Join us at 5:00pm for our Lenten Program - "The Life You've Always Wanted" (based on the book by John Ortberg) which is a video program that focuses on spiritual disciplines for ordinary folks like us that help us to draw near to God and "The Return of the Prodigal" (book by Henry Nouwen), which will be a book discussion study focusing on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Program for K-12 will be provided. All are welcome!

LENTEN MEDITATION MATERIALS for reading during this Lenten season through Easter are available in the So. Transcept.

UMW will be holding their General Meeting this Tuesday, 3/14 at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall. Program: "Personal Journey" from Muslim to Christianity. Speaker: Zam Zam Qraeshy, born in India. Our mission studies for 2006 are India & Pakistan. All women and teens are invited. Martha/Mary Circle will be our hosts.

LIE UMW SPRING DISTRICT MEETING: will be held on Sat. March 25, 2006, from 9:00am-2:00pm at Farmingdale UMC, Fellowship Hall. Guest speaker: Rev. Annie M. Bovian, Exec. Director Women's Advocate Ministry. Registration at 9:00am; communion service begins at 9:30am followed by program.

HEALTH KITS & SCHOOL KITS KITS will be assembled again this year by UMW as a Lenten project. Everyone is invited to participate by donating completed kits or a cash donation (all checks made payable to "United Methodist Women"). A collection box will be in the South Transcept through Easter Sunday. For a list of what is in the kits, please pick up a flyer next to the collection box. Church World Service sends these kits wherever there is an emergency within the U.S. and our neighbors around the world. Join us!!! If you need a list of supplies for either kit or want to give a cash donation, please call Joyce Aponte at 731-0591.

FOOD DRIVE: Farmingdale UMC will be having a food drive during the month of March to help restock St. Killian's Community Food Pantry. Suggested donations of basic items like canned fruits and vegetables, pastas, peanut butter and other basic items will be collected in the So. Transcept each week.

A WORLD IN NEED: A mudslide in the Philippines has buried thousands. You can help by making a donation to UMCOR, Advance Special 240235, "Philippines Emergency" (write a check to Farmingdale UMC with the advance special number on the memo line). In addition, the Save Darfur Coalition is urging that the President support a multinational force to stop continued massacres in the region. Postcards are available from Jeff & Lisa James. The Outreach Committee

FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE: It's audit time again - the Finance Committee needs copies of the check registers showing deposits and payments and copies of Jan. 2005 and Dec. 2005 bank statements. The Discipline requires we audit the following - Memorial Fund, BIF Fund, Skip Newman Fund, Powell Fund, Thrift Shop, UMM, UMW, General Fund, Capital Improvement Fund, Endowment Fund and Day Nursery School. Please hand in material to the Church Office or give it to Ralph Ekstrand, Finance Chair.

STEWARDSHIP WORKSHOPS: The Council on Finance and Administration of the New York Annual Conference is sponsoring a Stewardship Academy on Sat. March 18th from 10:00am-3:00pm at the Westbury UMC. The keynote speaker is Lynda Byrd of the General Board of Global Ministries of the UMC. Further information outlining the workshops being offered is available in the So. Transcept. If you wish to register, please contact the Church Office.

IN SYMPATHY:

• We extend sympathy to the Williams family on the death of Michael's brother, Jason Henderson. He is survived by his daughter, Amber. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to: The Williams Family, 119 Thomas Powell Blvd., Farmingdale, NY 11735. For details regarding funeral arrangements, please call the Church Office.


• We extend sympathy to the family of Karen Newman on the death of her mother, Maybelle Gierie. Her funeral service was Mon., March 6th , 10:00am at McCourt & Trudden Funeral Home. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to: The Newman Family, 1309 6th Street, W. Babylon, NY 11704-4549.

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC POSITION AVAILABLE: Farmingdale UMC seeks part-time Director of Music. Skilled, creative organist and pianist to direct and accompany a chancel choir, a praise and gospel choir, a youth choir and a bell choir and to play at Sunday worship service and other special services. Send resume to Music Search Committee at farmumc@earthlink.net or to 407 Main Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735.

ALTAR FLOWER REQUESTS: If you wish to place flowers on the Altar in memory of a loved one, or in honor of someone or a special time in your life, there are flower request forms available in the South Transcept. Next available dates are 4/2, 4/9, 4/23, 4/30.

IN NEED OF PRAYERS THIS WEEK: Hurricane, earthquake and mudslide victims, Mabel Greenidge, Helen Harvison, Peggy Lopez, Rev. John Dass, Emily Brown, Kylie Abbinanti, Tom Maldonado, Barbara Simpson, Russell Schwartz, Garry Wurth, and our troops in harm's way.
*If you know of someone in the hospital, or someone who wishes a pastoral visit, please call the Church Office.