WELCOME TO FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WINNSBORO!

All are welcome at Winnsboro’s First Church so dive on in! We are a warm and welcoming congregation where you can meet people, celebrate life, grow deeper, stronger in your faith and turn energy into action that transforms the world. EVERYONE is invited and if you’d like us to meet you at the door, email us HERE and we’ll be there! 
 
Sunday Morning Worship
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

10:50 a.m.

 
CLICK HERE to go to our FACEBOOK page for updates and to
watch past Sunday services and/or devotionals.
CLICK HERE to go to YouTube for
past Sunday services and/or devotionals.
 
Looking for a Sunday Small Group?
 

We’re easy to find in Winnsboro!

 

5-12-20 FUMC Update

Posted on May 12, 2020 in HomePage |

I can’t tell you how great it has been to see some of our small groups coming back. Family Ties has started back slowly, and the Quilters have started back slowly. Family Ties is meeting in Wesley Hall on Sundays at 10 am and there is plenty of space to join them while maintaining 6 feet apart. Coffee and Conversation is ALSO making plans to start back, and Amy Moss said they’ll meet in FLC if they have to so there will be enough distance for people so contact her for details on their plans.
 
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Penny Boice, our Worship Chair met with Sue Gross, our Communion Coordinator, to explore safe ways we may be able to have communion when we gather again. Penny will also be in touch with all of our ushers this week to see who is comfortable coming back to church in June.  We will have a meeting together in the third week of May and Penny will be letting you know the day.
 
Please hear me clearly … WE DO NOT WANT ANYONE COMING BACK WHO FEEL THEY ARE VULNERABLE! (Click here for CDC details.)
 
We will take as many and MORE precautions to keep everyone as safe as possible, but the CDC recommendations still apply. I really do mean this. I will support whatever your decision you make whether to continue to worship at home, come to church, or to go back and forth depending on how you feel on any given day! After Governor Abbott’s press conference on May 18, your Church Council will meet next week to reassess our Phase 2 opening plans and provide you with lots of details. Stay tuned and pray!
 
May 13, JOIN OUR WEDNESDAY ZOOM BIBLE STUDY AT 10 AM ~ 
To join us click this link: 
Meeting ID: 451 285 222
Password: 486447
OR 
CALL IN: 1- 346 248 7799 US 
Meeting ID: 451 285 222
Password: 486447
 

May 17, THIS SUNDAY, OUR “FLASH MOB PRAYERS” will be for our local merchants and businesses. We will park in the parking space on Main Street, and gather in front of First National Bank to pray, pray, pray!

 
May 18, MONDAY DRIVE THROUGH LAST DAY ~ This Monday will be our LAST drive through as the weather gets warm and we begin to shifts gears back to transitioning between doing both online and sanctuary worship.  
 
TODAY’S FACEBOOK DEVOTIONAL and SUNDAY’S AUDIO is on our website ~ click here to listen.
 
EXCITING UPCOMNG DATES ~
May 31, 8 a.m., Worship at Ken and Elaina Ragsdale’s home

June 7, 10:50 a.m., Those wishing to come back to the sanctuary can and online worship will continue.

 
CDC COVID 19 Symptoms andTesting: CLICK HERE
First United Methodist Church Winnsboro
301 Church Street, Winnsboro, TX. 75494
CLICK HERE for our Facebook
CLICK HERE for our website
 

(903) 342-6172  (PASTOR EMERGENCY or TEXT 972-896-5254)


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5-4-20 FUMC Update

Posted on May 6, 2020 in HomePage |

May 10, THANKS FOR SENDING PICTURES OF YOUR MOTHERS ~ I hope you’ve enjoyed looking at your pictures as much as I have! I do need them but this Friday at NOON. You can email, text, or Facebook OR drop off a picture in the office mail slot.
 
May 5, JOIN OUR WEDNESDAY ZOOM BIBLE STUDY AT 10 AM ~ 
To join us click this link: 
Meeting ID: 451 285 222
Password: 486447
OR 
CALL IN: 1- 346 248 7799 US 
Meeting ID: 451 285 222
Password: 486447
 
 
May 10, THIS SUNDAY A SPECIAL “FLASH MOB PRAYER” ~ After worship on Sunday, we will meet in the OLD High School (what will next year be the Middle School). There we’ll not only pray for the students and teachers and parents but we’ll ALSO pray for our three amazing seniors: Julian Anaya, Landry Deaton and Grant Newton! We’ll then carpool to the NEW high school where Erika Deaton will unlock the entrance for us so we can enter the NEW high and pray for the people.
 
