This Week's News and Updates
March 12, 2019
See highlights from last week's service by clicking here.
This Spirit Road Wednesday we will gather for our final Wednesday Garage/Estate sale work day .
We will gather 7:00PM at 6726 Brookhaven Trl. Fort Worth 76133.
Lent 2019
“Stride Toward Freedom”

When was the last time you felt truly free? When was the last time you felt your Divinity well up inside of you? When was the last time you woke up feeling balanced in your life even when all manner of things outside of your control were swirling around you? At its best, the ritual of Lent, gives us a communal structure where we can live into our authentic answers to those questions and others. Our communities depend on this kind of group seeking…Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “In the final analysis, Agape means a recognition of the fact that all life is interrelated. All humanity is involved in a single process, and all people are connected.”  Come and “Lent” with us. You have a lot to lose and way more to gain.  

3/06 –  Ash Wednesday – “Welcome to a Clean Slate.”

3/10 – “The Hardest Part is Getting Started.”

3/17 – “How to Win Friends and Influence People?”

3/24 – “Focus on the System not the Person.”

3/31 – Community Breakfast Sunday – "Welcoming Sinners and Eating with Them.”

4/07 – “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.”

4/14 – Palm Sunday, “Where the Burro Meets the Road”

4/21 – Easter, “Freedom”  
In lieu of the traditional giving up something for Lent (i.e. chocolate, road rage, smoking, etc), here are 40 ideas to Keep Lent Holy as adapted from Nadia Bolz-Weber. The suggestions listed below encourages the development of community, relationships, social action, ecological responsibility and individual spiritual growth. Remember that Sunday is not included in the 40 days of Lent, Sundays are considered a mini-Easter Days .

40 Ways to Keep Lent Holy…adapted from Nadia Bolz-Weber

March 6 - Day 1: Pray for your enemies
March 7 - Day 2: Walk, carpool, bike or bus it.
March 8 - Day 3: Don’t turn on the car radio
March 9 - Day 4: Give $20 to a non-profit of your choosing
(Sunday)

March 11 - Day 5: Take 5 minutes of silence at noon
March 12 - Day 6: Look out the window until you find something of beauty you had not noticed before
March 13 - Day 7: Give 5 items of clothing to Goodwill
March 14 - Day 8: No bitching day
March 15 - Day 9: Do someone else’s chore
March 16 - Day 10: Buy a few $5 fast food gift cards to give to homeless people you encounter
(Sunday)

March 18 - Day 11: Call an old friend
March 19 - Day 12: Pray the Paper (pray for people and situations in today’s news)
March 20 - Day 13:  Read Psalm 139
March 21 - Day 14: Pay a few sincere compliments
March 22 - Day 15: Bring your own mug
(Sunday)

Day 17: Forgive someone
Day 18: Internet diet
Day 19: Change one light in your house to a compact florescent
Day 20: Check out morning and evening prayer at  The Daily Office .
Day 21: Ask for help
Day 22: Tell someone what you are grateful for
(Sunday)

Day 23: Introduce yourself to a neighbor
Day 24:  Read Psalm 121
Day 25: Bake a cake
Day 26: No shopping day
Day 28: Light an actual candle
(Sunday)

Day 29: Write a thank you note to your favorite teacher
Day 30: Invest in canvas shopping bags
Day 31: Use  Freecycle
Day 32: Donate art supplies to your local elementary school
Day 33:  Read John 8:1-11 
Day 34: Worship at a friend’s mosque, synagogue or church and look for the beauty
(Sunday)

Day 35: Confess a secret
Day 36: No sugar day – where else is there sweetness in your life?
Day 37: Give $20 to a local non-profit
Day 38: Educate yourself about a saint  www.catholic.org/saints
Day 39: Pray for peace
Day 40: Pray for your enemies (you probably have new ones by now) then decide which of these exercises you’ll keep for good
All Church Garage and Estate Sale
March 15th and 16th, 2019
8:00AM - 2:00PM

Location:
6726 Brookhaven Trail
Fort Worth, TX. 76133

If you have time to volunteer at the garage sale, please contact Cassy at (817) 992-6161.
Lent 2
Give & Take Reflection

The strongest use of the word "take" that immediately comes to mind are Jesus' words on his journey toward the cross: "Take this cup from me." Even Jesus did not want the cup he was given. He accepted it, but he did not want it according to this plea. 

