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FEBRUARY 2026 |
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THE CROWS NEST |
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SPRINGDALE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MONTHLY NEWSLETTER |
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INSIDE THIS MONTH'S ISSUE |
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Rebecca's Reflections Upcoming Events February Worship Love that Goes Beyond our Walls Lenten Study The Wesleyan Concept of Grace West Branch Food Pantry What is the Vision Statement of UMC? Cookie Buckets Wednesday Night Discipleship Family Faith Night Conference & Circuit News Ad Board Minutes SUMC 2026 and Beyond Ministry Planning |
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BIRTHDAYS |
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3 - Huxley Sabourin 4 - Ben Donohoe 6 - Abby Knoop 14 - Tricia Manning 14 - Nate Nash 14 - Nick Nash 17 - Bailey Donohue 17- Moose Maxson 17- Spencer Whitlatch 19 - Josh Hartz 20 - Ali Jo Baker 23 - Jeremiah Sabourin 26 - Zeb Brown 28 - Jodi Clemens 28 - Mitchell Hesseltine 28 - Jenny Sabourin |
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ANNIVERSARIES |
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2 - Jeremiah & Alinda Sabourin (10) |
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SUMC'S MISSION, VISION & VALUES |
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Mission We exist as a church to make disciples, bringing persons to Jesus Christ and to Christ's community.
Vision *The Church bulges with attendance; Babies cry in the back pew; and Cheerios can be found on the floor. *Many people get their hands dirty serving God's church and God's children. *Persons of all ages regularly meet together in every nook and cranny for spiritual support and nurturing. *Congregations gives joyfully.
Values *Everything we do is based on our worth as God's children and seeing that in others. *We use all we have and are to serve God and God's people. *We believe in joy, content to give thanks to the Lord in all things even through tough times of darkness.
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"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs... It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres". |
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REBECCA'S REFLECTIONS |
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February has arrived, with frigid temperatures still hanging around. However, as we know from other years, the weather will change soon. February is a transition month from season to season, from dark and cold to more light and moderating temperatures. It is also the time when we in the church transition from the season of Epiphany, the season of Light, to the season of Lent and penitence. As we enter Lent on Ash Wednesday, we begin our six-week journey to Holy Week and ultimately, to Easter Sunday. But first, we will go to the mountaintop with Jesus and the disciples, to experience transfiguration and renewal.
As we begin Lent, I encourage everyone to consider attending the Ash Wednesday Service at West Branch UMC on February 18th at 6:00 pm. Then, whether it is in person or on-line, consider being a part of the Lenten Bible Study (Thursdays at 9:00 am or on Facebook). The study this year is “Meeting Jesus on the Road”.
Join us for worship in February—you’ll be glad you did!
Rebecca |
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
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FEBRUARY WORSHIP |
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Theme for the Month:
February 1 Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Communion Sunday Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12 Sermon: “Acceptable Boasts”
February 8 Scripture: Matthew 5:13-20 Sermon: "Salt and Light"
February 15 Scripture: 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9 Sermon: "Seeing the Light"
February 22 Sermon: "Hiding" |
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Adult Sunday School at 9 a.m. Wednesday Night Discipleship 5:30 p.m. - WBUMC |
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SONG OF THE MONTH |
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LOVE THAT GOES BEYOND OUR WALLS |
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February often invites us to think about love—romantic love, family love, friendship, and the many relationships that shape our lives. In the church, however, love is never meant to stay small or private. Christ’s love is expansive. It moves outward. It crosses boundaries. It invites, welcomes, and transforms.
For those of us serving in outreach, mission, and evangelism, February is a timely reminder that love is not just a feeling—it is a calling.
Jesus tells us that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbors. That second commandment doesn’t come with qualifiers. It doesn’t depend on how long someone has attended church, how familiar they are with scripture, or how comfortable we feel around them. It simply calls us to love. Outreach and evangelism begin not with programs or plans, but with genuine relationships rooted in Christ-like love.
When we greet someone warmly on Sunday morning, when we notice a family that hasn’t been here in a while, when we reach out to our community through service and compassion—we are practicing evangelism. Every act of kindness becomes a living testimony to the love of God. People are far more likely to encounter Christ through how they are treated than through what they are told.
