Judi and I are privileged to be a part of the Delegation from the WV Annual Conference. The WV delegation developed the prayer we used in Sunday’s worship service. We will continue to use it over the next two Sundays. We invite you to use this prayer in your daily devotions beginning this week before the General Conference starts and the two weeks of the Conference. The prayer was born out of a conversation that the delegation had with Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey. The prayer was inspired by Acts 15:1-18, a recording of the Jerusalem Council – a time when the church made significant decisions about ministry. 

Almighty and gracious God, we, the people of the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, ask that you have mercy on your church. Once again, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us; renew and restore your church until we are made new. Instill within these delegates humble hearts and discerning minds that hunger and thirst for your righteousness and your vision for our future. Through the decisions of the General Conference, return to this church a passionate longing for the coming of your kingdom, and unite us in one mission: to reach and make new disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world. Amen.

We continue to ask for the gift of your prayers as we do our work. We have felt your support and love for the nearly three years we have been a part of Forrest Burdette. You can continue to strengthen us for this journey by offering your prayers.

With love and gratitude,

Judi Kenaston (Lay Delegate) and Pastor Joe Kenaston (Clergy Reserve Delegate)

Sundays at 10:30 a.m., join us in person,

or participate in our live-streamed worship service

on either our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/forrestburdettemumc

or our YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/ForrestBurdette/videos

Sunday School classes for all ages begin at 9:15 a.m.

Instead of a Lenten Devotional written by the laity of the West Virginia Conference, we have prepared for you a devotional series beginning on Easter and concluding with Pentecost. What comes after Easter, one might ask? Of course the answer is: Possibilities Ahead! Throughout this Easter season, I pray you will discover many possibilities that lie ahead. And I hope this devotional helps guide your personal discipleship journey with scripture, meditation, and prayer. I am grateful to be spending this season with you, as we consider the Possibilities Ahead for mission and ministry! —Kristi Wilkerson, Conference Lay Leader

To view the daily devotionals on the Conference website, click here. To have the devotionals sent to you via email, click here to subscribe.

Pastor Joe’s Sunday School class invites you to join them in a new study, Adam Hamilton’s Simon Peter: Flawed but faithful disciple, 9:15 a.m., upstairs in room 206. There will be DVD segments by Hamilton and group discussion.

Wednesday evening classes begin at 6:30 p.m., and dinner is served at 5:30. The menu for April 17 is cheeseburgers with all the trimmings, chips, and Italian cookies. Dinner is free; donations are accepted (meals run apx. $10 per person). Please sign up at the Connection Center desk, or call the church office by Monday.

JOY Fellowship will hold our monthly covered dish lunch this Thursday, April 18, at 12:00 p.m. Bring a friend and your favorite dish to share. Our special guests will be our own Jill Gilbert and John Marra, owners of J & J Bee Farm. They will talk about the importance of bees, the bees’ jobs within the hive, the hive itself, and how we can help the bees. You'll want to BEE there, so join us!

Celebration of Mission Event gatherings support our Conference Mission Ministries. This year, our district is supporting Ebenezer Community Outreach Center, The House of the Carpenter, and Volunteers in Mission. Tangible needs are:

Ebenezer (ECOC): Playdough, children’s toothbrushes & toothpaste, toilet paper

House of the Carpenter: shampoo, deodorant, feminine hygiene items, dish soap

Please bring your donations to the Connection Center by the morning of April 21.

...Dave Wickerham, returning by popular demand after his captivating performance on the Harrah Symphonic Organ last spring. He will present “Music from the Million Dollar Movies” this Sunday, April 21, 3:00 p.m. Admission: $15; students are free.

May is Forrest Burdette’s Month at the Cupboard. The sign-up board to volunteer at the Christian Community Cupboard in May is up and ready for you in the narthex! Forrest Burdette is responsible for staffing the Cupboard every Tuesday and Friday in May. This adds up to 9 days, so many hands are needed. Service time is apx. 8:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m. Please consider being a part of this ministry to our community. See Marvin Thompson (681-292-2739) or Steve Cook (304-521-3371) with questions.

Don’t you just love a lighthouse? A lighthouse has always been a symbol of Christ’s guidance in our dark times. Come and paint one Sunday April 28, 4-6pm or Tuesday April 30, 6:30-8:30pm at Forrest Burdette UMC’s Fellowship Hall. Julie Conley will walk you through each step. Cost: $20, with proceeds to the Building Fund. **Call or text Julie directly, at 304-614-3980, to sign up.**

This month, we are collecting HYGIENE ITEMS for our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

• Soap (in original packaging)
• Washcloths
• Combs (sturdy ones)
• Nail Clippers/Manicure Sets

You can drop off your items in the OCC collection box at the Connection Center throughout April. Cash donations are also welcome – we can use the funds to purchase these items in bulk at great prices! For more info, contact Beth Sauvageot or Jackie Adkins. 

CAMP FIRELIGHT Vacation Bible School, June 16-20, 2024

“Whenever I’m afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3

Save these dates, and click here for all the opportunities to offer your gifts and talents during VBS!

Calling all High School seniors (and their families): it’s time to apply for the Rev. Charles and Alma Thompson Scholarship. The scholarship is for post-secondary education. Please contact the church office to receive an application form. The deadline is May 12.

Nine Rivers Laity Educational Event, formerly known as Lay Academy, is set for May 3-4, 2024, at Forrest Burdette UMC. This is a 2-day (Friday evening—Saturday all day), in-person event. Please pick up a brochure behind the Connection Center desk for more information, or click here.

4/15—Reid Painter, Jeremy Rogers, Joanne Sovine

4/16—Debbie Bias, Leigh Anne Cutlip, Mia Ferguson, Lauren Freeman

4/17—Jane Sentelle, Sarah Westfall

4/18—Bill Hollaway, Danielle Johnson, Karen Ray

4/19—Abby Baker, Debby Cunningham, Chad Halstead

4/20—J.T. Holdren, Cole Newman

4/21—Bob Blankenship, Jada Good, Andrew Hankins, Todd Lilly, Will Painter