I’m with the DJ | May 29th

Dear Church,

There’s a lot happening in the life of our church this week, and I wanted to make sure you’re up to date!

First, a reminder that John Denman’s Memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 7th at 1:00 p.m. here at the church. All are welcome as we gather to give thanks for John’s life, grieve his passing, and celebrate the hope of the resurrection.

That morning, we will also host our Abundant Grace Free Market in the church parking lot from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Come as you are, bring friends and neighbors, and help us share an abundance of food and household goods with our community. Volunteers are always welcome—if you’d like to help, just let us know!

This week also marks a time of transition in our church office. As Ileeda Denman’s time as our Interim Church Administrator concludes, we give thanks for her faithful service during this season of change. The Staff Parish Relations Committee, on behalf of the Church Board, is working diligently to hire a permanent Office Administrator who will serve in a hybrid capacity. We’ll keep you updated as soon as the interview and hiring process is complete.

In the meantime, beginning June 2nd, the church office will not be open for drop-in appointments. You can continue to reach us at office@fwumc.org, and staff and volunteers will be checking email and voicemail periodically until the new Office Administrator is in place. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time of transition.

Ileeda, thank you again for your care and service in this interim role. We are grateful for you and look forward to celebrating you soon!

Lastly, a reminder that we will celebrate communion together this weekend and continue our study of Luke-Acts. It’s a joy to gather as a church family, and I look forward to seeing you in worship.

Grace and peace,

Pastor DJ

With grace and gratitude,

Pastor DJ

I’m with the DJ | May 21st

With Gratitude and Grace—Looking Ahead Together

Dear Church Family,

Thank you for the love and care you’ve extended over these past weeks as we’ve gathered to remember and celebrate the lives of Melanie Lundberg and Ramona Fanning. Your presence, prayers, food, music, and stories have been a beautiful witness to the strength and compassion of our community. I continue to be grateful to walk this journey of faith with you.

This week, I ask you to hold James Denman and his family in your prayers. James’s twin brother, John Denman, passed away last week. We will gather to remember John’s life and offer our love and support on Friday, June 7th at 1:00 p.m. here at the church. All are welcome to attend and surround the Denman family with grace and peace.

That same morning, our Abundant Grace Free Market will be open from 9:00 a.m. to Noon in the church parking lot. Whether you come to share, shop, or serve, it’s a meaningful way to connect with our neighbors and extend tangible hope. Thank you for your ongoing generosity in making this monthly ministry possible.

Finally, I’d love to invite you to worship with us this Sunday as we continue exploring how the Spirit moves in unexpected ways through the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles in Acts 16:9-15. We’ll reflect on how God honors where we are—sometimes in surprising places and relationships—for the sake of healing, justice, and grace.

As you prepare for Sunday, here are a few questions to ponder:

• When have you experienced a closed door that turned out to be a divine redirection?

• Who has helped you listen more deeply to the Spirit’s nudging?

• Where might God be inviting you to open your heart or home like Lydia in Acts 16?

Come as you are, bring your questions, and let’s meet God together in worship.

With gratitude and grace,

Rev. DJ del Rosario

Federal Way United Methodist Church

Walking in Faith, Reaching Out in Love

If you’re interested in attending the Summit or want more details, feel free to reach out—I’d love to help you get connected.

With grace and gratitude,

Pastor DJ

I’m with the DJ | May 7th

A Mother’s Day Invitation and Upcoming Opportunities to Connect

Dear Church Family,

This Sunday is Mother’s Day, and I want to extend an invitation to worship with us at Federal Way United Methodist Church. Whether you come with gratitude, grief, complexity, or joy—we make space for all of it. We’ll be reflecting on Acts 9:36–43, the story of Tabitha (also known as Dorcas), a woman remembered not for power or position, but for her compassion and acts of service.

As Rachel Held Evans once wrote:

“Mother’s Day is a complicated day. So let’s be a people who celebrate the women who gave us life, who raised us, who mentored us, and who loved us like a mother—and let’s also be a people who grieve with those who mourn, who sit with those who feel alone, and who walk gently with those whose stories are tender.”

We hope worship will be a space of comfort, encouragement, and renewed hope for all.

Additional Opportunities This Week and Beyond:

Celebration of Life for Ramona Fanning

Join us this Saturday at 12:00pm at the church as we honor and celebrate the life of Ramona Fanning, a beloved member of our congregation. All are welcome as we remember her legacy of kindness and service.

