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MORE SANCTUARY STORIES…. Our church Sanctuary is just that – a place where you can feel at peace. When you enter, there is a warmth that envelopes you. It may be from the special natural light, the beautiful rich wood, or the arms of the Holy Spirit. The warmth is unmistakable. The Sanctuary is alive – alive with music, alive with lessons learned, alive with God's love. Those who enter recognize the Sanctuary as a special place.

We have gathered the stories of many in a publication entitled “Sanctuary Stories”. Through these stories you will come to know the history and the special spirit that lives on in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church.

However, ‘those walls continue to talk'! More wonderful stories are coming to light…and will be experienced in the future. For that reason, we will share with you here “More Sanctuary Stories”! Feel free to make your contribution!

A Memory from Louise Sumner...
The service for Bea Wardlaw was held in our FUMC Sanctuary. The day was cloudy and gloomy, which added to the sadness of those present. During the service, the sun came out and shown brilliantly through our stained glass windows. It was amazing how those rays of sunshine raised the spirits of all! Bea's service ended up being a truly happy celebration of her long and meaningful life.

Native American Special Giving Sunday...
Many different Special Sundays have been celebrated in our Sanctuary...from blessing our mission teams to confirming new members, to celebrating Stephen Ministers, to praying for our children and teachers as school began, and celebrating our United Methodist Special Giving Sundays.

One of the United Methodist Special Giving Sundays has saluted our Native American churches in a special way. As part of worship, The Lord's Prayer was enacted by Patsy Mooney and Mone' Arnold. It was one of those special moments in the sanctuary that kept everyone's rapt attention and made their souls stir.

Patsy and her Bolin family are of Native American heritage. It was important to Patsy to learn the Indian sign language. She also had a beautiful and authentic leather Indian costume made to use in special celebrations.

So for many years on Native American Sunday, Patsy has signed The Lord's Prayer as Mone' sang those beautiful words. It is a meaningful salute to her heritage….and an interpretation of The Lord's Prayer that we will never forget.

A Memory from Patsy Bolin Mooney...
The first time I signed in the church sanctuary was right after Mother died. So, it is very meaningful to me besides being a beautiful prayer.

My CDIB (Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood) card is with the Cherokee Nation. My dad, Pat Bolin, was part Quapaw and my mother, Winona, was raised in an Indian Orphan School when she was taken from her mother.

The first time I saw the Lord's Prayer signed by a Quapaw in full dress was in memory of my dad at the Quapaw Powwow in Oklahoma. I thought it was so moving that I wanted to learn the sign. However, the Cherokees did not use sign language. My signing is actually American Sign Language, which I think is prettier than tribal sign language. Also, The Lord's Prayer in Cherokee is not the same prayer we are familiar with in the Bible. It was important to me to sign the prayer in full Indian dress, so I commissioned a beautiful native dress made out of five mule deer hides.

It is still very special and meaningful to sign and share The Lord's Prayer in our Sanctuary.

Grandma's Communion Bread
Mac Whitehorn loved his Grandma Irma's baking! He also knew that she often baked the communion bread for our church.

One communion Sunday when he was about 6 years old, Mac was excited to go forward and receive the Sacraments from his friend Justin's father, Rev. Bob Hager. He was also looking forward to enjoying a hunk of Grandma Irma's bread!

It came time for him to tear off the bread, and he did so carefully taking a good sized bite. Then as Rev. Hager spoke to him, Mac's eyes got big and he dropped the bread. He thought Rev. Hager said "My gosh you took a big piece" but, in fact, he had said "My God go with you in Peace."

Not understanding, the anxious 6 year old ran back to his seat... almost in tears. It was a communion experience that he and parents, Rob and Kim Whitehorn, will never forget!

BUILDING A CHURCH ON PRAYER

Constance Waddell shares her remembrances from the beginning years of First United Methodist Church in Rogers. Her thoughts are not meant to be chronological or a history….just the sweet memories from the wife of our first pastor, Rev. Don Waddell.

