Pray 5 times a day to become more conscious and aware of God’s presence and power in your life.

Consider the different types of prayers you can do every day.

• Breath Prayer
  When you wake up in the morning, take a brief moment to take deep breaths while saying “YAHWEH.” Inhale “Yah” and exhale “Weh.” Simply call upon Yahweh God. As you breathe, be conscious of breathing in God and breathing out God. In your thoughts, commit your day to God.
• Meal Prayer
  Before you eat, take a brief moment to say, “Thank you.” Gracious God, thank you for this food, the earth that produced it, and the hands that prepared it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Thank you Prayer
  At the end of the day, thank God for all the good that took place. Loving God, thank you for your provision and protection today. Grant me the rest that I need for tomorrow. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Silent Prayer
  Sit in silence for 5 minutes and decompress before God.
• The Lord’s Prayer
  Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

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Read the Bible 5 days a week with the goal of finishing the Gospel of Matthew by Easter Sunday (March 31, 2024).

As you read each day, reflect on the question, “In what way did you encounter Jesus through the reading?”

Week 1: Jan 7-13
Day 1 – 1:1-25
Day 2 – 2:1-23
Day 3 – 3:1-17
Day 4 – 4:1-25
Day 5 – 5:1-48

Week 2: Jan 14-20
Day 6 – 6:1-34
Day 7 – 7:1-29
Day 8 – 8:1-17
Day 9 – 8:18-27
Day 10 – 8:28-34

Week 3: Jan 21-27
Day 11 – 9:1-17
Day 12 – 9:18-26
Day 13 – 9:27-38
Day 14 – 10:1-15
Day 15 – 10:16-31

Week 4: Jan 28-Feb 3
Day 16 – 10:32-42
Day 17 – 11:1-19
Day 18 – 11:20-30
Day 19 – 12:1-32
Day 20 – 12:33-50

Week 5: Feb 4-10
Day 21 – 13:1-23
Day 22 – 13:24-43
Day 23 – 13:44-52
Day 24 – 13:53-58
Day 25 – 14:1-12

Week 6: Feb 11-17
Day 26 – 14:13-21
Day 27 – 14:22-36
Day 28 – 15:1-20
Day 29 – 15:21-39
Day 30 – 16:1-12

Week 7: Feb 18-24
Day 31 – 16:13-28
Day 32 – 17:1-20
Day 33 – 17:22-27
Day 34 – 18:1-20
Day 35 – 18:21-35

Week 8: Feb 25-Mar 2
Day 36 – 19:1-15
Day 37 – 19:16-30
Day 38 – 20:1-19
Day 39 – 20:20-34
Day 40 – 21:1-27

Week 9: Mar 3-9
Day 41 – 21:28-46
Day 42 – 22:1-14
Day 43 – 22:15-33
Day 44 – 22:34-46
Day 45 – 23:1-12

Week 10: Mar 10-16
Day 46 – 23:13-39
Day 47 – 24:1-28
Day 48 – 24:29-51
Day 49 – 25:1-30
Day 50 – 25:31-46

Week 11: Mar 17-23
Day 51 – 26:1-16
Day 52 – 26:17-35
Day 53 – 26:36-56
Day 54 – 26:57-75
Day 55 – 27:1-14

Week 12: Mar 24-30
Day 56 – 27:15-31
Day 57 – 27:32-56
Day 58 – 27:57-66
Day 59 – 28:1-15
Day 60 – 28:16-20

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Participate in 5 community service opportunities.

Consider getting involved in these service opportunities.

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service Opportunities
  Floris UMC has a variety of service opportunities spanning the MLK Day weekend, honoring the legacy and teachings of the social activist.
• The Big Serve
  Floris UMC serves our community partners through the season of Lent. Engage in one or more service projects during five Sundays. Dates: February 18 and 25; March 3, 10, 17
• North County Hypothermia Program
  Prepare meals for unhoused people and deliver them to the North County Human Services Building in Reston through March 2024.
• Embry Rucker Meal Service
  Help prepare and serve breakfast at the Cornerstones Embry Rucker Shelter in Reston on the second Saturday of every month.
• Floris Guest House
  Provide shelter and meals to unhoused people from February 18-25.
• View All Serve Opportunities
  Floris UMC has several opportunities to serve the church and the world.

Download The First Dare – Serve

Participate in 5 community service opportunities.

Consider getting involved in these service opportunities.

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service Opportunities
  We have a variety of service opportunities spanning the MLK Day weekend, honoring the legacy and teachings of the social activist.
• The Leadership Center (Honduras) Supply Drive
  We collect items to support our partnership with The Leadership Center in Honduras.
  Date: January 14
• Monthly South Lakes High School Pantry Collection
  Every first Sunday of the month, we collect food, essential items, and monetary contributions to support the pantry. Bring items or submit your financial generosity during Sunday worship.
  Dates: February 4, March 3
• Monthly Hunters Woods Elementary School Packaging
  Every first Sunday of the month, we support Hunters Woods PTA by providing food insecure students with snacks. Stay after worship to participate.
  Dates: February 4, March 3
• Blessing Bags for Terraset Elementary School Teachers/Staff
  We assemble blessing bags with notes of encouragement for Terraset Elementary School teachers and staff after worship.
  Date: February 25
• The Big Serve
  Floris UMC serves our community partners through the season of Lent. Engage in one or more service projects during five Sundays. Dates: February 18 and 25; March 3, 10, 17

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Share your faith story with 5 people.

Consider the different ways you can share your faith story.

• Life Group
  Create storytelling moments in life groups and share God moments.
• Meet up over Coffee/Tea or Meals
  Meet up with a fellow Restoration person to share your stories.
• Friends/Family
  Tell your friend or family member about a God moment or an impactful
  experience at Restoration Church you had recently.
• Write/record a reflection and share it on this website
  Write your story or record your story and share it on TheBigDare.org.
• “How was your weekend?” conversations
  When someone asks about your weekend, share about Restoration.

Invite 5 people to a Restoration experience.

Consider the different ways you can invite people to a Restoration experience.

• Service Project
  Invite folks to join you in the many service projects we do every month.
• Sunday Worship
  Invite folks to an opportunity to worship with you.
• Life Group or Bible Study
  Invite friends to join you and your life group or seasonal Bible study and explore the Christian faith more deeply.
• Outing with Restoration Folks
  Organize an outing with Restoration folks and invite others to join.

Download The First Dare – Share

Do 5 random acts of kindness each week.

Consider doing these random acts of kindness.

• Encouraging Notes
  • Be an encouraging voice to others.
    – Text someone an encouraging message about who they are in your life. – Send a positive text message to five people.
    – Leave Post-It notes with encouraging words on a mirror for your family member to see.
    – Email a coworker thanking them for something.
• Names, names, names!
  • Learn people’s names and intentionally call them by name when you see them.
    – Restaurant server
    – Mail carrier
    – Neighbor
    – Coworker
    – Receptionist at Dental/Medical Office
    – School bus driver
    – Restoration Church person
• Compliments
  • Find opportunities to give compliments.
    – Compliment the first three people you see today.
    – At the checkout line, thank and compliment the employee who helps you, i.e., “Thank you so much. You are awesome.”
    – Throw a party to celebrate someone for just being who they are.
• Help Others
  • Notice opportunities to help others.
    – Hold the door open for someone carrying items.
    – Donate blood.
    – Practice active listening when people share their thoughts.

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