Near the beginning of the gospel of Matthew, Jesus took up the task that preachers have been working on for thousands of years: What does following Jesus look like in our day to day, ordinary life? Jesus addresses themes of worry and stress, honesty and integrity, how to pray, how to tell who to trust, how to deal with enemies. He lifts up the wisdom of his heritage and expands it, giving people a new way to live.

How many times have we lamented, “I just don’t know what to do?” Does the Sermon on the Mount have anything to say to us today? Can it help us find a way forward when we are lost or confused? The season of Lent is a time where we reflect on who we are and where we’re going, and we ask God to guide our journey. Join us this Lent, as we listen to the words of Jesus and follow him on The Way. Sundays at 9:30 am and 11 am, beginning February 22.

Special Lent Session of Banned Books for Faithful People, February 24

Holocaust denial has always been an issue. As the last survivors of the Holocaust die, it has become more important than ever to remember this chapter in our history and remember the precious people who lost their lives to human barbarity. It is particularly appropriate to learn and discuss how modern Christians are
informed by this event in our everyday lives. Lent is a seasonal journey that reminds us that life is fleeting, and we are here to live as Jesus taught us—to love God with our whole being and to love one another as ourselves. As Anne Frank said, “How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment. We can start now, start
slowly changing the world!”

We will read two autobiographical books set in the time of the Holocaust that frequently show up on the banned books list for schools and public libraries throughout the country.

Night by Elie Wiesel and translated by Marion Wiesel, is a short book, but not an
easy read.
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, while written as a teenager is poignant
and thought provoking. It is not an easy read, either.

Please show up even if you have not finished the readings as scheduled, you have enough world experience to contribute—there will be plenty to discuss. Elie Wiesel wanted to be remembered as a teacher and Anne Frank just wanted to be a teenager. Both will offer insights for us modern Christians as we navigate our
current world events. We will meet Tuesdays, at 2:00 pm or Wednesdays at 6:3. pm in the church library.

February 24 & 25: Chapters 1-4, of Night
March 3 & 4: Chapters 5-9, of Night
March 10 & 11: Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
March 17 & 18: Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
March 31 & April 1: Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Questions? Please reach out to Pastor Tanya: pastortanya@marysvilleumc.org, or (214) 923-0324, talk or text—or catch her in person.

Mid Week Dinner & Discussions

An essential part of a faithful life is reflection, study, and discussion with others in community. We will meet this Lent on Wednesday nights for dinner at 6:00 pm and discussion groups at 6:30 pm. We have two adult classes to choose from. Mrs. Becky will lead a class for our Kids Club and Elicia Giffin will lead a class for the Youth.

Come make new friends, practice your discipleship, find hope, and be nourished in body and spirit by God’s community!

Praying the Scriptures and Loving our Neighbors
In this class, led by Pastor Meredith, we will not be reading
for information as much as we will be reading for
transformation. We will read a select portion of scripture
using a process called Lectio Divina, or Sacred Reading. It’s a spiritual practice that was developed by Saint Benedict around 1500 years ago. This practice helps us hear God’s message to us in scripture. It slows us down and helps us listen beyond our usual assumptions and arguments. We will pair this practice of Lectio Divina with small reflections about how scripture shapes our practice of our faith. All of this will help us answer the question, “How can the Bible help me be faithful through the challenges of our times?”

This class might be for you if:

• You are hungry for spiritual inspiration

• You are fighting burnout

• You often feel like you’re missing something when you read the Bible

• You want to feel more connected to God, to your neighbor, or to yourself.

• You are grieved by the news of the day and are struggling to have hope

There will not be a book, and there is no weekly reading. Everyone is welcome!