It all started with prayer. "Oh, God, please, NO!" I muttered when I heard the Bishop of North Arkansas on the phone. "Constance", he said with a rush of energy and excitement in his voice, "I'm calling to offer Don the opportunity to meet with a group of people at Central UMC that want to form a new church. Don't you think he'll like having something to do now that he's retired?”

I gulped down my first response and said petulantly, "He may think it's a good idea, but I don't!" He's already retired three times and the last stint was a three point circuit where he preached three times every Sunday morning. “I'm ready for us to relax and play a little and maybe travel."

Don came home and we prayed for direction. I already knew the answer even before he phoned the Bishop. It was in the glow in his face. And it was in mine, too. We both like adventure. We both had always depended on God's call. After we opened our eyes from prayer, it now seemed right to me, too.

The message to us was that "a few old fuddy duddies just didn't understand how important it was to build a new church where the city was growing and where there were more people needing a church home”. A 'potluck" dinner was set up for us to have lunch with these "holdouts" after the church service on Sunday. What an amazing surprise to see Fellowship Hall brimming full of smiling people. Surely these weren't the ones we'd been told about?

That night, our prayers were brief. "Lead Us Lord!"

A "steering committee" that met weekly in homes, had been set up before Don was assigned to be their leader. They were mixed in their "take" on the situation. Some had wanted to leave the United Methodist Church. Others wanted to leave church, period. Others were confused but it comforted them to meet with a remnant of Central UMC . The steering committee had been organized to discover what the direction should be. Don found strong leaders, strong persons of faith and many who had a long history in Central as did their families before them. This encouraged him. He also found anger at those who were moving to a new location; hurt that the vote had been so close and yet the District Superintendent had moved that the vote was legal. There was a general need for retaliation at the unfairness they felt. A need to fight back at the District Superintendent and Bishop and to get those who were moving to hear their hurt and their need to keep the presence of a downtown church. Especially were they incensed that the church building they'd known and loved was to be torn down and the property sold to help pay for the new church in a more affluent area.

Don's leading from the beginning was to help the steering committee find purpose in starting their own church, since , in his visit with the Bishop it was clear that Central would be relocating. As he listened to the Steering Committee,(an ad hoc committee that had been meeting weekly to commiserate and to try to decide what to do) it was clear that they wanted to band together and try to stay in their beloved church edifice.

But it was also clear to him that that new church should not be built in anger or in trying to prove they were right. The need, he felt, was to do a U turn and ask God's presence in the joy of starting a new congregation built on love and mission. Many times, he met with the steering committee, steering toward them toward that goal. It wasn't a hard task. They were persons who were yearning for God's direction. And they seemed to find it easy to follow Don's lead as he talked with them and prayed with them for God's guidance. He asked the Bishop to bring the Central persons and what was now named, The New United Methodist Mission Church, together for a reconciliation service at which the Bishop would preach. He declined.

I was very busy fulfilling duties as Ms Senior Arkansas, but when the fledgling church entered the Rogers Christmas Parade and created a huge paper dove made of dryer sheets, it bonded the entire new congregation in the effort. Even the persons in the nursing homes were able to work on part of it right there in their rooms. And, always very inclusive, the group invited me to sit in a convertible right in front of that dove. Its wingspan was so wide that it knocked leaves off the trees on either side of the street. And our new church won the "KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF" award! It was a turning point. Bonding together, the church had turned toward the future and was beginning to leave the past in the "rear view mirror". Prayers were in the form of joyous celebration and excitement over "who we are" and "whose we are".

When I finally was free to join the steering committee the warmth of persons made me feel at home immediately. There were endless sticky problems that they were dealing with, trying to negotiate keeping the church building. Although Don had pointed out to the Bishop that the Church Discipline clearly stated that as long as any congregation desired to worship in a church building it was to be open to them and could not be torn down or sold. The need on the part of Central was to have money to build their new church. They felt that the church building belonged to Central and it was hard for them to recognize the new church that was being formed.

