Bill’s Bestowals:
“Into an Unknown Future”
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
(Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Welcome to 2022 … and WOW, do I have a lot to share with you as the New Year begins! I’ve been busy sorting it all this week, so I apologize that this newsletter is reaching you later than usual. What you will hear at first will be a downer. Read on to hear the good news!
A LOOK BACK AT 2021 – Our Presbytery held a “Small Church Vitality” workshop this past fall. It was led by a woman named Deborah Wright, a consultant who helps willing churches recognize cultural changes, acknowledge them, and adapt to them.
Mrs. Wright actually had some pretty discouraging words to say as she started. “Churches in America are shrinking,” she said. “The average church is down by 40% since the start of the pandemic.” WHOA! 40% since the beginning of 2020?! Then she continued with Presbyterian stats: “In 1978 the PC (USA) – (that’s us!) – had a membership of 3.3 million. Today, we are at 1.2 million.” (WHOA! Down by almost two thirds in 40 years!) She then quoted Dr. Bill Drummond, a Presbyterian Professor of Urban Analytics from Georgia Tech, who said, “If we do nothing different, by 2040 all of our current churches sized 100 and less will be gone, and we will be a denomination of 500,000 members.” She also said that Dr. Drummond made that statement BEFORE the pandemic. Since the pandemic, he has adjusted his statement to say that it is possible that all this will happen by the year 2030!
That is about as sobering as it gets! Our whole denomination – one that believes that we should love people into heaven (instead of “scaring the ‘hell’ out of them”) could be in a death cycle … UNLESS we are willing to do something different!
I could give you volumes more information from that workshop, but I choose to move on now to a very timely possibility for the future of FPC Mena:
A LOOK FORWARD AT 2022 – The University of the Ozarks – a Presbyterian institution – was offered a large grant for the purpose of training rural pastors and their churches to recognize what needs to change so that they may thrive in today’s world. They have developed a pilot program … and guess who has been invited to participate?! You and me! FPC Mena has been asked to take part in what they are calling the “Building Thriving Rural Churches” program! What this means:
1) Your pastor will be gone three times during this upcoming year for 4-day seminars (Feb. 1-4, June 21-24 and Oct. 25-28). Each is fully paid by the program (SWEET)! I will be learning the foundations of rural ministry in the modern world, as well as how to encourage us to be agents of change in our community.
2) A couple of YOU will be invited to take part in the June event, again, fully paid!
3) At the end, participating churches will have an opportunity to create goals and even write grant requests for $10,000 to implement those goals!
4) To encourage us, they have already given us a $500 gift.
It is beautiful to think of what an honor it is for us to be chosen for this pilot program. Only eight congregations out of more than 60 eligible congregations were chosen to participate, and our participation and success will greatly encourage those congregations included in future years.
I will keep you apprised of our progress with this program. I can’t wait!!
SPIRITUAL GIFTS – Series: As for happenings here in January: though I still have a few questions yet to answer regarding last year’s “You Asked for It!” sermon series (24 down, 9 to go – I’ll intersperse them at different times this year), I will be starting another series this Sunday (Jan. 9). This series will be about what the Bible calls “Spiritual Gifts.” Its premise: did you know that God has given YOU “spiritual gifts?” If not, it is high time you learned! If you don’t, it is like leaving an unopened present under the Christmas Tree. Why not go ahead and open it?!
Class: The series will be followed by “Network,” a class that will help you discover which gifts God has uniquely given you! This six-week class will begin on February 20 and will take place during the Sunday school hour (9:30-10:30ish). There is a bit of advance “homework” to be completed for the class; please pick up a packet when you sign up and start working on them ASAP. The sign-up sheet is already available in both the church office and sanctuary.
BOOK STUDY – I have longed to have a book study for a number of years now, and it is high time to get it going! Though I have several titles planned, the first book to be studied is called “Beloved Chaos,” by Rev. Jamie West Zumwalt. This book will challenge us to truly consider the scripture upon which our church mission statement is based:
“… I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me,
I was sick and you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matt. 25:35-36)
Note: the book has a “Trigger Warning” for those who have suffered abuse. A sign-up sheet for this study is in both the sanctuary and office; dates and times will be chosen by group members starting January 17.
HELPING HANDS SUNDAY –
“My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love.”
fifthsundaylogo(I John 3:18, “The Message” Version)
Helping Hands Sunday returns on January 30! This is our renewed opportunity to reach out with the arms of Christ to a community in need! Groups for this month are listed below; after choosing your group, please sign-up in the sanctuary or call the church office (479-394-3583).
© HONEY-DO GROUP – Love your elderly or disabled neighbor – Meet at the church at 9 am and then go to homes in the community to help the elderly or disabled individuals or couples with simple household repairs and maintenance tasks. Meet back at the church for lunch at noon.
© VALENTINE GROUP – Love sick children – Meet at the church at 9 am. Remain at the church and make Valentine’s cards for young patients at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Stay for lunch at noon. This group is perfect for kids. Cards can also be made at home and delivered to the church by January 30.