Abundant Grace Donation Day

Our next donation day for the Abundant Grace Free Market is after worship on Sunday, May 18 (the third Sunday of the month). Bring gently used clothing, household goods, or nonperishable food items. Your generosity helps us extend grace to our wider community.

Spring Summit at Seattle Pacific Seminary: Faithful Formation

Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 9:00am–3:00pm

Seattle Pacific Seminary invites you to explore “Faithful Formation: Considering Disability and Discipleship.”

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Sarah Jean Barton, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Theological Ethics at Duke University.

This important gathering centers disabled voices and offers fresh insights for ministry and discipleship.

If you’re interested in attending the Summit or want more details, feel free to reach out—I’d love to help you get connected.

With grace and gratitude,

Pastor DJ

I’m with the DJ | May 1st

Church,

I want to invite you to join us this Sunday for a meaningful worship experience as we gather around the Lord’s Table and reflect on the profound message found in John 21:1–19. In this passage, we witness the risen Christ meeting His disciples by the Sea of Galilee, offering them breakfast, and restoring Peter with the call: “Feed my sheep.” It’s a powerful reminder that no matter our past, Jesus meets us with grace, inviting us into renewed purpose and discipleship.

This narrative beautifully aligns with the United Methodist Church’s newly unveiled vision:

“The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.”

This vision complements our longstanding mission—to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world—and offers a fresh, Spirit-led direction for our shared ministry.

Each element of the vision calls us to deeper discipleship:

• Love Boldly: Embrace and include people of every age, nation, race, gender, and walk of life, reflecting Jesus’ inclusive love.

• Serve Joyfully: Offer care and compassion with joy, journeying alongside the most vulnerable in our communities.

• Lead Courageously: Resist and dismantle systems of evil, injustice, and oppression, striving for peace, justice, and reconciliation.

Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, President of the Council of Bishops, describes this vision as “a catalyst for transformation” that will help the Church embrace new opportunities and more fully engage in our mission.

Resources to help congregations live into this vision will be shared at Annual Conference sessions and with local church leaders this summer, with additional materials for lay members anticipated in late 2025 or early 2026.

To learn more and access resources as they become available, visit ResourceUMC.org/vision

Food 4 Families

A note from our local missions chair Michelle T.

We are holding a food drive for the twelve families we are assisting from Meredith Hill Elementary.  The school partners with us by asking their families for donations of food as well.  The food drive runs through Sunday, May 18th but feel free to make food or monetary donations any time of the year. You can place your donations directly in the pantry!

 Below are suggested items that would help us restock our church's food pantry:

Boxed cereal

Peanut butter (28 oz.)

Applesauce or fruit cups (6 count packages)

Canned corn, green beans or peas

Pancake mix

Pancake syrup

Canned chicken (10 oz.)

Canned tuna (5 oz.)

Juice boxes (8 count packages)

Oatmeal (box of 10 individual packets)

Tuna Helper

Taco seasoning packets (mild or medium)

Soup (10 oz. or larger)

Food scarcity is a concern for many families in our neighborhood.  Thank you for reaching out in love to help these families in need.

Grace and Peace to you all!

Pastor DJ

I’m with the DJ | April 22nd

Dear Church Family,

Thank you for joining us this Lenten season and for walking with us through Holy Week. Whether you came with questions, joy, grief, or wonder—your presence helped shape a sacred and powerful journey together.

If you missed Easter worship or would like to revisit it, you can watch the full service here:

Watch Easter Worship

This coming Sunday, we’re excited to welcome District Superintendent Rev. Derek Nakano as our guest preacher. Come ready to be encouraged and challenged as he brings the Word and shares in worship with us.

With gratitude and hope,

Pastor DJ

I’m with the DJ | April 16th

Dear Church Family,

Holy Week is here—a sacred time to slow down, reflect deeply, and remember that God meets us in every part of the story: the sorrow and the celebration, the silence and the song, the in-between spaces we often find ourselves in.

We hope you’ll join us for a meaningful journey through the final days of Jesus’ life and the joy of Easter morning. Whether you’ve been walking this Lenten path closely or are just now turning your heart toward the cross and the empty tomb, there is a place for you here.

Good Friday – March 28 at 7pm

Join us for a contemplative Good Friday service in the sanctuary and online. Through scripture, song, and silence, we’ll reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross and the deep love that held him there. This service is quiet, reflective, and powerful—designed to help us hold space for grief, justice, and the suffering still present in our world.

