Every Autumn, I like for our church to do some thinking and praying about our commitment to our church.  When we join, we make five promises, to support the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.  Many churches focus on stewardship this time of the year. It has been our practice for some time.      

I like to find an emphasis that is not just financial, but spiritual. In our first year together, we talked about how we are Better Together when we pray, give, serve, witness, and when we are together in worship and classes. Last year, we considered a sermon that the founder of the Methodist movement preached in 1760. It was a sermon where he encouraged three things. Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can. That is not bad advice.

This year’s theme or word is generosity.  I think that it is the perfect word to describe us. When there is a need, we are quick to respond to it. A good example of that was that we asked you to bring jars of peanut butter during the month of October. At last count, 400 jars of peanut butter were donated. Those jars will be used in our backpack ministry. Great job! We give to projects. We give to special needs. And we are called to give to help all of our ministries thrive. We are, I believe, a generous people!

For three Sundays in November, I will be preaching about generosity. In addition to the sermons, early in November you will receive a letter from the church and a pledge card to fill out. Commitment Sunday this year will be November 15^th.

On that Sunday, we will invite you to come forward with your commitment. The card will include giving to the general fund, our church’s maintenance fund, and there are ministries that you can mark in terms of how you will serve in the church, what your presence will look like in 2027, a commitment to pray for our church, and ways that you will share your faith.

Below is the schedule for our sermons for these three weeks:

Week 1. Your Own Cheering Section (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Week 2. Difference Makers (John 13:34-35)
Week 3. It’s a Matter of the Heart (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

I am excited about our sermons. I am also excited about our future. I believe that 2027 is going to be an incredible year for our congregation. Will you join me in making it happen?

Hope Always,

John Fleming
Pastor

Daylight Savings ends at 1:00am this Sunday, November 1st so remember to set your clocks back Saturday night.

Stewards:
Jo Wolf (team leader)
Jill Chandler
Sherri Patton
Linda Francis

9:00 Servers:
Linley & Stephanie Reubin
Kaye Jarvis 

11:00 servers:
Michelle & Robert Clarke
Sharon Williams

November 1: Henry Caststeel & James Clarke
November 8: Ollie Rodgers & Cannon Lee
November 15: Caroline Reed & Everly Drennin
November 22: Kaylee Booth & Thomas Reynolds
November 29: James Clarke & Cannon Lee

CROSSROADS
November 1: Steve Rogers
November 8: Jeff Clements
November 15: Steve Rogers
November 22: Jeff Clements
November 29: Steve Rogers

TRADITIONAL
November 1: Tony Dailey
November 8: Arnold Knox
November 15: Tony Dailey
November 22: Tony Dailey
November 29: Kyra Anthony

CROSSROADS
November 1: Don Shepard
November 8: Don Shepard
November 15: Don Shepard
November 22: Don Shepard
November 29: Don Shepard

TRADITIONAL
November 1: Mike Cannon
November 8: Mike Cannon
November 15: Jonelle Luman
November 22: Jonelle Luman
November 29: Mike Cannon

On Sunday November 1st, we will be remembering those of our church family who have gone on to glory since the last All Saints Sunday. At both services, names will be read, a bell tolled, and a candle lit for each of those we are remembering. A final bell will toll and candle will be lit for all others we have lost.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey!  Our hope is that through your responses, we will be able to understand your wants and needs in the area of spiritual growth and discipleship. The insights gathered will help us in the development of future Bible studies, small groups, life groups, life classes, and other discipleship opportunities.  Again, thank you. 

THANK YOU to everyone who helped make Trick or Trunk a huge success! From our 21 trunks, to our hot dog and popcorn crew, to the entrance table volunteers we had amazing participation! And thank you to our fantastic facilities crew for the fast and speedy clean up. We couldn’t have this wonderful event without each and every one of you! Hundreds of people from our community showed up to enjoy the festivities! What a wonderful way to show our community how much we care! Photos from the event are posted on the church Facebook page so check it out! 

DRAWING WINNERS

$50 Walmart Gift Card: Bethany Watson

$50 Casey's Gift Card: Nethaniel Harris

This month More than a Meal will be on Wednesday, November 4th and Wednesday, November 18th at 5:15 pm. We will have our meal together and then a short devotional with Pastor John. We hope you will join us for food faith and fellowship!

