Fairmont United Methodist Church • Raleigh NC

a mission-oriented community

Holy Week and Easter 2024

Palm Sunday - March 24

10:00 AM - Procession and Parade with West Raleigh Presbyterian-meet at Fairmont in the grassy area at 9:45 AM;
     parade starts at 10:00.
11:00 AM* and 7:00 PM - Palm Sunday Worship in the Sanctuary; palms waving, hosannas sung, and a children's
     procession (11:00 AM)

Maundy Thursday - March 28

6:00 PM - Dinner in the Fellowship Hall; Family-friendly dinner and casual worship around the tables.

Good Friday - March 29

7:00 PM - Community joint Worship Service at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; with community choir.

Easter - March 31

11:00 AM* and 7:00 PM - Easter Worship in the Sanctuary; Communion, Alleluias, Brass and Woodwinds (11:00 AM);
     Easter Egg Hunt for children following morning worship.

*Children's Church and Child Care Available

Mission Lunch March 17

Join us in the Fellowship Hall following morning worship on March 17. Proceeds will go to the Work Team for their mission trip to Project Crossroads in Marion, Virginia. No reservations are needed; cost is by donation.

Memorial Garden for Jack Michaels

As a joint project between the Raleigh Wesley Foundation and Fairmont UMC, we will be revamping the garden space located outside of the Hut in memory of Jack Michaels who tended to the space for many years. The plan for the revamped "Jack's Garden" includes some of Jack's favorite garden pieces, plants, and flowers, and we look forward to taking care of this space as Jack worked so hard to do. We will celebrate the opening of Jack's Garden on April 14th following the 11am church service!

Donation Thanks! As a part of the project, we created a sign up to sponsor items. Thanks to everyone who signed up to cover all the items! Watch for information about other ways to help with this project. Please reach out to Ruth Kraus (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 919-896-1897) if you have any questions!

Wandering Heart Lenten Series

Pastor Christina will be using a series: "Wandering Heart- Figuring Out Faith with Peter" (from A Sanctified Art)

About the series: This Lent, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter, we often see ourselves. By following Peter’s journey, we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us.

As we were studying Peter’s faith journey, the lyrics of “Come Thou Fount” came to mind. It’s as if Peter himself wrote this song. And so, for each step in Peter’s journey, we have selected a phrase from this hymn. As we follow Peter’s story, we will sing our way through Lent, binding our wandering hearts to God.

In this series, we want to affirm that faith is a constant journey of steadfast pursuit, one that ebbs and flows, seeks and wanders. We want to affirm that wandering is exploration, not necessarily distance from God. We want to affirm the ways Peter keeps going: he drops his nets, he walks on water, he runs to the empty tomb, he swims to the shore to meet the risen Christ. He keeps searching and yearning and loving, even after missteps or mistakes. Ultimately, in Peter’s story, we are reminded that God loves imperfect people—in fact, time and again, that’s precisely who God claims and calls.

This Lent, we will look for ourselves in the stepping stones of Peter’s story. We will reflect on the stages of our own faith journeys as well as who and what has shaped us along the way. As we wander, let us tune our hearts to sing God’s grace. May we rest in streams of mercy, never ceasing.

About the theme: Like many of us, Peter has a wandering heart. His journey is not polished, or linear, or perfect, but he is always tethered to the love of God. When you look closely at Peter’s story, you find Jesus at each step along the way—offering him abundance, catching him when he begins to sink, challenging him when he stands in the way, washing his feet, predicting his betrayal, and offering him agapē love. This Lent, we’re joining Peter in figuring out faith. We’re not idolizing or vilifying him; instead, we’re hoping to wander alongside him, open to what we might learn about Jesus (and ourselves) by stepping in his shoes.

YOUTH NEWS

Upstairs Youth/UMYF Room: The room is ready! It looks great and thanks to all who made it possible. They are ready to start fixing it up to make it theirs. Now they need things to do that! If you are cleaning house, downsizing or getting ready to declutter the Youth would appreciate anything.
They need: couch, lamps, large rug to cover the carpet, a bookcase, chair, TV
Contact Sandra Cox (call or text 919-264-9377) if you have something to donate and we will help bring it to the church.

UMYF Meals: Can you help? We meed help providing meals for UMYF (6-7 youth with one vegetarian). Meals are needed Feb. 18, March 3, March 17, April 7, April 21, May 5, May 19; time is 5:30-7:30 PM.
In addition, adults are needed to assist Pastor Christina (or if you want to give the program, she’ll assist!) We need 1-2 adults to assist or lead. Text Sandra Cox (919-264-9377) to volunteer.

We also want to thank Sandra Cox, our new Youth Coordinator!

Musicians for Lent

The focus for our Lenten worship will revolve around the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Many Blessings.” Each week we would like a different instrumental rendition of the hymn played as the prelude. The congregation will sing a verse of the hymn as the benediction (Randy will play the music for this).
Would you be interested in playing the prelude one Sunday? Link HERE to sign up for a Sunday.

Thank you for helping to make this Lent extraordinary.

Mission Lunch Schedule Spring 2024

Thanks to everyone who has signed up to sponsor a Mission Lunch this Spring.

Remember, if you need assistance with the lunch Susie Mallard Barnes can help you with the planning and cooking, and your group provides the manpower and helps with the ingredients. 

Just reach out!  smallardbarnes@gmail or 919-412-3230

Thanks for supporting the Fairmont Mission Lunches!  Use this link to sign up!

Reverse Advent 2023 Thanks!

Many thanks to all who took part in the Reverse Advent Food Collection.
Remember that the need is ongoing!

Wilson Temple UMC Food Pantry is always in need! We'll use donations from our Reverse Advent to help they and they still need volunteers find links to their sign up in our email newsletters.

The Little Free Food Pantry at Fairmont has been running low. We'll use some of your donations from the Reverse Advent to help stock up! Most needed are non-perishable ready-to-eat items, but also some pantry basics and canned goods. You can use the links found in our email newsletters to sign up for a particular day or just bring supplies by the church to stock it up any time.

Creation Care Team Forms

As the NCC-UMC Season of Creation is upon us, Fairmont UMC is initiating a Creation Care Team initially as a sub-committee of the Social Justice work group. Our impetus is the forward-thinking Creation Care Resolution that was passed on June 17 at the NCUMC Annual Conference, as well as interest and need expressed by multiple adults and youth in the Fairmont congregation.  Richard Loeppert is heading up our Creation Care Team.

We will publish Creation Care events as they come up or contact Richard for information.

Please let us know if you are or might be interested in participating in the Fairmont UMC Creation Care Team.  You might also think of where you might fit with any of the ideas mentioned above or additional ideas that are not listed.
Contact Richard at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The team met on August 31, but if you are interested in learning more contact Richard.

Updating the Directory

Did you know that we have an on-line directory? And that you can access it from your computer or an app?
But directories get out of date fast! Toddlers become teenagers; we say good-by to some and hello to others; our numbers change and we move around!
We are working on updating our pictures and our people and will let you know about opportunities to have your picture taken here. (Or you can provide your own.)
If you are new(ish) to Fairmont you may not be in the directory yet, but Margie is working on getting new folks entered.

There are some Church Directory Information forms on the table at the back of the sanctuary. Fill out and drop in the offering plate if you want to update your information or to be added. And thanks to Julie Melson, we have a google doc that can be filled in online. Link HERE