Lent 2022 @ Norfolk UMC

This morning, it hit me that we needed this small journal and resource to make this Lenten season more meaningful. We are so grateful that we are still here to walk this path and celebrate together on Easter Sunday. This year we will baptize at least two infants. What a joy it will be to see these little ones and their families experiencing this joyous time on Easter.

There will be singing and a message of hope!

No matter what we go through, God is with us every step of the way. I pray that this little resource will be helpful to you and your family.

This is a simple guide for Lent 2022. It can be used with your family or you can use it in your private time for meditation and devotion. Start with the QuickStart Guide and work through the topics writing notes to self or using them as topics for discussion with family and/or friends. Remember to be honest in your responses, your notes are for your own personal growth.

Don't forget to explore the 'Talking Points' each week on this journey to the Cross during Lent. Take time to journal your thoughts and feelings as it relates to each one.

After the ashes are imposed and you start this journey yet again, you will find that your faith has deepened over the years. Even if this is your first time being intentional about this process, you will grow. The key is to be intentional and consistent.

Once again, we will make the anointing oil available to you upon request. During your prayer time, anoint your head, your heart, your hands and your mouth.

The Quick Start Guides to R.E.A.L. Relationships-Family & Friends Equipping--Self & Others Attitude--What needs to change?

Leadership-What will I learn this year?

Week 1 The QuickStart Guides to R.E.A.L. Relationships-Family & Friends

Week 2 The QuickStart Guides to R.E.A.L. Relationships-Family & Friends Equipping--Self & Others

Week 3 The QuickStart Guides to R.E.A.L. Relationships-Family & Friends Equipping--Self & Others Attitude--What needs to change?

Week 4 The QuickStart Guides to R.E.A.L. Leadership-What will I learn this year?

Each week explore the talking points one at a time. Set aside at least 30 minutes to 1 hour to really dive deep and all God to Speak to you in the process.

Some people want to know what difference will it make that we Worship & Praise God together, or that we serve in mission and ministry together. The answer is simple, the difference between life and death. Lives that are purposeful and filled with joy and peace.

Or, Lives that are merely being lived from one day to the next finding little joy and a scarcity of peace.

This season moves us beyond being self-serving to being servant leaders in this world.

We need volunteers to sing with our Praise Team-- 'Triple A Praise Team'. Our Ministry of Music is Mr. Billy Brown and he would love to work with you, You can also contact Mrs. Maria Davis for information on rehearsal times and expectations. I will give you a clue-have a heart to make a joyful noise unto the Lord! We are looking for persons that are willing to give the best of their service and God will be Glorified.

One of the joys of our ministry is the ability to share our space with Small Businesses that would struggle during this time of COVID. So far, we have three businesses, with the possibility of a fourth coming on board. This is a part of our vision to move beyond our walls into the larger community to make an impact and an imprint for Jesus Christ.

Our new reality is that we must broadcast our Worship & Praise Services weekly. We will need a team of volunteers to take it to the next level. Please pray about this ministry and the part that you can play. We will train you and we have other experts that will train all of us to ensure that our presentation is excellent each Sunday. We need at least two persons each Sunday.

Each month a team of committed volunteers works hard to prepare and distribute food bags that feed up to a family of four for one week. This is a labor of love because this is hard work.

However, we have members and other volunteers that make it happen. If you are interested in being a part of this team, please contact the church office and we will put you in touch with Mrs. Valerie Santiful, the Team Leader. FYI, our team served over 1800 families and we are working to do more.

Each Wednesday morning a group of committed members rise at 7:00 AM and gather to pray. We pray for our church, our community, our leaders, one another, and those that we know not. It is a Spiritual Discipline to rise early and pray, but we do it every week. We invite you to join us. We know that prayer changes things and we maintain a list of prayer concerns and we rejoice when we celebrate blessings and miracles in our lives and the lives of others.

We pray that these weeks in prayer, reflection, repentance, and almsgiving will prepare you for the great celebration of Easter.

Resurrection Sunday! 2022 will be a year of Blessings beyond measure. Be assured.