E-News For February 17, 2021 ~ Ash Wednesday Service at 6 pm ~ Lenten Sermon Series Starts on Sunday!

Saxapahaw United Methodist Church

February 17, 2021

February 21, 2021

The Wilderness (Lent 1)

Here we go again! It is Lent and the pesky Holy Spirit is drawing us – or perhaps dragging us – out into the wilderness for 40 days. But haven’t we been in the wilderness for a year already – the wilderness called the Pandemic? Do we need another wilderness? Still, God calls us into this (new?) wilderness as we prepare for Easter. So will you come? After all, Jesus has been there. His footsteps can still be found. And the angels are there. Sure, we will face temptation. But the biggest temptation is to not enter the wilderness at all.

Ash Wednesday

February 17, 2021

6:00 p.m. Live or Later on FaceBook

You might be asking why we need another Lent. After all, all of 2020 was about as Lenten as we can imagine – sackcloth and ashes-worthy, tearing of garments and repenting in the dust. And self-reflection? Physical distancing led to a lot of introspection, don’t you think? So maybe we can give Lent a miss this year. Except, maybe there is more to Lent than this. Maybe this period of preparation, of fasting and self-denial, of repentance and confession, of putting our spiritual house in order is bigger than all of the challenges of this past year. Maybe we need another Lent simply so that we can be prepared for Easter.

Options for Ash Wednesday Worship:

1. Drive-In Worship -- Listen to this short service from your car, and then come forward to receive the ash sign of the cross in the prayer garden.

2. FaceBook or Zoom Worship -- Participate in the same way you do on Sunday morning. EXCEPT pick up ashes from the church so you can share the ash sign of the cross with your family at home.

FaceBook Live
Zoom (Video): https://nccumc.zoom.us/j/99998498309
By phone: Dial +1 646 558 8656, meeting ID: 999 9849 8309

3. Watch Later on FaceBook -- The service may be too early for you. Participate later AND pick up ashes from the church so you can share the ash sign of the cross with your family at home. Recorded Service, After Ash Wednesday Service

4. If You Live Close -- Participate online and drive over to receive the ash sign of the cross. Pastor Sue will remain outside for 15 minutes after the service.

Ashes will be in small zip lock bags and ready for you to pick up starting Thursday, February 11th. They will be on the table in our entrance area at the church. If you have questions contact Pastor Sue.

Pick Up Your 2021

Lenten Devotional Today!

The Sanctuary for Lent 2021 includes brief readings for each day in Lent, from Ash Wednesday through Easter Day, including a suggested Scripture, a short devotion and a short prayer.

Copies are available on the table in our gathering room outside the sanctuary. Take one for your own Lenten journey. If you know of a family member or a friend who would appreciate one, give them one.

Together we can faithfully journey through Lent and prepare to experience the joy of the Resurrection.

Ways to Worship

Sundays @ 11 am

For this season we are skipping gathering in person so that there will be many other seasons when all of us can gather in person.

We encourage you to participate in one or more of the following ways:

Drive-In Church: Participate in worship from the parking lot by tuning in on your radio to 97.7 FM. Come as you are, stay in your car, and experience community in a new way! (See more below in this e-news about the history of Drive-In Church.)

FaceBook and Zoom: We encourage you to continue to connect for worship online. Feel free to use the chat feature to greet one another and share the peace of Christ during the service. Please join us on Zoom or FaceBook this Sunday at 11 o'clock:

FaceBook Live
Zoom (Video) http://bit.ly/SaxUMCVirtualWorship
By phone: Dial +1 646 558 8656, enter, meeting ID: 98064557041
Recorded Service, After noon on Sunday

Help Lead Worship: Participate in worship by reading scripture, sharing a story, and/or providing a musical offering. Contact Pastor Sue if you’d like to participate in this way.

Pray: We cannot underestimate the power of prayer during this season. Pray for one another daily. Pray for our community and our world.

Thank you for your supporting the mission and ministries of Saxapahaw UMC. Tithes and offerings may be given by mail, in the offering boxes, or via secure form on our website.

Online Marketplace

Since we have been unable to gather for Brunch Church many of us have missed the opportunity to make an offer, a request, or a declaration during our marketplace.

The good news is:

Cathy Hess has been vaccinated!
Anita Hamilton has everything she needs for her new apartment!

Are there other offers, requests, or declarations?

Send them to Pastor Sue at seldon@nccumc.org. Let's see if we can find creative ways to exchange small favors that are of real value with one another, and simultaneously deepen our relationships with one another.