All of Children’s Sunday School (Pre-School, Grades K-6, including Confirmation) will meet in the FUMC Park (across 11th St from the Church) on September 4, 2011!  Come join the fun!

For more information, contact
Kim English (children@fumcwf.org or 940-766-4231, x272).

On Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011, seven young people were confirmed, publicly professing Jesus as their Lord and becoming full members of our church!  In fact, one of them, Jamie Whitmer, was baptized!

The 2011 Confirmands are:  Jamie Whitmer, Avery Trevino, James Scales, Will Harrison, Hailey Harrison, Yeager Edwards,  and Alex Alread.

Here is the Affirmation of Faith that they wrote at their Christmas in April Retreat on April 9, 2011:

We, the body of Christ, truly believe that God is the awesome Creator of life, heaven, and earth. God is the great Giver of mercy and grace, Who created us in God’s image. The Creator sent Jesus to die for us and will always forgive us.

We, the children of God, believe Jesus is our Healer, Teacher, and Leader. After His crucifixion, He rose again on the third day, and He will be with us in our hearts and souls forevermore.

We, as a congregation, trust in the Holy Spirit, Breath of Life, Tongues of Fire, and Living Sanctuary. The Spirit gives us the gifts and fruit necessary to build God’s kingdom.

We, the people of God’s kingdom, participate in evangelism, sharing the good news, and worship forever. Throughout the body of Christ, we connect to God and each other with endless hymn.
Amen.

Join us as we begin Holy Week together at FUMC with these great events on Palm Sunday:

• 10:30am – Worship
  featuring: Palm Procession & Confirmation
• 4:30pm – Easter Egg Hunt
• 5:15pm – Evening BBQ Meal (Hot Dogs Provided for Children)
  - Get you tickets SOON! 
  • $6.00 / Adult
  • $3.00 / Child
  • $20 MAX per Family
  • Visitors eat FREE, so bring a friend!
• 6:00pm – Passion of the Lord Service
  with “eye-witness testimonies” and the Chapel and Chancel Choirs leading us from Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem to the Last Supper through the Crucifixion.

A highlight for the Confirmation Class each year is the Christmas in April Retreat where the focus is helping the 6th graders discern their spiritual gifts for service in our church and community as they prepare to become full members of the church on Confirmation Sunday (which will be Sunday, April 17, 2011).  On April 9-10, 2011, six confirmands took part in this event at Camp Chaparral in Iowa Park, Texas.

As a part of this weekend, youth helpers (in grades 7-8) attended to help the confirmands in this endeavor and to forge relationships for an easier transition for our 6th graders to enter our youth group.  Also, parents (and one little brother) attended for a special 2-hour segment working with their children and the youth helper to better understand spiritual gifts and their importance within the Body of Christ.

Another highlight included the confirmands writing their own affirmation of faith, which will be professed publically for the first time on Confirmation Sunday!  Be sure to be here for that joyous occasion.

In addition, we saw how John Wesley’s understanding of the workings of God’s grace can be seen through the story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Special thanks go to Jeff Ginn, Allison Martini, and Troy Sims for chaperoning this event.

Check out more pictures by clicking this strip:

Rev. Troy Sims says that this video is the only thing of substance that he remembers from his own Confirmation, which took place on one Saturday while he was in the 5th Grade.  Enjoy Clayride: A GALLOP Through Methodist History!

Leave comments about insights from this video below!

Four of our seven 2010-2011 Confirmands went to the Dallas Area over February 12-13, 2011.  Here are some of the things they did:

• A Canned Food Scavenger Hunt to help stock the food pantry of CCA (Christian Community Action) in Lewisville, Texas.
• Study time learning about the biblical topics that John Wesley thought were the core or “marrow” of Scripture – Prevenient Grace, Justifying Grace, and Sanctifying Grace.
• Ate with the FUMC Lewisville Youth Group.  The meal had been provided by one of that church’s older ladies Sunday School called “Dorcas.”
• Fun times at Adventure Landing in Dallas.
• Worship with St. Luke “Community” United Methodist in Dallas.
• Taking part in the Confirmation Celebration at FUMC Denton with Bishop Earl Bledsoe.  A real highlight was hearing the Bishop’s wife, Leslie, speak.

Special thanks go to Jennifer Holmes (James’ mom) for being a chaperon on this great trip! It was GREAT!
Check out the pictures below!

L-R: James, Jamie, Will, Yeager, & Jennifer with food collected in Canned Food Scavenger Hunt!Not shown: Rev. Troy Sims

The 2010-2011 Confirmation Class attended two different worship services to learn more about how we as United Methodists are similar and different to other faith traditions.

