Here at Burke UMC, we welcome all to experience Christ's life-changing love as we worship, learn, and share in caring community!

We believe that a holistic approach to discipleship includes engaging in all the core ministry areas of worship, learn, care, and share. This includes all ages, from the youngest to oldest members of our community. Be sure to scroll through this newsletter and read about upcoming opportunities to connect and engage in March.

Some highlights to look for in this month's newsletter:

• Lent Opportunities including Stained Glass Stations of the Cross Sign Ups, Holy Week/Easter service info, and more
• Opportunity to engage in generosity by contributing to our Lenten Giving Goal of raising $15,000
• 2 new Learn opportunities coming in May (Women's Self Defense Seminar and Just Faith Environmental class)
• Coming up this week: Lent Celebration on Sunday, March 3 and Broadway at Burke on Saturday, March 9
• A new survey for singles in the Burke UMC community
• Greeters needed for Easter and an opportunity to gather in fellowship with other women on March 28
• Ongoing outreach needs, with a save the date for Burke Gives Back Community Day of Service on April 20
• And much more!

I can remember as a child that on Easter morning, we would have an Easter egg hunt around the house. They would hide the egg shaped candys that were hard on the outside, but had marshmallow on the inside. I used to love finding candy for me downstairs and then searching out as many as I could find (mostly trying to find more than my brother!).

The history of the Easter Egg and Easter Egg Hunt is debated. Many point to the fact that the egg was a symbol of the resurrection. It represented the tomb. We know that Martin Luther, the person credited for beginning the Protestant Reformation, would have Easter Egg hunts. Many assume this was a connection to people searching for the empty tomb. Now, my mom never prefaced our Easter Egg hunts with “Let’s go find the empty tomb”, but I love the idea of connecting some of our time-honored Easter traditions back to the Christian understanding of this holiday. Easter comes from a Germanic word meaning dawn or references the goddess of Spring. In all scenarios, Easter points us to new life, whether the resurrection, a flower blooming, or the egg that can bring forth new life.

As you continue through Lent this month and approach the holiday of Easter and the many traditions your family has to go with it, may we also reflect on the spaces in our life we are seeking newness and resurrection. Maybe we need to experience new life in our marriage or in a familial relationship. Maybe we need to experience new life in our workplace or school life. Maybe we need to experience new life coming out of a challenging winter. Wherever you may need to experience new life, I hope you will lift it to God and know that Easter reminds us that new life is available to us. That resurrection is possible! May you look through this newsletter and find ways to be intentional in your Lenten journey and approach Easter with excitement and joy!

In Christ,

Pastor Jason

Lent and Easter with Burke UMC:

• Weekly Lenten Communion Services: Wednesdays in March at 11:30 am
• Our Burke UMC Lenten Daily Devotional, written by Burke UMC members and friends, is available in print or by daily email. If you would like to receive the devotional by email, you can still sign up HERE
• Lenten studies are continuing in our LEARN classes now through Easter. Visit burkeumc.org/learn for details on each Lenten class.

Lent Celebration: Sunday, March 3 (10:30 am)

All are invited to celebrate Lent with us this Sunday after worship. We’ll have lunch, an Easter Egg hunt, moon bounce, petting zoo, face-painting, and fellowship. This event will be fun for all ages and a great opportunity to connect with people in the BUMC community.

Holy Week and Easter Worship Services:

Holy Week Services:

Maundy Thursday - Thursday, March 28 (7:30 PM)

Good Friday - Friday, March 29 (7:30 PM)

Easter Worship Services: Sunday, March 31

Sunrise Service, Lee Chapel Cemetery (7:00 AM)

Traditional Services in Sanctuary (9:00 and 11:00 AM)

Stained Glass Stations of the Cross:

We are painting the Stations of the Cross again on the beautiful front windows of BUMC! Please review the available slots and sign up using this link. Individuals, families, or groups may sign up for one or more windows.

Rev Ev will be sending an email to everyone who signed up with directions on how to paint the windows, and details about the timeline for completing them this year. The time period we are painting them is March 10-March 17, so that they will be complete and viewable from March 17- Easter Sunday (March 31). Please begin considering which date and time during that week you will be available to paint your window.

