This Week

@FUMC Allen

March 1 2015

How is your Lenten journey progressing? Are you finding time to Listen: Praying in a Noisy World?

This week's challenge has been to enter into a time of prayer while listening for God. Bishop Reuben Job includes in his book this prayer as a guide :

Holy God

Of unconditional love

And unlimited presence,

I come to make myself fully available

To you, your will, and your way.

Speak to me gently and clearly,

And desire to hear, understand,

And be obedient to your slightest whisper.

Speak for I am listening.

Listening for God may be second nature to some, while for many, it could feel unusual or awkward. To hear God might require that we lower the volume on the world around us and even push pause on a demanding schedule.

Noise and busy-ness can be great obstacles to hearing God as might fear, doubt, and a hardened heart

Another great prayer coach, Henri Nouwen, taught that "prayer is first of all listening to God. It's openness. God is always speaking; he's always doing something."

God has a word for each of us. At the very least, God is saying, if we will listen closely, "You are my beloved daughter; my beloved son; my beloved child."

May this season of Lent be a pathway to God's presence through prayer and may we each hear God's affirming word of love and grace. Let us be persistent in prayer knowing that God is persistent in His pursuit of us.

I hope to see you Sunday as we continue the sermon series on prayer.

Rev. Todd Harris

Senior Pastor

First United Methodist Church of Allen

Lenten Scripture Readings

ATTENTION YOUTH AND YOUTH PARENTS!

After much prayer, a study of this weekend's forecast, and conversations with Collin County Adventure Camp (CCAC), we have decided to reschedule GREAT ADVENTURE WEEKEND.

CCAC has graciously allowed us to move our event to Friday, April 17-Sunday, April 19! Everyone who has already registered will remain registered unless you notify Youth Ministry leaders that you can no longer attend. We will also reopen registration for students who were not able to attend the original date.

Because GAW has been rescheduled, COLLIDE will meet Sunday, March 1, from 5:00pm-7:15pm. We will eat, fellowship, and play Family Feud! Invite your friends and bring $3 for snack supper!

DARING and the Youth Orchestra will also have a Godspell rehearsal on Sunday, March 1, from 3:00pm-5:00pm. The location is TBA. Contact Rusty King.

This Week

Sun Mar 1/2015-Sat Mar 7/2015

Sun Mar 1

TODAY'S communion offering benefits ALLEN COMMUNITY OUTREACH. Learn more by visiting their website: acocares.org.

Register TODAY for the RACE TO CHANGE THE WORLD 5K and 1K Fun Run on May 2 at Bob Woodruff Park in Plano. Contact Greg Schell.

Enthusiastic greeters are needed on Sundays and for special services to welcome all who come through our doors. Visit our sign-up table TODAY to join our GREETERS TEAM. Peggy Breeze, our greeter coordinator, will be there to answer your questions.

Fri Mar 6

DARING youth choir and orchestra ALMOST LOCK IN 7:00pm Sanctuary. Contact Rusty King.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

Before going to bed on March 7, be sure to move your clocks forward one hour.

Remember to Spring forward or you will be early for church!

Next Week & Beyond

Sun Mar 8/2015-Mon Apr 13/2015

Sun, Mar 8

UPWARD SEASON CELEBRATION Today, we'll recognize Upward basketball players, Upward cheerleaders, parents, coaches, referees, and volunteers during the 11:00am worship service followed by lunch at 12:15pm in the gym. Contact Greg Schell.

Wed Mar 11

The RUTH CIRCLE meets at 10:00am in the Fellowship Hall and welcomes guest speaker, Rev. June Franck, who will speak on prayer, the prayer labyrinth, and other ways to experience what God has in store for us. Contact Judy Smith, 817.914.5722.

Thu Mar 12

The February LEGAL AID CLINIC served 33 client families with the help of 11 attorneys and 16 paralegals and volunteers. So far this year, we have assisted 51 families in finding help to deal with worldly legal issues. The March clinic is at 6:00pm in Fellowship Hall. Contact Kim Klieger.

Sun Mar 15

The DEBORAH CIRCLE meets at 12:15pm in the parlor to discuss ways to live in joy. Contact Burna Kennedy.

Thu Mar 19

PLAYDAY ART NIGHT PREMIER Contact Maureen Bowman.

Sat Mar 21
Join the trustees for their quarterly CHURCHWIDE WORKDAY, 9am-1pm. Contact Larry Wright.

YOUTH GARAGE SALE Contact Eric Pugh.