On Friday, October 1, 2010, the class attended the House of Jacob Synagogue along with University UMC’s Confirmation Class.  Before the worship service, Rabbi Danny Kislin talked about some basic beliefs and traditions of Judaism, and he also showed them one of their Torah scrolls, which is over 100 years old!  The worship service itself was special in that it marked the end of the annual cycle to read the Torah (law); this holiday is known in Judaism as Simchat Torah.  Rabbi Kislin ceremoniously carried the Torah scroll through the congregation for members to touch or kiss the scroll.

On Saturday, October 2, 2010, the class attended Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church.  Father John Swistovich took the class on a tour of their beautiful, brand new worship facility.  The service itself was centered around the theme of “Respect for Life,” remembering that since life comes from God, all life is sacred.  Thus, we must live to protect life.  After the service, Deacon Larry Bills answered questions about the service and Roman Catholicism in general.

Special thanks goes to parents Nick Alread and Mark Edwards for chaperoning these trips with Rev. Sims.

Check out pictures of these great trips:

On Saturday, April 17, 2010 during the Christmas in April Retreat, the 2010 Confirmation Class wrote their own Affirmation of Faith.  It was first read in worship on Confirmation Sunday, April 25, 2010 when 11 young people were confirmed, publicly professing their faith and choice to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Here is that creed:

We believe in God, the powerful, almighty Creator of heaven and earth, King and Ruler of anything and everything, Who gives us everlasting love, peace, and eternal life.

We believe in the Son of God, Savior of souls and Corrector of sin. Jesus loves us and nourishes us.

We believe in the Holy Spirit that opens the door to knowledge. The Spirit breathes into us the Breath of life, and is the Spark of the fire of love in our souls.

We believe in the Church, God’s house and place of fellowship, love, repentance, and devotion. It is a place where we learn about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible. Amen.

Back L-R:  Emma Knight, Millicent Paris, Lauren Meaders, Ashley Tate, Ali O’Connell, Myrah Rogers, Mason Lamb
Front L-R:  McKinley Thacker, Collin Brauner, Paul Acosta, Cory Press

One of the highlights of the Confirmation year is the “Christmas in April Retreat” where the Confirmands learn about and begin to discover their spiritual gifts for serving in the church.  This year was no exception.

As a part of the primary program time, parents and grandparents came to share the experience with their 6th graders.  Thus, all were able to consider the importance of every member of the body of Christ, the church.  When one is not there, the tasks before us are more difficult – sometimes impossible!  Plus, as members of the same body, we have to learn to work together in sharing and using our gifts for the good of all.

After supper, the eleven Confirmands worked on their own Affirmation of Faith in their own words, and this creed will be read for the first time in worship on Confirmation Sunday, April 25, 2010.  Then, after a bit of free time, they watched the theatrical version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and considered how John Wesley’s basic theology is summed up in that movie!

Special thanks go to six youth helpers (Andrew Beltchev, Drake Davis, Breanne Press, Hope Rouse, Courtney Tate, and Keeley Trevino) and three adults (Jeff & Holly Ginn and Wilma O’Connell) who worked with Rev. Troy Sims to make this event a success.

The Confirmands that attended this trip include Paul Acosta, Collin Brauner, Emma Knight, Mason Lamb, Lauren Meaders, Ali O’Connell, Millicent Paris, Cory Press, Myrah Rogers, Ashley Tate, and McKinley Thacker.

Check out the pictures below!

On February 6-7, 2010, nine members of the Confirmation Class and four adults went to the Dallas area for the annual “Confirmation Celebration Overnighter.”  This entailed MANY things:

Doing a canned / boxed good scavenger hunt to benefit CCA (Christian Community Action) in Lewisville, Texas;

Learning about what John Wesley thought were the most important themes in Scripture and for our faith (Prevenient, Justifying, and Sanctifying Grace);

Playing Put-Put Golf, Lazer Tag, Go Carts, and Arcade Games at Adventure Landing in Dallas;

Spending the night at FUMC Lewisville;

Attending St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church in South Dallas (Confirmands said this was AWESOME); and

Attending the Confirmation Celebration with Bishop Earl Bledsoe at FUMC Denton.  Several hundred other confirmands from around the North Texas Conference were there.

Special thanks for the adults that assisted Rev. Troy Sims:  Karen Rogers, Kevin O’Connell, and Jeff Thacker.  This event would not have been a success without them!

For more pictures, click the “strip” below: