A Quarantine Meditation
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_image src=”https://arumc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/sage-friedman-HS5CLnQbCOc-unsplash-scaled-1.jpg” align=”center” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.4.1″ width=”70%” module_alignment=”center” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”1500ms” animation_delay=”250ms” animation_speed_curve_last_edited=”off|desktop”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_team_member name=”By Kay Brockwell” position=”Lay Leader, St. Paul UMC, Jonesboro” _builder_version=”4.4.2″ hover_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.1″] When we began Lent on Feb. 26, we were certainly not thinking about giving up this much. Not our jobs, not our family gatherings, not our dinners […]
Order to the Disorder
contributed by Rev. Dr. Michelle J. Morris, CouRSe Coordinator Hope. Peace. Joy. Love. After some significant debate, that is what we settled on, this group of pastors who was trying to remember the order of the words associated with each of the weeks of Advent. Just for good measure, I checked the source of all […]
Advent Is Where We Live
contributed by Rev. William O. “Bud” Reeves, Senior Pastor, First UMC Fort Smith We live in a world of uncertainty. We never know what the next day—or even the next hour—will bring. Not a week goes by that I don’t have to deal with someone whose world, in a moment, has radically and forever changed. […]
Feeding from the Depths
contributed by Rev. Eva Englert-Jessen, Program Coordinator for the Center for Calling and Christian Leadership, Hendrix College I’m not sure I’d be a minister today if it weren’t for church potlucks. There is something about the gelatinous salads, mac and cheese, quirky cupboard serving bowls and potluck conversation that nourishes the soul. I think Jesus […]
Can We Affirm A Common Core?
contributed by Bud Reeves, Senior Pastor of First UMC Fort Smith The “Common Core” refers to an often controversial set of state standards for education that was enacted a few years ago and is still supported in most states. The Common Core is knowledge that students should know by the end of a particular grade. […]
A grace-filled church
contributed by John Miles II, Senior Pastor of First UMC Jonesboro In the fall of 1974, I was a freshman at Hendrix College in Conway. Every Sunday morning, I would put on my three-piece polyester suit and walk to Conway First United Methodist Church. At the time I was not sure I believed in God, […]
Starting not so fresh
contributed by Bud Reeves, Senior Pastor of First UMC Fort Smith New Year’s resolutions have gone out of style. Nobody keeps them anyway. The average New Year’s resolution lasts until the second week of February; only 10% last six months. We have a hard time starting over. Still, there is something about the New Year […]
What can the new year bring?
contributed by Dede Roberts, Senior Pastor of Asbury UMC As I write this, I am finishing a day of reflecting on 2018 and planning for 2019. I have had enough experience to know that some of my plans will come to naught, but some will flourish and bear fruit. So I set goals and plan, […]
Looking to the past, preparing for the future
contributed by Karon Mann, General Conference 2019 Delegate In his book The Singing Thing, author John Bell says, “We are creatures of our past, we cannot be separated from it.” He was referring specifically to the music of our past, particularly hymns and religious songs that evoke strong feelings or memories, but smells can elicit […]
A prayer for General Conference
contributed by Asa Whitaker, General Conference 2019 Delegate A few days after publishing this column, I will — with God’s help — deliver a sermon in my local church that I have entitled “Living in the presence of God.” As some of you will probably imagine, I have spent a great deal of time, study, […]