Easter Sunday – March 31

Sunrise Service – 7am in the Courtyard

There’s something sacred about beginning Easter morning outside, in the quiet of the day’s first light. Our 7am Sunrise Service will be held in the church courtyard and will include communion. It’s a simple, spirit-filled gathering with music, prayer, and the good news of resurrection.

Easter Celebration Service – 10am in the Sanctuary & Online

Our main Easter service will be filled with beautiful music, joyful Alleluias, and a message of hope. This Sunday also marks the final week of our Lenten worship series, “Everything In Between.” We’ll be reading from Luke 24:1–12, where the women come to the tomb at dawn and discover it empty. It’s a story of grief, wonder, and the risk of hope—just like so many of our own.

This is a perfect Sunday to invite your friends and neighbors. Whether they are searching for connection, comfort, or just a space to ask their questions, Easter is a beautiful reminder that God meets us right where we are—not just in certainty, but in curiosity and courage too.

We’ll have hot coffee, warm smiles, and open arms ready to welcome everyone who walks through our doors.

Thank you for being part of this beloved community. We can’t wait to celebrate with you.

Grace and peace,

Pastor DJ

I’m with the DJ | April 10th

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the day we remember Jesus’ so-called “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem. But this isn’t your usual kind of parade. There are no trumpets, no soldiers, no banners flying high. Just cloaks on the ground, a borrowed colt, and a Savior moving toward danger—not away from it.

Luke 19:29–40 paints a quiet but powerful scene. Jesus rides in while people shout blessings, and when the Pharisees ask him to silence the crowd, Jesus replies, “If they were silent, the stones would cry out.”

Why all this noise?

Because Jesus’ arrival isn’t just a spectacle—it’s resistance. It’s hope. It’s truth riding in on a donkey.

This Sunday’s theme is “When Even the Stones Cry Out.” We’ll explore what it means to lift our voices in praise and protest, to hold reverent silence when needed, and to follow a King who chooses compassion over conquest. In a world that often demands our silence, Palm Sunday reminds us: sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is speak up.

Join us this Sunday at 10am, in person or online, for worship filled with palms, music, prayer, and a powerful message rooted in today’s headlines and ancient hope. There will be palms for everyone, and space for both joyful shouts and sacred silence.

Also coming up:

Good Friday Worship

Friday, April 18 at 7:00pm

A reflective service of scripture, song, and silence as we walk with Jesus through the pain and promise of the cross.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 19 | 9-11am

Families and kids of all ages are invited to a joyful celebration with eggs, treats, and community fun on the church grounds. Bring a basket and bring a friend!

Palm Sunday invites us into the story.

Come wave a branch.

Come cry out—or simply listen.

Come and find your place in the procession.

Because even if we fall silent, the stones will still sing:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Pastor DJ

I’m with the DJ | March 20th

Join Us for a Joyful Sunday: Infant Baptism & the Third Week of Lent

Dear Church Family,

This Sunday, March 23, we gather for a sacred and joyful occasion—the baptism of one of our youngest members. As we continue into the third week of Lent, we are reminded that this season is about renewal, waiting, and preparing—and what better way to celebrate these themes than by welcoming a child into the faith through baptism?

A Sign of Grace & Growth

Infant baptism is a powerful reminder that God’s love reaches us before we can even respond. Before we have accomplishments, before we can prove ourselves worthy, before we bear fruit—God claims us. This Sunday, we celebrate this grace and affirm our role as a faith community in nurturing and supporting this child and their family in their spiritual journey.

Lent: A Season of Preparing the Soil

Our scripture reading this week, Luke 13:6-9, is the Parable of the Fig Tree:

A man owned a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. He said to his gardener, ‘Look, I’ve come looking for fruit on this fig tree for the past three years, and I’ve never found any. Cut it down! Why should it continue depleting the soil’s nutrients?’ The gardener responded, ‘Lord, give it one more year, and I will dig around it and give it fertilizer. Maybe it will produce fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.’

This parable speaks to patience, grace, and the slow work of transformation. Just like a newly baptized child will grow in faith over time, we, too, are continually nurtured by God’s love. And just like the gardener in the parable, God tends to us, cares for us, and gives us what we need to bear fruit.