Mission work, too, is an expression of love in action. Whether it’s supporting local organizations, helping neighbors in need, or participating in broader mission efforts, we are showing the world that God’s love is practical, present, and powerful. These acts say, “You matter. You are seen. You are loved.”
In a season when the world often narrows love down to romance or sentiment, the church has an opportunity to show something deeper and wider. We are called to be a community where love looks like hospitality, patience, forgiveness, generosity, and courage. A place where people can belong before they believe, and be known before they are fully known to us.
As we move through February, may we ask ourselves: How is God inviting me to love more boldly? Who in our community needs a relationship, not just an invitation? Where can our church be a visible sign of Christ’s love beyond our walls?
Love is the heart of the Gospel. When we live it out together, outreach, mission, and evangelism become not just committee work—but holy work.
Paula Rogers COME Chair |
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THE WESLEYAN CONCEPT OF GRACE |
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A three-party series by Joe Iovino
The Bible teaches us that everything we have from God is given because of God's great love for us. "You are saved by God's grace because of your faith," Ephesians 2 reads. "This salvation is God's gift. It's not something you possessed. It's not something you did that you can be proud of" (Ephesians 2:8-9 CEB).
United Methodists recognize God's grace at work throughout our spiritual journeys. John Wesley, the historic founder of the Methodist movement, wrote and preached about the role of God's grace to prepare us, redeem us, and continually shape us into the people we were created to be.
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WEST BRANCH FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS |
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February Diapers, pull ups, and Adult Depends.
March Pancake Mix and Syrup |
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WHAT IS THE VISION STATEMENT OF THE |
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Above is the full version of the vision statement of The United Methodist Church. You may more often it see abbreviated “Love boldly, Serve joyfully, Lead courageously.”
The vision statement of The United Methodist Church does not replace the mission statement: “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” The statement in full makes that clear.
Rather, it focuses United Methodists at all levels of church life on the outcomes of our discipling work.
These disciples, it says, are to “love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.”
The vision statement acknowledges that these outcomes are not entirely of our own making. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers all disciples of Jesus Christ. Our role is to collaborate with the Spirit’s work to foster bold love, joyful service and courageous leadership among the disciples we are part of forming.
The vision statement also calls United Methodists at every level of church life to ask what we can do to foster disciples of Jesus who behave like this vision.
Love BoldlyDisciples of Jesus follow his teaching to love our enemies and do good even to those who harm us (Luke 6:27-28). Jesus begins that sermon by identifying those who are blessed in God’s coming kingdom: the poor, the hungry, the mourning, the persecuted, and the hated. If our love is to focus on those who receive God’s blessing, it should be one with and amplify the voices of people who are poor, people who cannot afford food or other basic needs for themselves or their families, people who face grievous difficulties in their lives, and people who are oppressed or marginalized. In the United States, currently, this explicitly includes transgender people, immigrants, refugees, and people on boats alleged but not proven to carry drugs. All of these people, our neighbors, are currently being targeted by powerful leaders for hostile treatment. Loving boldly calls United Methodists to show love to one another and to all people, especially targeted people, in whatever ways we can—and to do so openly, boldly.
The same sermon also raises a caution for many United Methodists who have plenty of money, are not hungry, find themselves in a place of privilege and are generally spoken well of rather than targeted for hostile treatment. Jesus declares woe to all in any of these positions. That includes me. This is a call to repent. Sociological research tells us that most people in these positions do not have many if any meaningful relationships with people who are poor, hungry, distraught or treated as hated. Early Methodists who were wealthy were constantly urged by John Wesley to associate with people who were poor and to visit prisoners. True association requires spending considerable time and effort in building trust with people who do not know us and also do know what people like us have done to them. Loving boldly, for many of us, will require us to learn how to become allies with those we have largely ignored or abandoned.