I listened to those on the steering committee week after week and was delighted at the lack of rancor and the desire to build their congregation on love. Don had brought his experience of the "abrazo" (hug) from long years in Chile. He modeled that and the evenings always ended in a prayer circle and hugs. It seemed natural to me that we should have a theme song and that it should be "You Will Know They Are Christians By Their Love”. And so it was.

The arrangement was finally agreed upon for us to buy the sanctuary. We would leave the schoolhouse where we had been meeting and our congregation would worship in a service between the two services Central had. There are lots of heart touching and funny and frantic stories about that period. In a book they should all be included.

During the time while meeting in the schoolhouse on Sundays, everything was "set up" in hours proceeding church. One family even carried their big fern from their home and adorned the meeting room with it. It earned the name: "The Holy Fern". Most heartening was the excitement when yet another "old member" appeared on Sunday Morning. Don had insisted that he would not visit Central members and urge them to leave and join us. But it happened anyway when they learned of the joy and surge of "the spirit" happening in our church. Another spontaneous act of joy was the sudden movement of persons to their feet in a standing ovation. They thought it was for Don. But, Don insisted then and that night as we prayed together, that it was not him they were praising but God. He wanted the congregation to know that their feelings of warmth and purpose and God's spirit was just that. God's Spirit had fallen upon us. Like the birth of a child, the splendor of the experience of the birth of a new church had all of us awestruck. If it had been the seventies, we would have said: "Praise the Lord". In our prayers, we were saying "Thank You God", we don't know what is happening but we felt we are on Holy Ground. And we were "knowing each other as Christians by our love"

Before we moved back to the Central Church, there needed to be a headquarters, a place to meet each other, a place for carrying on small meetings and for a secretary to conduct business. Space was rented and one of the members named it "The Dove's Nest". It took our symbol in to account and also it became sort of a nest, a home, for us during the week.

Don, too needed an office where he could conduct business or talk over problems with members and, especially, where he could meet with persons in need— spiritually and emotionally. Some came with soul searching problems to share and pray with him. His office was separated only by a large glass window and yet people seemed not to mind the visibility. For us, who could see one whose face was so serious or was shedding tears somehow the panorama conveyed the symbol of the comfort and nurture to be found in this building.

One group I started was called Prayer and Praise. We met monthly and after I set the stage with some kind of "teaching", we discussed it in smaller groups and then ended with prayers. Of course we brought refreshments and we had fun. One time (I can't imagine what the teaching theme was) we all wore big hats. And, of course, there were always hugs. It grew almost too large for our little building, but the crowded space added to our excitement and anticipation of the time when we would be in the church building again.

Everyone felt the Dove's Nest was our own place. I'm purposely not putting names in any of my stories because I know I'd miss so many and all were important. There were those who arranged worship settings in what used to be a store window. Others served as secretaries, worked on a newsletter, met in committees and others who just dropped in to sit and talk in informal groups. The Dove's Nest turned out to be the perfect transition place while we were waiting for the glorious day that we could return to Third and Elm and "home" to these "children of God" who had been separated from their beloved church building.

After the joyful prayers in the sanctuary persons signed their name as charter members of the First United Methodist Church and after Don had competed his interim time as pastor, we did something both of us had never done before! We stayed on in the church!

The new pastor strongly, and we felt sincerely, invited us to be a part of the fledgling congregation. And though we had both been committed to move on after stepping down from leadership, we decided this time was an exception. Don was not well, facing surgery and we felt old and in need of the warmth of this congregation. And so it was! Our hearts burst with joy as we saw the church flourish, grow and stay committed to missions and "brother and sistering" each other. And they responded well to the new minister, a sure sign of their commitment to their own ministries and to Methodism.

Prayer was an integral part of the church. While Don was pastor, he had incorporated witnesses of faith from the congregation into the Sunday Worship. He had also started "Breakfast With Don", a weekly time of his faith teaching and of open sharing from the men. He was urged to continue and did until we felt the call to return again to the mission field of Chile.

