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Marion United Methodist Church 81 Military Road

P.O. Box 389 Marion, Arkansas 72364

May 2014 A Word From Pastor Tom Letchworth...

Dear Friends, Worship in April has been absolutely magnificent, from the children waving palms on Palm Sunday, to the glorious celebration of the Risen Christ on Easter, to the wonderful medley of drama and music offered by our kid's choir and adults. We have had bells, whistles, banners, drums, and even a dancing girl, all celebrating the power and presence of our Lord. The only thing that diminished my joy a little on the last Sunday of April was the timing of the thundershowers that rolled through on Sunday morning. I had a hunch that they kept some of the flock away from the fold. But later that day I began to hear and see reports from Vilonia and Mayflower about devastating tornadoes and even death. I thought of how petty my whining about attendance seemed in comparison to the disaster in Arkansas and in other states. Believe me, I was chastened.

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This was an important lesson to me about perspective. I heard a pastor at a district meeting recently share that his church had burned to the ground twice in ten years! He'd heard one church member say, "after something like that, small things just don't bother you so much!" One important "take away" lesson from this is that there will come difficult times in our lives that we cannot predict. As I am given to say, "No one knows what a day will bring." I'm constantly going into the office on a given day with a to-do list as long as my arm; but events of the day, crises, and unforeseen events occur that demand my attention, and at the end of the day that to-do list is just as long as it was at the beginning of the day. I'm sure that happens to many of us. What we need to remember is that the Bible never promises us that we will be immune to crisis, or even catastrophe. What it does promise us is that our faith will see us through. As the Apostle Peter says, In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:6-7). Yours in Christ, Tom

Come Worship With Us!!

Sunday Morning Prayer 9:00am

Sunday School 9:30am

Worship Service 10:45am

Worship With Friends Wednesdays @ 3:15pm

Wednesday Night Supper 6:00pm 81 Military Road Marion, AR 72364 870-739-3434 - office 870-739-4069 - fax

From the Pastor continued...

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Children’s Church Volunteers Parents, Please swap with someone on the list if you cannot serve on your designated Sunday. If you know someone who would like to volunteer please let me know. Thanks for your help, Debbie

May 18th Spencer and Cassie Morris May 25th No Children’s church June 1st Jason and Natalie Collard June 8th Erin and Jason McKewen June 15th George and Misty Kennedy June 22nd Dean and Laura Barger June 29th Josh and Devin Doyle

Memorials The Marion United Methodist Church acknowledges

receipt of gifts from:

Edward Shivley Charles & Diane Sharpe Lannie & Holly Lancaster Leslie Brick Gayle & Lindsey Stevens

Linda Gail Harbison Frank & Gail Fogleman

Linda Franks Liz Laughter

Rita Kane Paige S. Looney Patricia Scarbrough

Eugene Vaughn Dr. & Mrs. William W. Widdop Charles & Diane Sharpe J.C. Portis Land Co., Inc. Ernest B. Portis Danny & Paula Moore Mary Spicer Wesley & Pam Betts Joe & Patsy Catt Sara Crawford John & Nancy Fogleman Charles & Cathy Horton Bart & Donna Turner Leven & Mary Williams

Don Sample Mary Spicer Joe & Patsy Catt Sara Crawford Virginia Harlan Bart & Donna Turner

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ABCD Love Feast: You are invited to attend a Love Feast/Covered Dish Dinner for the ABCD groups on Sunday, June 1 immediately after church. ABCD groups are comprised of disciples committed to meeting in small groups for the purpose of Accountability, Bible Study, Caring, and Doing Discipleship. If you are interested in knowing more about ABCD groups, we invite you to bring a covered dish and join us! Vision Team: The Marion United Methodist Vision Team will meet on Sunday, June 1 at 5:00 p.m. to begin the process of discerning God's will for the future direction of our church. We invite you to be in prayer for this team as they prayerfully consider the past, present and exciting future of Marion United Methodist Church. SPRC Meeting: Staff/Pastor Parish Committee will meet on Sunday, June 1 at 6:00 p.m. in the Friends and Fellowship Class in the Christian Education Building on the second floor. Crittenden Regional Hospital Public Meeting: There will be an open forum concerning the future of our county hospital on Thursday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Marion United Methodist sanctuary. Hospital Administrator Gene Cashman will be making a presenta-tion concerning the issues facing the survival of the hospital. The general public is invited to attend. Yoga Classes: There will be no Yoga classes May 19 - 23. Classes will resume their reg-ular schedule beginning May 26, 2014.

Youth Employment Summit: A Youth Employment Summit sponsored by the newly formed Crittenden County Christian Coalition will be held in the Barbara Smith Family Life Center on Saturday, June 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Vendors are welcome to register free of charge, and youth are encouraged to attend. Opportunities for youth will include options ranging from unpaid hospital internships to paid lawn care providers, and several others. Registration forms are available in the Welcome Center/Lobby on yellow paper, or from the church office. Men’s Breakfast: The men and boys of the church are invited to a Men's Breakfast on Sunday, May 25 at 8:00 a.m. for a hearty breakfast and good fellowship. Please sign and detach the form below and drop it in the offering plate if you plan to join us, or send an email to: marionunitedmethodist@gmail.com, or to Bartt Vaughn at: bvaughn5@comcast.net Name_______________________________ Email_______________________________ Phone_______________________________ Address_____________________________