Sat Mar 28

The City of Allen hosts the EGGCELLENT FAMILY ADVENTURE

in Allen Civic Plaza from 9:00am to 12:00pm. FUMC Allen will be there as a booth sponsor, passing out eggs, candy, and information about our church. Kids will register to win prize baskets, provided by each booth sponsor, with prizes awarded through the event. If you have any questions about FUMC Allen's booth, contact Mary Freeman.

Sat Mar 28, Apr 11, & Apr 18

Parents of Graduating Senior: These three SCRAPBOOK WORKDAYS have been scheduled at 10:00am in Y34 to help you finalize your pages for the Class of 2015 senior scrapbook. Each senior is allowed to submit two 8 1/2" x 11" one-sided pages for the book. We need parents to work on specific group pages, such as Playday, mission trips, choir tours, confirmation, GAW, UPWARD, Bridgeport, and Mardi Gras Madness, in addition to each senior's individual pages. The cost of the final book will be based on the size of the final book and number of books printed. For information, contact Eric Pugh.

Mon Apr 13

FUMC offers SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES for full-time college students and graduating high school seniors. Scholarship applications and recommendation forms (for current college students only) are now available online at www.fumcallen.org/college scholarships. Applications and recommendation forms are due April 13. Contact Brock Fairchild.

CALLING ALL BAKERS!

Women in Mission hosts its annual Palm Sunday Bake Sale on March 29. Get out your best recipes, and bring your donations to the church on March 28 or before 9:00am on March 29. To help during the sale, either sign up on March 22 or contact Judy Smith, judytvl@gmail.com.

SEND HOPE
Join us for an international mission trip to Send Hope's House of Hope in Honduras, July 7-July 16. Anyone age 14 and up is encouraged to consider this mission opportunity. The estimated cost is $1,350-$1,400, and registration deadline with initial $500 deposit is May 1. Contact Tom Brian, 972.965.6534 or atbdds@yahoo.com.

In This Issue

Great Adventure Weekend

Franck Anniversary Celebration

This Week

SPRING FORWARD

Next Week & Beyond

Palm Sunday Bake Sale

Send Hope Mission Trip

This Sunday's Sermon

Sunday, March 1, 2015

"Pray Like This"
Matthew 6:7-15

Rev. Todd Harris, preaching

8:15am 9:30am 11:00am

Sanctuary

"Pray Like You Mean It!"
Luke 11:1-10

The Way

Rev. Brian McPherson, preachin

11:00am

Fellowship Hall

Words from The Word

You shall surely give to Him and your heart shall not be grieved when you give unto Him. Because for this thing the Lord your God shall bless you in all your works and in all that you put your hand unto. Deuteronomy 15:10

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name and bring an offering and come into His courts. Psalm 96:8

NEW MEMBERS

Please join us in welcoming

Kevin and Carey Jansen and their sons Bryce and Easton.

Kevin and Carey come to us from University UMC of San Antonio.

Do you have a prayer request?

A Look Ahead

Mar 29 Palm Sunday

Mar 29 Women in Mission Bake Sale
Apr 2 Maundy Thursday
Apr 3 Good Friday
Apr 4 Service of Healing & Wholeness
Apr 5 Easter Sunday
Apr 6 Church Office Closed

Apr 6, 9 Playday Open House
Apr 17-19 Great Adventure Weekend

Apr 17-19 On Deck 6th Grade Retreat
Apr 19 Methodism/Membership Class
May 2 Race to Change The World 5K

May 10 Mothers Day
May 15-17 CTW Weekend
May 15 Connections Band Concert
May 17 CTW Worship

May 31 Graduating Senior Sunday
Jun 9 Bridgeport Youth SEEK Camp
Jun 11 Junior High Youth Mission Trip
Jun 15 Youth Choir Tour
Jul 7 Bridgeport Children's Camp
Jul 7-16 Send Hope Mission Trip

Jul 19 Senior High Mission Trip
Aug 3 Vacation Bible School

Sep 20 Membership Class

Sep 27 Gospel Concert

Oct 4 Blessing of the Animals

Oct 25 New Member Luncheon

At FUMC Allen, we track the hours our members impact the community as they volunteer for various service organizations. The year-to-date total for 2015 is 1,047 hours.

Help us grow this number by reporting your service hours on the registration form found in each Sunday's bulletin or email your hours to Elizabeth Fairchild.

Keep up the great work.

The deadline for the Mar 15 Sunday worship bulletin is 5:00pm,
Friday, March 6. Email items to spark@fumcallen.org.

Click HERE to read the Mar 1 worship bulletin.