Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday.  Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means “spring.”  The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan.

Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection.  In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism.  Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others.  Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter” and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.

For daily devotionals from the Upper Room, visit http://devotional.upperroom.org/.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNERS. Our covered dish dinners will commence with the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner on Tuesday, 2/21 at 6:00 PM. This is sponsored by the Crossroads Sunday School Class benefiting the softball team. The United Methodist Women will host the dinner on Wednesday, 2/29 at 6:00 PM.

If you are a Ministry Team Chair, please remember to routinely check y our mail box.

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012
6:00 PM Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner – Crossroads SS to benefit softball team
7:00 PM Care Ministry Team– WW Classroom

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012
Lent begins
7:00 PM  Ash Wednesday Service in Sanctuary

Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012
10:00 AM Prayer Meeting – Sanctuary

NEXT SUNDAY, Feb. 26, 2012
8:45 AM Contemporary Worship
10:00 AM Sunday School
11:00 AM Traditional Worship
6:30 PM Praise Band Practice

Upcoming Ministry Meetings & Events:
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 29
6:00 PM Covered Dish Dinner sponsored by the
United Methodist Women
6:45 PM Adult Bible Study
6:45 PM Children & Youth
7:30 PM Choir Practice

SATURDAY, Mar. 3, 2012
10:00 AM Prayer Meeting – Sanctuary

Greeters: Elaine Good and Patsy SproleS

Acolytes: Feb. 12: Evan

YOUTH COUNCIL. There will be a Youth Council Meeting Monday, Feb. 13 at 6:00 PM in the Willing Workers Classroom.

A new listing of dedicated greeters for our worship services is needed to facilitate the designating of monthly greeters. Since our last listing, it is anticipated that there are now those that would like to be a part of this very important activity. As a greeter, you are expressing your friendship and appreciation to those that are attending the worship services. In the next few weeks, a signup sheet will be passed around at the respective worship services. Please prayerfully consider the contribution you can make to the mission of our Church by accepting this responsibility. If you want to be greeters as a family or with other specific individuals, or can’t participate during specific months, please indicate on the signup form. You will be given guidance as to your responsibility. Thank you in advance for helping express the mission of our church which is “knowing, loving, and serving God as growing disciples of Jesus Christ, and connecting others with God’s love.” If you have questions, please contact Mike Miller.

If you are interested in going on the Czech Mission Trip in July, please talk with Tommy Forrester or Jennifer Skaggs.

Rental of our parsonage is being handled by T. C. Lewis Property Management. If you know someone interested, have them call Haize Lewis at 423-467-0005.

If you are a Ministry Team Chair, please remember to routinely check your mail box.

Nursery Workers:  Feb. 5:  Paula Durham & Joan Williams; Feb. 12: Cyndy Sweet & Joan Williams

Greeters:  Elaine Good and Patsy Sproles

Acolytes:  Feb. 5:  Jazz ; Feb. 12:  Evan

On Sunday, Feb. 12, we welcome David Shipley to share the message concerning our Johnson City district missions efforts in the Czech Republic, a country whose people are overwhelmingly atheist.  David, a member at Gray UMC, has served on several missions teams to the Czech Republic.  We will collect a special offering for the mission effort.  Checks should be made payable “Bluff City UMC” with “Czech” written in the memo line.

Sunday, February 12 is Invite A Friend Sunday.  We would like each person who regularly attends worship to be praying specifically for someone and to invite them to come to worship that Sunday.  We will celebrate Invite A Friend Sunday the second Sunday of each month.  Of course, you can invite a friend to come any time, but we hope you will make a special effort for Invite A Friend Sundays.

Training for IHN volunteers will be Sunday, Feb. 12 from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm at First United Methodist Church in Johnson City.  Volunteers from all host and support congregations who have not attended a training session, those interested in volunteering, or volunteers who would like a refresher course are encourage to attend.  If you would like to attend, please contact Joan Williams by Wednesday, Feb. 8.  First United Methodist is located at 900 Spring Street.  Please park in the parking lot on the back side of the building off Pine Street.  The training will be held in the basement of the fellowship hall of the education building.

If you are interested in going on the Czech Mission Trip in July, please talk with Tommy Forrester or Jennifer Skaggs.

Rental of our parsonage is being handled by T. C. Lewis Property Management.  If you know someone interested, have them call Haize Lewis at 423-467-0005.

If you are a Ministry Team Chair, please remember to routinely check your mail box.

 UMBRELLA MINISTRY.  Are you interested in being part of a new Service challenge for Bluff City United Methodist Church?  Volunteers are needed for an “Umbrella Ministry”!  If you have a vehicle and some available time, don’t miss this great opportunity to sign up for this ministry.  Most of us have family members or friends who can take us to the doctor or appointments when we are unable to drive ourselves.  There are times when we don’t know anyone available or who to call.  Our volunteers would be there to help meet these needs.  If you are interested in joining this new challenge for our church, call Joan Williams, 538-3535.

Nursery Workers: Jan. 29: Bill & Joyce Durham; Feb. 5: Paula Durham & Joan Williams

Greeters: Harold Leonard and Mike Miller

Acolytes: Jan. 29: Jazz ; Feb. 5: Jazz

If you are interested in going on the Czech Mission Trip in July, please talk with Tommy Forrester or Jennifer Skaggs.

The congregation is invited to a bridal shower, hosted by the Circle of Faith and the United Methodist Women, on Sunday, January 29, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for Ms. Ivy Stewart.

Scouting Recognition Sunday is February 5, 2012. Our Boy Scouts will be hosting a meal following the 11:00 AM service in the Fellowship Hall. Please plan to attend and support our Scouting programs with a donation.

Rental of our parsonage is being handled by T. C. Lewis Property Management. If you know someone interested, have them call Haize Lewis at 423-467-0005.

If you are a Ministry Team Chair, please remember to routinely check your mail box.

SUNDAY, Jan. 29, 2012
8:45 AM Contemporary Worship
10:00 AM Sunday School
11:00 AM Traditional Worship
2:00 PM Ivy Stewart Shower – FH
4:00 PM Contemporary Worship Planning Meeting – WC
6:00 PM Cluster Gathering – Rockhold

Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012
10:00 AM Prayer Meeting – Prayer Room

SUNDAY, Feb. 5, 2012
8:45 AM Contemporary Worship
10:00 AM Sunday School
11:00 AM Traditional Worship
6:30 PM Praise Band Practice
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012
11:00 AM – COF decorate for Valentine’s Dinner – FH

Upcoming Ministry Meetings & Events:

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012
7:00 PM Transformation Task Force

Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012
12 Noon – Valentine Dinner Given by the Circle of Faith

ACOLYTE SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY
Feb. 5: Jazz Strachen
Feb. 12: Evan Hurd
Feb. 19: Mary Lundin
Feb. 26: Vincent & Thomas Ronquillo

NURSERY WORKER SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY
Feb. 5: Paula Durham & Joan Williams
Feb. 12: Cyndy Sweet & Joan Williams
Feb. 19: Bobbie Warden & Joan Williams0
Feb. 26: Joan Williams