Crosswinds Newsletter

February 22, 2023 - Volume 657

Today is the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is a period of 40 days leading up to Easter. In that time, we journey with Jesus to the cross. As such, it is a time of preparation marked by repentance and participation in acts that bring us closer to Jesus. We want to clear our souls of anything that might impede Jesus’ movement in our lives. With God’s help, we are readied to experience the fullness of the Good News of our Risen Savior. 

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. It derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on our heads as an acknowledgement both of our mortality and repentance. The tradition serves as a witness to the consequences of sin in death and the invitation to the life-changing practice of confession before God. John captures this in 1 John 1:9 by saying, “For if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Ash Wednesday is a testament to the Good News that in Jesus we have life in the face of death and healing from our sin. 

There is no better way to kick off the Lenten Season than to join us for worship on Ash Wednesday. We will gather in the sanctuary to reflect upon our need for Jesus. We will reach out to Him for healing and call on Him to move in our lives throughout Lent. 

So we invite you to join us for Ash Wednesday service tonight at 6:30 PM in the sanctuary. 

Pastor Brady Johnston

www.fumcmidlo.org

Come DISCOVER LENT this Sunday, February 26th from 5-7pm in the FLC. We will celebrate the beginning of Lent with making your own Lent centerpiece, a take home Lent devotional, several other Lent/Easter activities, a short message, and dinner! This is an event for all ages so bring yourself, your neighbors and your entire family to get ready for the mystery and wonder of Easter!!

There is a suggested donation of $10 per family to cover the cost of supplies and food. We ask that you sign up in advance so we can have enough materials for everyone. Click here to sign up for Discover Lent. 

Help prepare communion on rotation, first Sunday of the month. Email April Fehler for information.

Serve in Youth Ministries in Sunday School or Youth Group (Wednesdays). Email Keelee Allen for information.

Serve in Children's Ministries! Opportunities in the Nursery (paid), Sunday School, Godly Play and Discover Grace. Email Keelee Allen for information.

Hosted by FUMC Midlothian! Come out to KIMMEL PARK on PALM SUNDAY, April 2nd, to celebrate Easter! We will have music, age appropriate egg hunts, Jesus centered stations and activities, an ascension bridge hosted by our Boy Scout Troop, and 10,000+ pieces of CANDY!!

Help us fill 10,000 eggs! Starting Sunday, we are hosting a candy drive so we can fill thousands of eggs for Praise Hunt in the Park. Please bring individually wrapped candy, to church starting February 19th. Starting early allows us time to pack the 10,000 plastic eggs that we already have. You can also leave candy in bins outside of Keelee's office anytime during the week. No chocolate or peanuts, please.

Help serve at Praise Hunt in the Park! We will need a total team of 50 people or more. Slots are available for set up, clean up and of course various roles during the event. We will post the sign up list soon, so mark your calendars and start thinking about how you'd like to serve in this outreach!

February 22: Ash Wednesday, Beginning of Lent

February 26: Discover Lent

March 1: Youth Experience Night

March 3: GGP Three's Tea

April 2: Praise Hunt in the Park, Palm Sunday

April 6: Maundy Thursday

April 7: Good Friday

April 9: Easter

April 28-30: Special Weekend (details coming)

May 28: Pentecost

See weekly information below

Godly Play Children's Worship gathers during 8:30 and 11 AM worship services throughout the school year. Elementary age children are invited to go with our Children's Ministry Team to worship together. Children are always welcome to stay with their parents throughout worship.

Sunday School Classes meet between worship services from 9:45-10:45 AM.

+Children's Sunday School, Sanctuary building

+Youth Sunday School, FLC upstairs

+Bill Theiss Fellowship Class, FLC 109

+Adult Bible Class, FLC 110

+Upper Room Class, FLC 201

+Open Door Class, FLC 107

+Servant's Hands, FLC 204

+New Horizons Class, FLC 203

+Awaking - FLC 208

Men's Monday Night Bible Study meets Monday nights from 7-8:30 PM in the Sanctuary Building Workroom. The study is coordinated by Don Garret.

Healing Stitches sewing ministry meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month at 10 AM in the Family Life Center. Fabric donations of 1/2 yard + are welcomed.

Pastor April's Bible Study, "Words from the Cross", meets on Wednesdays, from 4:-5:45.

Divorce Care begins Wednesday, February 8th, 6:30-8:00 PM in FLC, Room 203.

Yoga - Balance Within classes meet Thursday mornings. Participants must be registered and come at their selected time. Contact Mary Ellen Humphreys for more information.

Discipleship Groups meet at various times throughout the week. New groups can form at any time! For more information, please contact the church office.

Chancel Choir rehearsals will be Wednesdays from 6-7pm in the choir room.. Email Laurie Duke for information..