NEED A TACTILE PRAYER TOOL? People use prayer beads to stay centered on repetitive prayers or to help keep track of prayers with a minimal amount of conscious effort, which in turn allows greater attention to be paid to the prayers themselves. Carla Chitsey made some prayer beads, already sanitized and ready to be held. If you would like a set, let me know. 
 
RE-OPENING ~ Slowly and safely. We’re all excited to be hoping and dreaming about a NEW tomorrow! Some of the quilters were back today and even with three here (we’re saving a space for Marine to be back!), it felt so wonderful to have PEOPLE at the church! I’ve attached the guidelines for Phase 1 through June 7. If anyone wants to reserve space for YOUR Sunday school class (which doesn’t have to be Sunday!) or any other FUMC small group, please contact Deanna in the office to reserve your space. Deanna works Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday from 8am – 2:30pm.  (ATTACHED DETAILS.)
 
SUNDAY, May 31, before 9 am ~ ALL CHURCH WELCOME BACK outdoors at the Ragsdale’s Home! You can sit in your car with your windows open or bring a lawn chair and sit outside. But we can all be TOGETHER! Details coming …
 
SUNDAY, June 7, BACK IN THE SANCTUARY ~We’re still making plans for whether we’ll be having one service or two. According to the survey, 70% of you plan to come back when it’s safe but as we get closer we’ll check in with you to get specific commitments from everyone. We want to be sure there’s a space for everyone!
 
LISTEN TO TODAY’S TUESDAY DEVOTIONAL or SUNDAY’S SERMONS … find all the sermons and devotionals on the website … Tuesday’s devotional was a look at HOPE vs. OPTIMISM
 
May 11, MONDAY DRIVE THROUGH ~ 1-2 pm … I LOVE seeing you all! 
— 
CDC COVID 19 Symptoms andTesting: CLICK HERE
First United Methodist Church Winnsboro
301 Church Street, Winnsboro, TX. 75494
CLICK HERE for our Facebook
CLICK HERE for our website
 

(903) 342-6172  (PASTOR EMERGENCY or TEXT 972-896-5254)

 


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5-2-20 FUMC Update

Posted on May 3, 2020 in HomePage |

PLEASE SEND or DROP OFF A PICTURE WITH or OF  YOUR MOTHER ~ Before I share the exciting news, I want to share I DON’T WANT YOU TO MISS this important announcement about Mother’s Day next Sunday. We will still be worshipping on Facebook then, BUT I want to create a video of all of you with your MOTHER’S or a picture of your mother! You can email it or text it, or if you need us to scan it and give it back to you, you can mail it or drop it at the church. I NEED THEM NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, MAY 8 PLEASE, so don’t delay! Tell me your Mother’s name when you send the picture please, and we’ll play the video in worship on May 10!
 
THANK YOU CHURCH LEADERS! What a TRUE blessing to work with so many of your AMAZING church leaders who have been remarkable during this very unusual time! You can really see how a team works together when there is a crisis, and I am so very honored to work with this CHURCH COUNCIL! Please thank them for all the extra work they’re doing to help us stay safe. And now, as we begin plans to open slowly:
Joanna Horton, Chair
Danny Moss, Trustee Chair
Mary Tom McLemore, Finance Co-Chair
JaneAnne Newton, Finance Co-Chair
Cyndie Ewert, Staff Parish Relations Chair
Ken Ragsdale
Brad Scharf
Sandra Strickland
 
Our neighborhood PEW CAPTAINS are awesome too! And you’ll be hearing from them a bit more as we ramp up our plans to move SLOWLY and SAFELY toward re-opening. (If you haven’t received a call from anyone, I may have inadvertently missed your name on someone’s list so please reply and let me know!)  
 
SLOWLY AND SAFELY . . . A RE-OPENING PLAN . . . After meeting Thursday night, the Church Council has approved a slowly but SAFELY first-steps plan to start coming back together. I want EVERYONE to know that we will respect your decisions to participate or not, come to some things and not others. AT-RISK PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO STAY SAFE AT HOME. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identifies vulnerable adults as those 65 years and older and/or with underlying conditions. CLICK HERE for CDC details.  Again – there will be nothing but SUPPORT for each other during this time!
 
