WHAT IS LENT?
Lent is a season of preparation leading up to Easter. It is the forty days plus the six Sundays before Easter. It is a time for self-reflection and prayer. This Lent at First United Methodist Church of Belmont, we’ll focus together on the things that keep us from holy and whole relationships with God and how God invites us to deepen our faith and live more fully as disciples of Christ.
Sundays in Lent: I AM: Jesus in His Own Words
I AM. They are among the most powerful words in the world. What you put after them shapes your entire reality. In the Gospel of John, Jesus often speaks of himself using these words. As one scholar put it, they are more than a novelty of John’s Gospel because they reveal the truth of his own identity, fully human and fully God. Join us this Lenten season as we discover and imagine how what Jesus puts after his “I am” statements can truly shape our faith and life in Him.
March 9 – Exodus 3:1-14, John 8:58
March 16 – I AM the Bread of Life: John 6:24-35
March 23 – I AM the Light of the World: John 7:2, 14 and 8:12
March 30 – I AM the Good Shepherd: John 10:11-18
April 6 – I AM the True Vine: John 15:1-8
April 13 – I AM The Way, the Truth and the Life: John 14:1-7
April 20 – I AM the Resurrection and the Life: John 11:17-26
GROW IN YOUR FAITH
Adult Small Groups – March 12 – April 16, 2025
For Lent we are focusing on “Practicing the Way” by John Mark Comer. How to be with Jesus, become like him and do as he did. There are resources online at practicingtheway.org and we will be watching a video during class to review content. You can purchase a book, but it is not necessary. Sign up to be part of the discussion on Wednesday evenings.
Register for small groups here.
Lenten Devotional Booklets
Our annual Lenten Devotional, The Sanctuary for Lent, new again this year, will be available for pickup on Sunday mornings beginning March 2nd. In addition, we will also be offering copies of Sacred Space for Lent, produced by the Irish Jesuits. We hope these offerings will enrich our relationship with God and draw us deeper into the Lenten journey.
Adult Sunday School
Sundays | 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Disciple Class: If you want to grow your faith and are just beginning to study the Bible this is the class for you! They start with the children’s Bible intentionally – to ensure everyone starts with a basic understanding of the scripture and then explore all the questions children and adults would ask. Located in Old Fellowship Hall. Led by Brandon Martin.
Route 66 Class: Traveling & growing together through God’s 66 books! The class selects life application bible studies by such authors as Hamilton, Ortberg, Lucado, and others. Studies are facilitated by our class members. The class begins at 9:45, for social time and is held in room 304.
New Class – Salt and Light Fellowship: A place to have real conversations and build relationships. They begin with Scripture and then discuss how God has moved in their lives that week. Class is held in the Narthex meeting room.
Wanderers Class: Praying and studying God’s word together. Studies include life application bible studies to include books and DVD lessons. Authors include James Harnish, Adam Hamilton, William Willimon, and others. Led by Larry Kimel, John Tria and Doreen Eager. Class is held in room 503.
LENT BEGINS
Pancake dinner
Wednesday February 26 | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Join us for a traditional pancake supper the week before Lent begins. Why a pancake supper? Pancakes were a good way to use up ingredients like sugar and butter not needed during Lenten fasts. It’s a time of feasting and celebration before the season of penitence begins.
Ash Wednesday Services of Worship
Wednesday, March 5 | 11:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. This moving service includes the Imposition of Ashes, a reminder of our penitence and mourning, and a time of recommitment to our relationship with God. The 6:30 pm. service will be live-streamed.
SERVING AND GIVING
Stock the BCO Sunday- March 2nd and April 6th
We will be collecting canned goods and staples for the Belmont Community Organization (our local food pantry) as we do the first Sunday of every month. Place your FUMCB grocery bag in the black collection bin near in the narthex.
Collection for Rice and Beans Every Sunday during Lent. 
FUMCB is committed to helping care for our neighbors in need of food and clothing. Throughout Lent we will have a collection bin in the narthex to receive donations of underwear for this non-profit. Specifically they are in need of men’s and women’s briefs in size medium or large. They prefer new briefs purchased from Fruit of the Loom or Hanes. They are also in need of used towels, and drawstring storage bags.
We are coordinating with Gaston County Schools to make sure all the children in our community who lack food resources receive adequate food resources during the spring break. Volunteers are needed to pre-pack meals, cook, and deliver the food. If you would like to volunteer to serve please click HERE.
Soup for the Soul
Persons are invited to join our team who will prepare homemade chicken noodle soup. This soup will be available for those in our community in need of a warm bowl of soup for comfort. If you know a person in need of comfort you are invited to pick up a quart of soup from our freezer and deliver it to whoever needs it. Please fill out the paper on the freezer door so we can track how many quarts are in our stock. If you want more information contact Debbie Thames the coordinator for this ministry by clicking HERE.