We are still collecting for 2026 Thanksgiving Vouchers. This year, we are partnering with Harps again. Each family in need will receive a $50 gift card for a Thanksgiving meal. It’s an incredible opportunity to demonstrate God’s love and help families in need enjoy a joyful holiday meal. We sincerely appreciate everyone who has contributed to the Thanksgiving Vouchers so far this year. Our goal is to distribute over 200 vouchers this year, but we still require approximately $2000 more to reach our target and cover the costs. If you wish to support this ministry, please make checks payable to FUMC and include “Thanksgiving Vouchers” in the memo section. Alternatively, if you prefer to donate online, select “dedicated fund” and add “Thanksgiving Vouchers” to the memo/notes section. For any inquiries, please contact Hollye Lee.

For Ingathering this year we are putting together Thanksgiving Food Bags (this is in addition to the vouchers that we hand out each year). These Thanksgiving Meals in a Bag will be distributed via the Angel Food Pantry, our Blessing Box and other Blessing Boxes around town. The estimated cost for a Thanksgiving Meal in a Bag is just under $10, while the Dessert in a Bag costs just under $8. This means that for approximately $18, we can provide a family with a Thanksgiving meal and dessert!

The meal includes all the items on the shopping list on the above image for the dinner and the below image for the dessert. Our goal is to keep these meals simple, affordable, and easy to prepare, using items that require very few additional ingredients or can be prepared by simply adding water. For example: the packet of mashed potatoes is made by adding water only. For the dessert, we selected an 8 oz. Apple Crisp Mix that only requires the addition of apple pie filling and butter-flavored shortening sticks.

Our annual Commitment Sunday is November 15th this year. You will soon be recieving your pledge cards in the mail. We ask that you prayerfully consider all the ways you plan to support your church in 2027 with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness. Once you have done so, please bring your commitment card to worship with you on November 15th so that we can ask God to bless and consecrate our offerings for the upcoming year. If you will not be at church that day, you can use the envelope provided to mail your pledge card to the church or you may drop it in the lock box on the wall outside the office entrance before Sunday. As always thank you for the many ways you support First United Methodist Church Mountain Home!

Wednesday, November 18th at 3:00pm in the Parlor, we will be fluffing the greens in preparation of "Hanging of the Greens".  If you have questions, contact Jill Chandler, otherwise just show up and help!

Sunday, November 22nd at 12:15pm.  We will begin with a soup lunch. Then we will decorate!  Come and join the fun! We need as many hands as possible to make light work. We hope to see all of your smiling faces there with us! 

Wesley Kitchen will be having their Thanksgiving meal on Monday, November 22nd. 

The church office will be closed on Wednesday, November 25 and Thursday, November 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!

You can help our local community by simply shopping at your local grocier for Best Choice Family of Brands products. The brands includes Best Choice®, Pure Wonder by Best Choice®, Hello World by Best Choice, Clearly by Best Choice, and Superior Selections® by Best Choice®. Save the labels off your products and collect them (Be sure to save the UPC portion). Then, drop them off at the church office.

If you would like to order a poinsettia to honor or memorialize a special person in your life, fill out a form at the office or Welcome Desk and drop your payment in the offering plate or call the church office to order. You can also order online using the button below. The price is $20.00. Please be sure to earmark "poinsettias" in the memo/notes section. The deadline for orders is Monday, December 7th. The poinsettias will adorn the main sanctuary beginning on Friday, December 11th for the first performance of the Cantata and will be split between the Contemporary Worship Center and the sanctuary for the remainder of Advent. 

Join us this Advent for a sermon series with Pastor John based on the cast of characters from the Christmas story. Advent begins November 29th.

Ladies!  Save the date for a Christmas Luncheon (hosted by the Monday Morning Life Group). All ladies young and young at heart are invited to join us for a time of food, fellowship and fun on Saturday, December 12th at 11:30pm!  More details to follow, but mark your calendar now!

One Silent Night long ago, a birth story began that forever changed the world. Lying in a crude manger was a new-born babe, who would become the Source of our Christian faith and our abiding hope. Weaving familiar carols and songs throughout original music, this timeless tale emerges in a deeply moving presentation that will lift one’s faith and deepen one’s understanding of the profound significance of that One Silent Night.

There are two opportunities to experience One Silent Night so mark your calendars!
Friday, December 11th at 7:00pm
Sunday, December 13th at 11:00am

We will start practicing our songs this week! so mark those calendars for this year's Christmas program, Sing Children Sing Christmas!

