Sunday, March 12 - Second Sunday Concert - After 10 am Service
Monday, March 13 - Pastoral Team Meeting - 10 am
Monday, March 13 - Last Week Class - 7 pm
Tuesday, March 14 - MOMS - 6 pm
Wednesday, March 15 - Last Week Class - 10 am
Thursday, March 16 - Choir Practice - 7 pm
COMING THIS SUNDAY
Our Pastors have chosen the Gospel of Luke as the scripture to be read and preached about during this year’s Lenten season. Here’s what another Methodist preacher says about Luke: “Through Luke’s stories we find Jesus’s care and compassion for all – including Outsiders, Outcasts and Outlaws. As we reflect on Luke and see Jesus’s concern for those considered unimportant, we hear a hopeful and inspiring word for our lives today.” We hope you’ll be in worship this Sunday as we hear Luke 15:11-32 read. Jim Mishler preaches.
Faith In Action – Disaster Response (This is the agency that trained Dorothy Klishevich for her recent work in Merced, reported here)
When disasters happen, your Cal-Nev Conference deploys Early Response Teams (ERTs) to assist with cleanup and other immediate repairs. ERTs also staff Local Assistance Centers where we offer gift cards for pressing needs, cleaning supplies, hygiene kits and other aid. Most importantly, we offer survivors a place to talk and process what happened to them.
Already in 2023, we have deployed ERTs five times related to the Humboldt Earthquake and the winter storm flooding.
If you would like to become an ERT, the next online, virtual training session will be Saturday and Sunday, April 29th and 30th, 1-5 pm both days. You will become an UMCOR trained and badged responder. Here is the link to more information and to register: https://calnev-reg.brtapp.com/EarlyResponseTrainingApril2023
LGBTQ+ Reconciling & Social Justice Meeting & Pizza Party
On Sunday, March 19, we will have our regional Reconciling meeting starting at Noon in Room 203. Before the start of the meeting, at 11:30 we will have pizza and soft drinks. We will start the meeting at Noon in order to provide time for other representatives from other congregations to join us in person. A Zoom link will be provided also.
Other United Methodist Churches and other denominations (including possible representatives from Northern Central CA Presbytery and the Folsom Mosque).
We will continue our planning for the Sacramento Pride event on the weekend of June 10 – 11 and other Pride events in the area.
We’re in the final week of this four-part series this Sunday. Join us for a lively and supportive discussion in class at 9 AM. Here’s the link to this week’s video. Remember, It will not be shown in class. Please view it at home in advance.
FAITH_IN_ACTION
The Blessing and Burden of Being Black in America Read more here ...
The Spiritual Development Team and the LGBTQ+ Social Justice Committee of First UMC Sacramento have partnered to offer this helpful video speaker series to our congregation as a part of our celebration of Black History Month.
Concert Set for Sunday, March 19, at 2 pm
Acclaimed soprano, Liisa Davila, will join Dr. John Hillebrandt, pianist, for a performance at First United Methodist Church, Sacramento, on Sunday, March 19th at 2:00 pm. The program features songs by Jean Sibelius, Richard Strauss, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and original songs by John Hillebrandt. Liisa Davila has performed throughout California and the United States, including recent appearances with the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera, and as a soprano soloist in a performance of Faure's Requiem. Renowned pianist and composer, Dr. Hillebrandt, is a graduate of the University of Michigan, retired from the music department at CSU, Stanislaus in 2010, and has been the music director at FUMC, Sacramento since 2016.
Admission to this event will be by freewill donation. (Some tickets were sold when this event was canceled at the beginning of the pandemic three years ago; if you paid for a ticket then, please come now and apply your credit!)
Second Sunday Concert is set for this week
Sunday, March 12th will feature a concert following the worship service in the sanctuary. Following the pattern of recent months, John Hillebrandt and Kevin Manz have planned a twenty-minute program. Stay after church and listen.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: CHURCH OPERATIONS MANAGER
Interested in coordinating the work in our Church Office? In managing how our Church Building is used? In being a daily, important part of our Church’s ministry? If so, you might want to consider the new Employment Opportunity that the Church Leadership Team approved at its meeting this week. Here’s some basic information.
The manager will:
Be responsible for the coordination of First UMC’s administrative, clerical and facility-use activities.
Work 20 hours/week on Mon-Fri at 9:00 am-1:00 pm
Have excellent communication, management, and office skills.
Be patient, creative and committed to the mission and values of First UMC
Community Meals and Respite Center
Every Monday the Respite is open from 8 am until 11:30 am, in the Church Terrace Room, to provide a hot meal, coffee, cocoa, juice, pastries, a shower, and a place to sit inside from the cold; a place to charge phones and tablets; even a mat to take a nap on. We've been hosting and helping up to 62 individuals.
On the last two Saturdays of the month, we offer a shower, coffee, juice, and a hot meal (usually burritos) in the J Street parking lot.
If you would like to volunteer, click here to sign up.
If you would like to donate to the ministry we could always use:
Towels
Washcloths
Beanies
Gloves
Hand warmers
Ponchos
Coats
Pants
Socks
Desserts
Coffee
Instant Hot Cocoa
Juice
Foods for Casseroles
Pop Top, easy open, Canned Foods
Snack Food Items (individually wrapped or packaged)
Thank you from the Community Meals Ministry Team
Contact: Community Meals
Want to know what’s up? Check the calendar on our website. Need to change a meeting date for your committee? Go to the website for that too, https://firstumcsac.org. Just scroll down to the Calendar of Events Request Form and tap it. Your calendar item, when submitted, goes immediately to processing and soon will appear in the calendar.
At First Church, we believe in the power of prayer. We want to lift up concerns in our community and nation continually. We also want to be joyful for how we have seen God move. Here are some topics to pray for during your week.
Prayer Requests This Week
Prayers are being asked for Phil Hall, whose Parkinson's has become severe enough that is not safe for him to walk. Hospice care has been started. Keep both him and Marge in your prayers.
For people in our congregation who need healing but prefer to remain anonymous
Pray for women across the world who are currently fighting for their freedom.
Pray for those among our congregation who are struggling with physical illness or chronic disease.
Pray for those in our city who are without a home. They need rest.
Pray for those struggling with mental illnesses. They need rest.
