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Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday: 8:00am – 4:00 pm Wednesday 8:00am – 12:00pm Lunch: 12:00-1:00pm Friday Office Closed Mailing address: P.O. Box 400, Hope AR, 71802 Physical address: 2300 S. Main St. Hope, AR 71801 870-777-8816 fumchope@yahoo.com 
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Worship - February 28, 2021
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Traditionally, Christians give up something for Lent as a way of fasting. Some persons skip meals and give the money saved to a hunger ministry. Others may stop scrolling through social media posts or watching TV in order to spend more time in prayer and Bible reading. Some people just increase giving by collecting and donating items for Methodist Family Health’s “Get Up & Give” project. We used to add additional worship opportunities like Six Great Hours of Sharing and Soup and Sermon before the pandemic interfered. Who knew we’d have to give these up for Lent! In lieu of them, I hope we will make our personal devotions a priority this Lenten season to understand and appreciate more fully Christ’s sacrifice for us.
Instead of only focusing on what we give up for Lent, let’s also be mindful of what we gain by fasting. We become aware of the power of our desires, whether they be for needs such as food or things that distract us from our relationship with God. Fasting can increase our compassion for persons who suffer from food insecurity and injustices,. Depriving our-selves reminds us how blessed we are and that we are to bless others who have less. Fasting promotes gratitude, generosity and doing good. It also humbles us and enables us to realize our dependence upon God. We draw closer to Christ as we practice spiritual disciplines and give up behaviors and bad habits which hinder our relationship with him. As the United Methodist Book of Worship states, “I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.”
Pastor Steve
Instead of only focusing on what we give up for Lent, let’s also be mindful of what we gain by fasting. We become aware of the power of our desires, whether they be for needs such as food or things that distract us from our relationship with God. Fasting can increase our compassion for persons who suffer from food insecurity and injustices,. Depriving our-selves reminds us how blessed we are and that we are to bless others who have less. Fasting promotes gratitude, generosity and doing good. It also humbles us and enables us to realize our dependence upon God. We draw closer to Christ as we practice spiritual disciplines and give up behaviors and bad habits which hinder our relationship with him. As the United Methodist Book of Worship states, “I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.”
Pastor Steve