“When You Pray - Ask”

This Week in Worship : Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (NRSV) How boldly do you pray? Are we hesitant and careful or brash and hopeful? More importantly are we following Jesus’ directions on how to pray? Dr. Thomas Long in his excellent commentary on Matthew’s Gospel says this about the above verses from scripture: “In this passage Jesus seeks to replace hesitant and bashful prayer with bold, venturesome, even audacious communication with God.” God really does want to give us the good things we need to lead good lives. This is great news as through prayer we are given access to the greatest source of power in the universe! But are we willing to ask in a way that can put us at risk of losing control over the outcome? Are we willing to make ourselves vulnerable by regularly, habitually, and faithfully entering into the intimacy of prayer. God invites us in and all we have to do is ask. I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday to continue the conversation. We will also be having communion at all services. Blessings, Pastor Steve

First Impression Team  Our FIT team is getting in shape for Spring and we want YOU to be a part of this awesome group. Come to one of the training sessions after worship Sunday, March 17th in the CORC from 10:45-11:45 a.m. and again from 12:00-1:00 p.m. There are many ways to serve on the team. Let us help you find your gifts.

HELPING HANDS is hosting its 3rd Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, April 8th at Verdict Ridge. Golfers receive a goody bag as part of their $100 entry fee. Proceeds benefit families and students in need in Lincoln County. To register, go to www.denverumc.org/ministries by March 29th . Thank you!

The Khaleda Run In memory of Khaleda Assell, a butterfly release 5K, 10K and fun run will be held on May 11th in Denver, NC. Visit thekhaledarun.com to register or for more information. To learn more about Khaleda's story, visit theassellfamily.wordpress.com .

Denver UMC members are invited to partner with our Henderson Settlement Mission Team as we seek to build meaningful relationships and improve the lives of our neighbors in Bell County, Kentucky. You may do so by purchasing a symbolic brick that will provide the funds necessary to purchase materials and supplies in support of this mission. Please stop by the Ministry Table located to the left of the sanctuary after the service for more information.

Beginning March 25th , our chapel foyer will be under construction for a bathroom install. Please come in through the main office and up the stairs to reach the chapel Monday-Friday during this process. We apologize for the inconvenience but hope you enjoy the much needed addition once completed.

Congregational News

Welcome new members Bob & Tanya Leslie by transfer from First UMC in Crystal Lake, IL. Pictured here with their daughters Kayla and Emma.

TABLE TALK Join us on March 20th for a southern favorite of BBQ, Baked Beans, Slaw and Potato Salad

DUMC Family, Thank you for the outpouring of prayer and support during moms illness. The phone calls, visits, flowers, gifts and food, wow all the food was amazing. The service Sunday was truly mom, she would have been so humbled by it all. I consider myself truly blessed to be a small part of such a loving, caring, thoughtful church. Keep up the good work.  Kay and Mary Sigmon Family

Guatemala Mission Team Update:

God's love shared with widows/families who received clean-burning stoves, students who received scholarships and children who received Salvation Dolls. The pillows were from the DUMC Sewing Ladies and the stoves/scholarships were covered by private donations. The team will be building a widow's home in June. If you would like more information about this mission team, please contact Rebecca Jones at  pikejones@charter.net  or Lisa Morris at  clmorris0813@charter.net .

God’s Pathways with Every Girl, Every Where, Period--THANK YOU!    The work of God is all around us but sometimes it’s right under our noses and we don’t even know it. A Days for Girls West Denver, NC Team meets right here in DUMC’s CORC to fellowship, pray over, and help create kits for individuals that don’t have access to hygiene necessities. This West Denver, NC Team has been mobilizing volunteers, developing global partnerships, and innovating sustainable solutions that shatter stigmas and limitations for women and girls for the past two years. Together we are creating a world with dignity, health and opportunity for all. With everyone’s help we help reach Every Girl. Every Where. Period.   Around the world, girls and women resort to using rags, mattress stuffing, banana leaves, and feathers to manage their menstruation. Our Days for Girls Team helps provide a safe, beautiful, washable, and long-lasting alternative — along with vital health education. Many of you have donated precious time and finances to help with this endeavor and we, as well as the women and girls of Guatemala thank you from the bottom of our hearts.    In March, a team from DUMC travelled to Guatemala and provided education and over 230 kits in the regions we partnership with.  God helps change our stories and lives when we leap out in faith to His calling. The girls in our L.E.A.P. program received kits our West Denver, NC Team made (picture with blue background). Many of our church members sponsor the education of these girls. We also helped provide needed income for women in Guatemala by purchasing kits from the Guatemala Days for Girls Corporate office that were provided to the women in the el Sitan, Wakami social enterprise. A business a DUMC mission team helped establish several years back. (Picture also attached – gazebo) Plus, Wakami workers around the Panajachel area also received these kits.   If you would like to join us, here are some future dates to consider: Tuesday, April 16 ; Tuesday, May 21, 2019 from 10 to noon.

Update from East Asia Missionary: Dylan Thompson

We had our "all staff conference" in January for all of the staff serving in East Asia. There were hundreds of staff at the conference worshiping in multiple languages. We talked about some of the persecution Christians face while living in a secure country, celebrated what God has done to build His church in East Asia, and talked about the vision East Asia has to be the next big missionary sending nation. God has been doing amazing work here in East Asia and I feel privileged to be working alongside so many East Asian and foreign missionaries.