Friday, March 29 REPENT or Repent? The Weekender REPENT!!! Isn t that the way we hear the word? It seems like a word that gets yelled at people by an angry preacher. It s a word that gets shouted. We want to get rid of it. No one likes a word that is shouted. But it keeps showing up in our Lenten texts and in the Bible. Jesus uses it a lot; so does John the Baptist, Peter and Paul. What does the New Dictionary of Theology says about repentance? R. Kearsley says in an article on repentance that The Greek words used throughout the NT are mainly forms related to metanoein, to change one s mind. This small phrase, however, describes a radical change in the individual s disposition, for the change of mind concerns his judgment upon himself and his sin together with an evaluation of God s demands upon him. The transformation implied, therefore, is not a matter merely of mental judgment, but of new religious and moral attitudes (a turning to God, 1 Thess. 1:9) and of new behavior (Acts 26:20), as [John the Baptist s] preaching spelt out. Kearsley goes on to say that repentance is inseparable from faith. Repentance and faith... are simply two aspects of the same movement.... So, repent doesn t need to be shouted. And it is an important word in the vocabulary of a Christian. It is a changing of one s mind that changes the direction of our lives. When Jesus says, Repent. He doesn t necessarily shout it, but he does speak it because it is the way to life in him. See you Sunday when we look at parables about a lost sheep, a lost coin and two lost sons. In Christ, John This Sunday in Worship March 31, 2019 Fourth Sunday in Lent Anthems: Seek the Lord Come, Thou Fount Sermon: Lost Luke 15 Rev. John Barnes (8:30, 9:45, 11 a.m.)
CURRENT NEWS Lenten Lunch and Devotion Features Raymond Mitchely Next Week Gather in the Fellowship Hall each Thursday at noon for a light lunch and devotion. Lunch on Thursday, March 28, is sponsored by the Marie Lamb Circle with speaker Raymond Mitchely. Trash To Comfort +1 Pint: Sign Up Now for Blood Drive Can you give blood? Our next Blood Drive is March 31 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the gym. Please register in advance if possible to help the American Red Cross prepare for the drive. Sign up this Sunday at church or anytime at ffumc.blooddriveteam@gmail.com. ffumc.blooddriveteam@gmail.com Ready to Connect at FFUMC? Want to know more about Fayetteville First UMC? Interested in joining our membership but not sure where or how to even get started? Find out more on Sunday, March 31, at 4 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall with Rev. Allyson Lawrence. FOR Day of Service Is April 13 Let s get our hands busy on April 13 at the FOR Day of Service. Projects will be open for all ages and abilities here at the church, on the square and in the community. Look for the insert in this Sunday s bulletin highlighting projects and sign up right away. We re Doing It! EasterPalooza Plans Progress Thank you for the big YES to EasterPalooza opportunities. We re getting closer to our goal of sponsoring 30,000 eggs for this community outreach event. Will you help? See the insert in Sunday s bulletin and become a sponsor. You can donate 1,000 eggs for $125. The prestuffed eggs have already arrived from Ayers Family, a Georgia-based company that employs special needs adults to prepare the eggs. Other donations will help offset costs for the huge community block party coming Saturday, April 20, from 3 to 5 p.m. with inflatables, face painting and DJ Willy Wow, and more! Come and volunteer!
Next UMM Potluck: April 9 The United Methodist Men invite you to the next potluck dinner on April 9 (note date change from their normal meeting schedule) at 6:15 p.m. Book Club Discusses A Bigger Table Soon The Sunday Morning Book Club will be reading A Bigger Table by John Pavlovitz as our next study. We will attempt to answer the question "How can we extend unconditional welcome and acceptance in a world increasingly marked by bigotry, fear, and exclusion? All views and opinions will be respected as we attempt to expand our own table. Meetings will be 9:45 a.m. in Room C-200 on April 28, May 5, May 19 and May 26. Please read Chapters 1-5 for the first class. Please contact Tim Aycock with any questions at timaycock@gmail.com. Titus II Welcomes Back James Watkins Hear part two of A Life Well Lived by 99-year-old James Watkins at the next Titus II lunch on April 9. Make lunch reservations with Martha Turner by April 4. Cost: $7. Menu: Fried Chicken, Creamed Potatoes, Vegetable. Summer Lunch Plans Underway Plans are underway for our church to participate in the Summer Lunch program on Tuesdays in June and July. There is an immediate need for a Co- Coordinator to share the duties of buying supplies and overseeing volunteers on Tuesdays. Also needed are drivers to deliver lunches each week. Choose your own schedule for any number of Tuesdays you are available. To volunteer or any questions, please contact Valerie Mallon, vmallon70@gmail.com or 770-310-7620. Green Team Plans Again on April 8 We are getting in the Dump and Stack groove at FFUMC meals. Thanks for helping out! To find out more about FFUMC Green Team, come to the next Green Team meeting on April 8 at 1 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Get more information on Green Team goals at fayettevillefirst.com. Green Tip: Look for a triangle imprint on plastics. If you see a triangle with a number inside, that plastic can be recycled.