Community Cafe’ Every Thursday except April 24th
Come for a delicious lunch in Carpenter Hall which is prepared by Dahlia Grove in our kitchen every Thursday from 11:45-1:15. Specialty sandwiches, salad and child friendly meals will be on the menu. Donations will support the women in the Dahlia Grove Community who are survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, or addiction. Bring a neighbor and dine with us!
LENT AND EASTER WITH CHILDREN
The Final Road Trip (Family Lent Packets) are available on the children’s shelf in the narthex. Packets include a family devotion, road map with daily Scripture reading, and more! A magnetic Jesus figure makes this ready to pop on your fridge and enjoy a deliberate Lent with your family. Packets are first come, first serve.
Countdown to Easter: Small Groups for First Kids will be offered on Wednesdays, March 12-April 16, from 6:30-7:30 for children in PreK-5th grade. Each week we will use storytelling, crafts, and snacks to learn as we follow the footsteps of Jesus through Holy Week. Childcare is also available.
Lent Car Talk
Back by popular demand! Sign up to receive daily texts during Lent that will prompt you with a Bible verse, thought-provoking question, and prayer. These are designed to be used while you are in the car with your kids- on the way to school, practice or even church! Sign up HERE.
LENT AND EASTER WITH YOUTH
Connect
Youth in grades 6-12 meet on Sunday evenings 5:30-7:30 for fellowship, sharing in a meal and a time together in study
Fellowship
March 16 all youth are invited to go out to lunch together. We will leave campus around 12:15 and return by 2:30. Let’s enjoy Qdoba, Sweet Frogs, and time together! Please bring five nonperishable items and money for lunch. Sign up HERE.
Service
March 7th and 8th we need youth and parents to volunteer their time at our annual pine needle sale. This fundraiser benefits mission and programs or the youth. Please sign up today by clicking HERE.
Youth Missions Night- Youth are invited on Saturday, March 22 to travel together to Christ Church in Charlotte to support our church’s mission with Room in the Inn. We prepare beds, serve dinner, and eat with our neighbors in need. We will leave FUMC on the minibus at 3:30 and return by 7:30. Click HERE to sign up.
Encounter
Will not meet on March 5th as we will be attending the church wide Ash service in the sanctuary at 6:30. Starting March 12th we will meet each Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 to discuss five spiritual practices that can help us walk closer with God.
Engage
Youth Engage Sunday School Lent Study-God’s ultimate invitation to us is to get closer to Him in Christ and let the Holy Spirit work within us, transforming us to look more like Jesus. Christian spiritual disciplines and practices are all about making that happen. Join us each Sunday in the Youth House in March and April at 10am for this exciting study.
Register for small groups here.
HOLY WEEK
Palm/Passion Sunday
April 13 | 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Join us for worship as we remember Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem, marking the beginning of his final week leading to the cross.
Stations
April 16 -20
Stations will be set up in the in the Narthex, meeting room, and prayer room. This will give you an opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross and ultimate sacrifice for us. Stations will be interactive and there will be stations for children too. What God is calling you to let go of this season and how can you come closer to Him?
Maundy Thursday Service of Worship
Thursday, April 17 | 7:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday is named for the mandatum (Latin for “commandment”) Jesus’ gave on this night to love one another as he shared his Last Supper with the disciples. This year, we gather on this night to feast with him again in the celebration of Holy Communion. The service includes beautiful music and a “stripping” of the altar, removing ornamentation and color from the chancel to mark the solemnity of the occasion.
Community Cross Walk
Friday, April 18 | 12:00 noon | Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter
Join our brothers and sisters in Christ from around Belmont for a moving, socially-distanced walk through downtown Belmont, remembering Christ’s journey to the cross. The walk concludes at First Presbyterian Church.
Good Friday Tenebrae Service
Friday, April 18 | 7:00 p.m.
Our Tenebrae Service, or “Service of Shadows” retells the story of Good Friday through Scripture, music and a gradual dimming of the sanctuary to total darkness. The service will be live-streamed. We remember on this night what makes Good Friday good, for on this day God’s deepest love for us was revealed in the death of Jesus Christ.
Community Easter Sunrise Service
Sunday, April 20 | Greenwood Cemetery
We’ll gather as a community with our brothers and sisters from around Belmont to celebrate the resurrection.
Easter Sunday Service of Worship
Sunday, April 20 | 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Join us for Easter Sunday Worship with Holy Communion and special music. It will be a grand day as we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death and claim our place as God’s “Easter People!”