Serve joyfullyService in U.S. culture is often pictured either as a burden one takes upon oneself or something done because one is forced to by circumstances (such as racism, sexism, xenophobia, human traffickers or poverty) or by the courts (community service). For disciples of Jesus, however, service need not be not a burden, nor must it be forced upon us. Service can be an opportunity to live and work alongside those who are most blessed in God’s reign. If we believe that people who are poor, hungry, suffering or targeted for hostile treatment are the blessed, being among them and using whatever privilege we may have to amplify their voices can and must be joyous. So to serve joyfully requires only that we believe what Jesus said to his first disciples about who receives God’s blessings in God’s reign and act accordingly.
Lead courageouslyLeadership in U.S. culture is typically associated with individuals placed at the top of an organization or government seeking to control the situation around them to their own perceived advantage. The measure of effective leadership in this context is typically the degree of increase in wealth, status or power generated by the actions of the leader. Leadership in this model is a zero-sum game; the leader’s gain is at the cost of the losses of others.
Leadership as Jesus teaches it is the quite different. "Whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all" (Mark 10:44, NRSVUE). Success in leadership in God's reign is measured not in how well an individual controls the situation around them, nor in how much the leader gains for the sake of oneself or their organization or government. Success in leadership in God’s reign is measured by whether and how well everyone around the leader is cared for. Such leadership generates a net positive-sum outcome for all involved, making the lives of everyone better, even in the face of ongoing opposition or oppression.
Leadership for disciples of Jesus thus necessarily involves collaboration and partnership more than individual prowess. Its currency is not power, influence or wealth. Costs to disciples who lead courageously are real. They may include reputation, wealth, opportunity and even harm to leaders and their loved ones. Increased power, influence or wealth may instead be indicators that leadership and courage as disciples of Jesus have waned.
The currency of leadership as Jesus teaches is it love for every neighbor, especially neighbors who have fewer resources, are weaker in some way, or are otherwise deprived of power. Effective leadership in God’s reign requires the leader to become a trusted partner and work with others to deploy all the assets of a group for the greater benefit of all.
To lead courageously, disciples of Jesus learn a different meaning of courage than is commonly portrayed in U.S. culture. Like leadership itself, courage is generally seen as a quality of the heroic individual who “takes a stand” against a powerful adversary, often in a dramatic and confrontational way. It may be difficult to distinguish the courageous leader, in this model, from someone who exercises fearless, even arrogant bravado. Courage as Jesus calls for has nothing to do with such heroism. The courageous servant-leader stands with and alongside those God’s reign calls blessed, day in, day out. There may be few if any dramatic confrontations. Courage as Jesus teaches it is far more notable for its reliability and persistence over time than "victories" in “decisive clashes.” Creating a culture of disciples of Jesus who lead courageously involves leaders setting a good example of courageous leadership themselves and cultivating many others who are learning how to do the same thing. Courage includes acknowledgment both of our limitations and fears and of our trust in God to fulfill God's promises. With such honesty, integrity and faith, courageous leaders persevere in siding with and working alongside those God’s reign calls blessed.
