Lent 2021

Welcome to Lent 2021!

We know it’s all going to get better. It just has to. Within every moment of deep darkness lies the certainty that the dawn is coming.

Most people have felt, at one time or another (as have many biblical figures), that everything seems hopeless. Often times, these moments of utter darkness tend to take place right before a great healing or deliverance or miracle changes everything for the better, sometimes in ways unimaginable.

In this season of Lent, many of us are experiencing some of these moments of darkness, in all kinds of areas and in all kinds of ways. We invite you to join us on a special Lenten journey, as we travel in community through the darkness to reach the dawn of hope — and the glory of Easter Sunday.

Following are the thematic stories we’ll be examining, one each week of Lent, along with their scriptures. Each worshipping community of FUMCFW, Sanctuary, The Gathering, DiscipleChurch, and 11:11 will be following this path, yet refracting its message delivery according to its particular worshipping style.

All services will be available online, and as we can contemplate returning to in-person worship, we’ll send those updates our via enews, email blast and social media.

Ash Wednesday, February 17
Drive-Thru Imposition of Ashes

7:30 – 9:30 am | 11:30 am – 1:30 pm | 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Justin Parking Lot

This year’s FUMCFW Ash Wednesday observation will, like most things, have a different look, format, and feel — and yet will maintain the same deep commitment to providing our congregation and community with the opportunity to reflect on the coming season of Lent, to set some intentions for the season, and to receive ceremonial ashes in remembrance of God’s love.

To do this safely, we will offer a drive-thru imposition of ashes at three different times throughout the day on Ash Wednesday, which this year falls on February 17.

No reservation is necessary; just enter the Justin parking lot from 7th street at any of these times, and masked and gloved clergy and volunteers will impose ashes and offer this tangible reminder of God’s love as you exit at 5th Street. Please be sure that everyone in your car who wishes to receive ashes is also wearing a mask to help keep everyone safe.

Sunday, Feb 21

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Daniel 3:16-28

Sunday, Feb 28

Jonah and the Whale
Jonah 1:17-2:10

Sunday, March 7

Gerasene of Demoniac
Mark 5:1-20

Sunday, March 14 – full year of COVID

Jesus and the Adulterous Woman
John 7: 53 – 8:11

Sunday, March 21

Lazarus
John 11:1-53

Sunday, March 28, Palm Sunday

Liturgy of the Passion
Matthew 26:14-17 or Matthew 27:11-54

Thursday, April 1, Maundy Thursday

Communion Service

Friday, April 2, Good Friday

Tenebrae Service

Saturday, April 3, Holy Saturday

Prayer Vigil in the Sanctuary

In-Person Easter Sunday Worship

Sunday, April 4, 2021

8:00, 9:30, 11:00 am & 1:00 pm
Sanctuary and Livestream

Jesus’ Resurrection
Luke 24:6-7

In the glorious culmination of our Darkest Before Dawn Lenten season, we will be offering four In-Person Easter Sunday worship services this year in our beautiful Sanctuary! With music by DFW Brass, Peggy Graff on our magnificent pipe organ, a stirring message, our favorite Easter hymns, and the joy of being together will make this an Easter Sunday to remember.

This year’s Easter Sunday services will be held at:

• 8:00 am,
• 9:30 am,
• 11:00 am, and
• 1:00 pm, with
• more services to be announced when these are full to make sure everyone who wants to worship with us in person this Easter has a place!

Attendance at each of these services will be by reservation only (with a few seats saved for walk-in guests) and will all follow the same health and safety guidelines as our weekly Sunday worship services. Reservations will be first-come, first -served starting February 28, so make your reservation as soon as possible for the service and seating of your choice!

Make A Reservation

8:00 am  9:30 am  11:00 am  1:00 pm

All four services will also be live-streamed for those who choose to worship with us online.

Contact : Elaine Johnson | ejohnson@myfumc.org
Lisa Helm | lhelm@myfumc.org

Learn

Monday Musers — Lent Study on “Simon Peter”

Mondays, February 22 — March 29, 2021
1:00 – 2:00 pm | Zoom
Led by Dr. Mike Marshall

All of us are ordinary people who receive extraordinary calls from God. In Mike Marshall’s ongoing study, Monday Musers, now resuming via Zoom, Mike will lead a lively Lenten 2021 series of discussions of Adam Hamilton’s book, Simon Peter: Flawed But Faithful Disciple. In this story of an ordinary person who head an extraordinary call from God you may find opportunity to examine your own extraordinary call from God. Peter was not rich or educated, but was familiar with hard work. He was quick-tempered and impetuous, but possessed a passion that would change the world. Adam Hamilton, Senior Pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Leewood, Kansas,  is one of the most important religious writers of our generation. This study is open to all, whether you’re a longtime Muser or just learning of this group and are interested in being part of this study.

