From The Pastor's Desk
Encounter and Lent
40 Days of Purpose
Dear Friends,
We launched our new worship service, Encounter, last night. Last night we began our "forty days of purpose" with Ash Wednesday. We joined together with about 50 persons of all ages and received ashes on our foreheads as a sign of our mortality and as a sign of what God did for us in "while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." We were also given a "formula for self-denial" by Jesus: pray, give, and fast.
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Lent. We will all receive a guide of suggestions to practice a robust Lenten discipline. Please, prayerfully consider joining others as we seek to empty our lives of those things that have an unholy hold on our lives, create space for the Lord, receive the gift God's grace and be filled anew with the Holy Spirit.
In our Wednesday evening Encounter services we will begin a series on Spiritual Revival: ReLent. In our regular Sunday worship services we will begin a series of sermons based on "The I Am Sayings of Jesus" from John's gospel titled The God We Can Know. I want to encourage you to a prayerful and purposeful Lenten journey as a family.
Your Friend,
~Pastor David
Ones for the Many 2016
Youth Banquet!
The annual First UMC Youth Banquet and Dessert auction will be on Sunday February 21st after worship. ONE worship service on the 21st in the Sanctuary. We are looking for wonderful dessert donations for our auction. If you would be willing to donate an item, please fill out the slip provided in your bulletin sunday or call the church office by Sunday,February 14th.
"WAR ROOM" Bible Study offered!
Spiritual Gifts Class!
Susan Kramer will be facilitating a 6 week bible study, titled Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts, beginning Feb. 17th at 6:00 p.m. Just bring your Bible and everything else is provided for you. Come and discover your spiritual gifts and how they can be used in God’s kingdom. Please share your interest by calling or signing up in the church office.
Wesley Covenant Care Group
If you are interested in being a part of a small group to grow in your discipleship please contact Rebecca Williams in the church office. The Wesley covenant care group began in August and meets on Sunday nights at 5pm. We are now looking to expand and offer this opportunity to anyone who is interested. We meet each week for 1 hour and ask 3 questions, “How is your life in God?, Where have you felt God’s presence in the past week? And where are you seeking guidance from the Lord? There is no “homework” and this is not a Bible study group. We simply meet to encourage one another in a time of spiritual sharing and accountability. We will offer these small groups at different times and places to accommodate the many interested. Look forward to hearing from many of you.