© “WE CARE” PACKAGES – Love your homeless neighbor – Donate personal care items or knit hats for the homeless in our community. Deliver to the church by 9 am on January 30. Meet at the church at 9 am to assemble items into care packages. Stay for lunch at the church at noon.
© READING GROUP – Love your lonely neighbor – Bring books or magazines and meet at the church at 9 am. This group will go to Peachtree Assisted Living Facility to read to residents. Meet back for lunch at noon.
© Faith Like Potatoes.jpgLANDSCAPING GROUP – Love your grieving neighbor – Meet at the church at 9 am. Bring your rakes, brooms, rags, and gloves. This group will clean the grounds at Rocky Cemetery. Meet back for lunch at noon.
AN AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES – Finally, the Fellowship Committee will be showing an excellent movie called “Faith Like Potatoes” in our fellowship hall on Sunday, January 16, at 3 p.m. It is a biographical story of a man who allows a small amount of faith to grow in an incredible way. Please come join us!
In this New Year, let’s remember the scripture on page one. God says: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29: 13) Let’s use this year to seek His will for us, both as individuals and as a church!
Love, Pastor Bill
January 2022 Calendar:
Sunday: Worship at 11 a.m.
Thursday: Grief Share at 10 a.m. in the parlor.
Jan. 4: Mission Committee Meeting, 5 p.m.
Jan. 5: Worship Committee Meeting, 1 p.m.
Jan. 5: Christmas Décor Removal, 2 p.m.
Jan. 6: Christian Ed. Committee Meeting, 12:15 p.m.
Jan. 9: Fellowship Committee Meeting follows worship service.
Jan. 11: Membership & Evangelism Meeting, 6 p.m.
Jan. 16: Movie “Faith Like Potatoes” will be 3 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Jan. 17: Stewardship & Finance Meeting, 1 p.m.
Jan. 19: Session Meeting 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 23: Congregational Meeting follows worship.
Jan. 25: Building & Grounds Meeting at 10 a.m.
Jan. 30: Helping Hands Sunday!
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES:
5 – Mavis Williams 21 – Abby Langin
7 – Diana Patterson 22 – Annette Hays
7 – Chuck Schroyer 23 – Russell Smith
11 – Karen Mosier 24 – Georgia Landry
14 – Jeff Pullen 26 – Serena Loyd
14 – Carl Wood 29 – Devin Broyles
SERVING THIS MONTH:
Ushers: Chuck Schroyer & David Spurgin
Communion Preparer: Delta Reed & Marilyn Schroyer
Communion Servers: Judy Thompson, Annette Hays,
William Edwards II, Chuck Schroyer &
Leon Myers
SPECIAL COLLECTION SUNDAYS:
January 2: Personal Care Collection
January 23: Goodland Academy
Dear Church Family,
When I sent the newsletter, I inadvertently forgot to add a couple “introductions.” During the course of this year we are trying to help everyone who is a part of the church get to know everyone else who is a part. Each month in the newsletter you will see a few new families listed. (An appeal: when you receive the request for such information, we would be so grateful if you would respond and let us get to know YOU!)
By the way: Don’t forget that we have an online Church Directory now. If we have your e-mail address in our system, you may use a computer or smart phone to access the directory. Only those affiliated with the church may access this directory. If you would like help accessing it, simply send a “reply” (as opposed to “reply all”) e-mail and I’ll do what I can!
Meet the Members of First Presbyterian Church, Mena
Hello from the Murphys!
We are James (Jimmy) and Linda. A little about us: we are a retired couple from Texarkana, and now live in Oden. We moved here almost 8 years ago. Jimmy worked for BWI, a wholesale lawn and garden product company, doing inventory control. Linda was a Physical Therapist. We have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. We moved to Oden because we have been canoeing the Ouachita River in this area for nearly 30 years. We actually got married in 2004 by the Oden Bridge. Besides floating the river, we garden and love decorating our front yard for holidays. We started attending the church during the pandemic days of just videoing the service. Linda is a musician and singer. Jimmy is a listener. Linda now sings and plays guitar along with Pastor Bill on Sundays. Linda transferred her membership this year from First Presbyterian in Texarkana, AR (Susan and John Arnold’s church- friends of PB, too).
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Hello from the Loyd family!
We moved to Mena in 2015 from Illinois. Serena is a licensed social worker with experience in hospice and grief counseling. She works at the hospital in the Senior Behavioral Health unit. She owns a hospice house and provides 24-hour hospice care to the patients who live in her home. She loves reading, puzzles, animals, and working in her yard. Serena has three daughters and three grandchildren. Katie is 22 and lives in Illinois with her husband and children. Abby is 18, attending college in Illinois, and studying to be a sign language interpreter. Abby enjoys photography, playing the guitar, and writing songs. Lilly is 12, does virtual home school and likes riding her bike, being in plays at the Ouachita Little Theater and attending youth group. Serena is a “cradle Presbyterian”. Her parents and both sets of grandparents were Presbyterians. Serena currently co-leads the weekly GriefShare group with Pastor Bill, co-chairs the Helping Hands Initiative planning committee, and just ended a 3-year term as the elder for fellowship committee.
Lilly, Abby, and Serena
