A Short Note
I am pleased to be serving as the Interim-pastor of First United Methodist Church of Lakeland. This is the thirteenth time I have been asked to come out of retirement to serve in such a role. Of course, this is very different from the other times. This is a church I have been a part of for over thirty years, and the church is not in trouble. We are in sorrow at the retirement of Pastor David, but we also rejoice in a job very well done.
This is a time of change and a time of waiting for the unknown. We will be getting a new pastor in July, but we do not know who that person might be. There is anxiousness and even concern about the change. Who will it be, what will they be like, what will they bring, and how will they lead us? It is our job to keep the faith and to pray for this person we do not even know. Let us have a joyful expectation of our new pastor. Let us love them even before we know them. And let us love one another in the midst of this time of anticipation.
Let me assure you the Bishop and the District Superintendant are prayerfully seeking that person and want them to succeed as our spiritual leader.
Now is the time to pray for the Holy Spirit to come into the midst of our church concerns. And I certainly want you to pray for me and our ministry together. This may be an Interim, but it also means we have almost six months to do Kingdom work. We are a happy family church, and we want it to stay that way.
And that’s the truth.
Rev. Riley P. Short (Interim Senior Pastor)2
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The Best is Yet to Come
We have completed the lighting projects in the Sanctuary and Fellowship Center and are currently wrapping up the the demolition phase of our building project. It is fitting that we continue our season of prepartion during Lent. As we prepare our hearts for Easter, we celebrate what God has done through
Youth, Neighborhood, and Scouting ministries and wait in anticipation for the work that God will continue to do in the lives of many more generations of Youth. Thank you to everyone that has contributed financially or through prayer. If you would like to make a financial donation to this project please visit firstumc.org/capital-campaign.
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A Season of Preparation.
What is Lent?
Lent is a season of the Christian Year where Christians focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting in order to grow closer to God.
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Learn more at firstumc.org/lent
We have compiled resources for you, including devotionals, individual studies, and small group listings, to help you experience a holy Lent.
Explore the resources at firstumc.org/lent.
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The Care Behind Creation Care
Barbara Whetton (Creation Care Co-Chair)Life is so good...yet my heart hurts. My family is safe, happy & healthy...but I can become so sad!
Sometimes, I think about my immediate world and the things my family, friends, or strangers are going through, and it can bring me to tears! If I linger there too long or let the feelings roll over me regarding the state of our world, the lack of love for God & all of His Creation, which includes loving our neighbors, I weep! It’s fullon sorrow and for a good reason!
There is a lot out there that is really sad, it can be heartbreaking, and it’s ok to go there sometimes! God gave us the ability to feel hurt and question why. Why are all these bad things happening around us? Why are all these bad things happening to us?
But you know what else? We never have to go through any of this sadness alone!
The Old Testament speaks numerous times, like in Joshua 1:5, about God never leaving or forsaking us. He is with us.
He is with us in those “look to the heavens, can’t stop smiling, joy running down your cheeks” happy times and our “face flat on the floor pouring your heart out to God and pleading for His mercy because you can’t take the hurt anymore” moments. He’s there!
He’s there right now as we head into Lent, following Him to the cross! He was right there with the Son of God and son of man as Jesus went to the saddest point in His earthly life. He was not alone! Was he scared, sad, or in more pain than we could imagine? Yes, but He was not alone!
Because of Christ’s suffering on the cross, we too can experience His love, joy, mercy, and kindness all of the time, through the good and bad! He’s always there, rooting us on. He’s our biggest fan saying, “You’ve got this, and I’ve got you!”
Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning!” Sadness, heartbreak, and confusion will happen, but the key is not to go at it alone!
Prayer: Jesus, thank you so much for loving us. Help us to love You more, grow closer to You, and love our neighbors (all of them!) and Your creation the way You want us to! In Your precious name, we pray! Amen!
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Upcoming Events
For more information about all of our events, visit firstumc.org/events.
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Holy Week Services
For more information about our Holy Week services, visit firstumc.org/lent.
Maundy Thursday - April 6 at 7pm
The first of the three days of solemn remembrance of the events leading up to and immediately following the crucifixion of Jesus. Childcare is available for ages six weeks through four years. Check-In opens at 6:50pm at the desk on the first floor of the C Building.
Stations of the Cross - April 7 at Noon
The Stations of the Cross is a Lenten devotion that offers witness to Jesus’ Passion and Death. We will start in the Sanctuary and move to stations around the church campus. At each station, we reflect prayerfully upon Christ’s love for us.
Tenebrae - April 7 at 7pm
Join us on Good Friday for a Service of Darkness. Childcare is available for ages six weeks through four years. Check-In opens at 6:50pm at the desk on the first floor of the C Building.
Easter Services - April 9
6:30am Sunrise Service (Front Patio)
8:15am Traditional (Sanctuary)
9:30am Contemporary (Fellowship Center)
11am Traditional (Sanctuary)
11am The Current (Fellowship Center)
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First United Methodist Church
72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801
firstumc.org | 863.686.3163
SUNDAY SERVICES
8:15am Sanctuary Service: Traditional worship presented in a new way with a fresh approach to time-honored hymns and a variety of styles of music.
9:30am Fellowship Center: A more contemporary, relaxed atmosphere with worship music of today.
11am Sanctuary Service: Traditional hymns with organ accompaniment, as well as musical pieces from our various fine arts groups.
11am The Current: A unique worship experience in our Fellowship Center with a contemporary setting. Communion is offered each Sunday.
The purpose of First United Methodist is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We strive to accomplish this by being a worship plus three church. Worship plus three is how we define our ministries. We believe worship is of prime importance and is our foundation. In addition, we are to invite others into a relationship with God, grow in our own relationship with God and our neighbor and serve others as a continued sign of God’s work in our lives.
Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Lakeland, FL Permit No. 30
