Worship Preview 9.21.25

Press Release for September 20th, 2025

First United Methodist

Community Office Hours – Monday, September 22^nd. Pastor Christopher will again be available at Common Grounds from 2-4pm Monday if you’d like to chat, share a prayer request, or ask a question. Come grab a drink or snack and say hello!

Wednesday, September 24th, Feeding Families in His Name: A free, no obligation meal is served “to-go” style from underneath our portico from 5:30-6:30pm each Wednesday, prepared each week by our members as well as several area churches and community groups. If you would like to support this ministry, you can make donations online at: www.firstumcfortscott.org/feedingfamiliesdonation. Thank you.

Aging Forward, Friday, September 26^th, 1-4pm. This month our featured speakers will be Greg Motley, board member and Anita Walden, chief administrative officer, from Freeman Fort Scott Hospital. They’ll share the latest updates on the process of getting the new facility open and the services the facility now offers to the Fort Scott community! Then we’ll hear from Crystal Stock of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America for an informative presentation designed to help improve understanding about senior living options. It will be another great time of fellowship and learning!  Light refreshments will be served. No cost to attend. Invite a friend!

Mark Your Calendars – Sunday, October 12^th at 3pm – Gospel Concert with Second Hand Strings! A freewill donation fundraiser for Feeding Families in His Name. Second Hand Strings is an acoustic group whose members enjoy sharing their love of music. The group of friends began playing together a few years ago to share their fondness of folk and classic country music. They will perform a selection of popular old-time gospel songs, adding their bluegrass touch.

Looking Ahead - On October 31st we will again host our annual Trunk or Treat event in the parking lot behind our building at 301 S. National. We’ll start at 5:30 and end at dusk - plan to bring the kids or grandkids - or bring your own decorated trunks and share a spot to hand out treats!  Then the first weekend in December we’ll once again host our Nativity Showcase - look for signup information soon if you’d like to display a favorite nativity set of your own!

Worship This Sunday: 10:30am –  Kansas Interfaith Action: Sacred Values and Civic Engagement. Scriptures: Amos 8:4-7 and Luke 15:1-10. Sheri Ellwood guest preaching. In our September newsletter, Pastor Christopher shared a bit about Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA), a group he has supported for years but recently has gotten more directly involved with. KIFA is a statewide, multi-faith issue-advocacy organization that “puts faith into action” by educating, engaging, and advocating on behalf of people of faith and the public regarding critical social, economic, and climate justice issues. I’m pleased to welcome their Rural Advocacy Coordinator, Sheri Ellwood to Fort Scott this Sunday. She will share about KIFA’s work in which people of different faiths unite around sacred values. She will describe cultural pressures which distract from our shared sacred values and explain how those values move us to engage in nonpartisan civic engagement for the sake of our neighbors. We will consider Luke 15 through the lens of the whole of scripture and will explore what it means to stand with the lost as Jesus does. Ellwood’s farming background will help us relate to the lost sheep parable and see the value in our own stories. For more information about KIFA visit kansasinterfaithaction.org.

We invite you to explore the hope and presence of Christ together with us at 10:30am each Sunday. 301 S. National here in Fort Scott. Blessings on your journey!