South Arkansas Regional Health Center honored the Wesleyan Sunday School class as its Community award recipient. The class is actively engaged in numerous community projects and activities, all of which are designed to improve the quality of life for others. In so doing, they have found their own lives to be richly blessed by these experiences. For a number of years, they have treated clients and staff of Benchmark Industries (a rehabilitation program operated by South Arkansas Regional Health Center) to a traditional Christmas dinner, as well as a July 4th hot dog/hamburger cookout. They have also provided monetary and hands-on assistance to the Methodist Boys Home in Magnolia. Members of this class, through their Home Repair Mission Group, converted an unused double garage into an attractive and useful recreation room for the home. This renovation included installing heating and air conditioning and making the room comfortable year round for the boys to pursue electronic games, weight lifting, pool, etc. The class also gives Wal-Mart gift cards to the residents at Christmas plus other monetary gifts several times a year to meet basic needs. Class members have qualified as Certified Hospice Volunteers by taking the required course. They provide meals for families of Hospice patients and perform other volunteer services. The Wesleyan class provides a Home Repair Mission work project for the community at large. They have built wheelchair ramps and made general household repairs for seniors needing such assistance. They also have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to build houses locally and have gone wherever they were needed to rebuild homes in areas hit by tornados. The class members participate in many other ministries including the "Fellowship of the Sent" in their own church to deliver hot meals to shut-ins each month.

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The stained glass windows in the Sanctuary were recently restored to their original beauty and to the Glory of God. On Sunday, August 17, 2008 they were dedicated as follows during the Sanctuary Service:

In Memory of William C. Nolan
by Theodosia Nolan

In Memory of A.L. Davis
by Wilbur Davis

In Memory of Dr. and Mrs. J. Shelton Rushing, Mr. and Mrs. David M. Yocum, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. A. Sidney Rushing, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford P. McHenry,
by David Jr. and Martha Yocum


In Memory of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Brown
by Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Brown and Bonnie Craig

In Memory of Vince "Bob" Roberts
G. Cecil Powledge

In Honor of Celia Powledge Roberts
by Lillie Mae Powledge

In Memory of Eugene, Maude, and Jimmy Lusk
Dorothy Lusk Myrick
James B. Reynolds

In Honor of Burnelle Reynolds
by John and Becki Lusk

First United Methodist Church in El Dorado sent a 25-member mission team to Rio Bravo, Mexico the week of May 25-30. In conjunction with Manos Juntas (Hands Together) Mexico, the team built two casitas, conducted a Bible School for local children and assisted in the construction of a park next to the Manos Juntas compound. Manos Juntas is an ongoing cooperative mission effort between the Methodist Church of Mexico and the Methodist Church of the United States. Mission trips to Rio Bravo are organized through the Oklahoma VIM (Volunteers in Mission). The 2008 team, including two members of First Presbyterian-El Dorado and two members of Timothy UMC-Camden, consisted of: Brandy Alewine, Barbara & Levis Alexander, Jenny Bell, Chris Carpenter, Sandy & Mark Carpenter, Lis Fox, Kay & Scott Hardin, Adam Hughes, Chance Hughes, Bob Lolley, Becki & John Lusk, Emily Moore, Robin & Mike Morrison, Daniel Polk, Jim Polk, Kelly Sheppard, Victoria Sheppard, Lauren Sideroff, JoAn Skinner, and Robin Thornton.

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The 2008 high school graduates were recoginzed in the Sanctuary Service on Sunday, May 18th. The seniors and their families were treated to lunch in Fellowship Hall following the service. Pictured from left to right are: John Scott, Amy Crawley, Melissa Yocum, Ryan Murphy, Greg Thomas, Elizabeth Wells, and Jeremiah Hewitt. Not pictured are: Cara Brown, Jeff Deming, Hannah George and Gabby Smith.