GREG
UCHIMURA
VIDEO TECH
THE WEEKDAY WORD…
FEB 4, 2026
Wesley’s Friday Fast
John Wesley found regular fasting to be a valuable practice to his ministry. He credited it with aiding his prayers, increasing his sensitivity in discernment and connecting him to God’s love. He would begin his fast at sundown on Thursday and break his fast at 3pm on Friday afternoon.
There are many ways that we can observe a regular fast. Our morning meal is called breakfast because we are breaking our fast from the evening before. A practical spiritual practice is to choose not to break your fast in the mornings until you have spent time with God in scripture or prayer. There are also ways to engage in fasting that aren’t related to food.
Fasting from distractions like a phone or particular social media or news outlets one day a week might provide intentional spiritual time with God and necessary time of connection with family and neighbors.
How can we use a regular practice like fasting to make space? As we read in Wesley’s Covenant prayer, “Let me be full, let me be empty” how can this intention fill us with God’s Holy Spirit?
May you discern how a practice of fasting might awaken you to God’s grace.
Volunteers Needed
Prine Elementary School is starting their Spring tutoring program and is looking for volunteers to work with 1st and 2nd grade students. There is a tutoring orientation on February 12 from 9-9:30am at Prine Elementary in their office conference room. Tutors will be then be scheduled from 9-11am on the days they are available.
An online background check will need to be submitted prior to the orientation date.
If you are interested in tutoring, please let me know ASAP so I can add your name to the list, along with the day(s) you are available.
Lenten Book Study
During the Sunday School Hour throughout Lent, you are invited to explore Adam Hamilton’s new book, “Why did Jesus have to Die?” (Spoiler alert: it is about so much more than forgiveness.)
If you plan to join us, please fill out an interest form. Forms are being placed in bulletins leading up to Lent. The suggested donation to purchase your own book is $17.50, and all of the books are large print. You can place your completed interest form and a check or cash in the offering plate this Sunday, and note: Lenten book.
If you have any questions about this study, please reach out.
Buckets of Hope – Round 2
In September, Emmanuel collected donations for Buckets of Hope, an initiative by the Bishop to build flood buckets. Flood buckets are a mission of the United Methodist Committee on Relief and deployed to areas experiencing natural disasters to help with the initial clean up.
Supplies help families address flood damage to their homes and personal belongings, which is just one way we show up in places of need. We reached our 20 bucket goal, but after we added up the receipts, we actually had money to build more buckets. Thank you for your generosity!
Our final week of our Awakened to Grace series explores the spiritual practice of service as a vital way that we are transformed as followers of Jesus. To put this practice into action, we will be building more buckets during our February 15th service.
You will have the opportunity with your church to put together flood buckets as we prepare for the next hurricane that will hit an area we serve in the Florida Conference.
If you would like to do more, you can give an additional offering on February 15 to missions, as we are preparing for other service initiatives like our Day4Hope. You can also give an offering to UMCOR for the ministry they do around the world.
In Christ's Love,
Pastor Haley
Emmanuel United Methodist Church
941-792-3497
5115 Cortez Rd. West, Bradenton, FL 34210
