written by Laura Turner, communications coordinator, North Little Rock First UMC
During worship at North Little Rock First United Methodist Church on Sunday, February 18, Rev. Jarod Saucedo, associate pastor of NLR FUMC, blessed hand-knitted caps made by the late Juanita Rich.
Rich was a long-time NLR FUMC member and an avid volunteer at church and many civic organizations. At 100 years old, Rich made 100 knit caps to mark 10 decades of life before her death on February 2. Her family asked that the hats be donated to our unhoused friends at Canvas Community, a cause she cared deeply about.
On Monday, February 19, Rita Newman, chair of NLR FUMC’s Missions team, took the hats to Canvas Community and gave them to the guests at their Monday night meal. The missions team helps serve the meal once a month and usually brings homemade goodies.
In the past, Rich made countless knitted items and worked closely with the North Little Rock Mayor’s Youth Council to ensure that anyone who needed warmth could receive it. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, she lived her 100 years of life as a witness to the great love of God that is given to us all.
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” -James 2:14-17 ESV