Philip’s Focus

As a sports nut, March means NCAA basketball March Madness. I’m equally excited when Spring is in the air, and I hear and see the sights and sounds of a new baseball season. In the church for the last nine years here at Shalimar, we have our own version of “March Madness.” Our vibrant church events pick it up another notch! Instead of March Madness, I call it “LENT LUMINOSITY.” Yes, we are even more vibrant in sharing the light of Jesus during Lent!

Our church brackets are all prepared with wonderful plans, as we move into the second full week of lent. We already know Jesus wins in the final four with victories over sin, the Evil One, and death. The victory is already won!

Shalimar United Methodist Church plans to increase the vibrancy in any way! Worship, study, ministry, giving, and serving opportunities are abundant as we illuminate through growth spiritually, participation, and impact.

This Sunday, March 5th, we will talk about the second I am saying of Jesus. The I AM saying for this week is... “I Am the Bread of Life.” We will also have a tangible response to the sermon by partaking of the bread of Christ, through Holy Communion.

The SEVEN DEADLY SINS STUDY got off to a fantastic start this past week with over 50 people participating between two sessions. There’s still time for you to join the study. Our focus this week will be on the deadly sin of ENVY. Come and join us at either 9:00 AM or 6:30 PM on Tuesday, March 7th.

On Sunday, March 11th, at 9AM we are having a Church Wide Workday organized by the Trustees. All willing workers are invited to come and help. In Nehemiah 3:6-8, we read how many people working together make greater work more possible. We have a beautiful campus, and this gives us a chance to be good stewards of this Kingdom real estate of God.

Here is a word from our Trustees Chair, Joe Kocanowski… “It’s almost springtime and the leaves are falling (remember you’re in Florida). Trustees would like to prepare our campus for Easter activities and are inviting you to come help us on Saturday, March 11th starting about 9AM. We have a wide variety of tasks we want to tackle. You can sign up for specific tasks this Sunday or just come by on the 11th... If you can’t make it but still want to help, contact me and I will get you plugged in.”

On March 12th, we will receive this year’s Shalimar UMC’s CONFIRMATION SUNDAY. This is such an important day in the life of our young people who receive baptism and become members of the church. This year’s class is finishing lessons about the meaning of being a Christian, following Jesus, baptism, and church membership. The Confirmation Class of 2023 will be received into our church membership at the 11:07 service.

We also will be collecting a LILY OFFERING in the upcoming weeks for the Agape Fund, Bread House, and One Hopeful Place, which helps people in need. We hope you will give generously to the Lord for our vibrant ministry through the operations budget and for the beyond our normal giving for the Lily project.

These are just some of the highlights for the first half of March. There is more to come in the second half of the month! Come and be a part of the LENTEN LUMINOSITY!

Shalom, Philip

Lead Pastor

Dr. Philip McVay

philip@shalimar-umc.org

Week of March 5, 2023