Also, I will continue our Wednesday morning, 10 am ZOOM Bible study (stay tuned for details next week on getting back into our Study of Revelation in Wesley Hall!). AND even after we start back to church, the Facebook LIVE will continue!  
 
For those who ARE ready to start back SLOWLY and SAFELY,  here’s the message in a “nutshell” and you can read the details attached…
 
Effective immediately, FUMC small groups (Sunday schools) and leadership teams may meet in the buildings observing STRICT social distancing, wearing masks, and disinfecting space before they leave.
 
Early Sunday Morning, May 31, IT’S A NEW DAY ~ While the exact time is to be determined, we will worship outdoors, weather permitting, as the sun rises at the Ragsdale’s home! We’ll celebrate the kickoff to summer, we’ll recognize our graduating seniors, and we’ll be able to be physically PRESENT with each other! Those who want to stay in their cars and listen can. Those who want to bring a folding chair and sit outside their cars can too! We will maintain strict physical distancing! See attached for details. We’ll announce the time this week.
 
Sunday, June 7, WE’LL START COMING BACK HOME! Our tentative re-opening date is June 7. The sanctuary has been measured, and we will be able to seat 48-50 people on the main floor and perhaps four families in the balcony assuming 6′ distancing remains the safe protocol. There will also be strict safety procedures in place. We will be watching the data and release DETAILED PLANS after the Governor’s next big announcements on May 18. We expect to have a final plan by MAY 22!
 
UPCOMING THIS WEEK
 
Sunday, May 3, 10:50 am ~ Facebook LIVE Worship, followed by our FLASH MOB PRAYERS at BROOKSHIRE’S, just after 11:30.  Remember, this business will be open so do not park near the store. Park close to Coke Road. We’ll then drive through Alexander’s Meat Market and Triangle Fertilizer (Ken Ragsdale’s business keeping all the East Texas chicken far,s going!).  LET US PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!
 
Monday, May 4, ONE HOUR DRIVE THROUGH, 1 – 2 p.m. ~ Come by and pick up the NEW Community Chronicle and a PRAYER GUIDE for National Day of Prayer. National Day of Prayer is May 7, and while activities have been canceled PRAYER HAS NOT! (You can pick up a paper and a prayer guide in the plastic tub by the office door anytime this week.) 
 
Tuesday, May 5, before NOON, Facebook devotional  (audio will be posted on our website too) ~ I read a great article on isolation coping skills from astronauts who were in space for months at a time. I’m finding some GREAT scriptural advice!!
 
Wednesday, May 6, 10 am zoom Bible Study ~ If you haven’t TRIED yet, come try this week! We’ll be looking at scriptures and the BIBLICAL application of OPTIMISM versus HOPE?  
 
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 451 285 222
Password: 486447
 
OR CALL IN:     1 346 248 7799   US
        Meeting ID: 451 285 222    Password: 486447
 
 
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
Pastor Debbie
CDC COVID 19 Symptoms andTesting: CLICK HERE
First United Methodist Church Winnsboro
301 Church Street, Winnsboro, TX. 75494
CLICK HERE for our Facebook
CLICK HERE for our website
 

(903) 342-6172  (PASTOR EMERGENCY or TEXT 972-896-5254)


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4-27-20 FUMC Update

Posted on Apr 27, 2020 in HomePage |

image.pngWhat a GLORIOUS day it was seeing so many people at the Elementary school praying, visiting, and celebrating the HOPE that the progress we’re making in our fight against COVID-19 is going to lead to change! We prayed at the ELEMENTARY SCHOOL yesterday and will meet closest to the STREET side of the Brookshire’s parking lot this Sunday, May 5, after worship about 11:30ish. You can see ALL the pictures on Facebook!
 
Today, Governor Abbot will announce his updated guidelines for moving forward (today at 2:30 p.m.) so we’ll know more about “what’s next” for us soon. I will also speak with Vic Casad, our District Superintendent, this week on some recommendations our Bishop is making. I will have a call with the Wood County Leadership team on Thursday and then your Church Council will meet Thursday night and start planning the “baby” steps for gathering again! While there WILL be restrictions, I know we’re ALL excited about the possibilities!  
 
WHAT SONGS ARE IN YOUR HEAD in this CoronaVirus time in which we live? For a little levity, I posted a montage of four of the songs your church leaders shared on FACEBOOK. I bet you’d never guess who CHOSE those songs belong to! I’ll post PART 2 tomorrow morning.
 