So why did Jesus give as he did? Because God asked him to give—because God sent him to give.  

What did God send you to give? And what is it going to take for you to give it? 

The poet, Kahlil Gibran, says this about giving: "You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."

To give of oneself becomes difficult when our sin distracts us. One of the hardest prayers to pray is this: God, reveal to me my sin. Yet, this is where the rubber meets the road, a place where honest faith and trust become important.  When we can be completely honest with ourselves about our sin, healing can begin.

Lent is our journey to the cross—the crossroads where Jesus' bleeding heart awaits—and the place where Jesus actually sealed the deal for us. So rather than allow sin to infect our lives or throw our lives completely into imbalance, remember that God is not the author of the evils that trick you into that dark place. God is not the author of evil but promises us blessings of grace. So for today, whatever it is that tempts you away, instead look for blessing—and take the cup. Amen.

Reflection submitted by:
Rev. Mary A. Cantrell, MDiv
Chaplain, United Regional, Wichita Falls, Texas, USA.
Dear Agape Family,

I wanted to tell you about a big challenge I’m taking on this fall. I have committed to walk 60 miles (yes, really!) over the course of three days in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. Those of you who know me well know that there must be a really good reason that I would volunteer to exercise this much, and there is. It’s to raise money for a cause that’s very near and dear to my heart, to help end breast cancer.

Breast cancer has been a part of my life since last August when I was diagnosed. I underwent surgery in August to have a spot removed and later had radiation treatment to help make sure it won’t return. Since then I have been on hormone blocking medication that I will have to take for at least another five years - but more likely for the rest of my life.

I am very lucky in that my form of cancer was very treatable and that I caught it very early. I am so thankful! But I look around and nearly every day I hear about someone else. Many are not as lucky as I am and I know I have to do something now to raise awareness and try to help. So this is for them …and this is for me, because I am alive and so very thankful.  

I’ll be lacing up my tennis shoes, going on training walks, and most importantly, asking for money! It is your donations that will help fund the research and the treatment that will make a difference. I’m not used to asking for money, this is not for me. This is for all who are fighting the battle.

The 3-Day is not until November, but my goal is to raise the minimum $2,300 (or more!) before then, so I’m getting started now. You can help! Click the link at the end of this email to go to my personal fundraising webpage, or see me and I’ll make sure you get a donation form. (Or you can call 800-996-3DAY and the nice people at the 3-Day can take your donation over the phone.)

This is a huge deal for me and that is why I’m asking for help. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Love,
Lisa O’Grady 

March Birthdays
Mar 03 Zachary Roberts
Mar 06 Melisa Price
Mar 13 Chris Kalish
Mar 15 Rachel Cox 
Mar 16 Joe Rice
Mar 22 Kaitlynn Rose Wolfer-Stephens
Mar 25 Sandra Hardin
Mar 29 Denise LaRae
Sunday - March 17, 2019
Lent 2
Call to Worship - Rev. David Wynn

Opening Song - "Nothing More"

Welcome and Greeting - Rev. David Wynn

Time wih the Children - Kevin Harkins

Gospel Reading - Luke 13:31-35 - Judy Hudson

Song of Response - "There Is Only Love"

Time of Teaching - “ How to Win Friends and Influence People? ”
Rev. David Wynn

Centering Song - "Hear Our Prayer"

Community Prayer - Kevin Harkins

Prayer Response - "Hear Our Prayer"

Bringing our Gifts - Cassy Batts

Celebration of Holy Communion - Rev. Robert Myer

Song of Sending Forth - "Power of Your Love"

Announcements and Benediction - Rev. David Wynn
817-535-5002 / news@agapemcc.com / http:// www.agapemcc.com /