January 30, 2015
From our pastor…
As we enter Lent together, we turn our faces toward Easter. Christians have marked this time of preparation through the centuries with prayer, fasting, and setting aside time for reflection. We “wake up” every year to the new ways that God transforms and renews our lives. In the spring it is easy for us to be full of newness as the earth “wakes up” with us. We all look forward to celebrating what a difference God makes in the world. Lakewood UMC is making a difference too as God moves among us. New things are happening.
We always ponder what we might do to make this Lent a little more holy. Sometimes we set such hard and high goals for Lent, that we can barely keep them for a few days. This year, make some regular change in your life that will become a habit. We know that a journey toward Easter comes with a community. Choose some new thing to do that will add to the communities to which you already belong. Include others, even those you have not yet met by giving, praying, and welcoming.
The Church has always taught that fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline. Fasting, in the biblical sense, means to find the spiritual freedom that comes beyond our own appetites. Learning to set aside small and regular parts of our lives in order to focus on big and rare parts of our lives can be a marvelous discipline. The goodness that comes from a fast is not the humbling, giving up of something dear, but the life-giving experience of what replaces it. During Lent, make room amidst the regular route of living to experience the extra-ordinary gift of life with God.
Looking forward -
Soup & Chili Cook-Off February 15 (right after worship)
Ash Wednesday Service February 18 at 7 p.m.
Potluck Supper February 22 at 6 p.m.
Palm/Passion Sunday March 29
Good Friday Service April 3 at 7 p.m.
Easter Sunday April 5
Peace,
Gayle
GAYLE’S KITCHEN ANGELS
Come and join the LUMC folks who serve dinner to the homeless at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church on the first Sunday afternoon of every month. We usually meet at the church and carpool but you can drive there yourself if you prefer – either works! We have groups of seven or so that go each time, and the groups rotate so that everyone gets a turn.
Contact the church office to sign-up as a volunteer, or if you have questions, please call Carol Stone (214-823-9827).
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! “SOUPER” SUNDAY COOK-OFF IS COMING!
Get out the crockpots and find that favorite family soup or chili recipe! “Souper” Sunday Cook-Off is coming to Lakewood! Bring your soup or chili to church with you on February 15. We will all gather in the Fellowship Hall after worship and partake of all the different kinds of soup brought in. The soups will be judged, and maybe even prizes will be given. If you are not able to bring soup, plan to stay and eat with us anyway. Or, if you would rather bring your favorite dessert to share, that would be great too. In any event, plan to join in on this wonderful fellowship event.
POTLUCK SUPPER - RECONCILING CONGREGATION CELEBRATION
A potluck supper has been scheduled for Sunday, February 22, at 6 p.m. to celebrate Lakewood becoming a Reconciling Congregation. Other area reconciling congregations in the area will be joining us for the celebration.
A NEW LOOK FOR THE LAKEWOOD LEADER NEWSLETTER
Our new website at www.mylakewoodchurch.org now gives us the capability to compose our newsletter directly on the website. Beginning with this issue, you will be receiving the February newsletter directly from the website to your email address. It will have a little different look and will likely become more sophisticated over time once we get used to the new format. Please be patient with us as we transition to the new format and procedure.
We will continue to ensure that members and friends who do not have email addresses will continue to receive the newsletter and calendar via regular mail.
LAKEWOOD’S FACEBOOK PAGE
Follow this link:
‘Like’ us on Facebook!
‘Like’ and ‘Share’ our posts on your wall (we will post at least every Friday and Sunday)!
If you need help signing up on Facebook or learning to do any of these things you can see Hannah Bednar at church or email her at hannah.bednar@tcu.edu.
Mary Zaby, Eva Cherry and Hannah Bednar currently run the Facebook page. If you have any general questions, they will all be willing to help!
Mary Zaby is currently posting to the church's website, so please send website content and pictures to Mary at mzaby@att.net.