Hello families!

It's hard to believe that November is here already! I hope you were able to come to our Trick-or-Trunk Fall Festival! We had a blast! There were hundreds of folks here from the community and some amazing costumes! Check out the photos on the church facebook page! Thank you to the many volunteers for your time. It was truly amazing how this church family stepped up! We are having loads of fun on Wednesdays and we are loving our Dig In curriculum, Epic Teachings of the bible! We have spent the last several weeks learning about each of the fruits of the spirit so be sure to ask you kiddos what they've learned! Thank you for sharing your kiddos with us on Wednesdays. They are truly a blessing and the future of this church!

Speaking of thanks, I am so very grateful for all our children's ministry volunteers!  It is because of our many volunteers that this ministry is both possible and amazing! When you see them, please take a moment to say thanks. If you are interested in volunteering in any way with children's ministry, let me know! With Thanksgiving being this month, let's all try to have an attitude of gratitude and remember to thank God every day for the blessings He has given us!  There will be no Wednesday afternoon activities or meal the week of Thanksgiving. I hope you all have a blessed holiday. 

Soon you will be given a flash drive with the songs for the Children's Christmas program to take home. I hope you will play this for your kids whenever you get the chance as it will help them learn the songs since they only practice at church once a week on Wednesdays. 

The Christmas program is called Sing Kids Sing Christmas and parts will be going home soon. The date of our Christmas program will be December 16th right after our fellowship Christmas Meal. So plan to eat and stay for the fun that day. 

Feel free to contact me anytime!

Have a blessed month!

Laura Pedigo

Hello 605 Students, Families, and Friends, 

I really love this time of year! I love the fall crisp air, the changing colors of the leaves, the cozy sweatshirts and curling up with a good book! I also love this time of year because of the season of thankfulness that we are presented with. I enjoy Thanksgiving not just because of the food filling the table but each year I am so amazed at how thankful I am for those that God has put into my life and the outpouring of love and generosity we see this time of year. 

I have watched our church over the last little while stock the backpack program with peanut butter, we have shown up when it comes to the Thanksgiving Meals in a bag that we will be packing this month, and as a youth group we will be working this month to help students in our community receive Christmas this year. 

All these amazing things are all because of the God who created us and the love that we live out each and every day! For that I am grateful! 

With all of this in mind here are a few more things this month that I am grateful for plus the full November Calendar! 

Refuge: November 6-8! Students in 6-9^th grades are headed to Shepherd of the Ozarks as we learn what it means to Abide in Christ and connect with students across the Arkansas Conference. 

Lessons: 605 6-8 Students will be finishing up their current series, exploring some questions that they have about faith, church, life, and whatever else they may want to ask and then start our Christmas Series called Grateful- more info on that series to come! 

605 9-12 Students will be working through some more in depth answers to some of the questions that they had over the last month, plus working through some Bible Skills and faith fundamentals. 

I am so excited to see where God takes us with each group of students. 

Veritas: Registration for this trip in February will be opening this month. Keep an eye out for more information on this trip! 

Progressive Dinner: Wednesday November 18^th 5:30-7:30PM!  All Students in 6^th-12^th grades are invited to join us on Wednesday November 18^th for our Progressive Dinner. 6-8 students are invited to stay after youth and 9-12 students can come over after school/activities or arrive by 5:25PM for us to leave the church by 5:30PM. We will return for pick up around 7:30PM! If you have questions please let me know! (The end time on the youth newsletter that has gone out is incorrect- I apologize- we will end around 7:30PM) 

Full November Calendar: 

November 2^nd: Lunch at Pinkston 

November 4^th: 605 6-8 Youth Group 

November 5^th: Lunch at the Junior High 

November 6-8^th: Refuge Retreat

November 8^th: 605 9-12 Youth Group 

November 11^th: 605 6-8 Youth Group 

November 12^th: Lunch at the High School 

November 15^th: 605 9-12 Youth Group 

November 18^th: 605 6-8 Youth Group 

November 18^th: Progressive Dinner (All Students) 5:30-7:30PM 

November 20^th: High School Hangout (Christmas Project Shopping at Walmart) 5:00PM 

November 22^nd: Hanging of the Greens 12:00PM 

November 22^nd: No 605 9-12 Youth! Happy Thanksgiving! 

