“The Way of the Child” Lenten Study for Children (1st to 5th Grades)
The Way of the Child leads children into a deeper relationship with God by allowing time for the Gospel to sink deeply into their inner beings, encourages children to respond to God, and instill in children spiritual practices to form lifelong habits. This seven-session module begins Sunday, February 14 and concludes on Palm Sunday, March 28. The classes will focus on Jesus’ life and prayer.
The 1st and 2nd Grade sessions will be offered from 9:30 to 10:30 Sundays, February 14 to March 28 in Room 312. Mrs. Debbie Shrauner and Mrs. Cynthia McElrath, Director of Children’s Ministries at FUMC, will lead the classes. To register, please call 817/339-5074 or email LMcMillian@MyFUMC.org.
The 3rd to 5th Grade sessions will be offered from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays, February 14 to March 28 in Room 312. Mrs. Debbie Shrauner and Mrs. Cynthia McElrath, Director of Children’s Ministries at FUMC, will lead the classes. To register, please call 817/339-5074 or email LMcMillian@MyFUMC.org.
“The Way of the Parent: Spiritual Formation in the Family”
The class, led by Dr. Len Delony, is designed for parents of children from infants to preteens. The seven-session series will be offered from 9:30 – 10:30 Sunday mornings February 14 to March 28 in Room 314. The class will explore how the family is the center for spiritual formation. Through support for grounding, spiritual practices and open, practical conversation, we will deepen community in ways that strengthen our center in God. Come join us as we cultivate new life together. To register please call 817/339-5074 or email LMcMillian@MyFUMC.org.
“Discovering the Creative Spirit Within” Pottery Classes for Adults
The class, led by Ms. Laura Canfield, will be offered from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Mondays, March 1-29. Ms. Canfield has a Master of Theological Studies, experience in Spiritual Direction, and teaches all levels of pottery and working with clay. In these classes, she will guide your work with clay with exercises and meditations. Please note that beginners need to attend the orientation session.
Special Orientation for those without previous experience with clay on February 29 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
To register please contact Virginia Covaleski at 817/339-5078 or by email at Vcovaleski@MyFUMC.org. Please be sure to register by February 24 so supplies will be available for you at the first class. The cost of class is $85 for five weeks for those with prior experience with clay; $95 for 6 weeks for those who are new to working with clay. Fees include all materials, instruction, and kiln firings.
“Shaping the Spirit” Pottery Class for Adults
Ms. Laura Canfield will lead the class on Sunday, March 21 from5:30 to 7:30 p.m. She has a Master of Theological Studies, experience in Spiritual Direction, and teaches all levels of pottery and working with clay. In this class, she will guide participants in spiritual expression through creativity. To register please contact Virginia Covaleski at 817/339-5078 or by email at Vcovaleski@myfumc.org. The cost of the class is $15.00 and includes all materials, instruction, and kiln firings.
“Listening for the Heartbeat of God” Adult Study for Lent
The study will be offer from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. in Wesley Hall on Sundays, March 7 – 28 (note corrected date). The study will be led by Rev. Judy Holloway, certified Spiritual Director and retreat leader. To register please contact Virginia Covaleski at 817/339-5078 or by email - Vcovaleski@myfumc.org. Participants will need to purchase the book, Listening for the Heartbeat of God by J. Philip Newell, available in the Adult Education office for $10.00.
This four-week study will help you discover the rich treasure in Christian thought and spiritual practice in the writings of J. Philip Newell. Using Newell’s book, Listening for the Heartbeat of God as a launching point, we will explore the deep and rich Celtic Christian way of listening for God’s presence in creation and in community. Come be a part of this “Lenten Pilgrimage” with Rev. Judy Holloway and others who yearn to connect with God in fresh, Spirit-filled ways. Join us as we cultivate new life together.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORSHIP
Ash Wednesday Services, February 17
Ash Wednesday Service in Leonard Memorial Chapel at noon and an evening Ash Wednesday Service, 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Ash Wednesday begins the Christian season of Lent, a time for individual prayer and preparation for the culminating season of Easter. Ashes will be placed on one’s forehead reminding us of our frailty and our mortality within our trusted relationship with a gracious God. From this day, Christians enter into Lent prepared for honest introspection, self-examination, and openness to transformation. Rev. Linda McDermott will preach during both services.
Interfaith Worship Service – Friday, February 26 at 8:00 p.m. at Temple Beth-El (4900 Briarhaven Road Fort Worth, TX 76109). FUMC members and friends are invited to participate in this community interfaith worship service. Dr. Bruster and Rabbi Mecklenburger will present a pulpit dialogue and the Beth-El Choir will sing.
“Create In Me, O God…” Lenten Sermon Series
Beginning with our special guest preacher, J. Philip Newell, Dr. Bruster will continue the Lenten focus “Create In Me, O God…” in a series of sermons, each focusing on an evocative word for each week. These sermons will be the culmination of the same weekly focus of our Lenten Meditation Guide and include: Harmony, Purpose, Forgiveness, Courage, Humility, Passion, and Wonder.
