Our church-wide Annual Focus for 2025 is Be Still and Know. Everyone is invited to live into our 2 0 – 2 – 5 Challenge:
- 2 0 – Set aside 20 minutes per week to be still and connect with God
- 2 – Make time to worship God twice more each month
- 5 – Try out 5 new prayer practices over the year
For this year’s focus, we are leaning on a book called Creating a Life with God: The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices by Daniel Wolpert that we encourage you to read on your own or with a group!
This page is updated each month with new resources, and you are invited to take part in our monthly prayer practices, prayer focuses, and worship nights as you explore ways to be still and know.
July – Be Still and Know
June – Be Still and Know
May – Be Still and Know
Monthly Prayer Focus and Resources
Prayer Focus: Discern God’s Will
Prayer Prompts:
- Ask God to guide your path in an area of your life in which you are struggling
- Pray for our church as we seek to faithfully live into God’s vision for our church’s future
Monthly Prayer Practice: The Examen
- Read Creating a Life with God by Daniel Wolpert, Chapter 5 – “The Examen”
- Download our Prayer of Examen Guide (pdf)
- Watch Pastor Ray’s video about The Prayer of Examen:
Upcoming Events
Worship Opportunities:
- Traditional – Afternoon Event
- Sunday, June 1 at 4:30pm
April – Be Still and Know
Monthly Prayer Focus and Resources
Prayer Focus: Seek the Kingdom of God
Prayer Prompts:
- Consider what you are seeking in your life. Ask God how you can seek what God is seeking.
- Pray for youth in this year’s Confirmation class as they prepare to publicly confirm their faith.
Monthly Prayer Practice: Apophatic Prayer
- Read Creating a Life with God by Daniel Wolpert, Chapter 4 – “Be Still And Know”
- Download our Apophatic Prayer Guide (pdf)
Upcoming Events
Worship Opportunities:
- Holy Week Worship
- Palm/Passion Sunday, April 13 at 9am, 10am, 11:15am
- Maundy Thursday – Thursday, April 17, 7:00 pm
- Good Friday – Friday, April 18, 7:00 pm
- Easter Sunrise – Sunday, April 20, 6:15am
- Easter Worship – April 20 at 9am, 10am, 11:15am
- Family Worship Opportunities
- Journey With Jesus – From Hosanna to Hallelujah – Sunday, April 13 beginning at 3pm. Click here to RSVP.
- Kids NPraise Musical – Friday, April 25, 7:00 pm (in-person & live stream). Click here for livestream.
March – Be Still and Know
Monthly Prayer Focus and Resources
Prayer Focus: Lord, Have Mercy
Prayer Prompts:
- Ask God how you might be a source of compassion in the world
- Pray all participating in FVUMC’s Clothing Closet know God’s mercy in their lives
Monthly Prayer Practice: The Jesus Prayer
“Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”
- Read Creating a Life with God by Daniel Wolpert, Chapter 3 – “There Is Power In His Name”
- Download The Jesus Prayer guide (pdf)
- Explore discipleship opportunities at fvumc.org/adults
- RSVP and attend our Spiritual Practices Mini Retreat (info in Upcoming Events Section on this page)
Upcoming Events
Worship Opportunities:
- Ash Wednesday Worship
- 11:30am or 7:00pm
- Includes imposition of ashes
- All-Ages Welcome for Multi-Sensory Worship
- Childcare Available for Age 0 – 3rd Grade
- 7pm service livestream at fvumc.org or youtube.com/@fvumc
Spiritual Practices
Mini-Retreat:
- Coming on Saturday, March 15 from 9am-12pm (childcare available with registration)
- Join us for a Spiritual Practices Mini-Retreat on Saturday, March 15 from 9 am-12 pm. The retreat will be led by Rev. Daniel Wolpert, teacher, spiritual director, and practitioner of the spiritual life. Dan is also the author of Creating a Life with God, the book we are leaning on throughout the year for our 2025 Annual Focus, Be Still and Know.
- The retreat will be an opportunity to learn about and engage in four spiritual practices or ways of being with God.
- Email di**********@***mc.org with any questions.
Register for Mini-Retreat
Cost is $20 per person (Scholarships available)
Details and registration at the link below!
February – Be Still and Know
Monthly Prayer Focus and Resources
Prayer Focus: Listen for Love
Prayer Prompts:
- Pray for God to reveal God’s love to you
- Pray for the new Core 1 groups as they learn together to listen for God
Monthly Prayer Practice: Lectio Divina (Divine Reading)
- Read Creating a Life with God by Daniel Wolpert, Chapter 2 – Lectio Divina: Encountering Scripture through Sacred Reading
- Download our Lectio Divina Resource Guide (pdf)
- Explore discipleship opportunities at fvumc.org/adults
- Watch a presentation on Lectio Divina recorded by FVUMC member Debora Murphy in Spring 2024:
Upcoming Events
Worship Nights:
- Traditional – Weds, Feb. 12 at 6:30pm in The New Room
- RESCHEDULED Contemporary – Thurs, Feb. 27 at 6:30pm in the Lobby
Spiritual Practices
Mini-Retreat:
- Coming on Saturday, March 15 from 9am-12pm (childcare available with registration)
- Join us for a Spiritual Practices Mini-Retreat on Saturday, March 15 from 9 am-12 pm. The retreat will be led by Rev. Daniel Wolpert, teacher, spiritual director, and practitioner of the spiritual life. Dan is also the author of Creating a Life with God, the book we are leaning on throughout the year for our 2025 Annual Focus, Be Still and Know.
- The retreat will be an opportunity to learn about and engage in four spiritual practices or ways of being with God.
- Email di**********@***mc.org with any questions.
Register for Mini-Retreat
Cost is $20 per person (Scholarships available)
Details and registration at the link below!
January – Monthly Prayer Focus and Resources
Worship Night: Sunday, January 26 from 4-5pm
- Contemporary music style
- Followed by Chili dinner at 5pm and Game Night at 6pm
- All ages welcome. Nursery provided during worship.
Prayer Focus: Draw Near
Prayer Prompts:
- Pray that you will draw near to God who is always near to you
- Pray that our youth draw near to God during Discovery Weekend
Monthly Prayer Practice: Solitude and Silence
- We invite you to experience moments of silence and solitude with God. Whether in the car, on a walk, or sitting still, find moments in your days where you can slow down and listen. What is God saying to you?
- For more, read chapter 1 of Creating a Life with God by Daniel Wolpert
Discipleship Opportunities:
- Register at fvumc.org/adults