I’m with the DJ | 12.27.21

This message is for people who attended our Christmas Eve service.

Since our Christmas Eve service, we have received news that a person in attendance has tested positive for Covid-19. This person is vaccinated. It’s likely that the person was contagious at this time. Since we are unable to confirm whether or not you or your loved ones were in close contact, we would like to encourage you to get tested and take every precaution necessary.

I’m attaching the Center for Disease Control’s guidance for those who came in close contact with a person with confirmed Covid-19. Here is the link from the CDC to learn more.

We believe that one of our primary objective as a church is to do no harm. Our church leadership has worked very hard to provide physical distancing, require proof of vaccination and keep everyone as safe as we can. This will continue.


Grace and Peace, 

Pastor DJ and Church Council

I’m with the DJ | 12.23.21

Friends of Federal Way UMC, 


For Christmas Eve this week, we will offer in-person worship in addition to online worship at 7pm. I want to encourage you to make the safest and wisest decisions for yourself and your loved ones. If that means you join us online, I’ll be right there with you. Covid-19 has come to our house and while one of our kiddos isn’t suffering, there are many who are. Therefore, I will lead worship digitally as well for your safety and my families.

If you are considering giving generously on Christmas Eve, know that your offering will be shared equally to the following programs. 

  • 1/3 for our partners at Meredith Hill Cares

  • 1/3 to our partner missionary organization at Jamaa Letu

  • 1/3 is a discretionary funds administered by the office staff. Specifically to assist with utilities for persons who are in danger of having them turned off.

I’ve been talking with many of our church community regarding the rise of the Omicron virus and how that will affect our in person worship moving forward. The latest information from our United Methodist Conference leadership is found here. It’s very informative, click here to learn more.

The leadership of our church will continue to monitor Omicron numbers in our community and do our very best to continue to communicate with you.  My weekly communication and our website will be great places to catch up on where we are regarding if our church is open to the public or we fully shift back to online worship. 

I pray for peace to you and your households this holy and sacred week. 


Pastor DJ

I’m with the DJ | 12.4.21

Thank you dear friends for your cards, messages and prayers as my family and I mourn the loss of my father. I’m grateful for each and everyone of you. This Sunday, we continue our Advent series used with permission from our friends at Sanctified Art called “Those Who Dream”. Our focus will be Peace.

I’m with the DJ | 11.10.21

Used with permission from Canva

Church friends and family,

I hope and pray that you and your loved ones are doing very well. It’s been a fun week of sunshine and lots of rain! We had a great week last week celebrating that we have paid off our mortgage. That means we are debt free! We are also finishing up our generosity campaign. If you haven’t done so, please turn in your pledge cards. You can fill one out at church, online, or email us generousfwumc.org.

This Sunday we will continue our sermon series focusing on Matthew 5:1-12. Rev. Jan will be preaching. If you want to see last weeks service, please click here. I’m looking forward to see you all.

Pastor DJ

I’m with the DJ | 11.3.21

November 3, 2021

We live in a world where the normal is a new normal. For months, I was anxious about what that might mean for us. I walked into Starbucks the other day and saw this sign. It wasn’t the first time I’ve been asked to show proof of my vaccination, I doubt it’ll be my last. I’m happy to show it to businesses that are doing their best to care for our community and their employees. Our church has the same policy.

I’m considered high risk by almost every measurable category. Many of you probably know that I have a routine chemotherapy two to three times a year. It’s become a part of my families routine. While it’s never easy, I’m incredibly grateful for medicines and doctors who provide people like me to live and thrive. As we have slowly started to add in-person events for our community, I want you to know that it’s okay if you are not ready to join us in-person. In fact, we encourage you to if it is best for you.

We still want you connected to your community group, engaged in a small group and worshipping regularly with us. This Sunday, I’ll begin a new sermon series based off of Matthew 5:1-12. Please take the time to read it before Sunday.

Here are a few ways that you can join us…
Come join us at the church for our annual Holiday Fair. We will gather this Saturday. I hope you get a chance to come by and check it out. This Sunday, we will celebrate Holy Communion, read the names of Saints and celebrate that we are debt free in 2021. If you have a name of a person you would like read during our Saints Day acknowledgment, please email pastorDJ@fwumc.org by Friday. If you were a part of helping us in our latest remodel, please let the office know so we can recognize you as well. Lastly, please let us know how you would like to join us in 2022. You could email generousfwumc@gmail.com or click here. 





Grace and Peace, 



Pastor DJ



 



I’m with the DJ | 10.27.21

Friends and families of Federal Way United Methodist Church, 

After two weeks of adding in person worship we are learning and celebrating many things. First, many of our folks, especially people who are high risk or children under the age of 12 are worshipping with us from home. It’s fantastic that our online ministry continues to thrive! Thank you so much for continuing to find new and creative ways to engage in our growing faith community. If you want to join us in-person, please take a moment to pre-register online, once we verify your vaccination card once, you won’t need to show it again. What’s also fantastic is that everyone is doing a great job maintaining physical distance and wearing their masks. Thank you so much!

Pledge cards (Generosity cards) are coming in through our website. We are also having folks email generousfwumc@gmail.com. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the ways you are helping our leadership at our church properly forecast our budget for 2022 in faith. If you want help setting up your online account through fwumc.org, please contact the church office. 

We have many very exciting happening things happening on November 7th. In addition to online and in person worship, we will be celebrating the sacrament of communion. There is something sacred about our community gathering online and in person. We will also be celebrating All Saints day. If you have a name of a loved one that you would like read during the service, please email DJ@revdj.com. Each name will be read and a tolling of a bell rung. On top of all these wonderful happenings, we will also be celebrating that our church is debt free in 2021!. Thanks to you generosity, we have paid off our mortgage and will return thanks to God and our generous givers. One fun thing we will do is to tear a ceremonial mortgage to celebrate together. Don’t worry, it isn’t real, just symbolic. 

I am looking forward to seeing you all soon. Please know that I am keeping you all in my prayers.

Thank you,

Rev.DJ

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“Be curious, not judgmental” Ted Lasso quoting Walt Whitman