Welcome to First United Methodist Church Winnsboro, where all people are welcome all the time!                  (Even if it IS on social media!)

Out of an abundance of caution, but more out of an abundance of love, we have made the unprecedented decision to cancel all church activities until the Centers for Disease Control tell us its safe to be together again. Until then, we will continue the following:
 
– Sunday morning worship, 10:50 AM on Facebook 
– Drive by our Church Street entrance on MONDAYS from 1-3 and say hello & receive a blessing – I’d love to see you!
– I will continue to do a morning devotional, also on Facebook 3-4 mornings a week
– We have mobilized people to make cloth FACE MASKS that are so desperately needed by our health care workers … CLICK HERE if you can sew or cut fabric!
– And we will PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

NEED INFO ON COVID 19?

cdc-logo
 
CLICK HERE to go directly to the CDC website for current information on
testing and symptons.
 I want everyone to know … the buildings may be closed but GOD’S CHURCH is still worshiping, learning, loving and serving! SUNDAY WORSHIP will still be at 10:50 AM on Sundays but we will worship together, yes TOGETHER, live on Facebook instead of in the sanctuary!
 

We will still be checking in on our neighbors and doing our Lenten devotionals … we will still be PRAYING, maybe more now than ever! We’ll keep this page updated so stay tuned, Pastor Debbie

 
CLICK HERE to go to our FACEBOOK page for updates and a morning devotional!
 

Sunday Mornings

9:30 a.m. ~ Sunday School PAUSED

 
Check out the MANY ways to get involved HERE!
 

We’re easy to find in Winnsboro!

6-05-19 FUMC Update

Posted on Jun 5, 2019 in HomePage |

It’s summer! Not officially, of course. That doesn’t come until June 21, but in our hearts and minds, summer started after Memorial Day! Summer is the time when the flowers are in full bloom, the sun rays are beating down, and the bees won’t give up swarming all around! It’s the season when children and teachers are out of school, the time when many families take vacations together, and the time when birds are the new alarm clocks for many people.

There is so much freedom that comes along with this incredible season, especially for teachers and students who get a few weeks to unwind and relax. But it’s also a season that showcases a circle of life! Where will GOD fit into your circle in these short few weeks of summer? How will you stay connected to Church so the “habits” of summer don’t strip away the value you get from being in community with others and with Christ? I hope we have an AWESOME summer together … and I hope it starts this Sunday with our brand NEW worship series!

UPSIDE DOWN: The Greatest Sermon Ever Told ~ Starting this Sunday, we begin a teaching series on the Beatitudes (MAT 5:1-11). While the whole sermon continues through Matthew chapter 7, the Beatitudes are a very special list of commands on how God plans to BLESS us … and please know this … there are conditions to these blessings!

KATHRYN CLARK’S  Celebration of Life ~ Please join us to support James and his family, Friday, June 7, 1 pm in the sanctuary; reception to greet the family following the service in Wesley Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Kathryn’s name to the Church.

NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT MEAL is WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 … and we’d love YOUR help please! Thanks to Bettye Gilbert who coordinates our DESSERTS. We need DESSERT volunteers for the three dates of our summer Fellowship meals ~ Wednesday, June 19; Tuesday, July 16; Wednesday, August 21. We have been blessed by the volunteers through the year so let’s give them a break before we plan for the next school year. Betty only needs 6 people to step up and make 2 desserts just one time during the summer. Please call Bettye at 972-342-6698 or email her at bjhh@suddenlink.net.

WE’RE BEING FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF OUR ENERGY COSTS THIS SUMMER ~ Now that the temperatures are rising, we are doing everything we can to manage the high summer costs of electricity. If you are the last one out of the building, please do not turn OFF the thermostat, but please DO turn the AC up to 85-86 degrees. (This is most efficient for the belts and operating system costs.) Also, in Wesley Hall, we do not cool the kitchen or Fellowship Halls in order to keep the classrooms cool, so if you OPEN those doors, please keep them closed. We have also moved small groups meeting in Asbury Hall over to the small classroom in the FLC where there is one small unit that cools just that one room, as opposed to cooling all of Asbury Hall. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, let us know!

SEE YOU ALL ON SUNDAY!


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5-30-19 FUMC Update

Posted on May 30, 2019 in HomePage |

What a great day it was honoring all our graduates last Sunday. Please continue to pray for Carissa, Abi, Matthew, Cason, and Noah as they transition into their NEW beginnings! A special congratulations to CARISSA BRUTON, the 2019 Valedictorian!
 
When I was a little girl, we used to sing a rhyme: rain, rain, go away, come again another day. I’m feelin’ that rhyme TODAY! What a crazy storm we had last night ~ three siren warnings for tornadoes and five, yes FIVE, inches of rain in the rain gauge in the courtyard!  
 