During the first year after Don had retired as their pastor, some of the women asked me to start a prayer group to gather each week at the altar and "lift up" the church members and especially the staff. We named it Sanctuary Prayer. Once a journalist did a feature story about us and we got calls from persons in the community with prayer requests. One was amazing to me. It was the wife of my childhood pastor who had been the most influential one in my decisions about "Full Time Christian Service." Since I now had a different last name, she didn't connect me with anyone she knew. But she desperately needed prayers for her daughter who was critically ill with cancer.

These are just a few of hundreds of memories I have about how God led us through the 'wilderness' of those days and then to the "promise land" of the new church. Plus the hundreds of stories about our fellowship times in the church and mission trips. Even after we were in Chile, our prayer connection with the church continued. Work teams who came to support us there were such a strengthening force in the difficulties we experienced there. In each work team, we also took prayer partners that I remember sometimes even now in my old age as treasures to take out and cherish on those nights when I need their hugs. Just like we always readily gave—in the beginning.

Don and Constance Waddell now live in Pilgrim Place located in Claremont, California. Pilgrim Place is the collective spirit of those called to careers in religious or charitable non-profit organizations who wish to reside in an intellectually/theologically stimulating, ecologically sensitive, personally active environment.

CHEEZ!

This will make you smile!  On a recent Sunday, the sanctuary was filled with the tune of a favorite Negro Spiritual, "Give Me Jesus".  You know the one...

"In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You may have the world
Give me Jesus."

Anderson Farmer listened intently and a puzzled look came over his face.  He turned to his mom, Stephanie, and asked "Why does Jesus want Cheez-Its?"  Anderson was convinced that the words to the song were "Give me Cheez-Its".  Who wouldn't smile at the thought of Jesus eating Cheez-Its??

RED

It was a sea of RED….it was Pentecost Sunday, 2017. Many wore red…the Pentecost banner and paraments graced the altar area…and red and white streamers were unfurled from the balcony to the pews! What a sight!

We celebrated together the rekindling of our faith. The choir began with “Holy Spirit, Come to Us” - a beautiful Taize’ tradition. The brass played, soloists sang, while the choir chanted “Veni Sancte Spiritus” (Come Holy Spirit). It was a mesmerizing prayer. Nevlyn Mann helped the children and us imagine how it would have felt that day and had us swaying in the wind, warming ourselves, and speaking in many languages.

Pastor Michael Mattox preached “The Church On Fire” remembering the Sanctuary Story from Grace Hill about the 1940 fire at the church. He asked what fuels the fire or fans the flames of our church’s ministry – compassion, love, hospitality, a desire for justice for examples. Pastor Sandi Wanasek prayed the invitation, “Blow upon us holy spirit.”

It was, indeed, a holy day!

HERO CENTRAL!

The Sanctuary was ALIVE the week of Vacation Bible School 2017!! The chatter of children, the joy of singing, the warmth of hugs, and the happiness of smiles…just made EVERYONE want to smile!

Over 40 children were led by Leslie Madick and Courtney Judy and an army of volunteers. They began and closed each VBS day with time in the sanctuary. Here they talked and learned about “Discover Your Strength in God”! Amy Miller, dressed in full superhero fashion, played the part of Captain Shield, a champion of Psalm 34:14b, “Do good! Seek peace and go after it!”. She was joined by Allison Miller who operated and acted as the voice of the red panda bear puppet named Flame, Captain Shield’s Super Hero Sidekick. Together through skits and interactive videos, they taught the children that God’s Heroes have heart, wisdom, courage, hope, and power.

During Sanctuary time each day the children saluted a superhero in our church! They learned about these superheroes working behind the scenes to do God’s Work...

• Sharon Rothrock
• David Swearingen
• Boomerang Joy
• Emerson Cobbs

A favorite of their sanctuary time was singing!! Brian Breeding taught them a great song complete with enthusiastic motions. Hearing them sing this was a joyful sanctuary moment!

