I’m with the DJ

Last Sunday:

What a wonderful celebration of Pentecost! Thank you to the many who joined us for worship, both online and in person. During worship, I shared that we now have an official online greeter named Steve. Just like our greeters in person on Sunday mornings, Steve has volunteered to welcome people online and provide ways to engage during worship. We are extremely grateful for his creative leadership!

This Sunday:

We will be celebrating the sacrament of Holy Communion this Sunday. If you plan to worship with us online, please prepare sacred elements to join us remotely. For those worshiping in person, we strive to offer allergy-friendly options. If there is a way we can serve you better, please let us know.

This coming Monday marks the last online gathering of our weekly study on Amy-Jill Levine’s book, "The Difficult Words of Jesus." If you are interested in joining us, please inform me.

Coming up:

June 11th:

In just a few short weeks, our missionary partner Katherine Parker will be our guest preacher. It is a special gift that she will be visiting us. After the service, she will stay for a short while to deepen our conversation. If you would like to learn more about Katherine's work, you can click here.

Please also remember that we are still collecting "Jars for Jamaa Letu." This is an easy way to support the two orphanages in the Congo that our church helps fund. The money collected goes towards supporting operating expenses, including food, shelter, clothing, school fees, medical care, and staff salaries. Colorful labels for the JARS are still available each Sunday. Please tape them to your own jar and collect cash until mid-June. Alternatively, you can make a donation in the offering plate or on the website.

July 23rd:

We will have a special guest preacher, John Edgar, who wrote a fascinating book titled "A Front Porch for All People." Rev. Edgar will share some of his experiences and insights that Sunday. Additionally, we are working with him to facilitate a deeper conversation after the service. Please mark your calendars for this exciting opportunity to learn how we can serve our community together.

Peace be with you,

Rev.DJ

I'm with the DJ

Pentecost this Sunday

This Sunday we get to celebrate Pentecost. I want to encourage you to read Acts 1-2 to prepare for worship this Sunday. As you do, take some time to consider moments in your life when you gathered in large groups. What did you experience? How did if feel to be in a large gathering? Famed author Brene Brown worked on a project with The RSA defining Empathy and Sympathy. Here’s a link to a short video that is profound.

Amy-Jill Levine online study

We are off to a great start with our weekly study of Amy-Jill Levine’s book “The difficult words of Jesus”. If you are interested in joining us on Mondays at noon, please let me know.

Katherine Parker on June 11th

In just a few short weeks, missionary partner Katherine Parker will be our guest preacher. It’s a special gift that she’ll be itinerating our way. She will also stay after the service for a short while so we can deepen our conversation.

Bishop Bridgeforth

Our Bishop was recently installed as a newly appointment Bishop of the Greater Northwest Conference in Alaska. He preached a great sermon.I want to encourage you to watch his sermon, you can watch it by clicking here. If you want to learn more about Bishop Bridgeforth, please visit greaternw.org/bishop-cedrick-bridgeforth/.

I'm with the DJ

This Sunday

Don’t forget that we will be celebrating Ann M’s 10+ years of ministry serving at our church at the end of our service and afterwards. I hope that you are able to join us as we celebrate together.

Amy-Jill Levine online study

We are off to a great start with our weekly study of Amy-Jill Levine’s book “The difficult words of Jesus”. If you are interested in joining us on Mondays at noon, please let me know.

Jars for Jamaa Letu

Jars for Jamaa Letu is a way to support the two orphanages in the Congo which our church helps fund.  The money goes to support the operating expenses, including food, shelter, clothing, school fees, medical care and salaries for the staff.

A colorful label for JARS will be available this Sunday.  Tape it to your own jar and collect cash from now until mid-June.  Or, make a donation in the offering plate or on the website.

I’m with the DJ

Getting ready for communion

This Sunday, we will participate in the sacrament of communion together. Whether you join us online or in-person, I’m attaching a great article for you to think about as we prepare for Holy Communion. To read the article, click here.

New members

Toward the end of worship, we will also be welcoming two new members. You will get a chance to meet Theresa and Jessica. They have both attended membership classes. Theresa, her husband and uncle regularly attend our services. Jessica and her daughter have also been attending. I hope that you join us in welcoming them to our faith community.

After they share their desire to join our faith community and the United Methodist Church, In response, the congregation will have a chance to covenant as well by reciting the following words…

Congregational Response:  We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love.  As members together with you in the body of Christ and in this congregation of The United Methodist Church, we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

It’s a sacred and wonderful joy to welcome new members to our church family. Please be sure to take the time to get to know our newest members.