Lenten Giving Focus:

As we continue through this season of Lent together, we want to focus on generosity by raising $15,000 beyond our regular operating giving to support ministries for our community, our youth and children, and our green initiative. We hope you will begin to be in prayer about how you might be able to give during this Lenten season.

You can give today on our website by selecting the "Lenten Giving 2024" dropdown. We'll be sharing more details in worship starting this coming Sunday!

March Highlights:

• March 3: Worship includes Communion
• March 10: Girl Scout Sunday
• March 24: Palm Sunday - worship includes children's palm parade!
• March 28: Maundy Thursday service - 7:30 pm
• March 29: Good Friday service - 7:30 pm

Ongoing Worship Opportunities:

• Weekly Sunday Morning Worship: 9:30 am, In-Person and online on our website at burkeumc.org/online
• Children’s Church: Children age 4 - 2nd grade, begin Worship in the Sanctuary with their families. They will be escorted to Children’s Church when directed. They will be returned to the sanctuary during the closing hymn (except on communion Sundays, when they will be returned prior to receiving communion). **there will be no children's church on Easter Sunday so children can enjoy Easter worship with their families

Prayer Opportunities:

Prayer Resource Table - There is a prayer resource table at the entrance to the Narthex. These resources are available to borrow for your use or share with friends. Upper Room devotionals are available in printed copy. You may also view the Upper Room daily devotions here: https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals

Sunday Morning - On Sunday morning between 8:45 and 9:15 am you are invited to gather to pray for our morning worship and its leaders. The Prayer Focus Team members facilitate this gathering, but others are encouraged to participate. A notebook with full instructions is on a small table in the chapel. You may also sign up online to be the leader using this link!

Thursday Morning - Join facilitator Jane Wilson in the Sanctuary on Thursday mornings from 9:00-9:45 am to pray together about current events and issues facing the world and prayers for those on BUMC’s ongoing prayer list. All are welcome and encouraged to attend whenever possible for prayers of the people.

Prayer Chapel - Our relocated prayer chapel (on the lower level underneath our office complex) provides a peaceful, calming area for personal prayer or small group prayer. The chapel is open during church office hours and on Sunday. Stop in and visit this beautiful space and admire the stained glass windows.

Music Ministry at Burke UMC:

Broadway at Burke is back! This event will take place next Saturday, March 9 at 6:30 pm. It's a free event, so be sure to invite friends & neighbors!

Just Faith Class

Just Faith: Environment is coming back this Spring! BUMC will offer the second session: Sacred Air to a limited number of participants. You do not have to have taken the first course (Sacred Land) to participate; but if you took the first course, you have first opportunity to reserve a seat. Nanlee Edwards and Beth Ann Velo are co-hosting this virtual class. Just Faith will meet Tuesdays at 7pm; stay tuned for a starting date! Visit burkeumc.org/learn for more information coming soon.

Women's Self Defense Seminar with Officer Liam May

In honor of Women's History Month, Officer Liam May of the FCPD will be hosting a self defense seminar for women and teenage girls. We all need to stay safe, and this classroom-style presentation will help give women tools to defend themselves if they are put in an unsafe situation. This is an informational event and will not include hands-on demonstrations. The seminar will be at 6pm on Tuesday, March 19 in the Fellowship Hall. Sign-ups are encouraged, but not required. Girls age 13 and older are welcome to attend this event. 

Prayer Shawl Ministry:

A special shout out to Karen Anthony and our Prayer Shawl Ministry group who recently delivered a box full of hand crocheted baby blankets and hats to be given to immigrant families with newborns. What a blessing this group is to so many within our church and outside of our church walls! The collection effort was organized by the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. 

Greeters Needed for Easter:

Easter will soon be here and BUMC is in need of Greeters for our two services on March 31st at 9:00 and 11:00. All that is needed is a smile and welcoming heart. Individuals or families are always welcome. Please contact Sally Ann Jaeger at jaeger4to1@aol.com if you are able to help.

Burke UMC Singles:

We'd love your thoughts about your interest (or disinterest) in more opportunities for singles to connect and gather here in the Burke UMC community. If you're part of this group, take our quick survey by using this link!

