We've started a brand new message series called "Lent - 40 Days of Renewal" where we will be taking a look at a lot of the myths we have about Lent seeing it as a way for us to be renewed. Here's a preview: you don't have to give up coffee or chocolate. In fact, we will have both coffee and chocolate available in the church, just like we always do.

We're starting a brand new message series at Fredericktown UMC this week! It's called Dislike and uses a lot of the ideas and imagery of social media, and the pressures that it puts on us, to take a look at how we connect with each other in the world today. I hope to encourage people to focus less on what they are getting off social media and the echo chambers that we get ourselves trapped in and focus in more on connecting with people in real, tangible, in person ways. I believe that when we do that, we will find that a lot of what we have thought or "disliked" about other people and about ourselves will fade away and we will begin to see people more like God does; less like a profile to be skimmed and make assumptions about, and more like a person to be known for who they truly are.

A lot of the time, I think we have this idea in mind of the Bible being filled will all these perfect people doing perfect things, especially in regards to Jesus' family line and what not. And all the blessings they received were because they did everything right and that earned them the outcome they were seeking. That couldn't be further from the truth. The Bible is filled with flawed, broken, imperfect people that mess up, fail, and make mistakes like the rest of us. And, just like the rest of us, they were still seen by God as beloved children, worthy of love and grace and hope and a way to start again. In this series, we'll be taking a look at all the ways we can "start again" in this new year though the stories of folks in the Bible and the ways they experienced God in the midst of their messy lives.

Over the years, we’ve added a lot to the Christmas story. Have we maybe added so much on top of it to make it calmer and more relaxing that we’ve lost the real meaning underneath it all? Join us for our new series “The Heart of Christmas” as we look to open all the wrappings we’ve put on this gift to find Christmas’ heart inside.

This week we're starting off a brand new series called "Heart to Heart: Having Holy Communication" where we'll be taking a look at the ways in which we're communicating with each other, or not communicating as the case may be. How can we speak to one another in ways that are holy instead of hurtful? I hope that you'll join us for the next three weeks as we dive into this new series that seeks to find ways we can all have better heart to heart moments.

Today, we're kicking off a brand new message series called "Thrive-More Than Just Alive." Too often, we can get used to "just getting by" or "surviving" when we were made for so much more than ordinary lives. We were made to thrive! So, join us as we begin to look at ways we can do that, beginning with "Overcoming Apathy" and then moving on to “Overcoming Obstacles,” “The Child Within and Without,” and ending with “You Were Born to Thrive.” We’d love for you to be our guest as we learn to thrive!

This week we start off a new series called "Go." In our last series, we looked at the Great Commandment and how we should follow that. This series, we're taking a look at the other "great" statement of Jesus: The Great Commission. How should we be a people who "go"? And how should we go? Does our doubt prevent our worship from being authentic? And who goes with us as we go? We'll be talking about all this and more as we take a look at The Great Commission in our new series Go. We'd love for you to join us!

This week we're starting off a new message series that takes a look at the barriers, the barricades, and the fences that we place between ourselves and others. Sometimes these may be intentional and sometimes unintentional, but they always keep us reaching the people we are supposed to reach, serving the people we are supposed to serve, and loving the people we're supposed to love. I hope that you will join us as we look at how we can go "across the fence."

Have you ever wondered how many things we attribute to the Bible, to God, or to Jesus that they never actually said? A lot of the time, we hold on to these little "nuggets of wisdom" and try to use them to be helpful, but they end up being the opposite. Do we cause more harm than good when we say them? Do we say something by using them that we never meant to say? Join us for this new series as we look at these things the Bible never said:

Week One: Everything Happens for a Reason
Week Two: God Won't Give You More Than You Can Handle
Week Three: A break in the series as a lay speaker gives the message
Week Four: Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin
Week Five: Preach the Gospel at All Times, When Necessary Use Words

Our theme for this series is Freed-2-Lead. The church needs leaders rooted in Christ,
who have a vision for changing the world. Today’s young people have fearless hearts,
vibrant ideas and a passion for ministry. Their talents should be nurtured to shape the
church’s path into the future. The church must invite young people – including women
and people of color the world over – into ministry, equip them to be effective leaders
and be open to where they want to lead us. We also must strengthen lay persons, who
are ministering at every level of the church.

All of us have been Freed-2-Lead and have a role in mentoring and equipping others
to lead