See you all soon this Sunday,

Pastor DJ

I’m with the DJ

Sunday worship

This Sunday, one of our groups the United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women) will be leading us in worship. If you would like to learn more about the UWiF, use this link. Our organist Rev. Jan Skaggs will be the guest preacher for us. Jan serves as the organist of our church.

White Allyship: What It Means to Be an Antiracist Ally

The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race is hosting a webinar on May 17th. For those interested in leaning more about how to be an antiracist ally click here.

Food for thought

I mentioned last Sunday, “How to feng shui your fridge -- and other happy climate hacks”. Here is a link to the great Ted Talk.

Want to be in a book study with me?

Recently I mentioned that I plan on offering an online study based off of Amy Jill-Levine’s book “The Difficult Words of Jesus: A beginners guide to His most perplexing teachings”. If you are interested in joining this study, will you please sign up here? Our 5 week study will begin the first week of May.

Faith in Action

I’m on Faith Action Networks email list and they sent me something that may be interesting to you. I’m copying what they wrote below.

“Stand with Airport Workers

You are invited to stand in solidarity with airport workers this week on Thursday, April 27, at 12:30pm at Gate 00 at SeaTac airport. We have just celebrated a month of sacred days — Eid and Ramadan, Passover, Easter, Vaisakhi Day, Buddha's birthday, and more. Let's move our faith into action with our friends at SEIU 6 this Thursday. Their monthly meeting will include prayers from faith traditions their workers belong to, as they organize for adequate healthcare coverage.

Learn more about the Healthcare for SeaTac Airport Workers campaign. Sign their petition here. And let us know if you can show up this Thursday 4/27 at SeaTac airport at 12:30pm.”

Peace be with you church,

Pastor DJ

I’m with the DJ | follow up from worship this morning

Updated links to sign up for my book study

Several folks mentioned at church this morning that the link to sign up for my zoom study wasn’t working. I’ve created a new signup form. If you experience any issues, please email me. My plan is to have sign ups through the first week of May. Then, I’ll email folks who signed up with a few options that works best us all to have a weekly study. The online study will be based off of Amy Jill-Levine’s book “The Difficult Words of Jesus: A beginners guide to His most perplexing teachings”. If you are interested in joining this study, will you please use this updated sign up?

Native American Ministries Sunday

I’m remiss that I failed to acknowledge that today is Native American Ministries Sunday. From their website you can read “What is Native American Ministries Sunday?

Native American Ministries Sunday serves to remind United Methodists of the gifts and contributions made by Native Americans to our society. A gap in knowledge exists in The United Methodist Church, in congregations and other United Methodist entities, relative to comprehending concepts of Native American life, cultures, languages, spirit, values, contemporary issues, and such. We affirm the sacredness of American Indian people, their languages, cultures, and gifts to the church and the world.

An offering is taken on this Special Sunday to support vital ministries and churches in the Native American communities and allow The United Methodist Church to partner with existing native ministries to develop new programs on behalf of Native Americans.”

To learn more or to give please use this link.

Book recommendations from my sermon today

I mentioned this during my sermon today. “My friend and colleague Jeremy Smith has an excellent blog https://hackingchristianity.net . One of his posts from years ago is fantastic in the ways he explains the varieties of atonement theologies. Here’s the link if you are interested in reading more. There are many theologians and scholars who have written excellent works about the significance of the Jesus death and ressurection. Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan wrote “the Last Week, What the Gospels really teach about Jesus Final Days in Jerusalem”. Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker wrote an excellent book “Proverbs of Ashes : Violence, Redemptive Suffering, and the Search for What Saves Us” also. “

I'm with the DJ

Friends and families of Federal Way United Methodist Church,

I pray that you an your loved ones are well and staying warm right now. It’s been such a joy to worship alongside you these past few weeks.

Deepening your discipleship

Spoiler alert: if you are reading this, there’s a chance I’m going to share some of these same thoughts during my sermon. Something that’s been on my heart lately is the different ways we, as the Church teach and preach about atonement. My friend and colleague Jeremy Smith has an excellent blog https://hackingchristianity.net . One of his posts from years ago is fantastic in the ways he explains the varieties of atonement theologies. Here’s the link if you are interested in reading more. There are many theologians and scholars who have written excellent works about the significance of the Jesus death and ressurection. Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan wrote “the Last Week, What the Gospels really teach about Jesus Final Days in Jerusalem”. Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker wrote an excellent book “Proverbs of Ashes : Violence, Redemptive Suffering, and the Search for What Saves Us” also.

I share all of these resources with you because my hope and prayer for our church is that we study, learn and reflect on some of the key pieces of theology that make up the Christian faith as we know it. Recently I mentioned that I plan on offering an online study based off of Amy Jill-Levine’s book “The Difficult Words of Jesus: A beginners guide to His most perplexing teachings”. If you are interested in joining this study, will you please use this update sign up?