Grow Lent Bible Study

Wednesdays, February 24 – March 31, 2021
Wednesdays | 10:00 – 11:00 am | Zoom
Led by Rev. Phyllis Barren

Wednesdays | 6:30 – 7:30 pm | Zoom
Led by Rev. Lance Marshall, Dr. Zhenya Gurina-Rodriguez, Dr. Mike Marshall, Rev. Phyllis Barren and Evve Kuykendall

Have you ever watched a video and then paused to rewind so you could understand it better? Join us for GROW during the season of Lent as we study the scripture from the previous week’s sermon and dive a little deeper into it. This is the perfect opportunity to rewind the message and as we revisit it, find ways that it will carry you through the rest of the week. GROW is a comfortable place for everyone – whether it’s your first Bible Study or you’ve been to many Bible studies!

At GROW, you will always experience warm hospitality, a deep dive into scripture and meaningful conversation about scripture is relevant and meaningful in your life.

join zoom meeting=

Belief and Doubt: Twin Sisters of a Healthy and Thriving Faith

Thursdays, March 25, April 1 & 8, 2021
9:15 – 11:00 am | Zoom
Registration required
Led by Reverend Linda McDermott
Discussion Book: Faith After Doubt (Brian McLaren)

Join in on this open and honest discussion of the role of doubt in the life of faith. Often painful and rarely discussed, doubts have been called “the ants in the pants of faith,” offering a deeper and wiser faith and a more authentic commitment to Christian life.

Please purchase your own copy of the book and have the first 41 pages read in preparation for our discussion.

join zoom meeting  register  purchase the book

Pray

Tim’s Daily Bread Devotional

Daily
7:00 – 7:30 am

Brought to you daily with a friendly greeting from Senior Pastor Dr. Tim Bruster, a lectionary-based devotional provided by Upper Room, and a personally selected piece of music from our Sound Cloud playlist, this daily devotional opportunity will help you begin each day wrapped in God’s Grace and Love with blessings and warm wishes from our Senior Pastor.

Lance’s Daily Devotional & Prayer Meeting

Monday – Friday
9:00 – 9:15 am | Zoom | Facebook | Instagram

Every weekday from 9:00 – 9:15 am, FUMCFW Co-Pastor, Rev. Lance Marshall will host a brief time of scripture, devotional reading, and prayer. It’s nothing fancy, just a chance for us to gather together in scripture, in prayer, and in the proclamation that God is great, even when times are trying.

God’s Welcome: Holy Hospitality

Mondays, February 22 – March 29, 2021
9:30 – 10:30 am | Zoom
Led by Dr. Len Delony

This open, drop-in-as-you-can discussion group will feature conversations based on Amy Oden’s God’s Welcome: Hospitality for a Gospel Hungry World , a very different kind of how-to book on hospitality, one that studies the stories of God’s welcome and takes seriously the culture of hostility that sometimes masquerades as Christianity.  Reading or purchasing the book is helpful, but not required; please feel welcome to come, listen, and join the conversation from wherever you are!

Sacred Readings & Holy Conversations

Wednesdays, February 17  – March 31, 2021
9:30 – 10:30 am | Zoom
Led by Dr. Len Delony

Immediately following Lance’s Daily Devotional & Prayer Meeting, we will take this opportunity to share and explore the many ways in which that morning’s prayer and reading has spoken to us. Attendance at Lance’s Devotional Time Not Required; come as you are and enjoy the conversation around making daily devotional reading a part of your day and reflection on your current circumstances.

Discovering Eyes That See: Christian Mindfulness

Fridays, February 19  – April 2, 2021
9:30 – 10:30 am | Zoom
Led by Dr. Len Delony

With conversations based on Amy Oden’s book, Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness,  this discussion group will explore the Christian roots of mindfulness and the actual practices that, when reclaimed, deepen the life of faith and the power of our mission of love in the world. Reading or purchasing the book is helpful, but not required; come as you are to gain the benefits of shared conversation about the practices of Christian mindfulness.

Give

Honor Loved Ones at Easter

February 17 – April 4, 2021
Individual Lilies Available

While no one is certain when this time of “social distancing” and online and “reservations only” worship will end, one thing is clear: Easter Sunday Worship in our beautiful Sanctuary will go on, and Easter Sunday morning is always even more glorious when our Chancel is adorned with lilies!

Again this year we’re offering the opportunity to our church members and friends to purchase Easter lilies in honor or memory of a loved one between March 1 and March 28. And, since our only space to adorn will be the sanctuary this year, we’re limiting purchase to one per family.

When you purchase a lily to help to adorn our Easter Sunday services, you will also be adding a lily — and the love behind its purchase — to our designated Easter lily spaces on our campus so that they can return year after year to remind us of your loved ones.

Easter Offering

Help us support our church ministries and local community with our Easter Offering. Give online (choose Easter Offering from the drop-down menu) or with a check or donation envelope marked “Easter Offering” in the Sunday offertory, by mail, or in the Main Office.

give  read letter from dr. tim bruster and rev. lance marshall

Watch this space for new programs, events, and updates as we confirm them!