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Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! This week we conclude our series called Courage: Jesus and the Call to Brave Faith. This week we’re discussing how being loved and loving others build courage. As disciples called to continue the mission of our Risen Lord in the world, understanding that we are loved and loving all of God’s children is key to rising to meet the many challenges in front of us. Click here to join us this morning on Facebook Live at 11:00 as we talk about ” Love and Courage.”

Here is some information to help you participate in worship online:

The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Sing praises to God, who fills the world with forgiveness and grace. ”
• Today’s songs are “To God Be The Glory” and “Oh How I Love Jesus.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
• The scripture reading is “Luke 24:44-53.”
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! How do you handle a bad day? Do you quit and go home after a couple of things go wrong, or do you press on knowing that the day will end and tomorrow will come? We call this trait a few things, grit, persistence, or fortitude. The willingness to risk something by engaging as well as the determination to go on even if things don’t go as planned is critical in life. It’s also a key element in living courageous faith. Join us this morning as we Join us on Facebook Live at 11:00 this Sunday as we talk about building fortitude as a part of courageous faith.

Here is some information to help you participate in worship online:
The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Sing to God a new song, for God has done marvelous things!”
• Today’s songs are “Because He Lives” and “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
• The scripture reading is “Luke 24:13-35.”
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

The First Church Food Pantry is open this afternoon from 3:00 – 5:00. Please use the parking lot entrance. The pantry has fresh produce and bread in addition to many nonperishables. There are also school supplies, toiletries, and reusable masks available. Anyone wishing to enter the building to use the pantry must comply with our COVID rules. A bag can be brought to the door if you prefer. Deliveries can be arranged if needed. Please message the church directly if necessary at firstchurch@firstumcbuffalo.org or (716) 440-7354.

Worship – May 2

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! There’s a saying that goes, “whether you believe you can or whether you believe you can’t, you’re right.” How do you approach the challenges in your life? Do believe you can overcome them or not? As we continue our study of Courage, we’ll be focused on hope as an important element in brave faith. When you have no hope in a risen Christ, it’s difficult to live courageously. Click here to join us on Facebook Live at 11:00 this Sunday as we explore “Hope and Courage.”

Here is some information to help you participate in worship online:

The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Let us live with courage that comes from our hope in Jesus Christ.”
• Today’s songs are “He Lives” and “My Hope Is Built.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
• The scripture reading is “Luke 24:1-12.”
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.
We’re looking forward to worshipping with you.

Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Are you brutally honest? How did we get to a place where we celebrate speaking the truth in a way that hurts people? Perhaps it’s because we spend so much time avoiding hard truths that whenever the truth is spoken it can feel brutal. This is the third week of our conversations about Courage: Jesus and the Call to Brave Faith. Disciples of Christ must speak the truth. This week we’re exploring becoming more courageous in our faith by speaking the truth more often when we are uncomfortable and speaking it in love. Click here to join us on Facebook Live at 11:00 this Sunday as we explore “Candor and Courage.”

Here is some information to help you participate in worship online:
The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “With conviction and courage, we will be your witnesses in the world.”
• Today’s songs are “He Has Made Me Glad” and “God of Grace and God of Glory.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
• The scripture reading is “John 21:15-25.”
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.
We’re looking forward to worshipping with you.

Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

Announcements: April 18-24

Food Pantry – Our ministry to help those in need of food, basic toiletries, and school supplies continues to thrive. The pantry currently needs cereals (please no overly sugary options), pasta, rice, and sauces. If you can donate some of these items this week, you can bring them during regular pantry hours or contact the church to arrange a dropoff time. 

We are also looking to expand pantry hours. We’d like to have some evening and weekend times to accommodate people who work during the day. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Scott directly. 

Bible Study: This week our group is reading through different aspects of Old Testament law and covenants. These can be challenging to understand from a 21st-century American perspective. Join us to discover some unusual lessons about grace and our relationship with God. You don’t have to be completing the Disciple I curriculum to join our conversations. Anyone is welcome to listen and participate as they wish. We keep it real, and we have a really good time. We meet online every Wednesday at 7:00. If you’d like the link, please contact the church. 

Easter Sermon Series: For the next six weeks we’ll be studying how to live more courageously and confidently because of our faith in Christ. This series is inspired by the book Courage: Jesus and the Call to Brave Faith by Tom Berlin. If anyone is interested in purchasing the book and beginning a study, please contact Pastor Scott for more information.  

Mothers’ Day Celebration: On May 9th we’ll be taking special time to honor all of the special women who have offered the deep and selfless love that nurtures us in our lives. If you’d like to honor a mother or mother-like figure in your life, please send the name and relationship, to the church. We’re planning a few ways to make the day special. Stay tuned for more information.

Pentecost Celebration: Pentecost, the day the church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world, is May 23rd. In our church, we’ve welcomed new members and baptized people on Pentecost Sunday. We’re thrilled to hear from some who are already interested! If anyone else would like to explore getting baptized or wants to make First Church your church home, please contact Pastor Scott. 

Prayer requests: 

• Healing: Jean, Lee, Rich, Anita, Sandra, Provy, Walter, Charlotte
• One of our new friends, Bob, is asking for prayers for his mother who is dealing with some health concerns
• Special request for Rebekah and her parents Jon and Nettie
• Lorne and his ongoing struggle with his benefits. 

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

It’s week two of our series, Courage: Jesus and the Call to Brave Faith, inspired by the book of the same name. Today our focus is on the difference having conviction makes. When you certain about some bedrock principles and the call on your heart, courageous faith comes more easily. How do you develop these God-centered convictions? Click here to us on Facebook Live at 11:00 this Sunday as we explore “Courage and Conviction.”

Here is some information to help you participate in worship online:
The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “With conviction and courage, we will be your witnesses in the world.”
• Today’s songs are “Because He Lives” and “Are Ye Able.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
• The scripture reading is, “Luke 24:36-48.”
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.
We’re looking forward to worshipping with you.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! For the Easter Season, we’ll be exploring some lessons about living our faith because we claim the resurrection of Jesus. This series is called Courage: Jesus and the Call to Brave Faith, inspired by the book of the same name. This Sunday, we’re focusing on how having clarity gives you the courage to live your faith. The story of Thomas the disciple provides a good lesson on the importance of being clear about what you know. Thomas’s doubts have earned him a somewhat unfair reputation, but his story shows the power of what can happen when you become clearer about what you believe. Join us on Facebook Live at 11:00 this Sunday as we explore “Courage and Clarity.”

Here is some information to help you participate in worship online:
The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “We serve a risen savior who gives us the courage to face all things!”
• Today’s songs are “He Lives” and “Easter People Raise Your Voices.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
• The scripture reading is, “John 20:19-31.”
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.
We’re looking forward to worshipping with you.

Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

Announcements for April 4-10