Lent at Bangor First

Lenten Worship Series

"Gifts of the Dark Wood"

Guided by Eric Elnes’ book, Gifts of the Dark Wood and inspired by the liturgy of Marcia McFee’s Worship Design Studio, this Lent we’ll reflect on the spiritual awakening and unexpected gifts that can come out of the unsettling times in our lives known famously (or infamously) as "the Dark Wood". 

Though commonly understood as a place to be avoided, the Dark Wood can actually bear blessings. It can be a place of revelation – a place where you discover God – a place where you gain greater clarity about the relationship between you and God, and you and others – a place where you can discern your sense of God’s call for your life – a place of personal and spiritual growth.

Join us on Sundays at 10:30 for worship and 9:15 for small group discussion (see details below) as we explore how the gift s of the Dark Wood can be assets on our journey.

Worship Schedule

February 10: Ash Wednesday at 6 PM

“Where We Find Ourselves”

Matthew 14:22-33

Service with imposition of ashes

February 14: The First Sunday in Lent

“The Gift of Uncertainty”

1 Corinthians 13:11-12

February 21: The Second Sunday in Lent

“The Gift of Emptiness”

Mark 15:22-38

February 28: The Third Sunday in Lent

“The Gift of Being Thunderstruck”

Job 37:1-5

March 6: The Fourth Sunday in Lent

“The Gift of Getting Lost”

Psalm 42; 1 Samuel 3:2-10

March 13: The Fifth Sunday in Lent

“The Gift of Temptation”

2 Corinthians 5:16-19; Luke 4:1-13

March 20: Palm Sunday

“The Gift of Misfits”

Luke 19:29-42a

Small Group Discussion

This DVD discussion series hosted by Rev. Eric Elnes Ph.D (author of Gifts of the Dark Wood) features a special guest each week, with pause points for questions and discussion. While the series stands alone, it is a perfect accompaniment for reading Gifts of the Dark Wood.

February 14—“The Gift of Uncertainty”

Featured guest: Brian McLaren

February 21 – “The Gift of Emptiness”

Featured guest: Chuck Marohnic

February 28 – “The Gift of Being Thunderstruck”

Featured guest: Melvin Bray

March 6 – “The Gift of Getting Lost”

Featured guest: Diana Butler Bass

March 13 – “The Gift of Temptation”

Featured guest: Parker Palmer

March 20 – “The Gift of Misfits”

Featured guest: Lillian Daniel

Looking Toward Sunday

"Waiting for the Christmas Guest"

Fourth Sunday in Advent
Sunday, December 20, 2015

Join us this Sunday for a festive worship service. We'll sing Christmas carols, the Agape Ringers will perform "Deck the Halls", and our drama team will present "Waiting for the Christmas Guest" - a one act play (written by Janet Micli and directed by Roz Fisher). Conrad the cobbler is told in a dream that Jesus will come to pay him a Christmas visit. A number of people show up on Conrad's doorstep, but none of them is Jesus. Or are they...?

See you on Sunday!

Looking Toward Sunday

"The Christmas Story's Supporting Cast" Sermon Series

During Advent our Sunday morning worship will focus on the minor characters in the Christmas story as told in the opening chapters of The Gospel of Luke.

November 29 – “Zechariah’s Time Out”   

Zechariah's story invites us into Advent waiting, reflection, and preparation. It’s a story that invites us to look for God breaking into our lives. It’s a story that invites us to live with expectation.

Luke 1:5-15a; 18-23

December 6 – “Elizabeth’s Long Obedience in the Same Direction”

Elizabeth is a model of patience and perseverance in the face of unanswered prayer. Her story is a lesson in maintaining a posture of hope and staying faithful when the fulfillment of God's promises is delayed.

Luke 1:24-25, 39-45, 57-58

December 13 – “Shepherd Dance”

Each Advent the church invites us to prepare to hear the “good news of great joy for all the people” once again. Along with the shepherds, we're called to gaze into the manger and be overwhelmed by joy. 

Luke 2:8-20           

December 20 – A Christmas Drama: “Waiting for the Christmas Guest”

A retelling of the Tolstoy story, "Papa Panov's Special Day". Conrad the cobbler is told in a dream that Jesus will come to pay him a Christmas visit. A number of people show up on Conrad's doorstep, but none of them is Jesus. Or are they...?

Luke 1:46-56

Looking Toward Sunday

"The Five Practices of Fruitful Living" Sermon Series

How do I cultivate a life that is purposeful, deep, and fruitful? What are the commitments and personal practices that open me to God’s grace? How can I discover the spiritual life and the difference that God intends for me to make in the world? 

In his book, Five Practices of Fruitful Living, United Methodist bishop Robert Schnase shares his answer to these question – the five essential practices that he says are critical for spiritual growth: 

• Radical Hospitality 
• Passionate Worship 
• Intentional Faith Development 
• Risk-Taking Mission and Service 
• Extravagant Generosity 

Join us on Sunday mornings beginning September 20 for this five-week series about how the Five Practices of Fruitful Living can help shape and sustain our life in Christ. 

Looking Toward Sunday

"Room at the Table"

Who is welcome at the table of God's grace? 

That's the question that this week's scripture reading poses. We're focusing on the first part of a passage from Mark's gospel (you can read it by clicking here). It's the uncomfortable story of Jesus' encounter with a tenacious Gentile Syrophoenician woman who comes begging for healing for her daughter. The woman is about as religiously unclean as first-century Jews like Jesus and his disciples could possibly imagine. But in spite of the fact that Jesus seems to initially resist her request, she's not taking "no" for an answer! 

Are there people with whom we resist sharing God's grace? People we think God would (or at least should) turn away? Who are our Syrophoenicians? And are we willing to make room for them at the table? Join us this week as we wrestle with those questions.

See you on Sunday!

P.S. - Check out Julie Stecker's slam-style poem based on the Syrophoenician woman's story.