At First Church, outreach and mission opportunities abound for youth and adults alike. Below are some of the ways you can become involved in sharing God’s grace with others. Please call the church office for additional information.
“Hope is one of many words I could use to describe how First United Methodist Church makes me feel about our city, our country, our world and even my life. We are truly doing God’s work, not only within the walls of the building we call the church, but with our collective actions each and every day. This congregation gives God a face as we go out and do things that make the world a better place.” -Laine Harber
Outreach Ministries of First Church
StewPot
First Church volunteers serve lunch to the homeless and assist with cleanup on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church downtown at 8th and Scott Streets. Call to arrange to join the team as you are able.
Volunteer Coordinators: Nate Coulter and Anthony Falkowski.
Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN)
First church hosts for one week, four times a year, families who have become temporarily homeless and who are participating in the IHN program. FUMCLR is one of an ecumenical network of area congregations throughout the Little Rock area providing lodging, meals and fellowship for the participating families. Families remain in the program for about 2 months. Church groups prepare and serve a meal each night of the week and members stay overnight until about 7:00 a.m. to assist with any needs that may arise. Our church partners with St. Marks Episcopal Church and Second Baptist downtown for its rotation. For more information or to volunteer, contact Claire Martin, Volunteer Coordinator. clairgpm@swbellnet
Laity Involved in Free Transportation (LIFT)
L.I.F.T. provides transportation to persons who have no other way to get to their medical appointments. LIFT works with several agencies in Little Rock and drives four days a week (Monday thru Thursday) during the hours of 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Our driver volunteers commit to one day per month. Appointments are scheduled through the FUMCLR office. There are strict guidelines available to protect the program, patients and drivers. To volunteer contact Fran Nelson at alfranelson@sbcglobal.net. Need a LIFT, contact Monica Whitfield in the church office at mwhitfield@fumclr.org.
Southeast Main Revitalization Project
Several of our retired church members join with members of the Second Baptist church-Downtown, to work on homes of folks who are usually on “fixed” incomes. Our work is to make the homes more energy efficient. We seal leaky windows, doorways, etc. which then makes their energy bills less costly while providing a healthier, more comfortable environment. We charge for the materials only. Labor No Charge. We currently do the work during a weekday. Volunteers with simple handy skills are welcome.
Contact: Denny Gainer, gainerdenzili@yahoo.com.
Homeless Publication
A team of volunteers who will interview homeless persons in shelters to work with creative writing, story telling through narrative, poems, art and photos for the purpose of creating a publication to be distributed in churches, and the community at large. The intent is to tell the story through those having the experience. Volunteer Co-Coordinators: Adam Kirby, Taylor Bradley, Megan Strictland
Quapaw Quarter Methodist Breakfast Mission
Volunteers prepare and serve breakfast to the homeless and assist with cleanup on the second Sunday of each month from 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church. Every other month our church youth assist in this Mission. We also raise money for the program to help with the purchasing of the food that is served. Volunteer Co-Coordinators: Georgia Bell and Patty Barker.
Caring Christmas
Volunteers coordinate collecting and distributing gifts at Christmas to Hoover United Methodist and our Child Development Center (CDC) families. We serve as many as 160 families. Mission involves wrapping and preparing Gifts for families, occasionally including doing some of the shopping.
Student Tutor Enrichment Program (STEP)
FUMC partners with the Child Development Center to offer tutoring and mentoring to CDC students in the Student Tutor Enrichment Program (STEP). STEP volunteers help elementary students with their homework, talk to them about their interests or concerns, and have fun with them reading or playing math games. You can volunteer on any day of the week between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. And this year, we have a way to minister through STEP—if you’re unable to commit to tutoring at the CDC, you can help the children by writing letters and making calls to advocate for more and better funding for after-school programs. Want to try it out? Please email Paul Hoover phoover7@comcast.net.
The Gertrude Remmel Butler Child Development Center (CDC) The CDC, celebrating 40 years, was chosen by Little Rock Family Magazine as the Best Child Care Center and the Best After School Center for 2009. That's the second year in a row. Congratulations to the CDC staff! View the Child Development Center's website.