WE HAVE APPLIED FOR THE PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM ~ If you are a customer of City National, please thank them! The second round of PPP money is to be available today, so please THANK City National for considering our application! On April 3, the first day we were able to apply for assistance, we turned our paperwork into our Bank, First National. Unfortunately, they were not participating in the program so we had to take our application that same day to City National. I’m sure existing customers were processed first, which I completely understand, so we did not get approved to receive the money from the first round of grants. But the GOOD news is we have now had all our bank applications approved, and we are PRAYING we get the loan! If we get it, we will ONLY use it to satisfy the requirements of the money used as a GRANT, any money NOT used will be returned!  
 
Yes, our giving is down but I want to thank ALL of you who have continued to give generously during these seven weeks our sanctuary and building have been closed. You truly inspire me! Not everyone has been able to do this, and I DO want everyone to know as I said on Sunday, if you need any help, PLEASE contact me. I have already seen how God DOES provide! To whom much is given, much is expected and if YOU’RE one of the lucky ones ABLE to continue giving or at least give 10% of your stimulus check, remember what I said a few weeks ago: Generosity is not something God wants from us. It’s something God wants for us. I pray you experience His blessings in a BIG way!
 
DID YOU KNOW? Not only can you watch worship LIVE on Sundays and our weekly devotionals on TUESDAYS but you can also LISTEN from our webpage?  For those of you who still don’t have Facebook, I convert most Sunday messages to make them “small” enough to listen to. And I will also be putting our weekly devotions on there as well! Check it out here – you can go as far back as you want!
  
Thanks to everyone who completed the QUICK, anonymous survey we sent last week ~ It will remain open until THIS FRIDAY! As of this morning, we had 44 people respond (please don’t take the survey more than twice!). 70% of you are able to return when it’s safe, and 30% of you will wisely take the advice of the CDC to shelter at home for a little while longer. PARENTS, there have been no responses that include kids so please let your voices be heard! CLICK HERE if you have not responded!  IF you’d prefer to take a written survey and send it to us, I’ve attached it to the update email.
 
On Sunday I also created a DIFFERENT survey to try and reach those “visitors” who have been watching with us, but do NOT post they are watching with us. I reply to EVERYONE who posts a comment, (and I hope YOU, too, will reach out to people you see online and welcome them!). But I pray that God is already preparing NEW hearts to have a NEW church home with us when this is all over!  I hope we get SOME response.
 
ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS:
– Monday Drive Through, 1-3 pm … drive by and pick up your UPPER ROOM today!  
– Tuesday Devotional … I will post on Facebook before noon and then put them on our website where you can listen to ALL the sermons. 
– Wednesday ZOOM Bible Study, 10 am … WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE “EVERLASTING PRESENT” we have found ourselves in?  ZOOM has created some extra safety measures so you’ll need a password now. I PROMISE this is really a great way to learn and connect with others!
FUMC’s Bible Study with Pastor Debbie
WEDNESDAY MORNINGS 10 AM
       
To Join Zoom Meeting (you do not need video) Click This Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/451285222?pwd=aFBPMlFNUkhvS0g4QjdEVzhYVms5Zz09
Meeting ID: 451 285 222
Password: 486447
Or, phone in and listen:  +1 346 248 7799 
       Meeting ID: 451 285 222
Password: 486447
 
 
CDC COVID 19 Symptoms andTesting: CLICK HERE
 
First United Methodist Church Winnsboro
301 Church Street, Winnsboro, TX. 75494
CLICK HERE for our Facebook
CLICK HERE for our website

(903) 342-6172  (PASTOR EMERGENCY or TEXT 972-896-5254)


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4-22-20 FUMC Update

Posted on Apr 22, 2020 in HomePage |

I showed a video in our worship on Sunday that I really liked a lot. It’s focus was WE ARE STILL THE CHURCH, and this is so important to remember because the church is not a BUILDING. In fact, these days the church has LEFT the building! So always remember, the church is NOT the building, the church is YOU!