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Children’s Events for May - June

Dates: May 4, 14, 21 Time: 3:15 until 5:00 3:05 Walk over to Marion Elementary to pick up kids (2nd & 3rd) 3:25 Bus riders from Avondale arrive at church door (K - 1st) 3:30 Van arrives with riders from MIS and MMS (4th – 6th) Event: Worship with Friends

Worship with Friends is an afternoon packed with fun and fellowship. The program is open to children in grades Kindergarten through sixth grade. Children please wear your WWF t-shirts. The church is able to provide transportation from the Marion Schools only. By encouraging your children to become a part of Worship with Friends, together we can teach them the joy and importance of being a part of our church family. 5/21 It is the Last Day of WWF and our end of year party. (Bring a fun $5 summer gift for our gift exchange game. Wrap the gift so it will be a surprise!!)

SUMMER FUN OPPORTUNITIES: Date: June 8 – 11th Time: 5:30 – 7:30 Event: Vacation Bible School Please pre-register for this event so we can plan for the proper amount of supplies. Welcome to Jungle Safari—where kids explore the nature of God! Get ready for a life-changing adventure that leads kids in search of a priceless treasure! At Jungle Safari kids will participate in the large-group excitement of Toucan Jam, experience God’s Word at Zip Line Bible Time, create fun-filled, musical crafts at Lizard’s Leap, and enjoy snacks and games at Jaguar Junction. Along the way, kids will encounter clever clues, mysterious symbols, and cunning creatures. Through Jungle Safari, they will walk away with solid truth—knowing they can always count on God . . . the greatest treasure of all! Your kids won’t want to miss this adventure! Secure their place on the safari! Date: June (TBD), 2014 (1 day only) Time: 10:00 – 2:00 Event: Art Camp

Ages: Children entering K – 6th grades

We use our imagination and creativity to make some art work too cool to resist. All artwork will go on sale at the annual “How Great Thou Art” show on July 19th in our church gym. Proceeds will go to our Children’s Ministry programs.

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Date: (Sun.) June 8 - (Wed.) June 11

Place: VBS @ MUMC

Registration begins May 4

VBS is for children ages 4 - 12

Time: 5:30 - 7:30

Contact: Debbie Scola

Director of Children’s Ministry

901-270-0111 or 870-739-3434

Ladies, If you are not currently a member of one of our ladies circles please drop in to one of our meetings and plan to join. We have lots of fun and fellowship. The Lee Etta Martin/Fogleman Rieves Circles have combined and are meeting 3rd Tuesday of the month at 2:00 p.m. For information on this circle contact Sarah Crawford. The Rebekah-Ruth Circle meets on 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in members’ homes. For information on this circle contact Sharon Rikard The Sisters in Christ Circle meet on monthly rotation by hostess in their homes (Quarterly UMW events supersede monthly meetings.) For information on this circle contact Debbie Scola.

Mark Your Calendars

July How Great Thou Art Show and Sale

June 21 Salad Luncheon

August Mid-year UMW Officers’ and Circle

Chairs’ meeting

September 14 Pledge Service reception

November 13 Turkey Dinner

December 7 Christmas Pot Luck and fruit basket

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May Worship Schedule

Look who’s having a birthday...

Ushers:

Nick Sutton

Wesley Betts

Wayne Tabor

Stoy Long

Scott Carpenter

Frank Fogleman

Greeters:

May - Friends and Fellowship

Scotta Allen

June - John Robbins Class

Laura Helms

5/1 Ben Sutton

Kristin Bolton

5/2 Heather Holt

5/4 Will Moore

Davis Fowler

5/5 Trey Robbins

5/7 Michelle Wingo

5/8 Steven Bius

Michael Walker

5/9 Brittany Carey

5/10 Jan Webb

Corbin Kutscher

5/11 Jett Sutton

Erin McKewen

5/12 Hanna Betts

Dawson Whittington

Syndi Landry

5/13 Nick Sutton

Dennis Burns

5/14 Lance Scarbrough

Linda Graham

5/16 Julia Cockril

5/20 Margaret Fogleman

5/22 Olivia Brick

Daniel Bird

5/23 Cross Fogleman

5/26 Cheryl Robbins

John Allen Robbins

John Durham

5/28 Landon Scarbrough

5/30 Sam Gerrard

5/31 Maddie Maranto

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Sent with a prayer for:

OR CURRENT RESIDENT

Bulk Rate U.S. Postage

PAID Marion, AR

72364

Marion United Methodist Church 81 Military Road P.O. Box 389 Marion, Arkansas 72364 Gary Mueller Bishop Mark Norman District Superintendent Tom Letchworth Pastor Andrew Thompson Minister of Discipleship Sheila Henderson Administrative Assistant Mary Spicer Membership Secretary Debbie Scola Director of Children’s Ministry Tim Parker Director of Youth Ministry Celeste Letchworth Director of Music Ministry Teresa Gardner Preschool Director/Teacher Elizabeth Williams Preschool Teacher Pamela Scarbrough Parents’ Day Out Director/Teacher Kristie Stotts Parents’ Day Out Director/Teacher Gary Wehrum Recreational Director Marcia Sutton Pianist Debbie Wallace Organist Telephones: 870-739-3434 Church Office 870-739-4069 Fax

www.marionumc.com Email address: marionunitedmethodist@gmail.com