This Sunday

This Sunday, we will also be hosting our next membership class after the church service. It’s a great time to spend time together as I share more about the history of our church and the United Methodist Church. In that time, we will also talk about ways for you to connect to our community as well as opportunities to deepen your faith.

Coming up

Jars for Jamaa Letu is a way to support the two orphanages in the Congo which our church helps fund.  The money goes to support the operating expenses, including food, shelter, clothing, school fees, medical care and salaries for the staff.

A colorful label for JARS will be available this Sunday.  Tape it to your own jar and collect cash from now until mid-June.  Or, make a donation in the offering plate or on the website.

I’m with the DJ

Church friends and families,

What a wonderful service we had this morning in person and online. I’m including a few pictures from todays fair after the service. We also had the privilege of hosting South King Tool Library’s Executive Director Amanda. I’m including a link to their website here. Their service for South King county is wonderful.

Also, as I mentioned during announcements this morning, you will be receiving an email asking if you want to confirm subscription to my weekly e-note. If you would like to receive them via email, please click the link in the next email.

I’m with the DJ | 4.14.23

Hello church families and friends,

I hope that you are having a blessed week. In the liturgical world, we shift our attention to the life and ministry of Jesus after he resurrected. This weekend, we will have a special guest preacher. District Superintendent Revered Derek Nakano will be preaching on the text from John 20:19-31. It’s an interesting and well known passage about Jesus interaction with the disciples after he rose again.

Did you know that we have a LinkedIn account? We would love to connect with you, you can find us by searching Federal Way United Methodist Church. My hope is that it can be a place to encourage one another, share job opportunities and for support. You can also use this link.

On April 23rd, we will also be hosting our next membership class after the church service. It’s a great time to spend time together as I share more about the history of our church and the United Methodist Church. In that time, we will also talk about ways for you to connect to our community as well as opportunities to deepen your faith. In addition, we will begin a new sermon series on 1 Peter. I’m copying the Scripture texts for the next two Sundays.

April 16th - John 20:19-31

April 23rd - Luke 24:13-35

I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Pastor DJ

I’m with the DJ | 4.7.23

Church friends and families,

Can you believe that Easter is a few days away? Tonight, at 7pm we will have our Good Friday service at the church. We will be live-streaming this service as well. Rev. Bruce Reyes Chow described Good Friday this way…”Our Good Friday service rests in the belief that in places of sorrow, lament, and grief we meet God differently. In our culture of conflict avoidance, we too often rush through these moments, touching down as lightly as possible as we reach out for the new life offered on Easter Sunday. In doing so, we do not give ourselves a chance to meet the God who sits with us in our sorrow. With this in mind, central to this service is creating a space where people can gather around the cross with as much vulnerability as possible in silence and in sorrow.”

I hope you take the time to join us tonight. The power and meaning of Easter is greatly enhanced when we honor the days of Holy Week. On Easter morning, we will be offering communion during both of our services this Sunday morning. Starting at 7am, we will gather by Star Lake at the Mayer house (email office@fwumc.org for their address). It’ll be a 30 minute service where we celebrate the sacrament of communion, sing songs together and I’ll share a shorter homily as the sun rises and warms us all. Be sure to bring an umbrella and a chair to be ready for any weather we might encounter.

During our 10am service, we will celebrate together! We will dig up the Hallelujah banner that was buried at the start of Lent. In addition, there will be amazing music, we will listen to the story of Jesus resurrection from the eye witness account of the Gospel of John and of course we will celebrate Holy Communion together. Something worth noting is that our furnaces aren’t working 100%, so if you tend to get a little cold, bless dress accordingly.

In addition, here’s a chance for you to join our online poll for church this Sunday. Click here to respond to our poll. I’ll share the results on Sunday.

This weekend is a perfect weekend to invite friends and family members as we celebrate the joy and love found in Jesus. See you soon!

I’m with the DJ | 3.31.23

Church friends and families,

Holy Week is just days away! As you can see with the graphics and videos below, your church has lots of exciting opportunities to connect. All our services will be available in person and online with the exception of our sunrise Easter service. You’ve probably heard me say it, but the sunrise service on Easter is one of my favorite services of the year. I’m really looking forward to worshipping with you at the Mayer house on the edge of Star Lake. I imagine it to be beautiful and sacred.

The Scripture for Palm Sunday will be Matthew 21:1-11 and for Easter Sunday we will be focusing on John 20:1-18. These passages of Scripture are powerful and worth your time to read.