PEW NEIGHBORHOODS ARE UP AND RUNNING ~ As you have all heard me talk in church about the people who sit around you, we have now taken the idea of “pew neighborhoods” to a new place since we can’t SEE each other! Instead, you now have a NEIGHBORHOOD CAPTAIN who will be checking in with you occasionally in hopes of keeping your little group connected. I want to thank JaneAnne Newton and Elaina Ragsdale for helping create the maps (and if you haven’t heard from your Captain, please let me know as I don’t want to leave ANYONE off the list and – you do realize I make mistakes, right?  I want to thank them so VERY much:

Choir – Wanda Simms

Balcony – Tina Satterwhite

Homebound – Angie Hollingsworth

Pulpit Front & Middle – Amy Moss

Pulpit Rear – Wanda Noe

Choir Front – Betty Craddock

Choir Center – Sue Gross

Choir Rear – Joyzelle Davis

TRINITY MISSION ASSISTED LIVING DRIVE BY, Friday, April 24, 3 p.m. ~ Mary White Sr. has been in Trinity for weeks now with very little contact from ANYONE. If you know her or anyone else there, put a HELLO MARY WHITE sign in your window and drive-by!

FACEBOOK AUDIO ATTACHED ~ I’ve attached the audio of the FACEBOOK post I did yesterday, but I’ll recap the highlights here … In the waters of baptism, WE were claimed as children of God, as part of God’s family. And THIS means we don’t live in this world separate from one another and we DEFINITELY don’t live without Jesus walking right beside us! That’s why I was so excited to see SO MANY PEOPLE in the parking lot at the hospital in Winnsboro PRAYING together! In the pouring down rain, we were ALL THERE, together!  

SUNDAY FLASH “MOB” PRAYERS ~ For the next few Sundays, we’ll be meeting after worship on Sundays, usually around 11:30-12:30 to pray for others. THIS Sunday, April 26, we’ll be praying in the elementary school parking lot. PLEASE observe social distancing and please post your pictures on our FACEBOOK page, and on your OWN page so we can create a NEW contagion – let’s spread the contagion of HOPE!

DEVOTIONAL ~ The third chapter of Ecclesiastes begins, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (NIV).

Sometimes, it’s hard to figure out what DAY it is let alone what SEASON we’re in. And as far as ACTIVITIES go when we’ve been sheltering at home? We are being VERY creative in finding meaningful activities!

BUT I SEE A NEW SEASON COMING ~ Monday night our church leaders had a zoom meeting to look NOT at the past but to the future. We’re looking to the future because this isolation period WILL end and we WILL be together again someday, and we want to be READY! Yes, it will be different for a while. And yes, it won’t be like it was before for a while, but sometimes change can make us appreciate what we DO have and make us flexible about what we don’t HAVE!

We don’t know WHEN restrictions will be loosened for worship. We don’t know WHAT those restrictions will look like, but it appears that in the next few weeks those who are NOT vulnerable will be able to start coming back to church in SMALLER groups, maybe 50 or less. Vulnerable means seniors and/or those with underlying health conditions. Vulnerable adults will all be encouraged to REMAIN at home until the virus gets more and more under control.

But IF we maintain STRICT social distancing and other precautionary hand sanitizing and disinfecting guidelines, would you feel safe coming back, sitting apart from your pew neighbors, having your hands sanitized when you come and go, perhaps having your temperature taken? Would you be willing to come to a DIFFERENT worship time if we have to have TWO services to accommodate everyone? 

PLEASE TAKE THIS ANONYMOUS SURVEY NOW: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z7TP6PJ

Please complete before May 1.

So our online worship continues for a while longer. We are making a BETTER BAD CHOICE right now, and we feel BLESSED we have the ways to BE “together” on FACEBOOK! But to be able to SEE each other and feel the energy of the spirit working among us? Yes, a new season IS coming!

Until then, stay connected! Since digital communication has caught up and most people are being INUNDATED with messaging, I’m only doing one devotional each week on Tuesday or Wednesday and also every Wednesday at 10 a.m., we’ll have a zoom CONVERSATION.

ZOOM CALLS WEDNESDAY MORNINGS AT 10 AM ~ Set the timer on your phone to remember!

 To join Zoom Meeting … click this link:

https://zoom.us/j/451285222
Meeting ID: 451 285 222

OR CALL IN AND LISTEN:
+1 253 215 8782 US    or  +1 301 715 8592 US
Meeting ID: 451 285 222
 
 

Sermon Series, Late for Easter ~ This Sunday join us as we continue in our NEW sermon series, LATE FOR EASTER. We’ll talk about the foundational ROCK of the church and how even HE Was late for Easter. Peter came around though. I think you’ll love his story!

We’ll drive to the elementary school AFTER church to pray, pray, pray.

Then MONDAY, I’ll be at the church street door from 1-3 p.m.

GRACE AND PEACE!

Pastor Debbie


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