THIS SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH FELLOWSHIP PICNIC: June 2
We apologize for canceling the Wednesday night meal last night, but we hung on ’til the last minute HOPING to celebrate our last weekly meal before summer hiatus!  Sooooooo . . . the food was bought and the prep work was done so we’re having a PICNIC after church on Sunday! Just come, bring a love offering, and we’ll have a great lunch together! (1st summer Fellowship meal will be Wednesday, June 19)
 
JOIN US TO HAND OUT WATER BOTTLES this Friday, May 31, 6:30 pm at the High School stadium ~
Graduation ceremonies are this Friday night and we’ll be there to serve our community! Wear comfortable, cool clothes and just come, rain or shine!
 
Ladies – looking for fun places to plug in? 
QUILTERS & CRAFTERS: Come help us get ready for Christmas in the park! We’re starting to work on the quilt now, Tuesdays mornings at 8 am, and we’re hard at work on making crafts too, the crafters come at about 9 on Tuesdays. 
PRAYER QUILTERS: On the 2nd and 3rd Monday, the PRAYER quilters are here at 9 am and there are always things to do 
KNITTERS: Every Monday the knitters meet in the FLC from 1-3 … it’s a wonderful fellowship group!
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
With summer vacations upon us and people getting ready to hit the road to visit family, go camping or go on vacation, please know we’ll miss you if you’re gone but we’ll be here when you get back! Check out the GIVING PAGE on our website. If you haven’t tried scheduling your offering, it’s SIMPLE and you don’t have to think about it, God takes care of everything!
 
THIS SUNDAY, June 2, is PENTECOST ~ Celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter, Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks … it’s a special day! (And don’t forget to stay for lunch!)

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5-13-19 FUMC Update

Posted on May 14, 2019 in HomePage |

There was something very special about our worship service on Sunday. I knew the Holy Spirit was moving in a special way when I left the sanctuary, but from your many comments, apparently some of you felt it too! Our anointing service for Judy and Katie Park, the “signing service” for Carissa Bruton, so many Moms and families together, God’s powerful word about the Road to Emmaus … soooooo much energy! We all know that God is everywhere, ALWAYS, but I just love it when He steps out in such powerful ways for us!   Walk to Emmaus? After the message on Sunday, several people have asked about going on a Walk this fall and I would love to help you make this happen! The local Northeast Texas Emmaus chapter has 2 walks this fall. Please don’t wait because Walks are limited to 40-48 participants.

~ Men’s Fall Walk, September 19-22
~ Women’s Fall Walk, October 17-19
 
Let’s Go To Prison Together ~ Saturday, June 8 ~ Meet me in the parking lot of the Johnston Unit at 5:45 p.m.
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and
those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering ~ Hebrew 13:13
One of the ministries that has spun off from the Upper Room’s WALK TO EMMAUS is the prison ministry, KAIROS which takes the love of Christ inside the prison walls for a similar 3-day faith experience. The Winnsboro chapter RESIDENTS ENCOUNTER CHRIST has been going inside the Johnston Unit here for many, many years and if you have been on a Walk to Emmaus and would like to serve on a team, please contact Michael Park, 903-342-2107.
BUT EVERYONE can help on June 8! It doesn’t cost any money, you don’t have to drive very far, and it will only take 30-40 minutes but you will make a HUGE impact on the residents by being the FACE OF CHRIST for just a few minutes! Really, it’s this simple! We will stand together as the men enter the room as the visible representatives of Jesus Christ and I can tell you, the experience for THEM is undeniably real! 
The ONLY thing you have to do is provide the last 4 numbers of your driver’s license (if it’s not Texas, let us know). We need to have those numbers NO LATER THAN THIS SUNDAY. You can email us as you read this, or jot the last 4 numbers on a piece of paper and bring it this Sunday, May 18.
 
Wednesday Night Meals Continue Through the End of May, 5:45 p.m.
We have an EXCEPTIONAL kitchen crew who has been shopping, cooking and serving food on Wednesday nights ALL year. How blessed we are! After May 29, dinners will be on ~
Wednesday, June 19
Tuesday (moved from Wednesday 7/17), July 16
Wednesday, August 21
 
Winnsboro Photo Club Now Meeting at FUMC! Jim Dyson wants to invite everyone interested in learning or improving their camera or picture taking skills to come check it out! The Club usually meets the last Monday of the month but in MAY they will meet on TUESDAY, MAY 28, 5:30 p.m. in the FLC. Our very own ART SIMMONS is doing the program on May 28, and Art has an amazing program to share to put your pictures in a “slide show.” If you come a few times and want to join, annual dues are $15 per person or $25  per couple, but please come as a guest!
 
Come Enjoy a Video Journey Through the Holy Lands? Wednesday, May 22, 6:30 p.m., Wesley Hall ~ Join Linda Suche and Betty Gilbert as they show a video from their 2009 trip.
 
NORTH TEXAS CONFERENCE ~ June 2-4, Plano, Texas ~ Once a year churches from all around North Texas come together to worship, learn and do the business of the Church. Anyone is welcome to attend but Cyndie Ewert, your Lay Leader, will be attending with me as representatives of FUMC! Details on registration and schedule on the website.
 