The Gertrude Remmel Butler Child Development Center (CDC) is dedicated to providing quality child care in a loving and educational environment for children six weeks to 12 years of age. The CDC is a non-profit facility and is governed by a Council of Directors which meets on a bi-monthly basis. The Council is comprised of both church members and parents. Under the direction of the CDC Council, the Center improved the quality of early care offered to young children. The CDC is Quality Approved by the state of Arkansas. The staff, through constant external and in-service training, believes that positive self-esteem and a healthy curiosity for learning are the most important qualities for early childhood development. These goals are nurtured and emphasized throughout our program.
Preschool is open to children from infancy (eight weeks) to age five, five days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 52 weeks a year. An after-school program is available during the school year for kindergarten children through fifth grade. Pick-up is available from area public and private schools. Full care is offered to school-age children when school is out for teacher work days, holidays or inclement weather.
Vacation Sensation, a summer program for school-age children, begins in June and runs throughout the summer until school resumes in the fall. Vacation Sensation offers a wide variety of field trips and recreational and educational activities with a returning staff of professional counselors.
For availability, fees and other information on these early childhood programs, contact the CDC at 372-2327.
First United Methodist Church Missions
African Drum and Dance Festival
The African Drum and Dance Festival has endured tornados and snowstorms, but this year we were blessed with a perfect spring evening, enhanced by an indoor-outdoor venue. Steering committee member Nicki Spencer (from Hoover UMC, one of our three partner churches) commented afterward, “It just felt like a wonderful community picnic.”
The Kendall Center on the Philander Smith campus proved to be an ideal site for the expanded event. Attendees entering the atrium were greeted by the stunning site of hand-painted banners featuring African motifs hanging from the balcony. Flags of African nations, hand-painted by youth from the four partner churches, were suspended above the silent auction area. On the south patio, guests enjoyed African food and sprawled out on picnic tables and on the lawn.
The silent auction had an inviting mix of African jewelry, fabrics, and artifacts, along with art, dinners, parties, and services donated by many of you. Around the corner, the Nugent Conference room hosted the program, drumming, and dancing. One of the many highlights of the evening was an impromptu dance performance by a group of Rwandan students attending the event.
Most importantly, we reached our financial goal of $8,000, which will enable the Arkansas Conference to build its nineteenth well in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bishop Ntambo of the North Katanga (DRC) Conference will be presented with the check when he speaks at our annual conference in June.
Thanks to all who helped with the event this year, notably the Unity, Choate, and Koinonia classes—as well as all First Church members who supported the event in its first year on the Philander Smith campus by donating, attending, and participating in the event.
Funding Loans As Ministry to Entrepreneurs - FLAME
First Church is helping the working poor in a new way--microlending, a process by which a lender can make a small loan to women or people who lack sufficient collateral. Microloans are small and offer low interest rates and flexible repayment schedules. FUMC offers microloans through its Funding Loans As Ministry to Entrepreneurs (FLAME) ministry. FLAME works with kiva.org, a non-profit organization that facilitates small online loans between individuals and struggling small-business owners throughout the world. FLAME selects a business it wants to support and makes a loan over the Internet. Over the next several months, the borrower makes repayments to FLAME and other lenders who contributed. Then FLAME reinvests the borrower repayments into new borrowerʼs businesses. So far, FLAME has loaned approximately $1400 to forty businesspeople all over the world. The program promises to be a thriving ministry at First Church for years to come. See our lender page online! http://www.kiva.org/lender/FLAME Paula Johnson is the contact person for FLAME.
Disaster Relief and Revitalization Mission Projects
First United Methodist will create a team to respond to tornadoes, or other storm related disasters when necessary. We are also engaging our teams in community revitalization work right here in our downtown area by assisting our neighbors who may lack the necessary funds or resources to paint, build a ramp, or do minor repairs, etc. on their homes. Contact Denny Gainer at gainerdenzili@yahoo.com or Anthony Falkowski afalkowski@fumclr.org for information on how to be contacted for these projects.