Disciples of Jesus who love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously are people whose lives, work, and relationships become more fully aligned with with the work of God's reign which overcomes the powers of this world. Or, in the words of Charles Wesley and the commendation of the newly baptized in the United Methodist baptismal covenant. this vision statement aims to help "perfect us in love." |
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT DISCIPLESHIP |
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5:30 p.m. - PK-6th grade classes meet in classrooms 6:10 p.m. - Family Worship 6:30 p.m. - Family Supper in Fellowship Hall |
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SUMC is looking for volunteers to help prepare, serve, and clean up for the Family Supper the Third Wednesday of every month. We also need volunteers to provide baked goods (6 dozen). Please contact Rebecca or Paula for more information and to sign up. |
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CONFERENCE, DISTRICT AND CIRCUIT NEWS |
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AD BOARD MINUTES |
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Springdale UMC Leadership Board meeting Minutes—January 26, 2026
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SUMC 2026 AND BEYOND MINISTRY GOALS AND PLANNING |
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Goal |
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Key Action Steps |
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Timeline |
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Resources Needed |
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Increase outreach |
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Identify at least 3 community events for presence or sponsorship; develop simple materials; set up volunteer sign-ups |
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Ongoing |
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Flyers; social media posts; volunteer schedule |
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Increase family attendance |
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Host family-friendly worship & outreach events quarterly (e.g. picnic, mini-VBS, outdoor service) |
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Ongoing |
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Family-friendly activities; food budget |
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Show appreciation for current attendees |
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Create quarterly recognition Sundays (e.g. "Birthday Sunday"); thank-you notes |
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Ongoing |
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Cards, refreshments |
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Organize and store church photos |
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Gather photos; assign a small group to organize photos and develop a storing system (digital and/or physical) |
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Q2 2026 |
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Photo boxes and/or scanner |
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ADA Building |
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Finalize accessibility plan; obtain bids; research grant opportunities |
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Q1 2026 |
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Contractor bids and grant research |
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Grow worship attendance by 5% each year |
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Track attendance; launch invite campaign; feature personal testimonials on social media |
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Ongoing |
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Data tracking sheet; social media posts |
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Separate praise/worship time |
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Pilot an alternative or contemporary service once per month |
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Q2 2026 |
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Committee |
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Outdoor worship/picnic |
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Schedule at park or church lawn; plan lunch & music |
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Summer/Fall 2026 |
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Committee |
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Bi-Annual Bible/Book Study |
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Identify a study |
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Q1 & Q3 2026 |
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Curriculum/book; identify a study leader |
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Lenten Devotional Book |
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Collect devotions from members; publish by Lent. |
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Q1 2026 |
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Printing or digital platform |
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Bless the Animals Sunday |
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Select date; promote |
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Fall 2026 |
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Marketing, supplies |
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Christmas Caroling |
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Organize routes and songbooks |
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December 2026 |
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Committee |
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Weekly blog devotions |
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Create schedule of authors; make weekly posts |
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Q1-Q4 2026 |
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Website access |
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Update Church Directory |
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Collect info/photos; publish printed & digital copy |
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Q4 2026 |
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Camera; printing; design |
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Worship at Little Bear |
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Contact campground; schedule annual summer service |
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Annually through 2027 |
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Volunteer; bulletins; sound system |
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Mission day to Matthew 25 (CR) |
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Coordinate service team |
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Annually through 2027 |
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Volunteers |
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Engage with local celebrations |
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Participate in at least 2 community festivals each year |
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Ongoing |
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Volunteers; identify celebrations |
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Better utilize west wing & closet |
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Inventory space; create multipurpose plan (storage ministry use) |
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Q2 2026 |
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Volunteer |
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Church-wide clean-up/purge |
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Annual spring cleaning day |
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Q2 each year |
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Create cleaning list and recruit volunteers |
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Grow connections within circuit |
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Host or join shared worship/mission events |
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Ongoing |
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Identify opportunities |
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Weekend Retreat (Youth and/or adult) |
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Plan small retreat at local camp |
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2026-2027 |
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Identify programming; location; date; promote |
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Rebuild youth programming |
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Recruit 2 volunteers; plan quarterly youth events and/or Sunday programming |
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Q2 2026 |
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Volunteers; curriculum |
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155th Anniversary Celebration |
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Form committee at least 1 year in advance; plan worship; meal; and community event |
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2029 |
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Committee formed by 2028 |
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Revised Yule Buffet |
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Refresh menu & decor; invite community |
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Annually beginning 2028-2030 |
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Committee |
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ADA Building (completion) |
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Finish all accessibility upgrades |
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2028-2030 |
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Committee |
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Increase pastoral support (1/2 to full-time) |
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Stewardship campaign; reassess budget & needs |
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2027-2029 |
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Assessments |
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Long-term stewardship study |
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Implement multi-week giving & vision series |
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2026-2028 |
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Committee |
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Upgrade/update Kitchen |
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Assess needs, fundraise, and complete renovation |
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2027-2029 |
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Committee |
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Seal Time Capsule |
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Identify items to include |
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Q1 2026 |
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Announcement as to date |
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Sew personal dignity kits for Midwest Mission |
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Recruit sewers or those willing to learn |
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Q2 2026 |
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Machines, sewing materials |