New to the United Methodist Church?

Been in the UMC a long time
but not sure of our basic beliefs?

Just want to know more about the UMC?

This 4-week Sunday School Class is for you!

Led by our ministry staff, this class will cover:

• United Methodist History / Structure
• United Methodist Theology
• Programs of FUMC

This class will be held on Sunday mornings during the Sunday School hour (9:30-10:15am).  The class location will depend on how many register.

Please, register below so we’ll know how many to expect!

For more information, contact
Rev. Troy Sims (tsims@fumcwf.org or 940-766-4231, x229).

Name:

Phone:

e-Mail:

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Written in a humorous, accessible style, Being United Methodist in the Bible Belt: A Theological Survival Guide for Youth, Parents, and Other Confused United Methodists, is an easy-to-understand guide to the kinds of theological questions many United Methodists ask.  Those participating in the study will better understand our unique brand of Christianity as United Methodists in light of the understandings of those from more theologically conservative traditions. The book makes one appreciate Wesleyan theology and practice while respecting other traditions.

Join the Exodus Sunday School Class for this study in Room 301 (of the Education Wing) at 9:30am.  They have just barely gotten underway with the study, so it is NOT too late to join in on the fun!

For more information about the Exodus Class or this study, contact
Lindsay Greer (lindsay.greer@hotmail.com or 940-691-1236).

What Does a Progressive Christian Believe? A Guide for the Searching, the Open, and the Curious by Delwin Brown will be the topic of discussion in the Open Door Sunday School Class beginning September 11, 2011 at 9:15am.

Brown is dean emeritus of Pacific School of Religion and former Professor of Christian Theology at Illiff School of Theology.  In this insightful book, he makes clear what Progressive Christians do and do not believe.  He also makes it clear what Progressive Christians do in the life of faith while leaving room for the diversity that comes with the label of “Progressive Christian.” As Rev. Troy Sims has said of this book, Brown shows us how to be black and white about the fact that the world is varying shades of gray – everything is NOT black and white.

In seven points, he retrieves the value of the bible, affirms the presence of God intertwined in all of creation, and breathes life into the creeds (imagine that!) by taking them to the logical conclusion that God is not only incarnate in Jesus but humanity and all of creation! He grounds a view of humanity in the Genesis story of co-creation and the twin commandments to love God and others as ourselves.

For more information about the class or study,
contact Tammy Sparks (tammysp@sbcglobal.net or 940-781-4821).

The Living the Questions Sunday School Class, which meets in the Parlor (behind Fellowship Hall) will begin a new study on Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 9:30am.  They will be using Brian D. McLaren’s book, The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything.

A wide array of people from different theological backgrounds claim that through McLaren’s books they have begun to rediscover the faith they’d lost or rejected. In this book, you’ll find what’s at the center of Brian’s critique of conventional Christianity, and what’s at the heart of his expanding vision. In the process, you’ll meet a Jesus who may be altogether new to you, a Jesus who is:

• Not the crusading conqueror of religious broadcasting;
• Not the religious mascot of partisan religion;
• Not heaven’s ticket-checker, whose words have been commandeered by the church to include and exclude, judge and stigmatize, pacify and domesticate.

McLaren invites you to discover afresh the transforming message of Jesus-an open invitation to radical change, an enlightening revelation that exposes sham and ignites hope, an epic story that is good news for everyone!

For more information about this class or study,
contact Jennifer Holmes (mededit@sw.rr.com or 940-696-9991).

Join the Living the Questions Sunday School Class during the summer of 2011 (starting June 19) as they use video from the NOOMA series (featuring Rob Bell, founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan) to guide their discussion.

NOOMA is a transliteration of the Greek word, pneuma, which is translated into English as wind, breath, or spirit.  The following quote is from the back of NOOMA videos:

We can get anything we want, from anywhere in the world, whenever we want it.  That’s how it is and that’s how we want it to be.  Still, our lives aren’t any different than other generations before us.  Our time is.  We want spiritual direction, but it has to be real for us and available when we need it.  We want a new format for getting Christian perspectives.  NOOMA is the new format.  It’s short films with communicators that really speak to us.  Compact, portable, and concise.  Each NOOMA touches on issues that we care about, that we want to talk about, and it comes in a way that fits our world.  It’s a format that’s there for us when we need it, as we need it, how we need it.

For more information about the Living the Questions Class,
contact Jeff or Lauri Cooper:
jcooper003@gmail.com or 940-781-7831.

Join the Open Door Sunday School Class for their new book review, Such Is Life: A Close Encounter with Ecclesiastes:

• Begins Sunday, June 12, 2011
• 9:15am
• Rm 2-R of Rec. Lobby (basement area of the Education wing)

Though some twenty three centuries have passed since an anonymous Jewish sage calling himself the Proclaimer (Qoheleth) set down his thoughts about life, they are strangely in tune with today’s secular age. Its surprising, therefore, that they ever found a place in Holy Scriptures. Lloyd Geering has brought Ecclesiastes to life by ingeniously composing imaginative dialogues with the sage, which show that he was a free thinker, a humanist, and an existentialist. In fact, this biblical heretic essentially undermined the rest of the Hebrew Bible by finding no discernible thread of purpose in the universe or in human existence, and by proposing that though Nature operates in ever-repeating cycles, much of human life is determined by sheer chance. The role of the sage, as Ecclesiastes saw it, was not to pass on gems of eternal wisdom, but to goad us into thinking things out for ourselves in our search for meaning in life.