A Call to Rest & Renewal

As we reflect on this passage and the season of Lent, we are invited into a time of resting, trusting, and preparing.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, March is not the season of harvest—it is the season of preparing the soil. Gardeners pull weeds while the ground is soft and ready, knowing that the work done now will lead to growth later.

In the same way, Lent is a time to prepare our hearts—to clear out what is not life-giving, to nourish our faith, and to trust that even when we do not see immediate results, God is at work within us.

Come, Celebrate & Be Renewed

This Sunday is an invitation:

• Come celebrate new life. Witness the baptism of this child and be reminded of the grace that claims us all.

• Come reflect on where God is tending to you. What areas of your life need patience, rest, and renewal?

• Come worship, rest, and grow. Lent is a season of making space—for grace, for transformation, for the slow and steady work of faith.

We can’t wait to worship with you this Sunday. See you this Sunday

Blessings,

Pastor DJ

A note from the artist…

Fig Leafing

by Hannah Garrity

Inspired by Luke 13:6-9

Paper lace and watercolor

At our church retreat a few months ago, we offered a session on eco-spirituality. Our instructor led an exercise that focused our attention on a single, natural object. I selected a wilted flower. We were to draw it, then tell its narrative. We were to refer to it as a “one.” This one. We were to affirm the one and be affirmed by the one.

That exercise resonates with me here as I revisit the parable of the fig tree. In this circular image, two figures lean in over the tree; their heads are full of ideas for fruiting, their bodies are full of dead fig leaf patterns.5 Their ideas and dreams have not born fruit. They converse about how to cultivate growth. Then one pushes back against the other and creates tension, discord. From that tension comes an opening, letting the fig tree have its time and space to thrive.

In this paper lace piece, the fig tree is full of life, representing its potential when given the time and space to grow. As I wonder about God’s presence here in the parable, I see that the God figure could be the fig tree. “Let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it,”6 the vineyard keeper replies. As I breathe into the gift of another day, where do I see potential in need of my honor, my care, and the space and time to grow?

Or perhaps the God figure here is in the space between them all, between the three. The fig tree, this one, begins its leafing in the in-between. —Hannah Garrity

I’m with the DJ | March 12th

Week 2 of Lent: Everything In Between

Dear Church,

As we continue our Lenten journey, we enter the second week of our series, Everything In Between. This week, we sit with the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42—a story often framed as a competition between action and contemplation, between serving and sitting, between Martha’s busyness and Mary’s devotion.

But what if this isn’t a battle between two ways of being? What if, instead, it’s an invitation to hold both in tension—to embrace the sacred balance between faith and works?

Artist Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman wrestled with this tension in her artwork inspired by this passage. She reflects on how Martha’s work wasn’t just about housework—it was diakonia, the kind of service and ministry that would later be recognized in the early church. Martha wasn’t simply distracted by chores; she was worried about Mary stepping outside of cultural expectations, sitting at the feet of Jesus as a disciple—a space traditionally reserved for men.

Jesus doesn’t rebuke Martha’s service, nor does he diminish Mary’s choice. Instead, he affirms that Mary’s faith—small as a mustard seed—has the power to grow into something far greater. He assures Martha that Mary’s place as a disciple is hers to claim, and no one can take it away from her.

In Pittman’s artwork, Jesus is depicted in green, the blending of Mary’s yellow and Martha’s blue—symbolizing the integration of both faith and works. The truth is, we need both. We need Martha’s hospitality and Mary’s learning. We need action and contemplation. We need to make space for one another’s callings, even when they look different from our own.

So, as we gather this Sunday, I invite you to reflect: Where do you find yourself in this story? Are you distracted and overburdened, longing for permission to rest? Or are you feeling called to sit, to listen, and to claim your place at Jesus’ feet?

Let’s explore the everything in between together.

And don’t forget—this Saturday, our Men’s Breakfast will be held at the church from 9:00 AM to noon. It’s a great time for fellowship, reflection, and sharing a meal together. We hope to see you there!

Blessings,

Pastor DJ

DONATION DAY

Sunday, March 16

11:30am-2:30pm

Items Accepted: New or gently used clean clothing, kitchen/housewares, home decor, holiday decor, toys, stuffed animals, games, books, puzzles, toiletries, bedding, towels, shoes, boots, coats, socks, underwear, bras, jewelry, small kitchen appliances, small electronics, tools/hardware, sporting equipment, strollers, car seats, hats, gloves, scarves, craft, office or school supplies and non-perishable food.