Explore the Atlanta Motor Speedway with SAGE Go with SAGE to the Atlanta Motor Speedway on April 15. Tour the facility and hear a brief history, visit Petty Gardens, see the Atlanta Speedway Suite, get a sneak peak at the garages and Victory Lane, plus ride 3 laps in the Speedway Van. Then enjoy lunch at Southern Pit BBQ in Griffin. Cost: $10 plus lunch. Reserve in the church office. Trash To Comfort Girl Scouts Collect Socks for the Homeless Did you know socks are the number 1 item requested at many homeless shelters? Girl Scouts from Troop # 11363 are collecting new socks for a local shelter to earn their Silver Award. Just place new socks for kids and adults in the Socks in a Box collection bin in the Welcome Center through March 30. Questions? Contact Marilyn Harris, elegmimi52@gmail.com. +1 Song: Share A Song This Sunday, March 31 Will you sing or play along? Then you can share a song with our friends at Azalea Estates on March 31 at 5:30 p.m. As we sing familiar songs from the past and from our faith, we share love and connection with others. To learn more about Share a Song and how you can lift a heart through music, contact Joan Aycock, jaycock@fayettevillefirst.com. Caution: Stay Off the Floors All tile floors in the Family Life Center will be stripped and waxed on Monday and Tuesday, April 1 and 2. During this time, no one may be on the floors at all. Please follow caution and directional signs and do not attempt to enter the building during this time. Getting to Know Our Neighbors You are invited to visit the Islamic Community Center of Atlanta on Tuesday evening, April 2, at 7 p.m. as the center opens its doors for a meet and greet informational session. If you are interested, please contact Brett Nolan, brett.nolan82@gmail.com.
Save the Date for Mission Team Leader Training The LaGrange District will host an UMVIM (United Methodist Volunteers in Mission) Team Leader training on July 13 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Turin United Methodist Church (20 Longstreet Ave., Turin, GA 30289). This is your opportunity to become certified or to recertify as a mission team leader. All UMVIM mission teams require UMVIM certified team leaders. Rev. Tommy Holder (Turin UMC) and Maggie Clarke (FFUMC) will lead the training session. Cost is $20 per person for the Team Leader Handbook and breakfast. Contact Maggie Clarke at maggieclarke@comcast.net or 404-395-8161 by June 29, 2019, to reserve your spot. Youth: Sign Up for Rafting Retreat A weekend rafting adventure is planned for the youth this June 7-9. Get ready for whitewater rafting, zip lining, horseback riding, paintball, and more! Sign up by May 1 and receive $25 off. UMW Unit Meeting Announced The next UMW Unit meeting titled Live Well Age Well will feature Tori Sorrells of Piedmont Sixty Plus Services on Thursday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m. UMW members should make reservations through their circle by May 5. All others may contact Becca Benefield, becben03@aol.com or 404-483-5624. Please indicate number of children for nursery when reserving. Meal ($8 payable at the dinner): Chicken with Mushroom Cream Sauce, Rice Pilaf, Steamed Broccoli, Key Lime Pie. Singles: Go Hear the Band Singles, join the fun on Sunday, April 7, at 3 p.m. as a group goes to hear The Air Force Academy Band at the Fred Amphitheater in Peachtree City. This is a free event and the gates open at 2 p.m. Contact Suzie Lusk, suzielusk49@gmail.com, or Rev. Allyson Lawrence, alawrence@fayettevillefirst.com, if you have questions. Lenten Offering Supports Rise Against Hunger Did you know that this year s Lenten Offering supports our Rise Against Hunger Packing Event coming in August? Our goal is 30,000 meals. Please give generously. Purple offering bags are in the Welcome Center if you want one (or just mark your donation as Lenten Offering ).
Spring Break Schedule No Wednesday Night Supper, children or youth programs this week. Many other regular programs will not meet due to spring break. Please check with leaders if you have a question about your groups. Regular schedules will resume April 7. March 28, 2019 Financials Year to Date receipts $306,067.10 Year to Date expenses $337,011.29 Shortfall $30,944.19 To date there have been 26 benevolence requests met totaling $6,501.45 in assistance. Capital Campaign Update Received this week $755.00 Total Received $192,558.34 Pledged but not yet received -$-20,000.00 Goal $350,000 Needed to reach goal $137,441.66