The PASTOR JIM BENFER

DARDANELLE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

MAY 2017

Messenger

Special Thanks and Praise

I want to express my special thanks to all who helped make our Rio Bravo mission fundraiser a success again

this spring. We had lots of donated items, a great group of volunteers who helped move, set-up, take-down and clean

up. Additionally, our women's group put together a wonderful spread of baked items that nearly sold out. Our Nueva

Vida church sold tamales and pupusas to the crowds coming and it all added up to one of our best fundraisers ever!

God bless all who participated and helped to make our mission to Mexico a success.

One postscript to this note is that we still need your prayers for success in our endeavors and safety while on

mission. We will have 38 people going June 4 through June 10 with us.

I want to give our church members a special praise and thank God for their faithfulness. During this past stormy

week people have checked in with us to make sure the church didn't suffer any damage or special needs. On Saturday

night the power in Dardanelle and the surrounding area went out, and despite many other local churches cancelling ser-

vices, people came and we had inspirational worship without the use of electricity. Thanks be to God! At the end of the

service we sang To God be the Glory and at that precise moment the power came back on and we all laughed at the

timing. Nevertheless, we know that even without the electricity, there is Holy Spirit power anytime we meet Jesus in wor-

ship.

Special Sermons Coming in May

With the end of the school year coming up quickly and our plans shifting gears into the summer season, we will

be bringing you a series of messages that I hope you won't want to miss. First, we have Holy Communion and a mes-

sage titled "Winning Souls for Christ" on May 7. Next, we will celebrate Mother's Day on the 14th with an ironically titled

message, "Show Me the Father!" On May 21st Steve Lawrence will be back with another personal message to share as

Cindy and I are away for a 40th anniversary trip. On the 28th I hope you will take special time to hear Kelsey Méndez

Castillo bring a message to our church. Kelsey is a recent candidate for certified ministry in the United Methodist

Church. I have heard her preach, and you won't want to miss hearing her.

Wednesday Night Life Schedule

Our regular schedule of WNL fellowship and meals will end our Spring season after our last meal on May 10th.

For our last meal together I want to invite you to a special soup and salad meal where you can bring your favorite soup

or salad to share with our group. This will also be an end to our Bible Study schedule for the Spring. This is not to say

we have a long break. The pastor's bible study will return June 14. Our break will allow for the pastor to take some va-

cation time and for the mission trip to Rio Bravo. I know that you will want to thank Haskel Hicks for all the hard work he

puts into making our meal and fellowship welcoming on Wednesdays.

Outreach/Mission Committee

The Back Pack Ministry and Sharing & Caring are important Minis-

tries to our church. Please continue to support these ministries as

they are in constant need of donations. The Donation Box is locat-

ed in the back of our Sanctuary. Thanks to our congregation for

your continued support.

XYZ News (Extra Years of Zest)

XYZ will leave the FLC parking lot at 10 am sharp for a Tour &

Lunch at Winrock Farms on Wednesday, May 17th.

Everyone is welcome!

Dardanelle Methodist Women

Dardanelle Methodist Women met on April 17 with 15 ladies in at-

tendance. Bro. Jim joined us for a delicious lunch and an enjoya-

ble time of fellowship and laughter. Georgiana Tatum presented a

program based on Isaiah 42:8-9, "Be ready to embrace new things

and do not be resistant to change." Boxes of cereal were collected

for the Sharing & Caring Food Pantry, and final plans were made

for the Rio Bravo rummage sale and bake sale.

Dardanelle Methodist Women

Monday, May 15 at 12:00 Noon

Family Life Center

Come enjoy a free lunch followed by a short devotional.

Justin Davidson 05/03

Don Balloun 05/07

Jewel Boyce 05/10

Tom Cotton 05/13

Kim Olson 05/13

Henry Cloar 05/16

Zaneta Davidson 05/17

Ashley Young 05/17

Ralph Cloar 05/18

Ronnie Adkison 05/21

Elyas Carter 05/22

Hugh Benfer 05/23

Will Lawrence 05/25

Barbara McConnell 05/27

Sara Reeves 05/27

Kent Tallent 05/28

Prayer Request: Barbara McConnell,

Tom Berryhill,

Judy Treible, Lequita

Sims, Linda Judkins,

Bobby Rollans,

Franklin Wesley,

Hugh Conover

The Wall of Crosses in the FLC is for all the church fami-

lies. If you have not brought a Cross to be placed on the

wall, it is not too late. Please bring your Cross to the

church office and we will make sure it gets on the wall.

We want each family in the Church represented on the

wall. Thank you to the families that have brought Cross-

es. We have places some new Crosses on the wall so be sure to

check it out. It is never too late to bring a Cross.

Joseph’s House of Russellville

Diaper Drive (diapers, pull-ups, wipes, and ointments)

May 1st-31st

Joseph’s House of Russellville exists to provide support, encouragement, and hope to foster parents

and foster children in Pope County, AR through clothing shops, programs, activities, and educational

opportunities. Please partner with us by donating diapers TODAY!

You can drop the diapers off at the Sanctuary or Church Office.

May 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

9:00 am Church Work Day

2 3

5:15 pm WNL Meal

6:00 pm Small Groups

7:00 pm Choir

4 5 6

7

9:45 am Sunday School

10: 55 am Worship

8

1:30 pm Prayer Card

Ministry

9 10

5:15 pm WNL Meal

6:00 pm Small Groups

7:00 pm Choir

11 12 13

14

9:45 am Sunday School

10: 55 am Worship

15

12:00 pm DMW Meal

16 17

10:00 am XYZ

6:00 pm Small Groups

7:00 pm Choir

18

Christian Clinic

19 20

21

9:45 am Sunday School

10: 55 am Worship

22

1:30 pm Prayer Card

Ministry

23 24

6:00 pm Small Groups

7:00 pm Choir

25 26 27

28

9:45 am Sunday School

10: 55 am Worship

29

30 31

6:00 pm Small Groups

7:00 pm Choir