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Crosswinds Newsletter
February 7, 2024 - Volume 707
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Wednesday, February 14, will mark the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is a period of 40 days leading up to Easter. In that time, we journey with Jesus to the cross. As such, it is a time of preparation marked by repentance and participation in practices that bring us closer to Jesus. We want to clear our souls of anything that might impede Jesus’ movement in our lives. With God’s help, we are readied to experience the fullness of the Good News of our Risen Savior.
The Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday. It derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on our heads as an acknowledgement both of our mortality and repentance. The tradition serves as a witness to the consequences of sin in death. It also calls us to confession so that we can receive Jesus’ forgiveness for our sins.
John captures this in 1 John 1:9, which reads, “For if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Ash Wednesday is a testament to the Good News that in Jesus we have life in the face of death and healing from our sin.
There is no better way to kick off the Lenten Season than to observe Ash Wednesday with us. We have several opportunities with two worship services and a drive through.
We will gather in the sanctuary to reflect upon our need for Jesus. We will reach out to Him for healing and call on Him to move in our lives throughout Lent. We will have two worship services. The first will be at 12:00 PM and will last less than thirty minutes. The other will be in the evening at 6:30 PM. Both services will be in the sanctuary.
You can also receive the ashes and a blessing via a drive through experience from 7:00-8:30 AM. We plan to have both the south and north sides of the church open for you to receive the ashes before you go to work or school that day. We invite you to connect with us on Ash Wednesday as we get ready for the Lenten season.
Pastor Brady Johnston
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Dinner is $8 per person - 18 and under eat free. Cash or a check may be placed in the box at the front of the serving line. Tonight's meal is beef tacos, rice, refried beans, chips, salsa, dessert. | |
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On Super Bowl Sunday (THIS SUNDAY), we host our annual Chili Cookoff. The Chili Cookoff is a time of fellowship and fun for the church with a friendly competition thrown in for good measure.
Here’s how it works: we invite everyone to cook up their best batch of chili or their favorite dish to add to the meal. Bring your dish to the Family Life Center (FLC) before the 11:00am services. After the services are over, we will get tables out. The feasting begins at 12:30pm. You can grab a bowl and get to tasting. The chilis and other dishes will all be numbered, so you can cast your vote for which you think is best.
The Super Bowl Chili Cookoff will be put on by the Open Door Sunday school class and the youth group. The meal will serve as a fundraiser for the upcoming youth mission trips this summer to central Texas and Maui. There is no set cost for the meal. We take donations with the proceeds going to the youth mission trips.
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First SAGA Trip is March 9
Lunch & The Sound of Music
Cleburne, TX
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SAGA invites you to join us for an exciting (55+) senior outing on March 9! We will take a bus to Cleburne to have lunch at Our Place and then go enjoy The Sound of Music at the Cleburne Plaza Theater Company. We will meet at FMC Midlothian at 11 AM and return around 6:30 PM. We will share a bus to spend time together and build relationships!
Reserve your spot for this exciting trip by emailing Nancy@Hubler.org and putting your check for $78 with memo SAGA in the collection plate or bring to the church this Sunday, February 11. You may also pay online or bring a check to the church office by February 15 - the final deadline.
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SAGA: Senior Activity Group Adventure | |
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SAGA is a new ministry aimed to foster relationships with one another. We plan to take multiple short trips a year. All trips are to be taken together by bus so we can get to know one another better by having a shared experience and create a stronger sense of community. Why SAGA? Saga is a Hebrew word that means to increase, grow, magnify. Let’s grow together!
Trip ideas for 2024 include:
March 9 - Sound of Music in Cleburne - Deadline 2/15
May 23-24 - Overnight trip, Tour of the Painted Churches - Schulenberg, TX
September - Texas Rangers Game
December - Game Night in the Family Life Center
Stay tuned for more details! Email Joy Price if you have any questions.
