Wesley United Methodist Church February 2024 Newsletter What’s Inside: Epiphany Dec Recap UMM UWF Missions Calendar & More
Note from Pastor Jana Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. It is one of my favorite seasons of the church. There have been times in my life when I have felt a flurry of emotions over things happening. Lent is a grounding season. It allows us to experience our human emotions without shame. We are able to feel and be openly vulnerable with God. It is a powerful season. In Lent, we’re reminded that, again and again, suffering and brokenness find us. We doubt again, we lament again, we mess up again. Again and again, the story of Jesus on the cross repeats—every time lives are taken unjustly, every time the powerful choose corruption and violence, every time individuals forget how to love. With exasperation we exclaim, “Again?! How long, O God?” And yet, in the midst of the motion blur chaos of our lives, God offers a sacred refrain: “I choose you, I love you, I will lead you to repair.” Again and again, God breaks the cycle and offers us a new way forward. This theme provides a clear invitation in a time when much is unclear. We come to God again and again with our prayers, our dreams, our hopes, and our doubts. We will continue to love God with the same persistence God chooses and claims us. Our sub-title, A Lenten Refrain, speaks to the ways God can make music of our lives. “Refrain” also reminds us that Lent is a season of abstaining from certain practices in order to take on new rhythms and habits. In this season, we need rituals—both old and new—to remember and be transformed. Embodied practice builds muscle memory. Repetition helps retrain our neural pathways. We need the 46 days of Lent because this season shapes us into more faithful disciples. Join us this Lent as again and again, we bring all of who we are to God and trust that God will meet us, time and again, along the way. In Christ, Pastor Jana
Lent Lenten Series You are invited to join in this Lenten season. How are you reminded of God’s love again & again? What might you give up to experience God again? What practice might you take up to have an encounter with God? Take a moment to pray about what your Lenten practice might be and let God show you how God shows up again and again.
UMM, UWF, Called Charge Conference
Missions, Thank You, and Easter Lilies Remember to bring your change February 4th
Scout Sunday
Ash Wednesday, Worship, Bible Study, & Birthdays! Worship Scriptures Mark 1:29-39 2.4.24 2.11.24 Mark 9:2-9 2.18.24 Mark 1:9-15 2.25.24 Mark 8:31-9:8
Calendar and Living Out our Membership Vows February Calendar February 3rd United Methodist Men Breakfast 8:00 at Wesley UMC Sweetheart Banquet at Cavanaugh 5:00 February 4th Worship 9:30 Boy Scout Sunday Small Groups 10:30 February 6th February 7th February 8th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 Bible Study at Cavanaugh - 12:00 Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 February 11th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 February 13th Evening Stars 6:00 at Western Sizzlin Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 February 14th Bible Study 12:00 at Cavanaugh Ash Wednesday 6:30 at Wesley February 15th Let’s Do Lunch at Cavanaugh 10:30-1:00 Called Charge Conference 6:00 One Council following No Bible Study February 18th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Service 5:00 at First UMC February 20th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 February 21st Bible Study at Cavanaugh - 12:00 Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 February 22nd Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 February 25th Worship 9:30 Small Groups 10:30 Lenten Service 5:00 at St. Paul UMC February 27th Boy Scouts 6:00-8:00 February 28th Bible Study at Cavanaugh - 12:00 Choir 5:30 Handbells 6:30 February 29th Bible Study on Zoom 6:00 Prayers: Let us know how we can be praying for you. We have a prayer list that is sent out and on the bulletin. Presence: Worship Date Sanctuary Online Total Jan. 7 28 Jan. 14 Gifts: Date 22 Jan. 21 27 Jan. 28 23 24 52 21 43 18 45 24 47 General Missions Jan. 7 $2,779 $103 Jan. 14 $6,538 Jan. 21 $145 Jan. 28 $1,780 Service: Worship: 9:30 Sunday school 10:30 Mission: Farmer’s Market Ministry, Cooking Matters, blessing box and more. Witness: We all have gifts to share and we are all ministers. May we go out into the world to share our love of Christ. Go forth as a witness serving Jesus and Loving Neighbors.
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