My God is so great,
So strong and so might,
There’s nothing my God cannot do! (repeat)

The mountains are his,
The rivers are his,
The stars are his handiwork, too.

My God is so great,
So strong and so might,
There’s nothing my God cannot do!

As the children scrambled out to head home for the day, they could be heard singing the refrain over and over as they jumped down the sanctuary stairs! Joyful, indeed!

BURNT OFFERING
Jonas Tallmadge

It was during the closing hymn, “In Christ Alone”, and I was watching acolyte Morgan Lee put out the altar candles. I noticed a piece of wax fall into the offering basket below the candle. Suddenly, smoke emerged from the basket. I knew I needed to act fast, so I looked over at my mom to see what I should do. “Mom,” I said, “The offering is on fire!” She immediately shushed me for interrupting the congregational singing without regarding what I said. I don’t truly know what came through me as I didn’t want to disobey my mom, but I didn’t want the offering to burn up, so I looked at Mom again. By this time, she realized what I had said and saw the smoke and told me to “GO!”. So I practically flew out of the pew jumping over my twin sister, Caroline, and my Big Mama (Eugenia Scott) and rushed up to the Communion Table. Luckily on this Sunday, I only had one grandma to jump over because my Gummy (Linda Tallmadge) wasn’t at this service and I usually sit right beside her on the fifth pew on the right- hand side of the church. No one had any idea what I was doing or where I was going.

I used my common sense to begin picking the big bills, cash, and checks out first to ensure our offering wouldn’t be lost. I was putting the fire out with my hands and throwing the money on the ground. While this was going on, the choir and entire church was just singing along. After I had saved the cash, Joe Miller from the choir realized what was going on, rushed up to help and took the burning offering basket outside the sanctuary.

The offering was saved! Pastor Michael Mattox closed with a benediction as normal but added, “In all my years of preaching this has never happened before.” Pastor Ron Hayes added, “Is this what they mean by a ‘hot check’?”

After church, several members congratulated me for my efforts and wanted to know how I saw the fire start. Most wanted to know if I was a Boy Scout, and I am a member of the Irish Patrol in Troop 122 from our church. I’m not sure how, but I do have a knack for seeing things others do not. I’ve found several arrowheads and once while picking crab apples at Don and Constance Waddell’s, I found one of her lost earrings in the grass.

Some of my favorite puns from Sunday were from Jim Swearingen, “I know the church is in the black, but we don’t have money to burn!”. Diana Kolman thought for sure this was an act of rebellion to embarrass my mom! Patsy Mooney thought I was convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and I had run up to the pulpit to be saved! The church newsletter thanked me, “for being quick on my feet and keeping a ‘cool’ head in the heat of the moment!”. The following Sunday someone was sitting where we traditionally sit and Marilyn Swearingen asked us if she needed to tell them to move, as it wasn’t ‘safe’ for the church to have me sitting too far back.

I’m just happy I saw it and acted. No fanfare needed. My mom is making me write this for history’s sake. We hope to never see another “Burnt Offering”!

Hollywood Comes to the Santuary!

It was February 2020….Black History Month. Choir director, Wendell Jones, was celebrating by including special music from the African American experience.

On this special Sunday…the Sunday of the Oscars…the FUMC Women’s Chorus sang a Medley from the movie, Sister Act! Over 20 women joined their voices in a rousing medley with special solos from Teresa Heitz and Kathy McClure. It was one of those moments that made everyone smile and tap their toes…and one of those Sanctuary moments that we will always remember!

Wendell also led some of the Choir men in the rhythmic hand clapping to accompany the music. You should have heard them! It was a great addition, although they might have needed a little extra practice. Someone was heard to say, ‘And you ask 70 year old white men to keep a rhythm??”

The Sister Act songs included ‘I Will Follow Him (I Will Follow You)’, ‘Hail Holy Queen’, and ‘Shout’.

