June 12, 2019 Volume 56, Number 50

First Christian Church 3501 Rogers Avenue Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903

Office: (479) 783-1139

Office Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Thursday

Church Staff

Rev. Dr. Jarrett Banks Senior Minister 252-414-9229 jarrett@fccdoc.org Dianna Jackson Director of Music Ministry Barbara Brown Secretary Pam Shelby Financial Secretary Randy Alexander Custodian Patience Hudlow Nursery Coordinator Lesley Fleming Nursery Attendant

Mission Statement

The mission of First Christian Church, Fort Smith, Arkansas is to lift up Jesus the Christ by: ● Enabling spiritual growth and deepened commitment, both individually and corporately; ● Developing a church family/community that is accepting and encouraging; ● Serving our community and the world through spiritual, physical, and emotional support; and, ● Reaching out in His name to the unchurched in our community.

A Lesson to Stop Worrying and Start Working

Perhaps the most difficult thing about being a preacher is the knowledge that there’s no way, as a fallible person, I am always going to be able to practice what I preach. And when I talk the talk and fail to walk the walk, I reveal that I am no better than the hypocrites Jesus re-buked in the gospels. This realization is especially painful for preachers as we know that hypocrisy is the number one reason that people give for staying away from our churches.

If you have been listening to my sermons, you have heard me say that the best way to grow the church is to stop trying to grow the church and to just go and be the church. Stop worrying about the budget and go out and do the work that Jesus calls us to do in the world. Stop worrying about attendance and go out and be people of grace, love, healing and hope to the world. And if we do that, our finances and our attendance will take care of themselves.

I must confess that this is where I perhaps most often fail. Yes, I know you see me out going and doing in the community; however, I still spend an inordinate amount of my time worrying about our numbers. Not only does this reveal my hypocrisy, it takes away from our mission as disciples in the community. And right now, our community needs us. The River Valley has much work for us to do. This historic flood has given preachers and churches the opportunity to walk the walk.

This past Sunday, the point of my sermon was that we need to stop focusing on the church institution (serving the church, being a good church member) and focus more on discipleship (loving others as Jesus loved, being a good disciple). However, before I even made it back to my car, my focus on serving the institution led to a failure to control my emotions which disappointed and hurt people I love. I am grateful that my friends are people of grace and have accepted my apology; however, it was a powerful lesson of just how dangerous it is for us to allow our worries over finances and attendance to deter us from fulfilling our mis-sion as the body of Christ in the world.

The reality is that many churches in our Region are closing their doors. And that worries all of us. However, it is perhaps this type of worry that is helping to lead to the closure of some churches, as worry swells our emotions, deters our mission and produces conflict.

So, I am asking you to help me to stop worrying, and together, let’s continue working. Today, the River Valley needs us, and we can be confi-dent that if we answer our call to be a healing and restorative presence in our communities during the rest of 2019, our church will be just fine in 2020 and beyond. Jarrett

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Worship and Education Opportunities

Dianna’s Notes

Cane Ridge meets in the Sanctuary at 9:00 am to rehearse.

Mission Opportunities

June 16

“Let’s Dance” Rev. Dr. Banks

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Elders David Pulliam and Nina Abernathy Deacons

Janet LaForce (foreman), Tim Fleming, Jimmy Hudlow, Margot Mundy, LaBeth Riggs, Steve Riggs, Elizabeth Vaughn

Prepare Communion Patience Hudlow Greeters

Jimmy Hudlow and Elizabeth Vaughn Worship Leader David Pulliam

Potluck for Flood Victims

There will be a potluck June 23 to help those in our congregation who have been impacted by the recent flooding. A love offering will be taken to let them know that we love them and are there for them.

If your last name begins: A – K Meat L – S Vegetable T – Z Salad

Dessert and rolls will be provided.

Food Bank Service Project

This Wednesday at 9:00 am we have a service project at the Food Bank in Fort Smith. We will prepare food snack packs to be given out for the summer program. This project is open to all, with one requirement: You must wear full shoes in order to work in the warehouse. We will start work at 9:00 am, and they will provide pizza for lunch. I need to know how many are going, so please contact me at 479-222-3401.

I have made arrangements for the church van for those who may need a ride. ` John Mundy

Want to Sing Your Favorite Hymns in Worship?

Email your favorite 5-10 hymns to dianna@fccdoc.org. A master list will then be created that will enable us to plan an order of worship each week that includes your favorites.

Board Meeting

There will be a Board Meeting on Sunday, June 23, at 6:00 pm.

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Pastoral Care Group

We are planning to start a Pastoral Care Group, visiting with the homebound, sick, or anyone with a spe-cial need. If you feel like this is something you would like to participate in, please give Barbara a call at the church office.

More details will be provided, but we will probably be visiting people about once or twice a month.

Rebecca Parke/Connie Alexander

Fellowship and Service Opportunities

Movie Night – June 17

The documentary movie, Emanuel, will be playing at Malco Cinemas in Fort Smith on Monday, June 17, at 7:00 pm. It is the movie about the killing of nine people at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC. The shoot-er, Dylan Roof, was raised in an ELCA Lutheran church, thus, Steve Evans, pastor of St. Luke Lutheran, would like to honor their memory by inviting us to see the movie with them as a group.

Email Jarrett at jarrett@fccdoc.org if you are interested. We will also create an event on Facebook.

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Announcements

For the Record –June 9

Operating Receipts ......... To Date ........................... Endowment To Date ...... Pentecost Offering ......... To Date ........................... Monthly Budgeted Needs .................

$ 5,264.46 15,289.46

364.00 692.37 947.37

31,413.55

Church Calendar

Sunday, June 16 8:30 am Worship (Chapel) 9:00 am Mission Café 9:30 am Sunday School 10:45 am Worship (Sanctuary) Monday, June 17 6:30 pm Men’s Supper Tuesday, June 18 9:00 am Staff Meeting 11:30 am Lunch Bunch Cavanaugh Pizza Cavanaugh Road Wednesday, June 19 7:00 pm Chancel Choir

Green Chalice Program

Green is our favorite color!

FCC has a small community garden, irrigation is used in a very limited amount during the sum-mer, the flower beds are mulched to decrease the need for watering, native species plants fill our grounds and flower beds, programmable thermostats have been installed, windows are tinted to cut down energy usage, and we are slowly changing to efficient light bulbs. It ain’t easy being green, but we’re up to the challenge.

Property Committee

Fort Smith Disciple (USPS 206-080) published weekly by First Christian Church, 3501 Rogers Ave. Fort Smith AR 72903-2961.

Periodical postage paid at Fort Smith, AR. POSTMASTER: Please submit address changes to

FORT SMITH DISCIPLE, 3501 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72903-2961

Mission Express O Café

The café opens at 9am each Sunday morning. All the proceeds support the Mission trips. Setup begins at 8:30am Sunday. Come join us for fellow-ship, a cup of coffee and doughnuts.

Thank You

Many thanks to all of my FCC family for the services and concern for me. Jarrett and the whole church family were there to help me pull through this. Bill Crowder and family

New Address

Mary McCollough Brookdale Assisted Living

Room 304 5501 Duncan Road

Fort Smith, AR 72903 479-459-6463