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Make An Impact with Our Youth | |
We are growing and are looking for a couple of adult Sunday School leaders to help lead our youth Sunday school classes. Serve on rotation or as needed. If you are interested or have questions, please email Josh Snodgrass. | |
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Mark Your Calendars
Praise Hunt in the Park
March 24, 2024 @ 3 PM
Kimmel Park
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We have a special opportunity to reach beyond our walls and serve as Reading Buddies at JR Irvin Elementary school! Buddies will read to the children on Fridays at 9 AM for about 30 minutes. We will read to preschool, kindergarten or first graders depending on the number of volunteers we have each week. Midlothian ISD requires a background check for all volunteers, which will be provided after you register your interest. Please click here to email Missions to receive more information. | |
It's hard to believe, but Easter will be here in just two short months! The week before Easter, on Palm Sunday, we host our annual Praise Hunt in the Park. This is one of our largest outreach events and it takes the entire church to pull it off. We are collecting candy now so that we can start filling eggs for the Easter egg hunt that is part of the event. If you would like to donate candy for Praise Hunt in the Park, please bring it by the church office and drop it off in front of Keelee's office on the credenza. Please no chocolate or nuts! If you have questions, please click here to email Keelee Allen. Thank you! | |
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Attention High School Seniors
Class of 2024
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Senior Sunday is set for April 28th and we are excited to honor you, but we need your help! Please complete the senior information form by clicking here to submit senior info and drop 3-4 pictures, labeled with your name, into the Google folder linked when you click upload senior photos. Pictures should include at least one "senior" picture, a baby or childhood picture and whatever other photos you wish to use. Please have the photos labeled with your name. We need this information as soon as possible THIS WEEK. If you have any questions, please email Valerie Dick. | |
Senior Scholarship information will be coming out soon! | |
Help Bring the Light of Christ Into Worship | |
The lighting of candles in a worship service symbolizes Jesus’ presence with the worshipping community. We are seeking light bearers to assist with the lighting of the altar candles during the 11 AM traditional service. Adults, youth and children at least 8 years old are welcome! If interested, please click below. | |
Confirmation classes are held during the Sunday school hour from through April 28. Confirmation Sunday will be held At FMC on May 5. All ages welcome, from 6th grade and up! Please register at https://forms.gle/tSLTJkcyAPYg5H7X6. | |
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Feb 10: Youth Bowling Hangout
Feb 11: Annual Chili Cook Off
Feb 16-18: Youth Winter Retreat
Feb 14: Ash Wednesday, DivorceCare Begins
Feb 25: Discover Grace
Mar 9: SAGA Trip
Mar 24: Palm Sunday, Praise Hunt in the Park
Mar 24-31: Holy Week
Mar 31: Easter Sunday
Apr 28: Senior Sunday
May 5: Confirmation Sunday
May 19: Pentecost Sunday
May 29: VBS Volunteer Training
Jun 9-13: VBS
Jun 15-21: High School Maui Mission Trip
See weekly information below for regularly occurring events.
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February 11th
"The Walls Come Down"
Joshua 5:12-6:21
8:30 & 11 AM Traditional Worship
11 AM Contemporary Worship
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WayPoint is a weekly devotional, written by our pastors to dig deeper into the current sermon/series. Click the links below to access digitally. | |
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Office hours are Monday through Thursday 8 AM - 4 PM and Friday 8 AM - 12 PM.
For non-emergencies, please contact church staff during office hours or send email.
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Join us Wednesdays as we study, sing, eat, worship and fellowship together! Wednesday Schedule
(SB denotes Sanctuary Building, FLC denote Family Life Center):
Pastor April’s Bible Study, 4:30-5:45, Sanctuary
Children's Choir, 5-5:45, SB 301
Wednesday Meal, 5:30-6:15, FLC
Men’s Bible Study, 6:30-7:30, FLC 108
Women's Bible Study, 6:30-7:30, moved to FLC 107
KidsClub, 6:30-7:30, SB Fellowship Hall, Nursery, 202 & 205
Adult Choir, 6:30-8, SB 301
Student Ministries, 6:30-8, FLC Youth Hall
DivorceCare & DC4K, Starts 2/14/24, 6:30-8 PM, FLC 203 &201
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Weekly & Monthly Gatherings | |
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Sunday School Classes meet between worship services from 9:45-10:45 AM. Children's classes meet in the Sanctuary building. Youth and adult classes meet in the Family Life Center (FLC).
Children's Classes, Sanctuary Building
Youth Classes, FLC Youth Halls
Bill Theiss Fellowship Class, FLC 109
Adult Bible Class, FLC 110
Upper Room Class, FLC 201
Open Door Class, FLC 107
Servant's Hands, FLC 208
New Horizons Class, FLC 203
Awakening Class, FLC 204 & 205
(D) All Thee Above, FLC 207
Men's Monday Night Bible Study, Mondays 7-8:30 PM, SB 302
Handbell Choir Mondays, 5:45-6:45 PM, SB 302
Discipleship Groups, contact the church office for information
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Please send your prayer request to Mary Beth or Joy. If you want to join our Prayer/Card Ministry group, send your request to Joy. Not everyone sends cards, but you can pray, thus Prayer/Card Ministry.
New Prayer Request:
Continuous Prayer:
Karen Wilson, George & Dee Culps, Don Lish, John Lowe, Jan Prather, Boyce Whatley
Military:
ARMY - Matt Carroll, Tim Kruettner, Harold Barton, Josh Schenck, Austin Lockwood, Trey Ditto
NAVY - Matthew Price, Andrew Cantrell, Zachary Tucker, Thomas Shirley, Matthew Watford, Thomas Padgett
AIR FORCE - JD Culps, Andrew Miller
MARINES - Josh Dunaway, Bradley Perez, Elizia Delapaa, Cash McAdoo
NATIONAL GUARD - Derek Boots
TEXAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD - John Jackson
Derek Vance
Note : Please let Joy Price know if anyone on the list above should be removed.
Remember in Prayer:
Our world, our country, our community leaders, all our military troops and first responders around the world, our church, our pastors, the staff, church members, visitors, and Midlothian community
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Thank You for Your Generosity | |
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Thank you for your generosity! We continue to do great ministry as a church because of you and your faithfulness. You can give to the church's ministries in service, mailing in your financial gifts or clicking below to give online. Every gift helps us do great things for God's Kingdom!
Please note, if you write a check to the church, make sure checks are made out to FMC Midlothian or First Methodist Church of Midlothian. Please do not use the word United in the recipient line. Thank you!
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FMC Midlothian | 972-775-3993 | fmcmidlothian.org
Office Hours: M-Th: 8 AM - 4 PM, F: 8 AM - 12 PM
Pastors are available for non-emergencies M-Th during office hours
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