You could hear some of the congregation join in on:

‘Nothing you can say could tear me away
From my God
My God
Nothing you can do 'cause
I'm stuck like glue to my God
He may not be a movie star
But when it comes to being happy
We are.’

At the conclusion of the anthem, the choir smiled as the congregation stood and applauded the wonderful performance! Hollywood was in the House!

The Sanctuary Goes Online!

We were in a strange land of isolation. The Covid-19 Virus caused churches to close…along with restaurants, salons, and many businesses. We were staying home and trying to stay well.

That led us all to feeling disconnected from each other! There were no more hugs on Sunday morning, no seeing friends in Sunday School, no running into those sweet MDO children during the week, no fellowshipping on Wednesday nights, no yoga classes, no Companions in Christ, no Sunday Youth Group, and so many more things were not part of our daily and weekly lives any more.

Again, the Sanctuary was there for us….even if we could not be there! For the first time ever, FUMC worship services were held on Facebook Live during the month of March 2020. The sanctuary was filled with just a few to conduct the service…but with the love of many who viewed our Sanctuary in a new but meaningful way!

Just when we were feeling alone in our homes, we were connected to the Sanctuary with the click of a button! With the help of modern technology, we were allowed to connect with each other. Each time a comment popped up, we smiled! We saw so many ‘Good Morning’ wishes…along with:
“Blessings to all!”
“This is the Day the Lord has made…”
“Miss all of you!”
“This makes my heart smile!”
“Be still and know…”
“This soothes my soul!”
“Amen!”
“Just what we needed! Thank you!”
“With God’s help, we shall overcome.”

We were connected! The ‘hearts’ and ‘thumbs up’ continued to appear…each connecting us to another. The scriptures, prayers, message and music gave us new hope. As the scripture says in Matthew, “For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them.” Several hundred came together in our Sanctuary Online…and God was with us.

Facebook Live from the Sanctuary

It’s Sunday, time for church! But, due to COVID-19 and “social distancing”, I now “go to church” by moving into the kitchen and firing up Facebook Live on the computer, often still in pajamas or other loungewear, although I do always put in my earrings to, you know, dress up a bit. I love seeing the names scrolling across the bottom of the screen of those who “check in” or make a comment, as it makes me feel like I am right there with everyone else. Who would have ever thought we’d find ourselves in circumstances such as these, isolated from our friends and families while the world, as we knew it, turns upside down? The daily news is filled with heartbreak that spans the globe, and fuels widespread despair with story after story of illness and death, economic disaster, and people struggling to survive while out of work, out of money, out of food, out of hope. It is an unprecedented time that finds us making adjustments to everything we do, and that includes our church experience and how we respond to the needs that surround us.

For over 110 years, congregations have gathered at 3rd and Elm to worship together in our beautiful and historic Sanctuary. Now, after a month of Sundays in cyberspace, it’s clear that even without an open building, FUMC hasn’t missed a beat in its mission to help transform the world. Kudos to our church staff for making “connecting” a huge priority! Not only are the Sunday worship services streamed live, but staff and other groups are making use of interactive technologies to gather virtually for lessons, bible studies, meetings, and even just social “hellos”. A network of volunteers checks in with church members who may need assistance with grocery deliveries. Others make calls and write notes to spread the caring “touch” of the church and help keep spirits up. The Little Free Pantry, needed now more than ever, is being stocked regularly; a successful fundraiser sponsored by the church for the NWA Food Bank raised over $4000; and the church sewing group has made hundreds upon hundreds of masks and gowns for health facilities both near and far. Easter was celebrated beautifully with online worship, following a Holy Week of traditional observances, and even a take-home “Egg Hunt in a Bag”.

Way to go, Church! Yes, FUMC is alive and well despite this terrible virus. I am so proud of the way it has adapted and reached out to a hurting world. While I miss so much the fellowship and energy of being together with everyone in our Sanctuary, it’s abundantly clear that “The Church Has Left The Building” and is making a difference to others in so many ways. This is, after all, what Jesus calls us to do.

