Big Events@Faith
My goodness, it is a little crazy around here at the office. We have had to push back the exciting events around opening the Bixby location and the ribbon cutting due to snow. We have hired a Kid’s Ministry staff person and nursery workers and they will begin Kid’s ministry this Sunday! So those things are now rescheduled around all the wonderful and exciting things that we already had going on in February. Sunday we are hosting leaders from around the North East District which goes all the way to the Kansas and Arkansas state lines. Then we are beginning Lent with a trip down to University UMC for our college Wesley Foundation fundraiser on Shrove Tuesday. I hear that volunteers from Faith are making the pancakes so you know they will be wonderful! Ash Wednesday service is Wednesday February 18th at 7 pm and Lent officially begins with our theme for this season focused on Rev. Adam Hamilton’s new book “Why did Jesus have to die? The Meaning of the Crucifixion” The following Wednesday, Feb. 25th, Adam will actually be here at Faith talking about his book and this understanding of Jesus’ death. We have decided to do the ribbon cutting on that day as well because Adam held his first church job in Bixby and was sent into ministry by the faithful United Methodist of that community.
When we told Adam that the Bixby church had left the denomination, he was so disappointed. He also has encouraged us in our efforts to create a new United Methodist church in that community. He has shared his staff to guide me and to answer questions when I knew that no one else could understand what we were doing. We have modeled our new location after the way Resurrection church does other locations. I pray that we have the successful impact on Bixby that we have had here in Tulsa. Bixby needs a church with our values and the way that we live out our faith in service. This Sunday we are having “Membership Sunday” at Bixby for those who will be their charter members. I am amazed at what God has done in and through us. Thank you for your vision for this new location. Thank you from listening to the Holy Spirit guide us. Thank you for trusting me and our amazing team of staff here. We are so blessed.
Please invite everyone that you know- to join us for any of the special things that we have starting in February. As we approach Lent, I have been trying to decide what to give up this year and have waffled around many options. Dr Pepper comes up every year but my husband says that I am not nice without caffeine. I might do red meat or meat altogether but I run low on iron and I am not sure that would be good for me. I have also considered sugar, bread and all the things that I crave. Another option would be to add something to my daily routine that would provide discipline. The point to all of this is to make room for focusing on God. In Lent, we are invited to set something aside to make more time to focus on God. I will be praying for the Holy Spirit to show me the way for this year. What are you going to do differently for these 40 days? I would love to hear your good ideas.
Praying for you to stay safe and warm,