God's Garden Preschool follows the MISD school calendar and is only open on MISD classroom days. GGP hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM, during the school year.

Next Steps is typically the second Sunday of each month in the FLC at 9:45. Meet with the pastors during the Sunday School hour to learn more about FUMC Midlothian.

Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 AM - 4 PM and Friday from 8 AM - 12 PM. Pastors are available for non-emergencies, Monday through Thursday during office hours. Please contact church staff during office hours.

Have you borrowed something from the church? Don't forget to return it. Please contact the church office to arrange the returning of larger items, such as chairs and tables. Thank you!

February 26th

"Appetite:

Jesus in the Desert"

Matthew 4:1-4

8:30 & 11 AM Traditional in the Sanctuary

11 AM Contemporary in the FLC

FUMC on Facebook LIVE

FUMC on YouTube

Worship on FUMC Website

Waypoints on FUMC Website

Waypoints Posted Daily on Facebook

Waypoints is a weekly devotional, written by our pastors to dig deeper into the current sermon/series.

Children's Sunday School meets 9:45-10:35 AM in the sanctuary building. Godly Play is Children's Worship released during all Sunday morning services.

Creation Kids Links:

Elementary Student's Remind

Early Childhood Remind

Stay connected in Creation Kids Children's Ministry! Follow us on our Facebook page, Creation Kids, and our Instagram page, @creationkidsfumcmidlo, to keep up with resources for connection. For more information, email Keelee Allen.

Jr & Sr High Youth Sunday School meets 9:45-10:35 AM in the FLC. Youth Group meets Wednesday nights: 6 PM - food, 6:30-8 PM - activities. No Youth on Ash Wednesday.

Stay connected in FUMC Midlo Youth Ministries! Follow us on our Youth Facebook page, FUMC Midlo Youth (public) and our Instagram page, @fumcmidloyouth. Youth and Youth parents, join our private Facebook Group, FUMC Midlothian Youth. For Remind 101 for Youth, text @midloyouth to the number 81010. If you have any questions, please email the Youth Team.

We offer Nursery and Early Childhood Care (infant through pre-k) during our Sunday morning worship services. You may email Keelee with any questions. Please note that nursery availability may be limited during the holidays.

Visit God's Garden Preschool (GGP) online to learn more about our highly sought after, accredited preschool. We follow the MISD school calendar and are only open on MISD classroom days. GGP hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM, during the school year.

Please send your prayer request to Mar Beth or Joy. If you want to join our Prayer/Card Ministry group, send your request to Joy. Not everyone sends cards, but you can pray, thus Prayer/Card Ministry.

New Prayer Request:

Georgann Hunt (Guylyn Peel's Sister) - surgery

Continuous Prayer:

Karen Wilson, George & Dee Culps, Don Lish, John Lowe, Jan Prather

Military:*

ARMY - Matt Carroll, Tim Kruettner, Harold Barton, Josh Schenck, Austin Lockwood, Trey Ditto

NAVY - Matthew Price, Andrew Cantrell, Zachary Tucker, Thomas Shirley, Matthew Watford, Thomas Padgett

AIR FORCE - J.D. Culps, Andrew Miller 

MARINES - Josh Dunaway,  Bradley Perez, Elizia Delapaa, Cash McAdoo

NATIONAL GUARD - Derek Boots

TEXAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD - John Jackson

Dereck Vance

Remember in Prayer:

Our world, our country, our community leaders, all our military troops and first responders around the world, our church, our pastors, the staff, church members, visitors, and Midlothian community

*Our list of military members needs to be updated. Please take 20 seconds to update us with basic information for each person related/applicable to you by clicking military update.

Thank you for your generosity! We continue to do great ministry as a church because of you and your faithfulness. We encourage you to continue giving to the church's ministry either by offerning in service, mailing in your financial gifts or giving online by clicking on the button below. Every gift helps us do greater things for God's Kingdom!

Senior Pastor: Rev. Brady Johnston

Executive Pastor: Rev. Dr. April Fehler

Children's Director: Keelee Allen

God's Garden Preschool Director: Michelle Coffin

Director of Music Ministries (Traditional): Laurie Duke

Contemporary Worship Leader: Jason Westbrook

Administrative Assistant: Mary Beth Mayo

Finance Administrator: Barry Hornburg

Media Director: Valerie Dick

A/V Director: Tyler Coherd

Facilities Director: Matt Sanders 

Hospitality: Dan Maresca

FUMC Midlothian | 972-775-3993 | fumcmidlo.org

Office Hours: M-Th: 8 AM - 4 PM, F: 8 AM - 12 PM

Pastors are available for non-emergencies M-Th during office hours

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