Animals are blessed

What a wonderful occasion we had last Sunday as we celebrated Holy Communion and followed it with a heartwarming blessing of the animals. I'm delighted to share a few cherished moments captured by Ken Free.

This Sunday, we will continue our dive into our Inspire Generosity series as we study Luke 14:28-33. We will also be taking a closer look at Discipleship through theologian and author Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s perspective from his book Discipleship.

Melinda Z’s memorial service

Once we finalize details regarding Melinda’s memorial service. We will share the news with you as soon as we are able to.

Generosity invitation for 2024

We want to convey our appreciation for your enduring support of Federal Way United Methodist Church (FWUMC). Your generosity holds immense significance in advancing our mission to spread God's love and serve our community, both locally and globally.

This past year of ministry has been a source of excitement and inspiration. After each service, individuals are invited to fill bags of food to support 16 families in need of sustenance over the weekends. While we previously supported 17 families, we celebrate that one family no longer requires assistance from our Food 4 Families program. Our connection with the Meredith Hill Elementary community remains a sacred privilege we've nurtured over time. Your support is truly inspiring.

Additionally, we joined forces with a local Lutheran church to offer an Adventure Camp for Fusion residents. Through this initiative, we provided children and their families with two daily meals, engaging activities, arts and crafts, reading sessions, and even a special "birthday party for everyone." A trauma specialist trained our volunteers to support families in need, contributing to their well-being. We're excitedly planning to offer this camp again next summer. I had a conversation with one parent who shared that her family, including three children, eagerly anticipated each day of the camp. This experience held significant value for them, and we later learned that their participation played a positive role in bringing them closer to permanent housing.

Will you reflect on how your contributions can further elevate our ministries and amplify our outreach endeavors. Our dedicated church leadership has crafted our 2024 budget, encompassing essential elements such as our devoted staff, critical building maintenance, and our unwavering commitment to the broader United Methodist Church.

If you click this link or the picture on this post you can digitally fill out our 2024 giving estimate e-card. We kindly request that you complete the digital card or we will be providing printed commitment cards during our worship services. You can place it in the offering plate, or submit it via email to generosity@fwumc.org by October 15th. This timeline ensures a thoughtful and accurate budget planning process as we express gratitude to God for our abundant blessings.

We anlso invite you to consider transitioning your pledge to online giving through fwumc.org/online-giving. This convenient platform provides a consistent means of expressing your generosity while supporting our budgeting efforts. If you require assistance in setting up online giving, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at generosity@fwumc.org.

Once again, thank you for joining us, as we nurture our mission within both local and global communities. Your support radiates Christ's love and propels us towards greater achievements in the name of our faith.

Sincerely,

Pastor DJ, Byron Osborn, Jan Franklin, and Ann Mayer

Generosity team

Abundant Grace update

What a blessing September 16th was! Our Abundant Grace free parking lot event was a smashing success. Here’s a quick video to give you a snippet of our time. Our next event will be Christmas themed. It’ll happen at our church on November 18th.

Religion and Race: Hispanic Heritage Month infographic available

The General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) has created a free, downloadable infographic to help churches observe Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The graphic also contains recommended reading and suggestions for ways to celebrate. 

Hispanic Heritage Month

One way that you can celebrate Hispanic Heritage month with us is to donate toiletries that are needed one of our sibling faith communities in Mt. Vernon. We have a Hispanic speaking community that is in need of support. Below is a list of items that are needed. We will have a donation box available near the welcome table through Oct. 15th. For any further questions, please contact Caleb during church. Any full sized items of these will be greatly appreciated.

1. Toilet Paper

2. Paper Towels

3. Laundry Detergent

4. Fabric Softener

5. Dish Soap

6. Kitchen Cleaning Supplies (like multi-purpose spray, dish washing brushes/scrubbers, and sponges)

7. Bathroom Cleaning Supplies (like tub/tile/shower spray, toilet bowl cleaner)

8. Toothpaste

9. Body Wash

10. Menstrual Hygiene Products

11. Diapers

Single Board Governance update

The Discernment Team spent the afternoon of August 20th listening to concerns and questions regarding the formation of a Single Board.  We thank you for your valuable input and will be looking to hold Community Conversations on a regular occurrence.  The team met Tuesday to discuss what we heard at the listening session.  Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) issues will be addressed by forming a care group for staff separate from the "Board."  Additionally, Pastor and SPRC Chair, Sandy Shinbo, will meet with staff next week to review any concerns and discuss how the new structure will work.  Other issues will be incorporated into the organizational chart and Responsibilities Matrix.  We plan to hold another session after Worship Service on September 17th.  This will be to gather any final feedback prior to presenting to Church Council for approval.

Don’t forget that our All Church Conference is October 25th @7pm.

What is a charge conference? “Charge Conference: Annual meeting of a church where officers are elected for the coming year. It also receives reports, reviews and evaluates the total mission and ministry of the congregation, and adopts objectives and goals recommended by the administrative council, or the Administrative Board. It also recommends candidates for the ordained and diaconal ministry to the District Committee on Ordained Ministry or to the Conference Board of Diaconal Ministry. Members of the Administrative Council, or Board, are members of the Charge Conference. The district superintendent calls the meeting and presides over it. Anyone may attend the meeting.”

To learn more terms and glossaries, click here.