Abundant Grace Free Market

Federal Way United Methodist Church  

29645 51st Ave S, Auburn, WA 98001

More info: www.fwumc.org or abundantgracefree@gmail.com

Shopping: The first Saturday of the month from 9 am – 12 pm.

March 1, 2025​

April 5, 2025 ​​

May 3, 2025​​

June 7, 2025​​

July 5, 2025

August 2, 2025​

Sept. 6, 2025​​

October 4, 2025​

Nov. 1, 2025​​

Dec. 6, 2025

Outdoor Events:  June 7, 2025 and Sept. 6, 2025 – similar to the outdoor events we have done in the past where people can give away larger items such as furniture and mattresses.

Donations: The third Sunday of the month from 11:30 am – 2:30 pm or by appointment

March 16, 2025​

April 20, 2025 ​

May 18, 2025​

June 15, 2025

​July 20, 2025

August 17, 2025​

Sept. 21, 2025​

October 19, 2025

​Nov. 16, 2025​

Dec. 21, 2025

Shopping Policies:

1.​All are welcome to shop. There is no requirement to demonstrate need.

2.​Maximum of 20 shoppers at a time in the store. Encouraged 30 minute shopping time. When 1 shopper leaves, another shopper enters.

3.​Limits on certain items are posted in the store. Please respect these limits. No exceptions.

4.​The large blue shopping bags will be used in the store and turned in before exiting the store. The cashier will transfer the items to reusable grocery/shopping bags before the shopper exits. The cashier will check for limited quantity items. Hangers stay at the store.

5.​Any shopper that doesn’t respect the rules, other shoppers, or volunteers must leave the store. We reserve the right to ask a shopper to leave at any time.

Donation Policies:

1.​Items Accepted: New or gently used clean clothing, kitchen/housewares, home décor, holiday decor, toys, stuffed animals, games, books, puzzles, toiletries, bedding, towels, shoes, boots, coats, socks, underwear, bras, jewelry, small kitchen appliances, small electronics, tools/hardware, sporting equipment, strollers, car seats, non-perishable food, hats, gloves, scarves, office or school supplies.

2.​Items not accepted: stained or ripped clothing, furniture, large electronics, microwaves, large appliances, large tools, anything larger than 2’x2’x2’.

3.​Donors will be asked to come in and sort or hang their donations in the designated areas.

4.​Electric items will be verified to be working by plugging them in prior to accepting the donation.

I’m with the DJ | March 5th

Everything In Between: A Journey Through Lent Begins

Tonight, we gather as a church family to mark the beginning of Lent with our Ash Wednesday service at 7 PM. This sacred season invites us to reflect on the space between intention and action, brokenness and healing, sin and grace—the very “in-between” moments where God meets us.

Why Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday is a time to pause, to remember our humanity, our need for grace, and the hope we have in Christ. The ashes placed on our foreheads remind us of our mortality (“from dust you came, and to dust you shall return”), but they also invite us into a journey of renewal, repentance, and deeper faith.

This year, as we walk through Lent under the theme of “Everything In Between,” we recognize that our faith isn’t just about where we begin or where we end—it’s about the transformation that happens in the middle. It’s in this space that God is shaping us, calling us to align our intentions with action, our hearts with His will.

Join Us for Worship

Our Ash Wednesday service will be held in person at 7 PM tonight, and we hope to stream it online as well. This service will include prayer, Scripture, music, reflection, and the imposition of ashes—a powerful reminder of our need for God’s grace.

As we move through Lent together, we invite you to join us each week for worship at 10am.

Lent is an opportunity to slow down, to reflect, and to rediscover God’s presence in the in-between moments of life. Let’s begin this journey together.

We look forward to seeing you all tonight at 7pm either online or in person.

Pastor of Community Engagement Blog

Who knows but that you have come to your position

for such a time as this? Esther 4:14

It is hard to believe that we are already in the third month of the year and about to begin Lent. These months have felt like they have gone by so fast. For me it has felt like time has passed especially quickly because there have been so many things happening on the national level. Trying to keep up with the news has sometimes felt overwhelming, particularly when it comes to imagining how to faithfully engage with politics in such a time as this. I believe the Scriptures orient us to engage with things like politics, and the book of Esther is a good place to start. In Esther chapter four, Mordecai invites his relative Esther to not keep silent while their people suffer, but instead to advocate for others using the position of influence that she holds. Lately, I’ve found inspiration from the Book of Esther as to how I will use my position to stay engaged during all the changes that are happening and advocate for the wellbeing of others.

