Lent is a solemn religious observance that begins on Ash Wednesday and covers the nearly seven weeks (40 days, not counting Sundays) leading up to Easter. Lent is a time of preparation and reflection through prayer, self denial, and repentance.
Click HERE to more information about Holy Week events and services.
services & Events
Church-Wide, “Fat Sunday” Celebration
Sunday, February 19 | 9:00 – 11:00am | Gym
Come join your church family for a fun pancake breakfast with assorted toppings and bacon as we prepare for the season of Lent. This church-wide event will have beads, moon pies, and jazz music! The meal is free and does not require reservations.
Wednesday Night Dinners in Lent
Wednesdays, February 22 – March 29 | 5:00 – 6:00pm | The Wright Place
Click HERE to Register
Come and enjoy a meal and fellowship with your church family! Please register by Tuesday of each week. Cost is $10/Adults, $4/Children, $27/Max Per Family.
Ash Wednesday Services & Window Concert Series
Wednesday, February 22 | 6:00pm, Main Sanctuary (7:00am, Wesley Abbey)
The 40-day season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22. Our Ash Wednesday service will be in the Main Sanctuary at 6:00pm following our Wednesday Night Dinner. The service will have a sermon with Rev. Brandon Bures, along with music from the Sanctuary Choir and will conclude with the imposition of ashes. As part of the Window Concert Series, Dr. Rick Branch will also premiere his Good Samaritan Window piece. Please note that there will not be any children’s programming in the evening, however nursery will be available for children infant up to 5 years old. We encourage the whole family to attend the service together.
For those that can’t attend the evening service, there will be a 15-minute morning service at 7:00am in Wesley Abbey. This service includes prayers, a short word, and the imposition of ashes. We’ll have pastries and coffee available after the service.
Wednesday Night Lenten Services
Wednesdays, March 1 – 29 | 6:00 – 6:45pm | Main Sanctuary
Each of these special Lenten services features a guest speaker from around the Alabama – West Florida Conference as well as music by our Music Ministry.
March 1: The Rev. Richard Williams
Pastor of Metropolitan UMC – Montgomery, AL
& Director of the Beacon Center
March 8: The Rev. Brennan Peacock
Pastor of Luverne UMC – Luverne, AL
March 15: The Rev. Dr. Hunter Pugh
Pastor of Brantley UMC – Brantly, AL
March 22: The Rev. Elizabeth Hinton
Pastor of Piney Grove UMC – Rehobeth, AL
March 29: The Rev. Ashley Davis
Assistant to the Bishop
K – 4th Choir Practice
Wednesdays, through April 12 (except April 5) | 4:45 – 5:30pm (Check-in in Church Office)
Our Children’s Choirs will continue practice for Palm Sunday & Easter. After choir, children will be able to eat with their parents from 5:30 – 6:00pm
Lent for Kids & Students
Wednesdays, March 1 – 29 | 6:00 – 6:45pm
Children and students 3 years old through – 8th grade are invited to join us for special age level activities through Lent. Children (3 yrs – 4th grade) can be dropped off in the gym and students (5th – 8th) will meet at the Youth Building.
Great Day of Service
Saturday, March 4 | 8:00am – 1:00pm
Click HERE to Register
All ages are invited to participate in our annual day set aside to serve others in our community and organizations who serve others. We work with our 11 Missions partners such as Bright Bridge, Embrace Florida Kids, and Milk and Honey to name a few. Come help clean, paint, organize, do yard work, etc. as we put hands and feet to our call to serve and love one another.
Holy Week
Palm Sunday Services
Sunday, April 2 | 8:30, 11:00am & ICON at 11:00am
Palm / Passion Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, a time where we remember the sacrifice God made for us. As Palm Sunday worship begins, we remember that when Jesus made his final entrance into the city of Jerusalem the people welcomed him with shouts of praise and the waving of palm branches hailing him as king. But as the story of the passion unfolds, their shouts of praise turn to demands for his crucifixion; he receives a crown of thorns as he is handed over to be mocked and killed.
First Kids: Palm Sunday Parade and Holy Week Program
Sunday, April 2 | 9:45 – 10:45 am
All children and parents are invited to participate in this special Palm Sunday event! We will go on a parade through the church halls, then over to Wesley Haven. After our parade, we will all go into the Great Hall for an interactive Holy Week experience. Parents will drop off children in their normal Sunday School room and then line up on the 2nd floor cat walk in the gym.
Easter Egg Hunt & Church-Wide Picnic
Sunday, April 2 | Noon | FUMC Lawn
FREE! No registration required
All are invited to our annual Easter Egg Hunt! We will enjoy a picnic lunch, egg hunt, prize drawing, inflatables, music, & and fellowship on the FUMC lawn. We are asking our congregation members and all families of children attending to donate a dozen stuffed eggs (no chocolate please) per child. Please have them dropped off in the designated bins by Sunday, March 26. This event is free however lunch donations are accepted. Make sure to bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and easter baskets!
Labyrinth & Stations of the Cross
Tuesday, April 4 – Thursday, April 6 | 10:00am – 2:00pm and 4:00 – 7:00pm | Wesley Abbey
The congregation and community is invited to use this sacred space as an opportunity to focus their hearts and minds on the significance of Holy Week, as we all prepare ourselves for the coming Easter Sunday.
Journey to the Cross Concert
Tuesday, April 4 | 7:00pm | Main Sanctuary
Join us for a special Holy Week concert presented by musicians from First United Methodist Church of Pensacola and surrounding churches.
Passover & Last Supper Remembrance Meal
Thursday, April 6 | 5:30pm | The Wright Place
Click HERE to Register by March 29
This special meal is an opportunity to remember and understand what Jesus did with his disciples at the Last Supper. Each of the items arranged on your plate has special significance to the retelling of the story of the exodus from Egypt which is the focus of this ritual meal.
Maundy Thursday Service
Thursday, April 6 | 7:00pm | Main Sanctuary
On this night we commemorate the supper Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion, when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and instituted the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Join us for a Holy Thursday message, music from the Music Ministry, and Holy Communion.
Good Friday Tenebrae Service
Friday, April 7| 7:00pm | Main Sanctuary
Tenebrae is a service of darkness commemorating the crucifixion. This service includes readings from the passion narrative while candles are extinguished.