Nancy Swearingen

The Miraculous Picture of Our Sanctuary

If you could choose any place to spend a pandemic, where would it be? That's not the question Don and I asked ourselves when we chose Rogers, Arkansas, as our final "resting place". We didn't know that included the disastrous Covid19 virus! But living through it, with all our dear friends at First United Methodist Church-Rogers, assures us that it was the perfect choice!

For nearly two years, we have so loved the warmth and hugs and the obvious joy in the faith of worshipers each Sunday morning in the Sanctuary. But suddenly, like stepping into the "twilight zone", the Sanctuary was closed! The office was closed. The businesses were closed. The streets were bare. How could we, a couple of old people in their 90's get our meds? our groceries? What if we took an Uber to the store, contracted the virus and then passed it on to someone else? We weren't afraid of dying, but we were afraid for others, younger than we.

Then came the first Sunday. Then came the miraculous picture of our Sanctuary --right into our devotional room at our house where we sat on the couch watching. There was Lisa at the piano. There was Wendell! And there was dear Ron and, oh, there was Michael, our loved Pastor! Though they were six feet apart, the Sanctuary seemed full and alive. The music, the scripture, the sermon filled our spirits with God's spirit. And, as the congregation arrived family by family via internet, their messages and affirmations seemed like A-MEN's from the pews. Don and I sat and gave thanks for our church. We gave thanks for technology. We gave thanks that a scary invasive thing like the plague/virus cannot stop us from loving God and loving each other. And through the whole Sanctuary experience, the camera sought out that glorious Resurrection Window. The sun poured golden light and all the colors of Angels and empty tomb through the screen to us and every home where every person was feeling its healing and promising message of life after death! I thought of my sons' ashes placed beneath that window. I looked at the tiny round Bethlehem window at the top. I marveled that it’s all really real. Birth to death and everlasting life…

That next week, we learned that our church is truly one that leaves the sanctuary. Volunteers picked up our groceries and brought them to our door. More than one offered to bring our prescriptions, and the most delectable casseroles and desserts surprised us when delivered to our door!

Each Sunday, the joy has remained. We worship together though physically apart. We feel so blessed to have felt God's guidance to come back home to First United Methodist Church in Rogers. We ask God to bless you in each choice you make. And, we look forward with eager hearts to filling our Sanctuary again and never taking it for granted that we can!

Let us love one another. Let us cling to what is true and right and of God's leading.

Peace!
Constance Waddell

Reflections from Rev. Michael Mattox

I read “Sanctuary Stories” long before I ever moved to Rogers to become only the fifth Senior Pastor in the congregation’s brief history. And, weeks before my departure from this coveted post with my retirement, I would never have imagined I’d be writing such a strange story about what this blessed sanctuary space has become in the world of COVID19, a pandemic of epic proportions!

With no public worship settings being safe because of the coronavirus, we have not been gathering in the sanctuary since early March 2020. No children gather before the worship hour to put on their acolyte robe. No choir members rush out of Sunday School Classes to make it to the choir loft, ready to sing the anthem. No usher arrives early to be at his or her post to greet people and hand out church bulletins. No sound technician arrives before others to set up the cameras and test the volume of the microphones. No pastor paces back and forth in front of the altar, wondering if he has gotten his or her sermon just they way they’d like it to be. There is absolutely none of any of this, and it is very strange. But it is also holy.

For years we have known that the church is NOT the building, and we even proclaim in our benediction before departing that “…the church has left the building!” This benediction and reminder that some of us even wear on the back of our T-shirts is vividly true in this, our 25th year. But all this has not made us weaker, it has, I believe, made us even stronger.

Leading worship in a COVID 19 world means the services are shorter, by more than one half the time. Advocates for shorter sermons cheer, unseen, from the social media networks! Fewer than 5 or 7 persons huddle in the southwest corner of the sanctuary, gathered around the piano, “socially distanced” we say, like an old jazz quartet. Staying at least six feet apart from each other, we lead prayers, offer announcements and concerns of the day, sing, and preach into the lens of a tiny camera found on a cell phone. And we miss the actual physical presence of the people terribly. We’re reminded of the words of Jesus…”when two or three are gathered in my name, I am there with them,” and we lean in to sense His holy presence. It is there. Vividly, Christ’s presence is there, just like always in this precious holy place.