One way in which I am staying engaged has been in partnering with organizations such as the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) and the Faith Action Network (FAN) to advocate for bills and policies that would protect the vulnerable people in our communities. My whole point with doing this advocacy is not to be partisan but to be politically engaged in a way that pastorally and theologically champions the Gospel’s call to seek the wellbeing of the most marginalized. The picture on the right was taken with folks from FAN as we spent the day in Olympia doing faith-rooted advocacy.

Another way I’m staying engaged for such a time as this is by becoming a board member at FUSION. The first time I heard of FUSION was when Judy Free told me about it on my second Sunday ever attending Federal Way UMC. From that moment, I knew that it was an organization that was truly serving the least of these in the Federal Way area and that I would love to connect further. Fast forwarding to now, I am so honored to be a board member of this organization that provided shelter, not just to folks transitioning out of living in the streets, but also provided shelter for 29 nights during this winter’s major cold spell that made it extremely dangerous for people sleeping outside. I am glad to represent Judy and other members of our church as I help foster a continued relationship with FUSION families and our church community. Pictured on the left is me and Christine Krug, taken right after my first FUSION board meeting!

I cannot write about how our church is engaging the community without talking about our Abundant Grace Free Market event, which happened this past Saturday. What a gift it was to share with our community the generosity and abundant grace that we find in the Gospel! Many neighbors and community members came through the doors of our church to shop for items for their families; we lost count after 140 people. I was so happy to see huge piles of empty hangers and so many empty shelves that had been overflowing just a few hours before, representing how generously our church community shared their abundance for the free store and how much our community members were blessed by the items that they were able to take home to their families. 

There are so many other recent events that I wish I could tell you about more in depth. I want to give a shout-out and thanks to Barbara Dadd Schaffer and many others for their leadership in pulling off a successful Spuds for Buds in Nepal potato bar fundraiser this month, and another shout-out and thanks to Michelle Thompson and many others for their continuing leadership and service in our Food 4 Families program partnership at Meredith Hill Elementary School, from carefully packing grocery bags after church on Sunday to delivering everything safely. I look forward to continuing our community engagement and outreach together, and I feel so blessed to do this work alongside you as your pastor. 

Bendiciones,

Pastor Caleb

I’m with the DJ | Feb 27th

Ash Wednesday, A Celebration of Life, and Spuds for Buds Update

Dear Church Family,

As we step into the season of Lent, I want to take a moment to share some important updates and opportunities for us to gather in worship, remembrance, and community.

Ash Wednesday – March 5 at 7 PM

Next Wednesday, we will gather for our Ash Wednesday service at 7 PM as we mark the beginning of Lent. This service is a time for reflection, repentance, and renewal as we journey toward Easter. We will offer the imposition of ashes as a reminder of our mortality and the grace of God that sustains us.

For those unable to attend in person, we will do our best to stream the service online so everyone can participate. You can use our same login from our YouTube channel that’s found on the front page of our website. www.fwumc.org

Celebrating the Life of Mary Lee Yount – This Sunday at 1 PM

This Sunday, we will come together to celebrate the life of Mary Lee Yount with a memorial service at 1 PM at the church. Mary Lee was a beloved part of our community, and we give thanks for her life and the ways she touched so many of us. Please keep her family in your prayers and join us as we honor her memory.

Spuds for Buds – Thank You!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in our Spuds for Buds fundraiser! Whether you attended, helped prepare food, or donated, your support made a difference.

Here’s what we accomplished together:

• $1,439.87 has been received so far through cash, checks, credit/debit cards, and online donations.

• 60 people were served 63 baked potatoes with all the fixings!

• More than 20 volunteers contributed food, time, and energy to make the event possible.

If you still wish to give, donations can be made by check (write “Spuds” in the memo), cash (please label it accordingly), or online through our church website. These funds will be forwarded in about two months to help those in need.

Thank you for your generosity and for making Spuds for Buds a success!

Looking Ahead

As we prepare for the season of Lent, let’s continue to seek ways to grow in faith, serve our neighbors, and walk in love together. I look forward to worshiping with you on Ash Wednesday at 7 PM and celebrating Mary Lee’s life with you this Sunday.

Grace and peace,

Pastor DJ