Wesley Church

What'sHappening

Haiti Relief

Since the devastating earthquake hit Haiti on January 12 United Methodists have responded to the plight of the people. Here are ways to help:

Donate through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
One hundred percent of your donation reaches those in need. click here to donate to UMCOR

Package health kits
UMCOR indicates that hundreds of thousands of kits are needed in the coming weeks. The list of supplies is very specific and should be followed exactly. Click here for health kit information

Pray
The United Methodist Church’s Haiti response effort offers a “Prayer Wall” on the 10thousanddoors.org Facebook group page. View the denomination's Rethink Church campaign at 10thousanddoors.org

Adult Faith Formation

On Sunday Mornings:

Weird Guys in the Bible through February 14 at 9:15 a.m. in the Library.
From Aaron to Zurishaddai -- who are these guys? Have you ever wondered about certain obscure individuals mentioned in the Bible who don’t seem important to the history of God’s people? Join a discussion that explores some of these guys, both named and unnamed, and discuss why they were included in the Biblical events and their connection to Jesus Christ.

The Gospels "Top Ten" (With Apologies to David Letterman) through February 14 at 10:45 a.m. in the Library.
Have you ever wondered why we have four gospels? Come join a discussion about just what a gospel is and what “top ten” things make each of them important, but different.

Weekday Offerings:

The Parables of Jesus in Luke Tuesday mornings at 10:30 in the Library
Jesus didn't teach in long philosophical lectures, but rather in deceptively simple stories called parables.One way to explore the meaning of the parables is to ask how they would have been understood by those who first heard them. In this class we will read these stories for ourselves and then use excerpts from the DVD of Dr. Kenneth E. Bailey's lectures Parables of Jesus in Luke: A Middle Eastern Cultural View, seeking to deepen our understanding of these stories and how they help form and enrich our faith.

Pastor's Bible StudyTuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the Library
Pastor Bill Lentz offers a detailed study of the Letter to the Hebrews. During the study, we will explore the role God plays in Christianity, investigate its portrait of a very human Jesus, and ponder the letter's lack of any reference to the Holy Trinity. Bring your favorite Bible and a nimble mind to ask questions.

Wesley Church in the Community

Resettling a refugee family
For two years we have worked with a family of 12 (now 13!) who had spent more than three decades in African refugee camps in Congo and Tanzania. We recently celebrated their achievements and independence. Click here to read how the experience has affected us.

Unwanted household items? They can find a new life at Restoration House of New Bethany Ministries. Each new family living in these transitional housing units need items such as lamps, end table, kitchen chairs and general useful everyday kitchen wares. When the family moves to a permanent place, their household items move out with them, and then a new family begins life in an empty transitional unit. If you have items to donate, click here to connect with Carol.

Click here for the March 2010 newsletter

DailyDevotional

The Light of Life

God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

-2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

IN the current global financial crisis, my family and I may confront life-changing financial challenges. However, the passage quoted above reminds me that when we face circumstances that frighten us, we are never without hope.

This has always been true for God's people, even in the worst of times. Daniel's three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, faced visible danger from the blazing furnace. Yet, staring directly into the flames, they were able to say, "The God we serve is able to save us." But even if their physical lives were not to be saved, they still placed their confidence in God.

Read more of this passage at UpperRoom.org