Our Children’s Sunday School worked together today to sell lemonade after the 10:30am Worship Service to raise money for PowerPaks 4 Kids, a project of the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, that provides food for disadvantaged children in our community on weekends.  It cost about $170 / child per year to provide this service.

By raising $742.48, our children provided this service for a little over 4 children!  Way to go!

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:

The K-1st Grade Sunday School Class (under the leadership of Courtney Grimes & Andreia Waggoner) learned about what Jesus did in his last week in Jerusalem by taking part in a scavenger hunt.  The children had much fun learning about these important aspects of Jesus’ life!  Check out the pictures on this page!

THANK YOU to Courtney & Andreia!

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!

4th – 6th Graders Only!!

What is Lent?
Why give something up?

Come find out on
Ash Wednesday
March 9 4:00 – 4:45
(Wesley Choir/Ringers begins at 4:45)

2nd floor – room 216
(4th-5th grade Sunday School room)

Kim English will lead this special Bible Study just for you!!

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!

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