First United Methodist Church, Fort Scott, KS

06/07/2026

6.7.2026 First UMC Fort Scott “One Thing After Another” Rev. Sarah Gengler

06/07/2026

Our work sites use code names, picked by the ASP staff, to protect family privacy. As you follow our trip look for “Eyeball2” and “Gossip1” - we’ll be doing whole house siding on the first one and roofing on the 2nd. Hold us and those we serve in prayer.

Our Saturday travel group worshipped with our overnight hosts at St. Matthews UMC in Louisville and is on way to site. Sunday travel crew left Fort Scott about 5:30am to catch up.

06/05/2026

Our 23rd Mission Trip to make homes warmer, safer, and drier for those the Appalachian Service Project works with departs this weekend. We will again be in Eastern Kentucky, this time in Leslie County, KY. We are appreciative of St. Matthews UMC in Louisville for letting our group stay there Saturday night (and worship with them in traveling clothes Sunday morning).
You can follow updates here (as connectivity allows, very limited access, we're told) or at www.facebook.com/ASPLeslie (note that site name has changed from what we originally sent out).

Appalachia Service Project is a Christian ministry, open to all people, that inspires hope and service through volunteer home repair and replacement in Central Appalachia.

06/01/2026

The General Commission on Religion and Race presents session 4 of their Racial Justice Webinar Series, taking place on June 2, 2026 at 10AM Eastern time.

05/31/2026

5.31.2026 First UMC Fort Scott “Lead Us (Not)…but Deliver Us”

05/31/2026

Leaving this here for myself today, and also for you, in case you might need it in these days. So many blessings to you, with deep gratitude.

BLESSING OF HOPE

So may we know
the hope
that is not just
for someday
but for this day—
here, now,
in this moment
that opens to us:

hope not made
of wishes
but of substance,

hope made of sinew
and muscle
and bone,

hope that has breath
and a beating heart,

hope that will not
keep quiet
and be polite,

hope that knows
how to holler
when it is called for,
hope that knows
how to sing
when there seems
little cause,

hope that raises us
from the dead—

not someday
but this day,
every day,
again and
again and
again.

—Jan Richardson
from The Cure for Sorrow: A Book of Blessings for Times of Grief
janrichardson.com/books

Image: "She Said This Feels Like Hope"
© Jan Richardson

05/30/2026

Grateful for those who joined us today as the governor signed SB 82.

This bill will make the state's Child Day Care Assistance Tax Credit simpler, more generous and easier to use.

Thanks to this bill, the changes will increase the value of the employer child care tax credit, raise the annual cap credit and include a three-year carry forward, and expand eligible uses to benefit more families.

These updates will allow employers to strengthen the local child care supply, support workforce participation and contribute to a more stable economy.

Thank you to the governor and legislators who made this happen. This is a great win for child care in Kansas!

(Official photo from the governor's office coming soon!)

05/24/2026

5.24.2026 First UMC Fort Scott “Pentecost Hymn Sing!”

05/17/2026

5.17.2026 First UMC Fort Scott “Sins, Debts, Trespasses… & Forgiveness”