First United Methodist Church
121 Harrison Ave. SW
Camden, Arkansas
71701
870-836-6871
fumccamden@sbcglobal.net
Encouraging and equipping believers to make disciples through their loving service to all.

Sunday School at 9:30am
Al Rose & Wesley Class meet on the 2nd Floor
Ellen Horseman's Class meets on the 3rd Floor
Young Adult's, Children & Youth Classes meet on the 3rd Floor
Worship at 10:30am in the Sanctuary
®
Check Out Our Weekly Email Want to join our email list?
Click here
May Birthdays
Events this Week!
Wednesday @ 7:00pm - Choir
Friday @ 9:00am - Food Pantry
Saturday @ 11:15am - Leadership & Staff Lunch (Great Hall)
Sunday @ 9:30am - Sunday School
Sunday @ 10:30am - Worship
Sunday @ 11:30am - Potluck Lunch
Sunday @ 5:00pm - Youth
Monday @ 9:00am - Food Pantry
Monday @ 2:30pm - Doors open to Great Hall
Monday @ 4:45pm - Sue's Table
Tuesday @ 9:00am - Food Pantry
This Weeks Sermon:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
The full worship service is broadcast on FM 97.1 on Sunday mornings at 9:00am.



Bits from Beth
May 6, 2026
Dear Friends:
There is a lot going on right now in our congregation so I’m using headers to keep it organized and clear.
Pastoral Transition - Mike and Price Murphree, Jonathan AcAllister, and Wade Green came to the parsonage Wednesday morning to help my brother, David, pack four U-Haul pods that will transport most of my furniture and personal items to Colorado. We are removing these items to make room for needed updates in the parsonage. Our Leadership Team has approved up to $20,000 in necessary improvements but will continue to evaluate as we move closer to the end of June. Many people assumed that updates were made when the tree fell on the den and master bedroom ten years ago but we were only able to repair the damage and replace the master bedroom furniture.
The Bachuss family will be visiting the parsonage this Saturday and we will take careful notes on what furniture will be added or taken away before they arrive in late June. There may be some backyard workdays in June since no major updates were done when the remaining trees were cut down a couple of years ago. We do love trees but it was determined that we were in danger of having more trees fall on the house especially those that were already beginning to lean. Some of you might have noticed the damaged mailbox. The new mailbox finally arrived and should be installed this week.
Preschool – Amanda Reynolds has served as our Assistant Director of Preschool for many years. A few years ago, she decided not just to begin teaching out children’s Sunday School class but also became a spiritual director in our Preschool. We are so grateful for her service. Last week, she left her position as assistant Director to take a fulltime position with Knox Electric. We know how fortunate they are to have her! We will miss her smiling face Tuesday through Thursday! Kyla Pace will become the Assistant Director in the Fall. Our Preschool will hold its graduation and close its 2025-26 school year.
Celebrations - On Saturday, our church was full with the celebration of the marriage of Claire Mosley to Mac Wagner. We have once again sanded and stained the front doors. This Sunday we began my last sermon series on the texts that have meant the most to me over my 27 years in ministry. Next Sunday we celebrate our Seniors and our mothers. Here are our Graduates:
High School – Dalton Dobbins, Jenkins Dobbins & Helen Pope
College – Adam Mosley (University of Arkansas)
Other – Judson Wolfe from Smackover High School, grandson of Gail Wolfe.
Generosity - Thank you for your continued faithfulness. April was a wonderful giving month and we are now just a few thousand dollars from attaining our goal of being in the black when our new pastor arrives. Thanks to your generosity, our ministries continue to be fully funded. We will have another Sue’s Table giveaway on the 11th & 18th of May. If you have items, please do not bring them until Sunday afternoon, May 10th. We will be having our Mother’s Day/Seniors Potluck after worship.
Storm Damage - Last week we had a Volunteers in Mission (VIM) chainsaw team come to remove trees and debris around homes in our area after the storm on Sunday morning, April 26th. They were able to stay on the third floor, use our showers, and our kitchen. VIM teams are part of the local church work with UMCOR, United Methodist Committee on Relief. These volunteers came from different parts of our states, led by Rev. Brad Moore who is currently the Senior Pastor at FUMC in Clinton, Arkansas. If you are interested in being a part of a VIM team, please let us know and we will make certain you know the dates for upcoming training.
What is next! – Pentecost is Sunday, May 24th! Remember to wear red! Our Leadership Team & SPRC will provide more information on my last Sunday, June 14th, and Pastor Ryan’s arrival in the last week in June. While you may have had pastor’s leave the final Sunday before a move, most pastors and leaders recommend at least a one-week period where you are preparing to receive a new pastor and two weeks if it is a retirement.
Mother’s Day – Sunday, May 3rd, was Bereaved Mother’s Sunday. Our prayers are always with the mothers who have buried at least one of their children. This Sunday, let us remember that mothers come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Many of us grew up with more than just a birth mother. We have surrogate mothers who were neighbors, teachers, aunts, and church ladies. We also recognize that not all women have successfully conceived and carried a pregnancy to term. This day is difficult for many of them and we lift them up in our prayers, as well.
Food Pack Party - Fairview United Methodist Church has invited us to join them on Wednesday, May 13th at 6pm, for a “pack shack” food packing ministry. We have done this twice in our Great Hall, first with a city wide ministry and then with a District Ingathering. This is a great experience for the whole family. Fairview is hoping to recruit 30-40 volunteers.
Grace and peace,
Beth