Women's Connection:

Women's Connection, a monthly women's fellowship event, will meet on Thursday, March 28th at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall. Join us for dinner and fellowship then join in the Maundy Thursday service at 7:30pm as well. The next gathering will take place on April 28th.

College Student Ministry:

As we "march" into March (didn't the 2023-2024 school year just begin??), we want to continue to keep our College Students in thought and prayer. Regardless whether first year, graduation year, or grad student, notes of encouragement at this time of year are very important. Remember that you were in their shoes once, too! Please stop by the Connection Center and sign our card or, better yet, send a personal note.

Our student for this week is: Alexa Houck, first year Grad Student at VA Tech. Her address is: 304 Loudon Road, Blacksburg, VA 24060 

Feeding Ministries:

We are still in need of folks to help our Rising Hope cooking teams! We have one team that provides meals for about 60 guests on the 3rd Monday evening of each month and another team that provides meals for about 60 guests on 4^th Sunday mornings. If you are interested in being a part of this important ministry, please contact Katie Glick at katieglick@burkeumc.org.

Burke Gives Back Community Co-op:

Our community co-op continues to serve those experiencing food insecurity in the Burke, Springfield, and Fairfax areas. We are always in need of volunteers to help us sustain the co-op. Visit the Outreach section of the BUMC website for the sign-up link. Families are welcome to serve at the co-op together!

Current Co-op Needs:

• Canned corn
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Diced Tomatoes
• Pasta
• Flour
• Sugar
• Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, body wash, shampoo, feminine pads

Donations for the co-op can be placed in the donation bins -- now located in our back parking lot!

Weekend Food Bags

We continue to provide weekend food bags to our partner schools to support children who would otherwise be food insecure over the weekend when they are not receiving school breakfast and lunch. We invite you to donate food items to support this ministry! Find the list of needed items below. If you would rather support this ministry by making a financial contribution, you are welcome to make a check out to BUMC and note Weekend Food Bags. Thank you in advance for your support of this important ministry!

Weekend Food Bag Needs:

• Fruit cups
• Pudding cups
• Milk boxes
• Cracker and cheese (packs of the 6 sandwich crackers)
• Individual pasta cups
• Granola Bars

Burke Gives Back Event

Mark your calendars for our next Burke Gives Back event on Saturday, April 20! At our Burke Gives Back event we partner with the surrounding community to engage in service opportunities (and fellowship!). We have decided to move the event this April from Terra Centre Elementary School to our church building! Sign-ups and additional information will be available in the coming weeks! Reach out to Katie Glick at katieglick@burkeumc.org.



LAMB Center:

The Lamb Center is a nonprofit, daytime drop-in center for the homeless located in Fairfax City. They are currently in need of the following supplies: brown paper bags, 3x10- inch; travel-sized toiletries; ponchos; 5x7-inch notepads for the front desk; men’s belts (sizes 30-48); men’s sneakers (8-13); men’s boots, (8-13); and men’s jersey boxer briefs (M-XL). All supplies may be brought to The Lamb Center, 3160 Campbell Drive in Fairfax, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; and Saturdays, from 9-11 a.m.

Ecumenical Community Helping Others:

ECHO's needs for March include: men’s winter coats, men's sweatpants in any size and, always, men’s jeans in 30- or 32- inch waist sizes, boys’ sneakers sizes 1 through 4, and girls’ sneakers sizes 1 through 6, hand towels and washcloths, bathmats, shower curtains, and all sizes of comforters.

ECHO has a few volunteer positions open for working directly with clients to determine what they need: administrative support, food distribution, clothing assessment, grant writing, housewares assessment. If you are interested in finding out more, contact volunteercoordinator@echo-inc.org

Click below to see highlights of upcoming opportunities for kids and youth this February! Visit our website for a full list of opportunities.

Leadership Board: 

Our Leadership Board met in February and got an update on a financial assistance policy created by the Outreach area. We received a report from the Budget Ad-Hoc Group to address ways to reach our financial goals for 2024. The Board reviewed some of our policies. The Board will meet again on March 21st at 7:00 pm and will hear from our Mission/Vision/Values Ad-Hoc Group and review more of our policies. Use this link to register for the zoom!