Stuffed teddy bears hold the offering plates and sit in the pew designated “For Acolytes” ready to receive the “offering” that is given virtually. Large pictures of new members who are joining the church are held up to the tiny camera lens and the stories are told of their journey to this special place and how they want to join in being the hands and feet of Jesus.

Most of us long for the day when the sanctuary will be filled with people once again. Will it be later in the month? Later in the summer? Dare we say it, but will the pandemic take us all the way to the celebration of our 25th year in late October? We trust the return will be sooner, not later, and we know, deep in our hearts that we will never be the same again. We trust that when we come together as Charles Wesley wrote in his 1749 hymn, and “see each other’s face, glory and thanks to Jesus (we will) give for his almighty grace! (No. 553, And Are We Yet Alive, C.Wesley)​​​​

Michael L. Mattox, Sr. Pastor July 2016—June 2020

How We Hug In A Pandemic
Constance Waddell

When our church was born, 25 years ago, we were all so thrilled that it would be in the building so loved for so long!  Everyone was joyful and excited.  There was laughter and singing and open hearted praise of God’s blessing us with this treasure. We clapped and many times rose to our feet to celebrate each new person that joined in our mission to become a new congregation. And, more than any physical expression of our happiness was to reach out and hug each other! My husband, Don Waddell, who was the founding pastor, led out with the hugging. As a former missionary in Chile, he said, “There, everyone hugs and we are going to be a hugging church, built on reaching out to each other and to everyone who comes to this Sanctuary!”

When we returned to FUMC to live our final days of life , we were overjoyed to find that same sweet spirit of loving and caring for each other and for each new person who comes through the church doors to find what’s really real. And many times the spirit is still expressed through a hug!

But, in the midst of this happy discovery came The Pandemic!  Like waking up in “The Twilight Zone”, the symbols we have depended on had disappeared. Our smiles were imprisoned behind masks. Our hands were invisibly tied so that we couldn’t touch a shoulder or shake the other’s hand or wipe away the tears of a loved friend’s grief. And no! Absolutely not could we now enfold one another in a warm embrace.  From this instant! No more hugging!

Ah, but God can find a way when there is no other way!  Already, this church was built on caring for others… missions including feeding the hungry or the lonely and the elderly. Already its mission was to see a need and minister to it. No matter if it was someone who hadn’t come to our Sanctuary. The Sanctuary came to it!  The Wednesday Night Fellowship Meal didn’t require a membership card, it simply opened the doors and said “Come sit and sup us. You are a part of God’s Family!”

The Sanctuary was expanded to include into our homes via technology.  And we felt each other’s presence with each hello and affirmation as they checked in to the Worship Services. The Sanctuary also expanded to include our beautiful Memorial Chapel and the Pastor’s offices and the beautiful settings and views in nature at Bella Vista. We sang and prayed together and were moved and strengthened to lean on God through our pastors’ words and the music that touched our souls.

I’m saying This Church was already equipped for mission in the midst of a Pandemic! Hugs became Virtual Hugs. But are still being felt!

Because we are old, the Sanctuary came to our door and left delicious meals or delivered our groceries and Pastor Ron even hunted down an elusive battery for my blood pressure monitor. The Sanctuary still gave out food to the hungry…aid to the needy stranger… and encouragement to those who were/are afraid or ill and needing their beloved Pastor Michael. The ministry flowed out from our Sanctuary in the form of masks, isolation gowns, and myriad unique acts of mercy and kindnesses spearheaded by the group who call themselves Boomerang Joy!

Yes.  No physical hugging for a while, but the hugs go on. We are a hugging church. And we follow a God who is always there with a hug full of grace.   Amen.