Written in a humorous, accessible style, Being United Methodist in the Bible Belt: A Theological Survival Guide for Youth, Parents, and Other Confused United Methodists, is an easy-to-understand guide to the kinds of theological questions many United Methodists ask.  Those participating in the study will better understand our unique brand of Christianity as United Methodists in light of the understandings of those from more theologically conservative traditions. The book makes one appreciate Wesleyan theology and practice while respecting other traditions.

Join the Living the Questions Sunday School Class for the study of this book beginning Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 9:15am.  The book costs $11.

For more info on this class that meets in the Parlor, contact Jeff & Lauri Cooper (jcooper003@gmail.com or 940-781-7831).

In an amazingly fun event on February 27, 2011, we shared in fellowship, food, and even friendly competition in order to make a difference in our community and beyond as we took part in the 3rd Annual Battle of the Bowls Chili, Stew, & Dessert Cook-Off!  A total of $3,849.20 was raised to benefit our four primary missions initiatives:

• 40% PowerPaks 4 Kids = $1,539.68
• 20% Texas Ramp Project – $769.84
• 20% Faith Mission – $769.84
• 20% Imagine No Malaria – $769.84

This greatly exceeds 2010′s proceeds of only $2,460!

One of the things that may have been the catalyst for the great response was HOT DOGS!  It was so good to see so many families there since their kids would have something they’d like to eat!  We’ll do this again in the future!

Now, I’m sure everyone wants to know the winners in this great event!  Yet, this could not have been done without the amazing participation of EVERYONE – those who cooked, decorated, and even ate.  THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!

Winners are as follows:

Chili

1. White Chicken Chili by DeEdra Folmar
   Winning a gift card to Logan’s Roadhouse!
2. Chili by Rev. Paul Goodrich
   Winning a gift card to Chili’s!
3. King’s Chili by Donovan & Kathie King
   Winning a gift card to Chili’s!
4. Chili by Sue Sperry
   Winning a gift card to Taco Casa (donated by Taco Casa)!

Stew

1. Bee’s Stew by Paula Moore
   Winning a gift card to the Hibiscus Cafe!
2. Stew by Carl & Delaine Wiersema
   Winning a gift card to Olive Garden!
3. Pozole by Gene Newton
   Winning a gift card to Luby’s Cafeteria (donated by Luby’s)!
4. Stew by Kristian & Tammy Kowing
   Winning a gift card to Hunan’s Chinese Restaurant (donated by Hunan’s)!

Dessert

1. Banana Pudding by Kristian & Tammy Kowing
   Winning a gift card to Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream!
2. Brownies by Noros & DeeAnn Martin
   Winning a gift card to Gidget’s Sandwich Shack (donated by Gidgets)!
3. Brownies by Margee Adkins
   Winning a gift card to Gidget’s Sandwich Shack!

Sunday School Classes Making the Most Money

1. Aldersgate
   Winning 4-weeks of teaching by Rev. Troy Sims
2. Bi-the-Way
3. Exodus

Best Table Decorations (see pictures below)
(voted on by Missions Committee Members)

1. Aldersgate Sunday School
   Winning 3 bags of gourmet coffee!
2. Children’s Sunday School
3. Keystone Sunday School

First Place Decorations - Aldersgate Fire Truck Theme with Fire Hydrant & Dalmation -

Second Place Decorations - Children's Sunday School - Heavenly Hot Dogs -

Third Place Decorations - Elegance by the Keystone Class -

Do you have pictures of this great event?
Share them with Rev. Troy Sims!

Twenty people joined together on January 22, 2011 to build 72 feet of wheel chair ramps for people in our community!  Thirteen of these volunteers were from the new Aldersgate Sunday School Class!  Other Sunday School Classes represented were The Journey, Genesis, and Open Door!  Check out the pictures below!

Will Barksdale (The Journey), Brandon Vaughn (The Journey), Dustin Hays
Not shown: Emily Hays

Mike Rose, Amber Schacter, Ashley Tate (7th Grade), Jammie Wilbanks, Susan Tate, Brittany Tate (4th Grade), Brian Coons, Jake Truette, Cindy Carss (Genesis)
Not shown:  Gary Schultz, Troy Sims

Alan Ballard (Open Door), Patricia Stroderd, Tim Kramer
Not shown: Kevin & DeEdra Folmar

Join the Open Door Sunday School Class (meets in Rm 2-R of Rec. Lobby) for the study of Bernard Brandon Scott’s book, The Trouble with Resurrection: From Paul to the Fourth Gospel beginning January 30. By examining the resurrection stories in chronological order of their being written, this book prompts readers to consider:

* What does the New Testament really say about the resurrection;
* What is the influence of Judaism on Christian belief in the resurrection;
* How did the resurrection become the central belief in Christianity;
* Why did early Christians choose to believe in the resurrection; and
* Why is resurrection not the right word.

For more information about the Open Door Class or this study, contact Gary Sparks (940-696-3151 or wfsparky@sbcglobal.net).