Alternative Christmas Market
In 1985, the Work Area on Missions founded the “Alternative Christmas Market,” held in November to give the congregation an opportunity to purchase meaningful gifts. The Fellowship Hall is filled with market stalls offering gifts such as baskets of rice from the Arkansas Rice Depot, jewelry designs featuring a replica of a Habitat for Humanity house, or even “shares” in a water buffalo from Heifer Project International. In recent years, groups within First Church itself have established booths where shoppers may purchase shares in Ozark Mission Project, or make contributions to LIFT or the Stephen Ministry in honor of a friend or family member. Volunteer! Contact Steve Copley, Mission Committee Chair, scopley438@aol.com or Patty Barker, Mission Committee Vice Chair, at pbarker7215@yahoo.com.
FUMC Green Team
The FUMC Green Team is a diverse group of individuals from all ages and backgrounds, having at least one thing in common among all members: the belief that being good stewards of our natural resources and the environment is an important part of Christian stewardship. Green team members support efforts within the church to promote recycling, conserve resources, and help ensure that future generations will have access to clean water, clean air, and beautiful natural spaces to enjoy. In addition to ongoing efforts within the church, such as recycling and education, Green Team members are involved in special projects throughout the year. For more information or to volunteer, contact Kathy Webb at Kathy@lillysdimsum.com.
Faith Promise
Since its inception in 1988, Faith Promise has been a program to alleviate hunger. Church members pledge money annually “on faith” with members striving to meet personal pledge goals. Often participants will share praise-worthy stories of how they have been enabled through faith to meet their goals. In recent years, Faith Promise has coincided with the Lenten season and its message of renewal and giving, all to aid the hungry both locally and globally. Contact Steve Copley, Mission Committee Chair, scopley438@aol.com.
Youth Mission - Ozark Mission Project (OMP)
Founded in 1986, the original vision for Ozark Mission Project was a small camp for young people who were dedicated to improve a community by donating labor during summer vacation. First Church youth and adult leaders participated in the inaugural camp and have participated every year since.
OMP has grown to encompass about 12 camps each summer located in various places around the state. Referrals come through the state Department of Health and Human Services and Area Agencies on Aging. First Church members support OMP by donating tools and materials as well as camp fees for some campers. Each year the UMY (United Methodist Youth) sells shares of OMP “stocks” which entitles church members to receive postcards and other updates from the campers. Breaking down social barriers, doing hard physical work and nightly sharing and worship expose campers to the transcending power of both faith and good works.
United Methodist Women View the UMW Calendar UMW is for Women Who:
• want to know God and experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ
• want to expand their concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church
• want to make a positive difference in the lives of women, children and youth
• want to develop a creative, supportive fellowship for themselves
At First Church, United Methodist Women (UMW) is a mission-driven fellowship for women of all ages. UMW is the largest women’s organization in the world, with more than one million members. Members are involved through prayer, mission work, donations, attendance at meetings, bible and mission study, action and service. Goals for all United Methodist Women include:
• Spiritual growth
• Mission education
• Christian social involvement
• Support for women, children and youth
The First Church local unit holds general meetings at 12:00 p.m. on Sundays with lunch and a speaker in the church’s Fellowship Hall. Lunch reservations may be made by calling 372-2256. All women of the church are invited to attend. In addition, UMW circles meet throughout the month in homes and at the church:
United Methodist Woman Circles at First Church Martha Faulkner Circle
This circle was organized in the early 1990’s to meet the needs of working women. It was named for Martha Faulkner, who worked faithfully and tirelessly to “get us going”. The meeting time for this group is the fourth Monday night of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. in members’ homes. After coffee and dessert, a program is presented by a group member or a guest speaker. At our first meeting of the year, we discuss and agree on what literature to use for the rest of the year. Mostly we use UMW literature. The group supports all UMW projects, but its “pet” project is purchasing baby clothing for newborns of indigent women. Members have a baby shower and then deliver the gifts to the hospital. They are an enthusiastic and friendly group who have wonderful Christian fellowship and a great love and concern for each other. Plus, they have a great time! They always welcome new members.
The Thompson-Cotton Bible Group
This is a group of older women who enjoy close fellowship and a lively discussion of the assigned Bible study. The topics studied each year are negotiable with the group learning together the facts and background of the Scriptures. The meeting time for this group is at 10:15 a.m. the first Monday of each month in Room 316 of the church September through May. In December, a Christmas potluck luncheon is shared, and in June a salad luncheon is held in order to enjoy fellowship. Age is not a prerequisite to join the group because we welcome everyone!
