathryn if you have any questions. Phone (979)229-7899 or at cathryn.looney@gmail.com Happy Stitching!

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

These are surely troubling times, but we are the children of God — and He is al-

ways there for us. Our church is always there for us, too. Even when we can’t at-tend worship, our church office is still open. Our church staff members are still

working, figuring out ways to help any of us who need help, and figuring our a way to bring worship to us. The lights are still on, the mail still arrives, and bills and

salaries still have to be paid. So please, be there for our church. During this time, please continue to pray for our church and our members who may need some as-

sistance. Add their names to the list in the church office of those who might need a phone call, a note, or someone to pick up their medicine or groceries. Volunteer to be that someone. And please remember that your tithes and gifts are what make it possible for the church to care for our congregation and our communi-ty. You can continue to faithfully support our ministries through e-giving or by mail during this time that we cannot gather. We will surely make it through this time together— even as we are apart— through the grace

of God, the love of Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:20b “...And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Twyla Pruden, Stewardship committee chair

6

April 2020

Shopping List

• BATH • White towels & wash clothes

• Individual shower caddies

• Body wash, shampoo & conditioner

• Shaving cream & disposable razors

• Deodorant (solid or non-aerosol spray) • BEDDING • Toilet tissue & facial tissue (like Kleenex)

• White, twin-sized sheets, pillow & cases

• Mattress pads

• Comforter sets & bedspreads • HOUSEHOLD ITEMS • Paper towels & napkins

• Small laundry baskets

• Laundry hampers with lids

• Plastic hangers & bins (shoe box size)

• FEMININE HYGIENE • Tampons & pads (all sizes)

• Panty liners

• BABY CARE • Diapers of all sizes

• Baby wash

• Baby Tylenol

• A&D ointment and Vaseline (small jars)

• Infant nail clippers and nasal aspirators • GIFT CARDS • Walmart, Visa & Amazon cards in any amount • Donate Funds • Online at Methodist Family.org/Donate

• Text GUAG to 501-881-2258

• Call 501-906-4201 to donate using a credit or debit card

• Mail a check to Methodist Family Health Foundation, P.O. Box 56050, Little Rock, AR. 72215

• SCHOOL SUPPLIES • Backpacks in clear & solid colors

• Pens, pencils, pencil boxes, crayons

• Non-spiral & composition notebooks & journals

• Canvases, paint brushes and art sets

• Perler beads, supplies & kits

• BOOKS AND TOYS • Paperback books for young adults (of particular need

are book series)

• Paperback Bible and devotionals • Coloring books for adults

• Cards and board games

• Xbox and Playstation games

• Hot Wheels cars and road mats

• Building blocks of all kinds (Legos, etc.)

• Basketballs, footballs, soccer balls & volley balls • CLOTHING • Mens and boys boxers and briefs in all sizes

• Women’s panties in sizes 7-14

• Non—underwire bras in sizes 34-40 in cups B, C, D and DD

• Socks in all adult sizes

• Sweatpants, sweatshirts (no hoods), t-shirts, pajam-as, jackets and shorts for men and womens in sizes small to 4XL

• Khaki pants and hunter green polo shirts in all child and adult sizes (used for school uniforms)

• Slip-on and Velcro tennis shoes (no laces) in adult sizes 5-14

Collection Dates for Get Up & Give:

Have been extended, watch for updates

Send a Sentiment and Share a Smile

Do you remember getting a letter in the mail that was all yours? A birthday card, a note

from a friend? If you are looking for a way to share that love and spread a little joy and

comfort to someone during this COVID-19 event, would you consider mailing a card,

writing a letter or sharing a note with one of our children in a MFH residential program? A card saying, “You are the best, and I be-

lieve in you,” will bring a lot of light to chil-dren in MFH care who are abandoned,

abused, or neglected. Please call the church office for age groups

and mailing addresses of group homes, acute & subacute units and therapeutic group homes and residential treatment centers

around the state of Arkansas.

For more info, check: methodistfamily.org

7

April 2020

8

April 2020

9

April 2020

Forward In Hope READ Isaiah 43:1-3

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) One morning on my walk to work, I saw a cute little bird walking on the pavement. I could not help slowing down to gaze at it. Then the bird started to walk toward the road which was filled with buses and trucks. I was alarmed and blocked its way ahead. It flew a short distance and then continued walking toward the road. I quickly blocked it again. It tweeted and flew to a branch near-by, looking at me reproachfully. I was relieved that it had not been run over by a car, but that look reminded me that I can sometimes behave like the bird. At times I have attempted to move ahead, following my own dreams and desires, but obstacles block my path. In such times, like the tweets of that bird, I complain to God asking why my way has been blocked. But when I look back on those times, I realize that each obstacle had a purpose. Those closures led me to where I am today. God has always been protecting me. Even when we experi-ence difficulties or obstacles, we do not have to worry. We can walk on with hope in our hearts, knowing that God is with us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your great love. Forgive us when we try to move ahead without you. Help us to follow Jesus’ example as we pray, “Yet not as I will, but as you will,” (Matthew 26:39, NIV) Amen. From the Upper Room, March-April 2020 The current Upper Room is available for everyone and can be picked up in the church.

Thought For The Day

When the way closes ahead of me, God will

uphold me.

The baby shower for Kate Cook Pranger has

been cancelled, however if you would like to get

her a gift she is registered at

babylist.com/Kate Pranger

She can also use any of the baby basics.

You can drop your gift off at the church office

and we will get it to her, or it can be shipped

directly from the website.

Her due date is May 9th and it’s a boy!

Prayers for a safe delivery.

Special thanks to Carolyn Aslin & Dan Rohrbaugh for

their dedication to this project

Our church at work during this time of uncer-tainty. Calling and check-

ing on members, preparing meals for elementary

kiddos and so much more!

10

April 2020 First United Methodist Church

Pastor: Steve Johnson 2300 South Main Street

PO Box 400 Hope, AR 71801

Office: 870-777-8816 Fax: 870-777-1702

Our March has been a strange one! Before letting school out

early for the corona virus we had a busy month. The Cat in

the Hat came to see us and read a Dr. Seuss story. Our 4 yr.

old classes took a field trip to the Hempstead county library

where Courtney and her staff read us a fun St. Patrick’s Day book, did a craft and

got a tour of our amazing library. We hope our parents will take their child back

and pick out some books for home reading!

The kids were all surprised at the new addition on the playground. This was pur-

chased with our fundraiser money and we appreciate and thank

Mike Purtle for putting it together for us!

Our fall 2020 preschool registration is going

well. We have spots available in our 3 year

old and kindergarten classes. Hope every-

one is staying safe and enjoying the

“extended” spring break.

Tiffany Purtle, Program Director