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road to Emmaus and opened the Scriptures to us?”
~ Luke 24:32
 
Debbie Lyons, Pastor First United Methodist Church Winnsboro 301 Church Street, Winnsboro, TX. 75494 CLICK HERE for our Facebook CLICK HERE for our website (903) 342-6172 (TEXT 972-896-5254) 

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5-06-19 FUMC Update

Posted on May 8, 2019 in HomePage |

Serving others, being engaged in our community, meeting new people, exposing our church to people who may not have a church home and looking for ways to make disciples for Jesus Christ is important to the growth of our church. I am so very thankful to everyone from FUMC who helped make the 2019 BOOK FAIR such a success: Don Beaty, Mike Ewert and JA Newton for moving tables, John Hargus for helping authors get their tables set up, Brad Scharf for doing “everything,” Penny Boice, Tricia and Tommy Teague and Donna Brede for making the authors luncheon so wonderful, and of course, Mary White and Cyndie Ewert who made it all happen!!!  KATIE PARK, we’re exceptionally blessed that you brought such a great event to Winnsboro! I was honored to moderate a Christian book panel with some wonderful authors and I truly believe we are blessed to be a blessing to our community!
 
WEDNESDAY NIGHT MEALS CONTINUE THROUGH MAY, 5:45 pm … we have an EXCEPTIONAL kitchen crew who has been shopping, cooking and serving food on Wednesday nights ALL year … how blessed we are!! After May 29th, we’ll move to the 3rd Sunday (June 19, July 17, August 21.)
 
COME ENJOY A VIDEO JOURNEY THROUGH THE HOLY LANDS? Wednesday, May 22, 6:30 pm, Wesley Hall … join Linda Suche and Betty Gilbert as they show a video from their 2009 trip.
 
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN: Thursday, May 16, 10 am, Asbury … come join them!
 
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!! May 12th … this Sunday is Mother’s Day.
 
Debbie Lyons, Pastor
First United Methodist Church Winnsboro
301 Church Street, Winnsboro, TX. 75494
CLICK HERE for our Facebook
CLICK HERE for our website
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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4-29-19 FUMC Updates

Posted on May 2, 2019 in HomePage |

I had a whirlwind trip to see my Dad in South Carolina this past week, and with so many prayer requests this week for our elders falling and struggling to get their strength and mobility, it reminds me that our bodies, while built to LIVE, do get tired! God, our creator, designed our bodies to be strong and to be able to tolerate the growth challenges of childhood, and the accidents of teenage years, and the medical surprises of adulthood … but in His mercy, he removed the Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve sinned so we would NOT have to age forever! This is a bittersweet gift of grace because aging is not always EASY – in fact, it can be pretty darn hard! Let us all be in prayer that the process of aging brings with it glimpses of amazing JOY in the struggle, some HUMOR in the tension, some amazing LOVE that can be appreciated and most of all, an indescribable presence of PEACE that only the Holy Spirit can bring!

NATIONAL PRAYER DAY: this Thursday, May 2nd

National Prayer Day is a non-denominational annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May designated by the United States Congress for ALL faiths to come together “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.” Each year since its inception, the president has signed a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day so please come join me as we pray for our nation, our community, our schools, families and churches.

6:30-8:30 AM: Prayer breakfast at 1st Baptist Fellowship Hall … drop in anytime!

Noon – 1 PM … Community Prayers at City Hall

WINNSBORO BOOK FAIR: Saturday, May 4th, 9am – 1 pm ~ We’re so excited to be hosting the author’s luncheon for the Winnsboro BOOK FAIR this Saturday, May 4th at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts … want to help? I’d LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! I’ll also be hosting the Christian book panel and Carla Chitsey will have a table promoting her new book too! Stop at the Farmer’s Market then come by for the book sales and signing starting at 9am… it’s all FREE so come! http://winnsborocenterforthearts.com/literary_events

9am… Storytime with Nancy Falster and STUART
9:30 ~   Children’s Panel
10:30 ~ Children’s Alter Dance Performance
11    ~     Author recognition
11:15 ~  Adult Mystery Panel
12:10 ~ Adult Christian Panel
 
SATURDAY, MAY 4th is ELECTION DAY, 7 am – 7 pm at the Winnsboro Civic Center … just a reminder that your vote DOES matter, really!! This Saturday, two of the races we’ll be voting on are school board and City Council and our very own, JOAN MORRIS, is running for re-election! Don’t waste one of the most important rights you have!

SENIOR LUAU: Tuesday, May 7th, 7:15 PM … this is a long standing tradition and our church’s gift to our schools and community! This year there are 87 kids coming and the Sunday school groups and volunteers from our church make it an AMAZING night for the kids! To get involved email Tina Satterwhite directly HERE.

This Sunday our BACK FROM THE DEAD series continues with a look at the disciples who have returned to their former lives as fishermen, only to be reminded that they are FISHERS OF PEOPLE! John 21 gives a whole new meaning to BREAKFAST ON THE BEACH!

 
Debbie Lyons, PastorFirst United Methodist Church Winnsboro

301 Church Street, Winnsboro, TX. 75494

CLICK HERE for our Facebook

CLICK HERE for our website

(903) 342-6172 (TEXT 972-896-5254)


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