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:

Ready for an action-packed, Spirit-filled, crazy-fun weekend retreat right in Wichita Falls?

D-Now is an awesome opportunity to experience the life of a disciple by living out of a host home in the community while we worship, serve study, and play together, in small groups and as a family of God.

We’ll meet at Floral Heights UMC (2214 10th Street) Friday, April 1, 2011 at 6:00pm.  The experience will end at 8:00pm on April 2 (please drop off and pick up at Floral Heights).

The cost is $20 per person.
If you’d like to join, please be sure to sign up by March 28th.

To register, contact
Jeff Ginn (jginn@fumcwf.org or 940-766-4231, x230).

Would you believe?  Our youth group has served meals at the North Texas Annual Conference for the following groups:

• UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) & VIM (Volunteers in Mission) (Monday Lunch)
• Highland Park United Methodist Staff (Monday Lunch)
• Bishop, Cabinet, Extended Cabinet, Dignitaries, Preparation & Qualifications Committee, Ordinands, & Those Being Commission (plus family and mentors of all of the above) before the Ordination Service (Monday Supper)
• North Texas Conference Order of Deacons (Tuesday Lunch)

THANK YOU to our youth for your service and for representing FUMC so well!

Thank you, also, to Bryan Press of Monarch Catering (and FUMC Member) for the delicious food!

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!

Moms and daughters of all ages (including grandmothers and great grandmothers) are invited to this fun event to take place on the 3rd floor here at FUMC:

• Friday, April 23, 2010
• 6:30-10:00pm

Wear your PJs and bring a game and a snack to share!

For more information, contact Rev. Lydia Pellikan
(lpellikan@fumcwf.org or 940-766-4231, x272).

To sign up, fill out the form below!

Name:

Phone:

e-Mail:

Number of Attendees:

Comments / Questions:

Enter this Code:

• 8:30am Worship in the Sanctuary
• 10:30am Worship in the Sanctuary

Both services will feature the Easter Lily Procession, a tradition at First United Methodist Church since the 1940s.

Also, in lieu of Sunday School, we are inviting all adults and youth to share in the Fellowship Hour (9:15-10:15am).  Bring breakfast goodies to share in the Atrium and let our Youth Group inspire you in Fellowship Hall, beginning about 9:35am.

HAPPY EASTER!