ISSUE 15, VOLUME 5CONNECTIONSAPRIL 12TH, 2026STOUT MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCHWE EXIST TO SEE ALL PEOPLE FIND HOPE, HEALING AND WHOLENESS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST Register Now for Annual Conference Review Sessions The West Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church will host three online preview webinars to help members prepare for the 2026 Annual Conference Session taking place June 10–13 at West Virginia Wesleyan College. These webinars will provide helpful information, offer opportunities for questions, and ensure participants are well-prepared for this year’s gathering centered on the theme Rooted in Love. Each webinar will be offered live and recorded. The recording will be posted online for those who can’t attend. April 28 at 12 p.m. — Annual Conference Overview An introduction to this year’s Annual Conference, including theme, schedule, logistics, and what to expect. April 30 at 12 p.m. — District Re-Alignment An overview of the proposed district re-alignment, including background and process used to develop the proposal. May 18 at 12 p.m. — Conference Budget Process A look at how the conference budget is developed, along with an overview of the proposed budget. THIS WEEK @ STOUT Sunday, April 12th 8:45AM Contemporary Worship 9:45AM Sunday School 10:45AM Traditional Worship 5:00PM Advanced Pickleball 5:30PM Eureka Small Group Mon., April13th 10:00 Walkers in the Gym 10AM-2PM Accepting Yard Sale Donations 7:00PM UWF: Hope Circle 7:00PM Girl Scouts Tues., April 14th 10:00AM Beginners Pickleball 10AM-2PM Accepting Yard sale Donations 6:00PM Pack Committee Meet Wed., April 15th 10:00AM Bible Study 10:00 Walkers in the Gym 10AM-2PM Accepting Yard sale Donations 7:00Pm Choir Rehearsal Thurs., April 16th 10AM-12PM Accepting Yard sale Donations 5:30PM Beginner’s Pickleball Friday, April 17th 10:00AM Walkers in the Gym 4PM-7PM UWF Yard Sale Sat., April 18th 8:30AM UMM Breakfast and Meeting 9:00AM Pickleball Tournament 9AM-2PM UWF Yard Sale Coming Soon!! April 25-26—Vision/Mission Retreat Annual Church Yard Sale will be held Friday, April 17th 4pm to 7pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm. Concessions will be available Friday evening. Donation Drop-Offs will be April 12th-16th, Mon-Wed 10a-2pm and Thursday 10a-12pm. We welcome all except clothing. Any small electronics should be in working conditions. Household items, shoes, purses, luggage, sporting goods and children's toys are greatly appreciated. No items will be accepted after Thursday April 16th. Proceeds go to the Missions Funding. Pastor Helen’s Weekly Scripture I Peter 1:3-9 John 20 : 19-31 Missions House to Home. needs include shampoo, women's hygiene products, body wash, laundry detergent, coffee, powdered coffee creamer, toothpaste, toothbrushes, men's and women's underwear. PHS Care Closet. Needs Women’s Undies S M L. Check out the front desk in the Gathering Space for a list of needs for our high school students. The Second Sunday community meal at St Paul's on Market St. will be held on April 12th. Want to come and serve or visit with the attendees? Come on down about 3:45 to St Paul’s. Desserts also needed. Bring to Stout kitchen by noon on 4/12 and they will be taken there. In Our Prayers This Week Debbie Backus Family of Rick Beaty Jack Buhrow Michael Burton Carleton Chidester Jennifer Davis David Cronin & Family Larry EnochLindell Elder Family of Patsy Flensborg Buddy & Nancy James Betsy Jefferson Bill Keller Markai & Family Jim Munchmeyer Hanna Myers Matt Newlon Joyce Okes Diana Shepard Cheri Springston Andy Swearingen Dave Lucas Jackson Woods Thrive Food Pantry is collecting Hygiene items thru May 1st. Place items in the white laundry basket located in the Gathering Space. Here is a checklist of items needed. Soap (bar or liquid), Shampoo, Toothbrush, Deodorant, Lotion, Hand Soap, and Nail Clippers. Additional check lists are available on the Welcome Desk. Thank you! -Debby Matheny OCC Year-Round Shoebox Shopping – April Focus: Stuffed Animals As we continue preparing for Operation Christmas Child all year long, April is the perfect time to focus on collecting stuffed animals for our shoebox gifts. A small, soft stuffed animal can bring great comfort and joy to a child. For many children who receive a shoebox, this may be their very first toy—something they can hug, cherish, and remember as a gift of love. When shopping, please look for: · New, small to medium-sized stuffed animals · Soft and cuddly items that will fit easily inside a shoebox · Durable toys with securely attached parts Be mindful to avoid anything overly large or with removable pieces that could become lost. Thank you for helping us share God’s love in a tangible way. Each simple gift, including a stuffed animal, can make a lasting impact in a child’s life. April 5, 2026 Attendance Sunrise Service: 16 Traditional Worship: 108 Offering: $8,383.00 STOUT MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 3329 Broad Street Parkersburg, WV 26104 304.428.1179 Stoutmemorial@gmail.com Facebook.com/StoutMemorial Youtube.com/@stoutmemorialumcwww.StoutMemorial.org ADDITIONAL INSERTS TO THE BULLETIN Pathways: Prayer WalkingWhat it isPrayer walking is a practice of walking through a neighborhood while praying intentionally for the people, homes and spaces you encounter. It helps us align our hearts with God's love for our neighbors and remain attentive to what god is already doing around us. It is as much about listening to the ways God is directing you as it is praying. Mission/Vision RetreatWhat it isThe purpose of this retreat is to set aside focused time of reflection, prayer, discussion, listening, and consideration of what God wants for our church. With help of a facilitator, we will discuss the information collected in all phases of our retreat preparation as we contemplate the needs of our community and begin to explore where God is leading us. Any member of our church is invited to attend. If you lead any event, committee, or group, you are especially encouraged to participate. Everyone is invited to attend our Sunday 4/25 worship, lunch, and session wrap-up. FAITHLINK Do you have two to four hours a month that you could share with someone who needs a bit of assistance in order to continue to live independently?FaithLink volunteers provide transportation to medical appointments for folks who are elderly, have a chronic illness or a physical disability. The volunteer is in charge of the time and tasks chose. If you are available to lend a hand or wish to find out more about FaithLink, please call the office at 304-485-5525 ext 2.