Palm Sunday, March 28, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
On this Sunday, Christians are confronted with the image of two conflicting Kingdoms. Jesus’ choice of this day corresponds to the day on which the Roman powers would make a grand and triumphal entry through the gates of the city. His choice of a donkey, a symbol of peace, stood in stark contrast to the war horses of the Roman parade and lent definition to the Kingdom of peace Jesus served.
Maundy Thursday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, marks the beginning of the most solemn and joyful celebration of the Christian year – the death and resurrection of Jesus. On Maundy Thursday we recall Jesus’ last meal with his disciples and his new commandment to love one another. Holy Communion will be served during the service and Dr. Mike Marshall will preach. This moving service will culminate in the Garden where all will be invited to leave in silence.
Good Friday Noon Service, Friday, April 2, at noon in Leonard Memorial Chapel
A quiet and meditative service commemorating the day on which Jesus was crucified and died. Dr. Bill Longsworth will lead this service and Holy Communion will be served.
Good Friday Service of Shadows, Friday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
This distinctive service will be observed on the evening of Good Friday in the Sanctuary. The service will include a series of readings from the scriptures combined with moving musical pieces as the altar is stripped of all adornment. This emotionally evocative and symbolically rich service ends in darkness as each worshipper leaves in silence and hopeful anticipation of the joy of Easter.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR INSPIRATION
FUMC Goostree Lecture Series: “A New Harmony: The Spirit, The Earth, And The Human Soul”
J. Philip Newell, noted writer, scholar, poet, and teacher, will lead us into the season of lent, offering inspiring lectures and Sunday morning worship leadership focusing on Christian spirituality centered in an awareness of the unity of all life. Mr. Newell has inspired thousands with his writings and compositions leading Christians in a vision of recovered wholeness in our individual lives and in our world.
Sunday Evening Presentation, February 21, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. A reception, resource sales, and book signing following in Wesley Hall.
Monday Evening Presentation, February 22, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. A reception, resource sales, and book signing following in Wesley Hall.
Rev. Newell will also preach at both the 9:30 and the 11:00 a.m. Worship Services in the Sanctuary on Sunday, February 21. His sermon is entitled “The Love-Longings of God”
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRAYER AND MEDITATION
“Create in Me, O God…”
FUMC Meditation Guide for Lent
Our Lenten theme of “Create in Me, O God…” is organized by weekly themes - Harmony, Purpose, Forgiveness, Courage, Humility, Passion, and Wonder. Each Monday during Lent a new word will be introduced in the Lenten Meditation Guide and the daily meditations that follow will explore the word, its meaning and how we can respond to it. At the end of the week, Dr. Bruster will further expand on the word of the week in his sermon. Copies of the guide are available in the church office, in the Welcome Center and online - click here
Silent Second Sunday – Lectio Divina led by Dr. Len Delony and Emily Haeussler, will be offered on Sundays, February 14 and March 14 in Leonard Memorial Chapel at 9:30 a.m.
Centering Prayer is offered every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Room 230. Emily Haeussler, certified leader in Centering Prayer, will lead the group.
Palm Sunday - Taize Service by the Labyrinth, Sunday, March 28 at 5:30 p.m. in Wesley Hall
Taize music emphasizes singing phrases from Scripture in a way that helps create a profound environment for prayerful listening and worship. The Labyrinth will be open for prayer walks and there will be spaces to sit for prayerful reflection as you move into this time of Holy Week.
Maundy Thursday - Prayers for Healing by the Labyrinth, Thursday, April 1 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. in Wesley Hall.
OTHER ACTIVITIES DURING LENT
Children First Worship Service will be held on Sunday, March 7 at 9:45 a.m. in Leonard Memorial Chapel. All parents and grandparents are invited to attend this meaningful children’s worship service with their children.
Children’s Easter Celebration and Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Lyle Lodge, the church’s lake property on Eagle Mountain Lake. For more information please contact the Children’s Ministry at 817/339-5086.
United Methodist Information Class will be offered on Sundays, February 28 - March 28, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Room 336. The class will be hosted by the Genesis Sunday School Class. This is a five-Sunday series for non-Methodists and Methodists, covering our unique history, beliefs, and ministries. There is no cost for the materials or sessions. For more information, please call Dr. Lamar Smith, 817/339-3886 or Rev. Chuck Graff 817/339-5065.
First Street Methodist Mission has Lenten opportunities in which to serve – each Wednesday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. volunteers are needed to sort and hang donations in the Mission’s Clothing Bank. Service opportunities are also available during 2nd Saturday Family Services on March 13, 2010, from 9 a.m. to Noon in the Clothing Bank sorting and hanging donations. Additionally, there are many volunteer opportunities at the Mission during the day Monday through Thursday. Please contact Rev. Page Hines, 817/339-8881 or phines@firststreetmission.org for more information.
Plan to celebrate Easter with us at one of our six morning services at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary; at 8:30 a.m. in the Chapel, or our eleven-eleven services at 9:30 and 11:11 am in Wesley Hall.