November 25^th: No 605 6-8 Youth! Happy Thanksgiving 

November 29^th: 605 9-12 Youth Group 

November TBA: Dig Deeper Breakfast! 

Kyra Anthony
Director of Student Ministries 

 

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Concerns:
Kara Chaney (10/25/26)
(Patricia King)
Steve Louden (10/18/26)
(Vicki Kauth)
Burton Woodruff III (10/11/26)
(Layton Woodruff)
Hayley Horton (09/28/26)
Bonnie Flint (09/28/26)
Justin Long (09/27/26)
Krew Hudson (09/27/26)
Hannah Moore (09/27/26)
(Rick Steiner)
Heather Dunlap (09/13/26)
(Kelli Camp)
Eldon Hellums (09/06/26)
(Whitney Rodgers Grandfather)
Charlotte Jones (09/06/26)
(Angie VanDolah’s Sister)
Jean Heath (08/30/26)
(Sharon Fabich)
Janice Williams (08/26/26)
Emily Mackey (08/24/26)
(Karen Wagner’s Daughter)
Mark Gonzales (08/24/26)
(Gail House)
Doris Brannen (08/16/16)
(Debby Bodenhamer)
Mike Peak (08/09/26)
(Lisa Peak’s Husband)
Henry Silva
(Ruth Greer’s son)
Christy Reed (07/29/26)
(Teresa Kenyon)
Stacey Simmons (07/17/26)
Cleo Holm (07/13/26)
Dan & Nina Huddleston (07/09/26)
(Tina Benton)
Joan Lowe 
(Jill Chandler’s Sister)
Trisha Ramsey (06/30/26)
(Susie Fleming)
Dick Karrer (06/27/26)
Harper Graves (06/25/26)
Dennis & Donna Slankard (06/21/26)
(Gail House)
Brantley Gracy (06/14/26)
Bob Budolfson (06/10/26)
Shirley Argo (05/31/26)
Naomi Tallmen (05/31/26)
(Henry Caststeel’s Aunt)
Keith & Venita Stafford (05/31/26)
(Pat Johns)
Bonnie Benham (05/21/26)
Steve Morris (05/03/26)
(Sheila Partee)
Gary Patterson (04/26/26)
Deb Spears (04/26/26)
(Mike & Sue Strop)
Jo Wolf (04/15/26)
Curtis Gomez (04/12/26)
(Christine Rohr)
Glenda Bodenhamer (03/03/26)
Jeff Allen Monninger (02/23/26)
(Tom Frase)
Sarah Kee (02/22/26)
(Vicki Kauth)
Teresa White (02/01/26)
(Eileen Howe)
Ruth Clark (01/08/26)
Bob McKuin (12/29/25)
(Vicki Garner)
Kim Freitag (12/28/25)
(Carole Freitag)
Rexene Watson (12/28/25)
(Tom Yoder’s Sister-in-Law)
Rachel Goostree (12/16/25)
Jennifer Thogmartin (12/14/25)
(Paula Bodenhamer)
Tim Wallace (12/14/25)
(Vanessa Ford)
David Callahan (12/03/25)
(Ruth Greer)
Katie Ammon (11/30/25)
(Vicki Kauth’s Sister-in-Law))
Helen Brown (10/19/25)
(Libby Seftar)
Vickie Martin (09/24/25)
(Tim Nelson’s Aunt)
Wyatt Sitzberger (09/15/25)
(Freddie Garner’s Great Grandson)
Kathleen Carr (08/24/25)
(Sue Storm)
Chris Holm (08/05/25)
David Francis (07/22/25)
(Denny Francis’ Brother)
Lois Nichols (07/20/25)
(Joyce Holsted)
Bruce Burr (06/15/25)
Jaymeson Miller (06/08/25)
Lisa Dennis (06/08/25)
(Mike Densmore’s Niece)
Mona Brewer (04/22/25)
Teresa Kenyon (04/01/25)
Natalie Tyson (03/13/25)
(Mary Margaret Pearson)
Mike Thompson (02/25/25)
(Bev Thompson’s Son)
Kate Melnik (01/13/25)
(Tom Yoder)

BACKPACK FOOD 4 KIDS
In honor of Jeff Quick and Tom Kiley
John & Betty Luther
In honor of Rev. John Fleming
Cathy Roshon