Announcement of New Appointment
Bishop Laura Merrill has announced her intention to appoint Rev. Ryan Bachuss as the pastor for Camden First United Methodist Church, effective July 1, 2026. We welcome Pastor Ryan, his wife, Lyndsey, and their daughter, Emerson, into our church family. Pastor Rtan looks forward to being in ministry with the faithful congregation at Camden First United Methodist following the retirement of Rev. Beth Waldrup.
Pastor Ryan has a Bachelor of Science degree from South Arkansas University and an Masters of Theology from Asbury Theological Seminary. He has served Little Missouri UMC, St. Paul/Adkins Memorial UMC in Malvern, and is currently serving at Huntsville/Presley Chapel in Huntsville, Arkansas. Lyndsey is a native of Bearden.
Ryan states that he is excited to walk alongside our church family as they work in the community through their various ministries. I'm also excited that there is a push to build the youth group and the children's programs.



First United Methodist Youth




Online Giving with Tithely:
We now provide you with the option to give your tithes and offerings online. You can make contributions to the General Fund, Capital Improvement Fund or the Mission Fund. It is quick and easy to setup. Click the button below to get started. If you have any questions please contact the church office for assistance.

Please let us know if you would like to volunteer for any of our missions. We can always use extra hands and feet and most importantly loving hearts.
February Food Pantry Volunteers


Sues table and food Pantry
First United Methodist Church has a program called Sue's Table that offers a free meal every Monday night at 4:45 pm . One plate per person no carry outs. We will start serving at 5:00pm. We also have a Food Pantry that is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 9-11 am. Thank you.
Our feeding program participate in and distribute USDA TEFAP (emergency feeding assistance program). This organization is an equal opportunity provider and follows USDA nondiscriminatory policies .
We are a USDA distribution site
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Latest News...
Click on the weekly email, or Friday update button or the Sunday worship bulletin button above.
Please click on the links above for monthly YOUTH SCHEDULE, FOOD PANTRY SCHEDULE and SUE'S TABLE SCHEDULE.
Visit our Preschool Page to see the latest Monthly Newsletter.
Be sure to visit our Facebook page and check out our weekly email to see all our church has to offer in the coming weeks!
Previous Sermons:
Previous sermons can be found on Libsyn. Previous worship services and Sunday school lessons can be found on our YouTube Channel. See the icons below: YouTube- Facebook- Libsyn







