Mar 12, 2019
Day 8: Wednesday, March 13th, 2019
Written by Gabriel Zepeda
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  • Mar 12, 2019Day 8: Wednesday, March 13th, 2019
    Mar 12, 2019
    Day 8: Wednesday, March 13th, 2019
    Written by Gabriel Zepeda
  • Mar 11, 2019Day 7: Tuesday, March 12th, 2019
    Mar 11, 2019
    Day 7: Tuesday, March 12th, 2019
    Written by Patricia Vassaur
  • Mar 10, 2019Day 6: Monday, March 11th, 2019
    Mar 10, 2019
    Day 6: Monday, March 11th, 2019
    Written by Kenitris Aarhus
  • Mar 9, 2019Day 5: Sunday, March 10th, 2019
    Mar 9, 2019
    Day 5: Sunday, March 10th, 2019
    Contributed by Carolyn Dugger
  • Mar 9, 2019Day 4: Saturday, March 9th, 2019
    Mar 9, 2019
    Day 4: Saturday, March 9th, 2019
    Contributed by Sue Boudreaux
  • Mar 8, 2019Day 3: Friday, March 8th, 2019
    Mar 8, 2019
    Day 3: Friday, March 8th, 2019
    Contributed by Nessa Austin
  • Mar 7, 2019Day 2: Thursday, March 7th, 2019
    Mar 7, 2019
    Day 2: Thursday, March 7th, 2019
    Contributed by Laura Dungan
  • Mar 6, 2019Day 1: Ash Wednesday, March 6th, 2019
    Mar 6, 2019
    Day 1: Ash Wednesday, March 6th, 2019
    Contributed by Rebecca Caldwell
  • Mar 5, 2019What is Lent?
    Mar 5, 2019
    What is Lent?

    What is Lent?

    Lent is the 40 days that precede Easter (excluding the Sundays).

    In the Christian Scriptures, the number 40 relates to the period spent in the ark by Noah, the period spent by Israel seeking the Promised Land after the Exodus, and the amount of time Jesus was in the wilderness after His baptism and prior to the beginning of his ministry. For us, the season of Lent is an invitation to 40 days of renewal (“Lent” means “spring”) and 40 days to prepare ourselves to take in the Good News of Easter through deeper disciplines of prayer, fasting, and sacrifice.

    Lent begins on what is called “Ash Wednesday.”  Part of the tradition of Ash Wednesday is to receive a mark of ashes on your forehead.

    Receiving the ashes reminds us that God’s love is triumphant over sin and death, and that God remains “in communion” with us, that in Christ, our mortality is overcome.

    Another important tradition in Lent is to sacrifice something or give up  something for Lent. For example, some people will give up television, others will give up eating meat, some will give up beer or coffee, others may even give up social media.

    This year, instead of making a commitment to sacrifice, I encourage you to make a commitment to one of the ministries in the church this Lenten season. Maybe you will  commit to helping with Children on Wednesday night or Sunday morning, maybe you    will commit to going with Youth on their summer mission trip or maybe you will commit to serving on the Methodist Park committee or any other committee that is currently looking for additional volunteers.

     
  • Mar 31, 2018Day 46: Saturday, March 31st, 2018 (Holy Saturday)
    Mar 31, 2018
    Day 46: Saturday, March 31st, 2018 (Holy Saturday)

     

    Jesus said to her, “‘I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die.  Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believer this?’”

    John 11:25-26

    In only a handful of hours, we will finally gather together to shout, “He is Risen!”  The church will claim death defeated as Jesus rose from the grave.  Resurrection will win the day as it has for over 2,000 years.

     

    In the 1960s, archeologists worked an excavation site at Masada in Israel.  One of the finds included a jar of seeds from an extinct Judean Date Palm.  Biblical scholars believe this was a palm mentioned at several points in the Old Testament (see Psalm 92:12).

     

    The jar of seeds had remained on an old dusty shelf as it was unclear what to do with them.  In 2005, an inquisitive botanical researcher gave the seeds a shot and planted one.  To his surprise, it grew!  A Judean Date Palm had not been seen growing since 500 A.D.!  Today, this tree, nicknamed “Methuselah” from the oldest person named in the Bible, has flowered and produces dates.  What was long lost is now back and alive!

    For me, Easter is a time to remember the power of resurrection in our own lives.  As people of faith, Resurrection claims any hope remains available.  We declare that what looks dead CAN actually come back to life.  Broken relationships can be healed.  The struggle isn’t over because God never gives up.

     

    This year, I wonder if we have the courage to investigate the old dusty shelves of our lives.  What hopes or dreams have we set aside long ago, thinking they were extinct?  Could this be the year that the power of resurrection surrounds your hopes and dreams and creates a place for growth and new life?

     

    Tomorrow will be my first Sunday to join FUMC in a resurrection celebration.  I can’t wait to stand with you as we continue the tradition of celebrating new life through Christ!

     

    Prayer:

    God of life, as I rise in the morning, may my life sing of resurrection.  Help me claim hope as the overwhelming power in my life.  Though struggles persist, may I never forget the gift of new life through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

     

    Contributed by Alan McGrath

    Senior Pastor – FUMC Killeen
     
     
     

     

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