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: Sinning Like a Christian – A Fresh Look at the Seven Deadly Sins
Sin. Nobody likes to talk about it. All the things that separate us from God and prevent us from flourishing as God’s beloved children. Join us this Lent as we think more about the traditional “seven deadly sins,” that we might see how God wants to set us free from them to embrace renewed life in Christ.
GROW IN YOUR FAITH
Small Groups
Introduction to the Bible: Pastor George is extending his Bible study and will be diving into the New Testament during Lent. If you would like to learn how to navigate the Bible better and want to dig into it a little more, this is the class for you. All are welcome.
Register for adult small groups here.
Jesus Fixed It small groups will be offered on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 for children in PreK-4th grade. Everyone sins but Jesus came to fix it. Through these 6 lessons, kids will learn about the miracles of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of John. Kids who participated in our January/February small groups are already registered, but new children can join by emailing jennifer@fumcbelmont.org.
Lenten Devotional Booklets
Our annual Lenten Devotional, The Sanctuary for Lent, new again this year, will be available for pickup on Sunday mornings beginning February 26th. 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 a.m.
LENT BEGINS
Shrove Tuesday Pancakes
Tuesday, February 21st | 6:00 p.m.
Join us for a traditional pancake supper on the night 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. Sponsored by our Family Life Team and Church Youth, join us for a night of fun and fellowship, including Pancake Races!
Ash Wednesday Services of Worship
Wednesday, February 22nd | 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 5 and April 2
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 the Carpenter Hall doors labeled BCO.
Cloth Drive for AGAPE Ministries
Every Sunday during the month of March 
FUMCB is committed to working with Project AGAPE for the purpose of providing assistance and hope to the people in Armenia. During the month of March we will be collecting new and gently used clothing for children and teens. We will be accepting any style or type of clothing from newborn to size 16-18 (no shoes). Look for a drop off tub in our narthex. Don’t forget to shop at your local Goodwill store for deals.
Feeding the Children
Weekdays, April 7- 14
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.
LENT AND EASTER WITH CHILDREN
Family Lent Cards
Families can sign up for a copy of the Remember Me devotional Lent cards. Each day the card directs your family through prayer, scripture and a “did you know?” question. Email jennifer@fumcbelmont.org for a set.
Community Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 1 | 1:00-3:00
FUMC Belmont is hosting a free Easter Egg Hunt for the community. We will have four timed eggs hunts for different ages. There will also be cotton candy, popcorn, crafts, picture opportunities and time on the playground. Invite a neighbor and join us for this fun day of fellowship! Details HERE.
LENT AND EASTER WITH YOUTH
Connect and Confirmation
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
Encounter
Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30
Our lenten study is titled “Renegade Gospel”. Together we will study how Jesus upset the norms of society and could be called a radical.
Mixed Bag- Grades 5-8
Will continue to meet during Lent on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 learning how to be more like Jesus to our community and beyond
HOLY WEEK
Palm/Passion Sunday
April 2 | 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.
Maundy Thursday Service of Worship
Thursday, April 6 | 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 7 | 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 7 | 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 9 | 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 9 | 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!”